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The troglodyte begins to eat the proffered soap. He seems to enjoy it. He nods as Gahlethea speaks in common. As Maria opens the door Ba'hab readies his javelin while hiding behind his new "mother."
Yes go kill the eating thing! Be best Mother! Better than Tasskar!
Cracks in the walls and ceiling of this chamber have allowed rainwater to collect here, flooding the room and giving rise to a profusion of mold and fungus along the walls and ceiling. Although the room is flooded, the water is only about ankle-deep throughout. The mold and fungus on the walls are harmless.
In room itself is a large frog. As the odder of the tasty troglodyte wafts in to the room as it starts to lope over hungerly towards the door an Maria.
The High Fool and Gahlethea can act as the giant frog lets out a mighty croak!
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“THAT is your mother?!?” cries Gahlethea, pointing at the frog. "She's one BIG Fin Mother!"
"Somebody better tell her to lay off those morsels…She’s really let herself go.” The witch recalls what Bah’ab did with the soap that she gave him and vows to reduce his portions in the future.
Kill the eating, recites the blonde. I am pretty sure that is what Fin said. But what did he mean by that? (Isn’t it obvious?) Oh, it’s SO obvious! He’s using a euphemenolloquialism! [smaller]And I taught him that…. I’m so helpful! (Are you?)[smaller] ‘Kill the eating’ obviously means ‘curb the appetite’! (Really? That’s what you think?) He wants me to help his mom do some dieting. (I agree that there does seem to be a lot of excess weight around here!)
Gahlethea reaches for her flask of water but, as she has done in the past, she instead pulls out the vial of acid. She then moves forward to offer it to the "Mother Fin” frog.
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"And we have a 'No Pets' policy."
The rabbit is thankful that someone else appears to genuinely want to help out the witch, if such a thing is possible.
However, the rabbit does question the unilaterally-implemented policy, which was so sharply-worded by the sharply-witted, and now more sharply-pointed fool, and it does so sharply.
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Ba'hab says. "Not Fin Mother. Eater of Fins!" Oops I mean.
"Froggy eat Ba'hab and friends. Mother just beats us to work faster."
While this banter is going on The High Fool moves in and hits the Frog.
In response the frog attempts to bite the swashbuckler.
However, even if it would have hit, the High Fool is able parry it back and follows up with a pierce though the frogs skull, effectively pithing the amphibian. The frog falls limp.
Ba'hab looks at the The High Fool.
"Oooo. You can be Fin Mother too!"
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Watching the annoyance twitch the whiskers of Sir Fuzzelworth, Maria whispers consolingly, "I don't think you are a pet."
The rabbit pats its paw against the back of Maria's leg consolingly, if such a thing is possible. It then looks up to at Maria as if to say, I never thought so either. I just didn't think it right that he was insulting you.
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The frog falls limp.
"Huh." Gahlethea responds as The High Fool pulls his blade out of the frog's skull. "Good thing that wasn't your mother."
Ba'hab looks at the The High Fool.
Hearing Ba'hab's words, Gahlethea responds, "Just how many Mother-Fin Fin Mothers are there around here anyways?"
The witch takes the troglodyte aside, indignantly. "You don't want him to be your mother. His hideous skin-condition aside, he TOTALLY lacks fashion sense. Look at the way he dresses! Why I bet he’s wearing more bells than the Seven Towers of Desna’s Palace!”
She places one hand on her hip and wags her finger with the other. ”Which by the way must be like… let’s see, so… assuming one in each tower… and there’s seven towers… so then, that would be, what? ...one… two… three…almost there… like…. a LOT of bells!” She stamps her foot. Then, realizing that she had been speaking in Common, she adds, "VI SUMF di kilgi!"
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Maria glances inside and sees the flourish of stabbing. "Good job Mr. Fool! Excellent form!"
Looking down at the paw on her leg, "oh I'm sorry I don't..." With a realization that she might actually, she digs through her bag, pulls out a trail ration and breaks off 1/8th.
Handing it down to the rabbit, "there you go."
She moves into the room and starts looking around. If nothing of interest she checks the next door and pulls it open if 'safe'.
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The frog reaches out to bite, but the High Fool knocks its jaw aside and, using the opening he'd just created, skewers the creature through the head. He pulls out his new weapon as the giant frog falls dead, and wipes the slender blade on its skin. I'll clean it better later. "Oh don't look at me that way," he says, seeing the rabbit's indignation. "We can make exceptions. Yours has proven herself quite useful, after all." He keeps his rapier in hand.
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Gahlethea glances over towards the statue. Did I just spot wings on that thing? I hope its not... *shutter*... a monkey.
As she inches away from the statue, just in case, the witch notices for the first time that Balenar is not in chains. "Say, the Professor's out of the closet. Does this mean that we can get this field trip over with? This Tower of Nexus isn't as nearly impressive as I had been led to believe. That, and I'm out of soap." She gives Ba'hab a stern look.
