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File 142810302349.png - (918.99KB , 1280x800 , AbandonHopeII.png )
632823 No. 632823 ID: 9c7387

chapter 2

into the jaws of the beast


not alone at least, but what awaits deep under this corrupted soil?
26 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 633258 ID: d3be40

You're going to need light to find your enemies.
>>
No. 633259 ID: 88960e

>it's not like the blind critters will notice anyways, right?
You don't know everything will be blind.

I'd dim the light. You're traveling with a thief- no reason to throw away stealth.

Check the dead end before proceeding, just in case.
>>
No. 633276 ID: cf91e4

>>633255
I say to the right, we can do the old fashion maze solving trick of following the right wall. Maybe place a bit of stone/wood/whatever you can notice the way you came from though. It wouldn't be good to go in a circle without knowing.
And go with keeping the light up. Just personal preference in my case.
>>
No. 633409 ID: 225ed3
File 142850707907.png - (410.73KB , 1280x800 , hoole.png )
633409

>>633276
sounds reasonable, you follow the right wall... without actually touching it, it turns right... then left and comes to a sudden dead end, the wall here seems quite worked on, you see some glittering rocks, metal maybe? and a pike embeded in the wall, you walk towards it but Tanavar holds your elbow and points down, placing his finger in front of his face motioning for silence, a perfectly round hole sits in front of the wall, almost five foot diameter and with incredibly smooth walls
>>
No. 633411 ID: d3be40

Leave it alone for now, you don't need a pike.
>>
No. 633413 ID: 88960e

This looks like a trap. And something was already dragged down there, to judge by the claw marks.

Pity we've got no mirror, or magical way to peer over the edge without getting close. I guess he could try and sneak up on it, but I'm not sure if that's smart.

...I suppose if anything we're down there, you could collapse things on it with earth magic?
>>
No. 633418 ID: c26446

Remember the map. This may very well be a dead end. Can Tanavar smell anything in particular from the suspicious pit?
>>
No. 633421 ID: 225ed3
File 142851488782.png - (58.63KB , 367x323 , ohrightthemap.png )
633421

>>633418
(... I had forgotten entirely about that map! I only had the one in my notes but forgot Lina got that one in the other thread, thanks <_< )

you ask Tanavar to inspect the area while you take out the map from your pack


he sniffs around and nods for a moment, backing away from the hole to the corner you came from
"... a coyote definitely marked territory here, and seemed frustrated" he inches closer towards the hole and sniffs the marks "rodent, no doubt, and scared, very scared" he lays down on the floor, running a hand down the border of the hole and takes a quick sniff as close as he can get before crawling back to you

"it's too smooth, I don't detect any trace of blood, and there are no scents from the hole, it seems to go waaay down but I really don't want to risk it"

you take out the map, running a finger over it, you trace the route you took so far, making a note that it needed to be turned upside down for you to read it, it was probably drawn from a perspective from in to outside
>>
No. 633427 ID: d3be40

>>633421
Explore each area, and scavenge as much stuff as you can. Prepare yourself before going down the corridor with the big "NO!!" sign on the map.
>>
No. 633432 ID: 296917

Alright let's leave the hole alone.
Go back to the intersection and go the other way, then take two lefts. Let's see what that branch that heads back towards the cliff face is about.
>>
No. 633462 ID: 5db52c

>>633421
Not a great map. Everything is a dead end, turn back, or no.

But yeah, this hole is such a trap. Back the heck off. Check the next dead end.
>>
No. 633592 ID: 225ed3
File 142860324639.png - (376.46KB , 1280x800 , deaddeaddeadend.png )
633592

rolled 10 = 10

>>633432

sounds good, there might be something of interest in that scribbly dead end, so, start walking towards the end, and... ugh

>>633462
that stench, you cover your nose and turn to Tanavar, he has a stern look and steps in front of you "it's not a preety sight, but we came here with a mission, miss"

you walk forward towards the dead end and run across two mice trapped in the wall, they have rough work clothes, the one in the right has a bewildered expression, and both are covered in blood, you hear the buzzing of flies around them, Tanavar walks closer and nods ".. they where mercy killed by the Lynx and Coyote likely, but I doubt they could have trapped the mice like that in stone
>>
No. 633593 ID: d3be40

>>633592
Damnit. Nothing you can do for these two, but their corpses might make a good distraction. Keep going, but place a lantern here as a marker.
>>
No. 633597 ID: 225ed3
File 142860375161.png - (104.93KB , 1280x800 , crawlers.png )
633597

both of you look up, you hear a slithering coming from the hallway on the left and Tanavar picks up a scent, looking up, you see a group of four giant centdipe-like critters slowly aproaching
>>
No. 633600 ID: 88960e

>but I doubt they could have trapped the mice like that in stone
Your master could have, though. Big question why he'd be trapping people, though.

