Its just a Cat, isn't it?

After the conversation last night about not receiving anything for this plot, I cleaned up the logs I took that day and am sending them in. I don't know what everyone's levels were/are in this log just that it was run by Kayin and at one point he said that he needed to submit it into Swift. Hope this helps so that everyone involved in the plot can get the recognition for having done it. I was just a little upset when I found out it hadn't been sent in just because two of us almost died a couple of times during this plot. *chuckles* Thanks for letting me send it in on behalf of everyone in it.

-Blu'Shim

ShadowHawk looks around for something to set on fire, and at the same time is pulling his pipe out of a pouch

not finding anything to start on fire ShadowHawk sits down and stikes some tinder to light the pipe and sits down unsuccessfuly trying to blow smoke rings in the shape of a dragon. "Rings are easy to do I want a challenge do dragons it is!"

ShadowHawk Tamps out his pipe and puts it and his tinder box away muttering something about dragons, then stands up.

ShadowHawk looks over at Blu "ready for some fun sis?" He appears to be speaking in Sylvan

BluShim grunts over at ShadowHawk "Of course baby brother!" She appears to be speaking in Orc

ShadowHawk Grunts back "thats good, you think we get to blow things you today?" He appears to be speaking in Orc

There has been posts put up in the various inn's and boards where Adventuring types or professional troubleshooters would notice. A local granary has need of someone to come assist them with a problem. Any inquiries beyond the note asks that interested parties stop by the granary at the start of evening after their deliveries for the day and other work has been completed. Those who arrive are shown into the business office and off the cold street as night is rapidly falling. Inside the office is a rather bedraggled looking human man, of course dressed for the weather as if preparing to leave for the night. There is a fire in the fireplace and the room is toasty warm however, so sweat is matting his thin brown hair. "Please do come in." He offers to those who arrive, "Thank you for your assistance with this problem. My name is Gram." Gram introduces himself.

Talon steps into the room and shifts his shield to his back, shrugging a bit as he does "You are welcome sir, what is it that seems to be the problem? Rats?"

ShadowHawk walks in looks around walks over to Gram and sticks out his little hand "hi my name is Shea Hamilton Alleyne Dunham Oberon Wendel Harken Aerynn Weylin Keegan of the Skyye clan in Meloria, its nice to meet you, I've heard you have a problem. what is it you want me to do? is it always this hot in here?"

Taking the opportunity to assist the granary, Siwan shows up at the office with a glance around. Looking up at the human man, she offers a charming smile and bobs her head, "Greetings, I am Siwan. It looks like you have some need of assistance." She seems rather cheerful as she comes into the toasty warm office, looking pleased in general as she glances over at the others who are also in the room with a polite nod of her head.

Blu'Shim walks into the office with ShadowHawk, she looks around the office and looks up at the man who just introduced himself as Gram. "Hey there Mister Gram" she says cheerfully. "I'll stick to the short version of my name for now, I'm Blu'Shim" she smiles brightly.

Aipoc moves in behind the others as they gather in around the man. Towering over the rest of them his face is stoic, impassive, and hideous to look upon. A large wooden shield is strapped to his back, and he stands there silently, arms crossed into the opposite sleeves of his robes. He doesn't speak for the moment.

Kayin arrives with Siwan, quiet, without all the excitement of the others and takes up position just behind Siwan like a looming bodyguard of sorts. Well looming if he was taller anyways. He simply nods up to the human, Gram, and then glances around the others. He looks down at Siwan and says quietly, "Well it seems our professional adventurer life is beginning." He notes with a smile.

Gram looks around those who have arrived and then shakes the gnome's hand politely but doesn't even bother to try and keep up with that round of names. He instead smiles and then turns his attention to the group at large. "Well this is a bit embarassing, but we have a rat problem. We've been fine for years but now of late there are more and more rats, and the cats can't keep up with them." He explains. "They don't seem to have been getting into the grain, but if rumors start and persist about it, there could be a scare among the populace. Not something we need right now after the recent troubles yes?" He smiles, a bit shakily, "To whit, I have been authorized to offer the sum of fifty gold each to any and all whom can help us with this problem. I know it's not much, but it -is- only rats. No challenge for the likes of adventurers yes?"

Talon smiles a bit and looks at the others "I think we can handle them easyly enough, are they normal rats or..larger?"

BluShim looks to ShadowHawk and mumbles "it's never 'just' anything" sounding unsure of the rat problem, but is ready to help out.

ShadowHawk looks around at the group of adventures that has arrived to kill the rats "just rats lets get started." then the word "gold" acctually sinks in to his head he turns over to Gram and sticks out his hand " I'll take mine now thank you" he says with an innocent grin.

Aipoc nods impassively, still silent for now, but indicating his agreement to the job with the short inclination of his head. He glances around at the others for a brief moment, then returns his attention to this 'Gram' in front of him.

Siwan leans back slightly and grins at Kayin as he speaks to her quietly. "Yes, about time.." She smiles and looks pleased as she responds to Kayin. Straightening, she looks towards Gram again and goes silent as she listens to him speak about the rats. Glancing at the others as they speak, she continues to smile and waits patiently. Turning finally to Kayin, she tilts her head thoughtfully, "If there are other things that come up, things not rats, you are authorized to compensate us if this occurs, yes?"

Gram looks over towards ShadowHawk and shakes his head, "I am only to provide funds upon successfully completing the task good gnome." He says with all seriousness. He rakes a hand through his thin hair and then tries to smooth it over the balding spot. He looks back towards the others and then looks towards Siwan, "Ah I'm afraid you'll have to take that up with the owners, I have only been authorized to the amount specified. If there -is- something out of the ordinary anything you find is of course yours to keep or disperse as you see fit." He shrugs a bit then answers the question about the size of the rats, "Ah no, normal rats. We have several cats that until recently were able to keep the rat population under control. Now they just seem to be overwhelmed."

Kayin looks ready to follow Siwan wherever it is she may go. He reaches to rub his chin and then chuckles softly at the questions but seems to be listening and learning.

Talon nods slowly and grins at BLushim as she asks her question "On one hand I hope it's just rats...on the other" He shrugs and chuckles.

ShadowHawk says "ok I'll take a look around but since you give us the ok to do anything within our discretion maybe we should just burn down the whole place, that will get rid of all the rats for quite some time

Siwan glances at ShadowHawk and quirks an eyebrow. She laughs and shakes her head, "Friend, I think that defeats the purpose of getting rid of the rats to protect the granary..." Amused, she giggles a bit more and looks over to Gram again. "I see, thank you. I don't think I have any more questions."

As the others continue their questions, the large halforc slowly removes his red and black shield from his back and straps it on his arm, then says in a quiet rumble, "Where do we begin?" Aipoc rests his hand on the head of the large flail at his side.

BluShim nods and heaves a little sigh "I hate rats" she mumbles.

Gram looks a bit shocked at ShadowHawk, "Are you -insane-?" He asks incredulously, "You are not to destroy the granary! Do you know how many people would STARVE because of such an action?" He then looks over towards Siwan as she at least shows some understanding of the issue and he frets, smoothing his hair again before looking towards Aipoc, "This way, so long as you understand that this is to protect the food, not destroy it." Another look at ShadowHawk before he heads towards a back door in the office, "Through here. Last door at the end of the hall is the main Granary. We have it locked up tight to deter theft but we've not enabled the traps for your safety."

Talon glances at Shadowhawk and shakes his head slightly then looks down the hallway, then to Gram "Thank you, that will make things a bit easier for us I suspect" He turns to the others "Shall we?

ShadowHawk blinks "I was just saying it would be an effective way to kill the rats, not that I was going to for sure." he pouts "lets get these rats killed, that at least seems like it might be some fun. Now do we need to kill the cats too?"

