Oren is caught off guard by the creature, then turns to Pip, "Can you understand that thing?"
Pip shrugs, "Nope! But I'm hoping they can understand me."
Arren, frozen, looks at Pip and then back at the bird. "I suppose that's one way to go about it." He then falls silent, trying to drown out the squawking to hear if anyone else is being drawn in by the noise.
The bird creature looks at Pip, its beak moving as if it were trying to chew through the words. It then shakes its head, not understanding, and lets loose with a "Squawk!" It then continues to caw back towards the rest of the supposedly abandoned tower, its strange language echoing through the halls.
Marilis braces herself.
"I think we're about to get company, folks..."
Pip frowns, pulls out a holy symbol of Gozreh and prepares for a fight.
"I'm hoping they just ran off to get someone to translate. But I'm not naïve enough to think they aren't just going for reinforcements."
Oren stands near the front, just slightly behind and to the side of Gruhx, as he watches the activity within the gates. "Just don't give them a reason to think we're threatening, if we don't have to."
As you wait, one of the bird creatures heads out of the gatehouse through a door directly across from the one at which you stand. The other one stands in the middle of the gatehouse, excitedly screeching at you in its odd language.
With one of them standing their squawking away and not attacking, Pip pulls out a scroll and reads the contents. Suddenly he can understand what they are saying (probably).
Indeed, you do!
You can't be here! Stay there and don't move! You'll be thrown in the dungeons, just wait! Go, and get the others - the big ones! No, don't open the gate stupid! I haven't seen them before either! Big one, put down the ladder! Why aren't they listening? Why haven't you gone to get the others yet? Go, go!
Pip shares the jist of the chatter, "They are telling us to stay there and don't move. But also that we will be thrown into the dungeons so I don't think they are friendly. The one that ran off was supposed to get 'the big ones' so... maybe we hurry up a bit and get into a better position to negotiate? Like... get over the wall or bust through the gate or something? I don't think we need to be quiet anymore."
"I don't quite know if I fancy being tossed in the dungeons today." Arren looks up at the rope still hanging from the wall while considering Pip's words, then lowers his volume. "We could do both. Gruhx and someone else goes for the gate, and the others climb while they're distracted?"
Pip nods, "I'll stay with the big guy. You all head over. Meet up on the other side."
Oren is frozen with indecision, but is shaken from it when the others start making a plan. Nodding with agreement, he heads for the wall and starts to climb, yelling "Go!"
Arren readily grasps the rope after Oren and makes his way up, setting his feet on the wall.
"I like this plan!"
Marilis follows suit.
Marilis, Arren, and Oren scamper up the wall and top the gatehouse tower. From here, they can see that there are two openings with wooden ladders that seem to go down - into the main guardroom!
Gruhx moves forward, taking two quick steps and then slamming into the gate!
The gate shudders, then the hinges on one side are torn off of the jamb, and the door simply falls to the ground with a "whump", sending a cloud of dust up inside and outside of the entryway.
The bird creature screeches and moves to attack!
"Oh, no you don't!" Marilis shouts, a sly grin on her face.
Pip waits for Gruhx to lead the way inside. Hopefully they can find a way to wherever their allies end up.
Marilis rushes to the stairs, ready to scamper down once Gruhx manages to break through.
"Dammit!" Oren calls out. "Arren, can you get down there an help her out? I'll cover you from here!" By example, the dwarf gathers the inner energy needed to power his attack, then shoots a solid stream of sand at the creature while letting out a powerful cry.
Swift Action: Ki Blast
Standard Action:
"Dammit!" Oren calls out. "Arren, can you get down there an help her out? I'll cover you from here!" By example, the dwarf gathers the inner energy needed to power his attack, then shoots a solid stream of sand at the creature while letting out a powerful cry.
Swift Action: Ki Blast
Standard Action:
[dice=Sand Blast /w PBS vs. AC]1d20+6
[dice=Slashing Damage]2d6+8
Oren blasts out at the creature, hitting it solidly in the back with a concentrated, scouring blast of sand. The creature stumbles and nearly falls, but continues on towards the northern pair of doors that leads out of the courtyard.
Inside the guardhouse, the bird fella' screeches and moves up to swing at Gruhx, hoping to force him back and out so that he could try and cobble together the now broken door. Oddly, it seems to leap through the air more than it rushes at him. Unfortunately for him, his leap doesn't seem to get him the full distance, and he has to step in the last few feet.
