"I understand now. It was my mistake.". Brevon nods appreciatively at the notion of a hidden armory full of useful weapons. "Let us hope the enemy hasn't found it before we arrive, then..."
He bows his head when Irabeth states she will be joining them. "It is a fine leader, indeed, who leads the charge into battle. We are honored to fight by your side!"
He glances at Sabrina's letter. "Does she mean to face this force alone, without weapons or armor? She...It is a noble gesture of faith. We will pray for her success...". His voice and facial expression suggest anything but confidence in his statements.
While the rest are discussing how to deal with the head, Rukzha busies herself finding a sack large enough to contain both her mask and the scorpion from among the belongings of the cultists. She then promptly plots the familiar in together with her own item. "Now, it would be nice if you could transfer what you know." She smiles down at the scorpion before tying off the sack and hanging it from her belt.
Rukzha looks over at Brevon having destroyed the icon with a mixture of sadness and relief. "Good work on destroying that foul item Brevon. Too bad we couldn't somehow make use of it for ourselves."
With the mask being occupied learning spells, Rukzha's face is bare to show expressions. After hearing Quednys' explanation she looks horrified. "Turning the wardstone against us? That's horrible. I wish we had some way to repair it instead. But such a feat of magic would require immense power. I guess destroying it is the only realistic option we have." I wish I could one day wield such power... But I can only worry about survival.
Rukzha smiles at the other half-orc saying she'll be joining them. "It'll be nice to have your experience with us Irabeth. Hopefully we'll be able to work great together. By the way, do you know what kind of weapons we'll find in this secret armory next to the temple?"
----
Seeing Elriel turn to excuse himself from the party Rukzha holds out her hand. "Wait Elriel! We really should check out if there is any more gear we can get before heading out tomorrow."
She then looks down embarrassed and speaks more slowly and in a lower tone of voice than usual, almost as if unsure of herself. "Besides, there is something I would like to speak with you about, before we go to bed." The half-orc then raises her gaze again to meet the half-elf. "Maybe you can go find the girl, then meet us as the armory afterwards?" I would love to go with you to see this girl, but someone need to organize things.
Seeing Elriel turn to excuse himself from the party Rukzha holds out her hand. "Wait Elriel! We really should check out if there is any more gear we can get before heading out tomorrow."
She then looks down embarrassed and speaks more slowly and in a lower tone of voice than usual, almost as if unsure of herself. "Besides, there is something I would like to speak with you about, before we go to bed." The half-orc then raises her gaze again to meet the half-elf. "Maybe you can go find the girl, then meet us as the armory afterwards?" I would love to go with you to see this girl, but someone need to organize things.
Elriel was taken by surprise by Rukzha's request but quickly nodded. "Yes, you are right. The girl will likely be as safe as she'll ever be. I'll just go say good night and make sure she doesn't need anything. it shouldn't take too long."
He then added, "I'll meet you all in the armory in 15 minutes. If you have time, start looking for a decent bow, mine could use an upgrade."
Noble my ass - she's going to get herself killed, Arrika grumbles upon hearing Brevon's assessment of the note. Oh, everyone's thinking it - I'm just saying it. If she really wanted to do some good, redeem herself, she should have stuck around here and helped in the defence effort. Dying's easy - living's harder. And if she wants to off herself so badly, she should have just fallen on her sword here, where she can't be turned into a weapon for them. Does she realise the mental control those things can exercise? If she gets taken, her mind's an open book...she's as good as told them everything... Her complaints sound brusque, practical...but there's more than a little personal concern in them, too. It's clearly not news Arrika had wanted to hear, no matter what kind of disagreements had arisen.
Looking over the spoils of the last several days, including what had been recovered from their former safe house at the Blackwing, Arrika is buoyed slightly. At least we've got some things to contribute, in thanks for all their help... One thing catches her eye, especially after the word they'd received - the darkwood sword case, with Yaniel's sword still inside. Arrika's eyes go slightly misty as she picks up the elegantly carved box. Now she's run off on some damn fool idealistic crusade, to die just like Yaniel did...and he nearly turned into the enemy's weapon, just like I said... Moving the catch with her thumb, she flips the box open for one last look at the De'Foe family heirloom.
Looking for the familiar refugees, Elriel finds Fenna first, the librarian from the Blackwing, that points the way towards the cramped room where the children are being kept. He notices that even if she has also just arrived, both she and the other librarians are already trying to help and organize the place, working once more with their master, Quednys.
Finally finding the correct room, Elriel has little trouble to find the little girl he was looking for, even if he isn't completely sure if he'd be able to recognize all the rescued children from before now that they are amid many other kids. While the other girls of her age were trying to play together, Clara was a bit distant, taking care of the same small boy from before, trying to make him to stop crying and accept an ugly soldier made of wood. From her waist, Elriel is able to notice the pommel of a dagger.
