Danzar smiles. "Feel free to all all you can catch. I will still, of course, pay you all for your service. Let me know if there are any tools or weapons you need for the job. Tonight would seem as good a time to start as any if you are ready."

Verzeg gathers his family and friends together and says "Okay, this hooman seems okay and hasn't tried to eat us. I don't think he's going to because I've worked with hoomans before and they barely care about food. He's actually going to pay us to hunt food! This is pretty good, about as good as I can think of. Has anyone got any questions?"

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 2):

"Are you sure he dunt want to steal them and eat them his self? Uzko do it all the time, are hoomans really not the same?"

Verzeg preens himself as this allows him to look knowledgeable.

"All hoomans are different." He says pontifically. "But this one looks to be interested in other things. We'll keep on guard of course but I don't think he cares about what we hunt."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 4):

Aside from the tunnel you entered through that the beetles died in and a large exit in the opposite walls there are 6 other exits (3 each in the other walls). They are quite samll, not large enough to admit a full grown human, and definitely not one wearing armour and weapons.

Danzar points at them and say "These small tunnels seem to be where the rubble runners are getting in."

"All right 'kin, let's have a look at these Rubble Runners. Now, they have a nasty bight so you 'kin without good armour stay at the back. The tunnels look a bit tight so we'll leave our big weapons behind."

He rests his stuff against a wall and leaves his jagged spear with it. He has a drink of water and then looks over his friends as he readies his hatchet and shield.

"Kin, we're going to have to talk about house training' soon. Hoomans are kinda funny about a lot of things. To be short, don't crap or go for a leak anywhere in here. It upsets them."

"Now, are you all ready? No one needs a rest before we go in? Remember, if I go down you drag me back and cover the carrying-kin. No big heroes here, okay?"

OOC: Hatchet and Shield, Disrupt (1) readied. First tunnel on the north left.

Verzeg squeezes through the bars of the grill easily and sets off along the tunnel with is kin. There is a very gentle rise to the tunnel almost imperceptible to anyone who doesn't live underground. The smell of the place is mainly of stale, musty air but there is a definite smell of rubble runners there. After 200 metres or so Verzeg reaches a cross roads.

(OOC: How big is the tunnel in cross section?)

Verzeg, hunched over, has his beetle-chitin shield out in front of him and his hatchet at the ready.

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

In reply to Adrian (msg # 9)

Verzeg stops and listens at the crossroads deciding the way to go, he hears a rustling and squeaking down the tunnel to the left.

Crouched in his black chitin armour Verzeg appears to be some small, greasy dark and spiked monster. He swivels his snout to the sound of the noise and nods. He lifts his shield up to below his eyes and holds his hatchet at the ready as he shuffles forward, the bearded bladed bobbing slightly as he moves forward to the sound.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 11):

Following the corridor, his companions behind him, Verzeg suddenly spots 5 rubble runners. The are chasing and catching rats. As soon as they spot the trollkin 3 of them flee. The remaining 2 face the oncoming trollkin, razor sharp teeth bared.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Not that Verzeg or his companions would recognise it or its use but the tunnels look identical to RL Roman sewers.

---

Verzeg freezes on place. He silently starts to prepare the spell 'Disrupt'

Without turning, Verzeg humms the 'attack' command to his trollkin friends and hurls a disrupt at a fleeing Rubble Runner.

Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 91 using 1d100.  Casting Chance: POW x5 = 85% + Magic Bonus: 17% = 92%, -9.9% (enc) = 82%. Failure

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

The rubble runners stalk forward backs arched high, teeth bared in a threat display.
.
Verzg hears the familiar sound of sling whirling the whistling as three slingstones fly past him.

One of the rubble runners lets out a yelp as the stone strikes it in the forequarters.

The other has the bone in its front right leg shattered to a million pieces and slumps to the floor.

All bravado leaves the first  beast and it turns to flee.

Verzeg lunges forward and slashes with his hatchet.

Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 96 using 1d100.  Hatchet attack 66% + 20% = 86%. Fail

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 16):

The rubble runner dodges aside from Verzeg's strike before turning tail and fleeing down the corridor. The other trollkin hold their shots, they have seen too many trolls kill trollkin who accidentally struck them. It kills off bad habits quite quickly.

Verzeg hisses in frustration and dashes after the fleeing rubble runners.

Sprint action, only one attack. Move 4.

Seeing the armoured rodents scampering faster than Verzeg's little bowed legs can move he slows and hold his hatchet up as a signal for the others to stop.

"Damn it!" He growls, glaring as the rubble runners take off. "We can't catch them if they leg it. I'm going to have to go out there and herd them back towards you."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Mon 08 July 2019.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 18):

Verzeg sneaks along the corridor spotting several rubble runners up ahead. He manages to get past them unnoticed. There are now 3 rubble runners in between him and his litter mates.

Verzeg gives an ear-splitting shout and then attacks one of the rubble runners that isn't between him and the 'kin, trying to knock one down before wheeling around and chasing the others onto the weapons of his litter mates and friends . . .

Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 9 using 1d100.  Hatchet attack 66% + 20% = 86%. Special Success
Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 18 using 1d20.  Hit Location.
Are we using 'slashes' or 'knockback'?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:56, Wed 10 July 2019.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 20):

Slashes

Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 3 using 1d4.  Hatchet Damage.
Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 8 using 2d6+4.  Hatchet Damage.
Total Damage: 11 HP to Location 18

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 22):

The rubble runner already dripping blood from the wound in its chest makes to run from the yelling trollkin but its left leg is sliced off neatly and it slumps to the ground, dead. The other rubble runners take flight and the waiting trollkin launch a volley at them. The stones ping off the walls and narrowly miss Verzeg. None strike a rubble runner.

The trollkin drop their slings and pull out maces ready to meet the rubble runners. As soon as they become aware they turn aaian and flee towards Verzeg.

With a feral grin Verzeg slashes at another one as he crouches in the dark tunnel. However, his back-swing hits the tunnel side and he misses completely.

Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 97 using 1d100.  Hatchet attack 66%. Fail

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 24):

The rubble runners dash around Verzeg and run off into the gloom as his littermates run up towards him.

Grumbling, Verzeg looks back down the tunnel. He opens his visor and licks the hatchet's blade.

"This is going to take all night! Oh well, here we go again. At least we can chase the nasty little buggers away."

He heads off down the tunnel with his group in tow, sneaking up on the runners again.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 26):

Verzeg follows the rubble runners, who keep about 20m between themselves and their pursuers. After a short while a crossroads is reached but the beasts go straight across it.

"We're going to get lost in here." Muses Verzeg. "I wonder what these tunnels were dug for? The Ancient Mothers must have sent the kin down here to make these, or maybe forced the Dwarfs to make them."*

"What spells do you have?" He asks the others. "I want you all to get a spell that hurts other things ready if you have one. Actually, tell me what spells you know if you know any at all."

(*Verzeg thinks the world was created by Mistress Race trolls)

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 28):

There is much shaking of heads at the question, "Uz not letting us have spells" Hurzeg says but Madzeg pipes up "I know the disrupt, my mother taught it to me to hunt with."

Verzeg squats in his heavy armour. He thinks on the problem of keeping his friends safe yet useful in combat.

"Okay, Madzeg I want you to have your club and shield out but to only cast the disrupt spell. The rest of you should have your slings out. If a runner gets by me Madzeg will stop it with his shield until he and I can kill it. The rest of you will sling at any runners when I give the word. Does that sound like a good idea?"

With all the dispositions worked out, Verzeg continues across the crossroads with his kin following close behind.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 31):

The rubble runners up ahead keep moving forward away from the trollkin. As you pass the crossroads the tunnel behind suddenly seems to fill with rubble runners maybe as many as 50 are now behind you. The path ahead seems to be the easiest way forward without being eaten by the mob.

