Niss ran a hand up and down along Drake's back comfortingly. "You and me both. I feel ready to jump out of my skin being stuck here knowing there might be people looking for me. And even if there weren't, it's a miserable little town and it seems like we're the only ones trying to fix its problems." She followed him as he followed Fin.
Sighing, yet, finding comfort at her touch, "Yeah, I don't understand that at all. We don't even live here and we are smack dab in the thick of things." Feeling Niss's worry, Drake hates the very fact that the longer they're here the closer it feels Niss's enemies get. They are NEVER going to touch her again as long as I live and breathe, he vows to himself as they move out.
The Princess Guard makes their way down a stone passage--stalagmites have been cleared away in some parts and small, crude, wooden footbridges have been stretched over deep pools of stagnant water. After several minutes of travel throughout the tunnel, the passageway opens up to a large natural chamber, the center of which is occupied by a pool of brackish water. Stalactites and stalagmites occupy much of the room, but the path between them leads around the pool and to another corridor on the opposite side of the cave.
The moment you step into the room, a strange blue glow emanates up from the pool, sending a cascade of shimmering light to the ceiling above. Seconds later, the scaled hate of a giant blue snake rises from the pool with sparks of electricity dancing between its fangs, while a metal, rattle-tipped tail pokes out of the water behind it, audibly building up a charge with every flick of the rattle.
Finoan looks at the snake coming out of the water. "We must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. There is no way that Hallod manages to keep this thing as a pet."
While making snarky comments, Fin is also frantically analyzing things and trying to remember anything he knows about this creature.
He then protects himself with ◆ Shield, and blasts the thing with ◆◆ Spout, hoping that it isn't immune to water spells.
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Taking clear notice of the giant snake, Drake drops his bow and studies the snake a moment before pulling out a hatchet and tossing it before doing the same with another.
Niss quickly ◆moves behind the others, startled by the unexpected creature's appearance. She quickly tried to throw a broken bit of a stalactite at the serpent's head.
Unfortunately in her rush her aim is off and the rock misses. "Maybe it ate him?" she asked hopefully, not actually expecting they were that lucky.
"It is a death by little mistakes" Baradim says, coming out of his angry silence. "Small mistakes that are left uncorrected. Troubles that are ignored. It builds and builds and builds until it finally becomes too insurmountable. A common folk would not be equipped for it." Baradim looks at his comrades, the shadow of smile spreading across it. "Thankfully, we are not common."
Baradim leads the way through the worked tunnel, approaching the brackish water that begins to glow ominously. This terrible serpent rises, charged with electricity, and it comes to Baradim's mind quickly.
"Don't let it strike you. The water may make its attacks more dangerous." The orc then moves closer on the shore, not willing to enter the water yet. He readies himself for the beast's strike, shield and weapon ready.
The snake begins to move in closer, seeking to engage them all in close combat. It didn't know that the warrior before it had reactions as sharp as the blade that Baradim had. As it tried to move in closer, Baradim forwent his own protection and instead aimed to pierce the blade into its vulnerable midsection.
The spout hits the serpent, but only just – it dodges away from some of the magical attack at the last moment.
Drake’s first hatched buries into the serpent’s flesh, but the second one goes wide and splashes into the pool, as does Niss’s thrown piece of stalactite.
The snake darts forward, dodging Baradim’s readied strike, and snaps at Finoan, but not before Baradim swings on the snake, a massive bloody wound opening up in its flesh.
The snake dazedly snaps at Finoan, missing entirely, then coils up in preparation for the next strike.
"Be careful, it attacks seriously fast when it is coiled up."
Fin watches the snakes movements carefully looking for an opening.
Not seeing one, he ◆ steps back a bit and casts ◆ Shield again.
Focus the blade. Strike to kill." Baradim thought as he put all his weight behind his next swing, aiming to end the snakes life before it could harm anyone in their group. The healthier they were to deal with Hallod, the better.
Niss quickly ◆moves behind the others, startled by the unexpected creature's appearance. She quickly tried to throw a broken bit of a stalactite at the serpent's head.
