Always violence first with these girls. Enough already! Verilich sees that Caius already has engaged the first of the two, so he maneuvers behind the second one to prevent escape.
With his 3-section staff in hand, Verilich strikes a powerful blow
As the clash erupts down the corridor, the echoes of movement and shouted threats spur Ghaernan into action. The bard sprints toward the source of the conflict, his feet carrying him quickly to the rear of his companions. He halts just behind Khalid and Caius, his sharp eyes scanning the unfolding melee ahead. The flickering light of the torch casts chaotic shadows against the ancient Thassilonian stonework, highlighting the struggle.
Ghaernan's brow furrowing as he assesses the fight, readying himself to lend support when the opportunity arises.
Caius, fueled by the adrenaline of combat, charges boldly toward the first Tower Girl he sees, his fiery heritage lending an intensity to his movements. With practiced precision, he bounds over the tripwire and rounds the corner, closing the distance swiftly. His silvered greatsword arcs through the air with force, but the nimble Tower Girl ducks under the swing, the blade whistling harmlessly past her head.
“You’ll have to do better than that!” she taunts, her confidence unwavering.
Meanwhile, Verilich narrows his eyes at the second Tower Girl, frustration flickering in his draconic features. “Always violence first with these girls. Enough already!” he hisses, darting forward with the fluid grace of a predator. As Caius engages the first opponent, Verilich maneuvers behind the second, cutting off any chance of retreat.
The Tower Girl, still holding her short sword, reacts with a quick slash, attempting to catch Verilich as he passes. Her blade slices through the air, but the wyvaran’s agility saves him, and the strike misses by a wide margin.
With his three-section staff in hand, Verilich spins into a powerful counterattack, the weapon whipping through the air with a sharp crack. Yet, the Tower Girl deftly sidesteps his strike, her smirk growing as she maintains her defensive position.
The combatants remain locked in a tense stalemate for the moment, the sound of clashing weapons and taunts filling the narrow space as the fight continues.
Round 1
Khalid
Tellavee
Yazlenda
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar <== Up!
Round 2
Khalid <== Up!
Tellavee
Yazlenda
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar
Khalid will follow Caius's lead, charging the one Tower Girl he can see, attempting to put her on the ground.
The chaotic din of battle continues to echo through the ancient hall as Khalid charges forward, his horsechopper gripped tightly in his hands. His eyes lock onto the southernmost Tower Girl, her stance betraying a lack of readiness for the fierce alchemist’s approach. With a sharp twist of his weapon, Khalid sweeps her legs out from under her.
The Tower Girl collapses to the ground, hitting the cold stone floor with a grunt of pain and frustration.
From the east, Gundar’s heavy footfalls echo as he barrels up the corridor, his stout dwarven frame a blur of determination. He slows as he nears the tripwire, his keen eye spotting the thin string stretched across the floor. With a bellow, he halts just short of it, gripping his weapon and scanning the melee ahead.
His gaze darts about to assess his companions’ positions.
Meanwhile, the northernmost Tower Girl, undeterred by the fierce onslaught, turns her focus to Verilich. With precision and fury, she lashes out with her short sword, the blade glinting in the torchlight. The strike finds its mark, slicing deeply into the wyvaran’s side. Blood wells up from the wound, staining his scaled hide as the force of the blow causes him to stagger slightly.
“Seems I’m not the only one with a bite,” she sneers, her confidence bolstered by the damage dealt.
Verilich clenches his jaw, the pain radiating through his body, but his resolve remains unbroken. The battle rages on, the ancient stonework of the Crow bearing silent witness to the bloody struggle.
As the prone Tower Girl to the south grits her teeth and begins to push herself up from the floor, her movements leave her wide open to retaliation. Both Caius and Khalid, weapons already poised, seize the opportunity to strike.
Round 2
Khalid
Tellavee
Yazlenda Rising!
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius AOO!
Gundar
Round 3
Khalid AOO!
Tellavee
Yazlenda
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar
Khalid tries to make Yazlenda fleetingly regret her decisions in life.
Caius strikes as Yazlenda attempts to rise.
