"A little weakened from that slime, but no worse for wear otherwise. We should go into the room and see what we're looking at."
With the potion of darkvision still active on him, he can see in the room that there is no more fighting, and he says to Ian, "It looks like the fight is over. The others appear to be investigating the room."
He takes a moment to ponder the purple crystals. The appeared to have innate magical properties. He prayed that Yuelral would guide him in this matter.
The group gathers and studies the crystals and statues. Leothar activates his ability to detect evil on the the crystals and it turns out it is faintly evil. All the ones he looks at are. The statues don't radiate as evil though. Enos recognizes the northern statue as Baphoment. He doesn't immediately recognize the other even with Dadna's help. Something seems familiar about the way these crystals look to Enos though.
Ian walks into the room and it is still dark in there for him though the light from the other room makes the area right around the door barely visible.
Seeing the look on Ardriel's face, Dadna gave up on identifying the religious or planar existence of the crystals and instead turned her attention to figuring out anything more mundane about them.
Ardriel, not seeing any arcane significance, instead studies the crystals from his perspective as a jeweler.
Enos shares his vague memories of the crystals with Ardriel as the archmage studies.
Ardriel and Dadna study the crystals and can tell that these have been worked to look like this. This isn't their natural shape. Their artistic value isn't very high at all.
"Let's get out of this darkness so that all among us can see.
I suggest we have Ian use the Sword of Valor to summon a planetar. It is possible that the remaining demons in this place could overwhelm us were they to all attack us at once."
Leothar leaves the dark room and goes back to the path circling around the illusion-cloaked slime-pit.
"That is very sound advice." Dadna agreed. A smile spread over her face. "And to think, we will be blessed with seeing a planatar!" She said, her voice filled with religious fervor. "How many can say that they have received such an honor?"
Enos whispers a prayer to Sarenrae before adding, ”Sure, but are planetars impulsive sorts? Should I make sure I’m not standing too close when they arrive?” He gestures to the obvious signs of his demonic heritage questioningly.
While examining the crystal nearest the door on the southern part of the room, Ardriel sees a crumpled up pile of red cloth hidden behind it.
"I will defer to you on that decision, Ian. If we can make our way out of here without further combat, perhaps we can delay using the banner.
Remaining in the fortress that we know of:
"If nobody has mobilized them to converge on us until this point, perhaps we can make our way to safety."
”I think I agree with Leothar, that right now, we need to focus on regaining the city. Worrying about holding a city we don’t control is premature. Besides, if all those foes we are aware of are trapped in here with a planetar , they won’t be available to attack the city later when the planetar is through with them, right?”
Upon being handed the Banner Ian suddenly knows how it is used: Mounted firmly upon an interior wall in a visible, public place, the Sword of Valor creates a 10-mile-radius area that bars demons and those who worship demons from using teleportation spells and effects and makes them easier to hit in combat and harder for them to overcome spells. Once per month while the banner is mounted on a wall, a worshiper of Iomedae within 30 feet of the banner can use it to summon a planetar to protect the banner and its surroundings for 1 day. Any nonevil creature that sleeps within a 1-mile radius becomes immune to fear effects from demons and demon worshipers for 24 hours.
Having no apparent need for its flaming property, Enos nods, ”Of course.” He reverses grip and hands it to Ian pommel-first. ”While the Dawnflower’s blessing was on it in my hands, it seemed wise to keep my grip on it. It is an impressive weapon. Not my style, but a joy to wield nonetheless. I offer the Lady and you my gratitude.”
"Further study of these crystals is needed. The demons would not have taken the time to work them like this if they did not serve a purpose. Perhaps Aravashnial will have more insight as to their origin and purpose."
Turning away from the crystals, he said, "The banner is useless if it is not mounted in a visible, public place, which means we will need to mount it before we can summon the planetar. We likely have to return to the floor above, as that would best encompass a visible, public place. We can either finish exploring down here, then go do so, or prioritize mounting the banner. If any foes remain down here, they will remain at our backs while doing so.
We may not have to deal with the succubus spy master, at least. Remember the succubus impersonating Iomedae we encountered a couple days ago? That may have been her."
"I believe that Jhoran indicated there were two succubi. One who was normally in the temple of Iomedae, and one who was normally on the east side of the fortress."
"You are right about mounting the banner in a public place. I would suggest we leave this dungeon the way we came. The temple of Iomedae would seem a fitting place for it."
”Will it require guards? Once it is on the wall, I mean? I don’t want us to lose it as soon as we’ve gained it because we continued the fight.”
"Aye, that it will." Dadna said. "Fortunately, we will have that, as we have our army encamped outside. And a Planatar which will aid us in securing this fortress. I am certain that every paladin outside would compete for a chance to defend the banner once it is hung."
