"We will do this for you." Mirel takes the morningstar. "We can figure out who is going to use it later."
Wandering around the village, Terry tries to be polite, but the . . . people are inherently disturbing. None of them are, simply, people and the variety of previously unthinkable mixtures of animal features with "normal" ones keeps him distracted.
He manages to work through his discomfort well enough to try to find three things in the shops that could be important for the rest of their trip back outside: A waterskin (with clean water), a collection of additional arrows, and food. The group (including the NPCs we've been dragging around) could all use a real meal, and at least enough additional trail-ready foodstuffs to for another meal or two.
Freya bounds from location to location, acting like somebody on vacation. She asks a lot of questions of the locals and attempts to see as much of the area as she can before coming in for dinner.
Lirrathan doesn't have much that he's planning on doing with the coin they get from the stuff they found beyond what he normally does. He tries to find himself some local drink, local food, and games of chance. He will avoid looking for female company this night, given the way most of the locals look. Maybe if he's lucky Freya, Mirel or Hobbles will come looking for him.
In the time that they all have here Arcessentes wants to do the following:
1) Check into helping his friend and fellow wizard, Aravashnial regain his eyesight. Are there healers here? Can anyone help him or recommend an approach to do so? During the down time he will make sure Aravashnial is seen by healers and has at least a Cure Light or two cast on him by Freya (if she is willing).
2) Make sure they have a good description of Hosilla.
3) Go and try to befriend the local alchemist, and spend most of his free time in the lab where he will make what he can from the Basidirond Spores and also make some useful alchemicals for the party.
Other rolls: Paying half price to make some Alchemist Acid
After some time in at the alchemy lab the wizard has created a vial of acid and a purplish fluid in a small vial.
Terry I have something for you. He displays the vial. This is the concoction I was able to brew from the Basidirond Spores we found. If placed on a weapon and then used to injure someone the effects would be like a mad and confused rage. Or enemy, so wounded might stand and do nothing during a fight, attack his fellows, or even attack himself. I predict it would be particularly effective against divine casters who depend on their wisdom, and recommend you use it when we face a number of enemies so to give a chance of your target turning on his friends.
Mirel will wander the town with Anevia, strengthening their friendship. She also would like to ask the chief of perhaps one of the other mongrelmen if they have a layout of the cultists camp/base/headquarters/whatever. She also would like to know if they expect there to be any demons there. Finally, she will wait on her companions to be ready to continue on their mission.
Lirrathan uses his funds for nothing specific beyond enjoying himself. He drinks too much, eats too much, and by morning hasn't slept enough.
Arcessentes and Aravashnial walk out of the "surgeon's" house with dejected faces. "Worry not Arcessentes. I am quite confident the clerics above will be able to restore my sight."
Anevia and Mirel laugh as Lirrathan stumbles out of the inn, apparently looking to use a restroom. He trips and lands on his backside. Unfortunate timing reveals more than he likely intended and Anevia looks at Mirel and starts to laugh again. She winces after a few moments as she puts too much weight on her bad leg.
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"Chief Sull, although grateful already to you and not wishing to be...pushy...has requested you to see him. I'm sure he is anxious to know your response." Lann's voice lilts through the air.
Back in the chief's meeting room, he gazes at you with his watery eyes, "My young lady, I am sorry to say that we do not know anything about the traitor's camp. They've killed many whom I've sent to try to persuade them back to us. I can only hope there are no demons, though I believe firmly there is not. The fact that we are still here means that they do not quite have demonic aid yet. But I've heard this Hosilla of theirs referred to as very demonic...but quite human."
"So my fortuitous friends? Will you help us? Destroy these traitors and take word of our readiness to join the crusade back to the top?"
For my part I will help. It seems we have little option to encounter this group if they are indeed on the way back up to the surface. We must go that way so we will at least have a look at them. Can you describe this fellow, Hosilla? I should hate to see him and not know it was him.
"As was pointed out, we'll be hard-pressed not to deal with this group somehow. If they are what you describe, then removing the obstacle so that we can offer your services to the Crusade is the obvious, simple choice. I would be surprised at this point if something else seems a better choice when we get to time to make the decision."
"I would be willing to wipe out this group of cultists regardless if it was on the way out or not." Mirel says, her voice steely.
No, no, no. We kill the leader and return the misguided Mirel. My hope is that few if any of the group will need to be hurt once we deal with their leader.
"Yes my skinny friend, I too hope that most of them will come back to us once Hosilla is gone. I do not know what she looks like...only that she is a female human."
Lirrathan, still a little groggy from his last night's activities, just smirks at the ideals of the group. "Sadly, I get a feeling we won't get to the leader, without having to go through a few of the crazies. Since this looks like our only way out, I got no problem with it. Besides, it could be fun. Let's see where this goes." With that he eagerly grips the handles of his sheathed blades, and jerks his head as if to say "let's go".
"Lann will accompany you, at least part of the way to show you where to go. Please...will you take my message of aid to the surface? There are other tribes of mongrels down here and at our hearts we want to be accepted as people."
Of course. You are people, and of value to this fight. We will speak for you. Arcessentes is ready to go.
Freya smiles and nods. "Consider it done. We shall protect Lann as well."
Mirel says nothing in argument to Arcessentes, but it is obvious she is ready to go.
