Weyland nods to the ladies' and approaches the doors.
Stealth
As the others move into the next room, Bellis takes a look around.
Bellis primarily notices a locked cabinet in the upper workroom.
Also, on the table (that the wicked halfling likely was sitting at with the candle when you arrived) is carved crude pictures that you might guess are stick figure children in a large vat crying for help (misspelled) as well as a taller stick figure getting bit on the posterior by some sort of dog while two final stick figures laugh.
Other than that, the room reeks of rotting fish and other chum.
----------------
There is no activity at the other doors as the others approach them.
As he reaches the doors, Weyland turns back to Samantha and Bellis to ensure they are ready for him to open the door.
Bellis hefts her crossbow and nods. "Go ahead."
Samantha nods afirmativly
Once more, Weyland kicks in the door and rolls in ahead to attempt to avoid any crossbow attack from their foe.
Acrobatics
Weyland kicks in the door and rolls in, striking hard against a bunk bed. A splash of acid barely misses Weyland's face and sizzles on the wall next to the door. This small room (10'x20') has only a pair of bunk beds that sit against the far wall on either side of a boarded-over window.
Realizing someone has noticed him, he whimpers, "Uh... sorry, that was an... uh... accident. Please don't kill me! I'm... I'm a prisoner!"
Image:
Yargin Balko
Perception
Weyland roars "Drop that wand or my face will be the last thing you ever see!"
Intimidate
Samantha holds back her throw, wait if the wand wielder will surrender
Nicolai looks up from his spot "It would seem that Lamm is beneath us, both literally and figuratively." Noticing the missing members of the crew he looks puzzled Perhaps we should find the others before we proceed any further."
The weaslely man sets the wand down on the ground right next to himself and meekly puts his hands up (while still peaking out from under the bed mattress). ”Please don’t kill me! Like I said, I’m just a lowly prisoner here. Thank you for rescuing me!”
Then he mocks surprise and concern, “Oh! The bad people who kidnapped me also have a bunch of children they also... kidnapped! I think they are downstairs! Thank you again for rescuing me. I can take care of myself now - you should go look after the children!”
He forces a smile that makes him look even more guilty and pitiful at the same time.
Weyland snatches the wand up, "Fortunately for you, we are after bigger game this night. Where is Gaedren Lamm!?"
Vedika leans closer, holding her bloody machete nearby, and says, "I recommend you cooperate before it becomes impossible."
"Gaedren is down below. If I tell you how to easily get down there, will you let me go? That wretch tortured us almost as much the kids, you see. And I'm willing to cooperate if you don't - you know - cut off my head or put swords through me like you did the others."
"Aye, we'll let you go. Doubt not that should we find you serving another black hearted cur next time we meet we'll not be so merciful. Everyone deserves a second chance and with that villain gone, you'll have it. Now, how do we get to him?"
"And don't try anything funny!" Bellis added.
Vedika meticulously wipes down her machete while waiting for the miscreant to squeal.
”You are so very kind! Truly noble, angelic beings in your wisdom and nobility and -“ he then eyes Vedika’s machete and cuts the flattery. ”Uh... right. In the next room is a trap door. Knock 3 times, then once, then 3 times again, and - if the old curr is awake, he will unlock it. But it might be a tight fit. Or from the outside there is a door facing the river you could go in, but that’s probably locked, too.”
He remains crouched under the mattress and eyes each of you. ”I will let myself out after you go then, yes? Good luck to you. Oh, and could I possibly... um... have that wand back? It’s a... uh... family heirloom. Very dear to me - and my only defense from bad people lurking in the shadows, you know.” He smiles a weaslely smile.
OFFICE
A wooden desk sits in one corner of this room, its side against the western door preventing it from opening all the way. The desk is heaped with dozens of slate boards covered with chalk scrawls, while to the east a cabinet slouches against the wall.
a
"I'll tell the others," Bellis said, directing her pony back, "You decide what to do with him."
Wheeling around, she moved back to the stairs. "Hey guys, I think we got a lead up here!"
Weyland glares at him, "Worry not, wait with the children, when this is all over we'll escort you home to ensure no unsavory people harm you".
