Chapter 1 : Time for Heroes

[BigRedRod]

The eerie blue moonlight of the common orb spills down on Edinway. The hour is late, and most alehouses have finally closed their doors and expelled a gaggle of drunkards which rapidly disperse into the night, silence reigns and the city sleeps.

Or at least most of it does. A man who would much rather still be drunk continues to walk the cold streets. His boots click on the stones and he can see his own breath before him. Closing his eyes the young man sighs, he had wandered for at least an hour now and the cold night had stolen the warmth provided by his experiment in a small tavern he had located. He knew it wasn't this far to the inn at which he had stayed for the previous two nights, but he had been distracted. Thoughts of the past would not leave him and the drink had further dispersed his thoughts. Although, that wider street looks vaguely familiar...

Not so far away, still grumbling under his breath a dwarf walks down the cold streets of Edinway. The city had made a poor first impression upon him. The stout cleric had arrived when the sun still clung to the cloudy sky but only just made it through the gate. He knew that the guards stopped everyone, making sure no one was trying to sneak in to the city with intentions of remaining on a long term basis. He even knew that he would attract extra attention. As big as Edinway was, it still had a tiny minority of populace that were non-human. He had been searched, questioned, searched again, made to wait in the tiny gatehouse and so on. It had lasted for hours and finally he was pointed in without so much as an apology or an excuse. All this just to try and leave his past behind.
His thoughts are distracted by his horse blowing warm, moist air into his ear, together they had travelled across much of the island of Bashir. The blueish moonlight falls on the rows of crampt together houses with their dark windows, as he scans for a place to spend his first night in Edinway...

An overhead observer would notice that the man and the dwarf were walking toward one another. The same observer would notice an additional pair heading toward these two from a third direction. The two men from across the sea stride with purpose despite not knowing where they are going. Despite the late hour they had managed to convince the gate guards that not granting passage within would grant no end of problems. Savages they may have been, but they were claiming to be related to the Savage King and one had quite a way of putting things that really made it seem like they had no choice but to make an exception to the "No one enters or leaves after the gates are closed for the night" rule. Through the gate they had come and along dark streets they now wandered.
The Czar himself had requested that the elder of the pair venture to the mainland to put right whatever the mainlanders had wronged. To return the Red Moon and free the land of lingering spirits. Arguing with the Czar was never a wise course of action and so the Elder had agreed. Arguing with one's father is also never a wise course of action, and so the Elder of the pair was accompanied by the younger. The younger who would learn what it was to be a man in pursuit of the quest. It was made quite clear he would learn what it meant to be a man of the Aart, the alternative was simple : He would never return. To most, sending two men to solve the blight afflicting the world was quite simply silly. Possibly the men themselves knew this, possibly they didn't. But this wasn't a situation in which they had any choice...

The foursome walked toward one another, each path unaware of the two others. The three paths which meet at a small intersection. The small intersection has a house on the corner. A small two-storey house that leans out over the road.

Sometimes it is hard to distinguish when something is the work of Istus and when it is mere coincidence. Perhaps there is only fate and everything happens for a reason, or maybe the reverse is true and the Goddess holds no power over the paths of men. Such debate can be saved for another place and time, however, as at the exact moment that the four caught sight of one another the silence was broken.

One scream, than another. Both female, both from the second floor of the leaning house. The upper floor window is quickly illuminated by the flickering light of a fire.

Without time to form a single clear thought, the three men, a dwarf and a horse find themselves at the door of the leaning home. A large window shows a simple but small family room and kitchen and a flight of stairs leading upwards. At the top it is possible to see a room rapidly filling with smoke and the shifting oranges of a spreading fire.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hello!! Are you Alright!!"

Meleaga's words are slurred and loud as he calls to the women in the home which is now alight. He motions to bust down the door, looking to the 3 other gentlemen standing by him.

"Perhaps a hand..."

[The Alcotroll]

"That was interesting." Says the taller, broader of the two figures as they make their way through the chilly night-time streets. "A trick I think you may have to teach me in the future. I've seen men pass through guards at a gate by force of arms, before, but never with mere words."

The words are thickly accented; clipped and gutteral, marking the speaker as a Northman. He is clad in richly ornamented but evidently servicable armour and wears an over-sized sword at his hip, it's pommel close to hand and obvious enough to warn any local thugs to stay away from these particular travellers. A wolf-tail plumed helmet tied at his hip and a gold-brocaded cloak completes the image of an experienced warrior from a noble Aart family.

As the pair approach a junction, two more travellers are visible; a man and a Dwarf to the left and the right. The warrior's hand strays closer to his sword pommel.

Suddenly, from one of the strange, tall, southerner houses at the junction come two screams. The man breaks into a run, arriving at the door at the same time as the southern man and Dwarf. Smelling smoke, the Aart-man stoops to the gutter, swiftly soaking most of his cloak in the murky water running there before turning his attention to the door. "You! Dwarf! Help me with this door!" he calls in a commanding tone, applying an armoured shoulder to the timbers and depressing the latch as he shunts his weight against it.

[AllTogether Andrews]

"You! Dwarf! Help me with this door!"

Swires gives the solid door a quick terse look and then makes a hueh sound in the back of his throat that could be interpreted as a grunt of assent. unslinging his shield from his horse he trots off into the darkness. Then with a rather off pitch dwarven yodel comes speeding out of the night with the shield held out in front and body nearly horizontal like a short squat ugly bullet. The cry ends with a resounding thud as the body and shield impact the oak door.

[elpresidente]

The more slight of the two forigners splits from the taller and moves for the window hand over brow to the window to observe the layout of the room and to determine the source of the flames.

[BigRedRod]

Gredin stands idle peering in through the window while Meleaga the mage calls for attention. Luckily Gredin's older brother and Swires the dwarf are on hand to actually do something which may save lives.

The dwarf charges and strikes the door firmly with both body and shield. Despite the thickness of the wood it splinters around the lock and opens leaving the Dwarf recoring his bearings in the main room of the small home.

There isn't much time to reflect upon the contents of the room, up the stairs a fire has started to rage. Smoke floods down the stairs blocking everything but the orange glow of flames. Aside from the crackle of fire, a vague shuffling can be heard. It sounds like someone is moving on the floor above, although any specific details are hard to make out due to the growing crackles of burning wood. A series of coughs punctuate the shuffling sounds, not suprising considering the quickly accumulating smoke

[elpresidente]

Gredrin follows his brother's example dreanching his cloak in water before entering the house immediately running up the stairs his eyes watering as the smoke stings his eyes
His voice has a degree of calm as he calls. "Where are you!"

[The Alcotroll]

Wrapping his sodden cloak around mouth and nose, Harald stomps up the stairs in the wake of his younger sibling, trusting that the Dwarf will follow him.

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires does indeed follow the Aartian man up the stairs and into the room beyond.

[SponkleofInfini]

"I would just get in the way..."

Melaega moves out into the street looking up to the window. He feels useless...unable to help, or unwilling...he cannot be certain.

[BigRedRod]

The three rush upstairs into the smokey upper chamber. Anything further than a few inches away fades into a grey and orange blur. The two men of the Aart with their wet cloaks to protect them from the fumes and the stout dwarf relying on his stubborn physiology to protect him.

A clumsy and brief search reveals there is glass on the floor and almost everything else in the room seems to currently be burning. The heat of the growing blaze provides stark and almost welcome contrast from the bitter cold of night.

It doesn't take long to locate two bodies lying on the wooden floor. Pelor's dwarvern servant hoists one on to his shoulder and sets off down the stairs, back in to the blue night, his superior dwarvern strength allows him to easily carry the small form. The brothers find and carry the second larger form between them. On their descent a beam cracks and drops ploughing directly through the staircase, but with two to help carry the load the circumnavigate the problem and meet the other pair outside.

The two bodies are laid on the floor and the dwarf finds himself instinctivly kneeling on the ground beside them. A man and woman, most likely husband and wife. Luckily due to the speed at which the group acted the effects of smoke inhalation will most likely be minor. Both however have suffered additional injuries.

The husband lies on the cold cobbles and it becomes clear to all that he is already dead and seemingly not through the fire which continues to spread through the house. Several stab wounds mark his body, most likely from a short weapon such as a dagger. Blood continues to ooze from his body, sinking between the cobbles and appearing black under the moonlight. The two men from the northern isle become aware of his blood on their hands and clothing during their attempted rescue of him

His partner is more fortunate, and she pushes herself upward into a sitting position almost immediately and without aid. For a while she simply coughs every time she attempts to speak but after a short period she manages words,
"Celeste! They took her! *cough* How did they even know?"
She looks at the dwarf with tears in her eyes and suddenly it seems she notices the full extent of what has happened. She falls sideways on to her husband's body and begins to sob loudly.

Meleaga turns sideways in time to notice a large man with a club in his hand and his mouth open ready to speak a little way away. He is dressed only in his winter bed clothes. Before the wizard can react, the man glances upwards and notices the smoke pouring from the building. Before the wizard can give any kind of signal to his fellows, the man shouts at the top of his lungs,
"FIRE! FIRE!"
The sound bounces around the near empty streets athough it was easily loud enough to wake those in nearby homes.

Looking from the fire to the group clustered around the man and wife, the club-wielding man reaches a decision. Advancing with great caution he waves his weapon,
"You! Get away from her! What have you done!? What have you done!?"

In response to the accusations, the sobbing widow gets slowly and unsteadily to her feet before charging toward the man with the club. He catches her with one arm and hugs her. She cries loudly into his chest and then pulls back to speak,
"No. They saved me and tried to *sob* save my *sob* my *sob* He's dead! *sob*"
She returns to burying her face in his chest and the man drops his club, he looks at the body and then at the four stood around the body in the street. The fire above has started to provide orange flecks of colour to the scene of blue.
"I'm Sorry. But it looked like ...We can sort this out later. I have to stop the fire catching."

More of the locals have started to appear in the cold street now. The large man carefully sets down the woman on the street and bellows an order to the scattering groups of confused city dwellers,
"Everyone get buckets. We'll form a chain from the pump. NOW!"
The silent confusion is instantly replaced by a flurry of activity. For now no one pays attention to the new widow or her slain husband, if the fire is allowed to spread it could end up destroying a large section of the city. Destruction of homes is not something which Edinway could survive

[SponkleofInfini]

Once more...I fail

Meleaga although a little clumselly, trys to help the effort to fight the fire in any way he can. Albeit ferrying water to the fire...whatever; he feels obligated to help in some way...after his hesitation to enter originally.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald's first instinct is to help the crowd of people trying to save their homes. The people of Aart know only too well the dangers of fire. There was, however, something else that needed attention first.

He clapped a gauntleted hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "Gredrin! You are better with words than I. See if you can find out from her who this Celeste is, and who took her and where. Whoever it was can not be far from here and we may be able to catch them."
"And Gredrin;try to do it without making the poor woman any more upset than she is now."

Harald himself then heads towards the club-wielding man, to ask him the same question.

[elpresidente]

Gredrin nods and returns the clap on the shoulder before walking to the woman.
He crouches down to look her in the eyes attempting to calm her before asking his questions.
"Who is Cleleste? Your daughter? If you know who took her and where they were going we may be able to catch them and return her to you! But only if we can act now. Please!"

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires jogs over to the pump in the street a short distance away and begins to pump energeticially putting his muscles to good use providing water to douse the flames.

'mutter' "Bloody humans and their bloody wooden houses. Poeple make cooking fires with wood. What should that tell you? Right."

[BigRedRod]

The group splits with half rushing to be involved with the bucket chain and pumping and the two Aart men searching for clues to what happened to cause the fire and the seemingly connected murder.

Harald strides toward the man who has now dropped his club to take his place in the line of men and women passing buckets back and forth toward the fire. Before he can get out a pair of syllables the man opens his own mouth,
"Now is not the time for talking. Either help or get out of the way. We aren't losing the whole neighbourhood tonight"

Gredin has slightly more luck with the woman they rescued moments ago, her eyes are still filled with tears although she has stopped crying outwardly. The shock and confusion of recent events seem to have taken all of her strength. With a nod she attempts to answer the questions of the rogue,
"Yes, our daughter."
As she begins to speak the tears in her eyes decide to leave her eyes behind and her speech becomes harder to understand and punctuated with more sobbing,
"But *sob* not really. We jus' found her. Outside out house *sob* She was like a child to us though *sob* We never could have our own. So innocent *Sob* Never let her out on her own, had to keep her covered up best we could *sob* when we did. Otherwise... *sob* Otherwise... This might happen. *sob* *sob*. Men came through the window and took her and *sob* they *sob* He's dead! Gone forever!"
The woman falls back into her loud wailing

By this time the first buckets filled with water have arrived at the house. The three men who stand inside the blazing house do their best to fight the flames and it seems they are gradually winning. no doubt in some part to the superior dwarvern strength manning the pump and the feeble wizard's work in the bucket chain itself

[The Alcotroll]

Despairing of ever getting the arrogant southerner to listen, Harald gives up with a snarl of disgust and heads towards the house, intending to search for tracks or clues about the identity of the attackers and where they might have headed.
Although Harald's upbringing has taught him enough of fieldcraft to catch his supper in the snowy plains of Jedaart, he doubts that he will have as much success tracking men across hard stones.

[BigRedRod]

While the world the world around Harald focuses on other issues, the northerner picks on of the two flanking streets at random and takes a good number of paces with eyes searching for anything which may be a clue.

Glancing upwards at the dense cluster of buildings it seems that the kidnappers-cum-murderers could have easily arrived at their target building through any number of rapidly diverging paths. Each building seems to have been constructed entirely independantly and to fit in to whatever gaps the neighbouring structures provided, as such the rooftops provide a sloping irregular path for any enterprising and agile individual. The occasional archway over the cobbled streets provides further possibilities of the direction in which Celeste was taken.

Upon making this unsettling discovery it seems clear that any further searching of streets level would be futile at best. Looking down at his stout boots the large man turns around and notices something between two cobbles by his right foot. A large black feather. Harald had learnt much of the wilds during the course of his life so far, a detailed study of all creatures feathered was however not something he could ever claim to have conducted. To the Aart warrior it is merely an odd feather fallen from above.

With renewed interest he scans the ground before him and notices another on the other side of the street.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald stoops and collects the feathers. Unfamiliar as he is with birds, he is sure that such large feathers would come from a bird not normally found within the confines of a city. He turns and heads back to the blaze, inspecting the feathers as he walks. It seems likely to him that the mysterious men would have made their escape along the roof-tops rather than risk the road, indeed, the presence of broken glass on the floor of the upper room suggests to him that the assailants entered through the upper, rather than lower window.

To the bulky, unagile warrior, approaching a house along the city's roof-tops, entering through an upper window and then leaving the same way, with a struggling, terrified child as a burden, suggests uncommon skill. Although my brother might have some experience in such endevours...
A shiver runs up Harald's spine as a second option presents itself. Perhaps magic was used here? He had seen the Doom-sayers and crazed Wizards of his homeland often accompanied by large black birds. Maybe there was one such magicker here?

Harald raises a hand to brush his fingers against his iron mail, in a superstitious gesture to ward against evil, and glances suspiciously at the roof-tops.

Returning to the blaze, he quickly confides his suspicions to his brother. "Find out from her what the child looked like and why these men would go to such lengths to take her." he instructs before heading for the bucket chain to do what he can until the fire is doused.

[elpresidente]

Gredrin takes the feather from his brother not wanting any further damage to come to the only clue from the rigors of a bucket chain, and examines it for a moment before turning back to the destraut woman.

"If we're going to find celeste and bring her back to you we need to know what she looks like, and we also need to know why these people wanted her?"

[BigRedRod]

With his brother joining the task of finishing off the remenants of the fire, Gredrin tries once more to console the widow and extract any further information,
"She's different that's why. Different from you and us all. If anyone *sob* knew about her they'd either take her and put her in a cage or kill her as a monster *sob* *cough*. That... That... the feather! It's hers!"
With a start the widow tries to stand but finds it all rather too much and has to allow Gredrin to catch her as she falls into a coughing fit.

