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Belmir trots up to the others and whispers in a soft pant..Phff! little out of shape I'm afraid..anyway nothing much to report..the building seems rather secure. Only access besides the front door are the cargo doors...but, you'll need to be a good swimmer to access those *chuckle*.. Belmir's tone sobers...seriously this place looks locked up..which could only mean, they either don't want visitors or there's someone or something inside they don't want to escape. Belmir steps into the shadow of a nearby alley and lights his pipe. takes a few puffs..looks up and says, give me a moment...I'd like to enjoy a smoke before I try to break into an obviously secured place. Belmir's expression betrays his words..*giggle* could be my last smoke *har*...hmmm *sigh* Belmir finishes his pipe and looks to the group.
Right then, the rest of you stay back 20-30 feet..I'll need one of you warrior types to accompany me to the front...'just in case'....I'll check the front entrance for traps...and if I think it's safe...try to pick the lock as quietly as possible. Belmir pauses to catch his breathe .As soon as the tumblers on that lock click..my warrior companion should get through that door..I'll be right behind...the rest of you follow.... Belmir's eyes look tired and worried. Sound like a plan?
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Belmiir and his companion skulk towards the front door. Belmiir downs his extract of Heightened awareness as he approaches. As Belmiir draws near the door, he checks the area in front of the door for pitfalls or trip wires. after checking for traps in front of the door..Belmiir examines the door itself for traps.. .
When Belmiir is relatively certain there's no danger he proceeds to try and pick the lock quickly.
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"As good a plan as any, and better than most. If you can pick the lock it will save a lot of trouble. Hmmm. I'll run interference if someone comes along. Folks expect us gnomes to be odd - I'll just crazy it up for a bit to keep them occupied.."
Cyclic hovers about the most likely point of approach, ready to distract anyone that comes along and might object to the unorthodox keyless entry by acting as an overly excited wild gnome in from the wilderness visiting the exciting city.
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Responding to Sir Durant, Eka hisses as she speaks to prove her point. "It iss unlikely that my voisse would match theirss well enough to fool anyone. Belmir, I want to be the one to accompany you, but my best weapon would be awkward for your plan." Eka imagines the process of opening the door, then stepping back to duck her long bardiche through the doorway before she enters. Definitely not very efficient or speedy. "Whatever you want iss fine with me."
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"Very well then. Eka, why don't you accompany Cyclic to watch for interlopers while I join Belmiir after he secures us entry into the warehouse." As he speaks, Sir Durant readies his shield and draws out his longsword, ready to move in and engage with the enemy if they are immediately alerted of the Pathfinders' presence.
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The town guard keeps their distance, and there are no other passers-by to worry about so the group makes easy entrance into the office, which is austere and lifeless, save for a rather large trap door in the floor.
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A ladder lies close by but not placed to reach the trap door. A single wild-haired man stands by the desk, flanked by a pair of rats similar to the ones you fought earlier. As the door creaks open, he shouts something in a strange cadence that none of you understand.
Eka
Qiroyo
Belmiir
Sir Durant
Cyclic
Orange Rat
Yellow Rat
Altorin
Red Man
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As soon as Eka sees the trap door, she hisses at the team to be quiet. "They can hear our footsstepss down below and know how many of uss there are."
Doing her best to be stealthy, she gingerly steps up to the trap door and positions her bardiche so that she can stick it into the gap as soon as it is lifted if any threat shows itself.
Eka whispers: "I can go firsst, if no one objectss. My weapon will keep attackerss at bay while the resst of you desscend."
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The newly warded Eka leaps down and grabs the ladder -- hoisting it up and moving it quickly under the trap door. Uncharacteristically, Sir Durant simply drops into the hole and lands in a perfect three point stance, then scuttles over to engage the rats. Cyclic leans in and blesses the party's endeavors.
The rats step in front of their master to protect, gnawing at the knight's legs but only serve to annoy him.
Altorin drops down without injury, reaches out and aids Eka in guiding the ladder to the right position. The frantic guard casts some sort of spell upon his club and moves to engage Sir Durant, still shouting out what is likely a warning to those further in.
Qiroyo
Eka -2 damage <Protection from Evil>
Belmiir -4 damage
Sir Durant
Cyclic
Orange Rat
Yellow Rat
Altorin
Red Man
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"Why? Is Mange... Well, he sure seemed desperate to get away from you. What's a few fleas among friends?"
A smell, not unlike wet dog, fills this room. The corners are occupied by dirty straw pallets covered by wrinkled, mildew encrusted blankets. A single dilapidated table and four cracked and uneven chairs surround it. The floor is covered in a thin layer of dust and mud and footprints clearly cross the room from the trap door in the ceiling to a set of wooden double doors in the west wall. The room appears to be well lived-in, though not by anyone who values cleanliness. Insects skitter along the floor, small annoying clouds of flies buzz near the ceiling about 10 feet up.
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"Why? Is Mange... Well, he sure seemed desperate to get away from you. What's a few fleas among friends?"A smell, not unlike wet dog, fills this room. The corners are occupied by dirty straw pallets covered by wrinkled, mildew encrusted blankets. A single dilapidated table and four cracked and uneven chairs surround it. The floor is covered in a thin layer of dust and mud and footprints clearly cross the room from the trap door in the ceiling to a set of wooden double doors in the west wall. The room appears to be well lived-in, though not by anyone who values cleanliness. Insects skitter along the floor, small annoying clouds of flies buzz near the ceiling about 10 feet up.
