The three seem to fully focus themselves for the coming challenge as they move into the graveyard proper. I see the general marching order that they are quietly forming into. The minotaur holds the front, that felt obvious from his gear, followed by the inventor, and finally the naga at the back. It was a generally normal marching order, but it works well for what needs to be done here and what this group wants. Moving through the graveyard they remain uncontested, I hadn’t had time to add much of any substance to this area. So they where left without a single attack when they found themselves at the crypt doors. The three looked between each other before slowly opening the large door, and suddenly I got an idea of how the three might actually be a bit disadvantaged here.
“that….that is going to be rough” the minotaur observed as he barely fit under the door frame.
The naga likewise looked at the stairway “agreed”
Both of that was noted, the crypt wasn’t exactly the best for a larger creature or something without legs. Those two will certainly be at varying degrees of disadvantage, the minotaur would have barely any room to maneuver while the naga would be slowed and distracted through discomfort. At least I hope so, in all reality it could be non issues and these two where just complaining due to agitation more then anything. Whatever the case it was best to watch them go through everything and get an idea of what to do for and against them later on. I wanted them to be comfortable but challenged, and right now I am failing on the first front. Though if they are here to kill me then they can be as uncomfortable as I fucking want them to be. I take a small breath, and try not to rush to decisions, considering my monsters where aligned to my thoughts. So for now I slowly watch my current group of delvers as they go from the entrance into the main crypt, entering the twisting rooms.
As they enter the first room the first crack in their actions is shown as the minotaur can’t get his shield into place. The skeletons cannot really strike deep wounds so the few moments he takes to strike them down and scatter the bones. During that time the naga and the inventor are moving to avoid the remaining skeletons. I was wonder how they planned to take them down when suddenly there is a flash and an explosion, and I can feel myself physically hurt from something. The world seems a bit wobbly for a second before I can refocus and see what the hell had happened. What I see is a bit of charred ground and a small crack splitting my floor and I have to focus on not wanting instant revenge. The group is taking a second to gather themselves and are all looking between each other in a wonder of something.
“did you feel that?” the naga speaks
The minotaur nods and looks to the inventor with a small squint. “best not use those too much”
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The Inventor gives a murmur of agreement though seems rather annoyed about it. Personally I was just in a state of annoyance and rage at the event and wanted them to take more accountability for it. I pushed down those feelings as I breathed deeply and watched as they moved to the next room. As they did I looked to my skeletons and could already see them slowly beginning to stitch themselves back together from bone fragments. That made me feel better, at the least they could be defeated without dying, well dying again, and it wouldn’t cause problems going forward with running out of skeletons.
With that settled I follow the small group and they move through the main sections with not much more of interest happening. But watching them I am starting to be aware of how much more on par I am for this group then the other people I have seen. These guys are closer to what I would expect newbie adventurers to be then the experienced runners that Ava’s team showed and the damn near destructive force of the guild master. With this new paradigm in mind and now more properly oriented to the general power scaling is. Maybe the guild has their own way to set it but I would say that this group is around the early tens if not lower, while Ava’s group is closer to fifty and the guild master one hundred.
Speaking of them they are really struggling with the penultimate encounter, the ambushing skeletons where wearing them down and now they have to deal with them and the wanderers. The guardian crawler is also in position for when they get there, so this might be a rougher fight for them then expected. The minotaur is sporting bruises and bloody scratches, while the naga and inventor both look exhausted and a bit out of gear respectively.
“we might need to turn back” the naga speaks looking at the other two with clear concern in their eyes.
“but we are so close” the inventor counters, “who knows what we are missing if we don’t go further.” There was a glint in her eyes, exitment outweighing reason, and maybe a little greed aswell.
“yeah, I think I can take on that strange enemy, if those three can take it in one go we should match them.” the minotaur huffed out a bit, I could tell it was his ego bruised more in this fight then his body. Well if I know anything about battle is that pride and confidence are more deadly then any weapon. I don’t want to kill them but at this rate that might just be where they end up. I give a small order to my crawler to try and not to kill them if possible, either push them back or make them submit.
I am not confident either will happen but it is something I have to hope for over just whacking them off. Even if my skills say I can bring them back I am not exactly chomping at the bit to test it out and figure out the limitations if I don’t have to. So for now, having them be pushed back is my best option, and honestly I do want people returning, unless they are out to get me. The three seem to take a moment in the room to rest and as they do I quickly send an order to everyone in the crypt that should anyone be leaving the crypt, unless otherwise stated, should not be attacked.
It is probably for the best that I got that sent out now and not later, since it wouldn’t do to have them attacked and then the attack stop since I didn’t relies what was happening. With that set I watch quietly for the group to start moving again and either leave or head into the boss room. Part of me hopes they just leave and I don’t have to worry about killing one, but another part of me knows that that is less then likely to happen. The naga didn’t particularly look ready to leave despite being the one to recommend it, so I am not surprised that they are moving forward.
With a mental sigh I prepare to watch them trounce my guardian or get annihilated and retreat. I really do hope they retreat, I don’t know if I can process a death on my hands, even if I can supposedly bring them back.
