Augier will smash the door again
Rage 3/7
Aggghhh puts all his might into attacking the door, severely weakening it.
Igor and Reginald succeed in breaking the door, snapping the lock and the hinges. It can now be easily pushed open.
But Aggghhh has other plans and attacks with another rage filled swing at the door. Smashing it into several pieces that go flying inside. The doorway is clear to enter.
This entire floor is dedicated to the history of the Castle Branding and the subsequent history that led the castle to become Branderscar Prison. It consists of a series of mostly uninteresting plaques that tell of nobles and deeds hardly anyone remembers anymore. There are a number of banners and flags. One of the wall hangings is an old brocade tapestry that depicts Castle Branding being turned into a prison with the motto “His Judgment Cometh and that Right Soon”. The tapestry is worth 150 gp. It is however very heavy (50 lb.) and awkward (-2 to any Acrobatics, Climb, Jump, or Swim skill checks while carried).
There is a spiral stairway leading up to the second level. This room is lit by four sconces holding torches in different corners. There are 4 guards standing next to each other that look very surprised.
Igoroskandrallanotly knows they need to block the staircase. They have to trust these other monsters not to hang them out to dry. Rather than attack directly, they instead circle around the guards to block the path to the staircase. "Gentlemen, if you didn't hear, the Warden just cast a spell as our flanking team attacked him from the wall. I know you were supposed to run and tell him we were here so he could burn us as we bunched up on the stairs, but that just won't work. I strongly suggest laying down your arms. There's an off-chance my colleagues will even be merciful." They don't actually expect any of the other monsters to show mercy, but it didn't hurt to try.
Auggh screams and charges a guard
Rage 5/7
As his chuckle became disembodied, Eat-in-Shadow shrouded himself in darkness, his form becoming more and more animalistic and savage, a nightmare made real.
As his chuckle became disembodied, Eat-in-Shadow shrouded himself in darkness, his form becoming more and more animalistic and savage, a nightmare made real.
Reginald moves next to the door, but no further, as he couldn't get further in, and doesn't want to clog the others.
Dahlia walks into the room, shield raised, and glances around. Seeing a torch on the wall not far from one of the guards, she begins to hum. The torch slides out of its sconce and flies at the nearest guard.
Fiain rushes into the room and bites at a guard, silently cursing their luck.
Fate jeers at him.
The monsters barge in towards the guards. Aggghhh and Mei kill one in a coordinated movement and the other 3 flee as was their plan, though slightly distracted by the commotion upstairs which they clearly didn't expect.
Igoroskandrallanotly sighs as no one else takes the time to circle around behind the guards to stop them from running up the stairs. They swipe at one , inflicting a minor wound.
"Well, then. We don't want to bunch up on the stairs. I wish that fire giant was with us - we could have sent him first so he could take the brunt of the Warden's flames. We need to scout ahead, and I have no talent for that. Unfortunately, given how dangerous it would be for the person who does so, I'm not going to make any suggestions of who does. Volunteers?"
Her humming transitioning to sing-song speech, Dahlia asks "Are flames all you're worried about?" Her humming becomes staccato for a moment and the air around her shimmers briefly as she hefts her shield before her and strides up the stairs.
"Well, then. We don't want to bunch up on the stairs. I wish that fire giant was with us - we could have sent him first so he could take the brunt of the Warden's flames. We need to scout ahead, and I have no talent for that. Unfortunately, given how dangerous it would be for the person who does so, I'm not going to make any suggestions of who does. Volunteers?"
"I was an advance scout for the Hunt, a Tracker Of Prey, above all other Roles. Protect me from fire, and I will look ahead. I have the best chance of fleeing swiftly of all of you in any case, even should my stealth fail me with these scars hindering my movements."
Augier tries striking down a fleeing foe
As Dahlia strides up the stairs, Igoroskandrallanotly blinks a couple of times and says, "Well, I guess that and archers waiting to pincushion us. Fiain, I'm afraid I don't have any way to ward you from fire, and I think the only person who does just went upstairs. Shall we give her a six count to get ahead of us before following?"
Eat-in-Shadow steps forward. "My darkness can enshroud a couple of us, and their arrows will have a harder time finding their mark. Will someone be a shield in front of me?"
Dahlia calls back, "I'll take the darkness if you're offering, just fall in line dear."
I can see in the dark just fine
With one falling in the initial charge, Igor and Aggghhh almost take down another one as they retreat up the stairs.
Sounds of battle come from up the stairs as you prepare to follow the guards.
The next floor has many bookshelves full of books around the outside of the room and research tables around the stairwell column. This is the Warden's Library, his pride and joy – a large collection of books and scrolls across a wide range of subjects. The most common items in the library are the “penny dreadfuls”. These poorly printed compilations of lurid tales range across the whole gamut of adventure genres. However, the one genre over-represented is bawdy tales featuring amply endowed young maidens in grave peril. This collection is of no real value.
In the more scholarly section, there are fifty five books on subjects ranging from magical theory, history and astronomy .
Fifty two of the scholarly books are common books and tomes worth an average of 3 gp and each weighing a pound. However, three of them are very valuable.
