The party having defeated two thugs who turned out to be Torrga's mercenaries have also recently discovered that two more of her mercenaries are inside and perhaps also found another place where they can help an ailing town.
As Helena nods appreciation to the barkeep, the group begins to plan.
"What are we waiting for," Thynetos growls, "We should just go and take those thugs out."
"Perhaps it would be best to wait until they came outside so that we wouldn't cause a ruckus in the center of the tavern," Helena says thoughtfully.
"Well we could be waiting all night then, so we should at least go inside to verify-" Ang begins. He is cut off be a loud hush from Dawndra who points over his shoulder at the large dwarven woman carrying a wicked looking scimitar on her belt that is approaching the Mead Hall. Trig pipes up from the corner, "That would be Torrga."
The party stays in the alley holding their breath while Torrga enters the Mead Hall. The party begins to whisper to each other violently discussing what to do, but a few moments later Torrga reappears outside the Mead Hall with her two bandits in tow and turns to enter the alleyway that she had previously sent a pair of her bandits down to deal with Trig.
As she enters the alleyway, the party members each draw their weapons and Torrga's gang does as well. Torrga looks behind them and notices the two dead bandits. She mutters, "Useless fools, couldn't even shake a man down properly." As her gaze shifts farther back, she notices the terrified Trig hiding in the back of the alleway and says, "You, my poor barkeep, are dead."
Dawndra speaks up, "You'll have to get through us first!"
Torrga - (Move) 30 Feet towards the party - (Bonus) None - (Action) Multiattack: Scimitar Attack: 20 Damage: 5 Scimitar Attack: 14 Damage: 8 Dagger Attack: 25 Damage: 10 Torrga rushes forward against the party and launches into a flurry of attacks against Thynetos, who had positioned himself along with Dawndra in front of the others. Her first strike is easily parried by Thynetos, and while her second attack cuts into his flesh, her third blow is absorbed by Thynetos's thick skin and he just grins down at the shocked dwarf.
Bandit 2 - (Move) 30 Feet towards the party - (Bonus) None - (Action) Scimitar Attack: 9 Damage: 4 Following his boss's lead, the bandit rushes forward to slice at Dawndra with his scimitar, but the blow is clumsy and Dawndra dodges it without even thinking.
Ang - (Move) None - (Bonus) Steady Aim - (Action) Shortbow Attack: 26 Damage: 27 Ang, covered by the two large people standing in front of him and safe from the attacks of the bandits, pulls an arrow out on his shortbow takes careful aim at the bandit harassing Dawndra and releases his arrow. A practiced hunter, his arrow pierces the eye of the bandit and without even making a sound, the bandit slumps to the ground dead.
Dawndra - (Move) 5 Feet around to flank Torrga - (Action) Unarmed Attack: 10 Damage: 11 - (Bonus) Flurry of Blows: Unarmed Attack: 24 Damage: 6 Unarmed Attack: 25 Damage: 6 Cold Damage: 7 Dawndra, realizing that the alleyway is too small a space for her to fully extend her 8 foot long pike, steps adjacent to Torrga and unleashes a devastating flurry of punches. However, unlike Torrga's flurry that was mostly negated by Thynetos's hardiness, Dawndra's attacks are felt and she finishes it off with her final punch wreathed in frost causing a small amount of ice to lick up Torrga's chest as she yells out in pain.
Bandit 1 - (Move) None - (Bonus) None - (Action) Crossbow Attack: 4 Damage: 7 Terrified and freezing, the final bandit has barely enough presence of mind to raise his crossbow and shoot at the dead-eye half-elf that massacred his companion. His fear must have fueled his aim, because the bolt slams into Ang's shoulder spinning him around and Ang's vision begins to get a little blurry.
