Henric nods at Rodrigo as he tells his tale. "We came across that monstrosity. Put it to rest."
"Betcha Mama Nightthrush is downstairs. Stay wary, y'all."
Dumb spellcasters. Can't just sit still.
Cam chuckles. "You realize I cast spells, right, Ira?"
Yeah but you aren't like that
Cam smiles. "And what am I like?"
Focus, Cam. We've got a witchy lady probably about to gank us.
Tellanya tilts her head, "yes - downstairs. There is a secret door there." She points at the location of the door. "The path has returned." She gestures towards Kiley, "be brave, your strength means that your path does not end today" she smiles towards the smaller woman.
Kiley nods and is first through the door.
"Rodrigo, would you mind taking point with Kiley? you look like a strong lad..." Esmaralda smiles and giggles. "If Mother Nightthrush attacks, we'd appreciate your steady sword arm. I hope she cooperates as we don't wish any harm on a senior, but if she decides to wield that kind of evil magic our way, perhaps it'll be time to take prudent action for the sake of the villagers nearby..."
"Okay, sure thing." Rodrigo goes to take point with Kiley.
The stairs descend 80 feet, switching back and forth from landing to landing, until finally you emerge in a room with a single lantern sitting in the center of the floor. A door to the west is boarded up with six sturdy pine planks secured into the stone door frame with iron spikes. An empty silver saucer sits in front of the doors, accompanied by a few bread crumbs, and an arched opening leads south.
Tellanya blinks, and cocks her head, "the spirits do not need to tell me that Mother Nighthrush could not have gone through the boarded door... unless." She meanders over to the planks and pokes one with the butt of her spear.
She shakes her head, "no - she must have gone through the arch" and points with her spear.
Suspicious of the plate full of crumbs, Esmaralda weaves a minor spell to assist in her search and inspects the boarded door to find a seam or hinges.
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The door seems solid enough to Tellanya, and while Esmaralda does find hinges on the door, they're under the boards. It looks to her like someone boarded this door up with the plan of never opening it. The plate with crumbs is a bit confusing, though.
The party moves through the arched opening down a short hallway to the next room. This thirty-foot-long colonnade has seen better days but is in surprisingly good condition. A few cracks mar the marble floors and walls, yet the six smooth columns that hold the ceiling up are in immaculate condition.
All except Stryn and Kiley notice a Roadkeeper hiding behind a column in ambush. So focused are they that they don't notice the one behind the other column who steps out and tosses a vial at Rodrigo.
His aim is poor, and it instead lands at Kiley's feet, splashing her and Rodrigo with acid.
Rodrigo, dancing away from the acid, looks at the one who threw it. "Alcair, what was that for? You almost hit me with that! Look, why don't you guys quit fighting? We can all just leave and be on our way if you do."
Rodrigo - 9/10, Charmed >3 hours
Kiley - 21/26
Tellanya gestures again, and a similar effect occurs. Friendly spirits appear and seem to aid everyone slightly with their aim. These spirits, however, seem dressed slightly differently, as if they come from a different time.
Lacking many other options in the cramped hallway, Henric throws up a shield spell to ward off any other potential ranged attacks.
Cam gives an unimpressed glance to the Roadkeeper between her and Kiley. He leaves a big ol' opening for her to slash right across his midsection.
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Lacking many other options in the cramped hallway, Henric throws up a shield spell to ward off any other potential ranged attacks.
Tellanya gestures again, and a similar effect occurs. Friendly spirits appear and seem to aid everyone slightly with their aim. These spirits, however, seem dressed slightly differently, as if they come from a different time.
Cam gives an unimpressed glance to the Roadkeeper who attacked Kiley. He leaves a big ol' opening for her to slash right across his midsection. His armor saves him from being disembowled, but he's still bleeding.
Stryn moves up and draws his rapier, trying to draw the Roadkeeper to him.
The Roadkeeper before Cam draws his short sword and attacks her while the other moves to hit Stryn, taking a cut in the process.
Cam fends off the attack easily, but Stryn gets a gash on his arm.
Rodrigo - 9/10, Charmed >3 hours
Kiley - 21/26
Stryn - 16/22
Yellow - 2/10
Red - 8/10
Esmaralda begins a battle song, trying to raise her allies' spirit! She moves behind Rodrigo, just in case, and puts a fearful hand on his shoulder...
Esmaralda begins a battle song, trying to raise her allies' spirit! She moves behind Rodrigo, just in case, and puts a fearful hand on his shoulder...
Kiley, hearing Esmaralda's song, steps up and swings her greatsword at the one that attacked Stryn.