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As the statue is discovered, Maria picks it up with an idea.
Taking it over to the trog and ignoring the bubbles oozing out of his mouth she points at the studded leather garment and then the Jade statue, "kaubandus?"
Taking the leather garment she quickly strips off her own armor and after brushing a few bubbles off the new one, slips it on. She hands her old leather outfit to the trog and adds, "sa kannad??"
She shoves a stack of arrows into her backpack and then opens the next door.
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Gahlethea is pleased to see her two projects getting along. Oh, Elphie! Look at you taking it off! Getting all close-like with a student. Not my first choice, but I'm not one to judge (You TOTALLY are!)]
Once Maria puts on the slightly-bubble-covered armor, the witch notes, "Not much of an improvement. You'd probably just be better off draping that cloth with the burney bird thingie on it that we found earlier."
Thinking a bit more about the troglodyte and Maria and having witnessed the two speaking together in draconic, a pang of jealously seems to hit Gahlethea. Wanting to be the most attractive woman in the room, and now used to the stench, Gahlethea grabs the arm of the troglodyte and tries to make small talk. " zyak, kassil. visp ve throdenilt zahae dout dask, svabol jahus jacioniv ominak? kwi, veh, si 'to-ask-her' usv creolnali hefoc batobot. ilrigani, svabol tiric jaciv hefoc ekess tir ihk diwhaf? swing vi turalisj garurt usv lyrik sharp minben? rechan tijai? knit?"
"So, Fin. Tell me more about your mother, what was her name? Oh, yeah, you said, 'to-ask-her'or something like that. Anyways, what does she like to do for fun? Swing a big axe or other sharp item? Cast spells? Knit?"
The witch makes eyes and tries to look extremely interested in whatever the troglodyte has to say.
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Ba'hab blinks while and ponders Gahletha's question. "It is priestess Tasskar...."...oops
"She have pet eat'um. Not like jumping eat'um that seven bell man killed. But long nasty teeth eat'um. Calls eat'um Snapjaw. Also she make fire!"
The troglodyte looks at Gehlethea, then towards the rabbit, and shrugs at the the rabbit. He whispers to Sir Fuzzleworth. "Don't worry, I am a vegitarian"
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Storming into the room, Bob quickly aims the barrel at the beast. Sighting it in...deep, slow breath...'nearly touched again by that clown thing! It's gone. Concentrate...
Slow deep breath...steadily pulling the...*SHHHT* 'Oh! Corpsified!'
"Shiny job corpsifyin ta thing fool!" exclaims Bob, leaning the musket against the ground. Noting Maria begin her search, he raises it again to cover her.
'Wat they be yakin 'bout? Sumtin kinda code?' he considers as they jabber in the guttural tounge.
Nearly dropping his weapon as Maria strips, he cheeks turn scarlet. "Oh, uh...an me no where near me bunk..." he mumbles. "Ah, aye. Quite nice look Maria."
Steadying himself, he points the gun back towards the far door. "Open when ready. Big Bobbiy's gotcha."
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The final door on this level leads to the open ledge. Below you can make out the bats in the chamber below, but they are otherwise not an issue here.
The four wings of the tower are completely open on this level, forming one great, cross-shaped chamber with arched ceilings. The decayed remnants of a carpet run from the doorways at the end of each wing, meeting in the center, where a spiral staircase drops out of sight below. A large, throne-like chair stands in the middle of the eastern wing next to a big chest.
The troglodyte leader is standing at the eastern archway, gazing longingly at the city in the distance and daydreaming about his future surface empire. Her animal companion, a stunted albino cave crocodile named Snapjaw, stands nearby. As soon as he notices you, the shaman orders Snapjaw to attack.
Ba'hab stands non-nonchalantly next to Gahlethea trying to blend in.
Bob and Gahlethea can act before the Troglodyte Priestess and her pet acts.
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Gahlethea, entering from the stairwell, sees the arched ceilings and expansive chamber. “Oooooh,” she squeals, ”This is roomie. More like I imagined the Tower of Nex would be… though the décor could use a good bit of work. I got to hand it to you Professor, or should I pronounce it…” The witch adopts are more proper pose and an odd, nasal-lisp, her attempt to replicate what she perceives as Balenor’s accent. ”Prathfindor??... Just what nationality is that accent anyways?”
Gahlethea begins to walk northeast. She sees the crocodile, gives it a wave, and decides that she would instead prefer to approach “Mother” from the southern direction. However, as she approaches “Mother”, the witch stops short once she almost becomes sickened by the creature’s odor.
