After the initial shock fades Anevia speaks up"I need to get home. I know you all have helped me greatly already but can I ask for your assistance once again?"
soon after Aravashnial speaks"I also have a request, I must get back to blackwing. I must know of the fate of my fellow Riftwardens."
"Easy, easy." Olivier waved his hands in an attempt to calm the two down before things it a panicked tone. "We've stuck with you through the entirety of the caves, and I, for one, have no intention of abandoning either of you now. But in a situation like this, things are bound to be wild, so let's tackle this one problem at a time. First..." he gestured to the pair of cultists. "We hand these two over to the authorities, assuming there is some form of order about. From there, we can go from there and fulfill your requests by order of proximity. Does that sound fair to everyone?"
"Things do not look good, but I have no problems assisting both of you." Eve responds to the pair while reaching up to adjust her non-existent hat. Realizing her hair is just matted that way from the dirt and grime of the tunnels she drops her hands back down dumbly to her sides and asks. "So, which of these places is closest? And do you think any authorities made it?"
Hossila speaks up angrily "That was not the deal servant of Iomadae."her anger mostly directed at Roderic.
Ashe speaks up, her voice is void of emotion, "She is right, we told them we would set them free. We need to check to see if Roderic can get his armor, then we can try to help you both."
She turns her head to Anevia and Aravashnial, "Would that be alright?"
In response to the rising tensions Roderic spoke, "The terms of their surrender clearly grant them their freedom now that we are on the surface. It would be imprudent to dishonor that now." To the captives, "Go now if you wish, I will not stand in your way. However given the state of this place, perhaps it would be best to remain in number. I'm sure we could use your blades against whatever awaits us." Then, almost as an afterthought he continued, "Know this though; If you do go your own way, and our paths cross again, if we witness you harming civilians or your blades turn towards us, our parlay is moot. Is this understood?" He asked the two.
Hossila looks to the rest of you for confirmation.
With no further objections "then you will be returning our weapons and letting us leave." Hossila states this as she holds her hand out for her weapon.
"Oh sure," Olivier drawled blandly as he watched the others proceed to re-arm the heretics from down below. "Let's just re-arm them and send them on their merry way. This won't come back to bite us in the arse one day..." he mumbled the last portion under his breath. He did not openly argue or press the matter, sensing that the rest of this lot would be impossible to bend.
Idiots. Piss on their honor; they were letting his ticket to escape the gallows go gallavanting off like old friends. Note to self: find a chance to escape this lot as soon as an openng came up. For now, they'd be useful in navigating the city. Even a holy city like this was due to be trouble in troubled times such as this. Sticking with an armed group was going to be useful for the moment. Just don't let the paladin make any more stupid deals in the meantime.
Ashe sits downstairs waiting for Roderic as he gathers his things. She is still trying to come to terms with what she was seeing all around here. Everyone she knew was likely dead, or worse. Even Brylan, the young boy that stayed at the Church of Iomedae. Sitting there, Ashe could feel the anger building up. She could picture the boy's lifeless light green eyes, completely undeserving of his fate. Ashe only snapped out of it because her hand began to char the table at which she sat. Embarrassingly, she attempts to hide what has happened.
"Here you are." He handed them the bundle of their sheathed weapons. "We are made square. Go in peace." He waited for them to depart then headed into the Friendly Arms Inn.
Roderic walked to the stair case and spoke back to the party, "I will return in a moment, make yourselves at home I suppose." As he ascended the stairs, he marveled to himself that in the wake of this attack the Inn stood. His marvel was soon overtaken by the eerie silence of the building, and the sporadic shrieks of whatever was in the distance. It was hard to tell how long they had been underground: A day, two? He wasn't sure. It had been long enough for the voices, even screams of the people of this town to be replaced by whatever those sounds were. There was work to do.
