Selindra shakes her head, looking to Godwin. "Brother, let him go. Our charge is with these people. We are their shield and sword. And I will not sacrifice their safety to hunt down one coward. It would be best for us to gather everyone here together with what they can carry and leave. Unless anyone else has any other ideas?"
Vardan nods, "We'd best keep an eye out, in case it brings back reinforcements... but, for now, we prevented the destruction of beauty and knowledge -- which is more important."
Drakra climbs out from the table he was hiding beneath, still holding his hands warningly before his face as he looks at Selindra warily.
Your not going to hit me are you? Big folk like hitting little people like me, but I thought you were better than that.
She sighs softly, and comes over, her sword sheathed as she offers Drakra a hand. "Drakra, as infuriating as you can be sometimes, no I would not hit you, my friend. The tiefling that vanished looked like he was charging straight for you. I didn't want you hurt."
The woman librarian steps forward after the commotion dies down, "Thank you, thank you so much. That man pounded on the door, begging to be let it, and we did, thinking he was fleeing from demons. When we let him in, he was going to burn us alive as a sacrifice. I am Fenna." She shudders as she takes a deep breath, when she returns her gaze to the group, she spots Aravashnial, and gasps, "Master Aravashnial? Is that truly you? I know you only ever regarded us as the 'help', but you...you're the only one left. The other Riftwardens, they're...gone. We did the best we could to stop that abomination from destroying the whole library and saved what we could. Will you stay, and help us? The library is nothing without the Riftwardens."
Aravashnial seems shaken by the news, and leans heavily against one of the bookcases, his head in his hands. "The last? Where are the others, where have they gone? The elf wizard raises his head, his chin forward, almost as if he is trying to sense where Fenna is. "Surely they are not..." Aravashnial trails off the sentence, quietly, swallowing the end of the question.
Fenna nods, and speaks softly, "Dead. The abomination that wrecked the place killed them."
Godwin's face is grim as he kneels down into a prayer for the departed. May Iomedae honour their bravery and they find peace beyond the viel he finishes his rage a little sated by the holy words. The Library is demolished while the surrounding buildings remain untouched. This does not seem like a coincidence especially considering what it hid. Is there anything here for us Aravshinal? If not we should move and find safety in this demon crippled city
Selindra sighs a soft sigh, coming over and offering a shoulder and a hand to Aravashnial. She lowers her head, speaking softly.
"Karera wa sōzoku no megumi de yasumu koto ga arimasu."
She rests a mailed hand on Aravashnial's shoulder. "When the time is ready, and we are not beset on by the demon's ilk, If you would like we can prepare a memorial for their memory. For now, the real question is do you wish to stay behind here with the others, or would you like to bring them with us to seek safe haven?"
Fomiel smiles and ressures the librarian: "You did the best you could under the circumstances. I am glad we could help."
Fomiel bares his shoulder showing a spiral birthmark. "I am told this is the Seeker's Spiral, and it is somehow associated with the riftwardens. Can you tell me how I came to bear this mark and its significance? Maybe I can be of service here?"
Vardan watches carefully, trying to ensure that his face doesn't drop as his heart did on the news that the Riftwardens are dead. He sighs, Lady, I must confess that it's hard to hear your song in all these screams and noises..., then steels himself again, ...I am the lance of the Incorruptible..
He rides closer to the conversation, "Given these circumstances, I worry somewhat about leaving this place undefended."
The demon invasion does not seem to be one of occupation but we still do not how defensible this destroyed building is. Let us find safety first and then decide what it is we must do.
Perception:
Drakra begins to search to see if there is anything that would be useful for the party.
Aravashnial sighs as the decision weighs heavily on him, and then speaks, "If the librarians wish to stay, then I would stay with them. I fear that I slow you down, and my spells are running out. I'd stay here with them until you can send back to get us and the knowledge this place holds out of here."
Fenna looks at Fomiel's mark, and raises an eyebrow, "It's not unheard of, and looks like the mark of Pharasma. I'm sure that there are records of it happening," She looks back over the wreckage with a rueful smile, "but it may take a bit longer than normal to find those records."
Drakra starts searching around the wreckage and in a corner of the room finds an old mostly burned book. Looking through a few pages, he realizes that it is an old spellbook, with a few spells still whole. He also finds several strips of what appears to be old, grey, leathery flesh, but further inspection shows they are dried out husks of some abnormal worms.
Godwin nods Then close the door behind us when we leave and this time take care on who you open it for. He turns to the others. Our quest for knowledge and allies has failed. Iomedae will that our search for safety does not. Horgus, can you guide us to your homestead?
Selindra nods, looking around the structure. "If your people wish to stay Vash, then hole yourselves up and dig in. With that being the case, only having Anevia and Horgus with us, I suggest that we make for Anevia's home next and get her to her wife..." Selindra stops mid sentence for a moment, like she just finally processed something, but keeps going. "...at which point we can get Horgus to his home and then figure out where to go ourselves."
She looks to Godwin. "Brother, if I am not mistaken, we are going to pass right by Anevia's home on the way to Horgus's. It seems foolish to go past, just to have to turn around and come back."
If it is on the way then I have no objection Sister. The city is not as easy to traverse as it once was.
Vardan nods, "We should set up a password before we go, if only to ensure that anyone that comes knocking does, in fact, have your best interest at heart."
He then turns to Selindra and Godwin, "To be honest, I'm not fullly sure where we are and are going -- I've been away just long enough to forget where things are -- especially now that they're not where they should be. But I'll follow your lead."
Drakra calls the others over.
Look at these. Some type of worms. No clue what they are. Some demon spawn?
Knowledge(planes): <-- add +6 (planes, arcana, religion), +1 for all else
He will also cast Read Magic to see what the spell book might contain.
