The Zhentarim Attack: LXIII
"The lady is safe! Back up!" One of the guards screamed as the group of them seemed to back up the stairs slowly in a protective formation. The Zhentarim men had already tossed their weapons to the ground and been run through the back. Andraste watched Markos rush forward and begin to collect up their weapons along with.. 'Their armor wow that was weird.' she thought.
"SO, I assume you're the guards of this villa. Could you guys actually restrain those remaining thugs?" Asher was the first to say something since the cultists display of power, she was right next to him yet still felt just as far as the guards, his metal and porcelain mask hid every movement of his lips every twitch of his eyes any semblance of emotion. A guard on the steps looked at her indignity.
"Gladly." the man responded. Andraste frowned looking around the room she spotted perhaps.. One maybe two remaining unkilled thugs but guards from the second floor rushed down with rope regardless of this.
"Damien, you're injured." Andraste heard the woman in the back speak for the first time as she was clinging on to one other guards? He didn't look like a guard; he had short black shaggy hair and dark eyes. Surveying the area she realized all the guards were hurt pretty badly, probably from a whole day of fighting.
"Please allow me." Andraste rushed forward and held out her hands speaking a melodic incantation. "oSe the VrTeCEN glows Ee hehal Le." She sang a rush of energy shot through her body and Andraste got to feel the power fill her up and then emanate hitting the guards. The room filled with a healing energy before it faded. The guard's wounds began to close and her friends scratches shut, giving a nice sigh of relief. She smiled. That was nice.. She looked over at Markos who had picked up three maces.
"Heh heh! Only one to go!" Markos excitedly declared, was he more crazy after the combat? Andraste began wondering if her feminine compatriot was a threat. Also what happened when he got four maces?? She looked around for some semblance of confirmation Alekzandr shot her a look of confusion, but other than that everyone acted like it was completely normal.
"If I may ask." Asher started up again. From what little she knew about him Andraste could peg Asher as the leader type he always took charge with, led them in combat, formed strategies and charged headstrong into danger. She had been told by Riu that he was extremely smart, but she got the sneaking feeling he wasn't very wise like he might just get himself killed. "What exactly happened here?" Asher spoke like a sophisticated man trying his best to be dumb and relatable she found it odd. He was weird wearing the wolf and human mask, Riu claimed she had never seen him without it. She wondered what that meant.
"These bastards decided to barge into our home and attack us! We've been fending them off for." the guard paused as a look of panic filled his eyes. He stuttered for a second and shot a quick glance to his fellow guards.
"The time frame does not matter!" The lady of the house stood clapping her hands. It was at that moment Andraste got a good look at her, she was tall probably around five foot eleven or more with a tight waist and neatly bound brown hair. She had one of those faces you didn't trust and those expressions you learned to dislike. Andraste felt uneasy just being near her.
"Zhentarim." Herod cursed. The young man stepped over to a body poking it with his sword. "The hell they want with you guys?" The guards frowned like they were dealing with someone new to town but only shrugged the warlock, put a hand against his inquisitive chin and Andraste peered over the bodis, nothing could really be discerned.
"No idea why these assholes would attack us." one guard responded
"I am glad we got here when we did comrade. But that does not solve the problem we deal with now." Alekzandr chimed in shouldering his rifle Andraste got a good look at the man he was taking a swig of some.. Flask? Was he that regular of a drinker? And at this time? She shook her head upsetly. The guards sheathed their blades and stood up straight. Andraste looked around her comrades following suit.
"Yeah..." The guard started. "We would have had it." he said sternly. Andraste nearly chuckled by the looks of the men that were a fib.
"Really now?" Adleth shot. "By the looks of it you guys would be snake chow right about now." The elf sounded so smug yet she was probably right.
"Now-" the guard started.
"If it wasn't for us showing up, you guys would definitely lose. You looked like death already. And there were still some guys left!" Herod cried.
"It didn't look like you guys had it.. In fact, down stairs.." Asher gestured to the floor below them littered with bodies of guards and Zhentarim alike. "Your guards are looking pretty dead." The guard looked offended at that statement but Riu stepped into the middle holding her hands up aiming to halt any hostility between their group and the guards. A man in their midst, by the looks of it a city guard, Andraste wasn't sure what he was doing there but she rolled with it.
"Heath, we told your boss everything was alright there was no need-" The guard on the steps spoke down to the man named Heath.
"Alright? You haven't checked in in days! And I walk in on this mess? Yeah you should be happy you got these people's help! Don't give me that crap, if you'd told us anything maybe this wouldn't have happened." Heath bellowed angrily but the guard seemed to take it on the chin. Andraste took a deep breath and so did the guard.
"Look.. we've been in a standoff with these guys for nearly a day.. They took our lord hostage, we were dealing with it." The guard replied.
"Hold on." Asher asked, "The leader.. Of these thugs is still in the building?" Asher sounded so amused at that, like a few highered swords couldn't take down one really big thug. That was the boss. Andraste thought.
"That's more our business isn't it?" The room fell silent for a second, the dull grey eyes of the guard staring down at the emotionless mask of Asher. Asher held his long swords at the ready, one of the few people who did not sheath his weapon. The sides of his face were just barely visible to her, and his black hair stuck up over the mask. While Andraste knew she was tall and always felt it Asher was actually a few inches over even herself, she couldn't see his eyes but she put good money they were fixing to laugh.
"Well, do you want the help or not?" Asher finally asked, he sounded sarcastic, almost whimsical, taunting the guard like he knew better. Andraste liked him a bit more. She suspected under that hard exterior and humorous personality.. He really did care about keeping people safe.
