With no time to reflect on what was occurring down the hall, Kellan kept up the assault. He stabbed, hacked and punched his way towards the remaining dog as he felt himself start to get short on breath. How many living things had he killed today? how many new scars? new memories and nightmares? it just never seemed to end.

But they were close...Nualia was close, and once this wretched thing was dead he hoped they could finally end this and go home.

HP:31/48
AC: 18
Swift: None
Standard: Power Attack G1
Move: None
AoO preference: Trip
17:11, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 17 using 2d4+15. Damage to G2.
17:11, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 21 using 1d20+9. Pole Fighting Power Attack vs G1, Bless, Bulls Strength.

"Pisca!"  Now that the little gnome had made herself a target, the devil dog seemed intent on assaulting her.  Kellan was too tough.  "Pisca, please...you have to go help Kerr!  It can't get me through Kellan.  We'll be alright."  She hoped.

But with one of the monster dogs already down, and the other injured, Liseth was sure that Kellan could defeat the second one too.  The girl was more concerned with Kerr...he was chasing after Nualia, the evil priestess of Lamashtu, all by himself!

Still, maybe Pisca had provided the distraction that the young acolyte needed.  Carefully she watched; if the devil dog allowed her an opening, Liseth could run out the door and follow after Kerr herself.  So long as her friends could keep the monster hounding her away...

Move: Conditional Move: Move to N6 if the devil dog uses its AoO to attack Pisca or Kellan.

Standard: Continue to M8

OR (If conditional move is not triggered)

Standard: Cast Guidance on Kellan (+1 to an attack, Save, or Skill Check)

Active Effects:
Light
Bless (28/40; +1 Morale Bonus to Hit and Saves vs Fear to party)
Shield of Faith on Kellan (37/40; +2 Deflection bonus to AC)

Cato nodded at Pisca's reply, and made for the stairs heading up.  "A foot of stone'll block this spell, Pisca.  I'll probably lose you all by the time I find them.  Good luck with the last dog."  The wizard wasn't exactly sure what he could do to help Kerr, but he hoped he would think of something if he found them.

Double Move: Exit room, climb stairs, looking for Kerr and Nualia.

---

---

Kellan felt as if he was finally getting into his rhythm as he fought the final dog.  He brought his polearm back to readiness after another successful hit, grinning as he saw the dog snap ineffectually at Pisca as she gracefully regained her feet.  Finally seeing her opportunity, Liseth used the distraction to burst from behind Kellan and dash out into the hallway, turning the corner and trying to put as much distance between her and the dog as she could.

That might have been a mistake.

Kellan smacked the hound in the head with the haft of his polearm, nearly knocking it senseless.  Although the devilish canine looked as if it had seen much better days, its eyes sparkled as it heard and felt the young acolyte run past.

It sprang after her.

Both Kellan and Pisca lunged after it, but to no avail.  The guardsman swept his weapon under the beast, trying to take out its legs, but it merely leaped over his attack and continued after its prey.  As it did so, Pisca hit it squarely with her dagger, but it seemed to ignore her attack as it continued its single-minded pursuit of Liseth.

The sound of approaching paws and heavy breathing barely gave Liseth time to turn before the dog was on her in a frenzy of snapping teeth and guttural growling.  It knocked her down to the floor, drawing blood as it ripped the fabric on the arm that wasn't pinned under her . . . .

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxx--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xllx  xllx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-x+--xxxx--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|K |FF|  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xll|  |  |  |llx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |  |P |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |x |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--x--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+-xx--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |L |G1|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

F = Fountain    l = Ledge

N = Nualia

G = Dog



PARTY TURN

Attacks of Opportunity

11:41, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Dog One, rolled 9 using 1d20+7. AoO v. Standing Pisca (-4 AC).

Result - None.


Liseth's Action

Result - Moves to M8.


Kellan's Action

Result - Kellan inflicts 12 points of damage on G1.


Pisca's Action

Result - Stands and fails to aid Kellan.


Cato Crispin

Chasing Nualia.


Kerr Mollin

Chasing Nualia.

OPPONENT TURN

Dog One

Move Action - To O8

Attacks of Opportunity

Kellan

11:50, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 12 using 1d20+9. AoO Trip Attempt.

Result - Miss.

Pisca

11:52, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Pisca Neep Freemish, rolled 2 using 1d4+1. Damage to G1.

Result - Hit for no damage.

Standard Action - Attack Liseth.

