Seeing Art being engulfed and the creature continue forward until was decidedly too close, Zirren heeds Caine's command and fires the crossbow but also begins drifting backwards down the hallway.
Seeing the massive blob sliding directly towards her, Bella quickly fires another bolt into the cube and falls back as quickly as she can!
Round 2
Art: 5 DMG, Paralyzed (10/11), Pinned, Suffocating
Ruhk:
Belladona:
Caine:
Zirren:
Cube: 43 DMG
The group continues to pincushion the cube, causing it to shudder with every attack. Caine rushes into the heart of the beast and tries to burst through it with Art in his arms, but sadly the thick gel of the thing keeps him from pushing all the way through. Both men feel the caustic acid burning away at their skin and the sudden fear of being unable to breath fills their mind...
The cube begins to roll forward, mindlessly seeking out more sustenance; however, as it begins to slide, Caine takes advantage of his normally terrible position and lashes out with a brutal kick the sends massive hunks of the slime flying in all directions as the ooze is suddenly vanquished! The glowing armor and halberd fall to the ground in a loud clatter...
Combat Over!
Art: 6 DMG, Paralyzed (10/11), Pinned, Suffocating
Ruhk:
Belladona:
Caine: 1 DMG
Zirren:
Cube: 43 DMG
"Well, so much for the ghost...
How is Nat? Have you got him Caine?"
"Hey, Kibbo, Jardreg, It's safe to come out now, your "ghost" is no more."
The cube of slime burst like a soap bubble full of goop, and Caine came out swearing. "...b+*+$%!+ make me dive into a pile of snot and drag your half-pint carcass out... f%%$! So g#%**%n sick of bailing your ass out every time you get hellbent on doing something suicidal..." as his expletive laden tirade continued, he pulled Boote's now acid-bleached water skin off his belt and dumped it over both of them. Somehow, the waterskin never seemed to empty. "...couldn't f@@@ing tell that just maybe you shouldn't get near the damn thing, what with the armored halfling corpse suspended inside it? How f~@$ing dense are you? I swear..." The acid sluiced off both of them and Caine pounded Boote's back and dug a finger into his mouth to clear his airway so the he could breathe again. ...hope all your hair falls out from bathing in this disgusting crap. Gonna put you on permanent Zirren-guard. You two nutballs deserve each other..."
Caine finally ran out of breath and looked around while he jabbed the healing wand not-too-gently into Boote's chest
"Yeah. I got him. He'll be fine in a minute. Then I'm going to kick his ass."
Ruhk grins at the explosion of emotions from Caine.
It was quite refreshing, after all, normally you get stoic surliness at best.
"Hey, Caine, don't hold back now.
It's not healthy to keep it in or anything."
Belladonna slinks to Kibbo and Jardreg, hoping not to draw Caine's wrath. She hadn't done anything wrong, it's just she didn't want to be next.
Zirren's momentary sigh of relief was cut short and he merely shook his head at the explosion of curses that came from Caine.
Zirren disregarded Caine's muttering, seeing as he had saved Art from whatever that strange thing had been.
"Well, certainly messier than it seemed." he said as he stepped carefully around the largest parts of the mess.
Bending down he examined the glowing armor and halberd as he muttered an incantation under his breath.
As Caine begins washing off himself and Art, Zirren moves forward to examine the magical items. While sorting, he also notices two more magical auras mixed into the gelatinous goo; one ring shaped aura was stuck to the wall and another beneath the armor in the shape of an amulet. He identifies the armor as non-magical, but a mithral agile breastplate that bears a standard similar to the one of Art's chainshirt, but appears to be a much older version and perhaps more... elegant? The halberd is a magical weapon . He is not quite able to identify the ring and amulet (You are just shy of the DC by Taking 10 if you want to roll).
However, before you can dig deeper you are suddenly approached by one of Sheriff Baleson's deputies. "Are you Miss Zilka? Sheriff needs to talk with you right away! Please come with me, ma'am."
