Limping slightly, Jens wipes his blade clean again and moves back towards Anevia, stoically helping her forward. As Reknar leaves the woman, helping Aurica with the door, he places his hand on her shoulder, looking down at her with concern in his craggy face. "I know you have loved ones up there," he says softly. "And I'm going to make sure you get back to them." With that, he shoulders his shield and keeps watch as the others open the door.
Osric shakes his head and gathers up all his weapons. The arrows, he simply is too disgusted to try to save. He tries to look his allies in the eyes, but just can't. As they try to open the door, he drifts a few paces away and falls to his knees, head in his hands.
Why now? Why ME? Holy Inheritor, I have always answered thy call, but THIS? Even sending Kendric away was easier than THIS. I pray thou wilt bolster my faith. Grant us the strength to live through this day, and grant those we love the protection of thy sheltering hand.
Voren is too focused on the nodules to realize what Anevia is feeling. He sees her shoulders sag. But doesn't understand the meaning behind it. Ayne is too busy... being Ayne to notice as well.
However, just because he doesn't see it, doesn't mean he can't hear Jens and Reknar bring it up. Turning his head, his face saddens, the memories of the loss of Sarkoris flooding his head. He walks to her and gently places his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. He's unsure of what to say in this situation.
He stands by, watching the others open the door, having Aravashnial staying close by. He and his familiar keep an eye out for any more unexpected surprises.
However, Voren notices Jens's wounds. He walks over to him. The tiefling is obviously nervous of being around the man who's 6 inches taller. "E-excuse me. B-but, may I try to tend to your wounds?"
If this isn't enough to help, then Voren runs to Reknar. Digging through the backpack they found earlier, he takes the potion of cure light wounds. He then heads back to the Ulfen. The tie fling holds up the mint green potion and says, "Drink this. It'll help you heal."
Seeing Orsic away from the group, Voren carefully steps towards him. "Is there anything I can do to help you, Orsic?"
" Ahh, Milady. I am sorely sick of bugs. Mayhap a demon or two next?"
Flynn jests quietly to himself as he walks up to help pry open the door.
He seems oblivious to the other actions around him, focused inward in his thoughts.
Io....
"Save the pot" - Reknar nods at Voren, while straining against the door - "I told you I have a few tricks up my sleeve - lets open this, then I'll tend to Jens"
Laying a hand on the Ulfen shoulder, Reknar shrugs - "I don't know how it works, but it does" - uttering a word, the familiar tingle flows from within, through his arm, and at the man standing next to him, mending his wounds.
Anevia suddenly finds herself mobbed by a couple of concerned men, and she blinks at the sudden attention, uncomfortably stumbling back away from them. She seems almost shocked that they noticed her despondency, and tries to cover it up with an incredibly fake laugh. "I'm fine, I'm fine," the scout says with a weak smile that doesn't quite manage to erase the furrows on her forehead. "Yeah... it's just, uh... y'know, my leg's acting up a bit. Look," she says, waving vaguely at the shrine, "if this is a temple of Torag, then there's got to be a pew in there that I can sit down for a bit on. Yeah?"
Soon enough, Reknar and Flynn get to work on forcing their way into the temple, carefully watched over by the surly caretaker of all things dwarfy around here, Aurica. The bard manages to force the edge of the crowbar into the tiniest of gaps, and with Flynn silently putting his muscle on the doorway and Reknar working at the edges the door eventually breaks free of whatever ancient dust had kept it stuck for so long.
The three peer inside, awaiting the resultant cloud of dust to settle. A simple stone bench made of three slabs of smooth limestone sits along the southern wall of the chamber to your right. At the far side of the room, a basin of clear water is set into a carved stone pedestal, somehow still pristine despite the ruin. There's probably enough water left in the basin to fill two waterskins or empty flasks.
Another stone door engraved with the now-familiar warhammer of Torag leads out of this room; it too is closed, although perhaps not stuck.
