Ary winces as the woman moves away from her. It would be much easier to defend her if she stayed close. That left Ary with little choice.
She moved out of hiding, but kept her sword sheathed, she cleared her throat to make sure that she didn't surprise or startle anyone in a worse way.
"There's also the possibility she's an aasimar, that she's blessed, that she swore an oath and the Lady is holding her to it. For all we know she's a herald or an angel. It's really, really above my paygrade to worry about such things. Perhaps more importantly, I figure that if the Inheritor has a succubus for the head of her church and war efforts, she's darn good at what she does. Either way, I swore an oath to Galfrey, and I keep my oaths."
Captain Rawley whirls around at Ary's sudden emergence, alarmed, but when she sees her tabard and shield she relaxes noticeably. "I... don't know about that. We've heard Nerosyan fell the same night Kenabres did."
She sheathes her weapon. "We have nowhere to go. Where are those other crusaders you mentioned?"
"We heard the same thing. But there's going to be a lot of rumors, and a lot of people to benefit off of those rumors." Ary shakes her head. "I wouldn't put too much stock into them. Until we have official word, it's not worth worrying about; there're still a lot of things that need doing around here. Crocris suggested that the Crusaders were heading to the north side of town. I'd avoid the tower of Estrod, though; we've got word that cultists are holed up there. I'd hug the east wall just to give them a wide berth."
She gave the nearly-sacrificed virgin a once-over now that she was in the light, to make sure that she was doing okay physically, aside from the stress she'd just been put through.
Val once again looks skeptical. "Wouldn't half of Mendev be overrun by now if the demons managed to capture the capitol? These rumors are starting to get out of hand. Perhaps the cultist infiltrators are intentionally spreading rumors to unsettle the real crusaders."
She turns back to the group slightly. "Should we send them off looking for the crusader strong hold in the north, or tell them about our refugee camp for now?" she asks softly, not certain if they can entirely be trusted, but not wanting to send a band that's clearly bordering on losing hope again off without clear directions.
The young girl moves closer to Ary, offering a small smile. "Thank you for helping me. My name is Klarah. I'm an acolyte of Sarenrae... I had been hiding out here for some time now."
Captain Rawley sighs. "You... don't know where they are holding out?" she asks, skeptical. "I suppose we will search in that direction, then. The gate district has been pretty barren, recently, at least. Is that where you are all headed as well?"
"We have one stop to make first, but we're going to try to find the crusaders later. One of us has a home in that direction that we need to try and recover what we can. We just hope that it came through this relatively intact."
Ary looks from the acolyte back to the others, "What Val said, we need to swing by one of our houses, then we'll see where we go from there. I know Fen'wen is looking forward to her house, and the Kite and the Tower of Estrod are both on the list of places I want to hit. If we find out where the Crusaders are, we're pretty likely to head that way, though, I think." she then turns her attention back to Klarah once more.
"It's nice to meet you, Klarah. I'm Ary Bishop." she says, offering a bigger smile in return.
Ary was leaving it up to Anevia to invite them to her home to share in the information that might wait there.
Li'an whispers back, "Not Horgus's. We should try to take Klarah with us though to be safe," including Ary when she does.
"Perhaps we can use the remains of this building to pass messages. We can both search for the crusader camp and leave a note here for the other group if we find it. That'll give us a chance to cover more area without losing contact with each other," she offered the Captain.
Anevia steps out from the shadows, her shortbow still in hand. Her eyes dart from face to face, looking grim. She offers the crusader woman a quick salute. "Captain Rawley."
"A-Anevia Tirablade!" she returns the gesture. "Is... Is Chevalier Irabeth with you?" She glances at the rest of the group. "Are you all from the Eagle Watch?"
Anevia frowns. "No...and no." She hesitates, then grins. "But she will be soon, eh?"
Captain Rawley nods at Li'an's suggestion. "All right. That seems like a good plan."
Klarah looks crestfallen. "O-okay. I guess I'll just stay hidden here then..."
