Ayaal knocks an arrow and draws her bowstring back to her cheek as she slides through gap in the doorway, trying to locate targets. She moves through the shelves/wreckage of the library, releasing an arrow towards the eye of the bastard threatening Fenna once she has a bead on him.
Arrows (40): xxx
Blunts (40):
Slow Burn (1):
Tangleshot (2):
Grappling (1):
Bit of Luck (7):
Channel Energy (5):
Ki Pool (5):
Perfect Strike (3):
Deflection Aura (1):
See Invisibility (1):
Shield (1):
Spells
2nd
> Barkskin (1):
> Boneshaker (1):
> Pro from Evil, Communal (1):
1st
> Bless (1): x
> Murderous Command (1):
> Shadow Trap (1):
> Shield (1):
Effects:
x = none
Angahaar follows along behind Ayaal. Once she looses her arrow, he grips his greatsword’s hilt as a feeling overtakes him. A feeling equal parts freezing cold amd white hot, anger and righteousness. It is the rage of dragons, roiling in his heart.
He unleashes a bellowing roar and charges in.
Anastasia trails behind the nimble Ayaal, giving space so as to not ruin her ambush. She reaches for a vial as they move, but hesitates as she considers the travel left in there day. "Might end up a bit of a slog..." she softly notes to herself before she reaches for a different vial instead. Taking one of her extracts of enlarge she had previously prepared and bringing it to her lips. Waiting to drink it until the arrow was freed.
As Ayaal attacked and Angaharr came through the door it was Anastasia who burst through the opening a moment later. Large and in charge, shouting to draw the main focus of their enemies. Whoever it might be.
The door, being ajar, provides no obstacle to your entrance, and as you push the door open you look upon the scene in progress. What appear to be four librarians are tied up on the floor in the middle of the room, while two tieflings stand guard with weapons drawn. On the far side of the room is one more custodian of this place and a man clad in crusader plate. His shield and mace are bloody, and a handful of fresh bodies on the floor are the likely source.
He turns to you in shock over being interrupted, an angry crazed look in his eyes.
"You'll make a good addition to my sacrifice!" he cries out.
The two tieflings to either side of the room turn in surprise at you opening the door, obviously not expecting to find anyone else coming here. They both pull light crossbows and launch a bolt each at Angahaar and Ana.
The man in the mail armor takes a step towards the four librarians in the center, holding his mace up to threaten an attack against one of them.
"Stop! Don't come any closer, I won't let you ruin this. I'll do it, I swear!"
Ayaal halts as ordered - not that she planned on getting closer. ”Stop! I’ll come no further… but you should really use that mace on this tiefling’s skull. He’s going to betray you.”
Arrows (40): xxx
Blunts (40):
Slow Burn (1):
Tangleshot (2):
Grappling (1):
Bit of Luck (7):
Channel Energy (5):
Ki Pool (5):
Perfect Strike (3):
Deflection Aura (1):
See Invisibility (1):
Shield (1):
Spells
2nd
> Barkskin (1):
> Boneshaker (1):
> Pro from Evil, Communal (1):
1st
> Bless (1): x
> Murderous Command (1): x
> Shadow Trap (1):
> Shield (1):
Effects:
x = none
Ayaal’s arrow hits the man but doesn’t take him down.
He seems to agree with Ayaal’s words, and will be attacking the tiefling on his next turn.
What was the answer on this?
Othniel channels some divine energy quickly into himself., then readies himself to spring forward when he can.
Anastasia waste no time once she is certain magic is afoot. She clears the door and gives an angry scowl at the cultist on her left who shot at her. She brings her warhammer back in a feigned strike, but instead lowers her shoulder and brings her shield level with the smaller enemies face to bowl him over. Giving a furious shout as she swings through his space to try and lay him out.
Angahaar charges in, bringing his greatsword to bear in a brutal arc on one of the tieflings.
Othniel makes his move as soon as the man in armor moves to strike his ally, putting himself in between the kneeling librarians and the man. Unfortunately, all of the movement involved makes his attack miss.
His mace instantly crushes in the tiefling's head and the lifeless corpse falls to the ground.
