Gloriana rises to her feet, her clothing still smoldering from the alchemy fire, and hurries to the NW door. She takes time to ready her bow and nock an arrow. She hisses at Seth and Pendleton. Tell Odan and Sohar we're about to have more company! she whispers fiercely.
She steps back from the door, arrow ready.
Gloriana, the door seems to be locked, but that isn't preventing whoever/whatever behind to rattle it. "Oh damn, he's gone off again..."
Let's quickly and quietly open the door, sneak up on him. Odan whispers.
Sohar, you do find a key stuffed in the latest victim's pocket, but its much too small for the door lock. There is also a rusty iron chest nearby that could be searched...
Inside the chest:
artfully crafted studded leather
small shield
a polished rapier
shortbow w/15 arrows
a wayfinder (compass-like device)
climber's kit
Door key
Pindleton listens at the door to see if whoever was there might still be lurking about, and then tries to pick the lock.
Pindleton, the lock has 5 pins and is somewhat difficult to pick. It feels as though the springs have rusted and the brass the lock is constructed of has changed diameter with temperature and time, making it behave a bit unpredictably. With some nimble motions however, you open the door and are confronted by a human manacled at both the wrists and ankles, hopping around stupidly and cowering somewhat, despite your short stature. "W-what...what is this, are you with those beasts?"
A prisoner? I was not expecting that. Who are you?
We are not with these beasts. In fact, we killed a bunch of 'em. Who is Tulok and why are you a prisoner?
Seth let the other talk while he tries to check if the newcomer behavior indeed match the one of a prisoner.
"Oh my goodness, oh yes...oh happiest of days! I'm saved." he works very hard to contain his emotions "Let me try to answer your questions. I am Balenor Foresend, master orator of Absalom and Pathfinder." he does his best to take a bow, shackled and tussled. "Tulok is that one on the floor there who stole my glasses...looks like you took his face, so I suppose there's some equality in that...proportionality, at least. He was my captor, but is not the master of this fallen fortress. However he was one I shared a language with--this tribe was trapped here after an earthquake blocked their passage back to the Darklands."
Seth, its a wild story, but he seems to be telling the truth.
"Oh my things...er...of course, sirs and gentlemen, please make use of them...I certainly never want to see that damned climber's pack again." it seems the things in the chest were his belongings.
Even before the manacles hit the floor Balenor is rubbing his wrists and sighing relief. He goes in for a man-hug, clasping you in great appreciation. "I owe you my life. I'll never abandon you." he picks up a loose brick, sizing it up as a weapon, hefting this way and that. "Tasskar is their leader...a wild nature priest, he keeps an unholy albino crocodile nearby. I have named him "Snapjaw" in my chronicles. Perhaps you've already dealt with him?"
We have not. Are you experienced in war? If not, I'd like you to stay in the back and out of danger, until we can get you back home. Grab any weapon you find here, that may serve better than a brick. Or take one if mine, any one.
"Well, I can handle myself in a sword fight...but just how the hell do you parry a crocodile's mouth? If no one is using it, Id take my rapier...just for self defense. I'm much too weak to be any use, likely...they've been feeding me some kind of wierd lizard meat, leaves a metallic taste in the mouth and gives you the runs of the damned." he clears his throat "Anyways, please...proceed, I won't get in your way."
Odan heads for the door, ready to open it.
Pindleton follows Odan to the door, ready with his bow or to assist with any locks.
Gloriana retrieves her javelin from the dead trog and then joins the others in the room, backing up Odan and Pin at the door.
She glances sideways at Balenor, not wanting to put herself in front of him...just yet. Javelin ready she gives the others a nod to open the door.
Odan opens the door.
Cracks in the walls and ceiling of this chamber have allowed rainwater to collect here, flooding the room and giving rise to a profusion of mold and fungus along the walls and ceiling. The water is ankle-deep.
In the middle of the puddles an enormous frog turns its wide open eyes towards you, salivating. It seems to be wearing a spiked collar of some sort.
Round One:::::
Pindleton, Sohar <-- UP
Giant Frog
Odan, Gloriana, Seth
Seeing the collar, Odan looks around for the owner.
Odan, the amphibious room has the appearance of a kennel. You can spot areas for sleeping, eating, and it seems some effort has been made to address the creature's comfort. This towering toad appears to be the sole occupant, however.
Pindleton carefully moves just inside the doorway and aims his bow at the frog, but holds his shot. "So... should we take it out? Anyone want to try talking with it? I'm thinking maybe this fella has more pets than just an albino crocodile."
Not wanting to harm the little beastie, Odan tries walking around it, while offering soothing words.
It's alright, little fellow.
The frog bellows forth a demonic sounding 'ribbit' before lashing out with a stinky sticky tongue, trying to snatch Pindleton whole.
The tongue's force is enough to actually pierce the halfling's skin, entangling him further by wrapping around a few times.
Round One:::::
Pindleton, Sohar
Giant Frog
Odan, Gloriana, Seth <-- UP
"Yuck!! Kill it! Kill it! Blech!"
Not wanting to take a chance on hitting Pin with her javelin, Gloriana drops it and charges into the room, drawing her sword.
When she closes, she slashes at the giant frog's head, hoping to kill it quickly.
Damned beast!
Well, damn, Odan says. As much as I like these critters, sometimes you gotta put them down.
Pindleton barely manages to wrestle free before the hungry pet is slaughtered by the combined melee of Gloriana and Odan. Frog legs anyone?
Gloriana checks the chamber of the giant frog, poking her sword in the water and around any type of bedding material she comes across.
She will then make her way to the door in the southeastern part of the room and listen.
Odan sheds a small tear for the little froggie, pulls up his britches a bit, and moves on.
Where there's a guard frog, there's a master. Let's be cautious.
Pindleton waits for Odan to move on, then eyes the frog angrily and gives its corpse a swift kick. He mutters under his breath, "Nasty, slimy creature."
He then readies his bow as Gloriana approaches the next door.
Pindleton, you feel something solid in its stomach when you kick it, probably its last meal.
Gloriana, you can hear the sounds of the plains outdoors at evening through the door. The wind whistles through the cracks and you can even smell the faint notion of the ocean.
Assuming she didn't find anything by searching the room, Gloriana awaits for all of her companions to arrive before opening the door, sword in hand.
Gloriana, the door swings wide open, revealing a ledge leading down to the bat area from the previous floor. A quick glance doesn't reveal any way to get up to the top floor from out here.
Gloriana shuts the door. We need to find another way up. This just leads to the room below with all the bats.
Having pretty much cleared this floor, Gloriana returns to the stairs and looks at her companions. Are we ready to go up further?
Odan adjusts his grip on his axe handle. Yup. Let's go.
”Be right there, I just... need to take care of something.”
Hating to have anything of potential value go to rot in a dead frog’s belly, - and he tells himself, it might be useful knowing what - or more likely who - this thing fed on, Pindleton works himself up to slashing open the frog to see what’s inside.