Round 3
Aldran is unfortunately not able to get Tolwin but Sirius' kukri slashes across Richelle's arm.
A blue magical force missile hits Tolwin and Brialla can pierce the Tiefling's leg with one of her arrows.
* * *
The Tiefling looks at Brialla with contempt.
"You will all die! Tolwin, Richelle, give me flanking support!"
You see that Richelle drops her bow and in her slightly groggy state follows the Tiefling's orders and moves to Brialla drawing her longsword.
Richelle attacks Brialla with her sword but misses.
Tolwin also drops his bow and attacks Aldran with his longsword and almost slashes across Aldran's right flank but his armor protects him.
The Tiefling is now flanking with Richelle and is trying to find an opening to hit a vital spot and Brialla is not able to dodge his attack. You all see how the horned Tiefling thrusts his sword into Briallas back and you hear her scream and ... only silence as she drops to the ground bleeding.
Round 4
1. All PCs -> GO!
2. Enemies
#Tolwin: -9 Damage
#Richelle: -3 Damage
#Tiefling: -2 DamageB.: - 4/13 HP
M.: 8/8 HP
A: 8/12 HP
S: 13/13 HP
"Kill the **gurgle** Tiefling...." Brialla tries to yell to her companions one last time before being pierced by the cultist's blade. Her brain tells her hands to grip her sword tightly, but her fingers don't respond. She visualizes swinging the blade hard down and across the tiefling's neck, but the vision goes blurry, flashing red before being swallowed in a black void.
Kill the tiefling... Her body is unable to produce the words, but the phrase rattles about in her head as the her lifeblood pours from the wound.
Brialla! No! Meraina screams as her sister drops. She turns towards the tiefling and flings a magical dart at him.Leave her alone!
Round 4
Aldran is unfortunately not able to get Tolwin again but Sirius' idea to use holy water on the Tiefling works wonders as his skin is burnt by the blessed liquid.
As the second blue magical force missile hits the Tiefling you hear his rips crack and he immediately drops to the floor.
You see that both Tolwin and Richelle are lowering their weapons now are withdrawing.
”Who ... who are you people!? We ... we can still ... hurt You?!“ Tolwin says but it is clear that he lacks the morale to really continue to fight.
B.: - 4/13 HP
M.: 8/8 HP
A: 8/12 HP
S: 13/13 HP
Brialla's eyes flutter open for the briefest of moments as the healing flows into her body. Just as she is about to thank the dwarf, her eyes close again.
”We ... we should run away Tolwin! Fast!“ Richelle says and is about to move.
Stay where you are! We have questions! Meraina says as forcefully as she can, shooting a blob of acid in front of them to attempt to cow them.
|
Calm doon weans, we dinnae wantae hurt ye. Aurelliax is in danger 'n' ainlie ye twa kin hulp.
Aldran says as he still tends to Brialla wounds by finding Brialla's cure wounds potion and gives it to her.
Tolwin is not moving and Richelle hides behind him - they seem intimidated by Meraina's words.
"We do not care about the dragon! Nobody cares about us either!" Tolwin spits in your direction.
Brialla opens her eyes with a start and immediately grabs the wicked wound in her side. She grimaces in pain, but tries her best to grit her teeth and hide it. Locking eyes with the dwarf, she nods her thanks and reaches out a hand for assistance in standing.
"Calm down," She reitirates Aldran's words. "If you don't think anyone cares about you then you are putting too much weight in the words of a liar. Because whoever told you that is only lying to get what they want." The ranger works her arm in a circle, making sure it still works, and grunts again from the pain of the effort.
"Drendle Dreng sent us here to check up on you because he is worried about you. That doesn't happen if no one cares about you." Brialla finishes her logical argument, hoping it sinks in to the two youths.
"What you did here isn't just about Aurelliax either. There is a whole town full of people who were going to get hurt, and still might be at risk. Tell us what this liar here," She uses her toe to nudge the unconcious tiefling, "Wanted from you, and we might still be able to help you come out on the good side of this. Believe it or not, there are people in the town who are worried about you too. They need an explanation for why you would have attacked the bloomgivers. Let's give them the truth, and then give them the benefit of the doubt that they will judge you fairly. Especially when they find out this cultist was involved."
Brialla raises an eyebrow, hoping that between Meraina's cowing, and Aldran and her words, they might break through to the two young ones.
It is Richelle this time that starts speaking.
"Tolwin, this is the Pathfinder we heard about! So it is true!" she says to him and holds his arm.
