"Oh! Nel, are you alright?"
Vark will rush forward stopping at Mazra's back to check on his fallen friend. Then he looks in the room with a glare in his eyes, preparing a spell in case he gets a clear shot at the man.
---
Inspire Courage and Flagbearer combine to grant +2 bonus to atk/dmg and a +1 bonus to saves against charm/fear to all allies that can see/hear Vark.
Snarling at the half-orc leader, Nel assesses her situation. Frowning heavily, she settles on a choice. "Tamiro, finish him off. Mazra, take my place." Using her shield as cover, Nel effortlessly moves between Mazra and Vark, before settling near the hallway intersection. "I'm fine Vark." Nel states, using the back of her hand to wipe away some of the blood that had been dripping down her face.
Tamiro's blades flash as he cuts into the brawler, roaring, "Die Gaijin!"
------------------
|
As Mazra's rapier punctures the half-orc's lung, Tamiro's second swipe with his blade slices deep into the monk's legs. The half-orc's face freezes in the same expression it had been while he was fighting: jaw set, eyes narrowed, cheeks tense. His wounds are major; the blades truly sliced and punctured him past any point of recovery. His legs buckle beneath him and he falls prone, hitting the floor with a crack.
The sounds of shouting and the clang of steel against wood can be heard from the first floor of the Gold Goblin.
"Let us tend to our wounds quickly. Vara can you help? The battle rages on!"
Vark appears nervous but eager, the adrenaline of battle lifting his vigor to new heights.
Moving back to the head of the stairs, Tamiro looks Nel over, trying to gauge her wounds through all of the blood.
"Anata wa, ken otome o keizoku suru koto ga jūbun ni arimasu ka? Anata wa batsu no ōku o totta."
Gripping his blades and looking down the stairs, says "Heal a bit more. We do not know what awaits."
"Watashi ga sunde irudeshou. Anata wa samurai, jōshi ni kakunin suru iku koto ga dekiru?" She says, slightly nasally to Tamiro. Feeling her nose and jaw stitch painlessly back together, Nel nods in appreciation to Mazra's channeling. "Încă o dată , mă găsesc în datorii ta Mazra . Mulțumesc." With Vara's healing, Nel looks better, however she is still nursing a bruised mask from when her nose and jaw were broken.
Sighing, Nel turns to Mazra and Vark, "I'll check the bodies here to see if I can figure out what they were after. Can one of you go check the safe and the other go check on the other employees? I'm not so sure that this attack is over. It would be just like Zincher to kick us when we are down."
Squatting to rummage through the three bodies, Nel will take anything that looks semi-valuable.
|
|
The other two half-orcs each have a set of chainmail, a heavy steel shield, a longsword, a shortbow with 20 arrows, and 20 gp in an envelop sealed with the crest of Boss Croat.
Vark was relieved to see the healing magicks of Vara and Mazra restore the group to fighting form. "Splendid! The healing powers granted by your deities truly are a wonder. I shall write a song about you two someday!"
Looking more worried he turns to Nel, "I'll go check on the others if I must, but aren't those sounds of battle coming from below? Shouldn't we all go help?" Vark asks with a look of trepidation, realizing that he most likely won't be the one in the front lines taking the hits, but he can't help worry about the sounds of battle from below.
Nodding to Nel, he replies "Hai!"
Moving down the stairs he waits at the doorway at the bottom, listening to the sounds of the tussle.
|
|
The clang of steel and thudding of bodies moving about abruptly ends as the party comes down the stairs. Bojask stands over the body of three humans and grunts, "They've been poking about the building. Decided it was time to take them in." He wipes his battle axe on the bit of tunic peeking out from under his chain shirt before saying, "You're looking pretty beat up there. Nothing a steak won't help with.
He walks over to the kitchen before pausing and yawning, "Boss doesn't want be disturbed right now in the basement. He says you should check the allies."
Bojask returns with a fat cut of meat, obviously expensive, and hands it to Nel to hold over her broken nose. "Well, I can't say you were pretty before, so it's not such a pity you'll be uglier now."
Taken aback by Bojask's ruthless disposition, Vark takes solace in Mazra's words, "I can't say I'm not a bit leery about the circumstances, but I do trust your judgement Mazra. I would feel more comfortable if we check on both our allies and Saul. Should we split up?"
Vark can't help but let out a quick bark of laughter at Bojask's comment, but he quickly composes himself. "Ahem, sorry. Now, let us go check on the others, yes?"
Tamiro nods and heads for the alley with Mazra.
"It would be unwise to split up." he says.
|
|
As Mazra and others approach the back door to the alley behind the Gold Goblin, they can hear a man's voice saying, "Maryn, please, let's just go. I haven't heard a peep from Jasker, and there's not enough gold in this for me to risk my head."
"And betray Zincher? You know that'd be risking your head just as if we went into a bunyip's mouth. We were told to get that gnome for him, special order. Just wait for Jasker to give the word. We're good then," interrupts another man's voice, deeper than the first with the musical touch to it of Magnimar. It's quieter than the last - obviously, the other man is farther away from the door.
