"Heh, the bird tried," he replied to Jaed with a tired chuckle, "but he lacked conviction. Really need to figure out that flying thing better, though..."
Carrakas shrugs non-commitally at the various suggestions, tired and more than willing to follow along with whatever everyone else wanted.
The group spends some time eating a late lunch and cleaning up in preparation to head to the palace. On the way there, everyone's a little on edge, keeping a wary eye on the sky for possible attacks. They sky, however, remains clear and the journey is uneventful. At the palace gates, you are asked your business by the guards, who send a runner off to the main building. Eventually the runner returns with more guards, an armed escort to where Raheem has agreed to see you. You are taken once more past the elegant gardens and through tall rooms supported by elaborately carved pillars.
Your final destination is a smaller room than that Raheem had originally greeted you in with no sign of the thakur. Soft pillows provide plush seats on the floor and food is laid out on a low table in the middle. There's an empty cup for each of you laid out along with servants standing silently by the walls carrying pitchers, waiting to present you your choice of beverage.
As you enter, Raheem smiles and waves for you to sit. "Zubhaa vizarat, my friends. Please, come and sit with me. I see you took my advice to talk to Mahindra." He nods at the man in greeting. His words are in Common, but as he speaks, a woman approaches Mahindra and begins quietly whispering a translation to the matchmaker. "I'm assuming you have progress to report on your investigation? But was there not one more of you? An elvan woman? Will she not be joining us today?"
Marzela glances over at Jaed, who has Lily in a sack.
She bows, and says
Greetings, Raheem. We have been investigating, and we believe we have found those responsible. We found the murder weapon and tracked it back to a man named Lankesh and a place of business: the Apanada Silk Mill. When we entered they ambushed us.
We rescued Mahindra from their clutches, and were able to defeat most of them, but unfortunately our friend Lily was killed during the battle by a creature that we have not yet defeated. We still have her body and were hoping that you might help us get her restored so that we can finish our work.
Here are the only things that we found that might help us trace them past the Silk Mill.
She hands him the note and the scraps of paper that they found (including the one that mentions Raheem).
By the time the reach Raheem Finnrick has had sometime to reconcile with the loss of Lilly and thinks that he may have a solution, but doesn't bring it up to the group quite yet.
"Is it what she would want," he thinks to himself as he gets ready for their audience with Raheem. He says little in the interim taking the loss hard.
Raheem's face grows serious as he hears the report and looks over the notes. "Mahindra, what did you do to to get yourself kidnapped like that?"
After translating the question to Vudrani, the woman next to Mahindra then translates his answer into Common for the benefit of the rest of you. "After our young friends here came to talk to me, I started to look into if someone in the palace might be selling information, in case that could provide further information for their investigation. I had not thought I had learned much save for a man with a drug addiction-- who your Captain Harita is now aware of and I was assured would deal with--but I guess the cult thought otherwise. I am certain they meant to kill me as an example, had not these brave heroes come to my rescue!" He smiles gratefully at the group.
Raheem nods. "It seems they intend something similar for me, my friend. It's possible their plans have now been disrupted, but I will have to increase my personal guard just in case." He turns back to the group. "What can you tell me of the remaining cultists in the city? What was this 'creature' that killed your companion? And has this Lankesh fellow been dealt with? What of this 'Sarpini' mentioned in the note?"
Raheem waves one of his servants over and requests that he bring him a map of the area. When the man returns, the servants quickly clear an area of the table for the map to be spread out in front of you. "Let's see, the note said it would take about 4 days for the 'Order of Unfathomable Darkness' to travel here. And it mentions that they'd travel north..." He begins to sketch out some rough circles on the map as he thinks. "It's close to jungles and hills, so the 'village' referred to must be this one: Leckumgee. The other notes seem to suggest that they were responding to my involvement; presumably they heard about how I had hired you all to look into that. Since that was only a few days ago, even if they had immediately sent someone out to contact them-- something I sincerely doubt-- their messenger would not have yet arrived. It's possible that you acted too quickly for them to have been able to send someone at all."
He strokes his goatee thoughtfully. "My friends, I am willing to bet that you have acted quickly enough that they haven't yet sent word to these 'Masters'. And if I am wrong, they will surely be unaware of this strong blow you have already dealt to their operations here. To this end, if you will agree to travel to Luckumgee and find and deal with whatever base this cult has set up there, I will pay to have the palace priests raise your fallen friend. Would this be amenable to you?"
