Azlana rolls her eyes and helps the elves along as needed towards the raft Lann spoke of. She was certain that Lothar was capable enough to sort out how he wanted to proceed all by himself, since he wasn't afraid, after all.
the group eventually gets over the lake without much issue, the raft creaky but stable. the group is led through the town, where the mongrelmen greet the group warmly, horgus grumbling quietly the whole time. led to the largest building in the small settlement, where they are greeted by a large, bloated man with sharp, rat like teeth, one pupilless eye, and a single rat ear. his hair is while and unkempt. yet the man speaks softly and gently, after lann gives a quick explination.
"I see. I thank you all for your help- i am chief skull. please, tell me everything." chief skull sounds calm and mild mannered.
Azlana greets the chief and tells him their story and how they are trying to get to the surface. She doesn't include anything about Anvina changing into a drow, but does warn them that there is some silvery goop that seems to change things into other things, and they should watch out for it.
Haruto is content to let others speak for now while he takes in the wondrous sights and sounds of this new place. His gaze darts around as he smiles distantly to himself.
chief skull takes a deep breath.
"I see. That's... A problem. So you say that the storm lord is the cause of these tremors? ... We may be outcasts and freaks, but we are decendants of the first crusade. We want the demons defeated as much as anyone who lives above. Will you bring this message to the surface for us? That we will stand and defend kanabres?
Lina nods. ”Of course, your message will be taken to the defenders. Does that mean that you know a way of getting to the surface?”
chief skull nods.
"the fastest way to the surface is to the south, but this exit is guarded by another tribe, the traitors, who have consorted for some time with cultists. I have for the most part ignored them, but that time has passed. I cannot spare my own troops, for I must send them out and gather the tribes, but if you will destroy them on your way to bring the surface information for me, I can provide a stash of potions. In addition, if you need to rest, you can stay here as often as you need."
Azlana wants to agree to this plan, but she looks around at the party to make sure everyone is in.
"We would not want to leave enemies at our backs anyway, I would think," Haruto says, refocusing on the Chief. "I think we should rest first, but I for one agree with this plan."
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"I know you can't spare soldiers, that's reasonable and I appreciate the help you are already providing, but if I could ask for just a tad more with regard to taking down the traitors could you provide intelligence on their fortifications, maybe some alchemical fire? If you could provide such I could in turn provide access to copying my spellbooks, I only have spells of up to the second circle though"
chief skull shakes his head.
"I can provide nothing more. You may stay thw night and trade in town, if you wish."
"I will of course join the team to take on these traitors," Lina says. "We'll rest, and then go as soon as possible."
She goes as well to see if there's any adventuring gear available to trade for.
Azlana thanks the chief and then helps Anvina and the blind elf get set up with a place to rest. Since they are going to be able to rest, she uses her last two channels on the party (and anyone else in need of healing) before sleeping.
Anyone down hit points gets 5 back.
after a day's rest, the group awakens, and have time to explore the market. Horgus is already there, unnerving the locals with his perusing, but doesn't seem to be... Actively offensive, at the moment.
the blind elf is oversleeping, and anvina stayed behind so someone would be there when he wakes.
Lothar agrees to the chief's plan willingly, even eagerly. Where there are cultists, there are likely to be demons or devils, and there's never a reason to deny turning one into a dead one. When morning comes, Lothar follows the rest into the market but spares only a slight glance at the items available, instead keeping an eye out for danger.
Haruto is awake early, frowning distantly up at the ceiling. For all that seeing this new place and meeting these new people was exciting, he missed the stars, his long-time friends. He hoped it was a clear night when they finally got back aboveground.
He comes along to the marketplace, but doesn't seem interested in buying anything, instead looking at the people and the goods with a distant smile as he takes mental note of their culture.
the market seems more alive then ever, hustle and bustle that seems to almost look like a real market, rather then a small area manned by 15 people. They're preparing for quite a lot of people coming through. There's a merchant selling odd alchemical items, and a sorta... General store ish thing where people are exchanging various common goods with barter- and a few glowing magical ones, as well. There's an odd figure in a black cloak with a huge backpack away to the side- he's surrounded by a circle of silvery goop, but he doesn't seem to notice, and no-one pays it or him any heed. Finally, there's a somewhat bookish looking mogrelman in a corner, mulling over a book.
