Kaygan Veer |
“Yes, we made Sol a promise, it has already been delayed – we should look for this family.
But then we should go to Defender’s Heart before investigating the other locations, in my opinion – the remaining crusaders may be able to give us help or offer recent intelligence on the other places,” says Kaygan, before casting read magic and looking at the titles of the scrolls to work out what spells they hold.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Kaygan:
OK, so it sounds like the consensus is to check Sol's place and then Defender's Heart.
"Of course, Sol," says Anevia. "I know what it's like when you are worried about the people you love. We can check on your parents on the way."
Following Jod, the group head out of the empty house and towards where Sol lives with his parents. But as they approach, they find the buildings abruptly disappear as if the street was cut by a giant axe. Beyond, everything is flattened, a field of smashed timbers and pulverised stone. One of the destructive demonic behemoths passed through here, and the home Sol shared with his mother and father has simply been swept away.
Jod Eastwind |
Jod slowly comes to a stop on the edge of the field of devastation, looking for some sign of life.
Quietly, he offers, "Maybe they found their way to Defender's Heart, Sol. Which house was it?"
Hannik |
Before heading over to Sol's
"Hey a&@&%+%s! I'm standing right here! What, my family doesn't count because we are foster kids? G~**+*n!"
Shelyn's Temple is on the list because it is where Hannik grew up until two years ago. The three younger temple wards who were her foster siblings still live there. She was waiting to meet them in the square when the demonic assault kicked off.
Personally I don't mind heading to meet up with the resistance to get a better idea on what the state of the city is right now and potentially access gear or get Anevia healed, but I can't imagine Hannik just saying okay never mind about my guys so you'll need to convince her if you oi want to change course.
Kaygan Veer |
Earlier:
“The scrolls are invisibility spells; with a bit of time and study I could probably cast the spells from the scrolls or even add such a spell to my spellbook, to be used at will; I don’t claim them though, if anyone else can use them.”
In response to Hannik:
Kaygan looks taken aback at Hannik’s outburst. “I’m an orphan too,” he says quietly. “My own foster family may not be my blood, but they are still my family, so I certainly don’t discount your own feelings in that regard. You, Sol, Anevia, you all want to know if your family is alright, and I can understand that. I’m lucky – my foster family is safe in Nerosyan … but safe is all relative now that the Wardstones are breached. If this demon army isn’t checked, it is not hyperbole to suggest that no one in the world is safe. Whether our familes are here or elsewhere, it makes sense to do what we can, however minor our efforts may be, to try to stop the demons. Meeting with the crusaders whose job it is to do that, sharing our knowledge and skills with them, is maybe the best thing we can do right now to keep as many people safe as we can. Now, Sol’s house and Defender’s Heart are both right around the corner from here, the temple of Shelyn is on the other side of the city – we worked out a route that gave us the least doubling back – the least time on the streets to be attacked by demons – as possible. We need to be adaptable to the situation. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go all the way to the temple and then come back here, or to split up, but that’s just my opinion, and yes, I admit it’s based more on logic than heart. If everyone prefers that we stick with the original route, we’ll do that, if not, let’s adapt to the path that gives us the best chance to help everyone.”
Finally the wizard stops speaking, looks down at his hands and shrugs. He's said his piece, but it's not up to him.
At Sol’s place:
“Oh Sol …” Kaygan breathes. “A destroyed house isn’t absolute proof of anything. Many people were out during Armasse. If Desna smiles, your family wasn’t here …”
Sol Calondor |
Before heading over to Sol's
"Hey a~#%&*~s! I'm standing right here! What, my family doesn't count because we are foster kids? G@&+%#n!"
