Hey folks, lets watch out for that hammer. I'm not comfortable using a tool of the dark gods. Later we can have the silver cleansed by fire as it is melted down to be put into something intended for good.
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He then heads out of the room to joint the others in the hallway.
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MAP
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"Sure, you hold it", Jeffrey says to Nebdel when the latter claims the hammer. "Take this scrap of paper too. It'll probably sell better as a set. You know, collector's edition."
After some more searching in the room Jeffrey joins the others in the hallway. "Woah! It's packed here!"
Jeffrey forces his way to the front of the line, until he stands before the same door as Nebdel. "You want to go in here next?", he asks the cleric, but doesn't wait for an answer. He places the crowbar and uses his full strength to force the door open.
Nebdel steps out of Jeffery's way and listens at the other door.
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MAP
"The sooner we get this mushroom, the sooner we can move on. I grow tired of this place. It bears ill will towards us all. No wonder it has been abandoned."
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The door gives way with little resistance. The room is dark and you can't see very far in due to Nebdel holding the torch off to the side.
This small study looks like it has been lived in recently. Gnawed bones litter the floor and tufts of gray fur can be seen here and there. An old stone desk sits in the center of the chamber, scratched and cracked in many places. The stench of wet fur hangs heavy in the air.
Balazar gets rigid and starts a low growl after the door is opened.
As Jeffrey move into the room two wolves spring to attack but the warning by Balazar's growl kept them from surprising Jeffrey.
You go straight, I'll go for the other one!
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[Nebdel drops the torch as he moves into the room to get a better grip on his shield, then swings at the wolf on the left. But the rushed blow misses the mark.
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MAP
August rushes into the room, remembering for a moment how quickly they had lost their companion.
Seeing the snarling animal, he quickly thrusts out his spear.
Keanan and Balazar guard the door in case the wolves try to escape.
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Jeffrey's charges into the room catches the off guard leaving them flat footed. The wolf howls out in pain as the warrior's sword tears a huge gash in its flank. August also charges into the room, with reckless abandon, spear ready to kill but his haste make the spear shoot wide of its mark. The wold snaps at August with a ill timed bite and misses.
Nebdel steps up to challenge the other wolf his in the guard position and brings the morning star around in a wild arc with the wolf easily dodges.
The wounded wolf withdraws into the next room as the other one guards it's retreat but attacking Nebdel. Nebdel's quick adjustment of his shield saves him from the wolf bite on the neck.
Nebdel steps to the side and takes yet another swing at the snarling beast.
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MAP
Keanan sees the wolves retreat and steps in to help. First, he dodges Nebdel's morningstar and swings at the wolf.
"I don't see s***!" Jeffrey moves to a position where he can flank the wolf together with Nebdel. He hopes to increase his chance of wounding this wolf too, even though moving this way provokes an extra attack from the creature.
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As Jeffrey moves to flank it, the wolf snaps at him with it's fangs. The wolf hits but can't get through the armor of the warrior. Jeffrey does pierce the wolf's hide but only leaves a small cut.
Balazar leaps on to the desk and attacks the wolf but misses with her bite.
August holds back due to not being able to reach the wolf and not wanting to throw his only spear so he moves to grab the torch so the group can see into the next room.
Outnumbered badly and now wounded the second wolf withdraws into the next room as well.
Just as August hold the torch high in the air, a low menacing growl comes from the darkness in next room.
"Who are you and why have you disturbed my rest?"
August can see two large red eyes peering at the group. Balazar goes rigid, hair on her back stands straight up and growls at the eyes in the dark.
Nebdel and Jeffrey do not have line of sight of the speaker yet.
Keanan turns to his companions. "Stay back, all of you."
Keanan lowers his scimitar at his side and walks to the doorway, but does not enter the next room.
"My name is Keanan, a druid from the mountains. These are my companions, and my best friend is my lion, Balazar. I wish no harm to any animal. Indeed, we have saved a fox from a trap on our way despite dangers to our party. We only attacked these wolves out of self defense. Both of the wolves should recover in time."
"And as my human companion said, we're only here to find some mushrooms. Once we find these mushrooms, we will leave. Will you permit us, or perhaps just me, to look around and find these mushrooms in this area? If not, well, then we shall come to blows and they have a lot of thick armor and many weapons. I will fight with them but I will be sad. On behalf of Gozreh, I implore you, do not fight us, as too many creatures of the wild have died today, we need not add more to the list."
Nebdel stays back in the corner out of view for the speaker in the room. Hoping it won't be necessary but fearing it will, he gets the silver hammer out of his pack and gets ready to hand it to Jeffery or August.
Gaping holes in the roof allow faint light to enter this ruined chamber but due to the sun setting the room is nearly pitch black. One of the stone columns that once supported the ceiling is toppled, its broken pieces littering the floor. A thick patch of black mushrooms hides in a nearby corner, giving the room an earthy scent that is barely noticeable above the stench of wet fur.
"There are many mushrooms within the forest, why must you come to my lair in search of them?" The large wolf growls.
