Mouse Hunt
Octavia, Mountain Dwarf, Cleric 2 Kraken, Human, Barbarian 3
Summary: Octavia and Kraken are hired by an innkeep to investigate strange noises in the basement. They get more than they bargained for when the dead don't rest easy.
Just another day in Alexandria, and like most days in Alexandria, something is going terribly wrong. A post has recently been made by an innkeeper to the guild of explorers. There have been strange noises from his basement, and after the tavern wench he sent down there never came back, he's had to board up the entrance. The petition goes into great detail of how he's loosing business because he can't get at the alcohol down there. And glosses over the fact he may have boarded some poor tavern wench up in the basement.
"Must save the booze!" Kraken exclaims after he listens in to some fancy pants adventurer read the latest announcement. Then he chimes up because the guy stopped reading, "Which tavern does it say is having the booze crisis?"
Octavia, being a rather gruff Dwarven sort, isn't one to let details like tavern wenches go unremarked upon. She harumphs in a rather disapproving manner. "What sort of fool sends a serving wench down to investigate? Blasted idiot has probably locked her in with some stray cats, the coward." Because insulting your employers right off is the best way to maximize payment.
The inn itself is a smallish one located in the older part of the city, near the castle. The innkeeper is concerned because many of the old city district basements connect to the sewer system. He's worried thieves or something worse has broken in and- there is a reward offered, of course. "But you have to get there soon! I'll be bankrupt by the end of the week!" he finishes by complaining, apparently not really caring he's just been called a coward. Not when there's booze in danger.
Kraken chuckles, "More likely a mouse, made the wench pass out cold I'd bet. Well I'm going to head on over to the Castle's Shadow and see just what I can do to earn that reward. I might even take payment in booze. anyone else up for the walk over?"
Octavia nods, solemnly, once. "It's the duty of all good citizens to help one another where we can." She says, and does her best not to cast any more disapproving looks at the complaining owner. "I'm Octavia Truehammer, friend. What shall I call my companion in this exciting mouse-hunt?"
Kraken moves to get his horse and lead the animal along with him. "I'm Kraken, and it'd be good to have someone that respects the value of the booze we're saving along with me."
The innkeeper provides the pair of them with directions to the inn, and once again reiterrates the urgency of getting access to his booze. Once this is all settled, it's a simple matter to trek across the city to the place- the place itself is three stories tall and features a lovely ramshackle lean-to which smells like it houses the latrine. Inside, it is fairly abandoned- it's been closed for business since the wench went missing, and no-one would want to go there for the food anyway from the look of the place. Access to the basement is in the back, via a hatch in the tiny (and dirty) kitchen. it's sealed shut with wooden boards nailed into the frame.
Octavia can't help but smile at that. A broad grin underneath her steel helm. She does open the face portion of it so that she can be seen, having realized that not doing so might be seen as a little odd. "We'll see." She agrees, "Wasting any booze is a tragedy, but whether or not it is worth anything..." She trudges along regardless, refusing to speed up for the horse (because a running Dwarf is not a dignified sight), but not hesitating to keep on striding into the inn...
Kraken leaves his horse ground tethered across the way, a bit further away from the inn itself. He transfers his throwing axes to his belt and hefts his big axe onto his shoulder. "Mind if I lead the way, Octavia?" He asks as he moves towards the door into the back of the inn.
GAME: Octavia rolls perception: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Kraken rolls perception: (9)+6: 15
As the two of you head towards the back of the in, you hear a sudden clunk form the basement. Something being knocked over. Octavia alone hears something else- a low, pained moan- also coming from the basement.
"By all means!" Octavia declares, readying her shield and her warhammer as she shrugs the weaponry from her back, "But hurry, man! There's someone down there, and they sound like they are injured! Perhaps we're dealing with something worth worrying about after all!"
GAME: Kraken rolls strength: (11)+5: 16
Kraken hears the urging from the dwarf and nods, "Right, in we go!" And with that he lowers his shoulder and charges forward, jumping up to give a two boot landing to the hatch down into the basement. With a resounding crash the hatch and barricade gives way to his muscular bulk, the entrance opened up in an explosion of bits of wood.
As kraken bursts through into the basement, the cause of the low moaning quickly becomes obvious. The bar wench is leaning against a cask of ale, her entrails spilled forth from a massive wound in her belly, and strewn across the floor at her feet. The stench of viscera and decay is stifling. She lurches towards kraken, tripping on her own intestines, and then begins clumsily dragging herself to her feet. Much of the rest of the basement is hidden by shadows and tall shelves full of various cheap wines and spirits.
