As the cargo lift creaked down into the earth, Alexander grew tense when he and his companions became shrouded in darkness. He could hear Viera and Ishani pray silently, calling upon blessings to protect themselves, and was surprised to also hear Takota mutter a quick enchantment for himself. He hadn't realized that Takota had picked up magic for himself. Alexander hadn't realized that Takota learned magic with the Sable Marine Company. He could see Falenas faintly drink two of his extracts and heard him pull out his dagger. For his part, all Alexander could do was take out his flail and shield in preparation for battle.
When the cargo lift came to a close, Alexander was relieved that there were lanterns in the chamber that provided faint light. The adventurers stepped off of the cargo lift and Alexander frowned when he noticed murals of skeletons in the city streets on the plaster walls. There were wooden doors to the right and left of him as well as a larger door ahead of him depicting a mural of the pyramid foundation of Castle Korvosa with two large skeletons wielding scythes surrounding the door. Alexander shook his friend, wondering just how far the blood veil conspiracy went.
What little hope Alexander had that Ileosa was unaware of the true nature of the Queen's Physicians were dashed when the doors to his right opened and four Gray Maidens emerged. At the sight of the unfamiliar intruders, two of the maidens pulled out their longswords and another two took out longbows. There would be no peaceful resolution and Alexander believed that if the Gray Maidens were stationed in the area underneath the hospice that they were trusted with knowledge of what the Queen's Physicians were truly up to. It was difficult for Alexander to think that Ileosa didn't know what the physicians and maidens were up to if she was the one to appoint them.
"To arms!" Alexander called out to his companions and charged toward the Gray Maidens.
There was plenty of room in the chamber to fight as Alexander was joined by Viera and her blade, Falenas and his dagger, and Duke to confront two of the Gray Maidens in melee. Verik and Takota exchanged arrows and bolts respectively with the two Gray Maiden archers with Verik's arrow piercing the breastplate of one of the archers and Takota's crossbow bolt slamming into the stomach of the other. Ishani kept behind Takota, and while he had his borrowed crossbow out, he didn't open fire. Alexander pushed on along with Duke toward one of the maidens while Falenas and Viera faced the other. Duke bit the Gray Maiden on her calf, and while his teeth weren't strong enough to bite through her armor, he gave Alexander the opening he needed to strike the Gray Maiden across her helmet with his flail.
The force of the swinging flail was enough to have the Gray Maiden turn to the side as her helmet was torn from her head. Alexander caught a quick glimpse of her face and was taken aback by how heavily scarred her features were. Before he could bring it out, Viera swung her longsword, cutting through her opponent as well as the Gray Maiden Alexander had fought, and advanced toward the two archers. Duke charged forward as well and ran past Viera only for one of the Gray Maidens to toss aside her bow in favor of a sword. Alexander tried to get to position to defend Duke but couldn't move fast enough as the Gray Maiden's blade cut through the front of Duke's body, driving the hound back. Alexander slammed his flail down on her shoulder with an arrow fired by Verik finishing her off for good.
Alexander turned toward the last Gray Maiden only to find that she had been finished off as well. One of Takota's crossbow bolts slammed through her breastplate and Viera struck her down with her sword, cutting from the Gray Maiden's shoulder down to her stomach. Alexander turned back to Duke in time to see Ishani run up now that the violence had ended. The priest muttered a quick prayer and placed his hand on Duke to heal him. Duke barked in a pleasing manner and Alexander, satisfied with Duke's health, knelt down by another one of the Gray Maidens. He pulled off her helmet and frowned that like the first Gray Maiden he fought, her face was heavily scarred.
"No need to check for a pulse, Alex," Verik called out. "My arrow pierced her throat. I guess we can say that the Gray Maidens are involved with the blood veil plot now."
"There's more going on," Alexander said. "I know a warrior with scars isn't uncommon but I find it strange that two of the Gray Maidens we've fought had plenty of scars across their faces."
"You might be onto something," Viera knelt down by the Gray Maiden she killed and removed her helmet, revealing that her face had been heavily scarred as well.
"This is troubling," Ishani muttered quietly as he looked over one of the Gray Maidens. "I've seen my fair share of scars tending to the injured before but these are different. They seem more ritualistic than anything that could happen during a battle."
"Falenas, why didn't you say anything about this?" Viera stood up and turned to the alchemist accusingly. "Did you not bother to look under their helmets."
