"I may not have the dwarf's darkvision, but my eyes are keen enough in the light. I'll stand watch," Damion nods, hefting his crossbow.
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"Creatures of darkness... Pholtus' light will burn you from this world," the inquisitor growls to himself, the air around him seeming to thrum with divine energy as he does so. Leveling his crossbow ahead, Damion rapidly unleashes another volley of bolts at his opponents.
Damion meets the krenshar's charge with a crossbow bolt fired over Brashen's shoulder.
The inquisitor does not exhibit any signs of displeasure at being healed by Andolphas and indeed thanks the priest with a tip of his hat. "I will form the second rank on our return. With Brashen screening the front lines, I can provide supporting fire from behind."
Damion follows Brashen closely, crossbow also at the ready for any signs of hostile movement.
"While it is undoubtedly the Ebon Triad that is the greater threat here, with grimlocks lairing this close to the cultists it is highly likely that some of the cultists have fallen to grimlock aggression. Therefore, it is also likely that the grimlocks' lair, wherever it may be, could contain some of the cultist's belongings... including something we could use as a disguise, or perhaps some clues to what kinds of creatures we may be dealing with," the inquisitor furrows his brow in thought. "As Brashen says, it would be unwise to leave an enemy at our backs. I believe pursuing the grimlocks, while counter-intuitive, may actually be to our greatest advantage."
"I hit one. We can track it by the blood trail if necessary. As Harrigan says, the grimlocks are likely not part of the cult. And if they are... well... then this one could lead us right to them."
Spotting the javelin-hurler and not wanting to risk firing into heated melee , Damion levels his crossbow at the distant foe and lets loose with a salvo of heavy bolts.
Damion raises his crossbow in alarm and prepares to fire into the fray.
The inquisitor glares at Andolphas, disgust evident in his eyes. "The dwarf may scout ahead, but I will not walk in darkness, cleric."
"There is some wisdom in your suggestion, dwarf. It is very likely that these bell-laden skeletons were some kind of early warning system to alert others deeper within the caverns of intruders. The direct approach could very well land us in front of a fully prepared defensive formation. If there is indeed another entrance to be found, by all means, let us find it."
"These men appear to be members of a cult known as the Ebon Triad, a radical group devoted to the principle of merging Hextor, Vecna, and Erythnul into a single, more powerful entity. The very air in this place reeks of evil. I suspect we are close to some great dark force here. Be on your guard." With that, the inquisitor punctuates his statement by bringing his heavy crossbow up and locking a bolt in place.
"Andolphas, once you are armored and have done what you can for Brashen's wounds, I suggest we investigate that passage which the skeletons came from. Perhaps we'll discover their creator that way as well," the inquisitor states evenly, glancing up the shaft at the suspended platform with a frown.
"Preservation of your energies is wise, cleric. There may indeed be legions of undead lying in wait for us." The Pholtan narrows his eyes and scans the dark chamber carefully while the others prepare to move out.
Damion rushes after the priest, crossbow in hand, and surveys the area. "Let us get to cover in case those miners topside decide to shower us with more stones." He motions for the others to get further from the shaft.
"You think too much, cleric, now is a time for action!" the inquisitor growls to Andolphas as he clutches his own holy symbol and invokes a spell to aid his allies. "Blinding Light! Grant us victory over this darkness!"
Damion continues down the rope as hastily as he can manage.
With Andolphas already on his way down, the inquisitor joins the priest in the descent.
Damion stows his crossbow under the hail of stones and ties the rope he had used to lower Boland down around the seat of the winch mechanism before turning to Andolphas. "Go!" he gestures to the rope now dangling off the side of the platform.
With a powerful snap, the inquisitor's crossbow lets loose. "I warned them..." he thinks to himself to assuage any guilt for his actions.
The Pholtan then immediately rips the receiver back with expert skill and loads another bolt.
"Bring the town guard to evict us if you wish, but do not try to stop us. The evil here is greater than you can imagine, and the peril we assume is our own. I wish you no harm, but act against us and I will have no choice but to fire," the inquisitor calls up the shaft in a stern but even tone. He keeps his crossbow aimed at the speaker on the ledge, but does not fire yet...
Lift crew: "An inquisitor of the Blinding Light. Return to your work or I will consider you in league with the evils beneath this mine," the Pholtan states gravely while aiming his crossbow up at the ledge they formerly occupied.
Lift Crew:
Top of the shaft: Damion practically shoves the cleric onto the lift and steps backwards onto the platform, snapping another bolt into place and aiming down the tunnel they came through.
"Lower us down! I'll hold them off!"
Andolphas and I: The Pholtan nods to Andolphas. "The element of surprise is as good as lost. Onto the lift."
Damion curses under his breath, touching the tip of a bolt and setting it alight with the fury of Pholtus' divine power.
Peering into the darkness, the Pholtan attempts to pinpoint the origin of the yelling and metallic sounds.
Damion nods to Andolphas' question, peering down into the pit and growing concerned as he loses track of Brashen's light source.
Damion brings his heavy crossbow to hand and snaps the receiver back with expert skill, locking a bolt in the ready position. "Take light with you. I'll be the last to descend and will observe from up here until one of you reaches the bottom safely."
Once they are safely beyond the sight of any miners at the barricade, Damion ignites his holy symbol with an incantation to Pholtus, the gleaming silver icon blossoming into radiant white light. Upon reaching the platform some time later, he eyes the structure warily. "I am no carpenter... can anyone tell if this device is sound? I'd rather not risk foolish injury in the pursuit of a greater good."
Damion scowls briefly at Boland's spellcasting and follows the others into the shaft, shaking his head.
