Sarela frowns. Attacking the guards would give away that the wall was an illusion, but one of them had clearly realized it was fake anyway. The plan had been to hug the wall and head for a tower to get up onto it. Sarela looked at Morthos and Seltyiel, gesturing towards the two guards, then the other way, as if silently asking, Attack, or move away?
Morthos motions back toward the tower, figuring they are better served if the guards have to fight them all instead of just a few of the party. He then leads the way as he nonchalantly retreats back into the tower, drawing his shield as he does and strapping it on. "Be ready. Two more guards and another canine. One guard has seen through your illusion, Demian. They'll be along shortly," he states as a matter of fact.
Sarela nods, gives a little wave to the guard who can see them, and glides into the darkened tower. before taking up a position where she can strike should they pursue. She says, "If they don't come in to pursue us, we should just leave the tower and run alongside the wall in the opposite direction as we originally intended to, until we can get to one of the other watchtowers."
With the other prisoners retreating back into the tower, Barnabas holds his position.
Sarela nods, gives a little wave to the guard who can see them, and glides into the darkened tower. before taking up a position where she can strike should they pursue. She says, "If they don't come in to pursue us, we should just leave the tower and run alongside the wall in the opposite direction as we originally intended to, until we can get to one of the other watchtowers."
Nodding, "Agreed. We shall give them a few moments and then we shall proceed accordingly."
You make it back safely inside the tower. The guard who can see you shows the other one the truth about the illusion. "Look what they did. C'mon we're too late to help. Back to the wall." The guards retreat back the way that they came.
Demian releases his concentration and the illusory stone diappears. As he does so he spits a curse and adds, "Of course there was a patrol!"
Morthos looks to Demian stoically. "Do not concern yourself, Demian. It served its purpose. And as it appears they are not following, let us proceed as Sarela mentioned."
"If we can sneak along the western wall, we might be able to avoid detection by the guards on that side until we get to the next tower and climb up to the wall so we can head to the gatehouse."
Demian closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath. Afterward he just shrugs and stays silent.
You hear the growls of the guard dog grow quieter as the guards from the east retreat.
Sarela sets about hugging the wall, trying to keep the two guards on the western wall from sighting her. She'd done quite a bit of sneaking during dance school, especially when she led Aldina to her death.
Eowithe covered the others retreat back into the building, keeping an arrow ready incase the guards attacked.
She nods at the suggested course of action, "Hopefully, on the wall we'll encounter the guards only a few at a time..."
Not keen on being this exposed, Barnabas sticks to the shadows,
, cringing as he manages to find every dry stick in the courtyard.
Demian tries his best to be unseen as they travel.
Morthos follows behind the others at a quiet as pace as possible and appears completely unconcerned.
Sarela and Eowithe make it across without any issues. The door into the tower has no lock. Inside is a roughly 20ft. diameter circular room with a spiral staircase in the middle leading up to the wall. A trapdoor leads down to an empty storeroom.
Barnabus unfortunately makes a noise that draws the attention of the 2 guards. "What? They're trying to sneak out!"
The guards try to shoot directly down at him, but this seems very difficult.
Sarela turns to Eowithe and says, "It looks like one of the others got seen. Up the stairs, quick, we'll need to provide cover!"
Sarela goes up the stairs.
Demian sprints through the doorway to the small tower.
Cursing, Barnabas hugs the wall and dashes for the tower stairs.
Eowithe winces as one of the following escapees reveals themselves. SHe nods to Sarela and joins her in sprinting up the stairs...
With the jig being up, Morthos moves toward the tower in what he would clearly describe as a 'hurried pace'.
All of you make it inside the bottom of the tower. Eowithe and Sarela climb the stairs to the wall level 30ft. above.
The guards see you run past and stand together with arrows trained on the doorway to the wall tower.
Morthos draws his shield and straps it on as he makes his way up the stairs.
Barnabas heads up the stairs to regroup with the rest of the team.
You all climb the stairs together, able to see the guards about 40ft. away through the doorway. They don't fire into the tower and just wait, nervously.
Demian flashes a quick mirk, and dramatically raises one hand while the other rests on his ostentatious hat. "STONE!" he yells as he raises his hand. A stone wall swiftly raises in front of the guards, blocking their view of the party.
Afterward Demian bows extravagantly and gestures toward the guards as one would an opened door.
Sarela grins and says, "An archer's volley, I think. Let's pincushion them."
Drawing forth her bow, she sights on the left guard and fires her arrow.
Eowithe catches Sarela's eye and smiles her agreement, fixing her gaze on the guard on the right; in an instant evaluating his capabilities. Holding her breath for a beat, she releases her arrow at her target. As she does, she pronounces Asmodeus' judgement on the unfortunate fellow!
Seeing the two guards alone and vulnerable, Barnabas lets his boodlust overcome him and charges:
He clutches the guard and bares his canines with a hiss.
With the situation being what it is, Morthos follows after the monk, heading towards the two guards.
Through the solid looking stone fly 2 arrows, revealing the illusion to the guards. One of them is hit by Sarela.
Barnabus charges out at the startled guards, with the bows ready, they loose and their arrows graze his armour. They can do nothing as he gets one of them in his clutches.
Morthos and Seltyiel also move up towards the guard that Sarela hit. He steps back and fires at Morthos again.
Taking a step forward, Morthos strikes at the guard.
Struggling with his victim, Barnabas pins the man's arms to his sides. With a vicious grin of triumph, he bites the the guard's neck, drawing power from his blood.
Sarela frowns as Morthos and Barnabas block her field of fire. Still, it looked like Barnabas had one trapped in his tentacle. She moved forward, fixing the other guard with her stare, before casting a spell to overwhelm his senses.
Demian, with the standard wicked smile on his face, advances forward and releases some of his will into the closer guard's mind to scramble it for the moment his allies need.
"Get him off me!" The guard being drained by Barnabus pleads.
Unfortunately neither guard can try to escape or help as they are both dazed by Sarela and Demian.
Seltyiel flanks with Morthos, driving his claws into the guard.
Eowithe shoots another arrow but is unable to shoot around her allies.
Barnabas continues to feed and tries to throttle the life from his victim.
Morthos pushes the attack.
With Morthos distracting the guard, Seltyiel drives his claws in deep, bringing the guard down finally.
Barnabus drains his victim again, increasing his own vitality at the guard's expense.
Sarela drops her bow and strides forward, drawing her scimitar as she goes, approaching Barnabas's opponent with a malicious stare and slashing at an exposed vein. "Here, let me help you bleed him out faster."
Demian begins walking toward the held guard, drawing his dagger as he goes. But, about halfway there, he stops and stares at the scene. Seeing Barnabus feed on the guard would have made him feel indifferent at best. This time however, he was enraptured. A hunger seemed to call to Demian from within himself to join Barnabus, or feast on the other guard.
Eowithe holds her shot as the only target standing is already grappled.
Sarela and Demian move forward with Sarela helping to bleed the guard.
On the verge of unconsciousness and death, the guard desperately tries to get out of Barnabus' grasp but is too weak.
Feeling his victim weaken in his grasp, Barnabas continues to feed, savoring every last drop.
Demian continues to be mesmerized as Barnabus finishes off his victim.