A Rot in Telbridge

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Log Info

  • Title: A Rot in Telbridge
  • Emitter: Pendleton
  • Characters: Alakton level 2, Klythos level 3, Laefwyn level 3, Naneth level 4
  • Place: Telbridge, small farming town 2 days NE of Alexandria
  • Time: May 14, 2014
  • Summary: The small farming community of Telbridge has been afflicted by an enormous stench coming from ruins to the east. A sheep herder and his flock, grazing in the area, have all vanished... the town needs a few doughty adventurers to help them!
  • APL: 3
  • Encounter: 4 giant maggots (max hp) CR 1/2

It's early afternoon in the Adventurer's Guilde, and a posting conveys the desparate, and poorly-worded, plea of a small farming community for help. There's something about a missing shepherd, some horrible stench, and a great deal of fear.

Naneth just arrived back in town yesterday, but idle hands sit poorly with the half-elven ranger. She's often seen around the Adventurer's Guild picking up jobs, traveling the region of Alexandros and seeming to prefer not to stay in one place for too terribly long. When the new posting is made she leaves off her fletching to walk over and check it out, murmuring the name of the community to herself and then wondering of those nearby, whoever they might be, "Does anyone know how far that is from the capital?"

Klythos is running low on coin, that is to say, he doesn't have as much as he would like. The goblin works mainly for the coin, and the chance to find something intersting. We won't get into his enjoyment at blowing stuff up, possibly because its dampened by getting stabbed and clawed.

Klythos has joined the expedition to save the small farming community, and to that end he is riding his dog to make the journey. Whenever they do get going and all that.

"We have to start somewhere." A half-elf woman is speaking with an armour-clad man nearby the posting for aid. Laefwyn squints as she reads over the unrefined details, the verbiage used not what she's accustomed to. She takes in a deep breath, heaving a sigh as she turns to face him, offering a stiff shrug in his direction. "This city seems to be coming apart at its seams," She laments openly, lips tight in a frown. "And the less centralized society seems to suffer for it."

It's then that Naneth's words reach her, a brow quirking as she glances over her shoulder toward the voice. "I am unsure. I fear I've not long been in these lands, and the time I have spent within the walls has been stolen by gatherings pertaining to the war." Her body turns to more properly face the other half-elven lass, her chin lifted and eyes lazily half-lidded. "It can't be that far, and we would travel with you, if your hope is to defend."

"Of course we have to start somewhere. Civilization has always needed a guiding hand, that is what blessed Serriel has put upon Her faithful. We aspire to be the help for civilization." Alakton states to Laefwyn in return, lifting up an armoured hand to scratch at the underside of his chin a few times. He sniffs, before offering a wide smile towards Laefwyn and then to Naneth.

"Look at that! You're making colleagues already! It shouldn't be a far enough trip. It is farmland, and has to be somewhat close to the city. I'll go get Siege prepared to go. Griffon will probably be stuffing its face. I should have eaten earlier." The last statement is given an action as he pats at his stomach, before beaming at Laefwyn. "Proud of you, by the by. You're already talking to folk." He states as he trudges to begin the prep for travel.

After asking around a bit, Telbridge turns out to be about two days travel northeast, and the four set out. Thankfully, the weather, while a touch chilly, is clear and dry.

The goblin was likely referred to the others when everyone had signed up. He doesn't say much, just heads out when the group is ready to travel. His mount is a simple riding dog, and with the goblins light weight the animal doesn't have too much trouble keeping up with the larger folks.

"Hello again Klythos..." Naneth greets the goblin, and then offers her hand towards first Laefwyn, and then Alakton, "Naneth, Warden of the Mythwood." It's her standard greeting, and marks her as a fighter or ranger, given the title. A guardian of the local elven homelands, the vast and ancient Alexandros Mythwood. She grabs her sack and then slings it and her weapon over her shoulder, moving to set out with the others. Along the trip, she is mostly quiet, she'll answer direct questions and perhaps ask where Alakton and Laefwyn are from, but otherwise she seems to prefer traveling in silence. Though she's the only person on foot, she actually seems to keep up with the sort of utterly tireless forced pace that Rangers are famous for. At night, she shares food from her hunting, able to provide more than enough for the small party, but seems to shrug off any thanks that are offered.

