Behind you, a shaky voice trembles over you. Anvia stands there, arms crossed. She is staring at her wife.
Before I let you go I need something. I need each of you to PROMISE ME she will make it back.
Irabeth sighs, It is my...
AND ITS MY DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. Anivia cuts across her, Seeing as you clearly won't do it yourself, and I'm still wounded, I have no other choice.
Irabeth seems moved, and shocked to silence. Anevia's eyes scan each of you seeking your vow.
Thrall looks at Anvia, admiring her strength. "I promise you I'll invest everything to brig her back unharmed, including my own life." He'd do this for the rest, too, but no one has required such a vow anyway, so...
Behind you, a shaky voice trembles over you. Anvia stands there, arms crossed. She is staring at her wife.
Before I let you go I need something. I need each of you to PROMISE ME she will make it back.
Irabeth sighs, It is my...
AND ITS MY DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. Anivia cuts across her, Seeing as you clearly won't do it yourself, and I'm still wounded, I have no other choice.
Irabeth seems moved, and shocked to silence. Anevia's eyes scan each of you seeking your vow.
"She's coming back if I have drag her back here myself." Iolaire replies, the utter seriousness of her words wiping out any comedy in a four foot tall paladin threatening to drag a six-and-a-half foot one.
She steps forward and takes Anivia's hand in both of hers. "You two love each other, very much, and I'm not going to let something as a small as a demonic incursion stop that!"
Balthasar looks at Anevia, pausing. This would be dangerous - there was a chance none of them would make it back. Could he give such a promise, knowing the risks? Then again, Thrall had spoken well - he could do the same. "I promise that I will do all I can to ensure she returns to you safely."
"True. There's something to be said for introducing something an enemy doesn't expect and taking advantage of the confusion." Serena said, treating the idea quite seriously. ...Perhaps. "Might I suggest a few fireworks?"
Anevia nods. She still isn't happy that her wife is going, but she seems satisfied that she's done as much as she can.
Bitey perks up as he is mentioned. "They never expect Bitey cause Bitey so good at being unexpected. Bitey just the best at doing stuff no one think Bitey gonna do." He beams with pride.
Very well. The reinforcements from Neatholme should be here early tomorrow. Let us prepare. Irabeth says with grim finality.
The Mongrelmen show up in force. One is assigned to each of you and close to two dozen are spread throughout the strike teams as they are dispatched to distract the Grey Garrison's reserves. You make your way to the Old City walls and wait for the signal, a large explosion.
About thirty minutes of hiding later you hear a distant *boom* and several of the guards barring your entry into the Old City are withdrawn. One minute later a volley of arrows takes care of the remaining guards and you slip in.
The old city is in shambles, much more so than even the new portions of town. The large monstrosities you saw just before you fell have leveled large sections of city and huge gashes in the land measuring dozens of yards across and hundreds of yards long have erased entire blocks of the city. There are numerous cultists here, but none of them put up anything close to a fight.
A large stretch of buckled ground and rubble stretches before the Gray Garrison, an aptly named structure that squats across from the open ground that once stood before the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell. That cathedral is no more-nothing remains but a towering mound of rubble and a deep, jagged rift in the ground. As of this moment, you have come full circle.
The Garrison is two and a half stories tall and made of grey stone that marks it as one of the oldest buildings in Kenebres. It somehow avoided the destruction and you can see cultists partrolling it's perimiter.
"We're going to need a lot of lyres for this one..." Serena muttered under her breath as they approached the Gray Garrison. "If we can distract them, we might be able to levitate up the side somewhere and sneak in."
Thrall uses the dragon scale to take the appearance of a tiefling. This can help him see in the dark and makes easier the possibility of pretending to be a cultist at a particular time. He turns to his assigned companion.
"Alright Rob. If things go bad, just bare with me. Let's do this!"
"If I can get close then the building is no challenge." Iolaire offers. "If our allies fire a volley I can take out any on the roof and the rest of you take the ground side?"
Prior to leaving, Balthasar swaps the 3 spell component pouches they carry to purchase a quiver of cold iron arrows for each of their mongrelman rangers.
Balthasar studies the Grey Garrison, carefully considering its structure and the disposition of the cultists.
"Do we have any magic to conjure a fog or mist to mask our approach?"
"Bitey can go with shiny plant girl type?? Bitey be real quiet, real useful. Then newest bestest brother Gumpo can help plant lady's new friend to put pointy sticks in bad people who definitely deserve it."
Bitey continues to attempt the demeanor of a small puppy, even though he looks more like a swollen gerbil with a flu when he does.
"If you hold tight Bitey, I should be able to carry you." Iolaire agrees. "You'll have to hold on to my front though - you'll be in the way otherwise."
