"What's that, Ely? You want to leave this for the cultists to fuel more of their evil? Or did you want to give up the fight against these demons and go track down Horgus' family? I, for one, will use the funds to further the fight against these demons...and make it safe for Horgus' family to return...if he has any. Now, it would be nice if he had a will in here..."
"Quite convenient that the man who would bar you from accessing that safe lies dead in the other room. You're becoming very good at looting, Serra. Perhaps you'd consider taking up the endeavor full-time. Can't let all that wealth fall into cultists' hands, as you say." Eli leaves Serra to look for a will. He has the tongue of a devil, that one does. Rationalizations flow too easily from his mouth.
"I think we take these items and bring them with us. We should, by all means, return them to Horgus' kin, but now the safe is open, they'll just be looted if we leave them behind. Hell even if we didn't open the safe chances are someone else would have soon enough."
"I agree with you, Cole, but Serra has no such designs on Horgus's wealth. He seeks to pocket it for himself."
"I hate leaving a fallen comrade behind, but maybe Cole and Grasker are right. However, if we feel it is too disrespectful to leave Mr. Gwerm in his home, I'm sure my noble steed will be able to shoulder the burden without any due strain." A somewhat muffled snort issues from Xanthos, as the mount stretches his legs and arches his back after being relieved of the heavy, solemn burden.
Beagan is drawn to Serra's activities when opening the safe. "That's a weird place to keep one's valuables!" He peeks over the knight's shoulder, curious as to what one might put in a hole in the wall. { }
"I agree with you, Cole, but Serra has no such designs on Horgus's wealth. He seeks to pocket it for himself."
"So what's the custom here? I mean, it wasn't in an enchanted tree hollow, so it's not like we'd be leaving it safe for a Leprechaun to take care of. Does Horgus have heirs? Or a guild? Or a temple?"
After thinking for a moment, he continues. "If I had succumbed in the Tanglebriar, I would have wanted my companions to make use of whatever I had. I mean, the halflings were in more need than my family ever would have been, and certainly more than the Calistrians! Where would Horgus want his legacy to go?" His eyes settle on their current hostess.
"Perhaps Anevia should decide, as she knew him the best. Sure, they exchanged words in the heat of adversity, but who hasn't crossed tongues with a sprite or satyr when they were stressed and pissed off?"
"I am not eager to abandon Horgus, I hope I've shown that. Still we could leave him in his home and look for someone at Defender's Heart. I feel we can respect our fallen comrade and still be careful of our own lives as we travel, with Sir Beagan's formidable battle bunny able to fight & not haul."
Grasker still doesn't know about the office. Big house!
"Poor Horgus. I really hoped he would make it Anevia, despite how much the others disliked him. He seemed the most like a civilian out of all of us, the sort of person we aimed to protect back before the Kenebras cataclysm."
Joining everyone else in the office...
"Really Serra, looting the home of our companion Horgus, is that the behavior of a knight or a bandit? What would that your squire think if he were here."
"You've forced our hand with your magical burglary. Now that the treasure is unlocked we cannot leave it behind."
Grasker considers the room. He is clearly upset on behalf of Horgus, then a worrisome thought occurs to him.
"Who carries Radiance, Iomadae's relic? I will take custody of that now, so Serra does find a convenient justification to barter that away like he would the legacy of Horgus."
Once in the room Grasker can't help but notice that there is an untouched silver letter opener in an otherwise looted house. He will eye the area for traps or hidden items.
Somehow he doesn't seem anything trap-like about such a suspicious tableau, he still won't be touching the stuff on the desk.
Anevia turns begrudgingly to answer Grasker. "He was better than he would let others know. I... I was asked to do some research once. He was loyal to his god, and his word was his bond, though it was as tight a bond as it was possible to keep." She nods, considering the man upon the table.