"If... that's what you'd like, I'm not going to stop you, Klarah, but I think you'd be better off coming with us. You won't have to worry about any demons if we're with you." she grins. "And yeah. We'll definitely see Irabeth soon. Let's hope she doesn't get too upset at you having to save our lives so much. Wonder what she'll say when she hears you pulled a howler off of me with your bare hands." Ary grins, giving the woman the limelight... especially since these guys seemed to recognize her.
Anevia smirks at Ary. "Aw, you certainly know how to flatter a girl but..," she motions to her leg splint. "I think we all know that isn't true! She'll probably give me an earful about trying to fight on this broken leg, though. I look forward to it." She beams.
Klarah grins at Ary. "Okay! That's great! I.. I'm not really fully trained yet, but I know a little healing magic. I promise to try and pull my weight. If that's okay. Right?" She seems flustered.
Captain Rawley salutes the group once more. "We'll be moving north, then. Thank you for your guidance when we had lost our path," she adds, looking at Markus and Ehren. "May the Inheritor guide your way." Assuming no one in the group moves to stop them, she and her men file out, drawing their weapons as they do so.
"Nothing to worry about with pulling your weight." Ary shrugs, "We can use every bit of help we find. Just stick close, if you stay close, I can do a lot better for keeping you safe. If you are going to run off, warn me so I can cover for you. Is there anything here that you'd like to keep safe by bringing with us?"" she says as she looks around. "Hm... maybe we can do the prayer thing like we did in Torag's temple? I mean... second time's the charm, right? Think it would hurt to try, Anevia?" it was somewaht clear that she was not-so-subtly asking Anevia if she was okay with trying to sanctify the church before moving on... or if she needed to get to her favorite Chevalier. Whichever way Anevia voted would have Ary's support.
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With everything having worked out well, Li'an sheaths Lleuad and approaches Klarah. "It's nice to meet you Klarah," Li'an says to the young girl they'd saved, "I think even a little healing magic at this point would be more than pulling your weight. Just stay close to Ary, there's no one better at protecting others than her."
"You've done more than any of us could have on a broken leg, Anevia." Li'an says, her admiration for Anevia showing. "Anyway, If you'd had both legs you'd probably have cleared the city by now, not to mention rescued everyone and taught Horgus how to be pleasant," she says with a grin.
She turns to the Captain and the others and salutes them as they file out. "Just remember out there what Markus and Ehren said. Hopefully we'll find Irabeth soon and leave a note for you here. We'll need everyone we can get to save this city."
Once Captain Rawley and the others have taken off, she turns to the rest of the group. "Shall we give this place a once over before we leave? It would be a shame to miss any useful supplies."
"How long have you been studying? I was in paladin training for four years before they realized what a lost cause I was, and just started teaching me more of what I was actually good for." she grinned to the girl... and beamed when Li'an backed up her bodyguard skills.
Ary salutes Rawley with Radiance, now that they're out of range to perceive the sword as a threat, just as Li'an salutes them. It was clear she had mixed feelings about saluting them.
"I kinda want to try to find Sarenrae's version of an anvil. The other day was amazing and neat. I mean... this place isn't really desecrated. In fact, there's more sunlight in here now than I suspect it had seen before. So maybe it doesn't need us." Ary shrugs slightly. "But it wouldn't hurt to try!"
Klarah blinks, taken aback by Ary's interest in her. "Um.... um... three years! I was supposed to be ordained at Armasse but..." she trails off awkwardly.
On the topic of sanctifying the temple- Klarah seems confused. "The Dawnflower is still here, can you not feel her presence?" She smiles, gesturing to the back of the temple, where a large, six-foot-tall golden statue of Sarenrae (as she is represented by her holy symbol) stands behind a large brazier.
"But, if you'd like to pray before we set off, I think I'd like that very much. One moment..." she hurries off to one of the side-rooms of the temple, where she rummages around until she finds some flint and steel and several swaths of red cloth. She walks over to the brazier and lights it - casting a looming, solemn shadow of the statue onto the ceiling overhead.
