Pakuzzo:
Lurio Jhaltero:
Marillo Sullus:
Cerenity:
Luthor Aesernus:
Metronicus Crady:
Muts:
Mastif:
Communing with Kintargo regarding this poor building, you don't receive any information other than what's already been gleaned.
Once Lurio manages to squeeze through double door, a loud snarling erupts from the darkness.
Order:
Pakuzzo
Marillo
Dogs
Cerenity
Luthor
Lurio
Crady
Rexus
Round 1
With a curse Marillo pulls out his dagger and turns to the door. He using the pommel of the dagger he strikes at the lock once, twice, three times. The door shakes, but neither it nor the lock give any sign of breaking. He then turns back to face the dogs should they attack.
When he hears the growling on the the other end of the door, Pakuzzo quickly uses draws on the durability of a bear to bolster Vinz. Unsure if he could get both of them through the gap, he instead unsheathes his scimitar, grips it with both hands and intends to smash the pommel down onto the lock.
Vinz brings down the butt of his sword onto the lock with as much force as he can muster.
Unfortunately, it fails to break.
While Pakuzzo tries to bust his way past the lock, Vinz is feeling more robust, but still watches the tengu as he waits for a command.
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She too tries to fit through, her extra limbs would either help, or be a hinderence, she would soon see.
With the snarl of the dogs, she will take out her gun, maybe even with one shot, she could scare off the remaining beasts
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The rusty luck proving stubborn, it continues to hold fast against your efforts. Thinking thin, Cerenity attempts to squeeze into the dim room, just as she thinks she’s safe....her lower left arm catches the door.
The larger dog lurches forwards, full sprint towards Marillo. Taking a chunk out of his hand, it yanks it's head to the side as he topples over.
One of the smaller dogs, follows suit, charging towards the small fox. As he searches for a mouthful of fur, the fox easily ducks away.
Meanwhile the remaining dog, a bit more timid, begins making it’s way towards the Tiefling. It stops short as some of the decayed debris begins floating throughout the room; the very walls begin to bleed.
Order:
Pakuzzo
Marillo - Prone -
Dogs
Cerenity
Luthor
Lurio
Crady
Rexus
Cerenity growls
"Get your jaws off of him!" she levels her weapon at the beast, careful not to hit her compatriot, she pulls the trigger
As the smell of black smoke and the sound of thunder fills the area
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Lurio catches sight of the dogs attacking, watching as his friend is pulled down by the large mastiff that seems to be the biggest threat. Luthor springs away quickly from danger and the noble closes the distance with beast.
A gunshot rings out as Cerenity fires her shot, Lurio ducking quickly before he comes down with his blade towards the hungry animal.
The dog rears back though, escaping the attack just as the walls begin to bleed around them.
"Ummm...guys...this isn't looking good..."
Luthor had spied something that appeared to have been a pitchfork at one point leaning against a nearby wall, and once he had gotten clear of the dog he reached out to it with his mind. To his very great confusion, not only it but a bunch of other things rose up and began flying around the place. He cocked his head to one side. "Did I do that?" he wondered, then was brought back to the present situation as the dog had gathered itself and seemed to be in dire need of getting brained by a pitchfork.
Upon hearing the angry dog attack, Crady essentially dives through the door gap.
Either way, as a free action, the urban druid will try to call to the dogs in an attempt to get them away from Lucio.
Cerenity’s shot rings out, singing the hounds hide, though it seems unconcerned with the shot. Luthor redirects some of the debris. As the debris begins flying all around the barn, a pitchfork careens towards the mutt. rings out as it connects just behind the beasts shoulders, causing the hound to stumble. Alerted to the added threat, Lurio’s target reacts quickly to avoid his blade.
Diving for the gap, Crady just catches himself on the chain, bouncing back.
As the battle begins, Rexus watches you with wondrous eyes. Finally, his indecision comes to a momentary lapse as he steps forward, a quivering hand reaches out and taps Pakuzzo on the shoulder. ”May Kintargo shine on you” he whispers.
Order:
Pakuzzo
Marillo -
Dogs -
Cerenity
Luthor
Lurio
Crady
Rexus
Round 2
While lying prone, Marillo attempts to stab at the mastiff. However, with his hand savaged and a huge hound attempting to do the same to his face, his thoughts are focused mostly on defending himself and deterring it from continuing its' work.
To no-one's surprise, he failed to do anything, except to hopefully make it think twice before biting again.
Pakuzzo stops trying to break the lock, looks through the gap, then turns his head and nods at Rexus.
"I'll put your faith to good use, comrade."
He removes his backpack and hands it to Rexus.
"I'll need to lose some weight. Here; take this, and if we stay seperated, bring it back the next time we meet."
He turns to Vinz and jerks his hand back in a beckoning motion.
"Vinz, HEEL! We're going through!"
With his free hand he attempts to wriggle his way past the door. Once through, he then reaches back and attempts to help Vinz through after him.
Vinz follows after Pakuzzo, doing his best to worms his way through the gap in the door while the tengu helps him along.
Marillo swings wide at the beast, attempting to force it back as his feathered friend manages to shove his way through the doors behind him.
