Laithe immediately holds back his spear as he realises it is Nicolai exiting the room. His expression turns to worry as he learns Kajetan has gone missing.
At mention of a thump heard outside, he is eager to go and investigate immediately.
"Alright, Laithe and Nicolai with me," whispers Keildrithe. "Alton, perhaps you can guard the knockers with Pharris? I'm sure you'll hear us if we end up in over our heads... I pray Kajetan is alright... perhaps he went to relieve himself? Keep the light covered for now, Nicolai... Even though the devils can see in the dark, they might not notice us right away if we are discrete..."
The bard trembles slightly as he prepares to head out the back door. Before doing so, however, he attempts to steel his own nerves and those of his companions by reciting a few verses dedicated to the old Karandic hero-god Kord, Master of Strength and Courage. "Go with some of the Strongman's might in your arms and souls, my friend... let not these wicked devils spread fear in your hearts..."
Once he sees his companions are ready, he hushes them for an instant, and then listens for activity in the alley. Hearing none, he quietly pushes the door open and sneaks out, crouching low and keeping near the wall of the inn as he cautiously peers around the corner... Please gods, tell me it was not Kajetan falling that we heard...
Pharris turns around and dashes back up the stairs, heading to the second floor (third floor US) and from there up to the attic to check on the group’s reptilian allies.
Alton has just made it up the stair, when everyone starts heading back down.
Down at the ground floor, Keildrithe cracks the door open and peers out. He can make out nothing out of the ordinary in the still, grey pre-dawn light, and cautiously creeps out into the courtyard.
To the bard’s left, a ten foot high brick wall extends about thirty feet to another similar wall at the end of the courtyard. In the corner formed by these two walls, facing Keildrithe, is the small timber outhouse. Beside the outhouse is the gate to the back alley, currently hanging ajar.
About sixty feet away on the right is the far wall of the courtyard. That far side is piled with junk, and long with shadows – broken chairs, old bottles, pieces of lumber, crates and such. There is also a door into the stables.
Keildrithe creeps like a silent shadow towards the side of the outhouse and holds his breath so as to avoid inhaling any unpleasant odours. He presses his ear against the side of the outhouse in order to determine whether it is vacant, while keeping an eye on the gate, sword at the ready.
As Keildrithe creeps over towards the outhouse, he notices something sitting on the cracked flagstone ground; a large iron key.
Continuing across the courtyard, the bard puts his ear to the outhouse door; silence from within. However, he can hear something or someone moving in the alley beyond the wall, and a sort of scratching sound from amongst the junk at the other side of the courtyard… then he hears a distinctive ~twang~ from somewhere above, and a moment later feels a searing pain in his back.
His horrified companions in the doorway see a feathered shaft seem to sprout from the bard’s back. A moment later there comes some sort of horrid high pitched shriek from somewhere up above.
Pharris looks inside to see how the creatures are doing.
Alton follows Pharris, blades drawn and remaining alert for trouble.
Nicolai creeps behind Keildrithe as quietly as possible, keeping a keen eye out for trouble. He's quite as adept at staying hidden however...
Laithe follows Keildrithe as quietly as he can out into the courtyard. He looks and listens hard, and he stands shocked for a moment when he sees the arrow sprout from his friend's back.
"Haugh!!!!" Keildrithe cries out in pain and surprise, as the arrow strikes him in the back. Winded and wincing, he tries to take cover behind the outhouse, taking a quick look to see if he can spot the unseen archer. "I doubt if devils use bows and arrows... could it be that Atrek has finally found us?"
Pharris and Alton:
You make it up to the low ceiling, cramped corridor that gives access to the attic rooms. Spying the door to the room that the kobolds are staying in, you knock.
A moment later, a hissing voice (probably Raspit) replies: “Who isss there?” He sounds wary.
Keildrithe, Laithe, and Nicolai:
As Laithe and Nicolai creep out into the courtyard, an arrow zooms out from somewhere and buries itself in Keildrithe’s back.
Looking frantically about for signs of the attacker, Keildrithe and Nicolai do not spy him (or it), perhaps misjudging the angle of attack; they do however, spot several creatures, vaguely the shape and size of smallish dogs, lurking in the shadows amongst the lumber and refuse at the far side of the courtyard. The creatures seem to be moving out into the open, perhaps in response to the screech from above.
Laithe sees them too, but he also spots a cloaked and cowled figure lurking beside one of the crooked chimneys up on the roof of the inn – a figure holding a bow. Further, he spots a second figure standing atop the roof of a three story building on the other side of the alley, overlooking the courtyard. Silhouetted against the dark sky, little detail can be made out.