Meanwhile, Horgus sidles alongside Jens, occasionally shooting Anevia a frown-mixed-with-arched-eyebrow. He can't seem to decide what look he wants to give her, it seems.
"Hey," he mutters to the Ulfen warrior, although he's not really bothering to lower his voice too much, "what do you think of her? Don't you think she's slowing us down here? Maybe it'd be better if we, y'know, split up... leave her somewhere safe, of course, but--"
Aaaand there's the straw to break the camel's back. Anevia spins around to face the chubby nobleman, her face a veritable thundercloud. Horgus eeps and ducks behind Jens' powerful frame, expecting some kind of physical retaliation from the woman it seems.
"How dare you?" she spits, voice teeming with venom. "How can you even consider saying such a thing here, of all places?"
"I'm not surprised that a man afraid to acknowledge his faith wouldn't be moved by a forgotten temple like this--that you'd just keep thinking of your own flabby hide this entire time!" Anevia narrows her eyes, the scorn simply continuing almost unbidden. "Being ashamed of your faith is as bad as worshipping demons!"
Horgus recoils at that, mouth gaping--but as quickly as he is taken aback, he recovers, countenance twisting back into a contemptuous smirk. "Oh, the sweet sweet irony of being chided on morality by one who consorts with thieves!" he shoots back, and Anevia visibly flinches as the words hit her. "I'm shocked--shocked--that Irabeth puts up with you!"
With the loaded insults flying about like daggers, Anevia falls into black, silent anger. Her eyes narrow as she turns away, forcing herself to breathe in and out slowly to regain control. Horgus snorts, feeling himself the victor in this argument. Aravashnial, leaning up against the wall nearby, merely sighs and shakes his head. "Humans can be so tempestuous..." he murmurs.
Voren can obviously tell that Anevia is lying. But, not wanting to offend her, he says, "Of course we can rest." He walks into the now open temple, fascinated by what he sees. He looks at the water in the basin.
He turns to the others. "Holy water. Enough for two flasks or waterskins. Might come in handy."
Seeing the door, he points to it and says, "That looks like our way forward. I suggest we rest before moving on. Who knows what's down there?"
Hearing the arguments, Voren frowns. He doesn't say anything to Horgus, just glaring at him, his yellow eyes glowing with even more intensity. Instead, he focuses on Anevia. He sits on the pew next to her, not saying anything. Not talking about Anevia's past nor Horgus nor religion. Just providing nearby companionship if needed. After a while, he figures he could try and get her mind off of it. He asks, "How's your leg holding up, Anevia?"
Aurica looks up swiftly at Jens's words, then gives him a slow, single nod. Truly, she doesn't think there's going to be anyone left to 'get back to', but... she supposes he means well.
Aurica shoots another glance at Anevia and her words, but most of her attention is taken up by the temple. She sketches a hammer-shape in the air with one hand on automatic as she enters and looks around the small entrance foyer.
She half-opens her mouth to argue with Voren's words about the water but... well, it's kind of hard to make even herself believe that he's somehow cursed the water. Anyway, there's plenty of other arguing happening: Aurica looks back towards Horgus and Anevia.
"You're on holy ground," she says with a frown. "....we all are," she adds on, maybe a touch guiltily. "Save it 'til after."
She steps inside the foyer and moves to the door, listening at it and looking over the stone briefly before testing the door. "Grant us entrance to your sanctuary, Earth-Father..."
Osric looks up at Voren and shakes his head slightly.
"No, I need to be with my thoughts. I know my goddess has placed me here for a reason. She isn't omnipotent, and often calls uopn her faithful to enact her will. But sometimes I wonder...how could she not see this happening? Why must things get so bad?"
Jens gently pushes Voren's hand away, refusing the potion - "Someone else might need it more" - but allows him to tend to his wounds through more mundane means. His leg and neck start to feel better once tended to, and he finds himself idly wondering if the lad's actually trustworthy.
