Sev listens to Lorenzo as he speaks up for the lives of the Bastards of Erebus and decides to speak up himself.
"D-do you think they'd be treated any better with the authorities?" It's not a criticism, it's an honest question. Having never known anything but the harsh punishments dealt to unruly slaves, he would never have even considered letting the local authorities take over.
"If we d-d-d-do turn them over, how do we do it without revealing ourselves? Do we just leave them knocked o-out somewhere?" He raises and eyebrow as he considers the matter but moves on to the issue of who to accompany them.
"I agree with Catina. I think Arael should be with the rest of the Eye's. Th-they respect his leadership and that c-could be important in this s-situation. P-plus we've fought beside Janiven before, kind of."
Catina considers Lorenzo's words. She hadn't thought about it that way. His idea to turn them over to the proper authorities connects with her, but Sev's view of the matter also makes sense. "We don't really know how the city guard and magistrates might respond. They might think we've made a fool out of them by taking out this group, or they might try to take the credit for themselves. Then we would have helped the city, but not our own cause..."
"Lorenzo, you had some good ideas on how we should set up the attack on Arael's convoy. Do you have any suggestions on how to go about this?"
|
Faustinia agrees to help Catina get the clothes she wants, then turns her attention to their debriefing about the tiefling group. "Catina is right about one thing, at least: going to the dottari won't help the Eyes," Faustinia chimes in. "At best they'll probably take credit for our victory, and at worst they'll arrest us as criminals and traitors. These thieves have murdered people in their own homes, and it seems there will be no justice under Thrune authority. We can certainly try to reason with them, and give them a chance to leave the city, but we will meet them with violence if we have to."
Faustinia takes a deep breath. Her eyes cast down and searching the floor for answers, her brow creased in thought, she wears a conflicted look. Not of one who is currently struggling with a hard decision, but of one who has already made their choice and is hoping it's the right one. ”We'll give them a chance, but I doubt this will end before blood is spilled. In any case, we should focus on our plan to stop them. I agree that Janiven should come with us, and Arael should lead the other Eyes in serving as our backup. We can get close, but we'll need to get that lookout removed. Arael, do any of the Eyes have the capability for that? Perhaps a sharpshooter, or a mage with a disabling spell?”
Faustinia creases her brow in thought again. ”That still leaves the matter of getting inside. It would be most unwise to simply barrel headfirst into a den of thieves. No doubt they have traps set up to catch intruders, not to mention their apparent willingness to kill.” Faustinia blinks so few times as an idea comes to her. She turns and looks meaningfully at Catina. ”Catina, do you think you could convince them that you wanted to join them? If we had you on the inside, that might give us the entry we need. I don't think there's much time for you to gain their intimate trust exactly - ideally we would stop them before they hurt anyone again - but perhaps it could at least be a foot in the door. What do the rest of you think?”
Catina is surprised by Faustinia's bold suggestion, and she looks quite apprehensive. She is willing to give it some thought, however. "That's... I hadn't even thought about that, but it would seem natural to make use of my... nature." She looks at Arael as she continues. "I doubt I'll be able to convince them of my willingness to actually join their group. But maybe as a distraction, just to get them to open the front door, when they see me. That could work, I guess. Arael, did your contact tell you anything about the defenses of their hideout, or any procedures they might have for dealing with visitors or potential recruits?"
Arael nods at Faustinia. "That's most unfortunate, but I must agree with Faustinia on a point: turning those criminals over to the authorities won't help us. The risk of you getting arrested in the process is too high. Without mentioning the fact that the Dottari are usually so corrupted that they might end up freeing the Bastards due to bureaucracy issues. We need to act on ourselves. As I see it, these people are way too dangerous to give them the chance to surrender or to restrain yourself to weak attacks...They would use that to their own advantage, no doubt about that. And since our mission is already hard as it is, I believe that holding back in combat would give them an edge over us and bring us to defeat. A defeat we can't allow ourselves."
When Faustinia explains her plan to have Catina ask to join the group of criminals as a way to allow the group an easier entrance into their den, Arael sits back on his chair and closes his eyes as though he was thinking deeply. After a few moments of pondering, he nods. "The plan makes sense, Lady Faustinia. But it's very risky as well, especially for Catina. I won't give my consent to this unless Catina agrees willingly to act as a sort of bait, aware of all the risks deriving from that. What do you think about it, Catina?"
---
When the plan is eventually set, Janiven gives you another of her confident looks. "Well, I'm ready. It'll be a though challenge, but I think we'll manage. Besides, I'm pretty curious to see you at work with my very eyes. It's all set then, I'll come with you while Arael leads some of the other Eyes to act as a backup. As far as the lookout is concerned, I believe that maybe some of ours can accomplish that..."