"I thought we had already reassured you that we would deliver your message offering assistance?" Terry honestly looks confused. "No matter, we can say it again if it will help you believe us. We intend to offer your assistance exactly as you have requested."
You travel with Lann for about 20 minutes. "Five minutes walk will bring you to the traitors' camp. Please be as gentle with them as you can...many of them are still family." He heads back towards Neatholm with a sort of salute.
Barricades made of heaped loose rocks and wooden boards bisect this cavern. Beyond the barricades, a wooden screen covers the lower half of a tunnel mouth.
Freya leads the group, sword whip in hand. Upon seeing the barricade Freya does what she can to remove it.
The wizard stands near by, ready to defend Freya should she come under attack.
Lirrathan just throws up his hands in frustration. He reaches down and rubs the scale, and his appearance shifts to a mix of various types he saw in the city. He looks like a mongrelman, and follows right up behind Freya. "Whoa. Running a little hot?" He turns to the mongrelmen behind the barriers "She's just eager to accomplish our mission. We're here to see Hosilla to lend our help to her cause, but need to tell her ourself."
He turns to the others of the group, adding, "Let me do the talking. We need my special brand of 'diplomacy' for a tough crowd like this."
Quietly: "Yeah, going in looking for a fight when you were warned they are ready to fight is suicidal. Not a frontal assault opportunity."
"If we are going to take that route..." Mirel attempts uses extra cloth to make a "bandage" over a "wound" across her stomach to hide the holy symbol of Calistria. "It would be a lot more believable if holy symbols were hidden. Hosilla is a cultist leader who worships Baphomet, remember?"
Freya takes a break in her work. "That is a good idea Mirel!" Freya stows away her holy symbol.
Lirrathan looks back at Arc, "Hey, you still got that ring? Nows a good time to put it on. It can't hurt. If none of you want to, I'll do it."
The nearest of the mongrelmen smiles at the rambunctious Freya, "Hah! You remind me of m'own son." He scratches his shoulder and looks over questioningly at the other mongrel, "I didn't hear nothing about anyone comin' to talk to her Ladyship...but that ain't new I guess. Right then, go ahead in and talk straightaway to Uziel."
The wizard nods at the ranger. Smark kid. he thinks as he slips on the ring where it can easily be seen.
In a den of demon worshipers, Lirrathan kicks in his natural anger when he responds to the door mongrel, "Well, genius. Unless Uziel is standing out in the open carrying a sign with his name on it, where the hell can I find him? I just came from the surface during the attack with these guys' help." he jerks his thumb at the group, "The last thing I feel like doing is wandering around until I find Uziel."
Terry doesn't try to join the bluff brigade, instead focusing on watching those he can see, trying to be ready in case anything goes wrong.
The mongrelman starts for a moment. "Uziel will be with her Ladyship, down below. Go in through here and head through to the southeastern cubby. In there you'll find a hole with a rope ladder. What are your names again?"
Lirrathan shakes his head in irritation for having to get directions, but when asked his name he scowls and gets loud, "Our names?! You have got to be kidding me? Oh, I'm sorry, is this some sort of elite noble's house that has some slack-jawed doorman allowing a select list of people into the grand ball? Who the hell are you to question me and my crew? If you really must know, I am Lir, but the arrangements I have made with these upworlders is none of your concern, just Uziel and Hosilla!" He hopes that his anger obfuscates the lie a little, adding an idea to his importance.
Freya pats Lirrathan on the shoulder. "Ok, I'm sure they understand the position they are in and who is talking to them right now." She smiles.
"Let's just get this done." Terry sighs, looking at the guard with sadness visible in his face. I hope this path doesn't force us to try to kill all of these . . . people. Even these don't deserve death for simply trying to improve their lot.
The lingering smells of cooked meat and rank bodies hang in the air. Ten bedrolls, each piled with coarse blankets and animal furs, surround a fire pit filled with glowing goals. Tanned hides hang stretched on the walls, each crudely painted with scenes of deformed humanoids hunting giant vermin in caves. A partially feathered, female, partially insectoid creature stands next to the southeast doorway.
Lirrathan can't help but smile a little, clearly enjoying when he pulls off a good lie. As they approach the weird creature, he chokes back his revulsion and does what he does with almost all females, flirt "Hello there, sweetheart. You look like you're here to guard this door. They made a good choice by the look of you. So, I'm here with some allies from above, we're on our way to meet with Hosilla and Uziel. Maybe if we finish our business fast enough, I'll have a little time left over to come back and maybe see about sharing a drink with you?"
"For one so happy to see Uziel and Hosilla? Sorry I have no time...now or later. Go about your business with "her ladyship"." the woman almost spits out the words.
She points sharply through the dark doorway.
Her ladyship can expect no help from this one. Arc thinks as he moves with the others through the doorway.
In the southwestern part of this room, stout stone chairs surround a block of larger stone t hat ser ves as a t able. The table’s top strewn with bone dice and cracked clay jugs. Stained canvas pillows rest on the chairs. A copper bowl filled with coals hangs from the ceiling, filling the room with warmth and an orange glow.
No one seems to be at home.
Lirrathan glances around the room before seeing the thing he was looking for, "There we go, over there is the hole with the rope ladder the idiot at the front door told us about." he indicates the southeastern corner of the room.
Ah, so it it. How unperceptive of me. Stepping back out of the building for a moment Arc quickly casts his Mage Armor on himself and then steps back in. I am ready to proceed.