About fifty feet up the northwest tunnel you reach a large cavern with a cliff with a 30 feet drop. A path leads down from the edge of the cliff, and there's a tunnel which continues northwest at the bottom of the cavern.
"My name is Greven. What do you mean business?" The white-haired man has an arm around the shoulders of a pretty young woman who is shaking. He accepts the drink.
"Aye, an' tha lass yev' hold of is Lady Calisia Galtroban of House Galtroban of Bhelskar. The rest of the tale I've to tell might be better said in the room over lest you feel like airin' yer laundry in the presence of all these fine folk." The dwarf says calmly, no danger in his voice beside the words he speaks.
Greven looks shocked for a moment. Then he quietly nods. "For now, I am just glad that you have rescued us." He coughs on the alcohol and passes the cup back to Magnes.
Magnes chuckles at the mans low tolerance "Ale of meh homeland is a bit strong I admit, I've some mead from the Gleemaster's goblet that my companions have found to their tastes. As to the other thing, I'd say ye've less to worry about in me company than ye might be thinkin'. But we can discuss that another time. I'd be interested to hear what you felt like sharing of your travels to get here, what happened if you've mind to remember any of it. I promise I've liquor enough to foget such rememberin's after."
"We went to Nelphent with a river barge, and from Nelphent to Dalkalar with a wagon. In Dalkalar we went straight to the castle. We were ambushed by morlocks, who knocked us out and dragged us down here. We've been down here for a week, and have been used by that thing on a daily basis. So much... pain. Can I have another cup of that strong stuff?"
"Aye the boat captain said as much, I'd been worried tha' ya were already gone from here. Have as much as ye'd like." The Dhouvarr says as he pours the young man another cup of the same, passing cups to any others who ask it.
"Ya know this whole group I've got with me all met in the strangest of circumstances. I'd call it fate really, all started cuz a damn cat made off with ol' golden eyes diner over there. Care to hear?" The Dhouvarr asks, as much to chance the topic as to provide a tale he could embellish for a few laughs. Its damn obvious that this group could use some lifted spirits, liquor or song it matters little. These folks could use a little happiness right now.
Greven takes the cup and takes a big swig of it. He coughs a bit and dries his mouth with a sleeve. "Sure."
Rhialla glides down the cliff face and presses on after her companions make in down the path.
Following after Rhialla and going down along the way to reach as to not leave her alone for a long time
The tunnel turns west, then south and begins to slope down. After 100 feet you enter a cavern with a 50-feet deep chasm with a river at the bottom. You move on the ledge around the chasm, and enter a cavern with a large natural stone column in the middle. Large brown mushrooms grow on the walls and on the stone column. There's a ledge 50 feet up and a tunnel heading east.
You hear these sounds in the distance.
Hearing the sounds of some animals and how the tunnel just keep going Bhalur stops and rethinks Rhialla, if you could look what is there in the ledge, that would be great. Otherwise I think we will be stopping here and moving back. I dont like those voices at all and not wanting to risk it with just 3 of us. Kevroth, any possibility you have some idea what those sounds could be?
Magnes grins slightly
"Aye well ta understand all this ya gotta understan' tha' one day I was travellin an' saw this sorry lookin mass of fur by the side of the road. Big ol' cat. Now feelin' a bit a pity to tha' creature I fed it. Mistake righ' there. damned massa' fur followed me ever since. But anyway, one day out in the forest I've got camp made. Got old rations that taste like boot and liquor enough to forget about em. I'm sittin' here wishin'I had company an'proper food and tha' cat comes back to camp carrying a big fat groundhog. I try an' check tha' thing cuz I see somethin' shining in it an that damned furball whirls around and nails meh right on tha' tip ah meh finger lemme tel ya tha' hurts.
So I'm sittin' there suckin' tha blood off meh battlescar when this lanky fellow comes through the woods an' asks if tha's meh cat."
The Dwarf says gesturing with his sentences as he talks in a rumbling tone.
"Now havin' already sat down fer the night an' bein' comfortably drunk I decide against questioning why a golden eyed human was blunder about in the wood and just had the man sit down. Was a real good sport abou' losin' his dinner toa' overgrown rug too. Then just as I get situated again theres some rustlin' in the woods an righ' outta the bush comes a big ol' antlered Bhakiri. Now I ain' ever seen onea' them before so here I am drunk as I can be when a deer antlered cat man comes through and apologizes for disturbing me. Then he go gets his other deer antlered cat-man friend and I settle down for onea' tha more surreal conversations I've had in a while. Even drunk it's a strange sight as I do my best to pour drinks an' ask not too terribly offensive things. An'I'm sitting there an I think 'What'd be great is if we had some proper food.' an' then an Aratheel with a gun over his back comes right outa the forest with a bundle of rabbits."