Pharris grins as the lithe halfling joins her at the top. Her breathing has returned to normal. The box doesn't seem that heavy.
"Alton, I wonder if your church enemies have finally caught up with us? No they would have just knocked and come in. Maybe the devil has tracked us down. I wonder how? The box may be calling to it. What do you think?"
She turns back to the door and bangs on it again, "Come on you lot. Are you well and unharmed?"
Inspired by Keildrithe's song, Nicolai moves forward towards the dog-sized creatures. If they appear menacing or aggressive in any way, he unleashes a burst of flame from his outstretched hands that engulfs his foes.
Augmented by the power from his blue silver-starred gloves, the fire does 5d4 = 16 Damage. DC 14 Reflex Save for half.
Pharris grins as the lithe halfling joins her at the top. Her breathing has returned to normal. The box doesn't seem that heavy.
"Alton, I wonder if your church enemies have finally caught up with us? No they would have just knocked and come in. Maybe the devil has tracked us down. I wonder how? The box may be calling to it. What do you think?"
She turns back to the door and bangs on it again, "Come on you lot. Are you well and unharmed?"
"I think that either way, things are about to get very ugly. You watch the box, I watch Lumbie, and we both watch each other's backs."
Alton grins at Pharris "Let's give them Hell."
"Hell? Imps? Oh you are a clever one, Alton."
If the knockers do not open the door, Pharris bangs on it again.
Pharris and Alton:
Alton, you hear the roof creak slightly overhead, and then again. It seems that something big (well, bigger than a bird or a cat anyway) is moving around up there.
Just as Pharris goes to knock on the door a third time, there is the sound of a bolt being drawn, and the low height door swings open, revealing Raspit standing in the doorway, his thin sword drawn. Chupo is bathed in the faint light coming in from the room’s dormer window, as he stands in front of it peering out, his sword drawn also. Lumbie sits up in his blankets, looking fearful.
“There’sss sssomething up there,” hisses Raspit quietly, gesturing towards the raking ceiling with his blade.
Keildrithe, Laithe, Nicolai:
The creatures that lurk amongst the junk begin slinking forward out of the shadows, the dim light revealing sleek, fur covered bodies and sinuous, furless tails, glinting faintly off beady eyes and long, crooked incisors; these are no dogs, but great rats!
Perhaps surprising his companions, Nicolai steps a few paces towards them, hands outstretched, and then a great gout of flame bursts from his fingertips, momentarily lighting up the darkness and engulfing the three horrid creatures. For a moment they are outlined in the flames, writhing and shrieking. An instant later the fire is gone, except for a few small flames dancing over the creatures’ charred fur as they all three lie blackened and smoking on the cobbled ground.
In simple terms, you're in a roughly 30 x 60 courtyard, there is a door into the inn on the west side and a gate into the street on the east side. Nicolai stands roughly in the centre, having scorched the creatures that were slinking forward from the south side when they were 15 feet away from him. Keildrithe and Laithe are near the NE and NW corners respectively.
Alton's grin fades as he listens to the sounds above. At the knocker's words he nods "It sounds bigger than a cat or something too."
Pharris listens briefly to the sounds from above.
"Let's go, everyone. They may come in the window or through the roof, so we should go downstairs, nearer the others and away from whatever that is."
Pharris points down the stairs again.
"Raspit, Lumbie, you follow me to the room with the bunks, Alton guard the rear, I've got my hands full with this devil box."
She looks at the halfling, "ready?"
Thankful that the arrow that is portruding from his back does not seem to have struck any vital organs or embedded itself too deply, Keildrithe -- still hiding behind the outhouse -- steadies his nerves and begins to whisper a lullaby through clenched teeth, waving his hand at the archer that stands on the roof across the alley.
Keildrithe, Laithe, Nicolai:
Keildrithe, it seems that the arrow is lodged into your flesh, head resting flat against your ribs, but does not seem to have pierced your ribcage.
The figure on the other roof shakes its hooded head slightly, but there is no sign whether or not Keildrithe’s spell has taken effect. A moment later it raises its bow, sending an arrow streaking towards Laithe, hitting the druid in a glancing strike
The archer on the inn roof fires again at Keildrithe, but the arrow lodges into the timber wall of the outhouse a few inches from the bard’s head.
