Aeron goes to poke about the merchant wares, but before he does, he suggests that they not waste the daylight.
Varn lets out an angry sigh at his inability to assist his new mentor's condition. "Of course, Aravashial! I will speak with them; we will investigate the library. I pray we may still find some of the Riftwardens alive."
With that, Varn proceeds rejoin his companions before they disperse to look around at any available wares. "Tomorrow morning we must go the library first thing! Aravashial just informed me there was lore stored in the library which concerned the possibility of closing the Worldwound for good! Unfortunately... if the cultists find this lore, it could potentially be used to open another Wound."
In a disused corner of the armory, Orlando discovers a nobles weapon, a swept hilt dueling sword with a cold iron blade!
Laying out 340 crowns and his old rapier, he makes the trade.
Tessai walks around the stalls, greeting both the guards and craftsmen around - she feels confident with Radiance in her scabbard, and decides to invest solely in a new, reinforced backpack, to allow her to redistribute the weight carried.
As she turns to leave, a scabbard catches her attention, its fine worksmanship, silver like sheen, and design of what seemed entwined scales remind her of Terendelev, and she unconsciously reaches for the mighty dragon scale, admiring its beauty.
Without hesitating, she pays for the beautiful piece, offering to trade in his old scabbard.
Removing from the its old, battered sheath, the tiefling cannot help but admire the beauty of the blade momentarily, then sliding it into its new home with a smile.
Returning to her companions, she offers - "I believe I am all set to go my friends - after inquiring around, it seems the closest safehouse would be the Tower of Estrod - that should perhaps be our next destination?"
Orlando, seeing Tessai's backpack, immediately goes out and gets one as well.
"My friends, I am ready. But Tessai, did we not promise to escort Master Aravashial to the Library first?"
Orlando also grabs a couple of magazines of cold iron crossbow bolts.
Tessai nods at Orlando - "Very well then, let us escort master Aravashial to the library first and foremost - from our possible destinations, it is the furthest possible one. Let us make haste, so we can ascertain if all is well on site" - Tessai grabs her backpack, and gets ready to move out.
"I am just glad to be above ground with the wind and sun on my face again." says Raven.
"If we are ready to move out, then let's go. Every moment those demons tighten their grip on Kenabres."
She moves out in advance, bow ready, scouting 20-30' ahead of the rest of the party, and peeking around corners etc as they move through the ruined town.
Aravashial is hesitant to go before he has the chance to prepare his spells but if you feel you can handle it he would be willing to go now.
"No no. By all means prepare your spells. We can go either way, but more power is better than less."
Raven stands down understanding the need for magic firepower when we are up against demonic cultists and their allies from the abyss.
"It will wait until morning, the usefulness of your magic outweighs any harm done in the intervening time."
Tessai walks around the stalls, greeting both the guards and craftsmen around - she feels confident with Radiance in her scabbard, and decides to invest solely in a new, reinforced backpack, to allow her to redistribute the weight carried.
Seeing Tessai and her brand new backpack, Selka decides to follow her example and buy a reinforced pack as well, to help her better carry her equipment.
Selka crosses her arms and nods to herself, while pondering the alternatives - "With the city in this condition there is not a moment to spare... However going out unprepared would be too risky. Our foes are deadly, and we need to be in our best shape if we want to have a chance to defeat them."
"Let's rest for today, and tomorrow... We will make the demons pay!"
After taking his leave of Aravashial, Varn wanders about to look at acquiring some new gear to assist with their travels. He finds a well-made backpack that appears superior to his old and purchases the finely tooled pack.
He continues to wander and comes upon a wand. After a moment of consorting with the vendor, he learns the wand will allow him to cast Mage Armor upon himself or others 25 times before the wand will become inert. He spends a good portion of his gold on the wand before making his way back to the group.
"Well Aeron, if you feel the need to hit one of the safe houses immediately, before going to the Library in the morning, then you have my sword." Orlando swore.
"It seems like a fair compromise. I will also go." says Raven smiling at the idea of action.
You head out and make in to the base of the tower without bumping into any problem.
This sixty-foot-diameter gray stone tower is missing the bulk of its upper floors—some terrific force smashed its upper sections away, creating huge mound of rubble north of the building and leaving the tower now a mere stump with a jagged top. Still at least three floors remain.
At the base of the tower four guards stand in front of the entrance. They haven't noticed you approaching yet.
Orlando pauses and takes out his silver scale. His image shivers and resolves itself into one of the corrupted templars you had met downbelow.
"Tessai," He whispered, "do you still have that darkwood case the sword of Yaniel came in? I want to try something."
He takes out the note that was found on the leader then, reviews it, then puts it away again.
