Valaria, Hinagiku, Ary/Anevia, and Isilme are up!
Hinagiku stays impassive when mounds of rocks go pass her and surround the babau. But, although she cannot let herself become overconfident, she knows this is her change. Seeing an opening in the babaus attacks, she narrowly avoids one of his strikes and slides to his side. Gracefully, she places one of her feet behind his and gently pushes it back with her hand. Then, in a flurry of kicks ending with a punched aimed at its forehead, she presses her advantage.
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As soon as Maugla casts the spell that would normally steal the entire team's ability to act, Ary intervenes - whether Isilme's abilities would protect him or not, this was an opportunity to weave the monster's magic against him, twisting his spell of fear into a boon. "Persevere, Rocky. Push through this."
Ary stands strong and waits for Xanderghul's magic to take hold, centering herself for the battle to come. "Focus on its wings. If we can bring it down to our level, it can't stand against us."
Anevia, meanwhile, is in the business of looking for a new bow. This one is clearly faulty.
Valaria and Isilme are up!
At this point it was imperative that she focus on continuing her performance. She had felt the magic wash over her, and knew if she ceased she would be unable to resume doing so. Furthermore, if it had gotten her, it was likely some of the others might be paralyzed as well. Pausing only briefly, she conjures a fog cloud atop them, hopefully providing some cover from the Nabasu for the time being.
"This should buy us some time, as did the ash storm earlier, she whispers to the rest of the group."
Val hurriedly scoops up her knives, jamming them into whatever sheath or belt she can manage in a hurry.
Hinagiku's blows whistle in the air, her final blow landing square in the babau's forehead. Her knuckles sting from its acid. It weakly tries to get back up, and the monk's final swing ends with a resounding crack. It doesn't get back up again, and after a few moments, it vanishes - having returned back to the abyssal plane from which it was summoned. Behind her, the room suddenly fills up with an illusionary fog.
Maugla's keen ears twitch, listening in on the whispers below, but she doesn't discern their meaning. The only person she can see at this point is Hinagiku, so she raises a claw against her, readying a sickly, green beam... but Ary suddenly appears next to her in mid-air, sweeping Radiance upwards into her with practiced grace, its golden blade sliding across the demon and preventing her from finishing her spell. Annoyed, she quickly flies away from her.
Round 17!
Xanderghul, Ehren, Valaria, Hinagiku, Ary/Anevia, and Isilme are up!
Completely Ignoring Maugla, Hinagiku makes her way towards the protective fog. As she runs, it becomes apparent that she is concentrating deeply on something for her brow is quite furrowed. She finally stops in her tracks a few feet off of Ehren.
”Thanks mrs. Isilme.” she softly whispers before reaching for the holy symbol dangling from her neck.
”Master of master, please answer my prayer, give reprieve to those who would seek enlightment and who strive from falling to the lies of the onis.”
Ehren exhales, feeling strangely invigorated by Ary's words of encouragement. He flexes his fingers, feeling fairly confident that if he draws on the ley's power again, he could use his strongest magic again.
"Téigh don uasteorainn agus ullmhaigh tú chun ionsaí ó thuas," he calls out to the earth elementals as he prepares to cast another summoning spell, forming another large cluster of starlights around his hands. With sharp sounds of affirmation, the trio moves for the walls, disappearing into them as though they were fish entering water.
With the illusion working on the Nabasu, there was no reason not to continue it for the time being. Concentrating on the magic and her performance simultaneously was taxing, leaving her able to do little else but moving about. Still it was likely their best bet for now.
With Ary having successfully interrupted one of the demon's enervations, the danger to the group was fading rapidly. In a war of attrition they might be able to win outright, especially if it was unable to figure out the illusion for several rounds.
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Ary slowly grows as she marches across the room to meet the Nabasu, the Lucerne hammer swinging in a violent arc just before she reaches him, the hammer reaching its apex just before landing forcefully in a bonecrunching manner. As she goes, Anevia follows Ary through the fog. HUZZAH. She was the greatest rogue ever! She saw through the not-fog! She lines up a perfect shot, just over Ary's shoulder, right for the wing...
