Tippy waves back the others as he steps out to within thirty feet of the nearest crossbowman.
”I’m going to need more than merciful treatment if I’m to bow down to you. Maybe, 300 gold pieces, or some fancy jewels. That should be enough. Got any of those?”
Sarela steps out of the stable, though staying back a bit, and fixes the priestess with a look. "I am Sarela Falrin, priestess of Iomedae, soldier of Mendev. The church of Razmir has no authority within this country, and has no right to impede either us or a delegation sent to treat with us. I order you to step aside in the name of Queen Galfrey of Mendev and the Inheritor, or else to face the judgement of both."
Windi Makes her entrance walking out into the courtyard. She tries to remember what is known of the Razamiran religion. "It has been a long night and I for one do not wish to prolong it. We have been tasked to do a job and now we are leaving. As Sarela has said we would rather you step aside, but if it is necessary for us to go through you we will. For we are leaving." Windi takes a step forward but makes no move to draw he sword or raise her shield.
Jericho leaves the diplomacy to the rest of the party, as he steps out with the party gripping his bastard sword in both hands, measuring the distance to the closest assailant, as he approaches!
One of the thugs cries out, "The halfling draws weapons, they lie!" Ahendile cries out, "Kill them all!"
Round 1: Thugs!
Both thugs aims their quarrels, the first at Jericho, the second at Tippy! The thug is nervous as the muscular half-elf approaches with sword in hand and misses wildly. The second's aim is true and the quarrel punctures the halfling's chest, nearly dropping him!
Tippy reels from the bolt, but isn’t going down without a fight. He takes a 5-foot step forward Readies an action to hurl a dagger at Ahendile should she cast a spell, trying to disrupt it. Then he takes a free action to drop prone, clutching his wound.
”Iomedae, bless these crusaders that we can escort our allies to safety.”
Sarela casts a spell, imparting the blessing of Iomedae upon the group.
Jericho moves up and attacks the thug who shot at him!
Windi charges forward "We will be leaving," She yells as her Scimitar comes up and then slashes down at the other thug who struck Tippy.
Jericho and Windi move up and skillfully drive their blades into the bodyguards' chest, taking them down in one fell move each!
Round 1: Ahendile
Seeing her bodyguards drop, Ahendile starts casting magic, when Tippy's dagger buries itself in her shoulder! The spell fizzles as the pain overwhelms her..
Realizing the danger before her, she moves 30' north from the party in fear, trying to escape!
”I’m okay,” Tippy mutters to the others, loudly enough for them to hear, but hopefully quietly enough that their foe does not.
”Just taking a nap.”
With both bodyguards down and the woman fleeing, Sarela runs forward to Tippy and kneels down, looking him over.
"That bolt looks pretty well embedded. You aren't going to be up for any kind of pursit. Windi, Jericho, if you can, stop her so she can face justice, but otherwise let her go."
"Ow."
Windi Charges at the woman "You're not getting away that easily!" She shouts as she tries to tackle the fleeing woman.
Jericho double moves 12 squares and moves in front of the fleeing spellcaster. If she is not grappled, he provokes AoO. "Surrender or die!"
Windi runs up from behind and tries to grab Ahendile, but she slashes at him with the dagger in her hand!
Jericho runs around her to surround her and sensing menace in his voice, Ahendile drops the dagger and falls to her knees in surrender, though she remains steadfastly silent in response to all your questions.
Tippy works himself into a sitting position against one of the buildings. He patiently allows Sarela to fuss over his new crossbow bolt.
"I wish we had more in the way of bandages. Windi, if you need it, I have rope. We'll tie her up and turn her over to the authorities in Kenabres."
Sarela will pick up a stick, give it to Tippy and say, "Bite down on this."
She then carefully extracts the Crossbow bolt and uses scraps of fabric from the downed crossbowmen to bind the wound.
That done, she wipes her brow and says, "Magical healing will have to wait until the morrow, when my abilities replenish."
”Aargh! You have the healing touch of a Calistrian!!” he spits immediately after the bolt is removed.
As she wipes down the wound and binds it, however, his breathing rate slows. ”I’m sorry. That was unkind and not true. You did great. Thanks.”
Windi throws the woman to the ground and points her scimitar at her throat.
"Just give me a reason she snarls," and the fire in her eyes burns with the light of Saranrae. "Someone tie the scum up. Sir Ilivan my want to have a word with her,"
Windi rips of the woman's mask and tosses it disdainfully to the ground and then proceeds to riffle through he cloths looking for any concealed weapons. As can be expected she does it in a brusk manner, not caring if she leaves a bruise or two so long as she doesn't leave behind any means for the woman to escape.
Sarela snorts. "I thought you tougher than that, Tippy. Besides, better a little pain now than trying to sleep with a crossbow bolt in your shoulder. You are quite welcome."
Sarela will then retrieve her rope from her pack and hand it to Jericho so he can tie the woman up.
You bind Adenhile with the rope and you can easily relieve her of her belongings. You find on her the following:
Potion detects as magical
MW dagger
Wand detects as magical
113 gp
Sarela says of the magic items, "We'll have to have someone take a look at these when we return to Kenabres - until then, we'll just carry them."