Iolaire, you spot a shuttered window about 15 feet up and just to the left of the main doorway. Speaking of the doorway, two hideously obese, naked men armed with scythes guard the Gray Garrison's entrance.
Balthasar's eyes go wide as he recognizes the two naked, obese men. "Those two with scythes - one is Lord Hulrun, Kenabres' ruler! The other is Kandro Nyserian - his manor was one of the safe houses we found information on. Why would Lord Hulrun be naked, holding a scythe, standing guard for the demons?"
"Lord Hulrun and Kandro weren't obese, either - something is wrong. They may both have been killed and animated as some form of undead abomination. Well, such are Nyserian's just desserts for his treachery. We will have to put them down, and we should give Lord Hulrun a proper burial, as well."
Considering the area, he says, "Our best plan would be to lure Hulrun and Nyserian's animated corpses away so we can dispose of them without taking fire from the rest of the guards. Do we have any means that might accomplish that?"
|
"We have bigger issues than giving someone a proper funeral. We can do that at some point but we need to focus on the task at hand first. Getting inside the garrison and to the wardstone has to be our highest priority."
Arianna paused looking at the scene for a moment.
"I can try to get us through the lock on the door or through that window, but I'll need cover while I pick the lock. I say if the mongrelmen can create a distraction with the guards we can take down Lord Hulrun and Kandro and hopefully I'll get us inside before they can turn their arrows on us."
"I can surely help with the distraction" Thrall offers.
"Two plans then." Iolaire suggests. "Bitey and I go up the wall, with covering fire from our Neatholm friends. The rest of you charge those things. Finish them all quickly and we can decide on the best entry point."
Charging into a lot of enemies is usually one of Thrall's favourite tactics. He nods in agreement and grabs his sword tight.
Serena nodded at Iolaire's plans. "I'll see what I can do to drop them quick." she said agreeably. Her flame bolt was a bit stronger now, but when speed was of the essence... perhaps a jolt of dazing would do better?
"Alright, then, that's what we'll do. Is everyone ready?"
Bitey smiles in the corner and chews on a small bug. Giggling every now and then about roof running.
"Bitey, run with me until we reach the wall." Iolaire says with a smile. "Archers ready?"
She checks that everyone else is ready for their part and...
"3...2...1... go!"
You dart out across the court yard as arrows fly before you!
Youall clearly have suprised the guards. There are four you can clearly see up on the roof of the second story and the two fat, naked men.
Your mongrelman rangers do a good job of covering your charge. Two land hits on the rooftop men causing them all to scurry for cover!
The naked men bring their sickles up and sneer at you!
Balthasar eyes the distance - he knows it will take time to cover it, and they'll be under fire the whole time. [b]"It will take time for us to close the gap. Thrall, Vance, defensive positions for the first 30 feet. Serena, keep behind us,"[b] Balthasar instructs, hefting his shield before he advances and uses it to help provide cover.
Iolaire sprints forward as best she can, her vines helping her through the ruins. She glances back to see if Bitey is keeping up.
"Don't need to warn me." Serena said cheerfully, hurling a pair of magic missiles through the air and towards one of the uncovered figures. (She was probably going to need therapy for this one...)
Thrall lets himself be directed by Balthasar, as he seems quite good at tactics. He advances cautiously, using his big sword to cover the gaps his armor leaves open.
The party advanced, then hunkers down. This proves to be wise as Balthasar and Vance's shields each catch an arrow! The two men lift their scythes, but don't adavnce.
Iolaire continues to race forward, she makes it to the base of the wall, spins for Bitey to grab onto her and then begins climbing, with the goblin clinging to her chest.
Balthasar gestures towards the scythe wielding creatures with his sword, then calls out, "For Kenabres! For Mendev! Charge!"
He then advances a further 30 feet, having given the order and exhorted his allies.
"Charge? Against what?" This time, Thrall decides to ignore Balthasar's indications and instead advances and holds exactly as he's done before.
Serena advanced slightly, happy to stay well out of easy range of the enemy as she gestures again and sent another pair of magical missiles hurtling through the air to harry the enemy. The more distracted they were, the better.
The front line charges, and scythes flash!
Vance rushes in and the Vermlek takes advantage of his haste and gets a good slice in (for 9 slashing), but is slammed up against the wall in return!
Thrall also gets slashed at, but barely manages a dodge!
The archers pepper the ones not in melee
You hear a shout of pain from one of your mongrelman archers and bitey takes an arrow to the thigh as he runs up. Balthasar earns the ire of two archers with all his shouting! He catches one arrow on his shield, but takes the other in the side!
(Bitey takes 7, Balthasar 6)