Cressida does not want you dead, she wants to speak with you to find out why you left and I assure that you will be treated fairly. The other men were to be scattered if able or arrested if not, we are willing to show you your co-worker, although I doubt you want to leave this building.
"If you like I can go and fetch your friend for you, but I don't think you'll like what he has to say." Col offers.
"Look. When we first got here Malder offered one of Parns's 'special' cuts to Ayako in exchange for sex. After we knocked him out we overheard Parns and Karralo talking the 'special cut' again. He surrendered thinking we would let him go if he spilled the goods on you. But, he confessed to the lot of them besides you calling themselves the Cow Hammer Boys and taking bribes on the side to kill people. Apparently Parns decided he could make even more by butchering the victims and selling them to the unknowing starving citizens. You're in a world of s&&*. It sounds like you were oblivious to their plans. But you'd better surrender and come back with us. If you insist on resorting to violence, you're still being taken in and you'll probably hang."
Verik questions, "Could this be possible? Were my men committing crimes right under my nose? What proof do you have of any of this? I have no reason to take your word for it. I need to hear it from one of my men or see some evidence to validate this claim. But don't try anything funny. I'm watching your every move."
"We can wake up your men, but we need to secure them first. But I have another idea. Where do you store the meat here? We might be able to find a human carcass in addition to the animal ones."
"The meat locker is the eastern room but you won't find anything out of the ordinary." Verik tilts his head to the left. "You, go." He points towards Nadya with his bow. "The rest of you, don't move. I'm in control here."
The air in this room is stale, stinking of day-old meat and blood. Straw litters the floor, scattered to catch what drips from the meat hooks affixed to the walls and ceiling on metal rods. To the north is a low blood-stained table and two barrels of salt, while to the south, a pair of double doors stands. An iron bar extends through a narrow hole at the top of the doors; the bar runs along the ceiling for five feet before ending at a vertical pole running floor to ceiling.
The meat here is mostly gone. The majority of what remains consists of pork and beef, but one cut is harder to identify.
A closer examination reveals that this cut didn't come from an animal at all, but from a humanoid.
Nadya nods, "I'll see what I can find." Nadya goes to the meat locker and heads inside. She breaths through her mouth to avoid the horrible smell and picks her way through the carcasses in the room. Pork. Beef. What's this? She looks over the strange carcass, but too little remains to clearly identify. She returns to the room. "Verik. Most of what you have in there are the remains of pigs and cows. But there is one carcass that I don't think is. Too little remains. I think you should have a look."
Verik backs up and peers into the meat locker. "Odd... I don't recognize that cut either. But that doesn't mean it's human. If you can't identify it either, I'm going to need more."
Well..where are bones and such dumped. Some leg bones, brains, guts and other items could prove it. I am a healer at the Pharesma temple so I have had the misfortune of having to stitch up the wounded and prepare bodies.
"All the remains are washed down the grating to the southwest. You can look, but be quick; My patience is running thin."
To the southwest is a long rusty iron grating. It is screwed securely to the floor and will require you to pry it up or bash through it. Below is completely dark but Ayako is able to see through the darkness. She sees a filthy, rancid circular cesspool 15 feet wide and 10 feet high. It connects to a sewer tunnel running east. Much of the room is filled with rotting meat, congealed blood, and bits of bone. A closer search will be required in order to identify anything more accurately.
Not quite ready to reveal her ability to see in darkness, Ayako makes a coin glow with light and lowers it on a rope so everyone can see. A morass of gore, I can head down if others do not.
"Probably need the boys to help do something about that grate, don't we? It's definitely more than I can manage."
Col doesn't like the fact that Verik is further away form him and says, Verik, lets put an end to this charade, I'll go wake your friend and he can tell you the truth. But I think you already believe us."
Ayako looks for something like a shivel or rake for easier searching. I rather think he would lie once he finds out he will be facing the noose for chopping people up.
