"Taking him back to town means more than a day for whoever else is here to either destroy anything of importance or prepare to make us pay in blood for every step we take in here," Tahata says sternly. "Durian's plan seems the best - tend his wounds, feed and water him, and hide him away as safely as we can in the main hall." He looks disappointed that he can't do more for the man, but his hunter's mindset means that he's focussed on hunting down his prey.
"Give him a weapon and leave him in one of the side rooms. That sounds like the best we can do for now."
Ayame breathed out, most through her nose and said "Fine." Though she obviously didn't like it. "Lets get him in a room then." She added as she shooed the men out of her way and walked Lute carefully to the main hall. "I have some cheese, bread, and ham I'll leave with you and you can also keep my waterskin till we come back. Okay?" Ayame asked softly as they walked. "I'm sorry you have to be locked away again when freedom and safety are so close, but I cannot help you back alone, and I must ensure my friend's don't do anything foolish. They're kinda, reckless." She told him with a kind smile.
Tahata nodded at Ayame's words, acknowledging her frustration but pleased that she had agreed to their plan. "We will make him safe," Tahata reassured her.
Let's not waste any time. surely anyone in the other floors heard the fight. we should move forward quickly before they have time to set up more defenses or call in reinforcements.
Durian leads the way back to the stairs, waiting for the group to catch up
The merchant is clearly releived and gushes at you about what great heroes you are over and over. When you move back to the main room he catches his breath at the sight of all the bodies mumbling about how horrible it is but saying they deserved it.
WHen you get him into a room with no dead bodies he relaxes.
"I told you about the ogre right? I think it can turn into a person or something it is all very confusing. Very confusing indeed. Just... be careful so I can get home."
He is relaxed but declines to take any weapon beyond a dagger saying he is quite useless with weapons, or blood, or conflict really.
As this is all going on you of course keep your eyes and ears open. Durian, a moment beofre Loren, hears footsteps coming down the stairs in the area you just left. A male voice mumbles about all the noise waking him up. The voice stops inside the room on the south east of the map and bellows.
"What the f&%~!! Who did this."
The door slams open, ripped off the hinges. Coming into view in the doorway is a man carrying a heavy axe in one of his hands, his skin is growing fear as he moves and his features are turning to that of a humanoid bear.
It is only a moment later that he notices you all and you clearly have the jump on him as he is squeezing though the door.
Not great for you guys. This fellow is a werebear in hybrid form. Silver overcomes its DR.
Bold may act
[u] Round 1 [/u]
Tahata, Durian, Loren, Ayame
Hairy Man-Thing with Ax
[u] Stat Tracker [/u]
Global Condition: None |Ayame HP: 39/39 - AC: 20/14/17 Status:
Durian HP: 50/50 - AC: 21 (+4 vs Giants)/14/19 Status:
Tahata HP: 41/44 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Loren HP: 31/31 - AC: 16/11/16 Status:__________________________________________
Hairy Man-Thing: HP: ?/? AC: ?/?/?
___________________________________________
Story Reminders:
* Looking for a guide over the crown of the world - Ulf and Uksahkka
* No one has seen the guide you have a lead on.
* The Frozen Shadows are being guided by an Oni that is part of the Five Storms.
"Lookout! we have company!" Loren warns the others.
"Viburnum!" he exclaims as a hurls a chunk of magical ice into the intruders chest.
Ayame turned when she heard the sound and almost instantly called out to the others "Werebear!!" as a warning. Then Ayame took a deep breath and let out a scream, yet only the werebear could hear it.
"What's a werebear?" Tahata asks with concern, seeing the huge bulk of an upright axe-wielding bear squeezing into the hall. He lays a hand on Maitoh's back, channeling magic from the totem spirit of the wolf's great ancestors to prepare them both for the battle to come.
Tahata stands, his skin hardening as he readies his spear, and Maitoh emits a low rumbling growl, ready to defend the group.[/ooc]
A were-bear? I thought the guy said it was an Ogre??
Durian doesn't wait to see what this thing can do. he sees the rest of the group open up on the creature, and he decides he hasn't seen much yet that can handle an angry dwarf's fist to its face. He charges the were-thing and puts some serious Umpf behind his swing
Ha! eat fist, bear-man!
"Werewolf, werebear.... Same thing different beastie." Ayame answered. "Becareful!! If he bites you there is a chance you could be inflicted! Also you're going to have to hit harder, their hide is tough and only easily penetrated with silver weapons... Or magic, powerful magic. Because magic is often the answer. I'll add in that this may not be what the man was talking about either." Ayame pointed out.
Loren thinks fast and acts with deadly precision. The ball of ice and snow that he hurls catches the werebear squarely on the forehead and staggers it back a step. The ball of ice breaks bones, shatters cartilage and nearly kills the beast man with one hit.