Moments after Harald took up the front line of fire-fighting, all that is left of the blaze is the damage it caused and the lingering cloud of smoke. The bucket chain quickly breaks up, altohugh it doesn't seem anyone has much idea of what to do next. Meleaga and Swires find themselves stood beside Harald while his brother comforts the woman whose life they rescued from the fire in the leaning house on the corner.
"Please. Please *sob* Try and find her for me. I'll give you everything *sob* Just make sure that nothing... that they don't ... *sob*"

The man who organised the bucket chain joins the group and helps the widow to her feet,
"Come on then Annie, you can stay at mine. We'll sort all this mess out in the morning."
Turning the woman away from the corpse of her dead husband a number of men swiftly approach and pick it up to be carried of the street. After a few steps down the street, the large man props her against a wall and goes back to retrieve his club from the ground. With the club in hand he walks to within a foot of the four strangers and whispers to them,
"I don't know who you are and I'm not sure I rightly care. You helped out but who is to say you didn't start it? I don't trust any of yous, but if you are involved I'd suggest that you either get this sorted out or you get out."
With his piece said he turns and takes hold of the widow once more. A few more feet and he vanishes isnide one of the closely packed houses.

The community that clubbed together to quench the flames have started to gather around the four and the burnt out home. Most look with sad eyes toward the charred wood, not seeing the three men and a dwarf, but each catches a number of suspicious glances, more than an even share at directed toward Swires

[AllTogether Andrews]

"well, you lot find out anything about the cause of all this?" 'picks nose' "What was that woman going on about the feather belonging to the girl? Belonging to a bird that belongs to the girl I can understand. But while I may not be an expert on humans i've seen enough to know enough to say they don't normally have feathers."

[SponkleofInfini]

"Then you answered your own question...she probably isnt human, or only partially so."

Meleaga who has been mostly sticking to the back of the group for the short ammount of time they have been together moves forward to examine the feather.

"May I see it?"

(OOC: I will make an Intelligence +4, Knowledge Arcana or Planes Both +9 check to see if I can identify this feather.)

[The Alcotroll]

Harald growls and stamps his feet impatiently. The arrogant southerner had wound him up, and he was aware that although in Jedaart he could cut the man down for his impudence, such an action might not go down so well over here.

He points towards the street the feather came from. "I found it over there." He states in an excerable accent, "Unless any of you saw anything, then it seems that the murderers escaped across the roof-tops."
"I care nothing for this town; a man has been murdered and a child has been stolen and the southerners care only for property, and leave the solving of their problems to us."

Harald spits emphatically into the embers and touches his mail again.

[BigRedRod]

To Meleaga the feather is just a feather. A large black one. Nothing that the wizard notives reveals anything unusual about it apart from it's slightly increased size. Creatures of greater size and power are not unknown to him and he is well aware that some Druids keep such animals

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hmm mundane...boring, I can't tell you anymore then the feather is probably from a bird of some sort, a large bird...but you probably already knew that."

Meleaga returns the feather unable to deduct anything from it.

[The Alcotroll]

"Well it seems to me that we have but two choices." Declares Harald. "We can either attempt to track down this bird-child while the trail is still fresh, or we can leave the city now before the locals get over their gratitude for our saving of this woman's life and try to drive us out."

Harald turns on his heel and heads back to the street where he found the feathers, making his own intentions plain.

[AllTogether Andrews]

"What trail? You already tried looking for a trail and all we found was a feather no one can make anything out of. Unless that girl has a whole lot of feathers we appear to be at a dead end. Also, the trail if any exists will probably lead over the roofs and I don’t like heights. I'm more of a depths person.”

[SponkleofInfini]

"Perhaps there is a tracker here in town who we can employ to help us...or head in the general direction of the kidnappers, afterall I doubt they were careful about covering their tracks once getting a certain distance from town, afterall the fire was most likely to distract the town from pursuing these captors anyway; which seems to have succeded."

[elpresidente]

"Well the feather was in that direction which means they went in that direction. Maybe there will be more we don't know unless we try, and the longer we wait the more likely it is that this dead end trail will end to a dead girl too! I go to find the girl now!"

With that he starts walking to catch up to Harald. "Harald best chance we have is probably to follow the line of the roof tops from road level we might find more feathers."

I wonder if every day in the south is going to be like this?

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Lead on then stalwart ... person!"

[BigRedRod]

With a shrug and a grumble about his ideas being ignored Meleaga follows the other three characters fate seems to have pushed him into accompanying. Harald leads the way, his eyes trained on the ground looking for more feathers or any other signs of passage by the kidnappers. Every so often he stands still and looks up at the rooftops, plotting potential routes they may have taken.

The first clue is another of the black feathers, a promising sign but the man from Jedaart knows all too well that counting purely on a trail of black feathers yto lead the way is foolish. A slight gust would potentially rearrange any resting or falling feathers into a different path leading to a dead end. However, from the cobbled streets of Edinway there are few other clues about the direction taken by kidnappers who travelled by rooftop.

Two other feathers mark the path the group follows as at least vaguely the correct direction, but Harald notices a much larger clue on the ground beneath a long archway which connects the rooftops on the left to those on the right. Several large pieces of broken tile lie on the ground, a brief glance upwards reveals they match those on the top of the arch.

The arch itself seems to mark the beginning of a gap in the dense series of buildings. In the past the street may have come to a T-shaped junction here, but now it in straight and the branch has been replaced with a wall. The wall itself is tall and almost featureless occupying a gap between two buildings twenty feet apart. A small door stands in the centre of the wall and has a yellowed and torn scrap of paper nailed into it's wooden body. Only a single large word is still readable, painted in large red letters upon the yellowed surface of the seemingly ancient parchment,
"PLAGUE"
Any other information the note may have contained is lost to the sands of time. The door itself is wooden and sits in a rusted metal frame, even without the large rusted padlock sealing it, the door would not open without a considerable display of strength.

The eyes of the wizard catch sight of another of the black feathers beside one of the homes at the edge of the wall. All signs seem to be point to Celeste having been taken beyond the wall via the convenient rooftop path. Convenient for the kidnappers anyhow, scaling the wall or arch at this particular place presents quite the challenge

[SponkleofInfini]

With a sideward glance to his new companions a small smile forms;

"What now? Darest we attempt to pass, are you as stalwart as your words would suggest? Do not dissapoint me now."

He returns his glance toward the large door his eyes narrow in concentration.

(OOC: Knowledge History +9, Geography +8 and an intelligence +4 check to see if I can remember anything about this part of the city.)

[BigRedRod]

The city of Edinway has suffered from several plagues during its history. The greatest killed almost two thirds of the population and is widely known throughout the land, it faded within a month and in time the city rebuilt. The government instituted measures to ensure that nothing on the scale of the Great Plague (as it gradually became to be called) would ever occur again. At any sign of plague spreading through a region it would be sealed off from the rest of the city until such a time when it was deemed safe.

Several such sealings have occured in the history of the city although none of these areas have ever been reopened. The brutal practice of condeming whole neighbourhoods to death is accepted as a necessary evil by most citizens. Most would rather forget their own part in the sealings, although it is one of the few events that really unites the city under one goal.

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Well, considering the age and relative decripity of this sign and door I would guess that whatever illness once lurked behind this door is long since dead and gone along with whatever poor buggers were once sealed inside. However, whoever put this here probably won't appreciate us opening this."

[elpresidente]

"We could just close it after we go in. Either that or we start looking for another way in."

[AllTogether Andrews]

"There still going to know that we went in. Breaking this door open is going to make an allmighty din. Not to mention the problem posed by getting back out."

[The Alcotroll]

"Clearly someone has no problems getting in or out." Growls Harald.

"For men who want a hiding place that no-one will dare investigate, this place is perfect. The locals will not appreciate the removal of this door, it is true, but if we could find a way onto the roof-tops, then they need never know that we were here."

Harald reaches out and tentatively tests the door. Suspecting that it will not budge even at the behest of himself and Swires together, he turns about and strides off back down the street, impatient to be getting to grips with the mysterious murderers, and not at all pleased by his companions' relaxed attitudes to the situation.

"If we head back to where we came from, we are sure to find a way onto the roof-tops eventually, even if we have to do it from the top window of the burned-out house."

[BigRedRod]

With no one disputing the plan or making an alternate suggestion the four people thrown together by fate and suspicious villagers to rescue the mysterious Celeste head back toward the burned out at house.

All keep their eyes peeled for any possible route onto the rooftops along their journey, even without the dwarf's mount it seems unlikely that the stout creature would manage to make much progress scaling the irregular shaped wooden buildings. Travel through the labyrinthian network of rooftops would be simple if only the group could find a mathod of easy access.

Eventually the four find themselves stood outside the burned out shell of a house from which Celeste was taken. The door swings on its hinges from where Swires, Harald and Gerald burst in earlier that very night, as poor a state as the floorboards and stairs may be in it is still possible for all to reach to the elevated maze which stands atop of most of Edinway. For all that is apart from horse which accompanies Swires the cleric

[AllTogether Andrews]

"I hate heights. Well, lets get this over with."

tie up the horse and head up the house's burned out interior.

[SponkleofInfini]

"This shall be interesting..."

Melaega follows.

[BigRedRod]

With the immediate problem of the dwarf's horse solved by leaving it tied to the burned shell from which the events of the moonlit night seem to have kicked off, the four carefully maneuver toward the rooftops.

The charred remains of the staircase are sturdy enough but the floor beyond is little more than a few support beams with tatters of floorboard still clinging on, much like rotting flesh hanging from the bones of an ancient corpse.

Praying between each step the four each manage to cross the remains of the floor and clamber through the windowframe. The sloping rooftiles with their tendancy to seperate under the slightest amount of pressure is like a pathway of solid granite in comparrison to the dangers in negotiating the burnt husk of the leaning house. The first few steps made by Harald send a dozen of the small black tiles of irregular shape clattering down to the street but he soon develops a feel for how one must move on such a surface. Mimicing his movements his brother, then the stout dwarf and finally the wizard follow his lead across the rooftops which follow the trail toward the plague-wall.

Progess is slow, especially at the narrow crossing atop the archway. Finally the four find themselves standing atop the plague-wall. Looking down to the world beyond the rusted doorway it is almost possible to believe that somehow the four have passed into another world.

Dawn isn't far away and the blue light of the moon seems to have finally given up, instead the only light is that of the stars and a fuzzy brown glow from the east. The street which was blocked by the wall continues off into the distance with derelict buildings marking its edge, although in places the buildings have passed the derelict phase and have actually collapsed filling the cobbled street with wood and other debris.

The path down to street level is more obvious, three large wooden crates have been pushed together to form something resembling a giant's staircase leading from the plague wall down to the debris littered street. Even in the poor light, yet another black feather can be seen at the base of the crates. It looks like the kidnappers descended from the rooftops into the plague-area to continue along the street beyond

[elpresidente]

Gredrin climbs down the crates looking around for any people in the viscinity before stooping to pick up the feather to add to the groups growing collection. "Well I guess her guardians don't have to go far to find new pillows. At least we seem to be on the right track."

[SponkleofInfini]

Seeing the feather releaves Melaega to some extent; they were onto the right track...but from here where? Although cold and calm on the outside, he is bound by oath to find this girl in order to one day find redemption.

With a wry grin to the others Meleaga descends.

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires gives the ruined sector a speculative look and bestows a sly one upon his companions.
"You know, people probably abandoned these houses pretty fast before this area closed up and those that didn't certainly haven’t been removing anything from the premises. It's reasonable to assume that there quite a lot of... stuff they left behind. And seeing that they don't need their family silverware anymore as of about 200 years ago, on our way back through we could visit some of the larger wealthier houses and... investigate?"

[The Alcotroll]

Harald pauses to detach his helmet from his belt, placing it upon his head and fastening the straps on the cheek-plates, combing out the wolf tail, unslinging his shield and drawing his sword. Preparations for battle complete, he looks to the others.

"I doubt the locals would appreciate our grave-robbing. There is only one thing we have come to take, and the sooner we get it out of here the better."

[BigRedRod]

Dismissing the attempts of Swires to make a small looting diversion, the four clamber down the huge crate-steps and set off down the central street through the quarantine area. Apart from a light wind causing the occasional rustle and rolling piece of unidentifiable debris, the only noise is caused by the four themselves.

The growing fuzzy light casts odd shadows which cause many second glances at random areas of decay. Cities can be likened to great creatures with buildings making the flesh, the land the bones, and the people as the blood. This particular organ has been without fresh blood for too long and the flesh has started to rot.

After several minutes without any signs of life apart from a single clump of brown grass poking upward between two cobbles, and no signs of a trail the luck of the party takes a turn for the better. On one side of the street is what was once most likely a tavern, all that remains now, however, are a few blackened pillars, an unreadable sign in the street, a great deal of rotted wood and a layer of ash cover everything nearby. Even a casual glance at the ash reveals several bootprints.

Between a barely standing wall of the tavern and some other charred and rotted husk of a building exists a narrow alley. A narrow alley filled with ancient damp ash and darkness. Ash which contains an immeasureable number of prints. People clearly use this alley on a regular basis and have done in quite recent memory. To the eyes of the dwarf the darkness is not quite as daunting but the trail of prints quickly weave out of sight due to the twisting nature of the thin passage.

Another gust of wind blows throw the deserted cityscape, a sound like a high pitched whisper. Rocking backwards on his feet as he surveys the sudden twist in the path of the kidnappers, Gredrin feels something cold touch his cheek followed by a dull clatter.

Wheeling around, the younger of the two brothers catches sight of a silhouette atop one of the buildings on the opposite side of the street. Before he can react it becomes all too clear that the mysterious hunched figure atop the building has several friends emerging from the shadows around the party.

The figures which pour forth from the seemingly abandoned surroundings don't have the benefit of the approaching dawn to hide their nature. In total there are five of the creatures on the street with one more, the one which narrowly missed Gredrin, hunched atop one of the decaying buildings

Impossible to describe as little else but giant humanoid rats, the creatures fully encircle the team of trackers. Each of the creatures wears ragged clothing covering the short black-brown fur of it's body for the most part, although one of the creatures with a sword in either hand is wearing a suit of leather armour which has clearly been altered to suit the its own hunched bodyshape. Two of the creatures are without weapons although they hold their paws high with their sharp claws clearly on display, another holds an axe while the forth of the unarmoured rats stands inside the burned out tavern and carries a huge wooden club bound with iron rings with both hands.

The circle of rat-creatures closes slightly on the four newcomers to Edinway and it seems that despite shakey beginnings things can indeed get much worse in this city

Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (?)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Greatclub)
Rat 1 (Unarmed)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Handaxe)
Armoured Rat (Twin shortswords)

Map
[ooc: I kept it as simple as I could. The Red arrow marks the path you dicsovered through the ash. THe random symbols around the tavern mark the areas of packed down ash. The black shapes are buildings, I didn't fully populate the map as it seemed needless with most of them out of sight. Any questions beef them in the ooc]
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1l rs
@0 0 g 2c g -c 28 -c 28 2c g 2c *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7j 6f rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 66 58 rs 0 H *s -3 4s 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 7a 6x rs 0 *s e 7p 6q rs 0 *s e 7u 6y rs 0 *s e 8o 68 rs
@0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w rs
@0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83 rs
@0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82 rs
@0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o rs
@0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s -1
@3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 9i 4j rs 0 RR *s -3 2v 58 rs
@0 R1 *s -3 2s 6i rs 0 R2 *s -3 av 6h rs 0 R3 *s -3 a2 7w rs 0 R4
@*s -3 8s 50 rs 0 AR
*END 7fft1i

[elpresidente]

Reflex and survival instinct take control of Gredrin, with a gesture and a swing of his arm he throws a ball of raw magical energy at the rat that shot at him almost without realising.

[ooc:magic missle at mr rooftop rodent]

[BigRedRod]

The tiny orb of greenish energy impacts on the rooftop creature's arm sending it backwards half a step in suprise. The fur of the creature is burned away around the impact point by the mystic energies but it makes no sound of pain or annoyance. Instead reaching for some unseen object and hurling it down towards Gredrin.

This time Gredrin has the advantage of being aware of his opponent, however the rogue misjudges the path of the projectile and fails to shift his body enough. As a result the steel tipped dart penetrates both his shirt and skin, the wound is shallow but blood still pours forth turning his dark shirt to an even darker shade

Swires is quickly confronted by problems of his own, with no weapon in hand the dwarf somehow manages to fend off a quick flurry of claw-rakes from one of the rat-creatures as it rushes toward him. With is attention diverted however he fails to notice the charge of the club weilding beast until it is far too late, the huge weapon impacts solidly against the metallic shell of the dwarf leaving Swires with an arm burning with the pain of a near brake and promises of much brusing in the near future.