Reknar's magic, though unexpected, is welcome - a warm smile appears in his craggy face, like ice cracking in spring, as he nods to the younger man. He decides to keep the bandages, though, not wanting Voren to feel invalidated - he assumes it's his damned fatherly instinct, given the lad's age. His mind briefly wanders to little Lucie, back up above - Alfsigr was with her last he saw. Maybe the girl was alright? Maybe Alfsigr...
He is shaken from these thoughts by Gwerm's words, and once they sink in, he rounds on the noble. The various creases in his face appear to deepen, and in his usually calm eyes flares the rage of the famed Ulfen berserkers. When he speaks, it's with thunder behind every word.
"Gwerm, I care not for your titles, nor your opinions. I was born into a land of icy summers and deadly winters, and have cheated the Lady of Graves herself more than once. When I joined the Fourth Crusade, I swore an oath to the Order of the Dragon - an oath to protect others as Terendelev herself protected Kenabres. And you would dare suggest I betray that oath by leaving another - a young woman, no less! - to die, because you feel she's slowing us down?"
He takes a deep breath, gathering his thoughts, then continues in a slightly lowered tone. "My oath prevents me from leaving you to the fate you suggested. I cannot abandon an ally, and in a situation like this, we are all allies." He speaks just loudly enough to be sure everyone hears this last. "Despite my own low opinion of you, my shield arm will keep you safe, and my sword arm will strike down those who would seek to harm you." His face twists briefly at these words, one hand reaching to his breastbone, but he stays it and turns to Aurica.
"Forgive me, Aurica. I did not mean to raise my voice within the holy walls of the Allfather."
Voren nods at the Inquisitor before saying, "Maybe this is a test of faith. Or perhaps a way to show those who worship her that her will can help in the darkest of times. But those are my own thoughts. as someone who isn't really religious. Just know that whatever happens, we're here for you."
Voren helps tend to the wounds, nodding at Reknar's help. At the decline of the potion, Voren nods and places it back into the found backpack. He sighs, "You're doing a wonderful job of helping us, Jens. I only wish that I could do more. But without my spells, I can't do much of anything. Not to mention my slumbering power can't affect mindless creatures. Which seems to be what we're mainly up against. Just my luck."
Listening to the conversations around him, Flynn slowly shakes his head and sighs.
"Osric, as you said, our Lady isn't omnipotent. She aids where she can and defends whom she is able. Just remember, there are evil forces pushing forth their agenda's as well. She empowers US so that we may effect a change for the better. To learn of and stop what evil we can. Both large and small...." He trails off at the last, a thought occurring to him. Then he nods and turns to Horgus..
"We all have urgent reasons to get back above, Horgus. I have an old man and a young child to return to. They need my help, but here I am with you. I could get back MUCH faster on my own I believe, but stay protecting you. I think you are slowing us down as much as Anevia is, so think on that for a while. Be happy that my code prevents me from leaving you behind. Your picking fights with everyone isn't helping either. If you cant be nice, at least be quiet!" Having lost patience with the noble, Flynn has decided to stop trying to be diplomatic, and will accept whatever consequences that entails.
" I feel your pain, Voren. I was trained mostly to disarm and arrest or capture my foes. Bugs aren't armed with disarm able weapons."
---------------------
Being attacked on all sides Horgus gapes wordlessly, so flustered that he seems to forget all vestiges of language. Perhaps he finally learns his lesson though, for in the end the nobleman dissolves into relative quietude, nostrils flaring as he glares at the rest of the party. "You're all fools..." he mutters bitterly, but otherwise does not press the point.
Once the blustering fool has been silenced for now, Anevia shoots a small smile Jens' way when Gwerm is not looking. "Thank you," she mouths, before giving him a wink and hobbling after the group. Aravashnial stumbles forward on the arm of someone else, while Horgus sullenly takes up the back position, lagging a few feet behind the person directly before him. Those nearby may occasionally hear another bitter grumbling from time to time, but he holds his tongue once he is closer to the temple.