The Dwarf states with amusement as he recalls the events.
"So he I sit with a bleeding thumb, two anterled cat men, a gold eyed human and an elf. Oh an'a horse with a name. Did I mention one tha'Sabrick has a horse he's named Brunswick? Got food n'company even though my wish was half-hearted at best. Real happy tha' they all turned out to be kind folk, rathern' takin' meh coin an' things."
Magnes ighs as he finishes his tale an'thinks back on it.
"Now that I think on it it ain' as terribly funny as I remember it bein' at the time. Meh."
Kevroth trots down the sloping path, following Rhialla as quickly as possible.
When he hears the sounds, he tries to identify them, and to get an idea how many there might be.
"Alright, I will take a look up there, and then we can head bank and come back later. This place is so massive. "
Rhialla flys up to investigate the ledge and then will head back with Bhalur and Kevroth barring incident.
Kevroth The sounds sounds like what has been described to you as the sounds of gralocs. Sounds like there are at least two.
Rhialla From the ledge there is a small tunnel which leads north then turns east.
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Kevroth The sounds sounds like what has been described to you as the sounds of gralocs. Sounds like there are at least two.
Rhialla From the ledge there is a small tunnel which leads north then turns east.
As planned, Rhialla follows Bhalur and Kevroth back to Magnes and the others, and then return back to Dalkalar.
Back in Dalkalar, as the missing people return to their homes, people wake up and wake each other up, and everybody has to see for themselves that the news that has quickly spread through the town, that most of the disappeared has returned, are true. Not everyone is happy, as it isn't everyone who has returned, and that means that the ones who haven't returned, never will.
One of the town elders approaches you. "I am Elder Grelam. You have done a great deed for this town. How may we repay you?"
Bhalur being a bit buffled since he has no idea what he should do or say Elder Grelam... I don't know what to say or what to ask for since I cant speak for everyone in my group. I however have the duty to help people and make sure that everything will be fine and good deeds will be given to those in need of it.
Having a small pause to think what to say next I guess we would like to have at least couple of rooms for us, at least for a little bit time, as we need to discuss what to do. There is still somethings to be done in the castle and we would need time before we undertake anything without even mentioning our original purpose why we are here Bhalur stops as he looks at Magnes and others.
I guess the biggest issue though is that we all would like to have a moment rest and sit and have a good sleep before we continue with anything in the next day
Magnes glances to the town elder and then back to his group "Like Bhalur said, came here fer a differen' reason an' never really though of tha' inbetween while slaughterin' 'locks. Some things jus' need killin'. I'd say those were onea' them. I dunno tha' aims ah everyone else but I'd like materials enough to craft yer entire village a brew. A celebration an' a wake all in one fer those'a returned an' fer those tha' won't." The Dhouvarr says as he glances to the dilapidated buildings of the city
Doubt the townspeople here could afford much fer us anyway. I dont want to be the man to take these people's last coin out of a sense of gratitude.
"Of course," Elder Grelam says. He looks to Oldar Garanis, who after a moment's hestitation says:
"You can stay at the Green Drake tonight for free... And tomorrow you can borrow my brewery."
Mootday, Ambran 7th, 1247 DE
The next day you are awakened with a large breakfast, and Oldar Garanis tells you that Elder Grelam would like to speak to you when you are ready.
"Hrmmph. Hawww... Thanks. I'll be along once this meal is proper demolished."
Magnes yawns with a bone grinding pop to his face, pausing in thought as he acclimates to his jaws new position for a moment. "So I dunno abou' you buh if damsel rescuin' is gonna be like this every time I thin' I might skip the next one." The Dhouvarr states as he pours himself a mug of mead to start his day off right.
"Gotta say I wasn't expectin' anythin' like that when this all started. Though I did already open my gob about fate guidin' us. Self fufillin' righ' there."
"Fate, the Myst, who knows? All I know is that I could have used a few more hours of sleep. Our last fight was really draining."
Koija slowly eats the big breakfast that was laid out in front of them while leafing through Agalar's Grimoir.
Magnes shrugs "Eh. Point, figure once we have some food and talk to the village elder you could go back to bed for a few more hours. Was thinking about it myself buh I've liquid wonders ta'produce today."
