"We should rest. We're all hurt. If you can scout and find a defensable place to camp, that would be great."
I can use the power of Desna to heal most of these people, as I have been doing. And while I have some spells available, until I recover my spellbook, my arcane abilities will be quite limited.
I think that we should rest, see if we can find where my equipment is stored, and then get these good folk back to the surface.
The Mwangi men and woman thank and praise the lot of you as you free them from their shackles.
Searching this end of the cavern briefly you find a small shelter where it looks like the Serpentfolk were keeping the gruel, some sort of foul smelling white paste, they were feeding the slaves.
Also within the shelter are the slave's belongings, mostly simple clothing and bone jewelry but also Zyngeth's more valuable equipment.
I smile and recover my belongings.
Well all, I would really like to teach these scaly slime buckets a lesson. You all planning on continuing to attack, or are you here for some other reason?
"Well they seem to be in our way, so we'll make them not be in our way. Plus they need to pay for this." Demitri says while starting to rub one of his lightning-burns.
Zafira tends to her own injuries and then heals those that are injured.
Zafira -
Kunsua -
Uwa -
Demitri -
Balo -
"Whatever we do we must not stay here. The naga had potent magical powers. It's possible they have a way of magically watching this location", the woman explains.
"Zyngeth, do you know of any caves or something nearby that we can safely rest in away from the eyes of the snake people?"
Freed of their bonds, the assembled Mwangi men and women gather and begin to talking among themselves in panicked whispers. Many of them look to the party and then look the giant chamber's unexplored exit in fear.
Shaking my head: I am sorry, I have never been beyond this chamber. I was brought here with other captives and put to work. I have seen the serpentfolk take others deeper into the caves, but have never seen a slave brought back from there.
"Then we travel until we find a place to rest then."
Kunsua looks upon the fearful folk, and speaks to them in Mwangi.
"The exit to the cave did have a powerful guardian - but we slew it as we came down. Your way, spirits willing, should be safe now. We must leave you now to fight these serpent-men. For those of you without homes to return to, when you reach the surface you may call upon the aid of the Kallijae elves - tell them Kunsua the Druid sent you. Follow these marks, and when you reach the border, announce yourself thusly...", at which point he spends some time describing to the more calm looking the various rivers and other landmarks necessary to navigate to the borders of the elven lands.
Diplomacy
After this we will make preperations for travel.
The assembled former-slaves look to each other in doubt but their fears seem to lessen considerably as Kunsua speaks to them in their native tongue.
A young girl steps forward, "Thank you heroes. We owe you our lives. Through that passage", she says indicating exit on the eastern side of the massive chamber, "there is a great ruin. A few times the snakemen sent me to take food to the slaves. The snakemen do not speak with words often but when they do I hear them call it 'Serastis'. I do know know what horrors are within that place but the way the snakemen speak of it makes me think they must be terrible", she explains the fear obvious in her voice.
At the mention of a route to the surface the Mwangi look to each other in doubt again.
Rahesh interrupts.
"I can take them to the surface if that's what you're discussing", the gunman says. "During that last battle. My firearm was damaged and I will be little use to the rest of you without it. It will escort them to the Pakmura village and if I can repair my weapon I will try to rejoin you later".
"We will sorely miss your skills, but there is wisdom in your plan. I say go with, and travel with the blessings of the spirits."
He turns to his allies of opportunity. "I agree with Demitri. My energies are low, let us rest if we can find a sufficiently secluded spot. Also, reconnisance of this so called Serastis would be wise. If we could sit and watch for half a day to see what defenses these snake folk possess. A night assault might not be out of the question either."
Yes, if these good adventurers have cleared the serpentfolk from behind us, then it would be best if you all were to head out before more come to take the place of those which have been defeated. So that you are all able to travel, let me heal all who are here to some extent.
Desna - let these travelers be blessed with safe passage.
Channel Energy - Heal:
--> For as many who are injured within the radius - make sure that any of our injured companions are also in the area.
Desna's burst of healing energy mends many of the slaves' injuries but does little to nourish their weakened bodies. Rahesh nods his farewell and turns to lead the crowd up and, hopefully, out of the dread Darklands.
The group cautiously approaches the opening at the eastern end of the cavern. Looking through it, one can see that this opens into an even more massive chamber similarly lit with pale glowing fungus. At the cavern's center is a giant structure.
Embedded in the rocky terrain at both ends, is an ancient tower of unknown design. Due to the nature of the tower's placement, it's difficult to tell if one is looking at the whole of the building or if the tower is just a part of a greater structure buried in the rocky earth.
At the edges of this massive chamber are several dark alcoves where the glowing fungus does not seem to grow.
Demitri and anyone else, you should have been healed 8 points from my channel energy. If you need more healing, let me know how much so that I can use spells. I still have a fair number of healing spells left.
Zafira retrieves her wand, "I don't know how long this is going to last "
"Better?"
" Much better, babe. Thanks"