Mahb eyes the group of demons, and shrugs. "Right, cute and harmless be evil and dangerous. Dat mean dangerous and ugly be safe?" She asks, grasping the odd logic intuitively.
The trio go to Harry's compound, and find the wagon all loaded up and ready to go, along with a list of what's required to replace the parts supplied.
20 trees, at least 50 ft long and one foot thick
30 pounds of steel
Tools (those provided can be returned)
5 buckets of tar (the tar buckets can be refilled at Neri's volcano)
The old wagon moves with all three pulling on the yokes, it would work much better with a pair of horses. But they manage to get it moving. Finally, getting back to the villagers, the entire group manages to keep it moving toward the village Neri saw. There's an old track leading to it, stones pave the way under the grass, keeping the trees from overtaking it. At one time it was 40 ft across, but here and there trees have made their way into the stones, breaking them up. But the track is free enough that they can move the wagon down it.
About an hour from the clearing the group comes across the village, although it's more like a small town. There are buildings that were all wood that are fully collapsed. However, there are stone buildings that are various stages of decay. The inner most buildings, around the central well (which is weed choked and will need to be re-dug) are all stone, including a large 3 story structure that was likely an inn from it's size and shape. The interior was wood, but the walls are still standing.
Several of the smaller buildings look like they may have been shops at one time. Most of the stone buildings don't look like living spaces, but more like shops and businesses and government stuff, but there's no reason the more intact buildings can't be repurposed.
Neri would have done his best along the way to keep an eye out for nearby wood that could be used to start a fire, so they could cook something.
Now that they were there, he figured that they could use the fire for a lot of other things... like cleaning out the stone buildings and the well.
Unless Jacob used his water magic to do a better job of interacting with the well and buildings, to try to sweep them clean with water... Neri would use his ice magic to do the same in places that Fire wouldn't have easy access to.
Neri outlined his plan: "I'm thinking we clear out the stone buildings with fire, or magic, the same goes for the well, and then we just do the basics of setting up for now. Do you guys want individual homes, or are you fine with a large communal home for now, until we can get things set up better... or you can get things set up better? Jacob, do you have any magic that could help with cleaning the place up, or do I let the majority of what's in the way be a tribute to Id?"
Luna looked over the buildings trying to figure which would be the best and fastest to rebuild, she had spent most of her life learning the layouts of buildings and they security this couldn't be too different.
"I could try washing them out. But don't you think we should see what happened here - why everything is in its current state - before tampering with it?"
Like some of the ecosystems at home, Jacob knew small actions sometimes had large effects. He took his time glancing about some of the buildings, looking at the structural as well as destructive tendency they exhibited. Abandonment or eviction?
"Fair enough - we can tidy some shelter up. Will you use it?" His last statement was directed towards the villagers.
"Actually, yeah. Good point. The map view didn't let me see inside stuff in the volcano, so it's better we investigate first. Hopefully we don't wind up in a field full of poppies and sleep forever... Speaking of, Sterling and crew were on the road earlier, I think... but I couldn't really tell where they were going. But since they were on a road, I doubt they were taking the shortest way to the village." He'd also lend himself to the investigation.
(Checking for anything that stands out as magical with detect)
Looking through the buildings, it appears that they were simply abandoned. There is an old graveyard that's overgrown with trees, filled with carved stone markers. The trees are a foot thick or more, many knocking grave marker stones over. The stones themselves seem very well weathered.
Examining the stones that still stand, they are perfectly formed, and fit together with no mortar, each exactly the same size and fitted together in patterns, so they interlock. Thee only bits that don't match are the weathered outsides. No bodies are found within, although you do find some old bits of red that might be rusted nails long since turned into pure iron oxide stuck in the collapsed wood.
"Makes no nevermine. Faster be one den two." Mahb responds with a shrug.
Also, Luna determines that the easiest to rebuild would be one of the old stores. It's large enough to hold all 5 while other buildings are worked on. The walls are also still stable. It's also close to the well.
Luna shares what She gathers with the group."easiest to start on one of the big stores, we can take the other buildings apart to fix one up."
"Works for me. Does anyone have a better way to clear out the place than fire? I'm all for doing it the right way, but taking forever is just... not really wise, I don't think. But on the other hand, Smoky the Bear, you know?"
Mahb shakes her head. "Not tae be blasfeemus, or nuttin, but de lot of ye demons be kinda pathetic. Like none of ye ever had tae work before." Mahb says, and looks at her mute daughter.
