Into the Lair

[Solinor]

To Etruna the swampman says "Gold and slaves, gold and slaves and um... gems and things." he begins to make his way around the pond. "Come, come." he says and signals you to follow. The swampman seems eager.

Etruna catches up with the swampman and takes him aside quietly, "I want so much to see the goddess, to give her an offering, but I don't have much gold for her." She takes a moment to appear thoughtful, and then as if she has an idea, "Perhaps I do have some slaves for her," she smiles and tilts her head referring to some of the other members of her team.

She then scowls, "But some will not want to come. I fear they will fight. You've seen what they can do." Etruna quickly follows up with another smile, "I know! We can trick them! They must think you are their prisoner. Maybe you can tell them about this area. Once they trust you, we will be able to lead them easily to our goddess and give them to her as our offering of slaves. The goddess will be very pleased with us, very pleased with you. Do you have the courage and faith to do this?"

As you “take the swampman aside” he begins to look at you suspiciously but doesn’t resist. He seems to be listening and looks back to the other party members when you do. The longer you talk the more he seems to be looking up into his own head, as if trying to comprehend the words you are saying to him. When you are finished, he starts saying “Uhhh… slaves… slaves… yes… yes… “ and nodding his head in agreement as he begins walking again and signaling you to follow. “We serve the goddess... yes… yes… The goddess will be pleased… mmmm….” You aren’t sure if he is stupid or completely mad.

(ooc: By this time he has made it to the opening at the south side of room 13. He is moving slow enough for everyone to follow.)

[Solinor]

The strange man passes through the south opening(of room #13) and turns west, always looking back to make sure the party is following. As you pass through the south opening the passage goes east and west. Etruna's torch is illuminating the area and the east passage seems to go beyond the torchlight. The west passage where the swampman went seems to t-section and he awaits there.

(OOC: With Dramaman's last ooc I assume she is stopping there, debating on following the swampman.)

[wolfpack]

"Etruna see if you can get him to tell you how many people or what things are down here" rondar whispers.

[Solinor]

(ooc: I have revealed more of the map.)

The swampman stands by an opening that looks simply like a hole in the wall. Beyond the hole is the faint sound of lapping water.

In all other directions your torch illuminates passages that lead off into darkness.

Again, the swampman beckons you forward.

[dramaman]

Etruna falls to her knees and wails, "How can we stand before the Goddess? We have sinned against her! We have killed all her servants! Are you not the last of the faithful?" With these words, she begins to sob and beckons to the swampman to return as if she needs his strength and consolation.

[rredmond]

Nuonne steps back and to the side of Etruna, being sure not to get too far from her.

[Solinor]

Etruna falls to her knees and wails, "How can we stand before the Goddess? We have sinned against her! We have killed all her servants! Are you not the last of the faithful?" With these words, she begins to sob and beckons to the swampman to return as if she needs his strength and consolation.

The swampman begins to move cautiously back towards Etruna, a look of distress on his face. As he walks towards her he looks at Nuonne occasionally and always with suspicion. At about 8' from Etruna he stops and begins to beckorn for her to follow again. "Come... come..." he says.

(OOC; he doesn't have a weapon but there is a discarded spear in the pool room that is probably his.)

[rredmond]

OOC: dang, Scylla and Charybdis.

IC: Nuonne keeps his eyes on Etruna, moves further away, but trying (nonchalantly) to move closer to the spear. He will definitely keep his eyes on Etruna and try to look concerned.

[zebediah]

Ankhar walks to the side of Etruna and Nuonne, sword & shield in hand. "Enough of your tricks! Show us what lies down that tunnel, start walking and keep your hands up!"

[Caspur]

Viscata moves up to the front of the group and peers into the room that the cultist is in.

[Solinor]

Ankhar walks to the side of Etruna and Nuonne, sword & shield in hand. "Enough of your tricks! Show us what lies down that tunnel, start walking and keep your hands up!"

The swampman's eyes go wide at Ankhar's words. He looks back and forth at Etruna and Ankhar, then he bolts. He runs west down the corridor and then turns south into the hole in the wall.

DMSPEAK:
Etruna, Ankhar, and Nuonne are just outside the pool room (#13) in the east west passage.
Everyone else is in the poool room.

The swampman had made his way down to where the secret door is(#15a). Then he made his way back when Etruna was acting distressed.

He then starts to beckon her to keep following and that's when Ankhar steps forward and makes his statements.

Panicked the swampman runs.

Intentions?

[rredmond]

Nuonne will drop bow and arrows, take off and try a tackling run... unless someone closer or faster gets there before him.

[zebediah]

Ankhar will try to hit the swampman's legs with the side of the blade.


18

[wolfpack]

rondar (being lightly armored) will charge after the swampman if he gets in range he will throw a dagger.

[Solinor]

Nuonne, Ankhar, and Rondar surge forward after the swampman. Rondar is able to have the lead on the other two as you reach the opening (15a) that the swampman ran through. As you arrive at the opening the temperature change is dramatic enough to give you a moment of pause. Ahead in the darkness is something low and large but you can't quite make out what it is. The sound of splashing water and panicked breathing can be heard. The swampman is ahead but you can only guess at what he is doing.

The above actions take about 3 segments.

Sorry Ankhar, he was to far away for you to attack him and your armor slowed you enough so you couldn't catch him. The swampman and Rondar have a move of 12" where Nuonne and Ankhar a move of 6".

There are two light sources that I recall. The dead priest still has the light spell going and he is illuminating room #13. The other is Etruna's torch which reveals up to the opening (15a).

[rredmond]

Seeing Rondar fly past him, Nuonne presses on into the dark, taking out his mace as he runs and heads toward where he thinks the swampman may be.

[wolfpack]

rondar looks or the swampman and to see what is making the splashing noise

[Caspur]

Viscata moves up as well, watching out for hidden enemies while her companions focus on the swampman.

[Argennian]

Kraden, after being let go by Rondar in order to chase the swampman, will go to his hands and knees and slowly crawl over to the closest wall and prop himself up. He will keep an eye out for anything coming up from behind the party.

[zebediah]

If the light sources don't spoil his infravision Ankhar will move ahead, keeping his guard up. If not he will wait for the others.