the rat king smiles noticing the internal struggle of the group. More and more rats begin piling in the door from the courtyard...
SECOND ROUND OF RATS SKILL 5 STAMINA 7.
Mwa ha ha...same old Rattus. Even with the gift of Ahashuaria, however you obtained it, you could never out do me!!!
The rat king looks around at the others.
what strange company you keep, brother rattus. How does that suit of armor move about? I smell no flesh inside it!?
The way to the courtyard remains blocked by rats. Keep fighting through the horde? Or try escaping into that west door in the wall?
Rattus sluggishly gets to his feet, he begins to look around for his gun.
Grim... Grim! My gun, hurry, I need it I'm not sure what happened but I need my blunderbuss!!
Rattus' eyes are blood red clearly visible in them are a multitude of emotions. Hate, malice and panic all swirl inside him as he begins to compass what's happened.
He lurches a little wipes his maw and swiftly an belligerently begins to load his gun!
This ends NOW!!
Already prepared to attack when the new crowd of rats enters, the black bear performs a gory jump unto them, and the small critters are flung across the room, torn by its claws and stomped onto by the massive animal, up to the very last one, standing no chance. Truly, those lesser minions were no match for the beast from the woods.
Grim Tosses Rattus his gun post haste!
The Rat King's smile dissapears when it sees Grim toss Rattus the gun...
where did you get THAT? it howls you are not suppose to have THAT...THAT belongs to HIM!!!! Give it to me, it should have been mine!
The creature lunges at Rattus.
But rattus gets a shot off before the rat king reaches him...
White heat and smoke fill the chamber a ringing fills the ears of all those who have them!
1-27 is a positive misfire...
The bullet hits it's target as described, but in addition: Heavy rainfall begins to fall - inside the room!
blunderbuss misfire table updated on the campaign info thread.
Antoni tires of the vociferous creature. "Silence, beast, and kneel before my sword!"
Two quick attacks will put it down. Questions can come later.
; The Rat King easily blocks Antoni's sword with it's foul fist.
; The Rat King lands a solid blow on Antoni, causing him to stumble backwards.
With a quick swipe, Antoni makes a parting blow.
; It was a close shot, but Antoni smiles as he draws blood on his foe.
ratking 2 stamina left.
bastards...don't you know who this beast rat is? don't you know who made him?? Don't you realize what his master took from others to make him?? Life, yes, he made life, but to work such a miracle you need one special ingredient. If only you know. I'll give you one hint. Body parts. You need body parts. Not just any body parts. You need the body parts of the most innocent among you filthy humans...you will see! When you discover the truth, you will remember my words! I am Mouskalin, lord of the rats! hahahaha
With that, the rat king disloves into individual rats, which scurry away in a frightened mess. You stand alone in the store room of barrels and sacks. The door on the west wall and the exit to the courtyard are all you can see from where you stand.
and that infernal rain soaks you all to the underwear. Stupid blunderbuss!!
Antoni downs his Potion of Stamina, wipes his mouth and sheathes his sword. "Let's try that west door and, when we get a moment, I'd like to talk to you, Rattus."
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Fine, but you can't listen to him!! You've sensed the evil in him! Now what do you see in me?
Rattus goes to a spot where Antoni has motioned to. A rain cloud hangin directly overhead, the room begins to swell with water and sopping wet grain.
*311*
you pass into the western door and find yourself in a small room with a spiral staircase leading upward. You may be in one of the tower-parapets?? Although a tight squeeze, the bear makes it.
The stairs end at a landing, where you come to a door of black wood embellished with runes, inlaid in silver. As Antoni try to open it, the handle forms into a claw and grasps his wrist. 'Leave this place,' the door intones sonorously, 'you're not allowed in here.' The claw releases your hand. A talking door!
You can try to get past it (turn to 342) or give up and go back to the couryard (turn to 389) or talk to the door (no page number specified) or try another course of action which you tell the DM. (no page number specified.
"I am not calling you evil, Rattus. There is something I need to know that is vital to our safety, but I would prefer to have that conversation when we can catch our breaths," Antoni whispers to the ratfolk, before entering the western door.
***
Despite the stupidity of holding a conversation with a door, Antoni decides to try his luck. "And who would bar our way? Do you know who you speak to in such a way?"
Rattus nods and looks down. The rain muffles their conversation.
He then turns his head to the sound of a new voice and reaches for his gun in a frightened manner.
I am only the door.
Doors do not care
who enters and who does not.
Doors do not care whether they open
or remain locked.
You may leave or you may smash me
you may have a key
or you may not
if you are not the Count Heydrich
then in hell you may rot!
Stupid mortal, hahaha!
Antoni smirks. "Thank you, door."
door: no problem. Hope you have a lovely adventure.