Aurica hears nothing from inside, so she pushes the final stone doorway open and looks into the chamber beyond. Broken stone benches line what was once a narrow nave, bas-relief carvings in the walls depicting dwarves locked in fierce battles with demonkind. Old, yellowing bones are covered with eons of dust, and a decorative warhammer lies forgotten on the ground beside the large altar at the far end of the room. The air here is cold and stale, and thick layers of dust cover every inch of the room--floor, benches, and altar alike.
A hunched figure sits here inside the temple on the one stone bench not yet destroyed, his back facing you. The stocky, hooded figure appears to be some kind of old dwarf, his lengthy beard drained of all colour and the wrinkles in his face deep like cracks in a dry riverbed. Like everything else in the room, the dwarf is covered in an equally thick layer of dust. He does not seem to move, even after the door opens.
"Can't say as I blame you," Aurica mutters to Jens. "Doubt Torag would either."
*
Aurica holds her breath as the door opens and she looks into what is clearly a looong-since abandoned temple to the chief of her people's gods. It takes her a second to register the figure, as with the thick patina of dust on him, he seems more statue than person.
...he might still be, she thinks, because who sits there and lets dust collect on them?
"Farfar av folket, söker vi fristad i Skaparens-hus. Får vi komma in?" she says cautiously, bowing.
"Du stör minnen bäst left glömmas, flickebarn," the stone-dwarf rumbles in response, his voice deep and rumbling like the cracking of icebergs far beneath the water. He does not turn to face Aurica, but continues to stare at the empty altar. "Fadern Skapelsens inte längre försvarar denna plats..."
Aurica blinks, not-quite-a-jump, when the figure talks back.
She hurriedly translates an abridged version over her shoulder. "I asked if we could enter, he's, uh, he's tellin' me Torag dwells here no longer and that I'm disturbing memories what shouldn't be..."
She clears her throat.
"Jag är ledsen att störa din vaka, gamla. Många försvar ...
She has to stop, take a breath against more threatening emotion.
... många försvar har fallit, nyligen. Många starka väggar är ogjort, och försvarade nu försvarslös. Fader Torag får inte bo här, men väggarna är fortfarande sten. Vänligen. Kommer du låta oss komma in? Vi kommer att störa någonting, men vi är skadade och behöver en plats fri från ohyra, för att vila...
"Vänligen. Vem är du, äldre?
Please: who are you, Elder?
"Vem är jag?" the ancient cloaked dwarf rumbles--no, that must be his laughter, his shoulders bobbing up and down as he chortles slowly to himself. Aurica suddenly catches a whiff of something... strange... a dry, earthy scent she can't quite place. It makes her think not of shrines, but instead of crypts and graveyards... a scent that should not be present in a sacred place of the All-Father.
He stands, slowly, the mountains of dust falling down his shoulders like small avalanches. He turns, revealing clouded-white eyes that have not seen this world in many years, as the dust keeps falling... not only from his shoulders, but from his face, from his hands, as the dust of a millennia scatters to reveal a skeletal face hidden behind it.
"Jag är den som Torag övergiven. Han har övergett alla som skriver här ... och du ska gå med oss i vår evighet av pina!" The skeletal-dwarf's eye-sockets glow with a strange, silvery light, and in the back of the shrine the piles of bones come to life, animated by that same ghostly luminescence!
Initiative: Voren | Reknar | Dwarf | Jens | Flynn | Skeletons | Osric | Aurica
This is a surprise round! Only Aurica really knows what's going on at the moment - nobody else can really see inside, and besides her translations only Voren can understand the conversation - so nobody else can act just yet.
The skeletons at the far end of the shrine, bedecked in ghostly chain armour, rise to their feet. Their dwarven "leader" continues to laugh to himself, glowing sightless eye sockets boring into Aurica's own, almost as if he could see her anyway...
Aurica is slow to respond due to her horror at realizing the 'elder' in this sacred place is instead some abomination of undeath. She stares a fraction of a second too long, then forces herself into action. She shouts to the others in hoarse Common.
