Gaziq loads another bolt into his crossbow and takes aim at the place where the dire rat was, but it's already gone before he gets the chance to take a shot. No time to chase down the beast, especially not with the chaos right in front of him. Instead, he fires into the swarm.
Hissing in pain, the brown dire rat flees, though where a dog-sized rat could hide in Lowcleft is anyone's guess.
Direction: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Their fur matted with filth, scorched, and the scent of blood and burnt meat filling the air, the berserk rats tear off down the street, swarming over Uuzkhangr and Zyxl and biting clawing and crawling everywhere.
[dice=Swarm (Uuzkhangr)]1d6
[dice=Swarm (Zyxl)]1d6
Ceinwynn moves to a good spot and heaves another bomb at the swarm.
"Agh! Gerroff!"
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As Uuzkhangr knocks rats off of himself, Ceinwynn flings another bomb--amazingly, the strange dwarf isn't so much as singed, though the same cannot be said for the remaining rats, as nearly all are consumed by the flames, fewer than a dozen disappearing into cracks and under junk lining the streets.
As the street grows quiet, several cheers float your way from the crowd of merchants and dancers watching a safe distance back. Zilderban slowly uncurls from his fetal position and shakily climbs to his feet, his clothing soaked and filthy.
Borumaru scoffs as he swings his sword quickly to get rid of the thick of the rat blood on his sword. He uses a handkerchief to clean what's left and sheathes his blade.
He then approaches the gnome and addresses him...
"Are you well, stranger?" the oni-spawn says with a calm voice. "Do you need medical attention?"
Gaziq stows his bow before approaching as well, kneeling beside the opening on the street. He gives the gnome a few moments to get his bearings before speaking up. "You probably don't want to be sticking your hand in there again. I should be able to get it shut off if you just tell me where to look."
Weird seeing fire burn on water. Guessing they're both alchemical in some way.
"Ey, ey. Not bad. Preciate the help. You lot 're entertainers? Did Vezz set you up 'ere?" The guard waves his finger lazily between Gaziq, Uuzkhangr and Borumaru.
"Oi, yer still alive Zilderban?"
Uuzkhangr starts scooping dead rats up and putting them in a sack. Might as well get paid for these. A copper piece a head is still money. He looks around at the others.
"Ur... none of you wanted any of these, did you?"
"...Nah, think I'm good." Raleighs hand slowly retracts.
Borumaru looks at the duergar with a mix of curiosity and surprise... But decides it's best not to ask.
"No. I do not." he answers politely. "But thank you for asking, I suppose..."
He then turns back to the shaking gnome...
"You lot 're entertainers? Did Vezz set you up 'ere?" The guard waves his finger lazily between Gaziq, Uuzkhangr and Borumaru.
"Vezz? Um, no, I know no 'Vezz.' And most do not find me 'entertaining.' Heh. I live in Lowcleft. Just down here to see the festivities."
As Nathalion waits for the gnome to respond to Gaziq he leans on his staff.
He still holds the alchemical flask in his other hand. There might be still more rats.
"You have a way with alchemy. That was some hot fire." Nathalion comments to Ceinwynn.
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Still wiping fruitlessly at his soiled clothes, Zilderban has a bit of a quiver in his voice. "Thank you for your assistance stranger, I thought I would be eaten alive! Truly I am fortunate that you were here to put paid to those damned dirty ra--" as the gnome abandons the effort at cleaning his clothes he finally glances up at Gaziq and chokes off the last word with an audible gulp. "...pests."
Recovering smoothly, the gnome offers a shallow bow to the rest of you. "And that extends to all of you as well." Eyeing the open grate where the rats emerged from he gratefully accepts Gaziq's offer of help.
Reaching into the water, Gaziq easily finds the valve handle Zilderban describes, but turning it has no effect upon the flow of water. Feeling around, he discovers two curious things: first, a few inches to the left of the valve is a wide "v" cut into the pipe, from which a steady flow of water streams forth. Gaziq has sufficient experience with the tools of thiefcraft to recognize the marks of a hacksaw when he feels them. Second, about a foot to the right of the valve is a rope tied around the pipe--and the other end is attached to a burlap sack, now shredded and torn by scores of tiny teeth and claws.
Ceinwynn stands behind the group and listens in as the other deal with the gnome.
As Nathalion speaks, she turns to face the male human. She gives a coy smile at his comments and then her face goes a bit flush. "Thank you." She looks at his staff and awkwardly tries to take the attention off of herself, "I noticed your staff at the Reefclaw. It is quite lovely. I am Wynny " She holds out her hand.