Arna looks scared, but Mahb nods firmly. And then suddenly it's as if Arna transformed. Her spine straightens, her eyes go from wide to narrow, and she raises a hand. She says nothing, but dust begins to move around her, and over the next ten minutes, the dust motion goes from a small puff to a veritable miniature tornado. When finally the dust collapses, a... snake woman is revealed. Gold scales form on a snakes body from the waist down. From the waste up, tanned skin with a gold mesh top that might be armor. Heavily muscled arms that end in hands with deadly looking talons on it. A head full of hair that are green snakes that writhe and hiss angrily. Piercing green eyes that glare at everyone in the area. From the claws drips a green liquid that hisses as it hits the ground, as does the liquid that drips from the mouths of the snake hair.
Arna looks at the creature, and then points to the building Luna selected. The creature hisses angrily and then glides over to it, clawed arms moving in a blur as wood is smashed and acid sputters as it eats into the ancient wood. Small animals, birds, rats, snakes, scorpions, spiders, all explode away from the ruins, seeking a new home as the snake woman tears into the ruins, shattering the wood to splinters which are then eaten by the acid she drips. The hair also rips and tears at the wood, shredding it.
Arna then moves away from the group, still standing up with a more aggressive posture than any she's used before. She holds up her hand, and again the dust begins to dance. Another ten minutes, and the much larger whirlwind collapses, and this time an angry boiling shadow vaguely in the shape of a wolf the size of a horse is revealed. Baleful white eyes glare at everyone, before Arna points to the ruins. The wolf shadow prowls forward, and begins to slam and bite at the wood, shattering it and crushing it in it's shadowy jaws.
Arna and Krona then move into the debris as well, grabbing ahold of debris and dragging it out of the area. Trobit and Slota also wade in grabbing what they can.
"Well, it isn't that we didn't work. It's more that we had a different kind of work. Jacob was a merchant and I was an entertainer. Bulk would have gotten in the way of my job." He didn't speak for Luna's occupation prior to arrival.
Neri watched with rapt attention as the woman worked at her summoning ritual, eyes glowing crimson with his detect magic spell.
to understand spell or ability.
to identify creature, if applicable.
Then suddenly there was a Medusa in the middle of the whirlwind. Neri spun away, covering his eyes.
"Holy F-... Warn a guy when you're going to make a gorgon!"
At the sound of the thing tearing into the wood, Neri would turn back to the others, "And it looks like you wouldn't -need- to."
The wolf, on the other hand, got considerably more scrutiny.
to understand spell or ability.
to identify creature, if applicable.
"Where in the world did she learn to do this... and aren't you guys going to wear gloves? That thing was sizzling the entire building!" Neri doublechecked that his gauntlets covered everything important regarding his hands... like every piece of flesh... before following them in and setting to work in aiding clearing it out.
"Do you guys plan to do something like that again when it's time to get them their wood?" Does the volcano work for finding metal, Id?
The 'gorgon' is not a spell, it's some sort of magical ritual. It is some sort of spirit creature made flesh.
The wolf is a spell, not an overly powerful one either. It appears to be a simple magical construct.
Mahb shrugs. "Where de baby learn ta breath, where da baby learn ta walk. Arna have imaginary friend when Slota's age. Friend keel wolf dat try to eat Arna. Priest say Arna evil for have friend, take tongue. Take Trobit's tongue when he say have imaginary friend.
Krota rolls her eyes at Neri. "It no stay around. Demon have dough for hands." The younger women's hands are calloused from hard work. "Beside, no got gloves."
None of them comment on getting more wood.
Neri dug into his pack at the mention of a lack of gloves, and pulled out the fingerless pair he'd arrived in, dropping them on the wagon to show that any of them could take and use them. While he worked, he cast glances at Trobit, frowning, but didn't comment on the tongue thing. He was going to have to find a way to restore these people. As for his hands, he didn't let what she'd ask bother him... as an acrobat, his hands were likely just as worn as hers,no point in comparing scars, though.
Shortly after the first summon Luna took a few steps back ready to run if the things turned on them, she was even more sure she wanted to avoid magic now.
Once it was clear the creatures weren't going to attack she would move to assist as well but made sure to keep a safe distance away from the creature.
Jacob was astounded by the girl's ability. Medusa and Fenrir ... it's like reading mythology. Perhaps this was what this was - a world based-on myths. Interesting...
Yet Jake was not surprised by the tale of the priest. He nodded grimly. "Centuries ago in our world, priests did the same sorts of things to people like you, Arna. But it wasn't magic they had - just being different in some way. Writing with the left hand, for example - they would cast you out or cut it off for that." Seeing the spine in her was refreshing. "Much seems possible in this land. I will do my best to see to it you - if there's a way - and your kin get your tongues back. It was wrong for the priest to have done that to you. He was a mislead or wicked man."
When the summons had finished their work, Jacob began to douse the areas. "We needn't worry about Smokey - as long as we're not too reckless."
"Pretty much my thoughts as well. I've no idea where to begin, though." Neri frowned and shook his head. "It's... a mess." Neri continued to help with the work. It was going to take forever, but it would be worth it, in the end.
