The Green Man looks at Sonechka with a raised eyebrow, he had seen that look and was surprised himself.
Unsure about what could possibly have affected her so he pauses and runs through the conversation in his head.
"Errr...I think there was a misunderstanding there...
What I meant was not that I was INCAPABLE, merely that I can't do it on my own, see?"
Not long after midnight, you each receive word of women gathering at a barn suspected of being the Gyronna cult hideout. The location is two miles out of town just south of the road to Quillor Farms. The message includes a spot to gather and prepare not far from the barn.
"Kesten, gather together a dozen soldiers, have them form four squads of three each.
When we get there, have them surround the barn and be ready to arrest or take down any cultists that might escape the barn.
I, as well as Sonechka, Dolgrym, Furiel and Norton will head in to negotiate if possible, and fight if necessary."
The Green Man then grabs his earthbreaker and heads out with the others.
Sonechka was at the meeting location first. It seemed likely the woman didn't sleep. She nodded at the others as they arrived. "There are 10 women inside. Ten women who very likely harbor dislike or even hatred- possibly well earned hatred, if the stories we've heard are true- for men. Tread carefully. This has the potential to go very badly even if it does not fall to a general melee, my lords."
Dolgym was happy to be called up into advice. He loved the creature comforts, but grew weary when spending too much time in town. He grabbed his go bag and was ready for action at the King's behest.
"Sad to say, we should probably prepare for the worst, but we can still hope for the best.
In this kingdom of ours, women have the same protection under the law as men, but also the same obligations.
We cannot allow this cult to fester, but anyone who surrenders may have a chance at atonement still."
The Green Man will then wait for the guards to get into position before moving in with is companions.
The only structure.. the barn and a fenced in grazing area. There is no cover - not even tall grass - anywhere within a hundred feet of the barn. Fortunately, as you approach the barn you see no sign of threat in the area. The only visible entrance is the main set of doors.
"Well then, get the guards into position while the rest of us heads in."
Sonechka nods at Green. "I am with you, my lord." She whispers something to her ever-present raven and the bird flies up into the sky to circle overhead.
"Good, let's go."
Taking the lead, The Green Man approaches the barn, and unless something stops him, he will open the doors and head in.[/b]
You open the doors and move inside. It is dark. Green feels the slight tug of a thin wire at his feet (hidden within the layer of straw covering the floor) as he steps in. There are four cows and two goats in stables. They seem unconcerned by your appearance, but a couple of the former casually moo nonetheless.
Sonechka points at the hatch and speaks quietly. "There is a hatch in the floor there."
"And there is also a wire at my feet, I think it might be attached to a bell under the floor.
I think they are aware of us now..."
The dwarf casts Mage Armor on himself, and pulls his magical warhammer.
Sonechka nods at Green. "We should hurry, then, my lord, to prevent them preparing an ambush." She goes over to stand near the hatch but doesn't open it herself.
"Right, good advice."
The Green Man hurries over to the hatch, grabs the handle and tries to pull it open.
The stairs leading down are unlit, but you see light coming from the room into which it opens. It is dim and flickering periphery of some sort of firelight within. You do not see the floor of the room.. the stairs continue.
You hear a voice growl and hiss, but cannot make out any words.
"This time it may be wise for me to go first, my lords." Sonechka murmurs a few words under her breath and she disappears in a spray of quickly-disappearing snow.
A bloodshot eye (symbol of Gyronna) has been crudely painted on the floor in the room's center.
The ceiling is a little more than 20 feet high.
You see no traps.
The Green Man turns to Dolgrym.
"We'll give her a few more moments, unless we hear something.
Be ready, we don't know if we can avoid a battle or not, and they are ready for us no doubt."
Dolgrym casts Bull's Strength on The Good King Green knowing it would last for several minutes while waiting for the witch to report back.
Sonechka carefully walks back up the steps. She whispers from a few steps below Green. "There are 2 groups, in each of the far corners of the room. I counted at least 8 women; one of them is casting spells on herself. I will go back into the room and to the near right corner from the stairs. Count to twenty then follow me inside. You may want to announce yourself before you make yourselves visible; I cannot say whether they will parlay or not. I will leave that decision to you, my lord"
The Green Man nods at Sonechka and slowly begins to count up to twenty in his head.
Then, hefting his massive weapon, The Green Man puts it over his shoulder and adopts a confident pose.
"You in the basement, I am coming down!
I am willing to parley, but if it's fight you want, it will be given to you."
He then begins to walk down, looking at easy and self-assured.
There are four brazier-topped pedestals in the chamber.. only the southward one is lit. The women are in the dark corners to the north. The one cultist standing in the dim light (in front of those in the northeast corner) speaks...
