PBEM, Episode 6 - Sitting Room and Armory

SIX

(I/C)

Lyra swiped some of the soot with her boot on the floor. “Goddess Áine’s red mane,” she swore lightly, “What’s the plan? Which hall should we take?”

Brendon lifted his finger to his lips and hissed. “Shh.” He pointed to the two doors. “I’d like to not leave anything behind us.” He pointed to the east door where the vermin noise was coming from. “I’d like to check this one first.”

Lannis nodded his head but smacked the secret door first. “Let’s at least partially close this to make it less obvious.” Wyn came over and helped the Magic User shut the door until it was practically flush. From there the Magic User looked at the lone cloak and Brendon came over as well, calling Lyra. “Before we hit the door, lets check out whatever’s left in here.”

“Senor Lame-us Offphth,” Abraxis whispered, holding his sword higher, “ I will stand here and watch for nothing to come.”

Lannis looked at Abraxis. “Seriously? Were you dropped as a child?”

Abraxis smiled. “Often, and as an adult as well.”

Brendon and Kovid went to the couch to give that a once over while the other 3 looked over the cloak. It was a standard sized cloak that looked like the bottom was ragged from being dragged and the lower foot and a half was pretty muddy as well. “Short person,” Lannis offered.

“Yep, dragged it along and tore the bottom,” Brendon agreed. “I would guess under 5’ in height.”

“Easily,” Lannis agreed. “Mud’s the same as all over the outside as well. Crusted and dried but not flaked off. Cloak’s used a bunch, maybe every day or two.”

Lyra was silent during all this, fingering her holy symbol when she used the end of her club and lifted the edge of the cloak aside. It hung strangely and she could see there was an inner pocket there. With a higher lift of her club, she tilted the cloak more and three yellowy/orange tomatoes rolled out. “Gardener wears it, and harvests with it.”

Kovid was giving the couch a hard look and held Brendon’s arm for a moment, eyeing the heavy wooden frame on the stone floor (<Stonework Check, Yellow 1). “Couch hasn’t moved in years. Can see where the weight of it has worn the stone a bit, and there is a discolored line where it touched the wall and floor.”

Feeling better about it, Brendon said, “Let’ssee what stories this couch holds,” and the two of them lifted it aside, checked under the cushions, and although the couch was stale smelling and a bit foul, dust and thin webs under it, it was without issue and concern.

Giving the tomatoes to Wyn who placed them in his box (Add 3 yellowish tomatoes (3) to inventory) Lyra went back to the NORTH and EAST Passage with Abraxis, listening and watching the room with care.

Finally, Wyn and Lannis looked over the Brazier. They were confident it hadn’t been lit in some time, but some time being a matter of weeks or a month – not 30 years. There was precious little there but ash however the two of them put their minds together and found a few hardened chunks of burn wood where Lannis (< Int, Pink 7) and Wyn (< Int +2 Bonus, Orange 13) were convinced it was local wood, poorly seasoned, and maybe a week or two old.

By this time we had checked out everything and the group drew together at the EAST Door where Brendon gave it a once over for traps (> Find Traps, Red 86) and then gave a cocky grin to Kovid who stepped up and said, “I am with you, Master Theif.” Putting his lantern down near the door but not too close where it could be in the way or smashed, the dwarf bounced his War Hammer to his off hand and grabbed the handle and turned, pushing the door in.

(Initiative Check: Party 1 Silver, Foes Red/Black 3)

The room seemed to be a WEAPONS ROOM for the Castle but before the Dwarf could say anything, TWO GIANT RATS came running out of the room. The Group was scrambling to ready themselves in time as the first rat charged Kovid and entangled itself in his legs, trying to bite him (+1 to hit, <Red/Black 14) finding the weak spot in the back of the dwarf’s knee but not getting through the woven chain links between the plates.

The second rat charged past the dwarf and hit Lyra hard, the Cleric taking a half step and using her club to keep the 35# beast at bay. It managed to scramble under her shield and bit her numerous times, finding a wear spot in her chainmail (+1 to hit, >Silver 17) where the sharp teeth hit hard enough to draw blood and bruise her skin (1-3 Dam, Red/Black 4 /2  – Take 2 Damage). Lannis (Int >15, no roll) hissed, “Fucking hell! Be careful, those things carry terrible diseases in their bite! (>5% Disease chance, Red/Black 64).

Brendon shook his head and called out, “Bring the NOISE!” as Abraxis started to wade forward, sword swinging and the Fighter started singing, “Pearl Jelly Time! Ha! They don't eat, Senor don't sleep, Senor don't feed, don't seethe...”

(OOC)

Time is 10:05

Combat Round
I need everyone to decide:
Front Line - engage the enemy head on
Support Front - engage the enemy in conjunction with another person
Missile Fire - stay at least 5' away and use missile fire
Spells & Other - use spells, rods, wands, potions, anything else

Do not Diablo it – discuss it ok, but do not min max the map – decide what your character is going to do in the combat and give everyone the opportunity to do the same. If you do NOT have a weapon out, you will have to draw one. If you have a Dex 13 or greater, you can swap a weapon or quickdraw a weapon if you did not have or wanted to swap - otherwise you have a -4 to hit on first draw round or swap.

Based upon everyone’s comments – Lyra Club, Abraxis Sword, Brendon Bow, Kovid Warhammer. Lannis your Staff is too big to put away normally so is assumed out unless you specifically are doing something with both hands or leave it somewhere.

The Rats had Initiative and their round. It’s now yours.

Lyra got bit for 2.