>monsters
Can you do that trick you did before, shoving a spike of earth to block the door? They're on the ceiling- if you shoved them off, they'd fall, and be vulnerable to a free attack.
>>
No. 633632 ID: 225ed3

rolled 19, 18 + 4 = 41

>>633600
fight!

you step behind Tanavar and focus your magic strenght in your hands, with a swift twirl, you smash your warhammer in the floor while the other focuses energies up to the roof, focusing on the nearest worm-like critter

it's not like they have much chance of dodging, as they are firmly clinging to the ceeling!
>>
No. 633633 ID: 225ed3
File 142862102565.png - (248.20KB , 625x463 , SMASHexclamationmark.png )
633633

rolled 5 + 2 = 7

direct hit! the shockwave travels on the rocks and causes a spike to form directly over the critter, you impact the beast directly in it's middle, making it shriek loudly
>>
No. 633634 ID: 225ed3
File 142862127863.png - (289.39KB , 1280x800 , skreeee.png )
633634

rolled 3 + 1 = 4

SKREEE! the critter trashes about in pain, that hit the spot apparently, however it still looks lively, by the time it resumes it's trashing...
>>
No. 633640 ID: 225ed3
File 142862165527.png - (90.29KB , 1148x514 , combatcrawlers.png )
633640

rolled 1 = 1

it doesn't falls from the ceeling, but it rather remains hanging from the spike, a large splash of blood gushes down as the wound worsens, leaving it also helpless
(foe1 recives -1hp for a number of turns equal to dice result)

the other worms ignore this and continue their slow advance towards you

damage recived:
L:0
T:0
1:8
2:0
3:0
4:0
>>
No. 633641 ID: 60700b

>>633640
Could you use terms other than L and T for dice results? Not all of us will understand it. (Me included in those that don't understand)
>>
No. 633644 ID: 225ed3

>>633641
L=lina sheep, T=tanavar coyote, so far only the nearest worm labeled as 1 has recieved damagr, it's pinned to the ceeling since this was surprise round, Lina and Tanavar get to act once before the worms catch up
>>
No. 633647 ID: 5db52c

>>633641
I think that's just totaling damage taken between characters. Lina, Tanavar, and 3 of the worms are unhurt, worm 1 took 8 damage.

>what do
Letting yourselves get backed into a dead end is a bad idea. There's nothing wrong with keeping your distance, but you should be backing towards the entrance, not towards the mouse corpses. Depending on how quickly the worms move, it might already be too late to correct this.

Worm 1 is slowed / pinned in place for the moment. Until it frees itself, that makes worm 2 the most pressing threat. Crossbow or thrown dagger to the face?

Assuming we just cast spike growth, and that we started at full capacity, we're now down to 6 mana.
>>
No. 633649 ID: 225ed3

>>633647
There is still time to move before they catch up

Thorn burst was used, no mana is spent yet, spike growth can potentially hit them all

Lina and Tanavar can move and attack or attack first and move later, unless they use an item or something more complex, if they move they could avoid #2 from reaching them
>>
No. 633653 ID: f75cf9

>>633649
Thorn burst seems pretty effective, and since it has no cost, may as well keep doing it. Unless it's something complex enough to prevent Lina moving, since getting out of the way is good. I don't know that she has any other ranged capabilities though? If it's too complex probably just back off and be prepared to bash.

Tanavar should shoot and then move away.
>>
No. 633654 ID: 5db52c

>>633653
Yeah, these things move slowly, and thorns slow them down further. I see no reason not to kite them, keeping our distance and using conserving mana.
>>
No. 633657 ID: 61d26b

>>633653
Thorn burst is free, it was a lucky shot that this one gets pinned, spike burst costs 2 mana but covers 20 Sq ft it can harm the whole four twice if played right
>>
No. 633719 ID: 225ed3
File 142868153914.png - (228.96KB , 701x605 , aimtanavar.png )
633719

rolled 11 + 4 = 15

>>633653
Tanavar steps back slightly as he pulls out a regular bolt, locking it in place, he takes aim at the second critter
>>
No. 633723 ID: 225ed3

rolled 3 = 3

(accidentally posted the outcome of the attack in the discussion thread, but it was too good of an outcome not to keep it! roll in >>/questdis/90183 )

the giant worm falls down, emitting a quick skree-ing sound as it flails, the bolt digging further down as it hits the floor
>>
No. 633724 ID: 225ed3
File 142868512149.png - (414.27KB , 528x754 , hammersmash.png )
633724

rolled 4, 7 + 4 = 15

alright! joint efforts! Lina takes aim at the fallen worm, attempting to pin it in place right as it falls
>>
No. 633725 ID: 225ed3
File 142868570136.png - (216.03KB , 1280x800 , itsnotveryeffective.png )
633725

smash!