Noticing his inquiring eyes, a small old lady tries to explain. "I'm so sorry, mister, but the little one is really feisty... she threatened to stab me when I tried to take that dagger."
********************************
Back to your room, Arrika, Brevon, and Rukzha find it even difficult to open and walk around thanks to the sheer amount of loot in there. It must have taken a lot of effort to ensure no loot to be taken from here, even more considering the current state of things. As Arrika opens the beautiful sword case, she is taken aback by a completely different sword... not a golden longsword with the holy symbol of Iomedae anymore but a golden scimitar with a blazing sun, illuminating the whole room.
Finally finding the correct room, Elriel has little trouble to find the little girl he was looking for, even if he isn't completely sure if he'd be able to recognize all the rescued children from before now that they are amid many other kids. While the other girls of her age were trying to play together, Clara was a bit distant, taking care of the same small boy from before, trying to make him to stop crying and accept an ugly soldier made of wood. From her waist, Elriel is able to notice the pommel of a dagger.
Noticing his inquiring eyes, a small old lady tries to explain. "I'm so sorry, mister, but the little one is really feisty... she threatened to stab me when I tried to take that dagger."
Elriel acknowledged the old lady by thanking her, "The girl has been through a lot." He looked around and added, "I know everyone has but her last couple of days have been especially trying for her. I'll go talk to her."
The half-elf then neared Clara and got down on his haunches to be at her eye level. He then pulled out a small bracelet that he had traded for. "Look. It's for you. It will help keep you safe."
He added, "Have you eaten well today? You know the lady is concerned for you and your brother. Will you let her help you? I can't be here all the time for you and it will be easier for me if I know you're being provided for."
tag?
He added, "Have you ever seen a full-blooded elf? My mother would love to meet you."
tag?
Sleep. As he trudges toward their sleeping quarters, the notion strikes him as absurd. He might have laughed had there been an ounce of humor left in him. But he is beyond all that. He has not slept in recent days, not really, and what little rest he can procure is at the best of times filled with unpleasant memories, and at the worst of times, well... He is too weary even for sleep, and certainly for laughter.
But he is finding it helpful to be around people again--people who smile and talk about anything and everything, as though they don't see the creeping darkness lurking in the periphery of their vision, or hear the tormenting silence of the empty space she used to occupy--a chair now empty, a bed grown cold.
Yes, it is good to pretend.
But something taps at his brain, like a morning shrike perched outside a bedroom window. He tries it ignore it, to push it into the background of his consciousness, as he does with so many other thoughts. But the tapping continues, an incessent rattle on a cold, winter morning, drawing him from precious sleep, pulling him out of his blankets and his bed and compelling him to traverse the cold, wooden floor as he runs from the room, down the darkened corridor of his home, into the shadows, away from memory and thought and feeling, and into the sublime solitude of oblivion and...
He crashes through a doorway and plunges into fire. No, not fire, but something far worse--back into reality. Here the others are expressing their excitement at the prospect of reclaimed armor and supplies. But such light! It's nearly blinding to him, yet it warms his soul, sheathed as it is beneath sheets of ice. He has experienced this sensation once before. There was a fire, and a whisper, a plea to return, a promise of rebirth. Whose voice was it? Does he hear it now?
"The scimitar!" he croaks, struggling to speak over the intensity of the light. "Where did it come from?"
The small girl accepts the small bracelet and quickly tries to put it around her tiny wrist, even if struggling a bit. She studies it a bit and then looks at Elriel startled, almost as if someone remembered her about something. "Thank you, stranger..." a couple tears form in her eyes but the girl manages to keep them from running. "... mommy told me to always say 'thank you', but also not to speak with strangers... I was always a good girl and mommy was a good mommy too..." she reaches for her dagger. "Am I a bad girl now?"
She then nods after all of Elriel's questions, except the last one. "What is 'full-blooded' and what is an 'elf'?" As soon as Clara started to talk and dropped the wooden toy, her brother stopped from crying and grabbed it silently.
The small girl accepts the small bracelet and quickly tries to put it around her tiny wrist, even if struggling a bit. She studies it a bit and then looks at Elriel startled, almost as if someone remembered her about something. "Thank you, stranger..." a couple tears form in her eyes but the girl manages to keep them from running. "... mommy told me to always say 'thank you', but also not to speak with strangers... I was always a good girl and mommy was a good mommy too..." she reaches for her dagger. "Am I a bad girl now?"
