Sverix nods, then an odd expression of almost-embarrassment crosses his face.
"Umm... do you think this guy would have a key?" he asks, pointing at the tiefling. "Otherwise I could probably break the door after some work."
He searches through the tiefling's pockets and such for a key.
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In fact, the tiefling has a number of interesting things on him. He's got a wand, a morningstar, a heavy crossbow with 12 magic crossbow bolts (+1), a pair of bracers, a cloak, a larger key, a smaller key, and 29gp.
Three of the items are magic. (In addition to the bolts, which you determined were basic +1 bolts via. divine revelation, or perhaps just a lucky guess.)
If you cast Detect Magic:
The larger of the two keys opens the door. Beyond it is a semicircular room that has been outfitted with numerous demonic decorations. The green glass lanterns hanging on the walls give the room an eerie glow. A brazen minotaur head hangs from one wall above an altar covered with wavy-bladed knives and curved bulls’ horns, while star-shaped symbols in red decorate other walls. A large wooden chest sits near the west wall.
You recognize this as a shrine to the demon lord Baphomet -- the lord of many (or even most) of the cultists you've been running across, both belowground and aboveground.
The brazen minotaur head radiates magic.
After a once-over to make sure it looks safe, Anevia uses the smaller key to open the chest. "Hmm, it seems they've been collecting a war fund... or the results of robbing people. There are also a lot of papers in here...."
The treasure in the chest includes 2,310 cp, 759 sp, 122 gp, 11 pp, five silver holy symbols of Iomedae worth 25 gp each, a masterwork longsword, two masterwork scimitars, 450 gp in various fine housewares like silverware and table settings, another wand, and a small box on a leather strap, though the box is cracked and the thing looks broken.
With Detect Magic:
Perhaps of most interest are all the papers. Spending a little time skimming through them, with the aid of the others, you realize you can put together a picture of the plan to attack Kenabres. It had been in planning for years! What's more, there were a large number of the Templars of the Ivory Labyrnth (that group of cultists of Baphomet that you are currently trying to root out) lurking about in Kenabres and preparing for the attack the attack. There are names of many of the cultists. You find the name "Faxon" referring to the tiefling you killed here in the Tower of Estrod. Looking at the list, there are some names in cities other than Kenabres, which is ominous.
"Irabeth will definitely want to see these!" Anevia says.
Finally, there's a note addressed directly to Faxon, which also contains some potentially very useful information: Note from Minagho to Faxon.
Things you may recognize from the notes:
"I guess we should have known to look on the corpse first," Sverix says, a little embarrassed.
He growls softly as they open the door. "I'm not going to leave this evil shrine here."
He takes some time to slash the decorations and damage the altar and symbols, though he leaves the minotaur head alone for now.
Once he's done, he tries to identify the magic items, storing the ones he can't identify for trying again later. He also tells Orrin, Tobias, and Anevia that they're welcome to take any of the armor or weapons from the people they killed that they want.
He hesitates for a little while, and then reluctantly adds, "And... I should share some of the gold." It's clear that saying this costs him dearly. "Orrin, Tobias, each of you take twenty-five gold, or the equivalent in smaller coins. Anevia, since you came of your own choice instead of being ordered here, you get... fifty gold."
He winces a little, thinking of all of the treasure he's giving away... but they had come and fought, too. It was fair that they got part of the rewards, just as it was fair that he, as a dragon, got the majority share of the treasure.
"We should take the holy symbols back to Irabeth, as well as all of those papers," he adds after that. He growls again at the papers. "How could so many people work with the demons? How could they be so evil?"
He shakes his head, appalled at the number of cultists and the depravity of what they are doing. "I wish there was a way to convince them just how wrong what they're doing is, but they probably would never listen."
He looks around again. "Well... I think I'm going to try to break that minotaur head, and then we can go upstairs and check and see if they have anything up there before we leave. I just... hope whatever they're talking about in that letter doesn't happen soon."
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The bronze head makes Sverix feel vaguely ill, as if there were something corrupt about it -- more than just being an icon of the cult of the demon lord Baphomet.
"Some of it has happened already, but it's alarming that they have agents in other towns," Anevia says. "But turning the wardstones to the use of the demons? That is a very frightening thought."
Searching the cultists, you find two more potions of cure light wounds, two scrolls of comprehend languages, a scroll of cause fear, and their gear (masterwork glaives, masterwork chain shirts, daggers, unholy symbols).
Sverix does his best to smash, rend, or otherwise destroy the bronze head.
"That's the part that I'm really worried about," Sverix agrees. "Let's hurry up and check the last cultist hideout, then get back and tell the others what we've found."
He takes the scrolls from the other cultists, but offers the weapons, armor, and the two potions to Anevia, Orrin, and Tobias.
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Following the information you found on the cult leader who was plaguing the mongrelfolk below ground, you make your way toward the ruins of Nyserian manor. This is a longer trek through the city than the last two, and you pick your way through the ruins, seeing the occasional furtive resident of Kenabres cautiously moving through town, although the town remains mostly quiet. Sometimes foul-looking creatures such as quasits fly over head (and ravens you suspect may just be quasits in raven form), and once or twice you see what are probably demonic cultists looting. Although tempted to go after them, you know that the more important investigation is the strongholds of activity for the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth.
