R.E.B.O.R.T. is reminded that it's looked at as cold not to say a few parting words before moving on. He walks over to Luutvig and Toki. "Should we survive long enough, I am certain we will meet again."

He quickly turns back to the Badger and continues work on the feathered figurine while D'Won continues work on the 'Ice Box'.

Beloc grimaces a little but manages to say his farewells after R.E.B.O.R.T. leaves. "Thank you for your hospitality and guidance. I will be sure to send word of your good will to my people."

He bows. "May Obad-Hai watch over you."

With fair wells said, The Badger and pony procession enters the maw of the mountain and the doors seal shut behind them. The group is left bathed in torch light, glow stone, and in front, headlights. Through the gun port of the passenger seat, Darius sends forth an orb of light as well to give Shiaran a better idea of what may lie ahead, though the effects don't last very long. The berth of the tunnel gives enough room for Gazra, Krem, and Oro to ride to the right side of the Badger, while Sigurd and Irja ride to the left.

The overall "road" is hewn stone, polished smooth over the years. Two slight indentations run along the center like rails, presumably worn down from the passing of carts during a time of prosperity that Fildegarne hasn't known for some decades now.

A short ways down the winding road reveals a path that juts off to the right, not big enough for carts. When the Badger slows slightly to investigate, Sigurd remarks over the sounds of the engine.

"It's the entry way to the back door of my father's keep. The dwarves used to use it to come and go and pass information to us, as well as pass their troops through the courtyard where Irja and I volunteered to join you. Father would ensure they passed through with full honors, fanfare and all, as a sign of goodwill to our kin under the mountain".

---

The cluster of travelers continue on in the inky black. The pace is painfully slow, but steady. Four hours of travel lead to the road opening up even wider, and a massive cavern appears to sprawl ahead. The rushing of water can be heard echoing in the distance. Thankfully, many portions of the cavern are illuminated by a dull purple light. Bio-luminescent mushrooms speckle the sides of stalactites and stalagmites. Shelves of igneous rock form lazy looking blobs on top of one another along the outer rim of the cavern, with the road being cut right along the edge of the shelf. Portions of the globular rock formations that are cut give way to geode formations; some as large as the Badger. Those portions that became road are polished smooth like the rock before, laying out a sort of crystal path ahead. At one point, the road cuts directly through a large igneous formation. Inside is like looking in to another world. Green crystalline structures cluster all along the sides and roof of the short tunnel, and the road is a brilliant shade of emerald that dances and shines in the approaching lights.

The pony riders fall back into a column behind the Badger so as to give room and caution to the driver.

Listen checks, All. -4 to Beloc, Sypher, and Shiaran for being enclosed in the Badger and the engine noise. Rebort, -2 for engine noise (as he's in the back of the open bed)

Shiaran pulls the Badger to a stop and idles the engine.  "I know we are pressed for time in the grand scheme of things, but this stuff is too good to pass up.  Mind if we break for a meal and I look around?"  She is speaking to the group, but specifically Sypher, though she keeps her eyes ahead, looking around the cave for potential trouble.

{Perception check take 10 + 12 - 2 = 20}

Sypher looks about the cave as best he can from within the belly of the vehicle.  "Alright, shut it down.  Fifteen minutes.  Stay together and keep your senses sharp."  Speaking over the hum of the vehicle, his usually quiet voice carries the bark of command more often found in other officers.

