V: Be sure and make the Acrobatics check. Sure, sure, I know you can fly, but you can't hover, so my assumption is you walk most places, especially with your -7 Fly skill!
Verilich walks deliberately as he scans.
Verilich moves cautiously along the rafters, his wings folded tightly against his back to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention. Each step is measured, as he focuses on not poking his feet through the rotting ceiling of the room below. The wood creaks slightly under his weight, but he is careful to distribute it evenly, maintaining his balance as he navigates the narrow beams.
As he walks deeper into the crawlspace, he scans the dimly lit area with a sharp eye, peering into every shadowy corner and crevice. Despite his thorough search, he finds nothing of interest—no hidden treasures, no lurking enemies, just the dust and decay that seem to envelop the entire building.
With a slight sigh of disappointment, Verilich continues his cautious exploration, determined to ensure that this space holds no surprises for his companions below.
"Confirmed. There is nothing up here in this room but the rafters do continue into the next room and the curve to the left."
Caius pushes open the door, his eyes narrowing as he steps into the chamber beyond. The moment he crosses the threshold, a foul odor assaults his senses, a noxious mix of decay and sewage that lingers heavily in the air.
Before him lies a dismal sight: the room has no floor, opening directly into the stagnant sump of a sewage pit below. The murky water churns slightly, as if disturbed by unseen currents beneath the surface. Above him, the charred remains of the ceiling loom ominously, their fire-blackened rafters exposed to the dim light filtering through the cracks in the walls.
In the southwest corner, he notices a crude ladder, hastily nailed to the wall, providing access to the rafters above. It looks rickety and unstable, but it is the only way up into the shadows that loom overhead. Caius takes a cautious step forward, scanning the room for any signs of danger or clues that might aid their quest.
Caius lets out a low, exasperated grunt, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Lovely," he mutters, glancing over his shoulder at the others. "Seems our wallowing in filth is far from over. This muck is becoming a common theme for us."
His gaze shifts to the rickety ladder nailed haphazardly to the southwest corner of the wall, leading up into the shadows of the exposed rafters above. He takes a cautious step forward, eyeing the ladder with skepticism. "I’d hate to think this was Natalya's idea of comfort," Caius comments, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "If this is where she’s chosen to hole up, she must’ve either lost her mind and developed a taste for the grotesque or truly fears being found."
He scans the room once more, his senses alert, not trusting anything in a place as rotten as this. "Keep your eyes open," he advises the group. "This pit reeks of more than just sewage—there's something off about this place."
Caius's discerning eye assesses the ladder closely, noting the splintered wood and rusted nails. It quickly becomes clear to him that this ladder is not sturdy enough to be climbed by a medium creature. The thought of risking an ascent on such a precarious structure sends a chill through him, urging caution as he considers their options in this foreboding chamber.
Caius surveys the room once more, his gaze lingering on the unstable floor and the dark pit below. Without wasting time, he pulls out his adventuring rope and begins securing one end to the sturdy frame of the door near him, wrapping it around the door's frame and a section of the wall to ensure it's well-anchored.
"Best not use the ladder. Like the other it will not bear much weight. I’m not trusting my footing in this pit of filth," he mutters as he works, his hands moving deftly. "Better to keep things steady."
With the rope secured, he gives it a firm tug to test its strength, satisfied that it will hold. He then tosses the other end of the rope across the room, aiming for the unexplored area toward the far door on his left. The rope sails through the air before landing near the other side, providing something to use to pull oneself out of the pit if needed.
"That should give some aid if sinking into whatever's lurking down there," Caius remarks, his eyes still wary as he glances toward the murky water. "I’ll go first, but keep your guard up. This place has more surprises than I care to deal with."
He grips the rope tightly, ready to make his way across, his senses attuned to the room’s every unsettling detail.
Caius will move along the wall adjacent toward the ladder, , happily sliding into the sludge should the need arise!
Caius safely navigates his way to the left.
Anyone else braving the scary empty room?
Khalid wait till Caius's next steps. "Might as well open that door, may give us another means to escape later." He suggests.
Caius will continue around the ledge and stealthily approach the door.
Then he will open the door while standing on the ladder side of it.
Caius grips the handle of the door to the west, pushing it open with a careful motion. As he peers inside, his expression darkens at the sight before him.
The room is floorless, with only an exposed septic pit where the floor should be. The stench of decay and filth rises from the pit, a reminder of the horrors that lie beneath. A dry sewer pipe extends from the wall of this pit, its mouth gaping like a silent sentinel.
His gaze shifts to the west wall, where a massive brick fireplace dominates the room, still anchored firmly in place, overlooking the repulsive sewage below. The hearth's once-warm embrace now seems a cruel irony amidst the dismal surroundings.
