At Nathan's suggestion, Himnon becomes excited. "Yes! He'll love it!"
But when Cuddles shakes his head, Himnon becomes disappointed and tries to speak to the armor's heart. "Haven't you ever wanted to be a dragon?" Alas, not everyone understands the benefits of magic.
I assume this is after the other shuttling is done. That may mean there is an aid floating about which is fine to be used later during this encounter
At the suggestion of a harness and more than one person carrying him/her Cuddles nods vigorously.
"Himnon, I don't think they were able to want something before now! This is all new! Her existence isn't really typical either. Can you blame her for being afraid of what something like that would do to her?" Geez. She didn't know Himnon got this excitable.
"Right then!" Sora grabs some rope and approaches Cuddles. "Let's get this sorted, shall we?"
It was alright, but a bit stubborn. A putting a harness on an animate suit of armour was new on her. "Hey, can I get a hand here?"
"Kara, come on, leave her alone. It's not her fault some bastard church left her with stunted wings. Besides, I MEANT with the harness!" What was with her? Why's she acting like that?
No need to roll.
In a moment reminiscent of a three stooges comedy everyone manages to get across safely
Getting across that chasm was no mean feat, but we can't get complacent. we need to keep moving, I might know a place we can go. Ys says, leaning slightly on shy (one of her dizzy spells).
"I've got a hole to crawl back to, but no place to take fine folk such as yourselves..."
I need to get stronger somewhere, anywhere. But first, let's just get out of here. Anybody know where the exit is?
As Sora, and maybe others know, Amaranth was created here and has never been anywhere else, but she is mortally afraid of 'her father Drazhu'. For now, she really doesn't care where they go, as long as it's not here.
Our heroes make there way into an antechamber. Here the stones are well placed, and the room is actually decently clean, with torches about the room for light. There is a statue in the corner of what must have been some kind of god, but what it is is almost impossible to tell, as it is blackened and chipped. All that remains are two dull gemstones for eyes. To the east, Shyness informs you is the way out, to the west...well you don't know what is too the left, but based not eh map you have to assume is the way to Drahzu.
What do you do?
Shyness stands at the east passage. "Out? Or maybe we could find this Drahzu and ask him about gemhearting?"
If you knew Drazhu at all, you would know that's a terrible idea. If you want to go and get yourself killed it's fine by me, but I'm not coming back until I'm a great deal stronger, and I'm never coming back if I have to do it alone.
Amaranth is scared, you guys.
On the one hand, Sora feels the need to destroy Drazhu. There's no telling what he's up to, and dammit, she was going to pay him back for what he did! On the other, she was utterly terrified of what might happen to her, like Ammy. Ys and Shy didn't know what they were dealing with, and she didn't want to force Ammy to do something like this.
"Shy, that's a bad idea. Really, REALLY bad idea. Drazhu's a lich, he's a terrible person, and he's why we were stuck down there in the first place. He'd kill us all without a second thought." Sora shudders a bit at the thought of dealing with Drazhu. She was very conflicted right now as to what to do.
"I...dammit, I want that bastard destroyed, but I also wanna get the hell outta here. I don't know what to do." Sora stands about, looking awkward, scared and confused.
Ys looks at the two paths a while, listening to the others, before she turns to Antares. He's a slaver and a Lich. We need to dispose of Drazhu she communicates over their telepahy
No, you should leave. he replies harshly.
What? After what he did to Sora, and Ammy, and who knows how many others? We need to bring him to justice
What you want is not justice, it is vengance. you must leave, to protect yourself and your allies he replies, flaring bright red
So what if it's vengance! He deserves it. Ys replies, anger plastered upon her face
This anger, it is toxic, it will lead you into danger, and deliver you to the black gates. If you attack Drazhu, you will all die, or worse. They will clip Sora's wings, destroy Ammaranth, I dare not even consider what use they would find for a witch like Shyness. Leave! Antares flares brighter upon the final word.
We should go. Ysolde says finally.
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"I actually was kind of wondering about the gemhearting thing. And some of us were never even slaves, so I'm sure they could get through just fine. And I'm sure one lich wouldn't pose that much of a threat..." As soon as he finishes, Himnon averts his gaze from everyone, knowing himself how unwise his plan sounds, but still deathly curious.
"No," says Reno, stepping forward and addressing everyone present in a loud and clear voice. Here, closer to the open air and tasting freedom once again, the half-elf feels some of his boldness returning.