"Hostiles! Skeletons!"
She supposes she should draw back out of the room, but.... it's not like the cramped cave outside is much better to fight in. Teeth gritted, Aurica moves forward instead, whipping her axe up in her hand once more.
Aurica moves in and warns the rest that you've got trouble!
Initiative: Voren | Reknar | Dwarf | Jens | Flynn | Skeletons | Osric | Aurica
As soon as you get line of sight of the dwarf, please make a Will save.
Knowledge (religion) to identify these creatures. There are two different sorts, so I'll need two separate checks.
Those who enter the room see two skeletons looming in the corners, plus an old and ancient dwarf with dust and hardened spiderwebs decorating his shoulders and falling from his body onto the ground...
Voren and Reknar are up!
Voren moves closer, hearing and understanding the Dwarven language being spoken. At Aurica's warning, however, he stays in his place, knowing that he can't do anything. He turns to the others. "Skeletons up ahead! There's a basin of holy water over there! We can use that to our advantage! One of them is definitely talking from what I heard!"
Ayne, however, takes matters into her own claws. She moves off of her master's shoulder. She moves to the opening to check things out.
Reknar had been straining to hear the conversation taking place inside, wondering who the hell could be inhabiting this locked and forgotten place. At Aurica's warning, he bursts into movement, taking position inside the area.
"What the..? - he mutters, stepping in and witnessing the monstrosity unveil itself
He has no idea what it is, but really has no time to ponder such details, simply finding a position inside and standing ground - "Alright then, I don't know what you are, but this surely isn't a healthy set up" - he roars - "You'll be sorry to desecrate a place like this - let's show him we mean business boys and girls!" - the man's words bear the same sergeant tone as before, but there is something about the confidence with which they are spoken, and his overall teamwork stance that bolster both your resolve, and the grip on your weapons.
"Let's do this!" - he adds.
Initiative: Voren | Reknar | Dwarf | Jens | Flynn | Skeletons | Osric | Aurica
Remember the Will saves, please!
Status
Party - +1 competence to hit/damage, +1 morale vs. fear
Aurica and Reknar move into the room to meet the undead desecraters head-on. The skeletal dwarf moves forward, his attention caught by the young dwarven lass.
"Varför tror du motstå?" he demands, attempting to grab Aurica by the arms. When the dwarf speaks, his 'breath' chokes her nose with the stench of decay."Torag doktrin är ingenting annat än lögner! Han bryr sig inte om vår kamp, vår smärta, vårt arbete i hans namn!" Wisely, Aurica ducks out of the way to keep herself safe from those skeletal hands of his.
Hearing the noise of battle beginning, and Auruca's shouts, Jens charges in, bursting through the doorway, sword and shield drawn.
Seeing the dwarf grabbing at Aurica, he growls, slashing at the dusty creature. "Unhand her!" he roars, attempting to command the enemy's attention.
" What's going on..." Flynn asks as he also charges into the room.
" Iomedae, strike down this abomination of evil."
Flynn's religious lessons in the unholy abominations of the world allow him to easily identify the different undead infecting the shrine. The skeletons at the back are just that--normal skeletons, bones given sentience through negative energy. Rattle dem bones with bashing weapons, y'all.
The dwarf, though... he's by no means a normal skeleton. The disappearing façade immediately clues Flynn into just what they are facing. This is a huecuva, the risen corpse of a heretical cleric who blasphemed and renounced their deity before meeting death. They hide their cursed forms in an illusion that makes them seem the way they did in life, but between their loathing of all pious souls and the perpetual stench of death lingering around them they rarely remain in such a concealed state for long. It takes silvered or magical weapons to penetrate their unholy aura of faithlessness that not only protects them but bolsters nearby undead against positive energy. Huecuvas' sharp claws typically carry disease that, if untreated, causes severe muscular pain, weakening, fevers, and flu-like symptoms.