Shaking it's head, the mutt looks back up to the fox. With saliva dripping from its emaciated jowls, it lunges forward, sinking it's sharp maw into the helpless animals flesh.
The oversized canine retaliates by lunging for Marillo’s bleeding hand again. Its mind filled with the taste, the beast stops short to savor the moment.
Hunger overtaking its fears, the straggler stumbles forward; looking to get a piece of the pale man standing over his fallen companion. Scraping it's teeth across the mans armor, it can't quite find his flesh.
The temperature inside suddenly drops. Your breath visibly mixing with the dust in the air as shattered chairs, desks, and tackle continue to fly about erratically.
Order:
Pakuzzo
Marillo -
Dogs -
Cerenity
Luthor
Lurio
Crady
Rexus
The walls are... bleeding? And that chill... Luthor tries to determine what on earth is going on.
Luthor felt the dog's jaws clench around his his left shoulder. It hurt, a LOT, but it least it wasn't his neck. Thankfully the dog wasn't one of the bite and grind types, and released Luthor from it's maw to have another go at him.
The haunting weirdness of the livery suddenly seemed more friendly than the immediate prospect of being eaten by this dog, so rolling away from the slobbering jaws he ducks around the flying debris and runs into the first stall on the left, skidding to stop and peeking his head back around the edge of the stall. !!! DOG AT 12 o'clock! He glances around, then sees a large piece of rotting wood nearby. He hurls it at the dog!
Lurio catches the dog that tries to pounce upon him on his armored bracer, throwing it off as sharp fangs gnash at his face.
"I'm coming Marillo! Get away from him you mutts!" He shouts, his breath chilled into the air like angry clouds. He swings down again at the main dog, trying to at least distract it.
With the urban druid still unable to get through, Crady begins to whine like an injured dog a loud as he can while still maintaining the performance.
The four-armed woman takes another shot at the Mastiff, striking true a second time. With a yelp, one can tell the large animal felt that one.
A piece of wood careens towards the mutt, catching it square in the face. The canine promptly collapses in a heap.
Lurio’s wide swings, seem to catch the vicious creatures attention, though he’s still unable to find it’s flesh.
Noting Crady’s struggle with the chains, Rexus turns to the urban sage. ”Of all Kintargo’s children, you perhaps deserve her blessing the most.”
Order:
Pakuzzo
Marillo -
Dogs -
Cerenity[
Luthor
Lurio
Crady
Rexus
Deciding that it was suicide to stay on the ground, and with the hound distracted, Marillo tried to quickly jump to his feet, while using his dagger to ward off any attacks.
As Marillo struggles to get up, the mastiff lunges again. Realizing Marillo dagger just moments before impaling itself, the beast pulls back.
After helping Vinz through the gap in the door, Pakuzzo turns to find himself behind Marillo and Lurio as they face down the dogs.
He points to the space diagonally behind the larger dog.
"Vinz, FLANK!"
Sword in hand, he slips past Lurio and tumbles east past the smaller dog until he winds up adjacent to it.
Once there, he raises both hands and brigs down the scimitar on the animal, following it up with a jab from his beak.
Vinz looks at his master blankly, but does not move from his spot beside the door.
Marillo cautiously stands.
Pakuzzo dances around the animals, trying to gain a tactical advantage. Stumbling towards the end of his path, the creature reaches out to taste him. The feathered man’s nimble moves help him to easily dodge the attempt. Bringing his weapon to bear, he plants it deep into the mutts shoulder.
Yelping, the small dog tries again to taste Pakuzzo’s flesh. Yet again, Pakuzzo easily sidesteps the creature.
The larger one, snarls at the intruders and tries to bring down Lurio. Sinking it’s teeth deep into the man’s arm, it rips it’s head back and forth trying to pull him down. The nobleman forcefully shakes off his attacker. Bleeding, but upright.
Order:
Pakuzzo
Marillo -
Dogs -
Cerenity
Luthor -
Lurio -
Crady
Rexus
Hearing the satisfying thud of wood hitting mutt, Luthor cautiosly steps out of the stall, then has to flatten himself as another piece of rotting wood sails overhead. He sees the mastiff tear into Lurio. He levitates the same piece of wood as before, and sends it sailing at the mastiff!
"Grell derlern!!! Grell derlern oodermmerts!"
The large dog rips into Lurio's arm, tearing at it and trying to drag the nobleman to the ground. It was with all his strength that he resisted its pull. Rearing back, he swings the blade with all he has.
"I'm tired of these damn mutts!" Lurio growls, keeping his head aware of any incoming debris.
Feeling the blessing bestowed onto him by the nobleman, Crady almost looks back to inquire more, but shoots through the chained gap as easy as if the urban druid was covered in lard.
Once inside, Metronicus rummages through his pockets looking for the bread he pocketed earlier in an attempt to coax the animals away from Lucio.
Round 4
Finally up, and with the danger having immediately passed, Marillo really felt the pain in his hand for the first time. And he felt the anger. The temperature had dropped, and his breath misted in front of him. He was breathing deeply. Chairs, desks and tackle were flying about erratically. And lost in it all his normally brown eyes momentarily turned dark red. With his dagger gripped firmly, he rushed at the nearest hound and brought it down violently.