Not to be outdone Ayame unleashes a scream only heard by the wear bear but, man oh man, does he hear it. Most of his face destroyed his ears drums are liquefied!
Before the melee combatants can even act the creature falls dead!
The fight is over quick and clearly Jorgan The Ax, head of the guard, did not even get a chance to raise a real alarm.
Searcing his body there is little of interest, mundane gear, but you do find a set of four keys.
That problem resolved and your freed captive sequestered away you head upstairs as had originally been planned. There is what appears to be a tower above you. And the second level there appears to be only two rooms at the far end from where the stairs went up.
"Were-bear, huh? Didn't seem so tough."
Tahata raises his spear ready to join Durian in the fray when the giant bear-man falls dead, pummelled by Durian's fists and Loren's snowball and with his ears bleeding profusely. Tahata skids to stop, Maitoh at his heel. "Are werebears normally that easy to kill?" he asks, bemused.
With the traumatised merchant safely tucked away the group ascends to the balcony above the main hall. "Let's check this one," Tahata suggests, pointing at the nearest room on the near side of the balcony.
"Sounds good to me." Loren responds to Tahata as he suggests the door on the balcony.
Durian punches the were bear and it falls. he turns to the group It's ok, I got him!
he kicks the body for good measure before checking for any items that might be interesting and checking out the axe the big guys was holding.
Be ready, I'm sure we're not out of the woods yet. there should still be an Ogre around soemwhere, and I would bet money we'll see more ninjas.
"I don't know." Ayame answered Tahata. "This was the first were anything I've ever met in person. Since I was kept at home most of my life books became a great escape..." She explained with a shrug.
"Oh! Hold on." Ayame said as she returned to the man they had saved. She handed over some bread, cheese, and ham. "Eat slowly, if you eat too much at once your stomach will reject it. Bread first, and if that stays down then move onto the cheese and ham with it." She instructed. Then with a smile she turned and swiftly moved to catch up with her group. "We're good to go... Hopefully there isn't too much more... I'm not sure how much more I have in me..." Ayame admitted some what embarrassed.
Listening to the door at the NE corner of the building you hear nothing. Opening the door you find that it is nothing more then a cloak room. As you are all quite perceptive it is easy to find the items of real value in this room. There are bales of wool worth 100gp each, though they are quite bulky weighing in at 500 lbs each. Also there are six bundles of wolf and bear furs which would be worth about 250gp each, these are more manageable.
Also Tahata discovers rolls of leather scrolls covered in tiny, cramped Skald runes stuffed into one chest.
These are the personal diaries of Snorri Stone- Eye and relate not only his vile past but also details of his apocalyptic revelation, as described under the introduction to Ravenscraeg. More importantly they also provide a hint to a secret treasure left by the Mad Reaver. More importantly you find a passage in the rantings referring to a concealed cache in the upstairs flue, hidden away for the “coming winter”
The room on the other side of the balcony is also unattended and appears to be an armory. Wooden pegs on the walls of this chamber hold shields and
scabbards, wooden stands hold chainmail hauberks, and open chests hold arrows and axes. A number of spears have been stacked together in one corner. All of the weapons and armor are mundane, excepting one arrow, so I will not going into them. The single magical items is an greater magical beast slaying arrow.
Moving back to the tower you listen upstairs. The sound of wind can be heard, probably blowing though shutters.
Go up or go down?
Anyone know what these scrolls say? they don't look like spells, but I can't read whatever language this is...
Durian looks through the other gear, but doesn't see anything of interest to him, though he will try to help haul some of the goods out when they leave.
Shall we keep going up?
"It's not a language I am familiar with."
"It's Skald." Ayame spoke up when she looked over ones shoulder to read the scrolls. Then she took it and began to translate. "This is the personal diaries of Snorri Stone- Eye. Hey, this even has a bit about a hidden in a cache in the upstairs flue, hidden away for the “coming winter”, now if he means actual winter or not I'm am unsure." Ayame told them. "There is enough here that I would need a bit to go through all of it with a fine eye, but I can do so when we know we're safe." She said as she rolled the scrolls up carefully to put in her scroll case.
"Might as well." Ayame answered
"Does anyone remember seeing a chimney or flue? Might be worth investigating. Maybe the new management of this place hasn't discovered whatever old Stone-Eye left hidden."
"I don't, but it seems likely that there will be a fireplace somewhere here - the winter cold would be deadly without," Tahata suggests. "I agree, let's keep going upwards."
Windows open to the elements bring a chill to this room. A fireplace stands against one wall, its ashes cold, next to a stack of firewood. A trap door with a wooden ladder leading to it opens in the ceiling to the southwest. Six light cots are spaced about the chamber, with a small footlocker next to each.
In this room are three more Tengu Ninja's they are armed but not looking towards the stairs it would seem. As you look at them you hear the call of a raven from inside the open doorway to the west.
