Luc grips his pistol and follows Dreygard's lead to the curtain, opting to shoot over his shorter companion, if necessary.
Dorian stays back from the curtain away from danger, but ready to assist with his spells. He also tries to keep an eye on Keygan, unsure of whether the man is working with or against them.
Valamont arches one eyebrow inquisitively when he lays eyes on the overly tall gnome and follows along with the conversation. He studies the gnome closely, trying to determine if some magic might be at work to explain his towering height.
At Keygan's subtle nod to the back, Valamont's eyes lock onto the curtain and remain focused upon it. He waits near Dorian, his hand stretching up to rest on the hilt of his sword.
Darthal, rather behind the crowd of others, merely watches, holding his dog on the leash. He looks around, trying to see if Keygan has a confederate somewhere, and watches the rear of the party.
As you draw near the curtain, Darthal's dog starts barking excitedly and pulling against the leash.
The curtain is pulled back, revealing another room. Black curtains partially obscure a window niche that faces the street. Ornate locks and complex locking mechanisms are neatly displayed in the niche. The room itself looks tidy, but lived in. Carpets cover the stone floor, and a broom leans against the railing of a wooden staircase leading up to a second floor balcony. Three wooden chests rest in the middle of the floor, their lids bound shut with sturdy iron padlocks. Small tables, shelves, and benches hold various knick-knacks, and a framed portrait of a silver-haired gnome hangs next to a tall wooden box at the base of the stairs.The wooden box contains an intricate array of ticking gears, counterweights, and cylindrical chimes, surmounted by a circular face that bears the numerals 1 through 12 on its circumference.
Adolphus enters the room carefully, as quietly as he can.
He looks around for a moment, looking for a fireplace.
Dreygard looks through the curtains and shrugs his shoulders with a "Hmm?". He rehangs his pick and draws a dagger, following the nobleman into the room.
When Adolphus enters the room, a smooth-skinned, hairless humanoid with penetrating eyes and skin that shifts and changes to mimic his surroundings jumps down from the balcony next to Adolphus. Off balance from the jump, however, the creature stabs wildly and misses.
Adolphus swings his sword defensively, well aware of his unarmored state.
for damage.
He blusters as his attack misses entirely.
"Whoa..what the hell is that?!" Luc instinctively lets a shot off at the creature.
Peering through the curtain Dorian tries to make out what exactly is going on. As he sees the creature, he thinks back on his research to see if he knows anything about it.
In the meantime, instead of being completely useless he tries to hit the thing with a spell. He raises a hand at it and speaks arcane words, summoning an acid orb that Dorian flings at the creature.
Diurn calmly addresses the combatant.
"Surrender, you are quite outmanned. Don't make the dwarf come after you."
In an effort to simulate and encourage comic-book dialog, the Zero-Phase Soliloquy essentially says that absolutely no time elapses while characters are talking in combat. Thus, players and non-player characters alike can recite whole chapters worth of ranting, explain their convoluted diabolical schemes, and use words like ‘dolt’ and ‘miscreant’ without disrupting or slowing down combat.
Dreygard takes note that the creature is off balance, and mumbles a prayer to Shelyn. He then dives into a somersault roll attempting to spring past the thing. This is either stupid or brilliant he thinks.
The nimble dwarf slashes wildly with his dagger as he acts.
Yes, I agree, that is one bouncy dwarf.
Taking a page from Dorian's book, Valamont tries to offer support in the crowded establishment by casting acid splash.
1d20+1
1d3
Luc fires his gun, the report a loud crack echoing through the enclosed space. The shot goes just wide, however, and buries in the opposite wall. Adolphus, already distracted by fighting cautiously, flinches at the noise, flubbing his attack entirely. Dreygard takes advantage of his stature by nimbly somersaulting past the creature. His rolling attack, however, does not quite connect with his also-nimble foe. Dorian’s globe of acid misses badly, splashing against the floor a foot in front of the creature.
The creature neatly steps over the chests and takes another stab at Adolphus with its short sword. The blade slices into Adolphus’s side. The creature smiles at the sight of his enemy’s blood, and speaks, ”Urgen fallil en calviz, enduratine!”
Diurn speaks calmly to the creature, which seems to understand the words. A smile grows over its face, and it continues fighting. Valamont’s acid orb is better aimed than Dorian’s, but misses all the same. It nearly hits Dreygard, if not for a quick dodge by the dwarf.
Keygan moves north and opens the door while saying, ”I’m not to blame! Don’t kill Starbrow!” The words seem directed at the creature, not the party.
Luc will yell at Adolphus, "Stab and move back, you're in my way of a clear shot."
Adolphus nods and strikes cautiously at the creature before taking a 5 foot step
for
"Thanks, Adolphus. I'm sure that hurt him!" Good to know that the these warriors here will listen to good strategies! "Ok, Dorian, Valamont, bomb away, nobody's in the way now, at least until the dwarf jumps in the fray!"
Adolphus shakes his head in frustration as the blade misses. But at least he can defend himself from the creature as well as he almost did the last time the creature swiped at him.
Dreygard draws back his dagger and tosses it at the creature as he scolds the creature in Undercommon.
He sighs in disappointment and draws his pick two-handed.
Dorian can barely see the creature through the crowd and decides against another acid splash. Instead, he moves toward Keygan while warning his companions, "Don't let the skulk escape! With the way its skin changes, we'll never be able to find it!"
As he reaches the over-sized 'gnome,' Dorian tries to grab the man before he escapes out some side door. "Where do you think you're going?!"
