Watching the group finally emerge from the Tower, Ahmose sighs as it's his group coming out of the Tower.
There are those Asshat cultists in tow still...
The Alchemist regretfully places his Alchemist Fire back where it belongs, before trailing the group back to Defender's Heart.
Viewing the further destruction and murder done at the safe house, the Blue Whisper does not make any eye contact with those lying in pieces. Instead the Blue-scaled Kobold enters the Heart and orders a strong drink....
Cecily goes through the motions during the meeting as if she's in a daze. After the meeting, she heads out into the yard and sees to Lushya's body, taking it down from the donkey and placing her with the others for burial. She stays with her for a while, quietly reminiscing the good times and the bad until late into the night.
On the way back, Thawm notices Cecily's injuries as well as those of the surrendered cultists.
She manages to heal Cecily little by little on the way back as the prisoners slow the group down, too preoccupied with healing to notice the shadow that isn't merely an absence of the light.
After fretting a bit but before handing over the prisoners, Thawm mends the injuries Ahmose inflicted also.
Thawm looks very uncomfortable on the way to see Irabeth. When Aroden mentions that he is now a soldier, she almost immediately perks up and barely lets him finish his statement.
"Requesting permission to deploy to the Casualty Collection Point, Ma'am." She says with a salute.
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Irabeth nods grimly as the party reports their findings, ”We’ve heard mention of these crystals before, and I fear that they’re tied to something far worse than what’s already happened to Kenabres. Please follow me, we should talk to Quednys.”
As you walk Irabeth answers Aroden, ”And I was worried that I couldn’t impose on you any longer. I’m happy to have you, and any of the rest of you in the Eagle Watch, even if it’s only temporary. You can swear an oath if you like, at least until the crisis in Kenabres is over. Do you think Sir Tandyn would make a good field sergeant for your team?”
War Council
The meeting consists of the party, Irabeth, Anevia, a tall and imposing half-elven woman who is introduced as Tethys the leader of the Ash Ravens, and Quendys Orlun a wizened man with white hair on a balding pate, and a tattoo of an eagle on the side of his face.
After giving your report Quendys explains, ”When the wardstone was destroyed by the Storm King, it exploded and destroyed the Kite. The network along the border failed, but did not fade completely. I believe this is because a significant portion of our wardstone still exists, and that the cultists have taken it to the old garrison in Old Kenabres. What you’ve brought us almost confirms that they’re hoping to engineer a way to somehow corrupt wardstones with these Nyhindrian Crystals. I’ve read that they’re the crystalized remains of murdered demon lords, the power they hold could in theory be used for this. They would use our greatest defense as a devastating weapon.”
Anevia slams her hand on the table, ”That was the play! And why they haven’t attacked en masse after Kenabres fell. They expected Mendev to send its armies to the border. That witch Areelu was counting on it. Line us all up next to the wardstones, and bam take out the entire network and us next to it.”
Tethys nearly growls, ”There’s no way we can evacuate the border. I doubt most would give up the defensive line even if they knew the ploy.” She suggests darkly, ”Destroy it, the remaining part of the wardstone. No wardstone, they can’t corrupt it.”
"It does like us, doesn't it. I like the new legs, but it's not really a shadow of you any more, is it?"
Dorek glances down at his twisted shadow contemplatively, as though realizing its strange nature for the first time. "I don't t-think it ever was, to tell you the t-truth. I think it said it was an 'aspect' of s-some sort - some part of a g-greater being. It's b-been with me since I was a young b-boy, but it doesn't know m-much about this world, so it fits into my s-shadow as a reference for how to have a head, two arms, two legs, all that - kind of like a m-mold, from the foundry. Half the time, it's like a c-child, and the other half the time, I don't think it even k-knows how to exist in this w-world." At Tandyn's question about its name, he shrugs. "It's a being of s-sound, of shadows - of t-thought, in some intangible way. Its name is... a p-part of itself, like your arm or leg is to you - at least, I t-think so, though I've never really understood that part. It uses the p-phrase Resonance-Sharpened-Shadows - though I don't know if that's a n-name, a description, or if the phrase itself is an a-appendage of some sort. The g-greater thing, the thing it's an aspect of, has a m-much longer name, though I've always called it the Shadowed Thing. It's not h-harmful, I don't think - it fights the D-darkness, needs the l-light to exist."
