004 - A Look Into the Pelengos Sewers

[doctorx]

"I believe that will do nicely," Actæa replies, smiling behind her steel mask; "Come with me."

She moves up to where Adrastos and Boro are sheltering; "What say our sorcerous friend uses his Arts to make our foe believe he is being attacked from the rear? It may buy time enough to storm their position before they can fire," she whispers.

[lancere00]

"Sounds like a plan - let's see them scatter like rats," Adrastos says as he moves aside to let them carry out the tactic.

[steelcaress]

Alexandro moves where Actæa asks. "Just say when," he quips, and begins.

He prepares his spell, fingers aligned in an eldritch gesture, glowing magical sigils hang in the air and fade as he moves his hands and speaks the ancient syllables that are the foundation of the mystic arts.

(OOC: He will be ready to cast Ventriloquism at a moment's notice)

[tombowings]

Alexandro mutters the words, "Ars Helmoro Impatuk Laran-Ars Laran Gelador Duruk Ares." All that is left is for Alexandro to choose what sort of sound or the words that shall utter from the beyond the chamber below.

[spectresghost]

Boro peaks around the door frame at the men behind the table. If they are distracted by the spell, he will charge down the stairs and try to take down the barricade, preferably pinning one or two of the guards as well! If they are not distracted, he will wait to see what the guards do.

[Morandir]

Yngvar will likewise charge if the distraction works, attempting a flying leap from the staircase over the table to assume a flanking position behind the cultists, taking a swing at one of them in mid-air if possible.

[spectresghost]

OOC: And now that the two hothead chargers are set, who's in for backing us up?

[mushgnome]

Brennus is taking cover behind a crate, bow in hand, waiting to see how the situation develops. He will not waste an arrow and he will not shoot his friends in the back.

[ehiker133]

Magne, looking a little confused as the second plan unfolds completely unexpected like the first, jumps out from behind the corner and charges down behind Boro and Yngvar.

[doctorx]

Actæa hugs the wall, crossbow at the ready, waiting for the sound of melee to commence. Once it does so she will move into the doorway, crouching low, ready to take a shot only if a clear target presents itself.

[tombowings]

Alexandro's [2d6=9] mystic sigils disappear as the sound of grant and banging steel erupts from beyond the stairwell. [1d6=6!] You hear one of the bowman say to his comrades in a deep, wavy tone, "They're split up! Take the ghouls to the front entrance, we'll hold off the few here--there can't be that many of them!"

With that, Magne gives a terrifying roar and charges into battle, followed by Boro and Yngvar. With their missiles already drawn, the cloaked archers stand and fire [3d20=10, 7, 17]. The first arrow bounces ineffectively off Magne's iron mail while the second soars into the left wall of the makeshift stairwell. Yngvar is not so lucky [1d6=3], however. The third arrow pierces through his leather armor into his fleshy gut, just below the rib cage.

In his rage [1d20=1], Magne's halberd misses his mark, instead stumbling into and breaking down the table protecting the now-cowering archers who are pushed to the ground under his massive weight. Boro and Yngvar stride in to finish the job [1d6+1=5; 1d6+1=7].

There is now but a single archer remaining, lying below the three towering fighting-men above him.

There are two door in the overturned hall, one opposed the stairwell and another to the right side. Bits and food and silverware lie scattered on the roughly chiseled floor.

Boro stand with but 2 hit points remaining.

[ehiker133]

Magne spits bits of wood from the table out of his mouth and charges the last archer.

[lancere00]

Adrastos will rush down into the room to back up the warriors already there. He will engage the archer if by a miracle, he still stands.

[Morandir]

Yngvar pulls the arrow from his stomach and does what he can to stanch the wound. "Anyone have any wine? I gave my skin to Brennus, back in the tunnel," he says woozily.

[mushgnome]

If there is any wine left in the flask, Brennus throws it to the wounded Yngvar.

For the moment he holds position in the storage room, bow in hand.

[steelcaress]

Alexandro ducks down and cups his hands to throw his voice, the effect enhanced by his spell:

"They're in there! On my mark men, we'll make our way in! Pigs they are, and like pigs shall they die!" His voice appears to emanate from behind the bowman, muffled, as if behind a door or barrier.

