The glowing scimitar strikes once, cutting the chitin of the creature. It dodges the second attack, though!
Round 2:
The prof lowers the creature's defenses.
"Be aware that you cannot resist the void's embrace, foul creature. You don't know how to manipulate it!"
The great crabby beast steps five feet forward, claws up and clacking!
for damage and a !
for damage and a !
Taking a second to aspect the moves of his enemy Caesare stabs twice at the creature.
While his magical weapon attacks the creature Sonny casts guidance on Bjorn.
Caesare's first hit lands, but only because the Professor barks out orders on where to strike! Sonny's magical attacks both hit, smashing bits of chitin off the creature, who keens in a low voice.
40/85
Bjorn grins as the creature picks him up and proceeds to ignore the situation by attempting to pummel it in a rage.
The wolf, begins to attempt to squeeze in to get closer to his master but can't.
The prof continues to bark orders on where to strike and what to do!
23/85
Bjorn claws into the monster, but he can see its wounds slowly knitting shut as close as he is!
The monster tries to slip Bjorn from claw to mouth! He does so! Bjorn feels a tingle from the tentacles, but does not sucuumb to the paralytic effect. He does, however, take damage!
With his free claw, the beast attacks Caesare! for damage and a
Bjorn howls in pain and anger and continues to try and pry off plates, break teeth, or slice skin as his claws could find purchase.
Being grapped is not caesares idea of fun, he drops his spear and draws his dagger slashing at the arm.
Sonny gasps as Bjorn is being eaten and yells at the creature "Spit him out! He can't taste good!" His force weapon then attacks the creature. He then shoots the beast with his crossbow, if it's still standing.
Bjorn claws at the crab-monster, while Caesare slashes with his dagger! Sonny's magical weapon and his crossbow both find their marks with uncanny skill, and the crab creature seems to be torn apart from many sources! It seems to fall apart, its corpse dissolving into water and flowing against gravity back to the pool of water nearby!
You suddenly have a moment to look around the chapel. The hidden chamber behind the secret wall is decorated floor to ceiling with disturbing carvings of devilfish, krakens, octopuses, squid, and other bizarre sea life, as well as unsettling depictions of human women mating with strange fish-men from the sea. At the far end of the room, a semicircular pool of water stands before a large bloodstained altar. On the wall above the altar, a carving of a giant, unwinking octopoid eye gazes over the room, surrounded by sinister twisting runes.
There is also a door to the south and with the death of the guardian, you can hear the sounds of sobbing and shushing noises from behind it...
The prof sighs as he's released from the creature's grasp.
"Well, that was a fine opponent, I guess. Might I ask for some healing, my dear Sonny?" says the prof, oblivious to the sobbing and shushing noises coming from behind the southern door.
"Yes of course I can heal you, Professor." Sonny then raises his holy symbol and sends out a wave of healing energy.
After doing that he examines the icons in the room to get an idea of who these people worship.
The icons seem to be more of Dagon, the demon lord of oceans. The iconography seems to support this, but you garner nothing new from your examinations.
The sobbing and shushing continue.
"Worshipers of Dagon. Let's see what's going on behind that door." Sonny then goes over to the door and opens it worrying someone may be being held prisoner.
The door opens to reveal a small room. A simple wooden bench stands against the far wall of this small chamber, next to a pool of dark water. Huddled in the corner are two people, a man and a woman, both wearing simple clothes. The wife is sobbing and the man is holding her, putting his body between you and her. He stops shushing her when you enter and lets out a long sigh.
"Please! Please don't hurt us! We know nothing!"
Sonny speaks to the couple in soft calming tones, "We don't harm those who offer no resistance. What brings you here? Why are you crying. You two don't look like you belong in this house of evil. What can you tell us about this place?"
The couple seem to quiet and the man speaks, his voice a little stronger now. "My name is Rufus Telby. This is my wife, Ismelba. We were told to wait here. We brought our second daughter to be fostered to the Neighbors, but Father Voltiaro said they ain't be here in the usual time, so he was gonna take her to the Undiomede House to see what was going on with 'em. He was gonna tell us when he got back so he told us to wait here every evening until he came back and let us know she was fostered safe. So we was waiting here when we heard the commotion and the fightin'. We was just about to head home to sleep, but..." He looks nervous now.
Bjorn slumps to the ground when the monster starts to dissipate. His breath a bit ragged, he scrounges for a piece of the monster but it all turns to seafoam and water.
He smacks the water with his spear a few times for good measure and frustration before he steps into the doorway of the room with the nice couple. He stares at them, listening to what they say before speaking. "Where is this house, we have business there." he says bluntly.
The young man looks confused. "I... I don't know. It's near the river, somewhere to the east. The priests never say since it's a holy place."
Bjorn looks just annoyed at this response, they didn't even know where they were sending their daughter. He stormed out of the room with spear in hand.
He made his way up to the priest that was tied up and stood over him for a good long while, this man would probably have the information but he couldn't pry such information from the man even if he tried.
He stood there going through the things he could attempt, torture, intimidation, bribery...but none of them would likely work and the one that would would only continue this man's spree of evil.
He stood there thinking of all the evil this man has done and could do and let the rage overtake him for a second, just long enough to snap his neck.
Ceasare looks at the others."Our next destination?" I need a hot bath and a chruch afterwards. Undead and now demon worshippers. What kind of adventure have I gotten into?
The prof raises an eyebrow and looks at the man with an intense gaze.
"The... Neighbors, you say? What is this? Pardon my question, sir, but we're not really familiar with the region, as you may have noticed." Reminding himself a trick Sonny taught him about human relationship, the prof ends his question with what he considers a friendly smile that looks more like a bizarre grin.