You come across one sight, though, that you think you may not want to just pass by. The rubble has been cleared away from the street here, and an improvised stage made of several partially destroyed wagons and carts has been erected in the middle of the street. On this stage stand four frightened-looking men and women, each armed with jagged broken weapons and clad in bits and pieces of dented, bloody armor. Two quasits flap about nearby as they work to stage a "play" of sorts comprising battles between their victims. Four more dead men and women lie scattered about the cleared area.
Both Tobias and Orrin have a look of horror on their face -- perhaps all the more so if they are introspective enough to realize how close they came to participating in a charade almost as horrifying, if perhaps not so honest about its nature. Anevia also has a look of disgust on her face, and looks to Sverix for his lead.
Let me know how you proceed.
There was no question in Sverixalint's mind as to how he would respond to this.
He leaps into the air with a roar, flying straight at the quasits.
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"AK!" One of the quasits shouts. "Protect Us!"
The cowed humans, looking nervously at your ferocious appearance (do you have a fear aura yet?), hold up their makeshift weapons and face you, as the quasit ducks down behind them.
Orrin starts to move forward, but stops short at the three-foot stage, as he sees the civilian brandish a pitchfork at him. He does not attack the civilian, knowing that the poor fellow is cowed by the quasits.
Aneiva moves past you readying her bow, and attempts to shoot through cover at one of the quasits. The quasit just manages to duck underneath the arrow.
The other quasit casts a spell... and disappears from sight.
Action Order
- Quasit 1
- Orrin
- Quasit 2
- Anevia
- Sverix — Current
- Tobias
Sverix is up. Note that the stage is 3' high, and counts as an obstacle to climb.
Without thinking about it, Sverix leaps into the air, flying over the terrified humans.
"Let me handle them!" he roars back to his allies, then closes in on the visible quasit and snaps at it with his teeth.
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Ah, yes, I keep forgetting blindsense! I will keep the other quasit on the page, but ghosted, so you can see where it is. (You still have the 50% miss chance with bindsense, of course.)
The humans all duck and cover as Sverix flies over them. Indeed, even Orrin and Tobias look a little bit unnerved. Anevia, however, doesn't flinch.
The quasit dives out of the way of Sverix's bite.
Tobais runs forward and climbs on to the stage. The two commoners on either side of him, cowed by the quasits, take opportunity attacks as he climbs up. One attacks with a club, the other with a pitchfork.
Neither come anywhere near hitting Tobias, however.
"Defend me!" the quasit you bit at shouts at the commoners. It ducks in closer to Sverix -- provoking an opportunity attack. Assuming it survives this, it claws and bites at Sverix.
All three attacks hit.
Sverix takes 2 HP of damage, and 1 point of nonlethal damage. More importantly, though, he needs to make 2 DC 13 saves against poison. If he fails either one, he takes points of Dexterity damage.
Orrin tries to grapple the commoner on the stage in front of him, provoking an AoO. The man stabs Orrin right in the face, and looks quite distraught as he sees the blood spurt from Tobias. Orrin takes a step back, not completing the grapple.
The invisible Quasit backs away from Sverix, flying up and ending up over the roof of the building next to the makeshift stage.
The four commoners obey the first quasit's order to attack. Two of them attack Tobias.
Yikes -- with flank that hits.
Tobias is wounded, but not down.
Annevia tries to shoot at the quasit in Sverix's square: . She's not able to get a good shot off with the stage and all the people in the way, and with Sverix and the quasit so close together.
Action Order
- Quasit 1
- Orrin
- Quasit 2
- Anevia
- Sverix — Current
- Tobias
Orrin (Q19) is disabled (0HP). Tobias (O22) is wounded but still up.
Sverix is up.
Sverix hardly seems bothered by the quasit's little claws. He is worried about his friends, however, so he calls on Apsu's power to strengthen him.
"You don't have to listen to the quasits anymore!" Sverix declares to the commoners. "They're going to be dead soon!"
He then proceeds to try making good on that promise by tearing apart the quasit in front of him.
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Although he doesn't manage to successfully attack the quasit as it moves close to him, Sverix's bite and one of his claw attacks tear into the quasit. However, as he bites, he can feel a supernatural resistance to the damage, and he realizes that the creature has damage resistance.
Worse, he sees the creature's wounds start to close, slowly.
Tobias, badly wounded, steps down from the stage, but does not move any further.
The Quasit in Sverix's square attacks him again.
Connecting all three times, the quasit does another 5hp of damage, and another 1 point of nonlethal damage, to the dragon. (Make two more DC13 Fort saves vs. poison, or take Dex damage.)
Orrin steps past the club-weilding commoners and gets into position to attack the quasit himself. Something tells him that because this is a demon, this might be a good time to use a cold-iron weapon. He draws it, and stabs a the quasit.
