Rebecca's bolt soars over the head over the creature, embedding itself in the window sill of a nearby shop. Corwin's frost ray leaves a frozen patch on the cobbles, missing the creature by a wide margin.
While Algund's glaive does strike the creature, he is unable to penetrate the monster's thick hide .
"Be careful if you decide to close with the creature, it spreads disease...also, its hide is known to be quite thick and difficult to penetrate." Corwin calls out to his allies.
Gadren says a quick prayer asking for Pharasma's protection before moving towards the Otyugh, it seemed a formidable creature and brash;y running in would not help the woman He envied Algund his glaive now but would not sit idly by.
What am I going to do? Stay far away? If she isn't dead already, maybe I can save her. Besides, I get sick, I'll talk to Gadren. Besides, Shelyn won't let me, there's an ugly weakness in vile blights.
Pia loads her crossbow with shaking hands, the woman's scream still echoing in her mind.
Aiming for the largest part of the creature, trying to avoid the woman's body or Algund, Pia takes breath and feels a comforting arm raise the bow a little higher.
An invisible hand aids Pia's aim, and her bolt plunges into the beast's body. The creature drops its meal, the townswoman falling to the street in a quickly spreading pool of blood, and turns it attention towards Algund.
It unleashes a flurry of attacks on the paladin, who is apparantly quite favored by his goddess...
Initiatives:
(24) Thorfinn
(23) Rebecca
(15) Pia
(13) Algund
(11) Otyugh [-3]
(10) Gadren
(6) Corwin
(3) Cataria
You he dodges a tentacle are going he parries another to pay. As the beast leans in for a bite, he brings down his gliave at its head, trying to inflict damage through sheer blunt force.
Thorfinn dashes up the street to where he can see what the commotion is about, then drops to one knee and grabs his crossbow, doing his best to quickly wind the winch back so that he can fire.
At the same time, Sleipnir flaps across the sky and swoops toward the creature.
Taking a few steps to get a clearer shot that didn't involve aiming directly over Algund's head, Rebecca looses another quarrel at the rampaging garbage disposal.
Pia cuts her eyes to the left seeing Gadren move up. As the woman's body falls out of the creatures mouth Pia is both relieved and horrified as the body makes a sickening splat to the stone road.
Pia gasps to Gadren "Do you think she's still alive?", while loading another bolt.
In all the years since Jonathan taught me to shoot, I never needed it, now twice in 2 days... Pia fires at the creature, trying to aim at the same spot she hit once already.
"I guess it's time to find out." Gadren took a moment to pray to Pharasma to aid him healing the woman with a minor blessing and moved forward, leaning down to bring the healing magic to her hopefully yet living body while his right hand readied his shield hoping the beast would for now overlook him until he could get the woman out of here.
If she wakes up
"I need you to very quietly move down the street while it is distracted if you can." He would try to keep his tone level and calm.
Algund drives his glaive into the beast, but still fails to inflict any significant damage. Pia and Rebecca's bolts embed themselves deep into the creature's body however, illiciting a howl of pain from the beast.
Gadren lays his healing hands on the fallen townswoman, and while she doesn't wake up, the bleeding seems to subside, and the nasty wound begins to close.
Gadren grins to himself knowing the woman should be alright now but the Otyugh had to be pushed back before he dared rouse her, she may cry out and draw more of it's attention.
Drawing his warhammer into his free hand he hefted the weight of it's cold iron head reassuringly. "I hope you don't mind if I join in Algund? Our new friend seems to need the point hammered home!" Gadren stepped forward in front of Algund the woman's unconscious form wouldn't exactly allow proper footing but Algund could hopefully shift position into the place he just vacated to watch over the woman and herd the Otyugh away.
One of the beast's writhing tentacles forced him to abort his attack and duck, not a true attack but he didn't want to end up sprawled on the ground in front of the beast.
Thanks Algund cries, maybe I should try a tip cut. That'll cut right through its hide unless it's strong as mail.
Cataria races down the street as fast as she can, drawing her morning star and pulling up beside Pia, eyeing the creature warily.
"Algund start edging to his side and I'll do the same. If he lasts that long with all of us piling it on we'll need the openings in his defense to finish him off or at least encourage him to slink back." Gadren kept his eyes fixed on the Otyugh not wanting to end up it's next meal.
Corwin moves forward, his eyes darting over the ground, the walls, the crowd and his companions, searching for some tactical advantage.
He halts behind Cataria, his hand dipping into his component pouch with practiced ease. "Zariss", he intones, a bit of grease slipping between his fingers, his eyes locked on the cobblestones at the creatures feet.
Hopefully it will fall.
The otyugh's three massive legs begin to slip, and with a wet thud, the creature smacks prone onto the cobblestones.
It clambers upright clumsily, leaving itself open to attack.
