"Like I said, something's going on here. I'm not backing down now." Serila shoots a bolt at the kobold northwest of her.
"Move back if you're hurt and can't fight, I'll heal you when the threat's gone."
Another kobold drops to the ground from a bolt from Serila's crossbow.
The kobold in front of Hajar steps back and whips his chain weapon at the Paladin striking a weak joint in the armor. A javelin flies at Hajar from the far kobold but sails overhead.
Serila
Kobolds
Keanan
Balazar
Atsushia
Un'gra
Hajar
Atsushia protect her friends with her magic, using traces of former spells used to create a small but efficient (hopefully!) barrier
Beware Hajar, these pesky kobold are a treacherous lot!
Hearing Atsushia, Keanan moves closer to the stairs and looks for people coming out. "You guys coming out? Is there an army of Kobolds or something?"
"There was until we killed about half of'em. Come join the party."
Un'gra drinks the potion and attempts to grab his bow from Serila.
Hajar grimaces against the pain of the scratch and says Mistress, why do you waste your time with such as these!? yet he charges the nearest kobold, eager to see this finished so that Serila might be protected.
Hajar charges the bluish gray kobold and slashing it through the heart killing it.
Serila
Kobolds
Keanan
Balazar
Atsushia
Un'gra
Hajar
fail
Saved
First reloading her crossbow once again, Serila shoots a bolt at the last kobold standing.
I hope this ends it!
The last kobold pitches over backward with a crossbow bolt sticking out of it's eye.
"Hey Keanan, ya missed all the fun. Serila, thanks for grabbing my bow. I'll let ya investigate, I'm going to drink this potion."
Hajar winces at the burning in his leg.
While hading the bow over to un'gra Serila's head begins to feel fuzzy. She grabs hold of the wall next to her, thinking she may pass out. "Guys, I'm feeling very diz..."
A warm feeling spreads through Serila's body and she stares at her hands. Serila drops her crossbow when she notices small flames are dancing around her fingers, but she's quick to realize the fire won't harm her. The situation reminds Serila of the time she awoke her powers as a sorceress, though the feeling's slightly different. It doesn't take her any effort to make the flames disappear. The warm feeling inside her stays.
<Use my gift wisely, young Serila.> a familiar voice says, though Serila isn't sure where it came from.
I wil, lady Sarenrae.
Serila picks up her crossbow and reloads it. "Keanan, Balazar, did the bodies upstairs have anything useful on them? Please join us downstairs when you're done, I'm going to heal everyone."
While waiting for Keanan and Balazar to join the others downstairs, Serila searches the bodies of the kobolds downstairs. She also casts new dancing light, to ensure they won't run out while she's looting the kobolds.
Keanan and Balazar join the others down the stairs. "Thought you guys said you were going to run up stairs. Now you want me to come down stairs. I'll just follow along. I found nothing of interest up there anyway."
"I'm going to try something new," Serila says when Keanan and Balazar join downstairs. "I saw Nebdel do it before he left, and think I'll now be able too."
I thank you Mistress Gudlinck, the Lady truly blesses you. But answer me, why did we slay these creatures? What harm did they cause us?
Hajar sways a moment and then sits down Their weapons, they linger...
"Well thank ya, Serila for my bow and the healing. I'll try not to get so almost killed. We should be ready, a few got away and who knows if there are more down here.
Un'gra stows his bow but keeps his rapier out. He goes to each of the halls leading out of this room to see what he can see then stops at the center of the room to tell the others what he saw.
Keanan stares at Serila, interested in hearing her reply.
The stairway opens into a large rectangular chamber. The stone walls of this area are covered with intricate carvings of dwarves toiling in mines or smithies. In the center of the chamber stands the bottom half of a broken obsidian obelisk. Crude picks, hammers, other tools and dead kobolds lie scattered around the chamber.
North Hall goes for 20ft then has a T intersection you can not see east or west at the T but father north you can hear water bubbling.
West Hall goes for 20ft and comes to a three way intersection heading west their is a set of double doors 20ft father on. The corridor also continues north. You hear a high pitched hissing scream come from down the north hall.
East Hall goes for 10ft then opens into a large stone chamber which is dominated by a deep pit filled with molten slag at its center, that casts a hellish red gleam on the walls.
Atsushia looks at Serila with interest, and asks her, as if she was participating to an intellectual debate in a university and not adventuring into the middle of ruins
You're a young woman full of ressources, Serila. That healing power was impressive, and will surely be helpful.I noticed your accuraccy has greatly improved too. Do you think there is a link between your new found abilities and your augmented skill with the crossbow?
