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Round 4
Brimble’s eyes narrow as he observes the goblin’s behavior: the bow, the nocked arrow, the focus up the hall where the miners will emerge. It potentially recasts the noises Xira heard – not as a sloppy scout, but as a lure.
The drakeborn weighs the evidence and doesn’t like the heft of it. It says ‘ambusher’ more than ‘scout’. And nobody launches an ambush alone. He briefly imagines there’s a hidden gobbo in the mess hall already drawing a bead on him with another wicked arrow.
When the snuffler-goblin starts sniffing in his direction, Brimble plasters himself against the wall. If the creature manages to find him (which seems likely) he’ll have three simultaneous tasks: kill the goblin, warn the team, and stay alive. Tall order for a small kobold.
As he hears the snuffler closing in, Brimble holds onto the pick and does a quick mental run-through of the action. If he steps into the room – just give’im the pick. If he stops in the doorway, gotta step out to hit him. Can’t risk that corner of the wall blocking my shot. You got this… You got this…
"Krgizl!!" the goblin hisses.
Brimble's reply is to roll away from the wall and swing his weapon around using his motion to give it extra power. He buries the pick deeply in the goblin’s chest, hoping it tickles his heart.
He follows the attack with a yelled warning in dwarven, ””
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1):
Effects:
Weapon Equipped = Rune
Conditions = None
Dagger: Attack: BAB +1, Str +2, MW +1 Damage: Str +2 Crit: 19-20x2 DR: None
Rune-that-Destroys: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Magic +1 Damage: Str +2, Magic +1 Crit: 20 x3 DR: Magic
Quiver: 30 normal, 10 raining, 4 blunt, 4 tangleshot, 1 whistling, 1 dye
Called: Reroll a one on attack (1/1)
Healer’s Hands: (0/1, 1hp/)
Ranger Focus (1/1, +2att/dam)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
. . 0 (12): Create Water, Light, Purify Food & Drink
. . 1st (13):
- - -
When Argatha hears Brimble bellow, he knows the gig is up. Instead of sneaking to the corner, he moves with purpose, leaving space for the melee fighters to catch up. He takes a shot at the goblin (who may have cover).
Alas, he is not yet skilled with shooting into melee (damn first level!) and so he shanks a bit trying to avoid Brimble.
(into combat, PBS) (PBS)
He's surprised at the power of the shot, but isn't sure if it's enough to hit the wily gobbo.
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It sounds like a watermelon being chopped into with a heavy blade, the sound of the pick going in the other creature's skinny chest, penetrating some makeshift armor.... the snuffler is still standing, but it seems unlikely it will do so for long... Argatha's arrow, sadly, misses, or it surely would have dropped right there.
It screeches again in its goblin tongue - stumbles back from the doorway - and looses an arrow of its own at Brimble.
The arrow bites - and then he hears the sound his logic had already prepared him to dread: more running goblin feet, joining the fight.
The good news is that the effort of shooting him seems to have been the last thing that the lead goblin could have managed -- the creature collapses to the ground, blood pulsing from the deep puncture in its chest.
But even without his dreamed-of armor, the second arrow misses.
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-----------
Houndsfang makes a noise of deep satisfaction in Brimble's mind as the pick bites in-- no words, but a sound of pleasure, almost a purr, if the iconography were feline rather that canine.
-----------
Colin dreams.... as he works with the recalcitrant chemicals, with the sensation of many eyes upon him, he tries asking again. The professor is somewhere behind him, its strange 'pages' glowing and flashing various bits of dwarven text that he doesn't dare take his eyes off his experiments to try and read.
Perhaps in time, I will tell you, comes the acerbic voice. If you prove yourself worthy.
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Weapon Equipped = Rune
Conditions = None
Dagger: Attack: BAB +1, Str +2, MW +1 Damage: Str +2 Crit: 19-20x2 DR: None
Rune-that-Destroys: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Magic +1 Damage: Str +2, Magic +1 Crit: 20 x3 DR: Magic
Quiver: 28/30 normal, 10 raining, 4 blunt, 4 tangleshot, 1 whistling, 1 dye
Called: Reroll a one on attack (0/1)
Healer’s Hands: (1/1, 1hp/)
Ranger Focus (1/1, +2att/dam)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
. . 0 (12): Create Water, Light, Purify Food & Drink
. . 1st (13): Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds
- - -
Argatha takes a shot at purple, just within range, and not in melee! No cover either. He hopes for the best…
(PBS) (PBS)
Argatha feels the arrow mis-notch before he even shoots it. He stops, re-orients himself, takes a deep breath, and tries again!
