Chapter 21: Redbrand hospitality.
Alas the adventurers' visit to the Sleeping Giant doesn't go exactly to plan, the four stride into the Taphouse and are met by four red-cloaked Redbrands, the ruffians are quickly to their feet, swords within their grasp.
“Well, what have we here?” the first sneers.
“Little puppies sent for us to play with,” a second adds.
“We are here to see you gone.” Grimm firmly states.
“Murderers!” Zyler adds in a fit of pique, the war priest spits the word out.
“That's right,” the first ruffian adds, “and we'll do for you too.” He lets the threat hang in the air for a second or two before continuing.
“So drop your weapons, and your money pouches- turn around and walk out of town, and don't bother coming back.” The Redbrand finishes his speech toe-to-toe with Zyler, the other ruffians close in.
“Or else?” Zalt asks, “what are you going to do if we don't?”
“Kill you, and then take your stuff,” the second ruffian snarls.
Ronnie the barkeep - and owner of the Sleeping Giant - sighs loudly in the background, grabs the few breakable items not yet broken, and then ducks down beneath the bar. "Here we go again," he thinks.
Alas the staring contest between the two groups comes to a sudden conclusion as the paladin of Tymora attempts to head-butt the Redbrand stood before him. The ruffian dodges back in the nick of time, the holy warrior is better with his blade.
Zalt is instantly into action, the warlock mumbles rough sounding words- the Redbrand before him gurns and grimaces, and is then hit by a blast of eldritch power- badly wounded he staggers back.
The other three ruffians are however much quicker to their blades, Zyler is cut along his thigh while Zalt is stabbed and skewered twice in quick succession. The warlock is covered in blood- alas his own, and barely able to keep on his feet. He manages however to project a little more of his power in retaliation for the second hit, the ruffian before him is briefly swathed in hellish flames.
The fight goes from bad to worse. Before Ken Lee can react, one of the Redbrands steps in and cuts the wizard twice. He falls- bleeding out on the floor - only for a second, Zyler calls upon Tempus' power and Ken Lee's wounds all but disappear. The priest is not done yet, he whispers more fervent prayers, and Zalt is also much recovered.
Yet still the Redbrands continue to make their mark, Grimm is cut across his brow by a flailing shortsword and the adventurers are losing the fight; it doesn't help that the paladin swings mightily and momentarily embeds his greatsword in the ceiling of the Inn. Grimm does however manage to lay his hand upon the sprawling wizard, who revives further at his touch. Ken Lee rises to his feet and fires a trio of magic missiles killing, one of the Redbrands and leaving a second mortally wounded.
Zalt continues to shape and mumble words of power, a slowly building susurrus- the warlock motions and the badly wounded Redbrand is caught in his eldritch blast, lifted off his feet and slammed into a nearby table, left sprawled on the floor, unmoving.
“Drop your weapons and surrender, keep your lives,” Zalt hisses.
“Never,” the first Redbrand calls back, and then to his comrade shouts, “quick, kill the wizard,” he motions towards Zalt (actually he's the Warlock), and then slashes wildly at Zyler- the priest keeps him at bay. The second Redbrand cuts not at Zalt but at Ken Lee, the actual wizard, and bloodies the elf again- Ken Lee looks almost spent.
Zyler smashes his warhammer into the Redbrand he is fighting, “for Tempus!” the priest screams in the ruffian's face.
“For Tymora!” Grimm adds and cuts the fellow down- just one Redbrand left alive. A second later Grimm turns his blade and cuts again, the last enemy standing is left clinging onto life, and sprawled on the floor clutching the stump of its left hand, unarmed and unable to continue the fight.
“Spare me! Spare me! I beg of you!” he screams, and cries out in bloody agony.
Alas the adventurers' visit to the Sleeping Giant doesn't go exactly to plan, the four stride into the Taphouse and are met by four red-cloaked Redbrands, the ruffians are quickly to their feet, swords within their grasp.
“Well, what have we here?” the first sneers.
“Little puppies sent for us to play with,” a second adds.
“We are here to see you gone.” Grimm firmly states.
“Murderers!” Zyler adds in a fit of pique, the war priest spits the word out.
“That's right,” the first ruffian adds, “and we'll do for you too.” He lets the threat hang in the air for a second or two before continuing.
“So drop your weapons, and your money pouches- turn around and walk out of town, and don't bother coming back.” The Redbrand finishes his speech toe-to-toe with Zyler, the other ruffians close in.
“Or else?” Zalt asks, “what are you going to do if we don't?”
“Kill you, and then take your stuff,” the second ruffian snarls.
Ronnie the barkeep - and owner of the Sleeping Giant - sighs loudly in the background, grabs the few breakable items not yet broken, and then ducks down beneath the bar. "Here we go again," he thinks.
Alas the staring contest between the two groups comes to a sudden conclusion as the paladin of Tymora attempts to head-butt the Redbrand stood before him. The ruffian dodges back in the nick of time, the holy warrior is better with his blade.
Zalt is instantly into action, the warlock mumbles rough sounding words- the Redbrand before him gurns and grimaces, and is then hit by a blast of eldritch power- badly wounded he staggers back.
The other three ruffians are however much quicker to their blades, Zyler is cut along his thigh while Zalt is stabbed and skewered twice in quick succession. The warlock is covered in blood- alas his own, and barely able to keep on his feet. He manages however to project a little more of his power in retaliation for the second hit, the ruffian before him is briefly swathed in hellish flames.
The fight goes from bad to worse. Before Ken Lee can react, one of the Redbrands steps in and cuts the wizard twice. He falls- bleeding out on the floor - only for a second, Zyler calls upon Tempus' power and Ken Lee's wounds all but disappear. The priest is not done yet, he whispers more fervent prayers, and Zalt is also much recovered.
Yet still the Redbrands continue to make their mark, Grimm is cut across his brow by a flailing shortsword and the adventurers are losing the fight; it doesn't help that the paladin swings mightily and momentarily embeds his greatsword in the ceiling of the Inn. Grimm does however manage to lay his hand upon the sprawling wizard, who revives further at his touch. Ken Lee rises to his feet and fires a trio of magic missiles killing, one of the Redbrands and leaving a second mortally wounded.
Zalt continues to shape and mumble words of power, a slowly building susurrus- the warlock motions and the badly wounded Redbrand is caught in his eldritch blast, lifted off his feet and slammed into a nearby table, left sprawled on the floor, unmoving.
“Drop your weapons and surrender, keep your lives,” Zalt hisses.
“Never,” the first Redbrand calls back, and then to his comrade shouts, “quick, kill the wizard,” he motions towards Zalt (actually he's the Warlock), and then slashes wildly at Zyler- the priest keeps him at bay. The second Redbrand cuts not at Zalt but at Ken Lee, the actual wizard, and bloodies the elf again- Ken Lee looks almost spent.
Zyler smashes his warhammer into the Redbrand he is fighting, “for Tempus!” the priest screams in the ruffian's face.
“For Tymora!” Grimm adds and cuts the fellow down- just one Redbrand left alive. A second later Grimm turns his blade and cuts again, the last enemy standing is left clinging onto life, and sprawled on the floor clutching the stump of its left hand, unarmed and unable to continue the fight.
“Spare me! Spare me! I beg of you!” he screams, and cries out in bloody agony.
