Foul woman! Don't you know Iomedae is with me?!
Foul woman! Don't you know Iomedae is with me?!
"With us all..." Quinn says as he twists the woman's arm away from her glaive in an attempt to get a hold on her.
"Iomedea wills us!" Ezro yells as he charges into the fight, bringing down his blade onto the woman.
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Mentally prodding her eagle to attack again, Alikia awkwardly hangs back as the three holy worshipers to Iomedae invoke her name as they attack. "Yay, years of studying and making contracts with the outer planes. Wooo..." She mumbles to herself as she watches her small eagle savage the cultist. Maybe she should start invoking things in the name of arcane study when she wanted to attack. 'However would the holy trinity find that too sacrilegious? I'll run it by Ezro before I start doing it.'
The eagle meanwhile scratches and bites at Hosilla, invoking it's celestial heritage in order to smite the evil worshiper.
Quinn kicks the glaive aside as the woman slumps to the floor. "Well done," he says as Alikia's eagle vanishes in a puff of mist.
He spends a few moments rifling through the woman's belongings before collecting his morningstar and moving to the fallen tiefling. "Demonblooded..." he huffs as he rolls the dead assassin over. "No excuse for doing demon's bidding, though."
With Hosilla dead, hopefully further resistance will be futile. Let's finish searching these bodies and be on our way. Hyram says as he wipes the woman's blood from his blade.
Hyram will also help search the other bodies.
Searching Hosilla, you find a potion of cure moderate wounds, a potion of invisibility, wand of spiritual weapon (7 charges), alchemist’s fire (2), tanglefoot bag, chain shirt, masterwork glaive, antitoxin, bejeweled book of prayers devoted to Baphomet worth 50 gp, lockbox key, 32 gp and a note.
Searching the tiefling you find studded leather armor, a short sword and a light crossbow with 20 bolts.
The room that you are in, contains three copper bowls filed with glowing coals that hang from the ceiling of this long, natural cavern. The braziers fill the chamber with warmth and soft orange light. In the center of the chamber stands a block of stone that serves as a table, lined with wooden chairs. An enormous bloodstain, maybe a week old, darkens the stone’s surface.
The room to the south, contains old blood stains on the floor of this small cavern. Barrels filed with scraps of fur and fat sit against one wall, emitting an foul stench. The two long stone slab tables are covered with skinning tools and piles of freshly butchered meat. Two wooden racks hold drying animal skins.
The room to the north, contains a stone pedestal that holds a copper brazier aloft in the center of this room. Against the western wall, an enormous pile of animal furs and thick quilts serves as a bed. Sheathed weapons and stone carvings adorn the walls. The eastern half of the room holds a wooden desk, beneath which stands a long, thin iron lockbox.
Opening the lockbox with Hosilla key, you find small leather pouch containing an assortment of semiprecious gemstones (three chips of lapis lazuli worth 10 gp each, two bloodstones worth 50 gp each, a citrine worth 50 gp, and a white pearl worth 100 gp) as well as a scroll of bear’s endurance and a scroll of remove disease. The lockbox also contains long, thin darkwood sword case worth 200 gp. Opening the sword case,inside lies a breathtaking longsword — a weapon of obviously superior craftsmanship with a razor-sharp blade that appears to be made of shining gold.
Hearing noise behind you, you turn around quickly and see Lann, Anevia, Aravashnial and Horgus come into the room.
"We heard sounds of a battle, and came to help, but I see that all is well. What have you found?"
Quinn lets out a low whistle as Hyram opens the lid of the sword case. "That is a beautiful weapon..."
Quinn reads through the note.
Looking at the sword, Ezro murmurs, "How did something of such beuty come to these evil beings?"
Looking around, he adds louder, "I think Quinn would be the one to best use this weapon. He seems to be taking the hits much more. Perhaps this could better even the score?"
Looking everyone over, "How is everyone holding out? Are there any woulds that I did not see?"
"We must get back to Irabeth and tell her and the Eagle Watch about these three Templar safe houses."
"We should investigate this Tower of Estrod."
looks very shocked at hearing the contents of the note, and when asked he says "I know the Nyserian Manor and Kandro
Nyserian. He borrowed a large amount of money from me to purchase Irabeth’s sword."
Upon hearing this, "She sold her sword for me? How do you know this?"
"I know much, I have many contacts. Perhaps this is something we should discuss alone."
