Gur feigns interest, but it is quite obvious that he is not paying attention and the material is over his head. When Milton finishes, he says, So.... we ready to go?
"Hmm...I saw the old monastery and the place with the stautes in my nightmare," the sheriff admits, in reply to Luk. "Of course, I've never seen those statues in the waking world, so I can't rightly investigate them.
"However, I have seen the old monastery, and even visited it before, so I know that it tends to attract unwholesomeness. I'm not keen on sitting around doing nothing, and the monastery seems a good enough place to get started."
Once the assembled party is ready to depart, Corindus will lead the way to the forest.
At Milton mentioning the word Lamba
Darrion recalls the word from his Nightmare.
Deputy Sara enters to update sheriff Droven before he leaves.
Deputy Sara:
Sara out of breath from running to find her boss adds breathing heavily
"It seems some children snuck off in night or didn't come home last night and with all the confusion of the nightmares and shock people were in only now did they notice that one of their children was missing."
Mr. Milton thank you for the insight. Pardon me but did you say Lamba? I heard that word in my nightmares. Luk perhaps you can work on this book some more while the rest of us explore the ruins to see if it has any connection to the nightmares everyone has experienced
"So it is as I thought, a multi-layered character set and if it's a dead language,
this'll make researching the contents of the book to impossible levels without the right knowledge or spell."
Well let's get a move on. Children may be in danger. You're book can wait. Gur says more impatiently.
"We make for the ruined monastery," the sheriff declares. "The children are our priority. We can examine the old courthouse on the return journey.
"My friend," he says to Darion, "I know you would like to be prepared, but time has suddenly become a luxury. If you have an idea what you need, then please grab it, but otherwise we need to cover as much ground by nightfall as we can."
"Hmm," Corin muses as the party approaches the edge of town. "As I recall, the ruined courthouse is along the way to the monastery. It may provide a safe landmark as we hike through the forest. I believe the children are at the monastery, though. In...in my own version of the nightmares that everyone seems to have had, I saw children at the monastery being tormented by...something."
As the group walks to the Old courthouse ruins
Darrion and Gur notice that the whole forest is quieter then usual, in fact it's dead quiet, nothing except the party walking is making any noise.
Darrion even starts to notice a very thin layer of Fog covering the ground, as though a thin layer of cold air were hugging the ground.
Its too quiet here. I don't like it.
Gur readies himself for a fight and actively scans his surroundings.
"This is frighteningly familiar," Corin growls, slowly drawing his magic hatchet from its belt loop when his attention is directed to the peculiarities.
Seven years spent in Falcon's Hollow has acquainted him with many tall tales and spook stories about the fey that supposedly lurk behind every trunk within the woods. There may even be genuine lore among those rumors, so the sheriff combs through his tense mind to determine whether fey magic or some natural cause could be at work.
It ain't no Fey Magic, it's as if the forest itself is scared, and the fog is caused by some cooler air hugging the ground causing the water in the air to condense
but what is making this cooler air?
What could possibly be causing this unnatural quiet? I wonder if it is something magical?
It couldn’t possibly be a natural phenomenon or could it?
Darion mulls these questions over in his mind trying to identify a solution
It ain't no Magic, it's as if the forest itself is scared, and the fog is caused by some cooler air hugging the ground causing the water in the air to condense
but what is making this cooler air that flows along the ground?
"It's just cold air," Corin states, speaking as much to reassure himself as to explain away the fog to his companions. "Something's bringing a chill to the forest and forming a thin fog."
Despite himself, the sheriff offers an involuntary shiver.
"I don't know what's cooling the air, but I wonder whether it will provide answers or only more questions."
He scans the surrounding ranks of trees and their overhanging boughs as though the source would just be waiting over yonder, but his eyes can pick out nothing.
** spoiler omitted **
Darion casts the familiar Dancing Lights Spell to lighten the mood and provide a soft glow of illumination
He maintains concentration on the spell but also uses the added light to peer through the fog and into the dimmer parts of the forest as the travel
Prescience reroll
MIlton looks around and down at the fog, "I don't know much about the natural state of things but the fog certainly feels creepy. Let's keep a sharp look out."
The party continues on and reaches the Old Courthouse ruins and they look almost look just like they did 7 years ago.
Oddly the fog doesn't drift closer then 30ft around the ruins, as if it's fearful of the ruins or yielding to some authority of a higher power.
Corindus and Darrion now also recall a bit of the weight they felt here mainly from the two facing statues,
While for Gur and Milton this feeling of weight was something new, like a guilt for any of the bad things they had done before.
You can sense that this place was once blessed and somehow still remains hallowed ground even though such a spell should of faded long ago.
You can guess that the Two statues show and whom they represent are ones whom are keeping this place hallowed ground.