11:56, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Will Save v. Bite Effect (DC14).
11:55, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Dog One, rolled 14 using 2d4+6. Bite Damage to Liseth.
11:54, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Dog One, rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Trip Attack on Liseth.
11:54, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Dog One, rolled 19 using 1d20+7. Bite Attack on Liseth.

Result - Liseth takes 14 points of damage and is now prone.


Dog Two

Stabilized


Nualia

Disappeared.

Party Status:  Cato has taken 14 points of damage.  Pisca has taken 11 points of damage.  Liseth has taken 15 points of damage.

Opponent Status:  Nualia has taken 59 points of damage and is disabled.  Dog One has taken 28 points of damage.  Dog Two has taken 32 points of damage and is unconscious and prone.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY TAKE COMBAT ACTIONS.

</b>

---

---

Kellan was on the things tail from the moment it vaulted over his attempt to bring it to the ground. He had not been expecting Liseth to make a run for it, indeed, he felt that he could have been fairly close to providing the young acolyte safe passage back to her boyfriend.

However having the rune dog out of his face and at the distance he normally drilled in allowed his muscles and reflexes to fall back into their tried and true form. He brought the pole axe to his ready position, and with the things back to him brought it up and around in an arc before he tensed up and helped the weight of the blade down in a cleaving blow towards the creatures spine.

"I'm coming!" he called out, hoping to at least let Liseth know that he friends were working on her predicament. Some how violence always seemed more gruesome when directed at Liseth, and the display drove him in his attempts to split the thing in twain.

HP:31/48
AC: 18
Swift: Normal Stance
Standard: Reach/Power Attack G2
Move: To N6
AoO preference: Trip
12:16, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 20 using 2d4+15. Damage to G2.
12:15, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 29 using 1d20+13. Reach/Power Attack vs G2, Blessed, Bulls Strength.

---

---

Liseth was scrambling to defend herself when Kellan's blow nearly clove the creature in twain.  Ichor spurted over the young woman as the guardsman's polearm threw the hound's lifeless body into the nearby wall with an audible crack.  The corpse slid to the ground, dead in the middle of a rapidly-expanding pool of blood.

---

---

"Down you go."  The gnome punched the air as Stomper swept the remaining Demon Dog away with a whooshing arc of his polearm weapon.  "Yeah!  Go!  Gogogo!"

Pisca followed her own urgings and rushed out of the room after Liseth.  She took the corner sharp and barreled past the deactivated trap, out into the big claw scratched room.

"Cato?  Kerr Mollin?  Are you within Whisper Distance?" in near breathless excitement Pisca called through her magic.  "Where are you?  Do you have Nooly Girl?"

Double Move

Remember: The Message spell can turn corners.  "The message does not have to travel in a straight line. It can circumvent a barrier if there is an open path between you and the subject, and the path's entire length lies within the spell's range."  (Total 140 feet.)

Position: I8

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Bless 4m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (0/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 1/8

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger +1Bless
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger +1Bless
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Bad Idea!  The thought shot through Liseth's mind when she realized that the devil dog was chasing right behind her.  She couldn't outrun that monster!

It caught her right away.  The petite girl barely had time to turn around and scream before it was on her; teeth gnashing her arm as its heavy paws pinned her to the floor.  What could she do but scream in pain and terror as she tried to work her small shield into the monster's way?

Just as quickly as it was on her though, the devil dog was off of her again.  Swept clear by Kellan's spear.  She was covered in the thing's blood and insides, but that was better than being covered in teeth and drool.

Mostly.

Now free from the devil dog's hounding of her, Listh managed to stagger to her feet, using the wall as support.  Breathlessly, she said "Thank you..." but whether she was speaking to Kellan, or the gods, or both, was unclear.

"Kerr!"  The acolyte stumbled towards the stairs into which Kerr had disapeared while chasing Nualia; regaining her breath as she regaind her balance.  "Kerr, we're coming!  Don't worry, I'm safe!"

Move: Scramble to my feet.
Standard: Move towards the stairs (I7)

Active Effects:
Light
Bless (27/40; +1 Morale Bonus to Hit and Saves vs Fear to party)
Shield of Faith on Kellan (36/40; +2 Deflection bonus to AC)

In hand: Cure Wand
Crossbow lies in M 6
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Mon 13 Apr 2015.

Kellan looked down at the ruined form of the creature for an instant, Liseths blood still fresh upon it's maw. He heard Pisca celebrating, Liseth's thanks and the sounds of them scrabbling after Kerr and Cato to continue the fight.

