Rotten Rodents
Log Info
- Title: Rotten Rodents
- Emitter: Thurid
- Characters: Ravendar, Katsuro, Imane, Paenitia, Torsten, Knightmare
- Place: Alexandrian Store-Rooms
- Time: Friday, April 16, 2021, 2:00 PM
- Summary: A frequent problem in built up areas, with the arrival of spring the rodents calling the sewers of Alexandria their home have been multiplying of late. A band of local shopkeeps, tired of the rodents coming up to their store rooms through the drains, have gotten together to offer a reward for their culling. Adventurers arrive and explore the storerooms. Battle Ensues. It is hard fought, messy, with swarms of little rats and large, toe-biting dire rats, but the heroes prevail!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ravendar 3'1" 40 Lb Halfling Male A red-haired Lucht Siuil man Katsuro 5'4" 160 Lb Human Male A small but sturdy Xian man, young and keen-looking. Imane 5'6" 105 Lb Dawn Elf Female A very pale Elf in black shiny leather. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Torsten 6'7" 250 Lb Giantborn Male A dark haired, grey eyed Giantborn swordsman. Knightmare 6'4" 294 Lb War Golem Female A knightly construct on the hoof bearing heraldry of lost Dragonier. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCS of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ol' Jorik Oruch Male Old, almost toothless smoking caretaker. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thurid 7'1" 249 Lb Giantborn Female Bright-eyed, muscular, blond Giantborn woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
- Rats.
They seem to go hand in hand with civilized settlements all across the world, and Alexandria is no different. While the guard do occasionally perform culls, resources permitting- especially in times of plague, they simply can't keep ontop of every infestation. Such as this one. Down a rather smelly street in the lower markets, home to a cluster of shops- tanners, dyemakers, butchers and brewers. All often smelly crafts, and so relegated to their own out of the way little corner.
They have gotten together, and after their complaints to the city were met with a resounding "eventually." decided to take matters into their own hands to protect their subteranean stores. Or, more accurately, into their own coinpurses. They have issued a bounty for Rat Tails, procured from the stretch of storm drain adjoining their stock rooms.
The posters indicate that any interested partied need make themselves known to "Ol' Jorik", a caretaker of sorts, who manages the stores and will see them into the blighted area.
And thus, waiting for them, in the alleyway between these rows of shops is a frankly decrepid old man. His back is hunched, he has two teeth total, and they are yellowed, shaky hands, and is smoking a pipe... pretty much at all times. Hanging from his belt is a large keychain, with a slew of random keys that jangle as he shuffles along.
Ravendar had figured in a city this size that the city would pay people to be ratcatchers or perhaps to train small dogs to be ratcatchers or have cats. It would appear that either this is too much for the municipalities and their little animals to. Ravendar couldn't believe it when he saw the posting at the Adventures Guild, but he's been getting low on coins and needs a way to refill his purse, so here he is. He carefully adjusts his fiddle, "So what type of environment are we looking at? Are we going someplace damp? I need to know so I can adjust my strings accordingly."
Katsuro is normally seen around town dancing in front of a hat which, on a good day, will eventually accumulate enough coins to feed him. But when enough not-good days string together and rent is due at the end of the week, he will take Guild work, or really any job offering gold. Or silver. Which is why he's here. "Good afternoon," he greets Ol' Jorik, and nods to Ravendar who's shown up ahead of him.
Imane arrives as indicated on the posters. She has foregone her cape so her very well tailored leathers glisten, having been polished recently. She has her mass of platinum hair braided and wound atop the back of her head in a braided bun, but a pair of wavy locks fall to either side of her face past her chin. She has her bow and quiver and thats pretty much about it as she steps into the alley.
The entrance to the alleyway is briefly blocked by a wall of white feathers. Mostly white feathers, there are some crimson to them and the eyespots of the giant, horse-sized peacock. It is, without doubt, Ramirez, the peacock-andalusian hippogryph that has been seen about Alexandria and takes up as much space as a horse and wagon all his own.
