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"A hundred years since the Red Morning Massacre, and that demon still remembers it fondly," Lina says. "But no solid information. And before that can be looked into, we have other work to do."
They move on to the next safehouse.
the party eventually arrives at the nyserian manor, and... well, it's not there. What is there is a massive pile of rubble, still smoldering with embers.
Shayde searches to see if, like the other ruin they've investigated, there might be a basement or underground chamber that was missed.
Haruto frowns and shakes his head slightly as a brief image of the mansion intact appears before him.
Azlana looks around to see if there is anyone to ask about the fire, or if there looks like anything unburnt in the rubble that might be a clue. If not, she grumbles about the waste of time, and then heads back to tell everyone about what they found at the first place.
dispite the party's best efforts, this building, and it's contents, have been utterly destroyed. Interestingly, dispite apparently being a safe house for demon worshippers, it seems to have been torn apart by said demons.
The group eventually returns to defenders heart, and is given time to report anything they like to ilbareth and prepare for the grey garrison.
They report everything to Ilbareth and Azlana goes to check on the people they brought back to make sure things are going well.
arvanshul is here, but he's being rather reclusive, and avoids saying much.
Horgus is still at his manor.
Anvina is plenty willing to talk to anyone, and everyone, though she has little of importance to say, trying to distract herself from the reality of her situation.
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"While time is of the essence, we may need to rest and prepare for our assault"
Aside from that comment, Shayde mostly leaves the explaining to others and lurks someplace he can keep a watch out on the ruined city beyond. He also doesn't bother dismissing Stalker this time, letting the silent shade loom near him.
"Yes, rest would be wise," Haruto agrees.
|
Hanna will take care of the needs of her snake, which she tentatively names orn-sauriv, trying to find out what it eats, what it likes, trying to be affectionate to the little guy, even introducing him to the other people they had met.
She also makes sure to eat something herself after the familiar either indicates that he isn’t hungry somehow or he eats something.
come morning, the party gatheres to get ready to head off, and ilbareth walks up.
"As you prepare yourselves, I would like to offer to come along."
We would of course be grateful for the help, although I am not sure that your wife would be very happy with us if we got you killed. Are you not needed here?
"I am needed more places then I can be. I think this place can handle on it's own. I can accept if you think i should stay behind and oversee from here, but don't be afraid to ask for help, should you need it. Also, don't be afraid to retreat and regroup, if you need to."
Shayde shrugs. "Neither here nor there will be safe. Every blade is needed in every place. Where you go is your choice to make."
Good advice. Thank you, Ilbareth.
"alright, well. Make sure you're all prepared, and ... are you missing someone?"
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"Sorry, sorry--" Lina enters the room, fiddling with her scarves. "I heard what all you said, just got held up a moment. As my companions said, we can handle ourselves, but your men will look to you as a commander. On our end, we will not fail."
"alright then. Please, don't die in a burst of glory. Run if you have to, because we can have a chance tomorrow, but not if you few that are still in fighting shape die."
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Lina nods--then, she looks a little uncertain, even awkward. "So, ahem, maybe this is a stupid question and I should just leave it to the ones who know magic better than I--but how, exactly, do we destroy the wardstone fragment? I can't imagine it's as simple as smashing it."
Azlana realizes that she was ready to rush on without that key bit of knowledge. She stops for a moment and listens, reminding herself to be less impatient.
ilbareth removes a rod wrapped in cloth from a bag. "this is a rod of cancellation. It destroys any magic it comes in contact with. If we're lucky, the wardstone should succumb to it, but it's only got one shot. Don't waste it- keep it wrapped and don't touch it to anything else magic. In the unfortunate case that the wardstone manages to resist the effect, smashing it might be the only option. It's... really durable, but not invincible. In that unfortunate scenario, you might have to get creative."
"Are there any more preparations to be made before we depart, then?"
I don't think so. Let's go.
A large stretch of buckled ground and rubble stretches before
the Gray Garrison, an rather large 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 the party arrives, they are greeted with recently active combat, the same strange man from earlier, in red armor covered in razored feather patterns and holy symbols of pazuzu is walking toward the garrison. two massively obese bodies near the door are looking nervously at him, as he stops and turns to stare down what seems to be an emaciated dog covered in quills, both waiting for the other to take the first move. Behind the man is six corpses, all of them clearly wearing holy symbols of baphomet. The man's armor is bloodied and has several holes in it- a decent bit of the blood seems to be his own.
Numerous creatures around the building stir, the commotion the man is creating quickly leading many of the creatures to come out front.
Shayde and Stalker wordlessly slip into hiding, as usual.
That's an 11 and a 10. Even rolling two dice can't save you from bad rolls sometimes.
Azlana casts Veil of Heaven.
EFFECTRange personal or 5 ft.; see text
Target you or all creatures within 5 ft.; see text
Duration 10 minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw Will half; Spell Resistance noneDESCRIPTION
You surround yourself with a veil of positive energy, making it harder for evil outsiders to harm you. For the duration of this spell, you gain a +2 sacred bonus to AC and on saves. Both of these bonuses apply only against attacks or effects created by outsiders with the evil subtype. You can dismiss this spell as a swift action to deal 1d8 points of damage + 1 point per paladin level to all such outsiders within 5 feet. A Will save halves this damage.
Haruto calls down a blessing on the party.
"This guy again," Lina says darkly at the sight of him. She takes out one of the silver scales shed by the dying Terendelev and activates it, touching it to her starknife.
the armored man glances back at the party.
"you do recall that you challanged me. I-
The man is cut off by the howler next to him taking advantage of his distraction.
the howler bite's down on the man's arm, but his armor protects him from the quills. His armor dents inward, and the metal seems to be piercing is flesh, releasing a lot of blood into the creature's mouth.
The man bursts out laughing.
"not bad. Let me."
the man twirls his spear in his off hand, before wrenching his arm free, not even seeming to care this tears up his flesh more, before grabbing the spear in both hands and stabbing the howler.
the howler's side is directly peirced, and it stumbles, just barely staying on it's feet, snarling.
where the man's armor is torn, one large quill is stuck in. He... still doesn't seem to care, dispite the profuse bleeding and quill.
Meanwhile, there's quite a bit of commotion around the building. Drawn by both the combat and the spellcasting, cultists and demons alike have closed in.
Azlana doesn't think for a moment that they are on the same side, but with all the demons about, and him so far fighting on their side, she decides to worry about the weird demon-worshipper guy later.
She moves a little closer and shoots at the Howler.
(and +2 if evil outsider)
(and +2 if evil outsider)
Haruto narrows his eyes, looking over the assembling host of enemies. Picking the most dangerous-looking one he fires a ray of Heavenly Fire at it.
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"The only way in is the front door, we need to push through."
Lina rushes in and attacks one of the monsters at the doors. "Out of the way!"
Shayde and Stalker join the rush, attacking one cultist in tandem before he has a chance to notice the duo.
Anguis lunges at the hideously obese worm-man, stabbing it firmly before wrenching his spear out of the beast.