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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9790407" data-attributes="member: 16069">Not KotSSession #016a: Into The Nest.The Inspectors.Chromium Malifax aka C-Fax (Rob), Male Silver Dragonborn (Noble) Paladin of Bahamut Level 2Mavis Golightly aka Mave (Sandy), Female Half-Elf (Acolyte) Cleric of Chauntea Level 2Arbuthnot McGow aka McGow (Al), Male Mountain Dwarf (Soldier) Fighter Level 2Snakebite (Kenji), Female Half-Orc (Outlander) Monk Level 2Travis Pickle (Yui), Male Lightfoot Halfling (Criminal) Rogue Level 2Dead PCsThe Inspector aka Spek (Kenji), Male Rock Gnome (Charlatan) Sorcerer Level 1- Killed in Session #2 by Eggnog the Kobold Dragon Priest.To-do list/Quests-#001 Save Dicky Bird aka The Fat Pidgin, and bring him home safely to Edna Gingster, although Dicky is on his way to the Narthex, which is in the Labyrinth, which is near the Seven Pillared Hall- which is in the Underdark- Bugger. Reward: 2000 XP & 1000gp each.<s>#002 Find and investigate the ancient dragon burial site Dicky was looking for, he might be there. Reward: 250 XP.</s> COMPLETE<s>#003 Destroy the kobold menace, including their leader- ‘Chopper.’ Reward: 250 XP & 75gp, with 1gp paid for every kobold tail handed in.</s> COMPLETE#004 Stop Orcus-worshipping Karl’s ritual to bring an undead army to Kirkgate. Basically, save the village, begs (eventually) Lord Crumble. Karl is in Kirkgate. 1000 XP & 500gp reward.#005 Find/Save Cheggers. That's it really, the PCs just need to find/save Cheggers (he’s with Karl, if he’s still alive), for Fionulla (the spy). Reward 100 XP.#006 Find and kill/capture the Bloody Heck- including any leaders. Recover any prisoners they have kidnapped. Reward: 400 XP & 100gp, with 1gp paid for every member of the Bloody Heck confirmed dead or captured.#007 Find all five symbols of Kurgan Kurgan’s office to open the way below Kirkgate. 1000 XP reward (and the PCs get to keep the items of course). Three items found so far.<s>#008 Save the Lowder’s and their farm from the Bloody Heck slavers. 250 XP reward.</s> COMPLETEHere we go again, sorry for the delay but there’s a lot of life going on atm. Just to say I am 12 sessions behind the action with this write up now, but- we’re on a forced break/hiatus which will be at least a month. So, maybe a chance to get caught up- if work and life will allow.Right then, a lot of text before we get to the first picture, having rested up the Inspectors head across the badly sagging bridge and follow the pathway into an entirely enclosed cavern passage, the corridor is a wreck. Time and the elements have caused the passage to slew and tilt- in places, the DM explains that the ten foot wide (and high) corridor has collapsed in places, or else the formerly stone tile lined walls have shed their load, there are holes, divots and dotted piles of stone and rubble on the floor either side of the central part of the passage.Basically, it’s a ruin- the Inspectors briefly investigate- what did this? McGow is of the opinion that the stone is safe atm but sometime in the ancient past this area was subject to an earthquake- or similar forces.The passage goes on- and again, there’s no map for this part, the corridor ends in an equally derelict chamber with three possible exits, although one of them- a similar sized corridor to the north is completely collapsed only a dozen feet into its course.The Inspectors go for a brief wander- the passage to the east turns and twists- and ends in another dead end, a ceiling collapse.The passage to the south slopes down and ends in a cavern opening overlooking what seems to be a bottomless abyss- there is no other/far side to the abyss, and no sign of any possible forward passage, and no visible sign that there ever was. Most odd- the tunnel leads into a deep hole.It’s a mystery that the PCs intend to fathom.Or else… the PCs, some of them, are getting chirpy and so Travis instigates another prayer time and… the item(s) they are looking for is/are back the way the PCs have just come from.The last ten or so minutes of exploration and associated skill checks have been a complete waste of time.The DM has a bit of a giggle to himself. The clock is ticking.Praying all the way the Inspectors march themselves right back to the entrance to this passage, back to the part in which the walls and floors have collapsed- as described above.Digging around and shifting rocks, McGow finds a small circular hole in the floor here, and after a bit of quibbling (and another prayer- it’s this way), Travis is lowered down into the opening.At last, a picture.[ATTACH=full]421002[/ATTACH]WTF is this place?It’s a packed dirt tunnel system- it’s… well, let’s just say that Travis isn’t happy to be down here on his own, and so…The rest of the Inspectors descend- after hammering several pitons into the corridor above, although it’s only a ten-foot drop into the hole.It’s warm in the packed earth tunnels, and with low ceilings in places- something made this, and around the corner…[ATTACH=full]421003[/ATTACH]McGow, leading the way, discovers a chamber filled with twitching (almost crawling) translucent rubbery looking eggs/grubs.Nobody is happy with this discovery.“We’re in an ant’s nest?” Travis worries.“How big are the ants?” McGow queries.McGow is eventually talked out of splatting the eggs/grubs here.We move on…[ATTACH=full]421004[/ATTACH]It’s getting very warm in here, and… the place is massive, with odd looking furrowed/ribbed holes in the floor and the ceiling.Every now and then a gurgling, or else a rumbling sound brings the adventurers to a sudden stop.It’s at this point that Travis again insists that the Inspectors start praying their way to their target.There’s also a lot of – “I really don’t like this”, going on.And then, Snakebite’s prayers are answered (she rolled a ‘20’) and the half-orc monk stomps off with the other Inspectors rushing after to try to keep up.At which point a very small (maybe three foot long, one foot high) multi-legged insect/lizard-like creature burrows up behind Mavis and sinks its jaws into the back of the priestesses’ legs.