IC Area - Chapter Three - "Lair of the Lizard Queen"

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "It sounds as though the door in the workshop is the way to go," Will considers. " Unless Glarpy knows more than he's letting on. Are you ready, Klarrrrchur - Firdle? I can't wait to get out of this stink! "

ACTIONS
Moves towards the workshop door.

[cupboardgnome]

Fridle
"Yes, I'm ready, although not entirely sure what for."

[apn]

Klarrrrchur followed by the towering Glarpy then Firdle and Slyclaw with Will in the rear move back into the workshop room.

The black/grey trail of pounded in sludge on the floor is heaviest going from the northern entrance to the south but in truth there are thousands of tiny footprints over time that give the place it's awful smell and dishevelled appearance, courtesy of the younglings that give the old Dhesiri no peace.

He limps along, still not quite believing that he is free. On several occasions he'd been caught and dragged back with each punishment worse than the last. To still be useful they couldn't kill him but could maim him enough that he'd not go far should he escape again, and so it proved to be.

Now he glanced about at the young warrior that had been bathing in Dhesiri leavings, a Wizard with a rumple hat who looked half dipped in the tar/sludge/poop and a Dwarf nigh on up to his chest stained by the filth. With the chopped leave fragments all over them they looked a sorry sight but could clearly handle themselves. He wondered if they could overcome the serious challenge they'd set themselves and resolved to die before the Dhesiri took him prisoner again. Tightening his hand on the poor but workable axe in his old leathery hand the Dhesiri limped along beside the Wizard as the group approached the door.

The Dwarf listened but heard nothing (OOC No roll required, because...) and nodded to the others before knocking the latch up with that notched axe. The door swung slightly open revealing a corridor beyond.

It turned immediately south then turned again after thirty feet to the east.

OOC Time is ticking on. Will and Firdle recover another Wiz apiece (15/20 Firdle 4/15 Will) and Will recovers a point of Strength (-5 to stats, with Str -1, Dex -2, Con -2 from the sickness)

How careful are the delvers going to be? Snail pace, checking everything? Steady pace, ready for ambush or jog on, hoping to get to the Queen before the spawning and this place is overrun with thousands of the nasty little blighters?

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "I suggest a steady pace that avoids blundering into obvious traps but gives us some chance of getting away before the temple is overrun," hints Will. "Unless those with more experience of Dhesiri culture can think of some reason why that is a bad idea? " He looks meaningfully at the two Dhesiri.

[apn]

"I cannot sssay what trapsss are laid for the unwary..." hissed Slyclaw.

"As a prisssoner in thisss place the warningsss were clear. If I try to venture from my 'cell' I will sssuffer." He points to his leg and the various criss crossed scars on his aged body. "They had to be careful to not damage me beyond all usssefulnesssss. I'm too old to eat and no one in thissss place, or anywhere in this part of the jungle, can craft weaponssss from the rubbissssh they throw at me like I can. I expect the Ssssnee would consssider me a prize."

"All I can ssssay issss that their mosssst useful or valuable placesss will be guarded or trapped. They are primitive, cannibalissstic, hossstile to everyone including each other and only the Queen - who rules through fear and keeping factions against each other - hassss true ambition or desssiresss and the will to direct effortsss towardsss defence and ssssecurity. I hope your young warrior friend can disssscover the world beyond thisss jungle and prove we are not all monssstersss, asss I have tried to do. In time he may dissscover the gift of language beyond that of the word 'Glarp'."

"Glarp." said Glarpy.

"That remainssss to be ssseen." replied Slyclaw.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Well Slyclaw that good to know!” Nods Klarrrrchur in appreciation. The right direction is good.

After they arrive at the door to the east of the workshop and the door is opens, he listens to Will...

“These Dhesiri are not the creative of lizard-men I have meet, I remember once, ach not again,” the Dwarf pauses, “I drift, still if they use this route repetitively, they must have found every trap that the old temple had. Still if they like the Snee, the crafty little bastard might have a few surprises. Let go slowly, but keep track of time. If things are going to get desperate and we note no major traps on main route we can quicken our pace!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... He also waits for Will's question to be answered by the two Dhesiri in their expanding group...

Edit: Sorted...

[apn]

The Delvers start walking down the corridor mindful for traps and and ambush.

"Glarp." said Slyclaw. Glarpy stopped and turned, scowling, then looked at Klarrrrchur.

Syclaw explained. "I ssssuggessted that sssince he issss your bodyguard and ... which word to usssse... 'Captain'... that he goesss firsssst. In cassse of trapssss."

Glarpy looked to Klarrrrchur for confirmation.