"You're welcome, and I don't mind explaining it," Serila replies to Hajar. "The kobolds attacked us, which is why we fought back. When one fled I went after it for two reasons. One, it attacked us and some of you were even hurt by it. I didn't want to let it get away for that reason. Two, every kobold downstairs would know of our presence in the monastery. There was no telling with how many kobolds it'd return."
"But after we arrived downstairs, there were quite some kobolds. I attacked these for the same reasons. One, they immediately attacked us. So I replied their attacks with attacks of my own. Two, if we'd let them go we would have to face more kobolds later. Besides.... I don't think they'd have let us go... Did you notice how they kept attacking you while you tried to retreat, Hajar?"
"Lady Sarenrae shows mercy to those who renounce evil, and I will follow her example. Creatures who try to kill people just because they feel like it, those are evil to their core. And I can't yet prove it, but something's wrong here. We should continue to explore this basement."
Serila laughs at Atsushia's remark about accuracy. "Ive never made such awful shots as earlier, missing five shots in a row. But no, I don't think my skill with my bow has improved. Perhaps there was a guiding hand? Oh... I should check if the bolts I fired are still usable..."
After a quick dash upstairs and checking the bolts, Serila returns with one bolt.
Better than none.
Keanan stares at Hajar, interested in hearing his reply.
Hajar gives a small shrug I did not know that they were the aggressors...Why are we here in this place? Does this place have some purpose?
Un'gra walks over to Keanan, "This place crazy. pretty sure I heard a snake screaming or something over there" pointing West "and I heard some water over there" pointing North.
"What you think these place is anyway?"
Keanan turns to Un'gra. "Well, I dunno. I think we need to spend some time discussing some of the philosophical questions posed before we move forward. We seem to be disjointed."
"This place was once a dwarven monastery, but I have no idea what the basement contained back in the days," Serila replies to Hajar, "Our original objective for coming here was simply checking the basement out, because our group didn't get to do that last time. We then heard tales about a necromancer, and we hoped to find clues here."
Serila looks to the room upstairs. "How late is it, does anyone know? When we need to rest we may want to clear a room that's easy to defend. Personally, I can keep going for some more time. I have some healing left too."
"What about clearing the tower and using it to sleep in? I heard the group and this guy named Jeffrey did only clear its main floor, perhaps there's something to discover on the other floor."
Keanan speaks up. "Why are we here in this place? I'm here for a higher calling. An honorable calling: greed. I'm trying to amass a fortune. What is the purpose of this place? I see this place a way of acquiring wealth."
Atsushia looks with interest at the carving in the walls, trying to figure what story they are telling
Could you please take a look at these, Keanan? I'm not well versed into dwarf's culture and theology, and as this place was a monastery, I suspect there will be some religious intent to these pictures. I don't want to miss a crucial point.
But perhaps you prefer to fight every thing that can cause us trouble first? That would mean I could take all the time I need to study the carvings. It's like a big book, in stone. And no one will steal it in the very near future, after all.
By the way, there are still some potions we found and the kobolds that need identification, and some gems we don't know the value of.. We should check on these too.
Keanan takes a look at what Atsushia is pointing to. "Uhhhh, yep, interesting. I completely agree with your assessment." .
This is really ancient... more than a thousand years old, I think. The tale on the wall tells of an ancient dwarfen kingdom underground. They fought numerous ennemies, but the danger came from inside, as brother fought agaisnt brother, and dissension ruled. The kingdom crumbled slowly, over the year, and their old honorable virtues were fading from memories, till only greed, scorn and envy subsided.
Atsushia touches the wall reverently, mesmerized by the story on stone
I NEED to write about that!And to take lessons in Dwarf langage!
Keanan listens to Atsushia. "Well greed, within the law, is indeed an honorable virtue. That's alive in well in me."
"I look forward to reading your writings."
Keanan will however, to the extent possible, translate any dwarven language he can into common to help.
Does the name of Droskar rings a bell for you, Keanan? And don't worry, I'll keep one book just for you. You're too kind!
Atsushia's smile beams at the druid, and for a few seconds, she's about to hug him, even if she isn't very sure how you "hug" someone.
You'll be my first reader, I promise!
The little halfling woman lose all control and hugs Keanan, very awkwardly
Keanan looks at Atsushia after the hug. "Uhh, thanks. Anyway, half the things in these lands are named after Droskar. There's the volcano known as Droskar's Crag, the Droskar Crucible, the Eye of Droskar, which looks like this." Keanan rolls up his sleeve and shows some mark on his arm that looks like a green crystal of some sort with strange markings on it. Keanan then pulls his hide armor over his arm, covering the symbol.