He hits it, and the quasit screams as it takes all of the damage. Although its wounds are closing, it looks to be in bad shape at the moment.
The second quasit flies down to Sverix's square, and appears in the square as it attacks the dragon.
Only one of its claws hits, but it does 2 real HP of damage. (Make yet another DC 13 Fort save vs. poison to avoid Dex damage.)
The two commoners on either side of Orrin hit at him with their clubs:
However, they just bang on his armor, doing him no obvious damage. The other two hesitate due to what Sverix as said; one of them is a little horrified by the damage he did to Tobias.
Anevia steps close to Tobias and holds out a potion. "Drink this!" she says to him.
Action Order
- Quasit 1
- Orrin
- Quasit 2
- Anevia
- Sverix — Current
- Tobias
Sverix is up again! The southeastern quasit is badly wounded, the northwestern one (who just reappeared from invisibility) is unharmed.
Sverix snarls as the quasits focus on him, feeling himself slow from the sheer amount of poison they've put into him. He should have called on Apsu to bless his teeth with holy power before starting, but for now, he decides to just continue on regardless, focusing on the wounded quasit.
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Sverix's bite drops the quasit to the ground, unconscious. Seeing the wounds closing, he continues to attack it, until it's clearly good and dead and no longer healing.
Tobais takes the potion from Anevia and drinks it, feeling better when he's done.
Orrin jumps down beside Sverix and stabs at the other quasit with his cold-iron dagger.
The quasit screams in a combination of pain and outrage as not only does it see its friend killed, but as it starts to hurt itself!
Aneiva takes a step towards the stage and pleads with the commoners. "We don't want to hurt you! We will defend you from the demons! Please, drop your weaons."
The people look dubious; they're still afraid of the demons. They hold on to their weapons, and indeed one of them clubs at Sverix!
Fortunately, it's a wild swing.
The other quasit attempts to activate a spell, provoking opportunity attacks from both Sverix and Orrin.
Orrin's attack ruins the Quasit's focus on its spell!
Sverix also gets an opportunity attack....
Sverix takes advantage of the quasit's distraction to take a good bite out of it, then continues to attack.
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Between a claw attack and a wing buffet, Sverix leaves the quasit unconscious on the ground. Between him and Orrin's cold iron dagger, they are quickly able to dispatch it to stop it from healing.
The civilians, seeing the quasits dead, drop their weapons. Two of them fall to their knees and cover their faces. One of them raises his hands and says, "Pl... please don't kill us. We're sorry. We didn't want to attack, but the demons they... they killed my wife, they killed Brentus, they were forcing us to fight each other."
Sverix looks over the terrified civilians with pity in his young eyes.
"Don't worry, I understand. When you're scared a lot of times you do things you regret. If everyone will get close together, I can give you a little healing."
Once everyone who's injured is within range, he holds up his holy symbol and prays, "Apsu lækna þessar sár!"
"That should help a little," he says, speaking as much to his allies as the civilians. "Now we need to get you somewhere safe. Do you know of anywhere close by? Otherwise we'll have to get you back to Defender's Heart, and that's a long walk."
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The people are relieved, and also a little bit surprised, by your sympathy and healing. You can tell that they're a little bit intimidated by you.
You realize where you are is not terribly far from Gwerm Manor. While Horgus Gwerm is not likely to welcome a bunch of commoners into his home as long-term houseguests, there were some other buildings in that area of town that looked OK.
Tobias says, "Orrian and I could escort them back to Defender's Heat. We would follow back the path we've come, and hopefully we won't come across anything we can't handle. That would let you investigate the third Heralds of the Ivory Labyrinth safehouse without the delay of going back across the city twice."
Sverixalint turns his head slightly, thinking things over. On the one claw it would be good to finish his mission, but on the other, he wasn't sure Tobias and Orrin alone could handle it if some cultists or demons attacked.
"How about we find a place for you to wait while Anevia and I finish looking into the cultist hideouts? I can finish healing you up before we go, and then when we're done we'll come back and all go back to Defender's Heart together. I'd feel better if we traveled all in a group, since we've seen what kinds of nasty things are still around in the city."
Assuming they agree, Sverix will heal Tobias and Orrin up to full (just figure out how many wand charges it takes), and then help find a place for them and the civilians to hide while he and Anevia go investigate the last place.
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One wand charge each will put them back into good shape.
You find what looks like both a hidden and defensible cellar beneath a bombed-out building, and Tobias and Orrin escort the civilians in. "We will keep them safe," Orrin says.
You continue to the Nyserian manor. As you arrive, you see that what was once surely a stately manor is now nothing more than a pile of rubble and a gouged trough of ruin. Being a safehouse of the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth seems not to have saved it from the destruction of a very large rampaging demon. If anything, it gives you a small sliver of hope, for it's evidence that the demons were not working in perfect harmony.
In any event, it's clear that nobody is using this as a safe house any more.
