The wererat starts to answer while blankly staring to the wall "Below. At the old halls of Torag. I was send to protect the Way"
The creature seems then to start a fight against an invisible figure that would hold his mouth shut from the back. He finally ascertais to shout "Hail Drakthar! Lord of rats" and then goes back to look at the wall absentmindedly.
"Hrmph, looks like we are heading back to Malachite's holdings, unless either of you know of another dwarven ruin below. It also appears that whatever holds sway over thus one and Orak most likely, will have some knowledge of our intent to come. He would have said more but something strong overpowered him and shut him up."
"We should not go below until prepared."
Maxim looks grave faced;
"Lord of Rats suggests we're better bearing silvered arms... A powerful, or daemon touched were-rat would be a helluva challenge for us..."
Mulling the were rats cryptic mention of Halls of Torag, Maxim scowls;
"Ain't the Malachite. Seen 'em recently an' they weren't acting all strange-like... Although older beards might have a notion of where the rat means? Brodir - you got any inkling of what Halls the rat is chittering about?"
"Where is The Way?" asks JJ pointedly.
Then more hesitantly...
"And what part does Orak play in this venture?"
At the words of Maxim he looks back to the dwarf.
"A demonic were-rat. Wow. Maybe I should head back to the Blue Crater. I have been reading up on demon lore there. And I think a bit of information may help save our lives. We need to get this lot up to the Guard though, or maybe better still, have them come and pick them up."
Maxim strokes his beard with a grim smile;
"Just surmising on my behalf Surabar... Lord of rats is a lofty title... May not be a daemon or such!"
The wererat points towards the iron door before the stairs and answers JJ "Through the iron door"
It looks then at Orak and says "The dwarf must be preserved. It must be ensured the dwarf keeps doing his business. It must be avoided the dwarf goes in to the Way" it makes a pause the looks blank again towards the wall "Drakthar's Way"
"Brodir - you got any inkling of what Halls the rat is chittering about?"
Kikinnin shakes his head. "That doesn't sound familiar. Suppose I can think on it a bit."
"Nope. Nothing rattles."
The black-beard listens as more information is brought about. "So, does Orak do this work against his will, then? Who spelled him? How can we break the spell? Tell me that's possible. No honest worker like him should have to suffer like a puppet." The thought angers Kikinnin. "Makes you wonder who the puppet master is. Hope it's not the Lord of Rats."
Kikinnin waits for the interrogation to end.
The prisoner stares at Kikinnin and holds the stare for some seconds. Then, all of a sudden hair starts to grow and the humanoid starts to shrink eventually losing the tightness of the ropes that hold it to the chair! A dire rat!
The mace never far away is quickly in hand and swinging for the rat.
Swinging with both hands this time.
Marigold yelps with surprise as the wererat suddenly changes to another form, this one truly bestial. With quarters being tight she keeps her position behind Maxim, but not before placing a guiding hand on his shoulder.
You'd better aim well!
JJ leaps on the rat with both blades.
"You're not getting away so easily."
"I wonder if silver manacles would stop them changing shape?"
Ryan and JJ react fast before the rat can go anywhere. Their hits, JJ's just on the head, are strong, but once again they deal no damage to the rat as it seems protected by some extraordinary resistance to normal wounds.
Marigold casts her spell on Maxim while the rat starts attempting to run away.
The rat is up to move through JJ's legs when he closes them and Kikinnin profits to attack.
Not giving itself as defeated, the rat keeps trying.
But again JJ and Kikinnin are fast enough to intercept it as it attempts to run.
JJ strikes hard with the sword of his fathers as the rat tries to escape.
Then he plies both blades again...
The creatures unnatural toughness makes the blows glance off.
"I want rat hide armor!" says the frustrated youth.
"Just stand still, let him bite you; and you'll get a set of your own, just wouldn't hang out near Kikinnin, he might forget himself."
Still playing whack a mole with the dire rat, Ryan swings once more.
Juraan holds his action.
Still holding her position as the corner erupts into a flurry of fur and steel, Marigold reaches out and offers Juraan the same guiding touch.
You too, acid-thrower!
Kikinnin frowns, learning the hard way that the creature has another ability. "Alright, so you can change into another form. A rat-man, now a big rat. You able to understand me? You able to turn small, too? Not sure I want to give you any more chances, vermin."
