Throwing his arms up, he smiles. "Silly creature. I've no threats. Not for you, anyway. Should you not allow us to pass, I'd prefer to save resources and leave you alone for the rest of your days, if I have the chance, but I fear you wouldn't allow us the chance." he claims.
"Simply speaking, Lassar, if you allow us to pass, I'd only ask for your patience, but I would make good on our deal. Just what, pray tell, has kept you here so long? If money were not on object, then what exactly is stopping you?" he asks, pointing his scythe in the man's direction.
"I thought I'd made it clear, apparently stupid human. I do not have the capability or the power to affect the spell needed. And, apparently, you don't either, so you are of no use to me with that."
He crosses his arm, letting the staff hang in the crook of his arm. "But perhaps you can be of use in another way. If you wish to leave, of course, I will let you. Those two served Thratkinas, so they are of no importance to me. However, if you wish to enter the House of the Beast, stay and hear my offer."
Dmitri throws up an arm in victory. "You want him dead, don't you?" he says, smiling wide. "Mmmm that look. yes, I know that look all too well. I see it in the eyes of people now... that power thirst. Yes, yes, we could make an agreement, couldn't we?" he said, rubbing his hands together.
"Now then... Tell me." he grinned. This was certainly delicious.
"Yes," he says, slithering closer and allowing his voice to lower. "I want you to help me kill Thratkinas. I know that it will be a long, long time before I can leave this place, but...I wish to stay in it as its ruler." He lowers his staff to that he is using it, apparently, for support. "In exchange for your blood and your muscle, I will clear the way to the House of the Beast, and show you where it is."
Walking closer as well, Dmitri is all smiles. "I'd have to discuss it with my friends, but I imagine they're not against the idea at all, if it gets us closer. Would you care if we picked his corpse for trinkets afterwards? A little extra reward for the effort wouldn't particularly hurt, and I'm sure you'd be happy to have as few traces of him left as possible, yes? he asks, grinning widely, and spreading his arms.
"Again, given the circumstances, what exactly are you willing to offer? There's a lot you've not told us, friend. How's the social structure? How's the standing? How many people support him, eh? And if you're willing to backstab him, who's to say you won't back stab us? Evil is as evil does, creature. Stupid as I may be, I still know a slippery slope when I see one, but that's where I sweeten the deal, yes?" he says, rubbing his hands together.
"Does your leader know we've arrived? If you give us the opportunity to recuperate from our recent foray, we'd be able to come back tomorrow, early... and sweep this place of his most loyal and himself. What say you? We could prepare... And we could do so in a most glorious manner! At full strength we'd be able to crush your foolish leader and glorify you as you let us pass. 2 leaders in one day. Why, I'd even make it a point to thank you by eventually returning to help you off this rock. You can't lose... Besides... I imagine you're just the absolute best at avoiding suspicion if you've got compatriots like these, yes? Come now, Lasaar... situations like this only reveal themselves once in a life time. All that power, the glory, and going back as a powerful figure. All it takes is a little patience. What say you?" he feels his creative tantalizing juices flow as he appeals to the Lizard's base evil nature. Such trivial matters... So easy to manipulate, whether they're coiled around you or not.
He grins, knowing he'd certainly delivered his best.
The salamander smiles. "I am glad we see eye to eye. You can do anything you like with his body, so long as it's no longer alive when you are finished with him."
"What do you mean? The way to the House of the Beast is blocked. Closed. I intend to open it for you. That is what I offer, and good luck doing so without me."
"The social structure? There are perhaps a dozen more salamanders here, besides the ones you see. Most support him, though if there were a challenge for leadership few would step up to fight. These," he says, indicating the four salamanders around him, "Will help to keep those that do off of you, and I can assist with Thratkinas, should you wish it."
"Ah, my apologies for the misunderstanding. I am okay with all of that, but aside from, well..." he gestures at the 2 dead salamanders on the floor he's pretty certain are cooling off. [/b]"We've fought the gnolls today as well, and, with all due respect, are at half power, I imagine. I agree with your plans, as well. The assistance would be most appreciated, yes."[/b]
"But, here is what I wonder? You've waited months, or years, maybe? What is another day? Tomorrow. Morning. We could do it while his servitors slumber... Yes?" he asks, smiling.
Again Lesaar laughs at Dmitri. "We are extraplanar. We do not need sleep as you weak-bodied mortals do. No, you can not do it while he sleeps, or I would have broken his neck in twain years ago. Yes, you may come tomorrow, but come expecting...injuries."
