Isilme and Valaria head up the stairs onto the wall. No one comes out to hail them, but then again, there is no one on the walls nor the top of the tower. The door is closed.
As they approach the door, Isilme listens for signs that the cultists are awake inside. If they had actually turned in for the night, it might be advantageous to simply attack outright, after all.
You hear nothing but the howling winds around you.
"What do you think Val, signal the others when Ehren finishes?" she whispers through her magic.
Val takes a few moments to touch up her disguise before she and Isilme head up to the tower. "Let's check to see if they set a night watch by the door. If there isn't one, then we signal for the squad and take the tower."
"Very well," she responds. Isilme knocks lightly on the door.
Mokug answers the door. "Oh. It's you ladies. Thought you were gonna go sleep in the citadel. It's gonna storm soon. Shouldn't be out." He steps aside to let them in.
Isilme is pleased to see Mokug standing watch at the door. "You are not wrong, Mokug, we will be hurrying back to the Citadel shortly. We have protective magic in case the storm begins before we return." she says, not moving to step in. "However, the time has come, Mokug. Return to the Citadel with us and you will be assured of a greater place. Mistress Hosilla made this trip personally for this reason."
"Indeed. It seems that things are moving faster than we originally expected. Vhane is confident that the crusaders are about to break and he's picking talent to grant greater favors now that we have need for more great warriors and talented leaders. The higher ups at the citadel seemed very pleased with everyone out here, especially with our report of your abilities."
As the door opens, Ehren takes off from Isilme's shoulder with a tiny flit of wings, invisibly flying toward the top of the tower in search of a point of entry.
He glances behind them, looking at the storm clouds. "Hmmm... okay! That sounds good. Mokug is tired of cold watchtower anyway."
He obediently follows after the two women.
Each floor of the tower has arrow slits, large enough for you to fly through. The tower is four stories tall.
"This will be the most memorable decision you have ever made, Mokug. Come," She turns and begins heading back down. She takes the lead and begins talking to Mokug so he moves up ahead of Val. "Have Arta and the rest of the forces turned in for the night?" she asks as they walk away from the building and towards the ambush.
As they get into position, Isilme says nonchalantly, "Do you have anything for Mokug, Mistress?"
"Whenever you are ready, Val"
"No, Boss lady says we gotta stay on alert, even during the storm." Mokug says. "Always got people lookin' for the army. Though I don't think they can march through an acid storm."
As they head away from the watchtower, after awhile Mokug stops. "Oh, we goin' the wrong way, ladies. This way isn't to the citadel, I told you the north bridge got blew up. We gotta go the other way. Quick now, I don't wanna get stuck out in the storm."
"Do not worry, there was something we left here. We have magic to protect us and you should we need it."
While Isilme, Val and Ehren pave the way, Xanderghul makes sure to remind the group of a few things. First, that none can escape their ambush in the tower. Two, that opening up the gate is a mission objective priority. Three, to be careful, because they're outnumbered.
Then he just waits, dagger drawn.
@
Captain Halse nods. "Then it would be wise to keep some of us near the exit doors... they will be sure to try and flee once only a few remain."
----
"Oh, okay."
Mokug follows Isilme and Valaria to in front of the dilapidated house. The crusaders and the others are hidden inside, out of direct sight. This whole thing is extremely suspicious, but the dim-witted half-orc is as oblivious as ever.
Ehren tries to fly against the strong winds, but finds that he cannot maintain his balance against the strong winds. He is buffeted by them as he is spun wildly about.. it takes several moments before he regains his composure.
A being made of wind has no fear of wind- in this form Ehren can easily fly straight up to the top of the tower. He finds no one there - not the shantak, nor anyone else. An enormous gong stands proudly on the top of the tower. It is tied in place by two heavy ropes - meant to keep it from loudly jostling about in wind conditions such as this one. The gong's mallet is connected to the gong itself by a long, metal chain.
Two spiral stair cases also lead down from the roof of the tower to the top floor of the building.
Val just smiles and lets Isilme do the talking as the half-orc follows them away. One of her starknives drops into her hand as they approach the house and she simply nods once to the Aasimar. "Have no fear. You're going to get everything coming to you." Then she promptly stabs Mokug in the back.
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"You know what is really quite entertaining Mokug?" Isilme says as she swiftly removes the hat from her head. "We are the crusaders you are supposed to be looking out for." She finishes with a dramatic bow, unleashing magic upon him to enhance the comedic effect of her words.
Valaria's starknife slides deep into his back, and Mokug screams out in surprise. "WHAT?!" he yells loudly, easily audible to those in the dilapidated house. "TRAITORS?! TRAITORS LIE TO MOKUG?!?"
Annabelle perks up immediately. "Sounds like they're back."
Initiative Rolls
Initiative Order
1. Anevia
2. Hinagiku
3. Mokug
4. Ary
5. Sosiel
6. Xanderghul
7. Isilme
8. Annabelle, Caelda
9. Valaria
10. Briathos
---
Ehren's new form has an additional advantage - the ability to see in the dark. And the loud winds cover up the sound of his casting. The gong, and its mallet, is now completely encased in stone.
Round 1!
Anevia and Hinagiku are up!
"Let's go then." Hinagiku answers before deftly making her way across the room. However, when she finally arrives outside, silence has returned. She looks left, right, and forward, trying to pierce the darkness.
"Ms. Isilme, where are you?"
His first task done, Ehren prepares to move onto the next one. He eyes the spiral staircases, recalling what Isilme had said about the layout of the tower. Since he was still invisible, he could in theory simply pass through the fourth floor on his way to the third. But given the size of the form he had been forced to take, doing so would risk alerting the enemy of his presence prematurely. Invisible or not, a human-sized whirlwind was not exactly subtle.