Bjorn's prey never wakes up. He lets out a long rattle and dies.
The young man smiles, a genuinely devout and pious smile. "The Neighbors live down the bay. They make certain our crops grow well and our nets are full!" He smiles as he tells you know that the Neighbors bring peace and good fortune to Illmarsh and that all second and third daughters are given to them for fostering. The girls are never seen in town again, but Father Voltiaro assures everyone that they live long and happy lives among the Neighbors, where they become the wives of powerful village headmen and hold positions of great respect and honor. The Tulbys were not happy to see their daughter taken away, but it is how things have always been done in Illmarsh, and it is not their place to change it.
"I think you should head home and rest. We'll handle things from here." Sonny says while trying to contain his outrage.
Once they have left he says, "I think we need to find where this priest went and wreck his day."
Caesare ponders for a moment before looking at the others."Maybe we can talk to the mayor and report our findings?"
The prof's face brightens as he hears the investigator's proposition. "Oh! Well indeed, my dear! The ever bright mind of the group!"
He then proposes to leave for the mayor's house as well.
Leaving the temple, the young couple heads off toward their home, while you head to the town hall. Once there you run into the Mayor as he is locking up and heading home. He jumps when he sees you and looking around, unlocks the door and ushers you inside.
"Have you f-f-found anything about my missing citizens?" He asks in a low nervous voice.
"Well Lord Mayor, it seems you have a demon Lord worshipping cult in your midst who likes his victims, or sacrifices in regular supply."
The mayor pales. "Demon worship? You're certain? And they've been sacrificing my citizens? To what end?" He looks incredulous.
The prof licks his lips nervously as he cites from his notebook. "'To make certain your crops grow well and your nets are full'. Does that ring a bell?"
Sonny looks at the mayor and says, "Yes, we are certain. They are worshipers of Dagon. There is a secret shrine in the back of the temple. You can have a look for yourself, no one should bother you now. You'll be able to see some of the bodies for yourself. It seems your second and third daughters born in this town are being offered up as well to someone called the Neighbors. Before you go, we need to know more about Undiomede House. It seems the high priest here was going there."
Bjorn let the others talk, honestly if he had his say the mayor would be strung up in the courtyard for the townspeople to do with what they will for letting such a thing happen and go on.
Every time the mayor looked his way, he would stare at him intently with his teeth showing.
Mayor Greedle looks a little uncomfortable. You can sense the slippery nature of his words. "Dagon? Why that's... terrible really. I mean, I am aware of the Neighbors, of course. That arrangement has been in place for generations, before my time, and keeps the town prosperous. Undiomede House is just a couple miles outside town, along old disused carriage tracks. It's fortunate, really; that's where your Dark Rider headed out of town. I think you'll find many answers there. I've never been there, but it's the former residence of the founder of this town. Always thought it was a ruin, but if the priest went there, maybe his kind keep it intact?"
"Indeed. Thank you for the informations, Mayor." says the prof.
"Do you think we should go now or can we rest?" he asks to the party.
Bjorn looks at the others "If we go now, we might be able to save the child from the fate of the others...I would press" he said simply before stepping outside.
He wasn't sure how the others felt about his opinions to be honest, they seemed....gentler than he would prefer but he has begun to see how they draw the line and has found some relief in it. Still, talking was not his strong suit so he preferred to give his opinion and leave least his anger get the best of him if they chose otherwise.
Sonny nods to Bjorn, "I think you might be right. We should continue now and maybe catch them off guard."
Caesare nods at Sonnys words."Wise words. Lets move, the faster we are there the better!"
The carriage path from Illmarsh has fallen into disuse. Now little more than a muddy, overgrown trail barely noticeable near town, the path becomes clearer closer to the manor, but its soft mud preserves tracks well.
Undiomede House is a 200-year-old, two-story stone manse built on the shore of a small, swampy lake near the edge of the Soddentimbers, 2 miles east of Illmarsh. The house is constructed of mortared stone for both interior and exterior walls.
Sonny looks around for anything unusual in the woods.
Bjorn sniffs the air occasionally as he rides along.
Looking carefully around Caesare looks for clues.
"Fine, let's go, then." admits the prof.
------
Augustus relies on Bjorn and Caesare's expertise.
Caesare finds several sets of shod humanoid tracks heading toward the manor, including one set of tracks that is much larger than the others. The tracks are obviously fresh (made within the last 24 hours), but they overlap so much that the number of creatures present is difficult to determine—at least three, possibly more. He also detects the faint tracks of a single horse heading toward the house. These are several days old and have obviously been rained on since they were made. Neither the humanoid nor horse tracks show a return trail; all are going in the direction of the house only. The humanoid tracks all enter the house at the main entrance. The horse tracks go to the carriage house.
Main entrance: A small colonnade supports a short, covered stair leading to the front doors of the manse. Cracked and lichen-covered statues of merfolk bearing tridents stand upon stone pediments flanking the entrance.
Carriage house: Two sets of double doors open into this wide chamber, large enough for a carriage to parked inside. Spare wheels and the rusted remains of a small forge show that one was once housed here. Two horse stalls occupy the far end of the room.
Sonny whispers to the group, "Main house or do we check the carriage house first? I doubt the rider stayed in the carriage building, but we may want to make sure no one is there."
Bjorn looks at the main house, his attention more upon it than the other. "I don't see what use the carriage building would be except perhaps a place to find rations...I mean horses" he said unsure of what else to say about the place.