Round 1, Init 1
Clement, seeing the threat posed by the monstrous rat creature, steps forward and does his best to distract the creature so that Rhesus can land as impressive of a blow as his.
"Careful! Mind it's bite! Hit it while I - hey over here!"
Round 1
21 Rhesus - F miss
20 Bibic -B inspire
20 TGs -F Rhesus
19 Ratty -f Rhesus
15 Spasi -B Daze
12 Noya -F miss
1 Clement -F aid
The two tower girls drop their crossbows and draw short swords before stepping up to engage Rhesus.
The wererat drops its crossbow, drawing its sword, incurring an AoO from Rhesus, which it nimbly avoids before driving its own blade home.
2 XP 200 each
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp A:11/11, B:11/11
Fort +2, Ref +s, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 fl:. Melee short sword +1 (1d6+1/19-20) Ranged hand crossbow +3 (1d4/19-20) Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
LE Medium humanoid (human, shapechanger)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15
hp 20 (2d8+8)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +3
Defensive Abilities evasion; DR 5/silver
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee short sword +4 (1d6+2/19–20), bite –1 (1d4+1 plus disease and curse of lycanthropy; DC 15)
Ranged light crossbow +4 (1d8/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 17
Feats Dodge, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +8, Bluff +3, Climb +7, Intimidate +3, Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +8, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +8, Swim +7
Round 2, Initiative 20
Bardic Performance = 8/10
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 2/2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
Bibic continues to inspire the party to greatness (+1 attack/damage everyone) as he draws his bow one more time and shoots again at the Lycanthrope.
Noya continues her attack on the towergirl.
And slashes across her opponent's torso.
Round 2, Initiative 15
Spasi stays back and casts Daze at the other Tower Girl.
"Ah c'mon, that's a good spell. You have to like it."
Round 2 Init 21
As the wererat tickles his ribs, Rhesus gives silent thanks for his facial scars stopping part of the attack. With that, he swings again at the wererat.
Although its immunity to non-silver weapons blocks some of the damage, it is still a strong blow.
Round 2, Initiative 1
Clement gulps nervously as the two women add their assistance to the rat attempting to bit Rhesus.
"Hey! Here!"
Clement waves his mace haphazardly at the two women, hoping to provide Rhesus with the distraction he needs.
Round 2
21 Rhesus - F miss
20 Bibic -B inspire
20 TGs -F Rhesus x1, Noya x1
19 Ratty -f Rhesus
15 Spasi -B Daze
12 Noya -F TG
1 Clement -F aid Rhesus
Bibic's arrow seems to cause little injury to the wererat, but Rhesus lands a mighty blow.
Round 2 init 20-19
2 XP 200 each
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp A:3/11, B:11/11
Fort +2, Ref +s, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 fl:. Melee short sword +1 (1d6+1/19-20) Ranged hand crossbow +3 (1d4/19-20) Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
LE Medium humanoid (human, shapechanger)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15
hp 9/20
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +3
Defensive Abilities evasion; DR 5/silver
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee short sword +4 (1d6+2/19–20), bite –1 (1d4+1 plus disease and curse of lycanthropy; DC 15)
Ranged light crossbow +4 (1d8/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 17
Feats Dodge, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +8, Bluff +3, Climb +7, Intimidate +3, Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +8, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +8, Swim +7
Noya continues her attack on the towergirl.
And misses.
Clement realizes he didn't get his shield ahead of his friend in time, and steps back in order to heal Rhesus.
Round 3, Initiative 20
Bardic Performance = 7/10
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 2/2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
Bibic continues to inspire the party to greatness (+1 attack/damage everyone) as he draws his bow one more time and shoots again at the Lycanthrope this time trying a ( silver or cold iron...) silver arrow.
He misses wildly of course!
Round 2, Initiative 15
Spasi stays back and casts Daze at the wererat
"Don't worry, I'll get the Rat."
Round 3 Init 21
Finding himself mysteriously prone and bleeding in front of the rat, Rhesus channels his anger at the situation into striking the creature from the floor.
Despite his awkward position, the barbarian manages to smack the rat creature squarely in the crotch.
As Rhesus drops the wererat Bibic will cheer and instead miss a Tower Girl with his bow (he's targeting the wounded one).
"Give up now and we may let you live!" He grins wildly as the battle starts to turn in their favor.
