Silvio allows Marial to open the door, shaking his head. "Nothing." He peeks over her shoulder ready to follow her inside.
As Mouse opens the door, she hears a click. She feels a sharp sting as a dart suddenly shoots out of a hole in the door frame and hits the inside of her wrist. She looks down to see a small dart sticking out of her flesh. A black line starts trailing up her arm.
To speed things up, you can roll all of your checks in one post:
[dice=Perception]
[dice=Disable Device]
[dice=Disable Device]
The first DD will be used for a trap.
The second for the lock (unless there is no trap then the 1st will be used for the lock).
Sound good?
The air in this room is thick and musty. Thick sheets of cobwebs hang from the walls and mounds of blankets, cushions, and straw clutter the floor. A narrow flight of stairs leads down to the south into the ship’s hold.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"It's only natural for human filth to live in a place this smelly."
The ex-guard snickers. "You can say that again."
Garvid looks at the door, then kicks the rotten doorframe. Staring at the hole, he looks at the wound. "It's probably poisoned. Or has tetanus or something on it... You alright?"
Staring into the room, he looks at the piles of blankets and straw. "Is that where you kids slept? Or are we looking at the loyal soldiers' bedrooms? Not really looking forward to fighting kids, to be fair..." I know I can beat them unconcious, and I think so can the girl. Though I'm not sure about the others, and if push comes to shove... Thoughts pass through his head as he looks around the posse.
"Want me to take point?", he asks, as he analyses Mouse for the effects of the dart worsening.
Marial barely has time to register the dart's release before it buries itself in her wrist. Panicked, she pulls out the dart and watches as the thin black line begins to trail up her arm, but its effects seem to halt fairly quickly. I...I think I'm ok, she replies to Garvid's concern, though that doesn't stop her from checking her wrist every several seconds to look for any further signs of its spread.
She joins Garvid in staring at the dank, dreary ship's interior. Weren't all this bad - managed to scare my way into an old office m'self. But yeah, lots of 'em are in spots this bad. But it's all they know...Lamm's all they know. It's what makes 'em fight - they don't know there's nothin' better for 'em. She takes another look around. I don't like it much, neither.
With one last sigh, she composes herself and readies her shield. You or me, don't make no difference from here, I think.
This situation wasn't so dire as to not need a bit of humor to lighten the mood. He was glad he could be useful in such a way. Although if anything had happened to his violin, he might need assistance to keep his positive attitude.
Cal gripped the edge of the boat with eight white knuckles, keeping an eye out over his shoulder for a jumping shark. "If Mouse and Em say she's okay, let's just proceed as normal. I'd rather not jostle for position in the boat and get back to semisolid ground."
Emilia moved steadily forward and carefully examined Mouse's wrist where the dart had pierced the skin and the subsequent black trail leading up her arm.
Silvio is aghast when the dart shoots out and hits Marial. "Marial! I'm so sorry! I must have missed that!" He goes to inspect where the dart came from and how the trap was triggered. "I can't believe I didn't see this! Are you ok?"
He follows her into the room, relived to see the blank line seemed to have stopped on its own.
"Well these kids were certainly living in the lap of luxury." Manius casts an eye to the cobwebs. "No one around here spring clean?"
He subconsciously twirls his rapier. "We likely to get many people trying to flank us? Pretty sure the shark's got us covered. We can put all the heavy-hitters at the front."
It appears Mouse has saved and avoided the poison. You can tell the poison is some type of spider venom.
The group moves down the stairs. The rotted steps creak and give a bit as you make your way down them. They seem as if they could break at any moment, but you are able to make it safely into the ship's hold.
Dark and dank, the ship’s hold smells of mildew. Several barrels, crates, and other containers lie stacked here and there, and a shallow layer of river water has collected in puddles. A soft scratching sound comes from behind a few of the crates.
Mouse picks up some very faint muddy footsteps ending at the southern wall.
Wait...everyone watch out. Marial points to the indistinct footprints on the floor. Someone or somethin's been here.
Silvio follows Marial's fingers to see the footprints. He continues tracing them up to the southern wall.
