Rohkar have key... and I'll betcha anything those busy-fingered boys have it now. Si, watch the pot.
Sidhe dashes out of the room and calls out for the boys.
She goes to the bear skin rug and examines it for nasty tricks.
Since it seems to look okay, she will flip the rug over and examine the floor beneath it.
Sidhe looks around emphatically, but sees no one with which to share her urgency at the idea that the lady is locked up down below her feet.
Sionna crouches down on the floor, and knocks loudly on the trapdoor with the butt of her pistol.
Sidhe calls over her shoulder at the everything.
" I have NO doubts about your honor, bravery or willingness to give your life for ours Ulfrik. In that sense, we are lucky to count you a friend! However, you did risk our lives when you charged in. We had the advantage of surprise and the ability to strategize. Had there been even one more person in there one of us would have surely died. Being willing to die in battle protecting us does not avail you of the responsibility to act strategically and thoughtfully. Charging in brutishly was reckless. Khaleesi needs to be able to trust you. We all do. We need to know you will be careful with our lives. Set us up to win - coordination and strategy are a part of that. Does that make sense? Hang on..." looks towards the door and calls out, "Upstairs Sidhe! We are upstairs." and continues to look around.
Hearing nothing on the other side, and finding the door unlocked, Ulfrik open the door .
She yells back, then presses her ear to the trapdoor to see if she can hear any response from the other side.
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ha'penny rushes out to the next room, holding her side, shouting, "DEER! YOU SAY DEER!" She stomps both feet on the trapdoor. "You say 'deer'! Liar! Liar! You blathe!" The half-orc draws her sword and stomps on the trapdoor again, spinning a circle, the hollow sound reverberating.
Directing her voice downward, Ha'penny yells,
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulfrik opens the door with Dekkembe peering over his shoulder. Dozens of small boxes, bottles, and papers fill this musty storeroom. Two small iron cages sit on the top shelf, one emanating a flickering light like that of a candle.
Inside of the flickering cage, a bedraggled winter-touched sprite slowly raises its head. "Free Vrixx?," it asks in a small, pathetic, high-pitched voice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Barely managing to tear his eyes from the second cage, Dekka addresses the bedraggled spite, "Vrixx, they treated awfully! NO ONE should treat the Fey in such a manner! Be patient a just little longer as I figure out which key unlocks the cage. What happened? How did you come to be here?"
Dekkembe looks through Rohkar's keys and uses any that might fit the cage with the statue. "Will try the keys on the cage without a living being inside first to make sure it isn't trapped." Why am I so drawn to that statue? I feel electric with excitement! I have to get this cage open so I can get to it. Hurry up Dekka!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What do I know about winter-touched sprites? How are they about keeping their word?
Dekkembe? Ulfrik asks, his voice low and concerned. He slips the throwing axe back into his belt loop and draws his cold iron greatsword. With a wary eye on the glowing sprite in its cage, Ulfrik gently shakes Dekkembe to get his attention. Dekkembe - are you alright?
Magic, Ha'Penny, like Rohkar had magic. In fact, I ain't even sure that Rohkar didn't make that dumb deer talk. Please, just calm yourself. I ain't crazy. I'm getting there, but I ain't yet.
Frustrated with the whole scenario, Sidhe mounts the stairs and runs up to find Ulfrik and Dekkembe, and perhaps the keys.
"Yes Ulfrik, I'm ok. Thanks. Just found something I've been trying to find for a very long time." How weird! I know that's true yet this is the first time I've seen this statue. Right?
|
|
Sprites are more primitive in many ways than most fey. They enjoy each other’s company, but tend to be distrustful of other fey and assume any humanoids and any other creatures that they haven’t expressly chosen to protect mean to do them ill. Even animals are generally regarded as dangerous. Much of this is due to sprites’ diminutive size, which makes them popular targets for predators. As a result, a sprite’s initial reaction to danger is typically to flee—it uses its spell-like abilities to delay or distract pursuers, and relies on its speed in flight and its size to allow it to escape in the end.
While sprites themselves are relatively uncultured and savage in nature, they do have a healthy curiosity for all things magical in nature. They are particularly drawn to sites of great but latent magical power, such as the ruins of ancient temples.
Khaleesi immediately goes after Ha'Penny. Ha'Penny, stop! If you raise your sword at Sidhe you will force my hand. Please calm down, I will explain. You are not in any danger, neither is the lady in the cellar. We are trying to help. Just put your sword away and come sit, we can talk ok. Khaleesi is really hoping Ha'Penny calms down.
