Leaf-on-Wind’s first arrow sinks into the back of the demon’s neck and emerges on the other side. It crashes down at Song-of-Air’s feet as its eyes glaze over. The tengu woman notes a pendant around the demon’s neck, punctuated by her brother’s arrowhead, before it falls.
Seeing the demon fall, Rulean stabilizes Ephie and gives a little divine inspiration to overcome any persistent maladies.
Rulean calls on Kurgess' power to stabilize Ephie's body and keep his soul in place.
Encounter! Round 3. Bold may act.
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp) (redirect attacks or 2 actions left)
Nabi (14/26 hp; Fortitude DC 17 vs. 4 poison damage, poison track)
Rulean (17/26 hp; magic weapon)
Clover (28/30 hp)
Quasit
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp)
Ephie (0/24 hp; wounded 1, unconscious, prone; Fortitude DC 21 vs. curse, necromancy, divine; guidance after Fortitude save)
"Holy moly!" Clover gasps as the demon flings Ephie about like a ragdoll. As Leaf's arrow brings the ugly creature crashing down to the ground she continues to circle around, moving up onto the stage before firing another arrow at the quasit.
"Snowy, keep it up!"
______________
Snowy continues chasing down the flying pest, darting around and along the pews, snarling and baring sharp teeth.
______________
Nabi feels sick, and her arm seems to burn from the inside, where the claws made their wounds.
When the demon is taken down by Leaf-On-Wind's arrows, she strikes it back with a vengeanful purpose
Leaf-On-Wind without hesitation or even... remorse turns the remaining arrows on the other entity attacking the party.
Leaf-on-Wind fires arrow after arrow at the quasit hovering over Nabi. The first arrow glances off of the tiny demon's hide, but it dodges the remainder with aerial acrobatics.
"Ha HA--Ow!" It's mockery is cut short when Clover sends an arrow through one of its wings. "Fine! I'm leaving, but I will be back for vengeance or your souls!" The quasit concentrates and then disappears. The disturbance in the air shifts a bit and eventually fades away.
Encounter! Round 3/4. Bold may act.
Quasit (-3 hp)
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp)
Ephie (0/24 hp; wounded 1, unconscious, prone; Fortitude DC 21 vs. curse, necromancy, divine; guidance after Fortitude save)
--<4>--
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp)
Nabi (10/26 hp; Fortitude DC 17 vs. Quasit Poison Stage 2)
Rulean (17/26 hp; magic weapon)
Clover (28/30 hp)
◈
◈
It takes Song-of-Air a moment, but she finally spots a distortion in the air that she believes is the invisible demon.
"No! I'm tired of these things running away!" Clover exclaims with frustration as she scans around for any lingering sign of the quasit...
...and should she spot anything that seems suspect, attempts to pepper it with a couple of arrows.
Nabi grits her teeth, and concentrate to find out the fiend
Clover grows frustrated at their tormentors escaping and fires arrows wildly around the chapel. Nabi notices a disturbance in the air as something moves in response to the halfling's erratic salvo.
Encounter! Round 3/4. Bold may act.
Quasit (-3 hp)
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp) (Need one DC 11 Flat Check to hit; quasit's square identified)
Ephie (0/24 hp; wounded 1, unconscious, prone; Fortitude DC 21 vs. curse, necromancy, divine; guidance after Fortitude save)
--<4>--
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp)
Nabi (10/26 hp) (2 actions remain, quasit's square identified)
Rulean (17/26 hp; magic weapon)
Clover (28/30 hp)
"Guess this demon has an image problem. Is ashamed and doesn't want any of us to be able to see them." Rulean says as the quasit disappears.
He goes over to where Ephie is and calls on Kurgess's power to heal him.
Song-of-Air focuses on the warping in the air that she spied and draws back her bow. The air flies precisely where she wanted it, and it results in a spray of Abyssal blood and a shriek of pain.
Ephraim wakes, lying supine on the floor.
Encounter! Round 3/4. Bold may act.
Terrain: The pews are difficult terrain to cross but normal terrain to move along.
Stage is 3 ft high.
Effects: Inspire Courage +1 (2 rounds)
Quasit (-14 hp)
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp)
Ephie (24/24 hp; wounded 1, prone; Fortitude DC 21 vs. curse, necromancy, divine; guidance after Fortitude save)
--<4>--
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp)
Nabi (10/26 hp) (2 actions remain, quasit's square identified)
Rulean (17/26 hp; magic weapon)
Clover (28/30 hp)
My head… what happened? He sees everyone looking for the quasit and targets that square.
