Kyra wipes her blade clean on the fallen mongrelman. "Such is the price you pay for following evil..." She adds their gold to the group's funds and eyes the cards and dice. "I could maybe find a use for these..." She scoops up the cards and dice, slipping them into an empty pouch on her bandolier.
She then turns to look at the others, then back at the door. "Shall we continue on?"
"Where there's a key, there's a lock." Carilain comments. "Yeah, let's move on. See what's next."
Alesie reaches down and pockets the key. "I might as well hold onto this and I suppose we can move on a bit, though why put a set of barricades inside your fort? We haven't seen any other internal defenses. I think we've found the exit..." Alesie quietly mentions.
Carilain steps around the fallen mongrelmen and up the door at the back of the chamber.
Casting Detect Magic to aid his investigation, Carilain examines the door, then listens one of its edges to learn what he can hear.
Then he turns back to Alesie, Kyra, Thetin, and Keldin. "We do have unfinished business here... Can't really leave Anevia, Aravashnial, and even Hargus behind, now can we? And there's that wildcard archer..."
You detect no magic but you can make out newer construction in the chamber beyond.
Perhaps then we should return to them, see if the blinded mage has any magic left that might aid us. We really should clear out that archer, we could return to the city and rest and resupply try again as soon as we are able.
He said lowly reaching out to pat Els on the shoulder, he knew she wanted to be on the surface, and by the Goddess he did as well, but he just... he didnt feel right leaving threats like that archer here, and he was close to spent on magical energy already.
"but.... we should...so close... sigh... You're right of course. I want to see the surface as bad as anyone, but what kind of message would it send to our new friends if we didn't complete our promise to them?" Alesie moans, torn between doing what is right and seeing the surface again.
Kyra stares longingly down the tunnel... 'There it is... they way out...' After a long moment she turns back to the others when she feels Kelden's hand upon her shoulder. "We cannot go back on our promise. Especially if we expect the mongrelmen to fight with us upon the surface. Let us get this done now, rather than give that archer time to prepare. Sarenrae only knows what damnable traps she might have in store for us the next time we come through."
"How is everyone doing?" Alesie asks.
"I'm with Kyra on preferring to not let that archer have another day to prepare... Of course if some of us are running out of umm, spells or whatnot I guess we could retreat. Though..." Alesie pauses for a moment thinking.
"there is the one exit I have the key for, and the rope down into the water which we may have to investigate, other then that I haven't seen anything that resembles another entrance. If we take an hour and search the fort for hidden entrances we could potentially just setup here. Posts some guards by the blocked hole and at least ensure that we don't have to fight clear through this fort again..." Alesie suggests.
"I agree with Alesie, we need to deal with the mongrelwoman archer now, if we can."
Carilain pulls Terendelev's scale out of his belt pouch.
"We still have these. Might be able to blind her briefly with this one..."
Carilain gives Alesie a quizzical look. "I don't suppose you have a smokestick in your kit? Smoke and fog are the bane of archers."
"umm nope, none of those. Didn't think I would need a smokestick at the celebration, probably should have bought some in Netherholm..." Alesie says with a slightly crazed laugh.
"I personally would prefer to retreat to netherholm to restock on supplies before retrying my hand at the ranger." Thetin subconciously rubs the area where an arrow punched into his side.
"While they will be more ready for us, we shall also be more ready for them. However if we find it neccessary to rest anywhere in this bloody cave i would most assuredly pick this spot here."
"With a night's rest, I can recover my magic. We can check on how our prisoners are doing as well."
Carilain shrugs. "Either course of action has merit. I'm not seer enough to tell which is best, but let's decide quickly."
" Let us return then, perhaps we could ask our prisoners more about the lay out, and the cultists here. We have hurts and Im afraid I am not experianced enough in the light to do much more. I would rather spend one more night in this light forsaken undergrounds than to loose someone to haste."
Keldan said, though it was obvious there was a hint of distaste in his voice. He really wanted to be above ground, who knew what horrors were happening above as well.
Kyra looks at her comrades in disbelief as the talk of retreating comes up; however, she listens quietly to their thoughts. She sighs at the general consensus of falling back. "I do not agree with this decision, I believe we should push the advantage and clear this foul nest. Yet, I will not abandon my friends. If the groups decides to return and rest, then I shall accompany you all."
Ooh this is going to bad. but they must know what they're doing, they've done this sort of thing far more then me.
Trusting in her companions, Alesie decides to follow group decision.
"Maybe we can buy some smokesticks back at Netherholm."
Carilain shrugs. It may be a bad call, but even bad decisions are better than no decisions.
Retreating through the complex is a simple matter, and while your companions are surprised to see you back so quickly, they also understand your desire to return to a safe have to rest and recover.
The trek to and from the settlement is uneventful but as you return to the mongrel caves you see a bright torch burning at the barricades...
A torn and bloody parchment hangs from the ramshackle door.
Carilain gets an uneasy feeling in his gut. "Now what?"
The elf intones the words and makes the gestures that give him the power to see magic auras. Who knows, it might be a scrap of paper inscribed with runes or some such.
Then Carilain carefully looks the area over for signs of danger.
Kyra stops suddenly, her blade in her hand, when they spot the torch and parchment... "I knew it..." She immediately begins to scan the surrounding area, fully expecting an ambush!
All is quiet, but it is clear that the torch was recently lit.
His faith was stronger than his fear at the moment, he moved forward shield and sword at the ready. He glanced about looking for anything or anyone for a moment then sheathed his blade and reached for the note...
"The blood of these mongrels in in your hands. I've put an end to these useless slave for their failure. I'll leave this mess for you to clean. May you bee trapped in an eternal labyrinth and rot!"
