"Oh, if you want, Sister." Sol replies, lowering her sword. "Although there is nothing in what I said that would lead anyone to the conclusion that killing them would aid those goals, if you and Mort want to tend to this last one, I will leave him in your hands."
Rae sighs and helps Mort tie up the remaining cultist. "Sometimes, Sol, it isn't what any one person says, but the combination of what is said by many people, combined with... yes, a feeling.... that says it's the wrong thing to do." She shakes her head, unable to put it into better words that her sister will get. "Nevermind. Let's just get to this Thedrick and see what he has to say."
Satisfied the cultists have been dealt with, at least for now, Ascaria checks the two alcove rooms as well, searching for magics. Assuming there's nothing there of particular value, he moves to the main doors leading deeper into the complex.
"Ready?" he asks. If there is no dissension, he opens the doors from the side, and stays out of the way of whatever might lie beyond...
Ascaria begins his carrion collection, searching the cultists first, then the tiefling guards.
"We're going to save you from yourself. Someday you'll thank us."
The cultist tilts a head, a slight gesture acknowledging the gnome's address. "you... I will thank you...someday... why wait?" The man raises his hands in a mock gesture of being bound.
Mortimer leads the cultist back into the entry hallway, where he proceeds to bind him with the bloody tunic of his fallen brother.
"Tell him the Duel is still on. I'll be looking for him. Feel free to tell him to come find me -- I'll likely see him somewhere in Hell."
The cultist looks up at the giant, and remains silent.
Chain Shirt(3)
MW Greataxe(3)
Composite Longbow(1) (+1 Str)
Iron Key(1) (Found on Tiefling Guard)
Longspear(6)
Light Mace(8)
Studded Leather Armor(14)
Glass Vial(6)
Glass Vial(2)
Tynan moves to the southern room, its door open. The door has a lock on it. This appears to be the tieflings' quarters. It is sparse, but Tynan procures the winnings of a card game on a central table, amounting to 80 silver pieces. Under a mattress in the corner, a more valuable bag of velvet is discovered, containing 30 platinum pieces, as well as a gold necklace of respectable crafting.
At the end of a bed, there is a set of leather armor, and a masterwork set of artisan's tools for leatherworking set alongside it.
The northern room is the habitat of the cultists, by the looks of it. Thin mats, some blood-stained, lay strewn about, and a chamber pot, half-full, sits tucked in the northwest corner of the room.
Ascaria's sweep of both southern and northern rooms reveals nothing further that detects as magical. As he returns to the double doors leading further into the complex, he finds them locked. With the only iron key in-hand, the gnome tries the lock, and succeeds in opening the double doors for the rest of his companions.
As the doors quite audibly open, the corridor beyond can seen, lit by torches at the beginning of the hallway. Solrisa can see an open set of double doors at the end of the hallway, just within her line-of-sight. There is a set of double doors on the northern wall of the hallway, as well as a single door in the southern wall.
Ascaria holds up some vials, "These are magical, the rest is not. Let's see what they contain shall we?"
He examines each set of vials carefully.
He examines another from the first group to be sure of his results
Solrisa picks up the longbow, testing its weight and strength against her own. Seeking to test it out while others dawdle with the glass vials, Sol contents herself with looking for arrows amongst the gear.
When she has concluded her search for arrows, she will look down the hallway with her dragon's eyes.
de
6 vials of Cure Light Wounds
2 vials of Shield of Faith
Solrisa manages to acquire a quiver of 20 arrows as well.
Also in the search, you discover two unused alchemist's fires.
Ascaria nods as he works, "These lot are curing potions - I think we should each take one so we have a little backup in case I'm not around, can't see you, etc." He hands out six potions of cure light wounds (1d8+1).
"These other two give you some measure of protection against attacks, making it harder for the enemy to hit you. I dunno, maybe Mort and Rae? Sol you seem to avoid the hits well enough."
He hands them over if there are no objections, "Now these only work for a short while, just a minute or so. If it were me, I'd quaff them just as soon as we see an enemy. They've had some time to prepare while we sort out this lot. God only knows what they have prepared for us."
Ascaria puts his potion away and prepares to head down the hall after the others.
Unless someone else wants the bow, Sol will put it over her shoulder, the bowstring running crosswise between her impossibly perfect breasts, and abutting her bandolier. The quiver of arrows she stations at her left hip. She places the Potion of CLW into her front pouch.
Sol looks around, seeing if others are ready to proceed.
Pillette will tuck the vial Ascaria handed him into her bandolier.
Once folks are ready, she peer down the corridor, looking for danger or hidden features.
