"Um. Her. Pai is a female gnome. And a bard. Kind of hard to lose, but we managed."
"I wouldn't worry about your bard. Those I've known have as much knack for getting into trouble as they do getting out. Besides, bards pick up their best stories from when they get lost."
Talon snaps out of the daydream he was having when he heard Taize's voice calling them, standing up from his kneeling pose. His hand twitched slightly towards the folded two-bladed sword strapped to his back, but he stopped himself, relaxing as the samsaran introduced the new blood.
Strange - he'd thought for a moment he had been fighting just recently, but... no. He'd just been calculating a battle plan, imagining what they might find inside. Time to get his head out of the clouds.
Shame that Keeya wasn't coming back right now. He wished her luck in finding the missing gnome, though. At least they were actually up in numbers now - sending them back to report had obviously been the right choice for the group.
"No movement that I've seen. Though we haven't yet approached, so it may be any lookouts haven't seen us yet." He looked to the newcomers, the handsome warrior addressing them properly.
"Welcome. I am Talon Neverion. This is K'Nyaz." He gestures to the tiefling shrouded in his robes. "I trust that Taize has explained the situation to you all?" He asked them, looking towards the hideout.
"Our current objectives here are the retrieval of Natalya Vancaskerkin, preferably alive. If she doesn't listen to reason, attempt to bring her down using non-lethal methods, if possible. Anyone else, you should use your own judgment on how to deal with them."
He glanced them over briefly - an elf in light armor, a half-orc with a greataxe, and a well dressed halfling. "I'm most proficient in close combat fighting, so I'll be keeping to the front. K'Nyaz here will support with his magic from the rear. I'd like to hear what you are are capable of before I plot where you should be in the formation."
Talon checked his scale armor over for a moment before speaking again. "I know you've all just met me, so if you have any objections to me giving you orders, go ahead and speak up now. I'm not going to blame you for doing so." After all, he was probably the youngest person here by far - well, maybe not the half-orc. Maybe.
Hralyk tries several times to get a word in edge-wise while the warrior...Talon...speaks, but gives up after a couple of failed attempts.
Once Talon has finished, he tries to recall what he was first going to say. Then, realizing he's forgotten what it was, he decides to act as if the conversation had started a little more...normally...and repeats his 'phrase of greeting'. Manners were never his strong point.
"Greetings, Talon and K'Nyaz. My name is Hralyk. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
There, that's out of the way. After that, he does his best to answer Talon's questions, albeit in reverse order.
"I've no issues following orders, provided they're good ones." Time will tell on that one, I suppose. "As to my abilities, I don't keep this axe strapped to my back just to look impressive, impressive though it may be. I use it to great effect, and am able to cast some small number of spells, including healing and a shielding spell."
He pauses. There was something else...Ah, yes.
"As to the situation, we are aware of it, though only in general terms, as we've obviously only just arrived."
Oh. Her. Sorry about that.
Turning to the human and riefling he says:
Hey Talon, this is your show and im happy to dance to your tune. Or sing - more specifically. I'm Fletch. I was a bard before I became a Pathfinder. The band I was in was pretty good by all accounts and more than a few found my voice... Inspirational I guess. Other than that im a decent shot and I've picked up more than a few random bits of information on my travels plus a couple of tricks too. Ill support you guys any way I can. Just happy to be on board.
K'nyaz stands hunched under voluminous robes, most of his features tucked within the hood and sleeves. The reddish hue to his skin just visible, as are his slightly pointed teeth. The fit of his robes give the look of him having a hunched back, except that it slightly shifts periodically, as does the back of his robes where the tip of a forked tail can just be seen.
On his shoulder sits a raven. The bird eyes the newcomers with its unblinking cold black eyes, before cawing softly in a musical, almost lilting tone. K'nyaz responds softly, nodding his head. As the others introduce themselves, he shrinks somewhat into his robes, nodding at each of them but keeping to the depths of his robe.
It shows why Talon says as much as he does, as K'nyaz seems reluctant to speak with the newcomers, oddly shy despite his obviously bestial appearance.
