Jarl turns and looks at Zeldana, sideways. "Sure. You have a grappling hook or something we can use to get the other rope and bring it up here?
If we had an acrobat, they might be able to go get it . . .."
He lost sight of Dewdrop and slowly panic was beginning to set in. He tried to recall how to swim more efficiently. Was is kick then stroke or stroke then kick. He thought he knew the direction that Dewdrop had been in at least so he head that way.
Zeldana looks at Jarl. It's hard to explain right now. I just feel that what we need to help us is on the other side, on the mainland.
"If nothing else, the elk's swimming that way, so heading over there to help pull them both ashore makes sense. But we can't resecure the second side of the bridge without pulling this end of the rope back up here. Short of ripping what's left of my shirt into strips and making an improvised rope out of it, I don't have any tools to work with to accomplish that task. Does anybody else have something better suited to that job?"
At the end of the rope, Yeda looks down at the water below. She looks about for rocks that might hurt her, or other hazards. She then looks about to spot the elk and Corrin...
Once she's satisfied of his location, she drops down...
"Oh! Yeda!" Zeldana said as she pointed to Yeda in the water going for Corrin. "We can have her head to the other side instead of back this way, then with them on that side and us on this side, we can work on getting the bridge. She has javelins, she can tie the bridge end we need to that and toss it to us!"
Loxley had stood at the cliff edge, watching the harrowing events far below. When the others seemed to be making their way so relative safety she released the breath she had been holding. As if on cue, the conversations of the others began to process and she turned her attention to them.
Fix the bridge? She ran through her inventory mentally and came up short. She didn’t have anything that could help as far as she could tell. At Zeldana’s suggestion that Yeda could use her javelin she regarded the ravine. Yeda was strong, she could probably clear the distance with one. It might work.
”Yeda!”
She called down as loud as she could to try and catch the warrior’s attention as she points towards the opposite side.
The bugle sounds louder this time as Dewdrop climbs up upon the gravel bar next to the far cliff wall. The bugle sounds loud, once, twice, three times, sounding louder and louder, overriding the crash of water and moan of the wind. Dewdrop stands upon the narrow gravel shoreline, and shakes himself viggorously, water sprays everywhere, and then streams down upon the rocks below.
Yeda looks up, blinking through the mist that stings in her face. Focusing through the chaos to hear Loxley she notes the pointing and follows the arcanist's finger towards the indicated side. She starts swimming in that direction.
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Youre in the water, the land, looking down, looking at an elk, the water below, concentrating on that which is in front of you. You know you should be concerned, you should be afraid. something is happening, something tragic. something horrific. something that shouldnt have occurred.
but you just cannot put your finger on it.
you struggle to remember, and the more you struggle, the harder it is to stay awake. You shake your head, attempting to focus. and yet, the urge to sleep overcomes your senses and you slowly succumb to unconsciousness.
You close your eyes....
and then you awaken.
It feels as if you were just blinking your eyes, and suddenly time passed.
the sun, high upon the bright blue sky overhead, now hangs low, casting dark oranges and reds upon the heavens above. Streaks of brilliant yellow and white cascade, while a slim trickle of smoke raises high into the still sky. You blink again, partially afraid to experience the time shift, but knowing you must. But this time, nothing happens, except for the snap of a burning log. and a strange, deep buzzing noise.
you lift your head and look around, and find yourself within the confines of thick brush and trees, a clearing a bit too small for the group, but more than large enough for one.
a short one.
a short goblin.
he squats next to the fire, poking it with a narrow rod. A large black cat lays behind him, eyes closed, the source of the heavy purring.
A wariness, absent before, now covers his face as he sees you begin to stir and awaken. He looks from each of you, and purses his lips, a wry look upon his face. he lifts his hands up and makes a placating motion towards everyone. he speaks in a distorted method, clumsy over the words of common.
No kill. No kill. Peace night.
Evriani had been watching the proceedings below, vaguely listening to Jarl's suggestions about fixing the bridge but not having the slightest inkling how to go about doing so, when the weirdness struck.
Every hair seemed to stand upright, and her muscles tensed as her ever-present companion suddenly found itself trying to combat some form of magic that was afflicting the group. A head-splitting pain wracked her skull briefly and her eyes flared to black inky pools, before the blinking and time shifting took effect.
Like a cat whose tail was still fluffed after a fright, upon regaining consciousness she scrambled to her feet, immediately defensive. The sight of the goblin did not put her at ease, after recent events. Eyes swirling pits of dark pitch, the power crackled beneath the surface, but she held it back -- barely -- after the creature spoke. Belatedly, she saw the rest of the little band of adventurers was equally well recovered from a sudden bout of unconsciousness. With some effort, she calmed, eyes clearing to their normal violet irises. She didn't trust herself to speak just yet, and waited to see how the others chose to act.
He was floundering in the water, getting weaker getting to a more and more panicked state. Worse he couldnt find Dewdrop, He had to find Dewdrop it was his fault. He felt movement... heard a familiar voice. It took him a moment to clear his head and realize he was indeed not dead. Yes... his nature brother. He was almost afraid to open his eyes. he spoke in the druidic tongue.
"Hello little nature brother. Sorry for the mess Job's only half done."
He spoke his voice a little hoarse. Opening his eyes he sat up slowly his eyes searching over his friends, new and old but mostly searching for Dewdrop.
Zeldana fell into sleep, but it wasn't peaceful. Worry was the last thing she felt.
However when she awoke and found the goblin druid looking after them she was rather surprised. "You..." She muttered then it hit her. "You!" giving a small chuckle.
"Corrin! You're okay, and Dewdrop is here! Wonderful, I was worried when I saw him break the surface but not you Corrin."
Zeldana dug out some jerky from her rations and offered it to the large cat. "Fate is such a fickle thing." She smiled. "You have my thanks." She told their host.
One moment Yeda is dripping wet, feeling the moisture between her skin and thick armor as she stands on the small patch of land at the bottom of the gulch.
Then, disorientation. Then, waking, surprised and dry.
At first her hands pat the surface of her armor, struggling to understand how she arrived in this state. Then, sitting up she sees the others.
What? But... how?
She turns to verify Corrin and Dewdrop are safely nested in the space with them. She looks at them for several moments, questioning the last several moments of her memory.
Dewdrop sweeps into Corrins view from above, and nudges the elf's face with its wet nose. a tongue flicks out and gently licks the side of his face, before finally giving a soft bugle of contentment. It snorts a little and then shuffles its body in a very tight circle before settling itself upon its stomach, legs curled underneath the large body.
The goblin shrugs his shoulders, and pokes at the small fire. In stilted Common, he replies Me No know. Me he looks above into the branch covered roof, his mouth working silently. Shaking his head, he looks back at Corrin and points to his own eyes. Me you. Me he squints and holds up his hands, covering his eyes and then lowers his hands again Me hide. Me You he points at everyone dere. Me you dere. me
he casts his gaze again skyward, searching before finally making a motion of reaching out and pulling his arms hard against his body. Me drug you here
He growls low, and his free hand curls into a fist and he slams it into the dirt floor. He looks upon Corrin and begins to speak rapidly.
Loxley watched from the cliff edge as those below struggled. It bothered her that there was nothing she could do to help them, she felt useless. A weight seemed to settle over her. She fought to keep her eyes open, but in the end she felt herself drift off.
She blinked her eyes against the fading light of the sinking sun. She was lying on the ground, though she didn't remember falling. Lifting her head she glanced around. They weren't at the cliff side any more and everyone seemed to be present.
Magic.
For the second time since arriving in Sandpoint she's fallen victim to magical sleep. She was starting to offense to it. Sitting herself up right Loxey glanced around again, actually taking in her surroundings. It took her a moment to recognize the druidic goblin they had let go.
She nodded to the little creature but couldn't bring herself to fully trust it.
Once sitting she checked her weapons and back as the goblin druid tried to tell them what happened, only to fall victim to the common tongue. When it started ranting in a more comfortable language she shot a look at Corrin. She didn't understand the Druidic langauge, but could at least recognize it.
Evie eyes the goblin with suspicion, not entirely following its broken common, but sees the others appear to be relatively calm in the face of this bizarre circumstance. She dusts off her dress and plucks a leaf out of her hair.
"Well whatever that was, it seems the deer -- elk," she corrected herself, recalling that Loxley had corrected someone else for calling it a deer before, "...made it through unscathed. And he...she?...would certainly have been tricky to haul back up the cliff face."
She looked around, taking in their surroundings. She hadn't been here before, but could hear the waves lapping the shore in the distance, so she figured they couldn't be too far from where they had been.
"What now?"
He nodded to the goblin before whispering in Druidic the parties thanks and letting him know he would explain things to the others.
"My druidic little brother here." He began tilting his head to the side for a moment almost as if he was listening to the wind talk or the earth whisper.
"Said it was strange. He was here watching the other isle when he saw me and Dewdrop fall. Light i was dumb. Even though we saw the trapped rope in my haste I had forgot about it I had ... i had..."
His eyes closed and his features trembled for a moment. He reached up for the leather mask he wore over his face when it was time to kill and his hand froze.... It wasnt there. A larger look of panic formed for a moment.
"He said he saw a flash of some sort of light and well we were then all there asleep by the bridge. He moved us to his den here, for safety."
He paused and glanced at the goblin again before giving a silent nod of thanks.
"Unsolved mystery... perhaps there are answers there with tsuto friends. I still need his heart for my blood sister."
Hmmph, looks like we need to continue on soon then. Into the depth of this place?
She looks around at the group to see what they're thinking.
"Crazy ... did the goblin cause the light or did something else?"
The wood elf tilted his head to the side and looked at Sazzat with an alien like unreadible expression for a moment. He was running over the words he just said and the words his little brother said.
He made a face and lightly shrugged to Sazzat.
"I'll ask, but he did say the flash appeared and the next thing he knew we were there. Doesnt sound like it was his actions."
Still patting his hand around his body and checking all his little pockets that could hold his mask he did indeed ask his druidic brother if he had any idea what or where the flash came from.
Zeldana was a little saddened the large cat didn't want the food but there wasn't much she could do about animals ignoring her.
"While I do agree we should return, maybe we should take a bit to think?" Zeldana asked as she brought out her cards. "Something with the power to make us all pass out isn't something to take lightly... Not to mention moving all of us to the same side and bringing you, Dewdrop, and Yeda from the water."
The warrior woman shrugs.
I know a little bit about magic, but it's not my expertise in this group. Do you or Loxley have a read on magic auras nearby, and maybe how this happened?
"I've learned that more often than not, the universe is out to get you. It seems this might be one of the rare occasions where it is not. If there is some entity behind the magic, I'd say it's on our side -- we're certainly better off now than we were before. So I doubt it's any of the people below the goblin stronghold. I, for one, don't intend to question our good fortune overmuch."
She crossed her arms below her chest. "I think a more pressing question is whether we rest here before returning. It's clear you lot weren't just there to save the two of us," she gestured towards Jarl. "If you still have business there, I'd like to help. I'd still be in a very poor situation were it not for you, and I owe you. But how long were we out? Long enough for the enemy to discover their guard dogs have been put down? Long enough for them to prepare an ambush -- or flee altogether?"
"Either a powerful wizard or some deity must have been at work."
"I don't know much about religion, but I don't think any wizard that powerful would waste time on us."
"It seems like it was doing us a favor though, so it must look favorably on what we're up to."
the goblin shakes his head.
Bandit rolls out away from Sazzat, and circles him three times before climbing into his lap. He grabs at Sazzats hand and brings it to his belly, seeking the playful belly rubs.
Jarl grunts in pain as he shifts from laying upon the hard dirt floor into a sitting position. Ouch. that hurts. I...I am all for exploring this place, as most of my gear is still missing. But, Id like to do so with a nights rest and a meaningful prayer to Erastil before we take up a hunt. and, to answer Evriani's more pressing question, it looks like at least half the daytime has passed. the sun was near its peak, or just past, when Dewdrop went swimming. It is now approaching sunset.
Yeda furrows her brow and thinks for a moment, then looking over to Corrin.
What do you think? Will we be safe if we stay here and rest? Do you trust your fellow druid here?
"I think if he had ill intent torwards us... he may have already made his move."
He answered her simply now standing up and searching his pockets and belt pouches. His hands were definitely starting to move at a pace that was pretty frantic.
"I don't.... I dont suppose any of you have seen my mask? you know the leather one that protects my soul from being sullied by violent acts?"
Gogmurt speaks once again to Corrin in the odd, chirping language that is druidic
"Anybody know what happened to that poor horse?" he asks the others.
Then he gets Bandit a chunk of jerky to snack on and moves to a good place from where they can watch the goblin fort from inside the treeline.
Loxley thought on it question pose and had to shake her head. She looks at Yeda.
”I’d have to agree with Evie and Sazzat, albeit I can’t say the universe is ‘out to get us’. This was powerful magic, I’d say some deity has taking pity on our endeavors to stop what ever is happening. I can’t see a spell-caster powerful enough to do this deeming it worth their time to watch us, let alone offer such aid without recompense.”
She looks over at Jarl.
”Jarl makes a point a night’s rest would do wonders.”
She eye’s the goblin with open suspicion, but looks over at Corrin and sighs.
”You make a valid point. Even this one should recognize divine intervention when it happens. It would be unwise to draw the eire of such a force.”
She gives the goblin a side glance.
”Watches would still be wise.”
"I don't.... I dont suppose any of you have seen my mask? you know the leather one that protects my soul from being sullied by violent acts?"
Loxley looks regretfully at Corrin.
”You had it when you went into the water…, I afraid it may be carried off by the currents by now.”She tries to sound comforting.
”Im sure we can get you another as soon as feasible.”
She hesitates a moment.
”Was, was it special?”
He looked at Loxley the panic on his face clear for a moment... before he stuffed it down once more his features elven and almost alien.
"My people in my tribe at least, believe that uh..."
He paused it was clear he was searching for the correct words, the right way to describe it.
"The mask... Long ago an elder amongst out people saw the harm that commiting violence against sentient species did to the soul of our people, the mask... it uh allows a shield against that? When the mask is down, I am a hunter, a dark warrior for the people. When I am not wearing the mask... i can't.... i can't risk becoming a monster."
There it was the crux of the issue. There was violence to do, evil beings to slay and a heart to collect...but he was afraid the violence would change him.
Yeda looks up and smirks.
Pity from the gods. For our endeavors? That is rich. Surely they have better things to do. But, maybe you're right. If it is a powerful spellcaster... unworthy we may be but sometimes greater beings take interest in pawns. I'm always wary at being an instrument of another's plan.
She then leans back and listens to Corrin explain the mask.
How... does the mask prevent the effect violence has on you? I think... violence affects us all regardless.
"It's a way to disassociate." Zeldana spoke up as she removed her Kapiena from her hips. "Does the mask need to be made from some type of special material? Or will this do in the meantime?" She asked as she held out the scarf. Kapiena where very special to the Varisians, long scarfs that told of lineage and marked one as an adult among their people. "If you are okay with it, I am willing to lend you this till we return and you can make a new mask."
He nodded to Zel's words. She had the right of it, he thought. He did eye he Kapiena curiously. It was very pretty. Tilting his head at it he studied it for a long moment.
"I ... It may get soiled miss Zel, if i wear it so in a fight, it is precious to you yes? I wouldnt want to ruin it, not on my account. I can try maybe to make something though my mask had been blessed by the eld..."
His shoulders slumped as the words stopped. There was no elder to bless anything now. Again the weight of being alone struck him for a moment. he flopped against his large friend Dewdrop quietly one hand reaching high above his own head to scritch along one of the Elk's ears. It was just he and Dewdrop now... well Dewdrop and Ameiko... well Miss Zel was here, and Yeda, and Sazzat and....He paused in his scritching. Again he tilt his head to the side and sightly smiled before shaking his head. Sitting up he began.
"I could try and fashion a new one, it may not work as well without an Elder's blessing upon it but...but you all won't let me get lost will you? You will keep me here grounded I know you will."
Yeda looks down, thinking hard about Zel's explanation for the mask. She thinks about how her own people and the various tribes live and breath a level of violence as a necessary part of their nomadic cultures. Especially her own clan who were are mistrustful that they might attack outsiders on sight. Leaving them for the greater world wasn't easy and seeing how comfortable she'd gotten outside of it left her wondering whether she could ever go back.
A protection from ones own actions. That is... interesting she mutters to herself.
Evriani listened attentively to the talk of the missing mask. "You don't think your friends monsters, do you?" She gestured to the group that had saved her. "You all committed acts of violence towards the goblins, and likely other foes in the past, and none of them wear masks." Her words appeared to be an attempt to reassure the elf, though careful attention to her tone would suggest she found the concept of the mask protecting his soul a bit superstitious.
Seeing the consensus of the group was leaning towards resting for the night, she began clearing away a space beneath her, removing pebbles and twigs and the like. She sat back down, and her expression conveyed her distaste for sleeping on the ground without so much as a blanket or a bedroll.
Bandit waves frantically to attract Corrin's attention.
When Corrin looks over, Bandit points at the mask-like markings on his face and nods at Corrin.
He looked at miss Evriani with confusion. Of course he didnt think his friends monsters...but they also werent elves of the Sanos woodlands. The closest one was probably miss Zel, but she definitely was more half human than half elf. He could see her canvasing the ground clearly uncomfortable with it.
"Would you like to use Dewdrop as a pillow? He does so enjoy snuggling. My blanket is big enough to share, though I am not tired just yet here."
He began patting the elk's side while he removed his blanket from his pack. He smiled at the nice woman who had been captured by goblins oh so recently. She could probably use the comfort. He was quickly distracted from his efforts to make the woman comfortable by Bandit.
He chuckled and tossed the raccoon a berry. It was a very good raccoon mask he was glad the little fellow always had....He blinked several times and chuckled at the fuzzy guy. That was an excellent point actually. Perhaps he could just use some sort of soot or ash and have the same effect.
"We will give that a try Bandit good point!"
He offered the woodland creature verbal affirmation.
She pursed her lips as she considered the elk. She bet it smelled. Still, it would probably be preferable to the cold, hard ground.
She wasn't going to be able to sleep immediately, either. Though she was exhausted by the day's events, and though they'd been out for some time it appeared, adrenaline still ran through her veins, making her feel restless and on edge.
She moved over and eyed Dewdrop somewhat warily, offering her hand out the creature to sniff in case they were like dogs and cats and did that sort of thing, then tentatively began petting his neck. She flashed a tight smile of gratitude towards Corrin that widened a bit at the raccoon's antics, and waited to hear what the group might plan to do from here.
Zeldana gives a small laugh at Bandit but nodded. "We will always be here for you Corrin." She offered with a smile. "We won't let you be lost, not while we breath and have something to say about it."
She sat down next to Corrin, "It is dear to me, as it was my grandmother's Kapiena before it was mine. We pass them down when we can as they tell the story of our families." She fully unfurled it and showed the mixing of blues and greens. As the green bust into the blues she pointed out stitching that would be inviable if you didn't know where to look. "This one here, is my great great great great great grandmother," She began at the end with a simple knot stitch, then followed the thin train to the next one which was joined by another knot and line. "This is her son and his wife," then the lines dance and twisted together before bursting into three more knots. "This line find their way all the way down to me."
Zeldana let her finger run down the lines till it came to a knot only connected to the two before it. "We are all connected Corrin, every one of us effects each life we enter. No matter what happens those ties never leave us." Zeldana reached into her cards and flipped a card for Corrin. There before them was The Survivor, the man surrounded by his fallen comrades. The card represents someone or something thought lose forever but found once more. It can also represent a rebirth. "The mask was given to those who cared for your well being. But it was the feelings put into that mask which made it powerful." She grinned. "Now it's our feelings, placed into you."
"We are your friends, and we will always care for you."