"Didn't give it," he calls back over his shoulder.
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Once we are away from others', I'll drop the accent, "I knowest off the Publican House, by reputation only. A vile place, and certainly moreso than meeteth the eye. It is a typical establisment of debauchery, filled with gambling and drink, as well as any other vice that the pirate queen's faithful might also enjoy. Somewhere within, however, is a secret place that their filth perform blood sacrifices, feeding victim and wretch alike to the beasts of the sea, hoping to placateth their patron. I shalt hold mine hand, for the now, but I will return to end this evil once the mission if complete."
You head north to the Velashu river, a stinking, slow-moving cesspool of raw sewage flowing sluggishly out to sea. On the far shore, you can see the Publican House: a large tavern-like building with large bay windows of leaded glass facing the river. Within, a crowd of raucous revelers are midway through a solemn prayer to the Drunken God, the mechanics of which seem to involve lifting large trays full of mugs overhead and drinking any that don't spill.
Aliera Perception : Aliera also doesn't detect anything following you.
Crossing the river seems awkward, as no bridge spans the river. Passersby direct you to the ferry farther upriver. Apparently, bridges across the river have been banned due to troubles with trolls and ogres which live in the northern mountains outside of town.
As you walk to the ferry, a large, bowl-shaped stone structure catches your eye. It is built right against the riverbank on a stone platform, with a narrow set of stairs ascending the base and leading into the bowl. A chain has been drawn across the stairway to prevent easy access, and a small sign reads, "Closed". From the information you possess, this may be the so-called "Fish Bowl", temple to the minor goddess Besmara, the pirate queen.
As you regard the building from street level, a shrill scream pierces the night. Passersby seem to take no notice of the sound, which is followed almost immediately by a deeper yell, and a pair of young voices screaming in terror. The sounds seem to come from above street level from within the large bowl-shaped building.
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I have lost internet for the momentexcept for my phone so will be posting short posts for a little. I will try to run towards the screaming as quickly as I can, going over or around the chains if possible and trying to open/break the door. I am not trying to be stealthy but trying to help whoever is being hurt as my first priority.
Leastrie nocks an arrow, steps over the thin chain which hangs across the staircase, and advances quietly up the steps. He his followed by Esmerelda's velociraptor Aliera, Soth-Loren, Esmerelda, Ranvar, and Adrazi. As you climb the staircase, you can see that the temple beyond is dimly lit by a guttering red light, suggesting torches or braziers.
At the top of the stairs, a wall blocks your view of the central temple, but openings to either side lead farther into the structure.
On the left, Leastrie spots a pair of legs sticking out from around the wall. He steps quietly to that side, and the group follows. As he reaches the opening, you hear a hiss from somewhere inside, and Leastrie tenses and draws his bow back.
Inside the central temple is a scene of carnage. Directly in front of you lays a woman, facedown in a pool of blood. At first you think she is still alive and moving, until you spot the creature eating her.
Perched on the woman's back is a creature which looks like a 4' long snake with two large lobster-like claws and a large, beak-like jaw. It seems to have crawled out of the large ceremonial pool, attacked to woman, and is now enjoying the fruit of its labours. On the other side of the pool, a second lobster-snake feasts on a man, wearing similar garb to the woman. At a staircase on the far wall, two more of the creatures are struggling to climb up the steep spiral staircase, but their progress is impeded by a wooden table which partially blocks their path. From the motion of the table, you can tell that someone is holding the table in place as a barrier. From behind the table, you can hear the panicked grunts of at least one person. As the creatures press their attack, you again hear the screams of two younger voices from behind the table.
Round 1
Leastrie steps to the left to get a clear shot and looses his arrow at the lobster creature. The arrow hits the creature neatt eh top fo the hit, but ricochets off the monster's touch carapace.
The creature (monster #1) slithers forward towards this new threat, clicking its claws together as it approaches. It lunges forward at Leastrie with surprising speed!
Luckily, Leastrie manages to evade the attacks, but they come close enoughy that he sees the claws are both covered with some kind of slimy residue.
