Our heroes wander back along the corridors taking one last look around before they meet up with Porter and all the local women who are goggled eyed over the remains of the Crypt Thing and the slag pile that was the Golem. Porter recounts their epic deeds in a fashion that, while accurate, lacks the poetic flourishes that a bard would include. Jofram winces.
Curiosity satisfied and tales told - from which Jayse and Jofram receive the appraising glances of several of the town's women - your band plans their ascent. Fortunately, the sticky nature the rope makes it nearly impossible for anyone to fall and simplifies the climbing, though everyone gets soaked through to the skin from the dousing in the curtain of water.
"We've plundered his treasure room and bested his guardians, and made it through more or less in tact. Not to mention that I literally can't remember ever seeing the sun. I'm all for getting out of here. Let the bastard rot."
It is a long, cold climb as you shepherd nearly a dozen women and girls up 200' vertical feet through over a quarter mile of slick stone channel. Fortunately, when a girl loses her grip on the rope by accident, the rope doesn't let her go. The webbing holds her in place until she regains her feet.
Jayse grows bored and manages to find a drier patch of wall that enables him to walk up onto the ceiling. He leads the rest of the way, walking upside down and 'drip drying'. After an hour, the cold and effort take their toll. Spirits begin to flag. Jofram tells tales, bawdy jokes, and lays to keep the women's spirits raised. After another hour, you see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
Jayse sprints ahead, leaps down, grabs the rope, and follows it out of the sinkhole and onto solid ground in late afternoon light. Jayse mounts the earthen berm only to come face-to-face with a strange sight. He is staring down the business end of what appears to be a clockwork controlled, 50 lb arbalest mounted on a mono-pod. The steel shaft is topped with a smoking, spiked metal ball. Just barely visible over the arbalest are the intense blue eyes of Bitiborium, regarding him.
The gnome cocks the arbalest to one side and smiles at the monk with relief. "Hi, Jayse. I wasn't sure what was going to come out of that rabbit hole so I figured it was best to be careful."
The merchant yells back at Jax waiting by his pushcart. "It's them! Start spooling!" Jax flips a switch on an ingenious box through which the climbing line is fed. It begins pulling the rope up, bringing all of the heroes and locals along rather quickly. In fairly short order, people start popping out of the sinkhole.
Bit turns back to Jayse, "Having fun, were we?"
Ushari breaths a huge sigh of relief as the group exits the complex. She makes a note to thank Jax later for the rope. This rope is probably an expensive one, I am sure they would appreciate its return...not to mention the fact we don't need anything climbing out of there...
Her eyes widen as she sees the strange gnome merchant, and she is speechless. I guess Jax did not leave the rope for us...
Jofram gets his first breath of fresh air. While he enjoys the taste of it, he realises it is foreign in some way. It doesn't smell like the air he is used to. He looks around and sees their group is in the middle of a massive field of blood-red wheat along a well defined cart-path that winds its way among the endless wheat (when heading North) and towards some distant hills and forest (when heading South). To the East, the fields eventually give way to a line of mountains that stretch from North to South. The taste of the air contains only specks of brine and Jofram knows they are far from the sea.
Jofram comments on the strangeness of the land and red crops, then asks Porter and the others about the path they traveled, to get a sense of which direction they should follow. Vaelos takes flight, stretching wings long cramped in the tunnels below.
Porter nods, "We can just follow the path. It's the quickest way until we reach the hills."
Bit notes the odd looks he's getting from the crew and merely shrugs, saying with a smile, "I take it this sinkhole didn't do you any favors. Should we seal it off or leave it for the next passerby to enjoy?"
Ushari looks down at the sinkhole and wonders what other restless spirits lair down below, in addition to Trolohain.
She represses a chill that runs up her arms. "I think it would be best to seal this place up, Bititorium."
"So what is this place? It is strange; foreign. Crops grow in odd colors, and the smell is... odd"
Bit nods at Ushari while coiling the last bit of the strange rope on the other side of the 'spooler' and packs it away. He looks at Jax to settle accounts, "Well, you borrowed my line, my time, and my spooler for 3 days... Going by the current rates... with the off-season discount... that comes to... lemme see... 1 Gold Sovereign OR you can push my cart for awhile. If it's gonna be the cart - get pushing, we'll want some room." Jax laughs, claps the gnome on the shoulder, and starts pushing his cart down the path.
