Khamul waits for the second man to climb up and then stabs him with his spear. As he attempts to dodge it, Dora’s ball of flame returns and catches him from the back. Pincered between the two, his doom is sealed and his flaming body falls below.
Caprice puts her full weight down onto the bandit underneath her and he is unable to bear the full force of her accelerated by gravity. The two tumble to the ground far below, him landing with a crunch and her with a thud on his chest. The blood trickling from his lips tell you his fate.
Khamul steps back from the pit to have room to work his spear, and takes a jab. Even as he does, he tries to talk the last bandit into surrendering "Caprice the crazy lunatic is gonna be climbing up behind you in a second, and me an my little spear here are in front of you, not to mention our lady of holy fire... So if you want to see the sky ever again, it's time to give it up."
+3 bab+1 str + 1 bless
+1 str
+1 Cha
Khamul uses his message cantrip to whisper to Caprice "You utter lunatic, are you still alive?"
He then pauses for a swift search of the assorted bandit corpses, to see if they have anything of interest (eg. more letters like the one that got charred upstairs).
5 ranks +3 trained+1 Trait+2 spirit bonus
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small
Not seeing anymore immediate threats, Khamul rummages through the attire of the thugs still lying above. A strange black feather that looks rather dessicated, a note hastily written regarding a supposed meeting point for a 'night rendezvous' and a tiny stoppered vial containing what looks like the mold that permeates the manor are all found in their possession.
Somewhere below, Caprice recovers from her fall. Looking around in the gloom, she can see little, but she hears voices somewhere in the distance.
"Sword please!" She yells up at her compatriots, a large grin on her face. It had been quite some time since she had gotten to do something quite so reckless and foolhardy as that and get away with it, and the adrenaline pumping through her veins at such a feat more than compensated for the bruised behind for now.
Khamul promptly uses his message spell to whisper back at Caprice "Pipe down, y'all probably got company down there". Even as he whispers he slings his spear and looks at the ropes the mooks had been using; he then considers the undoubted side effects of Dora's fire magic...
Moving quickly, he digs in his handy haversack for his own rope, slipping it through one of the pitons the thugs had set. The he ties the free end around the hilt of Caprice's bastard sword, which he lowers to Caprice in quick jerks, while laying the line for himself and Dora to climb. As he works, he looks up at Dora and whispers "Can you make the climb or do you need to drop some gear and I take it?"
Dora, taking a moment to assess the situation, considers Khamul's question carefully. She glances down at the makeshift ropes and then at the equipment she's carrying. Climbing with her gear might prove challenging, and she doesn't want to risk a fall.
She looks back at Khamul and nods in agreement, signaling that she'll need to drop some of her gear. With a sense of urgency, she starts unstrapping her heavier equipment, including her backpack, and sets it aside.
Once she's lightened her load, Dora gestures to Khamul.
"Maybe you can go first and then somehow pull me up later?" she asks.
"I'll handle that for the return journey." Caprice answers, waiting to retrieve her blade, keeping an eye out for enemies. What she wouldn't give to have Grenz on hand.
As Khamul works to start getting himself one Dora down, he indeed realizes that the ropes the thugs used are quite singed and will probably not hold much weight for very much longer. Tying his own rope to a piton, he is more sure of the climb down.
Caprice unties her blade, instinctively checking it for any damage before looking back up at her surroundings. While there are voices in the distance, they do not sound hurried and so it seems, at least for the time being, that you are able to move ahead without interruption. Of course, you will have to wait for more light.
Khamul climbs down and Dora, after lightening her load, follows after. Within the space of a minute, the three of you are together again in the caverns below Foxglove Manor.
