Tarnagius grunts and draws his longsword before diving into the drink. He opens his eyes and immediately skewers the mangled one right through the heart. The mermaid babbles incoherently and stares into the distance.
Tasha screams as the sharkheaded skum's teeth wrap around her leg. "Oh, you...", she gnashes her teeth as she jabs the dagger straight into its eye, then twists the blade with a wicked roar. "Die, you bastard!"
Rexandi tries to heal herself, but fails and botches the spell.
Seeing the scene before him in the room ahead. Bazzle puts Ed and Aster and leaps acrobatically bouncing off a nearby wall to drop behind one of the creatures attacking Tasha.
Bazzle turns and rushes toward the creature both daggers out.
Not quite enough! Tasha jams her dagger as deep into the shark Skum's eye as she possibly can, but the thing just will not die! Another round of thrashing, and Tasha is quite likely done for. That's when Bazzle leaps from the wall and jams both of his daggers into the gills of the shark. It screams painfully, then goes silent and rolls belly up in a pool of blood.
Unfortunately, this buys just enough time for the last mangled skum to slice into Rexandi, pouring her lifeblood around her.
Tasha pushes herself to grab the tiefling woman as she falls from the rope. "I got her!", she shouts, trying her best to keep her head out of the water. Please don't stop breathing, please don't stop breathing., she thinks to herself. Do I grab her by the horns?, a stray thought creeps into her mind, though the pain and confusion.
"Hey, you!", she shouts at the skum. "Think fast!", she shouts, as she leaps out of the water, the dagger flying out of her hand and straight into the skum's ribs. Glancing at the glimmering knife in Rexandi's hand, Tasha nods. At least I'm not down to teeth yet.
[ooc]Honestly, I think that's the best use of my ?move? Action, to keep Rexandi's head above the water, if necessary.
Tasha throws her dagger in the dark, in a desperate attempt to hit the skum and save Rexandi. Just as the skum is about to grab Rexandi and drag her away, Tasha's dagger stabs right into the side of its head. It screams and grabs its head, before splashing into the dark water and lying motionless.
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"Too.. slow...", Tasha quips, though she feels her wounds giving out from under her. Snatching the dagger victoriously from the skum's head, she cries out a meek victory shout. With the last of her strength, she holds onto her bleeding thigh, glancing painfully at the others. "I think... I might need a ...little help here.", she groans out, as she does her best to stem the flow of blood into the rapidly reddening waters.
Bazzle rushes to Rex. "I think this is a healing potion." He puts his head to her chest listening for a heart beat. "I think she's still breathing." He pours the potion down her throat. He looks at Tasha, "Do I pinch her nose or will she just swallow it." He looks back at Rexandi, "Drink!"
Bazzle smiles a bit when she starts to sputter and cough. "I think Aster has a wand of healing. Can't be too tricky can it?"
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Bazzle gets Rexandi to drink the potion, but it's not enough to get her to wake up. Tarnagius swims over to Tasha and without any kind of consent grabs her by the thigh and squeezes to cut off the blood flow. "Hurry Bazzle. She doesn't have much time!" He yells.
Now waiting in the water in this awkward position, Tarnagius sighs and looks to the ceiling in an expression that screams Why Me!?? He breathes deeply again, looks Tasha in the eye and says "So, uhm, what's your name? I'm Tarnagius."
"Oh!", Tasha exclaims as the burly armoured man does his best to keep her from bleeding out. It's a really good thing I've lost a gallon of blood, or I'd be crimson., she thinks, her head staring into the dark ceiling much like Tarnagius'. "...Tasha.", she replies with a feint voice, a slow smile spreading on her face. "You, uh... come here often?", she adds, before letting out a grave laugh.
* blub *
Tarnagius gives a quick laugh, little more than a grunt, and smiles ever so slightly. "No, and I don't want to ever again. Assuming Bazzle doesn't blow himself up, I'm going to call the boys to come down here and help us out. Important question to ask you: What's your take on the Thrune government?"
