Fighting against the storm, Myrna grows to her giant-size in order to make it easier to fight against the winds -- both her giant-form's strength and bulk made it less likely that she would be blown away by the winds. Then she draws her Lieutenant in close to her chest, carrying her cradled like a babe. Her slender lieutenant posed no trouble to lift like that, and she knew that Beatrix would have a hard time moving in the storm on her own.
"Archdruid!" she shouts, struggling to make herself heard over the storm. "Is there any way you can conjure a shelter for us to sleep in?" She looks up into the sky, seeing the troubling signs of a deadly storm brewing. "Whatever's happening up there, it doesn't look good, and I wouldn't want to be out here when this storm intensifies!"
"We have ten minutes at most before the first tornado comes down!" Ehren calls out urgently, considering Myrna's question. She was right - they didn't have time to look for shelter. They would have to create their own fast. "Gather around, I'm going to open a sylvan hideaway!"
Pressing a hand against the ground, a circular groove spontaneously appears, a nigh-invisible portal leading to what he hopes will be their haven.
Unafe shouts, leaning into the wind to steady herself, and standing close to her allies in case she needs to grab them.
Unafe sees the Archdruid create a magical shelter and her chest relaxes somewhat. "Everyone, down as fast as you can. I can go in last!"
The heroes scramble to the portal, the storm threatening to rip them from their feet with each passing second. Myrna, still in her giant form, quickly lowers Beatrix through the opening, ensuring her safety before she turns to guide the others.
As they all dive into the safety of the sylvan hideaway, the trapdoor closes behind them with a thud, sealing them off from the chaos above. The storm rages on outside, but within the magical shelter, they find a momentary reprieve from the impending disaster. The walls of their hideaway hum with the energy of Ehren’s magic, providing a sturdy barrier against the oncoming tornadoes.
As the storm rages on outside, the heroes huddle together within the safety of the sylvan hideaway. The howling winds and the occasional rumble of thunder serve as a constant reminder of the danger they narrowly avoided. The minutes tick by slowly, each one stretching out as they wait for the storm to pass.
Hinagiku sits in quiet meditation. Li'an keeps a vigilant eye on the portal, ready to react if the shelter should be compromised.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the storm begins to calm. The torrential rain lessens, eventually ceasing altogether, though the wind still howls fiercely outside. The sound of debris clattering against the rocks and the shelter’s walls grows less frequent.
Hinagiku presses her hand against the ground, sensing the change in the storm’s intensity. "The worst of it has passed," she says, her voice carrying a note of relief. "There are still strong winds, but it’s safe to move outside now."
One by one, the heroes step out of the shelter and into the aftermath of the storm. The ground is slick with mud. Though the rain has stopped, the winds continue to whip around them, fierce but manageable.
Unafe sticks her head out into the still-intense winds and sees how everything looks different after the destruction.
"Hmmm, this way, I think. What do you say, Archdruid?
"And shall we walk instead of flying, until the winds ease further?"
"It might be best to continue on the ground until things clear up more," Li'an says as she exits the shelter. "Good call on the hideaway, Ehren!"
Ehren flashes a brief smile at Li'an. "We are already at the end of the plateau, in any case," he surmises, looking in the direction of their destination. "We won't need to fly again until we reach the other side of the valley."
Unafe leads them toward the cliff face, her steps sure despite the slick mud underfoot. The group follows closely, each of them remaining vigilant as the wind continues to whip around them. As they reach the edge, Beatrix peers down at the steep descent, the valley below shrouded in mist and shadow.
"Are we going to climb down?" Beatrix asks, her voice steady despite the daunting drop before them.
"I can cast levitate on Unafe so that she can carry us down," Ehren suggests, already palming Terendelev's scale. "Not the fastest way, but it should be stable."
Unafe glances at the cliff, then back at Ehren. A thoughtful expression crosses her face. She nods, her form beginning to shift. Muscles ripple beneath her hide as she expands into her towering saurian form, feathers sprouting along her arms and back.
With a swift incantation, Ehren casts his spell, and Unafe feels her massive form lighten. She reaches out with powerful arms to gather the group close. Myrna, still in her giant form, cradles Beatrix, ensuring the Lieutenant is secure as they prepare for the descent, riding on Unafe's back.