Well then, no archer it sounds like." he said handing the scroll back to whomever possible might want it.
"It also sounds like quarter wont be necessarry." He added grimly once more unsheathing his scimitar.
A pit grows in her stomach as Kyra listens to the words on the scroll, unconsciously tightening her grip upon the hilt of her scimitar. "Agreed, Kelden. In the light of the Dawnflower I shan't offer, nor accept any quarter from these cultists if we find any still within the caverns. Let us make haste, there are souls that need sending to Hell."
With that Kyra moves towards the opening of the stronghold...
"Only one reason to leave a note like that. To mess with our minds." Carilain smiles with false bravado. "It won't work, of course." Gripping the heavy dwarven warhammer in his fist, Carilain moves forward, past the barricades and into the mongrelfolk complex.
"I may only hope there deaths were swift and that the light of the forge leads there souls down a better path." Thetin steps past Carilain and takes his place at the front of the group. "Let's clear out these fiends so that we may return to the surface."
Cailain and Thetin move up to the door and open it. Inside they discover that what was once the sleeping chambers now resembles a grisly slaughter house. The bodies of six dead mongrelmen hand from metal hooks set into the ceiling, the floor is a fetid pool of congealed blood. On the far side lies the stone table from the other room, (the one you used to block the basement levels) tipped on its side. The figures beyond it are arrayed for battle.
Heroes
Villains
Order
Mongrelman
Tiefling
Archer
Cultist
Mongrelman
By your light and love Sarenrae guide our blows against these heretics. The cleric began casting Bless on all his allies.
Init+1 Perception+3
Ac18(+1Dex,+5armor,+2shield) Touch 11 Flat-Footed 15
Fort+5 Ref+1 Will+6
Hp: 17/17
Bolts: 10/10
Spells
Cleric spells used: Bless
Temporary Mods:+1 to hit, +1 save vs fear
Channels 4/4
Emboldened by Sarenrae's blessing, Carilain moves into the grisly room, taking up a position where he can blast some of the enemy with discordant light.
Order
Thetin
Kelden
Mongrelman- surprised by the sudden opening of the door, he fires a snap shot from a crossbow. Failing to hit anything he quickly reloads.
Carilain Carilain's spell catches them off guard and while still standing the most dangerous of the foes are left stunned by the magic.
Tiefling -He lets out a shot of utter rage pushing past his stunned companions to attack the brazen wizard.
He cries out in triumph as his blade cuts deeply.
Archer
Cultist
Kyra
Alesie
Mongrelman
Kyra slips past her paladin companion after feeling the blessing of her goddess flowing from Keldin. "Thetin, help Carilain! Kelden, join me!" She joins the fray, charging her blade with some of her own innate powers, and twirls towards the lone mongrelmen, with her scimitar leading!
The fury she feels upon seeing the horrors her enemies have unleashed upon their own fuels her blade as suddenly flames lici at the edge of her blade as it bites deep into the mongrelman! "No redemption for the wicked!"
Alesie shifts into the room and watches as Carlain stuns a group of the enemies. Pulling out her shortbow she fires at the stunned cultist.
Thetin moves in and strikes at the Tiefling and swings wide, missing the Tiefling by a mile.
Kyra rushes the northern foe and ends him before he can even react!
Alesie hits the woman solidly.
Thetin misses the tiefling.
Round 2
Mongrelman- He turns his crossbow against the Paladin now in his face, depending desperately on his cover to protect him. He still fails to hit.
Carilain -
Tiefling -
Archer blinded and stunned for 2 rounds, then stunned for 1 round
Cultist blinded and stunned for 2 rounds, then stunned for 1 round
Thetin swings again at the tiefling in front of him but is to thrown off by his previously poor swing to connect.
Kyra grimly steps over the body of the fallen mongrelman without a second glance as she advances upon the stunned cultist. Her body begins to sway and dance rhythmically while she moves as she prepares to give herself over to the battle dance... Unfortunately Sarenrae's song distracts her and throws her attack, causing her scimitar to glance off the cultist's armor.
Carilain charges the hammer with arcane energy from his reserve. The weapon seems to shimmer and crackle with power. In the same instant the elf counter strikes against the tiefling that had cut him.
Moving forward the young cleric of the Dawnflower chants out a spell, Much like before, instead of her light bolstering his allies, He cast Doom on the Cultist facing Kyra.
Init+1 Perception+3
Ac18(+1Dex,+5armor,+2shield) Touch 11 Flat-Footed 15
Fort+5 Ref+1 Will+6
Hp: 17/17
Bolts: 10/10
Spells
Cleric spells used: Bless, Doom
Temporary Mods:+1 tp hit, +1 save vs fear
Channels 4/4
Round 2
>>Kelden - Doom
Mongrelman- He still fails to hit.
Carilain - Swings hard and hits the Tiefling
Tiefling - Swings back
Archer- blinded and stunned for 2 rounds, then stunned for 1 round
Cultist- blinded and stunned for 2 rounds, then stunned for 1 round
Kyra- Misses
Alesie- Fires again at the stunned cultist but misses.
Thetin misses aswell.
Round 3
Kyra lets go of her restraint and allows the Dance to take her completely... Her body moving and swaying to a silent song. As she twirls around, bringing her whirling blade around her voice cries out the words of her goddess. "Mongrel! Surrender and you will be spared! Fight on and you forfeit your life!" Her blade then cuts deep into the cultist!
Following his sister in faith's actions Kelden stepped forward slashing down at the vile cultist. The barricade and Kyra's motion threw off his slash though, The heretic would be safe from his sword for now.