Horgus replies to Victrix Well, fine. This one. indicating the elf Accused me of being a cultist of Baphomet! Accused me! ME! a noble and member of the highest circles in Kenabres! Horgus visibly calms himself then continues. Of course, the charges were dropped, but the damage to my reputation and business ventures was done. And he did this all on the word of an informant he refused to name. Idiot elf.
Anevia speaks up again in defense of Aravashnial Gwerm, he was doing his bes..
Horgus rounds on her angrily cutting her off And THIS one, is a theif. She was seen, caught red handed, leaving one of my warehouses in the dead of night. Her wife covered for her though, and got the charges dropped. If ANYONE walks the path of wickedness here...its this one!
Victrix listens to Horgus' explanation, folding her arms. His grievance with Aravashnial holds some water for her--after all, she was well acquainted with how ruthless the Inquisitors were in their search for demonic influence to eradicate.
"Yehr anger at Aravashnial, I'd say, isn't without good reason. Believe me, I know a thing or two about 'ow the Inquisitors can ruin someone's loife." She nods.
Like mine, for instance. Turned me into a weapon for their cause, just because one of my ancestors f**ked an angel once.
"And, 'Orgus, I trust yeh when yeh say yeh're no demon cultist. Yeh 'ad several chances t'abandon us or betray us, an' yeh never did. That says much about where yer allegiances really lie." She starts pacing back and forth.
"But now isn't the toime fer grudges. Roight now, Kenabres is loikely burnin', an' anyone who remembers yehr 'umiliation is dead or desperate fer aid, no matter where it comes from. An' if I'm wrong, an' there are survivors who still think yeh're a cultist, yeh can consider this yer chance ta prove 'em wrong." She stops pacing. "My point is, what 'appened between yeh, Anevia 'n' Aravashnial 'as long since passed, an' it'd be fer the best if yeh let it go... if not fer our sake, then yer own."
"Well? Yeh think yeh can put it aside 'n' work with us?" She asks, extending her hand to Horgus.
Horgus shakes Victrix's hand You have a deal. A lady after my own heart. Now lets go before whatever did this comes back.
Moving on?
Victrix smiles. "Glad ta 'ear it, 'Orgus."
"Oh, by the way--" She draws her club from her belt and holds it out for Horgus to take. The club is well-carved, with the thick end of the club carved in the shape of a lion's head. "--'ere. Can't really 'ave yeh scramblin' about fer a weapon if we're attacked in the future, eh? No worries about knowin' 'ow ta swing it. First rule: 'it 'em with the 'eavy end."
Noticing Aravashnial's despondent expression, she speaks again. "Aravashnial, don't take it so 'ard. Yeh've been wonderfully patient with us, despite everythin' that's 'appened. Tell yeh what: when--not if!--when we make it outta this, I'll see if I can't 'elp yeh get yer sight back. What do ya think?"
Horgus accepts your club and promises to bash the skulls of whatever you decide needs bashing.
Aravashnial says in response You would do that? I...don't know what to say...thank you. Anevia smiles and says If we could work together this well all the time, the Crusade would be over in months.
The party ascends a shaft about 60' in length. The shaft has carved hand and footholds as well as hammered in pitons so is easily scalable. Only the two injured members need help and everyone pitches in to get them up into the next cavern system.
The party travels about 2500 feet in a northwesterly direction until they get to a new cavern about seventy feet across Cylindrical rock formations along the walls arch up to make a dome like chamber, but the walls and floor are riddled with cracks . At the center of the cave, a stone tower that may once have reached the fifty-foot high ceiling has collapsed onto its side .
There are four figures digging at the rubble attempting to pull a fifth figure out from underneath the rubble.
Victrix is quite surprised by the sight of the people trying to dig out someone from under the rubble. Enough so that she feels she has to do something to help.
She turns to Anevia. "Sorry 'bout this again." She says before leaning her against the wall of the passage. She heads over to the group of figures.
"Need some 'elp with that?" She asks, not waiting for a reply before trying to lift some of the rocks pinning the buried figure down.
A middle-sized humanoid in a breastplate & a heavy helm responds.
"I thank you, our friends got caught in a rockslide"
The humanoid attempts to clear out the rocks as well.
Unfortunately, the humanoid does not have much luck and seems to fumble around with the rocks.
"Aye, thae bloody stanes ur heavy! Th' cave-in caught us a' like a slung-stane 'n' oor companions wur trapped by it afore thay cuid git oot o' th' way. I dinnae think we'd caw doon some hulp freeing thaim." chimes in another who is trying to heft the rocks away, this one a dwarf similarly outfitted with scale mail. Fastened to his hip is a long, thick chain which ends in a large, heavy ball, clearly a weapon of some kind.
Turning his attention back to those trapped by the rocks, Barundar joins Daenal in doing his dead-level best to help them get out from under the rubble.
The humanoid in the helm sprawls on the ground, breathing heavily. They then get up again and try their best to aid the effort.
