One more time for good luck
Kyra
Her sword cuts deep, but not as deep as it appared leaving a small cut in the creature.
Alesie
Alesie tries again valiantly but luck is not on her side.
Kelden
Kelden’s blade flashes with a holy spark of fire as it cuts deep. It leaves a smoking gash behind.
Undead
Again the abomination bellows burned now it grows more aggressive focusing entirely on Kelden ”Un…believer” It gasps out as it crumbles to dust and ashes.
Treasure
This shrine was always humble, and little treasure can be found within save for that on the huecuva's body. A pouch on its belt contains two potions of cure light wounds, and on one withered hand it wears a knotted gold ring The priest's masterwork warhammer lies dusty on the ground, long forgotten.
Kelden froze for a moment as the creature's malevolent gaze focused on him... then it spoke and crumbled. He took a deep breath and looked to his companions. "That was not expected here, is everyone okay? He began as he closed with Farak already saying a little prayer to Sarenrae casting Cure light wounds
"Anything else to surprise us?" He wondered aloud.
"Thank you, friend, and well done," Farak says, nodding to Kelden.
"Yes, we live." Carilain gives a relieved smile. "Let's see what this old fellow has for us, beside murderous intent."
Casting detect magic Carilain checks the ancient body for loot.
Carilain holds up the warhammer. "This is an excellent weapon. Do you want it Farak?"
"Anyone?"
"If not I can certainly use it. It's not really my style, but there's no doubt, that it's an effective weapon."
"The goddess favors the scimitar, and it will be a weapon enough for me my friend." Kelden answered the elf with a smile. He took one last sweep of the room and then glanced to the others. "It saddens me a little to think, a temple like this, even to a god i care little for, lost and forgotten so. When we get to the surface and see some of its faithful we should let them know i think. Come lets see to getting a bit of something to eat and rest before continuing on." He tried to keep his thoughts from getting too morose and he certainly tried not to think of that local girl Ce-Eshna whom had befriended him so instead he focused on the memorized parables of his goddess hoping that gave him strength to see the light again.
"A warhammer is such an unwieldy weapon. No finesse possible with something like that, I'll pass Carilain it's all yours." Alesie replies.
Alesie sits down near Kelden pulling out a small piece of her rations and nibbles away.
I don't want to stay here longer then we have too.
After her small meal Alesie get up and paces worryingly near the exit to the temple.
"Desecrated by that foul abomination... Is there a way we could cleanse the foul taint that fills these halls?"
She looks to the dwarf. "In times as dark as these, small matter like cleansing a temple means even more. Its not as though rushing headlong to the surface would make a difference either."
She turns to Kelden, he voice little more than a whisper "We have no guarantee that there would be any of his faithful left when we reach the surface..."
"Yes this place would make a very comfortable hold out, who know what other dark vermin wander these caverns. If we cleanse this place then surly we could always come back here if the need arose."
"I Will do what i can to... sooth these halls, really you all should take a seat and get some rest then." The young cleric said taking a deep breath and looking about the room.
Kyra looks down at the remains of the dwarf with sadness as she sheathes her blade. "Perhaps we could find a spot to put these two to rest, while Kelden cleanses this hall? I agree this would indeed be an excellent hold out, Aravashnial."
She turns down the offer of the hammer. "I've no skill with such a weapon. I thank you though." She remembers the ruined buildings outside. "What if we use the stones outside to build a cairn over the bodies? Would any of you like to assist me? I could not imagine dying in such a place... with no one to know of your demise. We do not even know their names."
"Yes, I'll help you make the burial cairns." Carilain tells Kyra. Carilain's face is very sober. There is little arguing with Anevia's assessment of the situation. The loss of the great silver dragon was a bad omen to be sure.
"I suppose this place is a good spot to hold up for awhile. A sort of temporary base. Don't make yourselves too comfortable here, though." This comment is aimed at Aravashniel and Anevia. "We are not moles and we will find a way to the starlight. This underground is no place for me to live my life. I was meant to walk under trees, not stone!"
Kelden busies himself with cleaning the temple, straightening fallen benches, casting create water or mending to repair things where necessary, going over what he knows of Torag to attempt to reconsecrate it to that god. He had serious doubts Sarenrae would care for a temple so far from the sun's kiss. Finally he begins.
Silently agreeing with the rest, Farak sets to praying (and drinking) in honor of Cayden Cailean. He walks around, trying to remove the filth from the area as he goes.
I can honor my fallen brethren and the Lucky Drunk at the same time.
...I hope they know what they are doing.