She completely cuts him in half at the waist.
Rodrigo stares in horror at the bisected bandit, then looks at Alcair and says, "See? This is the fate that awaits us if we keep fighting. Please, Alcair, just surrender. It's better for you!"
His pleas fall on deaf ears, as Alcair seems to not even notice the fate of his companion.
Rodrigo - 9/10, Charmed >3 hours
Kiley - 21/26
Stryn - 16/22
Yellow - 2/10
Red - He dead.
Damn! That little one is strong. Makes me wistful for bashing skulls in with the two-hander.
Cam actually flinches at how hard the other roadkeeper gets hit, but she keeps her focus.
"You're gonna drop soon, bud. Best stay that way." She throws out a basic, yet proficient slash, hoping it will be enough to drop the poor bastard.
Henric finally walking into the room, staff held before him in a defensive position, keeping an eye on the remaining thug and seeing if he can see anything to the west.
Tellanya looks slightly disturbed at the bisecting of one of the road keepers. She shakes her head. "Yes. I suppose it cannot be helped, sadly," she whispers to herself. She then moves up and tries to strike the last remaining keeper past Cam and Kiley, using her spear.
Henric finally walking into the room, staff held before him in a defensive position, keeping an eye on the remaining thug and seeing if he can see anything to the west. He thinks he might see someone trying to hide, but he isn't sure.
Tellanya looks slightly disturbed at the bisecting of one of the road keepers. She shakes her head. "Yes. I suppose it cannot be helped, sadly," she whispers to herself. She then moves up and tries to strike the last remaining keeper past Cam and Kiley, using her spear. She successfully stabs him, dropping him to the ground.
Tellanya nods, and then snaps her fingers. The man she stabbed stops bleeding, and breathes more regularly. She smiles down at him. "it is not your time, little soul." She looks up, and to the west. "let us depart."
The group presses on into the next room. Henric confirms he did see someone trying to hide - as everyone else spots him as well. There were others he couldn't see, though - including, standing at the top of another set of steps, Mother Nightthrush. She smiles a cruel smile as Esmaralda notices another hiding behind them and warns the group. Mother Nightthrush says, "Hello dearies."
Stryn tries to stab a Roadkeeper from around the corner.
But his attack misses.
Tellanya cocks her head and looks around, nodding, "yes - this is the tribe. What do you mean?" She blinks.
Suddenly, each person in the party, including Rodrigo, seems to leave a trail of insubstantial spirit energy as they move, as if inhabited by an incorporeal creature. Instead of being harmful, this incorporeal energy seems to grow more brightly with more allies nearby.
Tellanya cocks her head and looks around, nodding, "yes - this is the tribe. What do you mean?" She blinks. Suddenly, each person in the party, including Rodrigo, seems to leave a trail of insubstantial spirit energy as they move, as if inhabited by an incorporeal creature. Instead of being harmful, this incorporeal energy seems to grow more brightly with more allies nearby.
Esmaralda begins singing an inspiring song, while giggling.
The 4 Roadkeepers move to attack.
These Roadkeepers prove not to be the best of the bunch, as Cam, Kiley, and Tellanya are all able to fend off the attacks from their assailants. Rodrigo, however, is so caught off guard that his attacker's short sword stabs him right in the stomach, and he drops to the ground.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours
Kiley - 21/26
Stryn - 16/22
Camellia taps her sword against her helmet. ”You might think the big lady in the armor is an easy target for your magic, Ms. Nightthrush, but I can tell you now that you’d be better off not trying.” Not expecting the crone to relent, Cam slashes up along the line of left hip to right nape.
Camellia taps her sword against her helmet. ”You might think the big lady in the armor is an easy target for your magic, Ms. Nightthrush, but I can tell you now that you’d be better off not trying.” Not expecting the crone to relent, Cam slashes up along the line of left hip to right nape, cutting the old woman.
Rodrigo doesn't seem to be getting worse after his injury, at least.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours, stable
Kiley - 21/26
Stryn - 16/22
Mother Nightthrush - 12/31
With the action getting hot and heavy in the room, Henric forms his thoughts and emotions in his mind, and releases them with a word into some of Mother Nightthrush's thugs.
With the action getting hot and heavy in the room, Henric forms his thoughts and emotions in his mind, and releases them with a word into some of Mother Nightthrush's thugs.
Both are able to use the pillars and corners to evade the worst of the damage.
Kiley turns around and swings her greatsword at one of them.
She fells the bandit in a single stroke.
