Aerianna glances aside at Hyram's rising, but doesn't think anything of it -- he could be going to the bathroom, whatever -- and is more astounded than anyone when Hyram does almost nothing she told him. The tale of the lovers' unity is politely listened to, but the inversion of the lessons to be learned from the tale give her an almost poleaxed expression from which Hamar's interruption (and burning glance) breaks her free. "Pardon me and Hyram for a few moments," she courteously excuses herself, then intercepts Hyram before he can return to the table. "Sir Hyram, would you be so kind as to take a walk with me?" The gesture from the short, stocky woman indicates the front door -- and the rest of her blocks off the route back to the table at which Aladir and Arueshelae still sit, making it less of an invitation and more of a demand.
Once the two of them are out in the still-rubble-strewn streets of Drezen and a few dozen steps away from the tavern, she asks mildly, "Sir Hyram, do you recall what I said to you about the readings? When they're done, what you read, of what you speak?"
After an afternoon of work, Alikia's frustration is difficult to mask. "What do you think?" she snaps, angered at her inability to solve this vexing puzzle. As she sets about neating up her station, with far more force than necessary, Alikia re-runs the ritual they just preformed in an attempt to figure out where she went awry. After a moment of percussive therapy, Alikia lets out a sigh and offers Ezro and Aravashnial a apologetic smile.
"Apologies, Ezro, Aravashnial. I am not use to struggling in matters dealing with the arcane. It was not fair of me to snap." Letting out a sigh, Alikia pulls out her coin purse and jingles it. "How about we grab some drinks? I'll pick up the first round."
Aladir blinks thoughtfully at Aeri's thoughts regarding the will of Desna versus the will of the self before he makes his own mind on the subject known. "Respectfully, I don't entirely agree with you. I believe that Desna does have a will for us. She has things she would like for us to do, ways she would like for us to behave, actions she would like for us to take. The fact that she doesn't impose that will upon us, but instead allows us seek and discover that will for ourselves, doesn't make it any less her will. As one of her followers, I do have a will of my own, but my will should, ideally, be subservient to, or at least in alignment with, her will for me." he comments.
"Sir Hyram, would you be so kind as to take a walk with me?"
Hyram is feeling rather pleased with himself although he was disappointed he could not go into the advanced interrogation techniques. Of course! He says as he follows the Paladin out the door.
"Sir Hyram, do you recall what I said to you about the readings? When they're done, what you read, of what you speak?"
Hyram is genuinely confused. That is exactly what I did. The story I read was of Bolkka helping two dwarves find love and contentment through insurmountable odds. I then expanded on how Iomedea and other goodly deities help their Inquisitors find contentment by seeking out their enemies against insurmountable odds-like demon hordes. Perhaps I should go through it again? Hyram again begins to re-hash his sermon for Aeri's benefit. As he starts, two Iroran inquisitors exit the inn and on noticing Hyram, bow deeply. Preach it Brother! one of them says while the other nods enthusiastically. As they depart, Hyram again launches into his sermon with renewed vigor.
Taken aback slightly by Alikias frustrated snap, Ezro nods, and proceeds to help clean up. When Alikia comes over to apologize, he smiles and nods, "It is alright. There is much to be frustrated about. Sometimes failure and misunderstanding can open the door to later, deeper understanding and success. Do not be disheartened."
As Alikia shakes the coin purse, Ezro straightens, rubbing his hands free of soot and stretching, "That could be nice. We have had enough work for the day."
Hanging his smithing apron up, Ezro heads out of the forge and to his room briefly to make use of the wash basin. Leaving the water black with soot, he heads out to meet Alikia on the way to an inn in the town proper.
Aeri lifts her hand before Hyram can get more than half a sentence into his obsessive diatribe. "Sir Hyram. HYRAM!!" She stops, reaching out to brace his arm and turn him towards her. "No. What I told you to do is not what you did. What I said was that the first clergyman to come through the door after the hour's bell does a reading. You weren't the first clergyman in the door after the hour's bell. The reader reads from what's on the podium; you didn't read from what was on the podium. And most importantly, what followed was not what we seek to do -- to uplift our hearts and spirits, which you most especially did not do, with a possible exception for," and here she gestures in the direction the pair of Iroran inquisitors went, "those who take delight in descriptions of techniques of torment -- and the results."
