Blackacre takes the hat, looks it over, and tosses it on his head, slightly cocked in the fashion of the day.
Thank you, sir. This is a most generous gift. As you may have seen, I appear to have lost my previous hat somewhere in the chase.
After a moment of consideration, he adds, Perhaps the doctor is right. If we are fortunate, Ragathiel will lead us through these sewers to somewhere we can avenge or recover what we have lost this night.
La Siréene silently takes the amulet and studies its intricate beauty with care then places it around her neck. A barely visible transparent field of protection forms around her.
”Thank you,” she smiles. She reshapes her hide armor and backpack, removes the former and putting it in the latter, then letting them cease to be readily visible once more. Then she turns to Ianez.
”If we rested, I’d have magic to recognize and remove poison or diseases. I can’t guarantee that’d help, thought, depending.”
She looks down the sewers.
”I agree with Hareton. Let’s tread these tunnels. If you have trouble, Ianez, do tell.”
My breath is deep, not shallow. I have been told it is like a tiger's. But, I have never seen a tiger.
I look at this Grey. I am not impressed, just thankful. Not knowing what the orange liquid does is the least of my worries.
Thank you.
I move my cloak and let my shield drop. Taking out my sword, I sniff the dank air. Fetid is a word I've heard Caromarc use.
Looking the others over one more time, I turn... peering into the black, I lead them. Hoping we are headed away from the madness.
Caromarc takes the robe, hesitates and says quietly
"Wait doctor. I was in the war - I've seen people lose friends and family, survive massacres, find themselves in the midst of death. The black dog of depression stalks them. Before they " pause " leave they give away their goods, seek to balance books."
"I know it seems there is no chance, no hope... but strange as it might sound I've survived worse."
The tunnels leading off from the node form a 'V'. Down one tunnel, you see what appears to be small, yellow, bouncing lights. The other tunnel is dark and eerily still. From that direction, you hear the occasional natural slosh of the water.
Hareton tightens his jaw. The line of his mouth becomes mean and thin.
"We are fellow travelers in this...he scans over everyone...I won't say meaninglessness, because I've drawn meaning from all of you. But we are definitely, inexplicably...maligned." He straightens his posture. "I'm a man of science. I avoid being superstitious. But I have seen that you are lights in the darkness. I will follow your lead that we may explore this mystery and set things aright."
Stealth
Perception
I motion for the others to be quiet. And, step forward trying to see what makes the lights.
Blackacre stays behind, watching intently and sniffing for strange magicks.
He draws his pistol and prepares to load it.
I retreat and whisper... There is a scarecrow with red lights floating around it... What do I do?
Ianez rouses himself enough to occasionally cast a light spell, but other than that he isn't saying anything.
"This style of sewers were built with alcoves to ensure that during high flow... well, look, it doesn't matter. It means these walls have numerous small cavities in which something or someone could hide and pounce out as we pass. That quiet tunnel worries me." the Earl says quietly.
”A protector of crops in the sewers? It's a Monster. So it's a choice between certain, stupid monster and uncertain, sneaky monster.” La Siréene pauses for a moment.
"I agree with Caromarc. The certain tunnel is preferable. I say we attack the scarecrow."
Let's take the certain foe, then. Blackacre makes sure his sword is loose in his scabbard and ready to be pulled, then loads both barrels of his pistol.
Yes, Caromarc. Still waters run... deep.
For the first time since entering the sewers, Ianez speaks. "W-wait a mo-moment." He casts cure light wounds on himself, recovering all of the damage inflicted by the bite. Then he takes up his buckler and sword. "Now I'm ready."
Ianez's light spell reveals that the other tunnel without lights looks empty, except for water on the floor. At least as far as you can see.
The elf salutes gracefully. "Human matters are not for me. I must attend to Darkwood and issues in my homeland." He gazes upward, back to the streets. "I do not know if I'll make it, given the evil and chaos up there. But I must try." With typical bravado, he hoists himself up out of the sewers. His eyes look down at you one last time. "Fare thee well." A final wave, then he is gone.
For a short time, you all wait in the sewers and listen to the sounds of the night. The fate of the elf goes down in history as just another unknown.
Caromarc, dithering, looks at his comrades attempting to see if any others are hurt.
"Do we have a plan?"
"Those lights are two Vampric Wisps. I can summon a beast to fight. Let it strike first, making itself a target, then flank the monsters."
La Siréene waits a moment to see if everyone is ready, then, unless she is interrupted, she starts casting Sumon Nature's Ally III-Augmented Wolverine.
Desperate to be helpful Caromarc joins in casting
You hear a low hissing sound.
It and I has found something here. No good.
It and I has found something there. They will be...delicious!
The lovesick doctor retreats a short distance, leaving this fight to his capable allies.
Init
The glowing lights, they don't seem real to me. The scarecrow is something I can hurt. I charge the scarecrow!
One mist skates through the air and makes a melee touch attack against Blackacre. The vapor forms skeletal hands that caress up his arm; as they do, ribbons of blood twist and drain from him into the creature. It now appears stronger and faster than before.
Round 1:
The bard's sword slices into the skeletal hands clutching at Gaston, cleaving through them easily.
Sandru charges the scarecrow
Sandru slices through the dry, bundled hay. There is a scattering of straw. The scarecrow wheels around and glares hatefully at him with its fiery, hollow eyes.
Ianez's attack hits. The mist flinches in shock. Noooo! it hisses in anger.
It reforms into a shape that vaguely resembles Blackacre.
This manservant has a duty to protect the Earl, therefore - assuming the permission of sir's colleagues - it will engage the blood-drinker most likely to attack the Earl.
The mechanical's attack hits, but the damage doesn't exceed the damage resistance of the mist.
Gaaah! Blackacre cries out as the misty creature wounds him.
As he returns to the use of his trusty sword Blackacre howls at the mist that apes his shape, You will drink of me no more! and strikes!
His attack narrowly misses his opponent!
The Wolverine comes into existence next to the Scarecrow, flanking it with Sandru. "Attack", its master commands. The Wolverine growls and rips at this strange, hay-filled creature ferociously.
The second mist menaces La Siréene. It encircles her shoulders like a scarf and nips at her neck.
Pretty...
From her neck streams a blur the color of red wine. The mist looks invigorated.
The scarecrow continues to stare at Sandru. It seems like a weird mix of motion and insentience. Burning yellow eyes in the gourd of its head. Oddly bright and captivating in the dark sewer.
The wolverine's claw attacks hit and damage the scarecrow. There is a snap of twigs and part of its wooden frame splinters apart.
A pair of glowing golden eagles materialise to either side of the vampiric mist that attacked La Siréene, and attack!
This servant attempts to grapple the Vampiric Mist it attacked last round