Haruto frowns at the silvery goop. He cautiously starts making his way towards it, watching it closely.
Azlana doesn't really have the money to be able to afford anything magical, but she is interested, and keeps her Detect Magic spell up, and looks around at the magical items, oohing and aahing at the cool things displayed.
Lina's first thought is to grab an acid flask or alchemist's fire, but then she sees the man with the black coat and backpack surrounded in the silver ooze. She approaches him directly, hands down at her sides, and as she comes near she says, "Excuse me, sir?"
the silver goop there through the ground as Lina approaches. The cloaked figure looks up at Lina, revealing a scaled face, a single serpent fang, and a goat horn.
"What can I do for you?"
Lina pauses at the goop disappearing, but doesn't let it dissuade her. "Did you see that, it seemed almost like some kind of slime or ooze, almost like molten silver, it was around you until a moment ago. I saw it all over the place in the caves, do you know what it is?"
"i'm sorry, but.. i didn't see anything."
Lina nods. ”Alright, thank you for your time.” She walks away and rejoins the others.
the man pauses, a moment.
"mam, if I may, I would still like to ask you something."
meanwhile... Horgus seems to be getting into a heated discussion with a merchant... In clestial, of all things. Horgus takes the brooch off his clothes and offers it in echange. The mechant and he deliberate a bit more, and soon enough, both turn away, the merchant with a brooch and Horgus with a bag, both smiling like they had gotten the better of the other.
Lina turns back to him. "Yes, what is it?"
"you say you saw a silver liquid. While I can't say I saw anything, it does still intrigue me. I beilive I've seen something like that once, in my travels. I'm curious. So, in the future, if you can give me information on whatever this is, I might trade you some of the things I've gathered for that information."
"You're a traveler?" Haruto perks up, seeming more interested in this fact than the silver ooze. "I also have wandered far. What sorts of places have you been?"
"Right. I'll keep it in mind," Lina says.
the man looks to uerto.
"I've delved deeper into these caves then most dare. I bring back trinkets and goods from the civilizations deep below."
Hanna is drawn to the bookish man, carrying the two spellbooks under her arms "by chance, do you happen do be a wizard, or otherwise have use of some arcane writings?
"depends. What are you offering, and what do you want?"
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Hanna is drawn to the bookish man, carrying the two spellbooks under her arms "by chance, do you happen do be a wizard, or otherwise have use of some arcane writings?"depends. What are you offering, and what do you want?"
she smiles "my name is Harannra'Prexijandilin, I am an arcane caster of no insignificant power, in my travels through the underground I have come across books of arcane writings and find myself in need of supplies to take on The tribe of traitors and make our way out of this place and onto the surface world to combat the demons invading it. I offer the chance to copy the spells from my spellbooks in exchange for the ability to do likewise with yours. If you don't have those or want to hold those spells secret I'd also find I.T perfectly reasonable to be paid in gold or alchemical items."
"if you're coming to me to peddle weres, I'm afraid I can't provide much. What spells do you have? I might have an interest in one or two."
".... Hmm. Teach me that one." the man points to keep watch. "and I'll teach you... Chill touch. Sound alright?"
Tired of the market because she can't afford anything, Azlana returns to Anvina and the blind elf to help them get ready for the day.
the man looks to uerto.
"I've delved deeper into these caves then most dare. I bring back trinkets and goods from the civilizations deep below."
Haruto is quite excited by this. "There are other civilizations even deeper below? What are they like?"
the man smiles a bit at Huerto.
"you seem exited by the prospect, but I doubt you'd like them. Demon worshippers and spider tamers, odd dwarf like creatures who think they keep an ancient God alseep with thier work, and plenty more horrifying things. They have the most interesting wares, though."
"Ah." Haruto does, indeed, seem disappointed by this prospect, his tails drooping a bit as he listens. "It is exciting to hear about, but... as you say, it does not sound like somewhere I would wish to wander."
"and that, right there, my friend, is why i turn a profit trading with them among all the tribes."
Haruto grins a little. "Indeed," he says, gazing past rather than at him. "But surely among all the ugliness there must be some wonders you have seen?"
"Honestly, i love some of thier strange things. I'm actually rasing one of thier spiders for myself. I've got rope made of spider silk, and thier silken craftsmenship can be impressive."