Caulder tries once again to strike out for shore, but his waterlogged clothes and armor weigh him down. He draws his morningstar as the unknown fish approaches.
Ear still ringing, wailing child on her arm, surrounded by the unhappy faces of children, Esmerelda is barely able to prevent her dark past claiming her again. One arm held by the girl, she reaches with the other to pull her warhammer out of its loop on her belt, straight into the half-orcs head.
"Children! Stop! We have come to save you from Lamm and his cohorts! Don't you want to be free?" she pleads.
Pagrip: Treat the next 5ft square as difficult terrain, then you're good to go.
Pagrip has relatively little difficulty getting onto the steep shore.
Ten's attack doesn't hit - leaving the half-orc with a fit of snickering, "Iyaaaheheehehehehihihiohnoesnonoyourfaceisuglyhahahihihihi-" But his grin collapses in raging pain as Esmerelda's warhammer smashes the wind entirely out of his lungs and partially crumbles several vertebra and ribs. A staccato flailing of the arms is his last conscious act as he falls to the floor.
The children stare at Esmerelda with open mouths, some rallying their aggression, but most sense a turning of the tide and stay back. Uncertainty paints their faces, even as a violent gnome pushes himself into view: a gnome with short-cropped hair and sneer to match, covered with short hair on arms and legs pushes one of the kids out of the way and smacks the boy in front of him, "Go! Get at them or I'll have your hide! The last one to go in gets to meet Gobbleguts! I wi--" it's only then that he realizes his companions are lying on the floor, motionless - and the momentum of battle was unclear. "Oh, shi-" he starts to turn, apparently ready to make a quick getaway.
The waters outside start churning as a flash of patterned fish skin streaks through the waves. Razor sharp teeth ring a maw that can easily encompass a cleric's head and leave nothing but a fountain of blood in its wake. But not this time, the wild snapping chews nothing but thin air.
Up next: Pagrip, Caulder, Ten, Esmerelda, bad guys
"You will pay for the cruelty you have done to these children, gnome."
To the boy in the way, Esmerelda says "Excuse me while I take care of that horrible gnome." she picks him up gently and without harming him, places him out of her way. Then she steps closer to the gnome, readying her shield.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Pagrip says as the shark comes into view. "Caulder! Move it!" He fumbles for his crossbow and loads it.
"Been trying," Caulder grits back at the dwarf. Still unable to make any headway, he swings his morningstar at the toothy fish, straining his muscles against the water's drag on his weapon, even as his head ducks back under the water.
"Out of the way, Darkbane. Let me at the gnome," Ten growled, punctuating his speech by slamming his club into the wall.
"Out of the way, Darkbane. Let me at the gnome," Ten growled, punctuating his speech by slamming his club into the wall.
Pagrip whoops with success when Caulder strikes at the shark, but then his face pales over as he sees massive jaws close around Caulder's shoulder, a sizable chunk of flesh is torn from the cleric. The water in the immediate vicinity quickly is painted an even thicker black as the blood mingles into the water.
Esmerelda cautiously, but firmly, moves the boy aside - a mixture of hero worship and disbelief carry in his eyes. The two kids to the room to the north aren't quite as smitten, but they take the opportunity to escape. The boy, in a calculating grin tries to pick up the greatsword while Esmerelda's back is turned in a bid to fence it for his future - though it proves highly cumbersome and unwieldy in his little hands. He still tries to make it out, but his progress is severely slowed, the sharp end of the weapon scraping along on the ground as he goes.
The gnome looks worried to the door with the broken gangway beyond; he decides to take his chances, making a run for it. "Oh no you don't!" Esmerelda shouts after him, her hammer thrashing against the door frame. But the little guy gets away unscathed.
It doesn't take him too long to squeeze through the boarding planks that restrict access to the building; his small size aiding him. Carefully he balances over the broken floor, his little legs splitting wide in an attempt to hold the position - "Hahaha! You'll never get me!"
Up next: Pagrip, Caulder, Ten, Esmerelda, bad guys
Pagrip takes aim with his crossbow and lets loose a bolt that flies true, right into the shark. He then pulls out another bolt.
Caulder grits his teeth against the pain but can't stop a half-strangled roar from escaping his throat as the shark's teeth tear away a piece of his shoulder. As the water crimsons around him, he finally manages to free his boot from whatever piece of debris had snagged it. He swings his morningstar again at the shark. Knowing that if he tried to strike out for shore, the shark would be all over him, he treads water, keeping a wary eye on the fish.