Slower than the others, Laefwyn has taken up the rear position in this little caravan of theirs. She keeps to herself for the majority, staring hate-holes into the back of Alakton's head any time he yammers cheerfully as he's wont to do. Little is revealed about the red-haired lass aside from the fact that she is from the prison cathedral in Desolation, and her name, "Vanguard Laefwyn Istrates." Simple.

She does offer thanks when food is provided, but tends to remain ever-watchful when the rest take in their meals; a sentinel figure, stalwart and unwavering. ... and very dull in conversation.

Alakton, on the other hand, is as cheerful as Laefwyn is a staring stalward figure of her chosen deity. He yammers on near constantly, a talkative and happy individual on the back of his griffon. His introduction is long-winded, espousing the family name of El'aver, as well as the few memorable deeds of his family as Knights of the Land, as well as going on about being a member of the Order of Peace, his chosen duty to Serriel, his pilgrimage which led him to be Laefwyns.... friend. If anyone could call themselves a friend of the serious woman.

".. so, as I was saying..."

And he's off on another tirade about how his mother and father somehow managed to wipe out a small troll cavern that had taken up home nearby a village. Obviously there's a mention of there being something about a small contingent of adventurers, and something about setting the cave on fire, but it's mostly about the heroid stuff of Knights and all that business of being a Cavalier.

Says the Cavalier. On the back of a Griffon.

The first signs of the town are a thinning of trees into wide swards of grazing land, and farmland beyond. As the four make their way along the road, the bucolic town itself is nestled at the crook of a small river. Upstream a little, to the north, are tall standing stones in the river, the remnants of some great ancient and moldering bridge. Across the river untamed scrub and hills and then wild woods beyond.

The group is soon greated by farmers, intent on tending sprouts and checking water. They are distracted by their work, but there doesn't seem to be any great fear.

And finally the town, where it hits you. A smell... coming and going with the wind, a rotting odor that occasionally spikes into gagging stench when the wind picks up from the east.

A few townsfolk are there to great the group, including a short man who introduces himself as town elder Jans Berkstrom.

Naneth stops when the stench becomes near to overwhelming, and she fashions a make-shift bandito kerchief out of cloth and leather. Ripping a few strips of her extra clothes, she fixes the fabric to the front of her face, covering everything from the nose down in hopes of helping a little bit. Then as they get closer to the town she waits until the townsfolk come out, offering with a small nod of her head, "Well met Jans Berkstrom." Though she says nothing else, letting someone else take the lead on getting information, though she's watching each of the townspeople (and especially Jan) carefully, as if to make sure and ascertain their motives or any bluffs. One might get the sense she doesn't trust humans.

Klythos frowns, sniffing a few times, and he remarks the very obvious. "Stinks." His dog doesn't seem to like it either. The goblin seems fine letting the big folks talk, he will wait and see what the villagers want exactly.

A disgusted grunt is breathed out as Laefwyn meets the stench, the skin above her nose wrinkling as a hand is lifted to cover her nose and mouth. How uncivilized.

Green eyes narrow at the approach of the farm folk; perhaps not distrusting, but certainly not friendly. She still offers a curt nod in their direction, but shows no inkling of socializing. Alakton will have to be proud some other day.

She gives a wiggly-fingered wave to the armoured man with her still free hand, before gesturing him on toward this Jans fellow, "Mingle, won't you?"

