Tats lets her arcane talents cover her rapier in a sickly-green light as she forces her way past Jens's hulking frame. Looking into the room, she spots an enemy within easy distance and sprints forward, turning her headlong rush into a lunge at the last moment and catching her opponent in the shoulder with the tip of her blade.
"The cockatrice?" Jens growls, taking in the heraldry on the other man's armour. "A path for braggarts and honourless dogs!" He bangs his hammer once against the boss of his shield, creating a loud clang that echoes throughout the ruined library. "Come, dog. Show me what your pathetic order teaches you."
Bootsteps heavy on the flagstones, he strides forward, hefting his hammer before swinging it at the other man.
With the fighting begun Iolana begins to dance, a song coming from her that gives her the beat as she draws her whip.
Striding in quickly behind Jens heinrick lunges at the thiefling to the right.
**************Round 1 Summary***********
INIT: Lib 2, Lib 3, Lib 5, Jens, Tats, Female Lib, Heinrick, Cavalier, Tiefling 2, Lib 4, Iolanna, Tiefling 1.
Jens bellows his warning, and strides towards the enemy Cavalier, bringing his hammer down with a resounding crack. The blow nearly staves in the side of the man's armor, and the man grunts beneath the blow.
Shortly after that, Tatyana streaks across the floor, feet landing in precision as her rapier lashes out in a perfectly timed strike piercing a Tiefling in the shoulder. The Tiefling hisses in pain, the wound bleeding freely.
The female librarian runs to one of her friends and starts to untie him.
Heinrick intercepts the Tiefling as he starts to move towards the prisoners and thrusts out with his spear, catching the Tiefling in the thigh. The Tiefling grits his teeth, but the leg is rendered all but useless.
The Cavalier sneers as the hammer lands, even though visibly in pain, "Dragon DOG, your order thinks itself so above everyone else. We'll see who comes out of this alive! His mace whistles through the air, and Jens meets it with his shield, pushing the blow aside.
The Tiefling facing Heinrick circles warily favoring its wounded leg, but still attempts a stab with a shortsword. He slips forward 5' and misses badly with the shortsword.
Iolana moves her feet and body in time to the rousing song she starts to sing, raising the spirits of the group.
The Tiefling facing Tatyana faces her, though trying to keep his wounded shoulder behind him, and stabs out at her with a short sword. The clumsy approach sees his strike easily parried aside by Tatyana.
*********Status***********
Cavalier 7pts damage
Tiefling 1 (West on Tats) 4 damage
Tiefling 2 (East on Heinrick) 7 damage
Librarians 0 damage
Heinrick 13/13
Iolana 18/18
Jens 18/24
Tats 16/19
***************Round 2****************
INIT: Lib 2, Lib 3, Lib 5, Jens, Tats, Female Lib, Heinrick, Cavalier, Tiefling 2, Lib 4, Iolanna, Tiefling 1.
Looking to put down her enemy as quickly as she can, Tatyana strikes first with her rapier, then more accurately with a jolt of electricity.
Heinrick gives some ground so that he can use his spear more effectively.
only to miss high due to the thieflings stumble.
Continuing to perform Iolana danced forward and then flicked her whip out at the feet of Tatyana's opponent. The weapon licks out and tangles around the tiefling's foot.
"I am sworn to a higher cause - the protection of those under my wing, as Terendelev fought for this city," Jens snarls, effortlessly catching the mace on his shield. Teeth bared in a feral grimace, he continues, "But a selfish brute like yourself couldn't be expected to understand!"
His own blow glances off the other man's armour, and he berates himself for his heated response.
*************Round 2***********
Jens' blow lands with a loud *splang* against the cavalier's armor, and the man laughs mockingly, "Those under your wing? A fledgling Cleric who will soon learn his *god* will offer him no solace here," He briefly looks at Heinrick, and then to Iolana, "A slattern who would probably make more money in a brothel, and finally the lost Abyssal spawn, who will learn what it is that roils in her blood first hand?" Ha! Could you have chosen worse, Dragon Dog?"
As the rival Cavalier speaks, Tatyana lashes out with her rapier, but the other Tielfing manages to sidestep the blade, but Tats reaches out and grabs his arm, and a jolt of electricty sparks. The Tiefling's body goes rigid for a moment, then falls to the ground, small wisps of smoke coming from his feet, where the electricity exited.
