Frowning at the elf, Milly couldn't help but think exactly the opposite of how he tried to portray himself. She didn't give much stock to the paranoia of her peers, but if anything did fit was this person now, so enthusiastically selling them on his virtue and deeds when in fact all he had done was betray himself as a spy. "Tell me what you boast of, and I'll tell you what you lack... Assuming, that this is true, it would warrant a quick intervention and so we shall, but let's not barge anywhere blades in hand yet. We are outsiders here and any sad misunderstanding would rightfully see us hanging on the square. Lead on." The wizard stood ready to follow wherever this cult sacrifice was taking place at.

Arkamir barely kept himself from going slack-jawed at these people's willingness to help.  "I expected far more hesitation.  You are an even better group of humans than I had given you credit for, and I apologize for underestimating your character."  He said quietly.

He glanced around then continued, "The sacrifice will take place in the basement of the town hall, through a corridor down the stairs on the right.  Give me a few moments and I'll get those guards to leave without drawing any attention to you.  If I can, I'll send them off on a false trail and join you before you get to far.  If I don't join you, know that I am leading them away myself and will be along when I can, but don't worry for me."

He waited a few moments to hear if there were any objections.

"Morr's teeth, what the hells have you lot been up to?" said Jareik as they finally caught up to the women.
He froze and his eyes narrowed in suspicion at the stranger they were talking to. As he got closer, what he thought was a tall and lanky man was actually an elf judging by the ears.

The details of their conversation left him even more puzzled, especially looking at the building behind them, the townhall, and the guards stationed in front. "Chaos? Here? Who is this woman you are intended to rescue that i have a feeling will involve killing those 2 lads just doing their job over there? And just who is your new friend you been running off to see at this late hour?" he asked the last part whilst pointing an accusing thumb.

The elf's response seemed to him like a flippant provocation.
"Are you mocking me elf?" he said in a dark and growling tone. Not 10 minutes ago, Jareik had just wanted to go to sleep, to say he was getting in a cranky mood was an understatement. The reveal that he had been following them did not help allay his suspicions one bit nor did he believe in the claim of help since he had no way to check it one way or the other.

Not waiting for an answer to that last question he kept going in a low annoyed tone of voice. "I admit you being an elf is throwing me off a bit, don't seem like a typical recruit of them cults. But to take you on your word and attack those who have not done us any wrong nor given us cause for suspicion is a tall request."

He turned to Marie, Etain and Cecla, his voice softer but still clearly annoyed.

"And you lot, why did you run off? You had us worried, and we were about to start scouring the town to look for ye, so what would have happened had ranald not put us on the right direction?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Wed 13 Mar.

"No," Arkamir said to the one who just appeared. "I have no intention of mocking you, nor of us killing those two guards.  The first would possibly get me roundly beaten and would definitely put me on the wrong side of a potential ally.  As to the second, it would cause too much of a scene, so as I said, I plan to distract them.  Then you all can get in and follow the directions I gave and hopefully arrive before the sacrifice has begun.  If it comes down to it, though, even if they have somehow managed to continue serving a Chaos magician here unwittingly, I'd kill an unwitting servant of Chaos before allowing an innocent to be sacrificed in a Chaos ritual, just as I'd lay down my life to stop it if necessary."

He looked around, not wanting to waste time they needed to save that woman's life.  "Look, I'll do my best to get you in without you committing any violence.  Worst case scenario, you find everything in that basement in order, you can blame the crazed Elf for misleading you and start a manhunt for me.  I won't take it personally.  You'll know your opening when you see it."

He started to head off around the building, then turned back.  "As a side note, if you see Ernst or the barkeep, beware of them.  I have strong belief that Ernst is the chaos magician working in these parts, as I saw him do some strange things and he ordered the sacrifice.  However, it is possible that he is being controlled by the barkeep so that the latter can stay better-hidden."

Jareik's eyes narrowd at hearing of tainted sorcery. Now that he was more willing to believe, there has been a trend of heretical sorcerers corrupting otherwise peaceful villages as of late.
Having never really met an elf before, only seen from afar at best, he wasn't sure if he was dealing with a typical representative of his species or an abbherent, but he found it hard not to perceive slight or mockery veiled in the elfs words, perhaps he was simply not used to this elf way of talking.

