With a nod to Letitia, Alec pursued the old woman into the bed chamber, cornering her between the wall and the bed. His shield held high, his spear shot out towards her mid-section.
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Alec stowed his tools and grabbed his shield and spear before moving up to stand behind his friend. He tapped Samuel on the shoulder as he nodded to one side. "Move your right hand to the left a hair. And hunters don't usually shout at their prey. It tends to scare them off" he said with a grin.
With a simple nod, Alec stepped past the others to the locked door. He leaned his spear and his shield against the wall near the door and pulled his tools out. He inspected the lock for a brief moment before going to work.
Alec followed the others, his spear in one hand, shield in the other. He stayed behind Callix, covering their backs against the opposite door. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as his eyes darted from door to door. He felt like one of the animals he had trapped so many times before, as if already ensnared, and waiting for the hunter to return.
It was a rare sight to see them all laughing despite what was coming next. It helped to warm Alec's heart and steel him forward. "I believe Callix is right. Perhaps I shall demonstrate it's use." He turned to look at Samuel. "No my friend. I am not sure about any of this, but I won't leave them helpless."
"Yeah, shouldn't be too hard. Pointy end goes first" he said with a grin. Alec took a quick moment to inventory his own weapons. He then pulled out his shortsword and handed it one of the children. The shortsword was followed by his shortspear and handed to another child. Finally out came his hand axe and machete. They too were handed to some of the other children. "If anyone comes through that door and isn't us, defend yourselves. I'll be back to collect those soon."
"He is right. It's too dangerous for them to leave now. And remember the trap in the other room. They are safer staying in here for now."
The force of the blow nearly knocked Alec off of his feet and the blood now streaming down from a huge gash in his shoulder made him light-headed. He gritted his teeth through the pain and even grinned up at the larger foe, despite being barely able to even lift his shield. "That all you got?"
His frustration growing, Alec thrust his spear directly towards the creature's gut, hoping it's size would work against it and it would not be able to move out of the way. His shield swung with less focus and mostly served to distract this "goldilocks," that Samuel had called it.
Alec spins on his heels as the axe comes for him. He sidesteps the blow and steps forward to stand next to Callix, sealing the line. His spear stabbed low towards the creature's leg as his shield swung high to try and unbalance his foe.
With everyone's attention on the goblinoid, Alec crept closer and stood towards the rear. There were other doors in the room, and so far it had seemed that enemies were emerging from all of them. His head swiveled from door to door, expecting the worst to come in at any moment. He raised his spear and tightened his grip on his shield.
Shield raised, Alec crept forward to stand next to Callix. His spear stabbed forward at the troll's midsection,
Alec had never seen anything like the troll hound before, but it was an animal and he a hunter. His spear stabbed forward, his shield ready to block the massive jaws of the beast, just like his father had taught him.
Alec nodded in agreement with Samuel. He took a deep breath and tried the door.
"Well done" Alec said with a nod. He followed Samuel out of the room to the other set of doors and stood opposite his friend, sheathing his sword and readying his spear. He took a moment to listen at the doors as Letitia took a quick look around the other rooms.
Alec spun on his feet at hearing the door open. He glanced at his spear leaning against the wall but rushed past it. He had plenty of other weapons available and he didn't like leaving Callix alone to stand against the troll. He dashed into the room, hustled behind Callix and moved to stand next to her to hold the line, drawing his falcata as he moved.
Alec nodded "good idea." He moved back into the hallway and set the trap down, muttering the words to open the jaws. Once open, he placed the spike into the ground and willed the trap to become invisible and to quietly alert him when it activated. Then he leaned down close to it and whispered the pass phrase. "Nadya." "Okay, now just don't forget it's here."
Well...we're in it now. Alec raised his spear and stabbed it forward at the troll an instant before he slipped his shield low towards the giant's knees.
His shield up, Alec quickly stepped into the room and stabbed at the troll with his spear.
With a nod, Alec headed to the left door and began to give it a once over. He looked back at the others one last time before he moved to open it.
"Ready as I'll ever be I suppose" Alec said, feigning a smile.
"I know, but I thought that wasn't going to happen until the dragon was defeated. If we're spotted before that happens and the alarm sounds, isn't it likely that more soldiers from outside the dragon's perch will come running?'
Alec nodded at Callix. "If the alarm is raised, this whole city may come running."
"Do dragons sleep? Can they see well in the dark? Would approaching in the night be better?"
"Does anyone...or any...thing, visit the dragon? To provide supplies, or patrols maybe? Could we get close as the winter wolf?"
"It is too late to ask for dragon-slaying arrows?" Alec asked with a grin.
"She just doesn't get it...I doubt she ever will." "The black rider doesn't matter. Sure, it's power, but power without purpose is like Samuel's musket with no target. And she seems pretty irritated for being emotionless." Alec couldn't help but smile. "But she means well enough. She just sees things differently. That ain't bad...just different. We all see things different. We're different, but that doesn't change anything." "Don't you get it? She's the key to all this" he said with a nod towards Letitia. "She knows their ways, the way they think, likely what they'll do next. She knows more about the rest of this place than any of us do, even if she's forgotten most of it. She knows what they're capable of, how they'll respond, how they'll try to fight us, even how they may guard their holdings, and she knows their magic. She's the only chance we have at seeing this thing through." Alec turned to head towards one of the private rooms, stopping long enough to put his hand on Letitia's shoulder. "She's not your enemy. None of us are. I will stand with you until the end, whatever end that may be. And I will try to learn whatever language you can teach...although I am not a smart man." "We should all get some rest. Sleep well my friends."