Darthal continues to stand by the door, holding it closed and watching to prevent anyone else coming in. He doesn't see a way to get through the crowd to fight. He readies his pick to attack if any of our foes get close.
Diurn will rush and hit with his flail if there is an opening.
If not he casts bless (+1 to hit and fear saves).
Diurn glows with a gold light and after grabbing his holy symbol and reciting some well rehearsed words, the blessing of Arshea steady your hand in combat.
"A skulk, eh? Not sure I know what that is, but I'm certain I don't like it."
Diurn does rush him with his flail and emits a golden glow (charging if possible). "Surrender, you are outnumbered."
Grimacing in pain, and self-disgust as his noble's tunic is stained with blood, Adolphus speaks with some irritation. "I think we've already established it won't surrender."
Adolphus takes another swing at the creature, but it’s clear that he’s not used to fighting so cautiously, as the skulk easily parries the blow. The young nobleman, wincing in pain and frustration, steps to the side to allow Luc a clear shot, which he takes with great gusto, lodging a bullet in the skulk’s leg. The gunslinger then steps out of the way of the casters, allowing them a clear shot as well.
Dreygard’s thrown dagger goes wide as Dorian clumsily attempts to grab a hold of Ghelve. Surprisingly, he easily grabs Ghelve’s legs, stopping him in place.
Ghelve’s legs are at once both thinner than they appear, and much harder than flesh.
The skulk responds to Dregyard, spitting the guttural words as it moves forward. ”Egstrath entil alrisheta ae feaftuft Kazmojen!” It stabs again at Adolphus, and this time lands a grievous blow, sinking the blade into the knight’s chest. The skulk cackles in glee and licks the bloodied end of his sword.
Diurn rushes to Adolphus’s aid, but his eagerness to assist his new-found friend causes him to fumble his attack, the head of his flail soaring well over the skulk. Valamont casts a judicious eye over the cramped shop and, realizing there’s no room for him in the melee, begins chanting a spell. Darthal moves past the fireplace and to the front door, ensuring it stays closed.
Ghelve makes no effort to break free from Dorian’s inexpert hold. ”Just getting out of your way, sir! I can’t help you against it, they’ve got my familiar, Starbrow!”
Luc sees the vicious gash delivered to Adolphus! "C'mon man, get out of there, move back. Let me take him!" Luc quickly reloads his pistol, pouring gunpowder into the muzzle, as he brings it to bear on the creature. Either way, can't let you die, kid! Luc takes the shot.
Dorian lets go of Keygan quickly, a look of surprise on his face. Gah! I acted too hastily! Think before acting! "Ah! My apologies, I was too quick to assume."
Adolphus takes a 5-foot diagonal step away from the skulk , and wields his blade in a much more cautious manner.
Darthal stares at the overly-tall gnome. "So they hold hostage one dear to you, then. But we know that, and can rescue him if you tell us more."
He frowns at the word of the color-changing skulk, and readies himself to cast faerie fire on the creature (and everyone around him, alas) if it looks like the thing is about to escape. That will make it easier to track, he thinks.
Still holding the door shut.
"Diurn, shift to your left!" then he innocently says something in Undercommon.
Adolphus, badly wounded, steps out of combat and crouches behind one the chests, seeking to defend himself at all costs. Luc reloads his firearm and shoots the skulk again, catching it in the side. The two bullet wounds bleed heavily, but the skulk still stands defiantly. Dreygard holds ready where he is, looking for support from Diurn.
The skulk ignores Dreygard’s question and advances on Luc, intent on killing the one that’s wounded it so badly. Luc, intent on rearming his gun, is distracted at just the wrong moment, and the skulk sinks its sword into Luc's shoulder.
Diurn shifts to D6 and waits to see if he enlarges in the enclosed space and hits the flanked skulk with his flail.
Dreygard swings his pick two handed at the creature.
Valamont finishes his spell with a flourish, causing Diurn to double in size. The newly-large aasimar squeezes behind the skulk and lets loose a ferocious swing with his flail. The strike hits the skulk directly in the neck, sending it crumpling to the ground.
"Make sure the Skulk doesn't rise; but we need answers from him."
Diurn notices the injury to Adolphus and grabs his holy symbol to channel healing energy to both him and the injured skulk.
Luc is holding his bleeding shoulder.
Yes Luc too and more healing washes over the group again.
Dreygard looks up to the newly grown Diurn. "Heh! How's the weather up there, Big Guy?"
"Pretty good to be big. Air is a little thin, or maybe it is easier to get out of breath moving huge limbs." Diurn laughs then he lashes and binds the offending creature while he is of giant size.
"We need to find out what he knows."
Looking mildly sour at his blood-stained clothing, he calls for his squire, who picks at the parts of the cloth that have been completely pressed into his skin.
"Alright, So we've looked behind the curtain. Now, where's the damn cauldron."
Luc feels the warm energies of Diurn's channeling. "Thank you. Wound healed but bastard still cut a whole in my shirt." To be safe, Luc reloads his weapon.
Diurn ties up the skulk and channels healing energy, soothing your wounds along with those of your foe. The creature jerks to consciousness, unable to do anything more than squirm. Its eyes dart around the room frantically before landing on Dreygard. "Vzalik ka gtadstri ach lkinl. Drey hastc urgo?"
Ghelve says, "Whatever you do, don't let him go! They'll kill Starbrow if they find out."
"He says that he is at our mercy, and asks what we want of him?"
His gashed wound still sore, Adolphus makes a sour expression.
"I would say kill the cretin. But we need him for information about the orphans. So question away. Do your worse."