The large gnoll leader charged ruby before it stopped. A sensation in both it's and her brain. That hesitation wasn't present in the girl. Two gun shots rang out as the creature's chest cavity was laid open. It was dead before her scythe had left it's flesh.
The remaining gnolls were whipped up into a panicked frenzy. From the cliff more spells came down ripping apart the remaining gnolls.
Thalia chopped the head off a hyena as Wylls blasts ripped holes in the gnolls. Durge had his fist clenched around the throat of gnoll as lightning armed through its body before the clawed hand ripped the throat free. Karlach finished off the last one by stomping on it's head.
Chapter 14: The Lost Duke and The Theives Cave
Ruby knelt down as another tadpole squirmed out of the Gnolls head. Stomping down on it, she crushed it under the sole of her boot. There was a... strange, frustrated sensation in the back of her mind. Gale Alfira and Shadowheart picked their way down the cliff. "Excellent." Gale said as Durge and Wyll stripped the dead gnolls of salvageable gear.
Durge stopped next to the gnoll leader and picked up the multi headed whip.he hung it from his belt and handed the spear Shadowhert. "I'll use the whip. This is a stronger weapon then your current spear."
Shadowheart nodded and took the skull headed spear. Then as Thalia lifted a glowing blue scimitar the fire at the mouth of the cave died down and two men exited. "Thank's I'm Rugan... any chance our caravan made it?"
"Sadly not." Wyll said walking up to the two men. The second man with Rugan dragged an Iron chest behind him.
"Be careful with that. We lost too many to lose the shipment now!" Rugan shouted.
"Sorry... just... worst day of my life is all." The younger man said.
"Your lucky to be alive, those gnolls have been terrorizing the roads for weeks, the got my Caravan as well." Alfira said. "On your way to Baldurs gate?"
"Yeah, we'll stop at Wauken's Rest, we got some friends there, head to a shed on the far side of the compound.Tell the bloke at the door 'Little serpent, long Shadow,."
"Lot of people died for that delivery." Karlach chimed in.
"Well, pays the same, We'll make sure their families get the deads cut, we take care of our own, especially when tarenths are involved." Rugan said.
"Tarenths, your Zhentarim." Wyll said resting a hand on the hilt of his rapier.
"Indeed, you know who we are, then you also know how useful it is to be owed a debt by us." Rugan looked around. "I'll pit a word in with the lady incharge, for now, feel free to salvage what you can." Rugan gestured back to the cave. Ruby could see loots of supplies that could be useful.
Wyll grinded his teeth and removed his hand from the weapon. "Right now I would rather more allies then enemies. Safe travels." Rugnan and the other man picked up the heavy iron chest and made their way down the road.
Inside the cave were coins, food, and wine. In a chest, Karlack found magic bracers that fit her as Thalia tested her new sword with circular swings. It was a light and quick scimitar. She sheathed it opposite her previous scimitar. Ruby picked up bottles of alchemist fire."More clothes." Shadowheart cracked open a crate. "And a bag of holding. This will be useful when we eventually move camp." She tossed the sack over to Alfira. "Bunch of clothes dyes as well."
Durge found a pointed purple wizard's hat and placed it on Gale's head. The brim bent on one side. "Hats." he grunted.
Once everything was in order the group left for Waukeens rest. "Is that smoke?" Karlach asked.
As the approached the building compound thick black smoke billowed upwards as multiple structures burned. The group took off in a sprint to the courtyard where armed men an women in chain mail were throwing buckets of water on the fire at a group tried busting down the broken door, a dead drow laid out in a puddle of blood.
"Put your backs into it!" A woman shouted.
"What's going on?" Wyll asked.
"Thank the gods help, the counselor and Grand Duke Ravengaurd are still inside!" The flaming fist shouted.
"Ravengaurd!? He's here!" Why shouted surprised.
Ruby too a step back and dashed forward smashing through the door in a storm of Petals the Inside she found a woman trapped in a room who she grabbed and burst out yhe window. Wyll came out with another man who went to cough and sob by the central fountain.
