As you debate about the fortress ahead of you, There seems to be a storm brewing. When you look closer it looks like the Miasma cloud you had been told about. You could try to return to the forest, but you are certain swarms of Vegepygmies will descend upon you if you do, or you can run to the base of the fortress and seek shelter.
"A pack of something like dinosaurs passed through here recently, their tracks are too uniform for unintelligent beasts. Perhaps they have riders or are unnaturally intelligent. Still I believe we must seek shelter immediately and the way forward looks safer than the way back."
"Ordinarily I'd say the devil you know beats the devil you don't," says Ayodhan, "but the lingering effects of the vegepygmies were quite unpleasant. I agree with forwards. Perhaps we can avoid these dinosaurs, or parley with them or their riders if Drazhar's suspicions about the tracks are correct. I don't think we'll have the chance for either with the pygmies."
"Agreed. Forward it is."
Well enough talking about it lets get moving.
Elrinides begins to jog towards the distant towers...
Theodemar nods.
"If nothing else, shelter from the wind would be welcome. I saw we barricade the doors of the fortress if we can, should it be empty."
You press on to the fortress, you have to run to beat the miasma heading your way. You reach the base of what looks like a giant anthill from the distance, but when you get closer you can see there is a lot more intricacy to the architecture. A sand wall falls in front of you creating a large 20'x20' entrance to a tunnel. You hear a voice in your minds. "Hurry, get inside" It is similar to the voice of Hon-Zon.
Hearing the voice makes him uncomfortable, but having no other discernible options, Vesryn enters.
It's as disconcerting as the first time he's heard a voice in his head out of nowhere, but at least this time he has the experience to figure that it's probably another Lashunta and not some psychic monster. He heeds the voice and follows Vesryn inside, though he keeps his guard up until the voice's friendliness is proven. They're a long way from help if it turns out to be a trick.
Raina is startled when she hears the voice, but relaxes when she realizes it is Hon-Zon. She scurries inside with the others, wanting to avoid the miasma at all costs, even if that means going into the depths of the unknown.
She grabs her deck, and shuffles it, as it helps to ease her anxiety as well and soothes her nerves. She looks to he others,
So, now what. There is no telling what or who is down here?
Theo follows Vesryn into the fortress.
"I guess we look around, and see what we see. I have light magics to keep it from being too dark."
He casts Light on his clothing.
Elrinides casts dancing lights sending four orbs of light into the tunnels in front of the company of elves... and waits making sure the last of his allies makes it into the relative safety of the towers before entering himself.
Elrindies illuminates the way. Inside the tunnel is very bare, but there are more signs of dinosaur traffic inside. You see no turns or doors, just a straight path infront of you.
Following suit with the others, Ayodhan casts light on his holy symbol. With only one direction to go on, he continues that way, the words and gestures he uses to enlarge Vesryn on the tip of his mind, just in case.
Vesryn leads the way in.
Drahzar and rex will follow after Vesryn.
"Does anyone else hear horses?"
As the "horses get closer" you can feel the rumble of the movement. Soon it becomes an echo through out the tunnel and you can see Lashunta riding large dinosaur-like creatures heading your way. The one in the lead is a beautiful woman with a headdress.
When they are about thirty feet away the woman in the headdress whistles and the procession halts.
Ayodhan recognizes the language, as he'd taken the time to learn it after meeting Hon-Zon. He tries it out, speaking it for the first time in a capacity other than instruction.
Surprised at Ayodhan's ability to speak the language, even though the accent is horrible, the woman continues.
Ayodhan nods his understanging.
"They have offered to take us on their mounts to a camp they've set up deeper in the fortress," he says to the rest of the group in a language they can all understand. "Hon-Zon is there, and they speak of a new, deep hive of Formians they discovered." Ayodhan clambers up onto Lahara-Zo's mount. The prospect of riding a dinosaur, even if for a short time, is simply too awesome to pass up.
Vesryn nodded. "That works for me!"
Elrinides looks at the rest of his companions and shrugs...
Well this is an interesting turn of events. Imagine running into Hon-Zon here, what are the chances. I don't see any reason to not go with them... any one have any concerns they want to bring up?
The Lahara-Zo takes Ayodhan on her mount, others allow for the rest of you to ride behind them. As you travel you see a honeycombed network of tunnels, but it is not long before you see the light ahead.
You arrive inside the fortress. The south wall is more like a fortress you are accustomed too, the north wall is more of the large sand wall, which extends and curves to become a ceiling connecting with the south wall. You see a lot of people, more than were at the meeting with Hon-Zon that first month. He sees the party and stands up from giving a lecture to some young people.