"Sure." The guard spat, "If you want to go take care of it fine. We'll stay here and guard the lady." the guard stepped aside while they marched past them. Andraste got a good look at the array of figures, the guard nearest to Lady Gralhund was tall, large and mean looking he was a half orc by the looks of it, with a large morning star. His skin was deeply scarred and his dark eyes held discontent.
"Let's go kill some people!" Markos yelled happily.
"Cool, more chances to increase my powers." Herod commented while they strode past.
"Honestly I don't.. What was I saying?" Alekzandr started
"Oh god! Alekzandr do you hear the voices too?! Finally! My suffering isn't alone!" Markos started cheering loudly with a laugh on his tongue. Andraste shook her head wondering what mad man she had shared a house with.
"You've.. Been on a little bit of a high horse today Markos.. Are you ok?" Alekzandr asked.
"I'm fine Alekz!" Markos chirped. Andraste simply sighed walking briskly down the hall towards the door the guards had pointed them to. It was down a long hall far from the staircase, the mean time she got a chance to admire the house, white walls with painting on nearly every surface, the ceilings were high, probably tens of feet above her with slanted points that probably hid the roof from view.
"That's a fancy door." Adleth remarked. The end of the hall held a giant double door with orange writing on it and what looked to be silver inlay circling up the surface similar to a sprout pattern. "So I'll get the hinges off, Herod you distract the guards. And Markos." Adleth put a hand on Markos's head and pointed at the door. "You start carrying, all in all great haul everybody."
"Just.. pick the lock Adleth.." Riu whispered. The rogue turned around smiling a little sarcastic grin, Andraste hadn't gotten the chance before, but Adleth was definitely a looker; she had that small nose and elegant face you'd expect from nobility, not some random criminal. Andraste looked forward to getting to know Adleth better.
"On it, on it." Adleth kneeled down in front of the door. Andraste silently casted a guidance cantrip to help ensure the lock would be cracked- "ITs not locked." The whole party paused. Andraste frowned.
"What is it you mean not locked?" Andraste inquired. Adleth turned her head, her auburn hair swaying over her shoulders. She turned the knob a few times and tried to push in the door. A loud creaking noise could be heard but nothing else. It was as if something was braced against the door, rather than locking it. "Some guy just.. Put a chair against it I assume. Eh no that it matters. Spell casty boys, knock it down." Adleth shrugged and moved from the door.
"Freaking finally!" Herod yelled. He rushed forward and leveled his sword. "Vulity ceriorem ventus!" Herod's sword glowed with green arcane runes before a mystical force shot from it impacting the door like a canon. Andraste watched without a word as the door slammed open and a dresser behind it was sent flying into a distant wall. The interior of the room as far as Andraste could see, was a once tidy bedroom, now it was littered with dead bodies of guards and thugs alike. The bannisters on the walls were torn, paintings slashed, and Andraste got a strange feeling in her bones of something more.. Demonic.
"This feels.." Riu whispered to Andraste's right, the aasimar was shivering a little, looking almost uncomfortable the further they went into the house.
*BOOM*
At that second Andraste saw a door inside the room slam open a man stepping out. He looked ugly probably six feet in height, dressed in tight studded leather armor with metal plates on its side. His hair was black and he carried a blood drenched greatsword in one hand. Andraste winced when the guy turned to them his face was half burned up on the right side like a ham in the oven gone wrong.
"That must be Urstul Floxin." Alekzandr commented. "Renaer told us about him perhaps being behind all this." The guy named Urstul grinned a devilish smile swinging his sword in a wild arc. He looked sadistic and angry. Andraste didn't remember Renaer ever saying that.
"Is he someone we can kill? Because if so..." Markos took a step forward, his trident ready in his hands the half-elf seems to be spinning it in his grasp despite the tight corridor.
"Oh dear Selun.." Andraste groaned.
"Hello Non-believer! You are probably responsible for several deaths, including childrens! You will rot in R'lyeh after I beat the ever living shit out of you!"
"Shut the fuck up Markos." Asher replied. The soldier put his masked face into a hand Andraste considered shifting into an animal in an attempt to scare the soldier.
"And who are you?" Urstul spat, raising his great sword angrily. The half burnt ham of a man looked like he was ready to drop more bodies in the already bloodied room.
"Well!" Asher said, holding his hands out to either side. "We're the mercenaries who saw a figure like yourself limping away from our establishment! And-"
"And we have come to avenge our fucking windows! Oh and also some children." Adleth added "You ran from the scene of a crime! Fucking amature, don't get spotted dumbass!" Andraste pushed her way from the back closer to the front, the seven of them hesitant to walk through the door.
"Oh yeah?" Urstul chided, "Well, sounds like tough luck to me, I'm gonna gut a few more idiots and be on my wa-"
"Listen here. First I'm gonna take your cloak! And then I will take your spine!" Markos declared angrily. Though he.. Sounded like a little girl screaming at the guy so it wasn't really the most intimidating even with the blood he had not shown this man his powers. Andraste prayed he wouldn't. "Get on the ground now!"
"Markos.. I.." Asher sounded like he didn't even know what to say anymore. Andraste didn't blame him. "Markos.." Asher said again.
"What?!" Markos cried.
"He doesn't have a cloak, you idiot." Alekzandr chimed in. Urstul was looking around a tad confused like they had gotten off topic.
"You really think you can kill me huh? I'd like to see you try!" Ustrul yelled at the party. Andraste snarled in response. Before a single person could move Andraste watched a flash of silver shoot from the party's direction catching Urstul in the stomach. She could barely notice but Adleth had thrown a dagger with such speed it hadn't yet registered in the others mind's.
"Yeah." Adleth growled. "I'm thinking we can."