Segang throws open the door, and is greeted by the clank of two crossbows firing. One hits the door jam, but the second drives into his shoulder.
Ahead is a hallway, with a staircase leading to the penthouse. Two men, armed and armored, stand in the way. The nearest has a hunched posture and dark complexion, and the other is thin and obviously nervous, with a sallow complexion.
;
"You are alone and surrounded," Absinthe calls. "Throw down your weapons and save your lives; none of your comrades remain to back you up!"
Despite these brave words, the wily Rogue does make sure to stay out of the line of fire...
Seren pulls his bow and crawls over the counter, crouching down and hiding as he does so. He'll await Rosa's action and move to her space if she vacates.
Melianthe hexes Hunched Fellow with Misfortune, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Death awaits you if you resist," she says in a chilling voice.
Segang winces as he is hit but closes the distance to red and tries to tag him.
To Absinthe's call, the hunched man growls back, "Come get us then, chel! We won't go so easily as they!"
Segang closes on the nearest fighter, who drops his crossbow and stands up, slapping aside the club attack. Melianthe moves around the back of the counter, casting a hex at Segang's foe. He snarls, waves a Varisian counter-sign and gives the dusk elf the stink eye.
Demitri casts a spell on the enemy not engaged by Segang. He attempts to cloud his mind into distraction.
HP:7/8
Arrows: 14/17
Seren moves into Rosa's spot if she vacates and takes a stealth shot, otherwise he steps behind her and takes a normal shot at the guy in the back.
(cover included)
+
Melianthe Sleep hexes Segang's adversary, nodding at Demtri.
Absinthe tries to make a limber maneuver to get past Segang and at the opponent still wielding a sword, but bangs her knee against the bannister instead and falls back with a muffled curse.
Demitri's simple spell is efficacious enough against the weak minded target. He stands idle, looking about listlessly.
Segang's swarthy opponent draws his blade and attacks, while the door to Segang's left flies open and another foe there ambushes with a heavy meat cleaver. This man is broad-shouldered and strong, with long red sideburns flanking his furrowed face. Segang blocks the first attack, but takes a small cut from the second.
Segang slams the first man with his club, and a moment later he collapses to the floor, overwhelmed by Melianthe's sleep hex.
Absinthe tries to move through the fray, but stumbles, and Seren moves to fire his bow, but hits the door jam above Demitri's head.
Another man appears, this one at the top of the stairs. Wielding a long bow, he aims and fires over the banister at Absinthe, hitting her in the leg. His appearance matches the description of Verik Vancaskerkin that Cressida Kroft gave you.
;
;
Melianthe sleep hexes the newcomer. "One sleeping, one dazed; can anyone take them out?"
Melianthe considers dropping her spear, drawing her crossbow, and then remembers her inability to fire into melee and get close to actual harm.
Segang attacks the man in the doorway to his left and then moves forward 5 feet.
Feeling ineffective, Seren leaps out the window and climbs back up to the shuttered penthouse.
Demitri will cast a spell of protection on Absinthe. "Inheritor's light, please protect Abby from harm."
Hissing at the pain, Absinthe leaps up towards the latest opponent, her blade leading the way.
"One is sick and tired of being fired upon!" she growls in her opponent's face as her rapier lances into him again and again. Blood flows, and the tiefling's eyes burn.
Demitri casts a protective spell over Absinthe.
The twitchy man moves back to the southern room, taking cover behind the door while he reloads.
The ambusher to Segang's side attacks again with his cleaver, but the sloppy swing clatters against the door frame. Segang swings back, missing, then moves to stand over the sleeping foe.
Melianthe casts a hex at the butcher, but he shakes it off. The first man starts to awaken.
Absinthe curses and leaps, stabbing Verik in the leg through gaps in the banister. Her blade drives deep into his thigh, and he howls in pain. As Absinthe lands, he fires another arrow, missing just above her head. Verik retreats back up to the second floor.
Seren leaves the front door, moving outside to find a way up, but struggles to find a good place to climb.
Demitri moves into Segang's vacated space and launches a gauntlet-ed fist at green.
Segang tries to smack the prone man with his sap and then will move off of him to be adjacent to the man with the bow.
Stay down!
Absinthe turns to Demitri, somewhat stiffly due to the arrow still jutting from her leg. Her face looks paler than usual. "One is... deeply appreciative for your magical assistance," she says, her jaw visibly clenched. "One remains in some... slight discomfort, and would appreciate some medical aid before the damage can become permanent."
"No thanks necessary. Though you are very welcome. Unfortunately I do not have the magic to help you with that. I still have my own wounds as well." Demitri says indicating his injuries.
HP: 7/8
Arrows: 13
Seren again attempts to climb up the side of the house, quickly.
;
He moves quickly and silently to the window and unlatches it.
Melianthe draws her Wand of Magic Missile and zaps the butcher fellow. "The best healing is to make the adversary bleed," she says. "We have to ascend those stairs and overtake Verik."
Demitri moves up, slams the butcher in the chest, winding him momentarily.
The man beneath Segang grabs his sword and hacks awkwardly at the Shoanti's legs, but Segang nimbly dances over the sword's arc. The butcher moves up close on Demitri and chops his cleaver into his shoulder, drawing blood and narrowly missing a major artery. The crossbowman leans out to fire again at Segang, but the bolt flies well high.
Segang slams the prone fighter in the head, knocking him senseless.
Melianthe fires her wand at the butcher, knocking him back. Absinthe stabs him with her rapier, adding to the wounds. The man emits a battle cry and makes to attack Demitri again.
; ;
;
If he succeeds, he yells, "I'VE GOT HIM DOWN! COME UP HERE AND HELP ME PIN HIM!"
Moving as necessary to be adjacent to the man with the bow, segang attacks with the sap.