Chapter 16 - Tempus' recruiting drive

[scottjen]

Zo spent a lot of time by himself as an apprentice, so he feels it is normal to "go off on his own". As he is part of a group now, he considers, then says: As you say. I think we should try the North passage (I'm assuming the one in the same direction as the entrance is "North"). Zo will take a look at the "West" wall (directly across from where they entered) for any secret doors if the party is not yet ready to move on. If they are, he will take his place in the standard marching order.

[CAI4]

"I too think we should stay together. What if we run into traps when we split up? How would we know? I'll follow Zo north" replies Lucas.

[AleBelly]

The party sticks together and heads north, with the elves checking for any secret doors or passages within this cavern. To their eyes, these are all natural rock formations, and any secret doors would stick out like a sore thumb. They find none. Once the party moves 30' or so to the north, their noses strongly suggest what their eyes later confirm: a small alcove has chiseled out wide pits. This is a large latrine.

Shielding their noses from the stench, they quickly look over the room and find nothing of value - and no obvious secret exits. The rest of the dwelling must lie south of here. Tempus has to sternly order (several times) Azor and Clarence away from the pits which they seem keen on investigating further.

Map to be updated next. Just know that the north passage ends and there are no other visible outlets.

Date: 4 Grasses (April), Year 44
Time: 18:50
Conditions: 44F, damp
Known Spells in Effect: None
Light bearers: Tempus holding Lucas' torch, burns through 19:20
Injury status: Tempus barely wounded

[CAI4]

Lucas doesn't seem too bothered by the smell. "Hey guys" he pipes up. "I want to go throw a rock at that centipede thing and see what it does. I don't want it to attack us from behind. Do you mind?"

[Zeromancer]

Satisfied that the northern passage is a dead end, Lumenor heads back with the group to the junction. When the ranger suggests disturbing the creature in the pit, he quickly speaks up as he considers this to be an unacceptable course of action. "I'm not certain that we should antagonize the beast, it's quite placid for the time being. I recommend we leave it be." the elf says to his impulsive companion, then adds, "We should also consider that it may need to be fed if we wish to pass without incident on the way back out."

OOC: I don't mean to shoot every idea down, but I'm playing Lumenor as someone who's very cautious and prefers making moves after the consequences have been considered thoroughly.

[Storm11]

Tempus can’t help but concur. Right now, lets not antagonise anything that doesn’t need it. Come Azor, Clarence, we need to try another corridor. the dreadlocked halfling says insistently, moving to the corridor on the right.

[scottjen]

Zo: I thought that would be the shorter of the 2 paths and now we know nothing is at our back other than the giant centipede. South should be where the night-men went.
He gives a quick smile at the ranger, but doesn't say anything further. He does seem impatient to continue.

[Zeromancer]

Lumenor gives the other elf a nod as a vote of confidence in his decision to eliminate what he believed to be a dead-end passage. "It seems that your instincts were correct, cousin. Lead on." he says as he takes a moment to study the nature of the ceiling above them.

OOC: Lumenor is making sure there aren't any shafts or fissures above that might be used to spring ambushes upon the group. He'll repeat this periodically as the party moves into new areas.

[AleBelly]

Tensions rise as the party continues to explore the space within. The cautious Lumenor searches the ceilings and walls for anything that looks unnatural...especially ledges or other concealed places from which to spring an ambush. He sees nothing but the natural rock rising from their sides, arching up to form the ceiling roughly 20' above. In the occasional spot are small pools of water formed by water dripping down from above. No, there are no artificial structures to be noticed...though it does concern the elf that the color of the stone nearly matches that of the nightmen they know to dwell below.

The others remain vigilant as they continue to explore. Zo looks for secret doors but none are to be found amongst the natural walls. They passage narrows to about 20' wide, then opens up again. They pass a small alcove, completely empty, then the passage turns left (east) and opens up.

The slurping sound of the corpse-eater and the stench of death and latrines have now been left behind. Beyond the torchlight lies only silence and darkness.