Weyland steps into the Office but takes no actin until his comrades join him.
Then a raspy hushed voice says, "Wake up, Gobblegut. I think dere's trouble, ol' boy. Bet you'll be eatin' good tonight."
This is soon followed by a deep, guttural noise that sounds like a blend of a hiss and grunt.
Perception
Weyland motions to his allies and whispers, "He knows we're coming, we've got to attack from two directions... I'll squeeze through the trap door if I have to, he's got a pet godsknowswhat".
"I'll come around out back."
"I prefere having room to fight Samantha begins to follow Vedika
Weyland aims for the trapdoor, but find that something underneath is wedging it shut. Unfortunately, it takes him several tries and actually jumping on it, to break it open.
You drop down into the den of the foul Gaedren Lamm.
The air in this large room is chilly and stinks of the river, thanks to a huge opening in the floor that drops away to the river shore three feet below. Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof eight feet above the floor, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the water. Two five-foot-wide walkways cross the hole to the other side of the chamber, where a collection of old cabinets, lockboxes, and piles of clutter are strewn about. Chipped porcelain plates, a cracked goblet, badly rusted silverware, an old wooden shield with a crossbow bolt embedded in it, the odd dinged helm, and other "treasures" litter the floor of this side of the chamber. Three tables heaped with clutter stand amid this mess. In the corner, a wooden door provides access to a walled-off section.
Your blood boils and rage builds as you look, face to face, with the viper himself, Gaedren Lamm. At his feet is a nasty alligator that looks almost as mean as Lamm himself. Gaedren sneers at you, licks his lips, and then commands his pet, "Gobblegut, go enjoy your midnight snack."
The rest of the group rushes out a side door - the women leading the way. Fire burns in Vedika's blood as she both hopes and fears finding her sister.
Secrecy is gone, so you focus on speed. A creaky walkway lines the back of the building that strains under the weight of the group. Several boards groan and snap, but the rush of the prey so close keeps you focused enough to stay on your feet. Dropping down to the water below, there is another walkway floating on the water's surface.
Rounding the corner, the water deepens and you see the lower level door that leads to Gaedren Lamm. Unfortunately, you also discover a large, mottled-skinned shark thrashing about in the water next to the walkway. The blood from the brutal kills above has dripped down into the water and sent the beast into a frenzy.
Average: 10
Average: 16
Map updated and at Roll20
Gaedren Lamm
Gobblegut the alligator
Also, reminder, you can use Harrow points for bonuses. You can spend a Harrow Point to gain one of the following benefits:
Dexterity Rerolls: A PC can spend a Harrow Point to reroll an initiative check, Reflex save, attack roll modified by Dexterity, or Dexterity-based check. The PC must abide by the new result (although if he has additional Harrow Points, he can use them for additional rerolls).
Dodge Bonus: A PC can spend a Harrow Point to gain a +2 dodge bonus to his Armor Class for one encounter. They can spend up to 3 Harrow Points per encounter to increase his Armor Class in this manner.
Speed Increase: A PC can spend a Harrow Point to increase his base speed by 10 feet for one encounter.
The Locksmith. In Zellara's Harrowing, you choose the Locksmith. "It is you who will set us free." You do not know how, but you know Fate has led you here and coiled you up, ready to strike. Now is your moment to strike and free them all from Lamm's clutches.
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Vedika races across the creaking walkways, jumps toward the floating walkway, and completely misses and becomes shark chum.
[dice=Acrobatics]1d20+4
Vedika races across the creaking walkways, jumps toward the floating walkway, and completely misses and becomes shark chum.
Vedika bursts in on Lamm's room, eyes blazing with hatred.
"You!" she cries out angrily. "You took my sister from me, and my innocence from my sister! For that I'll take everything from you!" She draws a multi-pointed metal star from the inside of her belt and brings it to her lips, then suddenly spins in a circle. Her black hair whips about as she comes down into a half-crouched battle stance, the now-glistening shuriken lancing out from her hand toward Lamm.
As Vedika slips onto the pier, the jigsaw shark senses an actual meal rather than this frustrating tease of blood. It explodes out of the water at her, but it's teeth scrape across her armor unable to pierce it.
