Raiding the temple.

Their weapons stashed safely out of view, you follow Roland's troops into the longship.

One of their number, the fellow with the poor dental hygiene, even for a peasant, has worked on a ship before, and is just about able to figure out how the Deanian ship should be operated. Before long, you're underway, sailing into the night.

Roland sits confidently by the prow. Even the largest Deanian you could find was a touch smaller than the beastfolk, as a result he's practically squeezed into the dead man's breastplate. You keep to yourself, sitting almost out of view, letting the mercenaries bring you closer to the temple.

You make good time along the river, passing through several small lakes. After a while, Roland gives the order to drop anchor, as you've nearly arrived.

“Hold here a moment.” Roland tells his men. “We're going to scout ahead.”

“You sure you want to bring... uh, your friend with you boss?” one of the mercenaries remarks, as The Shark splashes out into the shallows, helping you out of the serpent ship.

“I'm sure.” Roland answers authoritatively.

Moving a short distance inland, just enough to shield your activities from your compatriots, Roland brings up his hand.

A few seconds later, Corinne's masked visage emerges from the magical projection.

“Evening, cousins.” the Morlandian says in a jaunty tone.

“What are we looking at, Corinne?” you ask, standing close to Roland so she can take you both in.

“There's roughly a dozen White Torch inside the temple by my estimation. The shrine girls haven't had time to move back in, tidy the place up, so we should be able to simply clear them out.” The Spider reports.

“That's what I like to hear.” Roland remarks. “With the element of surprise, and you picking those demon-huntin' bastards off with your bow, we should handily manage this.

“Exactly my thoughts, cousins.” Corinne nods. “I'll be watching from above. Eliminate some of the pureblood fools as you attack.”

Saying your goodbyes, for now at least, you and Roland return to the ship. The Shark's men are none the wiser, going about their business as you follow the river the last stretch of your journey, the temple coming into sight, a little the worse for wear for being taken twice, but otherwise still standing.

“Y'ready lads?” Roland asks, hefting the Deanian-style battle-axe he'd brought along with him. The ersatz raiders respond in a muted cheer of assent.

“I'd suggest you stay behind, my friend.” Roland says, turning his head to you.

“B-Believe me,” you say. “I'm in no hurry to join the fray.”

“Smart man.” The Shark guffaws, before disembarking.

You watch on, trying to stay low and obscured within the longship as Roland's crew advance, drawing the Beathan forces within towards them with a mighty roar.

Roland cleaves through the White Torch soldiers, his fighting every bit as bestial and ferocious as his visage would suggest.

The men at his back do their best to press the advantage, though clearly they were chosen for their gullibility and because they were expendable, not their martial skill. Still, they're aided at a couple of junctures by deadly accurate arrows whistling through the night, striking demon-hunters dead.

It isn't long before the sounds of fighting recede. Minutes later, you watch on as Roland re-emerges from the temple, guarding his men as they haul chests and cases stuffed with riches from the temple. There's so much they have to make two trips, the hull of the longship practically stuffed by the time they're climb back in themselves.

-

“Well that was damn fine work, boys!” Roland says proudly, resting his foot on one of the rower's seats as you make back downriver.

“You're an animal, boss. In battle, I mean.” the toothless warrior tells him.

“What about our guardian angel, up in the trees, eh?” another responds. “Didn't know you had any archers that skilled in the company, boss.”

“Ah don't worry lads, her you'll meet soon enough.” Roland chuckles.

-

It isn't long before the boat returns to the small camp in which Roland discovers it. You watch on as his men haul the chests plundered from the temple ashore.

“Let's get this shite divided up!” one of the mercenaries calls out, greedily rubbing his hands together.

“No... There'll be time enough for that after.” Roland decides. Sensing a note of tension in his voice, you make sure to surreptitiously position yourself on the other side of your cousin to his followers.

“After? After what, guv?” one of them asks. If they comprehend the danger they're in, a big if in your opinion, they realise it too late.

“After we deal with you, of course!” Corinne chimes in, the softest of thumps announcing her entrance as she drops, masked and cloaked, from the treeline.

As the men whirl to look at the noblewoman, taken off guard by her abrupt arrival, Roland attacks. His axe finds the nearest man, taking him out of the fight before the others can even draw their weapons.

Corinne is just as quick in her ****, her blade flashing, dealing terrible wounds. She leverages her unnatural speed and agility, dealing **** as if she was created for it, which you suppose she was.

Taken by surprise, and unable to resist your cousins' demonic strength, the sell-swords are soon cut down.

“Nicely done.” you say, catching your breath, approaching Corinne. “Though I saw your bow-work on the raid. You made that harder than it had to be.”

“What can I say?” Corinne asks, impassively watching the last of Roland's party bleeding out, blue eyes glinting sadistically through the slits of her hideous silver mask. “I've always enjoyed playing with my food.”

With that, she sends her blade hurtling down, piercing the unfortunate soul's neck, sending him more swiftly on his way.

“Alone at last.” the Morlandian chuckles. “Shall we, boys?”

You leave the dead mercenaries where they fell. Given their dress and weapons, when the Beathans find the place, they'll simply register as a handful more dead Deanians.

“My hideout's not far downriver. I stashed your mount there, Roland.” Corinne explains, as the two of them haul the chests back into the longship. As you haul yourself aboard, Roland retrieves his gear from the stash, then upends the rest of it into the river. Just like that' you glide away, leaving no evidence.