Thynetos - (Move) None - (Bonus) Command Moira - (Action) Greatsword Attack: 18 Damage: 10 Moira - (Move) 15 Past Dawndra around to the back of Torrga caging her in - (Bonus) None - (Action) Bite Attack: 22 Damage: 5 Thynetos's sword bites into the dwarf's neck and draws blood, but she is still standing, and manages to turn around and smash Moira's snout with her shield in time to deflect the bite. Moira yowls in pain and growls in the dwarf's direction.
Helena - (Move) 5 Feet back - (Bonus) None - (Action) Cast Ray of Frost: Attack: 13 Damage: 5 - (Free) Talking Seeing Torrga surrounded, Helena calls out to the group, "Keep her alive, we have questions!" She turns to the bandit that is still in the entrance of the alleyway and sends a blast of frosty energy in his direction. The frost hits him and begins to spread up his arm although he is still standing.
Round 2:
Torrga - (Move) None - (Bonus) None - (Action) Multiattack: Scimitar Attack: 23 Damage: 9 Scimitar Attack: 23 Damage: 5 Dagger Attack: 22 Damage: 6 - (Free) Talking Thynetos laughs as he parries the first scimitar strike out of the way, but the second attack and her tiny dagger, sneak past his defenses and his smile slips a little from his face as the pain of these wounds is beginning to be felt. Torrga laughs at Helena's remarks, "Bold of you to assume you'll even have the chance to take me alive."
Ang - (Move) None - (Bonus) Steady Aim - (Action) Shortbow Attack: 22 Damage: 13 Ang is once again the epitome of calm as he once again takes his aim on the bandit in the entrance, and finishes what Helena started. With a brutal arrow to the throat, the bandit doesn't even have a chance to shout in pain as he collapses to the ground dead.
Dawndra - (Move) None - (Action) Unarmed Attack: 22 Damage: 5 - (Bonus) Flurry of Blows: Unarmed Attack: 21 Damage: 6 Unarmed Attack: 20 Damage: 5 Cold Damage: 3 With a series of non-lethal blows and finishing with a stunning blast of frost, Dawndra makes each and every strike count as her final elbow jab connects with Torrga's temple and knocks her unconscious.
(Combat Over)
End Results: Dawndra - Damage Taken: 0 - Resources Used: 2 Ki Points Helena - Damage Taken: 0 - Resources Used: None Ang - Damage Taken: 0 - Resources Used: None Thynetos - Damage Taken: 22 - Resources Used: None
With Torrga unconscious, Trig barely has the presence of mind to utter out a broken, "Th-Thank y--y-ou," before running inside to deal with his patrons and turning a blind eye to whatever interrogations might ensue with the party and the knocked out Torrga.
The party drags the dead bodies of the four bandits into the alleyway so as not to create a panic and return to stare down at the unconscious Torrga. "Well," Thynetos asks, "Who wants to wake her up?"
(OOC: Hopefully you are all right with the combat decisions I made with your characters... I noticed Helena only had one spell slot left and I figured she would want to conserve it. As for Dawndra, it just made sense to take out Torrga as quickly as possible.)
"I'll take care of that." A pashonless voice says as a figure steps out into the open. He is a well-built man in his thirties. He has an olive complexion, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, and no facial or body hair. He is dressed in a stylish vest with matching pants and boots, similar in style to those worn by mariners of the southern Sword Coast, but wears no armor or cold weather clothing and doesn’t appear to be armed. His most striking feature is his eyes, which are as blue as a frozen lake.
Suddenly the olive-skinned man disappears, then reappears standing right before Thynetos. (Casting Misty Step) He then slashes at Thynetos with a sword that looks to be made of ice... The ice sword strikes into Thynetos's side, driving in deep and taking the big warrior by surprise. (Critical hit. Thynetos looked to only be at 19 HP, so this takes him down...) Crumpling to the ground Thynetos lets out a groan of pain as the sword is wrenched free.
Gasping in great breaths, blood fountains from Thynetos's mouth, clearly something was damaged internally. (1 failed death save.)
Ang rolls away from the ice-wielding man, putting distance between himself and the assassin. "Someone help Thynetos." He says as he lifts his bow and takes steady aim. He then sends the arrow flying. The arrow thunks into the assassin's side, though he appears not to notice the wound.
