CH. 15: There and Back Again

[spyguy1503]

Gallath's eyes go hard. "You dare?" he spits out. "My world was destroyed by a demon. I almost died that night. I spent my whole life going after demons AND YOU DARE CALL ME ONE?" 'You're a nutcase." he says, calmer.

[chese780]

*Do whatever it is that we informally use as a spot check/notice anything amiss.*

Drav looks around for anything that could be a tip-off to anyone here/what happened.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn Blaine (Deimos Harbor)
When Jocelyn and Brock reach the edge of the city, they are stopped by a group of armed sailors. "Whoa there," says one, holding up his hands. "Are you aware the city is quite dangerous, pastor? There are still reports of slaadi roaming about. I wouldn't recommend going in there without a group for protection."

Val Urgan (Ocean, 10 yards from shore)
Mist carries Val as close to the shoreline as she can without running ashore and getting beached. The Seleya and the Bullring are both still docked in the same places as when Val left. If the sahuagin are still pursuing, there is no sign of them any more.

Baeros and Drav (Ruined City, Southeast)
The patrol continues eastward, keeping an eye out for any sign of danger or survivors. They come across another intersection, and there is an awful smell in the air. In the middle of the road are numerous, old blood stains. Baeros remembers this area...this was where the party came across the citizens fighting each other. They also found Brock and Tialis here. The party was so convinced that some magic had driven the people mad, but it was simple hatred and fear that made them turn against each other, nothing more.

"Have you two known each other long?" asks Rumari, looking from the ranger to the elf.

Gallath (Ruined City, Southwest)
"Prepare to defend yourselves, demon scum!" the woman yells, readying her blade and shield.

"Hurry, this way!" exclaims Naishe. "I know a place we can hide, but we'll have to lose her first!" She gestures to the north.

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
The simple sailors do their best, but they have no casting abilities and cannot get 40 yards away. The market square is simply not that big. The only way to get that far away would be to leave the square entirely, and then buildings would get in the way of firing.

They both fire their crossbows, sweating bullets while doing so. One bolt is a glancing hit, and the other plinks off the creature's thick hide.

Naras prepares to cast a spell, but the slaad charges right at her. She quickly sets her spear and the slaad stupidly runs right into it, doing a great deal of damage. But its wounds begin healing fast. Outraged at the pain its been dealt, the slaad slashes and bites at Naras, drawing blood for blood.

The Son of Crizza continues floating over the fountain, watching with mild amusement. He could easily end this battle, one way or another, but does nothing to interfere yet.

Initiative
Naras (1d10+5-2): 8+5-2 = 11
Sailor 01 (N/A)
Sailor 02 (N/A)
Sailor 03 (N/A)
Sailor 04 (N/A)
Sailor 05 (1d10+7): 2+7 = 9
Sailor 06 (1d10+7): 2+7 = 9
Slaad (1d10+6): 6+6 = 12
Son of Crizza (N/A)

Round 1!

Sailor 05 fires his light crossbow at the slaad [TN 16] (1d20): 17, hit for (1d6): 1 damage.
Sailor 06 fires her light crossbow at the slaad [TN 16] (1d20): 12, miss.
Naras sets her magic spear (+1 hit/dmg) at the Slaad's charge (+1 hit) [TN 14] (1d20+2): 18+2 = 20, hit for (1d8+1): 8+1 = 9x2 = 18 damage. Slaad is now seriously wounded. Protection from Evil is dispelled.
Slaad charges (+2 hit) at Naras and slashes at her with its right claw against her banded mail (-2 hit) [TN 9] (1d20): 13, hit for (1d4): 2 damage. It then slashes at her with its left claw against her banded mail (-2 hit) [TN 9] (1d20-2): 14-2 = 12, hit for (1d4): 4 damage. It then bites at her [TN 9] (1d20): 14, hit for (2d8): 7 damage. Naras is now moderately wounded. Slaad regenerates 2 HP.

[HorizonsDream]

"Has anyone else went this way?" Jocelyn asks.

[Chris1234]

Naras calls out, "Use your cutlasses on its rear. If I go down, run to the harbour. Tell Pastor Josleyn I tried to save them."
She prays ~Gonto, may Your Will be that I defeat this vile creature~ and attacks the slaad, trying to keep her shield between her and its deadly mouth.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn Blaine (Deimos Harbor)
"Aside from a couple of patrols?" asks the sailor. "Sometimes people do slip in without us noticing, usually to loot. We won't stop anyone who is determined to go in there, but it's incredibly dangerous and we don't recommend it."

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
The two sailors are clearly aghast at Naras' suggestion, but emboldened by the fact a stranger is working so hard to protect their crewmates, they draw their cutlasses and work their way around the slaad while it is busy with the dwarf.

