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Juraan takes a 5 ft step back and fires another acid ray at his opponent (green)
"I'm not a wizard, Wine Sack!"
Maxim staggers under the battering onslaught of the mace wielding bandit.
"Hells Teeth! Ye rattled my ancestors ye damned harpy!"
Bleeding and eye half closed he reels away from the dual threat .
Once at a safe distance, the dwur recovers a potion and glugs it back
-
Maxim retreats from the woman that just crushed his skull and retrieves a potion.
Ryan's bolt stabs at the woman's belly, she emitting a silent groan of pain.
Kikinnin opens a wound with his axe on the hillfolk who was menacing Juraan.
Ryan drops the crossbow and readies mace and shield and moves towards the new arrivals unable to hit the man.
JJ spins over himself covering the five feet separating him from that hillfolk and connects one lethal stab, spinning again to connect another lethal stab with his second sword. The man unable to see where the edges are coming from fights without any success, moaning in pain as the deep wounds are opened by the precise JJ. He barely stands on feet.
Juraan steps back sending another acid ray to the hillfolk, this one landing on the ground.
Maxim drinks the healing potion, his wounds quickly recovering.
The hillfolk man fighting Kikinnin, retaliates against the dwarf but stepping closer to Juraan to threaten his potential casting.
And he finds an opening in his armor, crashing the mace on his left arm.
The hillfolk woman moves to the melee, flanking Kikinnin.
Only finding metal.
The hillfolk man in front of JJ attempts to revenge with a swing of his mace.
But JJ dodges the drunken mace with ease.
He then steps back and draws a potion.
The woman of the stage stumbles to the center of the room and kneels in front of the unconscious hillfolk "Nacer... what happens Nacer? *hick*"
The half-naked Alleybasher woman gets out of the private and attempts to kill JJ with her rapier.
And forces JJ to perform a difficult but successful dodge.
The frightened Alleybasher shakes away his fear and steps back to the combat "W-what have you done to me?"
AC = 22
HP = 34/44
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin grunts as he takes a blow from the mace. He starts to dislike the odds, feeling something press at his back. He lays into Green again, hoping to dismiss the flanking folk.
"They're drunk? That's rich, considering our recent contest. You'd think some of them would have stayed sober, to watch over the others."
Kikinnin looks around some more, especially if Green falls. "We're here to see justice served. Sarcem is a priest of the Church of St. Cuthbert, and serves a noble purpose. If you knew that, and have come to interfere, you'll find your fate most unkind."
JJ continues his assault, trying to finish off the wounded man, before turning on the next Hillman nearby. Realising the allybasher has returned to the fight, JJ steps backwards to avoid being flanked.
"Best run now while you still have legs." suggests JJ to the allybasher.
Seeing that Kikkinin has the one bandit (green) well in hand Juraan steps (5 ft)
to a better position and fires another acid ray. This time targetting the bandit
between Kikkinin and Maxim (purple)
Shoulder to shoulder with JJ, Ryan tries to lay the rogue low and move onto the tough in black. "Friends of yours JJ?"
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"Yeah, some of these are folk I ran with when I was trying to join the allybashers." he admits without thinking who he was admitting it to.
He gulps, and then quickly adds.
"But you can't tell Uncle about that."
Kikinnin's axe finds the hillman's neck, chopping it with strength, it almost fall apart from the hit. The man falls to the ground bleeding to death.
After stepping back JJ performs his double spin cutting twice at the recovered Feristin. The wounds are deep an enough to make him fall unconscious dying.
A powerful ray spans from Juraan's hands. Not being trained at precise shotting into melee the ray modestly hits at the hillwoman's belly rather than precisely at the heart. The woman complains nevertheless because of the pain.
Ryan follows JJ in the fray, hitting the alleybasher woman in the shoulder.
Marigold reloads her crossbow and shots at the stage hillwoman.
The bolt hits the wall of the privates.
Emboldened by the alcohol the stage hillwoman moves to flank Kikinnin. She at least squeezes next to the private walls to avoid Kikinnin's threatening axe then attempts to bring down the mace on his head.
The other hillwoman opts to take advantage of the new flank and attacks Kikinnin as well.
Both attacks end in the dwarf's armor.
The remaining hill man steps away from the melee and drinks the potion then readies the mace again.
The last alleybasher attempts to stab Ryan "Ya felt into the wolf's lair *hick*!"
