There are two exits leading from the cavern chamber--one to the southwest and one to the southeast.
While Dejah conferred with Tabitha and Viorec, and the three looked about the area, suddenly they saw what seemed to be person or the outline of one, but then it was gone!
Pointing to the southeastern exit from the cavern, Dejah quietly warned Cade and Val,
"It looked like a human was pressed up against there, only moments ago."
[dice=Stealth not to be overheard by the "intruder"]1d20+6[/dice]
The presence the party noticed suddenly stops.
"Dammit!"
It then starts moving, trying to escape!
Val looks around in confusion. "Whoa, wait--what's going on?!"
Cade waits where he is to allow his other companions to attack from a choking point.
The strange presence, now revealed to be a man whose skin matches the cavern walls, immediately turns on his heel and flees deeper into the caves.
I will try to stop him.
She mindfully called out to Viorec as he ran past her after the creature. "It's a Skulk. It can change its skin to match its surroundings." Her other companions would have been able to hear her information.
Dejah began to cautiously follow behind Viorec, not matching his speed or ability to deftly move across any piles of rubble, in pursuit of the fleeing Skulk, but keeping her eyes open in the darkness for the cleverly camouflaged skinned creature. Her pike was still in hand.
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Tabitha sees Viorec and Dejah head after the skulk. She looks to Val then to the two running off after the creature. What do I do!.... Um...
"Val, lets follow them! We can't be separated here. And who knows, maybe that thing can speak? It might know where Master Khonnir is!" She takes a few steps towards where the others went before turning back to Val and beckoning her to follow.
While following along, Tabitha will try her best to keep her eyes open for it.
She trips a couple times trying to keep up.
Viorec, Dejah & Tabitha give chase to the skulk while Val stays close to Cade. "Hey! Guys, wait! Don't run off!..."
The skulk has abandoned all notion of stealth in his desperate escape--his skin has become a milky white in contrast to the rocky walls around the party. He runs down the passage, gasping for air in his panic.
The cavern he leads Dejah, Tabitha & Viorec into has a ceiling that rises nearly thirty feet overhead. A five-foot wide ledge runs along the western wall, sloping down to the cave floor ten feet below. Four ramshackle huts made of what appear to be strips of metal, hides, and some sort of fibrous plant matter sit in the cave, while to the south yawns a dark pit.
As the panicking skulk flees, two more emerge from the huts--one woman, one man. Both of them carry what appear to be knives and swords made up of whatever metal that could be scavenged in the caves--both are jagged and rusted in places. Their clothing is almost nonexistent--several leather harnesses used for carrying weapons are the only things concealing their modesty. The woman raises a hand and calls out to the party.
"That's close enough, surfacers." The woman shoots the panicking skulk a glare as she rests one hand on a vicious-looking short sword. "How many times must your kind blunder through our home? You will state your business here, or we will be forced to take action!"
The small village of Skulks was a curious discovery.
"We were following that one, there, for he was watching us and then ran." Dejah's mismatched eyes glanced at the milky-white skinned Skulk now cowering by the wall. She looked back to the female Skulk with the makeshift sword in hand. She did not lower her own pike for the moment.
"We have not entered these caves to pursue your kind or disrupt your pursuits. We have come to look for missing friends, who have disappeared beneath the Hill. The leader goes by the name of Khonnir Baine. Have you heard of this man or noted his party moving through these caves?"
"We were following that one, there, for he was watching us and then ran."
The female skulk, presumably the leader, takes a step back in surprise before giving the pale skulk a disgusted sneer. "Really, Luepel? They actually saw you? How incompetent can you GET?"
"Yadriss, I have no idea how they saw me! I swear!" The pale skulk, Luepel, whines. "My ass was glued to the rocks--I was hidden as well as I could possibly be! I--"
"Enough." Yadriss snarls before turning back to Dejah.
"We have not entered these caves to pursue your kind or disrupt your pursuits. We have come to look for missing friends, who have disappeared beneath the Hill. The leader goes by the name of Khonnir Baine. Have you heard of this man or noted his party moving through these caves?"
Yadriss is about to say something else when Dejah mentions Khonnir Baine. The skulk stops and blinks in surprise.
"Khonnir? You mean the mage who destroyed half our tribe on his own? THAT one?" Yadriss' tone abruptly shifts. "We have."
"So that other surfacer wasn't lying after all." The other skulk says, his eyes wide.
"Brath, not now." Yadriss turns on the one who spoke, causing him to shrink away and be silent.