"We will send people back, or possibly come back ourselves if need be. But we cannot leave any of the things from the safe here. I suppose, technically, you did get him home, and he did promise to reward you. If we turn in the deeds and such, I suspect he would be happy enough to see you have most of the gold, and his shrine to Abadar turned over to the church, if there still is one. "
Beagan ponders what Anevia says about Horgus' probable wishes. He looks to Cole and Grasker, who are no doubt much more knowledgeable about the location of important places in the city. "Is there a temple of Abadar anywhere on the way to Defender's Heart? If so, maybe that would be an appropriate place to bring him to rest. Oh, and to return his shrine to them, too."
While the group discusses the disposition of Horgus' estate, Beagan prays for guidance on the retrieved items, looking for holy auras. He spots the glowing stick Serra picked up from the defeated foe and it intrigues him. "It looks like that can call forth something holy - or maybe only kinda holy? Hmmm." It doesn't make as much sense as the scrolls he read earlier, but something about it seems somewhat familiar.
"Really Serra, looting the home of our companion Horgus, is that the behavior of a knight or a bandit? What would that your squire think if he were here."
"I hope my squire would be aware that we are at war...and battles are fought with coin and food as much as they are with blade and steel. I would hope my squire would know not to leave potential treasures so that my enemies might tempt more hearts," Serra replies with a look at Kastor to make sure he's listening.
"If you do not wish to share in this, I understand. But know that these monies will go directly to what I believe Terendelev intended for us: revenge and destruction upon the demons." Serra says without equivocation.
Serra packs away the goods, and takes a moment to examine the letter opener, ink, and pens on the desk. Appraise
* * *
With Horgus' fate decided , Serra is ready to move on. On the march out, he will discuss the wand with Sir Beagan.
"Yes a stern voice, the slain dragon, an appeal to the greater good. And Serra steals from the citizens of Kenebras in the mean while."
"Avenia and Sir Beagan, if you want we can continue to carry Horgus rather than come back for him. The risk of leaving is some band of vermin will come through his home and steal his body and bones. For the good of the city no doubt."
I believe the next stop was Cole's house.
Cole shrugs, "Anevia's got a good compromise. We'll keep the cash for the 'war effort' and turn the rest over to the family if we can find any. Chances are it's more than they'd have gotten without us so if it still stings a little, think of it like a finder's fee."
"As for the shrine, it's quite a haul to the church, so I suggest we carry it with us for now. At least until we can find someone humble enough to gift it to."
Once the party has packed up, he leads them to his home. Cole is hoping for the best, but he's expecting a body in rubble...
Much as before, the way to Cole's is somewhat uneventful, though a demonic looking fly much like the ones you saw below buzzes by with a quasit on its back, but its attention was elsewhere and it passed you by.
The door to Cole's house is closed when the group arrives, but not locked.
Cole quickly opens the door and strides inside, heading to the den where his father's convalescing bed is. He rests his bow just inside the entry door without even thinking about it like he usually does when he comes home. He crosses the main floor and flings open the inner door looking for his dad.
Serra begins enter his soldier's waddle, the ranseur held out low and ready to strike...but then realizes that this is Cole's home and defers to the man to lead.
"Sorry about that, I get caught up sometimes."
Serra gets out of the way, instead going to the back of the party so that Cole may lead.
The stench of blood is dull, but very real when Cole opens the door. Inside, things are knocked askew and broken, well before he reaches the den and his father's bed. The smell of the place is stale, stagnant.
On the floor, where the table once stood is the body of a man with both his legs and arms.
Cole barely notices Serra as he moves past him. "This isn't my father. I don't know who it is."
Cole rushes upstairs and searches the house.
Then he looks for evidence of his father's departure.
Cole's eyes are sharp. As sharp as the blade that nearly catches his throat as he bounds up the stairs.
"COLE! It's you!" His father lowers his sword. It nearly falls from his grasp; the muscles in his arm shake with the effort.
"Thank the gods it's you! I didn't know if I could take another one!"
The room is a disaster, but a disaster with intent. The chest lays strategically placed to trip anyone coming in the door and loops hang from the ceiling, made of old blankets. His father balances in one, hung for optimal reach of someone coming in the door. Like a swing, it gives some motion, but requires balance. His father's hazel eyes shine as he tries to reach for his son, nearly falling out of his perch.
