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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Softwind" data-source="post: 1289344" data-attributes="member: 13893">Kill, cut, and run!Twenty-first Session (part 3) At Brynn’s unspoken gesture, the Companions of the Valley (plus one) leave the tunnel, entering a vast chamber beyond. Water laps at the edge of the chamber, and spreads across most of the area, save for a few outcroppings scattered about, and the stalagmites. As they approach, creatures rise from the water, and advance upon the group.  Familiar in shape, but of a size not seen before, the insects rush to engage the interlopers. The chamber falls into shadow, as interlocking spheres of darkness are created, slowing the party’s advance.  Genoa wastes no time casting blindsight on as many Companions she can reach, while the Rangers, not needing assistance in the dark, stride forward to the last seen location of the insects. Their weapons snake out, possessed by the same hunger as their wielders. Metal hitting chitin draws the others to them, and the group lays in with a ferocity rarely glimpsed. As each opponent is slain, the shadows recede, only to darken again as the insects move about, jockeying for positions in which to rend the party.  The party gains the upper hand for a moment, before something more enters the fray. From a mound upon a sizable island in the underground lake come lengthy tendrils, to trap and entwine the adventurers. For every one that is severed or crushed, another takes its place, an endless supply. For a moment, the party despairs, before being suppressing the emotion with rage.  Focusing on the remnant of the insect guards and destroying them, they can then turn their whole attention upon the creature in the water. Genoa wildshapes into a shark to attack from below, while Skylar, Brynn, and Grimnyr fire arrows at the openings in the mound, hoping to injure the creature. Athena moves between party members, applying a healing touch to each. Qonos conjures arcane missiles and directs them at the creature, while Tombit, his melee talents wasted on long-range battle, prowls the shore, looking for something to do to contribute to the fight. Soon, the tendrils come less often, and shorten in length. Grimnyr realizes what is occurring, and snatches one of the explosive leather spheres claimed from Shemp. Even as Brynn shouts “NOOO!,” the sphere impacts the mound crater. The resulting explosion has several effects. The mound crumbles, the stones above it pelting downward, and the whole of the mountain seems to shudder. Stalactites separate from their centuries-long home, to come crashing down randomly upon land or water. The dwarves look to the ceiling with concern, sensing that this time, the collapse will be much greater. Only the equipment and treasure, carried by previous victims of the insects, scattered about the island delays their headlong rush out of the chamber. Stopping only long enough to grab the items, corpse and all, they rush towards the elevators leading to the surface. As an afterthought, they toss Shemp over Grimnyr’s shoulder on their way out.</blockquote>

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