The cultist looks up at the giant, and remains silent.
Mort momentarily stares back at the Cultist, frowning slightly.
I need a better calling card of some kind.He joins Ascaria in the adjoining room.
~
Mortimer holds up the Shield of Faith Potion to his Ioun Torch. Peering at it suspicously he asks rhetorically, "Erm, what did you call it? Is it meant to be drunk or what? If we haven't their sort of 'faith'," he says, gesturing generally toward the pile of dead Tieflings, Cultists and Skeletons, "is it going to work on us, or just burn us?"
He shrugs and tucks it into his pack and gestures to those in front to move forward down the corridor.
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Life Link (3) = Mort, Rae, Tynan
Channel Energy (4/7) (DC: 15) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (5/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria looks quietly at the big man. Well, of course, how would he know really? Fair questions.
"Well, do not fear Mort, the potion is not tied to their religion, or rather their cult. It is drunk, when you're ready, and I'd use it in our next fight if it were me, but you might save it for a tough one."
He thinks a moment, "Yeah, the next one will be tough I think. The alarm has been raised. They have had time to prepare. There's gonna be a welcome committee forming for us through one of these doors, that much is likely."
Ascaria looks a little nervous and takes out the wand of curing so as to have it ready. He then refreshes the light on his hatband and peers down the hall.
"Everyone watch yourselves."
Mortimer nods at Ascaria. He pulls the potion back out of his pack to keep it handy.
After pointing out what he found in the southern chamber, Tynan gladly accepts the proffered vial.
"I hope I won't need this anytime soon. Thank you Ascaria." Tucking the vial into his belt pouch, he turns toward the now unlocked door. "Shall I scout ahead a bit?"
Tynan scans the hall for any signs of danger, then prepares to make his way down the corridor, should the others agree.
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Rae stows the first potion, but keeps the second in hand. "Right. So we drink this, and then start swinging?" She frowns at her own words. Is it things like that that make Sol so ready to kill on a whim? I should watch my tongue, or her ears.
"Uh, you know, on the evilest evil, Father Thedrick."
Sol waits for Tynan to go ahead, then follows at a safe distance.
Pillette, Tynan, and Raella all look at each other, unable to hear anything that lies in the darkness awaiting. It's wonderfully quiet, almost dripping with anticipation.
The light from the wall-mounted torches extends into the room, its dimness starting to define a rather large room through the double doors.
You can see an enormous statue, mace-in-hand, the upper part of its body rising above the top of the double doors. Beyond the statue, you can barely see columns that seem to delineate the back wall of the chamber.
Hearing nothing from down the corridor, or from his companions, Tynan sighs and moves down the hallway.
It sure would be nice to get an answer once in a while when I ask a question...
Tynan makes his way to the first doorway, listens for anything within, then continues along the north wall to the second door, where he listens again.
You hear muffled animal grunting as you pass the first set of double doors. As you arrive at the opened set of doors, you hear a whisper, coming from the chamber, somewhere higher than you. "Hold."
"Mort, look! A statue!" Sol points off into the darkness.
Sol waits for Tynan to go and follows at a distance.
"Mort, look! A statue!"
Tynan looks back at Sol, and gives her a scowl. He puts a finger over his lips, them makes a gesture upward and into the open chamber, followed by miming the drawing back of a bowstring.
So much for trying to stay unnoticed...
Ascaria, growing ever more uneasy by the silence, shifts up to see Tynan and protect Pillette. He hesitates and considers, fiddling with a piece of chalk in his vest pocket. He thinks it’s time, but he’s just not sure. In the end, he does nothing but fret…
"Shall I scout ahead a bit?"
Surely he's being rhetorical too.
As Tynan takes his time before acting on his own suggestion, Mortimer briefly considers grabbing Tynan by the back of the collar and forcibly -- but wordlessly -- ushering him past the ladies toward the front of the group. Before he can act, however, Tynan is on his way.
It's not even Thursday, and I'm in a foul mood. He quietly sighs.
~
"Mort, look! A statue!"
Unfazed by Solrisa's persistent habit of exercising her lips in inopportune moments, Mort hurriedly strides up the corridor next to her to investigate.
He puts a finger over his lips, then makes a gesture upward and into the open chamber, followed by miming the drawing back of a bowstring."Slow down, Solrisa," he whispers. "Looks like a ranged ambush of some kind. I'm gonna look, see what cover we might be able to use."
Mortimer prepares Deflect Arrows, and moves up next to Tynan to see if he can determine how to use the space to best attempt to close in and defeat the ranged warriors.