Khamul whispers to Dora "Make some light for you and Caprice but shield it so it doesn't give us away". Then he calls on fiendish power again to let him see in the dark, as he slips ahead. He lets his ears guide him, down the stairwell and into the familiar tunnels below, scouting for more thugs...
vs DC 10 or gain a point of influence
5 ranks +3 trained+1 Trait+2 spirit bonus+4 for detect danger
3 ranks +3 trained +4 dex +4 small -1 acp
Caprice will moving slowly behind Khamul's lead, letting him scout ahead, hand on her weapon and ready to cast her hastening spell. These foes were difficult to handle without it.
Dora puts her armor on again and complies and creates light.
She tries to stay behind as she is not very stealthy.
Khamul has a brief discussion with the spirit residing within him, making a deal for a favor to be collected in the future. While it is unsettling, the halfling can at least see in the dark now and is less likely to be victim to an ambush down here. He scurries ahead, keeping just out of reach of Dora’s small globe of light.
You carefully pick your way among the rocks and debris and odd sounds and echoes in the caverns. It takes some time to finally pinpoint the source of the voices, but once you do, you realize how bad things actually are. Peering around the corner, Khamul halting you to keep the light from giving away your presence, you see a group of the bandits surrounding someone who is lying on the ground, retching and convulsing.
”Stay back, we don’t know what it’s going to do.”
”You, make sure you are taking notes. The Master will want to know the results.”
”I’m so glad I didn’t draw the short straw.”
”Quiet, or you’re next.”
The one with the yellow headband tied around his dark hair seems to be the one giving orders to the other three. So far, they have not noticed your presence.
Khamul peeks around the corner and takes in the scene. Slipping back, he reports via his message spell. After reporting, he continues whispering
"I think we have to try and take them... Spend twenty seconds buffing and then go for it? But don't get to far into the cavern so they can't flank us."
"I've only got the one, but yeah, I'll use it." Caprice whispers back, and readies to use her haste spell at the end of the prep time on herself.
You estimate that once you start the rituals of blessing yourselves, the thugs will certainly know you are here. Their reaction is unclear, but judging by the way in which the others were rather aggressive, you expect the same results.
Khamul flattens himself against the rock to hide, and whispers through his message link "Dora get up behind me here. When I attack, step forward and drop your best attack spell. Caprice, you follow her and cast your haste when Dora casts her spell. Then you change places with Dora; I will retreat and lead them to your blade..."
vs DC 10 or gain a point of influence
+4 dex
vs flatfooted?
+3 bab +4 dex +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small +1 dark communion
Does defers to Khamul's tactics and rushes forward to cast her spell as the others prepare to fight. A bright ball of light fills the room between them and they all cover their eyes, but not fast enough as they stagger around blinded.
Khamul's sling finds its mark as well.
As if well trained, after recovering from the blast of light in their faces, the four men, turn their backs towards one another and circle in, forming a tight defensive line.
Khamul cries out: "New plan, get the bastards!", as he charges with his longspear...
vs Blinded (-2 ac, no dex), total defence (+4 AC)
+3 bab +1 str +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small +1 dark communion
"Right!" Caprice lunges forward into battle at Khamul's urging, using her enhanced speed to try and attack Khamul's target from an advantageous position
Dora rushes forward to cast a jet of flame from her fingers as Khamul and Caprice race to surround the first thug. She catches most of them before the magic runs out.
Khamul and Caprice converge on the first thug and he goes down as a flaming corpse.
”It’s magic!”, one of them yells out. ”Scatter!” The rest of the bandits start separating, feeling for a way out. One of them nearly stumbles into the gaping hole as another finds the cave wall.
vs Blinded (-2 ac, no dex), total defence (+4 AC)
+3 bab +1 str +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
"Good job Dora, Caprice and I can take it from here."
Having dropped one of the fleeing bandits with his longspear, Khamul rushes after another...
vs Blinded (-2 ac, no dex), total defence (+4 AC)
+3 bab +1 str +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power +2 charging
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
Having only pinked the fleeing bandit, Khamul follows up with another attack...
vs Blinded (-2 ac, no dex), total defence (+4 AC)
+3 bab +1 str +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
Hastened by her spell, Caprice is a whirl of blades upon the foes.
