Isaac shakes the Captain's hand, his Cager accent creeping back in.
"Glad to meet yeh, Cap'n. Our thanks fer the warm welcome. How long has Crux been here? And what can yeh tell us about yer high-up man, Mr. Mov?"
Captain F'Moil shakes his back
"I hear a bit of Cage Rattle in yer tone, Ser Issac. As for Veridis, he's not legally our high-up man, but he's the one who gets things done around here. He's a good man, and I'm sure he'll be able to help us sort these prisoners out."
Patiently, he tries to answer the former slaves' questions as simply as he can.
"Ye're all very far from home, though ye may be able to go back as soon as we figure a way. This is Crux, which sits on the world ash, Yggdrasil- the tree may connect teh yer homelands. I'm sorry to say it, but the lizards what enslaved yeh used a magic device to pull the Beauty outta you 'n bottle it fer sale."
The group mutters and glowers, taking the time to examine themselves in a large mirror that is against one wall. Captain F'Moil begins barking orders.
"RIGHT! Those of you that lived on the planes head to my left. Those who lived on the Prime, head to my right. Try and group up according to specific destinations. We have several dozen portals near our burg an' we can get you started along your journey. If you wish, we always have work to do here, and we can find places for you to stay if that is what you would prefer."
The group begins separating according to destinations
Merle lets Isaac do the talking whilst she does her best to keep people calm.
Merle, Seph and Pounce do their best on crowd control. When Seph asks about Krigala, Captain F'Moil nods
"Aye lad, Krigala has a port nearby. Not more than a day's travel along one of the branches. "
Pounce looks relieved
Merle lets Isaac do the talking whilst she does her best to keep people calm.Merle, Seph and Pounce do their best on crowd control. When Seph asks about Krigala, Captain F'Moil nods
"Aye lad, Krigala has a port nearby. Not more than a day's travel along one of the branches. "
Pounce looks relieved
Seph is a little disappointed that pounce will be leaving so soon but does his best to not show it. "I guess you'll be wanting to leave soon then?".
Quinn watches the former slaves file off, lost in thought. "Say, Karrin, is there some way to send messages back to Oerth? I was thinking I should spend more time out here in the multiverse. A pilgrimage with no true destination, if you felt poetic. I just thought I better send word back to the church."
I don't want you guys to feel bad, but there really is no mechanism to restore all of them without draining a bunch of other folks[/ooc]
Justin remains unusually quiet on the brief journey. He seems constantly distracted and preoccupied. When asked about it he just snorts and mutters, "I don't like losing. I know that there's a way to restore them, but,..." He halfheartedly gestures towards whatever direction 'up' happens to be at that moment on the branch, then continues chewing his lip in thought.
Isaac nods at the Captain's observation.
"Aye, been a Cager goin' on ten years or so now. I keep clear o' the Cant fer formal greetin's and the like. Originally, though, I'm a native o' the World Ash. My dear ma is still up in Ashbough. Chant from the ratatosk is there've been some disturbances on the Tree lately. Yeh seen anythin' unusual of late, Cap'n?"
Ekuur tries to gather around the folks who listened to him earlier, to send them off with one final blessing of the Sacred Flame. He'll also mention where his church in Sigil is, in case any make their way there and wish to stop by. "You're always welcome!" he exclaims.
Seph is a little disappointed that pounce will be leaving so soon but does his best to not show it. "I guess you'll be wanting to leave soon then?".
Pounce runs up and pounce-hugs Seph
"Silly boy! I need to find my family! But you can tell me where you live, and someday I'll come visit when I'm older!"
Yeh seen anythin' unusual of late, Cap'n?"
Captain F'Moil pauses and looks around at the chaotic scene.
"This may not be the place to discuss this Ser Issac, but there have been some things. Perhaps you, me and Veridis can find a moment together?"
Ekuur tries to gather around the folks who listened to him earlier, to send them off with one final blessing of the Sacred Flame. He'll also mention where his church in Sigil is, in case any make their way there and wish to stop by. "You're always welcome!" he exclaims.
A few of the listeners agree and ask Ekuur some questions on how to properly reverence the Sacred Flame. A few mention they'd like to get to Sigil. One homely tiefling man named Nubbin pipes up:
"I'll be yer acolyte ser! I was born in the Lower Ward, sos I'll be heading back to the Cage once I find me pportal!"