GAME: Octavia rolls initiative: Roll: 16 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 17 GAME: You roll initiative for Goblin1: Roll: 3 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 4 GAME: Goblin1's initiative total changed to '10'. GAME: Kraken rolls initiative: Roll: 20 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 21 GAME: You roll initiative for Goblin2: Roll: 3 + Bonus: 7 = Total: 10 GAME: You roll initiative for Wench: Roll: 4 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 4 GAME: You roll initiative for DireRat: Roll: 19 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 20
Kraken moves around the injured wench, "Octavia, the wench is bad for it!" He shouts out as he gets his axe around in front of him. "What did that to you lass? Don't you worry, we'll get you some help." Though all that stench and blood is just making his teeth grate and he feels himself drifting towards the edge of rage.
As kraken moves past the woman, she moans again, still trying to get herself to her feet. And there's a horrible shlork noise from deeper in the basement. Kraken sees a faint shape, that becomes clearer as it moves towards the door. A dire rat, except, this is much larger than most dire rats. It's bloated and covered in throbbing pustules. One such pustule bursts as its massive form grinds against the wall, a gooey yellow ichor splattering over its side, the shelf, the floor- the stench is almost unbearable. The creature's blind eyes sweep back and forth around the room, and then it seems to set them on kraken. It lurches towards him, oozing puss from open sores.
GAME: Octavia rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+6: 7 GAME: Octavia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 Octavia blinks as she sees the shape of the woman below. "By the Guiding Star." She murmurs under her breath, astounded that a woman so injured could yet be conscious and moving. But, perhaps the will to live is sufficiently strong in this woman... you have to admire that tenacity! The dwarf comes crashing down the stairs as swiftly as she is able, abandoning all pretext to dignity, and raises her shield upwards. "Hang on, don't you die on me yet, we'll see you through." Octavie promises as a bright, golden light suffuses the room for a moment... and then she looks confused, as the woman doesn't seem any better for it.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+8+1-1: (1)+8+1+-1: 9
Sparks fly as the blade of Kraken's axe crashes into the stone floor about three inches to the right of the rat's paw. It was a mighty swing, full of energy.. and completely devoid of accuracy. "Gah, the stench!"
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d8+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Kraken rolls fortitude: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Chiddle damaged Kraken for 7 points. 19 remaining.
The rat retalliates by slamming into Kraken with it's massive shoulders. More of the throbbing sores burst, covering the Barbarian in the slimy decay within. It smells even worse up close, if that's even possible.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Octavia rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
Octavia brings back her warhammer, and swings it around in a mighty blow. "Behind you, Kraken, there's strange sorcery afoot!" She declares. Which, to her mind, is evidenced even more by the fact that the mighty Dwarven weapon slams bodily into the barmaid's side, but fails to down her like it would any normal woman.
And then there are sudden screeches from the rear of the basement. Two diminuative creatures come charging out, pause a moment to peer around with big mily eyes, and then scream again. They run, flailing wildly, towards the group. As they come towards the light from above, it's clear they are- or were once- goblins. BVut their flesh is withered and grey, and bits of it are missing entirely. They scramble wildly to try and get past the rat which blocks their way, clawing at its hide to try and climb over it, screeching and gnashing their teeth wildly.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21 AME: Chiddle rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for 7 points. 13 remaining.
The woman stumbles back as she's struck by the hammer, her ripcage crushed. But that doesn't seem to deter her much. She lunges for the dwarf woman, fingernails scraping against her armor until she can get a grip. She manages to knock loose the dwarf's faceplate, and teeth bite into her cheek, coming back with a chunk of flesh.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+10+1-1: (3)+10+1+-1: 13
Kraken is less than pleased by being covered in yellow puss and bitten. If the slight foaming at the mouth and incoherent roar of anger are anything to go by. He hauls his axe back up and takes another might swing! And another mighty clang on the stone floor, though this time he did manage to shave off a few bits of hair as he got just a little closer to the rat.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5
The rat's huge, yellow teeth gnash at Kraken, trying to bite into him. But they only manage to chomp the air, splattering him with cold, discolored spittle.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d6: (1): 1
Octavia is uniquely poorly equipped to deal with zombies. Frustrating, all things considering, as the memories of her brief jaunts with other members of the clergy resurface. Undead creatures driven by a hunger for human flesh? Check. Bringing her shield hand up, she forces her faceplate down, and then raises the shield above her head. "BACK, ACCURSED CREATURES!" She bellows, illuminating the area with the golden light of dawn once again. This time, there's some light whisps of smoke which rise from the evil creatures... but not much else. Still, she refuses to panic. Now that there is a genuine threat, it is all the more important that she see it through!
