Zoli squeezes past Xamarath, just behind Kala, listening for a reaction to Morythine's tossed stone.
If nothing more is seen or heard for a dozen seconds, she'll signal for the others to remain silent and she'll tiptoe slowly toward the sound, looking and listening.
As Zoli creeps up the hall, she can hear the breathing of some...things...around the corner to the left. The lack of light doesn't allow her to see much, but she definitely hears something around that corner.
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Zoli waves to her companions, pointing to where she hears the breathing. When she has their attention she signals with her hand, three...two...one... and then leaps into action.
She brushes her hand over her lucky Thassilonian charm and then tumbles low past the entrance, hoping to leave room for her allies to come up behind her. Seeing monsters similar to the last they faces, she gives a quick thrust with her rapier. It hisses savagely as the blade pierces its shoulder.
She steps back with a smile, saying "As they say in Thassilonian, en garde!"
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HP 14/17
Luck 4/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 1/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
Zoli waves to her companions, pointing to where she hears the breathing. When she has their attention she signals with her hand, three...two...one... and then leaps into action.
She brushes her hand over her lucky Thassilonian charm and then tumbles low past the entrance, hoping to leave room for her allies to come up behind her.
However, all her companions see is Zoli diving into the shadow of the hall as she leaves the light of Xamarath's magic.
She steps back with a smile, saying "As they say in Thassilonian, en garde!" as she gives a quick thrust with her rapier. When her blade fails to make contact, she is baffled, as she could have sworn they were just there...
The creatures lash out at the halfling, moving into a position that cuts her off from the rest of her companions, and in the pitch darkness of a grave. She can feel their blows lashing out at her, and though she is able to fend off most of their attacks, she is unable to protect herself entirely.
Again, as the creatures saliva enters her blood stream, Zoli is greeted with a flash of violence, this time picturing herself standing over a horde of goblins, cutting them down one by one. Though brief, the hallucination is vividly detailed.
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With eyes better suited to the darkness than Zoli's, Morythine squeezes past Kala and rushes to her aid. He brings his quarterstaff down on the monster's head with a resounding thunk!
miss "Whuh?"chomp! "OW!" getting her bearings "Yoiks!! It's darker over here than I'd figured. Crichton, you might shedding that light this-a-way?"
Eugeni pushes back down the hallway, past his companions after hearing the sounds of battle. When he gets near Kala, he asks Chrighton, "Hey, can you stay here so they can see? I'm goin' around the other way." Assuming the bird complies he continues back the way they came as fast as he can, hoping to circle around and flank the monsters.
Xamarath rounds the corner behind Kala, where he begins untying the leather cord that now rests about his own finger like a crude ring. Balling up the thing into as tight a wad as he can manage, he tosses it forward ahead of him onto the worked stone floors. Finally, the Thayvian turns to Crichton, instructing the bird, "Watch the corridor behind us for anything else approaching."
As the light catches up with Sandpoint’s most overeager halfling, she exclaims, ”AHA! You can’t hide from me now!”
Despite the fresh hunk of flesh bitten off of her left arm, Zoli twirls to the side, feints, and then thrusts when the beast seems distracted by Morythine. Her strike is true, but goes in at a shallow angle, angering the creature but doing relatively little damage. Seeing she has its attention, she taunts ”Try to hit me again, will ya, now that the lights are on!” and prepares herself to parry if the creature attacks her again.
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Ooooh, I hope it tries to bite her again!
HP 7/17
Luck 4/8
Panache 4/4
Buffs Luck (round 2/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
With eyes better suited to the darkness than Zoli's, Morythine squeezes past Kala and rushes to her aid. He brings his quarterstaff down on the monster's head with a resounding thunk!
"Whuh? OW!" Zoli exclaims while getting her bearings "Yoiks!! It's darker over here than I'd figured. Crichton, you might shedding that light this-a-way?"