Unfortunately in her rush her aim is off and the rock misses. "Maybe it ate him?" she asked hopefully, not actually expecting they were that lucky.
"We should only be so lucky," Drake responds, not taking his eyes off the snake.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
With the snake moving right at them, "Thanks for the warning, Fin." Drake draws two more hatchets, swinging mercilessly at the snake.
With the snake dead, Drake collects his other hatchets and picks up his bow, stowing them all except for two of the hatchets. "Alright, let's keep this show going. We've got a bad guy to catch still. Hopefully, that's the last of the snakes... of any kind."
"Yeah, let's go."
Fin heads out along the path, again watching out for things that they come upon to try and avoid blundering into any traps.
Baradim takes out the snake handily, just as Drake is about draw more hatchets to throw
The snake collapses half-in, half-out of the water, the electricity dissipating with the lack of movement in the metal rattler.
Drake is certain he saw his thrown hatches land in the pool, which is only a couple of feet deep.
There is a tunnel beyond this, leading further into the complex.
The tunnel you have been traversing opens into a cave, and you can see a forest beyond the cave's mouth. The roots of a large tree block the middle of this entrance, as if the tree had grown into a hillside that has since eroded away. Beyond the tree is a large pond; a path around the water begins on one side beneath a curtain of moss hanging from the tree. The cave itself is piled high with two rows of neatly stacked crates and boxes. You recognize Bort's labeling on all of them.
You also notice that Hallod has set up a pair of spear traps, like the one at the front door up at the surface, with rather obvious trip lines stretching from wall to wall between the rows of barrels and crates . It is easy to avoid the traps on your own.
Entering the cave and seeing the large man just ahead, "Well, there he is, pointing a crossbow at us. I told you this guy isn't going peacefully. So, I guess the only thing I can say now is... give 'im hell. Oh, that and watch out for the spear traps." He shrugs.
"Hallod! You are guilty of killing Bort by poison. You've laid traps, sent beasts, and all for naught. If you surrender willingly, you may live until the judge comes to town to declare your guilt." Rolling his shoulders, Baradim would grin violently "However, I rather you don't. I made a promise to a special lady and I don't aim to disappoint."
"Hallod! You've been a real pain in the behind. And you seem like a really unpleasant person. What are the odds you want to come along peacefully?" She sighed and shook her head. "Who am I kidding."
She chucked an extra big rock at his head.
It misses. She sighs again. Apparently her nerves were still getting to her, down in this oppressive underground space. A little too much like the dungeon back 'home'.
Fin gingerly steps over the traps tripline and walks over to one of the crates. "Yeah, what they said."
Finoan has been thinking of ways of taking this guy down for a while now, so planning attacks comes easy.
Seeing a plan that will likely work, Fin carefully hops over the other tripline and comes up to Hallod.
Fin dodges a weak kick from Hallod and counters by tripping him.
▸ Woodland Blight
▸ Owner of the shack: Hallod
Hallod lets out a bark of laughter at Niss's attempt to throw at a rock at him and leers at her, an expression that quickly turns to shock and anger as Finoan manages to trip him and cause him to fall prone. Finoan can see an empty bottle at Hallod's feet, one similar to the several Drake had found in the lavatory of Hallod's horrifying living space.
Hallod curses and immediately stands back up to switch his weapons, stowing the crossbow in its holster and drawing his kukri to strike at Finoan.
"Yow," Fin yells. The sudden and ferocious attack by a magical blade surprises him, and he brings his energy shield to bear just a bit too slowly. The shield shatters and he still ends up with a nasty gash in his side.
"OK, that was a cheap shot."
Cringing as he sees Fin get cut, "Careful, Fin!" Drake focuses in on the big man and then quickly unloads his hatchets toward him.
Hallod grunts with surprise when not just one, but two hatchets bury into his chest. The man roars with anger and glares at Drake from across the room. "Just a little scratch. That all you've got?"
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Fin stares hard at Hallod. "Well, if it's scratches you want..."
"Fin!" Niss yelps as the blade flashes across Fin's side.
