Serena snorted with laughter at Bitey's response. "One of these days, I'm going to have to find you a cup that doesn't empty." she mused. ...What? It would almost certainly be funny. And she'd make sure someone could summon rain to put out any fires before they really harmed anything.
Thrall groans and makes sure his armour is properly worn. He nods at Arianna when she seems ready to scout, and braces himself for whatever comes. "So, what now?"
The party tries to make it's way inward toward the city center, but the damage forces them around the inner walls toward the north east. Along the walk you don't run into anything that poses a threat, but your caravan is now rather... large... and you feel like you're being watched. Soon you come across a great ditch in the groundleading out wards from the city. It's as if a giant plow were dragged through the streets and buildings here, creating a furrow or trough around 200 feet wide and around 50 deep! Using your scales it's no matter to get everyone through, but to does take a while to get it all done. In the middle of all the chaos and destruction, Horgus Gwerm's manor is something of a miracle, for it seems to have escaped without any damage at all. Horgus gasps when he sees it and starts to walk faster than you've seen him walk this whole time!
Soon after that ordeal you arrive at Gwerm Manor.
"We're drawing too much attention" Thrall says, negating with his head. "We need to adress this as soon as possible."
"Remember, you promise Bitey cup that never empty. Bitey hold you to promise."
"See, I tell you noble man. We get you home home, yes we do. You teach Bitey be noble now like promise. Bitey where wigs and robes and swing gavel like noble type man tell Bitey pay back man for eat his chickens... OH NO... Bitey not pay back man for chickens yet!!!" Bitey is obviously concerned with the fact that he hasn't done something he was supposed to do... but, probably only because he is worried big sister Zo is going to be disappointed in him.
"Big orc brother worry too much. We no draw attention, we small fleas on dog. You no notice till they bite... trust me, ZoZo always make me take bath when that happens... so many baths, and no allowed eat soap..."
Iolaire tries very hard to keep a straight face, but Bitey's last comment is just too much and the Gathlain doubles over, chortling. The sound is even more out of place than the party, but Iolaire doesn't seem able to stop for a minute or two. "Eat the soap!" She giggles, finally getting herself under control.
She comes across and gives Bitey a big hug, which includes her vines - temporarily leaving the goblin looking like he's been caught in a spider's web. "I'm very glad you're here Bitey."
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Vance approached the home with the others, watching over them carefully as they entered.
"I shall remain outside with the prisoners," Vance announces. "Maybe there's a stables or something." He doubted the nobleman wanted to see the prisoners in his home, and he had burned a lot of his own goodwill with the man.
Once it was clear the folks entering the front door didn't find any trouble, he began circling the Manor with the bound prisoners in tow.
As you search the house, you slowly realize that it's completely empty of anything valuable! Horgus is furious that his servants and guards basically looted his home on their way out. He storms into the basement to a locked vault. He opens it quickly and sighs in relief. Well, at least they didn't get this.
He enters the vault and comes back out half a minute later with a bag of 1000 gold. He hands it over a bit sheepishly.
Of course you recognized my importance immediately, but still, you did a most adequate job of getting us safely to the surface. Above average, even.
Balthasar says, "We are only glad we were able to successfully return you home - although the cowardice of your guards and servants must be most frustrating. Do you intend to remain here? If so, will you be safe? Do you have a secure room you can take shelter in?"
He motions behind him at the vault. I will be quite safe here. You all may go and do what you wish. Just don't harm my property. ... Please.
"Of course not. We will leave you here, then. If we find any other crusaders, do you want us to send them to you for further protection?"
Horgus considers for a moment. Yes, but I don't have lots of food in the vault so I can't stay here forever.
"Very well. We will attempt to find an intact fortification and other crusaders so we can establish a rally point, as well as more supplies. We will send word to you when we have done so."
"I hope you'll consider joining up at some point, though." Serena added diplomatically as she looked at Horgus. "It's clear that you managed a considerably complex enterprise before all of this happened, and I think that's exactly the sort of talent this region is going to need as we rebuild."
Aria stares dumbstruck at the opulence of Horgus's mansion. "I could fit my entire house in just one of these rooms," she idly thinks to herself as she follows the rest of the group taking in her surroundings
"Ok, one less problem. " Thrall can't wait to leave the man here and go do something really productive.
The next house you can get to in the devastation turns out to be Irabeth and Anevia's. It's a simple, two-story home that seems to have escaped much of the damage. Anevia does her best to rush forward on her wounded leg, calling out for her wife.
"Bitey go get wounded leg hobbles like old man's loving wife out for her." Bitey runs head long into the building shouting for "Woman wife of old man woman".
”Anevia, wait! Let one of us go first, just in case!”
Balthasar moves in front of Anevia, just in case.
