Into the Mines

[Karaunios]

Starkad remains guarding the rear.

[Darithe]

Vesper

Vesper stands still and quiet as the scouts move forward. Readying her weapons in anticipation of an ambush.

[hedgeknight]

While the others watch for trouble, Moan and Mag begin a perimeter sweep of the chamber, moving to their left. Almost immediately, Cu begins to growl as they approach a door affixed to the walls; the door is slightly ajar and there are signs of a struggle as the dirt is kicked up and there are spots of what appear to be blood.
Glancing around the rest of the chamber, there are other footprints mixed in with the footprints of the booted workers. Some of these prints are booted as well, while some are strangely bear-like (Moan notices the similarities right off).
Looking off to his right, Starkad can see a tunnel with carved steps sloping down. He could swear he hears whimpering coming from that direction...


Current Marching Order:
Two fighters up front including the tracker (Kol + Moan)
The second rank (Mag + Vesper)
Rear Guard (Raz + Starkad)

PC Status:
Kol (NPC of DM Hedge) - Human Barbarian 1: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 15/15
Mag (gurusql) - Elf Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 7/7, Spells
Moan (Rex) - Human Ranger 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
Razillin (GreywolfVT) - Gnome Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells
Starkad (Karaunios) - Wood Elf Druid 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 17/17, Spells
Vesper (Darithe) - Human Thief 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 12/12
Cu (Moan's Wolfhound companion) - Move: 18", AC: 6, HD 2+2, HP: 12, # of attacks: 1, Damage: 2d4

[Rex]

Moan

Moan signals Cu to be silent and then points to the doorway for Mag to see. He then moves up to the door and tries to look through the opening.

[Karaunios]

Starkad

"Pst!" Whispers the elf druid. "I hear some moaning or crying coming from this direction." He points to the tunnel to his right (north).

[gurusql]

Mag

Mag will continue to be the backup for Moan, letting Moan focus on the small stuff while he keeps the big picture in mind.

[GreyWolfVT]

Raz nods his head and moves over to the conversation "Strange to hear moaning or crying. I wouldn't think Drow would be doing that."

[hedgeknight]

Moan and Mag, along with Cu, are near the door where there appears to have been a bloody struggle. The ranger steps closer and peers past the door...all he sees is some more marks in the dirt and then darkness. But...he hears something! The sound resembles labored breathing, like wheezing.

Behind them, Starkad and Raz take note of the strange whimpering sounds coming from the side tunnel on the right of the chamber. Kol approaches them and jerks her head at the steps, then walks over and stops at the top of the steps. She nods her head in that direction and whispers, rather loudly, "Wanna go take a look see?"

Vesper watches her companions to the fore and to the side and wonders, not for the first time, how she ended up here. Her mind is a storm, much like the one which took her father, and when the storm rages, woe be to any who...wait, what's that? She turns and looks back down the tracks from whence they came. There is a sound behind her...a strange clicking sound...someone or some thing is coming toward them!

[Rex]

Moan

Moan uncovers the light coin he is holding and shines it into the darkness beyond the door.

[hedgeknight]

Moan uncovers the light coin he is holding and shines it into the darkness beyond the door.

The light reveals more drops of blood, tracks, and drag marks...

[Rex]

Moan

Any idea what the tracks are? He has Tracking as a Ranger. Still no sign of the source of the labored breathing?

Whispering to Mag, "Something or someone dragged something bloody or bleeding this way and I hear labored breathing."

[Karaunios]

Starkad quickly turns around as he sees Vesper's expression when she notices something comes behind the group. "Be ready, Something's coming!"

[Rex]

Moan

On hearing Starkad, he quickly checks the door to see if he can shut and bar it so they don't have to fight on 2 fronts if need be. If so he will try to do it quietly.

[GreyWolfVT]

Raz nods and draws his weapon.

[Darithe]

Whirls about, weapon in hand and ready to strike, like a snake coiled she says to the others, "We've got company coming."

[hedgeknight]

Moan > Whispering to Mag, "Something or someone dragged something bloody or bleeding this way and I hear labored breathing."

Any idea what the tracks are? He has Tracking as a Ranger. Still no sign of the source of the labored breathing?
The tracks revealed by the light are like nothing Moan has seen before. The track has three claws and the earth is tamped down between the claws, almost as if the feet were partially webbed. The sounds of labored breathing fade to silence...

Starkad quickly turns around as he sees Vesper's expression when she notices something comes behind the group. "Be ready, Something's coming!"
Almost simultaneously, Vesper whirls about, weapon in hand and ready to strike, like a snake coiled she says to the others, "We've got company coming."

Hearing this, Moan looks for a way to close the door and block it so they do not have to face a fight on from two different directions. There is a coil of rope to his left and some abandoned picks behind him, closer to the tracks. Cu's hackles stand on end and he crouches as if to spring.

Vesper and Starkad and Raz peer down the tracks and see reddish glow spots, almost like eyes, coming toward them. Several reddish glowing eyes, and the clicking sound comes with them!

fire_beetle.jpg (53.16 KiB) Viewed 924 times

Emerging into the light are about eight very large beetles, over two-feet long. Above their real black eyes and near the back of their abdomen, are glands which give off a red glow. They click their mandibles as they approach. Vesper can hear them hissing as they come.


Initiative (Roll a 1d6) and actions!
Please refer to the map above for your exact location; the next map will include the beetles.
There are eight beetles, so if you fire at one, post something like "I fire an arrow at beetle #2"

Current Marching Order:
Two fighters up front including the tracker (Kol + Moan)
The second rank (Mag + Vesper)
Rear Guard (Raz + Starkad)

PC Status:
Kol (NPC of DM Hedge) - Human Barbarian 1: Move: 15", AC: 4, HP: 15/15
Mag (gurusql) - Elf Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 7/7, Spells
Moan (Rex) - Human Ranger 2: Move: 12", AC: 5, HP: 18/18
Razillin (GreywolfVT) - Gnome Cleric 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells
Starkad (Karaunios) - Wood Elf Druid 2: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 17/17, Spells
Vesper (Darithe) - Human Thief 2: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 12/12
Cu (Moan's Wolfhound companion) - Move: 18", AC: 6, HD 2+2, HP: 12, # of attacks: 1, Damage: 2d4

[Rex]

Moan

Moan will try and secure the door with the picks. He also tries to calm Cu, "Hold boy."

Once he has secured the door he draws his sword and joins the fight.

[Darithe]

Vesper

Initiative:[1d6]=3

Readies her sword and as soon as one is within melee distance she will strike the first beetle near her.

Attack:[1d20]=18

[GreyWolfVT]

Raz takes up his morning star and readies for battle. The cleric will swing at the nearest beetle when he and it are within range.

Initiative [1d10]=3
Morning Star [1d20]=2 to hit, [2d4]=4 s/m [1d6+1]=3+1=4 lrg dmg

[gurusql]

Mag

Mag takes his role of wingman serious and will stay with Moan, to make sure he can lock the door, helping if required and then the two can take on beetles together.

Init: [1d6]=4

(Will need to know that result and see the beetle position to know if we can still attack this round)