She ◆ moves a bit closer, careful to steer clear of the tripwires, and concentrates on her injured friend. Bonding with them over the past couple of days, making friends for the first time in her life, has caused Niss no end of worry over their safety.
She embraces the spike of emotion, and Fin can feel her in his mind, taking away some of the pain. With his mind convinced the injury isn't as bad as he thought, his body follows suit, the wound knitting itself closed somewhat.
The time for talking had past. The large orc moves with an almost uncomfortable speed, leaping over the wire for the trap and going after the man. He takes an angled approach, coming up on the other side of Finoan while denying Hallod a chance to strike at him. With his sword and shield in hand, Baradim acts to take the focus off of his comrade and take it on himself by striking hard and fast.
Fin nods his thanks at Niss and turns his attention back to Hallod.
Not seeing an opening for delivering the promised scratches, Finoan takes a ◆step back to get out of range of that knife.
"Fine, let's see how fast you are on your feet." and casts ◆◆ Spout
Hallod lets out a strangled grunt as Baradim's sword makes contact, rattling the hatchets still stuck in his chest. The man is bleeding from several wounds now, swaying a tad on his feet, a mad grin on his face.
Hallod takes no notice of Niss' movements, distracted by a large orc and a small cat on either side of him.
Finoan’s spell causes a small, concentrated pool to appear below Hallod’s feet, who moves to dodge it…
...and just barely dodges part of the watery blast, only taking partial damage. Hallod's acrid, unwashed scent is slightly amplified now that he's wet.
Hallod whips around and turns his attention to Baradim, who hit him hardest and makes two rapid, successive strikes against Baradim, one with his kukri and the other, his fist.
Hallod makes eye contact with Baradim after the hits, a wild madness apparent in his eyes.
The last strike, however, goes wide and misses.
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Baradim tries to defend from the attack and keeps the kukri from taking a lethal blow against his his neck, lifting his shield up to parry the blow. The man's follow-up went undefended, the fist strike connecting solidly into Baradim's ribs. A grunt of pain escaped him as he stumbled from the blow, dazed and bleeding from the kukri strike on his shoulder. The blow to his side sends bolts of pain along his entire being as he sways momentarily.
The warrior steadies himself again, spitting out a mouthful of blood to the side as his eyes focus again upon the man. Golden eyes burn with rage as he swing his sword powerfully once more.
Hoping to protect himself from another series of blows, he lifts his shield back up again and grins. "Is that it? No wonder you use poison; you're pathetic."
Niss flinched as if she felt the blows against Baradim herself, and frantically shifted her attention to him, repeating what she'd done for Fin.
Baradim felt her easing his hurts, a more effective version of what she'd done when the wolves attacked.
"Are you okay?" she asked, worried.
Baradim's taunt falls on deaf ears as his sword swings down and cleaves Hallod through his shoulder and into his torso, slicing through the bones in the way as if they were no more than softened butter. Hallod crumples, gore and viscera leaking from the remnants of the man. Drake's hatchets, still stuck in the large man's chest, clatter to the ground from the impact.
Hallod, the disgusting brutish poisoner, is no longer, and The Princess Guard stands victorious.
On Hallod's person are a heavy crossbow with nine bolts; a +1 kukri; an unidentified bottle of liquid matching those Drake found in the lavatory; a lesser healing potion, and the key to the strongbox back in his chamber. Whoever looks through his pockets also finds a small, torn note written in neat, spiky handwriting. The note reads as follows:
"Hallod,
The final shipment of corpse blood is due in just over a week, and it is the last thing I need from that greedy bastard, Bort. I've enclosed a parting gift for him that should ensure he never tells anyone of our dealings. Be sure that he gets it, my darling.
Drop off the reagents as soon as they arrive. My work is almost done. You will find your usual reward in the stump.
-V"
Fin comes back up to the now deceased body of Hallod once Baradim chops him down. He searches through his pockets almost as a routine.
Finding the letter, he reads through it out loud. Then, "Well, that corroborates the Goblin's story. Maybe that will keep him out of the noose at least. Any guesses who 'V' might be?" He pockets the letter himself.