"I do not care about any Pathfinders! I want vengeance for what we had to endure all our life! For the shaming ... for being outsiders! I do not care about this town and ..." he looks at the Tiefling " ... Feran and his mother understand our pain! They are more kin to us than you could ever be!" he shouts.
|
"Heyyy, I'm a career criminal...and an 'outsider' in more ways than one, thankyouverymuch. I don't let it get me down. Quite the contrary. One thing I can't help but notice is that most of these 'virtuous lives' types, not only is it really 'quietly desperate lives', but keep a good close eye on 'em for a while, and really, most of them - particularly the ones who make a big deal out of it, really have no sound reason to claim the moral firmament. No sense of humor, either...and that's what you should worry about, because you seem to be coming down with that. And really, IT ISN'T ANYONE ELSE'S JOB to 'understand your pain'. That's sick. Like, really sick. It's like a pesh-house. It's...not good." Sirius glances now at the dying Tiefling. "And the kind of people who would capitalize on feeling others' misery? They're the WORST, really. I may be a parasite and a predator in my own way, but I'm a GODSDAMNED PALADIN next to that lot! As the wisest priest I ever knew liked to say, 'not all vampires suck blood.' A good shepherd NEVER does anything to permanently deplete its fold: Never takes so much as to scare them away or make them think it an enemy...never takes so little, or gives so much, that they might find their way to freedom, and no longer needing their shepherd."
"I suppose what I'm saying is: Why so serious...when you could be Sirius?" He gives them a garish smile. "Every society has outcasts and undesirables. Own it! It's not such a bad gig."
Richelle looks and Sirius and she clearly is uncertain how to take this speech.
Tolwin on the other hand seems to understand.
"Look, I ... I want us build our own path, ok! But ... but where should we go? We have nothing except of this here and now ... now we can never go back to Highdelve." he says and it is obvious that he seeks a solution quite desperately.
Richelle comes forward.
"We ... only know that the tiefling and his mother wanted to conduct a ritual and unleash something on the jubilee to distract the townsfolk so that he could do something ... we do not know what. And we also do not know where his mother is ... she has been in the cave for ages now with this amulet we stole. Please ... we just stay here and wait for you, ok? This Dreng ... we have a letter where our father mentions his name. Maybe you can bring us to him when this is all over?" she pleads.
Brialla finally relaxes a little bit with this new information. She puts a comforting hand on Richelle's shoulder. "Thank you for that information. We still have a lot of work to do here."
Turning to look at Tolwin, but addressing both of the siblings, she continues. "There may yet be a place for you at the Pathfinder Society. I can make no promises, but you are at least old enough to make that decision yourself. While we set about undoing what this cultist and his mother were trying to do, I want you to strongly consider one thing. If you decide you would like to apply to be an agent, you must never forget the society's tenants. Expore, Report, Cooperate." She emphasizes the last one for effect. "Your actions here to subvert the town and people who raised you will... not go over well with the society. But that doesn't mean you can't yet make it right, and perhaps redeem yourselves."
With that bit of business seemingly taken care of, the lady of the woods turns to her companions. "If the amulet is with the mother, and the mother is in the cave, then I think we know where we go next."
We've all made mistakes in our youth....just remember the lessons and proceed from there. I am sure you will head down the right path.
|
|
Standing while leaning on his ax and acting like a father than a warrior. With a smile on his face.
"Let me see th' letter lassie. Dae ye aye hae th' amulet? hae ye bin in th' caves? "
After reading the letter
Richelle looks at Aldran and starts crying.
"We ... we do not have the letter anymore! Feran and his mother Gilda made us ... made us burn everything that tied us to our roots. I ... I do not know how we did what we did! Tolwin ... we have to wake up! And the amulet is with Gilda!" she says between sobs.
Tolwin is looking at Richelle with little emotion.
Tolwin is tense and you see that your words have not reached him, yet.
Brialla feels some measure of pity towards the siblings, but it is tempered by the fact that they seem to have made their own choices.
The ranger notices Tolwin's apparent uncaring stare, but doesn't know what to make of it. Factoring in his previous outburst, full of bitterness for being perceived as an outsider, well... bitterness never lead to good things for anyone.
"Wait here. We will head into the cave and see about getting that amulet back. If there is anything we should know about Gilda, it would be best if you told us now." Brialla locks eyes with Richelle as she mentions this last part.
|
|
"We've all made mistakes in our youth...."
"I assume by that you mean a bit more than getting 'righty-tighty' and 'lefty-loosey' confused?" Sirius purses his lips at this. "Nope. Can't think of any. Sometimes I wonder about what would have happened if I'd taken that old Mountain Man's offer...but even if it IS full of gold, drugs, and tail, who'd want to spend their days cooped up in a mountain cavern?"
"If it turns out the Society's not your pot of beer, Tolwin, maybe you could seek him out."
Tolwin looks at you all with a blank expression and little emotion.
Richelle takes Tolwin’s arm and looks at him intently. Then she addresses you.
”We will stay here. I promise!“ she says with a quivering voice.
Brialla we need tae git ye healed up afore we put in that cave. Does ony yin hae healing magic?
** spoiler omitted **Aldran looks through his pack for anything useful.
Tolwin looks at the dwarf and he obviously has some respect for you afterall. Then he nods at Richelle.