Arael chimes in and nods. "Indeed, they can. And with my help, they will. You don't need to worry about the lookout anymore. So, let's see...I think everything is at place now. We can do this tomorrow. Come back in the early afternoon here at the Shrine, with all of the equipment you need to get the job done. I'll try to have the uniforms ready as well. I'll bribe some guards in order to allow us entrance into Parego Dospera without too many questions. Let's see tomorrow then, and thank you. I appreciate your courage, and the city won't forget what you're going to do".
____________________________________
When Faustinia explains her plan to have Catina ask to join the group of criminals as a way to allow the group an easier entrance into their den, Arael sits back on his chair and closes his eyes as though he was thinking deeply. After a few moments of pondering, he nods. "The plan makes sense, Lady Faustinia. But it's very risky as well, especially for Catina. I won't give my consent to this unless Catina agrees willingly to act as a sort of bait, aware of all the risks deriving from that. What do you think about it, Catina?"
Once the decision about turning over the thugs to the authorities or giving them a chance to surrender has been made, Lorenzo moved on to the next phases of the plan.
"Ok, just so we all know. This mission has now become one of extermination. We have determined that these people are beyond redemption and we just need to kill them."
He added, "This is so innocent lives can be saved."
Lorenzo looked at Catina, "I also don't like the idea of putting you in danger any more than necessary. If you try to infiltrate them, then you will be yourself. I cannot accept that."
He continued, "If Janiven takes care of the lookout and Arael takes care of any stragglers, then our job is to go in and root them out."
He looked at his armor, "I am not the stealthiest person around but I think if we hit them fast and hit them first, we may have a chance."
"Any other ideas?"
Catina looks small and self-conscious under Arael's direct gaze, but she eventually squares her shoulders. "Yes, I will do this. These people have looted and murdered, and we'll have to use any advantage we have to stop them. I know I'll put myself at risk, but I think it's manageable." She looks at all of the others gathered. "Here's what I propose:"
"I approach the church - their hideout - in the open. This might distract the lookout enough for Arael and his team to take care of him, and will allow the other three to approach the church unseen, from another direction. They'll be close. You said they could approach to within 50 feet unseen, right? I'll announce myself, and try to get them to open the door. That should be our cue - I don't think it would be wise for me to actually go in by myself. When the door is open, I could either distract the person opening the door - if it's just one of them - or I could confuse all of them by summoning mist. Then the others can storm in, and we've got a foothold into the hideout. How does that sound? Arael, did your contact tell you anything of how this group recruits? Or how they recognize each other? Something that might help me seem a feasible recruit?"
Lorenzo nodded to Catina, "There's the risk of them inviting you in and then interrogating you while inside."
He thought for a moment, "I guess I'm Ok as long as you don't go in. Your ruse would sort of open the door for us if only for a second and avoid us having to pick the lock."
He then added, "I wouldn't waste any magic other than for protection. We'll be right behind you. In fact, Sev may be able to take a shot at the person that opens the door if he has a clear shot or perhaps Faustinia could do something to him."
"Ok, that's settled then," Catina says, trying to sound brave. "I won't go in alone, and I'll have you close. Faustinia, could you carry my glaive for me? I don't think it'll really make the right impression, joining a band of murderer's while wielding Shelyn's weapon."
|
|
Faustinia nods. "We stay back, Catina goes forward alone to get the door open, and we work from there. I'll happily hold your glaive for you. This gang will terrorize Westcrown no more."
---
The day of the plan, Faustinia fiddles with a button on her cloak nervously. She has some of her usual confident bearing, but it's obvious that she's nervous to face an undertaking of this caliber. "Does everyone have what they need?" she asks, checking her pack and glancing down at the more sturdy boots she has on instead of her usual soft slippers. "Catina, I see that my tailor came through for you--do they fit okay? Arael, are our uniforms ready?"
Catina is nervous for the entire day, and going through her prayer and chores by rote. On the one hand, it seems to her like she's not really going to be in any danger: She's only going to knock on the door, and once it opens she'll call her companions. On the other hand, she's dealing with a band of thieves and murderers. Thinking about the fact that there's a group of tieflings who turn to those kinds of practices strengthen her resolve.
That afternoon she arrives at the temple early, for once. When Faustinia presents her new clothes, she looks down at them incredulously. "They're... they're great. Just what I had in mind. Thank you!" Before she knows it, Catina steps in to the the noblewoman a tight hug.
|
|
If this had been the first hug Faustinia had received from Catina, she probably would have been more dismayed. As it is, she tenses up briefly in surprise but resigns herself to awkward acceptance rather than extreme discomfort. She pats the tiefling girl's back - careful to avoid touching her hands - saying, "Er, of course. You're welcome. It was a simple thing, really..." Before the embrace goes on too long, Faustinia gently and politely peels herself away from the hug, placing her hands on Catina's shoulders and giving her a small, but warm, smile.
