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You pass through the wrought-iron gate entering the ancient lichyard. A low fog has slowly crept up from the rivers, covering the ground up to three feet deep of swirling white mist. An occasional 'squeak' comes from the mist, and the scurry of little, and not-so-little clawed feet. Rosaleen catches sight of a couple of black-furred rats, scurrying between the grave markers. The sky is dark, but somewhere up there a near-full moon shines. The weather has remained cold, but for the moment the rain is holding off. A gentle breeze stirs the low mist...swirling it around your calves and feet.
The boneyard seems quiet for the moment, and soon you find yourselves on the streets of the city. Small pools of revelers careen through the streets. Most are simply happy and enjoying themselves, but a few seem a little far into their cups.
Ahead of you is a pie-man with his cart. He seems to be trying to deal with two large warrior types, who are arguing with each other, as well as the merchant. The two seem to be arguing about who will buy the pies, and each insists that it is their turn to buy...the pie-man just wants someone to pay so he can move on.
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Rosaleen watched the fog swirl around their feet as they walked. "This isn't creepy at all," she murmured as a rather large rat scurried under a cracked headstone. At least she hoped it was a rat.
She lets out a sigh of relief as they make it through the graveyard and back on to the streets.
The commotion at the pie cart draws an eye roll from the alchemist. Who argues about paying for something? It almost seemed like a scam to Rosaleen. Maybe they were trying to distract the pie-man so that a third person could steal something? She looks for anything untoward.
Nevitash sighs and walks towards the three men. "Hey now, lets not let this squabble get out of hand. Someone just pay the man so you can all go about your business."
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Quite frankly out of sorts from neck breaking twists in fortune and tired, Mohammed is almost hoping for a scrap.
Rosaleen watched the fog swirl around their feet as they walked. "This isn't creepy at all," she murmured as a rather large rat scurried under a cracked headstone. At least she hoped it was a rat.
Kita rather agreed with Rosaleen. She didn't normally find graveyards creepy, but something about this place bothered her. Also, she found herself thinking about her lost family, and the graves they'd never had. She shook her head in negation. Now was not the time to sink into melancholy.
Nevitash sighs and walks towards the three men. "Hey now, lets not let this squabble get out of hand. Someone just pay the man so you can all go about your business."
Kita kept her cudgel in hand, but didn't raise it or thwack it across her other palm. No need to make a show of violence. Not yet anyway. "Surely this can be settled amicably."
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The group moves toward the stand and engages the drunken mercenaries in conversation. They look up at Nevitash and then turn to listen to Kita before the largest of the two speaks.
"Who are you telling us what to do!"
He seems angry at being interrupted, but the other merc leans over and whispers in the first one's ear. A big smile spreads across the man's face.
"Ok, OK! So you want someone to pay for our pies...so why don't YOU!"
The two start laughing at their 'brilliant' plan to get free pies.
As one might imagine, the rune glow has begun to creep up Erryll's arm from his wrists, but he seems to be smiling ...
"I like the way you think young man!"
He turns to the vendor, "Good sir, how much are these pies? They look delicious! We were all just talking about how nice it would be to have a snack, and they would make for good eating while we arrest these louts for being drunk in public and for harrassing you. I am happy to pay for their pies of course ..."
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Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! For Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise., Mohammed declaims sternly, quoting scripture to the poor fools.
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The two look like they might take offence to Erryll's suggestion they are to be arrested, but it is when Mohammed starts to quote stricture that you get the largest reaction.
The shorter of the two quickly doffs his cap and elbows his friend to do the same. Both bow their heads and as Mohammed finishes his quote, they both recite the following.
"There is no god above Menoth.
There is no labour unendurable in the name of Menoth.
There is no pain unbearable in the cause of Menoth.
There is no fear unassailable with faith in Menoth.
There is no object that cannot be given up for Menoth.
There is no word other than the word of Menoth.
There is no end. There is a place for us all at the feet of Menoth".
The shorter of the two looks up with a grim look on his face.
"Please bless us, Scrutator-Exemplar! It has been months since our last confession. Let us declare our sins so we may go forth with a lighter spirit and spread the god's word!"
Kneel and receive HIS mercy! You receive HIS forgiveness as you proclaim the weaknesses of your mortal shell.
He waves away the party.
