Hyram will wait until the unseen Quinn gets in position. He will then look to Alikia and Aladir Shall we all focus our attacks on one to bring it down? I am ready whenever you all are ready.
"I think so, yes. Focus fire on one target to bring it down quickly. The fewer enemies to deal with, the better."
"Is it just me, or does that one look like it could've been Lord Hulrun? If it is, we definitely need to end them. I can't imagine one's body being used as some...demonic puppet once you've departed from it."
At the mention of necromancy and the realization of what they are facing, Alikia turns a rather interesting shade of gray. "Vermleks." She whispers outloud, in an almost dazed voice. "They-they wear the dead like armor. It's why they look so fat." Swallowing nervously, Alikia cannot seem to take her eyes off the one that used to be Lord Hulrun.
"Don't let them get close." With a determined gaze, Alikia waits for Aladir to open the volley before adding some supporting fire.
You mean they are not undead- only wear the dead? Hyram says to the mage reconsidering his disrupt undead spell.
Aladir gives a slight shudder at the thought of it. "Brr. That sounds particularly unpleasant. Demons that wear the dead...that's a new depth of vile. We need to end those abominations."
Quinn moves stealthily to near the vermleks, till one of them says "we sense you creature. You have a death wish?"
Aladir UP
Drawing his longsword, Hyram will double move to help Quinn out.
Quinn pauses as the creature speaks. "I do not fear death at your hands. But, then again, my soul is not bound for the same destination as yours."
Seeing the have absolutely no trouble locating Quinn, Aladir shouts a warning to the others to let loose whatever they have, announcing his target as the one nearest Quinn so they can focus fire on that one before it closes with their ally, if possible, before firing his own arrow at the abomination.
Listening to Alikia explain the creatures before them, he pales somewhat at the thought, "How disgusting, and vile..."
Pulling out his sword, he shakes his head at Hyram, "I know of know ranged spells. I will prepare for when they reach us though."
Looking at the bloated flesh demons ahead, he gags, "Inheritor, please do not make those things become any worse than they are already...I would be eternally more grateful."
Quinn springs back to visibility as he engages the first of the creatures.
Radiance flashes gold as Quinn shears through the outermost layer of the demon's grotesque armor and into its fleshy innards.
Aladir steps up so he is within thirty feet of the creatures, and losses an arrow at the nearest one, missing. The two creatures take a step back to be directly in front of the doors and ready the scythes that they hold. Alikia somewhat stunned at the foes appearance stands still, digesting the information. Quinn steps up and attacks the creature, damaging it, and the Vermlek returns the favor by critically wounding Quinn. Ezro draws his sword and steps out to be in view. Hyram moves up to stand directly five feet in front of the one that wounded Quinn.
Aladir UP
Hyram will step up to the wounded vermlek and strike it with his sword.
Feel the steel vile creature!
Knowing that his bow will be near-useless against these creatures, Aladir moves forward to get as close as he can, in the process dropping his ranged weapon to the ground and drawing his rapier as he moves in.
Quinn reels as the worm demon slashes him horribly with its scythe. He clutches the worst part of the gash, letting healing energies flow through and knit the worst of the wound.
"Not so easily felled, vermin," Quinn spits. He sidesteps, keeping away from both scythes, and jabs the demon a second time.
Moving into the open, Alikia steadies her aim at the vermlek inhabiting Hulrun's remains, before pulling the trigger on her crossbow.However, whether due to seeing her childhood boogeyman, or trying not to hit Quinn in the back, the shot goes wide.
Aladir, drops his bow and drawing his melee weapon moves up closer to the Vermleks. The one that hit Quinn last time so well tries again, but misses badly. The other attacks Hyram and wounds the Inquisitor. Alikia shoots an arrow at the one that wounded Quinn but misses. Quinn lays hands on himself quickly, closing some of the wounds then hits the Vermlek that attacked him last time, wounding it more. Ezro moves up and hits the wounded creature, and then Hyram critically hits it and puts it down.
Aladir UP
Hyram will focus on the other vermlek.
Join your friend!
"Time to return to your fetid hole in the Abyss." Quinn sweeps around to the other side of the creature and lunges with Radiance. Between the blades of Hyram and Quinn the vermlek is nearly sliced in half.
Moving forward swiftly around his allies, his rapier now faintly glowing with an aura of light.
Aladir, his rapier aglow with a holy light steps up and hits the remaining creature.
The vermlek, with Ezro in front of him now, swings at the cleric but misses.
Alikia, holding her spells in reserve, watches as the warriors take the creature apart. Quinn moves around so he can get a shot at the creature, and hits it very hard. Ezro, swings and scratches the creature, but it is enough so Hyram can put it down when he swings.
Without a word, Aladir shifts his grip on his rapier, pressing his ear to the door and trying to listen for anything that might be beyond it.
Quinn edges along the wall, looking for the narrow window that was rumored to be above the entryway.
"I'd sooner avoid a coup de main, if we can find another way inside," he growls quietly to the others.
Quinn, You don't look so good. May Iomedae heal you!
"My thanks, brother. The Inheritor's strength is always welcome."
