Chance: So how much are we moving the timeline up?

DMaster: PLUG: It depends, Cassie has the brigade heading to both of the known entrances of the compound now. Just for reassurance, and reconnaissance. Once we hear back from her, us three will regroup and head down to the one they want to enter.

Chance: A smart decision don’t want any unexpected surprises. I know I sure don’t want any.

DMaster: Plugr nods
PLUG: In the meantime, get some rest, it looks to be a few hours before anything. Get some grub. Chill for a bit.

Chance: Chan: I’ll see if Ferellus wants some food too.

DMaster: PLUG: Well, this is coming in fast and hard, so your goofy friend is still important. Ferellus needs to be running information, gear or whatever he can do for us.
Taps his chin thinking
PLUG: Also, I am hoping he doesn’t find a romantic corner or anything.
Raises his eyebrows.

Chance: Chan: ahhhh yes so make sure he don’t wander off with Ursala and accidentally stick his wee…

DMaster: PLUG: Chance!
He says with a chuckle.

Chance: Nods head, smirk.
Chan: No worries, I am not sure they are at the exchange fluid stage yet.

DMaster: Plugr snorts, then opens the door and heads out

Chance: go look for Ferellus

DMaster: When Plugr leaves, you hear a noise behind you right before you start walking to the door

Chance: turn around and look

DMaster: ROH: Chance, I need to speak with you

Chance: Chan: as you wish Rohlia

DMaster: Rohlia guides you a bit away.
ROH: That stank box called the fish warehouse, I have thoughts

Chance: Chan: You do? What are your thoughts?

DMaster: ROH: Knowing this is a probably entrance to this compound, we need to scout it out before we pile a bunch of guards in there.

Chance: Chan: well I agree there. Think we should take a quick looksee?

DMaster: She nods her head.
ROH: Let Plugr know you will be accompanying me to take a look.

Chance: Chan: as you say, do you want me to get Ferellus too?

DMaster: ROH: No. This is recon only, and I have an idea he is going to be busy delivering equipment and messages,

Chance: Chan: okay, sounds good, be right back

DMaster: You make your way to the end of the hallway outside the door. Plugr is there chatting with Britney who is where her usual cute summer dress, a nice necklace and some sandals. She has an odd look on her face.

Chance: Chan: Plugr, I need to speak with you for a minute

DMaster: Britney looks up to you
BRIT: Oh Chance, we were just talking about finding a way to get Ferellus off Ursala’s vagina, so she can get some work done
Plugr with a goofy look on his face, smirks.
PLUG: Yeah? What she said.

Chance: Chan: we find something that would interest him more.

DMaster: BRIT: More than, you know?
She raises an eyebrow
BRIT: I highly doubt it

Chance: Give Plugr a look, nod at Britney.
Chan: yeah, you are right.

DMaster: Plugr turns to Britney
PLUG: I will be with you shortly
Britney nods, gives you an inquisitive look and heads downstairs

Chance: Chan: Rohlia wants to go recon the fish warehouse a bit more and wants me to go along for back up.

DMaster: Plugr looks at you and nods in agreement.
PLUG: Alright, good idea.

Chance: Chan: Excellent, I will see you later than.

DMaster: Plugr furries his brow
PLUG: OK. Do not interfere with what Cassie and Helynne are doing
Plugr pauses for a moment…
PLUG: now that you mention it, none of this feels right.
He nods and walks off

Chance: Head back to Rohlia

DMaster: She is sitting by the window eating an apple
ROH: Ready?

Chance: Chan: I told Plugr what we were doing and said just as long as we don’t interfere with what Cassie and them are doing. Yes, I was born ready

DMaster: She rolls her eyes a bit at that last statement. She jumps on the sill, grabs the rope she has fastened and heads down the wall

Chance: Grab the rope and climb down after her

DMaster: The rope and window is conveniently hidden by two large palm trees. So getting down without anyone noticing was easy. You two start to walk towards town, head into the heart of the area, Downtown Summer Isles. The streets are not busy, and everything seems normal

Chance: Chan: you know I am gonna kinda miss this when I leave…

DMaster: ROH: Really, that is what you are worried about right before an important task and possible battle?
She shakes her head and you two walk down the alley to the side door

Chance: Chan: Yeah, why not. If I get gutted at least I had some warm and pleasant thoughts before dying a horrible death.

DMaster: Rohlia puts a finger up to her lips, shaking her head a bit, slight giggle.
ROH: Shhhhh for now.
She places her elven ear up to the side door to the warehouse. Looks back at you and shakes her head telling you she doesn’t hear anything.

Chance: Nod my head

DMaster: She points at the door, the latch on the handle to open has been broken off and the door holds fast, but it is still locked.

Chance: Chan: The door handle is broken.

DMaster: She points at the lock, gives you a dopey, dur dur dur look.
ROH: Want to try and open that knucklehead? (quietly)

Chance: Nod my head, take my picks out and see if I can pick it

DMaster: !!SNAP!!
The pick goes flying on the ground. Rohlia looks away and giggles a little. You have a few of them, so you try again.

Chance: grit my teeth, study the lock and try again

DMaster: Spring! The door is unlocked, but still closed. Rohlia grabs a dagger from her boot and sticks it in the open hole where the latch was. You hear a sliding sound and the door pops open

Chance: I will quietly put my hand by my sword

DMaster: The door pulls out, so she slowly pulls the door open, grabs another dagger from her cross belt and peers in. The smell of funky dead fish comes wafting out, and a cool moist air is apparent. It is dark inside

Chance: I will let Rohlia take the lead since she is more seasoned than me

DMaster: Rohlia enters, and waves you in

Chance: Open my senses up and follow her in

DMaster: Once your eyes adjust, your dark vision kicks in. the warehouse seems to have been abandoned a while ago. The smell is not as bad as the first time, but mold has become a factor now. Rohlia slowly walks over to a shutter, and partially opens it. Just letting in a little light. Then heads along the wall with all the shutters. You can see a few stains on the floor, presumably where you killed those enemies a week or so ago.

