Lora's bullet doesn't pierce the cobra's scales, but the summoned ghoul, Royken, and Eva all land powerful blows! The wounded snake shifts its focus to Eva, biting her twice!
"Obey your master, ghoul! Go for its throat!"
"You heard our strange new friend, For The Throat!" Lora encourages, as she weaves her magic around Eva to keep the lovely engineer up.
Eva grimaces as she is bitten by the cobra. "Argh... isn't Royken delicious enough for you?" The venom courses through her body, but, at least for now, she manages to keep it at bay.
She then punches the cobra again and again
HP 11/49
AC 20
Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +8 (bravery)
Hero points: 2
Ammo: 8 rounds
Effects: wounded 1
"Give it up you stupid snake!" Royken tells Bitey as he swings away with his gun.
Royken and the summoned ghoul both fail to land good hits, but Bleach connects with his ray of frost, and Eva punches Bitey twice! Though very badly hurt, the giant cobra continues to fight, biting Eva twice more!
HP 11/49
AC 20
Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +8 (bravery)
Hero points: 2
Ammo: 8 rounds
Effects: wounded 1
"Grrr," Royken growls, swinging at the cobra again.
Bleach continues to throw one blast of ice after another at the beast while commanding the ghoul to rip and tear into its flesh. "I'm starting to understand why the goblin insisted we fight this monstrosity instead of him!"
"I know there is an off color joke about us frantically beating the goblin's snake but I don't think it would be funny at the moment." Lora inspires while pouring more magic into Eva to keep the fighter up.
Eva blocks with her shield, but then her buckler is shattered sure to the powerful strike of the snake. With multiple wounds, Eva continues to attack, but then burns her wounds with her herbal medicine!
Bleach’s ghoul scores a hit, and the necromancer blasts the cobra with another icy beam. Then, Eva delivers a crushing blow, finally finishing off the enormous snake! It falls to the floor and lies still.
”Congratulations! You survived! You must be so pleased with yourself. That was really something.” Brick Blaster puts a furry paw up next to his mouth and stage whispers, “I also made a lot of coin on you, so thanks for winning.” The monkey goblin gives a thumbs up while one of the gunners pouts and sits down, counting out silver pieces. He grins, then chuckles and says, ”Okay, here’s everything I know about your friend:
“Sometimes this guy, Shoma Lyzerius, needs things he can’t buy. He hires us to pick these things up, paying us with kegs of black powder or crates of alchemist’s fire. Well, this time, he wanted the egghead, Gattlebee. Bigger bounty, bigger payment. We got half up front but couldn’t deliver on the goods—great job on that, by the way! Very violent. Five stars. Anyway, now little Shoma wants his payment back. Instead, we’ll give him something far better: you. That’ll teach him for costing me so many good Punks.
“He’s staying at some apartment down in Here’s the address. You can read, right?”
Brick Blaster claps his hands, and the pouting gunner descends from the catwalk. The gunner retrieves a small crate, shipping slip dangling from one of its edges and hauls it over to you. “You can take the stuff in the box, too,” Brick Blaster says. “It was mixed in with the alchemist’s fire. Buncha junk, barely even burns! What a waste.”
The crate contains six jars of moderate bottled lightning. The shipping label on the crate lists an address in Hellside (“Hollow Manor Estates, Hillside, Apartment I-1”).
"Great," Royken grouses, though the tone of voice makes it clear he thinks it's anything but great. "So that means you're out then?"
He looks around at the others, satisfied they've done what they've been asked -- gotten to the bottom of who hired the Punks and stopped them. A nagging voice -- that sounds a lot like the two-faced dwarven barkeep who runs the Bullet & Barrel -- tells him that he's still going to end up having to go to Hellside, regardless of what they were told to do in the first place.
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Lora gives the most wounded a quick boost of more healing, craddling their head while telling them a children's tale about Cats and Bobs. She asks Bleach "Was that a Ghoul? Do you store him in a extradimentional pocket or something, then '', like that kid's game I keep hearing about?" her questions are pure curiosity.
Then finally she gets back to the goblin. "You wouldn't mind if I ask for a little more detail on our Mr. Lyzerius?" she is looking for physical descriptions, times they met, is there anyone else, so on.
"Sure. Shoma's an ifrit. He's got purple skin and hair like fire. We met in the evenings in his apartment. Just me and him, nobody else that I saw."
