"Errrrrrr..good question!" Jarex answered, while instinctually standing in front of Cimri.
After arching an eyebrow at the exsanguination, Slenk seems to accept in stride. "I believe that the what is that we find and kill Caggan and his companions. The how is more of a concern as we have little information to go on. It may be worth listening to the gossip of the people for clues, as we have no direction at the moment."
Cimri was as eager to see the troublesome bard offed as anyone else, though she was rather taken aback by the rather "intimate" fashion in which the noblewoman did the deed. From devils to vampires, it seemed all manner of obscene curiosity had come to Longacre these past few weeks. "Huh," she murmured. "That's one way to do it, I guess."
When Kels' demise seems to have taken the life out of the conversation, Cimri just laughs a little. "Figure out what you want to do with the body... Placing him in a box in the square with a sign of his crime wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, I'm going to find Candro, let him know we're here, and see about having some mattresses or something sent over."
Jerax couldn't help but smile. "Wait! So you want to turn an enemy church into another base of operations and extra sleeping quarters?" The towering tiefling let out a deep laugh of surprise. "Brilliant. If approved, I'm sure I'll be helping with moving the mattresses. I'll be around later. I'll stay here to do a quick security sweep."
A base of operations, and re-dedicated to the Father of Lies, I believe? Alyczandra addressed her comment to Alixus but took in the group while speaking. As for the body, just burying it should suffice. Charming types like that have hangers-on. No need to make winning over the masses any harder than it is.
Reverend, would you be interested in getting the pulse of the populace? You may be best suited to do so.
... When the time for the speech arrives, probably half the town is in attendance.
The towering tiefling counted to twenty in his head, when he no longer see Cimri as she left. In a loud whisper, Jerax called the remaining party members into a close huddle.
"I don't have much time, so just listen:", the asmodean knight began. "Yesterday, Cimri confided in me that her loyalty oath with the hellstone was different than ours. She is bonded to Archbaron Fex alone, not to House Thrune. She believes she will be used as a weapon against against us, against me, should we prove disloyal. If you wish to keep something private, do not say it in her presence. To my knowledge, Cimri is still tasked in assisting us keep order and flush out the Glorious Reclaimation forces in town. I thought you should all know."
”A fine idea. I will see what I can glean from them, if anything.”
With that, Alixus sets out on the town, finding what pockets of civilians will talk to him with fairly dubious success.
Alyczandra nodded as Alixius agreed to take the pulse of the populace. She then squeezed her eyes shut and held on to the back of a pew, appearing to want to sit down, when Jerax spoke.
Pausing to listen, she tried to shake off whatever was affecting her and glanced up at the tiefling. That knowledge is....very much appreciated, Jerax. And I am glad to know you value our allegiance enough to report on the status of one whom you've...clearly grown close to. We will need to be careful of Fex's ambitions, and not run afoul of them without enough protection. She chuckled a moment, still shaking her head, before continuing. Even in this backend town, the political machinations of Cheliax still prevail.
During the time Alixus was gone, Alyczandra made her way into the backrooms of the church and sat down, clearly not feeling well. When the priest reported his limited success, the pale woman nodded and said. So, should I take a turn at asking, or is it best to report in to the Archbaron and assess the situation. Or perhaps some other course of action?
After a couple of hours, Cimri returns with Candro and a couple more of the archbaron's guards. A servant had been dragooned into pulling a cart laden with straw mattresses and a few other necessities. "Where do you think things should be setup? Think any of those back rooms could be converted into a cell? Lotta doors," she added with a frown, then, "Course, we could also drive some hooks into the walls and chain people to 'em." She shrugs, fetches a bottle of wine from her pack and settles in a corner.
When Alexisu returned, the sun had set and he came without having found much useful information. If there were any noises about rebellion, they'd become very quiet indeed.
After a few hours, Alyczandra seemed to get some of her energy back, and upon hearing from Alixus that he had little success in getting more information decided to head out herself to speak to the few of the town's inhabitants that might more appreciate a conversation with nobility. Disappearing into the growing darkness of the evening, the pale woman made the rounds of the more upscale locations and people in town to inquire about the general mood and any further data regarding the whereabouts of the twins and Caggan.
Afterward she returned to the group to discuss what they have heard.
Alyczandra isn't able to learn too much, it seems the day's events have driven everyone into their homes and into hushed conversations. What she did hear, though, was that the Castle Gate, previously ordered to be kept shut, was seen open and unattended.
Suspecting collaborators, Alyczandra recommends heading over to the Castle Gate to ask a few pointed questions.
