Kiara leads the way, squinting into the gloom. Bohrhorgen behind her with a light emitting shield, followed by Rowan, Mantle  Stella, and Nic. Stella pulls out a continual flame torch and hands it to Kiara,"please take care of this, the light can't be seen after 30 feet."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Sat 10 Oct 2020.

Nic studiously watches the actions and steps of others ahead of him. A bead of sweat begins to form at his brow. I've got a bad feeling about this. He looks back behind him every four to six paces, making sure the return route (should things go wrong) is clear of predators. He makes a point to etch a mark on the left side of the walls about every 30 feet with a white X from some chalk he procures from a belt pouch.

The tunnel you’re in is mostly 10 feet wide and tall, occasionally widening out and narrowing back in. Fortunately, there are no choke points yet. You travel downward slowly. Kiara seems spooked and refuses to hurry. She stops and listens frequently, tuning in to the noises of the dark, of which there is very little. After perhaps an hour of travel, during one of your listening stops, a scream of some sort, well off in the distance, echoes back up to you. It lasts for at least 30 seconds, but it’s hard to be more certain of the duration due to the echoes.

Knowledge nature or Dungeoneering from everyone.

DC 15

Stella and Rowan both mutter, “Shrieker.”

Bohrhorgen says “More than a half hour away, more’n I couldna tell.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:05, Thu 05 Nov 2020.

Nic states, "Well, it sounds like our quarry has evidently made it's way ahead of us, according to the fungal alarm system." Pausing to consider this revelation, he continues "Or, and I could be mistaken, our quarry could in fact be making their way towards us instead. Best to make sure our stealth is of supreme importance going forward."

Your pace slows to a crawl. Kiara is constantly stealthing forward to reconnoiter the path ahead. Then returning to indicate all clear.

Continue moving forward making sure to keep an eye on ceiling

Kiara takes a quick moment to attach the continual flame torch to her backpack. She then grips her longsword in her main hand and firmly holds a light mace in her offhand. Continuing her slow stealthy recon efforts she inches that party on. She starts to ease into a rhythm of inching and listening. Reminding herself that her friends are with her, she will make it if she can use her head and her skills.

Kiara moves forward again, you’ve found that 30 feet ahead leaves Bohrhorgen illuminated to her. The torch is a wonder, when she moves more than 30 feet away, the illumination cuts off and you can’t see it. Those  with darkvision, Bohrhorgen and Rowan, can still see her, but the rest cannot.

Kiara turns back toward toward her party motioning them to stay there, she stealthily returns to the party. Indicating to them that There is a shrieker  about 60 feet ahead, right where the tunnel makes a 90 to the right. Putting her palms up in question, she is quite open to suggestions as to how to pass it without it alerting what lies around the bend.

Well if we're looking to just get past it I might able to help.

I hate to use it up so early but I'd rather use it then not!! 😁

Stella says "I have a silence spell, but only one and I want to use it against a caster. Possibly by casting it on the melee fighters. I'm assuming there are bad people nearby. We can handle it whichever way you decide."

"can the stealthy ones quietly ambush the shrieker?"

No sis you hold that silence spell for a caster if for some reason I can't get us past this threat we'll kill it like everything else in here!!<Blue>

<Blue>So we want to sneak past this little threat!!

"I always wanted to hear a mushroom cry out when I cooked it actually. I'm uncertain if that's your plan though Mantle. What do you have in mind? I'm not sure about stealth when it involves a fungus with no eyes or ears. I'm pretty sure these ones sense vibration or air currents or some such thing." Nic shrugs in response to Rowan's question at the end of his statement.

Well I'm thinking A little more stealth! But I'm not sure how good it'll help. But we can try if you'd like too.

My slippers given to me by Bohrhorgen uncle are pretty cool they can help almost everyone!!

I am willing to try and sneak up on it and give it a whack or 2. But I think it best for Stella to hold onto that spell for more pressing times.
Looking to Mantle: Perhaps with the slippers, you and I can make short order of the thing.
Winking at Nic when she makes the cooking reference.
I do worry about what is around that corner, but the rest of you must keep back a distance as no not alarm the fungi
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

It could be pointless to use the spell on this one, where you find one of these things, there will be others

Nic nods to Kiara and Mantle in agreement, and then to Bohrhorgen. "A good point my bearded friend. Preserving our resources until absolutely necessary is wise in this case. We've no idea how deep this rabbit hole goes, or what faces us along the way. We need to keep our minds sharp and to minimize the expenditures of things that we may need to facilitate a retreat if we need to get out of here in a hurry."

Nic looks to Mantle and addresses him particularly, "An inferno is a heavy deterrent in a closed passageway, and not many things would choose to walk through one when pursuing prey. A snake would not slither through fire to gain access to a warren of rabbits. I'd suggest keeping something in your repertoire in reserve."

He continues, further addressing the rest of the company "Once we've ventured further and have an idea of the layout for this area, I feel it wise to stop at some point and prepare a few waypoints in the event we do need to regroup or, regrettably, retreat from whatever may seem too troublesome. I hope that such will not be the case, but I'm sure that whatever is down here in these tunnels most likely knows them better than we do, and how to access any hidden alcoves or connecting routes. What they won't know is if we've laid anything in store for them, should we find ourselves back-tracking. It would be nice to have some sort of advantage amid this unfamiliar terrain. Let us consider this when we find a suitable place for making a checkpoint of sorts for ourselves. Does anyone feel this is asking too much, and do you have any thoughts about such a plan?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

Sounds like a good plan

Stella chimes in, “It seems one of our biggest weaknesses is our lack of distance damage. Short and mid range seem adequate. Either we draw them to us, or we move fast before they can prepare. Either way has its own drawbacks.  She looks at Bohrhorgens shield, which is radiating light. “Plus, we have vision issues here that put us at a distinct disadvantage for stealth. We should probably just move up and meet our foes head on, knowing we are at that disadvantage. Ghouls do have one distinct weakness, they Hunger!”
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 22:38, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

"wait till the quiet ones kick the anthill, then charge"

In reply to Rowan (msg # 209):

Stella squints at Rowan, reassessing him yet again, she shrugs. "That, or live bait. Might work out like that either way. I'd sure like to know what's around that corner."

"Well, whoever is taking the initiative here, let me help how I can and administer a little security going forward."Nic exclaims as he readies a spell. (Resistance)

Bohrhorgen looks to Mantle, "So you going to blast that thing or you just want me to smash it and see what comes running?"
"Or,"looking at Rowan"Maybe summon a decoy to attack it while we wait in ambush for whatever comes?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Thu 19 Nov 2020.

"I can stir the pot ifin ya want"