The Armored man lands next to Khaz, pushing up the mask on his helm Khaz can see that it is indeed Eterrius, one of the leaders of the Crusaders. "Nestrin is being lead away safely I see" Eterrius' voice is very flat and matter of fact, "They will not pursue us now, they had the numbers before but we do now. Inside we will talk." Eterrius' head turns slowly to Lorena seeing her in the darkness, with that Eterrius enter's Defender's heart leaving Khaz and Lorena standing outside.
Khaz could but nod, a look of relief on his face. Thank the divines that such a powerful crusader had survived!
”So, Nestorin, is it? Are ye hurt? The demons’ curse might have stolen my strength, but I’m still a paladin. If ye’re hurt I can help.”
Terry encourages the other archers to continue harassing the demons, to keep them from closing with the people still on the ground outside.
"I am all right, just a bit out of breath. That was the most I have moved in my armor in years. It was rather exhilarating for sure."
Eterrius eventually comes in the building. Scanning the main floor, some people move back away form the man almost afraid that he will attack someone. After a few tense moments Eterrius takes his helm off and comes to sit by Nestin, "Are you alright sir? There were more than we though and they were a bit better organized, it looked like that woman was leading them."
"What woman?" Firinn asks, having just arrived from the roof.
Jocasta sheathes her sword and says, "They probably thought Leora was one of the enemy. In these tough times a quick glance is all you get sometimes."
"Do you need food? Drink? Rest? While Defenders' Heart is under siege, we at least have a few supplies and we can find space to make you comfortable," says the magus.
"A woman who looked like she was dressed in bone, your friend there." Eterrius turns to look at Lorena as she slinks her way in. "Does not appear to be any threat to Nestin, or else I would not have let him get that close to her." Eterrius' voice is very serious.
Nestin smiles at you all, "Come now, a hot drink maybe, Bar keep, do you have warm Apple Cider? With some whiskey?" Nestin tries to get up, everyone can see fatigue has settled in, the adrenaline has passed.
"What about me? What did I do?" Lorena looks confused.
"nothing Child, nothing come sit and have some Cider." Nestin smiles at Lorena, his eyes showing he is being truthful
After making sure there's a rotation on watch on the roof, keeping an eye out for the demons, Terry joins the others inside. "A couple of serious heavy hitters, those two. Who are they?"
When Eterrius was alone, Khaz cautiously approached. ”Sir? The name is Khaz of Clan Cloudbreaker. I am a paladin of the crusade. I...sorry. Look. The cultists were after this.” He held up the mace. ”Killed ‘em. It was a golden sword, but when I touched it, it turned into this, the holy symbol of my goddess, Bolka. Was right surprised. But ye see, I’ve been cursed while out fighting the cult. Took my strength away and none here can break it. I can barely wear my armor. Still, I’m going out again tomorrow for the good fight, but with this curse? I fear that this weapon will fall back into their hands. Would ye...would ye take it? Make sure it is in the hands of a paladin worthy of it? I’ll fight and die for the crusade, but I don’t want my death to Aid the enemy.”
Eterrius looks at Khaz, "It isn't me you want to lift your curse it is Nestin, let him get some rest and talk to him about what you will need and he will see to it. My divine skills are focused on killing demons." Eterrius says his voice hard and serious. "It is odd that the blade changed shape, I have heard legends of weapons doing that but never seen one, I am also no Paladin, you keep the blade turned club and use it to drive back demons and their ilk." Eterrius then walks past Khaz ending the conversation and entering Defender's heart seeing to his charge.
Khaz stared at the crusader leader as he left, a swirl of emotions inside him. At length he walked away himself, and went back to his room for some much needed sleep. Sleep he actually attained, now knowing that he would be whole once more. But if there was one thing he learned from the ordeal it was humility. It was a lesson he wouldn’t forget.
The men on the roof Shrug, as Terry comes down he encounters Aniva who is trying to get down the stairs as well. "What is going on?" Aniva asks
"Couple of heavily armed men, one moving around like a jackrabbit, just reached us, the elder was being chased by a BUNCH of outsiders while the younger was killing and slowing them to let him get to us. Looked like both made it in. I told some of the archers to keep watch to see if the outsiders try an assault to reach the old man, but now I'm curious who these men are. I was looking to go find out." He doesn't stop moving down, though he does slow to update Aniva. "Unless somebody's hiding them, they should still be in the main room . . .."
