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Frowing slightly, Dingus unleashes a couple of Viscous Vapor Vipers to Vanquish the rager.
A pair of glowing vipers strike the flailing madman only slightly injuring him. He swings at Kaul, but slips on the greased stone and falls hard.
Kaul's matches the inmate's growl with one of his own as the thug's knife plunges downward as he attempts to butcher the prone looney;
:
:
Kaul plunges a knife into the fallen man though he barely seems to feel it in his state of high adrenaline as he struggles to get back up.
Dingus feels a blow that is deflected by his mage armor as he is struck by an unseen foe.
Round 2:
Realising that there's bugger all that he can do against those that have disappeared, Dibbs stays frosty and tries to make sure that Kaul doesn't end up getting his guts opened...
Defensively Aid Another (AC):
..."Bloody one legged bastard... an after we set tha prick free like as well"
If Jim is aware of the attack on Dingus, he'll try to find the attacker by touch. He growls, "Nestor, who are these people? Talk now!"
the Groom points again at the foe that he can see. "Stay down ya bastard!"
Miss
the Groom takes a shot at the frenzied fallen man as he attempts to stand up. Dibbets tries to help Kaul, but stumbles on the dead man. Jim calls out to Nestor as he tries to figure out where the invisible assailant is.
"I've no idea," comes the reply. "Ferrin is here with me."
AoO:
Behold the power of Dibbet's Broken Boomstick:
Dibbet's clips the raging bugger's hip as he rises... no doubt leaving a nasty wee bruise, but hardly doing much to check his roaring rampage of insanity.
As the nutter rises Kaul slices at the man's face whilst wearing his own crazy leer;
"Hur-hur-hur... Oncey-twicey... Carve and slicey!"
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:
"Hey". "Dibbs, your imaginary friend is poking at me".
Dingus tries to locate the assailant then sprays a fan of flame at him, careful not to involve his friends.
Burning Hands (DC15)
The enraged patient is cut down by the crew as he attempts to rise. Dingus hears an inexpertly wielded club whistle near his ear as he casts his spell and flames burst forward wrapping over the invisible assailant. There is a scream and then stillness.
Dibbs closes his eyes and listens... trying to figure out if there's any more invisible things nearby... apart from Jimmer that is...
Perception:
...and picking up nothing "Well looks like that gottem Dingus... good bloody work."
Nestor's voice is heard, "That was too close! Ferrin, explain yourself before we're all killed."
The unseen one-legged man sighs and responds. "Death would be welcomed at this point. My life has been a series of unfortunate events. I was once a wealthy merchant until I was captured by pirates, tortured and held for ransom. I lost my leg, health and most of my wealth before I was freed. I soon lost both my wife and business to a newcomer with the backing of the Aspis Consortium. Bereft, I admit that I lost it and was institutionalized by the plotting pair."
"Teriam? Ah, Teriam is lost. Teriam was my faithful manservant. He had himself locked up to try and rescue me. I had a packet of disappearing dust hidden in my wooden leg. He must not have remembered that when he used it as a weapon."
Dibbets spits to a side "Any more feckin surprises afore we takes another step eh? See havin the sob story after yer man tried tae snot us ain't quite as effective as iffin it were afore it. Best ye let up any more surprises before our opinion of ye lessens enuff that we make ye walk lead eh?"
"I did not know Teriam was freed and I hardly think you much better than the men who tortured me and held me for ransom," Ferrin sniffs.
As Jim and the pair reappear, Nestor is patting the unfortunate former-merchant on the shoulder. "Now, now, my boy. Keep your chin up. These brave souls will soon have us out where you can try to reclaim your livelihood."
"Best you be treating us better than he did. When you're adrift on the open sea, a leaky boat's better than none at all. It's too bad he used the dust by accident, for such a thing might have been of more use. Speaking of use, is there anything you two can do besides tell sad stories, or be put away by your erstwhile colleague?"
"Oh aye.. an iffen we ain't up tae yer feckin high standards... well yer cells still empty ye ungrateful piece of sh1te"
Kaul mulls over the peg leg's tale of woe;
"Hur... Ye say most or yer wealth... Iffen we get ye out reckon that re-mainder is rightfully ours like..."
The thug picks at a tusk (not the one with the startling debonair adornment) before continuing;
"Hur-hur... an we'll need info on yer old ball an chain and the dandy with ties tae the Aspissers... We'll be payin' them a visit for some investment too... hur..."