[ATTACH=full]421005[/ATTACH]Mavis starts screaming.The creature is quickly identified- it’s a kruthik, this after another ‘20’ this time a Monster Knowledge check from C-Fax. The Inspectors are in a Kruthik nest- there will be more of these creatures, the paladin lets his comrades know all about the kruthik. The paladin’s final instruction is simply this- let’s get this done and very quickly.[ATTACH=full]421006[/ATTACH]C-Fax's deliberations come after McGow rushes back and smashes down the kruthik hatchling attempting to make a meal out of Mavis.The hatchling proves an easy kill, its carapace is still soft- it effectively has no armour, very easy to squish.We go on…[ATTACH=full]421007[/ATTACH]The Inspectors are following Snakebite when another pair of kruthik hatchlings burst through the walls to get at the PCs.The DM is doing nicely generating surprise attacks.Mavis is hit again; she’s critically wounded- down to maybe two hit points; the priestess must use a spell to cure her wounds; keep in mind the PCs are trying to preserve their powers- they figure there’s more to come down here.[ATTACH=full]421008[/ATTACH]Mavis’ colleagues make short work of the two kruthik hatchlings.Snakebite leads them on and into a low ceilinged (about four foot high) bone (and trash/treasure) strewn circular chamber- “dis da spot!” The half-orc monk declares.[ATTACH=full]421009[/ATTACH]A slew of picked clean bones, a smattering of coin and a bunch of other long lost adventuring gear (mostly broken and blunted weapons, and bits of chewed through armour).The Inspectors pray and search- and a shield is quickly found which sports an image of the platinum dragon on its face, the fourth missing Bahamut item is located, and instantly passed over to Mavis- she needs all the defence she can get. It’s a +1 shield. Note the nest here also gives up more than a hundred silver pieces and a handful of gold coin too. Also, a long-lost and ratty/rotten belt pouch which contains two potions of healing (there is cheering) and a pouch of five small amethysts. Treasure aplenty.More prayers to Bahamut follow, the Inspectors divine that there’s nothing more in the nest to be found. The final missing Bahamut item (a longsword) is, they’re certain, down here somewhere, just not in this place.[ATTACH=full]421010[/ATTACH]It’s at this point that more kruthik hatchlings burrow into the chamber- Mavis is bitten again (note the DM is randomly rolling to see which PC the next arriving kruthik attacks- mostly with surprise).It gets busy, but only for a short while.[ATTACH=full]421011[/ATTACH]Three more kruthik hatchlings bite the dust.The Inspectors are off and running- in full retreat, back the way they came.As Travis put it- “I’m not staying here, it’s bloody dangerous. I’m off”, the halfling then triple moves as quick as he can towards the way in/out.Only Snakebite manages (just) to keep ahead of the fleeing (and wailing) Travis, who is not having fun yet.[ATTACH=full]421012[/ATTACH]At which point a larger kruthik springs out of one of the many holes in the floor/ceilings of the claustrophobic caverns and tunnels, the young kruthik savages Travis.The rogue is down to half-a-dozen hit points, and screaming for help, but he isn’t hanging around- Travis disengages as quickly as he can and gets the heck out of dodge. He’s down to maybe seven hit points.[ATTACH=full]421013[/ATTACH]Moments later two more kruthik young tear their way through the dirt walls and attack McGow, the dwarf is soon after bleeding profusely and vainly swatting with his hammer and shield, trying to keep the pair at bay.The Inspectors fight back, Snakebite hammering the young kruthik that took a chunk out of Travis.McGow, with help from Mavis’ magic missiles, smashing down one of the young kruthik that ambushed him.[ATTACH=full]421014[/ATTACH]But then a larger still kruthik, an adult, rears up out of another hole and fires a pair of chitinous spikes into Mavis.The priestess fires off her magic missiles (see above) and then swiftly retreats (swearing furiously as she goes).Oh, and here are the bad guys-[spoiler= The Bad Guys]Enc#22 The Kruthik Nest 645 XP CR 4 Deadly.6 x Kruthik, Hatchling (20xp each) As per MToF Kruthik Young except AC 12 only.3 x Kruthik, Young (25xp each) As per MToF Kruthik Young except better HP spread on Fantasy Grounds 2d3+8 (10-14 HP each).1 x Kruthik, Adult (450xp) As per MToF Kruthik Adult except better HP spread on Fantasy Grounds 6d4+36 (42-60 HP).Tactics- Attack & Kill, Kill, Kill.[/spoiler]The badly wounded Inspectors (Mavis and Travis) take to hiding and shooting.[ATTACH=full]421015[/ATTACH]The warriors continue the fight, although the Inspectors first thought was to flee this place.They’re really not having fun here.[ATTACH=full]421016[/ATTACH]The fighters quickly rush over to take down the last standing kruthik adult.Victory is surely assured.[ATTACH=full]421017[/ATTACH]The Inspectors pile on the hurt, although the kruthik adult proves much more difficult to hit (AC 18), alas however the last enemy doesn’t land another hit of its own. Travis eventually (about two turns later) finishes it off with a crossbow bolt slammed into its skull.And pretty much a minute later (running all the way) the Inspectors get back to here…[ATTACH=full]421018[/ATTACH]The bridge to the west is barely holding on, it’s time for another rest- and the sharing of the treasure, then- south, that’s the direction the Inspectors Bahamut prayers are directing them.One more item to find- a nice new longsword for C-Fax. He can’t wait, although that last one was tough, or else scary.But that’s for next time.129 XP each for the encounter.Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo Massive.</blockquote>

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