"Priestess Lahara-Zo, I know these elves. " He says looking at you all and speaking in Ancient Sylvan "I know, I have seen it in their minds. The one that rides with me knows our language. If you have more coming Hon-Zon they are on their own, we must ride east, We were headed that way when we stumbled upon them." She responds in Ancient Sylvan and turns her mount to go back into the tunnel, queing you all to disembark.
Raina tries to speak, but words escape her as the sheer size of the mounts makes her lose her words entirely. As she learns that Hon-Zon is ahead, her mood brightens as she is relieved to know he is okay. She joins her companions on the backs of the beasts, and smiles as she sees Hin-Zon come into view.
Hello, it has been an eventful journey to say the least. I am glad you are well as she gives him a smile.
Ayodhan climbs down upon their arrival. He nods deeply to her.
"Hon-Zon, It makes me happy to find you here. I was hopeful that your plan would succeed. Our people are hopeful for an exodus as well, and seemed to be more in need of our help to scout. I don't know how much you heard about the assassination attempts made against us in recent days, but I was afraid that under such scrutiny my own continued involvement in your plan might unravel it through discovery. How many were you able to evacuate?"
Drahzar stays quiet, letting others speak for the group.
Theodemar, true to form, stays quiet. He sidles up next to Drahzar, and keeps silent pace with his quiet companion.
As soon as you dismount Lahara-Zo and her riders leave. Hon-Zon looks you all over carefully. "I was displeased you did not join us. I wasn't sure of your motivations for doing so and I increased work on the mine. We caused a scene when we left and a few were killed, but I can not imagine what you survived traveling through the Forest Wall! As to the assassinations, I did hear, but I know little about them. If you have come to claim this fortress for your people, I am sorry. We are claiming it for all people, not just elves. You can return and tell your people that after you have rested and eaten."
Ayodhan becomes suddenly more guarded when he realizes that Hon-Zon is skirting around the topic of the assassination attempts.
"The idealist in me would like to consider that this place is claimed for all people as a job accomplished. I know I would prefer our peoples coexist together in freedom, here, rather than be further segregated by the need to claim ownership over a place. The cynic in me has difficulty believing that the solution will be so simple when governments become involved, however, and it is difficult to maintain a trust level when one side chooses to conceal information on such a vital topic as the attempted, cold-blooded slaying of one's would-be friends to their faces. I fear we may need to wander farther afield to find a place that isn't already claimed before returning to announce we've found a suitable new home for our people."
Despite what Hon-Zon had said, Vesryn had been bold to see the Lashunta. At Ayodhan's words, however, Vesryn's eye narrowed and he stared at Hon-Zon.
"Is this true? Are you hiding something from us?"
Surprised by Ayodhan's statement Elrinides keeps quiet waiting to see how this all plays out. He never did trust the Lashunta all that much.
"You are right. I am so used to hiding my thoughts, I am no good at hiding my words. I did not mean to hide from the topic, I just did not want to be wrongly implicated. After our first meeting I discovered the ones that tried to assassinate you in the forest. They told me they were training to fight the Sovyrians, I wanted to believe that, but I knew better. I figured an enemy of an enemy...well they were not our friends. One of them tried to assassinate me in the tunnels, but instead only succeeded in killing three mine workers before a Formian straggler got him. "
"I'm sure there's a lesson about trust and intentions in there, somewhere," Ayodhan says, smiling and becoming a bit more relaxed. "It seems it bit you harder than it bit us, in the end. I've never been the sort to carry a grudge." He clasps and rubs his hands together. "I'm still not sure how keen the Winter Council will be about sharing, but I'm sure the case could be made more strongly if it were posed as a defensive alliance. I don't think I've ever seen creatures as big as the dinosaurs I've seen today, and I'm sure most of our people are thoroughly unprepared and unlearned in their abilities and behaviors. Lahara-Zo mentioned a deep hive of Formians. Is that going to be a problem for this location?"
Theodemar nods in agreement with Ayodhan's words.
"The more allies, the better, out here at least."
His attitude is somber, almost sad.
Elrinides maintains a guarded demeanor.
I suppose the important question is... if any of our people choose to come of their own free will... would they be welcomed here... as equals.
"The deep hive is troubling. I suspect they started doing that to avoid the miasma. We do not really know how deep a formian can go. In a way the deeper the better as far as I am concerned, leave us in peace! I hope it does not effect us here. Lahara-Zo will assess the problem and deal with it I am sure, she is quite capable."
"Of course. My people know all too well the sting of the lash. We would not impose that on anyone, but I caution you. When we left we stirred a hornets nest. Things may not be what they were when you return to Sovyrian. Best you hurry back. I would not advise using the tunnels, likely they collapsed them. The way you came is probably best, unless you have a powerful magic user among you." Hon-Zon says with open arms. You look around and see many different races working together at the fortress and it gives you hope.