19-20/x2 S
As the prone Tower Girl struggles to rise, Khalid and Caius see their opening and swing in unison. Khalid's horsechopper whistles through the air, its blade slicing just shy of her torso, while Caius’s sword arcs down with precision but clatters off the uneven stone floor, missing its mark by a breath.
Unscathed but clearly rattled, the Tower Girl stumbles to her feet, her eyes darting with determination. She takes a step to the south, repositioning to better face Caius, and lunges forward with her shortsword. The strike, though earnest, glances off his armor, leaving Caius unscathed but locked in the heated engagement.
The dim torchlight flickers ominously against the stone walls, casting the chaotic melee into sharp relief as the battle continues to unfold.
Round 2
Khalid
Tellavee
Yazlenda
Ghaernan <== Up!
Verilich <== Up!
Caius <== Up!
Gundar <== Up!
Round 3
Khalid <== Up!
Tellavee
Yazlenda
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar
This isn't good. But I cannot let her warn others.
Verilich flurry blows with his sansetsukon
Clearly taken aback by the onslaught from this one, Verilich is unable to connect either blow.
Through the whispered message spell "I'm afraid that I'm not doing very back here."
Facing his elusive opponent, Caius unleashes further onslaught.
19-20/x2 S
Verilich snarls, his wyvaran claws gleaming faintly in the flickering light as he lashes out twice at the Tower Girl who had just dealt him a grievous blow. His first swipe grazes the air just beside her, and the second strikes the stone wall with a sharp scrape, both attacks missing their mark. The Tower Girl sneers, emboldened by her survival against the furious onslaught.
Nearby, Caius pivots with precision, his molten gaze locking onto Yazlenda. With a fluid motion, he raises his greatsword high and swings in a brutal arc. The blade bites deep into her side, the force of the strike sending her crumpling to the ground. Blood pools quickly beneath her as her body goes limp, her lifeless eyes staring into the darkened chamber.
The tension thickens in the room, the clang of weapons and ragged breaths the only sounds, as the fight continues to rage.
Round 2
Khalid
Tellavee
Yazlenda - Dying
Ghaernan <== Up!
Verilich
Caius
Gundar <== Up!
Round 3
Khalid <== Up!
Tellavee
Yazlenda - Dying
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar
Khalid will step up and try to put Tellavee on the ground.
Khalid trips the Tower Girl.
Round 2
Khalid
Tellavee
Yazlenda - Dying
Ghaernan <== Up!
Verilich
Caius
Gundar <== Up!
Round 3
Khalid
Tellavee
Yazlenda - Dying
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar
Recognizing the imperative to prevent the last of the known Tower Girl threats from escaping, the Bard slides his pack to the ground beside Gundar, crosses over the revealed trip wire, and strides to the near-center of the chamber beyond it, before again drawing the twisted woolen ring of cord on his free hand's ring finger into an arcane spell, in a rushed whisper targeting the surviving Tower Girl with a Daze Spell...
Through the Message Spell to Verelich: "Perhaps this will 'give her pause' before she can wield her weapons again..."
DC 14 Will Save, targeting the Tower Girl between Verelich and Khalid. Thanks!
The remaining Tower Girl's face droops, and her eyes glaze a little as the spell takes hold.
Gundar, hearing that Verilich was pretty beat up, bravely double moves across the intersection, headed to heal the Wyvaran!
Round 3
Khalid
Tellavee - Dazed and Prone
Yazlenda - Dying
Ghaernan <== Up!
Verilich <== Up!
Caius <== Up!
Gundar <== Up!
Round 4
Khalid <== Up!
Tellavee - Dazed and Prone
Yazlenda - Dying
Ghaernan
Verilich
Caius
Gundar
Verilich takes advantage of the stunned look to repay the favor of violence.
Verilich probably finished her off, but in case not:
Verilich strikes the dazed, prone, and flanked Tower Girl as easily as a child might hit a stationary piñata, after lifting his blindfold to his forehead. She crumbles to the ground, dying.
Combat Over
Gundar will take out the wand and go to work on Verilich's wounds!
Who's still hurt? Gundar asks while looking around.