"I did, and in my defense, I set all of the Gray Maidens I killed on fire," Falenas explained with a shrug. "It was hard to notice if there were any scars on their faces afterwards."
"We get it, Falenas," Alexander stood up with a sigh.
"Hold on," Verik stepped forward and looked down at the Gray Maiden that Alexander knocked the helmet off of. "Damn. I know her."
"You do?" Alexander asked, taken aback.
"Belia enlisted with the Korvosan Guard the same time I did," Verik revealed, gesturing towards the fallen Gray Maiden. "She didn't have any of these scars before."
"Could the Queen's Physicians have been responsible for such torture?" Viera asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Or maybe it was our very own queen," Verik said, his tone dripping with hatred. "I asked Belia to join my revolt but she was loyal to Korovsa. I can't believe that she would have been a part of this of her own free will."
Alexander wanted to believe that the Queen's Physicians were behind what happened to the Gray Maidens but he couldn't bring himself to do so. When Ileosa first introduced the Gray Maidens, they all wore helmets that covered their faces. Alexander knew that helmets were practical but now understood that they hid a dark secret from the people of Korvosa. The Gray Maidens wore their helmets before the Queen's Physicians were formed so the timing didn't add up. No matter what Alexander thought, he had to accept Ileosa was the one who had the Gray Maidens tortured in such a manner.
"There are runes outlined across the door," Takota spoke up, ignoring the corpses in favor of the large door. "They're likely magical."
"Good eye, Takota," Ishani said and focused on the runes. "They appear to be unholy symbols relating to Urgathoa."
"A trap," Alexander frowned. "What can we do about it?"
"I may have an idea," Ishani said and clutched his holy symbol. "With my divine power, I should be able to overwhelm the runes' power and allow us to pass through the door safely."
"An excellent idea," Viera nodded. "Let's see if it works."
Ishani raised his holy symbol up to the air, closed his eyes in concentration, and channeled a warming gold-and-red that passed over the runes on the door and the priest's companions. The runes on the door flickered several times before fading away and Ishani lowered his ankh with a satisfied nod. Alexander wasn't sure what kind of trap was on the door but he was glad that Ishani was able to deal with the runes. Ishani might not have been a fighter but he wasn't holding the group back at all.
Alexander and Viera pushed the doors open, revealing a chamber where walls of the room were lined with rotting undead trapped behind thick panes of glass. Their rotting faces sneered at the adventurers, but given how decayed they were, Alexander wasn't sure if they would be much of a threat even if the glass was broken. The same couldn't be said of the shambling corpses and the skeletons that stood guard against the five different doors in the room. They advanced towards the adventurers, groaning and creaking in preparation for battle. There were four zombies and four skeletons, and even though the adventurers were outnumbered, Alexander wasn't too worried. He knew what his companions were capable of and that these undead were rather weak.
Falenas hurled one of his bombs towards one of the zombies and it shattered, emitting positive healing energy over the undead. While the zombies remained standing, the skeletons fell down to the ground in piles of bones. Takota fired a crossbow bolt through the skull of the zombie that Falenas struck and it fell down, unmoving. Alexander and Viera advanced, but before they could face off against their enemy, Verik fired off three arrows in rapid succession. Each arrow found its mark, piercing each of the zombie's skulls to have them destroyed. When Alexander and Viera made it to the zombies, they were no longer an active threat.
"Good work," Alexander turned around to face the archers and Falenas. "The cultists must be getting desperate if they're throwing their weaker minions at us."
"That's right!" Verik boasted with a grin. "We're putting an end to the plague today."
"Putting aside that killing others doesn't directly lead to a cure, I am worried," Falenas gestured toward the room on the far side. "The majority of the undead were guarding that door. It could be that our enemy had placed these weaker abominations so that they could hear the violence."
"Good point," Alexander admitted with a frown. "We weren't too loud but they may still be waiting for us."
"What about the other doors?" Takota asked.
"We can search the other rooms before we proceed further," Alexander said. "We should split up. If we run into too much trouble, we can call for help, but we don't go deeper into this complex until we reunite."
"Falenas, you're with me," Viera told the alchemist.
"I don't blame you for wanting to keep an eye on me," Falenas nodded. "I'll come along."
"I would like to come with the two of you as well," Ishani offered.