Dawndra moves to stand over Thynetos, lashing out at the olive-skinned man with a roundhouse kick, and following it up with an elbow and backhand strike. The kick drives into the man's side, making him stumble back, and causing the elbow strike to miss. The backhand hits hard though.
"Keep him off of me." Helena instructs the others as she moves to kneel next to Thynetos. "I am no doctor though...' She complains as she tries to see if she can aid the fallen man at all. Luckily he has seen this sort of thing before, Nolla had just such a wound, and Helena was able to bandage Thynetos up so that he was meerly unconscious and no longer going to die on them. "He needs healing though." Helena says to the others.
"You will all be joining him shortly." The olive-skinned man sneered though, slashing out at Dawndra with his ice blade. His first strike drives into Dawndra's thigh, cleaving in deep, though the cold of the blade does not seem to bother her as much as it had Thynetos. She manages to stay on her feet, and even deflects the second strike with a forearm block against the flat of the blade.
Ang takes steady aim again, sending another arrow flying. His arrow flies true, thunking into the olive-skinned man's side. Still no blood is seen from the assassin, clearly he is not a living being and the group is starting to understand he is not alive, but undead.
Dawndra strikes out, another roundhouse kick followed by an elbow strike and then a knee strike. All of her strikes land this time, pummeling the undead assassin.
"Let's finish this." Helena says, lifting a hand and sending four darts of power leaping towards the assassin.The four darts hit, knocking the man back a few steps. He remains standing though.
"I am her tool, you cannot defeat me." Sephek says with a glance to the enemies around him. "I will leave your bodies as testimony to the Frostmaiden’s power..." As you watch several of the rents in his skin freeze over and he stands a bit straighter. Lashing out with his ice sword, Dawndra deflects the first strike, but leaves herself open to the second. She slips to the ground as well, joining Thynetos.
"Damn it all!" Ang swears, steadying his aim and sending another arrow towards the undead assassin. Yet again his arrow strikes true, slamming into the undead. Several of the frozen-over wounds shatter open again, though no blood is seen. The assassin appears to be slowing though.
Helena sends another four magical darts into the undead, finishing him off.
"Give me a hand." Helena calls to Ang, who rushes over to help her bandage up Dawndra's wounds. Together they are able to stop the bleeding, though now they stand there with two unconscious companions, the dirty merchant, and now a dead assassin. "Well that could have gone better." Helena remarked as she glanced over the scene.
(Here is the baton pass. Hope the above worked out for everyone... I did not have time to do the colors, but can go back and add that in another time.)
“True words, but I fear that it could have just as easily gone worse. We could all four be lying here dead with Torrga and Sephek standing over our quickly hardening corpses,” Ang says as he helps Helena tend to their two fallen companions. Right now, he’s grateful for the tips about the proper ways to dress wounds that he’d learned from his old friend Gerund.
“If we don’t get them inside, they’ll never wake up.“
“I agree,” Helena concurs. “What do we do about her?” she says, nodding towards Torrga’s unconscious body.
(Torrga death saves: 9, 12, 14, 16. Success)
Ang glances over at the fallen dwarf, who appears to be still breathing in shallow, but steady rises of her thick chest.“I have no qualms about saying this, but things would be a whole lot easier for everyone if she never woke up. She obviously ran a protection racket with the owner of the Mead Hall here and caused him quite the headache; who know’s how many other businesses she’s swindled around the Ten Towns? I doubt she’d be missed by very many folk. And if she were to live, I’m sure she’s make revenge on us her number on priority. Do we want that kind of trouble following us around?”
“Besides, she and her thugs picked a fight with us and they lost. The rest of her gang is dead, the fact that she’s still breathing is but a mere technicality ‘cause she’s clearly in no shape to defender herself.”
“I haven’t been here very long, but it’s clear to me that it’s all about survival of the fittest here in Icewind Dale, right? And it might not hurt our reputation around here if it became known that we were the ones who took her down.”
