Orc Cave
The two of them stand a short distance from Ilmadia and Zenithral and wait.
"You should not have taken that hurt for me, little one." A quick glance at Arannis, but nothing more. "I'm supposed to take care of you." A full sob threatens to overtake her once more, but she muscles it down. She sets her head proudly and turns to Zenithral.
"I agree that hiding Isair and Madae away is not ideal. And it's a terrible, awful risk, but..." Her voice quavers. She clears her throat. "But I will let you and your wife care for them. They will be loved," she says, guardedly watching Halla's tender treatment of Mona, "and you will be able to keep them safe from common threats. But you four must leave the North immediately. Go as far away as you can, to a place you've never heard of and then keep going. And when you stop, never return, and pray that will be enough to keep them from their father's knowledge."
Rolls
Cure wound lvl 3 - (3d8+4)
(374) + 4 = 18
Leave the North... Zenithal thinks. ...when we're so close? Or are we? Ilmater's bindings...close? Is that what he thought about their current position? Armies are gathering to wipe out the towns and they barely survived a lesser devil attack and he called that close?
He inhales deeply and exhales slowly. But...my visions...the crystal tower...the people of the North... Zenithral wished he had the spell on himself as well, as fear crept into his heart. Ilmadia could help them, couldn't she? But she wouldn't...would she? This seemed about as far as he could push her...but he could at least try! Or would that alienate her again? His thoughts were a mess...
"Isair and Madae," he finally says. "What...would you like? Do you want to go away with Halla and I..or do you want to go with your mother...so Halla and I can try to save our friends and people?"
If they say they wants both...it may be enough...If not...it might at least help make a decision easier...
"Zenithral, the twins need protection, special protection even, but are they more valuable than every other child in the North? What about Jermsy and Natalie? The children of Easthaven? If you leave you would be abandoning all of them. If you leave it wouldn't-" she searches for the words, then sighs. "It wouldn't be just." She really is a paladin.
"Don't forget, Whitcomb could sell Belhifet information on the twins at any time, if he hasn't already. I think it's best to assume Belhifet already knows, and that the twins will be safest when he is in Avernus."
"He may already know?" Ilmadia puts a shaking hand across her face. "You people have no idea what is going on here. There's a portal to the Abyss in the temple of Tempus and my master intends to open it and spill demons across the North. You think you have a chance because you killed a few orcs at Targos? Because you've collected a giant dwarf since then? Targos was a tea party, and the demon horde doesn't care how big your dwarf gets.
Please, my son." She reaches out and grips Zenithral's hand. "You all need to leave, now! Go as far south as you can and don't come back."
She shoots Alalla a look of muddled emotion. "Don't worry, Paladin, the North doesn't need a hero. Belhifet will make himself one before the end."
Rolls
Wisdom save - (1d20+1)
(5) + 1 = 6
Indomitable - (1d20+1)
(7) + 1 = 8
Rolls
Halla wis save DC 20 - (1d20+9)
(13) + 9 = 22
Arannis wis save DC 20 - (1d20+2)
(19) + 2 = 21
Erevain wis save DC 20 - (1d20+7)
(11) + 7 = 18
A dangerous growl begins to build in her throat.
He clutches at his chest, as though his heart is being ripped in two. "I... I was not the father you needed, and I am sorry for that! But please... do not let this tragedy come to pass... And certainly do not aid it!" He gasps through his tears. "You can do better than this. You can be better than this..."
"Friends, how much more can we do?"
Collecting his gear, the dwarf makes his way to the entrance, smiling giddily at Allala as she leaves with him.
Rolls
A dwerf needs a miracle here.... wisdom save - (1d20)
(2) = 2
"Sell my soul? I did not sell myself. I was sold. My deal was made with a fae creature, in desperation to learn something about what my blood meant! A little arcane knowledge was attractive too, since I couldn't manage it with that horrible bow. But I suppose I was as good a servant as I was a daughter, because my contract was sold, and my terms rewritten, again and again, until I might as well be bound hand and foot."
The tears begin to flow again. "You're sorry? You were never my father. You were my commanding officer. My whole childhood was 'yes, sir' and 'no, sir' and 'be still,' and 'stop asking questions.' Mother told me to pray to Ilmater for 'compassion for your pain', but my namesake didn't seem to care how long I spent on my knees begging to be made good enough for you!
And you know what? Uncle Lethias was in considerably more pain than you ever were, and he still answered any question I cared to ask. What does it say when you get more affection from a mute suit of armour covered in corpses than your own father?" At that, a thought occurs to her and cools her rage somewhat. When she continues her voice is more subdued, and the tears come stronger.
"Erestor taught me that that said more about you than it did about me, but he was not a good man, even though he loved me. And I killed him. So I don't know what you were expecting, Father. I don't have any choice in this matter, but it was all I was ever good enough for anyway. I only want my children to be safe."
Rolls
Wisdom Save - (1d20+3)
(5) + 3 = 8
Inspiration - (1d20+3)
(17) + 3 = 20
Arcana - (1d20+8)
(12) + 8 = 20
Religion (Help from Saki) - (1d20+8, 1d20+8)
1d20+8 : (5) + 8 = 13
1d20+8 : (19) + 8 = 27