Chance: Look for anything unusual, and focus on the walls, I see it. An outline of a door on the wall with the shutters on it. I draw my sword at this point

DMaster: Seeing you unsheathe your sword, she pulls out another of her daggers

Chance: wave Rohlia over

DMaster: Rohlia, stops, looks at you, shrugging her shoulders

Chance: Chan: Come here, I found something (quietly)

DMaster: She wheels around and follows you to the wall. the light that she let in has created the smallest shadow line on the wall

Chance: carefully feel the wall

DMaster: Rohlia squints a bit, and then her eyes open wide. She nods and smiles. she runs her had across the wall and then nudges you a bit. There is a half wood piece she pushes in, and she can grab the secret door to open.

Chance: Chan: Shall I do the honors? (quietly)

DMaster: She looks at you, points at your sword, and she slowly pulls the door open

Chance: quietly get in a stance and watch her back as she opens the door.

DMaster: It slides open. bright light comes streaming in. She peers out, squinting.
ROH: (quietly) It is just another alleyway, on the opposite side of the building.

Chance: Chan: (whispering) shall we see where it leads?

DMaster: She glances farther out.
ROH: (quietly) No, it just goes back into the town square.
Glances back to you
ROH: (quietly) This is how that nasty Priestess disappeared

Chance: Chan: (softly) An escape route

DMaster: She slowly closes the door and you hear it latch shut
ROH: (quietly) Now, the door

Chance: assume a stance as we go to the door

DMaster: Rohlia already explained to you that there was a short but wide hallway leading to another door, that is where she was jumped, beyond the door she threw the Priestess through. You two walk up to what looks like a makeshift door. she puts her ear to it. Looks back and shakes her head. The door only has a handle, the lock mechanism looks to have been gutted

Chance: carefully look the door over

DMaster: It has been pieced together, and has some flimsy boards holding most of it together. Rohlia opens the door slowly. It shutters across the ground, makes a rubbing sound.

Chance: staying sharp and follow Rohlia, sword still in hand

DMaster: The hallway is dim, but clearly empty. The corridor is pretty wide, almost 15 feet wide and about 20 feet deep. There is a door in the NE corner. An old lantern hangs from the ceiling that is roughly 12 feet high. The floor is a mix of flat stone and dirt.

Chance: carefully scan the hallway as we move along

DMaster: It is dead quiet, the air is still and cool. You reach the door. There is no handle, lock or anything on this door, it looks like a rectangular piece of wood jammed into the archway

Chance: carefully scan the walls near the door

DMaster: You do not see anything. Rohlia runs her hands around the archway
ROH: (quietly) This was a door, I thought it was metal, but I did not have time to investigate further, it swung open and they came out unexpected. Now a solid piece of wood.
She stands there, rubbing her chin

Chance: Chan: (quietly) well there must be a way to open it

DMaster: she moves out of the way for you to investigate. she continues to look in the hallway

Chance: Carefully feel the walls as well as the door

DMaster: Everything is normal, it seems to be a piece of wood, jammed into an archway, no cracks or crevasses. Rohlia makes a quick sweep and walks back to you.

Chance: move to the walls

DMaster: Rohlia puts her ear to the wood. You do not find anything. Rohlia backs up shaking her head
ROH: I am not hearing anything
She seems to be talking a bit louder, now.

Chance: Chan : (quietly) What are we missing here
Tap finger on my chin.

DMaster: ROH: Maybe nothing. If they all evacuated as witnesses said, this could just be here to block an entrance. Hell this could be to a brick wall now, or to a pit of dead fish

Chance: Chan: it could be, but this took some work

DMaster: ROH: Chance, put your ear to the wall do you hear anything?

Chance: Chan: I carefully put my ear to the wall

DMaster: nothing, you can hear your own breathing

Chance: Chan: I hear nothing as well

DMaster: She nods
ROH: OK. So here goes nothing
she starts to knock on the door, you hear it echo beyond
ROH: The door is not very thick, and it appears to be open on the other side
keep your ear to the wall, let me know if you hear anything other than me

Chance: Chan: as you say
keep ear to the wall

DMaster: she grabs her daggers and jams it into the wood. they slide in like butter she slowly drags them along stopping once in a while to allow you to listen. after 10 minutes, you have not heard anything unusual, and she has cut a hole wide enough. She pries the wood hole open. warmer, moist air comes rushing out.

Chance: Chan: what do you see Rohlia

DMaster: Shaking her head a bit
ROH: Darkness. Safe to say there is no fish cooler behind this door, the air is much fresher, I can kind of see some light, to the north, but all I can really see is the stone floor beyond.
In one fluid motion, she unsheathes her daggers again and crawls through the hole, she sticks her head back
ROH: Give me a second Chance, Ill be back (talking in normal levels)

Chance: stay focused as she goes to scout it out

DMaster: You can’t hear anything for a good minute, then a light starts to shine through the hole. The elf pops her head in the hole.
ROH: found a torch, let’s go

Chance: sheath sword and crawl through the hole. when I get through I will unsheathe sword and follow Rohlia

DMaster: ROH: At the far end of this hallway / chamber, I did hear some noise, not sure what it is but it did not seem to be, humanoid
ROH: Maybe rats, mice? Not sure. I can hear heavy breathing at times too.

Chance: Chan: well then we should carefully go check it out

DMaster: She places the torch on the ground about 10 feet in
ROH: I don’t want to alert anything with the light

Chance: Chan: good idea (nodding)

DMaster: You two move quietly to the end of the chamber, and there is a metal bars (like a portcullis) inside what seems to be a doorway, that leads into another room
ROH: I would like to investigate the rooms, or jail cells, whatever they are but we are running short of time. I smell wet dog too, it’s kind of gross.

Chance: Chan: How are we going to get this up?

