Once more into the dark

Helena and her team loaded up on supplies and grabbed a spare map of the underground before heading for the docks. Word spread quickly through Helena's allies, and by the time her group reached the entrance, a decent sized group had gathered. It was decided that too many people going underground would weaken their defenses, so Dolan and and Liam decided to remain behind with part of the **** and check the recent attack sites for entrances that hadn't been discovered yet. All together, Helena was leading Groban, Paxia, Ashlin, Natalie, and a mixed **** of over twenty soldiers and adventurers into the tunnels.

"There's been a lot of traffic in and out the past few days. Hopefully I can pick up her trail near the site we saved Ashlin at," Natalie said to Helena.

"Alright. Groban and I will take point until we get there, then you can take over."

They followed the path Helena had traveled before, and in the first room they encountered a pair of the beasts feeding on the remains of a soldier that had been unlucky during the last patrol. Helena and Groban worked together and easily dispatched one while Natalie and Paxia took the other. By now, most of the group were well versed in the tactics the creatires used and were able to easily handle one or two by working in pairs or a team to alternate distracting and striking. With no one caught up in the grasping tentacles, they were safe to continue onward. At the familiar split in the tunnel, Helena remembered something Arthur had said before.

"Did anyone clear that nest? There was a hole in the floor down the other path, if Im remembering correctly."

"We raided it while looking for your," Ashlin said.

"There were about five women still alive down there. All in different stages of pregnancy. We got them home and put torch to the room to clear that odd mucus they seal women to the wall with," said an adventurer that Helena didn't know.

"I'm glad there you were able to bring them home."

They followed the original path back to the room that they had fought in and Natalie took over. She quickly found the carvings in the wall and between that and tracks she found, was able to figure out the next path to take. Natalie led them through tunnels and rooms of various size. Once they stumbled onto a nest and the group had to fight six of the beasts. While no one was injured, Ashlin and a few others needed help getting rid of the venom. This nest only had one woman, she wasn't showing signs yet, though she tearfully confessed that the beasts had already used her a few times that morning after taking her off the streets. Although it was a difficult decision, Helena convinced the woman to travel with them so that they didn't need to split the group. Too many lives were at stake to risk losing Riddel's group for one woman.

An hour later, Helena called for a stop. They had been traveling for hours and still found no sign that Riddel was close. A fire was set up to cook and lookouts placed neat each tunnel entrance. Thankfully no one was faltering in their desire to move forward, but food and rest was needed.

"If they didn't have almost three days on us, we might have found them by now," sighed Ashlin.

"We're likely moving faster than they did lass. Those tunnels were practically cleared of beasties already. A nest with one captive? It had to be new."

"We've driven them from the area, but their coming back slowly," Groban agreed.

"That means we're on the right trail. Beatrix Riddel has to have come this way."

Dinner was eaten and the group took shifts sleeping. Helena had taken second watch and already settled in to rest after her shift when suddenly a screech was heard from a nearby tunnel. One of the lookouts was flung back towards the camp and rolled to a stop near her. An Elven adventurer checked the man for wounds as Helena grabbed her sword and ran for the battle.

A young woman beast woman was backed against a wall, tryinf to fend of the mass of tentacles when Helena rushed between her and the beast. The creature paused itself **** for a moment and then began to back away and move around her for the woman again, but Helena again stepped between them with sword ready. Still the beast didn't attack her.

"RAAAH!" Grobin came thundering towards them with his axe raised to strike, but Helena called for him to wait. Why was the creature hesitant? She tried to close the distance between them, but the beast fled and soon it was the one against a wall.

"Cut off it's escape, but don't attack!"

Helena and a few others managed to trap the creature, and she decided to test a theory she was working on. She removed a gauntlet and eased forward. The creature shuddered, but didn't each for her.

"What the hell are you doing lass," growled Paxia as she jogged up.

"Watch," Helena said as she surged forward and grabbed a tentacle in her bare hand. The creature screeched again and jerked free before knocking aside a soldier and fleeing through a different tunnel than it had come from.

"Your hand! Quickly we need to take care of the venom!"

"I'm fine..."

Helena looked at her hand for a moment before looking into the dark tunnel where the creature had disappeared. She was certain now.

"It seems that my son's venom doesn't affect me."