Besides, putting myself in Cyclic's place, the first assumption she would jump to is that you were talking about Mange, who probably also has fleas.
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Qiroyo's arrow takes flight and hits the man's shoulder, cutting into it but not quite sticking. Eka slides into position and does get a pronounced blow in, spraying the ground with blood. Belmiir finds his range as well and the man slumps to the ground with an arrow square in his chest. Sir Durant turns his attention to the vermin at his feet but cannot seem to corner it with his sword. Mange cocks her head but does not budge at Cyclic's urging.
The two rats try to respond but fall short of revenge.
Altorin
Red Man -12 damage <unconscious>
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Qiroyo
Eka -2 damage <Protection from Evil>
Belmiir -4 damage
Sir Durant
Cyclic
Orange Rat
Yellow Rat
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Rats can be hard to get. They're so quick and small. Eka sidesteps around the corpse of the guard to get within range of the rats.
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Altorin's blast misses by the narrowest of margins but Qiroyo takes advantage and pierces the rat from above. Eka swings and strikes the ground hard. Belmiir's arrow goes wide too as the rat deftly spins away from all the danger. Sir Durant slashes the hardy rat then moves and Cyclic joins the fun on the lower level. Despite their best attempts, the harried rats cannot draw blood.
Altorin
Red Man -12 damage <unconscious>
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Qiroyo
Eka -2 damage <Protection from Evil>
Belmiir -4 damage
Sir Durant
Cyclic
Orange Rat -9 damage
Yellow Rat
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With almost simultaneous attacks, Qiroyo and Eka finish off the vermin.
Searching the man, you find but a few spare coins.
Altorin
Red Man -12 damage <unconscious>
Qiroyo
Eka -2 damage <Protection from Evil>
Belmiir -4 damage
Sir Durant
Cyclic
Orange Rat -14 damage <unconscious>
Yellow Rat -14 damage <unconscious>
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"There is far more here than I would have expected," Sir Durant says, eying the trade bars in the chest below the table. "Perhaps our deposed noble truly is seeking to reestablish his house again? At any rate, if that is the case, he has gone about it in the worst way. Come, there is more to attend to." He raises his sword to point at the double doors on the other side of the room and moves beside them, checking for any obvious signs of a trap before checking if the others are ready for him to open them.
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"I don't suppose anyone has any ideas how to get Mange down here. Not that he would mind a snooze."
Cyclic cranes his neck up to look at the wolf lying by the trap door with his muzzle half over the edge, head cocked, eying him sleepily. Mange gives a half-hearted snap at his expensive saddle but decides the effort isn't worth it and lays down again with his eyes closed.
"*sigh*"
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"I don't suppose anyone has any ideas how to get Mange down here. Not that he would mind a snooze."
Cyclic cranes his neck up to look at the wolf lying by the trap door with his muzzle half over the edge, head cocked, eying him sleepily. Mange gives a half-hearted snap at his expensive saddle but decides the effort isn't worth it and lays down again with his eyes closed.
"*sigh*"
"Just push this table underneath the trap door. It should be high enough for him to leap onto."
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"There is far more here than I would have expected," Sir Durant says, eying the trade bars in the chest below the table. "Perhaps our deposed noble truly is seeking to reestablish his house again? At any rate, if that is the case, he has gone about it in the worst way. Come, there is more to attend to." He raises his sword to point at the double doors on the other side of the room and moves beside them, checking for any obvious signs of a trap before checking if the others are ready for him to open them.
Altorin gives a nod of confirmation and readies himself in the direction of the doors.
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"Excellent idea, huh, Mange! It's going to take some getting used to having Mange around."
With great effort, Cyclic maneuvers the table to where Mange can jump and encourges him to decend.
Eventually, the beast ponerously raises himself from the floor with a canine sigh and easily hops down to the room below. Cyclic hops on with a simultaneous grunt from the both of them. If the wolf could speak you are quite sure he would be asking what's wrong with Cyclic's own two good feet.
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Upon seeing the gold, Eka stares thoughtfully at them for some time, though it is unclear if she is truly focusing on them. Snapping out of her reverie, she cautiously warns: "No one needss this much gold, but a large organissation would. We are either dealing with a big businesss (probably illegal), or a dessperately greedy persson. Either way, they'll throw everything they have at uss to keep uss from sspoiling their profitss. Sstay together. If we ssplit up, they will pick uss off one by one."
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Belmiir and Durant start to move to the doors, when Altorin suddenly shouts. "Wait! Look at the ceiling above, does that not look odd to you?"
Peering up to the ceiling above, a curious crack spans the length of the bedrock above the doorway and the glint of metal indicates that it would be quite dangerous to open the door.
With some quick work with some wedges hewn from the table top, Belmiir is able to prevent the huge blade from descending upon entrance and the doors can be opened.
The doors open onto a long, steep staircase that looks particularly steep and wet with dew. A strange scent of decay rises from below as well.