BluShim nudges her little brother "always you with the burning of the things down" she shakes her head.

Kayin looks over at ShadowHawk and then mutters to himself mostly, "And people be wonderin' why me be in general not happy bein' around gnomes." He then nods to Gram and then moves his shield from his back to his arm just in case he needs it though he doesn't draw a weapon just yet. Of course he could have done that just so it doesn't catch on anything in the granary. "Let us be going me thinks."

Siwan glances over at Kayin and smiles to him. She murmers quietly, "Things will be fine.." Looking over to Gram then, she inclines her head politely, "Lead on, good Sir." A smile coming to her features as she turns to move and follow him. "Do not worry, sir. We will have everything taken care of."

GAME: ShadowHawk casts Mage Armor Metamagic: None. Spell Level: 1

Aipoc follows Gram, ducking through the door as he enters it. He glances around as he moves through, trying to get an idea of the layout of the building.

BluShim adjusts her pack and follows Aipoc through the doorway.

ShadowHawk looks around "well if we're getting started..." he looks up with what looks like flames dripping out of his eyes then mumbles something in Draconinic as a shimmer appears around him then dissapears. ShadowHawk then follows through the doorway

Following Gram down the hall there is a pair of doors on each side of the hall, normal wooden affairs though reinforced with iron struts. Like most buildings in the city, this one is made of stone and quite sturdy though once out of the front office the temperate drops significantly without being the pure cold of outside at night. Breath fogs as people breath and Gram unlocks the door and opens it, through the doorway is a large warehouse filled with sacks stacked up on shelves in rows presumably filled with grain. For a rat problem, there is no sign no sound of such a problem. Gram waits for the others to go through and then says, "I will be waiting in the office, I'll leave this door unlocked so you can leave when finished."

Talon nods to Gram and steps through, looking aroudn carefully as he does. Looking for signs of rats or such.

ShadowHawk pulls out his light crossbow and readys a bolt in it then looks around the room "Well when hunting rats, shoot them before they bite you."

Aipoc nods to Gram and stands to the side to let the others through the door first, so he doesn't block it from view. Looking over their heads he studies the bags of grain for a moment. Once the rest of the group is through the door, Aipoc steps through behind them, standing in the doorway for a moment.

Kayin steps into the warehouse with a smile towards Siwan and then he too begins to look around. "Rats be perhaps to smart for their own good. I can be tryin' to talk to them but can no be certain that they will be listenin' or willin' to give up such a place as this be."

Once inside the granary it's dimensions can be more easily taken in, this room is huge, several rows of shelving at least a score of feet high. Several ladders can be seen around where the workers use to place and remove bags from the higher reaches. The ceiling is wood and thatch reinforced for the weather of course and managing to keep out the worst of the cold. For the moment there is nothing to be seen as far as most can tell. If one had to guess the rooms size, it would be in the scope of a hundred feet to a side and twenty five feet high from floor to ceiling.

BluShim looks up at Aipoc as she steps thru the doorway, her hand on her sword "If you don't mind Aipoc I think that I might stay nearest to you" she says to the half orc hoping that he doesn't mind too much. She appears to be speaking in Orc

ShadowHawk wanders further into the room and climbs up on one of the grain bags to sit down "so what do we walk around or just find somewhere to wwait for the rats to show themselves?"

Siwan looks around as she steps into the large room. She looks over at Kayin and gives him a quiet smile. "Yes but, all we have to do is be smarter than rats." Winking playfully, she looks up at the ceiling curiously and then over to the shelving. "Hmm..", she murmers to herself, pulling out her crossbow and setting in a bolt in preparation.

Aipoc nods slightly in response to BluShim though he still seems somewhat reticent. Drawing out his flail he glances around at the others and waits to see what their ideas are of attacking this problem.

Talon sighs and fingers the scar on his neck "Perhaps if we douse the light?

Speaking of lighting, the room is lit by several everburning torches as it has no windows natural light is not an option. The torches seem affixed into the stone by means of metal bracketing mounts and could be feasibly removed perhaps but to cloak the light would be a large undertaking in and of itself. GAME: Aipoc rolls spot: 5 GAME: Talon rolls spot: 15 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls spot: 14 GAME: BluShim rolls spot: 8 GAME: Siwan rolls spot: 9 GAME: Kayin rolls spot: 21

Looking around there is no sign of any rats, or any cats at all. Almost as if this warehouse was as quiet as a tomb. The grain shifts under ShadowHawk as he sits, yes, the sacks are full of grain but none of the sacks are open and there is no grain spilt to the floor or the like. Shadows are everywhere though, thrown by the light from the many everburning torches to hide the view and the light stopping more esoteric modes of vision.

As people settle in to wait out the rats, Kayin is looking around as well, staying near Siwan for the most part like an overprotective bodyguard or the like and then he blinks, peering in the corner of one of the racks. He makes a soft chittering sound as if in question towards someone, or something before he quite visibly pales under his brown skin. "These aren't rats anymore..." He says to everyone else as he reaches for the sickle on his waist, "Something be very wrong here, prepare yourselves."

As the halfling speaks there is more movement, readily seen, rat and cat moving together out of the shadows from every direction. They look normal, until one takes a closer look and notices that the animals are moving as one with a slow shuffling sort of gait... Looking around there is no sign of any rats, or any cats at all. Almost as if this warehouse was as quiet as a tomb. The grain shifts under ShadowHawk as he sits, yes, the sacks are full of grain but none of the sacks are open and there is no grain spilt to the floor or the like. Shadows are everywhere though, thrown by the light from the many everburning torches to hide the view and the light stopping more esoteric modes of vision.

As people settle in to wait out the rats, Kayin is looking around as well, staying near Siwan for the most part like an overprotective bodyguard or the like and then he blinks, peering in the corner of one of the racks. He makes a soft chittering sound as if in question towards someone, or something before he quite visibly pales under his brown skin. "These aren't rats anymore..." He says to everyone else as he reaches for the sickle on his waist, "Something be very wrong here, prepare yourselves."

As the halfling speaks there is more movement, readily seen, rat and cat moving together out of the shadows from every direction. They look normal, until one takes a closer look and notices that the animals are moving as one with a slow shuffling sort of gait...

Aipoc immediately pulls his flail up in front of him, chanting something in a gutteral, jagged prayer. The flail begins to glow slightly soon after he begins his chant - apparently his weapon /is/ his holy symbol and he's apparently either attempting to turn or rebuke these undead little creatures.

ShadowHawk looks at the rats and cats coming towards him and climbs a little hight on the grain sack with his crossbow ready. "it look like we have company and that the cats joined forces with the rats, no wonder they couldn't clean up the rat problem dirty traitors all of them."

In a swift motion Blu'Shim draws her sword and disappears.

GAME: BluShim rolls hide: 35 GAME: BluShim rolls move silently: 34

Talon glances around frowning then makes a sign in front of him murmuring to himself. Each of the party members glwos a bit with positive energy. At the shuffling sound, Siwan looks over at Kiyan with a wide-eyed look. When he warns everyone, she swallows and turns to look as things slowly begin to shuffle out of the shadows. "Oh my Lord..", she murmers to herself and also climbs onto a grain sack, quickly murmering something beneath her breath, a glow appearing around her small form as a magical shield appears.

GAME: Siwan casts Mage Armor. GAME: Talon casts Bless.

In a swift motion Blu'Shim draws her sword and disappears behind Aipoc.

GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+1: 19 GAME: Aipoc rolls 2d6+3+1: 15

More and more little rats come shuffling out from under everywhere, up high, down low. The cats are sticking to the floor for the moment and none of them move with any of their normal grace. At the moment a half a dozen rats, anywhere from six inches to a foot in length are making no sound at all. They just approach the adventurer's. The two cats come from the east and west (Right and left of the party) stalking forwards, that is until Aipoc's divine power washes over them. All of the once living animals pause and cower at best, just standing and staring at the half orc with open gaping little mouths. At least for now.