He is too large to fit in the alleyway. Not so his Mistress, a heavily armoured halfling knight who dismounts by sliding down his wing. The little Red Knight has a rusted patina breastplate, with red coat and wide brimmed-red hat, along with a cloak of feathers. She also has a mask, of an exagerated, smiling man's face. She halts, and puts the cloak on the saddle, and pulls some weapons down with her. A sword, a warhammer, a bardiche, a bow and her shield.
"Ramirez, stay! You are too big to fit. Go, look for challengers." The Dark Lucht instructs, then changes her mind, "No! Do not find challengers. Find a lookout."
Instructions delivered, she makes her way up to Ol'Jorik.
Torsten was waiting, the tall but lithe in form Jotun having left his backpack and dog back at the inn where he was currently staying while looking for a less expensive means of room and board having heard of the money to be made dealing with rats. Dressed in serviceable clothes over his chain shirt he checks his sword's seating in it's scabbard over his shoulder and the brace of kukri on his chest before finally stringing his bow a small quiver of arrows resting on his right thigh for quick and easy draw. He himself doesn't say much, keeping quiet and just checking the others out he seems caught in a loop, looking a person over, checking the seat of his sword, then the kukris on his chest as if a nervous tic.
Knightmare between her runs to Dragonier, saw the call to action posted at the Guild. While... rodents would normally be beneath her calling, the need to stem any potential vector of plague, coupled with her physical graces in regard to such things made the mission hard to ignore.
Expecting the quarters to be a might cramped for her friend, the construct Knight has arrived alone, though seeing the distinctive sight of Ramirez tells her that her boon companion Paenitia is about as well. Her gait quickens until she works around the Hippogriff to see the gathering souls and their ertswhile overseer, "Hello, friends." she greets.
"Bloomin 'eck." Ol' Jorik says as the adventurers arrive en-masse, "Must be lean pickins at the guild?" he asks, with a laugh that quickly morphs into a wheezing cough. He wipes his chin on the back of his hand, and then says, "Righto, this way you lot." and dips his head back towards the Alleyway. He shakily reaches for his keyring, and begins to pick through the keys one by one with trembling hands as he moves. "Damp? Oh, cellars aint, but if ye go further to the drain it's like to be." he tells them. He reaches a sturdy double door at the end of the alley, still picking through his keys.
It takes him a moment, and a couple of failed attempts, before he finally gets the right key for the sturdy padlock on the double door. It takes him some effort to turn it, and it makes an unpleasant scraping location caused by rust and neglect, but the padlock eventually pops open. He puts the keys away, and then moves off to the side. "Down there's the problem." he tells them. "Been getting into the store rooms, eating up anythin' they might." he says. He pauses a moment, and rummages around on his person before eventually producing another, smaller keyring. "'ere, you'll need this I reckon. Keys for the store rooms down there."
Katsuro will take the keys if no one else does and he'll proceed down to the indicated area. He looks around warily, drawing his shortsword now to avoid the rush later. He moves quietly for a tumbler, and there are no bells on his clothes today.
Ravendar continues to adjust the strings of his fiddle as he hears where they might have to go. He gives a bright smile to the others, "Greetings fellow adventurerers. Glad to see I'm not going down there alone." He brings the fiddle up to under his chin and he plays the scales a bit. Satisfied he puts his fiddle back in it's case along with the bow so he can listen to what's going on. "How big are these rats that are getting into your storerooms and eating everything? Are they just a whole bunch of little rats or a couple of rats of unusual size?" He asks curiously as he wants to be ready for whatever might be down there. "And you are positive it's rats?"
"Hola Dame Betrys! It is good to see you again." The little Lucht knight calls to the Knightmare, sounding full of smiles. It's hard to tell, her mask hides her face fully, and the dark curls of her hair frame it tightly and hang down past her shoulders. All that's really visible is her eyes, and her dark-skinned feet. "And other friends."
"I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, Knight of the Pillar and Paladina of Tarien and look forward to adventuring in jolly cooperation." She watches as Katsuro goes for the keys, then looks around at her companions. She re-arranges her weapons, setting them on her belt, moving her shield up to her back, finally brandishing her bardiche with both hands. "I am happy to fight in the back and to fight in the front."
