Rilee ignores finding something on Mory's person to help and just applies her basic knowhow to stabilize the dhampir. As an afterthought, she sends her swirling stormcloud chasing after the giants.
Meanwhile, the nearby roc tears into the giants with beak and claw.
The free giant slams his club twice more into the bird's enchanted hide, one of which crashes down directly on its head. Thanks to the spells at work, however, the bird is more or less unphased by the attack.
Seeing a much larger threat arrive on scene, the giant drives his pick down into the shoulder of the dinosaur, its point piercing straight through the bony plate armor of the animal, eliciting a pained roar from the beast!
As she watches her summoned creature rear his tail back to beat the stuffing out of Terraktinus, Setsuna lazily circles closer to her friends and Blesses on herself and her allies.
The holy dinosaur takes two vicious swings at Terraktinus' head.
Rilee places a gentle kiss upon Mory's forehead when she sees his breathing become steady.
Then she stands up, redirecting the storm cloud to the other giant while Olympus continues his assault.
As the giant chieftain turns to face the dinosaur, Zoli takes advantage of the distraction. She slices up into his rear end from below, causing him to scream and collapse forward. As he falls she slices once again, taking him out.
"Phew!" She sighs. "Glad to see him down. Let's go see how everyone else is doing. I hope they're OK at the Northern gate."
________________________
Olympus pins the remaining giant beneath his talons, and proceeds to tear away his flesh like he would a horse or elk in the wild. The giant is helpless to fend off the avian assassin.
__________
As the terror and pandemonium settle down, people slowly begin to move about and try to learn what all has happened to their town. It is immediately clear, however, that the death toll is quite high, and there are still several people either missing beneath rubble or taken captive.
Near the cathedral, Morythine's heavily injured body is carefully taken inside the temple grounds for safety and healing, once the priests can take the time to prepare the proper spells for his...unique...physiology. Surviving members of the town guard free the captives within the satchel of one of the giants there, including a heavily wounded Sheriff Hemlock and his brother Garridan Viskalai, owner of the now destroyed White Deer.
Eventually, Mayor Deverin makes her way to the pair of heroines standing (or floating) near the body of the fallen raid leader. "I...I just don't understand it. Why would stone giants attack Sandpoint? We've never done anything to cause them harm, and we are so far from their normal lands. It...it just doesn't make any sense!"
A surviving member of the guard comes running up, and kneels, panting, before the mayor. "Oh pish posh. Get up. What is it?" she asks.
"M'lady. With the Sheriff wounded and being tended to at the Cathedral, I didn't know who else to come to. One of the giants, he's still alive, ma'am!"
Kendra gasps in fright, but the guard raises a hand to calm her nerves. "He is unconscious, and severely injured, ma'am. The men have bound him as best they are able."
She lets out a sigh of relief. "Praise Erastil!"
As the group makes their way towards the captive, word quickly spreads through the streets of the damage the town suffered, as well as the heroics of the Varisian Rangers. Even so, it would appear that several homes were destroyed, including that Sandpoint's oldest citizen, Madame Mvashti, who is presumed dead. The White Deer is a total loss, as well as the Two Knight Brewery. When word of the brewery reaches you, Mayor Deverin grows pale and says, "I must go check on my cousin! Please, see to it that this giant tells you everything you need to know!" before running off that direction.
The Sandpoint Boutique has taken some damage, as well as the Goblin Squash Stables, the Rovanky Tannery, Verah's Fine Clothing, and the Turandarok Academy. The Cathedral's wooden structures have taken damage from both dragonfire and giant attack, and the Curious Goblin bookshop is all but totally demolished. The town's mapkeeper, The Way North, has also sustained heavy damage. Beyond the shops, 14 families will now face the winter without a home, it would seem.
You reach the location of the survivor, one of the giants raiding beneath Undercliff Way, and see that, indeed, a group of about 10 guard and militia stand around a giant propped up against the cliff beneath the graveyard. His arms and legs are heavily bound together with rope and chain, likely a bit overboard to be honest, but the fact remains that this giant isn't going anywhere. Nearby, the bodies of more of Sandpoint's fallen are being covered in sheets, furs, or even snow for the meantime. Among them can readily be scene the body of what must be Lars Rovanky, the ends of both halves staining the snow that covers the body in blood.
