Victrix's fury surges to the fore as the cultist keeps mouthing off.
She moves forward with ease.
She ducks under the attack of opportunity. She raises her mace high.
"F**k yehr cult. F**k Baphomet. "
*CRUNCH*
"Oh... and I'M BACK."
Round 7
Hosilla sneers at Belledonna with false bravado I will kill you all, My Lord Baphomet will ensure you die! she attacks Victrix hitting her for 11
Belledonna
Daenal
Green
Barundar
Victrix
Konny
Brighton
Victrix dodges into Hosilla's reach and smashes her face into jelly!
Combat Over
On Hosilla's body, the party finds This note .
The fight finally ended, Barundar still seems entirely dissatisfied with his performance in the fight, though he thanks Victrix for her assistance in the fight.
After the party loots the corpses of the cultists, Barundar pays particular attention to the note found on the body of Hosilla.
"This infermashun cuid be devastating tae th' cultists 'ere. Shuid we tak' it tae th' Crusaders? or shuid we gang tae thae places 'n' huv a go tae handle thaim ourselves?"
"We should bind that one." Belledonna warns, pointing to the unconscious form as she quickly unrolls & reads what seem to be orders for the cultist' leader. "Hoki ahau, e ahau mohio i tika, engari e hiahia ana ahau e kore ai i a koe ki te patu ia ia. I ngakau rua e ahau i te tetahi whati ka mohio rite ki te nui o te whakamahi ki a matou..." She says as she pats Victrix on the shoulder commiseratingly before turning to the rest of her companions. "If this is to be believed," presenting the letter. "Matters are far worse than we feared above. Kenabres is no more."
H6 The air in this cavern smells of damp and mold. Water glistens on the walls, and collects in a stagnant pool along one wall. it looks to be another guard post.
H7 Three copper bowls filled with glowing coals hang from the ceiling of this long, natural cavern. The braziers fill the chamber with warmth and soft orange light. In the center of the chamber stands a block of stone that serves as a table, lined with wooden chairs. An enormous bloodstain, maybe a week old, darkens the stone's surface. this looks like a meeting and planning room.
H8 Old blood stains the floor of this small cavern. Barrels filled with scraps of fur and fat sit against one wall, emitting an foul stench. The two long stone slab tables are covered with skinning tools and piles of freshly butchered meat. Two wooden racks hold drying animal skins. this is obviously an abbatoir.
H9 A stone pedestal holds a copper brazier aloft in the center of this room . Against the western wall, an enormous pile of animal furs and thick quilts serves as a bed. Stone carvings adorn the walls. The eastern half of the room holds a wooden desk, beneath which stands a long, thin iron lockbox. this looks like Hosilla's room.
Victrix calms down, a sense of smug satisfaction filling her as she pulps the cultist's head.
She looks over at the note Barundar picked up.
"...sounds loike she was the leader fer this cell. It moight be a good idea ta 'old onto that fer later."
She looks over at the sleeping mongrelman. "Roight. I'll tie 'em up, then."
She looks over at Belledonna as she pats her shoulder. "I hanga ia mahara ki ahau nga wa pai e ahau e wareware. Ki te kahore i ia, e kia anga mai e ahau ki a whakaae ki a koutou." She looks at her feet, her hand clenching into a fist and relaxing. It's obvious she's ashamed of having shown such weakness in such an important fight.
While the rest of the party investigates the area. Victrix takes a length of rope from her backpack and ties up the sleeping mongrelman.
She waits for the mongrelman to come around.
"Sleep well?" She asks when he finally awakens.
It doesn't occur to her that said mongrelman might not take kindly to Crusader-types intruding in his home.
"We've dispatched your mistress by the grace of Father Torag. His forge proves mightier than your minotaur, creatures. Give up and save yourself from the smelting fire."
The mongrelman struggles a little against his bonds at first but quiets..... Hosilla is dead? he says in badly accented common.
Lann and the others arrive and Lann looks as if he wishes to kill the creature on the spot.
Victrix nods at the mongrelman.
"If by Hosilla yeh mean 'er..." She nods her head at the cultist's corpse. "...then yes. She's dead. Yeh don't need ta follow 'er or 'er cult anymore." She says in a soft voice.
The Lann says Why speak with such Filth! Kill it and be done. I will do the deed if you will not.
Horgus chimes in The ugly one makes sense... while Anevia looks concerned and Aravashnial seems more interested in questioning Daenal about his physiology.