"I'd like nothing more." he says with a smile. Turning then, he walks out of the room, winking at Kori as he does with a proud smile on his face. Throwing his arm up, he finishes with one thing. "As soon as the sun graces this cave tunnel tomorrow, we'll be waiting. Seek us out, as we'll be here." he claims, continuing forward.
Once he's out of range of the man, he turns. "I like to think that went well." he claims. "Now then. Who has an issue with killing a Salamander?"
Wiping off Nom's grazes from the blast of rubble the pair took, Apollo abruptly pulls the dinosaur towards him, giving it a tight hug around his thick, scaly neck.
Just a little longer, bud!
Nom just awkwardly looked back at the man and let out a slight snarl....as well as any respectable carnivore could.
Leaning down, Apollo placed his hammer on the ground, steel end first, as he grasped his Bow, slinging it over his shoulder once more.
Gonna need this, he mumbled to himself quietly, straining a little as he stood up once more.
Well, that'd be a great start. Putting my back out, ha! Should have put more effort into my swings back there. Clumsily half-arsing my attacks just because I have no quarrel with the enemy was a little pointless. Still, after I'm done with the Gnoll's of this place, I think I'll take a little time out. Maybe even spend a little more time with Almah...that is of course, providing she can get a little time to herself.
Responsibilities.... they never end.
Turning to his left, he see's Dmitri not too far and with barely a mark, simply asks; We got a way into the Beasts stinking lair yet?
Kori scowls at Dmitri in frustration, "Do not be so pleased with yourself. Where do you think we will rest safely? Especially after you just told Fire-Snake-man that we are weakened, and dog-men all around outside." As she talks, she holds some of her wounds, speaking and willing them to close, before she wipes the blood away.
"The god that has given me power makes it so I can close wounds. If no one needs me to do it for them, I will close more of my own." She 'offers' in a sense.
Dmitri rolls his eyes, but agrees, somewhat. "Well, I'm not a miracle worker." he says as he leans against a wall. "I say we return to our own lizard man of Sarenrae, and pool our resources. As far as injuries are concerned, I believe I've the most, but I believe Brek could heal me just fine with my wife's wand." he points out with a smile. "I think we need to worry about both shelter, and how we may harm them best..." he says, looking at his scythe. "They're vulnerable to cold." he says again with a smile as he gently tugs at a deep wound on his hip.
"Protecting ourselves from the heat would be wise. I imagine it'll only get hotter inside, yes?" he asks, looking to Apollo for just a moment before glancing back at Brek. "I've made a promise. Hedonistic as my religion may be, I won't be made a liar. I'm to kill their leader tomorrow, if Lasaar is still alive." he claims.
You knew your mission, of course, was very important, and that's why you're braving the desert at all: you are to scout out the House of the Beast and see what's been brewing there. The gnolls have been... restless.
Finally arriving at the mountain that houses the House of the Beast, then, is actually a feeling of relief. Despite the fact that it was most likely filled with Rovagug-worshipping dog-men, it's heartening to know that your search is over.
Less heartening, obviously, is the sight of the incredibly well-guarded front gate. Even by the grace of the Dawnflower, it isn't likely that you get through that. Half a dozen battleaxe-wielding gnolls stand guard at the gate, ever watchful for the outside and for intruders.
So obviously the next plan is to find a back way. So a trip around the mountain is in order.
A trip that may set your road to diverge on a...significant level. About an hour into the walk around, you see the mouth of a cave - you're in luck! But scattered around the mouth of the cave are eight prone forms - seven of them gnolls, and the eighth apparently a lizardlike demon. Each of the gnolls is very obviously dead, each having been killed by deep rents in their torsos, or by decapitated heads. The final gnoll, laying beside the serpentine demon figure, has had a scimitar shoved through its rib cage into its heart, a scimitar that the demon still clutches with one of its hands.
The demon gasps for breath, itself bloodied all over by many slash wounds. Resting around the thing's neck is something you might never have expected - the glitter of a holy symbol celebrating the Dawnflower.
Beyond a meagre cantrip, Brek knew that he wasn't doing much in this battle and he wasn't particularly an adept fighter too. Seeing that combat was over and the newcomers, Brek cautiously rejoined his companions only to hear Dmtri's relayed offer from the natives.
He considered. He lack both skills and powers to affect his foes especially if they were going to be immune to his own fiery powers.... He was next to useless in his current capacity.... His own soul burned to fiercely for him to evoke the cold energies needed to power the kind of spells that could be used.
