Bending over the bestial Leeara, Rosa speaks the words and makes the gestures, and exercises her divinely-granted powers.
Leeara shivers, she shakes. Her lion-eyes blink once, twice, thrice. With a terrible groan, she turns onto her side, her eyes close, and she vomits a thick, black and brown liquid from her mouth onto the ground, coughing and retching as it pours out of her. When she finishes and she turns back to you, her face and form is transformed; fur gone, eyes gone, just a woman with scared and confused eyes staring at all of you. "I... what happened? I was... darkness... I... who are you?"
"Friends of Galviss, Miss. Sent to save you from that very darkness. Nothing to fear now, we've got you." Zerisi comforts the Leeara, as gently as he can, trying to let some of his effervescence rub off on her.
"The rest of Duskpawn is still unwell though, I'm sad to say. Anything you could tell us about what happened to you would help. What's the last thing you remember? The Nesher Mine, perchance?"
That's a good start to the morning. Dragash ponders as he sees the mutation receed from Leeara. Dragash walks up beside the group looking over her. Saving her from Darkness is a little melodramatic but I guess that part is true. Though, I don't think she knew Duskpawn was unwell...
Dragash draws from his pack some food and a waterskin, he passes holds them out to Leeara "If you're hungry" Considering she has forgotten their previous conversation he doesn't want to spook her by telling her that she'd been living off the river for a few days as a cat.
Rosa tood back and let the others deal with her.
Leeara retrieves clothes from her bags, strapping studded armor over it as she stands.
"I... yes. Nesher mine. Fleeing it, struck by a bolt, poisoned... little else I can help with."
She looks up. "The rest of Duskpawn is unwell? Hrm..." She touches the hefty scar on her back. [b]"Well; I was poisoned by whatever was on this bolt; I'd... guess the same poison was put into the pond. Done by whoever's in the Nesher mines, on the orders of whoever had that star robe.
She takes Dragash's offerings gratefully.
Will kneels on the floor to examine the stuff Leeara coughed up. He couldn't think of anything in the human body that would be black like that. Did the spell cause her body to reject the poison? He stands and pats Dragash on the shoulder then points at the black and brown bile. "Can you figure out what this is?" He is assuming Dragash's obvious abilities in using chemicals might be able to identify it.
He then addresses everyone else. "Let's get her back to Dalviss and inform him of the mine and pond. He can deal with how to keep people away. Then we can head for the mine. Might as well cut off the head."
"Hmm... I could give it a go. I assume it has something that upon contact or ingestion the will contract the id mutation. Always good to confirm though." Dragash takes out his tools and puts it into blank vials to examine.
Dragash strains for a little while thinking I really need a lab or something in my back pocket to study these things as they show up! I need to ask a wizard how to reduce objects one of these days. Imagine.. a lab...wait the poison, right the poison. What is the poison!?
Rosa looks around, seeing the others get ready she heads to the exit and checks its safe of frogs. Looking at her Imp in Raven form she says.
"Go on, check our root back is save, from Frogs and the like"
Its flys off and becomes unseen.
She heafys her sword off her back, and waits to start back with the others.
Hector looks around and flys in front of her as they head back.
Dragash fails to determine any particular properties from the liquid.
Rosa's raven reports a clear route back. It takes a few hours, but you eventually arrive just as the setting sun kisses the horizon. By the end of the journey, Leeara has color back in her cheeks and is able to walk herself into town.
Taken to the Mineshaft tavern, she asks to reunite with Dalviss privately; you see the silhouette of them embracing gratefully before the door is closed. After an hour, Dalviss emerges. He shakes each fo you firmly by the hand. "I cannot thank you enough, my friends. Leeara is very dear to me, and you have saved her from a terrible peril." He looks around. "Leeara is still shaken from her experience, and will remain here to rest. May I ask what your plans are now? Will you resume seeking out the fallen star?" He looks his way over to a serving girl. "Put a pitcher of water in with Leeara, there's a good lass."
"That is definitely an option but first I'd like to investigate something that Leeara brought up. She said she was attacked in the Nesher Mine. Would you happen to know where that is?" Dragash asks Dalviss.
