Chapter 3: The Enemy Within

[Josh]

Grafth nods, almost imperceptibly, as he removes his handaxe from its place by his side. He slinks forward in a state of alertness.

[Jeremy]

Goran holds up his hand to Torhak, as if to say 'let's slow our pace'.

"Quietly now", he half-whispers. "There may indeed be work for your axe, but first let's see what we may see. Our diminutive flying friend has warned me to be on my guard." Then he finishes, as if to himself.

"At least I think that's what he meant."

Goran makes a Listen check, his sword at the ready.

---

Jeff, can I see the others?

[Jeff]

Only Grafth and Goran, keen shifter and half-elven ears, hear a quiet, but clipped breathing from some unseen person or creature. At that same moment, Kal moves forward in an attempt to stealthily approach...until his heel scuffs against the floor unintentionally loudly.

In that moment both Kal and Grafth see a shape drop from the shadowed ceiling of the narrow hall directly above the gnome. The size of a dwarf, squat but muscular, and utterly hairless, dark-colored skin. It drops in a crouch above the unconscious gnome, then it explodes into motion, moving large, muscular arms and only very rudimentarily with its short legs...

The creature shoves past past Kal, too quick for him to stop. It looks panicked, but strong.

It turns the corner just before Tangat and Ralsor reach the intersection between the two halls.

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Kal's Move Silently check = 4 (I'd misread. Yes, Move Silently was the check in question, Darren.)
Listen checks = Kal (12), Goran (22), Grafth (23), Streko (12), Torhak (9).

Roll the d20, folks, to see where you show up in the initiative count.

[Josh]

Grafth moves back a bit. "Goran, Torhak... it seems to be another of the "statues"... if you head down that side," he says, pointing to the port corridor, we can flank it. Be careful, it seems fast!"

Handaxe drawn, he stalks past the gnome and down the starboard corridor, toward the stern.

[Darren]

Kalarian hangs his head briefly in annoyance, appearing exhausted. Then, as if mustering his strength, his head snaps up, his longsword lifted in front of him, and he takes off in a sprint after the creature. "Tangat!" he yells in the Halfling tounge. "Stop that thing!"

[mike]

"HAH!" Torhak shouts, as he begins to run down the port corridor, hoping to flank the strange creature as Grafth suggested.

"Blood and vengeance, vengeance and blood!"

[Joe]

Grafth moves back a bit. "Goran, Torhak... it seems to be another of the "statues"... if you head down that side," he says, pointing to the port corridor, we can flank it. Be careful, it seems fast!"

Handaxe drawn, he stalks past the gnome and down the starboard corridor, toward the stern.

Streko removes a tanglefoot bag from his haversack.

"Blood and vengeance, vengeance and blood!"

Streko looks to the ceiling and shakes his head. "Olladra, forgive me, but I think I am going to have to ask for more of your healing gifts."

He follows Grafth toward the starboard passage, sickle in one hand, tanglefoot in the other.

[Jeremy]

Goran starts, as if to stop Torhak, then sighs.

"Dwarves." he mumbles, shaking his head. He swings his sword up in the air and runs after him.

"Vengeance and blood!" he shouts, dashing down to "flank it". as was suggested.

[Jeff]

Tangat barks and launches after the creature at Kal's commend. Everyone steadily converges, as quickly as possible, to where the thing has gone. The creature skitters to a stop in front of Torhak, whose advance has blocked it path. The dwarf gets the first real good look at the thing.

Four foot tall, hairless, with rubbery, black-blue skin. It has a large, bulbous, bald head, huge rounded ears, and disproportionate body parts—short, muscular legs (shorter than a dwarf's), and very long arms, which it's been propelling its weight around amazingly fast. It seems able to compress its body from a small size to a very long reach. Torhak has never seen its like—nor has anyone else. The creature grunts and raises its long arms over its head, sharp nails ready.

It's difficult for anyone to tell whether it will attack or not.

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But if it does, or you do:

Initiative count:

28 = the "B" creature
22 = Kal
19 = Goran / Grafth
12 = Torhak
11 = Streko / Tangat

[Joe]

Streko stops moving.

"Grafth, my friend! I'll return momentarily. I wish to make sure the gnome is still alive. She may be able to explain some things!"

He heads back toward the fallen gnome, returning the tanglefoot bag to the haversack, but keeping his sickle in hand.
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Streko checks on her. Is she alive? Is there anything on her that might be useful to the group in its current situation...anything to explain what happened in the cargo hold? He will search the gnome and, if she is alive and stable, secure her with his rope. He will make sure there is nothing in her clothing that might allow her to escape again. Streko will be as thorough as possible in his search without appearing to molest her!

[Jeremy]

Goran will take advantage of the brief halt in action to switch up to his bow. With Torhak in front of him, and the close quarters, a sword might not be much good. He nocks an arrow and draws.

"Torhak, my friend, welcome to our weird little crisis. This is the norm, I'm afraid: Here's a weird thing that may or may not kill us...and I have no blasted idea what it is. Do you?"

---

Jeff, I assume I have arrows now, right? If not, I'll stick with the big metal thing with edges on it.