Rhialla is glowing this morning as joins the others in the morning, "We return triumphant! Let us throw a celebration, one to signify this great day. We praise that loved ones return to us and to live better lives knowing the sacrifices made by the ones that did not return to us. We will need casks of ale for all and food enough for all. I am going to sell off the gear we found and find out how much it would cost to carouse."
Kevroth, though he looks tired, is also smiling when he comes down to breakfast and tucks in with the thoughtless voracity of a hungry youth. He grins at the thought of a celebration, and though his apparent happiness fades slight as he begins speaking, he is still happier than he was the night before, "A wee bit of revelry before we finish things up the mountain sounds like a fabulous idea."
"I've no doubt the town intends somethin' close to it. Lets go see what the village elder wanted to talk to us about before we start preparing. Never mind that if you give me til dusk today I can likely have something amazing prepared on the liquor side of things."
"I look forward to trying some of the drink you are so keen on, Magnes. Agreed, let us see to the the elder."
Elder Grelam opens the door with a big smile. "Ahh our heroes. Come in, come in."
He leads you into his house to his living room where he gestures for you to be seated around his table.
"So.. I hope you have slept well, and I am glad that you have answered my summoning. I want to discuss some things with you. First of all, I was wondering if you could give me the details of how you found and rescued our disappeared townsfolk yesterday?"
Magnes shrugs and glances to the rest of his allies. "Heard the rumors, thought the Blackrose castle was a good place to find answers. Fortunately we found our steel a match for the creatures inside. As your townsfolk have likely already said the priest of Bael who had the town in his grip was behind it. using you all like cattle for Ythrak. which if you have not heard it already is a tentacled spider the size of a horse that eats memories and emotion. Would have killed Koija if we didn't manage to dispatch it when we did."
"I would like to add he was no true priest of Bael."
"Deldenion Smiran. How could we have been so gullible?" Grelam looks down, ashamed. "It is a good thing you showed up when you did. You saved many lives from that fiend and that being he served. That brings me to the second thing I wanted to discuss. Dalkalar is in your debt. We are going to honor you with a big feast tonight, and though we do not have much, we have managed to scrape together a 1000 derims as a reward for all you have done." Grelam puts a bag of coins on the table and smiles to you.
"You and your people have lost so much in this ordeal already, I can not accept my share of the money. Lady Larafae saw fit to send me to you in your time of need, and it is my pleasure, and honor to serve that calling. See that the money is returned, or put to good use in memorializing those that sacrificed themselves so that others may live."
"That is truly noble of you. I shall give praise to Larafae that she has send such an angel to us. And how about the rest of you?"
"Aye, the man was some sort of monstrous breed. The dhouvarr turns to Grelam and smiles softly back.
"I hope you don;t take it in offense Elder but I refuse my portion of that. You've eight broken families in your town tonight and if theres one thing I can always respect its the value of family that loves you. Coin is no comfort for such a loss but its easier to remember the good times with a loved one while mourning when you can do it next to a fire with a full belly rather then sitting with gruel at a cold hearth."
"That is true. You are both courageous and sympathetic. Dalkalar will honor your names forever. We have sent men to seal up the hole in Castle Blackrose's dungeon, so that no more creatures from the Darkendeep may come up and cause trouble to the town, which brings me to the third thing I wanted to discuss. One of the people you saved claims he is Greven Blackrose, the heir to Castle Blackrose. We have put him in jail, as we know he is a dhampir and we think he may have been in league with Deldenion Smiran. The woman he was with caused trouble, so we have put her in jail too. Can you confirm our suspicion?"
"Wait, what sort of evidence do you have to justify his imprisonment? What trouble did the girl cause?" Rhialla asks with a surprised look on her face.
Magnes seems to consider options for a moment on what to tell the village leader, thoughts of wresting control of the castle from the Blackrose and getting a personal base.
Then he notes the Paladin is looking at him and sighs.
"On account of him being one of the people hooked up to the Yathrak when we came upon it I severly doubt that."
"If that man is who he claims to be, he is not allowed in this town. His father was a vampire, and the evil runs in his blood. The girl tried to fight us, when we threw Greven in jail, so we had to subdue her and throw her in a cell too. I believe that he may have been hooked up to that thing in another way than the other villagers. That he may have shared in its feeding. Feeding on humans is in his nature after all."
"You imprisoned a man for his father's actions and the woman for being upset when prejudice caused her more suffering when she had just thought to have been saved?"
"The law alone is clear here, we do not imprison a man for someone else's crimes when the only thing linking the two together is blood, however unholy it is believed to be. They will also be issued a formal apology, and anything you can do to assist in Greven's rightful claims to Blackrose, you will help them with. Do the right thing."