A mage comfortable in melee combat is a rare find indeed and while Meleaga may be in better physical shape than most of his peers he is no warrior. The ratling rushes toward him, clawed hands swiping and somehow the mage manages to avoid each of the blows

Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (?)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Greatclub)
Rat 1 (Unarmed)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Handaxe)
Armoured Rat (Twin shortswords)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7j 6f rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 66 58 rs 0 H *s -3 4s 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 7a 6x rs 0 *s e 7p 6q rs 0 *s e 7u 6y rs 0 *s e 8o 68 rs
@0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w rs
@0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83 rs
@0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82 rs
@0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o rs
@0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s -1
@3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 9i 4j rs 0 RR *s -3 46 5v rs
@0 R1 *s -3 2s 6i rs 0 R2 *s -3 83 6h rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0 R4
@*s -3 8s 50 rs 0 AR
*END -le27u7

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires pulls out his sickle from its waist sheath and takes a swipe at ClubRat's ankles hoping to trip and perhaps seriously injure or kill the rodent in the process. "Take this you nasty little bugger! Let’s see how you like this can of Whoop-Ass dwarven style!"


(trip attack: touch attack at + 4 and trip check at 8. if tripped follow up attack will be another + 4 attack for 1d6+4 slashing damage.)

[The Alcotroll]

Deciding that Swires is big enough and ugly enough to look after himself, Harald heads towards Meleaga, moving around behind the rat-thing and striking at it with his bastard sword held in one hand, putting all his strength into the blow.#

[OOC; using power attack, to hit roll is at D20+3, damage is at D10+5]

[BigRedRod]

The dwarf manages a low lazy sweep of his sickle which is easily avoided by the large rat creature through a swift backwards step.

Turning in fear the unarmed creature attacking the mage can only stand motionless as Harald closes and bring his sword down in a heavy overhead sweep. The blow connects directly with the collar bone of the filthly beast and travels far enough downwards with Harald's strength to almost reach the waist. Pulling his blade free, the rat falls to the cobbles and begins to spasm wildly and spray out blood from its various organs for a few seconds before the creature accepts the fate which has fallen it and lies stationary in a spreading pool of gore.

Meleaga staggers backward in shock from the attack and Harald's speedy resolution. Instincivly his hands begin to weave an arcane pattern in the air and sends a blue-white knife of force toward the axe-bearer. Shock manages to overcome his focus and the spell only catches a glancing blow to the shoulder of the foul beast, a thin line of blood trickles down through it's fur but the rat-creature remains focused on the one who slayed his kin. Charging forward and bellowing a high-pitched warcry in a language unspoken by any of the four, the creature swings its axe with both hands in a wide horizontal sweep that sends the creature off balance. Maintaing some small amount of control the rat avoids over-balancing and in the process manages not to hit the sturdy warrior before him.

In a display of theatrical acrobatics the armoured rat charges toward Gredrin performing a smooth cartwheel during the run while still carrying a sword in either hand. Swires half turns and swings his sickle toward the rat but strikes only air. Landing before the magic-tainted Aart the dual-wielding rat performs a pair of horizontal strikes with the swords, one at face level and one at the waist. Leaning backward, Gredrin easily dodges the first sweep but is caught by the second blade.

Pain crashes against the shorter brother like an iceberg as his the gash across his chest begins to ooze slippery blood. The beast before him titters mockingly and slips backward into a more defensive stance



Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (Darts)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Greatclub)
Rat 1 (Deceased)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Handaxe)
Armoured Rat (Twin shortswords)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7j 6f rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 4v 54 rs 0 H *s -3 5i 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 7a 6x rs 0 *s e 7p 6q rs 0 *s e 7u 6y rs 0 *s e 8o 68 rs
@0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w rs
@0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83 rs
@0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82 rs
@0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o rs
@0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s -1
@3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 9i 4j rs 0 RR *s -3 46 5v rs
@0 R1 *s -3 43 57 rs 0 R2 *s -3 83 6h rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0 R4
@*s -3 6q 5u rs 0 AR *s -1 2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 2c 30 1o 2c *s -1 2c
@30 rs 0 9y6tc 1o 30 2c 2c
*END -dk2n0w

[elpresidente]

Gredrin steps back whincing from the blow drawing his rapier before lunging at the rat-thing before him.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hmm cheeky little things arent they."

Repeating some of the arcane gestures used previously he lets fly a missile of magical energy toward the rat that was engaging Harold.

(OOC: Magic Missile on R2.)

[AllTogether Andrews]

"ow Ow OW."
Swires takes a five foot step back and prepares to take out whichever rat-thing moves in first.

[BigRedRod]

Gredrin's counterattack against the armoured rat-beast with his rapier proves to be woefully slow and unpowered. His opponent easily deflects the long blade with one of his own. As much as possible for the long-snouted creature it lifts the corners of its mouth into a mocking grin

Unknown to Meleaga the rat lurking on the rooftop launches one of its steel tipped darts down toward the mage. The attack remains unknown as it misses by several feet and silently embeds itself into the wooden wall of the building which marks the other side of the alley laden with tracks

Wheeling around to the left of Swires the remaining unarmed rat lashes out with its claws. Claws which are far too weak to penetrate the thick steel dwarven armour of the cleric. The shift in position does however leave the stout servant of Perlor in a rather poor position in relation to the three creatures surrounding him. Taking advantage of this split focus the ratling armed with the huge metal-bound club steps forward and performs a lazy horizontal swing that by all rights should have connected with Swires and broken several bones. However, today the favour of Pelor shines down upon his devotee and the swing misses by less than an inch

Stepping after the swing, Swires brings his own weapon around in a high arc at the club-holder. The sickle catches the muscle-bound rodent in the throat and after a quick spray of blood into the air the creature drops into the rubble of the burned tavern sending a cloud of ash into the air. The blood rapidly soaks into the black ash and within seconds the rat is motionless.

Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (Darts)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Deceased)
Rat 1 (Deceased)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Handaxe)
Armoured Rat (Twin shortswords)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7h 74 rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 4v 54 rs 0 H *s -3 5i 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 6z 7a rs 0 *s e 70 7q 12u 202 *s e 7n 7k rs 0 *s e 8o 68
@rs 0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w
@rs 0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83
@rs 0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82
@rs 0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o
@rs 0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s
@-1 3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 9i 4j rs 0 RR *s -3 46 5v
@rs 0 R1 *s -3 43 57 rs 0 R2 *s -3 83 5v rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0
@R4 *s -3 6q 5u rs 0 AR *s -1 2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 2c 30 1o 2c *s -1
@2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 1o 30 2c 2c *s -1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3o 3o 30 *s
@-1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 3o 3o 4c 30
*END -vauv7k

[The Alcotroll]

Harald braces behind his shield and then lunges with his blade, intending to cut his opponent to the ground and move on.

[OOC; same again; D20+3, D10+5. Ift he rat dies, I'll move as far as I can towards Armoured Rat.]

[BigRedRod]

Thrusting forward his blade, Harald grants the axe-rat a swift warrior's death. The blade pierces the heart and travels far enough through to clip the spinal cord. In a single smooth movement Harald withdraws the sword and turns his attentions toward the rat currently doing battle with his brother.

[ooc: R2 has joined the deceased. I need a new action from Mr Meleaga]

Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (Darts)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Deceased)
Rat 1 (Deceased)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Deceased)
Armoured Rat (Twin shortswords)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7h 74 rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 68 53 rs 0 H *s -3 5i 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 6z 7a rs 0 *s e 70 7q 12u 202 *s e 7n 7k rs 0 *s e 8o 68
@rs 0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w
@rs 0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83
@rs 0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82
@rs 0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o
@rs 0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s
@-1 3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 9i 4j rs 0 RR *s -3 46 5v
@rs 0 R1 *s -3 43 57 rs 0 R2 *s -3 83 5v rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0
@R4 *s -3 6q 5u rs 0 AR *s -1 2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 2c 30 1o 2c *s -1
@2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 1o 30 2c 2c *s -1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3o 3o 30 *s
@-1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 3o 3o 4c 30 *s -1 2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 2c 2o 1o
@20 *s -1 2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 2o 2c 20
*END -n2jzwr

[SponkleofInfini]

Turning toward the armoured rat Melaega lets fly another missile.

(OOC: Using the last magic missile on AR.)

[BigRedRod]

Arcane enegry flies from the wizard's hands and slams into the dual wielding rat. The bolt of force flays off a layer of leather from its shoulder exposing burnt fur and flesh. Deciding that today is not a good day to die the rat turns and flees, sprinting with suprising speed that prevents either of the brothers from landing a connecting blow. Turning into the alley below the rooftop lurking rat the armoured rat quickly dissapears from sight

Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (Darts)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Deceased)
Rat 1 (Deceased)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Deceased)
Armoured Rat (Fled)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7h 74 rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 68 53 rs 0 H *s -3 5i 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 6z 7a rs 0 *s e 70 7q 12u 202 *s e 7n 7k rs 0 *s e 8o 68
@rs 0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w
@rs 0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83
@rs 0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82
@rs 0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o
@rs 0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s
@-1 3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 9i 4j rs 0 RR *s -3 46 5v
@rs 0 R1 *s -3 43 57 rs 0 R2 *s -3 83 5v rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0
@R4 *s -3 6q 5u rs 0 AR *s -1 2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 2c 30 1o 2c *s -1
@2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 1o 30 2c 2c *s -1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3o 3o 30 *s
@-1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 3o 3o 4c 30 *s -1 2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 2c 2o 1o
@20 *s -1 2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 2o 2c 20
*END -n2jzwr

[elpresidente]

The main threat of close combat gone Gredrin choses to switch to a more favoured form of combat Preparing his bow and letting loose an arrow at the roof top rat.

"Harald. Was it not father who told us that southerners were rats?"

[BigRedRod]

Gredrin unleashes a poorly aimed arrow seemingly aimed at nothing more than the sky. Wherever it lands it seems unlikely that it will injure the rat currently crouching on the rooftop supplying a steady stream of pointed darts. The rat however has clearly noticed the tide turning against his fellows and decides that discretion is indeed the better part of valor. A step backwards and the form of the rat on the roof fades from sight.

Surrounded by an angry group of Edinway tourists and the bodies of his fallen comrades the remaining rat panics. However unlike the two have already fled he charges toward Harald with fang and claw bared.

The repeated rakes are unfocused and are easily deflected by the shielf and weapon of the Northener.

Initiative
Gredrin
Rooftop Rat (Fled)
Rat 3 (Unarmed)
Rat 4 (Deceased)
Rat 1 (Deceased)
Swires
Harald
Meleaga
Rat 2 (Deceased)
Armoured Rat (Fled)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7h 74 rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 68 53 rs 0 H *s -3 5i 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 6z 7a rs 0 *s e 70 7q 12u 202 *s e 7n 7k rs 0 *s e 8o 68
@rs 0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w
@rs 0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83
@rs 0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82
@rs 0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o
@rs 0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s
@-1 3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 46 5v rs 0 R1 *s -3 43 57
@rs 0 R2 *s -3 6s 55 rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0 R4 *s -1 2c 30 rs 0
@9y6tc 2c 30 1o 2c *s -1 2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 1o 30 2c 2c *s -1 4c 3o
@rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3o 3o 30 *s -1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 3o 3o 4c 30 *s -1
@2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 2c 2o 1o 20 *s -1 2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 2o 2c 20
*END -z97utk

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Now there, that's not very nice!"

Swires charges up behind the rat and cuts it's ankle's out from under it (or attempts to anyway).

[SponkleofInfini]

Melaega draws his crossbow and loads it with a bolt...keeping a keen eye on how the battle is progressing with the remaining rat creature.

[The Alcotroll]

Saving witty riposites for later, Harald treats the desperate rat to a hefty sword blow, again trading finesse for power and hoping that he doesn't hit his Dwarven ally in the process.

[OOC; same again; D20+3, D10+5. This one is going to be laminated across the cobbles.]

[BigRedRod]

The stout dwarf rushes toward the remaining rat and attempts a fluid spinning motion with the goal of leaving the rat prone on the cobble stones. An armoured dwarf however is not capable of certain feats and this seems to be one of them. Swires slips on a cobble and falls down heavily on his back at the feet of his intended target

Managing not to be distracted by his companion's spectacular failure, Harald lunges forward again with far more focus on the offense than the defense but in a more controlled state of mind than the enraged rat-creature. Due to more luck than skill the blade strikes and embeds itself firmly into the waist of the last rat. Almost instantly the rat stops all motion and after a small amount of effort it falls off the warrior's blade on to the cobbled street.

All noise bar the thumping of hearts quickly flees the scene of the failed ambush leaving the four victors stood beside the burned wreckage of a tavern and the foes who were not lucky enough to escape

[ooc: I included the combat map just in case someone does something]
Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 2c rs 0 9zabk -7c 2c 7c 2c *s -1 7g 3c rs 0 9zabk 7g 3c
@-7g 3c *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 0 -1c 2c 1c 24 1c c -1c c *s -1 28 1y rs
@0 0 g 1z g -p 28 -p 28 1z g 1z *s -1 4c 2c rs 0 0 1w 2c 4c 2c 4c
@-c 2c -c 1w 24 *s -1 6g 2c rs 0 0 2o -c 2w 2c 4o 24 60 2c 6g -c
@40 -18 2o -c *s -1 74 2c rs 0 0 5k 10 74 10 74 2c 5c 2c 5k 10 *s
@-1 4w s rs 0 0 34 s 4w c 4w -k 1s -c 1s k 34 s *s -1 3c 2c rs 0
@0 w 2c 1c 1o 14 -s 34 -k 3c -c 2w 2c w 2c *s -1 4g 5c rs 0 0 28
@1k 28 4o 4g 5c *s -1 5c 5c rs 0 0 40 5c 5c 5c 5c 4g *s -1 5c 4c
@rs 0 0 4g 2k 5c 2k 5c 4c *s -1 30 4s rs 0 0 30 1w 30 4k 10 4s k
@2k 10 1w 30 1w *s -1 3c 6c rs 0 0 2o 30 3c 50 1s 6c 8 4s 2o 30 *s
@-1 4s 6s rs 0 0 3g 3o 1g 64 3o 6s 4s 4k 3g 3o *s -1 1w 4g rs 0 0
@1w 2g k 2g k 4g 1w 4g *s -1 18 4w rs 0 0 18 20 10 1s -c 1s -k 20
@-s 48 4 4w 18 40 *s -1 c 3k rs 0 0 c 3k -c 3k *s -1 6c 5o rs 0 0
@4c 50 4c 5o 6c 5o 6c 4c 4c 4c *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 0 4c 28 4c 20 6c
@20 6c 4o 4k 4o 4c 3k *s -1 7g 3g rs 0 0 58 3g 64 3g 64 38 7g 38 *s
@-1 7g 4o rs 0 0 58 40 6s 4o 7g 4o *s -1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 40 8 54 *s
@-1 8 54 rs 0 0 8 54 -8 54 *s -3 7h 55 rs 0 S *s -3 64 6h rs 0 G *s
@-3 68 53 rs 0 H *s -3 5i 5t rs 0 M *s e 73 72 rs 0 *s e 6c 73 rs
@0 *s e 6d 7j rs 0 *s e 6f 85 rs 0 *s e 69 8p rs 0 *s e 6i 9h rs
@0 *s e 6t a9 rs 0 *s e 7i aj rs 0 *s e 97 al rs 0 *s e 9p ay rs
@0 *s e ab b2 rs 0 *s e ap 9u rs 0 *s e ap 9g rs 0 *s e ap 95 rs
@0 *s e 6z 7a rs 0 *s e 70 7q 12u 202 *s e 7n 7k rs 0 *s e 8o 68
@rs 0 *s e 96 5j rs 0 *s e 81 76 rs 0 *s e 8x 79 rs 0 *s e 9a 6w
@rs 0 *s e 9i 70 rs 0 *s e 8q 6x rs 0 *s e 7z 8w rs 0 *s e 96 83
@rs 0 *s e 9t 93 rs 0 *s e 9c 9p rs 0 *s e 8e 9q rs 0 *s e 7q 82
@rs 0 *s e 71 8v rs 0 *s e 72 b0 rs 0 *s e 6w bk rs 0 *s -3 82 8o
@rs 0 Burned Tavern *s -1 38 4k rs 0 9y6tc 30 2k 38 4k 2s 4c *s
@-1 3c 4k rs 0 9y6tc 34 4k 3c 44 *s -3 46 5v rs 0 R1 *s -3 43 57
@rs 0 R2 *s -3 6s 55 rs 0 R3 *s -3 83 71 rs 0 R4 *s -1 2c 30 rs 0
@9y6tc 2c 30 1o 2c *s -1 2c 30 rs 0 9y6tc 1o 30 2c 2c *s -1 4c 3o
@rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3o 3o 30 *s -1 4c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 3o 3o 4c 30 *s -1
@2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 2c 2o 1o 20 *s -1 2c 2o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 2o 2c 20 *s
@-1 3o 2o rs 0 9y6tc 30 2o 3o 20 *s -1 3o 2o rs 0 9y6tc 3o 2o 30
@20
*END elj833

[AllTogether Andrews]

Aegrotatio e acies ab revalesco

(drop endure elements for cure light wounds on self)

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga searches the corpses near him for anything of use.