{Perception take 10 + 8 - 2 = 16}

~~~

R.E.B.O.R.T. and D'Won toil over their creations during the initial part of the trip. As the Badger slows to a stop, D'Won approach R.E.B.O.R.T. with the completed box. R.E.B.O.R.T. nods in approval and call Chec'qun over.  The little ice golem seems to approve

He opens the lid and asks where he'd like the tube installed "Can you point to where you would like this attached?"

Chec'qun climbs inside and points to the back left corner. "Very well." He slides the reptilian figurine over to D'Won to put the final touches on it while he locks the icy tube into place.

Ears still ringing from the engine of the Badge, Beloc takes the downtime to stretch his legs and relieve himself off to the side.

Shortly after the group breaks to have lunch, the patter of heavy feet and noises like that of insects are heard echoing through the cavern. They don't sound close, but it's unlikely that the Badger managed to go unnoticed.

Shiaran ignores the food, but stays near to the group.  She collects various samples in the area around the Badger, asking for escort to move even ten feet from the vehicle.  She will not go outside the radius of the light sources.  Once she has gathered the samples, she then snarfs down a quick meal.

{Phosphorescent shrooms x2 vials
samples of the igneous rocks, hand sized if possible, dust as well
samples of the geodesic rocks, hand sized if possible, dust as well}

"Alright.  That means our stay is at an end.  Load up.  Let's get moving."  Sypher will watch as everyone else get's aboard their respective transportation.  He hops in the bed of the Badger.  "Those outside the vehicle need to keep your eyes open.  Up as much as anywhere.  Have a knife out and be ready to cut rope, web, or anything else that might grab on and try to pull you up into the darkness."

A high pitched squeal emits from somewhere in the dimly lit cavern, followed by echoes of the same call from all around.

A panicked look washes over Beloc's face at the sound that echoes. "Everyone, buckle up. NOW!"

He looks over to Shiaran. "We need to get this thing moving, and fast!"

The sense of urgency in his voice in rather unprecedented based on how long they've traveled with the elf. "That's the sound of a rust monsters dinner call, and as far as they're concerned, we're a mobile buffet."

"Stop."  Sypher's voice is calm.  "Everyone calm down.  Shiaran, do not start the Badger, yet.  Beloc, quickly and succinctly tell us what we need to know.  What are these?  How many can we expect?  What do they do that has you so concerned?"

{Diplomacy [Commander] - Take 10 + 10 = 20
Sypher is using Diplomacy to keep the group calm and to get them to follow his orders without having to resort to Intimidation.}

"In nature, a rust monster isn't any more dangerous than any other creature you might encounter. It's their diet that is most concerning to us right now. They consume only metal and have an innate ability to sense it nearby. I don't have an exact number, but I hear multiple coming from all around us, and only one would be sufficient to consume the entire Badger within minutes."

Beloc removes his weapon, as it is primarily composed of metal, and props it up within the interior of the Badger. "They aren't overly difficult to kill, but even using metal weapons against them would erode them on contact."

"Unless you're capable of fighting with your hands, or have something wooden you can fight with, I suggest you keep them at range and don't let them near anything metallic. That includes you Rebort." Strange, but Beloc appears to show some concern for even R.E.B.O.R.T.

"Everyone out but Rebort.  Shiaran, see to him, please.  Leave any metal you don't want eaten in the Badger.  Use only non-metal weapons, spells, and so on.  Two half circles in front and behind the Badger at about 30 feet out.  Until we get a better understanding of their number and direction of attack, we need to be ready.  Keep an eye on the ceiling as well.  We don't need surprise.  Move!"  The calm voice barks at the end to energize the group.

"Darius, can you stand at the back of the Badger with Beloc, and the Fyrewyrms.  Shiaran, Oro, and I will take the front.  Better to take them out fast and furious than let them get close and chance them slipping past."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Wed 14 Feb 2018.

Shiaran moves over to Beloc within the Badger.  She pulls out a bottle with a smokey gas in it and a bit of gause.  "Rebort, I'm going to make it where they can't touch you, but you won't be able to do anything physical to them."  She opens the bottle and twirls a bit of the smoke around her finger, then grasps the cloth with the same finger and opposing thumb.  She draws quick, precise figures in the air, then pushes them onto Rebort's chest plate.

The warforged turns transluscent and wispy.

"Sypher, you're next, outside."

{Shiaran casts Gaseous Form on Rebort.  Duration = 12 minutes}