She turns and begins walking with him once more. "Inquisitors are the worst a god has to offer, do you know that? Inquisitors hunt the enemies of the faith -- and while sometimes those are the ones outside the faith who are making it a special point to hunt their god's people, far more often an inquisitor's prey are those who are of the faith. Sometimes that's good -- they eliminate parasites who feed on the faith, who would turn it down darker paths. The problem with inquisitors is that far too often, they have no sure target: they have to winnow through good, decent, honest worshippers to find your proper prey. And far, far too often that winnowing destroys the very thig which you're trying to protect -- the faith of ordinary people."
She inhales deeply, then lets it out in a very, very controlled breath. "You speak with such enthusiasm of torment and torture; do you understand what those words mean to a woman who is six months pregnant with a child? Horror and agony indescribable. To a father of five who only wants to make enough to feed his family for a day, for a week, a month? The death of not only the broken body you leave behind, but the six people who depend on him for their survival. How about to a merchant, honest as most are, merely seeking a decent profit? The collapse of everything he's ever worked to build. And for all this, what does an inquisitor find? More often than not, nothing -- or only a reflection of what he asks, anything said, anything confessed, anything to make the torment stop."
She stops once again, turning to him. "You have no idea how much I wish to manhandle you about for reminding us of the evils we must put up with, that still lie within our own faith, within our own hearts. But I recognize that there is something inside you that ... is somehow unable to see the ways you are broken. A sometimes-useful sort of broken, and so you see the obsession as a benefit, the goddess's reluctant approval of the rooting out of one danger as excusing the host of failures that preceed it.
"Torture is wrong, Hyram." The short red-and-mithril-armored paladin stands there, looking up at the taller man. "Delighting in torture is evil; consider the delight the very demons we face take in the same activities about which you talk so avidly. Inquisitors who resort to the infliction of pain only at the last and most desperate resort, to puncture the belief in their untouchability of those individuals who possess that belief, and who rely more on questions and reliability, are more trusted by the people who they are trying to save. And these inquisitors know the people they're trying to save," she adds softly, "and know the lessons those people truly need to hear -- and those aren't lessons about how to best torture someone."
Aerianna takes off her armor's gauntlet and reaches up to touch the Iomedaen inquisitor on the cheek. "Go home, Hyram. Read the Acts again -- and this time, maybe look for how many times Iomedae tortured someone." Her hand falls away. "And tomorrow ... perhaps you might wander the city and lend a helping hand. Don't speak; listen. Listen to the concerns ordinary people here have, and the problems that they're trying to solve. And while you do that, try to find the difference between what you do and what a demon does -- not the difference in your heart, but the difference in your actions."
She looks at him with sorrow and pity, then turns and heads back towards Three Limbs Gone.
Hyram sighs as the Paladin departs. He has heard it all before. People hate the Inquisitors, but it is the Inquisitors that do what must be done. People like to think they live in a nice, gentle peaceful world where they don't have to dirty their hands. But this world is a violent, angry and ugly place and people who do get their hands dirty are a necessary evil and as long as they are necessary, he and others like him will take up the mantle, the burden and the recriminations. Those that become Inquisitors are not of the thin of skin and he has been rebuked stronger than what the fiery-haired Paladin delivered. As she disappears into the tavern, Hyram turns to the direction that the Iroran Inquisitors departed to. Wait up Good Fellows! He calls to them.
Those noble warriors understood and Hyram was reminded again why he despised taverns.
She would reply -- could reply -- if she knew what he was thinking, but indeed she did not, and so she re-enters the tavern, only wondering if he actually listened to her, or if he tuned her out just as soon as she spoke of anything besides his obsession. Well, maybe I can ask him tomorrow ...
Morning finds Alikia rousing to the sound of the bells calling the faithful of Sarenrae to dawn service. Unpeeling a piece of parchment from her cheek, Alikia lets out a tired sigh as she spots the streaked lines on the page where her face laid. "It's going to be this kind of day, eh?" she mutters to no-one in particular, as she stands from her desk chair and pops her back. Reaching up to fully elongate her spine, her fingers almost brush the ceiling of her research room as she mentally prepares herself for the day.
