"We could deal with this After we have caught the lordling unaware." Mum suggests, displaying worry that hacking the door down, even with a great sword like the cleric's might alert the guards.
Sootscale nods. "Defeat the lord, then grab the horde," he declares.
"Do we have time for me to give our new rescues here more than a glance of a once-over so that I can assess their condition? Or are we in too much of a hurry?"
"Yes, of course." Mum says, knowing wounded allies is a tactical waste.
Donovan quickly checks and determines that Numesti is weak and still missing a little health, but with the extra help Embryn seems hale.
"Hmm. Looks like you were poisoned, perhaps? Something has ravaged your system," says Donovan to Numesti. "Unfortunately I'm not properly prepared to treat that at the moment. Really ought to invest in some potions for curing those sorts of maladies..."
"This should at least help a bit more," he says as he soothes more of Numesti's wounds.
The kobold interjects himself into this conversation. "Of course he is not properly prepared, he is a holy warrior."
Sootscale, on the other hand, digs through his bag and takes out a couple of vials. "Drink this one," he begins, pointing to a small elixir. "Then swish this around and spit it back into the bottle. Don't drink second potion or you waste it!"
Mum smiles warmly at the alchemist, then after the man drinks, she says "Okay, since you know this castle the best, give me directions to where you think he most likely will be. I know there is no way to be sure, but we will do our best to scout." Mum knows once they open some doors she could send her bird or maybe even Tikroch, though she was unaware if there were limitations on the number of times he could shift.
Numesti comments "if I were to guess, perhaps his banquet room, or bedroom? We likely have caught him by surprise, so probably the banquet room - it's on the second floor, up a spiral staircase just south of that stairway." He points at the 10' wide stair that leads up to the 1st floor. He looks skeptically at the rhinoceros. "The spiral staircase is very narrow, I don't know how they will get up there."
mum turned to their Rhino "I don't know the particulars of your magic, so give me an idea? Can you shift out and back in?"
The rhino snorts at the idea of the small staircase, "I'd prefer to stay in this form if at all possible. It takes a particular effort to assume it and I can't do that very often. I should be able to squeeze through though. If needed I can shift back as a last resort. Maybe I just don't go first so you all don't get stuck behind me."
Leaving Tikroch to his shifting or not, Mum slips up the stairwell to find their prey.
The broad stairs seem to lead up to a larger foyer. There are two of the Town Guards standing, though not particularly at attention. They don't notice Mum. There are a few doors that lead from this larger room .
With a plan in place, the party moves up to engage the two Drelev guards, as well as position themselves to deal maximum damage.
Mum appears out of nowhere and attacks the southern one:
She does a huge amount of damage. Then Donovan takes a swing at the same one, now with flanking.
The southern guard is badly hurt, but takes a lot of damage between the two of them.
Mum slices into the poor man's chest, then flips her sword along her palm, and then back up, driving the blade into the poor guard's side.
The red one erupts blood from his mouth in a spray, and dies instantly, clutching the wound, and collapsing with a thud.
The other seems to be very surprised, he hasn't even had a chance to call out for help.
Sootscale waits to see if something less noisy than bombs might deal with the other poor guard.
Donovan holds forth his hands and, though they are occupied with sword and shield, somehow manages to bring forth a beam of light that blasts out of his shield and strikes the remaining guard.
Tikroch takes aim with his horn and gives the remaining guard a nasty thrust.
The second one drops unconscious from the gore attack, falling to the ground with barely a sound.
Numesti points up and brings his fingers to his lips, then points at Mum and the others to seemingly “check” the other small rooms on the floor.
Mum's eyes flash just slightly at being 'commanded' to do anything, but she is smart enough to hide it quickly. She assumed there were more guards, and having them at their back would be bad. But she is also uncertain how many encounters would go like this, quick and quiet. (she is amazed at Tikroch's rhino impaling death having been as soundless as it had been).
Numesti is the expert of this place, so instead of ignoring him, she nods and moves to the other small rooms on the floor.
Everyone waits a moments, avoiding too much movement, and listens as the stealthy rogue moves around the tower floor - checking different doors. After about two minutes of work, Mum returns.
"We go up then?" Vincent asks with a shrug. "I can give Tickroch flight if you're determined to stay in that rhino shape..."
Mum nods "Good Plan. Everyone ready?"
"I appreciate the offer but I think I acted hastily taking this form. It is much to large to navigate this fortress freely. I'll figure something out when the time comes for a new shape." As he is making his statement, Tikroch changes back to a human form. "Does anyone see a ladder to get through the trap door up there? I can give people a boost up if necessary."
Mum heads up through the door and after opening the trap doors, sees a rope ladder neatly folded next to the trapdoor. It seems that simply kicking it would allow it to fall into the room below with the others in the party, and she does so, allowing easy access for anyone to climb up.
This small, vaguely triangular room with bare walls and no furnishings, and it must be at the northeast corner of the second floor of the tower. There are no visible or obvious exits from this second-floor room beyond the trapdoor.
"This would not exist for no reason." Vincent says, giving voice to what everyone else is thinking. "So what is the reason."
He has full confidence in Chrysa to figure out where the secret exit is.
Mum's dark eyes smirk at the wizard, before she starts moving around the room, looking at the walls for the place they need.
Mum easily spies the similar trapdoor in the ceiling of the small room, as well as the presence of two more doors, one to the south, and one to the west.
Numesti raises a finger to his lips and whispers, ”that door - it must exit into his … audience chamber. He often consults with guards and advisors there.” He exhales quietly, ”I did not know this was here - this must be an escape route or secret path within the tower. He must have converted some other rooms into this - likely with Stroon’s help.”
