Gray let out a breath, letting the delicious pain wash over him like a balm. This was what it felt like to be alive! Life was pain, and any who said differently were undoubtedly trying to sell you something. As Ziera attended to the unconscious Vince, the inquisitor made his way over to the pedestal to see what prize this much stiffer resistance had been guarding.
Antonio quickly kneels down next to Vince. "Vince, are you alright?"
Payk watches the last elemental fade, and then slumps before eventually collapsing to the floor. He maintains consciousness, but breathes heavily, watching Vince closely. He sheathes his sword and pulls out his last two potions.
Ziera’s healing brings Vince back to consciousness. The man jumps up right away, slapping his body all over. “hot, hot, hot” He stops, looking around. “Oh thank-”, he pauses again, noticing Ziera kneeling over him. Thanks, Z. He shakes his head. Nope, that sounded terrible as soon as i said it. Thanks Zie-r-a. What happened?
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Antonio smiles. "Well, you got hit in the face by Earth Elementals a few times, but fortunately we were able to put them down. Er, 'we' being excluding me." He could explain to the others later. If Vince knew his secret, it would probably be known to everyone by the next morning.
"We need to think about what we do next. All of us are sporting a few injuries, and despite Ziera's help we certainly won't be able to heal them all. I'd rather not leave - there's no telling how this place could change if we come back. Rest wouldn't be my favorite option, but it's the best we have."
”Any one of these rooms are defensible, but are also a death trap if we are overwhelmed. I recommend we camp on the porch to this room. If any House Leroung forces come in, they won’t have easy access to the bridge and we’ll be able to hinder their ability to gain that access.”
Ziera smiles at Vince. You can call me Z. I don't mind.
She listens to the plan for resting, and goes along with it. Okay, let me use all of my spells up before we rest then. Who all needs healing?
<--Vince (still needs 24)
<--Vince (still needs 14), Payk is now most injured.
<--Payk (still needs 12), I am now most injured.
<--Ziera (still needs 6), Vince is back to most injured.
<--Vince (still needs 6), Gray is most injured.
<--Gray (fully healed)
After healing everyone as much as she could, she asks Gray Find anything? Another fake, I presume?
Payk thanks Ziera for the healing and then sits back against the wall. I could use the rest. But out on the platform? What about the empty room? Arent we still connected to it?
I think Edmund's point is that there is no way to retreat from any of these rooms, but if we camp on the platform, then the bridge won't function for anyone else. Remember how it doesn't move unless everyone is off the platforms?
Vince nods. It’s a decent plan Payk. We’ll just need a watch set up.
Gray accepted the healing stoically, forestalling a satisfied sigh in case it should anger his god. The Dark Lord spoke of enjoying the pain, but he needed to be at optimal levels if he was to help complete the group's objectives.
As the group makes its way to the platform, Gray gave Antonio a knowing look whenever the two would lock eyes. Still, he kept his mouth shut, as the man was a worthy companion and ally. When things had gotten dicey, Antonio hadn't run away, he had fought with the others when the outcome was still uncertain.
Being able to sleep through the night after a bit of tossing and turning, Gray woke up the others at the end of his shift. Or what he assumed the end might be in this lightless complex. The inquisitor was ready to continue their mad quest.
Ziera wakes, still smarting from yesterday's wounds, but definitely feeling comparatively better.
Edmund, can you examine that new scroll and just make sure it isn't what we are looking for? I know it is doubtful, but who knows what kind of misdirections are going on here. Just make sure, okay?
"Excuse me, everyone. If I could have a moment to myself..." While the change of personas wasn't difficult, it required a small amount of concentration and thought. Antonio takes a blue robe and mask from his bag, donning himself in them. Almost in a ritualistic fashion, Antonio begins to whisper to himself in a mantra, before finally putting on the mask.
"Apologies. I am ready to go now. And please, call me the Azure Avenger." The Avenger's voice feels similar to Antonio's, but the man's suave confidence seems replaced by emboldened harshness. He raises his hand, opening for inevitable questions.
Vince watches carefully as Antonio changes. How long was i knocked out?
Gray watched the Avenger's change with amusement, shifting his gaze elsewhere after a few seconds. It seemed silly enough, but the man seemed to need the privacy to enact his transformation to his other persona. The inquisitor could understand, to a degree. As an infiltrator, he had to take on many roles at times. And while he didn't require the change in costume, each personality certainly carried its own quirks.
Gray looked at Vince wryly and said, "Perhaps a minute or three. Nice work walking into those dirt clods so we could whittle them down."
Edmund checks out the new scroll. Assuming it too is a fake, he keeps it, just in case it will come in handy.
Ziera stares at Antonio's costume change, wondering why he felt the need to separate his personalities so dramatically, but decided to say nothing. The man might certainly be mentally ill, but as far as she knew, he had never betrayed them in either guise. She decided to gloss over it.
Ziera looks down into the area where there used to be mist, just to check and make sure there isn't anything there they might need to know about.
Then, as soon as everyone is awake and ready, she says
Okay, two doors to go. Let's gather on the bridge again. Remember to hold tight and not to drop anything.
Ziera tells everyone that there is a ladder down from the entrance platform. What she doesn't say is that these last two rooms might BOTH also be duds, and the real contract down below somewhere, hoping that it doesn't come down to that.
____
She exits the bridge and casts Open on door 3.
Ziera walks into the room with her Halo active. If something doesn't immediately attack her, she looks around.
Gray enters along with Ziera, looking about cautiously for the presumed pedestal in the corner along with a scroll in a case. There had been a couple of surprises, though, so the inquisitor assumed nothing.
Edmund follows Gray, having already sent in the dancing lights.
He puts mage armour on from his wand. Does anybody else need one?
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The Azure Avenger follows Edmund, taking a look around for new foes to vanquish.
His mask, however, gets in the way of his vision.
Gray slid into the room as they noticed the now-familiar hellhounds guarding this newest pedestal/scroll combination. He hoped the others would follow him in, as he suspected getting mobbed by all four of the beasts would be a rapturously unpleasant proposition. The inquisitor cocked his arm back, getting ready to lash out at any of the beasts that approached.
Edmund steps into the room (staying behind Gray) and attempts to catch as many as possible in a pit. Reflex DC 19.
Ziera aims at the closest Hell Hound and shoots.
Vince rushes forward into the battle, apparently unshaken by yesterday's events.
Payk puts an arrow into a hell hound.
The Azure Avenger runs into the room, fixing his mask and preparing his bolts for combat.
Edmund flings an arcane bolt at HH3.
Ziera shoots again.
Stepping over, the Azure Avenger fires a barrage of lightning at HH1.
Determined to not have another Vince situation again, Gray charged at another of the beasts (HH1), dexterously stepping beside the pit before swinging his chain at the hellish minion.
Vince is also determined to not have another Vince situation; but he appears to still be staggered from the attack he just took.
Payk takes down the hellhound with two arrows.
Edmund delays, conserving resources for what may be bigger battles later.
Gray nodded in satisfaction as the second hell hound not in a pit fell to their assault. The inquisitor then just calmly waited by the edge of the pit, ready to strike out at either of the beasts should they gather enough luck to make it out.
The Azure Avenger fires down at HH4 into the pit, having no mercy for these beasts.