Mother Nightthrush smiles at Cam and says, "Dear, I won't focus on you alone, if that's what you're worried about."
Fortunately for Cam, her threatening Mother Nightthrush makes it difficult for her to get a spell off. Scowling, she says, "Although I may make an exception."
Stryn stabs a Roadkeeper again.
The bandit fends the goblin's attack off.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours, stable
Kiley - 21/26
Stryn - 16/22
Orange - 6/10
Mother Nightthrush - 12/31
Tellanya smiles at the bandits, and whispers something under her breath. She then tries to strike the one which dropped their new friend, Rodrigo.
But she misses.
Esmaralda continues her battle chant to elevate her friend's swordplay.
Tellanya smiles at the bandits, and whispers something under her breath. She then tries to strike the one which dropped their new friend, Rodrigo. But she misses.
Esmaralda continues her battle chant to elevate her friend's swordplay.
The three Roadkeepers attack the group again. Kiley takes a short sword to her back, but Cam and Tellanya fight off their attackers.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours, stable
Kiley - 9/26
Stryn - 16/22
Orange - 6/10
Mother Nightthrush - 12/31
Camellia launches another probing slash at Mother Nightthrush. Even though the crone is clearly a villain possessing no mean power of her own, a part of Cam has difficulty bringing herself to strike a older woman, and that touch of hesitation slows her blade.
Camellia launches another probing slash at Mother Nightthrush. Even though the crone is clearly a villain possessing no mean power of her own, a part of Cam has difficulty bringing herself to strike a older woman, and that touch of hesitation slows her blade. That hesitation proves to be enough that the warrior is unable to hit the woman.
Rodrigo lies on the ground, unconscious.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours, stable
Kiley - 9/26
Stryn - 16/22
Orange - 6/10
Mother Nightthrush - 12/31
Henric glances over to Stryn, tilting his head into the center of the whole mess, "Backup Kiley, would ya?" He follows it up with a jab of his staff to the nearby thug.
Henric glances over to Stryn, tilting his head into the center of the whole mess, "Backup Kiley, would ya?" He follows it up with a jab of his staff to the nearby thug that misses.
Kiley turns, studies the one who stabbed her, and swings her greatsword at the bandit.
He's pretty well cut in half, too.
Mother Nightthrush attempts to cast another spell, but Cam's menacing sword swings again prove too distracting.
Stryn replies to Henric, "I think she's handling herself fine." He then attacks the same bandit again.
He finally succeeds in stabbing around the corner, pricking the bandit.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours, stable
Kiley - 9/26
Stryn - 16/22
Orange - dead
Red - 6/10
Mother Nightthrush - 12/31
Esmaralda carefully steps over the two pieces that were the roadkeeper with the orange vest, while maintaining her song of inspiration. She lowers the volume and tone considerably, sending waves of calming music into the entire room.
"Appreciate it if you give me a warning next time, Esmi."
Tellanya shakes her head, "I don't know why you think it's that way, it's not that way. It's this way" she adds absentmindedly, to nobody in particular, before striking towards one of the road keepers.
Tellanya shakes her head, "I don't know why you think it's that way, it's not that way. It's this way" she adds absentmindedly, to nobody in particular, before striking towards one of the road keepers. She hits him with her spear.
Esmaralda carefully steps over the two pieces that were the roadkeeper with the orange vest, while maintaining her song of inspiration. She lowers the volume and tone considerably, sending waves of calming music into the entire room. Camellia is unaffected by the soothing sounds.
One of the Roadkeepers and Mother Nightthrush start yawning, but the other Roadkeeper also appears unaffected.
Tellanya takes a short sword to the thigh, and Cam continues proving she's fairly strong against the attacks by the Roadkeeper.
Rodrigo - -3/10, Charmed >3 hours, stable
Kiley - 9/26
Stryn - 16/22
Yellow - 2/10, drowsy
Red - 6/10
Mother Nightthrush - 12/31, drowsy
These Roadkeepers couldn't keep a s*!&house with such weak blows.
"That type gets in a fight with a woman in full armor instead of moustache-waxers with overstuffed purses,, they've already lost."
Camellia keeps her focus on Mother Nightthrush, slashing across her midsection again.
"♪♫ Cam! step backwards towards the cave wall, in front of yellow shoes! ♪"
She's lucky that I'm not driving, as I'd tell her exactly where she can stuff those orders
"Good thing you ain't, Ira. She's just trying to help." Cam raises her head to speak back to Esmi. "I've got Mama Nightthrush right here, and I'd rather not give that up, ma'am."