Wincing at the pain and returning her hand to the new wound. Offering Sir Jack a weak smile, "You are a sight for sore eyes." Let me out woman!"
"You probably got the attention of everyone on this floor." Jack said, somehow managing to look both amused and judgmental.
The Tower Kitchens - Grumble, Soren, Alice and Morana
The spell dies on Soren's lips as Grumble crumples the soldier against the wall like a doll.
From down the hall you can all hear screaming, "Smoke.
We are under seige!
No, that's Aldencross.
What's happening?!"
The soldiers appear confused and it is no wonder as most of the leadership is missing (or dead).
Aurex vs. Aldencross
Aurex observes as the soldiers begin to sprint for the ruined old tower, these leaders are not fools, from within your breath will not be nearly as effective and they can still take shots at you.
The leaders stand outside as the soldiers file in.
You feel the heat at the back of your throat, the inferno rages once more, another pass and you can at slay a number of them, of course such a course of action is not without risk as their leaders stand ready with bows to fire upon you once more.
"The Magister is here somewhere." Jack said while he stepped on the crumpled guard's neck to make sure he was dead. "Lets go."
Aurex takes back to the air, snorting at the human's tactics. At least they're not completely stupid. As he circles back around he considers the situation. I am supposed to drag as many people here as possible. Minor injuries to myself are acceptable, but I will be needed at the front later. Hmm. With a wicked idea he turns and heads back.
"Just a second Grumble."
Alice makes sure the blaze is well on its way and will continue to burn without her assistance.
"This will serve as a nice distraction, or if no one comes to put it out, it will do considerable damage. I'm ready now"
"Sir Jack," he corrected. "I'm a forgery right now."
Alice wipes sweat from her brow. "I'm sorry Sir Jack. This whole endeavor has gotten my blood up."
Now that there is some breathing room, Alice only just seems to notice Morana.
"Oh no, Morana, are you all right? That soldier hit you harder then I thought."
Ignoring the other two to the best of her ability while keeping her hands over the wound. Let me out!
Sighing in relief and quietly shaking her head. Watching Alice and Grumble for a moment before focusing on removing the ghost in her mind. Visibly jumping at the question, "I'm not dead yet."
While she speaks the blood on the ground thicken and a man in simple but tattered clothing. Bare feet stand in a pool of crimson. The cleanest thing on him is a rope that dangles around his neck.
Dripping a thick crimson and turning to Grumble, "Thank you for showing up."
Sir Jack's fist lashed out with speed that few would expect from such a large man. The brutal, instinctive backhand connected with the man that had just finished quickly forming and splattered him across the entire room. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, the counters and cooking stations, Alice and Morana... all were suddenly showered in an explosion of semi-congealed viscera.
All that remained behind were the blood-man's legs and lower torso, which stood, twitching slightly. Then the blood continued to congeal leaving him fully intact again a few moments later, standing in the epicenter of the bloody explosion Sir Jack had made out of his first attempt to solidify.
Sir Jack looked... bewildered.
Reaching out and shoving the disguised Grumble, "Keep your damn hands to your self."
Twisting around with a panicked expression that fades away to relief who the red tinted man re-solidifies. Reaching out and touching the man on the arm before sliding her hand down to link fingers with him. Standing at the mans side and glaring at Grumble.
Looking around confused and rubbing at his jaw before refocusing on Morana, specifically the fingers touching him. Happily feeling some physical connection. Looking back up, "Mind not doing that again? I swear Grumble that I am here to help only. I might not have been the most help in the inn but I did try so that was kinda uncalled for."
Glancing over at Alice then back to Grumble, "I'm Vendran Soto."
Alice notices the name. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh... you're, eh, Moranas, husband?"
To his credit, Jack let himself be pushed backwards. He looked down at the guard he'd just killed, then back up the the strange man, and then to Morana, his brain slowly piecing things together. "Huh! You're her... dead... guy. I... well, I thought you were..." He looked at the dead guards again. "I don't know. Something else. Guess it was uncalled for, yeah. That's a neat trick with the blood."
Smiling over at Alice, "As much as is left of him, yeah."
Turning back to Grumble, "Thanks though I had no idea I could do that. Learn something new everyday. Glad to know I am terrifying."
Clapping his hands together, red ichor flying, "Now don't we have some chaos to be getting to?"
Taking in a slow breath, "I wasn't sure how to explain him."
"How 'bout, 'My mate's a ghost, lemme show ya.'" Jack shrugged.
"We're still bein' forgeries. How's that gonna work with the whole red glowing thing?"
"Hm... There are some thing we could try, depending on how... 'flexible' the form is. Could you posses a dead body perhaps? We've got a few good candidates here."
