Wrath of the Righteous - Chapter One [NSFW] (ShadowPlay x Zazutobi)

Ebiko nodded saying "All the arrows are yours." Agreeing to the request, after all it wasnt like she needed arrows herself. The tiefling and Kitsune took the lead with the latter keeping the torch in her left hand. Ebiko looked down the two paths to see if she could notice any details about either that might point them in the right direction.
 
There didn't appear to be much difference in the two paths that lay ahead. Both seemed dark and silent at the moment.
vast_cavernPC_1.png


Saphira looked first at one and then at the other direction. "I don't know where we should go from here. Ebiko? Any suggestions?"

Behind them, Horgus made rather impatient sounds, but didn't say anything out loud.
 
Ebiko ignored the impatient sounds of Horgus behind them. As far as she was concerned he was lucky to have escorts willing to take the lead for him for the moment. "Left passage." she said gesturing towards the north east passage. "Cant really tell the different so pick one and keep moving." Ebiko said. While a scholar by nature, she did have some skills in such a situation. Namely to hesitate was dangerous since it left you second guessing when you could just push forward.

With the decision made Ebiko headed towards the north east passage keeping an eye and fluffy ear out as she did.
 
The leftmost path was open and led, through a narrow passage, up a little slope to a cavern. This smaller cavern appeared to have once served as a campsite or temporary lair. A torn bedroll were laid out next to the cold remains of a fire. A pile of bones, broken equipment, and rubble were scattered just past the campsite.

As the five survivors approached the campsite, two giant cockroaches emerged from the scattered remains, sensing potential dinner nearby.

[ 1d20+6 = 16 ] Initiative Saphira
[ 1d20+7 = 14 ] Initiative Avenia
[ 1d20+2 = 11 ] Initiative Ebiko
[ 1d20+1 = 6 ] Initiative Cockroach

vast_cavern_1r1.png

Saphira would raise her shield and then ready a strike for when one of the coaches came within range.
Avenia would delay her action until after the cockroaches, hoping to get some sort of advantage on them on her own turn.
 
Ebiko would step ahead of the group and raise her free hand into a gesture and with a whispered word a spray of color would splash out towards the roaches.

Ebiko Casts Color Spray, Will Save.
 
One of the cockroaches were clearly affected by the spell that Ebiko cast. It fell to the ground, unconscious.

The other didn't seem fazed by the display of colors and tried to bite Saphira. The creature managed to hit the heavily armored tiefling, nicking her leg. (2 slashing damage)

Saphira tried to return the favor to the cockroach but was too rattled by the bite to hit the critter.

Avenia however managed to cut the cockroach, though not enough to kill it.

vast_cavern_1r2.png

[ 1d20+0 = 17 ] Will save vs. color spray
[ 1d20+0 = 7 ] Will save vs. color spray
[ 1d20+1 = 21 natural 20 ] Bite vs. Saphira [ 1d4 = 2 ] Damage Slashing
[ 1d20+1 = 5 ] Crit confirmation

[ 1d20+5 = 7 ] Saphira attack [ 1d6+2 = 4 ] piercing
[ 1d20+3 = 16 ] Avenia attack [ 1d6+1 = 2 ] piercing

Saphira would take a step to the left to gain the advantage of flanking the cockroach.

Avenia, seeing the first cockroach dying, turns to the other one and delivers a coup de grace

[ 1d20+7 = 23 ] Saphira Flanking attack [ 1d6+2 = 7 ] piercing damage
[ 1d20+5 = 7 ] Avenia, coup de grace [ 2d6+2+2d6 = 14 ] Crit + sneak damage

The two women in the heat of battle, managed to finish the cockroaches, before they or anyone else had a chance to react.
 
The cockroaches were defeated and Ebiko let out a sigh of relief. She had used a spell but damage was minimal and they had defeated both of them quickly. Not a bad trade off all in all. "Alright lets keep moving." Ebiko said taking the lead once again with her torch held aloft. It seems the passage came to a three way crossroads though she was pretty sure the right to the right was just the other passage they hadnt gone down earlier. So she pushed forward towards the path that continued forward.
 
As they were about to move further down the tunnel, Ebiko noticed a few items among the remains of the campsite. There was a quiver of 15 arrows and a backpack with some trail rations and a single small vial of liquid. Among the remains they also found a copper brooch depicting a bat perched on a mushroom - both of the bat's eyes were tiny amethysts.

As they took the items, giving the arrows to Avenia, they moved further down the path. It led them into a small chamber. Several mounds of rock were strewn in heaps in this cavern, recently fallen from the walls and ceiling. Now and then, bits of dust settled from cracks in the stone above. The path ahead seemed like it was slowly widening as the five of them continued onwards.
 
Ebiko decided to appraise the broach. It seemed pretty well unique though whether she could recognize anything about it was up in the air. Passing on the arrows to Anevia and stowing away the rations and small vial of liquid they continued on. The small chamber they found with recently dropped stones did not fill her with confidence. These caverns were natural as far as she could tell so they had lasted for a long time. But a strike enough to split the earth was an entirely different matter to its stability.