"There may be no trapsss or ambushesss... but thosssse little onesss run off ssssquealing and maybe thisss once they will be believed." explained Slyclaw.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“I've never sacrifice another in my stead,” growls the Dwarf, “and I'll not start now!”

The Dwarf moves forward tapping at the floor and walls, ever mindful of the ceiling.

“Glarp!” He stated indicating that Glarpy can walk beside him looking also.. “Two pair of eyes are better than one!”


Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Search for traps, keep reasonable pace and hope the lights not go out...

[apn]

When the will-o-wisp dies down and out Firdle quickly summons another into existence.

OOC Firdle gains a Wiz then spends it for the spell.

Klarrrrchur and Glarpy search the corridor for anything sneaky, shifty or downright dangerous.

OOC Delver applies,
apn rolls 2d6+15 = 1 +6 + 15=22 + 3 Delver (25) L2SR passed. Klarrrchur earns 14AP (total 26AP)

Glarpy isn't really much use as he stoops to scoop up black sludge every now and again and lick it. Will tries not to gag.

OOC Will is still (-5 to stats, with Str -1, Dex -2, Con -2 from the sickness)

The group follow the corridor around, probing and checking by the light of Firdles' spell until Klarrrrchur stops, puzzled. He stoops, leaning low to the ground and looks at a slab on a corner as the corridor turns right. As he does so he hears the faint roar of water somewhere. Not too close, but there's water... somewhere.

Looking about the Dwarf thinks that this particular slab is slightly uneven because it is attached to something - a string, cord or pulley - that does something else. Might be a trap or an alarm. He waves Firdles' light over and... sure enough, the path of black sludge footprints is darker around the slab. Sure, some have stood on it but most go around.

Some of the footprints on the slab look really fresh - like petrified Glarplings getting scared off by a warrior who might eat them only ten minutes ago type fresh.

OOC Go around it or try to 'set it off'?

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Lets go around,” states Klarrrrchur. He takes out one of his spikes and scratches the wall with a cross (x) about a foot long of each angle. “Note this, this slab should open and drop whoever steps onto it in a rushing river, which might sweep them outside only to be eaten by killer-fish!”


Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Wait for agreement from fellows. Watching the hallway...

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "It makes sense to me, not to take unnecessary risks," says Will who has been surprisingly quiet for a while. " if we have to return this way I hope your timely reminder will allow us to avoid the trap. "

[cupboardgnome]

Firdle
As he treads carefully around the slab, "This is truly the worst of places.  You never hear a bard sing about this when they tell tales of high adventure and mighty heroes!"  Looks disgusted as he pointlessly shakes his boot to dislodge some unidentifiable goop.  "Not exactly bardic material are we?"  
Actions
Firdle goes silent as he glumly returns to moving the Will-o-Wisp to where the others need it.

[apn]

With the trio of tar/gloop/stinking poop covered Delvers and their two unlikely lizardman companions squelching as they moved carefully around the slab after marking the position on the wall.

They left the distant sound of roaring water behind to continue along the corridor...



The group comes to a junction in the corridor and to the left is a door only ten feet away. To the right the corridor turns to the left.

Glarpy puts a hand on Klarrrrchurs shoulder and sniffs. His eyes narrow and teeth bare.

"Glaaaarrrrp." he hisses quietly.

Slyclaw shuffles forwards. "He ssssmellssss warriorsss." The old lizard sssniffsss. "Hisss sssensesss are better than mine. All I sssmell isss poop."

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Well I'd tell ya some chants doun ai the dock on a rowdy night Firdle!” Grunts Klarrrrchur, “and some might not be far fa what we might be experiencing here at this present moment!”

At The Dhesiri's converse...

“Coming from behind the door?” The Dwarf looked at Glarpy/Slimeclaw and points at door...


Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Ready for any assault, if he can smell them, then they can also be smelt. Good or bad thing, is they smell like a walking pile of dung, which should confuse any of the Glarp tribe for awhile, perhaps a few days...

[apn]

"glarp." said Slyclaw quietly and Glarpy nodded with a "glarp".

"He ssssaysss yesss. Warrior or guard cassste, ssstronger than him. He barely sssurvived the ssselection processsss for Guard, never mind passssing the testsss afterwardsss. There will be four or more Dhesssiri Guardsss in there." said Slyclaw with reference to the door and speaking in hushed tones.

"The young onesss will have told them of intrudersss but they have not charged out yet ssso may be ssstill in there with the younglingsss trying to convince them." pondered the old Lizardman.

The corridor was wide enough for three of the delvers including Glarpy to stand sided by side and for four or more of the Dhesiri to be in that room... this could get messy, especially if they could force their way around the Delvers and attack from the side/rear.

OOC Corridor is ten foot wide. You are hampered because whilst you need swinging room you need to give room to your fellow delvers.