Alesie sighs as the group discusses making camp here. "I will help Kyra." She responds. Something to keep my mind off of the mess we are in.
"Cayden Cailean? Is there a story there Farak or is it a simple enjoyment of the finer things in life? The young cleric asked, his tone clear that he was curious not judgemental. In his eyes the dwarf had certainly proven himself to this point enough it wasnt his place to judge anything. "Do you have family in the city above?" He added as they finished up the cleaning and consecration of the temple.
Farak looked at Kelden, ready to talk until the mention of his family. He became somewhat somber at that, but speaks anyway.
"My family has worshiped the Lucky Drunk for generations. We come from a tribe of dwarves who fight here at the Worldwound in honor of Cayden Cailean."
"As for family—I have none left. My father died while...fighting in the Worldwound." Farak pauses in the middle of that last sentence, like he wanted to say something different.
"It is only me now to carry on the memory of my family."
"I ...well..." The cleric paused and opened his mouth... then shut it again. "I am sorry for their passing, I didnt mean to dredge up old wounds. I usually ask such questions when getting to know someone, I was... raised by the temple from a babe back home. When we make it back to the surface I would gladly drink with you to their memories." He offered. smiling grimly. He had pictured that ... going somewhat different in his mind before he spoke.
Farak's prayers and worship rededicates this temple to Cayden Cailean. It was a long 8 hours of work clearing out the debris and remains from the temple and the immediate grounds. Kelden explores around the structure and finds little of interest. Though his exploration sheds some light upon the history of this building. A midst the rubble of one of the outbuildings he discovers a small leather bound journal.
This area was once a small shrine dedicated to Torag, tended by a hermetic priest who chose this location for a place of worship so as to be closer to "the Father of Creation's heart." Alas, after building the shrine and receiving no sign of gratitude from Torag, the priest lost his faith, cursed his god, and took his own life in spite.
You can safely assume that this act cursed him to unlife beyond death as a huecuva.
As the groups prayers come to an end a feeling of peace settles over the temple.
Carilain shakes his head sadly. "The 'Wound took my family too. That's why I'm here, instead of in Kyonin. We have a demon to battle there also, but I need to find out what happened to my father."
"We have all lost people to the Worldwound. The world has lost many great people here, and I have seen many friends enter to never return." Alesie solemnly adds, a tear falling from her eye as she recollects her life in Kenabres.
"I would be humbled if I could also join in that drink."
"I would be honored to drink with all of you and toast to those fallen. And I hold no ill will, Kelden, none at all. You were simply curious. Now, should we try to find a way out of here?"
"Let's see if our wounded need a longer rest. I for one have never dealt with a broken leg, i cant imagine the pain and effort Miss Anevia is going through. I havent used up all of The Dawnflowers blessings, we could probably continue on if we are careful."
The young cleric began He wasnt that tired, then again he was also reacting and working off of a highly stressful situation. While Adrenilin wasnt exactly coursing through his veins, he knew they might be pushing their boundaries... well the others boundaries... Dwarves were known for their determination and hardiness.
Perhaps we should just wait til everyone is rested up. I am not sure that the nine of us will turn the possible battle above one way or the other...but im not hard on that either."
"Rest may be a good idea. Should we setup a guard rotation? I can take first shift if we need." Alesie enquires.
Kyra agrees that while getting to the surface with all haste to assist in the battle is most important, she also concedes the injured will likely need rest. She joins the others as they talk, enjoying the chance to get to know her companions a little better.
"Perhaps we could have that drink tonight while we rest." she offers pleasantly. "I think we should gather as many of those glowing stones out there and bring them in the temple? Keep some light in this dark place. This oppressive darkness is beginning to make me feel a ill at ease, as if the weight of all the world above may suddenly collapse on us...."
With that she begins to unroll her bedroll and blanket. "I think a watch rotation would be a good idea, Alesie. Who knows if more of those giant insects will show up..." She shudders, thinking about the massive spider they saw...
If no one objects i would prefer the last shift. I will need the time to clear my mind and think on things, watching over everyone should help. I dont think we should bother the wounded with guard duty of course, perhaps we could do so in pairs as well we have six of us to pull the duty? He was honestly unfamiliar with such things, He almost colored when he realized how unprepared for this lifestyle he was. He thought he had known what he was getting into when he left the temple at home. He had discovered indeed it was something else entirely. It wasnt a bad thing though. "I will admit this situation has placed me in unfamiliar territory so if any have better ideas i am open to suggestions. He added with a soft smile.