With this in thought though, he offers what he can.
"Here Kori, let me help you heal as much as possible. Also Dmtri, I do not have that power yet to do that which requires sending these salmanders back to their home nor am I able to summon forth energies that can hurt them."
I'll take that as a no then, responds Apollo as his question is basically ignored.
The heat in here isn't so much the problem. It's more the freezing temperatures outside when night falls that you need to worry.
Glancing outside, Apollo signals Nom to follow as he makes his way back up to the entrance of the cave.
If you guys had no luck in finding a way forward he said, turning to the others.
...then we'd better get a move on.
Sonja does not recognize the creature simply by looking at it, but knows that a friend of the Dawnflower's is at least worth speaking to. Besides, appearances can be deceiving, right?
She rides her horse to a safe distance from the carnage and dismounts, shield-in-hand and scimitar hanging loosely from her side. Even with her weapon sheathed, Sonja clenched her gauntlet in anticipation. She had been ambushed before, and a scene like this would be perfect bait for worshippers of the Everlight. As she advances, she surveys the area and pays special attention to the serpentine figure. Was it simply playing dead? Is this an illusion? These were all factors that her training and time on the battlefield had taught her to consider.
[dice=Sense motive on "Demonic" figure]1d20+10[/dice]
She recites over the creature's bloodied form, touching it gently with the cold steel fingers of her armor:
"आफ्नो घाउ ज्योति अनुयायी को, निको हुन सक्छ।"
Dmitri chuckles openly, and as mockingly as possible in response to Apollo's suggestion of abandoning the area. "We're to wait here, gather our strength, and plan for tomorrow. The deal is that we place a cruel hand in salamander politics, and gain access to the way beneath the house." he points out. "However if you want to walk out into the ferociously hot Desert while the Gnolls are hunting us down by yourself and die, I'll be the last one to stop you." he claims with a chuckle.
"Then again you might know what happened if you hadn't abandoned us against the salamanders, now wouldn't you, you useless fool?" his face turns grim on the subject.
Placing his right hand firmly against the uneven wall to the cave entrance, Apollo listens to the detestable man in silence.
Wait here he says. If I just stood by while that idiot allowed himself to be harmed in every way imaginable, would I be in the wrong? Each of us lives by the consequences of our own actions, so who am I to stop him from killing himself? The way I see it, if he does die, it'd be nobody's fault but his own.
Glancing over his left shoulder and out from the corner of his left eye, Apollo somehow keeps his calm.
Good. said the man, lacking a certain degree of interest with his tone.
I had no issue with the Salamander's, nor with the creatures I fought with. They were just simply in my way.
a little like you.
Hoisting his gear firmly over his shoulder, Apollo made his way out from the cave and into the blistering heat of the desert That damn, self righteous fool, stated Apollo, loud enough for several words to be heard.
Looking around, Apollo tried to keep himself low and out of sight from the gate and watch towers around, kneeling down to talk to his little dino buddy.
Well then... he said as he looked right into Nom's eyes.
Do we die in the cave or out there?
The man smirked, as he lead Nom further around the rock face, keeping close to the raised areas for ease of movement in the event of another sandstorm. His intentions - To find another entrance into The House of the Beast. One of course, that's further out of sight.
We've got a job to do my friend. That idiot's gonna need some backup eventually and I bet it'll be Ghartok that shakes his confidence. Kori might help, but you and I both have the most valid reasons to end his wretched life.
As Apollo exits the cave mouth, he isn't met with nothing like he thought he might have thought, nor is he met with Je'Grik cheerfully greeting him.
Instead, he is met with a scene of carnage, the sandy ground strewn with the bodies of gnolls and, a bit farther out, the prone body of Je'Grik (though he appears to still be alive).
Also there, strangely, is a beautiful young woman in resplendently shiny heavy armor, the symbol of the Dawnbringer strung around her neck.
As Apollo leaves the room, Dmitri smiles. "That one shook you." he claims. As he gets farther away he shakes his head back and forth and then let's loose a little bit of his massive stock of fury. Closing in to the man he practically roars with a demonic surge of dark energy around him. "I do not always take blows for my enjoyment, you fool!" he exclaims. "I KNOW of my limits! I know that I can die! I've come close plenty of times, and only once did I cross the threshold, and that was to gain this power!" he points out as his multi-eye surges with dark essence.