The Griffon lowers itself somewhat, as Alakton swings one armoured leg up and over, and dismounts from the Griffon, offering a grin towards Laefwyn at the gesture. His boots sink into the ground a little as he lands, and he then takes one step forwards. Better to be on foot and appear pleasant, than be on the back of a Griffon and appear intimidating. That's mostly other peoples jobs. He doesn't cover up his face, but he does get a slight twinge to his features at the stench. He spreads his arms out, as even the banner strapped to his back seems to wilt just a little from the ever pervasive stench. "Greetings and well met, Jans Berkstrom. You placed a posting wishing for assistance, and so a number of us have arrived." He turns, sweeping a hand out to point out and introduce everyone firstly. Laefwyn, Naneth, Klythos, and then finally himself.

"How might we assist you and your village? Explain the problems you are having. Starting with, well, and I don't mean to be rude here, sir, but this stench is something else entirely..."

Jans smiles broadly, "Thank you! Ah... yes, it really was even worse, ya, a few days ago. Mah. We are all, here in Telbridge, so happy to have help... mmm? Ya, Reya, I'll get on with it..."

After some conversation with Jans, the pertinent details:

The smell started about a week ago, got particularly intense a few days later, and has been tapering off. His son, Pols, often fords the river with his sheep to feed on some sweet grass... and hasn't been seen in four days. He seems calm about it, but it does not take much Sense Motive to detect the fear and checked grief underneath.

There are some ruins just on the treeline, on the other side of the river, that Jans suggests checking out. There are often weird sounds and those who poke around often disappear, though nothing like the present circumstances have ever happened before. He points a bit downstream; there's a broad section of river where it is easy to ford.

Klythos grunts faintly as he listens, a hand reaching up to adjust a few dials on his armor. His dog seems to be having a hard time dealing with the smell, so the gobber dismounts and pats the thing, letting it run off on its own for a while. Its well trained enough for him to find, and he has a dog whistle. The goblin apparently knows he isn't great at reading people, so he leaves the interrogation to the big folk.

GAME: Naneth rolls Sense Motive+2: (18)+8+2: 28

GAME: Laefwyn rolls sense motive: (5)+10: 15

Naneth is patient and careful listening to all the information, letting Alakton get all the relevant details and go through the conversation with the man. She looks in the direction of the ruins that are indicated, checking to see if that is the same direction that the smells are coming from. "I can stay in the front, scout it out and see if there are noticable tracks, be they beast or one of the civilized races." Though, which races are 'civilized' is really a matter of some debate isn't it? She nods her head, glancing once more at the villagers before offering to the others, "When we're ready."

The smell is coming from the general direction of where Jans indicates the ruins are, but there is considerable guesswork until the group gets closer.

For her part, Laefwyn listens with a detached interest. When she's satisfied that there is little more than fear colouring the villagers, she turns away to begin readying herself for what is likely to come. The rot in the air does not bode well for Jans' son, and she knows it. But, there is something that niggles in the back of her head; something she had heard upon arriving in the city not so long ago. Perhaps it is an unrelated circumstance, but she can't help the idle paranoia that crawls about.

"The sooner we get moving, the better. We will do our level best to find your boy, but your hopes should not be too high." Blunt, but as kind as the half-sil gets. She nods toward Alakton, dragging her shield around from it's resting place on her back. "Let us move on whilst the light still shines."

"Very well. We'll do our utmost to find out what has happened to your son and why the stench has been so bad. Serriel protects. Go back to your duties or your homes." Alakton replies, with the same old bright smile as always, as if trying to counter Laefwyn's bluntness. He nods once to Jans, as if the conversation has ended there. He turns on a heel, nodding once to Naneth. "By all means, go and do what you do best. If you find anything before we catch up, come and report it back to us."