Mum will look for locks and traps on the door the man points to, then once that is done, looks to her companions. "hopefully he is behind this door, is everyone ready?"
If they nod or just stays silent, she will use her wand to put a shield around her, then open the door quietly.
Vincent softly incants Mage Armor on himself and then nods his readiness.
Tikroch nods and hisses a command to Luca to stay by his side. The dino looks to his handler and takes up a position nearly touching the druid, but not quite.
They both await the results of what is beyond the door.
With a quiet push of the door, the southern door opens quietly. Decorative yellow and brown tile inlays cover the floor of this immense chamber, presenting a rich scheme of royal appointments leading to a raised dais and throne against the far wall. A pair of windows flanks the throne, looking down into the inner bailey below.
Seated on the throne, facing the secret door, is the brooding form of the baron of the lands, Hannis Drelev. Scattered nearby are more of his guards. He doesn’t seem to be doing anything other than looking into space and drumming his hand on his throne while swirling a drink in his hand.
Drelev is well-equipped, with gleaming metal breastplate covered by well-worn and maintained adventuring clothes - heavy boots and belts with pouches and snaps. A dark-looking Aldori dueling sword is within easy reach, and despite his haunted, tired look, he seems awake and wary - as if he’s been on edge for some time. His hair is shaggy, but well maintained, and he has a few days worth of stubble - seemingly a typical look for him, as Mum remembers him from the confab on the borders.
With a start, his eyes widen, and he points at the secret door, reflexively.
Vincent flicks his fingers and a bead of fire shoots into the room before filling it with a sudden inferno.
Following Vincent's lead, Tikroch shows he can do more than shapeshift by summoning the heat of the hottest deserts into the room. One can see the column of hot air as the rushing wind licks at the remains of Vincent's sudden inferno, forcing it into the ground.
Watching for any commands, Luca stays by the druid's side.
Sootscale begins the bombardment of poor Drelev. "Bombs away!"
;
Donovan casts a spell, and the room becomes much smaller as the figure doubles in size, squeezing everyone for a moment.
Fireball DC 21
Sirocco DC 19
bomb DC 22
Other saves
There’s a huge onslaught of fire, and some of the guard are badly hurt. Hannis Drelev seems very resilient, and though damaged, he seems to have escaped the worst effects of the three fireballs.
"Oh just die already!" Sootscale continues the onslaught of bombs, using a mix!
;
;
;
The conflagration of fire, and stench is almost too much for any human to bear. Some of his guards drop to the ground, and though they don't die, they struggle to get back up again. Drelev, coughing, shouts, "Stroon - stroon! Get to him now! Protect the baroness. Get the doors open and get out if you can - this fire will bring down the tower!"
For all of his faults, Hannis Drelev seems to have a measure of loyalty to his guards. None of them seem to die immediately, but in the process of fleeing, it's obvious one couldn't escape the sirocco, and will be hurt by it immediately.
Drelev seems to have amazing resilience, and he quickly touches himself amidst the smoking ruin of his throne room, barely visible through the stinking fog and fire an unmistakable measure of loathing, but the villanous Baron is not so easly dispatched. Somehow he heals his wounds, in a way that reminds Donovan of what crusader might do. And quickly bolts to the south. Oddly, he says almost to the air itself, "take me up." And with that, he stands and bolts for the southern door.
Seeing their quarry escaping seemingly unaffected by his spell, Tikroch concentrates on extinguishing the magic holding the heat in place.
Stepping out into the room, Tikrock gives chase hoping to keep Drelev in sight.
Vincent snaps out words in a language that simply sounds wrong to living ears. The weight and coldness of them sinks into the Baron's bones, threatening to paralyze him!
Drelev curses to himself, and it’s clear he’s afraid. He looks back, ”wait - wait - you. I know you.”
He shakes his head, frowning, his unshaven face creasing with worry ”no - but what …” He’s not sure what Vincent at this moment.
Mum rises into the air and zips into the room after the fleeing Drelev, her blades in her hands ready to end this (if possible).
Drelev is something of an accomplished swordsman, and manages to graze Chrysa with is sword as she flies by. More curious, the air itself seems to lash out at Chrysa from the space above Drelev with a more punishing attack - like a hard punch in the face.
"No good, no good!" says Sootscale, annoyed with his failed initial assassination. He stretches out his wings and tries to follow Chrysa!
Donovan moves to rejoin the company, his great size making it a bit challenging to get out of the room. As he slips out and heads toward the clash of metal as fast as he can.
Numesti and Embryn move up to chase down some of the guards, and they try to take a swipe at one with her claws.
But they miss.
but also sees that he’s surrounded. He curses ”magic nonsense… of course… grab him!” Drelev himself tries to smack the primary sword out of Mum’s hand, but fails The siccatite short sword clatters to the ground, and he heals himself again, and he tries to move away.
The air itself seems to shimmer, as it tries to grab Sootscale. Sootscale seems to have been grabbed by the air itself
Most of the guards try to flee upstairs, but the two engaged with Embryn and Numesti try to attack the pair. They sneer at Numesti, saying, ”traitor - he should have killed you!”
One cuts deep into Numesti, and he staggers back, still standing but hurt. The others that are fleeing are screaming, ”Stroon - Stroon - come down, help!”
The two blocking Donovan from pursuing go after the large cleric.
The guards all stand in the way to prevent Donovan from getting by easily, but miss with their swings onto him.
"Get him." Vincent says simply, before incanting words that send the blood fizzing in the bodies of his allies, inspiring them to great speed!
The vampire ducks around at the edge of the melee, trying to keep Drelev himself in sight and preparing countermagic.
Chrysa has no problem ignoring the man's weak magic and stabs.