The ettercap tore into Tybus with a fury. Though his constitution threw off the effects of the poison, its claws and fangs had him woozy and ready to drop. However, the cleric of Shelyn provided, and strength flew back into his limbs.
The corby turns and strikes at Gan, hoping to find some revenge for the damage it suffered at his claws.
One claw manages to cut the possessed Tian man, but the wound is small and easily ignored.
,
Trying to make up for past mistakes, Tristan just makes an even bigger fool of himself.
Tybus tries to bring this conflict to an end.
Lamsfel presses his attack, still lashing out with both blades despite still learning the balance of the finer Tian design. The magical blade's attack ends up being a rather poor feint, however, while the shortsword plunges deep into the creature.
The corby is nimble and resilient, dodging swings from Tybus, Tristan and Lasmfel - but while Lamsfel's first attack goes wide, he manages to follow up with a well-aimed second strike, burying the short sword in the corby's ribs. It gives a weak cry and collapses, leaving the courtyard in silence for the moment.
"How is everyone? Do you hear ant more of them?"
Lamsfel cleans both swords and sheathes them, watching the far side of the courtyard from the corner of his eye the whole time. Whispering to those close enough to hear, he says, "We are being watched. Two figures near the columns to the east. Not quite human, maybe? What do you make of them?"
Tybus winces in the pain of his remaining wounds. I still be chewed up a good bit.
Tybus doesn't bother looking for the new figures, not wanting to let on that they'd been spotted. Instead, he whispers, Hostile? while retrieving his bow and sheathing his sword.
"No way to know yet. I don't want to let on we know they are there until everyone is ready. How bad off are you? Those were pretty nasty hits you took."
"Best to retreat a bit and lick our wounds, then," Callomeleth said. "I can entreat the Rose into curing our ills, but she finds beauty in all of the creatures that walk the earth. Even those as loathsome as these."
Assuming we're cool with withdrawing to channel, I'll drop a pair and see where that gets us.
Retreat is valid,at times, but the longer we wait the more time they have to warn their allies, or prepare more siege weapons. I do not think we should tarry long.
The possessed old man retrieves his spear, wiping the blood off the point.
"I say we press on", Tristan mutters between clenched teeth.
Lamsfel is willing to end any that have not already expired to put them out of their misery.
With swift blades, the elf dispatches the dying corbies, and Callomeleth's healing spreads over the surviving party members.
"We'll not find what lies beneath the ruins out here," Callomeleth says as he begins stowing his glaive in preference to his bow. "Shall we explore the place the ettercap came from first?" And we'll not find out what ails Ameiko until we do...
The building from which the ettercap and its spider emerged is clearly a set of stables. Inside, you find an old forge at the south end of the structure, and to the north are five horse stalls, all devoid of any sign of occupancy for some time. Spiderwebs cover many of the surfaces inside, but you can pick your way between them with reasonable facility.
Lamsfel will look around as they pass through the stables.
Lamsfel moves to the door in the guard tower, swords in hand.
The door to the tower is open; the room inside is dusty and cramped, filled with boxes and barrels. As Lamsfel looks around the area, he notes a number of old and broken arrows, barely-visible bloodstains and rotted staves of wood that were once (long ago) longbows. A ladder leads up to an open trapdoor in the ceiling.
"Hold a moment." Sheathing his swords, he heads up the ladder, watching for possible attack from above.
Lamsfel finds nothing in the room above save another guard tower, essentially identical to the one from which he and Callomeleth exited over the gatehouse, just before the catapult exploded. As with that tower, there is a door to the outside, also standing open - it leads out to the top of the curtain wall, that much he can see easily, but there is little else to see from within the tower itself.
Looking down the ladder at the others, he asks, "Well, how do you wish to proceed? We can continue along the top of the wall or we can go across the courtyard. I'll be right back."
He climbs up the last few rungs of the ladder and moves to peer out, if only to see if his perspective change yields more information about the courtyard. He tries to do so without making himself a target to any unseen foes, so he only peeks out from the shadowy interior, not actually stepping out of the tower yet.
The view from up here is not all that much different from the view below - Lamsfel can still see one of the hulking, brutish figures lurking on the other side of the courtyard, although the second figure seems to have disappeared. The one individual he can make out isn't looking up toward the top of the wall, instead still gazing in the direction of the door through which the group entered the stables. There is no other sign of movement or activity in the area.
Lamsfel returns down the ladder and shares what he's seen.
We should stay on the wall to traverse the distance--it is more defensible than the alternative. Gan stands vigilant with his spear readied.
"I agree," Callomeleth adds. "One's gone back to put the castle on alert, while the second remains to watch for our approach. Keep to where we have the high ground, and we may yet take the defenders."
How about one of us go down to parlay with them, and the rest of us stay up here to cover them in case they be hostile?
"Ok, who do you suggest?"
"Parlay? They fired a frigging catapult at us! I say we go get them. I prefer to go by the wall, but any way will do."
"Easy, friend. We killed the incompetent siege engineers and their pet spider. He's referring to the fellow watching and not attacking over yonder. Right?"
Tybus nods. Aye. It be my bone-headed plan, so I'll go down to meet them, but I don't have much in the way for words.
"The truth serves you well. I tend to lose track of things." The elf doesn't seem bothered by this admission. "Come, we will both go. The rest can make sure we aren't attacked. Maybe from the top of the wall?"
"I will cover you," Callomeleth replies, readying his bow. "Though my aim is not as true as yours, Lamsfel."
Gan closes his eyes, seemingly oblivious to the discussion. He mutters under his breath and when he opens his eyes again the glow is gone, replaced by a watery blue. The old man is diminished, not only in stature but in spirit, and now he speaks softly, leaning on his spear like a cane.
I can help you with this, but only me, not the Traveler. I shall cover you from the wall as well.
Tristan draws his bow. "Good luck to you, friends. But whoever it is you are going to talk to, remember that they are living with some very unpleasant neighbors."
"Indeed. A very good point."
Sheathing his swords, the elf moves to the stable door closest to the last known location of the watcher. He waits while the others position themselves and Tybus joins him before opening the door or exiting.