She then nods after all of Elriel's questions, except the last one. "What is 'full-blooded' and what is an 'elf'?" As soon as Clara started to talk and dropped the wooden toy, her brother stopped from crying and grabbed it silently.
Elriel smiled, "No, Clara; you are not a bad girl at all. Your mother was right and you are a very good girl. And I know your mother is watching you from above so you have to continue to be good. OK?"
The half-elf continued, "Elriel; my name is Elriel and I am no stranger. Tomorrow I'll go out and try to find a doll for you so you and your brother have toys to play with. If you feel safe, you should give your dagger to your caregiver. They are a little scared that you're going to hurt yourself by accident."
He then added, "My mother. She is an elf. You know with pointy ears. Anyway,she would love to meet you some day. And your brother."
He stayed for a little but longer trying to make the girl feel safe and then went to meet his companions.
Rukzha shakes her head in dismay over the letter from Sabrina. "I didn't like the way she reacted after the fight with the imps... Obviously. However this reaction is a bit extreme. I fear she's already infected by the demons, even if these are demons of her own making. Just like the mad crusaders that were trying to sacrifice the virgin. Hopefully she'll slay a lot of demons on her path before they take her out. I think that's the best we can hope for."
On the way to the quarters Rukzha busies herself with offering healing to those in need. "I can do a bit of healing for everyone. I should contribute where I can." While seeing the faces of the people she heal is nice, Rukzha still feels compelled to fix their gear for the mission tomorrow.
Rukzha is surprised to see the scimitar uncovered. "Was that always there? You didn't mention it as anything special earlier. We should have brought it with us from the library." The witch proceeds to scan for magic to determine what it is.
It... For a moment, Arrika is lost for words. ...we found it with the cultists, down below Neathholm. But it wasn't...it wasn't like this before. It was a longsword, with Iomedae's symbol etched into it...it had belonged to Sabrina's relative, Yaniel, and it'd somehow...I don't know, empowered Sabrina's sword when the two came together.... It didn't used to have this curve to it, or the sunburst...and it definitely didn't glow like that, especially once it'd come close to Claoimh Solais... She falls silent as Rukzha begins her examination. Could this...could this mean Sabrina's already died?
"It can't be," laments Brevon. "She has only just gone...Are you sure this is not a mistake?"
But he knows it isn't a mistake. Deep down, he knows the sword is meant for him. It's been waiting for him. Calling to him ever since he left the house in Karcau, or what remained of it, anyway. The sword has been calling to him since before then, too. It whispers even now, and its voice is terrifyingly familiar. It is the voice from his dreams.
But this fear that he feels, it is peculiar. It isn't the kind of fear that drives him away, sending him fleeing into the night. It is the kind that draws him near, pulling him to the edge of a precipice, to stare down into the endless chasm of infinite. It is the fear of knowing that the only thing separating him from this life and the next, life from death, is himself.
And that is the most terrifying thing of all.
He reaches for the scimitar, his hand slipping around the hilt with ease. He lifts it delicately, staring at his reflection in the blade. The golden light improves his complexion, hiding the dark circles and sallow complexion, the sunken cheeks and withered brow. For a moment, he recognizes the man who stares back.
"It is a sign. A miracle, maybe. But definitely a sign. Whatever Sabrina's status, her fate is now wound up in our own. Fulfilling the destiny of this blade now falls upon me, upon all of us. We shall continue the battle, as promised. We shall cause rivers to run red with the blood of demons. We shall scour this evil with the heat of a thousand suns. And we shall do this together."
Rukzha is impressed by Brevon's oath, his passion and determination. It's not her way to approach things, she would rather try to figure out out the reason behind things and the effects of actions before going for the best one, however she appreciates that other qualities can be better at times.
The witch is gripped by Brevon's words and offer her own. "We will do our best; to be better than the rest. With our skill and might; We will win this fight."
Her brain can't stop trying to figure out what happened to the sword and soon enough she offers up a reasonable explanation. "After the fight with the imps, even after her argument with me, her sword seemed to dim. Maybe that's when the magic transferred back here. So it would still make sense for it to be unrelated to her status."
She bites her lip thinking further. "Both you and Sabrina are paladins. Iomedae's favored weapon is a longsword like she used, while Sarenrae's favored weapon is a scimitar like you are using. I think the weapon attunes to the goddess a holy warrior worships."
The little girl nodded as Elriel explained that she wasn't a bad girl and introduced himself but holds her dagger against her chest. "No! I won't hurt anyone. I promise! I'll just protect Yully." When Elriel continued, she smiled before touching his pointed ear and giggled for the first time, hugging him before he left.
