Ravenna stabs forward with her rapier with a loud "Ha-HA!"
Siondel lines up a shot on the creature before everyone mobs up on it, and looses an arrow.
to hit vs flat-footed, for piercing damage
"Medved, guard us! Protect Ravenna!"
Directing the bear in elven, Siondel does not wait to see if his arrow struck true before drawing another shaft.
Cerilis's blade strikes out in a sudden flash whooshing air as it misses its target.
The flash of Zirul's sword and Jax's keen scimitar sliced the ghoulish creature in half, leaving just two in front, but no less menacing.
Ravenna's rapier slashes wind, but Siondel's arrow pierces the fetid flesh of the fanged abomination quickly.
The magic of Aaaggghh let's out a quick Boof! and explodes into the midsection of the other creature leaving a char-mark and an outlook of fierce anger and contempt for the dwarf.
The second creature swipes at Jax and misses him with a slashing claw.
The third creature swipes at Zirul, and only manages to scrape his armor a bit.
The first creature lies halved in a pool of his own blood.
Cerlis tries to recenter himself and swings again at the creature.
Augier holds back, having only one remaining spell left.
Ravenna slashes, then stabs again.
Siondel looses another arrow, much less confident now that everyone is joining the fray.
to hit, target in melee, with cover, for piercing damage.
After the arrow, he slings the bow onto his back and steps beside Medved.
Augier lets the brave elves take down the beast. How lucky he was to have such a skilled group to protect him.
Zirul looks at the creature who slashed at him and says "Ha, that tickled" as he swings his Bastard Sword down once more.
Cerilis and Zirul's blades both make a quick end to the second foul humanoid.
Jax's ax misses in a flash, but not before his quick blade cuts the third creature deep across the chest causing it to release a haunting howl.
Siondel's arrow flies miraculously through the fray bouncing off of the opposite wall.
Ravenna ends the entire affair by piercing the creature deep in its ripped up torso until it falls to the floor, lifeless.
There is a deafening silence that falls throughout the cavern as the outsiders try and catch their breath.
Ramne will most certainly look forward to the return of his pet as well as to the story of what was found underneath the Golden Grain Inn.
Zirul will search the bodies for anything of worth.
Phew! Looks like we really have ourselves some nasty critters down here. Something is rotten in the Golden Grain.
Ravenna wipes down her blade and replaces it, then adjusts her hat. "So forbidding! It's all got to be connected, hasn't it? In a town this size? So we have to find out... who's running this operation? I wonder if these tunnels were always here, or if someone made them for this purpose? I mean, how long has that snake-head-statue been there?"
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Picking from Ravenna's last phrase, Jax says "And how can we get it out of here and straight to an antiquary? Hahahah!"
The elf cleans his weapons before helping Zirul look for things of worth
"Now, jokes and looting aside... I'm worried about this place. As far as we know, we can only trust Ramne..."
As Jax starts to look at the statue with an appraisers eye,
The statue is worth about 5,000 gold coin but weighs 8,000 gold coin.
A pretty penny, I wonder where we could sell it though.
Zirul notices everyone admiring the statue and says "If I were you I'd stay away from that thing. I remember hearing about a sort of snake god cult that worships a snake with a human head often referred to as Naga. This statue resembles what I has heard of, but I can't seem to remember how vast the religion is or what practies they partake in."
We can try to find out later if it is cursed or anything.
"Ugh! Well, whatever. Let's finish and get out of here."
It is not going anywhere right now. So lets get back and let the old man know what we have done and found out.
"Agreed. The sooner we get out of this place, the better."
"I agree, let's get out of this dark and dreary place."
The old man in the grove of stately elms waits patiently for the group to arrive. He is sitting in a chair inside his hut, drinking tea and looking at a book.
Welcome back. Did you search the Golden Grain? How did it go? he inquires as the weasel jumps up into his lap to rest.
There is certainly something un natural going on under that place. We fought these skinny, humanoid things with fangs and claws, certainly didn't look like anything that should have been there.
Were there any of those lizard creatures? Or any sign of what is going on with the villagers, he continues.
There was this statue that looked like a snake, didn't see any other lizard things.
"Clearly it was all going on secretly. Organized abductions through secret passages! But to where are they being abducted? There is more to this problem than we have found so far," says Ravenna.
I think that whomever is behind all of this was using the tunnels to get rid of people. Maybe the poor souls were those that would not get a good price as a slave and now needed to be disposed of. The bar on the door would indicate such. These creatures that were left behind had long, sharp teeth, and pallid flesh that was stretched tightly over their bodies. I still do not know what they were but they have been dealt with and will cause no more chaos.
"No lizard people, but some natural predators. And those strange humanoid monsters, too. But we've dealt with all the threats thus far. I expect the underground tunnels extend quite a while, though, and no telling just where they end up. Good money suggests that giant temple, though, they seemed very suspicious to me."
Ramne listens carefully to each member's input before suggesting, Perhaps it would be a good idea to look into whatever is going on in the temple. I will try and contact the mayor, unless you think that is unwise.
Well if you do, be very catious. Maybe even have a guard with you. Augier gestures to the group.
If we do take on the temple, I suggest we hit it in the daytime. It seems that these things are more active at night then during the day.
Cerilis looks over at the old man and his familiar.
We could use some intelligence on the place, someone that can tell us numbers and any type of routine to the guards.
Ramne gets the hint from Cerilis, but he is nervous about the weasel's safety and says as much. He also points out the fact that he can communicate with the creature, but since he is physically unable to accompany you, who will obtain the information from the weasel?
How will you know what Mr. Whisker's sees? the old man asks.
Umm..Squeak once for yes, two for no? Anyway, we shouldn't take advantage of your help by wanting your familiar to spy for us.
"Perhaps we entice a few normal animals to scout out for us, then have them return? I can speak with them at this time, and again when they come back to us?"
Siondel's idea sounds good.
"Any cats or dogs around these parts? Surely one of the barns in town must have a cat or two hanging around. I will head out and check on that, see what I can do."
And Siondel gathers up his stuff and heads for the farmsteads, looking for a barn cat or two to converse with.
Ravenna shifts on her feet for a moment, then says, "Err... I suppose?"
I was thinking the same thing. I just thought our little friend there would get better information as it is smarter than anything local. I do understand not wanting to send him to far away from his master.
Ramne suggests, All very good ideas. I'm going to try and glean some useful information from these books while you are looking at the temple. Please return if you get any more information. If there is some obscure magic being used, perhaps we can work together to defeat it.
Siondel rides over to the farmstead where he spoke with the family earlier, and looks around for some barn cats.
wild empathy vs. DC 15+cat's charisma
Sadly, the local kitties are more interested in sleeping on hay than speaking with the elf.
Augier follows along.
Zirul will stay with Ramne and assist him in anyway possible.