"That's where she lasts remembers being and might give us some clue as to what's going on, even if it doesn't directly lead to the fallen star."
He nods, and fetches a map, spreading it out. "The Nesher Mines are across the river, about fifteen miles south-west of here... I estimate them to be approximately five miles north of the crash site."
Dragash looks over the map nodding "Thanks Dal, since it's on the way to the crash site it looks like we can kill two birds with one stone."
He then turns to the others. "That should take us the best part of the morning to get there. So I suggest we get going right away, unless anyone has any objections? I for one want to get to the bottom of this fast, the more people that can be infected the harder it will be to cure them all. We should be wary ourselves, I highly doubt we're immune to this poison or toxin."
Rosa stays at the back as they go into the the Inn, taking a seat and ordering some whisky She waits whole other sit as Dalviss talks with Leeara.
Then as there is talk of a pitcher of water in with Leeara, She speaks up.
"Dalviss best not drink the water from the towns pond. Trust me when I say we think its tainted. Same thing that affected Leeara just more diluted. Its having an effect on the town. That ponds needs to be isolated and none should drink from it or use that water for the time being"
She thinks a moment then adds.
"We best check where the water for that pond comes from, could be somes run off from the mines"
About a minute after the two disappear and don't return, Will gets the feeling this might take a while. So he settles into seat and orders some dinner. It was late and they weren't likely to get to the mines tonight. Might as well get a room too.
Will shakes his head at Dragash's suggestion. He had no objections. Nesher Mine as the logical next step. He did want to add something though. "What should we bring to the mine?" he asks Dalviss. "Any special equipment?"
"I would suggest the local temple spends some time detecting if the water has any poison in it at the very least. Since it shouldn't take too long out of their day even for neophytes to check the water supply." Adding to what Rosa has suggested.
"As for tools I have this." Dragash replies to Will taking out his Anytool. "Probably will provide some use, though I'm unsure as to how much we'll need it. This used to be a mining town as far as Iadaran records go. The town seems to have changed to herding as of recently. By that I mean the mine has likely been fully dug out and reinforced if the miners were worth their salt so it should be stable. Well here's hoping anyway, I guess you can never be too safe. Rope is always good but I think we all have a decent amount, after all, we would not want to climb down a dark pit without some!" He scratches the back of his head. "Climbing pitons, grappling hooks and a small torch to look for passages by candle flame might also be worth it, if we need to go deep into the mine."
"The river is a good few miles away from the mines; I doubt it..."
Dalviss shrugs. "The mine should be fairly well equipped for exploration..."
"Great news, great news! Then we can commence with celebrating Leeara's return, and put all this preparing nonsense behind us. Come on Dal, let's open a few bottles!" Zerisi exclaims.
Jumping on a table, and looking to rally the locals, he continues, exuberantly,
"And who wants to hear about the Giant Frog that ate the General here, and how he miraculously cut himself out of its gullet? A braver man you'll not find between here and heaven, I tell you!"
Despite the thin crowd, Zerisi launches into a greatly exaggerated version of their 'battle' with an army of monstrous frogs downriver, aiming both to please his audience and needle Will a bit.
"And likely last maintained years ago," Will says in caution. They'd have to avoid explosions but he didn't feel he needed to voice that. That'd put Dragash at a disadvantage. Speaking of. "Watch the bombs please." As Zerisi puts on a performance, Will pretends to ignore him. But for someone who seemed to not be paying attention he seems to bump the table Zerisi is standing on at the exact moment his stance is less than stable. Its never enough to topple him but it is certainly a good test of his balancing skills and improve.
"It'll be fine, I have ways to prevent collateral damage or making them far frostier. I wouldn't be too worried either, the bombs are more like alchemical fire and not truly explosive so don't expect cave-ins from them. Unless I set a support beam on fire... I'll avoid that." Dragash shrugs nonchalantly. "I'm not bad with a bow either."
"Anyway, unless we need anything else then we should turn in for the night. As much as I would enjoy festivities I think it's too early to claim this as a victory." Dragash grimaces lost in a bit of thought.
