"Scram Harvin. We see ya down here again and ya be decorated wit arrows."
Aeronniell sets her hand on Baolo's before he tends to Ialda's wounds.
"Wait! We have the wand! Remember?"
Rummaging around through her back, she retrieves the ash colored oak rod and admires the copper bands encircling both ends.
"We should save the blessings of our gods for other purposes, now."
Smiling, she aims the wand at Ialda's wounds as they mend.
The elf shakes her head at the descriptions of the Lotus leader's menagerie.
"Dreadful, just dreadful. This sounds worse than the strange monsters on the Blue Nixie. And this time, we don't have Chez or Xarethi with us."
Sighing, Aeronniell gets a distant look in here eyes.
"Remember them? Perhaps we should pause for a moment as we help this man outside and see if we can turn them up at their local haunts. I'm sure Chez wouldn't be hard to find, we'd simply need to check the taverns..."
Aeronniell considers everything she knows of the man who played the part of "Captain Chesley" as they stormed the deck of Lavinia's ship.
"... and the brothels."
"Well, it might be a good idea to restock our numbers, I suppose. If there is an ape back there behind those doors, that beastie will be a problem to tangle with, let alone someone who commands it. Chez's blades would definitely come in handy..."
The party hears noises from the west and you look up and turn around to see Chez and Xarethi walking toward you, with dumb grins on their faces.
"Speak of the devil, as they say...," Ialda greets the others, pleasantly surprised to see their faces making the way toward them. "Let me guess--you heard Vanthus was here, same as we did?"
"Well, we heard he was somewhere." Xarethi says, though she can't keep from smiling. "And here is as good as anywhere else." She stumbles a little as she walks, almost as though she were drunk, and leans heavily on Chez as they walk up to the others. She recovers swiftly enough, however.
"So, apparently Vanthus and his lady friend are back there somewhere. And it sounds like we might have to go through a zoo to get to them. Does anyone have any magic that would help with controlling animals? I really dread that ape trying to rip my face off."
Xarethi turns to Ialda, very much recovered from her affectation. "Magic? No. But I've worked with dolphins and other sea creatures in the past. Working with land animals cannot be that much different."
Chez assists his companion as they walk towards the group, proving firm support as his gentle well-placed hands brace her perfectly... although with each stride the hands move a little as the swashbuckler subtly maps out Xarethi's form.
"Glad we could get here in time," Chez smiles.
Chez listens to the news of Vanthus' location. "Hrmm... animals you say? Well, not much of a challenge then? How hard could they be to overcome?
In unison, the swashbuckler pulls his blades out in a fluid motion.
"Other than the ape, we were also specifically warned about a large, almost intelligent wolf. No telling what else is hiding back there. Are you two ready to fight, if the situation calls for it? I'm expecting it will."
When the others answer affirmatively, Ialda pulls her spear and takes her normal spot at the front of the group, ready to open the door and head down the hallway.
Aeronniell's face brightens at the arrival of Chez and Xarethi.
"Chez! Xari! It appears Lady Luck heard my unintended prayers and has delivered you unto us!"
Giving the others a nod that she feels more comfortable continuing, Aeronniell readies her bow and follows the others into the hall.
Harvin thankfully says his goodbyes and thanks you for not killing him, hoping to never have the pleasure of seeing you again and departs, quickly running up the stairs.
On the two dead men in the room, you find:
2 potions
2 rapiers
2 saps
2 light crossbows w/ 10 bolts each
2 suits of leather armor
20 gp
Keys (2)
After collecting your spoils of war, you head through the door to the North in your specified order. You see a hallway about 50' long ending in another door.
Ialda leads the party but as she is about 25' down the hallway, her keen senses fail to spot a tripwire until it's too late and she's set it off! Even Chez who was behind her did not see it. In the distance, behind the door you see up ahead, you hear what sounds like a gong go off and you hear muffled voices of panic.
"The jig is up. Let's go," Ialda groans as she sets off the tripwire. She hustles down the corridor, waving the others up behind her. Better to push while they aren't completely ready for us.
Xarethi prepares her spear as the gang rushes forward at the sound of the alarm. "No use wasting time now. The longer this takes, the more danger we're probably in."
Chez nods at Xarethi's comment. "Well said!"
Chez prepares to move forward briskly, side by side with Ialda. "Quickly, lets get to that doorway. If the room on the other side is clear, we can again advance quickly. If there are foes, then holding them off at the door would provide a good tactical advantage for us."
"Oh," Chez smiles, "perhaps we should be more mindful now where we place our feet to ensure we don't open up a trap door below us, or drop a stone block on our heads."
Ialda nods at her sword wielding friend and grabs the door, hoping to wrest it open before it was barred from the group.
Baolo welcomes Chez back and warmly greets Xarethi before we make our way closer to the door. Upon hearing the alarm, Baolo calls out "If de beeg ape is dere, I'll focus on 'im." Baolo hustles down the hall behind Ialda, Chez and Kowaru, readying his bow to fire away.
Ialda and Chez push the door open to the room to find four Lotus Dragons, garbed similar to the others you have slain. They have flipped their beds over and are crouching behind them for cover, while they have loaded light crossbows in their hands. At the other end of the room, hunched in an open doorway is a big black-furred wolf with glowing red eyes, which speaks and says, "Kill the intruders, Dragons, in the name of your Mistress!"