Kelgeah smirks coyly at the youngster's introduction. "I am Kelgeah. Calistria guides me; I've powers of healing to share, and I use the whip to educate my foes...or anyone else who wants a lesson. I don't mind being the one to take orders once in awhile, though. It'll be fun to see how you do at your age."
Kelgeah furrows her brow a bit at the hunched, robed figure. "Shy, close-lipped, and hiding something in your robes? Oh now that just won't do. I'm going to have to bring you out of that shell of yours sometime. But for now, on to business."
So, all three of them were spellcasters - Kelgeah's reverence to her god made her out to be a priestess. Hralyk was more of a front-liner with the capacity for support. Fletcher's skills on the other hand seemed to be mostly attributed to the non-combative - though he did say that he was a decent shot.
He thought out an order swiftly, based on what he'd seen - if the conditions demanded otherwise, he'd adjust it then. Nothing that he could do before that. "All right. When we're heading in, I'll go first, Hralyk next, then Kelgeah after that, Fletcher behind her, and K'Nyaz and Taize will bring up the rear." Meleeists in the front, ranged support in the middle, and the least armored spellcasters in the back. Definitely the best battle formation.
"If anyone has any questions, ask them. Otherwise, we should head in as soon as possible."
I'm ready. Fletcher says, readying his bow and clearing his throat.
"I have no questions - lead on." Hralyk removes his greataxe and nods his readiness to Talon.
"Let's go rouse up some trouble." Kelgeah grins as she looses the whip at her belt, keeping it coiled in her hand.
As you approach the building, two thugs exit the tumbledown shack and, rather loudly, demand that you leave this private property immediately.
Each is wearing chainmail and carrying a morningstar and a light wooden shield.
Hralyk looks over the two men, grins at them, and announces, "We're not looking for a fight, but if you want one, I think we can make that happen..."
"Like he said," Talon speaks up as well, his two-bladed sword coming into hand and unfolding. "If you really think that you can take all of us on, feel free to try. Otherwise, get lost before you end up regretting your decisions."
"Unless, of course..," Kelgeah cracks her whip on the ground, "you LIKE pain."
Wow, guys, you make this good an impression on everybody? Ever tried just talking to people before pulling out the swords?
Fletchers hand hovers nervously by his bow but he steps forward beside Kelgeah and speaks up.
Sorry, gents, my friends here had a bad breakfast - pickled herring. I advised against it but as you can see they're pretty stubborn. We're actually looking for someone, maybe you can help us?
[I]Hmmm, judging by their reaction, I think this is going to turn sour pretty quick.[/b]
"Oh, come now, Fletch. I think we could all use a little exercise and excitement to work off that breakfast." Kelgeah snaps the whip between two hands with an evil grin.
The two men look at each other, then back at you. They're trying to not look impressed.
"Run along, brats. This is grownup work."
They're still speaking rather loudly, and...hm...backing up?
Maybe they're not as confident as they seem? They look like the standard thugs you've seen about town. Maybe they're suspecting they're not being paid enough?
Hralyk, still holding his greataxe at the ready, walks confidently past them and waits for the rest of the party to enter the building before entering himself.
Before he steps across the threshold, he tells the two thugs, "I think you'd better take the rest of the day off. I don't think you want to be here when we return."
Kelgeah keeps her whip casually ready as she strolls past. "Wise choice, boys. Not very fun, but probably smart."
Talon can't help but twitch his eyebrow as Hralyk and Kelgeah just strode forward like that. Certainly these guys were thinking twice about going against them, but they were still a threat. He stepped forward, giving his best evil smile.
"We're going in now. If you're still out here by the time we come out, I can't guarantee what will happen to you. My suggestion is that you not be here then. If you are...well. Things will get a little messy for you two."
"...Well? Get the hell out of here!" Talon roars at them.
They once more look at each other, then simultaneously retreat down an alleyway, as the bigger of the two yells "You're trespassing! We're going for the watch!"
Well, so far so good.