DMaster: ROH: I found the lever! (quiet excitement)
Her eyes squinting through the bars. She grabs her bow, strings up an arrow. Lets the arrow fly, the lever slams back against the floor as her aim is true. The bars slide down into the floor. Rohlia smiles to herself in satisfaction

Chance: Chan: nice shot! (quietly)

DMaster: There is a large light source right past the corner,
she holds you back a moment and whispers
ROH: Do you hear anything?

Chance: quietly listen and see if I hear anything

DMaster: Very little, possible movement, but nothing that is understandable or close

Chance: Chan: (quietly) I hear possible movement, not sure

DMaster: She nods her head in agreement
ROH: It’s not close.
She motions forward and you two go another 15 feet, the light is coming from the hole in the floor, A large cavern sits below, it appears to have a staircase down into a lower hole, and stone floor

Chance: listen and see if I can hear anything

DMaster: Same thing, almost like shuffling, but it is not anywhere close. She nudges you
ROH: lets get to that 2nd level stone floor, I think there we can decide if this is what we are looking for or not

Chance: Chan : I agree
stay focused and listening as we move along

DMaster: A long semi circle staircase leads to a cavern floor, and the wooden steps then lead into the second hole that stops at a stone floor. Both of you make it to the stone floor, without incident. You are continuing to listen, keeping your senses open. You can hear shuffling, it is more prominent. There is a 15 foot wide, hallway that seems to go on for a good 40-50 feet if not more. A good 20 feet down the hallway, are doors.

Chance: Chan: (whispering) well the shuffling is getting more prominent, I can hear it better, I say we go check it out carefully

DMaster: She nods her head and smiles
ROH: I was going to ask, but I should of known
You two make it to the first set of doors, they are across from each other. One is an open door, and inside looks like a tornado hit, things strewn across the floor, a bed over turned, pieces of stuff everywhere, the other door is closed. Rohlia puts her ear to the door. looks back and shakes her head. The noise is coming from farther down the hall, it is closer, but it doesn’t seem to be too close.

Chance: Chan : (quietly) let’s keep moving, I am curious to find that noise

DMaster: Rohlia grabs your arm
ROH:: Lets find out what’s behind this door first
She slowly opens it, and the room is dimly lit, looks like a lantern that is barely hanging on

Chance: Chan: (quietly) aye, sorry to be so eager

DMaster: Barrels lines the walls, with crates on the other, some of the barrels are opened, food is on the ground. Rohlia nods at you
ROH: OK, nothing here, a bit further down the hallway

Chance: Chan: (quietly) what do you make of this?
quietly move along

DMaster: ROH: Looks like someone was leaving in a hurry (quietly)

Chance: carefully move along the hallway

DMaster: The noise is getting louder, now it sounds like a bunch of people walking, in like robes or something, hard to describe. The hallway ends, and it goes left and right. There is a stench coming from the left hallway, you noticed as you reached the “T.”

Chance: Listen to see which way the noise is coming from

DMaster: The right is pitch dark, the left has some light and the noise coming from that direction. Rohlia’s eyes light up, like she just remembered something. She grabs your arm and starts to lead you back

Chance: Chan: (quietly) whispering what is it?

DMaster: Rohlia is wrinkling her nose
ROH: That smell, it’s…
Her eyes light up again looking down the hallway you just came from, two figures walking slowly towards you.
ROH: Dammit, they must of been in those rooms
She says in a harsh whisper
ROH: undead, Ghouls from what I can smell

Chance: Chan: (whispering) oh great what do we do now?

DMaster: She gives you an odd look, then back down the hallway.
ROH: Not much choice, we kill them. But lets meet them down there, the farther away from the rest of them, the better, chance they won’t hear us.
Rohlia grabs her bow, strings an arrow, and aims
ROH: Get ready to run at them

Battle Written Out

Chance crouches a bit to make sure Rohlia can see clearly down the hallway. His heart starts to race, his mind begins to focus.

A sharp, quiet noise zings by Chance and he knows. Before Rohlia could say, “go, go!” with a hiss, the quarter elf was already on his way. The arrow lodges right in a ghouls eye sending it staggering back. She softly smiles, notching another arrow.

Chance is racing for the two ghouls, but out of the closest door, steps another one and Chance instinctively skitters to a halt and swings hard. The sharp bluesteel of the blade cuts through the ghouls arm like butter. The arm flails a bit and falls off, blood spurts. It steps back a second, eyes all but gone, wavers a bit from the assault, and falls on it’s butt. Oddly, it doesn’t seem like it “hurt” the monster.

Rohlia curses under her breath seeing the third, ‘this could really escalate unless we get the hell out of here,’ she thinks to herself. The Elf swings the bow around her for safe keeping, throws the arrow away. As she starts to run for Chance, she rips out her pro ridged assassin daggers. With a hop, she jumps on the quarter elf’s shoulders and launches herself at the closest ghoul. Practically hitting her head on the ceiling. She lands, legs straddling the head of a real ugly one. In the same fluid motion she drives both daggers into it’s eyes. As the ghoul falls, Rohlia just catches the floor with her feet. Blood dripping from her daggers, multiple streaks across her armor. She then looks for the third one.

Chance, taken completely by surprise by her tactics, tries to get re-situated only to have his leg grabbed hard and pulled. He loses balance and he falls to the floor, smacking his skull hard. He lets out a grunt, then rolls to one side to get away from the one armed ghoul. He slips once trying to get up, now that half the floor is flooded with ghoul blood.

The third ghoul, arrow in the eye, sensing the two in the corridor turns and heads for them. Rohlia, as quick as she could be, kicks the ghoul square in the chest. It staggers a little, and then Rohlia kicks it again making it fall, square on it’s back with a loud thud.

Meanwhile, Chance, in frustration, brings his long sword down hard into the one armed ghoul, essentially splitting it’s head in half. It stops instantly, and then slumps, motionless.

Rohlia in one motion, takes both her daggers, slices through the fallen ghouls neck, and blood spurts and pours out. The monsters head starts to roll a bit down the hallway, she steps over it and starts down the corridor.

She glances back to see Chance finishing off his ghoul. “Time to go Chance! We have overstayed our welcome!” she barbs, sheathing her daggers and continuing down the hallway. Chance nods, starts to run with Rohlia trying not to slip with his boots soaked with blood.

