Quivering Corruption (DM Lerus)

As everyone else (or mostly) is working hard at either searching the room, or partially barricading it to slow any non-fliers down, the stoutling stated at the edge of the stage, cleaning the blood absentmindedly from blade along sleeve. Then for the remaining time he began to meticulously pick at the dried remnants. So absorbed in the task is he that there's no reaction in response to Utar's request, or any other for that matter.

Though if made to look, or more pointedly asked or told something, he will look up to the speaker. Yet, mute the stoutling remained with a far off look in his eyes.

Short Rest Hit Die:  29

Graxx rises and walks back over to the Throne.

"Doozey... What are your thoughts on this?" says Graxx as he points at the hinge.

Graxx runs his hand along the throne.

"If you can't open it, pieces of this throne will burn which may make it easier for us to gain entry."

Doozey looks over to Graxx, then slowly over to the throne. After a brief moment of silent staring, he goes back to cleaning his blade, but would say with his back to the throne. "Do what you will." He said, then gestures over to a path. "That way. I came from there. And their... matriach... she came from there." He points to the two northwestern and northeastern paths each in turn(or reverse, pending dm correction). "Had me right and proper chained up the did... but not enough. Had to dislocate my hand and thumb a bit... goblin never knew what hit her."

Graxx will get a torch from the wall(AP,80) goes to toss it on the throne but his gut holds him back.

"Chained up..."

Graxx says as Doozey's words dawn on him.

"There may be an innocent trapped under this throne.  I better not cook them."

Graxx pulls out a handaxe and motions to Doozey.

"I'm glad we have you back.  I'm even more glad you took the fight right to those who had you captive!  Don't worry... Vengeance will be dealt.  Let me see if I can get this thing open."

Graxx will take the Handaxe and try to brute force it into where the hinge is to pry it open.

Athletics:  8

Hit Dice: 25 (Also, yay, Ki points! Eh, why not do all hit dice 8)

Neya responds to Utar, "Agreed. As few as we are, dividing our effort would invite disaster. What happened to Doozey is a testament to that."

Utar continues to chew his jerky allowing a wry smile to cross his face. Seems not even furniture can escape the wrath of Graxx.

Wondering about where they should head to next, he cocks his head towards Moneus. "Say a group of adventurer types busted into the Welcomer's lair looking for their kidnapped friend, what would you do? Stand and fight? Head deeper in? Get yourself gone?"

Neya goes to look at what Graxx is doing, sees the hinges he is working on and offers her crowbar to him.

"Interesting... If you are working only on the hinges, that would imply that the only way to open it would be on the other side, yes?"

The group takes their time to treat their wounds and rest.

• Moneus heals for 3 HP.
• Doozey heals for 38 HP.
• Utar heals for 13 HP.
• Graxx heals for 29 HP.
• Neya heals for 33 HP.

While resting, Graxx takes a few minutes to fiddle with the throne after deciding that burning it was not a good idea after all. Neya offers to help (extra athletics roll here: 9.) The simple hinge is no match for the force applied to it and it snaps open. The bottom of the throne, seemingly a single piece despite the hinge, falls out to reveal a hidden space. From it, a leather tarp slips out due to the breaking of the entire mechanism. Opening the tarp, in turn, reveals a small arsenal. A total of seven weapons are found inside, all in pristine maintenance. CRAP has become familiar enough with their unique shine to know all of them have been treated with silver. None of them emanate a magical essence, though. The weapons are: handaxe,  war pick,  battleaxe,  flail,  longsword,  morningstar, and rapier. Simply by looking at it, Doozey knows that this last blade is indeed his own rapier.

Moneus smiles back at Utar: "We have been resting here for a long while and yet, none of these cornered beasts attacked us. I'd say we have given them more than enough time to prepare another ambush, as Neya had perceptively pointed out. If we are to advance, we do so knowing they are waiting for us. That said, I see no other way of putting an end to this petty band of thieves." Those last few words are said with a heavy dose of irony in them. The tiefling makes sure that it is not missed by anyone by stroking his hair back to temporarily reveal his missing ear.

In reply, Doozey suggests the group takes the north-easternmost passage.

Graxx holds the longsword and the morningstar up in the air.

"Hit the jackpot folks!  These will certainly come in handy.  Now who wants what?  Moenus, see anything you like?"

Graxx picks up the silvered Hand Axe.

"I sure would like this hand axe."

Graxx stands up.

"Take what you want.  We are leaving nothing.  As much as it cost to get my halberd silvered these will fetch some coin."