"I'm Nathalion Grimarc. Nice to meet you. The wizard smiles at the complement. "It's thrice hardened silver oak, almost as tough as stone, but still flexible as a sapling. Carved in the Crying Leaf, I'm told." Nathalion puts his flask into his backpack so he can shake Wynny's hand.
"Shall we see what Gaziq has found?" Nathalion had overheard the ratfolk introducing himself in the Fancy Reefclaw not long ago.
Gaziq stands back up with a frown, shaking water from his hands. "Well Zilderban, I can say with confidence that your machine did not merely malfunction. It was sabatoged, and those rats were set here intentionally. It seems that someone may have been counting on you getting much worse than just a couple of bites."
Looking to the others, "Call me Gaziq. I appreciate all of your help in dealing with those animals, but I am afraid there is still much more to be done here. Can I count on your aid for a little while longer?"
"Er, sure jack." Raleigh puts a hand to his rough shaven face before he smirks.
"Yeah, I know a coupla folks I kin ask 'round 'ere fer info." He salutes the group before making tracks.
"Don' worry, I'll be in touch."
That guys got a very convincing outfit. Looks just like a rat monster. Hat of Disguise? I'll have to ask later.
Recovering smoothly, the gnome offers a shallow bow to the rest of you. "And that extends to all of you as well."
Uuzkhangr begins draping the cloak back over Zyxl, but feeds one or two dead rats to the white mantis first.
"No, that's all right. Ah... catching rats is my job, actually. They are worth a copper apiece... a silver for the big ones." Uuzkhang looks over at Gaziq. "Don't worry, that doesn't include your kind. Some of the ratcatchers' guild are rat people like yourself. They seem to have a knack for it."
Looking to the others, "Call me Gaziq. I appreciate all of your help in dealing with those animals, but I am afraid there is still much more to be done here. Can I count on your aid for a little while longer?"
Uuzkhangr nods. "Uh... I am Uuzkhangr." As he finishes covering the mantis (who remains motionless aside from eating), he continues. "This is Zyxl. I cover her like this sometimes because I do not care to answer idle questions from passers-by. Usually there are not so many people on the street when we go out. I can tell people she is a dog with the mange and they leave her alone."
"What is it you need help with? I know nothing about fixing pipes."
"I am no plumber myself." says Borumaru. "Surely you can find someone better qualified."
Gaziq clears his throat a bit sheepishly. "Ah, sorry. I wasn't clear. The pipe, I imagine, can be fixed with time and the proper tools. That shouldn't be too difficult. My intention is to find out who sabotaged it in the first place, and stop them before they hurt anyone else. But I don't think I can do it alone.
Ceinwynn steps up. "I will help you, Master Gaziq." She pats him on the shoulder.
The guardsman yells back through the crowd before disappearing in the crowd.
Uuzkhangr scratches his head. "I can follow tracks, but the water will have washed away those. I'm not sure what other help I would be." Uuzkhangr looks around. "Though if you find more rats I can help deal with them."
"But why take on this task yourself? Do you work for the city? If not, how is catching saboteurs your responsibility?"
"And does it pay? Good intentions won't fill your belly."
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Zilderban is dumbfounded by Gaziq's declaration of sabotage. "I--me? Who would want to kill me? I'm just a civil engineer. A brilliant one no doubt, but who would get so worked up over plumbing to try and kill me?!" his voice is rising as he's clearly shocked and horrified at the possibility. As his tone and volume rises a the celebrants and merchants who had wandered closes start murmuring.
+ + + +
Raleigh is making his way through the crowd when a child--well dressed, not an urchin by the looks of her--comes pelting through and grabs him by the arm. "Sir! Sir! TheHoneyHutisonfireandtheressmokeandthebeesareangrybutthedoorswon'topenandt here'speopleinside!" she yells breathlessly.
Gaziq places a reassuring hand on the engineer's shoulder and tries to calm him. "Hey, it's gonna be alright. You're safe now, that's the important thing. Just lay low for a bit, and hopefully we get this whole thing taken care of before you know it."
He had some theories about who might have reason to hurt the gnome. Most likely, it was someone who wanted to hurt the city and just saw him as a convenient way to do so. But without knowing more, saying anything now would just cause him more needless panic. It didn't seem like he needed any help panicking.
"As for my motivations, I'm just a fool who likes to help people. I can't guarantee that it will pay or that anyone will even thank us. But I'm not going to remain idle while people are getting hurt."
"This city is my home. Protecting one's home is reason enough. I will help you as I can Gaziq."
Uuzkhangr looks off in the distance. "And now, apparently, there is a fire."
He hefts the bag full of dead rats. "I suppose I have already received compensation for today's work. Let's see if we can help keep that fire from spreading, and after that we'll see to your investigation."
