"We're pretty much at the halfway point between Horgus's home and mine. And then from there it isn't far the Defender's Heart. We should probably get going before the rain starts."
The party creeps across the debris field, careful not to injure themselves on splintered timbers, twisted bits of steel, and broken glass as they go. Meanwhile, the sky remains dark and foreboding, the moist air beginning to crackle with building static. Small flashes of lightning streak across the clouds in an infrequent manner and are followed by short, low ripples of thunder. It hasn't begun to rain yet, but it can't be far behind now.
It takes about 15 minutes to navigate the debris field, and you emerge into a much more humble residential area than the one you were in before. Instead of mansions and well-groomed lawns, you find small single or two story buildings packed together, with the larger ones often having the lower story dedicated to some kind of storefront or workshop. Despite the level of destruction behind you, the damage here is no more or less than it was in many of the other areas that you've passed through before.
Anevia takes the lead now, making her way through the streets with determination as she finally makes her way home. After a few blocks, she turns to face an exceptionally small, undecorated, single story building and her face lights up.
"We're here. Finally. And it doesn't look worse for wear. I guess that Irabeth's need to 'keep it humble' probably made the demons think they'd already wrecked the place." she says as she pulls a key from her pocket and makes her way to the door.
She hears the click of the lock, sighs, and opens the door.
"The door was still locked, so I figure it's safe. Come on in. It's small, but it's home."
Small is something of an understatement. As you enter, you find yourself in a main room that's just big enough to house the stove, a table and chairs, and a desk with very little room to actually move about in. A wall projects into the room from the southeast, and given the size of the area that it cuts from the main room you can reasonably guess that it's Anevia's bedroom. In the northwest corner of the room is another door.
Another understatement would be Anevia's use of the word 'humble.' The decoration of the home is downright spartan. The table is made of rough-cut lumber, as is the desk. The chairs look to be as well, but they've at least been smoothed down to some level of comfort. The stove is simple, being just large enough to serve dual purpose for heat in the winter and cooking otherwise. A single, small window is at the front of the home, and it has for a curtain what looks to be a tattered bed sheet.
Truly, the home seems more an oversized shed than actual living space, and its furnishings reflect its size.
Wow, this place isn't big enough for two people. I sure would be miserable with nowhere for my lab.
Max peeks inside before entering cautiously. "Is Irabeth here? I wouldn't want to startle her."
Ausk says I'll wait here. and he keeps watch on the desolate street.
Kel parks himself outside as well. The small house wasn't big enough for all of them.
"If she were home, she'd have greeted us. It's hard to come into the house unnoticed when it's this small. Even I can't sneak in without her catching me most of the time."
Rex hangs back with Kel and Ausk as the rest move into the home.
"So for so good guys..."
Tina moves over to the table
"Distressing. Any sign that she is well and safe?" Max instinctively looks for magical auras.
Kel nods to Rex. "A lot better than I thought they'd go, actually."
Anevia heads over to the bedroom door as everyone comes in or stays outside at their choosing, talking as she goes to open it.
"I've got something to check. We set up a plan to notify each other just in case something like this happened. Stay here while I... ACK!"
As the door opens, a giant(for what it is, anyway) beetle lunges at her.
The beetle lunges at Anevia, its pincers digging deeply into her flesh.
Max, at the same instant, casts Detect Magic.
By the Light, what is happening! Ausk cries as he steps into the room, drawing his sword.
Die.
"There's a vicious insect attacking Anevia. I think it hit an artery!" Max calls for Aroden's Guidance on Ausk to aid his swing.
Tina 5 steps and flings a tanglefoot bag at the beetle. Deia! Help Anevia.Anevia, move you are really hurt!
A tanglefoot bag is a small sack filled with tar, resin, and other sticky substances. When you throw a tanglefoot bag at a creature (as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet), the bag comes apart and goo bursts out, entangling the target and then becoming tough and resilient upon exposure to air. An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity and must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be glued to the floor, unable to move. Even on a successful save, it can move only at half speed. Huge or larger creatures are unaffected by a tanglefoot bag. A flying creature is not stuck to the floor, but it must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be unable to fly (assuming it uses its wings to fly) and fall to the ground. A tanglefoot bag does not function underwater.
A creature that is glued to the floor (or unable to fly) can break free by making a DC 17 Strength check or by dealing 15 points of damage to the goo with a slashing weapon. A creature trying to scrape goo off itself, or another creature assisting, does not need to make an attack roll; hitting the goo is automatic, after which the creature that hit makes a damage roll to see how much of the goo was scraped off. Once free, the creature can move (including flying) at half speed. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell. The goo becomes brittle and fragile after 2d4 rounds, cracking apart and losing its effectiveness. An application of universal solvent to a stuck creature dissolves the alchemical goo immediately.