As Silvio traces up the wall from the footprints, he feels a small crevice in the wood. He makes out a secret door. It takes him only a second to find the secret latch and he is able to pull the door open. He looks out and sees another wooden deck leading to a door. A familiar dorsal fin is swimming around the fishery still.
A narrow space exists under the fishery, with about four feet of room between the floor of the building above and the languid, foamy river water below. Wooden pilings support the building, and moss and cobwebs hang thick from ropes and rusted chains between them. A wooden walkway floats on the river surface, winding along the inner wall of pilings that supports the building’s frame above, leading from the sodden barge to the east all the way west to a wooden door that leads into an understructure below the fishery’s landbound half.
Marial's eyes go wide at the sight of the new walkway. Didn't figure I'd ever see a walkway I liked less than that last one... She squares her shoulders as if fighting off nerves and prepares to step onto the rickety causeway. So, I'll lead? Only way to get to Lamm, only way to get to Lamm...
Mouse gingerly steps onto the floating wooden planks. Surprisingly, they hold up well. She leads the group to the door.
The shark does not appear to see the group moving slowly to the door.
Garvid steps cautiously on the walkway as well, waiting for a screech. If I have to cross a wooden bridge ever in my life, it'd be too soon. Staring at the shark, he continues forwards slowly, keeping a slight distance from the tall bard in front of him. "You holding up alright, Calcedon?", he asks quietly. I think he shares my sentiments...
Cal notices the hesitance in the group, and decides to mention something. Marial was starting to act out of character. She was so far a tough as nails brawler, it must be something from her past that was making her timid. Of course, his focus on Mouse kept him from dealing with his own insecurities, so that was a bonus. Acknowledging Garvid in the affirmative, he looked toward the head of the line.
"Just because your going first doesn't mean you're going alone. We're all with you, backing you up. Things are different now, no matter how they were before. We can do this." He reaches out his hand in a motion of encouragement, helping her realize that they were all right behind her, and to keep moving. "There's people behind you with grudges, don't stand in our way for long, okay?" He gave a winning smile and took small steps in and behind Em as to continue and press the assault on this odd basement.
She whispered to Mouse (and any companion close enough to hear) her conclusion as to the toxin that had been administered via the dart. "You have not succumbed to the toxin and that is good. I believe the dart was laced with spider venom. We should all be careful and mindful of such traps."
She listened to Cal's encouraging words to Mouse and continued following behind Silvio, cautiously and carefully.
"Great, sharkbait again..." mutters Manius as he follows the group, rapier ready to stab any leaping sharks. "Anyone else getting a strange craving for seafood?"
Silvio goes to the door to check it for traps. Since Lamm knows they're coming, he's likely to rig it with all sorts of nasty surprises.
Silvio decides that the door is safe. He is able to open it without difficulty.
The air in this large room is somewhat chilly and stinks of the river, no doubt thanks to a huge opening in the floor that drops away to the river shore five feet below. Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof above, with mossy ropes slung between them. Two five-foot-wide walkways cross the hole’s edge 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 dented helm, and other “treasures” litter the floor of this entire chamber. Three tables, their tops heaped with additional clutter, stand amid this mess, while just west of that a wooden door seems to provide access to a walled-off section.
When Silvio takes a closer look, he sees an attractive, well-dressed boy hanging from his ankles by one set of manacles. Under him, a large crocodile snaps at his golden locks.
"I shoulda fed you ta ole gobblegut the moment you first showed up ya snot-nosed sot! I guess that whore Mouse is with ya too? Take one step closer an' I'll send the rich woman's lil boy here inta Gobble's jaws!"
Lamm holds a rusty knife to the rope that is dangling the boy over the pit in one hand and a loaded crossbow in the other.
"Lamm!" Silvio yells as he sees the wretched man. "Where's Maretha?!" He glances at the boy hanging upside down, but quickly keeps his eyes on the hated man. He moves quickly around the edge of the room, avoiding the pathway near the crocodile. He carries his rapier in one hand and a flask of acid in the other.
"You're finished, you monster. You're going to pay for all the hurt you've caused."