********************************
"It seems like this is just a first rank magical cold iron scimitar now that can activate to shine light like a torch. However there is a lot more power dormat in the sword, but I can't figure out what it is nor how to pull it out. It's weird. I've never seen anything like this. Either I should be able to figure out what something is, or not. Not this half way deal." Rukzha is a bit confused by the phenomenon and she doesn't like to be confused. Though she was happy about figuring things out at first, that quickly changed once she got to the part she couldn't explain.
"Don't lose heart, Rukzha. There are mysteries in the world beyond the reach of mortals. Kenabres is wound up in them, surely, and perhaps this sword is only one more. Answers will reveal themselves in time. We need only be patient."
Assuming we live that long, he thinks somberly.
Elriel whistled low in appreciation of the blade. He asked Brevon for permission and took a couple of swing with it. "Exquisite. May it serve you well."
He palmed his own twin blades and shrugged. He smiled, "Like I always say. Make the best of what you got."
He quickly added, "And don't complain. I can't stand complainers."
"It's already late and we still have things to do. We don't really have time to worry about the sword now. Let's get this gear out of here so we can trade for something more useful." Rukzha says as she starts picking up things to carry to the merchants.
"The rest already got enchated armor. Maybe we can find some for you too Brevon?" Rukzha comments as she strains under her heavy burden.
----
After indeed acquiring enchanted full plate for Brevon they proceed to look for smaller stuff, with all the heavy weapons and armor removed it's much easier to move around. Rukzha scans over the wares of a merchant they encounter and points out a set of glasses, a ring and a necklace.
"This ring and necklace could offer some more protection. The ring creates a barrier that can deflect blows, while the amulet makes your skin almost as sturdy as Kelumarion's so it can absorb blows. They are quite expensive though. Almost as expensive as Brevon's armor, but only offering one tenth the protection. Magical items like this cost a lot to make."
Her attention moves over to the glasses and she taps them lightly. "I really like these ones though. They are just as expensive as the ring or amulet, but they offer a great boost in perception instead of minor physical defenses. That would allow us to notice traps and other surprises in time to deal with them. The demons and their cultists are quite deceptive, hiding in our midst for so long. Figuring out when someone are not quite what they say they are would be quite useful. I think we can afford one of the protective items as well as the lenses, but not both. What do you guys think?"
Her attention moves over to the glasses and she taps them lightly. "I really like these ones though. They are just as expensive as the ring or amulet, but they offer a great boost in perception instead of minor physical defenses. That would allow us to notice traps and other surprises in time to deal with them. The demons and their cultists are quite deceptive, hiding in our midst for so long. Figuring out when someone are not quite what they say they are would be quite useful. I think we can afford one of the protective items as well as the lenses, but not both. What do you guys think?"
Elriel was nothing if not persistent. He was used to trading blows with others and trusted his eyes were far above those of humans.
"I would prefer to get something that makes me harder to hit so the ring is my choice. I will concede to others if they want to buy something else."
He tried on the glasses, "These are pretty good though. Would I be wearing these?"
Brevon considers the elegant, multi-hued plate mail that Arrika and Rukzha negotiated for. The armor itself is a work of art as much as craft. Brevon would never have guessed he would be wearing something so elaborate. He suddenly looks embarrassed. "I've never put on full plate. I might need some assistance. Elriel, would you mind?" Brevon quickly dons the thick layer of padding that serves as a buffer between skin and metal. With Elriel's help he carefully straps himself into the sabatons, greaves, cuisses, the cuirass, vambraces, and finally the helmet. He regards himself in a broken, dirty mirror, hardly recognizing the hulking behemoth he has become. "The weight is incredible. I'll have to practice walking around like this before I'll be any good in a fight." He walks across the room, his heavy footfalls echoing like thunder. "I also hope we won't require subtlety..."
Here is a link to the sheet (Sheet5 for this trade)
"You look good Brevon." Rukzha says as she appraises the armor clad figure. "If we need to go stealthy, we'll use the invisibility wand. Even in that armor you wouldn't be that easy to detect."
---
Rukzha smiles when she sees Elriel putting on the glasses. "If we get the glasses you would be able to look out for all of us. Even though you already got the ring I don't feel it's unfair that you get to use the glasses as well. Enchanting your eyesight will probably serve us all better than anyone else wearing them."
After such a stressful day, you fall asleep as soon as you hit your improvised beds. Perhaps you were too tired or just enjoying the feeling of being able to sleep without the need for taking shifts but the night passes in a blur. You wake up with the sounds of a mustering army.