But as he looked down at their foe it was his weapon that caught his eye, the blade trembling visibly in his grip. He followed it up to his gloved hands, the leather stained in the blood of all those that had fallen before them throughout the day and he noticed for the first time that his knuckles ached with the force that he had been gripping the weapon. Magic was a hell of a thing.

"Almost there" he entreated himself "Then we can go home" he took off at a run behind the girls "Almost there..."

Cato froze in place for a moment, trying to pinpoint exactly where the door had slammed.  He grinned at the message from Pisca.  "Great work!  I'm in the research room.  I just heard a door slam, but I haven't found them yet.  I'm going to keep searching."

Cato moved quickly, not running, but moving through the rooms, straining to hear a hint of any other sound that would betray Kerr or Nualia's position.

Double Move to L8

Active Effects:
Protection from Arrows (Kellan)
Bull's Strength (Kellan)
Mage Armor (Cato)
Protection from Evil (Cato)

---

---

The frenzied action that had characterized the life-or-death combat--had it only lasted a minute?--ended just as suddenly as it had begun.  Blood dripped from the edge of Kellan's polearm as Liseth scrambled out into the entry hall and Pisca ran out next to her, both calling to Kerr Mollin.

But Kerr did not respond.

Cato, meanwhile, moved quickly through the research room and into the planning area where the group had encountered Tsuto and Lyrie.  But the room was in nowhere near the same condition it had been when the party had left.  Chairs were strewn about the floor and a large bookcase had toppled from the south wall onto the huge oaken table.  The scholar was able to pick his way through the debris to the door on the opposite side of the room, climbing over the table to do so, but it slowed him down.

He entered the hallway to the "art" gallery and saw that the door was closed.  As he moved up next to it, he saw one of Kerr's arrows lying on the ground next to the door.  But he could find no other sign of either the acolyte or Nualia.


OOC - Cato could only make it to space J4.

THISTLETOP - THIRD LEVEL

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxx--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xllx  xllx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-x+--xxxx--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |FF|  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xll|  |  |  |llx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |  |  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |x |K |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--x--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+-xx--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |L |  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |P |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

THISTLETOP - SECOND LEVEL

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |OO|  DM |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |OO|  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |C D  |  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+-xx--+--+
10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  x  D  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--x--x--8--x--x--x--xSSx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  x  x  |  x  x  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+xx+--+--+
14|  |  x  |  |  7  |  |  D  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--5--xx-+--+--+
15|  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  xx |  |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  x  4  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

O = Oak Table

---

---

*huff*  *puff*

Pisca Neep Freemish dashed the remaining distance and exited the Clawed Creature Containment room and whipped around the corner of the hallway, mounting the stairs.

"Keep reporting what you see, Cato.  We're coming.  I'm just on the stairs now."

"Kerr Mollin, are you there?  Kerr Mollin?"

"Not hearing anything from The Boyfriend, Lys.  They must be pretty far ahead of us."

Double Move

Position: B7

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Bless 4m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (0/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 1/8

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger +1Bless
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger +1Bless
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Nothing...

Liseth mostly regained what little balance she had as the girl started hurrying after Pisca.  She had a pit in her stomach; how far away had Kerr chased Nualia?  What if Kerr was hurt?!  All because she couldn't follow him to help.

The stairs were going to be tricky to hurry up, but Liseth was determined.  "We need to hurry!"

Double Move: Run (mostly) upstairs (B 8)

Active Effects:
Light
Bless (26/40; +1 Morale Bonus to Hit and Saves vs Fear to party)
Shield of Faith on Kellan (35/40; +2 Deflection bonus to AC)

In hand: Cure Wand
Crossbow lies in M 6

Kellan hurried after the girls, at least as fast as his issued armor would allow,

Double move to F7

Cato opened the door to the gallery.  "I'm still on their tail.  Found one of Kerr's arrows here, but no sign of anyone yet."  The scholar carefully opened the door to the gallery, moving into the next room and looking for any sign of his quarry.

Move: Open door to Gallery
Move: L5

Active Effects:
Protection from Arrows (Kellan)
Bull's Strength (Kellan)
Mage Armor (Cato)
Protection from Evil (Cato)

Naggy bits.  There were naggy bits in the world.  You couldn't see them, but all gnomes knew of their existence.  They swirled about through the air or aether - no one's entirely sure where - and they tweak your ear or your nose or sometimes itch at the back of your head.

There was a naggy bit poking at Pisca at this very moment.  "Closed?" mused the gnome, sending her musings over the Whisper Magic to unasked to the others.  "That's very peculiar.  Peculiar and unsettling," she added.

