When Jokum praises his eyes, Voren shakes his head. "No. My senses and perception are not that good. I was just lucky that I could see that far and that much. Plus, my connection to Ayne helps sharpen them." Voren also chuckles when Jokum calls the tiefling "young one". "I mean no insult, friend. It's just that I'm most likely older than you. A lot older."
When discussing a plan, Voren comes up with, "I wouldn't mind bringing the guards to us. Or maybe I could try and deceive them. Through my life, I have noticed that I had a strange talent for convincing that my lies were true. Though, I still have no talent in lying. I do have some potions and spells that can help. With today's chosen spells, I can heal, summon, stabilize, or even make someone larger and acquire more strength."
He looks at the tower. "I have no knowledge on the tower. But let me think if anything magical or planes related can be connected to it."
Jokum chuckles slightly. "I know that your kind are long-lived, devilson. But still..." He smiles bitterly.
Jokum continues to gauge their approach to the tower with narrowed eyes.
Voren smiles and says, "You might actually be surprised if I told you, good sir."
"Well, no matter I guess. It all looks like ruble now at any rate. Take the lead on this one Jokum."
[npc] Silya:
Looking thoughtfully at the entrance to the Tower, Silya looked up at her companions.
"Say, wasn't there a mention of a password on the documents we captured along with Radiance?"
"Well, that would make things that much easier wouldn't it. I wasn't along on that mission. Can you recall what it was?"
Voren listens to Silya. He shakes his head. "I wasn't there, either. So, I'm sorry to say that I don't know what it was either."
Curious at this unusual subject, Irabeth raised an eyebrow, leaned back in her chair and waived at Voren to continue.
Karthak nods at Silya and whispers:"I've new material for the archives" then he adds"That's their password. Now... let's get get going..." as he finishes Karthak moves towards the entrance
"Huh, interesting . . . I did not realize this was the location of the archives. Lead on Master Dwarf."
As you approach the main entrance, the watchers you know are present do not attack or show themselves.
Close up, you see the door is locked with a high difficulty lock (DC25).
You hear muffled shouting inside.
"Go away! There's nothing left to steal! We have weapons!"
Voren steps up to the door. He knocks. Hearing the shouting, he says, "We have new material for the archives."
Irabeth looks absolutely astonished at Voren's claim. She just stared at him for a time that seemed to stretch to infinity.
Eventually she opened her mouth. "I..." She started to say, but stopped.
She cleared her throat.
"I don't know what to say. What you just said... I'm sorry to be blunt but I don't believe you.
"Now, I make no aspersions on your character, I swear that is the truth. But... I have to say, it is far, far more likely the fey are deliberately playing an elaborate practical joke on you. They are well known for doing just that."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Add to that the fact that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. Other than give you a letter of introduction to the new Riftwarden. He might be more interested in hearing your details."
There is a rattle and a metallic thunk, and the door creaks open. A couple of templars in dark robes welcome you in, smiling.
"Welcome brothers, in victory for our lord. Rest and be welcome."
Looking up you are startled to see that the ground floor of the tower is now open to the air—a tangle of wooden supports above being all that remains of the building’s upper stories.
Two rubble-filled pools flank a central walkway that crosses to an open area with a few shelves, a desk and chair, and a flight of stairs leading down.
Looking you all over, the spokesman looks at Arthas.
"You need to go downstairs to report to Lord Faxon. The rest of you find an open spot on the floor. We have bedrolls and food whenever you're ready."
Karthak follows the others and only grunts as the cultist welcomes them inside their lair, not trusting himself to be able to keep his own righteous anger in check. Instead he focuses on the sorroundings trying to determine the size of the enemy forces and defences.
Jokum follows Arthas and Voren in, glancing around. Not the best play-actor in the world... The big man shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot as they head in. He takes a quick glance around the tower as they're ushered into their foes' lair.
Jokum grits his teeth when the cultists suggest that the party split up, but he doesn't trust his acting abilities to invent a plausible lie.
Voren looks around, not saying anything to the templars. He steps around carefully and nervously. His moves are skittish. Ayne moves from the inside of Voren's cloak and onto his shoulder and into the feathers on the tiefling's cloak, remaining hidden so that templars aren't suspicious.
Karthak and Jokum turn a critical eye on the other cultists, who give a friendly wave before turning back to gossiping and dicing.
You see they wear medium and heavy armor of crusader design with the robes of their cult over them. They have longswords and morningstars as personal weapons and there is a rack of shortspears and halberds along the wall.
One of them hands out basic bedrolls to whoever doesn't already have one, and opens a crate of not very well preserved foodstuffs looted from nearby houses and stores. A brazier nearby has stakes where you can roast your food. The store of wine bottles looks to be fairly good though.
Irabeth nods.
"I'm glad you understand. A moment."
She pulls out a sheet of parchment and a pen, then quickly scrawls a note and signs it. She sprinkles it with sand, folds it and seals it with a wax imprint of her ring.
"This is a letter of introduction to the new Riftwarden, Aravashnial. May it be of help in your quest." She said as she offered it to Voren.
"Yes, but of course. My companions and I bear good news. This dwarf has knowledge of the underground and this teifling witch has information vital to our lords victory. We will pass it on then join you for wine."