The gnome lugs the clockwork arbalest on one arm and plants the mono-pod in the soil - sighting down the gaping hole into the necropolis. He cranks the elaborate clockwork winch and the solid mithral bow bends and creaks ominously. Bit whispers some words to the smoking metal head of the arbalest before giving Ushari a grin and pulling the trigger. The arbalest's twang is insanely loud and the bolt is a barely perceptible blur that just misses the roof of the tunnel as it shoots deeply into the darkness.
The twang dies away and half a minute later the shaking and cracking begins. A highly localized quake shakes everyone and everything. Bitiborium stays on his feet by leaning against the mono-pod for support. Dust pours out of the channel and the ground in the area explodes upwards 5' before sinking 15', forming a nearly perfect bowl nearly 100' across.
Bit laughs "HELL YEAH! I've always wanted to do that." He glances around to see if anyone else enjoyed it nearly as much. His eyes fall on the ranger and he belatedly offers an answer. "Well, friend, this is Amador Island, in the Great Southern Isles... and the only thing South of this isle is the Deep Blue. You are at the edge of the map."
He packs away the arbalest, putting it in his strongbox.
Fin walks over shyly, something weighing on her mind. "Hi Itty-Bitty" she says before launching into a long halting stream of Aquan.
The merchant nods. "I'm sure we can make an arrangement, Fin."
It's a good five minutes before Jayse can speak. The earthquake rattles him out of it, however, and with obvious surprise and credulity, he finally finds his voice, "Master Bitiborium… it's…. good to see you. And I guess you could say we were having fun. Ya know, as much fun as ever, I guess."
What the hell is this little guy doing here?! he thinks as he helps the rest get cleaned up after their long climb.
As the conversation between Fin and the small merchant concludes, Jayse looks up with curiosity. Dusting his hands, he can't help but ask the question, "What are you two cooking up?"
Straehan spends a very long time using Prestidigitation to clean and dry everyone while listening in on the conversations. Only the bone-rattling crump of the earthquake attracts his attention more.
What the hell did Bit whisper to that bolt?!?!? He wracks his brain but he can't recall ever hearing of magical ammunition that can cause an earthquake.
The cleaning finished and his puzzler clearly broken, the sorcerer walks over catching the last part of Jayse's comment....
Ushari weathers the earthquake with the grace of a born acrobat, but the look of surprise on her face is quite real. When she hears Jayse’s comments, she shakes her head in amusement. Fun is NOT the word I would use there. I am glad we won’t be returning there again.
As Bit and Fin have their private conversation, she remembers the Grey Lady’s statement about Fin desiring to return home. Why would she want to return to a place that holds nothing but heartbreak for her? Could revenge alone sustain her. She knew the elven female was no longer part of their fellowship, and that saddened her.
She joins the others, yet is silent, waiting for the inevitable. She glances at Jofram, now a part of them. What is his story? We need to check into that further…
Jayse reflects that listening to a conversation in Aquan is like listening to competing tides meet and clash... as Fin, Bitiborium, and Straehan debate. Fin looks sad, Bit is uncomfortable, and Strae seems to be attempting to put a positive spin on the matter.
Jayse waits patiently until, like a tide, the conversation recedes and Bit busies himself with other matters. Straehan turns to answer Jayse's question with a nod of permission from the tall Elf girl with moist eyes.
Ushari was already wandering towards the odd conversation when Straehan waves her over. Once gathered together, he says, "Sorry for the delay on answering your question, Jayse. Fin asked me to tell you that she misses her home greatly. This whole world is strange to her and her only connection to it is us three... and that just isn't reason enough to stay. Being from another world, she feels she'll never find the answers to who she is here. You or Ushari or Jofram or even I might find clues in those crypt paintings or in a library here - to uncover the keys to our pasts. She's convinced she won't... so she's arranged with Bit to get her home so she can find her own answers."
Ushari nods quietly to Straehan, unable to reply. She remembers the first time she had met the enigmatic elf, while clinging to that wreckage floating out in the middle of the ocean. She herself had never had a family, at least not that she remembered. At least both of her parents were still alive, according to the Grey Lady, she reflects to herself.