"Ahh, you are very right, but the mushrooms we need are called Iron Bloom mushrooms. Unfortunately, they grow near metal, and this building is known to have these very specific mushrooms. So far we have found some in the other rooms, but not enough to cure the people of Falcon's Hallow. Trust me, if we could find iron bloom mushrooms without disturbing nature, I would do so. Not only would these mushrooms help cure the people, but it would also help save the animals drinking the spoiled water in that area. This is why we have risked our lives for these mushrooms. Indeed, my dear friend Serila died in the adjacent room while helping search for these mushrooms."
Keanan takes a long, deep breath. "What I can offer is also to put sign outside that says to not disturb your lair in the future. That way you can have peace going forward. Please consider this peaceful offer. My companions are intent on getting the mushrooms, one way or another. If we get the mushrooms, we're willing to help do something for you so that you're not disturbed again. Please, let's not shed any more blood today, I've already grown sick of seeing animals hurt. For this I promise on my mark from Gozreh." Keanan slowly stretches out his arm from his shield and shows his green birthmark to the red-eyed wolf.
"I have some of the mushrooms you seek but will only give them up if you help me. Some unwelcome guest have moved into my lair and I want them run out or eliminated. Do this for me and I will give you what you need."
"Well, okay, as long as those unwanted guests don't happen to be my companions, it shouldn't be a problem. May I bring my companions inside your lair to help remove your unwanted guests? Their eyes aren't as keen as yours or mine, so they will need light. May they bring a torch inside to assist?"
Keanan turns to his companions. "Keep your guard up and defend yourselves, but inside is a large majestic wolf. We are going to assist him in removing something from his lair, but I see multiple mushrooms that we seek inside. Make sure you don't get to close to the wolves with that torch either."
Finally, Keanan looks at his companion in the eye and says, "Guard me, but don't attack anything unless either me or you come under attack. Got it?"
"This entire ruin is my lair!! growling a bit. "The guest I speak of are a swarm of bats in a collapsed room down the hall to the east, a large spider in the watch tower in the courtyard and pair of flying creatures in the altar room. Remove them and you may have the mushrooms."
"Okay, we'll be back soon when the task is complete."
Keanan does not turn his back, but slowly starts walking backward, motioning everyone to back out of the room.
Once Keanan backs up enough, he wipes the visible sweat from his brow with his sleeve and gives the look of "close one" to his friends. "Whew, we almost made a big mistake there. Let's clear the lair for him and we'll be on our way home."
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Jeffrey nods, showing Keanan his trademark big smile. "As long as I have light I can kill what's in front of me."
"The altar room didn't seem to hold any creatures. I take it you guys cleared that already. Let's start with the room next to this." Jeffrey walks to the door of the other room, and tries to force it open.
Jeffrey puts a shoulder to the door in the hallway which give way to his brute strength with out resistance.
Old cobweb-covered racks and armor stands dominate much of this small chamber. What must have once been a well-tended armory is now devoid of arms and armor.
Nebdel joins Jeffery in the hall.
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I know Keanan believes the best of anything 'natural,' but I don't think that beast is natural. And I don't think we can count on it keeping it's side of the deal when we're done with these tasks. I'll have to keep my guard up when we next encounter it.
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MAP
With the torch still lit in his left hand, shield slung over his shoulder, spear at the ready, August leans into the room holding the torch out in front of him.
Keanan and Balazar move first to Seila's body and grab her crossbow and bolts, then they move down the hall near the others. "How are you planning on dealing with the bats? I have Serila's crossbow but I'm not very good with it. Anyone else want to use it? Otherwise i will."
Keanan stores his shield on his back and holds the crossbow with both hands with a bolt ready to fire.
Nebdel moves into the room and searches it carefully.
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MAP
Since Keanan is still in the other room, Nebdel mutters to August as he passes by, Don't start anything, but if we are betrayed, you may need this. Keep it covered for now.
He hands the silver hammer to August.
Keanan waits patiently for the party to move to the end of the hall. He's still wondering how they plan on hitting the flying creatures.
Well, I found 4 crossbow bolts. If you don't mind Keanan, I'll hold on to these for a bit since I don't have any for the crossbow I'm carrying.
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There appears to be a hidden door here in the corner of the room. But before we open it, Keanan brings up a good point about how to deal with them. I have a single vial of acid which should work on them if I don't miss. But that may not be enough.
Do you guys have acid, fire, ore even oil? The torches may work. If not, we may need to build a significant fire to flush them out.
Keanan, if we chase them out with smoke, is there something we can smear on the ceiling and stuff to keep them from coming back? Or do you have any other ideas?
"Nope. That's why I grabbed her crossbow and asked what the plan was. The alternative is to try to go back and kill that giant werewolf and his wolf pals take the mushrooms and hope he had enough in that one room. That seemed to me like a bad idea. Plus, we were going to clear this place out anyway to find mushrooms, so we're not really doing it any favor we wouldn't have already done ourselves."