The Mongrel looks at Victrix but stays silent...
Victrix rises to her feet and addresses Lann & the rest.
"We've killed their leader. The rest o' the cult will loikely tear itself apart tryin' ta find a worthy successor an' fall ta pieces. Tell me: with that in mind, what would yeh accomplish by killing him?" Her words are chosen carefully, nodding at the mongrelman as she speaks.
With that said, she turns back to the bound mongrelman. "Do yeh 'ave a name?" She asks softly.
Barundar frowns at the captured foe, tightly gripping two sections of the chain of his weapon, rattling them by letting it go slack, then pulling the links taut. "Consider yersel' jammy , filth, that thae ithers speak oan yer behauf 'n' that ye kin hae something useful tae tell us. Th' Code o' Torag instructs his champions tae tak' na quarter unless useful speirins is offered."
Lann grunts by way of response to Vixtrix's question, but he does lower his club. Horgus looks bored and Anevia relieved that at least for now no one is going to brain the bound captive. Aravashnial and Daenal are deep in conversation at this point.
The captive responds to Victrix Gruug...will you eat Gruug? The Horned One says victors must eat the victims...
"We will definitely not! That is vile and plain wrong, boy" Konny says disgusted by the idea.
"'N' that's why Baphomet lost and we prevailed. We don't eat th' losers. Yeh've nothin' ta fear there." Victrix replies to Gruug.
Gruug relaxes a little and says We not good tribe. Gruug knows we follow bad demon, not follow oaths. Gruug shrugs his lobster like shoulders. His beady eyes seem to mist over...
Horgus says We are wasting time here, there has to be a way out of this place. Anevia starts looking around and says There is a locked chest over here indicating area H9. I can pick the lock, if I had the tools. and Horgus looks at her and says Of course you could...
Aravashnial and Daenal have moved into a corner and seem to be debating something vigorously.
Victrix kneels next to Gruug, wincing as a sharp pain shoots up from her stomach. The glaive wound was still fresh--and it still stung like hell.
"Gruug, the fact that yeh understand where yeh went wrong and can admit it ta yehrself means it isn't too late for yeh ta make things roight." She pats the mongrelman's shoulder. "The only question left, I'd say, is this: are yeh willing ta try?" She looks between Brighton & Barundar before looking back to Gruug.
As the others debate & complain regarding the permanent disposition of the prisoner, Belledonna avoids taking either side. Instead she squats before Gruug, her gaze boring into his eyes. "តើនរណានឹងនាំប្រជាជនរបស់អ្នកថាពេលនេះគឺជាការស្លាប់ Hosilla?"
With his eyes not leaving Lann Gruug says Gruug will swear a new Oath to you. Gruug will not break new Oath, Gruug will die first! the lobsterman struggles to his knees and begins to speak, the temperature in the room drops noticeably and you can swear that you see a few snowflakes.
Gruug swears by the lights of the North and the Stars in the sky that as long as this one indicating Victrix will allow it, Gruug will fight at her side against the Demons who plague this land. Gruug's voice was altered a little during his oath because afterwards he reverts back to his normal accented common. Does you accept this? the question asked more of the rest of the people around than Victrix.
Lann actually smiles. Horgus looks bewildered and Anevia is also smiling.
Gruug responds to Belledonna's question Are there any alive in the upper reaches? Hosilla slew the last cheif and his mate, so none would challenge her.
Victrix grins. "Bloody roight I accept." Taking her dagger, she cuts Gruug's bonds and helps him to his feet.
The snowflakes in the room cause Victrix to look around, searching for the source. Were they close to an exit to the surface? Or was it a figment of her imagination?
Or it has something to do with my dream...
The thought makes her pause.
Remember your oaths, Katha of the Red Tigers...
The voice. She remembers the angel's voice.
Eyebrow arcing as she looks up to Victrix. "Ka tautoko ahau i to koutou whakatau, engari ko ia to koutou kawenga."
Turning back to face Gruug, she adds. "យើងមាននៅឡើយទេក្នុងការស៊ើបអង្កេតកម្រិតខាងលើ។ អ្នកនឹងនិយាយជាមួយនឹងអ្នកដែលនៅតែមាននិងបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូលពួកគេឱ្យដាក់អាវុធចុះផងដែរទ ៅ?"
"Sure I accept, sonny." Konny slaps him on his back.
And Biggie will take care of you, if you break your oath
Gruug responds in the affirmative to Belledonna. This one will speak the truth of Hosilla and the others to the First Ones remaining.
