"We need ta change dis fightin' ground. Shimye-Magalla, bring ya peace ta Kowaru." Baolo seems to pull something down from the ceiling and toss it toward Kowaru. Aero and Ialda feel a breeze blow past. Baolo moves past Aero into the room to the north.
Chez looks at Xarethi lying on the ground, and continues to feel the sting of the 2 arrows which had punctured him. Chev gives a slight shrug towards those standing in the hallway, and then leaps forward into action. He runs up to one of the men in the doorway and thrusts his rapier at him.
Despite fighting defensively, the rogue is unable to dodge Chez' blow and he is run through the neck by the warrior's rapier, as he collapses to the ground, holding his neck before closing his eyes for good.
The other rogue yells out "Brother!" and 5' steps to R24 over Kowaru's body and tries to stab Chez, but the warrior's defensive stance proves fruitful, as he parries the skillful blow at the last second!
Ialda follows the rogue, moving 5' south, getting a better angle at him as she continues to stab with her Longspear.
Attack
Damage
Round 3
With Chesley's strike, Aeronniell once again discovers her optimism.
Still four-on-five, we can do this despite the advantage of surprise these rogues had on us!
Taking a step back , she focuses her gaze on the thug in the front standing over Kowaru .
Hey, you! Come here!" she orders, summoning up a commanding voice that echoes through the hallway.
Approach: On its turn, the subject moves toward you as quickly and directly as possible for 1 round. The creature may do nothing but move during its turn, and it provokes attacks of opportunity for this movement as normal.
The Lotus Dragon's eyes glaze over as he loses control of his body and walks toward Aero!
Ialda sees the rogue move forward opening up his flank to her spear. She almost jumps to take advantage of that mistake!
Attack
Damage
Ialda's spear perforates the rogue's spine and he collapses to the floor after a chilling scream of pain!
Round 4:
Two arrows fly at Aero from the archers, one hitting her in the shoulder.
Two arrows fly at Chez, but he easily avoids them!
Ialda moves to R 23, sensing the tide was turning. She thrusts her spear at the rogue in front of her, trying to take yet another thug out of the fight.
Attack
Attack
"Throw down your arms and surrender, and you will live! If you continue to attack, we will finish each and every one of you."
Ialda's spear pierces the rogue like a hot knife through butter and he crumbles to the floor! Seeing three of their brethren get killed horrifically in less than 15 seconds and the blood of the last one sprayed in their faces, the last three archers drop their bows and raise their hands in surrender! "Please, don't kill us!"
"Smart decision, gang. There's been enough bloodshed by these two groups. What can you tell us about the rest of this area? Where has Cruncher gotten off to?". Ialda asks, trusting the others to take care of healing the monk and the mage.
Chez will sheath his blades and pick up one of the bows. He will relinquish a quiver of arrows from one of them. He notch an arrow and will stand guard over Kowaru's body.
Xarethi is at -6 hp and dying. Xarethi's limp form continues to bleed from the three arrows in her chest.
Xarethi's wounds cease bleeding, as it seems her body has finally reacted to the injuries, but she remains still and silent.
While Chez and Ialda take care of the prisoners, Baolo borrows the wand from Aero and heals Xarethi and Kowaru.
"Smart decision, gang. There's been enough bloodshed by these two groups. What can you tell us about the rest of this area? Where has Cruncher gotten off to?". Ialda asks, trusting the others to take care of healing the monk and the mage.
"Uh...uh...Cruncher ran that way!" Stuttering out of fear, the rogues point to the southern doorway. "He must have gone to warn Rowyna about you. He asked us to set an ambush for you and take you out." Ialda clearly sees the blood trail also leading to the southern passageway, though the door is closed right now.
"Drop all your weapons and get out of here. If I see any of you again, it'll be the spear for you...understand? Oh, is Vanthus down here still?"
"Uh...we know he spent the night but we haven't seen him leave Mistress' quarters so I assume he is still here." The rogues drop their weapons and run out, if allowed.
Aeronniell wipes the sweat from her brow as the rogue advances at her, but then meets a grim end at Ialda's spear.
As the rest of the rogues flee, her heart's pounding subsides and she composes her calm yet again.
"That was close! But, we survived. Now, it's time for Vanthus to answer for what he's done. If there are more Dragons, we can only hope that every one of their members doesn't keep risking their lives for him."
"Is everyone ready? These Dragons are smart, so we need to be aware," the barbarian says as she starts following the directions the gang gave.
Chez straps a bow over his shoulder, draws his blades and prepares to advance.
Baolo replenishes his arrows, shaking his head at the dull colors used by the Lotus Dragons. Ready, he nods toward the doors to the south.
The half-orc gasps as life flows back into him, finding his feet slowly. "Thank you, friend Baolo. In my haste, I overextended myself. This will not happen again. My apologies." He begins to give a bow, winces, and stops before his wounds reopen. "Now, where did that wolf get off to..."