"We will wait for you here." Tolwin says.
Brialla sifts through the tieflings belongings, and snags the curative potion, drinking it quickly.
The magical salve immediately eases the sharpest of the pains, and she begins to breath a little easier.
Brialla pats the dwarf on the shoulder, impressed at his ability to finally break through the stoic young man's defensive outer shell.
"Guessing you already have some of these?" she holds up the thieve's tools and catches Sirius' eye. The rest of the belongings aren't all that appealing to the woman, so she leaves them for others to take what they want.
Ignoring her blood-caked tunic, and adjusting the straps on her breastplate to cinch tighter around the wound on her arm, Brialla grits her teeth and moves towards the cave entrance.
"Yee gods, I don't know why I can't shake the feeling that I've been out of it for a bit, but I'm glad to be back. Are we ready?" she asks with a smile on her face.
Before you leave Tolwin looks up from the floor and speaks up.
"I did not want to talk to you but ... in the cave - it's a giant! For sure! I've only read about them before. Feran and his mother said they are preparing it in that cave. It looks weird, though. Two heads, and these mangled limbs. It smells horrible. But the cave was so dark, Richelle couldn't really see it well. I was the one who got up close to it. Be careful!" he says and takes Richelle's hand.
"His ... his mother is still in there I believe but I am not sure. She was conducting some kind of ritual in the cave with the amulet and the giant!" he says a little scared and points at the Tiefling.
Well, I am pretty sure ettins aren't immune to fire... Merains says, a flicker of fire appearing in the palm of her hand
|
|
"Guessing you already have some of these?" she holds up the thieve's tools and catches Sirius' eye.
Sirius's eye rolls in the direction of the tiefling's picks, and escapes Brialla nearly as quickly as she caught it.
"Psh. I've seen kebab sticks and rusty nails I could do more with than those," He says as he waves them away.
Picking up the elixir of hiding.
"If na yin wants th' hiding elixir, ah wull tak' it."If no one else takes it, he puts it in his pack.
By the time Aldran turns back to take it, the elixir is no longer there.
"'Shrike River Apothecaries, 4676'," He hears Sirius's voice say above him. "Good year, actually."
Sirius slips what was presumably the elixir in his pocket, then turns back to Tolwin.
"Anything else you can tell us about his mother? Shan't be harmed by any but the blades of fallen angels, fear not to look into her eyes but her teeth shall bewitch us, smells of elderberries, so fat that when she goes out wearing a red dress legions of Sarenites begin following her around chanting 'The Sun Walketh Among Us', any of that sort of thing?"
You all move to the cave entrance.
This rock face towers nearly 30 feet and is punctuated in the middle with the dark opening of a cave mouth.
As you enter, the dank scent of moss hangs heavy in the air as the gloom in the cave thickens. Some daylight filters in to the mouth of the cave , but the caverns receding deeper in on either side are completely dark.
Meraina snaps her fingers and a spark of light appears. She holds it up.
Is this better? Aldran, does this mess with your vision if i stay behind you?
"I do know a few tricks." Brialla smiles, nodding at the compliment of her toughness from the tough to understand dwarf.
"The taller they are, the farther they fall..." she says, smiling and moving towards the cave entrance, chuckling now at the fast talking sylph.
Ritual using the pendant? That can't be good for the town or the dragon... How could the woman be turning that around?
Her bow in her hand and an arrow knocked, Brialla looks back to Meraina in appreciation for the light. "We weren't going to sneak up on them anyways, might as well move in. Carefully though, who knows if they have set up any traps."
|
|
Aldran moves forward in to the northern part of the cave network trying to keep an eye out for something out of place.
"Sirius, yer een ur as guid as mines in th' mirk. Bit yer better at seeing traps, mibbie ye shuid leid 'n' ah kin be richt behind ye or neist tae ye as we shift foward? "
|
|
"Pardon? Yeah, sure, whatever," Replies Sirius breezily as he looks around the cavern. He looks back down at Aldran and hands him the elixir. "Here, see if this can't do something about that 'Ironfoot' of yours."
"Walk this way, everyone...of course, if you could walk THIS way, you wouldn't need elixirs...."
These cramped corridors smell like fungus and rot.
Ridges on the map represent sloping passages downward. Squares that are sloped are difficult terrain.
Sirius and Aldran can hear a violent thudding sound as well as muffled roaring coming from deeper within the cave.
After a few minutes of stealthily moving through the caverns and exploring, you hear the loud *snap* of a chain breaking, followed by a bellow of triumph and loud, thudding footsteps.
Suddenly, a large, two-headed beast comes into view, wielding a nasty-looking flail in one hand and holding the dead, crushed body of an aged woman in the other hand.
The two-headed giant is wearing a large pendant that you clearly recognize as the pendant that was granted by the dragon to the town of Highdelve.
But you also see that strange cords are attached to the amulet and it is blood-covered.