"Hai, go make golem more like iron... then Kenta and friends do all else"
OK guys, I think we're going to have to just take the guards out, as quick and quiet as we can. We won't have time to tie them up and keep them quiet while we're in the dungeon looking for Bobo, so we should just off 'em. Agreed?
Despite the wisdom of the idea, Vaughn seems eager to finally be able to resort to violence on the kidnappers, as evident by his reaching for his hidden daggers.
No speaking--unless you think it'll gain us more time and surprise. We walk in, get close, and finish them like pros. Keep 'em in there, keep 'em quiet. Ready?
Kenta grabs Buta by the jade ringed tusk and looks deep into the boars eyes. He then makes a shhh noise with finger pressed to lips... the pigs enthusiastic grunting then seems to diminish significantly.
OK guys, I think we're going to have to just take the guards out, as quick and quiet as we can. We won't have time to tie them up and keep them quiet while we're in the dungeon looking for Bobo, so we should just off 'em. Agreed?
Despite the wisdom of the idea, Vaughn seems eager to finally be able to resort to violence on the kidnappers, as evident by his reaching for his hidden daggers.
No speaking--unless you think it'll gain us more time and surprise. We walk in, get close, and finish them like pros. Keep 'em in there, keep 'em quiet. Ready?
\
"Agreed. The quickness of our enterprise will guarantee its success" Tal'zeneb says, relieved to finally be able to contribute in some way.
Arendu nods and walks slowly over to the massive spiky iron construct that looks like it has just sprung out of an HR. Giger book.
He puts his bag of tools next to the feet of the golem and then sighs loudly. With a concerned look on his face, one of the priests who observed the scene, hurries over to him - a quick conversation ensues and after about two minutes, Arendu opens a panel in the golem's shin and the artificial creature slowly sits down and the light fades from its glowing eyes.
Arendu now lays his arm around the priest and guides him away obviously explaining some technical details to him - the way down into the dungeon looks clear!
Huh. I thought we'd have to fight our way down. Great--let's go. I'll lead.
Vaughn moves directly to the dungeon entrance and enters, waiting for the others to get inside too.
"Lead us onward, Daggers! We need to find Bobo and fast!"
Quickly you rush down the broad marble stairwell into the womb of the pyramid. The dungeon lies deeper than you had expected and soon you realise that the pyramid is built upon older Kaer Magan structures. After about 80m of stairs you reach a t-intersection.
To your left is an open door leading into a room - torchlight falls through the opening and you can hear some voices from within the room - sounds like several men are playing cards.
To your right the corridor leads to a long row of cells.
Kenta taps Kyren on the shoulder with his strung bow and smiles hopefully.
Kyren returns Kenta's gaze and with a wide smile and a thumbs up!
He then whispers quietly to him. "I think we are at the right place, my friend. Let's check out the cells and find Bobo first! Be sure to keep an eye out for those gambling guards in case they attempt to stop us! This is an in and out mission and we want to avoid battle if at all possible."
Kyren will creep down the hallway trying to emulate his cat friends in their stealth and grace.
Looking over his shoulder multiple times and peeking in every cell he can find, he looks desperately for his dear cousin, Bobo.
"Bobo?" He whispers into the cells.
*whispering* Kenta, stay here with me to keep an eye on the guards. You guys go ahead, find Bobo. I'm not going to be much use opening a cell.
Kenta nods and takes a position in front of Buta. He takes his longbow and with a practiced series of movement smoothly draws and arrow and takes a draw. He then leans back onto Buta's shoulder and calmly waits.
Tal'Zeneb takes a position at the entrance to the corridor with the cells.
Ready to assist in each direction if needed.
The guards seem to be totally oblivious of your presence and loudly continue their game of cards...
Farther down the corridor, Kyren suddenly hears a croaking voice out of one of the dark cells
Yes, it's me, I'm Bobo!
"Kazam! We will get you out of here in a jiffy, cousin!"
Kyren waves his hands in an intricate pattern and casts Knock on the door of Bobo's cell with the following words, "Alakazopen, let the door be open!"