There is an annoyed sound from in the fog behind Ary as an arrow snaps off at the fletching in Anevia's hand. It becomes a slow keening sound that results in her throwing her bow down on the ground in frustration.
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Xanderghul finishes his spell, causing Ary to double in size. Isilme was stealing his tricks! Good, good. Imitation always was the sincerest form of flattery. As the group begins to move against the nabasu and the second babau falls to Hinagiku's fists, he raises an arm, invoking a simple evocation. A quartet of purple missiles fly against the flying nabasu, darting unerringly towards it.
Xanderghul's missiles fizzle out as soon as they hit the nabasu, causing no harm to the demoness. Behind her, Ehren's earth elemental squadron simply vanishes into the stonework, "swimming" up into the walls and into the ceiling.
Valaria is up!
Val dives back into the fog, waving her hand absently as it shimmers and she's able to peer through the illusion. She carefully moves through until she's in range of the demon, then hurls one of her knives up at it.
As Ary crosses the room, Hinagiku's wave of positive energy washes over, restoring some of her wounds somewhat. Valaria sees an opening and strikes, but the nabasu twists away from the strike and spins full circle.... straight into Ary's reach. She seizes the chance for a quick strike right into her neck. Maugla shrieks, then dodges under her next swing and flies across the room. She lands in the fog, thinking to use it to protect herself from the ranged attackers...only to be frustrated, finding it to be an illusion. Angry, she fires off another sickly green ray - this time at Ary, sapping her very life force from her. Noticing that she is in poor condition, she then unlocks her death-stealing gaze, hoping to transform the giant woman into a giant ghoul....but despite her many wounds and sapped energy, she remains strong against the attack. Maugla smiles, savoring the life force of Anevia and Valaria.
Round 18!
Xanderghul, Ehren, Valaria, Hinagiku, Ary/Anevia, and Isilme are up!
Surprised when the demon lands adjacent to her, Isilme takes a quick slash at it when it attempts to unleash a spell at Ary, hoping to disrupt it.
Given that there would likely be little opportunity for her to attack again, she continues the assault, hoping to help whittle it down. She immediately channels arcane energy into her weapon, causing the rapier to become wickedly sharp. She then slashes twice at the creature, hoping to get lucky and wound it severely. she calls out to her allies,
Isilme slashes at Maugla's face, but not deeply enough to interrupt her spell.
Xanderghul, Ehren, Valaria, Hinagiku, and Ary/Anevia are up!
”Ary, don’t….” Hinagiku starts to say when the commander surges out of the illusory fog.
Her ears twitching in slight disappointment, the twitch intensifying when Ary gets hit by a magical ray, Hinagiku makes her way to Maugla’s side, blocking the oni’s escape, and hopefully providing Anevia or Valaria with a good flanking ally.
Valaria winces as the demon turns its unholy gaze on them, but she feels a surge of energy from somewhere deep inside herself and manages to push through the draining sensation. "I'm really getting sick and tired of this thing," she mutters as she steps in close. "But you don't get anymore of my life force to snack on today." She spins her starknife and lashes out, slashing across the demon's body again and again.
With a flash of light, Ehren's griffon suddenly appears a few feet behind the nabasu and emits an ear-splitting screech. Its body coiled like a spring and still glowing softly with ley energy, the beast launches itself toward the nabasu, leaping onto it and slashing at it with every single one of its appendages.
With that done, there was little more that Ehren could do now that his friends had Maugla surrounded, but pray that they took the nabasu down quickly. He continues to avert his gaze by watching the ceiling, knowing that he had a contingency plan he could fall back on. Reaching into his pocket, he touches one of his pearls of power and murmurs the word of recall; he feels a brief rush as some of his lost spell power is returned to him.