Soldiers are moving around the Defender's Heart in a hurry, each in a different errand before the crusades are able to march against Old Kenabres. You notice that many wounded soldiers are now on the windows bearing crossbows taking the place of the more healthy fighters that will be needed elsewhere. While you get some food, an elf comes to your table with a small chest and just after a couple moments you recognize him as Aravashnial, fully healed from his blindness. "Greetings my friends! I heard from Quednys that you are taking a different mission than the rest of the crusaders... he refrained to tell me all the details but even so I brought you this." He opens the chest, revealing as assortment of potions and magical itens. "We found this cache in the Blackwing and I recognize it as one of the Riftwardens' many emergency equipment. I wish I could go with you to repay for your help but my eyesight isn't healed completely yet... I expect you find this a suitable substitute." He gives you a small smile, the first one you see from him, even if something is bothering him... most likely that he isn't in charge, or that Quednys refused to tell him the whole plan.
The small cache contains eight potion of cure light wounds, four potion of lesser restoration, ten +1 evil outsider bane arrows, a chime of opening, a wand of magic missiles (CL 5th, 31 charges), and a wand of daylight (24 charges).
********************************
When you finish to eat, you find Irabeth on the outside of the building, talking to a couple crusaders probably in charge of more men. After a couple seconds she comes to you. "I believe you are ready to continue?" She waits for no answer before continuing. "My crusaders are ready to march under Commander Tel'Ven's orders. Old Kenabres has two gates, one to the north and one to the south, easily defensible... lucky for us the demons who breached our walls also created wide paths that we can use to bring our soldiers. Commander Tel'Ven will guide his men to the south, using two of these paths while we'll take a more direct approach from the northeast." She finishes pointing to the hole in the wall closer to the Defender's Heart.
Elriel was sincerely happy to see the elf, "Well, glad to see you're well and ready to continue the good fight. No hard feelings for what was said and done down below. It was a difficult situation and we just needed to get out."
He nods his thanks to the cache, "Thank you. We'll be sure to put these to good use."
Before the elf sets off, he asked, "Everything OK? Where are you going now? Do you want to join us?"
tag?
The half-elf checked his armor and weapons one more time. We're as ready as we'll ever be commander so lead on."
Good to see you getting better, Arrika replies, clapping the elf on the shoulder as Kelumarion dips his head in a nod of respect. Aravashnial had been standoffish, it was true, but she was genuinely glad to see him recovering...no one deserved to spend a life in darkness. And thank you for the supplies - they'll be a boon. I wish you could accompany us, but I'll be glad to know there's someone so able aiding the Heart's defence. This place really is Kenabres' biggest hope.
Possibly hollow words, she knew, as despite his knowledge he had little to do with the crusaders' operations, and he looked as if he knew that better than anyone...but he seemed as if he could use the kindly-meant words. We'll see you tonight.
It seems as good a plan as any. Arrika tries to fill her words with confidence, but it's hard to overcome the note of breathless nerves. Looking up from the map, her eyes go distant. Resting her hand on Kelumarion's shoulder, she begins to chant in a rough yet melodic tone, steady with familiarity in the words. Gall Gwirodydd o bridd, y cerrig ger ein bron yn agored ... ysbrydion o aer, efallai y bydd eich anadl fod ar ein cefnau ... ysbrydion Sarkoris, rhoi benthyg eich nerth i ni, er mwyn i ni ddod â'ch lid ar y goresgynwyr ...
"Greetings, friend. I don't believe we've met. I am Brother Brevon, an acolyte of the Everflame. It seems are both fortunate to have met Elriel, Rukzha, and Arrika."
Brevon takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he looks out over the ruined city. The new armor has lifted his spirits, but it is impossible to ignore the horror of the attack. But there is the sword. That means something to him. He feels the weight of it in its sheath and cannot help but smile.
"Irabeth, this plan is sound. We will reclaim the Garrison, and the city itself."
Aravashnial sighs before shaking his head to Elriel. "I'd love to bring the fight to these demons but I'm afraid I should remain behind and start the tedious yet important process of rebuilding my order and salvage the lost knowledge." He notices he is perhaps complaining too much and soon amends. "I'm sorry for that... it is the mostly important task for me to do at this moment and I should take care of it, even if my heart calls for a more direct action..."
It takes her a couple more minutes to finish the preparative for the attack and soon after Commander Tel'Ven guides his men to the south. She then explains that they will take at least twice as much time to reach Old Kenabres then you. "... because of this, we can approach this in three different manners: by waiting here in safety and then move as fast as we can; we can move now and then hide, waiting for them; or, we can take our time and move slowly, avoiding any danger in the streets... all have its ups and downs so I'd like to hear your opinions on this matter."
It takes her a couple more minutes to finish the preparative for the attack and soon after Commander Tel'Ven guides his men to the south. She then explains that they will take at least twice as much time to reach Old Kenabres then you. "... because of this, we can approach this in three different manners: by waiting here in safety and then move as fast as we can; we can move now and then hide, waiting for them; or, we can take our time and move slowly, avoiding any danger in the streets... all have its ups and downs so I'd like to hear your opinions on this matter."
