Elise puts her rapier away and pulls out her shortbow, ready to strike at the dogs. "If we're backing out here, let's go now."
Olaf eyes the rat dog things over the rim of his shield, "Yes, if we want to try another entrance now is the time. Retreat slowly if that is the plan." he finishes as he watches the things, shield raised and blade ready.
Elise backs out, as discussed, hopefully not angering the goblin dogs too much.
The adventuring group withdraws carefully from the entry foyer, slipping back out of the entry doors without making the dreaded squeaking sounds.
Serpens leads them to the south towards the other visible set of entry doors. These are less grand with no formal reception room, and there is no visible sigil of the Order of the Nail.
After quickly examining for traps or other threats, the elfin fighter grabs the handle and pulls on the door, only to find they are closed tightly from the inside, secured by some means that will not allow for easy entry.
Serpens feels like, if he tried, he could probably force the doors open, or perhaps someone could try to use some form of finesse to unsecure them.
"Interesting to see locked doors still in this 'abandoned' fortress. Give me a moment."
Fentus draws out his thieves tools, ready to lend aid, or offer suggestions should Trista need any help, though it looks like she has it handled.
"Anyone know what those dogs were? Something look seriously wrong with them. I ain't never seen something like that in Absalom,"
Trista sets to work on the fastened door at once. She surmises that a bolt on the inside is holding the doors fast, and using a thin file she works the bolt free. Surprising even to her, that does not allow the door to open. Peering further into matters, the dextrous woman finds there is a long coil of rope wrapped through and around the inside handles. The door is tied shut as well!
Taking out a bodkin, Trista slowly works through the rope, cutting it in half in several places until the doors start to give -- a little at first, then more. Finally, after some more well placed cuts the rope gives way completely. To the chagrin of all, once the rope is free, a loud crash as of something heavy falling, resounds from inside the keep. Clearly, whatever might be inside knows the door is opened now.
The light inside the room beyond the doors is dimly light, making seeing clearly at the far ends of the room difficult. You can make out that this dingy room is littered with toppled bunk beds and broken furniture, and doors to small but more private bedchambers hang open along the western and southern walls. In the room's center, bed frames are stacked upon each other to form sort of a 'fort', with filthy and ripped bedding draped over the top to form its ceiling and walls. No inhabitants or threats are visible. Several other doors lead farther into the interior of the Keep.
Fentus peers into the doorway, holding his flame aloft spreading light into the room, "Looks like no one's home, though it does look like someone's home," Adding particular emphasis on the way he says "someone's".
Looking to the others, inviting them to go inside first with his eyes, gesturing in particular to Olaf and the Elf with a couple nods of his head.
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Servant's uarter. Probably slaves held here at one point. Nasty bit of business these devil bootlicker types were. Keep your wits about you. Place might be haunted judging by the state of this room. The elf said with a bit of bitterness in his mouth.
He holds the rod in both hands and looks around the next room.
"Oh, a fort within a fort! I used to love to curl up with a a good book under a pile of covers." Despite her nostalgic statement, Trista swaps her dagger out for her short sword and enters the chamber cautiously.
She never seemed to have much trouble seeing in dim chambers, but she still steps carefully around the debris.
"Whatever is living here now, it doesn't look like goblins."
Trista enters the room, which has a bitter musky scent as well as being a wrecked mess. The thaumaturge presses inside anyway, keen to see what's what here.
As Trista enters the room, she turns back to her companions, points significantly toward the bed fort, and holds up a single finger.
She wait for everyone to enter before doing anything else.
Elise enters the room behind Trista, spotting the same thing she has. She darts off to the side, opposite Trista, and pulls out her short bow, just in case she might need it.
Nodding towards Trista and Elise before stepping in after them, keeping his walking stick at the ready, before calling out, "If you are the Brumblebrasher Clan, we mean no harm. Ms. Warbal is worried about your goings on. Is everyone alright?"
Trista, Elise and Valdrin enter the ruins, and the priest calls out to the forms spotted in the room. He is a bit taken aback when a voice whispers harshly from the bed-fort, "Not Bumblebrashers, pink-skin. But come a little closer and find out, eh? Just a little closer..."
"Pink skin?" Elise mutters, perturbed. "Uhh... I don't like the sound of that." She makes sure to speak softly, hoping whatever is in the bed-fort and whatever had just darted away don't hear her. Elise points at the obscured creature and then gestures an "around the corner" motion at the one that went running. "Be careful...hopefully that one didn't go and tell a bunch of others we're here."
Trista keeps one eye on the bed fort as she circles around to the southwest side of the room.
"Why don't you show yourself first? We're just here to examine the citadel. And make sure the Brumblebrashers are safe, of course."
