Danica nods in agreement with Andjela.
"Anna, can we use some of the tripwires that were set to our advantage?"
"We still need to cleanse the bottom level. Let's complete that then we can rest."
No rest, we finish this or die trying.
What? No dying! No! Anna protests, then winces at the line of cold fire on her side. Sometimes you cut your losses.
She straightens up and faces the paladin. If this is a lost cause, then I'm sorry, but I'm taking Kimberly, and whoever else is still alive, and getting out of here. We warn the town we failed, and get out. It's not like this whole country hasn't had other tragedies.
Turning to Danica, she points out the jagged metal on the door knob to the west, and the rigged line on the door to the outside. I just caught a glimpse of them. Let me check them to see if there's anything more to them. I doubt they'll be of any use to us.
Anna finds the third trap, the line would have pulled on a small package of something smelling quite horrible, probably spilling whatever's inside all over the room.
(The northern trap contains noxious gas - 1d3 points of Constitution damage per round if inhaled in a 10' square. The gas dissipates in 4 rounds. (Fortitude DC 14 negates) and also creates a smokescreen effect.)
She identifies that the western door had a poisoned pin attached to the handle, sure to stick whoever grabbed ahold too quickly. She recognizes the poison as quite potent. (1d2 Con damage per round for 3 rounds).
Keeping the pressure on the rope in the south door, she peeks outside to it's been rigged to the pillars, that if the pressure is lessened, meaning if someone opened the door, after a few seconds the entire upper balcony would collapse down onto whoever happens to be underneath it. She surmises she could secure the rope to a stone next to the door if she wanted to disable this trap.
kimberly looks up at Anna I won't give up The people of this town are my people, I may have been an outcast and made fun of, but this town is still my homeand Anna, I won't let you quiet. We can't do this without you. Pytor would never let you give up even if he had to carry you into battle over his shoulder.
kimberly says a prayer over pytors remains.
maybe you are right Andjela he needs to help the warden and his wife here
Andjela nods, thoughtfully. No matter whence, each the same... Sworn to serve. Our destiny unfathomable. Our Path, we must walk alone.
Iomedae will guide his soul, Pharasma permitting. We... we have work to do.
Anna makes a conscious effort to ignore the remains in the room as she devotes her attention to the practical matters of the traps. Furthermore, as she crawls under the wires and contorts herself to get a safe look at the rigged dangers, she appears not to register Kimberly's words, and doesn't participate in her or Andjela's prayers.
After several minutes of careful study, Anna moves into the center of the room and announces the bad news, describing each trap.
Now the good news. I'm pretty sure I can disable these traps. She looks at each person in turn, savoring the reveal. And here's the better news. These poisons are potent. Deadly. And anything like that is bound to be expensive. A sly grin begins creeping across her face.
And our Pyotr likely didn't have the training to make poisons, nor the resources or contacts to buy them. They had to come from somewhere else. Which means we can probably track them to whoever supplied the creature. This might be our first lead to whoever's behind this.
The morning moves on, although it's hard to tell from the continued rain outside, but you haven't taken up much of the morning, you'd wager you still have around a couple hours until noon. The... intensity of the morning belies how much little time has actually gone by thus far.
Danica looks back at the hole they just climbed out of.
"We need to continue exploring below. 2 of the 5 are dispatched....3 to go."
The monk approaches the rogue. "Anna, how are you doing? Can you continue?"
I don't know. I'm still feeling pretty weak. It's like that cold room, but crazy weak. I don't know if I can carry all my gear, or climb that rope.
She looks at Kimberly expectantly. Do you think that wand you hit me with will work again?
We've got several of these, if you remember... They help counteract that nasty business. Tolvan passed them around.
Here... have mine. Andjela offer a vial.
The heavy crossbow clatters to the floor. Anna sways, the burst of healing energy only partially healing the wound she suffered, and not touching the otherworldly weakness in her limbs. She turns her eyes from the lifeless, maimed corpse of Pyotr. She staggers into Tolvan and leans heavily into him, burying her face in his chest. The weight of the battle, and what it meant for the fate of their one-time friend, finally sinks in and she shudders violently. Her legs give out and she starts sinking to the floor.
Tolvan gathers Anna into his arms, fully supporting her with a strength impressive for a mage for as long as it takes for her to regain her footing. He then gathers Kimberly to him as well just for a moment hugging her to both himself and Anna. He seems a little clumsy in his attempt to comfort but is resolved to try to help the people he cares about. As the moment passes Tolvan regards the half Orc's mortal remains and resolves We have to finish this Anna. We have one more reason to do so now. One more friend to avenge.
Danica looks back at the hole they just climbed out of.
"We need to continue exploring below. 2 of the 5 are dispatched....3 to go."The monk approaches the rogue. "Anna, how are you doing? Can you continue?"
We could also clear the rooms above. We have had to victories below. Perhaps we would catch our foes off guard to strike in another area.
Anna looks at the vial Andjela is offering. Is that what these potions are for? I've got one already. She drinks her own, first.