Corindus inhales sharply through his nose. He is not pleased to be back here. In particular, he dreads falling beneath the judgmental eyes of the statues presiding over the ruins. He's overcome with the urge to shout a challenge to the stony guardians, insisting upon all that he's accomplished over the past seven years and daring them to weigh that against what he did to escape the slave galley.
Instead, he turns his eyes skyward. He sucks his teeth and scans above the canopy, trying to judge how much daylight they had left.
"The children likely may have sought shelter inside. Innocent babes like them would have little to fear here," he muses, avoiding casting his eyes back towards the statues. Instead, he scans the entrance and grounds for signs of the children - or of danger.
Nightfall is approaching fast and the weather seems clear with some clouds, and tonight will be another full moon.
You find signs that children had been at the ruins very recently, you figure about 12 hours old.
You can see the fog slowly getting bit deeper, a bit denser, and a bit closer, as the sun begins to fall past the horizon.
Yet it does not pass the threshold of the doorway as if it is not allowed to come into the courthouse's walls.
As Milton steps into the courthouse he stops. He looks around and looks at the line of fog. "This is hallowed ground. By those two would be my guess. I wonder who they are." he says pointing to the statues. "It's keeping the fog at bay as well. This would be a good place to camp."
You don't really know who they are, but they have reappeared through out history time and again.
The Man is generally referred to as the Judge,
The Woman is generally known as the Lady of the Promise
or the Lady of the Prayer.
While the Judge is serious and legalistic, he is known to be fair and just in his decisions.
The Woman on the other hand is gentle and empathetic, known for being fair and yet forgiving provided those before her repent of their misdeeds and do their best not to repeat those misdeeds.
They have been spotted mostly in small towns and villages, or settlements where injustice and evil has taken a hold of with few to none standing against the evil that happens there.
And those that wished to harm or dare to rob them couldn't, after a glance from their eyes, they either; fled in fear, dropped to the ground and begged for mercy, or walked away.
Milton stands for a moment studying the two statues back and forth. Finally he points to the man and says "He is known as the Judge and she is known as either the Lady of the Promise or the Lady of the Prayer. I don't know their names but they show up time and again throughout the ages. He is serious and legalistic but fair and she is gentle and empathetic and fair and forgiving to those trying to repent. They turn up in small outposts where injustice and evil have taken root with little to none standing against it. Surprised they haven't shown up in town with the way the Lumber Consortium has a stranglehold on things."
After speaking what he knows he looks around and eyes the fog and things. "Do you want to set up camp here now? We can rest here. I will take whatever watch you want me to."
"The children were here," the sheriff announces, stooping down to examine the small footprints marking the ground. "Recently, too. We're only half a day behind them."
He stands back up and casts his eyes back to the statues. Despite her aspect of melancholy, Corindus still feels a sense of judgement as he stands beneath the gaze of the Lady of the Promise. Perhaps it is the lingering weight of shame or merely superstition.
"This place rankles me, but it is far safer than braving the forest after sundown. Now that I'm sure we are not too far behind the children, I am less worried about stopping for the night."
Using the last of the waning daylight, Corin collects firewood without straying too far from the courthouse.
Gur assists the sheriff in gathering wood. Gurr will also look for a large club like branch to have nearby during the night.
Corindus finds enough fire wood for the night.
Gur manages to find a find a medium club like branch before the sun sets.
As the Sun sets past the horizon and the dimming of the sky happens you can all feel a minor chill in the air as the fog seems to suddenly swell another foot and a bit higher, now being 2 and a half feet deep around the courthouse.
Wisdom checks please.
Gur curls up with his stick.
Milton stares at the fog as it gets denser.
Milton shivers and says to the others "I don't think there is anything natural about that fog. I think it is a mind fog spell or effect. We better hope it doesn't get in here."
Darion considers the fog growing around the group and he shivers at the cold
Corin's jaw clenches and his muscles tighten. All the old stories and superstitions creep back upon him as he watches the fog rise like a terrible tide. He remains mute with a growing fear.
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The party's fear grows as the fog grew and they almost hear something that reminds them of their nightmares the night before.
But everyone does drift off into sleep over the course of an hour.
You feel as though you've awoken in the ruins at daybreak, but no one is there.
Then you see a familiar face again.
"Nice to see again, Mr Droven.
It's been 7 years and I see you've started living life to the fullest and helping keep the justice while being as fair as humanly possible."
She glances in the direction of your destination
"Sorry to say this, but it's starting to awaken again.
Seems the Kobolds under the monastery woke it up some and are now being influenced by the Hidden One to break part of it's seal.
But to make matters worse, there is another few problems in the same area,"
she rolls her eyes a bit at the start
"One of my peers, informed us that innocent children were heading to the ruins, apparently to check out the tale of your previous party's trip up there.
We shielded them the night before and asked them to return home, but the young do not always listen."
she has a more serious face
"We have also sensed something else moving about the ruins, one not of flesh, yet not under Hidden One's influence in fact it seems to try hiding from the Kobolds under the influence of the Hidden One."