Unafe moves with deliberate care. Each companion is settled securely before she begins, stepping out over the cliff, trusting Ehren to stop her plummeting down. The wind howls around them, but Terendelev's magic keeps them stable. The group clings tightly to Unafe. The wind tugs at their clothes and hair, but the descent remains steady. Below, the misty valley comes into view—a dark, waiting expanse. Before long, Unafe lands them gently at the base of the cliff.
They press forward across the dried-up riverbed of the Gylch. Mud clings to their boots as they march in near silence. Unafe’s ancestral spirits push them along at a brisk pace. At first, they head northward, skirting the edge of known dangers lurking in the Gylch. Unafe leads the way, and soon they loop back south, following the Gray Road. It’s an easy landmark in the barren, lifeless landscape.
Two hours pass. The wind picks up again, swirling around them as they continue southwards. The wind shifts, bringing with it a dark cloud of ash that blots out the sun.
"Ash storm!" Myrna’s warning is barely audible over the rising wind. She pulls her fur cloak up, shielding her nose and mouth from the burning ash. The storm envelops them, swirling ash filling the air, quickly reducing visibility to nothing. The world shrinks to the sound of their own breathing and the rasp of their feet against the ground.
The ash bites at their skin, each particle a tiny ember. Hinagiku, Unafe and Ehren feel the sting as the hot ash singes them, relentless, burning with every step.
"I can't see anything!" Beatrix calls out, her voice strained against the roar of the storm. Her infernal heritage protects her from the heat, but the lack of visibility unnerves her.
"We need to stay close together!" Hinagiku shouts roughly. Despite the searing pain racking her body from the burning ash, she draws upon her deep connection with the ley lines. She can feel the energy pulsing through the earth beneath her. Reaching out with both hands and spirit, Hinagiku pulls the group together, ensuring they are all in physical contact.
Unafe groans, "Ugggh, an ash storm? I suppose it's too much to wish for actual good luck in the Wound, eh?"
She quietly asks her ancestors for their protection, and finds the hot ash no longer painful. Then she says, "Can any of you see at all? If you're as blinded by this ash as I am, perhaps I should see if I can ask the Crystaline Queen's power to shape us a shelter."
Beatrix, struggling against the ash, yells, "Who is the Crystalline Queen?" She wipes her face, trying to see through the blinding storm, before quickly adding, "But yes, Unafe, if you can, please do that. We need all the protection we can get right now."
Unafe nods to Beatrix. She takes a moment to open the intricate skymetal sphere around her neck. Doing so releases the moaning diamond. While the ash conceals its glow, it's eerie wail pierces the storm.
Unafe holds it in her hand, feels through the earth and stone beneath them, and attempts to create a shelter than can protect them through the storm.
With deliberate care, Unafe shapes the stone, creating a sturdy shelter for the group. She molds the earth into a compact, protective structure, designing it with a small, S-shaped entrance to minimize the ash that might blow inside. The walls are thick and solid, their surfaces smooth and reinforced with subtle, natural curves to withstand the storm's fury.
The sound of shifting earth rises above the storm as the shelter takes shape. After a few moments, the structure is complete, standing firm against the relentless ash storm. The entrance, carefully designed by Unafe, allows the group to enter one by one, shielding them from the ash and wind.
Inside, the air is still and cool, a stark contrast to the raging ash storm outside. They huddle together in the dark, taking a moment to catch their breath and assess their situation.
Myrna glances toward the entrance, where the wind and ash continue to howl outside, the storm battering against the sturdy stone walls. "Let’s hope it passes soon. We’ve got ground to cover, and I’d rather not waste any more time than we have to."
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Myrna shrinks back down to size after she pushes Beatrix into the shelter before ducking in herself. She stands uncertainly for a few moments, taking in the dark, cool cave that Unafe had created. With a flick of a finger, she creates four dancing lights, choosing a cool green for their color, to illuminate their shelter.
"All things considered," she says with a little chuckle, "This is a relatively fast paced trip across the Wound."
She picks her bedroll out of the pocket of her haversack and unrolls it onto the ground, sitting down on it with a sigh. "So, anyone got a deck of cards?"
Unafe shakes her head. "No cards here."
Then, turning to Beatrix, she says, "You weren't with us when we went to the comet, but...this is very important to keep secret: Sairazul, the Crystaline Queen, is a Good elemental lord, imprisoned in this," she nods to the diamond as she puts it back into its new case. "It is my duty to protect her from those that pursue her...which won't be possible if word gets out that this is where she is. God-level forces of evil seek her, and if they know to come here things will get even worse for us than they already are.
