Seeing as the time for discussion is over, Saul lays into Lamm with his blade.
"Watch for the little purple guys!"
As Paddy makes his intentions known, one of the small purple creatures lunges from the shadows at him.
Bas launches a vial at one of the arcane symbols and hits it with pinpoint accuracy, wiping the obscene thing from existence.
Orion then fires bolt into Lamm, it sticks into his shoulder with a sickening thud, but he barely seems to notice.
Paddy fires an arcane bolt from his hand, but it goes wide of it's target.
Red Feather go!
Red Feather is enraged when he sees that Lamm has fallen even further into depravity. He howls, and the sound is almost Wolf like... then he drops down to all fours, and his form begins to shift. The sounds of bones snapping and reforming, and muscle tearing and healing are almost sickening, but the beastial howl that erupts from the druid drowns out even these sounds. Until finally standing where the Shoanti sood is a gigantic wolf, shoulders almost at the height of the others, and growling menacingly deep in his now broad and fur covered chest.
He leaps into action towards Lamm.
Saul rushes by the massive wolf that was once Red Feather and swings at Gaedren, but the old man is too quick and sidesteps the paladins blow.
The other choker that was hiding amongst the rafters leaps out in defense of it's master, silently going after the bowman in the door.
Gaedren meanwhile yells out "Gobble Gut!! Come! Have your dinnerrr!!" Before lashing out with a clawed hand at Saul
Saul, I'll need a Constitution save, DC 11 please.
From the rift in reality, something terrible begins to emerge. It's chitinous head and claws push against a barrier of some sort though, like pushing against a wet stocking. A thin membrane has formed across the portal and reality seems to fight back against this perversion.
Next turn
Saul lashes out at Lamm, his blade crackling with golden light.
"Your foul crimes shall be avenged! I swear it!"
Round 2:
The choker that was attacking Paddy glares at Bas after wiping out one of the arcane sigils. It bares it's needle like teeth and lashes out with it's long gangly arm at the alchemist. The things limbs seem to stretch unnaturally.
Bas is next, followed by Orion, then Paddy and Red Feather. Sauls above action will take effect after that.
HP: 1/14
Bas's hand drops into his bag of regents and whips together another flask of alchemist fire. He lobs it!
HP: 1/14
Bas's hand drops into his bag of regents and whips together another flask of alchemist fire. He lobs it!
[dice=Alchemist Fire Attack]1d20+5 [dice=Damage]1d6
The alchemist lets another vial fly, destroying a second sigil. The fifth corner grows darker, it's once translucent barrier becomes more opaque. The creature on the other side still struggles against it, though the membrane is less a stocking and more of a stifling blanket now.
Paddy is unwilling to waste his last spell slot while in melee, feeling he's sure to miss. Instead, he calls on Pharasma to burn Lamm. Ultimately, he knows that the attempt will most likely fail outright -- and, even if successful, is likely to be so weak as to go unnoticed -- but he figures it's better than aimlessly flailing around with a mace.
Orions sticks the choker with a bolt that nearly pierces the diminutive creature. It keeps it's footing though and hisses at the ranger in return.
Paddys column of flame falls heavily upon Gaedren, clearly burning away layers of flesh from the man, but like with Orions heavy bolt, he barely winces.
Red Feather is up
A deep growl issues from within the chest of the immense Wolf, and it leaps forward trying to rip something vital from his old nemesis.
Pounce, Snarl, and snap
Pierce, Rip and gnash.
Overbite (Advantage)
If advantaged critical damage
NOTE: DC13 STR Check if he hits or Lamm is prone as well.
The massive wolf clamps down on Gaedrens shoulder with powerful jaws and tears him to the floor. A split second later, Saul's scimitar slams down on the criminal with the focused power of Sarenrae behind it. The blade slices Gaedren nearly in two. Green ichor spurts from his mouth and his body is racked with a last convulsion before he goes still.
Both of the chokers take a look at the remains of their former master and scrabble away up into some hidden nook of the ceiling/ roof.
The membrane of the portal continues to stretch though. The thing behind it doesn't seem to be in such a hurry to give up..
With Lamm seemingly fallen, Saulden runs for the runes around the portal.
"Get lost, Gobble Gut!", Saul shouts as he hacks at the evil writing.
With Lamm seemingly fallen, Saulden runs for the runes around the portal.
"Get lost, Gobble Gut!", Saul shouts as he hacks at the evil writing.
Looking at the corpse, Paddy mutters, "Ah... now we've gone and done it."
He looks to see if Lamm is totally dead or just bleeding out and maybe able to be stabilized and brought to trial.
Saul smites the final sigil and with a wet popping sound, the "Fifth Corner" disappears. The resulting shift in reality is jarring. The walls seem to lurch to the side, but you can't feel any movement. The disconnect is enough to send your mind and stomach spinning and nausea grips you.
The kids though, barely seem to notice anything is amiss and continue working.
With a chance to actually look around, you can see in the room, the two tables with children seated around them; two crates, one with empty stuffed animals and another with loaded versions; a low credenza, it's top mostly covered with half rotted food waste.
Saul sheathes his sword, going over to the kids at the table. He gently shakes each of them by the shoulder.
"Hey... you can stop that now.", he says before moving to take the stuffed bear out of the boy's hands.
Looking at the corpse, Paddy mutters, "Ah... now we've gone and done it."
He looks to see if Lamm is totally dead or just bleeding out and maybe able to be stabilized and brought to trial.
The thing on the floor that was once Lamm is totally still. All life seems to have fled his body.
Given Lamms current state though, that might be a good thing. A man could be put on trial but Gaedren had become a monster in the end.
