Molasbar will add the spellbook to the other valuable books he's collected so far. "Yes, it appears the element of surprise is somewhat compromised."
Maena says, "It seems so."
The Forsaken peel around the western side of Branderscar, emerging into a courtyard between the front of the fortress and the back of the gatehouse. The yard here is adorned by a small fountain. The fountain’s centerpiece is a statue of the Mitran pantheon’s patron saint of law and order -- St. Dothan the Just. In his outstretched hand is a sword that points to the Great Hall. At the base of his statue is an inscription: “Thus is justice done.” A stone path surrounds the fountain and leads around the Great Hall.
Watch Sergeant Thomas Blackerly, the man that held the brand and laughed as you cried out in pain, stands here, surrounded by a group of four guardsman. His face twists in fury when he notices the Forsaken, lit by the flames of the burning keep. He tears his sword from its scabbard and raises it towards the escaped criminals. "You! You did this?!" he demands. A flicker of fear registers across his beady black eyes.
Molasbar keeps his gaze on the guardsmen, but says in an even, hallow tone "The sergeant needs to die painfully, and preferably slowly. The rest may be slaughtered."
Initiative
"Yes...and we are about to do it again, I think." Alicia grins wickedly, relishing the thought of paying Blackerly back for the brand on her arm, for the way he had laughed at her misery and screams. The muscles in her right forearm tense to the point where lines appear carved into the flesh, so rigid are the muscles. Veins poke out of the flesh at the fierce grip, her biceps flaring, as well. A single swing of the sword releases a bit of the pent-up frustration, but does not sate her desire for blood.
Maena takes a deep breath and draws infernal power, filling herself with dark power and making ready to crush a few more hated skulls.
Before the guards can react, Alicia and Molasbar can act!
Alicia snarls wordlessly at the man. In Sergeant Blackerly, there was the focal point of the pain and humiliation Alicia had undergone these past couple of days, the remnants of the burned mark in her arm still causing discomfort. Still, she isn't fool enough to rush forward to be stabbed to death, either. She steps in front of Molasbar, setting her shield up, readying an attack on the fool who would move against her.
Molasbar readies his club, then casts True Strike.
With a shout, the guards charge towards the Forsaken, their castle-forged steel glinting in the fire of the keep. Blackerly hangs back, letting his soldiers begin the fight. Most of his men pile in around Alicia, although the warrior turns away all of their blows with a display of swordsmanship. One manages to circumvent the fight and engages Damien. Grumblejack shouts in pain as an arrow feathers him in the back; there is a guard still on the western wall. Another arrow narrowly misses Maena's head.
As the first guard confronts her, she suddenly thrusts her sword out, trying to skewer the man.
Maena growls, "Someone blind the archer," as she steps forward, putting herself into a flanking position with Damien, swinging the club with the divine power flowing through her.
Standing her ground as she expertly parries the slashes of the guards, she grins at them, to let them see how much she is enjoying slashing them open. Setting her feet as she was taught, she slashes out once again with her sword.
Alicia's longsword bites into the guard, eliciting a cry of pain. To his credit, the man grits his teeth and fights on, blocking her follow-up with his shield.
Damien strikes true as well, dropping the guard to one knee. Moriarti slides into position next to the slayer, although his inexperience in combat shows.
Grumblejack roars and charges the closest guard, slamming a ham-sized fist into his enemies chest.
Finally, Sergeant Blackerly joins the fight, now that his men are properly engaged. The barrel-chested man joins two of his men in attacking Alicia. Every swing of his sword is punctuated by a slur. "B&*~!! F#!!ING B*#%!!" Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to help his swordsmanship, as Alicia is able to skillfully parry his attacks.
Giving Sergeant Blackerly a withering look promising much pain, Alicia understands she will soon be overwhelmed if she doesn't reduce the numbers she is facing. A quick chop brings her sword down on the same guard she previously wounded.
Molasbar hurls his club at Blackerly.
To hit
Damage
Alicia cuts the wounded guard down, but another steps into his place. Again, Alicia fends off their blows. They're clumsy and ill-timed, like the swings of a brawling drunk. Similarly, Maena and Damien avoid any serious wounds.
Maena steps forward carefully, getting herself out of a sticky situation, then looks around and smiles, "Nice of you to all come so close...", she says as she grips the unholy symbol and draws deeply on the her link to Belial, pushing it out and into all those around her.
Moriarti slides over to prevent the guards from flanking Maena again and takes a stab at the nearest one.