I watch the group put their backs to one another as the surrounding monsters start to show themselves. Several Castyr of both varieties scuffle and slink from the greenery staring intently at the group while the fluttering of wings shows several bats hovering above the group.
"Tommy have Poppa tank the back monsters while you whittle them away! Gung knock those damn bats out of the sky, aim for the wings so they're easy kills! Stein debuff and heals I see poison elements so get ready to work, Dawn focus on the ones I taunt!" Shouts the plate wearing twin as everyone nods and quickly adapts to the ambush. The boy in the back points to a large blighted castyr that's approaching from the rear and the render immediately dashes towards it with a terrifying roar. Opening its massive jaws it lunges towards the castyr and snaps its maw closed on its spine while lifting and thrashing its prey around violently. The boy chants some form of spell and a red light encompasses both the render and the boy before the renders maw begins glowing and flames burst from the gaps between its teeth, burning the blighted castyr as it shrieks in agony.
As the two battle the castyr from behind the dwarf named Gung takes aim at the three bats above him and fires his crossbow. The attachment turns out to be an auto loader attached to his back and every time he fires at a bat several bolts fire from the crossbow instead of one. The bats weave away from most of the bolts and retaliate using their blinding magic but as soon as it touches someone the shrouded healer, Stein, casts some form of healing magic and they instantly recover. Soon one of the bats has several bolts tear through its wing as it spirals towards the ground, crashing through the branches of several tree's in its way before landing in a bloody pile of broken bones. Seeing one of their own fall to the ground the bats eyes glow a deep crimson as they become more aggressive and focus their rage on the dwarf that caused the damage.
"Fock these blighters have aa berserk ability! Careful now friends! Stein can you debuff them maybe?" Yells Gung in a surprisingly high pitched voice as Stein just nods its head while casting faster.
While the two sets of people handle the threats in the rear and sky, the twins work together as the move through the approaching mobs with precision. The plate covered one lets out occasional taunting yells or glows with a golden light that forces the mobs to attack her while the one called Dawn darts through the distracted mobs with her rapier, piercing their vital area's or slashing towards joints or open area's as a trail of blood and wounded mobs trail behind the two. After several minutes of bloody combat the group heaves a sigh and begin regrouping as they begin looting the bodies.
"Damn looks like there's more here than just the basics now. keep your eyes open for another ambush. Loots pretty good though, each of these things drop a few copper so if we get enough we can get some good grub and hard drinks after clearing. Tommy did you see anything worthwhile on these beasts or are you going to save your second slot on a different thing to tame?" Asks the plate wearing twin as she finishes looting the body of a blighted castyr, shoving the several pieces of meat and coins into her bag as the boy freezes before looking around.
"Umm I wasn't really looking to be honest. I have Poppa already so I don't know why I need another tame, plus he eats a ton already so I don't think I can afford another pet. But I'll try to pay more attention from here just in case there's something super useful." Says the boy Tommy vaguely as he watches the render tear into the carcass of a giant rat that it killed, the creatures giant jaws crushing the flesh and bones into paste as it devours the body.
"Good man, now the map that the leaders made as the explored should still be vaguely accurate which means there is this room two side rooms to the left and the boss room. I say we sweep the floor and record what we find then attempt the boss. After that depending on how good of condition we're in we'll either retreat or continue." Says the plate wearer named Dusk as everyone nods or voices their agreements as the continue through the large starting room killing the few remaining mobs that are hiding. As the turn towards the first room and enter they're quickly attacked by a small group of grats, their large flying forms swooping towards the groups heads while wildly swinging the small daggers in their hands. Sadly as they targeted the largest creature in the group, the render caught the first in its jaw. Crushing the creature into a disgusting green and yellow paste it swings its arm and sends another splatting into the wall, a puddle of yellowish blood on the wall where it landed and spreading below it as it twitches weakly. The last of the three grats stops suddenly and actually retreats towards the next room but slowly begins falling from the air as it becomes more lethargic as a curse takes hold, eventually its lungs and heart stop beating as it dies pitifully without a fight.
Proceeding into the last room the group enter slowly while looking around and noticing the small collection of loot on the other side. Looking around the group doesn't notice any enemies and make their way forward before a click is heard and several sharp spikes shoot from the wall, barely missing the crossbowman and embedding themselves into the plate twins shield. Before the group can react several castyr rush out from underground and leap upon the plate twins body, using their sharp claws and rough teeth to chew through the thinner pieces of armor . Screams are heard from the twin named dusk as the rest focus fire on the attacking creatures and quickly finishing them as the group circle around the plate wearer while Stein begins casting healing magic onto the various bleeding area's.
"Damn I forgot they mentioned this room had ambusher castyr but that traps new. The grats replaced the Grave crawlers in the last room which was new also. Lets grab the loot and head towards the boss room. We'll give it a try then leave considering my armor isn't gonna last for long and we have a whole second floor after this." Says Dusk warily as the group grab the random loot in the room before making their way towards the boss room. Meanwhile Spooky opens one eye while watching the doorway to it's room as its wolfish muzzle gives off a viscous grin.