Nessa moved slightly closer since she still had allies between her and the creatures and cast a spell. When she was done a glob of acid flew at the closest of the creatures.
Cameron takes a step to the west which brings him into flanking position with Hedran. Knowing the tentacled horror's attention is now split, Cameron lunges with all his strength behind the blow!
Hedran attacks the creature once again but just can't seem to land a strike on the thing as it avoids his blow once again. Sarai changes tactics as she conjures an icy snowball and tosses it the nearest creature. It slams into it causing it to shriek in pain and turn its attention back toward the tiefling.
The impact of the icy ball seems to have slowed the creature a bit. Thyra attempts to strike the one she has been fighting but ends up missing.
Cameron steps to the west in an attempt to get better positioning on the creature. It helps him to strike, but his longspear just scrapes off the surface of the creatures skin, not leaving behind any damage. Nessa conjures some more acid that she strikes the creature with, adding to its already existing injuries.
Nessa quickly cast her spell once more and sent another glob of acid at the closest of the monsters.
Cameron was rattled when the tentacled horror was undamaged despite the point of his spear scoring across its hide, "Gah! What does it take to hurt these things?!"
Part of him noticed the mark left by Sari's snowball so he whispered "Lady's luck be with you!" as he lightly touched her shoulder.
"Resilient, aren't they!" yells Thyra as she continues her bludgeoning barrage against the creature.
Standard Action: Hammer attack.
"Just keep swinging Thyra" - Hedran grunts, his morningstar never stopping.
Hedran attacks the creature again, this time, his blade still imbued with his own magical essence he slices deeply into the creature. Sarai unsure the best course of action conjures a ray of frost at the nearest creature.
Even with the thing engaged in combat with Hedran she finds an opening as the ray strikes the creature. Thyra connects with her hammer this time, but since it has no magic to it, it doesn't even leave a scratch.
Cameron gives Sarai another blessing to help her in her next action while Nessa lobs some acid at the creature closest to her managing to do a little bit of damage.
The creatures continue their assualt on Hedran and Thyra.
With their injuries though neither of the creatures is able to land any of their attacks.
Surprised by the creature's resiliency, Thyra delves into the training provided her by the church, learning how to counter various defenses and abilities, to see if she knew anything about these creatures.
Full-Round Action: Total Defense while gathering information. She will convey whatever she figures out.
Cameron had been pushing his luck with granting soo many boons, so he felt he should try once more to attack. He waited for Hedran to attack before lunging, but he found the floor slippery and he had to windmill to stay on his feet.
Hedran's approach is methodic, if brutal and straightforward - he swings again.
Completely missing his mark...
Seeing that Sarai was still standing Nessa breathed a slight sight of relief as she gather another glob of magically conjured acid to fling at the nearest of the creatures.
Hedran swings and misses this time. Sarai has similar luck as she tries to blast one again with her minor spell but can't hit the creature as it moves about fighting the others. Thyra spends a moment to think back on training. She remembers something about these creature. They are called grick, and they are resistant to damage from any types of weapons that aren't magically enchanted.
Cameron and Nessa both attack the creatures but neither one of them is able to hit them either as the battle drags on.
The one attacking Hedran manages to bit him, but misses with its tentacles while Thyra's defensive stance keeps her safe from all of the creatures blows.
Hedran continues pummeling - "Enough of this already" - he growls.
Proving her suspicions a reality, Thyra curses under her breath before she relays the information to her comrades. "These grick are resistance to non-magical weapons. My hammer won't be of much use for anything but a solid hit." She turns to the closest grick and casts a spell at it, projecting her voice into a scream that only it can hear, yelling
Standard Action: Casting Defensively; Ear-Piercing Scream
Cameron tries to lunge once more but he put too much weight behind the spear and nearly fell over again.
Focusing on her magic once again Nessa tried flinging another glob of acid at the nearest of the creatures.
Hedran strikes out once again, this time connecting with his magically infused blade knocking the creature to the floor. Sarai tries to blast the one closest to her but misses once again. Thyra, now with some open space casts her spell.
The creature slumps over on the ground unmoving, apparently badly injured from whatever Thyra did.