(PBS)
"Thank you Rune..." Argatha whispers, forgetting he can mentally communicate in the thick of battle.
He then takes a 5' step back to force another double move to get to him.
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Without bothering to grab her new armor, knowing it would take much too long to put on, Raka shoves her arm through Bastion's straps as she heads out of the room and into the hallway. Brimble is already across the hall-- too far for her to reach in a few seconds-- but she puts herself between the goblins she can see and the door to their chosen beds.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she calls out in Common to the goblins.
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"Raka, it's just a dream," Em murmurs, having opened one eye long enough to watch her friend walk out. "Don't need to..." she trails off, wondering why someone shouted out in the hallway.
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Round 5
With a hiss, the kobold yanks the arrow from his tunic (and flesh). The last thing he needs is to trip and drive the arrowhead in deeper.
With two of their number down, the others goblins might flee… It would discourage any other slagborn from attacking if none of their scouts lived to report back. With that in mind, Brimble races across the corridor, hoping that neither goblin could attack him without dropping their bows. He skids to a stop near the hidden archer, effectively blocking the side corridor as an easy retreat path. Houndsfang whispers words of vengeance in his head and nudges his aim. The pick strikes meat again.
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
Xira gives Phantrel a nod and takes off, dodging around the beds, through the door and past Raka. Running toward the north-south corridor, she yells over her shoulder in clear Dwarven to the metal automaton still guarding the doors to the toilets.
If Altynbekh can only respond to Forgewise's instructions, then the yell is wasted breath, but at least it's something to try.
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects:
Given Xira's call for aid, on top of Brimble's, Phantrel assumes that the time for both subtlety and guard duties have passed. He moves as quickly as he can around the beds, taking the long way round and out of the door towards Argatha.
With loud noises disturbing his sleep, Colin sat bolt upright in a cold sweat as he demanded, "What? What's going on?!" But then he heard Xira's shout and all doubt was erased. With sudden resolution he snatched up his alchemy kit and raced out the door. The professor had filled his mind with information about certain volatile reactions, knowledge that frightened and excited him in equal amounts.
The goblins have not mastered the art of punching, it seems... but the blue-flecked one that Brimble attacked HAS mastered the art of biting. Without releasing its grip on its bow it snaps its head forward at Brimble, and bites at him with teeth that seem to be oddly metallic-looking. The other one merely snarls, not seeming to have the same kind of impressively horrible dentition. If they understand Raka's challenging bellow they show no signs of it, and make no answer.
In response to Xira's shout....
Altynbekh seems to know its name, if nothing else: the golden head swivels in Xira's direction, and after a ponderous pause, the construct begins to clank her way....
The reverberating echoes of its heavy metal feet strikes fear into the remaining goblins, as the downing of two of them hadn't quite managed to do. The goblin with an orange bandanna around its head turns and breaks, running down the hall it came from and disappearing past Argatha or Brimble's ability to see.
The other one, whose skin seems flecked with blue spots and bruises (as well as his own blood) takes a wary step around Brimble, then tries to bite him once more.
Fortunately, this time the kobold is able to avoid the attack.
Round 6
Brimble is feeling a bit woozy from blood loss… but the bitey goblin is really pissing him off. He’s also disappointed that the other gobbo managed to dive out of bowshot so quickly. He was hoping any runners would have to sprint to the end of the hall. The combined vexations motivate him to continue aggressively. He returns bitey-face’s attack with a spiteful pick blow of his own.
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
Xira pelts around the corner just in time to see Brimble get bit, and isn't that wound going to need a thorough cleaning ... but first, deal with the gobbo who dealt it.
With her staff in her right hand, she extends her left, snaps out a few choice Thassilonian curses, and lets fortune-twisting energy flow toward the goblin like a shimmer of heat through the air.
