Third Floor Troubles
Running forward Dusk swings her weapon bisecting an undead dog, the creatures form emaciated and barely held together. Using her sister as a springboard Dawn leaps forward with a maniacal laugh and slams her rapier to the hilt into the skull of an undead cow, the creatures long horns shattered and one eye hanging by a meaty thread as it lets out a bellow and topples to the side. Gung hangs behind the pair and continuously fires bolts into the marketplace as the growls and pained moans fill the air as undead owner and animal alike fall back to death. Poppa charges forward and locks arms with rotting ettin, one of its two heads completely rotted away and only left with a skeletal face snapping at the render as the other head hangs limply with a bolt embedded in the slave tattoo on its forehead.
Sarah smiles as she throws a bolt of flame from her hands and lights a strange snake creature on fire, Flippy charging through the burning foe and rending its mate to pieces as the Al-Miraj imitates Sarah's spell and ignites a skeletal corpse on the ground before it can rise. Elrick struggles against a skeletal dwarf, its flesh gone but strangely its beard remains as they exchange blows back and forth before the skeleton lets out a pained moan and turns to ash. Jenny nods nervously before rushing to Chunk's side and running her hand along his opponents belly, the large fishman gurgling in confusion before it falls to an ashen heap.
"Glad you learned the smite skill before we left Jenny! Perfect for these weaker undead." Shouts Elrick as he slaps a dagger into the back of an undead Erker's skull, the insectile humanoid falling into a heap as Tommy rushes forward with a dagger and begins repeatedly gutting the creature while muttering frantically under his breath.
As the group finishes off the last of the undead the bosses look around and begin checking for anything of interest in the small marketplace. Despot smiles happily as he adds several sets of manacles to his inventory as well as a pillory and a rusted iron maiden found near the auction stage. Tobias frowns at the scritcher boss before turning back to a ramshackle tent filled with various statues, most of the broken or worn but the gargoyle grabs three that look to be in good shape. Lafey can be seen browsing a rug left laying nearby, instruments and sheet music covered in grime sitting on top of it while a small hat filled with dirt and rust sits at the corner.
"I be thinkin the merchant meant somethin else. Dere not be much here even though it be the smallest of da circles." Slax says before he notices a small candle burning inside one of the houses. Pointing to it Tyr nods and whistles getting the attention of Dusk, Despot, and Tobias. As the three make their way to her she slowly sneaks her way forward until she is next to the door and can reach the handle. Counting silently to three she pushes at the handle and flinches as it squeals open and various hushed whispers can be heard from inside.
"Anybody in there? We mean you no harm as long as you do the same. We come to defeat the infection in this place and were told to search this floor thoroughly." Shouts Tyr cautiously before the sounds of tiny legs can be heard.
As the scuttling stops the group watches as a bald headed man with a wispy beard and cherubic cheeks peeks around the door frame with fear in his eyes. As he looks at the random bosses he lets out a frightful gasp and darts back inside before attempting to slam the door shut but failing as Tyr's new axe head jams into the opening.
"Damnit! I shouldnta come out, been so long though, so long. Need medicine too or Della won't make it and she can't be one of those dead things. They'll know oh they will yes yes yes. Gotta hide, they won't come back in. Dead things don't come in the houses just wander the streets. Yes hide and wait, survive and scrounge yes I will, hafta or I die and Della dies and we end up likes Jax and Koos." Mumbles an aged voice erratically, madness and fear evident as Tyr and Slax enter the building and see piles of salvaged materials from weapons and armors to magically sealed food and bedding made up of rotted clothes. In the center of it all is the same man from before kneeled overtop of a wrinkled mousekin woman, her chest barely rising and falling as his glowing hands fizzle and die out before he forces them active again. Hearing the duo enter the man jumps up and grabs a rusted mace from a nearby pile and holds it out in front of him, hands shaking violently as he glances back and fourth between the two.
"Easy friend. We not be lookin for trouble. We might bein able to help you if you let us." Slax says gently as he mumbles a spell under his breath and vibrant green totem grows up from the floorboards, a gentle wind surrounding the woman's body as the wrinkles lessen slowly and her breathing becomes more regular.
"You.....you helped Della.....Thank you....your not of this place are you? Not you or the monsters with you...what do you want and why would you help us when we are doomed to join this place?" The man asks shakily as he continues holding the mace out, but is slowly lowering it as the conversation goes on.
"No sir, we're a party of adventurers and boss creatures from a friendly dungeon nearby. This place attacked us and our lord decided it needed to be dealt with. The Merchant told us to search this floor and we decided to hit the smaller shopping circles first before the big rows. We didn't think anyone would be alive in here honestly and we'd love to know how." Tyr explains as the man nods before falling backwards and sits nervously.
"I remember how this happened. Been a long time but I remember when this city turned into a death trap. My names Ferrick Glimmertoe and I was a mechanist for the kings castle. I heard the start of it. Your sure you want to know? If I tell you you promise to get us out? There's more of us around, hiding like rats, eking out a day at a time. Ok then I guess it started when the whispers started happening..." Mumbles Ferrick distantly as he begins the tale of the fall of Gotyr.