Lief watches as Allarnon heaves. "Yes, it was quite obvious this whole time, wasn't it, Kaylayne. Why I ever thought to press the matter... Please, tell us more of the Banshee. How are the two of you related, again?"
"Had to prove 'im right, did ya?" Ederin says with a smirk.
He was a little surprised by the transformation, but mostly intrigued, and as he'd had his own doubts back in the chamber, it was good to know what they were actually dealing with.
He lets the rest of the group cope with Quill's true form, however the need to, while he melts his ghost salt blanches over a number of arrows, stripping them of whatever blanch they'd had previously.
He tries to answer Dimitrio as best he can.
"I ain't so sure what we can do against the banshee. If what Quill says is right, we ain't gonna be able to sneak up on it, and it sounds like all that moaning it does might be able to kill a man, so I ain't planning on gettin' close, but you and Al might not 'ave a choice." He reaches over and ruffles the fur on Tarkir's back. "And Al, you might not want to send our friend in at all. Lost him once, almost twice now. Might be best to keep him away from somethin' 'at can scream you to death, yeah?"
As he talk he finds himself distracted. He keeps eyeing Quill and wondering what it's like to lay with a winged woman. He shakes off his thoughts whenever he can and tries to keep focused on the situation at hand. "Anyone got any bright ideas, or some helpful magic?"
He tries to answer Dimitrio as best he can.
"I ain't so sure what we can do against the banshee. If what Quill says is right, we ain't gonna be able to sneak up on it, and it sounds like all that moaning it does might be able to kill a man, so I ain't planning on gettin' close, but you and Al might not 'ave a choice." He reaches over and ruffles the fur on Tarkir's back. "And Al, you might not want to send our friend in at all. Lost him once, almost twice now. Might be best to keep him away from somethin' 'at can scream you to death, yeah?"As he talk he finds himself distracted. He keeps eyeing Quill and wondering what it's like to lay with a winged woman. He shakes off his thoughts whenever he can and tries to keep focused on the situation at hand. "Anyone got any bright ideas, or some helpful magic?"
"Not looking forward to dealing with this ghost. I can make my rapier hurt it but I have nothing against their wail. The only thing I know is to interrupt her wailing and hope for the best."
He looked around, "Anyone else got any bright ideas."
And then turned to the demon, "Can you counteract her wailing?"
Allarnon's jaw drops as Quilindra drops her mirage and shows her true form.
"I..I...I dont even.... WHAT THE HELL!" He grows angry and quickly gets even sicker realizing he had actually just kissed the demon.
Bending over his stomach heaves and releases onto the floor. He looks defeated and his world crushed.
"I trusted and defended you!"
"Oh deary." Quilindra begins. She crosses over to Allarnon and nearly caresses his shoulder lovingly, but pulls back at the last moment. "You did defend me, and well you should have. I am quite lovely am I not? I was imprisoned, was I not? There are many reasons why you should trust and defend me."
"But alas, I am no innocent." she shrugs and turns back to the group.
He looked around, "Anyone else got any bright ideas."
And then turned to the demon, "Can you counteract her wailing?"
"Well I have hopes that my speech will counteract her wail, but there's no guarantee - you can still fail. Also, you must stay close to me," she smiles at Allarnon, "and I won't be able to do anything else while I protect us. You'll have to fight her without my help save that."
"If she begins her wail, you must stop her. Although she is incorporeal, so she may simply wail in a wall, and you won't be able to harm her short of destroying the wall" she gauges Dimitrio's muscles and smiles, "Though that may yet be possible."
"Yes, it was quite obvious this whole time, wasn't it, Kaylayne? "
"Yes, yes, it was...because we were explicitly told that. Verbally. Aloud," Kaylayne replies, barely looking up from her work and wondering if Lief can find another nugget of obviousness: like how pointless his actions were.
"Can you counteract her wailing?"
Kaylayne gives Dimitrio an angry look. Kaylayne cuts short. "You meant the banshee..."
Kaylayne clamps her mouth shut and thinks.
"We need a field of silence, a way to shut up annoyances," Kaylayne's eyes flicker to Lief...but she also might be speaking of the banshee.
