Ca..can y.y.you see a . a way to fi.fix it?
He asked peering down the stairwell quite.. tentively.
No..none of the..these men loo..loo..look like they wan..wanted to eat us.
He added afraid they werent done just yet.
Harpina listens intently. She looks at Any and touches Cal's shoulder to see if they have anything else to add.
Any has been keeping an eye on the surrounding area, and he turns at Harpina's touch. He recoils back for a moment, then collects himself.
"Harpina! That...spell? That spell you used...what was that? That was very impressive. Your magic is intriguing."
After completing his turn, he glances back at his companions.
"I'm no mason, but repair may be a worthy idea. I'd hate for it fall and hurt someone..."eyes dart back to the bodies. "...innocent."
"That's actually a great idea. I'll...okay, I can't really help with that. Um...Maybe I'll keep an eye out for any stragglers?"
Harpina answers Any's question, "It is merely a call to nature to help defend itself. Your friend Corrin would be able to better explain the mechanics of the spellcraft."
Taking about an hour Nilelane is able to create a deadfall of the threshold to the series of rooms labelled 'archives'. Listening closely you can't hear anything too out of the ordinary, but it is difficult to hear over the echoes from working.
Working your way into the rooms with another lit berry guiding you, you are surprised to see extremely clean shelves and cross shelves for books and scrolls, though they are all empty of materials they once held. Harpina grows more distressed as you follow the path, the underground system leading in the direction of the clearing she and Saphron resided in.
A large chamber opens up before you, the floor filled with books, parchments, scrolls and more, all supposedly ripped from the shelves leading here. The paper is so thick the ground is unseen underneath and walking is difficult without slipping even a little. Two bookshelves have been pushed over to create barricades that you see several Red Fang Squad members taking cover behind. Beyond them is a large throne made from the wood of other shelves. Sitting atop the throne is a large elven man, his chin and arms up to the elbows stained red.
His voice is deeper than usual for an elf, sounding almost dwarven in its brusque tones and basso pitch, "Welcome! Welcome to my feasting hall and to your demise. We are currently about 200 feet below a certain glade and the only way through is past me. An... associate of mine is there right now, giving a little girl a lot of delicious choices." The man, who you can only assume is Ganamede, sucks some of the crimson off the fingers of his right hand. "I have wanted to taste the blood of someone... braver than those pitiful fools that live in this town. Even the tourists," he points to a pair of fresh corpses at the feet of the throne, "are tainted bitter with the terror of cowardly hearts."
Harpina looks at the group before apologizing, "If what he says is true Saphron is in danger and I must go to her now." She doesn't give the group much time to talk before saying another prayer to nature, "Winds give me your speed, Fire your formless chaos, Water your adaptability, Earth your boundless strength that I may survive this journey." She disappears with the crackle of displaced air and a faint hint of ozone.
Ganamede wrinkles his nose, "Well that was unexpected! Come then, join me for luncheon!" He stands, picking up the longsword next to him before preparing for battle.
He fired a quick arrow at the leader.
How will we capture them and question anyone if we block the path?
He waited behind Dewdrop who pawed the ground nervously the elk standing there half providing cover half unsure where to go.
The members of the Red Fang Squad pull longbows from behind their barricade and shoot at Anyborthelos and Callanniel.
The man shooting at Any has kept his bow in poor repair as the string snaps on him. He growls then draws his shortsword.
Cal feels the arrows rushing around him so he covers his head in reflex. "I can't fight a ranged battle and rushing forward alone in this condition would be suicide for me... moving back or forward in unison is the best move!"
Any, true to his usual battle plan, draws his cutlass, and casts Shield. He mumbles something about being with Cal and Nilelane, and then starts toward the enemy.
Ganamede licks the blade in his hand, "Can't wait for your blood too..." he purrs.
Dewsdrop Trample him!
Corrin growled out pointing at the leader as he advanced forward drawing an arrow and firing it from almost point blank range, as his elk companion charged the sicko.
Ganamede slips on some of the parchment beneath his feet, allowing Corrin's arrow to graze him and Dewdrop to nearly run him down. He hisses in what you recognize to be pleasure. His great deep voice rumbles in his chest as he smiles, "Oh yes, you'll do."