Marzela is happy with the offer Raheem makes to pay for Lily's resurrection, but she looks to the others to make sure they agree before accepting. She does express one reservation to Raheem though:
I am worried that if we leave town with the Garuda alive, he might attempt your assassination.
Jaed describes the Garuda to Raheem and asks him if by any chance he knows of a creature matching that description living in the city.
When their host makes his offer to resurrect Lily, the rogue is happy to accept. "If that is what it takes to have our friend back I will happily kill all the cultists I can find in that town." And to Marzela's suggestion, he adds: "And I would also agree to deal with that bird for free."
I am worried that if we leave town with the Garuda alive, he might attempt your assassination.
"Yes, such a thought had indeed occurred to me. But I have faith in our defenses: the garuda will not have the element of surprise on its side and it sounds like you have dealt quite a blow to the cult's operations here, so it will not have as much support as it may have hoped. True, they may have many more allies in Niswan that we are unaware of, but I suspect if this were the case, they would not have felt the need to call for reinforcements in the form of these 'masters' mentioned. This other group is most likely at full strength, so I believe they pose a greater threat to this city and myself in the long run."
Jaed describes the Garuda to Raheem and asks him if by any chance he knows of a creature matching that description living in the city.
Raheem shakes his head. "Niswan is a large city with over ten-thousand inhabitants. Most of them are human, but there are a variety of others. I have not personally heard of a garuda living amongst us, but that is not surprising as I cannot know everyone. What I do find surprising is that one would ally itself with the Ebon Destroyers; what little I know of the creatures suggest they are typically good and noble protectors. Though I suppose there are always a few exceptions to any generality."
Raheem nods as his offer is accept. "Excellent news, my friends. In a moment, I will have one of my servants go and contact the palace clerics. If you take your friend's body there, they will be able to raise her. I will also make preparations for your journey south. A man named Bala will be your guide. He is a good man, but he is no fighter. I know the cult is dangerous, but please try to do your best to keep him out of harm's way. I would also be careful who you tell of your mission; I fear if the Ebon Destroyers get word that you are looking for them, they may simply vanish into the local jungle to re-appear at a later time, once we've grown complacent with the thakur's safety. In a similar vein, once you've found where they're hiding, you should attack only when you believe you are ready to crush to avoid giving them time to regroup." Raheem then proceeds to give you directions both to the palace temples and where you're to meet Bala tomorrow morning.
The remainder of the day is thankfully uneventful. You meet with the palace clerics, who raise an eyebrow but say nothing as you haul Lily's lifeless body out of your magical bag. The clerics carefully place her body on a ceremonial table, taking a few moments to clean some of the dried blood from her body and remove any remaining arrows sticking out of her. Their solemn chant begins as they sprinkle glittering dust over her form. Finally, after a minute, Lily inhales a painful gasp of air and begins coughing. Her body aches as a bone-deep chill settles into her bones, begging her to go back to sleep. Somehow, she has the vague impression that she dreamed of being an orc, though she can't remember any details of it and is pretty sure the dead don't dream.
The reunion is joyous, though it's dampened slightly by both physical and emotional exhaustion. Wearily you all trek back to your hotel to collapse in your beds. For some, sleep comes quickly while it eludes others for a few hours. But for all, the sleep in deep, undisturbed, and at the very least physically restful.
The next day dawns, and you all eat a hearty breakfast before checking out of your inn, Marzela thanking the proprietor before leaving. As you exit, you carefully look out for snipers or flying archers but are met with none. You continue to warily watch the skies as you head to your assigned meeting place with Bala.
As you approach the gate out of Niswan, a short bearded man with an easy smile and relaxed manner sees you and waves you over. He's standing next to a small heard of elephants loaded with various traveling supplies. He introduces himself in Vudrani as Bala, your guide and then proceeds to introduce each of the elephants by name. Lily and Marzela will be riding on Malika, Finnrick and Jaed on Jayesh, and Carrakas and him on Kiaan. He regretfully bows several times as he explains that Millsy will have to walk along beside the elephants, pantomiming claws and shaking his head. He hands each of you a few bananas to feed to your respective elephants before helping each of you get onto the creature's back. That done, he clicks his tongue a few times and you begin your journey southward.
