Merle approaches the tower to try her ray of frost plan until a fountain of water erupts out a tower window drenching her through to the bone "I hate wizards." she mutters to herself as water drips from her clothes and fur.
Merle is amazed by the amount of water fountaining out. She hears a crack and sees pieces of the much-abused tower's masonry starting to pop out of place and rain down.
Meanwhile, in the tower's first floor
The party had been milling around the entranceway, when Ekuur rushed upstairs. Suddenly, moments after he disappeared, water begins to gush out of the stairway landing, drenching the khaasta corpses. Groans and creaks can be heard echoing down from above, and cracks begin to form in the tower's ancient masonry.
Nari, seeing the cracks forming in the ceiling, does her best to keep the ceiling near the door propped up.
"Get away from the tower," she said, her eyes glowing gold as she bent her will to keeping the exit open. "I will do my best to keep the door open so that Ekuur and Justin can get out."
Merle attempts to help Nari by using her scroll of levitate on part of the ceiling (can prop an object of 300lbs.)
Between Nari and Merle, the door stays in one piece. More and more water sweeps out of it, drenching them up to their knees. Rocks begin falling about them as the tower begins to shake itself apart.
Isaac runs for the door, helper monkey in tow.
Isaac runs for the door, helper monkey in tow.
Bethany flies down to the others.
"I had no idea those potions were so powerful!"
"Karrin a little help bracing the door would be nice."
Ekuur's eyes go wide as the water rushes down. "This is why water should be in small doses only! Curse be to the wet element!"
strength
Ekuur's eyes go wide as the water rushes down. "This is why water should be in small doses only! Curse be to the wet element!"
strength
"You guys want a little help?" Karrin says quickly stepping up.
STR:
Ekuur's eyes go wide as the water rushes down. "This is why water should be in small doses only! Curse be to the wet element!"
strength 1d20+3
The wall of water catches Ekuur off guard. He experiences something he never thought he would: Complete immersion in water. He is swept off his feet by the fury, getting swept back down the stairs. After a tumultuous few seconds he is shot off the landing out onto the first floor.
Falling:
At the front doorway:
The party sees Ekuur's form come shooting out of the stairway opening, landing with a crunch among the lizard corpses and flotsam from the flood
"You guys want a little help?" Karrin says quickly stepping up.
STR: 1d20+5
Karrin shoulders the lintel and keeps the crumbling opening in check. She sees Ekuur's fall. He lands about 30' from the front door in a tangle
Justin turns to run, but the combination of swift flowing water and his own speed spell make for unfriendly footing. He doesn't get two steps before his feet are swept out from underneath him. His heavy leather coat doesn't help matters any, getting caught in the shallow but swift current and dragging the unhappy fire mage along with it.
'I hope I'm heading for the stairs and not a window!' Justin thinks, surprisingly calmly, as he is flipped head over heels.
He tries to reach in his pocket for one last chance at help, but the water, trying to protect himself from harm as he is bounced and rolled along, and disorientation do not make it easy. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, (but is probably only 3 seconds), his fingers close over what he thinks might be what he's looking for. Desperately he tries to get his face above the water.
"Golden<GURGLE>!"
"Golden<GURGLE>!"
Justin tumbles down the stairs, slamming painfully into the tower's walls as he goes. The narrow stair is awash in water. Ferns, timbers and ballista bolts swirl by his obscured vision. He gurgles and chokes from the water, his abused lungs now fighting for air
He calls for Goldenwing as a narrow crumbling window presents itself in his blurred vision, water sucking him towards it. He shoots towards it, grasping Goldenwing and croaking out the command word. His skinny form shoots out the window. He gets a crazy funhouse mirror glimpse of the party below him as he tumbles into the twilighlit smoke-filled air.
Goldenwing erupts into being, a surprised screech issuing from his bronze-colored beak.