Simmering down and letting the aura clear, he smiles again. "It doesn't matter. You'll die soon anyway. A blaze of glory, a hero's death, predestined, it doesn't matter. You cannot, alone, stand against Ghartok without my body." he says, gesturing to himself.
"Strong you may be, and my habits, they might be alien... but I am no fool, Apollo. In combat, the life of my allies come first, if only so that they may draw more blood for my goddess. I have not survived these past years by luck." he points out. "I cannot say the same for you." he says as he crosses his arms.
Exiting the cave, as Dmitri runs out to give the man an earful, Apollo swiftly leans with head and shoulders away from the white haired man, ignoring the derogatory comments as best he can, figuring it best to stay on point than get into a fully blown argument with what he feels to be, his psychotic "ally".
Give it a rest and chill! You rush into fights, standing with yourself open to all kinds of brutalisation and I run in with a desperate need to obliterate all dog men.
Like it or not, our personalities may be wildly different, but there's more in common between us than you might think. We're both reckless and we both want bloodshed.....only for different reasons. says the man, stopping in place.
Shortly after, he turns to Dmitri, squaring up to the man in an attempt to show that their feelings are pretty mutual.
Kill as much as you like, but Ghartok.....he's mine.
If you get in my way I'll throw you to the filthy dogs myself!
Pulling out his bow and arrow, Apollo rears himself back from Dmitri, glaring at the man with ill intent, before turning to suddenly find himself stood in the middle of a fleshy, crimson coloured patch on the floor, where he finds Je'Grik, barely breathing and prone on the ground.
The hell happened here? he asked the Tiefling?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.....7
Crouching down to the demonic man, Apollo lowered his right hand, still grasping his longbow, holding it firmly to the ground as he flashed a slight grin to his old ally.
Je'Grik...you took out seven of those Gnoll's yourself huh? Not bad man, not bad.
As he knelt there, staring and oddly trying to comfort the Tiefling in his final moments, he noticed the armoured woman, standing only a few feet away.
You there. Can you help this man? he asked, unsure whether the woman was friend or foe, having not met her before and not being one to easily trust another in such an awkward situation.
Standing just behind Apollo, Nom leans over his companions shoulder and begins to lick Je'Grik's wounds.
Guess he liked the guy.
Brek glances at Kori and then shrugs as he waves his wand.
"So there's no need for this anymore?" he remarks inanely as once more he sees Dmtri and Apollo get into their usual arguments.
"Yes good sir, I do believe I-
Sonja is just able to finish her Cure spell before Apollo approaches her behind. The sight of Nom is alarming, to say the least. She backs up a few steps and rests her dominant hand upon her sword handle.
But seeing a lack of agression on Apollo's face, she lets her fingers drop from the pommel.
"My apologies, good sir. I'm afraid your... creature... surprised me. I am Sonja Velfieren: Cleric of Sarenrae, and humble servant of Solku, forever may it stand," She ellicits a deep bow towards Apollo, like one might see towards a noble in court. It seems almost anachronistic out here in the rugged wild.
"I had just finished casting a healing spell upon your arrival, and I do hope your friend here does wake soon from it. I hope that I had not arrived too late."
Shaking his head. "Yes, we've all been healed enough, Brek, and thank you." he says as he heads onwards towards Apollo. "We should still get out of this heat. No one'll sleep well here, and it's taking it's toll on a handful of us. I'd imagine. I'm sure we can strike a nice even middle if we sit between the heat of the cave and the cool of the Desert night." he claims.
Walking up, he manages to catch view of Apollo, and then notices that he's talking to someone. When he realizes it's a woman, he raises an eyebrow, but has to stop his usual instincts. After all, the shapeshifting bastard was still out there... and he too was dressed as a Sarenraean.
Realizing that brek was on the ground surrounded by dead gnolls didn't help his assumptions, either, and as much as it left a bad taste in his mouth, he gripped the edge of his scythe. He arrives just in time to hear her name. "Velfieren Sonja... A bit high in birth to be bowing down in the desert." he asks, raising a hand. He looks at her hip and touches Tempest, thinking back. It told me it was him, last time... "I wish to see your weapon." he asks, gesturing to her hip.
Not a problem he says, standing himself up to politely greet the young looking woman.
What brings you out here then? he says, keeping an eye on Nom in case of unwanted affection from the lizard.
Leaping on strangers will get him killed. Still, he seems happy enough with Je'Grik there.
