Lirrathan actually smiles and gets a twinkle in his eye when Arc displays a little bite, nodding respectfully at the insult "Well, you should've told us you were a mind reader Arc. All I heard was a dwarf who was trying to use demons to fight demons, a little fight fire with fire. There is more than one way to battle evil, you know. As for helping a friend, did you read their minds too? Because all I saw and heard was demonically deformed folk talking to a pile of rocks that made noises back. How do you know they aren't also working with demons?" All his questions returned playfully, no malice in his voice. It's like he is having fun with the back and forth.
The wizard ignores the ranger and goes to help dig out a potential friend.
"Could these be some of the mongrelemn, or do you have reasons to call them Demonically deformed? If they are mongrelmen, they are probably our best chance at getting out of here with any speed, or at all."
Mirel ignores the bantering and moves toward the scene. "Peace! We mean you no ill will, if you mean none toward us!"
Lirrathan just shrugs, "I don't know what they are. No one answered me back when I asked about mongrelmen the first time, so if that's what it is, we would all be better off fully informed by those in the know." He follows close behind, ready to attack if they change their mind again after talking to these people too.
I too vote to try to befriend the Mongrelmen. They are not usually evil and are more victim that threat. Perhaps we could call upon them for aid, and maybe help them in return.
Since the general consensus is that these things may be the likely friendly mongrelmen, Lirrathan decides to let the others do the talking. He hangs back, but only so far back that he can still get in the fight right away in case things go sour.
Standing beside Mirel with no obvious weapons Arcessentes adds If you have lost a friend we can try to help you find them.
As Mirel walks forward and greets in peace the two folk give a start.
One, a woman who is hunched with so many warts and growths that she can't actually speak, shrinks back. The other, a half half-elven and half serpent faced man, slowly looks up at her and Arcessentes. He raises one hand and speaks, "If you mean peace, please help us. Our friend has been caught under the rubble for a time. Rocks fell after some great sound from above. We are trying to clear the rocks without shifting the pile. As you can see, he is in danger of being crushed." The man's half-elven half is beautiful, and the smile on that side is easycoming and welcoming. "My name is Lann. She is Dyra and our trapped companion is Crel."
Following Mirel closely, the wizard comes up and speaks to the two mongrelmen. Yes, we do wish to help. I am Arcessentes. I am somewhat knowledgable in the moving of earth and believe I can help, if you all will do as I ask.
With that he begins to give specific instructions to everyone helping, efficiently and safely directing the movement of specific rocks and areas of dirt to free Crel, all the while calling out assurances to him to remain calm and still.
Lirrathan helps, but about as much as he can that could still be called help while still being as little as possible to not be considered mundane menial labor. All the while he huffs and sighs, groaning and complaining with every rock he's expected to lift. It's fairly obvious that he's only helping to hurry the rest of them along, instead of how long it would take if he didn't.
Lirrathan helps, but about as much as he can that could still be called help while still being as little as possible to not be considered mundane menial labor. All the while he huffs and sighs, groaning and complaining with every rock he's expected to lift. It's fairly obvious that he's only helping to hurry the rest of them along, instead of how long it would take if he didn't.
Mirel, though she is by no means all that strong, will follow Arc's instructions and help her comrades remove the rocks he points out... with only slightly less grumbling than Lirrathan (although her grumbling is more about how heavy the rocks are than how long it is taking).
After several minutes of help, whether grumbling help or not, you manage to safely help the trapped mongrelman alive.
Anevia looks at the disfigured woman with pity in her eyes, "How can life be like this? Those poor First Crusaders..."
Horgus harrumphs at this but is otherwise silent.
Aravashnial, on the other hand, is intrigued and asks multitudes of questions of the (partly) beautiful mongrel. Listening to the conversation you learn that the creature's name is Lann. After a few minutes it becomes apparent that Lann is growing tired of being treated as a sideshow and politely asks the blind wizard to stop. He does after biting his next question down.
Lann looks at the party with tears forming, "My thanks kind folk. Truly, not all of the surface would treat us with respect. Please, allow us to escort you to our city, Neatholm, where our chieftain can reward your bravery and generosity."
Arc is pleased that his skills were useful and is happy to accept. As they walk he asks You have a city down here? Fascinating. How many citizens? And what do you eat? he asks a little concerned. Also what were you doing in those runes?
Lirrathan is confused by the line of questioning, "Hey, that's all nice and stuff, exchanging pleasantries and all, but does going to this city of yours help us get back to the surface at all? Not that I don't appreciate a reward and all, but I'm not really in my element here."
"We certainly appreciate the offered generosity, but our common goal is to get back to the surface. It just seemed a huge mistake to try to ask for your help towards our goal without trying to help with your friend. I'm glad he's alright."
"Assuming your fair city is on our way, however, we would be glad if you could escort us there."
The serpent-man nods and says "Truly we are lucky. Neatholm is on the way to a passage that leads towards the above. There are...complications...along that passage though. If you are agreeable, we should start to head back to my city. There are things that are not best met in these caverns. We can talk along the way. It is not long of a walk, even with the wounded between us."
