His feathers mussed and stained with blood, Vinz flies to Pakuzzo's side as the hunter steps off of the pier.
Cerenity grummbles and reloads her weapon. Her eyes turning once more to their rear
"I do not think that was the only thing here. We may have a tail...." and then as an after thought
"Perhaps we should skin the animal, its hide may give us either some funds or some protection."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Being able to see in complete darkness had its advantages, and Marillo attempted to put them to good use by looking for all of the dark corners that a foe could be hiding in.
Crady quickly does a mental count of injuries among his party. With the nobleman handling the tengu a healing draft, the only member in bad shape is Vinz. The urban druid was going to offer healing aid to the large raven, but remembered Pakuzzo wished to tend to his avian companion.
Still. I don't like those injuries, thinks Crady.
The city guide turns around to face the next challenge, quarterstaff in hand.
Luthor makes his way over to the corpse by the pier, ready to spring back if something else jumps out of the water. Guessing that it was the person they were looking for, he does a quick examination of the man's injuries to see if he was gator food or killed by something else, and if so, what was it.
Suddenly a creature resembling a humanoid crow with oily black feathers, glittering eyes, and a sharp beak comes running out of the room behind you. An unearthly 'CaCAW" resonates from the creature, daring you to act.
Rend: If it hits with twoor more natural attacks in 1 round, it can cause tremendous damage by latching on the opponent's body and tearing flesh.
Leap: With an acrobatics DC 20 it can leap at the end of a charge and do a full attack
Marillo
Enemy Humanoid
Luthor
Pakuzzo
Cerenity
Crady
Lurio
Surprised by the CaCAW, Marillo spins around, and acting on instinct pulls a dagger out from within his leather jerkin and launches it at the birdman.
Hoping that he looked professional rather than started, he quieted his nerves and prepared himself (with the silver dagger gifted to him by Rexus) for any return attack.
"Cousin of yours Pak?"
Startled by the creatures sudden appearance, Marillo chucks a dagger at it. The bladed projectile sticks in the birds side.
Crying out in anger or pain it steps towards the man and swipes with two clawed hands. Marillo manages to lean back, just out of the path of the first swing. The animals anger taking hold, its second swing go wild.
Focusing on a bit of crumbled wall, Luthor tries to ram it into the figure's head, careful to not hit Marillo. Marillo's sudden leaning throws off the kitsune's angle and the debris goes high; slamming into the wall behind.
Round 3
Order:
Marillo
Enemy Humanoid
Luthor
Pakuzzo
Cerenity
Crady
Lurio
"It's no kin of mine," Pakuzzo says, his eyes narrowing. "It's called a dire corby. Don't let it close the distance, it can jump pretty far and those claws can do tremendous damage up close!"
He moves to the left of Marillo and fires off an arrow at the avian menace.
He then points to a space near the creature's flank. While doing so, he wills the agility of a serpent over the giant raven.
"Vinz! FLANK it!"
Taking wing at Pakuzzo's command, Vinz swoops in an arc to the left, moving past his master and landing next to the dire corby, where he then attacks with his sharp beak.
Crady winces slightly over Luthor's rather racist comment about tengus and dire corbies.
The urban druid adds, "They also don't go down easy, so fight hard!"
Metronicus closes to melee with the dire corby, flanking with Vinz.
Pulling out his silver dagger, Marillo yells out "Get behind it!" Once a proper flank presents itself he will lunge forward.
Lurio steps in closer to the terrible vicious bird-creature, looking much like a tengu but the differences are almost immediately notable. Hearing Crady's warning, the noble lets out a growl and swings his falchion at the foe.
Pakuzzo informs the group of the danger they are facing while firing an arrow at the creature. Landing true, it buries itself in the foe's shoulder, leaving only the fletching visible.
Moving closer to get a better shot at the feathered enemy, Cerenity reloads her weapon.
Kintargo's emissary steps into the fray and swings wildly at the assailant. However, the corby manages to lean out of the way of his blow.
The noble steps forward and swinging with all his might, manages to smack his target with the flat of the blade. The creature staggers a bit under the blow, but remains upright.
Hoping to down the beast with haste, Marillo dances around it to oppose Lurio. Looking for a weakness in it's defenses, the noble thrusts his blade into the small of the birds back.
Shrieking with rage, it turns to Marillo and lashes out with one of it's clawed hands. It's eyes seem unfocused as the claw scrapes the nobles armor, failing to pierce his flesh. Foam spewing from its mouth, it continues to stay up.
