Kori turns from her path of encircling the structure, to see what Pain-lover is talking about. Seeing New-guy unlocking the door, she just returns and prepares to enter.
The door easily unlocks under Hatim's precise touch, and the door swings open.
Inside is a well-made, although poorly maintained (because it's been abandoned for awhile) manor. Most of the surfaces are wood-paneled, most of the house is filled with cobwebs, and all of the impressively large windows are blinded. The manor is empty.
The windows on the second floor of the manor provide a commanding view of Kelmerane and of the area in the other direction. The manor is large enough to accomodate about 12 people, and there's an entrance on the other side that's also locked. Apollo sees signs about the house that indicate it as having not been used since Kelmerane was first abandoned.
Kori nods, pleased to have found a nice, unused place to stay. "I don't know about you guys, but this is where I'll be sleeping the next night we stay here." She decides to look the place over for anything useful, ready to head out right afterwards.
Hatim gets up covering his face with an arm, and backs away. ”Pfft, dust.”
Well, looks like this place could do with a good dusting. Doesn't look like it's been used for a looooooong time!
Sliding his fingers along the wall, Apollo shakes his hand as he attempts to remove the cobwebs and dirt now on it.
Yep. A long time. Last I heard, the Pactmasters....dunno if they're the same as the ones that control trade in Katapesh...abandoned this place 18 years ago and let it go to ruin. So I guess a local band of Gnoll's decided to take up residence here, seeing what a good opportunity was in front of them.
Apollo walks forward, moving deeper and deeper into the room with each step he takes, as he continues to share what he knows of the place.
I dunno how true these stories are, and tbh I never really cared all that much. I've never seen a Pactmaster, nor do I know who they are, but the stories I commonly heard portrayed them as oppressive beings not to be crossed.....if you have any common sense at least. the man smirks.
Still, we're here now, so we may as well search this place. Who knows, maybe we'll find something that'll give us an idea of why this place is abandoned. Dmitri, you coming? he says, loud enough for the white haired pain-lover to hear.
Dmitri enjoyed the decor of the rather dusty room. He wiped a bit of dust off and smashed it between his fingers before rubbing it away. It would be something if they could clean this place up rather quickly. I'm sure Almah would enjoy this place if it weren't so... ragged.
With that he followed closely behind Apollo.
"This much dust and web... this place is probably teeming with spiders. he said as he picked up the first detachable object he could find as he looked around for anything of use.
The empty accomodations are somewhat dusted out by the five people moving through and inspecting it, but nothing particularly interesting or valuable is found in the house. It appears that whomever abandoned the house cleared it out before they took off. It is, however, still full of perfectly good furniture, and every room is intact and undisturbed except by spiders.
Leaving the empty manor house to continue to the adjacent buildings, it's noted that the next two buildings in line are connected. The closer building is a set of stables for the farther-away building, which is a largely-intact inn. The large stable doors (to accommodate horses) are closed but unlocked, and the same is true for the double doors in the front of the inn. Each building is, visually, a fairly typical representative of its type of building.
They're everywhere. I hate the things, but whatever, it's nothing my hammer can't solve. says Apollo, in response to Dmitri's comment.
Moving further along, Apollo takes a look around, turning his head slightly towards the group.
Well guys, if we need a place to stay or hold up, looks like we've found a good enough shelter, but let's be on our way.
As Apollo pushes the doors open, he whispers We could just walk in through the front doors of that inn, but I'm more liking the idea of working our way through the stables to find a back route into the building. What do ya reckon?
As they head out for the other two buildings, Kori is inclined to agree and nods, "Good decision, let's see if we can enter the inn through the stables." With that she continues to lead on, entering the stables, having a quick look around, before trying to find a door to the inn.
Dmitri follows suit, staying a far-along distance behind Kori and Apollo, if only because he is in no way as stealthy as they are. He does however approach slowly as they stop at the stables and inn.
"Stables... What do you think the chances are the previous mounts are still around? It'd not surprise me if the gnolls had their fill of the beasts. Horse is delicious, after all..." he said, seeming to think back. Curious enough, Dmitri enjoyed fine food. He wasn't a glutton, however.
Never tried it! he said back to the man, as he creeps forward through the stables, looking for any signs of a Gnoll's presence.
Pushing open the stable's doors reveals a fairly typical representation of a stable. Hay on the floors, wooden stalls to separate what horses had been in here from each other, rope and places to tie it to, etc. The wall that connects to the inn features a short stairwell (just a few steps) and a closed door.