As the group walks, Dorek nods as Aroden speaks of his conscription into the Mendevian army, grim determination on his features. "I'm n-no crusader, but I'll f-follow Tandyn. My g-great-grandfather saw our c-clanhold fall, and his s-son saw the same at D-drezen - as you s-say, Irabeth, I will swear a b-blood oath, on my own s-soul and the s-spirits of my clan, that we will d-drive the demons back." After a moment, he glances nervously at the half-orc paladin. "So is there any n-news of my family? Our g-goddess should protect them, but I d-don't know if she can d-defeat the entire c-cultist army... and they were in the M-market Square when the attack h-hit." His crimson eye anxiously searches Irabeth's face for a sign - a raised eyebrow, a sidelong glance, anything that might inform him that his family yet lives and is safe from the creatures that ravage their city.
At the war council, Dorek glances around the room as Irabeth lays out the dire straits they find themselves in. "The w-wardstone has protected Kenabres for y-years - but if we d-destroy what is left of it, we can s-save the rest of Mendev's c-cities." He glances out the door to where the underground crusaders practice in the courtyard of the Defender's Heart. "W-what about the old t-tunnels? An old s-smuggler in the w-work crew told me that they s-stretch below most of the city. The G-gray Garrison is by the d-docks - if those caverns were c-carved out by the r-river, they could lead s-straight into the heart of the fortress. Lann and the other F-first Descendants might know." He idly twirls one of his knives as his one-eyed gaze sweeps over the crude map of what is left of the city. "Not as m-many would be able to g-go, but a f-few people could do a l-lot - open doors, s-steal weapons, jam g-gates..."
Thawm pouts as they handle more important matters than tending to those already treated for their injuries.
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Ahmose holds his hand up when Irabeth asks for a good field sergeant for the team.....
"They would use our greatest defense as a devastating weapon.”
”Destroy it, the remaining part of the wardstone. No wardstone, they can’t corrupt it.”
"It is always a pleasure to meet new allies." Tandyn nods to the new members of the War Council. "I think we're all in agreement then. The wardstone must be destroyed and quickly. Let's plan this out."
"First, let's talk about the old garrison. Is anyone familiar with its layout? Do we know anything about the forces who may be guarding it? Dorek has suggested potential entry through the old tunnels, what are your recommendations?"
"As for the wardstone, do we know how to destroy one? Can any equipment do the job or do we need something like adamantine? Is there more to it than breaking it apart?"
"Who can be freed up to do this? Our team is still in good condition, and I believe we're all on board. Are there others who should assist us or distract our enemies?"
"What resources can be mustered to ensure success?"
"And finally, what have I missed? Can anyone think of anything else we need to cover while we're here?"
Cecily manages a hoarse "Baroness Leeford...Cecily," by way of introduction, but keeps to the side. It briefly occurs to her that the field sergeant gig should be hers by right, but the thought has barely formed by the time that Sir Tandyn is already well along with the actual planning. Tandyn has a handle on things, clearly.
For now.
She does speak up, eventually. "What news from Nerosyan? Have they been attacked as well then? I should like to get news to my Father, and let him know of the danger of traitors. And Sir Tandyn, we should rest. We all need it, I think. We have barely stopped since this started."
"Sir Tandyn will make an excellent field sergeant for this mission. I will follow his command.
As to destroying the Wardstone, I suspect that mere force will not do it, even with adamantine weapons."
Anevia looks at Dorek with sad eyes, ”I’m sorry my friend, we haven’t found them yet.”She turns to Cecily, ”Nerosyan still stands, we’ve received word that they are sending aid to us and a number of other border cities.”