Lief does retreat backwards, as Quilindra shows her true form, and they can finally put the issue to rest. He doesn't look outwardly pleased with himself, because, inwardly, he is not. He quietly despairs that his associates succumb so easily.
With the matter resolved, and with eyes opened, Lief turns his mind to thoughts of upcoming perils.
"Why can't we simply plug our ears against the banshee's wail? We know where we'll have to do so. As for the creature's weakness to sunlight, is there magic we can tap in order to bring sunlight along with us, and stifle the thing's attacks from the get-go?"
"OK, OK, so I’m a demon. Curiously that doesn’t seem to bother you, so let’s proceed.”
"You know nothing of what bothers me, Quilindra, so instead, you should simply ask. We humans tend to be more truthful in our replies, especially when we care to speak our minds. Why do you care to accompany us to Thorn's End? Why not draw us a map, give us the gate keys, and part ways here? My angst against your nature has been apparent from the start, was it not? Surely, you must be assuming that we'll kill you once we've benefited enough from your company."
As Kaylayne wails on, Lief turns to address her. "If you were willing to leave your friends in ignorance of Quilindra's true nature, that's on you. If you wanted company in ignorance, you should have asked them first."
"Why can't we simply plug our ears against the banshee's wail? We know where we'll have to do so. As for the creature's weakness to sunlight, is there magic we can tap in order to bring sunlight along with us, and stifle the thing's attacks from the get-go?"
"You know nothing of what bothers me, Quilindra, so instead, you should simply ask. We humans tend to be more truthful in our replies, especially when we care to speak our minds. Why do you care to accompany us to Thorn's End? Why not draw us a map, give us the gate keys, and part ways here? My angst against your nature has been apparent from the start, was it not? Surely, you must be assuming that we'll kill you once we've benefited enough from your company."
Quilindra considers the party a moment and wonders if they are indeed capable of working together. She seems to make a decision and says, "Oh, I'm fine if you don't want me along. My goal is the same as yours, but if I cause you some discomfort, by all means, face the Banshee and demons on your own."
”I have already told you how to get there - excepting the direction after the last gate. This gate to the Icegate. Icegate to the Lichgate, Lichgate to the Tanglegate, then north through the demons, about three miles, and there’s no trail I’m afraid. Rough going. Happy to skip it.” She holds out a hand to Lief, within which are a small handful of minor gemstones.
|
Allarnon clears his head enough to think. "No matter how much we don't like it Lief. We do need her help." Allarnon has a small shudder move its way across his body as he thinks about kissing demon again. Oh how he regrets this entire day.
"There is no way we will make it through all that without her."
"No matter how much we don't like it, Lief, we do need her help. There is no way we will make it through all that without her."
Lief looks to Allarnon, and refrains from addressing the demon. "Yes, this is not something easy, and she has power that lends itself to our mission. Do not underestimate yourself, Allarnon. She is not the linchpin. The keystone, if you will. We are not solely dependent on her, I want that much to be clear, here. I'll not turn her away, but I'll not feign comfort in her company, either. Surely she must be used to that." He doesn't bother addressing her, directly.
"Alright, alright. We don't always 'ave to argue over everythin' do we?" Ed raises his hands in the air frustrated by damn near everything and sighs audibly.
"I ain't gonna turn down Quill's help, we knew what we were gettin' into, right? Queen told us we could go home, or step through the curtain an' meet a succubus. We all made the choice, like it or not."
"Kay wants time to work, I don't wanna sit 'round here, but it looks like we ain't got much choice 'cause she's gonna do it, one way or the other. Instead o' fightin' each other, we could be planin', or at least enjoyin' a bit of a break."
Having done his best to diffuse the situation, Ederin washes his hands of whatever comes next. He'll spend his time stalking the area and keeping his guard up. Never without his bow, he keeps an eye on all horizons to make sure that the elves they ran from don't appear any time soon.
"If you were willing to leave your friends in ignorance of Quilindra's true nature, that's on you. If you wanted company in ignorance, you should have asked them first."
Kaylayne looks at Lief.
"We weren't ignorant. We were told. We knew," Kaylayne reminds Lief of the truth of the matter. "And you've allowed her ruse to sow all this chaos amongst us."