Nestor offers Jim a weak smile. "I am somewhat skilled as an apothecary and surgeon, but without my tools I sadly cannot offer much beyond advice."
Ferrin frowns at the half-orc. "What remained of my wealth was stolen by my false-hearted wife and her beau. You may take what you like from them with no protest from me."
In the silence that follows the freed patients' statements, a faint whispered chant can be heard from the darkness ahead.
"Dingus, Groom, any idea what that's about?"
"Well we ain't gonna find out standin 'ere... Looks like the way out is through.. ye coming?" with that Dibbs begins to stump forward, using his broken musket as a crutch... and secretly hoping that the longshanks start following and overtake him...
Kaul stops in his tracks at the whispering chant, looks around with bewilderment before slapping his noggin;
"Shhhh. Little voices shhhhh. Tryin' tae think..."
When he realizes the others are reacting as well he looks sheepish and lumbers in line;
"Hurrr... thought me mind was playin tricks... again hur-hur"
Jim and Kaul have the gleam of fear and madness in their eyes at the pernicious sound of more horror ahead. Dibbets boldly moves forward hoping the others will follow.
The dim light that Dibbets holds forth pushes back against the shadows revealing a dark squirming mound ahead. From the black holes in three of the nearby cell doors comes a menacing chant, "Big boys don't cry... big boys don't cry..."
With a start Dibbets realizes the mound is a swarm of rats feeding on a humanoid form lying on the stone floor!
Still twitchy, Jim follows the diminutive oracle.
Will Save: Ahem
Dibbs raises an eyebrow at the mound of rats obviously non-plussed "Is that it Kauly? Jus some feckin ratters tae make ye go sh1ttin ye dacks like a wee lass... bugger me ye best toughen up a bit" before hocking up a giant loogie and spitting on the humanoid form to wash off some of the rats a minute and get a closer peek.
A wave of loogie generated water crashes over the rat pile and the rodents scurry in all directions disappearing into cracks and crannies and underfoot. Dibbets steps closer holding up his light. The ghastly gnawed remains look to be a large man dressed in an orderly uniform with a club close at hand. Dull-eyed men in the adjacent cells stare at the uncovered body and continue whispering in unison, "Big boys don't cry...".
The next cell door ahead on the left is open and Dibbets glimpses more fallen bodies within. From the rear, Nestor suddenly gasps, "No! No!" He is covering his nose and you note that it is bleeding freely again.
Spellcraft
"What in blazes is happening here"?
Although there are many things happening, Dingus doesn't see any spells being cast at the moment. Following up with detect magic, Dingus finds that the dead man's club radiates necromantic energy.
Jim whirls to face the aged apothecary. "What's got you, Nestor?"
the Groom scans the faces in the cells, seeing if there is any 'there' there.
The shadowy faces behind the barred windows show no emotion other than hatred as they continue to whisper at the fallen and likely abusive orderly. "Big boys don't cry..."
Kaul looks at the gnawed corpse before scowling at Dibbs;
"Me noggin is fine, and me keeks ain't filled... Jes' feelin' squirrelly that's all... like with the skinbag..."
The thug shudders at the memory before drifting into the mantra of the inmates;
"Bigboysdon'tcry... bigorcsdon'tdie... coconutsdon'tshy... fingerswavedbye-bye..."
Kaul seems rather affected by the insane ranting of the inmates and joins in. Nestor and Ferin both collapse into trembling heaps of fear. They curl into fetal position moaning and shaking. Jim appears similarly affected as he just stands staring at the fallen men. A garbled cry comes from his mouth and he can do nothing but shake with fear.
Keelhaul Kaul-
Madman Jim-
the Groom-
Dingus-
The others
Perception:
:
Despite going off on one, Kaul beadies focus their attention on something additional to the madness around the crew;
"Eye see yoo...hur..."
the Groom slides the crossbow onto his back again and draws his blade, "The bilge water is getting deep when I become the functioning muscle of the group"
Dibbets spots the nasty little creature he saw earlier standing inside the open cell. It makes a rude gesture at the towering halfling.
Perception
"Somebody point him out"! "I want to burn him". Dingus cackles insanely.
At Dingus' comment the thug points at Dibbs with a wild grin;
"Hur... oh not him... ye mean him..."
Kaul points toward the open cell further up the corridor... and moves toward the wee tormentor
Dingus follows Kaul and will fan out the Snake Tongue Flames wherever he points.