How would that work?  Noobie Champion of Lamashtu is fleeing, she runs through the door.  Even if she closes it behind her, Kerr Mollin will necessarily have to open it to pursue her.  So ... who came back to close the door?  Was someone else down here with them?  Goblins?  Did Riddleport return?  Tsuto?  Or Tsuto and the Possible Girlfriend?  Or ... has Nooly Girl already undone Kerr Mollin?  After dispatching Kerr Mollin, maybe she's doubled back and closed the door to set an ambush.  Lysa was not going to be very happy.

"Be careful, Cato," Pisca warned.  "Something doesn't sound right here."

Double Move

Position: B7

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Bless 4m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (0/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 1/8

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger +1Bless
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger +1Bless
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

---

---

As Cato opened the door, he heard the pounding of boots running up the hallway from the south.  Almost before he knew it, a wild-eyed Kerr Mollin appeared in the southern doorway, looking much the worse for wear.  His breastplate was dented and there was a nasty, bleeding slash on his arm, but otherwise he seemed to be without major injuries despite his rough appearance.

"Cato!"  Kerr said in shock, skidding to a halt.  The dark-haired acolyte held his bow in one hand and a nocked arrow in the other.  Only a couple of arrows remained in his quiver.  "Nualia's down.  What's going on?"  If anything, the young man's eyes got even wilder.  "Is Liseth okay?!?!"


THISTLETOP - THIRD LEVEL

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+xxx--xxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xllx  xllx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-x+--xxxx--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |FF|  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  xll|  |  |  |llx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |xl|  |  |  |lx|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  x  x  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |x |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--x--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+-xx--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  xP x  |  x  |K |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  xL |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--xxx+--+xxxDDxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--xxxxxx+--+xx+--+xxx--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+xx+--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

THISTLETOP - SECOND LEVEL

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |OO|  DM |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |OO|  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |  D C|  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |R x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+-xx--+--+
10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  x  D  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--x--x--8--x--x--x--xSSx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  x  x  |  x  x  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+xx+--+--+
14|  |  x  |  |  7  |  |  D  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--5--xx-+--+--+
15|  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  xx |  |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  x  4  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

O = Oak Table

---

---

Voices!  "I hear voices, Lys."  With her senses ever sharper than most people would think of someone who paid so little attention to so many seemingly sensible things, Pisca Neep Freemish picked up the sound of excited (or was it frantic) conversation from up the stairs ahead.  "I think they're men's voices."

"Hurry," the gnome added, continuing her ascent up the stairs.  "That could mean any one of several things.  Either Kerr Mollin has defeated The Clawed Hand of Lamashtu.  Or Orik Riddleport has returned back down the stairs because he forgot something critical to his personal well-being.  Or, Noo noo Girl has made a basic error in judgement and donned a Gender Changing belt in an attempt to seduce your boyfriend after mistaking him for someone who prefers boys!"

Pisca burst out of the stairwell and into the chaos of the Attack Planning Room.  The furnishings, innocent chairs, bookshelves, and others had given their lives here.  More red ink in the ledger of evil.  More atrocities for which Lamashtu would have to pay.

Double Move

Position: G4

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Bless 4m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (0/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 1/8

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger +1Bless
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger +1Bless
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Cato smiled as Kerr hurried into view, his expression changing as he took in the sight of the paladin.  "By Desna, what's happened to you?  But Nualia's down?  That's the most important thing!"  "I found Kerr.  He's on his feet, a little worse for the wear, but he got Nualia!"  Cato looked back to Kerr.  "Liseth and everyone else is okay.  They're on their way up right now!  I was trying to find you and Nualia and see if you needed any help."  Cato held up his hands.  "But I see I was a little late."  The wizard slapped Kerr on the shoulder, then turned around, starting back fro the steps.  "Come on, let's meet the others."

Kellan raced up the steps after the girls, but even with Cato's wizardy coursing through his veins and perfusing his legs, the layers of ring steel he wore limited his stride. When he burst into the room at the top of the flight he was breathing heavily but looked determined to see the battle through.

That was of course, before he noticed Kerr and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Kerr! Is she...?" he trailed off, the hope thick in his voice as he bent forward slightly in an attempt to catch his breath and used his weapon for support. He looked to Cato in turn, expectant, desiring so much that it be true. That they had won, that the danger had passed, that they were all still breathing and Sandpoint, his friends, family and neighbors that remained would no longer have to fear the looming threat of war.