Finding nothing outside, Sionna makes her way back into the house. Hearing the shouting she moves quickly to find out what has happened.
"What drama has unfolded in the short amount of time I have been gone??
Ulfrik's face puzzles at Dekkembe's response.
You've been looking for a Winter-touched sprite? He frowns, confused, and a bit disturbed.
You've been looking for a Winter-touched sprite? He frowns, confused, and a bit disturbed.
"No. I've been looking for what's in the other cage; my tribal statue." He says focused on opening the statue's cage lock.
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dekkembe's hand reaches out towards the statue. Vrixx cries out, "No! Stop!," as his tiny arm reaches through his cage as if he might stop you. Dekkembe's hand closes on the snow leopard statue and...
Each of you (including everyone downstairs) experiences a mental wave of force that crashes violently against the shores of your mind. You hear a familiar click and then your vision goes white.
Your vision clears and you are back in the storeroom. You are on all fours. One clawed hand rests on Vrixx's cage which is now on the ground. Ulfrik's sword is pressed against the sprite's throat through the bars. Next to you is a snow leopard, also growling at Vrixx, which is what makes you realize that you are growling.
Your vision clears and you are again Ulfrik, standing in the storeroom of the lodge. You feel refreshed. You are standing over Vrixx's cage which is now on the ground. Your sword is in your hands, its point pressed against the sprite's throat through the bars of the cage. To your right, Dekkembe is on all fours, growling at Vrixx. Next to him is a snow leopard, also growling over the cage.
The sprite's back is pressed tightly against the back of his cage. He eyes Ulfrik's sword warily, but still manages to squeak out, "Free Vrixx?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The orb's mist covers the scene again and your vision clears. You are on one knee, back in the lodge, your orb clutched in one hand.
The vision clears and you are back in the lodge, tumbling down the stairs. You land at the bottom of the stairs, crouching. Your gun is drawn, pointing at the top of the stairs. You see the man that took a shot at you quickly duck into the room at the top of the stairs.
The vision dissipates and you are yourself. You are kneeling over the trapdoor, holding the locket to the trapdoor's lock. Looking into the mirror, you can see through the lock to its inner workings and feel like you know just how to pick it.
Sionna is kneeling over the trapdoor's lock. Khaleesi is kneeling near her with her orb in one hand. Sidhe is at the bottom of the stairs, crouched in a three-point stance, her gun aimed up the stairs.
None of you are certain what Ha'penny saw or experienced, but she is in the fetal position on her side. Her sword is on the ground and her widened eyes dart between you. She is repetitively muttering something in orcish.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sionna moves quickly to unlock the cellar door.
Ukfrik snarls at Vrixx: Why should I free a witch's accomplice? Why should I not slay you here and now?
His voice and his arm tremble with controlled fury.
Slightly dazed, Sidhe shakes her head. She glances over at Si, Si and Ha'Penny to see if they saw that, but no one seems to be looking her way. Keeping her pistol handy, Sidhe charges up the stairs and through the doors she encounters at the top.
Ulfrik? she says, coming into the room. She will pause and check her corners, still nervous about the phantom she saw.
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sidhe runs upstairs. No one seems to be in this room. To your left, you can see Ulfrik and Dekkembe through the doorway, and a light on the floor that suddenly gets brighter. A squeaky voice yells, "Free Vrixx! Old Teb will crunch your bones if you don't!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sionna easily picks the lock and opens the door to the cellar. Looking down, a half-dozen boxes and barrels take up the majority of this underground cellar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarmed by the idea that anyone is threatening to crush her friends' bones. Sidhe will advance into the small room that Ulfrik and Dekkembe is standing in, gun at the ready.
Some fellow who needs to threaten people to get himself freed probably ought not to be freed at all.
Dekkembe pulls his clawed hand away from Vrixx'x cage with a hiss, comes up onto one knee and pivots facing the snow leopard. A look of joyful reunion sweeps across his face. They lock eyes for a long moment. Dekkembe stands fully, places a hand on the leopards back and turns to look at Sidhe who just entered.
Some fellow who needs to threaten people to get himself freed probably ought not to be freed at all.
"I'm beginning to feel the same way Sidhe! This is not the good hearted Fey with which I grew up. I mistook him for a kinder creature. Vrixx is tainted with evil, an aberration.