either the spike you conjured was made out of too brittle materials or you struck the critter in a particularly strong spot because it seemed to be unaffected entirely, it hisses angrily and lunges at Tanavar, not quite reaching him but it's dangerously close now

worm1 trashes about attempting to free itself, but in the process only bleeds out a little more

worms 3 and 4 quickly slither by closing in
>>
No. 633726 ID: 225ed3
File 142868626692.png - (180.55KB , 1280x800 , crawlersround1.png )
633726

end round 1, you keep backing away, this time towards the door, Tanavar remains in front of you but he doesn't seems to be able to take hits very well...

first worm is pinned helplessly, second was unaffected by your thorn but still has the bolt deeply stabbed on it's side and it's angrily lunging towards the coyote mercenary

damage recived:
L:0
T:0
1:9
2:13
3:0
4:0

round over, tanavar and lina are next again
>>
No. 633728 ID: 88960e

All right. Swap. Lina, it's hammer time. Get in there and act as the tank so Tanavar can get some sneak attacks in.

Maybe barkskin? I'm not sure if that would be wasting a once a day casting, or if miserliness is setting us up to soak a bunch of damage.
>>
No. 633762 ID: 57d76a

>>633728
Sounds good. I don't think barkskin yet, hopefully we can squeak through without getting bit.
>>
No. 633790 ID: 225ed3
File 142871256979.png - (365.89KB , 1280x800 , motherearthslove.png )
633790

rolled 12 + 6 = 18

>>633728
>>633762

alright, so, magic works against them, but it's not foolproof, you know? it's time to deliver some divine love to these critters

in the face

with a huge swing of a blessed hammer

so you rush in front of Tanavar, asking him to do his stuff as you swing using both hands at worm #2
>>
No. 633794 ID: 225ed3
File 142871303220.png - (290.52KB , 1280x800 , cracktilde.png )
633794

rolled 7 + 4 = 11

>>633790
nailed it! square in the face too, hope that messes up some of it's hideous teeth, gah these things unnerve you to no end!
>>
No. 633795 ID: 225ed3
File 142871376158.png - (378.05KB , 991x800 , HitEmHigh.png )
633795

rolled 1, 7 + 4 = 12

>>633728
CRACK!

splatter~

okay +1 respect to sheep from now on for Tanavar, gooey bug brainbits paint the walls of the mine and he barely dodges a flying piece of antenae, this boosts his resolve, Tanavar doesn't sees much point in beating a dead horse so he tries to be cool as well, aiming his crossbow sideways towards the helpless pinned worm in the ceeling

(due to falling damage, sneak attack bonus, and bleeding, (an average cumulative of +7 plus whatever the shot is) I'll say a positive hit will auto-kill it to avoid pointless dice rolling, unless you guys want the gritty detail?)
>>
No. 633797 ID: 225ed3

rolled 1 + 1 = 2

>>633795
... and that's a miss, good job looking cool Tanavar, the bolt smashes to pieces in the cave's ceeling, the worm startled shakes itself free from the spike and falls down to the ground with a loud thud, at least taking some damage from the awkward fall
>>
No. 633798 ID: 225ed3
File 142871437798.png - (329.64KB , 1280x800 , attackofthethreetans.png )
633798

rolled 19 + 4 = 23

too late for anything! third worm lunges at Lina, she manages to react, whipping her shield in front of her face...
>>
No. 633799 ID: 225ed3
File 142871468490.png - (388.09KB , 1280x800 , attackofthethreetansplusfour.png )
633799

rolled 3, 4 + 2 = 9

a loud bleat echoes in the mine, the critter bites into her arm right before the shield, the other worm slithers by and rears in before attacking

worm 1 merely squirms in place, it seems very weak but it starts to incorporate with an angry hiss, glaring at Tanavar
>>
No. 633801 ID: 225ed3
File 142871507998.png - (194.02KB , 1280x800 , crawlersround2.png )
633801

end round 2

the worm bitting on you doesn't seems to want to let go but you shove it away with your shield, giving half a step back, with a twirl, you put your hammer in front of you, you didn't came this far to be eaten by some worm did you? Tanavar shuffles his feet backwards, some valiant predator he is turning out to be!


damage recieved
Lina: 9
Tanavar: 0
1: 11
2: 30 [dead]
3: 0
4: 0
>>
No. 633802 ID: 5db52c

Huh. Those things are bigger than I expected. And hit harder, too.