Ana charges through the other tiefling, knocking him to the ground before Angahaar slices through his body easily, killing the second one.
The man, wakening from his murderous thoughts, doesn't seem too effected by his accomplices gruesome deaths, and instead angry that his plans have been foiled.
"Is what I have done so far not enough for you to notice me?!" he cries out, banging his mace against his shield a few times in anticipation.
Angahaar takes a deep, shaky breath, battle-fury and dragon-blood singing through his veins. He hefts his blade again and his gaze snaps to the mace wielder.
With a terrifying smile he retorts, "Oh, do not worry. You have been noticed!" With that, he barrels towards the man and gets into a flank with Othniel before swinging his frost wreathed greatsword with a brutal strike.
Ayaal steps to one side, ensuring she has a clear line to the target. In the swirl of the melee, she tries to sink two arrows into the armored warrior.
Arrows (40): xxxxx
Blunts (40):
Slow Burn (1):
Tangleshot (2):
Grappling (1):
Bit of Luck (7):
Channel Energy (5):
Ki Pool (5):
Perfect Strike (3):
Deflection Aura (1):
See Invisibility (1):
Shield (1):
Spells
2nd
> Barkskin (1):
> Boneshaker (1):
> Pro from Evil, Communal (1):
1st
> Bless (1): x
> Murderous Command (1): x
> Shadow Trap (1):
> Shield (1):
Effects:
x = none
Othniel quickly channels magical power into his staff then lashes out with a two-handed strike from his quarterstaff.
Angahaar slams his sword into the man and hits hard, but the massive strike fails to bring him down.
Ayaal's arrows shoot towards him, but the man uses his shield to deflect both arrows and Othniel's quarterstaff.
"You'll have to try harder than that!" the man yells angrily, pointing his mace towards Angahaar.
Anastasia circles around the man they have ringed, needing to circle the hostages to get to him without trampling anyone under her boots.
The man will swing his mace at Angahaar, enjoying the battle a bit too much. His attempt goes wide, unfortunately, and he cries out in anger.
Ayaal is little vexed that her last arrows were so easily deflected. Her bow hums as she launches two more arrows at the warrior, taking deliberate aim at a gap in his armor on the first one.
Arrows (40): xxxxx
Blunts (40): xx
Slow Burn (1):
Tangleshot (2):
Grappling (1):
Bit of Luck (7):
Channel Energy (5):
Ki Pool (5):
Perfect Strike (3): x
Deflection Aura (1):
See Invisibility (1):
Shield (1):
Spells
2nd
> Barkskin (1):
> Boneshaker (1):
> Pro from Evil, Communal (1):
1st
> Bless (1): x
> Murderous Command (1): x
> Shadow Trap (1):
> Shield (1):
Effects:
x = none
Anastasia raises her warhammer high, even higher with her increased size, and brings it straight down on the cultist's head.
Othniel again tries to the wallop the armored man.
Ana, Othniel, and Ayaal combine to take him down, and he crumples under their strikes.
The librarian that was stacking books runs over to her companions and begins untying them, obviously trying to stay composed and not break down.
"T-thank you so much! You saved us from that monster." she says, looking over at the corpse of the man. She lays eyes on Aravashnial and calls out in panic and relief, somehow at the same time. "Riftwarden! I'm so glad to see you survived, although you look much worse for wear than even we are."
The elf turns towards the sound of her voice, even though he can't see her.
"Fenna, my friend. I am here, yet injured. The demons took my eyes away from me, but I will protect you and the others now." He turns to you before speaking again. "Thank you for getting me here, I know you don't want to leave me behind but you must. I will be safe here with them, and will meet you at the Defender's Heart."
The bird mask reveals little but the sudden cock of her head lets the team know that Ayaal thinks this is a questionable idea. Nevertheless, she isn't going to tell anyone how they should court death. "At least let us help you find a way to secure that front door."
Ayaal, peeks through the door to make sure no demons are around before closing and find a way to brace the door.
Anastasia frowns at the decision to stay. "We can't afford to stay here." she remarks, "I would advise you all to abandon the library, painful as it may be, and come with us." She was tense as she spoke, obviously uncomfortable with the thought of leaving someone behind.