Sheriff Hemlock, accompanied by a pair of guards, comes limping up Festival Street behind you. He simply nods a greeting of thanks towards Zoli and Setsuna before adding, "Morythine is hurt pretty bad. He is alive, and Father Zantus says he is stable for now. They are going to be watching over him in the Cathedral. I told them not to waste their healing magics on me, but Zantus said something about them being 'of no use' to Morythine, whatever the Hells that means. At any rate, I thought you'd want to know."
He looks over to the unconscious giant, and asks, "Any idea what the meaning of all this is?"
The two of you quickly figure out that the five giants that retreated from the battle all split up, taking five different paths out of town, likely to try to slow down and thwart pursuers. Even so, you are determined to try and save as many as you can, and the two of you split up to hunt them down: Eugeni on foot, Rilee to the skies.
After three hours of hunting, you manage to spot the giant in the distance. A lone stone giant, dragging a tree behind him to try to hide his tracks. You quickly advance ahead of the warrior, and catch him by surprise with a volley of arrows. He drops the tree to retaliate, but another volley fells the giant and he collapses to the ground with a heavy thud! You quickly run up and search through the large leather satchel at his side, but quickly realize that it is empty save for several throwing rocks!
Cursing Erastil loudly, you quickly sprint back to town to try and find a fresh set of tracks! You do so even quicker than before, these tracks leading brazenly to what appears to have been a huge wagon. This giant seemed to not bother trying to hide his tracks, and instead sought to move out of the area as quickly as possible. You quickly set out on the trail as fast as you dare, racing against the sun as the day seems to be racing by!
As the sky slowly begins to relent to the coming darkness, Eugeni grits his teeth and sprints along the trail as fast as he can after his prey! He comes upon it soon enough, a lone giant driving a mammoth pulled wagon filled with goods and loot! Desperate to stop it, Eugeni hops up onto a nearby log and readies his bow, taking careful aim at the giant nearly 300 feet away. He steadies his breath, and narrows his eyes at his target...
The arrow flies straight and true, and Eugeni can see the giant slump over and then fall out of the wagon to the left. The mammoth pulling the vehicle comes to a stop. The archer quickly runs up to the wagon and hops up, calling out for any hostages. Several voices cry out for help among the gathered goods! Sifting through the loot, Eugeni finds the squirming bag and cuts it open, revealing several servants and guards wearing the colors and crest of the Scarnetti family, all of whom thank Eugeni profusely for their rescue.
Looking up to the darkening sky, Eugeni sighs and gives up his efforts. He takes up the reigns to the mammoth cautiously, and then tries to drive it much like leading a wagon with a horse. Eventually, he manages to coerce the mammoth to turn and head back towards town. It is about an hour past dark when he returns.
Once there, she quickly has Olympus set them down as she begins looking for a new trail. She quickly finds one and sets Olympus on the hunt for that target as she looks for another.
She quickly comes across the trail of another of the giants fleeing from the manor houses, and sets off after it. After two hours of hunting, she manages to catch up to the giant. Using her magic, she manages to hinder, shock, and dispatch the warrior in about a minute. She dives down to the body as fast as she can and undoes the heavy leather cord around the mouth of the satchel. Once open, the contents of the case reveal Titus Scarnetti, still in his bedclothes, as well as his wife and two of their house guard. He thanks Rilee profusely for their rescue, promising to lend his full support to the Varisian Rangers for the rest of his days!
He grows more sour, however, when he learns that she has no intention of escorting them back to town. She points the nobleman the direction home, and shifts once more into the form of an eagle and flies as hard as she can back to Sandpoint!
When she returns, she is frustrated to see that Olympus has seemingly had a difficult time keeping the trail. Once back together, however, the bird falls in and simply follows along with Rilee as she tracks their quarry. This one, it would seem, made little attempt at covering his tracks, but rather sprinted straight for the rocky, wind-swept terrain of the Tors nearby Sandpoint!