Torsten is in mid check of his kukri's when Paenitia speaks and introduces herself. Letting his hand drop down to his side he nods to the knight. "I'm Torsten. I guess I should probably be up front? Won't really be able to put my sword to use otherwise." he comments as he reaches up over his shoulder to check his sword's seating once again. "So.. down into the ground?" he says curiously his tone a bit unsure.
Knightmare nods, her hollow voice lightened some as she replies, "It's good to see you and brave Ramirez, my friend." her gallows' smile unaltered. She turns her attention to the rest of the crew, following Paenitia's lead, "I am Dame Betrys of Dragonier, Knight of the Lost Crown, it is a pleasure to meet you all in doing this work." She slips the shield from clasps on her back to latch it onto her forearm, then, "I can stand to the front, should our... quarry be more than mere rodents."
Ravendar introduces himself, "Ravandar Tamwoods, and yes of the Triumphant Traveling Tamwoods TM, although I'm on a bit of a hiatus from the family band." He looks over his more armored companions. "I'm best suited to be in the middle or back away from the danger. It's an acoustics issue. It's hard to hear my music if my arm is being ripped off." He says with a laugh as he moves towards the back and he takes out his fiddle and bow as it appears they are going right in. "How about I conjure up some lights before we get started." Ravendar draws the bowstring across the fiddle and plays a bit before four whimsical lanterns apart above the party.
Imane watches the gathering party before giving a slight sigh and following after the keys and holder of such.
"Ha ha! Yes! Stand in the front, I will strike them between your legs!" Paenitia says cheerfully, slapping Torsten then Knightmare on the hip with her gauntletted hand. She has to reach above her head to do so, and her pole-arm blade that bobs around at shoulder-height might be disconcerting. "Katsuro, he strike from the shadows."
Her head turns so her mask is facing Ravendar, "Yes, the music and the right-sized troubadour are best at the back. I will not let the rats get past. Or whatever we find to fight."
Jorik scratches his chin when asked about the size of the rodents, "All diffren' sizes. Lot of wee ones, some bigger ones. Biggest ones are bigger'n cats, I reckon." he tells them when asked about the sizes. "They's been breedin' like crazy down there." he says, before giving his wheezing laugh-cough again. "Gots lanterns 'ere if ye want 'em?" he says, and gestures towards a handfull of battered candle lanterns stacked up near the wall. "Darker'n Taara's snatch down there." he adds then, cracking into another wheezing fit. One worries he will survive long enough to pay the fee promised.
Katsuro will go in front because he's an up close and personal guy, but swarms of rats can't be flanked. "If it's a big rat," he says, "I'll try to slip around it so we can come at it from all sides. But small rats," swarms, he means, "it won't much matter." He's got torches, but if lanterns are offered, he'll take one. Lanterns means oil, and lamp oil will do wonders for a swarm.
Or candles, in this case.
With the pleasantries out of the way, Jorik squeezes against the wall and shuffles out of the way, making sure he's well clear for when the adventurers chose to open up the doors, incase there's a swarm of nasties waiting to come swarming out.
Katsuro will go in front because he's an up close and personal guy, but swarms of rats can't be flanked. "If it's a big rat," he says, "I'll try to slip around it so we can come at it from all sides. But small rats," swarms, he means, "it won't much matter." He's got torches, but if lanterns are offered, he'll take one. They give better light than a torch, and you can set them down without them going out.
Ravendar looks over at Imane, "Everything all right? You don't seem as eager as the rest of our companions." He smiles at Paenitia, "Your bravery is very much appreciated Sister Paenitia. I got a look at your companion. Very impressive friend that you have there. I don't think I've ever seen hippogryph in the flesh before. I have definitely sung about them before." He says as he looks about keeping his eyes peeled for any rats or other creatures.
Knightmare nods, "That sounds wise." she agrees, then makes to follow the keymaster into the places where the rodents dwell unbidden, unwelcomed. Because she isn't sure how much play she'll have down there, she simply closes the spiked fist opposite her shield arm.
