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Once everything settles down, and it's clear that there are no threats, Brady tries to make himself useful. Dale is busy healing Kaghaze, Monty is helping Fola free the prisoners. Nobody else needs immediate help, so Brady begins exploring.
He cautiously approaches the lip of the well in front of the altar, finding the opening separating he and Faliana. He nods at the half-elf, a look of some trepidation on his face, then peers down into the deep, letting his eyes adjust so that he can see into the darks of the depths.
As it turns out, locks on cages in the middle of the jungle in the Mwangi Expanse, are not that much different then locks on doors made in Absalom. With only a slight jiggle, Monty is able to get his skeleton key to turn, and flip the tumblers on the lock! Fola quickly darts inside, checking on the elf laying still, finding him still breathing! She has Monty pull the arrow from his chest, while she administers a healing potion of her own. The wound quickly heals enough not to be life threatening, but the man remains unconscious. She then checks on the other two, who seem to be slowly coming to their senses from whatever mental onslaught they were under.
Dale seems far less concerned about the elven scout near him now that it no longer looks like a werebat... despite the fact he was trying to kill everyone only moments before. The fact lycanthropes can return to their normal forms whenever they want, seems to not enter his mind, as he just assumes Kaghaze is cured! He brandishes his spoon, and works on healing the elf. The very first tap, though only closing a few minor cuts, seems to bring the Ekujae scout around, as his eyes flutter open, and he looks around in confusion for a moment.
The confusion quickly changes to a look of despair though. "What did I do?" He mutters, his eyes falling on the dead elf beside him. He kicks away his bow, where it lay on the ground, and is immediately overcome with grief.
The hole in front of the now broken altar is twenty feet deep, and Brady will see it full of the remains of bodies, some of them little more then skeletons. A slight breeze blows up from there, ripe with the scent of blood and death.
Around the outside of the cavern, you notice there were once a number of tunnels leading off, but all of them appear to have been collapses in, centuries before. Perhaps many centuries.
"We need to get out of here." Fola calls. "Whatever that was, it no longer hammers at my head... but it is not gone."
One of the elves in the cage nods, his eyes looking around with wary fear. "I still hear the whispers too."
The second elf confirms it as well. "It was trying to do to us, what it did to Kaghaze!" He says, looking towards the former werebat, still curled up near the remains of the altar.
"It still tries." He adds in a whisper a moment later.
None of the rest of you hear anything at all, though the sense of evil in the place is still there... just not as oppressive as it was. Clearly whatever darkness lays claim to Dehu Inu is not so easily stopped.
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Monty looks around the cavern, a stern look on his face.
I'd love to take the time to see if we can permanently purge this evil... but I think it would be best if we get the victims home first. We should report this to the elders, and to the society, and see if there is perhaps a better equipped team to see if it's possible to remove the taint from this place. Unless you have any ideas Fola?
"The stories say the Ekujae are forbidden from Dehu Inu." Fola says quietly. "Perhaps this is why? Whatever evil is here, we are clearly susceptible to its influences."
"It is best we, at least, not linger." She adds, indicating the other elves.
Fola frowns, her gaze going from her injured tribesmen to the Pathfinders. "We would not leave you to this place alone." She says. "But perhaps we could get clear of the boundaries of Dehu Inu, and wait there."
She starts to help one of the other elves to his feet.
"I would not advise staying long though, even if you are not Ekujae. Whatever foul force lurks here, it has done so for eight thousand years." She looks around warily. "If it could be purged once... what presses on our minds now, is far beyond that, I fear."
The other two elves nod, as they help up the badly wounded third, only now coming around.
One of them, presses a pair of emerald earrings into Monty's hand. "Take these." He says, solemnly. "As thanks. You saved more then our lives I think." He shudders slightly... though whether at the memory or whatever the voice in his head continues to whisper, the old vanaran is not sure.
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Dale pats Kaghaze on the shoulder "Don't worry yourself man. A force stronger than you controlled your spirit. Use it as motivation to become stronger and help protect the rest of your Tribe in the future. But first, I gotta pull out this arrow, so... hold on this may hurt a bit!"
Dale prepares to give the arrow and educated yank With a solid pull Dale pulls the arrow free then stops the bleeding with some pressure and bandages. "I'm sure your Tribe can fix you up better, they just cured me of the blue death just yesterday!" He smiles and shows some lesions on his arms that have started to heal.