AC = 21
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
"Listen to Ryan, JJ. You turn rat, we'll have to put you down, same as the rest."
Kikinnin starts to sweat at the brow.
Once again the rat attempts to escape its fate.
At a moments distraction the rat goes between JJ's legs.
It then attempts to continue through Maxim's.
The dwarf tries to close its legs but the rat is to fast and jumps to the side going around him!
The rat starts then running towards the door.
JJ stabs at the rat as it darts between his legs..
Then he turns and races after it, stabbing it again as he catches it near the others.
Neither blow looks good enough to finish it off.
As the direrat manages to duck and dodge around her friends and bolts past her towards the door, Marigold fumbles in her belt pouch and pulls out a small, neatly-tied bag.
"પ્રયત્ન કરો અને તે અથવા કંઈક હલ!" she exclaims as she hustles after the fleeing creature.
"T-t-try and t-t-tackle it or s-s-something!"
As the rat changes Maxim first draws his shortsword , then attempts to skewer it as the creature leaps past ;
:
:
:
:
As his strike is foiled by the fell creatures resistance, Maxim tries a different tack. The gun(less) mage shifts in line with the creature's retreat then The utters some silent words of arcane power, as he brings to bear another spell
Looking like he is miming a bellow, the dwur strains out a silent scream aimed at the retreating rat:
Ryan get in more more swing at the rat before it disappears
Turning and giving chase with hopes the closed door leading below will give the rat pause.
AC = 21
HP = 29/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Kikinnin takes two swipes, one for opportunity, one for good measure.
JJ stabs at the rat without a visible effect of his weapon while Margiold prepares a tanglefoot bag.
Maxim's shortsword takes one of the rat's ears and cuts it by the base! He then focuses on the rat with a ferocious scream that dazzles the creature on place.
Ryan strikes with all his strength in the rat's back, a little scratch opening, far less than it should have been by such a hit.
Kikinnin runs after the rat, and jumping over the creature he cuts the body in half with a mighty blow of his axe!
"I don't like these rat THINGS!"
"So, what should we do next?"
"We have five dead wererats and Orak, unconscious."
"And stairs leading down to something significant to the wererats."
"I'm pretty much spent for spells myself."
"Should we get investigate those stairs now? Or after a night's rest?"
"After a nightshort rest is probably best. Everyone needs something Silver before we descend, Maxim needs to see if he can repair his weapon as well as likely create more ammo for use against werecreatures. These and Orak should be turned over to the guard or the chaplain as the case may be. "
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Maxim taps the handle of his holstered pistol with a melancholy smile;
"Take me but 30 minutes or so to have her ready to breath fire again... but a full compliment o' enchantments an' silvered weapons at our belts will be needed. A day should be enough..."
The dwur strokes his beard in thought;
"Enough silvered weapons may be an issue... Depends on the market and availability..."
The gun-mage then walks to his fellow dwur;
"Brodir. When you have a moment... I have something for you... or rather somethings... Meant to give you 'em earlier, but missed the chance..."
Maxim reaches into the enchanted Bag of Holding and retrieves 2 finely honed throwing axes holding them out to the warrior;
"Took em from Kazmojen... Honed and balanced 'em down in the Hold's forges... Reckon they befit a true Son of the Malachite and a Scion of Rouradont..."
"I guess I could use a silvered mace in a pinch."
"Unfortunately, an accomplished warrior I am not."
"At least spells seem to affect those things as they should."
Kikinnin looks down on the axes, his lower lip protruding as he takes in their quality. "Well, then. I like the look of those. Sure, I'll take 'em, and try and see them used like they should. Not much for throwing things, but I suppose some practice is in order." He claps Maxim on the back, then hangs them on his belt.
"I think my last blow was lucky. Didn't have the same feel as when Abadar's energy was coursing through the weapon. Brute blow, it was. I'm glad for it, because we don't need any of these rats above chittering to the rats below." Kikinnin moves to the top of the stairway leading down.
"Another rotted way into Cauldron from below. Another delve into darkness. These rats are omen. We'll need to be prepared before we think to exterminate. Gotta have the tools." The black-beard nods to himself, then looks to the others.
