= Cauldron, Part 18 =
7/25/08
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Tillandor asks, "The lift, Calico? Whatever do you mean?"
Calico purr mumbles a bit before replying, "burn it after we get out."
Tass says, "That would take some doing. That was some hefty wood."
Calico continues her meditation, seemingly oblivious to the world.
Jiona shifts around a bit as she tries to situate herself into a reasonably comfortable sleeping position in these cramped quarters, but she doesn't doze off yet, since she's the one maintaining the noise-deadening effect.
Tillandor says, "I suppose it wouldn't be amiss, though I'm a bit more concerned at the moment with getting to that point."
Ethkin grimaces, his eyes staring into space, "Someone is coming."
Jiona abruptly sits up straighter, and holds up a hand to silence everyone - unnecessarily, most likely - and once everyone quiets down, she again drops the effect she's been sustaining.
* There is an urgent and sharp rap on the door.
Kristof nods to Jiona to drop her effect and moves towards the door.
Calico purrs loudly enough to cover the sounds of quiet movement.
* There is another sharp rap on the door.
Kristof after double checking with Jiona to make sure her noise deadening is down, he opens the door.
* A hobgoblin stands outside the door, holding an iron shod staff, looking as if he's ready to strike the door once more. He seems annoyed.
Kristof asks, "Yes?"
Jiona gives the impression of having been nearly asleep - which isn't too far off from the truth - when the door is opened.
The hobgoblin grimaces, "Kazmojen is ready for you. Follow me."
Kristof nods and tosses a meaningful glance to the rest of the party.
Calico continues to meditate, seemingly oblivious.
Jiona is clearly less than thrilled about this turn of events, but nods back to Kristof and rises to her feet, stretching a little and waiting for Tillandor before following.
The hobgoblin leads down the hallway, then turns around, obviously waiting.
Kristof steps outside the door and waits for everyone to collect themselves.
Tillandor nudges Calico surreptitiously with a toe, and follows Kristof's lead.
Calico stands without warning and follows.
Jiona smiles a bit to herself at Calico's rapid transition between apparently being asleep and being awake, but otherwise doesn't comment as she follows alongside Tillandor.
The hobgoblin sees you all stand, and raises an eyebrow, "All of you? Fine. Come along."
Kristof waits for Ethkin and Tass, nodding his head towards them in indication he would like them to attend.
The hobgoblin nears the hobgoblins at the southern doors. He gestures and one of them pulls a lever, then they open both doors.
The hobgoblin walks between the two into the room beyond.
Calico, as she passes, makes another teasing query of the guard.
Jiona keeps alert to her surroundings as she follows after Kristof.
* Four malachite pillars support the twenty foot high ceiling for this grand chamber. Hanging from an iron brace mounted near the top of each pillar is a cylindrical iron cage containing a giant fire beetle that sheds an infernal light. The southern half of the chamber rises five feet, and a wide black staircase leads up to the raised floor. Just past the top of the stairs, an eight foot tall iron post erupts from the floor. Iron shackles hang from the top of the post. Five narrow windows carved into the south wall stand open to the darkness beyond.
* Chained to the post is a young boy. He has short black hair and bushy eyebrows, and wears rags that appear to once have been semi-decent clothing. A very stout humanoid in heavy plate stands next to the boy, holding one of his chains. Pyllrak stands at the bottom of the stairs, gesturing pleadingly at the armored humanoid.
Calico rushes towards the boy to 'inspect' him.
Kristof forces a smile and says, "Ah you have begun. Excellent."
* The person in plate mail gestures to you all as you enter, speaking in a gruff voice, "Ahh, the other bidder. Come, come. Ah. Why so many? You wish to wage war against me?"
Kristof raises an eyebrow and says, "Kazmojen I presume?"
* A large doglike creature covered in sharp quills leaps out from behind the humanoid in plate mail to stand between the boy and Calico. It growls in a horribly unnatural growl.
Kristof gestures to the others to take a seat and says, "Merely some help in inspecting the merchandise."
Calico freezes mid step.