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"What?", she lets out a shocked chuckle. "Did I bleed out already, or is that seriously your second question?", she quips, before blinking several times. Well, Tasha, your humour's timing is on its deathbed. So, no change there, thankfully., "Totally supportive. I have to say, my favourite part right now is how he disbanded the Hellknights responsible for threats from the sea." She coughs out, and a small trickle of blood droops from the side of her mouth. "Because, really, monsters grabbing people from the seaside. As if that would ever happen. Am I right, or am I right?"
If he lets go now, it's entirely my big mouth's fault., she thinks to herself as she locks her gaze with Tarnagius.
Tarnagius leans back a bit when Tasha quips at him, but doesn't let go. "Oh... right. Sorry. Probably could've asked that better. I'm not good with... socializing. Listen, the reason why I ask is because we're staunchly against Thrune. I needed to know if you're an ally, a citizen, or an enemy. We're running an organization against him and we could use a good fighter like you. We have leads that could rescue the Lictor of the Order of the Torrent."
"Hear hear! Aster murmurs in her sleep.
Tasha's eyebrows furrow suspiciously, before they shoot up in amazement. "Oh...", she says, as she stares around the dark room. A gnome, a tiefling, an elf, a Tian woman and a warrior... Oh, Desna. A wide grin appears on her face, despite her wouds. "S&++, you're the... Silver Ravens, right?", she asks with a grin. "Damn, I didn't give you folks enough praise in my last piece.", she nods, before extenting a bloodied hand towards Tarnagius. "Actually. Don't shake.", she quickly retrieves it, before giving a firmer nod.
"If you're looking for amateur writers and veteran caravan guards, I'm your gal.", she nods. "Now, let's see if we can't find my stuff and get the Hell out of here."
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Bazzle fishes out the wand from Aster's gear, then comes over to tap Tasha. On the very first try, he successfully casts the spell. It isn't much, but it's enough to get the bleeding to stop. Tarnagius relaxes his body and says "I'm looking for rebels. As for your stuff, I think we should worry about getting safe and healed up first. Who knows what other stuff is lingering here. You look like you've got strength to you, so how about you carry one of the knocked out ones, and I'll heft the rope up with you hanging on. Bazzle, you can wake up Rexandi."
Bazzle starts flicking the wand at Rexandi, and eventually he manages to heal her up enough that she wakes.
As Tarnagius climbs up the rope and uses a Silver Raven figurine to call for help, Tasha suddenly feels a huge weight on her hand. Grasping the dagger, she feels like it was struck by a massive weight, and the sound of a hammer on an anvil rings through her ears. The dagger glows red, and Tasha reads the following words on the blade "Better die a warrior than live a coward."
What?, Tasha's hand stares at the dagger, almost dropping it as the anvil hits. Glancing at the unseen sky above, she raises an eyebrow. Thank you, unknown power. Sheathing the dagger in her belt, she nods at Tarnaguis. "You got a point, let's get out."
"I'll take her.", she points towards Aster, lifting the woman's body over her shoulder as she's hauled up the rope.
After everyone gets up the rope and rests in the room above, a group of human men approach. Tarnagius calls them the 'Salties', since they were mercenaries rescued by the Ravens when they were forced to labour in the Salix Salt Works. With them is a young tiefling woman who comes around to give the conscious ones a healing potion. She's Nisha Sunsister, the stay-at-home-alchemist. She looks over the mermaid with fascination, but says to the group "I don't think it would be a good idea to take her with us. She's using a spell to breathe the air, and I don't think it will last much longer. What should we do? I don't want to leave her here!"
Finally awake and aware, Rexandi says, "We sure can't leave her behind. There are things down there that were trying to eat us all. Where can we find a waterway in which she can survive? Bath house temporarily while we find a place with access to the bay or river?
