As his shots draw the were-rat away from Marigold, the gun-mage flashes a hard grin and side-steps its angry rapier lunge.
Pistol still smoking in his hand, Maxim shifts to his left, moving through the curtained area ;
"Come get some ye rat-basterd! Got another bullet here with yer name on it!"
On the other side of the curtain the dwur loads his pistol once again, this time with a silvered bullet and powder charge
Juraan yelps in pain and takes a 5 ft step back, diagonally.
He then uses his wand of Color Spray to try and stun two of the wererats (yellow and black).
--------------------
JJ and Kikinnin strike the wererat as it attempts to stand up, the dwarf axe putting it to unconsciousness once more.
Marigold's cast of protection from evil effectively surrounds her with a powerful defense against the wererats.
JJ strikes with his shortswords his offhand cutting Orak's left hand.
Kikinnin crushes the wererat with his waraxe sending the beast to the grave. He then hits Orak with the plain side of his axe.
Maxim moves through the curtain to the side wardrobe and loads his gun with bullet and powder.
Juraan draws a wand and aims towards the wererats. The now familiar colourful strings engulfing the beasts.
The one on foot suddenly collapses unconscious to the floor.
The other one stands up and attacks Juraan with rapier and bite.
But the professor dodges once and twice avoiding the badly injured wererat.
Another wererat attacks Maxim through the curtain.
But his attacks invariably fail to land on the dwarf while he loads his gun.
The last wererat attacks Marigold.
His attacks easily dodged by the halfling.
Finally, Orak fails once more on his attempts to bring down Kikinnin.
JJ continues to circle around Orak, his twin blades lashing out at the one eyed dwarf as he tries to disable him.
The attacks are poorly timed.
As the fight appears to finally be turning in their favor, Marigold takes a calculated risk - stepping next to Juraan, she pulls out the nearly empty healing wand and taps him with it.
Ryan smiles as the wounds on the shape-shifter begin to heal but is aghast as the fallen wererats seem to revive from it just as well. "What trickery is this?!?" Confused by the result of the spell he continues to swing at the rats in front of him.
Continuing his assault, even though he knows it will be only a very good hit that does any damage to these creatures.
- Buffs: Bless (+1 to hit & +1 vs fear)
The curtain stymies the were-rat's attacks causing Maxim to chuckle;
"Har! My turn rat!"
The gun-mage raises his pistol, again imbuing it with arcane energy and fires at the moving curtain;
:
:
Then immediately he reloads with an alchemical silver cartridge
AC = 22
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Blessed
Kikinnin keeps on trying to bring Orak low, playing through his mind all the things he wants to ask the one-eyed dwarf, for his unholy alliance with rats.
"You're not looking so good, Juraan. Squishy as you are, you should probably get some distance from the rat bastards." Kikinnin begins to circle his way 'round, thinking it's already too late for the professor.
JJ fails with his shortswords this time, perhaps too concerned by Orak's safety, while Kikinnin's hit is too soft to drop the dwarf, a bit dizzy by the numerous hits right now.
Marigold produces the healing wand while moving and touches Juraan healing him some wounds.
Ryan crashes his mace on the wererats fur, but surprisingly the weapon is unable to penetrate the thick layer of hair.
Maxim's gun detonates penetrating the curtain and getting the bullet deep into the wererat fur that shrieks in pain while the silver burns it.
One wererat attacks Juraan.
But this time he is able to dodge both rapier and bite, while focusing on his spells.
The other one attacks Maxim through the curtain.
The rapier stabs the dwarf at the chest, close to the heart.
The last wererat steps to the side and attacks Marigold.
His attacks easily dodged by the halfling.
Once more Orak attacks unsuccessfully at Kikinnin, the handaxe easily deflected by the dwarf.
Stung by the creatures deadly rapier, Maxim grunts in pain... With back against the wall he charges his pistol , the fires off another silvered shot (;
:
:
:
The gun-mage resolutely loads his final alchemical cartridge, knowing after the next shot it will be the more time consuming silvered bullets and powder he will need to rely on...
AC = 22
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Blessed
Kikinnin starts to feel a little guilty beating the one-eye about the head with his axe, so tries to finish, before he addles the man's brain past a point of recovery. He offers JJ a chance to move into flank, though it appears that the combative dwarven bath house owner doesn't seem to much mind the tactical advantage leveled against him.
"Orak, I hope you come to your senses, but quick. We're not here to kill you, man. Perhaps you were the unwitting bait, for the rat king we find ourselves tussling with." Kikinnin looks over at the three remaining rats, and hopes Abadar is ready to help him drop another rat, after he skulls Orak.
