TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN
(I/C)
Looking at the three Extra-Healing Potions, the elf placed it back down and glanced at the party. “Wyn does not need a potion. Who be takin deze?”
Kovid shrugged, “I can hold a potion if there are enough to go around, if not that’s okay. I’m not going to drink it now, I can keep going for a bit without it.”
“I think the potions should go to the front line fighters and Lyra,” Abraxas offered, picking one up. “If she goes down, we have grande problemos!”
Kovid took one and Lyra grabbed the last. “Not that I anticipate needing it, but I’ll hold onto it. Would suck for you guys if I died here.”
“Would suck for you if you died, Priestesse,” Wyn suggested with a smirk. “And are we satisfied wit our check of dis area? If so, let us go see if dat crawler still be dere. Maybe we check de Jailer's cave next, den proceed up?
Brendon perked up, “I’d like to check to see if I can get any poison from the centipede or Goo. I’d be great to dip an arrow into.” He drew his bow and pulled out an arrow. “Jailer cave and then upwards sounds like a good plan.”
"Makes sense to me,” Lannis added, “Plus if we can get those tentacles before someone else does that would be a nice Wyn, er, Win.”
“Indeed,” the elf sighed, “Let’s go.” He took out the ring of keys we had gotten from Travis the Spy. “I will lock de jail door in de way out.
As they moved out, Lyra looked at the Lolthian Flail, swinging it loosely as she walked. “Ugh... so I guess now that I have the mace you’re all expecting me to go to the front. I suppose that... makes sense. I GUESS.”
“Nice of you to join in once in a while,” Lannis suggested.
“Hello, slings?”
“I believe you got pissed at me for chucking rocks.”
“Those were at my head, you moron.”
“Tomato, tomato,” the Magic User quipped.
“You didn’t even bother saying those two words differently,” Lyra complained.
“Because there is only one way to pronounce it.
“Grr,” she growled. “Also... I hate bringing this up but do you guys want me in a different spot when scouting?”
Brendon shook his head. “No, Lady. You’re good where you are.”
“Reminds me,” Kovid asked, “Abraxas, would you mind swapping with me for point just for a bit? I’m still a little beat up.”
“Si, Senor Kristmas. I’ll do.” The two men swapped positions, Kovid taking the back of the party and the Fighter walking point right behind Brendon.
“Regarding the map that the gargoyle drew for us,” Kovid started, “Arik has terrible handwriting, but the third letter is too short. I don’t think this word says baths. And, we’ve already been to the baths downstairs in the Ishtari area. This second word might say bedroom though. I’ve made a note of it. This first word looks like Bent or Bert. Maybe a someone we should be aware of... I don’t know.”
“You and your maps,” Lannis sighed. “Just put your papers away and you can pretend to know what you’re doing later.”
“Maps help, Big Brain. Let us know where we’ve been and an idea of what’s ahead of us.”
“Says you.”
“Anyway, there isn’t many places left on the map for us here to explore. Let’s see what’s left of this main floor. We’ve got to be close to those stairs. After that we can figure out where to rest.”
From the front of the group, Abraxas said, "I dont know if resting anywhere on the second floor is safe. If anywhere IS safe though, I'm guessing it would be the secret area in the Chapel. Pero, pienso that secret may be a small area, mucho pequeño. Not big enough to sleep in. We won’t figure it out standing around here though.”
“Um,” Lyra worried, “Does this mean the Butcher’s is no longer a viable place to stay? If Corfard finds out Arik and the rest of them have left, he might assume the Butcher has as well. Might send people down looking.”
“That is true.”
She continued, “Have we ever thought throwing them off by camping outside of the castle for the night or is that out of the question?”
Wyn nodded slowly, “Worth thinking about when it’s time to rest. We have a few hours now and I am sure dat Hoots is no longer paralyzed. So be aware of de owlbear.”
