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Post by john on May 19, 2008 16:55:10 GMT -5
John grunts up to Hadrian, "Get down here and bring some more illumination. I feel like a bit of amateur exterminator work is upon us, and quickly." He bares his teeth into the shadows, feeling more than commonly vengeful for the dishonorable poison-slaughter going on up stairs.
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Post by exile on May 19, 2008 21:39:58 GMT -5
Hadrian's brow furls in consternation and he mutters a few choice oaths. What in the Hells was he meant to do with the boy? The kitchen, with its mob of bub-soaked brain-boxes, was hardly a safe place to leave the child. But who knew what dangers the darkness harbored below?
Turning to regard his wide-eyed charge, Hadrian realized he had no choice in the matter. Stooping down to the boy's level, he held him gently by the shoulder. "Listen to me, Aerin. I need you to stay right behind me, ok? And if I tell you to run, you run as fast as you can up these stairs and you don't stop running until you find your mother. Everything will be alright, just stay close to me."
At least down below he could keep an eye on the child and protect him. Gods forgive him if one hair on the child's head was harmed. Wraith certainly wouldn't.
Rising to his feet, the aasimar was suddenly struck by a thought. Extending a tattooed hand towards the child's toy, he began to cast. Within moments, the miniature tridrone sprang into vibrant white light.
"Hold it tight, Aerin, it's your shield against the dark."
Hadrian didn't need the light; his own eyes could pierce the dark with impunity. Descending the rest of the way into the cellar, he called out to John.
"Alright, cutter, lets be done with this."
Spot [dice=20+4]
Listen [dice=20+4]
Search [dice=20+4][rand=84755822263040132511641085797130590056863645698403729888143183824]
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 20, 2008 1:26:26 GMT -5
Cranium rats? This is turning out to be more of a headache than I first anticipated... Wraith muses to herself, and shakes her head. No, she doubted the canny little buggers were solely responsible for this. Sure a whole nest of them could prove a formidable foe for wannabe exterminators and tavern owners alike, but surely they weren't smart enough to cook up a scheme like this? Were they?
It didn't sit right with her at all.
She frowns thoughtfully, fingering her lower lip as she moves on from one patient to the next, healing the poor sods as best as she can. Her prayers were nearly exhausted - and so was she - but it was her duty, and her responsibility to help these people!
Laying her hand upon the next sweaty, convulsing man, Wraith sings her praises to her God for His divine favour, and turns the situation over in her mind. Someone else had to be involved. Surely the hive mind, as smart as it was rumoured to be, couldn't slip the deadly poison into the food and drink, let alone find it all without killing themselves. They were just rodents, after all. And even brainy pests like these had limited capabilities, as determined by their forms.
Surely they had to have a vessel who could do all the legwork, and carry out the plan of the collective? It seemed to be the most logical conclusion.
Wraith's gaze drifts back to the wall where she last saw the sneaky berk, and the follows the layout of the common room back to the men barricading the door.
"I doubt the brain rats did this on their own. If they are the culprits - assumking there's a whole nest of them here - then they must've had an accomplice." Her pointed gaze drifts back to the wall, then swings back to the men again. "Stay where you are and ensure no one leaves until I say so. I saw someone try to escape not a moment ago. I moved to intervene... then the racket in the kitchen alarmed him, and the berk vanished. That was his last known whereabouts." She gestures at the wall, then moves on to her next patient.
Cure Light Wounds [dice=8] +5
Diplomacy [if applicable] [dice=20] +5
Stix, how many patients are left that need to be treated?[rand=7684450179244019609567920196854927780512792561545378944641826108]
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Post by Stix on May 25, 2008 15:15:51 GMT -5
(Another three dozen or so. Fort saves again.)
"I was lookin' at them, in the kitchen! I didn' do it!" says a skinny half-elf, sidling out from behind the bar with his hands up.
"Pike it, Foster! We know all about you an' the damned rats! Up against the wall!"
Fear in his eyes, Foster complies quickly. "Please! No, please! I didn't do nothin'! Don't hurt me, cutters!" he begs, looking from face to face worriedly.
*****
With the addition of a second light source, the cellar is completely illuminated, revealing a rat-sized hole in the wall behind the sacks of oats and rice stacked from the floor. While John inspects it further, Hadrian notices a half-dozen cranium rats ascending the stairs, working in coordinated pushes and pulls to bring a large leather pouch along with them.
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Post by exile on May 25, 2008 17:24:14 GMT -5
“John!” Hadrian calls out to the Taker, placing himself between Aerin and the unnatural vermin as he speaks. “They’re heading for the kitchen!”
Determined not to let the rats succeed at whatever devilishness they had in mind, the aasimar begins to cast with hurried gestures. Moments later three raven like silhouettes of black arcane energy lance out from his fingers and descend upon the scurrying creatures with unerring accuracy.
(Casting Empowered Magic Missile, 1 missile each at the three closest targets to the leather satchel.)