His attention shifts to Laefwyn, "Ho, Laefwyn. Do you have the blessings of Serriel at the ready? Just if this stench turns out to be more than a horrid bog that's just sucked in too much, we will need the strength of arms that you provide." Then, towards the Goblin. "And I presume that the armour that you wear is more than just for show! We will all engage in jolly cooperation, and ensure that these poor civilized folk have no more reason to be afraid." He coughs for a moment, caught off guard by Laefwyn already being more prompt than his constant blabbering. He shifts to quicky remount, reaching to grasp the reins in one hand. "You are, as always, correct, Laefwyn! Let us be off."

Klythos travels on foot, moving fairly fast for a small guy. His dog will roam the village, trying to stay away from the worst of the smell. The goblin will tinker with his weapon as he walks, obviously expecting something evil and stinky to be in the ruins. The query about his armor goes unanswered, at least until later.

"I am ever ready." Laefwyn mentions evenly to Alakton, lifting a hand toward him, palm up to reveal the holy crest of her order embedded in the gauntlet itself. "Fear not the stench. You are not some superstitious commoner." Says the half-elf already moderately convinced that the stench may be something more than once expected. She says nothing more as they pace onward toward their goal, though the goblin is given a rather stern glare as he fails to respond to the too-chipper man's questions.

Apparently only she may treat him like a peasant.

Fording the river proves fairly easy -- there are a network of channels cut into the mud and sand where the river flows, and numerous dry spots to walk or hop along. The other shore is a little higher, but there is a bare earthen ramp formed by a small herd of sheep. This is less a matter of spotting prints than the not infrequent clumps of dung along the way.

The stelae crossing the river lead to a set of stony hills that, presumably, make up the ruins. There are a number of narrow ridges and gaps into shadow that are very suggestive, at least. And, when the wind cuts from that direction... yep, stench. Thankfully, the odor isn't particularly worse than it was in town. Possibly you are getting used to it.

GAME: Naneth rolls Stealth: (12)+14: 26

That's quite a thing to get used to isn't it? After they cross the river, Naneth nods to the others and pulls the hood of her cloak up and she's off. What's more impressive than her stealthy approach is how /fast/ she can cover the ground. She seems to be moving at a full running sprint, and yet her footfalls are no louder than someone on tip-toes. Light and nimble, she cuts up one of the stony hills and to the side a little bit, moving low to the ground and unslinging her bow to have it at the ready as she moves on ahead of the group to be the first to lay eyes on the ruins. Layout, any suggestive tracks, direct eyes on the situation, whatever might let her report back something to turn the battle in their favor.

Klythos continues to be silent, only an occasional click as he turns a dial on his armor or weapon. He waits for the recon to be done with, not quiet as silent as naneth, but at least he isn't talking.

Now mounted on the back of his Griffon, he reaches down on the barding to grasp the lance that has been strung through, and leans back as he draws it out. With practiced rote motion he brings it up and grips, tilting it upwards into the air, as the man obviously lacks any knowledge of stealth, considering the thickness of armour and his choice of mount. The Griffon clacks its beak in expectation at the man's motions, and he gives the back of its neck a fond pat it crosses over the fording. All the while, his banner flutters proudly in the air, the pointed tip of the lance joining it in the air.

As she crests a promising ridge and peers down, Naneth sees the problem...

What must have been a roof at one point has collapsed, opening up a chamber to the sky. The most arresting item within is the giant mass of legs... something like a 20 foot long spider, longer and more nasty looking than usual. Only half of the body is there, with, strangely, five long and hairy legs splayed out, two partially crushed by falling blocks. The other half of the body looks almost sheered off, only one leg near the freakishly big head in evidence. The body itself has a number of holes, and looks to be empty... maybe some sort of statue?

And then the movement catches her eye, four shapes, undulating and extending in a manner just... horrifying to witness. Four maggots, she realizes, the size of large dogs, mandibles slowly grinding and chewing on the large pile of sheep bones in the space that was once 'outside' the chamber.