You follow the younger deputy to the Sheriff's office and spot Baleson pacing around the small office. He lets out a sigh of relief upon seeing you. "Oh good, we found you first. I know you were planning on remaining here as a liaison, but you need to get out of town. One of my boys was doing some snooping around the Rouge Lady when he heard that Kabran was sending his thugs out after those "snooping outsiders" that caused him to lose one of his girls. Gauwis is with them and he is none too happy about his wife and kids leavin' him. Now I can give you a buffer against Kreed, because he's smart enough not to come after you outright. Kabran is stupid and ruthless. He doesn't care who he upsets or hurts. He's lookin' to make an example outta one of you. I aim to not let that happen. Whether you meant to or not, you're causing changes around here. Changes for the good." He glances to the younger deputy that brought you here. "Zath here will escort you to meet your people. He's one of my best trackers and can help you find them in case their trail doesn't end at that orphanage. Make sure you tell them what's going on here."
When Nathaniel comes around, he blinks and says
Well, that was unexpected. Who knew these things could move so quickly. I'll be more careful next time. Now, let's see about those children.
He then takes a sideways glance at the halberd and breastplate.
It would seem that some tomb guard from a few generations past wound up here. I've never heard any stories about such a guard. If there isn't any objections, I would like to find a way to return these items to my home, maybe someone there knows who these things belong to.
"Pretty sure we should make use of these things now, and worry about things like that later.
We'll need every resource we can find for this."
"As for you not having heard about him, the armour is mithril, the weapon magical, it could have been in that thing for ages, centuries of these "cubes" live that long."
Artegal would definitely recognize the heraldry upon the breastplate as the original symbol of the Tomb Guard of his patrol lady. While it hasn't changed much of the years, there are some differences to the one upon his own. The halberd is a very well made weapon and inscribed with the Lady of Mittonwir's symbols upon the axe-head... Both items are very old, looking like they may well have been from the time of Lady Mittonwir.
Zirren finished his "Ah, yes. Simple enchantments for most of the items, I've seen there like before. The Halberd is magically strengthened to cut deeper and be far more resilient than an ordinary item of it's make would be. Most items enchanted tend to glow like that... given the liquid nature of the ooze, it would have made an eerie glow.
The armor is not enchanted, but as Ruhk pointed out, it is made of superior metal. What would be known by the Dwarves as true Silver, I believe.
The ring is a common one among adventurers and spellcasters alike. It doesn't take effect immediately but after a weeks time of wearing it, it begins to innately nourish and refresh the body. You would not need food or water to survive and you also require around only two hours or so of sleep to refresh your mind. You would not believe the amount of time you save when you don't really need to worry about food preparation. I also believe it might well notably increase the natural lifespan of any race who uses one. That reminds me, while I was in the academy I asked what might occur if someone were to wear two of them at once..." Zirren frowned. "Huh, now that I think about it, I never did receive a satisfactory answer. My peers thought it foolish to ask as it was unnecessary, while my instructors were unusually silent on the subject."
He shrugged, then blinked. Realizing he was still holding onto the last item. " The last item that seems to have survived the acid, is an amulet that amplifies one's natural body strikes with magic. I've heard it actually makes you somewhat of a better fighter in hand to hand combat, although it bestows no training at all. Something to do with strengthening your bones or... was it hardening the skin? Something like that so you won't have to strike as carefully if you're opponent is wearing armor or has tough skin."
He blinked as he realized he'd given a lot more exposition than required.
"Well anyway, perhaps we should give these to those of us who might get the most use out of them."
Belladonna listens intently to Zirren's little lecture. She oos and ahhs at the mention of the ring. "Maybe wearing two makes the wearer really, really fat?"
Caine sighed, giving Booth a small shake of his head, his explosive anger fading as quick as it came. "Stuff like this don't just happen. This stuff is your order, your size, your gear. Things like that aren't chance. Your Lady's looking out for you."
"Nice of her to share the f!*#ing load." he muttered, mostly to himself.
Ruhk chuckles at Bella's comment.
"Why don't you ask Kreed? Sure, he probably only wears one, AND he gorges himself on pies, but the effect is probably the same."
