The goblin goes from giggling to squealing as it soon realizes it has bit off way more than it can chew. These are no peasants wandering lost.. These longshanks actually know how to use weapons! He never gets the chance to turn and run, however. Sordello's retaliatory strike crosses perfectly from shoulder to side, knocking the pitiful dogslicers out of the way and creating an opening that Corvus exploits. Her rapier dives in to pierce between the ribs, missing the heart but certainly puncturing a lung. The nuisance is just starting to fall, a pained expression on his face as Koveless' dagger plunges into his stomach.
A quick look around by Gene and Klegg after the splash of the body falling into the water shows no other goblins in sight. But where there is one, there are almost certainly more.
"Alright," says Corvus in hushed tones, aware that the chasing group must be closing on them. "We have a balancing act. Too quick and we run the risk of running into goblins unprepared. Too slow and the 'knights catch us."
Corvus surveys the group. "I think I'd rather take my chances with the goblins."
Pushing on, Corvus keeps an eye out for goblins.
"The biggest problem with the goblins is that they'll be leaving a trail for the knights to follow when we kill them. Before we move on, let me see what I can do about everyone's wounds."
Klegg gathers everyone around him, a soft glow enveloping them. The sound of beautiful, unearthly music fills their ears for but a brief moment as much of their pain ceases. Sadly, while the pain dissipates, much of the actual wounds seem to remain.
[occ]Channel energy for a whole 1HP to everyone, bah.[/occ]
"I apologize, perhaps even Shelyn does not wish to take in the glorious sights and smells about us. Perhaps she does not think we need her aid just yet."
"Thank you all the same," Genevieve smiles to the priest, then looks over to Sordello, "how are you feeling?" she asks him sympathetically.
She looks down at the goblinoid corpse thoughtfully for a moment, considering Kleggisnep's words, "maybe we should try to hide the body? Or perhaps we could just move it a little down one of the passages we are avoiding?"
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"I am still not so well, but thanks for asking Genevieve. Sometimes, Desna asks her patrons to make their own luck." He smiles at Klegg. After that, Sordello pulls out one of the potions and drinks it. He carefully puts the potion and stopper back into his bag to avoid leaving behind any clues. "Then again, I get the feeling that Desna would perhaps more fully restore my health with a night at a nice inn with music, wine, and proper company."
Koveless pulls his dagger out of the goblin, frowning as he cleans it on the creatures rags of clothing. Holding it gingerly in one hand he turns to sign to Genevieve.
Whatever we do, we should do it quickly. If there are more goblins about, I'm sure they know these tunnels far better than we or the Hellknights.
Corvus pauses and tries to estimate how far behnd the Hellknights are based upon how much noise they are making.
It's hard to tell exactly, with the sounds echoing. But currently the sound is feint so it's probably at least a few minutes.
"Whatever you want to do with the goblin, you'd better make it quick. I'd estimate we have only a few minutes before the Hellknights are upon us."
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"I'll just drag the corpse up to the next intesection and place it a few feet down a side hall, nothing fancy. More than anything else, I think we just need to keep going at a steady pace. We should be able to keep ahead of fully armored Hellknights as long as we don't get trapped or have to backtrack."
"Alright," the young actress agrees, nodding, "lets get moving before something dangerous finds us."
Looking around at the walls, she furrows her brow in consternation, "does anyone see the marker?"
Corvus spots the sign and off the group goes once again, hurrying through the cramped corridors. There are many more twists and turns and intersections but each time the sign is spotted quickly and the correct passage is chosen. Sordello places the goblin down a side passage at the first intersection and for a while all sounds of pursuit fade.
“I think I remember these tunnels,” Janiven whispers. “We’re getting close to our exit. But stay alert. If the Hellknights have guessed our direction they may try to drop in ahead of us.”
