"Hyram, be at ease!" Ezro pleads, lifting his holy symbol he channels some healing magic for Hyrm.
First order of business, healing Hyram, both Quinn and Ezro provided healing to the Inquisitor.
Aladir looks over at the pool, and peering in he sees that there is a tunnel near the bottom that the drake most likely went thru as it cannot be seen in the pool.
The two men in the room, look to Hyram, "you defeated Chief. You chief now. What do you wish us to do?"
Hyram, not interested with the endless petitions that are a given when running a settlement, is surprised that Quinn seems...disappointed. Fear not Brother! A few days on the road hunting demons and you would not want to trade places at all with Irabeth!
Quinn smirks as he thinks back on his past conversations with Hyram. "Yes, Chief Hyram," he says with a touch of humor, but no sarcasm. "What is the plan for your new fortress?
Though similarly amused by the sudden change in the attitude of the warriors in their midst, Aladir remains silent, waiting for Hyram's response to their offer.
Leaning down to examine the dead warlord, Alikia's brows knit together in confusion. "I don't understand how he came to be afflicted by this malady." Touching the horns on the dead chieftan's body, Alikia casts detect magic to see if there could be any other sort of explanation. "I would hate to think that this would be contagious."
As Quinn and Ezro's healing power washes over him, Hyram feels calmness. He stops hacking at the bloody corpse and looks at the blood on his sword. Jerribeth's blood? he wonders.
He barely acknowledges his new 'Title' and growls to the men, Strip this body bare and burn it and the pile of body parts outside! This building will be dedicated to Iomedea!
"What is the plan for your new fortress?
Yes! Yes! We will dedicate this to the Inheritor so goodly people might find refuge here! Do you suppose the army can spare a few troops for a garrison?
He then turns to Ezro. Brother Ezro, Can you do the consecrating?
The idea of dedicating the fortress to Iomedea strangely brings peace to Hyram and he seems to feel Iomedea's presence. He feels renewed to bring the war to her enemies in both body and spirit.
"I would hate to think that this would be contagious."
At Alikia's words, Hyram again looks at his bloody sword. What did Jerribeth do to them - to him!
Quinn senses the gentle humor was lost on the taciturn Inquisitor, so he drops his smile and sets about the work of securing the holdout. "Irabeth would likely send a contingent if we begged it of her. But, it might be best to use what's at hand..." Quinn lets the comment hang as he directs his gaze towards the northmen already garrisoning the hall. After a moment he leans in and whispers, "Their allegiance may be tenuous at the moment. But, I have no doubt you can bring them fully to our cause. They did not hesitate to obey you at the door, even before you had supplanted their Chieftain. They would chafe under our Knights' watch. This is wild land, after all."
Ezro nods to Hyram and begins the consecration ceremony.
He lets the others discuss as he goes about the fortress consecrating it and searching it for anything else that may be hidden.
With angry strokes Hyram plunges his sword into the pool and swirls it around. He watches as the blood becomes one with the water and dissipates. If only it could be that easy he muses as he listens to Quinn and watches Ezro begin consecrating the fortress. You are correct, Brother. Perhaps that might be for the best. Perhaps we can request a priest of Serenrae to oversee their rehabilitation? At any rate, we will need to make sure this fortress is supplied so it will be a respite for any that seek it.
He then turns to the ones stripping the body . Who among you is the strongest? I will speak with them.
One of the men responds to Hyram. "We are descendants of Corag Grunhuld-Wintersun, from the first crusade. We are eager to return to civilization and atone for our misdeeds while under the the demons rule. In our hearts we long since made peace with the idea that our family line is effectively dead."
Aladir joins Ezro in searching the fortress, being as thorough as possible.
Hyram tries to think back if he has heard of Corag Grunhuld-Wintersun.
Hmmm...We could bring civilization to you. This fortress might be an important outpost against demon attack now that we have re-taken the citadel. We could bring a priest to help with your redemption and perhaps bards will sing again about the Grunhuld-Wintersun name!
Pulling a water bottle, an amulet, a ring, and some bracers from the body, Alikia pauses at an unholy symbol. "Hyram, I found something." Flipping the strange idol over, she points out an inscription. "It says Jerribeth. We could possibly use this to scry on whatever this demoness is."
Hyram instinctively reaches for the symbol, but thinks better of it. Perhaps you should hold onto it for now, Alikia. I do not know how it will affect me. He says as he withdraws his hand.
Quinn leaned back against the wall, watching as his more skilled comrades quickly organized the scene. With no place in the scheme inside, Quinn hoists the corpse over his shoulder to carry out to the pure.
With the Grunhuld-Wintersun alliance in its infancy, Quinn decided that deference towards Hyram was the best action.
"You heard the Chief," he barks at a pair of the Wintersun men. "No carrion in the fields by sundown! We only have a few hours of daylight to rid ourselves of this filth and pay honor to the fallen crusaders! Two pyres, and let's be quick about it!"
