Saturday managed to stop the bleeding.
"Wait here, I'll take him back to the ship after you heal him. I will be back soon, I wouldn't wait in the cloud of blood. Maybe over there, sharks will be here soon."
Burton, we can heal you. If we do, can you come with us? We must still try to complete this mission. The cave is only partially collapsed. I think we can continue.
So, we go on alone. Lets get a move on.
Narissa takes Burton back the ship. She informs the captain of the team's intention to continue on the mission and returns to the rest of the team.
Your carry along past the rock fall and eventually the tunnel opens up in to a larger cavern. You slowly surface and raise your light rods high to illuminate the space
Surveying the area, you see a large cavern, heavily modified by human hands. Wooden platforms are anchored to the walls to form a makeshift dock and stairs, which lead up to a wide tunnel that intersects with this chamber 35 ft. above the water line. Your light reflects off of iron spikes, each 6 inches long, that are driven into the walls every 30 ft.
Part of the mining platform is located just beneath a large pillar of dull gray stone that rises from the water line to the ceiling. A dramatic splinter of white marble extrudes from the gray stone, 5 ft. wide and rising 17 ft. above the water. Ages of surf have eroded its surface, but in places one can still find hints of ancient pictogram carvings. It looks like once the splinter was part of a longer column, but something snapped free its top. The missing section of pillar is nowhere to be found. You catch the glitter of gold from something on the pillar.
You catch sight of a shadowy figure detach from the deeper shadows on the far staircase.It quickly flits up to the entrance to the tunnel above and out of sight.
Something above has seen us and retreated, likely to warn others. Jace hisses quietly.
Davin calls out, "Yes. I saw it, too. We should give chase."
You clamber out of the water and on the man-made platform. Hustling after the shadowy shape, you climb up the scaffolding, bringing you past the stone pillar. In a tiny nook carved into the tip of the marble splinter sits an oversized gold coin. About three inches across, it has primitive designs of birds, clouds, and dots that might represent stars.
Standing by the pillar, it seems that you can hear faint voices, muffled as if you were separated by a thin wall.
Unless someone in the party asks him to wait Jace continues the chase.
Narissa pauses by the pillar. "Go on, I'll catch up..." She says in a whisper, then puts her ear near the pillar.
Saturday moved at the back of the main group keeping pace.
Davin is curious about the coin, but can neither make heads nor tails of it. Ultimately he decides it's best to ignore it and press on with the others.
"Narissa, don't fall too far behind. We're going to need you."
As you continue up the scaffolding, you (People with darkvision) see a small humanoid figure emerge from the wall near some barrels at the tunnel's entrance and a voice yell out from the darkness beyond. "Killing my men wasn't good enough for you. You've come back for me have ya? Well you'll never take me alive you damned dirt worshippers!!"
Combat round 1
21 Jace
18 Narissa
13 Doc
9+ Baddies
9- Davin
Jace moves up a standard move with a confused look on his face. He stands defensively ready to fight if he is attacked . We have killed no one, I can assure you of that. And wish to kill no one, though many of our people were killed in a cave in that we were not responsible for. Something happened that was like a violent merging of two worlds. Can we discuss it or must we fight?
As Jace moves up and gets the torch within 40 ft of the enemy, Narissa readies her weapon to shoo the individual if he attacks, drawing a bead with her rifle.
+
"Didn't kill anyone? You Risuri have been killing everyone on the island. Don't take me for a fool." The man speaks with a thick Danoran accent.
You still can't see the owner of the voice. The elemental picks up one of the barrels and throws it at Jace. Narissa's gunshot rings out, tearing a chunk out of it, but not destroying it.
It flies wide and sails down to the water, where it explodes in a burst of flames.
The shadowy figure that you saw earlier floats out of the darkness and towards Narissa.
Earth ele AC: 2/13
"We are not dem! We are here to stop dem and bring dem to justice." Saturday said. "We are not your enemies."
I cannot believe I am saying that to a Danor.
"Actually, if you point out where they are, we'll happily slit their throats..." Narissa adds, eyeing the shadow heading toward her.
"She means bring them in." Saturday said with a pointed look.
Davin moves in closer and draws his weapons.
"This can still be resolved peacefully. Don't do anything stupid."