Justin tumbles down the stairs, slamming painfully into the tower's walls as he goes. The narrow stair is awash in water. Ferns, timbers and ballista bolts swirl by his obscured vision. He gurgles and chokes from the water, his abused lungs now fighting for air
Justin manages to keep his mouth (mostly) closed as he is swept and tumbled through the debris. Amazingly, his Force Shield Ring and enchantments on his heavy coat protect from him from the worse of the abuse. At one point, he manages to get his mystic shield under him, and actually skims along the top of the water. For a moment. He raises the tiny bronze statuette to eye level with a grin,...
He calls for Goldenwing as a narrow crumbling window presents itself in his blurred vision, water sucking him towards it.
And his grin turns to a look of panic, he inhales to call the griffon, and gets a mouthful of water. He coughs and tries again, his manly Call of Command sounding more like a girlish scream as the claustrophobic water slide suddenly opens up,...
He shoots towards it, grasping Goldenwing and croaking out the command word. His skinny form shoots out the window. He gets a crazy funhouse mirror glimpse of the party below him as he tumbles into the twilight smoke-filled air.
For one, brief, eternal moment Justin is suspended in time as well as space. He can feel the warmth in his hand as the statuette's magic activates.
'Hey! I can see Che-Chowk from here!' He calmly realizes. Then time speeds up again, and he grasps for the surprised Griffon's mane,...
And mage and griffon cry out in unison as the wizard's wet, gloved fingers manage to grab and hold onto the griffon's mane! Justin's laughter of relief only slightly tinged with might possibly be misconstrued as hysteria.
"WHOOO!!!! YEAH!!" He screams. "Let's do that again!"
fort
"Oomph!" Ekuur groans as he lands in a crumpled heap. He slowly picks himself up, and curses his sopping wet clothes. "By the Flame, that is not something I wish to do again."
"Hurry and get out, Ekuur. I don't know how much longer we can hold this up. And Justin seems to have found his own exit."
Ekuur wastes no time in heeding Nari's advaice, and exits as fast as he can.
Ekuur wastes no time in heeding Nari's advaice, and exits as fast as he can.
Ekuur picks himself up and runs pell mell from the crumbling tower. As he clears the door there is a rumbling as the wooden floors start to cave into each other. The party runs back, as the inside of the tower collapses with a sound like an out-of-tune carnival organ playing the Armageddon Rag. The stone walls follow, imploding onto the jumble of ancient planking. All that is left at the end is a pile of smoking rubble.
Justin flys down astride Goldenwing, his panoply a bit mussed and drenched with water. An orchid blossom is incongrously tangled in his wet hair.
Goldenwing circles down, holding onto Justin with his foreclaws as much as the mage is holding onto him. He releases the wizard as his feet touch the ground. Justin promptly collapses, breathing heavily with exertion and adrenaline. He coughs occasionally, spitting water.
"Heh. Heheh. Whooo!,... Heh. <Cough>" He says, his arms and legs flailing once, then flopping back down like fish out of water. Goldenwing gazes at him with either interest, or irritation, preening his ruff where the wizard had been hanging on.
"I owe you buddy!" Justin says weakly to the griffon.
"I owe you a big steak! Heck, I owe you a COW!" he laughs/coughs. He props himself up on one elbow to look at the others.
"You missed all the fun!" he says seriously. Then he sees Ekuur.
"Oh. Nevermind." he grins.
Justin gets back up, makes a halfhearted effort to shake the water off of his coat, gives up and blows a long strand of wet hair from his eyes.
"I hate water." He says to Ekuur, Straight-faced, as he plucks the orchid from his hair. He holds the dilapidated flower with two fingers, moves it away from him, and drops it.
"BUT. The swim was worth it!" he adds with a smile of triumph as he pulls out the brassy rod from inside his coat. He flourishes it over his head.
"I got it!" he crows happily.
"Cutter... if I didn't know better, I'd say ye did that on purpose! Call me a modron, but I'm seein' patterns: seems like each job with the Silver Rose ends with a fortress fallin' around our ears. Keep this up an' I reckon Renkar'll have to change the company's name. 'Renkar's Wreckers' or somethin' addled like that..."
