"Maybe we can break it?" Jessamy suggests as she sees Ventus' plan be foiled by the staff's size.
Pirknok nods and stands upright from where he's been resting against the wall. With a raised hand he gestures for everyone to stand back before once more lifting his sword. He takes a deep breath and prepares to strike, then pauses to look up at Siolad. "Yer good with magicks, right?" he asks gruffly. "Kin this be brokin?"
"Maybe ... can you make us all better first, Ensu, just in case it, you know, explodes?"
Siolad shrugs and kneels next to the staff to take a closer look. "Let's see if it can..."
He casts detect magic in order to really get a sense of what the staff is, and how it may be destroyed.
Through careful inspection and magical scrutiny, Siolad determines that the staff was a focus for Barl's magic - his arcane bond - and beyond that heavily enchanted including wards against being held by anyone else. It's unlikely to explode but's also going to be difficult to damage.
"Have you given any thought as to where we are going to lay the departed to rest? While I am not an expert in those types of ceremonies, I am prepared to offer my services." Ensu says as he continues to tend to the hurt.
Pirknok grunts, giving Ensu a nod of thanks despite the uncomfortably tingly feeling of magic running through his veins. Giving a quick shake to rid himself off the feeling, he raises his sword and brings it down powerfully on the very center of the staff.
Despite its magically hardened form, the tree-trunk sized rune-etched staff shatters like glass under the impact of the dwarf's skyiron sword.
The effort leaves the blade feeling somehow heavier in Pirknok's hand but it shines with even greater luster. As the discolored splinters of wood from the giant's sundered weapon settle around him, Pirknok becomes aware that his sword seems to have stolen a bit of the magic imbuing Barl's bonded staff.
The Shoanti's eyes widen slightly as he stares down at the sword in his hands. It's magic... He looks up at Jessamy first, a haunted expression on his face, then glances around at the others. "Sumthin... jus' happind. Sum of thuh magicks... they went inta my sword!"
"Uh-oh. That could be bad. Maybe you should get a new sword?"
Jessamy looks concerned.
Siolad winces as Pirknok smashes the staff. "Well... there's your answer." He nods.
"Now, is there anything else we should do before we leave?" He asks, brushing off his robes. "I still have some offensive magic left if we need to fight our way out."
"This sort of guy rules by fear, I've got a gory solution to scaring off any ogres we didn't butcher," Ventus offers, hefting the Impaler over the bloodied remains of the stone giant.
Siolad takes a closer look at Pirknok's weapon. "Well, I'll be... Pirknok, your blade appears to have absorbed some of the staff's power. Specifically, it's capable of containing a spell."
He shifts from foot to foot. "It'll have to be a spell that has a specific target, such as a vampiric touch spell or the like. You can't put a fireball into the sword--that'd be incredibly counterproductive."
Or awesome!" Jessamy exclaims, visions of dancing through the flames filling the young Varisian's eyes.
"We need to return the rangers' bodies to their families, I think, and then get back to Sandpoint."
"Well, if everyone had your reflexes, certainly, Miss Pierce." Siolad shrugs. "With regards to the rangers, how far is Fort Rannick from here?"
The dwarf blinks a few times at the elf, then shrugs. He takes the time to enunciate, in his unhurried and quietly thoughtful way. "Huh. I don't know much uhbout magicks, but I don't like 'em when I can feel 'em workin' on me. But... it does soun' like it could be useful," he admits. "How kin I... get 'em in there?"
"Well, you'd have to cast a spell on the sword." Siolad scratches his head. "Did you have a specific one in mind?"
A tattooed brow rises at the silliness of the elf's question. Do I have a specific one in mind? Does he realize that I don't know how to do any magic, don't know any so-called "spells", and haven't the faintest idea how to cast one if I did?
"Um... no?"
Siolad bites his lip as he just realizes how stupid his question was.
"Er... never mind then." His face starts turning red.
I'm a damned idiot.
The dwarf grunts and turns to continue the group's exploration of the cave system.
In the areas unexplored the party finds the foul central living quarters previously used by the ogres and an enormous pit full of slain ogres, many clearly victims of necrotic magics. It appears Barl’s cruelty wasn’t reserved only for the rangers. Beyond ogre-sized clothing and weapons/tools there’s nothing else of interest or value.
