Mirinde cares little if her bow misses, seeking to distract the cultists further...
;
Degan remains in the shadows near Mirinde, waiting to Backstab if any enemies get past the fighters and come for the elf.
Clancy can still feel the lingering protection that Justicia granted him, and so the cleric moves into the fray, swinging his warhammer in one hand and wielding his shield in the left. But his foe ducks the blow and the heavy warhammer slams into the wall behind him - and the iron head of the weapon breaks away from the haft as the wood splinters where they join together and the once-chicken farmer wonders where his luck went...
= Fumble!
Istevan slices into one of the cultists, and Mirinde finishes them off with a well-placed arrow. But Zathra's wild swing misses her foe. The cultists retaliate, stabbing Istevan in the leg and sweeping him off his feet and grazing Zathra in the arm!
Keeping his shield between himself and the cultists, Istevan bounces back to his feet: "Okay, good one. But you see what happened to your buddy, right? That's you next."
Mirinde is loath to call upon her powerful missiles here, due to the unsettling visions caused by the fell power, yet she also knew the party was still outnumbered...
Degan comes to Istevan's aid, moving out from hiding and striking at the foe that toppled the fighter.
Dropping the useless, broken warhammer, Clancy uses his shield to protect himself and makes a grab for the fallen cultist's spear. He isn't trained with the thrusting weapon as-is, but it might be useful as a staff...
Zathra swings wildly again, her eyes wide and her teeth bared. Degan moves to defend Istevan as the warrior gets to his feet, slicing the cultist that tripped him. Mirinde fires a weak magic missile at the same man.
Your foes grin savagely as they raise their spears again. But then, a voice calls out. "Hold! We need not shed more blood this day!" The cultists take a few steps back as a handsome man in heavy armor and carrying a two-handed morningstar over her his shoulder walks towards you from the far end of the hall. The vines seem to wriggle and writhe around him as he approaches.
"I am Azazel of the Light. Will you parlay with me? I believe we all fight for the same cause."
A grateful Istevan nods his thanks to Mirinde and Degan for their support, but remains on guard in the face of this newcomer: "And what cause is that?" he calls out from behind his shield. Turning his head slightly to catch Clancy's eye, he mouths "Of the Light?"
Mirinde eyes the newcomer skeptically here, Strange that he shows himself at this time...I trust him not! still she keeps quiet here whilst watching the interplay of the vines around him.
"I am the chosen vessel of life itself," Azazel proclaims. "I came to this foul place to eradicate the cult of the vile goddess known as the Carnifex. Here in the bowels of the earth, I discovered the source of her vile powers. But I could not destroy her. The best I could do was imprison her. My Pious and I have stood watch here since then, waiting for powerful heroes who might be able to lend their aid. I believe you are those heroes.
"Thus, for the greater good of all, I would ask you to venture down into the depths of this place. There you will find a statue with three rubies. These are the Jewels of the Carnifex. Destroy these jewels, and I will be able to complete the rites to finally eradicate the Carnifex, once and for all. Do this, I will reward you with all of the treasures I have found in this place."
Istevan glances at Clancy, hoping the cleric has some insight about the nature of this creature.
Lowering his shield slightly, Istevan points his sword at Azazel: "That sounds good, but I have questions. Like how do we know that destroying the jewels won't just release Carnifex, since you seem to be in league with these... er... cultists. Like, your powerful enough to take on a goddess, but not to breaks some gems that you created? Your story's full of holes, mate, and I'm not even the smart one in the group. Maybe we just find these rubies and sell them, yeh?"
Mirinde watches the exchange closely between the 'warrior of light' and her own companion here.
This one is not as it seems...yet how much of this is falsehood? The best lies rely upon a grain of truth, after all!
Briefly she considered calling upon her own patron, but quickly dismissed the idea. Time to rely upon her own wits.
"Forgive my companion's skepticism here but your story is a bit...outlandish. Still we do not wish this abomination loosed upon the land. How would we destroy these jewels? Can they be smashed by a typical hammer, or does something more potent be required?"
Clancy lowers his own weapon, not eager to shed more blood if it can be avoided. Still... he is unsure as to whether this man can be trusted. Vessel of Azazel? "If you had the power to imprison her, what makes you think we would have the power to destroy her? If your story is true?" The cleric adds.
"Alas, neither my Pious and I are able to approach the Jewels. Their enchantment wards them against those who are as holy as we. It is a divine comedy, indeed, that I need less holy allies to destroy them," Azazel says with a rueful smile.
"The statue that holds the jewels may be trapped or warded, but once they are removed, it should be a simple matter to shatter them with a hammer or similar instrument."
"I'm not the smart one either. But the story seems at least plausible to me. That these ones of 'the Light' could destroy a 'goddess' isn't so far-fetched; lots of cults have a deity that turns out to be not so deific.
But if you need someone less holy to steal some gems, I'm your man."
Clancy nods at Azazel's words. "Well spoken, and I do understand your plight and the need for goodly souls to take up your work. But I've not heard of you, though I admit that I am only recently come into the service of Justicia - so my knowledge of other religions is sorely lacking. With your permission, may I make certain that neither you nor your followers follow the path of evil with a simple spell?"