Victrix feels a surge of energy, reinvigorating her to some extent.
The pain of her injuries doesn't fade, but she's bearing it well.
It's around now that she remembers the chest Anevia was talking about; walking over to Hosilla's corpse, she takes the ring of keys.
"'Ere, give one o' these a try." She says, tossing them to Anevia. "Maybe one of 'em 'll open it."
Anevia searches the box for traps and then opens it using the keys
She begins taking items out with a low whistle.
Anevia removes a pouch which she passes to Konny, some scrolls which she shows to Belledonna and a narrow ornately carved darkwood box. She opens the box and gasps
This...this is Yaniel's blade. A most holy object. What would these want with such a thing... she says
Horgus looks impressed and Aravashnial seperates himself from Daenal long enough to tell the story of Yaniel.
Fourth Crusade, a paladin of Iomedae and renowned demon slayer named
Yaniel spoke out against the Mendevian crusaders, accusing them of negligence and sloth, and claiming these faults were what allowed Khorramzadeh to invade Kenabres and damage the wardstone. Her accusations cut too close to the truth, and in a moment of weakness her
superiors threatened to excommunicate her. Instead, she said she would enter the Worldwound and fight the Fourth Crusade on her own, with only her magic sword Radiance for company. The church was happy to see Yaniel go, and in the 2 years that followed, she was thought to have been slain. Yet when she returned to Kenabres in 4694 AR, leading a small army of crusaders she'd rescued, both Yaniel and her superiors had changed. For her part, Yaniel had shed her pride and insubordination, and had gained a new appreciation for the difficult decisions leaders are forced to make. And the church leaders had learned that sometimes the truth is exactly what you need to hear. Alas, Yaniel was assassinated before the year was out, slain by the lilitu demon Minagho only a week into her second personal crusade. Her followers managed to return to Kenabres with Radiance, but Yaniel's body had been taken. The sword had gone dark after Yaniel's death, its magical powers apparently lost, and so the crusaders elected to place it in the Gray Garrison on display. Yet several months ago it was stolen...
Looking over the scrolls, Belladonna concentrates for a moment & gives up a small measure of her life essence in the hopes of greater clarity.
Victrix takes a look at Yaniel's blade, whistling as she admires its edge & design.
She listens to Aravashnial's exposition on the blade, arching an eyebrow as he mentions the sword being stolen.
"From the note Barundar found, I'd say the cultists 'ere stole it in order ta corrupt it or somethin' loike that. I mean, this sword, at best, is a dormant weapon waitin' fer a worthy 'and to wield it again. At worst, it's still a symbol of 'ope. Its theft 'n' perversion would be one 'elluva blow to Crusader morale, wouldn't ya say?" She says, lowering the blade.
"In that case, it oughta be wielded by someone worthier than I." She holds out the sword.
"Aye, laddie. Ah will accept ye. Torag tells us tae tak' na quarter fae pris'ners, bit ye seem sincere, so...I'm sure th' Faither o' Creation wid rather anither ally in fightin' th' real enemy than anither body in th' ground. As fur th' blade, seems maist likely thay wur aff tae huv a go 'n' corrupt th' sword. Tis a bloody guid thing we git it back whin we did. A'd hate tae see whit thae demon cultists hud planned fur a blade lik' this. It ain't na weapon fur me, though. Ah kin fight wi' it, bit mah chain-flail is a better fit fur me. Seems lik' tis aff tae come doon tae bein' used by either me or Victrix, though. Thare ain't na denying that tae carry sic a blade wid be a stoatin honor."
Anyone who touches Radiance notices the warmth that seems to come from the blade as well as its unnatural sharpness and balance. Daenal makes comment that the blade is cold iron, even though it looks like it was made of pure gold. Victrix when you touch the blade you do not feel warmth, instead you feel the cold of a crisp morning and to you the blade shimmers slightly, as if sparkling.
When Barundar or Brighton touches the blade they feel the heat of the forge and the blade seems to shift slightly as if attempting to forge itself into a new form.
Victrix looks at Radiance, running her finger along its edge. A sharp edge, crafted from cold iron... but it sparkles as she holds it.
"'Ere's the thing, though; I don't want ta 'og all the good stuff fer myself." She unlimbers her Mace of the Penitent and holds it out.
"Anyone want ta give it a try?"