"Amongst our small team, I want to be honest, but only when others aren't within earshot. I know I can trust you, but I want to emphasize the importance of this. You must say nothing of Sairazul, The Crystaline Queen, and the Moaning Diamond outside of this small group."
Myrna is sitting on the ground, relaxing, looking around at the shelter that they rest under. Knowing nothing of engineering, she still wonders if the structure might be strong enough to withstand whatever it was that the storm threw at them. "Speaking of that, Unafe, wasn't there something about being chased to the ends of the Earth by Ayrzul?" inquires Myrna. "Don't you ever worry about using the crystal? This shelter is invaluable, but I would hate to one day be relying on the crystal, only to be ambushed by more powerful foes."
Unafe nods. "Ayrzul and his forces are surely hunting for her. This sky metal container that my clansfolk and I built should prevent them from scrying it, unless perhaps they are scrying at the exact moment I have it out. You'll notice I only had it out a few seconds before I tucked it away again, and kept it in my Dreamscape until we were done building it.
“I don't want to minimize the risk through. They eventually found the Moaning Diamond on the comet, despite all of Goryon's wards. I'd be lying to say there’s no chance he'll do it again. If he does, I and anyone who stands with me will be in grave danger. If that happens it might be best for me to flee into the Wound to draw them away from the rest of you, though I pray to the Ancestors that it never comes to that. In time, perhaps, we may even find a way to free her from her prison…though many have tried before me and failed, and this demonic Wound has to be my priority until it’s closed.”
Beatrix listens intently as Unafe explains the importance of the crystal and the risks associated with it. Her expression is serious, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"I understand," Beatrix replies, her voice firm. "You have my word, Unafe. I won't speak of this to anyone outside our group. It's too dangerous to risk the wrong people finding out."
"For a being with Ayrzul's power and nigh unlimited resources, his discovery of the Diamond's location is a matter of when, not if," Ehren surmises, eyeing the skymetal vessel with interest. "Still, it is a good thing that you were able to craft that container. The longer we can keep him from realizing that it is on Golarion, the better."
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Myrna chuckles at Unafe's dramatic pronouncement of her willingness to flee into the Wound alone to protect them. "No, you won't be doing that, Unafe. If Ayrzul's forces see fit to interfere with our mission here, we'll make sure they don't make it back to their patron alive to report."
"Grave danger isn't new to any of us. I just hope we don't see interference from Ayrzul at an inopportune time."
Unafe listens to both Ehren and Myrna. She nods at their words, her expression somber.
"You’re both right," Unafe says. "If Ayrzul's forces finally catch up with us, it will be a battle like no other. I am glad I won't need to face that battle alone—not when I have allies like you by my side."
"But let’s hope it never comes to that. For now, we focus on the task ahead—dealing with the Ivory Templars and Xanthir Vang. And if Ayrzul or anyone else tries to interfere, well... they’ll find out what it means to cross this group."
As the minutes stretch into an hour, the sound of the howling winds outside continues unabated, a constant reminder of the danger that still rages beyond their shelter. The ash storm's fury hasn't diminished; if anything, it seems to have settled into a relentless, oppressive force. The thick stone walls of Unafe’s shelter hold strong, but the persistent roar of the storm outside keeps everyone on edge.
Beatrix sits quietly, her expression thoughtful. "Do you think this storm is natural?" she asks, looking around at the others. "Or could it be something else—something meant to slow us down?"
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Ehren chuckles dryly. "Natural? Not even remotely. But I understand your meaning." He pauses to consider the possibility, not liking the implications. "I would like to believe that this is a random occurrence. Slowing us down would require the enemy to possess a degree of foreknowledge and the ability to call upon such powerful weather phenomena at will."
Pacing within the earthen bunker, Ehren approaches one of its walls, places his hand against it, and closes his eyes. He reaches out with his senses, searching for the echoes of the nearest ley node. If they could get close enough to Greengate Gorge, he could find the path to its cave system unerringly, regardless of any ash storm.
The magic takes hold, and you feel the tug in your mind, a direction that leads you toward the most direct route to your destination. When the spell completes, your eye snaps open, and the answer is clear. The underground menhir temple is closer than Greengate Gorge, but the tainted ley node in the Stonewilds is the closest ley node of all.
"Hm. We are still too close to the other ley nodes," Ehren remarks, shuddering involuntarily when he senses the menhir circle in the Stonewilds. "If we can just get closer to Greengate Gorge, I could guide us closer even with this storm. We can try to wait it out, but we should consider pushing through it."