Seph is a little disappointed that pounce will be leaving so soon but does his best to not show it. "I guess you'll be wanting to leave soon then?".Pounce runs up and pounce-hugs Seph
"Silly boy! I need to find my family! But you can tell me where you live, and someday I'll come visit when I'm older!"
Seph goes a little red faced "S-sure m-me and Merle live on Sigil at the copper cauldron.
Yeh seen anythin' unusual of late, Cap'n?"Captain F'Moil pauses and looks around at the chaotic scene.
"This may not be the place to discuss this Ser Issac, but there have been some things. Perhaps you, me and Veridis can find a moment together?"
Isaac nods quickly.
"Aye aye, I'll bar that, cutter."He settles in with his comrades, letting the Captain take over our former charges.
Ekuur tries to gather around the folks who listened to him earlier, to send them off with one final blessing of the Sacred Flame. He'll also mention where his church in Sigil is, in case any make their way there and wish to stop by. "You're always welcome!" he exclaims.A few of the listeners agree and ask Ekuur some questions on how to properly reverence the Sacred Flame. A few mention they'd like to get to Sigil. One homely tiefling man named Nubbin pipes up:
"I'll be yer acolyte ser! I was born in the Lower Ward, sos I'll be heading back to the Cage once I find me pportal!"
Ekuur looks the fiendspawn up and down, trying to assess his motives.
sense motive
"If you want me and Seph will walk you to the portal when your ready to go." Merle tells Pounce
Assuming she can get Justin by himself Merle decides to have a quick word with him about the vials. "I think it may be best to keep quite about them." she informs him "With only 5 vials and 90 people needing it we may have a brawl on our hands if we announce that we have them."
Assuming she can get Justin by himself Merle decides to have a quick word with him about the vials. "I think it may be best to keep quite about them." she informs him "With only 5 vials and 90 people needing it we may have a brawl on our hands if we announce that we have them."
Justin looks back at the dispersing crowd, growls something unintelligible, but nods (reluctantly) in agreement.
"Probably. Ah, Bahumut. Who am I kidding? Definitely." Justin admits with a smirk.
"Alright. We'll keep it quiet. For now." Justin murmurs.
"He totally seems sincere," Karrin says as she slaps Ekuur on the back, "besides us tieflings aren't hurt by fire as much as you mortals are. I bet he'd be real useful at some sort of ceremony or whatever!"
Rhiannon tries to make herself useful as the group carries out their businesss.
Rhiannon tries to make herself useful as the group carries out their businesss.
Merle heads over to Rhiannon and begins to help her out with whatever task she is doing "So your name was Rhiannon right? I'm Merle pleased to meet you."
Justin idly follows Karrin and Isaac, watching as the town guard takes command of the situation. He asks Isaac a question when they are not likely to be overheard.
"Isaac, is it common for a town guard on the Tree to be so,... efficient? I've seen a few towns, some had nothing resembling an organized guard, and some that had a militia, but these guys are more like an actual troop."
Justin idly follows Karrin and Isaac, watching as the town guard takes command of the situation. He asks Isaac a question when they are not likely to be overheard.
"Isaac, is it common for a town guard on the Tree to be so,... efficient? I've seen a few towns, some had nothing resembling an organized guard, and some that had a militia, but these guys are more like an actual troop."
He shrugs.
"Depends on the burg and what portals it's near, cutter. A town near the Upper Planes might reckon they don't need much in the way of local law, whereas a burg with a portal to the sodding Abyss on their doorstep likely needs a serious militia... and even then it's a barmy place to put a town. Yggdrasil's got all sorts on its branches- it pays to keep an eye toward security."
Rhiannon tries to make herself useful as the group carries out their businesss.Merle heads over to Rhiannon and begins to help her out with whatever task she is doing "So your name was Rhiannon right? I'm Merle pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine Merle." Rhiannon says with a sincere smile. "I don't know how I would have gotten out of there on my own. So are you all a mercenary group?"
"Yeah pretty much Our boss tends to send us out on the odd job and such Although admittedly we kind of just stumbled into this one."
Ekuur tries to gather around the folks who listened to him earlier, to send them off with one final blessing of the Sacred Flame. He'll also mention where his church in Sigil is, in case any make their way there and wish to stop by. "You're always welcome!" he exclaims.A few of the listeners agree and ask Ekuur some questions on how to properly reverence the Sacred Flame. A few mention they'd like to get to Sigil. One homely tiefling man named Nubbin pipes up:
"I'll be yer acolyte ser! I was born in the Lower Ward, sos I'll be heading back to the Cage once I find me pportal!"
