Are you ok, Mommy!? Percy yells.
Hobbes resists the urge to say something when Vashti picks him up like a doll when he sees how hurt she is.
Seeing the captain violently stab Vashti Neverhome's face twitches blank for a split moment before contorting into a scream as he charges the man.
I am fine, dearie! He hit me in place that I haven't used in a decade or so!
seeing the nice Vashti lady get hit really angered the felinerai to the oint he growled and half hunched over grabbing the guards ankles and suddenly yanking him up trying to hurtle him to the ground.
Trying awkardly to reach over Ered's shoulder, Sigrun takes an ineffective swing at the guard he faces.
Ered ducks as the red headed rager tries to take his head off with the swing. Seeing the distractions that've been caused, he draws the magic from deep within, whispered words of winter wind chill the blade of his weapon as he swings the blade towards the enemy.
If need be, here would be a bit of concentration check.
"Vashti!" Zses shouts, while throwing an hateful glare at the guard captain. "That's the last time you do something like that..." he grins grimly, as everyone attacks him.
With Silence's successful trip maneuver, the Guard Captain is quickly dispatched - along with the remaining soldiers. A calm falls over the battlefield, but how long will it last?
When the fight ends, Vashti will move to a wall to check the wound out.
Seeing its damage she makes sure their foes are dead then channels energy.
Hobbes will search the bodies for keys and loot.
After having finished reducing the offending captain to chunky red paste Neverhome will scurry off towards Vashti as she tends to her's and the group's wounds. "My apologies Miss Vashti."
Like the others he gave a concerned eye torwards miss Vashti his mind still trying to figure out what made the man spin torwards her so. But with her healing magics she seemed okay instead curioustiy got the better of him and he peeked his head inside one of the side rooms
After calming down and allowing the fatigue that always followed the rages to wear off, Sigrun notes Silence action and does the same to the room at the other side.
"Vashti! Do you feel better now?" the witch asks to the elderly woman. After making sure that she's better, Zses moves to explore the rest of the room.
"I think they said this was the key, or something..." the witch mutters as he pulls out the icicle key, moving near the smaller vats of water. With a gesture, he starts to examine if there is any trace of magic in the vats, and of what kind.
Q4 - Privies
Running water flows through the latrines of these privies, carrying wastewater out of the tower. The eastern doors lead to stairs leading to the battlements on the outer wall.
Q5 - Ice Crystal Teleporters
A glassy pattern of striated, crystalline ice covers the tiled floor in these open alcoves, illuminated by a soft, blue light.
Q6+7 - Barracks
A total of 17 double bunkbeds fill these two rooms. Besides some weapons racks and trunks containing personal effects, there's nothing of interest.
Noting the unusual metal, Sigrun straps one of the longswords to the other side of her hip, depite the weapon not being one she favors.
Hobbes will take the special bolts, placing them in his quiver.
"Vashti! Do you feel better now?" the witch asks to the woman. After making sure that she's better, Zses moves to explore the rest of the room.
"I think they said this was the key, or something..." the witch mutters as he pulls out the icicle key, moving near the smaller vats of water. With a gesture, he starts to examine if there is any trace of magic in the vats, and of what kind.
I am alright kids, he got me well.
Lucky his stab mostly got me some where I haven't used for a decade or so, heh..has it really been that many years since Chaine was born? No wonder I can't find a husband, I'm getting old and forgetful...
Percy tackle-hugs Vashti from behind. Oh thank goodness!
People usually weren't kind to pyro gnomes. In fact, vashti and this group was the first in a long time. Percy is suddenly struck with the thought that she has no idea what she'll do if she looses them. That kicks the gnome racial emotional instability into gear and... waterworks.
"It'll be alright, beautiful. Momma Vasthi is okay. And fer the record, yer not old, V. You're matured, like good cheese. " "Mental Note: Get stabbed = get hugged."
"Wine. Like good wine."
Ered clears his throat and looks to the others. "I would say we're expected at this point. Those blue tiles are our way to the next level. Onwards and upwards, friends. Time to empty this tower out."
Seeing that he had explored a privy and that well the bodies lay everywhere... He shrugged. He collected up the naginata and cleaned then reasheathed his katana before he turned to the mirrors.
"So uh... how does this work?" he asked fighting the urge to poke it with the business end of the naginata.