Nisha thinks hard for a moment, then perks up with an idea. "Yeah the bath house might work. She could breathe in the fresh water, but if we mix up a drink with a lot of salt in it, I THINK she'll be okay. It's complicated, but fresh water isn't a good place for salt water fish to live. They essentially die of thirst."
She takes out a small cauldron from her pack and asks one of the Salties to fill it up with the water below. Meanwhile, the rest explain that they have a wagon to put the unconscious people in to take back to the Wasp nest. The problem is getting across the bridge without drawing attention. The other alternative is going through the sewers without the wagon. It'll be slower, but won't draw any attention from the Dottari. The final option is camping here for a night or two depending on Nisha's and Rexandi's caretaking ability.
"I have part of a plan," says Rexandi. "I have a couple of spells that can create a good distraction if we cross the bridge. First, darkness, which will help to keep the dottari disorganized. Second, silent image, which I can use to make an illusion of some 'shifty rebel-looking types' running away into an alley. Hopefully between the two we could give the guards at the checkpoint something else to focus on - make them assume that the 'shifty rebels' cast the darkness to hide something, then we hustle over the bridge with the wagon while the dottari are off chasing shadows."
Tasha nudges the freshly healed wounds with interest, as she nods. "I mean, I imagine the mermaid would probably prefer being with us for a while over being dead, right?" Us, huh. The rebels. The Silver Ravens., she shrugs, before sending a smile towards Rexandi.
"That sounds... magical. As much as I've grown to love the sewers.", she chuckles, before nodding. "Just tell me what needs doing."
Tarnagius says "I'll send a message to the nest to bring the little dragon. He's good at using illusions."
Nisha gets everyone to hustle out since the mermaid is on a time limit. The trip through old Kintargo all the way up to the Bleakbridge goes smoothly. Now the wagon is approaching the bridge where two Dottari stand at attention to take tolls and inspect people. A fair ways behind them, in the middle of the bridge, stand two Hellknights of the Order of the Rack. At the far end of the bridge are two more Dottari. Each side of Bleakbridge have multiple stalls for small businesses. The are a few civilians about as well. Tarnagius has received a message saying that Vendalfek is on the other side of the bridge.
"Misdirection I like it."
The wagon arrives at the checkstop. One of the guards holds out a hand and says "Stop. State your names and business."
Ederion snorts to himself, dreaming about mermaids.
"Not much lads, just heading in after work. Dropping some friends off before I get the horses in." He then adds putting his hand on his chest to indicate he speaks of himself, "Oh, Jeepers Whartles."
As Bazzle keeps the guards occupied, Rexandi quietly drops darkness over the Hellknights. As soon as that happens she starts her next spell, a silent image, conjuring a pair of scruffy-looking sorts at the edge of an alleyway just up the street on the other side of the bridge, one of them clearly bearing the rose symbol of Milani; the two immediately scurry off down the alley - fortunately too far from the guard post for the guards to notice that they make no sound.
Though Bazzle does distract the Dottari with a believable story, Rexandi's Silent Image spell is cast too loudly for the Dottari to not notice. They draw their weapons and yell "Stop your spellcasting right now, or we'll kill you, you mongrel!" Though Rexandi can tell that he's being serious, she's not shaken by his threat. Both of the Hellknights run out of the darkness in their heavy plate armour and draw their weapons towards the silent images.
Bazzle looks at the guard and Rexandi and the illusion. "Whoa fellas we are all above board here. The old girl is just casting something to stop those lurkers over there. They don't look right in the head."
Bazzle turns back to Rex in faux scolding her, "Now now, these lads have that rabble handled. Leave it to the professionals."
Bazzle looks at the guard, "You got this right. Let us move on and you can chase down those scoundrels."
The guards seem a little suspicious of Bazzle and the group, but they lower their weapons . When Bazzle suggests that they just let the wagon through while they chase after the scoundrels, they say "Sounds like a promotion to me. Right go on through." before turning around and begin chasing the silent images.