Roderic removed his tabbard and placed the scale concealed within on the bed. What was this majestic creature doing in the city, and why had she chosen to save them. He donned his undercoat and breaches and began fastening his armor on, slowly. He had only begun to don it himself in the last few months but he was getting better. He saw his family sigil on the breastplate and wondered if this city's fate was the result of another unfortunate agreement. Then he covered it with his lady's tabbard. "Lady, guide me in this and all days, in my work and in my relief. May my hands be made strong, may my mind be made sharp and my will steeled against infirmity. Hold me up when I falter, give me strength when I am weak, guide and protect me from the wicked that I may do so for others. Take me as your servant, take me as your weapon, take me for your courage, take me for your servant, take me as a servant." He gave the sign of the sword, fastened the scale into his shield, strapped on his sword and donned his helmet. "Lady favor my undertaking." Shield in hand, he picked up his banner and started downstairs.
He descended the staircase and spoke to the assembled, "Thank you for the time friends, I am ready." He thought to himself. The afterthought suited him better.
"I must ask that you let me collect my steed from the stable near here. Then if you would have it, I would have you accompany me to my order's lodge building." Seeking to offer some incentive to follow him in addition to his friendship, he continued, "For any who would seek it, Iomedae washes away our sins through our service to good. Our order upholds in the law what she upholds in our soul. Those who join our order and commit themselves to the betterment of the world may yet receive forgiveness."
Ashe gestures to Anevia and Aravashnial, and responds to Roderic "They have requested our help, but is there any chance we can help them out first?"
"Anevia, what did you say you needed help with again?"
Re - equipped Hossila turns and starts to walk towards the city's southern gate.
Lock box in hand.
Anevia responds with a look of anxiety. "I live on the east side of the city. If you would help me get there I would really appreciate it."
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"Very well, if no ones opposed let us go."
Roderic collected, quickly brushed, saddled, and dressed Thomas (his chestnut warhorse), in his caparison (the covering baring a knight, or their order's, Escutcheon, The Field and Charge) and walked him out to where the assembled stood.
"Lead the way."
Olivier waited impatiently as Roderic acquires his possessions and steed, unable to keep still. He spent all of his time pacing about, glancing nervously out in the street, and constantly checking his weaponry. When the paladin finished his tasks, Olivier seemed only mildly relieved. "'bout damn time," he grumbled, glaring at the paladin and horse. The bloody hells was a horse good for in a half-destroyed city? Food, if nothing else... Provided that the people were hungry enough. "Which one is closer to here? The Riftwardens or your place, Anevia?"
Ashe ignores the debate going on around her, she just wants to help the her fellow citizens of what was Kenabres, "Anevia, is everything alright? I know this is not what any of us would have liked to be seeing. Trust me, you are not the only one bothered by this sight." Ashe forces a tight lipped smile at Anevia.
Anevia pauses for a moment checking the surrounding area and sighs "Black wing is about a mile north west of here." She pauses again "My wife Irabeth and I live about three miles north of here."
Ashe nods her head, "It is perfectly understandable why you might not want to delay, but we will make it there. I promise, the dawn brings new light." She repeats the phrase one more time, more for herself than anything else, "The dawn brings new light."
within a half hour you make it to Blackwing, or what's left of it. Only the main hall along with the Librarium's facade remains intact. oddly enough the surrounding building seem to be not as damaged as though some force singled out Blackwing for destruction.
After you stop Avashnial speaks up "Have we arrived?"
"I believe so, though I am sad to say there is not much...left." Roderic brought Thomas to a halt and looked around for threats, holding his banner in his shield hand and drawing his sword.
Upon hearing the paladin's words Avashnial falls to his knees in despair.
Nothing dangerous on the outside in the immediate area.
This was a depressing scene. Olivier did not quite know how to respond to Avashnial's despair. Comforting him did not seem like quite an appropriate reaction. That was not exactly in Olivier's purview anyways. But maybe...
"There's still some structure standing," he pointed out. "Hold tight. We may get something out of this." Without waiting for the others, the long-haired man weaved his way towards the remnants of Blackwing, keeping his eyes open for possible clues or (if he was fortunate) a survivor or two.
"I'll be your eyes Avashnial. Is there anything specific we are looking for?" Eve asks while scanning the area.