I hope she finds what she is looking for. I believe she is looking for her answers in the wrong place though, and those answers can be found within her own heart and soul. Of course, I am not an elf and their familial ties must run deeper. She thinks as she brushes a tear out of her eye.
”Strae, I do not have…a family, except for you,” she waves her hand to indicate Jayse and Jofram as well. ”When you lose someone you care about, it…it is hard.”
Fin nods and gives the human girl an awkward hug.
The small sorcerer debates what to say to the aggrieved acrobat. People come and go; even family members have to find their own path at some point. The only constant in our fragile lives is change. He eyes Ushari and feels his age. I forget how young she is, at times.
Straehan gives her an encouraging smile, "There is no denying that goodbyes are most often accompanied by grief. But we all must find our own way in the world. If this is Fin's path then I can only wish her well and hope it leads her to happiness.
- When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
Little room do I find for pride.
I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
Has fallen short or been turned aside.
But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
That probably doesn't make you feel any better, but it is the best I can offer."
You all begin walking down the path back towards the village, enjoying the falling evening under open skies. Jax pushes Bitiborium's cart and asks "Master Merchant, are you coming to our village?"
"In other words - how long will you have to push my cart?" Bit laughs, "No, I'll stay with you probably until we reach those forested hills yonder, then Fin and I will take another path." He whistles as he walks, happy to be cart-free for the time being.
You hike for several hours and then settle down to camp as night truly falls. The wind whispers through the grain and the cloudless sky shows you her veil of stars. Dinner is a meager affair of rations augmented with some dried fruit provided by Bit. It is enjoyable, however, eating around a roaring fire in the open and away from supernatural dangers.
Ushari spends most of the time in a quiet reverie contemplating Straehan's words, mixed with glancing frequently at Fin trying to affix the elf’s face in her mind. She could have been my sister, in another world.
She does take time to slip behind Jax and give him a quick hug while he is distracted pulling the cart. ”Thank you again, Jax.”
As she senses their paths about to diverge, she approaches Fin. ”I do hope you find peace in your heart, Findelwing. If by some quirk of Fate or the whimsy of the gods we find ourselves on Elsemar, I will make every effort to find you and check to see how you are doing.”
"Yes! I look for you, 'Shari. Be well."
Straehan spends a few hours speaking with Fin privately. It surprises neither Jayse nor Ushari as the tall elf always showed a marked preference for the other non-human in their group, treating him like a little brother.
What they spoke of - no record tells - but they laughed a bit and sat companionably. Only when Straehan left to go to bed, and his face turned from the elf...
Ushari makes a note of the exchange, but concerned with her own thoughts pays it little mind.
Jofram sits quietly, not wanting to intrude on the farewells.
Jayse is quiet when Fin's news is shared, which isn't uncommon for him, but those of you who've grown close to him can see that the revelation has made him think.
Then, as you all make yourselves comfortable with your small meal around the fire, he goes to sit near her, poking the fire with a stick. "I hope your answers wait for you when you get home, Findelgwing. As much as any of us feel lost and adrift, I can imagine you feel worse. A different language. A different people." He looks up at the stars, "A different world." He lets out a soft, slow whistle. "Man, that's a mind-wrecker, there. Anyway. You've been a good companion. It's been good to fight by you, and I hope this next leg of your journey sees you home."
He remains sitting by her for a while longer looking up at the stars or into the fire, quiet company being the best he can offer.
Fin bumps shoulders with the monk in thanks and gestures at Ushari and Straehan, "Keep little ones safe."
Straehan sits down by Ushari and Jofram near the fire. "So, how much healing and helpful magic do you two have left?"
He waggles the trapped scroll in front of them. "I'm in a mood to attempt to disarm this thing. And I'd love a little help to make it happen or have healing assistance at the ready."
"I think I can still manage a bit," says Jofram, flexing his gauntleted hand. "I'm still getting used to all of this - half the time I don't even know what I'm doing; it just seems to happen."
Jayse nudges Fin and nods over to where Strae whispers with the other two. "Now I can guarantee this is going to be trouble."
He nods to the ranger, "Do your best and hopefully I'll be around to thank you afterwards."