[mike]

" 'Tis a mystery to me as well," replies Torhak. "But I shall not chance this beast escaping our grasp."

The axe handle twirls slightly in the dwarf's hands. Torhak rushes forward, swinging the flat of his axe blade right at the creature's face.

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Torhak's going to make a nonlethal attack on the creature, trying to beat it into unconsciousness. Even though that means sucking up the -4 penalty to the attack.

And no, he's not actually charging the creature. "Rushing" just sounds betting than "walking quickly".

[Josh]

Grafth remains where he stands, alert and ready to follow if the creature bolts past his companions.

[Darren]

Kalarian seems indecisive. The creature didn't really attack them, but it doesn't seem to be stopping to talk, either. It was left in those crates, so it may have been a victim of some attack, just like Torhak was. Still, with everything that's happened the last few days, fight first and ask questions later seems to be the preferred strategy. Kalarian moves forward, his blade bared, and swings at the creature.

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Kal's attacking with his longsword, taking advantage of the flanking bonus from Torhak.

[Jeff]

ROUND 1

28 = the "B" creature
22 = Kal
19 = Goran / Grafth
12 = Torhak
11 = Streko / Tangat / Ralsor
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The strange creature is the first to act, leaping forward as if its muscles were spring loaded. Before Torhak can act it's upon him, lashing out with overlong limbs that stretch past his axe and barrage him with blows. The first strike is true, and the thing's nails rake across his neck and shoulder, finding flesh and leaving painful welts. The second hand Torhak turns his body into and the strength of the creature cannot penetrate his hide armor. Finally, the creature opens wide its mouth and tries to reach him for a bite, but he bats it away with the haft of his war axe.

Kal takes the opportunity, races past Tangat, and slashes out with his longsword. Barely aware of him, the creature is hit even though it's in constant motion. The tip of Kal's longsword slashes it across the back, splashing dark red, nearly black, blood upon the wall. The creature howls and throws his head over its shoulder to snarl at him.

Goran sheathes his sword and readies his bow, setting one of his eight remaining arrows to the string and readying a shot. Grafth remains where he is, and to his left he sees Streko crouch down over the gnome's prone body.

Torhak, bolstered by the painful but largely superficial wound, swings his axe in a two-handed grip, angling it so the flat of the blade will strike. But the strange creature's elastic movements manages to evade the swing!

Streko can tell at a glance that the gnome is alive and quite well; there are no teeth or claw marks, just a heavy bludgeoning against her brow which knocked her out cold. A quick search on her person—damn it, she's pretty even unconscious—reveals only a single dagger, a pouch of what is probably coins, and in an inside pocket of her cloak a slim wooden case. Streko knows the shape: identification papers.

Ralsor hangs back, waiting like Grafth to decide what should come next. Tangat barks again, ready to leap into the fray, though the corridor is too narrow for an easy fight.

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Creature's attack: 24 (hit, 4 damage to Torhak), 8 (miss), 13 (miss)
Kal's attack: 17 + 3 +2 (flanking) = 20 / damage is 5 + 1 = 6
Torhak's attack: 3 + 6 + 2 (flanking) -4 (nonlethal) = 7 (miss)

[Darren]

Kal smiles. He does so enjoy a fight when he's winning. He raises his sword and takes another swing at the creature.

[Jeremy]

Goran will, not surprisingly, take a shot at the first available opportunity: Point Blank Shot feat.

[mike]

Torhak spits blood upon the floor. "Aye, so that's how you wish to play," he mutters.

He flips the axe handle around in his hands once more, ever so slightly ... but now the sharp end of the axe faces the creature.

"I'm done playing nice with you."

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Torhak's next attack on the creature will be lethal instead of nonlethal.

[Josh]

Grafth maintains his position, ready for anything that may come his way.

[Jeff]

ROUND 2

28 = the "B" creature
22 = Kal
19 = Goran / Grafth
12 = Torhak
11 = Streko / Tangat / Ralsor
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The black-skinned rubbery creature spins its body completely around to face Kal, and as the Deneith heir closes for another attack, is crouches and growls loudly. Even as it does, fluid leaks from various places on its body...oily gray fluid. Kal's booted feet gain no traction as he moves forward...

And he drops hard to the ground. He maintains his grip on his sword, but it's all he can do to avoid sliding forward any further.

Goran, aims an arrow straight over the shorter Torhak's head, counting on the dwarf not to move too suddenly in the way. He finds his moment, and is about to release...when Torhak moves directly in front of his line of site as he prepares to attack the creature as well. Goran is forced to turn the bow as he lets go of the string: the arrow thuds into the wall only a few feet away at an angle.

Grafth and Streko maintain their position.

Torhak, no longer playing softly, wades into the strange creature with his axe, careful to avoid the greasy substance is dripped upon the floor. The creature turns its head just in time to see him coming and throws its body back against the wall. Torhak's axe wooshes inches away from it harmlessly.