If the people who shot Leeara are related to the problems in town then it seems this issue isn't just something exuding from the fallen star, it could be a subtle attack from an underground group. That arguably is a bigger problem, since it's a force acting against us and not a passive menace. Dragash doesn't voice those concerns yet however since there is too little to go on so far. A poison covered bolt, and a person with a starry robe is all the evidence they have. Could be unrelated, could be wholly related. Too early for him to say.
Rosa is at the back, siting next to Dragash as he talks and airs his feelings. She is deep in shadow, the locals are not quit as hostile as they where but they still give her looks now and then. Zerisi's act was a effective distraction from her. She looked on as they boys Will and Zerisi ragged each other to the room.
She took out a small cigar and lit it. Her raven was somewhere up in the rafters with a chunk of meat off her plate of otherwise uneaten food.
She looked over at Dragash and pored a shot of whisky for him and herself.
She put the bottle down and taking her shot glass downed her drink in one.
Taking after a long puff on her cigar she looked over to him looking at him thinking. She then says.
"Well that went as well as could be expected, our host is happy, the town may not be as doomed as we thought and as yet none of us are dead. I say this is one of the few times we may have what is called a win. Just a shame that tomorrow we will be off to F&*£ it all up by heading down a mine of doom."
She smiled an evil smile as if to say, So whats new
She looked back at Zerisi singing about Will covered in frog slime.
"Why would it be a mine of doom? Someone's just likely commandeered it for nefarious purposes, or they found something in it that's worth mutating people over." He folds his arms looking at the shot glass wondering if drinking is really a good idea right now.
"You are no stranger to the fight, just because we won a battle doesn't mean we've won the war. There is still much to uncover, I'm all for saying we're taking a step forward but a win might be a bit much. These mutations are quite worrisome." Dragash objects as he combs his hand through his hair.
"This meteor has been here for more than 10 days, it means if any of the townsfolk have been so affected from before our arrival I doubt we can do anything to save them." He says with a modicum of urgency. "What's more we don't know how many people are spreading these mutations about. I for one don't like the idea that we're fighting a group that is seeking biological weapons so readily." Dragash shakes his head thinking to himself; I wonder how much more feral my inner self can become, I doubt much more...
Rosa puts more whisky in her class picks it up and smells with, but do's not drink it. As if enjoying it.
"All true Dragash, that star has me concerned as well. What was done here had active intent. harmful active intent. Something is seeking to spread a corruption. Just what form that corruption is, well we have some idea now. What's the source of this corruption, now that is our next task. It will be hard, and they will not stop with out a fight. But My hope is that once we find it and nip it in the bod."
She slugs back her shot in one go and slams the class down on the table, she breaths out and steams seems to come out of her mouth.
"Feeding the fires of Hell"
She jokes, holding the empty glass. With her other hand she takes another pull on her cigar, holding in the smoke then letting it out slowly. She looks around at others enjoying the frog song. She seemingly changed the subject.
"Will's an odd sort, hes got the Charisma and personality skills of a house brick, yet people seem to like him. I think its because he dos not take himself to seriously. What you see with Will is what you get, its a kind of open honesty. I can see his troop becoming very loyal to that. As for Zerisi there, to Zerisi life's just one big adventure, he's nearly childlike in that respect, to most that would be annoying but with him... its endearing, his silly songs and jokes, all part of who he is. He's the joker card who gets played in the great game of life."
She looked a Dragash sideways.
"Now as for you Dragash, your a deeper thinker. There is much more to you than meets the eye. I find that interesting, While others are working out what to do, your thinking past that to how and why. Must been why you like chemicals and the arts of the sciences so much. Everything to be broken down, everything to be studied and understood."
Her eyes, old, older then any of them looked at him.
"Your thinking, and what of Rosa?"
She looked down and refilled her class, but carried on taking
"Why dear Dragash, has no one told you, Rosa is an old lady who has seen and done much. She may not be the most powerful or cunning or learned, But she is the one who has seen and done most. Seen and done things that most mortals would really not like to have experienced with out spending more than a few years after in the good temple to getting over them. But such a hard life leads to wisdom and the wise can always give advice."
