"Yes they are heading to some of the homes further out to get the local farmers and their families. I'll keep Wendy safe. Find anyone you can, we can't stay here we have to leave."
Krog, you are able to follow these tracks that lead you into the small wooded area. They lead you to a beautiful location you've enjoyed before, but something is different. You see a big caved in hole at your feet. It's too dark to see down there.
Image: Hole in ground
Scratching his head, Korg is thinking about his past visits to this tranquil oasis. “Do you ever remember seeing this here before? I don’t remember it being here...” Korg looks around to see if this looks like this hole was made by digging, a collapse, or just appeared.
You peer down the hole, your voice echoes down it. Your best guess is the hole is a collapse.
From deep into the hole you hear a voice echo in return, "Hello? Is anyone up there? Hello?" It's a woman's voice.
As Tazo looks down, you see that this hole goes deeper than your vision range allows.
Tazo calls back down the hole, "Yes, there's three of us up here. Is that you, Molly?"
Tazo will drop his backpack a few feet back of the hole and fly down to see if he can see anything.
"oh yes yes, thank the light dragons. I'm stuck down here, I can't crawl out. There are strange images down here too. Oh geez, do you know what is going on? Is Wendy ok? I heard a lot of thunder while stuck down here last night." The voice shouts.
Tazo, roll me a fly check please.
Once Korg hears the voice from below he begins to get his rope out. Upon seeing Tazo fly down he begins to coil the rope back up again. Mumbling to himself. “Oh, who needs rope anyway. Let me just fly on down there and save the day.”
Speaking back up; “Are you stuck in anyway? What is around you down there”
She shouts up, "No, I'm fine. I see an emblem of sorts and some very warn out mural of moles. It is so weird."
Tazo very carefully and clumsily, flaps his wings and slowly makes his way down the hole.
Tazo makes it down slowly. Bumping against a tree root or two as you go down. At first it is a struggle but once you get past a few roots you find yourself inside a cavern with smooth walls. It is dark and there are no places for torches. You find Molly. She is wearing a rather scandalous outfit with feathers in her hair as usual.
You peer around the room and you see a large emblem on the wall as well as a mural on one of the other walls of some creatures that look a lot like moles with long sharp claws. They are wearing clothes, just like you. They are depicted as standing tall and proud, almost like a military would when getting painted. The imagery seems to be faded, probably due to the pigmentation fading over the years.
Molly watches you land. You recognize her better now, Sara told you about how she more recently developed a blindness but can see in the dark up to 30 feet. Sara called it a blessing and was telling you guys about how she was going to help her unleash her magic, just like she did for you.
NPC: Molly
As Molly begins to talk about the emblem and a mural, Korg begins to set up his trappling hook and rope and begins to climb down to see what she was all talking about.
“Coming on down.”
Lucas sighed, and then cast a Light spell on his hat and followed Korg down the rope. He disliked climbing, almost as much as he disliked being stuck in the dark with no light.
Climb:
You both make it down and see the same thing as decrbibed before.
Tazo looks around the room with a bit of awe. If we weren't just attacked, this would be really interesting.
He then focuses back to the task at hand. "Are you all right, Molly? How did you end up down here. We found Wendy wandering the streets after the attack. She's all right. She's with Elder Eden at the moment. We're gathering everyone at the town center."
”Well, that’s interesting,” Lucas said, glancing at the imagery, ”I do wonder, how long this has been down here...”
Perception:
Sense motive:
"Attacks? What attacks? Wendy was in the streets? OMG I should have never. What is going on?" She sighs "This hole opened up under my feet last night while I was taking a stroll through the woods."
Climbing down into the darkness Korg begins to think that he should have lit a torch, thankfully Lucas is on it. “Thank you for the light!”
Once they reach the bottom Korg looks around taking in everything he sees. Pointing at the Emblem Korg says; “That is interesting, I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this before... Lucas.. Tazo.. Have you?”
