My friend here speaks wisdom. I understand your desire to mede our justice, but Hosilla may still have those loyal to her. We will not allow her to be free even if her own kind judge her innocent. If you would judge her, do so quickly and will will listen to her sentence. It may be that she will also have to race judgement on the surface.
"I respect your desire to see justice done. Based on what we have found, we believe Hosilla was complicit in the destruction of the Wardstone, the city above us, and the deaths of the majority of the population of that city as the demonic hoards swarmed through the city. I have no doubt that there are things you would have Hosilla answer for, but whatever leadership survives on the surface has quite a bit more to consider, and could potentially seek intelligence about the partners in this effort."
The woman is silent for a moment then nods sharply. "Fine, I understand this. But you should know this...we were not all following that woman by choice. I will have to direct our justice to whomever is still loyal to her I guess. I would ask that you take her back quickly then to the surface." The last sentence out of her mouth, she turns on her heels and stalks out of the room.
One last thing you notice in the bedroom is a map...what looks to be a map of this part of the underground caves with a red line showing how to get to the surface.
Do we want/need to completely explore this complex. Might be more clues or even some evil temple we need to right.
"We might not be able to get the prisoner up top for investigation if we spend too much time tempting these people."
[B]"But with their help we could root out any more cultists that are hiding here."/b]
Lirrathan throws his hands up in frustration once again, "Seriously? Again with this prisoner thing. These two will be nothing but trouble as we try to drag them to the surface, then suddenly here we got a group of angry misled folk willing to see to their 'justice' with haste. Bam! right in our faces a chance to rid ourselves of these two troublemakers, and make these fine folk happy all in one shot, not to mention wiping our hands clean of the prisoner.... and we reject it? Why are we so determined to drag dead weight along? So they can be tried in who knows what amount of city remains above? Maybe we need to focus less on taking prisoners, and more on getting up there in one piece and see if we can find some demon butt to kick. Why are we making it harder on us than it needs to be?"
He turns to the Mongrelwoman he had flirted with earlier, "You want to bring these two to justice? If so, how bout we make a deal? If you bring them back to Chief Sull, for their crimes against the mongrelfolk, maybe the chief would be willing to make some arrangements for you all to be one big happy mongrel family once again. I mean, come on, that don't sound half bad. If they don't make it there alive, then the Chief might have trouble having faith in you all to get along, and it could just blow the deal."
As you follow the path out on the map you come to a rusted iron door sits in the center of the eastern wall of this small chamber. A copper brazier hangs from the ceiling above a flimsy wooden table. Two mongrelmen stand at the door but must have gotten word from the new leader about you all as they stand aside and nod you through.
Walking through the door leads to a large chamber that must have once been a cistern for the sewer system. Walls made of identical stone blocks hold up a lofty ceiling reinforced with elegant stone arches, while the center of the room contains a more recent-looking structure made of brick walls that reach from floor to ceiling.
The two prisoners don't make much of a fuss other than to walk a little slowly at times, but a quick hiss and a prod from Lirrathan's new sword send their feet to a good march.
Constantly checking the prisoners has become an obsession for the wizard but he tries not to let it slow his progress. He is so focused on them that he notices little else.
"Hang on a second. There seems to be something on the ceiling just inside, there." Terry points at the recent construction. "Let's see how they respond to an arrow, shall we?"
Terry moves to a position for a clear line of fire, and takes the shot.
Lirrathan spots them as well, and follows Terry's lead in limbering his bow and firing at the second one. Hopefully he'll shoot as well as he did against that fly, or maybe this is another giant fly. They'll find out soon enough.
The creature makes no noise...but a shriek echoes in your heads.
Lirrathan is a little disturbed by the idea that whatever it is can make noises in his head, and decides that the continued best course of action is to shoot again. After he fires, he draws his fancy new sword in case they want to come at him, and talks to it "Now we get to see how well you and I work together."
