Satisfied that nothing nasty awaits Trinity puts her ear to the door as she tries to manipulate the lock. Listening as the tumbler tries, and fails, to fall into place she curses silently in frustration as she is unable to pick the lock.
After reporting back, Trinity tucks away the tools she was using. “The front doors are locked. I made an unsuccessful attempt to pick them. Currently, I don’t see any lookouts, which is strange considering what he likely has going on here. I could continue working on the front door if we intend to enter that way, but it could take a fair amount of time. The lock is adequately difficult.”
"We could try the back door," Gerinel suggests. "It'd probably be how Gaedren flees if we were to come in through the front door, and while Gobblegut was always a mean cuss of an animal, he's just an animal. If it is Gobblegut anyway. Lots of things have claws. Could even be Gaedren himself if he hasn't trimmed his toenails for a few months. Personal hygiene was never a strength of his."
"You saw one on the other side, plus the double front doors, plus this one along the side here, right? That means there is a bolt hole regardless of which way we go in. I don't know that I care which one we use. I doubt he uses the double doors, on the street, where he'll be seen."
”Perhaps we should check the third door first, see if it’s easier to open than the front doors? Regardless I think we should avoid the back door. Otherwise the animal, whatever it is, might make noise and alert Lamm.” Then she flushes slightly and admits, ”Unfortunately I don’t know any spells that would help with either reconnaissance or getting inside. So, um, that’s my suggestion but I’ll defer to those with more expertise.”
"We could try to disable or secure the doors that we don't intend to use. That might slow down any attempt of him escaping."
"Do we have a quick way to do that? Time is not on our side and we could be seen at any moment."
"Some rope tying the double doors to one another would be quick. Disabling the others might take a bit longer, depending on what needs to be done. If we proceed with this, we will need to decide which door we intend to use."
The monk hesitantly pulls a long coil of fine silk rope from his pack, then hands it to Trinity. ”I have doubts about catching Lamm this night. But we might prevent some of the little Lamm’s or his henchmen from fleeing. Please try to not hack up my rope, if possible. I suggest you secure both sets of double-doors and we try to go in through a side door.”
To that end, Hei-wa ghosts around the corner quietly and listens at the side door he hasn’t checked.
Trinity nods, gathers the rope, and then heads back to the double doors. Using the silk rope, she begins tying the two door handles to one another. After making a couple loops around the handles, she secures the rope tightly and then heads back to the group.
"OK, it's done."
Gerinel nods as Trinity and Hei-wa enact their plan.
"Lead the way," he says when they finish.
"Works, I guess. Which way in?"
Hei-wa makes his way across the boardwalk along the south side of the building. The algae covered slats groan ominously beneath him as he stops at the side door.
Pressing his ear to the door he can hear the sound of chalk being dragged across a slate and someone inside muttering numbers, figures, and sums to himself.
That sound abruptly ceases as one of the boards gives a loud creak as it settles under his weight.
Sh!t… He rolls his eyes at the noise. Fortune favors the bold, I hope.
Without shifting his weight again, Hei-wa waves to his allies then makes a furious chopping motion to the door. Then, without hesitation, he throws himself at the door, hoping to break it down.
Following suit, Trinity keeps a five-foot distance between herself and the sneak. When he throws himself against the door, she draws her whip and prepares to engage.
(I suppose attempting to smash the door open is a bit dramatic, but I would have tried opening the door fist.)
Seeing Hei-wa gesture frantically to them before slamming himself against the door, Yelena also moves forward. She doesn't get too close though; she has no illusions about her ability to help break through the wood. Instead she pauses just before stepping on the boardwalk to make sure her crossbow is loaded.
Hei-wa throws himself against the door, causing it to splinter open. Inside he sees a small office. A wooden desk sits in one corner of this room, its side preventing the western door from opening all the way. The desk is heaped with dozens of slate boards covered with chalk scrawls, while to the east a cabinet slouches against the wall. A door in the eastern wall leads deeper into the fishery. Behind the desk stands a man whose sour looking face is framed by short, blonde hair. He is well dressed, even if the style of his clothes is a couple of decades out of date.
As Hei-wa smashes open the door he pulls a wand from his sleeve while shouting out "Wake up, fools! We have company."
[u]Initiative:[/u]
It's all going wrong. They haven't even entered the fishery yet and they've already been caught. Lamm's going to get away. He's going to take Victor away.
No!
Yelena's lip curls as she rushes into the room, although she maintains enough presence of mind to immediately step sideways so as not to block the path of other, better fighters. Taking one hand off her crossbow she shoves it into her pocket. The familiar feel of her grandmother's deck lends power to her words as she snarls. "Shut. Up."
Seeing things beginning, the old sailor rushes into help control the space. He prepares to defend himself as required.
2) If that exceeds the attacker's attack roll, the attacker automatically misses, and I can Riposte (if I have a positive Panache total at this point). The "fun" part is that neither the attacker's roll nor mine have to be big enough to score a hit. I just have to roll better.
