Three of the attacks hit the hellknight and kill the knight.
To the thug's surprise he is gashed twice by the cleric.
There is the sound of a great battle is raging upstairs.
Andrea has a crazed look on her blood-stained face. Come on boy! Die for us!
Euphemia turns her Evil Eye on the thug.
Gerard re-enters the room, moving west... in an effort to follow the rogue captain.
He deals with whatever resistance presents itself, namely the nearest rogue. Three daggers finding their mark.
The thug is down after Gerard's attack. There are multiple nicks and gouges in the unfortunate soul.
The remaining thug quickly drops his weapon, "Surrender...I do...surrender."
No time for this nonsense, there is fighting going on upstairs
Kneel, swear fealty on your and your's lives and souls. There is a new order.. But, even as he speaks Gerard stalks past the man... Upward.
The group makes there way upstairs and there is an exhausted looking chard with three hellknights kneeling over a few corpses taking pulses. Chard and his group each have several significant wounds but it is nothing life threatening. He looks up ready for another round of battle then he realizes it's your group.
He half grins, "Jinkoo found you...he's a loyal soul, more so, then these traitors and cutthroats."
You see there are two dead hellknights on the ground and another 4 thugs.
"A traitor got away, along with a couple leaders, one came running up from downstairs. I take it you've dispatched justice down there." He motions to the cellar.
"Jinkoo do guud!"
Andrea channels healing for everyone.
Yes, about four of them are dead or dying. As for the one who has escaped, we should track them so can't regroup. Also, we located where the Signifier was, she had taken her own life in a ritual that transformed her into a ghost, we dispersed her form and have her body with us. We need to find a way to keep her from reforming in a few days.
He waves off the idea of tracking the escaped enemy. "It's been a long night and they've probably slipped into cover." His eyebrows raise when you advise that the signifier is a ghost. "Let's see what we can do to rest Veriennes soul and keep her from reforming."
"I've three patrols out right now, so I'm a bit short handed here, I'd appreciate it if you could stay a while...maybe rest the night, till those patrol get back. Only one traitor got away, but he knows the back way in here, so your battle hardness would be welcomed in the unlikely event that another attack is mustered."
"You've earned a good meal and cup of wine." The leader offers as a token of gratitude.
Euphemia looks longingly at the exit, as proximity to hellknights is no easier to withstand than before.
Very well, we can stay the night and help secure the entrances here. We'll recover the Signifier's body from the sewers and seal the door until morning.
Andrea will help recover the body and use the Treasurer's Seal on the sewer door(Arcane Lock/Alarm) and then speak to the others when they have gathered for a meal.
In the morning, I can cast a scrying spell that can help us find Thesing. We have his Six-Fold Trials book that can be used as a focus and we are, unfortunately, very well acquainted with him. Andrea shudders.
She then turns to Orsin. You said that you wanted to talk to us about something? Is it about your...situation with the paintings?
Euphemia looks longingly at the exit, as proximity to hellknights is no easier to withstand than before.
Gerard looks around at the carnage. I suppose finding a few open bunks will not be difficult.
"There's plenty of those...we even have few with bars if that'll make you feel more at home." He chuckles. He is clearly trying to lighten the situation up, something that you can sense is something he is not use to doing.
A hellknight attempting a sense of humor? Maybe there is hope after all.
Gerard smiles. Touche.
Truth be told, if I believed my being behind bars would restore order in Westcrown... I'd do it in a heartbeat. But, it's not going to be that easy, is it?
The rogue extends his arm for a clasp.
Aurelio is relieved at the idea of a break, even if it is in a Hellknight keep.
So, who wants the first watch?
I've warded the doors down below. I didn't do the ones up here since the other patrols might trip the alerm, unless that is not a problem. We should have two person watches and not sleep alone.
Thought this company had strict orders to stay put. When did you send patrols out? Gerard shrugs noncommittally.
He said three patrols were out, although I would not be surprised if they were attacked as well.
Thought this company had strict orders to stay put. When did you send patrols out? Gerard shrugs noncommittally.
"They did," he pauses, "after our talk, I sent patrols out to help reestablish order." He grimaces, "Apparently, the traitor brothers and their 'new' cohorts were waiting for a break so they could move on the house."
He said three patrols were out, although I would not be surprised if they were attacked as well.
"It is possible they were attacked, but they went out in forces of 10, so they would have to be overwhelmed by an ambush. The brothers have scanning methods so several members in party would be in tuned to chaotic behavior." He focuses on Phem and Andrea before he continues, "Even an old dog can get along with an occasional cat."
"Even an old dog can get along with an occasional cat."
