Fight in the Cellar

The group descends the stairs into a large torchlit cellar that looks like it's been converted into barracks-style living quarters. The runaway archer stands at the end of a row of beds with wooden foot lockers, holding a new bow with an arrow aimed at the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, two assailants stand on either side of a long trestle table, both holding a scimitar ready to attack. The fourth slaver stands at the far end of the table, bow drawn.

Kenku charges down the stairs, scimitars drawn, and swings at the slaver to the left of the table. But the woman was ready for the attack and easily moves out of the way.

The archer at the other end of the table takes this opportunity to let her arrow fly straight at the kenku. She takes a step back from the force of the arrow's impact, saving her from being hit with a second arrow.

Two more arrows fly just over the kenku's head. She lets out a loud squawk!

Suddenly Illayana magically appears behind the archer and lashes out with her thorn whip her saying, "Bitch! You leave my sister alone! Come shoot your arrows at someone more your size!" The eladrin gives the vine a yank and pulls the the slaver towards her.

A spectral tentacle emerges from the floor between the archer and the woman fighting Kenku. It swings and strikes Kenku's opponent from behind.

Thamila then points her aquamarine crystal at the woman and finishes the slaver off with a beam of crackling energy.

A shimmering field surrounds Kenku as Darvin finishes a whispered prayer to Lathander. Then the cleric attacks the other slaver at the bottom of the stairs, barely connecting.

The slaver attacks Darvin with a scimitar. As it comes towards him, Darvin blocks the attack with his shield.

Kenku centers and grounds herself, steadying her body for the fight ahead before stepping up next to Darvin. She opens her beak and lets out a lion's roar before attacking and killing the slaver.

The man didn't even have time to react to what he was hearing and seeing.

Seemingly unfazed by the sudden appearance of the spectral tentacle, the slaver in front of Illayana drops her bow and draws a short sword. She turns around, and attacks the eladrin saying menacingly, "I'd be happy to take care of you before finishing off your sister."

The sudden and unexpected appearance of the halfling's spectral tentacle startled the eladrin slightly and she took a step back away from it. Thankfully the slaver didn't foresee her opponent's movement and stabbed into the space Illayana had just occupied.

"I'll never give you the chance," Illayana growls and then lashes out at the slaver with her thorn whip drawing blood.

Ned suddenly appears behind Thamila and says, "How does someone as little as you create something so creepy?"

The halfling startles and responds, "Not now Ned," the distraction causing her to miss with her next tentacle attack. Had her tentacle hit, the crackling energy from her spell would have finished off the slaver.

Darvin calls upon the power of Lathander and a flame-like radiance descended upon the slaver. She falls to the ground at the eladrin's feet.

Illayana looks down at the dead woman and says, "I told you you'd never get the chance, bitch." Then she looks over at Darvin and says, "Thank you."

Darvin replies, "Anytime. I'll always help those who have helped me."

The runaway archer watches in terror as all of her companions fall around her. She panics, and true to her nature, runs as fast as possible towards the corner of the room.

Suddenly the sounds of hideous soul-tormenting screams and booming fiendish laughter fills the room. Then a booming voice says, "Welcome to your deaths!" And more fiendish laughter.

The woman stops dead in her tracks. She sinks to the floor and sits trembling in the corner of the room.

"Kenku. That wasn't nice scarring that woman half to death," Illayanna admonishes.

"I was just trying to stop her from getting away," Kenku replies sounding exactly like Illayanna.

"She's in the corner, where do you think she could go?" asks Thamila.

"Things are never as they appear, especially in this house," Darvin says and goes over to the frightened woman.

She jumps when the human touches her shoulder and says, "It's ok. My friend didn't mean to terrify you, just scare you enough to stop running. Look she's just a little thing."

The woman looks over at the small kenku Darvin is pointing at. She shakes her head, trying to make sense of the situation. Thamila comes over and sits down next to the runaway archer attempting to make her more comfortable.

"Now that you know we won't hurt you, how about you help us out a bit," the halfling says persuasively.

The woman looks around at the companions and then at the halfing sitting next to her. She is still shaking a bit and doesn't know what to do in this situation.

Kenku comes over and says, "I sorry. Didn't mean to really scare," followed by a quiet whistle.

The archer seems to calm down and replies, "What is it you want from me?"

"I noticed you ran right for this corner, so tell me what's so special about it," Darvin asks.

"They'll kill me if I tell you. But then you might kill me for not telling," she starts and then takes a deep breath and continues, "It's a secret door. It leads to the caves and caverns."

"Thank you," Thamila says, "That was very brave of you. Will you continue to be brave and answer a few more questions? Who are they? How many are there?"

The runaway looks up at Ned and then Darvin before answering, "I can't tell you who they are, but I can tell you there's five of them in the caverns. What are you going to do with me?"

"We're true to our word and won't hurt you. But since we can't have you interfering either, we'll have to tie you up and leave you behind," replies Darvin and pulls out some rope.

Illayana turns to Kenku, concerned, and says in sylvan, "You're hurt."

Kenku responds in sylvan, "It's nothing. Let's finish this thing."

"Alright, but at least let me bandage you up first," Illayana concedes also in sylvan.

Thamila flops down on one of the beds and says, "Wow! That sounds almost like elvish but not. I don't know what you ladies are saying, but I could use a short rest my magical energy is spent."

"It was not my intent to exclude you. I did not think before I spoke, something my mother often admonishes me about. I want to use some of these herbs on Kenku's wounds and bandage them," Illayana says.

"Well while you two ladies rest, I think the rest of us should take a look around," Ned suggests. "I see two doors down there," Ned says while gesturing to the doors at the other end of the room.

Bouncing to his feet Darvin says, "Excellent idea, Ned!" The human sees Illayana finishing up with the kenku and asks, "Want to join us Illayana? Your sharp eyes are great at noticing things."

"Certainly. First, let me put my things away," she finishes neatly putting the bandaging supplies back into her bag. Then the eladrin gracefully stands up and the three head across the long room.