Addressing Vrixx, " You should have helped us if you wanted out, not gone after me. Ulfrik, thank you for being at the ready! Unless he quickly makes himself useful, slit his throat."
The presence of Sidhe brings Ulfrik back from the brink of his rage. It is only then that it registers on his awareness the snow leopard in the room.
Where did that come from? he asks Dekkembe, who clearly has some sort of connection with the creature. It's - beautiful! he says. I've never seen one this close before! They're swift and deadly hunters.
Turning his focus back to the Sprite: Now, little warrior. How did you come to be imprisoned here? And who is Old Teb that we should fear? It seems they did not deem you important enough to free you and punish those who caged you.
|
|
"He is the one that will flay you alive and make a coat out of your skin. Free Vrixx now!," he demands imperiously. He slips from behind the point of the sword and begins stomping in the cage while turning circles. "Free Vrixx now! Free Vrixx now!," he begins chanting. His luminosity flares with each stomp. He seems to be having a full-on tantrum.
Maybe I will slay you and add you as a trophy to my new cloak! Ulfrik growls, and shakes the metal cage a bit. Now answer me, Sprite: how came you to be imprisoned so!"
His patience, never an Ulfen's strongest trait, is clearly wearing thin.
I have cold iron if you will not speak. We both know you wouldn't enjoy that! he says as he slides his blade back into the cage menacingly.
|
|
With Rohkar's blade constrained by the bars of the cage, Vrixx dodges the blade easily. Then he begins singing while dancing over and under it, in a very patronizing squeaky singsong:
"Your master ask Vrixx questions,
Fey are his obsession,
He may have captured me
But you will set Vrixx free
For I will give no answer,
But Teb will give you cancer!"
At which point, he falls down laughing, impressed with his own wit.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Sidhe grimaces at the annoying little twit of a sprite, and her face turns to stone.
Vrixx likes to sing his songs and do his little dance,
But if he keeps on whining he'll get a lead ball up his ass.
So keep on stomping like a spoiled brat and screaming to get free-
Teb might give me cancer but Vrixx'll get lead poisoning from me.
Sidhe is aware that the meter of her rhyme was not precise. She is waiting, pistol in hand, for the sprite to say something about it.
|
|
Vrixx leaps up, clearly excited by Sidhe engaging. He leaps to the front of the cage, pressing his face to the bars to see Sidhe better. His eyes go wide before he turns and begins dancing again:
"You know your crime,
You used my rhyme,
Your wit is straggling,
Pretty lil hagling,
Oh, this is rich,
Your mother a witch,
Who was your daddy,
I bet she ate the laddie,
You should know the fey,
How we like to play,
Vrixx'll hear your groans,
When Teb chews your bones!
This is what I foresee
If you don't set Vrixx free!"
He stops on the last syllable and looks to you as if waiting for applause.
Muistan vielä | entisaikoina, jättiläiset, joka antoi minulle leipää | entisaikaanYhdeksän maailman tiesin, | yhdeksän treeWith mahtava juuret | alla multaa.
Who gave me bread | in the days gone by;
Nine worlds I knew, | the nine in the tree
With mighty roots | beneath the mold.
Ulfrik looks at the others. If we're going to spout poetry, I thought at least it ought to be good poetry.
Looking Vrixx in the eyes while wearing his most serious face Dekka says,"I think there is a cooking fire burning downstairs. Lets hang Vrixx's cage over it and keep him there until he decides to be polite and cooperate."
Where did that come from? he asks Dekkembe, who clearly has some sort of connection with the creature. It's - beautiful! he says. I've never seen one this close before! They're swift and deadly hunters.
"Thank you Ulfrik. Our connection is mystical and he will appear when I have need. Much like my magic, its not something I chose but a gift given."
Sidhe levels her pistol at the little creature in the cage.
Quick, Vrixx, what rhymes with winter sprite jelly?
Glancing at Ulfrik and Dekkembe, Sidhe says, I'm tired. Do we need him alive? I reckon he'll jig around and I might miss his vitals a bit, but I've got the ammo to get the job done. Eventually. By the way, Si is freeing up Lady Argentea from the cellar. You wanna leave me to this while you go see?
I am, Vrixx. With my pistol stick. It's a special magic stick that shoots exploding rocks out the end of it real fast. So fast that the rocks go clear through a man. Or a tree. Or a little bitty snitty sprite. So who's Teb? Why'd you get left here? And why would you be so dumb as to threaten the people on the outside of the cage, little target dummy?
|
|
Vrixx lights up again, suddenly happy to play the game on his own.