Uuzkhangr then heads towards the sound of the uproar. "Come on, Zyxl."
Da-ha-ha-hamnit...
The guard shifts his hand to keep his spear upright while he crouches down.
Easy lil girl. Show me where the building is. I'll do ev'rythin' I can.
Ceinwynn had asked for a little excitement. I looked like she was going to get some. She chases after the strange Dwarf and his "dog".
"Come on guys!"
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Converging upon the burning building you push your way through the rubberneckers. The Honey Hut is not at all way comes to mind when you hear that name--it's a large, blocky warehouse whose windowless brick walls are painted a cheerful white with "THE HONEY HUT" in a flowery but still easily legible script painted above the double doors. Set into the rooftop are four large glass windows--with a grey metal bars set over each.
Thin plumes of smoke are leaking from the windows and the door. No sound can be heard from within.
I suppose that is a good way as any to see the worth of this people... And see if there is anything of value to be learned and brought back home.
"Sure... I will aid you." says Borumaru after pondering for an instant.
Seems the saboteur is moving faster than expected. Better not waste any time.
Gaziq takes a moment to fasten his tailblade - no telling if he would need it, but better to be prepared just in case. "Go home, Zilderban. Get some rest. See a doctor about that leg when you can." With that, he ran off after the rest of the group towards the fire.
"Stay 'ere. Ya got it?" The guard points to the ground in front of the girl. First he tries to see if the door handles are hot (if metal). If not he then opens the door.
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The heavy metal handle is warm, but not uncomfortably so, yet the door doesn't open. After fiddling with it for a moment, Raleigh notices that the lock and spaces between the door have been stuffed with some sort of strange, hard, greyish substance.
This looks like a substance called "alchemical cement," a soft clay that rapidly hardens into stone after only a brief exposure to air.
Ceinwynn points to the substance in the lock and doors. "That is alchemical cement. It is a soft clay made to harden rapidly. We have another saboteur! Quick...someone knock the door down. There may be someone inside!"
"Do we smash it down?"
"Do we smash it down?"
"Yes! Hurry!"
The guard calls over to the girl who ran up to him. "'Re there *oof* any other ways into tha building?! This ain't gonna work!"
Uuzkhangr pulls out his morningstar.
"Give me room!"
He swings the spiked club at the door with all his might.
Nathalion takes a moment to conjure an armor of shimmering force to protect himself while Uuzkhangr smashes away at the door.
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The girl frowns in thought. "Um, yeah there's a door up on the second floor around the back side with a metal ladder, but--" she stops talking as Uuzkangr's weapon smashes into the door, her mouth hanging open. Four more heavy blows are required before the thick wood has been splintered enough that the door can be opened despite the clinging concrete.
Dragging the door open, Uuzkhangr and Raleigh are the first inside. The Honey Hut is remarkable--several rows of beehives held in a wicker frame surround a pair of tables, on which sits an array of glassware, burners, and sealed jars of white honey. Each corner is dominated by a truly massive wicker-and-cloth beehive, standing easily twenty feet tall and fifteen feet in diameter. Opposite the door up against the other wall is a metal enclosed spiral staircase leading up to the second floor, which instead of being a solid "roof" forms more of a wide balcony along the north, south, and eastern walls. Hanging from the ceiling, the balcony, and the walls are hundreds, maybe thousands, of potted flowers of all types, their collective scent noticeable even over the overwhelming odor of smoke.
The source of the smoke is obvious, as three large fires blaze on the ground floor giving off a thick, acrid smoke. And of course, everywhere there are bees--thousands of normal-sized ones, carpeting the floor and walls--their thunderous buzzing rivals the crackling flames for volume, but they are torpid and don't respond to you. More concerning are the big bees--they edge out the dire rats you just fought for size, and they are almost all are still quite active!
Four unconscious humans lay sprawled out under the tables.
Initiative Order:
1. Ceinwynn
2. Raleigh
3. Bees
4. Uuzkhangr
5. Nathalion
6. Borumaru
7. Gaziq
Two bees lay curled up in death by the metal staircase, the hilt of a rapier protruding from one.
From the spiral staircase a fit of coughing can just barely be heard, followed by a male voice's weak cry, "Oh gods, please someone help!"
Bees are vulnerable to smoke; when used properly it can render them torpid and sluggish to make it save to move their hives. That seems to be what has happened to the normal-sized bees. The larger bees seem less affected, though you spot three that seem to have partially succumbed to its effects.
"There's somebody alive up there!" Uuzkhangr points at the spiral staircase.
Hearing Uuz's words, Ceinwynn double moves toward the spiral staircase.