Surprised that any of the man's possessions actually radiate magic, Emyralda studies the metal rod more intently.
Spellcraft Check: 1d20 + 5
Emyrald discover that the rod is a wand of acid splash with twenty-three charges left on it.
"Cardon, this is a wand of acid splash with twenty-three charges left on it. I can cast acid splash without limit, so would you like to have the wand?" Emyralda offers the wand to the wizardly priest.
"There are sounds of childrens' voices, and a gruff deeper voice coming from beyond that passage. Also there is some sort of wet, squishing sound. I can't make out what anyone is saying though. Beyond that, it smells even fishier over there, if that's possible."
We can't risk Lamm using them as hostages- or worse. Let's investigate.
"Children?" Emyralda gasps. "Of course we must investigate! Is he secured?" she asks, pointing to the weaselly-looking man.
"Cardon, this is a wand of acid splash with twenty-three charges left on it. I can cast acid splash without limit, so would you like to have the wand?" Emyralda offers the wand to the wizardly priest.
"There are sounds of childrens' voices, and a gruff deeper voice coming from beyond that passage. Also there is some sort of wet, squishing sound. I can't make out what anyone is saying though. Beyond that, it smells even fishier over there, if that's possible."We can't risk Lamm using them as hostages- or worse. Let's investigate."Children?" Emyralda gasps. "Of course we must investigate! Is he secured?" she asks, pointing to the weaselly-looking man.
Aye. He's not going anywhere.
Kovellus will lead the way, trusting his trusty Earth-Breaker to protect him from his foes.
Morghrim will lead the way, trusting his Darkvision, his trusty Warhammer and his shield to keep him safe.
Morghrim will lead the way, trusting his Darkvision, his trusty Warhammer and his shield to keep him safe.
"I will follow behind our two strapping warriors," Lily asserts. "That way I can serve as a last line of defense for our spell-slingers, should it come to that." She again draws her bow.
"Staying behind warriors would be prudent, assuming of course we plan to wade right in and pummel whoever might be in there."
Andrezi looks questioningly at the rest of the group, "Would we rather have someone scout out the area first? Makes me no difference of course, as long as at the end of all Lamm's life is forfeit."
"Staying behind warriors would be prudent, assuming of course we plan to wade right in and pummel whoever might be in there."
Andrezi looks questioningly at the rest of the group, "Would we rather have someone scout out the area first? Makes me no difference of course, as long as at the end of all Lamm's life is forfeit."
Kovellus snorts.
Either way, we're going to have to open this door, and likely reveal ourselves regardless. Enough talk.
The big man opens the door (or tries to).
As Kovellus reaches for the door, Lily nods perceptably. Glancing toward Andrezi, she adds, "I agree that more robust tactics can be effective in many circumstances. In these close quarters, though, anyone who extends too far beyond the rest of the group is likely only to imperil themselves."
"So be it." Andrezi says, following with a loaded crossbow in hand.
Cardon takes the wand of acid splash and nods his thanks.
If the man is allowed to speak, he says the following to the paladin:
"You might as well kill me right off, as there is no way you could end my life that would be as horrific as what Lamm would do to me after he kills you. Aye, the dogs are mine, but I'll tell you nothing else."
Meanwhile, Kovellus pushes open the door to the north where the fetid stench of fish is stronger.
The stink in this room, a mixture of fish and sweat, is enough to make the eyes water. To the east, a large wooden trough holds a hideous mound of half-rancid fish, seaweed, and brine. Filthy seawater and fish blood stain the floor around this trough. A pair of wooden chutes lead from the trough through holes in the eastern wall to a larger room. To the west, a desk and chair sit in one corner while a tall cabinet sits in the other. Roughly a dozen children with pitchforks push fish slurry and offal from the trough through the chutes where they noisily splash and squelch to some sort of container on the other side of the wall.
Might make it: or not
Kovellus gestures with his huge hammer at the group of children.
All of you... OUT! NOW! he shouts.
"Come on, children! This way!" Emyralda motions for the children to flee through the doorway to the street.
Tosk listens to the bound man, upset at his response of little help. With motive of resistance, however, Tosk did not feel angry at the man as much as disappointed.
"When he is gone, we will see what you think then."