Sev spends a long time realizing that he has agreed to killing a number of individuals he's never met.
It's a far cry from being in charge of washing bed sheets and delivering meals, life was moving quickly and he wasn't sure he was able to keep up, but he'd agreed to join this group.
He listens, quietly, as Catina offers herself up as bait of sorts, to get them in the door, and he's frightened for her.
"I-I'll try!" He pipes up when Lorenzo suggests he might get a shot at whoever opens the door. "If I c-can get a clear shot, I'll take it. Let me g-get into position before you try to get in." He finds that he's increasingly confident in his ability to stay out of sight.
He's committed to the plan, and does his best to make sure he's prepared for whatever may come.
It’s the day. The day in which the Eyes of Westcrown attempt their most dangerous and ambitious effort.
You all gather in the Shrine of Aroden at the established time, and as soon as you arrive you’re welcomed in warmly by Janiven and Arael. You’re given your brand-new uniforms, and a proud smile on Arael’s face testifies his happiness for the result.
“They look great on you! Now, Catina, please remove them as planned”, says Arael with his proud smile.
“Time to go”, replies Janiven, geared up for fight.
“Wait a moment, Janiven. Irises, there’s something you should know before you go on. We surprisingly failed to bribe the city guards to let us reach Parego Dospera without questions, so we need to figure out a way to enter the ruined portion of the city. Every possible option has its own share of hazards, whether day or night. Last time, you managed to enter Parego Dospera without arising too many suspicions, but it’s not guaranteed it will go this way again, especially because the guards at the gates now know your faces. As you know, Chelish people have gotten used to the idea of reporting anything unusual to the authorities, and a large group of armed fold isn’t exactly…usual”, explains Arael furrowing his brow.
“As I see it, we have two option. The first one: we try and bribe the city guards again, this time with an offer they can’t refuse, let’s say at least 50 golden crowns per person. Second option: we disguise ourselves as porters, carrying large bags containing our own adventuring gear. Both of this option could work to stem suspicion.”
“If you prefer night, though”, chimes in Janiven, “we’re not going to have to deal with nosy observers, but getting to the wall that divides the old city from the inhabited part requires travel on the darker streets, which means we risk encountering a shadow beast on the prowl”.
“We should also consider where to climb the wall. While the wall is only 10 feet high in most parts of the city, climbing the wall that’s intended to be a barrier against vagrants, gangs, sewer goblins, and murderous tieflings tends to draw the eye. There’s also a large gate that connects to the old city, but it has been barred since the great fire; while the city watch makes sure that nobody sets up tents or carts in front of it, just in case they ever need the gate for official city business, nobody actually uses the gate, and trying to open it might start a panic”, explains Arael.
“So, what do you choose?”, asks Arael.
“We’re all ready, we just need you to decide on this matter”, adds Janiven.
________________________________________
Arael comes closer to you as the others are preparing to depart and gently invites you with a nod of his head to follow him in a part of the Shrine where he can talk with you alone.
"Catina, I was hoping to find the right time to speak with you", starts the half-elf with an almost apologetic tone, "but since you've joined the Eyes of Westcrown I've been so busy that I barely had the time to sleep, so I hope you'll forgive me for the delay". The tone of Arael's voice is clearly different from the firm, authoritative one he always uses when he speaks to the group as a whole.
"Well, as you've surely noticed, you're the only, hum...tiefling, in our group. I can't hide it. I have some prejudices against tieflings, and sometimes I'm not able to hide them in your presence. I...Well, I don't think that every single tiefling on Golarion is evil or corrupted, but as a matter of fact, the majority of them is...how can I find the right words...uhm, I'd say that most of the tiefling of Golarion are naturally inclined to evil. I know some have the strenght of will to resist this natural calling, and I can recognize when someone is trying to do it. But in your case...Listen, Catina, if I say this about tiefling is because I've studied. You see, tiefling have a fiendish heritage, something one cannot deny. But you, you just seem different to me. It's not like you're resisting to any dark call...You seem more like naturally inclinded toward good. Well, I just wanted to say that I see in you the confirmation that even theological handbooks can be wrong. Today, you're going to face many of your kins...I just hope this will help you in understanding your nature and...and why people usually hate tieflings. And of course, to realize why you're so special. To me and to everyone in our group. Oh, sorry" concludes Arael as he's called from Janiven, inviting him to join back the group.
"Good luck, Catina. We'll talk about it later, when time will give us the chance to. In the meantime, remember. There's always hope. For everyone. And you were the one who inspired this knowledge in me."
Lorenzo considered both options of approach and quickly made up his mind, "Night. I think we should approach at night and try to remain in disguise. Being disguised as porters sounds like a good idea."