"By the gods... what..." The woman said dusting herself off. "Wyll, thank the gods, I was hoping for a miracle."
"Counciler Florrick, what's going on?" Wyll asked.
"Something terrible has happened, the drow have captured your father Wyll. They took the Granduke." The dark skinned elf wiped soot from her skin and fine purple dress.
"Wyll, your the son of the grand Duke?" Alfira asked.
"I'll explain later. Do you know where they have taken him?" Wyll asked.
"To Moonrise towers." Counciler Florrick stated. "What ever plans they have for your father it involves the Absolute."
"The goblins and that man and woman said they followed the absolute." Ruby said.
"Yes, it's a growing concern, they seem to be amassing a army in the shadow cursed lands." Florrick stated. "The Fist and I need to return to the city, Wyll, please I need you to save your father, I know your relationship isn't... the greatest."
"Florrick, do you really believe that I would allow the cities greatest defender to did, We'll save my father." Wyll pounded his chest.
From the bag of holding Florrick produced a staff, it hummed with magical energy. "I can't offer much right now, but consider this a early reward."
"That's the spell Sparkler. I'll happily put it to use against our enemies." Gale took the staff to replace his own.
"Fist, prepare to head to the city!" Florrick shouted.
Soon they were gone and Wyll looked down at the water in the fountain. "No matter how much time passes between now and yesterday the past always seems to catch up...:
"Wyll... are you okay?" Karlach asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's see if our illicit friends are still here. After we put out the fires and salvage what we can."
Between Gale and Durge the fires were extinguished quickly. A large amount of cheese, wines and some meats were saved.
Heading over to the shed Wyll opened the door. He bare took two steps in when a mage ignited his hand from cover. "Little serpent long shadow." Wyll said glaring at him.
""Shit I thought you were flaming Fist, here's the key, head down through the hatch and head through the wardrobe."
The hatch led to part basement part cave full of storage the the wardrobe one the far wall was a hidden door leading to a cave system. "Touch nothing." Wyll ordered.
Wyll took the lead one hand always on his blade till the wall opened up to the rest of the cave. "That's far enough!" A woman shouted. The party stopped to look over at her. "State yer business and we might not kill you."
"Hang on, that's lads and lasses that saved us from the gnolls." Rugan stated.
"Your tounge get any looser and I'll cut it out myself." The woman stated. "Seems your a friend of the family. Come in then."
The gate was unlocked as they walked through Thalia stopped. "This place is trapped to the nine hells... don't make any sudden movements." The party weather down the rocky slope into the lower section of the cave. As the walked buy a man in paint covered green clothes stopped them.
"You need to buy me." He demanded.
"Sorry what?" Ruby asked.
"Oh, I'm their hostage and their using my skill as a painter to bring in money for these thieves."
"I'll take care of this." Alfira said. "Can't leave another Artist in danger like this."
"I'll stick with the bard, go speak with the leader." Durge said crossing his arms as the three of them went to discuss a price.
"I hate the Zhentarim..." Wyll said under his breath. "But... they will have powerful magic weapons."
Climbing up the ladder the came face to face with the leader. "Well I suppose I owe you thanks. I see you're bleeding hearts are already paying us for the dead weight of that artist, shame. He did make us quite a bit of coin. But we can't afford to drag him around for long." She said. "Take this, and feel free to buy whatever you want." She Wyll a crossbow, "And you the girl with the scythe, the blade, it's infernal iron right? Or atleast that's what Rugan told me."
"Yes?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Well I got a chunk of some infernal iron in one of our chests. It's yours, for a price. Three hundred and fifty gold pieces or that scythe of yours. I got some weapon collectors who would pay handsomely for what Rugan described."
"No." Ruby said flatly. "I'm not selling Crescent Rose. I built her myself."
"Oh, so your also a black Smith then, how about a job. Work as a zhent Smith and provide the guild with weapons like that and you'll be a rich lady."
"No. We have our own concerns." Ruby said sternly. "I'll pay the 350 for the infernal iron." Ruby pulled out her coin purse, the gold the party had split was about five hundred a person. Ruby had tied ten coins together in stacks with twine. "... thirty three, thirty four, thirty five."
