Sunny looks intently at the stairs, gears etc even as she absently adjusts her grip upon her traveling chest.
As you approach the top you hear a clunk clunk clink along with a constant chirping squeal. One of the humans whispers, "Thats the mill."
You see the gear most protruding has pegs on the outer ring. In front of this gear is a moving wide notched belt...
The 15' by 15' hinged trap door above is open about 2 feet wide where the stairs meet the ceiling.
The two unburdened humans scramble for the light, then turn to look back once outside "We're inside the mill!... was this always down here?!" You see the other human turn, and a voice out of your range of view which says, "Ah good! There are more of us! Quickly, while they are feasting... "
The trap door is already mostly open, you were able to determine how it works with your disable device check... so if you care to, you can open it all the way with the lever.
As your eye level reaches above ground, you see a large opening like a barn door about 20 feet ahead of you. You see several pairs of feet... most of which are pointed away from you. The floor here is sawdust-covered flagstone, and the ground past the door is dirt.
You do not see or hear any sign of trouble from the two humans who scrambled ahead.
You see four pairs of feet in addition to the two humans who were with you and scrambled ahead just now. There are two by the side of the door you can see... they have their back to you, and are looking outside. They both have grey cloaks which match the hem of the two of whom you can only see the bottom half.
Sunny shrugs and pulls the lever, the better to every one to emerge from the tunnels below.
The trap door opens further without seeming to affect the amount of noise... the rushing water, and clunks and squeals of the mill. You see the four new cloaked figures on either side of the slid-open barn doors.
Apart from one, they have their backs to you... looking outside, as if watching for trouble.
The one on the left (who seems to be the one who was talking with the human you were with) turns as he pulls his hood down. "I was hoping to find an old friend... I heard he was in trouble, and divination brought me here." He squats and peers past Sunny, then puts his hand over his mouth... appearing to recognize someone.
One of the cloaked figures on the right side of the open doorway motions (without looking back) for the other human escapee to move out of sight.
You see Geoffery... It was difficult to recognize his voice whispering, but he looks just as you remember him.
Varian comes up the stairs, peers around in the light, grateful for real sunlight again. He stands back from the doorways and peers through them, wondering what everyone is looking at/for.
Zed stutters, at a loss for words. After a moment he smiles "Well I don't know if I'm glad to see you for the backup or if you're going to chastise me for getting in over my head again" he laughs and clasps Geoffery's arm in his own. Then he turns to the others "This is Geoffery, he's like a father to me. There's nobody I would rather have watching my back"
He is lying... about all of it. you can tell he is false as you approach
Sunny skips to the top of the stairs and smiles. She nods at Zed's words and waves to Geoffrey, then scampers over to see what might be going on outside...
The man introduced as Geoffrey smiles and breathes a sigh of relief. "Come on out... but keep hidden until we are certain it is safe." He directs this last part toward Sunny and Varian who are moving toward the open doorway.
You see , and you hear distant raised voices... maybe a few hundred feet away.
"DaFAQ?!" Is Sunny's instant, reflexive statement.
Lyrralt calmly walks up the steps with a smile on his face thinking we are being rescued. When he gets out he nods to the cloaked figures and Zed's friend.
Upon seeing Sunny suddenly go on the defensive and performing evasive maneuvers, Lyrralt will draw his short sword and scan the area for enemies, most noticeably the direction Sunny is looking. Perhaps someone is coming up behind our new "rescuers".....
You see the "hooded Sunny" wave to the north northeast... as if hailing a friend. Then you see a blade extend from the sleeve of the cloaked figure (still with his back to you) on the left side of the doorway.
"Ware! Look out!" Sunny calls, even as she shifts her stance and draws some of the wood splinters/daggers from her garters.
Varian extends a greatsword from his hand and casts lead blades on it when he sees one of the strangers also create a weapon and Sunny go all defensive.
Zed smiles as the false Geoffrey lies to him and he clasps his hand "You know you always used to say trust in yourself, not those who pretend to be above you" he slowly grips the arm harder "And I can distinctly remember you never helping me if it didn't involve the city guards" Still gripping his arm Zed attempts to twist it behind his back and put his forearm under the impostors neck and hold him still
CMB
Init
The other cloaked figures throw their hoods back. The Sunny copy grips her tonfa and clocks the nearby escapee over the head as he stands bewildered... she then clubs him in the gut with the other tonfa.
The one named as Geoffrey struggles against Zed's grapple and nearly breaks free... his face changes to that of Zed's.... The Zed copy then lets his arm go limp to slip from the armlock. With that arm loose, he lets a dagger from his wrist sheath spring into his grasp.
The now visible copy of Varian turns to face the group, and strafes out to the center of the door. He is wielding a greatsword identical to Varian's.
The human clubbed by the Sunny copy starts backpedaling in pain... the cloaked figure to the south of him slashes at him with his rapier, and nicks an artery. The Sunny copy laughs at this... the rapier-wielding Lyrralt copy flicks blood from his weapon then moves a few steps.
The other human escapee just runs. He babble/yells in fear dashing right past the false Varian... who finds him barely worth a glance, and lets him go.
He is wearing your Hat of Disguise and armor... you also saw your morningstar on his hip
Varian steps forward and attacks his own copy, unsure of what it is, but knowing it has his belongings and abilities...