Olaf carefully pushes into the room with the group, shield raised, eye darting over the rim, noting at least two shadowy figures in the dim light.
He stays silent while the group talks to the things, watching for treachery.
Barracks - Round 1
24 Yolcheta
22 Olaf
21 Zephira
20 Fentus
18 Serpens
16 Valdrin
13 Elise
12 Trista
From inside the fort, the voice calls out in a strange guttural language, and is answered immediately by the figure in the southwest corner of the room. A second later, a hairy humanoid figure leaps up from the fort, throwing a javelin that strikes Elise in the midsection. The foe then draws out a scary looking bastard sword.
"Oh, that was a mistake" growls Olaf as he stalks across the room, mentally preparing to strike. Reaching the attacker, he roars out a spell and swings his blade, magical energies coursing down its edge as it connects.
Barracks - Round 1 - continued
Olaf advances on the ambushing monster, coursing arcane energy through his weapon so that it takes a claw-like shape while attacking. The Northman's enhanced strike hits Yolcheta, first as a blade, then as a claw. The enemy bleeds heavily, but still stands.
From the back side of the room, another similar foe throws a javelin, hitting Mr Serpens in the side causing another serious wound. The goblinoid foe advances raising its large sword as it comes.
Elise staggers at the javelin hit, gasping with pain, and tries to assess the creature in front of Olaf. She growls with frustration, the knowledge on the tip of her tongue...but remembers nothing. In a fit, she fires off two arrows at the creature.
Fentus happy that he didn't enter the room first, steps into the doorway and lobs his ball of fire at the Creature fighting Olaf.
"Woah, they weren't kidding when they said this place was dangerous!"
Moving into the fray, Valdrin fingers out a bit of strong smelling ointment from his healer's kit before rubbing it onto Mr. Serpens' wound. Then, with a snap of the wrist, he attempts to thump the creature on the head with his walking stick.
"It isn't kind that a host attacks when someone asks a question!"
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Trista consults the Book before deciding on her strategy.
"Bugbears! They're like over-grown goblins, but not as charming." Trista happens to know that most of them are allergic to allum, so she quickly rubs some on the blade of her sword.
Trista rushes over to the bugbear and swings at her.
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Barracks - Round 2 - continued
Elise cannot recall what this very large goblins are, but it doesn't stop her from firing a pair of arrows at the wounded bugbear. The first shot flies true, burying itself in the muscular shoulder of the enemy, but the second shot flies wide clattering against the far wall.
Fentus conjures a ball of flame in his hand but the bright light from the fire, and the dim room combine to make him partially blind for a moment, and his thrown flame flies far from the target.
Valdrin has the presence of mind to put a little healing ointment on Mr Serpens flank wound, stopping the bleeding and easing the pain almost at once. The cleric then raps the nearby bugbear on the head for good measure, eliciting a grunt of pain from the target.
Trista recognizes bugbears when she sees them and calls it out to the rest of the group. Referencing the book, she applies some powder to the blade of her weapon, and uses that to strike the initial bugbear for extra damage.
Barracks - Round 1 - concluded
Activating now that a fight has started, Serpens lashes out with his cane at the nearby bugbear. He hits the goblinoid thug, with his cane, while simultaneously grappling at it with his off-hand. The bugbear is off-balance for a bit but Serpens do not take advantage, missing with each.
End of Round 1
Barracks - Round 2
24 Yolcheta (32hp dmg)
22 Olaf (spell strike last round)
21 Zephira (11hp dmg, flat-footed until Serpens turn)
20 Fentus
18 Serpens (4hp dmg)
16 Valdrin
13 Elise (8hp dmg)
12 Trista
The first bugbear is hurt really badly, but she manages to clamber around the bed-fort, moving adjacent to her sister. Determined ot defend her home turf, she then lashes out with both hands, swinging and thrusting her bastard sword at Valdrin.
Unwilling to let an enemy escape, Olaf follows the bugbear he had been fighting, focusing his magical energy on his way, before lashing out once again.
Barracks - Round 2 - continued
Olaf retains his arcane energy, which snaps and crackles along his blade as he advances on the retreating bugbear. His next attack, however, misses the target, smashing through some of the broken and splintered bunks instead.
"This is our home!" spits Zephira fiercely in Common as she assaults Serpens. The first blow strikes home, running the elf fighter through, the blade visible on his backside. As the bugbear withdraws the blade, Serpens crumples to the ground, unconscious.
Snarling in triumph, the bugbear then turns on Valdrin, already fighting off the other bugbear. With the cleric's attention divided, Zephira is able to get in another deep cut to his flank.
CRIT!
Elise sees her ancient guardian fall and grits her teeth with fear and anger. She steps back quickly, then backs away from the bugbear that downed Mr Serpens and fires off a shot.