"I am sure the nobles of El are already scheming how they can justify some new crimes to maintain the status quo, of course only acting to protect people from the dangers outside the city."
"Very well," Ayodhan says, nodding. "Thank you, Hon-Zon, for your offer of safe harbor before we return, and the offer of friendship between our peoples. I only hope that the Winter Council will be as accepting, but if El is a hornet's nest, they may be keen for a mass exodus whatever the terms."
"I trust you will do the right thing now that I have spoken with you. What ever your decision I will not try to stop you from coming and going as you please. We would welcome the Kyonin, but we would want equality for all those who have suffered under your misguided relatives."
"We need to find a safe way to get our people here. I feel that taking thousands through the jungle would be a disaster as many are too old, too young or not skilled enough to protect themselves. Returning to El without a route for everyone defeats the purpose of our trip."
"I concur." Ayodhan nods at Drahzar. "It's worth checking to be certain if those tunnels are actually collapsed as Hoz-Zon suspects. At worst we spend several extra hours, but at best we have a much safer route than through the trees. I have a feeling that the forest and its dangers are serving as the firm 'no' that the Sovyrians aren't saying, but intend to. With one hand they say 'feel free to leave at any time' and with the other they seek to make it impossible to do without great risk of loss." He sighs. "This sort of double-talk makes me sick to my soul."
Our mission was to scout out possible locations for a settlement of Kyonin Elves. Sharing this place with so many other races is a possibility. With the reported change in circumstance in El I can understand wanting to get to our people quickly. But we were sent on a mission to find a home for Kyonin Elves. I would like to scout out the surrounding area and see if there are any other possible locations our people could use as a sight for a new home.
If you all decide to go home I understand and will support that. But if we do, I think we should return by the route we came here by. If our people choose to come here... it will not be a small group that guards the way for our people. It will be hundreds of warriors of all different skill levels and abilities. That's IF the winter council sees the idea of sharing a home with so many other races as agreeable. We didn't live with other races in Kyonin... why would they choose to do so here?
"Well, there is another abandoned fortification of sorts further north. It used to be a way station for Aether pirates. It isn't much to look at, but that is kind of the point. The fortifications are stable. Only few know of it, most of them slaves or slaver pirates. I know someone who can help you find it if you wish. As to getting back to Sovyrian, that staff Drahzar has looks like it might do the trick."
Curious, and if Drahzar consents to keep it relatively still for a few seconds, Ayodhan would like to cast identify on the staff to see exactly what it does.
"Hmm," says Ayodhan, thoughtfully. "I think we should check that station while we're already through the forest barrier. It's good to be thorough and be able to present options. I think my own recommendation would be this place, but Elrinidies is quite right in his suppositions about the Winter Council. And if this staff indeed provides a quick return trip, then it doesn't matter how far afield we roam before returning."
"I thought I had mentioned what this staff did. The return journey to El is not the issue. A safe way to bring our people out of the city is."
"Perhaps you did," says Ayodhan, shrugging. "It's still worth a full identification anyway. Sometimes magic items have hidden abilities, or worse, are cursed. Such things are worth knowing if they can be found.
"In any case, there's no reason we can't attempt both the pirate station and the tunnels before returning to the Winter Council. While Elrinides makes a good point about our people bringing their warriors with them in force through the forest ring, such numbers might draw even greater threats that we haven't observed. I, for one, know very little about this planet's ecology, and whether that creature we had to sneak around was the apex predator or merely a youngster. Moving out of sight would be best, if possible, and determining that viability is important before we consider our job accomplished. My preference would be to check the station first, then check the tunnels on the way back."
Theodemar nods.
"I find myself in agreement, Ayodhan. Let's check the station, and check the tunnels on the way back to report in. Ideally, the tunnels will be of great use, and even if not, we are best not leaving a way to be flanked open to our rear."
He blushes at the attention, realizing some of his companions are looking at him. He quiets down.
Hon-Zon introduces you to Garren Half-Orc. Vesyrn needs no introduction as Garren helped Vesyrn with some odd jobs while he was surviving life outside of El.
"So you made it! Wow that's a nice blade you have." Garren says embracing his friend Vesyrn and admiring his sword.
"I know that place. I escaped from there before I was taken to El. If Hon-Zon says its abandoned now I believe him, but it could just be temporary. The Aethar pirates are cunning, I would be wary of traps if you plan on going there. It is probably two solid days form here. I passed out from fatigue when I escaped so I am not sure." Garren says.