So these are the face stealers... Zed attempts to bring a leg forward of the impostor and throws him over it to trip him, shoving him down with one hand and attempting to take the knife with the other
"Okeys! I gots a new plan!" Sunny yells out.
"You scutters ken make one a' three choices." Sunny tries to keep a wary eye on who is really who....
"Option one. Ye can surrender." Sunny shifts her stance slightly,
"Two. Ye can run." Ans she looks directly at her other self.
"Or three. Ye can die. You choice an' lets not say we'd be sad ta' see tha' tails of ye, neither." she adds before,
She again tumbles about.
Lyrralt steps up and attacks the one in front of Zed.
Varian's greatsword is deflected and skips harmlessly off his copy's chain.
Lyrralt's swing goes wide... for fear of hitting Zed currently entangled with his copy.
After several seconds of struggling, Zed's copy retains his balance, but relinquishes his dagger. He steps back and pulls a morningstar from his side. He responds to Sunny "We cannot be you until you die."
"That is right!', exclaims Sunny's copy as backs out of the mill and strikes a ready pose. "So why don'cha come out here an' take yer licks?" ... she bounces on the balls of her feet and smirks.
Lyrralt's copy chants a few lilting words before blinking out of sight.
Varian's copy swings the mighty greatsword without emotion. He connects with some force, but does not deliver a crippling blow.
Suddenly there is the sound of an explosion... northeast of the doorway of the mill.
Varian and Sunny see the ball of flame a couple hundred feet away. There is a group of people there... looks like where the dirt border of this work camp ends to the northnortheast.
Varian takes a step back from his opponent and casts shield of faith on himself this round.
Lyrralt once again steps up to the imposter Zed and takes a stab at him.
"Bah! Shows how stoopid these folks are!" She looks dismissively at the other Elf wearing the cloak,
"Heck! They even have worst dress sense than me!" She declares.
As again she tumbles through both Lyrralt and Varian's spaces.
Zed watches his copy react to Lyrralt's attacks, and waits for his chance.
Sunny's copy responds to Sunny "Not nice!"
After glancing over his shoulder, the Varian copy speaks "We have lost our audience. The estate is under attack. No need for theatrics. Just put them down."
The copy of Zed immediately swings at Lyrralt.
The Sunny copy nods and charges her original. She gets some air before bringing the tonfa down on Sunny's head.
The false Varian steps forward and takes a heavy swing; easily read by Varian.
You hear a "Ka-clunk" and then the whirr of spinning saw blades. The noise is deafening, and a cloud of sawdust spews out from the alcove directly south of the trap door.
Zed waves the dagger in front of him "So tell me, why do you want to take our identities?" as he asks this he mutters under his breath "Greshka liet fler"
Zed's copy responds; nearly shouting over the sound of the sawmill, "It is all we know... Master Doyle gave us life. We serve him without question."
Lyrralt grimaces in pain and retaliates with another stab.
*KLONK*
(>_<) "Owwie!"
"Fek! Fek! Fek, fek, fek!" Sunny exclaims as the robed Elf bonks her on the noggin'.
And replies with a blistering, buzz-saw of fists herself.
"Quit it!" She yells at the robed Elf. "We's can make some sort'a arraignment. Time share or somat. We ken be each other on every second day, like!" Sunny argues.
Master Doyle...hmm... Zed nods "I see, that's a rather tunneled vision of life, to serve without question. But if you want to run around so blind..." Zed launches forward and slashes for the copies forehead
Att
Damage
Zed's copy jerks his head back to avoid Zed's slash, but leaves himself open for a strike from Lyrralt. The copy grimaces in pain from a defensive forearm wound. He then realizes Zed had connected as the blood starts streaming down his face.
Sunny's copy recovers from Sunny's barrage, and can't help but snort at her comment... she then notices her nose out of joint and the open wound. "Hey!" she exclaims in a nasal tone.
Varian takes another swing at his own copy. "You won't prevail... just die now."
Sunny blinks....
"Ooops! Sowwie!" She replies contritely upon seeing the injury. Then blinks again.
"Hey! You hit me in'a head first!" She points out accusingly.
Varian's blade rings hard against his copy's... nearly knocking from his hands. The swing continues cracking against his shoulder and scraping his neck. Frustration flashes across his eyes as he brings his greatsword down in an angry chop.
Zed's copy starts having difficulty seeing with the blood in his eyes. He swings wild at Zed, and happens to strike his side.
Sunny's copy launches an attack against Sunny again. She gets in a couple body blows.
Lyrralt's copy then appears on the edge of the loft above. He fires a shortbow into the melee below, and grazes Lyrralt. He then turns around and yanks a lever... there is a Ka-chunk in the north alcove. The mechanism to hold the felled trees clamps into place, then the saws start to whirr and move back and forth.
Varian again swings with his greatsword at the copy of himself, his face a mask of anger as he strikes.
"Drop already!"
*Uff!* Sunny does make a noise as the other Elf hits her, then she holds up a hand,
"Hold that thought!" She says to the robed Elf before,
Taking a 'Five Foot Step' to 'T-12' and laying into the robbed version of Zed.
Sunny catches the Zed copy when he thought he had a moment to wipe the blood from his eyes, and knocks him flat... dead or unconscious.
Varian sees his copy glance to and adjust his unstable footing... showing a general frustration with his awkwardness, like someone with a temper who has little experience in a real fight. He telegraphs his swing again, and Varian cuts him down. He falls... most likely dead.