GM Euan's Mummy's Mask (Inactive)

Game Master Euan

Round 11, Init 30

"No, nothing personal at all, but will make this all more enjoyable..." Zilchus says, shrugging of the first attack and retaliating with his falchion after calling upon the Great Crocodile for power.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 2 = 26 to hit;
2d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 7 + 2 = 15 slashing damage.

Pot Crit:
1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15 to hit;
2d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 7 + 2 = 13 slashing damage.

"Your mom is a craven guardian."

Idorii crumples under the strain of Zilchus' critical. He's first in the init, so you all have options on how to proceed...

Round 11:

With Idorii fallen, Nidhi aims and fires an arrow towards Velriana (purple hat?)

To hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Velriana has a few duplicates in her square, and so Nidhi hits...

1 is the target: 1d3 ⇒ 2

...an image, destroying it. There are two left (one is Velriana, and one is an image).

Cahal passes by Zilch: "Nice job. Let's press on!" and steps over the body of Idorii, taking a stab at Velriana.

Longspear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 131d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

1 out of 2 chances (1 is the target): 1d2 ⇒ 2

Round 11, Init 1

Although she hadn't expected Cahal to step past Zilchus, Florence takes advantage of it to step into the spot that she'd just vacated. "Nice one, Zilchus! Keep up the pressure, take her down fast!" she cries as she stows her dagger and readies to pull out the healing wand.
______

Florence 5 foot steps behind Zilchus, sheathes her dagger, and uses Combat Advice to give Zilchus a +2 bonus on his next attack roll if it's against Velriana.

⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND 12 ⁞⁞⁞⁞

‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • Initiative: 31 • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖

Although in the middle of the fight, Benedictus finds much easier to battle with words instead of weapons. “It attacked us!”, the scholar replies as he aims, “And we had no clue about its nature!” Offended, Benedictus gives Velriana a hateful look. “Besides, you’re the thieves here! And you’re the ones who caused this battle!”

After firing, Ben draws the flask of alchemist fire Zilchus gave to him.
_________________________
Crossbow ranged attack (Velriana): 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 - 1 = 5
Crossbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Zilchus leans in and criticals, dropping Idorii on the floor bleeding. Nidhi shoots through cover at the leader, and takes out an image. Florence delays until after Cahal, and advises Zilchus to attack Velriana. Benedictus shoots words as well as bolts, hoping that both will find their mark. Cahal breaks ranks and moves up to engage Velriana taking out one of her images (leaving none left!).

Khelru swears as he cannot get to Idorii to save her life, and instead draws a scroll, casts, 5’ steps into the room releasing the spell! Everyone other than Nidhi and Benedictus please make a Fort save DC 13 or be stunned 1 round. Regardless of the save, you each take damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Idorii stabilizes, groaning slightly under Cahal.

Velriana casts, and steps up angrily, not thinking clearly as she shouts back at Benedictus. ”We did research, and found ways around our problems without being destructive to our ancient relics. You are the interlopers here, destroying everything you see in the name of money!” she cries shrilly as she releases her spell - or tries to!

Concentration: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 vs DC 17 - spell fail!

Bright rainbow colors sputter from her fingertips as the magics fail to take hold in her anger.

Azaz steps back and fires his last missile at Cahal.
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

- Round 12-
Cahal - 16 (-10hp)
Nidhi - 2 (-2hp)
Florence - 1 (-15hp)
- Round 13-
Benedictus - 31
Zilchus - 30 (-10hp)
Velriana - 20
Azaz - 20
Idorii - 20 (-32hp, stable)
Khelru - 20

Next up - Everyone! Note that the initiatives within the party block are a little messed up, but not worth fixing for now.

Round 12, Init 30

1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13 Fort (vs. Divine)

Zilchus grunts as the echoes nearly stun him. He waits to see what happens with Cahal before deciding how to act. He'd like to get in there, but there is no room.

Round 12:

"This wasn't your assigned site!"

Nidhi fires off another arrow towards the Purple Hatted Lady. (I need to go back and check how many Nidhi has left.)

To hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 I'm guessing the one at my feet must have loved that spell...

Cahal grunts as her ears ring with pain and her gut gets slammed by some lucky missile. But otherwise, the blows are light, and the sight of Velriana closing in bring a smile to her lips.

"Let's dance!" she shouts as she knees Velriana in the stomach, bending her forward, towards her accelerating elbow, which crashes into her delicate and lovely nose.

"Please, don't let me interrupt your fascinating scholarly explanation!"

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 231d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I'll five-foot step forward if she drops.

⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND 13 ⁞⁞⁞⁞

‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • Initiative: 31 • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖

An arrow in the knee would have caused less anger in Ben. “In the name of knowledge! Not money!”, he shouts out, furiously. “But your faith is confused at best, milady. You should know that destruction is one of the two sides of the All-Seeing-Eye, the One who preserves with one hand and destroys with the other, the white and the black, the alfa and the omega, the same among the opposition!”
_________________________
Ben readies his action: he will throw a flask of alchemist’s fire at the foe who moves adjacent to Velriana, aiming for a target whose position won’t cause the party to take any splash damage.

Alchemist’s fire ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 1 = 3
Alchemist’s fire damage (direct hit): 1d6 ⇒ 1

Cahal, why didn't you move back or offer the option to move back if she didn't fall?

Round 12, 30

"Quit blocking the way! I have annoying jerks to kill," Zilchus howls in frustration, his bloodlust not yet slaked.

Zilchus takes a moment to make sure the foe at his feet is dead dead. Coup de Jerk.

4d4 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 3) + 14 + 4 = 28 damage

Benedictus' flask flies very wide of the mark, launching at Khelru when he steps up (next round).

miss: 1d8 ⇒ 2

His flask splatters against the wall, splashing Cahal and Velriana (1hp fire each).

Florence is up!

Cahal, why didn't you move back or offer the option to move back if she didn't fall?

With the flurry, I can only take a five-foot step, so I can't move back. Am I missing something?

Nah...I don't think you're missing that Zilch is a grouser or that I'm a yahoo.;)

I thought yahoo was an archetype of grouser. Turns out they're two different classes!

Round 12, Init 1

Fort (DC 13): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Spellcraft (DC 17): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Spellcraft (DC 16): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Spellcraft (DC 16): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Despite the sudden pain and ringing in her ears from Khelru's spell, Florence manages to keep her wits and maintain focus on the battle. She silently offers up a prayer of thanks to anyone listening that Velriana failed to work her spell on them before bringing her arm back and flinging her vial of alchemist's fire at the hateful woman.

Alchemist's Fire (Ranged Touch; Range Penalty): 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 2 = 6

Florences flask also flies off the mark!

miss: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Her flask splatters against the wall, splashing Velriana (1hp fire).

Nidhi shoots Velriana and hits despite the cover! Florence throws a flask, but misses, splashing . Cahal steps up and pummels Velriana twice, but she manages to keep her feet. Zilchus kills the mercenary like a cow lead to slaughter. Benedictus readies a flask and launches it at Khelru when he steps up to heal Velriana. Alas he misses and splashes Velriana and Cahal for a little damage.

Khelru switches to defense, as he defensively casts to heal Velriana.
concentration: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 vs DC 17CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Idorii stops breathing and lies still, blood pooling around her body.

Velriana tries another defensive cast… trying to burn the group!
Concentration: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 vs DC 17
fire damage: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 2) = 4 reflex DC 14 for half (everyone except Nidhi)

She swears shrilly yet again as her spell fails.

Azaz steps back and opens his mouth in a silent scream. Silent to all but Cahal who hears his shout loudly ringing in his hears. Cahal, DC 14 Fort or be dazed one round and take damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1. Successful save removes the dazed condition.

- Round 12-
Cahal - 16 (-12hp, save x2)
Nidhi - 2 (-2hp)
Florence - 1 (-15hp, save)
- Round 13-
Zilchus - 30 (-10hp, save)
Benedictus - 29 (save)
Velriana - 20 (-16hp)
Azaz - 20
Idorii - 20 (dead)
Khelru - 20

Next up - Everyone!

Round 12, Init 1

Reflex (DC 14; Drawback): 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 1 = 7

Florence screams again as fire washes over her and most of the group. Whether from a massive exercise of self-control or due to the sheer extent of her injuries, she does not turn and flee. "No, I can't die again, not now," she whimpers as she taps herself with the healing wand.

Cure Light Wounds (Self): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Charges remaining (33).

As some of her burns turn to pink flesh once more, Florence feels a little of her bravery return. "That...that was a good one, Cahal! Hit her* again!"
______

Florence taps herself with the wand as a standard action and then gives Cahal a bit of help against Velriana *(or Azaz/Khelru since Cahal acts first and might drop her before Florence's action) with Combat Advice as a move action.

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Left and right, things explode around Cahal, between the alchemical fires and the others' spells, the brawler does her best to dodge incoming attacks, but ends up fairly singed.

But Velriana is still standing, and still standing in front of her. Cahal gives her a wink: "I salute your courage..." then proceeds to pound her.

Brawler's flurry: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Brawler's flurry: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

If the woman drops, she will move in her place.