(OOC: Search R1 and R2)

[The Alcotroll]

Harald gives his sword an experimental twirl before stooping to wipe the blade on the fur of the dead thing at his feet. "If I remember, Brother, our Father usually added that you might as well have been born a southerner." He replies to his sibling's earlier comment.

[SponkleofInfini]

"I can feel the love...tell me, does the arrogance of the northerners know no bounds?

Says Melaega as he searches the corpses, overhearing Harald's comment.

[BigRedRod]

Returning to his feet the cleric bathes himself in a soft golden light which seals his wounds and induces a general feeling of well-being for a few seconds. When the light and euphoria fade the dwarf is left with no real signs of any combat apart from a few dents in his armour

The wizard quickly seraches the two unarmed rats finds nothing of utility or value. Unless Meleaga values a string of wooden beads and a few scraps of food. The most recently felled of the two creatures however has an odd mark branded on its chest over the heart. The mark is not one which the wizard is familiar with but looks like a flail or similar weapon

[elpresidente]

The pain across his chest having dulled Gredrin realises there was something he'd forgotten to buy in the form of potions. He turns to answer Melaega

"Not to our knowledge but if we find one I'm sure brother will brag about it."

He then walks over to the final rat to try and understand the marking on it's chest.

[The Alcotroll]

"Leave it." growls Harald impatiently, satisfied that his sword is suitably clean again. "We have more important things to worry about than these sorry creatures. We must find this child before her captors can spirit her further out of our reach."

[SponkleofInfini]

"How eager...this marking may be of importance, so best not be to hasty there. Perhaps you could busy yourself with the sharpening of your sword, or wit...that wouldnt hurt either."

Melaega stands with his hand to his mouth partially concealing a slight grin.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald straightens and turns back towards the wizard, holding his sword loosely in one hand. He crosses the distance between them in a few steps, towering over the slightly built man, frowning down on him from beneath the eye-loops of his plumed helmet.

A man would die for less in Jedaart. But this fool could not be expected to know that.

Harald raises the blade of his sword to the wizard and growls; "This sword just saved your life little man. Well for you that I keep it sharp. Show more respect in the future."

Emphatically turning on his heel, Harald strides across to where his brother inspects the rat-man's corpse. "Has this thing anything to tell us Brother? We have more pressing concerns this night."

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga smiles, not really concerned with the warriors threat, however is delighted to see he actually listened and is acknowledging the marking.

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires strides over and peers at the object of attention to see what the others find so interesting.

"Here now, let me let me see that."

[BigRedRod]

While Gerald stares absently at the brand and silently makes no progress with its meaning, the dwarf takes a step toward the body and instantly recognises it as a Holy mark.

Although a crude brand it is without a doubt the mark of Bargrivyek. Apart from the name, Swires knows little. Except that oddly enough this rat-creature carries the mark of a lesser goblin deity

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Now thats odd, you wouldn't think that little buggers like this would have the intelligence necessary for organized religion but this mark here is a religious symbol belonging to a goblin god that goes by the name of Bargrivyek. Anyway, I doubt that these rat things are actually connected with the matter at hand except as an obstacle. can anyone see where the trail went?"

[The Alcotroll]

Harald shrugs. "The little buggers had the intelligence to launch a well-planned ambush."

Casting around again, he begins to look for the trail that they had been following before being interrupted, finding it again in the ash of the burns-down building. "Shall we move on gentlemen?"

[BigRedRod]

Leaving the bodies of the fallen rat-creatures to lie on the cold cobbles of the Edinway plague district, the four follow the clear path through the ash that had attracted attention prior to the ambush.

The tall shells of buildings quickly huddle around the trail leaving the group to walk in single file with Swires struggling to fit his broad dwarvern frame between the buildings at all. It doesn't take long for the ash to die away and the trail to vanish but given the lack of options, all those who passed by the tavern must have continued onward through the tight twisting alley.

Lack of sleep, the chilling night and the question of whether the plague remains make progress slow and daunting. The fuzzy glow of dawn is rapidly replaced with a pale blue-grey sky.

Eventually the alley opens up in to a small courtyard less than ten feet to each side, the flanking buildings which push together to form the little enclosure each still have walls two to three stories high. The walls of the courtyard are formed of weathered stone bricks and have patches of green moss spreading over them. In the centre of the square stands a well in oddly good condition. The rest is filled with fallen bricks, broken tiles, leaves and other general debris created by an abandoned city, all of which seems to have been recently disturbed apart from the very edges. However, there is a clearing in the litter revealing a small door built at a sloping angle at the foot of one of the buildings, doubtlessly a way of accessing the well directly from the basement of the building. It seems very strange that this well has no way of being accessed from the surrounding buildings apart from the long winding alley and this sturdy-looking door. The door itself is bound with iron and if it is locked then it is from the inside.

The door leading downwards would appear to be the only way the kidnappers and their victim could have continued

[The Alcotroll]

Approaching the doors, Harald cautiously tests them to see if they are indeed locked, trying to act as quietly as possible for such a bulky, armoured frame.

[SponkleofInfini]

Melaega walks up the well and with a few arcane gestures creates a luminous baal of energy resembling a will-o-wisp and send it hurtling down the well glancing down with a smile as it descends. Melaega holds his hand to his mouth and his other hand held to his chest with his index finger pointing downward.

(OOC: Cast Dancing Lights, send it down the well, it can move up to around 110ft I think.)

[BigRedRod]

The slightest of tugs on the doors reveals that they are indeed quite the opposite of open. The wooden panels rattle slightly and then stop as if restrained. Opening this door from outside without destroying is a challenge beyond the skills of the northerner.

Meleaga sends the softly glowing ball of arcane energy inside the well and peers down as it descends. The spell illuminates the edges of the well, old damp bricks covered in exciting vegetation which has someone learnt to survive with the bare minimum of sunlight. At it's greatest distance from the wizard, Meleaga fancies he can spy the light playing upon water

[SponkleofInfini]

"Do you think you can bat down the door with those big burly muscles of yours? Or shall we look for another possible entrance?"

Says Meleaga recalling the ball of light, arms folded now, you can barelly see the upward pointed index finger.

[The Alcotroll]

"I doubt we'll find another possible entrance." Replies Harald. "Gredrin, do you think you could pick this lock? I am loath to make such a noisy entry."

[elpresidente]

Gredrin chuckles"And which lock would that be then brother? If you can find it I shall certainly try, but as no lock is forthcoming I fear it is beyond my skills to pick."

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Not to mention that in this case constructing another entrance is not going to be easy. What do you thing about going down the well? It's a bit more dangerous but we won't announce ourselves so openly."

[The Alcotroll]

"It's a long way," mutters Harald doubtfuly, "and I can't imagine it will go anywhere other than down."

"In any case," he adds dismissively, "you won't fit. Now one of you, give me a hand with this. Time is running out, and I want to get this over with. If it won't be picked then it will be broken."

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Right then, breaking time."

[BigRedRod]

Between the Dwarf and the Man they manage to get a good grip on the pair of doors and coordinate their attempts to tear the door open despite any locking mechanisms holding it in place. The door resists noisly for a time before finally the efforts of the two overwhelm its strength and with a loud snapping noise each is left clutching one of the small doors.

The sound lingers for quite a time before finally the last echo vanishes and the dust settles. Beyond the doors is a narrow flight of steps which go down only a few feet and an equally narrow corridor beyond. Flickering torchlight illuminates the basement but the angle at which Harald and Swires stand prevents them from seeing much of anything apart from a man sat on the ground in a red robe. Apparantly the door being torn off suprised him to the extent that he fell over backwards

[ooc: despite the amount of noise you have a suprise round to do anything before he is going to able to react]

[The Alcotroll]

Careful consideration of the situation can wait till later. Harald charges down the stairs, sword and shield in hand. "Gredrin, deal with that one!" he cries, charging into the room and looking for more active signs of resistance.

[elpresidente]

Gredrin springs forth with his rapier at the man's throat holding it close enough to make a slight impression beneath the man's chin. His fair face take on a sinister darkness as he says "If I was you i would remain very still and extremely quiet!"

[ooc:Intimidate +7 ready to coup-de-grace if he moves]

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hmm after all that he beats down the door..uncouth but effective."

Meleaga, crossbow in hand follows everyone down for support.

[AllTogether Andrews]

Seeing that the others have the prisoner well in hand Swires takes point and begins creeping along the passage ahead of the rest trying to get a look at what may be coming up.

[BigRedRod]

Taking the point in a cautious exploration of unknown tunnels proves quite difficult when one's companions have already taken the initative and are moving with great speed and purpose down into the basement.

Past the robed man on the floor, Harald enters an open area. A room which it looks like serves as a small common room for those supposed to be watching the door through which the group had decided to burst. Another robed man leaps from his stool as the great Northerner bursts in and reaches for his slim metal-bound club as he fdoes so, scattering gaming pieces from the wooden table before him as he does so.

Three doorways lead out of the room, one of which stands open and contains a third robed figure who a simple mace in both hands. The head of the weapon may have once been a metal sphere but now it is a rather more battered and abstract shape, clearly a well used weapon. Beyond the man lies another room, although the flickering torchlight and distracting armed men prevent him from having a good look into the beyond

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2)
Robed Mace Man (G3)
Swires
Meleaga
Harald

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -1 1c 2c rs 0
@9zabk o 2c 1c 2c *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk 2c 3c 24 2w *s -3 44 56
@rs 0 G2 *s -3 46 77 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2a 72 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0
@*s -3 2a 98 rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G
*END ls80mu

[elpresidente]

Gredrin looks down to his hostage and says "Put your arms on your head! Anything else I'll kill you."

His face remains sinister and dark, but now takes on a wicked smile bearing his perfect white teeth "Try anything funny and I'll do it slow."

He keeps the blade at his hostage's throat as he stoops slightly to search him for weaponsand take them away from him.

This one could be useful

[ooc: Search +5]

[BigRedRod]

The robed man at Gredrin's mercy quickly moves his hands to the top of his head and manages to speak in a hoarse whisper,
"Please, I have children. Don't... Please don't"
A brief one-handed search with both eyes kept on the hostage reveal no hidden weapons.

Harald finds himself under assault from both of the other robed men. The first leaps upon the table before him, narrowly avoiding banging his head on the ceiling and then rushes the warrior as he swings his bat in a wide horizontal arc. Despite connecting the force of the blow is lost to the stout armour of the Jarl. Cramped in a narrow corridor, Harald is unable to even attempt to dodge the second blow, and his armour fails to protect him as fully the second time. The mace strikes solidly and Harald feels it. The second robed figure calls an alarm to his fellows as he attacks,
"Servants of the demon! Servants of the demon are attacking!"

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2)
Robed Mace Man (G3)
Swires
Meleaga
Harald

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -1 1c 2c rs 0
@9zabk o 2c 1c 2c *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk 2c 3c 24 2w *s -3 24 6f
@rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2a 72 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0
@*s -3 2a 98 rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G
*END 1cmiq3

[SponkleofInfini]

Servents of the demon? Hmm...please

Meleaga begins to laugh, crossbow still held at the ready however.

"Who do you speak of? We serve no demon."

(OOC: Ready an attack if they choose to pursue attacking. Making a diplomacy check...it is probably going to fail but thought I would try. If anyone else has a better mod by all means )

[AllTogether Andrews]

"You are the demons here thieves of children!"

Swires attempts to work his way around Meleaga and Harald and attack the robed man to the right of Harald. If there is room for this he uses his sickle to trip the man. If not he will shove his crossbow past the northerner and plug the man with a bolt.

[The Alcotroll]

Dispensing with words, Harald takes a swing towards the man on his left; for the moment concentrating on making the blow connect with it's target rather than dealing any more lethal damage.

[OOC: normal attack on G2]

[BigRedRod]

Realising that he has no hope of barging past two allies and a man intent on stopping him in this narrow corridor the wide-framed dwarf contents himself to step forward and attempt to fire his crossbow past his two friends and in to the robed figure he can see. Unfortunately Swires lacks the training with his crossbow to execute his plan, the bolt is fired with a twang and is quicklt followed by a wet thud as the bolt lands firmly in Harald's left shoulder, the close range giving the bolt sufficent force to penetrate armour and bury itself deeply in the flesh beyond.

Meleaga's attempts at reason are somewhat hampered by a number of factors largely related to the weapon he is pointing directly at the mace-wielding man with his finger on the firing mechanism.

Despite suffering from the effects of friendly fire Harald manages to ignore the pain long enough to focus on the movements of his friend with the club. A diagonal slash is clearly something the figure failed to anticipate as the blade cuts deeply through form. Falling to the ground the red of his robe is quickly darkened by the blood pouring from his grevious injury.

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3)
Swires
Meleaga
Harald

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee (http://www.irony.com/java/mmee)
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -1 1c 2c rs 0
@9zabk o 2c 1c 2c *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk 2c 3c 24 2w *s -3 24 6f
@rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2a 72 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0
@*s -3 26 8g rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1
@1c 3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c
*END -groe95

[elpresidente]

Well the chance for peaceful negotiation appears to have leapt out of the window, so maybe a show of dominance is called for.

Keeping his boot firmly down on his captives chest and making sure he is keeping the arranged position Gredrin shouts to the other robed figure in a voice more suiting to an ogre for it's depth:

"You down there! You and your friend here do not have to die here! Put down your weapon and stop this nonsense, and you will both be spared!"

[ooc:intimidate check +7]

[BigRedRod]

While the man at Gredrin's feet remains motionless his still moving companion swings his mace again at Harald. The blow lands with skull-crushing force but falls upon Harald's shield rather than his body, his arm rattles with the blow but his is uninjured. As he attacks he screams in defiance of Meleaga and Gredrin's conflicting words and a botl looses itself from the crossbow of the wizard and snaps against the far wall

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3)
Swires
Meleaga
Harald

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -1 1c 2c rs 0
@9zabk o 2c 1c 2c *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk 2c 3c 24 2w *s -3 24 6f
@rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2a 72 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0
@*s -3 26 8g rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1
@1c 3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c
*END -groe95

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Sorry about that!"
Swires reloads his crossbow feeling useless.

[SponkleofInfini]

Hmm...not good

"Hmm let us see if my aim has improved this time..."

Melaega reloads his crossbow and fires at his enemy once more.

[The Alcotroll]

Doing his best to ignore the antics of his companions, Harald turns his attention to the second man and launches an upswing, attempting to floor him or at least force him back.

[BigRedRod]

Swires busily sets about winding his weapon back to accept another bolt, while Meleaga stood in front of him accomplishes the same task with his smaller weapon in little enough time to fire again. Despite the point-blank range, however, the wizard almost manages tom iss with the bolt doing little more than painting a line of red across his face and pulling his hood down. The bearded man within the robe growls in defiance.

Taking a rather more straight-forward approach, Harald spins his blade vertically and smanages to make it pass straight through the mace-arm of the man before him. Blood spurts across the Jarl, the wall and across the man himself as he falls to the ground screaming and writhing in agony. His arm twitches on the flagged floor of the room for a second before settling to just wait and bleed.

With all of the men dispatched bar the one currently lying at Gredrin's feet, the party relax for a moment. Exactly a moment later, a man built like a brick wall strides through the open door. He is also clad in one of the Red Robes, but his hood is down and his bald head carries a smile, while his hands carry an axe. With his foot he closes the door behind him and spits on the ground at his fallen companions

A much younger robed figure erupts from the door on the north wall, the eyes within the hood look from side to side for a while and then step in to the room. The figure clutches what looks like a chair leg in his hands

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3) [Down]
Swires
Meleaga
Harald
Robed Axeman (G4)
Robed Youth (G5)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0
@G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2a 72 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s
@-3 26 8g rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c
@3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s
@-1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42 75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o
@rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c
@rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55
@3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0
*END ovor94

[elpresidente]

Gredrin's total attention is on his prisoner and gives him a second search at sword-point.

[BigRedRod]

With all non-physical attempts at resolving the situation falling flat on their respective faces, Gredrin goes back to the gentle practice of ensuring the man at his feet has no weapons concealed deeply on his person that could suddenly be used if the younger of the brothers' attention is diverted. His results conclude that this man was indeed unarmed, and as such quite a poor choice as a door guard.