GAME: Naneth rolls Knowledge/Nature: (10)+7: 17 (identify giant solifugid)

GAME: Naneth rolls Knowledge/Nature: (2)+7: 9 (idebtify giant maggot)

Naneth looks over the situation, peering down over the ridge laid out as flat as she can fit herself against the ground of the hill. She takes a long few moments, looking over the creatures, taking in all of the details of their appearance and their movements. Then she slowly creeps down on her stomach away from the crest. Moving back towards the party, she arrives and takes a small crouch, sketching out with X's and O's a small crude map to indicate what it looks like, and where the monsters currently are as she describes them each, "There's a giant spider, a false-spider called a solifugid. I've never seen one quite this big, 20 feet long, but damaged and injured slightly. Then four animals like maggots I can't identify, the size of large dogs, chewing on bones and corpses." A short pause, "I can take up a position above them and keep a clear shot, depending on where they move. But you'll all be practically on top of them as soon as you get to the other side of the hill."

Klythos moves over, grunting and looking at the map. He pats his death ray, the object attached to his right arm. "Shoot, good spot?" He gestures to the map, asking where he should be basicly.

Alakton stares down at the map, sucking on his teeth for a moment from the back of the Griffon. He exhales once, "Well. Disgusting." He states in response to the overall description of the horrid beasties that have decided to make up home here. "Well," He states at Klythos, "Since you're ranged, you and Naneth can stay up on the safety of the hills and bombard them. Myself and Laefwyn will bring the fight to the enemy after you've peppered them, and we'll charge on home and bring the wrath of Serriel upon them." His head turns towards Laefwyn, and he's grinning happily at her. "Give us the blessings of Serriel, Laefwyn?"

The battlefield forms a long U shape; the 'inside' is a lozenge shape, about twenty feet across, and maybe sixty feet long. The sides of the space rise sharply, 10' to each of a pair of ridges, which then slope more gently outside. The maggots, according to Naneth's map, are about forty feet from the 'mouth' of the U, toward the back and the camel spider.

The armoured woman gives an obvious, slow-travelling shiver at the descriptions of what they're about to be up against.

"That's disgusting." Apparently the law is squeamish.

She follows the party into position until she figures there will be no better time to bless their coming skirmish. She huffs out a sharp breath, moving a hand to rub at any exposed skin, brushing off the imaginary vermin that're clearly crawling all over the Vanguard. Once Laefwyn appears 'over it', she draws her morningstar and holds it aloft, her free hand baring the holy symbol. A flickering gold light envelopes her hands, "Strike true. Fear no foe." A simple blessing, but one is unlikely to have expected anything more from the half-sil woman.

Expression severe, she settles into a prepared stance, moving into position to charge in for herself, but awaiting the others.

Naneth receives the blessing, because it's not really that smart to turn down a cleric's blessing if one is available. But then she moves and begins crawling back up on the hill, trying to put herself about 30 feet away from where she estimates the enemies to be, she creeps silently back up to the ridge-line of the hill and then slowly draws an arrow and notches it to her bow. She nods to the others, clearly expecting to start things off with hopefully a sneaky arrow that will strike true, taking aim at the spider and trusting the others to hold their charge.....

GAME: Klythos casts Shield. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15

GAME: Klythos casts Reduce Person. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15

Klythos finds a spot, and then starts adjusting dials on his armor. Each dial causes a faint humm, the first seems to show static arcs across his armor, blue energy. The second, well, the goblin shimmers and actually shrinks down, almost making him impossible to notice up among the rocks.