Torsten licks his lips and draws not his sword, but one of his Kukri, giving it a flourish as he rolls the handle through his fingers like a drumstick he moves on up towards the front to be one of the first to go into the depths below.
GAME: Katsuro rolls perception: (20)+6: 26
As the doors are opened- they open towards the alleyway so everyone will have to shuffle back for a moment- it reveals a staircase headed down. One half of the staircase is covered over with wooden planks, likely for rolling heavier things like barrles up or down the steps. From there, it levels out after about ten feet to a cobbled path, flanked on either side by various doors. The planks on the stairs, and the doors themselves bear signs of gnawing, and the air smells sour, likely the result of droppings. From here, the shining points of one or two pairs of rats eyes can be briefly seen in the deeper shadows, but they promptly retreat from the encroaching light.
Paenitia bobs her head happily at Ravendar. Her expression is hidden, her mask has a wide grin, she sounds cheerful enough as she says, "I will introduce you when we are back in the sun. Ramirez would love a song to be written about him, he is so vain! He is brave and true, my best friend, we shall talk later."
"Now, it is the hunting of rats." She faces forward, eagery and ready as the door opens. Her toes gripping the floor, bardiche gripped tight even if she also holds a lanter in her highest hand, to help out with the lighting. "First the smelling of them."
Katsuro had said he was good with the lantern, but when we see the rats in the distance, he pauses for a moment in consideration, then he creeps forward quietly, to see what may be seen. Shortsword in one hand, lantern in the other, the candle's flame bouncing shakily as he slides forward.
Knightmare edges through the door with her shield ready as it is swept for hazard and unlocked with a little bow of her head, "Thank you." She ventures down the stairs a hoof at a time and feels reasonably assured of play, and thus draws her longsword, "I see eyes." she intones, firelight making for quivering reflections on her gleaming shell.
Ravendar wrinkles his nose at the smell, "Ugh worse than Uncle Stephanos socks on laundry day." He comments as he continues to look around, making sure to look up as he doesn't want to be caught off guard." He keeps his concentrate and moves the lanterns overhead with them. "I'm not much of a songwriter. More of a composer and performer, but I'll see what I can do." He follows along with the rest of the group.
<OOC> Paenitia has Stealth Synergy, just throwing that out there. <OOC> Paenitia says, "Everybody rolls stealth. Highest d20 roll is the base that everyone adds their modifiers too" GAME: Ravendar rolls stealth: (9)+12-10: 11 GAME: Katsuro rolls stealth-10: (19)+9+-10: 18 GAME: Knightmare rolls stealth: (17)+-5-10: 2 GAME: Paenitia rolls stealth-10: (1)+6+-10: -3 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Torsten rolls stealth: (7)+1-10: -2 GAME: Thurid rolls 8: (1)+8-10: -1 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Paenitia says, "you all add your bonuses to Katsuro's 19, so it's Ravendar 21, Katsure 18, Pae 15, Nightmare 4, Torsten 10
The occasional pair of seemingly glowing eyes becomes a frequent pair, as they descend the steps and push the shadows back further. Finally, at the bottom, lifting the lantern reveals something that looks like a writhing mass punctuated with hundreds of points of reflected lantern light- frantic chittering and squeaking indicates the rats' displeasure at their 'borrowed' home being invaded.
<OOC> Ravendar says, "Bard Song, Inspire Courage, +1/+1 to Attack/Damage Rolls" GAME: Ravendar spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE. GAME: Ravendar rolls knowledge/nature: (7)+7: 14
Ravendar spots the swarm of rats at the end of the hallway, "That's a lot of rats. I wouldn't let them get too close to you. But fear not let my music lift your spirits and take heart for we'll slay these vermin." He says as he starts to play a rousing tune on his fiddle one meant to lift the spirits of the party and fill them with courage."
Torsten readies himself, in case the rats swarm.
"Ah! They have the beady eyes, be ready. Step back my musical friend, I will keep them from you." Paenitia declares, dropping her bardiche down to the ready and setting her lantern on the floor. "They come to us!"
