Rhenny
Adventurer
10th Session (12/3/11)
The adventurers, healed and rested (but very low on healing surges), continued down the sewer way following the two Hobgoblin archers who had fled. The water in the pool was waist high, but as the group waded into a 20’ corridor, the water level diminished to knee high, then to barely over the foot. Geyorg, the Eladrin rogue, scouted about 30’ ahead of the group up to the North, scanning for traps or other signs of danger. When he declared that it seemed safe, the others joined him. Then, as he peered into the darkness, only he could perceive the danger that lurked ahead of them. He heard the sound of a thousand rats squeaking and scurrying toward the party, and he could see a swarm of the vermin bearing down on them. He warned the others, and they spread out across the sewer waiting for the rats to swarm them. Grimgold added, “Aye, the rat swarms of the mines were often a problem for my people. They used fire against them, best they could.”
The rats rushed at them at double speed. As they climbed all over the adventurers, all but Karyak suffered wounds from their scratching and biting. Each of the companions attacked the swarm…Xaxis, the wizard, used his scorching burst, frying numerous rats, Karayk used his dragon’s breath of fire to scorch more. Geyorg had to attack with his longsword, cutting into the swarm, but not doing much damage at all. Grimgold used his shield to bash into a number of the little vermin, doing some damage, but certainly not as much as the previous fire attacks.
As the companions all moved to get out of the swarm, they dealt more damage to the swarm, highlighted by Xaxis’ burning hands. After that, the rats continued running south, as if they were running away from something in the north. The party nearly chased after the rats, but when they realized that the rats were running from some other predator, they decided to hold their positions. When Geyorg and Grimgold looked back to the North, they saw a horrible creature skitter toward Grimgold. It was a nearly 7’ wide, 6’ tall and 10’ long wormlike creature that moved on dozens of smaller legs. It’s face had a toothy maw ringed with numerous tentacles all dripping with ichor. The carrion crawler slapped Grimgold with its tentacles doing serious damage (critical hit), and the strong poison affected even the sturdy dwarf. He felt the venom slow him and poison his system.
The ensuing battle was fierce. Geyorg used his tumbling skill to flank the beast, but he failed to deliver with his Opening Move sword thrust. Then Grim waved at the beast with his mighty axe, but the creature’s skin repelled his blade. Redoubling his effort (action point), Grimgold struck again. This time cutting into the sewer beast, but barely scratching it. Xaxis fired a scorching burst that hit the mark, and then he fired another one, equally damaging (action point). Karyak prayed to Pelor and granted his comrades Shield of Faith. Then Karayk used a Healing word to fortify Grimgold.
Throughout the rest of the battle, the sewer beast used its tentacles to slow, immobilize and poison Xaxis, Karyak and Grimgold. Grimgold was able to shake off the effects of the poison, but Xaxis suffered for many rounds. Karayk used healing word to bolster Xaxis, who nearly went down. Eventually, Xaxis was able to overcome the creature’s poison. Soon after, Karayk also suffered from injury and poison. Grimgold and Geyorg tried to keep the creature flanked, and hit the beast a number of times, Geyorg adding sneak attack damage with every hit. But, even when Grimgold marked the beast, it continued to follow Karyak, bringing him down to near unconsciousness.
Remembering that Karyak had a healing potion in his bag of holding, Geyorg moved close, found the bottle and poured it into Karyak’s mouth to revive the weary cleric. Then, thinking that the creature may somehow be attracted to the Rune Box that Karyak carried in the bag of holding, Karyak tossed the bag to Grimgold, and stepped back. The sewer beast did not go after the Rune Box. It continued to pursue Karyak, so the others attacked it as it moved. Unfortunately, nobody could cut through its hide.
As the creature attacked Karayk once again, it hit, and Karyak was in trouble once more. Summoning all of his Dragonborn strength, Karyak used his Divine Fortune and Avenging Flame attack, cutting into the beast with his now flaming blade. For the next few rounds, the creature continued to burn from the holy flames, but it also continued to attack the Dragonborn cleric.
Exhausted, wounded and poisoned, the party fought on. Finally, after Karyak called forth power from the sky to smite the creature and knock it prone, the others were able to move around it, and Karayk was able to move away from it and gain his second wind.