I recommend actually striking the creature, Goran, Torak, and Kal hear the pseudodragon Matheu speak into their minds. It's a strange sensation to Torhak, but he realizes the small draconic face in the porthole to his right is the source. Even old dwarf lore told of dragons and other powerful creatures speaking with their minds instead of their mouths. It will surely end this ridiculous fight.

Tangat grabs hold of Kal's shoulder in his teeth and yanks him backward...out of the creature's reach, where the human is able to rise to his feet without risk of attack.

Refresh your page!

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• Kal's Reflex save = 5 + 2 = 7 (failure, falls prone, loses his attack)
  
• Goran's attack: 3 +6 +1 (Point Blank) -4 (Torhak providing the enemy with cover) = 6 (miss)
  
• Torhak's attack: 7 + 6 = 13

[/li][/ul]

[Jeremy]

Goran sends a mental snarl back at the insouciant dragon.

"Land a blow yourself, and keep your commentary!"

The half-elf reloads, and fires again.

[Darren]

Kalarian almost snarls in frustration. He looks down at his coat, knowing the layer of slime will be difficult to clean off. He curses his foolishness in leaving his sharrash behind, knowing the weapon would allow him to strike the creature without risking walking on the treacherous...ooze. He considers moving forward to strike at the creature again, but instead takes a step backwards, arcane words moving on his lips, as he point his hand towards the creature and releases a dart of energy at the creature.

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Kal's casting Magic Missle.

[mike]

"You're beginning to make me angry, creature," Torhak snarls. "It's time to end this madness."

He swings his axe once more at the creature.

[Joe]

Streko nudges at the gnome, tapping her face, trying whatever he can to awaken her. "We need answers...and you're the one who made these questions come alive...so wake up!" He slaps her hard once....hoping that will all that will be needed. "I SAID, WAKE UP!"

[Josh]

Grafth straightens up a bit, and stifles a yawn. "Seems there's a bit of a hold-up," he mutters to himself.

[Jeff]

ROUND 3

28 = the "B" creature
22 = Kal
19 = Goran / Grafth / Matheu
12 = Torhak
11 = Streko / Tangat / Ralsor
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The creature has turned its back to Kal—he's no threat now—and throws its gangly limbs at Torhak again. The dwarf proves an easy hit...sharp, stunted fingers rake across his neck, tear a slight hole in his head, and it even latches onto his arm with its teeth for a brief moment before Torhak shakes it away again. Torhak feels numerous small wounds opened...it hurts but it's nowhere near enough to throw him down.

Kal gestured and launches a glowing missile into the air. The creature yelps in sudden pain as it bursts at the base of its neck. For a moment, Torhak thinks it's about to drop...but it doesn't.

Goran looses another arrow...and it just managed to slice past the creature's constantly moving torso, drawing blood and skittering off the wall a foot away from Kal's head, ultimately clattering to the floor some distance down the hall.

"Hey!" Goran hears Ralsor say half-heartedly.

A soft cloud of light suddenly illuminates the window that the pseudodragon is hovering outside, and the black-skinned creature's eyes are drawn to it...distracted. Its body slows...

And Torhak drives his axe into its back. It lets out a strange, gutteral scream and drops, bleeding, onto the deck.
Dark red blood mingles with the gray oily slick.

Ralsor marches over to the scene. "Wonderful," he mutters, then looks up and meets Torhak's eye. "Good job, though." He looks around. "I seriously need to hire a cleaning staff."

The gnome is out too cold to respond at all to Streko's treatment. He can tell she'll need some time to wake on her own.

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• Creature's attacks: 19 (3 damage to Torhak), 24 (3 damage to Torhak), 19 (2 damage to Torhak)
  
• Kal's magic missile: 4 damage to the creature
  
• Goran's attack: 12 + 6 +1 (Point Blank) -4 (Torhak providing cover) = 15
  
• Torhak's attack: 5 + 6 +4 (creature distracted) = 15 (damage is 4 + 3 = 7)

We're out of turn-based mode now.

[Darren]

Kalarian leans over and gives Goran a dirty look. "Let's try to keep the arrows in your enemies, shall we?" Kalarian seems to consider that statement for a moment. "Well, at least in those we're fighting at the moment..." Kal winks rogueishly at the ranger.

"Okay," he says, wiping off his blade before returning it to its sheath, "that's our first fight of the day. Off to a good start, I'd say." He looks around, smiling, seeing if his companions share his mirth. Realizing he's alone in his satisfaction, he leans against the wall, folds his arms, and says, "Anyone know what that thing is, and how it might have ended up in that box? Little dragon? Care to share your terrific store of knowledge with us?"

[Jeremy]

Goran chuckles a bit at Ralsor.

"Sorry, friend. Good thing my aim has been so atrocious tonight or I might have hurt someone!"

Goran will retrieve the two arrows, if he can.

[Jeff]

Matheu disappears from the porthole.

Ralsor goes into one of his storerooms and retrieves another tarp. "I'm not keeping that thing here. Anyone care to help me remove it from my ship? And where's that gnome? Streko?"

[Josh]

Grafth moves forward, meeting Ralsor. "Streko is tending to the gnome. I'll help you remove this thing." As he nears the body, it is obvious that he does not enjoy odor that now emanates from it.