Acressentes nods agreement and starts walking helping his blind charge along as they move. Very well. I am walking. Now to my questions?
Lann chuckles at the wizard, "Peace, new friend, I will labor to answer your queries. Yes, we have a city we have named Neatholm. There are only a few of us, perhaps 40, left there. There was a...division...among us some weeks ago. We eat whatever creatures we can manage to hunt down here. We three were out doing just that when a terrible tremor shook the ceiling and rubble came flying down. Poor Crell was trapped by some of the tower ruined by this."
After walking about half an hour, ahead, a wide chasm splits the tunnel floor. The floating rock dust in the air and the groans as the tunnel walls settle indicate that the tunnel split recently. The chasm looks to be about 10 feet across. You can't quite see the bottom.
"I'm guessing this is new? You don't seem to be carrying anything designed to cross it, and there's not a bridge of any sort already in place . . .." He looks at the distance, and thinks for a moment. "We found some rope earlier, right? I should be able to jump across this pretty easily. If we have enough rope and I can find a place to anchor it over there, we could make it easier for everyone else to cross." Looking at the entitled fat man, he shrugs. "Well, easier for most of you. Otherwise, we'll need to try to find something to use to build a bridge."
Lirrathan is mostly unconcerned by what the mongrelmen have to say, at least until he hears something juicy, "A division? So, what happened? Spill the details."
As they come across the gap, he looks like he's interested, but Terry says he has a good chance of getting across. "You want to tie off, I'll hold the other end... um one of you guys want to help?" He asks the mongrelmen. His gaze not even falling on Hobbles, Blinky or Worm.
Perhaps I should go over first as I can levitate with my dragon scale. Arcessentes offers.
Lann, looking at the chasm, says "This was not here when we came this way some hours ago. If I had to guess I would say that it was caused by more falling rocks. I can certainly climb down and take a look, but I would feel more comfortable if someone came with me."
Mirel looks with concern at the chasm. "Anevia, how will you get across?"
"It'll be slow but I can climb. I'll have to. Unless anyone can use magic to get me across."
I can levitate myself and perhaps someone who is light across. I would have to float to the ceiling and move across and then back down, but I could do that a three or 4 times at least, getting anyone in true jeopardy of the jump across safely and without risk. The other can jump with the safety of the rope.
"Well, I don't really know much about how levitation works, but if I've jumped across with a rope already, couldn't you just pull across on the rope? If the scale will let you levitate, can others use it for the same effect?"
With the others talking about climbing down into the pit, Terry shrugs. "I don't do much climbing. Running and jumping? Sure. Climbing? Not normally something I need to do."
Sure you can pull me across, and we can rig a harness to carry most of the others across with me, one at a time. But the scale will only levitate me.
Aravashnial snorts and says, "I don't have any spells prepared for this aside from the same levitation, and limitation, that Arcessentes is speaking of. Not that you asked me."
While the others discuss what to do Arc ties a rope securely to himself and offers the other end to a jumper.
Terry puts the bow across his torso, takes the rope in hand and backs away from the rift, looking to get himself clear running room for the jump attempt.
"Ready?" he asks everyone else, pausing for a double heartbeat before starting his run. Aborting if anyone brings up something else.
If no one stops him, he leaps a little early from the edge of the crack, choosing to need the additional distance in order to avoid having the floor crumble out from underneath him, his arms working in the air as he leans forward into his landing on the far side.
Once Terry is safely on the other side Acessentes borrows and secures a second rope to him to leave on this side. He then levitates and begins to ferry people across. He can carry 300 lbs and weighs around 100 with gear. His spell lasts three minutes but he can cast it three times a day and the other wizard can also cast it.
Lirrathan, still not comfortable with the thought of dropping into an unfamiliar chasm of untold depths decides to grip the rope and be the next to cross.
Freya shakes her head. "I wasn't made for this."
The crossing goes by uneventfully. Anevia clasps Terry and Arcessentes' shoulders in thanks while Gwerm merely humphs. Aravashnial nods approvingly at Arcessentes and says "Good work. Would that we had the likes of you..."
Continuing mostly southeast for 20 minutes you come to a circular cavern. Roughly forty feet in diameter. Thick sheets of fungus grow in the cave, and several tunnels branch off. All of these save one in the north wall lead downward; the northern one leads upward. What appear to be two dead bodies lie on the ground in the middle of the cave, next to a strange heap of ropy green fungus.
The two mongrelmen who haven't spoken yet squeak in fear. Lann looks around the cave and says, "Spore-cougher. These men...killed him?"
Freya eyes the armor admiringly. "That looks pretty light, good work."
What have we here? The wizard ponders as he takes in the scene.
The creature a Spore-cougher, is a Basidirond. And those men do not follow Iomedae. That one there wears the holy symbol of Baphomet on his hand.
"Everybody across okay? Good. Now, where were we going?"
This doesn't look good. We may be in trouble.
"Uh, him? I only see two bodies?"
Freya draws her whip sword and begins scouting around the area, looking for threats.