Lina's down to 15 hp. The worms are capable of doing (at least) 9 damage. A concentrated attack could easily be fatal.

>what do
If we concentrate fire on worm 3, we can probably kill it. (Lina smash it against the wall, follow up with a sneak attack). Then we both move backwards. Worm 1 won't be able to catch up injured, worm 4 will close.
>>
No. 633892 ID: b9f018

>>633802
That works. Stay to the left so the corner is in worm 1's way in case it has a spit attack or something.
>>
No. 634017 ID: 61d26b
File 142886703686.png - (361.15KB , 800x1280 , linahammersmash3.png )
634017

rolled 13, 3 + 6 = 22

Ok this should be easy, you take the chance as the worm edges around the corner and swing your whole body to pin it down full force, aiming at the middle for a wider target,
>>
No. 634019 ID: 61d26b
File 142886736141.png - (366.92KB , 800x1280 , tanavaraim3.png )
634019

rolled 6, 6 + 4 = 16

Tanavar shuffles back while he loads the next bolt, he takes aim and fires, no fancy side aiming, its pointless to try to impress her if she ends up dead, as the hammer impacts the critter, he simultaneously shoots at its face trying to discourage it from advancing further
>>
No. 634024 ID: 61d26b
File 142886790163.png - (430.41KB , 800x1280 , hammerhitboltmiss.png )
634024

rolled 7 + 4 = 11

Hammer hits dead on, the bolt however snaps in half as it impacts the wall, you roll your eyes and snap a bleat at Tanavar to take it seriously, some mercenary he is turning out to be, you start to retreat and yank him over to safety
>>
No. 634026 ID: 61d26b
File 142886866612.png - (260.30KB , 800x1280 , woundedworm.png )
634026

rolled 5, 16 + 2 = 23

A eerie squeal echoes as the third worm starts flailing in agony, you literally hit a nerve there and it starts to twitch in pain and confusion, meanwhile fourth worm attempts to close in, unexpectedly lashing out one of its tentacles at Lina's ankle, however, the flailing of the other worm gets in the way
>>
No. 634029 ID: 61d26b
File 142886953193.png - (326.12KB , 800x1280 , end round3.png )
634029

You trip due to the unexpected reach of the worm tentacles but its not yet near enough to bite, in your next turn you either full on attack, cast a spell but stay there or do nothing but get up and run. Worm 3 is busy flailing and worm 1 says f#€& the lot of you and slithers towards the mouse corpses

damage taken
Lina :9
tanavar: 0
1: 11
2: 30 [dead]
3: 17 [very wounded]
4:0
>>
No. 634048 ID: 296917

>>634029
How about you grapple its shit, and Tanavar stabs it.
>>
No. 634050 ID: 5db52c

Geeze, so much for an accuracy bonus versus distracted or immobilized opponents. He's missing things that aren't even trying to dodge. Bad luck.

>what do
Ignore worms 1 and 3, they're basically out of the fight for now. Worm 1 might heal if it gets to eat, and corpse desecration is bad, but we have to prioritize protecting the living.

Tanavar, step forward and around and attack worm 4. It's holding / focused on Lina, which means it's either open to attack, or has to relinquish that advantage to deal with you. Either stab / shoot it down, or slash the tentacle holding her.

Lina, thorn burst, straight up from under worm 4. With you forward, Tanavar to the side (attacking down) and worm 3 to the other side, it has nowhere to go, unless it has the foresight to disengage and do a hard reverse.
>>
No. 634114 ID: 225ed3
File 142892699694.png - (593.16KB , 1280x800 , linatanavarworm4.png )
634114

rolled 9, 9, 14, 11 = 43

>>634050
... that's a thing, good plan, too. (Stuffing all 4 accuracy dice rolls here, Lina's rolls are the first two, Tanavar's rolls are the last two, both have a +4)

You feel the tendrils slither on your ankle and out of reactionyou slam your palm on the ground conjuring a spike, bleating angrily at Tanavar to shoot it good this time
>>
No. 634116 ID: 225ed3
File 142892816442.png - (273.82KB , 1280x800 , wormstab.png )
634116

rolled 6, 3 + 4 = 13

You feel the worm tug up at your leg roughly as it jerks up from the dual impact, bracing yourself to thr hammer you try kicking at it with your free leg so it lets go
>>
No. 634117 ID: 225ed3
File 142892877073.png - (367.11KB , 800x1280 , liftLina.png )
634117

rolled 17, 12 = 29

The worm trashes about, it suddently lifts up attempting to yank you up, you try to tug yourself fre and kick at it wildly! (First result is Lina, second is worm, Lina has +2 to her check)
>>
No. 634118 ID: 225ed3

