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Abrel's eyes grow even wider as he watches the elven woman step forward, his voice barely a whisper, Holy sh--...
Elandil sheepishly moves out of the way as Shal moves forward. After her display El finds a nice corner to hide in and thinks Thank the gods she's on our side...
Bhoors shivers and looks horrified and a little ashamed when Shal acknowledges him. He makes sure they genasi sees his frightened look. Before looking away as if he can no longer look into the eyes of a person who will now suffer horribly.
After the genasi looks back at Shal. Bhoors whispers to Abrel, "It was brutal. She . . . she . . . yeah still to soon." He looks away.
Her solid black eyes quiver with the realization her life's end is near "Alright...alright...the Cyst. The Earthen Cyst. You thought the destruction above was chaos, but that's just because you were short sighted. Those eruptions were really the construction of a fragile house of cards, and with one final tiny flick, the whole thing will come crashing down. That's the Cyst, and the book will provide the flick. So sayeth Ogremoch...you would hear him too, if you tried." She has the conviction of one touched by the planes.
This kind of fanaticism cannot be cured, Abrel frowns, If we let her live, she will just wreak death and destruction... as much as I hate to admit it.
Juat say the word, and I will end her.
Cole draws his blades.
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Holding up her hand to Abrel and Cole, Shaldinari turns back to the other two prisoners. "So it seems your lives hang in the balance. Are you two as fanatically inclined as her?" She asks the two who haven't spoken yet. "Or do you have a bit more information to share in bargaining for your lives?"
She taps her blade lightly against her palm, thinking for a moment or two. "Information about where this Cyst is located and the best way for us to reach it quickly? Perhaps a quiet or hidden way in? I'd assume your kind are like any other and have a few ways of slipping in and out of a place that the higher ups don't know or care about. Hmm?"
"Before you answer, consider the consequences of sending us in the wrong direction. You'll be tied up and tucked away here, with nothing but some raw meat spread about to mark where we've...stored...you. Assuming what you tell us is true and useful, we'll be back to actually let you go, and if your god is with you, before some random underdark monster finds you." Dropping her voice, she shakes her head sadly as she continues. "Of course, you send us on a false trail, then I doubt there will be any reason for us to return. At least not in enough time to insure you aren't some cave worm's evening snack."
They glance at each other and nod "You were on your way already, if you knew it or not...your smuggler's trail flirts with its outcroppings. Why wouldnt we tell you, its no matter...you will never get inside without Ogremoch's blessing. Only Yegor is so blessed." she grins. "Stop this waste of time and join us. The cleansing is nearly complete and everything you love will soon return to the beauty of creation."
"You're right we probably won't ever get inside, so why don't you tell me about this blessing of Ogremoch. What is this blessing and who is Yegor?" Shaldinari continues the questioning.
She glances over to the Forgeknights to see if they show any sign of recognition around Ogremoch, the Cyst, or Yegor.
"Yes, learn of Ogremoch..." () "...the Mountain that Walks, Prince of Earth..." she goes on to recite a scripture like telling of the Black Earth's motives and philosophy. It resembles poetry and she seems to know it by heart. Basically, they wish to return the world to that of primordial, elemental chaos with Ogremoch at the seat of power. At the same time they admire stoicism, endurance, and unyielding resolve. There is also mention of a snake-headed prophet again and again.
"Yegor, our priest and leader, has heard Ogremoch return his calls and is fortified with the gift of the beyond. We are but servants under his guidance."
One of the dwarves notices your glance and spits "Cyst?! That be disgustin'. Whoever heard of a cyst within stone...ach." shaking his head and resting his hands on his hammer.
Stepping away from the prisoners, Shaldinari turns to the others in the group. "It seems we've learned all they have to offer and don't have much more time to waste." She says. "Unless you want to listen to a bunch of Ogre-bunk, I'd say knock them out, strip 'em down, and make sure they are secured."
Her head nods toward the paladins, "Then if we're successful in getting Furgis and the book back, the knights can come back and deal with them however they see fit."
"Or if you have a more permanent solution in mind...." She adds with a slight shrug looking at Abrel and Cole.
Like I said...just let me know.
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Abrel looks a little sick, but he nods at Shal and Cole, Cole and I will do this. Get everyone ready to move.
With the stoicism of a Lord Justice, the young knight performs the executions with a ceremony meting out justice.
For your crimes against the people of Mulmaster, and spreading chaos and pain upon innocents... I, Abrel Deadrose, former lieutenant in the Knights in Silver, deliver the sentence of death upon you. May the gods grant you your due.
Shunk!
Bhoors winces at scene but nods grimly. He gathers supplies and makes ready.
He looks at the dwarf paladins. "Did he say enough words to get cross the line from murder to, 'meeting out justice'?"
Abrel looks haunted when he returns to the party, whether it is true or not, you are not sure that he believes it.
It is done... We'd best move if we want to find Boltsmelter before he perishes.
Elandil looks somber as Abrel returns. "Yesh.." he winces as he speaks. "These corpshes will attract predators."
