Tiny plays the role out scout with his crossbow at the ready should something go wrong.
Haldan finds it relatively easy to shim something through the side in order to unlock the door.
This wide hall leads into the cliff face at an angle. A double door at the west end of the room is carved from blue and green marble and depicts a magnificent abstract pattern that evokes both the wind of a tornado and the water of a whirlpool. The handles are green-enameled metal leaves, each bearing a drop of water. Smaller doors lead out of this hall to the north and south directions. The door to the north has several planks nailed across it.
Inside are another pair of guards similar to the ones you killed. They seem oblivious to the previous violence, and don't immediately attack. "Stop! Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"Who are we? Asmodeus' sweaty balls, are you a clueless one. Nemmia didn't tell you?" Dendillion seems to admonish the guard who spoke.
"I'm sorry, it's been a day. Don't you remember me? We just got in and it looks like there's something wrong with the mayor. Can one of you come and have a look?"
Dendillion asks, weaving magic into each honeyed word.
The quip doesn't seem to make an impact.
Both men look at Dendillion quizzically, though they don't seem to think his intent was duplicitous. "Ummmm No, don't remember. Also, we can't leave our post. So no. If he dies, he dies."
Dendillion shakes his head, clearly frustrated but not for the reasons the guards likely realize. He turns his attention to the other guard. "He dies, he dies? You think he's been left alive so far for no good reason? Are you a boxer? Because it's the only way I can explain how little sense you're making."
"Look, I'm trying to do you a favour here. I'm clearly being a really good friend to you. So just take a second and one of you help me please?"
He once more weaves magic into his words, hoping his words have the influence he's after.
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"Look bub, the answer is no. Besides, we're ehhhhh still stuck here to make sure no one gets out. So why don't you just walk away before I let Slurpy the slurk make a meal outa you."
Tiny shakes his head at the dim witted guards, waiting to see if Dendillion has another angle up his sleeve or if he should come rushing forward crossbow firing.
Dendillion sighs at clearly getting nowhere. He looks to the others and says, "I tried. I really did."
”I’m uncomfortable when Dendillion uses language like Asmodeus’ sweaty balls. And the smack talk game... needs work. Listen guys, we tried this the easy way but you are clearly shaking off the Charm spells that Dendillion is slinging your way. So either listen to him or attempt this meal thing, because we’re not walking away.”
The men look at each other and then shrug. The immediately raise their tridents and drop their weight to fight it out.
Round 1:
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
(T, LLV)
(T)
(E)
(T)
(T)
Tiny takes advantage of his fast speed as he drops into tiger style before charging into the room and clawings at the front red goon.
Tiny's hands work fast. The first shot is hard, and nearly opens an artery. Nevertheless, he's stunned a bit by the shot! The follow up hits his armor, not harming him.
Round 1:
Tiny: Hit
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Red: 4 (Stunned 1)
Goliath pushes through the door as Charlie gets behind the bear for protection. Goliath growls deep as he snaps his jaws at the man's legs.
HP 36/41
AC 20 (22 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 31/32)
AC 17
Goliath's jaws snap shut a hair's breadth off target, ricocheting off the retainer's armor!
Round 1:
Tiny: Hit
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Red: 4 (Stunned 1)
Chark curses quietly under her breath. Why do we always wind up doing things the hard way...?
She moves in to assess, and notes with alarm the various points of entry. They could quickly have a LOT of company. Let's make this quick, if we can.
A ball of white-yellow flame appears in her hand, which she hurls at Red.
Haldan positions his joy buzzer and moves in place to deliver the Shocking Grasp.
Woot, crit!
If he’s wearing metal, take persistent damage.
Haldan's spell strikes the main near the heart, giving him a serious jolt. The hide of his armor begins to smell like burnt meat, though some might be his own fried flesh.
Round 1:
Tiny: Hit
Haldan: CRIT
Charlie: Miss
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: Holding
Red: 27 (Stunned 1)
Action 1: Inspire Courage
Action 2-3: Ghost Sound
Dendillion strums his lute, releasing an inspirational tune. The sweet, sweet sounds carry a magic the group has grown to love.
He lets the music linger before switching to a single note that he plays with a series of hammer-ons and pull-offs to make it ring out.
Behind the two guards comes the distant sounds of stomping feet, as if reinforcements are on the way!
"Ha! hear that? We've got more coming. Prepare to meet your doom!"
Dendillion's diddy inspires the party!
The two guards press an attack. The lone guard thinks the slurk is under his control, but it's not at all.
The stunned man fights back against Tiny as best he can.
for
Raise shield.
Black v. Tiny
for
Raise Shield
The slurk releases a putrid slime covering much of the area!
Chark's flame misses!
Round 2:
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Red: 27
Tiny starts by trying to finish off the red thug.
Tiny then strikes the froggy before moving into the alcove.
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Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Action 2-3: Soothe
Dendillion continues to perform hammer-ons and pull-offs, then weaves a soothing melody into the music. The music blankets Tiny, providing a comforting warmth that closes his wounds.
Charlie cracks his whip out in an attempt to trip the man. Goliath pounces on him, biting and clawing, through his thin layers of clothing, as Charlie gives the whip another resounding crack.