As Dmitri then makes his presence known at the introduction of Sonja, Apollo shakes his head.
This man here is a part of the group I travel with. We're trying to gain entry into The House of the Beast and I he says while glaring at Dmitri, have a score to settle with the Carrion King.
With Dmitri's request of the woman's weapon, Apollo may have only just met the girl but seeing only one visible weapon on her, is quick to respond to Dmitri; You ask the girl to show you her own weapon, leaving her defenseless amidst a group of strangers. If you want to look at it, at least give her a weapon in return to feel a little more comfortable. Afterall, we're the ones who outnumber her.
Keeping his bow in hand but lowered, the Ranger turns to face Sonja once more.
Our friend on the ground here has been with us for the past year or so and with your aid, he might just make it.
Holding his left hand out, he then gestures a handshake to the young woman.
If you aided this guy off your own back, you're no enemy of mine. he says with a friendly smile.
"Your trust shouldn't be that easy to earn." he points out, putting the blade of his scythe between the two of them as he walks forward. "Mind you it is blasphemy, in my case, to think poorly of a woman, and I shall repent for that when the time comes, but not until I am sure aren't the priest that disappeared in Kelmerane." he says calmly. As he says that, he looks at the woman's weapon closer. It is a scimitar he thinks to himself.
He smiles, but it's mostly in the hopes that the woman actually is the fake person. "How unfortunate that the faith of the dawn star uses the same weapon as the strange man we met in Kelmerane..." he says aloud. "My scythe will know if you are to be trusted, so, do please hold still." he says as the soft, chilled blade attempts to touch her scimitar if she draws it. "Draw your weapon and touch it to my blade." he asks.
"Velfieren Sonja... A bit high in birth to be bowing down in the desert."
"I find manners often become a woman of the cloth no matter what her setting, sir. Pardon my presumption, but may I ask your names as well?"
"Our friend on the ground here has been with us for the past year or so and with your aid, he might just make it."
Holding his left hand out, he then gestures a handshake to the young woman.
"If you aided this guy off your own back, you're no enemy of mine." he says with a friendly smile.
Sonja is about to take his outstretched palm, when she is rudely cut off by Tempest's blade. Her face betrays a look of consternation that is quickly quelled, but takes a small step back nonetheless.
"My scythe will know if you are to be trusted, so, do please hold still." he says as the soft, chilled blade attempts to touch her scimitar if she draws it. "Draw your weapon and touch it to my blade." he asks.
"Fear not, good sir," she says, looking at Apollo, "For I fear not the lack of a blade. A scimitar is but a weapon of earthly power, wielded and powered by man. I, however, am but an instrument wielded by the Light Herself. Take my blade, whatever your reasons, for she shall protect me. I am never false, for to be so should disappoint She who governs me."
After popping the blade from its sheath with small movement of her thumb, Sonja gently grasps the pommel of her hilt by her thumb and forefinger. She holds far away from her person with the point facing down, as if it were a used tissue, and drops it to the ground.
"As for my reasons of travel here, I also wish an end to the Carrion King's reign. I was sent here to gather information by the Dawn Vigil of Solku, may they forever be victorious, but if we share a common goal... it may be possible to quell this nest of evil without needing to deplete Solku's defenses with a crusade."
"That is," she continues, "If you will take this humble priestess into your ranks for the time being."
She bows once more, but keeps her eyes upon Dmitri.
There are many madmen in the wastes... she thought, I would be loathe to fall victim to one now.
Well, if you're okay with that... he said, watching as Sonja unsheathed her blade, fearless in her actions.
What a situation to be in.....If that fool makes a move, I'll put him down myself.
Going on to state her intentions and reason for travel, Apollo listened and perked up a little as he heard the name "Solku". He knew little of religion and most of what this young woman said made little sense to the man, but Solku he knew.
Solku you say?
Thinking back on things, he recalled a story told to him many times as he grew up with all those he now seeks revenge for.
Solku. That name? What was it they used to say? "We found you floating down river from Solku. You were so small and tiny back then. We couldn't have predicted you'd grow to be as big and strong as you are now. We took care of you for sometime, expecting someone to come by and collect you, but after several years of waiting we thought the worst and that was when we decided to take you in."
That story... he voiced quietly, still deep in thought and unaware of the words that escaped him.
Mum used to tell me that story all of the time growing up.
As his daydream subsided, Apollo looked at Sonja, her words honest and calming to his ears.
My name's Apollo. I ventured out from Katapesh myself. This here is Dmitri he says, nodding towards the white haired man.