"Yes chief" say the two men. "We will gather everyone, and do as you command" and they leave. You hear them call to others and then the front door opening and closing as they go about their new chief commands. Ezro and Aladir search the rest of the Halls rooms. In the chieftains chambers you find a pile of goods that could be used back in Drezen, as well as an overlooked Bag of Holding (Type II) mixed in with the goods. Other than the items on the chief, there is nothing else of import in the Hall.
Aladir wastes no time in putting his excess gear into the new bag of holding, not even aware of how much the extra rapier and the extra armor had been weighing him down until it was finally deposited elsewhere.
The elf seems and feels suddenly a great deal lighter on his feet!
Hyram is glad to see the new recruits dedicate themselves to their task and pitches in to help-if anything to keep his mind of Jerribeth and her curse.
Alikia nods at Hyram's request and places the unholy symbol into her ever growing stash. As she finishes fastening the bracers to her arms, Alikia admires the new gear. "Although not my normal style, I believe that these will do quiet nicely, unless someone else wanted to go sans armor?" Passing the other remaining gear to Quinn for safe keeping, Alikia pauses for a moment. "We might want to keep the decanter. I wouldn't think that the water here in the Worldwound would be safe to drink." Shuddering at the thought of tasting the foul water, Alikia awaits to hear her next marching orders.
"I've no need of anything new at the moment, especially since I've just claimed a new set of armor. You're welcome to it as far as I'm concerned. I'm with you on keeping he decanter, also."
"I would preffer to keep my armor..." Ezro says, touching his chain with a bit of worry.
"I would rather trust in iron than magic for the most part."
Ezro moves to the field to watch the people working as he takes stock of his items, counting his scrolls and potions, and making sure he has everything near at hand in case it was needed.
The men and women of the Grunhuld-Wintersun clan, hurry to carry out Hyram orders. The gather the body of their ex chief, and the bodies of the demonic dead outside and pile it in one pile. The bodies of the humanoids the gather into another pile, and light both pyres, sending the demons back to hell, and the humanoids on to their final reward or damnation as depending on how they lived.
After this is all done, the man who spoke for the clan, "chief, we would like to do to Drezen now and submit ourselves for punishment and redemption if that is acceptable to you?" and he awaits your answer.
As it is late in the day, and you do need to rest and regain spells and powers, you spend the night here. Those on watch, notice that Quinn is tossing and turning much of the night as if having nightmares, although in the morning he seems mostly rested.
Hyram claps the man on his shoulder, Aye. Hopefully it will be more redemption than punishment. May The Inheritor guide you!
The next morning the Inquisitor will say to Quinn, What troubled you so last night brother?
The Haze.
Quinn's demonic eyes could pierce the deepest darkness. Even so, when he opened them he saw only shadows. The landscape was twisted and broken... menacing... even here, where everywhere was menace. When he looked on his friends he no longer saw close comrades and stalwart allies, he saw predators and prey. They would consume him, he knew, unless he ravaged them first. Fear, rage, hunger.
Sunrise did little to dispel Quinn's nightmares. When he awoke he never even turned towards the dawn. His eyes had lost their wholesome golden hue, and had taken on their much more sinister demonic red. And they stared unceasingly west.
"Can you see those islands?" he asks Hyram. "I have forgotten what human eyes can see. Darkness hides less for me these days."
"Something awaits me over there. Something I cannot avoid."
Hyram struggles to see the islands, but can't. I fear I am at a disadvantage he says disappointed, but if you must go there, then I will be by your side as The Inheritor guides us. I am sure the others will also. Let us eat the morning meal hastily and be on our way.
Sipping at her morning tea, Alikia furrows her brow as she glances in the direction Quinn is pointing. Unable to see anything substantial Alikia goes back to flipping through her journal. "If you feel that way Quinn, I will make sure that we all get there and back safely."
Quinn nods but does not move. His gaze never waivers.
"I am not sure I have ever seen them myself. I see them in my nightmares. Now they cross into my waking hours."
He stows the rest of the gear and readies his horse. [b}"Thank you,"[/b] Quinn says without further explanation as he begins his journey to the west.
Aladir gives a nod to the others support, stowing his gear himself as he readies for the journey into the west.
After Quinn nightmare, and the unexplained tugging, you are all healed up and spelled up. You head west and a little north around a huge molten area, to the western side. Traveling back south a bit, after two days travel, you come to the place of Quinn nightmares.
A pool of bubbling lava sputters and boils here, surrounding three small stone islands at the bottom of a shallow crater. The southeastern shore of the lava pool bears a large deposit of glittering blue crystals. They shimmer with energy that periodically arcs out to strike the center of the westernmost island, where the ground seems to have been scorched black by great heat.
On the largest of the three stone islands, you see three vrocks dancing around the prone figure of Aravashnial. They have not apparently seen you yet, as the area of blue crystals is blocking their view.
"special" vrock - Vorimeraak
Molten Scar (also linked at top)
"Lava....why is it always lava? What happened to good old fashioned lakes of normal water...wait...is that Aravashnial?! How did he get here??" Ezro exclaims upon seeing the wizard.
Looking around the area he sees the 3 vrocks dancing around the prone man, and looks to the others, drawing his sword and readying himself.