Zilchus waits to see what happens with Verlaine.

Round 13:

Unless Verlaine admits defeat, Nidhi continues her attack on the horrid woman.

To hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Nidhi goes first, so Cahal gets the drop as Velriana collapses under the pressure of their attacks. Cahal steps up.

Benedictus and Zilchus up next!

EDIT: In fact, Velriana collapses on her first strike, so Cahal can 5' step and swing on Khelru, hitting him as well. I'll assume that's what she does unless corrected. :)

Round 13, Init 30

Zilchus, with bloodlust rising, moves in to strike at the next foe. Provoking.

"You had your chance."

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21 to hit;
2d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 7 + 2 = 11 slashing damage.

Zilchus passes Khelru, provoking.
Quarterstaff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND 13 ⁞⁞⁞⁞

‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖ • Initiative: 31 • ‖‖‖‖‖‖‖‖

Ben realizes his moment has finally came. The spell he has been holding on for the whole day may finally result decisive. The scholar takes a long breath and courageously moves into the room, passing next to Cahal and taking advantage of Zilchus movement to move at the same time, hoping that in so doing he will avoid an attack.

Once he reaches the intended position, Ben closes his eyes in concentration and then unleashes all of his arcane power, causing a vivid cone of clashing colors to spring forth from his hand. "Let's end this, now!"
_________________________
Ben casts color spray (DC 15).

Nidhi continues her incredible run of luck and again hits Velriana. Florence heals herself ever so slightly after the flames take their toll. Cahal finally finishes Velriana on her first swing, steps up, and draws blood on Khelru. Zilchus risks an attack to close and swing - and he hits! Benedictus exposes himself to an AoO as he passes to his position, but Khelru has no Combat Reflexes and so he makes it safely to his spot and casts!

Khelru Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 vs DC 15 duration: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Azaz Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 vs DC 15 duration: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Both are stunned, and blinded for a time to boot. We are, for all practical purposes out of combat. Zilchus and Benedictus forgot to make their saves vs the burning hands, so I’ll just apply the full damage as if they failed and call it.

The only open question really is - do you kill them all? If not, how do you bind one or more of them?

- Round 13-
Cahal - 16 (-16hp)
Nidhi - 2 (-2hp)
Florence - 1 (-13hp)
- Round 14-
Zilchus - 30 (-14hp)
Benedictus - 29 (-4hp)
Velriana - 20 (-28hp, bleeding)
Azaz - 20 (stunned)
Idorii - 20 (dead)
Khelru - 20 (-7hp, stunned)

Zilchus will coup de jerk them both, unless others have good reasons that these graverobbers and enemies of the Ruby Prince deserve to live.

"They tried to kill us through other people, they tried to kill us while we pleaded with them for a peaceful solution, then they followed us when we fled and hunted us down. I don't kill them for the Ruby Prince. I kill them because they will kill me otherwise." Cahal replies flatly, assisting Zilchus in his dirty task.

When Zilchus and Cahal look to her for any possible objections to their grim task, all Florence can do is shake her head. "I...it was us or them. We did what we could for a better outcome," she responds quietly, looking away until the grisly deed is done.

Afterwards, she sets about the now-familiar job of patching up her companions though she still seems rather shaken by the experience they'd just had and her hands tremble slightly as they work their healing magic.

"What now?" she asks when she finishes, though the question seems oddly absurd somehow. "Do we just...go on about our business like before?"

Zilchus coup de jerks Azaz, then offers his blade to Ben in case he wants the honors for Velriana, letting Cahal take Khelru.

"What now?"

Zilchus smiles, cleaning off his blade (either after he or Ben is done with Velriana). "I think we sort through what these thugs stole from us and from this tomb while we rest. We could secure this room and this area, and that's what I think we should do. I'm tired. Been fighting all day."

Zilchus will drag the bodies away so that they can make camp in the craven graven guardian room, if others are amenable.

Cahal nods "It's an easy to defend place. We can rest here, but we should find a place for these bodies to lay so that their spirits find peace. Now that justice has been served, it is time to let go and send them on their way downriver."

When he realizes the fight is over, and that it's over thanks to him, Ben is overwhelmed by euphoria. He jumps as though he had just won the Egorian Grand Prize for History and Archaeological Research. "Wow! We did it! Great!" His eyes still widened in stupor, Ben turns to Zilchus, trying to high-five him in excitement. But the scholar only high-fives the air. Zilchus is already towering over the unconscious enemies, preparing for a coup de grace.

Wait, what he's going to...Hey, they're humans, just like us, he can't just put a blade in their hearts just because they're dangero...