Riding on an elephant takes a little getting used to. The animals don't move like horses do and there's a conspicuous lack of saddles on your mounts. You're also much higher up than normal, providing and excellent view of the surrounding farmland south of the city. The area is open and the skies are clear, blue, and free of flying creatures larger than your typical bird. The day is warm, pleasant, and most importantly, uneventful. Towards evening, you approach the wide River Sald and Bala negotiates with a team of ferrymen to row you all across. Coins are exchanged and the men cheerfully sing an upbeat song as they row. On the south side of the river is the small fishing village of Mudaliar, where Bala informs you that you will be spending the night.
"The land south of here has not so many people. When we reach the jungle, it will be much slower going. The trees are thick and there is many hills. I will have to climb down off of the great Kiaan and look for where the animals of the forest roam." His speech is punctuated by a great deal of pantomiming in an attempt to get those who do not speak Vudrani to understand him. His attempts are unsuccessful (not that it matters since Marzela can easily translate), but they are rather entertaining to watch.
Jaed is happy to see Lily alive and kicking again. This happiness combined with the exhaustion allows him to sleep longer than expected even though he has weird dreams about violent bird attacks on the people of a coastal town where he never had been before.
The next day he is happy to ride an elephant for the first time and that makes the trip a somewhat pleasant experience.
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When Lily sits up, she coughs in spasms, then suddenly lets out a loud "Oh!" She pats down her ragged, damaged clothing and says more softly, "oh."
Finally she forces her drooping eyes open long enough to look up at the team and whisper, "You brought me back. Against all odds you pulled me back from the dark."
"I don't... know what to say. Nobody has ever cared about me like that before."
Tears sparkle at the corners of her eyes.
"I'm very tired and I feel like I've had the strangest dream. But I'm alive! I'll never let you down. Let's finish this!"
She runs a hand across her forehead and says, "... after I've had a bath. I feel all... gooey?"
"How long was I... uh... dead?"
The group leaves Mudaliar early the next morning to continue the journey south, reaching the edges of the jungle around midday. Bala announces that he think it's best to stop for lunch before entering the dense forest and begins pulling out provisions for everyone. He's lets you all serve yourself before pulling out large sacks of fruits and vegetables to feed the elephants, which he does while humming softly under his breath. Only once he's done does he sit down to eat his own lunch as your rides meander off slightly to continue munching on the green jungle foliage.
When you're all done eating, you have some trouble getting the elephants to give up on their snacking, so Bala gives you all the last of the bananas to lure them back. As everybody gets situated on their rides once more, Bala and Jaed stay down; Bala to look out for animal trails and Jaed to look for hidden traps (and perhaps occasionally help).
The first thing the group notices once in the jungle is the oppressive heat. Out in the flat lands it had been pleasant, but here under the canopy of the tall trees, moisture seems to cling to the air to produce a sauna-like feeling. It's impossible to tell where sweat ends and the humidity begins and even repeated use of prestidigitation only provides momentary relief. Even Carrakas' fiendish heritage doesn't protect him from the sticky, damp atmosphere. The pace seems unbearably slow, but Bala assures you all that you're making good time.
Those of you not engaged in trail or trap searching find yourselves looking around for some sight to distract your minds from dreams of a hot bath. At first, all you can see around you is closely packed trees and vines stretching in all directions with only the occasional glimpse of the sky. But as your journey continues you start to notice birds. Brightly colored flashes of movement between the trees. Cawing and complaining at one other. Scattering as some slight rustle of underbrush signals some unseen animal moving about. Large-- perhaps too large*-- insects fluttering about through the air. A quick flick of movement as a brightly color frog's tongue darts out to acquire some tasty snack. Suddenly there's a rustling overhead and instinctively you all reach for your weapons as furry bodies swing in the canopy above. But you soon relax when you see that the troop of monkeys have no interest in you poor, ground-bound animals.
Eventually you feel more than see the sun start its final descent to the horizon as the oppressive blanket of damp lifts slightly. Bala informs you that it will soon be late and that it would be best to find a place to set up camp for the night.
Marzela responds to Lily, explaining to her what happened, and what is next, and making sure she feels okay.
