The Vanquishers of Reillalt

[Visturon]

Viktor AC:16 HP:27/30

Viktor holds his right hand high and points his morningstar at the swarm and yells "Светлая выставка вы отсутствие пощады!" A light seems to rumble through the swarm with his spells completion.(3d6=11)

[cast deific vengeance, recharge (1d6+1=5)]

holy radiance- (1d4=3)
2nd level- 5

[Vazzaroth]

Hiram's undead-smiting attack dissipates on the stone floor in front of the swarm.
Sonia draws the symbolic blade of the vanquishers, and uses it to good effect. The shortsword passes through a few rats, but it does not seem to thin their ranks; their bones are too hard and they are too spread out. The dagger, however, is more effective. She feels a similar effect on the blade, but the pure holy force causes a number or rats to squeal loudly.
Lance is having issues with the foulness of these dirty creatures.

The Skeleton Rats overflow off of one another and begin to move about the room as one, this time engulfing Royal's ankles but leaving the sick Lance.
Paerin:2 damage Royal: 1 damage


Viktor 10
Royal 9
Paerin 8
Hiram 23
Sonia 21
Lance 18
Bonerat Swarm

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

AC: 15 HP:14/18

Hiram throws his hand up in frustration as his spell fizzles in front of the rats.

Gods damn it!

He moves up to the rat swarm and draws his Vanquisher dagger, stabbing wildly at the writhing mass of bone rats.

((Diagonal 5' step to the SE toward Royal.))

Spell Recharge
0-Level - 4 rounds
2nd Level - 1 rounds
Shield - 30 minutes
Darkvision - 6 hours

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Baerdog7]

Addendum:

Well, I messed up my rolls in the original post.

Attack: (1d20+2)[4]
Damage: (1d4+1)[4] + (1d6)[6]

[Vazzaroth]

Viktor invokes the holy light that leads his life and a bright flash vaporizes many of the remaining skeleton rats.
Royal coughs at the vile filth the rats bring as they start biting her, but swings Primus and the satisfying Crunch of a number of small bones cracking is the reward.

At this point, the large majority of the rats are left in pieces on the ground, the last 5 or so scatter and run to the shadows of the room. A few stomps on the few passing vermin and they can be destroyed. One gets back to retreat back into a crack in the back of the room.

217 XP each

Scattered bones of many sizes and the two large rat corpses lay in the room lit by Viktor's light, amongst many Wooden Barrels and a few tables with sacks of something on them. The crack in the bottom of the wall is about 1 foot high and barely visible behind a large pile of barrels.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

AC: 15 HP: 14/18

Hiram saunters up to the crack in the wall, rolls up his sleeves, and proceeds to blast it (and hopefully the remaining bone rat) with every damaging spell in his repertoire.

He stands up with a look of smug satisfaction and dusts off his hands and knees.

What? Wanted to make sure the job was done properly, is all. Soooo...I guess all that's left is to tell the kind lady upstairs that we've finished?

[Theeon]

Phaerin AC:18 HP22/24

"I believe that Hiram is correct, just let me inspect the room first."

((Cast Mystic Reflection, and takes search check +2))

Spell Recharge
Steel Shadows - 6hrs.

[Vazzaroth]

With Hiram doing a right fine job of sealing the rat's entrance and lowering the property value of the woman's home, Theeon gazes with the power of the Shadow.

Opposite the dusty rubble heap that was the crack, he senses a small minor Necromantic Presence among a gathering of barrels.

[Theeon]

Phaerin

"Ah, good thing we didn't leave yet, there is something close by"

I go over to the barrels and search them more closely. ((Take 20 = 22))

[Vazzaroth]

Theeon opens a few barrels containing nothing but what looks and smells, unfortunately, like moldy cheese. Using his magic vision to guide him, however, he locates the source as being in the middle of the pile. Moving the barrels aside, he can see a small figurine. It looks to be made out of dark clay, sculpted like a miniature golem. It has thick arms and legs, and slits on orbs for eyes, giving it a squinty face. Aside from the eyes and a simple line mouth, the rest of the figure is smooth and blank.

