Adventurers
- Euchenio de Arcas (Ranger 1)
- Fairplay Godbehere (Cleric 1)
- Assorted NPCs: Ecclescroft and Elixabete
Two new adventurers heard of the village’s misfortune, and resolved to join in the search for the missing youngsters. Counting out their savings they hired a burly fighter and stout thief to bulk out their adventuring party, and found themselves a map from the battered Pinchy who then retreated back behind a collection of flagons.
They quickly scouted the ground floor of the ruins and noticed a large brutish creature lumbering around outside. While it hadn’t spotted them, they decided they’d be better equipped to handle whatever might lie below and so descended. Wary of being caught on both sides in this maze of brick rooms and corridors, the adventurers looked to scope out the points at which their map ran out and ensure it was relatively clear before tackling where they’d heard one villager was being held.
Their torchlight attracted several ratlings, and the bipedal rodents charged in on their giant rat mounts. Their spears jabbed quickly and viciously but couldn’t penetrate the adventurer’s armour and, having weathered the charge, the humans drove the creatures back, unseating the riders and dispatching them. They tried following the fleeing giant rats but a cautious pace allowed them to escape.
Opening one door led them to the remains of a campfire and a stairway leading to a hidden door on the surface. A quick scan around suggested that the lumbering threat had wandered off, so they noted the exit’s location and delved down again.
Following a series of chalk arrows, the party came across the scene of a fierce battle with signs of something bloody having been dragged to a hole in the wall. Peering inside revealed a tunnel with more giant rats gnawing on an old body. Frantically Fairplay tried using his shield as a makeshift release valve while his companions bopped any rodents squeezing through.
After the first few met a messy end, the rest scurried away, and Elixabete hauled the body from the tunnel. It was a robed man with an enticing scroll case and a fancy cloak. Unfortunately the scroll was unintelligible but the cloak, which was incredibly clean considering the environment, fit Euchenio perfectly and gave him a wonderful sense of safety.
Not wishing to push their luck too far, the adventurers opted to call it quits and returned to the surface through their newly discovered exit. Double-checking for the great hulk of a sentinel, they scampered away from the gatehouse and returned to the safety of the village.