"Runrunrunrun!" Squeals Verzeg, dragging the king in front of him and running as fast as his unfortunately short and bowed legs can run.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 33):

The trollkin run. The tunnel stays mainly straight with a few twists and turns before a sharp left takes you into a large chamber. The rubble runners ahead and behind keep the same pace so you stay surrounded but they do not attack.

In the middle of the chamber is an extremely strange sight. 5 very large rubble runners sit in a circle facing outwards. Their tails, though, all seem knotted or melded together.

A voice seems to echo round the chamber but you are aware it is purely in your head.

"Greeetings darkmen! Weeee have beeen waiting for you. Come and stand before us."

Verzeg creeps forwards, keenly aware that these creatures probably bear him ill-will after him hunting members of their tribe in the tunnels. Anyway he considers, everything hates enlo.

He's not a brave creature and this terrifies him. The slave mindset takes over and he lowers his weapons.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 35):

The rubble runner king contemplates Verzeg and the other trollkin in silence. The swarm of rubble runners surrounding them quietly melt into the shadows and disappear.

"If you would live we have a task for you. Would you live?"

Verzeg, like his cowering kin huddled behind him, knows only to well of The Black Eater. The Masters and Mistresses don't, they delude themselves with their afterlife, but the Kin know. The Kin know because they are outside the myth and can look in at the lie. Anything is better than death.

"Yes?"

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 37):

"Good, good. Theee humans have beeen killing our clan and driving us out of our tunnels. Weee want you to kill their leeeader, then the others will fleee."

You have become aware that you are now alone in the chamber with the creature(s).

Verzeg frowns inside of his helmet. It sounds like they're referring to Danzar, and Verzeg likes Danzar.

"We can do that, but he is very powerful and might kill us all."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 39):

Madzeg, standing just behind Verzeg, mutters in darktongue. "We should kill it. It is from Krjalk."

The creature snaps back "What does it say?" Its eyes take on a reddish hint.

Startled, Verzeg lies instinctively. "He's just agreeing with you. We never trusted that one above anyway."

Verzeg looks for an exit not packed with rubble runners and tries to buy a bit of time and also changes the subject.

"Oh mighty ones, are we to be rewarded if we slay those above?"

He looks enigmatically at the composite monster. Obviously it can't be that powerful or it would have killed Danzar itself, but still if it can summon the rubble runner horde the kin would never leave this chamber alive. Perhaps it's incapable of moving? No, it would simply starve, unless it is fed by its minions.

Verzeg looks to see how stable this particular chamber is.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 41):

The chamber is very large, about 10m x 20m. The ceiling is held up by 4 columns. 3 columns look sturdy enough but the fourth is in very poor condition , it looks ready to collapse. The ceiling above it shows some very large and deep cracks.

"Revered beings . . . " says Verzeg in a humble voice, " . . . we are not like you but are not of a one mind. Please wait just a moment while I persuade my fellows."

If they seem to acquiesce he turns to his kin for a quick briefing.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 43):

"Do not take too long, our tribe are hungry."

Verzeg nods and turns to his kin and says, his voice low and desperate, "we only have one chance at this. As I yell we all run forward and strike that shaky pillar with our shoulders, all at once. Then, once we have hit it, we hit it again if it does not fall. When it falls we rush over to that tunnel over there and flee. I shall go last to pick up the slow. Take courage, we do this and we can go back to Danzar and eat some dinner."

He nods to them all and looks back at the composite monster and says "okay, we are in agreement."

"NOW!"

With that Verzeg throws himself across the intervening space and slams his shoulder into the pillar.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 45):

The 4 trollkin crash into the cracked pillar. Loose dust and plaster fall from the ceiling but the pillar is otherwise unmoved.

The Rubblerunner King squeals "Stop! What are you doing. Now you will die!"

Fear grips Verzeg in its icy grip. The pillar hadn' fallen!

"AGAIN!" He shouts in Darktongue, and throws his weight against the pillar again.

(Verzeg Black Beetle rolled 75 using 1d100.  Pillar Strike.)