If the door opens, Kyren rushes in and gives his cousin a big embrace! "My dear cousin, it is time to get you out of here and take you home!"
Kenta, stay here. Give me a "Tss" if you need me . . .
Vaughn heads over to Kyren and the other cells. He peers into the cells, trying to see the prisoners. He starts calling out in a slightly louder than normal whisper. Who all is down here? Hello??
to Kyren--If there are any other children down here, we're getting them too.
"Agreed, Daggers! Let's scout about and see who else needs rescuing down here. Crazzleboks! It is likely to be everyone!"
Swept away by the joy of finding his cousin, Kyren realizes too late that the croaking voice is not really Bobo's - he bumps right into an ugly half-orc who hid under a pile of rags
Great! I'm free! he grunts and pushes Kyren aside once out of the cell, he meets Vaughn on the corridor...
Hold on there, guy. You stay here until we're ready to get out too. If you give us away, I'll make sure I kill you painfully before they take me--understand??
Intimidate:
The half-orc hesitates for a moment then grins
I saw you fighting in the pit!
Good! Then you know I'm both willing to skewer you, and able! So keep it down and don't give us away. hey--did you see where they put a halfling, no more than a day or two ago?
The orc grins...you have the strange feeling that he is some kind of fan of yours...
A small chubby guy with rosy cheeks and curly brown hair? the orc asks and gives a perfect description of Bobo
Yeah, I know where he is...has whimpered the whole night that he is NOT a necromancer, heh. Follow me.
The half-orc walks to the end of the cell corridor and stops - a bit unsure - in front of three cells
He must be in one of those...
"Bobo?" Kyren whispers into each of the cells. "Are you there? Can you hear me?"
Kenta remains almost perfectly still in his vigil. The only sound and movement evident is the soft panting of Buta.
From one of the cells, you hear a low and timid voice
Kyren? Is that you? - and really, it sounds like Bobo!
----
Back at the beginning of the corridor, those of you who stayed there, can hear that a heated argument between the jailors suddenly errupts, tankards clatter to the ground, the table is thrown over and curses are yelled.
I'm going back to the door--get him out, and let's go!
Vaughn hurries back quietly to the door to stand ready with Kenta.
Kyren waves his hands in somatic gestures and casts Knock on the door.
"Abrakazopen, let the door swing open!"
Kyren quickly enters the cells and grabs Bobo, taking no time to chat.
"Hurry, cousin! We do not have a lot of time and bad guys are stirring. Come with me and the rest of the Wee Bluets!"
Kenta eases off of Buta and stands ready to deliver a pointy wooden welcome to the cursing guards when they show themselves.
Bobo pushes Kyren away as he tries to grab him
One minute! I noticed some very rare mushrooms growing in my cell - you will LOVE an omelette made from them!
----
Vaughn reaches Kenta exactly the moment, when one of the jailors tumbles out of the room. He rubs his chin and shouts
You dare to hit me, you bastard? I will show you... then he suddenly notices Vaughn, the not very amused pig, the pair of cats, Kenta, Tal and freezes
Uh...wow...I admit that was a good punch, I'm already seeing things that are not there!
he mutters slowly and comes nearer as if he couldn't believe what he is seeing....
As the guard steps towards them Kenta looses the nocked arrow, aiming for a gut shot...
Deadly Aim MW Composite Longbow: for
...before whispering to Buta "Anata ga iku, karera wa kuru"
"I admit, mushrooms could be a nice addition to an omelette, but are you sure this is the right time to be gathering them up? I mean, we are going to have some trouble here any minute from now!"
Berry snaps back into coherence. "Where am I? What am I doing? Why is everyone dressed funny? Why id Bobo looking at me like that?"
Following Kenta's lead--eagerly, truth be told--Vaughn stabs the hapless guard with his Frost Burst dagger.
Attack:
Damage:
Trick or treat!
The arrow smashes into the man's throat and before he is even able to gurgle for help, the icy explosion that opens his stomach ends his life - inside the guards' room, a full-grown brawl has begun, chairs are thrown through the room, the swearing volume has reached a new level and no one realizes what happens outside of their chamber...