Sverix and Anevia return to where Tobias and Orrin are holed up, and then, together with the civilians return across the city to Defender's Heart. By the time you get back, it is late in the afternoon. Any wounds you still have are healed by low-level clerics of Iomedae, Torag, and Sarenrae that are about.
When you show the letter you found on Faxon, the tiefling at the Tower of Estrod, Irabeth looks concerned. "We’ve heard mention of these crystals before, and I fear that they’re tied to something far worse than what’s already happened to Kenabres."
She pauses for a moment, then shakes her head. "You should speak with Quendys Orlun. He can tell you more."
She leads you back into another room, what was once a room for private parties at the Inn. Sitting in there is an old human man with a tatoo of an eagle's talon on his cheek.
He looks up. "Is this the dragon you spoke to me of?" the man asks Irabeth.
The half-orc paladin nods.
He turns to you. "I owe you my thanks. I was the head librarian of Blackwing -- it's founder, indeed. To my shame, I was not there to help the librarians in their trial. I had believed it completely destroyed in the initial attack."
Irabeth interrupts. "Quendys leaves out an important part of the story. He has only recovered from a grievous and near-fatal wound he suffered helping quite a number of citizens escape the Citadel during the initial attack. Without him there, they would all have died. He was in no position to look after the ruins of Blackwing."
Quendys sighs. "Be that as it may, I am glad that you, Sverixallint, were there to rescue my people. And I am glad to hear as well that Aravashnial survived the attack. Although a little... overconfident, the elven wizard is a strong ally."
Irabeth turns to Sverix. "I thank you for all you've done -- for returning Anevia to me, for rescuing the others from underground, for rescuing the civilians you've seen, for rooting out the remnants of the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth. I fear, though, that I am not done asking you to risk your life in service to the city. Are you ready to hear more?"
Sverix is glad to get the civilians safely back to Defender's Heart. He feels oddly protective about them, and it takes a bit for him to be satisfied that they will be well-cared for.
---------------
Sverix nods at Quendys's thanks. He considers the human carefully. From Irabeth's words, his was a noble and brave heart, also. The young dragon's own heart thrilled at the thought of fighting alongside so many other courageous people.
He swings his head over to Irabeth at her question. "I'm a bronze dragon," he replies, as if that somehow answers the question. "I hatched for this, to fight evil and defend the weak. Where can I help most now?"
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Irabeth nods.
"As horrific as recent events have been, we've come to realize that they are, in fact, merely a prelude. The razing of the Kite, the destruction of our wardstone, Terendelev's murder, and the assault on the city were nothing more than opening gambits. The Worldwound is on the march in a more concentrated assault than we've seen since the fall of Drezen. It's fair to say the Lord of the Locust Host is finally making his move. The end of this hundred-year-war is upon us, and it falls to us to ensure victory.
"While the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth were scattered, those who serve the Lord of the Locust Host himself remain concentrated in Old Kenabres. What we've heard from within the barricade they've erected is ominous. The cultists are waiting for something, and based on our own information and what you've managed to recover so far, it sounds like the vile witch Areelu Vorlesh will soon be coming to Kenabres. And it appears that we've determined what she intends to do."
Irabeth pauses, and Quendys starts to speak.
"When the wardstone was destroyed by the Storm King," the old man says, "it exploded and destroyed the Kite. The network along the border failed, but did not fade completely. I believe this is because a significant portion of our wardstone still exists, and that the cultists have taken it to the old garrison in Old Kenabres. From what we've learned, they're hoping to engineer a way to somehow reverse the field generated by the wardstones—essentially, to use our own greatest defense as a devastating weapon."
Irabeth starts to speak again. "The attack on Kenabres had a predictable result: causing the crusade to gather at the border to defend it. Some wonder why the demons haven't attacked in stronger numbers. I believe that Areelu was counting on us massing along the border, and that if she can corrupt the wardstone field, she can strike a devastating blow against us all. In effect, we've lined up for the slaughter."
Quendys says, "Vorlesh is surely seeking some object of great Abyssal power, likely the Nahyndrian crystal mentioned in the missive you recovered, and with it she intends to turn the source of our hope into an unimaginable nightmare."
Irabeth adds, "We cannot hope to evacuate everyone from the border—I doubt they would give up the defensive line even if they knew what the enemy planned. But we can still stop this from happening—we just need to have someone infiltrate the Gray Garrison, locate the wardstone fragment, and destroy it."
"You should rest and recover tonight. Tomorrow morning, we wil discuss strategy."
Quendys adds, "Irabeth, if you can spare a couple of stealthy crusaders, I would like to send word to Aravashnail, and ask him if he knows anything that would help. Indeed, perhaps he might join us here, if your agents are up to the task of escorting a blind elf through the city."
Irabeth nods. "Yes..." She turns to Anevia. "But not you. Until we can get your leg seen to, we have those who can move faster. You've supported Sverixallint. What's more, I don't think I can bear to see you go out that door into the demon-haunted ruins of this city another time today."
Sverixalint's heart sinks at the words of the demons' plans... but when Irabeth starts to speak of what needs to be done, the feeling is replaced suddenly with a blazing certainty.
"This is why I'm here..." Sverix murmurs, not even realizing he's voicing the thought aloud.
As Irabeth turns to Anevia, so does Sverix. He nods deeply to her, almost giving her a bow. "You've the heart of a dragon to fight on with me even suffering as you are, Anevia. Thank you. Rest up. I'm sure we'll need you to fight more later."
He looks back at Irabeth and Quendys. "I'll handle this mission. Though I'll probably want any help you can spare."
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You rest overnight and recover your strength and your spells. In fact, more than that, you wake up feeling stronger, more powerful, more connected to Apsu.
(I.e. : level up to level 5!)
Back downstairs in the main room of Defender's Heart, Quednys Orlun and Irabeth are waiting for you. Several others are also present: Anevia, of course. However, Aravashnial is also present, as is, perhaps somewhat to your surprise, Horgus Gwerm. Aravashnial greets you warmly, and Horgus greets you formally and politely.
Many members of the Eagle Watch are present, as well as a few members of the Kenabres guard who have been brought in, including Tobias and Orrin.
"So," Irabeth begins, speaking to everybody assembled. "We have to destroy the wardstone fragment before Vorlesh arrives and does whatever foul thing she plans to do with it, likely dooming us all. The wardstone fragment, of course, is within the Grey Garrison in Old Kenabres, just past Cyldewell Plaza where the Armasse celebration was interrupted by the attack and the opening of the pit that now engulfs it."
I have updated the map of Kenabres to show the location of the Grey Garrison.
"Our best best is a very small force that can infiltrate the garrison; the smaller, the better. They will be able to move swiftly, and will not be perceived as a threat. We have somebody here who has repeatedly proven his ability to take on challenges that would best many of us, and to hold firm in the face of horrendous demonic attacks. He has gone out of his way to save others."
She nods towards Sverixallint.
"Yes, Kenabres does still have a dragon looking out for it. And it is Sverixallint here who will infiltrate the Grey Garrison, find the wardstone fragment, and destroy it. The rest of us must do everything we can to support him."
Quendys Orlun steps forward, holding a silver rod that forks at one end, with a green gemstone set in between the two sides of the forks. "I believe this will be able to drain the remaining magic from the wardstone fragment," he says. "I was able to rescue it from a wizard's workroom that had been all but destroyed in the attack. This is a very dangerous object, which must be handled with care. It is a rod of cancellation, capable of draining all of the magic out of any magic item. It will only work once."
He hands the rod to Sverix. "Keep it secure. When you make it to the wardstone fragment, use the rod."
He steps back.
Irabeth steps forward again. "The rest of us will do what we can to reduce the opposition that Sverixallint faces as he tries to make his way into the Gray Garrison. This means that we are going to have to sorte forth from our defensive position here, and make no mistake, there will be losses. But if we do not neutralize the wardstone fragment before Vorlesh arrive, then we are all lost. Several groups of crusaders will make forays into Kenabres, rooting out cultists and demons wherever we can find them. While a noble task, of course the reason we have not done this already is that we are few, and the amount of good we could do is limited. But, as a diversion, we can be quite effective. Visibly out and fighting, we will draw out the cultists, allowing Sverixallint easier access to Old Kenabres and the Garrison."
She turns to Anevia. "Anevia will be working with you on this. She has worked with Sverixallint in the terrible days since the original attack, and has shown that her instincts are good. I, myself, will be taking the greatest risk together with Sverixallint, accompanying him into the Gray Garrison. It is the dragon whom we are trusting with this mission-- I am there to help ensure that he makes it."
As Irabeth seems to be hinting that she would be willing to sacrifice herself on this mission, you can see a look of pain and worry cross Anevia's face. She quickly suppresses it, however.
Irabeth turns to you. "It may take us more than one foray into Old Kenabres to reach the wardstone fragment. If necessary, we should pull back, rest, and regroup. Doubtless they will shore up their defenses once they know that we are making assaults. However, they may still not know our true goal. We will coordinate the attacks of the other crusaders elsewhere in the city with our own attempts to infiltrate the Garrison, to make things as smooth as possible for us. But, make no mistake. This is a mission of desperation. We are doing what we think is most likely to take out the threat that is hanging over us."
Irabeth pauses, to see if Sverix has anything to say.
Afterwards, some of the others offer what aid they can. Aravashnail provides Sverix with a small chest. "A cache of Riftwarden supplies that was not uncovered during the attack," he says. "Take it, and use it."
He hands you a small chest which contains: eight potions of cure serious wounds, four potions of lesser restoration, three oils of bless weapon (which will work on one of your natural weapons if you can stomach smearing it around your mouth), a chime of opening, a wand of daylight with 24 charges, and a wand of sound burst with 18 charges. There is also a masterwork cold-iron longsword, which Irabeth will be able to use, and a quiver of 20 cold-iron crossbow bolts.