But Ryan makes an easy task of parrying the pointy stick with his shield.
"It's not always how we get to the end JJ, but that we get there. Although this might be a good time to use some of what you learned from them before." Ryan calls back with a grin, twisting his mace inside the rapier's guard.
Juraan, blaming the erratic movement of the bandits for spoiling his aim,
shoots yet another acid ray at the same bandit (purple).
"Stop swaying with the breeze and just fall down, damnit!"
With Maxim having retreated and mended the worst of his wounds with a potion, Marigold continues taking potshots at the remaining combatants.
After continuing to have trouble hitting her first target, Marigold tries shooting at a different one - this time, the thug aiming to circle around and attack Juraan.
JJ holds his spot for the moment, trading blows with the hillwoman.
"These were nice people and this was a nice inn. Why d'ya do it?"
As the thugs surge forward Maxim moves away from the nearest and brings his pistol to bear.
He shifts the weapon back into his firing hand and imbues it with a dash of magick energy
Eyeing his foe the dwur draws a bead and pulls the trigger :
:
... but the shot flies wild as the gun-mage recovers from being bludgeoned.
"Gods be darned! Focus!!"
Grimacing, Maxim reloads with an alchemical cartridge and again charges the pistol with arcane energy
Focusing he once again draws a bead on the same bandit and pulls the trigger;
:
:
Marigold's first bolt is blocked by the hillwoman's shield.
Ryan's mace drops the alleybasher woman in front.
Juraan's acid ray finds again the hillwoman burning her face. She staggers because of the numerous wounds.
The second bold of Marigold hits the woman fighting with Kikinnin in the left arm.
Finding the woman in the ground, JJ moves over the hillman that consumed the potion and stabs his shortsword on the man's chest plainly sending it to the ground unconscious and dying.
Maxim's second shot finds the woman dropping it to the floor unconscious.
Despite being alone the remaining hillwoman does not seems conscious of the bad odds, and instead keeps fighting Kikinnin totally drunk.
But fails.
AC = 22
HP = 34/44
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin listens to JJ confess to his earlier desire to become a member of the Alleybashers, his mouth twisting at the thought that anyone would. He presses his attack against Green, expecting them to need these rabble routed, before searching out the ape-man.
"Where's the ape-man? Might be acting like monkeys, but none of these look like monkeys."
Kikinnin steps in front of Green, if Green still stands after his last swing.
Kikinnin's swing is solid and opens the hillwoman's chest up down. She rears against the wall and falls to the ground bleeding.
3x Studded leather
3x masterwork rapier
3x shortbow with 20 arrows
6x Chainmail
6x masterwork large steel shield
6x masterwork heavy maces
5x potion of cure moderate wounds
9x red sash
You do recognise the heraldics and manufacture in the shields and maces. These weapons have the same dwarven symbols and manufacturing techniques than those you took from the hobgoblins in Malachite Fortress some weeks ago.
:
Maxim eyes the pile of loot as he rubs his bruised head. Something about the weapons cache catches the dwur's eye and he scowls before cursing aloud;
"Aw skit.. We've seen these arms and armour afore..."
Kikinnin looks about the room, newly quiet as the drunks find a different way into unconsciousness. "Do we stabilize these fallen few? Is our presence here Cauldron's Law, extended into this wilderness?" The black-beard wanders among the fallen, dragging them all together, while others divest them of their equipment.
"Where's the innkeeper? Or for that matter, where's Sarcem?"
Depending on the others' responses, Kikinnin helps out with stabilizing the unconscious, before searching out the first floor of the Lucky Monkey.
He binds those who still survive, in case Ryan radiates healing enough to bring any of them back to consciousness.
Before heading forward, Kikinnin asks Marigold for healing from the wand, thanking her before advancing.
"We do...At least the allybashers are citizens of Cauldron." says JJ.
"They might be allybashers, but this is what makes us better than them. Kikinnin." he adds, grateful for the dwarves help.
"But let us not take too long, I want to find the innkeeper and his family.. and his daughter
"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself there, JJ. How long ago did you take a fancy to joining these degenerates?"
"JJ, I will help Kikinnin with the wounded, look around for the inn keeper and his family or Sarcem. Do not get into any trouble. We'll be right behind you. Jenya said Sarcem was in the basement."
Ryan will help Kikinnin secure any wounded before any mass healing is performed. "While they may be from Cauldron, I do not trust them at all. Maxim what are you going on about?"