GAME: Talon rolls Charisma: 17 GAME: Talon rolls 2d6+2+2: 11

Talon turns and loosk at the encroaching rats and..other.. things. Looking upwards he offers a prayer to his goddess then points at the beasties "In the name of Skadia I command you.. BEGONE!" There is a sucking sound as the bodies crumble and turn to dust.

BluShim peeks out from behind Aipoc eyes wide with wonder "whoa" she breathes out "that was neat"

ShadowHawk looks at the crumbling bodies then at Talon then begins to look around to see if any more are coming for somewhere else.

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls spot: 6

Atop one of the grain piles, Siwan stands there at the ready with her crossbow, a glow about her tiny form protecting her. She watches as Talon commands the creatures to just -be gone-, and they quite literally comply. Smiling brightly, she looks over at Talon then and says cheerfully, "Well, there you go. That was easy!"

Kayin, with sickle drawn and ready to face the encroaching undead starts to murmur under his breath, "There be no place on this world fer abominations such as these. It be our duty to destroy th-" a pause as all the little corpses crumble to dust, "em." He finishes and then looks around as well, glancing over towards Aipoc and then Talon, nodding his thanks. "Thank you both. Your powers be impressive." He notes.

Of course it couldn't be that easy, several of the little monsters are hidden behind sacks and under the cover of wood to shield them from the power of the Priests' might. As more of the undead come shambling out in another wave these seem to be as listless as the others. Two rats per adventurer now, coming out of the darkness and from between cracks in that horrible ways rats do. Four more cats come stalking out, one still carrying a rat in it's mouth dead of course, well it should be dead it -looks- dead, but it is still twitching and moving like it was in pain though in silent agony.

Aipoc lowers his flail as the creatures crumble to dust. A small sneer at them crosses his face, but he regains his composure. Glancing around as the others come out of the stacks he makes himself ready to fight these creatures.

GAME: Siwan rolls concentration: 26 GAME: Siwan casts Magic Missile. GAME: Siwan rolls 1d4+1: 5

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 17 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 13 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 6 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 8 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 13 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 14 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 6 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 22 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 4 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 11 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d3: 1

GAME: Talon rolls charisma: 18 GAME: Talon rolls 2d6+2+2: 10

Seeing the rat and cat zombies coming out from behind things, being hidden, Siwan shudders a moment. She lifts her hand and says a simple word, the magic coelescing around her hand into a ball of energy. Shooting forward, the magic missile shoots from her hand and slams into the nearest rat crawling up her little grainstack she is standing on. Obliterating it, Siwan turns in surprise as another rat comes up behind her and tries to bite her. Luckily she moves out of the way just in time and it bites into pure air before suddenly it goes still and crumbles to dust at Talon's command. Looking over at him, she gives a smile, "Well, thanks again!"

Aipoc has time only to stand there and get bitten before these zombies crumble as the last. He shakes his head and mutters to himself, "Seems like I am not needed here."

ShadowHawk carefully aims his crossbow at one of the rats that are attacking him. He takes a deep breath to steady his aim, is just about to pull the trigger and the rat crumbles to dust. he looks around and seing that they all crumbled again gives a quick smile of thanks at Talon, before looking around again for attackers.

Blu'Shim peeks out from behind Aipoc again, upon seeing two rats coming towards her she steps out from behind him ending up just right of him, and standing only about as tall as his knee. She gets set into stance waiting for the rats to take the first move, she grips the hilt of her sword and squints at them watching them. The first of the leap at her, anticipating it's leap she sidesteps the stupid thing, she turns back to see the other one lunge towards her it's zombie jaws snapping at her but missing as well. She shakes her head at them and just as she's about to swing her mighty little sword, the rats turn to dust. "I hear ya my rather large friend, seems none of us are. Save for Talon" she says up to Aipoc.

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls spot: 7

Talon sighs and makes another motion with his hands "Again, do not soil this plane with your presence.." He makes a flicking motion and the Zombies again disintigrate into dust, crumbling to the ground. He looks at the other sheepsih "Sorry"

Kayin dodges behind his shield as Zombie rats charge forwards leaping towards the adventurer's with clashing teeth, luckily the two attacking him can't seem to bite through his armor, or even land on the nimble halfling in the first place while checking the immediate area for other threats and those who may need assistance from the assault. When all the little rats and cats crumble to dust again under the onslaught of the cleric's divine faith he breaths a sigh of relief, "You be alright Siwan?" He checks with the halfling woman first before asking everyone else, "Everyone be ok?" He chuckles at the others and then shrugs, "It be better to be here and useless, than not here and needed yeh?"

As the party is recovering from the surprise attack of the second wave of zombie rodents and felines there is a gust of cold cold air, as if someone had opened a door nearby to the outside, not just to the hallway. Standing in the doorway opposite the one the group had entered is a hooded and cloaked figure all in black, it's impossible to make out their features, or even their race or gender due to the heavy bundling. The ever burning torches cast a constant light that doesn't waver from the gust of freezing air. The cloaked figure looks at each adventurer closely but then when noticing that it is spotted the figure turns and runs away from the granary and down the cold city street into the night.

ShadowHawk looks at the running figure "do we chase or do we just turn around and go get our gold? the rats seem to be dead now."

Siwan looks over at Kayin and gives him a warm smile. "I'm okay, Kayin. I'm too agile for a zombie rat to bite me." Winking, she pauses and turns to look at the door as the cold burst of air is felt. Shivering, she looks at the cloaked figure and frowns. "Who are y--..", she's about to demand that until the figure turns and runs off. "If it's the cause of the undead rats, I say we follow..", she is already moving towards the door.

Talon nods "I agree Siwan" He moves to follow her, his scimitar coming out now.

BluShim looks up to where ShadowHawk stands on the grain and shrugs "C'mon little brother don't you want to die again?" she chuckles and winks. She appears to be speaking in Gnome

Aipoc glances at the figure before it flees and says, "I want to get to the bottom of this, now." he begins moving, his mass picking up speed as he moves across to the door, his flail still out, he chases the figure out into the night.

ShadowHawk grins over at Blu "Dying is always fun" he then rolls down the grain stacks to the floor and follows the big orc and blu out of the building. He appears to be speaking in Gnome

Kayin is already moving with Siwan and the others for the door, "I no be lettin' them be gettin' away without be answerin' some questions as to why they be here at night and why they be runnin'. The gold be here when we be gettin' back but they be gettin' away." He slings his sickle onto his belt loop again so he can move easier.

The figure is seen up ahead and down the street in the protected lights the city uses to keep the streets illuminated in all weather at night. Robes billow about them but still no sign of race or gender can be seen beyond 'bigger than a halfling or gnome, not as big as an ogre'. Two streets down the robed figure takes a turn into the 'slummier' parts of the city.

Siwan runs with the others, to catch up with the figure. She makes sure to not be first though, allowing Aipoc to be front line if he desires, as well as Kayin and anybody else. Holding her crossbow as she moves, she looks towards the slummier section with a frown, "Well, looks like he's heading towards an interesting part of the city." Aipoc picks up BluShim and trusses her on ahead of everyone else, the halflings and the other gnome trying to keep up, or at least keep the half-orc and his 'partner' in sight. The air is bitterly cold, biting at fingers, toes, faces, ears, and noses already as steam seems to puff from each individual's mouth and nose as they breath. Rounding the corner Aipoc and BluShim can see the robed figure turn down another corner up ahead. Everyone moving at speed through the night making the cold bitterly worse. Talon, staying with the smaller people might seem to be moving agonizingly slow in contrast due to shorter legs and fighting gusts of wind though Kayin does not seem to be affected by the weather and snow much at all but making sure to not outdistance Siwan and ShadowHawk.