He reaches down and grabs his bow for him before helping him up. "8,000 years is a long time, I'm pretty sure if its been around hurting these Elves for that long then we don't have the means to destroy it permanently. Besides, I want some time to study the markers outside in case they'll help out in the future."
Kaghaze looks at Dale, though you're not sure he's actually seeing him, his mind clearly still reeling.
He starts talking to the alchemist, quietly, though he is more just talking, then talking at him.
"I shouldn't have taken them in here." He says quietly, his voice hoarse. "We'd been tracking it for days when it fled here... I couldn't let it get away. We knew it was forbidden..."
"... But I convinced them to enter anyway."
He pauses long enough that Dale thinks he has done talking... but eventually he starts up again, as if skipping ahead in whatever memory is replaying in his head.
"When it killed Koros, her blood hit the stone." He pauses, shuddering slightly. "That's when it came. The Voice."
He starts to say the name, but stops, not quite able to get himself to speak it aloud. "That's when I was lost." he says instead.
"I killed the rest." He adds, after another long pause. "And more after that."
"I... I think I ... ate some of them..." He lapses into silence once more.
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Monty places a hand on his shoulder and gently squeezes it, looking at the earrings in his other hand.
You did not kill the rest. It did. You did not eat anyone. It did. It may have used your body to do so. But you did not. You have suffered for your breech of your people's laws, and those who followed you suffered as well. But you killed them no more than a child who let's the cooking fire spread burned someone... it was a force outside your control. Take some comfort in that at least.
He gives his shoulder another squeeze and pockets the earrings.
Let us get you home... Where you belong. Not in this place.
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Brady has nothing to say to Kaghaze's unburdening of the heart; he's grateful Dale and Monty are able to hold that emotional shoulder up, as he hasn't the first clue how he could do so. He remains quiet, fidgety, and keeps looking at the exit to the cave of Dehu Inu.
Brady wants to get out of here. Now.
Take some comfort in that at least.
"There is little comfort, when the memories are still mine." Kaghaze replies. But despite his obvious pain, he seems to take some heart from Monty's words, as he hauls himself to his feet.
Tad, looking around for signs of something that might give a clue on how to fight the evil that still has an obviously hold on Dehu Inu, finds little signs of anything, beyond the massive carved stalactite, and the cave paintings high up on the wall. Though he can tell, with a little more time to look, that the paintings are actually two different layers of artwork... with the newer art painted over top of an older layer. In fact the newer art seems to incorporate some of the older images into its own design.
The older layer depicts humans and some type of bat-winged creatures worshiping a massive shadowy figure that resembles a giant bat. All a little ominous, and probably thousands of years old.
But painted over top of that layer, the newer art (still probably thousands of years old, but perhaps not as many thousands) shows depictions of human figures battling and trapping the older figures, incorporating the original older artwork to do so. The old art, imprisoned within the new.
Both sets of images continue around the cavern, culminating in a series of images celebrating the carved stalactite.
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Dale fidgets and fidgets as he sees Tad looking around the caverns and their works of art, finally he can stand it no longer "If Tad has time to check out the art, Dale does too!" He leaves Kaghaze to Monty as he rushes back into the Caverns, dragging his silk rope out and dusting off his ioun torch.
"If I don't take a good look at these things I think the Society will toss us out on our butts for not doing our due diligence. We'll just need to take some of the trip back in the dark I'm afraid." He looks around, trying to find the easiest spots to climb up to get a better look at the artwork.
"Anyone have a hook or pitons or something? We could fasten a rope up there so I can climb up." Dale looks at Tad's suction cup like feet with envy. Develop an extract to help me climb... damn if only I could mix up monkeyfish again today..
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Tad uses his climb speed and his magically lit dagger to look around with Dale. They also put their heads together about what they see.
[dice=kn. religion, aid another]1d20+5
"We also promised the elves we would deal with the evil here. I don't think we have done that yet."
Dale cocks his head back at Tad's statement "You're right, we ARE doing this for the Elves. A promise is a promise."
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Moke gives a hoot of triumph as the altar falls to pieces. For a minutes or two he does a strange tribal dance that gives the impression of victory and strength. Once the man settles down, though, his face goes completely slack before Faliana cautiously takes back over her body, double checking to make sure her elven blood doesn't make her susceptible to the evil's influence.
Assured she isn't going to be taken over, Faliana then does her own little victory celebration in her head, while watching all of the interactions happening around her.