Back To Turn Based

DMaster: You two race down the hallway, to the open chamber, up the wooden stairs, up the semi circle stairs, out the hallway, into the chamber with the cells. Going through the hole Rohlia cut, you swore you heard something behind you. Glancing back you don’t see anything. You make it back into the smelly fish warehouse, and you both walk out the door, close it. The light almost blinding. You two stand there for a moment catching your breath, enjoying the fresh air.

Chance: we better report this back to Plugr

DMaster: She nods her head in agreement.
ROH: It’s a trap, there is no way of knowing how many ghouls they have down there.
She has blood splatters across her face, and her light armor. She takes out her daggers, wiping them on her pant legs.

Chance: Chan: I agree anyone not prepared is in for a big surprise
Sheath my sword
Chan: By Animax, I am gonna need a year of scrubbing to clean this smell off of me

DMaster: Rohlia finally gets her breath, nods her head
ROH: I am going to get cleaned up, go find Plugr or Cass or Helynne and let them know

Chance: Chan: I will go try to find them as fast as I can

DMaster: You make your way through the square, towards the Sunset Inn. Pass by a few people alarmed at you; armed to the teeth, blood all over you.

Chance: Not concerned with those simpletons, I will head inside the Inn and see if I can find Plugr or anyone

DMaster: Britney is at the front desk but no one else is around

Chance: Go up to the front desk.
Chan: Britney, have you seen Plugr?
Try to catch my breath

DMaster: She casually glances up.
BRIT: yes, upstairs with Cass
She double takes, eyes widen.
BRIT: Whoa, what happened, why are you covered in blood? You OK?!
She says wheeling herself around the desk.

Chance: Chan: Yes, I am fine, thank you
Give her a smile and go running up the stairs

DMaster: You race upstairs and go through the door. Cass and Plugr wheel around in surprise, Helynne stands looking at you with one of her eyebrows raised.
HEL: Excuse you?

Chance: Catch my breath
Chan: we found (pant) something (pant) we found (pant) ghouls

DMaster: CASS: Eh?
Cassie and Plugr both look at you like you were growing horns
HEL: Calm down, you found what… where?

Chance: Chan: me and Rohlia went back to the fish shack where we had that encounter with the Priestess and her goons

DMaster: Cassie and Helynne trade glances and Plugr raises an eyebrow
PLUG: And now, there are ghouls there?

Chance: go over all the details with them

DMaster: Cassie spies blood on your armor, and your sword
CASS: You are not injured are you?
Looking a little concerned.

Chance: Look down
Chan: ghoul blood, not mine
Rub head a little.
Chan: Slight head ache, one of them tripped me up real good.

DMaster: Helynne half way through your story, makes her way to the door
HEL: I have to make sure no one goes in yet, I will be back
Cassie walks over, rubs the back of your head. It is warm, relaxing. You no longer have a headache. Rohlia finally makes it back into the room through the window. Kind of slipping around, she as well has blood all over her.

Chance: Chan: glad you could make it, spring board Rohlia
Giggling a little.

DMaster: With a crazed funny wild eyed look, she smiles real wide at you. She then looks at everyone else as she climbs in fully.
ROH: Yeah those fuckers have a surprise waiting for us in that compound
Laughing a little. Cassie has a slight smirk on her face, spots all the blood.
CAS: You ok Rohlia?
ROH: Yeah, but it’s going to be a bitch to get these stains out and the smell.
Walks over to the bowl of fruit and grabs something you never seen before and starts eating

Chance: Chan: we figured we better report this to you as soon as possible

DMaster: Cassie puts her hands on her hips and looks at Plugr.
PLUG: Well, time line is officially screwed, looks like it’s go time.
Cassie nods in agreement.
CASS: This doesn’t change much, we will just have to alert Saundra and her monks of the time change, and the opponents we are facing.
Then a knock on the door

Chance: turn and look toward the door

DMaster: The door opens and Ferellus walks in. Big grin on his face. Then looks at you and Rohlia will blood all over
FER: What the hell did I miss?! You ok?

Chance: Chan: I am fine, just had a disagreement with a ghoul or two.

DMaster: Plugr looks at Cassie, sighs.
PLUG: Ferellus, you are going to the temple, talk with Saundra. Tell her we have undead under the island. Have her get her monks ready for any injuries or casualties. Report back to the Inn, to Britney, when you are done.

Chance: Catching on to what Plugr is doing,
Chan: Yeah, we will need her help for sure.
Looking over to Plugr

DMaster: He is leaning into Cass, you can hear him say something about his armor. Glances back to Ferellus
PLUG: I’m not going to give you a hand written invitation!
Ferellus stands at attention
FER: Aye!
He turns, almost falls, and then runs out the door

Chance: Chan: I am going to get cleaned up right quick. Grab a bite before we go in.

DMaster: CASS: Sounds good, night fall is not for a few more hours.
Rohlia throws her pits away and looks at Cass.
ROH: Yes, I need to talk with Cassie alone anyways.
Cassies eye brow raises
CASS: Ok. We will talk later Chance

Chance: Chan: then I’ll see you both later
Turn and walk toward the door, leave.

DMaster: You head to the bathroom on the floor, there are two, one male one female. Both have baths

Chance: Take off my armor and get cleaned up. clean my armor and sword off right quick, fix my hair and head downstairs

DMaster: Afterwards, you get food you haven’t eaten in 18 hours

Chance: see who is at the front desk

DMaster: the lobby has a few guests sitting at the high tables. Corine at the front desk. You grab a few things in the back, scarf them down, sitting at a high table. Helynne comes in with what appears to be a well equipped guard.

Chance: Finish my food, look up.

DMaster: HEL: Chance! Where is everyone? The suns going down and I have anxious guards waiting
HEL: We are hearing loud noises coming from both entrances
Plugr is on his way down, clink clanking in his bluesteel armor; he is talking with Ferellus, who is also in full gear. Your bestie nods his head at what Plugr asked and runs out the door.
PLUG: I heard you Helynne, we are all but ready to go now.