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Roderic tied Thomas's reigns in a slip-knot on a nearby post across from the ruins. "Stay friend" he said as he patted him on the side of his neck, "I will be back for you shortly". If he needed to escape, Thomas had but to pull and he would be on his way. Roderic leaned his banner on the wall next to the post and walked back across the street with sword still in hand.
"Avashnial, we are going to look for survivors. Is there anything else we should be looking for?" He asked as he walked into the ruins, looking for emerging limbs from the ruins and muffled voices.
Upon hearing the voices, Olivier waved the others over. This sounded like trouble. "Sounds like hostiles inside," the sylph commented to Roderic in a quiet undertone. "Stay put this time. I'll fetch the others." Giving the paladin a sharp look to emphasize the fact, he slipped back to the others. "Get ready for a fight. I hear some sort of cultists inside..."
Seemingly quite and lost in thought since their emergence from the world beneath them, Rema alters his attention and steels himself for the new challenge. Rema speaks softly and calmly, "What is the plan?"
Map is updated after you have discussed and are ready go ahead and place yourselves at the door.
Ashe comforts Avashnial, her heart full of sympathy, "I am so sorry that this has happened. I promise we will do what we can here." He was already beyond her ability to heal, but to not be able to grant him some peace would be unacceptable.
After a pat on Avashnial's shoulders, Ashe stands up and admires the building for what it was, all the while ignoring the anger that is growing. She joins the others by the door and steels herself for what is about to come as they open the door.
Who did Olivier think he was? Roderic wouldn't have know he was with the party if Olivier hadn't piped up about what 'he' was doing, or how 'he' wanted to betray the deals of others made in good confidence. He would pipe down and stay outside the door if he knew what was good for him, Roderic thought to himself. It didn't seem a far fantasy however, as it was what Olivier seemed to do best.
"Careful boy." was all he let out under his breath, as to not alert those inside. Small a wound as it was, Olivier had wounded his pride none the less. He had a point though, there was no reason to start the skirmish early. Roderic stood outside the door, sword and shield at the ready for what might come out.
Casting a quick glance at the others to ensure that they're ready, Olivier reaches out and hauls the door open.
Opening the door reveals the main hall of this once great library. In the center of the room you see four people tied up surrounded by books and a woman with a tear stained face holding an arm full of books. At the far back you see a man wearing bonded mail with a mace and shield. surrounding the circle of books tieflings stand at the ready.
The Man looks up at the doors opening and yells Who the hell are you? Doesn't matter an extra sacrifice is always good.
Ashe, her rage beginning to boil over at the sight before her, angrily retorts, "Reckoning. We will be sending you back to the pit you spawned from."
Her eyes pointedly staring at the armored creature, his mace feels heavy in his hand, as if it was made of lead.
Run in and punch/kick nearest available enemy.
After Eve issues her challenge, Roderic issues one of his own, "For Victory...For the Heart!" He screams as he runs into the room, swinging at the nearest enemy.
"Ave Iomedae!"
Eve steps into the room and strikes at the closest kidnapper.
The man makes a point to avoid looking at Ashe and instead stares at the paladin pointing his mace he shouts "The Holy man is mine, you two take care of the woman and you kill the hostages."
The Tiefling by Roderic fives out. The man in armor boldly walks up to Roderic and brings his mace down onto Roderic's shield with a resounding clang.
The Tieflings begin attacking Eve but only one finds his way past her guard.
The tiefling next to the woman holding the books tries to grab her but misses.
The woman drops the books five steps back and begins to cast a spell. She stretches hers hands out and Fire erupts from her open palms.
Olivier moves to where he can get a clear shot with his shortbow, firing at the tiefling he can see.
"Oy! Come on and fight properly, you cowards!"
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"Even lower than Demon scum…" Arc denotes as she focuses on the tieflings and moves past the two duelists (provoking from him, though keeping intent of not interfering in his duel including for flanking purposes.)
Arc will move N-N-Ne-N, provoking once from the apparent leader and once from the red goon. She'll then bash the green for shield time!
If that somehow hits, Arc couldn't even follow as she has no movement left. Also, if the leader swings at me with his AoO, I will provide flanking. If he doesn't, then the duel may continue.