Iren's PbP - Prologue

Irenaeus · Post by **Irenaeus** » April 7th, 2025, 03:26

The fight against the Big One is now fully underway.

The cellar is now better lit, revealing the aftermath of the swarm fight and the main threat: a monstrous, pig-sized rat ("The Big One") flanked by four passive, trance-like smaller rats near the back wall. Kal Arion has confirmed the rats radiate Evil or Chaos originating from an unseen source behind them. The party is shifting from cleaning up the swarm to confronting this new boss.

Positioning: The party is somewhat spread – Zollo in shadows, Ostgar/Alfwine near stairs, George upstairs, Felix on a crate, Stein/Wolfgang/Kal/Hrod/Gunthard/Norman/Tillomar forming a loose main group facing the threat.

Felix, having gained a higher vantage point on a crate, offers tactical advice, suggesting the melee fighters find a large barrel to roll towards the Big One for cover or as an improvised weapon.

Gunthard, apparently taking Felix's suggestion to heart, begins actively searching the nearby area for a large object or barrel suitable for moving towards the Big One.

Stein, reacts with understandable shock ("Is that beast really a rat?!"). Having helped with the lighting, he takes up a defensive position near Wolfgang, absorbing Kal's warning about the source and readying his sword to strike if the Big One or its minions charge.

Norman voices tactical observations, questioning the smaller rats' unnatural stillness and implying a controlling influence.

Wolfgang agrees with Norman's assessment of the Big One's unnatural intelligence. He encourages the group to attack proactively. He takes the first offensive action of the round, successfully killing one of the smaller, passive rats with his sling.

Zollo executes his ambush plan from the shadows but misses the Big One with his arrow, apparently due to a sudden itch disrupting his aim. However, the stealthy shot did not reveal his position.

Tillomar, despite his previous hand injury affecting axe use, he seems able to use his bow effectively. He fires at the Big One and lands a solid hit to its head/neck area, dealing significant damage (6 hp).

Hrod offers a different tactical approach, suggesting they try to spook the rats by throwing a lit candle towards them, perhaps to draw the Big One out or disrupt the minions.

Kal Arion stumbles back momentarily from the intensity of the evil he detected but quickly relays his findings to the group – warning them the rats are unnatural and the source lies behind the Big One. He then steels himself and steps back to the front line, readying his club to fight the corrupted creatures.

Ostgar, having returned and helped with the lighting, now takes up a cautious defensive stance behind the main group, ready with his spear to intercept anything that pushes past the front line.

Alfwine remains near the stairs, nervously watching the events unfold and finishing placing candles.

Overall:

• Opening Salvos: Wolfgang successfully eliminated one minion, while Tillomar dealt significant damage to the primary target. Zollo's ambush attempt failed.

• Tactical Maneuvering: Players are actively suggesting and attempting different tactics (Felix/Gunthard's barrel idea, Hrod's candle throw, Zollo's ambush, Wolfgang targeting minions, Tillomar ranged success and Stein focusing on defense.

Reaction:

Tillomar's arrow strikes true, burying itself deep in the monstrous rat's neck. A piercing shriek of ire echoes through the cellar, a sound far too high-pitched for any natural rat. The Big One thrashes its head, already visibly wounded and hampered by the unexpected assault. Its glowing red eyes burn with intensified hatred as they lock onto the adventurers.

Ignoring its own pain for a moment, it emits a rapid series of chittering clicks – an undeniable order. The three remaining trance-like rats surrounding it twitch violently, their glassy eyes snapping into focus with the same malevolent red glow as their master. They tense, readying to attack.

Almost simultaneously, acting on his idea, Hrod hurls the spare lit candle he’d prepared. It sails through the air and lands squarely on the back of one of the newly activating minion rats. The creature shrieks, not in pain, but seemingly in sheer terror as the flame touches it, breaking its unnatural trance. It scrambles frantically away from the Big One, disappearing into a large, previously unnoticed hole low in the back wall – a hole easily large enough for the Big One itself to fit through. The fallen candle, meanwhile, ignites some dry straw and debris on the floor, starting a small, flickering fire near the back wall.