As Aipoc rounds the corner carrying BluShim the two suddenly find themselves not alone. Seeing the robed figure go through a door into a rundown home or shop the door slams shut after spewing out four bundled and armored men, human by the looks, all wearing heavy chainmail and carrying longswords. With a cry of pure fanaticism, the four start charging towards Aipoc and BluShim.

Aipoc skids to a halt as he sees the men coming out of the door. He doesn't even bother to put Blu down, instead begins immediately casting a spell upon himself, praying for strength in the gutteral language of the orcs.

Blu'Shim jumps down to the ground after Aipoc skids to a halt and stands beside the large half orc with her sword drawn.

GAME: Aipoc casts Bull's Strength. GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d4+1: 2

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 22 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8: 3 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 14 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+3: 14 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+9: 11 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 8 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 22 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 21 GAME: Kayin rolls 2d8: 7

Aipoc finishes casting and he immediately takes a hit even as the muscles in his arms and chest begin expanding and building upon themselves, making him even more fearsome. He shakes it off though and swings his flail at the man, cleanly missing, and shearing a piece of brick out of a nearby wall with the force of his swing. A feral roar of rage rains spittle hot meaty breath into the face of the zealot as Aipoc misses.

After jumping down to the ground with sword in hand, Blu'Shim just barely dives out of the way as the first zealot(4) lunges at her, as it goes by her she swings to slice it but it's armour deflects the hit. Just when she stands to get her bearings back again she realizes there is another zealot(2) comes at her swinging it's sword, and manages to slice her arm across her bicep, she cries out in pain.

As the rest of the party runs as fast as they are able through the cold, slick city streets the four humans charge forwards and into the fray. Two on each Aipoc and BluShim they ask for no quarter and give none. Longswords are brought down in vicious arcs, swinging two and fro and scoring on the two adventurer's who stand alone outnumbered two to one. As the battle progresses the sounds of combat begin to ring, metal on metal, hollowed out by the wind and weather to appear even more tinny and slightly weak though no less deadly as hot blood begins to spill into the cold weather, steaming on the night air.

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 14 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 15 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8: 2 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+3: 5 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+9: 12 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 11 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 14

Aipoc, roaring, takes another swing, this one as ineffective as the last. The power behind it affecting nothing more than the air as it whiffs by the zealot. Aipoc is able to bring his shield up though as one of his enemies swings at him, deflecting the blow.

Blu'Shim spies the Zealot coming back towards her she goes to dodge it but it clips her again, giving her another slice. She cries out again and in her anger takes a swing at it, in her frustration she misses it which was good because as she misses that one, the one coming up on the other side of her misses her.

The humans are certainly not new to battle, they wield their weapons with skill and practice, possibly mercenaries at one time or maybe militia trained in their home towns. Either way the four move with practiced ease, avoiding blows from the two adventurer's while trying to strike their own. One of the zealots managed to catch BluShim again with another light blow, the other missing the small gnome woman but only barely, the tip of his blade almost scoring her flesh while both manage to stay out of the range of her blade. The two on Aipoc seem to be at almost a stand off, no side gaining, or losing ground as of yet beyond the initial moments of combat.

GAME: Siwan rolls 1d20+6: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+6: 12 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 8 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d20+6: 15 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 20 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8: 6 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+3: 22 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+3: 15 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d6: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 20 GAME: Aipoc casts Hold Person. GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8: 3 GAME: Aipoc rolls Concentration: 8 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+5: 15 GAME: Talon rolls 1d20+2: 10 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+3: 7

Talon mutters about something under his breath and charges to help his fellow Cleric

After being hit again and gaining another new soon to be scar, Blu'Shim starts a string of gnomish curses that makes her borther blush, as she swings her sword as she lunges at the sucker that's been attacking her (Z4) and slices and dices him up pretty badly. Unfortunately he's still standing tho.

ShadowHawk comes skidding around the corner and shoots a bolt of at on of the Zelot's attacking his sister the bolt flies true and hits him but not hard enough to pierce his armor the bolt stick there quivering as he starts to reload the cross bow.

Running along, Siwan comes skidding to a stop as she sees the fighting. Raising her crossbow, she aims towards one of the men on Blu and shoots, unfortunately she's really off and nearly hits Blu! Wincing, she gasps and cries out, "Sorry!", she even apologizes for her bad shooting.

Kayin rounds the corner and upon seeing their two compatriots, for now at least, charges forwards into the fray as he readies his sickle again. He lashes out in a swing towards the hurt man but cannot manage to get through his armor unfortunatly so he is still standing even still.

As the rest of the group enters the fray, we have Aipoc and BluShim with one human on either side of them, all fighting. Bolts begin to whip through the air and Kayin and Talon charge to reinforce BluShim and Aipoc. As Aipoc tries to cast a spell the two zealots on him lash out quickly, one scoring a strong enough blow to interrupt the spell as it is being cast and wasting the energies of it sending more half-orc blood spilling. BluShim is struck again and things are by no means saved at this point, even though one of the men is fighting with bulging intestine trying to eak through his chainmail. Twenty feet from the general melee is Siwan and ShadowHawk, preparing to unleash more bolts or spells from a safe distance.

Aipoc for all intents and purposes, stands there and does nothing but mutter some stuff while he lets one of the zealots hit him.

GAME: Siwan casts Magic Missile. GAME: Siwan rolls 1d4+1: 2 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 14 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d20+6: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d2: 2 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20: 20 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 4 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+3: 17 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+9: 27 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d10+7: 13 GAME: Kayin rolls concentration: 16 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8+2: 10 GAME: Kayin casts Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Talon rolls 1d20+3: 8 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 16 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8: 8

Talon ducks a few swings and as the one he's swinging at falls he steps to engage another, seeing Kayin taking care of the badly hurt BLu.

Blu'Shim can barely keep track as the Zealots lunge at her and miss, she seems to be spinning in circles trying to keep up. With Z4 missing her she turns to him as he loses his balance since his intestines are trying to take a look around, he falls to his knees and she grins evilly as she steps forward with a sneer on her face and slices her blade across the zealots throat. She whispers towards him as he falls forward and blood immediately starts pooling and staining the snow. She suddenly feels a sharp stabbing feeling in her ass as she falls forward onto her knees.

ShadowHawk aims again at Zelot 1 and sneezes just has he pulls the trigger. All hear an Anguished "NOOOO!!!!" as the bolt hits blushim with enought force to stagger her. the crossbow falls out of his hands. He looks down at it in disgust as if it was the crossbows fault that he hurt his sister looking back up to Kayin healing Blu. An evil grin comes across his face as he looks at Zelot 1 as he hits his sister "you will die now if it's the last thing I do" he mutters preparing to ready his hammer and going into the fray

Siwan raises her hand and magical energy begins to coalesce around her hand. Speaking a simple word under her breath, the missile of energy is sent towards a fanatic on Blu, wounding him a little.

Drawing back with his powerful arm, Aipoc finally connects with the Zealot that Talon was fighting. The heads of his flail pulp the man's skull, spattering bits of brain matter and clumps of hair out onto the cobbles of the street. The half-orc's victorious war-roar can be heard resonating up and down the stone throat of the street as he turns his attention to the next zealot..

Kayin seems to take a more active roll in things, seeing as BluShim is in serious trouble as she gets SHOT by ShadowHawk. He summons forth the healing powers of nature chanting softly before reaching out and a glowing blue energy flows into the gnome woman, healing her of some of her wounds while making sure he doesn't get tagged in the process.