"I am always willing to train a new servant of the Sacred Flame. You may come after you've had a chance to settle back in, and if I am not yet returned, there are three lower priests who can begin your training. Ask for ."
"Yeah pretty much Our boss tends to send us out on the odd job and such Although admittedly we kind of just stumbled into this one."
"If this is the kind of thing you do regularly, it sounds like rewarding work."
"Well I wouldn't say it happens all that regularly but yeah helping people like this is quite rewarding."
"Don't let her natural modesty fool you. We do this sort of thing ALL the time! Not always as well-planned, but it usually works out in the end." Justin says with a smirk, then sticks out his hand.
"Sorry, I was, distracted earlier. Justin, Justin Case. Pleased to meet you."
Rhiannon takes the proferred hand with a warm smile and shakes it with a combination of strength and surprising grace.
"A pleasure to meet you as well. I think I would enjoy working with you all, that is if you would have me."
Ekuur looks the fiendspawn up and down, trying to assess his motives.
sense motive 1d20+10
Ekuur senses nothing awry, except that this man seems to be searching for direction
"I am always willing to train a new servant of the Sacred Flame. You may come after you've had a chance to settle back in, and if I am not yet returned, there are three lower priests who can begin your training. Ask for ."
Seph goes a little red faced "S-sure m-me and Merle live on Sigil at the copper cauldron.Seph is a little disappointed that pounce will be leaving so soon but does his best to not show it. "I guess you'll be wanting to leave soon then?".Pounce runs up and pounce-hugs Seph
"Silly boy! I need to find my family! But you can tell me where you live, and someday I'll come visit when I'm older!"
Pounce twitches her tail playfully
"I'll remember Seph."
The hundred-odd newcomers have attracted some of the townspeople. The guard captain F'Moil tasks a few of them to take various of the former prisoners to their homes or out to nearby gates. Soon only a handful are left in the hall.
A handsome man with shoulder-length blonde hair arrives. Clad in a simple white linen shirt and buckskin pants, he walks over to Captain F'Moil and discusses something in low tones with him. Captain F'Moil points to Issac. The blonde man walks up to Issac, with the guardsman following. He sticks out his hand and speaks in a deep voice
"Ser ..Issac? My name is Veridis Mov. A pleasure to meet you. Is this your group?"
Isaac shakes the offered hand and responds with a smile.
"Aye, Ser, I'm Isaac and we're the Silver Rose company outta Sigil. I'm sure they'll wish to introduce themselves. Glad t'meet you, Ser. Captain F'Moil's been a great help takin' charge o' the situation here; yeh've got a competent Watch here, if yeh don't mind my sayin' so."
Rhiannon takes the proferred hand with a warm smile and shakes it with a combination of strength and surprising grace.
"A pleasure to meet you as well. I think I would enjoy working with you all, that is if you would have me."
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that I'm sure the boss will be happy to have you." Merle then heads back over to pounce "So when do you want to leave?"
Isaac shakes the offered hand and responds with a smile.
"Aye, Ser, I'm Isaac and we're the Silver Rose company outta Sigil. I'm sure they'll wish to introduce themselves. Glad t'meet you, Ser. Captain F'Moil's been a great help takin' charge o' the situation here; yeh've got a competent Watch here, if yeh don't mind my sayin' so."
Veridis smiles as he shakes Issac's hand
"Captain F'Moil is an excellent Watch Captain, and an excellent carpenter as well. We are very proud of our watch, as they have defended us since we founded this town over two centuries ago."
"So when do you want to leave?"
Pounce looks up at Merle
"Oh, as soon as I find the portal I should find my family. I have been gone at least a month. They've probably said my Frreow'l rites already even without evidemce of my death."
Assuming she finds the portal easily enough Merle and Seph both walk Pounce there.
Assuming she finds the portal easily enough Merle and Seph both walk Pounce there.
After asking one of the guardsman, they get directions to a portal to Krigala about four hours walk from town. Pounce and the two siblings decide to wait until morning to do the walk
In the morning, the three set out. They walk along a smooth channel worked into Yggdrasil's craggy bark, taking side branches here and there as their directions indicate.