"Yes, your Khonnir came this way--we have one of his expeditionary party with us to prove it. You want to see him, you'll need to meet with our boss."
So, Khonnir and his lot had crossed paths with the Skulk tribe and a fight had ensued.
She heard the other male Skulk, Brath, mention another surface dweller and her curiosity was piqued.
"You spoke of another surface dweller? You met him recently down here? What does he look like? Where is he now?"
When the one called Yadriss spoke of one of Khonnir's party still among the Skulk tribe, Dejah responded, "We are willing to meet with your leader. And aye, we would see this man you say you have who has travelled with Khonnir."
"You spoke of another surface dweller? You met him recently down here? What does he look like? Where is he now?"
Yadriss purses her lips. "He wasn't the ONLY surfacer we saw down here before you, not the most recent either. Tall fellow. Brown hair. Pale skin. Carried around a stick that makes loud noises and kills people with little metal bullets."
"He's cooling his heels with our boss, Sef. You want to meet her, but... Luepel." Yadriss glares at the pale skulk again. "Is that all of them here?"
"N-no." Luepel shakes his head. "There are two others--a little surfacer girl and a REALLY big one with a scarred face and a bloodied hammer."
Yadriss turns back to Dejah and nods her head at the cavern entrance she came out of. "Go get your friends. Then we'll talk."
Dejah took note of the information pertaining to the other explorer/man.
Upon Yadriss' reply, Dejah looked to Viorec and Tabitha. The priest could protect the wizard and vice versa. She could leave them alone for a time with the Skulks.
"I shall go bring the others, here."
And cautiously moving through the darkness, Dejah made her way back along the tunnel to Cade and Val, swiftly informed them of the meeting with the Skulks and then returned to the Skulk village with them.
Cade follows Dejah back to the "village". He stands behind her, but tries to avoid to look threatening. He keeps his mouth shut to avoid any progress the archaeologist had made with the creatures.
Looking to the one named Yadriss, Dejah announced as steadily/politely as she could, "We are ready now to meet with your leader and the surface dweller... Please lead the way."
Yadriss looks the assembled team over, appraising them. Val shrinks behind Cade and looks around nervously.
"Not all of you at once--just two will do."
Looking at her companions, Dejah responded to Yadriss' instruction that only two approach their leader at first.
"As long as my remaining companions are treated well and not harmed while they wait, then Cade and I will go first to speak with your leader. Do I have your word, Yadriss?"
Cade steps up beside Dejah. "I will not let her go without me. I will not cause trouble. You have my word." Cade means what he says.
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Tabitha will move to the side of Val to keep her company. "Don't worry Val, it sounds like one of the people that went with Master Khonnir is here. So we may know where he is." As she whispers to Val in a quiet tone.
She also messes with her ring a bit, turning it around on her finger. Tabitha is weary of the situation, but knowing that there is someone that knows what happened with Master Khonnir, she keeps her words to herself the best that she can.
Viorec says a quick prayer to Cayden Cailean before speaking up offering an air of good humor. I am sure we can do better then that Yadriss. We don't have a leader per say and we all took on our current responsibilities as individuals it would be best if each of us had the chance to hear your leaders words to weigh them. We are here to find one of the lost expeditions and check on the torch that burns above. I believe I speak for everyone when I say as far as we are concerned the less fighting we have to do the better. We plan to deal honestly with your people if you deal honestly with us and an act of good faith on your part can only make things go more smoothly.
Yadriss blinks as Viorec speaks, her face softening. "Er... um... sure. Yeah. Just... come with us."
She turns and starts walking to the northeast of the village, beckoning the rest of the skulks to follow her. Luepel & Brath look on, dumbfounded, before following her.
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As the party moves, a large, dark grey wall on the eastern side of the cavern comes into view--it bears countless scratches and dents, scorches and pits. Otherwise, it appears to be very solid. It's definitely not part of the natural cave system here...
The cramped cave Yadriss leads the party to is filled with metal junk covering almost every inch of ground. The precarious pile rises up in a heaplike hut to the northwest.
"Boss! Got some visitors who want to speak with ya!" Yadriss calls out, tapping her foot against a piece of metal.
There's a brief silence, then the sound of footsteps coming from the hut. Emerging from the hut is a cloaked figure, her skin a burnished grey and stretched taut over her skinny frame. Aside from the leather harness that serves as her clothing, a black cloak sweeps out from behind her, its hem frayed from catching on jagged bits of metal once too often. Her eyes are a milky white.
