vs Aladir AC 19
vs Aladir AC 19
vs Hyram AC 22
Ezro calls upon Iomedae to heal the group, and channels her healing power which helps both Hyram and Quinn. Alikia loads her crossbow and fires an arrow at the demon wounding it. Hyram continues his assault on the dwarf, wounding him, while Quinn swiftly heals himself, misses with two attacks on the demon and takes a step back towards Alikia. Aladir continues to lay waste to the demon in front of him.
The demon steps up and grins at Aladir "I kill you then tiefling" and attacks the Rogue and wounds him severely. As Hyram watches suddenly there are two identical dwarves attacking him, but they miss with their swings.
Taking a deep breath, Alikia surveys the area before letting loose an inaudible scream. As her face turns red, Alikia's hands begin to glow an electric blue color.
"Iomedea! Beseech! Heal your wounded!" Ezro prays again, hoping for better healing this time.
Inheritor! Guide my blade! Hyram beseeches as his blade passes through the 'dwarf' and the image disappears.
With a cry of pain, Aladir moves quickly to get away from the demon, stepping back in Alikia's directly before firing three more arrows at the foul thing.
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As Aladir drops the last of the demons, Quinn manages to catch his breath and recover from the wounds of the demons' assault. "Get back in the fight..." he growls quietly to himself.
"No more henchman to protect you, now." he says to the dwarf as he steps up.
Ezro channels Iomedea blessings which heals the three wounded companions. Alikia screams at the dwarf and he takes some damage and is dazed. Aladir unloads multiple arrows on the last demon and kills it. Hyram removes the image of the dwarf, giving Quinn a chance to step up and wound the dwarf.
With the last demon down, the dwarf throws down his weapon and shield. "I surrender to your mercy!" he yells and kneels down.
Hyram looks at the dwarf with a steely gaze. All right then, let's start with some easy questions. Who are you and why are you here? Hyram gazes directly at the dwarf trying to discern lies.
The dwarf's quick surrender gives Aladir a sense of paranoia and clear mistrust; he listens carefully to the thinks hard in the dwarf's inflections and tone, and listens for any further responses he might give, even as he is stowing his bow in favor of his rapier so he can save some his remaining cold iron arrows for a more dire situation.
Quinn scoffs as his own blood still drips to the floor. "What mercies would you have shown us in your place? Should we visit those same tender ministrations upon you?"
Nevertheless, Quinn sheathes his sword at the same time kicking the dwarf's weapons out of reach. "A dwarf commanding demons... yet quick to surrender. At first I might have guessed your name was Vhane. But, now I am less certain."
"I am Joran Vhane, and run the forge below making weapons and armor" the dwarf says, and just as he finishes the door on the southwest wall is flung open and two of the fiendish minotaurs and another dwarf {PICTURE} charge into the room, with the dwarf yelling "die traitor" and rushes to attack the dwarf on his knees. Joran replies "no brother"
Well, this is interesting... Hyram muses as he tries to stab the minotaur in front of him but misses.
"Oh dear, no rest for the wicked or good I see." Ezro says, standing ready as he gives a quick prayer to Iomedea for healing, and stepping in front of the newly arrived dwarf, intervening between the two brothers.
Aladir turns his attention to the same minotaur that Hyram is attacking; rapier now in hand, he rushes forward against the beast, ready to skewer it!
Quinn rips his sword from its scabbard as the new demonic creatures make an appearance. He spares a brief glance in Joran's direction, "Do nothing and you might live." A glance back at the new dwarf, "You will not be so fortunate."
Beset on all sides, he attacks the closest minotaur first.
Quinn's eyes flash gold with a burst of power as he makes another sudden attack.
A unique curse springs forth from Alikia's mouth as she jumps at the sudden appearance of new demons. "I guess it is time to pick up the pace!" she shouts as her eyes glow the same ice blue as before targeting her allies and the terrified Joran. "We will not let you harm anyone under our care!" she snarls at the new interlopers.
crit attack - yes
vs Aladir AC 19
vs Joran AC 17
vs Joran AC 17 crit attack
Ezro quickly channels Iomedae blessing as several of the front liners are wounded. Alikia casts a spell that speeds everyone, and allows extra attacks. Hyram misses with his first attack, but wounds the minotaur directly in front of him with his hasted attack, thanks to Alikia. Quinn draws Radiance, reminding himself to not sheathe the sword till the Citadel is freed, and hits the minotaur with his attack, his hasted attack and he calls upon his mythic power to hit it a third time, killing it outright. Aladir steps up and hits it twice, wounding it severely.