Perhaps the gods are with them after all, because they manage to actually do some damage, as does Naras against the thick-skinned outsider.

However, the red slaad gives as good as it gets. After another vicious thrashing, she finds herself bloodied pretty badly. But her new shield does manage to stop at least one claw attack.

Initiative
Naras (1d10+5): 9+5 = 12
Sailor 01 (N/A)
Sailor 02 (N/A)
Sailor 03 (N/A)
Sailor 04 (N/A)
Sailor 05 (1d10+7): 2+7 = 9
Sailor 06 (1d10+7): 10+7 = 17
Slaad (1d10+6): 5+6 = 11
Son of Crizza (N/A)

Round 2!

Sailor 05 moves 40 feet around the slaad to come up behind it and then slashes with his cutlass from behind (+2 hit) [TN 20] (1d20+2): 18+2 = 20, hit for (1d6+1): 4+1 = 5 damage.
Slaad slashes at Naras with its right claw against her banded mail (-2 hit) [TN 11] (1d20-2): 13-2 = 11, hit for (1d4): 3 damage. It then slashes at Naras with its left claw against her banded mail (-2 hit) [TN 11] (1d20-2): 6-2 = 4, miss. Finally, it bites at Naras [TN 11] (1d20): 11, hit for (2d8): 4 damage. Naras is now seriously wounded. Slaad regenerates 2 HP.
Naras stabs at the slaad with her magic spear (+1 hit/dmg) [TN 14] (1d20+1): 19+1 = 20, hit for (1d8+1): 5 damage.
Sailor 06 moves 35 feet around the slaad to come up behind it and then slashes with her cutlass from behind (+2 hit) [TN 20] (1d20): 18+2 = 20, hit for (1d6+1): 5+1 = 6 damage.

[Chris1234]

Again, Naras prays, ~Gonto, may it be Your Will that that I may save these others~ and attacks the slaad, still trying to keep her shield between her and its deadly mouth.

=========

If the kohen goes down, her last gasp to the two mobile sailors will be: "Run away!"

[BishGada]

Baeros looks at Rumari for a long moment and then at Drav suspiciously, "No..." he whispers to Rumari, "I'm not sure he is not a spy... although I don't know of which force since he was very helpful." he continues without Drav hearing him. "Anyway, you know that Slaad howls make you freeze, right? Did you find anything against it? Maybe bee wax in the ears?" he says loud again and when he notice Drav is looking at him he just grins widely.

[JadedDM]

Baeros and Drav (Ruined City, Southeast)
Rumari looks confused at Baeros' accusation of Drav being a spy. "I see. I thought you were friends. As for the slaad, blocking your ears would work. As would a silence spell. But either of those things would disrupt spellcasting and teamwork. It's difficult to work together when you can't hear each other, after all. Luckily, there aren't many slaadi left in the city. We probably won't run into any, so you needn't worry overmuch."

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
Naras manages to hit the slaad again, stabbing it in the stomach. Meanwhile, the two sailors attack with their cutlasses from behind, wounding it further. It looks like victory is a sure thing at this point. Outraged, the creature snarls and then turns on the sailors, quickly slicing into them. Its claws cut through their armor and their flesh as if both were made of butter. They both scream then fall over, their innards spilling out onto the pavement. Then the slaad turns back to its last opponent, Naras and tries to bite her. But she manages to keep it at bay with her shield.

==================

Initiative
Naras (1d10+5): 3+5 = 8
Sailor 01 (N/A)
Sailor 02 (N/A)
Sailor 03 (N/A)
Sailor 04 (N/A)
Sailor 05 (1d10+7): 3+7 = 10
Sailor 06 (1d10+7): 4+7 = 11
Slaad (1d10+6): 8+6 = 14
Son of Crizza (N/A)

Round 3!

Naras stabs at the slaad with her magic spear (+1 hit/dmg) [TN 14] (1d20+1): 19+1 = 20, hit for (1d8+1): 6+1 = 7 damage. Slaad is now critically wounded.
Sailor 05 slashes with his cutlass at the slaad from behind (+2 hit) [TN 20] (1d20+2): 13+2 = 15, miss.
Sailor 06 slashes with her cutlass at the slaad from behind (+2 hit) [TN 20] (1d20+2): 18+2 = 20, hit for (1d6+1): 3+1 = 4 damage. Slaad is now near death.
Slaad slashes at Sailor 05 with its right claw [TN 05] (1d20): 18, hit for (1d4): 4 damage. Sailor 05 dies. It then slashes at Sailor 06 with its left claw [TN 05] (1d20): 6, hit for (1d4): 4 damage. Sailor 06 dies. Finally, it bites at Naras [TN 11] (1d20): 6, miss. Slaad regenerates 2 HP.