Esmerelda orders her velociraptor, Aliera, to attack, and despite the creature's unusual nature, Aliera leaps forward to attack.
Aliera tears into the creature, sinking her fangs into its back and nearly severing its upper body with her talons. Despite the grievous wounds, the monster still shows fight, unwilling to give up its meal.
Soth-Loren invokes Ragathiel's blessing, shouting, "Scion of Heaven's mighty legions, grant us thine aid and also thine courage that we might smiteth these vile monstrosities in the names of righteousness and exalted purity." He then advances, drawing his sword and moving towards the ceremonial pool.
One of the other monsters (creature #3) flops away from the blocked stairway and towards Soth-Loren, brandishing its claws.
One of the claws slices into the knight's lower leg, crunching through his greave and into flesh. The claw sinks in, and the creature holds on, wrapping its tail around Soth-Loren's leg in a death grip.
Another creature (creature #2) slides into the pool and swims to the far side, struggling to get up onto the edge of the pool to get its share of the new buffet that has walked in.
Ranvar draws his dagger and slips quietly to the other side of the room, preparing to catch the creatures while they are distracted.
Andrazi moves up and tries to elbow the wounded creature (#1), but it's tiny eyes prove a difficult target, and he fails to connect.
*I go up one, right 2, then up one*
Round 2
Leastrie drops his bow and draws his elven blade. A quick downward slash slices the creature's torso open, spilling ichor across the stone floor. Amazingly, the monster seems unphased by this near-mortal wound, and it attacks Leastrie ferociously! Luckily, the elf dodges both claws.
Esmerelda's velociraptor, Aliera, continues to maul the wounded creature.
Despite the horrific wounds it has suffered, the serpentine creature continues to fight. Some fell power must be strengthening it, for a creature should not be able to survive such injury.
Soth-Loren shakes his leg and bashes the creature in the head with his sword pommel, trying to shake the creature loose. The creature flops back to the floor, and Soth-Loren steps back, trying to draw the creature between him and his allies.
Creature #3 slithers forward in pursuit, and slashes at the sword knight's wounded leg again. The knight blocks the creature's advance with his shield.
Creature #2 pulls itself out of the pool and flops to the wet stone floor.
Ranvar sneaks around the back of the room towards the small staircase, trying to avoid attracting attention. Behind the makeshift barricade, he sees a middle-aged man cowering behind the table. Farther up the stairs, on a tiny landing, a pair of young children huddle in fear.
Andrazi stays in a place between Leastrie and the velociraptor, and slashes at the badly-wounded Creature #1. This time his attack strikes true, and he sinks his dagger into he creatrure's face. The creature explodes in a furious spasm, slashing blindly with its claws at everything within reach!
The dying creature's claw latches onto Leastrie, but quickly relax as the creature drops to the floor.
Esmerelda waits to follow Andrazi, but remains in place as he keeps himself between the tiny gnome and the creature.
Round 3
Leastrie sidles up next to Soth-Loren and slashes at the creature threatening the knight, but misses.
Aliera the velociraptor stays in place and pays at her face, trying to get the unnatural taste of the creature out of her mouth.
Soth-Loren steps in to combat with the two remaining creatures, and slashes one of them (#3) with his sword. The creature writhes as its innards spill on the floor, yet it continues to hiss and clack it claws together.
Creature #3 hurls itself at the knight who wounded it, attacking Soth-Loren with both claws. The knight manages to evade the attacks.
Creature #2 flops down from the edge of the pool and slithers at Soth-Loren.
One of its claws slashes Soth-Loren's calf, but the creature doesn't hold on like the other one did.
Ranvar moves into a flanking position on Creature #3, and stabs at it with his dagger, but the attack goes wide.
Andrazi steps towards the second creature and slips his wide-bladed knife past its claws. The blade finds a gap between the armored plates around the creature's head, releasing a spray of foul-smelling liquid.
Esmerelda tries to convince Aliera to attack another creature, but the velociraptor seems to have had enough of such slimy-tasting foes, and stubbornly refuses to engage.