Siff slaps her hands together , dust from the big rock exploding into the air.
She smiles at Lann invitation, gladly shaking his hand but her eyes widen at Iradyiel's rash revelation of thier find.
Stepping back herself, she nods at Nazz's assertions, frowning at Iradyiel's clumsy attempts at smoothing things over.
"Please, we speak the truth. The dwarf, Millorn , had the brooch. Would we have come to your aid so quickly had we wished you ill?"
Diplomacy
I nearly got smashed by a buildin' just now savin' you skins! If I wanted ta kill ya I'd have just let Esmeralda here chew on ya a bit!
Esmeralda snorts as if to indicate that option is still on the table.
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Lann: Okay, they do make a lot of sense. They must have run into the murderous Millorn. Which means. Ah hell, the Chiefs son must be dead! Lann relocks his sword into the scabbard. Okay, okay. Look, it sounds like you've been through alot. I choose to trust you. The main tunnel we usually use to get back to Neatholm has been blocked by debris. Come I will lead you by an alternate route. But be on your guard! My tribe never uses these tunnels I'm about to take you on. And for good reason. There are some pretty foul things that live down here!
You proceed through dark tunnels. Lann is impressed by Darya's halo light and blushes a bit if she talks to him. Now and then you hear sounds of skittering or moaning in the darkness. But at least you are all in this together. Perhaps there is hope...
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Iradyiel and Lann lead the way. Eventually you come to a cavern where large green patches of bulbous fungi are growing. Lann and the other mongrelmen seems to stay clear of them.
Finally you come to a "Y" in the road. Lann points to the Left. Neatholme is that way. Then he points to the right But just in that cavern a nasty creature called "the spore-cougher" lives. It's going to be very dangerous form my people to use this route as long as it's there. It will cost several lives of the sons and daughters of Neatholm to kill it. Lann sighs and begins to walk toward the town.
description of the deadly fungus as that of a basidirond
"It's a basidirond, you are no match for it. It can make you see things and it can infect you with spores. We can probably kill it."
Seeing Siff's frown, Iradyiel stops talking, Why do I care what they think? cause you don't want to be down here alone you idiot, shut up and let someone else talk for a while. Convincing himself that the only reason Siff's opinion matters to him is the group dynamic, Iradyiel scouts along in silence. When Lann describes the beast, Iardyiel wants to blurt out that it is a basidirond, but he looks at Siff and the rest of the party and just nods his head as Khan explains the danger to the 'mongrel folk.'
Smiling slightly to herself at Lann's reaction, Darya is fascinated by the idea of an entire civilization under Kenebres. "So this creature threatens travel through the only tunnes you have access to now that the other has collapsed?" she pauses, thinking for a moment. "He's right. We can probably kill this thing."
"Can and will are not the same thing." Nazz says with a slight grin cracking her blank face, belying the latter option as the one she agreed with.
Siff let's out the breath she hadn't realised she had been holding when Lann stood down.
Leading the old man , she ponders the request to eliminate the subterranean threat.
"It would seem we're in agreement. Lann, would you mind looking after our friend while we deal with this creature." she says indicating the old man on her arm.
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Bruno is up in his saddle from the word go and gives Esmeralda her reigns as they walk. She wanders a bit, but generally follows the flow of the biped's herd.
Well, let's get dis creature dead and be over with it.
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You step into the chamber. Darya's halo lights most of it, accept the back wall. The first thing you see is two dead human bodies.
-a potion of cure light wounds,
-129 gp.
-a scroll UNIDENTIFIED.
-she clutches something tightly in her fist. To pry open her fist, immediately read spoiler "A"
-a small symbol of a brass bull's head with tiny red gemstone eyes. Make a DC15 knowledge religion check (if you can). If you succeed, immediatly read spoiler "B"
Upon seeing the body of felled crusaders Nazz rushes over to check on them. Inspecting them her lips form a tight frown before she bows her head and starts to mumble what can't be mistook for anything other than a prayer in a rather soothing sounding language.
I really don't think these guys need a pickpocket, about the only value I can be to this group of experienced warriors is possibly as a scout Iradyiel, trying to scout ahead, Enters into the chamber that Lann indicated, seeing the two bodies he checks them quickly admiring the MW chain shirt and then taking the potion, scroll and brass bull's head with tiny red gemstone eyes to Nazz. "Found these and a nice chain shirt we can recover wnen it's safe"
"If we're going to fight this thig, I should probably be as close to full strength as possible. Mind if I have another one of the potions?" Darya asks.