Nathaniel's eyes grow wide when Caine suggests there is divine providence at work here.
You, you really think so. I mean, I couldn't let myself believe that...I mean, me. I mean, why me? No, but you really think it might be true.
He looks down at the breastplate and halberd, with new eyes, and drops to one knee beside them, lowering his head, a few tears form at the corners of his eyes.
"You think a coincidence is more likely? I don't." Caine shrugged. "As for why you, who knows. You'll have to ask your lady. Looks like she needed someone to come down here and sort out whatever mess got this guy killed, and you were the lucky dumbass who wandered this way and got mixed up in all this."
"You'll have to get all reverential later though. There's still kids who need help."
Belladonna's eyes go wide "That means Kreed only sleeps like 2 hours a night." She scribbles this down in her non-existent notebook. "There's only a tiny window for success. I'll have to find out when his sleeping hours are."
Then she realizes that Caine and Boote are done with their conversation. She straightens up, reloads her crossbow, and pretends no one heard anything.
"Uh... Maybe we should go down this hallway rather than through the doors. Right?"
"Well, since the "Ghost" was physical, I imagine there is nothing between us and where it came from.
Unless it dashed into one of the rooms and hid."
"Give him a moment. We've still some hours before this feast is to occur."
Caine scowled. He didn't like the idea of delays when lives were on the line but he grudgingly nodded to Zirren. "Fine. Make it quick."
Nathaniel closes his eyes, but only for a moment.
He quickly stands, picking up the weapon and breastplate, sliding the straps of the breastplate over the handle of the halberd, he puts it over his shoulder with his left hand, while he grips his own halberd in his right.
Right, time shouldn't be wasted. I can deal with these things when we have more time. Quickly, Caine lead on, let's find those children an pray we are not too late. Forgive me, all of you, for my delay.
Caine grunted "We can guess they ain't this way if the Kobolds are all scared of the ghost, but my bet is that this place wraps back in on itself. All the architecture is too orderly and neat. Dwarves built this place and they like efficiency. Most of the rooms probably connect to each other somehow, so if we head this way we can probably hit the Kobolds from angles they aint' prepared for."
"Bella, you want to take point?"
"Sir, yes sir" Belladonna replies. She crouches down and skitters along the wall like a rat. She searches for possible traps, while also trying to stay as quiet as possible.
Ruhk chuckles at that.
"Hey, what do you know, intelligence AND common sense both came to the same conclusion.
Not a first for us Caine, despite the odds and all."
"Well, I'm glad the lowly commoners' folksy thoughts meet the approval of such a learned sage." Caine snarked, watching Bella move down the hall.
Ruhk grins widely as he scratches his chin, taking on a "learned sage" look.
"Oh, I'm not sure I'd go THAT far..."
|
You remained behind in the town of Falcon's Hollow while the others ventured off to find the missing children. Their destination was to be burnt husk of the orphanage just on the border of The Woods. During your time in Falcon's Hollow, you begin digging a little more into the rumors that sent you to Falcon's Hollow and any ruins nearby. After your first foray into the dwarven monastery you believe that it was not the ruins you and Zirren were sent to investigate. You overhear some rumors about a cursed place within The Woods that is locally referred to as the Cold Marrow and a strange ruin called The Calendar of the Ancients. Perhaps that could be the place for which you and Zirren are searching?
However, before you can dig deeper you are suddenly approached by one of Sheriff Baleson's deputies. "Are you Miss Zilka? Sheriff needs to talk with you right away! Please come with me, ma'am."
You follow the younger deputy to the Sheriff's office and spot Baleson pacing around the small office. He lets out a sigh of relief upon seeing you. "Oh good, we found you first. I know you were planning on remaining here as a liaison, but you need to get out of town. One of my boys was doing some snooping around the Rouge Lady when he heard that Kabran was sending his thugs out after those "snooping outsiders" that caused him to lose one of his girls. Gauwis is with them and he is none too happy about his wife and kids leavin' him. Now I can give you a buffer against Kreed, because he's smart enough not to come after you outright. Kabran is stupid and ruthless. He doesn't care who he upsets or hurts. He's lookin' to make an example outta one of you. I aim to not let that happen. Whether you meant to or not, you're causing changes around here. Changes for the good." He glances to the younger deputy that brought you here. "Zath here will escort you to meet your people. He's one of my best trackers and can help you find them in case their trail doesn't end at that orphanage. Make sure you tell them what's going on here.".