3) "Standard" Attack roll vs attacker
Whomp-whomp-waaaaaaa.
4) If The Opportune Parry was triggered, Tawni has 1 Panache remaining.
Seeing the group begin to move in, Trinity hesitates a moment to get a better bearing on the situation.
Round 1
Yelena dodges into the room, stepping aside to let the others in. As Yargin calls out she orders him to shut up as she casts a spell.
Tawni, buoyed by nervous energy, bounds past everyone and rushes by Hei-wa to confront the man in the room.
Yargin raises his wand and aims it at the Tian man standing in the doorway only for him to stop with his arm half raised, his eyes losing focus, as Yelena's spell takes hold.
Round 1
Hei-wa exhales with relief as the wand-wielder’s eyes glaze over. He glances at Yelena as he races past her. I owe her a thank you. He crowds ‘wandy’ and delivers a poorly-aimed punch at the man’s throat.
Stunning Fist (1):
Effects:
x = none
Almost immediately after Hei-Wa enters the building, Trinity heads in and begins uncoiling her whip. Without delay, she brings the whip back and then sends it forward with a loud crack.
Gerinel draws his sword and starknife as they open the door, and gives the tallyman a stern look upon following the others in. Seeing the opportunity Yelena has created for them, he moves forward to join the other boys in taking him down!
Hei-wa swings his fist at Yargin but reaching over the desk causes him to lose his balance as his strike goes wide.
Trinity uncoils her whip and cracks the air next to Yargin's ear, causing the old man to flinch away from the attack, and towards Tawni's waiting attack.
Gerinal runs into the room to confront Yargin as the man cowers behind the desk.
Round #2
Yelena and Tawni are up.
"Yargin!" Gerinel growls, recognizing the man.
"What, you don't recognize us?!" he taunts.
Yelena sees Yargin's eyes starting to clear and makes sure the first gaze he meets is her own. "Lamm's not going to get away with his crimes any more...and neither will you. I'll make sure of it."
The sailor attempts the most basic combat action he knows. Put the blade in the other fella before he does it to you.
1) Uses his AoO and a Panache point if triggered by an attack.
2) If that exceeds the attacker's attack roll, the attacker automatically misses, and I can Riposte (if I have a positive Panache total at this point). The "fun" part is that neither the attacker's roll nor mine have to be big enough to score a hit. I just have to roll better.
3) "Standard" Attack roll vs attacker
This is really not funny. Really. And the ward for the most incompetent swordsman goes to . . .. The dicebot?
4) If The Opportune Parry was triggered, Tawni has 1 Panache remaining.
Yargin shudders as if someone had walked across his grave as he makes eye contact with Yelena "F%&$ you, Witch" he spits out vehemently as her curse strikes.
As he flinches away from Trinity's whip, Yargin catches Tawni's attck out of the corner of his eye and continues moving his head away from the Swashbuckler's blade as it slides past his ear.
He looks perplexed at Gerinel's question as he seems to be wracking his brain on just who these intruders are and what they want "I have no idea who you are. We get so many mewling brats go through here that I just can't remember them all." He looks at the door behind Tawni as he shouts "Get in here, you idiots. We're under attack." we waves his wand around before pointing it at Gerinel and muttering the command word.
A blob of acid spits forth from the wand and flies toward the Warpriest. He curses again as the bolt sails past Gerinel and sizzles against the wall.
Everyone tries to take advantage of Yargin's distraction but only Tawni is able to strike. Yargin hisses in pain as the swordsman's blade buries itself in his shoulder.
Round 2
Hei-wa throws a couple weak punches at the slippery old man.
Stunning Fist (1):
Effects:
x = none
He looks perplexed at Gerinel's question as he seems to be wracking his brain on just who these intruders are and what they want "I have no idea who you are. We get so many mewling brats go through here that I just can't remember them all." He looks at the door behind Tawni as he shouts "Get in here, you idiots. We're under attack." we waves his wand around before pointing it at Gerinel and muttering the command word.
"That's right, and some of those mewling brats have returned for some payback! Desna's decided your luck AND Gaedren's has run out!"
A blob of acid spits forth from the wand and flies toward the Warpriest. He curses again as the bolt sails past Gerinel and sizzles against the wall.
Gerinel raises an eyebrow as the acid misses him and smirks, as if to say "See what I mean?"
Everyone tries to take advantage of Yargin's distraction but only Tawni is able to strike. Yargin hisses in pain as the swordsman's blade buries itself in his shoulder.
While he misses with the opportunity, Gerinel tries to strike again and finish Yargin off.
His swings are wide and clumsy.
Hei-wa's fists blur as he strikes at the man behind the desk almost faster than the eye can follow. Unfortunately he fails to land any telling blow.
Trinity flicks her whip out again, this time on the opposite side of Yargin's head causing the man to jerk to the opposite side, bringing him closer to Hei-wa.