"A fine idea."
Jerax nods at Lady Dalaise, gathering his newly-applied silversheen spiked chain. The towering tiefling follows the demibaroness forth.
Cimri decides to stay behind and help get the former church converted into something more of a temporary base. "You, wrap the body in something. You, find a cart or wagon. You two, clear the pews and set up the bedrolls..." she continues barking orders and the guardsmen set about their tasks.
You head to the castle gate. Indeed, as Alyczandra had heard, the weathered doors are unbarred. One is wide open. There is no immediate sign of the Gramels, the husband and wife who tended to the gate, and the windows of their nearby house are dark and silent.
Spiked chain in hand, Jerax attempts to quietly approach the open gate and quickly see if anything is on the other side.
Heading over to the castle gate, Alyczandra's silver eyes and pale skin seemed at home in the moonlight. She still appeared a bit sickly, and if anything her features a bit more angular and alien, despite her apparent ease. Of course this could also simply be a trick of the light and nothing of note.
Upon arriving at the gate, the pale woman frowned taking in the open door and lack of guards. The Archbaron will need to hear of this. With Jerax attempting to sneak over to the check the other side of the gate, how someone that size could think they can hide is beyond me, she thought, Alyczandra headed over to the Gramels house and proceeded to knock on the door.
Despite its heft, the open gate door swings slightly on its hinges, just enough to emit a quiet screech as the rusty hinges grind against themselves in the wind. Jerax "sneaks" towards the old doors and peers through to the other side where he sees nothing but the dirt road, rolling hills and darkness of night.
At the humble house, Alyczandra raps on the door and is greeted with silence.
Alixus and Slenk hold back while the warriors clear the perimeter.
The towering tiefling will attempt to close the gate on his own.
Frowning slightly at the lack of answer to her knock, Alyczandra attempted to open the door, but does not step through if it opens. If it is locked, she attempts to pick it.
Slenk keeps back, watching the surrounding area for potential surprises. "This does not bode well. Either they have turned traitor and abandoned their post or they have been eliminated. And the gates have been opened for subversive elements to enter for an undetermined amount of time."
Jerax tries to swing the gate closed -- what ought to not be a difficult task for the tiefling -- but finds his feet slip on a small slick of mud. As there hasn't been any rain, it's rather surprising and, with a closer look, he think sit might be... blood?
Meanwhile, the Demibaroness deftly pops the old lock on the house. Popping the door open just enough to peek inside and listen, she doesn't see anything immediately out of the ordinary, though there is an odd stench to the hovel, like something just on the edge of starting to rot.
Jerax motions Slenk over to show him the slick. Putting the slick to his nostrils, the towering tiefling comments, "Blood. And not too old."
Slenk nods at Jerax. "Well I believe we have evidence that violence was involved in the gates being left open. I would suggest a full examination of the gatehouse and area for any clues as to what occurred."
With that Slenk follows the Demibaroness into the gatehouse to assist with the examination.
"Someone needs to watch this gate", Jerax frowned, unrolling his spiked chain. "If there's any trouble, scream loud." The towering tiefling takes his position as gate guard.
Alyczandra frowned as the door swung open and the scent reached her nostrals. Seeing Slenk approaching, she wordlessly waved him up until it was clear he smelled it too. She then proceeded to draw her swords.
Of note, she did not draw her previously-used short swords but rather the two finely-made long, jagged-bladed sabers she had practiced with previously. Pushing the door open she announced, Master Gramel, Mistress Gramel, I am coming in now, if you do not wish it please let me know. Seemingly not expecting an answer, the pale woman stepped inside warily and darted into the shadows just inside the door.
Jerax takes position at the gatehouse. While he tries to watch for signs of danger or clues as to what happened, he is distracted by the crud on his boot.
Slenk joins Alyczandra at the house, where she announces her intent to enter and then tries to do so as silently as possible. Silver-sheened eyes slip over the contents of the one-room house. The source of the smell is not immediately identifiable but she does see the outline of something the approximate size of a human beneath the covers of the double bed in the corner.
Wary of what might be hiding under the covers, Alyczandra slipped over to the bed and lifted the covers back with one of her sabers, keeping the other at the ready.
Slenk slips a hand towards his spell component pouch watching the Demibaroness approach the bed.
Using the tip of a saber, the dhampir slips the covers back to get a look at what lies beneath. There, just on the edge of rotting, with blood soaked and dried into the mattress, is one of the archbaron's guards. It's not hard to determine the cause of death: multiple stab wounds.