Khamul charges after Blue, his spear thrusting into the man’s back over and over until he stumbles enough to fall into the watery pit below. It takes a few seconds for the splash to return.
Caprice’s superhuman speed allows her to carve her way towards the other thug with the orange sash around his waste. She wastes no time in felling him before he can recover. A bloody letter ‘C’ is evident upon his cheek.
Dora pulls back, ready for any counter attacks, but there seem to be none coming. Her power slowly starting to wane, she focuses on her defenses.
The last thug, his vision starting to return, notices that he is alone and surrounded by enemies. Strangely, he grins. ”It seems my boys couldn’t handle a little competition. You’ll find I’m not so easily fallen.” He then rushes towards Khamul and leaps as high into the air as the cave will allow, landing next to the halfling and sending out a side kick right for his head. The warrior Khamul is then launched backwards towards the waiting waters below, but he catches himself on the ledge as the bandit leader towers over him. ”Drop your weapon little girl,” he calls to Caprice, ”Or this one takes a swan dive.”
Khamul uses his message spell to whisper "Take the bastard" to Caprice. Then he concentrates on not getting knocked down the hole...
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small +1 dark communion +4 total defence
Caprice hesitates for a moment, but at Khamul's urging steps forward. "You underestimate our resolve! We'll never leave this place in your hands!"
Daring a look down, Khamul notes that even though sixty feet doesn’t sound like a lot, it sure looks like a lot from where he is. As if anticipating her attack, the bandit turns to face Caprice and attempts to deflect her strikes as much as he can. The swordswoman can tell that he is starting to wear down, as his defenses are slowing. He glances quickly over his shoulder and attempts to kick Khamul’s hands from their grip. The halfling switches from side to side, keeping from plunging into the cold water below. Glaring at Caprice, he taunts her. ”I guess you’ll just have to go over with him. Such a shame.”
Khamul has a reply for the bandit's taunts "Maybe you should give it up, before she paints the floor with your guts...", even as he continues to do his best skittering rat impersonation...
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small +1 dark communion +4 total defence
+1 cha
"You may fancy a trip to the hole yourself!"
The bandit attempts to grab Caprice’s arm, but her supernaturally enhanced speed allows her to bypass his arms and skewer him through the neck. He stares at her, as if unbelieving in what just happened. He slowly slides off the blade and tumbles into the water below. Khamul is left hanging by his tiny fingers and Dora has backed away to keep herself safe. There is a body on the floor that is covered in the moss now and it is squirming. Just then, Grenz, the warrior of the fighting pits, steps into the cavern…
"Khamul!" - Grenz rushes to the aid of his companion, intent on pulling him up from the precarious position.
As he helps the halfling, the monk casts a sidelong glance at the squirming, moss covered body - "Who or what is that? Friend or foe?"
The half-orc seems mostly unchanged since last you've seen him - he still wears his plain traveling clothes. The only noticeable difference is a simple open blue palm metallic symbol, dangling from a cord around his neck.
With Grenz's help, Khamul scrambles up from the edge of the pit. The first thing he does is grab his longspear from the floor, Then he replies to Grenz:
"Who or what is that? Friend or foe?"
"Down here, covered in that moss? I figure it's a ghoul or worse..."
He follows up by driving his spear home...
3*1 str +3*2 divine favor + 3*1 dark power
vs Prone (-4 AC)
+3 bab +1 str +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
vs Prone (-4 AC)
+3 bab +1 str +1 size +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+1 str +1 Dark Communion +2 Divine Power
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small +1 dark communion
Khamul’s grabs up his spear and drives it deep into the chest of the writhing, moss covered thug. As he does so, a black cloud of spores bursts out of its body. Khamul jumps back just in time to avoid inhaling them and the body lies still on the floor, the spores settling around it. Knowing what you have seen before, it is quite possible that this thing will rise again, unless something is done about it. What do you do?