The Zealots are finally having some trouble, two go down, one absolutely destroyed in a spray of bone, brain matter, and blood by Aipoc's flail and the other gurgling as his throat is cut and he slips to the ground in a growing pool of blood that begins to freeze already at the edges. The other two Zealots do not let up, continuing the attack and the one on Aipoc swings and misses again, unable to penetrate the half-orc's heavy armor with his sword even as he is attacked by Talon to no avail. The other on BluShim has better luck, opening up another wound on the gnome and undoing almost all of the good that Kayin did with his healing spell.

GAME: Siwan casts Magic Missile. GAME: Siwan rolls 1d4+1: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+2: 11 GAME: BluShim drinks a Potion Of Cure Light Wounds GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+9: 24 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d10+7: 17

Blu'Shim fumbles into her pack, even tho Kayin tried to help her out, the last hit sent her falling to her knees again. She pulls out a small vile of an interesting coloured liquid and drinks it. She smiles weakly after she drinks it and still flops forward face first onto the ground.

Siwan moves forward, closer to the combatants and raises her hand and magical energy begins to coalesce around her hand. Speaking a simple word under her breath, the missile of energy is sent towards a fanatic on Blu, bursting in the center of his chest and causing him to fall over... dead. She steps forward then, closing the distance to Blu and looking at her with concer, "You okay?" ... as Blu falls forward and answers her.

Finally hitting his groove, Aipoc moves like a mountain, falling on the last zealot, heavily muscled arm driving the flail into the man's face, destroying it, crushing bone and cartilage, the final zealot's dying scream only serves to mist blood into the open, roaring mouth of the halforc...the zealot's final breath expirates bits of shattered and broken teeth out onto the cobbles as Aipoc then kicks the dead body backward into the wall of the building.

ShadowHawk moves forward towards the last remaining Zelot readying his Gnomish Hammer as he goes, gets there just in time to get sprayed by brain matter so heads over to check on his sister, "i'm so sorry I didn't mean to shoot you, do you want me to pull the bolt out?"

Talon steps over to Blu when he sees her go down, kneeling next to her he places a hand on her and murmurs a prayer, the area around his hand begins to glow a fiant blueish color which spreads over her body.

Kayin looks around as the last of the humans falls and he asks, "Who be those men? Why they be attacking us?" Mostly of Aipoc as he moves to check BluShim to make sure she's still breathing and trying to assess her wounds but only after making sure that Siwan is still safe and not harmed. "I be usin' me healin' already." He says to the others, more specifically Aipoc and Talon, "Can one of you be gettin' her back on her feet?"

GAME: Talon casts Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Talon rolls 1d8+2: 5

Breathing heavily, magically augmented muscles rippling, the half-orc's heaving, hitching chest slowly begins to slow as he realizes that there are no more enemies left in sight. Glancing at Kayin he says, "Friends of the cloaked figure, he went in there not a minute ago!" he points at the door through which the cloaked figure went even as he begins moving toward it. It's obvious to anyone with eyes to see or ears to hear that the half-orc is enraged and ready to rip the building apart brick by brick with his bare hands if necessity demands it.

Blu'Shim raises her head up from the snow and sighs "You? my own brother... you shot me in ass?" she starts sounding angry "yes pull the damn thing out."

ShadowHawk tentative reaches forward and pulls out the bolt then hands blue a potion of heling to use before running back to retrieve his cross bow hoping she doesn't hurt him.

GAME: BluShim drinks a Potion Of Cure Light Wounds

ShadowHawk attaches his crossbow to his belt then goes over and starts searching the bodies, "its not like they need anything the have now right?"

Siwan pauses near Blu and winces. "I'm sorry, I nearly shot you too in trying to help you. Just really bad luck..", she murmers. Looking up at Aipoc, she nods and moves to follow him. "I'll back you up..."

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls search: 13

Perhaps wisely, Kayin backs off especially on seeing where the bolt has hit. He then nods towards Aipoc, "Yes, but best be waitin' fer everyone to be up and ready. Be makin' enough ruckus out here that if there be any more of them they surely be ready yeh?" He looks at the bodies of the men on the ground and shakes his head before he moves over to try and stop Siwan from rushing ahead at least, "We no should be splittin' up again methinks."

Aipoc moves forward to the door, nodding slightly to Siwan as she speaks, to Kayin he says, "I don't want to give them the time to get anything really nasty together." So saying he doesn't even pause, just kicks the door.

GAME: Aipoc rolls Reflex: 18 GAME: Kayin rolls 2d6: 7

ShadowHawk looks through the remains of the zelots "just swords shields and armor nothing portable to take with and sell" he then sees an eyeball on the ground from one of the corpses Aipoc mangled. He picks it up "Hey these make great bouncy balls" and throws it at a wall with a splat. "Well zombie eyes made great bouncy balls." he says with a pout.

As Aipoc kicks the door hard those who are perceptive might notice a spark before the explosion. Obviously someone had managed to rig an incendiary trap on the door, or perhaps just set it while the fighting was going on. Perhaps the force of the kick perhaps saving some of Aipoc's hair and skin as liquid splashes out, being lit by the sparks around the door to splash liquid fire over the half-orc. Fortunately he manages to avoid most of the liquid and what little bit is on him is easily put out. The ground still burns around him for several long, what would be painful seconds.

GAME: Aipoc rolls Strength+1: 12

BluShim looks over at Aipoc and yells "HEY!! let me try to unlock it" as loud as she can muster. She appears to be speaking in Orc

Aipoc roars out his rage and pain, backing off a little bit, ignoring the sputtering flames he actually begins to slaver as he shakes his meaty flail-bearing fist at the door before he begins hunkering down to launch himself at the door. He hears Blushim though and just gestures mutely at the door, a dangerous glint in his eye.

GAME: BluShim rolls open lock: 23

Kayin looks at the fire that burns on the ground and shakes his head at the reaction of the half-orc, just studying him for a few moments before he moves to stand by Siwan perhaps to protect her from the rage of the priest. He then watches BluShim work at the door after nodding towards ShadowHawk, "Well, perhaps the dead be not the best to be robbin' then." He notes with a shrug.

Siwan winces as the door goes up in flames. Cursing beneath her breath, she steps back and then looks over at Kayin, "oops...", she offers in a faint murmer. Looking back to the door as BluShim goes towards it, she watches quietly.

Blu'Shim walks slowly over towards the door keeping an eye on Aipoc "Give me just one second my large friend" she says quietly to him. She then proceeds to the door, stops and pulls a small leather case out of her pack and opens it up, after looking a the lock and at the tools she chooses one and puts her ear next to the door, closes her eyes and starts working on the lock, after but a moment a smile creeps across her face. Opening her eyes she looks up at Aipoc "like butter" she says with a smile, gathers up her tools and steps back.

ShadowHawk looks at Kayin "who said anything about robbing? they attacked us and what every they have is spoils of war. I mean really if we didn't look someone else will have the bodies stripped of everything including the ruined clothes withing 5 minutes of us leaving"

Talon stays well clear of things like burning doors, resting for the moment

Aipoc nods to Blushim, ignoring the byplay of the others, he moves to the door and grasping the handle, shoves it open, flail at the ready as he doesn't stop moving, piling like a lanslide into the space beyond the door.

The door opens easily once it is unlocked and inside it looks pretty typical for a run down home. Two rooms can be seen from the doorway, Aipoc moving into the main room. For all intents and purposes the place looks rather ransacked and empty. Furniture, as shabby as it is, is knocked over and bedding is strewn about from four cots set in the corners of the main room. In the back room it appears to be another bedroom, but the dresser has been ransacked and emptied and there is nothing easily seen to give any clue as to the occupants identity.

As the door is opened and Aipoc steps inside, Siwan moves to slowly follow him inside and carefully look around. "It appears... empty.", she murmers thoughtfully..