Vark gulps loudly enough for the entire party to hear. Visibly shaken, he looks to Mazra with frightful eyes, and nods, stepping back so that the others may go on ahead.
Raising at eye at Vark, Tamiro moves out into the alley, blades drawn.
"Hey! Why do you seek this gnome? Speak and you might live long enough to run!"
Rolling her eyes at Bojask's comment, Nel removes the steak from her face. "Uh, thanks." She mumbles before following the group to the alleyway. Nel reaches the group just in time for Tamiro and Mazra to vanish out in the alleyway. "Varknarnost, keep close. Who knows how many goons Zincher has over this place." Moving between the door and the gnome, Nel prepares for a bullrush attempt.
|
|
The door scrapes across the floor as it opens, and Tamrio, Mazra and Nel clearly see two human thugs standing by the door talking to a half-orc woman, their short swords sheathed and bows stashed. They all start back as they come face-to-face with Tamiro's blade, hands moving to the pommels of their swords.
"I think you were interrupting something," says the half-orc as she rubs her nose. "But, it look's like Saul's dogs are spoiling for a fight, and who I am not to give a poodle a treat?"
Tamiro grins, "At least one of us is cute then!"
Charging in, Tamiro swings his Katana at the half-orc.
-------------
Considering the fact that the thugs seems to be there for him, Vark's first instinct is to stay back, out of harm's way. But as he watches the rest of his friends surge forward to meet the challenge and fight for his safety, he sheds his fears and takes up his spear flag. He steps forward, a surging song echoing down the alleyway.
"Surge forth dear friends,
Dogs we may be,
To save our homes we fight,
Chase off these thugs,
To victory,
Intruders feel our bite!"
---
Inspire Courage and Flagbearer combine to grant +2 bonus to atk/dmg and a +1 bonus to saves against charm/fear to all allies that can see/hear Vark
Holding up her stolen shield, Nel prepares for the onslaught of attacks that might come, while keeping an eye on Vark. The last thing that she wanted was to give Zincher a hostage. Furrowing her brow, Nel attempts to figure out why out of all of Saul's workers that Zincher chose to single out Vark. Was it because he was the smallest, or was there something else going on that Nel didn't know? "Vark, after this is over, we will need to have a talk." She states, giving the gnome a worried glance.
|
|
The half-orc moves away from the party, drawing a short bow out as she does so. "That's cute fighting, dears," she says as she draws an arrow from her quiver, takes aim at Tamiro and looses an arrow. It manages to nick Tamiro's shoulder, barely cutting his skin.
The other man immediately begins to cry, drops his short sword and begs, "Please, please don't kill me."
-------
Looking at the cut across his should and then back up at the half-orc, he grins.
"You cut me."
He then charges at the half-orc, bearing down with his katana, but slicing only thin air.
---------------------
Vark continues his song, retreating a few steps to the back of the group, relying on the protection of the more formidable fighters. Seeing the thug break down and begin sobbing, he responds with empathy "Don't hurt that man! He has obviously lost the will to fight!
His gusto from the previous round beginning to wane, he panics, addressing Nel with an audible quaver to his voice, "I have no idea why they would want me! Is it because I had an audience with Zincher? He didn't tell me anything, I swear!" He backs up, putting a bit more room between himself and the thugs.
---
Inspire Courage and Flagbearer combine to grant +2 bonus to atk/dmg and a +1 bonus to saves against charm/fear to all allies that can see/hear Vark
Faltering in her defense at Vark's admission, Nel sheaths her sword. "You did what?" Nel says quietly, not turning towards the gnome. Watching for Tamiro's reaction, Nel keeps an eye on the remaining half-orc. Tightening her jaw, Nel waits to hear what Vark has to say for himself before acting.
Holding his spear-flag aloft as if to ward off their attackers, Vark is taken aback by Nel's supposed calm demeanor, "Erm, can we talk about this later?" He squeaks, "These thugs are here to kidnap me, remember?!"
Vara shakes her head with disapproval at Nel's decision to continue fighting with her injuries; however, she does not stop the party from going to the allies. However, for her part she says, "I believe I shall be of little use to everyone outside without my armor and weapons. I vill tend to the fallen enemies and restore peace to the Goblin inside. And I will have healing supplies ready for when you return, which I hope will be soon."
Vara attempts damage control inside the Goblin, quick as she can, recruiting help from the other staff to move all of the fallen thugs into the same room. She stabilizes the ones she can and is sure to tie them up with rope left over from her project in the basement.
She then attempts damage control with any disturbed clients that have not already fled the Goblin, especially making sure no one is hurt.
After that, she hastily dons her leaf armor, and then inquires from Bojask where the others have gone if they have not returned by then.
Feeling the enemies blade cut into him, he winces and lashes out with his own blades in retribution.
-----------------------------------
Rolling his shoulders with a grin, he heads back over to the doorway.
"Thank you priest! You fought well!", Tamiro says, sheathing his blades and clapping Mazra on the back. "Drinks will be upon me!"
He sees the apparent animosity from Nel towards Vark, "We have won! What is this anger?"