How far away are the archers? Are there archers on all three sides of the statue given what we can view at our vantage point? How many? What bows do they have? Aside from the statue is there anything to hide behind or under, or is it just Sitting Duck Land?
Mortimer steps alongside Tynan, bringing his ioun torch to bear on the large chamber beyond. It allows both he and Tynan to see a large statue, standing roughly 30' tall, representing Asmodeus, mace in his right hand, scroll in his left. He looks down on you with pity.
The light touches the side walls in dimness, allowing you to see pillars that extend up and into the darkness.
You can see a balcony running along the upper portion of the room, 20' high. You can also barely see two individuals beyond the statue, standing at the balcony's rail. One appears to be half-orc and male, the other female, though not half-orc. The male is armored, and drinks a potion, discarding it noiselessly behind him.
You see no archers, as you barely see the room itself, the dimness only reaching into the room 40', and your human sight limits you. The statue itself seems to be the only cover from hypothetical arrows. The metalwork at the base of the statue seems poorly crafted to secure it to its pedestal.
"Oh, Mort, look!" Sol points into the inky blackness of the ledge above. "There are two peoples up there. And they have drunk a potion!"
Sol smiles, remembering a happy time when she drunk a potion.
"It might be that they need the gift of mercy as well."
Rae eyes the door next to her dubiously, I'm sure nothing bad will happen from passing up a room. Carefully, she makes her way forward.
"There are two peoples up there. And they have drunk a potion!"
Tynan quickly scans the darkness for foes in the darkness, seeking out any small glimmers of light reflecting of of weaponry or watchful eyes.
You can hear animal grunts of some kind emanating from behind the door, at some distance. The grunter is not immediately behind the door, you are certain.
As Solrisa speaks up, your eyes are drawn upwards, into the darkness. From Mortimer's light, you can barely make out two sets of eyes, facing you, from 20' above the main floor, beyond the statue.
As soon as Raella moves up, a female voice from on high and across the chamber calls down to the party. "Come now, you're not afraid of the dark, are you? You are most unwelcome here, but asking you to leave is silly now, isn't it? So, come in, and let's... talk..."
"Oh, Mort, look! There are two peoples up there. And they have drunk a potion!"
We really need to help her find her inside voice...
Mortimer strains to see, but can see nothing but an ugly statue peering down at them in some mock expression of regret.
"Come now, you're not afraid of the dark, are you? You are most unwelcome here, but asking you to leave is silly now, isn't it? So, come in, and let's... talk..."
He looks behind him toward the doors Sol and the others are near.
Turning to Tynan he says,"I don't know about you, but I like covering my tail before charging forward into a Sitting Duck Zone."
"Agreed, but at this point they already know we're here."
Round 1, Init 21
Pillette will load her crossbow and then move forward, drawing a vial of powder. She whispers "Sorry Mort." I'd tell you to plug your ears, but that might not be a good idea during a conflict.
"আপনি আর্চ পালনকর্তার সত্য ভাড়াটেদের ত্যাগ করেছেন. এটা আপনি আপনার জঘন্য জন্য ভোগে দেখতে সন্তোষজনক হতে হবে."
"We seek to establish new, true tenants, little one. They will make your tenants quite easy to forsake, even for you. As for your strapping blockade, behind whom you cower so easily..."
Mortimer feels something reach out to him through the darkness.
Round 1, Init 12
Sol takes total defense and moves up to support and protect Mort and Tynan.
"I see you up there. Did you want to come discuss this in person? Or is your new God one of cowardice as well as weakness?" Sol asks, her face a furrow of emerging anger.
Sol stops short when she see the tieflings.
"Beware. There are others up on the balconies."
A single twang of a longbow can be heard, and Solrisa is skewered rather well with an arrow from above.
Round 1, Init 14
"Beware. There are others up on the balconies."
Of course there are... never a dull moment.
Not wanting be so clearly illuminated by Mort's glowing stone, Tynan dashes around the ornate door and into its shadow, attempting to conceal himself from view.
HP:22/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2
Three more twangs echo, as Tynan crosses the threshold beyond the door, bringing himself out of cover.
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 20, 18 if flat footed
Round 1, Init 14-
"Sorry Mort. [... terrible noise ensues ...]"
...Ffffoo... Never gonna get used to that...
"We seek to establish new, true tenants, little one. They will make your tenants quite easy to forsake, even for you. As for your strapping blockade, behind whom you cower so easily..."
Mortimer watches Tynan duck around the door just as he himself is tagged by some unseen terror.
Tynan?! Where are you going?!"Ugh!"
He winces. Shaken.
This again? Nevermind this!
"Tynan! Retreat! Get back here!"