Li'an tilts her head, considering Ehren's words. "Pushing through the storm might save us time," she begins, her voice thoughtful. "But the ash is dangerous. If it intensifies again, we could be risking serious injury, especially to those who are less protected."
She pauses, glancing around at the group. "On the other hand, waiting it out means losing precious time, and who knows how long this storm will last. "
She glances at the others in turn, ending at Myrna, while thinking it over. "I could try another divination, if you want. What do you all think?"
"If it comes down to it, I can ward us with resist fire and life bubble," Ehren replies, considering his repertoire of spells. "Which does still leave the issue of navigation, I suppose."
The druid looks to Li'an and nods. "If you can spare the magic, I certainly would not object to more divine guidance, however cryptic."
Li'an closes her eyes and begins the divination, her hands moving gracefully as she weaves the magic. The air around her shimmers with the faintest glow as she seeks guidance from the divine. For several moments, the group waits in silence, their attention focused on Li'an.
As the magic settles, Li'an frowns slightly. She opens her eyes, the glow fading, and looks at the others with a shake of her head. "Nothing," she says, her voice laced with frustration. "The spell didn’t work—no guidance this time."
Beatrix, arms crossed, considers their options. "Well, it looks like we're on our own with this one," she says, her tone pragmatic. "If we press forward, it’ll be hard on those who aren't built to travel in the Wound. On the other hand, we could wait a bit longer, see if the storm dies down completely."
Hinagiku looks to the others, gauging their reactions. "I agree with Ehren. Let’s push forward, but carefully. If the storm worsens, we’ll adjust our plan. Everyone ready?"
The group nods in agreement, and together they prepare to step back into the ashen storm. Unafe, still in her saurian form, is first to exit the shelter, her large frame shielding others from the brunt of the winds as best she can. "Stay close!" Unafe shouts over the roaring wind. The moment they step outside the shelter, the storm engulfs them. Ash and wind lash at their faces, the burning particles stinging their skin. The visibility is almost nonexistent; the world around them is reduced to a haze of gray and black. The group is forced to maintain physical contact, or risk getting completely lost in the storm.
Ehren takes the lead, focusing on keeping the group on course. Blind, he reaches his senses out for the ley. The others follow closely behind, each step measured and cautious. A couple of minutes later, Hinagiku, her focus strained by the storm’s intensity, suddenly falters. The ash burns through her defenses, searing her fur and eyes. She winces, pushing through the pain, but it’s clear that the storm is doing significant damage.
Ehren, too, feels the sting of the ash. Despite his best efforts to shield himself, the relentless storm scorches his skin. The heat and the constant barrage of debris are taking their toll, slowing him down, but he remains focused on leading the group forward.
Through the darkness, Unafe smells the embers singeing Ehren and Hinagiku.
"Well, this storm clearly isn't ending soon, and Ehren and Hinagiku are suffering. Should we just return to our shelter, and nurse wounds there? I'm not sure we'll make much progress while the storm is active, and I fear for what demonic threat we could encounter while we're all blinded by the ash."
As the group trudges back to the safety of the shelter, the storm's relentless fury continues to batter them. The ash and heat sap their strength with every step, making the journey feel endless. By the time they finally reach the shelter, Hinagiku is visibly struggling, her once graceful movements now labored as the storm's onslaught leaves her gravely wounded.
Inside the shelter, the cool air is a welcome relief, but the tension is palpable. Unafe's earlier concern is validated as she looks at Hinagiku and Ehren, their skin singed from the ash storm. They gather around Hinagiku, who sits quietly, her breath shallow as she meditates to regain her strength.
Myrna, still catching her breath, nods in agreement as she keeps a wary eye on Li'an, who has been acting strangely ever since they returned. Beatrix settles against a wall, her arms crossed as she mulls over their situation. "You two can't keep pushing like this," she mutters. "You're strong, but not invincible."
For past several hours, Li'an had been mostly quiet, unusually distant. Where she had usually been one of the first to assist with challenges using her endless supply of magical tricks, she mostly spent her time staring into space. And in the past 2 hours, she has been deteriorating even worse. Suddenly, Li'an stirs from where she’s been sitting, shivering despite the oppressive heat. Her eyes flutter open, and she looks around, bewildered. "Where... where are we?" she asks, her voice shaky. "What are we doing here?"