Eugeni pushes back down the hallway, past his companions after hearing the sounds of battle. When he gets near Kala, he asks Crichton, "Hey, can you stay here so they can see? I'm goin' around the other way." He continues back the way they came as fast as he can, hoping to circle around and flank the monsters.
Xamarath rounds the corner behind Kala, where he begins untying the leather cord that now rests about his own finger like a crude ring. Balling up the thing into as tight a wad as he can manage, he tosses it forward ahead of him onto the worked stone floors. Finally, the Thayvian turns to Crichton, instructing the bird, "Watch the corridor behind us for anything else approaching."
The close confines prevent her from doing anything useful, so Kala draws a javelin and waits for an opportune moment to throw it.
As the light catches up with Sandpoint’s most overeager halfling, she exclaims, ”AHA! You can’t hide from me now!”
Despite the fresh hunk of flesh bitten off of her left arm, Zoli twirls to the side, feints, and then thrusts when the beast seems distracted by Morythine. Her strike is true, but goes in at a shallow angle, angering the creature but doing relatively little damage. Seeing she has its attention, she taunts ”Try to hit me again, will ya, now that the lights are on!” and prepares herself to parry if the creature attacks her again.
After getting hit from behind, the one monster wheels and flurries an attack at Morythine, narrowly missing him with his gaping maw, but finding flesh with it's claws, opening two fresh sets of wounds on the dhampir. Meanwhile, the other continues it's assault on the cut off halfling. She manages to swat it's mandibles aside, opening a deep cut on it's neck, but the creature's claws slip past unhindered, slicing deep into her abdomen and shoulder.
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cries Morythine in alarm, his spinning quarterstaff failing to find a way through the monster's defences.
Xamarath gestures quickly and conjures another concussive blast to strike the only creature he can get a line on. His frantic execution causes it to materialize before it is fully realized, however, and it only clips the creature ineffectively before dispersing into the far wall.
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Eugeni continues down the tunnels as fast as he can, trying to come around behind the sinspawn. Hearing that Zoli is down, he winces and runs even fast through the narrow tunnels.
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Zoli stands dazed, looking at the beast before her and then down at the blood spilling from her abdomen. In a small voice she says "I...didn't expect...you to be able to...do...that."
Stumbling backward, she says to noone in particular "That...corner...looks really...nice." as she nearly collapses against the wall.
"Chaldira...this is a...good time...for more...luck. Just sayin'."
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HP 0/17 & DISABLED
Luck 4/8
Panache 3/4
Buffs Luck (round 3/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
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Seeing that Zoli is quite injured Kala does the most brash thing she can think of. She barrels through the monster to protect the halfling. "Morythine!" the warrior yells, "Step aside! I'm coming through!" She drops her javelin and rushes down the hallway, drawing her sword. As the pale monk deftly sidesteps, she raises her shield, blocking the bite of the one in her path, her momentum knocking it to the ground as she crashes into it. The claw of the other clangs harmlessly off her epaulet as she passes by.
"You shall not have this one while I draw breath! By Iomedae I swear it!"
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Zoli stands dazed, looking at the beast before her and then down at the blood spilling from her abdomen. In a small voice she says "I...didn't expect...you to be able to...do...that."
Stumbling backward, she says to noone in particular "That...corner...looks really...nice." as she nearly collapses against the wall.
"Chaldira...this is a...good time...for more...luck. Just sayin'."
"The halfling's down!"cries Morythine in alarm, his spinning quarterstaff failing to find a way through the monster's defences.
Xamarath gestures quickly and conjures another concussive blast to strike the only creature he can get a line on. His frantic execution causes it to materialize before it is fully realized, however, and it only clips the creature ineffectively before dispersing into the far wall.
Eugeni continues down the tunnels as fast as he can, trying to come around behind the sinspawn. Hearing that Zoli is down, he winces and runs even fast through the narrow tunnels.