As the thugs retreat, you push into the small shack/guard room. It's empty except for bedding for the two thugs. Both windows are boarded up and there doesn't seem to be an entry to the main building here.
Going around to the southern side, you see a rickety looking door into the main building. Opening this door leads reveals a large room. The entire floor of this chamber has collapsed into the pool of water five feet below. The earthen walls of this flooded subcellar ooze with foul rivulets, and the smell is abominable. Two oozing sewer pipes protrude through the east wall of this pit just above the level of the sewage. Part of the ceiling above the entrance has collapsed, revealing an attic crawlspace above; a rickety ladder leads up from the water into the crawlspace. A door stands in the far wall across the sludge pit. A wooden plank balanced between both doors makes a precarious bridge between the two doors.
The first thing that Talon noticed was the smell. The horrible, god awful smell. He didn't waste time in wrapping a bandana around his nose and mouth to try and mitigate the stench - if only he had a bit of perfume as well to make things more pleasant.
Looking between the ladder and the rickety walkway, he mentally cursed - he hoped there was better footing inside, otherwise he was going to have a hard time fighting - pretty much all of the meleeists would. In that case, maybe the crawlspace to the upper level would give them all some more breathing room. He didn't like the look of that ladder, however.
"Anyone think they can make it up there?" He whispers to the group, pointing at the opening in the ceiling.
Kelgeah waves away the first fumes of the sewage, grimacing slightly. "Nothing like a pool of bile to curb the appetite."
Gazing up to the crawlspace, Kelgeah scans for anything sturdy enough and shaped well enough to wrap a whip around. "If we can find a good anchor, I can get us something to climb."
Concerned that they might be breaking and entering, he worries about the claims of the two retreating men. He decides that from what Talon has said about this part of the city, they were more likely criminals and going to the constabulary would net themselves in more trouble.
As the door opens, the stench is powerful and new to the bookish wizard. "Voroan kin fly up and look if you are vantinG?"
Oddly enough the ceiling of this room seem sturdier than the rest of this place. You could probably hook something to one of the exposed rafters. That ladder, though, looks like all it would provide access to is a quick swim. The ceiling of this room is about 8 feet up from where the floor used to be.
"Ahh. that looks good." Kelgeah uncoils her whip, then snaps it upward, looping it around the sturdiest rafter, or intersection of rafters, she can find, giving it a good tug to make sure it's secure.
"Going up?"
Hralyk looks doubtful. "I think I'd prefer to...erm...wait on a more sturdy rope. Speaking of which, does anyone have any?"
Fletcher has been quietly trying not to retch since the stench assaulted him.
Ummm, no... I don't <hak> .... but you are welcome to my whip too if it helps. Also, I'm pretty small - I could try that ladder, if it'll hold <coughcough> anyone it's either me or Kelgeah.
"It's adorable how nervous you are. And to think, I'm not the reason...I could tie some knots in it, but that'll leave it just a bit short to climb. Never going to get anywhere standing around, though."
Kelgeah gets her grip firm and starts her ascent.
"Be careful," Talon advises Kelgeah as she starts to climb. He looks around at the others, waiting on the elf to finish climbing before trying himself, climbing up as swiftly as he can.
"It's sturdy enough - if it'll take my weight, it'll take yours. I'll help you," He tells them once he reaches the top, laying down and outstretching his arm down to grab their hands once they can reach it.
"See? Not so bad once you actually give it a go. Live a little! Come on up!"
Are you kidding me? This is no problem!
Hralyk eyes the whip, then sighs and attempts to climb.
The crawlspace here is about 5 feet high, requiring most Medium creatures to crouch slightly but not otherwise impeding their movement. The rafters are 8 inches wide, and require a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check to cross—they are solidly built and can easily support the weight of Medium creatures, though, now that you see them from this side, the thin slats that make up the ceiling are not as sturdy as they appeared from below, and will break if more than 25 pounds is placed upon them. Anyone who falls through the ceiling lands 13 feet below in the sludge below, taking 1d6 points of nonlethal damage from debris.