GAME: Laefwyn casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13 

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name----------------Notes--------------------------------------------
     16   M4                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     14   M2                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     14   M1                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     14   Alakton             Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   M3                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     8    Laefwyn             Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     6    Naneth              Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4    Klythos             Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================

GAME: Alakton rolls 1d20+10: (12)+10: 22

GAME: Alakton rolls 2d8+12: (9)+12: 21

"Well then. We're off!" Alakton announces, before spurring his Griffon on with a flick of the reins and a jab of the heels, urging it onwards. It bounds forwards, clawed hands pulling at the earth and hauling itself up and over the hill before it begins to gain momentum as it rapidly travels downwards. The Cavalier's banner flutters violently in the wind, the wooden pole wobbling as he hunches forwards, lowering the lance slowly as he takes careful aim at one of the giant maggots. His aim is true as the tip of the lance punches into the maggot, and he tears it apart with the force of his charge, leaving it torn in half, although the impact makes the wound nothing resembling clean, blasted apart is more like it. His charge does not end, and he spurs the Griffon further forwards, the steed lunging and galloping as it rapidly moves away from the maggots, giving the man the chance to recover from the shock to his arm.

GAME: Laefwyn rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18

GAME: Laefwyn rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6

As Alakton charges off to do what he does best, Laefwyn is close behind him, weapon raised and battlecry a gutteral thing. As she approaches the grouping of maggots, sure to be nowhere near the charge, she brings her morningstar's spiked mass down on another of the wriggling creatures. Her face is assuredly screwed up in a look of pure disgust as it squidges out slime from the battered punctures her weapons leave.

"Ghh, the -smell-!" She calls out to Alakton, "It smells like your sleeping hovel after a hot night!" Exaggeration, to be sure.

GAME: Naneth rolls Longbow: aliased to 1d20+BAB+Dexterity+1: (5)+3+4+1: 13

GAME: Naneth rolls Longbow Damage+1d6: aliased to 1d8+Strength+1+1d6: (8)+3+1+(4): 16

Naneth stands up as the others go charging in, and right after Laefwyn's morningstar connects with one of the maggots, a slender elven shaft of wood sprouts from its side as if by magic. The force of the arrow slams into the disgusting creature, catching it in what must be a vulnerable spot as it tumbles over a few feet on its side obviously dead. Already, Naneth is notching another arrow, scanning the ground below looking for her next target, hood shadowing her face as she draws the bow back across her chest again....

The now tiny goblin pops over a rock, something that would barely stumble a larger creature. He starts adjusting dials on his weapon, a green glow coming from the pack on his back, energy flowing down a tube to the weapon. The discharge is a bit of green goo, that is apparently electrified as you hear th crackle of electricity. It strikes one of the maggots, causing some damage, but not sticking it in place.

GAME: Pendleton rolls 1d20-1: (20)+-1: 19 (touch attack, regurgitate)

GAME: Laefwyn rolls fortitude: (1)+6: 7 (wah wah waaah)

One of the creatures arcs back, organs sliding obscenely within it's translucent skin, and opens it's mandibles wide. A splattering fountain of halfdigested meat and filth spews all over Laefwyn, getting in her mouth, up her nose, all down her front...

The maggots are on a heap of slimy bones that extend back toward the camel spider

GAME: Alakton rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25

GAME: Alakton rolls 2d8+12: (4)+12: 16

"I think we'll need to have a bath after this, don't you think, Laefwyn?" Alakton declares with a smile. Not a laugh. Do not laugh at the puke-covered Cleric. That will just result in you having a very bad time later. Instead, he gives the reins a swift pull, aiming the Griffon like an arrow towards the maggot that has as of yet been unharmed. "YAH!" He shouts, bucking the animal forwards as he lowers the lance once more, letting the tip sink into the maggot before he then whips it up and out, tearing a chunk from the creature.

GAME: Pendleton rolls 1d20: (20): 20

GAME: Pendleton rolls 2d6: (3): 3

Oozing some sort of pinkish goo and thrashing about, the third maggot flails at Laefwyn, managing to give her a nasty nip to the back of her right leg.

GAME: Laefwyn rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8

GAME: Laefwyn rolls 1d8: (3): 3

When the maggot pukes on her, Laefwyn looks as though she's about to return the favour. "Hgghk!" She heaves, but manages to retain some measure of composure. She takes a step back, spitting out the bits that got into her mouth, quickly wiping away the sludge from her face. She's about to raise her morningstar again to give it a whapping, but then she's bitten on the leg by a second thrashing beast.