Kaylayne shakes her head at the youth, shrugs, and gets back to her work.
"Now, we should get focused on how to bypass the banshee. We have some time to prepare as my magics set."
"Alright, alright. We don't always 'ave to argue over everythin' do we?"
Lief slowly nods. "No, we do not." Lief gathers his things, and trots out alongside Ederin, joining him on patrol, in order to avoid exchanging words with the she-demon.
...
"Ederin, we're going to be pursued, surely. But by whom? Will we be able to recognize one group of elves from another? Can you cover our tracks thoroughly enough to avoid confrontation altogether?"
"There is no way we will make it through all that without her."
I'll not turn her away..."
"I ain't gonna turn down Quill's help..."
Quilindra closes her hand on the gems and smiles sweetly.
The party spends an uneasy two days in the elven camp while Kaylayne prepares the finishing touches on the amulet. The elves find it a little odd that you’re lingering here so long, but aside from the occasional invitation to join them at meals to be sociable, they leave you alone and respect your camp.
Dawn rises sluggishly on the morning of Moonday, 26 Lamashan, 4709 and rain is clearly threatening. A good day to leave Galt as the clouds look thunder-rich and lightning prone.
Quilindra reminds, ”The next gate is the Icegate guarded by the Snowcaster Sentries. We should move quickly from there to the next gate - the Lichgate. If we’re lucky, we can flee again through the gate before the Banshee notices us, but it takes at least a minute for the gates to ‘warm up’ or whatever they do so be careful. The gate after that is the Tanglegate in southern Kyonin near our destination.”
She languidly stretches out and, confident in her gear, is ready to proceed. You’ll walk back into the complex, chat briefly with the friendly elves about the weather, and head toward the gate. You wait a moment or two as it’s in use presently, but you’re shortly up and the gate is made ready for you. A few guards stand nearby, lazily watching you, and the gate, for any trouble.
As before, Quilindra will open the gate, and enter last - though you all go through more or less at the same time unless any of you specifically delay . Any last minute preparations before she opens the gate?
Dimitrio breathed out; he really wanted to convey the ability to hurt incorporeal creatures to his blade but his power over that was of a relative short duration. He decided to wait. He needed to make that count against the banshee.
He did however, make his form shift and sway, making him more difficult to target.
With that and his rapier in hand, he nodded that he was ready.
----------
Kaylayne finds the wear and tear of travel and work on Allarnon's amulet leaves her sweaty and grimy. She bemoans the dirt on her face and the loss of her clean elven-tended hygiene even as she prepares for the grim task of the banshee to come.
"Quill, about how long did you say we'd been in the IceGate area? About how far from IceGate to LichGate?" Kaylayne asks, trying to get all the details straight in her mind.
On the day of departure (after Kaylayne has presented Allarnon with his newly be-magicked amulet), Kaylayne will prepare a somewhat different spell list for the travels.
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Over the course of the two days Allarnon searches around for any large quantities of granite or diamond dust he could purchase.
Allarnon grasps the amulet and places it around his neck. "Thanks."
Nodding that he is ready to depart and depending how long the group was in Lichgate Allarnon casts Barkskin on himself and Tarkir. Allarnon saves a bit more of his energy for as they come closer to the Banshee.
"Quill, about how long did you say we'd been in the IceGate area? About how far from IceGate to LichGate?" Kaylayne asks, trying to get all the details straight in her mind.
"Well, like I just said, the gates take a minute to warm up, so we'll be in the IceGate area a minute, if all goes well."
"Its many thousands of miles between the two gates, but what does it matter? The auidara take us there instantly!"
Lief decides that the first Gate's passage should prove tense, but uneventful, with Snowcasters hopefully being creatures that can be engaged in conversation. The Lichgate, he reserves judgment, so will wait until they're ready to enter it, in order to prepare more.
"Quilindra, do you know what language the Snowcasters speak? Do they speak Common?"
"Quilindra, do you know what language the Snowcasters speak? Do they speak Common?"
"Elvish certainly, but beyond that I can't say for sure." she admits.
