Three gouts of flame streak across the room over Kai's head, slamming into the water elemental. More bits of its form boil away as it lets out a low-pitched scream, and it begins to shrink in size. As the water that makes up its mass finally stops vaporizing away, it is much smaller than what it was initially. Whereas before it towered over you, now it stands shorter than Kai, its torso and limbs also much thinner than before.
Before seeing Lori's devastating attack on the creature, Kai had resolved himself to simply turn and run, doing his best to avoid its attacks. But seeing it so small and weakened now..."I'm coming!"He yells after the other two. Switching his grip to a two-handed one, he swings at its midsection as he begins to retreat backwards, heading towards the door.
Infused by your patron's magic, the sword slices through the elemental's watery form. Water pours from where your sword cuts, cascading down onto the floor. The creature begins to lose shape as it tries to catch the falling water, letting out a final pained wail as it melts down into a puddle of motionless water.
The Disjunction's second floor falls quiet once more...
As the water elemental goes down, Kai slows his retreat. "I think it's dead actually. Lori really did a number on it..." He calls out to the other two, cautiously approaching the puddle. For good measure he stamps on the water. Satisfied that it isn't playing a trick on them, he huffs. "Not so tough when you aren't hiding in a bathtub are you?"
He turns and waits for the other two, wondering if the plan is still to retreat downstairs.
Veronica looks at the dead elemental... she can sense the warlock's question.
"We just barely survived that ambush..." she says. "And one of our party went missing during the fight. I think if we really want to try this again, we need to recruit one or two of our fellow 'guests' who have a bit more experience dealing with this place."
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"Tsk," Kai looks like he wants to argue...But he refuses to be disrespectful to someone who just risked their own life to save his. "You're right. It's just a shame that we'll have to deal with something like this all over again. Let me grab my rope real quick, we'll probably need it."
He trots back into the washroom, climbing up the rope Veronica had tied off earlier. Once inside the attic, he takes a quick peak around while untying the rope. Once he's done, he puts the rope away and hangs from the edges of the hole, dropping down.
"Maybe she made a run for that window and something got her."He says as he rejoins the others, speaking of the simic. "Even I know that's got to be a trap." When the other two are ready, he follows them downstairs.
Lori wipes the ash from the spells off her hands, raising an eyebrow at the lifeless puddle. "That went down much easier than I expected."
"Do you have someone in particular in mind Veronica? That bartender looked strong...But he doesn't seem to want anyone up here at all, not sure if he would come with us." She starts heading down the stairs, wondering what they'll find when they return back up here later.
As the three of you reach the bottom of the stairs back into the tavern's common area, you're met with a mixture of cheers and groans from the other patrons.
"I told ye they'd make it back!"
"Alrigh' pay up Aren!"
"Hol' up now one's missin!"
The dull roar of chatter takes over the tavern as the patrons start loudly talking and in some cases arguing with one another. You can see coin be exchanged at most tables. Bryn still stands behind the bar, pouring ale into a tankard for Gerund, who has moved from his table to a stool at the bartop. "How long was the journey for you?" The bartender asks without looking up, topping off the mug and picking up a washcloth to begin wiping down the counter. "We haven't seen you in weeks, was beginning to think the worst had happened."
"I don't think we were up there for more than an hour..."she says, doing her best to keep her tone neutral. "And... yes, it does appear we lost one. Though we never saw what happened to her... is that something else that usually happens during this type of expedition?"
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Bryn merely shrugs, "it's just how things work here."
"It's more surprising that any of you made it back. Many have come through this tavern, gone upstairs, and never come down. Aren used to be able to come and go as he pleased, but even he has refused to risk it as of late."
Lori is shocked to hear that they were gone for so long to the other patrons. This place truly was maddening. "I think we should try to not get separated...Might be years before we see each other again with how funky this tavern is. "
As the absurdity of the tavern continues to unfold, Kai cannot help but focus in on the most mundane of observances. "What good does betting do here, if there's nothing to even spend coin on?" He says the question aloud, though he doesn't necessarily expect anyone to answer. Shaking his head, he turns his attention back towards the bartender. "We were hoping to find someone with experience exploring up there that might join us."