"I'll grant neither parley nor mercy for those who intrude upon our worship." as she moves toward the center of the north wall.
"To me, my sisters..."
Initiative
Dolgrym casts Haste on the group, readying them for the upcoming battle.
As soon as the woman declares she will not grant parlay, Sonechka begins murmuring the words to a spell. Moments later motes of golden dust rain down from the ceiling above the largest group of cultists.
Moving forward, The Green Man grins and steels himself for combat.
Though before he fully gives into battle lust he does decide to add one spell of his own to those Dolgrym had already used.
Furiel tries to act quickly, but adjusting his hat delays his entrance.
'
The priestess waves her hand in front of her blinded eyes, cackles, "Well done!", then begins to cast a spell. A force.. what looks like crackles of dark electricity emanates from her and expands then fades. Green is struck by it, and receives a minor foreboding feeling.
Furiel's web spreads across the leader and a couple cultists.. the three sparkling from Sonechka's golden dust. The remaining cultists advance.. one reaches Green, and one charges at Sonechka. They all wear similar shabbles and wield wicked daggers.
Sonechka reaches out and grabs the shadows in the corner near her and literally pulls them around her like a shroud. The darkness expands and covers the entire corner of the room where she stood. No impediment to her eyes, she takes a few prudent steps away from the cultist in the dark.
Hmmm, cutting down the leader is always a good idea, but that will have to wait.
Jerking his shoulder up, The Green Man sends the head of the earthbreaker in an arc, thudding into the ground.
With a savage grin he clutches the haft firmly and swings upward at the fool who tried to stab him.
The dwarf casts a spell and part of the room's floor literally falls out from under the enemies.
Reflex D.C. 16 to avoid.
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The priestess cackles again...
"Blinded and webbed... fate's brought resourceful foes upon us."
Several cultist growl and curse.. fumbling in the darkness east of the sole burning brazier. The sound of Green's hammer breaking bone echoes throughout the stone chamber.
Two cultists drop into Dolgrym's pit.
One of the cultists fishes her ally out of the darkness.
The cultist who'd charged Sonechka appears to expect an attack... she stands defensively in the darkness. Another moves toward the brazier passing dangerously close to Green.
The cultist at the bottom of the steps moves up to Dolgrym, "Begone intruder!" She stabs at him with her dagger, but misses.
The Green Man, not willing to let Sonechka be surrounded, follows the cultist that moved past him and unleashes his wrath on her.
Dolgrym swings his feybane hammer at the cultist.
Attack
Damage
Feeling secure in the shroud of darkness, Sonechka takes a few leisurely steps closer to the cultist leader, sending baleful energies at the other woman.
Green devastates another cultist, and Dolgrym severely bashes the one who'd stepped onto the stair after him.
The two in Dolgrym's pit curse.. soon realizing scaling the walls is beyond their ability to climb. His current foe retaliates with a quick dagger thrust.
The remaining three move toward Green.. though needing to slip between the darkness and web diminishes their fervor.
The cult leader calls out... "Keep fighting, my sisters. I am not so easily beaten."
Dolgrym again swings his feybane hammer at the cultist.
Attack
Damage
Sonechka gestures, hidden in the dark, and leeches the heat from the cult leader's body, trying to force the woman to sleep.
"Fair warning ladies, I am about to lose myself to the rage, and when I do, no further chances at surrender will be given."
The Green Man's eyes begins to shift from green to red as he allow the outer layers of his control to slip.
Earthbreaker's boneshattering strike echoes in the chamber again.. dropping another cultist
Then, the priestess drops. A moment later, the cultist nearest their fallen leader cries out "Malgorzata! She has fallen!"
All of the cultists cease their attacks. They stand in defensive positions... their violent fervor dissolves into mere glowering contempt.
The Green Man shakes his head and looks at the cultists.
"I told you, you either surrender or fight on. Wipe that look off your face and make a choice.
Either throw down your weapon and put your hands up or use them and try to beat us.
Make your choice and make it RIGHT NOW!"
After the first dagger drops, the rest clang to the floor at once. They raise their hands, and the two near Green lower their gaze.
"Master Sharpaxe! Go and tell Kesten it's time to move in and apprehend the prisoners."
The women in shabbles are soon shackled... taken up and out of the barn.
"We'll march them home M'lord.. unless you'd prefer a word with the leader here and now."
"No, this will do for tonight.
She was inclined to die rather than surrender, I expect that at the moment she would have little to say of value.
She is however a spellcaster, so for now, make sure she is bound and gagged."
Looking around the barn, The Green Man makes a sweeping gesture.
"Let's see if there is anything of value here, and then head on home.
It's been a productive night."