Pip pulls his crossbow and fires at the Tengu? attacking Gruhx, "Gotcher back, bud!"
for
for
"Resiliant, aren't they?" Oren comments, impressed that the creature is still standing. He focuses his energy again, this time looking to extend the range of his blast, and attacks once more.
Move Action: Gather Power
Standard Action:
Ki Blast: Round 2/2
Marilis slides down the ladder and dashes towards the guy attacking Gruhx. "Behind you!" She then strikes with her scimitar!
Arren follows Oren's directions without hesitation and heads down the ladder after Marilis, firing ice at the foe between them and Gruhx when he hits the floor.
Pips' shot slams home in the beast's chest, then Arren's spell hits it in the back. It tries to turn, but cannot spin before Marilis moves in and slashes across, taking its head from its shoulders.
On the roof, Oren's attack takes this next creature in the back, flaying skin and killing it almost instantly. Its body impacts the doors it had been trying to open and it slumps down against them.
The lone figure on the roof now, Oren surveys the courtyard. This barren courtyard of hard packed earth contains clumps of tough-looking weeds, furrows in the ground as if made by taloned feet, and chalky white mounds of dung the size of human heads.
To the east, Oren sees a smaller courtyard, and he watches as one, then a second large humanoid begin to stomp out from there, each of them curiously looking towards where Oren's kill had slumped against the wall. They don't seem to see Oren!
Oren will try to remain out of sight of the new-comers and watch their movement. If they notice himself, or his companions, he'll shout out a warning.
Oren hunkers down and keeps watch as the two odd humanoids approach the dead bird fellow. They appear to be ogres, but with oddly misshapen features as if they had birth defects of some sort. The stomp over to the body, their heavy boot thuds echoing through the courtyard.
Inside the gatehouse, the dead body of the bird creature lay in between all of the combatants. Gruhx merely looks down at it and shrugs. Bird man didn't want us in...
Pip frowns at his crossbow and quickly tries to stabilize the creature, "I hate killing when not necessary. Once we get what we want, I'd like to leave these creatures a chance to survive. But that can wait till after. For now just let it rest here please. What did you all see from up top the wall?"
Arren observes Pip as he works to stabilize the creature. "A courtyard, and the second bird creature running across it. I didn't stay up there long enough to get a good look, though."
He glances toward the doors.
Pip stabilizes the creature, staving off death for...at least a little while.
The doors here are solid wood, with no windows or bars. Though...they do seem to be unlocked.
Marilis hears Pip's dislike for killing and shrugs, not really able to relate. "They were trying to kill us first, doesn't that make it necessary enough?"
She takes a moment to peek through the different doors.
Marilis can see the two big creatures move over to the fallen creature. They scratch their heads in confusion then look to the south - to the door through which you're peeking. They start your way...Oren sees that as well...
Oren curses under his breath, hoping that the creatures would pass them by. He waits for the creatures to get closer before he jumps up, sending a blast of sand down that the creature, yelling towards the ladder leading to the inside, "Incoming!"
[/dice=Sand Blast /w PBS vs. AC]1d20+5[/dice]
Pip replies to Marillis, "To fight yes. Nothing prevents us from defending ourselves, survival of the fittest and all that. But if we aren't hunting for food or protecting our territory, it isn't really necessary at all. Plus, we appear to actually be in the wrong here, invading their home. So, maybe I can minimize the wrong done by allowing them to survive after we get what we need and leave."
He isn't paying much attention to other things and is a bit startled when Oren yells his warning.
Marilis chuckles. "So it's alright to kill to protect our territory? I'm sure many kings eager to go to war are thrilled to hear that."
When Oren shouts his warning, Marilis instinctively throws open the doors and moves to cover. She then turns to Arren.
"Think you got some more of those icy blasts in you, magic man?"
Oren lashes out with a blast of sand, but it hits the wall adjacent to one of the creatures. It whirls, a look of confusion on its head, then sees the doors open and Oren standing atop the wall. With a roar of rage, it charges! Its ally shrugs...and follows.
Gruhx somehow moves before anyone else, charging in through the front door, then out through the back door. He roars his own challenge and raises a claw, ready to strike when the creatures come within reach...and that they do!
Gruhx lashes out as they approach.
The ogrekin respond with their spears, jabbing at the massive Trox.
Pip moves up and casts a simple spell. A cool breeze that smells like fresh springtime washes over the group, "Hold on big guy, I'll get to you soon!"
Hopefully before you die.
Focusing his power, Oren blasts one of the ogrekin with raw force, looking to give Gruhx some breathing room.
Move Action: Gather Power (1 burn).
Standard Action: Sand Blast w/ pushing infusion