Balthasar gestured to the downed Tiefling. "We did, although he plunged the room into blackness, rendering most of us useless," the crusader said ruefully. Bitey was most effective - in fact, he tried to take this Faxon alive. I'm not sure if he still is or not - you're skilled in healing, perhaps you could check and see?"[/b]
Balthasar turned to look about the room, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up as he looks about the eerie, demonic room. "Serena, can you check if there are any magical auras about?"
At the request, Serena made a circle with her index finger and thumb, then peered through the circle it made as she muttered something under her breath. "Well, I feel like we should break that thing above the altar on general principles... anything with religious significance like that is probably used to desecrate an area, and should be thoroughly dismantled when possible." she said as she scanned the room with Detect Magic. She may not have been a great warrior, but she did know magic and its effects on things.
There were no traps.
The minotaur head is faintly magical.
The chest is locked.
Thrall walks to Faxon, trying to discern whether he's dead or not.
After informing the rest about his check, he guards the door while Serena and the others have a look at the minotaur's head.
He is alive. Barely.
"Balthasar, would you be kind enough to smash that minotaur head for me? It's definitely magical, and I don't think it's anything good." she said as she looked around the rest of the area.
The lock stubbornly refuses to open.
"The bastard's alive" Thrall informs. "Even if he doesn't deserve it, if we want to keep him someone should treat his wounds."
Balthasar nods. "We'll at least stabilize him. Perhaps he can be interrogated for more information. Could someone search Faxon's desk? There may be valuable information there."
Balthasar eyed the minotaur head, then said, "I'll try, but aren't special weapons or spells and such required to destroy magical items like that?"
Balthasar walks up to the head, then pulls out the morningstar the mongrelman chief had given them, trying to destroy it.
Iolaire moves quickly across the room and lays one small hand on the tiefling's chest. She glows softly for a moment and his wounds close somewhat, labored breath becoming easier.
While the healing clearly helps the teifling's condition, he is nowhere near consciousness.
"Magical items are sturdy, but most can be destroyed by mundane means."/b] Serena explained as Balthasar smacked the item. [b]"It may take a few more hits, but it's quite possible. The ones you really want to watch out for are the ones warded against damage. If it can only be destroyed in one specific way, it should probably be locked up by the Pathfinders or the Church of Abadar or something." Both groups had a well-deserved reputation for being able to safely store dangerous items. Abadar's place was probably better if you wanted it back someday, but if you could afford a high-security vault in Axis... well, it was hard to get better than something secured by the God of Banking himself.
Balthasar's hit does some damage, but doesn't destroy it by any stretch. It'll take some work but you could do it with generous applications of elbow grease.
"Sorry. I, uh, don't have any magic to just break things like that." Serena said, sort of wishing she did - but her powers were her powers, and there wasn't much she could do about it.
As the boys go ape on the brazen head, the search of Flaxon produces a wand of cure moderate wounds (9 charges), a morningstar, a heavy crossbow with +1 bolts (12), brocers of armor + 1, cloak of resistance + 1,key for chest, and 29 gp.
Arianna is just beginning to make headway when the key is supplied and the chest pops open.
Inside is 2,310 cp, 759 sp, 122 gp, 11 pp, five silver holy symbols of
Iomedae worth 25 gp each, a masterwork longsword, two masterwork scimitars, 450 gp in various fine housewares like silverware and table settings, a wand of bless weapon (18 charges), and a cmrently broken phylactery of faithfulness.
The chest also contains a sheaf of papers documenting the cultists' movements around the city. These papers not only indicate that the plan to attack Kenabres was several years in the planning, but that there were a large number of Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth involved. This list of names is valuable to the crusaders-it can't help Kenabres at this point, but since several of the names on the list include people operating in other cities, the crusaders will probably pay handsomely for it in reward.
Finally, there's a short note in immaculate handwriting.
Thrall looks at the loot with despise. "Keeping our holy symbols, only tha Lady knows what were they planning to do with them...
On the other hand, the papers discovered make him a bit happier. "This has a huge amount of importance and should be taken to the headquarters on the double."
said to be the crystallized fragments of a murdered demon lord's life force, though what use such an object could be put to is unknown.
Their work destroying the Minotaur head finished, Balthasar looks over the documents. ”Agreed. This is highly valuable information. What does this note mean, ‘turn the Wardstones to their use?’ And what is a Nahyndrian crystal?”
"So, this Vorlesh is coming here to finish the job armed with a crystal. Doesn't sound too good."
"Uh, turning the wardstones would be... bad." Serena said, looking a bit pale. She knew a little more about those than the average person, given their extensively magical nature. "C-can we check on the one in the city?"
"The Kite was destroyed - I assumed the Wardstone was, as well. This indicates it may not have been. What that means for the Wardstone network or the demon's plots, I don't know. We need to figure get this information back to the Defender's Heart. Let's move."