Xaxis scored damage against the beast with scorching bursts over the next few rounds. Geyorg used his piercing strike with sneak attack damage, as he and Grimgold flanked the creature once more. Grim steadily chopped at the beast, and although the darn creature would not go down, at least the creature turned and attacked Grim. With Karayk out of harm’s way for the moment, the group uttered a collective sigh of relief. Geyorg pierced the creature’s hide once more, and then, Grimgold lifted his Rending Battle Axe above his head and chopped down with all his strength. That mighty blow cut deeply into the carrion crawler, ending its life.
After the battle, the group looked to the North and found the remains of the two Hobgoblin archers. At the North end of the sewer they also saw a collapsed section of the sewer way, and a hole in the ceiling leading up into wilderness above. The group decided to stay in the sewers for the time being. They cut up the carrion crawler and found 32 gp and 3 100 gp gems in the gut of the beast. As they were examining the dead carcass, Karyak thought about collecting some of the poison from the beast’s tentacles. He and Xaxis realized that with time and study, Karyak could use his ability to brew potions to refine the poison, perhaps giving them an advantage in a future battle.
The party also gathered 86 sp and 1 moonstone gem worth 100 gp from the archers. Then Karayk gathered some dead rats, and some maimed live ones, and in private devoured them, savoring the live ones, a delicacy for him to enjoy.
Attempting to fortify their position, the party doubled back, turned the underwater wheel that closed the gate to the outer sewer way, and continued back through the portcullis at the other end of the sewer way. Geyorg fixed the portcullis that he had jammed earlier, and they dropped it down once more to block the passage. Then, Geyorg took down the crude ladder that led back up to Vincent Gander’s store, and he arranged some skeleton bones, hobgoblin armor and weapons under the entrance as an alarm/trap for any Orcus worshipers who might drop in. Nearly passing out from exhaustion and trauma of battle, Xaxis performed a ritual to create a wall-like curtain in one corner of the room, which the party could hide behind and rest for many hours. Taking turns on watch, they rested for 10 hours, without mishap.
This part of the adventure was worth 300 xp each. Tune in next time…..
The adventurers, healed and rested (but very low on healing surges), continued down the sewer way following the two Hobgoblin archers who had fled. The water in the pool was waist high, but as the group waded into a 20’ corridor, the water level diminished to knee high, then to barely over the foot. Geyorg, the Eladrin rogue, scouted about 30’ ahead of the group up to the North, scanning for traps or other signs of danger. When he declared that it seemed safe, the others joined him. Then, as he peered into the darkness, only he could perceive the danger that lurked ahead of them. He heard the sound of a thousand rats squeaking and scurrying toward the party, and he could see a swarm of the vermin bearing down on them. He warned the others, and they spread out across the sewer waiting for the rats to swarm them. Grimgold added, “Aye, the rat swarms of the mines were often a problem for my people. They used fire against them, best they could.”
The rats rushed at them at double speed. As they climbed all over the adventurers, all but Karyak suffered wounds from their scratching and biting. Each of the companions attacked the swarm…Xaxis, the wizard, used his scorching burst, frying numerous rats, Karayk used his dragon’s breath of fire to scorch more. Geyorg had to attack with his longsword, cutting into the swarm, but not doing much damage at all. Grimgold used his shield to bash into a number of the little vermin, doing some damage, but certainly not as much as the previous fire attacks.
As the companions all moved to get out of the swarm, they dealt more damage to the swarm, highlighted by Xaxis’ burning hands. After that, the rats continued running south, as if they were running away from something in the north. The party nearly chased after the rats, but when they realized that the rats were running from some other predator, they decided to hold their positions. When Geyorg and Grimgold looked back to the North, they saw a horrible creature skitter toward Grimgold. It was a nearly 7’ wide, 6’ tall and 10’ long wormlike creature that moved on dozens of smaller legs. It’s face had a toothy maw ringed with numerous tentacles all dripping with ichor. The carrion crawler slapped Grimgold with its tentacles doing serious damage (critical hit), and the strong poison affected even the sturdy dwarf. He felt the venom slow him and poison his system.