Marzela volunteers to be on first watch.
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"Of course we brought you back," Finnrick remarks joyously through tears. "There is already too much darkness in the world and you are a ray of sunlight, shining on us all. Saranrae be praised the hells cannot have you yet." Finnrick is overcome with emotion and temporarily forgets that the worst my still be ahead of them.
Once they set out Finnrick and Millsy occasionally range out searching for trails or tracks and keep an eye out for potential places to camp. He looks for a place that has protection from the elements and can over look the path that they are taking without being seen. If he is able to spot such a place he will point it out to the others, but suggest that they continue walking and loop back around to approach from the other side.
"This way if anyone is following us we will see them pass before they find where we have bed down," He explains.
There is no set path that the group is following; only a variety of animal trails that happen to head in the general direction you are all traveling. Finnrick does manage to find some areas near the current trail you are on, but hiding amongst the underbrush would require splitting off away from the elephants and foregoing use of the tents, as they are far too large to be hidden. Even the humanoids would only be hidden while lying down. There do also appear to be the occasional open area that would probably be more comfortable to sleep in, but afford no hiding places. Though that would also mean anybody approaching would be more visible as well.
"Jaed, do you remember the wolves on our first night on our own? It feels like a lifetime ago. Perhaps we could set up traps as we did back then. I would love to bed down with the animals close in one of the larger clearings." Finnrick speaks with almost a saddens in his voice.
As he observes the area he looks for places to possible set traps.
"I do indeed remember," Jaed replies with a smile. "We set those simple snares on our way to the crypt. We may be able to build something fancier now."
An open campsite sounds good to Jaed so he works with Finnrick to setup the traps and offers himself to watch the camp after Marzela.
"Of course we brought you back," Finnrick remarks joyously through tears. "There is already too much darkness in the world and you are a ray of sunlight, shining on us all. Saranrae be praised the hells cannot have you yet." Finnrick is overcome with emotion and temporarily forgets that the worst my still be ahead of them.
Lily hesitantly reaches out and wipes away one of Finnrick's tears, then quietly says, "I um... I like you a lot, Finn." She blushes furiously and says "I've never said that to anyone before."
"I can stay up late for first watch or do last watch. I just need to get enough sleep to clear my mind if I need to prepare different spells," says Lily.
The clearing doesn't have any obvious hiding places, but just outside the clearing the underbrush and trees provide ample opportunity to hide traps.
Her hand that was moments ago cold and lifeless now warms his skin with it's touch. "I like you too" he says softly clasping her hand and holding it against his cheek. For a moment their eyes meet and a smile swells across Finnricks face. "I really do. " As the moment passes he releases her hand and laughs "I nearly resurrected you myself, but my magics aren't nearly as accurate as those of a no proper cleric. You could easily have returned as a bug ear and then where would we be. Never the matter you are back and as lovely as the day you left. Lovelyer if that is possible," it is obvious that the return of Lilly has brought some of the cheer back into his life and he spends much of the day skipping from place to place.
At camp Finnrick pulls out an old cloth wrapped mirror that he bought in dusty shop in town. Gingerly he takes the mirror out and runs a hand along it. "Could my powers really have grown this much?" he asks himself. Millsy slinks over and curls up next to him in anticipation. Sitting on the ground in the clearing, legs crossed and mirror payed out in front of him he stares into the mirror, through the mirror and attempts to scry on the Garuda.
If we have anything of its from the nest I should get a bonus, but I'm not sure. DC 22 Will negates
Jaed waits until Finnrick is done with his magic stuff and then he asks the group for help with the traps. "I can probably build some traps if we are able to scavenge some materials. I would need logs and vines. Would you mind looking around and bringing me whatever you find while I give Bala a hand with the camp?"
I can make us a Web Shelter with the assistance of Sarenrae. It's sticky on the outside, so it works well for camouflage. Would that work?
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As Finnrick sits down and asks if he's really gotten stronger, the universe seems to answer with a resounding "No" as the mirror remains blank, reflecting only his face back at himself. When he's done, Jaed comes over and asks for some assistance acquiring the materials he needs to try to make some traps. Despite finding some material, Jaed just can't get the knack of getting the logs to both remain on target and stay attached to the vines holding them up. After several hours of trying, Marzela finally shakes her head and just produces a web shelter. It's too small to fit the elephants, and Bala politely declines, preferring to stay with the animals, but it comfortably fits everybody else.