Ayaal's suggestion at least gave her something better to do with her time. She had at least a pair of minutes left on her current extract. She began to try and shove several of the emptied book cases over toward the door. They could be tipped over after the group left.
"Don't worry, we will only remain behind long enough to secure what knowledge remains here. I appreciate your help so far, and am extremely grateful." Aravashnial says, already instinctively looking around at his old safe haven, even though he can't actually see it.
In Ayaal's search for something to brace the door (the empty bookcases will more than suffice), she discovers something quite unusual. Well, two things, but one is more immediately interesting. The first thing is a book amongst the pile that is actually a mostly damaged spellbook. The remaining intact pages contain the following spells: alarm, dismissal, dispel magic, magic circle against chaos, resist energy, and versatile weapon.
The second, and more interesting, thing is a half-dozen leathery gray strips of what appears at first to be flesh, but that, upon closer examination, looks to be dried worms of some sort about as long as a human finger. When presented to Aravashnial (no one in the group has Knowledge (nature) but he does), he is quickly able to identify that the worms don't come from any known species of the natural world.
The librarians profusely thank you for saving them once again, and offer you the spellbook as a reward. When the worms are brought up in their presence, Fenna shudders before speaking up.
"There was some...abomination, a man-shaped swarm of worms that used magic and enslaved demons to take down the sanctuary. I think it took some artifacts from the stores around and below this single standing building before destroying the rest, but I don't know which ones. I'm sorry I couldn't stop it or be more helpful, Riftwarden." she says, hanging her head.
Angahaar scowls at the news, "Bad tidings. I can't say I know what sort of beast that is, but it can't be good."
He shakes his head, "Little we can do about it now."
With that, he gets to helping Ana in securing the doors against any unwelcome guests.
Othniel remains silent for a long moment, considering trying to argue with his uncle. but he's a stubborn old bat. I'd probably get nowhere. Decision made, he calls out to Aravashnial. "Be careful Uncle. I expect to meet you again at the Defender's Heart. Until then."
"Fear not, nephew, I'll be there shortly. Just have to clean up all of this mess those unpleasant cultists left behind. You, go on, I'll catch up with you."
He says, smiling in the general direction of Othniel and the rest of the group.
Ayaal packs the spellbook and takes one of the flattened worms, in case they can glean more information from it later. "Ready to go."
Ana pauses at the mention of the worm man. Interesting concept. Rather than a mutation to the body it is a transmutation or... translocation of the spirit to another vessel? Frightening. Despite he chosen word to describe the process her mind was clearly reeling over the implications and potential implementation.
Looking over the spellbook Ana raised her brow in a note of surprise. Huh, I can work some of these into formulae. I think.
Leaving the library, the path towards the Defender's Heart continues to the north, but you have to curve west to head through the break in the wall to move towards Nyserian Manor Ruins , or head northeast through the ruins to reach Gwerm Manor , depending on which you want to go to first.
"Well, to Gwerm manor? We can leave another of our civilians at their ease." Ana suggests.
”Agreed, let’s make sure that his manor’s safe and then drop him off.”
"Sounds like a good plan." Ayaal moves quietly, ahead of the group, eyes looking for trouble.
"Very well." Othniel says, looking around a little bit nervously. He still didn't feel great about leaving his uncle behind, given his condition.
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"Ah, thank you, at last." Horgus says, obviously exasperated. "I expect it to be picked clean, but I hope it at least still stands."
The ruined roads and destroyed houses get worse and worse in condition as you travel closer to the great rift in the ground opened by the Storm King and his minions. The road is covered in rubble at places and requires expert care when traversing across it.
In an open clearing about a half hour after you leave the library, a group of a half dozen armored crusaders stand around a woman kneeling amongst a pile of rubble from a nearby building. The eyes of the crusaders reflect the burning wreckage nearby with a feverish light, and their faces and armor is covered in ashes.
The group doesn't seem to notice you as you approach, focused on the woman as they are. One of the crusaders, a woman with fresh still bleeding scars across her face, steps forward with her sword drawn.
