Down the Hatch

**Down the Hatch** is the third episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The Nameless Protagonists battle and face the consequences of seemingly harmless actions.

## Down the Hatch

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* Catch that new intro! Music written and performed by Darrin, ABSQ's main character art is done by @laniekun and the world map of Palamoa by @TheBrassBailey
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### **Part One**

The party found in entering the room that not only was the strange ghast-like being (Necrophage Ghast) ready for them, but also that two more ghasts were in the room, along with several cages against a back wall, filled with unconscious hostages, and next to a hatch. Seren specifically noted that the blue glowing runes coming from the Necrophage Ghast's arm was of the Æther, and meant it could cast magic.

The two ghasts advanced on the surprised group with one going on the assault against Quincy. Alaerith, slightly panicked at the sight of them, adjusted the necklace he wore around his neck, letting a small fang come into view, then put a little distance and cast *Fire Bolt* on one of the ghasts. Yashani, seeing that the Necrophage Ghast was different compared to the others and seemed to have a consciousness, fired armed with the *Big Box* fired it's beam on it and forcefully pushed it back. The Necrophage Ghast in turn snarled and replied 'not a good idea'. Seren moved to the centre of the party and activated his *Channel Divinity :* T*wilight Sanctuary*, forming a purple aura that hovered over the party, that granted temporary hit points to those in his vicinity, and finished up by casting *Shillelagh* on his staff. Quincy excitedly pulled out her pistol, returned fire on the ghast that attacked her, with her *Gunner Feat* preventing penalties for close range combat, then activated her *Battle Maneuver : Quick Toss* to throw her dagger at the other ghast.

Killian cast *Unseen Servant,* which simultaneously activated his *Tempestuous Magic* to put a little distance from the nearby ghast, sent his *Unseen Servant* to the hatch in the back corner of the cavern, and after giving the command to lift, the servant started to lift open the hatch. The Necrophage Ghast looked to Yashani, told her 'that was a bad idea' and immediately cast *Invisibility* on itself and seemingly vanished from its area. Seeing the Necrophage Ghast disappeared, RX instead ran towards one of the ghasts and *Grappled* it within his arms. Tabernacle, with his rifle at ready, fired an *Eldritch Blast* at one of the ghasts, encompassing it with the swirling black and green energy, and the ghast was no more. Tabernacle finished up by moving to the other ghast restrained by RX.

The ghast *Grappled* by RX failed to escape RX's grip and attempted to attack, but was unable to pierce his body. In response RX tried calming it, saying it could be their pet. Alaerith noting there was no sign that the now invisible Necrophage Ghast had left the area, cast *Prestidigitation,* causing a wind to disrupt the dirt from the ground, found that it impacted against something, confirming it was still in the same vicinity and reluctantly, moved into the mouth of the area to try and prevent escape while telling the others it was still there. Hearing Alaerith's words, Yashani moved to the same place as him and readied herself to attack with the *Big Box* if it reappeared. Seren went to the restrained ghast and struck it with his *Shillelagh* empowered staff.

Quincy also moved to the area as Alaerith and Yashani, fully cutting off it's path for escape and also readied an attack for if it appeared. Killian, feeling secure in the handling of the ghasts, cast *Healing Word* on Quincy, also activating his *Tempestuous Magic*, then made his way to the hatch, noting the darkness beneath the hatch. Up-close with the cages he also saw clearly that the unconscious hostages within the cages were all dead, and after mentioning it to the group aided his *Unseen Servant* in opening the hatch, immediately hit by a smell of fungus and sulphur came from the darkness.

A swirl of air was felt as the Necrophage Ghast reappeared, and was immediately hit by Quincy and Yashani with their pistol and *Big Box* respectively as they were ready for him to reappear. In response to the attack, the Necrophage Ghast pulled out a small vial and threw it, casting *Hypnotic Pattern* at Yashani, Alaerith and Quincy, and while Yashani was fine, Alaerith and Quincy were charmed and incapacitated, and once finished the Necrophage Ghast put a little distance between the three of them. RX took out his longsword and slashed the ghast he was grappling, then released it from his grip and walked toward the Necrophage Ghast; but when the ghast used it's reaction to strike him, RX turned around, activated his *Action Surge* to slash it again and finished it off by stabbing and twisting the blade in it's neck removing it's head, which slightly startled Seren.

