Corinne stops dead. Janna spoke to the thing in a language that sounded old, deep, and somehow full of literal light and goodness? The creature spoke back, stopping it’s assault. Corinne smiles, recognizing Janna’s brilliance, and also their luck that somehow we could talk to this thing.

At Greyce’s outburst, Corinne would chuckle, quickly snatching their elbow when they gave her a little jab, whispering softly, “I’m very proud of you, tell me what they are saying, please?” 

At the mention of a monster, Corinne would go stiff, “Monster? There’s more monsters here? Did the skeletal gentleman call it a monster?! Cause that would be less than ideal.” She clings closer to Greyce, a mixture of actual fear, and feigning fear to appear more in need.

Corinne was still not used to being around people when she defended herself this way, she didn’t trust they wouldn’t turn and kill her later, after all, she was technically a monster, depending on your attitude towards certain creatures and their offspring. She also made a career out of making people feel special, like the hero, and a lot of that came from letting the people around her feel like they could protect her, that she couldn’t defend herself. She’d done it so much and for so long, sometimes the lines of fact and fiction blurred...

"An oversized caterpillar, with a strong bite and poisoned bristles."

Greyce would have to take a double take when Corinne would snatch their elbow, a little guarded for a moment but then they'd beam when she'd praise them. With a cocky grin, they'd straighten their posture, puffing out their chest a little from the woman's words that continued to feed their ego. Leaning in, they'd translate for Corrine word for word Janna and Three's conversation up until that point with the exception of a few colourful additions of their own sprinkled in there.

When Corinne would stiffen at the specific word monster, their brows would pop in light surprise from her sudden concern. She's been a feisty fighter this whole time... But those thoughts were quickly replaced when she'd cling closer to Greyce and as if on its own accord, their arm would go to wrap around Corinne. They were filled with a sense of warmth and desire to protect. Their visage would flicker with a skip of their heart, freezing for a moment.

Clearing their throat, Greyce shocked themselves rigid. Their hand hovered, never connecting, but wouldn't shove her away. Instead they'd reach for their scythe to draw it with a flourish. "It's just a beasty, baby." They'd intensify their stare, flashing Corinne another cocky smirk. "A giant ass caterpillar. It's a biter." They'd wink. "So play nice. And watch out for it's ******* bristles." They'd add. "They're poisonous." Greyce would translate the answer from their question.

She’d shake her raven hair out of her fear response, puffing a burst of air to blow her bangs out of her face. “I’m beginning to think you may have embellished some that.” Corinne would wink one of her moonbeams at the death knight.

At the mention and explanation of the caterpillar, the pallid femme fatale would raise an eyebrow, “I’m used to biters, but this sounds a bit more dangerous than that...”

Morticia lowers her guard, watching as Janna communicated with the creature. She had just spoken the shared language too, to it, but maybe it was just because she wasn’t as convincing? She frowns a bit, then sighs, lowering her weapon.

With Greyce taking care of translation, the rogue stands there and waits to see if the group would go on ahead to take care of the monster up the stairs.

Shi tilts her head at all the mention of giant caterpillars and monsters and the like, but listens to the translations with a neutral, vaguely curious expression, flicking through her forms mentally to see if there's one more appropriate to this situation.

Area A15

This long room has a single bench against the eastern wall. Several plates of gleaming metal hang from wires in the ceiling, like barding in the shape of a fearsome metal bull. The plates twist like wind chimes, creating a dull clanking. Stairs lead steeply downward to the west, and a single door stands in the southern wall. Because of Number Three's warning, you're able to spot the giant caterpillar, currently eating its' way through the hanging bull before it drops down to attack!

Horn Caterpillar:16

The vamp moves with as much conscious grace as she can. Maiming people who put her fellow courtesans or herself in danger was one thing, but all these...monsters, it really was beginning to get to Corinne, and the fear that she might lose herself again like she did with the horse skeleton... she shudders herself back in to the moment as the big nasty caterpillar drops down. She lets out a scream, and feels herself shift and change as fight or flight instincts began to take over.

bu bum.

Bu bum..

BU BUMM..
Corinne: 12

Shi blinks at Corinne's scream, giving the courtesan a mildly curious look as she goes back to selecting death scenes.

Init: 15

Morticia nearly jumps out of her skin at Corrine’s scream, then quietly cries out, “Why does everyone have to scream?”

Init: 6

Greyce's eyes ping wide at the proximity in which they were in for Corinne's scream. "Holy ****." They'd blink, rubbing their ear to try to make the ringing stop. "Those lungs though... We got ourselves some screamers in here." They'd blink again and let go of their ear. After a pause, they'd grin widely. "Perhaps a challenge for another day."

Init: 6

Janna:8

HornCaterpillar(16)(30),Shi(15),Janna(14)Corinne(12),Morticia(6),Greyce(6)

The Caterpillar attempts to bite Corinne!

Attack: 25 Damage: 10

HornCaterpillar(16)(30),Shi(15),Janna(14)Corinne(12),Morticia(6),Greyce(6)

Morticia tries retaliating against the caterpillars attempted bite on Corrine with a poke from her rapier! 

Attack: 25 Damage: 10 
Sneak if it applies: 3

Keeping her distance, Shi selects another death moment. "It hurts, everything hurts." Her voice is a small, scared male voice, someone from whom all courage has fled. "I don't want it to hurt anymore." As she speaks, a small, floating blue light floats over to Corinne, and a quiet voice, the same one issuing from Shi's mouth, whispers to the courtesan. I am ready for danger. Take my courage. Here, the voice is firm and certain, ready for whatever is to come, and Corinne feels that same confidence infuse her.

DC 13 Wisdom ST or 2 psychic damage and dis on next attack.

Bardic inspiration (1d6) to Corinne.

Wisdom:14

HornCaterpillar(16)(23),Shi(15),Janna(14)Corinne(12),Morticia(6),Greyce(6)

“**** this horny beast!” Greyce would rear their scythe, charging in to cut ahead of Corinne.

Attack: 12 Damage: 8 

Corinne's heart is pounding so loud in her chest. The din of battle is overwhelming, she stands there frozen in place for what felt like an eternity. Oh no.. that familiar feeling begins to rise in her, she can feel every nerve and muscle in her body coiling up, her primal self begins to take hold. The creature lunges at her, SMACK! she stops it's advance dead with a clawed hand as Greyce and Morticia stab into it. Her eyes open to look at the thing, pools of blackness, an unearthly hiss claws through the air, reverberating off the stones as Corinne goes into full vampire mode (rage). With a terrible ripping sound, Corinne tears one of the creatures mandibles off before throwing the creature across the room.
RECKLESS ATTACKS
RIPPING: Attack: 18 Damage: 7

THROWING: Attack: 18 Damage: 3

Bardic Inspiration for the throw: 4

Janna casts Sacred Flame on the Caterpillar!

6

5

The Horn Caterpillar dies, incinerated by Janna's Sacred Flame. Combat is over.

Corinne’s berserk form rushes forward, placing a clawed palm on what’s left of the corpse as she draws the rest of it’s life essence into her, scattering the creature into oblivion. It’s a long moment before she stands upright again, her claws reverting to soft hands, she turns as her eyes flash from the obsidian pools of a huntress into the silvery moonlight of a temptress. “I...I must apologize for losing myself there for a moment, it must be like those mothers who get the strength to pick up wagons to save their children eh?” She forces a chuckle as she fixes her hair into a more presentable state.

DECEPTION: 6

Insight: 19

Shi blinks. "Twice," she observes simply before drifting forward to move on.