Following Dewdrop, Callaniel moves into position to attack Ganamede if he just gives him the opening.
Cal and Nilelane get into position and while Nilelane's aim is good her dagger skitters across Ganamede's breastplate. Ganamede growls low in his throat, and glances at his squad, "Come on boys, time to get bloody."
The man who snapped his bowstring rushes forward with his shortsword, looking ready to strike soon. The other two with bows aim at Corrin out in the middle of the room.
The conditions down here must be terrible as another bowstring snaps and the second man's arrow goes wild from being warped. Ganamede snarls seeing his men's complications, "Idiots! I'll eat all of you!"
Anybothelos moves to assist running as fast as he can.
Ganamede's eyes glaze over as blood drips from the minor wounds he has taken from Corrin and Dewdrop. He drops his sword with a snarl, "No need for this, I'll chew on you and rip you all to pieces myself!"
His visage becomes darker, fangs sprout from his lips and claws grow on his hands with a crackle of bone and sinew realigning. "Time to eat..."
He steps just within Callenniel's reach swinging a claw at Dewdrop in passing before swiping at Cal himself.
It appears that the transformation was too much too quickly for Ganamede as his arm gives out on him. The spasming of the arm causes him to lose several iron vials from his pouch which fall to the floor. Unfortunately his other arm swings successfully latches onto Cal, gouging his flesh in red rivulets and allowing him to swing around and attempt to chomp down on Nilelane.
He latches onto her arm and rips a large chunk out, chewing thoughtfully and swallowing. He practically purrs in pleasure, "I knew the blood of heroes would taste great, so sweet and delectable, with just the spice of fear for their life."
Nile...Nilelane I have healing potions in my belt pouch!
He called out all signs of the stuttering for the most part missing in the heat of the moment. He drew and arrow and took careful aim at the leader loosing it. The arrow flew true shooting right throught the horns of his friend who once more lowered his head and tried to gore the monster in front of him.
With Ganamede in front of him and feeling the wall behind him with the end of his spear, Callanniel noves west, trying to put a distance between himself and the enemy so he can use his spear. The wound he received was painful but he endured it so far, deciding it was more important to pay attention to the fight and care about the wound later if he survives.
Ganamede jerks his head back, but still receives a large wound from Nilelane's knife. He snaps back at her in retaliation as she moves past him.
His teeth clack on nothing but air. Cal, sensing the opportunity, stabs at Ganamede, but only manages to score across his breastplate. The Red Fang Squad members rush to help their leader, the only one still with a bow shooting Corrin instead.
Amidst the fighting only one of the gang members does damage to Anyborthelos, and even that cut is shallow.
CMD 20
hp 47
Any jumps back a step, startled he was actually cut. He responds in kind, a low, sweeping cut, trying to angle under the man's weapon. Unfortunately, he swings a little wide, and hits the wall instead.
Ganamede looks around appearing slightly disturbed, "All the heroes have moved away." He looks at Dewdrop, eyes glazing again and shrugs, "Meat is meat." He jumps onto Dewdrop and tries to latch on.
He wraps Dewdrop in a headlock and swallows before baring his teeth.
DEWDROP! Return!
He yelled as he drew another arrow and fired it at the maniac Headlocking his friend. The Elk while bucking wildly ran for Corrin.
Callanniel moves behind, once more too close to attack. "Ar... this is not going well..."
The Red Fang Squad members snarl, each trying to get their prey.
None of them hit, their fury overriding what little training they may have had to begin with.
"Come on, guys! Push them back!"
Any cheers, trying to rally his friends, and spins wide, trying to catch his opponent off-guard.
Any's cheering gives the gang member what he thinks is an opening. Stepping forward to stab Any in the guts the man is surprised as his opponent smoothly dances around him, leaving a deep cutlass laceration across his back.
Ganamede, hold still on Dewdrop tries to make the elk stop moving to give him a clear shot at its throat.
Ganamede successfully holds Dewdrop still enough to rip chunks out of the elk's flesh using only his teeth.
On three?
He asked as he drew aim trying to focus his breathing even as he watched in horror his best friend being gnawed upon.
Callanniel sidesteps once more, now changing his target towards the cannibalistic enemy. This time he holds his spear tighter, tired of missing so many good opportunities.