Though he knows he is risking further ire of Justicia, Clancy will cast a spell to detect for evil intent on the part of anyone close by, if their would-be patron allows him to do so. If Azazel denies his request, that might be answer enough for the cleric as to the true intentions of this stranger and he fades to the back of the group and casts the spell anyway, though he tries to be subtle about it...
Creatures of opposite alignment are potentially detected, as well as objects inherently dangerous in nature (such as traps and cursed weapons). Evil creatures are allowed no Will save and all creatures of opposite alignment are automatically detected within 180' and evil creatures and objects shine with an unholy light, visible to cleric and his allies both. In addition, a heavenly chorus trumpets strident tones of warning whenever the cleric views an evil creature.
Clancy casts his spell. Perhaps surprisingly, neither Azazel nor any of his followers glow with unholy light! They are not evil...
Clancy bows his head respectfully, then turns to the others. "I believe he speaks the truth, I sense no evil anywhere in this room." He turns back to Azazel and asks. "What foul creatures guard the statue? The more we know of what we might face, the better we might prepare ourselves. And may we spend some time resting here with you and your guardians? I must spend time in prayer with Justicia, in the hopes that She will find me worthy in Her eyes again."
Finally, Istevan lowers sword and board: "Whew! Well, thank Justicia for that. Sorry, Azazel, but it's a strange place and, so far, everyone's been quite unwelcoming."
Mirinde is somewhat surprised to discover the creature followed the path of Law. Still she knew these creatures, while they may be allies for now, would turn against the group...once their goal has been achieved.
"So Azazal, these cultists we encountered earlier, they all serve you and your cause? Forgive me but they seemed to follow the tenets of those who oppose you. Why does their appearance reflect those who worship that foul Death cult?"
"No creatures dwell in the vault below," Azazel says. "It is only the power of enchantment that keeps my Pious and I away from the statue. You should have no issues approaching it. You are welcome to rest in our sanctum until you are prepared to continue."
He turns to Mirinde. "Alas, my followers' appearance is a result of my connection with the Light. My presence causes growth in all living things: the plants here, and the people. Mortals are not meant to be in the presence of such power for long, and their bodies have warped in response. But once the Carnifex is dealt with, I will endeavor to seek a cure for their mutations and restore the beauty they once possessed."
Azazel gestures, and the Pious move to escort you further into the complex.
Mirinde nods slowly, clearly not convinced by the explanation here, but unwilling to discuss it further. "Very well Azazel, we accept your gracious hospitality. May we also trouble you for sustenance? our exertions have left us famished."
Once the party is settled in Mirinde approaches Clancy, "I can attempt to mend your broken weapon Clancy, as I foresee it will prove useful in the coming hours ahead."
Clancy smiles at Mirinde. "Thank you, I'd nearly forgotten with all that's happened since." As the elf uses her magic, he glances at Azazel. "I sense no evil in his intentions, nor in his followers, but I mistrust this. We should be careful as we seek out this Carnifex, and keep close watch this night as we take our rest."
The cleric speaks to the others of his thoughts as well, though never when their host might overhear.
Mirinde nods slowly as she takes the broken hammer in her slender fingers, wincing at the heft of the ungainly weapon. In her other hand is a mithril dagger, which she then proceeds to slide her forearm allowing her lifeblood to trickle down the haft of the weapon...
Istevan nods his assent: "yeah, I don't know if it's this place or what, but I don't trust anything we meet down here."
Istevan offers to take first watch, letting the casters get their sleep.
Azazel and his followers lead you to a large chamber that has been cleared of the vegetation that overruns so much of the ruined temple. While roots still poke through cracks in the ceiling and dark moss has laid claim to cracks in the floor, the bulk of the chamber has been cleared of debris. Nearly two score pallets line the floor, circling a large fire pit. The pallets are plaited from the root fiber and rest on mounds of moss. Wooden javelins harden beside the glowing coals, while suits of makeshift armor lie amid piles of scavenged metal.
The far wall is dominated by a towering alien idol woven of roots and reeds and stuffed with black moss. It towers over 14 feet above the floor, with thick, tentacle-like roots for arms and a strange, bulbous head ringed with five eyes. The moistened moss oozes a foul-smelling, viscous slime. A gold-plated decanter sits beneath the idol, catching the falling ichor.
"Choose a pallet and take your rest," Azazel bids you. He approaches the idol and genuflects before it. His followers repeat the motion before moving off to their own devices, though they continue to eye you warily.
Clancy will try to heal those that are wounded, praying to Justicia that she allow him this power. Though the going is difficult at first, the cleric relaxes a bit as the power of his goddess flows through him. A trickle only, but it is enough, and he counts his blessings before resting for the night. He reminds whoever is on first watch to wake him up in the hours before dawn.
= Failure! Disapproval = 8
= Success! Istevan can take 2 dice of healing, being an adjacent alignment (Neutral)
= Success! Zathra can take 3 dice of healing if she is Lawful, 2 dice of healing if she is Neutral, or 1 dice if she is Chaotic.