spend 1 grit for bleeding shot, deadly aim
and 7 bleed.
Nigel critical conformation roll
Prudence, under Nigel's guidance, lands a bullet between the massive creature's eyes that would have killed a lesser being straight away while Simo fires a crossbow bolt into it's neck, opening a vicious gash that will drain the creature's life in mere seconds if untreated.
Tatsumi takes a swing at the Gug
Tatsumi's magically elongated arms deal the final death blow to the lead gug.
The other two gugs squeeze down into the stairs, ready to meet their opponents head on, but stopped by Isavara's presence. The one nearest her attempts to throw her backward with a powerful claw.
The impact sends her flying backward into Tatsumi. She falls prone, and the jarring impact from striking Tatsumi brusies them both.
Open up on the Gug that swatted Isavara.
deadly aim, rapid shot, etc.
The magical field from Isavara's spell explode's in the gug's face, but it manages to shake off the effects.
Three of Simo's bolts slam home, two of them tearing into each eye and penetrating through to it's brain. The creature collapses to the ground with a loud thud.
Cole levels his pistol and fires 4 times into the third gug.
(deadly aim,rapid shot, divine power, holy)
NIgel will fire at any remaining Gug (if there are any)
Muttering"Take that you nasty beastie."
The fusillade of bullets from Cole and Nigel penetrate the remaining gug several times, spraying blood by the liter. It roars in pain, but still looks to be dangerous.
Isavara stands up and quickly dusts herself off before shouting "is that all you got?" at the remaining gug.
Tatsumi takes a 5-foot step up and readies an attack.
The creature roars with rage and moves cautiously forward, eyeing Isavara, but failing to pay attention to Tatsumi's elongated limbs. While it attempts to remain out of it's smaller foe's reach, Tatsumi is able to drop it with a solid blow.
A quick search of the rooms the gugs slept in turns up very little of interest beyond a necklace with spheres of varying sizes that feels warm to the touch.
"Anyone want this shiny, new, slightly-used necklace? If I'm not mistaken, I think this level is clear. Anyone up for going down?"
"By all means. Not gonna accomplish anything more up here. "
Nigel stands up and walks from the alcove he's been in for the last hour. He holds up Prudence and says.
"Have a look at what I gave the old gal. It's a vial launcher. i can now send surprises to our foes. It should be great fun. Head down, yes by all means let's be about it."
"You people with your newfangled gizmos. Never know what you're gonna come up with. "
"I say lads, before we're off to the below I would like to pay a visit to our rat friend. I just know he has some items or at least the makings for things to use with Prudence's new addition. He also is likely to have other supplies we might need farther down. Besides don't you all feel he owes us at least a little?"
"Fine by me."
"Lead on Nigel."
"I suppose it won't waste too much time. "
When you return to the ratfolk, you find him curled in a corner of his workshop, snoring heavily. His arms are covered in short scratches and a mixture of blood and the powdery substance coats his knife.
"It would be rude to wake the fellow you know."
Nigel begins to search the workarea for any alchemical items
Nigel turns up a variety of items from mundane tools and raw reagents to a hidden stash of the substance Habblegash drugs himself with. In a chest near his bedding are two sets of four vials. One set of four is labeled "eruptive pustules" and the other set of four bear the label "ice breath". The eight potions glow with magical radiance. There is also a thick iron key, similar to the one you found on the gug savant.
Nigel begins to gather up the contents of the chest. He then pulls out a small sheet of paper and beging to write on it.
"If you take anything let me know so I can record it."
Nigel will note all items removed.
Once done he will place the note on the sleeping ratman.
"Oh and it's quite legal, remember I'm from Cheliax."
Isavara moves to grab the key and tie it to her belt with the others. "Looks like we have all the keys to open that door now. Sneaky little bastard. Still think we shouldn't ask him a few more questions? I bet he's a lot more forthcoming this time around."
"I say we should leave the misfortunate creature alone."
"Yes, let's keep moving I doubt he knows anything more which will help. "
and he will start heading for the stairs down.
The group travels down the only visible access to the lower levels, a long, steeply sloped passageway. When the tunnel finally levels off, it terminates in a large sturdy wall.
Isavara moves over to examine the wall, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Isavara is able to find a well-concealed catch on the wooden wall which allows a gate to open to the larger section of mine behind it. Beyond the wall is a cavernous chamber with mine cart tracks. Unlike the tracks upstairs, these tracks look to be fairly well maintained. Echoing sounds of picks and hammers ring throughout the mine. Clearly this portion of the mine, unlike the upstairs area, is still quite in use. The mine tracks lead to the west, and a narrow passage can be seen in the south wall.
"Odd, I thought we were told the mine was out of operation. "
"Well somebody is digging around down here."
"Didn't the rat guy say something about who was living down here?"
Isavara moves forward, farther into the mine following the tracks. After the first few steps, she reaffirms his grip on her greatsword with both hands, walking with the blade angled up in front of her. Whatever she encounters, she wants her massive sword to be the first thing it notices about her. She steps cautiously, as if the floor would give away with one miss-step. She turns back around and glances at Cole as she shrugs. "All I remember is that he said something about an Ettin."
Isavara can hear a significant amount of noise coming from the north, where the cart tracks lead. Flickering light from fires and lamps cast shadows everywhere. There is a narrow fissure to the south and openings to the southwest and northwest.
"Let's check out that noise" he says in a low voice to the group.
"Tatsumi, check out the southern passage. Nigel, keep him covered. Simo and Cole, get up here and take up position. Cover different tunnels. Should we announce our presence or try to sneak about?"
"Better to sneak first. We can always announce if we like what we see. "
Isavara nodded. "Alright, take a quick peak to the southwest. Stay in eye sight. Cole, cover him. I'll hold the line here while Tatsumi and Nigel check out that southern corridor."
Simo will take to the shadows and check out the SW passage.
Before Simo can even really reach the southwest passage, he spots three large ogres standing in a circle and laughing at something on the ground before them. The ogres are even more ugly than your typical specimen. Between Simo's light footsteps and the ogre's distraction they seem to be utterly unaware of him.
The cart tracks continue and fork on the other side of the first opening. The nearer fork echoes with picks striking rock.
Nigel creeps forward and attempts to see what the ogres are doing.
Nigel can observe the one he can see from his angle kicking something on the ground just outside of his view.
He can hear the ogres speaking and laughing.
Cole uses one of his Pearls of Power to recall Divine Favor.
"I think we should take them out while there too busy messing around with whatever it is they are messing around with." Tatsumi says while clutching his sword, waiting for the signal.
Isavara nods and quickly mutters an incantation as she draws a few symbols in the air and touches her armor. She creeps back to the others and whispers "prepare yourselves. Once the ball starts rolling, it won't stop anytime soon. I'll try to silence the ogres to help stall the alarm sounding, but we should be ready for anything starting now."
"Good idea Isavara. Can anyone see what they're doing or understand their language?"