Varda shakes her head. "She'll live, thanks to Torag... but she came close. Revenge for what, I wonder...?"
Nash touches the fallen woman with a bit of demonic vigor.
Nash touches the fallen woman with a bit of demonic vigor.
After a few moments, Anevia wakes from her unconsious state.
"Ugh. What happened?" she says.
"Do you recognize that man?" asks Varda, gesturing toward the fallen attacker.
Anevia gets up, and walk towards the now dead half orc. She looks at him strangely, as if recalling back some memories, both good and bad.
"Yeah. I don't know him personally, but my wife told me all of her stories of when she was in the River Kingdoms. I think his name is Vagorg. He is one of several criminals Irabeth tracked down during her time in the River Kingdoms. He had some grandiose plan to burn down an entire neighborhood in the name of Xoveron. She delivered him to the local authorities. Last she heard of him he was sentenced to die in a pit fight."
"Apparently he didn't," observes Varda wryly. "He said something about revenge; I guess it makes sense, though why he'd be here just now is beyond me. Not very tactically sound."
"He was a fool and he's dead now. Let's find your wife", Nash growls.
Anevia goes back to the dropped box she recovered, and opened it. Inside, there is a hastily scribbled letter, as well as some potions labeled in highly legible script (3x potions of CMW, 2x potions of invisibility).
The letter reads:
Dearest Anevia,
Have retreated with the rest of the Knights to Defender's heart. "Silverstrong" will identify you as friends to the guards. Use the potions to get here safe. Iomadae grant you safe passage.
Love,
Irabeth
"Oh, thank Desna." Anevia states, with a relieved smile. "Thank you all for helping me get this far." She quafs down a potion of CMW, and hands the rest to Varda. "Here. Take these as thanks. Lets hurry to Defender's Heart."
Of the three items, Varda is only able to identify the properties of the potion (invisibility)
From Anevia's home, it is a 40 minute walk through the streets of Kenabres to Defender's Heart. Though Defender's Heart is labeled as an inn, you wouldn't be able to tell from just looking at it from the outside. Built out of stone and made to last, Anevia tells you that it was once a guardhouse that was converted after a newer, larger one was built.
Dorek, in front of the group, yells out, "Silverstrong" when you get within seeing distance of a barricade. You are unchallenged as you bypass the baracaded streets and enter the building.
Despite the enormous building, it is extremely crowded inside. People are constantly moving about. Some are eating inside the large tavern, while a small hospital has been set up in one of the large meeting rooms, clerics and hosplitars from many faiths moving from patient to patient.
Dorek leads your party to a ground floor office, and he politely knocks.
"Commander! I brought some folks back with me! I think ya might want ta take a lookie."
The door opens, and Anevia lets out a joyful cry as she goes to hug her wife, the half orc Irabeth, paladin of Iomadae. They hug for a few moments, then Anevia addresses you.
"My friends, this is my wife, Irabeth. Irabeth, please meet Verra, Aenthurien, Gorn, Frekhi, Aravashnial, Horgus, and... Na'shok. They helped me get here safely."
[dice=Inspired Spellcraft]1d20+6+1d6
[dice=Inspired Spellcraft]1d20+6+1d6
Ranseur of the Gargoyle
Wand of Magic Missiles CL 3rd , 11 charges
Frekhi just nods his head in greeting to the half orc.
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for rescuing my wife." Irabeth says. " I owe you a great debt that I must try to repay in the future. For now, I'll arrange some private quarters for you. Dolek, please tell Kimroth Otai that we need some private quarters for these people."
Na'shok hefts the fallen half-orc's ranseur in hand. "This is a fine weapon. I'll be taking it."
Na'shok grunts in surprise at the fortified structure and the number of survivors. "Maybe you're not all fools..."
"How many are here?"
"Aye. I'll be back in a minute." replies Dolek.
Na'shok grunts in surprise at the fortified structure and the number of survivors. "Maybe you're not all fools..."
"How many are here?"
"Enough, I think, to hold this location securely. We have about 200 capable warriors or so here or around the streets defending this location."