Tabernacle approached the dazed Alaerith and rested his rifle on his shoulder, and casting *Eldritch Blast* which woke Alaerith from his state, but missed the Necrophage Ghast. Alaerith silently approached the ghast as sparks crackled up and down his form, and brought his right arm from his cloak, revealing it to be covered with the same bluish marks and scales as his face. His right hand channelled the sparks as he cast *Shocking Grasp* missing the Necrophage Ghast's head*,* which it mocked as too slow; then in response to the taunt activated his *Metamagic :* *Quickened Spell* to recast *Shocking Grasp* as a bonus action with his left hand successfully. Yashani, slightly irritated because Alaerith was in the way of her *Big Box*, moved past Quincy and fired on the Necrophage Ghast again. Seren moved closer to the fight, noticing a desk in the room a *Large Book* on it on the way, and as he warned the Necrophage Ghast that with it's higher intelligence to not meet the fate of it's companions and surrender, cast *Toll the Dead,* which it seemed to be resistant to, but still broke the concentration on *Hypnotic Pattern*.

Quincy now released from it's magic, mocked the ghast and fired on it with her pistol, then activated her *Battle Maneuver : Quick Toss* to throw her dagger at it as well. Killian and his *Servant* finished opening the hatch gate, then gave *Bardic Inspiration* to Tabernacle,

*"Tabby, I must say, your hair is looking a special kind of greasy tonight."*

He quickly focused on the open hatch, saw a ladder in the darkness and proceeded to dash his way down, while commanding his *Servant* to keep the hatch open. As the rest of the party, minus Killian, converged on the Necrophage Ghast, Seren spied something moving in the darkness, almost like the darkness itself was moving, near the entrance of the cavern. The Necrophage Ghast frustrated exclaimed 'it was about done with all of them' and reached out to grab Alaerith, but before it could, a thunderous boom was heard from the mouth of the cavern as the head of the Necrophage Ghast exploded.

### **Break!**

Check out the break reel for art and info on the sponsors if you missed it at the start of the episode!

* Kraken dice give away, won by 3meshell! Congrats!

### **Part Two**

In response to the ghast exploding, Tabernacle cast *Invisibility* on himself as he and the party stared at the remains of the Necrophage Ghast they had fought, and soon heard the sounds of someone celebrating the shot from the mouth of the cavern that they previously came in through. The party, minus who was down the hatch Killian and Alaerith splattered with the remains of the Necrophage Ghast's head, saw the familiar black tiefling, Tage, with a triple barrelled rifle propped on a stalagtite. Close behind him was Kik, the goliath, and Nomzyo sitting on his shoulder, followed by more of his men. Nomzyo, who mentioned out loud that not all of the seven were there, told them they needed to learn a bit of respect and demanded his books returned immediately, Quincy put away her pistol, while the invisible Tabernacle attempted to join Killian down the hatch, but his magic was somehow dispelled and was revealed. Seren stepped up with Quincy, and cast *Guidance* to help her as she spoke, offering the books she had took from the library, with the promise that she had only been borrowing them. Nomzyo ignored this, and specified that he referred to his father's books, and Quincy quickly looked back to RX to encourage him into giving them back.

RX stepped forward and Kik took his whole bag, searching through it to find the two books RX had taken, and once found, Kik handed the books up to Nomzyo, as he informed the group that anything other then those books wouldn't have mattered. Nomzyo then berated them for assaulting Cofin in his shop, and demanded they hand back the three items they had taken, which the party complied with. Nomzyo continued on annoyed at the apparent disrespect shown towards him and his people, and the efforts taken to control and maintain The *Underbelly*. Tabernacle apologized for his behaviour upon first meeting Nomzyo, and tried to defend RX by explaining how he had only been turned on recently, and alongside Seren, explain that he has no knowledge on respect, and didn't intend to disrespect him. Nomzyo made it clear that he didn't care whether he did or didn't know and had to maintain his control. Nomzyo continued, notably with a bit of a stutter for a moment, stated it would be hard to lose an asset, but "they'll" understand, while he looked at Quincy, and gave the party two options - they could all either die or, looking at the hatch, take their chances heading down 'in the dark'.