He then added, "A 10' high wall shouldn't pose too much of a problem but we should scale the wall in an area where there is little to no patrols."
He shook his head, "Perhaps Sev knows an area like this. If not then perhaps we can use one of our allies to call attention to any guards we find and then scale the wall while the guards are away."
Although quick to make up his mind, the paladin asked, "Well, is there merit to the other options?"
|
|
”Actually,” Faustinia interjects, ”I know of a little side street that goes right up to the wall. I would always walk past it when I used to stroll around the city more. We should have privacy there to scale the wall. You young folk will have to help me over, though - and not just because I'm old, I don't know if I've climbed anything in my life besides some particularly taxing staircases,” she adds with a little smile.
”If it's truly as secluded a spot as I think it is, I believe we can enjoy the best of both worlds: privacy from prying eyes as well as the safety of daylight. That makes the disguises unnecessary, but if it doesn't take too much time they can't hurt, right?” she says.
Catina looks pleased as she tries on her uniform. She's sad to have to take them off again, but at least she has her new clothes to get into, which compensates. "These look well on you, all," she compliments the others. "Dashing," she adds with a smile.
Her brows furrow as Arael explains the conundrum. She doesn't like their odds with the guards, and that failing could spiral out of control fast. On the other hand, their night in the ruined shack was still fresh in her memory. Even if that had dealt with the shadow beast, she wasn't looking forward to another encounter. Faustinia's suggestions is deciding for her. "I think we should take our chances as the wall. I'm not too happy to be out after dark, but going up to the guards is too big a risk, I believe. If we're being questioned or held, that could put us into real problems."
Catina follows Arael, slightly apprehensive. She looks down at her hands as she listens, fiddling with her bracelet. When Arael confesses to his prejudice, she looks at him at nods, acknowledging that she had noticed, but not judging. She's silent as he talks, thinking of how to respond. As Arael finishes and she knows that to say, they're interrupted by Janiven, and her words go unspoken when she follows Arael back to the group.
“It’s all set then”, nods Arael, happy to see the Irises coming to a quick decision. “I’ll lead the others through another way. We’ll meet there. Wait for our signal before approaching the temple: that will mean that we have removed the lookout. When we’ll accomplish that, look up at the temple’s tower: you’ll see a flickering light glowing for three times before disappearing. That will be our signal. Good luck, Irises of Westcrown”.
Janiven quickly checks her equipment once again and then nods at you. “I’m ready. Shall we go?”
---
The group departs four hours before sunset. Dressed as porters, hiding their weapons and armors behind ordinary clothes, the Irises walk through the city streets along with Janiven, who’s wearing a thick blue hooded cloak. It takes approximately 20 minutes for the group to reach the spot Faustinia mentioned. Once you’re there, you immediately understand that Lady Faustinia’s memory was perfect, and that the portion of the wall she led you to is just the right one to enter Parego Dospera without drawing too much attention to yourselves. Slowly and taking all of the possible precautions, you climb the wall, helping Lady Faustinia in the process.
From there on, you follow Janiven, who leads you through the ruined portion of the city with experienced wisdom. You have all the time to walk slowly, avoiding the holes in the ground and the resulting injuries.
After about 20 minutes spent walking through the ruined streets of the Dospera, you reach the place you’re looking for. The old temple has a small bell tower jutting from the southeast corner—the large (but very weathered) bow-and-arrow symbol on the bell tower clearly indicates that this used to be a temple of Erastil. Windows are 4 feet off the ground, 2 feet wide, and 4 feet tall, and are far too grimy on the inside to look through. The bottom 3 feet of the walls are mortared stone, the rest is old wood, with a clay tile roof.
After waiting for a few minutes, you see the signal indicating that Arael and the other Eyes managed to eliminate the lookout. Now it’s time to act!
The temple’s front door is a sturdy wooden door carved with scenes of elk, hunters, and farmhouses. It is in good condition except for a spot near the center where a piece is chipped off, as if someone had struck it with an axe. The door has a large keyhole.
“It’s your turn, Catina”, whispers Janiven. “We’ll wait for you here, behind this ruined building where they won’t see us when they open the door, provided they’ll do so. This way, we’ll be also close enough to burst out and attack at your signal. Now, Irises, in position!”
_________________________________
The paladin actually liked the uniforms and though that he could actually move and fight without too much trouble. He had been worried that the cape would hinder his movements but was pleasantly surprised. besides white was one of the Lady's colors.
Lorenzo nodded encouragingly to the tielfling, "Remember. Don't go inside by yourself. Just get that door open for us."
He then offered a quick prayer and waited...
