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As Davros steps onto the rug he suddenly feels the floor disappear beneath him. He only has a split second to try and catch himself.
Addtionally Eugene feels the floor slope pitching him toward the same pit.
"اللعنة! Knew there was something خطير here! Zeelchoos, I thought you checked this! As I said before, caution is needed in the house of the wizard.
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Aodan flattens himself against the wall in surprise, before taking a breath and looking down at the suddenly-appearing pit.
"وهذا المعالج معين يبدو أن تكون خادعة خصوصا ... وخطير"
And this particular wizard appears to be especially tricky... and dangerous
He'll quickly scan the other carpet for additional danger.
"You o.k.,'gene?"
Siv... damn... urg Eugene takes a bad fall, and now lies belly-up in the bottom on the pit, and wheezes for air. Ach... ugh... no. I think I broke my lung.
This is not going to be good for the value of this manor, Eugene then says as he crawls to his feet. Just to manage expectations, I'd like to get out of here.
Zilchus puts the birds away and tries to help Eugene out of the pit.
"Ooh, good work there! Nice bit of finding! We're supposed to explore this place and make it safe...and you did just that!" Zilch seems genuinely impressed by Eugene's dedication. "Now we know not to stand there."
"You're thorough, 'Gene, just like me, Zilchus."
When Eugene is ready to move on, Zilch waits by the east door, ready to go that way.
Eugene is still a bit dizzy from the knock on the head Oh, you're Zilchus. I thought it was the other one...
Yes, you're right, thorough. I hope I didn't damage the trap, though. By the terms of that contract I am liable to any damage caused to the installations of the manor. Let's make note of this big sudden hole in the ground.
Eugene tries to scratch his way back up, but the heavy breastplate weighs him down. I appreciate the willingness to help me, Zilchus. Perhaps for the sake of expediency we can extend your commitment to tossing down a rope?
That works as well. It's the bottom line that counts after all.
Unless any aid is coming from his teammates, Eugene will heal himself up before moving east.
Davros begins to speak as Eugene making gestures of a divine nature. "Are you alright? Eet looks as though you are feeling better now, no? Come. Let us be done with thees room and continue on to the next. I am certain that thees is but a taste of what is to come; we must be cautious. Zeelchoos - if you please..."and with that Davros falls in behind Zilchus, draws his scimitar, and listens closely trying to hear what, if anything, lies behind the eastern door.
Zilch smiles as Eugene gets himself out of his hole easily, then again as the divine spark washes over him.
That was neat.
"Oh Eugene, you and I are going to work well together, I can tell. You and me are going to be in the stories, no doubt...when I fall down, you're going to pick me up, I'm sure," Zilch notes appreciatively. "Every brave hero needs a bumbling sidekick to fall in the pits and such and so forth. I see you're already doing that."
Zilch waits by the east door, making room for Davros.
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"Every brave hero needs a bumbling sidekick to fall in the pits and such and so forth."
The half-elf chuckles and nods to Eugene. Welcome to the world of Zilch...
Aodan moves quietly over to the other side of the party gathering in front of the door, rather pleased that someone else has the pretentiously bearded-one's attention.
Davros steps into the kitchen and looks around, taking a mental inventory.
Just a kitchen. We must still be cautious.
"Aodan, you are having the good eyes." And you're more reliable than Zilchus. "Can you see anything that, eh, looks out of place or odd?"
Zilch follows Davros into the kitchen and immediately heads to the cupboards looking for food.
Perception
"I hope they some scones. I do love a good scone," Zilch murmurs. "Scones help me fight good."
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Zilchus manages to find all of the deceased wizards dinnerware and silverware.
Davros follows Zilchus into the room and pulls open the curtains to find two cots with a small chest at the foot of each.
Zilch waits by the south door, ready to go in.
"Oh, take your time, Aodan. Gotta be thorough, you know," Zilch says patiently. "We got a few more doors to go and then we can go collect our reward. This place is fine."
Indeed, we should make sure we are thorough to the best of our abilities Eugene confirms Zilchus' statement, we cannot risk to be liable for any remaining traps.
"Wonder who bunked here?"
"Eh, I believe that they are called scullery maids, no? The ladies in the kitchen. " says Davros as he follows Zilchus. "If Aodan can no open it, perhaps we leave it to later and make a note."
Zilch looks over at Davros.
"Scullery maids? Oh yeah...those were my favorites, they were," Zilch brags. "While the snooty ladies won't give me the time of day, ol' maids take good care of Zilchus. I've been more than a few maid's dress on the ground in my day."
Zilch looks around for a scullery maid, just in case he missed it. He goes to look behind the curtain before returning to his post by the south door.
Perception - curtain area
We'll add this to the asset list of the manor. "Plain servant's clothing". Very useful, as it saves any new owner from having to procure such.
Eugene sees the southeastern door as the logical next step, so move in that direction.
Zilch, pretty sure all the hard work is done, waits by the south doors.
"Pretty dull around here. With no High Dragon Priests to slay, you might say I'm pretty useless," Zilch yawns.
That's the price of effectiveness, the bane of any enterprise. Sell a man a fish and he has food for a day, sell a man a fishing rod, and it will be a long time before he returns to your shop.
Zilchus, who has absolutely no interest in *making* scones (his interest lies entirely in the consumption side), tries the next door.
"Ah, it's blocked. Looks like we'll have to force it."
Str check.
Looks like they ran out of salt. Eugene says, as he helps Zilchus push open the door.
Careful not to damage the door. Here, let me help.
Zilch puts his back into helping Eugene.
Take 10 str = 13.
