"That's more like it. Thanks Arista" Aurelea says flashing the cleric a grin. "You didn't offend me, actually it's pretty hard to offend me come to think of it, but once you get to know me better you'll get why it was a little bit amusing."
As the angelic woman asks about her family, the Magus sighs. "If the answers to your questions are what I'm thinking they are, you're going to have a lot to process."
She turns to the group, her face expressing the focus and intensity of a born warrior, "Ok at this point they definitely know we succeeded and they'll be under heavy pressure. I personally want to teach that bastard Reinhardt what happens to scum who make people's lives hell. Lets go!"
Seeing the destruction all around her and not being able to contain or hide her grief she falls to her knees.
"No, no...this can not be. Where is my village, my home, my family? There is nothing left here....nothing that I know or recognize. This is where Lansing should be, but there is nothing familiar to me here. What has happened here, surely I wasn't asleep for that long?!"
She tries desperately to regain her composure while taking in everything around her. She wipes her face with her sleeve and takes a few deep calming breath before trying to stand up again.
"Whatever this place is now they are in need of help. We should go see what can be done. If there is evil, it shall be extinguished."
Just finally getting what Aurelea said earlier about her angelic bloodline, Arista nods.
"Oh, again I'm sorry for that outburst. This is all a little too much. But yes, I am descended from angels. Hence the sparkly eyes, silver hair, and weird skin tone. I will pull myself together for this fight though, I can figure everything else out once these people are safe, and the evil presence is dealt with."
She looks at the Paladin, a deep sadness shows through her deep emerald green eyes. Even though they sparkle, there is no joy in them.
"Yes, this was Lansing, it is no more."
"That she does." Cyna adds with an assuring smile.
Arista looks at Gregario and gives a sad sort of half smile before responding.
"Yes, I know this. That is why, despite everything I will continue with my mission. To rid this land of darkness and help those in need. Times may have changed, but I remain true to my Goddess. I am an Aasimar descended from the celestials that came before me. I am a cleric of Sarenrae and will do my duty, we can worry later about filling me in on all the intricate details of this life that I seem to be now missing. For now, we should just concentrate on the job at hand and get through it."
Arista smiles warmly at the strange demonish looking woman.
"Thanks to all of you for your comforting words." Looking at the other woman she has yet to meet Arista offers one of her hands, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I've actually met you yet. I've actually never met anyone like you before. So, you are part of this group as well? I'm sorry if I seem ill mannered, but I just don't know what to make of any of this. You seem familiar with my Goddess, do you know her?"
"I'm Cyna and i've been with this since the begining." The tiefling reveals her wooden symbol to the dawnflower. "I've been faithful to Sarenrae since I was a meer child and some of us even met her once."
Arista pulls her silver holy symbol from under her clothing so Cyna can see it. "It's so good to meet you Cyna, and to know there are those still faithful to our Goddess. I'm sorry I'm so curious, but are you part demon? A person's deity and faith is important, but I believe everyone is equal when it comes to ridding the land of evil. What matters is what you have inside of you, nothing else. I feel as if I've lost alot, but I also feel better being with those that understand my faith and where I'm coming from."
Alethiro stayed silent, out of shock more than anything, listening to their newest companion. How dare she call me a midwife! And there is no way I'd ever be interested in...... that one. He thought to himself with a sidelong glance at Aurelea. Coming out of his thoughts, the Elf interrupted, "We should hurry, in case there are some Paladins left alive, they will need our help."
Ashford is silent save for the sound of steel on steel coming from the church. As you approach, you see a figure in dark armor hovering over one of Godrick's paladins. The person turns around to face your approaching footsteps.
"Can you help him?" the woman asks, the familiar unholy symbol around her neck. She points to the fallen man, a grievous wound in his side seeping blood.
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Arista steps forward to the woman with the unholy symbol, she looks down at the Paladin and then into the woman's eyes.
