All That Glitters

"Okay, tally ho then!   " Pisgah heads of toward the chute. Before descending, he will take a listen with the ear horn to try picking up on anything moving around.

Perception roll 15

Pisgah hears what sounds like wet slurping noises and hollow moaning coming from the east of the hallway you see down the chute. It's too far away and too dark to see the source of the noise though.

Pisgah relays the information to the party and says he will go down first and look to the east to see if he can spot the source of the noise. He will sling his shield on his back and prepare his longbow before climbing down.

As he starts to descend he tells the team that if he yells Up to go back upstairs and he will quickly climb up after them. .

Once Pisgah descends, he sees that these mining shafts go on for quite a distance, disappearing into the darkness. Overturned mine carts and discarded mining equipment lay scattered across the floor.

A red stone altar covered with small, dirty handprints stands in the northern alcove. Along the base of the altar, Pisgah can read dwarvish prayers to Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain. The handprints covering the altar are much smaller than Pisgahs hands (or those of dwarves, for that matter), perhaps from goblins or halflings.

The disturbing noises are coming from the east, its source obscured by the darkness.

The mining shaft continues to the south as well.

Loose materials and objects lying around: 10 parts (0.5 lb. ea), 40 metal scraps (1 lb. ea) which you can loose from the rusted mining carts and pick out from the stone piles, 10 feet of steel chain (10 lb.), 5 hammers, 2 pickaxes

Pisgah motions for the others to come down trying to mime being quiet. PERFORMANCE roll 12

As they start to descend, Pisgah will move quietly to the north corner of the hallway leading east and attempt to get some cover before peeking around the corner to try spotting whatever is making the noise.

STEALTH roll of 6

PERCEPTION roll of 7

As Pisgah moves to the corner, he almost makes it to the cover of the corner and takes his eyes off the floor in front of him to glance down the corridor. As he does so, he kicks hammer that skids across the floor causing him to snap his eyes back down to the floor.

Canti is a little impatient to descend after Pisgah. The stone man could get himself into trouble, and the gnome didn't like the idea of him getting too far ahead. When he motions for them all to join him, she gives a little nod of the head. When they reach the mines, she kicks at some rubble. "This place is dirtier than Bwibble's lab."

After calling the others down, Pisgah peers around the corner.

By acciudent, he kicks a hammer and lets it clattering across the floor.

In the darkness, he sees a hulking shape writhing and twisting. A gurgling sound comes from multiple mouths along its bulk. The wispering and slurping takes on a heightened pace, the thing turning in your direction with a jerk.

Many voices cry out in unison, you see its flesh go taut and then it starts storming in your direction. The main mouth snaps open and shut hungrily, splattering drool across the floor.

Initiative:
1. All of you < YOUR TURN
2. Abomination

Pisgah will cross to the south wall, then fire two arrows. He describes what he sees and says "If you want to retreat, I will hold here and follow after you start up the chute."

Longbow attack 1: to hit 10 dmg 10

Longbow attack 2: to hit 20 dmg 3

Ignoring the option to run away, Rico moves up to where she can get a clear sight of the creature, and takes a couple of shots. She send Steel forward to intercept the creature and keep it off of anyone who doesn't want to fight hand to hand. With instructions to deflect attacks if the opportunity arrises. 

Attack 16 damage 12

Attack 13 damage 7

[not good shots :-( ]

[The idea is not to send Steel running after it, just moving to the front so that if it charges, it has to get past Steel to get to anyone else.]

Hearing the creature, Canti continues south (20 feet to end up two squares below Nikk's map position). When she sees it, she feels a mixture of repulsion and fascination. "Retreat?" she asks Pisgah. "And leave you behind?" She steps back another 5 feet toward the west wall, draws two arrows and fires them at the creature.

Attack: 26 Damage: 6

Attack: 17 Damage: 9

If one hits, arcane shot: grasping arrow (A creature hit by the arrow takes an extra 9 poison damage, its speed is reduced by 10 ft., and it takes 2d6 slashing damage the first time on each turn it moves 1 ft. or more. The brambles last for 1 minute, until you use this option again, or until any creature uses an action to remove them with an Athletics check [DC 14].)

Jaya will move about 10/15 feet down the eastern corridor and stand in the middle of the it, attempting to make himself the only target.

"Keep shooting it, Steel next to me!" he tells the others.

This round, I will Dodge.

Steel will get next to Jaya, part of his orders to defend the others on the front rank...

[OoC: Oh, how lovely. My comment vanished. Okay, let's try again.]

Nikkitch opts not to break the corner, instead peeking around. What he sees makes him happy he's no longer walking ahead with Pisgah. He tries his best to discern whatever in the hells that is, even as it charges the rest of the party. [Use whichever check works, ignore the rest.]

Arcana: 12

Religion: 7

Nature: 22

History: 16

The abomination rushes towards you, but is quickly held back as one of Cantis arrows obstructs its movement. While it is vaguely humanoid, its legs are in a state of flux, morphing in and out of the mass, getting tangled in the vines.

One arrow from Pisgah and Canti and one shot from Rico thunk into the thing, tearing its flesh. Growling and drooling, it rushes on.

Nikkitch is reminded of magical experiments gone wrong, or mages that sought to create their own creatures by using parts of others. The horrifying ways in which transmutation can be used. It's clear that this must have been a real creature  once, long ago. Arcane tomes are full of descriptions of aberrations, but Nikkitch doesn't recall having seen one that would fit whatever this is. One thing these failed experiments have often in common is that they possess the ability to adjust their physiology in a limited manner, such as to squeeze through a narrow space or to climb up a wall. This one seems to have evolved with a huge mouth and could probably swallow you whole.

Halleth rushes forward to form a line with Pisgah and Steel, his mace at the ready.

The abomination ragest against the grasping arrow vines, ripping at them fruitlessly [Athletics 12] and puncturing itself with the poisoned thorns in the process, all the while moving towards you. Despite your attacks, it still looks tough and dangerous, the mouths breathing foul air towards Jaya and Steel.

Initiative:
1. All of you < YOUR TURN
2. Abomination, [grasping arrow]

Pisgah steps just around the corner to be opposite of Nikk and fires two more arrows.

Attack 1 to hit 10 dmg 10

Attack 2 to hit 18 dmg 5

“Let’s hold this spot, let it come to us, Keep shooting it!” Jaya yells out.

Jaya will ready his attacks for when the abomination gets within range, assuming it does:

Longsword attack 1: 10 dmg: 14

Longsword attack 2: 15 dmg: 8

Canti gives a nod, despite Jaya facing the opposite direction. For good measure, she continues walking backward to put as much room between herself and the monster as possible. She fires two more arrows over the heads of those creating the blockade.

Attack: 18 Damage: 7

Attack: 11 Damage: 5

It can't be helped. The kenku steps out from behind the wall. He doesn't like monsters like these. But he'd rather not risk being eaten. He's not exactly the fastest, either.

Pointing a talon at the monster, he utters a few choice words, firing six choice shots of magic at the abomination. 

[ Casts Magic Missile, Only 12 total dmg, unfortunately]