If Mirandix is able to keep the door from slamming shut, Zhu will use his action to take out one of his iron spikes and jam it into the doorframe to prevent the door's closure.
Arma speaks aloud after a moments pause still watching the creatures circling around... "I recognize these things... They are I think called Augurs. They are lower Kytons! They are tortures by nature... Though why an imp I don't know."
Robert goes to the door trying to open it. Since he can not see, he touches the door looking for a handle. If he notices a bar, he tries to remove it.
Zhu curses, then he quickly takes off his backpack and pulls out an iron crowbar. "Mirandix! Help me with this!" He shoves one end into the area of the door near its handle.
Kyrax will bleed, I guess, and beginning his dance, will swing at the location he was attacked from. I can't see. he complains as he hears a satisfying clang of metal from his black blade.
With the door slammed shut, Raina knows she is not the one to try to force it open. She is not strong enough. Looking around, she attempts to find anything that may help in assisting those inside.
With a grunt as he is shoved out of the way, Mirandix staggers slightly, but keeps his feet. He immediately throws himself back at the door, seizing the crowbar and heaving his strength into it.
Pontia stays out of the way while the bruisers have at.
Kyrax hears a clang as his blade strikes something in the darkness, and his face is spattered with a foul, sticky, reeking liquid that makes him gag!
Noya holds position, neither acting nor speaking.
"Gunther goes where Gunther's never gone," a screeching voice sings as it buzzes past Kyrax,
"But Slish and Slash will still have lots of fun!"
Arma positions herself to prevent flanking from occurring, but this does not appear to deter the little monsters from simply attacking!
"In the Utterdark we'll sing while you scream," the other little horror yodels as it buzzes Kyrax,
"Until you'll learn to love it as your fondest dream!"
Despite the horrible song, Kyrax is spared another wound, thanks to Arma safeguarding him! Her defensive presence throws off the Augurs enough that he feels their buzzing blades rip through his clothing, but not his flesh this time!
As Robert stumbles through the dark, his hands find the door and locate the locking mechanism: an actual lock with a dial of some sort. He starts to fumble at it in an attempt to get it open...
... and feels the tumblers click into place! There is a dull 'Thunk!'-noise and he can feel a short vibration as some kind of lever shoots back, releasing the door. When he tries to push against it, however, the entire panel trembles and starts to groan...!
While Pontia and Raina look on, Zhu and Mirandix attack the door! The wood groans and starts to crack where it meets the doorjamb...
And then you hear a voice, dull and lifeless, coming from the direction of the stairwell leading upstairs: "Longshanks."
If you look at the door opening leading there, you see... a lone Goblin, dressed in black armour. There is a scimitar sized for a Goblin hanging from his one hand, and he holds a wine bottle in the other. His eyes are curiously dull for a Goblin, and he looks at you all with a marked lack of the usual nastiness in these creatures' red eyes.
"Longshanks," he says again, as if tasting the word, and a faint gleam of feeling enters his eyes. "Yes. Longshanks."
With painful stiffness, the Goblin drops the bottle and raises his scimitar in the ready position -- one-handed. The other hand dips into his collar and brings out what looks like a glass key on a string, which he holds almost inside his mouth as he speaks.
"Hear me well, longshanks. This is the key to the next Wizard-door, up the stairs behind me. If any of you have the honour to fight me to the death one-on-one, right here and now, you can collect the key from my corpse if you defeat me. If you try to gank me, ensorcel me or rush me, I will bite it, break it. You won't be able to make another key without a glassblower's help; your pretty will be dead before you can get to her, and my death will be your defeat. How say you? Do any of you have the honour to face Grinner Grim, Knight of the Mother?"
Kyrax, still bleeding, continues his dance, and swings again at a location he was attacked from. Someone strike a light. he requests as he hears a another clang of metal from his black blade. But this time it is somehow not as satisfying.
Pontia turns, focusing her attention on the peculiar goblin.
"Why, you're actually serious. My compliments...one so seldom sees such...integrity among your kind." To the party: "Which one of you will fight him?"
One down two to go.
Arma taking note as the attack glances off her shield keeps the others defense in mind as she notes Kyrax blow killing the Kyton it struck and looking for another for her sword to strike.
"Light if we have it... Sir Robert if your done with the door, maybe you have something!" Her voice while trying to sound confident also sounds distracted as she glances about at the enemies encircling them.