On the way do the Parego Dospera, Catina suddenly starts talking, the result of an inner dialogue that she'd been having since leaving the temple. "I was thinking... We're going up against a group of tieflings who've turned to a life of violent crime. We've decided that turning them in to the Dottari will do little good, and we have to solve this ourselves. Now, I don't think could ever comprehend how someone could choose for a life like that - thieving and murdering - but I know that life must have been hard for them. Whether it's their nature turning them to violence, or the fact that society has turned them away, it's... That's no excuse of course. But wouldn't it be worth it so see whether maybe... we could find people there who aren't really happy with their choices, and who would choose for another life, without crimes like that?"
--
As they reach the temple and the signal on the watchtower is given, Catina realizes that the time has finally come. She hands her glaive to Faustinia, checks the mace at her belt and keeps both hands on her quarterstaff to stop them from shaking. "Right. I'll only be gone for a while. And I won't go inside, as we've discussed." She then rounds the corner, until she's in front of the door. She tries to feel what could motivate these tieflings - related to her in a way - to join such a band, and rehearses what she's going to say. I'm sick of society casting me down, and I've heard that you're a group of Bastards that have found a way to take care of yourselves. I want in." She takes another deep breath, and firmly pounds on the door.
|
|
As Catina voices her concerns on the way to the ruined Parego Dospera, Faustinia creases her brow. ”Just be prepared to do what we need to do. Who knows what we can expect from criminals like these?” she adds. Even as she's saying it, though, her usual forceful confidence falls a bit, and she turns her eyes to the ground.
Catina is no monster, she thinks, but she can be naive. To think that there are tieflings where we're going that aren't happy to slit our throats and take our coin, well… She takes a glance at the people around her: the young and downtrodden and brave folks who she has agreed to fight a criminal gang with. Stranger things have happened.
---
Before they get too close to the temple, Faustinia pauses to cast a spell. With a quick word and a reserved motion, a shimmering field of force washes over her before turning invisible. Once Arael’s team gives the signal, she follows Janiven’s order to get in position. Bracing herself against the low wall, she clutches Catina’s glaive tightly. She swallows hard, hoping she hasn't thrown the poor child into the lion's den with her plan.
"Yes, I know," Catina says resigned, sensing Faustinia's skepticism. "But I'm just saying, it could happen, right? That one joins for the wrong reasons, and then finds that he can't go back, even though he doesn't want this? We were doing this to give people a better life, didn't we?"
When Catina knocks on the door, at first nothing happens. It takes a few minutes and several more knocking on the door for Catina to actually receive a response—but contrary to the girl’s expectations, what she hears, at first, is not the sound of someone walking to the door, or worse, of someone drawing a weapon. It’s the bark of a dog. After some seconds, Catina eventually hears what she was expecting: the sound of steps coming at the door. The Shelynite cleric can see a shadow moving in the darkness of the temple through the window, and before having the time to react, a voice calls from inside. “Who are you? And what do you want?”
_________________________
Catina can feel her heart pounding in her throat as she waits for something, other than the door. She keeps rehearsing the words, but that only seems to make it more difficult. When she had to lie earlier, it had always been a spur-of-the-moment thing, not so much like now. When the call finally comes, she tries to feel what the Bastards must feel: cast out by society, looking for a group that will accept them as they are, anything to belong somewhere. She summons courage and hope her voice doesn't betray her fear. "I am sick of society casting me down, and I've heard that you're a group of Bastards that have found a way to take care of yourselves. I'm one of you, by nature. I want in." The words sound alien to her and she doesn't feel like one of the Bastards - at all, but she can only hope (and pray) that this doesn't carry in her voice.
Doing his best to stay out of sight, Lorenzo grasped the halfling's shoulder perhaps a little too tight.
He smiled a nervous grin; this was clearly affecting him more than he anticipated and he really wanted him to be bait as it was last time.
He whispered, "We're all ready, right? No hesitation."
Another interval of silence follows, as you hear two voices whispering in Infernal. The strange mix between that fiendish language and those whispered voices would give the creep to anyone. You’re not able to fully discern the content of their debate, but it’s somehow clear to you that they’re arguing about what to do with your request. Suddenly, you hear one of the voices raising high over the other one. “Ya’ selfish dung! Ya’ came here same way!”. The voice seems to be feminine. Then, a sound of steps approaching the door.
A tiefling woman opens the door. She has long horns and a beige skin, wears tight black leather clothes and has a heavy make-up on her face. A crossbow swings at her belt, fixed with a rusty iron ring. A pouch on her left side seems to contain some bolts, while at the other side the tiefling carries a crude but light mace. A foul-smelling cur is next to the girl, and another tiefling, a male, stands behind her at a few feet of distance away from her.
“So who are ya’?”, asks the tiefling with a gravelly but not unkind voice.