Iolana, who started to target that Tiefling, does a dance like twirl, the whip circling around her body before it lashes out at the other Tiefling facing Heinrick. The lash snares its wounded leg and yanks it out from under him, dropping the Tiefling to the ground. The Tiefling starts to try to rise.
The rival Cavalier raises his heavy mace and brings it down on Jens in an overhand strike, which comes crushing down on Jens' shoulder. The mace pulls away leaving behind mangled armor, flesh and bone.
The Librarian done untying one of her fellows, moves to another, and the man just freed moves to get a fourth.
***************End round 2 Status**************
Cavalier 7pts damage
Tiefling 1 (West on Tats) Unconscious
Tiefling 2 (East on Heinrick) 7 damage
Librarians 0 damage (2 free)
Heinrick 13/13
Iolana 18/18
Jens 2/24
Tats 16/19
Iolana continued her song and dance as she dropped her bow. Her body lithely moved closer to Jens as she mixed the words of a spell into her performance and spun lashing a hand out at Jens and touching the badly wounded man. Her magical voice and touch healed some of his wounds, the flesh knitting together.
Reaching to his left Heinrick taps Jens on the mangled shoulder
Be strong in the Inheritors name
Tats spins as her electric grasp scorches the tiefling, putting him on the ground. She watches Jens take a massively heavy blow and realizes he's going to need to slow the enemy knight down. As she moves cautiously toward him, she chants a minor spell under her breath and hopes for the best.
***************Round 3*************
INIT: Lib 2, Lib 3, Lib 5, Jens, Tats, Female Lib, Heinrick, Cavalier, Tiefling 2, Lib 4, Iolanna, Tiefling 1.
Tatyana moves towards the enemy cavalier after dispatching her Tiefling and casts a quick spell, throwing a bit of wool at the combat. The wool seems to burst into a small flame in front of the cavalier's face, and he gets a blank, overwhelmed look on his face. Heinrick is able to get a quick healing spell off, which seems to take most of the sting out of Jens' shoulder, and Iolana follows with a small song, which repairs all but the most superficial cuts.
The librarians move to free another two of their comrades, and the female librarian, seeing that the last of her friends is soon to be freed, wheels on the cavalier, the beginnings of a spell on her lips, as her hands raise, thumbs together in a fan like posture.
The wounded Tiefling stands up.
***********End round 3 pending Jens' attack***************
Cavalier 7pts damage dazed 1 rd
Tiefling 1 (West on Tats) Unconscious
Tiefling 2 (East on Heinrick) 7 damage
Librarians 0 damage (4 free)
Heinrick 13/13
Iolana 18/18
Jens 20/24
Tats 16/19
INIT Round 3: Lib 2, Lib 3, Lib 5, Jens, Tats, Female Lib, Heinrick, Cavalier, Tiefling 2, Lib 4, Iolanna, Tiefling 1.
Init Round 4: Lib 2, Lib 3, Lib 5, Jens, Tats, Female Lib, Heinrick, Cavalier, Tiefling 2, Lib 4, Iolanna, Tiefling 1.
Oh just lie down and be a good bad guy
As he drives his spear at the Thiefling in front of him.
Tats grins a decidedly-unfriendly grin, stepping forward to lunge into the cavalier's side with her blade. She gestures quietly with her off-hand, hoping Jens will see her and move just a little bit to his right.
The mace crashes into his shoulder, and Jens feels the breath leave his lungs, feels his sword-arm go limp. His gauntlet somehow retains the grip on his hammer, even with armour scales digging into his clavicle, even with the sting of cold air on raw flesh and bone.
Memories pass before him as he tries to retain balance - his children's smiles, his wife's laughter, his horse's old, wise eyes - and he steels himself for the next blow. Instead, he feels a rush of cool air, a warm tingle spread through his mangled shoulder, and the pain subside from a screaming chorus to a gentle thrum as the healing magic takes hold.
He takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with air that smells of burned paper. The memories fade, replaced by anger.
"This is my city," he growls. "These people are mine. And you will not take them until my Lady takes me!" Sweeping his shield aside, the faded death-spiral flashing in the firelight reflected off the boss, he brings the hammer around in a devastating arc.
Iolana was unsure what the librarian was casting, but if she was associated with Aravashniel it should be something very effective. Realizing that the leader of these thugs was likely dealt with Iolana danced over to help against the remaining tiefling. A quick flick of her whip sent the weapon snaking out at the thugs legs.
