Odo scores a glancing blow on the rat that looms above him, but it only manages to enrage the beast. Braks greataxe chops deep into the creatures rib cage and the beast falls, gasping for breath that will not come before it crashes to the street.
Combat Over! Poor Svetlana, she really wants to hit something!
The vastness of this cavern makes every sound echo in strange ways as the ghosts of your voices return to you. Brak's words now seem to denounce your group, huddled together in the darkness. "Filthy Beasts! Thee Beasts! beasts! east!"
The buildings here are nearly all built of sturdy wood planks, much in the older Taldan style like those in the Old Cassomir district. They reach to the ceiling of the cavern, as if they were support pillars. Their wooden skeletons creak and groan softly under their burden. The few stone structures are very different, rough and simple in design and seem newer as well.
I boxed in the area your mite friend indicated as "Slaves here" on the map.
A bit alarmed at the amount of echo Brak's words caused, Odo keeps his voice down. "Biggest rats I've ever seen," he says as he fishes out his healing wand to use to cure the bite he received. "Anybody else hurt?"
Brak scoffs. "They know we're coming now. Let's keep our momentum before they get a chance to hurt their captives!" he says, walking purposefully towards the place the Mite indicated, peering into the dark to look out for ambushers.
Agreed, check the doorsss as we passs. Sithiss and I will guard the rear of the line asss we proceed.
.
Selter would normally try to be at the front. But since real life is getting in the way, I thought this would be the least disruptive if I don't get online to post very promptly. So Odo this will give you more chance to get up front and wack things. =)
As the Pathfinders move east, they check the doors of the buildings. Most of the buildings are abandoned and strewn with ruined furnishings, though some look to contain stored goods.
Darren takes point as you near the indicated area, when suddenly darts fly from the alleys. Fortunately, the throws were badly aimed and bounce harmlessly off his armor. A larger mite than you have seen before cries an alarm in it's strange native tongue.
Initiative Order - Surprise
-------------------------------------
Enemies:
Big Mite - throws dart, misses
Mite 1 - throws dart, misses
Mite 2 - throws dart, misses
-------------------------------------Round 1
Marla and Brak
Odo
Darren
Li
Svetlana
Selter and Sithiss
Enemy
Marla draws a wand and waves it over Brak, resulting in a shield of force appearing over him, before Brak himself moves to engage the large Mite. "Yeah, surrender. Or you'll get more of this!" he says before swinging his axe.
Though he would rather not fight them if they are slaves, Odo realizes that the mites must be subdued in order to get at the slavers themselves. He resolves, however, to try to save any mites he can and so moves forward left and strikes with his scimitar at one of the mites to subdue and pummel rather than slash and kill.
Scimitar non-lethally:1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 4 = 12 normal bonus, -4 for using a lethal weapon non-lethally Damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 just in case it hit (which looks unlikely), non-lethal, cold iron weapon
Well I wouldn't have tried to keep attackers alive like that little Odo. Hmm... Maybe he just wants one allive to question. I suppose that is reasonable.
.
Selter moves up next to Odo and tries to grab one of the blue creatures.
.
If it has a melee weapon out to threaten me, it will get an AoO since I don't have the improved. grapple:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Odo sheathes his scimitar again and drags the unconscious mite over to his restrained fellow. He hopes he can make himself sufficiently understood with non-hostile body language, if not all of his words. He extends an open hand, palm up, to the mite.
"We don't want to hurt you. If you are slaves, we will set you free and punish your masters. Where are your masters?"
The little mite squirms more weakly in Selter's grip as he squints at Odo, hearing his words. Finally, without a word, it raises a quivering claw and points toward one of the few stone buildings nearby.
"Let the poor thing go, Selter. We have more important things to deal with. His masters." Darren says as he grips the leather on his bow a bit tighter.
To the little creature, You might have a friend at the top of that ladder. Go fassst and do not look back.
.
Selter lets the creature go, but watches to make sure it is not running toward the building we are heading toward.
.
