The bugbear weakens beneath the incredible power of Ragnar's stare. Seeing Crystal collapse to the ground with a vicious wound, Juid grabs her and yanks her out of combat, pulling her through the group into the disgusting kitchen. Setting down, he sets to work binding her wounds, doing his best to at least stop the bleeding. He is successful.
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Czein Roars again, swinging his axe at the goblin. "STAND AND FACE YOUR ENEMY COWARDS!!!"
Not having line of sight on the bugbear, Raven produces a bomb and prepares to throw it.
The goblin fighting Czein laugh as the axe whistles over his head, and he stabs out at the half-orc again, opening up the massive cut even more!
Finally, the bugbear snarls as it steps into the hall, only to have Raven's bomb fly right for it! The bomb slams into the bugbear's head and explodes, sending her right into the wall.
The bugbear collects herself, looks from left to right, and sees Czein engaged in solo combat with the goblin. Snarling, she charges into the room after Czein, closing into combat with him.
Ragnar
---
Goblin
Bugbear (10 dmg) (-2 AC, -2 to hit)
---
Crystal
Raven
Czein (6 dmg)
Juid
Crystal is still unconscious.
She's also silently stewing over not seeing the bugbear in time.
"Excellent shot, Raven!"
Unwilling to leave Czein to his fate with two attackers, Juid leaves Crystal on the ground and sends a firebolt at the bugbear, careful not to hit Czein.
"Unlike my own. You spoke with Crystal at length. Did she mention having any potions or wands to recover her, um, unhealth?"
Instead of moving, Juid begins rifling through Crystal's belongings, searching frantically for the items mentioned.
Czein sees the Sneaky Bugbear and realizes that he only has one move to protect himself from the vile sacrilege of a stab in the back. He steps into the corner to protect his back bringing an unexpected and vicious strike from the second head of his double axe.
As you felt the biting pain of the Bugbear's sword sink into your back you fell into a black abyss. Strangely enough though, you woke up to discover yourself in a small house faced with a huge golem. Through the window all you see are stars. Before you can begin to speak the dream is gone, and you are back on the floor in more pain than you've ever been in, in your life.
Crystal lets out a rattling gasp, and her eyes open to to stare at Juid.
Seeing the bugbear run up to him, Czein lets out a roar and slams down with his axe. Blood sprays across the wall as he brutally injures the creature. However, she snarls and keeps up her attack!
Ragnar
---
Goblin
Bugbear (25 dmg) (-2 AC, -2 to hit)
---
Czein (6 dmg)
Juid
Crystal (13 dmg, disabled)
Raven
Czein hits the wall with his shoulder as he leans weight on his injured leg while backing into the corner. "Beardy! That one spell, now would be good!"
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With some brief phrases in what appears to be some arcane language and the wave of his hand, Ragnar casts a spell. In the bugbears mind, a thousand voices start screaming all at once.
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Juid is surprised and a little embarrassed to see Crystal open her eyes and witness him searching her self and her belongings. He breaks off his search. "I- I was only looking for something to heal you."
The bugbear clutches her face, almost collapsing to her knees but manages to fight off the worst of the spell.
Raven sees that the bugbear is near death, and risks a glancing blow with a bomb. A loud BANG sounds out as the bomb explodes right behind the bugbear. Her legs go out from under her, which allows Czein to bring his axe up, and slam it into her face.
The goblin, seeing the bugbear go down, immediately lets out another scream and hides behind the bed Czein threw across the room.
End of Combat
Crystal gasps for air as she regains consciousness. When Juid explains why he's rifling through her stuff, she simply nods and closes her eyes again.
She rests a hand on her injuries and mumbles something under her breath... it sounds like a prayer to Pharasma.
The chill of the grave settles on Crystal for a scant few moments before her injuries heal up enough for her to stand.
"...I can't believe I was this unprepared."
Ragnar collects himself. This fight was no easy one and he nearly lost not only one, but two of his companions. Not that he knows them very well, but they share some common Fate and should stick together. Strength in numbers, He reasons.
"Is everyone ok and here? "He asks while looking around. They won't be fooled twice.
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As Juid rises, he helps Crystal to her feet and turns to the others. "I think it's best to heal Nosering with the door closed so that Crystal won't be affected. But first we'll have to deal with that last vicious goblin. He smiles as he says 'Nosering', trying to match the ranger's wit and lighten the mood.
Ragnar again tries the obviously hopeless: Communication.
"Do you understand me? Come out and we might let you live. Ask your friend, we ain't that bad."
Well, for now, that is, he adds as a mental note. He doesn't bother charming the little fellow. That one cut the half-orc open, it's very likely Czein will take revenge as soon as he gets the chance.
The goblin simply remains cowering under the bed, babbling in his nasty little language. Ragnar's calm voice doesn't accomplish much.
Czein barely lets out a breath when the pain of his leg hits him and he dives across the room at the screaming Goblin. Tossing the bed out of the way again
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The goblin lets out one final scream as Czein descends upon him. The creature has no time to move, and being prone, not much ability to dodge. The axe cuts the goblin completely in two.
As expected, Ragnar thinks.
"Now, does anyone have an empty and preferably clean flask? As grisly as it sounds, I need to get a sample of Hector's blood. It might help us shed some light onto what is going on with us."
Juid checks that the critter is well and truly dead before he channels positive energy.
It's dead. Healing energy bursts from Juid's holy symbol, bathing the party and healing their wounds.
Where to now?
Czein sits on what is left of the bed, leaning over as the adrenaline hits his stomach.
"I guess its that way regardless..." he grumbles, pointing with his axe. "Anyone care to find out what 'nasty bugs' is? Or shall we just head for town?"
As the queasiness fades, he pokes around the room for spoils and searches the Bugbear.