Helena looks at Ang with a concerned look on her face, but in the end shows her agreement with a simple nod. “The world is full of too many bullies already.”
With that, Ang scoots over to the fallen dwarf, and unsheating one of his daggers, he quickly plunges it in the side of her neck. Torrga’s body lets out a brief shudder before her breathing stops and her chest goes still.
“Ok, let’s get them inside.”
“One more thing…” Ang says as his hands quickly search the dwarf’s body. He pulls a chain from around her neck, onto which is fastened a single key.
“This probably unlocks something on her sled. I can come out later and root around, but after we get these two out of the cold.”
“How ironic that the two smallest members of our little group end up trying to carry the two biggest. If we were the ones who fell, they’d each be able to lift us over their shoulders. We’ll have to go one at a time.”
Ang lets out a grin in agreement as he helps Helena lift Dawndra’s body and awkwardly heft her towards the entrance of the Good Mead. After carrying her inside, they gently lay her down on the floor. Seeing them enter, Trig, the owner of the tavern lets out a brief examination of concern as he rushes over to help them.
“Oh dear, what happens to her? She ok?”
Helena answers. “Yes. We were jumped by Torrga and her thugs outside in the alley, but we prevailed. Two of our group fell, but they’re still alive. We’ll need a place to rest until they recover.
“Oh.. Sure, absolutely!!!” Trig says, leaning down to place a hand on Dawndra’s forehead.“What about Torrga… Is she…?”
“Let’s just say that your problems with her are over. You won’t have to fear her or her goons anymore,” Ang replies.
Trig lets out a sigh of tired liberation relief. “Well, it seems that I owe you even more gratitude that I’ll never be albe to repay. Saving me from another beating is one thing, but cutting off the snake’s head… you have just made a bigger difference in my life and my business than you can ever imagine. She’s been shaking me down for longer than I care to admit.”
“No worries, friend,”Ang says, “We are glad to be of service. Now watch her while we go and get our other fallen friend.”
A few minutes later, both Dawndra and Thynetos now lie peacefully in the warmth of the tavern. Trig has brought out a few thick blankets for them to lie on and be covered up with, and he also brings Ang and Helena mugs of hot tea and bowls of stew.
Ang says to Helena, “You watch them and enjoy the warmth, I’ll be right back. I’m going to root around and see if I can’t locate the box that fits this key that I found."
After downing a couple sips of tea, Ang heads back outside into the cold. It doesn’t take long for him to find Torrga’s three heavily laden dog sleds. Right now, the dogs are all contentedly bedded down on piles of straw next to the sleds, and they pay little mind to Ang as he takes quick inventory of the crates and bundles.
Two of the sleds contain merchant goods, including cut firewood, flakes of whale oil, fur, blankets, food, beer, wine, etc… the third sled appears to contain provisions for Torrga and her team, although he does find a small iron strongbox.
Tucking the box under his arm, he covered it with a small handful of furs, and grabs a bottle of wine before heading back to the tavern.
Sitting back down to Helena, he says, “Well, look what I found.” Setting the lockbox down on the floor, he pulls forth the key. It slides perfectly into the lock, and with a quick turn, he open the box and they both see that it’s filled with coins and a gemstones.
(92 gp, 72 sp, 125 cp and seven pieces of opaque blue-green turquoise that appear to be about 10 gp each.)
“The hard earned spoils of battle,” he says, closing the lid. “We can divy it all up later.”
When Helena and Ang are finished with their meal, Trig offers up lodging at no charge and helps carry Dawndra and Thynetos to the two rooms that you all share. In about 4 hours, Thynetos and Dawndra ragain consciousness, but they barely open their eyes before falling back to sleep. Even for those two didn’t fall in battle, it’s been a very long day, and all four sleep soundly until the next morning.
The Confrontation
The party having defeated two thugs who turned out to be Torrga's mercenaries have also recently discovered that two more of her mercenaries are inside and perhaps also found another place where they can help an ailing town.