You feel as though you've awoken in the ruins at daybreak, but no one is there.
Then you see a familiar face again.
"Nice to see again, Mr Holdfast.
It's been 7 years and I see you've started living life to the fullest and doing research of the Lamda Room."
she rolls her eyes a bit at the start
"One of my peers, knows more about that room then one else alive at the moment.
So I'd ask you to be careful with that room, for it is a room that one must tread lightly with, or risk bring disaster on many."
She glances in the direction of your destination
"Sorry to say this, but it's starting to awaken again.
Seems the Kobolds under the monastery woke it up some and are now being influenced by the Hidden One to break part of it's seal."
she has a more serious face
"We have also sensed something else moving about the ruins aside from the children, something not of flesh, yet not under Hidden One's influence, in fact it seems to try hiding from the Kobolds under the influence of the Hidden One."
You feel as though you've awoken in the ruins at daybreak, but no one is there.
Then you see a unfamiliar face.
"Hello Gur, student of Davor Strongarm.
The area of your quest is both before you and also behind you."
She glances in the direction of your destination
"Sorry to say this, but the Hidden One is starting to awaken again.
It Seems the Kobolds under the monastery woke it up some and are now being influenced by the Hidden One to break part of it's seal."
she has a more serious face
"We have also sensed something else moving about the ruins aside from the children you seek to rescue, something not of flesh, yet not under Hidden One's influence, in fact it seems to try hiding from the Kobolds under the influence of the Hidden One."
You feel as though you've awoken in the ruins at daybreak, but no one is there.
Then you see a unfamiliar face.
"Hello, Milton McMurray.
You are quite faithful and are as angels are, servant's of their master's will.
Just as I am a servant of my Lord, and tend to the vineyard while the master is away."
"What lays ahead of your will be one of chaos and darkness."
She glances in the direction of your destination
"The Hidden One is starting to awaken again.
It Seems the Kobolds under the monastery woke it up some and are now being influenced by the Hidden One to break part of it's seal."
she has a more serious face
"We have also sensed something else moving about the ruins aside from the children you seek to rescue, something not of flesh, yet not under Hidden One's influence, in fact it seems to try hiding from the Kobolds under the influence of the Hidden One."
In the morning Gur awakes, and says aloud, That was imformatve. I wonder who that woman was. He waits for his companions to waken.
"What lord is it that you serve? What else can you tell me of the other creature you sense in there?"
"Thank you," he breathes, eyes cast upon the fog-shrouded ground in his dream. "Thank you for protecting the children. I'd worried something might befall them before we could reach them. Stopping to rest felt like a betrayal of those young ones. This news is quite a relief."
He sighs, letting the relief slip away as the weightier aspects of the situation settle in anew.
"I'm guessing this 'Hidden One' is the source of the nightmares we've all felt," he muses, squaring his jaw in determination. "At least now I have a better idea of what awaits us. We can fend off these kobolds, rescue the children, and send them on their way back to town...then see about putting to rest whatever else lurks in that monastery.
"I know I'm not the right man for the job, but Falcon's Hollow is short on options, so I'll do what I have to."
Darion hesitates and then asks And the other being you refer to would my comrades and I consider them a friend or foe? Do you know anything of the nature or creature type that this hiding creature is? Anything you can offer would be invaluable
She replies back
"The Children are still innocent before his eyes, so my lords willed us to protected them more so since they were closest to the Hidden One."
"It is as you guessed The Hidden One is the source of the nightmares.
As for the other presence, I know not if it's friend of foe."
She replies back
"You've seen him before, and he generally decides; when, where, who and what he talks about with them.
The Kobolds were just normal Kobolds until they started falling under The Hidden One's influence, and they now might be using tactics that are better then their normal tactics.
As for the other presence, I know not if it's friend of foe or what it is as we've not had time to investigate as we are working on protecting live from The Hidden One's influence and trying to keep it's seals from breaking."
She replies back but you can't hear part of the answer even though you see her mouth and tongue make the words.
"My Lord's name is _______"
she sees the look on Milton's face and adds
"Seems my Lord(s) think your not ready to know their name(s)
As for the other presence, I know not if it's friend of foe or waht it be."
Your dream suddenly takes you to a room hidden under the Hollow and see 5 mirrors around an alter, and the mirrors almost seem to glow.
Corin dares to raise his eyes to look upon the winged woman. He desperately hopes to find humanity in her eyes if his next request is to be granted.
"This Hidden One? How can it be beaten? What advice can you offer?" he asks in a quavering voice that verges upon begging. "I am relieved that the missing children are safe for now, but that only sends my mind back to my own children and the nightmares that torment them like imps clawing at their own innocence. I don't know if I'm worthy of help, but I ask for it on their behalf, for their sake - not my own."