The 7ft tall lizard behind me is Nom. He's often in his own world, but one day I'm sure he'll be as strong as his father and four or five times the size he is now.
Looking down towards Je'Grik, he states; and that's Je'Grik.
Why am I telling her this? It's strange, I feel oddly at ease with this girl beside me.
Despite his natural mistrust, Tempest gives no sign of thrumming, nor does it transmit to him any of the feelings that it did whilst it was around the false Sarenraen prophet. Instead, Dmitri actually feels waves of trust and ease flow into him from the scythe.
A few moments after Sonja's healing spell is transmitted into him, Je'Grik coughs softly, blood spattering the sand beside his head, and opens his eyes. His slitted pupils thin as he looks up at Dmitri, Apollo and Sonja, who stand above him. "Oh, so you're okay." he groans, from the ground. Slowly, he tries to stand, but slumps back down. "Maybe I'd better stay down here for awhile. Sorry for not being up and ready for patching you up....couldn't let the dogs corner you."
Kori looks over to Fire-top, unable to get a word in while Dmitri and Apollo bicker, "I'm still feeling my injuries, if that stick can heal them. I still don't like the idea of resting this close to so many enemies. It makes bad sense." Nonetheless, she awaits the offered healing from Fire-top, before following the others out of the cave with a scowl.
Brek nods to Kori as he utilses the wand on her thrice, as the wand's magics slowly knits her wounds leaving faint scars that were already fading.
"It'll take some time but I'd say we need to be in tip top shape." even as he taps her lightly, activatating the wand's charge.
There's no rush my friend. We're still yet to find an entrance into that damn building.
Outstretching and arcing his arms outwards, Apollo smirks as his movement gestures towards the fallen Gnoll's around him.
You did well to survive.
Kori watches the closing of her wounds with a little mix of wonder and suspicion, "This is different than the ability that was handed to me. It would be nice to do it all the time. Just imagine how long..."
She stops as she exits the cave after the others and notices the situation. Showing no real concern for Snake-eyes, she questions the strange woman, "Woman, I'm only guessing you had nothing to do with this, just by the fact that Apollo or Dmitri havn't killed you yet? Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong, and we can end this quickly. Otherwise, explain what happened."
Brek shrugs at Kori's question.
"It works though I'd say that yours is far better in a pinch. This one takes quite a while to activate. In a fight, it may not even make a difference."
Seeing the newcomer, he stays away from full view and watches out for danger while letting the rest of his party speak. I mean...really conversing in the open? What...dead gnolls means no more gnolls? Je'drik really took a beating there...
Pulling the weapon away after it doesn't resound, Dmitri smiles. "excellent." he says aloud. "Tempest seems to not feel any ill will towards your blade, but my suspicions are most certainly still there, but greatly minimized. Changing a weapon is easy, but I doubt the man would be stupid enough to come at us without such a thing." he claims.
Shrugging, he kneels down and grabs Je'grik after he turns around. "As much as I'd love to continue this conversation, doing it in the open sands is foolish and will be the death of us all. The cave is cool at the opening. Let's retire there and I'll inform you of the current circumstances." he says as he hoists Jegrik's body over his shoulder.
Some of Je'Grik's wounds collide uncomfortably with Dmitri's black armor, and the tiefling coughs, splattering blood down Dmitri's back. "You know," he says, his voice scratchy. "I'm not actually dead yet."
Carrying him still, Dmitri chuckles just a little. "Then you can thank me for the free transport." he points out as he gently lets him down before letting his legs fall with gravity. "Honestly. If they got the drop on you, that's one thing, but if you saw them in the distance you should have just ran inside." he says with a shrug, and then dabs off the blood on his full plate with his gauntlets.
Brek eyes the bloodied mess that is Je'Drik and then eyes his wand...
"This is going to take a while......." looking doubtfully at the magical charged stick in his hand.
Watching as Dmitri hoists Je'Grik over his shoulder, Apollo decides to hang back a little, seeing it as a chance to converse with the new face.
Sonja he says as he lifts his Longbow over his head and shoulder, freeing his hands up in the process.
Did you catch a glimpse of any other openings into the House of the Beast around here? We've already tried going through the front gates and that was.....risky.
"You do know conversing out in the open is likely to invite more gnolls on us, don't you?" Brek remarks, pitching his voice over to where Sonja and Apollo are standing.
Still scanning the horizon, he shrugs and heads back into the cave.