The ensuing battle was fierce. Geyorg used his tumbling skill to flank the beast, but he failed to deliver with his Opening Move sword thrust. Then Grim waved at the beast with his mighty axe, but the creature’s skin repelled his blade. Redoubling his effort (action point), Grimgold struck again. This time cutting into the sewer beast, but barely scratching it. Xaxis fired a scorching burst that hit the mark, and then he fired another one, equally damaging (action point). Karyak prayed to Pelor and granted his comrades Shield of Faith. Then Karayk used a Healing word to fortify Grimgold.
Throughout the rest of the battle, the sewer beast used its tentacles to slow, immobilize and poison Xaxis, Karyak and Grimgold. Grimgold was able to shake off the effects of the poison, but Xaxis suffered for many rounds. Karayk used healing word to bolster Xaxis, who nearly went down. Eventually, Xaxis was able to overcome the creature’s poison. Soon after, Karayk also suffered from injury and poison. Grimgold and Geyorg tried to keep the creature flanked, and hit the beast a number of times, Geyorg adding sneak attack damage with every hit. But, even when Grimgold marked the beast, it continued to follow Karyak, bringing him down to near unconsciousness.
Remembering that Karyak had a healing potion in his bag of holding, Geyorg moved close, found the bottle and poured it into Karyak’s mouth to revive the weary cleric. Then, thinking that the creature may somehow be attracted to the Rune Box that Karyak carried in the bag of holding, Karyak tossed the bag to Grimgold, and stepped back. The sewer beast did not go after the Rune Box. It continued to pursue Karyak, so the others attacked it as it moved. Unfortunately, nobody could cut through its hide.
As the creature attacked Karayk once again, it hit, and Karyak was in trouble once more. Summoning all of his Dragonborn strength, Karyak used his Divine Fortune and Avenging Flame attack, cutting into the beast with his now flaming blade. For the next few rounds, the creature continued to burn from the holy flames, but it also continued to attack the Dragonborn cleric.
Exhausted, wounded and poisoned, the party fought on. Finally, after Karyak called forth power from the sky to smite the creature and knock it prone, the others were able to move around it, and Karayk was able to move away from it and gain his second wind.
Xaxis scored damage against the beast with scorching bursts over the next few rounds. Geyorg used his piercing strike with sneak attack damage, as he and Grimgold flanked the creature once more. Grim steadily chopped at the beast, and although the darn creature would not go down, at least the creature turned and attacked Grim. With Karayk out of harm’s way for the moment, the group uttered a collective sigh of relief. Geyorg pierced the creature’s hide once more, and then, Grimgold lifted his Rending Battle Axe above his head and chopped down with all his strength. That mighty blow cut deeply into the carrion crawler, ending its life.
After the battle, the group looked to the North and found the remains of the two Hobgoblin archers. At the North end of the sewer they also saw a collapsed section of the sewer way, and a hole in the ceiling leading up into wilderness above. The group decided to stay in the sewers for the time being. They cut up the carrion crawler and found 32 gp and 3 100 gp gems in the gut of the beast. As they were examining the dead carcass, Karyak thought about collecting some of the poison from the beast’s tentacles. He and Xaxis realized that with time and study, Karyak could use his ability to brew potions to refine the poison, perhaps giving them an advantage in a future battle.
The party also gathered 86 sp and 1 moonstone gem worth 100 gp from the archers. Then Karayk gathered some dead rats, and some maimed live ones, and in private devoured them, savoring the live ones, a delicacy for him to enjoy.
Attempting to fortify their position, the party doubled back, turned the underwater wheel that closed the gate to the outer sewer way, and continued back through the portcullis at the other end of the sewer way. Geyorg fixed the portcullis that he had jammed earlier, and they dropped it down once more to block the passage. Then, Geyorg took down the crude ladder that led back up to Vincent Gander’s store, and he arranged some skeleton bones, hobgoblin armor and weapons under the entrance as an alarm/trap for any Orcus worshipers who might drop in. Nearly passing out from exhaustion and trauma of battle, Xaxis performed a ritual to create a wall-like curtain in one corner of the room, which the party could hide behind and rest for many hours. Taking turns on watch, they rested for 10 hours, without mishap.
This part of the adventure was worth 300 xp each. Tune in next time…..
Last edited: