Loxley watches Ameiko as she leaves before turning and nodding at Yeda.
”Of course.”
She brings up the rear of the trio calling up her magic again to search for possible magical obstacles.
"Amieko! I am glad to see you safe." Zeldana said with a smile before she got up and hugged the tavern owner. "I am sorry to say I cannot leave. I am watching Tsuto till the others come back." Zeldana said. "Or have they ran into trouble?"
He quietly nodded at Ameiko as she came up. Inclinging his head and smiling...slightly.He paused glancing between Ameiko and her half brother before he whistled to Dewdrop.
"Dewdrop, Defend her."
He ordered the elk pointing to Ameiko as he hurried for the stairs.
"Do not worry Miss Ameiko, Dewdrop will be watching over you."
He called back as he head down.
The elk moved torwards the bard, standing almost perfectly still beside her.
Downstairs: You don't see any traps behind door three, as you're looking Corrin and Zeldana come down.
Yeda greets the remaining teammates as they join the search downstairs.
Just in time. We think we've found the tunnel.
She opens the door...
Zeldana looked through the door and gave a small shrug. "Are we wanting to follow it now?" She asked. "I mean we did just get... thrown around by Tsuto and the goblins... Also Ameiko is watching Tsuto."
Loxley remains quiet and intent as they continue their search. Her mind trying to think ahead. Depending on the size of the tunnel and it’s construction they could possibly collapse the thing, otherwise she hadn’t seen much down here in the way of anything that could be used to create a barricade. They might end up having to fall back and barricading the door leading down to the basement itself with the heavy furniture upstairs.
When they finally find the tunnel she tries to decide what the better option may be.
She looks over at Zeldana and nods in agreement.
”I don’t think we’re in fit shape for another skirmish either. We might be able to scout ahead some. But I think blocking this avenue of entry and alerting the sheriff would be the best course.”
You open the door and it's empty with a bed and several empty bottles of alcohol. You open the door and see the tunnel, it looks like there is more after the initial curve.
He frowned and reached into his belt pouch pulling out the last goodberry.
"I will not lie, I dont have many more means of keeping us safe aside from my spears, but i am also loathe to leave a possible threat beneath us unchecked. I think you are right miss Loxley, securing the door alerting the authorities if we can, then returning better prepared might be the best option.
He paused frowning at his Elk friend nervously in the back in the tunnel.
Right, the idea was just to find it. I just got knocked around pretty good by Tsuto, so I'm not ready to run headlong into danger again. But, I did hope to see if the tunnel entrance itself was trapped, or protected by an alarm spell.
Raising a hand and focusing her will Loxley calls up her magic. She thoroughly sweeps across the room in a slow arc with her outstretched hand.
Once she’s sure of no magic in the room she looks to Tamm and nods.
"I would prefer to rest and study before we proceed."
Zeldana nodded slightly understanding what they meant. "Well I'll see what I can." She said before she too cast a spell to look and see if magic was in the area.
”There isn’t much to use down here, but we could possibly use some of the furniture upstairs to block the door. Post someone to watch while the rest notice the sheriff and arrange a continuous watch. That would give us a chance to rest until we can regroup and venture forth again.”
She manages a smile and regards Tamm and Zeldana.
”Perhaps we can compare notes on arcana after a warm meal and a few drinks. It could prove beneficial in the long run.”
Scans for magic do not detect any.
Yeda nods at Loxley. That makes sense. Would you like to get the sheriff while I watch the tunnel?
"Well there is no magic." Zeldana said as she ended her spell. "I wish we could close this off though... I really don't like it just handing open like this..."
Zeldana smiled at Loxley. "Of course! I'd gladly share."
Loxley nods at Yeda.
”I can fetch him.”
She looks over at Corrin.
”Would Dewdrop be willing to carry Ameiko and Tsuto if you come along too? We could offer to carry the two to the inn and the sheriff’s office.”
