The attacks only fuel Jayse's frustration inside the Calm. Where some people are made erratic by frustration, though, Jayse only finds focus.
Digging deep, the big, white-clad warrior punctuates every strike with a grunted word.
"Why", hammer-fist. "won't," round-house kick. "they, vicious diagonal blade-slice. "Break?!" back-fist.
Jayse's hammer-fist crushes the snout of the first were-rat in an explosion of blood. His kick snaps the creature's neck and it drops like a felled tree. Punctuating his point, Jayse's vertical slash bites deeply into the second 'rat. It bleeds heavily from the open wound carving through its chest.
Ushari sees Jayse gettin eviscerated again by the wererats and grimaces. These rats don't know when to quit.... With a thought she instructs her Spiritual Ally to flank the wererat Jayse wounded . She then calls on her deities power bathing the Strumpet even as she touches the monk again healing him.
"Hang in there, Jayse. You are doing great!"
She then chatters at Skitter to try his Screech ability again. We have to try to whittle them down somehow.
Ushari's magic washes across the battlefield closing wounds and restoring strength to her allies... and one nearly crippled rat.
63|70 3 1
67|79 0 0
52|52 0 0
60|60 1 0
With blurring motion, Jofram nimbly pivots between snapping teeth. Circling around a nearby wererat, he strikes at the foul creature with the ancestral blade.
Jofram side-steps, then blurs and appears 5' further than he was before, carving a double set of slashes into the back of the southernmost were-rat. Wounded, the creature turns on the ranger and snarls - clearly with a lot more fight left in him.
Skitter sounds a rising arpeggio that ends in a dull-knife-across-a-chalkboard screech. Every rat-eared bastard in the tavern winces under the aural onslaught - opening up an opportunity to strike.
ORDER:
Map Updated: Rumble at the Strumpet
63|70 3 1
67|79 0 0
52|52 0 0
60|60 1 0
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear
VILLAINS
Glitterdust - (3/7) - -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss
Jayse lashes out simultaneously with blade and foot at three different targets, the second two aimed at tripping the rat-men.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Jofram slashes again at the wererat's tough hide.
You seize the advantage and lash out at the were-rats. One dies, one is wounded, and third hits the floor hard... tripped by the monk.
The last two surviving Dire Rats flee, making a bee-line for the staircases.
ORDER:
63|70 3 1
67|79 0 0
52|52 0 0
60|60 1 0
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear
VILLAINS
Glitterdust - (3/7) - -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss
Straehan runs around Jayse to get a clear shot at the remaining were-rats and unleashes twinned beams of fire at the downed creature. It writhes as the fire blackens its fur but it refuses to die.
ORDER:
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear
VILLAINS
Glitterdust - (3/7) - -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss
The turning tide of the fight seems to have the few remaining were-rats considering their options. Calculating glances shoot towards the stairs as well as the windows. They squeak briefly back and forth. The nearest were-rats assess the mistakes of their leaders and don't even attempt to dodge the experienced fighters in a bid for an easy escape. Instead, the prone one slashes desperately at Jofram's legs, while his companion jumps the ranger from up high. Jofram kicks aside the feeble low strikes but feels the were-rat's foul muzzle press against his shoulder as the teeth tear the flesh from his upper arm.
The furthest were-rat makes it to the stairs and runs down them at surprising speed, closely followed by the last of the dire rats. The blind and glittering were-rat still can't get the dust from his eyes but he staggers in the direction of the stairs as well, caroming off a table in the process.
ORDER:
Map Updated: Rumble at the Strumpet
63|70 3 1
61|79 1 0
52|52 0 0
60|60 1 0
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear
VILLAINS
Glitterdust - (4/7) - -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss
BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 WR BITE
CLAW (20/x2) HIT: DAM:
CLAW (20/x2) HIT: DAM:
BITE (20/x2) HIT: DAM: + 1 WR BITE
CLAW (20/x2) HIT: DAM:
CLAW (20/x2) HIT: DAM:
Will Save (Clear Blindness) vs DC:19 (new save @ end of turn)
The desire to keep the blinded rat-man from escaping must be squelched; Jayse can't leave Jofram alone with the back-stabbing rats. The decision happens faster than a blink, and Jayse slides into a further flank with Jofram, flowing from attack to attack to drop the two.
"Anybody able to stop that last, blind rat-thing?"
Ushari sees the blind rat man trying to flee and knows he could also bring additional reinforcements. She points at the rat man and calls out a prayer forcing him to stop in his tracks!
Jofram hacks away at verminoid flesh, ignoring the throbbing of the bite wounds in his shoulder.
Jayse's first blow skewers the prone were-rat. His follow-up punches rain down on the healthy were-rat driving it towards Jofram's waiting sword. The ranger's blade finishes the vile creature off with a stab to the sternum followed by a swift decapitation.