Joran, moving quicker than normal, picks up his shield and holds it covering himself. Staunton concentrates his attacks on the prone Joran, and kills him. The minotaur, attacks Aladir and wounds the rogue.
"No! I will not allow that to happen!" Ezro roars with anger as he sees the dwarf so quickly kill his brother. Running over to the fallen dwarf, he summons his mythic power and his left hand glows brightly under his shield, as he touches the dwarfs chest with it, passing as much holy energy into the body as he can.
"He was under our watch, enemy or not, I will not allow your vile weapons to kill him!"
Hyram quickly thrusts his blade forward in quick succession only to stab nothing but air as the minotaur easily sidesteps his blade.
Quinn screams as the second dwarf cuts down his brother with merciless finality. Quinn shoulders past the falling corpse of the massive minotaur turning the golden blade on the evil dwarf.
Aladir follows suit with his other allies, once more calling upon the power granted them by the wardstone's explosion to maneuver through around the enemies still present instead of through them...
... and end up on the opposite side of the dwarf, untouched by their weapons, using his rapier to pierce the foe's flesh even as Quinn's sword does the same!
Exact damage for the crit on Joran
vs Aladir AC 19
vs Aladir AC 19
vs Quinn AC 24 (19+5 smite)
vs Quinn AC 24 (( Really, frickin Really!!! ))
Ezro moves up next to Quinn where he can reach Joran and refuses to let the surrendered dwarf die, and his eyes glow with the use of a mythic power, and Joran wounds stop bleeding and he actually is able to open his eyes and grab onto his shield holding it over him to protect himself from his brothers rage. Alikia, satisfied that the boys can handle the remaining minotaur and the dwarf sits back and watches. Hyram, continues to be frustrated as it seems that he just cannot hit the minotaur with his sword. Quinn steps over Joran, as the dwarf scuttles back out of reach of his brother, and smites Staunton. Aladir, ignoring the minotaur and Staunton Vhane, tumbles thru the area and ends up behind Staunton and skewers him from behind.
The remaining minotaur, snorts at the feeble human waving its sword, and turns to the elf that just tumbled past him and stabbed Staunton. He attacks with his greataxe twice, bites him critically, and gores him. Staunton attacks the Paladin, wounding him, and then his eyes glow with a red glow similar to the glow that Quinn has, and he swings again but misses.
With a growl, Hyram stabs forth with his sword nicking the minotaur. His follow-up attack stabs nothing but air.
Inheritor! I beseech thee! he cries.
"Aladir!" Quinn shouts in alarm as the minotaur levels a devastating barrage against the scout. He quick-steps away from the minotaur to cover Aladir's withdrawal if he moves away.
Quinn's concern for his friend overwhelms his concern about the mythic power pouring from the dangerous dwarf in front of him. Nevertheless, he does not ignore it. "So you have power." he smiles his deranged, black-toothed grin. "Let me show you how to use it," he growls as his eyes suddenly burn golden.
Looking to see Aladir taking heavy blows from the Minotaur, the half -elf quickly moves up to him, his hand containing holy energy again as he burns off another spell, "Inheritor, do not look away yet, your soldiers here need your aid."
Twirling her hands, Alikia creates four small bolts of light. "Oi, helmet head! Try picking on someone twice your size!" she shouts, flicking the four missiles at him. The four small missiles all collide with the his helmet.