"Good thinking," Alexander nodded in agreement. "Takota, I want you to come along with me. Duke will come with us as well. Verik, I want you to stand your ground here. If that door opens, shoot whatever comes through it and shout out an alarm."
"Got it," Verik nocked two arrows on his bow and took aim at the door on the far side. "Try not to take too long. This room is giving me the creeps."
"Viera, you'll take the doors to the right from where we came in, and I'll take the doors to the left," Alexander said. "Is that fine with you?"
"Of course. We won't take too long."
"Likewise," Alexander turned to the doors he picked out for his group. "Stay safe, everyone."
Viera recognized that Falenas was holding his own in combat. The undead he weakened and destroyed with his healing bomb may have been weak but one of them could have landed a lucky hit. She also could see how when the alchemist couldn't use his bombs that he went into melee and fought by her side. Falenas wasn't much of a warrior but he distracted one of the Gray Maidens enough that she could cut her foe down. While Falenas thought Viera brought him along to her group so that she could keep an eye on him, that was only part of the truth. She was curious to see what else Falenas would do to make up for his lies. It took time and effort to rebuild trust and Viera could see Falenas was giving both during their exploration of the complex.
Viera pushed open one of the doors that she was assigned and found that both doors led to the same chamber. She led the way with Falenas and Ishani following behind her and was shocked to see rows of worn-out beds with three prone patients strapped to the bed. One of the prisoners was clearly dead but Viera could see that the other two, a Varisian man and woman, still drew breath with their faces covered in sores. In the corner of the room, Viera could make out a large dark stain across the walls and floors and sickly thought of how the blood had spread out so far. Several tables holding bloody surgical tools were between the beds and there was a door in the far right corner of the chamber from where she and the others entered through.
"This is terrible," Viera said quietly. "I hoped that the Queen's Physicians wouldn't have any more innocents beneath the hospice."
"We all did," Falenas nodded with a frown. "Anyone associated with the despicable operations here deserve their fate."
Viera turned to face Falenas and Ishani. "My healing isn't as strong as either of yours. Can one of you tend to the patients?"
"Allow me," Ishani volunteered. "I came prepared to cure others of any diseases they might carry. We should save Falenas' alchemy for an emergency in a fight."
"Thank you, Ishani," Viera said with a faint smile.
"Shall we continue our search while Ishani tends to the injured?" Falenas asked and gestured towards the door in the corner.
"We shall," Viera nodded. "Stay behind me in case we run into trouble."
"Of course."
Viera and Falenas cautiously made their way toward the door while Ishani went over to tend to the two patients with his magic. The door was unlocked, and when the two entered the next chamber, they found eight wooden doors with metal slots. Viera gasped lightly, realizing that they had found the cells where the Queen's Physician locked up their patients. Viera tried to open the closest cell without care only to find that it was locked. She shook her head in disappointment and opened the metal slots to look into each cell one by one. There were more cells with prisoners than ones without and it was the last cell Viera looked into that she found what she was looking for.
"Griffin!"
"Viera?!" Griffin gasped.
Griffin, who was seated on the floor, looked up and quickly rose to his feet. His fine clothes had been torn and he was more pale but as far as Viera could tell, he was still in one piece.
"You're alive," Viera sighed in relief. "I was worried for you."
"Rolth tortured me with his experiments but his superiors with the cult of Urgathoa insisted that he patch me back up, likely so they can continue their tests," Griffin told her. "As it so happens, I'm immune to blood veil."
"As are a small number of Varisians," Falenas pointed out, standing next to the door.
"Falenas?" Griffin blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Alexander insisted that he come along," Viera said, her tone only somewhat harsh.
"As it so happens, I was the one who found out that you were captured," Falenas said. "It wouldn't be proper to leave you to your fate."
"Even after our fight?" Griffin questioned.
"I shouldn't have lied to you as long as I had," Falenas admitted. "I'm doing what I can to make up for my actions. As for my notes that you took, they're useless now that I've uncovered the notes Davaulus took on blood veil."
"In that case, Rolth keeps his notes on blood veil in the room you came from," Griffin said. "Have you found him yet?"
"Not yet," Viera shook her head. "He won't make it out of here alive."
"Was there anything else you were able to find out?" Falenas asked.