Elriel made sure the new potions were within easy reach. "I think the decision is easy. We are not ones to go and hide, either here or in the garrison waiting until the others get there. We are well suited to take the fight to the enemy so I think we should take our time and go slowly."
He then added, "But why try to avoid danger. How about we see if we can make ourselves useful along the way. Maybe rescue other refugees or kill some demons along the way. Know what I mean?"
In the morning Rukzha prepares her spells then proceeds to cast a spell on the broken pendant. Afterwards she hands it over to Brevon. "I did it! It's fixed. It seemed like you were quite excited about this earlier."
Rukzha smiles at seeing the elf healed. "Your eyes! They are healed! That's wonderful. Amazing that you managed to find someone capable of such a feat here. Who did it? If there are someone that powerful here, maybe they can help us out on our mission."
Her hands suddenly goes to her chest. "Oh yeah, you can see again. Do you want to see my birthmark." She starts undoing the top of her livery, dragging it down her chest, but she stops right before revealing her breast. There, right at the edge of her soft mound the spiral can be seen on her green skin if one looks closely.
"Thank you Rukzha! This is a kind gesture, and one I hope will lead us toward righteousness in times of uncertainty." He wraps the cord gently around the phylactery's body them places it gently in his pack, to keep it safe until a time when difficult choices must be made.
"I am in agreement with Elriel. We have been blessed with valuable resources, it is only right that we contribute them toward all survivors we encounter. My only concern is that our strength may diminish in so doing, but it sounds like we will be able to infiltrate the Garrison over the course of days, so that we will have a chance to recuperate."
"Isn't it better to just wear it than to stow it away? You don't know if the difficult choices will always come when we have time to dig around in our packs. Maybe something will even happen in the midst of battle." Rukzha asks with an arched eyebrow of Brevon as he moves to put away the item.
---
Rukzha nods in agreement with the others. "If we remain here it'll be much harder to react to things as they happen, but if we rush ahead, there will be a risky period while we hide. Much better to take the risk up front by moving slowly as Elriel suggests. We'll deal with what we find when we do so, with a mind to conserving our resources for when we do arrive."
Before they set out Rukzha will cast mage armor on herself.
Even if a caught by surprised and a bit uncomfortable about where the mark is and having to get too close to inspect it, Aravashnial nods after a couple seconds. "Hum... I believe you are indeed correct. It is obviously not perfect, but since it is a birthmark I believe this is expected. A Riftwarden spiral, even if somewhat stylized and slightly different from the one we generally use in Kenabres..." He then excused himself for a moment where he fetched for a piece of parchment and an inkpen and soon after he made a pretty good sketch about it. "We weren't able to retrieve all our lost books yet but I'll research about this particular mark among them... I must warn you not to have high expectations about my success with such limited resources."
Irabeth nods to your opinions while she gets ready to move on, leading you towards the Gray Garrison. "I agree with you, even if my heart is already burdened by the choices we'll probably face ahead of us... this mission we are undertaking has the lives of all men and women fighting on our other cities and even if we find some refugees needing help, we'll only be able to provide for them if doing so doesn't delay our main goal."
Leaving the Defender's Heart behind, you once more surround the endless rifts between the inn and the second wall, crossing both it and the third wall through one of the paths created by he huge demons during the first attack. Despite using these holes to traverse the walls, Irabeth chooses not to use the road for your general movement since it would leave you too exposed. You find no more survivors in these parts, which is easy to explain: those closer to the your base of operations were already rescued, and those closer to the now taken Grey Garrison already fled, were murdered, or even worse, captured.
You finally reach for the former Old Kenabres district, crossing the last and forth wall. From the distance, you are able to see many men patrolling the remains of the wall and as you come closer you are able to discern them as tieflings and cultists, but almost no demons. To the south you here the sound of marching troops and the rallying cries of the crusaders, nearing the walls to attack. Thanks to this distraction, most of the defenders flock south, leaving just a couple sentinels behind, easily avoided thanks to your diminished party size and the ample ruins that served you as hiding spots.
Inside Old Kenabres you move around a huge rift located where once stood the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell as well as the Clydwell Plaza, the very same place where Arrika and Elriel have fallen into the darkness. Surrounded by two lesser rifts, the Gray Garrison stands with its squat, plain gray stone façade, two floors high and a partial third one, and no windows. "Before the fall, the Gray Garrison served as a museum, tended by several aged curators who kept the structure in working order out of a sense of duty and to honor the past. Once the initial attack on Kenabres was over, the cultists chose it as their base of operations due to its central location and its ease of defense." Irabeth explains as you come closer.