Stepping forward to follow the blue cloaked wererat, Ryan continues to swing preventing the wererat from ignoring him completely.
Juraan will fire another magic missile at the same rat (yellow) yet again.
Juraan then fires magic Missile (targeting Yellow if he's still up, otherwise, he will target Blue)
Rushing across the room to help Marigold, JJ attacks, trying to turn the creatures attention.
Maxim shots through the curtain, his bullet scratching the wererat's left arm.
Kikinnin hits Orak behind the neck, the waraxe finally dropping unconscious the sturdy dwarven owner of the Bathhouse.
Ryan mace hits true, but the weapon does not damage the wererat as it should had done.
Meanwhile Juraan starts casting magic missiles, the wererats in front of him profiting his lower defenses to attempt pierce him with their rapiers.
The wererats fail to stab the professor as he finishes casting his spell. The two force orbs burst on the target wererat, the creature finally dropping to the floor with a horrible shriek of defeat.
The wererat still threatening Juraan attempts to pierce him once more when he casts in front of it another spell.
This time the rapier takes him at his belly, Juraan barely standing, his spell lost when his reflex movement tries to attend the wound.
JJ goes through the room harassing the wererat without success.
The wererat keeps attacking Juraan.
But this time he is able to dodge both rapier and bite, while focusing on his spells.
The last one attacks Maxim through the curtain.
The rapier stabs the dwarf once more.
Knowing there is only a small chance of hurning the rat-men, JJ does his best, hoping for a lucky blow.
"Anyone got a spare Greatsword?" he asks, hopefully.
Even though he's almost unconscious, Juraan tries using another Magic Missile spell (against Blue, this time)
Now that Juraan is the new target of the wererats' ire, Marigold does what she can to aid in his defense since she knows that's largely all she can do at this point.
Channeling the last of her power she reaches out and places a hand on her friend, granting him a measure of protection from all things wicked.
Dismayed that her magical wards are still not enough to completely protect Juraan, the halfling taps him with the healing wand once more.
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AC = 21
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin drops his shield to the side of Orak , freeing up a hand to place both on his axe. He moves towards the group, hoping brute strength will bring down the remaining rats.
Abadar, I'm telling You, You're still needed here. Sorry for calling You out, out loud. Prayer should be more mental, I guess. But I'm thinking at You, that You should keep up the help, for what we do here is in self-defense of good people. My weapon's no good against these abominations, and my arm strength's only gonna nick 'em. They haven't run, so they're asking for a merciful end here, if You ask me.
Bleeding from several stab wounds, the gun-mage spits in anger and raises his pistol, once again charges it with magick before pulling the trigger;
:
:
As the gun goes off Maxim realises something has went gravely wrong; the shot goes wildly wayward and the resulting recoil jars his pistol's firing mechanism loose.
"Aw skit!"
The wounded dwur drops his damaged pistol and draws his shortsword
"Reckon we're doing' this the ol' fashioned way..."
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Kikinnin watches Maxim drop his pistol shortly after he drops his shield, but can't square the two. "You're pistol go limp there, brodir? I hear that can happen when you grip it too tight."
Marigold touches Juraan protecting him with her magic.
Some of JJ's attacks land on the wererat but she seems to proudly chuckle at the lack of damage.
Juraan casts then magic missiles, the wererat in front of him profiting his lower defenses to attack with its rapier.
But it seems surprised when the weapon is deflected by Juraan's multiple protection magics. The magic missiles burst on the wererat leaving a large bruise in its chest.
When Marigold uses the wand on the professor, plenty of wounds fade off, leaving untouched skin on place.
Kikinnin throws his shield and approaches to the group, gripping menacingly his dwarven axe with both hands.
When Maxim attempts to give the last mercy bullet to the reckless wererat in front, his gun suddenly blocks. Thus he draws his sword hopping to sneak attack the beast.
One wererat attacks Juraan.
The rapier piercing through his chest while the teeth close in front of his face, deflected by magic.
The last one attacks Maxim through the curtain.
The attacks misplaced, leaving Maxim with plenty of possibilities to counterattack.
Sword drawn, Maxim prudently decides first to draw once again on his arcane well of power, before going into a melee where sword and beard are pitted against fang and rapier.
The gun(less) mage nods to himself, conjuring an arcane missile, then lets fly;
"Toverkracht Projectiel"
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Realizing that things are getting crowded, Marigold ducks past the wererat and places her back against the wall so as to allow Kikinnin more room to swing his axe. With few other options, she tap Juraan with the healing wand yet again.
She scowls as the wand's effect appears minimal at best and gives it a good shake.