Chance: Chan: check upstairs for Cassie, I would say. I am ready when needed

DMaster: The guard waits downstairs, Helynne runs up the stairs to get Cassie. The guests are wide eyed and some what frantic. Britney has made her way out and is calming them down.
PLUG: Chance, I had Ferellus go get more arrows, I have instructed the smithy to hold him up for a good 15 minutes. That will be long enough to get down into the compound. The guards on the outside will not let him in.
Lets out a heavy sigh
PLUG: I feel terrible, but I just don’t have it in me to argue with him, or explain to him what is going on and why we don’t think he is ready.

Chance: Chan: I understand.
take my dirty dishes to the back and wait

DMaster: Just then Helynne comes ripping down the stairs, she is also in full gear.
HEL: its time.
Helynne looks at Plugr.
HEL: Saundra knows whats going down?
He nods
PLUG: All hands on deck.
By now the guests are visibly upset, and run up the stairs. Britney puts her hands on her hips and sighs.

Chance: Get my stuff, head back down.

DMaster: By then everyone is ready to go. Cassie has this kick ass hard leather armor, dark leather red, daggers across her chest and belt, then two odd looking weapons on her side. You think you remember Morty calling them Sai’s. Helynne finishes up what she had to do with a messenger, looks at everyone.
HEL: See you on the front line
Plugr nods

Chance: Chan: Am I gonna be on the front line as well? Or am I going to be stuck delivering diapers to the guards who shit themselves?

DMaster: Plugr and Cassie both look over to you, raised eyebrow, almost in a chuckle. Rohlia makes her way down to the lobby, still munching on some fruit.
CASS: No, Chance, You are going to help protect the entrance from the fish warehouse. It will be more of a keep them at bay type situation, as we make our way through the compound. You will have 3 other guards with you. You will wait for five, then head in. By that time we should have entered both places

Chance: Chan: Understood.
Chan: Shall we Rohlia?

DMaster: Rohlia looks your way, smiles and waves you on.
PLUG: Guys, guys…
Both of you stop and look.
PLUG: Be careful OK? I’ve grown fond of both of you, I expect to see you both later tonight ok?

Chance: Smile, nod my head in respect.

DMaster: As you leave the Inn, three guards follow up and go with you. The sky is clear with very few clouds… the sun just set so there is a purple reddish tinge on the horizon. The lanterns are lit and as you walk through the town, many of the visitors, seem alarmed at you. Not much is said between you and Rohlia, or the guards for that matter. You head into the alleyway, Rohlia stops all of you. You notice noise coming from the door.

Chance: Draw my sword

DMaster: ROH: Damn damn, we stirred the hornets nest.
You hear everyone draw their weapons, “shing!” Rohlia looks at you, then her eyes bulge looking behind you.
ROH: Ferellus, you are supposed to be heading back to the Inn?
He gives her a look
FER: No, I am supposed to be here with you guys, and shouldn’t we be finding out whats making that noise?
Rohlia glances at you, she never got a definitive answer on him.

Chance: Shrug my shoulders
Chan: Maybe they changed their mind (quietly) I don’t know, but we can’t argue now… (louder)

DMaster: The alleyway door is bouncing back and forth as though someone was leaning into it.
Rohlia commands a guard to be the door opener
ROH: Everyone, in a line… get ready. I’m going to take this one out, every one follow me in, straight away!

BATTLE TAKES PLACE. REWRITTEN

The door swings open, Rohlia with all her might bulrushes the zombie knocking him down. She then frantically yells, “everyone in here NOW! Close the door afterwards!”

She elbows the zombie in the face, then finishes it off with a dagger trough the chin, up into it’s brain, or what is left of it.

The group piles in and spreads out behind Rohlia, who has jumped back up, unlatched her bow and is ready to fire. The makeshift door that lead to the hallway and the now hole cut, bursts open with a few zombies and ghouls coming through.

As the ghouls start to make their way out of the door, Ferellus, Rohlia and Bren (A Camerondale Guard) all have their weapons raised and ready to fire.

“FIRE!!!” Rohlia yells, Ferellus unleashes his arrow, lodging into an unsuspecting Ghoul’s forehead that has long brown un-kept hair. Rohlia’s aim was more true, as her arrow rips through the 2nd ghoul standing just inside the doorway. It’s head, essentially split in two, falls backwards, as does the creature. Bren’s bolt was not to be left out as it lodges deep into another Ghouls shoulder sending the creature off balance and grabbing for the wall.

One of the ghouls untouched has made it way just a bit past the other engaged monsters, and Chance takes an opportunity. In a long arcing strike, Chance swings and misses, tearing a bit of the Robe the ghoul is wearing.

The lunge forward puts Chance deep in the action, that same Ghoul swings and punches Chance square in the face. The hit was jarring and the creatures unnatural strength sends him backwards, onto the floor and against the wall.

Gord, another Camerondale Guard (who opened the door) lunges forward with a wild stab that ends up in between the untouched Ghouls waist and arm, just ripping a hole in his robe. Yanni, the final Guard, swings his mace to try and behead that same Ghoul, misses and glances off the Ghouls shoulder.

Rohlia has already restrung her bow but is at a disadvantage with all the party members in the mix, ‘one wrong look could end up in disaster’ she thinks to herself. Ferellus a bit slower re-notching his bow, also notices the problem.

The Ghoul with the bolt in his shoulder slowly gets up, but it was in vain as Rohlia sees a clear shot and takes it. A loud “Thock” was heard as the arrow is buried deep in the Ghouls eyes, sending the creature lifeless to the ground.

Bren, after reloading his crossbow, fires at the untouched Ghoul and it zings by it’s head landing harmlessly against the wall. Yanni attempts to hit the only standing Ghoul and slips a bit on the pools of blood that are growing in size on the floor. “Wiff” the mace flys by the ghoul harmlessly. As that was happening Gord, taking another stab, meets the same result, making more holes in the robe of the Ghoul.