With a creak, the open wooden gate to the alley is edged further open, and another oversized rat pads into the courtyard, followed by two of its fellows. The lead rat hisses, and leaps at Keildrithe, while the two following make a beeline towards Nicolai. The rats snarl, scratch and nip; both men are able to keep the beasts generally at bay, or else catch the bites on armour or loose clothing, but one bite manages to penetrate Nicolai’s defences, a deep scratch
Laithe winces in pain as an arrow scores a gash along his shoulder blade. He takes a quick glance around and, noting Nicolai's handywork with the rats, decides that Keildrithe and Nicolai should have the ground threat under control. Turning his attention to the rooftops, he moves to a spot where he can gain some cover and begins casting. "Ehlonna, send me one of your mighty forest creatures to help combat those who assail us..."
Alton and Pharris:
The knockers spend a few moments gathering up their meagre belongings, occasionally glancing up at the ceiling or out at the window.
The window is a reasonably big dormer style window, looking out over the roof. It is big enough that an adult human could probably squeeze through. There is no glass, just heavy looking timber slatted shutters that one can just peer out between. They open outwards and are secured from the inside with a simple turn latch.
Keildrithe, Laithe, Nicolai:
Nicolai shrugs off the effects of the scratch and turns to face the creatures.
Lather, rinse, repeat. Nicolai takes a 5'-step back and unleashes another wave of fire at the rats. He doesn't bother to augment the spell this time. Burning Hands: 3d4 = 10 damage. DC 14 Reflex Save for half.
Can I see the archers yet? Spot: 1d20+2 = 19
Nicolai shrugs off the effects of the scratch and turns to face the creatures.
Lather, rinse, repeat. Nicolai takes a 5'-step back and unleashes another wave of fire at the rats. He doesn't bother to augment the spell this time. Burning Hands: 3d4 = 10 damage. DC 14 Reflex Save for half.
Can I see the archers yet? Spot: 1d20+2 = 19
The monsters are certainly agile; as the flames sprout from your fingertips, they both dash out of the way with almost supernatural quickness, avoiding the full brunt of the spell … but the magical fire is intense, and even being caught at the edges is enough. The creatures’ mangy fur catches alight, and they both go down, screeching, writhing, rolling, ending up lying twitching feebly on the stones.
The rats that died, did they suddenly blink out of existence? Just askin'
Pharris starts back down, making sure that the knockers follow.
Once downstairs she heads back to the room with the bunkbeds.
Alton follows, taking rear guard and staying alert for anyone or anything that might be following them.
Keildrithe curses as the third dog-sized rat lunges at him. The bard attempts to keep the creature at bay with a few good kicks, while he concentrates on properly uttering the words and making the correct gestures for the incantation he has begun, doing his best to avoid any interruptions to the magical flow that might be caused by the oversized rodent's assault, and by the pain that still comes from the arrow shaft sticking out of his back. Oh the irony, that Atrek's armour should have taken the brunt of the impact of one of his archer's arrow...
Pharris and Alton:
The pair of you hurry downstairs, with the knockers scurrying along between you. When Pharris reaches the top of the flight of stairs leading back to the ground floor, something gives her pause; she can hear sounds of commotion, possibly battle, coming from below, slightly muffled – perhaps from outside.
The rats that died, did they suddenly blink out of existence? Just askin'
Keildrithe, Laithe, Nicolai:
As Keildrithe begins chanting his spell, another weird cry comes from up above. The rat harrying the bard renews its attacks, but all it manages to sink its crooked teeth into is the hardened leather of Keildrithe’s boot.
Keildrithe and Laithe have secured themselves in positions where they are somewhat sheltered from the roof-top archers, but Nicolai is entirely exposed out in the centre of the courtyard, and with the rats facing him now dead or dying, both assassins turn their attention (and bows) to the Atuscan. The one on the far roof misses by a large margin – perhaps hindered by the poor light, but the one of the inn roof scores a glancing hit as an arrow whirs by, slicing briefly against Nicolai’s arm before hitting the ground.
"Alton, they're fighting outside! We must help." She rushes into the ground floor room and dumps the devil box on the lower bunk.
"Pharris! We can't leave the box. Most likely, the fight outside is a distraction, something to keep us occupied while another group comes for the box."
Alton looks torn, trying to decide on a course of action.
She stares back at him. And then at the knockers. Then at the box.
Laithe finishes of his casting with a final prayer to Ehlonna and points his hand up towards the assassin on the roof across the way. With a piercing shriek like that of an eagle, a large shape appears in mid-air; a hippogriff. It quickly turns it's attention towards the assassin and, circling, bears down at him from behind, attempting to drive him from the roof.