She readies to swing at one of the remaining two still attacking above and around them should they come into range. She also steadies her footing to make sure she can move to cover the others retreat should the door open but with so much going on it surprises even her that she can keep up with so much going on.
Zhu looks the new arrival with disdain. His concern for his trapped comrades takes precedence. "There is a third choice. We ignore you. Ask your question at another time." He again focuses on the door. "Again, Mirandix!"
______________
"I have little in the way of training and experience with the martial ways." she says to the goblin. "I fear I would not be the worthy opponent you seek." Raina says without guile.
The Goblin snaps his teeth very very close to the key when Zhu insults him, and grins mirthlessly when Raina speaks.
"I care not for your other business," he says. "Either you fight me or the key falls! "
"You seem intent on one of us fighting you. I see no honor in combat when death is the reward. You seem to be troubled by something. What is it?" she asks the goblin.
Noya takes a swing at one of them
"Your reward in victory is to ascend and pass the Wizard-door, Elf," the Goblin corrects Raina. "Mine is to shed blood in the service of the Mother. Don't get it wrong again."
Mirandix smiles grimly at Zhu, "He is being honest with us. We need that key to complete our mission. Keep trying the door."
Mirandix steps away from the door, rolling his shoulders to loosen them and drawing his curve blade. He steps toward the goblin, "Perhaps today will be a good day to die."
"Excellent," the Goblin says, grinning widely. A spark of life is returning to his eyes as he drops into a warrior's crouch and twirls his scimitar. "I salute you!" The Goblin salutes... and charges!
Mirandix charges forward, leveling a mighty blow at the goblin.
Robert leaves the door for now, and rummages in his bag for a light. He finds a torch easily and tries to light it.
"Exquisite!" the Goblin rasps, grinning despite the blood running from the deep wound Mirandix dealth him -- and suddenly rams his fist into Mirandix' sternum! "Be strong, Elf, be strong!"
The blow is not intolerably painful, but a sudden sensation of DOOM fills the hallway; a cold feeling of fear on the horizon. Grinner Grin cackles as black fire erupts from his hand, snarling along Mirandix' limbs. But instead of strength, Mirandix feels a quasy, gut-twisting feeling steal through his body...!
Noya calls out encouragement to Kyrax, seeing what he can not see; a Kyton splattered to goo. She swings her blade when the kytons zip closer once more, cutting into one of them so deep that gore goes flying.
"Exquisite, exquisite!" the little horror gasps, wobbling left to right, right to left -- and zips at Kyax once more. "Let us all perish in an orgy of blood!" it screeches, elated, its blades buzzing for the Dervish's exposed flesh! The creature's injuries seem to throw off its aim, however, as it wobbles a little too much and its blades go wide.
On its erratic course, the tiny kyton meets Arma's blade, which shears off even more of its metal plating, causing blood to arc wildly on the air. The outsider utters a high-pitched squeal, equal parts pleasure and pain.
"Me, too! Me, too!" the other Augur screeches, zipping towards Kyrax. But as before, its blades glance off of Kyrax' armour -- and then light explodes into the room, as Robert kindles his sunrod!
Surprised by the sudden illumination, the Augur flies right into the arc of Kyrax' blade, which cuts deep into its body. "Ahh!" the little horror gasps as it spirals up to the ceiling together with its companion. ""
Just then, with a loud and , the door slams open!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Zhu manages to break the door open, the crowbar turning the trick!
As for the ladies, they may very well find themselves spellbound by the battle unfolding between Mirandix and the odd Goblin, Grinner Grim...!
Kyrax, breathing hard and blinking in the bright light of the sun rod holds his wound. Blood pours freely from between his fingers and puddles at his feat. I seem to be bleeding. he notes with some concern.
"Stay out of this fight. The goblin has sworn to destroy a key we need if anyone interferes."
Attempting to shove aside the sudden nagging fear and feelings of illness, Mirandix swings his blade again at the horrid little goblin.
he curses softly in Elven as his blade cleaves nothing but air.
Zhu crashes to the floor as the door bursts open! He quickly gets up and takes a defensive position -- crowbar in his hand -- as his eyes adjust to the darkness within the room. "What were you fighting? Where are they?"
He suddenly spots Kyrax and see him bleeding profusely. "Kyrax...!" He turns to face the hallway. "RAINA! Come quickly!"
He says quickly to those within the room. "Mirandix is fighting some insane goblin who challenged him to combat. If we interfere, the goblin will destroy a key needed to rescue the princess."
