The man seems to believe what he is saying, he also seems to not be fully in control of his actions.
"Ve are happy to help vu. I had a spell that may help you feel better. Please do not fight it." She casts command undead on the ghastly ghast again.
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The man freezes and takes a step back from Vuzi. How are you doing that? He asks in sudden suspicion.
"I am blessed by the gods. How are you feeling, better? What is your name? Were you planning to harm us?" Vuzi ask the ghast.
I was planning to eat you. But I'm suddenly not feeling as hungry. You are blessed indeed.
My name is Thulian Vance. I think. It's been a while... He looks thoroughly disoriented, like someone startled awake while sleep walking.
"Nice to meet vu Mr. Vance. Would you like to go vith us or stay here? We are going further into the dungeon. Vu would be expected to help us if you come along."
Interesting, I've read about this and have seen things somewhat like it, but always with different fundamental characteristics.
Let's all go together, Thulian can probably lead the way better than Simon, can't you?
Dalkk spends his time over the next short while to explain discreetly to the other party members that the control is temporary. He teaches the rest of the party the Orc word for "go" (or any other simple mono syllable word) that when spoken by Vuzi indicates to attack at once.
Anything to get out of here! He cries.
In a small chest are 200 cp, 600 gold-covered lead coins. In a secret compartment in the lid of the chest (DC 20 Perception) is a scroll of three arcane spells: jump, stinking cloud, and ventriloquism (CL 4th).
The party makes their way down the tunnel with their newest addition leading the way.
The passage opens into a huge cavern. Rats are EVERYWHERE! A shrill female voice is heard from inside the cavern, crying for help! The far southern section of the room beyond the river is scorched, as if a
fireball spell had previously been cast here. Rubble blocks a passage to your right, but the rats are your main concern. They look hungry...
+++ earlier +++
Simon nods at Dalkk and Vuzi, although he does seem to be worried and troubled.
He turns on their new 'ally':
"How was ... Is your name, Sir-iii?
And from where do you come from-iii?"
Maybe he has got some family that would want some answers ... Poor, unlucky man...
+++ rats-nest +++
"Rats! Again-frchhh!"
With a quick toss, Simon drowns one of the elixiers that the groups alchemists have so thoughtfully created beforehand.
As part of the same motion he draws both his weapons and takes on his fighting stance.
+++earlier+++
As I said, my name is Thulian Vance. I am a trader and merchant of the Shackles so I don't really have a home, but if I had to choose a port to call home it'd have to be Port Peril.
+++ earlier +++
"Nice to meet you, Thulian, my name is Simon Blue-Eye-purrpurr.
What had you brought down here, if you were a merchant-iii?
Why were you risking your life-iii?"
+++earlier+++
This dungeon system is a regular haunt of adventuring types. I had intended to set up a trading and resupply post a little deeper in with the help of some guards I hired. It obviously went poorly.
Maglin hurries forward, drawing out a bomb and letting it fly at a section of rats. Make way so Dalkk can move forward, it's rather hard to see from back there.
++++Earlier+++
"It vas a good plan. Lot's of profit down here if vu can get a foothold."
Dalkk mixes his compounds together to form a rapidly bubbling mixture of good and spores. When he looks back up and discovers more room is made. He rushes the few available steps forward. He claps his hand down on Vuzi's shoulder and uses it to help him jump up, tossing the vial over the heads of his party, lobbing it forward aiming between the two dire rats, taking them to be the bigger targets.
Even with added range*
Cain rushes forward to stab the largest rat he can find
Yellow [Bracket] = Wounded, one shot kill
Some of the rats are burned away by the bombs. One is slaughtered by Cain, and the ones near you descend. The others hang back a bit while the mass near the back of the cave swarms over the area where you heard the lady's voice. Your new undead friend takes a couple bites but they don't seem to bother him much. Cain takes a nasty bite from a dire rat as well (take 4 before DR) while the others scratch and bite to no effect against his disciplined defense.
Cain grunts at the rat fangs that glance off the bone armor, lightly scraping him before retaliating with a slash at the largest rat nearby, trying to fight with his guard up, given the fact that he was surrounded
Vuzi pulls out her wand of Bless and uses it.
Dalk, burn away those closeby, I'm aiming for the far group, Maglin mixes his next bomb while he speaks, taking a few steps forward and launching it far across the cavern.