"So... more surfacers. And apparently charming enough for Yadriss to bring them all to me." The skulk folds her arms and snorts. "I'm Sef. Just Sef. What is it you want here?"
As the group follows the skulks to there leader Viorec gives thanks to the initial good fortune and calls on Cayden Cailean guidance again in the upcoming negotiations. Once Sef introduces her self Viorec steps forward to speak with a confident and easy air as if he was talking with a friend about the weather. Greetings Sef I am Viorec a wandering priest of the The Drunken Hero God Cayden Cailean. I apologies for the surprise I did ask Yadriss to allow all of us to hear you out. I hope you will forgive her any break in protocol. As I explained to her we are a group of near strangers brought together to help find news of Khonnir Baine and what might have happened to his expedition rather then a cohesive fighting force and wish no trouble.
Viorec points to the ceiling and offers an apologetic smile. There is a great deal of concern over the Torch going out in the Town above and we would like to have permission to travel through unmolested to find Khonnir Baine as most believe he may be the only one that may have the answers we are seeking.
As soon as Viorec had finished speaking, the Changeling spoke up, as the priest had forgotten to ask about the mysterious explorer in their midst.
"Greetings, Sef, leader of the Skulks. I am Dejah. We were told there was a surface dweller among you, who was part of Khonnir's expedition party. We would like to see and speak with him, please? Now, if possible."
It would be good to see what condition the man was in and what information he had to share. Perhaps he could be useful to them. Dejah hoped the Skulks had not tortured him, as Yadriss seemed angry at the destruction of her village by Khonnir and his lot.
"Greetings Sef I am Viorec a wandering priest of the The Drunken Hero God Cayden Cailean. I apologies for the surprise I did ask Yadriss to allow all of us to hear you out. I hope you will forgive her any break in protocol."
Sef chuckles. It's... not a pleasant sound. "Maybe I will, if she'll stop staring at your arse."
Yadriss snorts and looks over at the cavern wall.
"As I explained to her we are a group of near strangers brought together to help find news of Khonnir Baine and what might have happened to his expedition rather then a cohesive fighting force and wish no trouble."
Viorec points to the ceiling and offers an apologetic smile. "There is a great deal of concern over the Torch going out in the Town above and we would like to have permission to travel through unmolested to find Khonnir Baine as most believe he may be the only one that may have the answers we are seeking."
Sef doesn't offer any other smart remarks as Viorec continues, her expression turning serious. "Well, that explains why so many surfacers came through here lately. First the purple-haired one, now all of this..."
Sef shrugs. "Still, I suppose what you ask wouldn't be TOO much... but it's not going to be for free." She taps a finger against her sharp chin. "If you're so insistent on following that mage, I would ask a favour of you all first."
"Greetings, Sef, leader of the Skulks. I am Dejah. We were told there was a surface dweller among you, who was part of Khonnir's expedition party. We would like to see and speak with him, please? Now, if possible."
Sef sighs. "Of course--bloody fools just can't keep their mouths shut, can they? Fine, give me a minute."
She turns on her heel, her cloak billowing behind her as she disappears back into the hut.
How long have you been down here? A day, perhaps? Maybe more? If you just had your musket with you, you'd have a shot at escaping. At least, if you could get the bindings off of your hands and find your gear...
Before you get too far in formulating a plan of escape, you hear voices coming from outside. They're definitely not the voices of the skulks who captured you. If they're another expedition...
...and they are. They're asking for... safe passage? And they're asking about a surfacer that they captured?
Your skulk captor steps back into the hut and stares you down with a condescending eye. "Well, looks like it's your lucky day, surfacer. On your feet--we have guests."
She yanks you to your feet and starts marching you back outside.
Jasper looks up at Sef and says with a wry grin Well you've been so hospitable darlin', I'm not sure if I want to go. When Sef yanks her up he says Easy there, grey lady, I'm going.
When he gets pulled out of the hut and sees the assembled group he waves with his tied hands and says Mornin'...or evenin'...hells I'm not exactly sure what time it is but whatever it is...a good one to you all! The young man wearing an outfit of red, black and grey, looks at you all with a smile. He is tall and you can tell he is probably ulfen based on his mannerisms but instead of the typical blond or lighter hair, his is almost jet black. Though most Ulfen tend to the brawny, this one is thinner and leaner, moving with a fluid grace.
Looking over at Sef, he says Now I don't suppose we can dispense with the bonds here can we? S'no need for them now.