He simply sits whimpering and does his best to both comply without moving enough to give Gredrin a reason to execute him.

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3) [Down]
Swires
Meleaga
Harald
Robed Axeman (G4)
Robed Youth (G5)

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0
@G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2a 72 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s
@-3 26 8g rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c
@3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s
@-1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42 75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o
@rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c
@rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55
@3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0
*END ovor94

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga repeats his motion firing upon the robed youth by the back of the room.

[The Alcotroll]

Deciding not to bother with pleasantries, Harald jumps clear of the prone men at hsi feet and charges towards the axe-wielding man, putting all his strength into the blow before the man can raise his axe.

[OOC: power attack on Mr Axe. I believe I get a bonus for charging...?]

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires pushes past Meleaga's knees charges the little 'un with his sickle. Slashing at his knees and attempting to topple him. over and maybe disembowel him while he's at it.

[BigRedRod]

Pushing his two companions aside the stout armoured priest throws his crossbow to one side and pulls out his sickle. Still advancing Swires raises the sickle high above his head but rather than striking he converts his momentum in to an unexpected kick which sends the youth tumbling to the ground in a heap.

Speedily loading his weapon, the wizard fires another bolt down the corridor. By sheer chance it misses both of his companions stood before him and continues through the doorway from which the young robed man emerged.

Harald rushes the grinning bald man with sword and shield in hand. The northerner may have had tremendous power behind his blow but at the cost of accuracy and as such his target easily uses the metal haft of his weapon to bat away the blow.

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3) [Down]
Swires
Meleaga
Harald
Robed Axeman (G4)
Robed Youth (G5) [Prone]

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0
@G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 3j 75 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s
@-3 29 5t rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c
@3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s
@-1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42 75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o
@rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c
@rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55
@3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0
*END 3b4a00

[elpresidente]

Sound's like brothers having fun. Ah well i guess i'd better start interrogating my prisoner here, if he can speak...

Keeping his rapier at his customer's throat but far enough away so he can still speak he asks "Who are you people and where is the girl that was kiddnapped from town last night, the one with feathers?"

[BigRedRod]

A look of disgust washes over the man's face despite his perilous situation and otherwise submissive behaviour, he responds through gritted teeth,
"Girl? You don't even recognise the monster you serve?"




Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3) [Down]
Swires
Meleaga
Harald
Robed Axeman (G4)
Robed Youth (G5) [Prone]

Map
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0
@G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 3j 75 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s
@-3 29 5t rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c
@3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s
@-1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42 75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o
@rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c
@rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55
@3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0
*END 3b4a00

[SponkleofInfini]

Overhearing the the robed man's statement Meleaga responds;

"We serve only a distraut mother...however by all means remain uninformative and angsty; we will get the information we require...eventually."

Meleaga reloads his crossbow and fires once more while speaking to the captured robed man.

(OCC: Not sure if I can do all that...if I can't then I will talk and reload...I only seem to be good at hitting walls anyway ;))

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires brings his sickle down in an arc that ends with the handle next to the youths neck and the curve of the blade form fitting quite nicely around his neck making any form of movement a very bad idea.
"I wouldn't make any sudden moves if I was you kid."

(For all intents and purposes a readied action to strike him if he tries anything stupid.)

[The Alcotroll]

Taking no prisoners, Harald swings again; this time trying to actually hit his target.

[BigRedRod]

Joining the trend set by Gredrin, Swires stands over his fallen foe doing his best to be menacing with his hooked weapon while the youth dutifully remains motionless and quiet, rather shocked by how quickly he was disabled. The chair leg rolls away from his open palm, the weapon looking even more pathetic close up.

Busily talking over his shoulder to Gredrin's hostage, the wizard loads a bolt in to his weapon safely away from the front lines were Harald explains matters to the bald gentleman with his sword. Sweeping horizontally, the Axeman dodges, but doesn't lean back far enough and is left with a thin red line from the base of his neck to his shoulder. The slice also serves to let his robe flop diagonally downwards to resemble a toga. A half inch closer and the man would no longer have a throat.

But a simple thing like a near deathblow in combat isn't enough to remove the grin from his face. Gritting his teeth and hefting his axe up, the man strains out a few words in response to the wizard as he swings at Harald,
"Do you really believe those lies?"
Raising his shield in defense, Harald blocks the blow at an awkward angle and manages to both painfully twist his own arm while the head of the axe bangs against his hip

Initiative
Gredrin
Robed Man (G1) [Prone]
Robed Club Man (G2) [Down]
Robed Mace Man (G3) [Down]
Swires
Meleaga
Harald
Robed Axeman (G4)
Robed Youth (G5) [Prone]

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0
@G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 3j 75 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s
@-3 29 5t rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c
@3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s
@-1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42 75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o
@rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c
@rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55
@3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0
*END 3b4a00

[elpresidente]

Gredrin sighs and rolls his eyes. What a bunch of village fools
"We serve no-one. All we know is that a girl was kidnapped last night, dragged here by men in red who also murdered a man in his home and set fire to their home leaving a widow out on the street. The girl has feathers, this we know, however having feathers does not make you a daemon, eating newborn children, having a neck that allows your head to spin round while you projectile vomit acid, while you fart lightning bolts! THAT makes you a daemon."
Gredrin allows himself a malicious chuckle. "So come now how do you know this girl is a daemon? For a start if she was and they sent YOU and your friends to get her you'd all be dead by now!"

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga smiles at Gredrin...

"How cute...can't wait to meet her."

(OCC: Meleaga reloads but holds his attack action for now. It seems he is proving to be more of a liability with the crossbow rather then a help.)

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires continues to hold the boy prisoner...

[The Alcotroll]

Backhanding, Harald once again tries to put his opponent down.

[OOC: normal attack]

[BigRedRod]

Gredrin's captive looks up at him in disbelief and manages a few words of amazement at the sorceror's speech
"You really are fools."

Pressing his attack, while Harald's companions stand aside, the Northener swings his hefty blade both sideways and forwards. In response the axeman brings his own weapon up, with a clang the metal haft of the axe collides with the sword. The deflection is far too minor for the blow to miss, in fact the change in thrust path was beneficial for Harald, granting him a death blow. The sword pushes in to the upper=right of the man's chest with a spray of blood, splits open a lung and the tip manages to exit just beneath the shoulder. Blood pours from his mouth as he opens to scream, no sound comes forth however and the man slides backwards off the blade in to a bleeding heap before the door.

[ooc: with the two remaining hostiles under careful supervision and no others visible, I think we can take a break from combat mode while you make some decisions]

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 10 3o rs 0 9zabk 10 30 10 3o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10
@2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27 ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0
@G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 3j 75 rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s
@-3 29 5t rs 0 S *s -3 2a 7t rs 0 M *s -3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c
@3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s
@-1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42 75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o
@rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c
@rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55
@3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0
@9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
*END wh413w

[The Alcotroll]

Harald spits vehemently on the body, rolls his shoulders and then stomps, bloodied sword in hand towards the captive youth.

"Where is she?" he demands, "I tire of your company, just as I tire of your stinking city."

He sweeps his sword point to point at the recumbent form of the latest casualty, sprinkling droplets of blood across the room and pushes his face towards the young man threateningly, snarling again; "Tell me now, or join your friend. Where is she?"

[OOC: Think you could probably count that as an intimidate check.]

[BigRedRod]

Shaking in terror at the Dwarf standing over him and the advancing savage, the youth tries to force out words but manages only the lip movements. Tears roll down his cheeks as he tries to steady his nerves enough to speak. Closing his eyes he takes a large breath and begins to fire out a sudden confusion of words at high speed,
"Ididnwananyofthis *sob* Pleasedonkillmepleasedonkillme"
Crying and talking very quickly are two mutally exclusive tasks and as such the youth starts to choke and cough for a few seconds before looking up at Harald with red eyes and continuing his stream of begging,
"Idonknownuthin they they ... theysaidthey'dtellmelatercosIonlyjustcame *Sob* Sumthinwasappenintodaybuttheywantedmeto *cough*
gohomeandnotknowsoIsaidIwouldntellanyonebuttheydid naveanyofit *cough* *cough* soIidinthestoreroomandwaspeepinandthenIfellasleepa ndthen *sob* thenIeardyouand ... ... I'm so sorry Mister. Pleasepleasepleaseletmego,"

Snifffing loudly and with a growing wetpatch at the groin of his robe, the red-robed youth continues shaking and looking from dwarf to man uncertainly.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Pathetic...the least you could do is show some dignity."

Meleaga glares down at the robed youth in disgust. Turning to the others...

"What do you think?"

[The Alcotroll]

Frowning, Harald growls "Keep hold of him." to the Dwarf and turns on his heel. Crossing the room with the same threatening swagger and approaching the old man. Leaning close, he snarls; "Can you do any better old one?"

[BigRedRod]

The man who had earlier begged for his life seems to have steeled himself somewhat during Gredrin's interrogation. Hearing the comment directed at him while still lying on his back and looking the younger brother in the eye he spits out his denial,
"You're insane and I'll die before I damn the world"

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Damn the world? Now that's interesting. How exactly is our little rescue operation going to damn the world? Now could someone else take the boy? I wan't to see if there's anyone that I can keep from dying."

[ooc :going to check on the dropped combatants once relieved and use a cure minor wounds on any still alive but unconcious. Going to drop spells in this order:create water, mending, detect magic.]

[The Alcotroll]

Sharing a significant look with his brother, Harald crosses back to the youth and gestures curtly for him to sit down with his back against the wall. He then produces a filthy rag from a pouch and begins to clean his weapon of blood, all the while glowering at his prisoner.

[BigRedRod]

Forsaking his injured comapnions to aid the men who moments ago had devoted themselves to their slaughter, Swires leaves the cowering youth under the watchful eye of Harald.

Gredrin's captive ignores the cleric's words, focusing on the man keeping him pinned down

The man who had fought with a mace until his arm was severed died soon after he touched the ground from the sheer volume of blood which has now stained the stone floor a dull red hue. Still clutching his iron bound mace, the first of the robed men to fall is seriously injured but after channeling a trio of healing spells his eyes open and focus on the dwarf kneeling over him. Grunting his shuts his eyes before he finally realises the extent of the situation. The divine healing has saved him from death but his body is still weak and the man seems unable to muster the strength to talk.

Trying a different approach, Gredrin moves his weapon slightly away from his captive's throat, draws to within a inches and speaks a few hushed sentences, deliberately not allowing his companion's to hear. The response of the eldest of the three captives is immediate but luckily Gredrin pulls back in time to avoid the large glob of spit. In a flash, the younger brother's blade is back at the throat of the man who stares daggers up at him.

[ooc : Of the fallen, Swires has got one back from the brink of death by burning all three orisons. The other two are dead. You now have three prisoners to deal with]

[AllTogether Andrews]

"All right lets se what we can do about all of this blood you're getting all over the place. Oh, and sorry about the crossbow bolt."

Having tended to the more urgent problem of the fallen Swires doles out a cure light wounds to Harald

[ooc : dropping out a hide from undead to do so]

[SponkleofInfini]

While his companions interrogate the fallen Meleaga looks around the room; trying to find anything of interest, possibly pertaining to girls location within this place.

(OOC: Search +4)

[BigRedRod]

While Swires returns to stand beside the now-silent youth and administer his divine magics to Harald, Meleaga sets about busily exploring the room.

The table has been subjected to much carving through it's life, although it dominated by a game board which the wizard recognises as a fairly simple game known by many names (back at Hollowfaust it was played on boards made from rather finer materials than an old table surface, it was also most commonly known as Sea of Dogs. Despite how the game was too abstract to bear any relation to bodies of water or canines.). The game pieces scattered around the table are counters and crudely carved dice. On and around the table, Meleaga manages to locate the betting stakes for the game, which total up to the princely sum of six copper pieces.

Glancing in to the adjoining room with it's open door, the wizard sees what looks like a storeroom. The remains of crates ring the outer edge while three sets of heavy duty wooden shelves bound with iron. The shelves are mostly bare, although there seem to be some blankets, a few small packages of preserved food and a wide selection of mundane tools. In one corner sits a jumble of broken furniture, it seems the youth salavaged his makeshift weapon from here.

[ooc: so nothing that directly points to where a kidnapped girl may have been taken. Except for one door being a dead end and only one door remaining...]

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 2t 56
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 2s 5t rs 0 S *s -3 3k 6h rs 0 M *s
@-3 29 b5 rs 0 G *s -1 1c 3c rs 0 9y6tc 1c 2o o 3c *s -1 1o 3o rs
@0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9zabk 2c 30 2c 3o *s -3 42
@75 rs 0 G4 *s -1 14 2o rs 0 9zabk w 20 14 2o *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0
@10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o 1c *s -3 27 57 rs 0 G5 *s
@-3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3 2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v
@rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30 *s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c
@2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10 30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk
@w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10 1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s
@-1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24 1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs
@0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s -3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores
*END -x7ocpe

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hmm I guess these people arent as stupid as they look...couldnt find anything hinting to the girls location. So are you boys had your fill of fun..perhaps we should continue."

Says Meleaga with a slight smirk to the young fallen.

[AllTogether Andrews]

"I wan't to talk to them for a bit first."
(walking over to the youth and squatting down for a face to face.)
"Why don't you tell us exactly why we shouldn't be trying to rescue a grantedly odd girl that has been kidnapped from her house with her foster father slain by what appears to be, to us, a bunch of religious fanatics. I am prepared to listen and be logical about this so just tell us what you know."

[BigRedRod]

Hunching beside the figure with the soiled robe, the dwarf's rather less threatening approach to diplomacy manages to bring forth a slower pace of words from the youth,
"Jus' lemme go ... Please *sniff* I ain't done nuthin', I dun know wut you're talkin' about. No one tell me anythin' round 'ere. I shoulda gone home like they said *sniff*"

[The Alcotroll]

Sighing, Harald hauls the youngster upright by his collar and points at the store room. "If you value your life, then get in there and lock the door. If I see you again, I'll kill you."

Thrusting his captive towards the store room, Harald then crosses back to his brother's captive. He pulls the man upright, spins him around as if to lead him away, and then brings the pommel of his sword down on the back of the man's head, catching him as he falls and lowering him to the ground.

Recluctant to be quite so rough with the third, injured man, he casts about for something to act as a restraint.

[OOC: I'm reluctant to deliver a smack in the head to an injured man lying on the floor, so someone better have something we can tie him up with. Otherwise, ATA can damn well stay put and guard the bugger.]

[BigRedRod]

The storeroom door slams shut as the youth scurries away from the savage Aart man trying to force out words of thanks as he does so. Harald's second target is caught by suprise and clearly outmatched in strength with his attempts at struggling barely being noticed. After a swift blow to the man's head the man ceases all attempts at struggling.

The third captive groans slightly as he realises that something is likely to befall him next. Although his attempts to move and save himself are rather pathetic and eventually he resigns himself to whatever fate is approaching. Glancing around the room, Harald sees nothing that could be used to restrain the injured man

[The Alcotroll]

With nothing to secure the injured prisoner, and reluctant to club the man into insensibility, Harald waves Swires over.

"He's your mess," he says, gruffly, "so clean him up."

Walking to the door, he attempts to open it.

[BigRedRod]

Opening the door, Harald is hit by the smell of food and instantly reminded of the long day of travelling which came before tonight's escapades. As his stomach growls he manages to decide that the smell is most likely from some kind of stew, and the stew itself lies through the only open door in the corridor beyond.

The corridor's aged red brick walls glisten with moisture as the flickering light from the room containing the delicious smell plays upon them. Even with no real experience of structural degradation in basements, Harald feels distinctly uneasy that the weight of a building is pushing down of the wet walls.

The ill-fitting door at the end of the corridor also allows a good amount of light to spill in around the edges, but not enough to see anything beyond. Apart from the omnious drops of water leaping from the ceiling to pool on the floor the only sound is the occasional crackle of burning wood

Map
[ooc : G2 is the injured and living robed man that Swires brought back from the brink. the one in the stores is the youth, the one with the green line is unconcious]Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 4v 76
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 2b 5t rs 0 S *s -3 3k 6h rs 0 M *s
@-3 2a 76 rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 40 3c rs 0 9zabk
@3c 3c 40 3c *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 9zabk 4o 3o 4o 30
*END dat5q2

[The Alcotroll]

Advancing down the coridoor, Harald will check first the open door, then the one opposite, and finally the one at the far end.

[OOC: can I suggest that you NPC Gredrin to follow him.]