It quickly becomes evident that the remaining giant must be attempting to try to hide out until nightfall among the rocks and peaks here in what are more natural environs to it. However, Rilee's keen eyes soon enough spots, cleverly concealed in the coloration of the boulders, the hide armor standing out in stark contrast to the rock colored flesh that seemingly blends into the surrounding stone. She points it out to Olympus, who immediately lets out a screech as he dives and sets into the giant savagely!
Once dispatched, Rilee again opens the satchel and finds Hayliss Korvaski, owner of the Sandpoint Boutique and Jasper Korvaski's sister. Calming the frantic girl's nerves, she helps her onto Olympus' back and the three of them return to Sandpoint shortly before nightfall.
[dice=Rilee Survival "2"]1d20 + 20 - 20[/dice]
Morythine slowly begins to sit up when a voice says flatly, "Rest easy, Ranger."
Morythine looks towards the voice to see Father Zantus working at some sort of concoction in which he is soaking bandages. Looking down, he quickly realizes that his body is covered in similar such strips of cloth, though dried. Morythine's clothes, hat, and other gear are folded neatly on a chair at the foot of the bed.
"You took some nasty blows, it would appear," the cleric of Desna calls out over his shoulder, his tone as cold as the Abadian air. "For your safety, I have instructed the acolytes to tend to the rest of the wounded, so as to prevent any errant positive energies from flowing into your body and sending your soul on to..."
He sighs and turns to face Morythine. "Son, there is something we must discuss," he says as he sets the washbasin full of soaked bandages on the bedside table and takes a seat beside the fallen Ranger. He then opens the drawer of the end-table and lifts out a folded cloth, carefully opening it to reveal Morythine's holy symbol!
The priest holds it gingerly with the fabric, as if avoiding making contact with the thing, and lets it dangle from its chain beneath his hand. [b]"I know not what it is you seek to gain from service to the Midnight Lord, but I assure you it will only bring upon you, and those you care about, further death and destruction," the priest says as he carefully observes Morythine's reaction...
As she explains an abridged version of the literal Giant conspiracy to Mayor Deverin, Setsuna patches her remaining wounds.
When brought before the captured giant, the Oracle first casts Channel Vigor: Spirit on herself and then casts Cure Moderate Wounds on the giant to wake him up.
In the Giant tongue, she says with much false cheer and affability, "Hello! Much like we did with Barl and his ogre goons, we just obliterated your entire invasion force. Excluding you, everyone from 'Lord' Teraktinus to that damn dragon is dead. By most rules of war, that means that you have to answer my questions! So let's start nice and simple: Why did you invade our town? And please answer truthfully. If I so much as detect as a hint of a lie, I will have my friend's roc drop you into the frozen ocean from the stratosphere!"
When Setsuna utters the last sentence, she drops the act, and her tone becomes vicious. Her voice warps, and her eyes radiate literal black magic as dark mist spews briefly from her mouth. However, that only lasts a second, and sans an occasion eye twitch, the Oracle is back to grinning like nothing happened.
No one is quite sure which is more unsettling.
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Despite her healing, the giant does not regain consciousness immediately. Hemlock promises to send runners for the Rangers, wherever they may be, once the giant begins to show signs of coming around.
As the day wears on, the final tally of the fallen begins to spread through the town. Thirty-five guardsmen and eleven members of the volunteer militia were sent to the Boneyard due to the attack, as well as fifteen unfortunate civilians, including Madame Mvashti, Olmur Danvakus (the halfling guildmaster of Grocer's Hall), and Lars Rovanky. There are five more souls that are still missing as well:
Koya Mvashti, Madame Mvashtis' daughter.
Hannah Velerin, a cleric of Gozreh and healer for the town.
Rynshinn Povalli, owner and operator of Vernah's Fine Clothing, and said to be the most beautiful woman in town.