In response to Hannik:
Kaygan looks taken aback at Hannik’s outburst. “I’m an orphan too,” he says quietly. “My own foster family may not be my blood, but they are still my family, so I certainly don’t discount your own feelings in that regard. You, Sol, Anevia, you all want to know if your family is alright, and I can understand that. I’m lucky – my foster family is safe in Nerosyan … but safe is all relative now that the Wardstones are breached. If this demon army isn’t checked, it is not hyperbole to suggest that no one in the world is safe. Whether our familes are here or elsewhere, it makes sense to do what we can, however minor our efforts may be, to try to stop the demons. Meeting with the crusaders whose job it is to do that, sharing our knowledge and skills with them, is maybe the best thing we can do right now to keep as many people safe as we can. Now, Sol’s house and Defender’s Heart are both right around the corner from here, the temple of Shelyn is on the other side of the city – we worked out a route that gave us the least doubling back – the least time on the streets to be attacked by demons – as possible. We need to be adaptable to the situation. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go all the way to the temple and then come back here, or to split up, but that’s just my opinion, and yes, I admit it’s based more on logic than heart. If everyone prefers that we stick with the original route, we’ll do that, if not, let’s adapt to the path that gives us the best chance to help everyone.”Finally the wizard stops speaking, looks down at his hands and shrugs. He's said his piece, but it's not up to him.
"Hannik, you put me and mine before you and yours. I'll go with you"
Following Jod, the group head out of the empty house and towards where Sol lives with his parents. But as they approach, they find the buildings abruptly disappear as if the street was cut by a giant axe. Beyond, everything is flattened, a field of smashed timbers and pulverised stone. One of the destructive demonic behemoths passed through here, and the home Sol shared with his mother and father has simply been swept away.
Jod slowly comes to a stop on the edge of the field of devastation, looking for some sign of life.
Quietly, he offers, "Maybe they found their way to Defender's Heart, Sol. Which house was it?"
At Sol’s place:
“Oh Sol …” Kaygan breathes. “A destroyed house isn’t absolute proof of anything. Many...
Sol stares at the flattened landscape, his hand cupped over his mouth and jaw. "It's gone." He kind of shudders and takes a reflexive few steps forward. "MA! DA! " He looks around, then runs. After weaving forward through a hundred yards of rubble, he stops in a spot apparently no different from the rest of the destruction. He turns to look back at the others.
"This was it. Da. Da wouldn't have gone out." He plunges into the wreckage and starts pull and tug at pieces, as if he hopes to find his parents safe beneath it.
Kira Valerious |
Kira looks at Hannick with sympathy. [b]"I am truly sorry Hannick, the events of the last days have my nerves on edge and not everything is clicking into place as it should. Of course we will check the temple too."
At the destruction that was once Sol's house, Kira watches as Sol takes in what has happened. She follows him to the rubble, and places a hand on his shoulder. Then simply begins to help moving the rubble with him.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Jod Eastwind |
Jod takes a step back at Hannick's outburst, hands up in a placating gesture. Before he can stop stammering and formulate a response, Kaygan says everything he could think of and more, but better, so the ranger just gestures at the spellcaster and nods.
Finally, "Sorry, Hannik. I have no intention of abandoning anyone. First things first."
Shoulders sagging a bit, he slowly follows his friend toward the rubble that he identifies as his erstwhile home. As with Kira, he says nothing, just starts searching.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Thoughts of what he would do if Rhok or one of the other members of his tribe were missing, if he had found such devastation where they were supposed to be waiting, ruin what little focus he might have had. He finds himself staring out across the rubble field, lost in thought.
It's an unusually somber moment for the happy-go-lucky youth.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
There is no sign of anyone in the wreckage, to the extent that it can be examined. But moving more than a tiny fraction of it would require men with wagons, block and tackle and neither of those are available. As Sol and the other shift the rubble around, the sound echoes forlornly about the empty streets.
Sol:
Mulluq'Tar Sheptat |
Mulluq is willing to help Hannik if she decides that they should check up on her loved ones, but Kaygan's argument has merit. He looks to the woman, waiting on her response before deciding whether he needs to voice his willingness.
As they get to the demolished remains of Sol's family home, he wastes no time in helping to try and shift debris while also looking for any signs of life. Wish as he might, he cannot detect the ebb and flow of good, only the evil that calls out to him. He is left to looking with his demon tainted pointy ears and black eyes.