"I'm afraid I wasn't able to learn much," Griffin sighed. "Toward the end of the experimentation, before I passed out, I remembered seeing a pale woman with black hair. She dressed in dark robes and carried a scythe. I think I heard her command Rolth but I was fighting to maintain consciousness at the time."
"That must be Andaisin," Falenas said, frowning. "She may be more dangerous than Rolth."
"We'll deal with both of them when we find them," Viera pulled on the locked door's handle. "Where are the keys?"
"I don't know," Griffin answered. "Focus on the task at hand."
"I can't leave you behind," Viera whispered to Griffin.
"You aren't," Griffin assured her. "I'm not going anywhere. You'll be able to come back for me when you find the keys."
It pained Viera to admit it but Griffin was right. The cell doors were sturdy, and when it came to picking locks, Griffin was the only one of their adventuring party who knew what to do. If they had thought to grab his tools that Griffin used as Indigo, she might have been able to slip him his lockpicks, but they were in so much of a rush that no one had thought to collect his gear. Viera had no choice but to continue further in the complex until she could find the key to the cells. At the very least, she knew that Griffin would be safe in his cell for now.
"We'll come back for you as soon as we find the keys," Viera told Griffin, determined. "I promise."
"I know you will," Griffin smiled. "I was hoping that you would come but seeing it for myself has been the best thing to happen since I was captured. I was such a fool…"
"We didn't suspect the Queen's Physicians of any treachery," Viera said. "There was nothing you did wrong."
"I could have invited someone to come with me," Griffin shook his head. "Once again, I get in trouble for acting on my own. I'm sorry, Viera. I'll do better once I'm out."
Viera nodded. "I would like to apologize as well. I shouldn't have you not help out with the action after you stepped down. We both should have done better."
"Indeed," Griffin nodded in agreement. "How about after you free me, we learn from our mistakes and move on. It'll be a new beginning for us."
"I think I would like that very much," Viera said with a faint smile.
"Take care, Viera, and stay safe," Griffin said. "Give the others my regards and let them know I'm alive."
"I will. We'll be back for you before too long."
Viera stepped away from the door and left the metal slot open for Griffin's sake. Falenas had stepped away from the cell door toward the exit to give the two their private moment. She was thankful for Falenas' consideration, and for a moment, wondered if she would come around to forgiving him. Griffin didn't seem too mad at the alchemist, but given that he was imprisoned, he didn't have a lot of options other than to trust him. Viera pushed those thoughts aside for the moment, knowing she needed to focus on the task at hand.
Griffin and the other Varisians were locked away while Andaisin and Rolth led the Queen's Physicians, the cultists of Urgathoa, and the undead abominations they controlled. Viera made her way to join Falenas in leaving the prison. Once the group united, she would deliver justice to her enemies and free Griffin and the other prisoners from their cells.
Takota joined Alexander in searching through the doors but they weren't able to find anything useful. The doors led to the cult's quarters with beds for rest and footlockers for storage. Takota searched one of the footlockers, and while there could be items of value, they were rather grim and ominous given the nature of Urgathoa. There weren't any Queen's Physicians or any other enemies to deal with as they had left before the adventurers arrived. They returned back to the main hall with Verik relieved to have someone with him. He hadn't been attacked while standing guard but the nature of the dungeon was unnerving.
When Viera, Ishani, and Falenas returned, they were joined by two captive patients that could barely walk and news that they had found Griffin. Takota nodded along to their story, glad to hear that they were able to find their missing friend even if they couldn't break him out of his cell. Falenas revealed that he found the notes Rolth took on blood veil which would help him develop a cure. Viera and Ishani helped the patients they rescued towards the lift with Falenas tagging along to deliver the notes to her in case anything happened to the group when they confronted Rolth and Andaisin. Alexander went to check on Griffin while Takota agreed to take over Verik's responsibilities of guarding the hall while the archer joined Viera's group.
Takota took aim at the last remaining door with his crossbow. The only sound was the quiet moaning of the undead trapped behind the glass. He could see why Verik wouldn't want to stay around for much longer but Takota wouldn't falter in his duty. Despite taking his responsibilities seriously, the door didn't budge and he couldn't hear anyone walking behind it. By now, Takota had to believe that their enemies were fortified wherever they were and that the next fight wouldn't be easy.
