Zander chugged ahead, and as he came closer to the fight J'r-V'zz suddenly started to plot the tactical situation in the corner of Zander's vision.
"Ash-humanoid and Illendur-humanoid rush Orc-south. Melee interfering with targeting. Highest likelihood of offensive efficiency is points Goblin-south." the report was calm and factual as it was delivered into his mind, and one of the red dots in Zander's vision flashed to emphasize the suggested target. Zander, however, having been able to see the situation play out in real time, had already come to the same conclusion. He entered the room, dodging around Jixel. Coming up even with Renaer, Zander's left hand was extended, palm up, as he ran and the small blue crystal glowing in his palm flashed - launching what looked like an identical small blue crystal streaking through the air towards the goblin.
"Ash and Illendur, continue rush Orc-south." Zander's voice was flatter-sounding that it had been before. And more metallic, with less of the emotional inflection heard earlier. He sounded, in fact, very much like typical warforged were expected to sound. "Everyone else, points Goblin-south. I will rush."
Dok wasn't able to dodge the flames but healed the worst of it a moment later.
Ash slipped up behind the fire-spewing half-orc and raked his claws across the unfortunate gangster's back. He screamed and looked back over his shoulder but couldn't take his focus off Ilendur's sword or else risk losing his head.
Zander burst into the hall and nearly struck the goblin a mortal wound in the neck. The goblin screeched, nearly falling backward over her chair and re-focused her huge, mad eyes on the warforged.
Renaer slipped around to Ilendur's left- easier now that the half-elf was half-sized- and thrust his borrowed blade at the fire sorcerer.
Like Zander, he came within a hair's breadth of taking his opponent in a vital spot but just barely missed.
Ilendur hit with his longsword but didn't do as much damage as he was used to with his now much shorter blade.
Focused on the warforged, the goblin pointed a gnarled finger at Zander and shot a ray of acid at its target.
Was rat fur flammable? Oh, most certainly! Jixel squealed in anguish and collapsed in a smouldering heap...
Dok moves east, passing through Whurzander's square and steps through the curtain covered doorway.
As he crosses the threshold he snaps his fingers and activates his Doors to Everywhere ability.
An instant later he steps out of the curtain covered doorway to the south, next to the goblin.
"Hey there...." he grins at the goblin as he menaces him with his sword.
The goblin flinched away from Dok while the badly pressed half-orc cast another spell.
In spite of blades and claws menacing him, the half-orc was able to smoothly sidestep toward the closed double doors and complete his spell. With his back to the wall, he flung out a hand at Ash.
Shrunken Illendur presses the Orc, Oh no you don't there boyo! launching an overhand chop at his head with the long sword, and stabbing low with his shortsword.
J'r-V'zz continued scanning the room, the calm notation of status changes and updates quietly filling Zander's mind, and the plot of lights overlaying the warforged's vision began to coalesce into something helpful.
"Calculate odds of successfully passing by Goblin-south to secure doube-doors while delivering offensive rush favorable. Some damage possible, but unlikely."
Zander was moving even as the psicrystal was "speaking." The golden-hued warforged, blue crystals glowing, gauged the distance and slipped between
the Illendur- and Renaer-humanoids, stepped forward, slid past the Ash-humanoid, engaging with the goblin spellcaster. But he didn't stop in front of the little creature. Instead, Zander continued moving to his right, until he was standing in front of the double doors, making it impossible for anyone to open the doors and escape without also opening themselves up to attack from Zander's halberd - which spun in his hands with the familiarity of one quite literally created to use it.
Zander trusted his psicrystal to keep watch on the goblin for a moment while he ensured that his positioning was correct - which did leave a brief gap in the warforged's defenses, should the goblin be armed and able to engage in melee, but even as Zander verified he was in place to cover the door, J'r-V'zz was already moving Zander's arm along a pre-determined path, which brought the blade of the halberd swinging through what the psicrystal predicted would be the most likely place for the goblin's head to be by the time the blade arrived.
uh oh
Ash's ears twisted in Zander's direction, but he didn't have time to ponder the warforged's military affiliation. A swell of fear rose in him, just as it had when the little eyeball monster had turned on him.