As Helena nods appreciation to the barkeep, the group begins to plan.
"What are we waiting for," Thynetos growls, "We should just go and take those thugs out."
"Perhaps it would be best to wait until they came outside so that we wouldn't cause a ruckus in the center of the tavern," Helena says thoughtfully.
"Well we could be waiting all night then, so we should at least go inside to verify-" Ang begins. He is cut off be a loud hush from Dawndra who points over his shoulder at the large dwarven woman carrying a wicked looking scimitar on her belt that is approaching the Mead Hall. Trig pipes up from the corner, "That would be Torrga."
The party stays in the alley holding their breath while Torrga enters the Mead Hall. The party begins to whisper to each other violently discussing what to do, but a few moments later Torrga reappears outside the Mead Hall with her two bandits in tow and turns to enter the alleyway that she had previously sent a pair of her bandits down to deal with Trig.
As she enters the alleyway, the party members each draw their weapons and Torrga's gang does as well. Torrga looks behind them and notices the two dead bandits. She mutters, "Useless fools, couldn't even shake a man down properly." As her gaze shifts farther back, she notices the terrified Trig hiding in the back of the alleway and says, "You, my poor barkeep, are dead."
Dawndra speaks up, "You'll have to get through us first!"
Initiative:
Ang: 8
Thynetos: 10
Dawndra: 20
Helena: 4
Torrga: 6
Bandit 1: 15
Bandit 2: 4
Round 1:
Torrga - (Move) 30 Feet towards the party - (Bonus) None - (Action) Multiattack: Scimitar Attack: 20 Damage: 5 Scimitar Attack: 14 Damage: 8 Dagger Attack: 25 Damage: 10
Torrga rushes forward against the party and launches into a flurry of attacks against Thynetos, who had positioned himself along with Dawndra in front of the others. Her first strike is easily parried by Thynetos, and while her second attack cuts into his flesh, her third blow is absorbed by Thynetos's thick skin and he just grins down at the shocked dwarf.
Bandit 2 - (Move) 30 Feet towards the party - (Bonus) None - (Action) Scimitar Attack: 9 Damage: 4
Following his boss's lead, the bandit rushes forward to slice at Dawndra with his scimitar, but the blow is clumsy and Dawndra dodges it without even thinking.
Ang - (Move) None - (Bonus) Steady Aim - (Action) Shortbow Attack: 26 Damage: 27
Ang, covered by the two large people standing in front of him and safe from the attacks of the bandits, pulls an arrow out on his shortbow takes careful aim at the bandit harassing Dawndra and releases his arrow. A practiced hunter, his arrow pierces the eye of the bandit and without even making a sound, the bandit slumps to the ground dead.
Dawndra - (Move) 5 Feet around to flank Torrga - (Action) Unarmed Attack: 10 Damage: 11 - (Bonus) Flurry of Blows: Unarmed Attack: 24 Damage: 6 Unarmed Attack: 25 Damage: 6 Cold Damage: 7
Dawndra, realizing that the alleyway is too small a space for her to fully extend her 8 foot long pike, steps adjacent to Torrga and unleashes a devastating flurry of punches. However, unlike Torrga's flurry that was mostly negated by Thynetos's hardiness, Dawndra's attacks are felt and she finishes it off with her final punch wreathed in frost causing a small amount of ice to lick up Torrga's chest as she yells out in pain.
Bandit 1 - (Move) None - (Bonus) None - (Action) Crossbow Attack: 4 Damage: 7
Terrified and freezing, the final bandit has barely enough presence of mind to raise his crossbow and shoot at the dead-eye half-elf that massacred his companion. His fear must have fueled his aim, because the bolt slams into Ang's shoulder spinning him around and Ang's vision begins to get a little blurry.
