"Hello sir, how can I-"
The clerk stopped, his eyes reaching the bladed weapon that Irian hefted in his arms. He polite smile quickly turns into a scowl and he whips out a small crossbow from behind him.
Order: Enemy, Median, Lia, Laetitia, Irian, Owl.
Owl esaily opens the back room. The door swings open to a waft of sweat and leather, apparently this room had become something of a storage room, and some old and worn armor had been piled here. However, something you're weren't expecting to find...a small female ratfolk, gagged and tied up in the corner.
The only enemy in the same room of Irian fires.
Median moves in after Irian, and throws a dart at the bad guy.
Irian roars as he barely gets his shield up in time to deflect the enemy missile, lunging forward to press the man before he can reload.
As the sounds of combat began to ring out around the lithe ratfolk a breath of hope shot through her small frame.
This was her chance to finally escape!
Wriggling at the ropes she was tightly bound by she eagerly began to attempt to slip her bonds while attention was elsewhere.
Tish enters the small storage room with her finger on the trigger of her hand crossbow, ready to shoot the first person she sees. Her gaze swings from one corner of the room to the other—or it would have, if not for the small, furred figure that say wriggling against its bonds. "Jix?!" she blurts, confusion and surprise showing on her face in equal measure. "I thought you and Otho had scampered off for good. Have you been here this entire time?" Tish asks, lowering her crossbow but oddly enough making no move to help the ratfolk slip her bonds or get rid of the gag.
Glancing toward the door leading into the warehouse, Tish can barely mask her interest as she asks, "Is he here, too?"
Owl smiles smugly as the lock clicks and the door swings open. The smile is replaced with surprise as he sees a familiar face gagged and bound on the floor. "Huh." Horror of horrors he was actually speechless for a moment. Worse yet, Laetitia heard. He recovers quickly though. Walking into the room while putting away his tools.
"We are supposed to be entering covertly," he whispers to Laetitia. He walks over to their furred comrade and crouches, shortsword in hand. He begins sawing at Jix bindings while their mesmerist covers the door.
"And while I am also curious as to how you got here, there is a better time and place for that explanation. Considering your predicament I assume you would be willing to help flush these villians out?" he asks as he the bindings fall away.
Median's shot connect, embedding the metal dart into the leg of the clerk. He intakes a sharp breath and yanks it out, ducking a swing from Irian aimed at his neck.
"Pity, was liking the small town life." the clerk says, smiling.
Jix, now with no one watching, is able to slip out of the bounds around her arms, and is just finishing taking off the ones around her ankles as Laetitia and the temporarily speechless Owl enter.
A haziness passes over the man's eyes only for a moment, but he snaps to attention as his three foes have him pinned to a corner.
"Wait, wait, wait," he says. "I surrender, I surrender. Let me go, and I'll tell you what you want to know."
Irian leveled his sword at the man, but as he has surrendered he holds for now. "Alright, tell us what you know. And it better be good, or the deal's off!" He looked to Median and Lia, making sure such an arrangement was ok with them before turning his attention back to the clerk.
Fin all pulling out the dreadful gag that had been forced on her the young rogue let out a rough cough and spat at the floor as she pulled herself up to her feet fixing Owl and Tish with a piercing golden-eyed glare. "Well it sure as s!%@ took you lot long enough!" She whispered venomously. "What did you have to turn back 'round 'alfway 'ere cause ya realized you forgot you fergot yer purses in the damned wagon? Need to do your 'air? Touch up yer blush? I mean really when did you lot even realize we were missin'?"
The sniper shifts her gaze between the two of them and shrugs defeated. "Right, I'll tell you daft bell-ends all about it later but fer now let's 'andle this 'ere sitchiation. As far as I'm aware Othy ain't 'ere no more Tish 'n' as far as lendin' a paw to 'elp wipe up these gits goes, I'd do so wit' great pleasha I assure you, but they took all me gear so I'm a tad limited as of right this moment, so I am." Jix grumbled as she worked her way into towards the door, back pressed against the wall.
Median nods at Irian when he looks back at her, but remains ready to attack again, should things go badly.
Tish exchanges a look with Owl partway through Jix's tongue lashing as if to ask if he wanted the honor of explaining how the group essentially forgot about them after the arrival of Irian and Median. Turning her focus back to the ratfolk, Tish tries to soothe the sneak's ire but, as usual, likely goes about it the wrong way. "You should take it as a compliment," she replies breezily. "We thought so highly of you that the idea of your disappearance being anything but voluntary didn't cross our minds." And then, digging the hole a little deeper, "We were mistaken—clearly—but live and learn, no harm, no foul, et cetera, et cetera... Now, let's see if we can find something of use to you in here." With that, Tish begins to poke through the contents of the storage room for arms or armor for their petite teammate.