"I want to ask Drazhu a few questions myself...some very direct, very pointed questions. But now is not the time. We should regroup and approach him when he least expects us, not when he is on high alert about escaped slaves. I vote that we head for Balderdale, to the south of here. It's the closest thing in close proximity to Drazhu's fortress resembling a large town, and we might be able to recruit some additional help there. Trust me...we'll need all the help we can get."
As he speaks, his attention is grabbed by the strange statue's gemstone-eyes. He thinks about it carefully.
Reno ponders it. He is positive that he should know the god, but it is just scraping along the back of his mind, and wont quite come to him. Whoever it is it is an ancient one, that has not been worshipped in a very long time. The gems however, are definitely worth something if they are pried out.
"A necro-lich versus a dragon mage? I mean, who would win in a fight, a freaking dragon, or a corpse puppet? Besides, where do you check first for escaped slaves? The closest thing in close proximity resembling a large town."
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Sora never understood where all Nathan's confidence came from. Or his perversity, but that was another matter. For once, he had a point. If they just left, Drazhu would come knocking on Balderdale's door. She was scared of what would happen to her if she tried to fight him...but she didn't want to be responsible for bringing Drazhu's special brand of hell to everyone else.
She looks between all present. To Nathan, who...ugh, he still disgusted her, but he at least got things done. To Himnon, the somewhat obsessive draco-mage. To Reno, who helped her out when they worked for Drazhu. To Kara, who prevented Nathan from draining her sanity. To Ammy, who didn't even have a name before she gave her one, let alone any kind of affection. To Ys, who shouldn't be tangled up in this, but that she was damn well going to protect. To Shy, who she'd only recently met, but was already dear to her...somehow. So adorably naive. To Cuddles, who, from the seems of it, didn't even have free will or an identity before now, and certainly didn't deserve to lose it.
She looks at the cloak about her waist, and thinks of all the pain it meant. At the journal, and the surprises it held, the ideal of her within that she didn't live up to. An ideal that she now wanted to. The last thing she looks at way to Drazhu. The bastard that bound her wings, shackled her, and had her make her way back from the mountains. It wasn't even much of a choice anymore.
Sora walks over to the west. "I wish Nathan wasn't right, but he is. We leave, and Drazhu's gonna raise hell looking for us. People are going to get hurt. We have to take him down." Sora readies her chain again, and looks between Amaranth and Ysolde. The younger sister once lost, and the best friend she'd never expected to have. "Ys, Ammy, you don't need to get involved. Ys, Drazhu won't know about you and Shy. He won't know about Cuddles either. Ammy, you were a guard - he'll just think you got snuffed. You two, get Shy and Cuddles out of here. You'll be safe if you leave."
"As for the rest of us!" Sora turns to address the rest of the former slaves. "I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be able to rest if I set this bastard loose on innocent people. Dealing with him is terrifying, but I'm not so awful as to run and let someone else deal with it. Go ahead and leave if you want. But I'm going in there even if I'm alone. I act like I'm the only one who made it out alive, the ruse won't last forever, but it'll give you some time to get away, maybe get help. But I'd rather not go alone. Will any of you come with me?"
Sora stands alone by the western path. Her eyes determined. Her legs shaking.
Oh god, I'm scared.
"I would be happy to come along. It would be..." Himnon stops himself before he says "lots of fun." "It would be a good idea." He thinks Sora's motives are a little different than his own, but he can work with that.
He walks a bit to the left, just enough to get an idea of any possible dangers in that direction.
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I do not agree, this is not a good idea. But if you're going in there, Sora, then I cannot stay behind. Amaranth is still notably scared.
If it must be like this, then I suppose it's time.... She chuckles a little bit, having seen a play a while back, and only from a distance, but she remembered the line, as it struck close to heart. After the memory fades and reality sets in once more, her expression of dread returns.
The doors are wrong. Very wrong. They are BOTH rigged to some kind of trap. Open either door and something is going to fall. You should definitely be wary of that. It also looks like the trap initially was set off when folks came in and the door shut.
"I'm with you," Reno says, moving to stand next to her. "Shall we get going? We're burning daylight. Assuming it's day."
He decides not to go for the gems. No need to try his luck hoping it wasn't boobytrapped.
Nathan looks at the construction of this section of tunnels, trying to decide how best to approach the lich's inner sanctum.
"I'm going as long as Himnon is, since he's the only one Sora will let me hang with." Nathan slaps the older man on the back. He's pointedly ignoring Reno.
