Chapter 5bis (Autumn 1013): South along the Pennines

Ouch. The water hits him squarely in the back, knocking the air out of him. The water is not only freezing cold like the pool, but icy cold in a way that only magic can do. It literally tries to suck all the heat from his body.

  • Kinetic damage is 13 less soak. Heavy wound unless soak is at least three; a confidence point reduces it to medium.
  • The magic effect has penetration 8. If he cannot resist it is another damage of 10 less soak. Note soak is rolled against this damage, not against the first one.

Despite being more mage than warrior, Thom's naked body takes the brunt of the surprise assault from the thing in the water.

[Kinetic Blow: medium wound, magic effect: soaked. Confidence pts spent: 2]

Maybe Thom's luck or his natural fae confidence or perhaps just the invisibility combine to help him avoid an even more grievous injury.

"Umph..." Thom stumbles toward the stairs and Turold's assistance.

Turold grabs a good hold of Thom's hand to pull him out of the water. He isn't very heavy, so that's going to work out, except that the elemental is following. It is a strange sight ... a body of water moving in a pool of water. You can hardly tell what is elemental and what is just water, except when one of those bludgeoning arms extends from the surface.

Does Edwin or Betula want to act while Thom is being helped out of the attacking water?

Edwin grabs one end of a towel and tosses the other end towards Thom to give him something to grab hold of. A drowning man will clutch at straws, Edwin thinks, and tries to help without getting too close to the elemental

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Thom can get hold of the towel so that Edwin can help pull, but co-ordinating the towel with Turold's more direct help is difficult, and it does not make an awful lot of difference to the total help.

At least Edwin can maintain safe distance.

Betula rushes to the door to the steam room, holding it open but ready to close it behind her compatriots.

"Remember the splash of boiling water, Betula." Turold says to Betula, as she heads for the other room, while finishing to pull out Thom. "Might be an elemental too."

Thom takes Turold's hand, a grimace on his face. He says nothing as he gets out of the water.

As Thom stumbles onto the floor, another water bludgeon shoots from the water, this time aiming for Turold, just as they are ready to run.

Attack roll 12. Out of the water, Turold has a +6 bonus on the defense from invisibility.

The elemental does not leave the water when you run into the steam bath.

Rolled a 4, so that's a ten, will add a confidence point. Turold is retreating, knowing he can't do anything to fight back.

You all get into the small antechamber. Those who went into the pool shiver from the cold, and the hot steam from the the bath behind the curtain helps only a little. Otherwise the antechamber feels safe and nobody disturbs you, so you have time to discuss what to do next.

"That hurt," says Thom as he winces from the attack that is already bruising his left side.

"I'm not sure I like this place anymore."

He's clearly in pain, gritting his teeth.

"If you lower your Parma I can make sure it won't get worse... or better as long as the spell lasts, might be wise while we travel."

Thom does as instructed, saying nothing, but nodding his thanks.

"This place would require some magical expertise to inhabit to be sure. I suppose it's not unusual for places with vis for spirits and other magical creatures to settle after so long."

Betula casts Bind Wounds gently touching the large bruise that is forming as she finishes casting her hand seeming to linger longer than necesary. "This will only last until sunset, at which point you will need to rest or have it recast."

"Well, yes, there may be a few... Difficulties with living here that may need to be surmounted but the magic is not weak and might be stronger if we return the spirit to her rightful place. And perhaps she would be of some assistance."

"Thank you," says Thom with a grimace.

"Let's get our clothes and get out of these baths."

"Yes, though perhaps I should ask the Indulgence something more," and with that she turns towards the door to the hot baths and enters.

Turold will follow Betula, staying clear of the boiling water along the way.

Thom stays close to them though he walks slower.