Alice gestures to the dead soldiers.
Aurex vs. Aldencross
Aurex gives a few passes just out of range of arrow fire as the soldiers file into the tower, exactly where the Dragon wants them.
As you are about to descend, something steps into the edge of town from out of the woods. It stands over 15' feet tall and wields a massive club fit for a giant in its right hand. It screams up at you in rage and perhaps pain? Bellowing a challenge in gibberish.
The Tower Kitchens - Grumble, Soren, Alice and Morana
The door behind "Lydia" opens and a guard wielding a halbardier steps into the hall. "BY Mitra what happ...."
"FIRE!" he bellows pointing into the kitchen.
Just then, from down the hall a bloodcurdling scream issues forth from the east, though the sound has an echo effect so it may well be from somewhere above. The doors to the drawbridge are slightly ajar.
You all presume that the Lamashtans left it slightly open.
Soren freezes as she hears the voice of the guard, for a second realizing she hadn't dropped her disguise. Before she turns to speak to the guard, she utters a silent prayer to Asmodeus that the guard wasn't able to see her face. She spins around breathless, pointing to the dead soldiers strewn about the room. "These men were caught setting fire to the watchtower! There are traitors still amongst our ranks! Quickly, can you take us to the magister? He needs to be warned!" Soren's eyes catch the sick and unconscious soldiers behind the door, and barely suppresses a grin.
'Everything's going according to plan.'
Not as silver tongued as Soren, Alice wisely keeps her mouth shut, waiting to see if the guard believes the lie.
Sir Jack pushed past the surprised guard into the hall. His eyes flared with divine power as he scanned the people in the hallway.
Shrugging, "Never tried. I think I am too solid for it right now though."
Twisting at the noise and pressing himself against the wall. Looking over at Morana and sticking out his tongue.
Opting for silence along side Alice and hoping that no one noticed the red ghost until they are ready for a fight.
Seeing the new creature Aurex pulls up. He doesn't know what this creature is or how dangerous it is, but if he messes up his maneuver there's a chance he could be grounded.
Living vicariously through a dragon was great fun for a Cacodaemon. As the flames started flying, the little invisible monster's telepathic chuckle became a constant chorus in Aurex and Grumblejack's minds.
As Aurex left the sputtering Mitran knight behind, and then ignored the raging flesh beast, instead concentrating on causing as much mayem and destruction as possible, Raaven's chuckle became full blown peals of laughter.
"Why did they not let you out of your useless human suit earlier, you magnificent beast?"
Aurex shakes his head as if a fly had crawled into his ear, then remembered the little outsider. He growls lowly. "My magnificent form is hardly subtle. Although for all the good I did I might as well have stayed in the woods." Aurex snorts out a irritated blast of flame from his nostrils. Damn. Nate would help me deal with these archers, it's so damn hard to land on that tower. And I probably can't deal with that large creature while outnumbered. Damn. DAMN! He begins circling around, his mind mirroring his movements.
The Tower Kitchens - Grumble, Soren, Alice and Morana
"More traitors? I'll find the Magister!"
He turns to whoever is left in the room, "Stay here, guard the ill".
He closes the door and races down the hall, halberd in hand
Aurex vs. Aldencross
In the distance coming from the Tower, Grumble can see several more soldiers headed towards the town.
It is clear that he has garnered quite a lot of attention!
Aurex also realizes that so long a he flies high enough he will not be subject to further arrows and he will keep more than a quarter of these Mitran forces here and away from Nate's allies.
The creature heads after you, following your position bellowing challenges.
Alice quitly whispers "Lets follow him. See where the magister is hiding.
Nodding at Alice but keeping quiet
The Tower -
Your group begins to follow the guard, ding your best to ensure that Morana's former hubby stays out of sight.
As the soldier is about to enter the door, which your group believes leads up, he notices the door to the Gatehouse ajar. From that area emanates a loud scream and the sounds of weapons clashing.
He instead races towards those doors and throws them open.
On the bridge is a sight that makes even Grumble pause, Celestials...
They battle the Lamashtans with the aid of a few of the soldiers. Though outnumbered, the dimensions of the bridge do not enable the cultists to take advantage of their numbers and the halbardiers appear to have tossed at least one of the cultists off of the bridge already.
As the doors are thrown open the soldier takes a stance ready to attack James from behind...
The Tower - Ground to Level 1 -
The Knot passes through the Hall that Nate described to them lead past the Captain's rooms and to the Armory. There is a fully functional forge here that vents its smoke through a crude chimney out over the River Tyburn. The vents are kept deliberately small so this room is quite smoky despite no current use.
