Dog continues to watch the proceedings without going down into the hole.

Xavier almost fell like a hawk on his precious equipment and instead of putting it on he just collected everything in his arms and started to move outside to where he knew there was a body of water to get clean in.

"Thank you for your assistance i will be improving my personal hygene for a bit now."

Well this was a waste of time not even a gem for my troubles.  Nerisella says as she begins climbing out of the basement.

Dog nods towards where the ex-prisoner left as he speaks to Nerisella, "He was locked up and might be desperate."  He chuckles crudely.

Nerisella throws a backhand toward Dog.  As a resounding "thunk" is head in the room.  A dagger now appears to the left of Dog in the wood support beam.

OOC:  Thought I'd do something about that.  :) All fun and games until some gets cut right. haha

Dog raises an eyebrow as he looks at the dagger and back at the woman.  "Got teeth, I see.  Good, I hate weak people."  He pulls the dagger out of the wooden beam and stuffs it in his belt.  "A reminder," he says to the woman, "In case I get any stupid ideas."

Michaela was in a bad mood. Not that it was easy to tell from outside - perhaps a slight tightening of the muscles in her cheeks, a minor frown - but she was definitly not happy. All they'd found was a drain on resources. Maybe he'd be worth something to the Zhents, but she doubted it.

"Men. Always thinking of sex." she muttered, loud enough for Dog and Nari to both hear her. Not that the thief wasn't attractive enough, she supposed, but maybe with the exception of the Talassian none of their companions were even worth considering in that light.

"Ya well ya women ain't much better neither." Cyrus snickers at Michaela.  "The two'a'you are the first ta mention it..." Then with a defeated grunt, The Talesian slowly turns his head to the side, cracking and popping his neck.  "Anybody wanna go check on that Banite?  I don't trust'em further'n Nerisella can throw'em, an'he did just wander off by 'imself..."

Xavier walked outside and a pleased smile crossed his lips at the sight of the dead orge. His discomfort was to big to neglect much longer though and after placing his belongings on the shore he took the piece of soap and a wash cloth from his backpack and stepped into the semi clean water. Scrubbing grime and filth from his body his whole stature was changing by his growing confidence in his own authoroty.

Dog shrugs and says, "Sure, I'll go do it."  He hefts his weapon and follows the path that the Banite took.  Finding him he says, "I hope that gator doesn't come back while you're in there."  His face is dead serious as he bites the nail in his left hand in boredom.

[private to you:20:54, Today: Secret Roll: Dog rolled 17 using 1d20+06. croc bluff. ]

Xavier gives Dog a short glance before washing the soap out of his hair.

"I doubt i taste good at this moment."

Dog shrugs, "That's fine.  Gator's do."  He looks around, seeing if he sees anything watching or dangerous.

Xavier finishes cleaning up, with Dog over his shoulder, in the next few moments, and then rejoins the group, since at the moment they are his only protection outside of his own abilities.  As for the waters, while looks were deceiving, showing no signs of life, only a fool would test the waters...

Back on the inside of things, Cyrus waited around somewhat uncomfortably between both of the psychotic females until Xavier and Dog returned.  "So we're lookin' for'is book right.  I ain't seen it yet, not that I can tell.  An all we got's is up.  Who wants point?"  He points up to the stairwell.

Dog just nods taking down the information as it is given and allows the indicated ones choose point.  He does ask in passing, "So we have a couple of choices for scouts, eh?"

"On that stairway? Scout'll get dropped. Better for someone tough to go first." At that, she gave Dog a measuring look. "You or me, boyo?"

Dog looks at her, measuring her, "Well, your boss asked one of you to go.  Since you're lighter, I'll back you up, eh?"  He puts his shield away and pulls out a particularly vicious looking composite longbow, nocking an arrow.  "Go on, I'll plug it for you... girlie."  He smiles crookedly in an obvious reference to the 'boyo.'

One corner of Michaela's mouth quirked up in a smirk as she rechecked the straps on her claw bracers before pushing her cloak back over her shoulders and heading over to the stairs. She supposed it might be true that she was lighter, but considering the sheer solidness of the barbarian it was likely that most of the difference was in equipment.

Wary and alert, she moved up the stairs with her weapons and mind ready, prepared to attack or incinerate the first thing that moved.

Dog, wellversed in battle tactics, keeps both hands on his bow and nocked arrow as he watches past the scout for something to jump out.  His mind only flitted to watching the easy grace of Michaela that promised so much death.  Shaking his head, he cleared it to keep his mind on the task at hand.  He pretty much ignored the others behind them.  It was up to them to guard the rear.  If anything was able to make it through them, then it was unlikely he would be able to handle it anyway.

Back in his regual gear Xavier is the intimidating diciple of his patron god a menacing piece of spiked plate metal. He takes out his shield and mace as he looks at the people the saved him.

"I will guard our backs then."

Cyrus grips his spear and nods.  "Michaela.  Talos tells me that he's feeling generous.  I am permitted to boost your strength if you'd like." The air in the immediate vicinity picked up an electrical intensity strong enough to make the hair on your hair stand up.  The man's face took on an almost impercebtle evil.

"Hmm." Michaela paused, before nodding. "Alright. But one sign of trickery and I'll have your head on a spike." she walked over to him and watched as he cast the spell carefully, as though wary for signs of trickery.

[Private to Cyrus Stormgate: 22:28, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Spellcraft (ID spell).
]

The priest laughed like he really believed what Michaela said had amused him.  But then he cast the spell.  When he was done he shooed her back up the steps to take the lead and go into the room.

"Yeah, yeah.  On with it already.  The rest of us are getting bored!"

[Private to Michaela Lehava: It's a Bull's Strength spell by a 3rd level cleric.]

Michaela accepted the spell, apparently finding the casting appropriate, and walked back to the stairs before starting her ascent. Before going, however, she shot the cleric a deadly look as he tried to shoo her along.

There was a dramatic pause as Michaela reached for the door and everyone braced themselves.  Turning the knob, there was a rusty screetch, a click, and then a drawn out creek as the door easily pushed inward.  After taking a few steps inside, Michaela narrowly avoided stubbing her toes on an incline, that shot upwards about a foot.  Dog however, was not as lucky, and as the big oaf for a warrior stumbled for a second or two, Cyrus and then the rest piled in.

Darkness was little obsticle for the party at this point, and with a quick snap, Cyrus broke out a sunrod and tossed it on the floor.  A quick examination of the room revealed that that on the far side, directly opposite of the entrance was another fireplace.  Spread evenly along the sides from there were three rows of bookshelves, each piled from floor to ceiling a vast array of tomes.  The walls were then broken by a window on each side.  To the left was a single bed, a small chest and a little table with what appeared to be a bowl and cup.  To the right was a desk and a big poofy chair.

All along the ornately engraved floor was a staggering display of bloodstaining, and it lead towards the desk.  Closer examination revealed that the blood had dried many moons ago...

Michaela opted to ignore the blood, instead moving over carefully to the chest, testing each step before putting her weight down and going to one knee to examine it, ready to jump up at any moment in case of attack and too wary to just open the chest immediatly.

[private to GM: 00:20, Today: Michaela Lehava rolled 18 using 1d20+1. Search. ]