You kick at it repeatedly and the tentacles start to slide, at last it lets go and you fall over with a thud, Tanavar quickly takes your hand and drags you just out of the tentacles' reach, panting, the worm hisses furiously and tries to catch up but only manages to injury itself more on the spike

End round 4
damage taken 
Lina :9 
tanavar: 0 
1: 11 
2: 30 [dead] 
3: 17 [very wounded] 
4:16 [very wounded, pinned, bleeding]
>>
No. 634120 ID: 88960e

Assuming worm 1 is still far enough away not to bother with (we didn't get a map update this time, and if it's disappeared or closed that changes things) it's time to coup de grâce worms 3 and 4. They're both heavily wounded and partially immobile, one careful tap each should do it. Prioritize 4 first (in case of a miss) since it's closer.
>>
No. 634121 ID: 225ed3

>>634120
Derp right. 1 is examining the corpses, 3 is now weakly twitchingm 4 is flailing but pinned to the spike. So it cant catch up. Its harder to edit the map on the tablet
>>
No. 634162 ID: 296917

>>634120
I agree.
>>
No. 634198 ID: b64b3b
File 142895680207.jpg - (135.98KB , 800x1108 , 3and4dead_01.jpg )
634198

>>634120
>>634162
Sounds like a plan, neither worm is willing to fight so each of you take it up to dispatch them, you hammersmash #4 full gorce and Tanavar gives it a swift series of stabbings to #3 until it ceases moving. #1 is nibbling away at the mouse corpse leg until it comes off, you can't take much of that sight and smell as you dash off a few feet away from the scene to throw up
>>
No. 634221 ID: 5db52c

>you can't take much of that sight and smell as you dash off a few feet away from the scene to throw up
Well, that's unfortunate. We can't really afford to be wasting food that way.

Lina's being sick, Tanavar, you're up. Shoot the last worm in the back of the head while it's distracted by food. Use stealth to set up the shot.
>>
No. 634253 ID: 225ed3
File 142897301083.png - (256.88KB , 1280x800 , theend.png )
634253

there we go, it wasn't as elegant as you thought it'd be but you dealt with the menaces


huff, okay, time to regain composture, you twitch an ear, in the background you hear a crossbow bolt being fired followed by a loud crunch, not wanting to turn around you wait until you hear Tanavar reasuring you, all four are dead now

slowly, you get up and rub your eyes with a weak smile, though clumsy, you have to admit his help was great, it's good not to be alone, but enough of that, there's a path ahead and you need to go on, even if you clearly don't feel very sure about it

--

Tanavar time~

taking a day long break from this while I organize my thoughts in the Discusion thread, and give updates to Lina and Tanavar who just leveled up, we start on Wednesday taking control of Tanavar who is at the moment more focused and cold minded, or at least should be

critiques and comments welcome there, thanks for all the support <3

>>
No. 634268 ID: 296917

Alright, time to rest a little and heal that wound. I'm sure glad thorn burst is a free spell...
>>
No. 634269 ID: 5db52c

>what do
Standard procedure- stab / smack the bodies just to be sure.

Not sure we really want to leave bodies of the mice here for anything else to get into. Not sure we can do much though- we don't have the time to magic them free, drag them outside any bury them. We don't have fire spells.

Maybe we could just sink them the rest of the way into the stone? (Although I'm not sure Lina's earth-shaping is that good). And purify would restore the bodies, not hurry them along, I think.

>>634117
Congrats on being too distracted by the fight to notice the chance to see up (down) her skirt, Tan.
>>
No. 634576 ID: 225ed3
File 142911273312.png - (215.96KB , 1280x800 , thatsalotofworms.png )
634576

you are Tanavar now

>>634269
>>peek up/down
that may or may not have been the reason you kept missing, trying too hard to impress her or being too distracted gawking at her, but that's turning out bad, you have to settle down your feelings, focus, stay cool

while she takes her time to heal her wound, you gaze around, the scent of decay in the mice is bound to attract more, and judging by how much worm#1 was enjoying the rotten leg, it is likely more of these or worse carrion eating critters will come, you start to pile up the worms under the mice and take out one of the bottles of kerosene you packed from the barn, however, would the smoke attract more critters? it might not be a bad thing for you, to use it as distraction, you consider asking Lina but she seems to be spacing out, kneeling on the spot, you're not sure if she's meditating or zoning out
>>
No. 634596 ID: 88960e

