The Forgotten City XLIV
General Summary
The third beastman guard ran up the steps, wild-eyed and locked on Teleptyon, who made a tactical retreat into the Keb-strategeried room. Herk pulled Theo back into the room as well reducing the party's attack surface. Riven shot, destroying one of the guard's eyes. Theo created a distraction that allowed Elissa to impale him.
Kegho led Teleptyon down the stairs hoping to find the captain of the guard who had disappeared in the fracas. He found a huge tapestry and a trail of blood. Alex and Elissa moved to the other set of downward stairs hoping to prevent anyone from coming up through that path. They saw a large capstan and a few closed doors. Keg tried, but was unable to turn it on his own. Elissa went to get the rest of the party and she and Antonious attempted to help Kegho but it took more than even their combined strength to turn it. After it turned the party members still in the main room saw the floor slide open near where the trail of blood stopped. Keg wanted to follow the captain into the tunnels but Ka'ar expressed concern about the remaining slaves and Alex suggested he pull up the ladder so that the passage could only be used by the party going forward and he assented. They checked the closed door just south of the capstan and a wave of madness swept over them. Alex, Ka'ar, Riven and Elissa were unaffected though Alex faced a monstrous ball of ooze covered in mouths whispering in many languages and many thoughts. He hoped to close the door and flee, but Ka'ar move swiftly and entered battle as several members of the group also began to babble incoherently.
The creature spat at Alex and though it stung his skin he closed his eyes in time to avoid being blinded by it. Khufu, Alex and Elissa stabbed or struck at it but missed. Theo joined and they continued to strike until Khufu spake out prayers unto his god that brought battle to a halt, but not before the mass bit at Ka'ar's throat causing a mortal wound. Everyone fled the room as the mass consumed Ka'ar adding his voice to its babbling chorus. Khufu followed behind closing the door. They moved into the barracks room exhausted and barred the doors from the inside. Teleptyon drew up the energies around him to wake him if someone tried to enter and they fell into an unease slumber on the too large beds.