Horgus and Anevia move back to the outer room and you hear them talking but it the volume is so low that you can not make out the words, but after they are done, it seems that the animosity between them from the start no longer existed.
Hyram admires the fine blade in his hands and as much as he would like to wield it, he offers it to Quinn. I too believe that you should wield this fine blade in The Inheritor's service. You have proven yourself a fine warrior and you should have a blade to match your deeds.
He then turns to the group. With the cultists out of the way we should be able to reach the surface and see what is left of the city and let whoever is in charge know of Chief Sull's offer of assistance. Hyram will nod to Lann. Then we can investigate the contents of the note. Realizing that he sounded like he was given commands, Hyram will add a sheepish That's my opinion at anyway. Maybe someday these social graces come more easy! The Inquisitor thinks to himself.
"I'll not argue with you, Ezro. Though, it is my solemn duty to place myself between danger and death and the citizens of Kenabres. And it is my priviledge to protect my friends. But, this..." Quinn reaches out a tentative hand, hovering over the hilt of the golden blade. "This is Radiance. The blade of Yaniel, one of the purist and greatest crusaders I have ever heard of."
"If only I was worthy of such a blade." Quinn sets aside his morningstar and draws his own longsword from its scabbard. "These are not showpieces. The Inheritor demands they be wielded in service of Honor, Justice, and Goodness. The same is true for Yaniel's sword. It must find service again."
Quinn lifts the blade from its case, feeling the balance and heft.
As Quinn picks up the sword, it suddenly glows with a soft golden light.
Aladir inclines his head toward Quinn. "No objections from me, my friend. If Yaniel was as great a paladin as you say, I'm certain she would be pleased to know another who is equally dedicated to the eradication of evil on Golarion would be receiving it. I am certainly not one who will properly wield such a blade as that. I'll stick to my arrows!" the elf remarks with a grin.
"Regardless, I believe we should link up with Irabeth first. After that blasted balor attacked and slew Terendelev it's sure to be even more chaos up there than it's been down here and, no offense to any of you, but a mage who has lost his sight, an arisocrat, and a wounded archer will be dangerous to have wandering around the streets. The Eagle Watch could make sure you are all seen to while we continue forward."
Hanging near the back as Lann and the others file into the room, Alikia takes a steadying breath. Now that all of the adrenaline from the battle was over, everything caught up with her. If she hadn't been sent to Nerosyan when she was younger, would she have ended up like Hosilla? Alikia wasn't entirely sure. Bending down to pick up the prayer book to the Lord of Labyrinths she places it in her bag, along with the other idols. "I am fine, Ezro." Leaning against a nearby wall, Alikia waits for the others to figure out what to do. "I have no need nor claim for a holy relic of Iomedea."
"These safe houses must be eradicated. But, our first duty must be to the survivors." Bathed in the glow from Radiance, Quinn's eyes take on the same soft, golden light. "Hyram and Aladir have the right of it. Bringing our new allies to the cause is our best course."
Quinn sheathes the sword and seems to reenter the world, suddenly paying attention to what is happening around him. "What did you mean, when you said Irabeth sold her sword 'for you'?" he asks Anevia.
Ezro nods with the others, "May the Inheritor look after the other lost souls who survived. I can't image many did, especially after the dangers we have discovered already down here."
Checking around the loot, he holds up the Wand of Spiritual Weapon, "I believe this is a wand of divine origin, would anyone be opposed to my use of this?"
Anevia, looks over to Horgus who nods, and she begins: "When Irabeth and I first met, she saved me from a band of mercenaries that had captured me. We left the River Kingdoms and came here, back to her home city, and we fell in love. As I was not myself at that time, her wedding present to me was a potion that solved the issue, and now I find out that she had to sell her fathers sword to this Kandro Nyserian so she could afford to purchase it. I swear that I will somehow find the sword and get it back to her."
"Not in the least. While I do have some experience with magical apertures like that, I am by no means as apt to need it as you."
Anevia, looks over to Horgus who nods, and she begins: "When Irabeth and I first met, she saved me from a band of mercenaries that had captured me. We left the River Kingdoms and came here, back to her home city, and we fell in love. As I was not myself at that time, her wedding present to me was a potion that solved the issue, and now I find out that she had to sell her fathers sword to this Kandro Nyserian so she could afford to purchase it. I swear that I will somehow find the sword and get it back to her."