"Hair like fire... now that would be interesting to..." she stops her musing "Thank you, Brick Blaster. If the situation ever arises where we need the services of the city's most explosive gang, could we call on you? With gold of course."
"Of course! I like your style. And I like money!" Brick Blaster says with a laugh.
Bleach gives Lora a confirming nod. "Yes, yes it was. And no, I refuse to create more blasted undead, but you'd be surprised how many of them are shambling about on the various planes of existence. Growing up amongst Urgathoanites means I got an idea of where to look," he says with a sly wink. Is he serious? Probably so.
"Well, Brick, I thank you for your time and patience. Hopefully, our meeting will be the inspiration for a grand story that you can boastfully tell to your underlings and friends."
Eva sits on the ground as the takes a look on her wounds and makes sure the snake's poison did not indeed harmed her. As Lora talks to the Punk's boss about future jobs, she decides to add something. "Also, in the future, if you find yourselves being hired to go against us again, perhaps we can make a side deal and avoid any unpleasantries?"
"Sure thing! You guys are alright by me!" the monkey goblin replies with a cheerful grin.
After resting for a bit to tend to your injuries, you make your way toward Shoma Lyzerius's apartment in Hellside. This part of Alkenstar is built into the west side of the Hellfallen Cliffs directly across from the Screw, a giant crane capable of raising or lowering ships up and down the 500-foot-tall Alken Falls waterfall. Hellside started as a shanty town full of merchants looking to trade with ship captains stuck in the Screw’s several hours–long ascent or descent.
A complicated network of stair and walkways built into the cliffside grant access to several cave-like shops, inns, apartments, and a recently built carnival area. The folks there are friendly to outsiders—as long as they’re buying. Otherwise, the community tends to be fairly insular and mistrustful of official law enforcement, such as the shieldmarshals. The constant spray from Alken Falls keeps the south side of Hellside damp and less preferable for travelers and residents alike. The north side often has much more foot traffic and pop‑up outdoor shops that are little more than a merchant with a dry rug covered in various wares.
In the past decade, the Church of Abadar has attempted to legitimize the businesses here by carving huge statues of Abadar’s aspects into the cliffside, with a temple, shops, and apartments beyond. They also installed the Hellside Crane, a very large crane for hauling goods, though not nearly as large as the Screw. Ultimately, the church’s attempts to push Hellside into an upscale business district failed. A local council of merchants controls the neighborhood government and generally avoids interactions with the shieldmarshals, making this a great place for nefarious business ventures and underhanded schemes. It’s only natural that a cad like Lyzerius would find himself living and working in such a place.
As you descend one of the many stairways into Hellside, Lora notices a cloaked figure has begun to follow you. However, the figure seems to realize that they have been spotted. The creature drops their cloak, revealing a hunched humanoid that possesses a featureless face, save for a large eye ringed by fangs! They release an inhuman screech as they charge towards you!
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Bleach argues with Hadi during the journey over the cat's supposed role in taking down the oversized snake. "No, you hissing at it didn't cause it to hesitate, and no, it surely did not open a window of opportunity which Eva used to deliver the finishing blow!" The cat replies with a shrug, raises its back, and struts towards Eva in defiance of its master.
In a shocking turn of events, the cat then is the first one to jump back in genuine panic when the otherworldly abomination charges the group. It grows spectral wings and hisses. Bleach, however, lacks the ability to grow wings and he'll have to rely on his feet.
As you turn to run away, the being rushes after you in hot pursuit!
CROWD OF GAWKERS
Several people on the stairs ahead of you have stopped to stare at the monstrous being behind you, some with mouths agape!
Bleach slips and slides through the crowd until he runs into a barrel-chested anvil of a man. He offers him a sorry apologetic smile, but the man is eager to give Bleach a piece of his mind and muscle. It isn't until the man sees why and what they're running from that he lets Bleach go. "Hurry up!", the ever helpful Hadi meows at his master.
"Excuse us" Lora says to the gawkers, brushing up against the barrel-chested anvil of a man as she passes by, making him forget about wanting to give a piece of anything to their wizard.
"You are clearly on the wrong place!" Eva says as she also bumps into the barrel-chested anvil of a man.
"Out of the damn way," Royken growls as he pushes his way through the crowd, people almost seeming to leap out of the way before he's even put his hands on them.
Despite Eva's stumble, you quickly make it through the crowd, the monster in hot pursuit!