Initiative Order:
Baolo
Lotus Dragons
Aero
Ialda
Xarethi
Kowaru
Chez
Worg
Baolo reaches into his pouch and draws forth a thorny vine, pricking himself in the finger and smearing his blood onto a bright yellow feathered arrow. "Ya musta be Cruncha! Shimye-Magalla, bring the storm's fury to me bow!"
The worg growls, "I am Cruncher, human, say it right! And I will feast on all your bones tonight!"
The Dragons aim fire their crossbows at Ialda and Chez, aiming for vital spots. One bolt hits Ialda, perforating her chest, causing her to scream in pain! She knows that bolt would have killed a lesser warrior. The other bolt misses and the ones aimed at Chez bounce off his armor.
Cruncher growls in frustration, "Incompetent fools, protect me." The Dragons move in front of the wolf. Only the Dragon in L8 draws his rapier; the rest still have their crossbows in hand.
Round 1, Init 15
Wow, he wasn't kidding when he said we'd be facing a talking wolf...
Shaking her head at the never-ending wonders that she has had the chance to see since her employ with Lavinia, Aeronniell beseeches her goddess for further aid in their battle.
"Lady Luck, we're not done with you yet!"
"Alright boys and girls, you know the drill."
The forlorn elf smiles with confidence, getting the sense she is finding a rhythm in her new career as an "adventurer"
"Cowardly beast, hiding behind peons!" Chez shouts with a cocky smile at the wolf.
The swashbuckler dashes forward and honorably engages the rapier wielding foe.
Ialda moves forward to K6 while pulling her flail. She swings it at the threatening Lotus Dragon.
Attack
Damage
Possible crit
Damage
Ialda moves up, moving around the upturned bed, and crushing the skull of the rapier wielding rogue, splattering his brains onto the worg!
Kowaru rushes forwards and reaches out to grab the Lotus Dragon nearest him.
Moving to -K8 and initiating a grapple.
Kowaru misses grabbing the thief, who squirms out of his grasp.
Xarethi shifts to her right and waves her hands in a magical fashion, the air around her shimmers like the lights reflected off of water as she speaks in a strange combination of aquatic and draconic, words which are apparently magical.
Cruncher growls at the party and especially at Ialda for killing one of his minions. The 3' tall wolf bares its teeth, steps over the dead rogue's corpse, and attacks the barbarian, digging into her leg with its vicious teeth and ripping a piece of flesh off, though Ialda maintains her balance despite the pain and does not fall prone.
Round 2:
Baolo is up!
Aeronniell glances to Baolo with impatience afire in her eyes.
"Shoot... mon!? Shoot!"
Round 2, Init 15
Desiring a swift resolution to yet another obstacle in their pursuit of the young Vanderboren, Aeronniell moves lightly on her feet into the room as she readies another arrow and takes aim at one of the guilded thugs.
for
"No worries mon, arrows coming right up." Baolo takes a quick step forward and nocks a brilliant green arrow, firing it off against the talking wolf.
Baolo times his arrow shot perfectly between Chez and Kowary and it embeds itself in the worg's shoulder, causing it to grimace in pain. Its red eyes look at the inquisitor with hatred.
The rogue in L7 drops his bow, draws his rapier, 5' steps to K6 and strikes at Ialda, puncturing her back:
Cruncher howls, "Yes, I can smell the green whore's blood flowing from her. She will be dead soon!"
The rogue in L9 strikes at Chez:
The rogue in L10 drops his bow, draws his rapier, 5' steps to K10, and strikes at Chez!
Chez smiles at the two foes engaging him. "Ah, so you wish to play a bit do you?"
Chez focuses his attention on the man moving as if trying to flank him.
Kowaru steps to Cruncher's side, trying to grab the beast by its scruff. "Chew on something else, beast," he says calmly, reaching out with his powerful hands.
Take a 5' step to -L9 and try to grapple the worg.
As the glowing fire beetle appeared in a sphere of golden motes, it moved forward with a vengeance towards the Dragon in K6.
Xarethi moves forward with her light crossbow, and aims for the Dragon in K10.
Attack
Damage
Ialda flies into a panicked rage, knowing if the wolf gets her again, she is in lots and lots of trouble. "Chew on this, mongrel," she grunts.
Ialda lands a vicious blow on the worg, while Chez disembowels the rogue trying to move into position to flank him. Kowaru misses his lunge, while both of Xarethi's attacks miss.
Cruncher howls in pain and screams in rage as it tries to rip Ialda's head off, throwing all its might behind its bite! It bites the barbarian in the abdomen and she screams and falls limp on the floor, the worg releasing her warm body to concentrate on the other threats!
Round 3:
Baolo
"Ialdah! Crunchah, wind and waves gonna make ya pay." Baolo grabs a cerulean blue arrow and fires it right through the crowd into the worg.
Cruncher screams in pain, as the arrow hits it in the neck. "Kill the half-orc, so I may eat the archer for dinner!"
The rogue in K6 moves to J7 to flank Kowaru and then they both attack the half-orc with their rapiers, but his defense is too strong and they both miss!
"Noooo!" Shouts Chez when he sees Ialda fall.
Fighting back his desire to wildly flail his attacks at the wolf, Chez notices the "unfair" fight Kowaru seems to be in the middle of. Chez focuses his rage on the foe in front of him.
Chez wildly swings his blades at his opponent but doesn't even come close to hitting him. The swashbuckler clenches his jaw in concentration, knowing that he is going to have to keep his emotions in check to help win this fight. He takes in a deep breath as he regains his composure.
The fire beetle attacks the dragon again, as Xarethi loads and fires another crossbow bolt at the same target.