He hissed hoarsely, fangs bared and pupils tiny slits, and twisted away from the half-orc, then fled, slipping right past Illendur, Renaer, and Jixel's smoking body.
While Ash zipped out of the room, Zander nearly chopped the freakish goblin in half and she tumbled to the floor.
Renaer rolled around Ilendur's back and stabbed at the half-orc again.
His blade found its way into the sorcerer's flank, leaving him gasping for breath. Ilendur chopped down at the badly wounded half-orc and dropped him to one knee. Grum'shar held up one hand and wheezed out "Wait, wait, don't kill me!" Slumping against the wall, he held his other hand to the wicked gash Ilendur had just given him and it stopped bleeding so profusely but didn't entirely heal over.
"Scanning for additional enemy" The voice in his head was calm, clinical, meticulous.
"You showed no compunction - displayed joy, in fact - at the prospect of destroying your prisoner, or any of those facing you in battle," Zander's voice had some of that inquisitive emotion again, though it was still much more flat than it had been previously. "Why should we not destroy you?"
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"I have money! And... and look, take everything I've got on me! And I'd owe you! Please, I've got kids!"
Zander's analysis indicated that Grum'shar probably did not, in fact, have kids.
"Your claim to have successfully reproduced seems spurious," Zander noted, though there was no sense of accusation in his tone, merely noting facts.
"While there is little to be gained from collecting your physical possessions, other than to ensure your lack of ability to directly cause harm, intelligence may be valuable to us in our endeavors. While you are divesting yourself of your possessions, kindly answer our questions as well. You may begin by informing us of the nature of your interest in your former prisoner."
Grum'shar immediately began unbuckling his belt and the scroll case strapped to his thigh, words spilling out as he strove to be helpful. He gestured at Floon and Renaer. "We thought that guy," he pointed at Floon, "was that one."
The half-orc gestured at the double doors. "Nihiloor is looking for the Stone of Golorr. It's a magic key, I think." He gestured at Renaer again, who was splitting his attention between the interrogation and his battered and burned friend on the floor. "He's supposed to know where it is."
He was breathing heavily now from the effort of taking off all his gear and doing so much talking. "That's what I know."
Scrolls: Bear’s Endurance, Bull’s Strength, Cure Light Wounds, Scorching Ray (3)
Alchemist’s Fire (2)
Silver Unholy Symbol (Dark Six)
Spell component pouch
118 gp
Goblin:
Potion of Spider Climb
Scrolls: Cat’s Grace (2), Slow
Acid
Tanglefoot Bag
collection of dolls’ heads
28 gp
Illendur rounds on the two noblemen, Well, you've caused us quite a bit of trouble for saving both of you, but I hope you understand this Stone, or alleged knowledge of it, has caused you both quite a problem. Shall we get out of here, I have no desire to be sticking around if this Nihiloor comes back at us.
Looking to the goblin and the half-orc, I suppose you two can show us the way out of here and we'll all part ways once we're back on the streets? Professional courtesy and all.
"I thought there was supposed to be a snake down here." Dok says as he retrieves his hat.
As he puts it on , he continues "My dreams told me there would be a snake."
He picks up one of the doll's heads.
"Why you be twistin' da heads off the little toys"he demands of the goblin.
Shallow breathing. A strange and random twitch, like a sleeping puppy might make. A gentle squeak...
From within Jixel's backpack which was now lying on the floor, though still attached to the ratfolk lass's back, came a "cluck cluck". And again,"cluck cluck".
The head of a common chicken poked out from between the drawstrings, and looked around the room with its little beady eyes. Then a flutter and a hop, and it popped out!
Jixel's avian companion moved up to the ratfolk's chest, and pressed her breast hard against it. Then, it looked to the fellow bipeds in the room, and demandingly said "cluck cluck", bobbing its head up and down.