********Round 3 Concluded******
Jens recovers from the massive blow, and his hammer swings in an arc, crashing into the cavalier's side with a loud thump, and a satisfying if ugly crunching sound. The Cavalier snarls, and winces, his arm clamping to his side for a moment before he regains his footing and stance.
*************Round 3 Status************
Cavalier 19pts damage dazed 1 rd
Tiefling 1 (West on Tats) Unconscious
Tiefling 2 (East on Heinrick) 7 damage
Librarians 0 damage (4 free)
Heinrick 13/13
Iolana 18/18
Jens 20/24
Tats 16/19
***********Round 4************
Init Round 4: Lib 2, Lib 3, Lib 5, Jens, Tats, Female Lib, Heinrick, Cavalier, Tiefling 2, Lib 4, Iolanna, Tiefling 1.
Tatyana moves slightly to the side of the cavlier and lunges forward and catches him in the gap between his helm and gorget. A spray of blood comes from the wound, and the man blanches.
At that point the librarian finishes her spell and a fan of flames gouts from her hands, washing over the cavalier. When the flames pass, the cavalier drops to his knees looking up at Jens. "Y-yield! I yield" He drops his mace and holds his hands up trying to ward Jens off.
Heinrick drives his spear foward into the gut of the Tiefling facing off against him and the man falls in a heap.
Iolana, lacking a real target, lashes out with her whip, snapping it around the cavalier's mace, yanking it from his reach.
************Victory************
Already drawing back his hammer for another swing, Jens hesitates when his enemy falls to his knees. Fury washes over him, hot and violent as fire; then passes in an instant. There was no honour in striking an unarmed man. With a heavy sigh, he drops the ancient hammer back into his belt.
It's a good weapon, he thinks. It will almost be a shame to return it to the church.
"On your feet," he says, his voice soft and low. "If you're useful, you may yet leave with your life. You can start by telling me what you and your thugs were doing here."
Seeing the enemy cavalier is under control, Heinrick will check the two downed thieflings, and if he gets a chance, will stabalize them.
Iolana picked up the weapon she had pulled away from the cavalier after she stowed her own away. She walked over to the librarians and said, "A wonderful use of a spell, I'm glad you managed to avoid the books with the flames, the knowledge should be preserved, not destroyed. I'm Iolana, and you are?"
The man looks up at Jens, and nods, swallowing hard, "I..I just wanted to prove myself to the new city lords. I knew if I created enough chaos they would reward me. We were going to destroy as much of the knowledge about the Abyss as we could, and sacrifice the librarians." He looks up and Jens and shrinks back down, eventually voicing his next very meekly, "They are going to win, you know? It'll be better to be on the winning side. You've seen what they're doing to people out there?"
Heinrick moves to the two Tieflings and does his best to stabilize them. Using crude bandages he does his best, and seems to have stopped the bleeding.
The librarian, shaken, looks up at Iolana, "Thank...you. That bastard was going to burn my friends alive, using our own books! He deserves to be punished." The woman all but sobs in rage and rushes up and spits in the cavalier's face. "I hope your new 'masters' burn you alive!"
Iolana quickly moved to pull the raging librarian back in an effort to avoid making things worse. She said to the woman, "I get that this was a horrifying experience for you, but can you truly blame him, he's lost hope and when that happens people do terrible things to try and find it again. Come with me and let's take the other librarians outside, we've been escorting survivors to try and find safety." She grins mischievously, "In fact I bet one of them will be a great surprise to you. If there are any tomes that we absolutely need to bring with us then let's grab them, I don't think it will be safe to stay here now." Iolana did her best to help pick up the most important tomes and carry them outside with the librarians to where Arivashniel and the others waited. She didn't say anything about who they would find out there, as she didn't want to spoil any covers that their companions may have had in place.
After stabilizing the two Thieflings, Heinrick moves over to Jens.
As he was defeated in fair combat, are not his arms and armour yours by the code?
Besides, I know it will not happen, but I would love to be there, when he explains this loss to his new masters
He then goes to help Iolana with moving what tomes they can.