Quincy headed for the hatch, to which Nomzyo commented that he hoped Kylan had taught her well if she was going there, and would need it. Yashani followed behind as Seren went to a desk the party had noticed in the corner of the cavern, and picked up the *Large Book* he noticed before following. Quincy immediately said to the others they didn't have to follow, but Tabernacle reassured her they were all stuck in this mess and would reap the consequences. Tabernacle went to confront Nomzyo, getting RX to accompany him, and thanked Nomzyo for the mercy he showed, which Nomzyo replied to thank his 'storm friend' for his mercy as a mutual benefactor would be hard pressed if she disappeared. Tabernacle also apologized for the loss of his men, which he assumed were the dead bodies in the cages, but followed up saying that they probably deserved it, before heading to the hatch and cast *Shape Water* to freeze the sides of the ladder to slide down. RX also made a last statement, an almost pre-programmed emotionless tone saying,

"*It is unfortunate I have caused you harm on this day*"

before he went to the hatch as well. On his way to the hatch, Seren noticed a catatonic Alaerith, still in the corner from shock, approached him and cast *Shape Water* to clean him up*.* Seren apologized and told him they had to go, and took the confused sea elf, pushing him into Yashani's arms to be dragged to the hatch. Seren approached Nomzyo to say he didn't appreciate the ultimatum when all they tried do to was help. On the way to the hatch, they spied a little girl with blond hair and red dress among the dead hostages, confirming Anastasia, the little girl that Seren, Tabernacle, Yashani and Alaerith had been sent to find was no longer among the living. Once everyone made their way to the ladder down the hatch, Nomzyo had Kik close the grate above them, and warned them to never return to *the Underbelly*, without a good reason.

Killian in the meantime, had dropped down the ladder over 200 feet and noting the rest of the climb to go, cast *Heroism* on himself, dropping from the ladder into freefall and just able to catch himself before hitting the solid stone ground by activating his *Tempestuous Magic* to land safely. Moments later, Tabernacle landed after sliding his way down the ladder, also managing to catch himself just before the bottom and warned Killian about what happened above, as everyone else made the long climb down. Seren and Alaerith noted that Nomzyo was still at the top, until they had all climbed down, and heard a sound of a lock clicking into place. At the bottom of the ladder, Quincy sat down, tucked her head into her knees and quietly murmured of her fear of the dark.

Once everyone was at the bottom of the ladder, the party looked around and saw they were in a cavernous tunnel about ten feet wide and ten feet tall and went on far past, even those with their magically enhanced dark vision. The party walked through the tunnel, mostly in silence, until they reached a much larger cavern about an hour later. The cavern was round and about 60 feet across and similarly tall, filled with nine foot tall mushrooms that glowed a faint luminescent blue, similar to the light of the sun Varith. There were also remains of a camp in the area, abandoned, but well used, as if this was a common place to stop for people thrown down the hatch as the party was. RX moved to touch the mushrooms, but it stopped glowing the moment he did. Yashani immediately told him off, citing that his touching things had caused them enough trouble. She then asked if RX was alone in the stealing the books, to which Quincy and Seren admitted he was not. Yashani admonished them for their actions, which side tracked them in their attempts to save the little girl that they had failed to save. Tabernacle followed up telling RX that he could learn respect from Yashani as opposed to Quincy, before he walked away to sit down. The others in the group started to use what was left of the camp to settle for a rest. Killian approached Quincy, who had stayed near Seren and his glowing shell, and after having Seren leave so he could speak with Quincy privately, admitted to her he wasn't happy, having assumed she would be the better influence on RX than him, but it is what it is it would seem. He then pulled out his scimitar and offered to spar with her, which she quietly accepted.

RX took the time to look around the area, discovering there were only two ways in and out of this cavern, one being the way they came, and the other that continued on, that he could only see a little ways into before it's twists and turns. He also pondered silently on the frustration everyone was feeling, and his confusion of what respect meant as no one had informed him. Yashani started to approach RX, but on the way, Tabernacle took her shoulder, and told her that she had his respect which he made clear he didn't say to a lot of people. Yashani admitted she was not trained to allow herself to be so heated, but this was a new situation. Tabernacle warned her against letting anger get the best of her like he has, but also thought that she would be a good influence on RX, and let her know after she was done that he would teach him the meaning of consequences. Yashani went up to RX and slowly took the time to explain the concept of ownership to RX. At the time, Seren approached Alaerith and attempted to start conversation, but was met with silence that Seren let hang for several long minutes. Seren tried to acknowledge Alaerith's effort in the battle, but after a few seconds of silence was met with a single "no". Seren asked if it was about the girl, and Alaerith's fists both balled up in response. After a few seconds, Alaerith claimed he needed to do something and approached Quincy and Killian midspar, noting that Quincy still had the *Bag of Holding* on her, asked for the bag saying he needed it for a second, and after a tense moment, Quincy handed over her bag.