__________
Raina immediately rushes into the room to find Kryax bleeding greatly. Moving to him, she puts her hands on the wound.
"Stars mend and heal you. Nature's power restore your health."
Robert lights the room suddenly, and barely has the time to look around when a blade comes in his direction. Reacting by instinct, he jumps to the side and narrowly avoids the blade. Only then he looks around, and hearing the advice of his companions he watches Mirandix's fight with the goblin.
"" Grinner Grim exalts while he sweeps his scimitar at Mirandix, the steel blurring into an arc of silver with its speed. "This is the feeling! Life! Death! Balanced on the edge of a blade!" The Goblin grins, baring every single tooth in an expression of hideous joy. "Can you feel it, Elf! Tell me! "
The Goblin's blade scrapes along Mirandix' armour without penetrating to tear the flesh. Close... but no blood. This time.
Zhu manages to get the wretched door open -- although he smacks Robert with it in his hurry to get inside -- and then rushes to and fro, calling from one person to another, trying to get things moving!
"Ahh, how kind, an open invitation!" a high, child-like voice pipes from near the ceiling -- and something small goes buzzing right past Zhu and out the door!
"Don't mind if I do!" a second voice shrieks, and the second metallic object goes zipping out the door and into the corridor!
Kyrax stands staggering as he finally sees the blood running down his side, but Raina rushes to his side and applies her healing magic. The Bard can utter a sigh of relief as his wounds close and his blood stops running; his head is already clearing up!
Pontia may be shocked indeed to suddenly see two metal balls come zipping out of the room -- or rather, balls of metal armour and rough-edged blades surrounding something which may well be flesh; eyes are staring out of the metal, looking right at her!
"Hello, hello!" one of the gore-spattered things chirps -- as it merrily flies directly at her face! "How pleased I am to see you! My, what lovely eyes! Maybe we should make a trade, one on one? Yes? Done!"
"Oooh, and I see another patient!" the other metallic ball shrieks as it buzzes down the corridor -- headed for Mirandix' back!
Slash attack roll vs. Pontia: for damage plus bleed. Crit threat, roll to confirm: attack for damage.
"" Grinner Grim exalts while he sweeps his scimitar at Mirandix, the steel blurring into an arc of silver with its speed. "This is the feeling! Life! Death! Balanced on the edge of a blade!" The Goblin grins, baring every single tooth in an expression of hideous joy. "Can you feel it, Elf! Tell me! "
The Goblin's blade scrapes along Mirandix' armour without penetrating to tear the flesh. Close... but no blood. This time.
Mirandix gives the disturbing little creature a small smile and nod, "There is no feeling more alive then when you are about to die." He moves with the goblin as if in a dance, their curved swords flickering like the tongues of snakes, ringing with the exchange. Mirandix curves his blade around Grinner Grim's defense, trying to score a telling blow.
Mirandix' sword dips into the Goblin's chest.
Grinner Grim exhales sharply and his scimitar clatters to the ground as he reaches out to clasp the Elven warrior's wrists.
The little warrior's grin widens as he starts to sag to his knees, blood running from his mouth.
"I am," he rasps, bubbles of blood forming on his lips with every word, "so... hap... py..."
The Goblin's eyelids sink down, shuttering his red gaze, and he falls limply to the ground, his blood staining Mirandix' hands.
Pontia's eyes widen as she recognizes the flying creature. A quick gesture, and a black dart flies from her hand to impact on it with a sizzle. "Goblin! That kyton is about to interfere with your duel!" Let's see its honor now.... She hisses in pain when the razor-sharp ball flies by her, opening a shallow wound that nevertheless begins to drip blood faster than it should.
Robert leaves the room quickly after the pain of the door fades. He takes a look at the Kyton fleeing down the corridor, and quickly grabbing one of his chakhrams he throws it in the direction of the strange ball.
"You will pay now, freak."
No longer bleeding and able to see Kyrax may get an attack of opportunity as the creatures fly by. If so he takes it. Either way he follows the devils out into the hall. If he is able to close with one he does so.
Noya continues her attack on evil
No sooner has Zhu stood aside for Raina than two metallic spheres shoot right past him, screaming promises of blood! "No!" Almost by reflex, he quickly calls upon the tainted energy in his blood and unleashes a bolt of crimson energy at the devil headed for Pontia's face.