Initiative
E  | T | Ha | K | X | R5 | R6

T'chal'fronack'zcinicke's bolt pierces a Reaver in the thigh, causing them to stumble the rest of their way down the stairs, finding themselves at Kerric's feet.

A beary accurate Hawke grabs hold of the other Reaver leading the charge. He quickly and efficiently mauls them down on the spot.

Sitting up from Ebele's administrations, Xalkas turns to dousing flames with his magic in attempt to control the blaze.

Kerric readies his blade.

Initiative
E  | T | Ha | K | X | R5(c)

Roll Call: Kerric

Kerric:

Unwilling to kill such a disadvantaged opponent and not sure if they need any prisoners, Kerric whacks the downed reaver with the flat of his blade, attempting to knock him out instead of killing him.

Elven Curved Blade against prone opponent:  Attack: 27 Damage: 14

Second attack if needed:  Attack: 21 Damage: 15

Bonus Action:Second Wind:  9

Kerric absolutely did not require the second strike. He knocked that Reaver out cold. He'd be sleeping solidly for some time, unless woken up with some effort.

Ebele would go to inhale a deep breath when silence, beyond the crackling fires, only to sneeze a little from the ashes. She'd sniffle and wrinkle her nose as pad her way over to Hawke, away from the flames being doused. I will. The monk climbs back on to ride bear back. She'd administer her own bandaging while the others assess the situation from a visual perspective.

On Ebele
Healers Kit: 10 + 8hp

Thankfully Xalkas had the flames under control. It'd take a little time and effort, but he'd be able to get it out. And when he'd get to the doors at the back, everyone could hear shuffling and whispering on the other side.

Kerric:

While others healed and put out fires, Kerric examined the bodies and possessions of their foes, looking for clues and/or treasure.  Wiping his blade clean on the pelt of the dead were par, he sheathed it and began to tie up the survivor—for later questioning, perhaps.

Perception:  16

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker looks about a bit surprised, “You know, our invasion of the cult headquarters is going better than I would have thought. Well played everyone.”

He walks about pulling crossbow bolts out of enemies and cleaning them off, using magic to mend them and return them to his quiver. 

“I suppose we should collect what we can of their gear and bring it back to town?” Xalkas inquires of T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. “You do seem to enjoy keeping a rather detailed list of everything we’ve found thus far.”

While standing at the doors near the back of the room, Xalkas tries to listen to what’s being said/whispered on the other side and further wonders whom it could be. More cultists? Servants? Only time would tell...

"And let the records show you wanted to go running with your tail between your legs..." Ebele calls back to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker as she bandages herself from the safety of Bawke's back.

Kerric binds the cultist and proceeds to investigate the area. Considering the inferno that raged through this room and its inhabitants, most possessions have been charred beyond repair. The elf may be able to salvage some pocket change and a reaver shield or two. Anything of true value in this room was probably in the pile of reports and detailed letters that Jolliver had neatly stacked on his desk. Those were burned to ash.

Five pairs of eyes belonging to human commoners look through the doorway with fear. They were focused on the gnome wizard who put out their burning door. Eventually some of them would shuffle a little closer. Any whispering amongst them were simple musings of whether it was safe to approach or not.

XP Granted: 405xp each
(Must be applied yourselves)

Monies:
1g 80sp 51cp

Salvage:
Sharktoothed Longsword (Damaged Condition) x 1
Shield (Good Condition) x 1
Shield (Damaged Condition) x 1

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker nods to Ebele as he sits on a bench and pulls out his ledger, "Yes yes, of course you're right. There's egg on my face. Or my tail or something. But I blame Kerric for spilling all the egg on the floor. It was bound to get on someone. So, valiant group, how do we proceed from here?"  He collects the coin, equipments, and updates his ledger appropriately.

Kerric:

Not sure what to make of the metaphorical egg discussion, Kerric decides to address the plain question, saying, ”We should continue to search this building and then all the others for evidence of the fate of the Dwarven Delegation.”

looking at the ashes of the papers that were on their leader’s desk, he sighs and says, “Though we may be able to gain such information as well from this captured reaver or grateful released prisoners should they have any here.  We can but explore, though I crave a bit of rest to recover from the battle some time soon.”

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker nods, "Oh, of course, there's all these rooms both downstairs and upstairs for us to search, surely full of all sorts of information and loot. But....something is bothering me."  The tiefling struggles to put his feelings into words, as he frowns, attempting to somehow choose the right phrasing.  "Do you think he was serious about peer reviews? I mean, that's just a terrible idea for so many reasons." 