Marillo
Enemy Humanoid
Luthor
Pakuzzo
Cerenity
Crady
Lurio
Stepping up to the bird man, Luthor tries to trust his quarterstaff between his arm and shoulder and force an opening in his defenses.
Lurio whirled around with the falchion again, the fierce adversary reaching for him but unable to drags those talons sharply into his skin.
There's no point in changing a working strategy. Waiting for a clear opening in the melee, Pakuzzo waits for his chance and fires another arrow at the ravening dire corby.
Snapping and pecking at the dire corby's exposed flank, Vinz maintains Pakuzzo's last given command.
Natural 20; critical threat!
Luthor, in an attempt to hamper the enemy swings his walking sick up. He manages to miss Lurio by mere inches.
Pakuzzo take careful aim, careful to avoid his companions. Just as he lets the arrow fly, Luthor's staff raises up. Jerking for fear of hitting the man, he shoots harmlessly over the fray.
Vinz clamps his beak down hard on the combatant, ripping a chunk out of the ailing enemy.
Turning to retaliate on the bird, Lurio sees his opening and quickly brings his sword up. With a well placed slice, he liberates the corby's head from it's torso as they bird crumples to the floor.
Dire Corby - A silver locket with elven runes on it containing bits of eggshell and 3 copper bracelets
Alligator - You could skin it if you wish - If you cut it open, you find a matching boot
"Sorry about that Lurio, almost got my stick knocked right into you as you we're getting ready to finish the Corby. Nice neck slicing action though..."
He stoops over the mutilated body of what he could only guess used to be Nan and uses some magic to examine him. In his vision a distorted but gentle glow appears below the water. Taking care to only touch clothing and not the rotting corpse, he lifts Nan's left leg out of the water and sees on his foot a slightly shimmering boot.
"Huh, that looks like a daredevil boot! One of the forest protectors had a pair of these. I wonder why the other one isn't glowing..."
He makes to lift up Nan's other leg, then realizes that he doesn't have another leg. Perplexed, he turns around and sees a faint glow from within the gator's belly.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The Corby's head comes free with that last swing, the metal cleaving through flesh and dropping the still quivering body upon the ground. Lurio takes a moment to catch his breath, looking down at it in confusion before smirking for a moment up at Luthor.
"You did fine, we haven't trained for coordination yet. You'll get better, I'm sure." His smile began to fade though as he looked down at the twitching corpse as that look of worry and confusion appeared on his face again. "I just...what the hell is this thing doing here?
Lurio would crouch down, searching its form and finding the locket, the eggshells within, and the bracelets. Nothing of incredible interest but enough so.
"What is it Luthor?" He asks, looking at the man as he examines the dead body at the end of the pier. "Is that Nan?"
Following Luthor's eyes, Marillo sees that he is looking at the Gator's stomach. He didn't exactly know what daredevil boots were, but they sounded useful. After retrieving the dagger that was sticking out of the downed corby, he got to work cutting the gator open. After some bloody work, he pulled out the other boot. Holding up the gory trophy, he smiled and said:
"Nice, I think these will fit me!"
Once the dire corby falls, Pakuzzo's shoulders drop as he allows himself a brief moment to relax.
But it isn't long before something else catches his attention. He cocks his head to one side and listens closely.
"Hey, hey, quiet for a sec! ...Do you hear that? Sounds almost like...voices, maybe? From that room over there."
He points to the room southwest of their position.
With the dire corby dead, Vinz wastes little time. After a few exploratory prods with his beak, he hops upon its carcass and starts prying at the eyeballs.
Vinz looks up and caws, spreading his wings partway open in an attempt to make himself appear larger. It's clear that he's heard something coming from the room to the southwest, and whatever it was, it was enough to make him pause his impromptu meal.
After hearing the warning from Pakuzzo, Lurio's eyes turn to the area to the southwest. He nods towards the others and keeps his blade lifted high as he begins to cautiously make his way towards it. Each step is careful and considerate of the area around him, trying to keep as little ruckus down so he could see what awaits them.
Nodding only slightly at the tengu's warning, Crady readied his quarterstaff in his hand for more combat.
Peering into the room Lurio spies stacks of unopened crates—some draped in moldering tarps—fill most of the space, creating a maze. Two tables sit in the center, scattered with playing cards and a smoking, unlit lantern.
The voices seem to have stopped.