Cole nearly shouts with relief at seeing his father alive, but all that comes out is, "You're out of bed!"
He closes quickly and hugs the older man.
"Can you travel? I've a team with me. We're headed to the Defender's Heart. There's the possibility that you'll be safe there - or at least safer."
He helps him out of the sling and down the stairs.
"It's good to see you dad."
When he gets downstairs, he introduces everyone ending with, "Everyone, this is my dad."
His father is short, a little shorter than Cole (at only 5' 8" himself). He's lean with dark hair. He wields a longsword in his right hand. His left hand is missing as is most of his left leg. What remains are jagged scars from a nasty injury some years old.
Serra follows slowly, trailing in Cole's wake and trying to protect him from any dangers he might have missed.
He smiles broadly from under his dark beard when Cole's dad is found safe.
His father wraps his good arm around Cole's neck and hugs as tight as he can. "I couldn't very well stay there by myself." His eyes brim with tears, but there's a teasing glint in them and they're clear of the haze of the tea's blessing.
"Are you ok? You're so much like your mother, bless her soul. I should have known you'd be ok."
"You have a team with you? Tell them not to touch anything!!! DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!!!" the man yells, nearly toppling himself as he tries to move faster down the stairs than he is able.
Flustered and out of breath, he balances precariously. "I uhh, may have uhm, trapped a few things."
Eli nods politely to the old half-man, and returns to the front door. He does as instructed, and touches nothing. He prefers to leave the reunion to its course. He instead observes what can be observed from the front, where they are likely to depart.
"Very impressive defenses, Cole's dad. I'm happy that both of you could have this reunion. You will join us going to Defender's Heart? This city can use all of our help, and your traps are very clever."
"Maurice. Maurice Zeff. Are you part of my son's team? Good to meet you. The traps aren't much but... Oh, be careful with that one."
When all is clear, he turns over the dead man on the floor. A sharpened wooden stake stabs up through the floor boards beneath him, ready to catch any likely looter in the eye, or worse.
"A friend showed me that one, a long time ago. Never really had a chance to try it before now."
The older man grins, clearly proud that it worked as intended.
The Gnome peers at the contents of the home, curious as to how human habitation varies from his own upbringing. Just as he's about to pick up a rather interesting looking thing-a-ma-jig and ask what it is, a voice booms out telling all not to touch.
It takes a bit of a deep breath and a tremble in his hand, but he slowly retrieves his fingers, just able to resist touching.
He bows in respect to the archer's father, especially after witnessing the 'stake in the looter's eye' trap. "Wow! That's worthy of a Calistrian!"
"Your son is quite something with his bow, you know. He might be as good as some of my kin!" Beagan nods earnestly. "Oh! I'm Beagan! I've been called to knighthood, just like Ser Serra, except I'm not from the Land of the Othoe Wars. I guess we're all part of Cole's team, along with Eli, and Anevia, and we used to have Jurin with us, but I think he needed to check to see if someone left the oven baking too hot." I hope our wandering friend is doing o.k.
Refocusing his thoughts on the present, words just start to tumble out aloud. "Are you coming with us to Defender's Heart? That's where we are going, right? I mean, Anevia's Irabeth is there, and it sounds like a good place to be, and the city looks like it needs all the defending and heart it can get! I mean, with Crusaders threatening young maidens, Gnomes and Halflings not safe in their own home, and dire rats seemingly everywhere!"
Traps, huh?... ... ...KASTOR!
Serra looks alarmed and worried.
"Kastor! Watch yourself now, boy! Don't touch anything!" Serra says, forgetting to even introduce himself to Mr. Mr. Cole.
Serra goes in search of his squire, stepping gingerly in his hunt.
Maurice tries to keep the names straight through the little gnomes rattle, but confusion flits around the edges. He latches on to the part he knows he has right, smiling, "Yes. He gets that from his mother. She had a great eye, Amanda did. Now, what is this about Defender's Heart? The Inn?"
Serra stops short with a smile as he squire replies.