Hatim stays close behind, and says nothing.
Walking along behind Kori, Dmitri stops a moment to pull out his scythe rather slowly. He looks to the wall, and taps Kori in the back with the weapon, then stops Apollo as well with it, gesturing towards the point of interest. He walks over to the whimpering noise, looking for what could possibly be making it while raising his scythe in front of him and being ready for whatever comes out.
Kori just shrugs and looks at him quizzically. It's a little late to harvest whatever straw is still present in the stables. She waits, her weapon still in hand, to see what Pain-lover is doing.
Moving around the stalls, Dmitri (as well as anyone that follows him) navigates their way to the back of the stables.
In the back is a little trail of blood that leads behind a wooden stall door, and behind the door is...a whimpering man, wearing a too-small wooden breastplate and clutching a rusty spear, pointed at the door. He's pushed himself back into a corner, and a look of utter fear clouds his face.
As soon as the man realizes that who opened the stall door is a human, albeit a blood-soaked, armed and armored, death-reaper human, he sighs the heaviest sigh of relief any of you have heard, and tremblingly gets to his feet. "Thank Shelyn for all that is beautiful, I've never been so happy to see another person. I was starting to disbelieve that I'd ever make it out of here."
Alarmed by the stranger, Hatim listens, he is unsure what to think of "it".
There weren't many words to describe how random this situation was. For starters, the man was using some hideously ineffective weapons, as well as praying to a deity that wouldn't help him at all in a situation like this.
The Goddess of beauty didn't care much for combat, and if this man was a worshipper, he had a remarkably funny way of showing.
"And I was starting to believe that I wouldn't be surprised again before this day was out, but I believe that more miraculous things have happened..." he said, rather alienated. This was a man he didn't know, but the fact that he had lowered his... rather useless... weapon was enough to know he wasn't a threat.
He probably wouldn't have been much of one regardless, however.
"What is your name and business here?" he asks, whispering dark incantations in abyssal to himself.
Looking back and forth between the two people he can see - the bald man tinkling with vials, and the huge white-haired scythe-wielding man, the little poorly equipped man gulps.
"Um. My name is Felliped, and I...my friends and I WERE here to gather fame and riches. We were overwhelmed and captured by the gnolls, but I managed to get away, and hid in here."
The man radiates a warm yellow light - he is, in fact, Good.
"Can we please get out of here? I'm in no shape to help you find my friends, but I'd like that to happen if it could."
Kori can only manage a sneer in the man's direction, irritation evident in her voice "What kind of damn fool of a man are you that you and your friends thought you all could come clear this place? By the looks of you being the one to escape, means all of you were in way over your heads. Now you want us to go pull your fat out of the fire. Here's what I think. When we clear out this town, if we find your friends and they are still alive, we'll send them to find you. As for you, I ain't escorting anyone anywhere, but the mansion next door is empty and unlocked. You can stay there until we get done with our job here, then we can all leave."
As Dmitri places his Scythe across Apollo's chest, Apollo looks him in the face with a slight glare, but one not of ill intention.
What's he thinking? Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Following Dmitri's lead, Apollo follows next to the white haired man, moving towards the rear of the stables when he suddenly spots a small trail of blood, leading behind a wooden door.
As Dmitri pushes the door open, Apollo see's the man with his spear pointed towards the party, shaking and wearing breastplate unfit for a man of his size.
You there....you alright friend? You look a little rough.
As the man stands, Apollo rubs his hand through his own hair.
We're the good guys....I think. We're here to take over Kelmarane and I've got a craving for Gnoll hide right now. You seen any of the mangy mutts around here? My hammers got a date with their faces. he says, grinning slightly towards Dmitri.
We have different values, but I think we both want the same thing - revenge!
With the survivor seemingly still scared out of his mind, Apollo raises an eyebrow as the word "Gnoll" is spoken, swinging his hammer up and over his shoulder, while shrugging with his left hand.
We'll find your friends, but you just tell me where the Gnolls are. I'm sure I can take care of that little problem for you. smirks the man.
Maybe you're better off at the monastery, Nom. Sounds like things might start to perk up around here.
Looking to the rest of the party, Apollo airs; If there's any chance this mans friends are still alive, their chances are probably slipping by the second if the rumours of this place are anything to go by, so we best begin our search now. Though so far all we've had to contend with have been 2 gnoll's, 1 snake, 1 wolf typed bird thing and a... the man pauses to grin at Dmitri ...sex crazed Harpy.