She pauses for a moment, and feels the magic working. Better! she finally announces. Not all the way, though. Are you sure you want to share yours?
It's not mine, it is... ours. What's there to be sure about? Never take more than you need, always give more than you take. True prosperity.
I don't believe in this divvy up bull-scat.
Tolvan tries to interrupt the drinking. Better to let Kimberly use the wand. As I pointed out earlier, potions are better for combat than wands as wands take a long time to use.
We could also clear the rooms above. We have had to victories below. Perhaps we would catch our foes off guard to strike in another area.
Danica responds, "I'm up for anything as long as we clear and dispatch these abominations."
The monk looks to the others and then finally to Andjela. "Well....you look pretty happy with your new attire. I think you should lead the way." The monk indicating the new armor and shield.
Tolvan tries to interrupt the drinking. Better to let Kimberly use the wand. As I pointed out earlier, potions are better for combat than wands as wands take a long time to use.
kimberly looks a little befuddled at Tolvan about wands.
wands are easy to use here let me show you.
kimberly pulls out the wand of lesser restoration and pokes Anna
see its easy, you just hold it like this... and... poke them then she pokes anna again.
she then will hand the wand to Tolvan now you try
Anna dodges around Kimberly's jabs to make sure she doesn't hit upon her wound. Watch it there. But I don't think it's working. I didn't feel anything. She looks between Tolvan and Kimberly as they debate between wand and potion. I don't care which it is, as long as I feel better afterward.
Anna shakes her head to clear it. She was afraid that came out too testy, but the Thing-That-Was-Pyotr had her on edge. She moves to the eastern doorway, and sits down, back against the door jamb. She pulls her knees up to her chest, and rests her hands on her arms as she looks over the ruined corpse. She chews a bit on her lip while she thinks.
Kimberly puts the wand of lesser restoration away and pulls out a wand of cure light wounds. she then starts to poke anna again and after the third or fourth poke Kimberly activates the wand for healing.
Kimberly hopes to get anna to smile a bit.
Feeling any better? I can help your wounds here and now Anna but the hurt inside is something I can't heal right now. all I can do is....
Kimberly pokes her again with the wand (not activating it) poke you till you laugh she says with a giggle
Attired as I am, I can get down the fastest, yes. Andjela gives a trite smile.
Danica, I'm a little occupied with this axe... Take my haunt-siphon, I'll hold on to that used one. I doubt we'll be fighting any living enemies this day.
Kimberly's prodding doesn't draw much of anything out of Anna. It's evident that she's thinking hard about something. Finally, she gets up and examines the hands of the body closely, turning them over and over.
She moves down the eastern hallway and checks out the first tripwire that until now, hasn't been studied. After evaluating that line, she then looks at the deadfall rigged in the training room.
Her face is turned in a frown as her mind works.
Well if Norgorber ain't shaking hands with us all...
Anna swears and stands up, facing the group. We aren't done yet up here.
How long were we down there? Two, three hours, tops? That's not a lot of time to set up these traps. Not for one person, anyway.
I said earlier, that P-- that that creature had to have help. Well, what if that help's still here? Anna grimaces and looks around. And he's probably now aware that we're on to him. She mutters a few choice epithets under her breath.
Upstairs is looking better and better. There's at least three ways in and out up there; the side door, the balcony -- even though it's rigged to collapse -- and the stairs. Down there, well, we're stuck with one way in, one way out.
And windows Anna. I like your thinking. You still look a little weak though. Do you need more Restoration?
Huh? Oh, yeah, that stick didn't work, Kimberly. I mean the other stick. The first one.
We are already out of that pit. I say we clear upstairs before heading back down.
Kimberly is a little frustrated becuase Anna is being all Grumpy pants.
finally she pokes Anna again with the lesser restoration wand.
your just lucky I like youshe mumbles
finally she just shrugs who am I kidding I would have helped her anyway even If I was rally mad at her. Just want you to be happy she whispers to herself.
Kimberly goes to the group So which way next? Upostairs then?
"Let's go. Andjela will lead."
Making your way up the stairs there's not much light, Tolvans dancing lights coming in handy here. Andjela leads the way, her axe still sticking tightly to her hand. The sound of the rain is easier to hear now, as you ascend towards the old and weathered roof.
Tolvan, moving up the steps warily sees the trap and reaches for Andjela to prevent her from stepping on it, but is too slow.
The rap-tap-tap of the rain on the roof would be soothing under different circumstances. Pity. Andjela's boot-steps echo in the near darkness.
Andj! Anna shrieks as she hauls on the bigger paladin's shoulder, pulling her back from the tell-tale signs of tampering. Watch your step!
She turns to the group. And that goes for all of you! Someone's been busy.
What's wrong with you? Andjela does however heed the rogue's warning.
Anna lets out a frustrated sound. You really didn't notice that? She points to the altered step.
Not even looking at the trap, but staring at Andjela, she kicks backward and the trap springs harmlessly.
Would've felt that, huh?