Faolan glances back at Dmitri, then offers to Rin, "Let me go down both halls and see if I can hear which way it's coming from?"
Sen smirks faintly. [ That's why we're not doing it. Too interesting for those taking up the rear. ]
His smirk falters just a little when he recalls Rin taking the fore is why Rin is hurt. (That, and Sen's neglect.)
<.>
Rin hesitates, watching Faolan, catching that falter in Sen's smirk, and then— "If you've got that kind of ear... Okay. I guess. Just take it slow." They'd warn further, but it seems like this guy has an okay handle on what they're doing here. And maybe it'd be helpful for Rin to just pause for a moment, get their bearings back in order.
Dima doesn't like this.
Dima hears Faolan's suggestion, and freezes, though he tries not to clench his fingers. (He doesn't want to let go.) (He doesn't want to let this man go on alone.)
(He also knows there's not much he can do to help just now— And knows that if he went with Faolan, he'd likely be an impediment.)
He swallows, glances around the hall. [ You don't have to do this.
...I'd go with you, only I— Mm. ] He squeezes Faolan's hand. [ I seem to recall one of use walking into a very large coat of arms.
Please. If you do this. Be careful. ]
<.>
Faolan gives Dmitri an odd look, but nods. Of course he'll be careful.
(Who ever cared before?) (Who was ever reluctant to let him go before?)
He pulls free and squeezes past Sen and Rin, whispering to all three of them, "I'll be fine."
He starts down the hall, listening with a furrowed brow (and rolling a nat 20 on perception!) until he comes to a four-way intersection of corridors.
Fae is going to alert the party that there's trouble by shouting "GET OFF ME" very loudly.
He's going to back up one step northward and cast Thunderwave.
First one takes 12 points of damage and is pushed 10 feet back, knocking it into the one that isn't taking any damage. Second takes 12 and is thrown back against the wall. Third takes 8 points and is pushed 10 feet out of the corridor.
And aside from drawing his scimitar, that ends his turn.
<.>
Rin is going to attempt a shot with the crossbow. [Nat. 20 >:o!] They do 8 points of damage to the ghoul.
Rin steps aside and ends their turn.
<.>
Sen is going to hold his turn and let Dima through because Dima is useful. And while doing so, he's going to give Dima his last bardic inspiration by backing up, pointing, and saying, "Well? Go be a hero."
<.>
Sen that is not inspiring—
Or.
Maybe. Maybe yes it is.
(Not that Faolan needs saving. Not that Faolan doesn't seem to be managing well, but— Well. But Dima will help as he can.)
He moves 15 feet, then turns down the hall, moves as near to Faolan as he can, then turns to see two ghouls.
And Dima—
Dima's back to his old tricks, because he needs something reliable right now. He's going to cast Burning Hands toward the two ghouls in front of him, hitting for 10 points of damage each.
<.>
Both take the full force of the blast; their bodies begin to char and their skin bubbles, but they don't fall.
Sen isn't sure what to do with everyone congesting the hallway and he can't see anything, so he's continuing to hold his turn.
And that brings us to the ghouls.
Okay first one gnashes its teeth at Dima - uh and its jaw falls off.
[note: It rolled a nat 1 and yes Dima just kind of raised an eyebrow at it.]
Second one lunges for Rin and bites at them, delivering 4 points of damage with its filthy mouth.
The last ghoul can’t reach anyone, so it’s up to Sen, who he is trying to rush to Rin to heal them, but goddamn Dima is in the way, so he's going to shove Dima back into Fae, and cast Healing Word on Rin, healing Rin for 8 points of damage.
[note: Rin thanks u, Sen! And Dima doesn’t hate where he is rn.]
[note: E counting the Dima-shove as Sen’s action.]
And that brings us to the top which is. Fae, who holds his turn.
<.>
Rin is going to take a literal stab at the ghoul beside them using the shortsword they just picked up from the chest. The hit for 2 points of damage, then drop their crossbow, and attempt a strike with the dagger that misses.
