Iomedae! Know that I fall in your service! Hyram mutters as he brings his sword to bear against the lizard again after taking a five-foot step .
Aladir quickly makes his way up until he's next to the lizardman and Ezro , being careful to stay out of the reach of its claws as he draws another arrow and releases into the crowded melee.
Mentally cursing her aim, Alikia loads another crossbow, but this time waits for a clear shot to try and injure either the lizard or the mongrelmen.
Quinn finally grabs the morningstar and stands up...
... and bashes the morningstar into the lizard's skull.
Ezro steps behind the lizard to flank with Quinn and swings with his longsword.
"We should leave now and find a place to heal and rest, before someone dies."
"Agreed. I'll help with Aravashnial." says the merchant.
Hyram stares at the door that the mongrelman closed and then looks at his and Quinn's wounds. It looks to him that the Tiefling is barley able to stand, and he is starting to feel a little light-headed as well. Bah! he mutters. I think we will have lost the element of surprise! He wipes some blood from his face not knowing if it is his, one of the mongrelmen or the lizard. I am out of healing for the day. Hyram says still staring at the closed door.
"It's a shame we haven't found any healing potions in all this walking around...ah, well. I am in agreement that we need to rest and heal. You can be certain that whomever is behind this door will be ready for us when we return, though..." the elf answers.
Quinn wipes away a smear of blood, leaving a pool of it where he had lain. "It's more of theirs than of mine," he says in defiance, though he has to brace himself against the wall to keep from swooning as he says so...
Giving a weary glance to the rest of the complex, Alikia approaches Quinn to offer a shoulder for him to lean on. "I'm in agreement with Anevia and Horgus. I need a rest in order to recall my arcane abilities. Otherwise, I will continue to be more of a liability than an asset."
Quinn tries to stay at the rear, to guard against attacks, but is ushered along by Alikia without the strength to resist her prodding. "Check the fallen before we leave. One of those is still alive," he points towards the mongrelman he punched into unconsciousness.
Staring at the door with a mix of resolve and regret, Aladir turns to search the bodies of the fallen before following the others out of the cave. "We should post extra watches through the night...in case someone tries to take advantage of our weakened position while we are resting." he suggests.
"Rest sounds good to me."
With one last look at the closed door that the mongrelman disappeared behind, Hyram will reluctantly follow the others as they retreat. He will pause by Aladir so guard over the scout so he will have adequate time to search the bodies. Then when Aladir is ready, continue to follow everyone else to safety.
Aladir searches the bodies, and finds nothing of importance. Heading back down the corridor, Lann suggests "it is only thirty minutes back to my home. We can rest and recuperate their for the night and set out again tomorrow." Agreeing that a thirty minute journey is worth it to have a good nights rest, the party heads back to Neathholm. The guards, recognize you and wave you thru, and you are taken to a house where you can rest and recuperate for the night.
Chief Sull is sent for and when he comes, he is quite pleased that you have returned and made good use of his weapon. He looks over Hyram and Quinn and sends for the tribes shaman, who will provide enough healing to bring everyone back to full health.
As the shamans pray over him and Quinn, Hyram closes his eyes as the healing magic washes over him closing his wounds. He says a silent prayer to Iomedae while he contemplates the battle that he knows is coming on the morrow.
Quinn stands and stretches, as the healers finish their ministrations. "You have my thanks, Chieftain," he thanks Sull. "And you, as well, Lann. That monstrosity nearly made an meal of me." Quinn spends a brief moment lamenting his guardsman's tabard laying in bloody shreds atop his armor.
"This is much more of a thriving community than I would ever have expected to find," Quinn compliments. "Do you have a store or trade post I could visit? I need a change of clothes, and frankly... I can't continue hauling around this arsenal anymore." Quinn begins laying out the weapons and armor taken during their travels.
(sale price in parentheses)
2 glaives (8 gp)
light crossbow w/10 bolts (18 gp)
marble statuette (75 gp)
masterwork chain shirt (125 gp)
masterwork warhammer (156 gp)
2 spiked guantlets (5 gp)
"We usually trade for things, but we do have some small amounts of gold, if that is what you are looking for. We will purchase everything except the statute. We have no need for that, but weapons and armor are always welcome." replies Chief Sull to Quinn.
Ezro busies himself with prayers to Iomedea for any that seek service.
That night, while Hyram and Quinn make their way to the market, Alikia spends a few moments to jot down the day's trek before leafing through Millorn's spellbook. Quietly reading through the mad-man's notes, she begins to see a repeating pattern through Millron's spells. Grabbing her own well-worn spellbook out of her pack, she leafs through it noticing a similar pattern. Grinning, Alikia nabs a quill and ink before beginning to scribble quickly, before the arcane discovery leaves her. After finishing up two pages, she stops.
Cracking her neck from being in one position for over two hours, Alikia looks around to see if Quinn and Hyram have arrived back from their journey to market. "Well these spells should be useful." Stretching her legs, Alikia moves around the small house before settling down for the night.
"Trade would be fine, if your traders have its value in healing and alchemy," Quinn responds. "Otherwise, gold or gems. Let's see what your traders have to offer."