Seeing that Zoli is quite injured Kala does the most brash thing she can think of. She barrels through the monster to protect the halfling. "Morythine!" the warrior yells, "Step aside! I'm coming through!" She drops her javelin and rushes down the hallway, drawing her sword. As the pale monk deftly sidesteps, she raises her shield, blocking the bite of the one in her path, her momentum knocking it to the ground as she crashes into it. The claw of the other clangs harmlessly off her epaulet as she passes by.
"You shall not have this one while I draw breath! By Iomedae I swear it!"
The one that viciously mauled Zoli hisses at the steel clad woman blocking its path, it's mandibles flaring out. It then lashes out a frenzied attack against Kala. It's fangs latch onto her armor, failing to penetrate by a narrow margin. She then pushes the creature back, causing its claws to flail wildly off course.
The second one rises to its feet, dodging the incoming attacks from those around it but is unable to make meaningful contact with its teeth either.
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As Kala leaps to the rescue, Morythine feels his heart lift. It's not a reaction he's accustomed to, but the sight of the brave, armoured warrior-woman staunchly defending the plucky halfling stirs unfamiliar emotions.
Whatever it is he's feeling, the reaction inspires, and the dhampir smashes his quarterstaff into the monster's jaw with enthusiasm.
As Kala heroically charges in, barreling through the monsters, Zoli muses to noone in particular. ”See! Chaldira Zuzaristan’s luck...favors the...bold.”
Then, directly to Kala, ”Thanks….You did that...very...well.”
Zoli gives her rapier another look, but even the overeager halfling can tell that if she tries to charge back in she’ll probably pass out from blood loss before her blade gets close.
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HP 0/17
Luck 4/8
Panache 3/4
Buffs Luck (round 3/3) +2 to hit, dam, & all skill rolls
"Crichton, if you would be so kind, take this vial I stripped from the goblin and deliver it to our beleaguered halfling."
Xamarath retrieves the curative and hands it off to his familiar, then continues watching the fight with a bit of vexation. These creatures were hardy against spells, and what he had remaining was too precious to squander. Of further annoyance are the confined, cramped spaces of these stone corridors. Even should he wish to stride forward and lend help in other ways, there is simply nowhere for him to go. He is resigned to watching on in frustration until an opportunity presents itself.
Crichton obeys with a heavy sigh, clutching the vial in both talons and ascending to ceiling before zipping off to deliver the prized parcel to Zoli. He lets loose a terrified and somehow still humorous cry of alarm as he passes over the creature's gnashing maw. Thankfully, he has no excremental offerings during this exchange.
Mere seconds later, Crichton comes to hove before Zoli, dropping the potion in Zoli's lap before descending to the ground before her. Fanning feathers and bobbing frantically, the bird attempts to act out instructions on how to drink a potion, while saying, "Down the hole, aye? Drink-drink quick like, Miss Zoli!"
Zoli accepts the potion and drinks it down, feeling a bit less woozy.
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Kala assumes her defensive stance once more, her charge completed. She strikes at the foul undead beast, once again on its feet, with both her shield and sword. Both attacks land, the shield leaving large rents in the things decaying flesh. However, while the shortsword strikes home, it fails to pierce the monstrosity's tough hide.
"Why won't you die once more, you damned foul thing!?!" Kala yells, somewhat frustrated a bit by the monsters resilience.
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As Kala leaps to the rescue, Morythine feels his heart lift. It's not a reaction he's accustomed to, but the sight of the brave, armoured warrior-woman staunchly defending the plucky halfling stirs unfamiliar emotions.
Whatever it is he's feeling, the reaction inspires, and the dhampir smashes his quarterstaff into the monster's jaw with enthusiasm.
As Kala heroically charges in, barreling through the monsters, Zoli muses to noone in particular. ”See! Chaldira Zuzaristan’s luck...favors the...bold.”
Then, directly to Kala, ”Thanks….You did that...very...well.”
