Melianthe bleeds.
Demitri beats Segang to the punch as he jumps into the water and grabs Melianthe so he can pull her to safety.
Reacting quickly, you retrieve Melianthe's unconscious body from the water and get onto the walkway before the second shark gets its bearings.
Melianthe coughs up some water but is otherwise unresponsive.
Absinthe comes over and puts two fingers against Melianthe's throat, checking her pulse. "One is not a healer, but her heartbeat seems to continue decently," she says. Gently, Absinthe starts patting the dusk elf's cheek. "Awaken, sister Mel," she says. "The triple lady of balance and the moon has given you an opportunity to redress the injustice done to you. Do not sleep it away, now."
"-koff- ...I'm here. Well, that was unpleasant. Thank you all for rescuing me."
Melianthe gets up, now thoroughly chilled and wet and shaking. "Not the way I pictured meeting Lamm again. No matter."
Eventually the second shark swims off, leaving you alone in the basement.
Seren gestures at the hidden door, and steps aside for Segang.
For a moment, Absinthe is sitting on her knees in front of the risen Melianthe. She... blinks. And then rises, a crooked smile on her lips.
The tiefling briefly holds Melianthe back and whispers something in her ear before drawing her rapier and moving to follow the others.
Rosa smiles and kneels down to help Melianthe to her feet as well. "Shouldn't be long now. I'm afraid I don't have a blessing to make you presentable on a moment's notice. Something to look into..."
"One has something that might be helpful," Absinthe says. "A change of clothing."
Wiping the shark's blood from his longsword Segang comments I am glad you are alright Mel. We should have knotted that rope to make it easier to climb. Everyone, remember that next time.
The barbarian eyes the door indicated by Seren and looks back displeased. We need a protocol to follow. I should be the door opener, but only after you and/or Absinthe carefully examine it for traps and ascertain if it is locked.
Seren rolls his eyes as he walks up to the borderline lean to, and inspects it over-cautiously. Still he says nothing.
Assuming he finds nothing, he makes an exaggerated courtly flourishing bow.
Segang, sword in hand, will move to open the door.
" Glad to see you're alright."
"Yes, protocol. That sounds good, wished I thought of that." Demitri readies himself as Segang opens the door.
Melianthe wrings her wet hair back and gives Absinthe a good-spirited glare. "I'll take the change of clothing, peeker. Now avert your eyes." She quickly changes. "It was my fault, Segang. I'll speak up if I am the weak link again."
Melianthe, looking fierce, if disheveled and slightly damp, stands diagonally behind Demitri as the door opens
Melianthe will Sleep Hex anything that attacks through the door, aiming for the biggest and meanest thing first, and 5' step behind Demitri.
Rolling his eyes, Seren almost mistakes the shabby looking portal for the complex mechanism it actually is. With a double-take and rush of realization, he spots the signs of a blade trap that could decapitate the unwary opener.
"You'd almost think Lamm has done something to make enemies," Rosa says with a wry grin as soon as the trap is pointed out. "Still, once this is taken care of we should press onward."
"Don't blame yourself. It happens. As long as you're not injured anymore, that's all that matters."
"What would make you think that? It's like you're implying he isn't a saint sent by the gods.." Demitri replies with an uncharacteristic sarcastic bent as he waits for the trap to be dealt with.
Absinthe peeks again, grinning, and winks shamelessly at anyone who spots her doing so.
"One's work outfit suits you admirably," she mutters saucily at Melianthe before proceeding after Seren and Segang. "You are a truly delightful sight to behold."
Once Seren points out the blade trap, the tiefling takes out a cloth roll of special little tools and gets to work on disabling the wretched thing.
"A challenge," she mutters to Seren. "It is beyond me. Your opinion?"
Rosa returns the wink with a smirk. "If you wish a private spot, I can certainly recommend a few. But back to the task at hand."
Seren stares at the door for a moment before looking at Segang sheepishly, while running a hand through his hair. "Ah, I'm sorry about that, looks like you were right about the trap ... a devious one, even. Can't believe I almost sent you through there. Please ... ahhh ... please, forgive me." He finishes wringing his hands and hanging his head low.
to aid I assume since Absinthe has already rolled.
Not a problem Seren. Just remember who we are dealing with. He is capable of most anything.
Indeed, with Absinthe's attention perhaps more on Melianthe's figure than the trap, she brushes a cunning counter-trigger. A scythe-like blade springs out of the door frame, slashing her and Seren as he leans in to aid.
Rosa is at the pair's side in a moment. "Oh Goddess, are you two all right?"
Demitri's eyes go wide as the trap goes off. "Just take your time, don't rush it." He tries to keep his calm demeanor in check. This was going badly, but he had to keep a cool head.