"The Tower is almost destroyed!" - Selka exclaims after taking in the sight of it - "Whichever group of demons did this may still be near, we need to be careful..."
Tessai nods at Orlando, handing him the case - "Please be careful, friend Orlando" - she offers with a smile.
Orlando grins and winks at Tessai.
Then he turns and, with a serious expression motions for you all to come with him as he marches right up to the guards and says in a rough voice; "New material for the Archives." He holds the darkwood case protectively.
The cultists glance as Orlando but don't seems particualrly interested. One of them that seems in charge waves motioning for Orlando to go inside.
"Bring it to Faxon on the third floor, he will know what to do with it. There's also food and beds on the second floor if you need to rest." he says.
Orlando paused, sure for a moment he had been made.
Realizing he had been given a pass, he nodded curtly and motioned to his companions.
"Right. Come along minions!" Then swept past the guards and into the tower.
Trying her best to play along, Raven puts on a subservient face and manner, and follows the play-acting bard into the ruined castle.
The guards grow more weary as the rest of the group comes out and eyes several of you with suspicion but even so they let you enter.
After passing the guards, Tessai whispers to the others, if they find a moment all to themselves as they move to the third floor - "It eats me inside just being amongst these curs - what is the plan friends? Gather as much information from this Faxon character, and then capturing him?"
You make your way inside and the bottom floor seems to have been cleared out and bedrolls placed along the floor. A small kitchen is set aside o the western end of the room. Two more cultists are sitting at a table playing a game of dice when you come in.
You notice that two of the four guards outside have followed you in.
They rise when you come in.
They offer you some stew and tell you to use any bedroll you want if your tired.
Orlando is directed to bring the case to Faxon upstairs but he must go alone nobody is allowed upstairs without a good reason.
Raven grimaces as she sits among the cultists, her heart racing. At any moment the jig will be up, and they will either attack or be attacked. She shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot, looking around for any other foes, exits, tactical advantages etc.
Orlando glances at the stairs, then at his 'Minions'.
"Nah, we'll go together."
"Here, hold this." He said, tossing the case to one and shooting another with his crossbow.
for a possible piercing damage.
fair enough, everyone else make a sense motive, if you make it get a surprise attack otherwise roll init.
Also no sneak attack damage Orlando? And roll an init.
Still unsure how to read her new companions, Raven can't tell if Orlando is serious or signaling in some way, and so misses a beat when the bard sneak attacks the cultists. Once she recovers, she unlimbers her warhammer, and swinging two-handed at the nearest bad guy.
Completely caught off guard by Orlando's ploy, Aeron none-the-less grabs his hammer and starts swinging.
Round 1, Init 18
Orlando's move was too fast, and well disguised, for Tessai to take notice of it. But she quickly gathers her wits, draws Radiance, utters a protective spell, and moves to the closest cultist - "Surrender, or you will be judged by your sins in the after life" - she threatens.
Varn catches Orlando's hidden message and grips the handle of his Morningstar. At the signal to attack he draws his weapon and charges the nearest cultist!
Selka grimaces when the party enters the building, but keeps her mouth shut and her head low.
When she's sure the guards are far enough behind, she whispers a few hushed words to her companions - "That was quick thinking Orlando, well done! But now we need to act quickly... I don't think we'll be able to keep this charade up for long..."
When Orlando opens fire, Selka is as startled as the enemy guards, and precious moments are lost as she tries to shake the surprise and get into the fight.
"Quickly, we need to dispatch them before others arrive!"
Round 1 - Initiative 11
Varn continues the attack on his enemy, despite the serious danger he has placed himself in. He grips the morningstar with two hands this time to add power to his strike! "No surrender, only death for your lot!" He grits his teeth and swings again!
Surprise round:
Orlando shoots a cultist with his crossbow at point blank range.
Dealing 3+ damage to cultist 1.
Varn runs forward and hits a cultist with his mace. Dealing 6 damage to cultist 1.
Round 1:
Tessai-21:
Casting Protection from Evil.
Raven-18:
Lands a solid hit on a nearby cultist dealing 6 damage to cultist 3.
Selka-18:
Casting Protection from Evil.
Aeron-18:
Aeron moves up and lands a devastating blow taking down a cultist(4) in one strike.
Varn-11:
Attacks but misses.
Orlando-6:
Drops his crossbow and takes out is sword and attacks slicing the cultist(1) in front of him once more.
Enemies:
The cultist are caught off-guard but they reach for their morningstars and attack as soon as able even with most of them wounded and one dead.
Cultist 1 attack Orlando and cultist 2 attacks Varn while cultist 3 attack Raven.
The two outside (cultist 4 and 5 lets say) open the door and step in drawing their weapons.
You can post round 2 actions. Map will be posted shortly.