"It's probably a way to kill boredom," Veronica sighs. "Anyway... yes, if we go back we would like someone who has been there before. Preferably someone who can cast healing spells."
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Bryn scratches the back of his head with an apologetic look on his face. "Aren's the only one left who's gone up and come back down. And now you three on that list. Might be hard to convince him to go back up, and he's definitely no healer." For a moment, he seems to hesitate, as if dealing with some internal conflict. Finally, he lets out a sigh. "I do not advocate going back to the second floor in the slightest. But if you must, there is one other who joined our ranks while you were gone. A cleric from a land I've heard tale of before, who has expressed interest in venturing upstairs in search of escape..."
He clears his throat, raising his voice and gesturing to a figure currently conversing at a table with the half-orc Jarah. "These were the ones who came before you. Would you like to introduce yourself?"
Vishara, you may now introduce yourself. To set the stage, your character will have been here for a few days, camping out on the first floor of the tavern. You've spent most of that time getting to know Jarah, a half-orc. In the land she calls home, she worked for a mercenary group called the Free Swords. In the few days you've known her, you've seen her drink everyone, including the dwarf Gerund, under the table. She's also helped you pass the time by teaching you a card game they all play to gamble their coin.
"I suppose you're right." Kai replies, internally feeling a sense of dread over how long you would have to be stuck here for betting on worthless coin to seem entertaining. "He's the one who tipped us off about the meat already...Which we didn't have to use. Maybe offering him some more foreign coins would do the trick?" He watches the newcomer cross the room, returning their smile with one of his own. Their way of speaking and referring to themselves was strange...But it seemed rude to inquire about, and it still wasn't the strangest thing about this place. "Well met Vishara, you can call me Kai."
"Fruitful is perhaps not what I would use to describe that excursion. I nearly drowned, we killed something resembling a water elemental, and then we came back down. We definitely intend to make a second attempt, and your help would be greatly appreciated. Bryn here mentioned you were a cleric?"
Veronica can't help but give a little smile at the newcomer's incredulity.
"It certainly is," the vampire says. "And trust me, my friend over there really did have a near-drowning experience. Fortunately, I managed to pull him out. There are advantages to not needing to breathe."
She sighs, pulling a few soggy strands of hair out of her face.
"My name is Lady Veronica Osborne, but you may simply call me Veronica or, if you're feeling formal, Lady Osborne," Veronica says, smiling and revealing a set of fangs. Between her red eyes, incredibly pale complexion, and the set of fangs, the Cleric will likely recognize that she is looking at a vampire. "And yes, taking the time to rest does sound good... at least long enough to dry off a bit and have some dinner."
"Ah. On the subject of dinner," Bryn interjects, briefly retreating into the kitchen. He returns with a large serving plate holding an arrangement of roasted meat and vegetables, in the other hand a loaf of seasoned bread. He sets it down on the bartop, reaching underneath to pull up some plates and silverware. "Unfortunately..." He begins with a sheepish look at Veronica, "No jars of blood appeared. I'm afraid you'll have to solicit donations."
As Kai builds himself a plate of food, he casts a glance at Veronica. "If it gets to a point where you really need it..." He trails off, unsure of the proper phrasing for what he's trying to say. "Well you saved my neck anyway, I owe you."
"Well... I won't die if I don't get it... but I will probably need to take you up on that offer eventually to avoid going berserk or... licking the floor," she says with a sigh. "But I'll be okay for a while from the bar fight. In the meantime, I can actually eat normal food, so if there's a very rare steak back there I would appreciate it."