Spoiler

Show

Here is the face Im sorta going for, minus the beard and markings. And earphones, of course.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

Hiram pauses as he notices the object that Phaerin had produced from the pile of barrels.

Let me see that... he says softly, walking hurriedly over to Phaerin. He examines the figurine as best he can, racking his memory for anything he may have read about something of it's sort.

It almost looks like some kind of miniature golem.

Knowledge Arcana: (1d20+11)[15]
Knowledge Dungeoneering: (1d20+11)[31]
Knowledge The Planes: (1d20+11)[19]
Knowledge Religion: (1d20+11)[12]

[Swooper]

Sonia leaves the mages to their discovery while cleansing her weapons and sheathing them again. She takes a casual look around the rest of the room, making sure to check any exits from the room including windows.

Search: (1d20+1)[5](6)

[Vazzaroth]

(Assuming Paerin tries to pick it up)

As soon as Paerin's outstretched hand gets close to the small statue, its stumpy legs move quickly and it shambles away out into the open with a low, short grunt. Further attempts to casually grab the creature result in similar failures.

Hiram has heard of small constructs like this before, usually they are called Homunculus and are made both with materials and blood. He can recall nothing else about this odd figure.

Sonia sees that there is one window opposite the stairway, a cellar window sunk into a shallow shaft for light. The only other point of entry is the door.

[Theeon]

Phaerin

As the little statue evades my touch I exclaim "What the..." if it is able to avoid an earnest attempt to catch it "hey get back here. Quick Shadow catch it!"

(( Me and Shadow attempt to catch the Homonculus, using Grapples if necessary, Phaerin's Touch Attack (1d20+3=22), Shadow's Touch Attack (1d20+5=13), Phaerin's Grapple (1d20+3=18), Shadow's Grapple (1d20-11=8)))

[Vazzaroth]

Using his dark cat to cut off the swift little construct, Paerin is able to snatch it after a few determined attempts. Once it is caught, it stops resisting, and returns to an apparently inert state.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

Hiram grabs an empty sack from a nearby pile and holds it open for Phaerin.

Here, put the little fella in here. I'd like to be able to research it a bit more thoroughly when we get back.

[Swooper]

"What's that?" asks Sonia curiously after the little commotion and walks closer to get a better look at the homunculus. "Anything dangerous?" she adds with a more cautious tone.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

Possibly. I'll know more once I'm able to determine the type of homunculus it is. It doesn't look dangerous, but many things don't until they start gnawing your face off.

He nods sagely, still holding the bag out for Phaerin.

[Vazzaroth]

((To skip a possibly arbitrary post))

The creature continues to not struggle and will be placed in the bag without problem is Paerin wishes.

[Theeon]

Phaerin

I place the small struggling creature in the bag.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

Hiram nods his approval and ties the bag shut.

Very good. I guess now is the time to deliver the good news to our client?

He takes a few steps toward the stairs, waiting to see if any of the others are going to follow him before fully committing to leaving the basement.

[Vazzaroth]

The party ascends the staircase and as you reach the top and open the door to the store, a few more people have shown up since you descended. 2 men in cheap plate armor with black sashes bearing the Royal Seal, a golden Roc, are standing in the room eating cheese next to the owner. You recognize them as members of the town guard.

Everyone stops mid sentence from what seemed to be a lively conversation when the group of you enters, and they look at you strangely.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram

Hiram strides briskly into the room with the homunculus sack tossed over a shoulder, moving to retrieve his hat and cloak from the peg by the door.

Oh, good to see the watch finally showed up. Better late than never I suppose, but all the action's over now. Lucky the Vanquishers were here to take care of things.

He dons his hat and cloak with a flourish.

Speaking of which, you shouldn't have to worry about your rat problem any more ma'am. We've also removed a small homunculus, which may or may not be related to the rat issue. In any case, you should once again be able to use your basement without worry.