Initiative: Voren | Reknar | Huecuva | Jens | Flynn | Skeletons | Osric | Aurica
Status
Huecuva: 3 damage
Party
(Inspire Courage) +1 competence to hit/damage, +1 morale vs. fear
(Dragon Challenge) +1 circumstance to hit vs. huecuvaAurica
(Sworn Defense) +1 dodge to ACFlynn: 4 damage
(Smite) +2 attack/damage vs. huecuva, +2 deflection to AC vs. huecuva, ignore huecuva DRJens
(Dragon Challenge) +1 damage vs. huecuva, -2 AC vs. skeletons
(Sworn Defense) -1 ACReknar: 3 damage
Jens and Flynn bust into the room, both declaring their own personal challenges upon the evil dwarf within. The huecuva lunges at Flynn as he passes, but between the paladin's protective holy aura and the cavalier's blocking shield he has no chance of landing a clear hit--much to its obvious chagrin; it lets out a strange gurgling growl of as the paladin circles behind him.
The Ulfen's longsword stabs deep into the huecuva body, but he feels a strange resistance as he does so. When he removes the blade, it is not covered by blood but instead by a strange, viscous black substance that dissipates as soon as it touches the outside air. Alas, the servant of Iomedae finds he cannot penetrate his enemy's dark aura.
The skeletons wordlessly charge down the temple, their bones clattering as they go. Reknar's longspear is set against attack, but he manages to find an unfortunate angle that sends the polearm in through the space between the ribs, not landing a proper hit. In return the skeleton drags its gnarled bony claws across his face! Flynn, so focused on the dwarf, is suddenly waylaid from behind, and feels the pain of sharpened bones digging into his shoulderblades.
Aurica's face contorts with further fear and anger at the blasphemous words.
Is he right? Is he right, that the gods care nothing? Because what she saw in Kenabres speaks only of the failure of the gods to protect their children. Where was Torag, when the Wardstone fell? Where was Iomedae, and all the others?
"Du har fel! Du måste ha fel! Fadern skyddar! Lögnare!" she shouts back, but her voice shakes.
She swings hard as she can at the abomination that threatens both her faith and the lives of her and her... companions.
Hard, but wildly: emotion too high for a disciplined strike.
Ayne, crawling out of the rock she hid by as Jens, Reknar, and Flynn ran by, crawls onto her perch. 'Boy, there are two skeletons in there. There's also a dwarf in there. However, from Flynn and Reknar's words, it may be something more. Be careful."
Voren nods, looking around. Seeing the basin, the witch comes up with an idea. He moves to closer to the basin. He then drops his crossbow to the ground. "Jens! I've got an idea! Can you cover me?"
EDIT: He then digs his pack until he takes out his most feared weapon... an iron pot.
Osric moves into the room behind Voren, straining to see what's happening. He can't see inside, but hears the sounds of fighting at close quarters. He gets his club ready.
Noticing his spear going through the skeleton's ribcage, and hearing Flynn's words, Reknar makes a mental note about the usefulness of longspears against skeletal creatures - $#%&!!! - he ponders to himself.
Dropping the long weapon, he draws his silvered mace, staring at the empty eye sockets in front of him - "Let's dance!"
Reknar swings with all his strength at the skeleton - he wishes he could use his mace with both hands, but its desingn does not allow it. The man tries to compensate for it with imbuing the weapon with some of his own Arcane power.
Initiative: Voren | Reknar | Huecuva | Jens | Flynn | Skeletons | Osric | Aurica
Status
Huecuva: 3 damageParty
(Inspire Courage) +1 competence to hit/damage, +1 morale vs. fear
(Dragon Challenge) +1 circumstance to hit vs. huecuvaAurica: 5 damage
(Sworn Defense) +1 dodge to ACFlynn: 4 damage
(Smite) +2 attack/damage vs. huecuva, +2 deflection to AC vs. huecuva, ignore huecuva DRJens
(Dragon Challenge) +1 damage vs. huecuva, -2 AC vs. skeletons
(Sworn Defense) -1 ACReknar: 3 damage
Osric prepares himself for battle just outside of the main temple, and Aurica wishes she could do just that, for her blows are as ineffective as ever. Voren draws the most dangerous weapon of all--dundundunnnnn, an iron pot! ... And, well, Reknar tries his best to bash the skeleton to pieces, but the ghostly chain armour hanging about its body seems to protect it from the worst of his efforts.
