Any real rubble ends about 20-30 feet from the door to the Garrison. Moving up that close, the group can see that besides the large front doors, the only other apparent opening is a window on the second floor, which is closed.
The halfling peers out from behind the rubble, then ducks back down and motions to her companions for quiet, her finger pressed against her closed lips. Drawing the chime of opening from her belt, she peeks her head back out and points the mithral tube at the door, sounding it against the rubble. She cocks an ear in the garrison's direction, hoping to pick out the sound of tumblers moving or a bolt being thrown.
[dice=chime of opening caster level check]1d20 + 11[/dice]
The chime peals forth a crystal clear note, and the door lock rattles, but does not appear to unlock or open.
The second time Lavinia strikes the chime, she's rewarded with a solid clunk, followed shortly thereafter by one of the large doors swinging ajar.
Watching with interest, Heinrick levels his crossbow with a cold iron bolt loaded.
If he something that looks like it is not human or humanoid, he fires.
With his sword and shield drawn Bollwerk looks to the others. "Let the enemy brand against me, and you pick them up one by one!"
Impressed, Lavinia gives a nod to the chime before stowing it back on her belt. Knocking an arrow in Clearsky, she covers the doorway for a few long moments to see if anything emerges to meet the big shiny's challenge.
Seeing Lavinia start to head across to the Garrison, Heinrick taps Bollwerk on the shoulder.
Head out after her good man.
He then waits for the other 2 to head out, before following at the back of the party.
Now to see what a lot of the fuss was about.
Combat strength not being her forte, Ashnah slots into the back of the group, trying to keep herself protected.
The group moves forward, with Bollwerk in the fore. Opening the big doors carefully, he's able to see into the foyer. Along the north wall of the room is a frieze crafted by the artist Reginald DuPree. The work depicts grand cavaliers crashing over a horde of demons like a tidal wave. Tragically the artwork has been marred by vile graffiti, and the crusaders' faces have been obliterated. Fresh blood runs from the rubble on the floor in rivulets toward the center of the room.
Six tieflings bearing the livery of Baphomet rush to the room from the west, one of them looks like he is going to break for the room to the east, past the group.
Init: Lavinia, T1, T2, Ashnah, T3, Heinrick, T4, Bollwerk, T5, T6
Lavinia steps out from behind the towering Bollwerk and draws careful aim on the panicky tiefling before releasing, hoping to dissuade his egress or kill him outright. No good you warning the whole garrison.
Lavinia fires a shot at the tiefling, who is spun slightly and emits a grunt of pain as he stumbles but manages to continue towards the other door.
Two tieflings run forward to attack Bollwerk, "Why do you fight for them, brother? It will lead to your end. Bollwerk answers by easily batting aside their clumsy attacks.
Init: Lavinia, T1, T2, Ashnah, T3, Heinrick, T4, Bollwerk, T5, T6
Bollwerk thrusts his sword forward."Because I choose not to be a slave to my heritage."
Quickly dropping his crossbow, and stepping to the side, to bring his trusty spear into play.
Heinrick attempts to bring down the Theifling that was trying to run past the group.
The three tieflings caught in the other room bolster their two compatriots, ready to take their place if they drop. Heinrich makes a clumsy, but effective thrust with his spear, catching the tiefling in the hip, and cutting through the side, the tiefling lets out a sharp cry of pain, and clutches his side, blood seeping through the fingers pressed over the wound. The normally red skin seeming much more pink, as pale as this creature can be. Undaunted, and a bit desperate, the tiefling slashes wildly at Heinrick, and nicks Heinrick with a claw.
Bollwerk lashes out with his sword, catching the tiefling under its outstretched arm as it goes for a strike. Bollwerk's blade plunges into the tiefling's chest, and the cultist falls with a strangled gasp as the blade bites into something vital. One of the others steps forward to fill the gap, slashing at Bollwerk and a claw barely finds flesh beneath the armor.
Round 2
Init: Lavinia, T1, T2, Ashnah, T3, Heinrick, T4, Bollwerk, T5, T6
The corner of Lavinia's mouth tugs up in a smirk as Heinrick blocks the panicky tiefling from the door, which incidentally leaves her a clear line of fire for a second shot at the demon-friend. After calmly nocking another arrow and taking careful aim, it's a shot she happily takes.
Where you goin'? Nowhere.
Lavinia's arrow strikes the Tiefling just below the collarbone, sending him spinning to the ground unmoving.
One of the tiefling's facing Bollwerk slashes, but is parried by the Paladin.
Init: Lavinia, T1, T2, Ashnah, T3, Heinrick, T4, Bollwerk, T5, T6
Bollwerk retaliates.