Looking down to Felliped, the man asks.
Where were your friends last seen? Your best bet's to go into the place next door, as Kori suggested, if you plan on seeing the days end.
The man's visibly less shaken at this point, and turns to answer Apollo, looking at Kori with some trepidation every once in awhile. "Um, yeah, there're gnolls, but from the time I've spent here it seems that their patrols in the town proper are pretty ireegular. There are dozens of gnolls here, and they stay in the big building in the center most of the time. That's where my friends were taken." He manages to chuckle lightly, and continues. "If you're looking for some gnolls to kill, you won't find a shortage."
"If I've gotta stay in that manor, can I at least lock the doors behind me and can I have...some bandages or something? I'm a little worried about the amount of blood that I'm losing."
Our healer's back at the Monastery, but our Dwarven friend here can possibly offer you some aid. As for bandages, we're a bunch of Mercenaries. It's not something we carry and besides, a bandage won't help a blade through the chest will it?
Apollo smiles but gently rests his head in his hand.
I hope you're right about the Gnoll's. I really do. I have a kill count to raise and a race count to lower, but I guess you better run along now, and make sure you bolt that door behind you. Only open the door if you hear a knock 7 times in quick succession. That'll be me or one of my allies letting you know it's safe to come out.
In a friendly manner, Apollo places his hand on the mans shoulder and says Look after yourself and consider taking up a less dangerous act in future.
Felliped leans on his rusty, broken spear, and has a very grateful look on his face.
Angmar moves to the forefront of the group. "Aye laddie, let me help ye with some of the fires of Angradd!" He touches the poor boy with his hand, and whirling light energy whips up.
The injured man's wounds stop bleeding, and pull themselves a little bit together, and the man sighs in relief from the pain. "Thank you all, really." Going even farther, Angmar finds a few buckets in the stables. Using a create water orison, he rinses them out, fills them, and hands them to the injured and scared man. "Here, laddie. This might keep ye drinkin' for a few days."
The man accepts the buckets, and, nodding in thanks, moves out of the stables to go into the manor house.
Now that they got the worthless man out of the way, Kori is ready to move back on to what she was doing. She heads back over to the door from the stables into the inn, and tries to quietly open it.
Dmitri pays little to mind of the man as he trucks off and heads back to the manor. He seemed insignificant, really. If anything, he was pretty certain that he'd just send up dieing before the day was out, but he didn't have the morals to honestly care.
Looking back at the group, he was a bit concerned with the middle area that the man had mentioned. Resources for information was a reasonable enough trade, but he solemnly believed that Koritylija would plan on partaking, alone, if possible.
While that wasn't something he disliked the idea of seeing, it was no doubt slightly inevitable, so he worried, if only slightly. He would certainly try to keep the woman out of harm's way, much as he'd already done.
As they walked back to the inn, keeping on track, he watches as she checks the door. The patrols were, indeed, erratic, from what he'd noticed. They'd been in a city that was, apparently, "infested" with the creatures... and they'd killed 2 in the last 2 days. Not much, but he hoped the body count would indeed rise, as this was starting to seem a bit trivial. Trivial or not, if the high lady wished it done, he would do it.
That still allowed him to slightly complain, but these were thoughts he'd keep to himself. He'd gotten laid on this excursion, after all, and damn well planned on it happening again.
I wonder if Almah will be okay with the woman... he thought to himself. Almost certain that his social skills would allow her to go just fine, he perished the very idea that she wouldn't be allowed to stay. She'd helped them, after all! What nerve.
"I believe now would be a good time to mention that I don't trust Dashki." he said as they worked with the door. The man was foul, in his eyes, and his ability to define a person was something he was rather prideful about. If arrogant.
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but he was in far too much a hurry to return... Something most certainly does not sit well."
The remainder of the inn - as investigated by Kori - is actually mostly empty. I mean really empty. Scratch marks, bite marks, and poop mar most of the inside of the building, as well as a marked lack of anything that could be interpreted as anything of value, mark this building as being looted heavily by the gnolls.
Crossing through the main room of the tavern to leave it, though, a shadow looms from the outside of the building, through the windows.
The shadow bespeaks a shape that's humanoid, although is much larger than any of you.
Kori grips her blade in both hands, as she moves to the nearest window to try and sneak a peek at whatever the shape is outside.
Apollo peers at the shadow through the window, trying to make out what it might be.
