A heavily guarded and reinforced door led to the Deep Roads below the Keep. The wardens guarding it had been expecting recruits to come through one way or another. Even the darkspawn knew to stay away from that section of the keep after a couple of near brushes with the wardens. They were good at what they did.
Any recruit who headed down was handed a lantern and a pack of food to last them several days, along with some information on where the darkspawn could be found... which wasn't helpful.
"Just head down, don't get lost, and just keep turning left, or right. You'll find your way back eventually."
Any recruit who headed down was handed a lantern and a pack of food to last them several days, along with some information on where the darkspawn could be found... which wasn't helpful.
"Just head down, don't get lost, and just keep turning left, or right. You'll find your way back eventually."
The siblings sauntered to the entrance of the Deep Roads, Ventus leading this time. They nodded to the guards, "We were sent here by the Commander, for initiation, may we enter?"
The wardens nodded their heads.
"Certainly, do come back. It shouldn't be hard to find. We keep the area lit. Try not to wander too far though. There's enough food here for six days. Three days travel should get you where some darkspawns might be, might be more but six days worth of food is all you're getting from us. We don't have much to spare.
Either keep going left, or right, unless you have a superb sense of direction then by all means, go where you like.
Now when you're ready to be let back in, just shout any coherent sentence. We'll hear you. Darkspawn can't talk."
With that, they opened the door to allow the siblings to go through, closing it once they were in and locking it.
"Certainly, do come back. It shouldn't be hard to find. We keep the area lit. Try not to wander too far though. There's enough food here for six days. Three days travel should get you where some darkspawns might be, might be more but six days worth of food is all you're getting from us. We don't have much to spare.
Either keep going left, or right, unless you have a superb sense of direction then by all means, go where you like.
Now when you're ready to be let back in, just shout any coherent sentence. We'll hear you. Darkspawn can't talk."
With that, they opened the door to allow the siblings to go through, closing it once they were in and locking it.
rolled 1d6 and got 1
Days of travel till darkspawn
Umbra turned, "Ooh! Locked tight, I bet I could get through if I tried hard enough... Either way let's get moving," Ventus nodded pulling the pack on and moving forward, Umbra walking beside him. They walked in silence, the only sound was their boots upon the stone, echoing about the cavern.
A minute later, Renee approached the door, nodding to the wardens guarding it. She at least vaguely recognized them after several weeks at the Keep, but none of them were very familiar; still, they should know her face. "The recruits have gone in?" she asked. "I will go after them."
She had already equipped herself with food and a lantern, and her bow and quiver were slung across her back; she also had her knives, in case she was caught in close quarters. She was far better with a bow, but tunnels didn't always leave room for a ranged weapon.
As soon as she was through, the door closed tight again behind her. The two elves had gotten a distance ahead of her in the meantime, Renee saw, but she didn't call out to them. Instead she followed behind, keeping her lantern unlit but not trying to walk silently. They ought to be able to hear her coming.
She had already equipped herself with food and a lantern, and her bow and quiver were slung across her back; she also had her knives, in case she was caught in close quarters. She was far better with a bow, but tunnels didn't always leave room for a ranged weapon.
As soon as she was through, the door closed tight again behind her. The two elves had gotten a distance ahead of her in the meantime, Renee saw, but she didn't call out to them. Instead she followed behind, keeping her lantern unlit but not trying to walk silently. They ought to be able to hear her coming.
Umbra turned to Ventus, "Looks like we have a follower," Ventus nodded, continuing at the same pace. They lazily walked through the tight cavern, unconcerned with whoever was following them, Umbra blinked at the widening of the cavern, Ventus noticing and doing the same. He looked to her, "Seems we're nearing the center of the Roads,"
The wardens allowed Renee in. Honestly, they didn't have a problem allowing anyone into the Deep Roads. All wardens went there one day after all. She was given a pack of food as well.
The locks were sturdy, and so was the door. It was made to withstand assault from darkspawn after all.
Ahead of the siblings, they would hear some rather disgusting noises. It would be worrying why Darkspawn were that close to the keep.
Upahead there were two shambling darkspawns.
(Roll for a perception check with d20, 13 and above they'll notice more movement at the side and far end of the crossing)
The locks were sturdy, and so was the door. It was made to withstand assault from darkspawn after all.