”So we are ready to bring them into the citadel? I want to put it into force as soon as possible, but don’t want to squander the advantage it brings by using it poorly.”
The tiefling, clearly frustrated by his own indecisiveness on this matter, paces around the room, looking at the false banners, losing himself in searching for anything they’d overlooked. Anything to free his mind from the question of not what to do, but how.
"Yes!" Dadna said, trying her best to keep the fervor from her voice. "Let us go now and summon the planatar. We have seen so many demons, both great and small. Now is the time to remind the world that it is the power of the heavens which is supreme."
Leothar will lead the way to the temple. Around the pit, back through the salamanders' room, and up the stairs to the level above.
"Let us be alert for deception as well. If this succubus spymaster knows what we have done, they may try to take the banner by subterfuge instead of by force. Trust nobody that we see until the banner is hung and the planetar summoned. Do not let each other out of sight. We know that succubi can change shape. Try to sense evil in anybody we meet, even if they are a familiar face."
Enos nods, ”Good point. Then, as the scout, I should stay close.”
He will lead the way, checking for signs that someone has followed them and perhaps set a trap or ambush for their return.
As the group moves back through the dungeon they don't see any signs of being followed or spied on.
As Ian thinks about the use of the Banner he recalls a story about the Banner being used to summon a planetar from long ago. In the story the planetar stayed where he could see the banner and made sure no demons got close enough to touch it.
”So we hang the banner, summon the planetar, and draw the remaining demons to within sight of the banner where they can be smited by an angel. No problem.”
”Do you think they will detect the banner and come to attack it, not realizing its champion awaits?”
”Someplace the planetar can see from farther away? Good thinking! Oh, how about a place in sight of the camps - then they will know we have it and can start mobilizing.”
"Someone else should be in charge. I will follow whatever plan our leader decides on, and I will do whatever I am asked to do. All of you are smarter than I am. I only ended up being 'Chief' because Ian and Donnen were at each others' throats and I was not either one of them. Well, Donnen is gone. And others are here now. Someone else should lead.
I withdraw my previous suggestions about the banner and the planetar."
Dadna raised her eyebrow at Leothar. With a kindly voice, she placed a gauntleted hand on his pauldron. ”The stress of this campaign has been hard, I know. But ye have carried yourself with honor, despite our trials and tribulations. Keep your faith and endure one last push. Enos will scout just ahead of us. Ian will be in the center of our formation with the banner and we will guard him as we ascend. Straight to the top of this fortress. We go now, and whatever the demons throw at us we will endure.”
Enos glances at Leothar, eyebrow raised, but shrugs. "Your leadership has not been questioned. Sometimes the best leader is the one that doesn't want to lead. That said, I'm not leadership material, so I refuse to try to fill your boots."
He grins, "I'm cannon fodder, always have been, and I'm fine with that."
Looking around to see that everyone's ready, the tiefling begins the return to the upper level, talking over his shoulder, "Have I been to the point you have in mind? Or are you providing directions?"
"I question my leadership. I do not doubt my honor nor my dedication, but I now see that I simply lack the ability to conceive of intelligent ideas and tactics.
As Dadna has stepped up to offer a plan, I will follow her."
Dadna shook her head. "Nope, but I have rope. And I'm sure we'll figure it out. Let's head over there now and get in place. It will work out." She said, her voice full of confidence.
Before they headed out, Ardriel felt a need to ask a question. "If we hang it high where the planetar can see very far, does the planetar have abilities to affect the battlefield from there? Also, how does that help when dealing with any foes remaining inside the fortress?"
"Preventing teleportation for the demons seems significant. I was hoping the planetar would be available to smite the foes in their holes, but freeing us up to hunt them while preventing them from popping in and out - that's helpful, also."
He looks around, "Right?"
Before they headed out, Ardriel felt a need to ask a question. "If we hang it high where the planetar can see very far, does the planetar have abilities to affect the battlefield from there? Also, how does that help when dealing with any foes remaining inside the fortress?"
Enos considers whether he’s learned much of use regarding planetary.
Enos ponders what he knows about planetars for a moment and other than knowing they are good aligned outsides he can't seem to recall anything else.
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"Oh, Planatars, ye want to know about them? Well! Where to begin? Ye see..."
Dadna recalls that planetars have may spell like abilities and cast spells as powerful clerics. Their spells run the gambit of types but tend to say more in the direction of healing various ailments, protection and making others more more powerful; not to say there are not offensive capabilities as well.
”If not for that slime, I’d be OK to go on, but I’m feeling pretty beat right now.”