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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2364539" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 11: Abbey of Sin ContinuedTobias stood in the center of the rapidly fading effect.  Uzukiel, the half-fiend, the hot-blooded murderer, the beast Tobias was sent to eradicate had already collapsed into ash.  Tobias’ hand had not made the killing blow.  The success of this battle had been in large part, Magnus’ doing.  Even Motega had landed several strikes.Tobias had been, in a word, ineffectual.Now the Holy charge of the angel Reddel wondered if their attack had been a bit hasty.  The Heroes had faced the necessary and expected evils of invading a desecrated tomb.  Wicked followers of the half-fiend had been mercilessly vanquished.  The hordes of goblins and gnolls had fallen to the group; to Tobias’ blade in specific.  But the cool steel held in the paladin’s hand had not once touched the real target.Tobias’ glanced around at his comrades; all resting momentarily in the debris laden courtyard of the abbey.  There they sat gathering their strength and cleaning gear.  All of the companions were covered in the blood of their enemies and the foul dirt of this place.  All, except for Magnus, sported minor burns.Uzukiel had asked to speak with the party before the combat.  He had specifically wanted an audience with Tobias.  It seemed as if the half-fiend had expected them.  The Heroes offered no such chance at parley.  They shot the messenger, allowing the gnoll to run back to its master.  Then, the Heroes did what heroes did.  They stormed the humble room cut into the face of the plateau.Tobias now doubted that Uzukiel was trying to trick the party.  Something in his gut churned; the realization that a parley could have offered some information.  The paladin shook his head trying to remove that thought.  After all, why trust a half-fiend?  It had to have been a trick.Even if it wasn’t, Uzukiel seemed prepared for battle.  Perhaps the Heroes pushed him into the position.  When the Heroes approached the door of the room, they found themselves caught in Uzukiel’s web both literally and figuratively.  And Uzukiel flew above the movement-constraining web, ranting and raving.  He also had his pick of which Hero to kill.Only, the half-fiend hadn’t prepared for the mage.  Magnus had stayed back from the main party to watch another doorway.  Once his friends were ensnared, Magnus returned.  It was the mage that burned the web and consequentially his friends.  It was the mage that had saved the Heroes’ collective asses.  And once the webs had burned away, Motega and the mage were most effective.  Tobias had been…useless.Whatever Uzukiel had wanted to speak to the paladin was scattered to the wind with his ashes.  The silky strands had all but vanished in the few moments since his death.  Only unanswered questions would remain.Tobias grimaced.  He hefted his sword and laid the blade across his shoulder.  The paladin stalked away from his companions.Magnus’ head darted up at the movement.  “Hey!  Where are you going?!”Tobias remained silent.  He crossed the large courtyard and stood at the other door.  This doorway was recessed into the stone, just as Uzukiel’s had been.  Tobias glared at the thick door.  He grabbed the handle and wrenched but the door was solidly locked.Magnus bolted over to Tobias, company in tow.  The mage slipped his large hand onto the paladin’s arm.  “What the f*ck do you think your doing?!”“My job.”  The paladin grunted as he kicked the door, shattering the old lock.  The door flew open.</blockquote>

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