She walks to each of the heroes, and if they accept her offer, she blindfolds them with the red fabric. "Kneel, and try to locate the sun through the fabric. See how the Dawnflower's light penetrates the darkness? Even when you close your eyes, you can still see the soothing light of the sun. Do you understand, now? Even in the deepest darkness, you can still find the light. That is what Sarenrae teaches us."
She blindfolds herself and kneels - facing upwards towards the sunbeams coming through the roof. "Let the healing light of the sun burn out the darkness within you. Let your inner light be a guide for others, and a searing flame against unrepentant evil."
"Well... I wasn't punished last time." Ary grins, accepting the offer. "And we can use all the help we can get. Plus... when you're in someone's house, you should generally follow their rules." Ary grins, despite the fact that she's blindfolded. "I'd be honored to take part in your prayer."
After a moment of kneeling, Ary is staring at the sky. "Now... let's see where the sun is..."
'I'm looking forward to guiding these guys through our prayers somewhere down the line, Lady.' she offers Inheritor-ward, before focusing on the task at hand.
A few weeks ago she likely wouldn't have gone through such a ritual, but between all that had happened in Kenabres, seeing the shrine of Torag restored, and feeling Desna's presence when she offered prayer with Valaria, she had begun to feel that the gods were truly there watching over them. Li'an bows slightly and nods when Klarah comes to her. She allows herself to be blindfolded, then kneels as required, setting Lleuad in its sheath in front of her and resting her hands on her knees. As she does, she wonders briefly if the gods and goddesses get jealous. "Starsong, The Great Dreamer, if it weren't for your blessing, I doubt Lleuad and I would be here now." she offers sincerely to Desna.
Kneeling there, she looks through the fabric, seeing the light penetrating through and basking in its warmth. "Sarenrae, though I'm not a devotee of yours, please watch over us all. I would give anything to save my home from this nightmare that has overtaken it. Please lend Lleuad, myself and the others your aid," she prays silently.
Finished, she stands and removes the blindfold, folding it carefully and handing it back to Klarah. Somehow as she looks again around the ruined temple it seems brighter and more welcoming. She looks up again at the sun and smiles.
"Shall we get moving? I believe we have a house to search," Li'an says to group, looking at Anevia as she does.
Hrut also prays with the soon-to-be priestess, knowing that every god of goodness is going to be needed to defeat this foe,
Whatever good act it takes to defend others and push back the demon horde.
[b]"I do not like standing around this long without a purpose, we should get moving to not bring attention to ourselves."[/i]
When the group emerges from the temple of Sarenrae it is already afternoon, and Captain Rawley's band is out of sight. Klarah sticks close to Ary, and has a habit of humming softly under her breath to beat the uncomfortable stretches of silence.
The group continues moving north and comes across yet another rubble-filled rift through the city. The going is slow, due to Anevia's injuries, but they eventually are able to clear through it, only to come across yet another deep chasm that echoes away into the darkness. The heroes are forced to head east to avoid the chasm. After finally moving around it, so that they may proceed north, Li'an and Valaria come across a grisly sight.
In front of them is a pile of crusader corpses, greedily circled by six demonic-looking vultures. A lone crusader is trying to ward them off – a middle aged Vudrani woman with dark skin, salt-and-pepper hair in a long braid and bright brown eyes. She is short and thickly built, in scale mail. She has a shortbow in hand, but her quiver is empty.
"You want me?! You want me?! Come and get me!" she snarls at the carrion birds - she does not appear to notice Li'an and Valaria's approach.
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Ehren gladly allows Klarah to blindfold him, not at all opposed to receiving the Dawnflower's blessings. It was true that he did not worship any of the gods, but he had always been taught that it was wise to respect them and, if given the chance, to honor them. The Green was many things, but jealous was not one of them. And so the druid looks to the sky, searching for the sun. There was something calming about prayer, and in the fact that even after everything that had happened, the temple's sanctity remained intact. Surely enough, after a few moments of gazing into the direction of the sun, Ehren feels Sarenrae's blessing wash over him.