As the tiefling opens the door, Catina (along with the others watching over here) have the chance to take a look at the temple’s interior. Two wooden tables set up for playing simple card and dice games sit in the large room behind the door. Four chairs are set up near each table. In the northeast corner is a stack of small wooden crates, to the north is a pair of water barrels, and on the far west side of the room is a small table. A hallway to the northwest turns out of view, and the interior wall of the temple’s belltower takes a corner out of the southeast part of the room. The place smells of sweat, beer, and dog. There’s no other light in the room apart from the one of the dying sun coming from the outside.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Janiven tightens the grasp on her longbow. Through gritted teeth, she whispers to Lorenzo, at her side, “Hold on boy, we must wait until Catina makes the first move”. With that said, Janiven nocks an arrow and takes aim. Everyone around her can see that she’s initially aiming for the tiefling girl’s head, but almost instantly Janiven lowers her bow and aims for her foe’s leg.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: none
Janiven √
Lorenzo
Tiefling Girl
Catina
Tiefling Male
Lady Faustinia
Sev
Scabby
______________________________________________________
--- ---
Wow, that was close!
--- ---
Lorenzo is puzzled by Janiven's last minute change in aim, "Did we change plans or something? Why are you not tring to kill her?"
He then grabbed the glaive from Faustinia and ran, "No need for you to get close. I should have thought of this before."
Once at the door, he handed the glaive over to Catina, "Here, make Shelyn proud."
--------
Catina says a silent prayer as she tries to make sense of what's happening inside, rubbing at the bracelet on her wrist, hidden within her long cloak. The shouting voice inside makes her unsure. See, they're picking up tieflings who have no other place to go. That'd be a perfect solution, wouldn't it? If only they hadn't turned out to be a band of... of murderers! The thought saddens her greatly, and makes her apprehensive of what's going to happen next. When the door finally opens, she's surprised to see a girl, not unlike herself. How old is she? The overheard conversation has weakened her resolve, and also slowed her reactions. Before she can decide what to do next, she sees Lorenzo running at her. "No, wait!"
Hoping that the tiefling girl will not close the door in time, Catina acts on instinct. She thrusts out a hand, trying to touch her on the arm. Please Shelyn, let her see what could have been.
--
--
|
|
Faustinia closes her eyes tightly and presses the heel of her palm against her forehead for just a moment. "That boy..." she mutters before peeking out from around the corner of the covering wall.
she shouts at the ruined temple before casting a spell with a crisp word and a snap of her fingers. A vaguely humanoid shape, faintly glowing, appears inside the room she can see through the door next to the leather jacket tiefling and her dog.
__________
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
The tiefling girl’s eyes go wide as soon as she spots Lorenzo approaching quickly in the temple’s direction. “Wha…What’s happening?” Noticing the glaive brought by Lorenzo is enough for her to realize the danger. A disdainful grimace pops up on her face as she draws her mace and violently tries to bring it down on Catina’s head. “TRAITOR! Gix, give the alarm!” Fortunately, the blow is slow and influenced by the tiefling’s surprised, and Catina easily avoids it. Immediately after, Catina manages to touch the tiefling girl on her arm, dazing her.
“I told you!” calls the voice from inside the temple. “Scabby, attack!” The tiefling male loads the crossbow he had previously drawn and fires it at Catina. “Close the f#~#ing door!” Fortunately, Catina’s armor protects her from the bolt.
Immediately after, a vaguely humanoid shape, faintly glowing, appears inside the room. “What’s this?”
Realizing the danger and thanks to Lady Faustinia’s lights, Sev fires his bow from a distance. The arrow flies right in the tiefling girl’s leg, making her shout in pain.
The guard dog quickly reacts to the danger trying to bite Catina, but the Shelynite cleric steps back and prevents the dog from biting her.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Janiven grits her teet. “Lorenzo, wait!” But it’s too late. The woman then fires her bow at the tiefling girl, aiming for her shoulder after Lorenzo’s word. The arrow is so precise that is lodges right where Janiven had aimed, causing the tiefling girl to collapse from the pain, abundant blood flowing out of her wounds. “GET INSIDE!” calls out Janiven.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: [url=http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/coreRulebook/spells/dancingLights.html]dancing lights[/ur] (9 rounds left)
Janiven √
Lorenzo
Tiefling Girl
Catina
Tiefling Male
Lady Faustinia
Sev
Scabby
______________________________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
=========
=========
Catina looks on horrified as things spin out of control. All she can think is of how old the tiefling girl would be, and whether it had been right to gain entrance by deception, by using the tiefling's own despair and hopes against themselves. Her first instinct is to crouch down and stabilize the girl, but Janiven's urgent shout and the angry dog in front of her prevent that. She's too stunned to speak, but reaches out for the glaive that Lorenzo's holding, and takes a step back have room for a swing. I'm sorry...
=========
=========
Lorenzo steps in front of Catina to have a better swing at the dog. He then attack, with both his sword and shield.
