"Yes...I still have the journal."
He reaches into his pack and removes the book. He hands it over to Silas.
"Here...and sorry.
"Silas, calm yourself friend," Baros says touching Silas on his forearm, "it was foolish of us to spilt up after having been attacked on the road, but luckily we survived, somehow..." Even after the healing the wicked red ring around Baros's neck persisted and he felt a strong sense of foreboding.
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The priest takes the diary and reads it, eyes going wider and wider as he reads.
A demon, by the name of Straggalith, is pulling the Vance's strings. they plan to summon it... tonight. he seems almost out of breath as he says this.
You know the Diabolists Lair? you must stop him! the priest says. hard eyes turned to all 5 of you.
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Silas grumbled at Baros's words, muttering to himself as he folded his arms and leaned against a nearby wall. He watched the healing priests with a cold gaze until his friends were strong again and ready to fight once more. He hands over the journal as soon as the healing is done though, the faintest smile coming at seeing his friends recover. It was, at least, until the priest mentioned a f+#*ing demon.
Silas's eyes widened and he turned his gaze towards the priest, not saying a word for a moment. He swallowed a second, shaking his head as the five stages of grief quickly came over his mind. For those that knew him, they could tell he was immediately considering whether getting the hell out of here and fleeing was the best option or not. The decision ended quickly as he spoke.
"A f+%@ing demon? They're summoning a g#!%~+n, f!+$ing demon!?" The alarm threatened to spill over his voice as the priests declared that it was up to them to save the town. A short, almost cruel laugh escaped him. "My friends and I nearly died just rescuing the girl. There are dozens of cultists there. Someone has to be using magic too if they're summoning a f*&%ing demon."
"We were paid to rescue the girl. We did that. We then rescued her and her mother. I...I don't want a demon running around but we're no g!#*+&n knights either. We need men and women with us. This commune needs to be put down, the cultists arrested and questioned, and Brother Vance put on a f%!%ing pyre." His attention would turn towards the militia captain that had accompanied him.
"I want you and your soldiers to come with us. If this thing rises, we're all f&!~ed. This town will be f@$%ing burned down, nothing more than ashes and corpses. Help us and we'll help save your town. Fair?" Silas hated giving free work. He truly hated it. Yet even the Fair Folk weren't as twisted and as dangerous as a f~+~ing demon. A g&$&**n, f#&%ing demon. Maybe being a zombie wouldn't have been so bad.
Baros just laughs an unsettling laugh and shakes his head. "Well how much time do we have?" Baros asks the priest.
Hund stands up on all fours, ready to go now if needed.
The captain nods, We've got six men, me included. It'd take a day at least to raise the Levies, so we have who we have here. he says
The journal says that the final sacrifice shall be at the zenith of the black moon. the priest answers Baros.
Even with my men, we'll be outnumbered 4 to 1 or worse the captains baritone cuts in. You 4 have been there, whats the terrain, what is our best approach?
His laughter stops, "and that would be when...?"
After a brief pause, "and do you have anymore healing, don't want to be going in after a demon at less than peak ability."
Rest now. Night. Fire. Hund suggests.
He remembers the layout; the farm around the building and clear lines of visibility. Going in the daylight would be the same as sending a formal announcement.
"I remember they had big, wide fields. Those would provide cover but the buildings have little cover on their own." Silas would explain, hearing Hund's suggestion. "Heading out when the sun is going down would be good. We can probably see where those cultists are heading to and find out where they're having the ritual. The compound is big but I don't think they're going to have it where they're sleeping."
the captain nods. S, we wait for nightfall, and see where they go? he asks Okay men. Bows, shields, spears. sounds like we'll be fighting in the open. Be at the edge of town in a half hour he commands You gents, do the same, get what you can, and meet back at the edge of town.
Hund is up and at the ready, eagerly awaiting the assault on the cult.
If there is no more healing to be done, Baros gathers his gear and heads to leave stopping just sort of the exit, "Y'all don't happen to bless weapons?"
Silas nods at the captain's suggestion and nervously paces back and forth. He looks towards Lady Cassenault and offers a grim smile. "I am sorry for your home. We will be sure to destroy this cult, you just keep an eye on your daughter. Family is...is priceless."
Upon hearing Baros's request, the human stops and nods. Any blessings and advantage they could claim, they should seize as quickly as possibly. There was no such thing as a deck too stacked.
We do have... one thing. It could be loaned to you. he says nodding to the other priest, who disappears and comes back, with a pair of ballroom shoes, beautiful and almost shining. The shoes of the Seelie. they grant a small measure of the grace of their previous bearer. it should accompany your magic crossbow well. he says.
The sun already hangs low as you sally forth. the captain and his 5 soldiers don't quite march in formation, but 3 of them, plus the captain, have the bearing of those who've spent a few campaigns as conscripts,, or maybe even careers. the breeze cuts through your coats, and the low sun turns the branches and bushes to your right into long spindly tendrils on the ground.