The idea of being close to the exit lifts everyone’s spirits, but they are almost immediately dampened as Corvus comes up to a near wall of piled refuse. The trash and filth stretches from wall to wall, and nearly as high as the ceiling. Too far to be climbed over without some effort and time spent clearing the way. The water still trickles through, but just barely and without a hole anywhere near large enough for a person to slip through.
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"Like I said, the only way we are going to get caught by lumbering knights is if we have to backtrack and run smack into them. This poses that kind of problem. We need to either try to get across this fast, or else decide to backtrack one intersection and go around before they can cut us off. If its any help, I do have 50' of silk rope and a grappling hook. Janiven, do you think a lateral route can get us to the safe house exit?"
Sordello digs through his bag and pulls out the line and hook. He surveys the blockage to see if its possible to either use the hook to drag some of the debris of the top, or possibly climb high enough to squeeze over the top. At this point he seems intent to make a quick survey in case the group needs to backtrack.
Janiven shakes her head with a shrug as Morosino takes the chance to crouch down and catch his breath again. “I can’t say. We could go back and try a side passage but there’s no guarantee that it would even connect back with this tunnel at all. There doesn’t seem to be much of a system to the layout of these sewers, at least, none that I’ve recognized from within them. And we didn’t explore alternate routes.”
Koveless glances around a few seconds before walking up to the pile of garbage and starting to move pieces out of the way. It’s obvious he’s not used to digging through filth and he’s obviously squeamish, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get out of here as fast as possible.
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"I think Koveless has the right of it. If we all work together, we can probably create enough space to clear the passage."
Sordello puts away his hook for now. He gets up next to Koveless and starts trying to clear a way out.
"Although I do recommend somebody keep watch to prevent anything from sneaking up on us while we are caught here."
Using her 'deft hands', Corvus joins in the excavation.
Genevieve looks gingerly at the wall of filth, then back down the tunnel hesitantly, eventually though the thought of capture by Hellknights overcomes her distaste of getting dirty and she moves forward to assist in clearing a path.
With nearly everyone helping the trash moves pretty easy and, though there is plenty of it and it is pretty smelly, it doesn't seem to be very dense. In only a couple minutes the trash is cleared enough to be clamored over and past. It's not cleared, but at least one can climb on top and through the roughly three foot deep hole between trash and ceiling.
Kleggisnep stands watch behind everyone else along with Janiven and Morosino and though he doesn't see anything certain, their minds are more than happy to create sounds for them. Feint rustlings, or scrapings seem to echo down, just shy of being overpowered by the tinkling sound of the running water and just peeking between the noises of the moving trash.
Kleggisnep sighs a bit as he keeps watch. Today definitely wasn't turning out the way he wanted, trying to find his way through a sewer was not on his list of delightful romps. His ears and eyes seemed content to play tricks on him down here, as well.
"So," Klegg whispers, "how many baths do you think you're going to take once we get back up? I'm standing with a minimum limit of two, at the moment."
Corvus takes the initiative and is the first to scamble up - rapier in hand - through the three foot gap into the tunnel beyond.
She is, of course, paying maximum attention to what's in front of her.
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"I think I will only need one bath, so long as I find some attendants with the right skill level and charm."
Sordello makes sure his hook, line and pack are secured. He shoulders his pack and then draws his longsword again.
"Hurry along. I'll be the rear guard and do my best to cover our trail as I go over."
As everyone shuffles over the garbage and into the space on the other side, It is quickly discovered that the tunnel does not go far before ending at a makeshift door. A quick glance to Janiven shows that she does indeed recognize the door, and confirms that this is indeed the right path.
Corvus will wait at the door for the rest of the party to arrive.
Whilst waiting, she'll give the door the once over.
Kleggisnep chuckles softly at Sordello's jest.
"While that remains a slight possibility, I would wager on more sewers or possibly a few goblins. Of course, I'd be all too happy if this lead somewhere with no troubles what so ever."
"I certainly hope to have a very long bath once we're out of this pit," Genevieve comments to Kleggisnep as she flicks a clinging strand of filth from her sleeve disdainfully.