Mouse watches as Silvio makes his way into the room. Hoping he has Lamm distracted, she takes a step forward, drops her backpack, reaches inside, and pulls out a length of rope. She tosses the end to the child hanging above the water. Here, kid! Take a hold of this! she hisses.
For the time being all Emilia could do was continue steadily moving forward as there were people afore her on the walk and there was no room to slip past them without possibly falling into the water and being eaten by the shark. She could hear voices coming from within the building but could not see inside from her current position.
"What's happening inside, Mouse?", Emilia called out quietly.
Calcedon couldn't exactly see or hear what was going on in the room ahead, although he figured they ran into a hostage situation. If only he were able to press in and make something happen. He made ready to jump forward if need be, and motioned for Garvid to follow him up if things started to get hairy. Although the situation seemed dire, it felt good to have such a capable guy at his back.
Garvid grunts as he hears Silvio start talking. That's the spirit, kid. I hope you find your friend. Nodding at the bard, he keeps an eye on the door. "It's been a long time coming, people.", he grunts, cracking his neck.
"Where's Maretha?!"
"Ya see that bulge in Gobble's side?" Lamm leans his head back and chuckles loudly. His laughing ends in a fit of coughing.
He is lying.
"Here, kid! Take a hold of this!"
Mouse tosses the rope at the young boy. The throw is good, but the boy misses catching it. The effort leaves him swinging over the large alligator. He cries out. "Please don't let me die!! I want my mommy!!"
Lamm starts sawing the rope. It gives a bit, causing the boy to drop a couple of inches. He stops and shouts angrily, "Give me anotha reason ta finish cutting this rope!"
Initiative:
Initiative:
Garvid
Silvio
Orcsson
Lamm
Mouse
Calcedon
Alligator
Em
Time to go. Running forward, Garvid manages to squeeze between the figures on the bridge, making his way into the room. Well... S$$@. As he runs on the squeaking wooden planks, he tosses a look down at the crocodile. Not looking forward to fighting this one... Ending up next to Lamm, he points the halberd's business end towards him, giving the old shriveled man a hatred-filled stare. "Lamm. Please jump in the hole for us, would you?", teeth gritting.
"NO!! Maretha!!" Silvio's face contorts in a mask of rage and he runs around the southern edge of the room, and then hurls the acid he's holding at Lamm.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Well this isn't good. Best try and save the hostage first. Manius moves into the room, drawing a dagger from his belt and throwing it at the offending crocodilian in an effort to distract it from the kid.
"Hey Scales-for-brains! How about feasting on something your own, uh... Colour!" Manius shouts at the crocodile, hoping to draw its attention away from the dangling boy. He extravagantly flourishes his rapier, hoping the movement of it aids his distraction.
"Lamm. Please jump in the hole for us, would you?"
Garvid moves into melee with Lamm. Lamm's jaundice colored eyes look astonished at the fact that the group chooses not to negotiate for the noble child. He realizes that he grossly underestimated his opponent.
"NO!! Maretha!!"
Silvio moves up and tosses a vial of acid at Lamm. It explodes, burning his entire face and neck. Lamm screams out in pain. Bubbles of flesh begin to pop up all over his exposed skin. Upon closer inspection, Lamm is a jaundiced and bent corpse of a man, his eyes yellowed and skin speckled from age. His left leg carries a pronounced limp as he shuffles about.
"Hey Scales-for-brains! How about feasting on something your own, uh... Colour!"
Orcsson moves up and throws a dagger at the alligator. Even though it barely penetrates its scales, the pain gets the creature's attention. Gobblegut hisses at the Half Orc.
Lamm screams in disgust. "If I go, he go wit me. You are responsible fah his death then!" Lamm slices the rope and limps away from Garvid. The rope snaps and the boy drops. The frightened child screams in horror right before he hits the water and sinks approximately eight feet to the sandy bottom. He struggles to swim, but the manacles hold him under. Bubbles escape from the boy's mouth and nose only to pop on the surface of the water.