Poking her head around the corner, Esmerelda swears at the gnome's escape through the boarded up doorway.
"Abadar's Jewels! The gnome's trying to run. Arentz, go out the front door and stop him."
And where did Caulder and Pagrip go? Well I am sure they can take care of themselves.
Esmerelda stows her warhammer and places a boot on the halforcs head for effect. Addressing the children gently but forcefully "Gather around, children. It's safe now. These bad humanoids won't hurt you again. I will take you to a place where you can live without fear."
Pointedly looking at the boy dragging her sword away she adds as she holds out her hand for her sword "I thank you for returning my sword to me, young squire."
Got to get these children to a safe place... Stop the gnome... Might be more danger... Did Pagrip do something to Caulder? Why does my head hurt so much?
AC 14, HP 9/14
"Don't worry about the gnome. Look after these," Ten gestured at the swarm of dirty street urchins,"... and watch out for Gobbleguts - something the gnome said."
Doing as Darkbane asked (again), Ten exited through the front door, hunting for the gnome (move action), but he found more than he anticipated - Caulder splashing around in the water, wrestling ()... a jigsaw shark! Seeing the dwarf with crossbow ready, Ten made a quick decision:
"Dwarf! Stop that gnome!" Ten yelled, while tossing his club aside and readying a sharp, pointy spear instead (move action), "I'll help the Abadarian!"
One of the children, one of the girls, has already vanished from sight - and apparently earshot; but two more kids - a boy and a girl - appear from the northern doorway, still holding the closest implements they could find and looking positively terrified. Their terror is only slightly abated by noting that two of their keepers are now lying in a bloody mess on the pool - the victor standing with a foot on top of the face of Giggles. Still... something about the presence of this woman commanded their attention, at least for now.
Pagrip's bolt struck true, hitting the marine monster through the distended maw. The shark bucks wildly, bloodshot eyes leveling on the new threat.
Just above, a gnome tries to shift his balance to get away from the break; his foot just misses the ledge as he tries to get solid planks beneath him and with a shocked scream he plunges to the waters below landing next to Caulder - but just a moment later the frenzied shark snatches at the splash, tearing the little hairy gnome in two with one fearsome bite. It then immediately tries to swim off, a majority portion of the gnome dragging along with it.
With a bit of surprise Ten notes that the gnome apparently tried to make his escape to the east, away from the shore. Perhaps he just wanted to avoid the spear facing him.
Up next: Pagrip, Caulder, Ten, Esmerelda, bad guys
"Hey! That's evidence!" Caulder protests, swinging at the shark.
"Is that stopped enough for you?" Pagrip says to Ten, a hint of a laugh in his voice. "Caulder's hurt. If you're a better swimmer than me, maybe you can help him back in."
The shark is hit hard by Caulder, and seems to swim on a daze. The gnome, what is left of him, floats haphazardly on the water's surface.
Esmerelda moves forward and takes her greatsword from the boy and stows it away.
"All right you lot. Time to leave this place. All of you run for the door and then run to the Bank of Abadar. Tell them Darkbane sent you"
She makes shooing motions to the door.
The children, somewhat reluctantly, drop their assortment of goods. One of the older girls takes charge of the group and leads the way, keeping mostly everybody in tow. Before she leaves she gives Esmerelda a tight hug, whispering, "Thank you! Thank you so much." Her eyes are moist, but she puts on a brave smile - a few of the other children aren't able to cope and though quiet (a product of their harsh treatment in this place) they whisper among themselves - cries, laughter, a general confusion.
The kids begin to realize that their captors are well and truly gone. Despite the soothing words of the paladin and her kind explanations, they mostly break and run. Some have the presence of mind to take one or two valuables from the place. A few, among them probably the oldest, a girl, does take the time to thank Esmerelda properly, tears stream down her face as she hugs the paladin, and a few whispers of gratitude, too faint to understand clearly, escape her lips.
Esmerelda realizes that the small pouch in the girl's hand, quickly disappearing underneath her robe, actually used to belong to her.
Caulder watches the shark swim off with grim satisfaction, but as he attempts to grab hold of the pieces of gnome, he momentarily forgets about the wound to his shoulder, going numb in the cold water. As he moves his arm, the wrench of pain shocks him, and he once again goes underwater.