The minotaur's blow sends Aladir reeling, such that even Ezro's great healing only slows the flow of blood from his wounds. He is greatly encouraged, though, when he sees Alikia and Quinn work together to bring Staunton down (I think? If not, he's darn close to it...), such that Aladir doesn't feel quite so bad when he tucks and rolls to get away from the minotaur's axe.
vs Aladir AC 19
Ezro moves steps to the north, moves around the reach of Staunton to get behind Aladir and provides healing to the sorely wounded elf. Alikia casts a magic missile spell at the minotaur, trying to distract it from chasing Aladir. Hyram continues to attack the minotaur, but only manages to nick the creature. Quinn attacks the anti-paladin, and puts him down, but Staunton stabilizes as soon as he hits the floor. Aladir, realizing that discretion is the better part of valor right now, moves in a straight line back and withdraws from the combat.
Joran, with his shield still in front of him, continues to scuttle away from the combat. The minotaur realizing that it will die momentarily, tries to take the Paladin with him, but only wounds him once with his axe and gore.
With everyone attacking that are able to, the minotaur goes down before it gets the opportunity to attack again.
Aladir winces as he slowly gets to his feet. After being sure none of his injuries are permanent, he breathes a sigh of relief. "Desna be praised...those minotaurs pack quite a punch."
Without any further immediate concern for himself, he looks at the two dwarves, keeping his rapier in hand and ready...just in case. "They both need to be bound. Staunton especially." Aladir states plainly, then looks to Joran. "While you have not actively opposed us directly, I'm certain that there are some who have a great many questions about your past actions, and it would be foolish of us to trust you blindly; let it be enough that Iomedae's touch, through Ezro, has quite literally pulled you from the brink of death."
As the last minotaur falls, Quinn immediately turns his sword back on Staunton Vhane. "Be extra wary of that one. He attacks like I do, with a power like ours. He's more dangerous than even Lady Irabeth knew."
Quinn circles around Staunton's recumbent form, kicking his weapons out of reach before one of the others moves to bind him. "This one was definitely not with us when we..." Quinn trails off with a glance at Joran. "How did he gain this power?"
Sweating and panting, Ezro says a short prayer to Iomedea in thanks before moving to check on the dwarves. Nodding to Quinn he says, "Strength is not a gift to those of good nature only, I am afraid. If Wardstones were being destroyed all along the border, he could have gotten it in any number of places."
Turning to Aladir, he says, "Be still my friend, it appears you still have a great deal of damage. A number of us appear to."
After channeling power, and casting a cure on Aladir, Ezro turns to Joran, "This was your brother then? You seemed more inclined to surrender than he."
Alikia moves over to the kneeling dwarf and offers a hand to help him to his feet. As she glances over to the unconscious dwarf's body, Alikia sighs and casts detect magic. Picking through the magical items she sets aside items that could prove their usefulness.
If you want answers, let me try to get them out of him. Hyram ways as he glares at the anti-paladin.
Please resist. I would love to..er..Persuade you!
Having survived the onslaught, the group gets down to business of healing, stripping the prisoners and interrogating them. Staunton, still unconscious but stable, is stripped of his armor, weapons and is left essentially in his pants and shirt. Joran, stands, drops his shield and begins to remove his armor whilst the group looks on. After stripping down to his pants and shirts, he stands with his arms out to let anyone search him.
Once stripped, searched and bound, Joran answers the questions put to him. "Yes, Staunton is my brother. He has a journal in his personal quarters, that will tell you about what he has done. His powers came from some elixir that he volunteered to take from a powerful demon. He then seemed much stronger and was able to do things that no normal man could. Things like what you did."
He continues, "I am, perhaps now was, a priest of Droskar. My faith has crumbled, and now I think that I am merely just a man."
+1 full plate
+1 returning throwing axe
+2 glaive
amulet of natural armor +2
belt of mighty constitution +4
headband of alluring charisma +2
wand of blindness/deafness (8 charges)
non-magical items found on Staunton:
a key
Magical items found on Joran:
+1 spell storing light hammer
wand of silence (8 charges)
+2 fire resistance banded mail
+1 heavy steel shield
Your ghost touch plate is +1 so it's AC is really +10 (+9 for plate, +1 magic).
Also, Staunton is unconscious so he can not be intimated... snicker.
Once he is stripped and bound, Aladir seems somewhat unsure of what to do next. Finally, he settles on asking Joran himself. "Look...I'm wary of returning your gear to you, even after you've willingly subjected yourself to us to this point, and I think that's understandable."