Coughing up blood, he looks at the creature with a slight smile before muttering a prayer. "May the goddess find grace, and support me in battle!" Placing a palm on Serpens, the warm glow of sunlight flows into the man's wounds. Taking a few steps back, more salve is used on the clerics wounds as he winces in pain.
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Trita pushes through the bed fort, then slashes back at the bugbear that she and Olaf are flanking.
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Fentus curses his newness with this magic, wishing he were more adept at handling this new power. "This is isn't over yet, you defile the legacy of these Hellknights by living here,"
Fentus twirls his hands, summoning the power for another new spell he has yet to really use. Feeling the magic well up from within him as he directs the ray of energy that bludgeons into the Bugbear.
Growling at the Bugbears, "Surrender now and we MIGHT just let you live,"
Barracks - Round 2 - concluded
Immediately after the fall of Mr Serpens, Elise backs away from the melee and aims at the vengeful bugbear, but the light from the open door mixes with the shadowy dimness of the room causes her to hesitate a moment instead of firing.
While hurting badly himself, Valdrin spends a moment to channel the healing energy of Sarenrae into the fallen elf reviving him for the moment. Stepping back from the piercing swords, the cleric uses more mundane healing on himself, tending to his own wounds as well.
Still mixing her esoteric knowledge with battlefield prowess, Trista misses Yolcheta with her first attack, but her backswing hits the surprised bugbear, dealing her a fatal blow.
Still standing outside, Fentus attempts to cast a ray spell, but he also has a hard time finding a target in the dimness of the inner chamber. He still calls out to demoralize the remaining target and if his attacks are failing, at least he can get some reassurance that this worked, for a few seconds.
Barracks - Round 3
22 Olaf (arcane cascade active)
18 Serpens (11hp dmg)
21 Zephira (11hp dmg, frightened 1)
20 Fentus
16 Valdrin (3hp dmg)
13 Elise (8hp dmg)
12 Trista
Serpens awakens to find himself on the ground in a bloody heap, and the fight still raging. Leaping up, the elf fighter strikes again with his cane, but is a bit unsteady on his feet, and the attack misses.
With his first enemy down, Olaf slides across the room to strike out at the remaining enemy, after charging his magical energies.
"Hang on, hang on, hang on! This has gone a little far, yeah? We didn't mean to intrude on you! We're trying to look into the Bramblebrashers and why they've gone silent!" Elise keeps her hands on her shortbow, but lowers it in an attempt to call for peace.
Barracks - Round 3 - continued
After seeing one bugbear felled, Olaf recharges his crackling arcane energy then steps up to take on the remaining target. Attacking from behind, his strike is true, wounding Zephira who shrieks in rage and pain.
As Elise tries to mend fences, the remaining bugbear only curses, shouting "Before you invade my home, before you murder my sister! Then we talk! Then, not now!" She then seeks to return Olaf's attack, hitting the magus hard, and nearly dropping him in one blow. The bugbear then steps through the bed-fort, and heads towards the northern exit, striking again at Valdrin as she goes. Her blade slashes the cleric as well, but he avoids the worst of it; that could've been another killing blow.
CRIT!
CRIT!
oh, minimum dmg
Elise shrugs and then fires off several more shots. She hadn't expected the attempt to work, but she felt like she needed to at least try.
Crying out in pain, Valdrin uses his staff to keep his footing as the creature's blade cuts him deeply at it runs past. Groaning, he makes his way towards Fentus before looking at the beast, and shouting a command, "By her grace, may you LAY DOWN, AND PROSTRATE TO HER LIGHT!"
Fentus cursing the darkness in the room decides to finally do something about lighting this room up. Casting light on his Dagger, he strides into the room, providing bright light for the rest of the group.
"Can we save her sister? Is the creature already dead?"
With little regard for her own safety, Trista moves quickly to block the bugbear's exit. She takes a swipe at it with her sword.
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Staggering, and bleeding, from the massive slash of the giant goblin thing, Olaf hesitates to charge after the creature as it flees, barely able to stand after the blow he'd received.
Instead he starts chanting and points his blade, a flash of frost coursing down his blade and lancing out after the fleeing monster.
He then raises his shield and steadies his wobbly legs as best he can.
Barracks - Round 3 - concluded
Elise's shots on the remaining foe are once again foiled by the mixture of shadows and dimness, and she cannot draw a satisfactory bead.
After being hurt again, Valdrin calls out in a clear voice to the feisty bugbear. Imbued with divine energy, his command word works, and looks confused and will drop prone on her next turn.
Tired of not being able to see, Fentus enters the room and brings forth bright light into the center of the chamber, highlighting the wrecked beds and the prone foe.
Trista cuts off the now-prone bugbear and attacks it once, but her footing is not set, and she misses, even the prone target.
End of Round 3