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects:
Xira feels as if her efforts did... SOMETHING, but as yet the results haven't been made apparent.
Weapon Equipped = Rune
Conditions = None
Dagger: Attack: BAB +1, Str +2, MW +1 Damage: Str +2 Crit: 19-20x2 DR: None
Rune-that-Destroys: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Magic +1 Damage: Str +2, Magic +1 Crit: 20 x3 DR: Magic
Quiver: 28 (1 miss) normal, 10 raining, 4 blunt, 4 tangleshot, 1 whistling, 1 dye
Called: Reroll a one on attack (0/1)
Healer’s Hands: (1/1, 1hp/)
Ranger Focus (1/1, +2att/dam)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
. . 0 (12): Create Water, Light, Purify Food & Drink
. . 1st (13): Cure Light Wounds, Cure Light Wounds
- - -
Argatha moves up and tries for blue, the only goblin really remaining
(combat, PBS) (PBS)
Colin raced around the bend in the corridor and in the gloom he could just about make out what seemed to be a goblin fighting Brimble. His hands strayed to his alchemy kit, but he thought, 'I've never tried the reactions The Professor showed me, they sound violent. What if the concoction sent shrapnel flying, I might hurt someone I didn't intend to... I should really have grabbed my bow.'
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Em can't quite ignore Xira, unfortunately. Opening both eyes, she slides out of bed with a soft groan. She had set a dagger at the edge of her bed, which clatters on the floor while she fumbles for the hilt of her new sword. Brilliance is still perched atop her forehead, obviously, having remained there undisturbed since Em fell asleep.
A couple of goblin corpses lie strewn in the corridor as Phantrel rounds the corner. Another, very much still alive, is squaring up to Brimble so aiding him, ideally by removing the other combatant, seems to be the chief requirement here. Focusing his powers, the half-elf chants a brief paean to the harshest of seasons and with a point of his index finger directs a wintry beam at the goblin.
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Arrows and icicles hurtle down the corridor but do not find their mark. The orange-hued goblin does not reappear.... but the one with blue warts or whatever it is takes one last bite at Brimble.
And thus falls Brimble of the drakeborn.... at least for now.
The goblin shrieks triumphantly with its lips frothing with fresh kobold blood.... turns with unholy madness in its eyes... and then lopes towards Argatha.
Once near him, its expression seems to clear somewhat, and a look of panic to spread over its face instead, as if it's wondering why the f+~+ it just ran closer to the enemies instead of away. Oh well, it's here now. The look of fear on its face increases, however, as Altynbekh implacably rounds the corner and starts towards it.
Round 8
Bloody Brimble hits the floor bonelessly.
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
The goblin evades the icy jet and ducks in to bite?! Brimble, sending the kobold slumping to the floor. Baring its bloody teeth at the others now assembling, Phantrel reasons that taking out the threat will give them the best chance of then getting aid to poor Brimble without getting savaged in the process. Recentring himself, he tries once more with his frosty spell. This time the ice blast catches the goblin directly in the torso.
Xira watches Brimble fall, horror and fury clearly mingled on her features. Frustration seeps in as she realizes she can't do a damned thing for him until after the fight resolves; she is not foolhardy enough to step into the midst of her better-armed companions, Altynbekh, and the remaining goblin. At least her powers brought the nasty little brute closer to their weapons.
And at least she can improve the lighting. She pulls the glowing sling bullet from her pocket and braces herself to sprint to Brimble's side as soon as she has a clear path.
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects:
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With no healing magic (that she is aware of), Raka's best means of helping Brimble is bringing down the remaining goblin. She steps up and strikes with the hatchet she brought.
Weapon Equipped = Rune
Conditions = None
Dagger: Attack: BAB +1, Str +2, MW +1 Damage: Str +2 Crit: 19-20x2 DR: None
Rune-that-Destroys: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Magic +1 Damage: Str +2, Magic +1 Crit: 20 x3 DR: Magic
Quiver: 28 (1 miss) normal, 10 raining, 4 blunt, 4 tangleshot, 1 whistling, 1 dye
Called: Reroll a one on attack (0/1)
Healer’s Hands: (0/1, 1hp/)
Ranger Focus (1/1, +2att/dam)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
. . 0 (12): Create Water, Light, Purify Food & Drink
. . 1st (13):
- - -
Picking over dead and dying goblins, Argatha moves quickly to Brimble and heals him.