As they finish praying, he removes his blindfold and nods to the others.
"Yes, we should get moving. And thank you, Klarah."
Li'an takes cover by one of the small huts in the marketplace. "Captain Nalti is up ahead with some... vultures? It doesn't look good, we need to get to her side fast." Li'an whispers to Ary, Val and Ehren via message. She signs the rest of the group, calling out the vultures to make sure everyone is in the loop.
"Danger Four Foe Go"
"Val, I'm going to add the captain to the spell in place of you so I can tell her we're coming." she says, warning her so she wouldn't wonder what happened. She then focuses on Ary and Ehren again, refreshing the connection and this time including Captain Nalti.
"Captain Nalti, it's Li'an Va'ardalia, I'm talking to you via a spell. You can whisper to reply. Anevia is with us and we've got a small group coming to help you. Are there any other enemies besides the vultures?"
"Four vultures attacking Captain Nalti" Ary passes on, not bothering to keep her voice down from this far away. "Stick close." she says as she slips forward, "I need to be as close as I can to anyone who's in danger to keep them safe." she grins at the young woman, "I'm sure you know the feeling."
Captain Nalti pauses, putting her shortbow away. She looks around for the source of the noise.
"I..I... what? I must be going insane..." she whispers, her voice carrying through message unintentionally.
The vultures circle overhead, ominously.
Hrut will move as close as he can to the crusader, Arrows in one hand and shield in the other.
"I have some arrows hold on!"
In the temple
Val nods to the priestess in training and allows her to cover her eyes with the cloth. She kneels and takes a deep, slow breath, focusing on locating the light through the cloth. "Lady Dawnflower, I beseech you, tend to those who still live in this city as you do the Song of the Spheres when you fight side-by-side against the darkness. And may your light help cleanse the foulness still lingering in this place." She smiles slightly as she feels the light through the blindfold and warmth suffuses her body. "Thank you."
Now
Val doesn't have any idea who the woman is, but she trusts Li'an. She simply nods at her partner's suggestion and draws one of her daggers. Not really able to make an accurate throw with the beasts high in the air, she prepares to launch one dagger the instant they swoop down to attack.
Keeping his eyes to the sky, Ehren hurries after Hrut, club in hand.
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In the Temple
Markus doesn't take the blindfold from the little girl. No offense or anything, but he's not sure that he wants to blindfold himself in this environment. Not only that, but he's uncertain that Sarenrae could offer him her blessing. She's known to cleanse the taint of undeath with the power of her fire, and Markus doesn't feel comfortable getting that close to a diety.
Later, with the vultures
"Another crusader?" says Markus, moving forward behind Li'an and Valaria. "It really does seem like there are many more than we feared left here." He readies his spellcasting, with the feeling of magic building up within him.
"We'll save her, don't worry."
Initiative Rolls
Initiative Order
1. Vulture 5
2. Valaria
3. Hrut
4. Vulture 3
5. Vulture 4
6. Julania
7. Ary
8. Vulture 6
9. Ehren
10. Vulture 1
11. Vulture 2
12. Markus
13. Li'an
14. Klarah
One of the vultures swoops down against Julania, but she raises her arm in time to hold it off. Its sharp beak cannot penetrate through her scaled armor. When it swoops down, Valaria seizes the opportunity to chuck one of her daggers at it. Unfortunately, the creature moves too fast for her.
Hrut is up!
Ary watches the Vultures circle, taking note of their unusual plumage and eyes, taking solace in the Dawnflower blessing her enough to not obscure her vision as she looks into the sky.
"Careful, they've been tainted by the Abyss. If one goes for you, try to swap out; they can pick one person to hurt a lot more. Their beaks are more dangerous than their claws. Avoid using the elements to attack; they've been touched by the Abyss."