After four hours they come to a four-meter diameter side branch without its own gravity center. Fifty meters up this (relatively) small branch is a green-colored portal. Pounce hugs Seph and Merle.
"Thank you so much for all you have done for me. I will not forget you."
The small Catfolk female clambers up the branch and enters the portal, waving one last time before she disappears into the green pool. Seph and Merle get a quick glance of a sun-drenched savannah before the green color returns to the portal.
Assuming she finds the portal easily enough Merle and Seph both walk Pounce there.
After asking one of the guardsman, they get directions to a portal to Krigala about four hours walk from town. Pounce and the two siblings decide to wait until morning to do the walk
In the morning, the three set out. They walk along a smooth channel worked into Yggdrasil's craggy bark, taking side branches here and there as their directions indicate.
After four hours they come to a four-meter diameter side branch without its own gravity center. Fifty meters up this (relatively) small branch is a green-colored portal. Pounce hugs Seph and Merle.
"Thank you so much for all you have done for me. I will not forget you."
The small Catfolk female clambers up the branch and enters the portal, waving one last time before she disappears into the green pool. Seph and Merle get a quick glance of a sun-drenched savannah before the green color returns to the portal.
Seph waves back as Pounce disappears sad to see Pounce go but at the same time happy that she is going home to see her family.
Merle waves along with Seph having a fairly good idea what Seph is thinking Merle decides to cheer him up some more "Don't worry Seph we know where she lives now so I'm sure we could go visit her at some point in fact next time we get some extended leave lets go do that."
Seph happily nods before turning to head back to town where the others are.
Isaac shakes the offered hand and responds with a smile.
"Aye, Ser, I'm Isaac and we're the Silver Rose company outta Sigil. I'm sure they'll wish to introduce themselves. Glad t'meet you, Ser. Captain F'Moil's been a great help takin' charge o' the situation here; yeh've got a competent Watch here, if yeh don't mind my sayin' so."Veridis smiles as he shakes Issac's hand
"Captain F'Moil is an excellent Watch Captain, and an excellent carpenter as well. We are very proud of our watch, as they have defended us since we founded this town over two centuries ago."
"Two centuries. Don't that beat all. Forgive me, cut- er, Ser, for rushin' to the heart o' the matter, but we heard Chant from the ratatosk there was some distressin' things goin' around in the World Ash o' late. I want to get the Dark of it, so I wonder if yeh've noticed anythin' odd yerself lately? I'm sure we're all eager for a rest and a brew after dealin' with them Khaasta, but it's pressin' in on my brainbox."
... Forgive me, cut- er, Ser, for rushin' to the heart o' the matter, but we heard Chant from the ratatosk there was some distressin' things goin' around in the World Ash o' late. I want to get the Dark of it, so I wonder if yeh've noticed anythin' odd yerself lately? I'm sure we're all eager for a rest and a brew after dealin' with them Khaasta, but it's pressin' in on my brainbox."
Veridis smiles
"Why can't we combine the two? We have a small local nearby, The King's Table, where you can get a pint and maybe we can have a palaver."
He turns to Captain F'Moil
"Captain, why don't you see to the remaining refugees? I am sure we can find suitable sleeping arrangements for them until we can get them home."
He looks at Issac and the party
"I'll stand the first round if any of you would like to come."
Veridis walks through the small burg. Passers by greet him, and he returns their greetings with an easy grace. He seems to be well-regarded, but not deferred to as a burgomeister would. He leads the party to a large tavern.
Inside is a fantasy in polished wood: The walls, the supports, the ceiling are a complicated swirling fractal of carvings. The tables are carved out of the floor, in a naturalistic flattish mushroom shape. Various townsfolk and a few obvious out-of-towners drink and mutter amongst themselves.
Veridis acknowledges a hail of welcomes as he enters. He leads the party to a small private room. A pretty dark-haired female human serves up whatever the party members wish. Veridis guestures for them to be seated.
"Well, first off, I should thank you for cleaning out that khaasta nest. It has been an annoyance for years. Secondly, I am more than happy to discuss what I know"
He becomes solemn, his narrow face losng all its former happy animation.