The rats continue their squeaking and writhing, backing away like a living, eye-studded matt of furry flesh, until they reach the far door and begin to pile up against it, some escaping through little cracks.
GAME: Ravendar rolls perception: (19)+9: 28 GAME: Katsuro rolls perception: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Knightmare rolls perception: (9)+8: 17 <OOC> Katsuro says, "I guess I'll move up 30 ft and throw a shuriken at the swarm." <OOC> Katsuro says, "So, -4 for range?" <OOC> Ravendar says, "+1 for bard song" GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+5-4+1: (20)+5+-4+1: 22 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d2+3: (2)+3: 5
Ravendar stops his song as the rats seem to run away from them. He looks around as he refreshes the dancing lights spell and as he does he notices that cracks in the wall. "That's interesting, look at that." He points out. "No wonder the rats are getting in, some of these cracks are big enough so that even I could fit in one. Not that I'm going to." He points out all the cracks that he can see.
Katsuro was waiting to see if the swarm of rats came at us, but it didn't, it's swarming away, so he dashhes after it. It's a way's away, he gets maybe half way, and from there, he palms a throwing star and flicks it. It nails a rat, killing it dead. The rest of the swarm swarms on. Well, it's a start. First blood is ours.
Torsten carefully moves up to be in line with Katsuro, sword still in hand, the light of the other torches letting his keen eyes see in the dim light. "I really, really, am not liking this." he says with a sigh.
"Ha! They do not come to us! Now we chase!" Paenitia cries happily, and charges down the hallway. Her small feet padding quietly, the long, bound curls of her fetlocks trailing behind her. She ducks past Thorsten.
GAME: Torsten rolls cmb: (9)+4: 13
The red Knight is almost grabbed, but she's surprisingly hard to catch, and ends up a good pole-arm's distance out in front of the giantborn.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (8)+5: 13
As the vermin approach, the Red Knight brings her bardiche down, "Ha!" It slaps the floor, missing all the rats. "Ah! Time for Tarien's little joke."
Well, there lay the vermin!
With her emboldened comrades surging forward to the driving melody of Ravendar's violin, Knightmare, haste compromised by her reinforced shell, does move forward to get to the front lines as her intent, drawing her longblade as she clops heavily past what has assembled thus far.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7
Katsuro skips forward to the rat swarm, and thrusts his narrow blade into a rat, and then another, it's a target rich environment. There's hundreds left, but it's all he can do.
GAME: Ravendar spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
Ravendar sees that the others are giving chase to the rat swarm and that perhaps he was a bit hasty in ending the performance. Leaving them always wanting more might not apply in this instance. He hurries ahead to catch up putting him in between two fo the door ways before he starts to play again. Ravendar picks up right where he left off with the other song, the fiddle music filling the cellar once more. Upbeat and lively, hopefully heartening his companions.
With everyone rushing past him, Torsten calmly keeps his head on a swivel looking for any rats that might be flanking him and the party.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9+1: (6)+5+1: 12
"I cut off your retreat, little squeaks!" Paenitia laughs, and runs through the rats, sowing confusion if nothing else. On the other side of the swarm, she spins and brings her bardiche down.
Again, no rats were harmed during this maneuver.
<OOC> Thurid says, "A pair of dire rats emerge from the crevices near Rav, and attack him." GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (2)+1: 3
Emerging from the dark cracks and fissures in the walls, with much wriggling and squirming, a pair of big, fat, brown-furred rats push themselves out, with eerie red eyes. They gnash and scrabble uselessly at the bard's ankles.
GAME: Torsten rolls melee+1: (19)+3+1: 23 (THREAT) GAME: Torsten rolls melee+1: (8)+3+1: 12 GAME: Torsten rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1+1: 6
With his head on a swivel, Thorsten sees the rats coming out of the wall and quickly rushes to deal with one of the dire rats on the bard. "Get behind me so I'm between you and it. I'll deal with these thing." he says to the bard as there's a flash of steel, a splash of rat blood flying out to spatter against the walls of the tunnel.