Carilain frowns. "Pairs? That will make for long shifts." The elf's demeanor lightens. Two sets of eyes and ears are better than one, though. "I think standing watch in pairs is a good idea. I need time to study my book after I rest, so perhaps I should stand the last watch with you, Kelden."
Kyra and Allesie, Farak and Aurora, Myself and Carilain? In that order?" Kelden began looking amongst his allies. Without the stars and moon above it will be hard to get a good grasp of time but a few hours each shift should be sufficient i would imagine." He added waiting to see if that met with everyones agreement.
"Sounds resonable to me." Alesie responds, looking for a decent spot to begin her watch from.
"Aye, that sounds fine to me. I'll appreciate a bit of rest before my watch."
Kyra nods her agreement with Kelden's plan. "Sounds like an excellent plan, the rest of you get some sleep." 'If you can...' she finishes in her thoughts. Kyra was glad to have the first watch, hopefully by the time it was over she would be tired enough to sleep and she could chase away from of the demons flitting about her thoughts.
"Alesie, I'm going to go gather more of those glowing crystals and place them near the doors so we can see better in the event something makes its way in. I shall return in a few moments."
Kyra draws her scimitar and makes her way out the temple cautiously... she sends her dancing lights out to illuminate the cavern before stepping out, looking all around. As long as she does not see anything, the bard slips into the open and quickly gathers up a handful of the crystals.
Once she gathers what she determines to be enough crystals, Kyra heads back in pulling both sets of doors closed. She then splits the crystals into two piles and places a pile on either side of the doorway, providing a little illumination. She then returns to Alesie's side and lays her scimitar across her lap. "Are you from Kenabres originally, Alesie?"
"Good thinking Kyra, Not sure I want to be left gazing into darkness tonight."
"Kenabres has been home my whole life, I'm a Born and raised 'waller'" Alesie confirms.
"Never seen a demon breach those walls before though... oh goddess, I hope my family is okay." She adds, tears forming in her eyes as she comes to terms with the destruction they had witnessed briefly before falling into the cavern system. "Why would they do this?" the eerie silence of the cavernous system and the new thoughts finally breaking her self control.
A few minutes later Alesie is finally able to stop the tears. As she wipes the tears from her face she gazes into the darkness beyond the pale light given off by the crystals.
"This place is so different than Kenabres, how do people handle the quiet? Every step I take sounds like an ogre stamping around. I'm not sure I'm ready for this. Have you ever been someplace like this? You've never mentioned where your from." She asks Kyra.
For whatever reason, Kyra had thought Alesie from another land... she was very much caught off-guard when the young elf mentions being raised in Kenabres... Then Alesie brings up her family's safety and the half-elf mentally berated herself for such callousness.
When the tears and sobbing begins, Kyra inches closer to Alesie and hugs her close, letting her deal with her worry and pain without judgement. "I'm sure they will be okay, Alesie. Shhh... it's going to be okay." she whispers to her grieving companion.
Once Alesie regains her composure, Kyra watches her closely as the elf stares off into the darkness for a time. "I don't know, the silence is uncanny and I do not trust it. I have never been in such a place either, I miss feeling the warmth of my goddess upon my skin and the distant sounds of the surf, the cries of seagulls." She suddenly realizes she misses her own home very much. "I am from Orision, born and raised in the port city of Sothis. I miss it dearly now..."
She likewise stares off, letting her inner thoughts drift a moment before she takes Alesie's hand in her own, smiling at the elf. "I'm frightened as well, Alesie, but we must try to remain courageous in spite of our fear. The two of us must be strong for the men... they would likely lose faith without the two of us here." She grins, trying so very hard to put up a strong front for Alesie and to hide her own fears of the battle raging above them. "The Dawnflower will see us through this, I know she will..."
As the first shift prepared for their watch Kelden made sure to stop by their wounded companions to provide what aide he was able. He paused to channel a bit more of Sarenrae's holy light into those gathered nearby before he grabbed his pack and unrolled his bedroll before carefully removing his armor.
Kelden when he awoke stretched a bit and carefully donned his armor.He was quiet at the moment, a litany of prayers and sobering thoughts swam through his mind. "If you wish to study your book first caralain I will keep a strict watch on the door until you are finished." He offered. Normally he would have wanted to ask about the elven man and his family, his desires and his motavations but the morning (figuratively) seemed suited to silence.
When Caralain was finished Kelden returned to his bedroll and knelt on it. He opened himself to thoughts of his goddess and the light and he prayed for her to replenish his spells, so that they might aide him in furthering her light and glory. When he finished he took up station next to the elf. "I hope this day finds us above the ground. I want to fell the Dawnflower's kiss upon my skin." He said wistfully.