Ferellus takes a shot, but misses, “bad shot… bad shot!” he tells himself, knowing he made that shot because he was afraid to hit someone else.

Meanwhile, the ghoul that Ferellus originally hit is still stirring and Yanni moves quickly to him, slamming his mace into the head, essentially, making it explode like a watermelon. Blood, guts, brains are all over.

Chance, finally gets up and makes his way to the fight with a killer headache. He watches as the Ghoul in a wild panicked motion clobbers Gord, and sends him flying against the wall, armor clanking as he sprawls on the floor.

Rohlia takes her shot, but the Ghouls attack on Gord, changed his movement and the arrow zings on past its head. “Bullocks!” chirps Rohlia in disgust “What is this, a golden ghoul?!”

Chance finally gets the opportunity, and again, as arching slash towards the creature. To his dismay, it only ends up with him losing balance, his foot sliding across the floor on a piece of brain. His legs split, he hits the floor hard along with his nutsack. Pain shoots through his legs and his bag of grape-nuts.

While that foray was going on, Ferellus throws his bow down, grabs his Bowmans Sword, and with one upwards motion, guts the ghoul, groin to shoulder blade. As expected, the innards of the creature spills out, and the Ghoul finally falls to the floor, defeated.

Gord, picks himself off the floor, eyes a bit bleary. Ferellus is stepping over the guts, and offers a hand to Chance who gladly takes it. Yanni, is shaking off his mace from the blood and brains. Bren is just standing there looking down the hallway that the Ghouls came down.

Rohlia stands just outside the blood pile, face flushed with anger. Chance walks over to her, only to have his arm grabbed violently.

In a deep growl, that only Chance can hear “This is not amateur hour, that was despicable. You will not last the day if you keep on with this.” Her words were not mixed, they were true and it stung Chance. He nods knowing damn well he has to do better… much better.

“I don’t know what happened there, but if we want to survive this…” Rohlia says in a loud voice “this..” she waves her arms around the mess in front of her, “can’t happen again.”

Rohlia is looking over the dead bodies. “These creatures have the Robes of Finster on, I couldn’t believe…” Rohlia’s comment was cut short.

The calmness of the post battle is short lived. Ferellus runs for his bow that is laying on the ground. Grabs in one swift motion, rips an arrow out of his quiver, loads it, and aims down the hallway letting the arrow fly… missing completely, hitting the frame and bouncing off.

Rohlia, somewhat unprepared, grabs one of her many daggers and flings it hard, landing squarely in the first ghouls head, sending it to the floor. The rest of the party gets ready for another round.

Ferellus wasn’t the only one who rushed his shot as Bren’s bolt goes flying practically the wrong direction wasting his attempt.

At the forefront, two ghouls walk over the falling one, who is still writhing on the ground, and the front 3 people in the party make their attack.

Chance takes the first swipe, and misses, causing him to curse. Gord stabs again, and is fruitless like he has been so far in this campaign. Yanni, still dazed from his encounter is just getting himself ready.

The first ghoul slams its arm into Gord who stumbles a bit, but didn’t seem too fazed. The second Ghoul didn’t seem to take a cue, and continued to lumber forward oblivious.

Chance sidesteps the lumbering ghoul and strikes at the creature’s neck area, and practically takes off its head. It lets out a sudden moan as it grabs for its neck that is no longer there and falls to the floor. Chance finishes him off with a stab through the back.

Rohlia is Common Elf Ranger, with Wild Elf in her. She is 72 years old, has fought for 55 of those years and probably has more experience than everyone in the room combined… twice. It is rare that she misses, or makes a mistake.

The Ranger Elf, unsheathes her short sword, and grabs a dagger lunges at a ghoul, straddling it while driving a dagger deep into it’s eye socket. The Ghoul falls back, where she catches her feet and lunges with her short sword is a swiping fashion, cutting off the head of the 2nd one, blood spurting and pouring out of the neck.

“We have to contain! To the hole in the wall NOW!!!” Rohlia yells, pointing down the hallway she is now sprinting down.

The party makes its way down the hallway, and there is a Ghoul trying to creep in through the hole. Rohlia, slams down her short sword like it was a guillotine,and the ghouls head pops off, pouring blood and guts everywhere.

The scene was nasty, as more ghouls pushed the dead ghouls through the hole and each one gets decapitated. After about 12-13, the ghouls stopped moving through the hole.

Bren and Yanni and dragging bodies and heads out the hallway and throwing them into the warehouse to keep the area clear. Chance is keeping watch on the secret door in the warehouse and the rest are just standing around, getting sick and helping. Rohlia is the executioner, as she exchanged weapons with Gord, and uses his long sword.

The party all reassembles at the hole, with Bren holding his crossbow firmly at the small entrance in case of any further ghouls… though all noise has stopped except for the breathing of the party.

Rohlia looks about in disgust. “Never in my years have I ever witnessed such carnage, and lack of respect for life,” she said wiping sweat off her brow causing a red streak of blood to form there.

“It appears to be their own… followers?” Ferellus questions with a raised eye brow. “how could anyone do such a thing?”

“No time to debate that now, I am going to go in the hole, I need chance to follow immediately, and we will scope out the situation beyond,” Rohlia says with authority.

Another guard arrives and is completely shocked at the carnage. “Garrett here from the guard house” he gags a little and turns and runs to vomit. Afterwards he walks up to the hole after lighting a torch. “I can throw this in the hole, and maybe that will help with the visual.” Rohlia looks at him and nods, moving out of the way for him to perform the task. Chance and Ferellus both finally vomit away from the hole, as the scene overwhelms their senses.

The sound of wood hitting pavement is heard as the torch is thrown in. A small light starts to shine through the opening. Chance looks himself over to see he is drenched in blood and guts, as well as everyone else. His stomach turns again but he catches himself. Rohlia casts a shadow as she leans in to the hole, wrist deep in blood and guts and she crawls through.