<OOC> Knightmare says, "power attack" <OOC> Thurid says, "Remember your inspired +1" GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon1-1+1: (15)+6+-1+1: 21 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d8+6: (2)+6: 8 <OOC> Thurid says, "Swarm overruns Katsuro and Knightmare. Provokes AoOs from Katuro, Knightmare and Paenitia." GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon1-1+1: (1)+6+-1+1: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9+1: (8)+5+1: 14 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8 <OOC> Thurid says, "That finishes off the swarm."
With all the squeaking and clanging going on, the construct almost misses the significantly louder squeaks of fury behind. Knightmare's head turns, seeing Torsten obliterate one of the large rats pressing Ravendar, she expects the two of the can handily deal with the other, and so moves to deal with her nemesis, the swarm. Her sword flashes through the little blighters as she wades into the fray, but as they clambor over under and around her, she makes another swing that sounds a dreadful note against the stone wall.
As the swarm of rats move away from her, Paenitia switches tactics, sweeping her blade low and scraping it along the floor like a spatchula. This works! Several rats are caught up, confused as they scramble, and she catches them against the wall. "Ravendar, we come for you! Back away."
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10
Katsuro thrusts a few more times as the swarm as it tries to move off, and with it moving away, he's got a clear field to cut and slice, and he does so, killing several rats, and those that remain scamper away separately. This good work done, he turns to see one last rat, and he dashes back to deal with that as well. A swift thrust with his narrow-bladed shortsword and that rat, too, is dispatched.
Ravendar dodges away from the biting teeth of the two rats that come out of the holes at him. "More rats back this way." He says as he keeps playing the fiddle playing. He doesn't miss a note as the inspiring music continues to fill the narrow hallway. He nods his thanks to Torsten as the Giantborn makes quick work of one of the rats and the Katsuro comes back for the other one. He looks around as he doesn't see more rats so he stops playing once more. "If anyone is hurt I do have a little healing magic. We might also start by trying to clear out these rooms. Katsuro you have the keys correct?"
<OOC> Thurid says, "Alright, roll an attack paenitia, -4" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (17)+5-4: 18 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6 <OOC> Thurid says, "Your bardiche comes back bloody."
"They are rats! They hide like rats, my friend, look carefully." Paenitia says, advancing on the nearest hole in the wall. She stabs, "Ha!"
She meets wet resistance. Her bardiche comes back bloodier. Giggling gleefully, she shouts, "They are still in the walls!"
<OOC> Thurid says, "Rats come swarming out from under the door next to Knightmare, provokes" GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon1+1-1: (1)+6+1+-1: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (5): 5
Just as things seem to be settled, the death screech of the hidden rat Paenitia impaled seems to stir up a second surge of vermin, they come flooding out from the gap beneath the door Knightmare finds themselves next to. They are promptly crawling all over the mechanical knight, gnawing at exposed parts wherever they can sink their little sharp teeth into.
<OOC> Torsten nods. Drop Kukri Free action, move up to the swarm and draw bastard sword, and slashy slash GAME: Torsten rolls weapon1: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Torsten rolls 1d10+3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Torsten rolls damage1: aliased to 1d10+1: (10)+1: 11
Torsten moves back to the new threat, dropping his Kukri to the ground with a clank, his Bastard sword clearing it's scabard as he swings underhanded slicing into the swarm.
<OOC> Knightmare says, "i will power attack and shield slam for extra squishy" GAME: Knightmare rolls melee-1: (3)+6+-1: 8
Being swarmed seems to be her lot in Alexandria...
Knightmare brings her blade back and tries to squish the rats swarming her with a fierce blow of her steel shield, but only manages to ruin it's pristine veneer.
GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4
Katsuro looks around, acks, dashes -back- to where the rats are coming through the wall. He skids to a stop, and stabs a couple rats, though they're still coming.
GAME: Ravendar spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
Ravendar backs up more away from the cracks that the rats are coming out of. He sees that another rat swarm has come out of the wall and he once more starts the music that will give everyone the courage to continue to fight.