Eying the elemental Jace goes full defensive and responds Again, this group had not killed anyone we are looking for peaceful contact. Would you hold off your attacks and talk to us/
"Hold!"
The creatures stop.
"So who are you supposed to be then?"
Jace swallows hard, deciding to trust this person. Our ultimate goal is to capture this island and the Dutchess. The island will be handed back to Danoran and the Dutchess to her brother. I hope those are goals you can support. Short term we have to get the sea wall gate open. He tries to gauge the man's reaction to this information.
A torch blooms and a wiry, grizzled old man in miner's clothing steps out of the tunnel. In his other hand he holds an ancient and rust pitted musket.
"That doesn't explain who you are or why you are skulking in my tunnels. You talk fancy, but why should I believe you? What proof do you have that you are telling the truth."
"You're still alive." Narissa says, raising the cannon up again, having just finished loading it. "I didn't fire at your thing until it moved to attack. We said so. What the hell else would we be doing swimming into this damn tunnel through shark infested waters?" She pauses, and looks thoughtful. "Oh, and somebodies got papers I think, from that Danoran guy, what's his face..." She then taps her badge with the butt of the cannon. "Only a moron would make up a story that stupid sounding... Anything else I forgot? Surely one of those is good enough..." The cannon drops back down in his general direction.
Saturday removed his badge and tossed it over to the man. "We were briefed on the tunnel by Lya Jierre of the Dannor Ministry of Outsiders."
More things I thought I would never say.
And we have identification. I can show you if you will let me approach.
The man beckons Jace with the torch, "Alright, just you. I don't trust you sneaky Risuri."
The man seems satisfied with what he's presented with. "Alright, you seem to be who you say you are. I'm Nicolas Dupiers, the foreman of this here mine, or was I guess. Don't really need a foreman, if there ain't no miners."
Jace offers his hand to the man. Its good to meet you Nicolas. Today you are going to help us prevent a war.
"Or help us die a marvelously wondrous and heroic, not to mention horribly painful and useless, death." Narissa comments, then looks to the pillar. "Why can I hear voices from here?"
Nicolas looks at Jace's hand doubtfully, but takes it. "And how exactly do you expect to do that? Hmmmm?
At Narissa's question, his scowl deepens. "This island don't rightly know where it belongs. Things are thin here. The other worlds are closer than they aught to be." He gestures to the pillar, " And some places are thinner than others. Just don't listen to what them voices are saying."
What we have to do is get the sea gates open. Can you help us do that?
Narissa sighs. "Well Darn, I had hoped it was a stone attached to the floor above, and we could listen in on her Stupidness." She moves away from the stone then.
Nicolas scratches at his stubbly face. "Well if it will help to rid the isle of you stinking Risuri, I'll pitch in. I'm not going to risk my neck, you understand, but I can get you to the fort. After that, you're on your own."
The mine foreman leads you through the many twists and turns of the mine and eventually to step out into the fresh night air. The area in front of mine shows signs of recent fighting, the evidence suggesting that the Danorans tired shooting and hacking at the trees. To one side of the entrance is a mound of fresh soil marking a mass grave.
Nicolas pauses as he passes the mound, before leading you along the road and into the night. About a half hour later, Davin whispers a warning. Faintly, from up ahead can be heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Narissa frowns, then steps behind the biggest pile of brush she can find and kneels down, not liking the whole stealth thing, as she's a bit big for it.
Tonight, however, appears to be a good night for her...
I do not expect you to risk your neck Nicolas, but you would do your country a great service if you could loan us that creature you summoned.
Jace is also not skilled at stealth but tries to hide, hoping the lighting and distance will be allies.
Davin hides behind some cover as well.
Saturday kept about thirty feet back from the forward group.
I do not expect you to risk your neck Nicolas, but you would do your country a great service if you could loan us that creature you summoned.
"I didn't summon nothing. Those fellas live in the mines. I don't think they'll follow us outside."
You step off of the path and try to find some cover in the thick jungle. From up ahead you catch sight of a 4 man patrol. 3 carry crossbows, with swords on their hips, while the other carries only a gnarled wooden staff.
As they approach, you hear, "It was right over here. There was definitely someone on the path." The patrol readies to search the immediate area.
"Combat"
20 Doc
12+ Narissa
12- Baddies
9 Dvin
2 Jace