Kaygan Veer |
To Kaygan, it doesn’t look like anyone who might have been in the house when it was demolished would have survived, but he doesn’t want to voice that opinion out loud, or pull Sol away from here until he has dealt with his grief. The wizard looks nervously about the deserted, rubble filled street, hoping that the noise of digging does not attract unwanted attention.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Rhok Redmoon |
"Now that the wardstones have failed, the whole world will look like this very soon", Rhok says to no one in particular while staring into the far distance.
Kaygan edges over towards Rhok. "Did you see that?" he mutters. "It looked like someone - or something - watching us from that window over there - that building across the way. Could be trouble ... Or I suppose it could be someone who saw what happened here ..."
"Uh, what? No, I don't suppose I did..."
Jod Eastwind |
Jod's set his weapons to the side and continues to do what he can, but it is with the resigned energy of someone that doesn't want to find what he thinks awaits him in the rubble. He won't look up to meet Sol's eyes.
Sol Calondor |
"Elinda lived there. If it's her, she's all alone with her kids."
He drops a plank that he was using as a lever to shift a half-buried beam. He reaches down and grasps a white stone that just fills his palm.
"I'll go see. She's got to be scared. And she can't stay here."
Sol slides the stone into his belt pouch and stumbles through debris back into the street. He starts walking steadily toward Elinda's house.
I don't think we need to spend a lot of time on digging through the house, and excessive grief. Sol can suck it up for now and let's move on.
Kira Valerious |
"Sol, you shouldn't go alone, but we don't want to scare her. Everyone be ready for trouble, I will accompany Sol." With that she readies her crossbow, and catches up with Sol to head into the house.
Sol Calondor |
"Maybe we'll just try to open it first." Sol tries to simply open the door.
If that doesn't work, determine if it's barred from the inside, or locked. Sol can try to pick the lock. He's been carrying the thieves tools around long enough.
Disable Device: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Jod Eastwind |
Jod, having picked his weapons and gear back up and attached it to his kit, readies his bow and looks at his cousin and the mage. "Should we wait here more? It doesn't look like anyone's answering."
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Sol Calondor |
Sol smiles up at Kira and slips his tools into their pouches, then rolls and ties the whole collection. "No need to break anything. Shall we?"
He pushes open the door and steps through into the house. "ELINDA? Are you home? It's Sol."
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Someone behind the door swings at Sol as he steps through.
1d20 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) - 1 - 4 = 11 to hit, damage 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
A young woman in a plain dress pulls back her arm to prepare for another attack with her rolling pin. "Get out of my house!" she yells, eyes wide with fear despite her aggression.
Sol:
Sol Calondor |
Sol recoils and the rolling pin smacks the wall in front of him. He makes a grab for the rolling pin, or at least tries to block the woman's forearms while he talks to her.
Total Defense.
"Elinda! It's me, Sol, Avero and Violetta's son."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Jod Eastwind |
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
"I think I heard something."
Jod heads toward the house, listening intently, but not entering. He wants to be close if there's a problem.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
"Oh, Sol! I'm so sorry. I thought it was more of those demonspawn." Elinda draws in a shuddering breath and collapses against the wall. From a doorway inside the house, two small children peer out, wide-eyed. "But, what are you doing here?" She looks at Kira, noting her holy symbol. "Are you a crusader, ma'am?"
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
"Do you want to come in?" asks Elinda, craning her neck down the street.
"Your parents... Sol, I'm sorry, but I think the demons have them. When that... thing came through, flattening all the buildings in its path... Well, your parents weren't in as far as I could tell, because I saw them later. Tieflings had them tied up with some other people and led them away. We hid here in the root cellar, but with no house, your mum and dad had nowhere to go." She wipes away a tear. "I'm sorry," she mumbles again.
Kira Valerious |
Kira looks furious at the woman's words, but slowly calms as she remembers there are actually people and feelings involved here.
"They were taking prisoners? That is another item to add to the list. That simply cannot be ignored, even if some of them weren't your family Sol."
Mulluq'Tar Sheptat |
Mulluq keeps back from the interaction with the neighbor. He doesn't want his appearance causing mistrust against them. He does get close enough to extend his sense to the presence of evil either from the woman or within the house itself.
Detect Evil