Loxley heads towards the stairs. She frowns as another thought comes to her.
”I wonder how long we have. His partner will be expecting him to return or contact her eventually.”
Tsuto confirmed for us that we have at most a few days. Not long.
"Then it is in our best interests to go in fully rested." Zeldana said with a sure nod.
"It makes sense to see to Tsuto and inform the sheriff before we do anything else. I'd hate to have us screw up down there and no-one up here in the town would know what's happening."
" I dont think he would have a problem carrying them, would be awkward just in terms of space, but he should hold their weight just fine."
He answered Loxley nodding with his usual smile. It looked awkward under the leather half mask covering his eyes and forehead. His eyes widened slightly when Sazzat Tamm finished speaking. It was clear he hadnt thought of the consequences of failing.
"That is a very excellent point. We definitely need to inform the town leaders and have them get the militia at least forwarned that something big might be coming in a few days..."
He tilted his head and stared up to where They had left Tsuto and Ameiko.
"Assuming she would come for him. From the gist of their relationship as I understood it, maybe she will just consider him a lost tool."
He finished with a scowl. He didnt know who this "love" of Tsuto's was... but he already didnt like her.
So you guys go get the sheriff, he posts 2 guards down here. You want to go take a long rest then come back?
Yes, I think we could use a pleasant evening back at the inn. Thankfully, this time Ameiko will be present and at home. She smiles as they head back for some well-earned rest.
"Get a good night's sleep and then get back down there before anything bad happens."
After seeing Ameiko home and Tsuto to the sheriff’s, Loxley returns with the others to the Rusty Dragon. She offers, almost insisting, to help Bethana since Ameiko might not be feeling up to her full capacity.
Only after she’s sure the women have things in hand and don’t need further help does she join the others, bringing a fresh round of drinks.
”Do we have a way of contacting Shalelu? We know where the tunnel enters town so we have a possible direction. And I doubt they could have been digging for too long in preparation for this series of attacks, so the start of it can’t be too far off. Just far enough and possibly secluded enough to not be noticed.”
She says thoughtfully.
”She may be able to track down it’s origin while we check the tunnel itself.”
She quickly shakes her head.
”No, what am I thinking. That would take too long to get her back into town.”
Loxley takes a sip of her drink then chews on her lower lip.
”And then there’s the tunnel itself. It needs to be closed off, but we don’t want to be blocked off should we need to retreat from our exploration.”
She rubs the spot between her eyes with the palm of her hand.
”Ugh, I’m doing it again. I’m over thinking things. I’m sorry.”
Apologizing and taking another draw from her drink she looks around at the others and offers a apologetic smile.
”I blame my father. Feel free to tell me when I ramble on too much.”
"From my experiences once Shalelu is gone she's gone till she returns." Zeldana said with a shrug. "Yes one thing at a time Loxley." Zeldana suggested with a smile. "Tomorrow we will find where this tunnel leads and then fine a way to stop this... mad woman."
His ears perked up when they spoke of Shalelu. He enjoyed the fine ale and listened to Loxley ramble while working on a better Bandage for Dewdrop. There was still a latent anger at his elk friend being hurt by the stupid goblins. No wonder Shalelu hated them.
"Whats going to happen to the glass making place with Miss Ameiko's.."
He frowned and tilted his head eyeing his ale for a moment.
"Tunnels tomorrow yes? We need a good lamp probably, a few torches. I'll be able to manage well enough with my eyesight, but Yeda and Loxley might need a better light source."
He said shifting back to the current problem.
"Are you going to be able to manage your deer down underground?" Tamm asks Corrin.
”Elk.”
Loxley correct mid sip.
”It is a valid concern though.”
She frowns thoughtfully trying to remember how big the tunnel looked.
”It may be a little snug and fighting might be problematic.”
She looks over at Corrin for his thoughts.
Yeda ponders the question for a moment. It can’t be *that* long...
