Jakun pads down the hall as silently as he can.
The Minotaur nods in agreement.
Taishe, Tragon, and Jakun are close enough to hear a few rhythmic *thuds* from behind the door. There is another cry of pain as well. Taishe can tell without touching it that the door is unlocked
.
Tragon draws his blades, ready for a fight. He hurries past Taishe and throws the door open.
Taishe slowly reaches for the doorknob,...
,...Only to find the door being thrown open, and Tragon pushing past him, ready for a fight.
The kobold shrugs.
"One ssuppossess that will work too."
Narl begins to prepares a spell in case combat breaks out moving to be able to see past his allies and into the room but not moving into the room or past Taishe.
Once the door opens, Jakjun will summon his innate ability to form a telekinetic strike!
Tragon pulls open the door and springs into the room, the others following hard on his heels. He sees before him a sinister sight. The room is obviously a torture chamber.
A sinister Iron Maiden sits in a corner, its cover open and the interior spikes glowing in a reddish light coming from an iron brazier that glows brightly nearby. The brazier has several iron rods buried into the hot coals, also glowing red.
A large rack sits on one wall, and upon it is a man. The man is tied to the rack, although he is not currently being stretched. He is dressed in ragged clothing that might once have been well-made. Several bruises are rising from his face. Another man is standing over by the brazier, wearing a stained canvas apron over some street clothing. He wears heavy padded gloves, and is bringing a heated iron rod out of the brazier. His eyes widen as the party enters, then he raises the rod in a defensive stance and moves towards the eastern wall.
Taishe glances around the room, and dashes in behind Tragon. The kobold makes his way along the wall, towards the western wall, (circling the room opposite of the torturer), intending to make his way towards the tortured victim while avoiding the large human in the leather apron.
If the Investigator sees an opening where he can make a ranged attack (without exposing his friends to friendly fire) he will take it.
Presuming that he is quick enough to enter behind Tragon, and act before the warrior closes with the torturer, Taishe will fire his crossbow at the man.
Chamber of Horrors Intro
30 Jakun [TK fist -miss]
21 Narl [hold action]
23 Taishe [shoot-miss]
20 Torturer [run away!!]
18 Tragon >pending<
15 Nahuatl Ti >pending<
9 Norveg >pending<
6 13 Spider [Going to rack]
Jakun's telekinetic strike unfortunately misses the aproned torturer. Narl holds his action as nothing has occurred. Taishe moves towards the rack and sees a clear aisle of fire. Unfortunately, his shot misses in the confusion of the small room. The torturer slams the wall he is backed against and it pivots to reveal a hallway. The man dashes down the corridor.
13 Spider rushes towards the bound man, trusting the others to handle the torturer
He will then cast ray of enfeeblement on the fleeing torturer. The sickly green colored ray sprouting from his hand following the torturer down the hallway after him.
Tragon charges at the torturer, swinging with his cutlass.
(Taking -2 to AC due to charge)
As the torturer attempts to flee, Tragon runs up to him and buries his cutlass in his chest. The man gasps and coughs blood in a carmine spray. He collapses boneless.
13 Spider works on the prisoner’s restraints. He is soon free, sitting up and rubbing his wrists
The victim looks at the party. He is a muscular man, and his clothing was once well-made, but looks ragged now. His bruised face is heavily-stubbled and lank hair frames his battered features. He speaks up
“Thank you for rescuing me! I think he was about to use a hot poker on me!”
Jakun snorts as his attack misses but is pleased to see the man go down in a heap at the strike from Tragon.
"Yes, we are lucky to have come in so timely a manner. Who are you and what can you tell us about this place? Know that we believe there are many more foes about and the time for talk shall be limited..."
The man looks at Jakun.
“My name is Kersh. I am a silk merchant in town. The Lotus Dragons were trying to shake me down for protection money. I told them to fnck off. That was a bad decision, obviously “
"What number accosted you and how many have you seen since being dragged here? We have found and neutralized some, but their true numbers are unknown to us".
The man, Kersh, shrugs
“They threw a bag over my head and bundled me off. There were three that I heard. The next thing I knew I was in a filthy cell. The guild mistress Rowyn came to talk to me once, bargaining with me for my release. That didn’t go too well. I have a bad temper and it got the better of me”
Taishe is wise enough to stay out of the way of the brawlers and the now-dead gang member. The kobold examines the gangsters body for anything of interest (Search) while the others talk to the merchant.