Irabeth answers Tandyn, ”The Gray Garrison is three stories, with one entrance. It lacks windows but there is one set of shutters above the front entrance that you could climb. The doors are stone and could be barred from the inside. Unfortunately I don’t think we can tunnel under the structure without having to mine from below. It was a garrison at one time but before the fall it was a museum. It seems to be the cultist’s main base of operations left in Kenabres and so their defense is high.”
Tethys lays out a plan, ”The First Descendants will attack known cultists strongholds from sniping positions but allow them to send runners to request aid,” Tethys puts a hint of sarcasm on Descendants when she speaks. She gestures to herself, ”After we see defenders leave to shore up other places in Kenabres the Raven’s cavalry we will harass any remaining defenders outside the garrison and try to draw them to an ambush led by Tirabade and the Eagle Watch.” Then she points at Tandyn, ”With most of their forces away, it will allow you and your team to assault the garrison. We believe you are best positioned to do this.”
Quednys sets a silver rod with an emerald set at one end on the table, ”This is a rod of cancellation. While such an item would have no hope of draining an intact wardstone, in its diminished state, it might be potent enough to do so. Thinking back I believe the Kenabres wardstone has been targeted repeatedly over the years in order to weaken it. I don’t think it's possible, at least in the short term, to attempt the same plan with another wardstone.”
Finally Irabeth adds, ”Please rest and prepare for the assault. If you need any gear please talk to Tipton, I’ve asked that they provide you with access to what we have.”
Ahmose is seen writing done notes on this Gray Garrison mark....
The Blue-scaled Kobold glances up from his notes.
Was this Gray Garrison known (or preferably not known) for hoarding a plethora of liquid currency?
The Alchemist does seem a bit perturbed at the purposefully and pointed ignoring of his (still) raised hand for Commander duty....
Aroden talks to Tipton, and graciously accepts a Mithral Chain Shirt from the Eagle Watch inventory. He donates the MW Chain Shirt that he had been using. He also asks to take a scroll of Haste.
He then takes the dwarf's spellbook and studies it.
First, he uses his bonded item to cast Read Magic, as he had not prepared the spell. He then deciphers all of the spells in the book.
Second, he attempts to follow the procedure for casting Invisibility. This takes him an hour.
Third, he procures the necessary inks to transcribe the spell into his spellbook. This will take 2 hours and cost 40 gp.
The hour is getting late, so he heads to sleep.
---
In the morning, he directly prepares Resist Energy from the dwarf's spellbook. He also prepares a few other spells.
1: Burning Hands (DC 15), True Strike, Feather Fall, Liberating Command
2: Resist Energy, Human Potential, See Invisibility
At Irabeth's offer, Dorek makes his way to what remains of the Eagle Watch's supply stock alongside Aroden and whoever else is searching the inventory, picking through the pile of loose items before emerging with a hood of dark fabric, raising his eyebrows appreciatively. "L-look at this! It's a pramug - you s-see the little cords here, they would t-tie to a shirt or c-cloak, to keep travelers d-dry in the rain. Probably belonged to some K-kellid demon-hunter or s-something - it's in g-good condition, except for the d-dust." He turns it over in his hands, dusting off the hood before experimentally fastening it to his own foundry uniform - as he does so, the shadows in the dark room seem to flow and shift around him, veiling his form, and he unfastens it again, giving it a surprised look.
"This is truly amazing! This..." He tilts his head to one side, and shadowy spider legs dance at the edges of the guttering lantern's light. "This belonged to someone... Sharpened? What does that..." He pauses, his brow furrowing. "...One who fought the Darkness and won - or at least, pushed it back." He shrugs. "Regardless, it is a good omen - and who knows? It may be useful." Folding the hood, he presents it to Tipton before leaving the Eagle Watch's stockpile, tucking his new acquisition away in a pocket. "T-this one will be my t-tally from Irabeth."
As Aroden works on his arcane magic, Dorek finds a place to sleep in a cramped storage area under a flight of stairs - those listening closely at the door hear soft words in Hallit intoned almost reverently deep into the night, before he finally rests in preparation for the coming battle.
