" We should retreat to a better position and formulate a way to defeat this creature without being subject to its method of fighting. After that we should be able to adjust our resources to better handle such a creature... we cleared out the top so it should be safe. "
"Pack it up." says Avarice, tossing an Alchemists fire as she walks away.
Gaedren places his hand up as if he were going to suggest the same thing... but placed it down and nodded, quickly leading the rest back up.
Avarice goes back up the stairs and waits for about two minutes before heading back down the stairs to the burnt corpse of the beetle.
"Like I said, fun."
"You amazing b*#&~."
" Well then.. all according to plan then.. I expected it put itself out... apparently this one was clumsier than the rest.. "
"Lug is not saying ugly women is more attractive, merely he is thinking she is not getting uglier."
" Lug I must agree with you.. She is Indeed not ugly.. that act showed an astute brain worthy of praise... Well lets see if there is anything inside the bodies. "
Gaedren goes and opens the beetles up for any unfortunate loot that may have come from other adventurers.
Avarice takes her spear and goes about repeatedly stabbing the creature in its head and surrounding area, eventually carving out its body.
"I'm glad it's been established that I'm not hideous. There doesn't seem to be anything here unfortunately."
" You seem to be right.. how odd.. going through all that effort and there not being anything of worth... "
Gaedren takes 20 on the room.
Gaedren goes digging inside the creature in the hole that Avarice carved out, it's disgusting work but eventually he finds a small stone buried inside it.
Gaedren comes back out and says to the group, " Blech found something inside cant tell if its hazardous or not. Anyone with the ability to detect magic should come with me. "
Hazel crawls inside the creature with Gaedren.
"Ioun stone." she says, crawling back out of the monster.
Gaedren would pull it out and show it to Avarice.. he tries to clean it off first. " Might as well check the rest of the bodies... "
"It's a Mossy Disk."
"Nobility aligned."
" Thats worth.. more than the Glaive I believe? "
Gaedren does similar to the rest of the beetles.
Gaedren finds nothing else of value.
Gaedren comes out if anything.. Tired and disgusting from beetle hemolymph, he simply chuckled. " I believe.. there isnt any of the same in the smaller ones. "
He tries to shakes himself a bit. " Back to nexus then... or.. do you think we should try another floor? "
"I think we should be satisfied with our progress for the day, no need to get over eager."
"Ego will be the death of us."
Lug screams. "Lug smash nothing today! LUG SMASH NOW!"
Lug proceeds to bash his club against the ground in a rage filled tantrum until the weapon splinters and breaks.
Having finished his rampage, Lug walks over to the large beetle and rips one of its legs off.
"New club. Hmph."
" You are correct Lana, ego is the death of many a group. I was acting on the premise of gathering the general opinion before I stressed caution. The reason we succeed is teamwork and a building bond. Without that we are not strong really. "
Gaedren look to Lug and places his arm over the lumbering giant shoulder placing his hand out to the sky. " But Lug, you see you have given everyone the rage of the Devourer and through him we Smashed.. and thus you smashed. "
"Lug is feeling better now."
"Nexus then?"
"Mmm."
" Let's head there now.. look on the progress of the other group.. maybe sell this stone if no one can use it? Avarice? "
"Knowledge of nobles and their houses probably won't be of much use here, convert it to something useful back in town. Masterwork weapons, and potions, we seem to be in need of them."
" Do remember, the archmage spoke of puzzles, some of which may not be solvable with martial might alone. However considering we will be relying on your mental prowess mostly I believe we will be well taken care of Mistress Avarice. To nexus then. "
Gaedren places his hand on the crystal, waiting on other people to do so then port them 'home'
Gaedren goes around and sells the needless equipment including the oversized armors weapons and ioun stone.
Gaedren goes down the list of his group outfitting them better than before.
He first goes and equips them with better weapons.. possibly through spellcasting or Purchase, whichever they preferred.
