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"Do those look like warriors to you?"
"Yes, uncle elf, they do. They look like soldiers, like those who protect our city from the evil demons."
"I'm not your un... ah, what does it matter. That's highly interesting, young Stevarn and it might confirm one of my theories about the Kenabres underground."
"What is a Thierry, uncle elf?"
"Oh how do I explain it? A theory, young Stevarn, is like an idea about things you cannot prove yet but have some hints and maybe some evidence that it might be true nonetheless."
"Ah, like with the monster under my bed that nobody believes me that it's there, but that I can hear when it's quiet enough in the night?"
It's Stevarn and Arashnavial, that have separated from the little group at the entrance of the cave and stand next to the wall with the carvings in it. The elf smiles helplessly at Stevarn's conclusion all the while caressing the carvings with his fingers, as if he would read glyphs carved into the stone.
Moving to join Aravashnial and young Stevarn, Kendren says, "Tell me, what theory do you hold about these carved warriors, Aravashnial?" He smiles at Stevarn's response to Aravashnial's explanation, wondering if the boy's inquisitiveness would lead him down the path of wizardry, in the end.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one he knocked out, and I'm sure he would have cut any or our throats if he had the chance... but he's your responsibility now. Don't look for me to jump in the way of any blade headed in his direction however".
Alfred sulking, heads to somewhere to sit down and rubs his temples attempting to assuage his headache.
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Arianna looked back over the group as they began their investigations and some seemed to be taking a short break.
"I'm going to make sure there aren't any surprises ahead of us. Won't go very far just a couple hundred feet or so, but considering everything we've run into down here it seems like a smart idea to make sure this area is secured while they look over the carvings." She called over turning to head down the passage way attempting to walk quietly down the couple hundred feet away from the place they were settled only stopping if she detected something.
While eager to be gone from here, Uldir's scholarly heartstrings are tugged by Arashnavial's hints at a theory. Laying the captured dwarf down against the stone wall, he wanders over to join the group, looking up to examine the statues closely for the first time.
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“Well, Kendren, you might remember the lessons I gave you about the history of Kenabres, the opening of the Worldwound and the different Crusades. I told you about the First Crusade, when the Crusaders succeeded in driving the demons back to the Northmounds and thereby freed Mendev and the southern part of Sarkoris. What I didn't tell you at that time, but what you certainly have learned in the meantime for yourself is that even victory comes at a cost. I'm not talking about the crusaders who sacrificed their lifes to save us all from sure defeat.“
Arashnavial's fingers still glide over the carvings, as if he were searching for something.
“What I'm referring too is those unlucky souls that got infected with Abyssal energies and started to transform into what most people were quick to regard as demons at that time, leading to lynch mobs and to death punishments for those brave souls unluckily enough to get tainted by the demons they fought against.“
His fingers stand still.
“Even worse, sometimes it wasn't the Crusaders that showed signs of this affliction but their newborn children. More than one father had to choose between killing his own blood and letting his whole family suffer death from fanatic demon hunters. Those events have mostly been erased from public records, because the rulers thought public knowledge might keep new people from joining the Crusades. But I'm quite sure that a lot of the victims of the more recent Witch hunts suffered from the same affliction and got burned for it.“
„But while researching on this and other topics, I found an old legend referring to a group of First Crusaders here in Kenabres who didn't wait for their children to be killed by their former brethren but decided to flee into the Underdark and make themselves and their families a new home. No one would admit that those people even existed so I got laughed off whenever I argued that this legend might have truth to it.“
The elf's face shows signs of frustration.
“If only I could see those carvings here, I might be able to verify this legend, because I suspect that those are created to honor those brave warriors, maybe by their descendants that got to live because of their parent's courage. But as much as I might try. My fingers can't see as those of blindborn people often can.“
…
In the meantime, Arianna has entered the small corridor, the mad dwarf came out off. It's only a few steps until it widens into another cave, nearly as big as the one before. A small fire is lit at the other end of this cave, but nobody is there to be seen, the cave seems empty.
Rianne inspects the carvings thoughtfully
I think there could be truth to Aravashnial's theory. Perhaps I can find some evidence of such in these carvings.
Kendren studies the carvings, looking for some sign of evidence.
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Seeing the cave open up again into a much larger cavern caused Arianna to pause at the entrance and shrink down a bit. Each time they'd entered a big cavern something had jumped out at them. She took her time to look around where she could, looking for something that might jump out at her.
Not seeing anything in the immediate area Arianna let out a sigh of relief and slowly began to creep forward in the direction of the campsite. "Well seems safe enough, might be worth checking out. Probably belongs to the crazy dwarf though.." She muttered during her advance towards the campsite.
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Iolaire stands guard over the dwarf, eyes scanning the room watchfully. The conversation goes way over her head, although she does find herself getting distracted by the carvings until a rustle near her feet snaps her attention back to the present.
"Shall we move on gentlemen? I appreciate that this is quite a find but if our city is being torn apart by demons then it will avail us little."