He grins at the blonde, "Got anything to offer other than prayer?"
Ushari gives the gnome a look, "This is your way of getting revenge on me isn't it?" She sighs, "Fortunately, I have much of my divine power left in me, not to mention the wand. You should be OK."
Jofram begins a simple lay about the skill of craftsmen and Ushari brings her deity's blessings to bear on the gnome. Buttressed by their powers, the gnome takes the scroll and a dancing ball of light away from the group and cracks open the scroll. Then he re-thinks it and goes a little further away into a small stand of trees.
Sadly, neither his own skills nor the focusing chant of the ranger nor the divine touch of the cleric are enough to stave off disaster. Straehan gets too eager to actually determine what spell would warrant such protections and fails to perform a simple safeguard.
All you hear the sorcerer say is "Oops..." before a massive explosion of tangible air snaps the glade's trees in half and hurls the gnome out of his oversized boots. Twenty feet away, Straehan crashes down by the fire. He is hurt, stunned, and angry.
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Ushari hurries over to the stunned gnome, and notes his condition. He looks badly wounded, but all things considered, he is quite lucky to still be in one piece, albeit bootless.
She lays a cooling touch on his brow, and chants a divine prayer. Soon the gnomes’ wounds close. She smiles at him, "At least, something good came out of this; you were touched by a pretty girl..."
Straehan struggles to his feet with some help after receiving the benediction of Ushari's healing. "Thanks, 'Shari." His words are fair but his look is sharp.
The gnome staggers free of the group and runs back to the broken stand of trees, muttering blackly. He hops into his boots and examines the tattered remains of the scroll. It is completely destroyed. In an uncharacteristic display of vexation, he jumps up and down on the remnants of the scroll, stomping it into the ground.
He roars (as best as a gnome can), He glares at Bitiborium, "Undo whatever you did to close that crypt! I'm gonna go BACK down there and pull his corpse from that coffin and then I'm gonna bend him over! And THEN I'm gonna..."
The sorcerer stops cold when he sees the stares from the townswomen who poorly conceal their shock at his suggested course of action and where it seems to be leading. Straehan straightens up and clears his throat, his voice again in control. "Apologies. I am a bit... 'disappointed' at this turn of events and my incompetence."
He returns to the fire and sits down heavily, brooding.
The next day holds fair weather and your band moves on. The forest and hills grow ever larger before you. By noon, you reach the giant's cook-fire and the beginning of the forest. You take the time to bury the girl who died there. Her friends weep for her but everyone is keenly aware that the body count could have been far higher.
After the funeral, Bit takes back his cart from Jax. "Well, folks, this is where our courses part. It's been good doing business with you again. Remember, you owe me a service yet. I'll expect you to leave word at the Old Fish Inn in the Olde Towne of Orfallen. Goodbye for now and safe journeys! Coming, Miss Fin?"
Without another word, the sprightly merchant turns his cart to the West and starts walking at a good pace. Fin hesitates a moment, looking at her former comrades. She waves once and turns to catch up with the cart. They quickly disappear among the trees.
You press on along the trail, through the thickening woods and up and down the growing hills. When you come across the body of the other girl, you bury her as well. Again, the townswomen weep. Through their sobs, they tell you of her death. Apparently, she had tried to escape several times which put her out of the Captain's favor. Then, it became clear to the pirates that the locals knew of a shortcut instead of the long and winding path they were on. For withholding that information and figuring the troublesome girl was the ringleader, the Captain slit her throat and threatened the rest of the women with the same fate if they didn't put the pirates on the quicker path.
Their piece said and their friend laid to rest, you move on. As the light fails, you make camp on the top of a more open hill. Again you build a good sized fire and settle in. Dinner again is rations, this time supplemented by a few rabbits caught by Jofram and his sharp-eyed companion who sits on a branch and ruffles his feathers.
Jo's Survival:
V's Survival AA:
Happy to be back in the comfortable surroundings of the woods, Jofram volunteers for first watch.
Ushari volunteers for the last watch of the evening. She gives Jofram a smile as she takes Skitter out and activates him. "Here, Jofram. An extra pair of eyes would be useful out here," she says as Skitter climbs down on the ground next to the fire.