He looks with distaste at the bronze rod, but slaps Justin on the shoulder.
"Glad yeh're not in the deadbook yet, cutter, though I might have tumbled to lettin' that thing stay buried with the tower. Eh. Better with us than some set o' berks."
He twirls the keyring around a finger.
"Any o' ye tumble to playin' liberator?"
Justin looks hurt at Isaac's comment.
"It wasn't my fault! ,... Not really,..." Justin mutters. Then looks at the ruin with dismay. Then looks thoughtful.
"Can't say I like 'Renkar's wreckers', but you have to admit, when we do a job, we do a THOROUGH job!"
"There was more inside too, I didn't have time to look, much less grab anything. A lot was fragile, paintings and such, but there was a lot of other things too. I'm sure they survived,... getting them out might a little bit of a chore though,..."
He looks at the brass rod in his hand. "Yeah, I hear you. But if we left it buried, it could just be dug up again. I'll make certain it's never used on unwilling victims again!" He says firmly, tucking it back into his coat. he pats it to make certain it's secure, then 'ahs' in surprise. He pulls out a wand.
"I DID manage to pick this up on the rooftop. I suspect it's what they were using to throw the lightning bolts." He winces at the memory.
He grins at Isaac spinning the key ring.
"Lead on MacDuff! I guess since your the driest, you get to be the noble hero today!"
Isaac raises an eyebrow.
"What's a 'MacDuff'? Is that some sort o' Prime nickname? Anyhow, some o' those poor sods looked like they could use some gut fuel and I would wager more than a green some o' them have been the victim o' that rod there. Ye tumble to splittin' the crew one more time, one set to search out some vittles and the other to mind the slaves? Whoever looks for food 'n beauty ought to take our prisoner- wouldn't want the slaves using their first moments o' freedom to pen him in the deadbook."
"Sounds good." Justin says, distractedly looking at the remains of the tower again.
"We didn't give them much time. I'll 'wager' that any stolen essence they had was still in there. Might even have survived."
He sighs.
"I hate digging." Justin mutters. The mage looks at his companions.
"What? I'm a studier! My fingers are long and nimble, not made for heavy labor!" He says with a smirk, waggling said fingers in the air.
"Now a 'Move Rubble' spell,... As Isaac pointed out, with our current track record, that might be a spell I should invest some time researching!" He grins.
"Alright, I guess I earned 'grub search' duty! Who's with me? Come on lizard lips, you can show me where you guys stash the victuals. And don't get any ideas. I get suspicious, and we'll see if MY aim is better than that of your friends!" He says, casually aiming his new wand in the prisoners general direction.
"Come on Goldenwing! As long as your out, lets let you stretch your legs this time!" He adds cheerfully to the Griffon.
Merle has a quick look over the rubble to see if anything of value seems to have survived.
Perception
Merle has a quick look over the rubble to see if anything of value seems to have survived.
Perception
1d20 + 5
What Merle can see is a lot of rubble, some smoking wood planks and a whole lotta trash. Despite the drenching, there are still embers alight in the pile, and wisps of smoke still rise from the mound of crap. A ripped and stained artwork catches her eye, poking out of the pile
"Hey Karrin can you make yourself tall again and have a shot at helping me move some of the rubble whilst the others release the prisoner?" Merle begins to have a look through the rubble of the tower.
Isaac will head to the stockade where Seph is watching the prisoners and try the ring of keys.
Swire joins Merle in searching the rubble.
Isaac will head to the stockade where Seph is watching the prisoners and try the ring of keys.
Isaac walks in on a very concerned looking Seph who immediately rushes over and unleashes a barrage of questions "What was that loud noise? why are you dripping wet and why is Merle feeling mildly annoyed?"
Isaac will head to the stockade where Seph is watching the prisoners and try the ring of keys.