"This safe house of yours does have a bathtub I hope?" she asks Janiven meaningfully while they await the results of Corvus' inspection of the doorway.
Janiven smiles, "I'm sure some baths can be arranged on our exit," she whispers. Though I'm not sure how much time we will have for celebrating our survival." A grim reminder perhaps of the news of Arael's capture that Morosino brought.
Corvus' search of the door brings up nothing and carefully opening it reveals.... Just another corridor. This one crosses the door going right to left and a clear marker can be seen pointing to the right.
Corvus steps forward to lead the way and then pauses.
"Is there anyone waiting at the other end that might act in a less than friendly manner if it isn't a friendly face they see first?"
Klegg frowns a bit at Corvus's question. He shifts uneasily in his armor.
"I don't think that's the biggest problem. Much as I'd hate to think it, we may be heading right into a trap. If the Hellknights found the tavern, it's likely they could be searching this safe house right now..."
He trails off, stopping momentarily as the light from his mace flickers out. He whistles and motions his fingers to summon the light, though the darkness seems to last for far too long given this new thought.
Genevieve smiles briefly to Janiven at the reassurance of a bath, then frowns thoughtfully when Kleggisnep mentions the possibility of a Hellknight trap.
"I'm not so sure," She speaks, sounding more confident than her thoughts would betray, "Surely the safehouse is not so obvious that it could be found by a simple search of the city - after all, we were only found in the tavern because the knights followed Morosino's retreat... I only hope our current pursuit doesn't end in a similar outcome."
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"Well, I'll face a the possible danger above over the certain danger behind us any day. Besides, I have heard that several orders of Hellknights are well regarded for the mineral spas where they take captives to be be questioned," he smiles at Gene. "I say we move now and be cautious once we get top-side. Personally, I would prefer to exit here looking maybe a bit less conspicuous by putting my weapons away."
With that, Sordello sheathes his sword and prepares to exit the tunnels.
"I'll exit last, being the one with the light and the all-too-conspicuous armor."
Klegg settles facing the way they came, keeping guard as much as possible. He shivers a bit, wishing he could be the first out of this dank, fettid place.
Corvus looks Janiven in the eyes. "Where exactly does this bring us out?"
Janiven leans against a wall for a moment as everyone prepares to go through the door.
"This door brings us out into another part of the sewers, not far from our exit. There are only a few more turns left. As for a welcome at the other end... I doubt that the Hellknights have found the safe house. Arael will not have given up the location this quickly, even if the Hellknights have already gotten him. And they have no reason to suspect the location otherwise."
Moving cautiously into the new sewer tunnel and to the right in accordance with the marker, reveals another intersection not far down. A branch off to the left with their own tunnel continuing straight.
As the group is stopped at this intersection and Corvus takes a quick look around for the next marker, Sordello can barely make out a humanoid figure walking slowly down their tunnel towards them. A slow foot shuffling gate bringing it just within view in the dim light.
Corvus follows Sordello's gaze and sees the shape of the approaching figure. Unlike Sordello, she keeps her hand on her rapier.
"Better safe than sorry," she mutters under her breath.
Just as the misshapen figure comes fully into view, a soft moan echoes down the side corridor and a quick glance down that way reveals another shuffling figure.
One could almost believe that they were lost travelers as well, if it were not for the pale flesh hanging in ragged strips from arms and legs. An exposed leg bone here, the white of a skull there. It quickly becomes all too obvious that these are not lost travelers.
"Oh...well. I can certainly help with this." Klegg readies himself, mentally thinking through his prepared spells for what might be most useful here. He frowns a bit when he realizes all he can really do is channel the energy of Sheyln against these creatures.
Genevieve takes a small step back in revulsion at the sight of the mouldering forms shambling forth from the darkness, a brief flare of crimson light flashing at her throat. Quickly reigning in her emotions, she channels the energy into an icy blast directed towards the nearest walking corpse.
Corvus heads for the closest creature and swings her sabre violently.