Then he’ll take a few seconds (full round action) to bandage him up.
vs DC 20 to heal 1hp (If DC 25, heal 3hp)
Argatha shrugs, still having trouble converting his healing abilities from animals to humanoids - but he at least stopped the bleeding.
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Raka uses the hatchet and it's more than effective enough to send the blue-specked goblin, already wounded, on to that great goblin hell in the sky, or wherever it is. The thing falls without a sound...
Argatha hurries forward to Brimble, with his numerous bites and arrow wound. A quick touch and prayer ensures that the kobold won't die, at least. His eyelids (or nictating membranes?) flutter weakly, but there is more to be done.... Argatha tries to tend to his wounds further, but kobold anatomy is new to him.
The orange-hued goblin does not reappear. Altynbekh moves to each of the three goblins still in the hall with you and, dispassionately and methodically, steps on their torsos, each one in turn. You hear the sickening crunch of splintering bones.
By the light of your spells you can see the goblins more clearly. They are.... strange. For one thing, their skin is very pale compared to goblins you have seen before, who almost all tend to be some shade of green. These goblins are almost white, a sickly white like a fish belly, with only a lingering tinge of green persisting.
The one that had bit Brimble appears to have teeth made out of pieces of metal-- various bits of scrap, really. Nails, knife tips, needles... it's like a toolbox spilled out in his mouth (you can confirm it is a he, now that you have full time and light for investigation). The blue splotches all over its skin seem to be its innate coloring, not dye or paint, and loosely track with major arteries, as if the blood beneath the surface were discolored somehow.
The lead goblin who had shot Brimble with an arrow also seems to be misshapen. She, for it is a she, has a noticeably protruding jaw and brow, giving her a weird 'caveman' sort of look that you've never seen on a goblin before, and one of her arms is overdeveloped and muscular while the other seems almost atrophied. The dark spots on her skin turn out to be merely soot and charcoal, no doubt applied to make her less visible in the dark.
The last of the three goblins you were able to kill has odd bony protrusions at his joints-- elbows, knees, shoulders and so forth-- bone extrusions splits his pale skin there, and the skin around the emergences is thick with scaley layers of growth.
Each goblin was carrying a bow, though a bow made out of improvised materials-- scrap metal and wire, mostly, no wood to be seen-- and a dozen arrows of the appropriate length for their bow. They also each had a shiv of sorts, and armor made of patchwork bits of hide, metal, and bone.
Brimble’s awareness slowly bubbles up until he reaches consciousness with a rasping hiss. His last clear memory is a bumbled strike and being bitten in the neck and shoulder with metal teeth… and now he’s being hovered over by a few talls, staring way too intently. If his head would stop spinning, he might even be able to react, aside from hanging on to the floor so he doesn’t go whirling off into space. ”What happened?" he rasps, "Is anyone dead?”
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
Weapon Equipped = Rune
Conditions = None
Dagger: Attack: BAB +1, Str +2, MW +1 Damage: Str +2 Crit: 19-20x2 DR: None
Rune-that-Destroys: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Magic +1 Damage: Str +2, Magic +1 Crit: 20 x3 DR: Magic
Quiver: 28 normal, 10 raining, 4 blunt, 4 tangleshot, 1 whistling, 1 dye
Called: Reroll a one on attack (0/1)
Healer’s Hands: (0/1, 1hp/)
Ranger Focus (1/1, +2att/dam)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
. . 0 (12): Create Water, Light, Purify Food & Drink
. . 1st (13):
- - -
"Easy there Brimble. Sit up easy. The only one who went down was you, but you're not dead yet."
Argatha waits a bit for healing, as he doesn't want to use all of his unless he needs to. Keeping a spell for an emergency seems prudent - though obviously Brimble can't go on like he is.
"One got away, so everyone keep your eyes open. They seemed ready to jump us in our sleep, so it's not like the critter knows anything new about us."