Doozey retrieves at least his own rapier, and after examining it in the light muttered, "They kept trophies... and there are many." A barely perciptable frown touches the corner of his lips, before being wiped away in a slow shake of the head. Neya's shortsword is returned in short order. But as he did so, he says aloud, "They are worse than a petty band of thieves. They are monsters. And there should be /no/ further mercy shown from this point onwards." He looks pointedly at Neya for a few moments.

"Now. Let the hunt proceed." He adds, looking between Utar and Graxx, trusting the two to handle removing the one blockade, and lead the way.

"Ok, so we're almost definitely walking into a trap here. Moneus, Neya, can you two take the lead again? Doozey, stick with me and Graxx. We've got you tooled up again, but halfling sized armour is in short supply... I'd prefer to see you walk out of here when we're done."

Before leaving the hall, Utar straps the leftover weapons to his pack and speaks the command word to his Driftglobe to have it follow along behind him.

Neya nods and starts her way up the northeast passage. Wary of the danger ahead, she keeps her wits about her, watching for any trap or ambush while going through the passage itself.

Perception: 18

Graxx finds a new weapon for his growing personal arsenal, while Doozey and Neya re-add well known blades to theirs. Moneus waves from side to side: "None of them strike my fancy, but thank you for asking." The tiefling has no verbal response to the halfling's statement of vengeance, but he nods in agreement.

Doozey points out the way the group should follow and Utar organizes the marching order. Once the barricade is shifted aside, the group advances with the Driftglobe in tow. Neya and Moneus take point, as requested. 

-> Moneus' perception check: 19

From the northeastern passage, the next room over is also well lit. There are three torches on the wall in this oval-shaped chamber. The most prominent feature of this room is in its center: a fenced-in fighting pit awash with dried blood and bones. Some of the skeletons still wear pieces of mundane armor. You feel like you now know what the band of shapeshifters does for fun when not engaged in robberies. Neya in particular notices there is a bench and some left over wooden planks used for the fencing, but otherwise nothing looks to be specially interesting. The only other exit out of this room is toward the northwest.

EXPLORE AREA:

(@MB: Please add Silvered War Pick, Silvered Battleaxe, Silvered Flail, Silvered Longsword, and Silvered Morningstar to your inventory.)

Casting an eye over the armour lying about the room, Utar wonders aloud whether any of it might fit Doozey.

(Having trouble adding silvered weapons to my character sheet, but have added the weapons, so as long as we remember it'll be fine.)

Once it became clear what the new area had been used for, Doozey almost immediately pushed the discoveries from the forefront of his thoughts. He would look around if only to make sure Neya or Moneus hadn't missed any lurking werebats nearby, but would otherwise remain focused on advancing into the next area. "Do not concern yourselves overly much in regards to armor. I have fought with far less, and will manage as I am. Let's just focus on pressing on." He said, urging those ahead of him onward.

Neya looks into the it in disgust.

"Nothing left but violence. What a pitiful existence. Let's put them out of their misery."

DM's Screen:

Utar and Neya look into the pit and a few seconds pass before the cleric spots a set of padded armor that could fit Doozey in a pinch. The stoutling does not seem overly worried, opting the pass the opportunity to add a layer of protection to his torso. As the party traverses the room, it becomes clear that they are indeed alone. The Driftglobe's light penetrates all nooks as CRAP advances ensuring that this is indeed the case.

The next room over offers no torches, but Utar's trinket takes care of that issue. There are wooden benches near the walls and plenty of bloody tools on top of them not arranged in any particular way. A central table is the bloodiest of all pieces of furniture here, which were all likely stolen from homes in Phlan. This chamber is either where they treat their wounded or torture their captives... 

Once again the magical light reveals no immediate dangers, it would seem. You can either go southeast into another dark room or continue southwest toward the three-way intersection you had seen earlier.

EXPLORED AREA:

Graxx walks over and looks at the tools is disgust...

“I knew these were bad folks but torture.... That’s just another level...”

Graxx looks toward the Southwest.

”I gotta good feeling about that direction.”

Utar clutches his amulet, comforted by its familiar weight in his hand.

"This is either a torture chamber or an abattoir. Given what we saw in the last room, I would hate to find out. Let's keep moving."

"Torture." Doozey states, then gestures down to the south east; unexplored by all except himself. "Or training.. or worse... it matters not. Their fate remains the same. That way, I think, is where I might've been kept.. hard to say.. so many left turns." He then turns to look in Graxx' chosen direction. "We follow Graxx' hunch. Much more guarantee than any other." The stoutling starts marching in the direction, but at a more than slow enough pace for the others to overtake him.