Seeing the hippogriff on the attack, Laithe then turns, hefts his spear and hurls it at the assassin on the roof of the inn.
Pharris and Alton:
Pharris reaches the bottom of the ground floor stair, with Alton and the kobolds not far behind her. Opposite the stair is the short passage to the courtyard. The courtyard door is open, and a figure can be seen huddled against the wall of the latrine opposite – Keildrithe, kicking at some sort of animal that appears to be attacking him.
Pharris’ stares at Alton on his comment, then at the kobolds, then at the box. Raspit speaks up. “We’ll guard the box!” he proclaims, stepping forward and puffing out his chest, looking faintly ridiculous in his hastily donned gnome mask and wig.
Keildrithe, Laithe and Nicolai:
With a screech, a near mythical creature appears in the air forty feet above the town, a creature with an eagle’s head and wings on a horses body.
It wheels around towards the hooded, would-be assassin on the other roof, who gives out a weird shriek, and swings his bow awkwardly at the monster as it dives towards him. The bow connects , then the hippogriff barrels into the archer, knocking him off the roof. He falls, out of sight behind the courtyard wall, though those within the yard hear a sickening thud.
Laithe whips about and throws his spear up towards the other archer some twenty five feet above, on the roof. Between the shadowy conditions and the awkward angle, it is difficult to tell if the spear hit its target, although there comes a slight grunt and the sound of something clattering on the tiles.
Keildrithe stares in amazement at the hippogriff that falls out of the night sky to topple the archer on the roof across the alley. Still kicking frantically at the rat that is trying to savage him, he turns and points towards the archer on the roof of the inn as he murmurs the last words that will complete his spell...
At the weird shriek, Alton sees Pharris' eyes leap away. She follows into the alleyway combat, her bow and greatsword in hand.
Nicolai's eyes widen as a hippogriff appears out of nowhere and knocks the archer off the roof across the way. He quickly abandons the spell he had planned and looks up to the roof of the inn and whispers to Laithe . "Let me know if you need help."
Feeling that the time for spells has passed, he draws his dagger and attempts to rid Keildrithe of last rat-beast.
Badly out of practice with a weapon, Nicolai nearly trips over his own feet, but catches himself just in time to avoid falling face first into a moving pile of rat fur.
Nicolai tries to dispatch the rat harrying Keildrithe. His clumsy attack does not connect, but it is enough to distract the creature, allowing the bard to finish his spell.
His original target no longer visible (and possibly no longer a threat), Keildrithe focuses the spell upon the archer on the inn roof instead. An instant later the hooded figure slumps against the chimney and slides down onto the tiles, his bow clattering to the roof, clearly asleep.
And then something odd happens.
Keildrithe knows that once his spell works (which it appears to do) the man should be deeply asleep for several minutes, or until vigorously shaken or some-such. But only an instant after he apparently slumps into sleep, he suddenly awakens with a yelp, appears to look about, then reaches for his bow and struggles back to his feet!
Meanwhile, on the ground, the rat’s survival instincts appear to take over. It nips viciously at Nicolai , then darts about, attempting to escape out the open courtyard gate.
Having just hurled his spear in that direction, Laithe's notices the assasin on the roof fall asleep and then wake suddenly, as if poked. The demons! he thinks, and immediately begins casting a spell he had prepared for this moment. He directs the spell to just above where the assassin squats on the roof. Immediately the assassin begins to glow, as if surrounded by gentle, flickering candle flames. Laithe scans the area to see if any other beings are similarly highlighted, hoping to catch the outline of the demon he believes is up there.
"Beware - demon on the roof!" he yells to the others, and (assuming the spell has worked and the thing has been outlined) he immediately transforms into wolf form and runs back inside, heading towards the attic.
Having just completed his spell, Keildrithe can only manage a clumsy swipe at the fleeing rat -- and completely misses. "Thanks, Nicolai!"
The hippogriff wheels around and flaps down into the alley (and out of sight), presumably to finish off the fallen archer. Avian shrieks rise up, mingling with more human sounding noises of alarm, indicating that the fall did not kill the would-be assassin.
Laithe calls up another spell, and a glowing radiance springs up on the inn roof around the other archer. Outlined by the faintly flickering flames, those on the ground can see that the fellow appears to have oddly shaped legs … and is that a tail protruding from under his cloak?
As Laithe suspected, something else is outlined by his flames too; a small creature, a cat by its shape, lurks hitherto unseen beside the other.
Laithe shifts swiftly to wolf form and races back into the inn, past Pharris and Alton, and up the first flight of stairs.