Ushari's spell freezes the blind were-rat in place as her Ally neatly drives its blade into the back of the helpless creature.
The Dire Rats scamper down the stairs chased by their own panicked squeaks.
ORDER:
63|70 3 1
61|79 1 0
52|52 0 0
60|60 1 0
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear
VILLAINS
Glitterdust - (4/7) - -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss
The gnome moves towards the center of the bar, getting a clear shot at the were-rat and a strategic view of the stairs.
Straehan glances over at the barmistress, huddled behind the bar staring at the battle in wide-eyed disbelief.
"This may not be the best time to mention it but I was in a little fracas here a week or so ago. I dusted several gentlemen beating up on me and accidentally caught a couple of your patrons... Anyhow I was wondering if you might be willing to drop that complaint? I assure you, I don't wield magic willy-nilly in general..."
He utters an incantation and two more beams of fire lance out and strike the rat. "Honestly, that really was an isolated incident." He gives her a broad smile, "What do you say?"
ORDER:
The were-rat struggles desperately and manages to free itself from the paralysis locking its limbs but still remains blinded.
ORDER:
Map Updated: Rumble at the Strumpet
63|70 3 1
61|79 1 0
52|52 0 0
60|60 1 0
Inspire Courage - +2 ATT/DAM ; +2 Morale vs Charm/Fear
VILLAINS
Glitterdust - (5/7) - -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss
"Let's see if we can't have one more living attacker," Jayse says as he begins to close on the remaining rat-man. "Ya know, in case we have to convince the Watch that we're not blood-thirsty outlanders. Someone wanna get some rope or manacles or something?"
Stepping over the table, he tries to grab the last blind mouse.
Ushari nods to Jayse and steps to the unconscious rat . She first ascertains the wererat is still alive and not bleeding out. Once he is stabilized she reaches into her pack and takes out her rope and proceeds to bind him up.
Mecha-Monk knocks a table aside as he lumbers over to the blinded were-rat and grabs the creature in a chokehold.
Ushari checks on Greasy who is still breathing (but deeply unconscious due to Jayse's non-lethal blows). She pulls out some rope, and ties the foul creature up.
Jofram moves to a position near the grappled blind mouse. "In case you couldn't tell, the rest of your vermin gang has either died or abandoned you - I suggest you play nice, if you don't want to join the former."
Jofram's threat effectively cows the blinded were-rat and it ceases to struggle. Its bones crack and reform, its fur retracts into its body, and its frame shrinks back into a human appearance. It quietly allows you to truss it up along with the other unconscious were-rat. The barmistress looks on the verge of tears - whether from terror or relief you cannot say.
You are, naturally, just finishing the binding of your prisoners when the Watch shows up - six men strong and led by the grizzled Sergeant you met the other day. He instantly recognizes you and seems amused that you'd be at the center of yet another fracas. But his attitude quickly changes when he observes the damage to the bar and your three prisoners.
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The watchmen immediately spread out forming a perimeter while two of them augment your rope-tying with thick steel manacles on the arms of the prisoners. "Right. What's all this then? Emeralda, we got a scared patron reporting that he'd been thrown out of here by 'some thugs'." He nudges the unconscious Greasy with his toe. "I'm assuming these are the thugs. Any others about?"
He looks to our heroes especially the hulking monk, "You rounded up this lot? Nice work."
Jayse stands to his full height, the joy of being humongous lost in his concern for his cuts. He's distractedly poking at his wounds and shrinking to normal size as he responds, "We did." He goes through a brief and only somewhat vague description of their arrival and the ensuing fight. Not so much intentionally leaving things out as he is distracted by his still-bleeding wounds. "… and that's about when you guys showed up."
Uncomfortably scratching at the raw skin around what looks like a bite mark on his shoulder, he looks around at everyone. "Um… I've heard horror stories of folk bitten by were-rats, if that's what these guys are. Should I be worried?"
Ushari smiles at the Sergeant. "Thanks much, Sergeant. It was mostly Jayse here who took these thugs out though...Hold still Jayse..." She grimaces at looking at the masty wounds inflicted by the filthy rats on the monk.
Between sicking wind through his teeth in response to Ushari's prodding, Jayse spits out, "Not much but getting cut up by them from what I can tell. They had the good sense to break and run before it got any nastier."
He looks over at the stairwell down, "I think some of them might have headed down there... or was that just the big-ass rats?" He looks over at the Sargent with a smirk, "Jofram and I been meaning to tell you this city seems to have a rat problem."
Straehan smacks his lips like he's trying to eat peanut butter. He scratches his tongue with a sharp nail, looking none-too-pleased.
"My tongue feels itchy."
You would almost think the little gnome was a hypochondriac except the look on Jayse's face says his tongue is feeling similarly strange.