“Astra Mysterii” A rare treatise on astrology written by the mad monk Clivarus, worth 75 gp.
“The Travels of Titus the Mendicant” by Artus Vellor. A valuable first edition of a popular title published before the author was well known, this book would fetch 120 gp amongst collectors.
“The Floralegium” by Branthus Hart. An imposing tome of no small age, this beautifully illustrated book of flowers is obviously something special. It is worth 250 gp to collectors.
Augghh wipes his blade clean of blood. Up! Up! Let hem have no time to regroup.
Dahlia continues on up, as close on their heels as she can manage.
”Agreed. Let’s move.” Igoroskandrallanotly yearns to stop and examine the scholarly books, but they can’t do that until the Warden was dead. He’d be back for them.
Dahlia's snakes fan out as she passes through the room, mentally noting down trashy romance novels to take once they get down the stars again.
Agghh heads up as well.
Eat-in-Shadow follows, his darkness aura coalesced around him.
Reginald slows a bit as he enters the room and takes notes of the books.
My word, so much exquisite new material. I'll be making a mental note to return and acquire some of this before we make out escape. Can't let an opportunity such as this go to waste!
After noting the different sections, but not having time to determine the material itself, he follows the others.
Above you can hear the guards yell to the Warden, "They're attacking below!"
Dahlia is the first one to make it to the top, closely followed by the most eager of the others. When the guards see you have followed them they shout, "They're here!" and then run through a doorway to the Warden. Snarls and growls and curses and shouts and clash of steel and claw come from through the door. The smell of burnt flesh greets those with scent.
The landing hall is empty for the moment. Through the door lies the guards fighting the other group of monsters. On the other side of the hall is another door marked 'office'.
Dahlia moves around to block the door. One of her snakes coils up, ready to strike defensively if anyone gets close enough.
Igoroskandrallanotly is intrigued by the "Office" on the other side - the warden likely had the most important papers within. However, they had more important things to do before ransacking it.
"Let's get ready to break into the room and trap the Warden and his guards in a pincer trap. Be prepared."
My blade is ready for their blood
The Hound mostly ignores the books; he's never had much use for the written word.
"Ready when you give the signal." he says to Igor, having mentally designated him as the best candidate for Huntmaster over the course of their escape.
Through the open door to the Warden's rather large chambers you can see the chaos unfolding. Flames behind the monsters just next to the window are leftover from whatever explosion you felt before and monsters and guards are fighting each other. The Warden is safely behind them for now with several vials in his hands, preparing to throw something. The guards that ran from you are behind the Warden getting his attention and he sees you and realises he has monsters on all sides. "Keep them back, I will burn them all!" he commands his men and they form a line to block you from him. The Warden throws one of his vials--a bomb!--and it explodes on the other group of monsters burning some of them.
Dahlia moves into the room and towards the wall, keeping her distance from the guards. She begins singing as the snakes on her head focus on the warden, and as they focus the snakes begin hissing in harmony with her.
Augier steps 5' inside and then moves across to slash at one of the guards diagonally from him
Reginald moves up behind Agggghhh and punches at one of the guards. His fist morphing into a a hardened, clawed version of his hand.
Seeing the heavily wounded guard he and Agghh had injured while fleeing, Igoroskandrallanotly moves into the room and towards him before lashing out with a claw. "You know, had you surrendered, you might not be in this situation right now."
Eat-in-Shadow moves in, silent as a dead laughter, deadly as a mistake.
"Ignore the lesser mortals. Slay the Warden." The Hound opines, dashing around the corner and up the man.
He lunges forward with his teeth, glittering shards of glass exploding from the contact.
The monsters move in surrounding the guards with Mei and Fiain going for the Warden. Igor downs his opponent but everyone else misses .
The monsters and guards on the other side of the room trade blows, but no one falls yet.
The guards facing you stand firm and determined. "For Branderscar! For Mitra!" One particularly brave guard shouts, giving the other guards a slight morale lift.
The warden steps north-west and uses this distance to conjure a flaming sphere unimpeded on top of the other monsters, burning Allston the vampire to a crisp.
Igoroskandrallanotly takes a step to begin moving into flanking position on the next guard with Richter and lashes out with both claws at his target.
But he misses.
Did the warden save vs Dahlia's curse?
Dahlia approaches closer to the action and readies her telekinesis to catch the next bomb that the warden throws.
If using telekinesis on a projectile or thrown object within your size limit (often as a readied action), you may stop the attack from dealing damage. The originator of the attack (the creature who threw the projectile, etc.) is allowed a Will save to negate this ability. After catching an object, you may move it as normal for your telekinesis.
Reginald moves around the guards right flank, taking advantage of the opening made by the guard falling and lashes out again, this time at the warden.
As much as I respect your collection of tomes good sir, I must respectfully request you acquiesce to my demand of returning my tome to me. And as a symbol of apology, offer to me my pick of the books in your possession.
Aughh hacks at the guard to his SE
Captain Kruegar stabs at the guard in front of him, his blade darkly glowing.
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