Korg does not see anything or suspect any danger with that perception. You examine the emblem and you get a strange sense about it but you can't put your finger on it. You think that this emblem closely represents a claw, very similiar to the moles in the mural. Korg can't really sense anything from Molly at this time.
To Korg and Lucas, "It is all quite interesting and may warrant a trip back here one of these days, but we've got a village to tend to." Turning back to Molly, "Shall we get you out of here so you can see your daughter. She's awfully worried about you."
"Yes, let's be off," Lucas said, ready to leave.
Climb, for when we leave:
“Sounds like a great plan. Get Molly back to safety and her daughter before checking out this area more.”
Molly asks, "Um, you boys wouldn't happen to have anything I can wear? I am not sure this is appropriate." She blushes.
”Well, I doubt anyone’s in much of a position to be judging fashion choices, given the circumstances,” Lucas said, in an attempt at lightheartedness, ”But, if it helps any, take this,” he removed his cloak and offered it to her. He doubted anyone was going to have a full spare set of clothes lying around, at the moment. He briefly considered inquiring further as to what she’d actually been doing out here, but, that just seemed like unnecessary prying, for now.
She takes the cloak and begins to fashion it on herself.
Looking her up and down Korg speaks up as she wraps herself up in Lucas’ cloak. “If you don’t mind me asking, why are you dress up this way? Come to think of it, why are you out here, and what did you mean by “I should have never”?
She let's out a deep sigh. "I've been seeing a man I met a few weeks back. We've been meeting here nightly. I feel ashamed. We were together and the earth shook and this hole appeared. I fell down and couldn't see his face anymore but I got a feeling he didn't care. I called out to him but he never came. I am a fool. Morning came and here you guys are rescuing me. You said the village was attacked? By what? Oh thank god Wendy is OK. I need to get back." She appears to be very upset with herself.
"The attackers were dragons, apparently. Sara mentioned one in particular, named... Zog?" Lucas said, "But yes, let's be off. There's likely more survivors in need of assistance."
He moves to leave the pit, all too happy to get out of the place.
"You'll hear more about the attack once everyone is gathered at town center. Prepare yourself, the damage is quite devastating. Let's get out of this hole so you can be with your daughter."
Before heading up, Tazo takes another quick glance around this place interested in what it might have been at one time, but knowing this is not the time to investigate such things.
Molly accepts any assistance you provide to get up the rope and out of the hole.
Korg begins to climb up the rope.
Making no progress Korg looks around and wipes off his hands; “This darn dampness....” He tries again.
Climbing out of the hole Korg begins to look around; “Is there anything around here that we can block this off? I would hate for someone else to fall down into this...”
"I doubt there's much point, not like anyone's going to be hanging around here anytime soon, considering that if all goes well, everyone will be on their way to Camlon soon," Lucas noted, "In any case, we had best get back to the village."
Once out of the hole and back to the village, Tazo will make a quick walk around the village to make sure all the survivors make it to town center.
Perception
Korg Raknian
Tazo Stalgrero
Lucas Aspar
You are being ambushed and did not see it coming! There is a surprise round and the creatures get to act.
Something very tiny tries to bite Korg FF AC 16
Miss
Initiative
Korg Raknian
Tazo Stalgrero
Lucas Aspar
Creatures
Combat Tracker
Round 1
18.04 - Lucas Aspar
12.02 - Creatures
09.01 - Tazo Stalgrero
05.02 - Korg Raknian
---Round End---
No one has Knowledge Nature so you're unable to identify these creatures.
Up first, Lucas!
"Bloody hell..." Lucas muttered, before using Conjurer's Focus to summon a celestial eagle into J13. Flanking the creature in K13, the eagle attacked.
Bite Attack:
Bite Damage:
Crit Confirm:
Crit Damage:
Talon Attack:
Talon Damage:
Talon Attack 2:
Talon Damage 2:
Lucas, tapped Molly on her shoulder, "So, uh, dunno how well you see or not, but it seems we're under attack. I'd suggest keeping back..." he said, as he moved to N13. After all, she was functionally blind, wasn't she?
