Hmm... looks like whoever came in the ship went out the way we came in. Which means we probably have to backtrack. My guess is they went into that door under the dock.
Hue indicates the smudges, points down the stairs, makes a walking motion with his fingers, rolls his eyes and shrugs. He makes his way back down the steps and out the hole of the hull, where he waits for his companions to join him.
Faust will nod and follow and keep his scimitar out and at the ready.
Tensei, falchion out and at the ready, will follow the group
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Behset will move to the door or window and let Khasia out to circle above and look for others, she will gesture to the party eyes in sky fleeter than foot. Behset will then follow them back down. Khasia will wing above, make a circle around and then if seeing nothing perch in a high spot to wait and watch.
As the group moves across the slick wood of the dock, swiftly and quietly, they approach the door mindful of the threat on the other side.
Khasia wings overhead and sees no threats in the immediate area, though there is something in the air she cannot quite make out what it is aside from 'danger'.
Knowing that the greater element of surprise is likely lost, the group opens the door and is able to step quickly into the room. The air in this large room is chilly and stinks of the river, thanks to a huge opening in the floor that drops away to the river shore three feet below. Several pilings emerge from the waters to support the roof eight feet above the floor, with mossy ropes slung between them. In two places, rusty manacles hang from the ropes over the water. Two five-foot-wide walkways cross the hole to the other side of the chamber, where a collection of old cabinets, lockboxes, and piles of clutter are strewn about. Chipped porcelain plates, a cracked goblet, badly rusted silverware, an old wooden shield with a crossbow bolt embedded in it, the odd dinged helm, and other “treasures” litter the floor of this side of the chamber. Three tables heaped with clutter stand amid this mess. In the southwest corner, a wooden door provides access to a walled-off section.
As they rush in, that small door on the other side of the room clicks shut and the group hears (well, most of you hear) a man say, "They are here!"
Round 1
19 ?2
15 ?1
14 Faust
10 Hue
09 Behset
08 Tensei
07 ?3
The Heroes can act
Hue moves in and seeing no immediate threat in the room, draws his bow and readies to fire on whomever comes out of the room.
Hue and Tensei both notice a large, dark shape in the water under the room.
Theres something in the water! Hue whispers, then points at his eyes with two fingers, and with the same hand points with one finger into the water.
Faust nods, then points to the door and makes a walking motion with his fingers then motions opening a door, like he is asking a question.
Faust walks up on the other side of the water than Hue heading towards the door.
Tensei will move up with Faust and Hue towards the door with his Falchion ready to swing at any enemy that comes within reach
Swimming quickly to the surface, a large alligator tries to leap up to attack, but fails to build enough speed and falls short of reaching the platform.
The door opens with a man in robes standing there (triggers Hue's readied action), he takes a short step forward, (triggers Behset's readied action) and seems to falter.
From behind him though, an old man steps into the doorway and launches a bolt at Hue. "Ah, it's you. The darkling. Come seeking some sort of petty revenge eh?" He chuckles which turns into a coughing fit. "Oh, and the kitty too. Seems he's got his fur all ruffled. Shame about your parents boy. Not like they had to die, they didn't leave me no kind of choice though."
Round 2
10 Hue
09 Behset
19 Crocodile, Red
07 Yargin, Yellow
15 Lamm, Blue
14 Faust
08 Tensei
Bold may act for round 2
Faust will take a 5ft closer to the robed Guy and say THERE YOU ARE YOU BASTARD then Faust goes to stab the Alligator.
Stuff it old man. Phrasma comes for us all, you sooner than me!
Tensei will move past hue and head straight for the caster! Screaming in orcish! activating the justice judgement and slashing the caster with his falchion delivering a destructive strike!
Round 3
10 Hue
09 Behset
19 Crocodile, Red -2HP
07 Yargin, Yellow, -5HP
15 Lamm, Blue
14 Faust
08 Tensei
Hue gives the robed man the shaft while Faust pokes away at the crocodile in the waters below. Tensei moves forward and swings his mighty weapon, but fails to connect.
Bold may act
Get out of the way or die fool!
Hue fires another arrow at the snobby looking man in robes, but it sinks into the wood of the doorframe. Wary of a creature this size, known to be monstrous predators in the water, which they will attempt to drag victims down and drown them, Behset whispers in the old tongue a call for the cleansing of nature by fire, which she presses to the crocodiles hide, leaving a smoking handprint on the creature.
In response, it tries to leap from the water again
It snaps at Faust
Robed man sneers and steps to the side, closer to Faust and attempts to use his wand against the catfolk.
But his attempt is unsuccessful.
