Eya chimes in as well, "Those glowing white orbs Poe informed us of are Lantern Archons I believe. They are lesser celestial beings normally used as messengers. I remember reading about them before, but I don't remember the details of their powers or abilities. They are probably bad news though. Celestials make me uneasy in general. Does anyone know more about them? I think Blau's protective magic will definitely come in handy against them. Anyway, Respar has the right idea in that we should go for sabotaging or destroying the gate. Are we having the mites wreak havoc in town since Poe flying them in might not work?"

After their conversation in the morning, Eya flips through her spellbook and memorizes some spells she thinks will be useful for the day. Then, she burns an Infernal rune into her forearm and grits her teeth as it burns into her skin. She disguises herself as a female Mitran guard. She turns to the others and says, "I'm ready to infiltrate. Let's go see this gate."

Blau nods "Yes, I've heard of them. Able to talk in any language, and able to detect the evil impulses of beings. I don't know how far they can see those impulses, but either way they must be avoided. I, too am ready to go, " He adds, shifting into a shorter guard based on a couple of different faces "Gate first, then mayhem."

  Selena looks up and says, " I will check with Poe to see how things look with our allies. " Poe, how close are our allies to attacking here? We need to make sure that we have time enough to take the gatehouse. " 

"Would anyone else like to incessantly repeat the priorities amongst our many objectives or are we ready to proceed?  What about you, vampiric one, would you like to extol upon the virtues of securing the gatehouse, or will the testimony of several others suffice?"

(During the rest Kiven too looks through his spellbook in preparation and burns in a new spell scar using previous purchased materials.)

  Selena tilts her head as she finishes her message to Poe. " Be careful how you speak to me , lord of nothing. I see that truly Asmodeus is merciful. Being willing to use one such as you..." 

"The spurious perspective on who is using whom for what is noted, blood drinker.  I shall not burden you with nuanced critique of others in this manner in the future."

Kiven grins at Eya.

  Selena rolls her eyes and grimaces.  " I am sorry...I am ready to get this over with.  So many weeks of planning...I can feel the impending terror and violence fast approaching. It is almost time to stamp out Mitra from this place. " 

Poe flies north and west. It takes some time for the raven to return, but when he does he reports that the army is perhaps a half hour behind him.

This information in hand, the group disguises themselves as guards and slip upstairs, carefully opening the rarely used vault door. Its a credit to the craftsmanship that the old stone hinges make little noise as you enter the upper storage room.

It seems abandoned at the moment, as are the attached kitchens. The group proceeds towards the front gate, and up a narrow spiraling staircase. Respar peers around the corner to the small room where the gate controls are housed, and spots a trio of guards sitting at a table.

Eya turns to Respar before they begin through the tunnel and asks, "Respar, could you try and lead the mites and their minions to the tunnel? Show them how to get in here? There aren't many awake this early and they could help us a lot once inside the fort. You are the stealthiest of us. Worst case scenario, they see you all and you have to run through the tunnel. But it's almost time for the assault anyway so who really cares. Either way, the fort itself is surprised by a horde of nasties while we go about our business at the gate."

---

As Eya peers into the guard room and sees the trio of guards, she sends a message spell to Kiven, "Ready your bow young Prince, and let's take these men out as quickly as we can. Then, together we can figure out how to sabotage these gates and the failsafes quickly."

Just before the group enters the guard room, Blau Takes a moment to prepare Respar's weapon with a granted boon from his God. "This will provide Asmodeus' special blessing to your strikes. May his lawful cause guide your blade to His enemies!" (OOC Weapon of Awe - +2 damage, crits cause shaken, no save). Just before they enter combat with the guards, Blau will empower his stony fists with some of the same granted powers, enveloping them in shadow-wreathed flames. (Blessings x2 Unholy and Fire)

  Selena smirks at Blau and shakes her head.  She looks up and laughs gleefully.  " Can you not feel the taint in the very air? Doom comes tonight for those within.  I see death consuming them as it will consume all of them.  Oh to be the hand of fate, the hand that severs the life cord binding these timid souls to this plane . " She readies her small shield and her rapier. Raising the thin blade to her mouth her sensual full lips caress the metal briefly.   "Next time I taste you I will savor the blood of my enemies. " She licks her lips and advances with the others. Her eyes gleam fanatically.   