"We posting guard here? Do we notify the guard, while out shopping? I don't mind waiting, and watching. What do we do with Orak? Try and wake him? I could rouse him, if we think that'll serve us. The rat gave some answers, then gave us a pain in the backside. You think Orak will still be under sway when he comes to?"
"They're not all dead, we should take them to the guard proper, and let them know what has happened here." says JJ.
"Then we stock up with some good weapons."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Orak should be delivered to the temple, they can look after his wounds and with luck break the enchantment affecting him. Wouldn't do to have this fine establishment out of business. It might go under without the likes of Master Surabar here and his nightly baths." Ryan finishes with a mischievious grin.
"However, once I've helped Orak to the temple and stopped by the weapon smith's shop I'll return to spell you from guard duty Kikinnin. Do you need something while I'm out?"
Outside Ryan will hire a coach to transport Orak back to the temple. Explaining to the healer at the temple that he has been ensorceled and until it can be removed he will need to be restrained.
Jenya poses her hand over Orak's front "Do not suffer Ryan. We will tend to his wounds. He seems mostly bruised rather than really injured"
She stares then at the young man's eyes "Ryan, I know you solved the kidnappings, but this seems very dangerous. If it is true this man is enchanted... what can it be done to you if you go down there?"
Understanding there's not much she can do to avoid it, Jenya looks back at Orak "Good, I will prepare a spell to try break enchantments for tomorrow. Let's hope this is Abadar's will."
"S-s-sounds like we have a p-p-plan then," Marigold sighs as she stows her tanglefoot bag once more. "Y-y-you all kn-know I'm n-not much of a f-fighter b-b-but I'll g-g-get s-s-some s-s-sort of s-silver weapon t-too."
"M-m-maybe s-s-some more a-a-lchemical items, t-too...s-s-so I won't b-be c-c-completely useless," she adds, a surprisingly bitter tone in her voice.
"Ryan, I know you solved the kidnappings, but this seems very dangerous. If it is true this man is enchanted... what can it be done to you if you go down there?"
Ryan ponders Jenya's question a moment before answering.
"I didn't solve the kidnappings alone, we worked as a team. Each one of us supplementing the other , I lent my strengths to them when it was needed, as the others lent theirs when I wasn't able to accomplish what needed to be done. As a group we are stronger than any of us individually. That was again put to the test this morning and as a group we prevailed."And taking a deep breath as he continues....
"Alone down below, I would likely fail; but with this group by my side we can do great things. A great evil is besetting Cauldron and while we can't see the whole of it, it is our responsibility to do what we can to prevent it, and then to combat it. Abadar teaches us to do what we must to improve our city, I can't stand by as long as I know about this."
Returning to the bathhouse via the weapons shopRyan stops by the weaponsmith he purchased the MWK items from before. "Master Gurnezahn, we have a need I hope you can provide. My group is in the market for weapons of silver, perhaps 6 light maces if you should have them, if not supplemented by silvered daggers."
"Well, to be fair, Marigold, we were not expecting five wererats to attack us in a bathhouse!"
"Despite the difficulties we did quite well, all things considered."
"At least we will be better prepared for them next time."
"Uo hou!" shouts Gurnezahn "Seems the clergy wants to make some fancy rituals!"
The smith master checks on his rear house for something then comes back with some weapons.
"It seems you are considerably lucky. I have still 4 silvered light maces and 8 daggers" he looks at it thinking "If you give me the weekend I can produce a couple more"
You overhear some steps around the bathhouse in the middle of the night. Just they run out in the darkness of the avenue just before you attempt to check.
JJ heads off from the bathhouse as well. His first port of call is the weapon smith, where he picks up a silver coated dagger and mace.
He spends some time trying it out, before asking
"While it looks good, it doesn't feel quite right. I was hoping that you, Gurzezahn might have something a little .. special."
After putting in his order with Gurnezahn he heads up to the guard to give an update to the captain. "We left Orak with the temple of St Cuthbert, but those shape changing rats... I don't know if you can make sure the watch has silver weapons on them without causing a panic... We'll investigate further tomorrow, but you need to know now so you can take some steps."
Errands run JJ returns to the bathhouse to take a watch and give Marigold a break.
The young man has a hard time standing still, his eyes returning again and again to one of the doors, as if remembering something from the past.