Oh, what a time for this thing to be running out of juice!
Ryan continues to swing, a connecting with hits that should have broken bone, is stymied again by the creatures regeneration. "Kikinnin, could use a hand over here."
As Kikinnin steps up to join their fight Ryan steps back and cast guidance on the paladin.
Juraan scowls when the wererat (Blue) hits him again and tries to cast another acid ray defensively at it
JJ Steps around to continue to hack at the next to last rat. Still hopping for a lucky blow that might take it unaware.
But neither blade can get through its enchanted skin.
AC = 21, no shield
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin joins the fray, hoping that Abadar might renew his boon. It's like He only had it in for the first rat-man. Sure hope they're all like him... He grasps his axe with both hands, not too tightly, and heaves it around.
As he moves the curtain to a side, Maxim cast a spell that bursts on the wererat in front. The beast falls to the floor from the impact.
Marigold further maintains Juraan alive with her wand, while the professor focuses on his inner strength. He feels his blood boiling inside as a ray of acid splashes into the creature in front.
The acid burns deep into the skin of the wererat this one shouting in pain. That definitely was not of its taste!
Ryan, JJ and Kikinnin attempt to batter down the humanoid-rat, but they find its skin to be exceptionally resistant, dealing no damage, despite their good blows.
The wererat steps north and keeps its attack to the dangerous acid user!
But the beast is so damaged its weak attacks are not enough for Juraan's reflexes.
AC = 21, no shield
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Blessed
Kikinnin barks incoherently when his axe hits, but he can't bleed the creature. "Damn it all, Abadar! We need you here! I'm only as good as the weapon in my hand, is what You're telling me?? What are You telling me, here?!"
His anger is shared between the rat, and his impotence. "Don't swing on the squishy, rat-man. Try and take a bite outta me, instead."
Kikinnin's eyebrows raise, as a little blood manages to trickle from the rat-man's side. He looks over to the others. "We should probably keep one of the rats alive, eh? Unlikely Orak's gonna remember anything, for all the blows to his noggin."
As Maxim drops the rat, he stoops to recover his damaged pistol , then ventures forth back into the bathhouse hall...
Noticing the others surround the last rat standing, and sensing the situation is well under control the gun-mage looks down at his broken firearm;
"Damn their eyes. Went to the well too much in this scrape darlin'... Don't you fret, I'll fix you up good an' proper once these rat-scum are dealt with."
Marigold stays next to the wall and out of the way as yet another wererat falls, leaving just one still standing. At loss of anything else to do and not wanting to get in the way of the others, she tries yet again to heal some of Juraan's wounds with the sputtering wand.
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This time Kikinnin's axe seems to sharpen empowered by his great strength, or perhaps his god's will. Whatever it is, the axe goes deep into the wererat skin, enough to tear some internal organs even through the thick and supernatural layer of hair.
Unable to stand on feet, the wererat falls to the ground.
Marigold heals a bit more Juraan while some of you get rid, with some difficulties, of the wererat stunned by the color spray.
5x masterwork studded leather
5x rapier
5x light crossbow with 20 bolts
1x handaxe
1x eyepatch set with a ruby worthed 200 gp
iron key
copper key
Past the bathing room, the towel storage, the change rooms and the private bath, you find out Orak's office and a locked iron door.
At the office there is a wooden desk and two chairs, as well as a shelf lined with plenty of soap bars. Under the desk, there is a locked chest. Using one of Orak's keys, you find out the chest is full with 38 gp and what must be the dwarf's decanter of endless water.
The other key seems to open the iron door that takes you to a descending stair that disappears into the darkness.
"Best leave Orak's things... if those rats have been charming him... well, he is a citizen and we are the guard today, not thieves." says JJ.
"Those rats though, lets get them and Orak to the guard to see what they can work out. I'm buying myself a silver dagger though." he stops to think for a moment. "Or maybe a silver coated light mace. "
Then after a moment he changes his mind. "With Jill out there, maybe we should take it all to the guard, no sense in leaving his livelihood for her to take."
Kikinnin takes an immediate interest in the stunned rat. He binds the creature to one of the chairs, waving everyone decently healthy to help. "Answers. We need to pull some teeth here, if possible. Another set of stairs winding into Cauldron's nether regions ain't acceptable. Some of these vermin came in from the street, right? Were others already sniffing around, inside? Someone get Orak strapped down, too. When he comes to, he'll need to know that we consider him a risk until he can prove himself."
Once binded, the stunned wererat does not take much before he comes back to consciousness. It starts shrieking and attempting to break free "Free me!" says in a good Common.
