"Only two mistakes this time 'Lady' Cecila, you're improving as we watch."
"The Dwarf wants a weapon. That shows good sense." Jathal remarks, "Something that is greatly lacking in some people." She mutters under her breath.
If no one else has anything more suitable for Morgrym? Jathal produces a cold iron dagger from somewhere and hands it to him. You can use that until we find your weapons." She tells him almost politely.
"I was gonna say, That's a she"Rhona says with a smile as she finds the lack of observation between elves funny. She knew the difference between the elves after her year's training in the wood.
"As for our stuff I believe it would be close by. I doubt the goblin leaders would have let the lesser ones try to steal anything off of us. Hobs like to be thorough in prisoner process. They also like to torture people."She gripped her braided necklace and closed her eyes as she kissed it.
Morgrym nods furiously at Rhona's statement - though the delay means she is referring to him speaking common.
When Jathal passes him the dagger he gives it an experimental swing, feels the edge with his thumb, then smiles broadly. He reaches to his back and fiddles with some sort of catch. A moment later the shield integrated into his armour pops free.
"I do not speak common." Morgrym says in a terrible dearven accent, then tucks the dagger into the shield's grip, pulls out a small book from his belt pouch and thumbs through it, reading out phrases that blur together in a monotone that suggests he is reading phonetically.
"Thank you it is nice to meet you sir-slash-marm my name is Morgrym are you the one in charj." He looks up and smiles apologetically.
Jathal mutters something to herself in Elvish.
"Just because my hips wouldn't fit in a barn like hers!"
Ingra nods to her kinsman and at Rhona's suggestion that their gear would be close by, begins rummaging through the equipment on the table against the south wall. After a few moments, she holds aloft Morgrym's warhammer triumphantly.
"Εδώ πηγαίνετε, καλό δάσκαλο σφυρηλάτησης."
"Here you go, Forgemaster."
She then uncovers a pair of packs and a waraxe amongst the rusting loot.
"Πιστεύω ότι όλα αυτά είναι δικά σας."
"I believe that these are yours too."
As she hands off the last of the dwarven gear, the group's conversation is interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps echoing down from the Von Urstadt crypt.
Morgrym clutches the cold iron warhammer with a joy that suggests it is not simply a tool, but a sentimental memento. Carefully he hands the dagger back to Jathal.
When the noise of footsteps comes
"Καλώς. Ας πηδήξουμε μερικά πράσινα κεφάλια." He smiles grimly "Σκότωσε το φως. Τα ξωτικά έχουν τρομερή σκιά."
"Alright. Let's kick some green heads." He smiles grimly "Kill the light. Goblins have terrible darkvision."
Rhona grabs her gear and pulls out Hew. A giddy smile crosses her face as she lets herself swing it a couple of times before she laughs.
"
Σοβαρά Morgyrm πρέπει να μάθετε Κοινή. Θέλω να πω ότι θα σας εξοικονομήσει κάποια hassel. Εκτός από εσάς μπορεί να έχετε την ευκαιρία να μετατρέψετε τους ανθρώπους στους τρόπους του Moradin; Απλά λέω?" She turns to Morgrym and shakes her head a minute before turning to Ingra.
"Σας ευχαριστώ Ίνγκγρα, το συγχαρώ. Ξέρω ότι ο Hew εδώ είναι χαρούμενος που είναι πίσω στα χέρια μου και έτοιμος να σπάσει ένα κρανίο goblin ή δύο πάλι, δεν είσαι Hew" She in turn says before she reaches to her necklace and kisses it again.
[spoiler=Dwarven]Thank You Ingra, I appreciate it. I know Hew here is happy to be back in my hands and ready to cleave a goblin skull or two again, Aren't you Hew
"Now let us get to these others. But first Master Morgyrm" She says looking at him and smiling.
"Ας προσευχόμαστε και θεραπεύουμε, στη συνέχεια, για να διασώσουμε τους άλλους"
When the noise is heard she slips into combat mode her hand whipping her ax up in front of her like an elvish blade, her stance more elvish than dwarvish. She checks her self-letting her free hand flex as she looks about the others wondering what all they bring to a fight. She nods to Morgrym and Ingra, then readies herself for the possibility of goblins. She thought back to her first encounter on the road and nonchalantly reached up to touch her right side before she uttered what Morgyrm said.
"We should kill the lights, at least that's what Morgrym says to do" She says more eager to spill goblin blood then to go back over her training.
Zalindra sighs. Some of us can't see in the dark. Unfortunately you two are new and might not realize that the fact is already a point of contention in the party. In any case, I am not going to deprive my grandfather of light just because you think one of the goblins might trip. It's better to allow the humans some way to fight.
Zalindra hands her torch to her grandfather and tells him to stay behind her. She readies her bow.
