She thinks for a moment, "Ohhhh....I see. I'm sorry...I don't have a lot of time for questions right now...but I do have some. If you'll give me your armband and wait for us at Louie's bar...I have some questions about Nimuz and this Lord Igrams....if that is you know anything about it. Someone else said something to us about how she thought the ghoul problem originated from Nimuz and we're trying to come up with a way to put an end to it permanently....I'm just trying to piece things together." She takes a deep breath, "Okay...I'm sorry. I know I'm just rattling stuff off here...but it's what happens when I'm thinking about several things at once. Right now...I have to concentrate on stopping them from doing whatever it is their trying to do. Or at least reducing the amount of damage. So, if you could meet us later....you've already done a lot though, so if you just want to get out of here and leave this all behind you...then I would understand that too, but I'm hoping you'll work with us and let us at least try to help you too." She says sincerely.
"The tunnel collapsed behind us," Anton reminds Derika. "None of us are getting back that way."
Vishanti is sure the cultist is speaking the truth.
She thinks for a moment, "There has to be another way out. They wouldn't cut off their only way back to town would they?" She shakes her head, "There has to be another way back, there just has to be. We have to be able to get back."
"Once we have stopped this threat to all who live here, we will do everything in out power to ensure that you, and your daughter receive justice." Vishanti says quietly. "We will just have to find a different route back, but we will."
"It is too late for justice," the man says. "As for another way out, I don't know of one. Just the main tunnel where they put the bodies."
"Then let's check the dormitories...maybe the other hallways too since we know where we're going ultimately," Eldan suggests.
Anton slips the armband off the cultist and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Sarenrae's mercy be upon you. Though you cannot see the light in the darkness yet, it is still there."
Parthenia simply stands and waits for the others to be ready.
Derika nods and heads across the hall to the other corridor to where the cultist had said the dormitories were.
The dormitory is empty. A few beds occupy the room as well as two bookshelves.
Derika takes a look around anyways to make sure they didn't miss anything.
Morgor went around the room, making sure there wasn't a scent trail that might indicate a secret door.
Corda looked at the books to see if there were perhaps any magical ones she could use to teach Morgor later.
Vishanti joins the brief search of the room.
The books on the shelves are mostly useless texts with many pages torn out, only three appear to be in decent shape and of any (modest) value: Riverside Tales by Init Poil, The Repentant Demon by Helhund the Inquisitor and The Undead Are Our Friends by Lester Druis. Morgor finds nothing of note and Derika notes that there are just a few changes of clothing here.
Holding up the key she says sounding a bit shaky, "So....I guess the only way to go, is forward."
"Perhaps we ought to check out the other four hallways," Anton says. "Might be something useful. At least, we'd be sure that we wouldn't be ambushed."
She nods, "Okay." She says, sounding much more subdued. The idea of not being able to get back to Lysse when it was in such upheaval did not set well with her at all. She heads to the first corridor on the right, "I guess we can start here."
Parthenia nods and follows the group.
The hallway ends at a door that is partially open. Derika hears nothing from the other side.
Vishanti whispers to Moldovina, the ioun wyrd floating to the top of the door before floating in the room.
Through Moldovina, Vishanti sees a dining room of sorts. There is no one inside.
"It's a dining room. Empty." Vishanti whispers as the Ioun wyrd hovers back to her.
She nods, "Should we look around, or just continue on to the next one?"
Eldan shrugs. "Probably check another hall."
She nods and moves to the third corridor on the left.
The corridor opens into a recreational room. However, the only recreation that seems to have occurred here is gambling, as is evidenced by the pile of playing cards on the one table here.
She shakes her head and moves on to the first corridor on the left.
Derika comes to another door. She hears moaning from the other side.
Looking at the others she says, "Either more zombies...or possibly someone in trouble. What do you think? Should I break the door down...well...I guess I can check it first?"
Eldan nods.
"Might as well see if it's locked first," Vishanti says.
Derika checks the door first.
The door is locked and Derika hears the moaning interrupted by a giggle.
The blue in her cheeks darken as she blushes, "I don't think Zombies do that....should I break it down and see what they know? We have to get back to town, we just have to."
"Just because they're enjoying themselves doesn't mean they're good people.' Vishanti whispers, giving Derika a little nudge as she sees the color in her cheeks."I think we should go ahead and kick it in."
She nods and drinks another potion to add to her strength and to help her hopefully not get stuck in another door.
Taking a deep breath she takes a few steps back and rams the door.
Derika kicks open the door and sees two cultists sharing some chocolates. One has a bit of chocolate on her nose. They look up at the group of adventurers, confused.
Taking out her axe she casually holds it over her shoulder, "So...I have some questions...well...maybe not a lot of questions, but at least a couple. Why would your little crazy friends leave you guys down here after blocking off the other tunnel, and is there another way back to Nicae? Also....what are you doing?" She says looking just as confused as they do. This was not what she was expecting to find, she was glad they weren't naked....but she didn't know how to deal with people that weren't coming at her with a weapon.
Putting a hand on Derika's shoulder, "Perhaps I should talk."
Turning to the interrupted couple, "If you would be so kind as to answer to my friend's question. If you promise to not make trouble, we'll leave you alone. Fair?"
She cocks an eyebrow, "I know I'm not the most sociable person, but it's not like I threatened to kill them right off the bat or anything. I really really need to know if there is any other way to get out of here than behind that stupid iron door. I don't think it's unreasonable of me to expect an answer from people who are in cohorts with the bastards that started all of this." She takes a moment to try and keep her frustration and anger at a decent level. Taking a couple of breaths she shakes her head, "We may not be able to get back home and it would be those stupid cultists fault and if I have to go to Nimuze I'm gonna kill every single bastard that....I'm just gonna kill them all and not wait to find out who's involved with what because as of this moment, I officially don't give a fu<k." She says as she can feel her primal rage coming to the surface and balling her hands into fists at her sides to try and control it.
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Coming up alongside Derika, Vishanti rests a hand on the small of her back, a gentle minor link to help her leash the anger until it was time to release her fury in all its glory. "While I have no objection to you enjoying chocolates, in fact it's rather sweet, you have been abandoned down here, with us. We have eliminated every one of your allies we have encountered so far save one, we WILL protect our home and stop your cult's vile plans." she says in a calm cool tone, and interesting contrast to Derika's menacing growl or Corda's friendly one.
"We are not without mercy. We let one of your companions go after aiding us. Should you offer no resistance AND answer every question, cooperating completely, your lives are your own as long as you pose no threat to the innocent. Otherwise, make no mistake, you will die....brutally." she says slowly turning and drawing their eyes with her to Derika's barely restrained might.
The feeling of Vishanti's hand on the small of her back gave her some comfort. Even if there was no way to get back home, at least her love was with her. Taking a few more slow, deep breaths she concentrates on the love she feels coming from Vishanti and allows her tense muscles to relax a little.
The two women stand up. "They've sealed off the tunnel?"
"Oh no, they're going to kill us next..."
"We should have left when we had the chance..."
She looks at them, "So..why didn't you? Leave that is? Was that tunnel the only way out of this place? Like I mean back to Nicae?"
The women nod. "We didn't go because Martin said we could leave Nicae if we helped him. Then a week or so ago some of the other people disappeared and Martin said anyone who didn't follow him would be next. The tunnel was the only way we knew of back to Nicae."
She growls, "Where's this bastard Martin now?"
"Probably in Nimuz," one woman answers. "He goes there a lot."