Gadren's AC is 21 currently
Gadren tries to take advantage of the Otyugh's poor footing and bring his warhammer down upon it.
As he finishes winding the crossbow's winch, Thorfinn slips a bolt in, then takes aim and fires.
At the same time, Sleipnir swoops in to take a chunk out of the monster's hide, but misses as it slips in the grease.
Algung swings his glaive at the creature as it stands up, trying to hit with just the tip and thereby concentrate the force. He then takes a step back and lines up a strong stab at its face.
Pia drops her crossbow and runs up to the woman on the ground, drawing her dagger as she approaches to fend off any limbs the creature might toss her way.
She drags the woman behind her, shielding her with her own body, as she tries to get them both farther out of danger.
Finishing reloading, Rebecca takes aim at the creature and fires.
And curses as once more the bolt goes wide of the mark. "Don't let it get a hold of you... with the city in the state it is, I would not lay positive odds on your getting timely aid from clerics of any variety."
The otyugh takes some blows as he scrambles upright, both from Gadren and Thorfinn, as well as from Algund.
Cataria dives between her colleagues, stepping over the woman on the ground behind Pia, and darting to the side of the creature, gesturing at Gadren to harry it from the other side. Best to slay this creature before it causes any more harm...
She twirls her morningstar in one hand before bringing it down with a flourish at the Otyugh's massive, lumbering body.
The otyugh forgoes the opportunity to attack Cataria, instead collapsing in a heap as the deaf oracle brings down her weapon at the creature.
Algund brings his glaive up warily, still at full combat speed, and brings it down once more to make sure the creature is dead. He then drops his glaive like a man would drop a dead animal. Good gods I'm awesome, didn't even come close to getting hit.
How is she? he says, dropping to one knee beside the injured woman. His hands seem to be glowing faintly.
Gadren lets out a whoop of triumph raising his warhammer up in triumph before the vanquished foe. He turns grinning with his heart pounding "Pia I've-" He abruptly stopped and moved so Cataria would have view of his face if she cared to listen before restarting. "Pia I stabilized her, good work pulling her back, I wanted to move forward and give it another threatening target. Everyone did well, Otyughs are no joke and we dispatched it pretty well. I'm going to provide a little more healing to this woman to get her conscious, did anyone else get injured?" He put his warhammer away and when he was finished talking gave Algund and Cataria each a pat out of comradery on the shoulder before moving over to Pia and the unconscious woman before laying his hands on her again.
The woman regains consciousness after receiving Gadren's aid. Wounded and very pale, the woman appears to be in shock, though she is stable and in no danger of dying.
With the threat gone, several townsfolk take to the streets again, clearly voicing their displeasure with the current state of affairs.
"Even the city itself is rising up against us with, this bodes ill indeed. If you folks weren't here, who knows what damage that creature could have done! The guards certainly aren't nowhere to be seen."
Rebecca bristles at the mention of the guards being no where.
"I may not be in the guard currently, but I was a guardsman of this very district once. So I would kindly recommend that if you have a complaint with their response times in the middle of a city wide riot that you either consider joining them to help bolster their dwindling numbers, or at least wait to voice them until after I am out of earshot."
Turning back to her companions, she shakes her head. "It is strange that the creature picked now to burst through. I don't normally out much stock in omens, but it definitely has some of one's hallmarks. We should continue on though, before more strangeness breaks forth."
"Bah. We have had enough of omens. This is most likely willful failure to do a job. Someone somewhere either opened a gate that shouldn't have been, or forgot to give this creature its slops." Corwin scoffs professorially, attempting to interject reason.
So she's alright, and will be okay in a few days. That's good, that's real good, no need for anyone to die today. Well uh, someone died today, that's just mathematics, but, y'know, no one's dying that we could have prevented from dying.
I mean, maybe that's not true either, but my point is I feel good about what we just did.
Algund stands up and looks around at the others.
"So I would kindly recommend that if you have a complaint with their response times in the middle of a city wide riot that you either consider joining them to help bolster their dwindling numbers, or at least wait to voice them until after I am out of earshot."
I mean, it's not really a city wide riot anymore. Algund begins pacing. Sure, there's aftermath and stuff, and I bet more crimes are being committed right now than usual, and maybe even some isolated pockets of rioting are still left after the night. But I think they're more talking about how there aren't guards nearby at all, so it's less of a response time problem and more of a, y'know, they don't exist problem. Although I guess they're kindof the same problem if you think about it long enough, since they'd definitely show up eventually once someone found the guard post or they stumbled across the Otyugh.