Mirel lashes out at the nearest one with her fancy new whip, if doing so is possible. [ooc]If it would provoke, she takes a 5 foot step first.
Seeing the threat Arcessentes tries to identify it before shooting a magic missile at it, unless he would think better of it based on his knowledge.
Freya lets his sword whip slide off from around her belt as she moves to attack the nearest enemy.
Terry sees if he can duplicate the performance.
Arc sends forth a burst of energy that slams into one of the creatures but hardly seems to slow it. Mirel's whip bites into the creature but it doesn't even flinch...until a second later when it sees the look in Mirel's eyes. It starts to back away from her. Terry's missile rips a path through the creature's shoulder and the mental shriek rips through your minds again. Anevia jostles her way through the group and raises her bow to aim. Aravashnial cries, "What is happening, what is all the noise?!" Lirrathan's arrow hits the creature...but simply bounces off its skin. Freya, not having much room to swing, fails to connect with the creature.
The creature in front starts to wave its hands and reaches out to touch Terry...
But nothing happens. The creature behind the front one dances madly for a moment...
But again, nothing happens and the creatures seem frustrated.
Freya curses at her bad swing, trying again.
Team, we face Dretches. They are minor demons. Use cold iron to strike them if you have it, for they will partially resist other weapons, as well as energy attacks. Focus your attacks to bring down one at a time.
Terry steps back, away from the creature's reach, and fires again.
Now that they are close enough for melee, Lirrathan swings in exultation, with eagerness is in his eyes and a smile on his face. He forgets about the bow in his off-hand, and that's what offsets his swing. He decides to drop the thing, and draw his short sword so he's more comfortable in melee.
"Dretches! Demons are coming from under our foundations! This will not be!!"
He starts to incant angrily.
Lirrathan's swipe indeed is wide and his grin of triumph quickly turns to frustration. A quick shot from Terry fins its mark but doesn't seem to do much to the creature. Freya's hit is true but only bounces off of the dretch.
Anevia takes another shot...
But the arrow simply skitters off the dretch skin.
The wizard applies a second magic missile to the one he had already hit once. Cold Iron is the bane of these creatures. Us it if you have it. he encourages a second time before moving through the doorway.
Mirel strikes the same target again!
"Feel the sting of Calistria!"
Terry fires yet again, wondering how much trouble the group might actually be in right now . . ..
Arc's missile slams into the creature again making it pause ever so briefly, while Terry's shot flies wide, and Mirel's whip flails ineffectually. Freya's sword rips through the first creature leaving a trail of gore.
The second creature falls to the floor sleeping.
Lirrathan takes on a serious mien as he kneels next to the creature. He lays the edge, nearest the hilt, of his fancy new blade against its neck and slowly drags the length of it across until the whole of it has a line of blood down it.
Lirrathan's blade cuts surprisingly easily into the creature and soundless sigh emits from it's bloated face. It seems to deflate somewhat.
"Would these things have anything we could use?"
As you make your way through the small and crude maze, using the map you found, you begin to feel like you are ascending towards the surface with each step. At the end of the maze is an old sewer tunnel. The old sewer tunnel here leads about a hundred feet east before connecting to more recent sewers—and more importantly, to the first of several ladders leading up the surface.
Emerging from the sewers greets your eyes with a city vastly different than the one it was before you fell underground. Tremors and demonic attacks have devastated the city, leaving it a smoking, apocalyptic ruin. Above, the once-familiar skyline of Kenabres and forever changed—the tower of the Kite and the Cathedral of St. Clydwell having been completely destroyed, while elsewhere plumes of dark smoke still rise from the smoldering remains of burned-down buildings. Fat buzzards wheel above in skies scarred by red smoke and black clouds. The Worldwound has expanded its borders, and now the city of Kenabres is enveloped in it.