"Could be Nestrin and Eterrius, I hope they made it." Aniva says "Nestrin is the highest ranked Cleric of Iomadae in the city, his days of Crusading are over so he teaches and tends to the children. Eterrius is one of the commanders of the Crusaders, an Elf who is a big hard ass, kills demons without out mercy or thought though." Aniva says going downstairs with Terry
Terry stops in his tracks. "C-c-c-ommander? Yeah . . .. I'm sure we could use the help of a powerful Cleric. Khaz now, sure, with that curse, but everybody here could benefit from the morale boost at least." He starts moving again, but more cautiously. "I think we would all like to meet Nestrin, though."
"Yep, so can you help me down the stairs?" Aniva asks Terry
"Thank you, but I'd rather go back to sleep now." Lorena declines the old man's offer of cider and retires to bed, feeling a bit drained as the adrenaline rush fades.
Still holding her sword awkwardly to one side, Jocasta says, "No worries, Khaz, we've held out another day and for now that's what we can get - one day at a time. We'll confront all of these problems and with resolve and cunning we'll overcome them. Including your curse." She heads to the common area with the others to see what has become of their new wayward arrivals.
To the new arrivals she says, "The Heart's a little chaotic these days because of all the survivors, but I'm sure we can scare up some space for you to rest and something filling to eat. If you still have the strength to help the Crusade, we can use it - but don't push yourself too hard if you need rest and healing. We all do what we're able."
"Of course I can. You probably need to speak with them about quite a lot." He puts on a brave face as he helps her down the stairs, but he doesn't start any new conversation at this point. As they reach the new arrivals, he stops, but extends the hand on her side of him as he says "Aniva Tirablde, milord."
Nestin smiles as everyone gathers around him and Esterrius, "I am fine a bit winded and I think that my shin splints could just be the death of me this time." A larger smile shows on his face. "We will take stock of the injuries in the morning and see what we can do to help out."
As Terry and Aniva come down the large central stair case and addresses a Milord, both Nestrin and Esterrius look around. "Is Lord Hulrun here? We didn't think he survived the fall of the Cathedral and the assault on the ward stone."
"No, milord, I believe YOU would be the one in charge, now."
"Ohh.. Well I don't want to be in charge, not really what I had in mind or ever really wanted to do. Has anyone heard anything from the Queen?" Nestrin asks
Keeping his mouth shut for a moment, Terry looks around at the crowd. He blinks a couple of times, swallows, and after he points at the people, moving his finger about the room, he opens that mouth again.
"I don't see much sign of nobility and courtly manners in the room, just scared, hungry people, hoping for some sign of hope, some noble to guide them back to a safer, more prosperous life. Your survival and presence here, in the midst of the destruction, looks to most of them like a ray of hope. None of them ever wanted to be here, either. But they are. As are you."
"That is very wise and it is profound all at the same time, I do not wish to take leadership away from whomever was in charge before. Eterrius could take over but again we are new and don't wish to do such a thing." Nestrin looks at his companion who nods.
"I was in charge before, we were planning an assault on The Grey Garrison, any insight you may have as to the fort would be beneficial." Irabeth says.
In the Morning Nestrin is again found in the common room, the children are gathered around him and a Large smile is on the man's face. "This is why we fight and will continue too." Seeing Khaz come down Nestrin waves him over.
"Come child, I will see if we can break that curse."
Holy power flows out of Nestrin and into Khaz, "There young one, Do you feel the power of Bolka flowing through you as it once did again?"
Jocasta finally gets back to bed. She tosses and turns for a short time. The exertion and the flashes of thoughts in her mind keep her awake for a while, but general exhaustion takes its toll and finally she slips off to sleep once more.
~~~~~~~~~~
In the morning, finally back to her usual self, she is busy brushing out her hair and then finally tying it back into a bun to keep it out of the way before she rummages up some dry bread to choke down as a morning meal. "Hey Lorena!" she calls out while twisting her hair. "Did you eat yet this morning?"
Khaz’s face broke into a relieved smile, and then a grin. ”It does! Ach! A miracle ye be! A fookin’ miracle.” There we’re almost tears in his eyes. ”Mayhaps now I won’t die this day. My armor. Hold one. I’ll be back!”
Once everyone has broken their fast, Irabeth calls the heroes, Nestrin, Eterrius and a few others into the warroom.
"So we have to breach the doors of The Gray Garrison, we know they have taken the Wardstone Fragment there for something but we are not 100% sure what yet." Irabeth points to a map "The Garrison is in Old Kenabres, we don't know exactly what their force deployment is like there but we have had a few teams take out nest of cultists and we know that you have taken out some as well."