Jiona briefly reaches out a hand to stop Calico's rush, but she's not nearly fast enough, and just watches. Her expression is forcefully held to be neutral, but she can't quite control the agitated twitching of her ears, or the slight flick of her tail. She remains standing behind Kristof as well, but watches the one she assumes to be Kazmojen carefully.
* The hobgoblin that led you in steps near a fire beetle. The doors close behind you, and the two guards from the hall step in as the close the doors.
Tillandor stands back, observing the bequillioned beast and the armored person.
* The gruff platemailed being says, "Kazmojen is my name. Be careful little kitty. Prickles is not fond of strangers. And he does like to eat cats."
Calico hisses and bares her teeth.
Kristof gestures with his hands held out unthreateningly, "I would like to make sure none of the goods are 'damaged' before I put a bid, if you wouldn't mind?"
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+12: 3,12 = 15.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+12: 5,12 = 17.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+12: 4,12 = 16.
Kazmojen nods to Kristof, "Sure, sure. But do not send a cat... I am not sure I could contain Prickles."
Kristof frowns and says, "She is one of my most skilled appraisers."
Kristof says, "I do not think anyone else I have brought could ascertain health, strength and stamina nearly as well as she."
Kazmojen grimaces, gesturing for Prickles to come, "Well, I am sure Pyllrak will vouch for the quality if you'd like. He's examined this one quite thoroughly. She may come close, but I cannot vouch for her safety."
* Prickles moves behind Kazmojen and growls a little at the boy.
Tillandor steps close to Jiona.
Calico ventures close enough to check the boy, keeping an eye on the dog.
Jiona notices the movement, and perks an ear in his direction, but keeps a close watch on Kazmojen, and now Calico as well.
Pyllrak grumbles, "I'll give 30 gold for the boy. He doesn't seem quite as strong as the other three I bought."
Calico holds up 4 fingers and nods to Kristof.
Kazmojen steps back, pushing the creature further back and letting Calico see the boy. Prickles barks at Calico, but Kazmojen seems to be able to hold him back.
Kristof muses at the bid and waits for Calico's "assessment."
* The boy sneers at Calico. Kazmojen slaps him, hard.
Kazmojen says, "He is a little pill this one. But he is clever. Nearly broke out of one of my best cells."
Kristof steps forward and says, "Check him thoroughly."
Kristof raises an eyebrow at the mention of the attempted breakout.
Kristof asks, "This.... boy? Almost broke out of your cells?"
* Calico rolls 1f20: 19.
Jiona gives Tillandor a look of slight surprise, and sniffs the air a little, trying to not be obvious about it. Her eyes narrow at the slap the boy is dealt, as well, but she still holds herself back.
Kristof shakes his head and says, "Security must be lax if this one gave you trouble."
Calico dashes back to Kristof and whispers.
Tillandor looks around the room from his position near Jiona.
Kazmojen shrugs, "He didn't get out. Managed to remove some hinges."
Kazmojen says, "Luckily my cell doors are not that simple to open."
Kristof whispers back to Calico, "Is this one of them?"
Kristof puts his hand underneath his chin, rubbing it as if considering an offer.
Jiona's ears tilt back in an expression of surprise tht Tillandor is probably cable of recognizing, but others may not know how to interpret it. She gives him a quick nod, and decides to move a bit closer to Kristof.
Kazmojen looks meaningfully at Kristof, "Well? This is my last child that I have currently. Pyllrak requested some children specifically, but he might get by with just the three."
* Pyllrak harumphs.
Kristof says, "Perhaps.... this one might be of use after all."
* Orange is the boy. Red is Kazmojen. Green is the dogthing. Yellow is Pyllrak. The Xs are guards. *adds the missing ones*
Calico sits and resumes her meditation and purring until something else should need her attention.
Kristof looks back to Jiona, Tillandor, Ethkin and Tass, smiles and winks.
Kazmojen asks, "Well, I haven't got all day. Do you want the boy or not?"
Tillandor glances around a bit more, and grimaces.
* Pyllrak looks at Kristof impatiently.
Jiona looks somewhat uncertain, but nods back to Kristof after only a short pause.
