Shadows of Gamma, Part 1

Once Vagabot defeated Ivan, the crowd of inbred country simpletons recognized her as their new leader.  She re-oriented them to give up their racist ways, and instructed them to accept all individuals (except zombies).  She also changed her title to "Grand Empress of Badassery" and turned all the hillbillies into her personal service unit of butlers and wait-staff.  Nyridius, Duke, and Defendomax also enjoyed the creature comforts of the compound.  Professor Cuddlepunch, however, was not with them; she had left long ago with Khali to wander the wastes and help fulfill Khali's commitments.  After several weeks of relaxing and resting, Nyridius mutates and begins hearing the inane thoughts of the hillbillies that surround him.  They sounded like a deafening cacophony of simple thoughts about nachos, belly buttons, and hot sisters.  He couldn't take constant noise.  So he prodded the team to leave and begin their trek to Deadtroit, far to the north.

Vagabot commands one of her servants to tell them how to get to Deadtroit.  The servant informs her that the overland route is blocked by a giant ooze-filled crater, but that there is a old sewer system that runs directly to Deadtroit.  He does warn the party, however, that there "be some gators in that there sewer."  The party decides to take its chances.  They organize into a single-file line based on max HP, and then run headlong into the sewer.

Immediately, the four-person party is faced with danger.  After navigating a bit of the maze-like sewer, they run into a resident of the sewer feeding a small flock of baby gators.  Nyridius attempts to be diplomatic, but the sewer resident attacks and instructs the gatorlings to eat the party.  Although they weren't very strong, Duke takes a series of bites and is significantly weakened.  He moves to the back of the line.

Farther into the sewers, they encounter another fishy sewer dweller, accompanied by a large bear-sized gator.  Even though they are outnumbered by the party, they put up a powerful fight.  Duke somehow becomes a magnet for the gator's biting attacks and is brought to the edge of consciousness.  When Defendomax moves into a pincer position to attack the gator from the rear, he is smacked silly by the gator's tail.  After receiving some major damage, the party defeats the enemies.  Up ahead, they see light creeping around the corner, telling them that the exit is near.  The party re-situates with Vagabot in the lead and heads out.

Vagabot turns a blind corner and comes face-to-face with the most massive sewer gator ever seen.  The incredible beast ambushes her and eats her whole.  Still alive, she finds herself inside the gator's stomach, slowly being digested.  Duke, Nyridius, and Defendomax spring into action and immediately unleash everything they've got on the gator matriarch.

Although they have become remarkably powerful in the course of their travels, they meet their match in the monstrous gator.  The massive jaws deal crippling damage, and Duke and Nyridius quickly receive serious injuries.  The gator also lashes out with its tail, and smacks the party around.  Inside the gator, Vagabot flails and swings wildly at any organ that looks important.

Outside, Duke and Nyridius take a knee for a momentary break while Defendomax takes the gator's attention.  This back-and-forth goes on for a while until the gator gets an upset stomach.  Vagabot significantly damages the gator's innards, and is consequently vomited out onto the ground.

Once Nyridius sees that Vagabot is freed, he lights up the gator with a powerful flare.  This turns out to be the killing blow for the massive gator.  The party members consider backtracking through the scary sewer, but instead decide to take a gator tooth souvenir and call it a day.  They find the exit, and step out of the sewer.