"A noble gesture. It's no more than I would expect from Irabeth, based on her reputation." Quinn gives the distraught woman a sympathetic look, incongruous with his demonic features. "Be careful of such vows. The Lady teaches us not to dishonor sacrifice freely given." Quinn shakes his head sadly, "There will be many more such sacrifices before this war is over."
The demon-blooded crusader turns to Horgus, "Titles and peerages do not grant 'true nobility'. I am glad to know that there is more to you than the nobleman's facade."
"Our enemy seems to enjoy corrupting the tools of the righteous. This Kandro Nyserian may have purchased the sword for that very purpose. If he is in league with the cultists, then we should investigate at the earliest opportunity. Your assistance would be invaluable."
"But, first we need to reach the surface and align ourselves with any defenders, such as there may be."
"Agreed. Plans can be made for the recovery of the city and any of the properties belonging to its citizens once we've recovered it from the demon-spawn."
Nodding, Ezro looks over to Alikia, "I believe there were some arcane implements here if you wish to take your pick. I am sure we will need your talents ahead." Ezro then smiles with a playful grin he says, "This is no library after all."
Aladir carefully looks over the gear discovered by the party in their subterranean trek, his eyes finally settling on one of the many fine-quality chain shirts they have located.
"If there are no objections from the floor, I'd certainly not mind one of those chain shirts. No doubt it would be much better than the hide armor I'm wearing now."
Hyram listens to Anevia's sad tale and knows he should say something uh comforting. If conveinent we'll get your sword back. is all he manages to mutter and instantly regrets. I am sure that was not comforting at all! He is grateful that Quinn and the others seem to offer better words.
As the group's possessions get sorted, Quinn offers a few other things around. Pocketing the vial of antitoxin and one of the alchemist fire, he hands a scroll to remove disease to Ezro, and then lays some few remaining things out.
"Why, thank you." says the now slightly blushing noble man. "When we can, please bring me to my home. I promised you a reward, and a reward you shall have. At least if my home is still standing that is."
After distributing the goods, everyone climbs back up the rope ladder and continues to the wooden ladder in the north room. Going up, there is a tunnel that heads west, and after a while you emerge in a cleft in the ground that while deep, you are able to see a path up to the town.
Looking out on the devastation, you see chasms in the ground, ruined and smoking buildings, buzzards that have eaten well, flying over the city and every now and then dropping to the ground as if they found another of the dead. To the northwest, where the Tower of the Kite and the Cathedral of St. Clydwell should be, their are more smoking ruins.
You reach ground level after climbing out of this chasm, and immediately see a weeping woman, kneeling before a ruined shrine of Sarenrae. Three human knights in battered armor. Their faces are sooty and grim and their eyes burn with feverish light. One of the knights, a human woman with fresh scars on her face, says to the kneeling woman, “Your sacrifice aids the cause of good.”
Quinn's jaw drops as he surveys the devastation. "Lady be merciful," he whispers as the scene unfolds.
The panorama of destruction proves too overwhelming, even though Quinn had imagined it dozens of times since the fall. He closes in, focusing on the scene immediately in front of him, where three battleworn knights surround a woman in distress.
"'The cause of good' is the only cause worthy of true sacrifice," Quinn calls to the knights. "Pray tell, what goodness was served in this place, and how can we help its increase."
"Ho there, just a moment! My companion is correct, good knights. What sacrifice do you call on this woman to make and for what reason? If you refer to what I believe you refer, I think we have all seen enough devastation and unnecessary death today."
Hyram UP
"Hold there, good knights! I have no idea what has come into your mind to convince you that the woman you have just attacked, or that we ourselves, are demonkin!"
"What of the code of the Dawnflower, whose altar we stand before? Are not Sarenrae's words violated here, dear sirs? If you doubt the sincerity of this woman's proclamation of innocence, then surely the Dawnflower would wish her arrested until her guilt is proven; are you not to be the arm of Sarenrae in the world rather than her executioners? Friends if you let only fear rule over you here, then the demons truly have won the day! Show these pitspawn you are better! Show them that you will stand strong even in the darkness of this day; that you will not give in to blind terror and see their fire behind every eye!"
"Look! Even now, this woman is not passed! There is hope this deed can be undone! We have with us a cleric and paladin of the Inheritor! Let them by, let them right this wrong before it cannot be undone and this woman's blood is on not just your hands but your souls as well! Is not Sarenrae a god of redemption rather than death?!"
Hyram, not usually in a good mood, is in a worse mood after seeing the devastation around him. I swear an oath to the Lady of Valor that these dead shall be avenged! He does not think his mood can get any worse until the scene with the knights unfolds before him.