He'll stay close to Brimble, but he dazes off for a second.
::Hey, Rune-that-Destroys, well done there. I mean, we had two misses, but I'm still getting the hang of things. We'll do better, I'm sure.::
Speaking of which, when the conversation is over with his bow, he'll collect his two missed shots and sees if they can be reused.
1 saved.
Brimble nods at Argatha's news... and instantly regrets the motion as it sets his head spinning again. When he's ready to get up, he moves slowly, using the wall for support. He's not up to checking things out, but that doesn't mean he can't advise people. "I think most of them came from the south. Someone should take a look and make sure there aren't more of them roaming around corridor down there."
Argatha gets to Brimble before she does, and Xira exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding to see his healing spell keep Brimble from tipping over the brink. Provisional relief, at least, that ratchets up a notch when he opens his eyes.
"One got away, so everyone keep your eyes open. They seemed ready to jump us in our sleep, so it's not like the critter knows anything new about us."
"It knows that two of our number killed three of its, and that we can call on Altynbekh to some extent." Uneasy, Xira scans the corridor in the direction the survivor fled. "Whether fear will keep them away or bring them back in force may be a coin flip."
"I think most of them came from the south. Someone should take a look and make sure there aren't more of them roaming around corridor down there."
She nods agreement. "So who should check the corridor, and who should carry you back to the dormitory?" Looking up at Altynbekh, she adds, "Perhaps we can persuade our metal friend to stand guard at the door."
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects:
With Brimble in good hands, Phantrel is relieved that the kobold is ok - up to a point, at least - and finds that there's little he can add to the matter.
"They know we're here," he says to Xira. "So unless someone is able to approach them without being caught in order to determine their numbers and position, which I think is highly risky in the circumstances, we should probably go in numbers."
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"I'll take Brimble back," Raka offers. "I can't do nothin' ta make ya feel better, but you're the only one who can't run away if somethin' comes back this way. So someone would need ta get between you an' it."
Since she isn't wearing her weapons belt, Raka shoves the handle of the hatchet down her waistband, the metal cool against her skin. Then she scoops up the still-recovering kobold. "Come on, let's get ya somewhere more comfortable. You've done good work tonight."
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”…we should probably go in numbers."
”Agreed,” Em says, having approached after a moment, sword in hand. She follows Raka back to the dormitory. ”There yet remain many unexplored areas on his floor, and I do not like to venture when our scout and guide is lain so with injury.”
Em follows Raka back to the dormitory and opens Brimble’s bed for him, waving a hand casually and without looking to warm his sheets.
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She nods agreement. "So who should check the corridor, and who should carry you back to the dormitory?" Looking up at Altynbekh, she adds, "Perhaps we can persuade our metal friend to stand guard at the door."
"I'll take Brimble back," Raka offers. "I can't do nothin' ta make ya feel better, but you're the only one who can't run away if somethin' comes back this way. So someone would need ta get between you an' it."
Since she isn't wearing her weapons belt, Raka shoves the handle of the hatchet down her waistband, the metal cool against her skin. Then she scoops up the still-recovering kobold. "Come on, let's get ya somewhere more comfortable. You've done good work tonight."
Brimble holds himself up (with a steadying claw on the wall). ”Woah, woah, woah! I don’t need ta be carried. I can walk…” he quietly tacks on a caveat. ”…slowly.”
"They know we're here," he says to Xira. "So unless someone is able to approach them without being caught in order to determine their numbers and position, which I think is highly risky in the circumstances, we should probably go in numbers."
Trying to steer the conversation away from the whole gimpy lizard topic, the kobold nods at Phantrel’s suggestion. ”That’s smart. Go in pairs, everywhere. I think if there was a whole gaggle of gobbos on our level, they woulda come running when the fight started. Swarming talls with numbers is the best way to go. But ya still might find a straggler or two. That’s worth a quick check. See if you can get Clanker to run his regular patrol. We beat’em coming down their normal route. They might lick their wounds for the night or try again. If they do, could be they take these stairs or try the hole in the bathroom ceiling, or some other gap we don’t know about. If Clanker is roaming around, we’ve got eyes whatever they try.”