"Well if your plan doesn't involve us hacking apart half the guards of this village i guess i could play along for now." he grumbled and fell in line with the others, assuming that had a plan of sorts all set up that been explained until Jareik and the others butted in as late arrivals.
"Allright dunnno everything that's going on but i'm sure i'll be filled in the details."

"Ernst? Aw i hope not, man was pleasant enough company." And he would prefer it not be said he had drank with a heretic.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Wed 27 Mar.

Arkamir goes around the building and out of sight.


An angry whisper cuts through the quiet.  "You fools!  Did you not see two of the newcomers pass by here a moment ago?  Don't tell me you were too weak willed to see through their illusion.  They went that way.  After them quickly before they spread news about the sacrifice.  I'll head back down shortly to make sure that nothing else interrupts us."

The Dwarf, as was often the way with her folk, had a determined and unimpressed look to her but she'd stand by what she said on the matter of following through with the Elf's claims and their own founded suspicions that the whole of this trade post stunk enough to reach the Ancestors. That it even existed in the shadow of a dwarf hold was no small concern to her but she kept that to herself for the time being. If she could solve the problem then it didn't need to be brought to the Lord's attention... and if she couldn't sort it out, then, well... She was either dead or the nearby hold was the first stop to drag things to light and then this outpost could deal with the far firmer hand of a grudge addled hold.

With the elf off on his part of the matter, Cecla spared a glance Jareik's way.

"The walls of the bath house weren't thick enough to keep us from healing what sounded like someone getting dragged off and the water they had readied for us had an off smell to it. Two and two and here we are arming up with the Elgi going on about a cult. Hoping this doesn't bring the whole place down on us but we've rode through worse and if it is bad... I saw we make fastest way towards the Dwarf Hold. One hint of a grudge to settle, well, we both know how that story goes." the Dwarf offered quietly as her voice could manage given the propensity of her folk to be of a louder persuasion. All the while, she took a careful go over all her equipment just to ensure all was set and ready to go once the guards that the Elf was distracting made their way off on whatever fool's errand they were getting ascribed to.

Jareik nodded at the dawi's explanation. "What an age we live in when even taking baths is dangerous." he mused and would have commented more had the situation allowed it, but such talks could wait for later. He also diplomatically did not stare too hard at Cecla's head if she hadn't had the chance to wash herself after all.

He wouldn't have believed it had he not heard it himself but it seemed the elf was indeed luring the guards away. What is it about his words that had such an effect? No wonder he had found something off about the elf's speech, there was some trickery at work and he couldn't quite put his finger on it, perhaps this was the fey nature of elves he had heard so much about that others found either enchanting or disconcerting.
A contrast to the dwarves who for the most part seemed to get along fine with humans, as long as one remembered their eccentricities and what lines not to cross with them lest you find yourself cut down to a size smaller then they.

Thinking of that, perhaps the fact Cecla is going along with this is a good sign the elf could be trusted for now as the enmity between the 2 races was known to even the most backwards of peasants.

"Are they actually falling for it? I'll be damned... Well guess the way's clear then."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:08, Wed 27 Mar.

Arkamir notice the two front guards appear confused at first but then quickly and without reason to question nod and run off in fear.
The gateway in appear empty for now - and there is no obvious steps nor sound from inside or below advancing.

The group elsewhere notice the guards hurry away as if spooked beyond their ways and with somewhat fearful eyes.
The entryway is open and free and an obvious next step can be taken and risked - in the shadows of the early nighttime.
The rest of the town, despite the yelling have not seemed to react nor pay attention to it. At least from initial observation.

Gille's face turned into a a grim determination when the two guards dashed away, spooked by something or someone. It was the tipping point now, either they pressed forward or turned their back. But most of them already decided to safe the damsel in distress. In a different life, Gille had swore an oath to protect the innocent and he could not image someone would be willingly be a sacrifice to some profaned god.

"On doit battre le fer tant qu'il est chaud." he said, moving forward to the entrance, weapon ready.

ooc - if in the front line, Gille will have his axe and shield ready. When more to the back he will have his bow and arrow ready.

The Dwarf, sturdy and able, kept abreast of the Breton with her own masterfully wrought axe and shield at hand. The hope was bloodless but she wasn't holding too tightly to that hope if push came to shove. Better ready for the ugly reality of the moment than caught by surprise. She'd already been victim enough of that and, if she was a wee bit honest, she'd have been a fair bit happier to keep up bothering the gunnery cadets and gunsmiths of her own clans cobbling together the basis of her theories and thesis. It'd be a long time before she could forge runes like her master did but she aimed to be no less adept.