She picked up her glass and held it in front of her, looking at him once more.
"And right now that old lady is telling you Dragash to relax, enjoy the moment and have a bloody drink."
She winked at him, then downed her 3ed drink.
Zerisi's bright words and mood proves surprisingly effective at rallying the townsfolk from their generally dark and distrustful mood; after his tale, a few drinking songs get going.
Rosa gets a room, the beds being to small, she flops down her silk bed roll on floor, Throwing a pillow down. She places her dark sword in front of her, and sleeps two hours. Her imp awake over looking her rest.
On waking she spends another hour prying.
"I wouldn't say I like to break down everything. I'm not one for over analysing people, there's far more you can find on the face value of a person despite how they might hide it" Dragash replies still not really thinking about touching the drink.
"You, on the other hand, seem to like figuring out how people are. You sure you aren't an inquisitor?" He prods in jest.
"I shall have a drink, how about this one?" He takes out an extract from beneath his cloak and drinks it. After he drinks it his voice suddenly and utterly changes. It changes to Rosa's voice.
"Now, how do I sound as an old woman?" Dragash spins a chair so when he sits down he would be holding the back of it while facing Rosa. "I may not have seen things that you have but I have spent much of my time in places where I'd sooner be stabbed by my compatriots than helped. Many are a single full moon from 'accidently' killing you, they don't care for your life no matter how precious you might hold it." He or rather 'her' voice chuckles "My life has not been sunshine and rainbows either." Dragash shakes his head then rests his chin on the back of the chair. "Here's a little something for you. The last time I let my guard down thinking I was almost free to celebrate a job well done, I almost was killed by that man back there." He thumbs behind him at Dalviss. "I didn't help matters either as I almost killed him in return. I understand the idea that we might have a moment to relax but considering we haven't even dented who or what might be behind this, we might be being watched even now. Call me paranoid but it has saved me more than once in the past." To humour Rosa after all that, though, he downs the drink in one as he gets up to turn in. "Goodnight my dear." Dragash bids, his voice having returned to normal.
She offers up her class in acknowledgment to his words as he go's.
She sits back and looks on as the drinkers drink and singers sing.
The sword next to her said in infernal.
"He's right, we have just found a victim and some bad water, the real fights to come. You should contact the order let them know what is going in."
She grabs the bottle and stands.
"I know, Hector with me"
Her raven came and landed on her arm.
She walked up to her room.
See above
Will sits and enjoys the show even though he was messing with it. He looks around and notices Rosa and Dragash sharing a drink. He notices the happy faces of the inn patrons. It wasn't the same, but it was certainly familiar. He sticks around for some of the drinking songs but turns in earlier than the crowd. He retires to his room and prepares for bed. He takes off his ornate armor and stacks the pieces together in a chair in the order it would be donned tomorrow. He leaves his bow and fauchard in a corner. They were outside his reach from the bed but they were also terrible choices for fighting in a room like this. better to just use his fists. They could be just as deadly. As soon as his head hits the pillow his asleep, not out of tiredness but he'd trained his body to relax when it could to maximize the amount of time.
In the morning, he does the whole process in reverse and meets the others in the dinning area for breakfast. He didn't think there was much need for discussion. Today they'd head to the mine and they had a map to get there. After that, they'd react accordingly.
Zerisi enjoys himself well into the night, not stopping until the last of the patrons have left or fallen asleep- only then does he retire.
He wakes early, buoyed by the impending excitement at the Mine, rather than sleep, of which he's had characteristically little. He prepares his spells, communing with the his deck per usual, then stops into the kitchen for a bit of breakfast, unwilling to wait for a server.
When the new day comes, it comes moodily; a slowly-kindled thunderstorm washes over the land, cleansing water and purifying lightning raining down on its peoples and creatures. The winds, after a time, become calm enough to travel safely, though rainshowers still occasionally pour down.
It’s still dark when Rosa finishes paying for her blessings for the day.