"Erm you could say that,, however it is truely a blessing you have so much in stock. For myself I will take one of each."
Ryan will pay for his(47gp) and anyone else's that had made a request and couldn't come, such as Kikinnin with guard duty or perhaps MG / Juraan if they had needs to go straight to Bluecrater Academy.
That evening for a time he'll return to the church and make a oil of magic weapon(CL1) 25gp.
Terseon takes great interest on the news "It is good you have found the source. We have to go down and investigate to understand what is going on and stop it. I can allocate some guards to check the entrance to the Bathhouse. Regretfully, I cannot send them down, we are not well prepared and do not have enough people for that" he looks at you with hope "Can you do that?"
The night passes and the whole day too on your errands. The watch helps you check the bathhouse although they have no silvered weapons available either.
"I can create a masterwork version for you mister provided you gave me a couple or three days. I have some iron masterwork or even magical if you wish, but silver is not usually called out. Sorry" apologizes Gurnezahn.
Once the second night has passed and you come back to the bathhouse, you are received by the four guards that Terseon Skellerang set there.
"Ei there! Hi!" greets you a happy and healthy Dandarrion Brokenhill "I have had not the chance to thank you for your previous help. Abadar clerics were able to heal me from the nasty poison. Thank you for taking me out of that complex and finishing the mission for the good of Cauldron"
"It is second time I am almost to die." he looks to JJ "It is second life I owe you JJ. I thought that Kallev had already killed me with that horrible wound a year ago when you appeared and helped me reduce her. It seems you are always there to back up me man when I am in ill need" he touches a scar in his face "Damned tiefling. Three months of jail for almost killing three guards. What a justice!"
Another guard approaches him letting Dandarrion remember something. The old companion says "Oh yes, that thing! This is my time to repay you. You can feel your backs covered. We already cached 3 goblins while they were trying to go back into the bathhouse." he smiles while he winks his left eye "They sleep at jail now and we will stay here. Feel sure we will not let anyone into that place downstairs"
The iron door to the stairs remains open. Darkness and silence below.
JJ pats Dandarrion on the back. "It's just a pleasure to see you back on your feet!"
Once in the bathhouse he looks at the door.
"Did we leave that open? That was foolish. At the very least we should keep it closed until we are ready to go down..."
Turning to the others he adds
"I have some new weapons on order, but in the meantime... have got some silver to tide me over. I'm happy to go down when the rest of you are ready, but would be even better prepared if we waited an extra day or two. That might give up the game to those below though."
"However, once I've helped Orak to the temple and stopped by the weapon smith's shop I'll return to spell you from guard duty, Kikinnin. Do you need something while I'm out?"
Kikinnin pulls a dirty rag from his backpack, and dunks it in one of the basins. Wiping his neck from the salty sweat of the recent scuffle, he considers the offer. "Yeah, any of that silver should help, if we're hunting things like that. They do crossbow bolts in silver? Might use some of those. Otherwise, you find a weapon in silver, I'll do my best with it."
The black-beard heals himself, then readies for more vigilance.
...
Kikinnin gladly pays Ryan back for the silvered light mace, and a silver dagger, to boot. He feels woefully unprepared, nonetheless, but counts on the obvious strength of the others to see this next hunt through.
"So. Who knows we're doing this? Did anyone object to our new work here? I'm thinking the guard won't sack up to help..." Kikinnin shuts up when Dandarrion of all people re-introduces himself.
"Well now. Suppose I should sprinkle some tabasco on my words before I eat them. Sure, good. We could use all the help we can get here. If the bathhouse will be secured in our descent, so much the better. Just, you know, don't die again, Dandarrion. We'll get tired of carrying your corpse around Cauldron." Kikinnin punches the guard in the shoulder.
For the day's rest, Kikinnin is ready to descend. He allows his eyes to adjust to the darkness, then waits until everyone is set, before taking to the stairs.
They do crossbow bolts in silver? Might use some of those
"I believe Maxim's mixing up some weapon blanche for our ranged goodies. Grab some sleep, we have one more night, I'll make another oil of magic weapon tonight, which should help using something less than your axe."
"I should be fine with just this silvered mace, thanks Ryan."