Entering the next room was depressing for Tosk. The children-slaves reminded himself of the hardship he faced as an outsider of sorts, though this was far worse. Standing back as to not frighten the children with his massive presence, he shoots Kovellus a look after his shout, too harsh for the children in Tosk's mind.
Going to the cabinet once the children have departed, Tosk rifles through it, looking for incriminating "evidence" of some sort, though he knew not for what he was looking. Easily discouraged with searching for objects, he is not as thorough as he should be.
Perception to notice Sully's spoiler:
Andrezi helps his companions hurry the children out of the room, then looks around the room for exits or clues to the whereabouts of Lamm.
Diplomacy (to calm the children as they are leaving the room):
Perception::
The children look take one look at the party bursting into the room, look at each other in dismay, and begin running towards the exit in a near panic. Andrezi's words calm them somewhat, but they are clearly taking the opportunity as presented.
** spoiler omitted **
Perception:
Theorizing that anyone not a child working in this room probably would not be a good person, Emyralda casts Magic Missile at the fleeing gnome cleverly disguised as a dirty child.
[ooc]Magic Missile Damage:
"Hey! That's a gnome with those children!" Emyralda shouts, pointing to the one her spell struck.
"Oh no, you don't!!"
Lily grabs for the fleeing gnome who was struck by Emyralda's magic dart.
Tosk, unable to mobilize and sheath his sword in time to tackle the Gnome, opts instead to see his intent.
Cardon sends out his scarf on a Hand of the Acolyte: ; damage
In no mood for tricks and subtlety, Kovellus surges forward and rams the shaft of his mighty hammer into the Gnome, hoping to knock him out.
(Nonlethal -4 and Power Attack accounted for)
Non-lethal damage
Andrezi reaches for his whip to try and catch the gnome, but then seeing Kovellus slam an earthbreaker into the gnome, winces a bit and just leaves his whip on his belt.
Emyralda's magical projectile strikes the gnome square between the shoulder blades, causing him to stumble directly into Lily's outstretched arms.
"Hey, lemme g-" he begins to say, but Kovellus strikes him square in the temple causing his eyes to cross as he goes limp in Lily's grasp.
Meanwhile, Tosk's spell reveals no aura surrounding the disguised gnome.
"I don't think the gnome is going to be in any condition to talk for a while. Shall we secure him and look around the rest of this foul smelling place?"
"We should search the gnome to make sure he doesn't have any tricks up his sleeves," Emyralda suggests.
The young girl walks over toward the tall cabinet in the corner. "Maybe we could secure him inside this?" she asks as she reaches to open the cabinet.
"Hmm...that could work I suppose." Andrezi glances over at the parties' first prisoner "But what do we do with him. I assume your intent is to hide them as much as secure them."
"I assume your intent is to hide them as much as secure them."
"Not really. I just think that anyone who would exploit children should be locked away in as small and dark a place as possible. But hiding them would be a good idea..."
Just keep them bound, and out of sight. Let's move on, I don't want this whoreson getting away.
Lily nods in Kovellus's general direction, and promptly drags the man from the entrance room into the second room. She deftly ties the Gnome to the man, and places them both in a corner. She glances around, helping Tosk look the room over for anything of use before the group departs.
"We...we could hide the gnome in there." Cardon mutters, indicating the trough of fish guts.
"We...we could hide the gnome in there." Cardon mutters, indicating the trough of fish guts.
"Well, that's disgusting...though better than they likely owed."
"I wouldn't mind drowning Lamm in it when we catch him," he says in a disturbingly creepy un-emotional whisper.
The group unceremoniously tosses the now trussed-up and still quite unconscious gnome in the corner of the room with the trough of fish slurry. It is a matter of a few moments to retrieve the bound and gagged man from the room next door and place him with their other prisoner. The cabinet is quite small, and the party finds that the key they nabbed from the ugly blonde man opens the front doors. Inside, they find six small pouches of coin, four of which contain fifty copper pieces and two which contain fifty silver pieces.
A set of double doors leads to the north, and a door in the east wall next to the trough leads to a larger room beyond.
Like before, Andrezi will listen (or quickly look through if open) at each doorway.
Perception Checks:
Double Doors:
East Wall:
Lily notices Andrezi listening at doors. "If you'd like, I can try as well. Father always says I have the most uncanny ability to hear customers entering our shop when he and I are both sitting in the back room."