"Beastboy threatens Vriixx with fire
To be a real boy he does aspire
Ulfen poetry is like Ulfen, just so dumb
That's why they live under witches thumb
Hagspawn waves around her stick
Because her head is so thick
Vrixx will never speak
Even if things look bleak
Winter witches don't forgive
They will not let him live
Pierce his heart with ice
So here is some free advice
You better set Vrixx free
Or end up in Teb's tummy!"
You have deplorable meter, you know that, right? I should sic Si on him, she'd teach him how to recite!
Sidhe will pick up the cage (if it is able to be lifted.)
It's kinda cute, though. It's started to grow on me. Can I keep him, Ulf? I'll just keep him in the little cage and cover him at night, and toss him some zoog stew every now and again so he'll get all furry. He's soooo cute!
Sidhe will flash Vrixx a saccharine smile.
I don't like your name, though. So from now on I'll call you Sir Pompetous Wigglebottom. Who's a cute li'l critter?
Sidhe will look around for asomething to cover the little bugger's cage with.
Yours? But if I'm going to keep you, it's mine now.
|
|
Looking through the chests and boxes in the cramped little room, no sheet is found. There are several boxes of ledger books filled out by the previous tenants, the High Sentinels. There are two blank ones that can be used as journals(book, journal), as well as 6 charcoal sticks.
Also found: 6 vials (4 red, 2 green)
A lockbox(opened with Rohkar's keys): 25 pp, 200gp, a blue quartz “ice diamond” crystal
10 flasks
When holding up the blue quartz crystal, Vrixx screams, thrusting his arm through the cage. "Mine! Mine! Give it!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Steals it? I found it. Finders keepers, and all... Why do you want the silly old thing anyways?
Sidhe makes a show of holding the crystal up to the light to admire its sparkle.
Hey Dekkembe. Any chances of taking those flasks to Si to identify them? If there's a healing potion there, maybe someone here can use it.
Sidhe gives Ulfrik a sidelong glance to assess how hurt he still looks.
That ain't the first nasty thing you've said about me, Sir Pompetous, and I doubt it'll be the last. You don't wanna talk, and I don't trust you anyhow. I'll just take this off with me, and leave you in this here little box, and you can call me all the nasty names you please. Only, I'll be downstairs where I can't hear 'em and don't care a whit.
Sidhe will pocket Vrixx's gem and tip her hat to him.
Top o' the day to you, Sir Wigglebottom. Gentlemen, shall we go see to all the things that are more important than this? Unless, of course, our darling Pompetous wants to exchange information for freedom, or maybe for his shiny little bit of kit? I'll let him think on it.
Sidhe will take Ulfrik's hand, make a follow gesture to Dekkembe, and attempt to usher the boys away from the sprite and downstairs to talk to the others. She will holster her gun in order to carry the loot they found under her other arm, so they can divide it up once they are away from the mouthy fey.
Perhaps we should see if Khaleesi can get him to be more cooperative.
To Vrixx, Ulkfrik says: We killed Rohkar. His corpse is down below. It's his cloak I am wearing. Just food for thought.
Ulfrik finds himself enjoying the feel of Sidhe's small hand in his, and follows her downstairs.
Dekkembe helps gather up any of the bounty from the room that Sidhe asks his help with. He pats his new four legged companion, "Come on my friend. Let's go downstairs and find Khaleesi and Si. They will be very happy to meet you!
As he begins to descend the staircase he calls out, "Khaleesi, Sionna. I am coming downstairs, the snow leopard is a FRIEND, do not fear him or attack please. The caged evil sprite is an entirely different matter though."
Back in the main room, Dekka casts Detect Magic and tries to identify what he can, leaving the rest for Khaleesi to help with.
Khaleesi finds herself a bit disoriented after the white out episode. Clutching the orb, she finds herself almost hypnotized by it. Khaleesi brings herself back. She stands, composes herself and notices Ha'Penny in a fetal position on the floor. Miss Penny! Khaleesi runs over to Ha'Penny, kneels down and puts her arms around her with a light shake. Ha'Penny, can you hear me? You're going to be ok. I'm going to help you. Sionna, before you go into the cellar, I want to get the others and I don't want to leave Miss Penny alone. Can you stay with her while I fetch the others? Khaleesi starts up the stairs to look for Sidhe, Dekkembe, and Ulfrik.
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
There is also a ladder leading down into the cellar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------