Sef snorts and produces a jagged dagger, but doesn't make a move to cut Jasper's bonds. "In a moment, surfacer."
"Now, as to the favour I have to ask..." She turns back to the others and starts tossing her dagger up in the air and catching it. "...with all the surfacer expeditions coming through here to explore what's beyond that wall there--" She points her knife at the dark grey wall at the other end of the cavern. "--I've come to the realization that staying here is more trouble than it's worth. Our old boss didn't think so; he was a rather territorial sort who'd rather gouge his own eyes out than consider leaving for so-called 'greener pastures'. THAT ended about as well as you'd expect when Khonnir's band crossed his path."
"The four of us that you see here?" Sef waves a hand at the gathered skulks. "We're all that's left. We need to leave this place and return to Nar-Voth, but we can't risk leaving now. For several months, we've had to share these caverns with a tribe of gremlins in the northern passages. They've raided us on several occasions, and with us in our weakened state, I'm convinced that if we try to leave now they'll ambush us and kill us all."
"So, here's my favour--venture into the north passages and exterminate every gremlin you find. In return, I'll let you pass through our land, and even throw a little something extra in for it. Have we a deal?"
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Tabitha follows along when they are lead to the Skulk's leader. She looks to be a bit leaner than the others. But when she mentions about a prisoner, she gets a bit excited. Maybe it was Master Khonnir's second in command. Maybe? Who knows, but who ever it is may just as well know where he is!... But who is the purple haired one? Did a gnome come through here too?
She waits as the prisoner gets pulled out of the hut. When she finally sees who it is, she lets out a gasp. "Jasper? Jasper Finn!?" Tabitha gets a bit excited, knowing that there was a person alive from the expedition, surely that since there is one alive, Master Khonnir must be alive as well. Tabitha relays of who Jasper is, and how both she and Val know of him. "He came by the foundry quite a bit. He was close to Master Khonnir when he was planning his next expedition. Though Tabitha... Erm, I didn't know he went with him. It is a surprise that he's here, but I must say that is a good surprise that he is here alive."
Dejah looked upon the raven-haired, handsome man from Khonnir's expedition. Where is Khonnir if this one is here and alive? Tabitha revealed she and Val knew him from his visits to the Foundry. Dejah looked over the tall Ulfen? Aye, his eyes gave him away. Jasper did not seem as though he had been badly treated as a prisoner for his manner/dialogue was still spirited.
"Sef, we do not have our hands bound, so I believe you can safely release Jasper from his ties and then we may sit and talk of your offer. It would be good if he had his equipment, gear and weapons returned to him, as well, as part of the good will between us. Thank you."
"Now, you would see us kill all the gremlins in the Northern Passages for your aid in our mission? How many gremlins are we looking at? What weapons do they carry? Any traps set along the way? And what is this extra reward you speak of?"
Dejah smiled sweetly at the female Skulk leader; a sparkle in her mismatched eyes.
"Sef, we do not have our hands bound, so I believe you can safely release Jasper from his ties and then we may sit and talk of your offer. It would be good if he had his equipment, gear and weapons returned to him, as well, as part of the good will between us. Thank you."
Sef smirks. "I was already planning on it. Brath!"
The skulk meekly turns to the massive scrap pile and starts digging through it, producing a large sack with a long bulge sticking through it. He sets the sack at Sef's feet before she slices Jasper's bonds free.
"Your gear's in that bag. Take it."
"Now, you would see us kill all the gremlins in the Northern Passages for your aid in our mission? How many gremlins are we looking at? What weapons do they carry? Any traps set along the way? And what is this extra reward you speak of?"
"Well, in order..."
Sef starts counting off on her fingers. "One, yes. Those are my terms. Two, there are at least six of them hiding in the passages to the north, including their leader. Three, they normally carry short swords, but they also have sharp teeth that can take a chunk out of someone's hide in a pinch. Fourth, the gremlins definitely love their traps. Nothing magical or really fantastical in nature--just metal spikes that skewer ya if you trigger them. Finally..."
Sef pulls a pouch off of her harness and opens it before reaching inside. She withdraws five black cards, each with a brown stripe along the length of them. "...aside from the valuables from one of the other 'expeditions' that blundered through here, I'm willing to give you these. I don't know what these cards do, but the purple-haired human who came through here was willing to pay handsomely for them if we ever found some. We found them beyond the wall."
"There's also about forty-nine batteries in here." She jiggles the pouch, producing a *rattling* sound. "Interested?"
