Despite the assistance, Mezzan struggles to get on board the vessel. The blood in the water sends the party's aquatic assailant into a frenzy and snaps at the unfortunate gnome again.
Kalam shouts over his shoulder at Halsanna, "It's just a little water. Come over this side and you can get a decent shot at the thing!"
Taking his own advice, Kalam attempts to skewer the fish once more.
Ceinwynn attempts to catch the creature as he swims by.
While the rest of the party continues to struggle with getting the gnome back aboard, Kalam clips the beast again causing the water to get even murkier. Despite the wounds it's suffered, the creature continues to snap at his prey.
With perfect clarity, Ceinwynn drives her curved blade into the water, through the head of the beast savaging the gnome killing it instantly. It's weight threatens to pull her into the water until it slides free of her weapon and sinks.
Kalam grins at Ceinwynn, "Much obliged my dear. I guess the runewell's influence extends even to the denizens of the harbor."
Sheathing his rapier, he extends a hand over the side and helps Halsanna haul the sodden gnome back into the boat, "I appreciate your commitment to cleanliness Mezzan but I do feel like the bath could have waited..."
"Ouch. Any restorative magics, perchance, fair lady."
Ceinwynn winks at the handsome inquisitor. You know I've got your back.
She turns to the gnome. I think this lovely gentlemen is in possession of the happy stick. She points at Kalam.
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"Make me happy with your stick."
Kalam smirks, retrieving the wand from inside his now damn coat, "But of course my diminutive companion. Just close your eyes and do try to hold still..."
Once done he stows the wand once more, grabbing his flask at the same time. A quick sip and Kalam is back at the oars, rowing the lot of them towards the drainpipe.
With the hostile wildlife behind them (or below), Kalam is easily able to get the party to the drainpipe. The filth and salt-crusted nature of the terrain here suggests that nothing has passed this way in some time. After tying their dingy off on a sturdy bush, the team is able to scramble up into the long disused pipe. It appears the other teams and Ursus are already hard at work as the sounds of battle echo through the sewers in the distance.
Brushing some sand off of his coat, Kalam whispers to the others, "Alright, looks like the party has already started, lets get moving. Stick close behind me..."
Casting light on his shield to illuminate the tunnel ahead, Kalam begins moving towards the assumed location of the runewell, his rapier held level and at the ready.
The combinations of remote access point and well-timed distraction by their peers seems to have done the trick and the party is able to traverse the abandoned sewer tunnels without incident. Soon the sounds of battle are barely audible in the distance and the surroundings bare fewer and fewer indicators that the sinspawn travel this far. Instead there are new tracks – some animal but other clearly human.
Ceinwynn recognizes the tracks as human alright - both male and female. Kalam recognizes some of the animal tracks as belonging to a crocodile and Ceinwynn believes others as having come from very large rats - bipedal rats...
Kalam eyes the others with a wry smile, "Looks like the stories about crocs in the sewers is true after all. I guess I owe Daeron ten gold..."
Once the others are ready, he continues on cautiously.
Kalam smirks, "Yelling "BAM!" comes to mind..."
Pressing on, the party turns a corner and runs, almost head-on, into a pair of bipedal ratlike humanoids. There's a dangerous feral cast to their eyes and they growl in a decidedly un-ratlike way. Without speaking a word, they tense and attack!
Round 1
Kalam pulls us short at the creatures move into view, "Oh, hello...", he says quietly before sliding forward, lunging smoothly with his rapier.
Ceinwynn moves up to V14 and attacks the rat infront of her.
The doctor quaffs an oily tincture and, a moment later, the air shimmers as a protective barrier forms in front of him.
Both Ceinwynn and Abramov land solid blows on the first of the frenzied ratmen though they’re not as effective as they should be. Halsanna’s arrow is different, sizzling as it sinks into her target’s chest dropping him. Mezzen’s arc of conjured acid sails over the other’s shoulder.
The survivor draws a rusted blade and slashes at Abramov before snapping at him with yellowed teeth.
Kalam blanches slightly as his own efforts prove less effective than he would have hoped but takes heart as the silver tipped arrow drops one of the attackers outright, "Ah, the right tool for the job. I guess my old master sergeant was right, preparation is everything."
Stepping over the body of the fallen were-rat, Kalam attempts to bring down it's companion.
Ceinwynn 5 foot steps to W 14 setting Kalam up for a flank. She deftly swings her blade, aiming at a vital area.
Kalam lands a solid blow but it almost entirely regenerates a moment after he pulls his blade free. Ceinwynn lands an even mightier one, digging her curved blade deep into the rat-man's collar but it's Halsanna's silvered arrow that drops the creature.
With both wererats defeated it would seem the danger has passed but a rumbling growl and heavy footsteps that shake tunnels banish any such thought.
Mezzen positions himself so where he would have a clean shot at whatever is making that noise and readies to burn anything that steps into range.
"Stay back, so I can have a clean shot!"
Kalam squints against the dirt falling from the ceiling as the large...whatever makes it's way towards them.
He lays a nervous hand on his flask, "See me through to drink again and I'll toast a dozen in your name you damn lush."
He presses against the left wall and looks back at Mezzen, "Make it count! I'm not sure I fancy testing steel against the owner of that growl..."
Ceinwynn moves back a bit to allow Mezzen range for his spell. Looking back at Halsanna, Ceinwynn gives a look of disgust. "Grab your own arrows b@#!!. I'm not your maidservant."
Kalam winks at the shapely mercenary, "Now now, they're meant to be expended, my dear. I trust you remembered to bring extra this time?"
Turning the corner is a hulking reptilian beast. It walks on two legs, but only barely, and a low animal growl rumbles from its chest as it advances on the party.
Despite its lumbering gait, it darts aside avoiding the bulk of the gnome’s flames and then swings a huge scaly fist at the obstructive Kalam’s jaw.
"This isn’t a werecrocodile but a skinwalker, a lesser form of lycanthrope. It’s really strong."
Ceinwynn 5 foot steps to W 13 and attacks the crockathingy.
Her luck dries up as she misses wide.
Mezzen will retreat before the monstrosity and fire some acid at it.