Ushari examines them both and smells something odd with their wounds... they are clearly infected.
"What does rabies feel like? Can I get some water?"
Her heart sinking in her stomach, she turns to face Jayse and Straehan, a grim look on her face. "Congratulations, you are both infected. Judging by the look of things, you will both be sprouting furry coats and long tails before the end of the month."
Jayse's look at Ushari is dead-serious, "And before it comes up, even all furry I still won't date you."
The gnome bursts out laughing, "Ushari... always looking for the next piece of furry tail - rat or otherwise."
The Sergeant frowns at the situation but appreciates the joke. "We'll check it out. You folks please stay here." He quickly assembles his men. Two are left to watch the prisoners and keep an eye on things while the other four and the Sergeant head downstairs, weapons at the ready.
The remaining watchmen begin methodically stripping the prisoners of all items, dropping them on a table, and cataloging the items as they go. You hear them moving around the lower level and then an exclamation from one of the watchmen, muffled through the floor. "&#$*&! Found where they came through, Sarge. Busted through a sewer pipe into the cold storage. Gah! Smells like a demon's ass!""
After another ten minutes they return upstairs. Judging from the filth and ripe stink on them, they investigated the sewer pipe for some distance. Sarge wipes gack from his face with a hankie. "Well, they are long gone." He looks to the barmistress. "I'll leave some boys to watch the hole until we can get a repair crew down here."
The Sergeant works through the table-load of gear, whistling at the quality of the shortswords. He runs a thumb along the boss near the blades' hilts. They are all the same. "Looks like they got a supplier.... and three makes a pattern." He glances at your group, weighing some matter, then drops three of the masterwork blades on another table... leaving five others where they were. He scoops up the 'rats belt-pouches and looks through them. He tosses the two heaviest, coin-laden, bags to the barmistress with a nod. The rest he drops on the table with the three swords. He gives his men a look and they muscle the were-rats up and start hustling/carrying them out the door. One watchman pulls open a heavy canvas bag and tosses in the three swords, the belt pouches, and the other bits and pieces before following the rest of his squad... leaving the Sergeant alone with our heroes and the recovering barmistress.
He waves a hand at Straehan, "As I recall, you had a complaint out on this fella, Emeralda. 'Zat right? Judging by the sparklies on that one rat, he ain't reformed. You want me to take him out back and beat the sh!t outta him?" It's clear that his tone is playful and expecting a different answer.
Emeralda pours a line of double shots for everyone and two doubles for herself by way of answer, along with a glass of water for Jayse. "You can drop that complaint... that was clearly about someone else."
You all belly up to the bar, stepping around the ruined furnishings.
The Sergeant raises his drink in silent salute to the heroes then slugs it down. "Ahhhh... nice." He pulls out his vellum pad, scribbles a note, and puts it down on the bar. "This'll get your bites treated at any Church or Watch Station in the city - no charge. The Orfallen Watch appreciates you pitching in." He snatches up one of Emeralda's doubles and slugs it down before she can object. "Right. Back to work for me. You citizens have a fine evening. Don't forget your property." He casts eyes on the five masterwork swords for a moment before heading out the door, whistling an off-key tune.
The foul odor of the rats seems even stronger, and Jofram's stomach turns.
"Oof.. I think I'm going to be ill." Jayse's words sink in, and the monk and sorcerer transform in his minds eye into furry rat-things. As if in response, his wounds throb as a reminder of his own exposure to the verminthropy.
"Very ill."
Jayse downs the water then the double, face scrunching up at the burn. It's nearly impossible to determine which went down quicker. He snatches up the paper, giving the Sargent a wordless nod as he leaves.
After reading the note, he looks over at the barmaid, "So, don't suppose you have any cheese, huh?"
Ushari grimaces at the smell of the hard liquor in the shot glass then gulps quickly slamming down the contents. Her whold body shudders as the feiry liquid sets her throat on fire.
Gasping slightly she did a double take on hearing Jayse's question. She silently wonders whether her body could handle another shot, but with some regret tells herself no.
I need to keep my wits about me...
She realizes she had not checked with the barmaid so she hurries over to check on her. "Emeralda, are you all right?"
Emeralda nods and begins cleaning up the broken glass-ware. "I'm fine now. Thanks for stepping in. I appreciate it... and my girls and boys are gonna show you how much. You've made friends here."
She yells up the stairs and a variety of workers - staff, working girls, boy toys, and cooks come pouring down the stairs. Some are clearly shaken. Emeralda starts barking orders which keeps everyone busy and, oddly, calms the most panicky employees. In little time, the Strumpet is prepared for the anticipated evening crowd, food lines the bar in front of you... and each of you has two very friendly, scantily clad, and very attractive companions (male or female - your choice) who are clearly there to express the full gratitude of the Strumpet.