Yargin's cowardice may have saved his life as he moves away from Trinity's whip he also moves away from Gerinel's attacks as the Warpriest's blades whoosh through the empty space he had occupied just moments before.
Round #3
Team A (Tawni and Yelena)
Yargin's calls for help has Hei-wa glancing at the doors by Tawni and Yelena - wondering how quickly one or both door would burst open with additional threats.
"I've heard more than enough from you, sirra. Sit down and be quiet."
If the Opportune Parry is used, Tawni will have 1 Panache available.
Seeing that Yargin is not attacking with mundane weaponry, Yelena’s eyes flicker rapidly between the wand and Yargin’s face. ”I don’t think you actually know how to use that, do you?” There’s a hint of prophecy in her words as she twists Desna’s luck away from the man.
"This is my wand and I do know how to use it." Yargin says to Yelena, as much as to himself, as a glimmer of doubt creeps into his eyes. Still he manages to shoot a blob of acid from the wand at Tawni.
Tawni takes the brunt of the acid bolt on his armor as it sizzles the leather but some of it manages to burn his exposed skin, although his focus on Tawni leaves him exposed to attacks by all three men surrounding him and all but Tawni strike.
"Get in here you idiots, they're killing me!" Yargin yells out, his voice rising a few octaves in desperation. Realizing the dire straights he's in Yargin drops the wand on the desk and draws his dagger.
As if on cue the door behind Tawni attempts to open, bumping the Swashbuckler in the back, but his body blocks the door from completely opening. You can hear a voice form the other room say "The door is blocked, Yargin, you're on you own." the voice then laughs "Good luck with that, but thanks for warning us."
Seeing the man is literally surrounded, Trinity continues to distract him with the long reach of her scorpion whip.
Round 3
A grim smile crosses Hei-wa's face at the loyalty displayed by Yargin's men. No honor among thieves. I can work with that.
Bolstered by the distraction Trinity’s whip provides, the monk fires a stamp kick then a flat palm punch at Lamm’s lieutenant.
Stunning Fist (1):
Effects:
x = none
Gerinel joins in attacking Yargin anew.
"That's the thing about men like Gaedren, Yargin. When you need them most, they'll abandon you to save themselves. The question is, would you do the same?"
With Trinity causing Yargin to divide his attention away from Hei-wa he is able to land two solid punches causing the older man to stagger, leaving him vulnerable to Gerinel's blade as it slices across his chest. Panting and bleeding profusely Yargin's eyes widen as he realizes his life of crime is about to end.
Round 4
"Surrender, Yargin. Better to be imprisoned than dead." Yelena hopes he takes her advice; she'd doesn't want to kill anyone unnecessarily. Rather than send more bad luck his way she splits her attention between the door that almost opened and the one at her back. If another of Lamm's lackeys tries to enter she wants to be ready.
"You don't take good advice. Pity."
As Yargin listens to Yelena's plea to give up Tawni's blade pierces his armor. As the old man looks at the spreading pool of crimson across his chest as gasps his last breath as he falls to the floor, unconscious.
Gerinel grimaces a bit as Yargin falls. He'd wanted to give him at least a chance to say yes or no to Yelena's offer...but he also remembered the sting of Yargin's beatings in the past, and he figured Tawni remembered them too. He couldn't deny him that retribution. At least, it wasn't worth arguing about now.
"Let's get ready...the rest of those bastards are going to be ready for us."
While the rest of the group contemplates the demise of the thug, Trinity slides over and begins searching.
"Be prepared. I suspect more thugs are in rout or are preparing for us close by."
Hei-wa presses an ear to the door by Tawni, hoping to get some idea of who many are awaiting them and how close they are to the door.
Yelena relaxes her grip on her prepared spell. "Should we go after them now, before they have a chance to prepare?" Even as she talks she searches through her pockets for anything that could resemble bandages. Finding only a long scarf, she winces but nevertheless kneels down to quickly wrap it around the worst of Yargin's wounds. Sorry Titia; I'll buy you a new one later.
"I have some rope if anyone could tie him up. I don't think he'll wake anytime soon but it's better to be safe." Although she talks as if it's a foregone conclusion that they'll leave Yargin alive and take him to the guard later, her shoulders are still stiff while she works. She knows how much this man or others like him had hurt Tawni and Gerinel. Mercy certainly isn't what he deserves, and she wouldn't blame anyone for protesting against her offer of it.
While Yelena uses her scarf to stop the blood flowing from Yargin's many wounds Trinity takes a look over the unconscious body.
With a cursory glance at the body you find
Wand
Dagger
Leather armor
a pair of keys on a ring (one brass, one iron)
a Garnet pendant
3 vials labeled Acid
a Thunderstone
Behind the desk are a light crossbow and a bolt case w/10 bolts.
Hei-wa presses his ear to the western door but is unable to hear anything in the room beyond.