Issac gets to the slave stockade. The ring of keys indeed fits the many locks, and he is able to set the slaves free. Many are emaciated and/or mentally confused. The khaasta seemed to have been drugging them in their food. There are about 100 prisoner/slaves in total. One fellow looks intently at Issac as Seph greets him.
One fellow looks intently at Issac as Seph greets him.
"Oh that gentleman there was wondering where exactly we are."Seph adds whilst pointing at Quinn
Nari follows Isaac to the slave pens, glad to get away from the wreck of the tower and the sole remaining khaasta. She didn't trust herself not to do something drastic to him.
"Merle is annoyed because she got wet I think. Well, we all did a bit," she said, stepping out from behind Isaac and glancing at her wet boots. "You see, Justin set the tower on fire, and then Bethany took those water globes to put it out, and...well, I'm sure you can picture how this went."
She stood out of the way so that Isaac could use the keys to free the prisoners.
Isaac does his best to keep up with Seph's questions.
"The tower fell apart after Justin set it on fire and Bethany dropped one o' them water bombs we bobbed from the Illuminated on the Plane o' Fire. One o' the khaasta gave us the laugh, so Merle could be annoyed about that. Or that the tower collapsed with loot inside. Or it's just your sister's natural..."
Isaac trails off, leaving the thought unfinished.
"Uh, sorry cutter. Long day.", he says before cracking a smile fit for a cross-trader with a plump mark," But hey! Here's a ring o' keys! Let's see if we can get you poor sods outta here eh?"
He kneels next to Seph's catperson friend and tries the keys.
Swire joins Merle in searching the rubble.
1d20+9
Swire's keen eye picks out a nice alabaster vase that somehow managed not to get ruined . There's a lot of tattered silk, hand-woven rug pieces and ruined mahogany furniture in the wreckage. Swire winces when he thinks what he could have gotten for some of it at the pawn shops of Darkwell Court had it been whole.
He kneels next to Seph's catperson friend and tries the keys.
The coffle seems to be on one key system, and all the prisoners in Pounce's line are freed by it. Pounce stretches and purrs
"It is so nice to be free of that chain! I hope those lizards all suffered greatly?"
"Well, briefly, but with a great deal of finality," she said. "Here, why don't we all step outside of this filthy place. We're working on finding some supplies and such, but in the meantime I'm betting some sunshine would do you all a world of good," she added, reaching out to steady one of the prisoners who was a little wobbly on his feet after too long chained up.
Seph does his best to help people up and out of the building "Uh what do we do with him?" Seph asks and points to the Khassta they had prisoner there.
"Thank you for freeing me. I'm Quinn Ardensier, field researcher for the Eternal Library." He moves to shake Isaac's hand. "Now, if I may, where exactly is this?"
Karrin begins moving rubble.
"There could be stuff belonging those prisoners in here," Karrin says, "we'd better look just in case."
"Thank you for freeing me. I'm Quinn Ardensier, field researcher for the Eternal Library." He moves to shake Isaac's hand. "Now, if I may, where exactly is this?"
Isaac shakes his hand.
"My pleasure, cutter. Name's Isaac, Silver Rose company, Factotum of the Believers of the Source. Yeh're in a pocket plane in the bole of Yggdrasil, the World Ash. D'ye recall how ye got here?"
Isaac shakes his hand.
"My pleasure, cutter. Name's Isaac, Silver Rose company, Factotum of the Believers of the Source. Yeh're in a pocket plane in the bole of Yggdrasil, the World Ash. D'ye recall how ye got here?"
"Just to be perfectly clear, you're referring to Yggdrasil the Outer Plane, correct? Meaning that we are currently as far from the Material Plane as metaphysically possible, correct? I suppose I won't be returning home for a very long time, then."
"To answer your question, I was fighting a lich as any good Boccite should. He somehow sent me to Yggdrasil, and the khaasta knocked me out and dragged me back here. I just hope they haven't sold off my kit yet."