But the momentary distraction doesn't stop the primary threat. Fueled by agony and rage, the Big One gathers its massive haunches. Its unnatural muscles bunch, and with horrific momentum born of sheer size and weight, it launches itself forward in a devastating leap. It bypasses attempts to block or redirect, aiming squarely for the front line. Stein Von Steiner, having just readied his sword to strike after hearing Kal Arion’s warning, finds himself directly in its path. Before he can fully react, the monster is upon him, a flurry of raking claws testing his defenses and the snapping jaws lunging forward.

A tremendous bite on Stein's neck (6 damage) has the beast knocking him down and it lands on its all fours after the leap. It is in pain and hurting and looking all around and twitching its monstrous body in a defensive position trying to zoom in another target.

As this horrific attack unfolds, Gunthard, who had been searching for an improvised weapon, finally spots a suitable heavy barrel near the wall. However, the sheer speed and explosive force of the Big One's charge make it too late for him to roll it into position as any kind of effective defense against this initial assault.

The remaining two minion rats, now fully active, follow their master’s command and dart forward, seeking targets amongst the adventurers closer to the front. The first attacks Gunthard, the second attacks Wolfgang. Gunthard is bitten (4 damage) on his neck - same as Stein - and falls down in pain, with the rat flying from him to the middle of the cellar now. Wolfgang is luckier as the attacking him is unable to bite him, still in front of him moving frantically. From the floor, having just being downed by the huge beast, Stein painfully swings his sword around, hitting the rat that just bit Gunthard, cutting it open and killing it instantly.

Upstairs in the Common Room:

Meanwhile, George, having deposited his sack of rats and received Brenna's weary but firm response about soup and lodging, ladles himself a bowl from the pot simmering over the hearth. He ignores the muffled sounds of the renewed conflict below and finds a relatively quiet stool. Sitting nearby, nursing a small ale and watching the fire, is Brenna's elderly husband, Olwin. Though his movements might be slower now, his eyes are sharp and hold the quiet alertness of one who has spent much time watching the wilds – a retired ranger. As George settles down, Olwin catches his eye, gives him a slow, almost imperceptible nod, and raises his hand in a brief, understated salute – a silent acknowledgment from one seasoned man to another who has just faced danger, regardless of boasts or manners.

ERYFKRAD · Post by **ERYFKRAD** » April 7th, 2025, 04:20

Considering the Giant rat's ability to hold thrall over the lesser rats, Hrod takes his axe to it in order to disrupt its sway over the rest.

Post by **Val the Moofia Boss** » April 7th, 2025, 04:34

Gunthard gropes around for support he can use to stand back up. His heart his racing and blood pouring out of his neck. Having seen a man go down to the great one, Gunthard raises his axe at the one that downed his comrade, hoping to end it before he tires or more fall.

Stack of Turtles · Post by **Stack of Turtles** » April 7th, 2025, 04:41

Alfwine shouts up the stairs for help, possibly mentioning the fire.

Post by **SpellSword** » April 7th, 2025, 05:37

He wasn't about to be eaten by monsterous giant rats for five copper in some inn's basement! Stein Von Steiner scrambles up the cellar stairs, holding his bloody neck with one hand and dragging his bronze sword with the other.

Thrusting himself from the dimly lit cellar of death into the bright inn's main floor, Stein spots the man he'd seen fighting rats in the basement moments before and staggers towards him.

As he makes his way towards George (@maidenhaver), the bronze sword falls from his hand. He begins frantically digging through his possessions for medical supplies with his free hand. Anything his hand produces from his many pockets that isn't the bandages he desperately seeks is immediately discarded onto the inn floor. This leaves a bloody trail in his wake along with a carefully packaged ration, several ingredients, a few large rocks and one bottle that rolls across the now bloody floor.

With the goal of putting George between him and the cellar door, he makes his pace across the room as rapid as his injury will allow. As he approaches the man, Stein musters the strength to call out "Man sized... killer rat! Don't let it out of the cellar!" His hand, finally laying claim to the bandages it was seeking, flies to the wound on his neck sending an additional roll of the medical wrap tumbling from his pocket onto the inn floor.

As he speaks, Stein casts his gaze around looking for the innkeeper in hopes she can help stop the bleeding "It got my neck... teeth like daggers!" and he pointedly adds to George "Some kind of devilry! You must'n let it out of the cellar. It'll kill us all!"

► Stein Von Steiner's inventory is temporarily down the following items as they are scattered about the inn floor.

► Adjusted Equipment list for Stein Von Steiner

Post by **logincrash** » April 7th, 2025, 06:37

"We'll have to put that fire out!" shouts Norman.
He then attacks the rat with his staff (the Big One if it's still alive and the small one if not).