Knowing that it is just a step or two away from death or escape, Xanderghul shifts to where he can get a slightly better view of the creature before slinging one of his trademark globules of shadow at it, hoping to ensnare it enough that it cannot simply fly away and enough that he might prevent it from teleporting if it came to that.
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Ary stands behind Valaria, carefully swinging over her head so as not to hit her, but her attacks are mostly too clumsy at first to do any real damage. The first blow that lands results in motes clumsily fluttering over to Anevia from Faith's position where it was unceremoniously dropped.
Anevia growls at her bow, but ultimately kicks it up into her hand before stepping next to the Nabasu... and across from the whirling maw and claw deathmonster that is the griffin. The Nabasu is thankfully quite distracted, however, and even a CURSED BOW could not prevent her attacks from striking true against her foe when she was instead wielding her short sword. Each swing is carefully orchestrated to make precise movements more difficult.
"Finish it off, Anevia!" she calls out, bolstering the rogue's stab with her magic.
Xanderghul's shadows miss the nabasu terribly, though luckily they do not inadvertently ensnare one of his friends. The griffon is the first to pounce onto the landed nabasu - its unorthodox movements land unexpectedly, and it rakes beak and talons into its foe. Hinagiku moves in next, and with form that her sensei would be proud of, her blow hums through the air and slams into her intended target. Valaria lashes out with her starknives, managing to score a particularly gruesome hit into the demoness' belly, leaving them covered in viscera and gore. By this time its movements are slow enough that even Ary's somewhat clumsy movements manage to score a hit - her first strikes aim high - too high - so next she aims low, slamming her hammer into the nabasu's leg. Maugla winces in pain and staggers, unaware of the rogue creeping up behind her... she deftly moves into position, and her final strike stills the demon at last.
Combat ends!
For a few moments after combat, there is an uncomfortable moment where Isilme's magic finally runs out - but the nabasu's hold on Anevia, Ary, and Isilme continues. They are paralyzed for several moments before they finally break free of her spell.
The rage you feel coursing into you from Radiance dissipates. It is instead replaced with sadness at the sight of what has befallen this temple - corpses strewn everywhere, once proud statues of angelic knights desecrated and shattered. Even the altar of Iomedae has been desecrated in every way imaginable - down to the magical curse pulsing out from it in waves...
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As the Nabasu lies on the ground, Anevia pulls her bow up into her field of vision, scowling at it. "You are a very bad bow. You will be punished. And then properly cared for." she says as she stalks outside to go check on all of the mostly dead enemies and make sure they haven't moved.
"Can we... consecrate this altar somehow? It's the first step we need to take... and if we can't, then I guess we should at least get these bodies outside and buried. Maybe bring the clerics in to fix this." Ary says as she stows the Lucerne hammer and retrieves Faith and Radiance from the floor.
Val sighs with relief as the nabasu outright dies and her shoulders slump a little, the exhaustion and injuries finally showing now that the fight has ended. She hurries to regather her knives and daggers, making sure that she has all ten before she returns to the group. "I know a little about cleaning and caring for an altar. It's tradition for all Desnans to be able to clean and care for any of her wayshrines that we pass, but I'm not sure how much still applies to something like this."
Dispel Magic would be the most effective way to get rid of the desecration effect on the altar. However the spells consecrate or hallow would be necessary to restore magical power to the altar.
"I know consecrate or hallow will rebless it. But just removing the desecration would take a dispel magic, maybe. Definitely cleaning it up would be useful, though. And... the statues..." her grip twists slightly tighter on her sword. "I will shine in her legion." she intones, causing her armor and clothing and body to slowly be scrubbed clean. She then begins the grizzly task of moving all of the bodies outside through the large double-doors.
With the Nabasu dead, Isilme takes a deep breath and relaxes. The paralysis washes over her finally, and she just takes the time to think over the fight they had just survived. It's true they had lost Bethil, it was truly sad that they were unable to do anything to save her, but it was also a miracle that no one else had been killed. With the Ghul's ambush on Ehren, Ignigena's lightning bolt, enervation on Valaria and Nulkineth downing Ary, the fight had been hectic enough. But then to have the Nabasu show up at the last minute had been nerve-wracking.