* Tass leans up against one of the massive malachite pillars.
Kristof rushes towards Kazmojen, drawing his blades and stabbing them towards Kazmojen as he says, "Yes I do!"
The DM says, "Hold..."
The DM says, "Okay, Rayne. Take your attack. Then initiative."
Kristof asks, "Rayne?"
The DM laughs.
The DM says, "Kristof."
The DM says, "Sorry... need a new icon for you."
* DM rolls 1f20+1: 7,1 = 8.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 8,8 = 16.
* Kristof's attack glances off of the heavy armor. Kazmojen laughs and gets into a fighting stance.
The DM says, "Roll initiative."
- As Kristof moves, darkness seems to swirl around him obscuring him partly as he rushes towards Kazmojen. His blades move, but the lack of apparent sound of a blade stricking home is apparent.
* Calico rolls 1f20+5: 3,5 = 8.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+2: 4,2 = 6.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+9: 10,9 = 19.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+2: 15,2 = 17.
* DM rolls 1f20+3: 15,3 = 18.
* DM rolls 1f20+5: 3,5 = 8.
Ethkin says, "Go Kristof."
Kristof chuckles.
The DM hehs. Go.
- Kristof changes his guard position in line with shifting his feet into a more open stance, then after a brief moment of staring into Kazmojen's eyes, swings his blade with deadly precision.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 7,6 = 13.
The DM forgot Pyllrak
* DM rolls 1f20+6: 10,6 = 16.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 15,6 = 21.
* Kristof rolls 1d6+4: 6,4 = 10.
Ethkin steps up to the two Hobgoblin guards, using a 5 foot step of fury.
Ethkin strikes down the first one, and misses the second.
Ethkin says, "Go Jiona."
The DM says, "Jiona go."
- Having seen Kazmojen slap the boy around, Jiona doesn't even have to think about her target. She moves closer to him, and points a finger accusingly, all of her teeth bared in a snarl. Instantly, an arc of lightning leaps out from that outstretched digit....
* Jiona rolls 1d10+2: 8,2 = 10.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 13,8 = 21.
Kazmojen reels back from the bolt of lightning as it strikes him full in the chest. He growls a bit, seeming surprised.
* Prickles runs around Kazmojen to attack Kristof.
* Prickle's slavering pointed jaws glance off of Kristof's armor.
* Pyllrak looks around, then quaffs a potion and vanishes.
DM says, "Calico go"
Calico stands suddenly, her purring transitioning seamlessly into a chant as she summons a celestial cat to attack prickles from behind.
* Calico rolls 1f20+4: 9,4 = 13.
Calico says, "add 2, flanking."
- A celestial cat appears behind the dog and pounces, but is unable to penetrate its hide.
Tass throws three rather sharp pieces of metal at one of the two guards at the eastern door. Two hit true, slaying the hobgoblin instantly, the last sticking into the door.
* The other hobgoblin there charges at Tass
* Tass is slashed hard across the chest by it's blade.
* Another hobgoblin charges Tillandor.
* Tillandor reels back at a nasty cut to the shoulder. 6 damage
* The other hobgoblins charge forward and swipe ineffectually at Ethkin, Tillandor and Calico.
Kazmojen roars angrily, attempting to bat Kristof out of the way with his massive two headed axe.
Kazmojen flails at Kristof with his mighty swing, missing each time. In frustration, he even attempts to bite Kristof, but Kristof dodges deftly out of the way.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
Tillandor takes a defensive posture, his staff held vertically before him, and cautiously steps to the side between Calico and Tass.
Kristof grins teasingly at the enraged Kazmojen and says, "Is that the best you got?" then swings with both swords as they burst into flame.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 16,8 = 24.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 18,8 = 26.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 19,8 = 27.
* Kristof rolls 3d6+4: 1,2,4,4 = 11.
Kazmojen reels back in pain as Kristof's blade slips between the plates of his armor to sear and cut him deeply.
* Ethkin elbows then slams a fist down on the hobgoblin, crushing it to the floor in a pile. He dances back to flank another hobgoblin.