She thinks for a moment between taking drinks and repairing scale plates on her armor.
It seemed just wide enough to be reasonable for a short distance, but with my limited human eyesight I couldn’t tell if it got better or worse.
"Never assume dear Yeda." Zeldana said. She had taken her cards out and where shuffling them. "Varisia is as beautiful as she is mysterious. Ruins of the past dot her landscape and there is no telling how deep they go." Zeldana explained smiling.
"Also, there is a difference between a deer and an elk Sazzat, for one a deer would be easier to deal with underground. They are smaller for one." Zeldana told their magical rogue.
"Now, would anyone like a reading? Or should I just do one for the whole group?" She asked.
"Dewdrop would love a reading miss Zeldana."
He began with a smile.
"I'll have to uh, tell him what it is of course, sinces he's outside and all. I think i'll bring him along and see if we can manage. If it gets too tight or impropable I can always have him guard the entrance until we return."
He said simply to the others concerns.
"Hmm, I've never done a reading for any form of animal before." Zeldana said as she held the deck out. "I don't know if I can... the one who the reading is suppose to be about is the one whose is to draw the cards. Can Dewdrop draw cards?" She asked curiously.
"He could probably tap a card?I can help him I suppose. You know, draw the card for him and all."
"Hmmm... I'm not sure if you pulling them for him would work." Zeldana said. "Him tapping a card would work. But you pulling for him... it might change the flow and make the reading more yours than his."
Yeda suddenly ceases repairing her armor, setting it down beside her chair and leaning forward to listen in and focus.
Oh yes, this should be good. Dewdrop is getting a reading!
She almost seems too excited for any reverence one might assign to this activity.
"You know there is magic that lets you talk to animals, perhaps when i figure that out we can do a reading. It'll make more sense then to him too. Is everyone ready to go. I find myself more curious about those tunnels than ever. Is everyone ready to go?"
He asked tilting his head slightly as he looked at everyone.
Loxley regraded Zeldana and Corrin over the edge of her mug with some curiosity. But it was Yeda’s excitement at the prospective reading that causes her to smile and chuckle lightly.
If asked she would freely admit her own curiosity. She hasn’t thought it possible to ‘read’ for an animal. But then again, Dewdrop was a magically enhanced creature. She didn’t really understand how it worked, perhaps similarly to a wizard’s familiar.
Her own magics never brought her that connection to another creature or object. She frowned a little as her gaze lingered in Corrin. She had trouble with making permanent connections like he had with Dewdrop. Short term ones were easy, sometimes too easy, but they could be fun too. A smile touch with both fondness and regret replaced the frown briefly but she quickly tried to hide it with her drink.
"I will hold the reading for another time them." Zeldana said with a shrug as she put her cards away. "Till we can speak with Dewdrop and get a reading for him." She explained.
"So, I did wish to ask, if we find this woman down in the tunnels... and she is a lamashian, then we might be facing all kinds of monsters. Lamashu is the mother of monsters after all..." Zeldana pointed out. "Think we'll be ready for that?"
He had been all smiles clearly enjoying camaraderie with folks who could talk back but the moment Zeldana mentioned Lamashu and the possibility of monsters his smile turned to a stony frown. As if it were an answer he pulled the leather mask from his belt and slipped it over her eyes.
"No mercy for spawn from the mother of monsters."
He answered the pretty tarot reading witch seriously.
"Well I guess that answers that question. But are others prepared for this? Magically, marshally, and such?" Zeldana asked. "I've sadly fought few creatures... but my knowledge of creatures is larger than my experience. Yet there are so many my spells cannot cover them all. So maybe if I know what you all are preparing I can alter mine to compliment your choices."
Yeda nods in Corrin's direction after his serious statement. She quickly resumes repairing the last couple of scales on her armor.
Yes, a shoanti warrior is always ready to face the next challenge evil presents!
She genuinely desires for the group to depend on her.