He also picks up the curved dagger and holds it up. Looking at the other two men he asks, "This doesn't look like a weapon that either of you are interested in, correct?" He looks at Niss. "How about you, princess? Do you use fancy knives like this? If not, I'll hold on to it for now at least."
He leaves the two potions sitting on the floor for anyone who wants them.
Hallod grunts with surprise when not just one, but two hatchets bury into his chest. The man roars with anger and glares at Drake from across the room. "Just a little scratch. That all you've got?"
Stepping over the trip wire, Drake calmly makes his way to the dead human, bending down to retrieve his weapons. Responding late to his question, "Maybe. But that's not all Baradim's got. Oh, but I guess you found that out." Snagging the hatchets, he wipes them off on the ground and stows them away.
Shaking his head, "Nope. I've got no idea who 'V' could be. Do we know anyone whose name starts with 'V'?" he asks as his mind searches through the names of those he has met while here. After several moments, he simply shakes his head and says, "Yeah, I got nothing."
Moving over and picking up the potions, he steps over to the half-orc and offers the healing vial to him. "Here you go, Baradim, I'm thinking you might need this one. He got you pretty good."
"Delma might have some ideas of who 'V' might be. We can at least ask."
Finoan takes a bit of a detour and disables the two spear traps, trying to stay out of their line of fire while doing it, just in case something goes wrong.
The blade sinks into the man's flesh, cleaving through his shoulder and shattering through his collarbone. There is that momentary realization that spreads across Hallod's face, that look when death was coming quickly and swiftly. Baradim, with bloody teeth and rageful eyes, growled loudly as he pushed the blade down harder before tearing it out from his core. The spray of red was quick and sudden, the man's complexion growing paler as he rapidly bled out.
"A quicker death than you deserve." Baradim growled, spitting on the man before he leaned back against whatever he could and took a breath. His wounds ached. There was that softness that entered his mind and the injuries didn't hurt as much. It was Niss's psionic ability again, the same gentleness he had felt when he was bitten by the strange wolf.
"Thank you, Inniska." Baradim offers, forcing a smile to his face before reaching out for the vial from Drake. He gives a nod of thanks before pouring it back.
"Hmm...mostly empty." Baradim mutters, tossing it away. It seemed that Hallod hadn't taken care of his alchemical supplies. He looked down at the body before looking back at Drake, nodding. "Well, better carry him back."
He looked down at the body before looking back at Drake, nodding. "Well, better carry him back."
"I still recommend we just take his head back. Leave the rest for the crows and beetles." Fin looks at the body. "I'm pretty sure he no longer cares one way or the other."
Finoan also pulls out his bandages and gauze again and starts packing the slash in his side. "Baradim, you want me to bandage you up too?"
"While you two deal with him, I'm going to go through these crates and see what I can find." Drake takes some time to search through them all, avoiding the traps as he does. As he makes his way to the nearest one, and just before he walks by Niss, he quickly stops and places a hand on her cheek. "Everything alright, Niss? Just double-checking. I didn't notice you get hit by anything this time but it's hard to catch it all in the midst of conflict."
She raised her own hand to his and gave it a squeeze. "I'm alright. A bit jumpy, but nothing hit me. I'm just glad we can go out that way instead of the way we came," she said, gesturing to the cave opening.
She frowned thoughtfully. "Corpse blood. You think Bort knew what he was doing? I think it's a safe bet that something with as awful a name as that is probably behind all the awfulness in this town -- the wolves and the blight at least." She helped Drake search, cautious of opening anything in case the crates were booby-trapped, too.
She raised her own hand to his and gave it a squeeze. "I'm alright. A bit jumpy, but nothing hit me. I'm just glad we can go out that way instead of the way we came," she said, gesturing to the cave opening.
Smiling and giving a nod, "Yeah, me too. I've had enough of these tight dark tunnels that could collapse on us at any moment."
She frowned thoughtfully. "Corpse blood. You think Bort knew what he was doing? I think it's a safe bet that something with as awful a name as that is probably behind all the awfulness in this town -- the wolves and the blight at least." She helped Drake search, cautious of opening anything in case the crates were booby-trapped, too.
