Just a heads up to everyone - things are going to get a little wonky here for a bit. 

You may notice that breebles just posted "Gratuitous Pt 2".  This immediately follows the events of "Gratuitous", the fourth post down on page 20... i.e. the one immediateltybefore Garn's betrayal.  These posts were both collaborative efforts between she and I.

Over the immediate future, I plan to release some other collaborative backposts that we worked on; these help narrative the time that Kithran spent with Davena while the rest of the party enjoyed Garrack's hospitality in the cells. 

Hopefully, it won't bore you folks or come across as too much, but I do feel like it's important that you all see what led Kith to the point where she would betray not only friends and companions, but true FAMILY.  The characters won't know these events, of course, but I hope that the players will find them useful.

Sounds like I need to clarify; my descriptions have apparently been confusing.

Arawen is badly hurt, yes, but she would still be able to fight were she not stunned/dazed.  Once that spell effect fades, she will be able to move and function as normal.  Yes, she needs healing, but she is still in the positive HP column.

Ch'dau is on death's door, knocking loudly.  He is well below zero HP and could expire at any time without aid.  I would not personally wager on his surviving the time it will take for Gib to move a full round, then adminster a heal spell the next. 

The callbacks to KCandK have been positively gutting. I HURT for Ch'dau, but especially for Ara.  

I knew that post was going to hurt.  

You did not disappoint.

That's SAVAGE.

Poor Aranwen.  Poor Ch'dau.

I think I need some of that rum

Why would OLAN do that?  Shall we tell them whose idea this was?

1. Aranwen is very seriously wounded and is under the effects of a spell that have her stunned. 
1A. Ch'dau is bleeding out and on death's door. See my opinional death's door rules way earlier in this thread.  A lesser CON individual would be dead, but he's not quiiiite there.
2. Cedric has sustained some injuries but not to the extent of the others.
3. Gib is pretty seriously wounded, but still able to fight, move, etc.
4. Kith is... yeah.
5. Davena is terribly wounded but not dead; she is apparently able to stand (with Kith's aid).
6. Garn is very, very dead.
7. It is difficult to say.  Garrack seems to be doing better than Davena, but he people seem to have the upper hand.  Hard to call it, since everybody is wearing the same uniform.
8. Cedric can make it in time to save Ch'dau, maybe.  Gib needs a full round to get there if nobody stops him.
9. Gib is out of the spells needed for another hold person.  I made a command decision to have him use a hold on the wizard, which saved Aranwen already and seemed like something he would do.

I'm gonna sincerely say this: I am so very sorry.  I hope that you'll all still speak to me after that post.

I considered breaking this into several posts, but you had given me such an excellent battle plan that by the time it was executed, it was down to "melee for your lives", anyway... it just made sense from a narrative perspective to complete the battle here in one post, rather than highlight every hit, miss, etc. 

This has obviously been in the works for some time.  It may get worse before it gets better.

Again, I am sorry.  I hope I haven't ruined everyone's enjoyment here.

Ch'dau roars his challenge as the party strides into the temple.  The chanting of the crowd falls apart, giving way to confusion and panic as Garn casts the hood back from his face and draws his blade in preparation for the big Kazari's charge.

The beautiful blonde woman looks confused for the slightest moment, then her expression hardens.  "Garrack!  You are behind this treachery!" she cries.  "I will see you flayed alive!  Faithful ones, to me!"

The brown haired priest follows the party into the temple.  "Indeed!" he shouts in return.  "No more of us will die for your whims!  You will meet our Master this night!"

Even as the party moves in, the dark robed worshippers divide more or less into two obvious factions at either end of the room, though some simply flee altogether. 

The next few minutes are absolute chaos.  Cultists fight one another, fight the party.  The undead initially ignore the companions thanks to the spell... but the moment that the heroes act aggressively, that protection falls.  Fortunately, the dead are only a partial impediment as priests from each faction struggle for control.  The undead attack the cultists, the party... even each other.  Terror fills the room, terror inflicted from the gods themselves, and even more mortals flee the fight. 

Garn proves to be an incredibly capable foe.  He shrugs off the divine influence of Therassor and meets Ch'dau's charge easily.  The man is wiry, but unexpectedly strong - and truth be told, the Kazari is able to quickly ascertain that the human warrior possesses skill greater than his own; Garn is able to open several serious wounds on Ch'dau as the two share the steps of the dance of death.  However, the Silver Cat's immense strength proves to be a boon that helps to level the field, and even though he is bloodied and wounded, the Kazari is able to bash aside the human's guard, step in, and thrust a falcata deep enough that it nigh explodes out through the man's spine. 

Aranwen finds her path to Davena to be far less direct; the blonde woman's followers appear not only willing, but eager to lay down their lives for their Mistress.  The Bladesinger is beset upon by staves, by knives, by undead, by summoned snakes and insects; she lays about in deadly, elegant fury, meeting all foes with swiftness and steel.  Just as she is about to take the final steps to the priestess, Davena calls forth a blast of the darkest energy anyone in the party has ever witnessed.  Blackness is not a term that suits this abomination; it is as if a hole has formed in reality, drawing all of the light nearby into the grave and beyond. 