The group doesn't experience any trouble as they travel across the bridge. Both the Dottari and the Hellknights left their posts to pursue the 'enemy', hungry for extra pay or promotion. On the ground are two dottari who have collapsed sound asleep.
The wagon continues its journey into Northern Kintargo, and a high pitched voice is heard from within the wagon. "Oh you got a new person! Hiya!" When looked inside, a little faerie dragon sits proudly like a cat upon Ederion's stomach. "I'm Vendalfek. Rebel dragon extraordinaire."
Rillia gets the salt water dropping down her gills, and later Nisha uses a waterskin to do it again. Everyone travels to a place known as Laria's Coffeehouse, where the unconscious are slowly smuggled in and down into the cellar. A hidden door is opened, revealing the lair of the Silver Ravens. It's pretty cosy with only 4 rooms and several dozen people, but they manage.
The first room is just an open space with stone floors. A nearby table holds a variety of martial weapons, wooden retainers, and shields, and there are a few chairs spread out. Four ratfolk (Skritt) are there, training with daggers and short swords. Behind that room, without a wall but just a small barrier is a flooded area with fresh water (only about a foot deep), and a shrine to Calistria. This is where Rillia is placed. At the back of the flooded area, is a bust open pipe connecting to the sewers. Another room is filled with crates of supplies, along with tables and chairs. This is where Rexus sits in his nobleman attire while reading. The final room is part washroom, part barracks. Originally everyone had their own bed, but now that things are getting crowded people sleep wherever, whenever. Several refugees and former task force operatives stay here as well.
Nisha goes about taking care of everyone, especially the unconscious ones. She spends the whole night replacing bandages, salves, administering medicine, and cleaning up. Come morning, everyone is feeling much better. There's coffee (or tea/cider), bacon, toast, butter, fresh avocados and cucumber available for breakfast.
"Wake up..." whispers from the past of a cheerful baker, a lifetime ago, but still enough to make Aster's eyes open with a sudden hope, then a dull familiar pain.
Nisha, not Sara, is leaning over to check on her, looking worn from probably a night trying to save them all. Aster manages a thank you smile to the raven haired tiefling "We're alive then... good. Did everyone..." she stops, not trusting herself with the question.
"More or less. We had a close call with the Dotards but nothing a little magic and a slip of the tongue couldn't get through."
Aster makes a pleased warm sound, with a glimmer in her eyes. "Thank you, Bazzle, and all the rest of you. I kind of lost it down there and then... nothing. And I am quiet glad I didn't end up lunch." she manages to pull herself up to have some breakfast with the others.
Seeing the new person and the mermaid, she formally introduces herself, giving the required bow, and the not required smile. "I'm Aster Cobblestone, new to the Raven's, and surrogate mother to a little girl who is probably worried sick right now. Also..." she pauses, hating having at admit this, AGAIN "... well they've all mostly seen anyway at this point, and you as well now, so... I am also a wererat, born as such in the sewers of this very city. I do prefer being thought of a human, it is easier, much easier, up there." point to the streets about them. "So please keep this secret for me."
The mermaid will need Ederion to translate, as Rillia only speaks Elven, Aquan, and Sylvan.
There's a bit of hesitancy when Aster reveals the truth about herself. People don't really know what to say to all this, and the room is uneasy for a moment. Laria, the plump halfling with a penchant for life itself breaks the silence. "Now listen up. Aster's one of the sweetest women I've ever met. She's a mother to everyone here. Just cuz she's a wererat don't change that."
"She's been baptized by fire. No reason not to trust her."
"Close call there! Thanks Bazzle," says Rexandi.
~~~~~~~~~~
The next day Rexandi has calmed down a bit, though she's still worried about her poisoned friends.
"I, uh, can't do much about the poison. Just going to take rest and time," she says.
"But! We made it, we can see about setting up a new base of operations and maybe we can arrange something for our new aquatic friend!"