24. Left Branch (Ewell, Ken, Darrin, Epsilon, O'rek only)

[dmw71]

I've decided to give the left branch group their own thread...

---

For those continuing along the left branch, here is your map:

Code: Select all

  unknown 
   
     \   |__
      |   __
      |  |     
      |  |     
      |  |     
     /  /      
    |  |       
    |  |       
    \  \       
     \Ew\      
      \Ke\     
       \Da\    
        \Ep\   
         \Or\_/ 
          \     /
           \   /
           |   |
           |   |
           |   |         

          ........
            Lair
          Entrance     

[onlyme]

Ewell leads the group toward his napping ground and further over the dead trogs, thankful his nose is plugged with the precursor to a yankee candle.
He will quickly get to the T intersection, and look about. His intention is to head straight north.

[dmw71]

Ewell is able to successfully navigate and lead his group through the piles of troglodyte corpses amassed in the left corridor. He reaches the first side passage to the right; the intersection the resting place for many a dead swamp creature. This main passage continues north and bends slightly to the west (left)... but we'll hold here momentarily.

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     \   |___
      |Ew ___
      |Ke|      
      |Da|      
      |Sh|      
     /Ka/       
    |  |        
    |  |        
    \  \        
     \  \       
      \  \      
       \  \     
        \  \   
         \  \_/   / 
          \     /   
           \   /
           |   |
           |   |
           |   |          
           |   |
          /   /
         |   |
         |   |
          \   \
           |   |
           
          ........
            Lair
          Entrance
          

[Zhym]

Might as well check the bodies for useful or valuable items as we pass.

[onlyme]

Ewell shakes his head.

I suspect our clerical friend already check. Wouldn't you?

[wolfpack]

Epsilon gives a disgusted look

Rummaging through bloated rotten bodies, no...no I didn't.

[onlyme]

In that case, Ewell will check on the northern ones he helped kill.

[wolfpack]

epsilon will help by cupping his hand over his mouth and nose, standing back, and prodding some bodies with his staff.

[dmw71]

You begin to search the corpses of the individual troglodytes and produce nothing of real value aside from the javelin they each carried.

From down the right-hand side passage you hear "Die bug beast!" called out in a familiar, but not immediately recognizable voice.

[dmw71]

And, as quickly as the commotion down the right passageway starts, it seemingly comes to an end.

[onlyme]

Ewell pushes on, continuing north.
Guess they killed that spider afterall?

[wolfpack]

or it killed them. One or the other.

[Zhym]

"You'd think we'd hear at least a small victory cheer," says Kendrick. "Should we check out the eastern branch just to make sure? We could always come back here if everything is okay over there."

[onlyme]

Ewell ponders and replies.


yes. Let's quickly do that.

So he will turn east at the T.

[ravenn4544]

if we are doing the same marching order down the east tunnel, O'rek will be ever watchful of what is behind them. Mace at the ready.

[dmw71]

Ewell agrees with Kendrick that checking on the safety of the other half of their companions would be prudent, but before he's able to lead the group south down the other side of the passageway, normal activity and friendly voices can be heard. Assured of the other group's safety, Ewell does an about-face and begins to lead the group north per his usual plans.

The passageway makes a sharp right after about 50 feet before turning northeast. After 20 feet, you arrive at a four-way intersection, where you're in the southwest branch and other branches heading southeast, northwest and northeast. Nothing is immediately seen down the northern branches; the only two you can see down from your position with your current light source.

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         \    \  /   /
          \    \/   /
           \       /    
            \      \
            /Ew/\   \
     ______/Ke/  \   \
    /Ka Sh_Da/
   /   /
  |   |
   \   \
    \   \
     \   |___
      |   ___
      |  |      
      |  |      
      |  |      

[Zhym]

"If we think the other party will come this way, this might be a good spot to wait for them," suggests Kendrick. "Then we could take the left passage and they could take the right, minimizing the chance of trogs circling around on us. And if the other party doesn't come this way, we'd still be in the best defensive position if anything nasty does show up."

[onlyme]

Ewell keeps to the left, figuring it will lead to the side entrance eventually.

[wolfpack]

If we aren't waiting fo rthe other party epsilon stops just long enough to draw an arrow in the dirt pointing to the left tunnel and writes ewell is a goat farmer.

just so when the others come by they will know what tunnel we went down.

[onlyme]

Ewell does not see the text, but wonders why the cleric is giggling.