Owl thought about speaking, but for once he figured that not the best option right now. Best to jest let the fiery little mouse loose upon unsuspecting bandits. But first they need to get her a weapon. Preferably her weapons but it was unlikely any of his or Laetitia's would suffice nor did he think her's were nearby. Keep the prisoner and their stuff far apart. Banditry 101. He ignores the tirade and moves to the door. "You weren't blindfolded so do you happen to know where your stuff is and how many are in the building?"
He tests the door as he talks.
All seemed to be going surprisingly well, at first, for Tish's rebutal to Jix's scathing remarks. Playing to Jix's smug, self-confidence was always a winning strategy for those seeking to placate her. If Tish squinted she could possibly even notice a slight blush of embarrassment cross the young ratfolk's cheeks under her ebony fur upon Tish's comment about them having overestimated Jix's skills. When in a slip of the tounge, the raven haired beauty slipped up.
Jix's jaw physically dropped in the midst of the comely ex-courtesan's excuses. "No 'arm, no foul?" She stammered barely able to believe what she had just heard. "No 'arm, no bloody foul?! Are you 'avin' a laugh?! Oh sure. . . They treated me like a right princess, they did. Can't ya tell from me newest makeover?" She indicted to a few fresh scars as she hissed at the woman.
"Just count yerself lucky ya showed up when ya did, 'cause I'd a been REALLY miffed if'n they'd gotten 'round to auctioning me lovely self off, so I would 'ave."
She then turned her attention to Owl and sullenly shook her head. "'fraid I've been kept in the dark for the most part 'ere Bird Brain. These dodgy gits may be mad as a bag o' ferrets but they're careful 'nough to not drop a clanger like leavin' me wonderful self within eyesight o' me weapons. They're more 'n like to 'ave stashed 'em somewhere 'round 'ere though. Just not this exact space, so I'd guess." She muttered as she readied herself to follow Owl's lead through the door.
Unfortunately, Laetitia only finds an old, sweaty suit of leather armor made for a regular sized person and a couple of daggers that need to be sharpened.
Owl checks the lock and finds it indeed locked, and gets to unlocking it.
As the back team sets to getting to the main warehouse, the front party is interrogating the clerk.
"I'm being cooperative!" the man protests as Irian's blade draws nearer to his neck. "There's two fellows waiting in the main warehouse to ambush anyone who rushes in. The rest number eight, and should be spread around the main floor and the catwalks above. I heard something about trap preparations, but have been stationed as the face so haven't heard much. Am I free to go?"
After glancing at Irian and Lia for confirmation, Median says Yes, get out of here. But be careful. You should probably go out with your hands up... the sheriff's people are still out there, and they are likely to harm you if they think you are trying to run. You go out there and look like you are surrendering, and turn yourself in to the sheriff personally, and hopefully the archers won't fill you with holes.
After the clerk presumably makes his short-lived escape, Irian turned to the two women with him. "What now? We have no idea what Owl and Tish are up to, and I sure don't want to abandon them if they decide to press into the warehouse. Should I open the door and draw them to us?"
Median says softly Yeah, I think you should. I mean, we have to distract everyone so they can sneak up from behind effectively, right?
Median responds to Lia
That sounds like a great idea. When Irian opens the door, if you can charm some of them, go for it. Do you want us to act diplomatic, or just not kill them?
Irian shrugged at Lia's suggestion. If the numbers were as the man had suggested, it might be wise to take a less than martial approach. "Sounds as good an idea as any I had. I guess I should sheathe my sword, then?" The warrior slid the sword into it's sheath on his belt, confident he can have it back out quickly enough. He prepared to open the door leading into the large, warehouse area, looking back to make sure his two lady companions are ready before doing so.
Owl gently pushes the door open as Laetitia covers with a crossbow. He peers out into the warehouse as he draws his bow again. He then waves the diminutive ratfolk forward. "Ladies first." While it could be construed that he was sending her forward first to draw fire, that wasn't completely true. She was a lot more stealthy than he was and had hard time feeling her presence even when he looked right at her.
With an eyeroll so exaggerated it threatened to change the rotation of the very planet itself Jix scurried forward past Owl only stopping for a moment to lowly mutter, "Pfft, call me a 'lady' will ya? 'n' yer supposed t' be the smart one round 'ere?"