Beloc nods in agreement. "The surrounding caves echo their calls too much, and I can't identify a specific angle of attack. My experience with humans has taught me that they can't see well in the dark, so I would volunteer myself as the spotter, but that would leave me far too open to attack. My place should be clearing the incoming assault. Perhaps Rebort can keep a lookout since he's going to be confined to the Badger."

R.E.B.O.R.T. takes a moment to look at his new form. He waves his articulated hand in front of him and marvels at the fact he can see right through it. "I will add this to my research. Quite impressive, Ms. Shiaran."

He climbs his way up to the turret in response to Beloc's suggestion. "My eyesight is more like that of a human, but I have a solution to adapt for that. I can watch the ceilings."

The insectoid noises grow louder. Then at both ends of the tunnel, Rust Monsters appears from the darkness, scurrying forward as their anttenae taste the air around them for metals. 3 approach close from the rear, while 3 more enter from further down the tunnel. They won't make it as quick as their counterparts, but they still pose a threat a they rapidly close in.

None of them moves in a uniform pattern, with some clinging to the sides of walls, and two further on the west side of the tunnel running across the ceiling.

Roll for initiative

Shiaran and Sypher stand near each other just beyond 30 feet from the Badger.  Shiaran begins a spell, while Sypher steps into a relaxed stance, ready to act, but waiting for Shiaran to finish her spell.

{Sypher Initiative Take 10 + 8 = 18
Shiaran Initiative Take 10 +5 = 15}

A flaming blade erupts from Beloc's hand as he releases his darkwood shield into the air with his other. He readies himself to attack the first one fool enough to approach.

A low, threatening growl rumbles in Apache's throat. He spreads out wide, about 15 feet from Beloc, to cover more ground between them and the Badger.

07:53, Today: Beloc S'Viscus rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Initiative .

This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Thu 15 Feb 2018.

R.E.B.O.R.T's plated exterior begins to shimmer as it takes on a slightly different hue and texture. It almost looks chitinous in nature. His eyes briefly glow with a deep purple. "Six targets incoming. Three from the front, three from the rear."

R.E.B.O.R.T. enchants his body with the "Deep" enhancement, giving him 60 feet of dark vision.
07:53, Today: R.E.B.O.R.T. rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Initiative .

RM1
RM2
RM3
Sigurd 22
Sypher 18
Oro 16
Shiaran 15
Darius 14
Rebort 12
Gazra 12
Irja 12
Beloc 10
Krem 9
RM4
Kallium 6
RM5
RM6

DM Note: RM1-3 are the trio to the east portion of the map, while 4-6 are west

Rust Monsters one through three close the gap towards the backs of the ponies, ignoring the riders. With Beloc's orders to leave, and Sypher's orders to fight, a mild confusion has caused everyone to be slow dismounting for combat, with Krem outright falling from his saddle. His armor make a heavy clang and he let's out an "Oof!" as he lands prone. Sigurd lands on his feet, leaving his twin axes sheathed, and takes a low stance to ready himself.

All three pass by Beloc, completely oblivious to the ironwood clad elf.

Beloc - AoO's within the limits of the rule set for multiple attacks
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:50, Sat 17 Feb 2018.

Krem's rattling of metal catches Beloc's attention and with both hands, he readies himself for the incoming rush. Somewhat to his surprise, all three try to skirt around him. With the grace of his elven reflexes, he quickly lashes out at one of the two passing on his left [30 fire dmg]. The flaming strike is so quick that the rust monster doesn't realize its dead until the front half of it has walked another five feet while the back half slumped over at the point of impact.

Using his forward momentum, Beloc lunges at the second one nearly skewering it against the wall and halting its attempt to pass by.

"Apache, ground the other one!"


Cleave from monster 1 into monster 2
Using feat Stand Still to halt monster 2's forward progress

20:40, Today: Beloc S'Viscus rolled 26 using 2d8+18.  Damage for Stand Still DC vs. rust monster 2.
20:39, Today: Beloc S'Viscus rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Critical threat check 2.
20:37, Today: Beloc S'Viscus rolled 30 using 2d8+18.  Damage vs. rust monster 1.
20:31, Today: Beloc S'Viscus rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  Critical threat check.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:37, Sat 17 Feb 2018.

At Beloc's command, Apache barrels into the third rust monster. He sinks his teeth into its hindquarters and rolls it to the ground. The rust monster squirms in vain to get back up.

20:55, Today: Apache rolled 22 using 1d20+11.  Grapple check on monster 3.
20:54, Today: Apache rolled 18 using 1d20+7.  Touch attack to initiate grapple.