Jareik looked around warily as they entered, hating every aspect of their break in and all too aware that how if the elf was mistaken or deceitful, they would look very much like a band of thieves if not worst.

Unlike some of the others, he did not unsheathe any weapon yet, and won't until a threat is confirmed.
"Now where's that basement?" he muttered to no one in particular as he walked in, hopefully they won't have to search too much.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:30, Wed 10 Apr.

As you slowly move in, you notice a large building - on your left two offices with open doors, ahead a heart and welcoming area with seating and various trinkets for display and right-side, where you heard the noise, far right, a partly hidden stairway down, where the mumbling came from.
You hear and notice vague humming, and judging by distance and what those in bathhouse learned, even at the base of the stairs the hallway is at least 60 feet long, if not more, and whether it is sealed with a door or not, is hard to say.
A low humming buzz through the air, but is broken by a low muffled scream of anguish and pain.
Whatever it is, it is below and at the end. You hear no footsteps, nor voices outside or in the room you are present in.

OOC:
To get a closer look or determine next steps you have to descent the stairs and walk some of the way in, albeit judging from above, the hallway is lighted up.

Other then someone accidentally stepping on something sharp late at night, he could think of little good reason for the kind of scream they just heard.

Jareik took a look down the stairs and hesitated, the expression "cornered like a rat" comes to mind.

He toyed with the idea of asking Gille and maybe someone else who can be discreet to go ahead whilst he and others kept their escape route clear but he didn't want to waste time and linger any more then they had to.

So down he went, a hand now resting on the pommel of his blade, towards the mumbling.

Unless someone else stops him, down to the basement we go.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:49, Mon 15 Apr.

With the muffled scream still lingering in his ears, Gille hoped they would not be late. Perhaps a bit more hasty as before he went down the stairs along with Jareik towards the sounds coming from beyond the dark.

Arkamir came out from around the building and headed down the stairs to join the group, bow in hand and an arrow ready, though not yet nocked.  The relief that the group had come was plain on his face.  "Thank you all for trusting me enough to at least come see what's going on.  Now let's see if we're not too late to save that woman."  He said, falling in behind them as they moved, keeping half an eye behind them in case the guards or someone else came up behind them.

The hallway is long, damp and lit enough to make it easy to navigate throughout the hallway. The floor has puddles and sparsely placed boards but it easily navigated.
You notice an opening, as if the whole place is carved by hand through the years, and appear in what could be a natural cavern.
The treasure is a massive stone statue of a beautiful woman with six arms and the lower body of a monstrous serpent. Her face is both lovely and terrible, and
in one hand, she holds an ornate jade sceptre with a jewel at the top of the sceptre glows dully, and appears haunting yet familiar to some.
The status to those taught, is a depiction of the chaos god - Slaanesh.
Surrounded by roped townpeople..and Ernst right aside it, they are chanting.
Before them lay, and partially hung - your employer, his sidehand, and two of his guards. Undressed, bleeding and tortured, which fluids in their mouth and wounds, to torment and drug them.

They have not seen you for now, and the scene is horrifying to behold from afar.


Map: https://docs.google.com/drawin...SgNwFYUT7r1Wl4Q/edit

It took Gille a couple of heartbeats to process the scene and what was unfolding. He had witnessed the raw brutality of Orcs in the past, but nothing ever came close to the perverse corruption of what was unfolding before him.

Time was of an essence and surprise was still on their side. Judging as the size of the cave, he could still land fire a shot, perhaps two before the cult knew what hit them. Carefully but with haste he switched his axe and shield for his longbow. He pointed over to Ernst, assuming he would be the leader. Gille hoped that if they could neutralize the cults charismatic leader, the rest of the cultist would be without guidance.

Jareik nodded at the elf joining them, now he felt less of a fool for going along with this if the elf was also putting himself at risk.

________________________________________________________________________________


The closer they approached the opening, the more he had a queer feeling, growing louder with the chanting.
What they found made him grit his teeth in disgust and fury, worshippers of the great enemy practicing their vile acts, and worst of all, Ersnt was among them. He felt sick to his core, he drank with that man. Oh how he was going to make that heretic pay for making a fool out of him.