Karthak raises an eyebrow at the paladin's words but mutters in a low tone:"Aye, that I have"
"And more.... you bastards... so much more..."
Voren just nods at Arthas's words, trying to look "evil" and "intimidating".
Jokum murmurs to Arthas, "Perhaps it would be best if we all came to meet our...glorious leader," continuing to scan the "other" cultists for any impending trouble.
"Well yes, might as well. The other two can remain and get started on bedding down and perusing the wine selection."
Voren nods silently, still waiting for a confirmed plan.
"Perhaps it would be best if we all came to meet our...glorious leader,"
The first guy frowned.
"Lord Faxon said only the cell leader. It would be your soul to disobey." He said solemnly.
"Heh, our souls. Very well, I do not seek to have mine devoured for disobedience."
Arthas tries to evaluate the crew on this level and sizes them up. His plan had been to try to kill the leader then fight his way back up here, but that course was now closed. Perhaps a suprise strike was in order.
He glanced over to his party members to get a feel for what they are feeling.
He couldn't conceal his nature for long.
Voren bites his lower lip slightly. He figures that in order to see this Faxon, a little subterfuge is needed. He becomes serious and shakes his head. "No. We have a serious report for him. We have knowledge on a grand plan by the remaining crusaders. All of us need to make a full report to inform him of every last detail."
The spokesman is starting to look suspicious.
"Yesss. Of course. For your sake, I hope that's true." He said slowly. He still doesn't seem entirely convinced, and his eyes linger on you as you descend the stairway.
"The gig is almost up, let's not look this gift horse in the mouth.
Arthas heads down stairs.
Should we fail, our souls shall be secure. We walk within the light.
Voren follows Arthas downstairs, secretly anxious to get away from the cultists.
Descending the stairs you see...
Tactical situation.
This semicircular room is empty except for a few bookshelves against the walls and a single desk and chair sit in one corner. A huge set of wood and metal double doors stands in the south wall.
A tall and imposing tiefling stands at a desk, reviewing a sheaf of documents. Taking off his spectacles, he glanced in your direction and said; "Report Templars."
Karthak takes a step forward and answers while narrowing the distance between himself and the cultist leader:"We come from the underground city: our forces there were decimated as the mongrelmen rose against lord Baphomet. We survived and this is the first hideout we found with actual people in it"
"There, make of this what you want. Not a single lie... and soon you'll face the truth of my steel"
Faxon nodded at Karthak's report.
"Well. Now that Kenabres has been taken, they are of little moment. Now you are best of use to infiltrate the last hiding hole of the Crusaders in Kenabres."
He gave a thin, predatory smile.
"You have a certain... clean look that they will trust. Go make yourselves look wounded and wander about hiding from the last stragglers of our lords army. I'm sure they'll take you in."
His eyes flicked up to Voren.
"But not you. They'll never trust a tiefling."
"Where should we wander to?" Jokum rumbles, eyeing the tiefling cautiously. "Do you know where this hideout is?"
Faxon turned a jaundiced eye on Jokum.
"If I knew that, I would not need you to find it." He replied dryly.
His eyes sharpened.
"You were going to add 'My Lord' to your address to me, weren't you?"
"No he wasn't.. you demon loving scumbag..." hissess Karthak as he charges for the cultist's leader.
"A servant of Torag amongst us!"
Arthas draws Radiance and lets its glowing blade be seen by the foul servant of evil.
"And he does not stand alone, I am Arthas, Sword of Ratagthiel, may his vengeance be upon you!"
Arthas charges now that the rouse is up.
I guess we're doing this, then...fine. I'd had enough bandying words with the scum anyway. Jokum charges forward, ranseur gripped tightly in hand, eyes cold.
Voren chews on his lower lip in nervousness as they meet Faxon. In his mind, Ayne says, 'Calm down, boy. All you need to do is stay calm and take out the cultists.' He thinks back, 'I know. It's just so... nerve-wracking.' She scoffs. 'Well, that's how things are. Now, focus!'
During the meeting, Voren stays silent, knowing that his social skills aren't up to snuff. When Faxon suggests that Voren stays behind, he slowly nods, feigning agreement. When Faxon address the slip up by Jokum, Voren's heart begins to race. He's about to come up with some sort of lie, when Karthak decides to launch the assault. He then begins to make gestures and chant. His eyes glow a blinding white.
N Small celestial animal
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision Perception +9
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DEFENSE
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AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
SR 5
Resist cold 5, acid 5, electricity 5
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OFFENSE
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Speed 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +3 (1d4)
bite +3 (1d4)
Special Attacks smite evil
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STATISTICS
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Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 11
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Smite evil - 1/day as a swift action (adds CHA bonus (+0) to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD (+1) against evil/good foes; smite persists until target is dead or the celestial/fiendish creature rests).
In the air, the wind amasses together until a radiant celestial eagle appears, giving a powerful screech. Voren yells, "Attaquer le mal tieffelin ! Utilisez toute votre force!!"
Heeding its master's commands, the eagle flies off and attacks Faxo, ripping at it with its beak and talons, all the while glowing a faint blue.