On racks are twenty halberds, longswords, breastplates and heavy steel shields. All bear the marks of the Talirean military. No guards are here right now, the chaos your group has created the cause of that you'd wager.
Within is a set of stairs that leads to a room that Nate had yet to visit.
It is likely that the Magister is up there somewhere, and if he is not, well, that is where the Ballista are guarded and operated.
The group heads to the next level and finds themselves in a large circular chamber. This open room is where the banners and honors of the garrison are kept. Six large flags hang on the wall. To the northeast is a door, closed and locked.
Whispering:
"Lets knock, see if that is the magisters room? See if we can draw him out and get him in a vulnerable position?"
The Tower - Ground to Level 1 -
After Alice's knock gets no response for a time it is clear that no one is on the other side. All is quiet still as the thick walls of the room and lack of windows does not allow your group to hear what is taking place in the fierce melee outside. Nothing can be heard from the other side.
"Don't have time for this," the Witch Hunter muttered.
They were on a time crunch and Jack was running out of patience. He put his boot to the door.
The Tower - Ground to Level 1 -
The door splits under the large booted foot of the powerful Grumble.
Across the Courtyard is the Magister, unfortunately, he is not alone. Three of the Acolyte Clerics are with him as is a Scout and several (seven in fact) of the same type of Celestial battling the Lamashtans on the level below. Behind him within the Temple is a Golem of some odd sort.
The Magister smiles as the door is smashed open, "Thank Mitra..." he begins to speak but the Archons begin to hum and speak in unison.
"BEWARE MORTALS, THIS IS A FALSE FRIEND. THE EVIL WITHIN WE WARNED YOU OF, STAMP IT OUT AND THE REBELLION IS AT AN END".
Morana & Hubby
Soren
Alice
Magister
Scout
Acolytes (3)
Archons
Golem
Soren steps forward and takes a shot at the Magister!
Pistol Attack - Damage + Bane .
The Magister is struck but does not go down though he gasps in pain as his shoulder is thrown back from the impact. He casts a spell aimed at Grumble and Soren, as with the prior battle, a cylinder of ice and hailstones pound down at them both.
Bludgeon Damage - Cold Damage .
The Archons begin to gather together in one space though what for is not clear...
The Scout shifts to his left and draws his bow, firing back at Soren. One shot goes horribly awry while the other is blocked by Soren's studded leather armor.
Meanwhile the Golem steps from the chapel and stands within the fountain blocking line of sight to the Magister.
Those things are some weird kind of lantern archons. Nasty buggers."
Alice takes up cover at the inside of the door , then casts protection from good on Grumble.
"Go get them."
Oh Gods this is gonna be a bloodbath. Chuckling in a rather manic way and pointing at the Magister, "There is something wrong with your archons!"
Glancing at Morana, "Your crazy is showing."
Flexing his fingers and rushing out towards one of the archons.
Sir jack came forward like an avalanche, his disguise melting away as he ran. He seemed to swell as he picked up speed, gaining more than a foot in height and hundreds of pounds of bulk. His tail lashed out from around his waist and his spindly, membrane-less wings unfurled in all their skeletal horror. He pulled the knightly axe from his back in a great arc, the illusion melting from it and revealing it to be a great black iron hammer.
His face seemed to split, his mouth opening wider than any human could, long fangs pushing forth from his jaws.
The Son of the Apocalypse had arrived.
The Tower - Ground to Level 1 -
Ice Golem HP = 50/72
Acolytes Channel
Magister 50/52
The Magister shrugs off Morana's effect. Vedran charges (glides perhaps is the more appropriate term) at the Ice Golem but his strike is resisted by the powerful build of the creature.
Seconds later Grumble arrives and his strike does NOT miss. Despite the powerful build of the creature, Grumble's strike breaks off large chunks of Ice!
The Acolytes each glow in a white light healing the Magister's injuries with their Mitra given gifts.
The Tower - Ground to Level 1 -
Soren's attack strikes just as the Magister is about to cast!
Still, his spell activates and his flesh appears to harden.
--Ice Golem HP = 50/72 - Slam Attack #1 - Damage
Slam Attack #2
---Scout Rapid Shot #1
Rapid Shot #2
----The Evolved Archon Ranged Touch Attack #1 v Grumble - Damage
Archon Ranged Touch Attack #2 v Vedran - Damage
The Golem attack Grumble back with its massive fists but only one manages to do any damage to Grumble.
The scout once more take a few shots at Soren, his rush hurts his aim though one arrow barely misses her neck.
The small motes of light that were the Lantern Archons have coalesced into something more - Two rays of light issue forth, one at Grumble and the other at Vedran.
Both Rays sting like the rebuking light of Mitra himself!
Alice rushes out of the tower, taking cover behind a building and casts Haste