The bandits stabilize under Ryan's channeled energy.
Ruined tavern tables, bloodstains, torn-up floorboards, and general wreckage dominate this once cozy tavern room.
The search of the private rooms render nothing of interest. These where intended for private dinners or meetings.
The stairs go up into the first floor.
The raised platform is arranged like a stage; two large chairs sit against the walls before an extraordinarily large fireplace. Ashes have been scattered across the floor, and the fireplace itself is in ruins-large holes are smashed in the sides and back of it and crumbled bricks lie stacked haphazardly to the side.
Behind the counter you find out Orin's corpse, full of dozen open wounds and surrounded by broken glass and bottles. The man is frozen in a fighting position, by sure he defended with sword and shield his place until the last breath.
Behind, there is a stair going up to the first floor too.
This area of the main room was rented to host banquets for large groups of important visitors. The stairs ascend to the first floor.
When Kikinnin is up to start exploring the floor you do hear sounds outside the tavern.
A couple of half-elves you do quickly recognize as Fario Ellegoth and Fellian Shard enter the room. "W-what are you doing here?" says Fario, then Fellian observe the bandits scattered around you "I guess you have nothing to do with the bandits that attacked the inn"
"Where is Shensen? Have you seen her?" Asks Fario alarmed.
Both half-elves look truly troubled and like if they have just made a far-long trip.
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"At least they had the decency to be 'pished' when we arrived!"
"I'll join you in searching place, Kikkinin"
Juraan will follow the dwarf with his rapier ready.
Maxim shrugs at Ryan's query looking a little sheepish;
"Think some o' these weapons are ones we recovered from the Malachite... Reckon they've fallen into the wrong hands..."
The dwur allows his words to trail off as he joins the search;
:
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"Where is Shensen? Have you seen her?"
Kikinnin looks over his shoulder. "You mean 'Sarcem'. And he's a him. And no, we haven't."
Kikinnin eases up, figuring the elves to have tired themselves out as his own group just did. "You been following us again? You know you'd be safer traveling in numbers, like we do."
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"Think some o' these weapons are ones we recovered from the Malachite... Reckon they've fallen into the wrong hands..."
Outside of a grimace, Ryan says little in response as Maxim caught the brunt of those weapons, quite literally. "Bad business that was"
Checking the 'prisoners', Ryan stands as the half elves enter the Inn.
"No Shensen, Kikinnin, remember the half elf I spoke with last time we were here. We haven't had time to complete a search, so far we have ended the infestation in the tap romm but alas the Lucky Monkey will need a new tap master, Orin lays behind the bar. An admirable defense he put up though. We're here because of a call from Sarcem to Jenya, why are you here? You do not look as if you came bye on an afternoon visit. Then we must finish the search."
"The rest of Orin's family is also missing..." pints out JJ
He heads for the kitchen, figuring the way to the cellar and basement is likely located there.
"You two do seem to turn up when there is trouble about...Do you do this for the stormblades too?" he cracks over his shoulder as he heads quickly towards the kitchen.
The half-elves look one each other and nod "Yes, Shensen, she called us in desperation, the Lucky Monkey is under attack" says Fario.
Fellian adds "Correct. Let's do this. We will check the upper floor, you check this floor"
And Fario answers to JJ shrugging his shoulders "It is our duty. To be informed and help the travelers. But sorry, this time we did not came here for you, but for our friend"
The half-elves are clearly in a hurry, as they draw their weapons and start walking towards the upper floor through the eastern stairs.
Passing the northern curtain Kikinnin and Juraan find out a couple of doors, one towards the north, another to the west in the same corridor.
"Th-this s-seems all w-wrong..." Marigold mutters miserably as they discover poor Orin's body behind the bar. "D-did s-someone know S-Sarcem was c-coming? It all s-seems s-so c-convenient th-that we s-see the Alleybashers again and th-those arms from M-Malachite all th-the way out h-here...and th-then they show up t-too..." she nods to the two half-elves.
"Shensen treated me well while I was here before and I'd like to join you, but duty to my church comes first. Desna and Abadar's blessings upon your search, wish Shensen well From Ryan Taskerhill should she be well."
Waving farewell to the half elves, Ryan moves towards the curtain to follow Kikinnin and Juraan.
JJ continues on toward the kitchens.
"Lets find that basement."
