With four people working together while Kiven gracefully volunteers to stand watch, the group shifts the heavy beam, letting one end drop to the ground and for now leaning the other against the wall.

The hinges on the inner gate are rusty from disuse, and squeal as the massive wooden doors are opened. Looking out, you can see many of the fort's defenders massed on top of the outer gatehouse, quite preoccupied with raining death on the horde pounding at the front gate.

According to Poe, the ogres on the ram are making good time, but the defenders are also inflicting heavy casualties.

  Selena passes on Poe's information to the others. She then sheathes her weapons to riffle through the corpses looking for loot.  Grinning she glances at her companions. " Soon this city will die.  " She takes in a deep breath.   " Oh how the smell of violence and blood sing to me......It is truly glorious. "  

Respar first goes to the body the Captain Mott and divests him of any pouches, keys and so forth.  "The rest of the guards probably have a few coin at best. Let me start up the stairs first, quietly.  You can check their bodies, and maybe even check the barracks to see if the mites and their vermin can still help us."  The rogue then sets off to climb to the next level of the tower, looking like Mott, a trifle wounded but alone.

Stealth 23 

Disguise 13 

Bluff 12

Eya wraps up the looting then follows Respar quietly up the tower while disguised as a guard. 

  Selena eyes Captain Mott.  " I told you that death was coming. You should have listened. Thinking you could kill me. You came close but I am a child of the night. Mere death will not be my fate. " She takes her rapier and thrusts it into his side. She licks the tip of the blade and then moves quickly after her companions trying to be as quiet as possible. 

Stealth: 10

Kiven looks at Selena with disgust and says "you know, the preponderance of civilized citizens, devout of Mitra or not, have discovered the virtues of refraining from sharing such disturbing fervor."  After a brief pause he adds "the same logic applying to the licking up of the blood of others, of course."

At every glance of the outer gatehouse and the forces atop Kiven says to any "any time would be a favorable time for continued copious use of your new wand."

Kiven also transforms into a vaguely familiar guard and follows Mott/Respar into the tower.

Keeping his current disguise in place, Blau moves upstairs along with the rest, looking all martial and such, guarding the rear against any foes as they ascend. 

Several of the group head to the tower stairs and start climbing. On the second floor, there are two doors, one heading out to the courtyard, another to someone's personal quarters. It is closed and locked at the moment.

The third floor served as both the rookery and the personal quarters of "Mad Martin", the man responsible for caring for the birds. The caretaker himself is lying in his bed, quite dead. From the looks of it he suffocated on the copious amounts of snow shoved down his throat. Martin's beloved birds are all dead as well, lying in their cages, all showing signs of having been killed with cold magic. It seems that Kiliketz was quite thorough.

The smell here is pungent, but the windows do afford a good view of the outer gatehouse and the men defending it. You also can see the upper part of the catapult on the roof of the main keep. Above you, you can hear the men manning the ballista on the roof of the tower as they work to keep reloading and firing.

Kiven whispers to Eya "it may be prudent to surprise the men above us by evoking another arcane torrent before revealing our position with bolts aimed at their forward position."

Kiven studies the windows and says to Respar and Blau "how easily might we obtain a favorable position over them from here?"  He looks at up the stairs, any doors, etc. leading to the top of the tower.  "I might offer to ascend the exterior of this fortification if we might achieve a superior advantage."

"Let's go up and try to take them out quietly and take their vantage point," Eya says. "Let "Captain Mott" do a quick check-in with them."

Eya then waits for Respar to lead the way up the ladder before following up. 

Blau makes sure his guard disguise is in place, then follows the rest of the troupe up top, grinning inside the illusion. Stolen Ring at the ready, he anticipates a few aborted attempts at flight. 

Still disguised as guards and led by 'Captain Mott', the group climb the ladder one by one.

You find a trio of men busily working a midsized ballista, flinging spear sized bolts down at the horde. Two of them only glance in your direction trauma while the third only spares time for a quick salute before grabbing another bolt.