But he feels distracted and misses.
Heinrick steps up to the left of Bollwerk, and drives his spear at one the Thieflings hoping to take some of the pressure off.
A tiefling steps up to fill the gap, leaving two Tieflings in the adjacent room. The tiefling swings and narrowly misses Bollwerk.
Recap 2
NPCs
Tieflings AC 13
T1 Dead
T2 Dead
T3 0 damage
T4 0 damage
T5 0 damage
T6 0 damage
PCs:
Ashnah:17/17
Bollwerk:27/27
Heinrick:19/19
Lavinia:30/30
Round 3
Init: Lavinia, T1, T2, Ashnah, T3, Heinrick, T4, Bollwerk, T5, T6
As their opponents fall, Lavinia starts to step into the garrison for a better line of sight before glancing back over her shoulder and thinking better of it. Can't give them a clear shot at our witch - could be they take it. She settles in and does her best to aim through the door at the closest tiefling foe.
pending Heinrick's attack results for round 3
Lavinia's shot strikes the Tiefling squaring off against Heinrick, piercing deep into the thigh of the red skinned creature. It lets out a hiss of pain and frustration as Lavinia and Heinrick work to keep it pinned in the doorway.
The other tiefling makes a slash at Bollwerk, who catches it easily on the backside of his gauntlet, swatting the strike aside.
Init: Lavinia, T1, T2, Ashnah, T3, Heinrick, T4, Bollwerk, T5, T6
Bollwerk lets the blade hack around the shield at the next enemy.
Heinrick steps back slightly and continues to use his spear on the one that is to the left of Bollwerk.
Heinrick's spear thrust drives through the tiefling's stomach, just above Lavinia's arrow, and the tiefling drops to the ground clutching at its chest, trying in vain to staunch the flow of blood. It lets out a few short, sharp gasps, and then stops breathing with a slow exhale.
Bollwerk slashes around the other's shield, blade finding neck between armor and helm. With a startled choke, the tiefling drops to the ground.
The other two tieflings move up to take their place.
Init:
Lavinia, Ashnah, Heinrick, Bollwerk, T5, T6
The halfling nods in appreciation at the prowess of the two holy men, then grows still as she draws an arrow and aims Clearsky. Narrowing her eyes, she looses an arrow at the tiefling now standing over the foe she and Heinrick just dropped.
Bollwerk presses the attack and slashes at the next tiefling.
"I will not falter, her arm guides my blade!"
Taking advantage of the Theiflings attacking Bolwerk, Heinrick drives his spear at the one that seems to have had an arrow appear in it.
The Inheritor guides my strikes, and she is one with me.
Lavinia's arrow flies true striking the tiefling in the throat, moments before Heinrich's spear plunges through its chest. The creature looks down in dumbfounded silence as the spear stops the beating of its heart. Its eyes roll back in its head and it slides lifelessly off of the spear.
Bollwerk brings his blade down in a heavy strike that slices through armor, flesh, and bone, nearly decapitating the tiefling facing him. The tiefling drops clutching desperately at its neck trying to stem the flow of blood. The efforts are in vain, and it joins its companions in death.
**********Victory!************
Heinrick grabs one of the Thieflings shirts and wipes his spear blade off it.
Well, that was interesting, anyone seriously hurt?
He then starts to look around and at the bodies.
Wiping the blood and brain from his blade Bollwerk shakes his head."This seems so senseless. But they choose to follow their darkest desires."
As the rush of the battle subsides, things grow quiet within the Garrison again. At least for now, it seems as though there has been no alarm raised.
Shall we move them off the side, or out of line of sight, so no one can figure we just came through here?
Heinrick reaches down, and starts to drag one of the bodies over to the corner, left of where they came in.
Lavinia nods in agreement, poking her head into the room the guards came from. Seeing it empty and without further exits, she waves Heinrick over and assists him in moving the bodies into the western chamber.
"Could be I sneak ahead for a look, could be we all go together..." She gives her comrades an inquisitive look, seeking their thoughts on how best to progress.
With the bodies moved into the empty room, the rest of the Garrison awaits...
"Let us move inward, it is time to clean it of this filth!"
Bollwerk moves toward the next door ready for another fight!
Bollwerk, I agree, it is time to recover the Garrison, but to charge blindly forward will lead to our demise.
I suggest we have a scout a little ways ahead, and then the rest of us.
Heinrick pulls his healers kit out and wraps up the claw mark on his arm. while discussing this.
None the less, in the name of the inheritor, we should go on.
Ashnah nods in agreement, following close behind the others as they explore deeper into the Garrison.