"Alright, time to break the fast." she mutters to herself, picking up her books and heading to the mess hall. Slumping into her usual spot, Alikia flips through her journal, attempting to refer to her past notes on the foes that they had faced thus far. As she chews on a muffin, ignoring the whispers and gestures in her direction, Alikia is oblivious to a large ink spot on her left cheek.
Aeri, Hyram, Aladir, and Arueshelae's visit to the Three Limbs Gone tavern took place the first night everyone met Aeri. I was suggesting that the four of us (three, if Hyram doesn't join us the next evening) advance to the next day, during which Alikia and Erzo took on the corruption forge cleanse attempt, so that we'd be available to the two of you (or three, if you bring Aravashnial along!) at the tavern, if you wanted to get in on that RP.
Advancing to the day after that is fine by me, but if that's the case I'd like Aladir's thought on the retrieval of the Desnan bell -- because that isn't necessarily a small thing ICly, though it's something we'd likely be able to gloss over, depending on whether or not Alikia, Erzo, and Aravashnial manage to cleanse the forge today.
Hyram will be 'around' the next day, but he won't actively seek anyone out-naturally. But if others want to seek him out...
The small but clearly-dynamic paladin glances at each of the three in turn. "What do you think?"
Alikia, Ezro and Aravashnial spend the day at the Corruption Forge, attempting to remove the demonic taint from it and convert it into something useful to the goodly armies of the Worldwound. At the end of the day, however, it turns out that they were not able to, however the trio discovered a small bit of knowledge that should make it easier on the next days try.
Aerianna, Hyram, Aladir and Arueshalae went to a tavern, and participated in a lively philosophical and religious discussion. Aladir and Aerianna purchased a set of scrolls that they gave to Arueshalae in order to help her understand the ways of her goddess, Desna. Hyram was his normal self, and after a while left to search out others who were also of the inquisitor profession.
Again, Alikia, Ezro and Aravashnial spend the day at the Corruption Forge, and by the end of the day with much sweat, and a little luck, Alikia, with their help, manages to redeem the forge and now it is a Forge of Purity, which will help in the battles to come.
The other four, at some point approach Irabeth about retrieving the Bell of Mercy from the Desnan redoubt where Arueshalae had hidden. Irabeth nods as the four approach her, and after hearing their request replies, "no need. This morning I detailed a company of soldiers, Paladins, Warriors, and also Sosiel. It will take them four days to reach it, a day to load it on the wagon, and another four days to return. This will be a good thing and we will provide a fitting home for it."
Aladir gives a hearty thank-you to Irabeth for her help in getting the Bell back to Drezen. "I'm sure having such a major artifact here will help keep Drezen safe from any further demon incursion, as well."
"If you are certain you won't need any assistance in retrieving the bell, I feel safe leaving it in your hands. You've always done right by us, from the day we met."
OOC: Is it possible to either contact Sosiel before or after he leaves for the bell? Need to tell him about the death of his brother.
Unless approached, Hyram will spend the days in reflection, prayer and studies of 'advanced interrogation techniques'.
"I hope the paladins will stay some distance from it," Aerianna says after a moment of thought. "Though it is a thing of goodness, it is also a thing of chaos, and ... I don't expect it'll do entirely well by them. Hopefully, though, that can be accounted for in where-ever you place it -- perhaps one wing of the Cathedral, or ..." She shrugs; planning and deciding that is, honestly, a bit beyond her.
Otherwise, and except for weapons practice as she learns the balance of the new longsword, Aeri will attend upon Alikia, Ezro and Aravashnial, acting as another pair of hands, a voice in prayer, whatever the trio need. She will invite them out to Three Limbs Gone, making a point of doing the same for Aladir, Arueshelae, and -- yes -- even Hyram.
"I hadn't considered the nature of Chaos the bell represents, but that's very true...when Quinn was with us, he had some trouble with approaching it, as well. The cathedral is an option...we might consider putting it somewhere high, as well. Somewhere that it could be a visible symbol."
"Not so high it doesn't offer its protection," counters Aerianna; "That would be ... um ... ah! Counterproductive." She gives Aladir a quick grin. "Big word for the day. If it's in the tower over one branch, that could be the branch for the good gods of chaos, while the other side would be for the good gods of law. If, of course, Sosiel is building it that way, I don't know."