In what comes as a surprise to those who know him, it turns out that Horgus Gwerm has donated a fair fraction of his own personal supplies to the crusaders in Defender's Heart. Sverix is pretty sure that it was the positive impression he made on Gwerm that led to this action, for the man's default instinct would have been to keep his head down and try to stay out of trouble. This sizeable donation has a noticeable impact on the morale of the crusaders.
Quednys Orlun has also been able to identify the items you've collected but not yet identified. They include: a potion of lesser restoration, a potion of invisibility, a wand of cure moderate wounds with 9 charges remaining, a +1 cloak of resistance, and +1 bracers of armor.
(I will pause here to give you some time to react and post.)
After the night's discussion (and gorging himself on another dinner provided by the innkeeper), Sverix curls up to sleep around his growing hoard. His last tired thoughts are of pleasure over both his hoard and the righteous battles he's won the spoils in.
His dreams that night are scattered. At first he dreams of mighty Terendelev, seeing her fighting demons with the crusaders. Her terrible roar seems to shake the earth, and even the demons seem to fear her as she flies to battle.
Then his dreams drift to other dragons, other battles. He sees plans made, sometimes alone, sometimes with allies. He thrills as his kind slay all sorts of dreadful foes, and sorrows when sometimes they give their lives for their cause.
Last, he sees a great and terrible battle, with an enormous host of brilliant beings fighting against an enormous, terrifying beast. Among the host Sverix sees two great dragons--one dark red, the other a brilliant silver. He realizes with awe that this is the gods' great battle against Rovagug, the only time Apsu and Dahak ever met without fighting one another.
He watches as the gods slowly gain the upper hand over the Rough Beast... and then Apsu turns and meets Sverix's eyes. His deity's gaze seems to pierce straight to the young dragon's heart... and yet it is comforting at the same time. The battle fades as Apsu's eyes seem to swell to fill his vision, great silver-blue orbs that seem almost like a cool, refreshing lake...
Sverix is not quite sure when the dream turns to waking, the warm strength of his god's presence and approval lingering with him even as he slowly opens his eyes. He slowly stands and stretches, noting how good he feels this morning, not just the peaceful strength in his heart, but the sense of health and strength surging through his body. He bows his head and whispers a quiet but fervent prayer of thanks to Apsu for the strength he lent this young dragon.
He finishes and looks around again, and now that he's paying attention, he does notice what his companions had commented on earlier--he did seem to be a bit larger than a couple of weeks ago, based on comparing his size to the various human-made things around him. It was just a few inches, but that was still amazingly swift growth. Sverix feels both humbled and proud--humbled, that so young and uncertain a dragon as himself is in such a position of import to the whole of Golarion, and proud, the his god saw fit to so abundantly bless him.
Sverix is filled with determination to see his mission through as he makes his way downstairs. The young dragon looks over the assembled group as he enters the makeshift war room, smiling as he sees so many other warriors gathered to fight evil. He is surprised to see Horgus among their number, but nods to him in appreciation of the man's unexpected generosity as he learns of what he's done.
He listens intently as Irabeth outlines their plan, returning her nod when she nods at him. He murmurs a thanks to Quendys as the wizard hands him the rod.
Sverix notes the exchange between Irabeth and Anevia, but simply gives the paladin a nod deep enough to be a bow. The war against evil took sacrifices, and while he would fight to the last to keep Irabeth alive, he understood well just how important their mission was.
"We'll win," he says with confidence as Irabeth finishes speaking, his dream again coming to mind. "Good has ever defeated evil, and so it will again." His voice rises in strength and confidence as he tries to share with those around him the certainty that burns within his hear. "Apsu is with me, as I'm sure Iomedae is with you. Together, we will dash the hopes of these demons and snatch their victory from them in the very moment they though to triumph!"
Sverixalint thanks Aravashnial for the supplies, knowing he'll need everything he can get for this misison.
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There is a bit of a tussle at the door. A crusader comes in, saying, "Captain Irabeth, there is somebody at the door who is looking to come in. He is... I don't recognize what he is. I fear he may be touched by demons. You should come look."
Irabeth heads to the door to look out. You follow. Over her shoulder, you see that one of the mongrelfolk has arrived, a woman the left side of whose face looks human, blending into a snakelike appearance on the right side. Her right arm has feathers all the way down, and ends in claws like that of a bird (though with a fully opposable thumb). She carries a nice-looking longbow. You realize that although you don't know her name, you recognize her: you saw her in Neatholm, the town of the mongrelfolk below ground that you helped. She's currently being held about ten feet away from the door to Defender's Heart by a couple of crusaders who are standing watch.
"She's a friend!" Sverix calls out when he sees her. "She's one of the descendants of the First Crusade who live below the city."
He walks out to the door. "Hello! I remember seeing you in Neatholm, but I don't remember you name. I'm Sverixalint."
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The guards look skeptical, but Irabeth nods to them. They let the woman past.
She approaches Sverixallint. "I am Silvuwen. I am here from Chief Sull, to provide you what aid I can. The descendants of the First Crusade will not forget the aid you provided us, and will stand together with those on the surface against this onslaught."
