Lavinia describes the bloated, naked men to Ashnah in as much detail as she can. This one at least seems to know something of demons - best to make sure she survives, if I can.
I dont know what is up with them, but i think we should look into it, but, let us see if they will come here instead of us going there
The two grotesquely obese men, one of whom those of you that are local to Kenabres recognize as at least a very transformed Lord Hulrun, continue to pace in front of the main door in a lurching, twitching gait, some of their extremities not seeming to move in concert with the rest of their bodies.
The halfling looks up at the human priest. What best to lure them out?
"You have a trap in mind?"
I guess you could consider it a trap.
But I was thinking that we get them over here somehow, so that they cannot provide warning to anyone inside.
Heinrick finally moves into a spot where he can take a look.
Once Ashnah gets a good look at Hulrun, and the other, she spots odd ghastly white tendrils coming from Hulrun's mouth, that slither out briefly, licking along his cheek before whipping back into his mouth. Conferring briefly with Heinrick, and confirming her suspicions, she believes that the two men are inhabited by Vermlek, worm like abyssal creatures. From what she can remember they use the flesh of their victims almost as armor, but are subject to the normal weaknesses of Abyssal creatures (cold iron).
"Sounds like a trap. What do we have for bait?" Lavinia's eyes slowly pan across the faces of those assembled. "What do such things crave?"
"We move in and sent them back to the Abyss!"
Bollwerk, we will send them back to the abyss, but, we should be doing it on our terms and where they cannot call for more of their kind.
Let us be doing this smart, and not just running in with arms a flailing.
Heinrick pulls out his cold iron morning star.
They should have a weakness to items such as this.
And I think we should bring them here to us, and not having us go to them where they have the advantage.
He quickly looks around the group.
Anyone with ideas on how to get them here to us?
Lavinia rubs her chin in thought. "If they're predators they'll fuss over other predators, but could be they'll give chase to prey. Who seems most like prey?" She looks over those gathered. "Better be quick as well."
Well, we only need them to get here where they can be dealt with, and they cannot give the alarm easy.
Heinrick looks around.
I am not quick, but I can act like a crippled and helpless morsel for them, unless someone else is willing?
Ashnah frowns at Heinrick, looking him up and down critically.
"You are very well armed though, with armor in addition to that. Its going to be difficult to make yourself look helpless or an otherwise easy target."
Ashnah lets the sentance hang for a moment, before continuing onwards. "I think its best if I go and lure them forward. I look like a citizen, a fashion designer, heck, I am a fashion designer. An unarmed female on her own is a much better target. I'm not particularly skilled at running, but I can lure them into an ambush, and then turn around and slam them with my magic."
Lavinia nods in agreement with Ashnah. "Menfolk underestimate women more often than not, and you don't have the look of a warrior." The halfling draws the bow from her back. "I will keep an eye on you in case they catch you. Tell me, do they require a special arrow to kill?"
When all are ready, Lavinia sneaks back a small ways under cover of the rubble until the two guards are just within view, drawing an arrow and keeping an eye out lest anything go awry.
That does work for me, Ashnah. But do not get any closer than you have to.
Heinrick grins at her.
After all, I would not want to explain to the inheritor about loosing someone under my charge.
He then looks for a location where he can take cover and wait for the ambush to spring.
"Luring them away does not seem honorable, but those are fiends. Agreed!"
"You can use Cold Iron ones I think" Ashnah offers to Lavinia.
Ashnah waits until everyone has settled on a suitable ambush point, before deliberately ripping part of her clothing, grimacing as she did so. She wasn't at all happy about doing so, but it would probably raise a little bit of suspicion if she was wandering a chaotic city in an untouched outfit.
Ready, she takes hesitant steps, trying to look as anxious as possible, as she eventually notices the two men. She doesn't know how fast such creatures move, but decides on a safe distance, mentally plotting how quickly she could run, with how far away the ambush was.
"Oh Lord Hulrun, you wouldn't happen to know the way to the Garrison would you...I...I don't think I'm in the best shape, and I'm a little lost?" she gushes slightly, attempting to force relief on her face, as she moves one leg awkwardly, trying to give the impression her mobility was slightly restricted.
Ashnah makes for an alluring target, and both men turn towards her, Hulrun's head lolling forward on his obese neck. The mouth works but not much more than an odd hissing emanates from the leader of Kenabres. Both men lurch with surprising swiftness at the pretty woman, who much to their annoyance starts to back away. The chase is on as Ashnah leads the pair over the rubble of the ruined church to where her compatriots lay in waiting.
***********Combat****************
Init: Ashnah, Heinrick, Bollerk, Lavinia, Vermlek 1, Vermlek 2
Heinrick waits, with his cold iron sword in hand until the agreed on colour spray attack.
As soon as the spray goes off, his response will be to bless the party.
Lavinia peers through a slim space between two chunks of masonry, bow in hand, as Ashnah gets the two guards' attention and fake-limps her way away from them. Ah, a broken wing - she plays her part well. Once they've all passed her by she draws one of her new magic arrows, quickly tapping the head against the side of her own twice for good luck before fitting it to Clearsky's string and drawing down on the second demon-host. As the lead enemy passes into the her compatriots' ambush area she releases, sending the arrow to its new home.