She then crept on ahead slipping into the shadows as she kept an eye out for her gear.
Irian shrugged at Lia's words, drawing his sword back out but keeping the point low, a non-aggressive stance. Checking one last time to make sure the other two are ready, the young warrior opened the door into the heart of the building, hoping the young sorceress's spells work. Chances are all these thieves' lives were forfeit, anyway, if this town was like many others, but at least it would be less potential harm done to his companions.
Median nodded her readiness. When Irian opens the door, she advances into the next room first, making room for the others to follow. She has her bow in hand, but no arrow nocked.
She looks around.
Tish slinks out of the storage room after Jix, and while she might not be as capable at skulking as her rodent-like friend, the buxom beauty is nonetheless surprisingly light on her feet. She sweeps her gaze and her crossbow around, searching every shadowed corner she can see for signs of the guild members.
The front party opens the doors to see the now somewhat lit darkness of the next room. File cabinets line the easter wall of this room, while doors lead north, south, and west. A single oil lamp is set in the wall. You also see an older man, his hair wispy, ccowering in the corner, he spots you and holds up his hands.
"P-Please help me. They've been holding me captive for the past few weeks to help with their bookkeeping. Please, they've threatened my family."
Jix does what she does best, and quickly slinks away deeper into the warehouse. Though her movements might be suicidal for a normal rogue, the shadows had a way of sticking to the small ratfolk. She does spot a few hiding rogues along the way. However, among the crates of goods and possible contraband, she does not see her gear anywhere.
Laetitia manages to make it into the shadows, though she can't be quite as bold as Jix can.
No one seems to see her.
Median says to the old man
Okay, come over here slowly with your hands up and let us search you.
Median makes sure he isn't armed, and then warns him about surrendering to the sheriff like she did the other guy, lets him go, and watches to make sure that he exits and doesn't just wait and come up behind them.
Irian fixed the old man with a hard stare, but he stood aside to let him pass if he followed Median's directions. He alternated looking into the large room and the old man, trying to assess any threats therein.
Median sees Lia cast a spell on the man and asks can you ask him questions and see if he was in on it, who is in charge, and whether there is an ambush... things like that, or does he just not attack us?
Jix continues to skulk about looking for any sign of a weapon she could use or any way she could help in the current situation, silently surfing herself for allowing herself to end up in such a helpless situation.
The man seems hesistant at first, but Lia's word seems to rush over him and he breathes just a bit deeper than previously, his pupils a tad wider as well. He walks forward.
"Thaddius," he answers to Lia's question, smiling. "Are you planning to go further in?" he asks, frowning. His worried eyes glance to the closed doors that lead to the rest of the warehouse.
Thaddius eyes Median, and holds his hands up to motion her to stay away.
"And I'd rather you not search my person."
In the back....
It seems the only weapons Jix can spot in this darkness are those wielded by the enemies lying in wait.
Laetitia and Owl lie in wait, the darkness as quiet as it is black.
the young warrior opened the door into the heart of the building
Median stops approaching the man, and says
My apologies, of course.
She looks over at Lia. It's up to her to see whether this guy is an innocent and to get any information out of him now, but Median stays wary, in case he has a weapon, or tries to leave without knowing that he needs to play nice with the sheriff.
Irian impatiently waited for the two women to milk the older man of information, certain that the sorceress had laid some kind of witchery on the man. His eyes nervously kept roaming to the door, expecting to hear the sounds of fighting any second, or the door to fling inward in a sea of bristling crossbows. He kept his sword ready, not threatening the old man with it, but keeping the point off the ground in case he needed to react.
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Jix groand internally, there was no sight of here weapons in this room which ment the only way to go was up. And as a far as she could see there was only one way up, the ladder. If she were to continue her search for her weapons she would need to head up there and she was well aware of just how ludicrously risky that was. If someone were standing there waiting she didn't have any means to defend herself, no weapons, no armor. She knew that if she got caught there she was dead, but it was either that or she would have to stand by silentry as all her companions did all the fighting for her. And that was no fun at all.
Bracing herself. She made her way up the ladder as quietly as she was able.
Owl repositions to the corner of the room. From there he could shoot through either door and stay relatively safe behind a solid wall. But what to do? The best option was to wait for the ones at the front to draw attention. Then they'd hit the enemy from behind. Unfortunately they couldn't see anyone and Owl doubted they could be seen in return. So it was a waiting game. In preparation, Owl takes at a small, unassuming rock from a pouch at his side. Two distraction were better than one.