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 47):

This time the trollkin hit the sweet spot on the pillar. The crack rapidly expands along its length. A massive chunk seperates itself at the ceiling and falls with a loud crash. Then, in seeming slow motion, the column topples and crashes noisily to the floor raising a massive amount of dust and fume. Visibility is virtually zero but darksense allows you to see as normal.

The King squeals in fright and anger calling to its minions but none are arriving yet.

"Damn!" Thinks Verzeg, annoyed that the debris didn't crush the thing. "ATTACK!"

He calls on the power of the brass armlet to power the blade of his axe and the attacks the creature.

(SR3 Bladesharp 1)
(SR10 Hatchet Attack)

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 49):

The trollkin charge towards the rubblerunner king stabbing with their short spears. Madzeg lets out a scream and falls to the ground as Verzeg inadvertently chops into his thigh.

Naazeg stabs wildly and doesn't find a target. Hurzeg does find a target with his spear and neatly skewers it through the head.

The four remaining rubble runners attached begin to let out a high pitched wailing and try to scuttle away. Being connected and panicking the all seem to be pulling in opposite directions.

Horrified ate his stupidity, Verzeg looks at Mazdeg to see how bad the wound he's given him is.

Glancing down an Mazdeg's torn leg as the poor kin howls in pain, Verzeg summons the power of the horse brush matrix he keeps on his belt (Making him look a bit like a goblin peddler).
With that he cuts again with his hatchet.

(Cast Healin 1 [matrix] SR3, Hatchet attack SR10)
http://orokos.com/roll/759774 Spell Casting (82%) 80 Success
http://orokos.com/roll/759775 Hatchet Attack (71%) 44 Success
http://orokos.com/roll/759776 Hatchet Damage 10
http://orokos.com/roll/759777 Hit Location 20 Head

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 52):

With one neat swipe Verzeg lops the head off of a second member.

Naazeg stabs with her spear into a third part of the King, causing a gout of blood from its hind leg.

Hurzeg stabs at the fourth part leaving a score across the armoured leg but drawing no blood.

Sharp teeth snap at Naazeg and Hurzeg but are wide of the mark.

The magic seeps into Madzeg's leg, knitting the the wound together. The bleeding stops and he struggles to his feet ready to rejoin the fray.

(OOC: Having to dead bodies still attached by their tails and a third with a wounded leg means the creature can't move very quickly. Everyone now gets +10% to attacks and parries.)

Verzeg, deeply pessimistic as he is, still looks at the last good strike as the gods' recompense for having poor Madzeg step in front of his first chop. He steps wide with his shield held well forward and cuts again at a new target but the axe goes wide.

(Hatchet Attack SR7)
http://orokos.com/roll/759793 Hatchet Attack (81%) 92 Failure

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 54):

Verzeg's swipe with has hatchet goes over the heads of the rubble runners.

Madzeg back on his feet hurls himself into the fight. His spear thrust is about perfect and goes straight through its guts. The creature dies squealing.

Naazeg stabs with her spear but is over eager and misses.

Hurzeg jabs his spear into another rubble runner. Dealing a gaping wound to its flank it falls.

The last remaining critter is pinned by the weight of its companions and is completely helpless from the trollkin.

Even in the whirlwind of the moment part of Verzeg is immensely proud of the kin. They'd shown no hesitation and had pressed the attack against an unnatural opponent and not run off despite a probably crushing fear of the strange. Even little Mazdeg had hopped up after having his leg sliced badly had hopped back up and pressed into the attack.

Verzeg snarls and hacks with his hatchet at the remaining creature.

(Hatchet Attack SR7)
http://orokos.com/roll/759929 68 Success
http://orokos.com/roll/759930 Hatchet Damage 11
http://orokos.com/roll/759931 Hit Location 13

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 56):

Verzeg pins the last one to the ground through its leg before Madzeg steps in and delivers a vicious axe blow (critical) which severs its head. The rubblerunner king lays dead.