The group has a total of 3318 gp over the fights from before and he doesnt count the swords.. He'd bargain with them if need be. In the current situation they would face a very real threat.. it would be best to ENSURE they succeed without any casualties. He observed every person and then made decision based on their specialty and the best effect for the group.
Gaedren gets a Masterwork Tiger Fork (305)
Asteria gets her katana Masterworked (360)
Avarice gets more alchemical items or masterwork (Variable)
Hazel gets her terbutje Masterworked (360)
Lana gets a Bow with a +2 Str Rating (300)
Lily has a magical glaive though she could trade her own bow in for one with a Higher Str rating (Variable)
Lug gets his beetle leg Masterworked (360)
Shaylee & Vartigan get a Masterwork Bow with a +1 Str rating (500)
The party procures a scroll of Flame Arrow (375)
The Party Procures 5 oils of bless weapon (Enough for 100 arrows) (250)
The party Procures 20 Alchemist fires. (400)
The party Procures Ammentum for the 20 Javelins.. they cost nothing.
Gaedren has those pass down weapons to the others that they no longer need like bows and then seeks out the Lost Boys Inn. He wished to seek out Samara and her compatriots and inform the proprietor of the bar, Quinn.. on their success. He weaves a tale of the beetle floor and even includes the tunneling trough one.. not sure if that facet is normal for the tower.
Everyone is treated to mead and ale and other fine drinks, they had done well today, Gaedren would see them rewarded for the good work. In the time he mused over his past training in his village the teachings of a particular master, Holt Breinach. The man was a marvel at swordsmanship his nine ringed blade chimed at every failure Gaedren shown.
After a lengthy cooldown he would seek out Samara and her team again and speak, " I am not sure if the success my team has experienced is normal or not but I feel it best to check. I also wish to know the status of Xant.. if he is doing any better? Do you feel one day will be enough.. considering the missing arm and all. "
"He's probably going to have some real problems casting spells for a while. Not sure when that's going to change though."
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" When your group went in what capabilities did each member have before the incident? I need to know as we might be able to solve the issue and with enough reward get your friends arm back. "
"Bradford was a Cavalier of the Order of the Star, called the Knights of the Blazing Sun, dedicated Sarenites."
"Xant is obviously a cleric, devoted to Torag."
"I myself, I'm not sure what to say. I can assume a different form, I don't do it here in Nexus to not scare people."
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" I see.. just so we are clear, I assure you I am not afraid of anything you may become. I ask only one more thing in the morning when we will go forward that Xant prepare spells according to the plan we set forth. I also ask if any of you have any ranged capabilities outside spells. Those without I have something for them to do.. Xant I shall bring the easy job of staying relatively back "
"Bradford keeps a bow, I usually just throw things if needed."
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" Good I have oils and alchemists fire to get this job done quickly. I'm curious what sort of spells you yourself cast? "
"I can accelerate everyone to act faster, and can create pits to trap certain enemies. Outside of that I usually enlarge Bradford and use things like grease to halt charges."
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" That is most helpful.. How powerful of spells does it seem Xant can muster? "
Samara shrugs, "I don't know. He can restore people from things like poison. He has some common spells like blessing us, but outside of that and healing I don't know. "
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Gaedren smiles and nods, " Thank you Miss Samara.. for being so understanding even though you lost someone I would assume was important to you. We will get him back and I will try and work on a way to restore Jakob if you like. Now if you excuse me, I have to converse with my own party and check their status. "
Gaedren politely bows to Samara and goes to check on the group then speak to Avarice about the Ropers. " Mistress Avarice I'd like to ask your opinion on the matter at hand. I have spoken to Samara and figured out their capabilities as well. With our set up it should go well though I wonder if there are any suggestion you and your infinite knowledge could bring. We have a few hundred gold left. "
"I would like to procure some Cesti for myself. In addition to purchasing some cold iron and silvered Daggers, for myself and to pass around."
"We should also acquire an adamantine arrow or two, for use as Daggers. As well more cold iron and silvered arrows. "
"A high level wand of fireball may be useful with just a charge or two."