>>632823
Um, what's the air slash ventilation situation, here? You're not gonna choke yourself or us up the oxygen starting a fire, right?
>>
No. 634601 ID: 296917

Instead, how about you remove the corpses from the mine? Bury them. Oooooor we could keep going and try to see if we can find survivors before we take care of the dead. I'm partial to the latter, because we shouldn't be wasting time and smoke inside a mine is a bad idea.
>>
No. 634618 ID: 01745f

>>634601
Seconding going onwards. Dealing with the corpses is a lower priority when the source of the problem still seems to be active.
>>
No. 634630 ID: 5db52c

>>634601
Well the problem with burial is it's a time / labor sink. We have to magic the mice free of the stone or butcher their bodies out of their restraints, we have to drag the bodies out, dig a hole deep enough scavengers won't dig 'em up anyways, and then fill it in again.

>>634596
Which way the smoke is gonna go would impact things. What does your nose / thief skills tell you about the air currents down here?
>>
No. 634641 ID: 225ed3
File 142913372862.png - (96.08KB , 461x446 , sniffsniff.png )
634641

rolled 17, 16 = 33

you remove the wraps from your nose and sniff...

ears flapping at the same time and you try to calculate the direction of the wind, it's not something they taught you at the mercenary guild but it's worth a shot
>>
No. 634642 ID: 225ed3

huh, it's not that hard is it? you smell the damp air from inside the cave blowing past you, and your ears hear it's subtle whistling as it goes by, you almost could dare say there is a distant dripping of water waaay down

the little particles of dust settling from the battle seem to also roll out towards the entrance of the cave but it's a very slow and steady pace
>>
No. 634810 ID: 2691c4
File 142921613750.jpg - (171.43KB , 800x1108 , Keepwalking_01(1).jpg )
634810

Hmmm yeah too much risk, too much hassle. Lina finnaly gets up and she informs you that she has a new offensive spell ready, after talking it out. You both agree not to deal with th corpses now .

still shaken, Lina asks you to guide her past the bodies as she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, with the worms out of the way you slowly help her past the site of the fight. Now th choice is to keep to the right wall or explore the branch with a dead end and a squiggly scribble
>>
No. 634816 ID: 296917

>>634810
Squiggly scribble.
>>
No. 634827 ID: 01745f

Explore the dead ends. We want to make sure creatures are not hiding there to attack from behind later.
>>
No. 634828 ID: 5db52c

Dead ends, first.
>>
No. 634835 ID: 60700b

>>634816
>>634827
>>634828
What they said.
>>
No. 634951 ID: 225ed3
File 142928341989.png - (255.78KB , 1280x800 , second Deadend.png )
634951

>>634827
>>634828
>>634835

you nudge Lina to open her eyes after you go past the corpses, facing down the hallway, you notice a caution sign placed by mercenaries

"careful with metal equipment"

as you inch closer, everything is coated in a fine red dust, several large critters seem to be slain, way in the bottom of the hallways, outisde of Lina's visual reach, you notice a set of stone bars and several skulls, bones and othersuch scattered all over the place

wait... there is a little squealing coming from the side of the big critters, you notice a small lump moving about
>>
No. 634964 ID: 57d76a

>>634951
>metal equipment
>fine red dust
Rust?

>Squealing
What are we looking at? Child of one of the critters? Rat? Unidentified monsterling?
>>
No. 634971 ID: 296917

Ask Lina if she's good with animals (she is). She can go speak with what I assume is a baby.
>>
No. 635006 ID: d36a13
File 142930802662.jpg - (98.99KB , 800x1108 , Notas_20150417_161729_01.jpg )
635006

Both approach the large critters carefully in case any springs alive and attack, Lina with readied hammer and you with crossbow pointed. They seem to be flea-like critter , allof them with several slash wounds, you estimate at least several hours long. Aproaching the source of movement you see a smaller one nosing at the dead ones

You turn to Lina and ask if she can do anything, she gently places her hammer down on tge ground a few seconds , then her eyes glow in a pale red, she speaks on a much lower pitch, emmitting little clicks and hisses. Almost like the gentle sound of gravel rolling down a hill

the critter responds with squeals and raspy breaths. After a brief exchange she pulls out a hand axe from her pack and throws it in front of the dog sized flea, turning towards you she smiles "it was just scared and hungry" the flea thing uses its antennae to grip the axe and bring it close to it's maw where it starts nibbling on it, the axe slowly corroding to fine dust
>>
No. 635009 ID: 5db52c

A rust monster!

Well, so long as it doesn't try and eat the gear we're actually using, that's fine, I guess.

