IC XV

[thirdkingdom]

Round Five through . . . a lot

Tev quickly dispatches the scorpion he is engaged with by dint of separating it's head from the rest of its body. Thurgan takes some more blows from his opponent's claws, but as soon as Tev is free the two eventually manage to wear down the remaining angry arachnid, and the sound of combat ceases.

Thurgan takes 5 more hp damage, for a total of 9.

[Wyzard]

While the party recovers, Severi goes to examine the body of whatever the scorpions were feasting on.

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
Vanco offers both mundane first aid and magical healing to Thurgan.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev cleans and sheathes his sword, then leans against the wall, allowing it to hold him up as he recovers his breath. He watches Vanco working on Thurgan, clasping the dwarf's forearm when Vanco is finished. "That was a damned bit more hairy than our fight against the troll," he says. "Well fought."

[thirdkingdom]

Vanco applies various foul-smelling poultices and unguents to Thurgan's wounds whilst Severi examines the hors d'oeuvres. At first the victim smells as if it had been dead for some days, but the elf quickly realizes it is the fresh-killed corpse of an odiferous race of subterranean subhumans known to adventurers as "troglodytes". The creature is clad in armor fashioned from appears to be the shell of a beetle, and a broken stone-tipped spear lies beside him. Quint dimly recalls reading that species of overlarge orthosterni often drag their victims back to their den, where they feast at their leisure. Oftentimes no small amount of treasure can be found scattered about, unnoticed by the deadly creatures.

Thurgan regains 8 hp; please cross off one first aid kit and one casting of CLW.

[Alethan]

Rhys

Rhys starts looking about to see if he can find any signs of a lair...

[phil285]

Vanco
While Rhys searches, Vanco quietly wonders if the party will encounter more of these troglodytes and their likely reaction.

[thirdkingdom]

Rhys

Rhys starts looking about to see if he can find any signs of a lair...

The tunnel the adventurers are currently in runs dungeon north; Rhys estimates they are several hundred feet from the first "Y" intersection. On their previous excursion into this labyrinthine cave system, the adventurers took the northeastern corridor, which eventually led to another "Y" intersection. One of those corridors led to the lair of the ur-orcs, the other was choked with a threatening-looking fungus that the adventurers steered clear of. The mystic recalls no sign of a scorpion lair down the corridors they have already trod. It is possible that any such lair may be found down the northwestern tunnel leading from the first "Y" intersection.

[Alethan]

Rhys

Rhys suggests taking the northwestern passage.

[Wyzard]

Severi allows that they don't have anything better to do with their time.

[phil285]

Vanco agrees with Severi and Rhys.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan agrees and moves forward to the passage.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Fighter

Tev falls in next to Thurgan, jaunty from their brush with death.

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint sees no reason not to take time to search for the lair before moving on.

[thirdkingdom]

Felmont 3, AC 1000
The Caves under the Forgotten City
9:40 am
8 turns elapsed

The northwestern passage continues on uninterrupted for some time before splitting into three separate corridors. The first, leading west, has a definite downward slant, and look as though it is leading deeper underground. While the northwestern passage as a whole seems more worked than natural, the western tunnel bears fewer signs of being artificially enlarged. The middle passage continues straight past the range of torchlight; a great pit yawns some ten feet into the middle tunnel, too wide for all but perhaps Rhys to jump over. The third passage is little more than a crack in the wall, narrow enough that the adventurers would have to pass single file. It makes a jog to the right a half dozen feet in, so it is impossible to see what lies beyond.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan gestures towards the narrow passage and says "Let me quickly look down here to make sure nothing would come out from it behind us".

[Alethan]

Rhys

Rhys nods, "Do not linger. And call out if you need help; I'll stand ready."

Rhys pulls out his gnomish goggles and prepares to put them on and follow Thurgan if he needs help.

[Wyzard]

Severi attempts to judge whether the scorpions could have scuttled through the crevice.

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
Vanco cautiously approaches the pit to assess its depth and any possible contents.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi attempts to judge whether the scorpions could have scuttled through the crevice.

Severi mentally gauges the width of the crevice and the girth of the scorpion and reaches the conclusion that they most likely could have traversed the narrow crevice.

Looking down into the pit, Vanco notes that the floor has collapsed in on itself, forming a cone-shaped declivity some fifteen feet deep and approximately as wide at the lip of the pit. He judges it possible for a cautious adventurer to descend the slope on one side, then ascend on the other. Judicious rope use would no doubt help with such an attempt, as much of the fill appears to be loose, and possible easily shifted.

Thurgan makes his way into the crevice. It turns sharply, then straightens for ten or so feet before jogging again; forming a rough "z" shape. The passage quickly opens up into what looks to be a largish room, smelling of damp. Several small scorpion-like shapes scuttle about in the center of the room, but these are not nearly the size of those encountered outside.