Her sudden confusion sends a ripple of concern through the group. Myrna moves closer to her, concerned. "Li'an, we’re in the Wound, remember? We’re heading to Greengate Gorge. Are you alright?"
Li'an blinks, her expression one of dawning realization mixed with lingering confusion. "The Wound... yes, I remember now. But it felt like I was somewhere else, like I was lost in a dream."
As Unafe watches her companions settle into the shelter, the persistent hum of the storm outside reverberating through the walls, she feels a familiar presence stir within her. Goryon, the crystal great wyrm who shares her second heart, reaches out.
"Unafe, how long do you intend to linger here?" Goryon’s voice is tinged with a hint of impatience. "This storm may persist for hours, perhaps even longer. Are you willing to lose that much time?"
“Unafe, there is one more option I can offer. I can try to move us closer to our destination, in an attempt to bypass this storm, this would require me to drain most of your power, leaving you significantly weakened. And there is another complication: I can only transport most of us. One person would need to stay behind.”
“It would be a great strain on us to move so many. As for who should remain behind, I must point out that Li’an is not well. She seems confused, her strength faltering. It may be safer for her to stay here, where she can rest and recover, while the rest of us press on.”
Shaking off the confusion for the time being, she turns to Ehren and Hinagiku. "I could protect you from the ash, but if we end up trekking through this for an extended period it could become problematic. At most I could probably manage a couple hours of protection tops."
The Lieutenant pushes into the shelter, wiping ash from her tongue, brushing it from her cloak, and spitting. She may be protected from such heat by her infernal blood, but the storm wasn't much less unpleasant for that fact. She sees that the Archdruid and Hinagiku are badly burned, so she calls on her patron, Iomedae, to fill the stone shelter with pulses of channeled positive energy to help heal them.
"Well," she muses, "What now? Traveling in this storm isn't easy, and it leaves us vulnerable to be so slow and blind."
Myrna leans up against a wall, her arms crossed and her eyes warily on Li'an, before she turns to view the group at large. "It seems we've gone without preparing for the journey again," she grumbles. "Although given all this chaos, I'm not sure what anyone could do to prepare for the Wound. However, we're not on a tight deadline."
"I say we stay here until the storm passes. Once that happens, we walk until we find a new obstacle, at which time Unafe creates us a new shelter, inside which we wait for the next obstacle to pass. When we have no more power for new shelters, that's where we spend the night."
"What's more, we need a plan to meet with Rue. Are there any landmarks we could visit? Are we able to contact her in any way?"
"At the very least, this storm should make it difficult for some random demon to happen upon us," Ehren supposes, still somewhat singed from their attempt to brave the storm. As reluctant as he is to sit idly, they did not appear to have much choice, especially given Li'an's strange condition.
"Hopefully, Rue will see us coming once we get closer to Greengate Gorge, though I agree that contacting her beforehand would be ideal."
"I think we can do better than that. Can anyone use a Sending? If so, we can let Rue know to be ready for a dream summit, where we can plan in more detail.
"We can try to reach her in dreams without one, but she'll naturally resist, just like she did last time."
Beatrix purses her lips and gives a little shrug. "I can use sending, but seeing as how I've never met her, I can't use it to contact Rue."
Li'an is again distant, staring blankly at the wall as the group falls silent. As the hours pass, the group remains huddled in the shelter, the storm outside showing no sign of relenting. The oppressive heat and relentless ash wear on them, but they endure, gathering their strength for when they must press on.
Li'an, however, continues to deteriorate. Her once vibrant energy seems to drain away with each passing hour. Her eyes seem distant, as though she is staring at something far beyond the walls of the shelter. Occasionally, she murmurs to herself, her words incoherent, as if caught in some dream-like trance. When the group tries to engage her, she responds sluggishly, her thoughts scattered and slow.
Hinagiku keeps a watchful eye on Li'an, her concern deepening with every passing moment. "She's getting worse," Hinagiku murmurs to the others, her tone heavy with worry. "Something's happening to her, but I can't figure out what."
Beatrix, though outwardly composed, frowns as she watches Li'an. "I've never seen anything like this," she admits quietly. "But whatever it is, it's beyond us. If she doesn't improve soon, we might need to get her back to Drezen."
As the storm finally begins to clear, the winds dying down and the ash settling, Li'an seems almost ethereal in her detachment from the world around her.