As you arrive, the last light looks to linger a little longer, perhaps 10 minutes to sundown. More scarlett-clade cultists labout in the fields, more ones come from inside to wash themselves in rain barrels. Last chance for any preparation, before this all begins. what do you do?
Hund activates his night vision (1 hour), and he's ready to charge in as soon as Silas gives the word. How plan of action is to rush to the largest crowd of cultists and roar at them, confident that such a roar will cause many of them to flee as fast as they can. Hopefully others will take the clue and run as well. If not, then a little fire to the fields should help convince the rest.
Rordan has been silently following the group to this point. Everything came to a head so fast but there may not be a faster way of getting the information he needs. Even if it goes against every inch of training he'd received up until this point...
Besides, what had he accomplished in the time he'd been researching this cult? And now just a few hours and he'd be storming their base.
He whispers an ancient incantation. Dark ancient letters scrawl along his skin before locking into place and fading into his skin.
Rordan readies his crossbow and prays it will be the only weapon he's forced to use this fight.
Baros readies himself for a fight, prepared to charge in once everyone is ready.
Silas is anxious during the waiting. It was always the waiting that he loathed the most. Their numbers were greater, they were better prepared, but he still didn't like their odds. There were still so many cultists left and an unruly mob was still as dangerous as anything else. Checking over the militia members that were waiting with them, Silas trusted the others fully and confidently.
"Be ready goblin. Don't know how many killers this cult has left in it." Silas murmured, checking his weapons one last time before preparing to charge in with the others.
As the hours bled into the afternoon, Mok and Hund spent their time preparing for what was to come. The young orc tinkered on the gears and cables and fluid lines that somehow kept the mechanical dog operational.
As he did so, Rordan stepped in to ask what they were doing.
"I'm trying to make him better," Mok said. The teenage orc was focused on his work and didn't look up to talk to the goblin. Instead, he spoke through the gears and the grease.
"Can I help?" inquired the goblin. "There's a transfer line here that would work better if you connected it straight to this port over here. And that port? What's that used for?"
Mok answered, "I don't know. I didn't build him. And he's been through a lot. Few wars I think. There's a lot here that I don't understand; I'm just trying to keep him from falling apart."
"Here, give me that wrench," Rordan said. "You hold on to that bolt there, and I'll see if I can loosen this nut; then we can rewire some of this and I think we can...."
The orc and the goblin spent hours discussing, debating, and talking about machines and clockworks and everything else that came to mind as they tried to make Hund work for just one night longer.
The moments pass silently, The guards beginning to grow restless. the time crawls, though. A chill autumn breeze cuts right through your cloaks. shadows move across your vision. Above, in the second story, a light is snuffed. is the crowd growing thinner? more seem to have gone in than come out.
Finally, as the sun dips below the horizon, and the Black moon rises, you hear a gong ring, and those still outside drop their tools, and file into the farmhouse, like automatons (saving your honest presence, HUIVD).
What do you do?
Hund starts to move forward, headed towards the farm house. Obviously where everyone is going is where the action will be.
Baros follows closely ready for some violence.
As the cultists begin to assemble at the farmhouse, Silas readies his blade and motions for his fellows and the militia to move in. He takes a slow breath but it isn't quite enough to still the slight shake in his hand; these fools were summoning a demon. It was unwise to make a deal with the Fey, it was suicide to do so with a demon.
Silas keeps an eye out for any other thugs or assailants that could get in their way. Taking the lead, he moves quickly but quietly up before peering into the farmhouse to see where the brainwashed fellows were traveling.
As Hund approaches, he activates the controls that Mok and Rordan installed. Clawed s extended from his front paws, extra fluid helps power his legs for greater speed. He was ready to move forward and run every little snot weasel out of the farm and running for the hills.
He rushes in and roars as loud as he can; a deafening roar designed to implant fear into everyone nearby!
In the entryway, 6 youths stand. 9 more lay in a stupor, unroused even by HUIVD's spell. As HUIVD howls, a sound that bypasses the waking mind, and draws forth the cowering ape of prehistory, clinging to the branches as dark things with yellow stained teeth prowl below. Three of the youths Clutch at their ears as blood trickles out, and all but one steadfast adherent move their eyes to the exit. What do you do?
Charging in behind the howling blast Baros attacks the closest thing, youth or not they are helping summon a demon.
"The next one goes through you, now get!"
Rordan runs forward and backs into a covered position against a wall peering into the farmhouse. Everyone has begun to attack the cultists but Rordan wants to make sure they are not missing something
"I'm always missing something... Think, Rordan, think..."
To anyone not watching closely Rordan appears to hesitate and scan the battlefield.
Baros' spear breaks a youth's skin, but the cultist is able to mitigate the worst of the damage. 5 of the youths break free and try to run for the exit
Rordan reaches out and feels the six in front of him, but he also feels several dozen more, more than he could reasonably count, beneath the farmhouse.
The one cultists who kept his wits during HUIVD's attack, a shorter boy, from further south by his complexion, twirls a long blade in his hand. swinging at the metal canine
and drives his blade between the Dog's metal plates.
