"I know little of their value, but that is also not the goal of our expedition here right?"
Mach shrugs. "Well, however much they're worth, unless we have some way of carrying them all out of here, we might as well keep moving."
He heads down the straight corridor as quietly as possible.
The corridor to the north continues for about another 25 to 30 feet before turning right and descending into a long staircase going down. No other corridors or rooms branch off before this staircase.
Mach keeps sneaking along down the stairs.
Mach carefully creeps down the twisting staircase, descending to a level in-between the ground floor where he entered and the level he just left. As he descends, he can tell from the increasing light that there is another sunrod up ahead somewhere, and he hears the rustle of clothing and a few short whispers coming from up ahead. Whoever is making them is in quite a large room, judging by the echo.
Descending a bit lower and crouching down in the staircase to actually catch a glimpse into the room, he sees that there are at least 5 Tower Girls hidden in the shadows of the room (that he can clearly see with his darkvision, and there might be more around corners) and a single woman standing in the middle of the room flanked by two donkey rats. She is obviously waiting to greet whoever descends.
This is clearly an ambush, as a human would only be able to make out the lone woman in the middle of the room. None of the Tower Girls seem to be aware of Mach's presence, as he is still quite a ways up the staircase, which blocks most of him from sight, in addition to the staircase being in complete darkness up until the last 10 feet or so of its descent.
Mach creeps back to report what he's seen. "Looks like they know we're here now. One Tower Girl in the centre of the room, flanked by two rats. Probably shapeshifters. I count at least 5 more hiding in the shadows of the room--there could be more. They don't look friendly--get ready for a fight."
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Um'bala's eyes light up. "I've got an idea," he said, fishing out the horacalcum shard that prompted this entire mission. "I can use the Shard to create an image of Standing Bear here, charging down the stairs towards the obvious Girl. Hopefully, that will draw the fire from the other Girls, springing their trap early. We follow the illusion, maybe thirty feet behind. I'm mostly out of useful spells, but I'll be able to make someone increase in size. Probably Petronicus. Any refinements?"
Petronicus nods at the wizard's suggestion. "I like the idea of being big, although that would mean I would present more of a target as well. Standing Bear, have you any healing magics? We might need them in combat."
Standing Bear let's a small smile pass over his face. "I can use the wand of needed and I have a different option to offer as well. I can commune with a certain ancestor who can send a couple of them to sleep. I would even the numbers and I prefer not to kill women if it is possible." He finishes with a shrug.
Mach twirls his blades. "Sounds like a plan to me--Calistria knows all I've got are my blades here."
And me to guide them to where they cut the deepest.
"I have some magic left that I can try and knock some of the unconscious."
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Um'bala nods. "I doubt they'll feel the same way about you, Standing Bear, but it's a noble sentiment. Alright, give the image a few seconds to draw their attack, and follow in afterwards.[/smaller]" The wizard studies their Shoanti ally for a few moments, and palms the [I]Shard, concentrating. Shortly thereafter, an image of him in full warpaint and earthbreaker appears, and the illusion begins silently stalking down the stairs.
Standing Bear tries to follow silently behind, his weapon at the ready, and as soon as he comes close enough closes his eyes for a moment. From his body another ancient Shoanti warrior arises, a very old man this time with many feathers in his hair that charges the indicated area and bursts apart in a cloud of smoke.
Petronicus submits to becoming enlarged before the beginning of the confrontation.
The illusion of Standing Bear carefully makes its way into the barely-lit room where the woman is sitting on the floor, petting the two donkey rats squatting next to her. Careful to make the correct sounds, the illusion casually waltzes into the room, coming to stop at the foot of the stairs.
The woman in the middle of the room stands up. "Ah, Standing Bear, I see that the intruders have freed you from your prison. Sadly, they brought you down here to die, unless you all leave the Crow immediately. This is your only warning."
Back up the stairway, the now 8 1/2 foot tall Petronicus is unsure in his footing. He stumbles on the relatively small staircase, and loudly clangs his guisarme into the wall.
The woman's eyes flash with anger. "And the rest of you can stop trying to be quiet up there" she shouts out. "[b]We have more than enough Tower Girls left to finish you all off. Leave now."
Mach sighs in resignation as Petronicus gives their position away. "If we turn back, we might trip over all the other girls we took out to get here. I'm fine with taking our chances."
He then whispers to the rest of the team. "Let's stay on the stairwell so they can't surround us."
Quintus readies himself for combat though he does try to solve this diplomatically.
"Look, we just want to explore this place a bit and then leave. We don't want to really fight you and we have no reason to stop your activities here. We haven't even killed any Tower Girls here instead we just knocked them out for a bit. Do you mind letting us through?"
The woman in the room makes a low chuckle, but does not seem to be in a joking bood. "My, aren't we posh little Magnamarian explorers! 'Just knocked them on their darling little pates, have we?' Leave now while you still have your lives. My rats are hungry."
Standing Bear nods to his friends and advances down the stairs to hold the position at the bottom of the stairs. He holds his weapon in both hands and stands defensively.
Standing Bear nods to his friends and advances down the stairs to hold the position at the bottom of the stairs. He holds his weapon in both hands and stands defensively.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Well I'm sorry, but we can't do that. So we'll just have to knock you and your friends in the shadows down there on your darling little pates."
Quintus then looks at the others.
"Well let's hope that provokes them."
INITIATIVE:
The Tower Girls seem indeed to be provoked as they begin converging upon the illusion of Standing Bear.
The giant Krupt moves up protectively behind the illusion of Standing Bear, muttering "Well, here goes nothing" under his breath. He holds out his guisarme threateningly.
Quintus will move around to see better and then cause four dancing lights to show up around the woman in the middle having the lights act as a torch.
Grumbling that he doesn't have a clear line of movement to get in the fray, Mach stows his weapons and draws his bow, moving up behind the enlarged Petronicus.
The illusory Standing Bear proudly steps forward, proclaiming: "Among our people we have a tradition. An honorable fight between champions! Face me, rat woman, and you will test the mettle of a true Shoanti warrior!"
Mach draws his bowstring back and lets an arrow fly at the woman in the middle of the lights!
Standing Bear moves closer in the shadows and behind the giant man whilst he starts casting a spell.
Mach's arrow catches the leader of the Tower Girls off-guard, digging deep into her shoulder and causing her to cry out in pain. "Treachery has revealed itself! Kill them all, girls!"
At their leader's exhortation, the Tower Girls attack, focusing their efforts on Petronicus and the illusion of Standing Bear.
The Tower Girl shouts, "That Shoanti is an illusion, ignore it!"
Back in the corridor, Standing Bear begins casting his spell.
The Tower Girl leader points at the giant Petronicus, shouting "Swarm him, my lovelies." The donkey rats surge forward.
Petronicus cries out in pain as the hand crossbow bolt lodges in his arm and the rats bite him. "Argh, rats, I hate rats!" He takes his hand off his guisarme and smacks at the nearest dire rodent, knocking one of them unconscious. , ;
Well, they could still not target the illusion if they were told it was one, even if they themselves still believed. Also, Petronicus is literally a bigger target.
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Um'bala frowned as the Girls quickly saw through the illusory Shoanti, and quickly changed tactics. He summoned a fist of telekinetic force and launched it at the remaining dire rat, hoping to clear the entry to assault the Girls.
I didn't get moved into the corner, like I requested, so move me there.
Um'bala's view is blocked by the enormous Chelaxian in front of him. His magical attack happily misses Petronicus, but unfortunately also the donkey rat he'd been targeting.