Ysolde vacillates between fear and protective instinct What do I do?
You can't talk them out o this, they are doing it for the right reasons. You should protect Shy
Ysolde strides over Sora and places a hand oh her shoulder If you feel you must do this, I won't stop you. but Shy and I will be at our camp, a little to the . if you guys are losing, retreat to there, and we will flee together, and come back stronger.
with that, she goes back to Shy, and goes to the door, whispering in her ear Do you still have your cauldron set up back there? I have an idea
On some level, Sora's surprised that Amaranth is coming along. On another, it makes sense. Ammy's had her back this entire time. Of course she'd have it now.
She feels more assured with the others' support. Even more so knowing that Ys intended to leave, as she'd wanted her to. To safety, with Shy and Cuddles. One less thing to worry about.
Sora's gaze runs between Ammy and her fellow slaves. She was incredibly grateful for their support. Her legs began to shake a little less. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot not having to go in alone." Sora takes a moment to walk up to Cuddles, and point to her sister. "Go with her, alright? She'll get you out." She gives the armour a nod, and walks up to Ys.
She takes off the cloak, leaving her fully uncovered once again, and hands it to Ysolde with the Whipmaster's journal. "Get these back home, alright? Actually...maybe not home. Another of our settlements. You bring these in, and they'll rain down hell on this place if things don't go well. Hell, it might even get a Wing Walker's attention." She pauses a moment, looking at her sister. After the moment passes, Sora goes to hug her. "Be safe, Ys. Be safe."
She holds the hug for a bit, and goes back to the west side with the Drazhu team. "Alright. Once either of these doors open, the ceiling's gonna go, and something's going to drop down. Whatever it is, it reeks. We need to open our doors at the same time. Ready?"
When everyone's synchronised, she joins the others in opening the west door.
I'm sorry shy, but there is no way you'll learn about Gemhearting from him. he's a lich, they guard their secrets jealously, and I don't even want to thin about what he would make you do if he caught you. Ysolde says, squeezing her friends hand Besides, they intend to kill him. after that, you can take his notes, and figure out as much as he knew. And then you will rederive any gaps in the process yourself
Then once they leave, Ysolde will let Shy in on the plan You and I can ride on your broomstick, and Sora can fly. Himnon has expressed interest in growing wings on himself with his magic. that leaves 3 of us unable to fly, do you think you could brew up a potion to fix that? She asks
Reno gulps at the thought of flight...he's never done it before. Still, the others feel comfortable in the skies, why shouldn't he?
He braces himself near the East door, ready to open at the same time as Sora herself.
Himnon joins the others in pushing the door open once the group is all ready.
The door creaks an immediately the ceiling swings open and a a massive horde of zombies falls down. They groan unnervingly and they stink...oh they stink.
What do you do?
"Through the doors! THROUGH THE DOORS!" Sora is flying up out of reach, and opening the now ajar door from up THERE. Nope, not having this!
As soon as the zombies start falling, Ysolde pushes Shy through the door before leaping through herself. after that, she call out to antares The words, what are the words for stillness She cries out, forgetting her training in the crucial moment. antares gives her the words immediately, and she says them, ordering the light to stand firm against the creatures of darkness.
Himnon runs as quickly as possible through the door. He looks at the zombies until everyone manages to get through, trying to see if there is a clue to their origins, before shutting the door closed.
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Shyness stumbles through the east door, just catching her balance on a rocky outcropping. She turns just in time to see Ysolde's light barrier go up. I can work with that. She reaches out to touch the barrier briefly.
The previously still barrier begins to crackle with energy. That should slow them down. Suddenly aware that there is an audience, she pulls her hand away and tugs her hood down, clearly embarrassed at the show of power.
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• Black Magic (INT): When you weave a spell to inflict pain, choose two tags from the list and roll +INT. If you do not pick any Range tags, the Range defaults to Hand. On a hit, deal 1d8 damage, plus all effects of the added tags. On a 7-9, also choose one:
• You draw unwanted attention or put someone in a spot
• The GM removes a non-range tag of their choice, and you deal -1 damage
• The spell drains your energy - you take -1 ongoing to INT until you have a few minutes
to clear your head
Tags: Reach, Near, Debilitating (half damage), Forceful, Piercing 2.
Debilitating (half damage): The spell deals half damage, rounded up, but it will stun, slow, or weaken an enemy hit by it, in a method you describe.
Electric: This spell arcs along metal, water, and flesh, hitting anything made of those materials that touches your target.