Myrcury deftly rolls away from the centipede and quickly takes the opportunity to move out of range then fire an arrow. It strikes true but does little to slow the creature.


Attack AC 14
1d20 + 1 BAB +4 dex +1 size
Rolled: 11 + 6 = 17

Damage arrow
1d4
Rolled: 1


This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Sat 17 Feb.

Talya wastes no time counter attacking on Myrcury's behalf but she misses with her hammer. She steps closer to the creature and brings the hammer down again on the beast this time. She feels the crunching of chiten under her iron.


Attack of Opportunity
1d20 + 5
Rolled: 3 + 5 = 8

Attack Hammer
1d20 + 5
Rolled: 12 + 5 = 17

Damage
1d6 + 2
Rolled: 2 + 2 = 4

This message was last edited by the player at 01:31, Sat 17 Feb.

 Initiative
 Centipede 1d20 + 2
 Rolled:17 + 2 = 19
 Myrcury 1d20 + 4
 Rolled: 18 + 2 = 22
 Talya 1d20 + 2
 Rolled: 13 + 2 = 15



This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Sat 17 Feb.

Strategizing, Myrcury believes that the threat of Talyas hammer and her proximity should draw the centipede's next attack. He knew if he held his next shot till then he could place the arrow in a vulnerable location and avoid the chitenous armor. He tried to anticipate the best position to shoot from.


Myrcury delays till after centipede attacks

The hungry centipede hisses in response to Talya's blow. It immediately lunges for her, try to trap her in its multitude of long spindly legs but fails to secure her.


Attack attempt to grapple Talya AC 16
1d20 + 2
Rolled: 11 + 2 = 13

This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Sat 17 Feb.

Talya counters the lunge with a hammer swipe but misses. He the raises the hammer above her head and brings it crashing down on the insects head, staggering it.


Attack of Opportunity AC 13
1d20 + 5
Rolled: 7 + 5 = 12

Attack hammer
1d20 + 5
Rolled 19 + 5 = 24

Damage hammer
1d6 + 2
Rolled: 4 + 2 = 6


This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Sat 17 Feb.

Myrcury sees the lighter scales under its head and buries an arrow into the insects brain. The creature shutters then slumps lifelessly on the ground.


Sneak Attack Bow AC 13
1d20 + 6
Rolled: 10 + 6 = 16

Damage Arrow
1d4
Rolled: 3

Sneak Damage
1d6
Rolled: 2


DM notes: 150 xp for each. Encounter level 1

This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Sat 17 Feb.

Talya deftly steps aside as it slumps, prepared to crush it again if it moves. She breathes heavily as a smile starts to brighten her face.

"Its a great deal more fun when you dont get swallowed."

They both burst out in laughter.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Sat 17 Feb.

Myrcury cautiously approaches the carcass as if it might not be dead. He seems particularly interested in the mandibles, still dripping venom.

"I bet I could collect the venom sacks just like a snake. The tattoo guys might want the fangs themselves."

Talya meanwhile is admiring the armor like orange scales on the creatures back.

"These would make a beautiful suit of scale. Not my specialty, but I can prep the scales. There are hundreds. At least enough for 2 suits. Myrcury, if we stay alive, we could get rich down here."

"So your saying we should process this immediately? Its going to be hard to carry up to camp. Should we section it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:16, Sun 18 Feb.

"As long as we dont destroy any more scales than we have to. Its tedious work removing them. It would be better to do it in camp where we are safer. So lets section it, and make a couple trips."

Talya and Myrcury work together to section the corpse into six pieces. For Myrcury, the prize was the head and its venom sacks. He places this section in his sack and carries it over his shoulder.  Talya does the same and they transport the pieces back to camp. They return 30 minutes later to get two more pieces. On the third trip, one of the remaining pieces was being gnawed by rats. After scaring them away, Talya decides the gnawed on piece is worthless, so they leave it.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Wed 21 Feb.

The two spend the next several hours carefully removing each scale from the centipede carcass. They set them out neatly to dry after scraping every bit of flesh off the ends.

Myrcury takes some time to work on the map. It shows the stream leading away from the cave mouth. It shows the merger with the larger underground river, the site of the centipede conflict. He even returns with the compass to insure his map is accurate.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:48, Tue 27 Feb.

"I am worried we may run into somethingwe cant handle down here Myrcury.  I think we need another partner or two."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:51, Tue 27 Feb.

"I agree. Finding trustworthy partners may require a leap of faith. We are gonna have to trust Garl Glittergold to bring us the right people. In the meantime,  let's push on a little further. Get some more detail on the map. What do ya say?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Tue 27 Feb.

"We only live once. Just take it slow."

Once their eyes become accustomed to the low light, shadowy environment of the Underway, the gnomes become aware of just how alive and forest like the underground cavern system truly is. The air is filled with bats, large insects and possibly worse. Every rock hides beetles or rats or scorpions or any other variety of vermin. Some of them growing to horrifying proportions. Cave entrances and passageways appear around every bend of the underground river. On every cliff, under every rock, secret ways, dangerous creatures and odd fungal life can be found.

Making a map of this place will prove to be very challenging.

From the site of the centipede battle, where remnants of the large insect are still being gnawed upon by rats and large insects, the duo strike out to follow the river up stream. Following the river allows Myrcury an anchor to base all of his mapping on. Carrying the compass he constantly makes mental notes of the direction the river bends.

He stops an aims his beacon at an opening in the rocks ahead, just above the riverbank. The opening is large, easily big enough for the two of them to enter side by side if they chose to. The light does not penetrate far inside. He closes the lantern, gives their eyes a chance to readjust. Then, relying only on the fungal glow he looks again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:39, Mon 04 Mar.

"There is a pretty easy path to get up there. Right along that ridge there."

He points to a ridgeline that leads up to the opening. It looks fairly easy to traverse.

"Shall we get a closer look?"

He turns to Talya to gauge her expression as she responds.

She gazes up at the now dimly lit opening. They had previously agreed that relying on the fungal glow was best, but it did allow for a high degree of shadowy spaces. She studied the path and the cave itself.

"Its a large hole, it looks burrowed from here. Whatever burrowed it was either big, or tools were used. Closer inspection should reveal which I suspect."

She looks Myrcury in the eye and nods approval of his desire to continue.

Myrcury nods back to Talya then begins to climb up to the ridge. The footing is solid and does not present any difficulty. It's a matter of a couple careful minutes and they find themselves staring into the hole which is significantly larger than they had originally thought.

The cave is actually massive. The opening is a crumbled excavation it would seem. Perhaps an old passage or a mine shaft. Myrcury opens his beacon lantern and shines it inside to illuminate the shadows. He can only see back about 40 feet  before the passage turns and dissapears into gloom. The ground appears soft and well trodden.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:02, Wed 06 Mar.

Myrcury let's the light rest on a Spot in the middle of the ground where a sandy path seems to be. He studies the dirt there carefully.

"Do you see that?"


Myrcury Spot DC 15
1d20 + 5 rnks + 1 Wis
Rolled: 16 + 6 = 22

This message was last edited by the player at 16:23, Wed 06 Mar.

Talya follows the light and studies the ground where it lands.

"If you mean foot prints then yes."


Talya Spot DC 10
1d20 +2 Wis
Rolled 19 + 2 = 21

This message was last edited by the player at 16:25, Wed 06 Mar.

Myrcury listens  carefully but can only hear the low moan of air moving through the cavern. He decides that the footprints warrent closer inspection. He moves quietly about 20 feet into the cave until he is just above the tracks.

"They have claws. These feet have claws Talya."

Myrcury tries to hide his fear.