With the lad choosing to flee rather than get stabbed a second time Baros whips around and moves in to attack the cultists that assaulted Hund.
Hund growls at the man who stabbed him, and swipes with his claws.
Silas lets the scared cultists flee past him. They were just as mentally confused as the noble daughter had been when they found her. Most fled Hund's terrifying howl, the sound sending a chill down his spine as he turns towards the metal dog. His heart raced hard in his chest and he had to mentally remind himself that he wasn't back in the hands of the Fey, that this was the real world.
Using the adrenaline, he would follow after the young boy with the blade who swiped at Hund and stabbed into the metal plates. Using his friends as a distraction, he aimed for the vulnerable backside of his foe.
Rordan leaves the group to deal with the remaining cultist. He warns the group.
There are others... Many others deep below us. Stay cautious, they likely know we're here
He skirts the edge of the room letting the 5 fleeing past him. And he searches for the way down. He keeps his crossbow ready.
The boy cries out in pain as Silas' sword cuts him open, and he all but twirls to counterattack, the movement bringing him out of alignment with HUND's strike, a madness in his eyes as they turn with hatred upon the swordsman.
and it moves like lightning, the first swing missing until it changes direction, and the hook catches upon his side and tears your tunic and skin, perhaps some intestine too.
The soldiers arrive after you and pepper the cultist with arrows inflicting bringing him down.
What's many? are we facing a dozen, or a hundred? the captain asks Rordan, as he peers behind the fallen cultist, and finds the staircase they were retreating down when you bushwacked them.
Having driven off all the teens, Hund follows Rordan's lead and heads down the stairs, looking for the lead cultist. Seeing no one, he looks for passageways, hallways, doors, or perhaps more stairs going further down.
"Sonofab@*$~!" Silas growls out, holding onto his side. The chain shirt underneath had rolled up, leaving just enough exposed skin for the young one's blade to sink in. Pain radiated through his form as he let out a slow exhale. Arrows fly in afterwards, cutting down the young man and leaving them alone with the basement below.
Making his way downstairs, he looks over the wide space but frowns at the lack of bodies. It was obvious that there had to be some secret passage or tunnel that the cultists had to have gone through. As Hund begins to search the walls, Silas joins him in peeking over the various areas while trying to find a way through.
"I think I have something here!" Silas shouts to the militia and his comrades in arms.
Silas finds the passage behind the curtains, though he is quite sure it would have been better hidden had the room been in use. a few moments of shoving, followed by a few quick sword strokes, give you entry to the inner sanctum.
Below is a... concerning chamber. knouts, crops, and switches are amongst the more tame tools in here. four tables with straps are in the corner, and more chains are along the wall. No one is, thankfully, within them. nearby those chains and tabes are tools, knives, spikes, a brazier, and more... esoteric tools.
Four individuals are here, one being flogged by another, and a young man who is being simultaneously strangled and... stimulated by a young lady. all four take your intrusion poorly and take up what are passably weapons.
Who wants a fast turn?
Silas walks into the room after cutting down the thick curtain once more, stalking into the room behind it. His eyes widened as he took in the sights of the room. Knives, spikes, hot braziers, and even more esoteric and unusual tools were on display. His eyes moved towards the four others within it. They seemed to jump though, grabbing tools from the side and presenting them menacingly.
"Is that what you want to do? Get hot and bothered and then get cut down?" Silas growled out, holding his blade with a confident grip. "We ain't after you; just the good Brother and whomever else leads this cult. We have the militia here and then some. Is it worth dying?" The more that they fought, the more tired they would be. His side still stung with pain from the dagger earlier.
Baros stands behind his shield, spear aimed at the four men. "If it's pain you want just keep it up and I am happy to help," he says menacingly. He would have been happy just to run them through but he waits for Silas to finish talking.
As Silas finds the hidden door, Hund is right on his heels. The dog comes running through, claws clanking against the hard floor as his powerful legs propel him forward. He leaps at one of the cultists, aiming to use his momentum and weight to knock them to the floor while he snaps his jaws at their face.
The four youths seem to consider your words for a moment, heaving chests and blood-red faces, before they nod and try to scamper away through the curtain above... off to finish their business elsewhere unless anyone stops them.
then you are alone in a kink dungeon another apparent dead end.
Silas gives them a stare for a long, hard moment before the four of them seem to wisen up and move their activities elsewhere. He doesn't do anything to stop them, moving out of the way as they move by. He shakes his head after they pass, his eyes flickering around the room.
"F$*&ing kids." Silas mutters to himself as he looks back at the others, nodding. "Got to be somewhere else that everyone went. Keep searching."
Silas spots a manacle that is both extraneous, not part of a set and, unlike most of the manacles, without any blood or skin residue on it. it is almost certainly a disguised lever.
"Well I'll be..." Silas murmurs to himself before whistling for the group. Stepping to the side, he pull on the manacle once the group gathers and hopefully reveals a way ahead and not some nefarious trap.
"Had I not seen that with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it, who comes up with this nonsense?" Baros says to Silas.