"You can take me home now!" Horgus commands, "Then I can lock myself up in my vault and wait this out."
From the small set of buildings you can hear some banging.
”Of course we will escort you home. But let us determine the safest route. It would not do to have us be ambushed by demons when we just got to the surface. From the looks of things we are still in danger.”
”...for example, what is that banging?”
Firinn too hears the banging and moves swiftly to investigate, waving to the rest of the group for attention as he does so.
Lorena shrugs. "I don't hear anything."
The group heads over, Horgus follows only because he doesn't want to be alone. There are a few shops on what looks like a small dead end street. The doors and windows of most are broken, there is one that has the curtains drawn. To your right is a building with smashed widows and the doors look like they were ripped off and throw away.
”Which one?” Khaz hissed as he held his axe, ready to advance.
The building with all the noise looks like it may have been an alchemists shop at one point in time.
Boldly Khaz went in. There could be a survivor in there, and if so how could he just walk on? But, as it was equally likely that there was a demon within, he kept his axe ready.
"Hello? I am Khaz Cloudbreaker, paladin of the crusade. Is there anyone in here that is in need of assistance?"
Firinn scoots around, trying to draw a clear line of sight over Khaz's head after the dwarf opens the door.
Carson looks in one of the busted out windows, ready to cast as necessary.
"I still don't hear anything..."
Lorena moves to the door but doesn't go in.
Khaz moves up the door and peers inside, he can hear more smashing but there are enough shelves albeit destroyed mostly that are blocking his view
Khaz continued further, straining to get a better view of what might be causing this. He moved as quietly as he could...whatever was there wasn't listening to his words, so he had to assume that it was a demon.
Khaz makes the tinest of noises and a rat faced Demon pokes it's head around the corner. Seeing Khaz in bright armor and lots of metal the Demon moves to him, striking at his axe.
The demon made the mistake of trying to break a Dwarven forged axe. Khaz showed it how sturdy the weapon was.
Firinn moves in behind Khaz just in time to see a flurry of blows exchanged. He draws an arrow with a practised hand and waits for an opening to fire.
Before Lorena can even react from the doorway, Khaz gives the demon a mighty blow. She relaxes - the dwarf is back to being the unstoppable death machine that they were used to. No need to rush into danger again, it seems to be under control.
The demon's attack on Khaz's weapon is not effective, Khaz cleanly cleaves the demon in twain, as the shop falls to silence
Carson gives a low whistle.
Bet he regrets that...
Carson notes for just outside of the building that the one across and down the street a bit the curtain looks like it was moving but not by itself.
Khaz walked out of the building, looking at his axe and muttering "Bloody demon tried to break my axe."
Then, looking at the rest of the party he said "Everyone ready to move on? I think we could get Horgus home first. The rich quarter is probably well defended. From there we can ask the guards where we can find Aniva and Aravashnial some clerical healing. The city is going to need Aravshinal to have his eyes back as soon as possible, given that there are still demons crawling about."
Khaz walked out of the building, looking at his axe and muttering "Bloody demon tried to break my axe."
Then, looking at the rest of the party he said "Everyone ready to move on? I think we could get Horgus home first. The rich quarter is probably well defended. From there we can ask the guards where we can find Aniva and Aravashnial some clerical healing. The city is going to need Aravshinal to have his eyes back as soon as possible, given that there are still demons crawling about."
Firinn returns from a thorough search of the shop in time to hear Khaz's suggestion. "A good plan Khaz. I will lead the way and seek out the safest path."
Firinn is as good as his word and slips off ahead, Rionnag above him as always.
Uh, guys, we may need to check this house up here. I think I saw something in there.
Carson indicates a house a bit away with his wand.
When the group makes its way over to the building they find the door is locked but the front window is smashed out, the curtain looks like it is weighed down to prevent it from billowing out. No sounds can be heard from within
”Ye sure?” He looked at the house and called out ”Any survivors in here? Paladin of Torag! We’re getting the wounded to safety. Come out if you would join us!”
After a few tense moments you can hear the door unlocking and opening just so, a chain lock is present on the door so you could not just push it in.
"A Paladin?" A male voice can be heard "How do we know you are not looters?"
The sky continues to darken as the sun sets over the World Wound casting and eerie orange glow on the city in ruins.
”I am Khaz of Clan Cloudbreaker. Paladin of Torag, sworn to the cause of the crusade. My companions and I just found and put down a demon, not two buildings over from this one. This area is not safe. We are leading wounded, and civilians, in search of a safe haven. Come with us, and we will protect ye.”
Firinn, from behind Kahz, wills a little healing magic into his hand so that he appears to be holding a fistful of sunlight. "We have magic if anyone needs healing." He says, attempting to sweeten the 'dwarven paladin and refugee' pot.
"No one is injured here, we just locked up when the demons came, I guess none of them want fine formal clothing. We heard the commotion across the street and hid hoping that whatever it was didn't come here." You can hear what sounds like a woman whispering to the man.
Aniva and Horgus are starting to look impatient, Aravashnial Stands close to Aniva
”A fine business. I respect any who master a craft. I encourage ye to come with us, the demon we found was tearing that nearby house apart. But I will not force ye. We are leaving now, and ye can come, or stay if ye believe yourselves to be safe enough.”
"We are going to stay here for now, traveling around is badness, especially at night there are monsters out there." The man says
”Fair thee well. Blessings of Torag on ye.”
Firinn pushes on, staying ahead of the group to scout and try and pick up threats in advance.
We should check the abandoned alchemist shop, but after that, I don't have a better plan. I'd like to check and see if my uncle's shop is still there sometime soon if it's on the way or after. He's a mage, but I'm not sure how he would fend in this kind of thing...
Lorena shrugs. "I go wherever you all go. I don't have a home to return to here."
You get your bearings on exactly where in the city you are, you need to make your way north west
Firinn waits for the group to search the alchemists shop and then pushes on, north-west towards Horgus' manor.
Once they have made a good distance from the site of the demon attack Firinn slows his pace and falls back to walk with Anevia and Avarashnial. "So, Mr Avarashnial. Did you say you had theories about cults in the city?"
Night continues to set upon the group, as you get closer to the Nobel district Aniva stops you. "Aravashnial is that not the Library of the Rift Wardens?" After a moment and remembering that he cannot see Aniva explains the building to him
"It sounds like it yes, we should see if there are any survivors in there, plus it has knowledge that could help you in your fights."
The building a head is a tower, there is a set of double doors that remain intact. Most of the buildings around the tower have been damaged or destroyed, the demons or cultist may have left this one for a reason.
"Strange." Firinn says. "This is the only intact building for nearly a whole city block. Why would the invaders have left this one standing?" After waiting a moment to see if Aravashnial has an answer for this he heads forward, drawing his bow as he does so.
”Probably because even demons know not to fook with rift wardens.” Khaz hung back while Firinn scouted.
Firinn creeps building to building as he gets closer he can see nothing that seems out of the ordinary.
Inside voices can be heard
Perception
I always loved the library. Well, the idea of it. Didn't really get to spend time here.