"That might work, I'd like to keep it pretty dark, since I am sure we will have guards following us, and I don't want to make their search too easy! "
Tauni pulls out a copper coin and casts light on it. Moving to the center of the group, she holds it aloft for the best effect for the group.
Loco has been peering about it the gloom with his dark vision to see where things are in the sewer. He examines the walls and the floor with professional scrutiny.
To the west it is then, eh? Alright...but I warn ye...a jolly jaunt through the sewers may well be more dangerous than dealing with those lily-livered Hellknaves up there....heck - even Callandor scared e'm off. Lets say I take the lead. Shel can follow, then Callandor, then Tauni, then Caladius in the rear. Sound good? That way the two of us with the best eyesight are at the ends and Tauni with her light is in the middle. Shel is up here with me in case we run into traps. Tauni, keep a towel or something handy to cover the light when necessary, k?
With a smirk on his face, Callandor pulls his sword partially from its scabbard and intones a quick prayer. A golden-white sunburst traces its way around the quillions of the longsword, forming a life-size pulsating holy symbol of Iomedae that sheds light as a holy torch. He slides the sword back down and the light is hooded by the sheath. Pulling it out once more, he grins, then looks around at the gazes of his companions, and looks a bit sheepish. "Forgive my childish amusement. The elders always said I had trouble balancing pride in My Lady and myself with humility." The glint in his eye and the smirk on his face lessen, but do not disappear.
Looks like Iomedae's holy symbol.
"Well, we should never be afraid of the dark with this crew, I suppose. One or two of you keep your spell up, and we should all be able to see very well."
You head west. There's a myriad of tunnels and intersections running under the city, as you traverse the sewer system.
Completely out of her element, Tauni relies on the more worldly amongst us to guide us.
"Do we know where we are going? Do one of you need to climb a ladder to a grate to see where we are, get your bearings?"
Realizing she led the group into a scenario none of them was equipped for, Shel pulled out Januwen's note. "Let me see that light."
Callandor pulls his sword from its sheath, renews the light cantrip on the blade, and holds it up near Shel to light the paper. "What is it?"
"Janiwen passed this to me before she took on the Hellknights. I hoped we could get to a safe place to read, but it seems things are trickier down here than I expected."
As Shel gets ready to read the note, suddenly darkness overwhelms the group and extinguishes all lights, including Callandor's magical light! Loco and Caladius are not affected, as they both look down either side of the tunnels and they see small humanoids wrapped in rags stealthily making their way up the tunnel, daggers in their hands! However, with their darkvision, they are not surprised.
Surprise Round:
Loco sees Caladius and nods. He knows what to do. Hissing calmly to his comrades.
`"Heads up! Little f!~%ers with knives. Fore and aft."
Loco readies his hatchet to launch at any who reaches 10' range.
The small (4' tall) and slim humanoids move up, cursing that the dwarf and the tiefling spotted them. The one to the west moves up within range (to E9), easily dodging the dwarf's awkward axe throw and moves to slash at him with his dagger, but the dwarf's reflexes and armor prevent its penetration. Loco does see the tip of the dagger is coated in a dark foul smelling paste..poison!
The one to the east moves in as well (to E13), using the darkness to conceal his movement from the blind halfling, before jamming the knife in Shel's back! Immediately, Shel feels weaker from the blow, as the poison courses through her bloodstream!
Caladius, seeing the dagger sink into Shel's back, shoulders his way between Tauni and Shel to get behind their attacker. As he does so, he slides his broadsword free from its shoulder harness. "They can see through the darkness like me. If any of you can make a lot of smoke, it might even the playing field."
AoO:
Damage:
Round 1 Order:
Blinded: The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character. Blind creatures must make a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check to move faster than half speed. Creatures that fail this check fall prone. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them.
Tauni presses her back against the slimy wall and raises up her shield, trying to tell in the darkness where the next attack may come from.
Total Defense, +4 dodge bonus to AC.
O"I'll shred you up like a turnip you little turd!" hisses Loco most rudely as he aims a combination of nasty pokes at his assailant. k
Callandor blinks his eyes in the inky darkness and steels himself for a difficult fight. He steps to the southwest shoulder to shoulder with Loco and swings his sword into the darkness in front of the dwarf.
Loco thrusts his rapier, but the small robed attacker is agile and he misses by a mile. The attacker then dips his blade in a black substance and swings at Loco, but he misses as well.
The other robed figure presses his attack against the blind Shel, drawing more blood, while the poison continues to work through her system. He then steps out of the flank.
Map for Loco and Caladius
Map for Callandor, Shel, and Tauni
Map for Callandor, Shel, and Tauni
Caladius' brow furrows as he sees Shel get sliced again. He brings his heavy broadsword arcing down toward her attacker, but the chaos of his companions staggering around in the dark distracts him.
Not having any idea what was happening, other than intense pain, and being completely disoriented, Shel attempts to defend herself from further attacks.
"Just one little runt here! Step back a bit and I'll hold him!"
The masterwork rapier makes quick and clinical swishes in the blackness as Billcragg whips it into position for a timed lunge.
"Too goddamn fancy, Billo." he hisses to himself.
Callandor steps back behind Billo, calling upon Iomedae to aid his dwarven friend.
"I can't see but I can smell you, touch my hand and my Lady will aid you!"
Back against the wall, shield raised and ears straining to sort out what is happening, Tauni tries to ward off any coming attacks.
Total defense, no movement.
Is anyone hurt?!?