Kip stares off for a minute, his eyes unfocused, as if seeing past the roof line and out into the city. His hands clench and relax as if playing some part in his thought process. His mouth moves slightly, and he turns his head back and forth a little bit, as if searching for something.
Ah. I know a spot! I used it once a while back. Not to far from here is a tunnel, it burrows into the cliff. It was tunneled who knows how long ago, but us couiers use it to get up cliff side in a hurry. But the great thing about it is that there is a staging area. That area is a large dwarven house with solid walls, arrow slits for windows, and stout iron doors. Shouldn't be that big of a trouble...
"Aye, 'at sounds like a grea' place t' hole up in, but how're we gonna get 'ere, huh?" Khron's grip on his weapon tightens as he fixes the kobold with a curious look. The dwarf speaks, "I don' think it'll be easy t' get outta 'is place, e'en goin' from roof t' roof."
A flash of black and feathers hurdles in through the hole in the roof before flaring its wings with an audible snap and alighting near Alfonso.
It speaks in a cultured manner at odds with its screeching voice.
"The position is bad but not entirely untenable Sir. There are three buildings across the street facing this inn that are well ablaze but this building is not yet burning. Apart from that fire the most severe burning seems to be confined to the port district where both ships and shore facilities are in flames.
Small but possibly growing fires dot the rest of the city. I saw no attempt at an organized or even disorganized response to the flames. I heard no temple alarm bells nor were the fire drums active. We are unlikely to be the only survivors but perhaps moving on as if that were so would not be the worst plan of action.
There is some possible good news however. It appears that there is a small storm front coming in from the west. If nothing else it will slow the growth of the flames."
"Thank you Kirpate."
The noble turns to the others.
So Master Kip. Where is this bolt hole of yours? I expect if we are swift, quiet, and cautious we can reach it before the fires really take hold."
"Aye, 'at sounds like a grea' place t' hole up in, but how're we gonna get 'ere, huh?" Khron's grip on his weapon tightens as he fixes the kobold with a curious look. The dwarf speaks, "I don' think it'll be easy t' get outta 'is place, e'en goin' from roof t' roof."
"Not easy perhaps, but quite possible. Many building in the city share walls allowing us to walk quite a way before we hit a street. A little work with your axe or another tool we find along the way and we will soon have a makeshift ladder or plank bridge to cross the alleys and side streets. The only real difficulty will be navigation and the occasional main street we may need to cross. Kirpate here will be happy to assist with navigation and as far as the main thoroughfares. Well if you will pardon the levity we will cross that road when we come to it."
Alfonso smiles revealing perfect if slightly pointed teeth.
The noble gestures to the roof opening. "Shall we go?"
Kragdash walks to the rope in the beam starting to untie it. "I have about 50 feet of rope, that should help somewhat, perhaps could make a rope ladder. Some water and food but not nearly enough to support this big of a group. The armor will make it harder but I can climb somewhat." The orc then takes a small pause as he puts the coil of rope on his shoulder.
"I think the place Kip mentioned is good place to use as shelter. We still need food and water. The fountain would do if we got enough stuff to carry the water in. This place would have food, but there has to be easier target somewhere. And when we get the time I would like to know what we have to work with and not just equipment wise."
"Oh, sure!"
The kobold swings his arms and stretches, cracking his neck.
"There is a better place, my favourite spot. It's a house with an old tower attached, but it was very secure. Had running water, a quaint garden. Somewhat hard to get to if you aren't used to running roofs. Unfortunately, it's been invaded by the wererats." He frowns. "Must've sensed one of the last good spots. Buh."
He shakes his head. "Anyway, where to? Head to the tunnel directly or get some supplies first?"
The kobold walks toward one end of the attic then runs towards Eamch, jumping on his laced hands for the boost before jumping up to the rooftops.
Securing straps of armor, checking bags to ensure various items are accounted for, or just staring up at a bird planning to impose upon fellow adventurers, the group begins to climb up though the hole that Kip created.
First through is Kip, his lithe form flowing easily through the hole. Next up is Khron, who immediately recognizes that the hole is perfect for Kip, but not for him, nor any others.
Grumbling to himself, he grabs onto the roofing and proceeds to grunt with effort as he tears open a larger hole. Pieces of wood and thatch fall to the floor and slide along the roof tiles outside to fall to the back area.
Hurry up, Khron. You're killing meKragdash grunts as he holds up the heavy dwarf.
Finally, confident that he will now fit through, Khron pulls himself through the hole, turns and begins to help the others through.