[BigRedRod]

Gredrin follows Harald through the doorway and in to the wet corridor beyond, he glances in to the room with the open door and his eyes instantly focus on the cooking pot on the stove. Under his breath, the younger brother grumbles,
"When did we last eat?"
Before investigating the door opposite.

Striding within the room it becomes apparent that it is a kitchen and mess. A long yet narrow wooden table stands at one side of the room, surrounded by eight or nine stools. A single half-finished bowl of stew sits before one of the stools, steam rises from the piping hot food.
The rest of the room is devoted to the cooking and storage of food. A large stove dominates one corner with a large cooking pot set atop of it. Apart from the cupboards by the side of the stove, which most likely contain eating utensils and food, there is nothing of interest in this room.

Deciding that the door is unlocked and the room beyond is empty, Gredrin slowly opens the closed door opposite the kitchen and looks in at the darkness. With only the flickering light from the kitchen's wall sconces providing illumination, it takes Gredrin a while for his eyes to adjust. Three small beds line one wall, each is covered with a series of thick blankets. Of more interest is the contents of the chests of drawers which line around half the room, opening one with "Big" engraved upon the top, the younger brother is greeted by the sight of a few poorly folded robes stuffed in to a drawer. After opening a few more at random he determines that this room is both sleeping quarters and dressing room.

Leaving, the beds and food behind, Gredrin presses his ear against the final door. After a moment he turns to Harald as he emerges back in to the corridor and speaks in a whisper,
"There are people in there, trying to keep quiet by the sounds of it too. No idea how many or anything, but more than two."


Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 7k 76
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 2b 5t rs 0 S *s -3 3k 6h rs 0 M *s
@-3 8u 74 rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 9zabk
@4o 3o 4o 30 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o 2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83
@9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30 3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30
@3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o 1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0
@9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s d 7a 4k 178 0 *s d 67 4l
@1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o 20 2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1
@4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44 20 4c 20
*END -3zntkz

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga motions for Harold and Gredrin to come back down the hall.

"Lets assume the worst case scenario and there are 4-6 people behind that door...perhaps some clever maneuvering is in order. This hall and the outlying rooms will provide us with a decent retreat should things turn sour quickly. What I suggest is that we use these rooms to the side here. Two people hide in one of these rooms...one person opens the door and retreats back into one of the rooms while one of us awaits down the end of the corrider as bait, luring them out. With their attention drawn to the person down the hall and the person who opened the door...the two others take advantage of an ambush. If there are more then we anticipate...we barricade ourselves in our respective locations. Anyone have an other suggestions? How about you big boy...you savy to this plan...or do you have any other possible plans we could pursue?"

Says Meleaga in a hushed tone, managing to wear a devious grin.

[AllTogether Andrews]

"Sounds good to me. I'll take the lefthand ambush point. If I can trip someone up that should mess up any sort of organized charge."

[The Alcotroll]

"Your plan assumes that they will leave their defended position to chase the bait," points out Harald. "If they wanted a fight they would be out here by now. The fact that they are hiding behind a door suggests that they are intending to ambush us, and would therefore be foolish indeed to relinquish their position of advantage.
"Besides, one man opening a door and then fleeing is a very transparent bait indeed.
"I fear we may have to do this the hard way, and run the riisk that there are bowmen waiting for us."

[SponkleofInfini]

"Yes it would be foolish of them...but in order to deal with us they would have to, transparent yes...however necessary should they wish to deal with us. Your plan forces us to walk into their ambush...but I dont know, you may like the feeling of arrows jutting out of your chest."

Meleaga cannot help but break out a smile.

[The Alcotroll]

"That is why I wear armour Wizard." retorts Harald.

"Very well. We'll do it your way this time."

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga laughs...

"How useful it was against swires bolt...but let us prepare shall we."

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires nodds and takes up position behind the lefthand open doorway Readying an action to trip the first person following the bait with his sickle.

(+4 touch attack and +8 trip check with a free follow-up attack if the trip is sucessful.)

[BigRedRod]

While Gredrin retreats down the corridor to draw the attention of whoever is lurking behind the door, Swires and Harald take up positions opposite one another just inside the doorways out of sight and Meleaga approachs the closed door.

From their positions, Swires and Harald have a poor view of anything except for the section of corridor passing by their hiding places. Certain that the others are ready, Meleaga suddenly pushes the door open with suprising force. His eyes fail to register much aobut the contents of the room before he sets off turning to flee and lure his foes in to the trap, cells at one end, a door at another and the whole thing dominated by a table on its side with two robed figures crouched behind it. Before Meleaga has turned half way round the first of the crossbow bolts has sprung forth from its weapon and implanted itself in his shoulder. The metal tip of the wooden shaft strikes bone before stopping, as the wizard opens his mouth to shriek in pain the second bolt is fired and burrows into his flesh just above the left hip. Collapsing on the hard stone ground, there is just time to reflect on the damp coolness of the stone and the sticky warm blood oozing out to meet it.

Instantly after firing, one of the men vanishes from sight as he drops lower in his crouch.

Initative
Robed Man (R1) (fully concealed)
Harald
Swires
Robed Man(R2)
Gredrin
Meleaga (dying)

Map
[ooc: the blue lines are the edges of cells contructed from thick narrowly spaced bars, the red line is the flipped table. The green squares are bookshelves]Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 7k 7x
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 7k 6g rs 0 S *s -3 8w 74 rs 0 M *s
@-3 5k 73 rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7a 4k 178 0 *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o 20
@2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44 20
@4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0 40
@2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 bj 6h rs 0 R1 *s -3 bj
@76 rs 0 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -1 4o 3o
@rs 0 9y6tc 40 3o 4o 30
*END -d2vdl5

[SponkleofInfini]

Not yet...

"I...knew....that would...happen..."

Managing a muffled laugh before he hit the floot Melaega lies there motionless, life fading from his body.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald is not surprised to hear the thump of a crossbow and the sounds of something hitting the floor. Aware that the plan migh just have gone south in quite a hurry, Harald decides to barge out into the coridoor, shield held protectively in-front and sword ready to swing. Seeing Meleaga stretched out on the floor gives him a moment's pause for some quick thinking.

The pool of blood tells Harald that the Wizard is in trouble, but the two cross-bow bolts tell him that the two bow-men will be too busy re-loading to shoot at him for the moment. Deciding to take the initiative, Harlad calls out to the dwarf; "Swires! Help the Wizard!" before charging on through the door.
He leaps for the up-turned table, swinging his sword from left to right and aiming to cut the left hand man down where he stands.

[OOC: D20+7, D10+3.]

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swires runs out and drops his last spell for a cure light wounds on Meleaga. Then uses him for cover.

[BigRedRod]

Striding in to the corridor and setting off at a dead run in to the next room, Harald leaps over Meleaga's fallen corpse and through the doorway directly in tot he ambush. To his left a figure appears and swings a sword towards him but the Aart man is too quick and is already leaping over the tipped table by the time the swordsman has recovered his balance. Swining his sword in a wide horizontal sweep, Harald touches down on the other side of the table as the first crossbow man reels backwards, his chest torn open by the blow. Lurching backwards in to the wall, the robed figure drops his corssbow and collapses in to a heap. Despite the rage of battle, Harald quickly realises there is more to the room than hte two men. A robed figure and a chained girl occupy the cells on one side of the room, while a heavily armoured figure holding a warhammer in both hands stands on the other side of the doorway, his helmet obscures much of his face and he doesn't wear a red robe but a long flowing red cloak.

Rushing to Meleaga's aid, Swires channels the power of his God and grasps the rapdily escaping lifeforce of the wizard and forces it back within his body. Meleag's eyes open with a start and he enters a brief coughing fit, never has the mage been so very close to the after life without redemption for his horrible crime against an innocent student.

The remaining crossbow man, staggers backward with his eyes open wide hastily ramming another bolt in to his weapon and winding the winch tight.

Charging forward in imitiation of his brother, Gredin skillfully avoids the stout frame of the dwarf and prone wizard as he moves with the corridor grasping his rapier. Noticing the figure lurking by the door, he stops his charge and wheels around to confont the suprise foe.

Initative
Armoured Figure with Red Cloak (AR)
Harald
Swires
Robed Man (R2)
Gredrin
Meleaga (prone)
Robed Swordsman (R3)


Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 bl 6k
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 8a 76 rs 0 S *s -3 8w 74 rs 0 M *s
@-3 a5 74 rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7a 4k 178 0 *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o 20
@2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44 20
@4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0 40
@2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 c4 6i rs 0 R1 *s -3 bf
@7w is t5 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -3 9i 6i
@rs 0 R3 *s -1 6a 32 rs 0 9y6tc 5o 3o 6c 30 *s -3 a6 8k rs 0 AR
*END 7fzy3o

[SponkleofInfini]

You almost had me that time...

Meleaga rises realising his flawed plan may cost them their lives, he draws a scroll from the organiser on his chest; preparing to read.

(OOC: Ok I am getting up, not sure if it is standard or move equivelent. I will also draw a shield scroll however I am not sure if I can cast it yet and am to lazy to go look it up...so I shall leave it to you DM sir. if I can cast I will if not then I will have to leave to next round.)

[BigRedRod]

With great effort the wizard gets top his feet and looks down the corridor to see the two brothers busy battling the remains of the red robed men. Reaching through his belongings, Meleage retrieves a scroll as the robed swordsman lashes out with a powerful upwards slice at Gredrin, who stumbles back barely defeclting the blow with his own blade.

The armoured figure releases on his hands from his weapon and reaches to his belt, as he begins to chant. Deattaching a small object from his belt he trusts it in to the air, clearly showing it to be a palm sized red disk with a keyhole in the centre. A red sheen covers the figure for a moment as he finishes chanting and takes his double handed grip once more on his weapon, seemingly indifferent to the battle turning against his men.

Initative
Armoured Figure with Red Cloak (AR)
Harald
Swires
Robed Man (R2)
Gredrin
Meleaga
Robed Swordsman (R3)


Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 bl 6k
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 8a 76 rs 0 S *s -3 8w 74 rs 0 M *s
@-3 a5 74 rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7a 4k 178 0 *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o 20
@2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44 20
@4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0 40
@2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 c4 6i rs 0 R1 *s -3 bf
@7w rs 0 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -3 9i 6i
@rs 0 R3 *s -1 6b 3d rs 0 9y6tc 5n 3d 6b 2p *s -3 a6 8k rs 0 AR
*END -awohzb

[SponkleofInfini]

"My task is done, now best get out of the way and leave the muscle with their business..."

Retreating to the nearby room Meleaga's injuries tell on him. He reads the incantation from the scroll he now holds; summoning a shield of force before him.

(OOC: Ok move 25ft into the northern sideroom where the beds are and casting Shield from the scroll I drew last round.)

[The Alcotroll]

Closing the distance to the surviving bowman, Harald reverses his swing and hacks at the man again.

[AllTogether Andrews]

Swire charges forwards with his sickle and attempts to trip the robed swordsman. Should his foe have fallen by the time he enters the room, the dwarf will continue the attack on to the surviving crossbowman.

(touch attack +4 with +8 to trip and a follow up attack if successful)

[BigRedRod]

Advancing on the robe crossbowman with a short leap, Harald performs a smooth overarm slash with his blade. Out of desperation, the man changes his grip on his weapon and pushes it in to the path of the Aart warrior's attack. The blade bites deeply in to the wood, almost ruining the weapon but saving its owners life.

Pushing past the wizard, Swires emerges from the corridor and immediately turns on Gredrin's foe. The stout dwarf drops sideways and lashes out with his sickle, hooking it around the leg of the swordsman. A fraction of a second earlier and the robed amn would have been sprawled on the floor, instead he lifts his leg and kicks both the weapon's haft and Swires' hand. The sickle slides across the ground out of reach of the non-unarmed dwarf.

Restoring his grip on the damaged crossbow, the man staggers back from Harald and attempts to fire. His damaged weapon and shakey nerves don't do a great deal for his accuracy and the boly glides past Harald and embeds itself in the far wall within the right hand cell.

Using the cleric's arrival as a distraction, Gredrin wheels around his foe and lashes out again with his rapier. The weapon vanishes within the robe and comes out bloodied, but the man coninites to fight on regardless.

Out of offensives magics and having already met his quota of near death, the wizard flees in to the sleeping quarters hastily using one of his mystic scolls to provide a measure of extra protection.

Having disarmed one his opponents, the swordsman ignores Gredrin for the moment and pulls his blade back. Stepping forward as he thrusts, Swires is lucky that he is wearing so very much armour, and yet the blade still manages to land a thin slice through his right hip armour-joint.

"Kill them all and let the Gatekeeper decide when to take them to hell!"
The armoured man screams the order to his men as he charges toward Swire's exposed flank. The two-handed warhammer collides against the cleric's back with supernatural force, bending his plate armour and almost shattering his spine.



Initative
Armoured Figure with Red Cloak (AR)
Harald
Swires
Robed Man (R2)
Gredrin
Meleaga
Robed Swordsman (R3)


Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 bj 76
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 9l 75 rs 0 S *s -3 7o 4l rs 0 M *s
@-3 a8 6h rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7a 4k 178 0 *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o 20
@2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44 20
@4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0 40
@2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 c4 6i rs 0 R1 *s -3 bf
@8i rs 0 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -3 9i 6i
@rs 0 R3 *s -1 6b 3d rs 0 9y6tc 5n 3d 6b 2p *s -3 9j 7r rs 0 AR
*END -a9oldb

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga looking for more cover decides to flip one of the beds onto its side, putting it between him and anything entering through the door.

(OOC: Yet again not sure on timing here, dont know if it will require a full round to do this or not. If not then I will draw my crossbow also.)

[The Alcotroll]

Harald closes the distance between himself and the bowman with his shield held up and his sword braced for a hacking downward slash.

[AllTogether Andrews]

One thing that Swires is not is a martyr. Certainly not a stupid one anyway. Knowing that trying to pull out a new weapon in the middle of this melee without being killed is going to be next to impossible he takes off down the hallway.a short distance (20ft) down the hallway he stops and turns to watch the melee.

(you can pull a weapon out as part of a charge action as a free action. It doesn't say anything about pulling a weapon as part of a normal or double move. Can it be assumed to be a free action as well? If so Swires pulls his heavy mace during his flight.)

[BigRedRod]

Surging onwards, despite the crossman's attempts to flee, Harald hacks down with his blade again, although this time his foe's reflexes aren't as fast and the blade instead removes his right hand as he tries to change his grip and block once again with his weapon. The hand drops to the ground spasming briefly while its owner stumbles backward shrieking all the whole. Blood pours from the wound, each beat of his quickening heart sending another splatter of sticky red liquid across himself, the ground and Harald. The warrior wastes no time in dispatching his foe, bring his sword around in a powerful horizontal arc which bites deeply inside the man passing between two ribs and destroying a good portion of his internal organs.
A crippled shell of his self, the crossbowman falls to the ground as he robe darkens from the outpouring of the blood.

Knowing full well that another blow will most likely be his end and without a weapon in his hands, Swires attempts to flee. Both men turn as he does and lash out with blows as the cleric withdraws in to the relative safety of the narrow corridor. The swordsman's attack bites in to the doorframe, a good six inches from even touching the plate armour of the cleric. Fortune turns its back on Swires as the Armoured Figure roars and sweeps his massive weapon in an impressive angled arc. The mace impacts once again on the battered Armour of the priest and sends him rolling down the corridor, blood fills his mouth as he collides heavily with one of the damp walls. The building groans under the impact and a clump of ancient mortar drops from above.

Seeing his companion crushed by another of the helmed figure's almighty blows, Gredrin redoubles his efforts to bring down the swordsman and send the battle. Forsaking his defense, the small Aart man performs a rapid double stroke of his blade while the swordsman frees his own weapon from the doorframe. Gredrin himself believes his blows to have missed, as the figure frees his blade and offers a mocking smile. However, as he turns the long slices through robe and flesh become obvious and the man drops to his knees for a moment before hitting the roughly cobbled floor with his last breath.

With all his companion's either dead or dying around him, the logical course of action would be to attempt surrender. Instead the figure who felled Swires, strides forward and takes advantage of Gredrin's far too agressive attack. The huge warhammer finds another target, and Gredrin is sure that the blow shatters more than one of his ribs as it lands.

Unaware of the battle's progress and busy wallowing in cowardice, Meleaga busily shifts one of the heavy beds on to its side and around in to a position to better hide and protect him from the dangers outside the room he chose to seek safety in.