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Three gouts of flame streak across the room over Kai's head, slamming into the water elemental. More bits of its form boil away as it lets out a low-pitched scream, and it begins to shrink in size. As the water that makes up its mass finally stops vaporizing away, it is much smaller than what it was initially. Whereas before it towered over you, now it stands shorter than Kai, its torso and limbs also much thinner than before.
Kai you're up.
Before seeing Lori's devastating attack on the creature, Kai had resolved himself to simply turn and run, doing his best to avoid its attacks. But seeing it so small and weakened now..."I'm coming!" He yells after the other two. Switching his grip to a two-handed one, he swings at its midsection as he begins to retreat backwards, heading towards the door.
Longsword Attack: 16, Damage: 8
Hex Damage: 4
Infused by your patron's magic, the sword slices through the elemental's watery form. Water pours from where your sword cuts, cascading down onto the floor. The creature begins to lose shape as it tries to catch the falling water, letting out a final pained wail as it melts down into a puddle of motionless water.
The Disjunction's second floor falls quiet once more...
Out of Initiative
As the water elemental goes down, Kai slows his retreat. "I think it's dead actually. Lori really did a number on it..." He calls out to the other two, cautiously approaching the puddle. For good measure he stamps on the water. Satisfied that it isn't playing a trick on them, he huffs. "Not so tough when you aren't hiding in a bathtub are you?"
He turns and waits for the other two, wondering if the plan is still to retreat downstairs.
Veronica looks at the dead elemental... she can sense the warlock's question.
"We just barely survived that ambush..." she says. "And one of our party went missing during the fight. I think if we really want to try this again, we need to recruit one or two of our fellow 'guests' who have a bit more experience dealing with this place."
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"Tsk," Kai looks like he wants to argue...But he refuses to be disrespectful to someone who just risked their own life to save his. "You're right. It's just a shame that we'll have to deal with something like this all over again. Let me grab my rope real quick, we'll probably need it."
He trots back into the washroom, climbing up the rope Veronica had tied off earlier. Once inside the attic, he takes a quick peak around while untying the rope. Once he's done, he puts the rope away and hangs from the edges of the hole, dropping down.
"Maybe she made a run for that window and something got her." He says as he rejoins the others, speaking of the simic. "Even I know that's got to be a trap." When the other two are ready, he follows them downstairs.
Lori wipes the ash from the spells off her hands, raising an eyebrow at the lifeless puddle. "That went down much easier than I expected."
"Do you have someone in particular in mind Veronica? That bartender looked strong...But he doesn't seem to want anyone up here at all, not sure if he would come with us." She starts heading down the stairs, wondering what they'll find when they return back up here later.
#ff7070
As the three of you reach the bottom of the stairs back into the tavern's common area, you're met with a mixture of cheers and groans from the other patrons.
"I told ye they'd make it back!"
"Alrigh' pay up Aren!"
"Hol' up now one's missin!"
The dull roar of chatter takes over the tavern as the patrons start loudly talking and in some cases arguing with one another. You can see coin be exchanged at most tables. Bryn still stands behind the bar, pouring ale into a tankard for Gerund, who has moved from his table to a stool at the bartop. "How long was the journey for you?" The bartender asks without looking up, topping off the mug and picking up a washcloth to begin wiping down the counter. "We haven't seen you in weeks, was beginning to think the worst had happened."
Veronica freezes. A WEEK? That's... concerning.
"I don't think we were up there for more than an hour..." she says, doing her best to keep her tone neutral. "And... yes, it does appear we lost one. Though we never saw what happened to her... is that something else that usually happens during this type of expedition?"
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Bryn merely shrugs, "it's just how things work here."
"It's more surprising that any of you made it back. Many have come through this tavern, gone upstairs, and never come down. Aren used to be able to come and go as he pleased, but even he has refused to risk it as of late."