Thynetos - (Move) None - (Bonus) Command Moira - (Action) Greatsword Attack: 18 Damage: 10
Moira - (Move) 15 Past Dawndra around to the back of Torrga caging her in - (Bonus) None - (Action) Bite Attack: 22 Damage: 5
Thynetos's sword bites into the dwarf's neck and draws blood, but she is still standing, and manages to turn around and smash Moira's snout with her shield in time to deflect the bite. Moira yowls in pain and growls in the dwarf's direction.
Helena - (Move) 5 Feet back - (Bonus) None - (Action) Cast Ray of Frost: Attack: 13 Damage: 5 - (Free) Talking
Seeing Torrga surrounded, Helena calls out to the group, "Keep her alive, we have questions!" She turns to the bandit that is still in the entrance of the alleyway and sends a blast of frosty energy in his direction. The frost hits him and begins to spread up his arm although he is still standing.
Round 2:
Torrga - (Move) None - (Bonus) None - (Action) Multiattack: Scimitar Attack: 23 Damage: 9 Scimitar Attack: 23 Damage: 5 Dagger Attack: 22 Damage: 6 - (Free) Talking
Thynetos laughs as he parries the first scimitar strike out of the way, but the second attack and her tiny dagger, sneak past his defenses and his smile slips a little from his face as the pain of these wounds is beginning to be felt. Torrga laughs at Helena's remarks, "Bold of you to assume you'll even have the chance to take me alive."
Ang - (Move) None - (Bonus) Steady Aim - (Action) Shortbow Attack: 22 Damage: 13
Ang is once again the epitome of calm as he once again takes his aim on the bandit in the entrance, and finishes what Helena started. With a brutal arrow to the throat, the bandit doesn't even have a chance to shout in pain as he collapses to the ground dead.
Dawndra - (Move) None - (Action) Unarmed Attack: 22 Damage: 5 - (Bonus) Flurry of Blows: Unarmed Attack: 21 Damage: 6 Unarmed Attack: 20 Damage: 5 Cold Damage: 3
With a series of non-lethal blows and finishing with a stunning blast of frost, Dawndra makes each and every strike count as her final elbow jab connects with Torrga's temple and knocks her unconscious.
(Combat Over)
End Results:
Dawndra - Damage Taken: 0 - Resources Used: 2 Ki Points
Helena - Damage Taken: 0 - Resources Used: None
Ang - Damage Taken: 0 - Resources Used: None
Thynetos - Damage Taken: 22 - Resources Used: None
With Torrga unconscious, Trig barely has the presence of mind to utter out a broken, "Th-Thank y--y-ou," before running inside to deal with his patrons and turning a blind eye to whatever interrogations might ensue with the party and the knocked out Torrga.
The party drags the dead bodies of the four bandits into the alleyway so as not to create a panic and return to stare down at the unconscious Torrga. "Well," Thynetos asks, "Who wants to wake her up?"
(OOC: Hopefully you are all right with the combat decisions I made with your characters... I noticed Helena only had one spell slot left and I figured she would want to conserve it. As for Dawndra, it just made sense to take out Torrga as quickly as possible.)
@DragonDenn; the story is all yours!
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Sephek
"I'll take care of that." A pashonless voice says as a figure steps out into the open. He is a well-built man in his thirties. He has an olive complexion, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, and no facial or body hair. He is dressed in a stylish vest with matching pants and boots, similar in style to those worn by mariners of the southern Sword Coast, but wears no armor or cold weather clothing and doesn’t appear to be armed. His most striking feature is his eyes, which are as blue as a frozen lake.
Suddenly the olive-skinned man disappears, then reappears standing right before Thynetos. (Casting Misty Step) He then slashes at Thynetos with a sword that looks to be made of ice... The ice sword strikes into Thynetos's side, driving in deep and taking the big warrior by surprise. (Critical hit. Thynetos looked to only be at 19 HP, so this takes him down...) Crumpling to the ground Thynetos lets out a groan of pain as the sword is wrenched free.
Gasping in great breaths, blood fountains from Thynetos's mouth, clearly something was damaged internally. (1 failed death save.)
