As we soggily examined the room and listened to the ominous horn, we noticed that Alf had gone maudlin but Koko was back to his normal self. These dungeons are hell on the psychology of the party!
Two paths led away from this precarious sanctuary: E and SW. We opted for the latter, with Mandras and his fellow dwarves taking the lead with their infravision. We soon came to another split in the passage. From the SW came warmth and a glow, while the new passage E smelled of dried fish and quasi rotting things. We investigated to the E and discovered the ratmen’s food pantry, a large room with drying racks, adorned with dried fish, rats, algae and other unidentified things that passed for food. We took note for future use and went back down the SW passage.
Shortly we came into a large cavern with a lava flow running through a chasm. There were three bridges over it, none too strong. Mandras volunteered to cross the middle span, tied to his fellows for safety. As he started across 9 ratmen rushed forth, one was clearly a leader bearing an gnarled spear and a monied belt. Mandras tried to communicate in an effort to gain safe passage, but to no avail. We decided to offer some gold, but the leader of the Ivory Teeth Clan (as they call themselves) developed a greedy glint in his eye and demanded 100 GP. We discussed it quickly among ourselves and came to the conclusion he could not be trusted.
A further attempt led to them throwing spears at us and injuring Koko. Koko, Hats, and Mandras each blocked a passage over the lava to avoid being swamped. Our colleagues fired back focussing on the leader and his guards. The leader collapsed, heavily transpierced, as did two of his guards. The survivors retreated carrying his body and the trans pierced spear.
We were preparing to surge across to their side of the lava flow when 31 ratmen charged out of the gloom… our cries of dismay echoed around the chamber and we decided discretion was the better part of valour. Everyone fell back except Mandras, who delayed them a bit with a fighting retreat. We killed two more with arrows and Koko managed to hold one with a spell. Seeing our magic flare up, the survivors backed off into the shadows.
We too retreated. Mandras stayed at the narrow part of the tunnel in case the ratmen should surge again, while most of the rest of the party went to take whatever victuals were palatable enough to gag on from the food storage room.
Some of our retainers were guarding the NE passage when they were assailed by a swarm of insects that had fire for blood. Greth, Ibar, Sorkunde and one of the dogs took the initial damage and escaped death by fleeing into the river. The swarm then flowed down past the food room and hit Mandras. The members pillaging the food room and hiding from the swarm due to their low consitution managed to flee to the river and Mandras too fell back hastily.
We were back where we started… wet, miserable, in the river, but with potential rations for our next foray. We were beginning to get quite fatigued from our trials and tribulations, but we were determined to get out with Rarder’s body and our loot.
