3. Fungal Cave

So the group continues towards the southwest tunnel.

---

The southwest tunnel
The tunnel narrows as it progresses, forcing the group to move single file. As you press further, once more you notice three distinct paths ahead.

To the south, the rough, uneven surfaces of the natural cave suddenly give way to smooth, worked stone—a stark contrast to the organic shapes of the cave. This section is marked by torches flickering in wall sconces, casting a steady glow that suggests recent activity and a more deliberate, humanoid presence. Korena tells you that Grimruk's iron door and frescoes are further down that path.

Much closer to your current location, a sturdy wooden door stands to the west. It is the Orc's barracks that you visited before. You should go there when you want to let Graknok know that you have the lotus and ask him to join you.

Between then, winding to your right, the natural stone continues, sloping downwards, further southwest, into deeper shadows. The path ahead remains rugged, twisting through jagged rocks and narrow crevices, leading into a more treacherous and unknown section of the cave system. Graknok told you that you’ll find Grimruk's breeding chamber there—the source of those vile fungus abominations. Grimruk drags corpses there, fusing them with spores, warping flesh into grotesque mockeries of life.

Faramos, would to pick that Orc up and show hon the lotus? He seem to treat you as the chief. Ninda can't stop looking at her finger she recently cut in the strange pool.

While they were at the crossing, Faramos gave the lotus to the girls so they could examine it in their pace and went into the cold waters, to take out the Leather armor he put under some heavy rock in order to it loose some of the orc's smell. He started to put it on. When he was getting back to the group he saw Nindia making a half-step towards the stream. He looked into her eyes with question written on his expression, but said nothing and joined the group.

Faramos, you do remember Graknok told us: Get the lotus, come back here with it and we’ll deal with Grimruk together.
Don't you?

Nindia ask feeling uncomfortable about how he looks at her. Need to occupy dwarf with what's important right now she thinks

"You are right Nindia! We shouldn't allow Graknok to miss our party with their shaman and his abominations." - said Faramos indeed warming up in his mind with a prospect of this particular... hunt. Hunt for "the cause of all their recent problems" and the source of corruption in this cave.

"Let's pay them a visit and check how much their word is worth. But be prepared... we never had opportunity to confirm their good will with deeds." - Faramos frowned with raised finger to underscore his point. And prepare to open the door to the barracks - if no one will stop him.

As mentioned before Nindia expect Faramos to do the talking, because she believe Orcs treat him as the boss of our party. Trying to pretend bored she takes her dagger and start cleaning dirt beneath her nails. She stay in the doors where smell is not so terrible.

Faramos made a few more steps in, but considering how his nose became sensitive to various smell since he returned from the forest, he grimaced too and didn't want to go further and expose himself. But he got a hold of himself to not show this discomfort and said:
"Greetings, Graknok! I can see you are training your mind as much as you train your body. Good." - Faramos mimicked the tone of the last word after orc's boss.

"We indeed have a purple lotus with us. Now it's time for you to fulfill your part of our agreement and join us with cleaning this cave... and world from the abominations one of your kin brought upon it. Is your team ready for this?" - Faramos asked with anticipation getting back to the point of their visit. The sooner they left the barracks, the sooner his nose could rest.

before Graknok stepped closer Nindia whisper for Brenda an Faramos to hear, but aren't much afraid of Orcs to hear her (though she try to make sure they don't) Do you hear that Brenda? He say "We can take a detour" so that You do the heavy job and the final fight so easy that the pity Orcs don't risk their pity lives.

When he ask his question to Faramos she counter question Orc Cutting those things down will weaken him exactly how?
She want to undertand if he suggest to prevent Grimruk’s summoning his abominations during the fight or he really think zombies somehow empower Grimruk while they are alive. It it is the first - we may probably find a way to block/lock the room where zombies are.

Nindia turn to Faramos and announce loud and clear Graknok is afraid of zombies, I am not. Shall we?

Faramos considered deeply new gained information. He scratched his beard, but still was looking the towering orc straight into the eye without any trace of uncertainty. Then said:
"Hmmm... I was hoping it is other way around: killing the shaman or the source of magic will weaken the zombies. Interesting. Besides, my other assumption was that if we enter the breeding chambers and start to kill Grimruk’s twisted children... he will be alerted of our plans and will have opportunity to prepare for us... when we come for him... Any opinion on that? Doesn't he have or we suspect he has some way of communicationing with his creations?" - Faramos asked looking with great interest how the orc face will react and what he will answer.

Before you could answer, a low, guttural growl echoed from the depths of the cave, reverberating through the air like a warning drumbeat. The sound was primal, unnatural, and it sent a shiver down your spine. Graknok’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of his weapon, and Thragg snarled softly, baring his teeth.

From the shadows of the corridor leading to the breeding chambers, a shambling figure emerged, its grotesque silhouette illuminated by the flickering torchlight. Then another, each one dragging itself forward with unnatural, jerking movements.

What had once been human was now a blasphemy against life. The creature’s emaciated form was grotesquely contorted, its decaying flesh pierced and overwhelmed by thick, pulsating clusters of purple fungi. The fungal growths violently burst from the body’s limbs, chest, and skull, their rubbery stalks writhing as though they possessed their own macabre life. Their gaze was fixed and unblinking, scanning the group with a cold, alien intensity. Each step was a lurching spasm, every movement a combination of twitching muscles and the fungal growths seemingly guiding the corpses forward.

A wet, sloshing sound accompanied their steps, as if the creatures’ innards were saturated with viscous fluid. The air around them shimmered faintly with a haze of spores, which caught the light like malevolent glitter.

The smell hit next—an overpowering stench of decay and earth, mingled with the sharp, acrid tang of fungal growth. Faramos left the room and put himself in front of the group, his hand tightening around his weapon as he assessed the abominations.

The creatures emitted a strange, guttural hiss as they drew closer. The fungal clusters pulsed with rhythmic waves of light, as though feeding on the remaining vitality of the corpses they had infested. One of the creatures raised a clawed hand, its decaying flesh sloughing off in wet chunks, while the other opened its mouth in a silent scream, revealing a throat entirely overtaken by fungal growth.

Graknok stepped backwards, and his voice carried a warning. "These are Grimruk’s children, dwarf. Seems like he sends them now to greet you."

The twisted creatures shambled closer, their steps quickening, as if sensing fresh life to consume.

Brenda raised her shield high, the worn steel catching the torch light. Her longsword glinted in her other hand, the blade steady despite the oppressive atmosphere.

Her eyes flicked between the two grotesque figures, sizing them up with the practiced gaze of a seasoned warrior. She braced herself, lowering her stance to center her weight. The edge of her shield gleamed as she adjusted her grip, the solid leather straps digging into her forearm. A flick of her wrist readied the sword, its point aimed towards the advancing abominations.

"Come on, then," she muttered under her breath, her voice low and determined. "Let's see what Grimruk’s creations can do."

Hissing let them come Nindia steps forward allowing space between here and others to quickly draw scimitar in the right hand and dagger in the left.

"We would be better fighting those abominations in the barracks, bigger room, we can surround them. We have advantage of numbers. No this narrow corridor." - Faramos says not-so-quiet, as he believes that fungi zombies don't understand any language and in hope of checking orc's reaction. How helpful they will really be. Somehow they should be forced to defend their "home". Meanwhile he draws his Staff to his hands from his back.

"I will stand here with Brend and watch them until you will be able to take proper positions. Then we will withdraw to the barracks too, and we will finish them together." - Faramos smiles on the thought of making another of those abomination case to exist.