---
Flustered and fighting petulance, Euphemia only just manages to avoid narrowing her eyes. The man was right to use the analogy, as dogs eat cats, and Euphemia's family had indeed been devoured in the wake of Thrune and the metal hellknight kleet.Perhaps this is the same suspicion that a cat harbors, too, for the dog that eats its own excrement and eyes the feline's family like so much unwanted chattel.
For Euphemia, eating fecal matter and emulating/worshipping devils have about the same connotation. They're both sad cries for help that are dangerous and foul.
Still, at least he tried to clear the air... and the cat in this case had aided and abetted in the destruction of others of his kind, enemies or no.
With that in mind, Euphemia does not choke on the fare provided her or covertly spill wine on any of the paralictor's associates.
Andrea frets and picks at her food while glancing at Orsin. I need to get a letter to the Tilneros house written up on what we are doing.
So Euphemia, you reckon you should get Frank some more protective gear? Andreds feeds the hedgehog some vegetables. Maybe get a legband of protection from cold or fire. A little cushion he can fly around on and zap people with wands.
Can I even use a wand, I wonder? I have never tried, Mistress.
Frank sniffles.
I can see it now really, Frank flying around like some spikey shadowy lord of Westcrown's underworld, raining lightning down whenever his paw taps the wands on his flying cusion. Two adorable lady hedgehods by his side.
The evening at the Hellknight headquarter goes by uneventfully for the group. The next morning arrives to the smell of coffee, bacon, eggs, and grits cooking. Chard greets everyone as they wander towards the dining area. The dead have been moved and most of the signs of battle have likewise been cleansed. "Morning, I would like to thank you for needed assistance." Then after passing the meal with small talk Chard pulls Gerard to the side for a conversation.
"What do you have in mind - if the council - can be be replaced?" It was a pointed question but it opened the door for discussion.
Andrea hungerly munches down on everything offered. Crisp bacon is mixed with grits and washed down with coffee to stimulate her tired bones from a day of cold jerky and lukewarm water. She pushes an egg over to see if Frank likes them, plus to see his adorable face covered in yolk.
After breakfast, Andrea will pull out the copy of Six-Fold Trials that they procured in Walcourt, drawing upon her memories of Thesing from when the group was around him, she performs a Scrying to see if they can locate the fop.
You and I both know the people only rebel when they are pushed too far, when there is no choice and nothing to lose. When their dignity demands it. Give them a home to love and be proud of and they have something to lose... Human nature is not to risk.
Gerard wonders what the man thinks of his words.
Who are you loyal to, Chard, in you heart? I am loyal to Westcrown, and would care for it.
[b]"I believe in Order. Citizens, residents, and visitors should feel safe, one or a few unscrupulous groups should not cause panic, upheaval and disorder. Unchecked chaos is unhealthy for the good of the law-biding. My family and I have served this city well...the City deserves better.
Checks and balances. Maintaining order, governance is quite the balancing act.
"I am unsure as to whether or not you speak in jest, Andrea." Euphemia admits with brows furrowed. "I have never witnessed Frank attempt the use of a wand and your listing of a power fantasy is one of the most glaring I have ever encountered. I do not blame you for suggesting protectives, however."
Comforted by having survived the night, Euphemia wolfs down her food whilst keeping at least one set of eyes on Chard. Frank reluctantly eats the eggs proffered despite being an insectivore to be polite, but sneezes two nibbles in and lets that be the end of it.
Once Andrea begins her spell, Euphemia starts communing with her familiar by staring at him intently with a chirp.
Chard extends his hand in a warrior's grasp and nods, "Sounds reasonable."
As you cast the divination spell your sight starts to focus. You hone in on an abandoned guard tower in the northernmost portion of Rego Cader
which is serving as Thesling's home. The stone tower is in relatively good shape, standing 30 feet high but with a slight list to the north,
as if over the past 100 years the ground below had slowly been giving way to its weight. All windows have been bricked up and the wooden front door looks solid.
I see something. Andrea says to the others, her eyelids fluttering. A guardtower in northern Rego Cader. Looks strudt, but leanign a bit must be soft ground? Thesing must have fortified it by bricking the windows and getting a thick door. I am not surprised sice the northern side is the especially crime ridden part I believe, we fought The Bastards in the northern area.
Andrea you see Thesling, he is gaunt looking and barking orders at someone or something, but Thesling is not himself. His hair as turned white and his teeth are elongated. He is wearing a blood red cape made of fine cloth. He certainly looks like a vampire to you.
I see Thesing, he is looking rather skinny and is yelling at someone. His..hair is white and oh my his teeth are long and he has some bad fashion sense......Seems he has caught himself a case of vampire. Oh well, at least he is now stiff, unlike the last time.