Nicolai follows Weyland through the narrow opening but as he lands on the waterlogged and rotting boards his boots slip on the mildewed wood and his feet go out from underneath him, dropping him to the ground.
Jumping quickly to his feet he moves to a point where he can take advantage of his remaining spell.
.
The Kitsune lands on his feet and hears the voice of Gaedren Lamm, "I'd say it was a pleasure to meet you but we both know it isn't villain. I'll feed you to this beast!"
He swings his spiked chain at the creature!
Spiked Chain Attack but misses wildly...
Bellis' Pony deftly trots down the broken boardwalk, avoiding the hazards in her path. Bellis spares a smile for the agility shown by her mounts, then scowls as she sights Lamm. "You!" She draws one of her remaining bombs and readies for a fight.
Samantha barely manages to climb up the walkway, while eying the shark carefully.
WenzeslausBot drops down over the side and scrambles up onto the walkway but finds his armor too difficult and struggles to get up. The shark, in a frenzy, takes the opportunity to bite into him savagely.
Lamm looks at the group, with Weyland and Nicolai dropping out of the ceiling, and Vedika, Bellis, and Samantha bursting in the door. He shouts, spittle flying, "How dare ya barge inta 'ere!! What did I do to deserve this? Gobblegut - eat 'em! Eat 'em all!!!"
The alligator dives across the water and lunges up at Weyland. Surprised by the creature's burst of speed, Weyland is caught off guard and it bites onto him, it's jaws ripping deep into his leg. From his previous wounds, the mauling is too much and Weyland falls unconscious. Gobblegut feebly swipes it's tail at Vedika but just thumps off her armor. But the alligator doesn't much care as it pulls it's next meal back towards the water.
As for Lamm, the wretch of a man has brought such misery to all of your lives, and ruined countless more. But rather than some criminal mastermind, you are faced with a pathetic old man. If you weren't about to get your revenge, age or disease likely would have before long.
He fires his hand crossbow at Vedika, but the bolt just bounces off her armor, not making it through. At first he's pleased with Gobblegut's mauling of Weyland, but seeing the alligator pull the kitsune towards the water and ignore the rest of you, fear starts to cross the foul man's face. "Gobblegut, you stupid thing - get the rest! Get them now! Save me!" He turns and limps to the door.
With a yell, Wenzeslaus turns and fires his crossbow at the shark but misses wildly, his bolt thunking into the wood above them.
Vedika throws her venomed shuriken, striking Lamm in the back. He screams in pain, and stumbles slightly. He starts mumbling to himself, "No no no... not gonna let this little @$%#*s kill me!"
"For Natalia" Nicolai thinks to himself as he begins chanting. Stepping up, his hands weaving a complex pattern in the air, he shouts as he finishes his spell. Waves of coruscating, multi-colored light emanate from his hands, washing over Lamm.
Lamm's body may be failing, but his heart and soul are too rotten and shriveled to be distracted.
Samantha sprints along the walkway, readying a bomb while running and throws at Lamm.
"Here, eat this scaly!" Bellis said as she moved clear and hurled a bomb at the gator's tail.
The bomb from Bellis jolts Gobblegut, causing him to let go of Weyland. Weyland lays on the ground, unconscious but stable.
Gobblegut turns and lunges at Bellis. It thrashed away at her, biting and slapping it's tail, but missing her.
Struck by the shuriken and then a direct hit with the bomb, Lamm growls in pain and stumbles back. His fear melts away as he eyes Vedika and Samantha with pure hatred. "How dare you! Attacking me - in my home?! My pets are gonna eat well tonight!"
He aims his hand crossbow directly at Vedika - but his shot goes wide. He looks down at his hand in confusion as he drops the crossbow. He tries to flex his fingers but is barely able to. Then he looks down at the bomb burn and the shuriken wound as his knees buckle. "What? What did you - that's not fair."
Lamm collapses on the ground, unconscious.
*****
*****
Samantha readies another bomb and throws aiming at the back end of the alligator, taking care to not hit her wounded ally.