Simon takes a quick step forward to get into melee with the rat swarm with obvious disgust written on his face - also he is hissing loudly which 'may' give away the fact as well.
A quick swing at the closest rat- which looks quite toasted already ....
As the rat's head comes off, Simon quickly calls for Emily to get to his side, which the black feline follows with gusto, taking up the place of the dead rat after squeezing through between Simon and the undead-smelly-fellow.
Feeling the reassuring presence of his companion at his side, Simon strikes again, this time at the bigger rat in front of him...
... landing a lethal blow at the surprised vermin!
After following Simon's call, Emily joins the fray, securing Marco's left flank and tries a quick bite against the giant rat at her side.
"Sounds good to me Mags!"
Dalkk moves up squeezing past Vuzi and feeling a little claustrophobic. He looks uncomfortably at their ghoulish compatriot wondering whether or not him fighting is a good thing or not and the consequences of ghoulish rodents. He has no idea if the Orc's puppet will listen to him but he tries all the same "Protect the man behind you." Hopefully the Ghoul can continue to be a wall at the very least.
After his mix is complete he starts to aim at the dire rat at the angle, but sighs, Cain Marko-Cain has that in the bag. He throws the chemical explosive at the bone warriors feet, careful to make sure the explosion excludes the ghoul, Emily, and Cain.
The combination of a strong bomb and smart targeting by the front line does this batch of rats in. Unfortunately, wave two rushes in on their heels. Emily takes a minor bite (for 3 damage), but Simon and Cain do an excellent job of holding the line.
At the back of the cave Maglin's bomb clears a hole and a feminine figure in a tattered cloak disappears into one of the far tunnels with singed rats on her heels.
A moment later there is a flash of flame.
Vuzi sends a splash of acid at the rat in front of Simon. "Vere did she go?" I wonder where the woman went. Didn't she want to stay and say hello?"
Cale again goes for the largest remaining rat within reach, going for an overhead chop with his blade while keeping his shield up as best he can
We are adventurers who hail from the land of the sun! Maglin cries, hoping his voice carries across the cavern. He then raises his crossbow and shoots at a nearby rat, not sure if he's doing any good or not. One hand goes automatically to his ammunition pouch, as though he's done this hundreds of times before, though from the way he shakes you can tell that's probably not the case.
The party doesn't quite cut through these as quickly as the previous batch, but several are still down in short order.
"Emily, take the big one out! I'll keep you safe from the small vermin-frchhh!"
Taking up the spot Emily left a moment ago, he starts to slash at the remaining rats at the left flank of the group.
Both strikes finding their mark, chopping both small rats down with ease.
With a roar, Emily crosses the short distance to the badly hurt dire rat, biting and clawing at it with all the hate the two species share for each other.
Simon and Emily tear the last of the rats to bits. Sounds of scuffling and another scream echo from the tunnel the woman fled into.
Cain curses under his breath as he runs towards the noises "damn it this is probably a trap!" despite his words he still goes forward
If it's a trap we'll probably have to deal with whoever set it eventually, but if not we could do some good. Be sure not to get separated or into a poor tactical position. Maglin hurries after Cain, keeping close.
Looks along the river and sees that at its most narrow it seems to be roughly 5ft across. He attempts to leap across it.
While waiting for the rest of the group he looks up and down the river and around the cavern.
Vuzi follows after the others. She jumps over the river, and keeps moving. "Iz this a good idea?"
Shrugs his shoulders and doesn't turn his head while responding. "I doubt many would say coming here at all is a good idea, but our I'm less likely to die alone I think. Besides, I dont see many other paths to take."
He snickers.
With an expression of grim satisfaction, Simon wipes his blades clean on the fur
of one of the (now very) dead rats. Then he follows the others with an graceful
jump over the subterrain river to take the scout
position once again, Emily hard on his heels.
"Now, let's save the girl-in-need, will we?", he calls to the party with
an expression of joy and apprehension clearly written on his face.
Nevertheless he is careful enough to approach the last steps to the tunnel
entry silently and takes a careful look around the edge, trying to see without
beeing seen
You approach the cave into which the lady fled to find her barely staving off over a dozen dire rats! She won't last long in there. The rats sense your arrival and turn almost as one to face you!
Marco shoots two bone spikes at the two rats closest to the wounded woman, growling as he charges forward