He thinks a moment and shrugs, ”We haven’t had any trouble here for some time, but of course we’re a busy route so yeah, lots of visitors. Galt’s about as stable as one can expect just now, but of course that could change. Still, we keep a weather eye on the country, and things are OK just now. You should be safe if you should chose to venture forth. We’re a few hours from Isarn, the capital, if you should wish to venture forth tomorrow.”
Kaylayne thinks about words that the elf spoke earlier...about a capital nearby and some stability within Galt.
"You know, we still have time to go make purchases in the Capital, if any of you can think of something that might help us with the Banshee. Do we have enough ghost salt, Ederin? Lief, do you have some way to help with the ghost? Maybe we should get ear plugs, I dunno."
"You know, we still have time to go make purchases in the Capital, if any of you can think of something that might help us with the Banshee. Do we have enough ghost salt, Ederin? Lief, do you have some way to help with the ghost? Maybe we should get ear plugs, I dunno."
Dimitrio nodded, "Excellent idea. Anything to help my chances of not hearing the banshee's wailing."
He then asked, "I plan to be up front and center if needed, what can I get to help me from being touched?"
" Do we have enough ghost salt, Ederin?"
"Well, I had enough for 'bout thirty arrows, ain't any more o' the blanch left though. Was I supposed to be keepin' some?"
Ederin looks at Kay and shrugs. "I figure if thirty arrows ain't gonna kill somethin', we're probably dead anyway."
The small man doesn't have much prep for the travel through the gate. He keeps his bow ready and moves to go through the gate as soon as it's open, hoping to get this over with sooner, rather than later.
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"Earplugs are a good idea." While Allarnon is out purchasing a small stone (250 gp worth) of granite he drops a silver piece down as well and gets enough earplugs for everyone, to include the Succubus.
Just at the portal Allarnon passes out the earplugs to everyone.
"I am ready now." As everyone is ready Allarnon will step through the gate.
Quilindra laughs lightly, "The Banshee's wail goes right through you - earplugs won't help. It overcomes spells... a little wax won't stop it. But it was good thinking. It helps with harpies, and lesser creatures of that nature."
"If we're ready..." she smiles and opens the gate.
You pass through the gate and are immediately struck by the cold!
The Icegate itself is a pale arch no more than nine feet tall carved in the side of a stony outcropping at the edge of a small copse of pine trees.The arch looks out over a small lake that remains frozen year round, and snowfall is generally quite heavy in the region. It is in fact snowing now and whipping your faces and exposed flesh as the wind seems to pick up just as you pass through the archway.
You are adversely effected by the cold and must immediately make Fortitude DC 15 saves or suffer points of nonlethal damage. If you take damage, you are considered fatigued until you can warm up. Survival checks, cold weather gear, and any number of spells can remove or mitigate this save, but if you take the damage you cannot avoid the fatigue until you warm up again (even if the damage is healed).
Quilindra seems unaffected by the cold, though she’s not wearing particularly warm gear.
Through the flurrying slow, you see a group of four elven fighters is stationed 30 feet downhill from the portal, while another group of four stands watch atop the outcropping. It only takes a few seconds for the eight elves to move into position, after which one of them cries out to you in strangely accented Common, “You there! Lower your weapons and cast no spells! Hands where we can see them! Give us no cause to attack, and you can go in peace.”
Quilindra murmur’s quietly, ”You’ve got this, I have faith in you.” and smiles warmly at the group.
Dimitrio shivered and started praying for the gate to energize again so they could leave here.
He made no outward aggressive movements and spoke in common, "It's OK, We are only passing through. Only here enough for the gate to open up again. You'll never see us again. Really."
Before going through, Kaylayne casts a few preparatory spells: Extended Heroism (on Kaylayne), Resist Cold, Fire Seeds, Barkskin, & Produce Flame. On Tarkir, she additionally casts Magic Circle against Evil.
Kaylayne offers the wand of False Life around after she uses it for those that can unlock its magic. False Life
* * *
Kaylayne braces for the cold as she steps through, but her teeth still chatter as she adjusts. As such, she is in no mood for the negative greeting from the elves (but maybe they are just grumpy from being stationed in the cold).