Another shimmer of light is seen, obviously the coming of a great holy word to bring down the judgment of Serriel upon her foes. There is a rumbling, a heavenly choir, and an eruption of the host's booming voice. "GROOOOSS!" She spews forth the word with all the rage she can muster, prolonged and echoing throughout the lands. It takes a few moments of prolonged cacophony before the thing begins to quiver, and finally explode with an audible 'POCK'.

GAME: Laefwyn casts Sound Burst. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14

Klythos is still tiny, he will be for three whole minutes, and so far, well, not much time has passed. He moves pretty fast despite the size, but keeps his distance from the gross maggots. "All gone?" He calls out to the group below, having only made one shot really, ohh well, every little bit counts.

And... that's all of them. Naneth was a little slower on the draw than she would have liked. After launching their initial surprise attack, unfortunately she wasn't able to get another shot off, and she seems almost disappointed to slowly relax the draw on her bow and let the arrow and tension on the string both come to rest again. She takes a slow deep breath before looking around, wondering of Laefwyn, "Are you quite allright?" She calls out, loud enough to cross the distance, but not quite shouting, and takes a few steps down the hill, though not all the way down into the pit in earnest yet.

After a tense moment, waiting for anything else to happen... ... it appears nothing further is going to leap out and attack. It's hard to tell what, exactly, is grossest -- the temple of hair legs, the blobs of maggot, or the slimey stinking pile of half-eaten, rotting sheep carcasses.

Or the puked on cleric.

Alakton wheels Siege the Griffon around slowly, letting the animal take a well deserved rest moment as he holds the lance out to the side, letting the ichor drip from it. He winces a moment at the exploded maggot, rather glad that the ire was taken out on it rather than himself. He plucks up his waterskin with his free hand, urging the Griffon to come stand near Laefwyn, and he holds the waterskin out towards the woman. "Bravery. Good show, Laefwyn." He states, lacking in sarcasm in a way most irritating. "Rinse yourself a little bit. It appears that we've managed to figure out what happened to the sheep.. But I don't see any man's skeleton.." He looks over towards Naneth and Klythos, "All gone! Do any of you see any man? Or.. Well. Any remains?" He looks back towards Laefwyn, a little hopefully if she's seen anything too.

And then the camel spider speaks, "H... hello? Is (cough) someone out (cough) there?" Although, come to think of it, the quavering, faint voice probably isn't arachnid...

Klythos was configuring some dials on his armor, a blue beam going over a nearby skeleton to analyze it when the voice is heard. He grunts, switching off the armor and pointing at the spider. "Hide." he says simply, apparently figuring thats the missing fellow.

"I have -never- been so repulsed, in all my LIFE!" Laefwyn howls in rage, after she finally steadies out, flailing madly to get bits of half-digested filth off of her armour. The green nature of the cleric begins to truly show itself; untried in true combat, unaccustomed to the gruesome reality of what awaits in the wilds. "Why do people LIVE here?!" She continues, all the refinement she may once have possessed going out the window once a giant maggot has puked in her mouth like a drunken prom date.

It seems to come back to her in a wave once more, the realization of what exactly just happened. What that smell is. What that taste is. She pauses, hearing Naneth's words, her eyes closing, her back straightening in an attempt to locate that civility. "I'm fi--HHRRGGH!!" She did her level best to keep it in; truly a champion effort.

Fated to failure.

She staggers back, still clinging to weapon and shield as though they would defend her from the nightmares undoubtedly to follow. And then she hears another voice, her body twisting to whirl around to look toward it -- either too slow or too angry to move away from a possible threat.

"Show yourself!" She barks in command, already on the advancing warpath toward it.