Lamm loads his crossbow and fires at the half-orc.
”Valantis? Hmm, I think I know that name. Oh wait, nope. Don’t care.”
Faust will try to parry the alligators attack and then take a 5ft step closer to the robed man and then attack the alligator.
Tensei will 5ft up attempting to trap Lamm in the corner and strike down with his destructive blow upon Lamm! I WILL CARVE HER NAME INTO YPUR CORPSE! SHE WAS INNOCENT! SHE NEVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE! you can hear the pain in Tensei's voice almost as if he blames himself for ever getting involved with valantis
Round 4
10 Hue
09 Behset
19 Crocodile, Red -7HP
07 Yargin, Yellow, -5HP
15 Lamm, Blue, -14HP
14 Faust, 8/10HP
08 Tensei
Faust startled by the alligator's sudden movements is unable to parry the bite away as it sinks it's teeth into his fur. Luckily enough, it didn't get a solid bite and is unable to drag the kitty into the water.
Tensei steps in and lands a heavy blow on the old man, leaving him coughing and spluttering.
Behset moves closer to Faust, flicking the wand, causing his wounds to begin to knit themselves.
Hue draws his bow and fires at the robed man again.
Round 4
19 Crocodile, Red -7HP
07 Yargin, Yellow, -8HP
15 Lamm, Blue, -14HP
14 Faust, 5/10HP
08 Tensei
== 5 ==
10 Hue
09 Behset
An arrow cuts across the arm of the robed man, leaving a nasty cut.
The alligator leaps up again, but the slick wood makes it difficult to find purchase.
The man in the red robes looks to Faust. "Were you one of those lost little lambs?" He then lances out a blast of green from the wand, hitting Faust with acid.
Lamm drops his crossbow and pulls a dagger, slashing desperately at Tensei, but fails to connect.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU WHY DON'T I COME A LITTLE CLOSER
Faust 5ft steps closer to the robed guy and goes to stab the alligator again.
Hue continues to focus his ranged attacks on the robed guy with grim determination.
Tensei getting ready to swing at Lamm again,That puny blade will not save you, death is here for you, cant you feel it! Can you feel its icy grip! as tensei delivers another destructive blow on Lamm
Faust swings wildly at the alligator and misses.
Tensei brings his heavy blade down on the old man, who looks shocked by the sudden impact, and then falls to the ground. His eyes lock on the half-orc, and then slowly close.
Hue sinks another arrow into the robed man, who is looking less and less confident in himself, While Behset tries again to burn the gator, but is unsuccessful.
Round 5
19 Crocodile, Red -7HP
07 Yargin, Yellow, -11HP
14 Faust, 8/10HP
08 Tensei
== 6 ==
10 Hue
09 Behset, 2/9HP, grappled
The alligator leaps up onto the platform in response to Behset trying to burn it again and snaps it's jaws onto her arm, pulling her off-balance and into the water
Yargin seeing what he hopes in an opening, tries to push Faust out of the way. Which is wholly unsuccessful and will provoke Faust into action
Faust strikes at the robed guy.
Faust will strike at the robed guy again
With two quick slashes, the man in the robes falls to the ground.
Tensei feeling relief that Lamm is finally dead turns his attention to the alligator to help his new winged friend. Tensei stands over the fallen man in the robes and heads right for the alligator. Turning his judgement from justice to destruction to destroy this beast that threatens his newfound friend.
Moving away from the fallen criminal, Tensei arcs his blade down and into the water, slicing through muscle and nerves, popping the jaws open while the body slowly sinks to the murky depths.
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Tensei will reach down and call out to behest grab my hand friend and I will pull you up . After helping Behest up out of the water and up to his feet Tensei will look over at Lamm and give a sigh of relief.
I did it valantis. Rest easy my queen. I have gotten revenge on the man that took you from me. Please watch over me and guide me from heaven my love.
Loot from the bodies.
-Yargin Balko (robed man)
Wand of Acid Splash (26charges)
Acid (x3)
Leather Armor
Dagger
Light Crossbow (w/8 bolts)
Brass Key
-Gaedran Lamm
+1 Padded Armor
+1 Dagger
Masterwork Hand Crossbow (8 bolts)
Brass Key
Rusty Iron Key
With the dreaded Lamm growing cold on the floor, you are able to get a closer look around the rooms here. In the larger chamber, there are several desks loaded up with random trinket. Most seem fairly worthless but you do fine seven applications of a foul smelling vermin repellent. In the cabinet there is a locked darkwood coffer (100gp).