Kaylayne bites back an angry retort, hoping the others can do the same. She sighs, keeping her motions non threatening though she is irritated.
"Yeah, we're just passing through. We have a ways to go and no quarrel with you," Kaylayne offers with a chattering smile.
Diplomacy
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The frigid air whips across Allarnon and Tarkir's fur, though their thick skin seems to protect them from the cold harsh elements. The freshly fallen snow clings to his fur as the elves approach.
Allarnon decides to stay quiet as he has little clue on how these elves will perceive a talking bear and let's the others speak their case.
Allarnon-Bear Form
AC Bear: (AC 28) [+5 Armor; +1 Dex; +4 Natural; +3 Deflection; +1 Dodge; +4 Enhance Barkskin; -2 Rage (+1 additional Dodge when raging); +1 dodge haste]
AC Human: (AC 25) [+5 Armor; +2 Dex; +3 Deflection; +1 Dodge; +4 Enhance Barkskin; -2 Rage (+1 additional Dodge when raging)]
HP: 137/137; +0 Temp HP; -DR (0 remaining)
Buffs: Rage 17/17)
Tarkir
AC: (AC 34) [+4 Armor; +3 Dex; +9 Natural; +4 Enhance Barkskin; +2 Deflection PfE; +2 Magic Vestment; +1 dodge haste]
HP: 64/64
Buffs: Greater Magic Fang; Magic Circle of Protection from Evil
Two of the sentries downhill from the aiudara stand up and approach to about ten feet. They warn you, ”We won’t hesitate to open fire if you try anything rash.” as they approach.
”Why are you here?” one of them demands.
"We are travelling. This is a Gate that facilitates our travel, so we are using it to continue on. Why are you here? It's awfully cold. Not very hospitable, to those not prepared for this terrain."
"Yeah, it is cold here. Let's get on before I freeze," Kaylayne agrees. "How long before the gate is ready again?" Kaylayne asks the elves as if expecting a polite answer to a polite question.
Diplomacy
"We are travelling. This is a Gate that facilitates our travel, so we are using it to continue on. Why are you here? It's awfully cold. Not very hospitable, to those not prepared for this terrain."
"Traveling eh? OK then. Please pay the 200gp travelers tax and you may be on your way. We guard this gate, and the toll must be paid for its upkeep."
They relax slightly, but they're still tense.
The wind seems to whip even more brusquely as you stand freezing in the flurrying snow.
"Yeah, it is cold here. Let's get on before I freeze," Kaylayne agrees. "How long before the gate is ready again?" Kaylayne asks the elves as if expecting a polite answer to a polite question.
Another elf answers simply, "If you have your key ready, just a moment or two."
Another elf answers simply, "If you have your key ready, just a moment or two."
"Great. While we have this moments between us, maybe you can remind us what lies beyond this gate? And have you had any other visitors pass through this way recently?" Kaylayne asks, counting out coins...she holds out in readiness to add to the sack should good information be provided.
Diplomacy
The guard takes 200gp, not a silver more or less. He gives a dour look to Kaylayne, "We do not gossip. Your gate should be opening soon. I suggest you use it."
The elves fall back to their prior positions, some distance from you in their icy vigil.
The gate swirls, and opens. Quilindra gestures for the party to enter, and follows behind already getting out the gemstone for the following gate.
You at last step through the gate leaving the frigid wind behind you and find your enclosed in a large chamber, part way underground. You’re in a circular room, with a large step up in two directions (north and south) and a step down to the west. Behind you, to the east, is the still roiling gate, surrounded by a plain marble arch. The gate closes with a hiss and you find yourselves in an erie quiet.
It’s also quite dark where you are, but (if it’s not already out) I’m sure a light source or two will be easily procured. You find the chambers quite beautiful, and elven crafted. You’re clearly in a large building. In your immediate vicinity you can see some debris, and the dead body, well skeleton really, of an elf - long since gone from this world.
- - -
Ignoring the body, Kaylayne focuses on the terrors she's been told to expect before her...the banshee. Even though they may not help, she puts in the earplugs that Allarnon bought for her.
She moves to the left, hoping her good vision will help her see any threats before they get too close.