Then again, maybe it is a different problem, since maybe they're numbers are low enough that even if someone had gotten to a guard post and said, Algund's voice becomes high and shrill, and he adds in a faint country accent "there's an otyug rampagin' 'round the city" they'd've said, you know, his voice becomes unreasonably low, "we don't have the numbers to go fight an Otyugh" Algund stops pacing, a look of realization on his face. Then again, they'd've at that point just gathered more guards. So it is a response time problem! He looks triumphant.
Figured that out pretty quick. Also a significant response time problem like that would be uh...seriously not good. Like, it's the sort of problem that you definitely should complain about, so when we head off to file our report we can let them know...yeah?
Algund picks up his glaive and leans against a wall, seeming quite interested in inspecting the blade. Just don't be an idiot he thinks to himself, smiling faintly.
Rebecca gives the man a tired look, earned from too many sleepless nights on watch.
"If you want mandatory conscriptions to bolster the numbers of the guard, I am sure that we can pass that recommendation along. Beyond that, Korvosians with real dedication to their city must be brave enough to volunteer to join. With the new Queen's popularity, I somehow doubt that number to rise in the near future."
Gadren rolled his shoulders and shook his head. People tended to make things overly complicated, there was a monster they dealt with it and no one died. It was important to take a win. The watch were strained. He helped the woman to her feet and smiled, he'd try to get a neighbor to help her home. On a normal day he would have healed her more but being too generous now might cost lives later. He was stable and would be alright in a few days. Today could be a long day. He looked at Algund from the corner of his eyes and spoke. "There were people in danger we helped, the rest don't always matter. You did well."
He looked over at Cataria and considered for a moment, when she looked over at him next and slowly began to move his hands using pathinder sign language *Do you know this?* It was worth a shot.
Well sure, we did well, but uh, the rest definitely does matter, right? Like, the whole guard thing might be a problem that can easily be solved. We certainly don't have the information to decide how to solve it, so we shouldn't be making that decision, and it's not like we could anyway. But we can, I think at exactly no cost to ourselves, let someone who does have that information know that there aren't enough guards here.
For example, maybe there are plenty of guards in the city but a division got killed or captured last night. And in the chaos, nobody high up has gotten word of it yet, so they think to themselves, Algund strokes his chin and uses a deep, slow voice, "yes, good, the city is back under control and there's no need to send an extra division over there." But then we show up and we say, y'know, "hey friend, no divisions over here." Algund points at the ground. Which costs us nothing and doesn't seem to have any capacity to do something bad to us, but might turn out really well for other people. Which would then be good for me, so uh, work out good for me, and maybe the rest of you as well.
Basically there's no reason not to complain, and a lot of good reason to complain. Doesn't seem like a particularly interesting decision, to be honest. Satisfied, Algund approaches the corpse, looking for good handholds.
Do we push it back into the sewer? He seems to be asking Corwin.
"I would say yes. Lets push it back Algund." Corwin says, poking the corpse with his toe.
"We can't leave it festering here on the streets, the carcass will likely bring more the otyughs to the surface, and now that I have had a moment to think about it, I do recall one of the King's decrees about 20 years ago was about using these in the sewers to clear blockages, ostensibly by eating through them. If they have been breeding down there, they may be at a point of overpopulation, which would make them desperate for food, and therefore likely to follow any potential trail."
"Let's get this done and be on the way. The patch of grease should allow us to push the creature more readily, or pull it back with ropes. Whichever we choose, we should complete it swiftly."
Sleipnir looks up quizzically from her position beside the corpse, where she's busily tearing hunks out of the otyugh's tough hide and gulping them down.
Thorfinn walks over and scratches the back of her head. "If you don't mind, my friend, we're going to dump this thing back into the sewer." without waiting for her response, he lines up with the others to help push the creature back into the hole.
Pia blinks at Corwin, "This was down there on purpose?" She shudders a bit in revulsion.
"Yes, we should get it off the street." Pia will walk over to the whole, peering in to see if any more are lurking.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Despite the horrid, eye-watering stenching wafting up from the sewers and the otyugh corpse, the party steels itself and pushes it back down into the depths of the Korvosan sewer system. It remains quiet, and there are no signs of any other of the creatures burrowing up, at least any time soon.
Continuing with their original plan, the party travels to the Five Corners ward of the city, a residential area which houses many politicians. The area is usually pretty crowded, and even with the recent troubles, there are a lot more folk on the streets here. Even though a lot of shops have closed their doors, there are still some foodstuff shops that are in business, although many people are already complaining about the regular shipment of meat and produce from the outlying farms being cut off. This eventuality has made the prices skyrocket, however.
The Sanctuary of Shelyn, located in the centre of the ward, is one of the most beautiful buildings about. Square shaped, with an interior courtyard decorated with statues, murals, and flowering plants, it's true to its namesake as it provides a sanctuary in the recent chaos. Algund is welcomed by the priests, who offer all the aid they can to the Korvosan citizens, but due to their small number, they can only do so much. "We sure could use your aid in these troubles, Algund, but we understand that you are eager to take of some business elsewhere as well," the head chaplain tells Algund.