"Myself, I pledge myself to your service. There are several other of my fellow townsfolk who are here to assist the others on the surface in whatever it is you need us to do."
Irabeth nods. "Good, then, and thank you. We will be sure to let Chief Sull know that we hope good relations continue between those of us on the surface and those in your own home."
Coming back inside, she very briefly summarizes the plan for Silvuwen. The plan is for all the other crusaders to move out into the city and create a distraction, drawing out cultists, while Sverix, Irabeth, and Silvuwen make forays on the Gray Garrison, attempting to get to the wardstone fragment so that you might use the rod of cancellation on it.
Before you go, Anevia will pull you aside. "I know that I would slow you down with my crippled leg. I hope that I can do something about that. But, you must keep Irabeth safe! All the time we were below ground I feared the worst; now that I just got her back, I couldn't bear to lose her again."
Sverix nods deeply to Silvuwen. "I accept your service, Silvuwen. I look forward to having you fight by my side."
He listens solemnly to Anevia. "I will do all I can. I'll be right there fighting with her."
He hesitates, wanting to say more, but he's learned enough about humans and the like to know that saying something about how admirable her courage was would probably not be the best idea right now.
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Everybody present discusses further logistics. As Sverix, Irabeth, and Silvuwen are ready to go, the crusaders spread out into Kenbares to provide distractions, and to draw out some of the demonic cultists from Old Kenabres.
After waiting a short while for the diversion to be in place, Sverix and the other two make their way towards old Kenabres.
Old Kenabres is mostly quiet; the diversion of the crusaders seems to be working. The group makes their way to the location of the Grey Garrison. A large stretch of buckled ground and rubble stretches before the Gray Garrison, an aptly named structure that squats across from the open ground that once stood before the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell. That cathedral is no more—nothing remains but a towering mound of rubble and a deep, jagged rift in the ground.
As you approach the structure, you see that there are hideously obese, naked human men guarding the door to the Grey Garrison. Both have scythes. One of them calls out in a low, slightly burbling voice, "It is some of the heroes of Kenabres! Have you finally come to turn yourselves over to Deskari?"
(Remember that you can succeed on DC10 Knowledge checks even if you are untrained!)
Irabeth, the half-orc paladin of Iomedae, standing next to you, whispers to you, "The one on the left you probably recognize; the one on the right is Kandro Nyserian. I sold a family heirloom sword to him for... well, I sold it to him some time ago. He was not that rotund, then, and he still wore clothes."
Let me know how you proceed.
Sverix frowns, body going tense. He whispers back to Irabeth, "I don't, actually... all of you human-types are kind of hard for me to keep straight." He sounds a bit embarrassed at this admission.
"Do you think they've been made into some kind of undead, though? If they're talking like that they're definitely not our friends," he adds.
He doesn't deign to answer the question the man had asked, instead beginning a prayer to Apsu.
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"Humans in particular," Irabeth says, "without any variation in tusks, often they're hard to tell apart. I started with 'Anevia' and 'not Anevia'. But, we're looking at Lord Hulrun, who was the lord of Kenabres! But clearly possessed somehow; he wasn't that large... I don't know if they're ghouls, or what."
Sverixalint speaks his blessing, which gets the two grotesque naked men riled up. "Woah, none of that! Kill 'em!"
Initiative:
You're up.
Sverix's fangs flash silver as he finishes his prayer.
"We will see who dies here, fiends!" he roars, then charges forwards, seeking to bite the closest of the two.
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Sverix charges forward and does a huge amount of damage to the bloated man on the right -- the former Lord Hulrun. He senses that the blessed nature of his attack helps him overcome the supernatural wards the creature has against damage.
The ugly, naked, bloated human for responds by swinging his scythe at Sverix, slicing into him and doing 9 points of damage.
The other one casts a spell. Simultaneously, Sverix is wounded and the bloated man he attacked is healed by a heavy 11 points negative energy; this undoes most of the damage that Sverix just did to the former Lord Hulrun.
Silvuwen moves to a spot where she has cover but can fire freely on the two bloated demon-men. Heeding a warning given to her earlier by some of the crusaders, she fires a cold-iron arrow. However, her shot goes wide, and clatters harmlessly into the building behind the men.
Irabeth also charges towards the same bloated man that Sverix fights. She swings at him, and slices off a bit of flesh... but the man seems unharmed, almost as if his flesh were acting as a sort of armor.
Action Order
- Sverix ← Current
- Fat Guy 2
- Fat Guy 1
- Silvuwen
- Irabeth
You are up again!
Sverix snarls as he is struck, but he thinks to himself that the negative energy healing his foe strongly suggests he was right about them being undead. He keeps up his assault, tearing into the man's bloated flesh, aiming to do far more damage than they can undo.
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Sverix's powerful bite takes a chunk out of the man, spitting out fouled sinew and skin and muscle. His first claw hits, but here the creature's supernatural protections against damage reduce the amount of damage Sverix is able to do. Likewise, he hits with both wings, but only minimal damage affects the man. Still, it's just enough to reduce the bloated thing to a what Pathfinder confusingly calls "disabled".