Rat #1 [dice=4] x1.5 +1
Rat #2 [dice=4] x1.5 +1
Rat #3 [dice=4] x1.5 +1[rand=81132028388193074418524170333344956941143766482531867171836366875]
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Post by exile on May 25, 2008 17:25:14 GMT -5
Damage summary: Rat #1 - 5 damage Rat #2 - 4 damage Rat #3 - 4 damage
Edit: Initiative (Unless this counts as a surprise attack?) [dice=20+1][rand=46507019781807246210344491102160080854299634419383116144310177847554]
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Post by john on May 25, 2008 17:57:17 GMT -5
John turns, a knife making the trip from his belts to right hand almost instantly, and takes a throw, aiming not for the rats, but rather the bag, to pin it in place on the stairs so no further foulness can be committed, at least with whatever they had in there. He takes a step towards the rats and the stairs, snarling, bastard sword still in his left hand for the moment, until he can take a two-handed grip on it.
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Post by john on May 25, 2008 18:09:20 GMT -5
[dice=20+9]
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 26, 2008 1:02:32 GMT -5
[With the spot check, was Wraith able to determine the sneaky man's race at all?
If not...
Spot check to identify if Foster is the same man who tried to sneak away.
[dice=20] +5
Also, I made a mistake with my Diplomacy modifier. It's +3 not +5.][rand=35157668581355805041600215444278832760506101949755450025463723618]
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Post by Stix on May 30, 2008 17:36:57 GMT -5
(Still need those Fort saves from John/Wraith.)
(Foster's about the right size, but Wraith isn't 100% sure he's the same person.)
Angered by the half-elf's alleged treachery, two men pin Foster to the wall, and two others take turns delivering punishing body blows. "You picked the wrong side, berk! It's time ta pay the music!"
Foster, meanwhile, can only attest to his innocence with a silent, wide-eyed plea as he shakes his head and gasps for breath.
*****
John's knife pierces the bag but doesn't find purchase in the stairs. With the sudden jolt and added weight, the cranium rats lose control of their cargo, which tumbles down the stairs, spilling white powder all the way. They begin to scatter just as Hadrian releases his spell. One rat succumbs to the bolt of energy, and the rest squeal in shared pain as they scatter, trying to find safety in what shadows they can find.
Hide [dice=20+17][rand=5981869037293398381475202930631150806895497458025771272641748897]
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 30, 2008 20:37:02 GMT -5
[I'll post Fort save first, then I'll post my ic reply. ] Fort Save [DC 14?] [dice=20] +5[rand=59525923806308542704420434826158560118990503383036958398375837584]
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 30, 2008 21:12:34 GMT -5
Wraith grimaces and clutches her belly, struggling to fight off the urge to vomit... and succeeds, for now. She still tasted bile in the back of her mouth, and her hands were pale and shaking. Dutifully, uncaring of her own steadily worsening condition, she moves from one patient to the next, barely alive to not so seriously ill, exhausting all of her available spells to help these ailing men. Aye that meant she left nothing for herself, and could possibly die because of her decision, but her duty was to her patients. She put their needs before her own.
The commotion by the bar distracts her during her work, and she spins around in time to see two of the drunken brutes pin Foster to the wall, while another two begin punching him. His pleas for help slice into her like a rusty knife. Something inside Wraith snaps. Though he was about the same size as the man she'd seen not long ago, she couldn't confirm if they were one and the same. And she was willing to bet these men couldn't prove it, either, but were so desperate they'd find a scapegoat in anyone.
"Enough!" She bellows, loud enough for John and Hadrian in the kitchen to here. "Stop this at once! Further violence is not the answer! I'll not stand by, helping these men, while you batter another senseless before my eyes when you can't even prove he is involved!" She shrieks, pointing an accusing finger at each of the men in turn.[rand=554316226403614888941675558751620791048523221229449521460261280514]
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Post by john on May 31, 2008 13:16:41 GMT -5
John fights another wave of nausea and tries to stomp a rat under his booted heel, going for the gusto as he generally does. These things aren't worthy of a swing of his sword. They're just foul little twerps with a bit of cunning. Rather, if he were to be a contemplative man, like him.
[dice=20+8] fort save
[dice=20+13] rat squishin. [dice=8+4] damage![rand=032516312108848095272621010890743814987100942942609398737153828751]
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Post by john on May 31, 2008 13:18:08 GMT -5
[dice=20+7] Spot to catch those damn rats. [rand=675559457879751857837978275095353327535112012958019798225702051]
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Post by exile on May 31, 2008 15:36:50 GMT -5
Hadrian casts his gaze about for any target that might present itself, all the while slowly closing in on the abandoned satchel. Was it more poison, perhaps? Or did the rats think they were in a position to bargain for an antidote now? Either way, he felt safer knowing it lay out of reach of their grubby little paws.