Dale and Tad's attempts at studying the paintings is what finally draws the woman out of her reverie. "Hold on, I might not be able to climb much but I can see many of the painting pretty clearly from here. Also I'll help provide light! If we can find something of use to stop this in the future to tell the Ekujae, I'd be very happy." I'd also rather not be in the rain any longer than I have to.
About twenty minutes later, she gives a exclamation of discovery and calls the other two over to the part of the wall she was examining, "Hey this looks like it might be important, doesn't it?"
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Monty takes up position in the cave... to many of his friends are staying to consider going away just yet. He offers to help Dale with his climbing and such, but much like Brady is not going to be of particular use for the more esoteric knowledge gathering. Instead he simply helps where needed and keeps and eye on things. At one point, he checks the pit, saying to the rest...
I'm not sure how okay I feel leaving those bodies down there. They should be given a proper burial as well.
The remaining Ekujae, helping each other where they can, head towards the exit, Kaghaze carrying the dead scout, his face grim.
"Will will set up a camp past the markers, to the southwest." She glances around the cavern nervously. "Do not wait here too long. The evil of this place will eventually be able to reach your ears again, with enough time."
Monty will see plenty of bodies, some recent, some very old, but no spikes. Pulling them out of there would at least give him something to do, while the others study the cave paintings.
Dale of course, can barely contain himself, with the opportunity to study something new. He quickly grabs both Tad and Faliana as assistants, and gets to work.
The walls prove far too difficult to climb, even for Tad, without endangering himself, though he is able to manage the platforms with a small spiritual boost. With his help, getting a closer look at the murals by the rises is possible... and with Faliana's far more mobile dancing lights, lighting up the rest well enough to see is easy enough.
The older images, contain much iconography and symbolism associated with Camazotz, not at all surprising given the voice you heard during the fighting. But given the demon-lord of bats and blood is not very well known, it is still a rare record to find.
The newer artworks, Dale will eventually sort out, seem to depict a local Mwangi folk hero named Old-Mage Jatembe, one of the most powerful wizards of his, or any, time. The artwork seems to show him, and his Ten Magical Warriors containing, and trapping, the images of Camazotz and his followers.
Staying in Nantambu, you would all be at least passingly familiar with the name, Monty for sure. Old-Mage Jatembe founded the city itself, not to mention created Golarian's oldest arcane school, The Magaambya Academy located there. It was founded during the Age of Anguish, as Jatembe is believed to be the one responsible for dragging the human race out of the barbarism that occurred after Earthfall and the fall of Azlant... placing them firmly onto the path back to civilization.
Given he, and his Warriors', reputations for protecting the people of Garund from countless evil force, it is not at all surprising to learn that Dehu Inu might have been one of those. Though if they could not destroy whatever lurks in here, and instead could only contain it here... you have little hope of doing more yourselves, at this time.
You get the impression that there was once far more to Dehu Inu then just this one large cavern you are in now. The murals depict many sprawling complexes and tunnels at one time... all of which are probably still down there somewhere, including hints at something very power, and evil, down below. But all of it has been sealed off for thousands of years.
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Seeing as all of the locals are out of the cavern, Dale doesn't hesitate to take out his journal and make some notes and sketch some drawings of what they find. "These are amazingly old and important. The Society will likely put together a Chronicle on this, including our very names!"
Once they finish Dale stows away his book and pen and nods along with Tad "We will give them as much information as we can or that they are willing to hear. Please do not mention the notes, you know they don't see eye to eye with us on that." Dale thanks the others for their assistance and heads out to the temporary camp when able.
There are about fourteen recent bodies, all of which died within the past three or four months. All of them elves, about half of which are missing their heads, and most have teeth marks on the bones. There is also the body of a large bat creature, that also appears to have died in the same time frame. Below that, are just bones, too many to keep track of.
It would take you the good portion of a day, to pull all the remains away from Dehu Inu. Though you suspect the Ekujae would not mind waiting, should you ask.
With the time you have while Dale, Tad, and Faliana explore the paintings, the best you will manage is to haul them out of the pit.
Though once you do, you're not sure it even is a pit. Definitely a shaft that used to once go further down, but now, like much of the other tunnels out of this cavern, is caved in and blocked off.
Though still a slight breeze coming up through the rubble that blocks it.