”If these gobbos are like my folk in any way, we don’t want to test those stairs until we’re all ready to fight. I’d trap the hell out of them.”
By the light of your spells you can see the goblins more clearly. They are.... strange. For one thing, their skin is very pale compared to goblins you have seen before, who almost all tend to be some shade of green. These goblins are almost white, a sickly white like a fish belly, with only a lingering tinge of green persisting.
Before heading back to the dormitory, Brimble looks over the corpses and frowns. ”This is prob’ly bad news… I ain’t seen pale goblins like this ever. If I had to guess, they ain’t from the surface. They’re from down here somewhere… which means we can’t use their exits to get out, so we gotta keep going up.” Having exhausted his supply of words and energy, Brimble uses the pick as a cane and walks slowly back to the dormitory to get some rest… apparently with a small retinue. :)
She follows Raka back to the dormitory. ”There yet remain many unexplored areas on his floor, and I do not like to venture when our scout and guide is lain so with injury.”
Em follows Raka back to the dormitory and opens Brimble’s bed for him, waving a hand casually and without looking to warm his sheets.
Brimble gratefully climbs into the warmed bed. It is almost as good as lying on a hot stone. ”’Preciate the help, ladies.” He curls up and pulls the blanket over his head, hoping for a long dreamless sleep.
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
Weapon Equipped = Rune
Conditions = None
Dagger: Attack: BAB +1, Str +2, MW +1 Damage: Str +2 Crit: 19-20x2 DR: None
Rune-that-Destroys: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +3, Magic +1 Damage: Str +2, Magic +1 Crit: 20 x3 DR: Magic
Quiver: 28 normal, 10 raining, 4 blunt, 4 tangleshot, 1 whistling, 1 dye
Called: Reroll a one on attack (0/1)
Healer’s Hands: (0/1, 1hp/)
Ranger Focus (1/1, +2att/dam)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
. . 0 (12): Create Water, Light, Purify Food & Drink
. . 1st (13):
- - -
Argatha, concerned about Brimble's ability to do much of anything, pops another cure before he takes watch duties, or sleeps (not sure if it's my turn yet).
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Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
After finally catching up, Colin said "Thank goodness you're all right Brimble!" Colin paced as he thought about the situation, the more he thought about it, the more alarmed he got. He said, "Unless I'm much mistaken we've just inadvertently started a war. I agree we should explore this area fully and prepare for a possible attack, double watches, traps etc."
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"I'll take Brimble back," Raka offers. "I can't do nothin' ta make ya feel better, but you're the only one who can't run away if somethin' comes back this way. So someone would need ta get between you an' it."
"Thank you, Raka," Xira says softly. Her tall friend has long had a protective streak in her for the weakened and vulnerable. Now, even without her new armor and sword, she radiates the confidence of a guardian to be reckoned with, seeming as well-matched with Bastion as Em is with Brilliance. She thinks back to Em's earlier words, "There is something there which won't yield, and that has always made me see you as safe," and Raka's own "If you had to get stuck down here... I'm glad I did too."
So am I, m'dear. So am I.
”If these gobbos are like my folk in any way, we don’t want to test those stairs until we’re all ready to fight. I’d trap the hell out of them.”
"I agree we should explore this area fully and prepare for a possible attack, double watches, traps etc."
Xira rubs the back of her neck. "I'm thinking that establishing whether or not there are goblins nearby may be as much as we can handle before a rest. As for traps..."
Her gaze falls on Colin's alchemy kit. "D'you think you might concoct some goblins-be-gone from what's in your box, Colin?"
With a weary sigh, Xira brushes her fingers across Zenith's cool, smooth surface. Searching the corridor, trapping the stairs ... any suggestions on either, Zenith?
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects:
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”I wonder, Colin, what you would consider the difference between goblins-be-gone and us-be-gone?” Em is feeling suddenly full of energy, though she can’t quite place why. She spares another look at Brimble. ’Preciate must be his favorite word.
After a strong dose of healing and a brief rest, the kobold feels a great deal better. Since folks seem to be doing more talking than acting, he gets up to handle a couple tasks. He pulls the archer along and heads quietly down the corridor. He pauses briefly to listen at the stairwell before passing it quietly and continuing on.