He looks around and cannot locate the square where the quasit hides.
He picks up his axe and stands up, unable to locate an enemy and unsure about what's happoening.
Ephie fights off whatever profane venom the twisted demon left behind with its bite. For the briefest moment after the iruxi heals Ephie's face, it looks a bit lopsided, but when Rulean blinks, nothing is amiss.
Encounter! Round 3/4. Bold may act.
Quasit (-14 hp)
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp)
Ephie (24/24 hp; wounded 1)
--<4>--
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp)
Nabi (10/26 hp) (2 actions remain, quasit's square identified)
Rulean (17/26 hp; magic weapon)
Clover (28/30 hp)
Nabi points and calls out that she sees the invisible quasit above and just to the west of Rulean's head. She drops her sword and pulls out her bow to fires an arrow toward it, but it sails across the chapel unimpeded.
Trusting Nabi to see what she says she sees, Leaf unleashes a volley of arrows through the air just above and to the left of the iruxi. Three arrows pass and crack the golden stained glass on the opposite wall. The fourth arrow, however, sinks into something and hovers there for a moment before the quasit reappears on its fall to the ground.
Encounter Over.
The quasit wears a crystal teardrop pendant around its neck. The larger demon has a hoodless robe draped over his back as a cloak and wears a pendant. Both the robe and the pendant bear the image of a leaf and a raindrop. This is similar to the symbol on the backpack from the Hermitage of Blessed Lightning, but it lacks the lightning encircling the leaf and raindrop. Amongst the ruined cushions and pews, you also stumble upon a functional set of merchant's scales made of (or at least plated in) gold.
There are two doors on the west wall of the chapel. The northern door is blocked by a heavy stone font .
Status
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp)
Ephie (wounded 1)
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp)
Nabi (10/26 hp)
Rulean (17/26 hp)
Clover (28/30 hp)
Ephie takes a power nap in the pews; he seems rather comfortable. It’s almost like being young again, sneaking in a few winks during service. Of course, Pharasma's vaulted old cathedrals are a touch more shadowy.
After ten minutes, Mr. Splinters pokes Ephie in the neck with an awl, startling him from his reverie. IT'S TIME.
He admires the well-crafted scale before placing it on the altar. We would likely be served papers if we took the scale, beautiful as it is.
However, he will take note of the ledger and look for anything of interest.
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Nabi tries to push the rock, but to no avail.
Rulean, amaze us.
She gives a little thinking about the religious symbols
Odd that the symbol are different. Maybe a shism in worshipping? I'm not a specialist, I don't even manage to pronounce "shism" adequatly. I'm not even sure how to spell it.
While Ephie takes a breather, Clover stows her bow and takes a cautious look around.
"What were those things even doing? It looked like the little one was reading something..."
She scans around for any sign of the ledger.
“Nabi, be careful. As injured as you are, you might strain something.”
He then goes over and tries to fix some of her wounds. With his help, soon Nabi is feeling fine.
He then tries to tend his own wounds. After some initial fumbling, he manages to do that as well.
Looking at the stone font in front of the door, Rulean says “That will be a challenge. However first I would like to get some idea what the demons were doing here — other than desecrating the church that is.”
He goes over to look at the symbols the demons had. “Rather than a schism, with demons involved I suspect it is an attempt at blasphemy. Take a God’s teachings and twist them so as to foul them. That is much more in keeping with what a demon would do…”
While Rulean tends to Nabi's wounds and Ephie rests his beaten bones, Clover looks over the desk-as-altar and easily finds the ledger. The book appears to be a historical record of debts and payments on loans, presumably associated with citizens. The quasit had the ledger open to the more recent pages, which have fewer loans being approved and a fewer forbearances. The destruction appears to have been directed most intently toward any aspect of artistry and beauty in the church.
The robe is traditional garments worn by priests of Gozreh, and the symbol is that of Gozreh.
After Rulean finishes bandaging his own wounds, Ephie replaces the golden scales on the altar.
Status
Song-of-Air (20/22 hp)
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind (26/28 hp)
Nabi
Rulean
Clover (28/30 hp)
While Nabi attempts without success to roll the heavy font out of the way of the door, she can hear a voice calling weakly on the other side.