Round 3
21 Rhesus - F (prone)
20 Bibic -B inspire
20 TGs -F Rhesus x1, Noya x1
15 Spasi -B
12 Noya -F TG
1 Clement -F
Round 3int 20
The sound of crackling bones follows the wererat dropping, as the creature reverts to the form of a young woman. Despite the loss of their ally, the remaining 2 tower girls simply spit at Bibic's offer of clemency.
2 XP 200 each
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp A:3/11, B:11/11
Fort +2, Ref +s, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 fl:. Melee short sword +1 (1d6+1/19-20) Ranged hand crossbow +3 (1d4/19-20) Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Noya continues her attack on the towergirl.
And hits her foe across the throat.
"I would surrender, as your out numbered five to one and without a leader."
Round 4, Initiative 20
Bardic Performance = 7/10
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 2/2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
With only the one opponent left, Bibic ceases to inspire the party as he draws his bow targeting the remaining Tower Girl. He holds his attack however to see if she will surrender.
Round 4, Initiative 15
Spasi draws and loads his crossbow.
"Okay! One sec and I'll be ready to help."
Round 3, Initiative 1
Realizing their odds are best served by Rhesus standing strong against the two women, Clem once again closes his eyes and utters a prayer to mend the Shoanti's wounds.
*
Round 4 Init 21
Round 3
21 Rhesus - F (prone)
20 Bibic -B
20 TGs -F Rhesus x1,
15 Spasi -B
12 Noya -F
1 Clement -F
Round 3 int 20
2 XP 200 each
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp A:-2/11, B:8/11
Fort +2, Ref +s, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 fl:. Melee short sword +1 (1d6+1/19-20) Ranged hand crossbow +3 (1d4/19-20) Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
Noya continues her attack on the towergirl.
"You've made you choice."
Round 5, Initiative 15
Spasi fires his crossbow at the remaining Tower girl and reloads.
"See? I'm totally fighting too!"
Round 5, Initiative 20
Bardic Performance = 7/10
Bard Spells Remaining: (First: 2/2)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Grease
Bibic watches Spasi's attempt and frowns. I should have kept inspiring. He tries his own bow and hopes to do better.
Hope springs eternal...
Round 4, Initiative 1
With Rhesus tended to, Clement looks down at the Shoanti worriedly.
"Did the rat bite your ankle? You haven't gotten up yet! Can you -- can you walk?"
As Clement worries about his friend, he advances distractedly, swinging his mace but hardly looking at the tower girl as it connects.
for
Round 5 Init 21
Rhesus covers himself with the earth breaker until the last opponent is felled.
Once she has dropped, Rhesus stands.
"My ankle? How would it bite my ankle Clem? No, I'm fine, just didn't want her to stab me as I stood."
Beyond the cluster of looted and abandoned rooms you find a room where A small cook fire has been built in the center of the floor with spits holding the sizzling carcasses of two large rats. The broken scraps of a crate now serving as fuel are stacked nearby, and blankets have been pushed together into a large bedroll.
You find a cleverly hidden door that opens in the wall revealing another room beyond
smokestick, tanglefoot bags (2); studded leather, hand crossbow with 9 bolts, short sword, climber's kit, grappling hook with 50-feet of silk rope, hooded lantern, oil, second-story harness, thieves' tools, 15 gp
"Hello, what's this, a Secret Door."
Spasi claps his hands together as he examines the loot, rubbing them excitedly (his hands, not the loot).
"Oh yeah, this is a big score," Spasi opines, taking a grappling hook and silk rope. "Suppose we should take this down to the boat now? Or just stick it off to the side to get later?"
Spasi makes a pile to get later.
* * *
Spasi claps Noya on the back as she finds the secret door.
"Good eyes! I bet the shard is in here. We'll be back to base soon."
Spasi waits for Noya or Rhesus to go forth before following.
Rhesus waits while the loot is collected, still smarting from the rat bites.
"Let's wait Spasi, no sense carrying it too far."
Clement reaches down to help Rhesus to his feet and proceeds to dust off the Shoanti's broad shoulders while grinning at him.
"What a swing! While on the ground, too. I'm sure that was all part of the plan... get under their skirts. Evade their defenses and all that. Well done!"
Clement checks his friend for injuries, paying careful attention to any bites that Rhesus may have been subjected to.