You may leave this to me, unless you too wish to also proclaim your sins. Mock not their sincerity.
Erryll pays the man for the pies
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The pie man thanks Erryll (it cost 3cp).
"Now that is a strange bit of something now...right!"
He turns suddenly and shouts
"Get out of they you thieving bastards! You see that...those rats are getting more and more brazen. "
You can see him toss a half brick at a number of rats as they scurry away...a pie clamped in their mouth.
The confessions of the two mercenaries take very little time. The attempt to give a tithe to Mohammed before leaving. Both seem to be very sober now and are walking away from the areas of celebration.
Kita removes her hat and bows her head with the two men, speaking the prayer with them. It feels surprisingly good to perform this small bit of worship here, with like minded folk. She doesn't go so far as to confess her sins, however.
He accepts no tithe, instead instructing them to find a needy of the Faith to donate it to.
Nevitash watches silently as the priest deals with his followers and once they are done he turns and continues on their path.
Erryll smiles: it was good for the gods to win from time to time.
Rosaleen's eyebrows quirked up in surprise at the response of the arguing men to Mohammed's words. She had assumed that him quoting his scripture at a bunch of drunks would inflame the situation rather than diffusing it. Their sudden change in demeanour left the alchemist slightly in shock and she watched quietly as they did their religious thing and her brain processed what had just happened.
Her head snapped up and towards the pie-man as he shouts. She hid a smile seeing that her initial thought was partially true, although she highly doubted that rats were in league with a couple of drunks to steal from a local food vendor.
"Shall we continue with our patrol?"
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The party moves southerly along Wall Street until you reach a small square. A fountain tinkles musically in the empty space. You could continue along Wall Street or head east down a slightly small road called Mechanic's Drive. Directly across from where you entered the square a narrow path marked Coal Alley is the last exit from the square.
As you enter the square, you suddenly hear a scream from the alley across you. It is quickly followed by the shrill screech of a watch's whistle. Following the commotion, you rush down the alley and come to a building with its door wide open and light spilling out into the dirty alley.
You find yourself in the middle of a chaotic scene. An old woman is trapped atop a cabinet by a swarm of large, vicious rats. Several of the vermin, including one the size of a large dog, have surrounded her perch and are being kept at bay only by the furious swinging of her broom and the occasional piece of hurled pottery. Others are scavenging the place, tearing into boxes and smashing open pantries in a frenzy. A watch corporal contending with one of the massive vermin shouts.
"Don't just stand there...get in here and help!"
Me first!!
Kita was reaching for her pistols before she remembered that all she had was a cudgel. Hurrying into the room, she skirted the rat nearest the door. The old woman needed help, and Kita's warder instincts had kicked in. "Hold on, ma'am, we're coming!"
Approaching the nearest of the group of 3 rats, she raised her cudgel and swung it with all her might.
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A well-placed swat with the baton knocks the rat to the ground, blood pooling out of its still slowly chewing mouth. (Dead)
The other two turn and set upon Kita.
Attack:
Damage:
Other: DC 11 CON save if hit
Attack:
Damage:
Other: DC 11 CON save if hit.
As Kita entered the room to help the old lady, a very large rat moved to block the door, not allowing anyone else in without first defeating the giant rodent.
In the other room where you can just see the watch corporal struggling with unseen enemies, he gives a loud grunt, as if taking a hit from his combatant.
"KITA!!!"
Erryll doesn't need the little sticks they passed out this morning ... he lights up and aims at the giant rat.
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As the bolt strikes the large rat, for a moment you can see the ghostly outline of the creature's skeletal structure through its skin...then it explodes! Bits of rats are scattered all over the doorway and cover those waiting to enter the room...including you Erryll!!
The knight swings at one...
for
but now we are soiled ...
Nevitash moves in to strike a rat.
Rosaleen wiped a piece of rat pancreas off her cheek. She was used to getting questionable substances on herself as she mixed different chemicals but she wasn't a fan of the organics. Nevertheless she stepped over what was left of the rat and entered the building.
She dug out a vial of acid from her bag and moved over to the door where the corporal seemed to be engaged with more rats. She lobbed the vial over his shoulder and into the room at the rats.
"Woo!" Kita shouted, as she was spattered with gore. "Nice shot, Erryll!" She didn't worry about the mess; if Erryll was good for one thing (and he wasn't -- he was good for many things), it was cleaning up after.
