As the dust clears, and your breathing settles after the life or death struggle, you see the nest of the rebel leader is filled with boxes, crates, and chests of all sorts.
The fallen firebrand carries a fine rapier, wears a fancy chain shirt, a belt pouch filled with coins, and 2 potions on his belt.
There does not seem to be any other creatures, friend or foe, in the warren of rat nests.
Devan sampled the potions to see what they might contain, helping to loot the fallen wererat leader after calling out the all-clear to Mirela.
Leaving the others to determine if Gerrigz' gear was magical or mundane, the musician started looking through the boxes and crates before suddenly stopping, realizing these things likely belonged to the entire wererat colony/village thing they had going on in the sewers. Addressing everyone, he said, "Blood was spilled, but ultimately we held up our end of the bargain. Want to check out that chamber to the south? Or leave things alone and go collect from our new allies?"
The professor will cast a dweomer to discern the aura of magical items.
As the sounds of combat end and she starts to hear the group going through boxes Mirela returns.
As Devan asks his question Mirela looks at the wererat's body and shakes her head.
If we do just leave, when they find that, any of the rats left will be assuming we came down 'ere just to be killing them. That would just be making more of them think we 'ate them. Then more may rebel while the city do need all of us to be working together.
The City do be in tough patch to hoe. If one 'orse do be pulling the wrong way on the plow, the field may never be ready.
As she looks over the party and sees how hurt Whisper is she continues.
Before we do be doing anything, gather around me and I will try to 'eal your 'urts.
When the others are gathered she channels Erastil's blessing
HP to everyone.
Twilight looked on with surprise at Atticus' ferocity as he drove his weapon through the wererat. "Who knew he was capable of such brutality"
"We should probably leave the bodies here. Maybe tidy them up a bit and then just inform their leader of what happened and let them sort out the rest."
The foe vanquished in satisfactory gory fashion, Nargun rest a little against the wall, calming himself
He can't help but let a whistle of appreciation for the professor's strike.
That was a nice one, really.
Devan basked in the divine glow of Mirela's patron as the healing energy washed over all of the group, sealing up what remained of his dire injuries in the fight with Gerrigz. Such feats were becoming so commonplace that the bard could believe that a person could think of it as almost mundane. He was determined to not do so, as every bit of the supernatural healing was a gift in their fight against the dark forces in the City.
As the others complimented the professor on his brutal end to the fight, Devan gave him a pat on the shoulder with a smile to show his appreciation also. Looking about at the carnage, the musician said, "Let's go check out that southern, half-hidden chamber. If there are more in there, we want to make sure we prepare them for what they'll see when they enter the main area."
If the others agreed, the bard led them to the half-hidden entrance, ducking down and looking into the room from their side while calling out, "Hello?"
The smell of newly mown hay fills the underground room as Mirela channels the power of her god, Erastil, god of the pastoral. Most have their wounds bound by the healing magic, and after Devan has little trouble identifying the two found potions. One is a moderate healing potion, and the other is known to give the imbiber more endurance and fortitude for a short period.
Meanwhile, Atticus finds that the chain shirt and the rapier are also magical and determines their properties to better harm or protect the wearer or user, as needed. There was also 230gp of coins in Girrigz purse.
Giving the crates and boxes scattered around the room only a cursory glance, the group works their way back to the unexplored chamber in the south. Devan pokes his nose around the edge, and calls out. To his great surprise, he hears the sound of guttural and loud snoring coming from the filthy stream that courses through the area. To the left of the opening, which is closed off on both ends by iron bars, is the hulking shape of a sleeping otyugh, which appears to be trapped inside the large pen.
"Another one? How common are these things down here? Twilight whispered in disgust at the sight of the abomination.
"We need to either kill it or let it free, if it stays trapped it is just going to get hungry and smash its way to the surface like the other one did."
While keeping one eye on the caged creature, Mirela looks around to see if there are signs of any more wererats.
Besides the tracks and evidence in the warren itself, there are no signs of any wererats in the otyugh pen itself nor in the immediate vicinity outside.
Devan eyed the sleeping beast with disgust, thinking of the group's previous encounter with one of the creatures and the brief havoc it had created. "I say we kill the thing...letting it wander off, even in the sewers, seems irresponsible." The musician looked at the others, waiting to hear their input on the matter.
If we let it in that cell it will probably die of hunger, anyway. So better give him a chance for a last meal...
Nargun readies his axe
Atticus throws devan the rapier and smiles whirling his long weapon once twice.
"Then lets do so!"
Mirela pulls out her bow.
She knocks an arrow in her bow and nods at the others.
Devan caught the valuable weapon with a flourish, whipping it back and forth a few strokes as he marveled at its lightness. It almost seemed flimsy in comparison to the sunsilver weapon he had just purchased, but he knew all too well how potent it was at poking holes in opponents.