DemoGraph · Post by **DemoGraph** » April 7th, 2025, 07:36

Felix tries to hit the big rat again but it's too fast for him.

► OOC

Humbaba · Post by **Humbaba** » April 7th, 2025, 10:17

Zollo scratches his nose. Meanwhile, @the man who had been mauled by the big one had run past him in a panic and a carelessly tossed candle had started an ever growing fire. Zollo, taking in this escalating situation shrugs and nocks another arrow.

He takes aim and fires a second hidden shot at the big one!

The arrow cleanly flies past the huge rat, missing its target entirely.

8 arrows remaining

Post by **Lord of Riva** » April 7th, 2025, 10:19

After realizing one of the rats trying to attack him, Wolfgang stumbles backwards to bring some distance between himself and the beast. he sees one of the men running out of the basement, and moves his hands to start and incantation, then, glancing around seeing another man attacking with resolve he calms down "Not yet", focusses and renews his grip on the sling and prepares to use it.

As expected in such a situation, the stone misses it's target, Wolfgang continues to orderly retreat as much as is possible while eyeing the rat that seems to have found him as prey.

Post by **Oyster Sauce** » April 7th, 2025, 12:48

With only one rat remaining, Ostgar feels confident enough to move forward and strike.

His sharp eyes help the spearhead precisely meet its target, but he may have traded too much power for accuracy.

Kalarion · Post by **Kalarion** » April 7th, 2025, 12:59

Kal observes the reaction of the rat that fled in terror. "Fire did something to that little one! Someone try burning them!"

Having dispensed this incredibly useful free advice, Kal steps forward to lay into The Big One alongside Hrod.

► OOC

Post by **maidenhaver** » April 7th, 2025, 19:16

George clears a table for Steiner and calls Brenna over to attend his needs. All he knows from the man's pained speech is fire's broken out. He hails for Olwin to round up hands for a fire brigade to pass buckets to the backline in the cellar. A fire's more deadly than a rat, the men could be trapped!

Post by **TKVNC** » April 7th, 2025, 19:37

Tillomar looks troubled by the Big One's agility, he reaches for another arrow from his quiver slung around his waist...

(18 Arrows remaining)

"What in the..?! I've never seen a rat move like that, after him, pin him, pin him down! he cries to his dog which immediately leaps to its master's command, moving with speed toward the Big One.

Tillomar hurriedly nocks another arrow onto his bowstring pulling it back with a sense of urgency, he looses his arrow toward the Big One!

His Dog leaps forward, snapping as it goes, aiming to savage the giant rat...

Tillomar's arrow flies past the Big One narrowly missing his comrades, and thuds into the back wall...

His Dog bites down onto the Big One shaking furiously as it attempts to follow out its master's command, dealing 3 damage!

Irenaeus · Post by **Irenaeus** » April 8th, 2025, 03:19

Big One's agonizing death

The Big One is heavily wounded but has just downed Stein and Gunthard, landing amidst the party. One smaller (but still large) minion rat remains active near Wolfgang. A small fire burns near a hole in the back wall. Light levels are improved but flickering. Stein and Gunthard are injured. Zollo is hidden. Ostgar and Alfwine are near the stairs. George is upstairs.

Felix’s whip again fails to find its mark on the large, twitching form of the Big One.

Severely wounded and panicked, Stein chooses self-preservation. He successfully flees the cellar, scrambling upstairs while trying to apply bandages, leaving a trail of items. He bursts into the common room, staggers towards George, frantically warns him about the "man-sized killer rat" and "devilry," urges him not to let it escape the cellar, and desperately tries to tend to his neck wound.

George, reacting to Stein's frantic arrival in the Inn’s common room, clears a table for the wounded man. He calls for Brenna's aid, and instructs Olwin, Brenna's elder ranger husband to organize a fire brigade, believing the fire is the primary danger trapping the others. Olwin rouses himself from his chair way faster than you'd expect and he turns to gather other men on the room.

Badly wounded and prone, Gunthard, despite bleeding from his neck wound and being prone, struggles to get leverage and attempts to stand. He finally finds leverage to stand up and then directs his attack towards the Big One.

Norman voices concern about the fire before bringing his staff down hard on the Big One.

Wolfgang retreats slightly from the last minion, decides against a spell, and attempts another sling shot, missing his target.