Hyram looks up from his prayers at the fiery-haired woman with an upraised eyebrow. You want me to go back...to that place? He asks incredulously. It seems like there were some there that did not agree with my views. he says with an accusing look in his eyes.
"Yes, well, you didn't follow the rules, did you, Hyram?" she answers mildly. "You go up when you arrive, and only when you arrive, and only if you're the most recent one blessed by the gods to arrive after the latest bell. And if you do you try to talk about uplifting things like curing people or fighting demons to defend those who can't fight them, not flaying or breaking someone's fingers between a rock and a hammer." She shrugs. "That's only if you chance to have to go up, though. Otherwise, you listen. You don't listen too good, Hyram Grimstalk. I'm going to work on changing that, if you're up for it.
"Think of it this way," Aerianna suggests. "If you become a better listener, you'll have a greater knowledge of what people mean when they're speaking, and what they're leaving out -- what they're saying in the silences between words. And because you'll have that greater knowledge, you'll better know how to ask questions, get more reliable answers, and deal with people faster -- which means getting to the fellows seeking to destroy the Inheritor's church that much faster."
She shrugs, offering him her hand. "And you just might leave behind you unbroken innocents whose faith in Iomedae you've only increased by listening instead of asking questions with a flenser's knife. One of these days, we'll have to put to the test which works better -- the tools of torment for you, or a kind word and a stern gaze from me." Another shrug, and she suddenly grins. "Come on, sourpuss. Growing hurts, but it's better than not growing."
"What is this about a last bell?" Alikia questions as she takes a seat with a large stein, glancing between the two Iomedaens. "Anyway, I think Ezro and I finally managed to redeem, if you can redeem an inanimate object, the forge. We should be ready to follow up on the lead we were given about Vang." Tucking a piece of errant hair behind her ear, Alikia takes a sip from her drink.
"Latest bell," Aerianna corrects Alikia, and explains in brief the rules of the tavern, adding that the short reading-and-sermon is done only by those who have been called by the gods. "Not," she adds hastily, "that I think those who haven't can't have strong, deep belief and faith; we do this to improve our understanding of the gods and their desires for us, to better understand our own god or goddess's intentions." She glances sideways at Hyram, and says to Alikia, "Yesterday, Hyram went up out of the blue and was a bit more, um, passionate than we're used to. Speaking about his work, not about the faith of the goddess of whom he read." She shrugs, and adds, "We're working on it -- I hope. Just like we're working on getting Hyram to eventually drink half a glass of watered wine.
"But cleansing the forge -- well struck, well struck indeed!! I am very glad you've succeeded; that thing gave me the shivers every time I guarded it. Like ... keeping watch over a rabid dog. Indeed, it is good news." She lifts her smaller cup to clunk it against Alikia's stein -- Hamar doesn't have many of the larger mug, but there are big sorts who visit, and since he serves small as well as strong beer, well, they find use enough. "I pray your efforts have reason and use, to cleanse such cursed things we might find and put them towards the greater good." She lifts her cup in toast to Ezro as well, and takes a sip.
"Yes, well, you didn't follow the rules, did you, Hyram?" she answers mildly. "You go up when you arrive, and only when you arrive, and only if you're the most recent one blessed by the gods to arrive after the latest bell. And if you do you try to talk about uplifting things like curing people or fighting demons to defend those who can't fight them, not flaying or breaking someone's fingers between a rock and a hammer." She shrugs. "That's only if you chance to have to go up, though. Otherwise, you listen. You don't listen too good, Hyram Grimstalk. I'm going to work on changing that, if you're up for it.
Hyram grimmaces in an attempt at a smile. Ah! But there were those that did find it uplifting. I spoke to the two Iroran inquisitors until very late in the night about bringing enemies of a faith to confess their transgressions. I can say most satisfactory that they learned from me and I learned from them!
"Think of it this way," Aerianna suggests. "If you become a better listener, you'll have a greater knowledge of what people mean when they're speaking, and what they're leaving out -- what they're saying in the silences between words. And because you'll have that greater knowledge, you'll better know how to ask questions, get more reliable answers, and deal with people faster -- which means getting to the fellows seeking to destroy the Inheritor's church that much faster."