"Now, I won't feel bad about this." Antoni draws his sword coolly. He then proceeds to hack at the door.
At that moment the bear is still squeezed into the stairwell, as not all the party fits in the small space before the inaccessible room, and the animal is not quite contented. It is not upset by the rain, as the others, perhaps with Grim's exception, are.
I am here to destroy all this castle, and your existence is doomed. Yet, if perhaps you are not of evil nature, nor is this pile of stone itself, then, and only then, you may not be consumed in fire.
the door fights back at Antoni by jabbing him firmly in the midriff with the metal doornob. Antoni probably would knock it down eventually, but the door changes it's tune at the mention of the word FIRE.
well, what is EVIL, really? I mean, sometimes good comes from evil and... after giving a feeble attempt to defend itself it tries bribery:
if you turn around and go the other way I will tell you where a treasure is in this castle. Come closer and I will whisper it in your ear!
"Ha! Really? You expect us to believe a door would be so gracious? Just swing open and we'll leave matters at that," Antoni scoffs.
The door thinks for a moment. Then tries another approach...
how about a riddle then? Answer me these questions three kind of thing? If you can guess the answer I'll let you pass?
"Well..." Antoni hesitates.
He wasn't much in the smarts departments. Really, how much brainpower did it take to make sure the pointed end of the sword wasn't facing him? He rues not thinking to bring flint and tinder. At least, this would probably be the least bothersome way to get the door open. Antoni really hoped the bear would set this cursed castle on fire when they were done. But how would a bear even set a fire?
"Ask your riddles then," Antoni says, finally.
wise choice, sir, wise choice. Very well then, riddle me this...
I have many tongues but cannot taste
By me, most things are turned to waste
I crackle and snap, yet I don't break
You use me each time you eat a steak
Around me, people snuggle and sleep
Yet I run when I'm released from my keep
I jump around and leap and bound
And cold men wish I they had found...
who am I?
the rain finally stops.
"A fire," Antoni says, after a bout of squinting and concentrating.
Wait now... Tell us of this treasure...
okay okay! says the door. With a clang of a bolt and the creek of a hing the door slowly swings open. Even the bear can fit through.
On the other side you can see a wooden platform extending a few feet into the middle of a mighty, cold, stone tower. Rickety wooden steps have been built into walls wrapping around the inside of a tower going up. Looking down you can not see the bottom of the tower, it just disappears into the darkness below. Looking up you can see the faint outline of a belfrey open to the night wind. You can hear high pitched squeaks and fluttering of wings.
Going on may be perilous. Don't say I didn't warn you though! says the door.
treasure, yes treasure. Come closer and I will whisper it's location into your ear!
"Silence your foul gullet, door!" Antoni bellows, looking at the blackened pit bellow. "Do not listen to it, Grim. It would sooner cast us into this abyss than reward us. It serves the Count, lest you forget."
Antoni takes a slow and steady approach up the steps wrapping around the tower.
*33*
the door chuckles as it watches you go up the steps (are those eyes?). The wood steps cantilevered precariously over the dark shaft below creek painfully under the weight of the black bear.
As you enter the bell tower, a flock of bats rises up and starts swarming in front of your face. You must test your Luck. Remember each time you test your luck you must reduce your luck by 1 point. Unless you drink a potion or something. If you are Lucky, turn to 86. If you are Unlucky, turn to 133.
You must succeed at this luck check. Rules are rules.
-
;
Luck
It appears Antoni made it through the swarm, but passing through them agitated them greatly. They are making Grim's life miserable.
So grim has a 1 luck potion. Lucky.
Grim drinks his luck potion.
Luck
Grim is able to sneak by the bats on his second try.
It would seem as though that black bear had been denied assistance by the higher spirits in traversing the evil swarm of bats. It tumbles its way down through the steps in anger from the upsetting minions, treading on the sturdier poles and breaking some of the weaker ones. It charges down over the last few steps and lands in front of the door, whose eyes were menacingly staring at it.
Antoni can hear the cries of an enraged bear Hoof, Hoof, HOOF, HROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR ascend the tower, as could whomever or whatever was downwards where at the bottom one could not see, but only those that had not crossed the swarm of bats could see the bear simply goring the door from behind, scratching through the wooden surface and the eyes as if they were a trivial pine tree, drawing blood from the door as it shrieked in desperation Aaaargh! Make it stop, someone please make this beast st--YEAAARGH and the cries go on as the bear keeps mauling at the magical door with its claws.
the door says anything to get out of this mess
please stop, i'll give you another ryhm? another riddle? I know where there is treasure! I know where there is gold! I'll call the spirits of luck to your aid! stop stop!
The bear needs no skill check to maul this door to death...which will happen post haste if he does not stop!
the door is a bloody mess on the verge of door-death!