"I don't know about you, but I would like to see the extend of what these people are capable of with their magic. They may be more fit to survive here than we are."
"I certainly wouldn't mind seeing what they're capable of. They've got a pretty good idea of what we can do... like I can be old and cranky." Neri shrugged, "But it's up to them to show us, if that's what they want."
"I certainly wouldn't mind seeing what they're capable of. They've got a pretty good idea of what we can do... like I can be old and cranky." Neri shrugged, "But it's up to them to show us, if that's what they want."
Jacob agrees, then moves to investigate the graveyard. He looks for dates of birth/death on stones and is curious to see how there is such a good fitting job done.
The stones look almost poured into molds, but there are no mold seem lines. Each stone is exactly the same shape and size, and the shapes are designed to interlock.
The gravestones may have had engravings at one time, but time has weathered them completely smooth. Nothing but odd discolorations from time is left.
Luna continues to help with clearing the building, and the villagers seem somewhat surprised at that, but buckle down and work.
The villagers appear to be showing Luna more respect than previously.
Once the debris is done with, and Jacob has wetted down the area (drawing a couple of annoyed looks from the villagers) they take out some tools from the wagon and begin to till and grade the dirt on the ground inside the old walls, turning up stones and tossing them out into piles, and apparently trying to get all the roots out.
The building, now that it's interior is cleaned out, looks big enough to comfortably hold the family, once the roof and floors are rebuilt. The wolf vanishes, but the snake like woman stays, carrying stones, unloading the wagon, and generally acting as if she's much stronger than any two people present.
Krona begins building some sawhorses out of lumber, using a hammer and nails and saw to cut the boards as best she can on a collapsed wall.
Kong is moving quickly when he finally catches sight of the group. A bit winded, he slows down and breathes deeply.
Zey are attacking ze village...und Harry und Zterlink are fools enough to try und defend ze villagers zat vould as soon zee zem dead.
Kong drops into a more crouched position, hands on his knees, and breathes deeply for a few.moments.
Zey lied to me, zaying zey vere chust getting a closer look...ze idiots. I hope zey don't get Paul killed.
Eventually, Lina appears at the edge of the village, and tries to wave down Jacob and Nery. She's been gone for quite a few days, and looks... different. There are fresh scars on her face, and her posture is even more rigid than before. The red has begun to fade from her hair, and she carries an imposing shield and heavy armor with ease; behind her billows a massive banner of a black horse rampant over a field of swords.
"Hello again!" she shouts, stepping down off her horse—two other horses, smaller but still imposing, wait behind her, gnashing their teeth nervously as though they have been recently admonished not to bite anything.
"You wouldn't believe how hard it is to tame the horses around here—had to put down a few of them myself. Good way to tough up, bad way to spend a weekend."
From her saddle, Lina unhooks a gigantic steel hammer, which she swings a few times through the air a few times before resting on the ground. "Still need a hand demolishing anything? Had my castellan make a few new weapons. Turns out I'm nobility now."
I vas vonderink vat happened to jou.
Kong looks Lina over, especially appreciating the new metal shell.
Neri looked to Kong. "Wait... so... Sterling actually tried to -help- people?" He looked to the others that he was aiding in the cleaning... and now helping Krona to do her work, he wasn't strong, but he was an extra pair of hands. "He can -do- that? Wait. Why are they fighting? They know that's suicide, right?" He looked to Mahb, "I mean, we know they knew we were there. We knew they were coming. We actively took you guys here for safety. We knew the village wouldn't come with us... and we knew that the place was literally indefensible from any real show of strength. They should have run. The villagers, Sterling, Harry, everyone. Staying and fighting just seems -completely- out of character. Maybe I misjudged him." There was realistically no way to get to the town in time, given that it would take at the very least -hours- to move from the village to the other village. So... the battle had long since been won or lost by the time Kong made it to them.
Neri continued to work, lost in thought, until Lina arrived.
"Errrr... you couldn't have had those a little sooner?" Neri, since Lina had last seen her, had been aged about thirty years. He was very badly in need of a haircut, though he'd used his magic to keep all of his hair blue. He grinned despite himself, "It's good to see you. I thought Paul had killed you and disappeared or something. Guy was ghosty. Though... yeah, the nobility thing fits. Think you could tell your people that it's okay for us to request an audience on occassion? Also... horses? Really? Couldn't get any bears? Pick a building. There are dozens we -can- clear out. This is just the only one we can actively work in right now for building." Well, that was a relief. There was one less dead person on Neri's conscience.
Kong looks Lina over, especially appreciating the new metal shell.
"Easy, pretty boy. My eyes are up here."
"And bears don't have the right bone structure for riding. If we can find a wolf, I'll see what I can do about taming."