It is all over in a matter of seconds. One man goes screaming over the edge into the ravine, while Selena and Respar put multiple holes into the vital organs of the second guard. The third almost makes it to his weapon, but then gets hit by two arrows and a crossbow bolt.

The scuffle ends, but did not go unnoticed. Men on top of the keep are shouting and pointing in your direction, and suddenly the globes of light which had been patrolling the walls are rising and coming together. The nine Lantern Archons seem to join together, moving in a complex but beautiful dance as the swarm advances.

Kiven watches the lanterns archons form Voltron and says to Selena "let me guess, you're wondering if it has blood and what that might taste like."

Initiative: 24

(pausing here to decide what to do)

Seeing the oncoming swarm, Blau is unsure of it's nature. Pulling out a scroll from his belt tube, he quickly casts from it, then moves next to the trap door. bracing himself, he readies to meet the glowing group.

Initiative 20

OOC - Shield of Faith on self.

Selena smiles as the guards fall.  That was easy enough she thinks.  Her brow furrows in worry as sees the glowing swarm approaching.  She eyes Kiven as he mocks her. " No, I am actually concerned about them.  That type of thing isn't kind to life forms like me.  " She grins as she realizes something.  

  Speaking mentally to Poe she says, " We could use help up on this roof. Any way you could fly a goblin or two up here to pitch in?" 

 Poe responds, " Of course my mistress. Your wish is my command. " He swoops down looking for a likely small ally or 2 to fly up to the roof. 

Selena Initiative: 26

Poe perception: 25

"Demoness, I believe our purpose here is unchanged, if you'd like reduce their defenses to ash, but do make it quick."

Kiven speaks a word of elven as he pulls back his bow and it begins to glow with an arcane aura before he unleashes three arrows to test their effectiveness on this unknown magical entity.  With another word the faint smell of burning flesh emits from his clothing and he winces slightly.

Attack 1: 9 , Damage 8

Rapid Shot: 11 , Damage 6

Ray of Frost Shot: 17 , Damage 6, Frost Damage 2

(Also would like to prepare Windy Escape from spell scars as an immediate action if Kiven is attacked, if that's how this works like in our 5e game, Daishain.  Figured I'd mention it here and we can work it out if relevant.)

Eya's eyes widen as she sees this creature swarm towards the group, "Well, shit. Let's go quickly."

She points her wand at the catapult atop the keep and fires a fireball towards it while she can still see it from atop the watchtower. "Going down," Eya tells the group. Then, Eya's skin appears to fissure and crack like molten lava until she disappears in a smokey shroud.

Eya teleports back down into the floor below and moves as far as she can towards the stairs heading down while also being sure she is able to see the ballistas.

Respar takes a quick look at the ballista   3

He sees it is cocked but not loaded.  He says, "Selena, load it for me, then get clear!"  He then turns and aims it in the general direction of one of the lower ballista and lets fly, then heads for the hatch.

Ballista shot 22

Initiative 13

  Selena turns and quickly loads the contraption for Respar.  " Make it count.  " She races to the trapdoor and attempts to drop below. 

Eya's fireball streaks off to detonate on top of the Catapult and its crew, while Respar's bolt sails wide, disappearing somewhere out into the horde, no doubt to impale one of your allies out there.

Kiven fires a few arrows at the antern archon gestalt, one of them strikes home, but the creature does not seem to be fazed very much.

The group manages to rush down the ladder to the rookery, but it quickly becomes apparent that this has not bought you much time. The celestial swarm has simply altered course slightly to approach the windows on this level.

As they get close, they begin to sing. Their voices sound like an orchestra backing up 9 of the best singers you have ever heard. Bells, harps, and drums are heard as an integral part of these incredibly pure voices. The chorus is so achingly beautiful that it might compel listeners to weep with joy were it not for the harsh message that those voices conveyed. "Dark hearted ones, we cannot allow you to visit such pain and suffering upon the innocent. Turn away from this path. Repent, and you may yet bask in the warmth of the Beneficient Sun! Repent, and ask for Mercy from the Shining Lord! Repent, or face the purifying flame of the Fire Undying!"