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6
The goblins continue their furious scrabbling, knocking bottles of wine to the ground. They recoil for an instant as the wave of light wayshes over them. but once it passes, they resume their furious scramble with even more vigor than before. The wench grabs at the dwarf again, but flinches at the light and ends up stumbling to her knees again.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+10+1-1: (14)+10+1+-1: 24 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+13: (11)+13: 24 GAME: Kraken rolls fortitude: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Octavia rolls fort: (8)+6: 14
Clearly the first two swings were just practice blows, as the third swing from the barbarian his the rat dead square right down the middle. Sadly for Kraken and Octavia, the rat doesn't just neetly bisect but instead explodes into a shower of putrified flesh and ooze that covers most of the basement.
GAME: Octavia casts Bless.
Octavia doesn't lower her shield. Instead, she steps behind Kraken and declares a loud, "The light of The Coming Dawn guide our blows!" Followed by an even louder, because shouting equals authority especially with the raging, "Have faith, Kraken, these monsters shall not fell us here. I'll deal with this one and be with you momentarily!"
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5
The goblinoid zombies trample over the deflated and pus-drained corpse of the rat and throw themselves bodily at Kraken. Their hands scrape and claw and slam against his armor but they just aren't strong enough to hurt him.
The wench lurches to her feet again, stepping on a stretch of her own intestines in the process, which pulls some more of her internal organs loose. They flop wetly to the pus-covered ground.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+10+1+1-1: (17)+10+1+1+-1: 28 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+13: (4)+13: 17
Kraken takes a swing at one of the goblins that is trying to scratch and claw at him, the blow slicing through the mostly dead critter enough to move it firmly into the completely dead grouping. He manages a triumphant, "Got another one of the buggers!" before he foams up at the mouth a bit more and can't speak.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
Infused with the power of her God, Octavia feels a surge of passion and courage. As the zombie closes to her, she draws back her hammer, and slams it powerfully around, crashing into the creature's shoulder and forcing it to drop to one knee momentarily... though the cursed thing isn't down for good. "I seem to have got the /stubborn/ one." She huffs, bitterly.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20 GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5 GAME: Chiddle damaged Kraken for 5 points. 14 remaining.
The goblin that hasn't just been sliced in half latches onto Kraken. It sinks pointy teeth through armor and flesh alike, and tears a chunk out of his side, ravenously gnawing at the prize.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12
The Wench, meanwhile, stands back up. Again. One of her arms hangs limply from a shattered shoulder now, and flaps uselessly as the other onw lashes out for the dwarven womans eyes, fingers colliding with the faceplate with a painful-sounding crunch. Despite the fact that three of them now point out in odd directions, she continue slamming her hand against Octavia's armor, trying to find a weak point.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+10+1+1-1: (8)+10+1+1+-1: 19 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+13: (6)+13: 19
Kraken reverses his swing and brings it around, that goblin doesn't get to enjoy the mouthful of his tasty flesh for more than two chews before he's brought down by the painful impact of axe to face. A collision that the goblin does not survive.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10
Octavia's hammer comes around another time, but the lurching movement of the creature keeps her from being an easy target to judge, and she's forced to bat away at her with her shield. "This is most vexing." She huffs, genuinely frustrated by her inability to smite the unruly barwench.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5
The tattered, still animated, corpse of the bar wench contines flailing at the cleric, avoiding being crushed by that mighty hammer mostly by the erratic nature of her unsteady gait and wild attacks.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+10+1+1-1: (5)+10+1+1+-1: 16 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+13: (11)+13: 24
Kraken spins around from the ruin of the two goblin zombies and spots the wench still up, pressing upon Octavia. With a battleroar that really should be restricted to outdoor uses and not in such close areas, he brings his axe down, and right through a large portion of the evil animation's torso. Then with a flick of his axe the now unmoving flesh is dropped down to the floor.
And then all is still in the basement. A large gob of semi-congealed pus falls from the ceiling and splatters to the ground. The stench down here can only be described as ungodly. but there don't seem to be any more animated corpses trying to eat the adventurers.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for -2 points. 15 remaining. GAME: Chiddle damaged Kraken for -2 points. 16 remaining.