GAME: Kayin rolls search: 2 GAME: Kayin rolls spot: 23 GAME: Kayin rolls listen: 8 GAME: Siwan rolls search: 19 GAME: Siwan rolls spot: 20 GAME: Siwan rolls listen: 5 GAME: Aipoc rolls Search: 6 GAME: Aipoc rolls spot: 15

ShadowHawk walks into the room behind everyone with his hammer ready and looks around.

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls spot: 12 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls search: 15 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls listen: 18

BluShim steps in behind her little brother and takes a look around.

The place is rather hastily gone through, the back room especially. Nothing much seems out of the ordinary except that it's been ransacked. There is meager living implements, whoever lived here did not do so comfortably at all. The back room is all ashambles, having been thoroughly ransacked to remove any 'incriminating' evidence as it were.

Aipoc shakes his head to Siwan and says, "I know, but it's not." his voice is a rough, purling rumble, the sound of an idling engine with glasspack mufflers, tension, anger, rage bleeding through the plosives as he speaks. He begins to move through the lower floors of the house, looking for the cloaked figure.

Kayin looks around as well, though staying by the door or perhaps in it so that nobody slips past the group invisible after shutting the door behind them so they're out of the cold. Once the door is closed the place starts warming up alright, the fireplace taking an edge off the chill that entered when the door was opened. Otherwise he just notes, "Be careful." Perhaps with the eagle's eye for the obvious.

Siwan nods thoughtfully to Aipoc and then slowly begins to circulate the room. Passing through to the back room, she glances around thoughtfully. "Hey, look, a trap door. " Pausing, she points to the corner in the bck room. "maybe...", she adds. "Something weird with that section." She moves over to that section and crouches by it without touching it.

ShadowHawk reaches over and places his hand on Blu's shoulder than mutters under his breath and shimmer outlines her then fades away.

Aipoc frowns and follows Siwan into the back room as she calls out. He motions Blu over and says, "Can the two of you check that thing? Where there's one explosion, there's bound to be more." the smell of fricasseed half-orc hair still hangs about his head in a tangy, aromatic, smoking-tire fug.

GAME: ShadowHawk casts Mage Armor

Feeling a strange tingle all over herself a bit Blu'Shim shakes her head a bit "Well that was weird" she says to her brother and then hears Aipoc and walks over to where they're standing "I could check it" she says to Siwan.

GAME: ShadowHawk casts Detect Magic Metamagic: None. Spell Level: 0

ShadowHawk looks around with flames in his eyes "I don't see any magical energy on anything in the room except what we have on our own persons. so there is not a magical surprise waiting for us on the door but that doesn't say anything about mundane traps"

Aipoc shakes his head to Shadow, "That last trap wasn't magical either. Never seen a magical fireblast that uses liquid...probably alchemists fire rigged to explode."

Siwan nods to Blu and steps back. "Please do. Better safe than sorry..", she says with a faint chuckle.

GAME: Aipoc rolls Reflex: 9 GAME: Kayin rolls 2d6: 8

Blu'Shim walks over to the trap door and bends down close to it, and gives it a once over, really studying it closely. She sighs "it's definitely rigged with something" she turns to the others "I'm not sure exactly what it is tho, but I'll try my best to disable it" she says just before turning back to the door. Suddenly everyone hears a small oops and sees the Blu dive away from the door just as it bursts into flames with a liquid flame explosion.

The smell of burning half-orc begins to pervade the room. Aipoc's enraged howls are choked off only by the masterful power of his will, but they come out as grunts of intense pain and anger as the flames continue to sear away his flesh. You paged Heather with 'yep we've got a burning half orc and I shot my sis in the ass with a crossbow :)'.

Seeing the door go off, Siwan acks and then looks at Aipoc as he is set on fire. "Oh no!" Quickly, she takes off her cape and runs over to him to try and put the fire out with her cape by smothering the fire. "Hold still! Lemme put you out!!"

The trap door, and it is definately a 'trap' door at least in one definition of the word appears to be locked. Aipoc, standing close to BluShim is caught in the resulting spray of liquid fire that splashes up into the air under pressure. Fortunately BluShim manages to avoid all the molten fire but Aipoc is not so lucky. The liquid fire splashes full on him and begins to burn, starting to catch the half-orc on fire. That scent of cooking half-orc becomes notably stronger over the next few seconds and if nothing is done, there is a good chance that it could cook the Half-orc completely!

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d2: 2

GAME: Aipoc rolls reflex: 9

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d4: 4

As the fire explodes upwards and covers the half-orc, catching him afire Siwan's quick actions manage to put the fire out before it burns the half-orc to a complete pile of charred flesh and bone, but it's very close. The fire burns hotly before it's smothered doing what would otherwise be irreparable damage in a world without magic.

Kayin is already on the move, rushing forwards through the house at the sound of the fire and the other more pungent things that notify him of disaster being afoot. Even as Aipoc is starting to fall the halfling is starting to chant to call upon at least some minor healing power to at least stabilize the orc to fend off death if he can.

GAME: Kayin casts Cure Minor Wounds.

GAME: Aipoc drinks a Potion Of Cure Light Wounds

ShadowHawk forces a healing potion into Aipoc's mouth and forces him to swallow hoping it will do the trick to get the grumbling half-orc concious

GAME: Aipoc drinks a Potion Of Cure Light Wounds

Siwan also forces another potion down Aipoc's throat, after ShadowHawk does. She pulls her cloak back and looks at the singed ends. "Okay..."

Blu'Shim looks over from where she dived and sees Aipoc on the ground and scurries over to see if there's anything she can do for him.

Aipoc coughs and splutters, hacking as the potions are forced down his gullet. Sitting up, the still-smoking half-orc looks around with a confused expression says, "Whowha...?" he shakes his head, causing strands of singed hair to stand up willy-nilly and says, "What just happened?"

ShadowHawk looks at Aipoc "well that will help you live but wont do anything for you looks" with a grin. He appears to be speaking in Orc

"You nearly became a half-orc kabob." Siwan says with a crooked smile. Slowly rising, she moves over to the trap door and then looks down at it. "Well, it's disarmed now.... Right?"

Once the fallen half-orc is tended to, up and active again a curious thing can be noted in the corner. The splash of liquid fire has burned the trap door down completely. There is a passage leading down, carved into the frozen earth painstakingly by hand. Apparently, someone had themselves a safe route. That door will never ever make it back into the hole though, it's still on fire at the bottom of the slanted stairwell.

BluShim blushes "I just made a door spew forth a flaming vomit that caught you inawares, I apologize my friend" she looks embarrassed. She appears to be speaking in Orc

Aipoc nods to them as they all speak at once. Regaining his feet he winces in pain before he can make his face impassive again. He moves slowly over to the trap door and looks down into it, studying the flames at the bottom quietly for a moment.

Kayin looks at the half-orc as the potions bring him back up to his feet. He steps back and looks at the hole as well, watching the fire gutter and go out down at the bottom as the liquid burns out. "So, looks like we be findin' where the person we be chasin' went." He then looks towards the others, more specifically BluShim and Aipoc, "You two still be up fer the chase?"

Siwan stands at the entryway to the stairs and looks over at Aipoc and Blu as Kayin queries them. "You guys okay? You seem to be taking the brunt of the damage here... " Aipoc is looked up at again and she studies him a moment, "Do you need another healing potion?"

Aipoc nods as his feral grin shines out at Kayin. His words are chilling, dead and flat, "I intend on rending that person limb from limb. Before all is said and done, I'll drink his blood down."

Talon suggests quietly "The next door we come to I can try and shatter it"

Blu'Shim looks around and gives a small sigh "well I could go for a shot of Ellis' special liquor, ya know a nice stiff drink" she says with a chuckle "but yeah I guess I'm alright, but I think we should stick together a bit more" she suggests.