Serena was not foolish enough to rush ahead - people tougher than her could do that. Instead, she kept her magic at the edge of her fingertips, ready to be hurled out on a moment's notice if need be.
Iolaire, seeing that the main entrance is... well in hand... extends her vines and swarms up the side of the building to peek into the second floor windows.
The house appears to be empty. Bitey rushes through it and Iolaire searches from the outside to find no one home. Anevia wanders the house searching for Irabeth, clearly on the edge of panic. On her fourth round through the house she is inn the southern room when you hear a scream! You rush to her to find
Anevia struggling with a corrupted looking fire beetle! She already has a gash on her shoulder from the monstrous insect's mandibles!
Thrall is still moving to the house, calmed, when a scream makes him snap. [b]"Hey, what was that?" he shouts to Bitey and lolaire, but he runs before they can answer.
"Bad bug flaming butt go away.... or Bitey eat you." Bitey rushes forward to bite the bug, even though he is sure something is going on here. Never saw any bugs on his trip through the house.
"Anevia, get behind me!" Balthasar steps up, swinging his longsword at the Fiendish beetle that appeared out of nowhere.
"Songbird, guide me!" Iolaire whispers as her vision shifts into a different plane.
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As the party came upon the smaller house, Vance stood outside. He paced up and down with the prisoners on a leash, keeping the pair within his sight as he looked for signs of any danger approaching.
Hearing the scream from inside the home, he tugged hard on the bonds, dragging the two inside with him. Just inside the door, he called out.
"Everything allright?!" he shouted loudly into the house, unsure of what to do. He looked around for something heavy he might tie the prisoners to.
Seeing the ting struggling with Anevia, Serena didn't waste any time raising her hand. A moment later, two brilliant blue bolts shot through the air and into the... insect's?... hide. It wasn't the strongest attack, but when others were tightly engaged, she could be sure it would hit.
After hearing the scream, Aria follows the rest of the group to determine its the threat. Upon arriving and seeing the fire beetle well surrounded by her comrades, Aria takes up a defensive position with her bow, looking for other threats.
The beetle is dispatched. It's innards glow like a torch that's been splattered all over the room. You all hear a voice you can't quite place in the room and suddenly a huge hound with firey red eyes and cracked, glowing skin pops into existence right on top of Anevia!
I'm going to kill you and leave you in bed for your precious wife, Anevia. The voice chuckles.
The hound opens it's huge maw and a bath of hellfire comes screaching out! Anevia screams as it rolls over her!
Serena was fortunate in that she hadn't rushed into the room just yet - she hadn't needed to.
Going by the flames, though, shooting out her brilliant lights probably wasn't going to hurt it. Gesturing curtly, Serena sent two magical bolts darting into the chamber, trying to soften the beast up a little before the others dispatched it. (It probably said something nice that she was so confident in their ability to do so.)
"Rarrrrr" Bitey let out a roar... which at his size was more cute kid pretending to be a dinosaur than fearsome battle cry of an enraged warrior.
Iolaire steps towards the hellhound, brings her glaive around in a ridiculously vast arc to strike at the creature.
Aria screams as she is caught by surprise from the flames. As her adrenaline kicks in she feels an unnatural calm settle over her. She quickly turns around, takes aim, and unleashes an arrow and a ball of ice at the beast.
Balthasar grits his teeth as the flames wash over him, knowing he's in pretty bad shape. Still, this thing was targeting Anevia, and they needed to keep her safe.
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Arianna cried out as the flames struck her causing a nasty burn on her side. Clenching her teeth she rushed forward attempting to move past the dog to get around behind it.
Once behind it she would attempt to stab into it with one of her knives, hoping to hit a vital spot.
"If you want Anevia..you'll have to go through us! And you'll need to do better than some fire breathing dog!"
Thrall hears more mayhem in the house and he speeds his pace.
Balthasar grabbed Anevia and helped her leave the room they were in, shutting the door and hoping that it would trap the invisible spellcaster in there with his hell hound and his companions.
The party engages the hound, but can't bring out down instantly. The ranged attacks both miss as bitey latches on. Thrall runs in as Balthasar drags Anevia out!
Bitey has its full attention now. The little goblin barely manages to avoid becoming lunch as Balthasar closes the door!
Outside the room, Balthasar is looking over Anevia when heat and pain explode across his back!
Thanks for bringing her to me, now die! the voice sneers. A half orc in spiked black and red robes reminiscent of spiked armor is in the room with you, and you stand alone!
Bitey continues to scrabble about as he tries to keep his jaw firmly locked on the beast.
Pinned doggy, -dex bonus on top of -4 to ac.
As Bitey pins the hound Iolaire steps up, takes careful aim and drives her glaive into the creature once and for all.