Demons like us!? Most of us follow Iomedae an ally of Serenrae whose alter you stand before. Have you not had enough death? Let us save this woman and save your wrath for those that have destroyed this city!
Hyram draws his sword.
We do not want to fight you but we WILL heal that woman and we WILL defend ourselves!
"These are either disguised cultists or madmen," Quinn mutters to his allies. "And I'll not let her bleed out."
Ezro says, "By the Inheritor." as he sees the devestation of Kenebras.
Coming along to the city, he was about to ask if the people needed aid until one of the knights runs the woman through.
Crying out, he follows on Quinns heels.
"Be cautious they could simply be in fear and shock! Quinn keep the knights at bay. I will see after the woman!"
Arriving to the surface, Alikia is at first overjoyed to leave the bleak, dark caverns before she realizes what exactly she is looking at. "Rovagug's well worn talon." She curses, taking in the rakes in the earth, as well as the chaos and destruction of her beloved Kenabres. Then the woman falls. Feeling a sense of rage at the three warriors, the tall half-elf summons her strenght and conjures grease upon the woman's bloody sword. "There has been enough blood spilled in Kenabres to last several eons." Alikia states passionately.
Seeing the sword drop, and with Hyram menacing features, the three knights turn tail and run.
Getting to the woman, you are able to stabilize her, but she is still unconscious and prone on the ground, but not bleeding out.
Ezro will work to heal the woman up. Feeling calmer knowing that she is stabilized, he works carefully.
Speaking to the others he says, "This may take some time, please be sure the area is safe."
Aladir does his best to commit the visages of the three "knights" to memory so they can be later reported proper authorities. While he in no way felt beholden to the law or its upholders, he also knew that sometimes they were the most effective way of dealing with people like those.
Until the others are ready to go, he stands guard, arrow nocked to string and ready to fire at a moment's notice.
Quinn never draws Radiance, fearing to sully such a fine blade with the thin blood of cowards. He is shocked, pleasantly so, when instead of the bite of the knights' blades he hears the clatter of the weapon on the ground. He turns and nods his thanks to Alikia for her timely spellcasting.
"In my youth, I frequented the Armasse celebrations. It was always my hope to be chosen to squire for one such as those. I... never fared well in the melee tournaments, and the knights never gave me so much as a glance."
Quinn watches as the three knights turn a corner and vanish into the besieged city. "I joined the guard when I had grown to old to ever be accepted as a knight's squire." He turns as Lann emerges from the darkness. "It turns out, if I wanted to learn true chivalry and courage, I should have petitioned the outcasts underneath the city."
Quinn picks up the knight's sword as the grease fades away. "Someone worthy will find some proper use for this."
Relaxing as the three warriors run from them, Alikia moves over to stand guard over Ezro. "Um, Quinn, if it is not much trouble, may I carry that sword?" Glancing back to Horgus, Lann, Anevia, and Aravashnial she offers them a small smile.
"Horgus, do you know how far away your home is? It might be safer for all of us if we avoid other knights until we meet up with the Eagle Watch and Irabeth." As she speaks, Alikia absentmindedly touches her hip pouch where the three unholy relics reside.
Hyram watches as the three knights turn and run and scowls. He did not want to slay the knights but he did not want them running around the city stabbing women for 'sacrifice'. He hears Ezro ask to keep the area safe while he heals the woman so with his sword still drawn and his shield upfront Hyram stands guard with Aladir.
He looks over to the elf, Was it something one of us said to make them run? He remembers to smile to let the Elf know that he is trying to jest.
Aladir gives a slight chuckle at the joke. "Let's hope they've had their fill of threatening innocents, at the least. Having one sword less among them is certain to help. Which reminds me...excellent call on the disarm, Alikia."
Blushing slightly at Aladir's complement, Alikia nods. "Thank you. It was an old trick that I picked up from my early training. Besides, enough blood has been spilled here. I wonder what caused them to try and kill this woman? Do you think that they might have been possessed?" Tapping a finger to her lips, Alikia ponders what could have caused a group of crusaders to turn on the inhabitants that they swore to protect.
"They are nothing more than weaklings and cowards," Quinn spits. "They are broken by their own fear. Sympathizers and appeasers..."
Quinn hands the sword to Alikia with an ebon smile. "Of course. You won it fairly."
Hyram ponders Alikia's question. He now starts to wonder if there was some disease or poison that caused them to act like that.