Ebiko kept the torch aloft as they went relying on the light it provided to lead the way further ahead.

Ebiko Appraise Roll:9+2=11
 
The amulet was of high quality. The amethyst seemed to have some value and Ebiko reasoned that it would fetch one to two hundred GP with the right buyer. It was clear with the motif that the amulet was made for someone with a love or knowledge for underground or darkness habitation, as both the bat and the mushroom were known for living in darkness.

Following in the light of the torch, the party of survivors went into the narrow path that was the only way out of this area. For almost 25 minutes they traveled until they reached a junction. In the wall of the tunnel to the north was an opening and beyond the opening in the periphery of the torch's light, they could barely see the outline of a building.

To the east, the tunnel continued further on going deeper into the darkness.
 
The amulet was an interesting piece but who was down here and why was interesting. There might be others that were down here before the earth split open. And they might know how to get out. Shaking her head the group continued on their way for awhile before going into a narrow path until they hit a junction. There was an opening in the wall where they could just barely see the outline of a building while the tunnel continued east.

"Lets check out that building. Building means civilization and possibly a way up." Ebiko reasoned. She studied the hole in the wall trying to see if perhaps there were signs of animals or other creatures like those they had fought earlier before making her way through torch first.
 
There wasn't any apparent signs of animals in the hole. But still it would be hard to determine if a small animal like the cockroaches they encountered earlier had passed in such an area. Saphira nodded at Ebiko's assessment. "Good thinking. Let us check it out."

They entered the hole in the wall. Saphira with her shield first, Ebiko next, followed by Avenia with her bow and Horgus and the elf further back still.

A single, sizable 20-foot-tall building stood in the center of this 30-foot-high cave. It was a bunkerlike structure with no windows and walls of worked stone blocks. A 10-foot-long carving of a hammer decorated the building's facade. The ruins of collapsed outbuildings stood to either side.
abandoned_temple_1.png
 
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Ebiko looked up seeing how tall the structure was in this cavern. It was odd to find such a building here, though the lack of windows made it seem more like a tomb or prison. Still it was a sign that people have been here before and for a reason. No one builds a twenty foot building in a underground cavern for no reason. Ebiko studied the hammer marking on the building for a moment trying to recall if she had seen it all before. There was no shortage of things with a hammer symbol but she could narrow it down locally at least.

She looked for a door into the building and peeked inside.
 
The symbol on the front, Ebiko realized, was the symbol of Torag, the dwarven god of the mountains and crafting. It appeared to be hundreds of years old.

As they looked around for a door inside, they checked first one side of the building then the other. As Saphira stepped onto the crumbled remains of an outbuilding she saw the giant fly, sitting on top of the building. It was large and bloated and looked downright disgusting.



[ 1d20+2 = 10 ] Initiative Ebiko
[ 1d20+1 = 6 ] Initiative Fly
[ 1d20+7 = 24 ] Initiative Avenia
[ 1d20+6 = 26 natural 20 ] Initiative Saphira

26 Saphira
24 Avenia
10 Ebiko
6 Fly

Saphira would ready an action to attack the fly once it was within range.
Avenia would fire an arrow at the monster. [ 1d20+5 = 9 ] Avenia attack (bow) [ 1d6+2d6 = 10 ] Sneak attack

abandoned_temple_2.png
 
Ebiko shuddered at the giant fly. Is the cavern nothing but giant insects? No wonder the Drow are such macabre individuals. Shaking her head with her internal monologue the Kitsune readied her hands making a gesture towards the creature. Magic flowed through her and with a word a jolt of magic energy shot forth towards it.

Jolt Attack Roll:19+3=22
Jolt Damage Roll:3
 
The large fly was caught totally by surprise. Between Avenia's arrow and Ebiko's spell. The creature fell to the ground, dead, before it even had a chance to react.

Saphira looked back at them. "Well that was effective." She gave them a thumbs up and a smile, "Girlpower!" Something were needed to lighten the mood.

There seemed to be a door on the left side of the small shrine.

Saphira looked at the door, then back at Ebiko, "Should we try it? I wonder what kind of place this is. I mean. Deep under Kenabres. Some sort of building hidden in a cave? Don't you guys find it a little strange?"
 
Ebiko gave a thumbs up in return saying "Girl power!" in return. The small mood lightener making the Kitsune loosen up a bit herself as she regarded the door on the small most likely shrine to Torag. Putting a hand on her hip and holding up the torch she regarded it for a moment before looking back towards Saphira. "Absolutely strange it is. But we are underneath a city being attacked by demons despite the Wardstone, and not just any demons but the big hitters from the Worldwound itself. So strange times. And there might be something useful inside, like a map of the cavern or powerful magical items. Either way, its worth checking out." the Kitsune replied.