"Many dwarves worship him, or did. Not me, but many did. I don't really study religion, but I believe it is common knowledge for stoutfolk in this area. What exactly he was about or wanted I never really paid attention. I know the druids in my clan weren't too happy with that mark on my arm."
Ya got a good point about finding a place to sleep for now, Serila. Second floor of that tower seems like a good place... Uh, actually I think Jeff mighta broke the stairs. Maybe we should check it out now, before it gets too late. We can keep searching after we check it out, I just wanna know we got a place to get away from these damn Kobolds and their stupid pointy sticks.
Un'gra heads toward the stairs, stops, and looks at the group. "Ya coming? Me going on my own hasn't been going to well." If no one follows, Un'gra will head back up and own.
Keanan says, "So, we kill some kobolds and hope they don't notice for the night and come looking for the people who did it? You think they'll just sit around and wait for us?"
Hajar thinks he may know something about Droskar.
To stay here is folly, we should quit this place and return to the town. Our objective was the Witch's Hut.
"Hmmm, your objective was the Witch's Hut. My objective was to get some coin for delivering a man to the hut, while on the way here. The reason I came here is, well, besides greed, is to figure out what caused the taint in the water that killed so many innocent lives." Keanan looks around at the walls with all the information. "Are you sure this place is unrelated to that? If so, then if we leave I hope you are sure of it, since we no longer have any more ingredients to cure the town. I'd hate for that to be on my conscience, leaving the place that could have caused the water taint and failing to stop it from happening again, killing all those innocents and seeing their guts pour out of their mouths in pain. Well, I don't have much of a conscience, so it wouldn't keep me up all night, but if I did, it probably would."
Keanan and Balazar begin walking out of the room. "So, when we arrive back in town, you can let them know of our extensive progress in solving the mystery on what caused the taint, and our extensive investigation of this location probably filled with evil creatures, all of which likely have a motive for doing it. Like I said, we needed to have a philosophical discussion before proceeding. I'm glad we had it." Keanan walks upstairs, following Un'gra.
"I'm with you that we should clear the Kobolds out, Keanan. I just want to have a safe spot ro go later and I thought it might be good to clear that spot now. Seems like it's still early and I still got some fight in me. These kobolds seem like bad guys what the problem taking em out?
"An ancient dwarven kingdom underground? What if the kobolds claimed the kingdom?"
Serila sighs when the others seem unable to agree. "I suggest we first clear what's left uncleared on the main floor. If it's not too late then, let's explore this basement some more. If it's getting too late to continue exploring the basement, let's try to fortify the tower so we can sleep there in shifts."
Hajar eyes the greedy dwarf aghast As you say. is all he replies. He moves close to Serila and whispers Mistress, how do you know the taint originated here? This place that the light of dawn does not reach is cursed, it should remain undisturbed. If you seek answers about necromancy best to speak with that Vade fellow.
Hajar, maybe the kobold knows nothing. Maybe they know something about the taint.Maybe they are alone in that tower, maybe there are other threats. I think we should do our best to make this place safer. Because if someone comes here, lets say to protect himself from the rain, and get killed by the kobolds or anything else... We may be able to rid this place of evil and/or dangerous things. Don't you think we should at least try? Maybe later we could even build back this place as a safehouse for travelers, and you could put a small shrine to your deity in a corner.But for tonight, we need rest, and the sooner will be better. We're here, there is no point in going away, and maybe put ourselves in bigger trouble than we may be by staying in a secured area.
She puts her ink-tainted finger on her lips, then adds
I agree there are a lot of "maybe" in my sentence, but I'm not a Diviner. I can't tell for sure. I'm an Abjurer, and for me that means more than a mere focus in arcana: it means I want to do my best to protect others.
Turning to the small wizard Hajar says Mistress, this place is on the forgotten side of a mountain, almost two days travel through inhospitable forest from the nearest small village. There are other, more eminent sources of evil much closer to Falcons Hollow. My Lady does not condone slaying sentient beings because "maybe'" they might be evil or "perhaps" they were involved in some plot. And she certainly doesn't do it for some base desire for a shiny metal coin....
Hajar gives a shrug I am here to protect Serila, my place is at her side.
Un'gra stops "Ya worried the kobolds ain't bad? Hey Keanan, those Kobolds ask ya what you're doing here before they started their stupid lil' sticks at ya? Hajar, I was raised by goblins and I think these buggers are bad, you should think they're demons in training or something. "