Verilich is grateful to Gundar, for the first two hits from the wand. He is now full strength and returns to the scouting ahead mission.
The fountain on the western wall has a demon shaped face that spits the water into the basin. There is no drain, but somehow the basin isn't overflowing.
Verilich has moved ahead, so down the corridor to his East the room has the following box text "The eastern wall of this room is buried under an ancient pile of rubble. Sitting near the entrance is a wooden crate and a dull gray amphora." give me a Perception check if you move down into that room.
On to his Northwest, the corridors extends 50' or so, and then turns to the right.
Verilich finds: The amphora is worth 35 gp, but also holds 486 gp worth of ancient Thassilonian coins (98 coins in all). Buried in the straw of the crate is a bronze statuette depicting a rune giant in full battle regalia worth 300 gp.
Assuming you move on back to the main corridor, and further down, you come to stone stairs that go DOWN! They are very similar to the ones that brought you up here, but these go in the other direction.
And Gundar keeps jotting down notes on his hand drawn map of the place.
Verilich will relay all of the scouting and loot information to Ghaernan through the message spell and allow any of the loot whores behind him to collect the party treasure.
"Are we ready to proceed downward towards the next shard?"
The two you just defeated were carrying "Standard Tower Girl Gear Kit A" otherwise known as:
smokestick, tanglefoot bags (2); Other Gear studded leather, hand crossbow with 10 bolts, short sword, climber’s kit, grappling hook with 50-foot silk rope (see page 65), hooded lantern, oil, second-story harness, thieves’ tools, 15 gp
Pleased with the relative efficiency of their collective tactics this time, Ghaernan walks back briefly to retrieve his backpack, slinging it over one shoulder as before while gathering the smaller valuable items among the ancient coins, the bronze statuette, and the Tower Girls' equipment. The Bard ensures a functional distribution among his companions, then helps to collect the remainder in the wooden crate, replacing the straw where necessary with the heavier, less portable gear for later trading.
"Excellent finds, Verelich; glad to see that Gundar has returned you to full strength after those serious wounds. You're amassing an impressive collection of scars, it would seem, perhaps some fierce 'enhancements' of great value among female wyvarans? I shall endeavor to capture the heroism of such moments in future verse and prose, but for the moment I'd say, 'Yes'; let's start the descent into this ancient monolith - the next shard indeed awaits!"
"Yes, let us press forward! Lead on pincushion."
The group begins their descent down yet another set of ancient stone stairs, the faint echoes of their footsteps filling the corridor as they move. These steps, like those traversed earlier, show the telltale marks of time—worn edges and smoothed surfaces, their craftsmanship a testament to the longevity of Thassilonian stonework. A faint draft of cooler air wafts upward, carrying with it the faintest hints of earth and stone, a subtle reminder of the depths they are entering.
Unlike their prior climb, this staircase descends only a short distance before ending at a wide landing. As you reach the bottom, the stonework opens into a massive chamber, easily 50 feet across in each direction. The walls bear the same ancient marks as the staircase, carved with precision and layered with grime and dust accumulated over millennia.
The room itself is dimly lit by Khalid's wayfinder, its magical light reflecting off the smooth stone surfaces. Shadows flicker across the walls, giving the sense of a space both vast and eerily quiet. Rubble and debris are scattered across the floor, broken fragments of whatever once occupied this chamber. The air feels heavy, almost expectant, as if the room itself is watching.
From your vantage point on the western side of the chamber, you can see three potential paths branching out from this central room. To the north, a wide, arched doorway looms, its frame cracked but still standing strong. To the east, a narrower hallway stretches into darkness, its exact destination obscured. To the south, another passage beckons.
The group pauses briefly to take in the surroundings, their earlier battles and wounds momentarily forgotten in the anticipation of what lies ahead. This space, a crossroads in the labyrinthine structure of the Crow, holds the promise of both danger and discovery.
With weapons ready and hearts steeled, you step into the chamber, prepared to explore its secrets and the paths beyond.
"Pincousin indeed." Verilich smiles and winks as he floats of into the chamber, observing the right hand rule of dungeon crawling.