Returning to the torture chamber containing the remains of the captured rangers, there looks to be a total of six bodies. Some of the bodies are in pieces but they can be wrapped up easily enough for some of the giant-sized clothing. Most of their equipment is here as well, though most of it is damaged beyond repair. A finely made bow looks salvageable (it just needs a new string), along with a felt cape decorated with glittering stars, and an ornate blade that appears to be missing hilt.
Ensu works quietly, spending time as each ranger is laid in their burial cloth. He murmurs quiet prayers over each body before nodding to the others to begin the task of moving them out to their mounts.
"Maybe we should take them back to Turtleback Ferry, to see if anyone knows who their next of kin are?"
Jessamy's voice breaks on the last word, tears filling the irrepressible young woman's eyes.
"And then we can bring the captain back to his partner so they can both rest."
"It won't be fun but it needs to be done," Ventus agrees.
Pirknok nods, sheathing his now-clean sword and hefting as many of the remains as he can carry. "Might as well start now."
Siolad cringes when the rest of the party start gathering up the remains of the rangers.
"Well..." He sighs and casts another spell, this time on himself.
His muscles start glowing underneath his robes. "Just a little something to help me carry some of them out." He says as he bends down to pick up one of the bodies and haul it out. He coughs, turning his head away briefly before walking off.
After gathering/bundling the ranger's remains, the party's able to use the supplies in the ogre's storeroom to construct a crude sled. The bodies are piled on it and the heroes begin the long trek back down the mountain taking turns bearing the burden. Thankfully, there's no further danger and two days later the party arrives back at the haunted Shimmerglenns.
Yap, the anxious pixie flits about, happy to see the party but nervous about what news they bring. "You're back! Did you... did you find him? My mistress is still so very sad."
"I hate to say it, little one, but it he met much the same fate as the rest of the rangers."
Pirknok nods. "Ah'm uhfraid we couldint save him," he says sadly.
"But... but..." the pixie stammers before openly sobbing.
"Show him to me", the haunting voice of Myriana moans as her ghostly dismembered form appears. "Show me!!!"
Jessamy stands silent, head bowed, as her companions unwrap the dead ranger's form.
With the others help, Ensu reverently removes the ranger captain's body from the sled, laying him at the feet of Myriana's ghostly form. Murmuring a prayer as he removes the cloth so the body can be viewed.
That done, he moves back a distance to allow a private time.
The incorporeal form of the ghost drifts toward the remains silently. As she does, her form becomes whole again, a mirror of the beauty she must have been in life. With one insubstantial hand, she gently caresses the face of her lover's broken body.
"Mistress! You're whole again!" Yap chirps at the sight.
The ghostly fey shakes her head. "No Yap. Not whole. I will never be whole again but at least my heart's returned to me."
Somehow, she lifts the ranger-general's remains.
"Thank you heroes. Within my pond there's a trinket Lamatar brought me when he first started to visit me. I have no more use of it. Take it as a token of my gratitude."
Jessamy blinks back tears.
"Thank you. I'm sorry ... well, about everything. I promise I won't let anything like this happen again!"
Siolad watches the proceedings with a solemn look. He doesn't say anything, instead bowing his head.
Pirknok's sad face suddenly stiffens slightly as he glances over at Jess. Be careful what you promise, young one...
He closes his eyes for a moment, then nods respectfully at the nymph and withdraws.
Seeing no one else going forward, Jessamy moves to the pond.
It's been a long time since I've swam. Hope I remember how.
The pond isn't very deep (only four or five feet) and it isn't difficult to make the glittering amulet out among the dark soil of the pond's bed. Retrieving the trinket from its hiding place, Jessamy surfaces with a mithril pendant roughly an inch across. It's flat on one side while the image of a rose is engraved on the other.
The magic users among the party discover it to be a potent magic item.
Myriana drifts towards the Shimmerglen's heart with her lover's remains. "Goodbye Yapp. This grove is your charge now. Treat it well."
"C'mon," Ventus says, watching the path down which the two had gone while idly stoking Beaks' beak. "We've still got bodies to deliver."
The dwarf gives a small cough. "Um... are you gonna be okay?" he asks the departing fey. Is there anything else we can do to help? You seem so sad...
The ghostly nymph ignores the dwarf's inquiry as she drifts into the distance.