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Arianna knelt down by the campsite gathering up the valuables into the bag along with the food. It might come in handy if their ration supplies began to run low after all. After that was done she reached into her belt pouch and removed a single piece of chalk which she used to draw an arrow on the ground pointing in the direction of the passage to ensure that they'd be able to find it when they returned to this tunnel.
Satisfied that they weren't heading into another ambush she'd grab the packed bag and start back on the way she came from to return to the rest of the group with her report.
"The armour on the carvings does seem to date from the First Crusade. Interesting. But yes, we should probably move on."
"Aravashnial, may I guide your hand for a moment?"
Assuming he says yes, Kendren guides his hand along the fissure. "Many of these carvings have incorporated natural deformities in the rock as additional parts. This fissure, for instance, seems to be taking the place of a tail. There are other deformities as well - a small hole representing a third eye, some creating the appearance of fangs. I think between the armor designs Rianne mentioned and these, you have a considerable amount of proof to support your theory."
Letting go of Aravashnial's hand, he turns to Iolaire and says, "Yes, I believe we shall move on. We must hurry."
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"That...that is simply Great!"
Aravashnial nearly shouts with excitement and begins to smile widly. Which turns into confusion when everyone wants to move.
"But we can't. We need to document our findings, I need you to help me to draw them and..."
"Oh, come on, old Hag!" interrupts Horgus Gwerm. "Just that one of your wild conspiracy theories suddenly came true doesn't mean that this is more important than the lifes threatened at the surface. To whom will you present your findings if our wards should fail and the demons destroy our world? That is simply not important now."
But..." Aravashnial lets his shoulders hang. "You're right of course."
"Besides, those carvings won't go anywhere soon, so if we make it back to surface and survive the experience, we still can go back to explore this region."
Anevia has kept silent all the while, so it comes as a bit of a surprise that she joins the conversation.
...
After Arianna has returned and reported what she did find in the next cave, the group follows her back and enters the next corridor. For a while it meanders through the dark before turning northwards and beginning to slowly lead upwards in an ever increasing angle. When it nearly becomes to steep to go forward without climbing, handholds and pitons start to appear in the ground, allowing the group to move forward as if using a ladder.
Unluckily that's also the moment when the dwarf awakes and immediately begins to struggle against the ropes that bind him, making it hard for Uldir to move upwards
While as tough as any son of Torag, his upbringing as a scholarly initiate in the temples hadn't prepared Uldir for physically wresting with an unruly prisoner, and with an exasperated grunt he drops the other dwarf to the ground.
"Well he didn't stay out for very long! Last thing I need is for him to pull me off-balance and send us both tumbling. Aravashnial, I don't you suppose you have any spells of binding or slumber? Failing that, we could just give him a rap on the head."
Alfred takes a deep breath, as his headache has dulled to a slight ache, which he spent most of his adult life enduring. He snorts a bit at Uldir's struggles, and begins testing the handholds, and pulling himself up.
"Good luck with that". he wryly chuckles.
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Arianna gazed up at the pitons that made the climb very similar to a ladder. "It would appear also that we may have more encounters with people other than our Dwarven friend there." She advised back to stand next to Uldir as he discussed what to do with the insane, struggling dwarf. "It is going to be very difficult taking him up the pathway even if he is unconscious. Depending on how high up it is, we could tie a rope to his bindings and once we reach the top just pull him up."
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"Indeed I have such a spell, but unluckily it would only hold for a few minutes and it may not even succeed. But I can certainly try it, if you make sure not to be in the way of my spell. Wouldn't want to put anyone else to sleep. A rap on the head might be more efficient, for who knows how long our way stays difficult."
"Ah come on, let's not waste our time." Gwerm interrupts Aravashnial, nearing the gagged dwarf with drawn dagger, a dangerous smile on his face. "If he can't hold still, let's put an end to him."
"A whack on the head is probably more efficient, besides I believe it's best to conserve Aravashinal's spells."
"We cannot drag him around in the dark indefinitely. I propose that we render him unconscious and the last one up the slope frees him, or loosens his bonds, and then removes the pitons as they climb. That should prevent him following us and we will travel faster without him." Iolaire suggests. Suiting actions to words she spins her spear around and tries to crack the dwarf on the head with the butt of the weapon.
Kendren bends down and punches the Dwarf in the face.
"That should suffice to keep him unconscious while we leave, with no need to kill him. Who shall climb first?"
Uldir nods reluctantly at Iolaire's suggestion. "That may be wisest, that campsite casts considerable doubt on my 'charmed by demons' theory. Very well, we can leave him behind, I'll loosen his bonds before following the rest of you up. I can knock the pitons loose with my hammer as I go."
Iolaire is one of the last up, waiting for the injured and the children to make the climb and calling out suggestions as they go.
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The steep climb continues for around 100 feet then the shaft levels out and leads further north. It meanders through the dark for what amounts to around half an hour of time, than it opens into a large, domelike chamber.The shockwave of the earthquake seems to have send ripples of destruction through the underground, because in the middle of the chamber lies what seems to have been a tower of stone in ruins and the walls and the floor of this cavern are riddled with cracks.
There's movement at the base of the fallen tower but from the entrance to this cavern, you can't quite make out what the two creatures are that move there.