Lori is shocked to hear that they were gone for so long to the other patrons. This place truly was maddening. "I think we should try to not get separated...Might be years before we see each other again with how funky this tavern is. "
#ff7070
As the absurdity of the tavern continues to unfold, Kai cannot help but focus in on the most mundane of observances. "What good does betting do here, if there's nothing to even spend coin on?" He says the question aloud, though he doesn't necessarily expect anyone to answer. Shaking his head, he turns his attention back towards the bartender. "We were hoping to find someone with experience exploring up there that might join us."
"It's probably a way to kill boredom," Veronica sighs. "Anyway... yes, if we go back we would like someone who has been there before. Preferably someone who can cast healing spells."
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Bryn scratches the back of his head with an apologetic look on his face. "Aren's the only one left who's gone up and come back down. And now you three on that list. Might be hard to convince him to go back up, and he's definitely no healer." For a moment, he seems to hesitate, as if dealing with some internal conflict. Finally, he lets out a sigh. "I do not advocate going back to the second floor in the slightest. But if you must, there is one other who joined our ranks while you were gone. A cleric from a land I've heard tale of before, who has expressed interest in venturing upstairs in search of escape..."
He clears his throat, raising his voice and gesturing to a figure currently conversing at a table with the half-orc Jarah. "These were the ones who came before you. Would you like to introduce yourself?"
Vishara, you may now introduce yourself. To set the stage, your character will have been here for a few days, camping out on the first floor of the tavern. You've spent most of that time getting to know Jarah, a half-orc. In the land she calls home, she worked for a mercenary group called the Free Swords. In the few days you've known her, you've seen her drink everyone, including the dwarf Gerund, under the table. She's also helped you pass the time by teaching you a card game they all play to gamble their coin.
"I suppose you're right." Kai replies, internally feeling a sense of dread over how long you would have to be stuck here for betting on worthless coin to seem entertaining. "He's the one who tipped us off about the meat already...Which we didn't have to use. Maybe offering him some more foreign coins would do the trick?" He watches the newcomer cross the room, returning their smile with one of his own. Their way of speaking and referring to themselves was strange...But it seemed rude to inquire about, and it still wasn't the strangest thing about this place. "Well met Vishara, you can call me Kai."
"Fruitful is perhaps not what I would use to describe that excursion. I nearly drowned, we killed something resembling a water elemental, and then we came back down. We definitely intend to make a second attempt, and your help would be greatly appreciated. Bryn here mentioned you were a cleric?"
"I'm Lori, always happy to have more help."
#ff7070
Veronica can't help but give a little smile at the newcomer's incredulity.
"It certainly is," the vampire says. "And trust me, my friend over there really did have a near-drowning experience. Fortunately, I managed to pull him out. There are advantages to not needing to breathe."
She sighs, pulling a few soggy strands of hair out of her face.
"My name is Lady Veronica Osborne, but you may simply call me Veronica or, if you're feeling formal, Lady Osborne," Veronica says, smiling and revealing a set of fangs. Between her red eyes, incredibly pale complexion, and the set of fangs, the Cleric will likely recognize that she is looking at a vampire. "And yes, taking the time to rest does sound good... at least long enough to dry off a bit and have some dinner."
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"Ah. On the subject of dinner," Bryn interjects, briefly retreating into the kitchen. He returns with a large serving plate holding an arrangement of roasted meat and vegetables, in the other hand a loaf of seasoned bread. He sets it down on the bartop, reaching underneath to pull up some plates and silverware. "Unfortunately..." He begins with a sheepish look at Veronica, "No jars of blood appeared. I'm afraid you'll have to solicit donations."
As Kai builds himself a plate of food, he casts a glance at Veronica. "If it gets to a point where you really need it..." He trails off, unsure of the proper phrasing for what he's trying to say. "Well you saved my neck anyway, I owe you."
Veronica can't but smile at the kind offer.
"Well... I won't die if I don't get it... but I will probably need to take you up on that offer eventually to avoid going berserk or... licking the floor," she says with a sigh. "But I'll be okay for a while from the bar fight. In the meantime, I can actually eat normal food, so if there's a very rare steak back there I would appreciate it."
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