Although no more rats make themselves obvious for the time being, the sounds of tiny feet scuttling through the cracks and crevices in the walls can be heard- barely, over the sound of the squeaking swarm all over Knightmare.
<OOC> Thurid says, "As you move away from the hole in the wall, something snaps at your heels." GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (12)+1: 13 GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (19)+5: 24 (THREAT) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
"I come!" Paenitia announces, moving away from the chewed section of wall. Something out of sight snaps at her, and misses. "Beware. There are more in the holes."
Coming up behind the Knightmare, the Red Knight slings her bardiche between the warhorse, wargolem's legs and skewers a good number onto the blade. Pulling it back, she flicks to clear them. "I am here, I have your back."
<OOC> Thurid says, "Swarm spreads out. Provokes from Paenitia, Katsuro and Tor" GAME: Torsten rolls weapon1: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8 <OOC> Thurid says, "Alright, Roll your AoO Katsuro." GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 <OOC> Thurid says, "Damage on Katsuro, Torston and Knightmare" GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d6: (1): 1 <OOC> Thurid says, "Fort saves, Torsten, katsuro." GAME: Katsuro rolls fortitude: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Torsten rolls fort: (5)+2: 7 <OOC> Thurid says, "No immediate effect."
As the swarm spills out into the corridor, the Red Knight swings again, cutting another bloody swath through the vermin, spraying their entrails across the wall. "It is the abbatoir of life, little rats! The fat times, they are over!"
The swarm of rats continue spilling out of the doorway, spreading out as they do so and finding their way towards warm flesh- driven mad by the scent of blood, their eyes bear a predatory glint far removed from their usual, scavenger nature as they tear across the adventurers, biting off strips of skin, climbing up trouser legs and down shirts to scratch and gnaw at those unlucky enough to be caught in their flood.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Dire rat emerges and attacks Katsuro, no AoOs since they are all spent." GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (14)+1: 15
Torsten steps back, leans against the wall, "Gotta take a breather."
Yet another pair of beady eyes, these belnging to an enormous rat, the size of a small dog, with a profusion of unpleasant-looking growths on its face and flank emerges from the dark cracks in the walls, snapping at Katsuro's ankles and failing to find purchase.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Rat 5 emerges next to Rav again, and attacks." GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (6)+1: 7
Rav must be the pied piper, because his fiddle seems to attract more than his fair share of attention from the largest of the rats. Another one springs forth from the crack in the wall and lunges at him, but his fancy footwork flumoxxes the foul creature which gets only a mouth full of dust from the floor.
"I make room for you to step out the rats." Paenitia says, "In a moment..."
GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon1-1: (6)+6+-1: 11
"Appreciated!" Knightmare replies to Paenitia's support, then makes another swipe, this time with her sword, but, alas, it's very hard to hit things crawling on yourself without applying damage to the same.
<OOC> Ravendar says, "Bard Song: Inspire Courage is back up btw, +1/+1" GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6 <OOC> Thurid says, "More dead rats, swarm disperses."
Katsuro fights on against the rats crawling all over him, swiping them away with one hand and stabbing them as they drop to the ground. The swarm was getting pretty thin, and it's not a unified force at the best of times, but any cohesion it had seems to have fallen by the wayside and the remaining rats go their separate ways.
GAME: Ravendar casts Ear-Piercing Scream. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 <OOC> Ravendar says, "Fort save DC 14 or be dazed" GAME: Thurid rolls 3: (11)+3: 14 GAME: Ravendar rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Ravendar spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
Ravendar dodges out of the way of the rat that attacked him and he backs up towards the party. "I could use a little help back here please." He says as he continues to play on his fiddle. He sees that the others are busy and he sighs, "Looks like I'll have to try to take this one out myself." He says as he pauses for but a moment to wave the bow and then with a word of magic, he lets loose a scream towards the dire rat. Ravendar does some damage as he resumes his playing.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Another rat emerges and goes for Paenitia again. Provokes since she has reach." GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (19)+5: 24 (THREAT) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9: aliased to 1d8+1+1: (8)+1+1: 10 <OOC> Thurid says, "Splat goes the rat." GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon9+2+1: (12)+5+2+1: 20 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage9+1: aliased to 1d8+1+1: (8)+1+1: 10
Rats! Rats! They are coming out of the walls! Dire rats, fearsome, large, nearly as much as the Dark Lucht. She seems unflappable, although it's hard to tell. Her ever-smiling mask hides any expressions she might have. Fear, worry. It is always, a big grin.