"If we have a cleric with consecrate prepared, perhaps." Isilme responds when she finally shakes off the paralysis. "We should give this location a thorough searching, as there are likely things we can use both from the cultists, Nulkineth and Ignigena, as well as from the original crusaders. Afterwards we should get Bethil's body back as soon as possible. We can see about consecrating the shrine back at camp. Perhaps we can fly back with Ehren, or come on mounts instead to save time."
"At the very least, dispelling the altar would end the desecrate effect upon it."
Isilme takes a moment to head outside and drag in Ignigena's corpse, laying it alongside Nulkineth. She casts detect magic examining both of them closely for any signs of magic items on them that might be of value. Then she proceeds to search the rest of the chapel looking for anything hidden that the crusaders might have left, or possibly useful things left by the ghoul cultists.
"Oh, before we forget, someone should take care of the Ghul wandering about outside."
"We've probably got a few minutes before we can see it again, I'd think." Ary offers, as she's slowly arranging bodies. "So cleaning up here, searching it over for a few minutes, then getting back to the camp, you think? Do you think we should move the troops forward to here?"
Isilme finds the headless great ghul still wandering slowly in circles in the courtyard. Its arms are outstretched in front of it, feeling blindly for anything or anyone it might accidentally walk into... unfortunately for it this makes it very easy for one to simply avoid it, even if it comes fairly close. Every now and then it trips over pieces of strewn rubble hidden in the grass, and has to push itself back up off the ground.
Afterwards, she drags Ignigena's body into the church to examine the two with detect magic.
On Ignigena:
- A grisly whip made of human vertebrae, with the bones sharpened into fine points. The handle appears to be made of tanned human skin wrapped around a child's femur. DC 24 Spellcraft:This magical whip functions as a +1 conductive scorpion whip. In addition, once a day on a successful attack, the wielder can affect the target with an enervation effect, bestowing 1d4 negative levels on the target. For every negative level afflicted on the target, the wielder of the bone whip gains 5 temporary hit points and a +1 profane bonus to damage rolls for 1 minute.
- Masterwork light crossbow
- Leather bracers dyed blue and decorated with star-shaped studs. Engraved in an intricate Kelesh pattern. DC 19 Spellcraft:Spellguard Bracers
- A blue draught in a crystalline bottle. DC 20 Spellcraft or DC 25 perception:Potion of fly
- A sour smelling admixture. DC 18 Spellcraft or DC 23 perception:Potion of nondetection
- A masterwork backpack
- A healer's kit
- Masterwork manacles + key
- Unholy silver symbol of Kabriri
On Nulkineth:
- A battle aspergillium
- A breastplate
- A light steel sheild
- An ornate hazel wand inlaid with jet DC 18 Spellcraft:Wand of hold person with 10 charges remaining.
- A key
- 250 gp in Silver Powder
- Unholy wooden symbol of Kabriri
- 3 flasks of unholy water
Isilme looks around the room, and finds a cunningly hidden switch underneath the altar. She presses it, which unlocks a mechanism, allowing one to push off the top of the altar. Inside is a closed crate. Opening it reveals:
- 36 bright, sapphire potions DC 16 Spellcraft or DC 21 Perception:Potion of CLW
- An enormous amount of miscellaneous healing supplies (bandages, herbs, alcohol, surgical tools, fine string, etc)
- A beautiful copy of the Acts of Iomedae, with handwritten scholarly analyses of each act and their implications on how her devout followers should seek to live their lives after her example. The pages are inlaid with gold and silver, and decorated in an elaborate illuminated manuscript with detailed illustrations for each of her miracles.