Kazmojen says, "Go Jiona"
Jiona takes a moment to check on Tillandor, and grimaces at his new injury, but nods her approval at his defense, as it seems Kristof still needs some assistance against Kazmojen, despite slipping in one decent blow. She gathers her will, then makes a flinging gesture, throwing a somewhat brighter bolt towards the half-dwarf.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+9: 16,9 = 25.
* Jiona rolls 2d6+2: 5,3,2 = 10.
- With a searing, cracking noise, the bolt impacts Kazmojen's conductive armor, the strong tang of ozone mixing in with the scent of sizzling flesh.
Prickles growls, snapping again at Kristof, this time getting a bite at his leg that sinks in. (10 damage) Two quills fire off of the creature's back at Kristof, but clatter to the floor on the stairs.
* DM rolls 1f20+1: 12,1 = 13.
* The boy slinks behind Kazmojen, brandishing a quill. He strikes at Kaz's back, but swings wildly.
DM says, "Go Calico"
Calico, finding her path to help Kristof obstructed, makes a slashing claw attack.
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 17,9 = 26.
* Calico rolls 1d3-1: 2,-1 = 1.
Calico strikes true, but as usual does little damage.
- The celestial cate makes another strike at the dog.
* Calico rolls 1f20+4: 10,4 = 14.
* Tass dances around the pillar, dodging the Hobgoblin. The hobgoblin suddenly falls over dead.
Calico the cat again is unable to penetrate the dog's touch hide.
* One hobgoblin strikes at Ethkin's back, hitting true with a heavy hit. The other hobgoblins go to help their master. The first barely gets in a hit (5), while the second can't seem to make good on the attack.
Kazmojen, enraged, muscles past his hobgoblin minion to get a better vantage at Kristof, "You didn't fool me, I could see you weren't a real bidder from the start. I sent Pyllrak to ply you. Now we'll take you friends here and you as slaves."
Kazmojen smashes Kristof with the heavy end of the axe (11) and bites at him (5), spitting on him in the process.
DM says, "Go Tillandor."
Tillandor inches closer to Jiona, maintaining his defensive stance.
Kristof crumples to the floor unconscious.
* Ethkin attacks thin air, laughing, "*I* see you."
* Ethkin appears to have hit something, and you hear an *oof*
I don't understand that command. Try say, pose, or help.
Jiona watches in horror as Kristof crumples, and knows their dire situation just got much worse. No longer seeing a need to hold back a reserve, she once again flings a bright arc of electricity at Kazmojen with an angry snarl that is slightly louder than the sound of the bolt itself.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+9: 19,9 = 28.
* Jiona rolls 2d6+2: 2,2,2 = 6.
Kazmojen howls in pain and rage, tumbling down the stairs convulsing into a twitching, armored heap on the floor.
The hobgoblin barely manages to leap out of the way to avoid being crushed.
Prickles leaps at Jiona, howling a piercing and mournful howl.
Prickles's bite misses, but three quills fire at Jiona. Two hit, one in the shoulder, the other in her side. They go deep, hindering her movement. (5+6)
* Jiona rolls 1f20+4: 13,4 = 17.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+4: 30,4 = 34.
* Luckily for Jiona, the quills don't stay in, but somehow just graze the surface.
Ethkin strikes again at an unseen foe, you hear a loud crack.
The westward door opens and you hear footsteps running out if.
* DM
DM says, "It."
* The boy shouts, "Help, set me free!"
Dm says, "Go Calico"
* Calico rolls 1f20+4: 13,4 = 17.
- The celestial cat swipes at the dog as it charges away to Jiona.
Calico makes her own swipe at the aproaching dog.
- The celestial cat finally gets in a hit, (for 1 pt).
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 7,9 = 16.
* Calico rolls 1d3-1: 2,-1 = 1.
Calico also manages a scratch against the dog beast.
Tass dodges around and tosses some metal shards at the beast, but misses.
Two hobgoblins charge Calico, but both miss barely as she dodges.