Then, something truly horrific happens. The man's flesh is quickly consumed from the inside, and the creature that had been inhabiting the bloated body emerges, eating its way out and healing itself as it does so. As the head explodes in a pulpy and gory mess, a pale, wormlike creature whose end opens in a five-pronged maw emerges. The consumed flesh of Lord Hulrun drops to the ground in a disgusting heap, and the worm bites at Sverix. However, this time the dragon's scales protect it.
The creaure who remains inside his bloated human-flesh casts the same spell, healing his wormy friend with negative energy, but damaging both Sverix and Irabeth for another 10 points of damage.
Silvuwen fires again, this time hitting the other demon-man with a cold-iron arrow. The arrow hangs in the flesh, having done 5 points of damage to the creaure.
Irabeth swings her long sword in a power attack, doing a decent amount of damage to the worm-like demon despite its supernatural protection against her weapon.
Action Order
- Sverix ← Current
- Fat Guy 2
- Fat Guy 1
- Silvuwen
- Irabeth
Sverix is up again.
Sverix is somewhat surprised by the emergence of the worm-creature, but he quickly shrugs off the thing's disturbing appearance.
"Die, defiler of the dead!" he roars, then presses the attack.
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Sverix bites the head off of the demonic worm, spitting it out as the rest of the worm thrashes a bit before falling to the ground, dead. He moves over towards the other demon. That demon grins at Sverix with a wide, unnatural grin, the human face's muscles distorted by the creature that's wearing it. It slashes at Sverix with its scythe, but Sverix's hide is too tough for it.
Silvuwen fires another cold iron arrow at the bloated naked man. This time the arrow thunks into the man's flesh, slghtly damaging him.
Irabeth moves at an angle so as to preserve Silvuwen's firing lane, and aims a powerful slash at the demon with her longsword. She again slices off flesh, but it's clear that the creature underneath was not harmed thanks to the human body serving as armor for it.
Action Order
- Sverix ← Current
- Fat Guy 1
- Silvuwen
- Irabeth
Sverix is up again!
Sverix's response to the demon's grin is a gutteral growl, followed by fangs, claws, and wings.
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This time, Sverix's flurry is ineffective. He only hits with one of his wings, and the damage from that buffeting doesn't penetrate the demon's supernatural protections.
The fat man takes a step back and casts the same spell he's already cast twice. The area is suffused with negative energy, doing points of damage to both Irabeth and Sverix (Will DC 16 for half), and restoring the same amount of health to the bloated man.
Silvuwen fires another cold-iron arrow that thunks into the man next to the arrow that's already there, doing a small amount of damage. Irabeth steps forward and targets him with a power attack with her sword, this time cutting past the flesh and damaging the demon underneath.
Action Order
- Sverix ← Current
- Fat Guy 1
- Silvuwen
- Irabeth
Sverix is up again!
The spell hardly bothers Sverix, who surges forward and continues attacking, trying to shred through the dead flesh to the demon underneath.
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Alas, that AoO does not hit, so the spell will go off.
Sverix tears at the human-flesh-wearing demon, but alas only one claw actually tears into the demon, and not being enchanted it does not do full damage
The bloated flesh slashes with its scythe at the dragon, slicing into him and doing 5 points of damage.
Silvuwen moves out of cover and comes closer, firing another cold-iron arrow, but the arrow misses, hitting the walls of the Gray Garrison and falling to the ground. Irabeth's longsword comes down powerfully upon the demon, although half of her slash is again deflected by the demon's supernatural protections. Still, the group is whittling away at it!
Action Order
- Sverix ← Current
- Fat Guy 1
- Silvuwen
- Irabeth
Sverix is up again!
Sverix summons up the energy to keep attacking, childishly wishing the demon would just die already like it was supposed to when confronted with the hero of the story.
The demon swings his scythe at Sverix. "Join us. I'd like to wear you." It hits and gives him a scratch.
Silvuwen's arrow goes wide. Irabeth's longsword attack bites deep into the creature's arm. "Get out of his skin you demon." she cries.
Action Order
Sverix ← Current 5 DMG 18/56
Fat Guy 1 18 DMG
Silvuwen
Irabeth
Sverixalint snarls back, "You'll be joining your friend back in the ABYSS!"
He continues his relentless assault on the demon.
The demon falls to the dragon's bite. It leaves the body of it's victim as it dies.
What a horrible thing to happen to Lord Hulrun. His remains used as a body for a demon. He would be appalled with this situation." Irabeth breaths heavily as she leans against the wall of the garrison.
"what next?"
Sverixalint nods and growls softly. "It's never enough for the demons just to win," he states. "They have to try to desecrate everything, too. I guess they really are trying to destroy everything good, not just win the battles."
He gets out his healing wand. "I don't like giving them more time to get ready after how long that took, but I really need to heal myself before we continue on. Are either of you hurt much?"
Sverix starts using the wand to heal.
It takes him a full minute to heal up.
"We are fine. Thank you for asking Sverix. We'll do our best to go faster in the future.