Aipoc nods to BluShim as he begins making his way down the stairs now that the flames are guttering. His flail is out and the air around him vibrates with his purling growl. This is apparently becoming personal to the half-orc.

Kayin nods, "Well, let us be goin' then. This individual be movin' still while we be stayin' here yeh?" He gestures towards the hole and then looks about ready to hop down into the hole following the Half-Orc to make sure he's going to take any shots or traps before Siwan does.

Blu'Shim follows Aipoc down, she's pulled her hammer out and tries to keep an eye open as the light dims.

ShadowHawk follows Blu down through the hole making sure not to land on the embers from the trap door, once he lands he pulls his hammer back out to be ready for battle.

Siwan follows down after whoever.

This time the tunnel is not lit at all. Once down into the underground the only source of light comes from behind and above from what light comes from the small ratty home above. The tunnel is carved out of the frozen earth by what looks like crude hand tools. The floor is uneven and the roof is the same. Barely enough space for Aipoc to make it through the tunnel and occasionally bumping his head if he doesn't duck slightly at least. Without some light source it will be dark vision, or blindness once out of the weak light from the trap door.

Aipoc moves at a pretty good clip down the tunnel, heedless of the darkness, ducking any protrusions from the ceiling as he moves. He gets a little ways in front of the others in case he has to stop or jump back suddenly.

Blu'Shim walks a little bit behind Aipoc with Kayin, trying to keep a watchful eye.

Siwan follows along quietly, staying back towards the rear with Talon.

ShadowHawk follows along behind Blu, hoping we can find the menacing cloaked man with out any more traps.

Making their way through the tunnel it seems to wander this way and that, rounding the first corner there is no more light from behind and only the light made by the magics of others giving off any light at all for those who cannot see in the deep dark. Eventually, without ever reaching any of the sewer or cellars showing a surprising knowledge of the underground of the city the tunnel ends in another stairwell going up to yet another door.

Aipoc shakes his head and steps aside for a moment, letting one of the sharper-eared folken up to the door. He's quiet now, all but panting in his desire to get at the cloaked figure. His eyes glow a deep sinister orange as the magical light catches them slightly. He quickly shields his eyes from the glare of the soft light to preserve his vision.

Talon holds his scimitar up after casting a small spell on it, giving a little light to the procession.

Siwan pauses as they all come to this door. "Another trap?", she whispers quietly once at the door, looking at it with trepidation. She steps to the side of the tunnel, pressing herself fairly close to the wall.

Blu'Shim looks up at Aipoc and then says to the others when everyone's all together at the bottom of the stairs "would you like me to check it while you guys wait back here?" she asks then looks back to Aipoc, who still smells a bit like burnt flesh.

Kayin seems more than willing to stay away from the possibly combustible door, making sure to take Siwan back with him out of the hopeful range of such a pyroclastic explosion as the last few. "Well, it be better to be checkin' and maybe be throwin' somethin' at the door than jus' be bashin' it and hopin' to live yeh?" He voices support for checking the door.

Talon chuckles "If you wish I can try to shatter the door from back here"

Aipoc nods and gestures at the door with his flail, his voice a quiet rumble, "Might be good if you listened to see if you can hear anyone in there..." he leaves it unsaid that he's too angry and excitable right now to hear much of anything except the song of battle that is burning through the viscuous liquid in his veins.

ShadowHawk looks at Blu "do you still have the Alchemist fire sis? thow it at the door then we can all stand back until it burns out?

Blu'Shim chuckles 'yes Shea but no I won't throw it at the door, maybe if it kills me then you can take one out of my bag and burn it down"

Siwan steps back with Kayin as he pulls her back slightly. She looks over at the others and asks quietly, "You can't check it first?"

Blu'Shim goes up the stairs quietly not making a sound, she stands up at the door for what feels like forever. Studying it closely all over, putting her ear to the door. Suddenly she comes back downstairs her eyes really wide "I swear there's thousands of them, and they're big, and there's enough stuff on that door to blow up all of Vintermor." she sounds really panicky about it.

Siwan looks at BluShim with a surprised look. "What?", she whispers quietly, now suddenly hesitant. "What kind of things?" Moving carefully over to the door, she leans in slightly to listen herself, trying to listen without touching the door.

Talon frowns "Maybe we should get reinforcements?

GAME: Kayin rolls sense motive: 21 GAME: Talon rolls sense motive: 19 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls sense motive: 15 GAME: Siwan rolls sense motive: 9

ShadowHawk looks at Blu' then at the other's faces before cracking into a Grin "Umm Sis if there were Thousands through that door we would all hear them... maybe I should just go and knock on the door?"

Siwan straightens and looks confused as well, turning to looka t BluShim with a slightly odd look. She steps back towards Kayin again, but says nothing.

Talon shakes his head at BLushim and chuckles "Nice try Blushim"

Blu'Shim snickers and looks from the door up the stairs to the group infront of her "nah I'm just kidding, doors opened, no traps and no one on the other side that I could hear" she says with a chuckle

Kayin looks at BluShim and then ShadowHawk before he shakes his head and smiles at Siwan, "Now you be seein' why I say what I says?" He asks the beautiful halfling woman with a smile. "She be playin' a joke on us me love. Never met a serious gnome yet yeh?" He then looks back towards BluShim, "Well then, who be goin' first?" He asks, walking over towards the door himself.

Blu'Shim quirks an eyebrow at Kayin "Ya know what I damn near died outside, forhive me for trying to lighten the mood a bit" she says with a dirty look and turns around.

ShadowHawk looks at Blu "don't mind the stuffy Halflings you'd think they don't know how to have fun" he says with a grin. He appears to be speaking in Auran

Siwan hmmmfs quietly and looks over at Blu. She just stands there and looks to the door, no more smiling from her.

Aipoc pats Blushim on the shoulder a bit and says, "Thank you for checking the door. Let's see what we see on the other side." Saying that he moves up to the door and pushes it open, flail at the ready as he steps through.

BluShim shrugs off the comment from her brother.

As Aipoc opens the door and moves to step through, Siwan lifts her crossbow and makes ready to follow in through the door as well.

Kayin looks over towards BluShim and raises an eyebrow at her comment but he too says nothing further, nodding towards Aipoc as the half-orc gets ready and starts through the door. "Let us be goin' our large friend here be in a rush to be gettin' to the killin'." He looks towards the others to make sure they're ready before heading through himself.

Through the door this is obviously a natural cavern, somewhere under the earth still apparently the tunnel was sloping down a bit but so roughly cut it was hard to tell without a stonemason or a dwarf to let the group know. The cavern is approximately fourty feet wide and about twice that as long, stalactites and stalagmites grow from the ceiling and floor sometimes joining together to form pillars. Off in the distance there is a glow of some light source at the far end but there is either enough twists to the walls or natural pillars to make it out well.

ShadowHawk hefts his Hammer and follows Siwan through the door

Blu'Shim walks through the door hammer in her hand, eyes keen and watchful.

Aipoc quietly steps to the side and hunkers down. To Blushim he says, "Can you scout the path and check it for traps? It wouldn't do to get almost to the goal we seek and end up unable to acheive it because of some carefully laid trap."

BluShim looks up at Aipoc in all seriousness and nods "if that's what they want" she says and nods over her shoulder. She appears to be speaking in Orc Blu'Shim nods "I guess"

Siwan steps up behind Aipoc and then looks over at Blu'Shim and the path into the cavern. "We can go with her..", she says quietly, "We probably should actually, in case she gets into trouble..."

ShadowHawk will be following just behind blu

Kayin looks between BluShim and Aipoc, raising an eyebrow for a moment but then glances towards the others. "We can all be goin' together, jus' take it nice and slow yeh? That way if anythin' be happenin' we be all together to be dealin' with it and there to help each other."