I'd almost wonder if it's worth taking with us, but we're going to be fighting monsters, not people with weapons to eat. That, and an untrained wild animal isn't the best to travel with.
>>
No. 635014 ID: 296917

>>635006
I don't suppose we could ask what happened here? It's just a baby, so if we bring it with us to possibly bypass any metal obstructions, it should stay out of combat.
>>
No. 635043 ID: a9753c

Have the little guy wait for you at the entrance to the cave. He might be useful later on - most enemy gear is made of tempered metals, and it's not like there's a metal shortage.
>>
No. 635046 ID: 471ecd

Does it know anything about what went on here?
>>
No. 635478 ID: 225ed3
File 142955074740.png - (143.34KB , 574x557 , LinaRusty.png )
635478

>>635009

shush, the politically correct term is Critter! even 'Mite, how can you call something this cute a monster? you should totally give it a name

>>635043
>>635014
>>635046

Lina talks to it some more but in the end she takes the critter and sets it on her head, the rust mite rubs its antennaes on her horns playfully as she glances over to you "it doesn't knows much, when it arrived everyone was dead, not much of an emotional critter, it's just happy to be fed now"

well, no harm bringing it along, your only concern is your two daggers, as the crossbow is made from a non-steel alloy, so it won't hurt, but if you want to keep him alive, yeah, leaving out of battle is preferred

you wait while Lina plays with the mite and you scoot over to the end of the hallway, there are several remains, the bones look clean and probably some 2 weeks old or so, no real signs of violence... the skull count seems... 5 and fraction, and the 'bars' of stone seem clearly made with magic
>>
No. 635499 ID: 296917

>>635478
Doesn't seem like anything more to be done here. Let's go back to the intersection and try the other path.
>>
No. 635513 ID: 5db52c

>shush, the politically correct term is Critter! even 'Mite, how can you call something this cute a monster?
I'd rebut that's not what the monster manual calls them, but I somehow doubt it's a politically correct publication. :p

>no harm bringing it along
From a completely cynical game-play perspective, an adorable pet might be a useful resource in keeping sanity scores up. (Might be double edged if it gets horribly killed, though).

>food?
Well, I guess we just have to hope there's metal in the mine. Not unreasonable if this is it's natural habitat.

>the 'bars' of stone seem clearly made with magic
More work of Lina's master? That's the second example of magical earthen restraints in short order. Why was he locking the mice up to die? Were they possessed or something, and it was the only option besides killing them? He thought he'd be back?
>>
No. 635842 ID: 225ed3
File 142971775376.png - (571.90KB , 1280x800 , handbyhand.png )
635842

alright, enough here, you hear some noises down the hallway, Lina seems to notice them too, as you head over to the hallway, Lina signals to wait and lowers the intensity of her lamp as much as she can

.. it'd be safer if you take her hand, right? as you reach the edge of the bifurcation, you notice the terrain starts angling downards sharply, the intersection suddently starts sloping down, apparently the end of the longer path is an access to a lower level of the mine, in that direction, you hear the disctint grunts of the blue critters you faced earlier... except there seems to be quite a bunch of them
>>
No. 635845 ID: 88960e

I suggest leaving the cuddlebug behind, telling it to stay put, and coming back after the fighting. No need to get it hurt.

If there's a large group of enemies, we should start off hitting the group with an area spell while they're not expecting it (spike growth, probably. It would also hinder their ability to charge or gang up on us if the terrain is all chewed up). Time it so that Tav opens with a ranged assassinate at the same time or right before the spell goes off for maximum effect.
>>
No. 635856 ID: 296917

>>635842
Lina has a trap spell. We can lure them onto that. First though, go scout (alone). Stealth mode activate.
>>
No. 635868 ID: d3be40

>>635845
Seconded.
>>
No. 635887 ID: 225ed3
File 142974244655.png - (253.68KB , 1280x800 , downthesecondlevel.png )
635887

rolled 10 + 6 = 16

>>635856
ok, you leave Lina behind, she inches back to the bifurcation where she leaves another hand axe for the rust baby quietly

you head further down the shaft for the second level, the air feels humid and dense, so far you spot one sitting down, apparently eating? one is smashing it's stone axe on the wall and you spot other three partially around the corner, judging by the grunts, there's one or two more behind, so, 6-7? you make sure to keep to the lower left corner as you slowly make your way in
>>
No. 635888 ID: 225ed3
File 142974273602.png - (335.15KB , 1280x800 , downthesecondlevel2.png )
635888

>>635887
okay, seven for sure, you slowly scoot back, it's not your most silent sneak, but they seem rather distracted and not really the attentive kind

one of them is definitely eating in the corner, and one is probably asleep, now the choice is, have lina cast the spikes directly under them right after your first shot, or cast it on the way and lure them in with your shot?

either way, you backtrack slightly so you can inform Lina of the plan of action
>>
No. 635891 ID: 296917

>>635888
Lure them into the trap. She can slam them with those free single spikes too. Maybe tangle one of them with vines if they get past the trap. Gotta work on crowd control in this situation.
>>
No. 635906 ID: 809713

The hallway is a better contained space than the room. If you can get them in there, the spikes will be worse.