Thyra leans on her hammer as she attempts to gather her breath. "We are not prepared for this kind of enemy, and my resources are nearly depleted. Perhaps we should head back to the surface to rest and recover."
Cameron's heart was still pounding as he glanced at Sari before replying between gasps, "I think that might be wise, it seems we've been pushing our luck. Let's not forget the strange elf Saul told us about. We should investigate that warehouse."
With the group deciding to hold of on further exploration they head back the way they came, past the stench of the dead troglodytes and cautiously up the ladder in the pit until they get back into the secret arena under the gold goblin. The place is quiet, much as they left it.
Hedran clears the gore from his morningstar as they return back to the Gold Goblin - "We have done well nonetheless" - he grunts at his companions.
"We will need to seal the access to the tunnels somehow, so we can have a decent rest"
Cameron glanced at the fighting pit around them before replying, "The trap door was pretty hard to spot, closing it and replacing the sand ougt to be enough for now..."
"First order of business, is the need to wash the smell of troglodyte from my skin and clothes," Thyra says matter-of-factly. "Perhaps later, we can use some of the spoils that we've found for more equipment."
|
Sarai agrees with Thyra that a bath is first needed, then a lot of sleep.
"Darlings, I shall be indisposed for a while. Tomorrow, we can continue on. Shall we finish exploring below, or search out the dark elf? For some reason, I wouldn't be surprised if these tunnels connected with the hut we heard about. Perhaps we should finish there."
Back in the gold goblin the group splits up to tend to their own tasks, some going to bath while others do whatever else. It is still only early afternoon when you climb out of the tunnels below the Gold Goblin. After a short while you hear a commotion outside and when someone goes to check they see several people stopped, talking in the streets pointing up at the sky. As you look you noticed that the Blot is no longer there, suddenly disappeared. It is apparent that something has changed and you wonder if it may have something to do with exploring the tunnels below.
As Thyra and Sarai reveal their intent of returning to their quarters, Hedran calls out - "Guys, let us have one drink before turning in? The bar is right there, and we deserve it after a day like today?" - he nods.
[ooc]If the guys agree:[/b]
Pouring a round for all of them, Hedran raises his glass in a toast - "Here's to you all for keeping it together these last couple of days - had we not fought as a group, we would all be dead by now" - the he smiles and turns to Nessa with a chuckle - "And here is thanking nothing dragged me away into a dark hole, lest Nessa be left brooding in sadness about my departure, for the rest of her days"
It was a great relief that they left the tunnels for the time to rest. She was certain that they wouldn't have survived if they kept going, not after those puddle monsters ambushed them. When they were safely back in the goblin and had the tunnel closed and locked behind them she seemed to relax. "I'm glad we're out of there for now."
Nessa's gaze turned to Sarai as her tail swished side to side slowly and said, "Oh a bath would be very nice about now." She was about to head towards the door when Hedran asked them all to have a drink with him before they split up Nessa nodded and went with him to the bar.
When Hedran had finished pouring for them she took her glass and raised it in a toast with him. his words amused her and she couldn't help but mess with him a bit in return. As she finished her drink in one pull, she tilted her body back and mantled her wings. The structural bones stretched wide and the membranes became taught as her body tried to pop out of her leather outfit.
When she finished she slammed the glass on the counter and looked Hedran in the eyes. "A good toast Hedran," she purred as she approached him with her wings now folding closed, a swish to her hips, and strode up to Hedran with a hungry look in her eyes, "I would be so lonely without you Hedran, I don't think I could bear it." She leaned in close tot eh man and said, "Why don't you come back to the temple with me, I need an escort and I would be ever so grateful to you if you would take me safely back."
Cameron wasn't sure about staying over at the Gold Goblin, although given the day they'd had one for the road sounded like a plan. Upon seeing the bar, Cameron drawled, "Looks like a choice of burbon or burbon. I guess I'll have burbon!"
He helps himself to the bar, pours a slug and downs it, "Disgusting! I'll have another..."
He pours out a second, downs it and shakes his head, "This stuff takes like paint stripper, I feel I need some of that to scrape this filth off me. Anyway I need a bath and bed and uh I don't know, don't have plans beyond the next day. We need to track that elf down but yeah, that's a problem for tomorrow!"