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Aelion's smile faltered as he was ignored yet again. With a sigh, he raised his worn shortbow and nocked an arrow, ready to shoot the first goblin he saw.
Turning the corner and taking the stairs downward two at a time he comes to the bottom to see weapons at the ready and makes a decidedly meek noise as he brings brings his shield up to duck his head, not daring to keep too much clearance with a both trained on him, "Easy, damn you! I'm too tall and too bloody handsome to be a goblin!"
He waits a second before peeking an eye over the rim of his shield and finally standing with a smile that's more or less the best bravado he could manage at the moment, "A man lags behind a little and suddenly you want him dead, ey? Maybe next time I'll let you go it on your own."
Cecilia's cheeks went red. "Sorry! That was my mistake, allow me to correct myself." She hastily turns to the two dwarves, thoroughly embarrassed. "This is Miss Jathal Mitheralia, not Mister. I apologise for the confusion."
This is what happens when you get carried away, Cecilia. She thought to herself. You're a professional now, be sure to act like it!
Upon hearing the footsteps, Cecilia immediately draws her rapier, but when the bard sees it is just the cavalier, she lowers her weapon. "What are you doing here, Javos?" She harshly asks, momentarily forgetting her manners. "I thought you chose to remain in Brindol?"
"Are you sure you're not a goblin?" She says with a half-hearted jest, as she didn't know if he wasn't some goblin shamans' trick.
She relaxed a bit. She moved over to Aeolin and asked."So whats your story Bowmen?"
Dayana blinks as Javos emerges. How was one supposed to react to their ally making an unexpected but welcome return? Happiness, right? She pulls a smile to her lips, "Welcome back. Or forward, as the case may be," she peers over Javos' shoulder, "Is Dinvirte coming, or just you? Oh, there's more prisoners to retrieve, so you haven't missed all of the fun just yet."
He makes a vague gesture behind him as he moves to stow his shield, "I got delayed a bit. But I brought some of the town soldiers with me. Though to be fair they're camped outside and didn't have much love for trudging down here." He slips his sword back into his scabbard, "Last I saw of Din he was back in town running about clucking about something in a tongue I couldn't understand. I opted to bring reinforcements. Though... I did kind of have to trick my away around a whole room of groggy and upset goblins. So I don't think we'll be able to slip back the same way without a hell of a fight."
Morgrym shrugs at the sudden release in tension. He cracks his neck, mutters a blessing to Moradin in dwarven, then reaches over to Rhona and infuses her with the healing power of his patron.
He nodded at Rhona. "How came you to be captured? Are you from ? Do you know the other prisoners?"
"I'm glad you came to join us, Javos. And good to know about the fight at our backs."
Since it looked like no goblins, Zalindra suggests that they proceed to find the rest of the prisoners. She walks back to the crypt room with her grandfather, telling him to stay well back, and she looks around the corner where they haven't gone yet.
That's a little too far back, grandfather. Bring the torch a little bit closer so I can see.
Zalindra peers around the corner into the gloom, a set of stairs rise in the darkness, leading up to a higher level of the catacombs.
Kra'el approaches the pair from behind. His whispered words like the distant thunder before the first big summer storm.
"Zal. If you wish it, I could escort your grandfather outside? These catacombs are a dangerous place, and it might not be the best idea to drag the old man through them as we complete our search for the relics and the other prisoners. I give you my word that no harm will come to him. Bahamut will protect us."
"Yeah the battles were grim. lost me, parents. Though as long as I got Hew here they will be by my side always!"She says gesturing with her waraxe when she mentioned Hew. The Blade was wrought in fine dwarvish steel with a handle that matched. It was intricately molded to have its insignias blend into a strange almost artistic style.
"Me and Morgrym went to aid the Old Man, when the fighting started. Got knocked out.." She reached to her woven necklace and fingered it as she paused and then continued."..Woke up here. I mean its not easy to knock out a dwarf but when you do we tend to stay down for a bit. Downside to a thick skull. Not like you Elves. You guys are all lithe and agile. You could use a bit of meat on yer bones though. Maybe when I return to your people I can get ya to drink some stouter ales and richer foods?" She said with a laugh as she looked over to Morgyrm.
"Μην ξεχάσετε τον εαυτό σας, Πρεσβύτερος" She says with a respectful head bob. She would have curtsied but it was not right when danger could be afoot. Still she honored his station as a healer and cleric.
Zalindra braces herself as Kra'el starts to speak, but is surprised as he offers to escort her grandfather rather than trying to send her away again.
She considers for a moment, and then says Thank you Kra'el. I think that is a good idea, but Javos just said he left the goblins behind us groggy and upset, rather than asleep as we left them. If you have a good plan for getting him out safely, I think it is a good idea, but I'm worried that just the two of you leaving would end up with both of you dead.