Coming out of her reverie Nazz stands before producing a potion for Darya.
Nazz' face sours from a grim blankness into a snarl as Iradyiel hands her the bull head symbol. "This is a symbol for Baphomet, Demon Lord of Minotaurs and mazes... was this one bringing back of his cults activities or... was she herself a cultist?"
The Vindicator's hand clenched tightly around the unholy trinket, it had been of lesser make or material she probably would have crushed it in her vice-grip.
"Thanks." Darya says drinking the potion, a sigh of relief passing through her as the rest of her injuries heal.
"Looks like evidence of infiltration. Traitors." she says, the last word a growl.
See Nazz' face sour and hearing her snarl, Iradyiel steps back a little, almost tripping on one of the bodies, he asks questioningly, "do you really think one or both of these crusaders could be spies or something?"
"The barrier fell somehow. Inside job would make sense." Darya mutters looking as if she were considering kicking the corpses.
well if their bad guys I'm not waiting Realizing the dead bodies are not crusaders and not deserving the same respect. A finely made shirt like this would help me be even quieter While the others are thinking and talking Iradyiel begins pulling the chain shirts off of the bodies. Once he has the Master Work chain shirts off of the bodies he asks "does anybody need light armor?"
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You hear a rustling in the corner of the room. MAP UPDATED. As Darya's light casts into the corner you see a strange plant with spidery stalks, long green tendrils, and an inverted bell-shaped cap filled with spores. There are gashes all over it where the two fallen cultists must have wounded it. Mists of greenish spore-filled clouds issue form this evil plant as it lumbers toward you...
Nazz Initiative:
Iradyiel Initiative:
Khan Initiative:
Siff Initiative:
Bruno Initiative:
Darya Initiative:
Monster Initiative:
"They could have been... but we don't know for sure... we didn't kill the Chief's son either, remember?" she responds in a low growl as she turns a glare towards the rogue as he unceremoniously strips the corpses of their outerwear.
Biting her tongue and tossing down the unholy symbol she decides to take her frustration out on the conveniently placed plant creature by charging at it with her flaming sword. Betrayers? Did they? We don't know... we don't know. But they could have.... betrayers. NO! I don't know! They might have or they might not! We don't know! We don't! We don't! Don't say she betrayed us when we don't know you self-righteous bastards... you don't know her, don't know for sure. She didn't betray me. She wouldn't... she didn't betray me. She didn't. She didn't! She betrayed me! Me! She tricked me! She lied! No...
Her thoughts eating away at her all the uncertainty and hate and frustration she had gathered till now exploded throughout her body. This wasn't anger, or rage, but pure malice pouring through her veins and pushing her body further than it could as she swung her sword at the beast before her. Her previous swings till now might have well have been her swinging in her sleep. But now she was awake.
busy hoping for new armor Iradyiel doesn't notice the growl or the lovely colored plant creature until after most of the party. HE stops undressing the carcasses and stands, drawing his swords and steps forward.
Siff stares down at the fallen Crusaders, chewing her lower lip.
When the demonic talisman was revealed, her brow furrowed, "Treachery. 'Tis the way of the Abyss..." she says as much to herself.
Her gaze follows the talisman through the air as Nazz tosses them aside, watching as it lands in a cluster of multicoloured mushrooms.
When her head comes up, she sees Nazz's sword flashing through the air.
Seeking to protect her friend, Siff's hand extends, blackens, and erupts three orbs of demonic force...
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With a wild grin and a glint of anger in her eyes, Darya dashes forward, blade rising above her head to come slicing down in a two handed slash.
Shear Khan just makes his way to the plant creature. "So is violence." He says flexing his claws preparing to strike.
Bruno lowers his lance, determined to end this fight before it really starts. His allies have scored good hits, so us time to add another.
Esmeralda thunders into the cave, over the stripped body, and up to the melee. His long lance reaches over Nazz's left shoulder to impact the plant. Hard.
