Urhan finishes picking up his polearm in time to see the final dog fall. "Well done all around." The half-orc gives a bit of a half grin and says, "Not the stuff of legends mind you but we've got long days ahead of us to form those. Also...the legends are my job. I think in my retelling of this battle there might be a few more dogs...and riders. Maybe goblin riders with spears." He walks up to one of the bodies and says, "Maybe the dogs will be bigger too. People like it when the monster is bigger."
He bends back looking up at the tower. "Onward friends! With luck you will hear me singing soon!"
Dakka shudders a little.
"I am confused by your assertion that dogs are not sufficiently terrifying adversaries. Aicard and Chombo! If you ever find yourself in a tengu roost mention your heroic dog slaying this day!
"Nevertheless if it makes you happier Urhan I am convinced that these are manticores. Perhaps this one over here is a chimera."
Dakka investigates where his arrows went and manages to recover one. He peers speculatively towards the fortress.
"Yes, lets go further then. If there are larger dogs, better to face them sooner."
Chombo looks around and says "Come on in everyone. The dogs are dead. Thanks for everyone's help. It was a shame to kill them, they looked so thin. I feel sorry for them." Chombo will clean his greatsword.
With everyone's combined efforts, the last the of the three dogs, at last, falls with a high pitched bark.
As the group enters the tower, Chombo is immediately disappointed - he sees no dog den. He also quickly realizes that the southern wing is inaccessible - there's too much rubble and the task of clearing it out could take days... And that's not accounting for whatever damage shifting the weight might cause.
The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like goassamer tapestries. A single archway stands in the southwest wall. Although this room has escaped the majority of the damage, the northern room still has taken on enough rubble to make traversing it difficult.
As you examine the room from its entryway, you realize that there's a giant spider lurking in its web near the ceiling.
Dakka makes a quick motion for everyone to stop and then breathes a quiet sigh of relief.
"Relax friends, it's nothing so terrifying as a dog den. It's just a giant spider." He whispers.
Dakka points the spider out.
"Does anybody know anything about these creatures?"
"No, but I brought something just for the occassion. Alchemist's fire.
I'll stand tall if it survives that and let you pelter it with arrows and what not. Sounds good? Tho, things might get a little hot and smokey .. "
Whether it sounds good or not, Aicard puts away his hammer and prepares an alchemical bomb to dislodge the arachnid tenant from the tower.
"Fire! Excellent. Never a mistake."
Dakka bobs his head approvingly.
"It sounds foolproof to me. I eagerly await the results."
Dakke fixes his eyes on the spider expectantly.
Aicard eyes the feathered gentleman curiously before returning his attention to the others. Is he taking the piss with me?
Urhan picks his way past the rocks but still can't quite see the spider. "Alchemist's fire? Nasty stuff to get dumped on you. Perfect for fighting bloodthirsty monsters though. Where is the bugger?"
Urhan continues moving forward with the rest of the group, generally staying a step behind though.
"How did you guys see that thing?" Chombo backs away and says "Go ahead and burn it, Aicard." Chombo readies his greatsword in case it attacks.
"You are always wanting to set things on fire Aicard, but I think it actually should be done in this case. Go ahead." Shae readies her scimitar in anticipation.
Scarlett growls towards the spider, waiting for it to move.
Once he's gotten confirmation from his friends, Aicard aims and tosses his container at the spider.
Although the flask itself misses, it shatters against the ceiling, igniting the webs. The spider, in its reluctance to leave its webbing and deal with the rubble, is caught in the resulting blaze. Its shrieks are not particularly loud, but they're definitely... disconcerting. Watching from the entryway, you decide it's probably best to wait for the mess to burn itself out.
It doesn't take very long at all. Once the flames go out, the party passes through the still warm space. The remains of the spider are a bit grotesque, but it has been, effectively, barbecued into charcoal.
As you venture into the tower's west wing, you find it mostly choked with rubble, but there's a door in the eastern wall that's still accessible. The door leads to a stone spiral staircase that runs through the center of the tower. Unfortunately for you, it's also been significantly collapsed by fallen rubble and doesn't appear to be usable.
"Anyone want barbecued spider?" Shae laughs at her own joke, but still shudders when she passes the dead spider. She notices the remains of a poor dog with a collar still attached. Shae instinctively reaches towards Scarlett and touches her head. She will not let something terrible happen to her dear friend. "Let's be extra careful while we are in here."