"I just need a good night's sleep so I can use my spells again."
"And I still have that (color spray) wand."
"Which worked better than I expected against wererats."
Hours later, when you all decide it is time to go downstairs, the guards and Dandarrion are still protecting the bathhouse. After a greeting, you trespass the iron door and begin your descend.
The stone stairs from Orak's Bathhouse descend thirty feet, eventually opening into a five-foot-wide corridor that runs east to west. The masonry walls are covered with crude graffiti written in chalk, blood, slime, excrement, and other less recognizable substances. To the east, you hear a strange cacophony of monstrous chatter and barking dogs.
There are two openings in the south wall. The doors that once sealed these openings have been removed, but their hinges remain in place.
With a large group and darkness all around, JJ was pretty confident that stealth was not going to be their friend. Especially if the rats could see in the dark better than Cauldron's heroes.
"I'll go ahead, just taking it easy.." suggests JJ. The young man takes a small gem out of his pouch, and the hall is flooded with light, and then he tosses it into the air, where it starts to circle his head.
"Let's make sure we can get out first."
He carefully approaches the first hole in the wall and looks through.
His hands hold weapons, the family sword in its rightful place in his right hand, while in his left there is a silver dagger. At JJ's waist hang another two weapons, the silver light mace, and his trusty old short sword.
"If you want, I can scout ahead, I have a potion that will let me see in the darkness. But only the one, so we may want to save that for another time."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Once he hears the sounds in the distance, Juraan will pull one of his wands out of a wrist sheath. He'll then whisper:
"I think Marigold, Maxim, and I all need a little protection."
"I'm sure we'll be in a fight soon enough."
Juraan then uses three charges from his wand of Mage Armor on himself, Marigold and Maxim (giving us each +4 AC for an hour).
Juraan will otherwise hold one of his Acid Flasks in hand, ready to fling it at something.
"Th-thanks J-Juraan," Marigold replies, managing a weak smile. "Th-there's b-been a lot of odd th-things p-pop up here in the c-city lately...m-maybe I sh-should visit B-Bluecrater while everyone is s-stocking up," she muses.
"Y-yes, I th-think I w-will...I'll b-be b-back later, b-before the s-sun goes down..." she tells Kikinnin and the others who decide to stay and stand guard before slipping out of the bathhouse and making her way to the Academy.
When she finally arrives, Marigold looks a bit sheepish. "I'm s-sorry that I've b-been out of p-pocket s-so much lately," she apologizes to her two friends Losriel and Zinli. "Th-there's b-been a lot g-going on...JJ and some of his f-friends roped m-me into helping with s-some errands out of t-town..."
"Um, th-this m-might b-be a s-strange question b-but have either of you ever h-heard anything about w-werecreatures in this area b-before?"
Although happy to see Dandarrion alive and well, Marigold is saddened that they don't have more time to talk before the group loads up and descends down the stairs...
"Ohhh...wh-what's all the n-noise?" she whispers fearfully as they listen to the cacophanous barking. "JJ b-be careful!"
"Oh Marigold! We saw your message. Well, boss was not happy, but then this professor, Juraan, came and explained you were working with him into a task and he calmed down" comment your companions.
Losriel thinks about the question "Wererats? No, never heard of those around. Well, you know, everybody knows about those tales of wolfs changing overnight... but never heard of rats before"
JJ carefully advances having a look into the first room, light emitting from his head.
Four pillars support the ceiling of this otherwise empty square room. Graffiti covers the walls, and the southern door hangs ajar. Nine sturdy wooden cots covered with folded wool blankets are neatly pushed against the walls.
You do understand the beds here are constructed for medium creatures and had been used recently.
Further, at the end of the room, you can see another door ajar. There, crates, chests, and casks seem to fill the room, each one burned with a symbol resembling a birdcage. Narrow avenues cut between the piles of supplies.
It is not possible to see what are the contents from your current position.
Kikinnin moves into the barracks, intent on assuring the group there is nothing from the other room through the open door to worry about. When he spies the birdcage brand, he flicks a questioning look to Maxim, regarding the merchant mark. He does try not to speak, however.
JJ steps ahead providing light.
"Those beds are person sized..."
He puts his hand on one "Still warm.."
The young man then joins Kikinnin in looking in the next room.