The night passes uneventfully as you all take turns keeping watch outside of your web shelter. Off in the distance, you can hear the sounds of various night creatures, but none seem especially interested in approaching your little camping spot. The sun rises and you all prepare to continue along your journey. Once more you are all engulfed in a warm fog of humidity. Bala continues to scout for animal trails as Jaed looks for traps.
Around early to mid aftertoon, the jungle opens into a larger than normal clearing. Thick foliage parts to display the sky above and a cool breeze renders the air less humid than among the dense trees. A rough wooden shrine holding a wide variety of clay statuettes depicting Vudrani deities stands to one side of the clearing. Seeing your approach, a middle-aged Vudrani man with a scraggly beard and worn, grimy robes approaches you. He greets you first in Vudrani, but seeing the many confused looks, switches to a deeply accented Common.
"Ahh, greetings my friends. Many blessings be upon you this beautiful day. I am afraid that I do not get many visitors here so deep in the jungle in such a remote location such as this. Would you care to come pray here in this most holy enshrined house of worship that I most humbly look after? Or are you perhaps in need of what little wisdom I may have to offer? Few pilgrims come this far into these woods but I am more than happy to provide what little assistance I may."
I would welcome the chance to pray at your shrine, kind sir. And I most humbly ask your wisdom in helping us along our way. Tell us how you can be of service, and perhaps we can help you in return.
She also keeps her eyes open for signs of other people around, or anything unusual.
"How I can help depends entirely on what you seek. Are your relationships less fulfilling than you might otherwise desire? Is there some empty hole in your life that you are uncertain with what to fill it with? Is your job merely a means to an end rather than your life's calling? Whatever your problems, old Sitrakha here will hear them. Sometimes all you need is friendly mirror to reflect upon before the way becomes clear to you."
As he talks, Marzela examines the shrine. It does not seem to be a shrine to any one god but rather there are a multitude of statuettes to a vast variety of Vudrani gods, both good, evil, and neutral. They range from the more well known master of masters Irori to the warrior queen Suyuddha and even to minor deities like Vineshvakhi, protector of celestial harems and treasure vaults. There is also a statuette of Dhalavei, the dark goddess worshiped by the Ebon Destroyers. All the statuettes appear to be well cared for and given equal prominence in the shrine.
There does not appear to be any signs of people other than the shrine keeper.
Jaed can only think that inside the shrine he will be a bit cooler than outside. "Thanks for your offer. I think I will visit your nice shrine if you don't mind. But first, what can you tell us about Dhalavei and her worshipers?"
"Ahh yes, the goddess of internal decay. She is known as a shapely woman with six arms who favors a temple sword and is known for her skills in trickery and deception. They say the land will be shadowed by the blade of the black goddess, unless there are those who can sweep aside the blinding veil. I cannot say that many of her followers come so deep into jungle to this shrine. But then, I cannot say many of any followers venture this far out." He cackles at his little joke. "No, I have not had visitors here is quite some and even those that have come it is not always clear to which deity they pray. I am not one to either judge or pry into their faiths. I am but a poor servant of the gods, like those who tended this holy place before me, with only the holy communion of the great ones themselves for company. Perhaps you might be interested in a blessing in exchange for a few scraps of food or a few coins? I also have this resin that when placed upon your ajna -- your sixth chakra -- will help open up your third eye." He pulls out a small bowl from the folds of his robes that contains some kind of pungent, though not unpleasant smelling, substance. It actually seems vaguely reminiscent of pine trees.
A blessing would be nice. Thank you Sitrakha.
Marzela gives an offering of 15 gold to the man, and says a brief prayer of thanks to Sarenrae for whatever help she can send, knowing that she will be heard even though her image doesn't appear at this shrine.
Sitrakha appears surprised by Marzela's generosity and proceeds to thank per profusely while attempting to smear his resin on the forehead of everybody in the group, between their eyes where their 6th chakra would be. Bala, not being a particularly religious man, politely declines.
Jaed, still ashamed for having failed so miserably last night while trying to build the traps, will not try again. The web shelter sounds good enough for him.
