Slithering to Battle

Sensing a new threat, and inevitable pain, Kaspar decided to forgo further inspection of the ruins. With but a few moments before the tentacled beast compromised the room, the thief holed up in the darkness next to the hallway's approach. Meanwhile, Castille, still suffering a tinge of cowardice, readied his crossbow from across the way. Pillar too, knew that a fight was approaching, but nevertheless emanated steadfast silence. The trio entered into battle with the mass of tentacles, only to be surprised by the lack of any central body from which the snake-like arms should have extended.

Crossbow bolts hammered at the fleshy, but powerful mass. Kaspar's dark corner proved worthless as the beast had no eyes from which to hide from. Instead, Kaspar discovered that, like foes past, the tentacles were attracted to the tremors of his feet. The tentacles lashed out, bashing and cutting through the heros. As the headless mass reared its many arms, Castille was treated to the feast of prickly spikes guarding the creature's underbelly. Castille, though, found his weapon of choice in a thunderstone and hurled it successfully at the back of the beast. With a deafening boom, the tentacles suddenly seemed confused, utterly without orientation.

Sword strikes and arrows further wounded the monster, and it finally retreated. An ancient creature, it wasn't used to pain.

Kaspar then took time to investigate the sarcophagi lining the room. In the back of his mind he knew that the tentacles were still lurking. Out of impatience he ran the length of the room, setting off the hidden traps. Nevertheless, he was able to rely on his speed to dodge the ill effects. As a reward, or perhaps out of arrogant luck, he located the treasures hidden within each tomb. But as he lifted the last scrap of gold, the scrap of prickly tentacles neared.

Again, the team readied themselves for a battle. Again, the beast groped and beat its targets. With the gentle tap tap of its spike-laden arms the beast scoured the floor in search of any movement. Pillar suffered an early defeat when a tentacle entangled him and his sword. Kaspar too, fell victim to the squeeze of stray tentacles. Only Castille was left to drill bolt after bolt from his crossbow into the thing.

The team did not fall. Both Kaspar and Pillar managed deep cuts with their bastard swords. Unable to really move, they merely needed to push their blades into the aged skin of their foe. The beast fell, this time without life.