Lurio will quietly return back to the others, shaking his head for a moment now.
"No one is there but someone was there, and recently. The lantern is still smoking, a game of Three Dragon Ante was being played. Lets go and find out what the hell happened here..."
Metronicus quickly looks around for a nice sized pebble or wood chip. Finding one, Crady casts light on it, and holds it up to light the way.
Looking into the room, and seeing the game area, Crady shouts into the room, "Oi! Any room at the table for another player?!"
The feathers on the back of Pakuzzo's neck raise as he nocks an arrow into the shortbow.
"Not very comforting, considering what was guarding them," he says.
Looking to Vinz, he points to the ground near him and whispers sharply.
"Vinz! Get off of that and get over here! HEEL!"
In the process of gulping down the first eyeball from the downed dire corby, Vinz reluctantly pulls himself away from the remaining treat and hops his way to Pakuzzo's side.
In response to Crady's inquiry, a voice comes from the western most corner of the room. "Are you bounty hunters? Are you going to arrest us?"
Another voice rings out from straight south of your location. "No, they'll kill us like the killed Chough!"
"Shh morons!"
"We're not bounty hunters, we were sent down here looking for Nan when we were attacked by that alligator and this corby here. We're friends of Miss Longroad. Come out where we can see you." His eyes scan the boxes, trying to catch sight of any movement with the help of Crady's light, but he can't pick out a face for the voices he hears.
She holds her weapon under her cloak, just incase these fools wish to rather take their chances to attack them
-Posted with Wayfinder
Upon hearing Lurio's claims, a female steps out from behind the crates holding a pristine kukri in one hand and a dagger in the other. Black feathers cover this crow-headed humanoid, and its hands and legs end in powerful talons.
"We saw you kill our sis...well adopted sister. Are we not to have the same fate? Are you not here to return us to slavery or punish us for the poor man's death?"
Pausing a moment to consider Lurio's full statement, she adds "We don't know any Longroad."
Pakuzzo, you want to handle this? They might be more inclined to talk to you.
Pakuzzo steps forward. The bow is still in his hand, but it hangs limply in a horizontal position along with the arrow. He raises both hands in a gesture of peace.
"Whoa, whoa, hang on there. Unless you're on Barzillai Thrune's payroll we're not interested in taking any action against you. And slavery is the absolute last thing we want to do to anyone. Yes, we were down here looking for the man the gator chewed to bits, but as far as we're concerned that was an act of nature. And yes, we did defend ourselves against your, um, sister, but she attacked us first, and as far as we knew there was no way to reason with her. It's regrettable, but it wasn't intentional. We never would have killed her if we knew she was your family."
That last bit was a lie, Pakuzzo knew. It was her or them. And he just bet that the alligator was their security system, which put Nan's death on them, but he kept talking anyway.
"We were only down here to find out what happened to the deceased fellow. Now that we have, all we want to do is collect his corpse and be on our way. Gods willing, we'll never cross paths with you lot again and have no intention of leading others to you. Sound good?"
The tengu is really, really hoping they didn't notice that Vinz just plucked out and ate one of the eyes from their "sister's" corpse just yet. Relations have apparently soured enough as it is.
Glaring at Pakuzzo, as he speaks, the female glances towards Vinz. Emitting a a noise sounding like a cross between a cough and a sob, she breaks down collapsing.
"It'...it's ok. She...Chough killed him. And for what? All he'd done was....was...smuggle us out! HE SAVE US." she blubbers.
Three more tengu females stroll out from behind the crates and converge on the sobbing female. Hugging and stroking her, one of offers "It's been a stressful few weeks. I am sorry for...well...for everything. Nan didn't deserve his fait. He was a good man."
Looking to her three sisters, she adds "I'm Korva Fushi and these are my sisters; Jay, Maggie, and Treep. There are no other creatures down here. Our sister and the alligator were the only trouble."
Looking Pakuzzo up and down, Korva smiles slyly. "Might there be anything we could do to show our appreciating for dealing with Chough? We could not have handled what needed to be done."
"We saw you kill our sis...well adopted sister."
"What was that I said about being cousins?" Luthor mutters in Pakuzzo's general direction.
Looking Pakuzzo up and down, Korva smiles slyly. "Might there be anything we could do to show our appreciating for dealing with Chough? We could not have handled what needed to be done."
Cracking a smile, Luthor leans towards Marillo. "Make that second or third cousins... or maybe thats not a problem for Tengu?" he says out of the side of his mouth.