"A lot of ground to cover, with little cover. Just getting there unmolested could be a challenge. Do we have good knowledge of the garrison's construction? Maybe even a little something about the bolt hole that should be in it? Would make this much easier . . .."
Firinn doesn't sleep much, remaining on the roof wrapped in Rio's iridescent wings. He indulges in a certain amount of self-recrimination over his uselessness the previous night. Thankfully that passes and when Irabeth summons the group he is his usual quiet self.
"Scouting must take place first." He says, "Can we stage diversions at all, to weaken the defences?"
"We can yes, it won't be large though." Irabeth says
"The Grey Garrison was one of the first forts build it is solid and there is only really 1 way in and out, the main door. There is a small window, the building is solid stone and lit with non smoking torches." Eterrius takes over, "IT is hard to get into and out of but we have never had a reason to flee from the place."
”Aye, sounds right tough. I suppose it’ll have arrow slits as well, so approaching it is a kill zone. Once we get in, we can rip ‘em down. I just don’t like the idea of walking into a hail of arrows. So, how are we going to bust that door down? I admit, I’m new to sieges.”
"Are there any potions here to reduce a person's size?" Firinn asks. "With one of those Rio could carry me onto the building's roof, then I could throw smokesticks through arrow slits or some such if we needed to."
"It was more a fort on the inside not the outside, it over looks a great drop down to the water level and into the world wound." Eterrius says.
"I see. So more of a safe house than a fort? Good then. Here's what my plan would be. Me and my lads...n' lass...we go in through the front door. Clear the place out room by room. Keep a force in reserve to hold the door and the window. Make sure nay anyone gets out. We go through methodically, knowing that if things get too hairy we have a place to retreat to. And if we do as well as I hope we will, some of the cultists will seek to flee. Right into the force that we put in the entrance. Won't even need too many, so long as we are holding a choke point. Though there should be at least one skilled veteran there. Should one of the cult leaders try to flee, we'd want to be able to catch or kill him. And with fookers like these, I could easily see them throwing their underlings at us to keep us busy while they try to get out. Ye know, Sir Eterrius, that may be a good position for ye. Hold the door to catch the main fookers while they skedaddle, while we tear apart their chaff. "
"How about walking behind a hail of arrows, Khaz? We get a few supporters to lob a few waves of arrows ahead of us and advance under that cover fire, then cut our way inside and see what we can see. We penetrate as deeply as we can and take out as many as possible."
"If we could find a way to scare up a knock spell, getting the front door open would be trivial."
"Covering fire will be good, as long as we can get sight lines." Firinn adds. "Anything outside the building at least. Sir Etterius, Khax speaks good sense, will you hold the door - make sure no-one gets out if we drive them towards you?"
"Is it just me, or does taking the route they expect seem like a bad idea to anyone else? I mean, just because it is the only route when you think inside the box doesn't mean it is the only choice, right? Can we came at them from a different side and use a grapple and rope to get on top of the building, and then go in through the roof instead?"
"I do not have any arcane way of melting through the ceiling, if that is what you are asking," Jocasta says wryly.
"Well, what is it made of? Even the best castles usually have wooden or shingled roofs. Those built to withstand sieges have shingles to keep flaming projectiles from lighting the roof on fire. Those that don't expect that kind of siege are normally just wooden, because it is so much easier to both build and maintain. Shingles can be removed. Wood can be cut."
”Dwarves covered in steel can fall like an avalanche...it’s not a bad idea. But it’s on that worries me.”
"There is a mage in the basement, along with a few smiths that wandered here the day before you did. You could ask him Jocasta if you wish he may have some spells he is willing to trade." Irabeth, "We can keep any reinforcements from arriving to assist but I cannot devote troops to helping inside or holding the door for an extended period of time. Once inside you could lock yourselves in possibly."
Eterrius nods his approval. "I am sworn to Nestrin, if he stays here I will stay with him and protect the innocents left at this building."
"Even if the mage has spells that I can use, I have no resources for copying them."
After a restless and interrupted night of sleep, Lorena hasn't really been paying attention to what's going on - she doesn't really even notice Jocasta calling out as she descends in the morning in a bit of a daze. She doesn't have much to add during the meeting anyways, not having much experience in assaulting fortified buildings. When Jocasta mentions not having enough resources, though, Lorena perks up. "The rest of us all have quite a bit of money left from what we scavenged before we got here. We can help if you need it - just pay us back later, or maybe save our lives a few times." She flashes a sleepy grin at the mage.