Dakka jumps a little as Scarlett growls but keeps his composure.
As the flames die down he nods and says to nobody "Yes, fire solves so many problems. I suppose whatever spiders might have expired in the flames aren't likely to be the friendly sort."He shrugs. "Well never know."
Dakka ventures further into the tower, peering around.
Dakka notices a small cocooned corpse. "Alas, Kita. Sad fate for a fearsome creature."
"Kita??" Aicard wonders how Dakka knew the spider's name only to quickly figure out he is talking about the spider's victim: a dog.
"Poor thing, it never stood a chance." The man sounds sincere enough, but the act accompanying his words might trouble some. Without flinching he reaches down and takes off the collar. He holds it up so everyone can see it and then stashes it into a sack. "Money is money."
"Aicard, some things should not be disturbed," Shae shakes her head, but does not argue that he took the collar. Hopefully he did not just jinx us. May Kita's soul rest in peace.
A frown finds its way onto Aicard's face. "T'is a small cost in return for being remembered. Guess that explains a thing or two about why people like being buried in fancy tombs and all that.."
He then snaps his attention back to the present. "Since we're moving further in, anyone object to me lighting a sunrod? Human eyes and all that."
Aicard will, if the others agree with him lighting a sunrod, hold his shield + sunrod. If combat happens he'll drop the sunrod and draw a weapon.
"Gold is gold. Bad luck is bad luck. One will come for sure, you have to make sure to acquire the other."
Dakka looks around the room.
"Yes go ahead and light your rod, you cannot protect me from dogs while blind. Shall we have a look over here."
Dakka quietly approaches and investigates the room's only exit.
Aicard scrapes the tip of the sunrod over a nearby wall. A spark. A flash. Light! The illumination reveals the carnage caused by the alchemist fire and immediately the man turns away his gaze, moving towards the south-western archway. "Let's do this."
Urhan has begun being slightly more cautious as they proceed. Keeping his voice down he says,"That smell...I mean it's not terrible, just strong. Not unlike the smells from some of the street vendor carts in Absalom."
After his attention is directed to the dog, he says, "Why would a pet be here...My guess is that we are not done finding things related to brave Kita. Maybe his master is upstairs. Unless he used to be a pet and became feral at some point with those other dogs."
Urhan maintains his position as the rearguard.
"Did the other dogs have collars?" Chombo checks the dead dogs. Not needing a light he moves forward behind Aicard. "Urhan, I feel you may be correct." Chombo's sword is at the ready.
"Let us dig? I don't feel too comfortable scaling the outer walls in all this armor .."
"My weapons are not good for digging so I will use my hands. Could one of you keep watch while we dig?" Chombo sheaths his sword and starts digging.
Aicard brings out the shovel and starts helping Chombo.
"Shae, you haven't taught Scarlett how to move boulders?" The half orc laughs at his humor.
As he gets to digging, he moves close to Chombo and says (in a voice that really isn't that quiet),"I will make sure to only grab smaller rocks than you so nobody suspects that I might be stronger than you. I care about your pride my friend."
"Yes, dig then. I am quite content for you to do so."
Dakka eyes the rubble.
"I am frail compared to the rest of you. I will keep watch."
As the rubble is cleared, Urhan takes a moment and sits on one of the larger rocks. Sweat has beaded on his brow but he's feeling good. As he sits, he takes a close look at the inside of the walls around him trying to divine what this tower was used for, if there is any information on its history or if time and an earthquake has just turned it into a worn down monster den.
"Let's keep this thing going. Who wants to climb up first?"
The dig goes well and by noon, the rubble is cleared. Urhan doesn't see anything particularly identifying, but when he thinks about what Mr. Fletcher had told them, he remembers some of the history of this place.
Aicard shrugs at Urhan and peers up to observe the remnants of the tower. Seeing no obvious threats, he puts away his shield and starts tying a rope around his middle, sinks his teeth into the not-burning part of the sunrod and starts climbing with light in mouth.
"Be careful, Aicard. I will catch you if you fall. Let us know if you need any help when you get up." Chombo looks up the shaft and watches Aicard climbing up, watching for any trouble.
Dakka keeps a careful eye on the ascending human. "If you find anything untoward up there we'll just... um... well good luck!"
Successfully making his way up to the second floor, Aicard notices several things. First, the room directly before him holds racks for weapons, though most of them are empty. Second, it stinks - now that he's closer, the air from the room and the air near it - in the stairwell - reeks of something akin to rotten eggs crossed with an open sewer.