Lina is happy to start smashing buildings. An adamantine lance strike from horseback can actually do an absurd amount of damage against a standing object (currently 2d8+20 with power attack), which should be enough to break up any pesky standing supports or stone foundations that are in the way, while she can lend the earth breaker to someone else like Kong who knows how to haul weight.
Jour eyes aren't vearink steel. At ze moment. Zo I'm jealous. I had to rip von of zose horses in half vearing a ztylish club outfit.
Kong shakes his head and strikes a pose, showing off HIS version of her armor - a black men's corset.
Apparently, vitches don't cast vell in armor.
"Well, stay out of trouble, then. If anybody else needs training in how to use armor and a shield, my soldiers can provide it."
And Lina, a little relieved to see others from the proper world after sort of losing herself in the details of commanding a bunch of medieval layabouts, will just generally help with what demolition the party is up to.
"I don't, really. For whatever reason, I'm as comfortable in this as I would be in a biker jacket... which is to say not really. Oh. Speaking of Armor and shields... Our armor lets us go through the wall. Bad priesty guys on the outside's armor... explodes. And... with that segue, do you still have those earrings, Kong? Maybe Lina would be willing to wear them." Neri grinned. "They specifically accent your eyes... in a magical manner. No one else here seems to want them... and I'm not up for piercing my ears. Oh, and they came from a dead priest. In case that matters."
"Earrings make little sense on a battlefield, but if they are magic... there's no sense in wasting a useful resource. Very well, I suppose I can hide them under a headband or something like that."
Still...
Kong shrugs and digs them from his pocket.
Sure. Here.
Luna stopped her work for a moment to look over at Lina."You've been in your house training horses this entire time?" She seemed annoyed.
"Not horses... horses. Lina sighs. "Ever tried catching and taming half a dozen wild lions in the course of a week? I haven't, but that's pretty much what these horses are."
"She has a point." Neri shrugs, "I've worked with some tamed lions and was still a bit worried. Wild horses all by themselves are things most people don't try to break. Wild maneating horses... I feel like there was a story about that on TV... a long time ago." Neri liked to chatter while he worked. He -hated- silence, which was pretty plain to see.
Luna sighed and returned to her work on the town.
"Everything okay?" Neri tilted his head to Luna.
Fortunately for everyone, the villagers at least have basic carpentry skills. However, it's not something that can be built overnight. Arna's snake woman, however, does allow a tremendous amount to get done. The four arms give her the ability to hold a plank in place, and drive nails at the same time. By the time it's dark, the villagers (with help from the party, who mostly end up being gofers and holding things while people with more skill do the work, have managed to build the framework for the interior walls and put the floor framework together. Neri would normally have some experience and be useful, but while cursed, he isn't able to help.
The next day, they continue working. However, about midmorning there is a tremendous roar that comes from the distance, and a massive wind slams through the village, knocking everyone down and sending the newly trained horses screaming as they jerk free of their tethers.
The massive wall of light, which has dominated the sky for weeks flickers, and shifts through several colors as if a rainbow had shifted through it.
Looking into the distance towards the compounds, there is smoke rising from them, and the countryside has been blasted, the trees and grass flattened nearby whatever happened.
"Well... that can't be good." Neri sighed as he looked in the direction of the explosion. "I'd... kind of like to know what caused it, but I'd also -really- rather not go into a bomb zone. Anything that could get in probably isn't of the outside god's persuasion... which means one of us. But..." Neri shook his head. "I'll do whatever you guys decide to do." Neri had spent his extra hours of the night trying to piece together information from the book he'd gotten from Luna while he wasn't meditating on how better to harness his latent magical energy, at least... both of which were probably going to take some time.
Neri takes the opportunity to do what he's done at every new stimuli. Detect magic and try to interpret what's happening with the wall... and then the compounds.
"I'm less worried about what happened, and more worried about the chance that something bad got through. Stay vigilant, everyone."
Lina's first actions will be to try to catch the horses before they get too far away, and calm them down.
Neri sighed and nodded, he kept up the detect magic spell to keep check of the effects on his surroundings, for now. If Lina were having real problems with the horses, he'd likely break off his vigil to aid her in that.
Lina is unable to catch up with the horses, they galloped off.
If the limited training she managed holds true, they should return to the compound in a day or so when they calm down.
Neri thinks something really powerful happened, and the wind that hit was the shockwave. The growing pillar of dust over the compounds is forming a mushroom shape.
Neri sighed. "I don't think it's magical... at least the magic isn't reaching out here. And it literally looks like a small nuke happened, if those old pictures have anything to say on the subject... or maybe it was just a large explosion." Neri shook his head.
I sink ve need a closer look.
Kong heads toward the compounds - almost immediately.