"I think Ayako is right Col. He's not as likely to gloat when he's face-to-face with Verik. Let's see if there is something in this cesspool. If we don't find Verik's 'proof' in there, we'll wake them up." Nadya does her best to help with the grate, but as the weakest of the four companions, she offers little aid to the physical endeavor.
The four of you work together lifting at the corners of the grate. After a minute of straining with all your might, the grate issues a shrill creak and bursts from the hinges. You gently set the grate aside against the wall and now have easy access to the cesspool below. It is a 10 foot drop to the sewer floor.
Verik moves back to the northern door and waits impatiently, never letting his bow drop.
Ayako secures a rope to something and then to her waist. Are there work gloves to help protect my hands? Plus anything good for prodding, such as a meat hook. Ayako will head down the hole, with a somewhat disturbing calm.
Gross, Col thinks. But worth it if we don't have to fight.
Ayako is able to find some gloves and a hook to search with and lowers herself down into the cesspool with her rope. The light on her coin illuminates the area. The smell is unbearable even before Ayako reaches the bottom. The stench of rotting meat and other stinks associated with a sewer overwhelm Ayako's senses but she manages to keep from retching.
You spot three small creatures laying satiated among the debris. Blood-red spines run the length of these frightening creatures, which resembles a lobster in the front and an eel in the back.
In populated areas, reefclaws prey on beachcombers, divers, and fishermen, sometimes abandoning their usual solitary nature and coordinating attacks with other reefclaws. The creatures must be wary, however, because in some regions, these abominations find their way to the dinner plate. Brave fishermen troll bays and coastlines infested with reefclaws, baiting the creatures with fresh meat and then harvesting their powerful claws with axes.
If you exceed the DC check by 5 or more, you also know that reefclaws have poisonous claws and go into a death frenzy when killed.
Sifting through the refuse you uncover numerous fragmentary human remains (mostly partially destroyed heads, hands, and feet), proof of the unsavory goings-on in the slaughterhouse above.
Oh dear, up , up, up Ayako heads back up. There seems to be three cratures in the muck. They look like eels in the back and those lobsters in fron. They look well fed but I don't want to risk poking around too much. Looks like they came in through the sewer to eat.
I am not very skilled at stealth, perhaps Col or sebastion could take a look?
"Ew! As if the cesspool with all of that blood and guts wasn't enough. Ayako is right. One of you two should go see what you can find. Maybe both of you."
Col responds to his companions request, "I don't thinks so. None of us will be going down there and risking our lives over this." Looking at Verik he says, "We've been patient, throw down your weapons, you are under arrest for rebellion, insurrection, and dereliction of duty."
And he charges if Verik does not surrender.
"Oh, I was hoping one of you'd try to be a hero. Your escapade here were becoming tedious. All lies and no proof."
Verik fires his held shot at Col as he charges. The blow nearly knocks Col off his feet but he somehow manages maintain his forward momentum. Unfortunately, the attack glances off Verik's chainmail, leaving him unharmed.
"Perhaps it is you who wishes to surrender now." Verik addresses the rest of you. "Unless you want your friend here to die, I suggest you leave immediately." Verik reaches his arm back to draw another arrow.
"Damn it! Always looking to show off when there are other options!" Nadya shoots an ill look at Col, then ignoring his ill-considered attack on Verik, hikes up the hem of her dress and moves over to join Ayako by the cesspool. "You can hold your horses too Verik! If you aren't enough of a gentleman to go down and look for yourself, I'll do it myself. It's your men that are out of control here. We're trying to save your ass."
"Save your insults. You attacked first. I'm no coward but neither am I a fool. You know as well as I do that if I go down there, I'd be defenseless against you if you chose to attack again. If this stooge backs off and doesn't try anything else, you have my word I won't harm anyone else if you are still set on searching through the waste. Once you see that there is nothing going on here, you can report to Cressida and get her off my back." Verik nudges Col away with his foot.
Ayako sighs. It seems he wishes to stay and share the fate of his men.
Sebastian-bot cautiously motives towards Verik, unsure of which course of action his companions are going to choose.
Verik takes a step back and draws another arrow, readying an action to shoot, and also waiting to see what you'll do next.