"Yep, it was waaaay to quiet."
Rex moves as quickly as he can into the cramped home with his pistol drawn. He moves to the back corner, looking for a clean shot at the large bug.
Max blesses Ausk.
Ausk slashes at the creature, cutting a deep gouge in its chitinous carapace.
You just had to say it, didn't you…
Deia hexes the beetle, and it seems to slow its movement.
Tina tosses a tanglefoot bag at the beetle. The bag explodes, coating the beetle in a rapidly hardening goo that locks it to the floor.
The beetle bites at Anevia again.
A second beetle flies into the doorway and bites at Anevia.
Anevia draws her sword and swings at the flying beetle as she takes a step back.
Rex moves into the home, drawing his pistol as he goes.
Lann stays outside, not wanting to further crowd the home and also to keep an eye outside in case this is more than it appears.
Kel charges after Ausk, hoping he isn't too late.
Kel dashes into the room and interposes himself in the doorway between the bugs and his allies.
A man's voice calls out from inside the room. "You've got more friends than I had expected. No matter, they'll just be more bodies for Irabeth to find alongside yours when she comes home."
Max calls upon the power of Terendelev's scale once more upon Kel! . He then scoots away from the battle, letting the warriors do their work.
Who goes there, show yourself! Ausk growls
Ausk then attacks the beetle
Tina pulls out a dart and flicks it over Kel and into the beetle right in front of him
Max uses the last charge of Terendelev's scale to bolster Kel's strength.
Ausk slashes through the beetle that was glued to the floor by Tina's tanglefoot bag, killing it.
Deia hexes the flying beetle and it begins to waver in its flight.
Tina tosses a dart and it strikes the flying beetle.
The first flying beetle bites at Kel
Another beetle flies out from the back of the bedroom.
Anevia stays back.
Seeing the beetles held at the door by Kel. Rex moves in behind the table of the cramped room. He aims an fires into the beetle closet to the door. Trusting his aim that he doesn't hit Kel.
Rex fires and hits the flying beetle in the doorway.
Lann stays outside.
Round 3
Max calls for divine guidance upon Tina. He then takes another step away from the door.
Ausk growls Get Tirabade back outta here. and he swings another two handed blow at the beetle
Anevia! get to the corner! Tina points to the corner of the house just east of Rex and then flicks another dart at the beetle
Kel lashed out at the big bug in front of him taking a two handed grip on Radiance and swinging the blade in a defensive arc, and then yanked his shield over his shoulder and into place in front of him.
Kel tries to hit the beetle in front of him while drawing his shield, but he fails to do so.
Max offers Tina a blessing as he backs further away.
Ausk cuts through the first of the flying beetles.
Deia tries to hex the third beetle, but it resists her attempt.
Tina tosses a dart at the beetle, which fails to hit.
The beetle moves forward, biting at Kel but only getting a taste of his shield.
Anevia stays back and ready in case something happens.
Rex looks on in satisfaction of hitting the beetle. The looks down at his pistol, "I think I'm getting the hang of this crazy device."
He then sets about reloading.
Fina flicks another dart if Ausk misses
Tina seems to have lost her groove
Rex reloads.
Lann moves to the doorway, but stays outside.
"I must say Rex, that contraption of yours seems very powerful, if a bit slow." Max prays for Aroden's favor upon Rex.
Kel slashes from behind his shield and cleaves the bug in half.
A dazzling display of colors flares out from the doorway as an orc man suddenly materializes in front of Kel.
Kel and Anevia are left stunned and blinded by the sudden eruption of magical light.
Max blesses Rex.
That was uncalled for! Taste steel heathen!
Ausk cuts into the orc.
Deia hexes the newcomer, causing him to lower his defenses slightly.
Tina tosses a dart at the orc, but it hits the door frame instead.
Anevia sways on her feet in a stunned stupor.
"Where did big mean green come from?"
Rex aims his pistol at the orc and fires.
"Shoot first, ask questions later..."
Rex fires his weapon, but the shot whizzes past his target.
Lann remains at the door, figuring that the house is too crowded for him to do much to help.
Kel sways woozily.
The orc steps back and attempts to cast a spell, but Ausk quickly follows and brings his weapon to bear. Sadly, he fails to connect with the moving target.
The orc finishes his spell and a fiery beam bursts from his hand and hits Rex squarely in the chest, filling the room with the smell of searing flesh and burning hair.
Ausk growls By the Inheritor! and swings his sword downward in a mighty chop!
Round 5.
Tina sees how crosded it is an tries another dart