Deuce Traveler's Sewer Rats

[Fangor the Fierce]

After attempting to find his bullet in the small passageway, Needles is relieved to find the passageway open up. Something was still making his scales itch, as he examines the room they find themselves in. This was an open room, multiple tunnels, walkways and stinking water.

"You know, this would be a good place to lay in wait for passer-by's. If I were a grotesque and mutated bat or rat, I would hide here, wait for prey, and snack on the unlucky ones."

Taking the walkway with some caution, he checks to make sure each step of his is sure, and that the walkways are not about to crumble beneath his footing. He moves slowly but deliberately, watching the shadows for anything hiding.

 

[ghostcat]

Hardnose replies to Pickwick "That mirror is evil. It must be destroyed. Come on let's go before any more creatures come to investigate the noise."

Hardnose cleans the creatures blood from his sword and sheafs his sword, takes his usual position protecting the workers and follows the party down the tunnels.

 

[Herobizkit]

Pickwick raised an eyebrow. "I dunno, Hardnose... magic isn't Good OR Evil, as far as I know. But it's damn hard to predict sometimes."

"Now machines," he said excitedly, "they ALWAYS do what they're built to do. They may break down from time to time, sure, but once you fix 'em, they work great. Nothin' random about a crossbow, or a water pump, or a steam-powered horseless wagon."

Pickwick's mind began to spin. A machine that could open and close a doorway between worlds... like a gate. To the stars.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Needles sees that the walkways are solid, and made mostly of solid rock with cobblestones on the surface. The party starts walking forward again, engaged in discussions about the threats they might face. Even the Union members join the gaggle and talk about the odd beasts that have been encountered so far and may be encountered in the future.

The discussion continues until the party hears some clacking echoing upon stones, as if someone was knocking quite near. It's one of the Union workers who shouts out first. It seems as if there are three giant cockroaches blended into the ceiling above you. The three foot long creatures beat their wings and begin to drop in an attempt to land upon some of you.

OOC: Everyone make either a Spot or Listen check, whichever you believe to give you a higher chance of succeeding. If you make a DC 12 check, you are not surprised this round and may roll for initiative and combat actions. The roaches will go last and have an initiative of 1, as they have a distance to drop and react slowly.

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

Needles can only hope that whatever the others awaken with their talking is drawn to their chatter. He keeps silent, watching the upcoming tunnel and whatever it holds for them. It is not surprising when he spots the incoming roaches, but is too slow to react in time. He deftly moves to a side with his back against the wall.

 

[Herobizkit]

Pickwick's imagination was running wild now, imagining a whole series of Magitech portals spanning hundreds of leagues across the world, making a fortune charging people for the use of the technology. He would have to name the enterprise after himself, of course...

 

[[OMENRPG]Ben]

Chernguk, having bundled up the disembodied bat-rat wings and placing them in his pack, readied his crossbow again and moved forward alertly. If the rest of the group wanted to make so much noise, he supposed he would use them as a form of distractionary bait.

He lurked to the periphery of the group, holding his crossbow in his grimy hands, still coated with some blood of the creature. As they progressed deeper into the tunnels, closer to the source of the magic, he idly listened to the chatter of his companions, trying to remain as aware as possible.

He froze as soon as he heard the clacking sound of the insects along the roof of the tunnel, jerking his head up to the ceiling and focusing his dilated eyes upon the grotesque creatures clinging there. He tried to tuck tight against the wall of the tunnel, concealing himself from their senses as best as possible, while taking aim at the lead creature.

 

[ghostcat]

Hardnose is walking along listening to the conversation and occasionally contributing. When he hears clacking coming from above, which suddenly stops. Looking up he sees a giant cockroach falling on the party. He draws his short sword and tries to his it but in his rush hits only air.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Hardnose swung as the creatures descended, but missed. Chernguk also fired his own bolt, but his attack bounced off the tough shell of the one he hit.

The creatures landed and attacked, one going for one of the Union workers while the other two struck at Needles and Fergus.

The first creature stumbled so badly that it missed, fell into the sewer water, and with a cry was struggling to climb the sewer walls back up onto the walkway. The other two also missed their targets, though Stubby fell and cried out as he twisted his ankle in his haste to get away from the creature.

OOC: Round 1 over. The party members are now no longer surprised. Everyone may act now in round 2.

 

[Fenris]

Fergus swings his axe at the cockroach attacking the Union workers.