Unless anyone has anything important to say to Hiram, he will leave and wait outside for the rest of the group before heading back to base.

Nice day, eh Aemon? Hiram muses, letting the sun shine on his face. The raven quorks and takes off, riding a thermal and stretching his wings after being in the cramped basement.

[Vazzaroth]

Hiram warrants more scowls from the watchmen, but the ladies' face turns to a smile. She curtsies rigidly, obviously something shes not used to.

Thank you, much appreciated.

She wishes the party good luck as they exit. The guards "Hmph".

Viktor speaks to the guards for a moment quietly as everyone exits, but rejoins shortly.

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

Hiram whistles happily as he strolls back to base with the others.

Well I'd say that job wasn't too hard. I wonder what Ranier has in store for us next.

[Vazzaroth]

((Dramatic scene transition because this games needs help!))

When the party arrives back at the Vanquisher Hall to report to Reiner, they are told he is taking no visitors at the moment by his secretary Thala, a pale dwarven lady in expensive looking clothes. He continues to be shut up in his office all night, and you have to wait until tomorrow.

When Hiram Paerin and Sonia show up the next day at the time of their appointment, no one else from their group does. While waiting for the others, they are ushered into Reiner's office. He is sitting behind his large desk again, looking a bit grim.
Come in. You may be wondering where your former allies are. I'll be forward with you. They have been reassigned. We've monitored your progress and seen how you handled the situation we assigned you. Based of our observations, they have been deemed to require more training in our ways. Viktor will be sent to the lands of Grafshaft to work closely with the Guild, the boy has much potential but is still a little too public with his Vanquisher status. Lance has decided to train himself, it seems. After we contacted him about his specialized training, he went AWOL. We are currently tracking his whereabouts and he seems to be heading to a large forest far from this town for some unknown reason. And Royal...
Reiner hesitates and looks at a small picture of a finely dressed, nameless man hanging above the fireplace.
She found she had other duties to take care of for the moment. This is all I can say.. However. You three have shown yourselves to be of top quality Vanquisher material, if a little rough still. We will continue to monitor you, but you should be proud in knowing you have done very well. Now, I have another piece of news, but before that, I heard you have a report of your last mission? We may have been keeping tabs on you, but no one knows your story like yourself, eh? Please, I'd like to hear.

Reiner seems to relax a bit as he finishes, and leans back in his velvet chair.

[Theeon]

Phaerin

"The mission was fairly rudimentary. nothing more that you wouldn't find in the underdark. There was a rat infection. Although one thing was unusual. The Shadow's touch had infected the corpses of some nearby vermin. They came at us in swarm. Although I guess you wouldn't have sent us if it hadn't been unusual, would you?... Master I have a question, will we be receiving replacements to our squad or are we to remain a 3-man cell from now on?

[Swooper]

Sonia folds her arms and remains quiet while Phaerin speaks. "I think we're all wondering if we'll be assigned new squadmates," she adds when he's done. "One thing first though. There was more than undead rats down there. Hiram, show them the haemonculus."

[Baerdog7]

Hiram Norrell

Hiram, content to stand back an listen until now, steps forward.

It wasn't until we had defeated the rats that we found this, he says, producing the homunculus from its sack. Unfortunately, I have been unable to determine its origin or purpose.

He holds the homunculus firmly, seemingly unwilling to set it down in case it decides to try and escape again.

[Vazzaroth]

Reiner's eye's widen a bit at the mention of a homunculus. As Hiram produces it, it sits seemingly content and motionless in his hand.

That's... we had suspicions of something like this, but... Listen: Yes, Phaerin, we knew there was something unnatural going on, and the immediate effects were relatively small term, but this... thing... is a grim portent. I am sorry, I must keep you in the dark for the time being about it's nature, but let me assure you have done a good thing bringing this forward.

He stands up and leans forward to take the small animation.

Have you told any one else of this find? I know you do not currently understand, I hope in good time I can inform you, but there are some great, dark powers that have been looking for something like this.