THE WAYFINDERS OF THE FLOATING TOWER
“NASTY FURLESS RAT-MEN”
002
10/01/11
BARRAKAS 20, NEAR THE DAVA GATE REGION
A mere week ago these five adventurers met within a tavern and began to travel together within the city.
There is Jackalaine Trueheart and her “bodyguard” William McPherrson. She grew up in Aundair and always wished to travel and explore. Whenever her uncle came home from the war she always demanded stories and tales of his adventures. Though she later learned most of these tales were told to him and thus not his own, she still wanted to explore the world. Her uncle learned of her desire and commanded one of his top pupils from his academy to watch over her. This Kensai warrior does as ordered by his patron but has come to learn he is conflicted between his oath to protect her and his growing affection and love for her. They came to Sharn to see the sights of the City of Towers and possibly adventure to Xen’drik.
She and Lia Xiloscient quickly became friends. This elven swashbuckler came to Sharn following a trail left by another elf that she feels may have killed her parents. These two thrill seekers often keep William on his toes as they enjoy many forms of mischief.
Feeding off of their joyful energy, a red fine scaled Spell scale that has joined them. Blaze Redscale loves a good time almost as much as he loves and cares for his heritage, dragons. He was originally from Argonnessen but now travels as he has a reoccurring fear something bad will happen his land and the primary residents whom live there- the dragons.
Then there is Mageblood. Even for a human, he is arrogant and in general a jerk. Whether they felt for him, or are under an enchantment or whatever, he has joined them and travels with them. William very much distrusts the Magus and self-proclaimed “Magic of Tomorrow”.
The rain has drizzled most of the evening and now at 1st bell has become a steady light rain. The clouds are thick and obscure 3 of the 5 moons that are out. The remaining two full-moons are hazy and largely hidden by these rain filled dark clouds.
As the five of them walk around the elevated walkways and bridges connecting the towers together Lia and Redscale hear a faint “hoo” sound. Rescale and Bloodmage then spot a very large owl swooping over and under the walkway bridges through the rain. As it passes about 30ft from them it screams out with several audible “thunk” sounds. The owl weaves and suddenly dips and disappears into the damp darkness. A loud crashing sound can be heard as it seems it has crashed into a tower.
Concerned for the large owl, Lia rushes across a bridge that seems to be the most direct route to the owl (the bridges are like an airborne maze to her). Red scale is close behind her. William blocks Jackie’s route to chase after them and the Magus holds back suspecting he knows what the happened to the owl.
From the darkness, Lia is struck by an arrow even as another arrow skips off the stone rail on the bridge. She and Red Scale both drop to their knees to use the short stone wall as protection. “Archer!” she screams. Jackie circles around The Kensai Warrior in his full plate armor and half runs / half crawls to the Elf. Red Scale pops out his wings and flutters across the dark deep expanse between the bridges they were racing across to another bridge where their attack is. Two more arrows shot out but miss. As he gets closer he spots his assailant- a hairless were rat of a man. He drops to the bridge and ducks to find any cover he can.
The others continue to take cover as Jackie removes the arrow and heals the swashbuckler’s injured shoulder and side. Red Scale attacks the creature with a fire ball spell. The creature easily seems to sidestep it as it is unharmed by the magical burst of fire and even seems to laugh at the attempt. Angered, the draconic humanoid charges the creature as it fires once more doing little damage. The spear it carries glows at hits. Again, the creature seems to be less injured than expected as the magical fire energy within it released. Dropping the bow, the creatures claws at him and bites him. He worries about lycanthrope from the bite then finds its tail has grabbed ahold of the magical spear. The creature is amazingly strong for such a meager looking thing.
Engaged as it is, the others stand up and begin to run to the entrance of the bridge they fight on. Mageblood, the Magus, has a clear head start as he was the closest and never took cover as the others had. The Dragon Shaman pulls his spear free from the ugly rat man and calls up on its magical powers once more. The creature seems to meditate for a moment as a sudden bonfire seems to grow between it and the out held fire spear. A huge fire elemental hisses and crackles in the rain. Obviously it is not happy being summoned on a stone wet bridge. The closest thing it sees to burn and destroy is the rat creature and it does slam him very hard. The elemental holds up the crushed limp body and turns to show it to the Shaman. “Good Ba-Ba.” He says. Then the creature turns into ash and floats away in the damp breeze.
As the others arrive, more arrows are fired at them further down the bridge way. The arrogant Magus quickly begins to attack with magic missiles as the others arrive. William nearly cleaves the thing in two as his oversized huge falchion crashes into it from an over hand strike. The second magical attack from Mageblood finishes it off. Like the first one, this one turns into dust and drifts apart into the wind.
“What was that?!?” exclaims the elf.
“Were rat?” suggests William and he inspects his falchion for gore.
“It seemed unconcerned for your fire attacks and was furless. I think it was a demon. An Uridezu.”
“What does a demon want with an owl?” asks Red Scale.
“The owl!” Cries out the elf as she turns and begins to race back to look for the animal.
DM NOTE: I had my son perplexed. I did a few dozen color photocopies of the dungeon tiles with archer’s slits in the walkways. I used these to represent the short walls used to keep people from falling off the bridges. I glued these onto black poster board to represent the night time conditions. He was certain these were connected rooms underground.