[dm: Rin slashes out with their new sword and lands a nice cut into the ghoul; it rears back in time for their second attack to miss it entirely.]
<.>
Sen is in an awkward position with a jawless ghoul.
Sen. Has an IDEA. And he is going to cast Cloud of Daggers right on top of the ghoul in front of him. And as that spell deals at least four damage, the ghoul succumbs to a sudden flurry of magical blades and falls to the ground.
As he's out of range, he's going to just step to the side.
<.>
Dima is going to stay precisely where he is, and attempt to cast ice knife on the ghoul that isn't next to Rin.
The ghoul is killed gone by the combination of initial hit and cold damage.
<.>
The remaining ghoul swipes at Rin with its claws for four points of damage.
[CON, r: 5]
Rin falls to the ground, paralyzed.
<.>
Rin’s back up! And attacks with the shortsword for 4 points of damage, then misses with their attempted dagger strike.
And Rin is going to disengage as a bonus action and move past the ghoul to the other side.
<.>
Dima casts Chill Touch on the last ghoul standing, for 5 points of damage.
<.>
Sen gives Dima another push back into his alcove with Fae, and will now use his crossbow.
The crossbow jams.
And Sen shouts "FOR FUCK'S SAKE".
Fae can't get to the ghoul, so he's holding his turn.
If nothing else, Sen got the ghoul's attention off Rin. And it misses him with its attack.
<.>
Dima. Is going to use his turn to step ouT of the way.
And since Fae has been VERY PATIENTLY HOLDING. And got hit with the fuckers first. AnD is def stronger than Dima.
He nods to Fae.
<.>
Fae, finding himself right there in front of the ghoul with his scimitar - he looks down at the blade, back up again.
And rolls a fucking 2.
<.>
Rin throws their dagger at the ghoul and—
Rin, baring their teeth at the ghoul but not even a liTtle smiling, their eyes flashing deep, glowing red, hurls the dagger into the shitty fucking ghoul, right in the pus-ridden eyeball, hissing “Will you QUIT IT?”
They are very, very pleased when the ghoul does in fact 'quit it'.
<.>
After defeating four ghouls that ambushed the party, a fight punctuated by Rin's "Would you QUIT IT", Faolan is the first to speak - softly, gently making his suggestions.
"We really need to work on our team tactics. I think we're all best if there's space to move."
"They know we're here. Maybe I ought to take the lead. Rin can stay hid and flank whatever comes. And you two can stop shoving each other. Don't make me separate you."
Sen, mostly.
"Stay at a distance if everything you've got is ranged."
And, gesturing almost wearily with his sword to the tunnel south, he adds, "We must be on to something."
Sen can't let that slide unprovoked and waits for Faolan to finish before replying, "He started it."
Just as promptly, maybe with a hint of humor, Faolan bats back, "I'm finishing it."
<.>
Rin nods; it sounds like a good idea to them, and Faolan's been more than capable already. (Rin is also still *annoyed* that they were caught by a trap anD paralyzed by a shitty very rude ghoul, and shadows are much better for subtle sulking.)
Dima smirks, just a little, little bit pleased by Faolan's response. He flashes Sen a pleased, triumphant smirk, then nods. "No more shoving; I think we can all be adults about this." ...Okay maybe he isn't. Entirely convinced of that. But he can try!
He looks to Faolan and speaks again, "Correct all around, I think." Though Dima doesn't like the thought of Faolan on the front lines of hazard. Though he's smarting still at the thought that he put Faolan in harm's way by ushering him toward the ghoul and the daggered cloud. (He wants to apologize for that.) (He's fairly certain this isn't the time.)
"When the ghouls attacked, did you see where they came from? Or what drew them to you?"
<.>
Faolan shakes his head. "I think they were just...lying there, waiting for something to come along. They don't seem like they're very clever tacticians, really.""