Cameron wasn't sure about staying over at the Gold Goblin, although given the day they'd had one for the road sounded like a plan. Upon seeing the bar, Cameron drawled, "Looks like a choice of burbon or burbon. I guess I'll have burbon!"
He helps himself to the bar, pours a slug and downs it, "Disgusting! I'll have another..."He pours out a second, downs it and shakes his head, "This stuff takes like paint stripper, I feel I need some of that to scrape this filth off me. Anyway I need a bath and bed and uh I don't know, don't have plans beyond the next day. We need to track that elf down but yeah, that's a problem for tomorrow!"
"Cameron, Cameron... You do understand it is just common courtesy if you pour one for you, also pour one for the others who are with you, right?" - Hedran chuckles - "Now we are all a glass behind"
She takes a drink and starts coughing profusely.
"Darling, a little wine if you will. This is--not my style."
"You are absolutely right, and that was indeed my bad Milady" - Hedran bows politely and moves to open a bottle of red wine for his companion, uncorking it carefully, cleaning up a glass, and pouring a small amount for her to taste - "Please..."
When she finished she slammed the glass on the counter and looked Hedran in the eyes. "A good toast Hedran," she purred as she approached him with her wings now folding closed, a swish to her hips, and strode up to Hedran with a hungry look in her eyes, "I would be so lonely without you Hedran, I don't think I could bear it." She leaned in close tot eh man and said, "Why don't you come back to the temple with me, I need an escort and I would be ever so grateful to you if you would take me safely back."
The half-orc did tense a bit as Nessa extended her wings, and perhaps even more as she approached. But he managed to stand his ground - "Come now Nessa..." - he paused momentarily - "You don't think I am so easily won over do you?" - he stared at her with a smile, somehow looking at her eyes, and only that - "Though... I will more than gladly walk you back to the Temple if it makes you feel safer. Unless you want to stay here for tonight?"
She trailed one clawed finger up beneath Hedran's chin and said, "You don't know what you're missing out on." With an amused giggle she spun away with a flourish, her wing's and tail brushing past him as she did. Her wings folded down around her shoulders and the foreclaws hooked together near her throat, "Oh no, I don't think I need to worry much now that Saul's running for his life and we are under the, at least pseudo protection, of our new 'boss'." Her flirtatious mean vansihed and she said, "I should be getting back to the temple, Lavender is likely worried for me and I don't want her to chance leaving the place because of me."
Nessa began to sashay towards the door and pulled the key she had on her out. Looking back over her shoulders she said, "We should hire more people if we intend to keep this place running and re-open as soon as we can. For now though someone can come lock this behind me." With that she left the Gold Goblin and headed to the temple for the night.
As soon as you arrive back at the temple you find Lil is waiting for you. She strolls up and smacks you across the face, then just as quickly pulls you in for a deep embrace as she whispers in your ear "You... you had me worried sick. Some half-elf came strolling in here asking about Saul, said you told him to ask for any dirt. I didn't give him anything, since I didn't know who he was or what he was on about but..." Still holding onto you she moves you away from her as she looks you in the eyes "What is going on? You should have sent a letter or something I didn't know what had happened and against my better judgement I was about ready to leave to come and look for you!"
The first person who drew Nessa's eyes was Lavender Lil and it was a great relief to see she hadn't left the temple yet. As her lover, and maybe the woman she loved, approached and slapped Nessa said, "I had that coming," only to stagger as Lavender pulled her close and hugged her tight.
Nessa's arms went around Lavender and her wings unfolded to wrap around the tiefling woman as well as she held Lavender close. She listened to what was said more intently than she'd listened to anything before and then released Lavender as she stepped back and asked what was happening.
Nessa said, "Come on Lavender, let's go to our room where we can speak in private." Nessa held her hand out to Lavender and opened her wing on the same side to indicate she wanted to pull her lover into the shelter of her wing as they walked.