"Ehren," Li'an says suddenly, her voice softer than usual. "I think it's time for me to return to Drezen. I'm not helping anyone in this state." There's a clarity in her voice, a brief moment of lucidity that surprises the group. "I don’t want to slow you all down. I'll teleport back... I’ll be safer there."
Hinagiku and the others exchange worried glances, but they know she’s right.
Li’an nods, and with a final, lingering look at her companions, she begins the incantation. A shimmering light surrounds her, and in a flash, she vanishes, leaving the group behind in the now-clearing wasteland.
The heroes don’t linger long after Li’an’s departure. With the storm abated, they step out of the shelter and resume their journey southwards, the Gray Road serving as their guide. Their pace quickens, Unafe’s ancestral spirits driving them forward with renewed energy.
As the group continues southwards, the relentless heat of the Wound begins to ebb, giving way to a cooler atmosphere. The sharp contrast in temperature is a welcome relief at first, but soon the air grows thick with moisture, and a heavy fog begins to roll in, swallowing the landscape around them. The Gray Road, which had been a reliable guide, now fades into the mist, its outline barely visible under the thick veil.
You feel the ley lines pulling at you, a subtle but undeniable shift in the energies around them. You are getting closer to Greengate Gorge, the place where Xanthir Vang awaits.
A faint sound begins to rise above the oppressive silence—a low, ominous flapping. The fog swirls and shifts, revealing, for just a moment, the dark, hulking silhouettes of two figures overhead.
Through the shifting mists, the heroes can barely make out the shapes of the creatures—a pair of nabasu demons, their leathery wings slicing through the air as they circle above, well over a thousand feet up in the air.
In the heart of the fog-covered forest surrounding Greengate Gorge, the air is thick with an otherworldly stillness. The towering trees, their trunks shrouded in mist, seem to stretch endlessly into the sky. The ground beneath is soft with layers of fallen leaves, muffling the footsteps of two figures moving silently through the haze.
Yui, clad in her royal blue and black yukata, moves with practiced grace, her long white hair trailing behind her in a braid. Her hand rests lightly on the naginata at her side, the blade inscribed with blood-red runes that glimmer faintly even in the dim light. Despite the stillness around them, her keen senses are alert, ready for any sign of danger.
Beside her is Arueshalae, her form concealed within the fog. The Desnan succubus communicates telepathically with Yui to help keep their location secret, knowing that cultists could stumble upon them if they were not careful. Her voice is soft but tinged with concern.
"Yui, I'm growing uneasy. I haven't heard from Valaria's friends in over a week. Do you have any means of reaching them? Or..." She hesitates, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "Should we consider attempting to infiltrate the Ivory Sanctum on our own?"
Yui plants Kurushimi in the ground and shakes her head. "Patience Rue, we will only get one chance at the Sanctum. Given what you said about their performance at Caerwen, it would be a mistake to try without them. I think the best bet is to try to scry them and see where they are at this moment. I may be able to communicate with them through the spell as well."
Yui sits and assumes a meditative pose and focuses on the magic necessary to scry on the heroes of Caerwen. "The preparation for this will take a bit. You mentioned one of them had a familiar? The shaman? She was named Unafe correct? Can you give me as detailed a description of her familiar as you can?"
Ehren is left wary in the wake of Li'an's abrupt departure, concerned about both his friend and for their mission's success. There was no guarantee that their smaller group would be prepared for the challenges that awaited them in the Ivory Sanctum. Nonetheless, they forge onward, determined to accomplish their goal. As he begins to feel the telltale shift in the ley, Ehren takes the lead, using his innate sense of direction to bring them closer to Greengate Gorge.
As they draw closer, however, Ehren abruptly raises a hand, signaling for the others to stop. He points overhead, where he saw the shadows amid the shifting fog. "Two nabasus, at least a thousand feet overhead."
"Yes, hm... It is a creature about two feet long, with a body that’s part bird, part lizard. Sleek and predatory, standing on two clawed, reptilian hind legs. It has copper-colored feathers, with a bright blue patch under its chin. It stands just over a foot tall at the shoulder, and has small needle-like teeth."
Hinagiku squints up at the sky, trying to make sense of the shadowy soul-eaters flying amid the swirling fog. She can't quite see them clearly, but the tension in the ley tells her enough. Her voice drops to a whisper as well. "Maybe, we can stay quiet and not fight them. Or maybe, it is better to try and bring them down quick and fast?"
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"No point in fighting every demon. Let's just be ready, and hope they miss us."