Absinthe blinks and grimaces, then leans back. "One is reminded that some challenges are beyond her," she says, her voice... pained.
The trap is sprung.
Segang makes sure Absinthe is not too badly hurt before opening the door and looking in.
"We can omit some of these parts from the legends," says Melianthe with a smirk, then gets serious. "Let's all be careful. We are joined by fate and will to see this through."
"Indeed," Absinthe says, rising to her feet and once again taking her rapier in hand. "The trap is sprung, but by now the foe is surely alerted. One requests permission to stay close to the front; one has a trick up her sleeve that will swathe an area in darkness for a brief time. It could prove useful."
As Segang opens the door, you see it leads into a large room. The air is chilly and stinks of the river, no doubt thanks to a huge opening in the floor exposing the river shore a couple feet down, a fetid pen for a gnarled alligator sedate on the sand.
"Please, come in," calls out a raspy voice. "I'd like to see my would-be assassins before their deed is done." Seeped in tones of weary bitterness, several of you recognize Gaedren Lamm's voice immediately, even if it has been years since last you heard it.
Pilings emerge from the floor to support the roof above, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the alligator pen. A five-foot-wide walkway circles the hole's edge to the other side of the chamber, where a collection of old cabinets, lockboxes, and piles of clutter are strewn about.
Chipped porcelain plates, a cracked goblet, badly rusted silverware, an old wooden shield with a crossbow bolt embedded in it, the odd dinged helm, and other "treasures" litter the floor of this entire chamber. Three tables, their tops heaped with additional clutter, stand amid this mess, while just west of that a wooden door seems to provide access to a small side-room.
Gaedren stands on the far side of the pen, holding the alligator's long leash. He is slouched from age, pale and gray of hair, but a cunning fire still burns in his eyes. As you enter, recognition makes his eyes arch, and he barks a short laugh.
"The prodigal children return. Mel! Come to renew your visions? And Segang? I should have fed you to Gobblegut the moment I took you in. Who are your cronies, and how did you find me? No matter now, I suppose..."
"Indeed, it does not matter anymore, Gaedren Lamm," Absinthe says, following at Segang's side.
A red spark is lit inside the tiefling's dark eyes, and her tail uncoils from beneath her shirt, lashing as if she were an angry cat. Her hooves click sharply against the floor.
"It matter no more at all. One wonders, do you recognize the name of Rigger? It matters little; one intends to give you your just desserts for spreading shiver with such a free hand anyway, but there might be some satisfaction in the knowledge."
The barbarian readies to attack as he studies the room, wondering about a trap. You may still try Master Lamm. He spits the word master, making it a curse.
"How far you have fallen..." mutters Melianthe, a slight tremor in her cheek. He was so much more organized and powerful before. Killing him will be a mercy, she notes almost sadly.
Rosa looks around and shrugs. "Well, as long as we're sitting about and talking, I suppose I should join in the fun. After all, the architect of your demise would probably be most pleased to know you were aware of her success before your final fall. Although I'm not aware of all of her plan yet." Something in the way she says that indicates a measure of annoyance. "Zellara is quite resourceful to have found all of these hands. And what you did to my Sister was....well, probably not as bad as what many others suffered at your hands, but that's more a testament to what you are than what shiver does to a person."
Seren is still nursing his cut arm when he realizes that Lamm is right there and he nearly runs forward, catching himself with a start,"Why are we talking to this pile of filth. Let's be done with him."
"Fun?"
Demitri tries his best to contain his rage. This man was the one who destroyed his life, took away all he had in this world. "Before we kill you, I will give you one chance to right one of your many, many wrongs. Where is my daughter, Nadia? Where is she?!" Demitri loses his composure near the end and starts to yell. His breathing becomes ragged and heavy with emotion as his face turns red. It looks like he is ready to pounce on Lamm and start stabbing until there's nothing left to stab.
"It seems there is a reason for talk other than its amusement value, indeed," Absinthe says, nodding to Demitri. "Beware the reptile, however, and cut off the old monster's escape routes."
"Thank you, I know better than to let my guard down around him. I made that mistake once, it won't happen again."
Gaedren sneers, Zellara? Rigger? Nadia? Are these names supposed to mean something to me? Though there have been a couple young girls in my recent employ..." He takes up a pondering pose, then squints at Rosa, and his sneer turns to a lewd grin. "Oh, I remember you... one of the whore-priestesses. Have you come to earn your coin?" He snorts at his own joke. "Come then, you've already slain or subverted my men... Yargin's squealing woke me up! I'm too old to run. If you want my head, come and take it."