As the others agreed that destroying the otyugh was the right thing to do, the musician prepared to engage the beast as well, letting Nargun lead the way into the fray.
Twilight watches as the other's prepare to engage the beast. A moment or two passed before she asked "Do we want to open the cage, or just let Mirella shoot it through the bars?"
If she wants to shoot at a defenseless target...
Better for the 'ole City, if this one was dead. It may attack the sick citizens, or the peaceful wererats. So I guess.. She says grimly as she walks up next to the cage. Her face is clearly unhappy as she pauses a moment before opening fire through the bars.
After she shoots she takes a step back so she is not right next to the bars.
Devan thought it over, and decided he had no qualms with Mirela shooting the beast through the bars. It would greatly reduce the risk to the party, and it's not like she would use it to her advantage or anything.
Once the grisly task was done, the musician patted the priestess on the shoulder fondly before addressing the group. "Let's go tell our friends the good news about the rabble-rousers in their midst. I'm sure Kroft would also like to know about the new help the City is getting."
The sleeping otyugh is not hard to hit, and since it is trapped in the cage, it is just a matter of time before Mirela's archery skills bring it down; not quite fish in a barrel, but close.
With this threat disposed of and the war-like wererats dead or scattered, it seems there is little left to explore here.
Since all the wererats do be gone, why don't we go through the boxes and see if there is anything the city can use before we be heading back up to seal our agreement with the rest of the wererats?
She looks around and says softly.
It do be a shame none of them would be willing to talk. I did be 'opeing that we could be saving some of them.
With Mirela suggesting the group go through the boxes, Devan's guilt about going through them was eased a great deal and he hurriedly agreed. He concurred about the lack of parley on the wererats' part, but that was a choice they had made. Maybe if the group had made pains to be spotted and such it might have gone differently, but there was no use beating themselves up over it. They had performed their end of the bargain, and hopefully the City would be better off for it as She withstood the Veil.
The musician helped to quickly go through the contents of the storeroom with the others, making note of what would be useful to the City (and the party) and taking said items before they made their way back to the 'good' wererats to inform them of Girrigz's demise.
The boxes back in Girrigz' lair are haphazardly stored with no apparent rhyme or reason behind where they are lain. Prying open several Devan finds most have rotted foodstuffs, coils of moldy rope, or threadbare dark cloaks. But the last two he opens reveal a weapon cache that was apparently going to be used by the lycanthrope rebels. All told there are 22 daggers, 12 short swords, 3 light crossbows and 60 bolts, 4 chain shirts, 12 flasks of alchemical fire, a MW longsword and a MW suit of chain mail.
While pulling crates out to be opened, Mirela notices a waterproof bag stuffed in one of the holes partially worn in the cavern wall. Pulling out the bag, she finds 4 blue potions, a small empty bottle stoppered with a cork, and an iridescent pearl. All of these items appear magical on divination.
Look here, I found more magic! She calls the other over.
These blue potions do be 'ealing potions with a moderate blessing on them.
She holds up the empty glass bottle.
This do be magic, but I've never seen it before. Twilight do you be knowing what this could be?
Then when she reaches in and draws out the pearl.
Oh wow. Father John 'e 'ad one of these. It's a Pearl that 'elps you to remember blessings! She looks at the pearl in awe as she turns it over in her hands.
Twilight takes a look at the clear bottle. At first she thought it might be a potion of invisibility, the liquid within simply unseen due to the peculiarities of the magic used to create it, but as soon as she picked it up it was obvious the bottle was empty and it was the bottle itself that was magical.
"What an odd creation" she said, curiosity in her voice "It seems like the bottle simply continuously creates air."
She uncorked the bottle and pulled down the scarf over her face. Holding the bottle very close to her nose, she took in a deep breath. "Ah, sweet and fresh. This would be useful if you were in a situation where you lacked air. Perhaps like being under water or trapped in a sewer filled with noxious fumes."
Twilight put her scented scarf back over her face. "That pear is a fortunate find. I wonder where the rats got it from? I have a lesser version that I bought, but I don't even think I've seen one as powerful as this before."
Mirela continues to turn the pearl over in her hand.
It's so perfect...
Suddenly she looks up at Twilight, with excitement on her face.
OH, if you 'ave another like this, they would be making beautiful earrings for you!
We could clip them on posts and you could 'ave the most magical earrings in the 'ole city! I bet everyone at the Acadamae would be jealous!
She holds out the pearl to see if Twilight wants it.
While it was something she was keenly interested in, Mirella could make just as much use of it as she could so to have it simply offered took her by surprise.
"I will gladly accept it if nobody has any objections. I've just been keeping mine in my pocket until I needed it. Working them into jewelry sounds like a wonderful idea. "
Devan smiled at the act of generosity Mirela had shown to Twilight. He didn't know much about the powers of the items they were discussing, but from what little he gleaned they were valuable and powerful items, indeed. This group was truly fortunate they had such a diverse and able cast to not only identify but effectively utilize most of the things they had picked up on the way.