As Khrone and Kragdash help people up through the hole, those up top begin to take stock of what is truly around them.
Just as the bird described, there is fire and carnage all around. Fires burn, ships burn at the dock, whole sections of magnimar are charred from fire.
As you gaze towards the north, the direction you must go to Kips hide away, a fire flares up.
That's not good. That was the route i was planning to take you guys on he mutters.
CLimbing to the highest point of the Inn, the chimney, standing in its shadow, he casts his gaze about. Crap! he utters, sliding down and snapping to his feet.
Would appear that we have another problem. Them Wererats seem to have picked up my trail again. We need to go, and need to go NOW!
Kip flails his hands to convey the urgency of what he's saying. "Come on, come on."
The kobold licks his lips, looking frantic even as he looks around for any other rooftop path they can take to get to the tunnel.
If any of these are applicable/needed:
How bright is the sunlight by the way? Kip has light sensitivity so he suffers a -1 to attack roll and visual perception checks in bright light.
Knowledge (geography) or Knowledge (local) for knowing an alternate path
Knowledge (engineering) for recognizing any dangerous constructions/buildings that wouldn't be safe to take
Perception to spot a path (-1 if not in bright sunlight)
Khron adjusts his grip on his weapon and scans the area to see if he can see the wererats. "'ere should we go, lad? 'is 'ole deal seems t' be yer specialty, seein' as ya apparently came in 'is way in th' firs' place."
How fast are those things, anyway? If we aren't faster no use in trying to outrun them. Just find something defendable near by and slaughter them or die trying. Hell those things might actually solve our food problem, if they aren't affected by the same thing that the creatures in the in are. The orc notes to the conversation. Kragdash pulls his axe from his back thightening the grip on the handle.
"An excellent plan Mr. Soul, but not I fear of immediate use. Now is the time to run." "Kirpate, find me a way off this aerie. Preferably somewhere not too crowded. You know my tastes."
The black bird flies up in a tight circle searching for a way off the roof.
you do know of another route, but 2 things make you leary of using it. 1) you have to cross the street. 2) you are not sure if the roof's can handle the weight of everyone
Kip licks his lips, nervous.
He addresses the dwarf. "Well, there's another way there but we'd have to cross the street and, uhh, no offense but I don't think the roofs can handle your weight."
He shrugs when he hears Kragdash's comment, mumbling or your weight either but raises his voice to say, "I'm fast enough to outrun them, but I've been running roofs a long time. Not sure you guys can keep up and it'd get bad if you fell. We were just gonna go slow since you guys aren't used to it."
The kobold takes a brief scratch of his head. "But, I dunno, I'm out of ideas. I'm not sure how many wererats there are and fighting them might draw attention, but we could be out of options. Finding somewhere else to stay while I go look for another way might be good."
Khron shrugs, shifting his weapon on his shoulder. "'ow many o' 'em d' ya think 'ere are? If we can't ou'run 'em, we can always crack 'eir skulls."
"Uhhh." Kip looks thoughtful as he tries to remember how many wererats he ran away from.
The kobold tries to climb the chimney again to see if the wererats are close, and how many there are.
The faint echo of labored breathing and rat screeching begins to emit from the surrounding walls...
"Guys?" Kip's voice echoes down from the chimney he's on. "I think we might have a bigger problem than the rats."
Khron raises an eyebrow. "'ow big?" He lifts his mace off his shoulder, gripping the haft with both hands, continuing, "'cause dependin' on 'ow big, I may still break it's 'ead."
"What's going on?" Bel asks from his position of covering the hole in the floor of the attic. "The note of panic in Kip's voice is making me a bit edgy!"
"Umm. Can't quite see it but it's fast. The rats are running away from it. Maybe we should get down until it passes by."
Bel scrambles up onto the roof with the others to see what the commotion is.
"Umm. Can't quite see it but it's fast. The rats are running away from it. Maybe we should get down until it passes by."
"The enemy of my enemy is best avoided?" The noble cracks a smile. "Loath as I am to return to durance vile perhaps our former abode would serve. Space my be cramped but if we would all gather as far as possible from the roof opening I could cover us with a simple glamour that may well direct the rats and their playmate to continue their discussion in the main body of the inn. Do you all find this plan agreeable?"
"I ain' usually one t' avoid a good fight... but I 'ink i's pro'lly th' safes' bet. Le's do it." Khron starts heading back towards the hole in the roof.
"Durance wha-?" Kip looks confused but seems to get Alfonso's main point. "Yeah, sure."