Kraken takes a few moments to catch his breath, which is hard given the stench. "I guess we should check out the full basement. Just give me a moment to get my strength back."
Octavia is quietly disappointed she wasn't the one to finish the matter. But it is, at least, done. The cleric shakes her head slowly, and touches her shield. A warm glow suffuses the shield, and the pair's wounds, at least, stop bleeding. "These monsters don't breed themselves." She agrees, and starts to walk off, before realizing her companion is winded... "I suppose I can wait a few moments."
Kraken gives a little smile as he takes out his water skin, one swallow to clear his mouth, then more poured over his head to wash some of the gore off. "Need some water?" He offers over the second half of the skin.
Octavia does take the offered water, and washes her shield and helm of the gore that the exploding rat had created. "Thank you." She says, now she's calmed down a bit, she can see the tragedy in what happened to the barmaid. Not the goblins though, because who cares about goblins? She touches her helm, and removes a spear from her pouch, carefully positioning it in the dead woman's hands. "I hope your soul has found more rest than your body." She mutters, before she looks up to Kraken again. "Ready?"
Kraken nods his head and cleans off his axe, "Yes, I'm ready to move on. Do you have any light? I'm not so good once we get out of the doorway." He says as he peers off into the gloom of the rest of the basement.
As the two of them explore the basement, they will soon come across the sewer etntrance the inkeep mentioned- It's another trap door leading down. It looks to have been smashed open from below. There are faint skittering noises coming from below.
Octavia shakes her head slightly. "I rarely bother." She admits, before moving to grab a torch from the stairway - after all, her companion is fairly winded - and then they can carry on. "I'd say this seems like the source of our problem." She says, looking to the man before she closes her helm again. "Ladies first, or would you like to go first again?"
Kraken chuckles just a little bit, "I'll go first, just to make sure I've got room to swing my axe. just hold the torch down a bit for me..." And with that he moves to the trap door and looks for stairs or if it's a drop into the unknown.
There are indeed stairs for this bit, very narrow, slime covered stone stairs.
Octavia does a little bit of jostling with her equipment to hold the torch with the shield in easy reach, but she's soon following Kraken down, down into the darkness. Not that it actually bothers her at all. Aside from being dirty, it is actually kind of homely.
Kraken leads the way down the slime covered stairs, axe held at the ready with his eyes cutting from left to right. He doesn't speak, trying to listen intently for the sounds of danger.
The scitteroing noise gets louder as you head down the steps. And glints of light on slimy fur soon reveals the cause- rats. Lots of rats. They all look fairly diseased, too, baring signs of visible rot and pustules like the giant one. They practically cover the surface of the sewer.
GAME: Octavia rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 13 GAME: You roll initiative for PlagueRatSwarm1: Roll: 1 + Bonus: 5 = Total: 6 GAME: You roll initiative for PlagueRatSwarm2: Roll: 19 + Bonus: 5 = Total: 24 GAME: Kraken rolls initiative: Roll: 13 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 14
The rats first recoil away from the light as the torch comes down the stairs with the two of them. But soon their hugner for flesh overcomes their hatred of the light. They begin climbing over one another trying to climb up the steps.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+8+1-1: (14)+8+1+-1: 22 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+10: (10)+10: 20
Kraken takes a hard swing through the churning little bodies trying to get up the stairs, the blade of his axe hitting a handful or so on the way through, causing them to explode like little balloons of pus, fortunately the little explosions aren't quite enough to reach him. Then he moves up the stairs back into the tavern's basement. "Nasty exploding rats... ugh."
<OOC> Octavia says, "As I can't get past him, I'll spont a cure light and touch Kraken, then move back up the stairs." GAME: Octavia casts Command. GAME: Octavia rolls 1d8+2: (1)+2: 3
Octavia sees what is happening down there, and touches Kraken as she moves backwards. "Bolster this warrior against his foes." She murmurs. The effect is less than what she'd hoped for, but it would have to do.
More rats surge from the flowing sewage, the cracks and crannies, and swarm towards the stairs. By sheer force of numbers, they begin- slowly- ascending the slippery staircase, using their own bodies as an unliving ramp.
Kraken gets to the top of the stairs and looks down at the rats, axe at the ready. "I guess we'll just chop and mash 'em to bits. Unless you see a kask of something not fit to drink we could throw on them." Not fit to drink in his book usually means too watered down, so he leaves it to the dwarf to choose if they use some booze on the rats.