Eventually, you are able to pull Dale away from the cave paintings and drag him out of the cave, back into the rain. Evening is fast approaching by the time you exit, and fully arrived by the time you hike across the twisted desolation to the rune-covered monoliths that mark the boundaries of Dehu Inu. As you cross the boundary, a fog you didn't realize was building, seems to lift, and the boundless nature of the Expanse greets you.
Finding the rest of the Ekujae proves a simple matter, as Fola appears to have been waiting anxiously for you, and guides you to the camp, a ways further into the jungle.
The other three rescued elves are all asleep, though you can tell it is not a restful one. There is no sign of Kaghaze, and Fola will tell you that he decided to hike back in the dark, needing time to himself. She shrugs slightly, clearly wanting to have stopped him, but in no position to do so by herself.
When you mention the other elf remains, she looks grateful, and relieved, though implores that, if you can, they not be left within the confines of Dehu Inu... even if that does delay your return.
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With the passage of just a few hours and a good healthy--though wet--walk, Brady seems much more comfortable with the idea of working to give the bones their proper burial. He can't help with the spiritual side of it, but the labor he can do, and he does it with care.
Brady finds a moment while they are walking back to the Ekujai village to ask Fola some questions. "The Ekujai, do they--do you--trade with outsiders? I've learned that there is a need to understand and respect Ekujai traditions; maybe that's something unique I could provide. If the Ekujai do trade, who in the village might I talk to?"
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Tad is not able to do much of the physical labor to take care of the Ekujai bodies, but he is glad to perform a brief ceremony, unless Fola or one of the other Ekujai wishes to do so. He respects Ekujai custom as much as possible while directing most of his prayers to Sarenrae, although he is glad to include some prayers to any good aligned deities they worship.
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Dale finally gets in a groove, studying and taking notes, something he's missed in the last week with being sick. He'd barely been able to go through the motions as they traveled. Mostly he'd just collect plant samples in one hand, which quickly withered and fell away when he passed out from exhaustion and sickness at night.. ruined. "I guess... such interesting history!" He says as he stows his journal in its water proof bag once more.
As he passes the Elven remains he grimaces "Grim work you guys did there, I'm sure the Tribe will appreciate it." He heads back to the camp with the others for a long overdue rest.
"Fola, can the Ekujae see in the dark? I'm worried about Kaghaze, but there isn't anything we can do now, I'm sure he's long gone and we'd never find him if he didn't want to be found." Dale ponders over the Elven taboos of suicide for a bit before having a bite to eat and falling asleep. Hope he doesn't do anything drastic.. geez I just healed him!
"Such is quite rare, and you would be very unlikely to find anyone willing, or wanting to create such an agreement. We have no desire to share our traditions with outsiders."
"I lived with my father's family for many years, before they would allow my mother to bring me here." She adds, as if in explanation.
"But it would not be my decision to make. The Elders would decide such things."
She seems somewhat distracted by the days events, and not really up to conversations on trade.
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The evening passes fitfully... the knowledge that Dehu Inu is so near keeps most from sleeping too deeply, and those that do find themselves suddenly waking in the middle of the night, sure you heard a sibilant whisper in their ear... that fades to nothing once the blanket of sleep lifts.
The next morning, the three Ekujae scouts are already up with the light, apparently having been informed by Fola on what you'd offered. They all immediately insist on accompanying you to retrieve their fallen brethren... though Fola quickly quashes that thought, reminding them about it being forbidden... and how the last such visit went. Needless to say, they all back down pretty quickly, with mock protests... you suspect mostly putting up appearances.
Dale seems more interested in studying the monoliths, and the others retrieving the remains gives him the perfect opportunity to do so. The elves seem wary when the learn of it, though none of them speaks against him doing so should he do so.
It will end up taking about four hours, past midday, before you finally get the last of them... those making the trek glad to be done, as you realize even you were starting to hear faint whispers in your heads again, near the end.
Tad stays to help the elven scouts with the remains, and is surprised to learn that they don't really have much of a burial ceremony at all. He will eventually come to the conclusion that it was more about not letting them lay in Dehu Inu, then where or how they actually ended up.
Still, the act of removing them from that cursed place does seem to prove somewhat cathartic, as all three elves seem in slightly better spirits.
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Dale gets up, still a bit sleepy eyed, and prepares his morning extracts, as he does he munches on the food they purchased for the trip from the village, pulling out each piece and taking a closer look before nibbling, asking numerous questions to the Elves about what it is, how it was prepared, typical shelf life, and nutritional content. "Its pretty good too. If you have any questions on what I'm doing, you're more than welcome to ask!" He even shows them the pictures, calculations, and processes in his alchemy book (somewhat because he knows it may freak them out a little).