"What is a Boccite?" she asked, and then realized she was speaking to a stranger and disappeared behind Isaac with a small "eep!"
Isaac shakes his hand.
"My pleasure, cutter. Name's Isaac, Silver Rose company, Factotum of the Believers of the Source. Yeh're in a pocket plane in the bole of Yggdrasil, the World Ash. D'ye recall how ye got here?""Just to be perfectly clear, you're referring to Yggdrasil the Outer Plane, correct? Meaning that we are currently as far from the Material Plane as metaphysically possible, correct? I suppose I won't be returning home for a very long time, then."
"To answer your question, I was fighting a lich as any good Boccite should. He somehow sent me to Yggdrasil, and the khaasta knocked me out and dragged me back here. I just hope they haven't sold off my kit yet."
"That's the dark of it, cutter. Chin up, though, eh? Whole multiverse out there and yeh won't be on a chain gang when yeh see it."
"And hiding behind my back is my comrade Ms. Naridre Ro'Arisahshe. She's just a tad shy- never seen a Boccite before. Ye've likely made Seph's acquaintanceship already?We might just turn up yer kit- Merle, Swire and Karrin're combin' through the rubble yonder, so some o' yer gear may turn up. There's also that other whole case we haven't turned out yet."
He gestures to the other building, still standing.
"What is a Boccite?" she asked, and then realized she was speaking to a stranger and disappeared behind Isaac with a small "eep!"
"Worshiper of Boccob the Uncaring, Lord of All Magics.", Quinn responds automatically.
"That's the dark of it, cutter. Chin up, though, eh? Whole multiverse out there and yeh won't be on a chain gang when yeh see it."
"And hiding behind my back is my comrade Ms. Naridre Ro'Arisahshe. She's just a tad shy- never seen a Boccite before. Ye've likely made Seph's acquaintanceship already? We might just turn up yer kit- Merle, Swire and Karrin're combin' through the rubble yonder, so some o' yer gear may turn up. There's also that other whole case we haven't turned out yet."
"I agree, this is a net positive all things considered. That doesn't mean it isn't depressing, being stranded far from home."
Upon being introduced, Quinn turns to Naridre and bows before responding in accented Elven.
"I hope they weren't keeping my things in the tower. My crossbows weren't made to withstand a building falling on them, for one."
"What is a Boccite?" she asked, and then realized she was speaking to a stranger and disappeared behind Isaac with a small "eep!"
"Worshiper of Boccob the Uncaring, Lord of All Magics.", Quinn responds automatically.
"That's the dark of it, cutter. Chin up, though, eh? Whole multiverse out there and yeh won't be on a chain gang when yeh see it."
"And hiding behind my back is my comrade Ms. Naridre Ro'Arisahshe. She's just a tad shy- never seen a Boccite before. Ye've likely made Seph's acquaintanceship already? We might just turn up yer kit- Merle, Swire and Karrin're combin' through the rubble yonder, so some o' yer gear may turn up. There's also that other whole case we haven't turned out yet."
"I agree, this is a net positive all things considered. That doesn't mean it isn't depressing, being stranded far from home."
Upon being introduced, Quinn turns to Naridre and bows before responding in accented Elven.
"I hope they weren't keeping my things in the tower. My crossbows weren't made to withstand a building falling on them, for one."
Nari's psicrystal skittered down her body to the ground and towards Quinn, darting back and forth like a crystalline beetle. Nari peered cautiously out from behind Isaac.
Elven:
"I hope they weren't keeping my things in the tower. My crossbows weren't made to withstand a building falling on them, for one."
One of Issac's new-found keys is a large brass monstrosity. There is a stout iron door on the wall of the slave pens it opens. Inside is a secure storage area. Sacks of grain and root vegetables are secured along high shelves lining the walls. Some unsorted gear lies inside as well, including a matched pair of crossbows.
Another prisoner stands straight after being released. He looks in better shape than most of the others ..