He backs up to the Southern door in the corridor.
"Rae, help me get them out of the way!" He gestures with his head West.
He prepares to open the Southern door, but waits before doing so in the hope that everyone will retreat.
The female voice calls down again. "Ah, see, Garras. They finally understand. Yes, please, run away. We'll simply slay you in your sleep when we find you. I have your faces, as does Garras. We never forget a face, do we Garras?"
A rustle of armor, and something touches down lightly on the other side of the grand hall.
The half-orc has fallen gently to the floor below. He carries a rather nasty-looking flail.
"Oh, Rae, look!" Sol points into the inky blackness before them. "The half-man is on the ground now! Did you want to get him? Or should I?"
Rae, seeing the half orc as if for the very first time stampedes into the room, barely missing the statue...shoulda just knocked it over on him!
"come on, Sol!"
Round 1, Init 9 (+/-?)
Now that Rae is out of the way, Mortimer tries the handle of the Southern door in an effort to fling it open.
"Look out, Pillette!" Mistress of Ungodly Language...
If it opens, he'll stand back ready to clothesline anything that comes out.
If it is locked, he'll try breaking the lock or pulling it off its hinges with a crowbar if necessary.
Round: 1, Initiative: 9
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Life Link (3) = Mort, Rae, Tynan
Channel Energy (4/7) (DC: 15) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (4/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Ascaria watches Rae rush off into the room, beyond his sight. To try and include her, he rushes forward as well, past the unknown, and likely dangerous, doors and nearly into the line of fire. He does not like it as he still cannot see Rae, but he has gone as far as he can - so he casts Bless .
Weapon Equipped = Wand cure light wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (2/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Life Link (3) = Mort, Rae, Sol
Channel Energy (4/7) (DC: 15) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Melee Attack: BAB +2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark,
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (4/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
As Ascaria prepares to move down the hall, Sol is healed automatically of some of her injuries.*
Pillette prepares and advances, calling out to faux Asmodeans. Tynan shuns the light, wrapping around the door to the shadow behind it, and suffering an arrow strike for his troubles. Solrisa gains the threshold, suffering her own arrow strike while she cases the room. Raella closes the distance between herself and the half-orc.
She narrowly misses a flail strike at her legs.
Mortimer retreats from the doorway, trying the southern door. Unsurprisingly, he finds it locked, so attempts to break the door down.
The locked door continues to thwart the giant.
Ascaria boldly and blindly strides forward, wincing as Solrisa is struck by an arrow. He brings his blessing to bear on all, save Raella.
The northern tieflings fire away at the obvious Tynan at the door below them.
The southern tieflings move and await repositioning below.
The balcony is 20' up, for those able to see from Mortimer's ioun torch. The metalwork at the base of the statue seems poorly crafted to secure it to its pedestal.
"Mort! Wait! Maybe the key will help." Ascaria thinks about where he put the key and starts checking pockets and satchels.
Round 2, Init 21
AC: 20 (T: 18 FF: 12)
HP: 21/21
Fort +3 | Ref +6 | Will +0
Melee - +3 / Ranged - +6 (+7 Point Blank)
Equipped: Crossbow & Sunrod
Perception +6/ Know (Dungeoneering) +6 / Know (Local) +7 / Sense Motive +4
Seeing arrows strike at Tynan, Pillette gasps. These shadows do not seem to be providing much concealment!
Moving forward, she blurts out at the archers, trying to draw their fire away from the Sunny Lady and the un-shadowed pin cushion next to them.
"আপনার নিজের আকার কারো উপর বাছুন!"
"Pick on somebody your own size!"
Her little form dances around, trying to move swiftly to dodge anything coming her way.
The tieflings take the bait, trying to injure the halfling as she ducks into the room to draw their fire.
"Garras, don't kill her outright, the slip. I want her to feel her tongue being ripped from the floor of her mouth for daring to speak in His words..."
The woman leans over the railing, aware of the woman recently bolting across the floor. She waves her hand, uttering words in Infernal, and slashes the air in Raella's direction.
Round 2, Init 12
Sol wonders as her wounds close automatically. She smiles, thinking of the Dragon and his wonderful gifts. She contentedly moves to confront her foe.
Sol double moves forward, seeking to help her sister in combat.
Round 2, Init 14
Reeling after a third arrow hits him, Tynan moves beneath the balcony where the archers above won't be able to see him.
So much for the shadows... and for this.
Tynan removes the recently acquired vial from his pouch, and quickly downs the liquid. His wounds quickly begin to mend as the healing magic spreads through him.
HP:14/22
Saves:F3,R7,W2