"That said...we can't exactly have you walkin' around in your skivvies either, nor would I want to leave you behind. Certainly never expected to see one of the enemy deciding that casting in lots with the demons isn't a good idea."
He looks to the others, torn. "Any ideas here? I'm kind of at a loss..."
"Droskar..." Quinn ponders, "... is not a demon lord I'm familiar with. But, you claim you no longer follow that path."
Quinn's eyes narrow dangerously. "It would be unwise to lie to me. But," he points towards Hyram, "it would be downright dangerous to lie to him. You are as safe in this moment as you ever will be. We do not kill surrendered prisoners... that do not place us in greater danger with their lies. So, kindly only speak truly."
Quinn shrugs to Aladir. "What are his options? If he attempts to flee, he walks right into our armies. They have this place surrounded and control all of the towers and ballistae. And they are under orders to shoot or run down any fleeing cultists with extreme prejudice. If he is to stay with us, he can keep his armor and shield. I have enough to carry."
"An elixir? And a journal? Very well. His personal quarters?" Quinn points towards the double doors to the north.
"I see no problem in his keeping his shield and armor. Not a lot of damage you can do with just those two items. I will say, there is not too much further I will be able to go. If we run into another individual like Staunton, I will have little available to me, but we can at least clear out a few more areas." Ezro says.
Addressing the dwarf, he continues, "If you truly will be denouncing your former master, there is hope for you yet. Perhaps in time, you will be able to come to the side of Iomedea."
Hyram toes the unconscious dwarf to make sure it isn't a ruse.
Turning to the brother. How many more minotaurs are there and what other surprises does your brother have in store?
Alikia's ears twitch at the mention of a journal. "He had a journal?! Wonderful!" clapping her hands together, a grin spreads. "Which way were his quarters? I'd love to secure it before that succubus gets to it."
Joran begins to answer the questions put to him but Quinn and Hyram, "Staunton room is just beyond the room he and the minotaurs just came out of. His journal and the rest of his gear is in there. The entrance to the lower level, which is new, is beyond the door at the double door to the north in this room. I only know part of the layout below, and I do know that the Sword of Valor, which I assume you are here for, is below, but I have not been able to see it in the areas that I have been to. At the bottom of the stairs is an old jail area, and the jail room to the south of the stairs has a secret door at the back of it. To the east of the jail are unintelligent undead, spectre and vampires as well as their leader Theruk Nul, who is a vampire cleric. Beyond the secret door is a set of rooms. The one to the left is the Forge of Corruption. It will turn your sword to a chaotic evil weapon. While I have turned a few items to chaos and evil, I know the Sword of Valor has not been turned."
He continues to sit and looks to you for further questions, "oh, one more thing. The citadel’s most important prisoner, a succubus named Arueshalae, recently escaped, and Staunton was so furious at her escape he had the two kalavakus demons who were guarding her executed, but I do not know why the prisoner was so important."
Quinn leaps forward to forestall Alikia as she makes a sudden beeline straight for Staunton's quarters. "That is a foul, disease-ridden shell of a dwarf," Quinn warns. He gives a bit of wincing, apologetic glance towards Joran, but bears on. "He executes his own servants. He would not hesitate to trap his personal domain with the deadliest of devices. Would he?" he asks the conscious dwarf.
"I only know part of the layout below, and I do know that the Sword of Valor, which I assume you are here for, is below, but I have not been able to see it in the areas that I have been to... The one to the left is the Forge of Corruption."
"I suppose those who know of it must know we seek it. But, this Forge of Corruption... that is new. Though it explains why they desired Irabeth's blade. Tell me about the Forge. How would it change my blade into a weapon of evil?"
"A vampiric cleric...lovely. Does he possess the same powers that your brother did? After fighting our way to this point, I hope we have enough healing magics left to deal with him. Seems like it will be a good chance to make use of my holy arrows, though."
"I'm interested in this succubus too. She is imprisoned? That seems an...unusual tactic for what I assume is an ally. Is there anything that you can tell us about her? And speaking of succubi, there was another that we encountered moving there the citadel. She was disguised as a hero of old, but Hyram and I were able to see through the ruse. Do you know anything of her? Where she would go to ground or when we can expect to see her again."
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