The demons have been fairly thorough in their destruction, but Kira finds a spell scrawled on a scrap of parchment and a potion vial which rolled into a corner.
Jod keeps watch while searching ensues.
After a quick pass Hannik calls out, "Okay, everyone ready?"
Kira recognises a potion of protection but it takes Hannik to identify the scroll of healing . However, any provisions they find have been spoilt by the demons' depredations.
With their new charge in tow, they start to head back to Defender's Heart. The wind is biting and carrying flecks of snow as they weave through the ruined streets.
"Did you hear that scream? Where did it come from?"
"That way! Keep the child safe."
Kira will move towards the alley, loading her crossbow, and leaving room for the big hitters to run past her and get there first.
"Stay back here young one," says Kaygan, not intending to go running down dark alleys himself with no spells left before he knows the situation.
"Jod and I will take a look. Mulluq, back us up." Rhok walks determinedly towards the alley twirling his spear.
Jod fits an arrow to his bow and strides toward the alley alongside his cousin.
Jod, Rhok and Mulluq move up to the alley. About halfway down they can see a young woman surrounded by three knights. The warriors' armour is blood-spattered and they seem exhausted, but one of them still wears a shredded tabard with a symbol of an orange sun.
One of the knights has removed his helmet. His is unshaven and his hair is matted and dirty. His eyes are red-rimmed and haunted. He holds the girl by her hair with one hand, and holds a sword with the other ready to run her through. "Your sacrifice aids the cause of good," he rasps in a tired voice as he prepares to thrust the sword into her body.
"Put the sword down, knight. Your ritual will fail anyway, as she's no virgin - I f!~!ed her in the alley behind the temple of Shelyn two weeks ago."
Mulluq scowls, his prodigious fangs bared with his anger, before turning suddenly to gape-mouthed shock at Rhok. "Rhok! What call is there for such lewd language about this poor woman's encounters?" He turns to the men, "Stay your blade. There is never good to come from taking the life of another in sacrifice!"
"Put the sword down, knight. Your ritual will fail anyway, as she's no virgin - I f*!~ed her in the alley behind the temple of Shelyn two weeks ago."
Watching from the end of the alley, Kira too shouts. "Hold, there has been enough bloodshed. Killing innocents will never bring strength to your blade. Give up on your old wive's tale."
Hannik motions for Ghroth to stay with her. With one arm around Ansell holding him close she huddles with Kaygan and Sol and Kira. From what she can overhear she shakes her head and mutters to Kaygan, "What in the hells? If this is how we are fighting demons now, what is the point?"
Jod draws back on his bow, ready to loose the arrow if the knight does not comply.
"Are you so sure that you would die for it? And you two. If you would stand aside and watch this, she's worth more than the lot of you together. Let. Her. Go."
The knight stares at the group with eyes devoid of reason. Then, when Mulluq speaks, he snarls and pushes the girl away. "You defile the symbol of the Inheritor by wearing it, demonspawn!" As the girl cowers against the alley wall the knights move to attack.
In a low voice to his cousin beside him, Jod says, "Well, they've let her go. Do we really want to fight them?"
Louder, he says, "A lot you know. He's done more good in her name in the last hour than most have done in a year. If you doubt me, return with us to the paladins and let them tell you. You know they won't lie."
Unsurprisingly, Mulluq agrees with the man's claim, "You are correct, I am not worthy of her righteous glory."
Hannik motions for Ghroth to stay with her. With one arm around Ansell holding him close she huddles with Kaygan and Sol and Kira. From what she can overhear she shakes her head and mutters to Kaygan, "What in the hells? If this is how we are fighting demons now, what is the point?"
“Even in the face of such horror, there’ll always be foolish men,” answers Kaygan sadly. “And … it looks like we’re fighting now,” he sighs.
Arrow sent, he drops his longbow and quickdraws his falchion.
Jod lets fly with the first arrow and quickly nocks a second and sends it after the first. He swiftly draws his falchion to meet the oncoming attack.
Mulluq scowls, his prodigious fangs bared with his anger, before turning suddenly to gape-mouthed shock at Rhok. "Rhok! What call is there for such lewd language about this poor woman's encounters?" He turns to the men, "Stay your blade. There is never good to come from taking the life of another in sacrifice!"
"Aw, come on. These idiots think they can enchant their sword by impaling virgins. So I lied a bit, and probably saved her life. Reputation's overrated anyway."
"Oh, that old wives' tale. That... never mind."
Jod sends arrows into the alley but mostly for show as they whizz over the knights' heads.
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Sol reaches in to his belt pouch for a bit of rancid butter. A chant and a throwing motion toward the knights creates a slippery puddle at their feet.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
As Sol casts his spell Kira shouts "Draw them out, and surround them, they have the advantage within the alley."