”Thfo, “Mohthrer”…’” she begins to say with the nasal-lisp she had just adopted, before resuming her regular manner of speech, ”I mean, so “Mother”, I want to talk to you about the way that you have been handling your child here, Fin.” she says, pointing to the troglodyte. ”While it is admirable that you want him to receive an education, I question your judgment. It turns out to have been a very unwise decision indeed to entrust your child’s development and academic growth to the ‘Prathfindor’ here.” She briefly re-adopts the faux-accent while pointing at Balenor. ” Having been following this field trip, I have to admit that I haven’t seen much “educational” about it! Not one map. No words of explanation or enlightenment. The only ‘guidance’ from the ‘Prathfindor’…he’s the one prattling on over there about having ‘conference’ or ‘perspiration’ or something like that… was a way into the closet—and then, well, let’s just say he got stuck there.”
”And not only is the “Prathfindor” here not good at his job, allowing the student’s to just wander off, but it turns out that this place is downright….DANGEROUS! Bits of tower left to fall… dog leash laws left unobeyed… sensible decorating tips and good-taste left ignored… doors left wide-opened or unlocked! Why, just ANYBODY could walk in here with a weapon and just starting KILLING and LOOTING in this place without so much as a warning or hello!”
Furthermore, I think that there is a strong likelihood that the place could be harboring…*shutter*…. monkeys.”
”Now, what kind of a “Mother” would allow her child, or ANYONE, to go spend an hour or so in place like that? Huh? Does your child really need an ‘education’ like that?
And with that, Gahlethea’s lips begin to twist and distort to form words in a whisper that soon appears to be joined by ancient voices and percussive sounds other than her own.
Then, after a roll of her hips, she yells to the approaching troglodyte, “Hey, Tasskar! Leave them kids alone!”[/b]
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'Tis quite the nice room.' considers Bob as he looks around. Noting the beast is being handled by the witch, he turns his attention to the croc on the north end. Glancing towards Maria, he nods in it's direction.
Cautiously, he lowers his barrel, sizing up the beast. Breathing softly, *BlaMMO* Jerking the barrel up with the recoil, he trudges farther north to prevent the beast from getting a clear line to him.
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Not being fully aware of the curse placed on her, she first orders Snapjaw to attack Gahlethea
The Crocodile soundly drops the witch and give her a good shake.
Bah'ab screams "No! Not New Mother" screams a war cry but does not do any other actions...yet.
Tasskar herself calls forth a flame in the palm of her hand and the throws it at Maria
But fortunely the ill omen that was placed on her makes the flame go wide and miss.
Galathea -- -2 HP bleeding
Tasskar -- produce flame 1 used
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Maria darts up next to Sparks and looks at the two threats. If the fool is as good as he was against the frog, that croc won't last long. I better take out the master before things get out of hand.
Maria sights in, then remembers her training. Taking a deep breath and summoning all her concentration, she fires.
Benefit: You must declare that you are using this feat before you make your attack roll (thus a failed attack roll ruins the attempt). You must use one of the following weapons to make the attack: kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, and siangham. You can roll your attack roll twice and take the higher result. If one of these rolls is a critical threat, the other roll is used as your confirmation roll (your choice if they are both critical threats). You may attempt a perfect attack once per day for every four levels you have attained (but see Special), and no more than once per round.
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Sparks leaps up but the crocodile's hide is too thick. However, the High Fool is able to step up and strike the beast.
Maria's shot goes wide again, and Bob reloads.
Gahlethea stops bleeding and is stable
The Crocidile snaps at The High Fool.
However the Fool beats away the snout of the beast but is unable to follow up with a riposte.
Tasskar sends another handful of flame at Maria
But the death gaze stare of vengeance of Sir Fuzzelworth Cuddlebuttons, if such a thing were possible, causes the troglodyte to go wide.
Gahlethea: -2 HP and stable
Tasskar: produce flame - 2 uses
Snapjaw: 7 damage
Everyone is up again.
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Gahlethea stops bleeding and is stable.
The rabbit is shocked by the realization that some definition of the word, in fact, does exist by which the witch could actually be considered to be... "stable". The rabbit had never considered before if such a thing is possible.
The rabbit moves some distance from the crocodile.
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Pinching his nose, the spellslinger rushes to Gahlthea's side. "Peck of trouble wes got. whole peck o trouble." Glancing towards the bunny, he nods his head to the witch, 'She be ok, yeah?"
The man readies his gun, sighting in the foe engaged with Sparks. "You notta nice man!" and squeezes the trigger. *BANG*
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Bob's shot hits the troglodyte squarely, but she still stands. Maria's shot skitters on the wall behind the leader. Sparks moves up but is unable to connect.
Tasskar reaches out and swipes at Sparks with the flame in her hand.
But misses and the flame in her hand goes out. She then readies her Scimitar to face her opponent.
Snapjaw - OUT
Tasskar - 5 damage
Gahlethea -- -2 HP and "not dying"
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Maria is still affected by the stench and can not land a blow. Sparks also goes wide, but the High Fools dances with ease stabbing the troglodyte.
Ba'hab comes over and interposes himself between Gahlethea and Tasskar and takes a menacing stance. He mutters to the down witch
No school today. Tasskar has no class!
Tasskar -- 12 damage
Gahlethea -- Dreaming of summer recess
Everyone is back up.