"We should start with the one that's furthest from the others, so that there's less chance of the fight being heard and drawing any of its neighbors into it. From what you've said that's probably going to be the bebilith in the northwest corner of the redoubt. From there I would suggest going around the outside to try and draw the...derakni, was it?...away from the redoubt. At least down those stairs where we have some more room to maneuver on open ground. Then the hezrou and the second bebilith." Aladir offers.
"As far as the cleric goes, she's likely to be a sticky one...we need to try and take her by herself, if possible. Her spellcasting will probably be trouble enough to deal with without other demons screening her and giving her a chance to cast unimpeded."
Hyram tries to remember what he knows about the demons that Arueshalae mentions.
He also tries to think about what he might know of an annis cleric.
Quinn doesn't react as Arueshalae describes the disposition of their enemies. "Some movement is to be expected. But, if your description of the forces arrayed proves true, you will go a long way towards winning me over as well."
"We can deal with the cleric's spell casting ability by silencing the area around them and perhaps trapping them there with a well placed tanglefoot bag or a spell of similar function." Pondering their position at the top of the tower, Alikia scans the rest of the redoubt. "The demon guardians on the other hand may prove to be more of an annoyance."
"They most likely know that you are here, so yes, expect some movement, however what I have told you of there initial disposition is true. I am not much for hand to hand combat, only using it if absolutely necessary, but I am quite good with my bow, so I will provide supporting fire."
Listening to what Alikia knows of the foes they will face he grimaces, "Demons are truly horrifying creatures..."
Looking at the others and seeing them relatively unharmed he continues, "I am ready to move on these foes when you all are."
"Horrifying indeed...but my idea remains the same. As much as possible we should try to take them individually and not lure others into the fight. If my initial plan sounds good we can start heading over that way."
Yes! Let's cleanse this place of its demon taint! Hyram says.
Quinn claps Aladir on the shoulder. "It is a solid plan. You've led the way well. But, now I think Hyram and I will take the vanguard," Quinn says as he draws his blade. "Watch her closely," he whispers as moves past.
Nodding at Aladir's plans, Alikia adjust her bracers before falling into the rear position. "Sounds like a solid plan. I am ready when you all are." Hefting her bag back onto her shoulder, Alikia takes quick stock of her memorized spells, mentally preparing the battle field.
Aladir gladly allows the others to lead, keeping his bow in hand; until he's down to a few arrows, he'd still rather go ranged.
Adjusting his equipment, and readying his sword, Ezro sets off with the others. Checking his surroundings he tries to keep himself centered with the others to be ready to provide support when needed.
Moving quickly but carefully, you move down the stairs and out of the hallowed area. Walking thru the open courtyard, you come to the steps leading up to where Arueshalae said that a bebilith quarters, with Quinn leading the way. As you come to the open area, you see the huge creature resting in the northeast corner of the open air room. It notices you and starts to rise up from its resting position.
Hyram rushes forward to engage the demon.
Taking a quick moment, Ezro says a quick Prayer for the group, granting them some of Iomedeas might.
The entrance thickly crowded with others, Aladir stays out of the melee, using his trusty bow to pepper the bebilith with more arrows.
Quinn moves forward and levels a pair of devastating blows on the abyssal arachnid.
"We should hurry, before the others learn of our presence outside the tower."
Hyram nods with satisfaction. Lead on then.
Fully in agreement with the succubus, and wondering if anyone else aligned with the goodly gods had ever thought that before, Aladir leads the group back to where they had first entered the redoubt on the northeast side, then continues around in a clockwise direction, circling the Bell's area of influence. "Give me a second to scout ahead." he says, willing himself to invisibility before he moves into view of P1, hoping to get sight of the demon that was supposed to be there.
Ezro nods, and follows along with the others. "I can only hope that the rest of the beasts here are as quickly dispatched."
As Alikia attempts to move into the room, she pauses as Aladir begins to leave. "Are we not going to see where this door leads? Though I suppose it can wait until after we finish securing this redoubt." Watching Aladir vanish from sight, Alikia awaits to hear the next course of action.
Quinn lingers long enough to usher Alikia out ahead of him. "That was fast, but noisy. They know we're here. Best if we don't dally in one spot. Especially one with no other exits." Quinn hustles behind her as they catch up to the others. "They'll marshal together and attack there soon. We'll catch them from behind."
Having destroyed the first demon, with swift attacks, you hope, but are not sure that the rest of the inhabitants of this redoubt have not been alerted yet. Leaving the interior by the way you came in with Aladir leading you head around the southeastern corner, staying within a protected area of the bell. Aladir wills himself invisible and scouts ahead. As he climbs the stairs he comes to a portcullis blocking the way. Listening carefully he hears the sounds of a large creature coming from the left, and can barely make out a demon the size of a horse, with a scorpion’s stinger and an almost-human face. Its front legs end in clawed hands. There is another portcullis 15 feet further in the area.
Aladir backs away from the wall, out of the derakni's line of sight, and looks nearby for a fist-sized rock; finding one, he picks it up and returns to the corner that the demon is around and begins scraping it against the wall, trying to make a loud enough noise to draw the creature's attention forward toward the open area.
Coming back to the others and dropping his invisibility, Aladir gives his report. "Bad news I'm afraid...there'll be no drawing it out into the open. The opening is just big enough for us and this thing is quite a bit bigger than us. I don't think there'll be any luring it out to fight it in the open."