You make your way back to the Defender's Heart warding off random looters and minor demons as you go.
You are meet with healing wands and a couple particularly beefy crusaders for Flaxon. The other teams report back from the other safe houses with similar results. They were minimally manned but not with incompetent staff. There are several wounded crusaders among their numbers, some severely.
As you recover you find yourselves naturally displaying more confidence and, importantly, competence as you insert yourselves into the struggle for survival.
Thrall feels his task fulfilled for having contributed to the findings. However, he doesn't hesitate to express his opinion, which is that the information should be carried to other places to avoid the same situation they lived here in Kenabres.
"If not trouble.... wake Bitey when horn scale demon man wake up.... Please." Bitey finds a soft corner to sleep in.
Thrall, Laverty exclaims that everyone is effectively cut off from any other cities while the demons control the city. Your best bet is to wait for Mendev's army to arrive and retake the city.
Bitey, several hours later a runner comes to get you. You're led down to the basement. Faxon is manacled hand and foot to the wall and gagged.
Serena yawned and stretched after she recovered, then spent some time helping bandage others. She was no cleric, able to get a whole group back on their feet in moments, but she was still determined to do what she could while they figured out their next plan of attack.
Balthasar takes the time to try and keep spirits up through encouragement, as well as assist with the wounded. He doesn't know much about healing, but he can at least be a useful set of hands. He makes sure that the banner of Mendev is visible for all to see, for as long as the banner stands, they will fight on to ensure the survival not only of their nation, but of the entire world.
Bitey patters along to stand before Faxon, looking over his helpless form.
"You bad man. You do bad things. Bitey no like that, but fluff fluff smell like fur tell Bitey shouldn't kill unless only thing can do, so Bitey no kill you."
Bitey walks up to Faxon, looks him dead in the eyes...
and kicks him in the shin before turning around and heading out.
Faxton looks like he is already dead. He just hangs there and barely even responds to being kicked in the knee.
Thrall feels the helplessness grow inside. They might have key information to save the crusaders, and they can't use it until the crusaders cone to them.
"I guess we should clean the city of as much demons and cultists we can, then. We cannot sit here idle."
After you have recovered, Irabeth approaches you with a worried expression and summons you to a meeting room. The door is closed and you see she is not alone. With her is an aged, angular man with an eagle talon tattoo on his cheek.
Irabeth starts, I want to thank youall for all you've done, but I'm afraid I must ask more of you still.
As horrific as recent events have been, we've come to realize that they are, in fact, merely a prelude. The razing of the Kite, the destruction of our wardstone, Terendelev's murder, and the assault on the city were nothing more than opening gambits.
The Worldwound is on the march in a more concentrated assault than we've seen since the fall of Drezen. It's fair to say the Lord of the Locust Host is finally making his move. The end of this hundred-year-war is upon us, and it falls to us to ensure victory.
While the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth were scattered, those who serve the Lord of the Locust Host himself remain concentrated in Old Kenabres. What we've heard from within the barricade they've erected is ominous. The cultists are waiting for something, and based on our own information and what you've managed to recover so far, it sounds like
the vile witch Areelu Vorlesh will soon be coming to Kenabres. And it appears that we've determined what she intends to do.
"When the wardstone was destroyed by the Storm King, it exploded and destroyed the Kite. The network along the border failed, but did not fade completely.I believe this is because a significant portion of our wardstone still exists, and that the cultists have taken it to the old garrison in Old Kenabres. From what we've learned, they're hoping to engineer a way to somehow reverse the field generated by the wardstones-essentially, to use our own greatest defense as a devastating weapon.
The attack on Kenabres had a predictable result: causing the crusade to gather at the border to defend it. Some wonder why the demons haven't attacked in stronger numbers. I believe that Areelu was counting on us massing along the border, and that if she can corrupt the wardstone field, she can strike a devastating blow against us all. In effect, we've lined up for the slaughter.
Vorlesh is surely seeking some object of great Abyssal power, likely the Nahyndrian crystal mentioned in the missive you recovered, and with it she intends to turn the source of our hope into an unimaginable nightmare. We cannot hope to evacuate everyone from the border-I doubt they would give up the defensive line even if they knew what the enemy planned. But we can still stop this from happening-we just need to have
someone infiltrate the Gray Garrison, locate the wardstone fragment, and destroy it.
"Do you have anyone in mind? Is there a way we can help?"
Balthasar listens to Irabeth’s information and explanation, then Thrall asks his questions. ”She does have someone in mind, Thrall - us. We survived the warrens below the city, acquired valuable information to the Crusades, and have battled the cultists and demons all over the city.” He looks at Irabeth and says, ”We cannot allow the demons to corrupt the Wardstones. I will do this, but I will not speak for the others. What’s the plan?”