Unafe stays still, and keeps her eyes on the sky. For a moment she thinks she catches them through the fog, and then she realizes it's the spirit of an arc'teryx circling past.
Meanwhile, Sicrwydd, riding on Unafe's shoulder, snaps at a passing dragonfly.
As the group huddles close to the ground, Beatrix keeps her eyes sharp on the fog-shrouded skies. "Well, it seems our luck's holding—if you can call it that," she whispers to Myrna, her tone clipped but carrying a hint of dry humor.
After some time, they reach the base of the cliff that marks the borders of the Marchlands. The towering rock face looms above them, its sheer height disappearing into the fog. Ehren leads them along the cliff until they reach a section that looks just like any other—unremarkable, covered in creeping vines and moss, blending seamlessly with the surrounding rock.
Ehren finds the entrance, hidden among the natural folds and crevices of the rock. What looks like an ordinary outcrop of stone is actually the mouth of a tunnel, cleverly concealed by the ancient Sarkorian cave druids who once inhabited this land. The entrance is narrow, barely more than a crack in the cliff face, with jagged rocks and twisted roots partially obscuring it. Ehren brushes aside some of the moss, revealing the hidden path leading into the depths of the cliff. The passage is dark, the air inside cool and musty, carrying the faint scent of earth and age.
"So, how should we move forward?" Hinagiku asks, her voice a whisper. "Do we continue with stealth, or is it time to move more quickly? The way ahead could be dangerous, but we are close to our goal, yes?"
Unafe lets herself shrink back down to human size, though stays (as she almost always does nowadays) in her hybrid form. "For something this narrow, we should certainly use caution, but I don't know how equipped we are to move stealthily....Especially since Li'an isn't with us now. Hopefully she's better soon." The young clan-liege's face betrays a worried grimmace. "I wouldn't have thought to say this about a practitioner of the arcane, but I feel more comfortable scouting ahead with her by my side.
"I can get through quite small cracks at my current size, thanks to the belt the Archdruid made me, but I'd like all of us to be more maneuverable in there. I recommend that we take ten minutes before going in for me to drill us all so that we can work better in such close proximity. I can also help to protect us from poison and disease at the same time, with the help of Arianwen, daughter of Dilys."
As the group begins their cautious descent into the narrow tunnel, the atmosphere tightens around them. The walls of the cave press in on all sides, the space so confined that Unafe’s broad shoulders almost brush against the rough stone. The air is thick and musty. The only sounds are the soft echoes of their footsteps and the occasional scrape of metal or cloth against the cavern walls.
Unafe leads the way. She moves with deliberate care, mindful of every inch, every breath. Behind her, Ehren follows closely, his eyes scanning the twisting path ahead for any signs of danger and focusing his senses on the ley, to keep them from getting lost. Myrna and Beatrix are right on their heels, practically squeezed together in the tight quarters, with Hinagiku bringing up the rear.
The tunnel grows narrower as they progress, forcing them to contort their bodies in awkward ways just to keep moving forward. The stone walls are cold and unforgiving, and there are moments when it feels as though the cave itself is trying to swallow them whole. Every movement requires careful thought; a single misstep could result in a painful scrape against the jagged rocks, or worse, becoming trapped in a particularly tight spot.
After what feels like an eternity, the tunnel begins to widen, offering a small measure of relief. The space opens just enough for them to stand side by side, though the ceiling remains low, forcing them to hunch as they continue. The oppressive weight of the cave lessens slightly, but the darkness remains thick, pressing in from all sides. They see intricate, flowing designs carved into the walls here, coating the ceiling and even the floor.
This spot is where the ley is strongest. This is a place of power.
Just as they begin to see a faint glimmer of sunlight up ahead, a new sensation overwhelms them—a stench so foul that it nearly turns their stomachs. The smell of rotting flesh permeates the air, clinging to their clothes and filling their nostrils with its sickly-sweet, decaying odor. It's a vile, cloying scent that makes it hard to breathe.
You can hear the sound of footsteps in the dark....
You spot a scrying sensor, positioned directly in the middle of the group.
Before Yui, the mirror on the ground starts to ripple, its surface shimmering like water disturbed by a gentle breeze. The reflective surface darkens, swirling with shadows and faint, ghostly images. Yui's focus never wavers as she channels her power, feeling the spell weave itself through the fabric of reality, searching for the familiar and those it travels with.