"Agreed JJ, we should turn this over to the Captain. The Last Laugh while I'm appreciative of their 'help'; I'm inclined to believe it was as much a way to get us to take care of someone infringing on their turf. AND Orak's Endless Decanter shouldn't be their gain. "
"Besides on the way back I'm joining you in making a shiny new purchase. This was a frustrating encounter."
Turning towards Kikinnin, "If you'll give me 15 minutes or so, I can petition for the spell we used in the woods on the assassins."
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"Fifteen minutes isn't a lot of time, as long as this swarm of rat-men don't have backup. Your spell worked well enough last time, should serve us here." Kikinnin looks uncomfortable, of a sudden.
"You, uh, you wouldn't happen to be able to ask Abadar directly about why He didn't keep my axe sharp throughout this little skirmish, would you? Not sure what I did to upset Him. Sounds like He listens to you, more directly."
"Free me!"
Kikinnin turns about, red-faced from his ask of the priest. "You don't get to ask that, yet! Now, so we don't judge you harshly, you go and lose the whiskers. Lose 'em, now. Can't stand to look at you, much less talk to you. Makes me uneasy. Makes me want to... exterminate some vermin..."
"Thanks for the timely help, Marigold."
"JJ, you've met Orak here before. Has he always had that ruby?"
"That seems odd for an eye patch."
"It might account for his odd behaviour, if it's enchanted."
Juraan will cast Detect Magic, concentrating on the ruby.
Then turning to the prisoner Kikinnin is exchanging pleasantries with:
"Yes, do drop those whiskers. Or I'll burn them off"
"And while you're at it, tell us why you attacked us."
Neither the ruby nor the eyepatch have a magical aura.
The wererat recoils visibly intimidated coming back to his human shape by the combined recklessness of the professor and the ratcatcher "Drakthar owns this" it ascertains to say staring to the front like not seeing you "You are not invited"
There is something odd in the wererat's behavior, like if he was under some powerful enchantment.
You have never before heard the name Drakthar.
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"Kikinnin, I've asked Uncle Aleck about this before. He'd told me about once, and I asked why not allow this all the time against evil. His response was the benefit is given but only allowed against one or two creatures at the most, if allowed all the time you might not train or study as hard as you should. If your training or faith is not sufficient then the bonus is wasted. It is only to be used when the need is dire. "
"So not having it against the second is not a failure of Abadar to hear you but his belief in your skills as a fighter, his belief in your faith was manifested when you chose to invoke Smite in the first place. Pardon me but I must meditate on the spell needed."
As Juraan and Kikinnin begin to berate the prisoner, Ryan just shakes his head."If you're going to scare him to death this will be unnecessary" Before returning to his meditation and prayer.
Still extremely unnerved by the encounter and battle herself, Marigold can't seem to get a read on the remaining wererat as he struggles against his bonds.
"I-I-I'm w-with y-you all...s-s-silver is on the sh-sh-shopping list!" she gasps, trying to steady her shaking hands. "I d-d-don't th-think I'll ever s-s-sleep again at th-th-this rate..."
While the others turn to interrogating their prisoner, the halfling turns her attentions first to her friends and then to Orak as she runs triage.
"I c-c-couldn't understand wh-wh-what everyone was s-s-saying b-b-but it looked like Orak wasn't b-b-behaving right...you s-s-said you th-thought it might b-b-be a charm J-J-JJ?"
"Don't you whine to us about about invitations!"
"We didn't invite you to come and try to kill us, now did we?"
"And anyway, who, or what, is Drakthar?"
Kikinnin listens to the wise words of the priest, absorbing something in it, to process later. As Ryan complains about the wererat's treatment, the black-beard just snorts, and waits for him to prepare what he needs.
"The rat is behaving funny. If others are suspecting Orak of enchantment, the rat's not far behind." Kikinnin keeps a firm watch over the rat-turned-man-again.
"Both Rat and Orek are acting odd. Although I'm not too sure what normal would be for a rat-man. Certainly looks like someone is plying his mind.
"Who is Drakthar. And what exactly does he own?"
Maxim also listens and watches the rats intently;
:
Nodding as the others draw a conclusion of enchantment or enthrallment...
"Aye. Hallmarks o' folk under the influence o' someone or some majicks perhaps..."
At the mention of Drakthar, the dwur wracks his memory for some recognition;
:
"Ain't a name I recollect... Perhaps a newcomer to town? What with the Scarlet Brethern being active an' such?"
Finished with his meditative prayer Ryan returns to the others, bringing forth the divine magics to encompass both Orak and the wererat.
"Where is your base of operation?"
"Why are you here?"
"Who is Drakthar?"
Working to keep his voice neutral during the questions.