Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

"Hmpf. Curs-ed worm." Kilian says while binding his wounds. "Nice shooting" he says grudgingly to the archers. He looks at the snake some more, then asks Talin, "You're the forester. Think it's edible?"

I'm kinda curious myself, actually. If it's not, please continue. If it is, filet migworm for dinner!

The party drags the worm down toward the chasm. Unceremoniously, they will dump the worm into the chasm, trying to avoid spilling too much goo and tissue during the exercise.

Freya looks at the damaged barricade, and the lack of tracks. "It definitely came through here, though I don't know whether it came across the bridge or up from the chasm."

"I didn't see any scorch marks from the golems." says Tiana.

"Exactly. Which means either the chasm isn't guarded by the golems or it's immune to that magic." replies Freya. She sighs. "One way to find out. Kilian, loan me your shield." She straps the shield securely onto her back, then gets out the rope. She ties one length around her waist and gives the rest to the dwarves. "You're going to lower me down. If fireworks open up, get me up as fast as possible."

"One second." says Talin. "If it's a worm, it doesn't have feet. How would it cling to the rocks without feet?"

Hmm... the plot thickens! I researched a bit and found out that earthworms can actually climb up plastic, screens, etc. I never knew that, so I'm now smarter than I was earlier today. It still seemed like a good point to stop for you and the NPCs to react before Freya goes Geronimo! over the side.

It is now midnight, just going into Thursday August 28th. If you want to wait til morning, the following action sequence takes place at 8am. (No one gets any more HP back for the night, though.)

Dragging the worm through the dungeon and down the little staircase is tough work. Talin thinks you'd have to wash it somehow to get rid of all that white goo that's coming out of it, which smells pretty nasty. So, it's not edible right now.

You drag it past the skeleton, which does not appear to have been dislodged or eaten by the creature on the way up. (Remind me, did you take its helmet or leave it on its head?)

You dump the creature off the edge of the chasm, avoiding the bridge as much as possible. This is successful. The robot men do not come out and attack you even though several people stand on the first few feet of the bridge a few times.

"I think they only come and attack you when you reach about 3/4 of the way across," remarks Abigall casually, as though such a thing were not particularly frightening.

Tracking rolls are tricky - maybe it came up the chasm and climbed the wall. That seems more likely than over the bridge. Such a creature could certainly climb a wall.

"Snakes can climb stuff," says Anna. "So I'm pretty sure thing thing could. But which way are you going. And do yo want some company? You;re still hurt!"

Freya is lowered down into the dungeon (although as I pointed out, she could climb down the wall very easily, and probably faster). Anyway, you reach the floor of the chasm without incident. Which way do you go? And should Anna go? She wants a chance to prove is is Freya's equal. Which, she isn't.

8am or even a bit later is fine. I lose track of time when underground. Skeleton never got touched, and I meant to ask about that (but forgot so thanks). It's very curious and a bit concerting that it wasn't disturbed.

"Down, just a quick look left and right to see what lies ahead. We don't even have to go the whole way. Just far enough to satisfy our mapper's curiosity. Sure, come along. Take Bruce's shield. You don't want to get shot in the back while climbing." After a brief discussion with Bruce, she'll help Anna strap on the other shield.

If Anna wants to go, we have more than enough rope and burly types. Kilian on Freya, Talin and Bruce on Anna. It's not that she's heavier. It's important that a dwarf is on each rope to ensure no slippage (sez Kilian).

Kilian grumbles a bit too. "Slinking around like snakes? I'd rather cross that bridge and take on those golems, after we thin a few more out with missile fire."

"Later, Kilian. This is just a quick scouting mission. Besides, it'd be good to know if there's water down there. Someone needs a bath." says Talin with an evil grin.

Talin realizes that the fighters are all tied up on belay duty. If Anna's ok with Bruce alone, he'll get his longbow out in case it's needed. Abigall should get her sling out as well.

And on that note, geronimo! But it's just a quick peek and some horizontal scaling, not a full-on scouting missing.

Previous description of the chasm -

The chasm ceiling is about 15 feet above your heads and the floor slopes down to about 20 feet below you. It looks like at some point, much more water flowed through here, hence the bridge. Kilian thinks that water could flood in at any time. Right now, the stream below is a dirty, patchy trickle wending its way through the rocky chasm floor. The sides are not that steep.

OK, so you get lowered down to the floor, above the small trickle of water which is only about a half a foot deep anyway.

I rolled randomly and you go south first. The chasm goes off the map, and continues another 100 feet past that. It is an old underground river bed. You can see little sign of life, a few small underground insects scuttling about, and some small skipper like creatures in the water, but that's all. You can see 60 feet further and it's about the same. No sign of any giant worms, although Anna does see some actual caecilia of the regular size (cute little wormies).

Retconning a bit here on the subject of the skeleton - you have just verified that you never touched it, and it seems like the giant worm didn't either. That means the helmet you saw is still on its head. You have 3 helmets in your possession, 2 with gems, one spare.

Do Freya and Anna keep gong south? Listen rolls reveal not much - seems like the tunnel could keep going for quite a while although it is slowly tuning to the west.

They'll check out the north side now. Once they've checked out both sides, it will be back up and a plan for dealing with dem golems.

OK - the north side keeps going for another 100 feet much the same fashion although it does get a bit narrower. Tree roots appear through the roof at one point, and some dripping water near them.

No sign of any giant wormies.

How far do you want to go? This looks like it could go for a long time.

Not sure where next, but before they disappear they'll see if they can determine any air movement. IIRC inside caves, air movement = nearby surface hole. They'll also note the direction of current (or slope of the creek). After that, time to head up and discuss with the rest of the party (and I'll figure out what next).

You can't exactly fee air currents but the further you go down the tunnel to the south, the more signs of life there are - tree roots, small insects and so on.

The stream flows south.

You are now back with the main party - you can be up with them, or exploring the north part of the tunnel, that's up to you.

Being how nobody was shot, sliced, poked, or mangled, the party decides to head south. Before going too deep, it will be nice to know an alternate way out, one that does not have a tribe of goblins awaiting them.

Can anyone get an idea of how often this passage floods? Tiana will also look at the collected maps, trying to figure out if this passage has already been charted.