Selter casts magic fang on Sithiss and Shillelagh on his club as the group gets ready to enter the stone building the mite had pointed out.
Odo hands the unconscious mite over to the one Selter releases (in the hope that the mite doesn't simply leave his unconscious brethren to his fate). He then moves to follow in Svetlana's wake, drawing his scimitar as he does so.
Are we creeping up or rushing the door? Make stealth checks or declare who is leading the charge. Or I can use initiative to determine the charge order if you prefer.
Given on our best stealth efforts we have pretty much come off as about as ninja as a horde of hormonal rampaging hippopotami, I suspect we are simply marching down the main drag in 'show of force' mode. Stealth is over-rated.
As you approach the building, several of your party spot a container among the crates and barrels of supplies that is not like the others. It is a heavy trunk with an old fashioned iron padlock.
All seems quiet inside, though Darren and Brak signal that they hear multiple bodies moving and the all too familiar smell of overgrown rat permeates the air.
Do we want to check out the chest before breaching the room? If not I will move on with initiative.
I did 2 checks, if there is a trap that he finds, then the first is for disabling it, if not, the first is for popping the lock. If not, then pop the lock on the first one
Darren detects no traps and then deftly opens the lock. Inside is a potion, three scrolls, a fine looking shortsword and a heavy steel shield. The sword and shield look to be excellent quality, perhaps even enchanted.
"Svetlana, why don't you grab the shield and sword, we don't have time to wait around," Darren pulls the scrolls out and hands them to Marla and then grabs the potion and hands it to Svetlana, as well. "Lets go! He says as he readies his bow once more.
The door to the stone building is not locked and swings easily inside revealing the dim interior. The 15 by 30 foot room is clean and well kept. A cluster of barrels the only furnishings. Another of the overgrown dire rats prowls within and screeches and chatters as your light penetrates the interior. Just beyond the rat is another door to an adjoining room.
Initiative Order - Round 1
-------------------------------------
Odo
Darren
Li
Marla and Brak
Svetlana
WS
Selter and Sithiss
Rat
Moved the group into position to enter, I'll leave it up to you what order you enter.
Darren moves quickly into the room and off to the side slightly to allow his compatriots within. Then he casts Gravity Bow thinking that by getting close to the end of the hall, they must be closing in on the leaders...so they will just have to move quickly while the spell is active.
Initiative Order - Round 1
-------------------------------------
Odo - double move
Darren - moves and casts
Li - fires and misses
Marla and Brak - Kills Rat and Marla is hit
Svetlana - moves and readies attack
Derro! - shoots and strikes Marla
WS - move and attack
Selter and Sithiss - attack redirected
-------------------------------------Round 2
Odo
Darren
Li
Marla and Brak
Svetlana
Odo moves into the room, threatening the rat. He is followed immediately by Darren, who casts his spell as Li looses arrows at the rat that unfortunately go wide.
Brak charges in, burying his greataxe in rodents neck, felling the beast in one blow. Marla and Svetlana move to take up position and before Marla can reach her desired place, a missile suddenly streaks from that corner toward her striking her in the chest. The quarrel of a crossbow pierces deeply and she feels a wave of weakness sweep over her.
A maddened cackle screeches through the room as the maniacal creature cavorts wildly, seeming to appear out of shadow and singing something in an unknown language. It's pale bluish grey skin and wide staring white eyes mark it as a Derro. A long, pink puckered scar of a rough and recently healed wound runs down it's cheek, and you know you have found the one Captain Themis described.
The interior door flies open and two men stand in the doorway, holding clubs and shields. One of them steps out to strike at Brak, but his shield protects him. The other stays behind his fellow, unable to make it past him into the room without drawing blows.
Selter rushes in, striking the Derro heavily with his magic weapon. But the twisted creature still stands, cackling madly.
Marla takes 12 damage and 2 Strength damage from poison. She needs a DC 14 Fort save to cure the effect (1d2 Str Damage per round), else it lasts for 3 more rounds.
