"Send them to Horgus." Firinn whispers. ""He'll be glad of the help and they want someone to lead them. It'll work."
He whispers to Rionnag and then turns to the group. "We have just come from the manor of a nobleman who needs assistance restoring his home. If you follow my companion here, she will lead you to him."
”Lad, that isn’t funny. Lord Horgus will likely bar his doors. Sending anyone to him could get someone killed.”
"My house is south of Defender's Heart, they could follow us but maybe to Blackwing Tower?" Aniva offers
"Aye then, lass. Let's be off then, before any more demons come by."
The party now has 4 more walking wounded with them, making your way through the remainder of the Nobel district has become much more difficult to manage without alerting any predators near by or making a lot of noise, the better part of the day is spend only going a few hundred meters.
Just Past Mid day a howl can be heard not to far off.
Khaz took the time to see to the wounds of the men and women who now followed them. Without his healer's kit, there was only so much he could do. But he did what he could.
Upon hearing the howl he froze, mace in hand.
"Hold! Did ye all hear that?"
"Yes!" Firinn agrees. "Stay here and quiet, all of you!"
He lopes ahead, bow out and Rionnag flitting between the rooftops above him.
"I'll see what it is - wait 3 minutes and follow if we don't come back!"
Carson brings his wand up, ready to defend their new charges.
Firinn slinks off into the day, moving from crumbling building to totally destroyed ruins to a mostly intact stable. After about 2 minutes he comes to where he can get somewhat of a vantage point on the voices.
Firinn can see what looks like 3 hooded figures and 2 more bound in rope on the ground. There is one bound figure inside a drawing on the ground.
This is a summoning circle
Firinn ghosts his way back to the group. "Six people, three tied up and three more in robes and hoods. One is inside a drawing on the ground. I'd say demonic ritual but I'm not an expert... probably best to go in and stop them as quick as we can!"
Assuming the others agree Firinn leads the way back to the ritual site and takes cover with his bow ready.
”Right. I recommend letting me go in first. Rest of ye flank around. I make some noise, get their attention. When their backs are turned, ambush them. Sound right and good?”
Carson nods and starts around the other side. He quietly casts mage armor before getting ready to take the other side of them by surprise after Khaz gets their attention.
Once everyone is in position, Khaz stomped forward, intentionally making as much noise as possible. ”Oi! Paladin of the crusade here. What is the meaning of this? State your intentions.” He figured that would grab the attention of anyone within.
One of the men turns around, a long bow in his hands, another smaller man turns as well smiling.
"Ahh more to sacrifice." A wicked smile spreads across his face.
The remaining person chanting over the circle does not turn and their hood remains up.
The dwarf pointed his heavy mace at the man who spoke. He roared as loud as he could ”Fiends! Surrender now or ye will die. I am as merciful as a dwarf may be. Lay down your arms and I guarantee that ye will be dealt with fairly.” As he did so he thought Come on lads...any time now would be good. As he prepares himself for the inevitable combat.
Firinn fires at the chanting figure.
A loud Howl can be heard from the distance, Firinn's arrow hits home as everyone moves to ready positions.
"No talking?" Says the man with a smile
Firinn doesn't bother with pleasantries, just nocking another arrow and firing again to try and halt the ritual once and for all.
Firinn's second arrow doesn't land and takes a chunk out of the remaining building.
The Hooded figure turns and looks at you.
"Deal with them, I will finish this."
The archer knocks and Arrow and loosens it at Firinn.
”Khazukan kazakit-ha!”
Khaz launched himself at the man in the hood. As he did so his mace glowed with divine light. He poured everything he had into the blow, swinging with every bit of strength that he had. He cared little for his defenses, as he had every intention to kill with one hit. He suspected magic to be at work here, and as such it was important to not allow his foe to cast any spells.
Khaz runs up and clubs the summoner down to the ground, the woman lays bleeding out.
"Talking? No, stabbing seems to solve our problems faster", Lorena muses as she moves up in position to attack the nearest cultist.
If any of the cultists remain, Carson will toss a spear, as that's pretty much just what he does.
to hit
damage+1 bleed
Lorena's spear misses the Archer as well as Carson's thrown spear. Khaz being close to the man probably has something to do with it.
The smiling man drops his smile, backing away from Khaz.
"Well then we can do it the Hard way." Raising his hand bolts of dark purple force lance and out strike Khaz.
With a good view point Firinn sees no need to change his tactics.
Swooping down from above Rionnag attacks the cultist Firinn is shooting at.
Firinn's arrow lands just missing the curvature of the breastplate the man is wearing and finds a joint. Rionnag slams down into the man but his armor protects his vital areas this time. The Howl from before is louder and from just down the alley a large creature bristling with long spines steps out.
This is a Hwolwer
The Creature Lunges forward at Khaz with a large bite at him.
The Archer slides away as the creature moves forward and shoots back at Firinn.
Khaz roared in pain as the demon bit him. Yelling the name of his goddess his wounds began to heal. Raising his mace he brought it down on it, seeking to drive it back.
Khaz strikes out at the beast, in turn a large quill from the body breaks off into his arm.
The new creature's howl sends shivers up Lorena's spine. She wavers for a bit, not knowing what it can do and who's the greater threat, but after a moment she turns back, moving up and stabbing at the archer again.
Lorena's spear misses the Archer who nimbly dodges the blow
Carson tries for the summoner again while attempting to remember what exactly this new thing is.
to hit
damage +1 bleed
know planes
Howler Demon! The quills will stick in you if they make contact, and listening to it can drive you insane. We need to get rid of it quick. Tough skin but easy to hit, no specific weaknesses or resistances.
”Bloody thing hurts! And it won’t shut the fook up either.”
The demon was dangerous to be sure. It’s bite was lethal enough, but attacking it had it’s own dangers. Khaz hoped they could take it down quickly. He also resolved to buy some better armor when he had the chance...
Carson pick another Target please
Carson will attack the newly summoned Howler.(I know it doesn't hit, but not much does with a 5)
will
Carson't attack misses the beast, the swinging and swaying spines and the constant grating noise throws his aim off.
Seeing another Mage, the smile knowing he had to put extra oomph into his magic to damage Khaz looks at Carson, releasing bolts of magical force at him.
Firinn decides to take the mage down a peg or two.
Rionnag keeps battering the one in front of her.
The Howler bites at Khaz again, swinging it's tail around to stab at him.
The Archer seeing his opening turns and moves back Further, loosening an arrow at Rionnag.