As Abrel ceremoniously decapitated, Cole thrusts his long sword through the back and into the heart of each. He looks the bodies, then returns to the others as he wipes his blade on the pantaleo of his leathers.
They close their eyes and mumble something significant to their obscure object of worship, falling back into the cave dust softly.
Bhoors, the dwarves are dressed more like artisans or scouts than paladins. Perhaps their fallen leader Kalda was the only true paladin among them. At your inquiry one shrugs "Mm. Not all bad them earth genasi. I agree with yer knight there though, once they get their steam built up it ain't ever coming down...until death, I see." he stuffs a fat cigar in his mouth and takes a few puffs contemplating the motion of the lodestone "We're on it now...this way..."
So, once again the party sets out in the Underdark...just 5 minutes pass before you hear again the mad *cacaw* of the hook creatures, followed by the snuffled wet lapping of the genasi being devoured. They scavenge like vultures it would seem...luckily its the perfect distraction for you to reenter the tunnels down toward, presumably, the Cyst.
Even with the lodestone, the path is winding and confusing. The dwarves and yourselves debate constantly the best course, going in circles at times. But finally, with the help of the halfling's mark you find a small tunnel that must be the only true way through the tangled mess.
Eventually you come to a large cavern. At the end of the cavern is a hemisphere of strange orange red stone that covers an entrance to a further cave, making it impossible to go forward. It seems like the stone is only recently added as a small stream that cuts across the cave runs into the stone wall and is overflowing its banks. The lodestone points directly toward what must be the earthen cyst.
The dwarves search the area, looking for other entrances, finding similar stone coverings in other tunnels and caves in the area. Due to the placement of the other sheets of rock the party can determine that the cyst is roughly egg-shaped.
Secret doors, perhaps?
"Well that genasi did say that the blessing of Ogremoch was needed to enter."
Shaldinari says in a hushed voice. "Could be a magical trigger somewhere."
Closing her eyes for a second, she opens them again and the faint aura of fae magic swirls in her pupils and she begins searching for any sign of magic or hidden doors.
Abrel passes his hands over the oddly warm, glossy, orange stone. It is perfectly smooth and he finds no seams or hidden mechanus. With the arcane lusting vision of the fey Shal likewise examines the stone, and with this sight beyond sight, from her perspective, the stone appears to be innately magical and more of a very slow moving liquid...
Brow furrowing in thought, Shaldinari steps back after examining the stone. "It is certainly magical." She says to the group. "But rather than stone, it appears to be more of a liquid. Thick and very slow, but still a liquid."
Drawing her spear, she steps up to the stone and pushes the end of the weapon into the liquid to see what happens.
Shal, you hear a high pitched *scrrrriieee* reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard. No scratch marks are left behind.
El, you suddenly recall a scary story a priest once told you when you were young. A farm boy refused to come home one summer night when his mother called, preferring to play in a nearby cave. The boy liked the coolness of the cave over the stuffiness of his hot home, but was unaware of the danger. A collapse trapped the boy, and slowly, in complete darkness, he began to starve to death.
There, in the darkness near death, a glowing green maw appeared and a voice came "You are mine now, boy, as are all things residing within the earth. Bow to me and be saved..." it promised "...or stay a pretty fixture."
The boy could not resist the powerful archomental and cried his allegiance in the tight, echo-less chamber. A deep swelling sensation enveloped him quickly as his physiology changed to something totally new, his feet began to sink into the stone. In desperation he clawed out at the walls and found likewise his hands simply melded into limestone as if it were water. His entire body could glide through the earth...this was Ogremoch's blessing.
The shocking twist of the story was later, the boy began to use his new powers carelessly, and glided into red hot magma, dying instantly. But that part seems less important now.
Wincing at the painful sound, Shaldinari snatches her spear from the magical stone.
"Well, I remember an old story about Ogremoch's blessing being the ability to move through stone. Unless one of you knows to do that, I'm at a loss."
Abrel ponders, Liquid, huh?
He presses his hand against the stone and tries to push his way in.
Listening to Elandil recite the story of Ogermoch and the boy, Shaldinari ponders how it might be connected to the magical stone. "Hmmm...sounds like the earth god might like a bit of sweet talk along with the usual bowing and kowtowing."
"But surely there must be more...were any of the prisoners wearing holy symbols or other religious items?" She asks Cole as her eyes drawn to Abrel's hand when it presses against the stone.
I did not see any symbols.
Abrel, the wall resists your entry.
Examining the stone and searching the area you come up with little and begin to wonder how you will pass the stone wall to see what is beyond.
Just then the air seems to be sucked out of the room. Behind you two drow materialize out of nothing with a *pip pop*. One is an older male drow with eyes clouded by cataracts carrying an obsidian staff and wearing elaborate black and red robes. He turns toward the party, then back to the other drow and says, "This is where you wish to be then." Then he teleports away in what sounds like a thundercrash played in reverse.
The other drow is younger. He doesn’t wear the robes of a wizard, but more practical adventuring clothes, although he does seem to have several fetishes, pouches, and also carries a staff. His skin is so dark it's almost purple,--with close-cropped, silver hair and long, well-manicured sideburns. His most striking features are his green eyes—quite unusual for a drow.