"Fear not, innocent one. Your sacrifice will aid our defense of this town, and the greater good. I am sorry we have to do this."
"What madness is this, soldier? Sacrificing an innocent... is what demons do, not crusaders. Explain yourself."
Anastasia's brow shoots up in surprise at the sight of a drawn sword being leveled at the girl. "CULTISTS!" she shouts in fury, "Step away from that child! I will crush your backs under my hammer if you lay a hand on her!"
As Othniel moves forward, he speaks a few words of Celestial and gestures with his free hand. Six gallons of water appear from the air just above the armored ruffians and splash across them, hopefully providing a moment's distraction.
The female knight at the center of the circle of crusaders turns towards you, sword dropping to her side as she pushes the water away from her.
"You don't understand, don't you remember the stories from folklore? Covering a blade in the blood of an innocent makes your weapon pierce the hide of the demons."
Clearly this group of downtrodden crusaders has been through a lot lately, and as they turn towards you you can see the remnants of countless battles against horror. Broken weapons and smashed armor are all that's left of most of their gear, and not much hope remains in their eyes.
"We...we have to do this." she says in desperation, obviously at the end of whatever rope remains.
"Cold iron cuts through demon resistance you ignorant clod!" Ana shouts the woman down, "I am an alchemist! There are no properties to innocent blood that differs from that of any other. The power of faith is in a person's heart. You can't cut it out and bottle it. Step back from the girl, or you will be fighting me the moment you touch her."
Anastasia hefts her hammer and clenches her other enlarge person extract in her shield hand.
"I serve Shelyn as her priestess. I can assure you, dipping your weapons in the blood of an innocent does nothing but damns your souls. Sheathe your weapons and step away from the girl."
Angahaar narrows his eyes, "You will get but one chance to step away and repent. When all this is over, how will you be able to look at yourselves? Your efforts here will fail, and the innocent blood on your blades will turn to rust as your spirit falls to sin and depravity."
The woman listens to the arguments and finally seems to accept that you're right. You can see the slump in her shoulders as she realizes their error.
"These past few days have been so awful. I don't even know if it has been a few days, or even more. How long has it been since the Protector of Kenabres fell? We all miss her, and countless others that have died."
"How can we carry on surviving, when even she could not?" she asks, looking to you with hollow eyes.
Angahaar takes a deep breath. He rolls up his sleeve, showing the patches of silver scales on his arm, "Terendelev is dead. She was the greatest among us, that much cannot be denied. Her blood carries on in me. But more so than that, her spirit carries on in all of us. Terendelev may be dead, but she is not gone. As long as brave souls stand against the darkness, champion the light, protect the innocent and bring justice and if necessary, destruction to the wicked, she remains. If nothing else, carry on with righteousness in your heart for her."
"It is your choice if you give up or continue on." Ana remarks, "No one can find your strength for you. It is something we all have to struggle with." She puts her warhammer away and steps forward to place her hands on the child the crusaders had threatened.
"Are you alright girl?" she asks, "We can take you to safety."
"What choice do we have, besides carrying on? I'm not going to give up and submit to the 'tender mercies' of those demons."
"You're...you're right, of course." the woman says, getting to her knees and replacing her helmet that had been thrown to the ground.
"Forgive us for losing our way, brothers and sisters, but we must return to the path of righteousness now." she says, looking around her group and offering a hand to the girl on the ground. The girl doesn't take it, instead running over to Ana and wrapping her arms around her in a hug. The woman doesn't look offended, obviously understanding the nature of the situation.
"Thank you for saving me, I thought I was dead for sure. I am okay, they didn't do anything to me. I'm Klarah, what's your name?"
The woman continues speaking to Angahaar, not looking over at Klarah.
"Do you know of any gathering place for defenders rallying? We have much to atone for, and some help would be a good start."
"We don't know for certain, but we believe the Defender's Heart may be a good place to start."
Ana's scarred features soften and she returns the hug despite her surprise. "My name is Anastasia little one." she offers with a thin smile. She gives a sidelong look to Ayaal at the mention of Defender's Heart. It would be good to get more people to safety.