"Hmm neat trick. I might start doing this." The theif said pocketing the coin. "Rugan get the iron." She ordered. The man ran off and took a few minutes to come back with the infernal metal. Ruby threw it in her sack.
The group spent some time selling and buying their gear. Wyll held a new rapier called the Rupturing blade. Alfira and Wyll got new padded armor, wylls a deep red and gold, while Alfira had pink and silver. Alfira got a pair of gloves that helped her pick locks... and pockets.
Thalia sold her armor for a new set that was more sturdy and gave better protection. The hides died white and green, along with leather bracers enchated to shot thorns. Karlach got a bow called the Titan string bow. Wyll sold the crossbow the Zent had given him for a crossbow called the Giantbreaker. Shadowheart bought herself a magic breastplate dyed black and purple.
Gale and durge got themselves magic robes, Durge's was dark blue with silver highlights, it left a deep v cut in the chest leaving his scaled and muscled chest exposed. Gale got a robe of purple cloth and leather straps. Also got a proper undamaged hat.
After every thing was traded, keeping the best weapons to give to the teiflings at the grove, each member had around four hundred gold and eight health potions each.
They also had bought the Zhentarim out of as much food and explosives as they could.
The artist thanked Alfira, "Once you reach the city, my patron will pay you back ten fold."
Everyone fixed their gear ready to leave and get out of the cave. Once they left the cave the sun was starting the head to ward the western horizon.
"Back to the grove?" Shadowheart asked.
They all nodded and made the long treat back to their camp where they introduced Karlach to Withers.
Little did they know that it wouldn't be restful night at camp.
Hey author here, we just crossed 7500 veiws. I kinda want to see how fast we Han hit 25,000 as a benchmark. Thanks for the kind reviews. And I hope your all doing well, if you got this far well, I think we can all assume that we are in for a long haul of a story.
I want to see how long you think the BG3 portion of this story will be. I have my estimate. But I'm curious how much it is for you.
Ruby Rose stats, class, and racial abilities
Class Fighter lv 5
Subclass Champion
Great weapon fighting style (rerolls one's and twos on damage)
Hp: 45 (3 d12 plus 0)
Strength: 18 (base 17)
Dexterity: 16 (base 15)
Constitution:10
Wisdom: 8
Intelligence:12
Charisma: 10
Race Human Variant (Remnant)
Feats:
Ability score improvement: plus 1 str plus 1 Dex
Savage Attacker : Reroll damage once take highest
Base Speed: 45 ft Total speed: 55 ft
Aura: 10 temp hit points per level (50 Thp) (resets on long rest)
Semblance: Petal Dash; Dash action is now a bonus action
Improved Critical: reduces critical requirements by 1 (18-20)
Action Surge: Gain an extra action
Extra attack x1
Gear:
Infernal Crescent Rose: plus 2 to damage and rolls to hit, 2 d 12 slashing an fire damage plus strength. 2 d 8 Piercing plus Dex when firing.
Infernal Critical, Reduces critical by 1, and on a critical hit target auto fails save against burn condition.
Searing Petal Smite: While Dashing from at least 60 ft away, auto cast searing smite at lv 2. 2d6 fire damage. Once per short rest.
All but Ruby Rose have disadvantage with this weapon.
Elemental bullets: 2d4 elemental damage added to ranged attacks.
Two-handed, heavy, extra reach
Cleave lacerate trip enemies, peircing shot
1 Half plate armor: Ac 18 (16 plus 2 dex) Medium armor. Reduces piercing damage by 1.
Haste Helm: Plus 10 ft to movement first three turns of combat (Effectively just 10 ft because I'm not drawing out combat for more then 3 rounds except for major bosses) plus one dex save
Speedy Light Feet: Gain three lightning charges when Dashing. Lightning charges deal additional damage on weapon and spell attacks.
Ruby's Explossive bag:
7 Alchemist fire bottles
8 smoke powder bombs
2 smoke powder bags