It has been my experiences that unless the enemies of the faith are properly motivated, they will tell you honeyed lies for as long as you will listen. It seems we have a difference of opinion on the matter, in fact most people do have an opinion differing from us, but they don't seem to mind when we uncover some demonic cabal that is plotting death and destruction. He shrugs. We are used to it.
"And you just might leave behind you unbroken innocents whose faith in Iomedae you've only increased by listening instead of asking questions with a flenser's knife. One of these days, we'll have to put to the test which works better -- the tools of torment for you, or a kind word and a stern gaze from me." Another shrug, and she suddenly grins. "Come on, sourpuss. Growing hurts, but it's better than not growing."
I look forward to the test. We will see which one of our methods gets the truth of the matter. I will accompany you to that vile establishment, but I refuse to partake of that foul-smelling beverage. I am sure the people will be clamoring for me to speak again!
"We're working on it -- I hope. Just like we're working on getting Hyram to eventually drink half a glass of watered wine.
At this Hyram scrunches up his nose and pushes the wine further from him.
Having spent two days at the Forge, Alikia, Ezro and Aravashnial manage to redeem it, so that it is no longer an instrument of evil and chaos, but one of good. They head to the Inn and join the others for an evening of drinks and celebration, although Hyram is still a bit put off by the wine and the conversation. It seems that he is rather set in his ways, perhaps even more than the others are set in their ways, and the evening passes.
After finding out that Sosiel and a company of soldiers have already left for Redoubt, you finally head to your rooms and spend the night as you normally do, resting, praying, studying and getting yourself ready for taking on Vang and his cult of demons and demon worshipers. Hopefully, removing this blight on the land will begin to remove the taint on the World Wound, and perhaps win the war.
Arising in the morning, Irabeth, Anevia and Aravashnial are there to wish you well on your journey to the Ivory Sanctum as you set out.
Traveling is still hard in the World Wound lands, and it takes you four days to reach the area. You find what is known as the Greengate Gorge. The walls of this rocky gorge rise up in nearly vertical cliffs of jagged stone to either side, joining in a sheer cliff to the north. Mounds of rubble, much of which appears to be fragments of statues of crusaders and demons, lie in heaps near the gorge’s end.
Looks like a perfect place for an ambush. Hyram muses.
"Yeah, no kidding," Aerianna says, reining in her horse and looking the place over for a few moments. "Hmph. Don't like the look of that at all. Well, let's go see what the locals have in store, shall we?"
Though she looks, she doesn't really expect to spot much of anything; to her mind, paladins are for springing ambushes and winning out anyhow. Dismounting, though, she gives Flash a smack on the rear, sending the mare cantering back the way they came a few score yards, the well-trained horse turning just about at a distance Aerianna has determined is generally 'out of danger', particularly when dealing with demons. The horse is cold-iron shod just in case, but ... she's still just a horse.
Settling her helmet and adjusting the angle of her shield, she begins to move guardedly forward.
Cracked magenta prism ioun stone: change +2 competence bonus to Sense Motive.
Moving 20' diagonal up the gorge, keeping approximately the same spacing; already moved on the map, and staying ready to defend against / counter an attack.
"A worthy ambush bottleneck if ever there was one." Aladir agrees, glad that he restocked on arrows before leaving the camp. Allowing the others to lead the way, he keeps his senses open, wary for any mischief that may be planned against them.
Ezro is paying more attention to the ground he is walking than where they are headed too. Having tripped over multiple razor sharp rocks, he is oblivious to their surroundings until Hyram speaks about an ambush. Stoping and looking up, he takes in the surroundings. The statues catch his eye, "Odd, I did not know demons made statues. I suppose it makes sense they would venerate themselves though..."
He looks closely at the gap in the cliff wall, studying it for any apparent scouts or traps he could make out from a distance.
"The Ivory Sanctum...do we know anything of this place? From before the Worldwound?"
