The Forgotten City XIV
General Summary
After catching their breath and arming the barely dressed Keb, Khufu, with a staff from the armory, Kegho and Theo led the way toward the magic door and the domed room. They took the Keb with them to the dead end and let him explore the stonework, hoping there would be another path that had eluded them, but he shrugged and concluded that something had interrupted the excavation and construction of this part of the system. They trudged back and found that they need not have worried about the bearmen as the post was now abandoned. From the back Alex groused "I bet they took our boats!" peppering in a chaotic array choice expletives in mispronounced ancient Khemian, Oameni and Rexan. Theo chided for jumping to conclusions but as Kegho passed out to the riverbank he roared "THEY AM TAKE BOATS!" The party could not understand his furious muttering in Ashkuzi, but the tone made the priest's ears turn crimson. As Alex and Khufu discussed turning some of the wooden furniture in the guard room into a serviceable raft and Riven, Theo and Teleptyon discussed what they knew about giant wasps, Kegho stripped, still cursing and plunged into the icy fresh water. His strokes were sure and strong and he reached a rocky outcropping and pulled himself briefly from the water to catch his breath before cutting against the swift current to shore. He tied together the three boats and floated with them downstream, guiding them onto the banks. As he pulled them upon the shore, the water frothed as a serpent-like creature raised its head from the water.
The few members of La Compagnia on the shore found themselves harried by the whiplike attacks of a plant that mimicked a serpent's visage. Kegho ran for his gear and Theo slammed at the head of it with his mace as it shot out for the naked Kegho. Teleptyon threw a dart at the creature but it was too nimble and Teleptyon's throw was too timid. A second snake-like vine appeared and lashed at the naked Kegho's back, tiny spines piercing his flesh as he howled. The first one shaking off the clubbing retaliated against Theo but Theo was able to move out of its way. Riven loosed an arrow at one and hit. The first, stymied in its attack of Theo, lashed at Kegho, striking him before he is able to put his armor on again. The second attacked Theo and missed. Theo returned the attack with a crushing blow. Alex and Kegho both miss with shots from slingstaff and crossbow respectively. Khufu realizing things are going badly began droning Metdjen prayers as his hands glowed faintly. He touched Kegho and Riven giving them what little extra protection he could offer. Teleptyon, Alex and Riven each loosed projectiles while keeping their distance, but each missed, although Riven followed up with a second shot which struck true.
Kegho made a glancing blow with his crossbow, keeping further distance from the serpentweed. Theo narrowly avoided a direct hit by raising his shield, which was shatered in the process. The plant struck out at Kegho again, lashing his chest. Alex missed the wiry creature with his sling. Kegho continued moving out of the lashing range of the creatures and firing with his crossbow. Kego and Theo continue to wail on the more obviously damaged plant. It leaks an amber liquid where it's fibers are crushed and rent. Another strike catches Theo and Alex is also lashed, wounding him greivously. Theo continued to beat upon the plants that were attacking his friends. Alex sought to flee from the front lines now that he had been brought so near to death again. The party is bunched up in the doorway avoiding the long grasp of the vine and he takes a running leap into the furthest boat, hoping his slight weight can send it drifting behind the rocky outcropping near the shore and succeeds.
Kegho missed with his crossbow and Riven concentrated on hitting the wily creatures snapped her bowstring. Theo smashed the second again. The creatures lashed out at Riven and Theo but missed Riven and struck Theo.
