Once more, Belledonna looses a flurry of arcane darts at the Vermin.
Edging forward, Brud looses another arrow at the vermin.
Konny moves forward as far as possible to give room to anyone else attacking.
Konny dodges forward...only to be stopped by a Wasp claw Konny hits for 40!
Kaladin/Navi heals his allies.
Barundar prepares to assist Victrix.
Victrix moves up and hits with the counter attack and with one of her attacks for a total of 56. She notices the thing is beginning to heal its own injuries.
Belledonna blasts the Wasp and it falls to pieces....
Combat Over. Congratulations you are all level 8.
Kaladin directs everyone to huddle round as he presents his holy symbol and offers another prayer to Pulura!
He then Hexes's Brud! Who looks much better.
And Barundar, who has taken incredible damage that would have killed anyone else twice over. Despite all the healing the dwarf is still seriously wounded, but he's mobile at least.
Kaladin eyes Barundar with something approaching awe, "Nearly lost ya Ser Dwarf. Still tha Gods had sommat to say on tha matter. Still, never seen tha like, do those wounds bother ya overmuch?"
Navi for her part heals Kaladin as the shaman takes care of the others, and succeeds in bringing back some of the colour to his skin. The sunken emaciated look has mostly gone, but he's still hurt.
At the end Kaladin wipes his brow and signs, "Got nae more in meh. I hope t'was ta last o teh fightin." He half smiles, half grimaces, "A forlorn hope, I fear."
Both Navi and Kaladin examine the loot.
Navi:
Kaladin:
Wand of Silence 21 charges
Banded Armor +1
+1 Light Hammer of Spell Storing
+1 Heavy Steel Shield
Glaive is unknown, but the aura is very powerful and every evil
+2 Spiked Full Plate
+2 Belt of Constitution/Strength
As Kaladin & his companion examine the fallen dwarves swag, Belledonna contemplates the corpses. "We should bring the bodies as well. Irabeth will want proof of his demise & I mislike the possibility that his," she points snearingly to Staunton's body, "master might simply return him. Better that they be denied the chance. Also, " she considers further, "we might be able to question his spirit."
"Aye, proof shuid be brought, bit ah ament touching that glaive. Th' thing is clearly evil 'n' wi' whit Vhane was daein' tae us wi' it, mah thinking is that we destroy th' abomination. I dinnae know how we'd go aboot daein' that, bit a'm sure someone in th' airmie wid hae some thoughts oan it. We'd juist hae tae mak' sure Irabeth keeps it under lock 'n' key 'til it cuid be ended."
Navi flutters from somewhere up above to hover near the party.
The diminutive woman bows to Barundar and says something to him. Her sing song voice is musical and light, and reminds you of summer meaddows and happier days. What she tells him is this, "A noble intention Ser Barundar, I believe I may be able to offer some slight help with that. Once we know what this weapon is, I'm allowed on occasion to petition the higher powers with a question. I believe they would approve of this foul things destruction and will help us understand how that may be achieved."
Victrix lowers her axe, exhausted and wobbly-legged. "...destroyin' that weapon of Vhane's would be a damn good idea. Burnin' 'is corpse would probably be a good idea as well."
At this point she looks over at Kaladin, noticing how utterly winded he looks. "Kaladin?" She walks over to him, carrying her axe across her shoulders. "...gods above, yeh look loike yeh've been shakin' hands with Death. How are yeh feelin'?"
Shaking softly, as often happens after a battle, Kaladin tries his best to reply, "I'll ... Ah I'll... Lady I need ta catch mi breath, but by tha grace o'th gods and yer axe I'll be ok."
He continues shaking although his breathing starts to slow down, no longer ragged. He confeses, "T'was a close one and nae mistake. I cannae fight on taday, not lik that. Doubt I'll sleep tho, not after what I felt through tha link. Tha fury o tha one's god." He nudges Staunton's corpse with his foot, "T'was terrible ta behold and worse ta feel."
"Tha armor an' gear he's carryin' is nae better than my oan; I'd just as soon keep wha' I got than take up the stuff of tha' bastard...but I'm sure tha Crusaders could make good use o' it."
"We should not forget the note we found. With the traitor's death, we might be in worse danger then before..." Konny remembers the note.
Having caught his breath, Kaladin is still a little unsteady, but this is due to plain tiredness more than anything.
A little unsure of discussing tactics, He ventures an opinion "Surely we cannae press on ta'day! We'd nae survive another battle like tha... But we be stuck tween a vrock and a hard place, aye? Nae more flyin fer us ta'day lest I misjudge, so we either fight yon wee Vrock or we try ta rest somewhere?"
"Unfortunately, I'd 'ave ta disagree." Victrix sighs. "That note we found told the real commander ta blow this citadel ta pieces if Staunton Vhane failed. And since we just killed 'im..." She trails off.
"If nothin' else, we need ta foind this Chorussina and take 'er out before she can do that. Kaladin, do yeh still 'ave channeling power?"
"Rough as it is, ah think Vic haes th' right o' it. If we abandon th' fort noo, tis liable tae nae be 'ere whin we come back tae it. We'll hae tae conserve whit power we hae left all tha' we kin. A've got a healing potion oan me, sae that wull hulp some...and hopefully thare wilnae be much atween us 'n' whoever is leadin` these misfits that kin gies a lot o' trouble."
"If we must press on, best to know where to press on." Belledonna muses. Turning to Kaladin, she adds, "Compelling answers from the dead is god power, not mine. Does your god still owe you any favors?"
As the leaders hurriedly debate, brud listens cautiously at the door nearest him.
Kaladin looks grave upon hearing Vic's reminder but he shakes his head, "Nae Lady. I be well n truly spent. Cannae even hex ya, Navi has her wand. Nae use in combats mind."