Tahata raises a finger to his lips as he sees that the ninjas on the next floor haven't seen him, hoping that Durian will understand to be quiet. He grips his spear tightly and pads gently across the floor, hoping to take the nearest ninja by surprise. As soon as he is within reach he thrusts his spear into the birdman's back.
Tahata is quiet enough, and manages to drive his spear deep into the back of the yellow ninja. He lets out a startled yell but is still standing.
Bold may act
[u] Round 1 [/u]
Tahata, Durian, Loren, Ayame
Ninjas
[u] Stat Tracker [/u]
Global Condition: None |Ayame HP: 39/39 - AC: 20/14/17 Status:
Durian HP: 50/50 - AC: 21 (+4 vs Giants)/14/19 Status:
Tahata HP: 41/44 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Loren HP: 31/31 - AC: 16/11/16 Status:__________________________________________
Yellow: HP: 19/29 AC: 16/14/12
Green: HP: 19/29 AC: 16/14/12
Pink: HP: 19/29 AC: 16/14/12___________________________________________
Story Reminders:
* Looking for a guide over the crown of the world - Ulf and Uksahkka
* No one has seen the guide you have a lead on.
* The Frozen Shadows are being guided by an Oni that is part of the Five Storms.
Durian waits for Tahata's signal, then rushes in behind him, moving as far out of the way of his companions as possible. once there, he punches the green ninja before it can act
Ayame pulled her blade from her sheath and stepped foreword, taking note of the ninja before Durian and them being in the way of him helping Tahata, Ayame strikes out at the man.
Her aim was true though the blade didn't go too deep. Her form however was impeccable.
She looked to Durian and grinned. "Dear Durian, you almost missed, do try to avoid that!" She teased.
Loren steps out of the way and sends a Ray of Frost into the Green Ninja.
(touch attack, in combat)
Durian wades into the fight and barely manages to land a blow on the green ninja.
Ayame also sneaks in and stabs at Tahata's target. Loren striks with a Ray of Frost that hits because the ninjas were not aware it was coming.
The two battered ninja's each attack with blades but they both miss. The final launches a blow dart, after dropping his Wakizashi at Ayame but also misses.
Bold may act
[u] Round 2 [/u]
Tahata, Durian, Loren, Ayame
Ninjas
[u] Stat Tracker [/u]
Global Condition: None |Ayame HP: 39/39 - AC: 20/14/17 Status:
Durian HP: 50/50 - AC: 21 (+4 vs Giants)/14/19 Status:
Tahata HP: 41/44 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Loren HP: 31/31 - AC: 16/11/16 Status:__________________________________________
Yellow: HP: 14/29 AC: 16/14/12
Green: HP: 12/29 AC: 16/14/12
Pink: HP: 29/29 AC: 16/14/12 - dropped sword___________________________________________
Story Reminders:
* Looking for a guide over the crown of the world - Ulf and Uksahkka
* No one has seen the guide you have a lead on.
* The Frozen Shadows are being guided by an Oni that is part of the Five Storms.
Ayame flinched a bit when the dart came her way, but when it went wide she pointed at the ninja and said "HA! Missed" The paused and said "I don't think I should have done that... But I should do this!"
Ayame slashed at ninja before Durian once more, this time however she didn't punch through.
Bold may act
[u] Round 2 [/u]
Tahata, Durian, Loren, Ayame
Ninjas
[u] Stat Tracker [/u]
Global Condition: None |Ayame HP: 39/39 - AC: 20/14/17 Status:
Durian HP: 50/50 - AC: 21 (+4 vs Giants)/14/19 Status:
Tahata HP: 41/44 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Loren HP: 31/31 - AC: 16/11/16 Status:__________________________________________
Yellow: HP: 14/29 AC: 16/14/12
Green: HP: 12/29 AC: 16/14/12
Pink: HP: 29/29 AC: 16/14/12 - dropped sword___________________________________________
Story Reminders:
* Looking for a guide over the crown of the world - Ulf and Uksahkka
* No one has seen the guide you have a lead on.
* The Frozen Shadows are being guided by an Oni that is part of the Five Storms.
durian keeps punching at the ninja in front of him, after dodging a blow
after planting his fist in the ninja's face, Durian steps over the crumpled body of the green ninja, striking at the yellow one.
"Maitoh!" Tahata calls and the wolf bounds up the stairs ready to defend his friend. "Cinah!" he instructs as he tries to slip past the ninjas into a position where man and wolf can both attack to bring down one of the birdmen.
From the back, Loren directs a Ray of Frost at one of the ninja's in combat.
(touch attack, in combat)
The combined might of the heroes is too much for the red shirt cast members, errr, ninjas. As the final ninja falls with a sharp cry of pain the door opens the rest of the way and a large raven with a red stripe flies out.