While searching through the crates, Drake pauses and ponders that for a moment. Unable to come up with a real answer, "I don't know. I gotta say, though, I have a hard time thinking he didn't know what he was doing. That caravan was his bread and butter. He'd have to know what's on there, right? It would surprise me if he didn't know. Hopefully we don't have to share that information with anyone. I'd like to keep that from the other caravaners; there's no reason they need to know." Looking off in thought, he shakes his head and returns to the task at hand.
Both spear traps are easily disabled now that there's no pressure to do it just so.
In the containers, there are 50gp worth of random alchemical items, a shadow rune and 2 everburning torches.
"Hmm...mostly empty." Baradim mutters, tossing it away. It seemed that Hallod hadn't taken care of his alchemical supplies. He looked down at the body before looking back at Drake, nodding. "Well, better carry him back."
"Will do. I'm going to search these crates and then I'll drag him along."
Once the crates have been searched and picked clean, Drake moves over to the large man, grabs him by his arms, turns forward and pulls his hands over his shoulders, and then looks to the others. "Alright. I got him. Let's get him back to the Feedmill." Drake then begins dragging him, slowly but surely, slightly red in the face due to the exertion but still getting the job done.
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Baradim only grunts a little bit at Finoan's treatment, his side bandaged up and tight to keep out infection and keep the bleeding minimal. He pats his side tenderly, wincing only a moment before giving a nod to the metal feline.
"Thank you. It will help." Sitting up and testing his bandages, he would watch as Drake grabs the body. The range was careful with the ravaged body, making sure it didn't split more as he wrapped the dead man's arms around his shoulders. Baradim only does enough to make sure that he wasn't bleeding on him too much. "We'll take him to Rolth's business. I don't think the Feedmill will appreciate a corpse."
Baradim began to lead the way, looking over his shoulder at the man as he stopped to collect the alchemical items, a magical rune, and two torches that burned cooly. "Be quick. The dead s~*+ themselves after an hour or so."
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By the time The Princess Guard arrives in town, dragging the body of Hallod with them, dusk has fallen. Luckily--the few people who are outdoors right now are alarmed by you all dragging the horrifically mangled body with you. Rolth meets you as you are headed his way, holding a hand up for you to stop. He is accompanied by a few of the young guards that he usually has with him. ”I’ll have my men take care of Hallod’s body. I take it you have news?” He has two younger men with him who look uncomfortable in their armor pick up Hallod’s body and store it with Bort’s, still in one the icy cellars underneath The Feedmill. He sends another to fetch Tamli to meet them at The Feedmill.
When they arrive at the Feedmill, a damp rug is hanging off the edge of the porch, presumably drying during the day. It looks as though it may need a day or two longer of drying to be usable again. Tamil arrives rather quickly, nodding towards Baradim and the rest, but otherwise remains quiet and pensive. Rolth leads all of you inside to a quiet corner table and orders a round of ale for everyone.
”So, tell me what happened with Hallod? Was he the killer?” Rolth asks.
"Thank you. It will help." Sitting up and testing his bandages, he would watch as Drake grabs the body. The range was careful with the ravaged body, making sure it didn't split more as he wrapped the dead man's arms around his shoulders. Baradim only does enough to make sure that he wasn't bleeding on him too much. "We'll take him to Rolth's business. I don't think the Feedmill will appreciate a corpse."
Nodding, "Fair enough. I swear this guy sure could stand to lose a pound or fifty," he responds in a strained voice. The sweat rolls down his forehead and gets in his eye, the salt stinging. He takes a moment to wipe his face with an arm sleeve before continuing.
Baradim began to lead the way, looking over his shoulder at the man as he stopped to collect the alchemical items, a magical rune, and two torches that burned cooly. "Be quick. The dead s&~# themselves after an hour or so."
Stopping a moment and sighing, he angles his head toward the half-orc a moment and simply stares at him before proceeding on. "Great. Now he tells me."
”So, tell me what happened with Hallod? Was he the killer?” Rolth asks.
"Effectively, yes. Though a bit indirect through another's hand." Finoan hands Rolth the incriminating note from 'V'.