Something about this poultry looked quite sad, at the poultry state of its best friend in the whole world...
Illendur, hearing the chicken, turns his attention to where Jixel lay on the ground, Oh damn! Dok, can you fix Jixel like you fixed me? I hope she's okay...
Grum'shar nodded at Ilendur, practically panting with relief. "Yes! Yeah, I can show you the way out. Thank you! Thank you."
Zander collected the items the half-orc had so helpfully placed on the ground, hooking the belts and straps with his halberd to lift them to his hand, then draping them over one shoulder to keep his weapon free. He left the searching of the goblin to the others. After all, the half-orc had offered only "everything he had on him." Which didn't include the goblin's possessions. And that reminded Zander...
"I believe you had indicated you would be trading 'everything you have on you,' as well as information, in exchange for not being destroyed. You have not yet complied with the agreement. Will you be disrobing now, or once we are above ground again?"
Grum'shar just stared at Zander for a moment. "What?" He looked at Ilendur, Dok, and Renaer for confirmation. "Is he serious? You want my clothes too?"
Illendur looks over to Zander, I think he can keep his clothing, we don't need his pants. But up to you there Z... He shrugs, pointing to the warforged.
Illendur will quietly cross the room and listen at the double doors...
Ilendur didn't hear anything through the double doors.
"I do not want any of your possessions," Zander said, frankly. "As I mentioned, there is little value to us in obtaining them, other than in assuring us that you will not be able to use them to cause harm. However, you specified the terms of the agreement as, ' take everything I've got on me! And I'd owe you!'" Zander's voice sounded almost identical to Grum'shar's when the half-orc had made the pleading offer, though much more metallic, and somewhat distant. "Did you wish to alter the agreement?"
After a moment of consideration, Zander spoke again.
"It would be inconvenient and possibly detrimental to our intended course of action for you to be naked should we meet additional members of your affiliated group as you escort us from this place," Zander said. "We can discuss potential alterations to the agreement once we are clear of this location."
"I am being out of the healing magic for today." Dok says.
"I can bandage and make poultices for wounds, but that would be taking time."
"Let me be makin' sure that this goblin not be dying yet."
Illendur looks at the half orc, But Jixels still unconscious, can you wake her up? I’m worried about her. I don’t owe the goblin anything, but she’s already saved my butt a couple times.
Dok brings his satchel and comes over to Jixel to work on tending her wounds.
Dok was able to stabilize both the goblin and Jixel. Renaer helped Floon to his feet, the two blonde men leaning against each other for support.
Grum'shar nodded slowly, apparently still not sure how to take the warforged's extremely literal comments. "Uh, okay." He nodded back in the direction they had come. "I'll take you back out. There won't be any misunderstandings if we run into anyone." With a great deal of effort, the half-orc pushed himself up off the floor, using the wall for support, and started trudging slowly back up the hallway to the north.
Illendur offers his arm to Jixel to support her, and follows the half ork out of the room. At least we'll be out of this sewer before too long...
Zander simply stood in the room waiting for the others to lead the way out. Neither he nor J'r-V'zz had much confidence in the group's chances if there were to be further combat - especially if such combat were to include the creatures that had been leading the interrogation - but he was by far the least damaged and most functional of the squad, so it made the most tactical sense for him to assume the rearguard position.
As they filed back out, they came across Ash looking thoroughly ashamed. He only shook his head and joined them as they walked, still a bit jumpy.
Jixel was greatly appreciative of Illendur's help in allowing her to stand and begin to take some greatly pained and shuffling steps. Peekee the chicken was thankful too, looking to Dok and making a short clucking sound and bobbing a head up and down, before fluttering over to land on top of the ratfolk's backpack.
She wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but it appeared as though a miracle. They might just get out of here after all!