A large stretch of buckled ground and rubble stretches before the Gray Garrison, an aptly named structure that squats across from the open ground that once stood before the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell. That cathedral is no more-nothing remains but a towering mound of rubble and a deep, jagged rift in the ground. No trace of Terendelev's body remains.
You initially notice heavy double doors as the only entrance to the building but after a while Elriel also notices a small shutter on the wall, fifteen feet above and just to the left of the front doors. Two hideously obese, naked men armed with scythes guard the Gray Garrison's entrance. You are still sixty feet away from the distance and it seems neither of the obese guardians have noticed your presence.
Elriel frowned; this did not look good. He whispered, "Listen, I'm not sure if my eyes are deceiving me but those two obese, naked men look familiar. They seem to be Kandro Nyserian, a local noble, and Lord Hulrun, once the leader of Kenabres himself!"
He urged the others, "Take a look for yourself. What do you think? How did they get so fat in such a short time? I smell demon trickery here."
He added, "The doors seem to be the entrance here. I don't think the shutter above is big enough for us and it's 15' high. Do you think we can lure these 'fatsos' away?"
"These are vermleks! Demons capable of wearing corpses to their advantage." Rukzha hisses in response.
"Hurlun might have done a misguided and awful things in his time. But he doesn't deserve this. No one does." She shakes her head ever so slightly.
"Though doing a frontal assault is sure to draw attention. It might be that we end up facing more than just these enemies. Didn't your scale allow levitating up Arrika? We can use that and a rope to get up there?"
"Let me try to remember what I read about vermleks." She'll think a bit before she shares what she knows.
"Using the bodies of the slain as costumes?!" Brevon's grip on his scimitar tightens as he tenses in outrage. The human being in him wants to stand and challenge the demons, but the warrior in him knows better. At the moment, they still possess the advantage. But how to use it?
"This all seems wrong," Brevon whispers. "That shutter can't be more than 15 feet away. How in heavens could we access it unnoticed?"
As they near the Cathedral of St. Clydwell, Arrika passes the very spot where she'd stood over a soup kettle, dishing out food to festival-goers...where she'd met Elriel, Sabrina, and Bertholdt, a few days (and a lifetime) before. Even with all the ruin, she can still almost imagine it...the booths, the decorations, the festival garb... And then her eyes fall on the rift itself. Almost subconsciously, her steps begin to creep away from the chasm's edge, and muscles tighten slightly as the memory of the fall overtakes her mind. But we made it...thanks to Terendelev, we're ok...
Mastering herself, she follows Irabeth (still edging away from the rift) until they reach the onlook toward the Grey Garrison...
And as she looks closer at the bloated faces guarding the Garrison, her breath stops once again; fear, revulsion, and perverse satisfaction war for dominance in her mind as Rukzha describes the grisly fate that's befallen the late Lord Hulrun. ::Kelu - Kelu, he's gotten his due, the monster - he deserved what he got -:: But the steely disapproval washing over her mind cuts through her wicked internal reverie, and before her companion even has a chance to speak, Rukzha's words of mercy cut through the haze of hatred.
"...he doesn't deserve this. No one does."
Shamed into mental silence at the unknowing reproof from Rukzha, Arrika tries to turn her attention back to the task at hand, cluing in at Brevon's musing. We had those potions that turned you invisible - could we use those to sneak past? Or could we, I don't know, draw their attention another way, to give us time to get the rope up there and make the climb?
Despite her role as the commander, Irabeth lets you decide the course of action, even if she gives her opinion. "Drawing them out might be a good idea if any of you can pull this trick... I'm usually more inclined to charge when I see demons, but I'm here as a backup to you... I'll bow to your experience in this kind of mission since we are not in the middle of a battle."
"Disgusting," Elriel commented as he looked at the demons again.
He looked at Irabeth, surprised that she wasn't taking command. His surprise was short-lived as his practical side took over the situation.
"We can always rush them so let's leave that option for last. Let's try and lure them over."
He looked at Arrika, "You're our best bet to get their attention. Either make believe you're a refugee or something and get them over here. The rest of us will jump them, hopefully killing them quickly."
He took out his swords, "Sound like a plan?"
"I agree to any plan that results in their demise. Especially one that involves us winning!"
Brevon readies his shield and scimitar, once again admiring the blade in the daylight. "This weapon shall need a name," he muses, "but like all named swords, it shall earn its title in battle..."
"Arrika, we shall be near to lend our aid."