This copy of the Acts of Iomedae was once owned by Saint Lymirin, the woman who founded this humble church. Saint Lymirin was a warrior-priestess and scholar, ministering to soldiers and citizens of Mendev alike. She spent most of her time as a scholar, devoutly studying the 11 acts of Iomedae. Although many treaties analyzing Iomedae's acts exist, she concentrated her studies on their moral and martial ramifications, a focus of study suitable for crusading clerics.
The Lymirin Discourses were the summation of her life's work. They offer thought-provoking discussions of the 11 acts of Iomedae, and provide soothing comfort to those who find themselves stumbling in their courage. A reader who studies and meditates over one of the acts set forth in the Lymirin Discourses for 1 hour gains a benefit that lasts for the next 12 hours. Only one reader can benefit from the Lymirin Discourses in any 24-hour period. The Lymirin Discourses cannot provide the same benefit twice in a row.
First Act: Iomedae recovered her allies from the gullets of the beast Nakorshor’mond. Study of this act grants the reader +2 sacred bonus to CMD when resisting a grapple attempt and a +2 sacred bonus on concentration checks to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability when grappled.
Second Act: Iomedae defeated a coven of witches. Study of this act grants the reader a +1 sacred bonus on caster level checks to overcome SR and a +1 sacred bonus on Will saves.
Third Act: Iomedae battled Segruchen the Iron Gargoyle in midair. Study of this act grants the reader a +1 sacred bonus on damage rolls with longswords. This bonus increases to +2 when the reader is not standing on the ground.
Fourth Act: Iomedae inspired a regiment of wounded knights to fight on. Study of this act grants the reader +1 bonus to caster level for the purpose of casting cure spells.
Fifth Act: Iomedae smote Erum-Hel, Lord of the Morghs. Study of this act grants the reader a +4 sacred bonus on attack rolls made to confirm critical hits with longswords.
Sixth Act: Iomedae reforged her shattered sword with a prayer and an oath. Study of this act grants the reader a +2 sacred bonus to CMD to resist sunder or disarm attempts.
Seventh Act: Iomedae appeared as an image to heal the virtuous and burn the wicked. If the reader has the channel positive energy ability, study of this act increases the amount of damage dealt or healed by positive energy channeled by the reader by 2.
Eighth Act: Iomedae redeemed a graveknight known as the Black Prince. Study of this act grants the reader a +2 sacred bonus to the DC of the reader’s positive channeled energy.
Ninth Act: Iomedae provided nine drops of blood to free her righteous allies from a vampire mage. Study of this act allows the reader to shield his allies. As a swift action up to nine times within the next 12 hours, the reader may take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage in order to add a +2 sacred bonus to an adjacent ally’s AC.
Tenth Act: Iomedae defended and ruled the besieged city of Kantaria for a year and a day. Study of this act grants the reader a +4 sacred bonus to AC against attacks from opponents that flank him.
Eleventh Act: Iomedae cast her cloak across the gap to the Starstone to create a firm bridge. Study of this act allows the reader to jump as if he always had a running start.
Isilme is pleased to find the altar has a stash of supplies under it. It was fitting that even after being desecrated, the altar protected supplies that would benefit Iomedae's followers. She doubted a more perfect example of Iomedaean principles existed in the world--pragmatic to the end.
She listens to Ary, thinking about the situation before responding.
"I believe this is too far north to be of value, it is both out of the way, and within the world wound. Once we set out into the world wound it should be directly for Drezen. Also, like Xanderghul, the Ghul was using greater invisibility. Unless it has refreshed it, it lasts considerably shorter than invisibility, so it is likely stumbling about outside in plain sight."
Isilme takes some time to identify the potions, briefly sampling each one before moving on to the next. "We have a single potion of fly and nondetection which should probably both go to Val since she has been scouting. Also we have 36 potions of cure light wounds which will be quite useful, along with these healing supplies for the army."
Next she spends some time investigating the magic items they'd found. The whip was disturbing to say the least, and every fiber of her simply wanted to destroy it, as it was simply too evil a weapon to allow to exist. The bracers and wand, however, seemed like they might come in useful. "Xanderghul or Ehren, you should take these bracers," she says, offering the bracers to each. "They might come in handy if you need to guard your casting against a foe."