Octavia shakes her head, "T'isn't ours to throw away." She says, solemnly. The wanton destruction of personal property can hardly be justified, even in the face of extreme danger. Besides. It is booze. Instead, she readies her hammer and shield, and pauses only to touch Kraken on the shoulder again. "Serriel, guide this brave soul's arm." She intones. And there might just be an uncomfortable sensation for Kraken, as there is the sense that his next blow... will be a Just and True one.
<OOC> Octavia says, "His next to-hit is an 11." GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+8+1-1: (9)+8+1+-1: 17 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+10: (5)+10: 15
Kraken waits for the rats to start bubbling out and then he sweeps his axe through them to make a few more explode.
<OOC> Chiddle says, "The swarm swarms over kraken." GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (5): 5 GAME: Chiddle damaged Kraken for 5 points. 14 remaining. <OOC> Chiddle says, "The other rat swarm spills out into the basement, swarming over Octavia" GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for -3 points. 18 remaining. GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for 6 points. 12 remaining. GAME: Octavia rolls fort: (14)+6: 20
The rats finally make it up the stairs, and spread out to surround the two of them. They climb up clothes, and wriggle inside of armor, biting and tearing at the flesh of their victims, and spreading their filth.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12
Octavia drops her shield and torch, and takes a firmer grasp of her hammer. Unfortunately, she can't seem to catch enough of the creatures under it to have any appreciable effect.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+10: (8)+10: 18
Thunk thunk thunk... Kraken chops through rats into bits of the trap door that's left, hitting more than a few of them and leaving little splotches of exploding rat puss goo on the basement ground.
GAME: Octavia rolls fort: (10)+6: 16 GAME: Kraken rolls fortitude: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Octavia rolls fort: (11)+6: 17
While most of the rats surrounding Kraken are splattered across the ground, or fleeing abck dow the steps, those on octavia are prooving more stubborn, and seem intent of eating her alive.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12
Octavia is starting to get more and more frustrated with this. The cleric just can't seem to find purchase on the rats, even though, or possibly because, they are getting inside her armor. It is incredibly annoying! But she doesn't want to open her mouth. And, not being a barbarian, that is an urge she can control.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+8+1-1: (19)+8+1+-1: 27 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+10: (12)+10: 22
Kraken takes a step closer to Octavia, his axe brought down in a series of controlled, powerful strokes that chop through a dozen rats, leaving a polkadot effect on the floor from all the bursting puss.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for 3 points. 7 remaining. GAME: Octavia rolls fort: (10)+6: 16
Tiny teeth and painful claws cut dozens, hundreds of holes in octavia's flesh. Mor eof them wriggle their way into the gaps and joints of her armor, smearing her with the oozing pus that comes out of their numerous boils and sores. This can't be hygenic.
GAME: Octavia rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8
Octavia has even less luck attacking the rats that are inside her armor than the ones outside it, at this point she's having to work fairly hard to avoid panicking.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+8+1-1: (19)+8+1+-1: 27 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+10: (3)+10: 13
Kraken scrapes a few rats off of Octavia's back and chops them into half, leaving a pile of good as a result. "Hang on, almost got them all off of you." It's probably a good thing he can't see them moving underneath her armor.
GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for 2 points. 5 remaining. GAME: Octavia rolls fort: (20)+6: 26
Octavia can, by now, feel that her blood is running freely from a multitude of wounds all over her body. The rats tear strips of skin away and gnaw at the flesh beneath. Blood drips out of her gauntlets and into her boots and mixes with the pus on the ground.
GAME: Octavia casts Protection From Evil. GAME: Octavia rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Octavia rolls 1d8+2: (1)+2: 3 GAME: Chiddle damaged Octavia for -3 points. 8 remaining.
Octavia refuses to panic. Muttering a prayer to Serriel under her breath, she holds her shield to her chest and focuses the protective magic inwards in the hope of staving off further damage.
GAME: Kraken rolls 1d20+8+1-1: (5)+8+1+-1: 13 GAME: Kraken rolls 1d12+10: (3)+10: 13
Kraken scrapes some rats away from Octavia and chops into them again, more puss on the floor, fewer rats on the cleric, enough so that they can start kicking and splattering individiual ones as the rest start fleeing for dark hideyholes.
Octavia, when she is sure there are no rats in her helm, takes the metal thing off and clears her throat. "Please go back upstairs, Kraken." She says, with as much dignity as she can muster. "Because I am going to take off my armor and dislodge any that are remaining. It would not be proper for you to watch."