Episode 2

RESCUE
Ryhim

The arrow slams into Elam's chest, high and off-center, just under the left clavicle. The impact and pain causes the half-devil to twist abruptly, putting weight on his already injured left leg and hip. He loses stability and stumbles back.

Hit. SA. Pushing Maneuver effect

In a split second he is in the grasp of the monstrous pit fiend. Claws clutch down, digging into his shoulder and head. Elam screams out, unable to endure the pain.In the same instant, the Harvester crashes down from above. Like a sudden strike of lightning, spear-like bone claws pierce through Elam's upper back and erupt from the high edges of his chest. His body is torn violently from the pit fiend's grasp and driven to the floor in a thud. The gargantuan mass of scale and serpentine flesh pours onto the scene like an invasion, dominating the entire space and knocking the bulky rust-colored monster back several steps.

The monstrosity is a juggernaut of power projection and rage. It roars first downward at Elam, as if to completely annihilate its prey. Then in another roar it presents its fearsome face and maw outward, baring its teeth in all directions even as it scans the room. It strikes the floor with its free claws, the great spears crashing into the stone floor in a loud snap.

It is a challenge to all who approach, and the challenge is impossible to stand against. It is like the face of Hel itself.Required Action, Ryhim: DC 14 WIS Save. Failure delivers Frightened Condition and requirement to Move away.

The buzzing insectoids are barreling through the air, weaving between the chains, churning the entire space in a wild swarm.

One of them slams onto the chain barrier, rattling and clutching against it on the inner side near Ryhim just as he is moving through to the tunnel side.

The creatures bug eyes look through the weave of the chains, inspecting Ryhim and Maeriks on the other side.

RESCUE
Iasu

Iasu first hears the buzz from behind him, lower in the tunnel. He looks back, downward, laying on his back first and then rolling to his side. His legs are still wrapped in iron, pointing uphill.

The lighting is low, but he can hear the sound now. Banging wings. Scraping.

Now he sees the flutter of motion.

One of the insectoids is trying to fly and crawl into the chute!

Then another sound - the scraping of rock - a dull groan of stone dragging against heavy stone.

Just above in the chute tunnel, right above Iasu's legs, a joint emerges in the floor. A lip of higher surface rises slowly but steadily.

The upper part of the tunnel is pivoting and lifting up .... and Iasu is about to be trapped in the lower part of the tunnel if he does not slide himself forward and upward, QUICKLY!

Require Action, Iasu: Roll for Initiative!

Small Irons Gate Tunnel Chasme Initiative below

Bryn watches in brief satisfaction as Iasu disappears, carried into the upper tunnel by the Small Irons.

But the sight of The Harvester crashing down on top of Elam reminds Bryn of the limitless and imminent danger of this moment.

As the chasmes begin to swirl around him, Bryn brings forth with his free hand. He holds it high, like a symbol of authority. The bug-like creatures are repelled, because it is just that.

Holding tightly to the Main Iron that carries him, Bryn speaks the command and the chain slides slowly over to the Platform. As he lowers himself, Bryn speaks to Bushyasta.

"I am Bryn Mac Rynault of the Danneinkiff, Land of the Oldest Tribe, Home of the Eternal Circles of the Druids" he chooses his words in his native Dannein language, "and I lay claim to the Adriyalet Stone."

Still suspended over The Pit. Bryn stares directly into the large, cold eye of the Pale Monster.

Bryn speaks with certainty, still in Dannein, "By the knowledge and guile of the Younger Snake, Suter-Set, son of Vine Incubus, Master of the Transition, and the same whose Words bind you now, Old Tyrant."

Bryn meets the gaze of the monster without falter in the pause.

"And by my own. I am the Keeper of the Black Book." Bryn rides the chain down and steps off onto The Platform, returning the Black Book into its bag at his waist. "Now step away."

The monster is twice Bryn's height, many times his weight. But Bushyasta steps back, yielding the space.

Bryn steps forward, taking up position behind the Menhir Stone, and begins to read the eldritch runes etched onto its slanted surface.

The Pale Monster stands behind him and the insectoids swirl all around at a distance.

SEANCE TUNNEL

Ryhim looks across to see Bryn step onto the Platform landing.

The bug on the other side of the chain barrier scampers along the iron web. It pokes its head through the opening and glares again at Ryhim and Maeriks beyond.

With a buzz, it launches forward.

Required Action, Ryhim: Roll for Initiative!

Small Irons Gate Initiative

8. SIGT Chasme

TBD: Iasu

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Séance Tunnel Initiative

4. Nude Maeriks
11. Chasme

TBD: Ryhim

The bug creature approaches up the tunnel, buzzing and scraping through the narrow passage.

Iasu cleared for Action

SMALL IRONS GATE TUNNEL CHUTE
Iasu

Iasu uses his arms and torso to press his inoperable legs forward, scraping the iron bands on the stone floor of the tunnel. He makes it beyond the joint in the floor and on top of the stone platform that is rising up closing off the chute. The fresh chill of the air falls over him. He looks up to see the stars of the night sky!

What was the floor is now seen as what it is, a stone block that is in some sort of cut-out track, like a rectangular pit cut into the ground. Somehow being lifted by an unseen counterbalance mechanism, the stone block bed is being raised up the chute pit to a top opening that is about 10' higher up.

The opening to the slanting underground chute tunnel is about to disappear as the stone platform on which Iasu now lays rises up, but the bug creature surges forward to try to stab Iasu with its long proboscis. Iasu is faster, striking out first with the kukri and knocking the bug up against the side wall.

Hit The rugged insectoid is persistent though, thinking it has a chance to finish off an injured and vulnerable victim. The grotesque creature dives in again to attack and to press out of the tunnel before it is closed off.

Attack v. Iasu. If hit, DC 11 Poison (onset delayed)
Overrun attempt. Tries to advance past Iasu's space. Requires win of comparison v. Iasu STR Athletics. Score below is DC for Iasu to oppose.

SEANCE TUNNEL

The wings of the humanoid bug hum as it bobs and rises to flight. It clenches its small clawed hands in and out as it flies straight at Ryhim.