If that doesn't work, Zilch will bust out his Morningstar and bust down the door, doing two-handed swings until it's splinters.
"Are you sure that thees is the wisest solution to, eh, opening a door in a house that we know is trapped?" Davros whispers to Zilchus as he helps push on the door. "Who knows what could be in there? Traps? Cockatrices lizard-chickens? More kobolds trap-dragons?"
Death rays, manticores, Taldan Nobles... all manner of death awaits us in here.
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The half-elf thinks of the enchantments bouncing around his head, in his book, and on the scrolls he purchased. Fingering his bow and thinking about pulling the power from his book, one cantrip comes to mind before he thinks the better of it. No, the little incantation about opening things shouldn't budge this.
Instead, if there is room for him to lean in as well, he'll give an aiding shove.
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Working together the group is able to move the door. As the door opens there is a loud scraping noise like wood dragging across stone. Once the door is open it looks like someone barricaded the door with an armoire. Further inspection of the room reveals a bed and stacks of fresh linen.
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Aodan peers around the other men, curious as to what or who would barricade themselves in such a place.
"Hey. Som'body's inside."
Not especially concerned by someone cowering after all that has happened, the half-elf finds some caution is wise and raises his bow.
"You. Under the bed. Come out." His mind goes through who might be here. A servant loyal to Hunclay? One fearful of the wizard's treachery and wrath? Os simply a visitor like Davros who was in the wrong place at the wrong time? His eyes quickly look over the easterner. Assuming the Qadiran's story is true and he has no nefarious scheme.
Turning back to the room.
"The Lady sent us. We won't hurt ya."
Zilch goes to look under the bed.
"Don't worry, man. C'mon out. We're bona fide...signed a contract with the Lady and everything," Zilch says while looking for anything of interest on or about the man...a clue or two.
Perception
"I'm Zilchus...and these are my followers: Aodan, Darkrose, and Eugene. Perhaps you've heard of me? I slew the High Dragon Priest? Then killed the High Dragon King?"
Eugene raises an eyebrow when he is introduced as Zilchus' follower, but then focuses on the man under the bed. Two questions, Eugene says sternly. Who are you, and why are you there?
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The man stays curled up in a ball, shaking in fear. "Please don't hurt me. I didn't do anything to you or your lady. I am just a simple servant"
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As the door crashes open with a heave Davros looks around, surveying the scene.
"Hey. Som'body's inside."
"So there is. We should be careful," whispers Davros.
"Come now, sir. We mean no harm. What my Zeelchus is trying to explain is that we here on business. Come out now, eet is alright," says Davros as he holds his empty hand, palms up as a sign of peace.
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"I'm Zilchus...and these are my followers:"
"Wait. What?" Delusions of grandeur? The consequences of keeping my nose in that ancient tome too long, no doubt.
"Yeah, what the turbanned one said." Apparently, the one who's judgment I trust the most is a Qadiran slave. "Err, I mean Kiff-ya-ed."
The half-elf keeps his grip on his bow, just in case.
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The man peeks out from behind his hands. "What business? How can you have business here when the kobolds are coming."
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"How can you have business here when the kobolds are coming?"
Zilch looks confused.
"Did you not hear what I said?" Zilch challenges. "Did you not hear that I slew the High Dragon Priest? Then killed the High Dragon King? There will be no kobolds or like coming."
Zilch stares at the man.
"Now, who are you? What do you know of Hunky? And the kobolds that I slew at least 10 of."
Davros cocks an eyebrow and looks incredulously at Zilchus.
"Ten?" Davros turns to Aodan, "Ten? Does that number mean the same in Imperial Taldor as it does in the Satrapy?" Davros turns back to Zilchus, "And where did you learn your manners, Zeelchus, a brothel? This man is scared; be nice. Good sir, we are here to investigate the manor of the wizard Hunclay after his untimely death. Please come out and join us. Are you hungry?"
Zilchus looks at Davros as if he was shocked...not because he might be suggesting that Zilchus would be boasting, but Davros was supposed to be accurately recording Zilchus' deeds for the history books.
"Actually, it was more than 10, Darkrose...don't you remember? Maybe we should write them down so we don't forget," Zilch offers helpfully. "Lemme remind you..." Zilch counts off his kobold kills...
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
"Right about now, I realized I was the Scalebane." Zilch commentaries.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
"And then we faced the High Priest and Dragon King. They both tasted my spear..." Zilch continues.
High Dragon Priest
High Dragon King.
"Remember, Davros?" Zilch says, turning his attention to the frightened man.
"See? With me around, you don't need to worry about the kobolds. Ol' Zilchus here will take care of them for you. Just point me at them." Zilch smiles at the man, confident that he should feel totally safe, totally. "Now, we didn't get your name or what you are doing here."
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The man starts to slowly crawl out from under the bed. "I'm sorry, I did not know what to do when that scaley creature tried to break in through the front door and master Hunclay did not return." The man stands up, "Pardon me, in my fright I forgot my manners. I am Mathezic, one of the wizard Hunclay's servants."
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"O.k. Mathezic. One name, no house or honorific, just a servant.
"Hunclay's servant, huh?" Sometimes those in power share information with their underlings. He might be able to shed some light on this sordid affair. "Can ya' say why in Aroden's name he'd tower topple while helpin' the li'l nasty 'bolds?"
He's talking Garundi now? I don't understand a thing! Bold toppling?
Eugene watches in amazement as Aodan fires off his code language.
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"While I do not fully understand his motivations, I do know that he resorted to using the kobolds when he exhuasted any legal means to destory the tower. I do have my suspicions on why he wanted the tower gone, however I have limited proof as he restricted his servants from entering certain chambers."
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