Grateful that some of the others were standing between him and the first Tengu, Luthor had taken a moment to change his facial features and clothing before she could get a good look at him. Stepping forward now, he addresses the Tengu. "So... you're fleeing slavery, but where are you going? Kintargo isn't exactly the safe haven it used to be at the moment."
"Indeed" she mutters. Was still hard not to act on what she was initially trained and taught. But she was slowly coming around. Besides. The norm went out the door when this town went belly up
"Former slaves would not last long on the surface. So if you can leave. Do so. But taking all into account. That is no longer an option"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Looking Pakuzzo up and down, Korva smiles slyly. "Might there be anything we could do to show our appreciating for dealing with Chough? We could not have handled what needed to be done."
Pakuzzo made a mental note to stomp on Luthor's foot once they were out of here, but for now he acted the part of the gracious savior.
"Considering what happened with your sister, I think we can call it more or less even," he said, smiling back at Korva. "However, I wouldn't mind hashing out a few suggestions in more...private settings, perhaps in the near future. But as for right now, we'd like to know where you and your sisters intend to escape to, and if we may be of assistance in getting you there. And on the off chance you know of it, any information you can provide us that may further the cause of Kintargo's liberty would also be most appreciated."
Contrary to some of the saucier bard songs, the life of a revolutionary didn't often provide much leeway for romance, and he was nothing if not an opportunist.
"So... you're fleeing slavery, but where are you going? Kintargo isn't exactly the safe haven it used to be at the moment."
"We've fled from Riddleport" she advises you. "Kintargo? That where we are? The man said the Bellflower Network was to assist us, but once we arrived here he ran into some problem...well before his other problem." she adds, blushing.
"So if you can leave. Do so."
"Where would we go? Nan was handling all the arrangements..."
"However, I wouldn't mind hashing out a few suggestions in more...private settings, perhaps in the near future. But as for right now, we'd like to know where you and your sisters intend to escape to, and if we may be of assistance in getting you there. And on the off chance you know of it, any information you can provide us that may further the cause of Kintargo's liberty would also be most appreciated."
With a wry smile, she chuckles. "Though we don't know much at the moment we do have some other skills we could utilize. Perhaps we could further your goals."
Marillo watched the exchange with some bemusement. Was Pakuzzo hitting on her? Well, more power to him. Still, he half expected for violence to explode at any minute. So far everything else had tried to kill them. And besides, it was as his grandfather always said. 'Always be polite, and have a plan for killing everyone in the room.'
A broad smile crosses Crady's face, which seems to be in revelry, over the exchange between the tengus.
Aww! Little baby tengus!! I bet they'll look so adorable!
With a wry smile, she chuckles. "Though we don't know much at the moment we do have some other skills we could utilize. Perhaps we could further your goals."
"Do tell?" Pakuzzo answers with a glint in his eye. "I always keep an eye out for promising new talent, as my good friend Luthor here can attest. We should definitely talk more. It just so happens that there's an excellent little cafe not far from here. Please excuse me a moment while I confer with my colleagues, hm...?"
He turns around and hisses in a whisper to the rest of the party.
"Okay, new plan: we haul back Nan's body to Miss Longroad's place and bring Korva and her sisters with us. Laria said she's in tight with the Bellflower Network, so we can put them in touch with her and finish what Nan started. We play this right and we'll gain some goodwill with the Network, assist the downtrodden, and, Savored Sting willing, I get to have some scintillating dinner conversation with a charming new female acquaintance. And need I remind you all that I almost got my head torn off by an alligator today over this, so I could really do with the downtime. Sound good?"
Crady nods in agreement. Maybe I'll get get started on the cleaning in the Livery, then. Go to market, pickup some buckets and soap. Hmm, maybe they have some bleach?" ponders the urban druid.
"Yes, let's take a moment to rest. Lurio, I'm sure that your family is worried about you. You should check in on them. I'd like to stop by my parents as well, get my affairs in order. Maybe do some shopping as well. If we're going to be tangling with Thrune's thugs, I'd like some better equipment. Lurio, perhaps that sword I performed with, mind bringing it back? I think it'd be much more useful than these daggers I've been using."
I'm not sure our hostess would appreciate us hauling a half eaten corpse and some refugees up to her shop, but I'm sure she could put us in contact with someone in the network that can either retrieve them or give us a place to take them to so that the Network can move them on their way.