The other hobgoblin charges Ethkin, striking him in the thigh with a longsword.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
Tillandor maintains his defensive stance and says urgently, "Jiona, quiet that beast's howls before it draws the whole pack down upon us!"
Ethkin smashes the hobgoblin with a headbutt, then jabs a pinky into it's stomach, sending the minion flying. Ethkin rushes over to aid against the prickly dog.
Jiona starts to make that similar flinging gesture when she hears Tillandor. In that split second, she changes her tactics - not taking the time to consider if Till's request is the better one than zapping it - and instead focuses on keeping the beast as quiet as she can manage.
Prickles's howl goes totally silent.
Prickles says, "Go Calico"
DM says, "Heh."
Calico makes a swipe at the goblin closest to Kristof, while the celestial cat continues to harass the dog beast.
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 5,9 = 14.
* Calico rolls 1f20+4+2: 10,4,2 = 16.
Calico both attacks miss, serving as little more than minor distractions.
Tass hops up on the ledge, and nothing happens.
A hobgoblin steps over to attack Ethkin, swinging. Ethkin doesn't even look, but manages to dodge out of the way. The other hobgoblin strikes at Calico, but she nimbly sidesteps the attack.
A pair of hobgoblins comes in from the west entrance, looking around. They unsheathe their blades.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
Tillandor, seeing the new arrivals, attempts to take a more proactive approach.
Tillandor steps between Ethkin and Jiona, bared dagger in hand, and stabs violently at the hobgoblin.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+4: 3,4 = 7.
Ethkin steps to the side, palm out at the beast. Flames dance around the creature, and it appears to howl in pain, but no sound comes.
- With more company having arrived, trying to keep the thing quiet seems less useful than taking it out. Jiona shifts back to her original tactics, arcing a bolt at the wretched beast.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 15,8 = 23.
* Jiona rolls 1d10+2: 8,2 = 10.
Prickles :writhes as the elements tear at it. It snarls at Jiona, snapping and flinging more quills. The bite glances her arm (3), and a quill strikes her other shoulder (2).
* Jiona rolls 1f20+4: 11,4 = 15.
DM says, "Go Calico"
Calico leaps to Kristof and lays on a paw as the celestial cat charges the goblin threatening her.
* Calico rolls 1f20+4+2: 2,4,2 = 8.
* Calico rolls 2d8+4+3: 6,4,4,3 = 17.
Calico chants, casting a healing spell for 17hp.
Tass throws a pair of blades at the beast, one sinking deep into the side of it's head. The creature is very bloodied now, doesn't look like it'll last another hit.
Kristof's eyes pop open wide as he rolls himself over to try and stand, shaking off the grogginess.
- The celestial cat misses, and vanishes from whence it came.
The hobgoblin next to Kristof takes a swipe, but misses as Kristof gets up. The one near Tillandor also attempts to strike, but Tillandor stumbles out of the way.
The two near the door charge in, the first striking hard at Jiona (3) and the other swiping at the still-wily Ethkin.
Tillandor curses at having missed with his last stab, and attempts a raking slash.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+4: 5,4 = 9.
Kristof pulls himself together and manages to stand. Looking at the hobgoblin that's poking at him, he bats at it with his sword.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 17,8 = 25.
* Kristof rolls 1d6+4: 6,4 = 10.
The hobgoblin crumples to the floor.
Kristof grins and says, "Thats what you get you pigsticker."
Ethkin steps over and swings wildly at the beast, a little overwhelmed by it's creepiness.
Ethkin fails.
Jiona is frustrated at being surrounded like this - especially when she wants to protect Tillandor - but this beast-creature has to be taken down first, or more of these pesky hobgoblins - or worse - are likely to show up. With a frustrated growl, she jabs her right hand forward, sending out another bolt towards the beast. The area around her is starting to reek of ozone, too.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 8,8 = 16.
* Jiona rolls 1d10+2: 4,2 = 6.
Prickles falls, tumbling down the stairs and convulsing. It stiffens a little as a last little squealing howl escapes it's jaws, then silence.
The boy shouts a cheer and leaps in place, despite his chains.
Calico rushes at the nearest goblin and makes a slashing claw attack, there being little else she can do for now.
