We continued exploring the Grell caves, their stink lay heavy on the air and the jagged shards of obsidian chipped away at our feet, death by a thousand cuts.
Slipping through the dark ahead of the party I found an opening to large cave, time had worn a cruel reminder into the floor. A tiered depression wore its way down to a central hole, but for the lack of pointed tip the geology mocked my mutilations at the hands of my captors. Cruel fate piled on and put the boot in, after having surveyed the area I turned to return and an unheard assailant dropped from the inky blackness above. Wracked with shocking pain as lightning played across my skin, bare moments before I lost all sensation prickling tentacles swept across my head and shoulders rendering me immobile and helpless as the day Marly first tied me across her bench. Unable to even cry out in frustration I looked on as my companions rushed to my aid, swiftly dispatching the fell creature.
Regaining my faculties I extracted myself from the embrace of Tivian and offered a scowl in retort to Malthus' playful mockery as he saw to my wounds. A careful search of the area revealed nothing of value aside from the Grell's strange lance, we turned to resume our search deeper into the darkness.
We declined the option to explore a vast underground lake, our fight with the abherrant Otuyah fresh in mind and stumbled upon the Grell's Lair. A great pillar of stone 30" wide rose into the darkness in the centre of a 100" diameter room. 8 Grell bobbed in unseen air currents, 2 armed with their vicious looking spears, the others attending to what must have been 3 of their offspring, their smaller size made them no less disgusting to look upon.
After a somewhat protracted discussion of tactics I convinced the reluctant humans to continue our advance rather than retreat to rest first. Tivian must have been more shaken than expected by his bought of paralysis or surely he would have spoken loudly of Helm, justice and not suffering evil live in support of immediate action.
We loosed a volley of missiles from the darkness, scattering 3 of the Grell and their charges; the others drew together to face us as the midget let loose with the wand of frost. The 5 Grell attempted to scatter but it was too late, a deluge of fist sized hail stones begun falling from the ethereal clouds that drew together at his command making satisfying sounds as they impacted into the Grell's exposed greymeats.
One of the armed Grell fell to the floor oozing a thick grey ichor as the others closed on our front line After another volley of missiles we quickly dispatched the others as they joined the fray. Prideful after this victory we committed our folly and split our party. Moving into the chamber in two groups so as to flush out the remaining Grell while blocking their escape Tivian, Snagga and Mervin took to the left and were beset upon by the two remaining adults who quickly closed into melee and paralysed all three. I and led the midget and the ancient one to the right where we were beset upon by the remaining adult and the 3 little ones. After releasing me from paralysis with a quick prayer I slew the adult and the midget rushed to the aid of the others, attracting the ire of the remaining Grell by sinking a crossbow bolt deep into one.
I left Malthus to crush the child brains and assisted the midget with the adults, we dispatched one while Malthus became locked in a pose of fury after smashing one into ruins upon the floor. They began feasting upon his defenceless form as the midget slew the remaining Grell and I buried an arrow deep in each the miniscule monster and poured a healing draft into the gaping hole in the cultist's head. Being practical men the midget and I decided against posing our companions and set about securing the area. Another pair of lances were added to our stash and an opening marked for further exploration.
We retreated to tend to our wounds, with a whispered prayer Malthus shattered a path through the shards for us. Perhaps venting the frustration of being defenceless against 3 children demonstrating the frailties of one so old and yet doomed to die so young. We drew up watches and settled into the cottage, I feel less wary trusting my safety to these mad fools the longer I come to know them and settle down in a fine bed to dream sweet dreams of broken glass and blood.