The windows are dirty, cracked, and clouded, but peering through them both Apollo and Kori can see a large, black humanoid shape. It looks a lot like an ape, except it stands barely hunched, it's very black, and it stands ten feet tall. Large horns curve out of the top of its head, and wicked claws extend from its fingers.
Keeping his voice low, Apollo hangs his head down slightly, vision fixed on the moving target outside.
Peering to his left and right, he talks in earshot of those around him, not coldly but concerned and at the same time, focused.
This....this isn't a Gnoll. It's too big for a start, and its shadow is way too different. I'm gonna move over to the door and prepare an attack for anything that enters.
As Apollo stealthily marches over to the left side of the door, in passing he says With something that big, I suggest you guys do the same.
The big dwarf moves to the window and goes bugeyed at the shape outside. "Can't say I know what that is, lads. Looks mighty scary to me, if I may say so."
As Dmitri looked outside the Window, teetering well above Angmar to look outside, he realized what it was almost immediately, knowing it to be a rather brutal in combat. He spoke from just above Aangmar, following his words. "I know what that is... that is no mere ape, that is a Daemon! It's a rather impervious creature that breathes powerful fire. Likely the same cleric I had worry of earlier brought it here, as it's allured to subservience... Magic and silver will effect it just fine..." he stated, taking a thought to himself.
He looked to his hands, thinking closely for a moment. A creature so drawn to subserviance was bound to lack the force of will to resist his unholy fervor... and his powers would likely be of need against such a strong beast. Perhaps he could test himself and help everyone accordingly?
Looking to Apollo, he reached for him to grab his scythe. [b]"You've no means to penetrate it's resistances. Even without this weapon I have new methods to defeat this creature." he said, raising his hand and infusing it with his demonic energy to reveal his cripplingly potent hands. His eyes gleamed as well. "I'd advise you use this, but only for now..." he says, gesturing the weapon toward him.
As he does, he presents the weapon from near him, ready to walk outside. Having placed the weapon on the ground, he looks to Koritylija. "May I?"
Kori looks at him confused, unsure of what he's asking. "May you what? The new sword I have is magic, Short-legs said so. You want the other one I've been carrying? The scimitar? I think someone said it was magic too."
Dmitri takes a moment to look at the woman blank faced. It was a wonderful thing she had a strange allure, but... she was lacking in certain areas.
"I meant may I go to engage the daemon..." he said, looking out towards the ape.
Kori shrugs, and offers a minor snarl, "Hell, Pain-lover, you don't need to ask me. If we're gonna fight it, I say let's go. This could be a real good fight."
"Indeed..." as he said the words, a tone received in multiple layers, his right eye changed slightly as the enjoyment took him over, becoming a slit for a moment. Gesturing for Kori to stay out of view, as well as the rest of them, Dmitri stepped out into the door and breathed deep.
Looking out, he saw it, the hunched over 10 feet of wrong and destruction... Not fiendish, merely a form of destruction itself. He had a grin on his face, to say the least.
He assumed a fighting pose consisting of leaving his hands out infront of him, both surging with dark energies. The talons, primed as he clenched his fists.
With a low, multi-toned voice, he spoke in Abyssal, a long, biting phrase that no doubt beckoned it to do it's worst.
Walking out bravely behind it, Dmitri alights his hands in unholy fire and addresses it in the tongue of demons. The creature halts, turns around slowly, and smiles a grin with a mouthful of razor-sharp, six-inch long talons. In a tongue of no certain group, but that you all still understand, it answers, "Foolish mortals. In engaging me, you have found only oblivion." before leaping forward to attack.
Angmar - 24
Kori - 20
Dmitri - 19
Apollo - 18
Hatim - 17
Ceustodaemon - 12
Angmar shoulders on a heavy steel shield and draws the magical mace recovered from the monastery.
Kori, seeing that whatever Pain-lover said had little to no bearing on the thing, excitedly moves in to face off against the thing. She growls internally, mentally steeling herself for facing this large thing, as she rushes out from cover to take advantage of the distraction. "Rush it!" She swings the new longsword with both hands, hacking at the large beast.
Hatim upon first seeing the beast tries to recall if he had ever come across anything like this in text.
But, seems not to know any further information than what Dmitri decided to share. Hatim not having anything of magic or silver, and knowing that his bombs could have little to effect... He takes out a mutagen he'd prepared that morning, plugs his nose, and drinks it.
He looks over the group, Coughing while saying: "This is all I have my abilities and weapons will have no advantage here."