As one rat rushes at her from the norther wall, out of a hole that tried to nibble her, she spins and strikes. Her bardiche snaps the incisors off the rat, as the blade plunges down its throat. With a twist she pulls it free, flinging an arc of blood.
She dances, across the hall, putting one between her and Katsuro. It looks, the small threat, the big threat? It thinks too long. Without hesitation she rams her blade into its side, cutting through, the bardiche bursting from its chest and slicing the inner foreleg. That rat, goes down.
"Ole! Two more. Be wary still, but rejoice, we all still stand and they do not!"
<OOC> Thurid says, "Rat gives chase, and continues trying to nibble bardly toes." GAME: Thurid rolls 1: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Thurid rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2 GAME: Ravendar rolls fort: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Ravendar casts Saving Finale. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Ravendar rolls fort: (20)+3: 23 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
The rat attacking Ravendar, the one with the ghastly growrths, waddles after him as he backs off, and lunges at the last moment, sinking its filthy, yellowed teeth into the Lucht's big toe deep enough to draw blood.
GAME: Knightmare rolls weapon1: (2)+6: 8
WIth the swarm taken, Knightmare nods a, "Thank you, friend!" and moves in to support their belieagured bards. Her blade lashes out, but, she can't seem to make contact.
<OOC> Thurid says, "Alrighty, give me an acrobatics roll to tumble." GAME: Katsuro rolls acrobatics: (9)+9: 18 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d20+8: (15)+8: 23 GAME: Katsuro rolls 1d6+3+1d6: (1)+3+(1): 5
Katsuro dashes back to the last rat, and thrusts in with his sword. It's an off-balance attack, but it's enough, and the blade pierces the rat through and through. He looks around frantically for more targets, but doesn't see any. "Is that the last of them?" he asks.
Quiet falls over the dark corridor, now- while the odd rat scurries away, seeking refuge in dark corners away from the adventurers, it seems they have culled enough of them that any that may remain are not so emboldened as to attack.
Ravendar checks out the bite he got on his toe, "That's going to smart for a couple of days. I hope so, but we better check all the rooms before we give it the all clear.' He suggests as he looks around and listens for any sound of scratching in the walls.
"We prevail my friends. The battle is won." Paenitia says cheerfully. She pulls out a rag and wipes off the blade of her bardiche. She moves first to the Knightmare, patting her hip, "You are well, they did not get in the seams? I will help you wash."
Looking at Ravendar, she stares at his feet, then her own, then the gore in the hallway. "Be careful, their teeth were dirty."
"I will be quiet, we may hear them nibbling, then we should check the doors, as you say."
With Katsuro's keys, opening up the remaining rooms doesn't take too long- the adventurers stumble across a handfull more rats, though none of the giant sort, and prone to fleeing. They manage to dispatch a couple more in the process of surveying the remaining rooms. Aside from a clean up- rat gore, droppings, and ruined stock in the stores- which is thankfully not what the adventurers have been paid for, it seems their work is done here. For the time being, at any rate. The rats always seem to come back, after all.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
24 Rat Swarm 1
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19 Katsuro 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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19 Ravendar 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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18 Torsten 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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18 Paenitia 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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13 Knightmare 1
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===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 4 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
19 Katsuro 1
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19 Ravendar 1
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18 Dire Rat 6 1
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18 Paenitia 1
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17 Rat Swarm 2 1
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>> 17 Dire Rat 4 1 <<
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14 Torsten 1
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14 Dire Rat 5
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13 Knightmare 1
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==============================================================================
Maps
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=m8htl2a4yqv
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mzs1pz8061w