The Companions of Tartiël Read Online Free PDF Page B

down and moved my figurine next to the token representing the wererat.
    Clapping my hands together and folding them, I happily announced, “I grapple him. And, since he’s in human form and unarmed, he doesn’t get an AoO [7] on me.” I picked up my d20.
     
    *
     
    Kaiyr darted forward, releasing his grasp on his soulblade. The weapon blinked out of existence as the blademaster dove on the wererat in a headlong tackle that sent them both sprawling to the floor. “Subdue him,” the elf grunted as he tangled the foe in his robes and began battering him about the head with his fists.
    Caineye joined the fray in short order as Wild kicked the door closed, and they soon had an unconscious human sprawled on the floor. Kaiyr rose and smoothed out his robes and midnight-blue hair. “Has anyone any rope?”
    “I do,” Caineye said, reaching for his satchel. Kaiyr nodded toward the naked man on the floor, and the druid needed no more urging, quickly binding the human. Then the two taller folk picked him up and set him on one of the beds.
    “This changes things,” Kaiyr said evenly, folding his arms across his chest. “Wererats. I know a little of them. Evil creatures, for the most part, but their state of being is not entirely their fault.”
    “Do you think he was trying to get out and report to his master?” Wild asked, putting emphasis on the last word.
    Kaiyr nodded. “Ready yourselves for battle. It is time we had a talk with this one’s master, and I believe I know who it is.”
    Caineye and Wild nodded, the former pulling out a sling and loading it with a stone, then readying his shield in his other hand. Vinto stalked toward the closed door, growling.
    “Vinto, stay back,” the druid said calmly. “We don’t know what’s out there, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”
    Kaiyr watched as the wolf returned to Caineye’s side, his teeth still bared. “It is my duty as a blademaster to protect you, Masters Caineye and Wild. I shall take point.”
    The party moved out into the hall. Kaiyr’s keen eyes could pierce the shadows with a clarity above and beyond that of the human or the halfling. Taking great pains not to be heard, they stalked down the corridor, stopping at the entrance to the main hall. But their stealth was in vain; it seemed they were expected.
    “I see you’ve dealt with one of my underlings,” Cobain said, sneering at the group. “I’m sorry, but I can’t have the three of you meddling in such important affairs.” Vinto growled as though upset at having not been counted as part of the group. “Your curiosity will be the death of you all. Get them!” As one, the brethren changed shape in a grotesque display. Joints popped, and fur sprouted over their bodies. Cobain underwent a change as well, but his final form was more fearsome than that of the others. Where the acolytes turned into half-rat, half-human monstrosities, Cobain took on many of the trappings of a wolf with silver fur that glinted in the moonlight streaming in the windows. “Leave none alive,” he growled, his voice gravelly and full of the promise of death.
     
    *
     
    “Oh, shit,” I swore, looking at the battle grid before us and not seeing much chance of survival. “Wererats I can deal with, but a werewolf?” I looked at the other guys and mouthed, “We’re fucked,” at them.
    “Dingo,” Matt said, throwing down his pencil. “Seriously?”
    “Seriously,” the DM replied. “Roll initiative [8] .”
    We did as directed, but I wasn’t done yet. “Dingo, you do realize that werewolves are CR [9] three creatures, right? We’re only level one. We shouldn’t be fighting these things for two more levels. Hell, and they have DR ten-silver [10] . I don’t think any of us can even hurt this guy. I know you said you run challenging games, but this is just brutal .”
    Xavier shook his head when I looked at him. “I could use produce flame , but I’d still have to hit, and it only does a dee-six plus one