The kobold quickly jumps down and scurries down the hole, back to the attic.
Once everyone is back in the attic Alfonso casts Silent image (will dc 15, 50' max area) to block LOS from the entry hole. As he can cover 50' Alfonso will try to "wall" off a corner. Something like a 30' line out from a side wall and then 20' back to an end wall. This should give us a minimum of a 20' void space behind the figment. It will be clear the folks have been living here, by smell if nothing else but the multiple exit holes will hopefully lead out guests astray.
"Right everyone, company is coming so silence please."
Kip quiets down but shuffles around restlessly.
Bel harrumphs a little at having to jump back into the attic he had just vacated but says nothing else as they wait for their opportunity to make a run for it.
Khron stands ready in the corner of the room, cautiously glaring at the mage's illusion. Damned magic... bu' if i' 'ill keep us safe, I s'pose I c'n bare wi' it fer now... His hands remain tightly gripped around the haft of his over-sized hammer, regardless.
The Orc grunts and mumbles something under his breath as he makes his way back in to the attic. After the group has gathered he rests his axe against his shoulder but both hands firmly gripping it ready to bury it to the first things skull that he doesn't like.
The Orc grunts and mumbles something under his breath as he makes his way back in to the attic. After the group has gathered he rests his axe against his shoulder but both hands firmly gripping it ready to bury it to the first things skull that he doesn't like.
a couple minutes pass as everyone calm's down, the only sound is light breathing from everyone as they strain their ears to catch the first sound of the wererats.
Just as the stress begins to build, and someone is about to make a noise by speaking, a dull thump falls upon the roof, followed by some scratching and snapping. A moment later, another thump and scratching, followed by a third.
hees wass here, brotherss an oily voice with a lisp speaks.
aye, but where now?replies a second in a strong voice. The little stain carries the Rod, and we must have it.
A heavy snuffing sound emits above everyone's head.
I smells somedin. Somedin tasty. a dull voice speaks out loudly, directly over where you all huddle in the attic.
Bah, you smell those things again. Because of you, Davram, Franz, and Sara ate some of them, and now are following us, but want to eat US! the second voice snarls back at the dullard.
Theys comes closes to usssthe lispy voice states
We move. We need to loose them. While i have no problem killing people, and killing those things down there, i cannot do that to our own kind. Let's go
Rapid movement of claws scratching at the roof is heard as the three run along and jump off.
a long minute passes and then 3 loud thumps slam into the rooftop, shaking loose dust and mold to fall into the cramped area.
Sniffing and scratching is heard, along with some loud moans and groans from all three things. In response, one of the things down below moans loudly, and a chorus of moans is taken up from below, to be echoed by those up above.
Alfonso, his blackbird perched silently on his shoulder, concentrates on keeping the image stable as the horrible moans batter the party from above and below. A task made more difficult by the realization of what exactly is standing on the roof.
Khron's hands tighten even further on the grip of his weapon. He tries to breathe slowly, standing stock still. Leave a'ready, ya damned monstahs. His lips press together into a frown of deep concentration.
Kip has the side of his hand in his mouth, biting down on it to prevent himself from saying anything.
Kragdash slowly lifts his axe from his shoulder raising it above his head. He gives Kip a look before the first group leaves. Damn things get out of here or come down for the slaughter. Stupid hiding and waiting is starting to get on my nerves. 3 things, if we get the drop on them they should all be dead before they even realize. The thuds didn't sound like they were that big.
Bel stays absolutely still while the three monsters above cry out to their brethren. He silently prayed to Cayden Cailean to make the monsters above them move.
Sweat begins to collect at your neck as the creatures move about the rooftop, sniffing and moaning. One of them begins to snort and huff loudly, and quickly begins to scratch at the roof just above your heads. A snarl and growl emits from its throat as it's claws begin to gain traction and small chunks of wood begin to be ripped out. A sliver of light begins to enlarge as the wood crack is enlarged, its single beam of light falling upon Khron's sweaty face.
Your eyes dart back and forth, to the light, to the hole in the attic floor, weighing your options of survival. Face the creature up above? or flee through the floor, and pray that you dont get caught by one of those things in the hall?
Khron looks to the others and motions upward with his bearded chin. His eyes shine with deadly intent.
Bel casts detect undead in order to figure out what kind of beast is attacking them from above.
Bel begins by looking up at the roof and once he has an idea as to how powerful the creature above them is, he will turn to look in the direction of the hole in the attic floor.