Author Topic: Chapter 2: New Beginnings (Read 21977 times)

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #40 on:** April 01, 2012, 11:27:38 PM »

As you pass through the room where the ant-men are scooping up water for their bucket brigade, they don't seem to even pay any attention to you, and you pass on into the adjacent tunnel. The walls are farther apart than the tunnel you entered from, and the ceiling is higher. After traveling for a short distance, you come to a half dozen corpses of larger ant-men scattered along the hallway. Their torsos are as big as a small humans, with strong looking arms ending in wicked claws, and a stinger on their tails. There are scorch and weapon marks on all of the corpses. It looks like who or whatever they fought used both blade and spell. You don't see any other types of corpses here, though. So who or whatever they fought must have either prevailed or have been dragged away. The corridor leads to what looks to have been a library, but the fighting seems to have caused a fire which consumed pretty much the entire collection.

Nanshork · « **Reply #41 on:** April 02, 2012, 12:13:18 AM »

Tetch tries to determine through Cujo if it was part of the fighting here.

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #42 on:** April 02, 2012, 12:58:02 AM »

Cujo doesn't remember this room being burned and is very distracted by the overwhelming smell of all the ash. He keeps shaking his head, sneezing, and slobbering a lot.

Flay Crimsonwind · « **Reply #43 on:** April 02, 2012, 06:44:46 PM »

Staying on guard, Tash gives the room a look of amazement. "Damn, this place got razed nicely. What the hell happened here? Can anyone tell how fresh this fight was?"

Nanshork · « **Reply #44 on:** April 02, 2012, 07:30:41 PM »

"This was done after my host was last here. I cannot determine more than that."

Funk · « **Reply #45 on:** April 03, 2012, 07:34:02 PM »

Xar shrugs and kicks one of the corpses with his boot, rolling one over and inspecting it. "Can't be too old if these ants ain't started rottin' yet, eh?" He gives his sword a few practice swings and starts grinning excitedly, continuing on down the tunnel.
"We got ourselves some company down 'ere wot knows there way 'round a battle, methinks."

Flay Crimsonwind · « **Reply #46 on:** April 07, 2012, 08:34:18 PM »

"Well then, best we keep our torches low, see if we can't kill 'em before they know we're here, right?" Tash proceeds to look for another way out of the library.

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #47 on:** April 07, 2012, 10:49:48 PM »

It looks like the only way out is back the way you came.

Funk · « **Reply #48 on:** April 11, 2012, 07:31:52 AM »

Xar scratches his head and heads back the other way, towards the ant tunnel.

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #49 on:** April 16, 2012, 02:50:05 PM »

You arrive back at the chamber where the ant-men are still at work with their bucket-brigade. One or two of them glance at you briefly, but afterward none seem to pay any attention to you.

Flay Crimsonwind · « **Reply #50 on:** April 17, 2012, 09:26:40 PM »

"So, I suppose we follow the ants, huh? Only so many paths to take..."

Funk · « **Reply #51 on:** April 18, 2012, 08:05:18 AM »

"You ain't wrong there."

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #52 on:** April 18, 2012, 07:05:38 PM »

As you follow the ant-men back into the tunnel, you can sense their increasing agitation as they glance frequently at you, and begin chittering back and forth to themselves. After you've traveled only a hundred feet or so, you can feel a presence within your minds. It says "Depart now, invaders, or face the same fate as your hive-mates."

Nanshork · « **Reply #53 on:** April 18, 2012, 07:57:03 PM »

Tetch reacts immediately.

"We are not of the same hive as the others who were here, we are not here to harm you."

Flay Crimsonwind · « **Reply #54 on:** April 19, 2012, 01:56:49 AM »

Not sure of what else to do, Tash wings it, thinking out loud. "We are among us a hive. We have no hive mates. We seek those who attacked you and burned the room beyond the path...."

Funk · « **Reply #55 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:10:28 AM »

Xar looks around and assumes by the looks on the other's faces that they also heard the voice. He chuckles to himself before talking aloud to the cavern. "Oh aye? And who might you be then, eh?"

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #56 on:** April 19, 2012, 11:01:16 AM »

The voice replies <I am the Queen. Those you seek are dead. These caverns now belong to my hive. Intruders are not welcome.>

As the voice finishes, a pair of much larger ant-men comes out from around a bend in the tunnel ahead. They have massive claws, mandibles, and a vicious-looking stinger on the end of their tails. As the move towards the party, you get the distinct impression that they're not here for biscuits and tea.

Roll initiative.

phaedrusxy · « **Reply #57 on:** April 21, 2012, 09:54:59 PM »

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Expecting trouble, the adrenaline rushing through the three "heroes" veins serves them well, and they prove to be much quicker in reacting than the two approaching ant-men warriors.

Funk · « **Reply #58 on:** April 23, 2012, 06:10:15 AM »

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Xar laughs aloud and speeds towards the ant-men, his sword poised to strike. "Now that's a bit more like it!"
He uses his momentum to maximum effect, bringing his blade down hard on the first enemy in range.

Flay Crimsonwind · « **Reply #59 on:** April 23, 2012, 07:19:36 AM »

Tash's muscles bulge, and a slight shimmering film seems to engulf him before disappearing. "Hell, I will race you!" As he says it, giving Xar a challenging smirk, he takes off just after the former does. There is a strange, mystic emanation left in his wake, and his eyes, blade, and veins glow brighter as he approaches with speed. There is a roar and a bright flash, like a splash or...

.... or a mane. Tash of the Four Blades, also known as the Lion Sword, clashed fiercely against the second foe. However, his sword struck more defensively than not, distracted as he was watching his ally, seeming to size him up while engaged in his own battle!

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Author Topic: Chapter 2: New Beginnings (Read 21977 times)