Actions? The position of Lucas and Azor, the first two in line is marked by an 'x'

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Date: 4 Grasses (April), Year 44
Time: 19:10
Conditions: 44F, damp
Known Spells in Effect: None
Light bearers: Tempus holding Lucas' torch, burns through 19:20
Injury status: Tempus barely wounded

[Storm11]

Tempus calls a half to Clarence and Azor, and stops to investigate the small alcove they passed. He will examine it with light first before entering, and stay to the side of the entrance and then prod within it with his scimitar to see if there is anything within.

[scottjen]

Zo (quietly): The open area ahead makes me nervous. I hope there are not more of them than I think there are. He glances at his companions.

[Zeromancer]

Lumenor reaches the point where the passage widens, halting with the rest of the group. He takes the time allotted by the momentarily pause to examine the walls and ceiling with his racially enhanced dark vision. "Crossing through the center of this chamber also fills me with a degree of unease. Perhaps we should choose to follow one of the walls instead." the elf suggests.

[AleBelly]

Wary of an ambush, Tempus and his animal companions search the small alcove in the southwest corner of the nightmen's dwelling. He finds a small, crude figure made from dried grass matching that found at the surface. Perhaps a child's plaything? Otherwise the alcove is clear - no movement, no signs of life.

Lumenor examines his surroundings. The floor, the walls, the ceiling. It all appears perfectly natural. There are no signs of flattened areas that could be pit traps, secret doors, etc.

The elves are wary of walking right into the middle of the chamber that opens up to the east and suggest going along one of the walls.

Lucas finds no signs, and quietly waits for the others to choose which wall they will follow.

Date: 4 Grasses (April), Year 44
Time: 19:15
Conditions: 44F, damp
Known Spells in Effect: None
Light bearers: Tempus holding Lucas' torch, burns through 19:20
Injury status: Tempus barely wounded

[Storm11]

Tempus checks the alcove for secret doors. If he finds one he will quietly call to thenothers. If he doesn’t he will quietly summon the bear and the hound and make his way around the inner wall heading clockwise

[scottjen]

Zo will help Tempus look for secret doors, then assuming none found will fall into his position in the marching order moving clockwise along the northern wall.

[Zeromancer]

Lumenor moves along the northern wall, providing a set of watchful eyes and ears at the party's rear. He muses over the possible fate of the night-men, wondering if they have moved on as it appears or are perhaps lying in wait ready to spring an ambush further along.

[CAI4]

Upon hearing the suggestion of hugging the wall to the north, Lucas agrees quietly. "Yeah, that's smart" is all he says as he takes the lead position.

[AleBelly]

Wisely, the party is cautious as they continue to explore this underground cavern. Searching for secret doors in the alcove yields nothing. Lucas' torch begins to sputter in Tempus' hand, so the boy pulls another from his pack, lights it, and hands it to his halfling companion.

Then, with a careful eye, they move onwards, hugging the northern wall. Lumenor wonders if this place has been completely abandoned.

He does not wait long for an answer.

Inching along the wall, Lucas detects a movement from the walls ahead. He draws back his morningstar as he watches several nightmen jump stir, their hides blending in well with the walls. They all begin to snarl and war whoop, their nostrils flaring as they look towards the party. There are at least five along the wall to the north of them. A small rock outcrop, just within the reach of the torchlight, yields three more. A couple more of the nightmen's snarls are heard beyond to the northeast, and at least five more from the darkness to the south. The all seem to rush the party, guarded not by strategy but by malice.

Actions?

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Date: 4 Grasses (April), Year 44
Time: 19:30
Conditions: 44F, damp
Known Spells in Effect: None
Light bearers: Tempus holding Lucas' torch, burns through 20:20
Injury status: Tempus barely wounded

[scottjen]

Would we be able to retreat without an attack of opportunity from them, or are we already in melee from their rush?

[AleBelly]

none of you are in melee at this point