He's a good lad, doing *exactly* what he should. He's going to be a great knight.
"That's a good lad. You holler if anything bigger than a dire rat comes, lad...but stay outside, it's not safe in here yet."
Feeling both embarrassed and relieved ('embarrieved'), Serra returns to shake the hand of Cole's father and make proper introduction.
"My name is Serra. Sir Serra Phaer of the House of Delys in the Republic of Andoran. Nice to meet you," Serra says, feigning knightliness.
Bluffery
"Well now, that's alright, Sir Phaer. Everyone comes from somewhere originally. If you've lasted this long, I'm sure we'll make a Kenebraen out of you yet. " He shakes the young man's hand then readies to go.
"Cole, I'm afraid I don't think I can carry this just yet. I've got some ideas, though. Once we get settled again, I think I can fix it so I could."
Eli stands by the front door, waiting.
Lenore, I'm not sure what I was thinking, making this trip. Nerosyan proved to be a disappointment, and now, Kenabres, its own kind of disappointment. The battle has come to the city. There are no armies here, only buildings destroyed and its people deluded into thinking they can remain. Clothiers more scared for their inventory than their lives. Librarians unable to defend themselves and their books. I didn't think very much on the face of war, let alone what a demonic war would be.
I've taken up with a rather motley crew, my Love. A priest of Iomedae, quite the companion, considering his grace and healing. A bowman familiar with Kenabres itself, not too shabby, eh? And who would have thought a gnome would take up company with the likes of us? I'm not sure if they'll assign us to similar units once we enlist in the remaining regiments, but I'm sure our paths will cross frequently, as we share the same aim.
I've not had much in the way of demonic encounters, yet. At least, nothing worthy of stories for William or Annabelle. Not yet. We lost someone travelling with us to vultures, of all things. Vultures...
Eli looks upwards, then back into the home, listening for signs of movement.
The breeze brushes warmly through his hair, then dissipates once again.
"Cole, I'm afraid I don't think I can carry this just yet. I've got some ideas, though. Once we get settled again, I think I can fix it so I could."
Cole reaches out and takes the pack from his father and adds it to his own load (now medium load and slower...) "I got it dad. There's time to sort it out later I think."
Cole checks his room, and the kitchen, grabbing a few supplies for the group (per GM_Verdigris). He stows the gear and turns to the party, "Let's press on then shall we?"
Cole heads outside, taking the lead, tracking the best route to the Defender's Heart.
The trek from Cole's home to Defender's Heart winds longer than expected, but Cole does an excellent job of avoiding ambushes by demons and cultists.
The large stone building stands tall and strong; a last bastion of hope in a devastated war zone. Arrows and bolts bristle from the third floor windows.
" State your name! State the password or drop your weapons!"
The faint sounds of rustling sound from lower in the building.
Cole uses his scale to bolster himself and hands his bow and weapon belt to Grasker. He then steps forward yelling back,
Cole turns slowly with his hands up so they can see he is without protection.
Serra waits, his hands grasping the ranseur and waiting to hear the reply.
This city would be a nice place to die if it weren't for all the demons.
With bows aplenty drawn upon him, Cole approaches the door. A small area opens, a set of eyes ready to hear his words. The eyes nod at hearing the password, then a loud "Let 'em pass!" sounds several times as the word makes its way through to the archers above.
A contingent of armed warriors flood out, beckoning the group in to Defender's Heart, their weapons ready to fight anything that might assault them on their way to the doors. A winged creature actually swoops over head, only to be shot down full of cold iron arrows to land at in the street before them. One of the warriors doesn't hesitate, but beheads the creature before it's blood has stained the cobblestones.
"This way. You're safe now."
An old building, and currently the largest inn in Kenebras, Defender's Heart has served the City in many guises, and this is just it's latest. Made of stone, it is easily defensible and hard to burn. Smaller than the Gray Garrison, the most current home for the guards and militia of the town, it is more than adequate for the current situation.
