Session 23

The session opens one Gimli less. The group waits the storm out. Once the sky finally begins to clear, the ground is covered in a fine layer of rust.

The group opts to continue in the direction the slime had gone with Gimli in its grip. Using Mountain Lore, Benjamin helps Athtar to track the slime. Athtar quickly is able to find its trail. It has several hours on them and it's veering off course from the original route. They follow for the next several hours.

As they explore, they see signs of other people in the area. Potentially another tracker. They approach the nest of the slime and the other tracker does as well. The two parties meet. The tracker says that the others shouldn't go in there.

Considering there is a 60 foot drop from the Slime's entrance, the tracker suggests there would be another entrance and suggests working together to find it. He introduces himself as Salis. He is a yellow nagaji that has a silver arm and a scar over one eye. On his forearm, he's got a big demon ball and the shoulder has a wolf symbol holding a green orb in its mouth. He wears a sheriff's vest and leather pants.

He offers a hand to shake. Athtar does. Salis leads the group further down the mountain. Athtar helps Theo search with his survival knowledge. Salis keeps an eye around. Though it's clear that Salis has completely lost track. Realizing his mistake, he course corrects and finds a cave entrance leading to the depths. The entrance is very small and very dark.

Benjamin nearly snaps his fingers to cast ignite on his torch before stopping himself, realizing the slime can detect magic. He opts to light it normally instead.

The sound of liquid dripping from stalactites can be heard as the cave opens into a large underground lake. Across the lake is a massive perforated stone pillar. It stretches to the roof of the cave above letting light in. The water is very murky and dark.

While the group discusses what to do, there is movement from the pillar. It has a dull metal color and metallic razor wings. It crawls out from one of the holes and back into another, indicating the entire structure is one large hive.

Athtar shoots an acid flask at the pillar. He hits a ferrous butterfly directly, causing it to unlatch from the hive and fly toward the group. It hisses as it flies before two giant pincers rise from the lake below, grabbing the butterfly from the air as it thrashes around in its grip, and is dragged below the surface. it screams until eventually silence.

The hive is now buzzing.

The creature uses water stride. It chitters and skates across the water. It then oxydizing spits on him, damaging his armour and burning him.

Salis grabs Benjamin and pulls him away from the lake.

Athtar recognizes this is an Ore louse. It exists just beneath or above the water surface. They detect intruders through ripples in the water and are very territorial.

They manage to do enough harm to the Ore Louse to make it flee