Before even completing his flow of thought, Ben realizes that if he won't speak immediately, Zilchus will end them. But instead of spitting out his courage, Ben swallows it in.

Wait, am I not just placing feelings over reason? Why should they live? They're dangerous, and there's no easy way to turn them to the authorities....But if this is the most reasonable thing to do, why am I so reluctant to...

Again anticipating the end of Ben's thoughts, Zilchus kills one of the members of the Scorched Hand. Right in front of Ben's eyes. The scholar trembles, his eyes wide, tears on his face.

It feels so wrong...

But again, Ben feels so weak. He already knows he won't be enough corageous to speak out his perplexities in time and stop Zilchus. Perhaps because he knows that, rationally speaking, killing the Scorched Hand members is the best option available. But for the very first time in years, Ben feels like there's something else in life: not only reason and its steely dictates.

Zilchus kills another one of the Scorched Hand. Ben wipes the tears from his face and takes a long breath. Then Zilchus comes to him and offers the blade, Ben widens his eyes. Shocked he fixes his eyes on his friend with a void and terrified expression.

"I...I'm fine with resting" Ben barely manages to say before running away. He goes to a corner of the room and sits down. He's clearly very shaken, but he's trying to conceal his feelings for the time being.

"Who did you hire to watch the road? We found their stakeout on the way here." Nidhi motions to the two remaining enemies.

"Why would you do such a thing?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Nidhi, I think the party is killing the opposite prior to questioning. If you wish to stop them, heal one up to question, and question, you'll need to convince the others to stay their hand...

And let me know who it is you save from the butcher's blade.

It takes a while to sort through all the scrolls and potions this lot had. Interestingly, you find nothing that could be considered an artifact. Whatever it was they were seeking, they have not yet found it. On the bodies of the fallen you find…

potion of cure light wounds, potion of hide from undead, scroll of burning hands (CL 2nd), scroll of identify, scroll of levitate, scroll of magic missile, scroll of shocking grasp (CL 2nd), wand of grease (10 charges), wand of vanish (9 charges); spell component pouch, spellbook (contains all 0-level spells and ear-piercing scream, mage armor, magic missile, shocking grasp, burning hands, floating disk, and identify: 220gp), wooden holy symbol of Nethys

acid, alchemist’s fire (2); +1 leather armor, chakrams (3), kukri, mwk khopesh, backpack, mwk thieves’ tools, sunrods (2), wooden holy symbol of Nethys

scrolls of bless (2), scroll of cure moderate wounds, scroll of effortless armor, scroll of hold person, scroll of magic weapon, scroll of sound burst, wand of cure light wounds (26 charges), alchemist’s fire (2), holy water (2); mwk quarterstaff, everburning torch, spell component pouch, wooden holy symbol of Nethys

scroll of charm person, scroll of invisibility, scroll of magic missile, scroll of warding weapon, wand of scorching ray (6 charges), wand of shield (9 charges); bracers of armor +1, ioun torch, silver holy symbol of Nethys, spell component pouch, spellbook (contains all 0-level spells, acid arrow, glitterdust, mirror image, burning hands, color spray, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, charm person, invisibility, warding weapon: 310gp).

You also find 128gp in assorted coins.

This can happen after Nidhi finishes her talking.

"Not a bad haul," Zilchus grouses as he looks over the magics.

Zilchus grabs an alchemist fire and stores it in his pouch while leaving the other magics for the rest. He drags the bodies of the dead someplace so that they might be buried by someone who cares (not necessarily Zilchus but he can be talked into it).

"We've made more tonight than we have in the past week. Tomorrow, tomorrow we'll clear out the rest of this tomb. We'll find what they failed to find, I'd say."

Zilchus looks over at Ben.

"Ben, you okay? We survived that. It was a good fight. Us or them. Sorry about your girl."

"Just paper..." Cahal muses as they take the dead's possessions.

She looks to Ben: "You knew them, right? Were they from around here?"

If everyone wants to to go ahead and kill the remaining, that's fine with me.

Ben shrugs, still in the corner, his head between his legs. "That's not the time to joke, Zilchus!" he says with an unusual harshness in his voice. He almost immediately bites his tongue, regretting his roughness. As a result, when Cahal addresses him, Ben tries to be as king as he can be in a moment like this. "I can't say I knew them enough, although I had wanted to...Sometimes I just hate when faith makes people stupid. I wonder if they were working for someone..."

After a short pause, Ben stands up again and gives a critical look to the items gathered by his companions and taken from the members of the Scorched Hands. "There are a lot of valuable things here...But I'm too tired to inventory them know. Mind if I rest for a while and then deal with this?"

