There is a sound of hurried shuffling towards the boulder... then it stops.  "OK, we're coming out now... unarmed.  Don't treat us like you did poor Kenny, who just thought you were attacking us."

Three people peer out of the opening, blink back tears, and then slowly crawl through.  The first is a very small man in what used to be a nice suit.  He is followed by a dark haired man in orange robes, and finally a dark-haired woman in purple-ish robes.  They are holding their hands up, bank robber style, as they squint and look around at everyone.

Their clothes are filthy, which is a good match for their matted, greasy hair.

The halfling sees the dead body of the feral human on the ground, "They killed Kenny!" he sobs.

The dark haired man looks at each of you for a moment, "Thank you" he says.

Chayce is a diminutive female human. She's dressed as an outdoorswoman and is carrying a duck.

"Thank you for killing Kenny?" she asks.

Sharper is a large male human. He has a longsword and hide armor and a perpetual sneer. A fine eye will notice that he's been wounded in the abdomen and is moving slowly as a result.

"Ya got weapons?" he growls at the new folks. Before waiting for an answer, he holds out a spare club.

"I have this," Chayce says, offering a crowbar if someone needs it. She still has a bow for her personal use.

"Yeah well, it was either him or me," Urmdrak says.  "And I'm rather fond of me, so unlucky Kenny."

"What's on the other side of that boulder?  Is it a dead end?  I don't want to go crawling around in there for nothing."

The dark haired man looks at Chayce, surprised, then lets out a short laugh.  "No, I meant thank you for freeing us. But now a second thanks is in order - for making me laugh for the first time in weeks."  He gives a short bow and continues, "I am Chaoxiang, acolyte of Justicia, the goddess of justice and mercy. I am hoping she will choose me for a more important role in life, but for now I am just a poor follower hoping to be noticed." He gestures towards the other two.  "Our small friend here is Uriwan Highman, maker of fine gloves.  And this is Katarina, a fortune teller trying to make sense of this world of ours."

Katarina nods, "Our belongings, including weapons, were taken from us when we were thrown into that room behind the boulder.  There may be a passageway out the other side, but we didn't fully investigate because there was something terrifying over that way.  We will gladly accept your spare weapons for now."  She gratefully takes the crowbar, and Chaoxiang takes the club.

"Is there no other way out?  If not, then I suppose with your help we could investigate the far passage behind the boulder?"

"Nice to meet you, friends! I have a torch. Allow me to lead the way."

Once the way is clear, Jack makes his way into the hole and through the cramped passageway.

Ask Jack disappears into the tunner, Pyke waits for a moment, listening for any sounds of surprise or pain. If none are forthcoming he waves for Tarin to go next.

Tarin the halfling glares daggers back at Pyke, who pays him no heed whatsoever, then disappears into the tunnel after Jack.

Pyke sighs wearily, then addresses the newcomers: "Well, more rabble to join our ever undulating party. I'd introduce myself but you'll likely be dead and gone before I finish even getting the words out." Then he crouches down as low as needed to enter the hole and follows after the others.

Chaoxiang and Katarina follow the others... back into the room they just left.  Uriwan looks that way with fear, then looks around the room.  Seeing nowhere better to go, and not wanting to be left alone, he also follows the others.

Chayce and Shay follow, bringing up the rear with Urmdrak.

"Uriwan Highman!" she says to the newly joined halfling.

("'Highman'? Is that some sort of joke?" Shay grumbles about the diminutive halfling.)

"Up front! Tell us what your halfling eyes see in the darkness."

In reply to Tecumseh Lane Crew (msg # 64):

"A thieve's ass!" shouts Tarin from somewhere up ahead as he scampers along behind Jack.

Wide eyed Uriwan gulps down his fear, and makes his way towards the front of the group.  He doesn't go to the very front, but rather stands between Jack and Tarin and peers intensely into the dark, looking for anything that would be useful...

He glances at Tarin, "You're a halfling too... do you see anything that would help us?"

OOC: Uriwan does have infravision, but not sure if I need to make a roll or anything here.

The tunnel meanders in a south easterly direction. A faint cool breeze and smell of water drifts to you from the south.

In reply to Keele Road Crew (msg # 66):

"I told you! All I can see is the fat arse of the rogue in front of me!" sputters Tarin.

Pyke smiles to himself at the promise of fresh air at the end of the tunnel. "Lead on, Jack! We're almost out of this hell-hole!"

Jack doesn't reply but forges ahead with renewed vigour, following the passageway to the southeast.

Uriwan drops back to his former place, behind Chaoxiang and Katarina.  All three of them follow Tarin and Pyke, and are looking about as they make their way.

"Keep an eye out for our stuff," Chaoxiang says to Katarina and Uriwan, "maybe they chucked it all back here.  It wasn't much, but it would be nice to get it back."

After all the introductions were made and their present circumstances discussed, Urmdrak remembers.  He asks the newcomers, "any of you know anything about worms?  You see any of 'em back here?"

Chayce and Shay follow along.

Shay, being wounded, looks like he's ready to get out of this maze.

Chayce, being used to the woods, looks like she has no intention of crawling through a dungeon ever again. Unless the price was right, of course.

Katarina speaks up, "No, not really.  We saw some of the little ones coming off the slide thingy when we were in that other room... briefly.  I don't remember a lot of our days in here... it's all kind of foggy."

After a while she adds "If I could consult my Tarot cards I'm sure they would tell us that more worms are in our future." She sighs.

An inhuman squeal echoes from the tunnels to the north.

At the sudden sound Jack readies his torch and fang and makes a beeline north.

Tarin races to keep up with Jack.

Pyke follows as quickly as he can behind Tarin.

Katarina, Chaoxiang and Uriwan all blanche a little upon hearing the squeal.  At first they hesitate to go towards it, but after seeing the others head that way they eventually steel their resolve and follow.  Katarina and Chaoxiang brandish their clubs as they go, Uriwan stays behind them.

"Here we go again," sighs Urmdrak.

The dwarf gives a loud whistle.  "C'mere ya little bugger!  I want to drive my spear through your little black heart!"

Mobilos sighs and moans "time to go get attacked by the people driven insane by this terrible place."

Chayce and Shay don't think that they've left any enemies behind them, but with tight, dark, twisting corridors it's hard to say for sure.

They guard their rear, keeping their eyes open for any hint of movement or attack that might be using the squeal as a distraction for an ambush.

This message was deleted by the player at 18:51, Tue 12 Dec 2023.