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 16,9 = 25.
* Calico rolls 1d2-1: 1,-1 = 0.
Calico strikes for a shallow but very painful scratch.
The hobgoblin grimaces, grabbing it's knee.
Tass steps around the pillar, and the hobgoblin falls over dead.
The remaining hobgoblins drop their weapons and fall to their knees.
* *end initiative*
Kristof says loudly, "Ethkin where did our invisible dwarven friend go?"
Ethkin gestures off to the west, "Over there, across the chasm."
Kristof grimaces, clutching his arm and shoulder, still apparently wounded.
Calico attempts to pull off Kazomogen's helmet, "Might help to have proof we took him down."
The boy waves, "A little help here?"
- Once she's no longer actively being attacked, Jiona limps a bit around to check on Tillandor. "Are you all right?" she asks him, her first concern.
Tillandor heads over to the boy, and examines his chain.
The kid appears to be attempting to pick the lock with a quill, but to no avail.
Tillandor says, "I'll live."
The boy grimaces, "I'm honestly surprised that more didn't come. There's a ton of guards here."
Kristof sheathes his swords, moves over to the boy, pulls a tool from his pocket and starts fiddling with the lock.
Jiona nods, then limps a bit over to where the boy is, and she nods warily to his comment. "We saw several... we are not yet out of this, I know."
Tillandor heads over to the fallen Kazmojen, and does a quick search of the body.
Kristof glances over at the surrendered guards and says, "Watch them and if they move in a threatening manner, kill them."
* As soon as Kristof starts fiddling with the lock, a small piece of metal flies over his shoulder.
Kristof grimaces and says, "There is some kind of ward on this lock."
Kristof goes to retrieve the piece of metal.
Tass watches over Kristof's shoulder and chuckles as the pick goes flying.
Jiona muses over the chain arrangement for a minute or so, trying to see if she can come up with a better approach to breaking it.
Tass picks it up and hands it to Kristof.
Tass asks, "You sure you're a priest?"
Calico mutters, sounding like a predatory animal, as she reviews the magic she knows, "nothing I can do about warded locks."
* Jiona rolls 1f20+11: 30,11 = 41.
Tillandor walks back to the boy, and fits a key into the lock.
Calico says, "But at least I can patch people up."
Kristof raises an eyebrow and chuckles saying, "Who said I was a priest?"
Tillandor removes the lock, and helps the boy out of the chains.
Kristof takes the offered pick from Tass, checks it for damage and puts it back into his pocket.
Calico, after some struggling, removes Kazmjen's helmet.
Ethkin knocks one of the hobgoblins unconcious, then turns to the other one who cowers.
Calico asks, "a guess where the other 3 children are?"
Tillandor asks, "What's your name, boy?"
Jiona starts to stand up straighter, like she made a discovery... then watches with amusement as Tillandor comes over an undoes the lock with the proper key.
The boy smirks, "Terrem. Nice to meet you mister...?"
Calico retrieves a purse from Kazmojen, and lays out throwing axes and the urgosh should anyone else want them.
Tillandor asks, "Tillandor. Do you know where we may find the other children?"
Kristof looks at Ethkin and says, "I think if we follow our invisible friend we may get some answers."
Terrem points off towards the west door, "They should be in there, locked up in one of the cells."
Calico says, "First, I patch some people up, Kristof, Jiona."
- While listening to the conversation, Jiona goes over and retrieves the opened lock, stashing it in her pack... and the key as well, unless Tillandor wishes to keep it. She also spots Calico laying down the weapons, and decides to help herself to one of the throwing axes.
Calico asks, "Jiona, shall I attend to those gashes?"
Tillandor is not available. (N/A)
Jiona turns to face Calico, and nods emphatically. "Please."
* Calico rolls 1d8+4+3: 8,4,3 = 15.
Calico lays on a paw and chants, delivering a solid 12hp of cure.
Tillandor is now Active. (ACT)
- While not fully healed, Jiona looks considerably better, and gratefully thanks Calico. "I'll be fine from here, if there are others that still need help."