"The demons mainly focused on inner Kenabres and the water front, so this part of town was mostly spared destruction."
"They won't be satisfied with what they've taken. They'll make their way here eventually", the hulking orc growls. "We learned a bit about how they took the city so easily. There was a traitor..."
Varda frowns. Why would she sell her bow...?
She studies Irabeth for the woman's reaction.
"They won't be satisfied with what they've taken. They'll make their way here eventually", the hulking orc growls. "We learned a bit about how they took the city so easily. There was a traitor..."
"A traitor? Who?"
Anevia looks at Na'Shok conflicted and uncertain. "We suspect Kandra Nyserian worked for the Kenabres Templars."
"Truely? What? How?" Irabeth looks stunned and confused.
After a brief silence, Anevia asks, Irabeth, why did you sell your bow?
Irabeth finally notices Varda's weapon, and sighs.
"I sold it, because we wouldn't have been able to afford the elixir to change you into a female. I didn't need it, and really, I was happy to sell my father's legacy if it would bring joy to the one I loved more than anything. Its what I needed to get on with my life after the River Kingdoms..."
You see a tears form up in Anevia's eyes. "Oh, Irabeth, why didn't you tell me?"
--------------------------------------
Dolek returns, and sees the two girls hugging in their own world. "Common. I've got your rooms ready. Lets leave them some private time."
Nash shrugs and follows the dwarf.
"Thank you for getting me to safety. You have done an exempliary job of getting us here. I believe I will not need your services anymore." Horgus says to the group after your meeting with Irabeth.
"Yes. Thank you. You are all capable people." Agrees Aravashnial.
Na'shok rolls his eyes - capable.
The orc grunts and leaves for whatever space has been set aside for his use.
"Didn't see that one coming." Frekhi says as he follows the group out.
"It was the right thing to do, that's all."
Aravashinal nods. "In any case, I am going to seek out the services of a cleric. Hopefully, they will have one capable of restoring my eyes. As Aravashinal turns to leave with Horgus's help, he states, "I also owe you a debt of gratitude. Thankfully, I believe I know how to repay you shortly. Good evening."
Varda raises one eyebrow, but nods at Dolek and follows him out of the room. "Nan atai tiruppi kotukka ventum enru ninkal ninaikkirirkala?"
Dolek replies:
"Ya could, but I don't know if she'd accept. Ya heard her. She sold it to finance her happiness. Ya want me to let her know ya offered?"
"Here is your room." Dolek says as he waves his hand towards a door. I'm gonna share me room with Varda. Ya saw the kitchen downstairs, and ye can pay fer a meal there. There are a few merchants around to sell off all the loot we took from the cultists downstairs. If ya need healing, there are also quite a few clerics around that will heal ya fer free. Now, me and Varda have some catchin up to do. Any questions?"
Na'shok shakes his head and puts down his things.
Frekhi will just set his stuff down in the corner.
"Not really. Does someone want to go see a merchant?"
Varda nods at Dolek and punches him playfully, then turns to the others. "You talk like we're married or something, Brother... what my dear brother means is that you're welcome to stay and visit, we're just going to be talking tactics and such that might not be too interesting to you all."
"Who's in charge here?" Na'shok asks. "Is someone coordinating some kind of counterattack?"
Irabeth is the highest ranking Eagle Knight left in the city, and she's been coordinating the remaining mercenary and city guards to gather as many people as we can here." Dolek replies. "We don't really have enough manpower to take back the city, so we're mainly holding out here til reinforcements from Mendev can arrive.
"Sounds like waiting to die to me", the burly orc grumbles.
"Indeed, waiting won't do. We need to organize active resistance, and fight. A rotation would be good, I think... there will be losses, but if we can keep them to a minimum, we should be able to make significant progress."
"I hear you lass. Maybe we could try hitting those Templar hideouts to start. One may be a wreck, but from what I understand you have evidence of two more. How about we leave in the mornin, after a good night's rest?"
Varda nods. "That's more like it."
"Aye. I'll let the commander know we'll be headin out in the mornin then."