"Don't call me ma'am, makes me feel old. Zilka's fine. Well, I think I could handle a thug or two, but if there's a bunch that might be a pickle. Ayup, let's head out and find the others, I'll let 'em know what I found out."
The two kobolds follow you like love-sick puppies, even more so after witnessing the destruction of the floaty dwarf ghost. They remain behind while Bella sneaks up to the intersecting hallways quieter than a soft breeze... Once there she can barely make out that it has three different choices. An open doorway to the left, a corridor that continues onward, or one that branches off to the right. The glow from Art's newly acquired halberd provides just enough light for her to see, but only a few feet in either direction.
Zilka
Zath knows the route to the orphanage like the back of his hand (he was once one of the charges there before he became a man) and with horses the sheriff loans you... you make quicker work of the journey there than your companions did! So despite your delay, you and the deputy reckon you are not too far behind the others. Once at the orphanage you both quickly determine the same fate of the children that the others did and follow their tracks into The Woods. Zath takes one last sad glance at the orphanage remains before leading you on a quick pace. "Miss Zilka, we ought to---" He suddenly stops himself. "Sorry, I was about to suggest we be very careful out here, but then I remembered you was one of the heroes that brought back the cure to the Taint. Suppose you saw some crazy things out here..."
A few hours into the journey, Zath stops suddenly and looks about with a frown. "Looks like maybe a fight here, but I don't see any other tracks than your friends'." He looks around a little further. "Whatever happened, they all made it through safely. Keep a close eye out for me!"
As for sources of light, it would make sense for Bella to have one, given the number of casters in the group and the enchanted halberd,
there are multiple potential light sources. Zirren has Dancing lights which can't really be carried. But Caine or perhaps Ruhk handing her one would make sense.
Belladonna will refuse the light sources for now. Instead, she will keep to one of the walls for guidance. When she reaches the triple fork in the hall, she will stay still and listen intently for anything that would sound like it could come from a person (footsteps, voices, moving objects, etc).
Belladonna listens intently for several moments and thinks she may hear the sounds of faint shouting, but with the strange way sounds echo and reverberate inside these halls... its very difficult to determine what she heard and from where it may even be coming... The two kobold slaves sit quietly, beaming from ear to ear at Caine, The Ghosty Popper!
Zilka
Zilka and Zath continue to follow the tracks for several hours, taking a break now and then for a quick sip from his waterskin and a quick bite. They discuss the strange tracks and how it appears that Zilka's companions were trailing a large group of kobolds. "Once I've reunited you with your people, I had best be getting back to town. Sheriff will want to know what happened out here and with this many kobolds this close, townsfolk need to be warned."
The Woods suddenly open up and Zilka sees a sight that she knows quite well; the dwarven monastery sitting there... Zath stares at it. "What is this place?" He stares at the tracks. "Whatever it is, your friends went into it." He points to where the tracks lead through the fallen front gate.
|
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"This is an old Dwarf place, use'ta be a monastery for Torag. Now I think there's a kobold warren under't. Found one of the ingredients of the medicine here. We meant to come back here to check it out later, but things happened."
Zilka starts heading down into the tunnels after summoning a torch-like light to float near her head.
Belladonna shuffles back to the group and quickly reports the distant shouting, and the triple fork. She doesn't know which path leads to the shouting.
Zirren nodded, slipping the ring onto his finger. Although nothing happened immediately, he imagined the ring was beginning to open a faint link between him and the natural world.
"Shouting? That can't be good. We may have less time than we thought, if the children are causing some sort of trouble for themselves."
"Aye. Let's head to the shouting. Bella and I on point. The rest thirty feet back. Regroup at corners."