Sebastian had stood still long enough, trying to give the others time to talk Verik down. Surprisingly, it's Col that makes the first move, taking an arrow for his trouble. But Sebastian knows an opening when he sees one, dashing in to force Verik onto the defensive.
Verik stumbles backwards, avoiding Sebastian's attack. Forced on the defensive, he takes another step back and fires at his newest opponent but the suddenness of the attack steals his aim.
Ayako limp runs 40' to try to aid Cole.
Col steps up and thrusts his rapier at Verik.
Nadya sighs heavily and continues descending into the cesspool.
Col bravely steps up with another thrust. This time drawing a line of blood across his arm.
Nadya does not see the creatures Ayako mentioned down in the pit and cautiously sifts through the waste. Her search proves fruitful, as she easily spots numerous fragmentary human remains (mostly partially destroyed heads, hands, and feet); all the proof she'd need to verify that people's bodies have been disposed of here. Unfortunately, Nadya's search arouses the creatures who are unwilling to give up any of their food.
The closest reefclaw to Nadya, snips at her with its claws. One claw grabs a hold of her leg and won't let go.
The other two reefclaws move up next to Nadya and look like they are preparing to attack as well.
Sebastian circles around to attack Verik from behind.
Sebastian's attack comes very close to landing a deadly hit, but Verik continues to prove to be a nimble opponent and dodges by a mere inch.
Verik hears Nadya scream as the reefclaws attack her. He shouts in panic, "Fools! Those creatures will kill your friend! Out of my way!"
Verik holds his longbow sideways with both hands and smashes Col in the face with the grip, knocking Col out, then charges south towards the cesspool.
Sebastion! we need to help Nadya! I'll help Cole.
Sebastian, caught off-balance by his near-miss, fails to recover in time to make an effective strike. He harmlessly stabs the space Verik had occupied only a moment ago.
Ayako hurries over to Cole and kneels down, her knee protesting the hurried pace. Touching Cole's bruised face, tendrils of night slip from her fingertips and seem to drain away the injuries.
NL damage should be healed double I believe.
NL damage should be healed double I believe.
The reefclaw's poison slowly begins to drain Nadya's strenth. Nadya shakes the creature free from her leg and attempts to climb up the rope but her hands, slick with gore, slip off, and she remains at the bottom of the pit. She is filled with a grim sense of dread as the lobster-like creatures close in.
The first reefclaw, undeterred, grabs Nadya again.
The next one, slices at Nadya some more with its claws and Nadya staggers disabled.
Nadya screams in horror as the reefclaws cleave at her. The final reefclaw lands a powerful strike and she falls dying, barely recognizable among the plethora of grizzly remains.
Col opens his eyes dazed from the blow he received and hears Nadya's screams cut abruptly short. He picks up his rapier and moves toward the sound of her screams.
Verik steps to the edge of the pit and fires an arrow down at the reefclaw grappling Nadya. It strikes the creature with a resounding crack as the arrow splits a hole in its carapace, but it still lives.
"Hurry men! Get down there! I'll cover you from here! If you act quickly, she might still survive!" Verik begins shouting orders, seemingly forgetting that just moments ago you were attacking him.
As the sound of blood rushing in his ears fades, Sebastian finally comprehends the rest of the noise in the room. Wasting no time, he charges over to the pit and leaps in to aid Nadya.
Ayako double mooves down to near the pit.
The poison continues to work its way through Nadya's veins.
In a daring feat of acrobatic skill, Sebastian leaps down into the cesspool and lands on his feet unharmed.
The injured reefclaw begins dragging Nadya into the narrow sewer tunnel to the east to enjoy its spoils without being harassed.
The other two turn on Sebastian who has now landed in their midst. One managed to latch onto Sebastian with its claw while the other flails ineffectively.
Nadya successfully purges the poison from her body.
Verik continues his assault on the reefclaws below and strikes the one grappling Sebastian.
=11
He strikes with his rapier at the beast dragging Nadia away.