Her imp was out someplace sleeping off the night’s free ale. She packed away her few things into the magic pouch she kept them in.
Dressing she took up her sword, and slowly went outside. She slipped something on her head, and then Rosa was gone, in her place was a small human child. I girl around 12, simple clothing, her hair dark like her eyes. The Girl started walking. The early morning air was cold. Slowly she walked around the Still and silent town. The sound of her walking lost in the storm. She dos not mind it, the rain and lighting dos not seem to bother her at all. Then back to the inn, Rosa was back.She found a wood pile round the back. Rosa was a lot stronger than she looked, she picked up some long logs and places them around her, each sticking up. She stood in the center closed her eyes, turned a number of times, stopped and with her eyes still closed said in Infernal.
”tell me”
Her sword spoke on the same dark tongue.
”two ahead left, three behind 2 feet apart, 1 to the right 3 feet out, one more behind that clock wise 2 feet.”
She waits a moment, the storm was coming to and end, just light rain now. Then suddenly in one move she pulled her sword and sang as it whet out and around her, two cuts to the left, one long behind then 1 long to the right. It was done in a moment, the sword sang with one last note. The cuts simple and deadly. If any of the wood block had been a living thing each cut would have been a life ending one. All killing blows, when done Rosa held the blade still out in front of her in low guard. She opened her eyes, just as the 1st wood block slipped in two and fell, to be followed by the rest. The only sound in the dark was the rain and wood hitting the wet ground. When the last fell Rosa stood and flicked her sword round and back into place on her back.
”You’re getting slow old lady, two cuts for the 1st two.”
The sword said still in Infernal.
”The woods wet, next time you take note, your lucky I checked it before I placed them.”
The sword said nothing more,
Rosa renter the Inn. Being 1st up she took rekindled the fire and took her seat once more. She lit a cigar, pulling out a small note book and silver point pen, started making notes and observations.
Soon she was joined by staff and the others. Each siting and have that which the wished for breakfast. Rosa eat nothing. She waited till they where ready to move out.
When they where her Raven showed up and flow over head.
Once again her long legs carry her at a fast pace. Moving over the land with some ease.
Dragash enters the common room yawning and stretching. It appears he has already washed and perfumed himself already. He rolls his shoulders several times, warming up a little. Then approaches the group, nods at those there seeing that all of them look to be rearing and ready to go.
They seemed to all be in the same state of mind, ready for the mines. Dragash didn't have to say anything, being the last to arrive he grabbed a piece of bread for the road. Perhaps he should take shorter baths. Preposterous, when you have fresh water you better use it! The mines aren't going to afford that luxury! Dragash thinks.
He motioned towards the door with his head while biting down on the fresh slice. He joins the others walking out the door when they get up to leave.
Will goes to retrieve Arion before the others are ready to leave. When they return he is, of course, already astride. Both seem sharp despite the early hour. A side effect of the adventuring lifestyle.
SO gathered, the group departs.
The Nesher Mine is located southwest of Dustpawn. The journey takes some time, yet proves quite uneventful.
The mine itself is relatively unimpressive from the
outside-merely a cave opening at the base of a hill that's
been widened and braced with timbers. A hand-painted sign
above the mine proudly names it the "NESHER MINES."
The cave beyond is relatively shallow, extending only i5 feet
underground before it ends. A hole in the center of the cave
allows acces s to the mine proper-a wooden lift operated by
a hand- cranked winch mounted on the platform allows easy
descent 20 feet down.
A shaft in the ceiling of this ten-foot-diameter cavern leads upward, while to the north a winding tunnel leads deeper underground. Numerous pickaxes, shovels, buckets, sledges, and other mining gear sit near the walls.
Rosa dos not seem to be bothered by the terrain, again moving fast.
Her Raven scouts out ahead and the skirt around possible problem places.
As they get to the mine, Rosa stops at the entrance.
"Now if I was an evil bastard which I am, I would trap the entrance to such an inviting entrance Zerisi would you be so kind."
She then waves down her raven who lands close to her.
"Go in and have a snoop around, not to far, keep out of sight and touch nothing, come back once you have had a look."