As they approach the gorge, Alikia studies the carved out stone with a weary gaze. "I doubt that the demons made them, I think this used to be a memorial of an earlier crusade. Perhaps this was a stronghold at one point?" As they enter farther in, the wizard is unable to shake the feeling of butterflies in her stomach as she prepares to come face-to-face with her parents murderer. "I don't know much about the Ivory Sanctum; just that the Blackfire Adepts may use it as a gathering place."
vs AC 17 [+11 threat]
vs AC 17 [+11 critical]
vs AC 31 Arueshalae
vs AC 27 Aladir
You move slowly up the canyon, observing the fallen and crumbling statues on each side; looking for any enemies. As you reach the mid point of the gorge, unsurprisingly six squat, reptilian monsters each having eight legs, bony spurs jutting from their backs, and eyes that glow with pale green fire, move out from the rubble and attack.
With two on her side, Arueshalae clicks her boots and then fires four arrows at one of them, hitting three times, one critically, and one of the beasts falls over dead.
The other five beasts close on the party, two of them in range to move and bite Arueshalae and Aladir. While Arueshalae is missed, Aladir is bitten.
Hyram, glad to have a foe to vanquish, attacks one of the reptiles with gusto.
Aerianna, with Radiance in hand and after a swift analysis of the situation, takes a smooth double-step to close ranks with Hyram; both of them are in too much danger of being flanked when apart, and a strong shield wall (or at least a shield-brother) is ever a benefit. The three eight-legged reptiles are still in position to start to curl around their flank, however, and so with her shield ready to batter away a claw or bite from the creatures, Aerianna lashes out with the longsword once, twice, thrice, each lash of the weapon taking its toll on the creature to her left. It seems an awkward attack, to strike a shield-side foe, but she executes them cleanly, without flourish or display, using the very basics of the art of sword and shield.
, , and
Looks like all hit, for
"Disgusting beasts!" Ezro shouts, drawing his Longsword, and stepping up to the creature attacking Arueshalae and swinging his longsword at it. The blade bites deep into the creatures hide.
"Does anyone know what these creatures are? I don't remember demons like these."
Taking a step away from the multi-legged lizard, the color drains from Alikia's face. "Oh this is bad." Her eyes linger on a statue and the creatures before them. "This is extremely bad." Snapping her eyes closed, Alikia draws her longsword out of its scabbard. "I think these things are basilisk. And basilisk are known for turning people to stone!"
"How?" shouts back Aerianna as she begins her strikes. "Bite, claw -- uh, gaze?? Tail sting or something??" She asides to Hyram, "Using a local nasty like these as your front door guards -- not a bad move. Clever."
vs AC 17
vs AC 17 (#1 threat)
vs AC 17
Now that combat is upon you, each responds in their own way. Hyram, swings at the Basilisk in front of him, damaging it. Alikia correctly deduces that the creatures have a gaze attack, letting the group know to avert their eyes. Aladir attacks the one next to him, and almost puts it down, however it is still standing. Ezro swings at the creature next to Arueshalae, wounding it. Aerianna steps next to Hyram to prevent the two of them from being flanked, and attacking the creature to her left wounding it severely. Arueshalae, keeping up the haste from her boots, switching targets as she takes two of them down, one near Hyram and one near Aladir.
The remaining three Basilisks gaze at the group, knowing that this is their most fearsome weapon, two gazing at Aerianna and one at Ezro.
;
Then let's strike again!!
,
,
,
,
That critical will drop Blue, and put the hurt on Grey.
Aerianna can feel the weight of the basilisk's stares, an increasing burden upon her limbs, the sense of the slowness of stone. But for her it is no worse than what her swordmistress would pile upon her, armor that pushed her capacity to carry it, wearing vests with ever-increasing amounts of rock in their pockets. Her arm lifts the sword bequeathed upon her, and like each of her previous strikes, it hesitates there, then falls with power and inevitability.
The first of the strikes falls upon the skull of the basilisk on her shield side, breaking both its attempt to turn her to stone and its lifeline. Radiance slides easily free, and the backhand that creases through the scales of the second basilisk before her is as stately a strike as the first, deceptively slow but shattering the beast's attempt to mineralize her. The stroke pauses in what seems almost to be mid-cut, and then plunges forward, stabbing deep into the basilisk's body before withdrawing, the paladin shifting her shield back into defense against the monster's claws, sword once more held ready to strike.
Hyram knows that him and Aeri have to finish these up quickly.
He again slashes at the creature.