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You chop the plant monster into onion bits so fast it has narry enough time to react. As it fall, it emits a cloud of spores but you cover your faces and back away with no ill effects. More than you can say for the poor cultists this monster just killed. The caverns will be safer from now on, thanks to your efforts. *Adria notes XP gained*
Enough awareness remained within Nazz for her to step away once the the plant collapsed and released its spores but that didn't help the urge she had to run back in and continue to hack it apart, to chop it completely into pieces and then to smash those pieces into paste between the cracks of the cavern floor.
But she held herself back, even though she didn't want to. She held herself back.
Starting to breath heavily as the fiery hate left her body and left in its place a sluggish numbness that sobered her thoughts she looked between her companions to make sure they were untouched too.
"See? I said we could probably kill it."
"... that is much more than probably."
Bruno chuckles. Your not wrong, lass
...There are gashes all over it where the two fallen cultists must have wounded it...
Now that's my idea of a fight, course their crusaders, what did I expect? Seeing that the others had killed the pretty plant before he could even get to it Iradyiel, shrugs, sheathing his shortswords and returns to stripping the armor off of the cultists. When he is done he checks the cave for anymore valuables and then returns to the party.
Iradyiel, armor and arms in arms, smiles at Lann sheepishly, looking to the real hero's in the groups and softly says "Thanks, it was nothing, I mean they did all the work, they are crusaders." Then thinking about other non-heroic things, like food and shelter, he perks up a little and asks "Lann, did you say you live near hear?"
"Not a crusader..." Nazz quickly corrects. Her eyes widening and flickering about indicate how much those words were a reflex rather than something she actually wanted to say aloud.
Iradyiel looks at Nazz funny, as they walk toward Lann's home not a crusader, who is she kidding, I live with them, I know a crusader when I see one. she is the real deal, not a poser like half the pretty-boys who show up, Iradyiel smiles as he remembers picking the pocket of a poser earlier in the day.
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Half a days journey you finally reach Neatholm.
A small, dark lake ripples in the center of this two-hundred foot wide cavern, the walls and ceiling aglow with thick sheets of luminescent fungi. In the center of the lake, over two dozen low stone buildings cluster on a rocky one-hundred-foot-wide island. Lights glow in the windows of the buildings, giving the settlement an almost welcoming look. Rafts made of mismatched planks of timber bob along the length of a crooked pier at the lake's closest shore.
Lann: Welcome to Neatholm, my friends. It's not much but it's cozy. Heilyanka runs a small inn over there *points* and the chiefs house is there. Everyone here will be friendly, I promise. Crel and I will be spreading the word of what you've done. And your gold is as good here as top side. So enjoy yourselves.
Siff stands watching the other slice and dice the walking mushroom into spongy bits and pieces.
Absentmindedly shaking her hand at her side, she says to Iradyiel, "Well, that was fast..."
Collection her charge from Lann, she occasionally struggles to help the old man over the various obstacle in the tunnels. She sighs with relief as the town at the center of the lake appears.
"Ah, a soft bed would be very welcome...." she sighs.
Iradyiel, watching the fight happen so quickly he can only nod is head in agreement with Siffs comment, then he adds smiling, "Those are the best ones, as long as your on the winning side." when the fight is over he finishes removing the arms and armors and packing them up follows the mongrel men to their town.
As Iradyiel walks along carrying the arms and armor of the two dead cultists, he wonders why Nazz was so quick to defend them, She must be very black and whitehe ponders. As they approach the town he nods his head in agreement with Siff. A bed will be a pleasant surprise down here. When they find a place to settle he dumps the gear and says "I'm going to keep one of the masterwork chain shirts, does any one want anything else or can I sell it?"
"Many thanks. Just give me a nice floor to sleep on."
"I could probably make use of the armor. That one looks to have been about my size." Darya says. "Of course I'll have to clean that $#!+ off of it first."
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After some rest you are led to a humble cozy cottage where the leader of the Mongrelmen: Cheif Sull, sits next to a fire. He greets you warmly.
Chief Sull: Welcome, welcome heros! I have heard of your kindness to Lann and his friends. How you saved Crel from death and rid the tunnels of the spore-cougher. And I have also heard how you have found my son's brooch. I am deeply saddened by this news. Neverthless, I trust your stay here in Neatholm has been refreshing. Please tell me, how might i repay your kindness to the people of Neatholm?