During a lull in the fighting, the heroes gazed up at the hill, where the Herald of Darkness had gathered the four bells that, according to his captured followers, would 'bring an end to the light.' As the battle raged on, the Herald stepped forward, his ceremonial staff grasped in one withered claw, and struck the first bell.
Immediately, those close to the bells grimaced and covered their ears as peal after peal of cacophanous ringing asserted itself over the fray. Unperturbed, the Herald stepped forward to the second bell, bringing his staff around to strike it as the heroes frantically cut swathes through his army in order to reach him. As the second bell began, the raucous noise of the first bell faded where the peals interfered - where they overlapped, however, the chimes began to merge, combine, like a whetstone sharpening a sword. The cultists near the bells collapsed, and all on the battlefield winced, clapping their hands over their ears. Visibly fighting to stay upright, the Herald struck the third bell, and where its tones amplified the tones of the first two, the world began to crack. Stones crumbled, trees uprooted, bones were stripped from flesh. And though the Herald had crumpled, dead, at the first peal of the third bell, something extended into this reality to strike the fourth bell.
As soon as the fourth bell struck its first peal, everything went quiet. Dorek looked around at his companions, mouthing silent words of inquiry, only to receive puzzled looks in response. A darkness passing over them caused them to look up, just in time to see the last sliver of light from the sun vanish forever. In the darkness, Dorek's daemon-touched vision picked out a blot far above, a hole in the sky where something had entered the world - a twisting, spiraling being far above in the sky, absolute nothingness silhouetted against reality, a silent song stretching out over a world devoid of light or sound. To either side of him, Tandyn and Cecily stared up at the being, transfixed, black tears carving a path down their faces. Feeling something wet on his cheek, Dorek reached up tentatively...
...and as his hand came down wet with black tears, he jolted awake, whimpering.
The next morning, Dorek gathers his equipment before joining the group, a makeshift bandage tied firmly around a long gash in the palm of his hand and a look of determination on his features. "The d-demons won't wait for long - we shouldn't delay."
"And Sir Tandyn, we should rest. We all need it, I think. We have barely stopped since this started."
"Absolutely. This has been a long and very difficult day. Let's make sure we're supplied, organized, and well-rested for tomorrow."
"As for the 'field sergeant' talk, all of your assessments have been very kind. Please don't let this to change things between any of us. I would also like to thank everyone for continuing to fight for Kenabres. It's never easy to put that ahead of personal matters, but ultimately it means we'll be saving as many lives as possible. On that note, let's go buy some gear."
Tandyn walks with the group to Tipton and purchases the well-crafted full plate he'd previously been admiring as well as a backpack designed for heavier loads.
He then seeks out Kimroth, the owner of Defender's Heart. "Good evening Kimroth. Our team will be setting out for a very difficult and critical mission tomorrow. I don't know the state of your lodgings, but I would like to secure the best available. Oh... and if it isn't too much trouble, access to your finest bath."
Cecily takes a moment to browse the wares to take her mind off of the past day and finds a pair of soft leather gloves with small iron caps across the knuckles and hands over some coin for them.
Then she heads to Aroden and presents the wand that she had traded for during their last stop here.
"I felt rather vulnerable to that goat-thing during our last fight, and the person I got this from suggested that it could help with that. Can you teach me to use it?"
"Of course, Cecily.
You do not wish to wear armor? This mithral is quite light and not cumbersome at all. You would certainly have the strength to wear it.
No worries. The wand is simple. You channel your force of will through it like so..."
"I have tried, it was part of the crusader training, but it's a bit restrictive with some of the movements that Terendelev taught for avoiding attacks in the first place. Perhaps it might help, but I would like to try- oh!"
She twirls the tip of the wand around and with a flash of sparks and the faint ring of a hammer on steel, the wand goes off and Cecily finds herself swathed in bands of magical force.
"Well, that was quite easy! Thank you. I wonder what else I can do..."
Gray Garrison
A large stretch of buckled ground and rubble stretches before the Gray Garrison, an aptly named structure that squats across from the open ground that once stood before the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell. That cathedral is no more—nothing remains but a towering mound of rubble and a deep, jagged rift in the ground.