Its stout walls envelope the group in a safety they haven't felt for many days, if not weeks. Inside, murmurs of their arrival whispers among the survivors gathered within. Several gasp at seeing Anevia, with a young member of the Eagle's Watch taking off with word deeper in the establishment.
Serra sidles up to Anevia.
"Lady Anevia, let us see where Irabeth might be. I would see you safe, as promised," Serra says, making sure the Kastor says in tow. His eyes flicker to the populace of Defender's Heart, hoping (and hoping against) that Kastor will have children to play with (or that all the children have been evacuated).
Serra asks a few questions if and where Irabeth might be found.
Diplomacy
Grasker returns Cole items, and gladly enters with everyone to the safety of Defender's Heart.
"Boldness paid off in a quick entry. Thanks Cole."
Grasker will help with setting down Horgus's body, and ask where they can seek news of missing family amongst the survivors. He wants to know how is in charge and how the fight to take over the city goes, but also if his younger brother in the city guard survived.
Eli cinches his lips in satisfaction as he barely catches the recognition that flashes across the young Watch man runs to fetch Irabeth. He turns his attentions to asking about enlistment. He kites Grasker, as he hears his search for in-charge individuals.
He speaks to Watch members when he can locate them, and seeks to locate someone who can act on his request to volunteer.
Beagan trots through on Xanthos' back, his eyes widening in wonder, taking in the sight of an armed, fortified inn. The rain of arrows falling an alighted demon makes is strangely reassuring.
"This might not be exactly how the Elves would do it... not enough snipers in trees... but effective, none-the-less!"
The flight of tension from his small form surprises him once the group is inside the relative safety of the gate.
"Xanthos! We did it! We helped get Anevia home! Our first assignment from the Big R' completed!" And, with a sigh, he adds to himself - Of course, even though we technically got him home, we weren't as successful for poor Horgus.
He pats his bunny wolf mount, feeling some reassurance from the touch of his mount's fur. "But Xanthos, I'm certainly not in Kyonnin anymore."
A small crowd gathers as they make their way in; hope flaring and dying on their faces as they see the group. The floor thuds with someone not quite running and the crowd parts. A tall half-orc woman in plate armor with Eagle Watch insignias on it hustles to the forefront. The people part for her, whispering Anevia's name.
"Annie! By the blessed sword's light, you're alive! I knew you must be alive!" In a moment, Anevia is caught up in her arms and hugged so tightly, you'd almost fear she might break.
Their hug is quiet, intense, and lasts until Irabeth's Lieutenant coughs discreetly behind her.
"Oh! Yes! And you have helped her home! You have my deepest gratitude. Welcome to Defender's Heart."
Anevia, after catching her breath, introduces her friends to her wife.
"I wouldn't have made it without them." She says with a relieved smile that alights on them one and all. No matter their issues along the way, it is clear that each member of the party hold a special place in her regard.
After a moment, she asks about the possibility of clergy for Horgus. Two women in Abadarian garb that has seen better days are called and take possession of the body
Eli steps forward, sensing Irabeth's rank and Anevia's gratitude. My chances should be much better here than Nerosyan. Yes, much better.
"Irabeth, ma'am, I have traveled quite a ways to join the forces here against the demons of the Worldwound, and would have made my pledge had the skies not turned red and Terendelev not fallen from the heavens. Are you in a position to enlist new soldiers? I would like to be a soldier here, if you are accepting new recruits."
Irabeth turns, facing the white haired man that has traveled so far to face the horrors of the Worldwound. Her face is grim as she looks him over from head to toe. Perhaps she dwells on the white of Eli's eyes, or the poor condition he must surely be in after traveling so far to return to the world of men.
Finally, she nods and her face splits into a broad, faintly tusked grin. "We are in no position to turn good men down, and you have more than proven your worth. We'll discuss logistics later, but unless you have word of things that must be addressed in moments, let us see you all settled and fed before we debrief, shall we?"
She pats Ely on the shoulder briskly, though she waits for confirmation that there is nothing that needs the remaining might of the Eagle Watch to be called upon prior to food and rest for the hungry and weary.