The eagle bites the thing, but does not crit due to not flanking and partial cover bonus. However, it falls to the ground. The eagle follows it with a talon and finishes it off completely.
The tiny tries to bite Molly FF AC 10
Miss
The other tiny creature moves in to attack the eagle and will provoke.
x2/20
Hits
piercing, bludgeoning, slashing damage
This creature falls to the ground as well.
Up next, Tazo!
"We don't have time for this." Tazo draws his mace, takes a 5' step toward the creature on Molly (L-11), and swings with both hands.
Tazo strikes at the last creature and knocks it down to the ground, even if it had cover. The creatures may or may not be dead. Out of combat!
"Thank you, you're right! We don't have time for this." Molly steps on one of the creatures and begins walking towards the village.
As you all arrive you can see the village is more calm and everyone seems to be gathered at the center. They are strapping on backpacks, loading carts and prepping horses to pull carts.
Councilor Phanz approaches you. Usually his feathers are bright and vibrant but today they seem dim. "We are so happy to see you Molly, Wendy is over there with Polla." Molly rushes off to get Wendy and you can see them reunite.
Before any of you can react all the council members approach you. You don't see Sara. Marnate half smiles before he speaks, "I have a feeling you know now. That something is different. Tell me, what do you know?"
Lucas quickly makes sure that the creatures are dead with his dagger. No sense in leaving them alive to cause trouble later.
Lucas looked at the council member blankly, "You have a feeling we know what, exactly?" he asked, "Still no sign of Sara?"
Marnate looks over at Lucas. "I have a feeling you've been contacted or at least informed. We are curious to learn what you know. We sense Sara is still alive but she is missing without a word."
"Well, that's unfortunate," said Lucas, "Prior to her disappearance, she suggested we get everyone to Camlon. It seems as good a destination as any, given the circumstances."
"Yes that is a wise decision." Marnate pauses, "But there's something else isn't there."
"Well, sounds like you already know," Lucas observed, "But, yes, she also informed us that the attacker was some dark dragon named Zog. She suggested that after Camlon, we travel to Nanai, to get the Earth Key for whatever reason... and said that you folks could tell us more about it."
All the council members gasp when you say Dark Dragon Zog. You can tell they are confused and apparently don't know what is going on. Elder Eden responds to Lucas, "She must have had a vision and didn't have time to tell us. We were hoping the Dark Dragons were no longer." She lets out a big sigh.
"If Sara told you to get the Earth Key, then we are in big trouble. The Earth Key was used to lock the Goddess Tyr away. There are seven of them locked away and guarded. She must be worried about them. Does Zog intend to let the Goddess Tyr out? Why would he want that, she would destroy everything."
Polla follows up with, "Perhaps you should head to Camlon before us to let them know we are arriving. We will only slow you down. Sara trusts you three and we will too."
"Any idea who we should contact in Camlon? Or where in Nanai the Earth Key might be found, and what we should do with it, once we have it?" Lucas inquired.
Tazo nods at Elder Eden and Polla, "Before we set off ahead, is there anything else here you need help with?"
As an after thought, Tazo scratches out in the dirt a crude sketch of the Emblem we found in the hole, "Does this mean anything to any of you?"
Not being the best in social settings and remembering what was said about being careful of who we should and should not trust, Korg tries to get a read on the council members as Lucas and Tazo fill them in on what we have learned.
Luke begins to answer your questions, "I think King Randall will be open to receiving us. The key is said to be hidden in the underground vaults that the Sect guard. They should be able to get you in the right direction. I do not know what Sara wants you to do with the key, but if she wants you to get it, perhaps she fears someone else is trying to get them all."
Luke looks at the crude drawing and says, "That Tazo, is the symbol of the mole people. We have not seen or heard from them since the last war. They played a huge part in our victory last time. Where did you find that?"
Korg can believe what he wishes.
"We found the symbol in a sinkhole in the woods. Molly 'stumbled' across it. There is a mural too. What happened to the mole people after the war?"