Initative
Armoured Figure with Red Cloak (AR)
Harald
Swires (dying)
Gredrin
Meleaga


Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 bj 7x
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 8x 76 rs 0 S *s -3 7o 4l rs 0 M *s
@-3 a8 6h rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7m 4v 14i -pm *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o
@20 2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44
@20 4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0
@40 2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 c4 6i rs 0 R1 *s -3 bf
@8i rs 0 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -3 9i 6i
@rs 0 R3 *s -1 6b 3d rs 0 9y6tc 5n 3d 6b 2p *s -3 9g 75 rs 0 AR *s
@-1 4o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 40 3o 4o 30 *s -1 60 4c rs 0 9y6tc 5c 4c 60
@3o *s -1 50 3c rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3c 50 2o
*END 6iv96w

[The Alcotroll]

Harald moves to position himself behind the armoured hammer-man, so that the enemy is sandwitched between himself and Gredrin. Swinging his sword from high to low, he attempts to crush his opponent's helm and split his skull.

[BigRedRod]

Harald stalks around the last foe, his eyes fixed on the flowing red robe of the man. Keeping his distance the man from the northern island approaches the wall and then surges forward, weapon swinging downwards. Turning on his heel, the armoured figure attempts to duck the blow but fails and allows the large sword of Harald to plough deeply through his thickly armoured shoulder. A little more force and the man would have lost use of his left arm, but for now he battles on despite the grevious injury.

Sensing an opportunity, Gredrin moves to flank the opponent with his brother depsite his own exhaustion and injuries. Stepping on the corpse of the recently felled swordsman, Gredrin lunges. With two opponents on oppsite sides and blood pouring down his armour, the armoured figure is unable to keep up his iron defense and the rapier manages to punch straight through the plate covering his right calf.

"I will not be taken from this world by demon worshipping scum!"
As he screams in defiance, the figure rises and swings his weapon upwards striking Gredrin in the chest and sending him sprawling across the floor. The shattered form of Harald's brother mouths something to him before his eyes close.
[ooc: As Meleaga isn't in a position to take any action and Sponkle has made it clear that he won't change this, I've assumed he'll continue the hiding]

Initative
Armoured Figure with Red Cloak (AR)
Harald
Swires (dying)
Gredrin (dying)
Meleaga


Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 9o 7s
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 8x 76 rs 0 S *s -3 7o 4l rs 0 M *s
@-3 9k 6h rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7m 4v 14i -pl *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o
@20 2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44
@20 4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0
@40 2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 c4 6i rs 0 R1 *s -3 bf
@8i rs 0 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -3 9i 5w
@rs 0 R3 *s -1 6b 3d rs 0 9y6tc 5n 3d 6b 2p *s -3 9g 75 rs 0 AR *s
@-1 4o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 40 3o 4o 30 *s -1 60 4c rs 0 9y6tc 5c 4c 60
@3o *s -1 4z 2q rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3c 50 2o *s -1 50 3c rs 0 9y6tc 4c
@3c 50 2o
*END -bot6ub

[The Alcotroll]

Screaming wordlessly in animalistic fury, Harald launches a blizzard of frenzied attacks with little thought for his own safety; gripping his sword in both hands, with his shield hanging uselessly from it's loops.

[OOC: power attacking with all of my BAB, and ditching the shield in order to swing the bastard sword in both hands.]

[BigRedRod]

Gripping his warhammer, the armoured figure attempts to swing it and use the force to turn himself around before his remaining opponent can land another blow. The wounds on his leg and arm slow him a little too much however, and before he has even begun to change his footing Harald's first blow lands and sends him downwards.

Harald's rage filled flurry of blows batters down on the armoured figure who felled his brother, kncoking him to one knee. With both hands holding the large sword, Harald sweeps horizontally to finish the deed and decapitates the figure, his gorget offering no protection with the strength behind the blow.

Looking aroud him all Harald can see is death, fallen men in robes, his brother and at his feet the headless body of the armoured figure, his head, still inside the helmet, rolls away and collides lightly with the table. The two prisoners in the cells barely register as the red mist slowly lifts from his vision.

Still in the sleeping quarters, Meleaga realises the sound of combat have ceased. Either his friends were victorious and await him to join them in the investigation of the basement, or they lie coated in blood on the ground while the robed figures slowly advance on his position.

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 10 5o rs 0 0 10 5o 10 1o *s -1 10 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 3c rs 0 0 c 1c 2c 1c 2c 3c *s -1 2c 5o rs 0 0 2c 1o c 1o c
@5o *s -1 24 2w rs 0 9y6tc 10 2g 10 2w 24 2w 24 2g 10 2g *s -3 27
@ak rs 0 G1 *s -3 24 6f rs 0 G2 *s -3 2t 75 rs 0 G3 *s -3 9o 7s
@rs 0 H *s -3 28 7u rs 0 *s -3 8x 76 rs 0 S *s -3 7o 4l rs 0 M *s
@-3 9k 6h rs 0 G *s -1 1o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 10 3o 1o 30 *s -3 42 75
@rs 0 G4 *s -1 10 2c rs 0 0 10 2c 10 c *s -1 1o 1c rs 0 0 c 1c 1o
@1c *s -3 23 35 rs 0 G5 *s -3 5h 5f rs 0 *s -3 55 3f rs 0 *s -3
@2d 40 rs 0 *s -3 25 3v rs 0 *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 9y6tc 1o 3o 2c 30
@*s -1 2c 2c rs 0 0 10 c 2c c 2c 2c *s -1 10 3o rs 0 0 10 3o 10
@30 *s -1 14 3o rs 0 9zabk w 3o 14 30 *s -1 24 24 rs 0 1edc 1o 10
@1o 24 24 24 24 10 1o 10 *s -1 1s 24 rs 0 1edc 1c 10 1s 10 1s 24
@1c 24 1c 10 *s -1 1g 24 rs 0 1edc 10 10 10 24 1g 24 1g 10 10 10 *s
@-3 2m 3s rs 0 Stores *s -1 1c 2c rs 0 9zabk 1c 2c o 2c *s -1 1c
@5c rs 0 1edc o 5c 1c 4o *s -3 4o 6o rs 0 *s -1 2c 3c rs 0 9zabk
@2c 3c 24 2o *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 0 10 3c 3o 3c *s -1 3o 3o rs 0 0 10
@3o 3o 3o *s -1 4o 3o rs 0 0 3c 3o 4o 3o *s -1 4o 3c rs 0 0 3c 3c
@4o 3c *s -1 44 40 rs 0 9zabk 3w 3c 44 40 *s -1 4c 50 rs 0 0 1o
@2c 1o 50 4c 50 4c 2c *s c 83 9e rs 0 *s -1 3g 4s rs 0 9y6tc 30
@3o 30 4s 3g 4s 3g 38 30 38 30 3o *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 0 4c 3c 4c o
@1g o 1g 3c *s -1 3o 3c rs 0 9zabk 3o 3c 38 34 *s d 8b 4k 16y 9 *s
@d 7m 4v 14i -pl *s d 67 4l 1ab 0 *s -1 3c 3c rs 0 1edc 2g 20 2o
@20 2o 34 3c 34 3c 3c *s -1 4c 3c rs 0 1edc 3w 3c 3w 34 44 34 44
@20 4c 20 *s -1 4s 40 rs 0 9zabk 4k 3c 4s 40 *s -1 5c 50 rs 0 0
@40 2c 40 50 5c 50 *s -1 6c 50 rs 0 0 50 50 6c 50 6c -c 6c -1o 30
@-1o 30 -c 30 1o *s -1 50 2c rs 0 9zabk 4c 2c 50 2c *s -1 5o 2c
@rs 0 9zabk 50 2c 5o 2c *s -1 6c 2c rs 0 9zabk 5o 2c 6c 2c *s -1
@5o 50 rs 0 9zabk 50 50 5o 50 *s -1 5c 2c rs 0 73 4o 2c 5c 2c *s
@-1 60 2c rs 0 73 5c 2c 60 2c *s -1 58 2c rs 0 73 58 2c 58 10 *s
@-1 5w 2c rs 0 73 5w 2c 5w 10 *s -1 6c 4o rs 0 1edc 6c 3s 64 3s
@64 4o 6c 4o *s -1 6c 40 rs 0 1edc 6c 40 64 40 64 34 6c 34 *s -1
@5o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 5o 2k 5o 2k 5o 3o *s -3 c4 6i rs 0 R1 *s -3 bf
@8i rs 0 R2 *s -3 9j 3w rs 0 RP *s -3 c3 3v rs 0 CF *s -3 9i 5w
@rs 0 R3 *s -1 6b 3d rs 0 9y6tc 5n 3d 6b 2p *s -3 9g 75 rs 0 AR *s
@-1 4o 3o rs 0 9y6tc 40 3o 4o 30 *s -1 60 4c rs 0 9y6tc 5c 4c 60
@3o *s -1 4z 2q rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3c 50 2o *s -1 50 3c rs 0 9y6tc 4c
@3c 50 2o *s -1 50 3o rs 0 9y6tc 4c 3o 50 30
*END -8w2mmu

[The Alcotroll]

Dropping his weapons, Harald runs towards the prone body of his brother with a wordless cry of anguish, dropping to his knees beside him and pulling off his gauntlets. Pulling his brother's shirt open, Harald inspects the bruising and discolouration there and sets to work; trying frantically to save his brother's life.

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga emerges from the room hearing the cries of Harald, seeing bodies heaped upon the ground... Gredrin, with Swires in the hall. In an attempt to redeem for his cowardice he tries to provide Swires with aid.

[OOC: Ok yet again not sure if I can make a heal check untrained. But will try to save him in any way I can. If I fail I will try to help Harald if required.]

[BigRedRod]

The two standing companions quickly split their attentions to a fallen comrade. Neither one or the other has any formal training in the art of bringing comapnions back from the brink, the healer, Swires, lies among the heaped bodies. And still, the two work furiously.

After what seems like an eternity of searching for signs of life and injury, Harald believes that Gredrin has avoided death and is merely unconscious due tot he massive injuries he sustained in the battle. His brother may live, but his condition is critical and without application of curative magic his wounds will take weeks to heal.

Having come close to death himself already, and having been dragged by Swires, Meleaga finds himself desperately trying to repay the favour. The heavy armour of dwarf is the first obstacle and the wizard hastily tears open buckles, straps and other fastening mechanisms as he tries to get a look at what lies beneath. Finally, surrounded by metal plates and blood, Meleaga realises that he is too late, Swires was not dead when he fell but it was not long after that he perished. The soul of the cleric joins the legions that lurk in the shadows waiting for the Red Moon to dawn.

[ooc: Gredrin is now stable. After an hour he has a 10% of chance of becoming disabled, unless you find a way to raise his hp to zero first]

[SponkleofInfini]

I am debted to another for whom I cannot repay...will my task ever be complete.

Moving over to Harald and Gredrin he looks at his fallen comrade to see he is in a bad ways however for the time being...hanging on. In a tone opposite to the sarcastic, sharp tongued wizard Harald had experienced to this point...Meleaga remained quite silent looking for useable items.

"Swires has passed..."

[The Alcotroll]

Ignoring the Wizard, Harald stands, looking down at the prone form of his brother for a moment. Satisfied that he has done all he can for the time being, he crosses the room to investigate the two cages and inspect their occupants.

[BigRedRod]

Letting his brother rest, Harald approaches the trio of cells starting with the rightmost one. A very attractive woman, clothed in tatters that could hardly be called humble, hanging limply from chains in the wall, and covered in bruises, bleeding from many small injuries, stares at the floor with a broken soul. As Harald approaches, she slowly lifts her head, and he can see her face. Under a canopy of bruises and welts lay what must have previously been a very beautiful visage. One eye is swollen over and caked in the dried blood from her brow, the other has lost all sparkle of life. She looks up to the large man, and sees him not as a saviour, but as another potential tyrant. Squirming weakly against her chains, she tries to protect her feminity, and whispers hoarsely.

"Please... no more.... please."

At her groaning, the figure in the lefthand cell stands. A red robe crumpled at his feet, the man is clad in simple yet elegant clothing which has aquired far more dirt and filth than it should ever be allowed to. Not allowing the figure of his fellow prisoner to enter his vision, the man gestures at the wall,

"The key"

One of the walls has had a nail driven in to which now holds a large iron ring bearing a single key. His voice is firm but clearly contains wariness at Harald's arrival and interest in the pair of prisoners. The male prisoner doesn't look to have undergone a hundreth of the hardship of his female compaion, he carries no injury and just seems both tired and dirty. Beneath the grime however, he cuts quite a striking figure and his face resembles that of the man of who is more than able and willing to steal away your ladyfriend on the day of your wedding.


[ooc: Sponkle your post didn't make a great deal of sense. I take it you are looting the bodies, if so that'll take longer than Harald's action so I'll fill you in later if you don't make things clearer with your findings]

[The Alcotroll]

Harald retrieves the key and unlocks the female prisoner's cage, swinging the door open, but not yet stepping inside. He looks pointedly at the crumpled robe at the man's feet and then raises his gaze to the man's eyes. "Why should I set you free?" he asks, turning the key over betwen his fingertips, "You were one of them weren't you?"

He enters the woman's cell and attempts to free her of her restraints as gently as he can. Over his shoulder he continues; "Tell me more about yourself stranger, convince me that that robe doesn't make you my enemy."

[BigRedRod]

Arching an eyebrow, the man offers his response in a rather smoother flowing speech than his earlier pair of words while Harald occupies himself with the fastenings on the female prisoner's chains.
"My imprisonment doesn't speak for itself? I'll admit, this robe should damn me were I to truely believe in what it presents ... then again I doubt half the members of this particular cell had any really belief."

Looking at the state of his fellow prisoner, the man looks at the ground for a oment before returning his gaze to Harald,
"We've started on the wrong foot. My name is Guildenstern and I am not one of these lowlives. I merely sought a way in to this cell in order to gain some insight in to the higher ups. Until shortly before your entrance I was starting to doubt that the thugs were anything more than a simple gang venting their frustrations under a convient banner."

As Guildernstern finishes, Harald manages to unlock the last of the claps, a particularly crude device which had rusted over since last being locked. The woman crumples into a listless pile on the floor, having been relieved of her chains. But for a few moments, does nothing but lay there.

Slowly and warily, she lifts her battered face, and looks up with her one good eye, as if waiting for some kind of assault. As she waits, the fear in her eye slowly begins to fade, and is replaced by a glimmer of hope.

"You... you are here... to save me?"

[The Alcotroll]

Slightly bemused, Harald scratches his beard. "Well no," he admits, "We were here to save someone, but it wasn't you." He frowns for a moment, and then adds; "But you may as well come along."

Regaining some of his earlier determination, Harald stoops to help the woman to her feet and supports her as he moves back out of the cell. "I'll choose to believe you for the moment," he tells the man, "but you will have some explaining to do before long."

"Now, I'm in a hurry so your co-operation would be appreciated. We're looking for a girl, only brought in a short while ago. She may have looked a little... different. Where did they take her?"

[BigRedRod]

Moving between the bodies, Meleaga briefly searches each. Most carry little more than a few worthless personal trinkets: a lock of hair, a crude symbol of a God, with more than one carrying a red-stained wooden circle with a keyhole cut through but nothing of any note. Gathering the coins from the bodies, the wizard counts twenty-seven bits of copper and two silver.

The leader, however, has a few items of more interest. A number of slim metal vials are woven in to the robe, in order to hold them securely but allow for easy access. Of the four that existed, one has been caught by a blow and has leaked, covering a section of the fine red cloak in something sticky and sweet smelling. Of the three that remain, each has a rune engraved upon it. Two carry Vitality while the third carries Strength, upon closer inspection the strength vial is empty.

Guildenstern, rubs his fingers across his face, toying with the hair that is too long to be called stubble and too meager to be called a beard,
"As I was saying, I was doubting there were any higher ups. Then all at once, one of them turned up out of the blue. Had an orc for a bodyguard too, I wouldn't have believed someone would simply waltz in to a city like Edinway with such a beast in tow. Anyway, I'm guessing your girl was the squirming sack that they carried out with them, although that was a good fifteen minutes ago. They went through the bolt tunnel behind the bookshelf."
The man waves a hand over toward the bookshelf cloest to the southern wall,
"Are you really in any state to give chase?"

[SponkleofInfini]

Taking the coins and potions Meleaga joins Harald; handing him the potion.

"This may just come in handy."

Meleaga chooses to remain silent in regard to Guildenstern's statement knowing quite well they werent.

[The Alcotroll]

At Guildenstern's closing question, Harald's jaw bunches and he looks set to burst into a fury, but deflates slightly at the sound of Meleaga's voice. His shoulders droop slightly as he takes the potion with a nod of thanks and turns back to the prisoner. "No." he says flatly, "No we aren't."