When he inhales, breathing in the foul stench, Aicard immediately feels sickened.
Thirdly, Aicard is aware that the staircase from this point onwards is whole. Although there is no true clue as to what lies through the archway aside from the stench and the mostly emptied weapon racks. Oh, and some of the hooks and displays for armor, most of which are... Also empty.
Aicard opts to be as quiet as possible. Every move seems to be in slow motion what with the man trying to keep his armor from rattling away his position. With a supposed whisper he informs his team of the situation, "It stinks so so bad up here, please do hurry up."
He then drops one end of the () rope down and tries to secure the other end. If possible he'll help whoever is coming up in whatever way possible: pulling the rope in, reaching down with a hand to pull 'em up or simply thinking positive thoughts and sending them good vibrations.
Dakka climbs up the rope as carefully as he can. When he gets to the top he does his best not to gag and remain silent.
Staggered by the stench Dakka tries to stop himself from retching. "It stinks so climb up here in a hurry he says, and what do I do? I climb up. Ugh!"
Urban watches the birdman make his way up the roap, glances at Chombo and takes the next position in line. He is surprisingly quiet for a change, letting his imagination fill in the blanks for what could be causing that stench.
I bet there are rats. There are always rats...
He breaks his silence, "Sorry about the smell Chombo. Beans for breakfast again. "
He suddenly coughs and spits as the smell gets to him.
Dakka Nobu and Urhan both make it up without any trouble, but are immediately sickened as well - the stench is unreal. Almost like beans for breakfast... If a silent but deadly dog had gotten to it, discreetly farting all over your house and just sitting there in its own stench, laughing at you.
Chombo will try to hold his breath and climb.
"Hey guys, I don't want to leave Scarlett down here. I can tie the rope around her if you guys will pull her up. She's not too heavy! I promise!" After Chombo climbs the rope, Shae secures the rope around Scarlett, modeling it after a harness type thing.
I wonder what could be causing that bad of a smell to make the guys react like that..."Guys! The smell could be coming from troglodytes or something like that. Be on guard. Scarlett, defend them until I get up there incase something attacks."
After Scarlett is safely up there with the rest of the crowd, she grabs the rope and hauls herself up. The smell hits her almost immediately and she instinctively covers her mouth and nose with her hand.
Forewarned is forearmed and after getting everyone up through the emptied stairway is less difficult than it ought to be - even for Scarlett. Luck is with the latter part of the group - although they see the visibly reducing effect the stench has on their peers once they arrive at the top, neither Chombo, Shae, nor Scarlett are affected by the stench.
each side of the doorway are enemies. Likely, you think, to be troglodytes. It is very fortunate you've not yet been noticed - you must be very careful if you would like to continue being unnoticed.
Shae looks towards the others and puts her finger to her lips in a shushing motion. She points towards the shadows and arms herself with her scimitar.
Aicard straps on his shield and brings forth his hammer. Danger is nearby so the man is clearly on edge. As quiet as a herd of elephants he moves towards the archway.
The queasy birdman tries to be as quiet as possible and meld into the shadows.
He pulls an arrow from his quiver and readies to fire as Aicard blunders forward, moving as needed to keep an open line of fire.
Chombo pulled up Scarlett up using the rope. After noticing the shadows, he quietly pulls his greatsword, if possible, and move up behind Aicard.
Urhan can barely make out what Shae is gesturing to. As the others clamber into position, he grimaces and does his best to maintain silence...for now. This kind of silence though really does not suit his personality. It is at this moment that a thought occurs to him,
Perhaps I should have warned these guys what can happen to them when I start singing in the heat of battle. He smiles then. Nah...More fun this way.
Just as Urhan moves up behind the others he vomits and it is clear that he did not actually have beans for breakfast.
Aicard actually hits the negatives on his stealth which is impressive enough that I'm going to just kinda stare for a moment before continuing. *coughahemcough* Back to your regularly scheduled GM--
Between the clanking and the other slight sounds - the touch of leather on stone, the clink of metal on metal - the two creatures on the other side of the door are concerned.
You can hear them speaking to each other in rasping sounds with strangely elongated 'S's. They're communicating - one clearly posits a question and the other responds.
"They sound restless, they will soon investigate. Shall we try to ambush them in here?" Dakka asks in raspy whisper. "I wonder if they are sentries and will attempt to warn others?"