Taking what resources he has left into account, Ehren leaves the roof of the tower, flying back down to the arrow slits around the third floor. He changes form once again, back into the shape of a thrush, just small enough to pass through the openings. As quietly as possible, he enters the tower in search of Arta's office.
Ehren turns into a thrush. He flies down onto the arrow slits... he can squeeze inside, but he finds the interior completely dark - its inhabitants simply didn't need any help seeing in the dark, and so did not light up the tower with torches or candles. Without the help of the flashes of lightning outside to illuminate his surroundings somewhat, he finds the thrush's eyes simply not up to the task.
Mokug lets out a scream of unarticulated rage. His skin turns blood red, and his tusks elongate until they jut far out of his face. He grows...bigger... and bigger... and then bigger still, until he is nearly twice his original size. Enormous spikes sprout out from his back and neck, and his nails elongate into fearsome claws. His eyes glow blood red.
he screams. Seizing the initiative he dashes forward, letting his teeth sink into Valaria. He grabs hold of both of her arms before she can swing at him, his claws digging deep into her flesh. He pulls, trying to literally rip her apart, but the agile tiefling is able to rip herself free.
The heroes are up!
Ehren shifts into an earth elemental, his body floating in the stone wall as if he were in water. Now, he can finally see into the room. It is a mostly barren room. At the back of the room is a shrine to Deskari. On the wall behind it are two enormous iridescent insect rings, crossed and stained with fresh blood. In front of it is an altar that has a basin carved into it - inside of the basin is a writhing mass of centipedes. The basin is surrounded by lit candles.
In the center of the room is the shantak. The enormous thing is curled up in a ball - a scaly, bird-like creature covered in dripping slime with a vaguely equine head.. It watches the room with the three open eyes on the side of its head. On its back is a saddle.
There are two cultists in this room, wearing medium armor with fearsome scythes strapped to their backs. They give the shantak a wide berth. One of the cultists walks right up to the arrow slit Ehren is at and looks outside, not realizing at all that he is looking through an invisible druid!
In the back of the room are two closed, wooden doors that lead off to two separate chambers. On the sides of the room are two stone spiral staircases that presumably lead up to the roof. One is covered in disgusting slime.
Isilme draws her rapier and steps forward, flanking the half-orc. With Mokug demoralized, Xanderghul would find it easier to land a spell on him.
"Rage all you wish, Mokug, but you have already ensured our success. Today you and your fellow cultists will fall to the same hubris as the nearly thousand of your allies we defeated in Northern Mendev," she says, gloating.
Hearing the cries of the enraged half-orc, Xanderghul rushes out of his hiding space and into view of Mokug, Valaria and Isilme. Unable to avoid them, he trusts in their naturally good reflexes to save them from his spell and unleashes a blinding flash of holy light to rend their foe.
Val feels the strikes rend into her flesh, but she forces herself to ignore it as she draws her second knife. "Shut up and die."
Ary draws Radiance.
As Ary draws Radiance, glowing light fills the room of the dilapidated house she is in. Next to her, Sosiel nods. "I'll follow you, Commander," he says.
Outside, a sudden flash of light envelops Mokug, revealing his position to the blind Hinagiku. The other crusaders pour out of the room and head towards Mokug as fast as they can, weapons drawn.
Round 2!
Hinagiku is up!
With the image, and location, of the Mokug temporarily burnt into her mind, Hinagiku takes a few steps to position herself next to Isilme. Then, crouching down, she attempts to swipe are the large foe's feet.
Ary follows the din of battle outside behind everyone else, casting light enough for Anevia to see by. She immediately takes advantage, hustling as much as she can to get to what she thinks is cover to hide behind in order to disrupt Mokug's attacks on Valaria.
As Ary moves closer with Radiance's light, Hinagiku's keen eyes are able to discern Mokug moving about in the darkness. She swipes low at Mokug's feet and pulls him down to the ground. He roars loudly as he falls to the ground with a crash. The enormous half-orc lumbers slowly to his feet, one of his hands bleeding profusely from where Valaria stabbed straight through it with her starknife.
With heartless precision Hinagiku's next strike slams into Mokug as he stands back up. From behind him, Isilme leaps into the air, viciously driving her rapier behind
your opponent’s collar bone as she narrowly misses his skull... and with a heavy and meaty thud Valaria's starknife rends through Mokug's right forearm, splitting his flesh and exposing bone.
This only seems to enrage Mokug further... with his good hand he swipes at Valaria again. His claws narrowly swing wide, leaving an opening for the tip of her starknife to leave a notable mark...
The heroes are up!
Valaria desperately fends off the half-orc's ripping claws, ducking and weaving around his attacks. She's extremely glad that Hinagiku is able to keep him from bearing down on her again with his full fury. "Thank you kindly Daisy. Let's finish this." She swings out again, aiming to finish their foe before he can make even more of a ruckus.
Ehren "swims" into the next room - the shantak completely oblivious to his presence, as are the other two guards. The left room has 6 beds. There are people sleeping in all of the beds, their personal effects strewn around the room.
Isilme takes a couple of quick swipes at Mokug, but only manages to avoid leaving herself wide open.
Ehren passes into the next chamber. This room is mostly barren except for some empty shelves, and a couple of dressers. There is a large, empty bed. In the corner is a small sleeping bag, with a halfling sleeping in it. On the opposite wall is another door, closed. Light streams out around the cracks of the door.
In the next room is a desk illuminated by a single candle. A woman sits at the desk working on some paperwork. She's wearing insectoid armor, complete with antennae.
As soon as his task is finished, Ehren waits just a moment to find out whether anyone heard his casting.