The two creatures give chase, but come to a skidding stop about ten feet from the group, apparently spotting Bollerk and Heinrick. Unfortunately for them, neither saw Lavinia, and her arrow whistles through the air, striking with a meaty thunk, and then oddly, a sizzle as the enchanted arrow burns the flesh around it, leaving a ghastly hole in the thing's throat. It wails hideously, and white, doughy flesh can be seen beneath the flesh of the human shell.
Init: Ashnah, Heinrick, Bollerk, Lavinia, Vermlek 1, Vermlek 2
Vermlek 1 14 damage
Vermlek 2 0 damage
Ahsnah 17/17
Heinrick 19/19
Lavinia 30/30
Bollerk 27/27
Pleased by the effect of her first arrow, Lavinia spends a few moments aiming before sending one of its siblings chasing after it.
Running forward Bollwerk charges the left enemy.
Ashnah gets far enough out in front of the two men before she spins in a flurry of skirts and casts a fan of colored sand from her hand which then turns into a dazzling display of light. The lights sputter and wink out as they get close to the two masquerading demons.
Heinrick grasps his holy symbol close to his chest, and calls on the Lady to bless himself and his companions.
Lavinia's arrow streaks forward, seeming almost hungry to bite into demon flesh. The arrow blasts into its chest with a burning light, and the demon falls flat back. A pallid, doughy worm starts to push its way out of the hole like some grotesque birth, but flops over to the side, clearish ichor oozing from its toothed maw.
Bollwerk charges, but the rubble shifts awkwardly under his feet, sending his blow wide of the mark.
The remaining Vermlek says something in a guttural language, and a black/purple wave of energy blasts out from it reaching out for Bollwerk, Ashnah and its companion. The energy rips at Ahsnah and Bollwerk's very vitality, and seems to close some of the wounds of the fallen Vermlek, but not enough to rouse it.
Lavinia notes the dark energy's effect on the downed demon-thing and frowns. Not good. She draws aim on the enemy still standing and lets loose with another magic arrow.
Heinrick moves out to strike the one remaining demon.
The remaining Vermlek is struck by Lavinia's arrow, as the shaft flies straight into the human mouth, piercing the worm hidden inside. The flash of light from the bane arrow erupts from the things eyes, ears and mouth, and an inhuman shriek comes from inside the human body. Reeling, the creature still seems to be conscious.
The halfling smirks in satisfaction. Thank the wind for guiding me to that camp, and to these arrows! She reaches back and rubs the fletching of a magic arrow between thumb and forefinger. Is this dove feather? I wonder if I could learn to make such things.
Seeing how effective ranged attacks are, Ashnah follows up with her own attacks.
[spoiler=gm rolls]
Ashnah watches the arrows ripping the Vermleks apart and with a quick arcane flourish sends three magical darts streaking towards the Vermlek, each striking the creature with a loud, meaty, thwack. The wormlike creature tries to escape the human body that it was wearing as armor, but now proves to be its prison as it falls to the ground. The pallid worm, unable to escape, falls limply to the ground, halfway out of the human mouth, which now opens impossibly wide.
************Victory***********
Beautiful but deadly - an interesting technique. Lavinia turns her attention back to the Gray Garrison, scanning for any signs of alert before rejoining the group.
"Foul things." The halfling nudges one of the dead worms with the toe of her boot before looking to her companions. "I see nothing at the garrison; we should move up before these," she nudges the worm again, "are missed. Could be they have keys to the castle?" She inspects the nearest swollen corpse, pushing it with both hands to roll it over to check both sides.
Looking at the skins the demons wore, Bollwerk sighs. "We have to find a place to hide the remains and take care they are properly buried! I will speak a prayer for their souls!"
Bollwerk will silently speak for booth of them praying to his goddess.
May the inheritor keep the true peoples souls that these foul beasts pushed out.
Heinrick then grabs one of the bodies, and pulls it behind some rubble away from the garrison.
He then looks at Lavinia.
Any luck in finding anything
He asks
Lavinia does the unsavory task of searching the nude corpses, and much to her chagrin, she finds no keys or any other method of opening the doors.
Heinrich and Bollwerk say a few words to the Lady for the fallen men, and they push over the remains of a wall into a makeshift cairn for both. A poor end for the once leader of Kenabres.
Ashnah listens peacefully to the proper burial before turning her attention to the building. "Does anyone see a way inside or perhaps a way to break a lock?" she inquires casually.
the only way that I know to break a lock is by using one of these
Heinrick waves his hand in the direction of his mace.
As for a way inside, I was hoping someone else might have an idea.
Bollwerk shakes his hand in ruefullness and speaks up. "Unfortunately I do not know the garrison! Did you check the lock? Or the corpses for a key?"
Well, Now I guess we approach and see what we can find.
Heinrick looks for a pile of rubble to use as cover a little closer to the garrison.
He then runs up to that, and then waits for the others.