"Yes, let's get this under way before they have more time to prepare.....and Silence...maybe try not to attack more statues or pools of water." Sigrun says with a hint of a grin.
Oh, Vashti has a son? Why is she here then? I'll ask her some other time: now we have to focus!
"Ok, I think I understand how this thing work. We use these two icicle to activate those teleports" he says, handling the other icicle to Percy "There's a problem though: only one person can be transported up at a time, so they could easily ambush us. Oh, and the teleporting process consist in getting turned into a block of ice and transported up. But it shouldn't be painful! Maybe."
Neverhome stretches his hand out towards Zsestrian. "I'll go."
Percy takes the icicle and wipes her tears. Lets go kill a witch!
Before anyone can convince her otherwise, she strides over to the teleporter and uses the key. Ice envelops her and her charred arms scream in agony. The heat pouring from them at all times does nothing against the magical ice.
Seeing the gnome rush in Neverhome doesn't give Zsestrian a chance to actually consider his offer as he grabs the icicle and runs into the mirror portal.
"Damn it!!" Sigrun growls preparing to enter the teleporter as soon as it was empty.
"Hey wait up!" Hobbes tries to say before both of them hop through the portal.
Percy and Neverhome enter the teleporters, are rapidly encased in ice, and disappear. At the same time, Zes realizes that the teleporters only permit travel in one direction at a time. Unless there are more keys upstairs, they're in for a one-way trip.
You also quickly realize that the teleporters won't function without a key. Unless you can find more, you're stranded on this level. On the plus side, your ice-covered transport proved quite invigorating, and you feel strangely refreshed.
"There's gotta be another way up there! Damnit gorgeous. Why'dja have ta do that?" Hobbes will move to one of the doors to the battlements.
!@#$%^&*(!@#$%^&*()@#$%^&*()!@#$%^&*()@#$%^&*()Horses rear!
The ice around Vashti melts somewhat at her tirade.
not again....
Vashti runs after Percy and Neverhome, mother instincts overriding her normal good sense.
After a couple seconds, a key appears on each teleport pad.
Hobbes runs over and grabs one of the keys while on the teleporter pad.
"I'm on my way, gorgeous."
Keeping an eye about he draws his sword and takes a stance about Percy. He places his off hand on the the girl's shoulder, trying to calm both her and himself down. As he does so you might notice a few of his scars have taken on a slighlty darker tint, and you also swear you see little bits of smoke leak out of them in addition to the smell of charred wood... Or flesh.
Go Go Go!
The felinerai said to Vashti and the others staring at teh keys and mirrors things. He would bring up the rear if need be, but they should all hurry up, who knows what sort of problems could be happening up there.
"I will go next. The may already be in battle." Sigrun says as she grabs the key and steps onto the pad.
Zses's eyes fills with fear as the scene develops. "Oh no, oh no...If only I told them how to use them...". The witch is about o slump on the floor in desperation, when two new icicle keys appear on the pads.
Before he can say anything, Hobbes and Sigrun jump into the teleporters.
Grabbing the Red-haired barbarian shoulder for a second, the witch mutters a couple of arcane words before letting her go. "We should be able to communicate with you this way."
Zses the shortly seems to mutter to himself.
"Silence, Eredhaias, you go next! Me,Vashti and Allie will stay here to send Mule, Crow, and MiniAllie up, and then we'll go up too!"
No no no friend Zsestiran Mule is staying here to guard the horses and the wagon.. I dont think he will be able to do much good up there!" He said pointing above him. He also tilted his head a bit.
[/b] And lady Vashti should go next ... they may be hurt! [/b] He added. but he nodded to Eredhaias
"We'll go next," Ered says simply, as he stretches his fingers and shifts his weight to his toes, in preparation for a run. His chuckle is quiet and low.
"Let's see what happens today. Let's see how we fare against winter."
You also quickly realize that the teleporters won't function without a key. Unless you can find more, you're stranded on this level. On the plus side, your ice-covered transport proved quite invigorating, and you feel strangely refreshed.
She catapults off Lyosha's leg and tackles Hobbes in his first hug. An instant later she notices Sigrun and dashes off to attach herself to the other barbarian's leg. Thank goodness we aren't stuck here alone!
Hobbes teleports in and is greeted with a hug. "Oh hey, No big deal. I got yer back, gorgeous." A frown forms on his face as Percy rushes over to hug Sigrun shortly after.