Dejah instantly gauged that Sef would keep her promise to reward them upon the gremlin expulsion or extermination.
The Changeling archaeologist took a closer look at the five drawn black, striped cards and then asked to see the batteries inside the pouch, as well. Since Sef had mentioned the cards were highly sought after, she hoped to determine their value for herself. Dejah hoped the others in the party who were familiar with mechanical bits and pieces would also take look.
As she examined the items, she asked casually, "Did the purple haired human have a name and how long ago did they pass through here?"
The cards don't have much worth either, save for being keys. You'd guess they're worth about 3 gold pieces each.
"Did the purple haired human have a name and when did they pass through here?"
"She only spoke with my old boss, and she never said her name. Just said something about having a 'mission' or something that led her down here at her god's behest--and with all the orcs and ratmen she brought with her, neither of us felt like pissing her off by asking her for more details." Sef's voice turns nervous. "They came down here... about... twelve days ago, I think?"
"No, wait. Thirteen."
She looked up from the cards and batteries. "I am unfamiliar with this woman and her crew. Mayhap one of my own companions have heard of her", looking to Tabitha and Val. I wonder what Jasper knows...
"But her party does seem rather ... dangerous. We will be sure to keep an eye out for them if they only passed through thirteen days ago."
"Excuse me, a moment, Sef. I must confer with my group."
Dejah gestured Jasper forward - closer to their group - and began to quietly/very discreetly inform the others of what she believed the black cards were and that the batteries were similar to the ones she had found earlier in the rubble. "All up, I would say the value of the items would be around five hundred and five gold pieces if we sold them. However, I am curious why the purple haired one really wanted the cards/keys. That's the true worth I'd be more concerned with. Do you want to accept the mission to kill the gremlins or simply move on?"
Jasper smiles when Tabitha recognizes him and says Hey there Tabby Cat. Whats a girl like you doing in a dump like this? He looks over at Sef and says No offense.
Then looking at the others he says I say we take Sef here up on her offer as I'm lookin to find Khonnir. I do know that Gerrol was last seen scurrying like a goblin from a bucket of bathwater away from the metal doors and down some side tunnel. What got him into the panic I don't know but I'd sure like to find out and see if Khonnir's in trouble. If'n you don't mind my help, I'd be happy to go and exterminate them gremlins. They's nasty they is. Jasper then picks up his gear and begins to put it on. You see him pull a very nice looking musket from inside the pouch. It looks well cared for and he slings it over his shoulder. He then says I'll tell you what though Sef, you throw in those bags ye got in the hut that ye took from the others and ye got yerself a deal.
She heard Jasper refer to Tabitha as Tabby Cat and wondered if the two were more familiar with one another than Tabitha had originally revealed. She pushed the thought aside for more important considerations.
Dejah stared unblinkingly at Jasper's boldness at accepting the Skulks' offer without first hearing the group out. He cannot think he speaks for all of us... Although Dejah had already made up her mind to agree to Sef's offer - she still provided her fellow companions the courtesy (and opportunity) of choosing for themselves and not speaking for them in the matter. Dejah hazarded a look at Cade and Viorec and wondered what the other males thought about Jasper's 'take charge' manner.
The revelation of the bags made her stop fixating on Jasper's temerity and while she waited to hear the others' thoughts, she asked Sef, "What is in those bags that Jasper speaks of? Do they belong to Khonnir?"
Jasper sees Dejah staring at him and says ...What?...Do I have something on my face?
Dejah made a low sound akin to a humph as Jasper questioned her singular look.
"Aye. You have a smudge, just there", Dejah pointed to the non-existent grime to get even with the man.
Jasper smiles and says Just the one? I'm practically polished then.
Dejah rolled her eyes and then ignored him; waiting for Sef to answer her question.
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"Tabbi-Tabby Cat!... It is Tabi-Tabitha, just the same as last time. Your words won't sway Tabi- Er.. Your words wont sway me now, just as your words failed to sway the women visiting the Foundry." As Tabitha finishes speaking while being visibly a bit flustered. She shakes her head, trying to clear her head and focused. "We should assist her. With less threats down here, it means getting out of here with Master Khonnir will be easier. And... Gremlins...?"
Tabitha tries to recall general information of gremlins that might prove useful, and focus it on the info she received from the Skulk named Sef.
Tabitha appeared flustered by the pet name Jasper had used and it amused Dejah. While the Changeling waited for the Skulk leader to answer her, she silently reflected on her own knowledge of Gremlins.