After Ebele readjusted herself on his back and patched herself up, the druid would once again pull the dead bodies into a corner. Feel like I gotta get used to this the way this is going... He groans to the monk. This happen a lot before I joined or somethin'? Shoulda read that contact...

With the last of the bodies settled away, the bear looks over the group of commoners shuffling near the doorway, then over to Kerric. Looks like you got your 'prisoners', charming. Don't think you gotta worry much about them though, so try to not be so threatening, yeah?

Insight on the group, just in case (get a read on how they're feeling, if they're being honest if questioning happens, etc): 20

Xalkas addresses the commoners, “It’s safe to come out. Sorry about almost burning your door down.” 

Kerric:

Quietly to Hawke, Kerric says, “It is my hope they were the Reaver’s prisoners and so need not be ours, giving us information freely in thanks for being rescued…We, however, shall see.”

Nodding to the unconscious reaver, he adds, “This one, now he’s a prisoner for sure.”

At Xalkas’ encouragement, the commoners exchange looks between each other. Within time one of them would eventually take the first step. “My name is Oric. This is Lathna, Anya, Berd, and Nayreen. We’ve been servants who work in the kitchens and tend to menial chores throughout the castle. We are natives of Womford who were kidnapped by the Crushing Wave cult and brought here to take care of cleaning, cooking, laundry, and waiting on the cult warriors. We’re anxious to escape and head home, but haven’t dared to try. Grimjaw had two others flogged to death for attempting to flee.” His eyes would then dart along to the charred human bodies. “Those three were Gorm, Herek, and Shadnil. Ne’er-do-wells from Womford. They weren’t tough enough to make the cut to be Crushing Wave warriors, so they were pressed into service in the kitchens. They’d warn them if we tried to leave.”

Quote from ixi >>

Spitefire Inn

"Gorm, Herek, and Shadnil. They be some of mah lads that 'ave gone 'missin''." He'd scoff. "Truth be told, them three, prolly 'ave joined their stinkin' crew." Seamus would grumble in return to the tiefling. He'd nod along in agreement as the conversation progressed about approaching Shoalar and his crew.

Lady Lynn would bat her eyelashes at Kerric as he talks. Eventually she'd sip her lager and straighten her posture before responding. "The gang normally remains at the docks, occupying the dock and granary buildings there. They frequented the tavern, but Benny has said they've stopped showing up when whispers of the Womford Bat started."

 
“Ah, Sheriff Seamus’ boys,” says Kerric, looking sadly at the remains of their corpses.  “Well, sometimes when you fall in with the wrong crowd, there is no coming back from it.”

”Consider yourselves liberated, assuming we can take out the rest of the cultists,” says Kerric more hopefully.  “What can you tells us of the forces at the keep beyond those here in this room and at the temple?” he asks

Xalkas face looks very somber at having found the boys the sheriff was looking for. He had hoped to find them and bring them back to the sheriff alive and unharmed. Much as he didn’t like it, Kerrics words did ring true...

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker puts on a somber face, nodding, "Yes, yes, it's....a very sad affair with these troubled young men."  He pauses for what is just short of a respectable amount of time, then says, "Alright, well then, what's next? Yes, how many more cultists are here. We took out that priestess. Anyone else in charge we should be worried about?  And, about these caves full of treasure under the castle, do you know how to get to them? Where's the way down? Oh right, and have you seen any prisoners from Mirabar come through here?"  (he describes the Mirabar sigil so they might recognize it.)

The captives all share a moment of silence for the fallen men. When the tiefling would pipe up with questions, spitting them out faster than they could respond, they’d stare blankly at him. After a few moments of blinking, Berd would step forward to answer the questions they could. “Sir. I dun know how many could be left, but based off of yer mention of Priestess, and witnessin’ what ya done here. I reckon that ya might still ‘ave Reash an in tha watch tower sout east that looks over tha river.”

”And what aboot Holger in the gatehouse?” Anya would blurt out from behind him.

“So only two left?... that doesn’t seem like that would be too difficult to handle. Perhaps, Kerric we could try and take them alive and question all three separately to see if their stories match?”

Kerric:

“Indeed, that may work Xalkas, depending how many cultists support each of them.  For now, I counsel we take a few minutes to recover and search before we move on,” responds Kerric.

To the freed prisoners, he suggests, “Perhaps you should stay here and wait for us to deal with the rest of the cultists. Depending what we find, we may be able to escort you back to Womford, but it is more likely we will need to stay in the trail of the missing Dwarven Delegation.”