“Should we leave a trail of food from where we last saw Hoots up to the second floor?” the Fighter suggested. “Maybe we can get him loose up there to cause a ruckus and some destruction as a distraction? Hoots could probably mess up some Gobs, Hobs, and Robs. Could make mess up that Family-er of Marabellis too.”
“One ting at a time, big guy,” Wyn laughed, clapping him on the back.
“When we do get up there,” Abraxas summed up, “I say we start with the Baths, then make our way to those Guardians. Check out the Throne room after that. What about you all? Vamonos amigos."
“Jailer room first,” Brendon whispered, motioning for the group to be silent as they left the Jail hall and were drawing closer to the Jailer’s chamber. “Just up ahead.”
The group drew closer and past the “T” intersection, the lantern light revealed…the owlbear was indeed gone.
And he had vented his frustration on the area.
The Carrion Crawler had been torn to pieces and stomped into the ground, unidentifiable ichor splattered wildly about with the busted segmented body of the colossal centipede as well. There were pieces thrown about and nothing was larger than a double handful, some of it even splattering up on the ceiling and as far as 20’ down the hall.
“Looks like an abattoir,” Lannis muttered.
“Common please,” Lyra whispered.
“Blood soaked.”
“Oh.”
In addition, the thrown weapons we had used (Javelin, dagger, and war hammer) had been broken as well. The javelin’s shaft shattered, the dagger busted in three distinct pieces, and the hammer was bent almost at a 60 degree angle, the head chipped and scarred from beating against the wall. Also, just inside the room the two closest stone statues of hobgoblins had been smashed as well, partially thrown around the room and left on the floor in pieces.
“Ok,” Kovid noted, “Angry owlbears are not something we want to face when angry.”
“Si,” Abraxas bent down to look at the hammer, tried to bend it himself and was unable to. “Si, indeed.” He dropped it back to the floor.
Brendon entered the Jailer’s chamber and looked around (>Wis +2 Thief, +1 familiar, Red 18) for a few minutes but saw nothing outside the norm or expected. Half the party entered and looked about. There was a sleeping area and the reek of the Jailer was redolent in the air (but nausea inducing, just foul). Some chewed bones, dried food stuffs, and bits of wood and tree burls on a small shelf. “Check it out,” the Scout said.
On the shelf were maybe a half dozen expertly carved figures anywhere from eight to twelve inches tall. There was a wooden carving of Hoots from the chest up, a squat keep of some sort, an elven woman’s face (that Wyn and Brendon recognized at Lolth’s face from the cavern further on), a pig with its snout down, a kitten curled up, and a horse about to break into a gallop.
“Very, very good work,” Kovid muttered. “Abraxas, you still have that dog one?”
“No,” the Fighter frowned. “Dirty hobgoblin’s took it from the Barracks.”
“Well, I think the Troglodyte carved these.” He pointed at the pile of whittled wood chips on the ground nearer the smaller bed area. “And I would guess he carved yours as well.”
“Oh,” Abraxas looked somber. “I wondered who it was that carved it.”
“Stinky fucker had a talent,” Lannis offered.
“Yeah.” The Fighter said softly. His voice dropped to a whisper, just for himself to hear. “Another supposed monster who was able to make beautiful things.” He looked around and then walked out of the room. “Uno momento,” he said.
“What’s up with his ass?” the Magic User shrugged, tossing one the statuettes briefly in the air and then absently putting it back on the shelf.
“I tink dat Monsieur Abraxas is ‘aving second thoughts on being an Adventurer.”
“Yeah, I get it. The food sucks, you’re always in danger, something is going to rip out your kidneys through your nipples, and there is never enough arrows or places to rest.”
The group all looked about and glanced at Lannis and then at Abraxas standing stoically by the cavern entrance. And there was little they could say to either man.
Time now is Day 6, 1:31 PM
(OOC)
Explore XP: Jailer Room – everyone get 30 xp.
Ok – nothing else found here. Anyone want a statue [5]. Where to now?
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