"Greetings, dark delvers. I am Murssvayas Dhuurniv. I assume you are under the emply of Boltsmelter, is that right? He must already be inside...hmm...curious." he raises an eyebrow looking you all over.
*whisper whisper* The dwarves seem to be saying something under their breath to each other before to the party *psst* "Oy...weve seen that drow before, came to our elders wanting the codex..."
Abrel turns from the stone, You'd be his buyer then?
The young knight tilts his head curiously, You know the way in?
Bhoors looks over the younger drow. He shrugs at Abrel's question. He looks to the drow interested in the answer. Hmmm dwarves and drop ain't gonna get along. I wanna survive this but I don't want the drow to get the book. That just seems a bad idea.
He rubs the little white stubble on his black chin, moving to the wall and running a hand across its surface. "I know how to puncture these Earthen Nodes, yes...they are not so uncommon in the wandering dark. I only ask to be allowed to copy the codex, as per my agreement with Furgis." he seems to size you all up momentarily "Are we still on course, then?"
Abrel looks at the dwarves, his own companions, then back at the drow, What do you need it for? Boltsmelter said that your people are in danger. Is that true?
Startled by the arrival of the drow, Shaldinari instantly drops into a combative stance, fae energy flickering across her fingers. Realizing after a few moments the underground denizens are here as potential allies, she drops her guard and steps back.
"Greetings, sunless one." She says to the drow. "It's true we were hired by that crooked, degenerate, dentally challenged excuse of a dwarf. You must be from the clan that needs saving."
"My guess is you need help handling whatever is on the other side of that barrier. Plus, like the man said, your people are desperate for the book to save your clan, correct? While we need your help getting through and desperate to get out of this city and it's elemental nightmares." She glances at the dwarves, the party, and then back to the dark elf. "It does seem our mutual goals would benefit if we join forces." With a simple shrug of her shoulders she continues. "I see no reason you can't copy whatever is left in the book after both it and Furgis are recovered, with the original going back to the dwarves. Seems like a fair enough bargain to me."
Bhoors looks between everyone fighting a puzzled look on his face.
"This is going to get interesting."
At Abrel, he nods to affirm, saying "Yes, it would be near your Mistledale, my Szith Morcane...we are but an outpost of greater Maerimydra and do not have the defenses against this new threat. Demons and fire giants have become emboldened, striking nearly every three days....I fear a siege is coming. With the codex perhaps I have a chance to drive them back, or at least hold until Maerimydran reinforcements arrive..." he speaks with desperation, unsure if the plan will work at all.
Then at Shal "Excellent. True, I feared we might cross paths with the Cult of the Black Earth. Yegeor is a powerful priest and keeps a strong bodyguard. But you should fear more the Xorn...three-legged, three-armed earth gliders. In addition to getting us through, I have a ritual that enchant your weaponry. It will allow the metal to penetrate the thick scales like Rothe cheese...but it can only be cast on 3 of you."
With a nod to the drow Shaldinari says, "Yes, we've seen the Xorn. A nasty bit of work for certain. And your offer is appreciated."
Turning to her companions, "So are we agreed? It's either drag the dwarf out of this mess and recover the book. Or we follow the smugglers path and just get the devils out of this underground tomb and as far from the city as possible." Letting out a heavy sigh, she continues. "I admit...that second option is looking pretty appealing right now. But the runt stills owes us all money...money that could be put to better use than funding that bunch of dirt worshiping cultists."
Abrel, you cycle through a few of the known connections to the surface you've learned about over the years, and recall that there used to be a connection under Shadowdale's Twisted Tower, featuring in some of the stories of Elminster. The path led to the drow city of Maerimydra. More detail than that escapes you though.
Believe me, I want outta this hol ed more than most, but I need to see the dwarf pay us or bleed out at the end of my sword.
At Shal's comments the dwarf survivors look concerned "Please...we gotta get that codex back where it belongs. Our offers still on the table, if not fer Furgis, then fer us."
The drow are normally less than civil, but news of demons and fire giants is not good, the knight turns to the dwarves, Is this acceptable to you? To get your book back to dwarven hands?
EDIT:
"If'n Kalda were still alive she'd know what to say..." they sort of twiddle their thumbs glancing at each other. "Let's finish it, her sacrifice shouldn't be in vain." one says, while the other clasps him on his shoulder "Well put! The Hammers of Moradin ain't pussies! We'll take their heads for trophies and glory." they both take a few shots of whiskey.
Abrel nods solemnly, wishing he could do something to bring their leader back...
Bhoors looks around amazed. "Dwarves and drop together for a cause. This is the stuff of legend or a sign of the end of days."
Silent since the dwarf was taken by the enemy, and now being confronted with a Drow, poor Davin feels like he has walked into some fairy dream. Not since his time in Chult and the rainbow of deadly creatures he met there has he felt so out of place. He holds his tongue and lets the others talk...for now. He keeps his eyes flitting around the tunnel as the group try to enter the cyst.