Chapter 5: A Risky Solution

[GravityEmblem]

Caelynn strikes the remaining Troll with an arrow as the other falls apart and melts on the floor. Ignoring her, it continues to slash and bite at the nearby guard, but he casts a shielding spell again, and slices its legs as the two other guards strike it with fire magic. After Valerie hits it with another arrow, the guards motion for the party to stop.

"It'll be dead soon enough," the first one says. Sure enough, after a few more seconds, it falls dead, burning and clawing at the second guard. All that's left in the chamber are two corpses, one melted, and one charred.

"I hope that answers your question," the guard says, catching her breath. "Now, presuming no more Trolls heard that Alarm, what did you come here for?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Caelynn Sneak Attacks Troll 2, hitting for 11 piercing damage.
Troll 1 cannot regenerate and dies.
Troll 2 attacks Golden Knight 2, who casts Shield. All three attacks miss.
Golden Knight 1 casts Fire Bolt, hitting Troll 2 for 11/2 = 5 fire damage. Golden Knight 2 attacks twice with his greatsword, dealing 22 slashing damage. Golden Knight 3 casts Fire Bolt, but misses.
Valerie Sneak Attacks Troll 2, hitting for 19 piercing damage.
Troll 2 cannot regenerate and dies.
END COMBAT!

[Daos]

"Are troll attacks common in this area?" Daos wonders.  "In any case, we require access to the Grand Academy.  We need to speak with one of the students there."

[GravityEmblem]

"Common?" the guard says, pondering the question. "Well, if you're traveling by one of the less-patrolled roads, then you might run into some. But they'd be hard-pressed to make it through Paragon City's defenses. I have no idea how they got into the Academy."

"One of the professors' blasted magic fair projects, no doubt," the second guard says bitterly. "I nearly lost a hand the last time Rott summoned a demon. In any case, the students are in the Panic Room. Nobody can reach them until this troll business is cleared up."

[Daos]

"Perhaps then we can help in solving the problem," Daos offers.  "If you have any healers we can visit first?" he adds, flinching in pain when he gestures with his arm too hard.

[HorizonsDream]

"How many trolls are left?" Caelynn asks as she tries to retrieve what arrows she can.

[GravityEmblem]

"There's a Cleric working in the hospital ward, a few halls down," the guard answers. "But he's probably got his hands full with this troll business. But if you think you can help, maybe he can spare a spell or two."

"Just don't ask to smell his breath, he hates that joke," the second guard says, before he gets elbowed by the third. She tells Caelynn, "I'm afraid we don't know. They said it was two dozen, and we just killed two. If we're lucky, those were the last two. More likely, there are still twenty-two left."

[Daos]

"I don't think we can handle a score more of those things," Daos remarks.  "But maybe we can do something to help.  Come on, let's go see this cleric," he says to the others.  "And figure out what to do from there."

[HorizonsDream]

Caelynn shakes her head and follows after Daos. "I don't think any if us can take another hit from one of those things," she says softly.

[GravityEmblem]

"Like I said, he's a few halls down," the guard says, pointing out the chamber door. "Just follow the signs."

Daos and Caelynn lead the way through the tall, stone halls, followed by Meine, Valerie, and Miss Serpentine. At each corner, wooden signs with glimmering magical writing on them point the way to one place or another--the Teleportation Chamber, the Great Hall, the Archmage's Tower, and the Hospital Wing. Everyone steps lightly, but there don't seem to be any more trolls in this part of the school.

When they reach the entrance to the hospital ward, Valerie knocks gently on the door. In a few seconds, it opens, giving everyone a shock.

The person standing before them wears a flowing white robe, but beyond that, his appearance is alien. His hands are four-fingered, with long, sharp claws instead of nails. His head is the very image of a dragon, and his "skin" is gleaming silver scales. Meine and Valerie stare in surprise, and even Selena seems taken aback.

He grunts and says, in a gruff, but soft tone, "Never seen a Dragonborn before? Well, if you're done gawking, get inside if you don't want to be troll food."

[Daos]

"I've seen your people once before," Daos remarks, remembering Atrel Crestnell.  He quickly steps inside with the others.  "We were hoping for a bit of healing; we just arrived into town and had to dispatch two trolls."

[HorizonsDream]

Caelynn doesn't seem to be all that surprised like everyone else, but she does find it amusing that the dragonborn seems a little guff for a supposed healer. She is assuming that he is the healer. "Do you have a lot of patients?" she asks. If trolls were trying to take over the place, she was guessing that this guy was busy.

[GravityEmblem]

He shakes his head, sadly. "Not many patients. Just a lot of corpses. Come in," he says. 

"I'll stay out here, keep watch for any more trolls," Miss Serpentine interjects. Meine gives her an odd look, but doesn't say anything.

The ward is clean and long, with dozens of beds--each with an injured mage laying on it. Most of them are dead, but a few appear to be breathing, but unconscious. There are also bottles full of red liquid on shelves--healing potions, most likely.

"If you fought your way into the Grand Academy, I'm surprised you only had to kill two," the healer says.

[Daos]

"No, we arrived via teleport circle," Daos explains.  "We're actually looking for a gnomish student named Tympany Trite.  You wouldn't happen to know her?" he asks.

[GravityEmblem]

"Tympany? Everyone knows Tympany, with the way she goes around yelling at people," the healer answers, examining Daos' injuries. "What do you want her for?"

[Daos]

"We have reason to believe her life may be in danger," Daos answers.  "I'm afraid I can't say more than that.  Do you know where we could find her?  Is she among your patients here?"