Zollo is holding his ambush and observing from the shadows.

Tillomar, reacting to the Big One's surprising agility after being hit, commands his dog, the big hound Fergal, to attack it ("pin him down!"), which successfully bites and savages the Big One for another 3 damage. His own arrow shot goes wide, thudding into the back wall.

Hrod, recognizing the Big One's potential control over the minions, focuses on the primary threat, brings his axe down on the Big One.

Kal Arion suggests using fire, then steps forward with Hrod to attack the Big One with his club.

Ostgar moves forward confidently to join the assault, attacking the smaller rat with his spear, landing an accurate spear thrust that wounds it as it was going out of the trance. The rat jumps back and scramble frantically into the hole in the back wall, dodging the small fire near it.

Alfwine, unnerved by Stein's bloody retreat, remains near the stairs and shouts upwards for help, alerting those above to the fire as well.

The Big One faces attacks from Gunthard, Norman, Hrod, Kal Arion, and Fergal (Tillomar's dog) this round. With the final flurry of blows landing on the Big One from Hrod, Kal, Norman, and Fergal. Its death is a dramatic scene – a final agonized shriek, collapsing in a heap, the malevolent red light fading from its eyes.

With the Big One's death and the last minion fleeing, the immediate combat threat in the cellar concludes.

The focus can shift to the consequences and the new situation:

Wounded: Gunthard is still wounded. Stein is upstairs, badly wounded, being tended to by George/Brenna.
Environment: The cellar is messy, littered with dead rats, blood, dropped items from Stein. The fire Hrod started near the back wall continues to burn. The mysterious hole in the back wall used by the fleeing rats is now apparent.
Upstairs: George is trying to organize a fire brigade while dealing with a panicked, bleeding Stein. Brenna and Olwin are involved.
Unanswered Questions: The source of the evil Kal detected behind the Big One's location is still unknown. What caused the mutations? What lies through the hole in the wall?

Your priorities might include:
• Checking on/healing Gunthard.
• Putting out the fire.
• Investigating the Big One's corpse.
• Investigating the hole in the wall / the source of evil Kal detected.
• Communicating with those upstairs (Alfwine shouting, checking on Stein).

Post by **Val the Moofia Boss** » April 8th, 2025, 03:31

Gunthard stumbles out of the way towards the barrel to lean on it, clutching his wound. He calls his dog Badeux over.

ERYFKRAD · Post by **ERYFKRAD** » April 8th, 2025, 04:07

The axe's work done, Hrod looks for a large enough cloth to put over the fire and cut off the air supply to snuff it. In the absence of such cloth he will move away combustible material from the fire so it burns out in the absence of fuel to sustain itself.

DemoGraph · Post by **DemoGraph** » April 8th, 2025, 07:36

Felix jumps down from the crate and begins to kick the hay and other garbage away from the fire.
When there will be no more danger of fire spreading out, he'll carefully look into the hole (he should still have the burning candle in the left hand I believe, so he should be able to see at list a bit inside of it).

Post by **Lord of Riva** » April 8th, 2025, 08:47

Wolfgang watching Felix endeavors to quench the fire says "I will go upstairs and get some water, be careful one of the good men spotted something in the hole, we should make sure that we reorganize before we continue our search, be careful."

turning towards Gunthard he exclaims: "Are you alright, maybe we can get something to tend to your wounds upstairs" he invites the man to lean on his shoulders, if need be and help him go upstairs.

Humbaba · Post by **Humbaba** » April 8th, 2025, 10:16

Zollo scratches his nose, emerges from the shadows and goes to retrieve his arrow. The rats were an unworthy quarry, however it has not escaped him that they were by no means ordinary beasts and that the big one was possessed of certain powers. Zollo is certain that a quarry worthy to be butchered lurks near. He spots the hole and @the whip ******* peering into it.

"Hand me thy Light. I will go.", Zollo says to him. He points to @the heretic priest: "Thou comest with."

Should there be no good prey after all, then the priest would do. Or, failing that, the innkeeper.

Post by **logincrash** » April 8th, 2025, 11:19

Seeing that the fire is relatively under control and that Gunthard looks like he's not in mortal danger, Norman says "I have to make sure that that fellow is alive." He hurries upstairs and comes to Stein's side and appraises his wounds. Norman carefully puts his hands onto Stein's shoulder and neck and begins quietly praying.
"Our Lord, lessen this one's suffering and hasten his recovery."
He casts Cure Light Wounds and then begins to dress the wound using one of the bandages from his own pack.