Serena listened as Irabeth explained the situation, nodding slightly. "I agree with Balthasar. Reversed wardstones would be..." she struggled for a few moments, trying to find the correct word. "Well, an uncontained Abyssal portal could be literally apocalyptic short of divine intervention. I volunteer to go, too - this has to be taken care of." The lives of every survivor in the city was an acceptable price to pay - although, ideally, they'd be able to find a better route.
Bitey slows as he reaches the door, the lack of any kind of response weighing on his tiny conscience. He turns and sheepishly slinks back to the man. "You know you can repent and be good... if goblin do it, no reason you not be able to. Save your soul, be better."
"Ooh, ooh, Bitey volunteer for all the things... what we doing now? Maybe it get Bitey food? Bitey kinda hungry. You should feed Bitey like you promise... Bitey know there no way he get five whole chickens... but you promise Bitey get double later yes no please please please. "
"Of course Irabeth!" Iolaire exclaims. "Absolutely we're going to help, anything we can do!"
After the initial rush of fervor she sobers up. "If we're going to do this then we need as much information as possible. What do we know about the Gray Garrison? How big is it, what sort of layout is there? How many demons are in it?"
She pauses and looks at the rest - "Going in from the front is going to be messy. Are there any healing resources we can be spared?"
"Uh, well... I never thought we could be the best at hand." Thrall never had a good opinion about his own infiltration skills, though it's true that the others seem well versed and he's got the scale. Maybe this could work, after all.
When Iolaire talks about healing supplies, Thrall adds "We should also replace some of our attires to not betray our true allegiance. And maybe some quality items could do us well. We have plenty of things to barter with that the Crusade might find usable, if we can get proper equipment in return. What do you say?"
|
"Well, getting into places that I'm not supposed to be is my specialty. However, we may need you to pull away some of the guards if you can for our band to slip in unnoticed." Arianna explained looking to Irabeth.
"If you happen to have some supplies we could have access to it may go a long way to helping us get in and retake the keep."
Aribeth looks relieved that you're agreed so quickly. Bless you, all of you. I took the liberty of contacting the various... people... you've made contact with in these past few days and targeted what help they were willing to provide. She walk over to a small stack of chests along the left wall. Aravashinal told me of a cashe of supplies that he just recently learned survived. Three are weapons and potions here.
Besides that, I have contacted Neatholm and they are sending... men... you aid you and us. They should be here by morning.
Quendys also had something.
The man with the eagle tattoo addresses you in a time that is measured and careful, as if each word has been pondered over, In my escape from the forces of the Abyss, I managed to obtain some supplies from a magic ship that has been ransacked. The owner was quite dead, Iomedae bless him. Among those supplies was a Rod of Cancellation. This tool should be capable of draining whatever power remains in the ward stone. It is no money of use to us in its broken and weakened state, but it is a liability as long as it exists. Your primary mission is to get this rod into connect with that stone and nullify it. That will break it's connection to the rest of the field. They will not be able to replicate their success at the Kite easily. It will be impossible in the shot term. The Kite has suffered several focused attacks over the past several years. Almost as if this entire woeful day has been planned from the start. A heavy feeling hangs in the air. It's like he suggested desecrating a shrine or killing puppies. But there is also a dread resignation. It must be done.
After a moment Irabeth starts again, When you make your move we will stage about a dozen attacks through the city to draw away reinforcenents. This should ease your entry into old Kenebres, but do not think that I mean for you to overcome this target in one attack. We need to do this before Vorlesh arrives, and she could do so at any time, but we also need to ensure our success. If that means multiple attacks, then so be it. We will take losses. That much is certain. But it is worth it.
In the crates are eight potions of cute moderate wounds, four potions of lesser restoration, 10 +1 evil outsider bane arrows, a Chime of Opening, a cold iron great sword, a cold iron long sword, a wand of magic missile (CL 5th, 31 charges), and a wand of Daylight (24 charges).
Lastly, Irabeth adds, I will not ask something of you I am not willing to do myself. I'm coming with you.
Balthasar nods. "Drawing off as many of their forces as possible will be greatly beneficial. If we can get to the Gray Garrison without needing to fight or drawing attention, we'll hopefully hold a crucial advantage."
Balthasar considers a moment, then says, "Magic to conjure either a mist or a fog could be very helpful in masking our approach to the Gray Garrison. Is that something we could procure?"
Iolaire steps up to Quendys and accepts the rod from him. "You say all we have to do is touch it? Hopefully that should be pretty straightforward."
She examines the potions and grins up at the rest of the group. "Finally, you'll be able to keep yourselves alive without me having to do it for you!"
"Well, I can't do clouds... but I can try to blind things." Serena noted. Magic was weird, and while flexible, there were limits to what it could accomplish. Either way, she was ready to go when the rest of the group was, and she gladly took the items they'd been able to procure.