Reaching out to grab Dmitri's Scythe, Apollo leaves his Hammer on a nearby bench inside the tavern and out of sight of the beast.
If I really get into trouble, I'll lure that thing back into here, where I can beat it to death with my hammer, but I guess Dmitri knows a thing or two about this creature, so I'm gonna follow his suggestion.
So you're going out? I feel a little emasculated without my Hammer, but if you trust in your weapon, I will too. With a hide as tough as that, I doubt my arrows will do much good, so it looks like I'm up front with you Dmitri.
Apollo looks up towards the ceiling as he thinks to himself for a moment.
Relax man. This is just an obstacle you need to surpass. The Carrion King awaits his demise somewhere, and until then, everything else must fall. Work with these guys and things should be easier. On you're own you're done for, but with multiple targets to choose from, you stand a decent chance of surviving. GO FOR IT!
Peering around the corner, the man grips Dmitri's Scythe tightly and rushes the beast, muttering to himself under his breath; This is a little smaller to what I'm used to, so let's try not to break it!
This was a moment that Dmitri had sought feverishly. Truly, he wished to do this more than anything as of late. His blessed powers... would they be worthy? He could only hope. The demon seemed rather... collected, for something that hated subserviance so much, yet was inexplicably drawn to it. Likely a deal struck with the summoner...
A creature such as this seemed fully capable of handling it's own, but Dmitri couldn't help but wonder the process by which it was wrought from the earth. Perhaps a bit of introspection into his faith could reveal a decent method of sending it back forthwith?
As the tendrils of darkness surged from his fingertips and shadowstuff played cruel jokes upon his visage, he charged, plunging his fingers straight at the creature's belly with a wicked glee.
Perhaps too wicked...
Kori - 20
Dmitri - 19
Apollo - 18
Hatim - 17
Ceustodaemon - 12
Angmar shoulders on additional protection and draws a softly glowing magical mace. "Aye, I think this one 'ere is gonna be a rough one" he says, as his visage is altered by a surge of divine energy.
Kori screams a bestial roar and charges the beast, striking it handily with her new longsword, slicing a slit in the creature's flesh.
Dmitri also charges the ceustodaemon, hands fiery with unholy light, but his hand jab misses the creature entirely.
Apollo joins the fracas, twisting and pulling Tempest into a powerful blow that slices another rift in the daemon's flesh.
Hatim, back in the tavern with Angmar, takes a pull on a flask he's got, and swiftly grows into a form that's something more than human. His skin hardens, his muscles grow, and there becomes something bestial about him.
The apelike beast roars into the sky before shuffling backwards just out of reach of the heroes, and exhaling a blisteringly hot wave of pure fire.
Hatim now in a less intelligent form runs out of the tavern. He remembers that Kori had a magical scimitar, he says in an almost illiterate tone, ”I need this,” and without asking her, grabs it off of Kori.
"Sonuva! That burns." Kori steps forward and to the side, easing toward encircling the big fire ape. The recent burns sting as she swings, causing her swing to be less precise than she would prefer.
Running at the beast and slashing it across the chest with Dmitri's Scythe, nothing but concentration with a piercing gaze can be seen on Apollo's face.
With the beast now a little further away, Apollo, relentless in his attack steps up to the beast once more.
FLANK IT! he shouts, as he swings the blade across the beasts chest once more, somewhat liking how the death reaper blade handles.
Kori - 20
Dmitri - 19
Apollo - 18
Hatim - 17
Ceustodaemon - 12
Angmar roars a dwarven battle cry and charges forward, swinging his mace, determination strengthened by more divine power. His mace contacts the daemon, but fails to damage it in any significant way.
Kori swings, but her blade catches on the creature's plated skin.
Dmitri's attack is more successful, as his hands flash with unholy energy and touch the daemon, pushing negative energy into the creature.
Apollo swings Tempest strongly yet again, although this time, the creature manages to do a little hop backwards out of harm's way, which is precisely what provides Hatim with the opportunity to retrieve Kori's magical scimitar.
Done with being toyed with, the creature roars, "Abaddon's Horsemen will eat your eyes!" and unleashes an attack, striking all three of its first attackers, Apollo, Kori, and Dmitri.
Kori looks askance at the mutated Hatim, just giving the man a weird look, but saying nothing as she focuses on trying to hit the creature. She steps away from Hatim, only to try and stay on the side of the beast, and swings again. Her aim is further off than last time, her anger, being forced, seems to be betraying her.