Then he turns to his comrades, and in lower tones says "I heard one of them say they're taking the ghouls to the front entrance! I'm not entirely certain what that means but that cannot be good!"

[tombowings]

Magne brings his halberd down on the final, cowering archer [1d20=11; 1d6+1=4]. Just before contact is met, a horrified scream escapes his mouth, hood falling behind--no long concealing the misshapen, noseless face. Then all is quiet once more.

Brennus hands Yngvar back his wine skin. There are but a few sups left, but it should be enough. After quothing down the liquid, Yngvar his his fighting spirit return [1d6=5]. He has been restored to full hit points.

The power of the spell his within his grasp, Alexandro's words echo once again from the deep. Bare a moment after, commotion erupt from the door to the right, although not particularly nearby.

[ehiker133]

Magne searches the bodies for anything of use or value. He could use a ranged weapon, so if there is a bow and a supply of arrows available, and nobody else wants them, he'll stow them away for future use.

[spectresghost]

Boro removes the arrow from his side and will also check the bodies for a bow and some arrows to use. "If someone has some wine, I think I could do with some."

[doctorx]

Actæa slips soundlessly back to where Turin and Faryd are waiting. "The way ahead is secure," she says. "Go and join the others, but leave me a torch."

She will then place the torch down beside her carefully and train her crossbow on the exit back into the sewers in case anyone or thing comes sneaking up behind them.

[Morandir]

Yngvar smacks his lips.

"Nothing like a bit of wine to restore a man! Red wine in my gullet and red blood on my axe - this, friends, is the life! Now, what to do about yonder commotion? We definitely don't want more ghouls at our backs, but we have yet to find entrance into the palace. Curse all necromancers and their foul abominations!!"

[steelcaress]

Alexandro looks around still for his equipment. He knows the cultists must have stashed it somewhere, but where? Remembering some of the hidden doors at the palace, he examines the walls, feeling around with his hands and scanning closely any apparent gaps. Perhaps one such secret room might well contain what he has lost?

[tombowings]

Magne ruffles through the bodies, finding three short bows made of a white, supple wood and a total of 14 arrows. Within the pockets of one of the cloaks, Magne feels something hard, let light. Pulling it out, he revels the beginnings of what looks to be a sapphire-carved figurine.


Alexandro begins to search along the roughly carved walls. There were made by no experts, that's for sure, but there does not appear to be any secret doors.


Yngvar should remember, that the entrance into the Palace likely lies elsewhere in the sewers.

[spectresghost]

Does anyone mind if Boro takes a bow and some arrows?

[tombowings]

Actæa turns to Tarin and Faryd. Tarin hands Actæa, his hand shaking slightly. Faryd[/b] looks to companion and back to Actæa. "I don't like this," he says.

[1d6=4]

When they are gone, Actæa moves back into the sewer proper. Dark and dingy as ever, but there doesn't appear to be any movement other than the dripping of tainted water.

[ehiker133]

Magne grunts and hands Boro one of the bows and 7 of the 14 arrows. He takes the other for himself, grabs one of the quivers to hold the arrows, and tucks the figurine into a pocket.

"We can sell this later and split the coin."

OOC: will update character sheet.

[Morandir]

(Yngvar's player has had a long week - sorry!)

Yngvar looks thoughtful. "Hmm. Perhaps it's best to investigate yonder noise. With them distracted by that spell, perhaps we can get the jump on them and cleave their skulls before they know we're there!"

[lancere00]

Adrastos nods at the fierce barbarian Yngvar and says,

"Aye, my blade thirsts for blood as well, but my wits remind me that the Palace is where we should be headed - we must not get sidetracked. And Turin, I agree" he tells the shaken patron, "...this talk of ghouls bodes not well."

[spectresghost]

Boro looks at his comrades on the stairs and whispers, "No doubt the entrance to the palace lies on another path, but our new comrade is woefully unequipped. If we can find his gear, we will be in a much better position to enter the palace. It may be stored in the crates above, but not likely. I think our best chance to find his equipment is down. Besides, I do not like the prospect of a nest of angry serpents at our back. Should we need to retreat quickly from the palace, I'd rather not do it through Set's minions. Wounded or not, I'll take the fight to them."

[ehiker133]

Magne nods his head and stands by Boro.

"We should take the snakes first, then scout the dungeon."