With a silent beat of his wings, Verilich glides forward, keeping low to the ground and close to the wall. His sharp wyvaran eyes scan ahead, darkvision cutting through the gloom as he approaches the southern passage. The corridor narrows slightly before opening to a large portal on his right. Hugging the wall, Verilich carefully leans to peer into the chamber beyond.
Inside, the room is lit dimly by a hooded lantern atop one of two makeshift wooden tables. The tables are rugged affairs, fashioned from planks and trestles, their surfaces marked by scratches and stains of dubious origin. To the south, a wide alcove houses the scorched remnants of countless fires, ashes and soot piled thick against the stone walls. Standing ominously within the alcove is a stone statue of a beautiful woman wielding a ranseur, its features worn yet still commanding an air of authority.
At the southernmost table, three Tower Girls sit hunched over a game of cards, their faces illuminated by the flickering lantern light. The murmur of their voices and occasional bouts of laughter fill the air, their focus entirely on their game—until now.
The girl nearest the portal catches the faint sound of Verilich’s movement, her head snapping up sharply. Rising from her seat, she narrows her eyes and steps toward the lantern. With a quick motion, she removes the hood from the lantern, flooding the room with bright light. Shadows scatter across the walls, revealing the full expanse of the chamber and leaving nowhere to hide.
“Oi, someone’s out there!” she announces loudly, her hand dropping to the short sword at her side as her sharp gaze fixes on the shadows near the doorway.
The other two girls quickly glance up, squinting against the sudden brightness. Their hands hover over their weapons as they turn toward the disturbance, their expressions shifting from idle amusement to wary readiness.
Round 1
Caius <== Up
Cassa
Lisimandy
Gundar
Ghaernan
Verilich
Khalid
Derru
Caius double moves to catch up to Verilich.
Two of the Tower Girls spring into action, their card game forgotten as they scramble to respond. The one furthest from the door grabs the hooded lantern, its light filling the room with a stark, flickering light. Shadows dance across the ancient stone walls, casting a surreal glow over the room as the pair moves in unison toward the archway.
The lead Tower Girl, her short sword already drawn, raises a hand crossbow as they reach the threshold. Without hesitation, she takes aim at the faint movement in the corridor beyond and fires. The bolt hisses through the air, but it sails wide, ricocheting harmlessly off the worn stone of the archway.
“Whoever you are, you’ve made a mistake coming here!” she snarls, her companion standing just behind her, lantern in one hand, her other holding the hilt of her own blade. The light pours into the corridor, erasing the shadows and fully illuminating the wyvaran at the entrance.
Round 1
Caius
Cassa
Lisimandy
Gundar <== Up
Ghaernan <== Up
Verilich <== Up
Khalid <== Up
Derru
"Always violence first. So be it." Verilich steps forward and flurries his 3-section staff.
As before, Ghaernan slides his pack to the ground beside Gundar, and strides rapidly to the southern corridor, stopping just where he's able to perceive the Tower Girl confronting Verelich. In a now-familiar tactic, the Bard draws from the essence of the twisted woolen ring of cord on his free hand's ring finger in an arcane spell, and in a rush of whispered incantation targets the Tower Girl before the wyvaran with a Daze Spell...
DC 14 Will Save, targeting the Tower Girl next to Verelich, which Ghaernan observes from his current location. Thanks!
As Verilich steps forward into the fray, his frustration is palpable. Swinging his three-section staff with precision, his first strike misses entirely, but the second lands solidly on his opponent.
Behind him, Ghaernan moves swiftly into position, leaving his pack with Gundar before advancing toward the southern corridor. Spotting the Tower Girl squaring off with Verilich, the Bard deftly uses the twisted woolen ring on his finger as a spell component. Whispering the words of a spell, he directs a burst of arcane energy to cloud her senses. However, the Tower Girl resists the enchantment, shaking off the spell's effects.
The tension in the air builds as the confrontation unfolds, both sides bracing for what comes next.
Round 1
Caius
Cassa
Lisimandy
Gundar <== Up
Ghaernan
Verilich
Khalid <== Up
Derru
Khalid moves up towards the entrance of the room.