Spot [dice=20+4]
Action(s): If no target is apparent, Hadrian will cast Detect Poison on the new substance (who knew a level 0 spell would come in so handy?). Otherwise he will attack (rolls to follow):
Attack Roll: [dice=20+5]
Damage: [dice=8] [rand=69518694108274630039478487851603570242665739152132527393559261744158]
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Post by Stix on Jun 2, 2008 0:29:13 GMT -5
(Retroactive Intimidate check for Wraith) [dice=20+2][rand=265141528689056161994293427926613358702793370846367641974972941329]
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Post by Stix on Jun 2, 2008 8:51:38 GMT -5
John's boot comes down hard, but with nothing under it. The nearest rat squeals in fright at the narrow miss.
(We'll call Hadrian's Wisdom check a gimme for story reasons -- it's the same poison, but in powder form rather than pellet.)
Aerin remains completely detached from the noise and activity around him, closing his eyes and beginning to rock in place as he clutches the modron doll ever tighter in his catatonia.
*****
The two toughs pinning Foster to the wall drop him, reluctant to enrage a tiefling; the half-elf crumples into a heap on the floor, clutching his gut and shivering. One of the assailants moves toward Wraith, pointing angrily at her in accusation. "You said they had an accomplice! You said there was a sneaky spiv! If not Foster, then who?"
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Post by john on Jun 2, 2008 16:17:19 GMT -5
John grunts, and begins to scale the stairs again, looking for a railing to grasp in the light. He grabs the dead rat, and pulls the fallen bag of poison with him. He comments, entering the room as someone is pointing at wraith.
"No one else. The filthy buggers did it themselves." He gestures from the bag to the poison, and says. "I suppose in a way we were hoisted by our own petard, here, but...."
"They were using what we use to poison them to poison -us-"
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Jun 2, 2008 23:58:34 GMT -5
Wraith draws herself up proudly, fists clenched at her sides and glares at the man who would dare approach her threateningly. Opening her mouth to speak, and blast this man with a withering tirade, she stops and turns her head to the side as John enters the room: carrying a leather bag with a broken strap, and a dead cranium rat.
A deep blush stains her pale cheeks as she realises with a rude shock - for all her vaunted knowledge and powers of reasoning - that this time she was wrong. Suddenly she felt quite guilty and foolish for giving these enraged men reason to seek out the nearest scapegoat to pin the blame on.
Naturally that wasn't her intention. Had she known they would've done something like this, she would've kept her mouth shut in the first place. But the man looked so suspicious, sneaking away like that. She had to do something... and slinging any spells other than those that had immediate beneficial effects, in this kind of situation, would've made things even worse.
Raking her hair back with a shaky hand, she noisily clears her throat, and mutters. "I... see." Wraith pauses, chosing her words carefully. There was no sense in drawing any further attention to her blunder, and have them think she was incompetent. They'd never heed any further commands or suggestions from her again.
Who would've thought that Cranium Rats were capable of pulling off such a stunt on their own? Though, ironically, it made sense. Goes to show how much you know, brainiac. A snide voice sneered in the back of her head. Never underestimate the intelligence of your opponent... Wasn't that something Drake used to say to her?
Wraith composes herself with a deep breath, and turns the full weight of her gaze onto Foster's attacker. "True, I did suggest the rats had to have an accomplice. But..." She raises a hand to silence any interjections from the attackers. "I was not the one who told you it was that man." She points at the crumpled form of Foster on the ground. "It was you who decided it was him, needing to find yourselves a scapegoat in this whole fiasco." She levels the man with a reprimanding glare, though inside she was fighting her own shame.
"Violence is not the answer. In beating this man up, you've not only exerted yourselves, when you should be resting to work the poison out of your systems, but you may've worsened any existing condition in him." She nods at Foster. She didn't want to make these men feel guilty, because she herself was guilty too. Though if it helped them to see reason...
"Right, here's what will happen. Pick Foster up - carefully - and sit him down over there." She points at the nearest table. Perhaps I can still save face, and solve this riddle at the same time. "I want to talk to him." If he's innocent, perhaps I can spare the man, and maybe, if he was the one I caught sneaking away, I can find out why. But if he's guilty, and he's working with the rats... I personally will see to it that he does not get away with this.[/color]
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Post by exile on Jun 3, 2008 14:31:01 GMT -5
"Run to your mother, child!" Hadrian exclaims as he claps a hand down on Aerin's shoulder and gently pushes the boy towards the stairs. It was no longer safe in the cellars, especially with John out of the room. Pausing just long enough to watch his charge scamper up into relative safety, the aasimar shuts his eyes tightly while invoking a latent talent bestowed upon him by his Father and patron.
When his azure orbs open again a moment later, they blaze with a brilliant nascent flame and all arcane energies are laid bare to his sight like the threads of a ghostly tapestry. No longer fearing that the rats might take him unawares, Hadrian crosses over to the burrow hole and plugs the gap with a large sack of grain. There would be no second chances for the creatures.
(OOC: Invoking Arcane Sight.) Search check: [dice=20+4] Spot check:[dice=20+4] Listen check:[dice=20+4][rand=07491026008421198381311024334779623583715215435029744155346984651]
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