"We went to ask him some questions and found that he had trapped his front door." Fin gestures at the bandages on his shoulder. "So we broke in and found the underground bunker he keeps there. Tracked him through there to the storage area next to a pool of water in the forest. We found him there, but he wasn't interested in answering any questions. So we ... subdued him, and brought him back here."
Fin then pulls out the reciepts and hands them over as well. "Unfortunately, it appears that he is just a middle-man. You know anyone in town who would go by just the initial 'V'?"
Stopping a moment and sighing, he angles his head toward the half-orc a moment and simply stares at him before proceeding on. "Great. Now he tells me."
Baradim continues forward, leading the group, and makes no comment to Drake's words. If anyone got ahead of him and looked at his face, the orc could not hide the slightest grin at the man's predicament.
Stopped by Rolth and the guard, he takes a step back and sniffs beside Drake for a moment. His nose wrinkles and he holds the man by the shoulder.
"When you go to bed tonight; take off your armor and as much clothes as you can before you go in. You stink of s!*% and blood." Baradim leans in, looking at the young men gathering Hallod's body. "Next time, we put the head in a sack?"
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Stopped by Rolth and the guard, he takes a step back and sniffs beside Drake for a moment. His nose wrinkles and he holds the man by the shoulder.
"When you go to bed tonight; take off your armor and as much clothes as you can before you go in. You stink of s~#& and blood." Baradim leans in, looking at the young men gathering Hallod's body. "Next time, we put the head in a sack?"
Looking quite irritated and responding in a tone that matches, "Yes, Baradim, I'll... I'll be sure and do that. Thank you, by the way, thank you for your honesty. I really... I really appreciate that." He tells him, not really appreciating it. Then sighing at his last question, he just throws his hands up in defeat. "Fine. You win. Head in the sack it is."
By the time The Princess Guard arrives in town, dragging the body of Hallod with them, dusk has fallen. Luckily--the few people who are outdoors right now are alarmed by you all dragging the horrifically mangled body with you. Rolth meets you as you are headed his way, holding a hand up for you to stop. He is accompanied by a few of the young guards that he usually has with him. ”I’ll have my men take care of Hallod’s body. I take it you have news?” He has two younger men with him who look uncomfortable in their armor pick up Hallod’s body and store it with Bort’s, still in one the icy cellars underneath The Feedmill. He sends another to fetch Tamli to meet them at The Feedmill.
Drake drops the body, glad for the reprieve. Dusting off his hands, he takes a moment to catch his breath before following Rolth and the others inside.
When they arrive at the Feedmill, a damp rug is hanging off the edge of the porch, presumably drying during the day. It looks as though it may need a day or two longer of drying to be usable again. Tamil arrives rather quickly, nodding towards Baradim and the rest, but otherwise remains quiet and pensive. Rolth leads all of you inside to a quiet corner table and orders a round of ale for everyone.
”So, tell me what happened with Hallod? Was he the killer?” Rolth asks.
Just as Drake is about to answer, Fin gives Rolth the lowdown. Thinking that about covers it, "Yep. What Fin said. Although I will add that this 'V' person did call Hallod, 'My darling', in a letter. You wouldn't happen to know of anyone he was seeing, would you?"
Rolth inspects the letter, moving to sit as far away from Drake as possible. ”Hmm…I only know of one person with a name that starts with V. Vilree. We haven’t seen her around in a while…not since her mother died of the plague. Targen, Delma’s father, knows more about her.” He flaps the paper while thinking, then waves Delma over. ”Can you get your father? We need to ask him for some town history.”
Delma rolls her eyes but nods. ”He’ll love that. I’m tired of hearing the same stories over and over. He’ll get a new audience with you. But, it’ll have to wait until the morning. He’s already asleep and won’t be of much use until then.” She doesn’t wait for a reply, as she’s being called away by another table. ”I’ll bring him in the morning,” she says as she walks off.
Tamli listens quietly, arms crossed over her chest, frowning. ”Are you going to try to find ‘V’?” She asks the group, her gaze lingering briefly on Baradim.