Zoli gives her rapier another look, but even the overeager halfling can tell that if she tries to charge back in she’ll probably pass out from blood loss before her blade gets close.
"Crichton, if you would be so kind, take this vial I stripped from the goblin and deliver it to our beleaguered halfling."
Xamarath retrieves the curative and hands it off to his familiar, then continues watching the fight with a bit of vexation. These creatures were hardy against spells, and what he had remaining was too precious to squander. Of further annoyance are the confined, cramped spaces of these stone corridors. Even should he wish to stride forward and lend help in other ways, there is simply nowhere for him to go. He is resigned to watching on in frustration until an opportunity presents itself.
Crichton obeys with a heavy sigh, clutching the vial in both talons and ascending to ceiling before zipping off to deliver the prized parcel to Zoli. He lets loose a terrified and somehow still humorous cry of alarm as he passes over the creature's gnashing maw. Thankfully, he has no excremental offerings during this exchange.
Mere seconds later, Crichton comes to hove before Zoli, dropping the potion in Zoli's lap before descending to the ground before her. Fanning feathers and bobbing frantically, the bird attempts to act out instructions on how to drink a potion, while saying, "Down the hole, aye? Drink-drink quick like, Miss Zoli!"
Kala assumes her defensive stance once more, her charge completed. She strikes at the foul undead beast, once again on its feet, with both her shield and sword. Both attacks land, the shield leaving large rents in the things decaying flesh. However, while the shortsword strikes home, it fails to pierce the monstrosity's tough hide.
"Why won't you die once more, you damned foul thing!?!" Kala yells, somewhat frustrated a bit by the monsters resilience.
Eugeni rounds the bend of the original passageway and comes up behind another of the monstrosities they fought moments ago, this one intent and killing Kala. He can see Zoli leaning against the opposite wall of the chamber.
As the battle continues, the creatures seem to have found weaknesses in their foes defenses. The one that had just gotten back to it's feet grabs hold of the staff as it whacks it in the face, then pushes it some to throw the dhampir off balance. It then launches it's assault, managing to wrap it's mandibles around his wrist, and sinking it's claws into his torso. Before he slips into unconsciousness, his mind is flooded with visions of violent combat between himself and men wearing grey silk masks.
The second one rakes it's teeth against the armor over Kala's right shoulder as she turns to fight it's friend, but it's claws are able to slide along her scale mail until they find weak points, and it slides it's claws into both sides of her rib cage.
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Xamarath sees a bittersweet opening in Morythine's own calamity. Summoning up his courage and clenching both fists around the haft of his quarterstaff the Thayvian steps forward over the fallen form of his friend, careful not to step on him in the process.
"Let the rivers run red!" It is as inspiring a battlecry as the wizard can muster as he brings his staff to bear against the sinspawn that lumbers hungrily before him. His weapon cracks the creature with a solid thwack! across its temple.
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"Well done, mage," Kala says as Xamarath brains the first of the two sinspawn. The horror in front of her staggered, though not quite down, Kala focuses her attacks on the other one. Unable to land a solid blow with her shield, the warrior takes careful aim and rams her blade home between the creature's ribs.
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Eugeni swings his long blade at the monstrous sinspawn which has hurt his friends.
"Well, that went poorly." Xamarath checks on the well-being of his allies and affords a little scrutiny for the statue as well.
"Crichton, keep an eye out for trouble while we patch ourselves up. Something tells me we've only scratched the surface here."
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"I think we should pull back and regroup for the time being," Kala says. "We're pretty beat up.". With that she stows her shield and sword, and retrieves her javelin, stowing it in its case. Next, Kala removes her greatsword sheathe and switches it to the other shoulder. Finally she lifts Morythine up and hefts him over her now clear shoulder and begins to walk back the way they came, beckoning her allies to follow.
“I agree, we can come back after we’ve healed up. There’s clearly more to investigate here.” Eugeni leads the way back to the glassworks, his greatsword still drawn.