Initiative:
Garvid<
Silvio<
Orcsson<
Lamm<
Mouse
Calcedon
Alligator
Em
No! Mouse calls out as the boy falls. On pure instinct, she runs and jumps from the edge of the walkway, landing in the murky water below next to where the boy landed and trying to swim down and help him up.
He didn't see the boy hit the water, but he did see Marial dive in as he was right behind her as they entered the room. His mind spun for a second and he approached the croc on the narrow path across the room. Marial had pulled him out of the drink, she could surely save the boy. Now was just the matter of finishing the job. As he walked, he began quoting an ancient song, thousands of years old.
"When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
--when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
-- he throws the wicked down to ruin.
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
--will himself call out and not be answered."
He couldn't help but scan during his quotation, looking for a rope or a long pole that he might reach down into the hole to help out the young half elf. Though he believed her capable, it looked a bit rough down there, and it would only get rougher if the shark came by.
Mouse dives in the water and makes it to the bottom next to the young boy.
Cal moves up and inspires his companions.
The alligator leaps up and strikes at Orcsson. His bite misses.
Mouse notices blood trickle from the alligators wound. It begins dispersing throughout the water. A large shadow passes underwater from the area of the door they came through.
Initiative:
Garvid<
Silvio<
Orcsson<
Lamm<
Mouse<
Calcedon<
Alligator<
Em
Emilia cautiously moved forward, now, as the others had done before her and entered the building.
She began loading a new bullet into her sling as her eyes searched out the bloodied water for sign of Mariel, Carlisle, the crocodile or the shark she knew would be drawn by the blood.
"That's right ugly, you just keep on trying to eat your greens!" Manius taunts Gobblegut, before swinging to strike it.
Em moves into the room. She sees Carlisle on the bottom of the river floor. Mouse is down next to him preparing to save him. His feet are manacled and he is drowning. The alligator is halfway out of the water attacking Orcsson. The shark is nowhere to be found.
Orcsson strikes with his blade and hits Gobblegut in his neck right behind his ear and finds a soft spot. The alligator hisses in pain. More blood floods the water.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Garvid sees the knife cut the rope. Two splashes heard from behind, he turns to see Mouse swimming down. "End of the line, Lamm. We gave you a chance. You didn't take it." Stepping forward, his knuckles turn white as his grip on the halberd strengthens. "You know what, Lamm. I'm not planning on killing you." His eyes flash with a fierce fire as he steps forward again, ending up right next to Lamm.
Garvid swings around for a heavy haymaker, his fist pretty much sinking deep into Lamm's gut, the old man's feet lifting up a foot in the air. Leaning over to his face, Garvid whispers. "Was your life worth it?"
Lamm crumbles as Garvid hears ribs crack under his mighty attack. Lamm wheezes for a moment with his acid burned lips before his breath goes silent and his chest fails to rise.
Initiative:
Garvid<<
Silvio<
Orcsson<<
Lamm<
Mouse<
Calcedon<
Alligator<
Em<
Shark
After making a passing stab at the otherwise occupied crock, Calcedon drops his sword at his feet and reaches to grab Mouse's rope and drops the end of it into the water. She's going to want to get out of there right quick, and he owes her one for the walkway.
As he shifts his focus, he maintains his poetry, shifting authors and genres to fit the situation.
Declaiming Waters none may dread --
But Waters that are still
Are so for that most fatal cause
In Nature -- they are full --
Cal is able to drop the rope right next to Mouse. He anchors his end and prepares to aid her up.
Silvio turns and sees Marial down in the water and Orcsson fighting the alligator. He runs back to help Orcsson and see if Lamm was telling the truth. He'd have to cut the alligator open to find Maretha.
Silvio almost jumps on the alligator's back as he drives the blade of his weapon deep into the creature's flesh. The alligator arches up to counter attack, but collapses as his spine is severed by the blade. It slowly slithers off the deck and drops to the river bottom next to Mouse. Blood gushes from its many wounds.
Initiative:
Garvid<<
Silvio<<
Orcsson<<
Lamm<
Mouse<
Calcedon<<
Alligator<
Em<
Shark