Kalam and Ceinwynn struggle to overcome the creature's pasty hide but Abramov and Halsanna manage to land two more grazing wounds.
Recognizing that the wily doctor's magical protections are too tough to overcome, the monstrous creature lunges for him instead.
The other trudges through the sewage to stab at Ceinwynn.
The doc was caught in the savage embrace of the beast. Adapting a more or less defensive posture - for whatever it was worth - he stabbed away at the creature.
Casting a worried glance past Ceinwynn at Abramov's predicament before returning to the situation at hand. Drawing his rapier and lunging cleanly at the nearby creature in one smooth motion.
Ceinwynn drops her whip and draws her sword. She attacks the one on her.
Kalam and Ceinwynn manage to bloody the second creature, spilling bubbling ichor into the sewage below. Abramov struggles against his opponent.
The monster wrestling with Abramov holds him still and latches onto his shoulder with its monstrous maw.
Fortunately, the good doctor proves to be a wily target and wriggles out of his grasp.
The other hisses in frustration and stabs at Kalam.
Ceinwynn 5ft steps and attacks the one on Doc.
Kalam hisses in pain as the spear bites deep into his leg, thankfully missing any major arteries though. Pulling himself free of the spear he growls at his attacker, "I swear you'll be sorry if I get sepsis you miserable bastard!"
He punctuates the statement with a hard lunge that unfortunately fails to find it's mark.
Abramov maintains his defensive posture, but he seems to be rather intimidated by the creature's ferocity.
Bloodied but still standing, the hideous monster continues their attack on the intruders.
Heavy footsteps can be heard from further down the tunnel
The doctor lashes out with a wicked jab.
Batting aside the creature's attack, Kalam does his best to finish off his opponent before things get worse, "Come'on now, I believe we have company coming. It would be rude to be previously engaged when they arrive."
I'm on it!
Delivering two more shallow wounds, Halsanna and Abramov manage to fell one of the hideous monsters. It continues to claw at the good doctor’s ankles even as it lays dying.
Kalam delivers a solid blow to the other but fails to bring it down.
Frustrated and wounded, the monster drops his weapon into the sewage and attacks with his claws.
Ceinwynn brings her blade back swiftly from her previous miss and attempts to slice the creature.
Kalam sags visibly as more of his blood splatters on the filthy floor. To drained at this point to comment in response he merely grunts and makes a desperate lunge at his attacker.
Kalam breathes deep as the monstrous creature drops back into the sewage. he leans against the filthy wall exhausted, "Could use a little patching up. Quickly, before those footsteps materialize into something else that wants to kill us..."
Frantically the doctor stabs away at the dying beast, hoping to end its sick and twisted life once and for all.
.. not counting the prone bonus/penalty and whatever not.
This time Kalam catches the hideous thing in the throat with his rapier. It falls into the muck with a wet gurgle for its death throes.
The sound of footsteps (if that's what they are) is rapidly getting closer and it sounds like quite a few people.
The doc puts away his scalpel and proceeds to bring forth two vials of acid, one for each hand. "We best take position.."
Abramov flaps open his coat, presenting the wand to Kalam. The wand of cure light wounds, of course.
Kalam nods to the doc with real gratitude on his face. Taking the wand in hand, he begins to recover from his wounds.
Mostly recovered, his last act is to stuff the wand into his belt next to his flask as the new opponents round the corner.
Six more of the monstrosities appear, shambling near the edge of the party's light.
Even more can be heard further down the dark tunnel.
Kalam eyes the advancing creatures, acutely aware of the tingling sensation still coming from his recently healed wounds, "Not enough in every tavern this side of the inner sea...I think it may be time for a tactical retreat?"
"I'm out of here!" and like that, the doctor turns around and tries to get away from the menacing horde of monstrosities.
Ceinwynn follows.
The monsters follow the party as they retreat toward the sewer entrance but slow and eventually stop when the light from outside appears. They groan in displeasure and quickly retreat back into the darkness.
Kalam huffs slightly as he watches the creatures retreat back into the sewers, "Well at least we have a decent idea of where the damn thing is...getting to it is going to be a little more difficult."
Taking a quick sip of his flask, he looks around behind him, keeping an eye on the riots and watching for threats.
"They obviously lack brains. This means that we can come up with a plan to outwit them to see us through to our objective .. now, for a plan .."
"Indeed, any brilliant ideas? I bet the crossroads have maps of much of the sewers, we could try to locate an alternative entrance, hopefully one will be less well guarded? Or professor might also have some ideas as to what sort of monstrosities our murderers are employing? Maybe they have a weakness of some sort...other than multiple stab wounds?"
Outside, the city guard continues to struggle to contain the riots and many appear to have been consumed by the always-present anger filling the air. In just the few short minutes of observation, Kalam feels the fingers of madness working their way through his own thoughts.
"Afraid I'm fresh out my dear. Lots of creatures on this earth dislike the light do alright if forced into it. I think mirrors might be more trouble than their worth. At any rate, we need to regroup, we'll get no planning done amidst this mess. Come'on"
Kalam strides purposely, "I can handle the light, I'd suggest some alchemist's fire if that's what you want? And yes, I'd think an extra quiver might be practical. Honestly my dear, for someone so preoccupied about being prepared, one quiver seems dreadfully shortsighted for a girl so committed to her bow.", he winks and takes a sip from his flak before offering it to Halsanna as well.
Kalam hastily takes his flask back, mildly exasperated, "If the dead are thirsty they should have drank more while they were alive..."
Tucking it back in his belt he smirks, "See, that's the very problem with military training. It's all marching and boot polishing, does little to prepare people for the glorious crazy of the real world. Given our brief experience with the Aspis thus far, I'd suggest always assuming our assignments include a healthy dose of crazy.", he grimaces, "Honestly, no clue what the hell those things were, certainly not undead...I'd wager something to do with the runewell. Hopefully our friend the professor will have some ideas."
Despite the bedlam tearing through Magnimar up above, the Crossroads is mostly business as usually. A few more agents than usual can be seen moving about the Aspis complex, tending to assignments or running errands.
It doesn’t take long for the party to find their way to Zelda’s office. The Aspis matron greets the team with her hands forming a familiar steeple. ”How goes things up above? I’ve heard it’s become quite a mess.”