"The longer we spend here, the more likely the one that got away will return with aid."
Wanna go in the main hall there and keep heading east?
Once he realizes that he isn't able to find the last librarian Ezreal finally responds to Gil. "Generally I was curious about the materials they had access to and how fresh they were. In this case nearly entirely human, fresh, and created by someone with an excellent understanding of anatomy and attention to detail. An amateur ends up stitching random bits and pieces that they think will look intimidating. Once it is off the slab they realize it is top heavy or can only walk in a herky-jerky fashion."
"We don't have time to go searching the card catalogs. We can grab them on the way out."
I reckon.
Aye.
yes
The voice continues its distant monotone.
"I don't like this at all. Nev and Runzyl, stay with Rod and Ez, in case the goblin-thing shows up. Gelb and Gil, we'll take point." Janosz quietly walks down the corridor.
"Understood."
Gelb frowns at Janosz's suggestion but follows him nevertheless.
perception
stealth
nice stealth
The corridor leads past most abandoned classrooms and exhibits. The voice gets louder and the words can be made out.
"You will note how the articulation of a main joints in the reassembled organism shows little sign of deterioration. This evidences the superior results of the Karloff method in bringing together the amalgam by ensuring the surfaces remain well lubricated..."
There is a light at the end of the corridor, shining through a half-open set of double doors. The voice seems to emanate from there.
Thinks, "snicker.....Karloff method,.....what a hedge surgeon...." to himself.
"I'll check this out", Janosz mutters to the changelings. "Hang back here for a second while I take a look at the lecturer and his students."
Janosz creeps up and peers through the gap between the doors. Inside he can see a lecture theatre, with rows of seats descending to the bottom where a robed figure stands over a surgical table. Lying on the table is a naked patchwork corpse, much like the golem the adventurers had fought earlier, though this one has an arm detatched and lying next to it on the surface. A second bulky figure in overalls stands silently at the back bearing a tray with glittering surgical instruments. In the seats, their attention rapt, sit eight robed figures listening intently to the lecture.
Janosz creeps back to the party. "Eight students, another golem, plus the guy talking. We can handle that with the right plan."
"Only if your wizard has a fireball ready to toast them," Gelb responds. He looks at his wand at hand, stows it away, and pulls another out.
"We can't let any get away like your last blunder."
"Oh, absolutely. You any good with a bow, Gelb? Together, the two of us should be able to ruin the main man's day, while our spellcasters pound the apprentices as Nev and Runzyl rush in and kill the lot. Rod, you'll be on bow duty too."
While waiting on the sneaky ones, Nevharath will take a brief look at the index card to see if any tomes relating to psionics might be in this collection, with a preference towards older tomes (where better to find the oldest tomes than in a necropolis?).
Perception
I'm guessing I'm going to get out my bow and shoot some guys when it goes down.
Nevharath stands ready to rush in and crack skulls with Runzyl, but is awaiting the report from those who went scouting.
"OK. Huddle up," Janosz mutters as he gestures everybody closer. "If all the guys in there are spellcasters, we need to knock them out fast, or we're toast. Which, incidentally, is why we're snuffing the lot - I don't want multiple wizards roaming free behind us. So, we line up by the door, Gil kicks it open as Rod and I target the main guy. The spellcasters hit the students."
Janosz lowers his voice further. "Speaking of roaming freely, I heard the goblin in the corridor behind us. Don't look that way; don't let it know we know. I was thinking either Nevharath or Runzyl stays behind with Ez, Gil and Gelb as we attack, just to guard against goblin shenanigans."
"Comments?"
Nevharath listens to Frogshanks's plan, he looks to the Valenar warrior. "Although I believe I already know the answer, which would you prefer? The assault, or the rear guard?"
Looking between the two warriors, Gil offers, "I will back up to the rearguard after my role initiating the action". [ooc]Ez will be busy (and more effective) with the students and I can turn my see invisibility up the hall so we can hopefully find the little porcupine.
N10
"I will join the others in battle," he whispers to Nev. "Protect our mages."
The adventurers take up their positions. They are getting ready to strike, when...
"Intruders! Heretics! We are under attack!" The thin reedy shriek comes from down the corridor, along with the sound of small feet running away - the last pukwudgie has warned his fellow cultists. There is a brief pause from the drone of the lecturer. He then says, again not sounding especially animated , "It would seem we are about to have a practical demonstration. Remember, the Keeper respects the survivor."
init
"....dry eyes,.....red eyes...."