The bolt strikes Aranwen full in the chest, dropping her to a knee from the shock to her system.  But then, Cedric is there, the young man laying a hand upon her shoulder, and the Bladesinger can feel the warmth of the sun itself flow into her body, giving her the strength to regain her feet.

Gib's own results are mixed.  His hold spell is unsuccessful, and his crossbow shot is incredibly difficult, what with the sheer number of figures milling about.  A prayer, though - answered perhaps by the Honored General, or perhaps aided by the death priest's invocation of the goddess of Luck - and the bolt is flung forth, hissing less than an inch from Aranwen's ear to bury itself deep into Davena's shoulder.  Even were Moreno inclined to continue to provide missile support, that option is quickly taken as the press of bodies meets him, and he is forced to melee.

The fight rages on.  Ch'dau struggles through cultists and undead, desperate to make it to Aranwen, to Davena.  The Bladesiger herself is there, finally reaches the priestess, cuts her deeply.  A black robed man chants, stretches his fingers out, bolts of energy fly forth, slamming into the sylvari's body. 

Moreno is surrounded, but then has aid from servants of the death god.  He is wounded himself, yet a large cultist forces himself to Gib's side, and the two of them lay about fiercely, keeping Davena's minions at bay, driving them back. 

Kithran, in a daze, gains her feet.  The entire scene is too surreal for her to fully process.  A fight is raging all around her, though no one threatens the rogue directly.  Somehow, a blade has appeared in her grip.  She stares curiously at the handle.

Davena chants; Aranwen is stunned, dizzied, disoriented.  The bladesong dies on her lips, her steps grow clumsy, disjointed.  The priestess steps forward, her silver knife gleaming strangely in the greenish light as she slashes at the Bladesinger's throat.  Just before the flesh is opened to spill Aranwen's lifeblood onto the dais, a ball of fur and blood and fury blasts into the side of the priestess, throwing the blonde woman off of her feet and onto the ground several paces back from the force of the blow.

Ch'dau stands between them, chuffing, then roars in fury and bloodlust.  His blades are coated with blood and gore, as is his body.  Much of it belongs to the servants of D'hurgen - of both the living and dead varieties - but far too much of it is his own. 

But Davena is down, sorely wounded herself.  The blonde woman struggles to reach her feet.  Her wizard nearly finishes a spell, but freezes in mid utterance at Therassor holds him still. 

The Silver Cat of Coria grins ferally as he steps towards the struggling woman, falcata held high.  The time has come to end her reign of terror, to end all of this.  The gods can see to his wounds after he sees to this task.

The thrust is deep and true.  All of the screaming and struggling and fighting... all of the world seems to come to a stop as the kazari's gaze focuses on the blade.

The blade sticking out of his own guts.

The blade that ends in the familiar, ornate handle of a Bladesinger's sword.  The handle that is held in a young woman's familiar hand.

Ch'dau's gaze shifts from the deadly wound to the face of his kibibi.  The features that have haunted his dreams ever since her capture... they look so familiar, yet so alien.  Her expression is blank, disinterested.  It is as if a stranger had casually run him through.

The Silver Cat of Coria slumps to his knees, then to the ground, in a growing pool of blood as Kithran pulls Aranwen's blade free, then runs to help Davena to her feet.

What a bloodbath of a week.  The NFL is supposed to get EASIER to pick as the season goes on...

Ravens
Panthers
Browns
Texans
Vikings
Colts
Dolphins
49ers
Packers
Jaguars
Chiefs
Cardinals
Raiders
Seahawks
Eagles

Working on a post, but work is killing me. 

Posts like that are what make this game so incredible.  I've had priests of Therassor before, never had someone bring the religion to life like Brom has. 

Sam did okay.  I don't think everybody's story ended so happily.

In the meantime, I have some great ideas for additonal chapters.  Let me run them by your inbox...

I bet I can use poetic language to bring more of those faces out...

I see the problem here. You had a long holiday weekend with no blisterstick.  Time to creatively remind you about that...

I think a few more cultists just got paged.  They forgot to bring their vampire to the Ritual.

that IMMEDIATELY jumped into my head!

Seeing as how the others have spelled their intentions out pretty plainly, I'll see about getting a post up soonishly.

Disney + is incredible.  Movies, Disney Afternoon shows... it goes on and on.

Heh... DEAD zone.  I love it.

Hush, Bree.  For now, Kith just gets to relax and enjoy the show. 

Hey breebles, will you shoot MagicMan a PM if he hasn't reached out to you?  He was asking about having Eric drop by sickbay, wanting my guidance on when that should happen. 

Battlefate is not on your sheet, Brom, as it isn't a spell from any of the core rulebooks or typical expansions (Tome of Magic, Complete Book of X Series, etc).  However, I did find it in a Forgotten Relams source and on multiple online sites, and since it is geared towards Battle (and fits your character's religion), I'm cool with allowing it. 

Cedric will not have the spell. 

To be clear, the plan is:

1. Heal and buff spells prior to entering the temple.
2. Gib casts hold on Garn.
3. Aranwen makes for Davena, Ch'dau makes for Garn.
4. Gib fires crossbow at Davena. 
5. Melee, with Cedric moving to heal and support.

Do I have this correct?