"We need a way to enlarge Lily, she is our most capable Fighter for the moment."
"We need more potions, one for everyone if we can. Lug and Lily need to be fighting and not healing."
"Holy Water. Lots."
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Gaedren listens to her words with great insight, " That is reasonable. Refitting yourself is proper for what my happen later. An arrow to bypass differing levels of hide is also something that crossed my mind though Adamantine is still quite expensive. Perhaps we can utilize a spell known to keep such weapons in use.. Abundant Ammunition? A proper Area of Effect blast seems to be a good idea as well.. we have not run into any swarms as of yet but it is something to be handled. As far as healing.. for this venture it will be regulated to ant but as far as later on I believe a wand and perhaps a few potions may be better. Lug and Lily do fight and healing tends to happen AFTER the situation is handled. "
Gaedren then responded to the other suggestions. " Lily is by far powerful but I cannot discount Lana's holy wrath, Hazel's magical prowess or Lug's fierceness. Though with the use of the Glaive she is currently good against normal threats. Enlarge person will be given by Samara this venture but I believe we can speak to Vartigan about doing the same. As for Holy water.. I agree, undead will need to be handed.. though cure spells work equally as good. I'll purchase a few just in case. "
"I was thinking more for each of our rooms."
Avarice all of sudden looks like she's just noticing something.
She stops for a moment before her gauntlet hand clenched into a fist and she looks at you in cold fury.
"You smell of vanilla and wolf."
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Gaedren makes a concerned face as Avarice suddenly seems upset at something out of no where. The words afterward seem to create an implication immediately. Gaedren wished to reach out to calm her but he felt that it would just ed in him being hurt.. which.. recently he has gotten tired of..odd.
" Vanilla and Wolf? I suppose Mona's scent might be rubbing off on me and I did shower well in the morning, likely the soap. Why do you seem so upset Mistress Avarice? "
Gaedren wast trying to hide anything but the random change in pace.
"... Is that so?" says Avarice narrowing her eyes.
"Because my soap is scent less in my room, I have to supply my own perfume."
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Gaedren sighs, it did not take much to assume what she might be getting at and such he took his own initiative.
" Mistress Avarice, if your are insinuating what I believe you might.. You should follow me to the room in question. I know you at this point and the explosive way you might react will cause more ruckus than needed. I can tell you whatever it is.. it isnt how you think. Please.. Follow me. "
Avarice follows Gaedren silently.
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Gaedren leads Avarice to the room him and Lily tends to sleep, opening the door and then closing it behind them. He lets her drink in the room and sighs. " The normal sleeping arrangement I myself was used to having both persons sleeping back to back in the same bed. You are comrades, this should be of little issue and if you think less of me, you should know I am an Honest and just man. I will never do something against another's will and if I do so? I accept the punishment.. much like my unsanctioned touching of your skin to calm you or make a point. "
Gaedren stares at Avarice, " Mona sleeps at the foot or closer, I keep my smallclothes on as it is ill manners to be hardly clothed with a lady you are not involved with. While Mistress Lily... sleeps with... less. Miss Shaylee was no different. In either case I was nervous and still am but I have not acted on any urges. The most I have done is hold Lily to calm her from something she seemed to be tensed over... If that is the reason you smell what you do.. that is it. I will say Mistress Avarice.. I do enjoy your presence and .. well.. you. I am not a lecher or any such. But if this news upsets you.. I will gladly allow you to punish me much like before. You can may bruise, beat and cut me if blood is to be needed, but do so here rather than out there. "
Avarice reaches out and grabs Gaedren by the back of the head before pulling him in to kiss her.
However immediately afterwards, her still clenched gauntled fist strikes him in the face.
The room explodes in fire as apparently Avarice had palmed an Alchemists Fire in her hand.
Burning the flames off herself and Gaedren she looks to him, "Don't tell me half truths again. Whatever happened here, it doesn't happen again. Ok?"