Ang rolls away from the ice-wielding man, putting distance between himself and the assassin. "Someone help Thynetos." He says as he lifts his bow and takes steady aim. He then sends the arrow flying. The arrow thunks into the assassin's side, though he appears not to notice the wound.
Dawndra moves to stand over Thynetos, lashing out at the olive-skinned man with a roundhouse kick, and following it up with an elbow and backhand strike. The kick drives into the man's side, making him stumble back, and causing the elbow strike to miss. The backhand hits hard though.
"Keep him off of me." Helena instructs the others as she moves to kneel next to Thynetos. "I am no doctor though...' She complains as she tries to see if she can aid the fallen man at all. Luckily he has seen this sort of thing before, Nolla had just such a wound, and Helena was able to bandage Thynetos up so that he was meerly unconscious and no longer going to die on them. "He needs healing though." Helena says to the others.
"You will all be joining him shortly." The olive-skinned man sneered though, slashing out at Dawndra with his ice blade. His first strike drives into Dawndra's thigh, cleaving in deep, though the cold of the blade does not seem to bother her as much as it had Thynetos. She manages to stay on her feet, and even deflects the second strike with a forearm block against the flat of the blade.
Ang takes steady aim again, sending another arrow flying. His arrow flies true, thunking into the olive-skinned man's side. Still no blood is seen from the assassin, clearly he is not a living being and the group is starting to understand he is not alive, but undead.
Dawndra strikes out, another roundhouse kick followed by an elbow strike and then a knee strike. All of her strikes land this time, pummeling the undead assassin.
"Let's finish this." Helena says, lifting a hand and sending four darts of power leaping towards the assassin.The four darts hit, knocking the man back a few steps. He remains standing though.
"I am her tool, you cannot defeat me." Sephek says with a glance to the enemies around him. "I will leave your bodies as testimony to the Frostmaiden’s power..." As you watch several of the rents in his skin freeze over and he stands a bit straighter. Lashing out with his ice sword, Dawndra deflects the first strike, but leaves herself open to the second. She slips to the ground as well, joining Thynetos.
"Damn it all!" Ang swears, steadying his aim and sending another arrow towards the undead assassin. Yet again his arrow strikes true, slamming into the undead. Several of the frozen-over wounds shatter open again, though no blood is seen. The assassin appears to be slowing though.
Helena sends another four magical darts into the undead, finishing him off.
"Give me a hand." Helena calls to Ang, who rushes over to help her bandage up Dawndra's wounds. Together they are able to stop the bleeding, though now they stand there with two unconscious companions, the dirty merchant, and now a dead assassin. "Well that could have gone better." Helena remarked as she glanced over the scene.
(Here is the baton pass. Hope the above worked out for everyone... I did not have time to do the colors, but can go back and add that in another time.)
“True words, but I fear that it could have just as easily gone worse. We could all four be lying here dead with Torrga and Sephek standing over our quickly hardening corpses,” Ang says as he helps Helena tend to their two fallen companions. Right now, he’s grateful for the tips about the proper ways to dress wounds that he’d learned from his old friend Gerund.
“If we don’t get them inside, they’ll never wake up.“
“I agree,” Helena concurs. “What do we do about her?” she says, nodding towards Torrga’s unconscious body.
(Torrga death saves: 9, 12, 14, 16. Success)
Ang glances over at the fallen dwarf, who appears to be still breathing in shallow, but steady rises of her thick chest. “I have no qualms about saying this, but things would be a whole lot easier for everyone if she never woke up. She obviously ran a protection racket with the owner of the Mead Hall here and caused him quite the headache; who know’s how many other businesses she’s swindled around the Ten Towns? I doubt she’d be missed by very many folk. And if she were to live, I’m sure she’s make revenge on us her number on priority. Do we want that kind of trouble following us around?”
“Besides, she and her thugs picked a fight with us and they lost. The rest of her gang is dead, the fact that she’s still breathing is but a mere technicality ‘cause she’s clearly in no shape to defender herself.”
