After fighting off the scorpionmen Verzeg leads the small band northwest. After half an hour or so the ruins of buildings come to an abrupt halt and the ground ahead is flat and open, although some of the grass is easily long enough to hide a trollkin in.

I need a listen or darksense roll please

In reply to Adrian (msg # 1):

Verzeg can hear quiet voices up ahead in the long grass. He can't make out any words but can tell there are definitely at least 3 different speakers.

Beneath his visor a frown crosses Verzeg's little face.

He doesn't want to interact with anyone or anything, but he also needs to know what's happening around him. He thinks for a minute and then decides to sneak up closer and see who or what it is is up ahead.

He looks around the area to get a note of the terrain and then looks at the sky to see how much night time he has left.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 3):

Looking around the area is wide open flat grassland. Off to the left, about 100 to 200 metres,  it drops sharply away as the river cuts through it. Up ahead, maybe 500 metres are more ruined building which could provide daytime shelter if the journey is delayed.

It is shortly after midnight so there are about 6 hours before Yelm's fierce face climbs the sky, once more driving Xentha away.

Sneak roll please

In reply to Adrian (msg # 4):

With infinite patience and care Verzeg moves forward through the long grass, barely making the blades of grass move as he passes through them. Soon he is close enough to hear the conversation, it is in darktongue.

"Uzko say, 'guard the way, tell us when runaways come!' Not right, we shouldn't have to snitch on other enlo.

"No, it's not right but we have to do it, or Ukzo eat us."

"I don't wanna be et! I want to live to be old. I heard of an enlo over the water who is twenty!"

"Twenty! Ha! Someone he pulls your leg Ordol, I never knew an enlo older than ten."

Verzeg listens quietly to the enlo talk. In his mind he is torn, he could pass these enlo by but he could also try and recruit them. If they come over to his band he could find out what the uzko are planning to a small degree. He comes to a decision.

Standing up, he says "Don't make a noise! I know what you're thinking, but this time there's no need to be afraid! I'm going to get away from the uzko and you can come with me. You can live out your lives in your own 'upright land' and never have to live in fear again."

He moves forward a bit, weapon pointing away.

"I won't ever let you down. I'll look after you like you are my own litter-mates. All you have to do is come with me."

"You know what happens if you don't. We can never live out our lives, one day they kill us and eat us. No matter how hard you work, no matter how good you are, they kill us with no more thought than killing a ham beetle."

"But it doesn't have to be that way. You can come with me and we'll go where the uzko can't go. What have you got to lose? Nothing but a horrible death."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 6):

The chatter stops abruptly and silence reigns for 10 seconds, "We are too late. The uzko are coming, they will be here in the time it takes to eat a hooman. But will will try and escape with you. What is your name great leader?"

"I am Verzeg Black Beetle, and with me are my litter-mates Madzeg and Hurzeg. We must move quickly into the ruins and find small spots where the uzko will not go, or if not that we could go down by the river and hide in the reeds as the uzko dislike the river-traffic. Come, gather your equipment and we'll leave right away."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 8):

There is a moment's silence and then the clunking sound of armour people standing. Out of the night walk three enlo. "I am Hunol, this is Ordol and this is Medol. We will follow you to the safe lands Great Leader."

"Come friends, let us escape together." Says Verzeg, a bit unsure about this 'Great Leader' bit.

"Which way are the uzko going to come from? We'll avoid them if we can."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 10):

They point behind you. "We were to be the ambush when you were driven into the trap. The Uzko must have got delayed."

Ordol hands you a vial of liquid. "This is enlo scent. The beetle might lose us if we can spread it somewhere we are not."

"What a great idea!" Says Verzeg, amazed and a bit concerned that the uzko thought to make such a thing. Obvious, when he thinks of it, it would have to be used in training the beetles. He assumes Ordol must be a Zong initiate.

"Let's splash it on those ruins over there," he says, "that makes sense for us to try and make for. Then we'll actually head to the river bank and go that way. Long ago there was ruins down there among the reeds and rocks, and we can eat grubs and worms while we wait for the Bright Hater to go away."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 12):

successful Devise roll made on your behalf

Verzeg creates a trail with the pungent liquid in the vial before liberally splashing it over the ruins. Then he leads the small group down to the. He is correct, there is a ruined stone building and a mostly rotten jetty. At the water's edge is a small tunnel leading back into the cellar of the building. It seems to have been some kind of store for the boats that used the jetty but now is empty except for a few rotten bits of wood. It is a bit musty but is cool, dark and damp. Well away from the prying eyes of ukzo and difficult for them or the beetles to get in.

Verzeg takes the pack saddle off the beetle and instructs the beetle to hide itself amid the mud and reeds. Then he leads the other enlo into the little ruin.

"This is a good place. We should remember it is here in case we ever have to come over here again. We will share our food so no one goes hungry. Then some of us can sleep and some can watch the outside."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 14):

WHile rooting through the mud and slime looking for worms and insects and other food Verzeg spots something. Covered with a half rotted door in the north wall is a large grille, it is possibly big enough to allow a hooman to walk through while stooped.

Shooshing the other enlo, Verzeg looks at the grille curiously. Unlike nearly everybody else in Glorantha he doesn't think of metal as all that special. He knows that a lot of things do though so he wonders why it hasn't been taken away. Maybe it's not-special metal.

However, the hole looks interesting. He knows some terrible things live in holes, but then again terrible things seem to live everywhere. Maybe this old hole has something worthwhile in it?

Knowing about traps, and dwarf traps at that, he carefully looks at the grille and sees if he can see if anything nasty is attached to it. If it seems safe he tries to get it open.

(And thus an ancient horror was unleashed upon the world)

The grille is very corroded but seems to be a gate rather than a way of barring entry. It is hanging by one hinge and the lock is broken. At Verseg's touch the remains hinge snaps and the gate falls with a loud clang.

Moments later the blackness beyond the gate fills with dazzling, bright light. Several of the trollkin yell out in terror and pain.

A voice calls out in heavily accented dark tongue, "What do you want small trolls? Why have you invaded my home?"

Verzeg throws up a hand to shield his pained eyes.

"Ack! We're not invading, just looking! Ahh, bright light!"