Burned and shattered buildings next to curiously intact ones. Piles of rubble with blood and worse seeping out from between the rocks. Near the mouth of the sewer you just exited is a lean male with dark brown hair and dark red skin. Wearing scale mail and holding a heavy wooden shield seems to have saved his life, but his breathing sounds ragged...
Pushing rubble off of himself and trying to determine any injuries he may have acquired, he can hear him sadly talking out loud to himself.
"Great Inheritor, is this what happened to my ancestors also. I understand why you have clouded my vision to see such devastation done to my lands, but must I also repeat the anguish and trauma anew? What other vow of obedience and service do you require of me?
Finishing clearing the debris from himself, he stands and checks himself once more for injuries. Certain that nothing lasting is wrong with him, he draws his longsword and kneels.
In a much stronger voice than before, "My Lady of Valor, I renew my oaths and vows to you.
I will learn the weight of my sword. Without my heart to guide it, it is worthless—my strength is not in my sword, but in my heart. If I lose my sword, I have lost a tool. If I betray my heart, I have died.
I will have faith in the Inheritor. I will channel your strength through my body. I will shine in your legion, and I will not tarnish your glory through base actions.
I am the first into battle, and the last to leave it.
I will not be taken prisoner by my free will. I will not surrender those under my command.
I will never abandon a companion, though I will honor sacrifice freely given.
I will guard the honor of my fellows, both in thought and deed, and I will have faith in them.
When in doubt, I may force my enemies to surrender, but I am responsible for their lives.
I will never refuse a challenge from an equal. I will give honor to worthy enemies, and contempt to the rest.
I will suffer death before dishonor.
I will be temperate in my actions and moderate in my behavior. I will strive to emulate your perfection.
I will be ever vigilant for malicious fiendish insurgence into this world and face it with swift and unwavering defiance."
He stands and begins to look for other survivors to lend aid to.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
On Going Effects:
Lirrathan takes in the city and all it's devastation with wide-eyed amazement, "By the Gods, this place is beat up something fierce. The fight that was going on up here must have been enormous. I almost wish I could have seen it. I bet it was a hell of a rout." He looks at the others "I mean it's bad and all that, what with people's suffering and such, but I would have liked to have had a blade in this fight." Seeing the big man make his way from the rubble he calls over and asks, "Hey there, brute, did you see how all this happened? Could you tell me what it was like?" as an afterthought he adds, "Oh, and who is running the show? The demons or the city's defenders? Which one are you?"
Emerging into the war torn city Arcessentes struggles to identify it as the city he has known most of his life. Few landmarks remain.Immediately he is on guard for danger hie knows could be close.
He hears the man before seeing him Turning to regard Sir Bastion, the wizard's sharp ears catch much of the man's oaths. Lirrathan, this man is some form of holy warrior. Did you not hear his oaths? And he is wounded. Lend a hand. [b] The wizard moves to the man to see how badly hurt he is.
[b]Good sir, I am the wizard Arcessentes. My companions and I were in attendance at the presentation when the demon and dragon fought. We were plunged into darkness, falling a great distance but were somehow saved by the last efforts of the dragon. We have quite the tale to tell if any of the city council remains. But by the look of you, you have your own tale.
Hearing voices around him, Sir Bastion turns to identify the source staring intently in the direction he heard speaking.
His stern look softens as he speaks, "I am Sir Bastion, Paladin of Iomedea, Member of the Order of the Land, Scion of the Blackwolves of Sarkoris. Please come forward that I am look upon you."
When Arcessentes approaches, he reaches out his hand in welcome, and with a firm grip locks hand to forearm with him.
"Yes, I can provide some account of what has happened." And with a sigh he continues, "I had gathered with the crowds in Clydwell Plaza to hear the blessing of Armasse from Lord Hulrun, enjoying the beautiful day and the warmth of the sun on my face. It was hard to believe that only a short distance away, the Worldwound suffered upon my ancestors’ lands. As Lord Hulrun was about to begin I could feel a tension in the crowd as Lord Hulrun cleared his throat, only to be followed with a tremendous thunderous explosion instead of his blessing."
