Nothics were an excellent idea!  The tiefling agreed and helped kerric lead the whole group on the food fetching mission. 

Reghys couldn't help but wonder about the tiefling. They weren't much for contracts, but their friend seemed to care about his word. With a sudden flash of imagination, the satyr turns to Xalkas, and whispers into his ear: "You know how T always uses his prestidigitation to clean himself up? That affects the smell and taste of his clothes, right? Is there a way to use prestidigitation to affect the taste of whatever we pass to the troll as well? Or even better, is there a way to create a container with a prestidigitation rune permanently inscribed on it? Then we could hand the troll the "special spice/sauce" that will make all his food taste better. I'm sure between us all, we might come up with a good name for it too. Maybe... super spice? Or  dust of deliciousness? We'll workshop it. Anyway, just think about how happy the ogre would be. I can only imagine what the friendship and loyalty of a bridge ogre can get you down here."

Ebele falls quiet when Kerric mentions heading to fetch the Nothics again. It was a great idea, especially when paired with Reghys' suggestion that she over heard. However, as much as the monk preferred to be unfazed, the truth was she was starting to get a little uncomfortable around the bridges and waterways after what happened last time. She could still feel the soreness in her jaw and the bruising on her face and neck. Everyone just carried on as if it were just another day on the job, so she should too. The blonde would tuck herself behind another she could keep up with as to not take a wrong turn again.

Kerric takes point once again. He leads the group back the way they came, once again, towards the North East corner of the establishment. As they maneuver back through to the next bridge, they pass the area with the mermaid fountain. Those who care to note, can make out a door in the north west corner of the room before the hallway that leads to the north that you have not explored yet. Though, since exploring that is not the primary focus at this time, the group continues west to cross the bridge. Ink splotches greet the party on the way through to the bridge.

The elven warrior leads the group over the bridge. One by one, everyone crosses safely and the group is able to continue on along the winding hallways to the most northern door in the North East area of the dungeon.

Kerric:

”Let’s get these Nothic corpses to the troll and then make sure we have thoroughly explored this side of the bridge before we move on,” suggests Kerric, opening the door and continuing towards the Nothic lair.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, "Well, maybe do so, and then come back here and rest first. I think we could all use a bit of a break, we've taken a beating lately."

Thinking back on it, everything east of the first, non troll inhabited bridge, the group has technically cleared. Kerric would easily know that there’s always chance of running into patrol groups when touring ‘evil layers’ like this. Logically thinking, one could also conclude that there are constant threats lurking in the water that flows through this place. This could account for the squidlike creatures who attacked Ebele at the East Bridge when fetching the Nothics the first time. There was always a risk of running into some unsavoury types while down here.

Kerric slides open the heavy door, leading the way back into the room with the magic gargoyle fountain. Entering the room mid discussion with T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, it’d take a moment, but the pair would eventually come to realize that the bodies were gone. Just as they’re about to inspect where the drag marks lead, the pair feel a weird sensation tickling their minds, probing their most inner intimate thoughts and experiences, threatening to bring them to the surface.

The group then hears the door to the north shut.

Roll Call: T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and Kerric

CHA(Deception) check VS 16 
On Fail: A deepest fear or darkest secret is revealed about the target 

Kerric:

Charisma Check:  9

Charisma Check (Deception) : 24

Initiative :  10

(T'chal'fronack'zcinicker deepest fear is to wake up, and find that all of his precious contracts have been torn to tiny bits, with bunch of them burned....totally unrecoverable.)

Kerric initiative:  22

(Thank you. Rolling initiatives and then will prepare up a summary post. Other players feel free to hop in with your initiatives still if you’re available. Should I post before, then you’ll be added in the round you ‘arrive’ at if applicable.)

Ebele: 14 
N1: 3 | N2: 7 

With a sense of uneasiness, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and Kerric know something lurks in the shadows of this room and they knew the tiefling’s greatest fear. From the darkness, if one would listen closely, it’d sound like the tearing of paper into strips.

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1 | N2

Ebele tilts her head to listen. She tries to narrow in on the eery sound that’s interrupting the awkward silence. 

Ebele Perception 7 vs Baddy Stealth: 19 | 19 

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1 | N2

Roll Call: T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and Kerric

Kerric:

“Can anyone light up these creatures?” asks Kerric, striding into the room and looking for any foes.  Lathna joins him but stays near the doorway, prepared to shoot.