Stepping forward she tried to open the door to the shrine. While not a follower of Torag herself, Ebiko did have some respect for the art of crafting. It was akin to magic, to make something from nothing took education, skill, training, and instinct.
 
The door opened up to a small antechamber. A stone bench lined the southern wall of the chamber. At the far side of the room, a basin of water sat atop a stone pedestal. A stone door engraved with an image of a hammer were to the north.

Avenia said as they entered. "I think this is a temple to Torag." She bowed her head in reverence and staggered to the stone bench to sit down. "My leg hurts a lot. If only I can rest for a little bit." She said. Her head was down as if in contemplation.

Horgus huffed behind them. "That woman is slowing us down. Perhaps we should just split up." He said with weakly veiled intent of wanting Avenia left behind.

Anevia exploded at that comment "I'm not surprised that a man afraid to acknowledge his own faith wouldn't be moved by a forgotten temple like this." Her face was reddening with anger. "Someone ashamed of their own faith is as bad as those worshiping demons."

Horgus was a bit taken aback by the aggressiveness of her outburst, but then contemptuously remarked, "Oh, such rich irony of being chided by someone who has been known to consort with thieves."

Anevia fell into black, silent anger at that, her eyes narrowing as she resisted the temptation to escalate the argument.

It was clear that some sort of discontent was growing in the group.
 
Ebiko looked around the room as Anevia and Horgus argued between each other. The Kitsune looked to Horgus saying "If you would like to leave I wont stop you."A thinly veiled reminder that out of everyone there that could fight. Two out of three were sticking together and he could stay with them or try things out on his own.

The Kitsune wasnt particularly keen about keeping the unwilling. Walking over to the basic of water on the pedestal she looked to the stone door to the north. She tried to recall if there were any such rituals she needed to observe. Temples were not something to force your way through unless you wished to earn the ire of the associated gods. Who would make their displeasure known eventually.
 
Horgus seemed quite annoyed by the comment from the kitsune. His moods worsened by a lot, and he became very silent and uncooperative. He of course knew that he'd most likely not survive without Ebiko and Saphira. But he looked at Avenia with eyes that could kill.

The amazing part about the basin was that it was still full of water. It seemed like this place had been abandoned for decades, if not centuries, and still the water in the basin seemed fresh as it had ever been. Saphira noticed the water as well. "I think that, that is holy water." She commented at the find.

Ebiko couldn't recall any rites specific to entering a shrine of Torag. Torag was a god of honor and craftsmanship, as well as the creator of the dwarves. It seemed safe to assume that an honorable and respectful person would face little ire from the god, entering his shrine. After all, gods wanted followers and people worshiping them, barring access to potential worshipers would counter that desire.
 
Ebiko regarded the water and and with Saphira's comment concurred with her. IT was most likely holy water, judging from the fact that the water was still fresh in the basin after however long this shrine had been here. Ebiko walked over to the stone door and bowed her head. "Apologies for bothering your shrine. But our need is great at the moment." short and respectful. While Ebiko did not know many Dwarves, the ones she did know did not like to dance with flowery language and the like. Only intentions and actions counted really.

She tried to open the door and see what was inside.
 
Saphira followed Ebiko into the shrine. She bowed her head in reverence to the god. Though not a devout follower of Torag, she knew that Torag was a god of honor and good. She respected that.

Inside the main room of the shrine they saw broken stone benches lining the narrow room. The air was cold and stale, and thick layers of dust covered the floor, benches, and a large altar at the far end of the room.

At one of the benches, facing the alter, sat a dust covered stocky and hooded figure. The layers of dust in the room, spoke of decades of undisturbed silence.
 
Entering the shrine Ebiko looked around seeing the dust. As well as what appeared to be the last worshiper of the place on one of the benches facing the altar. Wearing a hood and covered with dust she shook her head. "Poor way to go, alone." Ebiko said sighing. It seemed a safe enough area but she moved along the benches to get a look at the hooded figure. Who knows, the dead have little need for what they left behind and they might need it far more.
 
Saphira nodded agreeing with Ebiko. "Yes. A sad way to go." She mumbled. She knew her kind, tieflings, often died alone and it was one of her greatest fears to be left alone to die without anyone knowing her or caring for her.

As they got closer, they soon realized that the hooded figure was a dead dwarf. He must have been the last, or perhaps the only, worshiper of this shrine.

They got within a few feet of the hooded figure when the head turned towards them. The dead face, with skin stretched over the bones, opened it's mouth in a silent scream and lurched at them.

abandoned_temple_3.png

Roll initiative!
 
Ebiko saw it was a dead dwarf, she wondered if he was the last priest of this place or just the last worshiper who passed on while praying. However as the figure stood up Ebiko screamed in shock and surprise nearly stumbling over herself. Dealing with the dead was far outside of her usual wheelhouse of tomes and parchment.

Initiative:18+2=20
 
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