To his dismay, a ladder extends from the sewage pit to the fire-blackened hearth above, a precarious connection to whatever lies in the attic space. The ceiling has collapsed in this room as well, revealing the attic above and creating an unsettling atmosphere.
Caius stands at the threshold, contemplating the ominous nature of this room and the challenges it presents.
Caius, roll Perception.
Verilich remains in the rafters and flies over to the corner to peer down into both rooms.
"Let me know if you want me to carry the rope somewhere vice having to toss it."
Verilich steps cautiously across the threshold into the dimly lit room, his senses heightened as he takes in the unsettling surroundings. The stench of decay and filth hangs heavy in the air, but he remains vigilant, ready for any signs of danger.
As he moves further in, two small, bat-like creatures suddenly burst forth from the shadows, their wings beating furiously as they swoop toward him. Their beady eyes glint in the dim light, and their needle-like proboscis is pointed right at Verilich.
The first creature lunges at him, but Verilich instinctively dodges aside, its claws just missing him as it flits past. However, the second creature proves more cunning. It darts in low, finding purchase on his arm with its sharp claws, quickly sinking its fangs into his flesh, and it's proboscis into his flesh.
A rush of warmth floods Verilich’s senses as the creature begins to suck his blood, its tiny body pressing against him as it feasts. The initial shock sends a jolt of adrenaline through him, and he instinctively swats at the creature, trying to dislodge the parasitic intruder from his arm.
vs FF, Touch AC
vs FF, Touch AC
The creature sucks 1 CON out of Verilich.
Initiative
Ghaernan <== Up
Caius <== Up
Khalid <== Up
S1 (Purple)
Verilich
Gundar
S2 (Blue)
As Verilich struggles against the creature draining his blood, his gaze darts further down the room, seeking to assess the situation. Amidst the shadows, he spots a human female whose features catch his eye—this must be Natalya, the very target of their search. Her expression is tense, and she stands with a mix of defiance and urgency, clearly unhappy at having been found in her hideout.
However, his relief at spotting her quickly fades as he notices the two goblins lurking nearby, each armed with a crossbow. They crouch low, their beady eyes locked onto him, plotting their next move. The goblins seem intent on keeping Natalya safe, and their readiness to strike reveals the dire situation unfolding before him.
With the urgency of the moment pressing down on him, Verilich knows he must free himself from the clutches of the bloodsucker.
Initiative:
Ghaernan <== Up
Caius <== Up
Natalya (Not in yet)
Khalid <== Up
S1 (Purple)
Goblin 2 (Purple) (Not in yet)
Goblin 1 (Pink) (Not in yet)
Verilich
Gundar
S2 (Blue)
[dice=Perception]1d20+4
Caius is vaguely aware of his surroundings.
Verilich, you are grappled by the small beast, which seems odd, but what can I say. You can escape by grappling back, or escape artist.
"AHHHH! Nasty huge mosquitos! " Then upon seeing goblins and Natalya, he will answer the bard via magical whisper, who will inevitably ask what is going on through the message spell, "There are 2 goblin sharp shooters and Natalya up in the rafters of the far room. It appears that the goblins are guarding her safety. Do you want to engage or parlay, while I deal with these bugs?"
Ghaernan's eyes widen in surprise at Verilich's discovery of Natalya apparently lairing in the upper reaches of this dilapidated, reeking hovel. Something is indeed off about this circumstance, as Caius observed. The Bard has a Message to convey...
"Verilich, if possible, please drop back down in our midst, and let us help you with your mosquito problems - then I can talk with Natalya!"
And then spoken to the other three...
"The Wyvaran is under attack by giant mosquitos, but he also perceives he's found Natalya and two goblin sharpshooters farther in. I've asked him to try and drop down among us to help end his immediate threat, after which I can try and make contact with her..."
Remaining out of sight of the aforementioned goblin snipers, Caius releases a javelin from its sling and hurls it at the huge mosquito that is grappling Verilich.
Khalid will drop his torch into the corner of the room where it has the best chance of not slipping into the muck. He will then carefully follow the wall until his horsechopper can reach a mosquito.
V: Be sure and make the Acrobatics check. Sure, sure, I know you can fly, but you can't hover, so my assumption is you walk most places, especially with your -7 Fly skill!
Khalid attacks the non-grappled one.
Ghaernan quickly relays Verilich’s report to the rest of the group, urgency lacing his words as he describes the sighting of Natalya and the two goblins lurking nearby.
As the gravity of the situation sinks in, Caius takes swift action, hurling a javelin toward the creature that has attached itself to Verilich. He launches it with precision, but the javelin goes wide, missing its mark and clattering harmlessly against the wall.