"Quillandra, where is the other gate? I don't suppose we can run for it?" Kaylayne asks, knowing what the answer is.
Perception (-5 for noise based perception)
Ederin steps through the gate as soon as it's ready, eager to leave the cold behind. He'd made it a point to keep his mouth shut during the tense engagement with the elves, though had he tried to say anything it would have been through chattering teeth.
Once in the circular room, Ederin lights up the sword at his side, and scans the area. Seeing Kay move to the left, Ederin takes a few steps into the right side room, looking for anything that may cause them harm.
The ceilings are a good 15' up. The gate is closing, but has not yet closed if you wish to charge back through. However, it must close before you can open the next one.
Once closed, it'll be a minute to reopen to the TangleGate. Quilindra is planning to close the gate this immediately after stepping through, but you could have said otherwise if you wish. Let me know.
Neither Kaylayne nor Ederin hear or see anything of particular note at this time.
Quilindra steps through the gate and immediately begins telling stories of the grandeur of the party, and it's abilities to overcome any elf - living or dead.
Dimitrio starts to also add his voice to the heroic poem but his energy is going towards his blade, which shimmered with energy.
He looks around, expecting to see the banshee at any moment.
-------------
HP 91/91
AC 28, touch 17, flat-footed 22
10 +4(DEX) +1(belt of DEX +2) +6(chainshirt+2) +2 (buckler+2) +2(ring of prot) +1 (dodge)
Conditions:blur, bardic performance (ghost touch to sword)
Melee (rapier+3): +20/+15 = +9(base) +4(dex) +1(belt of dex +2) +3 (magic) +1(weapon focus)+1(swashbuckler specialization)
Melee Damage (rapier+3, arcane strike, panache): 1d6+18 = +3(weapon) +4 (dex) +1(belt of dex +2) +2 (arcane strike) +5 (precise strike)+2 (specialization) +1(swashbuckler specialization), 15-20, x2
5/5 daggers, 5/5 panache, 3/3 charmed life, 21/22 bardic performance, 5/5 1st level, 3/4 2nd level spells, 1/1 arcane bond spell, ring of fire 5/5
"This must be it. Ederin, Dimitrio, Lief, if you come near me, I can protect you from the banshee's touch...but you *must* stay close to me," Kaylayne says, uttering works of spiritual protection.
Kaylayne waits, her feet 5' off the floor for others to move forward or sideways.
"Quillindra, come this way."
Lief takes a good look and listen, himself a mixture of both intense interest and profound fear. This singular Banshee, should it appear, will be a new form of study, to say the least.
"'A banshee is the enraged spirit of an elven woman who either betrayed those she loved or was herself betrayed. Maddened by grief, a banshee visits her vengeance on all living creatures—innocent or guilty—with her fearsome touch and deadly wails.' Shall we check the body, then? If it's an elven woman, we may have some idea of the banshee's origin."
Lief suggests checking the body, but doesn't stray from Kay's specified distance.
"I'm trying not to think about where she might be. Quilindra, can you open the gate yet? Isn't it about time the gate should be ready?"
The party perceives nothing untoward, as yet. Quilindra looks distressed as seconds turn to rounds, and nothing has happened.
Eventually, after a few rounds of chanting, she slows, and stops. She looks at the gate, still broiling away, and shrugs.
"The gate's not closing. Something's wrong. I can't open the new gate until this one closes, and this one's not closing."
She, tentatively, tries to step back through to the IceGate, and is rebuffed... She steps through the portal to the back side, but remains here.
"The gate is receiving only. It won't send." she looks at the group. "Until we can discover what's broken it, we can't leave via this method. We're stuck in Ustalov for the moment." she looks around warily at the shadows...
"The gate is receiving only. It won't send." she looks at the group. "Until we can discover what's broken it, we can't leave via this method. We're stuck in Ustalov for the moment."
Kaylayne gives the demon a look, then glances at the slowly closing gate.
"Yes, how convenient," Kaylayne grumps, not sure she believes the demon despite the evidence for her own eyes to see.
"Well, let's look around then," Kaylayne says, moving forward. '"As a reminder, Lief, Dimi, Ederin...I can't protect you if you don't stay with me."
Kaylayne moves up to look around again.