Brud notices that the area that Nurah marked "Storeroom" is not in fact a storeroom. It is new a new construction of stairs leading down into gloomy depths...
An array of maps depicting the Worldwound and its border nations adorn the walls of this large chamber.
Rich appointments of fine furniture and plush carpet decorate
this oddly shaped chamber. A mahogany desk with several
bookshelves occupies the southeast corner, while expansive
liquor cabinets follow the curving northern wall. Three doors
lead south and west.
"So, nobody has any suggestion how to find this Chorussina? If not, we will have to do it the hard way and go room to room" Konny says.
Navi pipes up, "I could ask the powers that be for guidance. They don't appreciate being pestered so I'd only get perhaps 4 or 5, maybe 6 questions if I'm pushing my luck. I was thinking to ask after we'd figured out what that Glaive is but maybe I should ask for help now. What do you think?"
She awaits the opinions of the group.
Victrix nods at Navi. "Do it--I've got a bad feelin' we're runnin' outta time already."
"Agreed. We need tae finish this an' quick."
Navi nods sagely and then dissolves into a whirlwind of glowing motes, reminiscent of stars. There is a strange curtain of light left as she departs, that shifts and flows majestically with colors of deep red and blue.
In anther place entirely, Navi finds herself in a formless room from which she can see a galaxy of stars. A multi-hued servitor formed out of ribbons of winking lights approaches her and it dutifully notes down her questions.
Navi clearly and staidly states, "1. We seek the Nahindrian crystal. Is that in Chorussina's possession? 2. Is the Nahindrian crystal well guarded? 3. Is the Nahindrian crystal on this floor?" She awaits the answers to these before asking the remaining three questions she is entitled to.
.
Is that in Chorussina's possession?
YES.
Is the Nahindrian crystal well guarded?
YES
Is the Nahindrian crystal on this floor?
NO.
Navi nods and asks her final three questions, "4. Is the Nahindrian crystal below us? 5. Do we have time to rest before it is used? 6. Are there any supplies nearby that can help us?"
Is the Nahindrian crystal below us?
YES
Do we have time to rest before it is used?
PROBABLY
Are there any supplies nearby that can help us?
YES, VERY
As Navi communes for answers, Belledonna awaits, impatiently.
Navi returns in a swirl of colour and a soft sound like a bell ringing.
Sounding relieved she tells everyone, "Well there's a first, the powers that be are watching intently and know a thing or two. Firstly the Nahindrian crystal is below us, with Chorussina and is well guarded. Apparently we probably have time for rest, and there supplies near by that will help us. They were emphatic about the last question. I take that to mean we should search for these supplies and rest for maybe four hours at most."
Victrix hefts her axe to her shoulder. "Alroight then--let's get those supplies."
"Nothing in th' armory...the next place it mak's sense tae keep fightin' supplies wid be in th' garrison's. Thir's one oan th' east side o' th' citadel, nae far fae 'ere. How aboot we check thare first?"
"I think it is more likely to be found in the secret rooms behind the chapel, where the Sword of Valor used to be stored. I would definitely like to check that area. And it is on the way to one of the garrisons. But that means we have to go through the Vrock." Konny says while attepting to clean Biggie.
Kaladin chews his lip, not looking forward to fighting the Vrock. He suggests, "Afore we fight yon beastie, mebbe chech tha undefended places?" He motions towards the various exits.
Kaladin realising that no, he hasn't searched this room, casts detect magic.
Following Kaladin's lead, Navi checks too. She having the advantage of always seeing magical auras.
Konny helps with searching
Barundar watches them all search; it was interesting to him how they had such good ideas for finding useful things. Sometimes it seemed like the only thing he was good at was being hit.
The maps on the walls show planned invasion routes used by the demons to cross into Mendev, Numeria, and Ustalav,they would be quite valuable to the crusaders as documents that provide insights into the tactical mind of the demonic warlord Apavonicus.
Kaladin studies the maps and frowns, "I canne say fer sure but somebody in camp will wanna see these roight?"
Kaladin and Navi then search the room to the south (F20), again Kaladin casts detect magic and spends 3 rounds concentrating.
Assuming there are no obvious threats he will check the three doors that lead away. He's cautious to make sure somebody solid like Vic or Barundar is near by before opening any doors. Again he will cast detect magic in each room.
"Konny these doors, they be safe, roight?" says Kaladin hoping Konny will check them first.
Navi and Kaladin search and discover some really expensive Dwarven Whiskey. Presumably for Staunton and Joran Vhane...20 bottles of it in fact.
The room to the Southwest looks like it was Joran Vhane's personal chambers. There is a small shrine to Droskar, which is interesting because Droskar isn't normally worshipped by the Demon loving followers of Deskari and Baphomet.
The room to the Southeast is a storage closet with nothing of much interest.
This spacious bedroom is immaculate to the point of spotlessness. The bed sheets are tight against the mattress, and no splinters mar the floor near the well-used sparring dummy in one corner, despite its obvious heavy use. An inkwell, a blotter, and a black quill sit atop an otherwise bare desk, with a three-legged stool pushed out of the way underneath. A single large chest sits at the foot of the bed.
The chest glows with magic (Arcane Lock).
Victrix's eyes narrow in confusion as she sees the shrine of Droskar. "The Dark Smith, here? What would the main god of duergar want with a bunch o' demons?"
"Ah'm nae sure I wanna find oot..." the dwarf trails off. He looks to the shrine, then to Radiance.
"What say ye, lassie? Up for a wee bit mair destroyin'?"
With little to offer in argument for one course over another, Belledonna remains silent.
Konny checks the chest for traps and tries to open it... unsuccessfully
"I am afraid this is locked far beyond my ability to open, but as it is magical in nature, I guess it might be dispelled..." he says.