"Yes, let me have a look at him. I'm just wondering why you are asking for help. I see the symbol that you wear and it doesn't seem to fit that you would be seeking help for him."
Keeping an eye on the woman she kneels down next to the paladin to ascertain the extent of his injuries.
"Who the hell are you?"demands Aurelea. "If you were just fighting him why would you want to help him now?" she stands with sword outstretched ready to intercept any attack that may be prepared against their new companion as she aids the fallen man.
@Alethiro
"I wasn't fighting him," the woman answers defiantly. "He was."
She points to a dead antipaladin nearby. "This man is my kin...I've done a lot of awful things, but I won't kill my own family."
Arista looks up at Aurelea for a moment, "I understand your agitation, but let's not be too hasty. We just got here and have no idea what's been going on aside that people are fighting. She may not have inflicted that wound."
She looks back at the woman who had been standing over the paladin's body.
"What do you know about what's been going on here and do please tell us who you are. Who is in that church?"
"It's okay dearie, we are here to help however we can. But we need to know what we are up against, if you can tell us."
She turns her attentions back to the paladin on the ground. Once she has assessed his injuries she quickly lays her hands on his chest and his side. She closes her eyes and begins to concentrate. A light comes from her hands and flows into his body. His wounds automatically seal themselves as he stabilizes and begins to heal.
"It's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn something from them. Everything in life is a choice. You have a chance here and now to do something good by telling us anything that might help us."
"The leader of the paladins is in the church as well as Reinhardt. Reinhardt is one of the beast-touched."
Arista looks at the woman a little confused, "I'm sorry, but I don't know what that means. I'm not really from here...exactly, so could you elaborate on that a little bit? What does that mean for us? Is he especially vicious?"
"He is...was our leader. He was the first to communicate with the demon lord, Jezelda. She gave him the gift of lycanthropy. He is a werewolf."
"The worst, and we need to put him down. Now."
Looking at the injured man she hesitates for a moment. "Obviously he needs attention, and I don't quite trust her for obvious reasons," she says indicating the woman in the dark armor. "Some of us need to stay here while the rest go and deal with Reinhardt. Any volunteers?"
"You'll go to your death," the man on the ground moans. "Godrick cannot win..."
"Look, I understand your reservations, I really do. However, she is his family and we all need to stick together if we are going to have any chance at all of surviving this. I am sure she is not going to harm him, and seeing the effect of her actions has changed her. People can be redeemed, but they have to be given the chance to do so."
She looks down at the paladin before looking back at the woman in armor, "He needs to be taken somewhere safe and quiet where he can heal properly. Do you think you can manage him on your own or are you going to need help getting him out of here?"
Not everyone can be redeemed. The Elf thought to himself, then one name came to mind. A name that filled him with rage. Drago.
"Continue along the path, you can't miss it," the woman says, cradling the man now.
"I know we don't have much left, but when we catch sight of that bastard, hurl everything you've got at him."Aurelea says as they advance.
The Elf pulled out his crossbow and loaded it. "Well let's move then, shall we?"
Harakhty stayed mum with the talk of family and background. His upbringing had him think of his ancestors as what most would consider "angels," but he knew a bit of the beings of the positive divinity now. Ironically, the woman's era likely did make her an ancestor to many-a-kin now if her fertility was put to use during her normal life. He watched her weep with stoicism at the site of her former home. Little would remain of my tribe if I tried to return to them now; they have since moved-on. He would not be Arista upon his return; their mission here had to be a successful one.
Unfortunately, the accounts now heard did not predict ease with that goal. Much death around them already, and they were to wade into another conflict. It couldn't be helped though; the other forces had already met, and their cover would otherwise be for naught. Thus it was they went to battle.
You rush up the steps to the church, the doors hang ajar. Upon entering, you see a nine-foot tall figure looming over Godrick. The bestial antipaladin tosses the elder paladin through a statue like a ragdoll, before throwing him at your feet.