Kendren finds the climb tiring, as he hadn't engaged in such vigorous activity as the other children in his youth. Still, once the path levels out, they are able to make what feels like good time. Seeing the collapsed tower and the two creatures, he slows, and quietly says, "Shall we carefully approach? We cannot know if they are hostile."
"Perhaps one or two should address them, lest they feel threatened?"
Iolaire walks forward and raises her voice to carry. "Greetings friends. We are travellers, lost down here after an accident, we mean you no harm!"
Kendren will motion for Aravashnial, Anevia, Gwerm, and the children to remain where they are while the rest of the group approaches the creatures. Kendren walks along a couple of steps behind Iolaire. Once they are close enough, he will attempt to identify what they are (if they are not human).
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The movement stops as soon as Iolaire raises her voice. As you close the distance to the crumbled tower, you see that it is two humanoid creatures awaiting you in defensive postures but without giving off any hint of aggressiveness.
When you have arrived the base of the tower it becomes clear that both of the two suffer from several deformities. One of them is a hunchbacked woman with what might have been an attractive face if not for all the tumors growing out of her skin and even filling a part of her mouth making her unable to close it.
The second one is a tall, thin man that seems to come out of a mad wizard's laboratory. Part of his face is that of a quite attractive elf, part is that of a lizardfolk, while from his right forehead sprouts what looks like a goat's horn and his right ear is covered in hide.
He is also the one that starts to speak as you stand before the two. His voice is raspy, but his Common is fluent though spoken with a strange accent.
"Greetings. If your intentions are really good, than you're welcome. As you can see, misfortune has befallen us and we could certainly use your help to save a buried comrade.
But if not, we ask you to leave us in peace as we possess certainly nothing you might be interested in."
"We will always act to help one in need." Iolaire responds, hurrying over. "Where is your comrade exactly? Uldir, Alfred! We'll need as much knowledge and strength here as we can muster!"
Turning to this half-man she continues, "Our group is large but we have children and wounded, those of us who can help will of course."
"But of course," the dwarf begins, stepping forward to help. "Mind you, I'm no engineer, but today is not the day Uldir Forgeheart is outwitted by a pile of rocks!"
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"I thank you" replies the man. My name's Lann and this over here is Dyra. We already moved as much rubble as we could to free our friend Crel, but there's a big stone we need to move and we can't do it alone. And by burying under it, we fear that it might loosen and crush Crel under it's weight.
Lann points at the stone he's talking a about , a huge pile of rock indeed, that will need you to combine youre forces to remove it safely.
Kendren will step back and help if one more is needed on the stone, but he knows lifting heavy things is not something he is particularly good at.
Rianne will also hang back and let the people more well suited to moving heavy things handle this.
Empathizing with the plight of the others, Alfred begins to stretch and swing his bad shoulder around to loosen it up.
"Well let's see if I can get a good grip on this thing. Anybody want to help"?
STR check
"If I use my spear as well..." Iolaire moves to help, digging her spear under the rock to use it for leverage.
Uldir gives the rock pile a careful study, looking for obvious weak points or spots where rubble could be cleared without risking the man beneath. After a moment, he shakes his head "This is a right mess of stone, for certain, looks like we'll have to force it."
Rolling up the sleeves of his tunic, the somewhat slight dwarf takes a spot by the warrior.
Seeing those around the rock straining, Kendren sighs and hands his staff to Rianne. "Here, hold the light up a bit."
He then moves to help lift the rock with the others.
And isn't particularly helpful.
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Seeing the the others really want to help them, Lann and Dyra drop their weapons and try to help them by joining forces
And together, they succeed in lifting the rock and pulling it to the side without causing the rubble under it to shift. After that it is easy to remove the smaller stones and help Crel out. Luckily he isn't heavily injured and Lann turns to the companions.
"We are in your debt. But tell us, what leads you down here, we aren't used to visitors from above."
Especially friendly ones." adds Crel.
"Aye, well, we weren't precisely planning on this little visit. You no doubt felt the earth shake some hours ago--the armies of Worldwound have breached the city. The Wardstone is fallen, Terendelev the dragon is dead, and we lot fell down here when a crevasse opened up in the street."
Uldir pauses, head cocked in thought. "I suppose...if you don't know about what's happened above, the fiends must not have found there way down here yet. Please, will you help us get back to the surface? We must assist our friends and allies however we can."
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Arianna nodded as Uldir summed up their situation quite succinctly for the strange people they'd just assisted.
"All is as the Master Dwarf explained it." She echoed. "The city is in danger above and we have been lost down here ever since. If you can find it within your hearts to help us find our way back to the surface we'd be grateful. Even if it is just a path free of crazed dwarves, darkmantles, disgustingly large insects and undead I know I'd be appreciative." She added on thinking briefly of using the civilian side of their group as a means of persuading but decided that might seem a little crass and self-serving on her part.
Alfred stands and winces holding his back at the effort he had put into moving the stone. He listens to the interchange with interest but little input, eager to see if these guys know the way back topside.
"Your assistance would indeed be appreciated, friends."