"I'd be honored to raise a tankard with both of you, once the goblins are dealt with," Aelion said seriously, with a respectful nod to both of them. "In memory of those we've lost, and to a brighter future."
He admired Hew, noting the typically dwarven craftsmanship. "A beautiful axe. Your parents will help you find justice." Then he grinned. "So, let's go find it! Are you both ready?"
Aelion moved up to where Kra'el, Zalindra and Sertanian were gathered, and peered into the gloom just as Zalindra had, but venturing a little farther. He walked a short distance up the stairs, until he could see no further; then he returned to the others.
"Is all well?" he asked, glancing between Zalindra and Kra'el.
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"It is," Kra'el answers Aelion. "I was merely suggesting I take the old man outside, but perhaps a wiser option would be for us to linger behind the main group. I can ensure no one sneaks up behind us, and keep the old man safe as you clear the rooms ahead. Anyone else we come across can join me at the back too."
As the elf scouts ahead, he notices an uncomfortable chill on the air as he ascends the staircase. As he peeks over the top of the stairs, he sees the landing ahead covered with a thin blanket of frost, stretching out into the gloom.
Morgrym straightened at the compliment. "Έχω μείνει λίγη επούλωση σήμερα. Αυτοί οι άλλοι φαίνονται πιο πιθανό να το χρειάζονται από εμένα. Ειδικότερα, το κορίτσι μοιάζει να είναι μια καλή επίδραση από την απώλεια συνείδησης." he says.
"I've little healing left to me today. These others look more likely to need it than I. The girl, especially, looks like she's one good impact from unconsciousness."
Whilst the others start to move off he takes a few moments to scribe his shield with a glowing sigil, wincing against the light. At the end the shield glows as brightly as a torch.
Cecilia moves towards the front of the group, but stops when she sees the floor ahead of them is covered in a thin layer of ice.
"That's not good..." she mutters, staring into the darkness as she waits for the others to catch up.
The elf nodded to Kra'el. "With you at our backs, I'm less worried about the goblins we left behind."
Aelion had seen frost in his travels, but never expected to find it so close to home, even underground. "What manner of magic or beast could cause this?" he wondered, glancing at Cecilia.
He readied his bow, nodding at the others. "I'm ready to press forward when you are."
Zalindra leaves the torch with her grandfather, lighting a new one for herself, and moves forward with Aelion to scout ahead.
Zalindra and Aelion edge forwards, reaching the top of the stairs and illuminating the landing above, actually a wide crossroads in the tunnels of the catacombs.
Three lumbering fligures emerge from the gloom as Zalindra's torchlight flickers over them, they appear to be a trio of hobgoblins, although like their bretherin in the crypt downstairs, these warriors have breathed their last already.
They groan to each other, not yet aware of the scouts' presence. The frost in the room emanates from the largest of the three zombified hobs, whose flesh seems to be caked in a thin layer of ice, flakes of which periodically break away and re-freeze.
~~~
Frost Zombie: HP 14/14; AC/T/FF 17/11/16; Fort/Ref/Will +0/+1/+3; CMD 14 vs Feint DC --Hobgoblin Zombie (purple): HP 12/12; AC/T/FF 17/11/16; Fort/Ref/Will +0/+1/+3; CMD 14 vs Feint DC --
Hobgoblin Zombie (green): HP 12/12; AC/T/FF 17/11/16; Fort/Ref/Will +0/+1/+3; CMD 14 vs Feint DC --
Jathal had been following behind the two in front, she aims at the Hobgoblin she can see. (Purple).
Outwardly composed, inwardly she danced a little jig at finally shooting properly.
Shield and hammer ready Morgrum advanced up the stairs.
It had been decades since he'd gone through manoeuver training, but he new enough not to stand between an archer - especially one as talented as Jathal appeared to be - and an enemy. He took position just behind, ready to charge to the front when the enemy started to engage.
=== Surprise Round ===
Zalindra shoots at the Frost Zombie.
(sneak attack)
=== Round One ===
Zalindra moves into the room and then shoots again.
(sneak attack)
"Zombies! Some kind of frozen ones," Aelion hissed back at the others.
Unwilling to waste any more arrows against the undead, he slung his bow and drew his longsword, stepping forward to slash at the nearest frost-rimed hobgoblin. The stance he took was unmistakably elvish, but it was clear that even the grace of the elves couldn't make up for his unfamiliarity with the ice that covered the floor.
His feet slipped on the ground as he swung, and he was abruptly preoccupied with not falling over and planting his face in the frost.
Oh, joy of joys. More undead.
Dayana sucks in an irritated breath and sets forth, ducking between Cecilia and Jathal. She adjusts her stance only slightly before moving on in to assist Aelion with the duo of zombies.