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Cerenity fires another round through the gap, over Lurio’s right shoulder. The projectile going high this time.
Lurio’s retaliatory swing lands home. Burying his blade deep in the beasts shoulders, it falls.
With Kintargo blessing him, Crady easily slips through the doors. Who knew the sage had such grace?!
The nobleman, content that his companions have managed to squeeze through the doors, tries his luck at the chain. Whispering a few incoherent words, he brings his fist down on the rusty lock. As he connects, the man yelps in pain. The stubborn lock holding fast.
Marillo standing, desperate to ear his keep, lashes out at the remaining animal. With a vicious slash to its chest, the emaciated creature collpases.
Pakuzzo
Marillo -
Dogs -
Cerenity
Luthor -
Lurio
Crady
Rexus
The adrenaline of combat subsiding, Luthor looks around and realizes he is standing very close to a bleeding wall. With a shudder, he jumps up and away into human form.
"Alright so no zombies then... anyone else almost get eaten?" he calls out to the others, and sees Marillo and Lurio's bloodied arms. "I'll take that as a yes." he says to himself.
The mastiff lays upon the ground, still and tired, and Lurio breathes hard as the numbness of adrenaline wears away and the pain along his arm begins to grow worse.
"Better us than one of the children out there." Lurio thinks to himself, dreading to think what would've happened to less capable folks in such circumstances. He takes out the potion that Rexus had given him before, drinking back the concoction and savoring the burnt cinnamon taste that rolled over his tongue. Almost immediately, the pain in his arm began to dim.
The pain begins to dissipate entirely, the flesh pink and raw but healthy and new. Testing his hand's grip, he grinned for just a moment before turning his attention to the room.
"It got a bite on me, but Rexus's potion cured that. Is everyone else alright?" He asked warily, watching the bloody walls.
What can be seen of Pakuzzo's feathered chest rises and falls rapidly in time with his breathing. He flicks the scimitar sharply with his wrist to shake the blood off of it and sheathes it in it's scabbard.
"I'm fine, just musing on how we need to review some training techniques."
He glares at Vinz, who has neither the decency nor comprehension to bother looking sheepish.
Taking out his bow, he glances back and forth at the bleeding walls.
"Anyone have a clue as to what this is supposed to be about, aside from an omen of impending doom?"
A decaying wooden wagon sits at the back of the building. A single wooden door sits in the corner of the back wall.
Though no longer flying about, the floor is covered by an assortment of rotted and broken furniture. A few pieces of livestock tackle lays about.
Examining the chained doors outside a moment, Rexus tenaciously manages to squeeze through the barrier. After which, he tries to hold the section open for Cerenity to pass.
Once Cerenity has entered, the noble squints into the darkness as he leans heavily on his cane.
"I believe the place may be haunted after all. You aren't scared of a little ghosts, are you?" he asks with a smile.
Marillo shakes his head as he looks at his mauled hand. "A haunted house, just like I said. And to think, the dogs were almost enough to drive us away. Got any more of those potions? There's enough blood on the walls without me adding to it." As he says this he uses his unbloodied hand to slap Lurio on the back. "And thanks for saving me from that bound. That thing was going to tear me apart."
"Oh! Apologies. There's not much left on it, but I do have this." Pulling out an blackened ivory stick, he steps up to Marillo. "I'm all out of potions, but I think this thing has a charge or two left."
Beyond the gate is a narrow hallway. About halfway down, a wooden door hangs precariously on its hinges. Though the door painted to look like the remaining walls, its heavy sag and pealing paint makes it easy to identify.
A set of offices sit opposite you near the wagon heap.
As you look towards the door, you can see a number of strange footprints in the dusty floor.
Marillo motions for Luthor to come over, after thanking Rexus. "Do you think you could fit through there?"
Locks...I'll need to see what I can do about getting past them. This is starting to be an issue.
Seeing that his human friends are all okay, Crady rushes over to the two fallen dogs. A wave of sadness and regret washes over the urban druid's face.
Gently petting the unblooded portions of the dogs, Crady mumbles, "They were just hungry..if only I could have gotten through the door sooner (sniff)..they were just hungry..I'm sorry,dogs..(sniff).."
With tears welling in his eyes, The Bum Sage continues his lament. "You won't be hungry anymore (sniff)..the problems of this world aren't yours anymore..good dogs (sniff)..good dogs..."
Thanking Rexus for the healing, Luthor wanders a little further into the structure. He can't see the back, but seems to be able to pick his way around well enough.
Hearing Pakuzzo, he calls over his shoulder in reply. "What you see here are emanations or memories of someone who died a very unpleasant death. Though there are more proper terms for them, they are colloquially known as haunts. They're not magical though, and they're usually not hazardous to your physical health. They are however quite easy to detect by psychic means." He says this last part directly to Marillo with raised eyebrows.
Marillo nods slightly back. "Told you this place was haunted! Did I not say so?"
Marillo takes the time to look around for any places which a person could be hiding.