Calico dashes over to Kristof, "you got pretty banged up back there, could you use some more?"
Kristof nods emphatically.
* Calico rolls 1d8+4+3: 2,4,3 = 9.
Tillandor says, "Calico, if you can... " and shows off a few injuries.
Calico lays on a paw and chants, but can only heal 9hp this time.
Jiona looks around rather nervously. "We should try to find safer shelter before someone comes in here," she suggests.
Kristof watches as several of the most serious wounds close up.
Kristof still looks banged up.
Calico nods, "I think several of us could use a nights rest pretty badly."
Tillandor says, "We have to save those children quickly, before Pyllrick whisks them off."
Kristof says, "We should probably get the dwarf before he runs off with the children he 'aqcuired'."
Calico says, "good point. Ethkin should take point. He seems the only one who can see a certain threat."
Jiona nods, "I agree, Tillandor... hopefully we can rescue them without tangling with anything other than hobgoblins, if everything. Of course, then we either need to escape with them all, or still find shelter...." She trails off, considering.
Kristof nods and says, "Alright lets get going."
Tillandor says, "We can find shelter, perhaps. After the children."
Kristof considers the remaining conscious hobgoblin and then seems to get an idea.
Calico dashes to the west door, "Ethkin, lead, the rest behind me."
Jiona looks uncertain, but no more so than when they first started on this particular escapade. "I agree, Tillandor. Especially now with Kazmojen dead. Perhaps we should hide him somewhere, so it is not noted so quickly?"
Kristof says, "We could have him lead the way," and nods to the hobgoblin.
Tass asks, "And let him lead us into a trap?"
Kristof says, "If he did - he would be the first to die."
Tillandor glances around. "I guess we could move the corpses to our apartment."
Kristof touches the hilts of his blades meaningfully.
Tass hehs, "Now there's a phrase you don't hear every day."
Jiona offers, "And I think I could bury them in the stone... and keep it from looking quite so... dug-up."
Calico says, "No, I expect we'd run into more trouble going back that way."
Calico peers down the corridor.
Kristof says, "I hate to say this, but we don't have time for strategy. Lets get the children, then figure our way out from there."
Kristof says, "If we delay, we might miss our chance."
Jiona asks, "Can you give me... four minutes?"
Calico says, "Ethkin and I could scout ahead a bit."
Kristof frowns and says, "I hate to split up, especially here but we may have no choice."
Jiona starts dragging Kazmojen and his beast up to the upper level where the floor is thicker, unless anyone speaks up and says they can't spare even that much time.
Kristof looks over at Jiona and says, "Can you take care of these two?" referring to the prisoners.
* An arched stone bridge crosses this chasm. Thirty feet below is an inky black pool. Across the bridge is a walkway and two statues.
Jiona gives Kristof a confused look, distracted from tugging the corpses. "Take care of?" she asks.
Kristof says, "Bind them or something."
Calico says, "somehow I don't think hiding the bodies is worth the time."
Tass leaps down and pulls out some rope from somewhere.
Kristof nods. "We have to pursue now I think."
Calico says, "and if we must..", points at the chasm.
Jiona considers. "I can... anchor their feet to the stone, but they'll be stuck... ahh. That'll work better," she says as she sees Tass pull out the rope.
Tass deftly ties them to one of the poles, making sure to tie the knots tight as Ethkin looks on threateningly.
Kristof moves towards the western door and asks Ethkin, "Can you still sense him?"
Jiona looks up. "Chasm?" she asks, not having seen it yet. "That'd be faster. I'd rather others think Kazmojen and his pet are out somewhere, rather than obviously seeing his demise."
Ethkin says, "No, he's gone too far. I think he went northwards along that ledge."
Tillandor says, "The chasm sounds like the best option," and starts dragging a hobgoblin toward the bridge.
Jiona decreases the weight of the bodies she's dragging by as much as she can - just shy of 40 pounds - and drags them over to the chasm that Calico mentioned.
Calico helps pull the spiny dog beast, and pulls out a few spines in the process.
The DM slams on the brakes.
CategoryCauldron