... or tries to, but much like the elf she begins a riveting game of slip-and-slide on the slick floor, barely not faceplanting.
While several of her allies rushed forward to battle the undead, Cecilia hesitated. Ice was not nearly as dangerous to her as water, but it could still be a problem, depending on the circumstances.
Still, she could not just stand there and do nothing. Glancing back at the dwarves behind her, the bard was suddenly inspired, and began to sing an old adventuring song she once heard about the patron god of smiths.
"Oh, Moradin, won't you give me a chainmail for one!
A battle is coming, my armor is gone
Without some protection, your servant is done
Oh, Moradin, won't you give me a chainmail for one!"
It took her a few moments to discover the right pitch and volume for her words, but soon Cecilia's voice was ringing cleanly throughout the tunnels.
Stepping carefully onto the frost covered stone, Cecilia slowly advanced toward the enemy. Still singing, she attempted to strike the undead hobgoblin towards the back.
Aided by music and magic, the bard stabbed her rapier into the monster's side. Already wounded by Aelion's arrow, the undead creature collapsed to the floor.
Advancing carefully to give herself more of a view Jathal targets the Frost Zombie.
"Careful not to slip, you wouldn't want a frosty bottom!"
Rhona moves up to the top of the stairs."Ice eh?"
Looks about and shifts her weight to take a step onto the ice.
Frost Zombie: HP 3/14; AC/T/FF 17/11/16; Fort/Ref/Will +0/+1/+3; CMD 14 vs Feint DC --
Hobgoblin Zombie (green): HP 8/12; AC/T/FF 17/11/16; Fort/Ref/Will +0/+1/+3; CMD 14 vs Feint DC --
Jathal finds a new level of determination and sends an arrow clean through the purple hobgoblin's eye socket, dropping the undead creature instantly.
Zalindra fires an arrow into the icy zombie on the right, but it seems more resistant to damage than its allies. Fortunately the rogue follows up with a nicely aimed second shot that nearly brings the frosty figure to its knees.
Javos moves up the stairs as fast as he can, closing with the frosty zombie just as it is pierced by Jathal’s second shot. Wielding his longsword in both hands, Javos brings the weapon down past the creature’s head as it lurches out of the way at the last minute.
As the dwarves make their way up the stairs as quickly as they can, and Aelion and Dayana slip and slide on the slick flagstones, Cecilia of the Crimson Lash delivers a powerful cut to the group’s green-skinned foe.
The frosty Zombie retaliates against Javos, taking a bite out of the cavalier's left arm that leaves an icy chill in his blood .
Meanwhile Aelion's lack of grace comes back to bite him, in the form of the green zombie's teeth, as it imparts a nasty wound to his neck .
Zalindra shoots again at the Frost Zombie.
Jathal winces as Javos gets chomped.
This time it's obvious that Jathal is preening.
Jerking at his arm he howls in pain, "Bloody frozen corpses!" When he jerks his arm free he has just a moment to glance at the damage, "Haven't been beaten up this much in so short since I was a lad." He sets his sword and mutters to himself, "Bet the bloody bard uses all the potions on a scratch again..."
Huffing, Dayana sends her clawed fingertips lashing towards the hobgoblin zombie still standing before taking a step back.
Aelion spat blood as the hobgoblin worried his neck. Feeling his vision grey, he shoved the creature away and interposed his sword, backing away. Hot red runnels wet his shirt as he moved, steaming in the air.
Rhona will move up and attack the Icy Zombie with her ax!
Pivoting at the last possible moment, Cecilia instead struck out at other hobgoblin zombie. Her rapier quick and deadly, she easily wounded it, and without hesitation the bard attempted to injure it a second time.
Unfortunately luck wasn't with her this time, her blade bouncing off of the corpse's armour. Taking a step back, it was here that Cecilia heard Javos' rather snide remark. And while the bard was very tempted to retort that so far not a single foe had been able to touch her, she decided that it was more important that she continue her song.
Oh, Moradin, won't you give me a magical sword,
I just got a dagger, that's all I could afford,
but grant me a weapon, I'll call you my lord,
Oh, Moradin, won't you give me a magical sword!
Oh, Moradin, won't you give me a powerful ring,
or bracelet or necklace, or similar thing,
I'll do in all monsters, and then I shall sing:
Oh, Moradin, won't you give me a powerful ring,
Cecilia's words continued to echo through the halls, magically bringing courage and vigor to all who heard it.
With a roar Morgrym took up, storming up the stairs as the injured elf came down. One of his allies called upon Moradin, so with a desperate attempt to join in the human-tongue chant - chanting "MORADIN" at the appropriate points - he strode on.
With shield and hammer raised he half-strode half-slipped into contact with the undead, putting himself between the human woman and the foe.