He eyes one, nudges it with his toe, then gives Dima a sidelong glance. "If you're going to - take anything. Now's the time."
<.>
He huffs a soft laugh; no, they wouldn't be very clever. And Dima's going to bend to examine the body. He doesn't expect to take anything, but he would like to see whether he can discern anything from these ghouls; how long they've been here, what their clothing might suggest.
[dm: There's nothing to tell from the bodies. They're either too charred, slashed, or rotted to tell anything of value from them.]
He traces a hand across one of the bodies, shakes his head. "There's nothing much to salvage." And, standing, sighing, "Leave it to ghouls to stand upon the pinnacle of futility." Ah, well.
A glance to Sen, a roll of his eyes. "What will it be, Sen? Rear, or do you dare to walk before me?"
<.>
Sen arches a brow at Dima, then bows low, ushering the man ahead of him. "Far be it from me to part you from your intrigues."
Faolan blinks at the pair, twists his lips, then turns away to start down the hall now that the blades have ceased their deadly whirling. He steps over the corpses; Sen, from the back of the line, simply steps on them.
Faolan's path takes them south, then left down the passage; it opens up into a room with a table in the middle, flanked by two high-backed chairs. An empty clay jug and two flagons sit atop it. In the corners are two iron candlesticks, their candles long since melted away. Above the table is a chandelier.
One door and one short hall lead from the room.
<.>
Rin suggests the door, because "We haven't seen many of these down here."
Dima is going to step toward the table, attempting to take a look at the flagons and jug, to see where any liquid is in the flagons, or whether any telltale residue may be seen.
<.>
Over time, the flagons have dried out entirely of whatever their contents may have been.
Faolan nods to Rin, but first moves toward the short hallway just to poke his head down that way and see whether it's worth checking out. Sen, of course, goes where Rin goes.
Faolan calls back softly, "It's a bedroom. Looks like there are torches and candles stored in there - could be helpful."
no subject
Sen smirks faintly. [ That's why we're not doing it. Too interesting for those taking up the rear. ]
His smirk falters just a little when he recalls Rin taking the fore is why Rin is hurt. (That, and Sen's neglect.)
<.>
Rin hesitates, watching Faolan, catching that falter in Sen's smirk, and then— "If you've got that kind of ear... Okay. I guess. Just take it slow." They'd warn further, but it seems like this guy has an okay handle on what they're doing here. And maybe it'd be helpful for Rin to just pause for a moment, get their bearings back in order.
Dima doesn't like this.
Dima hears Faolan's suggestion, and freezes, though he tries not to clench his fingers. (He doesn't want to let go.) (He doesn't want to let this man go on alone.)
(He also knows there's not much he can do to help just now— And knows that if he went with Faolan, he'd likely be an impediment.)
He swallows, glances around the hall. [ You don't have to do this.
...I'd go with you, only I— Mm. ] He squeezes Faolan's hand. [ I seem to recall one of use walking into a very large coat of arms.
Please. If you do this. Be careful. ]
<.>
Faolan gives Dmitri an odd look, but nods. Of course he'll be careful.
(Who ever cared before?) (Who was ever reluctant to let him go before?)
He pulls free and squeezes past Sen and Rin, whispering to all three of them, "I'll be fine."
He starts down the hall, listening with a furrowed brow (and rolling a nat 20 on perception!) until he comes to a four-way intersection of corridors.
And—
Everyone roll initiative.
[rin: 14
dima: 12
sen: 12
fae: 19
ghouls 1 + 2: 2
ghouls 3 + 4: 6 ]
Fae is going to alert the party that there's trouble by shouting "GET OFF ME" very loudly.
He's going to back up one step northward and cast Thunderwave.
First one takes 12 points of damage and is pushed 10 feet back, knocking it into the one that isn't taking any damage. Second takes 12 and is thrown back against the wall. Third takes 8 points and is pushed 10 feet out of the corridor.
