"Please explain how the wardstones are linked to the demonscope and this essence."
Priestess:
“When Saint Clydwell first arrived in Mendev from the south, he faced a massive legion of demons who could teleport into the heart of the most heavily defended fortress,
preventing his men from having any place to recover from their wounds or recuperate from the rigors of battle.
It was impossible to contain the demons, and he knew defeat was inevitable unless he could create some sort of safe zone. To deal with
this problem, he created a powerful artifact from the essence of a captured demon.
Ironically, it is that evil essence that enables us to use the Demonscope to detect other demons and prevent them from teleporting past our defenses.
It has been invaluable in helping us stay a step ahead of them. But the strength of the artifact might be its downfall.
There has always been the chance that one of the Holy Sentinels would not be up to the challenge of confronting the demon, and I suspect that is what has happened now.
Some weak-willed fool has allowed the beast to corrupt the vessel, and now it is beginning to fail.”
"So what do we need to do to stop that happening, can we provide a new Holy Sentinel or rescue the old one? What would you have us do?"
Priestess:
“We need to act quickly to strengthen the Demonscope and prevent the demons from reaching it. According to the soldiers, there are pockets of resistance preventing the demons from completely overrunning the keep, but they are cut off from each other, making it difficult for them to coordinate their efforts.
With the magical protections fading, greater numbers of demons are teleporting into the keep, but not so many that it’s impossible to retake it—at least not yet. With the Demonscope back up to strength, the demons already there will be easier to deal with. The problem is that those sneaky bastards tricked us by diverting a large company of soldiers to the north. As it turns out, it was a false alarm—one I’m sure the demons engineered to keep us shorthanded.”
Sorriel nods,
"Try to get word to those soldiers, we will enter the Keep and do what we can. Gods grant us the time to stop this!"
Priestess:
“There’s a secret tunnel to the keep. A small strike force like yourselves could accomplish more than a larger group of soldiers and probably do it a lot quicker. I can take you to the entrance if you’ll help.”
"Take us there, let us move!"
Priestess:
She takes you to the tunnel.
"This is as far as I go, as I'll be helping those in need here.
And Good luck."
Bresna unsheathes her rapier, nearly shaking with excitement, and a hint of fear. This, if nothing else, will definitely be exciting!
Sorriel nods briskly and enters the tunnel leading the way into the demon infested Keep!
The roughhewn, lichen- and moss-covered
tunnel walls average twenty feet in width. A
stream of fast-moving water flows along a
natural channel in the rock down the center of
the tunnel. Lanterns hanging from hooks in the
fifteen-foot ceiling provide ample light to see
by. Statues of armored warriors stand silent
vigil in niches in the wall, their shadowed faces
bearing stern and grim expressions.
Forgot to post this in with the map
An angelic marble statue in plate mail and
wielding an enormous maul stands silent vigil
at the center of the room. A rough-hewn tunnel
exits the room to the east.
-------------
Bresna you note a plaque on the statue in a language you don't know.
Jonnie puzzles at the language.
"This place is quite nice. I like the statue!!"
The plaque is in Celestial
Patron of Vigilance.
"I cannot read this language. I guess we can move on."
Jonnie and her companions continue farther.
You move on and reach a T-Junction,
You can go forward or to the right.