Zea, feeling timid and overwhelmed but determined to help, aids in moving the prisoners. Once their moved, she nods to the others and stands by the door. In a whisper, she states "Ready when you are."
"I have a spell that can help make him talk but Saul is right, we talk to him later." Figgy says sticking close to Saul
As Saul carefully examines the door the doorwings fly open as another asmodean kicks the door open from the next room, right in the face of Saul. Clad in breastplate with the five pointed star of Asmodeus on it, ginger hair and beard and a crazy look on his face he stands there. Wielding a mace that is surrounded by a reddish glow he announces "Meet your fate at the hands of Azvernathi Raul. You made it this far, but here your journey ends."
He shoots fire from his hand dousing a cone in front of him in flames. "Get down to your knees and surrender, and I may show mercy and let you live!"
Zea dodges the worst of the flame and completely shrugs off the rest. Then she desperately lashes back at the man while pouring power into her blade.
Here goes nothing. He tries to Sleep the scary weirdo.
Fhingle runs to keep up with Saul, "Saul wait....Ohh no!" Fhingles speech goes from Common to Celestial mid sentence as he sees the burst of flame
With careful placement of the sleep spell Cassius manaes to keep his companions out of the sandman's heavy drag on the eyelids. But the fired up redhead can't be put to sleep that easily.
Saul performs some stunts that would be an outstanding application for the circus. But when it comes to making the point, he fails.
Zea also closes in on the man, but desperation seems to be the wrong tactics. She doesn't manage to get past his armor. Bet soon it will be easier, as Jarithe starts his inspiring song again.
Seeing, that he is now surrounded, Azvernathi channels the unholy energy of Asmodeus to hurt the intruders. "Feel the pain that awaits you for eternity on your defeat!" he proclaims.
"Pffft. I've had hangovers worse than that. You sure you want to do this?"
Being in the Corner Fhingle avoids the unholy energy, not being able to do much right now Fhignle will grip his mace tightly waiting to help.
Seeing her allies swarming around, Zea decides that now is the perfect time to strike. Ignoring the pain from the man's holy energy, Zea strikes at him twice.
Saul and Zea add injury to insult and bring Azvernathi down with a stab and two powerful blows.
Overturned desks and scattered paperwork cover the floor of this large workroom; doors hang open on the walls to the southeast and northeast to reveal empty offices, each containing a number of bedrolls and supplies. On a desk that looks still like someone would work there lies a tome
called The History and Future of Humanity.
Rexus slowly follows from the gallery of empty frames, stepping carefully over the bodies of the zombies and the asmodeam redactor. As Saul offers his condolences he freezes in shock. Turning around he stares at the burnt corpses until he notices the rings. OOOOoooooo!" Rexus breaks down sobbing, falling on his knees. He takes the burnt hand in his. "Mother, nooooooo..."
Cassius looks through the book.
Zea breathes hard until she's caught her breath again. She moves over to Rexus and lays a small hand lightly on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry..." Not knowing what to say, she just stays near the grieving man. I know too much what that's like... Thanks to Asmodean scumbags like these...
"Some kind of religious book. But there's a note: 'Turn the eye to spell the name of the Master of Masters.'"
Cassius looks around for an eye.
Zea wonders "Do you think it means the eye of that statue? The magical eye? Hmm... Who is this Master of Masters? I didn't see any letters I recognized on that eye..." She looks at the unconscious bodies. "Maybe one of these knows something about it."
Even with the code given with this note, it is not simply entering it. The runes are no letters of any language you know.
"I know many tongues. Let me have a look."
With their combined knowledge and some trying around Cassius and Saul finally manage to crack the code. Turning the eyeball back and forth, to spell Irori in Azlant letters, they set the statue in motion. Slowly and almost without noise it slides back to the wall. An iron spiral stairway leads down.
"Yes! Awesome!"
|
"Amazing! I didn't suspect... I thought maybe a chest... Incredible."
"I don't think we should go down there with our prisoners sitting here. Anyone have questions?"
Saul rips off a gag from one of the Asmodean's mouth.
"Tell me what your purpose was in this building or I will slit your throat."
Sweet and simple, that's all it needs to be.
The asmodean grins and spits Saul in the face.
Zea marvels at the secret passageway. "I've only ever dreamed of being part of adventures like this... When I signed up I told myself 'There will be plenty of hiding and dirt and little glamor. But my first mission has a secret stairway! Excellent!" The young tiefling lass actually smiles broadly and giggles for the first time in a long while.
When Saul speaks of the prisoners, she gets serious again. "Ok... I'll help... But I can't kill any of them... not yet."
"You'll notice the moral problem my friends have. I don't have one. You really want them to watch me kill you."
The monk is thoroughly intimidated by the bad guy / even more bad guy performance. "I'm just a redactor, checking documents." he replies to Saul's original question.
Fhingle walks up to the man, pressing a hand against his head and drawing a symbol of Abdar.
'Tell us more of what you know, what else were you looking for here?" Fhingle asks
"I'm a redactor. I wasn't here when it was taken over by Lord Thrune." the guy replies.
"What is the job of a redactor?" Fhingle asks again
"Making sure that only the truth is told in history books and documents." the monk replies to Fhingle.
"Because you're here in arms means you're an enemy of House Thrune."
"Censor, more like it. Truth isn't exactly the devil's purview."
Slowly the statue returns into it's former position, hiding the entrance to the basement.