Thaddius nods at Lia's words, agreement showing.
"Of course, of course. We all like to get the job done with as little harm as possible. But I can tell you if you go in now, you're going to get jumped immediately. This place is a hornet's nest and we know you're to blame."
You see a flash of negative emotion pass Thadius' face, but almost magically it goes back to smiling.
"Anyway, I think there's at least ten in the main room. And one of the bosses is hiding on the top level, a cat-walk of sorts... I'm sure if you help us get through the guard, the group is liable to let you all off the hook."
He smiles, as if he he's find the perfect solution to help his new friend.
"But do be careful," and Thadius pulls out a dagger he had hidden up his sleeve. Everyone's coated their weapons with a weak poison. It's nothing deadly, and it is very weak, but it could cause your muscles to tense in a vital second."
*
Jix climbs the ladder unseen, and gets on the catwalk area unnoticed. With her nightvision, it isn't hard to see four cloaked figures perched and waiting for a fight to break out. One seems to have an open flask brought to her already pursed lips, waiting.
Looking around, you're almost certain you're weapons aren't in this large room. And since they weren't in the back, that leaves....
Owl begins what is most likely his strongest trait: patience. He slowly moves the thunderstone back and forth in his hand, counting the moments, waiting.
Waiting...
Waiting...
If the door to D1 is open (are we restoring that action?), then Median will cast Summon Minor Monster, summoning
Three celestial skunks in the square just outside the door.
They appear next round (not sure if we are in rounds yet, but it takes a round to cast). She instructs them to split up and spray anyone that gets near the door from the other side and to defend themselves if attacked.
_____
If the door to D1 is not open, Median opens the door to D4 and looks inside to make sure there are no threats.
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Irian looked back at the two women tensely, watching as Median opened the other interior door. Good idea, that, making sure they weren't leaving anyone behind them. As Lia wrapped up the conversation with the older man, the warrior's brow furrowed at the realization that there were many enemies ready to pounce when they opened the door. Then again, it shouldn't come as a surprise. The group was expected, after all. Seeing that there had been no commotion raised at this point, Irian assumed the others had gotten inside undetected.
Time to get things started...the warrior reached forward with his shield hand after they had ascertained no one else was in this part of the building, throwing the door open wide and leading with his shield.
Jix raised a brow at the strange stance of the woman on the far side of the second story. Some kind of alchemical solution no doubt. But more so than that she realized there was only one more place her weapons could possibly be.
Silent as the night Jix slipped back down the ladder and began creeping along towards he front of the room, careful to hug the shadows as she went along.
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts hmm hmm hmm..."
Thaddius looks conflicted, weighing his good friend Lia against his comrades inside, but eventually one wins out.
"All right. I don't like...but you seem to know what you're talking about."
Thadius leaves out the front door, ready to confuse some prepared guards with a weird codephrase.
The Door to D1 is not open, so Median opens the door to D4 first. Inside she notices there's a bunch of stacks of what seems to be paperwork, and an odd bundle of equipment. It seems sized for a small creature. INcluded is a small suit of leather armor, a crossbow sized for a small creature, and small dagger as well.
The two thieves try to move in on Irian, but the sudden summoning of the celestial skunks surprise them and they strike out in fear.
Other rouges begin to move into position, pulling out crossbows and trying to get a better angle for a shot.
Irian is almost as surprised to see their skunk allies as the thieves are, but after a startled yelp he turned his attention to the rogue to the left of the door. Thinking that acting as a blocking force between the two women and the host of enemies inside, the fighter does not move, instead planting himself in the doorway and slicing at the thief.
The Skunks go spray happy.
Skunk 1 steps north, spray the bad guy to the southwest.
Skunk 2 steps west, spray the girl 10 to the north.
Skunk 3 steps east, spray the bad guy to the southwest.
(Ranged Touch)
(Ranged Touch)
(Ranged Touch)
(Nauseated 2 rounds, then Sickened 1 minute (or, if save, then just Sickened 4 rounds)
(Nauseated 2 rounds, then Sickened 3 minutes (or, if save, then just Sickened 4 rounds)
(Nauseated 3 rounds, then Sickened 1 minute (or, if save, then just Sickened 3 rounds)
Up to twice per day, a skunk can spray a stream of noxious musk at a single target within 10 feet as a standard action. With a successful ranged touch attack, the creature struck by this spray must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1d4 rounds and then sickened for 1d4 minutes by the horrific stench. A successful save reduces the effect to only 1d4 rounds of being sickened.