Tats looks at Heinrick, her tail twitching, and and frowns. "Do we really have to drag him all the way acrosssssss the city? We have the injured, thossssse trapped people, and now probably thessssse librariansssss as well." Her stomach rumbles, and she suppresses it with near-visible effort before looking in her bags for more food. "I think it'ssss too much of a risssk to take him with ussss. Leave him for the demonsss or end him here. Thisss isssss war."
I stated nothing of bringing him with us. I just said it would be amusing to see what he has to say about this loss.
Heinrick digs a ration out and tosses it to Tats
For a moment, Jens remains calm, anger visibly simmering in his face like waves forming deep in the ocean. "Better to be on the winning side?" he asks calmly, in syllables like the slamming of leaden doors. "Better to live as a coward, sacrificing innocents, rather than die defending the city that protected you from the very demons you are now so eager to join?!" His voice rises to a roar, and his gauntleted fists clench as if preparing to strike the man.
With great effort, he manages to calm himself, hefting his great shield. "The winning side isn't always the right one, nor the best place to be. Victory doesn't mean your beliefs hold more merit. Evil is evil, and no amount of might can change that." He jerks his head toward the door behind him, taking a step to the side. "A coward isn't worth killing," he growls, the old Ulfen pride of his forefathers refusing to be silenced. "Get out. And if I see you on the side of demons, I'll kill you as I would any of them." His boot remains on the dropped mace, sending a clear message - This stays.
He stares after the cavalier for a long time, heaving a deep sigh as he looks back to Heinrick. "Amusing though it would have been, I couldn't. What if he'd realized the error of his ways, and I'd left him defenceless against the demons? What if he'd tried to flee with his life?" He shakes his head, pulling off his helm long enough to mop his brow. "Something tells me he won't be going back to confess his failure any time soon. He's more likely to escape with his life, for what it's worth."
Not as good at comfort and sweet-talk as Iolana, he settles for searching through the books. "If we can find anything that may aid us, or the city, that should be our priority."
Looking about the ruins, Heinrick finds what seems to be grey strips of flesh, which on further inspection turn out to be dried worms of some type about as long as a human finger.
Jens finds a book, among those that were stacked around the librarians that has arcane sigils on the binding. The book is somewhat singed, and the some of the pages are torn, but inside are several pages that are still intact. Once Tatyana or Iolana looks at the book, you realize this is a damaged spellbook, that still has several spells intact. Alarm, dismissal, dispel magic, magic circle against chaos, resist energy, and versatile weapon There is a scroll tucked into the binding as well, which is a scroll of dimensional lock.
Well, I wonder what was chewing on these.
As he holds up the worms.
Whatever it is, eating worms means that it is probably hungry.
He then throws the dried worms down and rubs his hands against his pant legs.
I think we are going to have to find a place to rest soon
Tats looks out the door toward their injured wards. "Maybe our friend the elf knowssss sssssomewhere in this building we could hole up for the night before we try to push too much farther." She heads outside, following Iolana and the librarians. "Ariva, do you have and ideasssss for a ssssafe place at thissss library? We need to find ssssomewhere sssafe for ssssleeping."
"Here." Resting one heavy hand on Tat's shoulder, Jens passes the tiefling the spellbook. "You might be able to make some use of this. Worth keeping, anyway."
He glances at the worms Heinrick finds. "That, or it enjoys the taste. I knew a Varisian man who ate crickets once. Said he liked the crunch. Always thought he was simply mad."
He follows Tats outside, approaching Anevia first. "I know you want to see your wife, but we'll likely be staying here. If she's half as strong and brave as yourself, she'll be fine." He gives her what he hopes is a reassuring smile, but there's too much pain in his eyes for it to truly reach them.
"The library was singled out for destruction. I can't see it being safe," he points out.
The female librarian from before cries out in alarm when she sees Aravashnial and runs to him. After a few moments of greeting and remorse over his eyes, the two separate and the librarian turns to the group. [b]"I'm afraid the library is just as you see it, the main room is all that's left standing. We're the only ones left in the building, everyone else left before the demons struck it down. While it's in some state of damage, the main room is solid enough, and it's probably more intact than a lot of the other buildings.
Either in the Library or one of the other buildings nearby, the group can find shelter from weather which turns nasty. It's not a comfortable night by any means, but the group can find some shelter and rest.
Shall we fort up in here, and rest, now that there is a place we can.
With the immediate fighting is done, Heinrick casts detect magic, and looks over the equipment that the enemy had.