Once up there you can see light coming from the farthest point.
Hralyk begins to make his way toward the light, treading as carefully as his bulk will allow.
I'm going to hang back here and cover you until you're across. K'Nyaz, you doing the same?
"Might be better to crawl across, hence the phrase 'crawlspace.' It'll spread your weight more evenly over the beams instead of concentrating our weight on one point. probably easier too. Plus it'll give us all a chance to see each other on all fours."
Kelgeah chuckles to herself with a sly grin.
Talon looks at the crossbeams a bit nervously, before steeling his resolve. It wasn't like he didn't have that ring of feather fall, right? Still, he clasped his hand on Hralyk's shoulder before he went off without forethought.
"Be careful. The beams certainly look sturdy, but this whole place is falling apart - step on some rotten wood and its a quick drop to the bottom for you." He thinks about his options here. "We'll be going at a snail's pace. I'll take the lead. Everyone, keep a sharp eye out."
Slow and steady he proceeded forward, making sure to prod five feet ahead of himself with his weapon, determining if the beam was safe to cross or if they needed to double back. If he made a mistake - well, falling wasn't too much of a problem for him on the short term.
K'nyaz struggles to make his way up with the others, but manages to get a handle on the whip-rope after a little trial and error. Once he arrives, he understands her reasoning for spreading weight evenly, but finds himself a little confused about Kelgeah's other reference. "Vie vould ve vant to see each other on all fours? I am not understand how crawlinG helps for us to understand each other better." He stays back with Fletch, nodding in answer to the halfling's question, deciding that now would probably be a reasonable time to better defend himself. He uses his vision to try and peer ahead for any dangers, but all he sees are a bunch of rear ends.
Kelgeah barely manages to cover her mouth at K'nyaz's comment before her giggle breaks into a outright laughter.
"Ooooohhh, I have SO much to teach you..."
Fletcher smirks to himself at Kelgeah’s antics.
I guess you can’t really help but like her.
He knocks an arrow to his bowstring and looks up at K’Nyaz.
So how long have you guys travelled together, or is this your first assignment too? Careful there Talon, that bit doesn’t look too good to me.
He watches his new-found companions inch along the beam. The stench had receeded a bit up here. Either that or he had got used to it but at least he no longer felt the urge to retch.
He starts humming a melody to himself, instinctively tapping his foot in time as he waits for them to safely cross the expanse.
As you work your way over the beams you come to a point where the ceiling of the room below has collapsed, revealing a drop into the filth below. Charred rafters extend to the western wall, providing a means of crossing the space to the north or south.
There are, however, other issues. Once the first character reaches the exposed portion, they are met by a hail of crossbow bolts (surprise round) from behind a stack of boxes at the northern end of the room below.
Init:
Fletcher
Hralyk
K'nyaz
Kelgeah
Talon
Taize
monsters
victims: Hralyk=1, Kelgeah=2, Talon=3, Taize=4
monster 1: Taize
monster 2: Kelgeah
monster 3: Talon
Round 1:
Taize
monsters
Talon
K'nyaz
Kelgeah
Hralyk
Fletcher
Talon,stop! That beam has been sabotaged!
Kelgeah's eyes narrow as the bolts whiz by her hair. "Ohh, someone else who hasn't found their courage yet. Lots of new students today..." On her action, she replaces the whip at her belt and uncoils her other, more lethal one instead. She will then intone a short prayer to Calistria and erect a shield of faith around herself.
Talon was more than a little surprised as the flurry of crossbow bolts shot out at them all, crouching low for more balance and pulling off his shortbow, taking an arrow from his quiver and pointing it down at the attackers from below - they had range, but their higher vantage point gave them an advantage.
"Take them out and watching your footing!" He instructed, loosing his arrow at the first monster of opportunity.
Hralyk quickly (well, as quickly as anyone with a limp can) makes his way to the good beam and drops down on top of the attackers, trusting in his armor (and the cover provided by the beams) to protect him from the incoming bolts.