"Help. Please. Help."
Leaf-On-Wind heads over to Song-Of-Air to see if she's okay before turning his attention to recovering any unused arrows.
I just went through as many arrows as I'd go through during an entire performance. DEFINITELY going to need to load up on some more if we're going to keep doing stuff like this.
"Do you need help over there, Nabi? I could lend a shoulder?" the acrobat offers helpfully.
"Huh...church hasn't been giving out many loans lately," Clover remarks as she closes the ledger. "And they've not been as forgiving about the ones they got outstanding. Not sure what that's got to do with demons and things but any of the things Rulean says it could be definitely aren't good."
Noticing that Nabi seems to be having some trouble with the heavy font she adds to Leaf's offer, "Me too, if you guys need it!"
When Rulean learns there is a voice calling out for help, he goes back to the font.
"Might need some rope and a pulley for this. Guess there is no harm in giving it a try though."
No shame in accepting help. Be my guest.
Nabi bows to the rest of the crew
Song hugs her brother. "I'm fine!"
Song makes an effort to move the door. "This does appear to be stuck. Hang on in there!"
It takes a bit of work and cooperation--Rulean feels like he pulled a muscle in his initial attempt--to move the heavy font out of the way, but it is finally managed. You could hear the sound of a key turning the complex lock on the door while you worked, and once the font is moved, the door pulls open easily enough. On the other side stands a man in white and gold robes stained with blood and a face swollen and discolored to such a degree that it is disconcerting to look upon.
"Oh! Thank Adaba--!" he begins hoarsely, is overcome by a heavy cough, clears his throat and continues is a smoother tone of voice. "Thank Adabar! I have been hiding in the vault for hours. I heard you fighting on the other side of the door and knew our Wealthy Father had sent saviors. I was attacked by a hunchbacked demon, two winged demon, and two masked men! The men seemed familiar to me, but I can't quite recall who they might be."
Seeing the destruction of the pews and the entry door beyond you, his eyes become a little wet.
"You can rebuild," Song says gently. "The important thing is that you are alright!"
"I am guessing you are the Taxmaster. I'm Rulean." He moves forward to shake the man's hand.
"Sit, let me look over those wounds. Could you describe the two winged demons? We killed a quasit and some sort of hunchbacked demon, but didn't see another."
"Taxmaster? My name is Nellyn Drend, local priest of Abadar," he answers, momentarily puzzled. "Fortunately, Abberton has never needed the services of a Taxmaster." He emerges from the church's vault and turns to see the destruction of the mural. He slumps down onto front pew and begins to cry, silently, as he stares at the wall. This allows Rulean ample time to begin treating the man's injuries.
While the strongman works, Nellyn eventually composes himself and answers the other questions. "The winged ones were tiny demons, horned, tailless, dark green scales and long claws on their fingers. Yes. Like a quasit, if my memory serves. Two of those, the hunchback with a bunch of horns, and the two fat men with cloth masks over their lower face."
Rulean bandages the ragged claw and bite wounds very well, but nothing he does has much effect on the disfigurement of the priest's face. "Thank you. I feel much better," Nellyn says and then rises from the pew. He hustles onto the stage, makes a brief search of the altar, and then frantically searches the debris along the front of the stage. "Did you happen to find two books? Holy books?"
"Could you describe the books? And you said two tiny demons?" Leaf-On-Wind inquires as he watches warily for possible ambush, signs of someone escaping, etc.
"Like my sister said, you can rebuild. Might even be able to add a whole another section to it depicting the demons being laid low."
The acrobat pulls out some rations and water. "You must be super-hungry if you were trapped in the vault for hours -- I don't think keeping food in a vault is a common thing, right?"
“I’m afraid we haven’t done much searching. You probably heard the battle when we enterred, and after that we were mostly trying to heal and find out what was going on.”
Rulean points towards the journal that was being ripped up and says “That looks more like a ledger than a holy book. I admit that I’m more familiar with the teachings of Kurgess than Abadar, but still I don’t think that is what you are talking about.”
As he says this, he gestures to his own holy symbol.
"Yes. Two tiny, bat-winged demons. The Order of Numbers and the Manual of City-Building," the priest answers Leaf-on-Wind. "They're both leather bound texts, and both of them are beautifully illuminated. The Order of Numbers has a delicately inlaid gold spine. The Manual of City-Building bears a civic map of Axis on the cover."