As the others move off to help carry old, dead, headless, rotted corpses back down the hill, Dale makes his way around the outside of the site to check out the monoliths, happy to talk anyone's ear off that comes with him, especially if its an Elf that he feels the obligation to educate. "See these markings here? They're a bit different than the last, the lettering? Yup, etched by a different hand than the last. I'd guess the second was a lefty, and stood about 6 inches shorter for whatever reason. Maybe the ground was softer and his stool sunk in more?" He scratches his chin and eyes up the statue a bit more, scraping away the top layer of soil to check the underlying material.
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Dru helps to the burial, happy to lose herself in menial but useful chores while Dale is doing.. whatever he is the best at doing.
She does express her thankfulness to the elf tribe, with Fola's helpful translation,for eveything they have done for her group: Healing the diseases, feeding them, giving them weapons to fight the source of Evil on their sacred lands. She shows her willingness in giving the weapons back, telling the elders the tribe might need these to defend themselves, if the bloodsucking beasts ever come back.
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Tad notices the lack of any interest in specific burial rites, and so just briefly asks Pharasma to be merciful to the victims and Sarenrae to comfort their surviving families and bring peace.
During the night, if anyone isn't asleep, they notice that Tad has trouble sleeping. He gets up for a few minutes to pray. If anyone strains to hear his prayer, they hear that he is very sad that he couldn't banish the evil, but that he seems to find comfort in his prayer. Then he lays back down and goes to sleep.
Dale will end up perusing the stones on his own, none of the elves wanting to go with him... or perhaps not wanting to be stuck in his company...
As you already noticed on the way in, most of the runes, marked in the ancient elven script, appear to be dire warnings of danger beyond... then numerous variations on some kind of 'winged shadowy evil'... though you will eventually realize none of them mention Camazotz by name.
Each marker does have some slight differences though, and it is these differences that you eventually focus on, as they seem to tell a very basic account of a deal, struck between Old-Mage Jatembe and the Ekujae elves of the Expanse.
These are the first indications you've seen anywhere, that mention the Ekujae at all, which you find surprising given they seem to have some significance to what is going on inside. The stones also declare that the 'Blood Maw' is within the Ekujae's keeping... which follows what the Elders told you about how it was their duty to guard against whatever forayed from it.
Unfortunately, there is no clearer picture given than that.
When he eventually returns, a few hours later, his has a number of twigs and leaves in his hair, his back is covered in drying mud, and he seems to be missing one pant leg. Dale doesn't really notice any of it.
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The next morning, you head back to Jalunth, everyone feeling better for the extra day. You make good speed, and the trip actually goes much easier then you're used to... the three elven scouts apparently quite good at navigating through it.
You reach the village before the rain, and are immediately ushered off to a meeting with Elder Kalwe, minus Fola or any of the rescued scouts.
She sits you all down, and insists you each tell her about what happened and what you found. It ends up taking quite some time, none of you used to the oral traditions of the elves, so it tends to go slowly.
At the end of it all though, she finally sits silently, lost in thought.
"What you say is troubling in many ways." She finally says, as food and drink are brought in. "Some of our stories spoke of the evil in Dehu Inu, but not of its nature. That an Ekujae's spirit could become so corrupted so quickly and completely by this bat-god makes me wonder what other secrets our long-held stories may contain."
She gets gracefully to her feet, despite her obvious age. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. But now I must talk to Nolanu, who has been hearing Kaghaze's story." She frowns slightly, clearly that story is not a pleasant one.
"I will spread word of your deeds. Perhaps one day we Ekujae may find that we have room for friendship with your Pathfinder Society." She smiles slightly. "Though for now, you are welcome to stay here a few days. You have earned at least that with Jalunth. The scouting party you rescued have asked if you would participate in a fellowship ceremony tomorrow, and the Elders have agreed. It is a rare honor, for outsiders to be included."
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Dale enjoys the conversation with Kalwe, he loves to talk about the tiniest of details for the longest period of time. He's excited to fill in what he learned from the frescoes and the monoliths, curious to know if she knew all of the history through their oral traditions, or if things have been lost over time.
He gratefully and excitedly accepts the invitation and hopes the others do the same. "I'd love to spend a few days in the village, especially if we can talk about the ways of the jungle, what lives here, and the medicines you've developed."