Alaerith took the *Bag of Holding*, and immediately bolted from the cavern back the direction they came, and moments later Seren gave chase. Noting that he was being pursued Alaerith cast *Expeditious Retreat* on himself, and just managed to avoid Seren's attempt to cast *Faerie Fire* on him. He eventually managed to outpace Seren, who eventually gave up, as Alaerith sped down the tunnel the party had come through, and eventually arrived at the ladder, back to the cavern they had just fought in. Alaerith climbed the ladder and listened in case anyone was still in the room, and when he was convinced no one was there, cast *Misty Step* to teleport through the locked grate and into the cavern. He immediately looked to the cages along the wall, shocked only to find them all empty of the bodies the party had seen before, and with the assorted footprints on the ground, assumed that Nomzyo had taken the bodies. Alaerith approached the spot where he had seen Anastasia's body, picked up a scrap of her familiar red dress that he found, and silently sobbed. He then looked around the cavern, moved to the desk they had seen and picked up some papers. He tried to read them only to find them to be in a jagged elvish script he could not understand. After taking the *Five Notes* and a little time in the cavern, cast *Misty Step* once more to get through the locked grate, and slowly, silently, started the journey back to the camp and the others.

Back at camp, Tabernacle reassured Seren that Alaerith was just making his peace, but Seren countered that he was more worried about Alaerith getting himself killed. Seeing that Yashani had finished speaking with RX, Tabernacle then made his way to him. Tabernacle pulled a length of rope from his bag and said he had something to teach him, and directed RX towards one of the tall mushrooms a little ways away from the group. Once there, Tabernacle began to tie RX's hands together in a traditional prayer position, with the rope in a preacher's knot. RX was confused, but allowed it to happen while asking for clarification. Tabernacle explained, while he tied RX to the mushroom by asking if RX knew what a Man of War is. Receiving a negative response, Tabernacle explained that he served as a sailor on a large military ship, and was flogged often for his misbehaviors, but he believed it is what made him into the man he is. Tabernacle intended to teach RX about the consequences of his actions, saying he wished he had someone to explain things to him and to say 'I'm sorry'...so he would be that for RX. With tears in his eyes, Tabernacle pulls out a fishing priest, a long wooden baton, and hit RX. Within moments, Quincy turned from her sparring with Killian, and pulled her gun on Tabernacle demanding to know what he was doing.

Tabernacle says Quincy should know from her time at sea how this works, but Quincy insisted that RX didn't know any better. Tabernacle countered by pulling up his shirt to reveal a tattoo on his back, scarred by where he had been beaten in the past. RX pulled free of his bindings and reached out to Tabernacle, and said he understood what he was trying to teach him, and that he was sorry he had caused harm to him and the others. He also explained that as a machine, he could never truly learn the way Tabernacle had, but he had now taken in new information that he would use to make decisions in the future. Tabernacle accepted this and wanders away, just as Alaerith returned quietly from the tunnel with the *Bag of Holding,* and the scrap of red dress in his hand.

Seren waited for a quiet moment before speaking to the group as a whole. He explained that he knew he was likely the oldest of the group, and along with RX, was one of the most non-human, and started to tell a story, as he put it a fact about tortles. Seren told them how he knew his parents for four years before they died, and while that may be painful for other people, it was simply how tortles existed. His parents taught him, and his sister many things in that time, but he believed the most important of these things was how to grieve and to move on from death. He stated that though the deaths may weigh on their minds and hearts, they also did a lot of good as well by killing those ghasts. Seren then called for a moment of silence for the dead before he took a rest in the cavern, which every one followed suit in. Killian, after the silence, wandered away to take a moment, and started to write another letter to Samara. Killian returned, saying that they may all have different views and come from different places, but it would seem they are all stuck together, so they may as well get along.

