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>>122812"We can open it, but we need hammer or something similar to bust lock on it."
>>122814>>122815"Either hidden or on one of them" She answers
Then the new, red hippogriff enters, and adds to the conversation
"On a night like this, when he'd expect to open it, he'd have it on his person"
>>122816>>122815Iron was about to respond to Silver when he notices the new entrant, looking at it in contemplation. "Who are you?" he asks
>>122817Her eyes go back, and she moves back a little
"My... my name is Undertoe. I've been kept here as a servant..."
>>122818With a nod, Iron steps forth. "Do you know the room's owner?" he asks tentatively, with almost giddy excitement
>>122819She breathes in, then breathes out, pulling back into a position in the doorway that separates the foyer and the office
"Yes..."
>>122819>>122820"Maakie...perhaps we will have to take safe with us. Whatever he had inside it must be of value."
>>122821Blue Shekels, who has been peering around the desk, opening drawers, looking through them, going into the hallway and peering around, and now looks skeptically at the new rescuee, volunteers:
"Come back for it. Either we strike Maakie first, or he strikes us.... and I think there are more of them..."
>>122822Silver nods. "That is also good idea. It is not as though this area will become off limits after we face him."
>>122823>>122822>>122821>>122820After some consideration, Iron nods. "Agreed, we must take down that Maakie griffon before we can freely explore more of this place." With that, he turns to Skies. "I assume you want to strike now?"
>>122824"Unless we would be more ready later, or if we want to take the defensive. Yes."
>>122824>>122825"Let us head downstairs. We can work out our plan of attack with others."
>>122826Johann:
"There are more? Very good"
Skies nods
White Sands says nothing, and Undertoe moves forward slightly and sheepishly says
"Alright..."
>>122827>>122826>>122825With a shrug, Iron nods. "Fair enough," he responds before going next to Sands with a watchful gaze towards Undertoe, considering about the rogue agent in this building.
>>122828White Sands in kind looks back to undertoe, who stares back and does not seem eager to move forward past the stallions.
Eventually Blue Skies exits the room, then Johann, then White Sands, while Undertoe remains in the doorway to the other room
>>122829Iron narrows his brow, looking at the hippogriff questioningly before beckoning her to move past the stallions to follow the group. "Come on," he responds "Unless you seek to reunite with your slavemasters instead."
>>122830To this she gives a more intense look, almost a glare. But she cautiously moves forward, taking a "long route" and only breaking eye contact with Iron to look at Silver, and once Johann (who is in front of Iron, and past him). But she comes forward, though still not past Iron
>>122831Iron rolls his eyes as he plants himself in a way where she's in front of the others, with Iron at the backlines.
>>122831Silver gives a reassuring smile to Undertow. "I can trot with you if you would like."
>>122834Iron sniffs softly before sneezing loudly, wiping his nose.
>>122835The sneeze almost Startles Skies, who turns around and looks back, while Johann pulls back a little, and covers the top of his beak with his right claw, looking with a slight mixture of judgement and concern towards Iron
>>122833She looks to him
"Alright"
And walks up beside him, but separate two feet or so, as much as the narrow corridors and rooms will allow
>>122836Iron chuckles softly before shaking his head, deciding to stay at the back of the group.
>>122837The group goes ahead. Skies in the front, Johann near her, presumably Silver and Undertoe next, then Iron who has White Sands near him
>>122838Iron makes sure to wrap a foreleg around Sands' barrel, to ensure she doesn't disappear due to that
nefarious soultaker >>122839She could use the warmth, as she feels fairly cold, coming closer to Iron. She seems to share Iron's suspicion of the Hippogriff, as she looks forward towards her
>>122838Silver makes sure he doesn't make Undertow/Undertoe uncomfortable while they return to the atrium.
>>122841>>122839tfw wrote everything but lost it when writing the last wordUndertoe looks back, but moves forward with increasing confidence as they go down first the wooden stairs, then the stone stairs, then down to the first floor and exit into the hallway
As soon as the ponies enter the hallway, they stumble upon Jubilosa, who seemed to be running, and halted, scratching into the tile floor to avoid sliding. She wears and expression of startlement and fear that does not completely dissipate when she recognizes who is coming out of the stairwell. She mouths something to the ponies, though she does not say it outloud.
Further down the hall, from around the corner and from the atrium, there is the sound of barking. A higher pitched, "yip" barking, and a lower pitched, louder, rough
Woof >>122843Iron snorts bemusedly, reading his stance to encounter these yipping foes.
>>122843Wordlessly, Silver rushes towards the barking, drawing his sword along the way.
>>122844Jubilosa draws nearer, and says to Iron
"Somecreature came in. In the atrium"
>>122845Going down and then peering into the atrium from the East side, Silver can see the scene
There is a big, burly Diamond Dog draped in red with white trim and golden patterns. He is carrying what resembles a single edged sword, with the blade extending with a triangular shape past a point near the end. He is growling at Mala, who does not seem to have his own sword but is growling, moving back and forth. The dog will make a swipe as Mala moves back, while trying to come in to stop the second intruder: a griffin. He wears a white robe and tries to dance around to untie other griffins on the ground who sometimes call out in a foreign language. Every now and then, Mala will have enough distance to lung towards this griffin, causing him to retreat, but not for long, and not by much
>>122846Is this robed griffon within charging range for Silver?
>>122847Not within a single turn, but in two, yes
>>122848Silver runs into the atrium, intending to help support Mala and keep the robed griffon at bay.
"Ублюдок с перьями!"
>>122846With a shrug, Iron steps forth, wondering what sort of enemy is around the corner.
>>122850He sees a big, burly diamond dog near the center of the room, moving forward. Mala is in full retreat, running towards the opposite corner, and the Diamond Dog follows to give him no respite. Meanwhile, a white robed griffin is trying to untie a another griffin, before looking up to Silver, who seems to want to challenge him. Prisoner griffins holler and yell in foreign tongues to harass their captors and encourage their rescuers
>>122849The white robed griffin hears this, looking up towards Silver, readying one of those wavy daggers
>>122851Silver points the sword towards the griffon while trying to keep him away from the prisoners.
"You are outnumbered and outmatched. Surrender and you will not be harmed."
>>122851Iron cocks his head at the scene, unsure of what's going on, turning to Sands."What is this place?"
>>122852He dives back down, trying to untie a griffin
>>122853"Don't you recall? This is the bottom floor. The place you all decorated with so much blood and fire"
>>122854Iron nods once, quick to remember. "Right," he responds before turning to the potential enemies.
[1d20+5 = 12]>>122854Charge: Silver charges the robed griffon, sword pommel first to try to knock him out.
[1d20+5 = 18]>>122856The griffin moves back, and Silver only just barely misses him. But miss him he does. The Griffin moves and tries to strike him with his dagger
[1d20+1 = 7]>>122855The Dog himself now looks over towards Iron, and raises his sword
Roll initiative [1d20+4 = 13]>>122858The dagger just barely finds its way past his armor, but the wound is little more than a cut for him.
>>122860Though the griffin may have been happy to have a nick, his face betrays a look of dismay when Silver does not run from him
Hit [2d6+5 = 9]>>122861Silver strikes the griffon with the hilt of his sword like a club.
[1d20+5 = 17]>>122864He is hit upside the head around the beak with an "umph"
But he looks back, steadies himself, and swipes back at iron with his wavy dagger