"We must rescue him, it is good you recieved your vision Quinn, lest Aravashnial would have been lost to us."
"I think you're right! I don't know how he got there, but I think it is him...or at least looks like him." Aladir answers, leaving his bow stowed for right now and focusing on his rapier, preparing to charge into the fray alongside the others.
Alikia can only stare in horror as her mentor lays motionless on the stone island. "Aladir, I can only bring three along with me. Will you be okay to snipe at these Vrocks? We-" swallowing thickly, Alikia shakes a bit, "we have to save him. I won't lose someone else."
Quinn shuffles forward closer to the crystals, but does not touch them. Looking through the field of stalagmites, focuses first on the demons and then the elf in their midst.
Quinn's natural sense of righteous outrage normally flared into a full conflagration the moment he spied a single demon... much less three demons surrounding a friend and ally. But, something within the discordant rhythms of the demons' dance was too familiar. Quinn found himself swaying along in spite of himself. "I've... seen... this dance... before," Quinn whispers slowly. "We need to end this quickly," he rasps, regaining his composure.
Hyram nods. End it quickly we shall! Hyram says as he pulls his sword and is ready to strike as soon as they teleport.
Aladir gives Alikia an affirmative nod. "Go. Aim for the nearest one." he says, and even as he speaks he is on the move, heading to the edge of the crystal formation in front of them and switching back from rapier to bow en route, hoping that he'll be able to make the edge of his bow's range there.
He readies several of his arrows, waiting until they have teleported away before firing at the vrock nearest him.
Everyone readies themselves, Quinn by activating his armor capability as Alikia prepares to teleport all but Aladir to the stone.
Pulling the three Iomadeans into a group hug, Alikia whispers a word to tug them all through space. Appearing next to Aravashnial's unconscious form, she dramatically points to one of the Vrocks. "How dare you abduct one of our friends!"
Alikia teleports everyone to the island, landing just next to Aravashnial.
Having their ritual interrupted sends the vrocks into a frenzy.
Hyram is ready when in the blink of an eye he is in front of the large vrock. His first swing with Irabeth's sword misses, but his second swing finds its mark. That man is a friend of ours! he shouts.
You will regret this! He shouts as his blade finds its mark.
Hyram swings at the regular vrock that he landed next to with Alikia teleport, and while he hits the creature, it does not do as much damage as he thought.
The vrocks dance and chant for the round, and as the lead vrock glows with power, they emit a crackling wave of energy, damaging everyone, including Aravashnial.
Seeing the peril of his friends, Aladir wastes no time in tapping into the reserves of mythic power available to him, using his blink-of-the-eye speed to get just inside the range of his bow against the nearest vrock to him, firing off a shot the instant he is still!
Now stopped and fully stable once more, the elf pours forth his arrows, firing three more at his target!
Alikia lets out a shout of pain as the electricity courses through her body. With her fingers still twitching and numb, she wraps her hand around Aravashnial's wrist. "We can't take another hit like that! Ezro with me!" Touching the cleric on the shoulder, Alikia pulls the two men back across the lava.
Reeling slightly at the teleportation, Ezro staggers into the electrical blast. Yelling in pain, he recoils, and grits his teeth seeing the same blast hit everyone else.
Seeing Aravashnial get hit with the blast, Ezro begins pulling into him the holy energies of Iomedea when Alikia yells something and touches him, dragging the cleric through the dimensional door, "Alikia! Wait n-!"
Reeling a second time at the sudden and jarring teleportation magic, the dimensional punch drunk cleric holds up his symbol and expels a burst of positive energy and his lunch.
Quinn moves slowly, laconically... as though still walking through a dreamscape. His normal righteous fury comes slowly, as does the golden glow to his eyes and skin. With almost agonizingly deliberate movements, he steps into the lead Vrock, forcing his powers to surface.
Finally, a slight golden aura seems to break the surface. As it gains strength, even the slow, deliberate movements seem to take on the mythic power of past battles.
vs AC 24 Hyram
vs AC 24 Quinn
vs AC 24 Quinn
Aladir attacks the nearest vrock, however he does less damage than he hoped as the vrocks defenses negates some of the damage. Alikia, reaches out for Aravashnial and Ezro, knowing that they can not take such damage again, and dimension door out of there, dragging the wizard and cleric along with her. Quinn first strike damages the nearest vrock, and his sudden attack almost kills it, but not quite. Ezro channels energy, which heals himself, Alikia and brings Aravashnial back to health. Hyram swings twice and wounds the other normal vrock.
One of the normal vrocks attacks Hyram and wounds him, while the other normal vrock attacks Quinn. The lead vrock senses that Quinn survived the original testing and moves to attack him also, wounding Quinn severely.
Aladir, realizing the futility of continuing to use his bow against an enemy whose flesh is only barely pierced by his arrows, moves forward to the edge of the lava, then lays his hand on Terendelev's Scale, willing the artifact to imbue his bow with holy power. "Hang on guys...just hang on..." he murmurs as he watches the heavy blows absorbed by Quinn.