The intact doorway leads back out into the castle's great entrance hall.
Back here at the start. I think there were some places we haven't checked on the right? Tybus thinks back. Choosing one of the intact doors, he moves towards it and gets ready to open it.
The double doors open into a decayed ballroom, easily recognizable as the room you saw from the crumbling balcony above. A ring of pillars support the balcony just over fifteen feet overhead, and a flight of stairs winds up to the balcony along the southern wall. Faded paintings of dancing elves decorate the walls, spattered here and there with ancient bloodstains. Another set of double doors are on the room's far side, while a smaller single door is in the wall near where you are standing.
Lamsfel moves cautiously across the room, unsure of what to expect, and listens at the far doors.
Tybus listens at the small door.
Tybus hears nothing at the smaller door, but Lamsfel... there is a faint ...hum?... just at the edge of his hearing.
Lamsfel tilts his head quizzically, motioning for quiet. Whispering, "I can't put my finger on it, but... there is something. I don't know if it is someONE, though."
All right, then. Stay close there. I'm going to open this door, since I don't want to get us surrounded.
The smaller doorway conceals a narrow stone stairway/ The steps lead down to a landing before turning sharply to the right and continuing out of sight.
Okay, so not a closet. Let's stick with clearing out this floor, shall we?
Tybus shuts the door as quietly as he can manage, then gets ready to open the double doors on the other side of the ballroom.
The doors are unlocked and open easily. Beyond is a short corridor with another set of double doors standing partially open at the far end.
Gan points his spear toward the doors at the end of the hallway. There, something's movimg, he whispers to the others.
The elf squints, "Glad you're here, Gan. I'm not seeing it."
"Indeed. The heavens see what keen elven eyes do not," Callomeleth says.
You there, show yourself! Are you friend or foe to the Amatatsus?
There is silence at first. Then there is a small giggle from inside the room. "Pretty elf, pretty sword, pretty eyes," murmurs a voice beyond the doorway. "The Eternal Rose will bloom, but what about its petals? Gone, gone, gone!"
Lamsfel directs a concerned look at the others, What is this?
Tybus shrugs at Lamsfel's look, but he glances over to Callomeleth, waiting for him to make the first move.
Callomeleth's eyes narrow at the mild oath taken against his goddess, and he steps forward, his bowstring taut with an arrow nocked, though it is currently pointed at the floor.
"Step forward, whoever you are. As one of the Rose's petals, I bear you no ill will, should you bear us none." He scans the room, wondering if this is some sort of trick.
Abruptly there is a rush of motion in the doorway, as something child-sized - but moving at a speed no child could ever dream of - suddenly blurs toward you from the far end of the corridor.
Callomeleth is stunned at the speed the creature rushes towards him. By the time the though to raise his bow and loose the arrow enters his mind, the small creature is upon them.
Tristan opens his mouth but no sound emerges. In a wink his sword is in his hands and he gets ready to swat the blurry creature.
,
Lamsfel reacts at the quickly-closing creature without thinking about friend or foe, striking out with the enchanted wakizashi.
Lamsfel rushes forward, his blade slashing down at the blurry creature.
The blade makes contact with the creature and it gives a pained cry. The impact jars Lamsfel's arm too, though, feeling as though he were stabbing a rock.
For a moment, the creature pauses enough for you to get a good look at it - at her, to be more precise. She is a dainty elflike creature with long twitching antennae, wearing a brightly colored dress made from butterfly wings and preserved wildflower petals. A small short sword glitters in one hand. She is quite lovely, at least at first glance, but there is an unmistakable glint of madness in her eyes as she glares up at Lamsfel before shaking her head and zipping around and past him.
"It's a tiny elfin woman!" He is still acting on instinct at the creature's sudden rush and as it moves past, he tries to hit it with his backswing.
Lamsfel feels the same jarring impact as he stabs the creature again. She gives a shriek of pain, but it doesn't seem to slow her down as she whips past him, rushing up to Callomeleth and stabbing him with her tiny sword.
As soon as the blade sinks in, the creature blurs back up the corridor, passing Lamsfel on his other side and disappearing into the next room again.
By the time Callomeleth can even raise his bow, the elfin woman has raced across the room, stabbed him in the side, and disappeared into the door again. He staggers a bit from the unexpected strike, and a creeping numbness begins to work its way up his side. "Fine," he says with chilling finality. "If that's how you want to play it..." He pulls the bowstring taut and watches the doorway for the creature to exit again.
Readying an action to shoot the elfin woman when she runs back in the room. Not sure if I'm within 30' or not - if I am, then it's +1 to attack and damage.
Tybus moves forward slowly with a double-grip on the katana, blade crackling with energy.
Holding his action until the creature moves into striking distance, he will attack if it gets within reach of his blade.
Tristan sighs soundlessly and prepares to strike again should the creature appear.
,
Gan readies himself as well
"Little one, I am sorry I struck you, but you surprised us. We would entertain a truce - I would rather ask questions than spar with one so quick as you."