Assassinate one at range to lure the angry creatures into the hallway, then blast the group with spikes.
>>
No. 636686 ID: d5d12f
File 143018480089.png - (647.08KB , 1280x800 , sketch1429896453572.png )
636686

rolled 13, 4 + 8 = 25

you whisper over to Lina the plan, she nods and informs you that she's going to set the little 'mite back and convince it to stay on the spot

you nod and turn around, preparing crossbow to fire off the first bolt at her signa-whoaaaaaa


you feel a warmth spread on your shoulder, turning around, Lina whispers as her eyes glow "May the blessings of mother earth lead us trough perils and help us heal this mine from it's impurities... and may your shots be true THIS time" she adds with a little grin "... let's show them what we can do, bad boy" she steps back twirling her hammer and holding it above her head, waiting for you to shoot
>>
No. 636699 ID: d5d12f
File 143018774924.png - (351.92KB , 1280x800 , boomheadshot.png )
636699

rolled 15 + 4 = 19

>>636686
zzzzzzzwhhhTOK


the larger figure swings his axe up as the bolt hits straight in the back of it's head, the splatter of blood in the wall indicates the bolt managed to go all the way across, the only noise you hear comes a few seconds after from the two nearest critters, they emmit a sharp shriek of anger as the bigger figure falls down in a bloody mess


o.o guy doesn't has a chance to survive the hit, not even on the lowest damage roll

you prepare your next bolt, giving half a step back, you brace and try to keep the brave appearance as Lina swings the hammer down and though you can sense a slight shockwave under your feet, you don't really notice any change, only under very VERY close attention you notice the razor sharp stone formations covered in a fine sand, okay....

steady.... steady...


"~ Oh Ragar you fool!"

you blink, Lina, behind the corner, taps the hammer on a rock in the floor rythmically with a hip sway

"betrayed and enraged,
you had the chance, but no princess
was quite the same in your heart~!"

her bleating singing voice echoes, the verse cut short by a series of angry hisses and growls from the beasts below

Lina tilts her head up as she continues to sing in time for the beasts to race uphill in a rage, straight towards you

perform check for the song!
>>
No. 636702 ID: d5d12f
File 143018889635.png - (349.88KB , 1280x800 , OdeToLadgertha.png )
636702

rolled 3, 3 = 6

"Oh Ragnar what a fool~!
that sly valkyre was both
your savior and your doom!"

Lina taps the hammer rythmically, the echo of her song starts behaving strangely, the critters seem disoriented, even your ears can't tell where exactley the song comes from with all the echo in the mine, one by one, they rush full speed trough the field of spikes, the first three ones seemingly enraged plow trough most of the spike field until they fall, unable to go on, while the last ones to catch up barely enter the field but in their confusion they seem driven to go on

Lina twirls her hammer over her shoulder as she faces the beasts trapped by the spikes

"Ladgertha, as fair as she is fierce
was your vice and your virtue,
but such is love, oh bold and brave
Ragnar, all in all we know it was worth it!"

with a wide arc of her hammer, she enlarges one of the spikes holding the nearest critter, impaling it as it remains helpless, looking over her shoulder at you, she nods "alright pup, let's dance!"
>>
No. 636706 ID: d5d12f
File 143018953257.png - (224.78KB , 1280x800 , endround1.png )
636706

>>636702

... that was massive! but, right, gotta think quick! finish off the ones in front or aim for the ones in back?

Damage taken:
Tanavar:0
Lina:0
Rusty(?):0
1: -dead-
2: 30 -dead-
3: 18 -prone-
4: 12 -prone-
5: 12 _charging_
6: 6 _charging_
7: _charging_
>>
No. 636707 ID: d3be40

Cast magic and fire bolts until they come into close combat range, and then step back to the right and pummel while you can!

And where did the little guy go?
>>
No. 636713 ID: d5d12f

>>636707
Red spot in the map with antennaes
>>
No. 636723 ID: 809713

>finish off the ones in front or aim for the ones in back?
Let the melee fighter worry about finishing off the prone ones close to you. You should be picking off the ones further back charging. We want to use arrows and the terrain to keep the number that can engage her at once limited.
>>
No. 636727 ID: e114bc

>>636723
Yeah.
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