Byron remains unconscious, although he stops leaking arterial blood, and his face goes from a deathly white to a healthier pink...
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As you run off, you hear behind you "Coward, too bad. You probably would have been tasty. Maybe Whitechin will let me have you after he kills you."
Looking over your shoulder, you see the worg looking after you into the trees, then it heads off toward the back of the manor house. Just then, Xianae goes flying past you.
You push your way through the brush, but there is a bit of a trail going through toward Emmett. You're running so fast, you pass each other. A moment later, you can see the tail end of a wolf running toward the back of the manor.
Map
You bring Rosebud down on the lock and it breaks into several pieces. You push against the gate. Here, there is little undergrowth on the old entrance drive so it creaks open. Inside, you can see it is about 100 feet from the gate to the front door and this is the only area at the front not completely overgrown with vegetation. A stone-paved drive connects the two, looping around a broken fountain in front of the house. Stagnant water pools around the feet of a statue of Aroden reaching toward the sky with an eagle perched on his upraised arm. One of the two double doors at the front of the house is cracked open. All of the windows on the upper and lower floors are shuttered.
You hear voices to your right. Sounds like someone has been injured.
Coran watches as Moondark comes from no where to pick up the slack of healing but Coran still has some healing in him.
Cure light wounds:
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Moondark scowls at the halfling. "Yeah, I'm back. What of it? There was no way I could ignore the ruckus you dolts are making. Sweet Asmodeus, the Hellknights probably heard you and Whitechin's likely been warned by now. He's got packs of worgs running around here. If you had any sense you would have come in from the river."
Seeing the wolf flee, I shout at it, [bigger]"OI! Come back's ya coward!" I then move towards it .
If it shows any sign of turning to face me and engage me in combat, I mutter some words while gripping my axe tightly. "aso ve persvek nomeno jathila vargach, letoclo ve nar sia wiot vis."
If the wolf shows no sign of wanting battle, I will move even closer to it so that I am next to it and ready to hit.
Byron groans, and then stands-up, nearly swooning as he does so. He then grins weakly at Coran.
"Thank-you for that; the wolf's bite was certainly just as bad as its bark!"
Byron runs his tongue over his teeth, and turns to look at Moondark in a rather bemused fashion.
"Who are you, and why does my mouth taste like carrot and rose petals?"
Coran looks strangely at the upset teen, "What got you in such a huff young lady, we can't help if we were a bit loud but being attacked by one of those things." pointing at the Worg "and almost losing another one of our companions." pointing at Byron Now having you showing up after leaving us after we lost Egdar and preaching at us because we aren't being quiet and you are yelling." Coran tosses his hands in the air. "If you are with us stay with us if you are not then leave don't come back when you think it is convenient to stay for a bit then go again it doesn't work well for any of us."
Coran turn his attention to Byron to make sure he is fully healed.
Heal:
If Emmett hears the Draconic statement, he'll realize what Xianae has in mind and move to support her.
Byron glances at Moondark cautiously.
"I sense much anger in you... be wary of where that can lead..."
He then smiles.
"I meant no offense. Thank-you for the assistance."
Byron still clearly has three large bite marks on his body, but none of them are actively bleeding.
He then looks around in confusion.
"Where are Emmett and Xianae?"
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Coran tosses his hands in the air. "If you are with us stay with us if you are not then leave don't come back when you think it is convenient to stay for a bit then go again it doesn't work well for any of us."
Moondark scowls at no one in particular."It's just... I work better on my own. The whole Children of Westcrown thing is too big. Too many strangers I don't know and don't trust really. But if you are here to get Whitechin then... he's a threat to the people that live around here. Pretty clever for a goblin, if he even is a goblin. I just mean, well it would be better to work together." she finishes weakly.
Coran reaches in his bag and pulls out a cure light potion and hands it to Byron here "Drink this." Cure Light Wounds:
Then walks up to Moondark putting his hand on her shoulder "We are here for Whitechin, and it would be easier to deal with together." he smiles at her "You have to trust someone sometime.
"I thought "Children of Westcrown" was not meant literally", Roman mutters quietly. No time to solve riddles, have to make sure Emmett and Xianae are alright, he thinks before following where Xianae went.
Byron looks sheepishly at Coran.
"I appreciate your generosity, but I feel guilty depleting so much of our healing supplies so early in the raid..."
Coran looks at Byron and smiles "Don't worry Byron I still have more healing to give." pausing a second to take a breath "Speaking of the raid we should find our quarry." looking at Moondark "Will you be joining us, we could use someone who knows the area."
Jo will head over to the group.
"Everyone okay?"
"Ya think's I'd fall for that's? Anyone else here's? Stupid Wolf think's it can trick's me! Ha, ha, ha! Anyone up's for a chase?"
Emmett puts both hands together, squeezing them, then throwing them above his head. A shower of blue sparkle rise up and falls on him, delineating for an instant a force armor surrounding his body.
"Moondark! What a pleasure! I am glad to know you stand with us today. Let's go talk to this Whitechin character..."
I look to every one, "A talking's wolf just went that way's." I point in the direction it fled. "It thought I'd be's stupid enough to follow it alone's! Ha, ya never leave's the tribe!"
Coran smiles at Moondark "Good to have you back, so how did you want to handle Whitechin.
"They'll be waiting for us... May be can just burn the place down? Too much attention perhaps?"
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"They'll be waiting for us... May be can just burn the place down? Too much attention perhaps?"
"Yeah, not to mention the fire could spread through the park and I've got friends that live here. I think we've just got to do it the hard way. Let me scout a little ahead." Moondark quickly loads her crossbow and disappears into the foilage.
stealth|
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Moondark scouts to the rear corner of the manor. She can see that the manor forms a U-shape in the back. Next to her, a broken window offers access to the house. Between the wings that form the U, she can see the remains of an overgrown garden. Evidence of a well-used path leads into the garden. Between the house and the river stand the remains of an overgrown topiary maze and a ruined boathouse is visible down by the river.
Emmett nods and follows.
I follow closely behind Mooondark, trying to be stealthy.
But I don't seem to be trying very hard and my axe bangs onto the window a couple of times. I carry on going though, looking out for anyone coming who may wish to fight.
Emmett stands near the window and lets a few people go in before he steps in too.
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Once this must have been a beautiful conservatory with eastern and southern exposures overlooking the gardens and the Westchannel. You estimate that it is 30 feet wide, but the depth is difficult to ascertain because of the extremely thick growth that has overtaken the room. Through the foliage, you can barely see a set of wooden doors on the right side of the room (north). The rest of the room is overrun with what must have once been neatly pruned trees, shrubbery, vines, and other plants.
Roman frowns. "The second worg escaped? Not good. It will alarm Whitechin and his cronies. We need to be prepared for ambushes."
He jumps through the window and lands with a soft 'thud' on all fours, like a cat. He quickly scans the area for any signs of movement or habitation.
Jo tries to climb through the window (if he can fit) with no regard to stealth.
Roman raises his hand as a warning.
"Watch your step. I see a carnivorous vine further into the area. We better stay close to the walls."
Byron nods to Coran.
"Well, your assistance is very much appreciated, nonetheless."
When Emmett refers to Moondark by name, Byron smiles faintly.
Ah, so that is what the urchin's name is...
When the others prepare to move off, Byron carefully follows, doing his best to stay quiet...
Finally, when Roman brings his attention to the carnivorous plant in the conservatory, he arches an eyebrow.
"Is there another way in, then...?"
His voice trails off when Jo blunders through nonetheless, sighs, shrugs, and moves to follow the impetuous barbarian...