She then tosses the wand of hold person in her own bag. "Let me know if you would prefer to carry the wand, Xanderghul. It would be useful for either of us."
Done with that, she begins helping the others load the remaining items into Val and Ary's bags of holding.
"I will begin searching the remainder of the rooms. Someone should come along, just in case there are any more ghouls or surprises waiting."
"I'll happily take those," Val says, tucking the two potions into her personal pouches before she helps Isilme loading the loot into their magical bags. "I'll help search the area then."
Isilme and Valaria head counter-clockwise around the structure. The next room is a dining hall - three stone tables stand within it, their wooden branches broken and half-rotten. Leather straps with restraints stretch across the surfaces of the tables, buckled tightly in place. In the center of the room, a knotted rope descends through a tiny hole in the ceiling. On the right wall is a ladder that leads up into the belltower above.
The next room chokes with the ripe stench of decay, emanating from the bodies of two deceased crusaders hanging from the rafters. Various cabinets and tables stand around a fireplace in the south wall... this room was a kitchen at one point in time. A door to the left leads out into the courtyard, and a door straight ahead leads to the next room.
The next room is filled with the broken frames of several beds. Two of the more serviceable ones have been pushed together to make a larger sleeping pallet. A table and several chairs also occupy the center of the room. Underneath the table is a strongbox. It isn't locked.
Inside:
- A bunch of gold, at least 4,000 gp based on weight.
- A little pouch containing a beryl and 3 opals
- A golden holy symbol of Sarenrae
- A chain shirt
- A cold iron dagger
- A narrow cloth flag depicting the insignia of Mendev.
The next room's floor is covered with colorful broken glass, strewn across the stonework. The stained glass windows on the ceiling were apparently spitefully shattered. Moving through the room is eerie - their footsteps make no noise - and they can't even speak.
The next door is locked.
Isilme calls back to Ary and the others to come get the lockbox and continues on along with Valaria. As they work their way through the abnormally quiet room, Isilme whispers through message but finds it has no effect. Drawing her rapier, she readies herself in case anything odd happens, obviously put on edge by the existence of a permanent (or at least recently cast) silence. She nods at Valaria and points to the door, waiting for her to unlock it.
Ary continues working at clearing the temple out - she felt she needed to - until her attention is drawn to the book in question. She immediately recognizes what the book itself is, but it takes her a moment to realize that all of the copious notes were of particular value. "Hm. Xander... I think you should give this a good read in your spare time. You may find it enlightening." she offers, before returning to her work. She didn't bother to hide the disappointment at suggesting that this place wasn't worth repairing - certainly, it was not closer to their goal and it was... Isilme was probably right.
Regardless of whether the others would aid her, it needed doing. Anevia briefly aids her while the castery folks go over the first bit of loot, then follows along with Isilme, helping her to not die by watching out for any traps the monsters may have placed.
When Isilme calls for her, she moves into the room, Faith and Radiance in hand - before nodding and moving the heavy lockbox into one of the bags. She tilts her head as her footfalls vanish, and then watches Isilme not-whisper.
While the rest of his allies search the chapel, talk about reconsecrating it, identifying loot, and such, Xanderghul takes his dagger and stabs Nulkineth in the throat several times. Then, he goes outside and repeats the same treatment with Ignigena. He was tired of powerful enemies getting away, and there would be no getting away from several coup de graces directly to the throat.
Then he goes back inside. Of their newly gained loot, he claims the engraved Kelesh bracers, the wand Isilme had taken, and six potions from the store of healing items that they had gathered. Just in case, he takes the powdered silver as well. Maybe it would come in handy casting a spell later on.
When Ary hands him the book, he takes it with one hand, scanning its cover. He raises an eyebrow and looks back at her. "The Acts of Iomedae? You know... I've read them already, right? It didn't turn me into a paladin."