Controlling his anger, he looked over the situation and his gaze lingered on the statue which gave him a rush of feelings he didn't understand.
The top half was beautiful, were it not for everything else he could think of it as a dedication to what must have been the most gorgeous woman to have ever lived. Yet her face disturbed him, he couldn't quite put his finger on why, some otherworldly quality only reinforced by the bottom half and extra limbs.
Part of him wanted to keep admiring the statue, another part wanted to run away from it, and the rest just wanted to hack it to pieces.

Wait why does this statue bewitch me so when there's a roomfull of heretics about to commit who knows what?

With a shake of his head he forced himself to think like a soldier again: Five figures in front, four at the back and one in the middle, probably the leader.
The pillars on the side offered some cover but the cavern was small and even with the heretics distracted he didn't fancy his chances of trying to sneak around. Would the captives be executed immediately if the group revealed themselves? Perhaps, but then the heretics seem to want to kill the captives slow and with ceremony so it was an acceptable risk.

He turned and whispered to the others:

"Right, i don't see there being much space for fancy tactics. Anyone got any ideas or insights before we go in? We ain't got much room to maneoeuvre so be mindful of your space and where ye point yer arrows and spells.."

He paused at the elf, realising he hadn't asked his name nor giving his since he and the others who stayed behind of the inn kind of just barged in on the end of a conversation.
"...Sorry elf didn't catch your name. Jareik's mine by the way. The lad with the bow is Gille and the bright wizard is Ms Milly. Can you fight at all? Otherwise stick back and watch i guess."

This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Wed 17 Apr.

Arkamir nodded to Jareik and Millie.  "Arkamir Ran-Helethel."

He eyed the bright wizard for a long moment before giving a nod to her as well.  "I'd rather a high mage or a light wizard, but with numbers as they look here, I'll be happy to have a human who can channel Aqshy at my side."

He nocked the arrow and prepared to fire once everyone was ready.

Etain had been quiet for most of the descent. upon seeing the people locked up and being threatened she takes the axe out and quietly unlimbers the shield and straps it to her left arm. Whispering she says "I think those with range take out as many as quickly as they can, after the first volley axes go forward, shieldwall together, Cecla, Marie and myself, Jareik, after you fire drop that gun of yours and move in" she offers as a strategy

"Only way about it if we want to save the folks on the wrong end of what all this is." the Dwarf offered in quiet agreement with the other woman. Well, as quiet as a dwarf could manage... Any other circumstance and at this point she'd have proposed just blocking the door and setting fire to the whole damned place. The flames it'd send anyone and everyone to the proper place and maker.

Marie had to excuse herself for a short while, as they others prepared themselves for the trouble to come. She wasn't about to leave Josette tied up on the street for any vagabond or ruffian to steal. She had to seek out what appeared to be a reputable stable before she could in good conscience return. This was no place for steed's, after all. Now, the Knight of the Realm stood on her own two legs, which would have surely elicited tuts from fellow Knights and higher ranked nobles. But innocents needed her, as did her companions.

"A fine idea mon amour. Unleash our fury from a distance, and then stand firm behind a wall of steel. Are we all in agreement?" she replied to Etain, and asked everyone in turn as she drew her sword and unslung her shield from her back.

The heraldry of the shield may be battered, but it was still proud. And ready to defend the group from all dangers.

OOC Mechanics
08:08, Today: Marie Arceneaux rolled 55 using 1d10+45. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:09, Tue 30 Apr.

"Sounds good to me." nodded Jareik, unslinging his handgun in a smooth motion and loading it with shot as the others did their own preparations.

"Right then Gille, guess we open the dance. Ready?"

Quickdraw for style points
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Sat 20 Apr.

Gille nodded at Jareik and positioned himself for a clear shot at Ernst.
He waited on Jareik and Arkamir to choose their positions as well.
Once the others were ready to engage into the melee he let out a sight.

"On y va." he wispered, drawing his arrow. Holding his breath he took aimed at Ernst.
Among the chanting, the soft twang of releasing the bow was barely noticeable. Neither was the whizzed sound of the armor piercing arrow crossing the space between Gille and Ernst, seeking its path to the latter's chest.

Gille Milroy rolled 46 using 1d10+41.  Initiative.
Gille Milroy rolled 7 -- 6 degrees of success using the Warhammer Test system with a target number of 68.  Aimed shot (BS).
Gille Milroy rolled 9 using 1d10+3.  Damage.