"A few seasons back, something ... bad ... paid a visit to our town. I can't really tell you what it was. Whatever it was, it dwelt among us in secret, only revealing itself by the ominous feeling we got from its presence. Eventually, it moved on, but some of us believe it hasn't left the area quite yet. Every so often the feeling returns. Also, since that time a small but signifigant number of our townsfolk have gone barmy for no particular reason. It is quite worrisome."
Veridis looks about the table.
"We Crux folk have a familiarity with evil: you could say it is our dark inheritance. We are decendants of a few refugees that fled here from a doomed world called Ranais. That world still exists, in fact, you have to travel to it to get to the closest portal to Sigil. However, it is a dead, or should I say, undead, world. The sun has been transformed into a star of evil: Necrosol. Undead of every stripe haunt the ruins of Ranais' cities. "
Veridis looks grave, the sharp angles of his cheekbones shadowed in the firelight from the large hearth in the room
"My greatest fear is that something has bypassed the wards set up at the portal to haunt us from our ancestor's evil past."
Inside is a fantasy in polished wood: The walls, the supports, the ceiling are a complicated swirling fractal of carvings. The tables are carved out of the floor, in a naturalistic flattish mushroom shape. Various townsfolk and a few obvious out-of-towners drink and mutter amongst themselves.
Quinn smiles and inspects the table. "Magic was used to warp the wood into this shape, correct? It seems a tad... excessive to do all this by hand."
"My greatest fear is that something has bypassed the wards set up at the portal to haunt us from our ancestor's evil past."
Quinn's face turns serious. "I'll find what was drawn here, if it truly exists. What have you learnt of this evil spirit so far?"
Isaac listens closely before taking a pull at his beer.
"On our way up the trunk, we penned a ghoulish thing in the deadbook. The ratatosk said they'd never seen it's like before; some skeletal apparition of autumn. They've also said Yggdrasil is infected with a "warpwood". I told 'em I'd take a look into it 'fore we give this place the laugh."
He turns to Justin, Quinn, Merle, Nari- any of the spellcasters.
"I got practical knowledge o' planar theory, but I'd tumble to havin' a scholar's take on the subject if any o' ye cutters want to take a look."
Isaac takes a hearty swig of his drink and runs down the evidence on his fingers.
" 'fore we met ye, Veridis and ye Quinn, Rhiannon, we had a bit o' palaver with the Norns- the sisters o' fate, if ye would. Each of us got different Chant, but they tell me not to lose sight o' the big picture. So far we know..."
One finger.
"Maanzecorian, Illithid power o' secrets was penned in the deadbook; floats in the Astral now with the other dead Powers."
Two fingers.
"Yggdrasil's infected with somethin' foul- undead show up on the branches more common-like."
Three fingers.
"A foul presence takes up kip here in Crux, drives folk barmy, leaves a pall over the town."
He drums three fingers on the table.
"Rule of Three, unless I've missed somethin' in the account. I'd reckon the last two are related; not sure if the dead Power has any stake in it yet."
He downs the rest of his beer, staring into the empty tankard as if expecting to find something there.
Quinn smiles and inspects the table. "Magic was used to warp the wood into this shape, correct? It seems a tad... excessive to do all this by hand."
Veridis smiles
"We are a society defined by wood and it uses, Ser Ardensier. Most of this was carved, but I am sure that the Woodworkers' Guild uses some magic in their carving process."
Quinn's face turns serious. "I'll find what was drawn here, if it truly exists. What have you learnt of this evil spirit so far?"
Veridis grows solemn again
'I am afraid what I have told you is all we know. We don't spend a lot of time delving into evil and its manifestations. We are very leery of such things given our history. However, you folks asked, and you seem a well-experienced group. I can tell you that there have been more reports of evil things traversing the Big Bark, and as I said, the feeling of evil's presence comes and goes here."
He looks about, and lowers his voice
"It is my guess that whatever the thing is, it can use the many gates we have near our town. Perhaps it has a lair nearby or something of that nature."
"Rule of Three, unless I've missed somethin' in the account. I'd reckon the last two are related; not sure if the dead Power has any stake in it yet."
He downs the rest of his beer, staring into the empty tankard as if expecting to find something there.
Veridis frowns
"I certainly hope the third is not associated, Ser Issac. For if it is, I fear that anything that could pen a power in the dead book will be far and away too powerful for any mortal agency to deal with."
Seph happily nods before turning to head back to town where the others are.
Merle examines the portal for a moment to ascertain if it is two way or not before heading after Seph