"I agree, that's our best solution, we can move on in the morning and check the last two places." Iolana turned to Anevia and Horgus and said, "I'm sorry it's going to take us longer to reach your homes but this was the closest place and is a safe haven for the night. We will go to your homes tomorrow, I give my word."
Anveia distraught about having to stay away, simply nods at the decision. Horgus starts to interject, but then nods, "You are perhaps right. With this many people trailing us, we make a very tasty target for demons. Better to face them in the daylight."
Waking in the morning, you find the light to still be a grayish pall cast over the city. The sounds of crashing timbers and falling rocks break up the still quiet every once in a while, and the smell of wood fire, and other things you do your best to not imagine cut through the air as you ready for the day ahead.
Once rested, Heinrick takes the time to prepare his spells.
I hope that we don't run into to much going to check the other locations.
He indicates that he is good to depart once his preparations are complete.
[ooc]In the morning.
Iolana rose and did her morning calisthenics, stretching and limbering both her body and voice for a bit then sat down to eat before they all headed out. As they decided their next destination she said, "Since we have to go the long way around to get to Horgus who's home is going to be the furthest away from us? We should try and go to the closest first I think, once we've reached them both we can decide what to do."
Jens needs little preparation - he arms and armours himself, before spending a short while on weapon drills. He keeps his shield up, defending his torso, and - he's surprised to realize - his reflexes have improved.
"We move out once Heinrick and Tats are ready," he says firmly. "If possible, we should have everyone reunited with their loved ones by nightfall." His eyes fall on Anevia as he says this, trying to reassure her the only way he can through his pragmatic demeanor.
As you wake and rouse yourselves for the day ahead, Fenna, the female librarian, steps forward to talk to you. "We have decided that we will remain here, to protect the books, and records of the Riftwardens. The hall is strong and a better place to fortify than many, as long as we don't open our doors again. She looks towards Aravashnial, imploringly, "
Master Aravashnial, we would like you to stay with us. You are the last of the Riftwardens, and we need someone to stay and help protect us, and the records, please stay with us." Aravashnial looks as if he wants to agree, but turns to the group, almost as if he's asking permission.
Fenna sighs a bit, and addresses you again, "Some things you should know before braving the city again. This place was attacked by a man, made of worms. He brought terrible magic and demon thralls to destroy this place, but once he found a few items, the destruction stopped. With things in such disarray, we're not sure what he took. I'm afraid we can't give you much more information than that. All of the Riftwardens left, or were killed. Even our head librarian Quendys Orlun hasn't returned. The last we knew he was heading for the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell at the time of the disaster.
Master Aravashnial, if you wish to stay or continue with us, it will not bother me either way, but the choice is yours.
Tats frowns at Arava. "Are you quite ssssure? We won't likely be coming back unlessss everything elsssse issss sssafe." She waits for an answer before voicing her opinion on where the party should head first. "I am sssskeptical of thissss manor. Will we find fighterssss there? Or ssssomething that can help usss get thesssse people out of here? If we do vissssit it, we should make it asssss quick a visssit assss possible, and then move on. Try to get to both placesssss tomorrow, if we can."
Jens is silent for a moment, assessing the situation and weighing the possibilities. Finally, he speaks. "Aravashnial, our struggle is not yet over. We have people to return to their homes, and it sounds as though the last Riftwarden is needed where his expertise can help those who need it most." He rests a gauntleted hand on the elf's shoulder. "I can tell you want to stay here. We'll be fine."
He heaves a deep sigh, rolling his shield-arm out of habit. "The news on a man made of worms disturbs me. Does anyone know anything about such a thing?" he asks, glancing at the others.
Iolanna nodded in agreement with Jens, "While your help would be invaluable to us if you feel your needed here even more then we understand. The choice is entirely yours and we will accept and understand either way. The only thing I can think to add is this, if things are as bad as they seem right now, and with unknown artifacts missing, can you afford to be locked away from what is happening?"
Aravashnial smiles wanly, "I am unsure. This place holds the knowledge we may need to retrieve those items, so needs to be protected. I have some meager skills left which may help. I fear that in my condition, I am slowing you down, and you do have more charges to care for, and are likely to pick up more as you go through the city. If you reach a stronghold and can send back for us, and any books we find that may help, we could rejoin you then. If you wish for me to continue with you, though, I shall."