"This invasion has all of us doing things harder than we thought we could ever do," says Jocasta. "These cultists thought they could take advantage of this situation for their own gain, at the cost of the lives of others. Their continued existence is a threat of violence against the remaining community."
She draws her cold iron sword and says, "I can give them a quick, clean demise."
Khaz nodded. ”Duty be done.”
Once the deed was done he prayed to Bolka to steel his soul and cure his wounds.
With the cultist dispatched and their gear stored safely for pick up later the group continues towards their destination. Arriving just outside of the tower, the streets are empty as the sun begins to get closer to high noon. From what you can see the top portion of the tower has been ripped away by something enormous.
”There are dwarves at the docks. Might be my clan. If we go there, we can rally them. Some support when we go to the tower...”
It was clear from his voice that Khaz was worried and was trying to justify making a detour to see if his family lived.
Lorena doesn't react as the more zealous members of the group execute the cultists. They got what they deserved, anyways, and it doesn't seem like there's anything else interesting here, so she's ready to move on.
As they walk, Khaz keeps hemming and hawing about some dwarves somewhere else in the city, all the way until they can see their destination. A bit annoyed, she says as she looks around, "Well, we're near the tower now. If you want to check the docks for your friends, we can go after we're done here."
"How big do you think the thing was that ripped the tower off like that?" Terry ignores the conversation about the pier, as he already pointed out there's no reason to trust the source of that claim. "So, let's get started finding what we can, here, right?"
"Must've been massive. And very tough - it didn't die when it impacted twenty feet of solid stone," opines Jocasta.
"Once we're done here we should check out those stories on the docks. It may just be rumors, but any survivor could need our help - we have a moral obligation to investigate."
She draws her dueling sword and advances slowly toward the front door of the tower.
"Clear for me to open the door, Terry?" she says, glancing back over her shoulder at the rogue.
Khaz breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to say it, but he was glad that Jocasta was on his side for this. The thought of his parents being in danger was like a dagger in his heart. But duty. Duty always came first.
”Let’s do this. Lorena, heal me wounds if ye please? Better than dragging me out later.”
"As good as it gets."
Jocasta moves to the door reading herself for whatever is inside, as she touches the door handle..... she finds the door is locked. As she rattles the door a voice comes from the other side.
"Who is it?" The voice sounds male.
"I've got new material for the archives." Firinnn calls from the back of the group, recalling the note wrapped around Radiance when they found the weapon in question.
The door slowly unlocks, a face peeks out seeing Firinn and Jocasta.
"What have you got?" The man says, his face freshly shaven
"Eh? Ye got notin' or something?" The man repeats himself
"Got a dwarf here to kill you!" Firinn replies laconically, trusting that Khaz is ready for his cue!
On cue Khaz walked forward and gave the door a solid kick.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/damaging-objects#table-dcs-break-burst-it ems
The DC for a simple door is 13, a good door is 18 and a strong door is 23.
If that doesn’t work he will kick it again while asking for assistance.
Khaz's boot connects with the door solidly but the door is more solidly built than the Dwarf it seems, his second kick again stikes hard but with someone holding the door it still doesn't pop open.
"Attackers, Tell the boss!" The man shouts.
Bump
With the door open, Khaz surged through and attacked the cultist.
It was a solid blow! Proof that Firinn was not lying.
"Not quite the kind of knock I had in mind, but . . .." Terry shifts, trying to create a line of sight to the man trying to hold the doors against the group. Assuming he moves far enough to see him, he looses, as much to make the man reconsider his position as to actually try to stop him.
Firinn finds it hard to fit an arrow, off balance as he is from shoving against the door. His shot is correspondingly hasty.
Khaz bullies his way into the room, dropping the cultist who isn't quite ready for the sturdy dwarf to push his way in. With the door open Terry's shot lands catching the flat footed other cultist unawares and kills the man on the spot as the arrow pierces his throat.
The ground floor is now open to you.
"The ground floor of the tower is now open to the air—a tangle of
wooden supports above being all that remains of the building’s
upper stories. Two rubble-filled pools flank a central walkway
that crosses to an open area with a few shelves, a desk and chair,
and a flight of stairs leading down."
"Why is it always underground?" Firinn grouses as he prods Rionnag upwards to perch in the ruined tower and keep watch.
”Because the demons destroyed everything above. Look on the bright side, least now we won’t be caught between two forces.” Khaz took the lead moving below.
Lorena prepares to fight, but before she can move in, the cultists are gone. "Well, that was fast. Hopefully this place isn't as much a deathtrap as that alchemist shop was." As they enter the ruined tower, she stays behind the more seasoned trap-spotters.
Jocasta eyes the interior suspiciously and says, "All right, Khaz, what position do you want me in?" She gestures about the wrecked interior with her sword.
”By my side. Archers and spear in the back. We’re their shield.”
Jocasta nods and takes up a position next to Khaz, ready to follow his lead.
Making your way to the back of the tower you see many bed rolls laying on the floor, most are dirty and unkept. There is a couple crates of food but again that is either old and withered or in some stage of decay. The staircase leading up is all but destroyed and unsurpassable to all but the most brave or fool hardy, the staircase leading down is just wide enough for a single traveller to go down.
”We go down single file. I’ll go first. Then Lorena with her spear. Followed by Terry and Firinn. Jocasta defends the rear. If we get ambushed we need front and back covered.”
"I can cover the rear." Firinn says, resting his hand on a large knife in his belt. "Rio is watching, she'll tell me if anything comes. Jocasta should be up front, with you Khaz."
”Good lad. Settled then. Let’s go.”
As they pass through the space, Terry remains quiet, but gives the area a quick look-over, hoping to come back for a more thorough search.
He files into his assigned position, and tries to be more ready than the people they are about to meet.
Jocasta files into position. "I'm going to make a light source, unless you want someone in the rear to do so," she says. "I won't be able to see down there otherwise."
"Go for it." Firinn shrugs. "Don't need it really here."
Khaz heads down the stairs into the dark basement level, Jocasta's spell provides light to the bottom of the stairs. As Khaz makes his way down he can see that there are slats preventing someone from falling into the basement via the stair well, as he does note this he feels a slight prick on his leg.
The Prick brings on a feeling of something entering his body and strength draining out of his body all at the same time.
Khaz gritted his teeth at the sudden pain. Whatever poison or magic was on the trap failed to effect him. But he was not ready for what assailed his mind...
Bestow Curse -6 str
You are affected by a zone of truth spell
Firinn is up
[/ooc]Estrod Basement - Conditions=Zone of Truth Everyone DC 17 Will save - Round 1
Firinn
Jocasta <---
Khaz (-2 dmg from prick), Lorena
Terry
BBEG[/ooc]