He nods his head eagerly. "Thank you! I am parched!" He takes the offered waterskin and drinks greedily, a trickle running out of the left side of his mouth where the deformity prevents him from fully closing it. He lowers the water and wipes his mouth with his sleeve.
"Oh!" he exclaims. He sets down the Leaf-on-Wind's waterskin and hustles back toward the vault. "You handled those demons so well. I will hire you to track down the books!" He enters the vault and fumbles with the heavy keyring at his belt until he finds the one he wants. He unlocks two coffers. Lifting the lid, he grabs an onyx statue of a dog and a gold and turquoise brooch fashioned like a kite shield. "These are no mere works of art. Both of them are enchanted. If you find the books, then these are yours. Oh! And for rescuing me, take this. I am certain you can get fair value in trade." He takes the golden scales from the altar and offers them toward you.
"We, uh, ran into two men outside digging up graves," Clover finally volunteers. "Except they were, like...demons wearing the skins of men," she grimaces. "Rulean might be able to explain it better. Maybe they were the two men that barged in here with the other things."
Unable to help herself, she asks, "Did any of those creatures say anything when they barged in? The sheriff asked us to have a look around town because there's been some strange happenings, apparently."
Thank you. These scales are marvelous. Ephie's eyes glimmer at the description of these wonderful books.
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"Could be," Nellyn agrees with Clover. "No. They didn't say anything. Lots of roaring, screaming, and cackling." He looks askance. "The screaming might have just been me."
“Once you are feeling a little better, could you identify the bodies that the vermlek’s were hiding in? I am concerned that we encountered so many demons. Someone must have brought them here.”
"Oh, yes! You are right to be concerned," he says with sincerity. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Abberton. This is quite terrifying."
He leaves the onyx statuette and the brooch on the stage and moves toward the front of the chapel. "I can do it now. Still a bit shaken, but no time to waste in uncovering and stopping the machinations of demons."
Outside, he takes a moment to compose himself upon seeing the mangled bodies but then carefully approaches and examines the faces. "They do look familiar. I've probably seen them around town but not at service or seeking services. The sheriff would probably recognize them."
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Oh… the missing sheriff…
It may be… a few days before Ralhain makes it here. Might we keep the bodies safe until then?
"Oh. Uh. The mayor, probably, would recognize them," Nellyn says, oblivious to the mystery inherent in Ephie's statement, likely as a self-defense mechanism as a demon incursion and ransacking of his temple is enough trouble for one priest. "I suppose you could use the Moulter crypt." He points at the large, moss-covered, dirt stained stone building in the southwest corner of the cemetery ringed by weeds and tall grass. "They apparently haven't been by to care for it in some time by the look of it."
"Let's put them in the crypt then," Clover suggests. "And then, uh...we can go make the rounds around the rest of the town and then see if we can get any more leads on where those demons came from?" She looks to the others for agreement or alternative ideas.
______________
As you approach the crypt, it is apparent to everyone except for Nellyn, who is busy fumbling with his keyring to find the correct key, that the crypt has been broken into. The lock hangs broken from the door, which stands ever so slightly ajar. The door itself is only five feet tall and would require crouching for most of you to pass through.
Everyone except for Nabi and Leaf-on-Wind--perhaps due to their more distant position--hears a high pitched jabbering in a pattern that seems like a conversation coming from inside the crypt.
Ephie sighs and draws his antique axe, and waits for someone to push open the door.
Rulean puts a hand on Nellyn's shoulder to stop him. Pointing to his ear and then towards the broken door, he indicates the problem.
He then gently whispers "Perhaps you want to wait in the church while we find out who broke into the crypt?"
"Hmm. What? Oh. Oh dear," Nellyn says. "Um. Do you want to borrow my crossbow? It is blessed by Abadar. In case there are more demons?" He takes his crossbow and quiver from his belt and holds them toward you all. The crossbow is white lacquered with gold accents, and there are five quarrels in the quiver. "But please remember to return it when you finish."
Whether you accept is offer or not, he makes his way back to the church to wait.
"Of course," Clover nods; she accepts the crossbow but doesn't look particularly set on being the one to use it. "I prefer my shortbow but if it's enchanted then it might come in handy. Or if someone else wants to use it, I can use my longspear to push the door open," she offers.