Heading back out into the cavern system, you approach the area where the lair of the "bad" mongrelmen are. The half door ahead is closed, but you can see clearly into the room ahead, and there is a mongrelman at the door. As you approach down the hall, he turns slightly and says something in a language that no one understands to the two mongrelmen behind him.
As they approach the stronghold, Alikia picks up her pace so she falls in step with Quinn and Hyram. "How long do you think it will take us to clear this location? I have a spell prepared that will let me understand what they are saying, but it only lasts for twenty minutes." Loading a bolt into her crossbow, Alikia double checks that she has a full quiver and waits for a response before moving back to her usual location in marching order.
Hyram chuckles as he ponders Alikia's question. I guess that depends if they decide to put up a fight like their compatriots did, or if they let us walk right through. All joking aside (and for Hyram, that was a joke), He wonders if the mongrelmen are getting ready to surrender or to fight!
Lann, Do you know what they are saying? Are they getting ready for a fight?
Checking his shield, and readying his sword, Ezro says, "Well, we best be prepared for anything."
"Since this whole thing started we've hardly had a fight last longer than twenty seconds, much less twenty minutes. A spell of that length would likely be fine."
"Since this whole thing started we've hardly had a fight last longer than twenty seconds, much less twenty minutes. A spell of that length would likely be fine."
Especially with Quinn around! Hyram gives an appreciative nod in the direction of the formidable Tiefling.
Quinn would not have killed the mongrelman, but he wasn't in shape to prevent anything anyone else might have done during the withdrawal.
"Likely we will find a use for this," Quinn thanks the Chief, "assuming anything survives the onslaught above."
Especially with Quinn around! Hyram gives an appreciative nod in the direction of the formidable Tiefling.
Quinn looks away sheepishly. "Demon's blood has given me the power to wreak terrible destruction," he agrees. "May the Lady grant a good purpose to it all..."
"Be wary of traps," Quinn warns. "They knew we would return this way."
Ezro UP
Quinn draws the morningstar, as they approach the barricades, but hesitates before charging the mongrelmen.
Taking a deep breath, Alikia takes aim with her crossbow, but waits for the signal. She doesn't want to waste her luck on such an unlucky shot.
If it's possible, Aladir will move to get to an angle he can see the enemy from and fire on him with his bow.
"I suggest we move quickly then." Ezro says.
Holding up his holy symbol, he calls out to Iomedea, "Inheritor, guide our blades and our hearts!"
As long as they're expecting us, let's oblige them! Hyram says as he advances holding his sword and shield in front of him.
The three mongrelmen with clubs move to surround the half door, while the mongrelwoman with the bow, steps out of the shadows and shoots an arrow at Hyram damaging the human.
Quinn UP
Quinn ducks past Hyram , using the lee of the wall for cover. As he passes, he touches the silver scale in his pocket, summoning a pillar of cloud around Hyram.
"I've tasted your craven blood!" Quinn shouts. "If you surrender now, I'll offer mercy. Loose one more arrow, and I'll offer no quarter to you or your underlings."
On his action, if that space is still clear, Aladir will advance to M13 and take another shot from that square at the enemy on the other side of the door.
Ezro advances to support Hyram, reaching out to bless him with the touch of Iomedea.
Hyram is momentarily surprised when he is engulfed in the cloud, but when he realizes that the cloud came from Quinn, a smile appears on his face. Thanks! he says. Let me return the favor! Declaring judgment on the mongrelmen and reaching out to touch Quinn. You can share the benefits of this judgment.
Taking aim at the mongrelman M 16, Alikia hopes that the half-wall won't give the monster too much of a covering. However at the last moment, Alikia winds up sneezing and her shot strikes the wall, only to clatter somewhere out of sight.
DAMN
The three mongrelmen continue to stand waiting for the group to try and enter, while the mongrelwoman, while she cannot see Hyram believes in her skill so she shoots at the human, but sees the arrow go thru the cloud and come out the other side without hitting anything.
Anevia whispers to Aravashnial who begins casting a spell.
Quinn UP
Quinn spins through the doorway as the arrow whistles by. "You we're warned!" he shouts, driving the morningstar into the closest mongrelman.
Ezro moves up next to the door, reaching out to bless him with a touch of good.
"Iomedea guide your blade."
Taking a deep breath, Alikia attempt to snipe at the mongrelman again, hoping to give Aladir an opening to attack. It is unclear if the mongrelman is more surprised that Alikia's bolt hit, or if Alikia is. "Aladir, go on and take 'em down!" Alikia shouts, rather excitedly, as she reloads her crossbow, excited that she seems to be contributing to the fight.
The two mongrelmen with clubs swing at Quinn but both miss, while the mongrelwoman steps back and fires another arrow at the now visible Hyram, but the shot goes wildly wide.
You suddenly see a thin, six-legged ant the size of a pony stands at the ready, its mandibles chittering and its stinger dripping with venom, attack the mongrelman behind Quinn and while it doesn't bite the creature, it's tail sting hits it.
"Heh, Good placement Aravashnial." and the Elf wizard just smiles.
Quinn UP