The good doctor's face sours for a moment when the door doesn't budge. "No good! I'm sure I can pick it-but you're right." Ethyl retreats along with her companions.
Jagray follows the others, back inside where they came from at the suggestion of more to explore since the one way was locked.
Endol guards the rear as you all head back inside. Just as he steps through the doorway, a mass of the pale worms burst from the ground into the now scalding rain. They flap about for a few moments before diving back into the soft mulch to what is hopefully safety.
You all make your way back through the lobby as the rain pounds against the windows. You make for the double doors in the north wall of the room.
Sagging shelves, held together by dust and an extensive system of rolling ladders, ring this library of husky, dull-looking tomes. At the room’s center broods a heavily worn table surrounded by uncomfortable chairs. A chandelier of iron vines dangles above. The scents of leather and old paper pervade the high-ceilinged space, but so does a distinct bestial musk.
Eldol remembers back, to the fine halls of the University of Lepidstadt, and forgets where he is for a moment, he moves in focusing on his noise looking for threats.
Ethyl caresses the books, picks up one at random, and glances through. She comments, "Did you notice the rain was boiling? If we have to escape through the mists we should devise some sort of protection against the elements."
Jagray follows Ethyl and peeks around the nearest shelf to see if he can spot any threats.
As Ethyl speaks on the rain Jagray is more concerned about the off putting scent "'oy, it kinda stinks in 'ere."
Looking at the shelves, Jagray notes that several of the lower shelves have had their contents scattered across the floor. Investigating further, he sees that the books and the back of the shelves have been gnawed through.
Endol, you can smell a scent of decay more potent than the general smell of the room coming from above you but can't pinpoint exactly from where.
The scents of leather and old paper pervade the high-ceilinged space, but so does a distinct bestial musk.
Amestri carefully looks around the room, searching for the source of the scent.
Searching the room, you spot a few pairs of glittering eyes staring out at you from the highest shelves. As your eyes acclimate to the dim shelf space you see a ratlike creature that has tiny human hands in place of its front paws, and an unnerving human face with a toothy mouth. Seeing that they were spotted they let out a screech and raise heavy books to throw.
Ethyl searched the dark corners of her mind for anything she could remember about these creepy human faced rat people. Not able to remember anything very useful she climbed the nearest ladder biting down on her dagger as she did so.
Standing atop the bookshelf, her dagger now ready to throw, she exclaimed, "I have a feeling their not as friendly as Endol!" And threw it as hard as she could.
Amestri steps back towards the center of the room to give Endol a chance to climb the ladder, and mumbles as she indicates the ratling in front of her.
Dr Ethyls dagger sinks in to the things side and Amestri stares juju at another.
Dr Ethyl's target vanishes before her eyes. The one Amestri is staring at attempts to throw a book at the closest thing to the ladder (Endol). The one on the north side of the room starts chanting in its squeaky voice.
The book lands at Endol's feet as the creature squeeks at you in what sounds like a language.
Jagray makes his way over to the other ladder in the room to help Ethyl with the remaining rat thing.
You recognize these as ratlings. You also remember that these things usually have a large nest so seeing only three is unusual.
Endol scrabbles up the ladder and moves to engage one of the rats with his dagger.
Ethyl drinks something opaque and purple. Tastes like mildew. I'll have to work on that, no matter. Probably some magic for invisibility. She draws her silver dagger and listens for the presumably still present but invisible ratling.
Endol's dagger barely misses the creature in front of him which hisses at him baring wicked looking teeth.
Trusting Endol to take care of the critter, Amestri continues to use her mighty juju on the little bugger.
Endol's adversary warily steps back and vanishes just as Dr Ethyl's target did. Meanwhile the chanting from the far ratling ends as a swarm of rats appears around Jagray. You also hear new chanting coming from somewhere on the ceiling.
The ratling near Jagray picks up a book and throws it with ill intent as the rat swarm leaves little bites all over him.
Endol moves forward sniffing at the air to locate his enemy.
Jagray gets up the ladder to try and escape the swarm below but also to attack the little beast that summoned the swarm on him. As he climbs he says a brief prayer to Desna to heal his wounds.
HP: 13/19
Jagray's swing goes wide but leaves a mighty crack in the top of the bookshelf.
Ethyl bides her time, weapon ready for the ratling.
Amestri keeps her eye out, waiting for one of the creatures to reappear.
Ethyl and Amestri are poised, ready to strike when a target presents itself. Endol, on the other hand strikes out at an unseen target but doesn't connect.
The chanting on the ceiling finishes as another rat swarm appears around Dr Ethyl and a book flies from where the chanting was revealing a ratling. As the target reveals itself, daggers fly at it from multiple directions.
Meanwhile, the rest swarm Jagray just escaped moves back onto him. His target bites at him at the same time but it's not able to penetrate his armor.
The ratling that Endol was fighting reappears in a flash of teeth.
Suffering the swarm's bits a little longer Ethyl hesitates a moment waiting to see where Ms. Batgali positions herself.
As some of his wounds heal from his divine judgement he continues to focus on the rat creature in front of him.
HP: 13/19
As the ratling appears in the middle of the room, Amestri's dagger flies wide but she rushes forward with her sickle to try and take care of it before it disappears again...
...but that attack goes wide as well.
Ethyl seeing her chance jumps from the bookcase to the opposite side of the ratling.
Endol slashes back at the ratling, trying to back it off.
He takes a step back, 'I need to engage that swarm'
Amestri harassing it from one side allows Dr Ethyl's dagger to find a soft spot and it pierces a vital organ. As it slumps down, the swarm out summoned dissipates.
Endol and Jagray both land telling Blows to their respective opponents. Jagray's hammer even manages to flatten a handful of the smaller rats attempting to engulf him.
The rat swarm continues to harass Jagray and the ratling he faces bites at him as well.
Endol's opponent likewise fights on.
Endol slashes again, hoping this will be enough to change the ratlings mind and free him to deal with the swarm.
Ethyl crosses the room to try to assist Jagray ascending by trying to climb the book shelves without a ladder.
Seeing Dr. Ethyl head towards Jagray, Amestri runs to the other side of the room and climbs up to assist Endol.
More of his wounds heal from his divine judgement, but the wounds he is recieving is outpacing his healing, so he decides it is time to end this as quickly as possible as he tries to kill the rat creature in front of him.
HP: 9/19
Ther rat swarm dissipates as Ethyl begins climbing up the bookshelf. On ther opposite side of the room, Amestri also begins her climb. Endol lands another telling blow on the ratling before him. It gives a worried/shameful look at its companion before taking a step back and disappearing with a pop. Jagray's opponent ducks a blow from the hammer and lands face down in a groveling position. "Please! Mercy!"
Jagray looks back at the others with this new development to get any idea on whether he should spare the creature or just put an end to it.
Dr. Ethyl narrows her eyes at the creature as she finishes her climb, "Give us a good reason to spare you and we'll consider it." She idly picks under one of her fingernails with her dagger.
Endol stands at the top of the ladder listening, he closes his eyes and trusts his nose, ready to slash should the ratkin step near him.
"Wait wait! I'll tell you everything I know! the ratling squeeks out as Jagray and Ethyl loom over her.
Endol stands ready to strike should his attacker reappear but he only smells the somewhat sweet scent of the nests in the shelves.
The ratling trembles as she awaits her judgement.