As Alyczandra and Slenk take in the scene before them , there is a sudden scuffle outside.
Focused as he is on the perimeter and threats approaching from the town or country, Jerax is less aware of the threat approaching him from the gatehouse.
Jerax feels a ripping and tearing sensation along the back of his left thigh, quickly followed by the slick flow of blood. "Snivvi know you! Snivvi say 'go!'" Through the pain, Jerax sees at his feet a tiny, vaguely feline humanoid covered in black fur. It wears a tiny hat and a pair of buckled leather shoes. However 'cute' it might be, the blood dripping from its claws -- Jerax's blood -- convey it's far from harmless.
Party Average:
--------------
Jerax feels a ripping and tearing sensation along the back of his left thigh, quickly followed by the slick flow of blood. "Snivvi know you! Snivvi say 'go!'" Through the pain, Jerax sees at his feet a tiny, vaguely feline humanoid covered in black fur. It wears a tiny hat and a pair of buckled leather shoes. However 'cute' it might be, the blood dripping from its claws -- Jerax's blood -- convey it's far from harmless.
Jerax curses at the catfolk. "Snivvi can [u]FU<K OFF!!![/u]" The antipaladin retaliates with his readied spiked chain.
With no need to adjust her eyes due to the lack of light, Alyczandra immediately ascertained that the dead body was one of the Archbaron's men. Unfortunately, her lack of training in any specific field of knowledge, including anatomy past what one practically needs to injure, meant no further details were forthcoming.
Just as she rested the blanket back on the corpse and turned to address Slenk, she heard a sharp cry and unfamiliar voice before hearing a more familiar, and angry Jerax respond. The pale woman bounded back outside and made haste to the combat.
Alixus raises his unholy symbol and says, "May the Archstar guide you!"
Slenk moves into range of the assailant and tosses some ground mica into the air, attempting to blind it with magic.
Jerax: Attack, Miss
Alyczandra: Double move (updated poz on map)
Alixus: Cast bless (includes all party members)
Slenk: Glitterdust subject to confirmation[/ooc]
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Slenk begins an incantation then his mouth opens as if screaming with an unearthly intensity at the tiny creature, but no sound seems to emerge.
Jerax: Attack, Miss
Alyczandra: Double move (updated poz on map)
Alixus: Cast bless (includes all party members)
Slenk: Ear piercing Scream; successful save, half damage
As Alyczandra comes running to confront the new threat, Jerax swipes his spiked chain to take out the little beastie but misses. Alixus calls upon the favor of Asmodeus, while Slenk unleashes a sharp burst of sound.
"Snivvi say you go go go! This not your gate. No no no!" It begins slashing furiously at Jerax's legs, its claws proving surprisingly sharp and adept at rending even the tiefling's flesh. With Alyczandra approaching, the humanoid-shaped cat then steps closer to the stone wall of the gatehouse.
Kitty Cat: -3 hp
Jerax: -18 hp
Party: Bless
Round 2
Jerax takes a 5 ft. step away from the gate and his tiny opponent. Now that the towering tiefling can see him, the antipaladin will strike again at the cat-person.
Slenk glares at the creature and begins spewing forth infernal as he bends fortune against it.
Alyczandra darted by the diminutive foe, giving Jerax a concerned look as she did, noting his wounds. Positioning herself so as to take advantage of the flank the tiefling offered, the pale woman attempted to tear into the cat-like creature with her serrated swords.
+
Jerax: Chain (miss)
Slenk: Cackle; saved
Alyczandra: move/attack w/ flank (hit)
Alixus: Delay
The feline beasty proves a quick and agile foe, dodging Jerax's spiked chain with ease as Alyczandra slips by. However, with Jerax's attack forcing the creature to divide it's attention, the demibaroness is able to land a fearsome blow with her sabre, slicing open the flesh of the creature's back.
"YEAAAAAAOOOOOOOW!" it screams.
Slenk bewitches the creature with ill fortune, and it begins to retreat, slipping up the side of the gatehouse wall and in through a window.
Kitty Cat: -15 hp; misfortune hex (roll twice, take worse result); Edit: Reduced damage due to DR
Jerax: -18 hp
Party: Bless
Alixus raises his unholy symbol as he says, "May the judgement of the Pit take you!" As he does so, a spiked chain made of dark, infernal iron rises from the ground, trying to wrap against the foot of the cat and trip it.
Slenk continues to chant in infernal as he draws a wand while he approaches Jerax, touching him lightly with the tip.