Aipoc nods to BluShim and follows behind her as she begins to scout. He makes no particular effort to remain silent, knowing he would only embarass himself.

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls spot: 19 GAME: BluShim rolls spot: 26 GAME: Siwan rolls spot: 1 GAME: Kayin rolls spot: 22 GAME: Aipoc rolls Spot: 13 GAME: Talon rolls spot: 11

Blu'Shim's eyes get wide as she looks about the cavern she gasps quietly "Coming out of the dark corners of the cavern is a collection of undead, and not small ones, much bigger ones. Skeletons, Zombies. They are coming from all sides" she whispers hoarsely to everyone.

Now that Blu points them all out it is easy to see the undead as they move soundlessly through the cavern. Another trap has been set, this one without the fiery explosions of the others. From the northern end of the cavern comes a large zombie, much larger than any human could be, judging by it's features those familiar with giantkin might pick it out as an ogre. Another large zombie of the same species comes from the southwest, from the left corner from where the group entered. From ahead, moving faster than the zombie is a trio of human sized skeletons, and from behind two more skeletons of the same size. All the undead are closing in, cinching in around the intrepid band of strangers.

Talon looks at Aipoc "Something tht will take both our skills and blessing from our gods

Siwan's eyes go wide as she sees all of these undead. She frowns and lifts her crossbow slowly, as if preparing herself for things to come. "oh, this is not good... Hey Blu, looks like you WERE Right."

GAME: ShadowHawk casts Summon Monster I	Metamagic: None. Spell Level: 1

GAME: Aipoc rolls Charisma: 13

ShadowHawk starts to chant in Draconic and after the rounds chanting a celestail badeger appears beside him ready to wreak havok on the on comming undead.

GAME: Aipoc rolls 2d6+3+1: 11 GAME: Talon rolls charisma: 20 GAME: Talon rolls 2d6+2+2: 11

The terrible two-o of priest's soon gets to work, even though it might be odd for the two of them to be working together, they are however at this juncture. The skeletons stop dead in their tracks and then proceed to be blasted backwards off their feet and they crumble to dust and chips of bone that scatter across the cavern floor. Every last skeleton is done, gone, and out of the way now. Leaving just the two large zombies lumbering slowly towards the group. Still not a sound is made except from the newly arriving badger with it's white and gold fur and any sounds the rest of the group might make as well.

Talon makes a few gestures and pulls out his Holy Symbol "Vile creatures I banish you from this realm, return to the dead where you belong!"

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d20+3: 16 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d6: 1 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+4: 10 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+5: 9 GAME: Talon rolls 1d20+3: 18 GAME: Talon rolls 1d6+2: 3 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+4: 16 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d6+2: 3 GAME: Siwan casts Magic Missile. GAME: Siwan rolls 1d4+1: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d3: 2 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+4: 19 GAME: Aipoc rolls Charisma: 19 GAME: Aipoc rolls 2d6+3+1: 6 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d2: 1 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+4: 20 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d8+4: 6

ShadowHawk points at the Zmobie that is heading towards Siwan and the badger runs off to attack then he hefts his hammer before moving over to attack it as well. He swings a mighty swing and the hammer bounces off it's hide knocking off a bit of flesh. The glowing badger bites at the zmobie with an unearthly growl but misses.

Blu'Shim sees the large zombie lumbering towards Siwan, and sets off to the large stupid monster with her brother, and the badger that came out of nowhere. She watches as Shea hits the Zombie and takes a swing with her hammer and unfortunately it happens to lumber to the side a bit and she misses.

Talon draws his scimitar again and dashes toward one of the Zombie's. Slashing downward with the blade he actually scores a hit, cuting into the thing.

Siwan taking a small step back as the undead creatures come towards them all. When quite a few of them are destroyed, she smiles and looks over at Talon and Aipoc with a bob of her head. Lifting her hand as she takes aim at the zombie closest to her, she lets loose another magic missile which hits the creature dead in the chest.

A hissing chant, profane and soaked with evil curls into the hearer's ear, flowing outward from Aipoc. His flail held up before him glows, his words skirling across the surface of the brain, tenebreous and incomprehensible. When he finishes speaking the large zombie halts in its tracks, in awe of the half-orc cleric before him, who seems to swell with power. The tableau of small people gathered around the frozen deadthing as if worshippers before a false and decaying god-idol worshipping it with cutting violence is one that actually brings a feral smile to the greenskinned priest.

Kayin also charges towards the large zombie as it closes in on Siwan and the others, letting the big folk try and handle the other one. He lashes out with his sickle, cutting into rotting flesh with a putrid burst of stench as it gets sliced into and the metal comes out on the other side. He wrinkles his nose and clenches his jaw against the smell, focussed and concentrating hard to try and end this before someone gets hurt to bad.

The zombies lumber in, the first managing to get off a swing with a large massive arm at BluShim but it misses, swinging just to the side glancing off the invisible field that surrounds the gnome woman. The other as it gets cut into by Talon answers back with a heavy blow, slamming a fist into the man though there are no cries of pain from the zombies at all. The badger also is in the fray now, swiping with claws at the large zombie that freezes into place but it too fails to connect. Perhaps it will have better luck now that it is locked in place.

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+7: 25 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d3-1: 1 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d20+5: 23 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d6: 5 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+7: 24 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d6: 4 GAME: Siwan rolls 1d20+6: 23 GAME: Siwan casts Ray Of Frost. GAME: Siwan rolls 1d4: 1 GAME: Talon rolls 1d20+3: 14 GAME: Talon rolls 1d6+2: 7 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+7: 9 GAME: Aipoc rolls Charisma: 2

Blu'Shim flanks the undead zombie with Shadow and takes a big swing at it and knocks it in its undead thigh.

Aipoc is apparently unable to muster the energy to rebuke the other zombie...at the limit of his abilities his prayer fizzles and drops. Instead he makes ready to fight when the time comes round again.

ShadowHawk watches as the badger atacks again then disapears then swings his hammer again connecting solidly this time removing a chunk from its form.

Siwan lifts a hand and speaks in a murmering language, looking a bit frazzled as she sends out a blast of cold air towards one of the zombies near her.

GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+4: 8

The first zombie, still locked in place is being whittled down, hammer hits crunching bone, blades severing and cutting away the flesh from the rotting corpse. The gnomes being more effective than the wolfkin this time around as Kayin seems to be unable to do much to the already tattered flesh this time. The other zombie swings at Talon and misses wide, the lumbering fist unable to do much at all but hit air and send the zombie teetering for a moment but it rights itself before tumbling to the ground. All the while in this terrible scene, the zombies make no sounds, the only sounds being those that echo from the adventurer's efforts.

GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d20+5: 22 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+7: 26 GAME: Talon rolls 1d20+3: 10 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+9: 11 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d6: 5 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+7: 18 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d6+2: 3 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d10+7: 8 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d6: 4 GAME: Siwan rolls 1d4: 1 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+4: 16 GAME: Siwan rolls 1d20+6: 8 GAME: Siwan casts Ray Of Frost. GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d20+9: 13 GAME: Kayin rolls 1d20+7: 17 GAME: ShadowHawk rolls 1d20+5: 11 GAME: BluShim rolls 1d20+7: 13 GAME: Aipoc rolls 1d10+7: 16

ShadowHawk swings at the zombie with a flurry of hits, seeing everyone else attacking as well it is hard to know which of us finally killed it but the big mass of rotting flesh finally goes down.

Blu'Shim quickly has grown tired of this large undead zombie and starts hacking away at it with her hammer breaking chunks of its icky flesh off of it.

Aipoc does some shit, then does some more shit, then splatters a zombie.