More rats were beaten, splattered, and generally destroyed. Despite the nip, Kita grinned; this was fun! "It's like pickin' off dretches in the fields, but without the gas!"
She saw Rosaleen hurl something into the other room. "Yah! You go, girl!" She had no idea what it was, but knowing that the red-head was an alchemist, it was bound to be bad for rats.
Nevertheless, Rosaleen persisted ;)
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With a smashing of delicate glass, a shimmering globe of iridescent liquid washes over the two rats fighting the beleaguered watch corporal. As soon as the liquid touches the vermin's fur, it starts to smolder, and soon the two giant rats are squirming on the floor while the horrid smell of burned, greasy fur fills the rooms. In but a brief moment, the creatures are no longer moving, and in fact, are slowly dissolving into puddles of unspeakable goo.
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Kita looked around for another rat to smash, but they were all dead. She spun her cudgel once in the air, catching it with a grin. "Nice work, team!"
She then put the cudgel down on the table and reached up to the old lady. "It's okay, ma'am, it's over. Come on down."
"Those were some big rats." Nevitash says as he looks around and wonders what drew them here.
Rosaleen watched the rats melt as a result of her concoction with a small amount of satisfaction. This also meant that she had something to look forward to when they got back to their bunks because she'd need to make more.
She then heard Kita speaking and realized that they had gotten involved with the rats for a reason, to free an old lady. Turning around to face the woman and she asked, "Are you alright, ma'am?"
Breathing heavily from the excitement of battle the man looks for other foes...
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The distant sounds of revelry and the heavy breathing of your companions are the only sound you now hear in the old woman's home.
"I thank you fer coming and helping an old woman. You can call me Bethel;. Those beasts were almost the death of me! I thought I heard something down in the basement!"
While a little unsteady on her feet, the woman is uninjured, just shook up.
Yes, it was good fortune that you were in the area. Ah, I see you are auxiliaries. Jolly good show! I am Corporal Jack Derrigan of the Corvis City Watch, and I am afraid this is not over yet. As I was holding off those two bastards, pardon my language ma'am, I could see another trying to push its way up through the trap door to the basement. If you listen you can hear them down there...rooting around and fighting and stuff. We, and by that I mean you, will need to go down and clear them out. I will take Bethel with me to the watch house for her safety. Report back once you are through."
As he turns to go and usher the old lady out, he turns and removes his gunbelt, holding the weapon out to the party.
"I see you all are only armed with batons. Take my pistol and powder. It's not much but several shots might make the difference between scaring the vermin off or having them swarm you! I want it back! I am responsible for it."
Kita's eyes light up and she accepts the weapon from the corporal. Then, guiltily, she glances around at the others. "Do you mind if I...?"
Kita strapped the belt, and tested the draw a few times. Satisfied, she made sure that the pistol was loaded, and that she had everything else at the ready.
"Rosaleen, you got any more of them bombs? I reckon Nevitash can open the trapdoor, and you can toss one of them in, soften the bastards up, you ken? Those without a distance attack can club them as they scurry out. Me and Erryll can stand back and shoot. If we're lucky, we get 'em all coming out. If we ain't, then we can head down and look for trouble."
Erryll's runes light up, strong and steady
"I probably don't need to explain that I will not run out of ammunition, so in all honesty, even if we can open that trapdoor just a little, I am happy to fire into the aperture preemptively: and I would also be happy to stand back later and make sure none of us walk away smelling like this ... let's do this!"
It would have been nice to know there were more before I threw the acid, Rosaleen muses internally.
At Kita's question, Rosaleen checks her bag quickly even though she already knows the answer. She always knew what she'd made. "I have one more, that's it. Although I could make some more if you guys can keep them busy for awhile. But you really can't rush science."
It would have been nice to know there were more before I threw the acid, Rosaleen muses internally.
At Kita's question, Rosaleen checks her bag quickly even though she already knows the answer. She always knew what she'd made. "I have one more, that's it. Although I could make some more if you guys can keep them busy for awhile. But you really can't rush science."
"Yes: we were given no time limit, so our safety and the surety of our mission are most important. More bombs is better."
"Agreed. If they eat a little bit more of whatever is stored down there it will likely be less bad then if one of us is swarmed by giant rats." Nevitash says.