“I haven’t been here very long, but it’s clear to me that it’s all about survival of the fittest here in Icewind Dale, right? And it might not hurt our reputation around here if it became known that we were the ones who took her down.”
Helena looks at Ang with a concerned look on her face, but in the end shows her agreement with a simple nod. “The world is full of too many bullies already.”
With that, Ang scoots over to the fallen dwarf, and unsheating one of his daggers, he quickly plunges it in the side of her neck. Torrga’s body lets out a brief shudder before her breathing stops and her chest goes still.
“Ok, let’s get them inside.”
“One more thing…” Ang says as his hands quickly search the dwarf’s body. He pulls a chain from around her neck, onto which is fastened a single key.
“This probably unlocks something on her sled. I can come out later and root around, but after we get these two out of the cold.”
“How ironic that the two smallest members of our little group end up trying to carry the two biggest. If we were the ones who fell, they’d each be able to lift us over their shoulders. We’ll have to go one at a time.”
Ang lets out a grin in agreement as he helps Helena lift Dawndra’s body and awkwardly heft her towards the entrance of the Good Mead. After carrying her inside, they gently lay her down on the floor. Seeing them enter, Trig, the owner of the tavern lets out a brief examination of concern as he rushes over to help them.
“Oh dear, what happens to her? She ok?”
Helena answers. “Yes. We were jumped by Torrga and her thugs outside in the alley, but we prevailed. Two of our group fell, but they’re still alive. We’ll need a place to rest until they recover.
“Oh.. Sure, absolutely!!!” Trig says, leaning down to place a hand on Dawndra’s forehead. “What about Torrga… Is she…?”
“Let’s just say that your problems with her are over. You won’t have to fear her or her goons anymore,” Ang replies.
Trig lets out a sigh of tired liberation relief. “Well, it seems that I owe you even more gratitude that I’ll never be albe to repay. Saving me from another beating is one thing, but cutting off the snake’s head… you have just made a bigger difference in my life and my business than you can ever imagine. She’s been shaking me down for longer than I care to admit.”
“No worries, friend,” Ang says, “We are glad to be of service. Now watch her while we go and get our other fallen friend.”
A few minutes later, both Dawndra and Thynetos now lie peacefully in the warmth of the tavern. Trig has brought out a few thick blankets for them to lie on and be covered up with, and he also brings Ang and Helena mugs of hot tea and bowls of stew.
Ang says to Helena, “You watch them and enjoy the warmth, I’ll be right back. I’m going to root around and see if I can’t locate the box that fits this key that I found."
After downing a couple sips of tea, Ang heads back outside into the cold. It doesn’t take long for him to find Torrga’s three heavily laden dog sleds. Right now, the dogs are all contentedly bedded down on piles of straw next to the sleds, and they pay little mind to Ang as he takes quick inventory of the crates and bundles.
Two of the sleds contain merchant goods, including cut firewood, flakes of whale oil, fur, blankets, food, beer, wine, etc… the third sled appears to contain provisions for Torrga and her team, although he does find a small iron strongbox.
Tucking the box under his arm, he covered it with a small handful of furs, and grabs a bottle of wine before heading back to the tavern.
Sitting back down to Helena, he says, “Well, look what I found.” Setting the lockbox down on the floor, he pulls forth the key. It slides perfectly into the lock, and with a quick turn, he open the box and they both see that it’s filled with coins and a gemstones.
(92 gp, 72 sp, 125 cp and seven pieces of opaque blue-green turquoise that appear to be about 10 gp each.)
“The hard earned spoils of battle,” he says, closing the lid. “We can divy it all up later.”
When Helena and Ang are finished with their meal, Trig offers up lodging at no charge and helps carry Dawndra and Thynetos to the two rooms that you all share. In about 4 hours, Thynetos and Dawndra ragain consciousness, but they barely open their eyes before falling back to sleep. Even for those two didn’t fall in battle, it’s been a very long day, and all four sleep soundly until the next morning.