Rikkan nods at the newcomer and takes the lead, heading through the open archway. He quietly scans for trouble as he slowly advances.
Perception
Zoreck draws his longsword and nods, following the others into the open archway.
After Kasia Wey has moved into the archway Drancis follows behind, making sure he replaces the thorned plant exactly where he excavated it from. Best not to leave any obvious traces of our passage, should any klaven happen along.
A set of polished hardwood stairs with handrails rises in the center of this chamber to a second floor above. An open archway leads north and south, while four doors exit east and west, two on each side... and, from above them, the creaking of someone pacing along a wooden floor...
Rikkan points to the next floor, quietly wondering if they wanted to head to the creaking sund upstairs. If there was no objection, he began stealthily creeping upstairs.
Perception
Stealth
Mayenyi slowly follows Rikkan across the mansion floor and toward the staircase.
Noiseless, she slips her shield off her back and braces it on her left arm.
Kasia is slow to approach, wary of any more traps, but follows the others into the room. She starts to shake her head slightly as the others move upstairs, gesturing to the doors around them with a questioning look, seemingly concerned about becoming boxed in.
Zoreck also moves in as quietly as he can, as he scans the room for dangers.
Drancis silently nods in reply to the others as they head towards the staircase.
Moving silently towards the central staircase, Rikkan and Mayenyi look up towards the landing... towards where the creaking sound came from. Seeing the pair of klaven guards above them, whilst their stealthy movement prevents them being seen themselves, it seems that the pair upon the stairs have the jump on Lomrick's sentries...
Kasia, moving cautiously within the ground floor hall, keeps an eye on the doors that lead into this central area... and, for now at least, there is no sign of any movement other than the klaven above them...
Mayenyi waves frantically at her companions, pointing with exaggerated concern at the landing above them with her shortspear. She raises two fingers, then calls out a prayer to Lianthus for her blessing on their works.
Seeing a bomb in Rikkan's hand, Zoreck unholsters his pistol...
Rikkan tosses a firebomb at the northernmost klaven, knowing they had gotten as far as possible through stealth.
RTA
Fire damage
As Rikkan throws a bomb, Zoreck mutters, "...so much for stealth!"
At that, he raises his pistol and fires at one of the klaven.
Rage: 9/10
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
The relative quiet of the house is suddenly dispelled by a dramatic chorus of igniting gunpowder and explosive... smoke billows, wooden splinters fly and the hallway smells of burning chemicals as both klaven are caught unawares... with their foes staggering to regain their composure, the group have the initiative!!!
Mayenyi asks Lianthus for Her favor in the battle against these abominations, then makes her way up the stairs to confront the first of the klaven.
Drancis, unwilling to draw too much power to himself at the moment, calls forth a bubble of aether and sends it barreling into the klaven already hit by Rikkan's bomb.
;
Rikkan tosses a firebomb at any remaining klaven.
RTA with Bless
Fire damage
Zoreck reloads his pistol with an alchemical cartridge, then bolts up the stairs while drawing his masterwork shortsword.
Rage: 8/10
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
Kasia moves herself up the stairs slightly, trying to get herself some cover as she draws her gun, covering the back while the others deal with the visible klaven.
The slow response of the klaven to the explosion of violence in the room proves to be fatal – Drancis, moving up the stairs quickly, gets a clearer view of the guard scorched by Rikkan’s bomb – and, with a tightly formed bubble of invisible force, sends his target crashing against the wall… broken-boned, the klaven falls and doesn’t get back up. A second bomb from Rikkan, sending the dull thud of a pressure wave booming around the room, nearly does for the second of the klaven… but not quite. Staggering to position itself where it can defend itself against the onrushing Zoreck, it drops the rifle that it was wielding and uses its savage claws against its assailant…
Zoreck presses his pistol into the klaven's chest and pulls the trigger, while stabbing it with his shortsword.
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5
There is a muffled bang as Zoreck's gun flashes bright into the stomach of the klaven... and, with the smell of burning flesh, the second guard slumps to the floor. Peace quickly returns to the manse... although, whilst there is no-one rushing to reinforce the fallen guards, there is no doubt that the group no longer have the element of surprise. The landing of the upper floor surrounds an open staircase - a closed door leads south, while an open archway leads north to a small balcony providing a clear view of the walled garden below.
Zoreck exhales as the anger subsides.