Aladir visibly cringes after a few moments of listening at the door before he whispers to the others,"There are male voices...I think they are playing cards and using..using body parts as their 'chips'."
How profane! Methinks we should break up their little card game! I am ready when you all are! The Inquisitor says with a look of disgust.
Raising an eyebrow at the mention of a card game, Alikia wrinkles her nose at the mention of body parts. "I think that disrupting this game would be advantageous." Reloading her crossbow, Alikia moves to get a good angle into the gray garrison, while waiting for someone else to open the doors.
"After you, brother." Ezro says to Quinn, motioning to the door.
"I am sure we will be right behind you. Let us remove these vile individuals from a place of important history and records."
"After you, brother." Ezro says to Quinn, motioning to the door. "I am sure we will be right behind you."
Quinn smirks back a mouthful of black teeth. "I hope so..."
He steps forward, Radiance at the ready, and throws open the door to the Garrison.
Quinn grabs the door, but the handle does not turn. It seems that the door is locked.
Well that was anticlimactic! the Inquisitor says. Perhaps you should let Aladir try to open it. Hyram says with a chuckle.
Aladir can't help but chuckle quietly. "Anticlimactic, indeed. Let me give it a shot, then." he offers, stepping up and pulling his lockpicking set out of his backpack.
Quinn snorts back a laugh. "Cut me some slack, would ya? This is my first time storming a castle." He steps aside as Aladir goes to work.
"Let's give this another try, shall we?"
Aladir tries to unlock the door but his efforts fail. Taking his time however he manages to unlock the door.
Leaving the bodies of Lord Hulrun and the other man outside, Quinn, now that it is unlocked, throws open the door and sees a room with two exits, one to the east and one to the west. Along the northern wall of this room, a frieze depicts a line of mounted crusaders crashing over a horde of twisted demons. The crusaders’ faces have been obliterated and vile graffiti is carved over the entire scene. Fresh blood stains the floor.
Looking to the left, you see a room with the faces of the portraits that hang on the walls of this room have been slashed. Two marble planters lie smashed in pieces on the ground, and mud streaks across the white stone floor. There are six tieflings that look to be playing cards, and the betting chips appear to be body parts of the crusaders that were slaughtered in Kenabares.
As you come in the door, one of them yells "Attack them and warn the others!"
Ezro UP
Hyram will announce in a loud, clear voice, I pronounce judgment on all of you! May Iomedae help me destroy you! He will then reach out to Quinn, Share this judgment with me, Brother! He will then move into the room.
"How dare you defile this place! Iomedea Bless us in routing these heathens!" Ezro calls.
-------------------------
"Yes, warn the others," he calls to the tieflings in the back of the group. "Their end is near. They should at least be warned."
Quinn shears through the meager armor of the first tiefling to rush to attack, dropping him immediately.
Aladir moves quickly into the room, nocking an arrow to his bow as he does and letting fly at whichever target seems to be in the best position to go find help. "Stop them! We don't want them raising any alarms!" Aladir shouts to the others.
With a quick flick of her wrist, Alikia conjures magical armor to bolster her defense, before following the others into the garrison, keeping up the rear. Offering a quick glance towards the eastern room, to ensure that nothing was coming to flank them, she waits with a grim expression, already formulating plans on bring Lord Hulrun back to Defender's Hollow along with the other unidentified body for a proper burial.
...crit - not confirmed
Ezro quickly casts Iomedea blessing on the group. Aladir steps into the room in front of Hyram so he has a clear shot at the closest tiefling and wounds it.
The tieflings move into the room, four of them confronting the rogue who moved into the room along and the wounded one and another moving into the east room, where you here a door open. The four around Aladir swing their short swords at him, with only one hitting him.
Hyram casts Iomedea judgement on the tiefling and lends it to Quinn, then steps into the room elbowing Aladir to be behind him. Alikia creates a force of magical armor surrounding herself, and keeps look towards the eastern opening. Quinn steps into the room and using Radiance, kills the tiefling in front of him quite easily, sending the creatures soul to be with its foul master.
Ezro UP
Hyram will attack one of the tiefling's
Come on then! We will praise Iomedae when you all are destroyed!
Ezro takes stock of the situtation in the room
and grimacing, says, "This could hurt..."
Charging into the room, past one of the tieflings, he takes a position to better support his allies.
-----------------------------------
Quinn dashes after the pair of tieflings heading towards the door. "Not so fast, you!"
Quinn catches the closest one, cutting him down from behind, and leaving him in pieces on the floor.
"Alikia! Help me with the other runner!" Aladir says to his companion, rushing into the room and getting another arrow ready to fire. He draws a bead on one of them and releases his bowstring.
The elf's arrow catches the tiefling in the bottom of his back, the rapidly-expanding red stain around the arrow a clear sign of serious damage.
"Right!" Dumping her pack to the ground, Alikia rushes forward to try to stop the advancement of the thieves. Attempting to fake out the grunt, she almost falters, but leaves her back exposed for a brief moment as she steadies herself. As she reaches her destination, she brandishes a stick of butter at the two retreating figures, attempting to cause the two to fall as the floor becomes slick underneath them.