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Crystal waits for Juid to heal the others before she limps into the room behind him.
"I'm in no condition to fight if we encounter more resistance. I think it would be for the best if we tried to make it to town." She leans against the wall of the room, still holding her wound.
Ragnar sighs as he sees no one has a flask and tries to find something suitable in the room.
"I guess getting some rest wouldn't hurt," the mage answers. "Let's just hope the people in this town are the friendly and unsuspecting type. I think we should bring something from here as proof we already helped them by crushing those goblins and their leaders. Czein, would you put those leaders' heads in sacks?"
He pauses for a moment, his eyes fixed on the last remaining goblin.
"And what about him? If we found a scroll of Tongues, we could communicate with him. On the other hand, he'll raise suspicion."
Is there a reason not to stay here out of the storm tonight? We could barricade the doors if necessary. Juid says, as he checks on Pîsim.
"Well, nothing except for the stench and me not having anything to sleep on. I didn't quite expect going on a journey when all of this happened." Ragnar says, making a wide gesture. You notice, he isn't carrying a backpack or anything.
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As Ragnar looks behind him, it appears that the last goblin took advantage of the fight to run the hell away.
With his pack animal in tow, Juid nods to Ragnar's comment. "Then let's grab what supplies we can from this place and head off." He begins by searching the bugbear. He'll take his time, in case Czein missed anything.
Searching the bugbear and the room, Juid manages to find a few objects of interest that were piled under the bed.
He finds the following:
- A masterwork longsword
- A masterwork shortsword
- Studded leather armour (which smells like bugbear but will fit)
- An enormous key
- Two divine scrolls
- A clear potion
- A heavy bag with 9 platinum, 34 gold, 16 silver, 194 copper
Unable to stop himself, Juid admires the scrolls. These scrolls are divine! he utters, then gives them a glance to identify the spells. If they aren't immediately obvious, he'll ask around. Are any of you gifted at identifying spell formulae? How about this stoppered flask of transparent fluid? If not, I'll prepare to identify them on the morrow.
Juid can tell that the scrolls are from the nastier side of clerical magic. Cause fear and cause light wounds.
The potion is a potion of invisibility.
Crystal intones a prayer to Pharasma and looks at the potion Juid found.
"Hmm... a potion that renders its drinker invisible. Ideal for a scout." Crystal says as she holds up the potion.
"Crystal, this is just the thing to make you feel better." says Juid waiving one of the scrolls. "Can you use it yourself, or shall I cast it on you?"
Crystal looks up at the scroll Juid is holding. "Really? Then allow me."
With another prayer, she takes the scroll and reads it, touching her wound with her free hand.
The scroll becomes wreathed in cold blue flames as Crystal reads it, travelling up the dhampir's arms and flowing into her mouth. Her posture straightens, and her breathing steadies.
"...I feel much better now. Thank you."
Crystal's wounds completely heal and the group is whole once more.
The dungeon is now eerily silent. A long north-south hallway extends to the unexplored portions as marked by your former goblin frenemy. Where do you go?
"Hard to tell the value of those weapons, as dirty as they are," Ragnar says while weighting the two swords with his hands and cleaning off the worst part of dirt from them. "Don't seem to be in too bad a shape, but I guess I'm not the best weapons expert. I don't have much to carry anyway, so I'll take those two for the moment, allright?"
Ragnar further cleans both weapons and fastens them on his belt. He tugs the heavy coinpurse under his mantle.
"I'm still for leaving this place, but you are the frontline fighters, it's your call if you want us to move on."
Seeing that the others appear undecided, Juid takes the initiative to walk back out of the room and down to the corridor to the room the goblin described as their den. He opens the door and looks in and around, his scimitar in his hand before him threateningly, just in case.
Juid heads to the south, and peers into the goblin's den. It is unoccupied.
The stench in this room is unbearable as piles of ratty, filth-encrusted furs cover the place. A series of peepholes are in the south wall and a ladder leads up into a trapdoor in the roof in the south.
Crystal follows the priest, her bow readied for trouble.
Turning to Crystal, Juid says "I don't have the constitution to check this room. I'm guessing that trap door leads to a spot to ambush people coming in the entrance, but I'm not certain. Would you like to check it out? I'll go around and look for the hole." He then double moves to the corridor the goblin told them was the entrance hall.
Ragnar is on Juid's heels, as the priest seems to have a good nose for trouble and finding hidden equipment. And, well, he just seems nice, and that's something rare enough to want to keep safe.
The group begin exploring what remains of the dungeon area, avoiding the blockaded room the goblin described as containing nasty bugs. The ladder in the den leads up to a small alcove above the entryway to the dungeon. Murder holes line the floor of the alcove, allowing for spying, and attacking opportunities to any who dare storm the front doors.
While exploring, the party find a small bag tucked in a corner. Within are several uncut gems.
Finally, the group come to the front entrance/exit to the dungeon. An enormous, ancient padlock has been clapped over the front doors, preventing exit from within. Presumably a way to keep the goblins under control. The key found on the bugbear fits the padlock perfectly.
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Seeing that Czein seems torn about not exploring the bug den, Juid rests a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think those creatures are going anywhere, Czein, and our resources are depleted. Let us rest this night and, if the bait still draws us in the morning, it will be a simple thing to return to clear this den out for good. Remember, we are not safely in our beds just yet. Now, let's open this door and see what fate awaits us."
Czein nods to Juid, and then turns to him. "Back there, did you call me Nosering?..." He narrows his eyes and leans toward the priestly man. As Juid's eyes widen at the sudden tone shift, the big one loses his composure. "Gwaahahaha! I like you baldy! Not afraid of nobody! Lets get outta here!" He claps Juid on the shoulder, recoiling a bit from the heat.
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