Ameiko Kaijitsu
Xamarath Fingoth
There are some oddities regarding several of these missing persons. Firstly, Olmur Danvakus' throat was slashed near the body of one of the giants that accompanied Teraktinus during his march through town. His body was found half in, half out of the captive satchel on the things hip. No other captives were noticed there. Secondly, several survivors taking shelter in the catacombs beneath the Enclave swear they saw Ameiko and Xamarath present there during the attack.
As the giant comes to, he watches the display Setsuna puts on with a look of utter disgust on his face. Despite the impressive display of power, he remains silent.
After dropping off Hayliss at the town's outskirts, Rilee checks to see if Titus Scarnetti and his troupe made it back okay. If not, she trots off into the woods to find them and guide them back to safety.
Most of her magics spent and no longer able to shape herself into an animal that day, Rilee hangs back from the town, avoiding people and letting them process their shock and grief. Olympus was back to normal size and off to roost in the Old Light, so she walks out to try to find the remains of the dragon that had somehow crashed as it was escaping. She was curious about that, so she searched around for it to solve that mystery.
Rilee blinks several times in surprise as she stands in the snow. Before considering pursuit, she studies the tracks to determine who the scavengers may be.
Breathing a sigh of relief that this is likely the work of locals, Rilee trudges through the snow back to Sandpoint.
The exhaustion starts to catch up to her by the time she reaches the outskirts and again she pauses before entering the town. With a lump in her throat, she listens for a while to the sounds of the ravaged village as night descends.
Finally, hoping for solace with her brave companion, she resolves to pick her way through town to reach the Old Light. She keeps her eyes focused straight ahead and tries to block out the ruination of so many lives.
"Looks like we have a tough guy!" Setsuna says in Common with much fake glee as an "aside" to her audience. Switching back to Giant, she remarks to the sole surviving minion, "You know, before we fed him that whimpering baby to some tigers, Barl thought he was a tough guy. Before we sent him packing with his tail between his legs, I bet that dragon thought he was a tough guy. And 'Lord' Terraktinus? Oh, before I destroyed his mind and left him a drooling animal, he definitely thought he was a tough guy."
Setsuna lets the point sink in.
"So word of advice: drop the defiance. The easier and more truthfully you talk, the less likely you'll end up like those other tough guys."
The Oracle then activates her Ring of Invisibility and walks away, leaving the giant's imagination to do the rest of the work for her.
"...I really screwed up, didn't I? I sent so many innocent people to the Boneyard, and..."
Setsuna whimpers and curls up in a ball.
"Zoli, I know that you probably hate me for ruining things between you and Eugeni, but... I'm not doing so well right now, so... please... if it wouldn't be too much... I need... I mean I would like... your company? ...I don't want to be alone."
Now these big oafs are gonna pay for messing with Sandpoint! Morythine charges across the snow at one of the stone giants, then leaps into the sky to level the height of its bulging belly. Both legs bent at the knee, ready to snap forward in a devastating kick to the gut. Then the whistling noise of tearing air, and Morythine glances to the side just in time the giant’s granite club, gripped firmly in two hands, come sweeping across. Like a batsman striking a ball, the cudgel batters the dhampir aside, sending him spinning to the cold ground, tricorn fluttering down behind him like an autumn leaf.
Undaunted, Morythine springs to his feet, staff now in hand. It jabs out, crunching through a giant knee cap. As his foe’s legs give out, Morythine swings up the staff to meet the giant’s nose, which ejects a geyser of blood straight into the monk’s face. Mouth open with delight, Morythine lets the gore slid down his throat, but blinded by the blood, does not realise the giant is still in the fight. He rubs a hand across his eyes, he clears his vision just in time to see a huge club descending, and then sees nothing more at all.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Morythine’s eyes groggily, painfully, begin to flutter open. His head hurts ferociously, and feels rather like a crushed egg. Well that didn’t go as smoothly as planned.
In time, he realises Father Zantus is in the room with him. He tries to offer the Desnan some thanks for his healing, but the words don’t really come out with any coherence. Instead he listens to what the priest has to say.