"The rat-man. If he bit you, I seem to remember something about that. Something about turning into a full moon the next time you have a bite? To eat? No, no... that's not it."
Clem waves his hands at Bibic and Spasi in small semi-circles, hoping they remember.
"Turn into a rat? That doesn't make sense. I should turn into something more fearsome. Like an owl!"
Feeling better after the wand taps, Rhesus hefts his weapon and proceeds to the room ahead.
"Let's see if we can find a wereowl."
Fierce!
"Great fight everyone. Sadly, no, I don't know what happens at your next meal, but we'll watch you closely to see."
Bibic replenishes his arrows from his pack and prepares to move on.
Spasi stares at Bibic, trying to remember what he might know.
Know (Local, Wererat=humanoid)
"Uh...maybe...we could test it, I suppose." Spasi pats his pockets looking for something. "Anyone have any cheese?"
Failing to find cheese, Spasi will follow Rhesus through the secret door.
Noya passes through the door, cautiously.
The murals in this room are scratched and faded. Several portions of the wall and floor show signs of past chipping. An empty plinth where a statue once stood rests by a small alcove. A window looks out over the water and looking down, you can see your row boat moored far below.
A ledge festooned with old bird nests runs around the open sided shaft that the window looks over. A large coil of rope sits on the ground near the shaft, one end anchored to a large piton driven into a crack near the wall. The ceiling is a mere ten feet above, and crisscrossed by a complex tangle of stone arches that support the roof. A five-foot-square wooden platform hangs from four thick ropes that hang from the stone arches. The platform is further anchored by two thick ropes to spikes hammered into the walls near the edge of the western ledge, while another pair of ropes hang from the ceiling above, anchored to a hook driven into the wall near the same ledge. A long wooden boat hook sits on the platform, tied to one of the ropes.
"Is that a hooked piton that has been driven into the lip of one of the ceiling stones above the hanging platform?"
Spasi follows behind Noya and takes a looksee around.
Perception
"Ayep, that's a piton alright. Now what?" Spasi asks as his mind works to figure things out. He's usually good at figuring things out...it just takes a while sometimes.
"Where are we supposed to go from here? Up? Down? And where is that dang shard? Bibic, you want to use your hoogigly-hoogigly again to help us know where to go?"
Clem scratches his head as he surveys the area.
"Do we ride that platform somewhere?"
As he moves closer to the edge and looks down at their boat, he takes a deep breath.
"And if there's a problem, do we go for a swim?"
"But why would they put a spittoon there? Who could spit that far anyway? Oh, not a spittoon. Maybe there's a bridge or something we draw up?"
Bibic takes out the shard and concentrates on the next shard, though he thinks it'll just say we're close, he tries anyway to get a direction.
"I think we need to climb down maybe." he tests the ropes "But I don't like it. Maybe there's a secret door around here somewhere."
If he thinks the platform is safe, he climbs onto it and searches the walls from there for secrets.
Finding nothing, he returns to the party on solid ground.
Spasi reaches for the hook, trying to see how far down it goes.
'"Maybe supplies come up this way? Or they can climb up the rope quickly?'
Spasi also checks out the hook on the 'block' of ceiling stone.
"Why is this here, I wonder?
Spasi uses the boat hook to fiddle with the hooked piton. Feeling it give a little, he pulls and the 'block swings open, revealing a ladder on the backside and a dark opening in the ceiling.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. That's what I expected, no doubt," Spasi chimes happily as he looks to others for reassurance/satisfaction.
"I knew this was here, I just knew it. It was obvious when you think about it."
Spasi bows to Noya and Rhesus..."After you."
Noya goes first
"Being the gentleman, Spasi?"
Noya climbs up and finds a short passage that eventually drops down into another room
The walls along this short passage bear murals showing strangely dressed Thassilonian priests placing bodies into crypts. Several niches in the walls may have once been burial crypts themselves, but today, the hall is strewn with bones and the niches lay empty.
Rheseus moves in, earth breaker at the ready. His sense dulled by the recent pummeling and possible infection, he employs the ancient Shoanti room clearing technique of "if it's there it'll hit me and then we can smash it".
"You think they've been chewing on the dead?"
"Oh yeah, the shard is probably right in there. And then we go home," Spasi chimes from the back.