Chapter 0: Hole in the Sky

The group rushes to Asha's aid as she is able to dodge out of the way of the attack and stab into the man trying to kill them.

Confidence Artist - Pyne, Luck 12
Halfling Chicken Butcher - Asha Luck 8
Cutpurse - Ulric Luck 12
Scribe - Bren Luck 6

Henry clobbers the man with his shovel, cracking his skull open! As he falls, Pyne throws his dagger and Bren throws his dart. Both hit the fleeing woman, taking her down before she gets any further.

At the end of the hallway is a ladder fashioned lashed together branches, broken spears, and twists of rope. The ladder goes up into a rough passage into the ceiling, three to five feet wide as it rises. There are several tiny holes in the wall, and they let in the dim light from the main chamber of the prison.

Roy and Alister were the last people to rush into the cavern for safety. Before they could react to the situation, the poor souls had attacked and were put down. Alister takes a few breathes to steel himself and peers through one of the holes in the prison walls.

The group waits to see what Roy and Alister see through the holes.

"Do you see who we are looking for?" Pyne asked.

Confidence Artist - Pyne, Luck 12
Halfling Chicken Butcher - Asha Luck 8
Cutpurse - Ulric Luck 12
Scribe - Bren Luck 6

Through the holes, Alister sees the titan still snoring from his spot beneath the cage far above. He cannot see Cur Maxima anywhere from this vantage point.

Alister continues to scan for signs of movement. Roy backs away from the view and speaks in a low voice, "That massive creature is still...asleep. I don't get it....after all of those horrible screams....." Roy shakes his head and stands up tall. "There is no sign of that smaller creature guarding this place."

The ladder creaks and groans under your feet, but it holds. The first ladder leads to a second and a third, all makeshift, all a bit rickety but serviceable. In total, they climb 60 feet up to a chamber above. One by one, you begin to ascend.

Several of you have passed the midway point of the vertical passage when suddenly, a section of the wall is torn away! Cur Maxima looms on the other side, green fire flickering balefully within its eyes and mouth.You are surprised, and before you can react, its tendrils whip forward to grab Aemon! They pull him off the ladder and rip him in half, bones breaking and blood flying as the gambler is murdered right before your eyes!

"I apologize once more. You bring this destruction on yourself," the pumpkin monster says calmly as it clambers away, clutching Aemon’s gory remains. "Kindly make your way to the nearest exits at this time if you value your lives. I appreciate your understanding."

Roy grabs a stunned Alister and shoves him towards the ladder.

Roy belts out, "Fly you fool!"

Alister scrambles up the ladder as quickly as possible. Roy, puts his hammer back in his belt and scrambles after Alister. Through the terror, Roy detects a rising stench of soiled pantalones from he miner.

While Ulric and Pyne climb the ladder Asha and Bren have had enough of being hunted and turn to engage the demon, in the hopes that they can at least give the others time to escape!

Confidence Artist - Pyne, Luck 12
Halfling Chicken Butcher - Asha Luck 8
Cutpurse - Ulric Luck 12
Scribe - Bren Luck 6