It's good to see a friendly face, Algund begins, not that these companions of mine aren't friendly. He seems to be choosing his words carefully and is speaking quite a bit slower than usual. We've been given a task by a dead woman, she was rather vague, but it seemed to be quite important. Right now my priority is getting a group of about twenty children into safe lives. They had been serving a rather unfortunate fellow who my new mates have killed, as I understand it this was a good thing. Algund pauses, and looks down for a moment, I've always been too violent, perhaps it was unwise to phrase things that way. Actually I'd never met the man so I couldn't uh, couldn't say one way or the other about that. That being if it was a good thing to kill him.
Anyway, he's dead now. Only a few of the children have homes, most are orphans with nowhere to go. We were looking into different places to send them and I thought maybe we could take a few in at the temple.
Maybe just one or two?
Once we get them back where they belong, I don't know what my priority is going to be. Things are too chaotic and hard to predict right now. Speaking of which, how are things around here? Were you attacked in the night at all? Maybe a few friends came in looking for shelter or aid, shared their experiences last night? Or maybe we're lucky and you didn't even hear the sounds of rioting, that'd be good since I really like this place and don't want to see it get ruined. He looks unhappy at the possibility.
As they prepare to leave, Algund takes out a small journal and begins to write rapidly in it. His pen moves until he's finished. Algund looks up at the priest and, seeing his approving nod, begins to read.
There was a man who lived alone
as all the world went swiftly past.
He sat frozen like icy stone,
and from all pleasures would he fast.
On long bitter thoughts he survived;
Dreams of days when life was not dead.
Of times when he grew strong and thrived.
And sometimes of a tucked up bed.
His whole life was before him then,
Before he suffered his great loss.
The gods brought it, by his ken;
It was sudden that all felt dross.
Then he woke, for struggle and strife.
He was not dead: all this was life.
Somehow, perhaps because of the way Algund smiles and raises his arms on the last four syllables, he seems quite hopeful. He shoots a quizzical glance at Cataria, winks, then realizes what he's just done and shakes his head, grimacing. He gathers his things, picks up his pack, and walks to the door. Silently.
At Algund's description of Lamm, Rebecca grimaces.
"Aye, in all my years in the watch and in business for myself, few have deserved death as richly as Gaedren Lamm did. Even here his 'Lamm's Lambs' stole, cheated, and abducted. It is a particular kind of bastard that steals a child's innocence and youth, slaving them to the underworld before they have a chance to grow." She almost spits, but thinks better of it a the last minute.
"At any rate, many of the younger ones could use some exposure to the good and beautiful... and I would like to think that Shelyn' faithful might be able to help with that, even in these trying times."
"Pharasma will see he gets to where he is supposed to be. I'll offer up more prayers of thanks to her for that later not that she wouldn't do it either way." Some things were a certainty in Gadren's mind,and that almost everyone ended up before her for judgement was one of them. There were some delays especially where dark magics were involved to forestall the judgement but it didn't matter how long a Lich survived fueled by dark magics it was a delay and they would go to the Boneyard sooner or later.
"A change of pace to soften the hard edges will be good for them though I agree and beauty has so many forms it may rekindle the embers of joy and wonder that yet linger."
"Very good, Algund, please do keep writing. Spoken words fly away, but written words remain," the chaplain praises your poetry.
After listening to Algund and Rebecca's explanation of Lamm, he nods, "We can certainly take care of a few children, especially if they are creative souls. Life on the streets is no life for a child, especially in these trying times. There were some squabbles in the night, but nothing serious. We have been spared of looters, I can only assume that is because we have little of monetary value. One can hardly steal statues and murals, naturally. The stores seem to have a harder time of it though, many of them have closed and barred up their windows, as I'm sure you've noticed."
After returning for the children and explaining to them that there is place at the Sanctuary of Shelyn, several of them seem interested in this proposition. Escorting them to the temple, they gawk at the works of art on display there, and the priests take them in, showing them to their quarters.
"Very good, Algund, please do keep writing. Spoken words fly away, but written words remain,"
Thanks friend. Praise clearly means a lot to him.
After a moment he begins again quickly, not wanting to bask in his own happiness. I've actually just gotten a new journal, and I'm now writing all my poems in it. Should be good to read over when I finish filling it.
I suppose next we should look into Cataria's harrower next, that sounds quite promising to me.
"Good enough then. But with so many of the stores closed, we should probably focus on getting food first. I don't imagine that the task will be easy."
"We can head towards the Harrower, and as we do, keep on the lookout for stores that might be open, or if closed, still occupied and we might be able to talk the owner into selling us some of the wares."