CHAPTER XVIII
in which grenades are detonated at a safe distance from our heroes despite Eierryn's misgivings...
Previously (07/17)
The group:
Learned from Haas that she met with a Centaur who promised to "show her something amazing that would change her outlook on pillar."
Devised a plan with Cadance to use the underground caves to gain access to the Centaur army in the north.
Traveled to Brenthia and began their journey, meeting a friendly Tusker known as Teefo.
The Buried City
Teefo leads the Silver Foxes as far as he dares to, which is about seven miles in. Along the way, the Silver Foxes come across signs of civilization (Tusker meeting places) and markings of various beasts that Teefo shows them about. Some obvious signs of danger are falling dust or goo from ceiling. Teefo also shows the group a plant that can be ingested that nourishes you for a day. Glad doesn't care for the taste but finds it tastier than the salamander he fried up for Haas.
Following Haas' basic sense of direction, the group wanders through various tunnels bypassing some of the signs of danger Teefo taught them. One cavern finds the group shrouded in an ominous fog, so Eierynn and Glad shield the group with protective kinetic bubble as they pass through. Neither the source of the fog, nor what resides within was discovered.
Many miles in, the Silver Foxes notice Tusker markings on the walls and stumble upon a large spiraling walkway. Acting as the vanguard, Haas elects to explore where it leads while Krom hides the group behind an earthen barrier some ways up the corridor. Haas discovers a large city and returns down to her companions. However, she bolts when they unexpectedly pop out of the walls and runs further down to the walkways start. The group finds Haas and she relays her findings, but they quickly notice the sound of Tuskers headed their way. With Tuskers approaching from an intersection below them and a city of Tuskers waiting above, Krom tries to hide the group behind another layer of wall while the Tuskers pass. He isn't fast enough.
Six Tuskers come upon the Silver Foxes. They halt the groups progress and sound an alarm that alerts the Tusker city of intruders. The leader of the Tusker pact inquires after the Silver Foxes identity and motives. In return, Glad, who has ill-advisedly marked himself with a Tusker like tattoo pattern with Tilly's ink, demands homage from the Tuskers. This goes about as well as expected. The pact finds this amusing and ignore his request while Haas tries to explain that they got lost. The Tuskers make to advance and Glad, still offended at the lack of homage, shoots the Leader in his heart with an obsidian arrow, handily taking him down. This sparks a confrontation and hasty retreat. Haas jumps into one on one close quarters combat with one of the Tuskers. Krom uses his earth evocation to smash the Tuskers in the rear. And Glad, assisted in his throw by Eierynn, grenades the lot of them.
With the Tusker party subdued, the Silver Foxes quickly flee on Doug having sustained minimal damage. They lay up traps and tracking misdirection at nearest intersection and Krom closes off their actual path of travel. On the way, the flee through hunting grounds past bewildered Tuskers but continue hauling ass until they're assured of their safety.
The Bone Collectors
The group continues northward through a tunnel that's more roughly hewn than the previous ones they've seen. In this one, they notice occasional trickles of dust. Haas is sent out once more to scout and comes back with only this vague premonition: There is a stench of rotting meat.
Morbidly curious and against Eierynn's protests, the Silver Foxes venture further in. Where the stench is strongest, Krom opens up the cavern walls, revealing gigantic ants chowing down on their dinner. Just as quickly, he closes it up and the group continue further along. Next they come across a room filled decorated with the flesh stripped Tusker remains. The only exit is concealed. Prixus and Elias remove any traps and open the door. This time Glad takes the lead and kinetically leverages tusks and skulls from the skeletal antechamber as weapons. The hidden hallway is dark but the Silver Foxes are able to lure a Tusker out from around the bend...one decorated in Tusker remains and sipping from a Tusker skull.
That's all Glad needs to see. He moves to attack with his Tusker missiles but Eierynn throws the attack off. Instead, Haas manages to treat with their creepy acquaintance WhatsHisName. He refuses her offer of diamonds for passage, but he does accept Haas' heat stone and one of Glad's obsidian arrows (the one still stained with Tusker blood). WhatsHisName is also persuaded by the groups admission of having wandered into one of the rival Tusker cities and killed some of the WhatsHisName's foes. WhatsHisName accepts payment and shows the Silver Foxes a good spot to start digging up to the surface.
Post Game Summary
The group:
Navigated the Brenthian tunnels
Accidentally wandered into a hostile Tusker city and killed a bunch of Tuskers who were being pricks.
Found an offshoot cavern of rival Tuskers, enemies of the prick Tuskers.aled the roaming pillar of Equinos and his grand designs.
Important information learned:
There is moss/fungus in the tunnels that can be eaten to hold off hunger for a day.
Many beasts inhabit the tunnels: bats, arachnids, giant ants, etc.
Tuskers in a pack are spoken for by a leader who is usually demarked by his tattoo pattern.
Some of the more warlike Tuskers collect the tusks of their slain foes as a war trophy.