Slowly, painfully, Grum'shar led the rescuers out of the Daask hideout back the way they came. Once they got to the sewer, though, he went right instead of crossing the stream of filth. "Shortcut here." The half-orc gestured at a cramped passage heading west. "Stairs up, you'll find yourself in the basement of a tavern. Nobody'll stop you leavin'."
Zander stood next to Grum'shar as the others looked at the stairs.
"No one will stop us from leaving," Zander said, "How many will see us leaving, and take note? Or follow us?"
The half-orc slumped against the wall, breathing hard from either pain or the exertion of walking at a slow pace. He shook his head. "Dunno. Shard Shunners use it as a base but it's legit, Guild-blessed, clean beds an' decent food. No idea how many little runts might be in there."
You'll lead us to the door there then. the half-elf directs the half-orc to lead on.
Zander I'm not too worried with the hostel, strange things happen in hostels all the time. Illendur offers. Lets get our wounded above ground and somewhere safe-ish
Grum'shar grimaced. "They see me leading you out, it's as good as admitting I helped you." He gestured in the other direction. "I was just gonna say you nearly killed me and left me for dead. Ain't far from the truth."
"While the Grum'shar humanoid did agree to 'owe us,'" Zander said, "it is reasonable to assume that collecting on such a debt would be more valuable to us if he is, in fact, still a member in good standing of his group, and has some form of influence to exercise on our behalf in the future. A fugitive with little or no resources available seems unlikely to be particularly useful to anyone." Then he tilted his head as he considered other options.
"Of course, that assumes that the tentacled humanoid cannot simply read your mind and know that you are lying, in which case, a fugitive might prove to be more valuable to us than a dead humanoid."
Dok reaches into his coat and pulls out a large pale rat.
He mutters to himself (or maybe to the rat)as his chants out the phrases to form a spell.
He casts Charm Person on Grum'shar (DC14 Will save)
"Come on my friend....we don't want you to do anything real dangerous, but we be needin' you ta show us tha' way."
Illendur relents with Zander's convincing, Okay, just come with us to the door, you don't need to go in. Zander's right, you're worth more to us alive than compromised. Lead on...
Grum'shar shakes his head at Dok but nods at Ilendur. "Okay, okay. It's a tight squeeze." He turns sideways to scoot down the passageway, leading the group into what looks like the basement of a busy tavern or restaurant. There are stairs up, with a closed door at the top.
Could this tunnel be any smaller? Illendur complains as he squeezes through the tunnel. When they arrive in the room, he turns to Grum'shar, I think he's fulfilled what he promised for now, anyone object to letting him go?
"I hear tavern talk up there. You sure we're welcome to come through here?"
Ash squeezed through as well.
"I'll go first," Ash offered, eager to put his cowardly retreat out of mind. Putting action to his words, he climbed the stair.
Zander brought up the rear, with J'r-V'zz unobtrusively "watching" the back trail for signs of pursuit. When Illendur asked about letting Grum'shar go, the 'forged shook his head.
"He has lived up to his portion of the agreement thus far, other than still 'owing' us. Letting him go will allow us to collect on those debts later." He cocked his head. "Would it be beneficial if we were to strike you until you lost consciousness? It would add verisimilitude to your narrative."
The badly burnt ratfolk lass was listening, but conserved her energy and let Zander and the others do the escape negotiations. She just hobbled along, occasionally making "ouch" and "yikes!" sounds. When Ash volunteered to exit first though, she reached out to gently touch his hip with a claw.
"Behind the door, in case there is more..."
Grum'shar held up his hands defensively when Zander offered to knock him out. "No! No, I think what I have is enough." In truth, he looked terrible and was only on his feet due to the use of a spell. Convincing someone that he had been left for dead should be easy.
Ash opened the door and found himself looking out at the common room of a tavern. The door was tucked in a corner behind the bar, down a short hallway with 2 other doors leading off it, one marked with a mushroom and the other with a cluster of blackberries. Looking down the short hallway and into the common room, he saw that most of the patrons and all of the staff he could see were halflings, but there were a scattered few larger folk about.