Chp. 8 - Please Save the Children!

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal

Watching the goatman climb up that shaft like a spider would probably seem strange to most other folks.

I hope he finds us some clues about the missing "kids" up there.

The greasy thief waits impatiently for Porphry to return.

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry returns, takes off his ring, and tucks it somewhere in the recesses of his jerkin. "Just the rutting of locals. I shouldn't wonder if the ogiastic imprint of this place leaks out and acts as an aphrodisiac for passersby. Or perhaps a stray waft of succubus musk lingered on the breeze.

"Oh, also there was an offshoot that presumably goes to the foul worm's lair, should anyone consider it worth investigating. It might have a mate that could digest a few of our number back into a state of relative normalcy. Do you think such a creature would horde anything of value?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly the Brown, Conjurer

"It couldn't hurt to look, I suppose," says Wrenly. "Perhaps the creature previously excreted some item that could be of use to Asherrion. If it had a mate, no doubt it would have tried to ingest us by now. Could you climb up again and affix a rope somehow? Then some of the others could join you to investigate," he adds, giving no indication that he himself intends to go up there.

[Pulpatoon]

Assuming rope is available, and that the vegetation covering the vent above is sturdy enough to support the weight of a doughty adventurer, Porphyry climbs back up. After affixing the rope and waving up the first climber, he hangs back by the slimy side-passage to offer and hand to those transitioning from the rope. He tries to inconspicuously avoid entering the passage himself by maintaining this helpful position.

[Grognardsw]

Porphyry the satyr psychopomp climbs up to the top of the shaft and out to secure the rope to the trunk of heavy bushes around the hole. Up there, he sees a jaw dropping sight (see PM.) He shakily ties the rope and...

[Grognardsw]

... Porphyry slides down the rope, almost falling at the bottom, his hands rope-burnt. He has a distraught look on his face.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal raises an eyebrow seeing the goat-mans expression.

Well? What the heck didja see up there?
By the look on your face, Id say it musta been something ba-a-a-a-ad? He finishes the sentence stuttering the last word, jokingly imitating a sheep.

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart's face grows crimson. He somehow manages to roar in a whisper. "NOT THE KIDS, RIGHT?!?!?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly remains silent, alarmed by Porphyry's expression. He waits to hear what the satyr has to report.

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry gasps, "The cultists... sodomy... mutilation... an abominable phallus that stalks and probes and vomits..."

Blowing on his palms and rubbing his sore limbs from the sudden descent, the satyr takes a moment to collect himself. "It's a scene of unrestrained licentiousness. If you wish to interview anyone about the whereabouts of the children, they would be your best chance. However, the monster in their midst—imagine a penis and spider stitched together and grown to gigantic proportions—possesses some manner of mental and emotional sway. I would recommend caution. Actually, I would recommend giving the damned thing the widest possible berth."

[saalaria]

"You humanssss are never dull are you? We sssshould sssee if the creature can be ssstruck by our weaponssss....if it bleedssss we can kill it."

[ChubbyPixie]

Wrenly the Brown, MU

Wrenly stares blankly for a moment. "Well, I didn't awaken this morning anticipating battling a giant phallus. Still, if these men are a potential lead to the whereabouts of the children..." He looks dismayed. "I guess there's nothing for it, then. Shall we?" He gestures at the rope.

We're all still drawings, right? Just want to be sure I didn't miss something.

[greyarea]

Asherrion the ashen grey elf

I'm with you, Wrenly. Hopefully we won't need to find out if it can bleed or not. I say we see what it wants: negotiations with daemons have failed once, but could yet succeed with this spider-dork. Let's go!

[Grognardsw]

Upon awakening that morning, the adventurers were happy to find that their altered bodily states seemed to be wearing off. Skin that was blackened is now gray; stick-figure limbs are very thin arms, and so on. If the transformation continues, they anticipate being normal again by end of day.

Consensus builds on confronting the phallic creature. The rope hangs ready.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal

Hey, my drow tan is wearing off. I was just getting used to it too. Oh well.

Seems to me that if goatman here is trepadayshus.....trapidace......worried about fighting that spidick up there, then maybe the rest of us should be too. I'm not too keen on the idear of popping out of some hole and being surrounded by a mob of sex crazed maniacs. I wonder if there is another way around, outside of he cave somewhere. Maybe we could sneak up on em?

He addresses Porphry once again.
Was the area that you saw up there open to the daylight or just another part of this freaky cave complex?

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry: "The top of the chimney is blocked by foliage of the sort and variety associated with the surface."

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal

Maybe we should scout out the area outside a little better first then? Did we see any other trails that led off further up the mountains maybe?

I'm ok with taking these freaks out but, let's try and see if we can get the upper hand by surprise.

If the group agrees, Fingal will go back outside the caves entrance and see if there is any other way to get to the cultists.

[greyarea]

Asherrion the grey ascends the rope after telling the others,I will see what I can see. Two tugs on the rope means the coast is clear for all.

[Grognardsw]

Fingal leaves for another approach, climbing up the well, into the skull-statue room, and out through the entrance. The hill top is several hundred feet above and not that arduous a climb for the nimble thief (please roll Climb Walls at +20). As he approaches the top... (see PM.)

A minute after Fingal leaves, Asherrion the gray elf climbs the rope to the top... (see PM.) The group awaits two tugs of the rope.

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn

He waits for Asherion to tug on the rope...he mumbles Was it one or two tugs? Sneaking up on these damned fornicating creatures sounds better to me than ending up bent over in your birthday suit with the insectoid donger!