Once they had divided up the contents of the small, valuable cache, Devan waved them on, wanting to leave the sewers behind and get back up to cleaner air and a debt to collect. Perhaps the group could also have a word with Kroft about the ratfolk, as well, and see if their lot might be improved in the long term.
Looking at the bottle the professor just smiles at the marvel and remembers the times at university where he would have traded his left hand for such a trinket.
Remembering one special event his eyes even start to water.
Now that Girrigz' lair was clear of rebels, an uncomfortable quiet fell on the warrens. Taking what they wanted from the treasure trove, the group slowly worked their way back to the surface, crawling out the same grate in Midland they went in. There is no sign of Ben or any other wererat here.
Looking about and finding their wererat allies conspicuously absent, the musician narrowed his eyes before he thought things through. It would look really odd to just sit around a sewer grate all day, ratfolk or human. Hopefully Ben and the others were just milling about or something.
Ready for a quick and thorough wash, Devan turned to the others, "Let's go back to the Juggler. I'm really keen on washing this muck off, and our rodent friends might be looking for us there."
Nargun gets an appreciate whistle at the high craftmanship from the longsword and chain mail
These are beautiful, we shouldn't let them here. It would be a slap in the face to the people who worked on them. We should even rent a small cart later, and bring the other, more mundane weapons to Kroft.They would be in better hands. And some of theses explosive flasks might be useful.
You are right, leaving these weapons here is not a good idea, we should bring at least some of this back to the guard.
Mirela picks up the flasks of alchemist fire.
Does anyone want to carry some of these? If not, I'll put them in my pack. They should be safe there.
She puts the flasks into her pack after the others take what they want.
I think I can carry some, if not all. It's not as if I was very fast to start with. We dwarves believe in a sure and steady pace.
There's a ghost of a smile on Nargun's lips
Besides, if things go badly and the whole lot explodes, I might survive anyway, unlike most of you. Or maybe I'll finally be reunited with me beloved. That would be a blast.
He gives a small, humorless chuckle, before adding more seriously.
Just be sure you're not too close around.
Devan considered picking up one of the flasks of liquid fire, but decided the added weight would be prohibitive. The musician chuckled nervously at Nargun's quip, eyeing the dwarf with unease as the barbarian loaded up with the flasks of alchemist's fire. As to Mirela's statement of carrying the more mundane equipment back to the surface, possibly to the guards, the young man nodded agreement. He made a mental note to take Kroft aside and ask for compensation privately in case the guard captain regarded the items as a donation.
Devan helped pack up and carry as many of the items as he could carry in his arms, being careful to pick up things that wouldn't break should he drop them if a fight broke out.
Twilight smiled a little bit under her scarf as Nargun spoke. Something about the image of a raging dwarf fully engulfed in flames charging a terrified foe struck her fancy.
Her mind worked on the enchantments that could be used to make this image a reality without risking Nargun's safety as she packed what she could into her magical backpack.
"Getting back to the Yellow Juggler for a long hot bath is the best suggestion I have heard all day"
Agree. This 'as been a most 'orrable job. I really wish they would 'ave talked instead of fighting.
Let's go. We could all use a bath.
She gives Devan a lingering look as she says the last.
Atticus ponders for a long time about the long chain mail, and finally nods.
"If no one else wants the chain armor, I will gladly wear it. With the influx of enemies lately, it seems prudent to increase ones protection."
Devan couldn't hide a grin at the priestess's words, though he replied to her first statement. "Girrigz and his allies had already made up their minds that anybody like us was an enemy intent on keeping them and their ilk suppressed. Hopefully we can change that for the rest of them and prove their leader wrong."
The young man nodded in agreement at Atticus's statement, casting a glance at Nargun, "I would argue that we perhaps need to improve that area even more."
Without further ado, the tired, wounded and foul-smelling group makes their way back towards the grate that led down to this dirty place. Just before they get to the iron ladder, the party stumbles on a quartet of wererats in hybrid form rounding a corner. They bristle at the sight of the surface dwellers, and hands go to the hilts of their shortswords. One speaks, his tone full of derision, "Are lost, pinks? Are you slumming her below the surface? Not enough daylight for you up there? Or maybe its the blood veil you're avoiding. Come down here where its oh so...safe?" The others laugh, but not with merriment.
We've been sent to do your dirty work. We've done it. We're already dirty and under the crass we seem to be bloodied, but it's mostly the blood of our foes. Now gives us way.... or suffer the consequences. Look at my eyes, and see if you want to start a fight I'll end only when you'll be in agony, or already dead.
Nargun readies his axe, and grins.
The dwarf's grins aren't a good omen.