I'm a good roadblock myself! Hyram offers.
"I think we're just gonna have to find another way back in. There's a portcullis there barring our way inside from this direction. It's certainly not ideal, but we'll have to go in another way." Aladir says. Assuming the others are in agreement, Aladir leads them back the way they came, weaving through the ruins thanks to Arueshalae's intel.
Ezro follows along with the group, keeping an eye out for anything that might jump out of the shadows at them.
Deciding to bypass the derakni demon for now, as the portcullis presented a problem getting to it, Aladir leads the group back around the tower, to the original entrance on the east side. Hugging the interior wall of the courtyard, you move around to the north west corner and find nothing there. Moving on from the north west corner, you come to a set of stairs that is mostly blocked. You probably could get passed it, but the creature that is supposed to be in the small area just north and east of here will probably hear you.
Aladir huffs out a breath upon seeing the pile of debris blocking the way. "Well...seems like we might have to make some noise here unless we have a spell that can remove it silently." he remarks quietly, looking to Ezro and Alikia.
"I have no answer for this unfortunately. Alikia, do you have anything?" Ezro says, examining the pile and look to Alikia.
"The arcane arts grant me multiple gifts; However the ability to be quiet is not one of them." Contemplating the debris pile, Alikia readjusts her bag, waiting to move out.
"Seems we don't have much choice then. May I suggest that Hyram and Quinn be the first to get over the debris, then? If there's an enemy on the other side they're likely to be eagerly waiting for someone to attack...seems like it'd be better if the more melee-equipped of us met them."
I can take the beating, I'll go first. Hyram says as he scrambles over.
Hyram and Quinn climb over the rubble, as quickly as possible in their heavy armor, then stand ready to defend while the rest of the group comes. They however make a lot of noise while doing so, and you see a demon coming out of the interior area and hear another coming from behind the wall to the west.
Only able to see the demon to the east, Arueshalae lets fly with three arrows and all hit the creature.
Hyram will quickly go to the nearest demon.
Ezro utters a Blessing of Iomedea for those around him as he readies for the battle.
Quinn spends the time following the group in as much silence as he can manage. The threat giving the group away by his heavy footfalls and armor chinks is hardly undone by his reluctance to speak, though... and over the pile of rubble he may as well have announced their arrival with clarion and bells.
"I guess the skulking part of our assault is over," he quips. "We are flanked," he says as Hyram moves to engage the first of the demons. "I will hold this one here."
"But, let's see if we can't soften that one up a bit for you," he says as three of the demoness's arrows pierce the demon. Quinn follows with golden "arrows" of his own with sparks of golden power behind them.
vs AC 25
vs AC 24 Quinn
vs AC 24 Hyram
Arueshalae sees a demon coming from the center area, and recognizing it, shouts to the group "hezrou, don't let it grab you" and she shoots three arrows at it, hitting it twice. Ezro casts bless on the group, enhancing their combat abilities. Hyram pauses a moment till the hezrou gets within striking distance then steps up, however he misses. Quinn hurls Radiance twice at the hezrou, hitting it once.
The demons move up, and the bebilith attacks Quinn with its bite, and Quinn feels ill. The hezrou moves up to Hyram and bites him hard.
Watching Quinn and Hyram fuddle their way over the rocks, Alikia groans as she stares at the line of people in front of her.
Hyram tries again to hit the demon.
Aladir scrambles over the debris as quickly as he is able, drawing his rapier and using Terendelev's scale as he does so to attune his weapon to the forces of right and goodness.
Moving into the spot that Aladir vacated, Alikia is already unfastening her spell component pouch. "Alright everyone, let's hop to it!" she states, already pumping some extra power behind her words to augment the spell. Tapping the shaving of licorice root against the pile of rocks in front of her, she offers a worried glance at Arushalae and Ezro. "I'm not going to lie, it doesn't sound great on the other side of this rubble. Hopefully Hyram and Quinn can handle it?"
Ezro nods with a small smile to Alikia, "When has it ever been good?"
Ezro scrambles over the debris and gets behind Quinn.
vs AC 25 Hezrou (1 threat)
vs AC 25 Hezrou miss critical
vs AC 22 Bebilith
vs AC 24 Quinn
vs AC 24 Hyram
Aladir scrambles over the pile of rubble, stowing his bow and drawing his rapier. He uses Terendelev's scale which changes his weapon to be a force for right and good. Alikia steps up into the spot just before the rubble, and casts mythic haste on the group providing several benefits. Arueshalae, only able to see the hezrou demon, and thanks to Alikia haste, looses four bow attacks at the creature and hits it all four times. Ezro scrambles over the rubble, moving past Alikia and Aladir to stand behind Quinn. Hyram continues his attacks on the hezrou, and while wounding it, even with all the other hits the creature remains standing and attacking. Quinn swings Radiance twice at the bebilith behind him, hitting him twice hard.
The bebilith attacks Quinn, but misses with one of them, however he does damage to the Paladin with his bite and one claw, while the hezrou claws at Hyram and hits all three times wounding the Inquisitor.
Hyram tries to bring down his foe so he can help Quinn.
With a quick glance, Aladir quickly discerns that the hezrou fighting Hyram is in worse shape, so he swivels once he hits the corner by Quinn and steps forward to join the inquisitor against his foe.