Turning his bow on the last remaining basilisk, grateful for a quiver restored while they were all at the citadel, Aladir peppers the beast with three arrows in an attempt to bring it down before it's able to turn it's (literally) petrifying gaze upon anyone else.
Ezro feels the stony gaze of the basilisk begin stiffen him, but he shakes off the effects quickly. "Yes it appears they turn you to stone with a gaze!"
Looking to the others, and making sure everyone is alright, Ezro relaxes slightly and looks around at the statues of the other crusaders somewhat morosely, "I guess we know what has happened to these poor souls. We should be sure to return when this area is safe, and see if we cannot free them."
Pausing to regroup, Aerianna looks over the rubble to either side of the chasm floor and says regretfully, "I think that's a lost cause, Reverend." She uses Radiance to gesture at some of the 'more intact' ones, which are still shattered into several pieces of torso, limb, and head. "A major puzzle of pieces to put together; heck, I don't even know if you can put them back together if they've been shattered like that." Her gaze turns away from the shattered remains of demons and crusaders alike, remaining warily alert for more of the basilisks, or for something to emerge from the entrance some distance ahead of them. "Wonderful sentiments, just ... not something I think can be done.
"Oh!!" she then suddenly exclaims. "Aladir! And, um, Arueshelae, you're welcome as well, if you can withstand the ... um. In my quiver" -- riding the back of her right hip -- "are some cold-iron angel-quill arrows; they stick in, and reduce the damage resistance of demons by a bit. The more you get into them, the more it's reduced. And a few of the ones to the front are demon-bane, five or eight of them I think; I may have lost track, they tend to look the same to me. Recover the arrows if you can, they're treated to resist breaking, and can be re-enchanted. And it's always good to have something that drags down your enemy's defenses."
Between Aerianna, Hyram and Aladir, the three remaining basilisks are dropped, and everyone is safe from the gaze of these creatures.
"While I am no longer subject to the evil thoughts of my kind, I am not sure that I wish to handle arrows that specifically target my blood. I will do with the bow and the arrows that I have, let Aladir use those special arrows."
"Thru my research on this Sanctum, I have learned a few things about it. Up ahead, at the end, that rock wall is not really there. It is an illusion, and just beyond the illusion is a portcullis that must be gotten passed. I could just teleport myself, but can not do it for anyone else."
She pauses as if thinking hard about something, "I did not want to mention this before, but Desna has changed some of the abilities that my kind is known for to be good rather than evil. Perhaps you trust me enough now to hear this." She looks at Aladir, "my gift can make you either stronger, more dexterous or healthier, and I can maintain it on only you as you are also a worshiper of Desna. If you wish this, let me know before we move on."
Aerianna nods, taking no offense at Arueshelae shying away from the offer of the cold iron and bane arrows; she remains on watch but holds still, though, if Aladir comes to acquire some of the arrows. "Ezro, Alikia, Hyram -- can one of you do something about the illusion of which Arueshelae speaks?"
Frowning at Aerianna, "I would still wish to try. Even if we can save one from this fate, it would set my heart more at ease."
Listening to Arueshalae, he studies the end of the canyon, "I do not currently know any dispelling magic, but if we know it is an illusion, can we not just walk through it?"
Approaching the wall of stone that Arueshalae mentioned, Alikia touches it, testing the illusion. "Hmm... Ezro should be correct, but the clever ones will trap their illusions with something nasty. I'm favorable to making an illusory floor above a pit trap. That way particularly nos-" Cutting herself off from that train of thought, Alikia clears her throat. "Anyway, it seems safe."
"Well...if you're offering to share your arrows, I'm not going to turn the bane-enchanted ones down. I think I'm good otherwise, truth be told. I started buying exclusively cold iron arrows a long time ago, and I have a scale from Terendelev that allows me to align my weapon with the spirits of goodness for a time. Next time we are going shopping I'll probably pick up some more things meant for taking out demons, too. I'll replace any of yours that I use, you have my word."
"Oh? That truly is a gift from Desna, to be sure...and I'm honored that you would wish to confer that blessing on me. I do trust you enough for that. There's no question. If you wish to bestow me with such a gift, I will gladly accept it."
Hyram examines the wall not wall. Hmmm...I don't have anything for it, but if Alikia says it is safe, I trust her judgement. Hyram says as he steps through the illusion.