((What did they scream at the little ones in Abyssal?))

     "The most direct route is always the most direct," Polly whispers unhelpfully.  "Let's pause here for a minute or two, let OwImp eavesdrop and spy just a bit more."

     Polly mentally instructs OwImp to be a bit bolder and try to see what all is up with the flies around S7.  Are they hovering around a corpse, are they actively doing something, or just chilling?  Then she wants the feisty familiar to eavesdrop on S9 a bit to try to figure out just what they are doing.  Polly will actively listen as she understands Abyssal even if OwImp doesn't.  

Polly's idea was correct: hordes of hellish flies buzz around mutilated devil corpses and gnawed bones. There is also a hole in the floor, that reveals another dark cavern below this one.

Digging demons in the corridor seem to be in a hurry. At least fly-made demon yells just that, adding some difficult to translate swearing. There are some bits in his yell, though, that indicate they are digging up "someone" - master's pet? Something like this, and it sounds like the pet is hungry. Digging demons do work fast, but the scab in this area is hard as a rock.

     Polly was hoping she would hear of some way to pit the two groups against one another, perhaps allowing her team to slide by unnoticed in the brouhaha.  That didn't seem as possible as she had hoped though.  

     "I could get myself and one other past both groups by summoning a doorway, but we don't want to split the party up...Anyone have a preference of which we try to go past or through?" Polly asked.

((And just how hellish are these flies?  Like just use?  Or are they like vicious flies?  With like teeth and claws or something?  All in all flies are annoying but generally not all that scary...))

Based on Owlmp's description (i.e. from the map) Ordrag figures the hordes of flies are probably too far away to be a bother, and if they do attack they should be relatively easy to deal with. Maybe us should get to those demons before they finish digging up whatever they're digging up.

((Flies are hellish in an ordinary Avernus way - obvious carnivores, bigger than any fly you ever saw and look twisted warped and generally unpleasant. Still more insects than demons. 

And - no, the digging demons is an obvious work brigade with the boss commanding smaller diggers. Not some competing groups or mutiny in ranks))

((Was thinking more get brigade to run into flies, not fight amongst themselves... But not seeing it work anyway.))

     "Target the big one first, then mop up taking dow the little ones?" Polly asked.  

With luck, the small fellas will bolt when the boss man drops, agrees Ordrag. Adray? What you reckon?

Fran would look about while the others decided what best approach to take. She had been keeping an eye on their tail and remained close to Lu and Moon. From what she was able to make out in this place, it felt pretty cramped and the ground made her feel uneasy.

If they wanted to try a sneak around, the artificer figured she could slap on her sticky salve and perhaps walk carrying Brutus. But for the most likely scenario where they were going to bring the fight to the demons, Fran would be ready to bite down on some rations she tweaked. If consumed, it'd cause her eyes to dilate and a rush of adrenaline to flow through her body.

Choir merely waits quietly for the group to determine their actions. She knows there are those here who are better able to lead in combat than she will ever be.

"I agree, if the boss goes down then the workers will likely split, but those flies are between us and them.  Bating them into the flies sounds good but how.  Short of that, we need to deal with quickly.  I could move in and hit them but no guarantee they die outright.  In either case we need a coordinated strike.  Hit the big guy hard and fast...  or Chior drops her blizzard down here."

((Flies are not straight between you and devils, but a bit aside and busy eating the corpses. They might not react to those staying in the main corridor))

     Polly does her best to stealth ( 11 ) along the tunnel keeping to the left wall past the area of the flies and pausing just as the cavern narrows before heading to S9.  

Flies did not react at all. Polly can not see the working brigade yet but can hear the yelling now. Seems like the demons can soon finish the job and dig up that mysterious "pet".

     OwImp is still invisible and a little further up that passage, up near the ceiling and peeking around to keep an eye on them.

     Polly is watching them through OwImp and awaiting the rest of the party to catch up...

Ordrag also does his best to bypass the fly-infested corridor without attracting too much attention (Stealth: 14) and then prepares his weapons for a fight.

Adray will join the attempt in sneaking past the insects. 

stealth 28

Choir sighs, looking down at her clattering, clanking, squeaking plate armor. She will extinguish the light (or, if possible, make it very dim) and try to sneak past the flies...4

Fran would pick up Brutus and try their attempt at tip toeing by. 

Stealth: 23 

Either the group is too sneaky or too alive but the flies did not interrupt their meal for the new prey. You successfully gathered near that turn to the digging demons. (Owimp reporting their work is progressing probably too fast)