"That would be fine with me."Before he opens his book Carilain gets back into his own armor. If trouble does come it would be best to have it on. The elf keeps quiet s well. The others are trying to sleep and who knows what might be out there to be attracted by the sound of voices.
Carilain keeps on the lookout for trouble while Kelden prays for his spells.
Hargus seems to isolate himself though very vocal about the 'unacceptable' sleeping arrangements. Anevia and the elf keep mostly to themselves unless approached.
The evening passes by uneventfully, though any keeping watch outside the temple often heard the movement of creatures through the tunnels. Nothing ventured near the freshly rededicated temple however.
'Morning' greats you with stiff and sore muscles, dry mouthed and aching bellies. A bed and a proper meal would do you all good. Most of all for the wounded.
Kelden gently woke the group offering a quick smile for most, He actually paused beside his sister in Faith Kyra for another quick morning prayer. Faith had him believing they would make it out this morning. He made himself a quick meal of one of the trail rations they had found in that backpack as he silent watched every ready themselves for the ordeal. He payed almost double the attention to the wounded.
"As safe as this place feels at the moment, lets hope the cool air of the surface greets us tonight. He said loud enough for everyone to overhere as he finished packing his things into his pack. " Miss Anevia, how are the bindings on your leg? Do they need tightened?
Aravashnial are you ready to move? Goodman Hargus, I cry your pardon i didnt think of it at all yesterday in the chaos, I have a spare morningstar you can use in case we run into further trouble and we cant keep if from you all if you would like.
He grumbles about the morningstar but will accept it. "I'm useless with such crude weapons... However a rapier I can fight with."
Alesie wakes in the morning, stretching out the kinks from sleep. She takes a small nibble of a trail ration before walking towards Kelden and Carilain. "I think its about time we get out of this cave. I miss the sun."
In an attempt to make some relationship with the disgruntled man, Farak pulls out his father's cold iron rapier and hands it to Hargus.
"Be good to it my friend. This belonged to my father."
Kelden busied himself as preparations were made mostly with overlooking everyone. he smiled at the elf Alesie when she mentioned her... missing of the sun. "The light of the sun... that will fell nice won't it. Miss Alesie, Brother Farak, would you two be so kind as to lead us out, If you wouldnt mind Miss Kyra once more bringing up the rear. The sooner we get moving the sooner we take our city back." The young cleric began a bit sheepishly. It felt strange to him, this sudden well not surge but confidence he felt. The Dawnflower had to be looking over him.
and back into the dark. Goddess get me out of here soon.
Alesie nods at Kelden and exits the temple, quickly traversing the cavern back to the gap that had lead them into this room. Alesie quickly and silent exits back into the original tunnel, looking around for anything before quietly heading down to the south.
Carilain has some rations from his pack. the hardtack and jerky is tough and salty. He washes it down, with water from his bota. The water was tepid, but at least it was from a good spring he had found outside the city.
"We need to keep our eyes and ears alert for water. We can go without food for a while, but water will be something we need soon."
Kyra wakes with a start when Kelden rouses her from what had been fitful sleep plagued by nightmares... Her eyes lock with his and she sinks back down into her bedroll a moment. She joins him for prayer with a smile.
She joins the others with a cold meal of hard tack... sucking on the biscuits for a bit to soften it up enough to chew. The plan sounded splendid to her as any other plan. "I will gladly follow up the rear of the group." She nods her agreement with Cailain's assessment of their supplies. "Indeed, we'll need water to survive."
After their breakfast, Kyra gathers up her gear and slips her backpack up her shoulders and draws her scimitar. "Lead the way."
The passageway leading south continues for about 3,000 feet (at a speed of 15 feet, this takes about 40 minutes to navigate) before ending here after a gradual rise in elevation of 30 feet.
Surprisingly, nothing accosted you on your trek. Perhaps your luck will continue to hold.
Stone figures are carved into the walls of this cavern. Each depicts a different crusader clad in armor and wielding weapons, but their carved stone features contain expressions of sadness.
Kelden paused as they neared the statues. "This gets stranger and stranger. I know you can't see Aravashnial, but there are a series of stone figures carved along the wall here. They appear to be crusaders clad in armor and wielding weapons. Any idea whom they could be?" He asked the blind elf. His eyes ran along them carefully taking in the work and details in particular, mostly out of some curiosity. He was looking to see if he saw any religious symbols.