The huecuva continues to assault Aurica, even though the ancient (ex-)dwarf is being assaulted on all sides by Flynn and Jens. With an unearthly hiss it sinks its claws into her shoulders, glowing eyes boring right into her soul.
"Sen var är han nu?" it whispers.
Speaking of Flynn and Jens... they're up!
"I'll cover you if you stay close, lad!" Jens growls back at Voren, brow furrowing in concentration. He knows he has to move if Osric and Voren are to get close, but any more than the slightest movement will open him to attack. And there's Reknar's spear to be mindful of...
Grumbling to himself, he takes the movement anyway, keeping his shield in font of himself to deflect any blows. Then he swings at the dwarf again, repeating - "I said, unhand her!"
"Get thee down! Unclean beast! Leave her alone!"
Aurica screams despite herself as the bony claw fingers dart juuuust past the edge of Jens's shield, past her own buckler, and into her flesh. It's cold. It's like ice knives in her skin, and the creature's eyes bore into her own like freezing coals.
Initiative: Voren | Reknar | Huecuva | Jens | Flynn | Skeletons | Osric | Aurica
Status
Huecuva: 9 damage
Party
(Inspire Courage) +1 competence to hit/damage, +1 morale vs. fear
(Dragon Challenge) +1 circumstance to hit vs. huecuvaAurica: 5 damage
(Sworn Defense) +1 dodge to ACFlynn: 12 damage (dying, I think)
(Smite) +2 attack/damage vs. huecuva, +2 deflection to AC vs. huecuva, ignore huecuva DRJens
(Dragon Challenge) +1 damage vs. huecuva, -2 AC vs. skeletons
(Sworn Defense) -1 ACReknar: 3 damage
Jens is too busy trying to protect Aurica to get a clean attack in, but Flynn's flail smashes through its evil defenses and bashes it hard in the side. The huecuva wheezes, and hisses, briefly turning away from Aurica to glare angrily at the paladin.
"Gudarna inte når här, tjänare av arvtagaren!"
The skeleton threatening Reknar wails fitfully and pathetically on his armour, but the one nearest to Flynn--seemingly bolstered by the close presence of the huevuca--tears a horrible gash through the paladin's throat and sends him to the ground.
Voren dips his iron pot into the basin. Looking at the dwarf, he glares and throws the holy water at the dwarf, with a scream.
Voren's flung pot of doom overshoots - unsurprisingly, really, for it's not exactly meant to act as a weapon. The water largely hits the prone and bleeding form of Flynn, but some droplets splash all over the nearby undead. The skeleton doesn't react as the droplet bores its way directly through its leg bone, but the huecuva reels back with a visible shudder as the liquid sizzles its way into it.
The false priest's claws tear away from her to drop one of the crusaders instead, and Aurica wheezes with her own injuries. It's a cruel way to die, she thinks: to endure the fall of her city, see it with her own eyes, and to be spared.... only to die here and now, with a bunch of near-strangers, with the last words she hears being that the gods have abandoned them.
Aurica presses back to the wall, trying to hunker down defensively as she takes another swing at the blaspheming dwarf. She no longer yells out words of Torag's presence. She only tries to keep breathing.
Osric steps into the room, eyes burning with righteous wrath
He looks at the figure of the dwarf and these are the words that he utters:
"Foul creature, I judge thee to be Beyond Redemption and Unfit for Existence. Thy doom is nigh!"
Osric brings his club down at the creature.