--
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Lorenzo hits the dog with his sword but not with his shield, while Catina fails to strike at the creature with enough accuracy. In the meantime, the other tiefling loads his crossbow and fires at Lorenzo. “INTRUDEEEERS! INTRUDEEERS!” he cries out as he fires his ranged weapon. The bolt is precise, and clearly shows why some fighters prefer crossbow over bows: bolts are fired with such a force from a crossbow that it can easily pierce a metal armor. And this is exactly what happens in Lorenzo’s case, whose armor is pierced only a few inches below his heart. Encouraged by his success, the tiefling avoids both Lady Faustinia’s acid dart and Sev’s arrow.
Scabby, the guard dog, uses the confusion created by the fight to try and bite Lorenzo. The paladin, wounded and confused, is hit again and feels the dog’s teeth piercing his right leg.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Janiven moves behind Catina and fires another arrow, aiming for the tiefling behind the dog. “Die!” Her arrow, unfortunately, is aimed poorly.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: dancing lights (8 rounds left)
Janiven √
Lorenzo
Tiefling Girl
Catina
Tiefling Male
Lady Faustinia
Sev
Scabby
______________________________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
=========
=========
Catina looks down at the dying tiefling girl and knows that something must be done. "Please deal with the dog quickly, Lorenzo. We have to get inside." She touches Lorenzo on the shoulder and instills him with a sense of urgency, so that she can still save the girl, at least.
=========
=========
Lorenzo bites back the pain from the crossbow bolt and bite in his leg. Aided by Catina's encouragement, he strikes at the guard dog in front of him. He has his eye on the next target already, and is poised to run in and engage the tiefling with the crossbow.
|
|
=========
=========
Flinching at the tiefling's cry of intruders, Faustinia focuses her efforts on that one. She loads a bolt into her crossbow and takes aim past the skirmish blocking the door before letting the quarrel fly. ”Sev! Don't let that scoundrel sounds the alarm any further!”
Sev whips his head towards Faustinia with wide eyes, gives a quick nod, and follows her instructions. He looses an arrow at the tiefling man before ducking behind cover again.
__________
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Lorenzo experiences a terrible wave of bad luck as he fails twice to hit the dog in front of him despite Catina’s divine assistance. Is someone was watching him, that silent observer would probably swear that some dark force is actively working against the paladin.
In the meantime, the tiefling male, encouraged by his previous luck, tries to ride his personal wave of luck and fires at Lorenzo again. This time, the armor protects the paladin though. “XANDRIIIIL!!! GET THE F&&% DOWN HEEEEREEE!!”, screams the tiefling as he avoids an arrow from Sev and a bolt from Faustinia.
Scabby, the guard dog, attacks Lorenzo again, but this time is not lucky as before.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Janiven fires another arrow from behind Catina’s head, but it seems like an aura of invulnerability protects the tiefling, who manages to avoid this threat as he did with the previous attacks.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
: dancing lights (7 rounds left)
Janiven √
Tiefling Girl
Catina
Lorenzo
Tiefling Male
Lady Faustinia
Sev
Scabby
______________________________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
--- ---
|
|
=========
=========
Faustinia sneers in frustration, watching the tiefling inside call ruin on their only advantage of surprise with each passing moment. She takes a deep breath, then darts out of cover toward the temple. She fires another dart of acid, this time at the fiendish creature inside. ”Shut up!” she hisses, as if she could mitigate the alarm by keeping her own voice down.
Sev follows suit, firing another arrow at the tiefling. He stays back, though, content to stay behind cover.
__________
=========
=========
Seeing how he's still under considerable attack, Lorenzo keeps his shield for defense. This has the added benefit of making him more accurate with his sword, something he seems to need. He strikes at the dog, still eager to get into the building and engage the tiefling with the crossbow.
========
========
Catina looks at Lorenzo missing the dog repeatedly, and casts a worried look down at the bleeding tiefling girl on the floor. Somehow, if I can just save her. Would she be one that could renounce her ways? I really hope so. She apologizes to Shelyn, and swings her glaive (half-heartedly) at the dog to allow Lorenzo entrance to the temple.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Lorenzo finally manages to hit the dog with his sword, sending it to the ground with a painful yelp. In the meantime, Catina stabilizes the tiefling girl. The other tiefling though does not give up and fires another arrow at Lorenzo, hoping to knock him down, but Lorenzo’s choice to keep his shield up proves particularly effective, since it is his shield that protects the paladin from the arrow. A few moments later, Lady Faustinia hits the tiefling with her acid dart, causing the fiendish humanoid to scream in pain. “DAAAAAMN!” Unfortunately, Sev does not manage to finish the tiefling with his arrow.
▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
⁞⁞⁞⁞ ⁞⁞⁞⁞
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Janiven does it though. With an accurate arrow, she sends the tiefling down to the ground and unconscious.