"S-sounds like a p-plan; we c-can cover m-more ground that w-way if we sp-split up," Marigold agrees. "B-but c-call out if you n-need us okay?" she adds to the two half-elves as they move towards the stairs.
Juraan points to the West door
"I'll check this door if you check that one, Kikkinin."
Juraan just opens the door on the west
Fario and Felian give a concerned smile to Marigold "We will take care. Let's do the same, shout for us if you are in danger"
Juraan opens the western door and finds out cleaning supplies are kept here.
Kikinnin then opens the door to the north indicated by Juraan. This is a small office used by the employees for meetings. There are two doors, one towards the west another to the east.
JJ arrives from behind and points to the right door, the one to the east. The kitchen.
Juraan enters the room Kikkinin opened (M25) and opens its Western door.
On entering to the room, Juraan appreciates the door to the west is completely battered down.
Five large iron safes sit against the opposite wall each of them hanging open and empty. A desk against the wall to the south lies on its side, its front smashed in and its mundane contents strewn about the place.
Maxim watches Fario and Felian head upstairs with a wry shake of the head;
Half-Olves. Darned flighty...
The gun-mage downs a potion , restoring himself to full strength.
He then joins Kikinnin and Juraan as they search the ruined inn.
:
"Anyone or anythin' o' note yet?"
JJ takes the door into the kitchen, swords out and ready.
"Guess they really wanted in..."
Kikinnin keeps pressing onwards, seeking out the ape-man. Each door that doesn't offer him up is another door that the dwarf berates. He keeps opening doors, only interested in blood-pumping blokes beyond them.
Juraan follows Kikinnin through the north door out of room M25
Rapier at the ready; expecting trouble.
Ryan works his way around the tap room to the far fireplace and checks the room found there.
Ryan opens the door and finds the room seems readied to prepare dinners for the banquet hall.
Meanwhile JJ opens the door to the kitchen.
This large room was obviously the roadhouse's kitchen. The large metal tables for food preparation have all been pushed against the walls, leaving the firepit in the center of the room isolated. Impressive stacks
of coins, paintings, silverware, bottles of wine, and other costly-looking treasures lie near the fire in organized piles.
Busily counting the gathered loot, you see an enormous ape man that turns to see your entrance and jump over you!
Three hill baboons lurk in the room as well playing with what seems a severed human head.
"Yooou! It's youuuu!" the apeman seems to recognize you, he laughs and enters into a fury, drawing a falchion he jumps over JJ.
The edge of the weapon cuts open JJ's chest up down opening a large wound.
One of the hill baboons moves to fight the young man too.
But the bite ends in the leather armor.
You do understand now the apeman is a wereape, very much like the wererats you fought before but descendant of the baboons. As such you can count on him having DR/silver and being able to change shape.
Ryan enters the staging room, and is about to leave when the sounds of fighting break out beyond the next doorway. Whispering "Tauros Robore" readied mace and shield, he steps into the next room.
Marigold shrieks with surprise and a bit of fear as they finally find the apemen they'd been looking for. Acting quickly she pulls out the healing wand and steps behind JJ, using the last bit of power in it to heal his wounds.
AC = 22, 25 against monkey man
HP = 43/44
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe, Smite
Condition(s) = Bless, Smite
Kikinnin spies his quarry, bringing Abadar's Reckoning to light. "Abomination, you are, Apeman. What you sowed here, reap your punishment now."
He steps up alongside JJ, hoping to take a shot at the beast, and get it to back off.
"Arrghhh... big age with a sword!" cries JJ.
However his own weapons are already moving, stabbing out at the horrible thing.
"Arrghhh... its a head!" he screams - somewhat unnerved by the experience.
Ryan's muscles get larger after he casts the spell and approaches the next door.
Some of JJ's wounds disappear thanks to Marigold's wand touch.
Kikinnin's axe glimmers while he calls the punishment of the apeman. The weapon cuts like butter the werebaboon!
JJ's blades move fast but they are deflected by the tough natural armor of the apeman.
The apeman seems furious "You are not going to defeat me this time. I am Tongueater now!" brawls the beast. He steps back and starts to scream like a monkey. The baboons move to engage JJ while Tongueater draws a potion and drinks it. The apeman's outline blurs giving him concealment.
Two of the baboons attack JJ with their jaws!
Both of them scream horribly with a simian sound but JJ can easily dodge them.