"I...suppose that's the right thing to do. Thanks again, Kala, for saving my butt back there.
"Before we leave though, I've got to look at this statue first. What an interesting find!"
As the beleaguered heroes make their way out of the tunnels, they are greeted by two guards stationed at the door leading down to the basement. They look on with astonished and panicked expressions as the town's heroes return, heavily wounded...obviously not what they had expected.
The Glassworks has been turned into an official crime scene, and the group is lead out of the facility away from where most of the bodies lay within the workroom proper. The furnaces have been extinguished to provide an extra measure of safety as well as reduce the chance of anymore evidence being destroyed within it's flames. Ameiko is nowhere to be seen.
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"So this is some sort of shrine to Alaznist, then? Curious. Does Sandpoint even realize their very town is built upon such a ruin?" Xamarath circuits the statue, sizing up the materials and construction methods to verify its authenticity. After surmising that is all adds up, he allows himself to truly appreciate the ancient object before him.
"I agree—with Kala. I exhausted much of my efforts on the goblins alone. A moment, though, to study this statue." Seeing recognition and a similar tint of awe painted across Zoli's face, Xamarath gestures the halfling over where his eyes have locked onto the clutched weapon replica. "It looks removable. Don't feel like triggering some sort of disintegrating cloud trap or whatever Alaznist or her minions may have conjured up for the uninitiated ruins plumber."
Xamarath extends both hands in a brief flourish before tracing invisible patterns before his eyes. As he utters "" they begin to glow a dim blue light. "Let us see how hesitant the statue might be to part with our prize, shall we?"
After scanning the statue for magic auras as well as mundane traps, the two "historians" come to the conclusion that the statue and weapon are trap free. A few good tugs later, and Xamarath manages to pry the weapon free from the statue's grasp.
"Eeuuuurghhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . ." mumbles Morythine.
Approaching the same guard he had spoken to previously, Xamarath begins to bring the man up to speed on the situation below.
"More trouble, I'm afraid. I wish I could say it was more goblins, but the truth of the matter is a bit more unsettling. Perhaps we should continue the discussion somewhere a little more private? Hysterics won't help here, so keeping those in the know to a minimum would be down-sodding-right capital." Xamarath gestures towards a nearby, unoccupied room and leads the way there. The Thayvian has himself a seat as he begins to divulge the nature of what they had encountered.
"Sandpoint seems to have the good fortune of being built on top of something far more ancient and far more sinister than I could have ever dreamed. It is both a ruin and a hive of some sort. A hive that is home to strange creatures. They seem as if grotesquely twisted humans with bestial dispositions and clawed mandibles where their mouths should be. They didn't even bother asking our names before they started trying to eat, rend, and otherwise harass the whole lot of us. Fortunately, none of us succumbed to their onslaughts, though the injuries we bear should offer considerable testimony to the voracity with which they threw themselves at us."
Still holding the ivory and metal polearm in his hands, Xamarath taps the butt of the weapon against the ground a couple of times as he continues, "Alaznist. The Runelord of Wrath. A statue of red marble stands in the complex beneath your village—a statue of Alaznist. It is from the clutches of that very likeness that we pried this object free. An impressive recreation of the weapon the angry redhead of old was infamous for wielding." Xamarath allows the guard a moment to appreciate the weapon he's clutching, but continues soon after. "You've got some of the creepiest buggers I've ever seen crawling around in a hidden shrine or vault of some sort. If I was a guessing man, I'd say it ties in with the goblins somehow, but until we can get back in there and start prodding and poking a lot harder than we have, I can't venture much more of a guess than that. In the meantime, you may want to lock the lower levels up tighter than a Chelish contract and keep some strong guards posted besides. We'll be back soon as we're fit—probably in the morning."
Eugeni walks over to Zoli. "Ready to head back to your place? Want me to carry you? I'll heal you up as soon as I can pray for more spells in the morning."