"Well, what do you know.  First guess was right.  First guess is never right, Lys," Pisca said, turning from the battlefield of slain furniture to face her friend coming up the stairs behind her.  "Cato says that Kerr put down Nualia," she added, using the real name of the Left Hand of Lamashtu in her newly attained state of death.

"Ding dong," the gnome then said.  The words just seemed appropriate.

"Hold on.  Did I just see a bookcase in here?"  Pisca frog marched under the hummie-sized table searching about for the books that one would expect to have spilled from a disemboweled bookcase.  "Books, books, books, books," she chanted from within the folds of her distraction.

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Swaddled in Bruthazmus' clothes, Bless 4m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (0/4)
Lvl 2 - (0/2)
AL: 1/8

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1
This message was last edited by the player at 23:11, Sat 18 Apr 2015.

Pisca was saying strange things again, but Liseth was too out of breath in order to respond.  Not that she knew an appropriate way to respond to whatever that was about...gender changing belts?

"Kerr!"  Unsurprisingly, Liseth was the last one to make it up the stairs; even hurrying as fast as she could go.  Which wasn't all that fast, especially when she was injured and forced to hobble up an ancient staircase.  But that did nothing to stop the girl from continuing past everyone to smash into her bloodied boyfriend and throw her arms around him.

Then immediately start to cry.

Pisca's words began like a wave one could see on the distant horizon for Kellan. He could see it coming, saw Liseth burst into tears, saw Kerr's wounds, the expression on Cato's face. They build up, looming large in his mind, and as the they finally crested and came down with a crashing force he felt the significance of what they had done wash over him. He had never felt anything quite like it, and he knew that he would remember that moment for the rest of his life.

For one gleaming, glorious instant everything seemed right with the world. He had set out with no real hope of returning to all that he loved and held dear, had accepted that they would take casualties, and made his peace in his own way with the belief that protecting Sandpoint and it's people meant a cost that would have to be paid. He had seen it in the pained eyes of his friend Alergast and heard it in the solemn words of Mayor Deverin.

Yet here they stood, battered, bleeding but very much alive. More alive he suspected than any of them had ever been or may ever be again. They could go home, together.

Cato could go back to Sage Quink with arms full of ancient artifacts, with bold new discoveries in his field and stories that Kellan wagered would turn half of the Scholars of Magnimar and Korvosa green with envy. He would surely settle in Sandpoint now, or at least Kellan hoped he would, as the young guardsman was confident that he had found a lifelong friend in the man.

Liseth and Kerr could have their well deserved time together, their blossoming relationship  in the eyes of their deities tested in a way few others would dare imagine. Liseths prophecy could very well become canon of some sort, a lesson to be recorded and taught for generations to come and he could already see how Father Zantus would be eager to put the pair to work spreading the good word and providing comfort, faith and healing to the community.

Pisca would have her stories, her souvenirs, unbelievable though they may be. So often when she spoke it seemed like nonsense, impulse and strange limerick, but how much of it held a kernel of truth? and who would guess that such a tiny young women had braved dangers that had left people many times her size quaking with fear?

And for himself? well...it had only been a day away from home, the longest day of his life, but he hoped that Ameiko would welcome them home and be glad at the news of her brother. That Shayliss would be there on the porch of her fathers shop waiting for him...he could finally give her that ribbon, and that his parents would come out of the farm house, likely in tears, to greet him. He could ask for no more than that.

And although he knew that what they had accomplished in Thistletop would become local legend, and that their lives would never be the same because of it. That Alergast and the Mayor and everybody else would have kind words, and that there would be celebrations, healing and rebuilding. It was too much for him at the moment. For now to see his family, to fill his stomach and to sleep for at least a week all seemed too good to be true.

His grin practically covered his face as he staggered over to Cato from exhaustion and clapped him on the back a few times much much harder than he had probably intended given  Cato's arcane bolstering "Holy Desna...we actually did it" he exclaimed breathlessly as he extended his other arm and looked around for Pisca only to find her rifling the book case. Something that made him laugh and cough as he caught his breath.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Sat 18 Apr 2015.

The bookcase, for a case specifically designed -or one could only assume from its name- to hold books, this particular piece of furniture held surprisingly few tomes, volumes, or manuals.  Few pamphlets even.  Except for a dry, terse, and uninviting book entitled Elements of siege tactics the others that Pisca found scattered across the floor after the wooden case had spilled its guts, were untitled.  Untitled as they might have been, the did not all prove to be entirely without taste.  The gnome sampled several, licking a page or two to get the flavor of the contents.  She clamped her lips about the edge of one page, and, after sucking at the now moistened parchment, managed to mumble, "Philosophical.  Though the writing is a bit too dense to be enjoyable."