Grenz stares for a moment as Khamul finishes off the creature, then takes a moment to greet his companions - "Apologies for my absence... It is good to see you again" - he nods at them a bit awkwardly.
"What has transpired here? I was told when I arrived back to Sandpoint you had returned here, so decided to follow your trail" - he explained, looking down the hole - "Is the area safe?"
"Safe, in this place?!? Ha ha ha" Khamul laughs mirthlessly. He continues "That's funny... According to Dora, to break the haunting on the house, we need to consecrate the mold and the remnants of the phylactery. So we came back to do that, and we found this bunch attempting to loot the place for purposes unknown, but they say they are associated with Red Fist. Unfortunately, that fellow that just fell down the hole over there was their leader. I figure we want to search him for any clues, so got any ideas about how to fish him out from there? There's water at the bottom - probably sea water - but good news is that dead bodies float..."
As Khamul talks, he will do a quick search of the bandit bodies that are still up here.
5 ranks +3 trained+1 Trait+2 spirit bonus
Grenz peers down the hole to check if the defeated bandit is 'retrievable' - "Maybe I can climb down there"
"And did you find the Phylactery?"
"Yeah, Dora says the phylactery was that weird box we found where we fought blue-coat"
"Grenz- It's good to have you back. It's been rough without you!" Caprice rests for a moment, relief clear on her face to spy Grenz. For a moment, she doesn't worry about the ghoul nonsense, sure that together they'd handle the situation.
As you discuss next steps, Khamul searches the dead thugs around the hole. All of them have different colored wraps around their hands and he notices that each one has a silver chain around their neck that radiates abjuration or defensive magic. The one with the notes that fell to the floor was drawing a picture of what the body with the mold was going through and writing in shorthand a description. It did not get finished however, as he was interrupted…
Looking down the hole at the water below, you can smell the salt of the sea and your are certain that the climb will be difficult at best with the rocks slick with water.
What next?
"Think maybe these silver chains are what prevents them from falling prey to the dark powers they're messing with?"
"Think maybe these silver chains are what prevents them from falling prey to the dark powers they're messing with?"
Khamul snorts "Judging by the moss guy, I'm not sure there's anything keeping them from 'falling prey to the dark powers'". He turns to Dora and asks "Can you figure out what these silver chains are?"
He stashes the notes and the handwraps in his backpack and then scootches over to the edge of the hole. He asks "Anybody got some rope? I used mine getting us down the shaft... If we have some, Dora can cast her light spell on then end of it, and we can lower it down to see if the body is floating down there. Assuming it is, we should be able to rig up a line to climb down with. After climbing down, tie the bottom end to the body, climb back up, then we can all haul on the rope to get the body back up here... "
"Yes, I have some rope" - Grenz nods, then they put Khamul's plan into practice.
After Dora hands Khamul her rope as well, she tinges the end with a bit of light. Grenz and Khamul work to put their contraption together as Dora studies the chains, Caprice on the lookout for more trouble.
”The chains are meant to protect them from all harm that might come to them. They invoke the powers of fate and fortune.”, Dora says as she looks up from them.
You lower the end of the rope as far down as it will go before touching the water. Sure enough, you count at least three bodies floating in the pool, bobbing to and fro as the tide rolls.
Something about the scene below disturbs Khamul, he throws up a hand and says "Wait".
Reviewing the fight in his mind, he mutters "Why are there three? We only knocked two down the hole...". He pulls out his sling and tries recon by fire, shooting at each of the bodies to make sure they are not lurking undead...
vs flatfooted?
+3 bab +4 dex +1 size
+1 str
vs flatfooted?
vs flatfooted?
Grenz has learned to respect Khamul's instincts, so he waits for the go ahead. If and when he receives the signal from his companion, the half-orc asks for Irori's guidance, and climbs down the rope.
Presuming Khamul calls it safe, Caprice will go slowly and carefully after Grenz.