As they enter the mine, the Inquisitor intones an enchantment upon his holy symbol, causing it to radiate a fierce white light in lieu of a miner's helmet. He looks to the dwarf first, then the others. "There is a possibility that this 'Carr' individual is in league with the cultists below. I would advise simply ignoring the formalities and heading immediately for the mine's lower levels. However, if we speak to Carr, I may be able to more accurately assess his allegiances."
Damion seems unconcerned with the stealthier aspects of the group's plan, deciding to forego miner gear entirely and hefts his heavy crossbow appraisingly. "There'll be no hiding this, cloak or not. If anyone questions the presence of an inquisitor of the Blinding Light in these mines, then that is surely evidence enough to suspect them of being in league with the cultists. Better to cull them out than hide, I say."
"Agreed. In the depths of the mine, it won't matter if it is day or night. Let us finish our purchases quickly and be onto the mine at once."
"Come then, let us gird ourselves for this task and head to the mines immediately," he instructs the others before nodding to Smenk and heading out of the cellar and the inn.
The inquisitor's face twists in disgust as the others senselessly demand additional compensation. As Smenk goes to leave, the Pholtan intercepts, slamming his gauntleted fist against the door and barring the man's exit. He directs his gaze not at Smenk, though, but at the others around the table. "You disgust me. Have I not adequately appraised you of what is going on down there?! They are building an army of self-replicating, intelligent, malevolent, undead. Set aside your petty squabbles and your senseless greed for one moment and appreciate the gravity of the situation. I have no idea what your previous involvement with Smenk has been," he glances to the man next him, "but I assure you that nothing he has done to you is possibly worth avenging over the lives of everyone in this region." He turns his attention to Andolphas, "Your concern over my religious beliefs are of no consequence. I am not a cleric, nor an evangelist. I am a man of action. So long as our allegiance gets results, I see no reason to muddy the waters of faith with bickering." Finally, leaning away from the door, he straightens his jerkin and clears his threat before turning to Smenk. "I'll buy as many silver bolts as I can find here in town. Your offer for compensation is appreciated." With that, he steps away and permits the man to leave.
Ignoring the talk of payment and the veiled insults aimed at the group's competence, the inquisitor uncrosses his arms and raises the brim of his hat to make eye contact with Smenk. "Spawn of Kyuss... this is potentially quite serious, particularly if someone is actively creating more of them. The worms you saw... they burrow into the brains of living creatures and take control, turning them into more Spawn. If they are being mass-produced down there, we could have an epidemic on our hands before week's end." He quickly takes stock of his associates' armaments. "We need silver weapons. I have a handful of bolts left, but it would be wise to secure more if we intend to do battle with these monsters. Smenk, I don't suppose you happen to have any silver weapons left? They are, after all, the reason I came here to begin with."
Damion's lip pursed in thought at the conclusion of Smenk's tale, his mind mulling over the torrent of information he'd just received and trying to make connections to other information he'd learned before.
"If what you say is true, and I don't believe you have good reason to lie at this juncture, then it is fortunate that you have brought this matter to my attention," the inquisitor looks to the other assembled party members. "I do not know any of you, but from what I have ascertained you all seem to be competent. I shall accompany you into the mines and we will purge this evil once and for all. The Blinding Light shall see the darkness before us burned away," Damion places a gauntleted fist to his holy symbol and tilts his head forward slightly.
In stark contrast to the nervousness displayed by the others, Damion walks with cool authority, his face almost permanently crumpled in a discerning scowl as he methodically follows the entourage into the cellar. Passing the dog fighting pen, he grumbles beneath his breath but says nothing aloud as his eyes systematically take in every detail of his environment. Once in the room and Smenk is seated, the Pholtan crosses his arms and remains relatively near the door, his back to one of the thugs. "I'll stand," he states bluntly, casting a withering glance at the thug behind him to persuade him against pressing the matter. "Speak, Smenk. You do not command the Argent Blade's time lightly. Let us hope this matter is as grave as you imply."
He nods to Smenk, letting his gaze linger over the table of adventurers for quite a bit longer than would be polite.
"Lead the way, Smenk," he says without even looking at the man. "The sooner we finish talking, the sooner the cleansing begins."
The sound of hard-soled traveling boots rap against the wooden floor of the inn only a scant few paces behind Smenk as he approaches the others. A grizzled-looking man, clad in a leather jerkin underlaid with finely-crafted chainmail and bearing a massive crossbow and darkwood shield upon his back enters through the front doors. Around his neck is a holy symbol of Pholtus, crafted in gleaming silver and polished to a blinding shine. Numerous pouches and bolt cases adorn his hips and criss-crossed bandoleers, each one stamped with some manner of sigil or holy icon. Atop his dark-haired head sits a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a couple of hanging charms wrought in silver about the brim. He clears his throat, turning his steely gaze towards the assembled patrons gathered around Smenk.
Stepping closer, he states gruffly. "I'm here, as you requested," his glance moved over to observe the others. "These the ones you mentioned before?"
Mothman: Damion would've certainly subjected Smenk to both detect evil and detect chaos once he started acting strange. Regardless of the outcome of those abilities, he is receptive to the notion and would agree to meet with these other 'heroes' in a public place of his choosing. At this point, Damion is highly suspect of not only Smenk but pretty much everyone in town and is thusly not going to entertain any "private meetings" with other individuals before he gets a chance to assess them.
Damion would tenatively await the time and place information, but would also arrange to send a missive to his Order via whatever this town passes for a postal/courier service and inform them of why he won't necessarily be returning in a timely manner. "There's evil afoot!" (FYI I'm in the dmtools.org chatroom for at least the next 2 hours if you want to come do some "live" discussion.)
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