Stepping into the small room, you find a foul-smelling room that seems to be a combination bedroom and study. A wooden bed with a lumpy mattress stands against the east wall, while a round table heaped with dirty plates, bread crusts, stained goblets, fruit rinds, and scuttling cockroaches sits nearby. At the foot of the bed sits a large strongbox; a slightly rusted lock secures it and a moldy ledger with pages rippled from moisture sits atop its lid. A sagging dresser filled with moth-eaten clothes well past their glory days is in one corner. What appears to be a wooden hatbox surrounded by a small cloud of flies sits atop this dresser.
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Behset will give Tensei a bobbing nod in appreciation before taking a step back and vigorously fluffing her wings and wringing out her hair to leave a large puddle on the deck. Noting the red mixing in from her arm, she will take one of her many cord bangles and tie off the wound till it can be better tended. Looking around the Lamm dead? Yes yes! Hmph, little glimmer for profiteering worm here? she will gesture at the mildew coated logs papers find more worms? Lamm not alone, maybe Black Jack fellow hunting too?
With a brief look of concern she will turn away before an answer and whistle a sharp staccato note out the window or door to recall the proud Khasia.
Hue nods at Behset's mention of papers. He enters the small room, grabs the moldy ledger, and begins studying it. Is everyone well enough? We may have some time to search here, but I don't want to linger too long. Anything of value, or worth closer study, we should pack up and take with us.
Faust walks in and sees Lamm dead on the ground and stabs him another time right in the heart just because. FINALLY JUSTICE FOR MY PARENTS, F@!~ YOU LAMM! Looking at the keys and the strongbox. He will try to use on of the keys to open the strongbox after he checks the strongbox for traps.
Thumbing through the ledger, Hue notices that most of what is written here seems to be a worthless jumble of letters and number.
Faust is unable to spot any trap mechanism on the strongbox. Trying out the brass key yields no results, but the rusty iron one clicks the lock open. Lifting the lid reveals several small items carefully wrapped in linens and tied with twine.
The treasures include:
-narrow teak cigar case inlaid with tiny bits of jade (25 gp)
-a 2-pound gold ingot bearing the Cheliax coat of arms (100 gp)
-a miniature gold crown (350 gp)
-a fist-sized scrimshaw carving of a kraken with garnets for eyes (200 gp)
-a silver ring bearing the inscription “For Emmah—the light in my nights” (150 gp)
-a highly realistic and highly scandalous ivory figurine of two entwined succubi (450 gp)
-a masterwork shuriken
-an adamantine arrowhead
-a masterwork dagger with a strange blade shaped almost like a key bearing the inscription: “For an inspiration of a father” (750 gp)
-an abalone-shell holy symbol of Shelyn (300 gp)
-a glass tube containing a dose of oil of keen edge
-an obsidian wand of magic missile (23 charges)
-a crystalline vial (itself worth 50 gp) containing a dose of silversheen
-and a bejeweled brooch with a broken clasp. (2000 gp)
After looking through the Strongbox I will look through the rest of the room.
Looking through the bed, you find only worn sheets that stink of old sweat and bodily waste. The dresser is almost equally as unsanitary, and upon opening it, a rat springs out and runs from the room. Lifting the lid to the hat box, you almost shut it again immediately, but after the surprise of its contents wears off, you peek inside again and confirm what you thought you had seen initially. The face of Zellara staring blankly up from within the box greets you. Her face is covered in sloppily applied make-up as if to try and make it appear more life-like. Underneath the severed head, you spot another small wooden box. Removing that packet, it opens to reveal a deck of Harrow cards.
WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT! HOW IS SHE DEAD WE JUST TALKED TK HER!
A look of confusion, then concern, then furry passed over Hue's face as he contemplates the ramifications of what he's seen. He walks to Lamm's corpse, spits on it, and kicks it into the water. I though I knew how depraved he was. I was wrong.
Zellara's head appears to be preserved, if poorly so. Best estimate is that her death was at least several weeks ago.
Lamm's body rolls into the water where it floats lazily upon the surface. Blood still weeping from the cuts inflicted by Tensei.
The ringing in Faust's ears has dulled somewhat, making it possible to hear, though everything sounds muffled and distorted.
Tensei after helping look through the items takes a minute for reflection as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders but now ponders. What is next for him.
Maybe we can take this head and the harrow deck to the house that we learned all this information. See if we can find out what the hell is going on
Tensei takes a peek at the book, but agrees that it looks like a jumbled mess. Clearly the writer was either a child or crazy. As he looks at the brooch, it looks like a fine piece of work, if not for the broken clasp. It'll probably fetch a pretty penny on the market.