With a frown, Takota wondered how he would deal with Rolth when the time came. He wasn't concerned with the Queen's Physicians or the undead as much as he was with Rolth. Takota had been the one to kill Gaedren, and while he figured there wasn't much love between Rolth and his father, Rolth may still want revenge. Takota thought it was ironic that Rolth would want revenge when Takota killed Gaedren to avenge his parents. He pushed his doubt on the matter aside. Rolth was more despicable than Gaedren was. Takota would end the vicious cycle of revenge by ending the Lamm line today.
Alexander stepped into the hall with Duke at his side. The warrior waved toward Takota, who kept his focus on the door.
"Is all quiet?" Alexander asked.
Takota nodded.
"Right," Alexander nodded back. "If you want to talk to Griffin, you can. I can take over keeping watch."
Takota shook his head. "I'll see Griffin when he's freed. Is he well?"
"He's putting on a brave act if he isn't," Alexander answered and stepped to stand alongside Takota. "I'm glad we were able to find him as quickly as he could. If we had waited days longer, Rolth may have been able to break his spirit or worse."
"Griffin's stronger than that," Takota said. "Rolth wouldn't have been able to break any of us."
"The same can't be said of the others he experimented on," Alexander frowned. "I don't take pride in killing others but Rolth can't be allowed to live."
"Killing Rolth is the right thing to do," Takota said with a grunt. "I won't lose any sleep over his death."
"None of us will," Viera said as she and the other adventurers stepped into the hall. "The Korvosan Guard has taken the prisoners to safety along with Rolth's notes on blood veil."
"Excellent," Alexander said. "Is everyone ready?"
The adventurers nodded in agreement, and without hesitation, Alexander made his way toward the final door. The door was unlocked and they filed into the room one by one. Takota was the last of his companions to enter the room and grunted at the stinging and harsh scent of chemicals from three bubbling vats that were as tall as a man. A foul green mist emerged from each of the vats, rising up to the catwalks of the high-ceiling chamber. There was a mosaic on the ceiling above them, depicting a giant half-skeletal woman garbed in veils among fields of the dead and undead.
Takota raised his crossbow as his companions took out their weapons when they heard sounds of movement around the room. Six men dressed in black robes and brandishing scythes stepped around the vats. Takota almost thought they were Queen's Physicians but they wore no masks like the five men that followed behind them from behind the vats. Finally, three walking corpses, their faces covered in sores and scars, stepped out from behind the vats, joining the ranks. Takota noted that they were outnumbered but wasn't too worried about the fact. The Queen's Physicians were far from strong fighters and the undead weren't much of a threat to them either. The unmasked cultists may be a problem but Takota was relieved that they were simple followers. None of them stood out as a higher member of Urgathoa's clergy.
On the catwalk overlooking the chamber was a lone man who clapped and laughed madly as he stepped out from the shadows. Based on his hideous features, Takota knew that the man was Rolth. Of course the coward would stick to the high ground and leave the dangerous fighting to his pawns. Takota could see the stairs to the catwalk behind the vats but it wouldn't be easy getting to them with how many cultists stood in their way. Alexander and Viera wouldn't be able to get to Rolth quickly and the catwalk was too high up for Falenas' bombs. Takota gripped his crossbow tightly, knowing that killing Rolth would come to him and Verik, who stood behind Alexander.
"If it isn't the crippled noble's attack dogs," Rolth chuckled. "I've been waiting for this ever since you broke into one of my labs, destroyed my creations, and killed one of my apprentices."
"Rolth, I offer you the chance to surrender now," Alexander called out.
"So you can give me to the Korvosan Guard?"
Alexander shook his head. "So we can give you a quick and clean death for your crimes against Korvosa."
"That is the only mercy we have to offer," Viera nodded in agreement with Alexander.
"I'd take the offer if I were you," Falenas said, taking a bomb out from his bag of holding. "I've set enough villains on fire to know it isn't a pleasant way to go."
"I know what suffering is," Rolth said with a grin. "I've inflicted suffering on many so it's quite familiar to me."
"You're worse than your father," Alexander snapped.
"I've surpassed him long ago," Rolth pointed his hand toward the adventurers. "I have no love for my old man, but nonetheless, I look forward to reanimating your fallen corpses. He would have thought that to be a fitting punishment for murdering him!"