Lathna Perception: 15

Lathna Shot:  Attack: 26 Damage: 10

Kerric Perception:  8

Kerric Attack 1: Attack: 18 Damage: 12

Kerric Attack 2:  Attack: 21 Damage: 13

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker practically charges forward. His little used rapier whips out of it's sheath as he charges forward into the room..... "NOOOOOOooo!!! HOW DID YOU GET YOUR HANDS ON MY CONTRACTS?!?" 

If at any point the tiefling spots an enemy and can close the distance, he'll swing his rapier at it with unholy rage.....

Attack with Rapier: 12 Damage: 12

Anya meanwhile stays close behind Kerric, waving her crossbow about warily.  If she sees anything that could threaten the elf, she'll let loose.  (this does not include anything threateneingn T'chal'fronack'zcinicker.) 

Attack with Crossbow: 18 Damage: 5.  

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1 | N2

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker charges forward into the room towards the sound causing his distress. Swinging blindly in his unholy rage, the tiefling cuts up into the shadows behind a pillar.  Blood spatters across the stone.

And although there was a bloodied target now identified, Anya held her shot to defend Kerric.

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1 | N2

Kerric was much to off his guard to locate the creatures himself, regardless of how hard he tried focusing his senses. He knew something had to be there though. Something threatened to probe his mind, and somehow managed to send their normally calm and collected tiefling forward into a reckless attack.

It wasn't until this first blood was drawn that Lathna and Kerric could react.

As Kerric's understudy, Lathna was fully prepared to react. The moment crimson fluid began to flow, she let her bolt fly. With a sickening thuck, the woman's bolt pierces the beast in the centre of it's eye releasing the most sickening scream.

Nothics returned.

Having to turn a full 180, Kerric eventually reorients himself and moves in. While his first attack further guts the creature, his second attack does not make purchase thus causing the warrior to fail at landing his killing blow.

In her panic to defend Kerric, the creatures screech triggers Anya. She lets her bolt fly prematurely and it catches the rim of T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's hat, pinning it to the pillar.

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1 | N2

In a desperate effort to defend itself, the nothic rakes it's claws in a blind panic.

VS T'chal'fronack'zcinicker 
Attack 1: 10 Damage: 7
Attack 2: 16 Damage: 5

The room falls eerily quiet. Only the groups own breathing and the one Nothic's gurgling wheezes could be heard.

VS Ebele
CHA(Deception) check VS 16 

Ebele ST: 21

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1(c) | N2
(I have returned from holidays. Thanks for your patience.)

The monk's demeanor hardens. She shifts into a lethal stance, not prepared to let her secrets go so easily.

Roll Call: T'chal'fronack'zcinicker & Kerric, then Ebele.

(I hope the holidays were rejuvenating and wonderful!) 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker growls as a claw drags down his side, then helps as his hat flies from his head, pinned to the wall.  He looks back at Anya, "MY HAT!" 

Still seeing red from the contractual violations, he turns back, swinging his blade at the shadowy creature before him....

Attack on Nothic: 19 Damage: 6

Anya glances over at the tiefling while reloading, letting a snort loose....and then letting a bolt loose at the creature Kerric is fighting.

Attack: 20 Damage: 4

Lathna:

Taking careful aim, Lathna looses a bolt at whichever Nothic is still up and staring...

Heavy Crossbow:  Attack: 14 Damage: 10

Kerric:

Now that they have revealed themselves, Kerric moves to the closest standing foe (if necessary) and continues to slice with his deadly Elven Curved Blade.

ECB:  Attack: 10 Damage: 12

ECB:  Attack: 15 Damage: 15

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N1(c) | N2

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker tears down his target, allowing them to steep in their own fluids.

Anya's attack manages to reach its foe this time, piercing a fierce hole through it's shoulder.

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N2

Lathna's careful aim was not quite enough. The remaining Nothic manages to dodge her bolt.

However, Kerric's blades cut with better accuracy this time. He manages to critically wound the target once again, but falls short in finishing them off.

Initiative
E(N) | T(A) | K(L) | N2

Ebele then sweeps in to finally try her hand at battle since the squidlike creatures. She moves in for a jab with her staff, pulling it up quickly in hopes to thwack them in the chin prior to following up with a swift kick to the jaw.

Attack 1: 14 Damage: 8
Attack 2: 10 Damage: 9 
Bonus Action: 9 Damage: 7