"That was too easy. We're up here already... let's clear it out then work our way down. Everyone stay alert! And someone should guard the stairs! And... can someone check to see if either of these goons had keys?"
At that, he re-loads his pistol, then listens at the door to the south.
"I'll guard the stairs." Drancis nods as he quickly takes position at the top landing. "We don't have much time before the rest of the guards retaliate here!" He finishes as he checks the klaven guards for any useful items.
There are no sounds coming from beyond the door... although Zoreck is fairly convinced that he hears muffled voices from somewhere downstairs...
Pistol raised, Zoreck opens the door.
Rikkan checks the guards to see if there is anything that might come in handy for the group.
Perception
Mayenyi follows close behind the Kellid, ready to support him as needed.
Kasia hangs back closer to Drancis, waiting for guards to flock to the commotion. 'This is going easily, but I fear for our exposure.' She thinks.
'Indeed.' a voice replies into her mind. 'It would have been wiser to clear the entire first floor before moving up, rather than fighting on multiple fronts.'
Kasia frowns. 'That did occur to me, Wey. Perhaps you'd like to have a word with the others.'
The voice in her head laughs, a fairly rare occurrence. 'The others do not have your years of training. I expect better of you.'
Feeling admonished, Kasia grits her teeth and readies her gun, determined to ensure that the mistake made would not do them any harm.
Steeling himself, Zoreck pushes open the door to the south… and finds nothing more than a mundane bedroom… the room contains a large bed positioned along the east wall, flanked by a pair of nightstands. A full-length mirror in a wood frame stands in the northwest corner across from it, and thick rugs – woven wool in hues of amber and brown - cover the hardwood floor. The room itself is unoccupied and is effectively a dead end – there are two doors from the room… one into a small closet containing a collection of functional clothing and the second, locked, leading out onto a southern facing balcony.
Glancing about the room, Zoreck shouts, "Clear!"
He then ponders his fate a moment... And whoever lives here has four arms. By the Strong Man... I really am on another f&¢#ing PLANET...
He shakes his head and returns to the stairs.
Mayenyi looks around the bedroom too, but sees nothing out of the ordinary. She nods at Zoreck, preparing to head back down the stairs.
There is little more to be found up here in what appears to be nothing more than living quarters and so, alert to the movement which appears to be coming from the south west of the ground floor, the friends make their way back down the stairs...
Rikkan heads to the eastern door, observing it and listening for any abnormalities.
Perception
Drancis moves to the other eastern door and listens for any signs of guards on the other side.
Zoreck heads down the stairs, scanning the room for any evidence of approaching enemies or the telltale sounds of an ambush.
Mayenyi heads down the stairs again as well, waiting for some indication from the others about where they should next proceed.
Listening at the doors to the east, neither Rikkan nor Drancis hear anything of concern... and so, with their friends watching vigilantly, they push the two doors open... revealing a pair of near identical guest rooms. The small chambers contain a made bed with an adjacent night stand - a small writing desk sits in the southwest corner of both rooms next to a small, wooden chest (neither of which, upon examination, contain anything). It is obvious that these rooms are currently unused...
Peering through the archway to the south of the main chamber, the friends look upon the front foyer - the stone floors of this strangely modest entrance are swept clean and polished. Four columns support each corner to provide support for the ceiling and a sense of understated ornamentation. Two sets of double doors lead east and west... both are closed although it is from the western door that the sound of movement comes...
"They know we are here toward the west. Maybe that's Lomerick and we can finish his quickly!"
"I doubt he would trouble himself with us at this point. Probably his guards." Drancis replies as he takes a position where he can eye both doors behind the group.
Mayenyi returns to the first floor, spear at the ready for whatever happens. She nods at Rikkan's comment, clearly ready to move onward with the search, even if it means confronting more klaven or other horrors.
As Rikkan moves towards the western door it suddenly swings open... and a pair of rodent-featured men - blades in hand - rush towards the friends...
Drancis reacts quickly, his mind reaching out to grab at the lead attacker's blade trying to wrench it from its grasp...
Mayenyi moves forward, hugging the wall until she reaches the lead ratman and stabs at him with her shortspear.
The sight of more skulks draws Zoreck's ire. Shortsword and pistol both in hand, Zoreck moves toward the leader, firing with his left hand and stabbing with his right.
Grit: 2/2
Mythic Power: 5/5