The group departs from the small shrine and continues on their way, Bala continuing to look for animal trails and Jaed continuing to help out and look for traps. Your guide seems to have trouble finding trails that are going in the same direction as you are, so your path ends up in a zig-zag like pattern. Nevertheless, Bala says that you should arrive at the village of Leckumgee either tomorrow afternoon or evening. Once more you find a clearing to set up in. Marzela casts her web shelter, and Bala once more sleeps with his elephant companions. Jaed opts not to try to make any traps, and the group settles into the rhythm of taking watches for the night.
It's during Jaed's watch that the grass around you all comes to life and grasps at all of your bodies.
As the grass begins to wrap itself around them Finnian awakes with a start. His brain goes into panic mode and he instinctively moves out of the hut to make room to transform.
Is it possible for me to become huge.
[ooc]Finnrick has plenty of money, I'll donate 1000gp for the first level. Now many levels is it.[/ooc
Jaed is jast fast enough to avoid being caught by the growing grass. After a brief moment trying to see where the attack is coming from
he decides that protecting Bala should be his priority so he moves next to him.
"Everybody up! We have company!" he yells in case there was someone still asleep.
Jaed dashes towards the slightly confused, prone, previously-sleeping Bala, drawing his weapons as he goes and eyeing the tiger-like humanoid in the trees outside the clearing.
"Wha..." Carrakas wakes with a start, his arms and legs ensnared by the devil plants. At Jaed's call, his foggy brain snaps to attention and he begins to struggle up.
Carrakas wrenches free of the twisting vines, and then he concentrates for just a second before seeming to rush up from the ground and toward the door, bringing a sudden hammer to bear on the door when he arrives.
He then clenches his fist, and the ring with the shield emblem on his left hand flashes, offering him some protection, though he still looks smaller than usual without his armor. He looks into the darkness, trying to spot the threat.
Marzela is unable to kick free of the undergrowth, but she dismisses the Web Shelter spell so that the others at least can defend themselves.
Carrakas struggles against the vines before quickly rushing upwards and slamming the door with his temporary hammer. Were the door made of something more substantial than web, it likely would have made a loud crash, but instead it disappears with a soft pfft. A moment later, the prone and entangled Marzela dismisses the entire structure.
Finnrick transforms into some huge animal before struggling against the vines still holding him to the ground.
Lily likewise struggles against her bonds, managing to wiggle free and giving her the chance to stand up.
Bala, bleary eyed and confused, struggles briefly against his bonds before starting to croon soothingly to his darling elephants, who thus far seem puzzled at their sudden captivity. They seem comforted by their master's calm words and idly pick at their feet or sleepily grab more leaves off a nearby tree to eat.
Meanwhile, from out of the dark jungle two arrows fly out, aimed at the person not obfuscated by large pachyderm bodies.
Marzela struggles against the entangling underbrush again, attempting to break free.
She then tries to avoid getting tangled up again as she stands.
She looks around after easily escaping and wonders how she was unable to do that before, since it seemed almost effortless.
Jaed thinks that Bala should be safe enough surrounded by his elephants so he decides to move closer to the origin of the arrows.
All of a sudden the structure is destroyed as a huge mastodon bursts fourth. Rising to its full height it lifts the roof up with it.
he trumpets.
Now being able to see Finnrick moves towards the origin of the attack[/dice]
Marzela slips free of the vines while Jaed moves towards their tiger-ish foe. Finnrick meanwhile calls to the other elephants as he stands and moves.
"Leader? What is leader?"
"Bala gives us food. Bala friend."
"Bala leader?"
"Breakfast time? I want banana. Bala give us banana. These leaves not as good."
"You always want banana. My turn for banana next."
"Why ground sticky?"
Carrakas moves towards the source of the arrows, struggling through the difficult underbrush before manifesting his armor. Lily meanwhile, moves out of the entangled area and closer towards the arrow source.
Bala manages to free himself and stand up, peering all around to make sure the elephants are unhurt.
From the underbrush there's a rustle of movement, but no new arrows shoot out at the group.
Marzela moves over beside Lily, getting out of the entangled underbrush.
She scans the area to see if there is anything to attack.
Carrakas rushes forward in an earthen rush, zipping right out of the entangled area. He then continues stalking toward the source of the arrows.