"Tippy, this looks like something that may interest you," She says unceremoniously tossing the dagger his way. "Make sure to gather anything you can carry, I don't want to leave behind any weapons for our enemies." she adds mounting her horse with the cultist tossed across the back like a sack of grain.
”Nice workmanship, but too big for my hands. A weapon smith might make the trade though.”
Jericho looks in disgust at the priestess, "Too bad, you surrendered. I really wanted to cut you in two, you damn zealot!" Jericho ties her with rope. He looks at the party, "It's the middle of the night. What are we going to do? Sleep at the old ladies' inn....with a dagger at our bedside?" Jericho snorts in derision, as it is past midnight.
”Is it really likely that the ladies aren’t a part of all this?”
"We escort the Dwarves and our prisoner away from the inn - an hour or two, at most. Then, we rest, keeping watch, until morning, at which point we'll continue to Kenabres. I cannot trust staying here."
"I agree with Sarela. Let's camp off road. We have two prisoners, if we include the mute. I'll find us a nice secure spot."
Fearful of three little old ladies (wink), the party camps a few miles down the road. Jericho takes 10 and finds a semi-defensible shelter where you rest until morning with your prisoners, taking watches. The next morning, feeling refreshed you head back home with the dwarves and the two prisoners.
In the morning, Rakus addresses the party, "We are grateful that you saved us and all, but I can't helps wondering why you keeping that piece of refuse alive? Is your city not at constant war with the forces of the Abyss and that piece of garbage took advantage of the situation and killed yer men and tortured me and my brothers! Why in the nine hells are ya bringin' her back to yer city for human justice and courts and what not? Have her kneel and pass me my axe and I'll show you true dwarven justice! After all, we are the injured party in this matter. Should we not have the right to pass justice on the evil priest's fate?"
Jericho chimes in, "Respectfully, while I have no issues taking out evil in combat and on the battlefield, the woman has been thwarted and captured and she surrendered. She is bound and unarmed. I cannot allow you or your brothers to slay her now. She will pay for her crimes but not by your hand. Rakus, you are free to testify at her hearing."
Once they are rested, Sarela will again channel healing for the wounded.
"She did do that, but she is not in league with the demons herself - though her use of devils shows she does not support the forces of good. I understand that you wish to exact judgement for her kidnapping of you and your fellow Dwarves, but she is now a prisoner. I cannot in good conscience allow her to be executed now. She will face trial and execution for her crimes. You may testify, as will I. That is the end of it." Fixing the Razmiran with a look, she says, "However, should she attempt to escape, I have no issue with you cutting her down."
Tippy opens his mouth to speak but shuts it when the others articulate his own thoughts better and more politely than he would have managed.
"Even the most heinous can seek redemption in the eyes of Saranrae. Though I admit some are further from it than others," Windi scowls at the priestess. "As Sarela said escaping would lead to a swift death"
The dwarves are soothed by Sarela's wise words and conviction as Rakus grumbles, "Fine , fine, she will have justice your way. But if she tries to run or escape, we will cut her down and none of you will stop us." Adenhile appears terrified and stays quiet, putting her head down in fear.
Over the next day and a half, the party, fully healed, travels without incident and reaches Kenabres with the dwarven delegation and the two prisoners in tow. Upon your arrival, your presence is noted by the other guards at the city gates and Sir Ilivan of Nerosyan, clad in his heavy plate armor, wearing a red tabard typical of the Mendevian Crusaders, soon appears with a few men dressed in robes and two other armed soldiers.
He looks serious. "I was wondering what had happened to you four? I see you were able to find the dwarven delegation." He turns to the dwarves and points to the men in robes, "Lord Rakus, I presume, please go with these men who will tend to you and cure you of any wounds and make you are well taken care of during you and your brothers' stay in Kenabres." The dwarves nod their heads in appreciation to the party and depart with the clerics.
Sir Ilivan looks at the bound prisoners and two of his guards escort them to the holding cells. He then begins walking away toward the city, expecting you to follow. "Seems Lady Galfrey's idea of specialized units paid off. Please fill me in on who those prisoners are, the fate of our scouts, and any other relevant news you think I need to hear."
Sarela salutes Sir Ilivan and follows, saying, "Thank you, sir. We found the Dwarves hidden in a secret cellar beneath a stable at the Black Cougar Inn a couple days south, run by Anna, Allara, and Appara Gale. They are sisters. The man is a mute by the name of Roscoe - he was the stablehand at the inn. The woman called herself Ahendile. She is a priest of Razmir, the false god. She kidnapped the Dwarves and imprisoned them, guarding them with two lemure devils. The women at the inn said the scouts had passed by looking for the dwarves - she thought they went north, although since Ahendile attacked us, she may have done the same to them and killed them. We did not find any sign of them. Lord Rakus said that Ahendile had kidnapped them to damage relations between Mendev and the Dwarves."
Windiows the cleric to make the report and corroborates her story.
Tippy doesn’t have anything to add to that report, either.
"I concur with the report and we believe the sisters at the inn were involved in the conspiracy. They fed us a false story as to where the dwarves were really at, so they should be brought in for questioning."