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
Effects:
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"About ten feet." Colin replied dryly to Em before addressing Xira's question with a certain relish "The Professor revealed to me a several concoctions that could be described as goblin-be-gone. One involved naptha, a gelling agent and saltpeter to make it hard to extinguish. Designed to deflagrate, I'll make a batch later. The other is intended to detonate and is far too unstable to make in advance."
Since Brimble now feels well enough to be up and about, Xira asks Raka (and Em if she wishes), to return with her to the temple and ask Forgewise to set Altynbekh to patrolling the area when the automaton next returns for a water refill.
Weapon in hand: Quarterstaff
Effects:
With sleep temporarily abandoned, Phantrel falls in with Xira and Raka. He's relatively confident that it shouldn't take too much persuasion to change the automaton's protocols to goblin-hunting, but to be on the safe side he puts himself forward to bolster the argument as necessary.
Given the circumstances, he indicates quiet would be sensible and keeps watch as they walk.
Since Brimble now feels well enough to be up and about, Xira asks Raka (and Em if she wishes), to return with her to the temple and ask Forgewise to set Altynbekh to patrolling the area when the automaton next returns for a water refill.
"Sure, but this time I'm grabbin' my sword." Raka returns to her bed to strap on the sword belt, hoping she won't need it. Does she really expect more of the mutated goblins to be between themselves and the temple? No, but luck favors the prepared.
Argatha gets back into bed. After all, they already went to rest very late. And he doesn't think a tour of the facility is a good idea...
But clearly everyone else is going. Sigh.
He crawls back out of his bunk, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. "We're sleeping in tomorrow. You lot are crazy." he says somewhat angrily, though it's likely just lack of sleep.
He follows Brimble into the darkness - keeping him just within sight as he searches around.
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"I'll keep my distance from any deflagration then," Em says, deciding to stay with Colin. "I think I would tend to be the sort who wants extinguishing." She walks to the mushroom box and examines it closely, declining to touch it on the instructions of Phantrel. Why does my heart beat so?
****
Brimble gets only a few minutes' well-earned rest before Argatha's healing magic makes it apparent he can still move - and the stealthy kobold is still one of the group best suited to sneaking and checking out dark areas. He and Argatha work on clearing the immediate hallways and ensuring no goblins are hiding here still, while Xira and a few others go to ask Forgewise about once again modifying the construct's orders.
The celestial smith is hard at work on the requested suit of armor, but pauses what he is doing to listen, looking thunderous at the mention of the slagborn. He agrees readily to set Altynbekh on a circling route, and will give the golden figure new orders as soon as Altynbekh returns to him for more water.
Until then, the construct has tramped steadily back to stand in front of the still-spiked toilets door.
Kobold and human make their way south, as quiet as they can, not stopping to read plaques-- just checking for goblins. They pass a small, plain door; the much fancier golden doors that you surmise lead to the lift; and the open maw of a wide stairwell that leads both up and down, then eventually hit the T-end of the broad corridor. The golden doors both seem not to have been disturbed in a while, and have the usual small-glass-panel lock. The small door has no such lock and looks as if it can just be opened, like the door to the toilets.
The open stairwell is concerning in that you have no easy way to secure it. Doors can be spiked, but trying to block off the stairwell itself would take significant time and materials. It is possible the orange-hued goblin retreated up this stairwell-- you would have been able to see it if had used either of the prior two doors. Looking up it right now, you don't see anyone, but Brimble's warning about traps seems wise: there is a rather old and withered looking goblin (or at least small-sized and large-skulled) skeleton on the landing, the small body blackened as if intense fire had charred it.
It's also possible that the runner went all the way to the corridor's termination. Again, pathways branch east and west. To the east, the corridor continues as a broad gallery that goes towards the temple. There's furniture here-- low sofas and chairs, made of stone but covered with softer cushions, the cushions old and musty. Of interest here is that there's also a window -- a large, almost floor to ceiling, panel of thick glass (or something like it) that runs along the southern wall. It looks 'outside' - not the outside you're hoping for, but the interior of what must be a large cavern. Your search for goblins keeps you from gazing too long through it, but you get a brief glimpse of large mushrooms on the rough, unworked-stone walls.