Settling in to tell the story Nessa continued, "We survived that fight only because of the intervention of the half-elf and his mentor who are hunting this 'dark elf'. We had to lay low the next day so we wouldn't be found out, and that's when Cameron came to you at my request. We attacked Saul that night and took down his thugs and the Casino is now ours, but we have to pay Zincher a part of the profits." Nessa winced at what she expected to see on Lil's face at that comment,
"After that we found a hidden tunnel under the casino that leads..." Nessa shrugged, "somewhere. We think it is connected to this dark elf that is up to something. It got rather hairy with what lives down there and we were forced to come back before we finished." Nessa looked at Lavender Lil with frightened eyes and said, "I'm very scared Lav, I don't know what's going on but it's really bad."
Lil stands there and listens as you recount what has been going on. Once you finish Lil remains silent, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath and starts pacing in the room "Wait... so let me get this straight you are working for Zincher now? Does he know about us? And Saul... he tried to kill you but now you attacked him and took over the Casino? What happened to Saul?"
She shakes her head and looks at you for a moment, it's like she is processing everything and finally got to the part of you saying you are scared, she stops pacing and comes to sit next to you on the bed. She places a hand on your leg and squeezes gently "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make this all worse for you, it's... it's just a lot and now you are saying you are scared? That is unlike you. I mean... it sounds like everything is working out for you, being on good terms with Zincher, taking over the casino... is there something I'm missing?"
As Lavender sat next to her and asked why she was scared Nessa said, "That Zincher may know about us and that I now kind of work for him scare me. I don't know what he might try to force me to do to get to you." She twisted slightly and wrapped an arm around Lavender as she leaned her head against the other tiefling's shoulder, "But worse than that is this dark elf, I can't help but wonder if they are connected to the blot and what that might mean." Her wings folded around them both and she finished, Even worse is, when I came here today, the blot had vanished from the sky and we don't know why."
|
|
Sarai thanks Hedran for the drink. "I will sleep well tonight," she says.
"This is all so curious--our employer turning on us, earning this establishment through not dying, and then exploring this strange labyrinth beneath it. And what about that--thing in the sky? It was there, and now it's gone. Strange."
Thyra enjoys a strong ale with the others, joining in the revelry as best as she can. That is until they are made aware of the missing Blot, which seems to cause her some distress. She quickly finishes of her drink and excuses herself to have a bath, agreeing that they need to deal with the Goblin, among all the other troubles that have come their way.
While letting the hot water soak away her tired muscles, she can't help but dwell on the Blot. Does this mean that the immediate danger is over, or have we merely scratched the surface of it all?
When he heard about the blot vanishing, Cameron was deeply puzzled. When he heard of the blot's disappearance he told the others, "The timing seems very suspicious... But what does it mean?" He shook his head, he might as well ask why is the sky blue. After musing for a bit he considered, "We have a decision to make, go back to the tunnels or investigate this dark elf. If it would help I could ask the gods for guidance..."
Eventually she grins as she notes "Well, it sounds like you have had a rough couple of days, maybe we should find a way for you to relax?" She rolls over on her side as she looks at you "I know I could use a bit of a stress release after worrying about you so much..."
She starts tracing her finger along your back.
As the others start talking about the mysterious disappearance of the even more mysterious blot Thyra finishes up her drink and heads off to get cleaned up leaving Sarai, Cameron and Hedran to their own devices.
All of a sudden you are flying, you don't know how you came to be flying but you look down and you see Riddleport. However, it's not the Riddleport you have come to know, there are dead sea creatures that litter the streets, and just as many dead people. Some buildings have partially collapsed and you see survivors trying to dig for what you can only imagine is the hope of finding other survivors under the rubble. The town is a mess. You aren't sure what happened but what ever it was was destruction on a pretty wide scale. While Riddleport isn't destroyed by any means it is not the Riddleport you know.
You close your eyes and suddenly you are no longer flying, but under water. You are holding your breath as best as you can but it feels like you've been underwater for some time. You struggle to move up and get some air and finally realize someone is holding you under the water. You look and see dark arms holding you down and above the water you see a face, after you stop struggling for a moment the face becomes more clear and it is the dark elf you had seen in your dream before. She has a malicious grin and she mouths 'You are too late'.
You start to panic and struggle again and finally manage to break free. As you pop your head up from out of the water you look around and realize you are still in the bath tub. You quickly look around for any signs of the dark elf but there are none, it must have been some horribly nightmare or... maybe something more.