Ahead of the siblings, they would hear some rather disgusting noises. It would be worrying why Darkspawn were that close to the keep.
Upahead there were two shambling darkspawns.
(Roll for a perception check with d20, 13 and above they'll notice more movement at the side and far end of the crossing)
((I'll roll, then post. Wait, do stats affect this at all?))
(Not for this roll)
((I think I did that right))
The siblings stopped, hearing the sounds before seeing them, but doing so soon after. Ventus noticed first and motioned to Umbra of the darkspawn, in a whisper he noted, "A Genlock, and a Hurlock," He reached for his staff, ready to attack.
The siblings stopped, hearing the sounds before seeing them, but doing so soon after. Ventus noticed first and motioned to Umbra of the darkspawn, in a whisper he noted, "A Genlock, and a Hurlock," He reached for his staff, ready to attack.
rolled 1d20 and got 19
The pair of recruits didn't stop to challenge or wait for her, so Renee didn't bother to hasten her step. She was curious about these new elves, and she wanted to see what path they took. She also didn't want to seem to be showing up to take charge. If Warden-Commander Vimes had wanted a warden to guide the new recruits, he would have given orders to that effect. She'd catch up whenever they stopped, whether for rest or another reason.
They did so, soon enough, and she saw the male twin reach for his staff. Renee trotted a bit further towards them, closing the distance, then stopped about ten yards behind the pair and unslung her bow, reaching for an arrow and readying it. Here behind the twins, she could see the darkspawn figures less clearly than they, but she sensed they were there.
They did so, soon enough, and she saw the male twin reach for his staff. Renee trotted a bit further towards them, closing the distance, then stopped about ten yards behind the pair and unslung her bow, reaching for an arrow and readying it. Here behind the twins, she could see the darkspawn figures less clearly than they, but she sensed they were there.
rolled 1d20 and got 17
Ventus' insight was quite correct and up ahead, was a Hurlock and Genlock who were locked in combat over a giant spider corpse. They had been circling each other and neither held weapons of any sort, and their armour was rather minimal. Clearly not very high ranking ones. Perhaps they had been sent on a mission by their alpha to retrieve a spider corpse? It was hard to make out since all they did was growl guttlely at each other.
The siblings and the warden's senses would alert them to movement at the side of the cave, and along the walls. Several more giant spiders were closing in on the darkspawn. About seven in total. They had yet to notice the presence of the elves for their attention had been drawn by the dueling darkspawn. Renee's warden senses would tell her that the spiders were of the corrupted kind as they contained the Taint.
The genlock hurled itself against the hurlock, as the other dug his hands into the other's face, earning a bone chilling scream from the genlock. The spiders approached cautiously from all angles, waiting for the perfect moment to launch onto their darkspawn feed.
The siblings and the warden's senses would alert them to movement at the side of the cave, and along the walls. Several more giant spiders were closing in on the darkspawn. About seven in total. They had yet to notice the presence of the elves for their attention had been drawn by the dueling darkspawn. Renee's warden senses would tell her that the spiders were of the corrupted kind as they contained the Taint.
The genlock hurled itself against the hurlock, as the other dug his hands into the other's face, earning a bone chilling scream from the genlock. The spiders approached cautiously from all angles, waiting for the perfect moment to launch onto their darkspawn feed.
Umbra looked to Ventus, "Ya' hear that? Giant Spiders," This came out in a muted whisper, the quiet shuffle from the spiders' legs alerted her to their presence, as well as a gut feeling, which wasn't quite as strong as Ventus' sense. He nodded with confirmation, feeling the taint radiating off of them, he hid back by the cold, stone walls of the Roads, hastily shuffling to the left.
Sensing the spiders, Renee went still for just a moment. Spiders. She hated spiders, with their skinny legs and their clattery joints and their creepy way of moving. Her hand shook for just a moment, the draw on her bow going loose, and then she took a deep breath and pulled everything back into place. The positive thing about spiders, as opposed to most of the other things she hated, was that she could kill them and no one would complain.
Not that she was going to ruin the twins' plans by blazing in without them. Closing the distance between them, she joined Ventus by the wall. "You are going to let them kill each other before you strike?" she whispered when she was close enough, her Orlesian accent thicker with her voice kept so low. "They all have the Taint."