"by Torag's fluff, whit a weapon...i dinnae ken if even th' dwarves could've forged sic a thing. Victrix...mind ye if ah claim Radiance fur mah ain uise? ah wid wield it wi' honor."
Victrix presents Barundar with Radiance.
"All yours then."
Next?
Satisfied, Victrix returns the Mace of the Penitent to her side.
"Well, 'ow about we find the rest of yehr kin 'n' let 'em know the good news?" She says, turning to leave and find the way upstairs.
Handing on of the scrolls to Brighton, "little I can do with this. You may find it useful should an illness lay one of us low however."
As Victrix leads them back up the ladder, Belledonna follows.
Gruug leads the party to Area H13 which he describes as being Wenduag's nest, two dog sized rats lair there and bristle at the Crusaders but he calms them as they are used to him. Gruug says that two of his former tribesmen lay in area H14. He calls out to them in Abyssal
The Crusaders from above have come. They have slain Hosilla in the name of the Good gods. Lay down your clubs and they will show you mercy. a few seconds later a voice calls back Gruug? They have enspelled you? Hosilla truly is dead? Prove it to us.
Victrix turns to Barundar and nods.
"Show 'em Yaniel's weapon."
Barundar suddenly sets his jaw to the perception of the others, as if some pain from merely holding the weapon. His teeth clinch, as if he is gritting them for endurance. He seems about to drop the sword to the ground when it glows a brilliant white, before their very eyes transforming in his grip to a warhammer with the same golden sheen, the holy anvil of Torag emblazoned on both sides of the weapon's head. Barundar's eyes widen as he holds the newly reformed weapon aloft, then shifts it from one hand to the other, testing the weight.
"By the anvil of the Forge-Father..." he mumbles in a low, throaty voice. He seems entirely taken aback by this transformation. Suddenly hearing the voice of Victrix, Barundar looks about and blinks a few times, as if waking from a dream. "Oh! Oh yes. Right." he answers, stepping forward and holding the warhammer out, showing it to the other mongrelmen gathered there, though his grip on the weapon certainly shows that he's not willing to give it up to anyone.
Victrix looks back at the other mongrelmen.
"There yeh 'ave it: the sacred weapon o' the Crusaders, a symbol of 'ope to those without any. Hosilla sought ta pervert it, ta turn it against those who once wielded it in the name of justice 'n' good."
She leans forward, grinning.
"Didn't end too well for 'er."
Two largish Mongrelmen come out into the open a little more and you here them confer with one another then call out in Abyssal to Gruug
They not eats us? Horned One says eats victims...
Gruug looks at Victrix apologetically and calls back in Abyssal They not eats...they kills demons in Maze.
The two Mongrels chuckle darkly and say in common to Barundar You kills demons then we follow you Chief Goldhammer. they point behind them.
Behind them is a door made of stone, it is well made and locked from this side with a bar.
Horgus mutters darkly Great, thats what we need, more Mongrels following us, trying to kill us in our sleep.
Victrix looks in confusion at Belledonna.
"Uh... do yeh know what they're sayin'?"
Nodding, Belledonna replies. "Te wairangi, kore ratou ki te ite e, e nehenehe ia vetahi ê matau ratou ia ratou e whakaaro ai ki te patu ia tatou katoa, me te whakamahi i to tatou wheua rite ki ngā taputapu, me to tatou whekau mo te monamona." At Victrix' growing expression of horrid realization, she relents, smirking. "He aha? Tenei he aha e kore ahau e korero ki heleuhila, kahore tetahi te mea ki te tiki ia ratou..."
"Ratou hinaaro noa ki te e etahi e kore tatou e hamani ratou i te ara o ratou rangatira whakamutunga tukinotia hoariri hinga." She adds placatingly, nodding back in the direction of the now-deceased Hosilla.
"What? This is why I don't tell jokes, no one seems to get them..."
"They simply wanted to be certain we wouldn't treat them the way their last leader treated fallen foes."
Brighton chuckles from his belly. He claps Barundar on the back and says, "Lead your people, oh Chief Goldhammer. Perhaps they can show us a way out of here!"
Victrix's eyes widen as Belledonna explains things, but she soon understands that it was just her idea of a joke.
She gives Belledonna a mock glare with a snort of stifled laughter.
"Ko koe te tino kurī uwha te tahi mau taime, e mohio ana koe e?"
She looks back at the two mongrelmen, then to Brighton. "I moight need a bit o' healin' before I go in there 'n' start breakin' demon skulls."