As the sounds of combat intensify, Khalid strides forward with purpose, his steady movements closing the gap in the party’s formation. Gundar follows close behind, his dwarven gait deliberate and resolute, as he readies himself to assist where needed. The group's cohesion strengthens as they draw together, preparing to face the chaos ahead.
From the room beyond, the final Tower Girl steps into the corridor with a determined glare. Raising her hand crossbow, she takes aim at Verilich with chilling precision. The bolt flies through the air, striking true and embedding itself painfully into the wyvaran’s side. Verilich recoils slightly from the impact, a fresh wound searing through him, but his resolve remains steadfast as the battle continues.
Round 2
Caius <== Up
Cassa
Lisimandy
Gundar
Ghaernan
Verilich
Khalid
Derru
Cauis will single move into position to attack the nearest Tower Girl.
19-20/x2 S
Confirming Crit
19-20/x2 S
Caius steps forward with purpose, his fiery heritage seeming to glow faintly in the dim light as he moves around Verilich to engage the nearest Tower Girl. With a powerful swing of his greatsword, the blade arcs through the air and strikes true. The Tower Girl cries out briefly before crumpling to the ground, her weapon clattering beside her as she slips into unconsciousness, bleeding heavily.
The next Tower Girl, lantern in hand, looks down at her fallen comrade, her expression shifting from shock to grim determination. "Hold them off! I’ll get to Ayala!" she barks at her remaining companion, her voice laced with urgency. Without waiting for a response, she turns and sprints down the southern corridor, her footsteps echoing as she disappears to the left, vanishing from the party’s view. The light from her lantern can still be seen down the hallway to the south.
Round 2
Caius
Cassa - Dying
Lisimandy
Gundar <== Up
Ghaernan <== Up
Verilich <== Up
Khalid <== Up
Derru
"I will chase her down. Seems like you all can handle this one."
Verilich hugs the wall to avoid any parting attacks and sprints after his quarry. Rounding the corner, he sneers, "now where do you think you are going missy?"
Yet again, Ghaernan strides forward, this time stopping beside Khalid, and once more draws from the essence of the twisted woolen ring of cord on his free hand's ring finger in a familiar spell, with a rushed arcane whisper this time targeting "Derru", the ill-named Tower Girl before Caius, with another Daze Spell...
DC 14 Will Save, targeting the Tower Girl next to Caius. Thanks!
Round 2
Caius
Cassa - Dying
Lisimandy
Gundar <== Up
Ghaernan
Verilich
Khalid <== Up
Derru
Khalid will move down and try and trip Derru.
"Surrender if you want to live."
Eh? Ye all want me to stop that one from dying? Gundar asks the group as he points to Cassa.
Derru will attempt to rise, this will provoke from Caius and Khalid.
Caius’s molten orange eyes narrow as the prone Tower Girl disregards Khalid’s warning, her defiant movements signaling her intent to rise and continue the fight. His greatsword is already poised, and as she begins to push herself up, he steps forward with practiced precision, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the Crow’s ancient halls.
"You had your chance, fool," Caius growls, his voice carrying the weight of disdain and finality. "Could’ve stayed down, spared yourself the pain. But no—you chose defiance, and now you’ll reap what you’ve sown."
19-20/x2 S
As Gundar makes mention of healing one of the downed Tower Girls, Caius snaps his attention toward the cleric with disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind, Gundar?" Caius growls, his voice low but sharp. "These wretches would’ve slit our throats without a second thought if the roles were reversed, and you’re suggesting we patch one up? For what—gratitude? Mercy?"
He gestures to the unconscious Tower Girl with the tip of his blade. "She’s already down, beaten, and out of the fight. That’s more than she deserves after ambushing us in this gods-forsaken place. You waste your gifts on scum like this, and you’ll find us all worse off when we face something that actually deserves saving."
As Derrick attempts to rise, Caius takes the opportunity to strike her, but she keeps rising, and Khalid finishes her off.
Round 3
Caius <== Up
Cassa - Dying
Lisimandy
Gundar
Ghaernan
Verilich
Khalid
Derru - Dying
Witnessing the final blow delivered to their foolish assailant, Caius takes up the pursuit of their would-be alarm raiser.