To the eldest girl, Esmerelda says "Here." as she reaches for her belt pouch "Take this and buy you all some food on the way the Bank." She fumbles for her pouch. "That's strange. I could have sworn I brought it along." Embarrassed she turns empty handed to the girl. "Sorry. It seems I have misplaced my pounch. I am sure the clerics will give you some food once you reach there."
"Oh wait, before you go. Do you know where Lamm is? Are there any more of those monsters here?"
"Oh yes! Lamm is at the boat. At least that's where he goes." She suddenly looks afraid, "Watch out for Gobbleguts! I don't know who he is, but they always told us that Gobbleguts will eat us if we cause problems."
"Is there a back door that leads to the boat?"
"Stopped enough," Ten agreed, while wondering for a moment if the dwarf would later claim to have shot the shark at the gnome. "Darkbane and I did not get very far into the building. I'll help Caulder out, while you go take a look around the back of the buidling. I think the gnome might have been heading that way."
Ten then tromps down the rickety walkway and tries to help Caulder out of the water. Caulder, stop fussing!
Caulder has little trouble accepting the aid Ten extends to him. Now the team can effectively take stock of their surroundings and recent events. They find a few items of note on the bodies of the erstwhile captors.
Bloo (dog)
Giggles
Hookshanks
Yargin
Esmerelda calls everyone inside.
"The children are gone and safe, safer than they were here at least." She says rubbing the back of her head tenderly.
"You fought well, Arentz"
When she spots Caulder, her eyes widen slightly "Baradin, you look like you were run over by a carriage... with teeth... twice. I see you caught the gnome, though did you have to be quite so rough with him?"
"Baradin, you look like you were run over by a carriage... with teeth... twice. I see you caught the gnome, though did you have to be quite so rough with him?"
Caulder is still catching his breath after his repeated dunking. "That's what you call the justice of Erastil," he says, pointing to the dismembered gnome. "Surprisingly effective in certain situations. Good thing we didn't let the shark get away with him, though; I have the feeling this key might come in handy." He looks around at the group. "We need to spread out but still keep each other in sight searching this place. If we all go in, someone else could come out another door and get away without us knowing it. One person should stay at the front door as we quickly search the fishery. We make a chain: eveyone should have at least one other within eye- and earshot at all times. If we run into trouble, we'll have help at hand."
"You didn't do too badly, either," Ten replied to Esmerelda, casting a sideways glance at the poor dog at the same time.
"And that... makes a lot of sense, Caulder," Ten commented, "...if the two of you do not mind accepting help from a... distiller, I might have something to help treat those wounds," he added, while drawing two rather suspicious-looking vials from his pockets.
"Baradin, you should take care of those wounds before we continue. Arentz I suggest you take that potion. You look a bit worse for wear as well. Also I have news about Lamm. Apparently he is at the boat, where ever that might be. With a Gobbleguts. Whatever that might be." she says still rubbing the back of her head.
"Baradin, you should take care of those wounds before we continue. Arentz I suggest you take that potion. You look a bit worse for wear as well. Also I have news about Lamm. Apparently he is at the boat, where ever that might be. With a Gobbleguts. Whatever that might be." she says still rubbing the back of her head.
"You didn't do too badly, either," Ten replied to Esmerelda, casting a sideways glance at the poor dog at the same time.
"And that... makes a lot of sense, Caulder," Ten commented, "...if the two of you do not mind accepting help from a... distiller, I might have something to help treat those wounds," he added, while drawing two rather suspicious-looking vials from his pockets.
"Appreciated, citizen," Caulder refuses the vial, "but Abadar hasn't left me bereft." "A boat, eh? Let's get to it quickly; I'd rather avoid getting back in the water."
"Appreciated, citizen," Caulder refuses the vial, "but Abadar hasn't left me bereft." 1d6 "A boat, eh? Let's get to it quickly; I'd rather avoid getting back in the water."
"Thank you, Baradin. That is much better. The girl said the boat was around back. Lets scout out the building quickly and see if there is a door closer to the ship. While we decide which way to go, lets share out these scum bags' items. They may come in handy later and we don't want children finding them either."
Caulder rolls his eyes. "It's always children with you, isn't it? I hope there's a door closer to the ship; that rotten walkway is a safety hazard. We've got them on not keeping their building up to code, if nothing else."
Esmerelda cocks her head as she weighs up at Caulder.
"Was that last remark an offer to help me with the children? That would be appreciated."
