Vishka scrambles down and joins the melee with her mace.

Attack: 6 Damage: 5

And still the beast is too slippery.

 Blink cries out in agony slashing out with her blades.

Attack: 13 Damage: 8 and Attack: 14 Damage: 5

As she swings her wounds are stretched and she flinches back short of her mark. In desperation she disengages and scrambles back from the fight.

 The Nothic spits in fury and turns its Rotting Gaze on the retreating halfling.

CON 20 for 10

 The necrotic magic of the creatures gaze envelops Blink and she gasps for one final breath before falling to the ground unconscious.

 Enraged by her companion being downed by the creature, Griell swings down her glaive.

Attack: 20 Damage: 6

 Melandra sends down another fire bolt at the thing.

Attack: 24 Damage: 10

 Kara turns and stabs with her blade.

Attack: 24 Damage: 10

 Vishka slams down her mace

Attack: 22 Damage: 9

 Blink fails a death saving throw.

 Close to death the Nothic cries out pitifully into their minds. As it curls into a ball on the ground, its body heaving with pain and misery.

"Please no, please do not kill me. I am sorry... you can keep the treasure... it's all yours. Take it and leave poor one eye alone. Please."

 Griell leaves he decision to the others as she runs over and gives Blink a potion of healing.

 Melandra raises a hand to stay the others attacks.

"We are here for Glasstaff. Can you lead us to him? Speak quickly."

 Kara levels her blade at the creature.

"The bastard almost killed Blink. It should die. It has been killing and eating people down here damn it."

 "Kara we have a mission. If it can help then we use it."

 "I am not killing people. They bring me meat and watch and I eat that is all. I only attacks thieves... only thieves."

The creature scrambles to its knees, looking warily from one party member to the other. "I will show you the secret way he uses and you will surprise him. I will do this and you let me live?"

 "We will let you live." Blink croaks as she gets to her feet, "and I will take what is in that box as payment for the scars you have given me."

 "So it will be." for just a moment the voice of the Nothic seemed almost human an echo of what it once had been perhaps.

Blink shares out the loot, which includes a very nice sword she passes to Kara.

 History 16

"It once belonged to a great knight named Aldith Tresendar, known as the Black Hawk. Sir Aldith died fighting off the orcs during the great invasion. Perhaps this is where he fell. This is a good sword Kara."

 She admires the blade while she packs her old one away.

"I will try to be worthy of it. Now let's go before someone finds us down here."

 The Nothic leads them to the northern end of he cavern where the wall has given way to reveal a old storage room that is part of the manor.

This area has been finished with dressed stone block walls and a flagstone floor. Several barrels are stored against the walls here, along with a number of empty crates, straw for packing, hammers, pry bars, and nails.

It points at a small depression on the wall. "Secret passage." it hisses, "It will lead you to him, let you take him by surprise perhaps."