Hrut continues with his arrows to the crusader,
"Hold on I'm coming in, are you injured??"
Hrut moves towards the crusader, moving as fast as he can burdened as he is with his armor.
Captain Nalti looks back at Hrut. She stares at him, vacantly, as if she isn't quite sure he's actually there. "Damn vultures... can't let them get at my men... I can't fail them again.." she grumbles, not quite answering the question. She doesn't seem injured, though. She drops her bow, readying her shield and drawing her axe instead.
Three more vultures drop from the sky, one at Julania, the other two at Hrut. Julania spins out of the way, while Hrut holds off one of the vultures with his steel shield, sending reverberations throughout his body. However, this leaves him vulnerable to the other vulture, who tears into an exposed part of Hrut's flesh with its sharp beak.
Ehren is up.
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Ehren frowns as he ponders what tactics to use against the fiendish vultures. Earth was at an unfortunate disadvantage when it came to winged foes. It was fortunate then, that earth was not the only force of nature he had command over. He performs the familiar somatic movements, but this time, as he completes the appropriate Druidic incantation, he pulls in a deep breath...
The final two vultures each charge at Hrut and Julania. The determined woman swiftly side-steps the vulture, but Hrut is slowly being overwhelmed. Swooping and dipping, the vulture's sharp beak rends a gory path into Hrut's body, leaving him in critical condition...
Markus is up.
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Markus continues moving, getting closer to the fracas and reaching up to cast a spell. He passes Li'an and Valaria as he casts, nodding at them. Holy magic flows from his fingers, instilling confidence and competence in his allies and the new Captain who they'd found.
Li'an is up.
"Lets do this, Lleuad," she thinks as she allows arcane energy to flow into the short sword, causing it to glow softly.
Li'an moves up around the edge of the building trying to stay as quiet as she possibly can to catch the vulture unawares. She rounds the last corner and moves swiftly to cover the few remaining feet and strike, but manages to snag her foot on a loose paver. She stumbles forward, managing to avoid falling flat on her face, but as a result her attack swings wide of the buzzard.
Unaware of the situation that Hrut had fallen into, Ary rushes to the Captain's side to help defend her from the vultures, drawing Radiance as she went and readying her shield to deflect the vulture's pressure.
Suddenly realizing how bad things were going for Hrut with a look over her shoulder, Ary winced. "Hrut! Back away quickly, they're hunting you. Lure them to Butterfly and Hawk. Get to the medics!"
Klarah, who is unarmored - merely wearing a white and blue robe - hurries after her. She hears Ary call out for Hrut, and pauses, grabbing a small wooden holy symbol from around her neck. "Okay! I'm coming!" She closes her eyes, and channels Sarenrae's healing light. Positive energy flows out from her, and bathes everyone except for Ary, Li'an, and Julania in its soothing glow.
Round 2
The fastest vulture stays focused on Julania. It circles around to surround her. Its powerful beak cleaves through her defenses, leaving a long and ragged wound.
Valaria is up.
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Val hears Ary's cry and braces herself, ready to defends Hrut if he decides to fall back.
Dropping the arrows and drawing his warhammer, Hrut raises the weapon above his head, the familiar glow of yellow brightness engulfs the weapon as he brings it down on the vulture
Valaria is up.
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Markus sees the wave of positive energy passing around the battlefield and his body tenses. He squeezes his eyes shut and prepares his body for the pain...which never comes. He opens them, his shoulders falling from their upraised position. He sees that his friends' wounds have healed, and he realizes that the cleric they'd found had channeled to heal, rather than to harm.
"Klarah, for the sake of my mental well-being, please warn me next time you're going to do that!" he calls out, looking back towards her.
As Hrut holds his ground, Val dashes forward around the building, drawing one of her starknives as she moves and going after the last bird she saw diving for the warrior. "You okay big guy? You look a little outnumbered."