His rapid but thorough search completed, the Kobold joins his friends.
"One can imagine. Rowyn sseemss,.. Mosst unpleasant." Taishe nods.
"Do you know more of layout other than cell and thiss, unpleasant chamber?" He asks.
Taishe comes up with 10 GP and a short sword and dagger from the torturer
Kersh glares at the kobold
“I just finished telling you that they brought me here with a bag over my head. This and my cell are the only two places I’ve seen. They didn’t give me the two-copper tour.”
Jakun snorts, "While it is understandable that this ordeal has been vexing, snapping at those who have rescued you from said predicament isn't appreciated.
That said, I suggest you stick with us as we clear these halls of these ne'er do wells as it would not be healthy to run into any further thugs in your current condition. After, we shall return you to the surface and the authorities to report your kidnapping and torture that their nefarious hands".
Kersh looks at the hulking minotaur and nods. He doesn’t look happy but holds his peace.
"Shall we head through yon "secret door" and investigate where or to whom our foe sought to flee?"
Jakun nods back at Kersh, "Stay in the middle of the pack new friend Kersh, do you wish the fallens weapons in case defense of your own person may become necessary?"
Kersh nods
“I know how to use them, although not well. Silk is a smooth cloth, but a rough trade”
He unbuckles the scabbard belt from the downed torturer and buckles it on
Kersh glares at the kobold
“I just finished telling you that they brought me here with a bag over my head. This and my cell are the only two places I’ve seen. They didn’t give me the two-copper tour.”
Taishe nods at the prisoners' retort.
"Ah. Sso you did. Apologiess. One wass, preoccupied."
The kobold allows the others to continue the discussion. He nods approvingly at Kersh's arming himself. Then the kobold takes his place near the front of the line, next to Tragon, as they prepare to continue onward.
"Shall we head through yon "secret door" and investigate where or to whom our foe sought to flee?"
"One agreess. Logical he would have been running to bosss. OR more help. One will exercise great caution."
Taishe reloads and readies his crossbow. He stands to the side and slightly behind the much larger Tragon.
The party advances through the revealed tunnel, the silk merchant Kersh in tow. They enter a circular room with two other doors. There is a rope ladder in the room, attached somewhere in the darkness above.
”Hmm. Another access to the surface? In any event, we should see where this door leads. The torturer was headed this way - he could have been looking for help. We should be on our guard,” Tragon suggests.
"Should we try and bar the way behind us before we continue now that there may be another way up from here?" The minotaur seems quite concerned with being snuck up upon!
"Jakun my friend I agree this is a wise idea. Better to protect our flank than leave it open."
"Let us check the way above and ensure it is an escape route though before we block ourselves in ... yes?"
"Then we can check the way forward and block the way behind us."
Jakun grins at Narl, "Good point. And perhaps we can get Mr. Kersh to safety as well".
"One would look, but,..."
The kobold looks sheepish.
"Climbing iss not my forte'."
Tragon smirks. He stows his weapons before climbing the rope to see where it leads.
Tragon easily swarms up the rope ladder. He finds a trapdoor with a bolt at the top. It is well oiled , so he easily unbolts it with a minimum of fuss. He eases the trapdoor up slowly, and discovers a darkened building. The building is bare, and looks dilapidated. No evidence of anyone living there can be seen. Tragon can see a door and a pair of boarded up windows.
Tragon climbs back down. ”Empty building, like a safe house or something. They probably have a variety of exits from this rat maze.”
He stops and looks at Norveg. ”No offense.”
Norveg snorts. "None taken, mate," he replies, filing his hook to a sharp point while waiting for the exploration to proceed.
"This might be a good place and time for you to make your exit Mr. Kersh, unless you feel very strongly about obtaining bloody revenge. However, in your current condition, I should think justice of the Courts would be safer if not as satisfying".
Kersh looks up and nods
"Yeah, I'll take my leave, and thank you kindly. I'll see if I can get the Watch to investigate. If you ever need any silks, please come see me at Kersh and Son's in the Old City"
Kersh gingerly climbs up the rope ladder and heads out the trapdoor at the top