The large raven swoops up into the rafters and calls out in common.
"Intruders! Get them my pretties, get them."
At his call a swarm of ravens streams out of the small closed room. The swarm caws and shrieks as it moves.
Bold may act
[u] Round 2 [/u]
Tahata, Durian, Loren, Ayame
Swarm and Crow
[u] Stat Tracker [/u]
Global Condition: None |Ayame HP: 39/39 - AC: 20/14/17 Status:
Durian HP: 50/50 - AC: 21 (+4 vs Giants)/14/19 Status:
Tahata HP: 41/44 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Loren HP: 31/31 - AC: 16/11/16 Status:__________________________________________
Raven Swarm - HP: 18/18 AC: 14/14/12
Blood Feathered Raven: HP: 59/59 AC: 18/16/14 - 15ft Up___________________________________________
Story Reminders:
* Looking for a guide over the crown of the world - Ulf and Uksahkka
* No one has seen the guide you have a lead on.
* The Frozen Shadows are being guided by an Oni that is part of the Five Storms. [/b]
Loren can't see the swarm from the doorway, but he steps inside next to Maitoh and slings a frozen ball of ice and snow at the raven in the rafters.
(touch attack, inspired)
"Not again..." Ayame said, before she dropped the blade she had and quickly brought out her koto out. "Everyone cover you ears." She warned before she struck a hard note upon her koto.
Durian looks up at the talking crow, but doesn't have a good way to reach the rafters. he focuses on the swarm of smaller birds, wildly swinging his fists, bashing any birds he can contact
"Maitoh, hücum!" Tahata instructs as the swarm of birds descends on the room. The wolf leaps into the fray, his jaws snapping as he tries to bite the small birds out of the sky. Tahata, recognising the threat of an intelligent bird calling others to do it's bidding, drops his spear and moves across the room, drawing his longbow and nocking an arrow before letting the shaft fly at the red-breasted raven in the rafters.
Loren cant see the swarm but tosses a snowball at he bird which connects, barely, and nearly knocks the poor thing out. Tahata manages to bury an arrow in the bird, by making his rolls out of narrative order, and the bird spirals to the ground.
The sonic burst from Ayame and the first of Durian bring the swarm of birds down quickly.
The fight is over quicker then anyone would think and any chance for exposition from the intelligent raven has been lost. You do recognize that this is the very same bird that you saw following you and in town when the elemental attacked.
Secreted among the raven’s nest are a number of human teeth (Wodes collected these), 27 gp, an ivory-andonyx necklace worth 130 gp, and a writing kit with rolls of blank parchment cut into tiny strips and small leather cases that can be secured to a bird’s leg, allow it to carry messages. The kit is worth 20 gp.
As you know to search for the other hidden item it does not take long Boots of the Winderlands hidden in the fireplace flue.
There is nothing else above ground but their are stairs heading down. Also you all fell like your adventuring is paying off and your power is growing.
Welcome to level 6!!!
"So that was the bird that was following us? Is it just an intelligent bird or something else?"
"I have never known a bird to speak. I wonder if it was being controlled by another, or if it was intelligent on its own. I suppose we'll never know now Durian says, looking at the dead Raven.
Durian pulls the boots from out of the fireplace, knowing to look there after the party read the note earlier about a hidden stash. These look quite well made. are they magical?
Loren will cast Detect Magic to confirm the boots are magical and search the room.
"Familiars can, as well as some awakened bird." Ayame said as she put her koto away. "That's about all I know. It can't be a familiar, those can't go far from their master."
"That has to be what the diary was talking about!" Ayame declared as she took the boots to look them over after Loren explained what they were. "With these snow, no matter how deep is trivial!" Then she passed them back to the group before picking up the necklace. "Do I need to start carrying a jewelry box?" She asked playfully. "Unless one of you want to wear it? Tahata maybe you? Might look radient! Or Loren, elves like jewelry no? Or wait no! Durian! It could hold your beard!" Though it couldn't stop Ayame's laughter at the end. "I'm sorry, my humor isn't for everyone."
"Someone was following us through this bird," Tahata says, retrieving his spear from the floor and slipping his bow back into it's quiver. "The boots are nice," he says once Ayame has stopped laughing, "but I don't think the necklace would match my skin tone." The corners of his mouth curl up in a wry smile.
Durian holds the necklace up to his beard and grins at Ayame, looking for approval of the look.
All right, let's get moving. there may still be an Ogre or something else similarly scary to deal with
Ayame giggled when the others played along, relaxing far more when her joke was accepted. "So, who is wearing the boots?" She asked. "I mean they might come in really good handy." Ayame pointed out.
"The cold doesn't bother me as much as it does some others, so I feel the boots should go someone besides me." Loren says.
It appears that Loren's hairline has begun to recede and there are now more noticeably scaly ridges becoming prominent on his forehead.