Finishing her own replenishing of arrows from the fallen Dragons, Aeronniell arches an eyebrow as Chesley slings a bow over his shoulder.
"Oh, fancying yourself an archer now, Chez? It's certainly safer standing in back..."
Smiling when she sees Kowaru back on his feet, she points the wand at her own injury before holding it out to anyone else in need.
"Hardly a fair weapon, but should our foes have an even better tactical advantage in our next encounter, it could come in useful. Sure its been a long time since I have used one, but I'm sure I remember the basics. Now then, the pointy end of the arrow faces out right?", Chez grins.
Once you decide to go forward, Ialda takes the lead again and you open the southern door. It opens to reveal a rather large room filled with numerous warehouse crates that stand about 4' tall. Cruncher's blood trail continues into this room and ends at the closed doorway at the eastern end of the room.
Baolo takes a look around the room, seeing if he can spot any traps or ambushes from the doorway.
Watching where his feet step, Chez will advance to where the first rows of crates end, taking time to cautiously look around the corners of each row (Unless of course Baolo warns him of a trap).
Before the others can enter the room, Aeronniell holds a thin finger to her elvish lips and makes a low shhh sound as she strains to listen for signs of Cruncher within the room.
Still not convinced that another ambush awaits her companions, she concentrates on the path forward through the crates and works a cantrip to Lady Luck
Aeronniell shudders at the sounds made by her own conjuration, the noise reminding her of the spirits that sometimes haunt her both waking and in dream.
After allowing Aero's magics to take their effect, of there is no reaction, Ialda follows as far as Chez, also checking the ground, not wanting to rush blindly in yet again.
Perception
Aero casts her magic and Ialda and Baolo hear a faint clicking sound come from around R40 and R41. As Ialda and Chez start to move up, you see the walls around M36-38 and R36-38 start to lower.
Xarethi takes up a position of cover if possible (Q30?), pulling out her light crossbow.
Ialda leaps to the top of the crate, and brandishing her spear, moves to R 35.
Certain of dangers of the trap, Chez calls out, "Take up defensive positions. Back to the door."
Chez backs up to the doorway, and waits to see if the rest of the party will be clearing the room.
Xarethi takes up a position of cover if possible (Q30?), pulling out her light crossbow.
Baolo stays outside the room, scanning for any of the Lotus Dragons with a drawn arrow nocked to his bow.
Aero nocks an arrow of her own, keeping her eyes narrowed at the edges of the crates, expecting another surprise from the wily Dragons.
As the walls lower, the party now hears clearly the familiar clicking of hunger that recalls the monstrous creature you first saw upon the deck of the Blue Nixie along with Vark and the other sailors: the rhagodessa, the large vermin the size of a horse that closely resembles a spider but has immense crushing mandibles. The difference this time, however, is that there are two of them, one coming over the north wall and one from the south wall!
The one from the north draws an AoO from Ialda and directs its attention to her! The one from the south skillfully climbs over wall and the crates and makes its way toward Chez!
Finally, you hear a growl and laughter, as a black red-eyed wolf (Cruncher) comes out from behind the crates in row 41, still bleeding from its various wounds but it looks out with disgust at the party and says, "Dinner is served!"
Initiative Order:
Ialda's AoO
Kowaru
Aero
Chez
Rhagodessas
Ialda
Cruncher
Baolo
Xarethi
Round 1, Init 15
Aeronniell immediately warns her companions of the obvious, her distate for her reunion for the vermin plainly evident.
"Ugh! It's the spiders... again!"
The elf aims her arrow at the one perched upon the nearby crates.
for
Round 1, Init 8
Xarethi moves back into the corner, (R30) crouching below the crates in the hopes that the spiders won't see her.
She loads and ducks over to swiftly fire the crossbow at the (blue border) Rhag, hoping to not be seen in the chaos of the fight.
Ialda takes her attack on the large spider, thrusting her spear at the creature.
Attack of Opportunity
Damage
Chez will step forward and attack the spider looming above on the crates.
"Enough chattah wolf." Baolo takes aim at Cruncher with one of the Lotus Dragon arrows and fires across the room.
Kowaru, confident with his mage armor spell still on, moves up to assist Chez and strikes at the Rhagodessa with his fist but misses poorly, almost striking Chez instead!
Rhagodessas' Turn
The large vermin on Ialda lunges at her, moving 5' closer, but its clicking mandibles find nothing but air, as the half-elf moves her leg out of the way in time.
The Rhagodessa screeches when Chez' rapier pierces its exoskeleton and tries to crush him in its death grip, but the warrior is too quick and easily evades the awkward attack, quite clearly remembering how he passed out the last time he was in a rhagodessa's clutches on the Blue Nixie!