From the back of the party, Mirela raises her bow and knocks a silver arrow but does not draw.
'Old Girl she snaps at Whisper keeping the young wolf at her side.
The wolf stays at her hip but is clearly on point.
Then narrows her eyes and back's Nargun's "Bad Cop" play while she waits for those who are better at convincing people to fill in the roll of "good cop".
Without the firebrand Girrigz there to stir them up, and not knowing about his untimely demise yet, the wererats have no interest in messing with the deranged dwarf and his capable companions. The leader nods and they cross over to the other side of the effluent stream with a hop, clearing the way and giving Nargun wide berth and keep wary eyes on him.
Soon enough they pass out of sight, and you scamper out of the sewers and back into the mostly deserted streets of what used to be a bustling Midlands neighborhood.
After a few minutes where any passers-by give you awkward looks, you arrive back at the Yellow Juggler. Baths, warm soup and cold drinks are served up all around and soon, despite the injuries, sights and smells of the under-city, you are feeling somewhat back to normal.
It is late when Aries Yellowclaws and her silent companion, Ben, arrive at the service entrance to the Juggler and are eventually shown into your private dining room. "Tell us how it was," says the venerable old lycanthrope, with hope in her fearsome eyes. "Were you able to talk Girrigz from his warplans?"
Devan sighed as the group ran into the foursome of ratfolk, the creatures' general demeanor swaggering and altogether just foolish enough to ask for trouble. Thankfully they backed down when Nargun talked roughly at them, though things could have turned out poorly enough if the wererats had stiffer spines. The musician exchanged a look with Mirela, but mentally hand-waved the encounter, thinking himself on edge after the violent meeting with Girrigz's band.
The young man eagerly asked the staff at the Juggler to draw a bath for himself and the priestess, going down to meet the others after making himself decent. He enjoyed the food, drink, and company, the satisfaction of another task finished buoying his spirits.
When Aries came in to join them, Devan smiled at the wererat and her silent shadow, his expression faltering slightly at her question before he shook his head. "I'm afraid we weren't even able to begin speaking before he and his band attacked us. We gave him and the others opportunities to parley and surrender, but in their rage they could not be reasoned with. I'm sorry it ended that way."
Twilight tensed, ready for a fight as the four wererats approached. She was relieved when they backed down from Nargun's threat despite their earlier swagger. She eyed them warily as they passed.
Back at the Juggler, she was relieved to finally be out of her filthy outfit. She stripped off the clothing and plunged herself into a relaxing hot bath. A servant took the garments away to be laundered, holding his breath with a disgusted look on his face as he did so.
As she soaked in the tub, she contemplated her holy symbol, hanging on the door. She casually invoked a cantrip that allowed her to see the magical auras dancing about the bonded item. "The time is coming quickly if I am going to make this work, but I need an offering to complete the ritual. It doesn't have to be dramatic, but it should be personal. Hmmm..."
Twilight held her breath and sank down into the tub, submerging beneath the water as she considered her options. Suddenly, she bolted upright, sending water splashing out of the tub. "Of course!" she exclaimed.
She toweled herself off and hastily threw on the clean set of clothes that had been laid out for her before rushing back to her room. As she did so she beckoned to one of the staff "I have an important ceremony to perform and I will need help with the getting the preparations in order. Have someone come to my room and I will provide a list of what I need."
Twilight was excited about the prospect of finally seeing one of her long term projects coming to fruition. It would be tricky, but the timing was right. She spent most of the evening poring over her notes and ritual books while making a list of everything she needed. A servant quietly informed Twilight that there were guests asking for her.
She descended to the dining room where she found Aries and the rest of the party. She joined them, her earlier excitement tempered by the unfortunate events of the afternoon. "As Devan said, we tried everything we could to open a dialogue, and when they met our diplomacy with violence, we continued to offer them every opportunity to end the conflict."
I do be thinking there may 'ave been some of 'is band that ran away. After all we did 'ear voices from where the Trash Beast was penned up, but they did be gone after we tried to deal with Girrigz.
There were also some of the your kin that we ran into on the way out of the sewers. That at least ended peacefully.
So you may want to talk to your kin and make sure whoever from Girrigz's group that escaped are not thinking we did be there just to kill them.
She thinks for a moment then says
We also do be having some little influence with The Guard. If you want to firm up your role 'ere in the city, we could talk to Commander Kroft about your kin and the guard working together somehow.
Maybe if your kin and the guard work together, it will reduce some of the fear between the two groups.
You ain't a bad lot. Some of you are nasty and vile and stubborn and prejudiced, but so are the humans, and so are some of the dwarves too. No whole race should suffer because of a few rotten members.
Atticus listens for a while but shakes his head.
"I think this could work, but it takes a lot, an aweful lot of time.
See the prejudice between human and were... people is very deep, especially as some of the were... people have bolstered their rank by... infecting humans."