HP 36/41
AC 20 (22 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 31/32)
AC 17
Tiny's opening blow proves too much for the retainer, who falls into the slime! He can't connect with the slurk, but does manage to buy some space.
Dendillion heals some of the dwarf's wounds, keeping in in the fight.
Round 2:
Tiny: Kill
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Soothe
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Red: 27
Extending his hand forward, he launches 3 arrows from his fingers towards black.
Haldan's missiles take the retainer by surprise. IT's obvious that he really hopes those reinforcements get here soon.
Charlie and Goliath team up to potent effect. The whip yanks him off his feet. When Goliath moves in, there's nothing the man can do as he's mauled to death.
The slurk moves in, going toe to toe with Goliath: for
Round 2:
Tiny: Kill
Haldan: MM
Charlie: Crit kill
Dendillion: Soothe
Enemy: ATK
Chark: Go
Aiming over Haldan's head, Chark lets a blazing band of orange-white fire erupt at the slurk.
She then gently touches Charlie's arm, bestowing the guidance of Sarenrae on him.
Chark struggles to keep her aim up as two foes are quickly dispatched.
Round 2:
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Go
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Charlie and Goliath continue to press the hero point pooping giant toad, though Goliath is the only one willing to get in halfway close to the dark slick.
HP 36/41
AC 20 (22 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 0/3
Goliath
HP 31/32)
AC 17
Charlie and Goliath team up on the slurk. Only one attack gets through, but it's a good bite from Goliath!
Round 2:
Tiny: Go
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Hit
Dendillion: Go
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Slurk: 10
Tiny slides into place behind the slurk and claws it it a whole bunch.
Action 1: Step
Action 2-3: Telekinetic Projectile
Dendillion lets the illusory sounds disappear, then steps closer to the door for a better view. Spying the discarded weapon of one of guards, he plays the chords necessary to fling the weapon at the slurk!
Tiny literally slides into position and labels the slurk with a quick pair of hits. The killing blow is a bit off target. Unfortunately, Dendillion's attack is also off target.
Stunned 1
Round 2:
Tiny: Two hits
Haldan: Go
Charlie: Hit
Dendillion: Miss
Enemy: TBD
Chark: TBD
Slurk: 25 (Stunned 1)
”One more card should do it...”
As he speaks, he pulls a card as if from nowhere, charges it and launches!
Haldan's inspired card is just what the doctor ordered. It strikes the slurk who crumples and falls to the ground.
The retainers seem to have a standard issue load out, carrying only their shields and tridents.
”Why are so many of the people who attack us without gold or valuables? I didn’t think this possible but there’s more money is the circus than there is in adventuring.”
Are you investigating Thunder's murder solely for financial gain, then? Chark asks pointedly. This isn't our regular job, to be sure, so I wouldn't expect it to pay as well as the Circus does.
"The dead won't n..n..n..need their coin, and it could help the circus." Charlie moves around the oil slick to the southern door and slides it open.
”Exactly. We pilfer the dead to honour Thunder.”
This small room contains a wall-mounted basin with water, a few hooks bearing gray robes, and rough soap. The hermits were likely expected to stop here to wash themselves before passing further into the hermitage.
Shutting the door on the small washroom Charlie heads to investigate the northern doorway.
The northern door is boarded over on your side...
Charlie directs Goliath at the boarded up door. "Get those off their pal." Goliath rears up and puts a lot of his weight into the boards as he begins to claw at them.
Charlie walks up to the boards and gives them a quick look before deciding that they can be yanked down. Not pausing long enough to wonder why the door is boarded over, he sets to work.
Before he starts, he catches a a glass jar wedged between two boards. Inside the jar is a silvery paste...
He hands the paste off while getting to work on the boards. In just under a minute, he's got them off. The door beyond doesn't have a lock on it.
Charlie raises his shield and opens the door north. "Why would this door be boarded up in the hermitage?"
The stone steps from the secure chamber lead down into darkness. While torch sconces are mounted on the walls, the torches all burnt out long ago.
Casts Light on Hermann’s crown.
”I’d be annoyed, but this makes me look angelic, so...”
With Hermann now a source of illumination, the party can see that this section of the Hermitage is old, very old. The stairs lead to a narrow series of corridors containing a large number of burial niches.
While most followers of Gozreh prefer sky burial or burial at sea, residents of an hermitage often establish a tradition of being interred within the hermitage they occupied for so long.
The horizontal niches are each large enough for a human body and are vertically arranged in groups of three: one niche at knee level, one at waist level, and another at eye level. Most niches hold a single corpse. The remains seem to be in chronological order, with the oldest corpses near the bottom of the stairs and more recent corpses further out.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
In Gozreh's faith, Chark says, it's customary to be buried at sea, or occasionally have one's ashes scattered to the winds. At a hermitage, however, a tradition of burial at the hermitage itself often develops. Hmm.
With the cramped corridors Tiny puts away his crossbow and pulls out his clan dagger. Once his companions are ready Tiny leads the way, checking the floors and walls for danger as they prgoress.