All right... Her tone not overfull with confidence, Arrika steals one last glance at Kelumarion as she swathes the tip of her spear in a dirty rag, attempting to make the weapon look like a beaten walking stick. The celestial cat nods deeply, the worried look in his eye echoing the look in his charge's, but he makes no objection to the proposal. So with a deep breath, she walks around the edge, then forward into the square, adopting a lost, fearful look (that after the events of the last several days, isn't terribly difficult to muster).
Ennis? Ennis? she calls out as she approaches, glancing around the square and pretending not to notice the vermleks standing guard. Ennis - are you here? Merrin said she saw you here, just this morning...Ennis! We've been looking for days - please, please, I'll do anything - As her words grow darker, Arrika falls to her knees in mock despair, burying her face in her elbow as if to soak up tears and taking deep, shuddering breaths (again, surprisingly easy to muster up, considering she's acting as live bait for demons).
While pretending to be a bait, Arrika is able to glimpse the two demons pointing their scythes towards her and soon after they are moving towards her, talking among them. They raise no alarm and call for no reinforcement. "K'aghts'r, k'aghts'r misy... Mut' Lorderi petk' e urakh e mez... na uni nuynisk krakot mazery! Siruhi Demonner himar mahkanats'unery asum... Chisht e, ays depk'um!"
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Brevon - up
Rukzha - up
Kelumarion - up
Arrika - up
Elriel - up
Round 1
Vermleks
Brevon
Rukzha
Kelumarion
Arrika
Elriel
The demons were coming. Elriel breathed deeply to calm his anxiety. Wait. Wait.
Seeing them so close to Arrika was the last drop. "Don't let them get so close!"
He then activated his magical shirt giving him a burst of speed to his already fast feet. With swords already in hand, the rogue cut into the flesh of the obese demons.
_____________
Brevon raises his eyebrows at Arrika's ruse. "You have to hand it to her, she knows how to be persuasive..."
He listens to the demon's vulgarities with disgust. Hearing the sound of their heavy footfalls approach, he struggles to keep up with Elriel as he follows the half-elf out into the commotion. The weight of his full plate is cumbersome, and he is less than graceful in his approach, but he hopes this will be mistaken for the lumbering gait of a hulking warrior, not the clumsy step of an ordinary man.
The sound of whistling blades and rending flesh grant him reassurance, and he puffs his chest as much as that's possible. Stepping up beside Arrika, he levels the scimitar at the demon closest to him, addressing them with insults in an attempt to draw their attention away from the mage.
Arrika hadn't at all enjoyed learning the discordant Abyssal tongue, one of Kelumarion's first lessons whispered into her mind when he'd joined to her. It had a harsh grate to it, like swallowing sand, and the subjects discussed using it were rarely, if ever pleasant. She'd protested, but her mentor had continued implacably, insisting that knowing one's enemy was vital to defeating them...and as her lessons bear yet more fruit, absurdly, she has to fight a grin. ::They're buying it!::
Her face remains frozen in a mask of tragedy, her spear lying on the ground beside her as they close. But then, at the last possible moment, Elriel and Brevon cry out, and Kelumarion lets out a loud snarl from behind their hiding place as he rushes to her side with them. Arrika's quick movements mirror her allies' as she jumps to her feet; her spear darts forward, the keen cold iron tip easily forcing its way through its cloth wrap in its hunger for vermlek (and former Lord Prelate) flesh. The force of her onslaught surprises even Kelumarion, whose own bite goes wide with the distraction of incredulity.
With his magic shirt helping, Elriel is able to move swiftly and soon one of his swords is piercing the soft flesh of the once Lord Hulrun. The demon screams in pain, probably surprised by a cold iron weapon. The other one is quickly stabbed by Arrika while the others close by.
Both demons step back, taken by surprise and soon surrounded by enemies. They curse their own lack of wisdom. "Intruders... you made a mistake, fools! Gooood... I was looking for new suits!" They raise their arms while laughing and speaking profane words and soon after one of them, the one that Elriel struck, heals his wounds completely. Simultaneously, both Brevon and Arrika feel as their flesh and spirit are slowly invaded by obscure forces, tearing wounds open and clouding their minds with sinful thoughts.
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Vermlek#1 [7 dmg; healthy]
Vermlek#2
Brevon - up
Rukzha - up
Kelumarion - up
Arrika - up
Elriel - up
Irabeth
Elriel was surprised and worry was clearly etched on his face. His blade had cut deep. He knew it. Yet the demon had healed all the damage.
He hoped that the others were close behind and pressed the attack.
"Let's concentrate and surround one if we can!"
_____________
Well, this ambush backfired... We couldn't really do much except move from where we started. Seeing the power of the demons Rukzha gets worried. "We need to stop them from using that magic. Web will do that and take advantage of their weak reflexes." Before she proceed to fill the area with webbing.