The Raven moves into the entrance and disappears.
She looks around at Will.
"Looks like your mount will be staying out here. Also, would you mind not rush in front with that nice bright here we come light spinning around your head. How about we let the ones that can see in the Dark go in front."
She asks, and says at the same time.
Will looks at the small elevator and then at his large horse. "Sorry." He gives the horse the command for guard and removes the excess weight, hiding the saddle-bags in a bush nearby. He then moves towards the cave. His Ioun torch is already in hand when Rosa comments on it. He looks up at the slowly circling light. She had a point. He nods.
But a line he had read in a book many years ago said "Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected." He could also be the distraction that draws the enemies while they await in the darkness. But scouting the enemy was also important. And so was camaraderie. So he stays quiet. As usual
Hector flow slowly in, now invisible and in imp from.
Why did he always get the job of looking around where things can eat you live. O just go in and have a look around Hector dear, and try not to get killed.
Always the same, but she was the boss.
Hector made his way to the lift and slipped past it, having a look up into the space above.
Hector sees a dark cave heading deeper underground, past the lift. The path branches west and east.
Zerisi inspects the area for traps, almost gleeful.
"Of COURSE Rosa! Let's see what tricks we can find!"
Dragash drinks a few potions he drinks this morning.
Thinking he is going to find the person who assaulted Leeara he is getting ready. He doesn't want to get caught off-guard like the fight with the frogs.
Dragash leaves the horse with an apple, he isn't sure if he'd like that but at least it's something to keep him satiated while no doubt bored out here. As he goes down the elevator when the others are ready he whispers "I can stay in the shadows ahead if need be, I know Rosa's Raven can do the same but I can disarm anything non-magical while staying hidden"
He then helps out with Zerisi's spotting of traps.
Searching the area, Zerisi's eyes are drawn to the mine elevator. He spots that it has been rigged, and will collapse into the mine if used.
"OOohhhh, now that's a new one. I've never seen a mine collapse before, and what a tale it would be of course, our daring escape, faced with certain doom, we'd surely find a means of egress at the last minute...ah. But, well, I suppose it would be quite rude of me to not mention..." Zerisi starts off talking excitedly, before trailing off...
"...the mine will collapse behind us if we use the elevator."
Clearly this fact has not deterred him.
"I suppose I could always 'un-disable' it, but where's the fun in that..."
Now they have found the traps Rosa nods at Will as if to say lets go.
And She walks into the area with the list.
"A good story or not, death is not fun. Disarm it so we can move on."
Hector then comes back.
He comes close to her, still unseen.
"Hay boss, back there is a cave heading deeper underground, past the lift. It has two branches one west and one east. Nothing more but that that I can see."
Rosa Cast two blessings
Then comes into the space and looks at the lift, touching nothing.
"I don't think that lift go's anywhere but to a rocky doom. The Caves seem the most useful root to take something in here. If there is nothing in the caves we can also come back and check."
She walks past it and then looks down the cave, saying in a low voice.
"So Dragash, Zerisi what do you think about going front and center. Pick a cave and hunt for more traps I'll send Hector with you, He's good for scouting just ahead.
She walks back.
"Ill be just behind with Will. If we go slow the dark should not be a problem for the ones who can's see to well in it well. Will if you need your light to fight by all means use it. When it starts."
Rosa hefts her dark blade off her back, and lock the weapon cord to her wrist.
"If this place starts coming down on us, get to me as fast as you can. I can get us all out of here quickly but you have to be touching me."
She grins.
"Shall we?"
She says as an invitation to get started.
As the other test for traps ahead she follows moving to the split in the Caves.
Will thwaps Zerisi on the back of the head with the flat of his blade. That kind of behavior needed to be curbed now before it got out of hand. Will had seen the kind of trouble phrases like "Where's the fun in that?" had caused. Will points at the mine shaft, "Just do it," he says with an annoyed sigh. He then makes eye contact with Dragash and signals him to keep an eye on the over eager bard in the darkness. If they could surprise an obvious enemy then they should take it. Easier that way.