The attack plan goes off well. After the Ash Ravens draw the remaining defenders off, only three people remain to guard the only entrance to the Garrison. All three of the men are morbidly obese and completely naked. They are armed with scythes.
One of the men, you all recognize, though his weight has increased dramatically, is Lord Hulrun Shappok. The last time you saw him was him commencing Armasse days ago. Why the old inquisitor is guarding a cultist stronghold with only a scythe you cannot fathom.
Round 1
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As the last defenders of the citadel rush out of their hiding place, Dorek scowls, stepping out of the shadows with his cold iron blade at the ready...
...only to stop dead in his tracks as he recognizes his brother, reshaped by some strange magics, standing before the gates to the fortress. "That one, on the r-right - that's my b-brother! He... he c-can't be a c-cultist - they m-must have his mind somehow." Turning to his allies, he points at the distant foes with his short blade. "They're p-possessed - don't h-hurt them too badly, and we can s-still save them!" He holds his blade at the ready for a moment, grimacing as he looks at his brother's twisted form - after a moment of indecision, he charges into battle with a shouted prayer to his goddess, his blade held before him as he dashes forward and strikes the shoemaker firmly between the eyes with its hilt. Where it strikes, something about it - or perhaps its wielder's Hallit prayers - seems to repulse the lingering traces of demonic aura around him, pushing the tainted metaphysical presence of the Abyss back from his brother's body.
Thawm approaches much more slowly, poised to strike, one hand holding her loaded crossbow and her other hand ready to call down the wrath of the Dawnflower.
"Drop it!" Thawm explains before casting Grease (DC 15) on the scythe of the advancing foe.
"Lord Hulrun! Lord Kandro! Why are you so...healthy?"
"That one, on the r-right - that's my b-brother! He... he c-can't be a c-cultist - they m-must have his mind somehow."
"Your brother? Here? They must be expecting us..."
Tandyn rushes forward as quickly as his new armor allows and keeps an eye on Hulrun.
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Ah, yes, that is Dorek's - and there he goes.
Aroden cannot hit a DC 28 Perception.
He has his sword in hand.
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Dorek charges forward bashing his brother's head, leaving a dent rather than a lump after Dorek pulls his weapon away.
Kandro steps ahead and immediately drops the scythe held in his hands. He looks at Thawm and smiles and then a mouth within Kandro's mouth bites Dorek, taking a chunk from his shoulder!
The Huresk moves slowly maneuvers around Dorek while taunting him, "Did you know this meat? Your attachment makes you weak."
Hulrun's eyes turn pitch black and lashes of negative energy strike Tandyn and Dorek, sapping their life; and also striking Huresk healing his wounds.
Cecily streaks across the field, letting her momentum carry her into what might once have been Dorek's brother.
"Dorek, I don't think that's your brother, and I don't think those are Lord Hulrun and Lord Kandro."
"Powerful necromancy! And that one is healed by it! They may be undead!"
Aroden moves up and uses Total Defense.
4 damage
Tandyn carefully moves into flanking with Dorek and slices into Hulrun.
"Enough of that, not-Hulrun!"
Dorek looks desperately into the eyes of the thing that wears his brother's face, seeking any recognition, any memories of the childhood spent playing amongst the market stalls, the nights spent in counsel with their goddess in the secret shrine beneath their home. As the creature taunts him, however, spitting curses through unfamiliar lips, Dorek's eye widens in horror as he realizes there may truly be nothing left of his brother, and he steps back only to receive a bite from the thing that was Lord Nyserian. As the unholy energy of the creatures' prayers washes over him, his spindly form spasms as the evil power assaults his soul.
At Aroden's words, his look of horror turns to a ferocious scowl - far more wrathful than his compatriots have ever seen the normally anxious tiefling. "Undead? By all the gods - you monsters take everything! Well, I won't let you take this!" Drawing his other blade, he steps behind the thing with his brother's face, raising his swords to strike - he hesitates only for a moment, muttering something in Hallit before bringing his blades down into the creature's back.