Saul sheathes his sword, going over to the kids at the table. He gently shakes each of them by the shoulder.
"Hey... you can stop that now.", he says before moving to take the stuffed bear out of the boy's hands.
The boy complies and releases the bear, though no sign of recognition crosses his face. He just stares.
"Officer, um, Paddy- you're a priest right? Think you could take a look at these kids, maybe see what's wrong with them?"
"Officer, um, Paddy- you're a priest right? Think you could take a look at these kids, maybe see what's wrong with them?"
"Yes, of course. Poor babes -- whatever has been done, it's over now."
"The poor things have been drugged, it seems clear -- some of you have already noted that. Beyond that, I feel the trauma of being held in close proximity to warped monsters and planar breaches should not be underestimated. They will need help beyond what we can give them."
Noticing Bas' wounds, Paddy says, "And it seems you could use some help as well, my friend." .
"Yeah, just watch you're...yah!"
Bas feels a weird sensation soothing his wounds, and while the effect is beneficial, it still gives him willies. Divine Magic always did.
"Thanks." he says,feeling the lif return to him.
"Was about to pass out there."
Bas walks over to the lifeless lamb, and gives him a tap with his shoe.
"What now then?"
|
"Now? We eat!"
Orion makes a motion, and suddenly in his hand are ten large blueberry-looking things. He puts seven on the table and eats three for himself.
"These are Goodberries. Each one will heal a minor amount, and will relieve you of the need to eat. But one is rather meager, so take more if you like."
"Whelp, we've got a room full of bears with vial of drugs in them. If we just burn them, then we'll release the drugs into the air. How's about I start cutting open the bears so we can just dispose of the drugs in a more normal fashion?
That'll help us pass the time while these kids recover from their drugs. Once they're non-zombified we can figure out what to do with them. Maybe feed them. By the looks of...that...he didn't miss many meals."
"The drug stuff is your deal, so I'll leave it to you and Paddy what you need to do with it. Do you want to see if he has that fortune teller Zellara's Harrow Deck? It's not her son, but it would probably mean a lot to her to have it back."
Saul kneels down next to one of the comatose kids, placing his hand on his forehead and channeling Saerenrae's healing power.
Bas's look of horror turns into one of relief as Orion produces his healing berries.
"I'm going to grab the guard. I don't think we want them walking in while we're handling drugged children and the contraband."
The big bad wolf remains in form... just in case, but seems to be more of a giant puppy dog, as he whimpers and noses the children.
Nodding to Bas, Paddy says, "Thank you, Sir Bas. You might mention to them there's a pair of officers already at the scene, awaiting their backup... ask for Sergeant Halloran, if he's at the desk."
Also: The weird space-bending and monster-transforming has flared up Paddy's attack of paranoia; he's now wondering if his new 'partner' is maybe taking over the drug trade, at the behest of Lamm's former 'protectors' on the force? Non of this needs to actually make sense -- most of what he's seen tonight doesn't make sense to him, after all.
Paddy smiles kindly and says, "Ah, I appreciate the offer, partner, but sadly, that Oliphant Ear is sitting in my stomach like a rock, 'tis. As far as my remaining bruses, I suspect Pharasma will see to them in the morning."
TL;DR: There's a RP method to Paddy's madness -- please bear with me!
Noticing that the imminent danger seems passed, and the children could care less about the big puppy in their current drugged state, Red Feather steps around the corner and shifts back into his normal human form...No need giving any children a source for additional nightmares... the gods know I carry my share of sleep scars.
He then rejoins his comrades and walks up to the official looking man called Paddy...
"I can still call upon the forces unseen to provide you with more healing if you will allow"?
If he does... Cure wounds
"Ah, lad, Pharasma's will be damned for one night. That's a fine touch o' healing you have, Red, and I don't mind thanking you for it."
Once the kids are clearly either beyond immediate medical attention or recovered, Saul start looking around Lamm's suite for Zellara's Harrow deck.
"I'm going to grab the guard. I don't think we want them walking in while we're handling drugged children and the contraband."
Which guard do you mean here? There was the guy that Red Feather knocked out on the porch?
"The drug stuff is your deal, so I'll leave it to you and Paddy what you need to do with it. Do you want to see if he has that fortune teller Zellara's Harrow Deck? It's not her son, but it would probably mean a lot to her to have it back."
Saul kneels down next to one of the comatose kids, placing his hand on his forehead and channeling Saerenrae's healing power.
A good nights sleep or a casting of restoration are needed to remove the effects of the drugs. Otherwise the kids seems to be okay physically.
Which guard do you mean here? There was the guy that Red Feather knocked out on the porch?
"I'm going to grab the guard. I don't think we want them walking in while we're handling drugged children and the contraband."
So Bas is taking off back out to the streets to find more Korvosan Guardsman, Orion is heading back down to the third floor to storage space, were you fought the creepy orc, Saul is going through the credenza looking for the Harrow deck and Red Feather is healing Paddy's wounds. Sound about right?
Yep.
Assuming Saulden and Red Feather can keep an eye on the prisoner, Paddy will saunter along with Orion -- he hasn't seen the rest of the complex, and isn't about to let the hunter load all the drugs in bulk into a wagon or something while we're all standing around like a bunch of dopes.
Yargin is still there. He's pretty beat up from your encounter and wouldn't have gotten far.
Dammit, where's a poorly timed patrol when you actually need them?
Bas briskly walks to find the closest guards he can, hopefully someone Lamm wasn't paying off.
Orion and Paddy head down into the third floor storage room. A few stacks of wooden crates line the walls in this studio apartment. The orc lies dead where they left him. His corpse still in a pool of blood. His death didn't seem to be enough to erase the eerie grin from his face though.