The western hall is smaller. It features three doors with plaques-- names of individual residing dwarves, looks like-- and all of them have the glass-panel lock and have, presumably, not been opened in a while. No goblins here.
Doubling back, Argatha and Brimble check out the nearer east-west corridor. It runs past several doors that also list dwarven names, and another entrance into your own dorm, and a second entrance into Dorm 2. The final door at the end has a plaque saying: STEEL OVERSEER - Jotur Sparksong.
Again, no goblins that either man can see... Does that mean Argatha can finally go to sleep?? (he probably wonders groggily).
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The search concludes relatively quickly once begun. The others are able to return from Forgewise with no ambushes to report, though paranoia keeps you company now as you pass through any room that might offer sufficient cover to the small, stealthy goblins. The mess hall, for instance: soooo many goblins could be hiding under those tables!
(But they aren't.)
(But you still feel you have to look.)
Every shadow could hold deformed goblins eager to murder you! Raka's hands stay near her new weapons with latent anxiety all through the process.
It's several minutes until everyone is back together at Dorm #2, a few people fighting yawns as adrenaline has faded once more. Xira and Brimble are able to finish out their shift, which, thankfully, is uneventful for the rest of it.
They are able to yield the watch to Raka and Phantrel, Altynbekh's departure to refill his water tanks serving as a good marker of the hours. Brimble climbs happily back into bed, though the sheets are no longer toasty warm.
The greatest danger to Raka and Phantrel on their watch is perhaps dozing off. The complex remains at that same mild temperature, and it's quiet, and there's only so much to talk about... though Bastion chatters cheerfully at Raka through the watch and that likely makes it impossible for her to fall asleep. Bastion asks questions about Salt Spire, Raka's friends, her childhood, things she's seen, things she's done....
Thunder-follows-Lightning maintains its silence, unless Phantrel attempts to interrupt it.
Finally, the watchers are able to relinquish the stage to Argatha, Colin, and Em. The first few hours pass uneventfully, though Colin and Em might continue talking alchemy and deflagration during it, if they wish. Colin's mind is abuzz with the new knowledge from reading the Professor. In fact, not just his mind... even his body seems to still feel remnants of yesterday, in odd twinges and aches.
It's true for all of you, really. There is a lingering soreness in your muscles, your bones, and even your skin. If it's possible for your hair to be tender, it is. An echo of the strange bonding of the day before, perhaps. You each dreamt, during your sleep: not of anything you could easily name, no familiar places or faces or things, but rather... sensations, vague and fleeting: a thousand winding twisting tunnels, and yourself, a swarm of... rats, maybe? flooding through them, claiming them as a lair. You were many, and one, and all, and none. You were a knife piercing unarmored flesh. You were a creeping plague. You were a mist trickling unseen through a village at night. You were alone. You were surrounded.
About an hour before the last watch ends, Colin, Em, and Argatha hear what sounds like a muffled and distant boom overhead, somewhere. They tense up and stay on heightened guard for several minutes, but nothing seems to happen in the wake of that noise, or nothing that they can detect, at any rate.
Altynbekh makes another patrolling loop sometime after that, and you realize that you have, officially, survived your first night in Thurznchakh.
Hope you like pickled fish for breakfast.
Now what, heroes?
What would you like your outfit to be today, Em? That deep purple gown of yesterday? Something new?
....doesn't matter. Your dress changes to blue and cream. Specifically, an azure dress, trimmed with gold needlework and flounces of cloth the color of fresh cream.
Brimble isn’t sure what to make of the strange dream he had. But he’s too excited about the promise of this new day to worry about it for long. He inspects his shoulder and pokes at the goblin bite with a claw, hoping the wound doesn’t look inflamed or anything like that.
After that, he quietly gets out of bed and sneaks down the hall. Part of it is justifiable caution (so he brings Houndsfang) but the real reason is he wants to clandestinely spy on Forgewise to see how the armor is coming along. Curiosity has the better of him.
Bullets, Normal (20):
Bullets, Sharp (5):
Bullets, Soft (5):
Frost Spitter (1):
Smite (1): x
Vengeance (1): x
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