With both of the tiefling and the guard dog dealt with, the group now has some time to heal and explore the Temple’s interior. Apart from the main room there is a flight of stairs leading down, and an open door leading upstairs, probably to the lookout tower.
______________________________________________________
--- ---
--- ---
Catina anxiously watches the stairs for a few moments, worried that the alarm might have sounded and more tieflings would rush up. When they don't immediately arrive, Catina takes the time to look around the room. With Shelyn's blessing the stabilizes the dog, then moves next to the body of the tiefling with the crossbow. She looks up at the others, unsure. For some reason, it was more difficult to think of this man as being here by accident, caught up in a couple of wrong life choices. "What should we do with him?" she asks the others. "I... We can't leave them all alive, can we? Then we'll have solved nothing."
--
Before they head further, Catina moves close to Lorenzo, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You're hurt. Please, let me heal you before we go on." she weaves some magic as she prays, watching his wounds close as she touches them. She sighs again as she watches the tieflings. If fixing everything could be as easy as this...
--
|
|
Faustinia takes a deep breath of relief when the fight is over and the room immediately becomes quieter. She still looks nervously to the stairwells, anticipating reinforcements at any time. As Catina asks what to do, Faustinia takes another deep breath - not of relief, but to steel herself for the decisions they have to make. ”You're right. We can't take them to the guards, and it's not as if the safe house has somewhere we could put prisoners. Catina, Sev, why don't you tie up the one with the leather jacket? We might have the luxury of asking her some questions later. Lorenzo or I can...deal with the other one.”
This said, Faustinia rifles through the other tiefling man’s pockets for anything of use before standing up, crossbow in hand, and flicks her eyes toward Lorenzo with a meaningful look. She says quietly, ”Remember: these creatures, however miserable, have been terrorizing our citizens. And they're not above murder. We have to stop them somehow, because no one else will.” She loads her crossbow, waiting for Lorenzo's reaction, ready to relieve him of this task if needed.
Once done, she casts a quick spell to get the blood off her white uniform and waits by the entrance to the stairs. ”Ready?”
---
After taking a while to make up his mind, Lorenzo decides to listen to Lady Faustinia's words and delivers the final blow to the helpless tiefling who almost killed him in the fight.
In the meantime, Sev and Janiven tie up the female tiefling.
---
---
After retrieving anything useful from the defeated tiefling, the group is ready to continue the exploration. Janiven closes the entrance door to the temple. Then the party descends the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, the hallway turns left and ends in a simple wooden door. A short message has been artfully carved on the door, but someone seems to have marred the message with slashes from a sharp instrument.
The door in front of you is closed, but you can't know whether it is locked or not. In the meantime, Janiven lights up a sunrod. "Lorenzo, I believe Ermolos once told me about a way to carry a torch on a shield using some sort of metal bracket. You should really ask him about this", comments the woman with an ironic smile.
____________________________________
Catina tries very hard to busy herself with the tiefling woman, binding her and making sure that she's lying as comfortable as she can in that state. Her motions are slow and deliberate, all so that she won't have to acknowledge what's happening with the other tiefling. When the deed is done, she rejoins the others. "She didn't have anything useful. Some crossbow bolts for you perhaps, Janiven, and some spare change. Nothing else."
--
Catina traces the door carving, whispering the words for the benefit of the others. "Praise and thanks to those who spent their lives int he service of Erastil - their work strengthens us all. So that's what this was originally was. Back when Westcrown was still the capital, I think?"
Concerning the light, Catina adds "I could cast a small blessing of light on your shield as well, Lorenzo. Or on your sword, if you want. That would give you enough light to see by" At his request, Catina casts the small spell on Lorenzo's sword, giving it a warm yellow glow.
She stands ready, glaive in hand behind Lorenzo, and looks back at the others, to give Lorenzo the signal that they're ready to proceed.
|
|
Faustinia sighs with relief when Lorenzo ends the tiefling's life. She still flinches a little bit, but she's glad to see the criminal vanquished -- simpler this way. She replenishes her supply of crossbow bolts and pockets the (certainly ill-gotten) coin in the man's purse.
---
"Vandals," Faustinia mutters as Catina parses the old temple's message carved into the door, marred as it is by slash marks. "Who knows what kind of defenses they have set up here. Sev," she adds, turning to the halfling, "forgive me for being so bold, but do you know how to search for these things? The halflings I've employed have, well, proven to be capable 'locksmiths' in a pinch..." she suggests, letting her allusion hang as if there's no need for further explanation.
Sev looks up at her and swallows nervously, but nods. "I- I kn-know a few things..." he replies. He approaches the door and scours it for hidden traps in the soft light of Janiven's sunrod and Lorenzo's now-glowing sword.