"I know not what it is you seek to gain from service to the Midnight Lord, but I assure you it will only bring upon you, and those you care about, further death and destruction,"
Morythine chuckles. “My gratitude for the healing magics Father,” he says “Didn’t come easy did they? Spells to inflict pain and suffering, not something you’d normally pray for I’d wager. You’ve sequestered me away from the positive energies channelled from your own gods. It seems you’ve answered your own question there.”
“What I gain in service to the Midnight Lord is survival, nothing more. Desna and the rest of her pantheon of light have spurned and cursed the dhampirs. I don’t indulge in the extremes of Zon-Kuthon’s dogma, but at the very least the Dark Prince can heal me with his blessings.”
Abstalar shakes his head as he sets the symbol bearing Zon-Kuthon's skull and chains on the night stand. "I haven't worked any magic on you yet. Those sorts of spells are not the kind I typically ask of Lady Starsong."
He wrings out a bandage into the bowl before trading out one of the dried ones for a fresh replacement, carefully aiding Morythine back down into the bed. "And you are wrong, Morythine. Desna, too, is a goddess of the night, the stars, and of dreams. If you were to turn the faith you have placed in his name to hers, I am certain she would welcome a man who has done so much good into the fold, even if he did so while being led down the path of evil..."
Looking over the wounds, Abstalar shakes his head. "You took some brutal hits. These wounds are beyond my ability to heal without The Great Dreamer's aid. At midnight, with my prayers to her, I will ask for the magics necessary to tend your wounds and return," he says as he stands and returns the water basin to the desk. He turns to the door of his chambers and adds, "Rest easy, and think on what I have said. The path you are on, it worries me," before stepping through and closing the door behind him.
Word reaches each of you, from Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock that they would like to meet with you each at the Undercliff where the giant is being held. It would seem that the guard have struggled all night to keep the giant safe from vengeance seeking citizens who wish to avenge their lost loved ones on this bound and helpless raider.
When you arrive, a decent sized crowd has gathered, being held back roughly 100 feet from the giant by the remainder of the town guard, and they are struggling to maintain the line. As you approach, Sheriff Hemlock limps over and says, "Whatever you hope to learn from this thing, do it quickly. I don't know how much longer we can keep the peace..."
Having an objective to focus on, Setsuna seems considerably calmer than right after the brutal battle.
"...I want to apologize for my remarks yesterday," Setsuna begins carefully. "Even under the circumstances, they were extreme and uncalled for. That said, some of the things your troop were... despicable. Many innocent lives were ruined and lost yesterday. To my knowledge, Sandpoint has never done anything to antagonize any giants. Could you at least tell me why this happened?"
If the giant still refuses to talk, Setsuna sighs, buffs herself with Channel Vigor: Mind, and then casts Charm Monster on the guy.
"...So friend, old buddy-old pal, my main man, want to answer my questions?" she inquires.
If she gets a negative reply, the Oracle prepares to cast the spell until the giant's will fails. If she runs out of spell slots for Charm Monster, then she casts Charm Person instead. Setsuna takes care to heal off any damage she takes from over channel with Azathoth's power via Lesser Restoration.
Rilee wakes at first light with a start. The memories of the battle rush back and Olympus stirs beneath her. She had reached his roost and collapsed on the large pile of feathers and was asleep almost instantly. Now, blinking in the morning light, she stands in mute sorrow for the devastation she can observe.
She forces herself to go through her morning obediences for a fresh allotment of spells and again feels the power to take on one of nature's forms. She resists that lure, the desire for a simpler, animal mindset to escape the sorrow and grief she will have to endure.
After a long while as she sits and stares at the town, she looks at Olympus and shakes her head. "Okay, Sandpoint is a little worse for wear, but in much better shape than if we hadn't been there," she says to her companion, who blinks and says nothing. "Why do I feel such regret? We bested a dragon. We caught the giants who ran off. The guards who died, they were doing their jobs. They accepted the risks and stood against an impossible foe. They died with honor."
Rilee's heart breaks and she feels hot tears stream down her cheeks. The dam bursts, and she gives in to crying. Olympus nuzzles her gently and she throws her arms around him, burying her face in his soft down to muffle her sobs.
