Wrenn suggests, "We should probably head west; if we can make a crude map of the tunnel complex, knowing where all of the tunnels lead would give us a better idea as to how using them would be advantageous for our foes. Patterns of usage ay emerge, once we see the complete picture. What say all of you?"
Since one direction seems as good as the other at this point and no one voiced any desire to ascend the ladder, West is the direction of progress. This particular tunnel shows definitive signs of maintenance. It terminates in a 3 X 3 room with a 6 stride ladder ascending to a trapdoor. Like the previous room, this one is illuminated by its own lamp globes, making the one that the party carries, unnecessary.
Estimating that it is now mid-afternoon, the surface is preferred for making camp, as food will need to be acquired, even though it is very likely that enemies will be camped above. Making preparation, Oorvid climbs up first indicating that the trapdoor is free to move. When everyone is ready, he exits as quickly as possible, followed by Askari, then Volki, then Wrenn, then Astrid, then Hiroshi.
The pergola, which was the expected structure, is completely clear of debris, except for a corner which is being used to stage a campfire, the stone base making it a very safe place to do so. Tending the fire are two gray-skinned Faethrins, the likes of which have not previously been seen. Like the oddity of the three original members meeting Askari, with his black skin, seeing people with stone gray skin is even stranger than the Rheini people with their brown skin.
The cooks give a cry of alarm, which immediately alerts the others of their kind who were lounging, waiting on the food to be finished. The cooks grip their utensils as weapons. The others quickly reach to ready bows. Seeing Wrenn and Volki, one of the Amiradthae, as they are called, speaks in Shimadow. "You are supposed to be working the north to drive out the Rheini. Have you hired help and what are you doing here?"
Askari will wait and give Wrenn a moment to talk. Given his new found ability involving heat, he take this moment to judge if he can intuitively use the campfire to their advantage. If combat seems inevitable, he will use the fire to distract and hopefully damage anyone possible and close on the nearest archers. He would like to get within melee range of the archers to keep them at a disadvantage.
Volki gives Wrenn a look and nod that says he can be the speaker for us. She will stay close to the others and prepare to use the waylines to toxify if it comes to a fight.
Taking on the attitude of the questioner, Wrenn speaks in an uncharacteristic manner. "Those cowardly Rheini are all huddled up in their hovel of a camp. They are not doing anything but are like pulling a boring beetle from a fresh carcass to remove. There are too many to bull through, hence the extra muscle."
"We thought we would survey the area. I thought you were farther out. Why in the Six Hells are you wanting everyone out of the area, anyway. A little more information breeds a little more motivation."
The cooks go back to tending the food, still paying some attention to the new comers. Perhaps it was such an avant guard approach. Perhaps it was Fortune, but whatever the cause, the Amiradthan is more forthcoming than could have been expected, until he realizes what he is saying.
"It is not really my place to say. We serve Temnyy Veter as well, but he said he was looking for this Yahdram treasure. You are supposed..."
His face darkens, as the Amiradthae cannot blush. He shows his teeth and begins to ready his bow. "You did something to my head!"
Recognizing that combat will ensue, Volki grips an ant pincher in her hand and attempts to alter the mind of one of the opponents. The pincher dissolves as the Amiradtha shakes his head in confusion. A second enemy fires an arrow from short range, piercing her tunic and causing injury to Volki.
Askari can indeed sense the waylines (energy) within the fire, fluctuating their amplitude, causing fire to explode outward. Despite this new found talent, the two cooks react and are not burned by the sudden increase in the flames. A fraction of an instant after such an epiphany, Askari is hit with two arrows, causing severe injury. He is down and incapacitated but conscious.
Hiroshi launches a javelin at one of the cooks as he jumps back from the fire. The weapon looks like a streak of lightning as it flies through the air. The electrified javelin strikes one of the cooks in the midsection, knocking him to the ground, where he stays, incapacitated. The second cook covers her bow and fires an arrow, sticking it into Hiroshi.
Astrid releases two bolts of lightning simultaneously. One strikes the cook that is already down, the other damages the second cook. In response, two other Amiradthae shoot arrows into Astrid. She is down and incapacitated, though conscious.
Faster than the Amiradthae, Wrenn draws and fires an arrow at one of the enemy. The arrow punches through the thin leather tunic and into the abdomen of the target, causing him to stagger backward. Though it ruins the arrow, the wound immediately turns caustic, increasing the damage enough to cause the Faethrin to fall, incapacitated.
Oorvid charges from under the cover of the pergola, reaching the Amiradthan speaker before any of them can launch their first arrow. His carving axes seem to vibrate as he sets them in motion. A distinct humming noise can be heard. Oorvid cuts through the tunic and into the flesh of his opponent. A second opponent shoot Oorvid in the back from point blank range. The arrow does significant harm.
GM:
Everyone is conscious and can bend waylines, but Askari and Astrid are unable to move.
Wrenn will fire at whichever foe attempts to move in on either Astrid or Askari. Same technique as last time. Except this time, he will concentrate on the Ant Stinger, drawing out its proclivities to intensify the toxin.
92(+75) = 167 Bow Attack
95(+38) = 133 Toxify (Drawing 1 measure of energy from Ant Stinger)
Oorvid, who had previously closed with an opponent and before the Amiradtha can draw and fire and arrow, he is assaulted four times by the carving axes of his opponent. Moving in coordination between the two, all within the range of a single stride in either direction, he incapacitates both before they can act, mystically drawing some of their lifeforce into himself, completely repairing his previous wound. Seeing his effectiveness, one of the remaining Amiradthae fires an arrow at him, causing a minor new wound.
Askari, who cannot physically move, instinctively does what he can to defend himself against impending doom. Bending mystical waylines he is able to, somewhat, hide his presence from notice. Nothing visually changes about him but for some reason it is easier to forget he is lying there.
Having downed one of the two cooks, Hiroshi ignores the first and launches his second javelin at the other. As he moves, shadows gather around him making him harder to see. His javelin punches, hard, through the other cook, dropping him to the ground.
Despite not being able to move, Astrid can see the two Amiradthae that shot her. Unbeknownst to them she is the cause of the lightning that dances between them, affecting both in the given area.
Wrenn draws and is ready to fire faster than the enemy. None seems to be taking aim at either fallen friend so he picks a random enemy. The arrow bores through the enemy with the toxicity adding insult to injury. A remaining Amiradtha fires at Wrenn, but the arrow does penetrate to flesh.
Seeing that Oorvid has downed his enemies before she reaches his second, she diverts her path the engage another, slicing through his tunic causing slight injury; but at the blade draws passed, Volki causes the wound to turn caustic, increasing the damage as the wound festers. Ignoring the fallen youths, a second enemy fires at Volki but the arrow does not penetrate her tunic.
Despite the damage done to the party, the Amiradthae upon seeing half of their number fall, look as if to run, not wanting to press the matter at risk of total loss of kin.
