Session 71 - Rat Tunnels

The adventurers explore some of the rat tunnels and head back to the John Chapel Inn.

This write-up is based on Kay’s notes from our November 26, 2025 session. Since our group is scattered around the country, we use Discord for our voice communication and Roll20 for our virtual tabletop. Thanks to Kay for the write-up and screen shots.

Continued from: Dungie & Rats
Location: Rappan Athuk, Level 1 – Lair of the Dung Monster
Date: Monday, June 26, 3517 

8 AM
We discussed options of going further into the dungeon and fighting off giant rats with lower spells and needing a long rest. Some of the party members are still hurt, specifically Blaze and Breena. Blaze suggested that since we have a lot of gargoyle horns and eyes worth at least 11,250 gp, we may risk losing the bag in the tunnels, or we can go back to Zelcor’s Ferry, cash out and leave our money in a safe place. We can always come back later. We decided on the better part of valor.

We closed the doors behind us on our way back to the ladder leading up to the southern mausoleum, and discovered we couldn’t get into the mausoleum; the floor is still at the ceiling and it was locked. Artie searched for a reset mechanism and found it was not accessible. We would just have to wait here for a day.

 

While waiting, we decided to check out the side tunnels near there. Sinis and Parahelia stayed at the ladder, while Elron led the others and went ahead up the north tunnel where it split, taking the right fork. We found that both go up at an angle; the tunnel has a 4-ft-diameter, narrowing to 3 feet. Also, there were bits of bone and cloth in the tunnel. Artie and Breena were doing fine; taller ones not so much. After 10 minutes of twists and turns, and we found some forks off this main tunnel. After following Elron, we came out at the room with the dirt tunnel in the NE corner. Going up the other tunnel, after 10 minutes we came out in the graveyard from one of the holes we had seen earlier and identified as giant rat tunnels. 

Elron looked up at the southern mausoleum and saw no gargoyles there. Elron said, “Let’s find an obscure location near the graveyard and camp there.”

We sent Breena back to get Sinis and Parahelia to come up. Elron checked the dwarf statue for the key and it’s not there. Breena suggested using the eastern mausoleum to hole up there. We can use the sarcophagus lids to barricade the doors. Elron and Blaze pulled the gargoyle bodies out of the room and deposited them away from the building.

Breena and Rocky went back down the rat tunnels to get Sinis and Parahelia. On their way down, they encountered two giant rats coming around a corner. Breena sent Rocky to get help. Giant Rat 1 looked at Breena, reacted by trying to bite her, and missed. Giant Rat 2, behind it, moved forward. Breena cast magic missiles, half the missiles targeted each one, killing both. She got to Sinis and Parahelia, told them we found a way out. When they climbed back out, both giant rat bodies were gone.

As they were coming up, Breena and her party found themselves in the tunnel leading to the dead ogres’ area, so they turned around and went back. As they were going up the tunnel another giant rat saw them and took off running. Finally, they saw daylight ahead. They climbed out of the hole and felt the warm air, cloudy and 77F.

Breena looked for the dwarf statue and saw Elron. It appeared that they came out of a different hole, one to the NNW from the one they entered.  Breena showed where they came out and told how she found the room with the dead ogres.

“Which one?” Blaze asked. The one with the dirt tunnel going north and upward, where Sinis had jumbled up the floor and almost brought the roof down. Oh, that one. 

In the mausoleum, we put some sarcophagus lids near the doors. We holed up and while we were waiting for a long rest, Blaze asked Sinis to cast identify on the six vials she found in the desk. After 10 minutes, one vial with clear liquid was identified as holy water, the three with yellow fluid were embalming fluid, and two vials were empty. Elron pulled out the red potion he got from the brigands, and it was identified as a potion of greater healing.

Elron was on guard after noon when he saw three green guardian gargoyles fly in from the north and land on the southern mausoleum. 

At sunset, Elron saw two wererats and 9 giant rats coming up out of the hole nearest to the well, the one where Breena had come out of with Parahelia and Sinis. Elron warned us they were smelling the ground and appeared to be tracking us.

 

Blaze moved up to the top of the stairs and cast flaming sphere on giant rat 5, causing damage; giant rat 4, caught in the fire, moved away. Wererat 1 moved to the east and shot Blaze with a crossbow bolt, injuring her. Breena cast magic missiles on wererat 1 and giant rat 2, hitting both for serious damage.

Artie moved to the door and faded into the rock. Giant rats 1 and 6 were moving to the northeast towards the rat tunnels. Wererat 2 shot at Blaze but it glanced off her shield spell. Elron moved up to Blaze and aimed his slingshot at wererat 2; the rats were moving to the nearest holes. Elron shot wererat 2 three times; it fell to the ground with a bleeding head wound. Giant rats 2, 3, 5, and 7 were moving to the nearest hole. Blaze moved her flaming sphere into wererat 1 for damage, and giant rats 1 and 8 were also in the radius of the flaming sphere. 

Blaze moved back to the stairs. Giant rat 4 ran to the hole. Parahelia came out to the stairs. Then wererat 1 went into the hole. Elron, on the stairs, put his head up above ground; wererat 1 shot at Elron with its crossbow, which missed. Wererat 1 was disadvantaged to hit; he’s waist deep in the tunnel. Breena had no direct line of sight, but used magic missiles on wererat 1; he disappeared. Giant rat 8 ran into the hole.

Artie, coming out of the door, cast fire bolt on giant rat 7, but fumbled it, and hit Elron instead. Giant rats 1 and 6 ran into the hole. Elron ran toward giant rat 7 with his sling; his first shot missed but the second shot hit; it ran into the hole and disappeared. Elron heard retreating rat feet down the tunnel. 

8:30 PM
Back in the east mausoleum; Elron cast goodberries for everyone, and we finally got our long rest. 

June 27

6 AM
We looked outside and saw 4 green guardian gargoyles looking down at us. We climbed up out of the graveyard, and started down the road. Elron checked the dwarf statue and the key was there once more.

It’s 4 hours to the Coast Road. On the way we ran into a foot patrol.

8:30 AM
We encountered a party who were on their way to the graveyard. There were nine members on foot and they looked hostile. Elron readied his sling.

Sheriff Ostland introduced himself and asked, “Coming back from the dungeon? What are the conditions?”

Elron replied, “It’s quiet right now.”

We told them we’re going to Zelcor’s Ferry, and will probably stay at an inn before we get to the river. We continued on, after they sized us up and figured we were probably tough. 

4 PM
We reached the John Chapel Inn, with no other encounters.

Their fare is spicy bear sausage, smoked boar and carrots, bread and wine. Most of the same crowd were here, 70% adventurers, others are merchants. There was a halfling monk dancing on the table, the same one as before.

It’s 1 gp/night for room and dinner.

We checked for the latest rumors. Artie, Breena, and Blaze each heard one.  

Artie: “It looks like rain next week.”

Breena heard some rumors about brigands, “Though some brigands attack caravans that pass through the area, others specialize in taking on adventurers exiting dungeons and lairs, weakened but fat with loot."

We can verify that one is true. 

Blaze: "Zelkor, the good wizard of old, is now an evil lich living in the upper levels, protecting the evil temple and the descent into it."

Oh, wonderful… that’s probably where all the black skeletons are coming from.

Continued in Session 72 - Back at Zelcors Ferry