And aside from drawing his scimitar, that ends his turn.
<.>
Rin is going to attempt a shot with the crossbow. [Nat. 20 >:o!] They do 8 points of damage to the ghoul.
Rin steps aside and ends their turn.
<.>
Sen is going to hold his turn and let Dima through because Dima is useful. And while doing so, he's going to give Dima his last bardic inspiration by backing up, pointing, and saying, "Well? Go be a hero."
<.>
Sen that is not inspiring—
Or.
Maybe. Maybe yes it is.
(Not that Faolan needs saving. Not that Faolan doesn't seem to be managing well, but— Well. But Dima will help as he can.)
He moves 15 feet, then turns down the hall, moves as near to Faolan as he can, then turns to see two ghouls.
And Dima—
Dima's back to his old tricks, because he needs something reliable right now. He's going to cast Burning Hands toward the two ghouls in front of him, hitting for 10 points of damage each.
<.>
Both take the full force of the blast; their bodies begin to char and their skin bubbles, but they don't fall.
Sen isn't sure what to do with everyone congesting the hallway and he can't see anything, so he's continuing to hold his turn.
And that brings us to the ghouls.
Okay first one gnashes its teeth at Dima - uh and its jaw falls off.
[note: It rolled a nat 1 and yes Dima just kind of raised an eyebrow at it.]
Second one lunges for Rin and bites at them, delivering 4 points of damage with its filthy mouth.
The last ghoul can’t reach anyone, so it’s up to Sen, who he is trying to rush to Rin to heal them, but goddamn Dima is in the way, so he's going to shove Dima back into Fae, and cast Healing Word on Rin, healing Rin for 8 points of damage.
[note: Rin thanks u, Sen! And Dima doesn’t hate where he is rn.]
[note: E counting the Dima-shove as Sen’s action.]
And that brings us to the top which is. Fae, who holds his turn.
<.>
Rin is going to take a literal stab at the ghoul beside them using the shortsword they just picked up from the chest. The hit for 2 points of damage, then drop their crossbow, and attempt a strike with the dagger that misses.
[dm: Rin slashes out with their new sword and lands a nice cut into the ghoul; it rears back in time for their second attack to miss it entirely.]
<.>
Sen is in an awkward position with a jawless ghoul.
Sen. Has an IDEA. And he is going to cast Cloud of Daggers right on top of the ghoul in front of him. And as that spell deals at least four damage, the ghoul succumbs to a sudden flurry of magical blades and falls to the ground.
As he's out of range, he's going to just step to the side.
<.>
Dima is going to stay precisely where he is, and attempt to cast ice knife on the ghoul that isn't next to Rin.
The ghoul is killed gone by the combination of initial hit and cold damage.
<.>
The remaining ghoul swipes at Rin with its claws for four points of damage.
[CON, r: 5]
Rin falls to the ground, paralyzed.
<.>
Rin’s back up! And attacks with the shortsword for 4 points of damage, then misses with their attempted dagger strike.
And Rin is going to disengage as a bonus action and move past the ghoul to the other side.
<.>
Dima casts Chill Touch on the last ghoul standing, for 5 points of damage.
<.>
Sen gives Dima another push back into his alcove with Fae, and will now use his crossbow.
The crossbow jams.
And Sen shouts "FOR FUCK'S SAKE".
Fae can't get to the ghoul, so he's holding his turn.
If nothing else, Sen got the ghoul's attention off Rin. And it misses him with its attack.
<.>
Dima. Is going to use his turn to step ouT of the way.
And since Fae has been VERY PATIENTLY HOLDING. And got hit with the fuckers first. AnD is def stronger than Dima.
He nods to Fae.
<.>
Fae, finding himself right there in front of the ghoul with his scimitar - he looks down at the blade, back up again.
And rolls a fucking 2.