SWINGING CRANE
A shipping crane was jostled loose and now swings dangerously over the boardwalk; travelers have moved to the side and wait for it to lose momentum.
Royken grunts as the crane just barely clips him when he tries to go under it.
"F+$% me!" he yells in frustration.
Seeing how the dwarf struggles with the crane-gone-wild, Bleach takes a second to time his run and then darts forward.
The heavy end of the crane swings toward Lora's head, perfectly angled to smash her pretty little head in. At the last moment, she causally shifts just enough to let it sail by.
Eva follows Bleach's movement, not wanting to risk dodging the thing since she her reflexes were never good... with the exception of her gag reflexes that were amazing but useless at the moment.
Despite Royken getting hit, you make it past the crane!
STREET PERFORMERS
A band of musicians are busking on the boardwalk while dancers spin and perform gymnastic feats.
Eva joins the crowd and quickly weaves through it. "Oh, sorry... passing, yeah, no worries..."
As Eva starts making her way through the crowd, the monster continues its chase. The swinging crane bashes it, but it snarls and keeps going!
"Get out of the f%+%ing way!" Royken growls -- to no effect at all. If they're not scared of the monstrosity giving chase, Royken doesn't have a chance.
Lora gets caught by a strapping young dancer, twirled around as she laughs, lost up in it for a moment, before she remembers the eye THING behind them. Happily the dancer spun her through the crowd.
Bleach follows Eva's lead and gracefully weaves through the crowd. "Come, Royken, this way! No need to snarl!"
"People are like rocks in a river, Royken... flow around them, not throught them!" She says, trying to instruct their friend.
Pulling Royken along, you dance and weave through the crowd! The monster catches up, but stops to glare in disgust at the dancers. They raise their hands, conjuring a sandstorm which sends the performers screaming and scrambling for cover!
WET AND SLIPPERY STAIRS
Spray from the Alken Falls keeps this staircase damp, causing it to grow slippery algae.
Eva swiftly grabs Lora and carries her over her metallic shoulder jumping down. As they land, she lightly squeezes her butt as she puts Lora down. "Opsie!"
"Hrngh," Royken grunts as he drops down, landing surprisingly lightly for a man his size.
The stairs barely slow you down as you quickly leap to the bottom!
CARNIVAL GOERS
Various people have clogged up this portion of the boardwalk, including carnival barkers, ticket takers, confection sellers, and carnival attendees.
Lora gives Eva a 'You are Cheeky' look but not one with any irritation.
With her hands on her hips and in a loud melodious voice she calls out the poor souls waiting around in hopes for the show. "Come one, come all, Limited time only, Meaning NOW, Free Admission to the first three hundred guests."
Bleach continues what he's been doing, and that's keeping his either up or down to maintain a slim profile. "Ticks, mites, and lice. Ticks, mites, and lice!", he mutters to himself as he tries his best to avoid touching the countless strangers they pass on by.
The crowd begins to stampeded into the carnival following Lora's deception! Bleach pushes his way through the remaining people. You're almost there, but not home free yet! The one-eyed monster suddenly teleports to the edge of the boardwalk, shrieking once more!
Eva weaves through the crowd easily, using her high to pick the path of least resistance.
You make it past the carnival and come to an outdoor art exhibition. The creature finally gets clear of all the obstacles and stalks towards you, but they casts about, seemingly enraged by all of the beautiful art on display. You are able to capitalize on that distraction as the being prepares to attack!
Bleach beseeches Urgathoa through spell and motion to temporarily let go of one of her minions. It's not so much a request as a sneaky arcane backdoor to filch away an undead from her domain, and he summons forth a ghoul. "Feast on them, ghoul!"
Lora tries to keep herself from saying this, she really does, but magic is magic and sometimes it makes one do horrible things. Remember that when she says loudly "no 'Eye' for beauty?" she winces, pulls her pistol and fires.
The summoned ghoul scores two hits on the creature, while Lora’s quip, and bullet, hit home! With a shriek, the monster steps closer to the bard and fixes her in their baleful gaze!
The aghash fixes their gaze on one creature they can see within 20 feet. The creature must attempt a DC 21 Will save.
Critical Success: The creature is unaffected.
Success: The creature takes 2d6 mental damage and becomes frightened 1.
Failure: The creature takes 4d6 mental damage and becomes frightened 2.
Critical Failure: The creature takes 8d6 mental damage and becomes frightened 2 and stunned 2.