Horgus' estate would actually be closer, except for the chasm that is open to your east. Normally you would be able to travel from this district to the noble district directly. The ways to the west and a way North appear to be open.
dismissal, dispel magic, magic circle against chaos, resist energy,
and versatile weapon
Furiel assumes they moved north to head east when practical.
Drakra looks at the worm skins:
Worm that Walks? I though they were just a fable. But, these look like what the rumors are. Don't know much about them though.
He then glances at the book:
Not sure if anyone can use them, but this book has a nice set of spells, some of which are quite powerful. Drakra will list of the spells if anyone asks, feel free to read the spoiler.
Let us move North then
Selindra casts her eyes over the field and looks to the others. "The way that I see it, our best plan is to head north and skirt the rifts. There is no telling what sort of foul magics still lie active in them. Doing so is going to put us closer to Anevia's home, so if Master Horgus would be willing to indulge us, We can get Anevia to her wife, and then have a safer pathway to his manse."
Vardan nods, "Sounds like a reasonable plan... plus it has the advantage of letting us do a bit of quiet scouting."
Although not overly enthused about wandering through the destroyed streets, Drakra is even less interested in investigating the vile rifts torn in the ground by the demon.
Trying to hide his concern, the diminutive gnome puffs out his chest and lends his support to the idea.
Yup, north sounds like the best option.
The group travels north, following another rift that bisects the district, the bleak grounds interrupted by wreckage. Every once in a while a cracking groan sounds as another bit of building gives in to the pull of gravity and slides, crashing down into the chasm. Carrion birds fly in clouds above the city, occasionally landing to grab some morsel from the debris.
From the east side of the road, a small shop still stands, albeit leaning heavily. The sign, hanging limply off of one chain, spins slowly, and reveals a needle and thread pulling through a dress painted on the wood. The words "Fine Fittings" emblazon the sign under the painting, in fading golden letters. The sound of glass breaking, and shredding cloth, punctuated with terrified screams.
Selindra blinks, hearing the screams, and immediately draws her new blade. Comforted by the golden glow, Selindra moves over to the door, pointing at Godwin and Varden, signaling them silently to flank the doorway, while she tries to spy inside to see what is happening.
People need help in there. We must assist! Godwin moves towards the destroyed store front.
Vardan's hands tighten on the reins as the sounds of terrified screams reach him, I only hope were not about to find another group that's embraced the ugliness within them in response to this tragedy and are preying on others...
He nods at Selindra's direction, "Done, but try to leave a clear lane for me to charge." He then readies his lance as he directs Thorne into place with his knees.
Hearing the others, Drakra takes out his crossbow and begins to haphazardly load another bolt into it.
Fomiel grows claws and follows the others in.
Selindra peers through the cracked open door, and sees what would have normally been a well heeled, albeit small clothing store. A table in the middle of the main room where cloth would normally be displayed and chosen is overturned, and what normally would have been a quaint layout is chaotic. The disarray is remarkable, even given the state of the city. Mirrors normally used for viewing clothes on a person are all smashed, some with pieces of furniture still stuck through the mirrors. Clothing on mannequins is shredded deliberately, and coming from a side room, you hear still more shattering of glass, and cloth ripping.
"Hates it! It mocks me, all the pretty all the shiny walls. False, lying! Smash them, tear them!"
Who is there? Godwin calls out Do you need help?
Vardan holds his position, ready to rush forward if needed, Let's just keep ready, given the number of unpleasant surprises we've had to deal with...
Fomiel decides to play along.
"I am here to smash what you wish my summoner."
From the side room, but muffled comes a shout "We're here, this THING is destroying our shop!"
The same voice from before cries out Destroy the things! Destroy the pretty!" Whether that was just its normal ranting, or directions for Fomiel, you can't tell.
Selindra growls. "Enough of this, Vardan!"
She sets herself.
She gives Vardan the high sign, and takes a step back, before thrusting her boot at the door, trying to crash it in and give Vardan a clear shot into the room.
Vardan nods, bringing up the lance and setting himself up to charge through the open doorway.
Not knowing whether to grant a bit of Iomedae's goodness or her tactical greatness Godwin helps Selindra bash the door down.
Drakra attempts to examine the resistant door in the hope of aiding his companions.
Aid Strength:
Unfortunately the aid is less than beneficial.
Fomiel follows, ready to see what is causing the ruckus.
The door crashes open to shed some bit of light on the main room of the shop. The crashing coming from the side room, continues. Vardan readies to charge, but there is no straight line from outside to the side room.
Godwin moves in to see what's happening in the side room.
Godwin peers around the corner and spies a short humanoid figure, deformed with a hunchback, as it snarls and destroys something on a fitting mannequin Godwin notices the twin forked tails that protrude from its backside, and it's bizarre hands which have two thumbs on each appendage.
Stand down from this wanton destruction. The city has been razed. There is no reason to add to the chaos Godwin says to the figure in a manner that he hopes is placating.
Vardan follows behind Godwin, lance in hand, I'm hoping that's just a particularly twisted Tiefling....and not some sort of fiend...
Fomiel follows, curious about the creature.
He tries to see what the creature knows.
"I am a powerful sorcerer, report at once what you are doing or be punished!!"
The creature looks over his shoulder at Fomiel, and goes back to shredding cloth, and generally tearing into anything that would be considered 'pretty' "Destroy the pretty! Smash the false!" It grunts as it throws the head of a manikin into a mirror with unbridled glee. "Smash it all!"
From somewhere beyond the creature, muffled behind a door, "Stop it, it's destroying our shop!"
Vardan rides forward, wishing he had a clear line to charge, "Last chance. Stop or be stopped," he growls menacingly as he brings the lance forward and the creature into his reach. "Thorne, ready to strike."