Finally, the swirling shadows in the mirror coalesce into a clear image. The five heroes appear within the narrow confines of a cavern. The space is tight, the walls pressing in on them, and the walls around them are engraved with ancient, intricate carvings.
She recognizes them based on Rue's descriptions of them. Unafe, in her hybrid saurian form, leads the way, her large frame scraping against the walls of the cave. Behind her, Ehren follows closely, his expression serious as he scans the path ahead. Myrna and Beatrix move cautiously, their weapons at the ready, while Hinagiku brings up the rear. The group is huddled close together, moving slowly through the cramped space, their eyes darting around as they brace for whatever might be lurking in the shadows.
The mirror’s perspective shifts slightly, and Yui can see the narrow tunnel widening ahead, though the ceiling remains low. The walls are engraved with flowing, almost living designs, and the heroes seem to be approaching a source of dim light. The oppressive atmosphere is compounded by the smell—though Yui cannot physically smell it through the scrying spell, the way the heroes react is telling. Their faces twist in disgust as they encounter the stench of decay, the unmistakable odor of rotting flesh filling the air around them.
Arueshalae, who had been silently observing Yui’s scrying attempt, leans in closer to get a better view of the mirror’s surface. She smells nice, like wildflowers and fresh rain.
Rue’s worried voice chimes into Yui's mind. "They’re in danger, Yui. That place… I can feel the darkness clinging to them, waiting to strike." She hesitates for a moment, then continues, "Do you think you could take us to them?"
Yui watches the group moving through the cave and attempts to use her message spell to reach out to Unafe, but quickly finds it fails.
When Rue leans in to get a closer look, Yui takes notice of her scent, wondering how much of it was just her, and how much of the enticing smell was due to being a succubus. In the time she had known Rue, they had bonded due to their shared struggle against their own heritage, much as Val had with Rue. In her own case, it was having inherited her mother's divine nogitsune blood, and having fought the urges that came with being half-oni her entire life that made her understand what Rue was going through.
She turns her attention back to Rue's concern and the heroes in the scrying mirror. "I can get us there quickly, yes. We should be careful though, I would recommend being invisible when we arrive, lest we startle them. I wasn't able to use magic through the scrying sensor to communicate with them, so they won't know we're coming. Once we're there you can reach out via telepathy."
Yui picks up and stows the mirror in her haversack, then grabs Kurushimi and uses it to help herself up. Reaching towards her face she focuses as Saloc had taught her an draws a fragment of her soul to shroud her, much as the Nosoi did. Shadows coalesce around her hand and form into a white porcelain kitsune mask with markings in red and black, which she then dons. Removing her runed naginata, Kurushimimonogatari from the ground and slinging it over her shoulder she looks to her friend. "When you are ready place your hand on my shoulder and turn invisible."
Once Rue vanishes, Yui does as well, using the magic of her Nosoi soul mask to make her form vanish. She then quickly incants the teleportation spell, aiming for the location in the caves where the heroes were making their way through.
[dice=Teleportation1d100[/dice]
"This is it. Where the ley is at its strongest," Ehren remarks, looking upon the designs on the walls and tracing them with his fingertips. He briefly contemplates whether they should walk the lines back to Drezen to regroup in light of Li'an's unexpected departure. As they progress further, however, he decides against it. After coming this far, they could scarcely afford to turn back now.
The druid's nose wrinkles when he picks up the vile odor of decay.
Ehren's head suddenly jerks, his ears and eye picking up on additional stimulus. He speaks to the group in a hushed whisper. "Footsteps. I think something is approaching. And someone is watching us."
Unafe feels a gut desire to shift out of her hybrid saurian form, just so she won't smell the stench so profoundly, but holds her ground. She nods to Ehren and centers herself for battle.
As the footsteps grow louder, more distinct, the heroes prepare themselves. The oppressive atmosphere thickens with anticipation. They echo off the walls, making it difficult to determine where they are coming from.
There are many footsteps, indicating many beings. They seem to be coming in from multiple directions. They are light, so they are unlikely to be very large.
Rue nods thoughtfully but then shares a concern. "Yui, there's something you should know. I... I can no longer become ethereal. I lost that ability a few weeks ago."
Meanwhile, in the mirror, Ehren halts, his eyes narrowing as he listens intently. Yui can hear the faint rustle of footsteps, the shuffle of something moving through the tunnel. The tension is palpable as the group prepares for whatever is approaching.
Round 1!
Unafe is up!