Perception (-5 vs. noise based)
Dimitrio shook his head, "S&#*. Can't a guy just get a break?"
He breathes out, "Ok lo--, OK let's figure this out and not get flustered about it."
The bard starts looking around to see if anything makes sense.
----------
Quilindra pockets the sapphire she has for the next gate and moves along with Kaylayne, staying in the radius of protection.
The party splits up and begins searching the area. It’s immediately clear nothing living has been here for some time. The structure consists of a series of stone domes, crafted by humans from the look of it in a Ustalov style, but used by a contingent of elves clearly enough - and they seemed to take some pains to beautify their surroundings, but from the looks of the few areas where scrollwork can be found, they were not stationed here long. Well, long in elven terms. Probably decades.
Now however, the dust and detritus of a dozen or two years lies at your feet according to Ederin’s tracking . However long it’s been though, the end was bloody and quick. From the looks of things near the gate, a contingent of elves came through the gate and were met with a contingent of elves in the structure. The two fought, though it’s hard to know who struck first from the remaining bodies.
As you reach the entrance, there’s a larger pile of bodies. Some elven, some Ustalovian human, some local fauna who just got too close. These bodies don’t have the injuries the others have, and if you had to guess, you’d say they were killed by the banshee, or some other dark force, rather than sword and bow. The bodies are absolutely shredded, though some of them look to have been mutilated after death. Some of these bodies are fresher, but still nothing less than a dozen years old.
Also near the entrance in the southern tower is one particular skeleton, slumped down against the wall, a cold iron longsword still lodged between exposed ribs. ”Elledariah!” exclaims Quilindra in surprise as she sees the body. She quickly recovers and moves on to the next chamber and tries to pass it off as an exclamation in demon, meaning nothing.
Kaylayne grouses as the banshee fails to appear, growing somewhat more sour as nothing happens.
"My magics won't last too long," Kaylayne says to those near her. "It was not intended for long use...nor a game of hide and banseek."
Kaylayne looks around, still with earplugs in...uh,...ear. "Well, might be something magical among these bones that is stopping the gate. Maybe."
Kaylayne casts Detect Magic and begins a slow search for all the magics in and around the bodies. She'll grab everything, but is mostly looking for things with strong enough auras to affect the gate.
Lief encourages Kaylayne to approach the skeleton that got a response from the succubus.
Lief looks at Kay and Ederin, pressing them with his look to press the succubus for more information. Information about an elf named Elledariah. An elf that the succubus- a demon, an infiltrator, a betrayer- had been familiar with in another time. He is not hopeful, but he holds his tongue, nonetheless, waiting for something, anything from the two less beguiled of his crew.
Also near the entrance in the southern tower is one particular skeleton, slumped down against the wall, a cold iron longsword still lodged between exposed ribs. ”Elledariah!” exclaims Quilindra in surprise as she sees the body. She quickly recovers and moves...
The bard gets close to the demoness, "Quilindra, what do you know of this corpse? Anything and everything could be helpful here?"
He pointed at the cold iron sword, "Was this a demon that had to be killed with cold iron?"
Kaylayne does indeed see magics, many magics in fact. The body is covered with them. It takes a few moments to sort them out and identify them, but when she does she finds, +3 moderate fortification elven chain, +2 cold iron speed longsword, ring of protection +3 and a belt of constitution +4. She sees the glint of magic from some of the other bodies as well, throughout the complex. Eventually you’ll recover a +1 large steel shield, potion of eagles splendor, potion of cure moderate wounds, +2 elven chainmail, +1 improved silent moves mithral shirt, wand of fireballs (CL 8, 21 charges), a +2 cold iron evil outsider bane bastard sword, and Lief will find 2,220 in loose change and other valuable gear.
The bard gets close to the demoness, "Quilindra, what do you know of this corpse? Anything and everything could be helpful here?"
He pointed at the cold iron sword, "Was this a demon that had to be killed with cold iron?"
Quilindra can’t help herself grinning as she looks down on the corpse. ”Just an old story really. But I think this is the banshee’s body. Look how the hand is holding the blade - this is self inflicted.” she points out that the dead woman eviscerated herself.