* * *
After a period of cathartic crying, Rilee composes herself and has Olympus fly her into the town square. Her eyes are still red-rimmed, but otherwise she is the storm-born druid.
Remembering Morythine's state when she left him to continue the fight against the giants, she first asks to see him, then the others. Upon learning that a giant was captured, Rilee's face grows hard.
She finds the location where the giant is kept, but hangs back and allows Setsuna to question him.
"Still with us, I see," the druid says, sticking her head into his chamber. "That was a very near thing, this time. Well, in that case, it was very much like last time. And the time before that."
She tilts her head in curiosity. "Has this always been a recurring thing for you?"
Eugeni is happy that he was able to do something after the battle, but its clear there will be more work for the group after they interrogate the giant. He helps as best he can about town, and when the next morning come, he gathers with everyone else to watch Setsuna. Hope this doesn't go south. Lots of agitated people here...
The archer goes to stand by Zoli, whispering to her, "Hey, how are you after yesterday. You were great in the fight, but that was crazy!"
The giant at first appears to remain obstinate. As the magic works itself into his mind, however, his demeanor loosens and he smirks as he replies, "Defeated by nosy little humans. Never thought this would happen to the Plateau People. Well, I can tell you this: My lord is mighty Mokmurian, one of the dark giants of old come again. His magic, the things he has made...He has convinced the tribes that they will rule all the lowlands again, down to the sea. He has mastered the ancient arts."
"He will certainly kill you all, run rough over your tiny homes with the army he has called. The fortunate few will become his slaves. You beat us today, but you won't beat us when there are a hundred or a thousand of the Plateau People marching together. Lord Mokmurian will make it happen. He's almost as smooth a talker as you are, little one," he says with a nod of his head towards Setsuna before turning to scratch his nose on his shoulder. "Teraktinus - he was the leader of our scouting party. He convinced us that you'd be easy pickings and we'd all get rich. He obviously underestimated you, and he paid for his mistake. I've no interest in paying for that mistake as well - grant me safe passage out of your lands, and I'll tell you everything you wish to know."
"You took some brutal hits. These wounds are beyond my ability to heal without The Great Dreamer's aid. At midnight, with my prayers to her, I will ask for the magics necessary to tend your wounds and return,"
Morythine gives a short, bitter laugh, cut short by the pain in his head. “Go speak with Desna. Let her know I’ll gladly jump ship if she can find a way to let her divine energy heal me. In the meantime, I don’t think I’m headed anywhere fast.”
"Has this always been a recurring thing for you?" [/b]
“An occupational hazard. Someone has to go toe to toe with the foe. I dare say life is a lot safer flying about on the back of a roc. I’ll have to try it sometime.”
"Anytime you want a ride, let me know," she says with a smile. "Though I'm surprised you didn't use your stone owl in the battle. Have you tried flying with it?"
Rilee frowns as she listens to the giant's words, but says nothing.
"...Alright," Setsuna says with a sigh. "Let's start with the basics. Why exactly did Mokmurian send an invasion force to Sandpoint? Was there a purpose to the raid other than looting the place?"
After her first question is answered, Setsuna inquires:
"...A hundred or a thousand? That's a wide range for an army. How many of you are there?"
After her second question is answered, Setsuna asks:
"Does your army have a base of operations? If so, where is it located?"
"Teraktinus said he was ordered by Lord Mokmurian on a special mission to retrieve a piece of the tower," he nods towards the Old Light, "but for what I cannot say. Didn’t tell any of us. My people’s elders have ways of prying secrets from the stones—perhaps that stone knew something that Lord Mokmurian needed to learn?”
“He has at least seven tribes of under his command, with each tribe numbering in the dozens. The number of lesser kin he’s conscripted—ogres, hill giants, ettins, trolls—is not insignificant. He also enjoys the support of several lamias—degenerate followers of the Mother of Monsters.”
“Jorgenfist lies within the Valley of the Black Tower in the Iron Peaks. It overlooks the waters of the Muschkal River, but can also be approached by heading east from the Storval Stairs. Lord Mokmurian himself dwells deep below Jorgenfist—in hidden places he does not allow us to visit.”