[Chris1234]

~Holy One, May their sacrifice not be in vain~ prays Naras, and tries to stab the beast, still trying to guard against its cavernous mouth with her shield.

=========
If Naras expires, she shouts to the Held patrol, "May your god receive you!"

[HorizonsDream]

"Then don't worry. I'm looking for a couple of friends of mine," Jocelyn explains. "I'll do what I can to remain safe."

[chese780]

"So... Now what?" Drav says, continuing to scan the environment. After finishing looking to the North, he will look to the north-northwest.

(OOC: The place should be mostly burnt and flattened right? So uh... would I be able to spot a floating lizard thing?)

[spyguy1503]

"You're making a mistake!" Gallath calls over his shoulder, following Naishe. "So... where did you disappear to?" Gallath asks while running.

[Breila]

Ouragana thanks Thaddeus for his information. "I guess I'll prepare for the voyage then" she says and goes belowdecks.

She looks at her new spells and decides that Hold Person in the new spell she wants to try out when a suitable situation comes. She also memorises Continua Light twice. 'then she goes to see the quartermaster and asks if they take on water or if she should prepare the Alligator Tears spell for their freshwater.

(OOC: Does the Bullring already have alnterns equipped with Cntinual Light candles? If not, Ouragana offers to me them.)

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn Blaine (Deimos Harbor)
Although they clearly don't approve, the sailors do not stop Jocelyn from entering the city limits. She and Brock walk through the gate and into the ruins of what was once the great Deimos.

However, even if her companions are somewhere within, she has no idea where to begin her search in such a vast city. "So which way?" asks Brock, drawing his new axe. He looks around with a somewhat haunted expression.

Ouragana Stormbride (Aboard the Bullring)
The quartermaster, Hofur Stonewalker, thanks her for the gesture, but insists that they have plenty of fresh water for now. He is intrigued by the idea of the magical lanterns, though. Normally when at sea during the night, they rely on whichever crew members have infravision. This leaves them with limited range, but magical lightness could be a great boon.

Baeros and Drav (Ruined City, Southeast)
The patrol continues north. Here the buildings are more intact, but still damaged. Windows have been broken, doors have been beaten down, and the homes have been thoroughly looted. Baeros remembers this area, well. This is where they first encountered a red slaad. He recalls its horrible screech and the way it summoned two more of its kind through gateway. It was a rough battle, but one the party survived.

(OOC: Many of the buildings are burned out husks, but not flattened. Also, not every building was burned. So no, Drav cannot see the marketplace from here. And even if he could, and he started running now, it would take about 10 rounds or so to get there. It's a big city.)

Naras Stonebreaker (Ruined City, Market Square)
With a snarl, the slaad rakes Naras across the chest with its long, dripping claws. She manages to get her shield up in time to block the second claw. By now, she was getting the hang of its pattern. Its strategy, if you could call it that, was painfully predictable--albeit somewhat effective, if she was being honest. Perhaps, however, that could work in her favor.

Gritting her teeth, she waits for the lumbering beast to bend down to bite her. Sweat and blood mix on her brow, but she resists the temptation to wipe them away, for fear that she'll miss her split second chance. It feels like an eternity, her limbs aching with exhaustion from the weight of her armor, shield and spear. Finally, the monster bends down. Anticipating this, Naras throws up her shield with one hand and with the other, thrusts her spear skyward.

Her shield blocks the bite, but more importantly, the dumb beast accidentally winds up impaling itself on her spear. Throwing what little strength she has remaining into it, she pierces the slaad's jaw fully, the top of her spear bursting out from the other side of its skull. The slaad waves its arms wildly in a spasm, then leans forward further and collapses right on top of the dwarf. However, a moment later its body vanishes into the ether, leaving her able to breathe freely again.

For a moment, the only sound is her own heavy breathing and the near deafening pounding of her heartbeat. But then, comes another sound. The slow, deliberate clapping of the Son of Crizza.

==================

Initiative
Naras (1d10+5): 10+5 = 15
Sailor 01 (N/A)
Sailor 02 (N/A)
Sailor 03 (N/A)
Sailor 04 (N/A)
Slaad (1d10+6): 2+6 = 8
Son of Crizza (N/A)

Round 4!

Slaad slashes at Naras with its right claw against her banded mail (-2 hit) [TN 11] (1d20-2): 17-2 = 15, hit for (1d4): 3 damage. It then slashes at Naras with its left claw against her banded mail (-2 hit) [TN 11] (1d20-2): 2-2 = 0, miss. Finally, it bites at Naras [TN 11] (1d20): 7, miss. Slaad regenerates 2 HP.
Naras stabs at the slaad with her magic spear (+1 hit/dmg) [TN 14] (1d20+1): 14+1 = 15, hit for (1d8+1): 3+1 = 4 damage. Slaad vanishes.