► Cure Light Wounds spellcard

Post by **SpellSword** » April 8th, 2025, 13:19

The color returns to Steins Von Steiner's face as @Norman calls down a miracle and begins applying bandages to the rat bite. He wasn't sure if it was the relief of having escaped with his life, or something else, but the pain was dulling... almost gone now.

He thanks the man who appeared to be treating the wound with much more skill than he himself could muster and then, slightly surprised at the renewed strength of his own voice, he asks both @Norman and Brenna "Are rats of that size common in these parts?"

While waiting for the reply he watches as @George and Olwin work at gathering a fire brigade. Unaware of the Big One's demise Stein considers the distance between his fallen bronze sword and the cellar door. Rat or no rat his instincts told him a job shouldn't be left half done. He'd have to go back down there... if he could find the will.

Post by **logincrash** » April 8th, 2025, 13:29

SpellSword wrote: ↑ April 8th, 2025, 13:19
"Are rats of that size common in these parts?"

"I've not seen rats this big before. There's something unnatural about them, certainly. The Big One's dead and gone, but a small one bolted down a tunnel."
Norman turns to Brenna. "The rats are taken care of, but we still have to make sure the fire doesn't spread. And then we'll have to have a longer conversation about the size of your cellar."
He finishes bandaging the wound, pats Stein on the shoulder and goes back downstairs to deal with the fire.

Kalarion · Post by **Kalarion** » April 8th, 2025, 15:08

Kal moves to the hole in the cellar in the aftermath of The Big One's death, peering cautiously in around the fire with Felix. He attempts to extend the sense granted to him by The Voice into the hole, trying to determine anything else about the horrific aura he felt. "Do the innkeepers know about this hole? We should confer with them before anything else - this may be bigger than us or them."

Hearing the big outlander's peremptory demand, he turns with a cold, calm look. "No. You didn't feel what I felt - what I'm feeling now. Try your luck alone if you're that sure of yourself, reaver. I won't be going without either more information on what awaits us, or more help."

► OOC action explanation

Humbaba · Post by **Humbaba** » April 8th, 2025, 16:12

Zollo laughs, revealing his dull gold canines.

"Thou art afeared, Flatlander. Thy Thing to that thou prayest, granteth thee not Bravery. Go then and ask for the Surety that thy false Whispers give thee not."

Zollo follows Kal, darkly chuckling to himself.

Post by **TKVNC** » April 8th, 2025, 20:32

Tillomar calls his dog Fergal back over, and he sits by his feet. He slings his bow back over his shoulder, and finally examines the bite on his hand.

"Hrgh, stings." he pauses for a moment... then asks the group at large... "Any one know basic wound treatment? I should have this wound cleaned, I'm sure of it..."

He stops and watches the movement of the other men for a while, noticing the fire is more or less being put out, he stands calmly for a while, before sitting down against the wall adjacent to the stairs.

Post by **Oyster Sauce** » April 8th, 2025, 22:20

"What are those two crawling through that hole for? We've cleared the cellar of rats, let's just stuff it with rubble and tell the innkeeper to find a more permanent solution after she's paid us."

Post by **maidenhaver** » April 9th, 2025, 00:00

Goddammit take every bucket I give you, before the fire spreads to the foundations!

Irenaeus · Post by **Irenaeus** » April 9th, 2025, 05:07

The smoky cellar and the bucket brigade

Silence, heavy and sullen, descends upon the cellar, broken only by the ragged breaths of the adventurers, the crackle of the fire near the back wall, and pained groans. The monstrous, pig-sized rat lies dead amidst the carnage of its lesser kin, the unnatural red glow faded from its eyes. The last of its enthralled minions vanished moments ago through a newly revealed hole in the back wall. The battle is won, but the scene is one of bloody disarray and the room is getting smoky and warm with the uncontrolled fire.
The adventurers react quickly.

Tending the Wounded

Gunthard, clutching the wound on his neck, stumbles away from the center of the room, leaning heavily against a large barrel for support. He calls his dog, Badeux, to his side. Nearby, Wolfgang was saying he’s going upstairs to get some water. After watching Felix and Hrod begin to deal with the fire he warns the men to proceed with caution regarding the exploration of the back of the cellar. Wolfgang turns to the injured Gunthard. "Are you alright?" he asks, offering a shoulder. "Maybe we can get something to tend to your wounds upstairs".

