PBEM, Episode 160 - Halls, Wolf, and Bees

 ONE HUNDRED SIXTY

(I/C)

"Pienso, we should press on,” Abraxas offered, “take on El Lobo and Beekeeper, THEN refill our oil stock. The rats are control'ed for only a short enough time, we should put that to full use, in my opinion."

The elf gave a sharp nod, his eight rats eerily mimicking his movement. “Oui oui. To de grand loup we go.”

Sighing deeply, Lannis agreed, ”Against my better judgment I believe we should press on towards the giant wolf.” He took off his hat and rubbed his head absently before doffing it again, “If I ever suggest that again, someone please hit me.”

“Gladly,” Lyra said, nudging past him to join Brendon near the door out.

Giving it a short thought, Kovid queued up at the door, “Okay. Let’s deal with the wolf first. I don’t want to burn time on Wyn’s magic rodent mind meld by stopping to get oil now. Stay focused. We’ve had a strong run since yesterday, but things hit hard in this castle. Remember the Travis incident? I don’t want to experience that again.”

Once sure the hall was clear, the Scout opened the door and peered out, leading us to the east. “Mayhap,” he muttered, “Although it’s probably easier to fight the wolf with our li’l allies.”

The group snuck down the hall to the north hall and after making sure the coast was clear, made the turn, walked past the room with the dead hobgoblin hanging, and checked the door going down. Satisfied it was clear, Brendon opened it and we slowly walked down the stairs, heading north. Wyn shuffled the order of the giant rats, having half of them push forward to walk with and a ahead of Brendon, and the other half to trail back and walk with and behind Abraxas. “Um, Senor Schwing? Are you doing this?”

“Oui,” the elf whispered back. “Un, Deux, Trios, and Quatre will walk in zee front an’ Cinqe, Sex, Sept, Huit will walk in zee back. If’n we be attackered, zee rats will ‘elp ta keep us ‘live.”

“Ah! Good then!” Abraxas bent down and petted the rat. “I am petting your Sex Wyn! I am petting it to thank you!”

The next few minutes was spent walking with muttered giggling and snorting as the group struggled to get themselves back in order. They descended the first set of steps, past Travis’ chamber (noting different) and continued on down the next set of steps. From there it was a walk north down the long hall towards the corner. The party was on high alert (Wolf in room? 1-3 yes, 4-6 no: White 4 – no) but they heard nothing. Finally at the corner, Brendon looked around.

The passage continued as before to the east, and the door here on the corner or the south wall where we had heard the wolf earlier was wide open this time. Kovid crept closer allowing his lantern light to help the Scout see but the interior of the room was already lit.

The smell of wolf urine was strong, almost acrid. The room itself had a mound of loose straw in the corner and the floor was covered in old furs giving it an almost carpeted look. There was a stout oaken table and two large bowls were under it – one of them with hunks of raw meat in it, the other with dirty looking water. Dirty tapestries were hanging poorly on the wall and there was a lantern hanging on a hook on the east wall currently lit and illuminating the chamber.

Dimly at the limit of the light range, there was a door on the north wall down the hall (although the hall did continue as well), that was open, and a small pool of light as coming from it. (<Hear Noise +20%, Red 23) Brendon motioned for the group to be quiet as he strained to hear the faint voice(s?) coming from it. It was too far away to make out anything concrete, but whoever was there was speaking goblin but had a hobgoblin depth to the voice. They were saying things like “good boy”, and “love you”. Often repeating them now and again. (>Wolf sense, Black 13 – no)

However, if the wolf was there, the party was too far away and currently being quiet enough to not attract it.

Yet.

Time now is Day 5, 8:06 AM

(OOC)

58 minutes of 110 expired. Room is not occupied, but 40’ down is an open door with 1 or 2? Voices inside and maybe the wolf is there? Go down? Hard? Slow? Carefully? Try for surprise attack? Wyn – if the wolf is there even if you are within 30’ of it, you still need line of sight so will need to get it in the hall or you need to get to the door and peer in. What’s the deal and the plan?