Initiative 10

Kiven rolls his eyes at all of the talk of Asmodeus and savoring the blood of one's enemies.  He readies his bow with the mindset that he'll take out any runners as the melee ensues.

Initiative: 15

Respar nods at the direction to lead the mites to join them.  "I will do my best."  Looking like a guard with his helmet obscuring his face, he does his best to sneak out of the inn and find the mites, then lead them past the patrols to the inn.  If all else failed, he would lead them on a mad dash...

Just as the mites begin creating a ruckus, Eya closes her eyes for moment as she feels her infernal blood begin to boil. Then, stepping out from a portal of shadow and flame, a hell hound snarls towards the three men at the table. It's maw begins to glow a fiery red, then it unleashes a torrent of flame upon them.

Waiting for the coordination of attacks, Blau takes his cue from the hellhound's summon and attack "A lovely pet of my Lord's domain! How appropriate!" he says as he runs in behind the borrowed creature, striking with rock-hard fists at the hapless guards. 

Holding action until 11 and following the helhound into the room. Flurry of Blows on the closet guard

Right hand Attack: 20 Damage: 13 plus Bleed 1

Left Hand attack 6 Damage: 8 plus Bleed 1

(Damage is base, unholy (vs good) and fire)

 Selena grins gleefully as she sees the attack begin.  Waiting until the fire is out she rushes to attack the nearest unoccupied guard.   Selena concentrates and she feels time slow down around her. Her rapier thrusts are just a blur to everyone else.  She finishes with a quick gesture of her shield towards the 3 guards and they shimmer for a moment. 

Respar follows the others into the guard room (assuming there is room for all of us) and maneuvers around in hopes of striking one from behind.

OOC:  Hoping for backstab, of course.  If not, straight attack, assuming he can get there this round.  Adding the extra +2 for damage from Blau's spell.

Respar heads out of town, and quickly makes his way to where the mites and the small army of vermin they've collected were told to wait. He leads them into the quiet town. There are a few guards patrolling the streets, which is unusual for Aldencross, but there are glaring gaps in their coverage, and so Respar has little difficulty evading them himself and then waving the mites through at the right time. The mites themselves have good instincts for staying quiet and hidden, and they keep their charges on a short leash. Ultimately, they all go unnoticed.

The little horde pours through the inn doors and then down into the tunnels. It is more than a little awkward waiting down in the vault with all of those hungry looking insects, not to mention the incredibly ugly mites which smell a good bit like mold. But soon enough the appointed time arrives, and the mites are directed to assault the sick men in the barracks. It isn't long before the screaming starts as the giant spiders start climbing over victims to bite down on heads, the giant centipedes to start worrying at limbs like a pack of dogs, and the smaller creatures to simply swarm over others while the mites themselves work in teams to stab at the bedridden men.

As the carnage ensues, the knot advances on the gatehouse room. The men within have little warning as they are bathed in fire by Eya's hellhound. They start yelling and grabbing weapons as the knot pushes in. One of them is struck by Blau's stony fist, he stumbles and leaves his neck unguarded for Respars blade, he falls and starts choking on his own blood.

Another is unlucky enough to face the sinister Selena, she slashes his arm away from a spear on the wall and then drives the rapier through his heart, nearly to the hilt.

The third and now last guard grabs his halberd, only to turn and find himself already alone. There is fear in his eyes as the singed man raises his polearm.

Round 1

Blau laughs roughly as the guard goes down and swivels on surprisingly agile legs, moving enough to attack the last survivor and try to silence him as well. "Mitra has deserted you!"

Flurry of Blows Right hand Attack: 17 Damage: 14 plus bleed 1

Left Hand Attack: 8 Damage: 16 plus bleed 3

Kiven takes aim at the last remaining guard, determined to make sure he can't run.  He unleashes three arcane arrows quickly, the last laced with frost.

(w/ Rapid Shot & Deadly Aim)

Attack 1: 9 , Damage 8

Rapid Shot: 7 , Damage 7

Ray of Frost Shot: 16 , Damage 8, Frost Damage 1