-----
Trouble? You don't want to imagine how much trouble I will cause if you don't let me collect these wonderful mushrooms!
the stubborn halfling says while he rummages in his cell.
Kenta calmly nocks another arrow, face still and emotionless.
*whisper loud enough to carry down the hall, but not into the brouhaha in the guard room* Tsssst!! Let's move it, get out while the gettin's good! Tell Bobo I'll roast HIM on a spit if he doesn't move!!
Vaughn then grabs the corpse and pulls it out of the room, making sure it's out of sight of those in the room.
Nice shot, Kenta.
*thinking fast*. . . is there a door to the guard's room? If so, does it open into theroom, or out into the hall we're in?
"Bobo, this is not the time to be picking mushrooms! We can pick them later and in another place. This prison does not exactly have have a monopoly on mushrooms!"
"Now come with me quickly, Cousin. Daggers is good, but we are not going to expect him to fight off an entire army just because you want a different kind of appetizer!"
Bobo sighs loudly but stops searching for more mushrooms
Ok ok, I come and...oh...just this one...and that one here! ...but finally the stubborn chef leaves his cell - he's a bit dirty but looks mostly ok.
-------
Vaughn has meanwhile pulled the corpse out of sight and has noticed that the door to the guards' room opens into the room.
From the top of the staircase you can hear a lifeless and somewhat hollow voice
Booting now!
Al sniffs about, clearly happy with the way things are going, and that his friendship with the Ardocs bore such rich fruit.
"Ok, Daggers. I have Bobo and we are ready to go, but we will need to work at distracting him enough so we can leave without him running to pick more mushrooms. I am saddened that we cannot free more, but I have completely exhausted my knock knocks and that is no joke!"
"Hurry" Tal hisses, "The golem is wakening"
Hearing the voice from the top of the stairs, Kenta is unmoved... for a moment before the translated words ring in his mind. The nocked arrow is stowed as he shoulders his bow and swings up atop Buta. Calling out worriedly "Kenta think time for running now... iron friend about to wake up."
Damn. I'll go up and try to draw it away from the door. STart up the stairs--but don't come out the door until I give you the word. I don't know if I can draw it away, so you might have do dodge some iron fists!!
Vaughn hurries up the steps, through the door as fast as he can, and takes stock of where the golem is and what state it's in.
Berry sighs. "I'd rather construct golems than deconstruct them no matter how proficient I am at the task so let's be on our way please."
Kenta starts to wheel his boar to leave... before he gets an idea. Buta is bade to trot over to where the dead guard lies on the ground, and Kenta swings out of the saddle to pick up the corpse. With strength belying his small frame he hoists the body and keeps it on one side of his boar... paying no mind to the blood that leaks out and over him.
Buta trots the now trio back to the stairs and Kenta smiles widely before shaking the guard "Extra cushion... maybe iron friend punch not hurt so much if hit him first."
"Quick Kenta, search the guard for keys. We maybe able to help some other innocents to escape!"
Kyren moves quickly over to assist Kenta and check the guard for any keys on his possession.
Kenta looks at Kyren askance "You not hear Kenta? Big iron friend going to start getting punchy soon... we have chance get past... normal people have more chance get turned into Mochi. We come for Bobo, get him safe... maybe think come back for others later."
"Crazzleboks! I hate time pressure! If only I could make time stand still! Alright, my friend. Lead us onward. At least we got Bobo out safely!"
Alchy looks at his small and relatively slower moving companions, then suggestively looks at his back as though they might be better served mounted than running.
"I've seen that look before. Come here, Bobo! We are going for a ride of our life. Quick, climb up on his back. Never try this at home without his permission, but in this case, we will be fine. Just hang on to me and I will hang on the scruff of his neck and hope that we don't lose our balance. Come, let's move."
Kyren climbs up on Alcheringa's back with Bobo and does his best to get a good grip on the great cat. Finally, he decides to wrap his arms around the cat's neck while Bobo holds onto Kyren around his waist.
"All set, Alchy. We are ready to ride!"