"What else can you tell me about Mokmurian?" Setsuna also asks her temporary best friend. "And are there other attacks planned in the near future? If so, where?"
“Mokmurian has claimed a place taboo to my people: the Valley of the Black Tower in the Iron Peaks. He calls his fortress Jorgenfist, after the name of the fortress that guards the entrance to the afterlife. Our elders found the name blasphemous, but Mokmurian is powerful enough not to fear blasphemy.”
“I already told you—he’s our lord and leader. He promised us glory and riches, and although our raid on your town didn’t go so well, that’s because Teraktinus was a fool. When Lord Mokmurian marches down from the Storval Plateau, he will take from you everything. I have only heard him speak from afar, and have only heard from others of the power of his magic. He is the rarest of us all, a child of the stones who has mastered the magic of the Ancient Lords. They say he can turn the living into immobile stone and can turn his own flesh into granite armor. I’ve even heard he can cause the very stones of the world to quicken and pull those who stand atop them into a tomb below the earth. And I’m sure he can do much more than that.”
“I am not sure. He sent several scouting parties, of which my band was but one, into these lowlands to gather intelligence. He does this to prepare for his coming attack. His fury will come soon. Perhaps even by month’s end.”
"If we grant you safe passage out of our lands, what do you intend to do, big guy?" Setsuna inquires like an old friend fearful for her best pal's safety. "Based on your descriptions of his plans, Mokmurian doesn't sound very... merciful."
Zoli approaches the giant, pumped up with adrenaline. As she sees him bound and charmed it all suddenly seems less heroic and she deflates a bit.
Zoli shifts impatiently from one foot to the other as Setsu questions him. Finally she blurts out, "And where are our friends and neighbors?! Xamarath and Ameiko are still missing. Where would they be???"
“Jorgenfist lies within the Valley of the Black Tower in the Iron Peaks. It overlooks the waters of the Muschkal River, but can also be approached by heading east from the Storval Stairs. Lord Mokmurian himself dwells deep below Jorgenfist—in hidden places he does not allow us to visit.”
"S#!* on my *&%^, that's hundreds of miles from here!" Eugeni looks down at his worn boots. I really need to learn to fly or something...
"Though I'm surprised you didn't use your stone owl in the battle. Have you tried flying with it?"
“I was told its magical ability to grow in size was limited. I won’t squander that, especially as I value its companionship so.”
“So what happened with the battle? It seems the cost has been high.”
"So what happened with the battle? It seems the cost has been high."
She sits down with a far-off look, nodding. [b]"Quite. The dragon was so fast. I was terrified we wouldn't be able to catch it, as it flew around and burned the town.
"Fortunately, Olympus and I goaded it to fight. But even as we fought it, the town guards were being slaughtered below. I knew Olympus could handle the giants, but not without letting the dragon go." Her shoulders sag as she stares at her hands in her lap.
When she looks up, her eyes are red-rimmed, but dry. "When the giants broke and ran, Eugeni and I tracked them down and recovered their captives. But I'm still unsure of the total cost."
Then Rilee smiles. "I also bandaged you before you fled to the Boneyard."
"If we grant you safe passage out of our lands, what do you intend to do, big guy?" Setsuna inquires like an old friend fearful for her best pal's safety. "Based on your descriptions of his plans, Mokmurian doesn't sound very... merciful."
"Our defeat here has brought dishonor to our clans. Rather than return to shame them as well, I will return to the Plateau and live in solitude."
Zoli approaches the giant, pumped up with adrenaline. As she sees him bound and charmed it all suddenly seems less heroic and she deflates a bit.
Zoli shifts impatiently from one foot to the other as Setsu questions him. Finally she blurts out, "And where are our friends and neighbors?! Xamarath and Ameiko are still missing. Where would they be???"
The giant shrugs. "I have watched, listened, and counted. It would seem, based on the claims of your people, that you have dispatched the rest of our party. Your people should be safe, even the captives we were ordered to take to be marked and sacrificed," the giant makes a nod towards his shoulder. Hemlock steps up and pulls back the giant's armor to reveal a tattoo of the Sihedron over the giant's heart. "Perhaps these friends you seek are dead beneath our stones, a casualty of our wrath before our defeat."