Chance unsheathes his sword and follows Rohlia through the hole. The two of them scout the area close to them and feel confident the rest can get in here without any issues.

Rohlia sticks her head into the hole. “Nothing so far. Everyone climbs through except Garrett, stay here and guard the hole. I am not taking any chances” Rohlia says while trying not to completely bathe in guts.

The elf ranger grabs a ghoul, takes the robe off of the creature and starts to rip the robe. She hands it to all the party as they pile in.

As Rohlia wipes herself down, “Wipe down your hands, arms, weapons, I don’t want problems because you can’t hold on correctly.” She looks again, “They made their followers ghouls, how nice of them. I am a bit surprised,” she says shaking her head in disgust.

Chance throws his part against the wall and turns to the group, “More of the priestess’s handy work.”

Rohlia glances ahead and gets her weapons drawn, she looks back at the group and they all do the same. Ferellus switches back to his Bow, and Chance draws out his dagger to accompany his Bluesteel Long Sword. Rohlia beckons them to move forward and the party slowly moves on. She stops and points at a few cells that lined the northern corridor. Everyone can now hear the rustling and noise.

Without warning the doors fling open with such force they come off the hinges. A creature so black it is hard to make out the form. it has two heads, red glowing eyes, large mouth with big fangs. It is about 3-4 feet high and 6-7 long. Both heads are growling and salivating at what seems to be its next meal.

“wet. Dog. Smell?” Chance says looking over to Rohlia.

Her eyes wide, “how did we get past it earlier?” she says, shocked.

Rohlia pushes everyone back even further, her eyes huge. “Where did they get a demon dog from?!?” she yells, now really starting to worry. They were there to hold the line from a few ghouls or zombies. They don’t have the personnel, nor are they truly equipped to deal with a demon dog, she thinks to herself.

“DOGS! That’s DOGS! Two of them!” Ferellus points at the cell and another one creeps out.

Ferellus does not hesitate and he fires an arrow, missing the dogs. Rohlia with speed and precision sheaths her sword and grabs her bow. One of the guards with the crossbow fires a bolt, it hits and sticks in the first dogs shoulder. It did not seem to even flinch really.

The first dog lunges at Yanni and the man deflects the attack with his shield. The dogs skids across and hits the far wall. That guard makes a slashing motion with his mace in that direction and there is a ‘clank’ sound as it hit the corridor floor. The second dog also lunges with amazing grace, leaps over Rohlia and the first head clamps onto Ferellus with its powerful jaw, it shakes him and flings him against the wall with a crashing thud. His bow clatters across the floor.

“Ferellus!!!” Chance screams.

Rohlia with precision fires for the dog who leaped over her and it tears through one of the head. This time the dog felt it, and it makes a howl / squeel that hurts every ones ears. It is close proximity causing more damage but leaving Rohlia vulnerable. The dogs 2nd head attacks and also clamps onto Rohlia’s shoulder and arm, flings her against the wall too. She crashes down to the ground with a thud and a loud groan. Blood starting to pour out of her shoulder area.

Chance is flustered but attacks the dog closes to him, it glances off the dog with little to no damage. Bren drops his crossbow and runs for the hole, trying to make an escape. Gord lunges forward stabbing at the dog farther away from Rohlia. The beast sees him and moves to the side with ease. The 2nd head clamps on Gords chest crushing the armor and blood pours out. He gets flung down the corridor, sprawling in a bloody smeared mess.

With the dog being distracted, chance sees an opening and brings his sword straight down, cutting half its head off… it makes another hideous sound and falls back on its hind legs and almost collapses. But the healthy one springs into action trying to protect its partner. The dog lands on Chance but he rolls allowing the dog to fly farther down the hallway with its inertia.

It regains its footing and sets his sites on him. Suddenly an arrow rips through one of the dogs head, almost right in the middle. Ferellus is on one knee, blood everywhere, holding his bow. His best shot of his life. He drops his bow, eyes roll back in his head and collapses on the floor.

Before it can recover Chance slices at the beast taking out the 2nd heads lower jaws, blood and saliva pours out. It turns to run, but slips, falls and it starts to whimper and howl.

Chance turns and runs for Ferellus. He gets over to him and he lies on the ground in a pool of his blood. There is a rushing sound behind Chance and before he realizes it the dog rams him at full speed sending him flying across the hall, against the wall and his sword clanking further down the corridor. The Dusk Blade is against the wall seeing stars. The dog slowly makes its way over to Chance.

The quarter elf pulls out his last dagger, eyes the creature up and lunges for the Dog. Just as he does, Rohlia with as much strength as she could muster was doing the same thing. Both of them simultaneously sink their daggers deep into the creature. It howls, and the sounds echo throughout the large corridor. It collapses in a lifeless lump on the floor.

Chance looks over to Rohlia with a smile that quickly turns to a desperate yell “Rohlia!” she slumps down with blood still pouring out of her. She lands on her back, motionless.

Gord who was flung across the room has recovered, is over to Rohlia, trying to get her flat and work on her despite being in bad shape, himself. Chance runs over to Ferellus. He slides into him and picks up his head, “Ferellus, buddy, time to wake up, no more screwing around.”

He looks up, “fuck, this hurts bad Chance, like when I fell off the bridge last summer” he says gurgling a little blood from his mouth.

Chance looks frantically around, looks back to Ferellus wiping the blood from his face, “You shouldn’t of took my bet, you dumbass, no way you make it the whole way on the bridge railing in that wind,” chance responds, remembering that night together.

“Help is coming, I think I hear them now,” he says knowing damn well the only help they might get is a long way off. He looks down the hallways and sees movement coming at them, from further into the compound. Chances heart sinks knowing there is no way they could take on anything else.

“It was a hell of a shot, wasn’t it?” Ferellus blurts out, referring to his last shot that lodged right in between the dogs eyes. His eyes glossing over, tears rolling down the side of his face. Coughs and blood comes trickling out.

Chance smiles softly, “It was bud, it might of saved my life too…” the quarter elf says, pushing his hair away from his face.