Upstairs, Stein had already staggered into the common room, leaving a trail of blood and discarded items. George cleared a table and called for Brenna, while Olwin begins organizing others into a fire brigade based on Stein's panicked warning about fire below. Just as Stein frantically searches for his bandages, Norman arrives, having hurried upstairs to check on him. Assessing the nasty bite, Norman calmly lays his hands on Stein's shoulder and neck, invoking his faith: "Our Lord, lessen this one's suffering and hasten his recovery." He casts Cure Light Wounds, visibly easing Stein's pain (healing 5 HP), then efficiently begins dressing the wound with his own bandages.

Stein, feeling the divine energy dull the pain and color return to his face, thanks Norman gratefully. He asks them if rats of such size are common, his mind still reeling, unaware the Big One is already dead. "I've not seen rats this big before. There's something unnatural about them, certainly. The Big One's dead and gone, but a small one bolted down a tunnel." Norman turns to Brenna. "The rats are taken care of, but we still have to make sure the fire doesn't spread. And then we'll have to have a longer conversation about the size of your cellar." He finishes bandaging the wound, pats Stein on the shoulder and goes back downstairs to deal with the fire.

Managing Hazards

Back in the cellar, Tillomar calls his dog Fergal back to his side. He slings his bow and examines the bite on his own hand, wincing ["Hrgh, stings."]. He looks around at the group, asking, "Anyone know basic wound treatment? I should have this wound cleaned, I'm sure of it..." before eventually finding a spot to sit against the wall near the stairs, watching the others.

Meanwhile, Hrod, ever practical, assesses the fire. He was looking for a large cloth or sack to smother the flames, but instead began moving flammable debris away to let it burn out safely since he did not find anything suitable fast enough. Felix, having swiftly jumped down from his crate, joins the effort, kicking loose hay and garbage away from the growing flames. Norman, after informing Stein upstairs that the main threat is gone but warning Brenna about the fire, heads back down specifically to help deal with it.

Investigating the Unknown

With the fire being managed, Felix, candle still in hand, cautiously approaches the hole in the back wall where the rats fled, peering inside. It's deep and reasonably plane, at least as your eyes can see. Looks like the rats have dug it themselves into the soft soil, managing then to break both the ancient decrepit bricks and the damp stone of the newly constructed cellar walls. It’s too dark to see further than the weak candlelight allows but its dimensions seem only big enough for a small man to crawl through.

Kal Arion, also drawn to the hole and the lingering sense of evil Kal detected, joins Felix, trying to extend his Detect Evil sense into the opening to learn more about the source, still sensing it coming from hole. He voices caution: "Do the innkeepers know about this hole? We should confer with them... this may be bigger than us...".

Zollo emerges from the shadows where he'd been waiting in ambush. Retrieving his missed arrow, his focus shifts from the unworthy rats to the possibility of a greater challenge hinted at by the unnatural events and Kal's detection. Spotting Felix and Kal near the hole, he strides over. "Hand me thy Light. I will go," he demands of Felix, then points at Kal, "Thou comest with". Hearing Kal's hesitation and reliance on divine senses ["No. You didn't feel what I felt - what I'm feeling now. Try your luck alone if you're that sure of yourself, reaver. I won't be going without either more information on what awaits us, or more help."], Zollo laughs derisively, mocking the cleric's caution ["Thou art afeared, Flatlander. Thy Thing to that thou prayest, granteth thee not Bravery. Go then and ask for the Surety that thy false Whispers give thee not."]before seemingly preparing to follow him towards the hole anyway.

Ostgar, however, expresses immediate opposition to exploring further: "What are those two crawling through that hole for? We've cleared the cellar of rats, let's just stuff it with rubble and tell the innkeeper to find a more permanent solution after she's paid us".

Alfwine, having shouted upstairs earlier, watches timidly the unfolding debate about the hole from the safety of the stairs.

Current Situation & Next Steps

Stein is wounded but stabilized upstairs thanks to Norman. Gunthard is wounded but standing, leaning on the barrel, and has been offered help by Wolfgang. Tillomar , though, needs his hand wound treated. The fire near the back wall is being actively managed by Hrod, and now Norman - with water coming from above it should be quickly extinguished.

