Bloodtrail

[Ramir]

(Going to post a reply to multiple chat questions here.

- Cantrips, like all spells, are used per the spell wording. No, flare cannot give you light. It is strictly a visual effect. That does not mean cantrips cannot be useful.
- Be careful what items you 'happen' to have. Your success with something like lock picking will not be influenced by hair pins of any sort. Items that need to be considered, need to be approved and described as having such a use. For the sake of story telling, I can't imagine this is an issue but in the future, a GM may nerf a sudden item used to overcome a problem.
- Daggers do not pick locks. Too big, wrong tool.
- Whether you're following the old ruleset or the new one is up to you and your GM. As this adventure is just getting started, I cannot see why you cannot use the update, but ultimately it's up to your GM and what they have planned.)

[Neko]

((I'm ok with using the new system if you both are. Though that would mean Red needs to update himself. I'm ok with the hair pins as its easily concievable that you would have them.))

::Redblade reaches the gate first and finds the first his suspicions confirmed as the gate is indeed locked.

Dionne comes up second and takes her position to try and pick said lock. It is not a padlock, but built into the door itself. It's rusty from age and exposure to the damp air. She can tell from a look that its not going to be a quick feat.

And that is when the second of Redblade's suspicions is confirmed as two figures step from the shadows in the room at opposite ends. Both are human. There is a large man, with an equally large gut. Sweat gleams of his bald head from what little light comes down the open grate. His smiles through a freshly split lip, showing rotted teeth as he brandishes something between a meat cleaver and a machette and begins to advance on the pair.

The second man is shorter and lanky. long greasy hair falls down across his shoulders and masks his face. He holds daggers in each hand. With a practiced motion he flips one into a throwing position and hurls it towards Dionne's exposed and stationary back as he steps forward.::

[Redblade]

After noticing both men, Redblade knew he had to cover his female companion first. She had probably not even noticed their attackers yet, he thought. Plus she had entrusted him to cover her back while she tried to unlock the gate.

This was a difficult scenario, but he reacted quick and moved to cover Dionne by facing his back , which carried his shield, towards the masked man to try and deflect the thrown dagger while he reached into his pouch to grab a shuriken and throw it at the larger man.  The aim was not that important as to where it was aimed at his body, being that he seemed like a pretty big man, just hitting him with it was good enough to try and stun him for a second or two he hoped.

Hurry with that lock.  We have company.

[Deleted]

Upon hearing that they have company, Dionne's flames faded as she cursed. One of her needles snapped - She was not skilled enough to open the lock under pressure.

"Well, lets hope the kitty cat can handle herself better that she speaks." Dionne though, as she quickly got up, and face to face with Red, as she took her blades off her back with a sigh.

"She's on her own for the time being, I can't open the damn thing and one of my needles snapped in half... You're a bit close there, if we didn't have company, I'd part those peeping eyes from your head."

[Neko]

::Red felt a hard thud against his back as the dagger embedded itself in the wooden shield hard enough to rock Red forward a bit.

Red then throws shuriken at the approaching fat man. without taking the time to aim, they strike in a haphazard pattern and miss any vital areas. They do succeed in staggering the man tho as he pauses to grab the offending weapons from his body and toss them aside.


The thin man draws another dagger as he continues to advance on the pair. Once within range, he slashes out with both blades at Red, aiming to try and get around the edges of theshield on his back.::

[Deleted]

Pushing Red at the thin man so that the latter can not strike, Dionne sidesteps and aims a spinning strike at the back of the man, so that she could face the bigger foe. Wether or not it killed or connected properlly, she didn't care. Red had her back, time to repay the favour.

"Take the stick and bones one, I'll take care of the walking meatsack" She said, turning her head to shoot him a quick wink before trying to decide the best way to deal with what she'd consider a rather unfrienly looking meat cleaver.

[Redblade]

Having been kicked in the chest towards the smaller guy, Redblade had trouble trying to keep his balance.  His arms waved to his sides as he tried to get his footing together.  He could not even see what the smaller man was doing at this position, so he decided to drop to the ground on his back instead to get a better look before bumping into his attacker.

[Neko]

::Red staggers backwards from being pushed and bumps into the thin man who then also staggers backwards. But not before a few of his attacks cut past the edge of the shield leaving very slight cuts along Red's shoulders.

Dionne steps past Red and slashes out at the thin man as she advances on the big guy.

Red successfully drops onto his back and looks up in time to see the thin man looming over him, with a hand on his side clutching at a long slash there.

The big guy smiles through rotted teeth at Dionne as he advances with heavy handed chops from his weapon.::

"Piper don't like intruders. Gonna carve you up and have fun with the pieces, elf!"

[Deleted]

"Damn he's gross. I wonder if I could sell it to the butcher?" Dionne shruged her shoulder as her opponent approached, warming up slitghly. Bouncing on her toes, she considered the best strategy.

"Come and get them, creep. I'd almost believe you could have fun with my pieces, but I bet you haven't seen your own tool for a few years? But don't worry, I can see the rest, it's orbiting that gravity field of yours!" It was her intention to buy a little bit of time with her taunt.

[Redblade]

Feeling the cuts on his shoulders, he groaned softly since they were only minor cuts before falling on his back.  The skinny man looked busy with his injury, giving him time to get up and grab his shield off his back and try to smash the man's face with it.

[Neko]

::Redblade rolls to get to his feet just in time to avoid a stomp from the thin man standing over him. The man steps angrily towards Redblade and attacks with vicious swipes from a dagger that scratches along the woodshield Red was able to get up just in time. The ferocity of the attacks forces Red to step back to brace himself.


The fat man rages at Dionnes jibes and rushes forward the last few steps needed to close the gap and begins to rain heavy blows down at her...::

[Redblade]

This guy was on a frenzy. Redblade had to do something before his shield could not take it anymore.  He tries to get a good push towards his attacker to get some distance between them and be able to attack back.

Back off me you scum!

[Deleted]

Dionne giggles to agitate her opponent further, before dodging his first couple of strikes by faling back towards the gate.

"Did I hurt your feelings? Well, I'm sure not as hard as you would if you were to sit on me!" She kept backing and giggling mockingly with her hand to feel behind her and other to block if needed, and once she can feel it, she turns out, and jumped, kicking off the gate and going sideways into the sack of meat striking from above.

[Neko]

::Redblade shoves his shield into the attacker, bringing blood from a broken nose as he staggers back shaking his head.

Dionne backs towards the gate as she blocks the heavy blows from the man before her. While she is able to get her arm up in time to stop them, the blows are heavy and she can feel the jolts from the impact all along her arm.

Springing off the gate, she launches herself towards the fat man, who catches her with one meaty hand by her clothes. Raising his cleaver for a swipe at her head, he cries out and drops her to the ground as the attack from Dionne came, cutting deep into the shoulder of the arm that held her.::

[Redblade]

Finally getting an oportunity to attack back, Redblade pulls another two shurikens and aims them at the short man's chest and neck area before throwing them with a little extra force to make sure they hit their mark.

Although he was sure that the tattooed woman could defend herself, Redblade was worried about her still and wanted to hurry and help her defeat the larger man.  Not turning around to look at her, he yelled out to her.

You okay over there?!