Alec quietly leaned against the wall as the tension in the room rose. He found it hard to disagree with either side. Letitia was right. Their hosts could have easily attacked out of fear, and they could still betray the small group. They could be working towards that end as the five of them waited for whatever was to come next. But Ashling wasn't wrong either. Her gambit had seemed to paid off, for now. Her argument made sense. It was all too much for the simple woodman to comprehend. "It wasn't your secret to tell." The words had escaped his lips as soon as he thought them. "I'm going to get some sleep. It's been a long journey and I fear we're only getting started."
+1 darkwood heavy wooden shield [1257]
2257 spent, leaves 2822. I'll give Letitia 300gp to put towards potions. Callix, please take 2500gp. You're a dex based character and reflex is your weakest saving throw. Please get a belt of dex!
In my experience, the item to be sold goes back to the party fund to be sold and split equally. In theory this keeps anyone from grabbing the most valuable item only to sell it and get a bigger share for themselves. In truth, this was never the (or my groups) intention, it just works out that way. We always pick one person to loot, that varies between games, and that person is responsible for keeping track of party funds, selling excess loot, and providing splits.
I will certainly do so!
I couldn't care less about wealth balance and I'm not a fan of incentivizing people to pick items that they have no interest in. In my table experience, people pick what they want. If two people want the same item, one waits and gets first pick next time. This is a game about cooperation and I've never seen an issue with it. When someone wants a new item, they don't get to sell the old item though. The old item goes back in the group fund until claimed by someone else or sold off.
Well you do have a ton of useful spells; cure light, cure moderate, fly, darkvision, resist energy, and false life. I don't personally have a need for fly really, but darkvision, resist energy, and cure moderate would most certainly see some use. Alec is hoping to get a +1 bashing darkwood heavy wooden shield. It's a little more than I have to spend right now but I think (and hoping) that selling off what loot we currently have will give me enough. Or I may hold off on the bashing portion and put the rest of his money towards a healing wand and potions. Also, looking at the loot sheet, there's an unidentified robe and ring. I'm pretty sure we've leveled up since then and since Letitia has maxed out Spellcraft, she should be able to make a new check. Or we should be able to pay to have it identified. One note, I think Letitia took the wand of spiderclimb with 13 charges and it's also on the loot sheet to be sold. There's also several items that have a note that they've been sold but the sale value is listed as 0.
Alec's eyes went wide at Ashling's proclamation. It was all he could do to keep from looking in Letitia's direction.
Alec freezes and holds his ground as the two mirror men approach. As the others begin to present their papers, Alec slowly follows suit, hoping that they hold up to any scrutinizing.
"Thank you my friend. I suppose I've been a little sloppy lately." "I do not know if I can adequately describe it my friend, but I will try. It was almost like standing aside in my own head as something else took control. Something that was me, but not me. Something much more feral. A predator. It felt powerful, and confident. No hesitation. No uncertainty. Just...purpose...and rage." Alec spoke almost as if in a trance, his eyes never wavering from their gaze. Finally he smiled and looked at Samuel. "No, my friend. They are too harry. Much like yourself" he said as he reached up and patted the man on the face.
"Letitia, would you have enough time to make any potions? And would your magic armor work on me in the wolf form?"
Doh! Fixed the hit points. I also had forgotten to update the cheat sheet on the campaign tab so I did that too. Samuel and Ashling, I think you guys are behind on that too.
"We need to be able to carry weapons" was all that Alec said when eyes turned his way. Alec turned and looked at Letitia. "I'm not sure if the magic from the cloak will last much longer. Certainly not a couple more hours."
"I should be able to...with enough time."
Alec quickly shifted into human form and opened the small pouch on his hip. With his tools in hand, he set about trying to unlock the door.
Alec simply nodded at Samuel as they made their way along. "No deeds are pointless, and you cannot stop evil. Evil will always exist as long as intelligence does. And good will always exist as long as compassion does. There is no one source of evil. No one big entity corrupting all. Evil exists in everything. Those that give in to it don't care about sin or fear or even pain. They have lost hope and see no other way, or have known no other way because they have never experienced compassion."
"A fair price...for a new pet to bring to heel." "Pay the lord, and show your respects" Alec snarled.
"Perhaps even two" Alec growled as he continued to stare down the other wolf.
"If you cannot manage your own household, perhaps he should serve another" Alec responded, clearly challenging the other wolf.
"That works for me. I feel much comfortable with my tools at my side."
"Uh...fine, I guess." Alec turned and looked towards the cart. "If the cart remains here, what about our weapons?"
Shut up and keep moving. I have more important things to do once we're done here" the large winter wolf snarled in response. "But if you must know, a nice human steak soaked in vodka does sound rather tasty right about now..."
The large wolf's head bobbed up and down as Alec nodded.
He had just spotted the man when Samuel pointed him out. "Something's not right." The large wolf slowly continued down the path towards the bare-foot human. Odors bombarded Alec's canine nose as he proceeded, but he tried to separate the human's scent from the others. It was such a strange sensation, but one that might prove useful.
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