Ferellus looks up to him, dirt and blood splashed across the face. Chance, his best friend since he can remember. Memories flood into his mind, and he thinks to himself… so this is what they mean when they say your life flashes before your eyes. The pain is slowly fading away.

The vision of a brilliant sunset comes to Ferellus. A perfect evening on the beach. For some reason he wants to laugh, Chance is just being his goofy self again. He can see him, his long hair blowing around in the usual ocean breeze. He is dancing around, whistling a tune, moving farther away. The quarter elf stops, looks back at him. “You know Ferellus, I am really going to miss you,” Chance says, now barely visible in his dream like state. What an odd thing to say, we are going to leave the island and explore this world together… aren’t we? But a sudden jolt, a realization hits him. He takes a labored breath.

Ferellus opens his eyes again, and for one last time, he smiles at his brother in all but blood. He mumbles, “I’ll miss you too buddy…” Ferellus closes his eyes, tears still streaming down his face, his head tilts to one side and he is quiet.

The quarter elf is just staring at his friend, he can feel his eyes starting to well up, trying to figure out what he just said. Then he snaps out of it, and starts looking for his sword. while glancing down the hallway, he can make out some figures, moving pretty good. Then he see’s a Camerondale guards uniform, 3 of them, running down the corridor towards them.

“Ferellus! Camerondale Guards!” He says, looking down to him. His eyes are still closed, skin turning white and not moving. He is way to quiet, way too still; Chance thinks to himself.

More noise from behind him as 2 monks are running towards them with the Guard who took off earlier. Chance wanting to check if he is breathing, did not get time. “Please, Ferellus, just hang on, don’t…” is all Chance could get out, the monk pushes through and kneels next to Ferellus.

Back To Turn Base

Chance: Chan: help him, please

DMaster: The Monk does not flinch he sits next to him, and starts chanting dropping water droplets from a large necklace on him. You look around and see Rohlia is being worked on. The 3 Camerondale troops are stabbing the dogs to make sure they are dead. They look around at the blood and guts.

Chance: get up and check on Rohlia as well

DMaster: You glance up and see more movement down the corridor.

Chance: Chan: INCOMING!!
I scramble for my sword, where the fuck did it go?

DMaster: You spot it about 15 feet from you and you run for it and grab it. By the time the ghouls lumber towards the party you are ready. The three troops all hop over the bodies and get ready. 4 ghouls heading your way

Chance: Chan: Hold the line with all you got, if they get past us, its clear sailing to the island.

DMaster: GUARDS: AYE!

Battle Written Out

The first guard bashes his shield in the face of the first ghoul and stabs it through the chest doing some serious damage. It stumbles to its knees. Chance thinks, wow, ok, this is more like it.

The quarter elf, with so much on his mind, his heart starting to ache, swings at a ghoul. It rips through the robe, but does nothing else. “Bullocks!” Chance yells, getting frustrated.

A guard stabs a ghoul, expecting it to shriek, or respond, but it doesn’t. The ghoul swings and connects the back of his hand to the guards face making him whip his head back, grabbing for his nose. Blood trailing him.

The third guard slashes through a ghoul, detaching his arm for his body. The arms slides across the floor and the ghoul stumbles a bit.

Bren joins in, and takes a swing with his mace. It was a perfect swing, mimicking a ghouls head as a melon. It explodes and blood and brains splatter all over. The monster just crumples to the ground.

Two other ghouls attack, but the guards were ready and parry, dodge the attacks.

Chances sword down, he lunges forward, brings his sword up. It rips through the monster, spilling it’s innards onto the floor. The ghoul stutter steps, slides a bit and falls face first into his own guts with a splat sound.

Two guards simultaneously attack one ghoul, both hit with precision. The ghoul essentially falls to the ground in three parts, blood pouring out.

The guard with the bloody nose, red faced and angry, slices through that same ghoul, decapitating it. Again, blood spurts out, the head jumps off the shoulders and falls to the ground, followed closely by its dead body.

Bren looks up, “Shit, more coming!” he yells seeing movement down the corridor.

“Hold the line!” Chance yells, getting into his fighting stance, the guards follow suit, “keep your feet, it can get slippery with all the blood!” Then everyone starts to relax a little seeing some Camerondale guards and Plugr jogging behind him. You can hear the clink clanking of his armor.

Back to Turn Based

DMaster: Blood, guts and a few scrapes for all the incoming guards. Blood just dripping from their armors and swords.

Chance: Squat down, drop sword.

DMaster: Plugr takes off his helm, eyes as wide as saucers.
PLUG: Chance!
He looks around to see 10 or so ghouls and two demon dogs littered cross the corridor.
PLUG: Are those demon dogs?
He says in complete shock. The Knight squints and a look of pain and shock washes over his face
PLUG: Is that Ferellus?!? What is he doing here?!?
He starts for the fallen teen.

Chance: Stare off for a bit.
Chan: He said he was supposed to be with us, but the ghouls were breaking out of the door and we didn’t have time to argue.
Stand, Look back at my best friend, then at Rohlia; both getting worked on.

DMaster: PLUG: If anything happens to Ferellus…
Plugr says, then stops. Puts his hands on his hips, lowers his head.
PLUG: Dammit, DAMMIT. Rohlia?

Chance: Sink shoulders and sigh.
Chan: The two heads were the problem. After the initial attack, the second head would follow. It caught her off guard, the dog just clamped on her, threw her around like a ragdoll…
Wince a bit thinking of the event.
Chan: Same with Ferellus.

DMaster: He looks around again, still in shock, but anger seeping in.
PLUG: Goddam dogs? How did they get creatures here from the underearth? Wow… They had this planned for a long time now. How stupid are we?!
Plugr kicks a shield across the corridor in anger and frustration. It clinks and clanks down the hallway, the sound resounding and echoing. He then makes his way past to see the monks working on Ferellus and Rohlia. The other guards are taking care of their own, they are heading for the hole. One of the Monks walks over, it looks as though he was crying.
MONK: We are taking them to the temple now, Saundra is waiting.