"And you didn't burst into flames?" Ary asks with a wry grin. "Seriously, I think there's some interesting things in there for you. Probably Daisy, too if she's interested. Everyone, really. If you don't want it, I'll read over it tonight while using Keep Watch and see what differences it makes in my views on Iomedae's Acts."
* * *
Once Isilme realizes that the door is locked, or communicates as such, Anevia shrugs and moves forward, teasing the lock just so... and taking whatever aid Valaria had to offer in the process.
Anevia cracks open the door with little difficulty. Creaking it open, she finds it mostly barren with two sets of shackles anchored within a nook along the right wall. Shackled there is a halfling child, unconscious, and badly beaten. He has a mess of red hair and a face full of freckles.
Anevia mouths 'Uh... what?' as she sees the halfling in the room. She gives a quick once over of the area near the door. If she doesn't see antying, she shrugs and nods.
Isilme digs out her scroll of cure light wounds, and standing in the silence, focuses on loading it into her ring.
She then examines the room closely, looking for any signs of anyone else, or anything amiss.
Moving cautiously forward, she kneels next to the child and, after verifying he is alive, casts a healing spell upon him.
"Are you alright? What is your name?"
The shackled child comes to as soon as Isilme casts her healing spell on him. "...oh... are you an angel?" he asks, half-groggy. He slowly regains his senses, and, recognizing her fur cloak he perks up. "Crusaders! Yes! Does that mean Ser Yves is with you, too?" He struggles against his manacles a little, and they clatter against the wall.
His spirits diminish somewhat when he realizes she doesn't know who he is. "Oh... I'm Fenton Bootblack, m'lady. Squire of Ser Yves of Faldamont."
He seems honest, but also, very scared.
Ser Yves of Faldamont is a crusader knight who was stationed at Fort Clearwater. He was knighted after a successful foray into Storasta to rescue five captured crusaders, with no casualties.
"Anevia, can you free him?"
"Ser Yves? I do not believe so, no. How did you wind up here? Were you separated from him? Where did you see him last?" She asks calmly.
"He was with me, here, until a few days ago. I think. The days sometimes don't make sense here. We were on a mission to Undarin to try and rescue some of the crusader slaves that were kept there... he said that the mistress of Undarin, Areelu Vorlesh, would be preoccupied so it was a good time to strike. But... but... things went wrong.. we lost all of our group, except Ser Yves, and Wene, the cleric. We headed away from Undarin trying to get back to Mantarin... we wanted to head south, but we got all mixed up... and we lost the river... then a week ago we were ambushed by one of those glutton-demons. It sapped all of Ser Yves' strength and we were captured... they separated us from Wene. Then Ser Yves got taken away... I hope he escaped... I knew if he escaped, he'd come back for me..." says Fenton, drifting off into unconsciousness. He shakes himself awake.
"Do you have any water, ma'am? I'm so thirsty..."
----
Meanwhile, Xanderghul goes and stabs Nulkineth and Ignigena. Nulkineth was already dead... but Ignigena was still alive. Not any longer.
While Isilme and Anevia are dealing with the child, Ary gives a small nod to them and cuts the two bodies down... dragging them out as well, feeling... somehow hollow.
* * *
Anevia taps her ear and makes a 'what?' motion, but gets to work on the locks as she enters the room.
"Yes, hold on," she replies to the halfling child. Calling through her magic, she tries to get Ary's attention, knowing that she had been carrying both of their waterskins. "Ary, do you have water? Ser Yves's squire is here, Fenton Bootblack. He was apparently held prisoner here."
Anevia quickly and easily cracks open the manacles that were holding the young halfling against the wall. He rubs on his wrists for a moment - they're cut and tender from where he had struggled against his bonds.
"Th-thank you, m'lady," he says. "Where are we? Are we close to the border of the Wound?"
Xanderghul shrugs and tucks the book in alongside the other books in his haversack. When Isilme calls for Ary, he goes along with her to find the halfling squire prisoner. He waves.