Naneth nods to the others, coming the rest of the way down into the pit with them. Then something speaks and she too turns in that direction. She notches her arrow back to the string of her bow, though she doesn't quite draw it yet. Merely holding it in a ready position, the addition of Laefwyn's losing her 'composure' makes Naneth wince away, stepping back a few feet as if cringing from all of the mess. She presses her arm up as best she can, holding it against her makeshift kerchief to keep the worst of the smell out. Not exactly green to combat or the wilds, but still. Gross is gross.

Alakton, for all his jovial nature, decides not to try and speak up against Laefwyn's bad mood. There is being jolly, and then there is being a bit dumb. He has decided not to be dumb. He just offers a sympathetic look at the woman's first real /taste/ of combat. He lets out a sympathetic sigh. "The maggots are gone, who ever you are. Come on out and show yourself!" He seconds Laefwyn's comment, although it is not as brash and barking as her own. He wasn't thrown up on, for starters.

The camel spider's head shifts a bit, which is alarming, but then Laefwyn can see a spindly arm working its way out from underneath it. With help, the bedraggled, filth-encrusted form of Pols is retrieved. He relates his story -- droving his sheep past this gulley, they were attacked by the maggots. He fled into the gulley, almost fainting when he saw the camel spider. Upon realizing it was quite dead, he had the idea to hide underneath it, praying the maggots wouldn't notice. And they didn't...

Several days without food or water, beyond what sludge he could suck, has left him quite weak.

As for the chamber beyond, there is a strange, large wall made of black basalt, and a scattering of twisted metal immediately around it.

GAME: Klythos rolls perception: (11)+10: 21

GAME: Laefwyn rolls perception: (17)+5: 22

GAME: Alakton rolls perception: (18)+5: 23

Klythos makes his way into the chamber beyond, letting the big folk deal with the poor kid. The goblin takes his time looking about, seeing if there is anything of value or interest in this place.

Naneth moves into the area, heading towards the camel spider and watching as the boy climbs out and relates his story. "I don't think spiders lay maggots. Which means we should be careful, whatever birthed those things may still be around. You should head back across the river, and get home to the town as soon as possible." She takes her time for now, talking to the young boy, and then looking past into the chamber beyond where the collapsed ceiling is. Looking closely, she examines the metal and large wall, but lets the others be the ones to search for now.

There are a scattering of strange objects that look vaguely like Kulthian artifice, though not even remotely in working order. There are also a scattering of other items, including coins that are marked in ways that suggest Veyshan (for those who might be inclined to recognize it). Finally, Alakton finds a small ring of electrum. It isn't hugely valuable, for its metal, and inscribed with three curious symbols -- a bird or chick, some sort of rectangle shape with cross-hatches, and something that looks like a feather, each very skillfully engraved.

A disgruntled noise is loosed from the cleric after she's managed to aid Pols to his feet, the look of disgust she wears not waning. She doesn't stay to speak to the man -- there is a perimeter to secure. A scolding glare is offered to the young man in passing, before her attentions turn to the chamber. Laefwyn says nothing, stewing in her righteous fury until she's certain there is no threat; her search is mostly in pursuit of clues as to what may have done this, but the interest for funds is not something she'd deny.

The goblin gathers what things of value he can find, even some of the artifice items that he personally would like to examine, then leaves with the others. He will of course make sure things are ok enough to get paid, before travelling home with the group. All and all he is a rather quiet companion.

Alakton collects his shiney shiney, with the obvious statement of "Oh. That's shiney.". A few coins here and there as well, but mostly he agrees with Laefwyn, lets not hang about. Pols is politely informed to 'get yourself home swiftly, boy'. And a click of the beak from the Griffon to enforce that. "I think that was a good days work, don't you agree?" He asks aloud, as he begins to remount the griffon for travel.

The townsfolk are pleased to see the party again, and Reya and Jans are in tears when they see their son. When the events are explained to them, however... there are a lot of exchanged worried looks.

And FIN

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