"Let him out," he says to Meleaga, handing him the key and turning away, helping the woman towards where Gredrin lies. "How badly hurt are you?" he asks, "We need to get out of here, and I can't carry you and him."

[SponkleofInfini]

Taking the keys Meleaga unlocks the cell door.

"Now...I hope you dont feel the need to be to naughty."

[BigRedRod]

The battered and nearly naked woman tries to stand with Harald's help. She teeters warily on exhausted legs, then leans into Haralds shoulder, collapsing into his arms, sobbing. Her shaking emotions are steady, but broken with winces of pain with each deep breath. After a few awkward moments, she regains her balance, and stands up straight. She grips onto Haralds shoulders with a strength that would normally be considered feeble, but considering her condition, is suprisingly strong.

With her one good, tear-bleared eye, she looks into Harald's own two good orbs.

"I... I can help you. I... I desire my revenge for what has been done to me, for what they took from me. I... I only need my holy symbol."

She motions towards other unopened door across the way. Her voice is filled with passion, strength, and a burning hatred.

"I believe it is in there. Do not deny me my revenge. Every day I spent beneath their... beneath their... I will bring the vengeance and terror of Pelor upon these evil bastards! Do NOT deny me my revenge!"

Guildenstern nods at the wizard as he opens the cell,
"Much obliged."

Moving past the iwzard he grins at his new found freedom and looks at the bodies strewn across the ground. He pauses at severed head of the armoured man,
"Mioux got what he deserved ... A shame I didn't find out any more before all this."
Turning back to Harald and the figure he is supporting, Guildenstern adds,
"You may be a little late for vengance."

[The Alcotroll]

At the woman's words, Harald swings her around to face him and his stare bores into here eyes.

"If I fetch your symbol, you will heal my brother." A statement, not a question.

Setting her down to rest against the wall beside Gredrin, Harald collects his weapons again and strides for the door, twisting the handle and pushing roughly, wondering to himself what a symbol of Pelor looks like.

[Rockwolf]

The woman looks into Harald's eyes with a hard stare to match his own.

"Just get my holy symbol, and I'll see to it your brother lives to see tomorrow."

[BigRedRod]

Harald opens the door with such force that any lock would simply have been torn from the aged wood. The room within is a cross between a shrine to the apparant beliefs of this group and a bedroom.

Large red pieces of cloth cover each formerly dull brick wall. A decent sized bed covered with thick black sheets occupies at least a third of the room. Attached to the centre of the wall opposite the bed is a yellow square of cloth with the symbol of the group, a red moon and keyhole, set in the centre. A threadbare prayer mat lies o nthe ground beneath the symbol.

Of more immediate interest to Harald is the collection of equipment against one of the other walls. The armor, a gleaming suit of banded armor, etched and twisting with lines of silver and gold, bearing a large sundisc of Pelor upon a breastplate that was obviously crafted to fit a buxom woman, glistens in the candlelight, polished to perfection, as if it almost radiates its own light. A heavy steel shield, matching in beauty, design, and precious metal chasings, lay beside it. Leaning against a new rucksack, is a beautifully crafted mace, also glistening and chased with silver and gold, with a head crafted to resemble a strange impression of the sun. Carelessly tossed in the corner, however, is a silver holy symbol of the Sun Lord himself, Pelor.

[The Alcotroll]

Grabbing the symbol, Harald hurries back to the woman and hands her the image, standing over her to make sure she keps her side of the bargain.

[Rockwolf]

Takes her symbol in hand, motions and chants in a strange language, then brings forth her forefinger, a sparkling point of golden light brightly fluxuating upon her fingertip, and touches the fallen man on his chest.

As his body begins to quickly heal itself, she does the same for herself, though part of the actions are different, and it appears that her holy symbol is not employed in the casting.

As her wounds fade, and her eye opens up, her face clears and the radiant beauty that she was returns. She stands tall as strength returns to her body, and then she quickly remembers her modesty.

"Excuse me... I... I..."

Attempting to cover herself back up, she walks to the room that holds her equipment in a limp that decreases in severity with every step, and closes the door behind her.


[ooc: Casting Lesser Vigor on Gredrin with Divine Metamagic Extend Spell used to increase duration to 24 rounds, using up 2 Turn Undead checks. Casting same spell on herself, though not extending it, leaving duration at only 12 rounds.]

[BigRedRod]

A moment after the mysterious prisoner retreats to the room containing her equipment, Gredrin opens his eyes and shuffles to a sitting position. Staring around the room for a moment he gets to his feet before opening his mouth,
"Well... that was an experience. Brother?"
Turning to face Harald the younger brother continues,
"So we won then? I feel disturbingly well for all that just happened. And who is this?"

The attractive gentleman still covered by a thick layer of grime, smiles at Gredrin and extends a hand
"Guildenstern. Your brother and friend freed me from the cells"

Gripping the hand, Gredrin replies in a rather confused voice,
"Gredrin Godwinson, seventh son of Beorn Godwinson and brother of Harald Godwinson. You aren't who I was expecting find prisoner here..."

Meleaga's search of the room ends with his study of the bookcases. The contents of both are ancient and little more than book-shaped clumps of dampness. Carefully reaching for one of the more sturdy looking titles, the wizard finds himself instead accidently removing what is left of the leather cover and causing the soaked paper to lose its shape. As Guildenstern indicated ,however, there is a fairly obvious passage one of the bookshelves, although there is no mechanism to move the heavy piece of furniture.

[ooc: and thus Meleaga finished his search]

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hmm yes I didnt take them for readers..."

Tossing the soggey cover to the side Meleaga finishes his search of the room.

(OOC: Yes...chock full of description )

[The Alcotroll]

As the newly recovered Cleric repairs to the privacy of the side room, Harald paces the floor like a caged animal, armour rattling and clanking.

At length, he turns to Guildenstern.

"Tell me more about these robed men." he demands, "Who are they? What do they want? Why were you interested in them?"

Stopping beside the armoured corpse, he kicks the severed head across the room. "Who was this Mioux?"

[BigRedRod]

The man sags a little at having so many questions fired at him,
"Ugh, I'm suprised you don't already know or at the very least you aren't able to guess. The red robes are a bit of a hint..."
Seeing that Harald is not amused, Guildenstern sighs loudly and offers another answer,
"A cell of Moon Bringers, although really there are nothing more than a gang of men who like to feel big and important while being violet criminals. As much as they might want the Red Moon to dawn, I'm not really sure that they held much belief in the random acts of violence and vandalism that Mioux persuaded them to perform."

He glances at Mioux's head bound across the room with a sick wet noise as it touches the ground,
"Mioux was the leader. He believed in what he did. Every crime was just in his eyes. Me? I'm just a concerned citizen who wanted to know if there was any real organisation in the cult, whether it really was a cell of something larger, or if it was just a gang lead by one man and his beliefs. The scarred cyclops and his pet orc seem to have answered that for me."

After a moment's silence, Guildenstern asks his own questions,
"So, what about this girl then? You said she was different, they said she was a demon. Somehow I doubt you could just tie a demon in a sack though..."

[SponkleofInfini]

"A concerned citizen; interesting...as for the girl I doubt we know anymore about her then you do Guildenstern."

Meleaga stares at Guildenstern with a grin, his hand upon his chin.

[The Alcotroll]

"What about this cyclops of yours?" presses Harlad, "and a pet orc? What did they say? What did they do?"

[Rockwolf]

The woman steps out of the office, dressed in the humble garments of a temple sister, carries her armor in her arms, piled atop her glistening shield.

"I see your brother is recovered, good, now help me into my armor and I'll show you how to open that passageway."

[The Alcotroll]

Shooting Guildenstern a glance clearly indicating that an answer is still expected of him, Harald moves to assist the woman as she clambers into her aromur.

[BigRedRod]

Guildenstern shrugs,
"They turned up about an hour ago from the passage and spent the time with Mioux in his chamber. The girl-in-a-bag arrived, and they left with it over the orc's shoulder."

[The Alcotroll]

Tightening the buckles on the back of Sophia's breast-plate, another thought ocurrs to Harald.

"The Dwarf, he bore a similar symbol to your own," he says, "In what way should we deal with his body now? I would be after this man and his orc as soon as possible, but I can not ignore the body of a fallen comrade, however ignoble his death."

[Rockwolf]

"What? The Dwarf was a... "

The woman walks over to the body of the fallen Dwarf, finally getting a good look at him in the dark light. Closing his eyes with her gauntleted hand, she performs a quick service of rites, the kind given to the faithful on the field of battle.

"His soul is at peace now, at least until the Gatekeeper once again reappears to ferry him to the afterlife. When we return, we will take him to the temple for a proper burial."

[The Alcotroll]

With conscience thus absolved, Harald checks his armour over and nods towards Guildenstern.

"Now," he says, "Show us this passage."

[BigRedRod]

"Certainly" Replies Guildenstern "I'll need to employ your bulk though."

Moving with Harald around the edge of one of the bookcases he begins to push. The Jarl quickly gets the idea and joins the furniture moving effort. The two combined make short work of shifting the stout wooden bookcase and its damp books out of the wall of the hidden tunnel behind.

Leaving the body of Swires behind, the two brothers, Meleaga the wizard, and the two former prisoners of the Red cultists, vanish in to the tunnel. The tunnel is uneven and quite small, causing all to stoop and twist in order to make progress. Seemingly dug straight through the debris of a fallen building, it is clear to all that this passage is far from safe and could well collapse with the slightest knock.

The tunnel abruptly ends after two dozen feet, climbing out Harald finds himself in what is now a small courtyard filled with rubble. Although in the past it was most likely simply another building. The sky above is blue, although the shadows of the buildings on all sides keep this area in perpetual dimness.

A single exit is visible from the small courtyard of rubble, an exceedingly narrow alley filled with darkness which seems to lead to a wider street which is bathed in sunlight. With his companions in tow, Harald takes a single step in tot he alley before he stops and rapidly motions for everybody to keep absolutely still and silent.

A moment later and it becomes clear what Harald had noticed, a pair of the rat creatures, similar to those who ambushed the party en route to the cult's lair, appear in the street. Their fur, however, is a pure white and both bear many brand marks. The same large rune adorns the forehead and each and runic text continues across their entire bodies. Both wear constructions of leather belts, which have a crossbow, bolts and a short sword attached along with many other unidentifiable tools.

After a moment's pause both start sniffing the air, although neither seem to have noticed the five figures hiding beyond the narrow dark alley. One spits a short mixture of squeaks and guttural sounds at the other who replies by continuing to sniff the air and turning his back to the party.

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga holds very still, hoping to make as little noise as humanly possible. Seeing the rat creature sniff the air however...dosent fill him with considerable confidence that a battle could be avoided.

[Rockwolf]

Sophia stops, gawking in sheer wonderment at the rat men standing before her, a torrent of thoughts racing through her mind.

Wha? huh? those things... they're... they're just children's tales! How can this? What could they? This... this is impossible!

Unable to pinch herself in her armor, she tightens her grip on her mace, reassured that at least that is real.

[The Alcotroll]

Deciding that discretion has the better part of valour for the moment, Harald shrinks back into the darkness and shifts his grip on his sword-hilt.

He holds his breath, aware that the slightest rustle of his mail might give him away.

[BigRedRod]

The group of five hold their breath and do their best imitations of statues as they stand in the shadows. More of the unknown language composed of speaks and grunts pass between the two creatures for several minutes, occasionally one looks from side to side.

Harald slowly begins to feel that the two creatures are fully aware of the party hiding in the shadows and they are waiting for backup while they attempt to disguise their knowledge,

However, after several minutes the two creatures stop their chatter and proceed at a fair pace away from the party and out of sight. Gredrin sags slightly as the rats vanish but remains quiet, Guildenstern is slightly more vocal,

"That was close ... and I'm really not enjoying how they stood so close, did so much sniffing and looking and yet seemed unable to find us."

The man sniffs himself in mimicry of the white-furred creatures and then coughs quite loudly,
"Although the air is pretty goddamn foul round here"

Stepping out of the dark alley, the five emerge in to a fairly wide street. The cold sun beats down offering little more than occasional moments of pleasant warmth between the freezing gusts of wind. Looking around, the group realize they can see no real sign of the cyclops, orc or Celeste. Just cobbled pathways leading left and right, the rightwards path quickly splits into two smaller streets.

[Rockwolf]

Sophia looks around at the area.

"I don't know how to find any clues that you need to continue this pursuit, but... what about those... those things. Are they also working with this cult? Or, could they be tracking the same quarry we seek? Lacking anything else to go on, we may as well follow the rat-things."

[The Alcotroll]

Harald shrugs and spits.

"I can't think of anything better." he admits, "And if we don't find the Orc, we can always kill the rats instead."

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga looks upon the wet splatter on the ground by Harald's feet with a visible sign of disdain.

"...Hmm. Yes, it seems like our only viable option at this point, although lets try to maintain some distance between us and them."

[BigRedRod]

Setting off to the right in search of any signs of the rat-creatures, the group reach a fork in the road almost instantly. A similar layout greets both directions, a few yards of cobbled street abruptly cut off by a hastily erected stone wall. The edge of the quarantined area, most likely the opposite side to which Harald, Gredrin, Swires and Meleaga had entered through shortly before dawn.

Wisps of sound arrive to the five stood out in the cold, children crying, carts banging along the cobbles and the general noise of a city.

Guildenstern speaks up after a short while,
"The rats aren't related to the cult cell. Then again... I didn't hear of anyone ever having an encounter with them. Maybe Mioux had made a deal and wanted it kept quiet, even from the others. I'm not sure and I'd not actually seen one before just now ... I thought the others were just believing the old children's stories.

Each of the three directions is equally empty, the gusts of freezing wind push along random bits of debris, but nothing that gives any clues or trails to follow.

[SponkleofInfini]

Meleaga looks around seeing the futility of continuing on.

"It appears we have reached the end of the trail. Perhaps we should regroup in town and try again when we're more...prepared."

[Rockwolf]

Sophia nods briefly, pushing away the urge to push on.

"Yes. My temple, and my family, will be looking for word from me. I... I thank you for your help gentlemen. Let us go to the temple of Pelor, I'll collect some men to lead back to the prison. We can see to giving the fallen priest a proper burial. What was his name? Oh! I'm sorry, I've been most rude. My name is Sophia Franchesca, of the Franchesca noble house, also, I hold a low but promising position in the temple of Pelor. I can see to having the rest of your wounds tended to. However, is there a better place to climb over the wall? This is a forbidden part of town, and we can't be seen climbing back over the wall."

[The Alcotroll]

"Harald Godwinson Ulv-Hale, son of Beorn Godwinson," announces Harald formally, sheathing his sword and looking round.

"As much as I hate to leave this business unfinished, I am forced to agree with you. The trail is cold, and we are in little state to fight our way through these forsaken streets, crawling as they are with rats and worse vermin."

[BigRedRod]

With the trail cold and exhaustion starting to set in, Sophia, Harald, Gredrin, Meleaga and Guildenstern decide that the great Cathedral of Pelor should be the next port of call for rest and recovery.

Heading back along the party's initial route into the quarantine zone, allows the five to return to the overcrowded city proper without drawing more attention to themselves than they might otherwise returning from a forbidden region of Edinway. The streets are noisy and crowded, and as Sophia leads the group deeper and deeper into the city, the density of people only increases until they emerge at the edge of a massive plaza. Even this clearing in the overflowing city has been covered in the semi-temporary stalls of a marketplace, voices ring out announcing everything from flour to salvation.

The buildings which ring the plaza are huge and ancient, reaching high in to the sky and dominating all of the other impressive buildings is the massive building which serves as the guildhall for Edinway's Association of Magewrights, the guild's most famous piece of engineering and practical magic, the great chronograph, provides accurate knowledge of the time to all of those within the plaza and nearby buildings. Sophia keeps the group of travellers moving for a large gothic looking building. Edinway's great temple of Pelor, The Sun God. A swarm of people bustle around the massive oak doors of the cathedral, which are wide open despite the winter chill, people entering to pray silently or seek the advice of Pelor's mortal servants. A narrow alley runs alongside the cathedral and it is here that Sophia opens an ordinary looking door and ushers her new found friends in to a warm kitchen, as she does so it becomes apparent that Guildenstern has disappeared somewhere along the way.

Trusting Sophia's judgement, the party's arrival instantly triggers a flurry of activity from the elderly nun running the kitchen and the few younger nuns and priests-in-training, as food, aid and beds are found.

-=Chapter End=-

[BigRedRod]

Harald
1045

Meleaga
980

Sophia
950