The main point of attention and emerging conflict is the mysterious hole in the back wall – the escape route for the minions and the area from which Kal detected the evil source. Felix and Kal are investigating cautiously, Zollo wants to press forward aggressively and demanding Kal accompany him, while Ostgar advocates for sealing the hole and leaving. The party needs to decide:

1. Whether to investigate the hole immediately, block it up, or report it to Brenna/Olwin first.
2. Resolve the tension between Zollo, Kal, and Ostgar regarding the hole.
3. Communicate effectively with the group upstairs (George, Stein, the innkeeper and the forming fire brigade).

Irenaeus · Post by **Irenaeus** » April 9th, 2025, 05:14

The common room of The Mountain’s Last Light is descending into chaos. First, the young guard Ostgar bursts up demanding candles, then the bloody form of Stein staggers out, collapsing near George while rambling about man-sized rats and devilry. Brenna throws her hands up, her face pale with shock and fear. Norman arrives moments later and performs his divine healing. She watches, hands clasped tightly, as Norman performs his minor miracle, the divine energy visibly soothing the horrific wound on Stein's neck.

A wave of genuine relief washes over her – the man isn't going to bleed out on her floor, and the cleric seems truly capable. When Norman reports the 'Big One' is dead, her shoulders sag; the worst might actually be over. But Norman’s report brings mixed news: the Big One dead, yes, but a fire started, one rat escaped down a tunnel she never knew existed, and the cellar is clearly not 'safe'.

Her relief curdles back into anxiety, now tinged with weariness and exasperation. "A tunnel? Fire?" she exclaims, wringing her hands. "Saint Julian preserve us, what else is down there?" Her eyes now darting towards the cellar stairs and then towards her husband, Olwin, who George is already directing.

Her reaction is a frazzled mix: grateful people aren't dead, terrified her inn might burn or that worse things might crawl out of this new hole, and utterly overwhelmed by the escalating strangeness unfolding beneath her feet. The initial rat problem is turning into a nightmare.

Olwin's Unlikely Fire Brigade

Hearing George's call to action and sensing the genuine panic in Stein's warning, old Olwin moves with a speed that belies his age. The retired ranger's eyes quickly scan the common room, assessing the available manpower amongst the weary travelers and locals huddled away from the cellar door. He needs hands, any hands, for a bucket brigade.

His gaze falls first on Da Great Green Prophet, still lurking near the bar after his earlier begging attempt. Olwin approaches him directly, his voice calm but firm, cutting through any mystic pronouncements the Prophet might offer. "You. Still here? Good. Fire below. Need hands for water buckets. Now." No negotiation, just a simple statement of need and expectation of basic civic duty, even from a strange, masked beggar. Perhaps intrigued by the chaos, or sensing an audience, the Green Prophet gives a cryptic nod and shuffles towards the growing group.

Next, Olwin spots Ryre, the veteran fighter. He recognizes the bearing of a soldier. "Swordsman," Olwin calls out, his voice carrying easily. "Need your discipline. Bucket line forming. Fire below, adventurers might be trapped." Ryre, sighing at the lack of pay but recognizing the practical need and used to organized work, gives a curt nod and rises to join.

Finally, Olwin turns to Alfred the bard, who was observing events with professional interest. "Bard! Less watching, more working! Voices needed to keep order, hands needed for buckets. Move yourself!" Olwin's tone is sharp, demanding action over artistry. Alfred, seeing a story unfolding, scrambles to comply, reciting fanciful rhymes about the 'Bucket Brigade of Vertidor's Rest' as he joins the others gathering near the cellar stairs.

Olwin quickly marshals these three disparate adventurers to form a chain to pass water down into the smoky cellar entrance as helpful locals are already bringing water buckets from the nearby fountain.

ERYFKRAD · Post by **ERYFKRAD** » April 9th, 2025, 07:53

Seeing that others were doing their part to manage the fire, Hrod briefly interposed between Zollo, Kal Arion and Ostgar. "This druid of the gods stood as ready as any of us to dispatch these unholy rats. If he speaks true, he stood more firm knowing there is evil at work where we saw but overgrown rats. I see no reason to doubt his courage, but if you are so minded to seek quarry in holes, I would counsel you to make the holes fit our own sizes."

Geolocation

Geolocation

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Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

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Adventurer's Guild

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Adventurer's Guild

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Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

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Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

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Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

Adventurer's Guild

Geolocation

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