After feeling that there really is not much more to get out of the giant, Setsuna motions for Hemlock to come over.
"Would you mind if I cast a spell on you? It'll let you know a language I know for a day. I want to talk more... discretely about... the current situation."
If she gets permission, Setsuna casts Share Language on the sheriff and bestows the knowledge of Aklo on him.
"I think that we've gotten the most that we'll get out of him; I really can't think of anything else to ask," the Oracle says in Aklo. "Moreover, I think that it should be your or your superiors' call about what happens to the big lug. You are the rightful authorities around here. It really isn't my place to decide his fate."
Hemlock looks to growing throng and replies, "I dunno. We lost a lot of people to these a*~#*+$s. And the people are wanting blood. Mayor Deverin has never been one for executions, but given the situation...maybe. Her main concern right now, though, is locating the remainder of our missing people."
Zoli nods vigorously at Hemlock's comment. "What do we know about the missing people? Are all of them folks who were in the catacombs?"
Seeing Zoli want to participate in the conversation, Setsuna casts Share Language: Aklo on her. Once the Halfling is brought up to speed, the Oracle continues.
"I would consult with the Mayor then. Unlike Magnimar or Hook Mountain, I lack legal standing to decide the big lug's fate.[1] However, if you ask me... my biggest hesitation with letting him go is possible retaliation, especially if he realizes that I messed with his head; he could very well change his mind once my spell wears off, run back to Jorgenfist, and ultimately arrange for this Mokmurian to send a much bigger strike force to Sandpoint."
Setsuna pauses before sighing and speaking about a more productive line of thought.
"Leave the search to me. After I take a nap, I can locate people with Locate Creature... or their corpses with Locate Object. If someone could secure me a Lesser Rod of Extend Spell, then I can directly Send a few of them."
Trusting the proper authorities to handle the giant's fate (and hopefully having one less thing to argue with Pharasma in the Boneyard), Setsuna departs the giant interrogation with little else to say.
Once safely secure in her bed in Zoli's house, the Oracle activates the magic of her Ring of Sustenance and promptly passes out. Three and a half hours later, she departs with a new selection of spells in mind. After gathering the details of the missing people from City Hall, the Oracle begins her search for them... or their remains.
Even if it takes several days, she takes care to be extremely thorough.
When Setsuna, Zoli and Hemlock begin babbling in a language she doesn't understand, Rilee wanders off. She goes to the mayor and asks her directly, "Excuse me, but did I hear right? I thought all the captives had been recovered."
"Five, hmmm?" Rilee mutters to herself as she heads to the outskirts of town. From there, she tries to pick up the trail again of the five distinct footprints that looted the dead dragon and returned to town.
Once all the searching ends, Setsuna tracks down a certain reincarnated ancestor of hers.
"...I need your help with my summoning," the Oracle explains. "I've noticed that you can reliably summon at least two tigers. When I try the same with celestial lions, I get anywhere from one to three at random. Is there something I'm missing?"
"I also bandaged you before you fled to the Boneyard."
"My thanks for that." says Morythine. "So the dragon escaped. I hope we get another reckoning with it. I've never seen a dragon, and only caught glimpses of it in the battle."
"What's next?" he asks her.
She shakes her head. "No, the dragon didn't get away. Something brought it down just as it was escaping. Its carcass is just on the outskirts of town."
As for what's next? I'm not sure." She shrugs, then stands up and stretches. "Figure out what the giants wanted with Sandpoint, I suppose. See what help we can offer the town while winter lasts. There's a lot of displaced people. Then, probably go after the giants themselves," she says gloomily.
Rilee furrows her brow in thought at the unusual question. "I've been bringing allies in from the First World for a long time. I can't recall when exactly I figured it out, but yeah, there's a trick to it. Keeping the breach open long enough to call forth additional creatures -- though you don't get them from the First World, do you? Well, I'm sure the principle is the same." As she says that last part, her voice cracks a bit and she laughs nervously.