After taking a rest at the camp, the party continued to move deeper through the tunnels. They followed the only path they had through the dark for several hours, before the ground started to become sticky at a branching point, where they could choose to veer to the left, or stay on their current path. Looking around on their current path, they saw large webs started to cover the tunnel walls, with silk an inch thick, that was starting to hinder their movement, and to the left, a dark tunnel. Further down the webbed tunnel, there was also a flickering light of a fire as if lit by torches. Just as Seren started to check the webbing for creatures that might be trapped, he heard the sound of more than two feet. As he did, the whole party heard a female voice call out a greeting from the webbed and lit area. RX started to head towards the voices, but was stopped by Tabernacle who cast *Minor Illusion* to create a female voice that responded in kind and asked for help. From down the webbed tunnel, and around a corner, came a dark elven woman with what appears to be a spider abdomen, though she walked on two feet. She looked over the party in confusion, holding her long gnarled staff, and sighed a bit saying she didn't think they were supposed to be here, and told them to follow her down the tunnel. When Killian asked where they were going, the woman responds 'my home' and kept moving. When the party declined due to suspicion, she said they would likely die if they didn't and claimed that she wasn't going to hurt them. With a good insight check, the party decided she was speaking the truth as far as they could tell.

The party decided to follow her, though some were more hesitant than others, and Killian led the introductions with the woman, who introduced herself as Aarcanii, an exile, which Killian explained they seem to be in a similar boat. Aarcanii said she was making food, and continued to lead them to her home, while Killian tried to convince the rest of the party that Aarcanii was to be an ally. While walking, Seren attempted to subtly pass out the remaining *Goodberries* as to keep people from eating Aarcanii's food, and managed it well enough, but not everyone took one. Traveling from behind, most of the party noticed that her spider abdomen had a large, white, crescent moon that went down the back of it.

On arrival the party found Aarcanii's home was another web filled cavern, but most of the floor was clear for them to easily walk on. There was a hammock of webbing, where they presumed Aarcanii slept, and a pot over a cooking fire, with the aroma of a mouth-wateringly mushroom stew coming from it. Aarcanii handed out bowls of soup, which Killian and Yashani readily accept, while others hesitated. Aarcanii then explained that it was around bedtime for her, and that they were welcome to stay, but that she had to go to bed. Killian remarked that his wife would love making a similar soup, and Aarcanii offered the recipe, handing Killian a paper that had the same jagged elvish script. Tabernacle hovered over Killian's shoulder a bit, having not eaten any of the soup, but Yashani handed him a bowl, and Tabernacle made a gross display of his eating, which seemed to disgust Yashani.

RX also looked over the recipe and had Killian explain what a recipe is. Killian noting that he couldn't read it, asked Aarcanii, who explained that the language was Undercommon. She offered to rewrite it in Common while she explained it was her mother's recipe, and that Undercommon was their native tongue before reminding them she was going to bed. Tabernacle intercepted Aarcanii one last time to ask if in the morning they could ask more about this strange place they had found themselves in and Aarcanii agreed. She also said that they were safe here tonight, because no one comes this far or in this direction, because of her, and that if they were looking for someone or a way out they should go to *Quarry Hold* and *Still Geyser*, and then retired to her hammock.

As everyone settled in various areas for bed, Seren sat and stared at his untouched bowl of soup when Tabernacle approached. He observed that Seren seems concerned about the others, and noted that they were probably looking for guidance which the two of them, as the oldest it would seem, could attempt to provide. When Tabernacle headed to bed on the ground, RX waited a moment before approaching the old man, and attempted to cover him with his shield, but was intercepted by Aarcanii who said not to disturb a sleeping man. RX commented that he looks cold, to which Aarcanii in reply dropped a blanket of light webbing onto Tabernacle. RX noted that Tabernacle seemed to not be a fan of bugs, and Aarcanii does admit that it would be funny to see his reaction in the morning before returning to bed.

Killian settled near to where Quincy was, who decided to rest closer to Seren, for his glows and kindness, and quietly told her that his wife, that she had likely heard him mention in their journeys, was pregnant. Quincy asked why Killian was here, and he admitted that he didn't expect things to go like this. He continued to tell her that they were hoping for a girl, and despite her mistakes, while pointing to his bruises from his and Quincy's sparring, he would be delighted if she turned out to be half the woman Quincy was. Killian went on to joke that he would have to keep a closer eye on her, since he may have to be the responsible one of their trio.

With that, the party took their long rest.

**END OF EPISODE, LEVEL UP TO LEVEL 4!**

**Rolling for hitpoints for Level 4:**

* Seren rolled a 6
* Alaerith rolled a 2
* Tabernacle rolled an 8
* Quincy rolled a 5
* Yashani rolled a 7
* RX-5284 rolled a 4
* Killian rolled a 6

1. ↑ As seen in "Fishing and Feather Beards" at 3:05:50.