With that said, Ben slowly moves toward his corner. Not before putting his hand on Zilchus' shoulder. "I'm sorry. For before, you know. I shouldn't have answered to you that way. It's just...I mean, you did the right thing, the most reasonable one...I just...was not prepared for it, but it's my fault and I know no one has time for my qualms. I'm sorry, Zilch".

Then Ben puts himself in a corner and falls onto his bedroll, immediately falling asleep.

Nidhi bends down to search the bodies. "Oh wow, look at all these scrolls and wands!" Nidhi will help identify items while Ben naps. Unperturbed by the dead bodies, Nidhi eats an apple in one hand while she rifles through the various things with mild interest.

Does Nidhi need to roll spellcraft? Or are we assuming we take our time?

Nidhi stands after a while and looks around. "So what time is it? After lunch?" I wonder how much more of this place we can explore before we need to go back and retrieve the guy we tied up... Nidhi almost doesn't want to return. Almost.

I allow, in violation of the rules, parties to 'take-10' with Spellcraft checks to keep things moving. Benedictus has a +10, so I think that IDs everything on the current list. Close enough anyway that I'm not going to worry about it. :)

The party hunkers down for the night, do you keep watch? Assuming so, what are your standard watch rotations? I presume three watches so everyone can get their 8 hours more or less - so someone is alone. Someone note the rotation for future reference as I'll ask again...

It was a little before supper when you stopped for the day.

The night passes uneventfully, if a little unfitfully - the party not used to sleeping on the hard stone floor. Still, morning rises above your heads through the complex and you are unmolested during the night. It is still dark where you are (light sources notwithstanding) but a new day has dawned.

It is Sunday, 8 Sarenith, 4714, a day of rest. How do you proceed?

Florence also seems rather subdued as the group begins rifling through the Scorched Hand's gear but does her best not to let it show - aside from Ben, everyone else seemed quite happy with the outcome and a part of her was loathe to rock the boat. She glances over at Nidhi, munching on an apple while the bodies of their enemies were cooling just a few feet away. She shivers. Zilchus and Cahal, she could understand their nonchalance, but Nidhi...

I wonder what she's seen that this doesn't faze her? It's almost like that big fight didn't even happen.

Not everyone's led a sheltered life like you have, you know.

She flinches, suddenly feeling guilty.

Shouldn't judge; not my place...

Now that it was clear that they were going to hole up and rest, Florence carefully sets her gear down and lets Bynx out of his satchel. The cat gratefully stretches his limbs for a few moments before proceeding to wind around and around her legs, purring loudly, as if sensing her discomfort. "Sorry Bynx...I didn't mean for you to be cooped up in there as long as you were today," she murmurs as she kneels down to give him a scratch behind the ears.

Feeling a little better, she unfolds her bedroll and has a seat while continuing to look over the various items they'd found, a small smile on her face.

At least you don't think any less of me.

That evening while the group examines their finds, Bynx watches the proceedings with interest. He even occasionally offers his own two coppers, especially as Florence examines the various scrolls.

"Maow."
He bats a scroll of Magic Missile out of her hands.

You don't want that; it doesn't suit you.

"Maow!"
He purrs loudly as she examines the scroll of Hold Person.

Ooh, that one would be good if we run into anymore people like these Scorched Hand folks!

"Maow...?"
He gives her what seems to be a quizzical look when she reaches for the scroll of Sound Burst.

Isn't that a little outside your wheelhouse?

"I'm sorry, Zilch".

"Uh, wut?" Zilchus says, looking up from cleaning the blood off his blade. "Sorry about what?" He scrunches up his nose as he tries to think what Ben is apologizing for. His face brightens. "Oh *that*?! Oh...that was nothing. In battle, the heat of battle, in all battle...you have a lot of leeway for cursing, sweating, swearing, getting angry, and things. Like how I forgave Nidhi for opening the wrong door? See? It's forgotten...think nothing of it." Zilchus pats Ben on the back and sends him off to bed......but it's your watch, Ben. ;)

Cahal is used to the rough, and she doesn't mind the hard stone. As soon as she wakes, she goes through her morning routine, as if nothing had happened the day past. But in truth, she feels a burning pain in her muscle, and a deep pit in her stomach.

They had to die, but she hated that it was them who forced it on, through their stubbornness.

"Ok, time to move then. This place will soon smell worse than a pig sty if we don't open a door..."

The next morning, Florence rises from what had been a surprisingly deep and dreamless sleep. As everyone begins stirring she spends a few quiet moments sitting with Bynx before rousing herself to have a little to eat.

"Which way do we want to go?" she asks Cahal. "We could head down that hallway to the right...or should we go see what the Scorched Hand were looking at when we caught up to them?"