With that she turns to the door in the north, and sees what she can see.
"There's a large room that way," Pagrip says. "I saw it through the window before I was spotted. There's some big vat in there. They had the kids working at it."
"Unless they were giving Lamm a sponge bath, I don't care," Caulder growls. "He's our focus. Everything else will still be here after we have him."
"Well all right, Mr Staurmbar. Since you know the way around please lead the way." Esmerelda motions for the dwarf to give the guided tour.
Pagrip shrugs. "Oookay." He heads across the room. "Seeing one room through a window does not make me an expert guide," he mutters. He reaches the doors at the east and goes to the one on the right. "Maybe I just won't tell you what I've learned next time." Speaking up louder, he says, "Any boat is probably behind the building in the river, so we should probably go this way."
He takes a moment to listen at the door and then, if he doesn't hear anything, he opens it.
"You," Caulder nods at Ten. "What was your name again? Stay here at the door and keep an eye out for anyone making a run for it around the building. I'll wait for them to get in and then kick a few doors in here," he gestures around the front room, "to make sure no one sneaks up behind them."
As the party explores the building they discover the following rooms.
A pair of bunk beds sit against the far wall of this room to either side of a boarded-over window.
A wooden desk sits in one corner of this room, its side preventing the western door from opening all the way. The table is heaped with dozens of slate boards covered with chalk scrawls, while to the east a cabinet slouches against the wall. To the south, a few moldy boards have been nailed over a door.
The stink in this room, a mixture of fish and sweat, is enough to make the eyes water. To the east, a large wooden trough holds a hideous mound of half-rancid fish, seaweed, and brine. Filthy seawater and fish blood stain the floor around this trough. A pair of wooden chutes lead from this trough through holes in the northern wall into a larger room to the east. To the west, a desk and chair sit in one corner while a tall cabinet sits in the other.
On examination the party finds that the cabinet can be opened with the key they found on Yagrin's body, it contains four pouches of 50 cp each, and another two pouches with 50 sp each.
The floor here is slick with seawater, bits of seaweed, and fish blood—the air is thick with the accompanying scent. Wooden catwalks to the north and south allow access to the western part of the fishery, while the floor here is only five feet above the river below. An open bay to the south allows direct access to the sloppy, muddy water, while to the northwest stands an immense ten-foot-tall wooden vat, its sides caked and waterproofed with tar. Inside is a foul-looking mixture of chum, seawater, and who knows what else. To the east are stacked many barrels and crates, each marked in paint with a fish. Nearly two dozen small hammocks hang from under the catwalks, each with its own ratty blanket and pillow.
With just a bit of extra effort the door to the rotten gangway can be cleared of the barring boards, making it considerably easier to exit the building that way. Caulder and Pagrip know from experience how rotten and fragile the walkway is though, and advise not to stay too close together, lest the combined weight breaks the floor underneath them.
Caulder carefully relocks the cabinet on the upper workfloor to preserve the evidence and pockets the key.
When it becomes clear that the only way to the boat is by the walkway around, he sighs, "Hells. The dwarf and I look to be the heaviest here. Darkbane, you go first and our 'reformed' distiller after you. The dwarf and I will follow. That way, if one of us falls in again, at least a few of us will make it to the boat first."
As he steps aside to let the others go first, wide gaps between them for safety, he mutters to the dwarf, "We didn't see anyone come out this door when we arrived, and any criminal with a lick of sense would have taken off in the boat during the commotion. I'm afraid our eccentric tipster has come up empty."
Caulder's dismal predictions are balanced when the Kraken's Folly comes into clear view: the ship is only barely held together and in place by rope and age - it would require more than a little divine intervention to use this ship to make a getaway. The timbers of the ship look even more worn and fragile than the planks the party stand on.
Caulder narrows his eyes at the decrepit ship. "I'll stay out here for now and keep an eye on things," he volunteers, having no desire to end up in the water again. "I crash through those timbers, and the whole thing goes under." He remains well back from Pagrip, stopping at the corner of the building.
Esmerelda carefully makes her way over the rotten gangway to the bunch of timbers that happened to be stuck together in a vague ship shape. "Arentz, with me again... but keep your distance. I don't feel like swimming right now. Have you noticed the dwarf is becoming as grumbly as Baradin? Do you think it's some sort of hero worship?"
Smiling at Esmerelda's comment, Ten followed her onto the gangway. "You have the children... and Baradin has the dwarf."