((Sorry for the delay; I was sick all weekend. I'm still not 100%, so if you need to skip me a couple times to keep things going, please feel free.))
Not that she was going to ruin the twins' plans by blazing in without them. Closing the distance between them, she joined Ventus by the wall. "You are going to let them kill each other before you strike?" she whispered when she was close enough, her Orlesian accent thicker with her voice kept so low. "They all have the Taint."
((Sorry for the delay; I was sick all weekend. I'm still not 100%, so if you need to skip me a couple times to keep things going, please feel free.))
(No worries)
The spiders surrounded the Genlock and Hurlock, ignoring the warden-recruits and warden. The hurlock struck out at the genlock, earning a howl from it. It was then that the giant spiders descended on the two darkspawn, working together to wrap poison them and wrap them in threads. Realising that they were being attacked, the darkspawn started to hack and slash at the spiders.
Faced with a common enemy, they had no choice but to band together to work. Although it would be a quick job for the spiders as they over ran the darkspawn.
If any of them counted, they would note that there were five around the darkspawn bodies. Where were the other 2?
The Taint would alert the elves to the location of these spiders... which was right above them.
The spiders surrounded the Genlock and Hurlock, ignoring the warden-recruits and warden. The hurlock struck out at the genlock, earning a howl from it. It was then that the giant spiders descended on the two darkspawn, working together to wrap poison them and wrap them in threads. Realising that they were being attacked, the darkspawn started to hack and slash at the spiders.
Faced with a common enemy, they had no choice but to band together to work. Although it would be a quick job for the spiders as they over ran the darkspawn.
If any of them counted, they would note that there were five around the darkspawn bodies. Where were the other 2?
The Taint would alert the elves to the location of these spiders... which was right above them.
Ventus and Umbra nod together, waiting though the wait having not been too long as Ventus yelled, "Above!" He rolled, pulling both Renee and Umbra with him. Standing quickly, Ventus pulls his staff from his back, sending a quick bolt the spider's way.
(Waiting for Renee but I'll post)
The spider let out a blood-curling cry as it was hurt, although there was another which launched itself down towards the elves. The hurt one backed away, moving to nurse it's hurts a little. Now it was somewhat persistent on that aspect. Few good food came down here and all they had were darkspawn half the time. The other spiders seeing the flash started to converge towards them.
Current enemy count:
1 spider - half health
6 spiders - full health
The spider let out a blood-curling cry as it was hurt, although there was another which launched itself down towards the elves. The hurt one backed away, moving to nurse it's hurts a little. Now it was somewhat persistent on that aspect. Few good food came down here and all they had were darkspawn half the time. The other spiders seeing the flash started to converge towards them.
Current enemy count:
1 spider - half health
6 spiders - full health
Renee gave a shout of surprise as Ventus grabbed her, mere seconds after she sensed the Taint overhead. Since she had sensed it, though, she let him pull her away, turning the motion into a controlled tumble as soon as he let go of her. Scrambling to her feet, she took just a second to turn and assess the situation, then turned towards the injured spider and followed up Ventus' bolt with a swift arrow-shot.
((Sorry guys! I'm better now and back in action, so I shouldn't be so slow again.))
((Sorry guys! I'm better now and back in action, so I shouldn't be so slow again.))
The injured spider recoiled as the arrow hit it, dying where it landed as Renee's shot found it's mark. By then, the other spiders had come closer to the group, their mandibles clicking as they tried to get to the group, trying to inject their poison into them.
Seems like that was all there was in the cavern. No surprises for the time being.
(Roll 1d20 for poison resistance, 7 and above safe, or your choice if you want your character poisoned for whatever reason)
Current enemy count:
6 spiders - full health
Seems like that was all there was in the cavern. No surprises for the time being.
(Roll 1d20 for poison resistance, 7 and above safe, or your choice if you want your character poisoned for whatever reason)
Current enemy count:
6 spiders - full health
Jumping backwards, both siblings brandished their weapons in a defensive stance. Umbra moved forward, striking twice with her twin daggers, Ventus staying back and assessing the situation. Umbra moved back, reverting to her defensive stance while Ventus readied a spell.
rolled 1d20 and got 11