Not daring to pause to take a breath, Verzeg hisses to his kin "quick! Search about, we only have seconds! See if there is another source of this things' power. Then we shall flee back to Danzar to bring him the news of what was behind the infestation!"

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 58):

(OOC:Search roll please)

In reply to Adrian (msg # 59):

Verzeg spots that the tails of the now dead king are wrapped around this



The others gather up many silver coins with a value of 412L and find 2 crystals of unknown provinence.

(OOC: I need to find somewhere better to host my images as photobucket has started putting big banners through them.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Tue 01 Oct 2019.

Verzeg gathers up the loot, explaining to the kin as he does that these are the coins he was talking about earlier that can be exchanged for things like food. Then, with some trepidation, he grabs the ugly-looking stick from the corpses and leads the kin back to Danzar.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 61):

The scene in the corridors is chaotic. A large number of rubble runners are running every which way, as they bump into each other they turn and fight, savagely. The trollkin do their best to avoid the scrum and eventually make it back to the main chamber.

The humans are there, Danzar looks somewhat perplexed at the noise coming from within the tunnels. He holds his hand up in greeting at the emerging trollkin.

Verzeg, probably the only numerate individual of the group, counts them back in. Leaning against the wall he draws a deep breath, puts his axe in its sheath and removes his helmet.

"Danzar! We encountered a chaos filth down there! It was a horrid rubble runner . . . no, lots of them! They were all joined together at the tails, like a wheel."

Verzeg pauses briefly to chant a quick spell to heal Madzag's leg.

"They even talked and demanded we come up here to kill you, but we killed them all and took from them this booty."

He shows the forked stick with its horrid runes.

"Also we found treasure down there. Coins and crystals, but more to the point the rubble runners have gone mad and are killing each other in the tunnels."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 63):

Danzar scrutinises the stick before he speaks. "You have all done well. Rest here and take some food and drink, these men will guard the tunnels to keep the rubble runners contained. I am going to speak to an expert as I am unsure who these runes belong to."

On a table nearby is a barrel of beer and many cuts of meat, mainly from Praxian beasts. No-one pays any attention to how much the trollkins help themselves to. They find a quiet corner where it is cool and dark and take their ease.

Danzar leaves but returns about an hour later with a huge man, at first glance he could be mistaken for a small troll. He is covered in runic tattoos of Beast, Air and Death, his face and bare chest awash with livid scars. "This is Rostakos, he is a Khan of Urox the Storm Bull. He said these runes are Krjalk's and has come down to find the source of chaos. I pity whoever planted this if he catches them."

Rostakos examines the trollkin keenly for a minute or so before he speaks "You have no taint about you, which is well. Can you lead me to where you found this thing? I will be able to trace where it came from then."

"You will need a light for your hooman eyes. I lead you there because Danzar asks and because Nasty Uncle demands krjalki be destroyed and I fear Nasty Uncle above death itself."

With that he tells the kin to stay here and rest. Bringing the spell 'fireblade' to mind he leads the uroxi into the dark tunnels.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 65):

Rostakos gestures to the trollkin, "Don't waste magic on unneeded spells. I can carry a brand to light my way."

Following Verzeg he kicks any rubble runners out of his way until you reach the chamber with the dead king in it. Rostakos checks round and eventually points to a doorway off in the corner. "The chaos came from that way. I will do the Bull's will and go to face it. You can come if you want but I cannot promise you safety if you do."

Verzeg thinks for a few moments.

"I will come with you Rostakos. You hoomans are strange and unsuited to the dark and it would be wrong to leave you to find The Black Eater down here far from your kin. Should you fall I will let Danzar know of your fate."

Verzeg hefts his shield and hatchet.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 67):

"Just be careful. If fighting startsthe Bull will fill me with his power, then I will strike at anything friend or enemy."

He then sets off following the trail of chaos.

Verzeg says nothing but his mind goes back to his experiences with the Zorak Zoran berserks and their glee of slaughter. He's more than a little frightened that Rostakos would embrace the Fury so quickly. He keeps an eye out for small places he can secret himself into if this comes to pass.