"I'm quite sure I would have noticed the extra mouth when I had tea with Lord Kandro several months ago!"
"Undead!? Maybe now is a good time for that thing you showed me after the war-room? Shall we pool our strength?" Thawm asks before beginning to cast Summon Monster 1.
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Ahmose eagerly slides a black talon casually across a shiny piece of Mithral chain shirt in anticipation....
Ahmose silently watches the preparations being pursued by his company. The Alchemist takes out his Mutagen, drinks it and the Blue Whisper immediately becomes a bit more Dexterous. His glossy blue scales become a bit more Naturally Armored.
Not recognizing any of the Bare Naked Ladies, the Alchemist does turn his head once Dorek begins lamenting about one of them being his brother. Hesitating a bit, as the Rogue Charges into the fray, Ahmose 's blue eyes widen at the vicious bite that Dorek's brother plants on the Rogue!
What f$#*ed up family tradition is that!
Seeing the others also moving into Melee, the Alchemist sighs.
Tactics? We probably really need to go over tactics. Thawm is going to run out of juice one of these times. Any me doing home delivery of Potions like Walmart is not efficient. Really should start f#*%ing tossing them at you guys.
The Alchemist gets a inspired look.
Perhaps! If I could adjust the formulas a bit....
Recalling that an actual Combat is still taking place, the inspection recedes for now and the Alchemist....waits while he actually looks at the Map...
Putting back his measuring line, protractor and Abacus, the grumbling Kobold begins miserably Striding forward to stand next to Thawm.
How you doin'.
The Alchemist then takes out a Bomb and tosses it at the closest Not A Friend plaguing Sir Tandyn!
Tanglefoot Bomb (Su)* (Ultimate Magic pg. 17): A creature that takes a direct hit from a tanglefoot bomb must save against the bomb’s DC or be entangled and glued to the floor as if it had failed its save against a tanglefoot bag. Creatures in the splash area that fail their saves are entangled but not glued to the floor; those who make this save are not entangled at all.
Cecily charges forward towards “Huresk” and delivers a powerful blow in the man’s side, Cecily would expect to hear the crack of broken ribs but it feels more like punching someone’s gut. Meanwhile Tandyn brings Radiance to bear against what remains of the Lord Inquisitor, carving off a chunk of meat. Dorek, seizing on the distraction offered by Cecily, plunges his blade into his “brother’s” heart. The creature is merely stunned by the blade putting to rest any question that these people are human. Ahmose tosses a concoction of explosive glue on Hulrun, sticking him to the ground but hardly burning any flesh.
Kandro punches through Tandyn’s armor, past his shield sinking the scythe into Tandyn’s arm while Hulrun cannot pierce the paladin’s defenses. Hulrun and Huresk both explode in a shower of skin and gore revealing the awful truth, a hideous pale worm was inhabiting their bodies, worse it seems the act has healed the vile creatures of their injuries. The demon posing as Huresk bites Dorek again.
"Not undead, but Vermlek demons!"
Aroden takes a step and whirls the Sword of Aroden to bathe his allies in holy power.
Tandyn tries to raise his shield but is too slow to avoid chunks of airborne Hulrun. "Ugh... great... that's... ugh... Well, it's down to one mouth now..." He shakes off the larger pieces and continues hacking at the demon worm.
"Praise the Light of the Sword..." He shifts his weight and side steps around back of the demon wearing Kandro and glares at him.
As the worm demon erupts from his brother's discarded skin and bites deep into his shoulder, Dorek scowls, sinking his blades deep into the vermelek's hide. "M-monsters! Your blood will guide my b-brother's soul to the afterlife!"
Cecily recoils from the Vermlek in disgust but it doesn't slow her down much, her expression smoothly twisting to scorn. "Lord Kandros may have deserved this for selling out his people, but the others didn't!"
She presses the attack on the Huresk worm, aggressively advancing with a quick pair of punches.
Thawm summons a Celestial Eagle next to not-Huresk, which pounces on the demon immediately.
Thawm herself grasps her crossbow with both hands and shoots not-Hulrun, the easiest target.
"Die, demon!"