All in all, though, none of these books seemed too ... hummie compatible.  What a shame.  But not unexpected in the stronghold of an evil group bent on the destruction of a small town like Sandpoint.  Too bad they couldn't assault the citadel of some malicious fablers or unscrupulous bards.  Ah well.  These books might make a good addition to the House of Blue Stones.  And, come to think of it, that would be a fine place to deposit the Lamashtu tome as well.  Evil, safely tucked away.

"We did, didn't we?"  Pisca emerged from under the table with an armload of books which she deposited at the side of the door before returning for more.  "By the by, Kerr Mollin, where did you leave Nualia?  We'll have to search her person for Powerful Magic Weapons™ and existential threats to life as we know it."

"Did you just make Lys cry?"  The gnome frowned, but then simply shrugged, as the human girl didn't sound entirely unhappy.  "Sometimes it's good to cry every now and again."

"Oh, we also have two dangerous extraplanar bodies down below also.  Left out, they might be used in rites of unspeakable evil.  Or so I've been told.  I guess we'll have to haul them into Sandpoint with us for disposal.  We can take care of them at the same time as the Batwinged Head.  Who'd have thought that part of being a hero would involve the disposal of hazardous material.  Maybe we should get special suits for that part of the job."  She looked down at herself to paint a picture of just what such a suit might look at, and then she recoiled.

"Yuck.  YUUUUCK!"  Bugbear clothes!  I'm wearing bugbear clothes."  And Pisca Neep Freemish began tearing off the bloody, scent-disguising bits of clothing that once belonged to the bugbear Bruthazmus.

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.),

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

---

---

The look of relief on Kerr’s face would have been comical had it not been so sincere.  “Safe.”  He said simply, almost as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  "Safe."  He said again, more strongly, as he started to smile.  "Safe!"  Now the word was an exclamation, a joyous proclamation of victory.  He swept Cato up into a huge hug, actually lifting the somewhat-slighter scholar off the floor.

“You are very well met, sir!”  He put Cato back on the ground, stepping back and grinning broadly.  “Holy divines, Cato, when I ran down that hallway after Nualia I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see any of you again.  That was,” he looked down at the floor, then back up at the mage, “that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, leaving you guys.  But,” his eyes widened, as if he only now recognizing the enormity of their accomplishment, “we did it!”  He stepped back, suddenly hesitant.  “I mean, didn’t we?”

He threw a brotherly arm around Cato’s shoulder as they walked back into the planning room.  The acolyte’s eyes widened slightly as Kellan burst in through the opposite door, but he almost immediately relaxed, nodding in relief and giving the big guardsman what might have been the biggest smile Kellan had ever seen.

“Kellan!”  Kerr said with an enthusiasm only partially tempered by exhaustion, walking forward to clasp the guardsman’s wrist, in the style of soldiers.  “Thank you.  Thank you for everything.  If you hadn’t been there . . . .”  The archer’s voice trailed off.  “I don’t want to think about it.  You were a rock.  A rock!  I can’t wait to get back to Sandpoint and tell everyone what a hero you were.”  He grinned.  “Especially Shayliss.  I’m sure she’ll thrill to your exploits!”

Kerr glanced at Pisca as she entered the room, book in hand.  “Yes, Nualia’s dead.  I think she was trying to get back into the chapel.”  He sighed, leaning back against the table, clearly exhausted.  “Fortunately your work jamming the door stopped her long enough that I could put a couple of arrows in her.”  He nodded at the gnome.  “That was prime work, Pisca.  Who knows what she might have had in there?”  He stopped, blushing slightly.  “I mean, besides a couple more of those stupid hounds.”  He gestured over his shoulder.  “She’s lying out in the anteroom or foyer or narthex or whatever you want to call it.  It was a close-run thing, though.”  He shivered.  “I think the dogs in there are still howling.”  He shook his head.  “But wait, where is . . . .”

Kerr stopped as Liseth burst into the room, hobbling and bloody.  “Liseth!”  He leapt over the table to sweep her up in his arms.  “I thought I’d lost you.”  He ran his fingers through her hair, voice cracking as the slight girl sobbed.  “I thought I’d lost you.  I thought . . . .”  And then the two of them just stood there, holding each other as if there wasn’t anything or anyone else in the world.

---

---