"Your pups have come to save you, Godrick," the werewolf growls. "Do you have anything to say in appreciation? No? How sad..."
The older man does not move, but you see him breathe shallowly. The flames from outside flicker in a stained-glass window which depicts the ascension of Iomedae. The werewolf eyes you maliciously, but does not approach. He arches his back and paces back and forth in the apse of the church.
"So, you're the ones who destroyed the shard? Commendable, but, ultimately, for naught. So what will you do? Will you take your broken leader to mend his bones or will you fight me? He was hardly worth my time, so I am always eager to entertain the foolish and weak," Reinhardt says, flicking the blood off his sword.
"Actually, we've come to kill you! Aurelea says before leaping into action, Oblivion trailing in an undercutting slash.
Arista kneels down next to Godrick's body and places her hands on him.
At hearing Aurelea's words, and seeing all the destruction this creature has already wrought she looks up in disbelief at the young woman's actions. Doesn't she realize she's going to her death, or does she care? She has only a moment to think before yelling out to her new companion.
Arista stops to take a breath before continuing. "I know I'm new here, but you have no idea what you're up against and dying now will fix nothing. We need to take Godrick out of here and regroup. We can do this battle another day, but if we all die here it will all have been for nothing and the bad guys will win for sure."
The lack of sense in the paladin's actions was a pang on Harakhty's senses, but he ignored it for now. Aurelia had the right idea; they had to take a stand against the thing in front of them.
Trotting after the paladin, Harakhty set a flask before him. "Once you're done with him, if you won't be abandoning us, drink this - it will help you fend off his blows." Ultimately leaving the choice to help or not in Gregario's hands, Harakhty turned towards his foe.
Initiative:
Round 1: Cyna, Harakhty, Aurelea, Reinhardt, Alethiro, Arista, Gregario
Arista looks up at Harakhty with disbelief,"How dare you? This is a fools errand. And we wouldn't be abandoning any of you if you would come to your senses and leave with us. To engage in a battle that you know you have no way of winning is just foolishness. It serves no purpose and no good will come of it, for anyone. She just shakes her head and sighs,"I'm sorry, I just can't agree with this course of action. Our needless deaths will help no one.
She looks at the older Paladin, understanding in her eyes mixed with sadness and something else that can't quite be read.
"I would not presume to tell you what to do, and if you want to stay and fight, that's up to you, but I'm going to get Godrick out of here. That beast will still be around to fight another day, hopefully when we are better able to take him on, but not right now. If you aren't going to fight I could really use a hand getting him out of the line of fire."
Cyna unleashes a flaming arrow from her bow as cover.
"This guy isn't going to go down easy get Godrick out of here as quickly as you can"
She nods toward Cyna and whispers a silent prayer to their Goddess, praying that they be shown some mercy.
Arista positions herself under Godrick's shoulders and tries to help him out of the church.
Cyna's arrow and Aurelea's swing fail to connect against Reinhardt. He laughs at the attempt. "Really? This is the best you can do?"
He raises his sword against Aurelea. "So you have one of those Anizari toys? Too bad it can't do much against me."
;
; ;
Once Aurelea drops, Reinhardt turns to hit the vanara.
;
Round 1: Cyna, Harakhty, Aurelea, Reinhardt, Alethiro, Arista, Gregario
Seeing Aurelea go down, Alethiro waved his hand, said some words and touched his crossbow. It began to glow with bluish energy. Carefully, the Elf took aim.
Alethiro enchants his weapon, while Arista heals Godrick and helps the elder paladin on his feet. Seeing Godrick conscious, Gregario heads forth into battle.
"You have to get away," Godrick groans. "He was a great warrior before the demons took ahold of his soul."
Arista guides the paladin out the door, though the older man clearly does not want to leave the rest of the group.
Round 2: Cyna, Harakhty, Reinhardt, Alethiro, Arista, Gregario