<.>
Rin throws their dagger at the ghoul and—
Rin, baring their teeth at the ghoul but not even a liTtle smiling, their eyes flashing deep, glowing red, hurls the dagger into the shitty fucking ghoul, right in the pus-ridden eyeball, hissing “Will you QUIT IT?”
They are very, very pleased when the ghoul does in fact 'quit it'.
<.>
After defeating four ghouls that ambushed the party, a fight punctuated by Rin's "Would you QUIT IT", Faolan is the first to speak - softly, gently making his suggestions.
"We really need to work on our team tactics. I think we're all best if there's space to move."
"They know we're here. Maybe I ought to take the lead. Rin can stay hid and flank whatever comes. And you two can stop shoving each other. Don't make me separate you."
Sen, mostly.
"Stay at a distance if everything you've got is ranged."
And, gesturing almost wearily with his sword to the tunnel south, he adds, "We must be on to something."
Sen can't let that slide unprovoked and waits for Faolan to finish before replying, "He started it."
Just as promptly, maybe with a hint of humor, Faolan bats back, "I'm finishing it."
<.>
Rin nods; it sounds like a good idea to them, and Faolan's been more than capable already. (Rin is also still *annoyed* that they were caught by a trap anD paralyzed by a shitty very rude ghoul, and shadows are much better for subtle sulking.)
Dima smirks, just a little, little bit pleased by Faolan's response. He flashes Sen a pleased, triumphant smirk, then nods. "No more shoving; I think we can all be adults about this." ...Okay maybe he isn't. Entirely convinced of that. But he can try!
He looks to Faolan and speaks again, "Correct all around, I think." Though Dima doesn't like the thought of Faolan on the front lines of hazard. Though he's smarting still at the thought that he put Faolan in harm's way by ushering him toward the ghoul and the daggered cloud. (He wants to apologize for that.) (He's fairly certain this isn't the time.)
"When the ghouls attacked, did you see where they came from? Or what drew them to you?"
<.>
Faolan shakes his head. "I think they were just...lying there, waiting for something to come along. They don't seem like they're very clever tacticians, really.""
He eyes one, nudges it with his toe, then gives Dima a sidelong glance. "If you're going to - take anything. Now's the time."
<.>
He huffs a soft laugh; no, they wouldn't be very clever. And Dima's going to bend to examine the body. He doesn't expect to take anything, but he would like to see whether he can discern anything from these ghouls; how long they've been here, what their clothing might suggest.
[dm: There's nothing to tell from the bodies. They're either too charred, slashed, or rotted to tell anything of value from them.]
He traces a hand across one of the bodies, shakes his head. "There's nothing much to salvage." And, standing, sighing, "Leave it to ghouls to stand upon the pinnacle of futility." Ah, well.
A glance to Sen, a roll of his eyes. "What will it be, Sen? Rear, or do you dare to walk before me?"
<.>
Sen arches a brow at Dima, then bows low, ushering the man ahead of him. "Far be it from me to part you from your intrigues."
Faolan blinks at the pair, twists his lips, then turns away to start down the hall now that the blades have ceased their deadly whirling. He steps over the corpses; Sen, from the back of the line, simply steps on them.
Faolan's path takes them south, then left down the passage; it opens up into a room with a table in the middle, flanked by two high-backed chairs. An empty clay jug and two flagons sit atop it. In the corners are two iron candlesticks, their candles long since melted away. Above the table is a chandelier.
One door and one short hall lead from the room.
<.>
Rin suggests the door, because "We haven't seen many of these down here."
Dima is going to step toward the table, attempting to take a look at the flagons and jug, to see where any liquid is in the flagons, or whether any telltale residue may be seen.
<.>
Over time, the flagons have dried out entirely of whatever their contents may have been.
Faolan nods to Rin, but first moves toward the short hallway just to poke his head down that way and see whether it's worth checking out. Sen, of course, goes where Rin goes.
Faolan calls back softly, "It's a bedroom. Looks like there are torches and candles stored in there - could be helpful."
<.>