Khalid, not one to hesitate, decides to clear his hands for a more decisive strike. He tosses a torch into the corner, igniting it with a flick of his wrist, then draws his trusty horsechopper. With determination fueling his movements, he turns to face the bloodsucking creature still airborne. In a powerful swing, he brings the weapon down with brutal force, transforming the pest into a gooey mess that splatters against the wall.
Ghaernan
Caius
Natalya (Not in yet)
Khalid
S1 (Purple) - Destroyed
Goblin 2 (Purple) (Not in yet)
Goblin 1 (Pink) (Not in yet)
Verilich <== Up
Gundar <== Up
S2 (Blue)
With the parasite removed from his skin, Verilich will flurry upon the remaining mosquito attacking him
seeing no more threat, Verilich will look towards Natalya and smile...then drop towards his companions as requested by the bard.
Gundar asks, Anyone wounded?
Verilich destroys the remaining bloodsucker and drops down a level.
Gundar determines that no one is injured (except for blood drain that I don't believe he can fix quite yet).
We are back to the top of the order...
Ghaernan <== Up
Caius <== Up
Natalya
Khalid
Goblin 2 (Purple)
Goblin 1 (Pink)
Verilich
Gundar
Gundar determines that no one is injured (except for blood drain that I don't believe he can fix quite yet).
Ghaernan looks across the floorless room and through the open western door into the open-ceilinged chamber beyond, recognizing that Natalya and her goblin sharpshooters can be no further than 40' away. He raises his most charming voice as he seeks to peacefully and earnestly engage her...
"Natalya, at long last we've found you! Venture Captain Sheila Heidmarch sends her regards and concerns; she has been most worried at not hearing from you, and fears for your safety with the conflict now known to have arisen with the Tower Girls. I'm Ghaernan Barova, a Pathfinder likewise in service to our Venture Captain, and I and my companions are here to help on her orders. Regrettably we had to convince your Varisian guards outside in a somewhat physical manner, but have even spared their lives as a token of goodwill. Please, if you will, come and parley, and let us discuss how we might be of service to help you under her gracious guidance..."
Rolls in advance for Diplomacy, Perception, and Sense Motive, to use as appropriate!
From the shadows, Natalya’s voice emerges, dripping with a mix of disdain and allure as she responds to Ghaernan's honeyed words. “I have no interest in serving such a weak one as Sheila Heidmarch,” she declares, her tone sharp and confident. “I was hoping that you had come to join my band and follow me instead—starting with you.”
As the last syllable leaves her lips, she intones some magical syllables and...
Initiative:
Ghaernan
Caius
Natalya
Khalid <== Up
Goblin 2 (Purple)
Goblin 1 (Pink)
Verilich
Gundar
The act of casting breaks her stealth for any that can see into her end of the loft.
Caius, acting immediately after Natalya, seeing Natalya and the gobbos ( ) perched on the rafters, hurls a javelin in the vicinity of one of the goblins. He then steps through he doorway and starts around the room.
Ghaernan is caught off-guard by the unexpected tone of her response, but immediately keys in on the casting of a spell from Natalya…
Ghaernan, it was charm person.
Caius is unaffected, and really didn’t feel anything. He’s an Outsider, and this immune to that spell.
Caius’ javelin hits Natalya.
Khalid is up, and he does not see the goblins. I’m not sure if Natalya is illuminated for Khalid, he can tell when he is in Roll20. His torch is laying on the ground in that corner, and I believe it is an object Khalid can pick up and move in Roll20.
Khalid will wade back into the muck and double move.
With malicious glee, the purple and pink goblins take aim at Caius, their small fingers deftly pulling the triggers of their crossbows. The air crackles with tension as they unleash their bolts, the projectiles whizzing through the dim light of the chamber.
Caius, ever vigilant, sidesteps instinctively, narrowly avoiding the first bolt that sails past him, embedding itself harmlessly into the wall behind. The second goblin follows suit, its shot equally ineffectual as the bolt arcs wide, missing him by mere inches.
Both goblins snarl in frustration, their confidence shaken as they prepare for their next move, but for now, Caius remains unscathed, ready to retaliate against the attackers.
Initiative:
Ghaernan <== Up Rd2
Caius <== Up Rd2
Natalya <== Injured
Khalid
Goblin 2 (Purple)
Goblin 1 (Pink)
Verilich <== Up Rd1
Gundar <== Up Rd1
Verilich flies back up to the spot where he was attacked by the mosquitos and he saw the three targets, and then flies across to land next to the pink goblin...and attacks it.
“ Now my passivity friend has requested parley. That means we want to talk instead of kill. But let me know if you want to go the “kill route”.”