Takota could see lightning crackle at Rolth's fingertips and was able to jump to the side. Some of his companions saw the spell as well and moved to get out the way, but not Alexander and Verik. Lightning shot from Rolth's hand, coursing through the two men who screamed out in pain. Despite taking the blast of lightning directly, Alexander and Verik remained standing although Takota realized that they would need help with the Queen's Physicians starting to advance on them. With the frontline broken, Takota knew that he would need to focus on Rolth later and turned his crossbow toward the Queen's Physicians.
Takota took aim at the lead Queen's Physician and fired a bolt that pierced through his thigh, right above his knee. His training with the Sable Marine Company honed his skills with the crossbow and he was able to reload it quickly to fire into his chest. The injured Queen Physician tried to press on even with his wounds and Takota finished him off with a crossbow bolt that pierced his skull. Falenas threw one of his explosive bombs at the remaining Queen's Physicians, striking one directly while the rest scattered. Only the Queen Physician Falenas struck directly was set ablaze as the others were able to escape with minor burns on their robes. Fortunately, Takota and Falenas were able to buy their companions the time they needed to recover and go on the offensive.
Ishani muttered a prayer and placed his hands on Alexander's shoulder, healing the warrior enough that he charged into melee along with Duke. Alexander crushed the skull of one of the Queen's Physicians with a swing of his flail while Duke launched himself at another, bringing him down to the ground. Viera, her sword enveloped with a divine white light, cut down another of the Queen's Physicians still standing. The one Duke wrestled with lived as did the one currently screaming on fire while charging at Alexander with a club but their numbers had gone down significantly. Verik ignored the Queen's Physicians entirely and shot three arrows in rapid succession, each striking the head of the undead the cultists controlled to end their reanimation. The scythe-wielding cultists chanted together and a sickly green light enveloped their weapons, similar to the white light of Viera's blade, and they calmly strode toward battle.
Alexander finished off the remaining Queen's Physicians, swinging his flail down on the head of the one Duke pinned down before bashing his shield against the face of the one on fire. Falenas threw his bomb into the cultists' ranks, setting one of them aflame as he fell down, but the others were only scorched lightly. Viera chanted a quick prayer and the same light that surrounded her sword coated her armor. She charged fearlessly against the scythe-wielding cultists, striking at two of them with a swing of her longsword. The cultists started to surround Viera to attack from multiple angles and Takota loaded his crossbow to help her. However, he glanced in Verik's direction to see that the archer had frozen in place, with an arrow nocked on his bow, and realized something was wrong.
"Something's wrong!" Takota called out. "Verik's not moving!"
"It's magic at work," Ishani gasped. "I'll see what I can do to help Verik!"
Takota turned to look up at the catwalk, knowing that there was only one person who could have dealt with Verik. Rolth had cast another spell, restraining the archer. Takota realized that Rolth specifically targeted Verik even as far back as the lighting bolt he cast. It was possible that Rolth discovered his father had been killed by an archer, and with Takota fighting with a crossbow, the only adventurer in their group with a bow was Verik, who wasn't even involved with Gaedren's death. With a grunt, Takota aimed his crossbow at Rolth and fired a bolt at him. Rolth saw the shot coming, but even as he tried to move out of the way, the bolt struck his right eye. The necromancer screamed out in pain, and while such a shot had ended Gaedren's life not long ago, the angle Takota had to fire at made it difficult to end Rolth's life. He turned to look down at Takota, his remaining eye glaring at him.
"I'm the one that killed Gaedren, Rolth!" Takota called out, reloading his crossbow. "It was my arrow that pierced his skull and ended his life!"
"Then you'll suffer as I kill you slowly!" Rolth shot back.
Takota had earned Rolth's ire as the necromancer pointed a finger at him and sent two beams of fire his way. Takota ducked out of the way of one of the rays of fire only for the other to strike him across his shoulder, searing through his armor and onto his skin. He grimaced in pain but the magic wasn't enough to stop him from firing crossbow bolts at Rolth. One crossbow bolt pierced into his shoulder while another glanced across his cheek. Rolth growled in pain, but before he could cast another spell, two arrows struck him, piercing through his other shoulder. Ishani had come through, calling upon his divine powers to restore Verik. Takota and Verik glanced at each other and nodded, determined to finish off Rolth while they still had the chance to.