"To my left somewhere a blast of heat came towards me, as I saw people near me begin to point and cry out that Kite had been destroyed, engulfed in fire and lightning. I thank Iomedae I did not have to see that loss. He makes a sign of obediance to Iomedea.
"While I could not see them, I could hear the names of Terendelev and Khorramzadeh being shouted, tones of relief and hope for the Guardian Dragon, and screams of despair and terror for the Storm King. The epic battle they fought in the air could be felt and heard, even for one that could not see it." You notice that his eyes have a slight milky color to them.
"But my attention was soon focused on my own immediate danger, for Khorramzadeh had not come alone. Demons seemed to flood up from the earth, attacking and destroying with a sadistic glee. I recognized some of the lesser types, but there were others that I have never heard of or read about. I saw a dretch bring forth it's poisonous cloud only for it to be blown away by a member of the Eagle Watch and then hear her screams as a quasit stabbed at her with it's vicious tail."
"While I could see some of the demons, I heard scream of terror from the crowds of goatmen wielding flaming blades, of worm headed thugs cutting people down and then eating them. I heard screams of the names Vrock, Vavakia and Hezrou."
"I aided where and when I could, calling on the blessing of the Inheritor, as the fighting went into the night. I had found a couple of members of the Eagle Watch and we were trying to find others when we were attacked by a band of the goatheaded demons. We took a defensive position at the entrance of a small shop and waited for their charge. They had just come into my view when they suddenly arrested their haste advance, a mere fifteen feet away. The last thing I remember was the demons looking up, smiling and pointing at something in the distance, as they began to dance this odd jig. Then the building came down upon us."
"That is all that I recall, until now I must have been unconscious and The Inheritor saw fit that I should awake and greet you on your return to our besieged Kenabres. As to who controls the city, I do not know. The fight still continues as you can hear." As he motions with his hand around him.
A tale worthy of the bards indeed. Join with us Sir Bastion. If there are leaders of this city left we bear news they will want to hear. My hope is that we can fight or force our way to any men of the city still fighting and help them. If there are leaders left in command I would find and join them. We have both wounded and prisoners with us as well. We had hoped to find at least an organized resistance to the demon forces.
"Allow me to tend to your wounded first and meet the others of your band. As far as leaders of the city, I would would gather them with the Eagle Watch. I do not believe such a noble organization would fall copmletly to the hordes of demons."
Lirrathan only nods to the man, not so much refusing to shake hands as much as having them full of a sword hilt each. He doesn't hold them threateningly, instead looking like he's just more comfortable with them in his hands. As the man recounts the events, all Lirrathan can add is a mumbled "Man does this guy like to gab." While they go through introductions, he takes a look around the place, for either any threats or any obvious paths, before realizing "Um, so which way are we headed? I don't really know the city, and it looks a bit like there's been some remodeling since I was last here."
Well met, Sir Bastion. I am Mirel, inquisitor for the Savored Sting." she says to the newcomer while taking in the ruined city. "I suggest we move on. The note speaks of three different locations full of cultists. We should wipe them out swiftly before they can do further damage to the city."
"You must take me to my manor! I will pay you, remember?!"
"The Riftwardens could help. The stronghold is at Blackwing Library...there's not much use in keeping that secret now." Horgus and Anevia gasp at that bit of information.
"Ira and I have a house in eastern Kenabres. We have some supplies and maybe I can get word about her. We'll need the Eagle Watch." Horgus looks agape at Anevia and Aravashnial snickers softly.
Horgus, all things in good time. It may be we will need help crossing this ravaged land and even if you manor still stands, where would we spend our reward money? There seem to be no remaining stores. I long to go to the Riftwardens, but if Anevia's house is closer I say let us try for that. What do the rest of you say?