Rolth pulled out the crossbow bolt that claimed his eye, which was far from a pretty sight. With a scowl, Rolth pointed one of his fingers towards the Queen's Physician Falenas set on fire and chanted a spell. The fallen enemy started to rise, his burnt clothing and charred skin fading away to reveal an animated skeleton that advanced towards the archers. The skeleton was behind Alexander, Viera, and Duke, who fought the scythe-wielding cultists, but Falenas was still nearby and saw the undead. Instead of a bomb, Falenas took out his dagger and swiftly jammed it through the skeleton's jaw, removing its skull from its body. The bones scattered across the ground, giving Takota and Verik the space they needed to keep firing at Rolth from afar.
Rolth continued to endure against the barrage of arrows and bolts that came his way. Verik's next two arrows struck the catwalk's railing but one of Takota's crossbow bolts slammed into the necromancer's stomach. Rolth reeled over in pain, and when he looked up, Takota caught a glimpse of terrified anger. He chanted, and when Takota fired a shot meant to finish off Rolth, the necromancer vanished and the arrow flew into the ceiling. Takota cursed quietly under his breath, and while he didn't know a lot about magic, he knew that wizards could teleport with certain spells. Rolth must have realized that he was going to die and fled the dungeon, leaving no way for the adventurers to track him down.
With Rolth out of the way, Takota glanced down to the fight happening in front of him. While he had focused on Rolth, Alexander, Viera, and Duke fought off against the cultists. Alexander and Viera were both injured with bloody cuts across their armor but they had killed most of the cultists that were scattered across the ground. Only a single one remained who screamed out in pain as Duke tore into his leg with his fangs. With another crossbow bolt loaded, Takota took aim and fired his crossbow. The bolt pierced the cultist's neck, ending his life. The adventurers took a quick glance around the room, seeing that there weren't any enemies left to fight.
"That's the last of them," Alexander said, grimacing in pain. "What happened to Rolth?"
"He escaped," Takota grunted.
"Takota's right," Verik nodded. "I saw Rolth vanish right when Takota fired a shot that would have ended his life."
"He must have teleported away," Ishani gasped. "He could be anywhere in the complex now."
"Or in Korvosa," Takota added with a frown.
"He could have gone after Griffin," Viera said, her voice worried.
"We don't know where he could have gone, so we'll need to be prepared," Alexander knelt down by one of the fallen cultists and reached for the corpse's belt. "Keys. This might be what we need to free Griffin and the other prisoners. Viera, Ishani, and I will go to the cells and free them. I want everyone else to stand guard here in case Andaisin tries anything."
"Let's not waste any time then," Viera said, already making her way toward the door the group came through.
"What if we encounter Rolth in the cells?" Ishani asked Alexander.
"Then you'll run and get the others while Viera and I try to finish him off," Alexander told Ishani in a reassuring tone. "Verik, you're in charge until I get back."
"Understood," Verik said with a quick salute. "Falenas, any idea of what's inside the vats?"
"Based on what I could make out from the notes we've found so far, it's obvious," Falenas said, gesturing towards the vats. "This is concentrated blood veil."
"Figure out a way to destroy it if you can but don't risk infecting yourself," Alexander told Falenas. "Let's go, Ishani. Viera won't wait around for long."
Takota nodded as Alexander and Ishani followed after Viera to rescue Griffin and the other prisoners. It wouldn't take them too long to escort the prisoners back to the Korvosan Guard for safety but a lot could happen in those minutes. Rolth could have teleported anywhere and Andaisin was still a threat. Takota took his job of guarding over the area seriously as he loaded another bolt to his crossbow. He glanced at his companions with Verik patrolling around the chamber while Falenas examined the vats from a safe distance.
Left alone to his thoughts, Takota knew that the threat of blood veil was coming to an end. It may take Falenas time to develop a cure, but the masterminds behind the plague were on the defensive. Rolth may be in the area, but knowing the coward, he likely fled to plot revenge another day. Andaisin and what few cultists she had remained to deal with, and once they were killed, there would be no one left to develop blood veil any further. It certainly helped the adventurers' odds that once Griffin was freed, they would be whole once again. If the cultists were barely able to hold out against the adventurers even when they were divided, they wouldn't stand a chance against them when they finally united.
A/N: So, a bit of a longer chapter. There was a lot to cover, and while there were a few points I thought about calling the chapter to close, nothing felt right until I made it to this part of the story. Still lot's left to see as we near the 300 page mark on my document.
Until next time.