Saying little, Belledonna steps forward after seeing to it that Aravashnial is properly settled. Closing her eyes as faint speckling stigmata form before she sets her own shoulder to shift the stones, futilely.
Brighton squints at the figures for a moment but he can't recall learning anything at the forge about folk like this. His face lights up as he notices a dwarf in scale and hurriedly relays the information to Aravashnial before excusing himself to go over. "Well met friend dwarf, I am Brighton Tongfinger from the Wall of Heaven mountains. Who are you if I may ask...and you my heavily armored human?" Brighton cordially says. He squints at the rubble pile and starts to help as he can.
Brighton smiles widely as he works with his hands. He glances over to see who the other two figures are...
The armored humanoid, still struggling with the stones, booms out proudly:
"I am Daenal, paladin of Arshea, defender of beauty and freedom!"
Daenal is about 6 ft. with the helmet that seems to have large ram's horns attached, wears a long cloak over their back, a knee-length leather kilt, a breastplate and leather boots. They have a longsword at their waist & a shield is on the floor beside them.
"Well met, friend Tongfinger! Barundar Hammerfist, o' th' sky citadel Kraggodan. Traveled 'ere tae jyne th' newest crusade against th' hordes o' th' worldwound 'n' it seems th' bloody crusade fun us! did ye see whin Terendelev fell? By Torag's fluff, whit a sight! We ur a' jammy tae hae survived th' cave-in. Trying tae mak' oor wey back tae th' surface tae see if thay need some help."
Victrix is quite focused on lifting the fallen statue off the trapped person, giving only a nod to Daenal & Barundar as acknowledgement.
Vixtrix, with the aid of Brighton and Barundar manages to lift the boulder off of a severely injured humanoid.
Afterwards, This creature begins to speak in an archaic sounding common tongue. Thank you for freeing my friend Crel, this one's own name is Lann, she he says pointing to a tumor faced monstrosity Is Dyra, forgive her appearance, she cannot speak but makes signs that we can understand. We were leading these two to our town, Neathholme, when a great quake collapsed this guard post onto us. Crel was trapped, until you saved him. Please allow us to repay your kindness, my Chief Sull would want to honor you himself.
Horgus can barely contain himself but manages to splurt out What ARE you creatures!? Aravashnial, hearing everything said responds Isn't it obvious Gwerm, they are abyssal freaks transfigured by their proximity to the Worldwound! It is truely great to witness this, my theories were true, there are Mole people underneath Kenebres! Anevia rolls her eyes and says quietly I'm sure they love being called abyssal freaks also...
Daneal Interjects calmly (to Horgus):
" Your hate makes you appear as twisted as you seem to think these creatures are. A fair face does not mean a fair heart, as these folks have already proven to me. Please, cool you hate, lest it twist your form as well as your mind."
Daneal then moves between the Horgus and the mongrel-men, holding out their arms in a peaceful gesture.
Victrix shoots Aravashnial a death glare. Since the elf can't see it, her voice cuts through, sharp and clear.
"Aravashnial. Be quiet."
She then turns to the bizarre-looking people. "Allow me to apologize on behalf o' my friend. We've 'ad one 'elluva troyin' week, an' we'd be more than grateful fer whateva aid yer Chief Sull can grant us." She says in a much calmer, softer voice. "If yeh don't moind me askin', I'm afraid I'm not familiar with yehr people. What are yeh? I'm sure yeh've a better name fer yerselves than 'mole-people'."
Oh, for the love of the spirits and angels alike, I hope this doesn't result in another fight...
We ah, call ourselves the First Ones. Our ancestors came here many cycles ago and stayed. We have split into several tribes, my Tribe is Sull, named so for our Chief. We have remained vigilant and we still follow the old ways. Lann gives a salute which all of you recognize clearly as a salute of a Crusader and follower of Iomedae.
Aravashnial stops in the middle of explaining his theory of exactly how hideous abyssal energy warps human flesh... Ah, yes sorry.
Horgus pointedly ignores Daenal's words, instead moving to Victrix's side and keeping his hand near the borrowed club.
The one called Dyra gestures fiercely at Lann and his face starts Yes, of course! We would be called Mongrelmen by the above worlders. Our ancestors were Crusaders who were too close to the Worldwound while pregnant. Thus we were made, our ancestors came down here to forge a new life for us. We keep to the old ways, we remember our vows. Lann finishes then bends down to help his friend Crel up. Would you care to see Neathholme? The main tunnel has collapsed but there are two others we may take.
Barundar, for his part, entirely ignores the argument that was squelched before it became a thing, instead responding directly to Lann, Dyra, and Crel. "Always willing tae keek oan ony wirk o' stane! Ony folk wha dwell under th' surface a'm willing tae gie th' benefit o' th' doubt! Leid oan!"
"Yes, we should go, these tunnels are wearysome"
Daenal then goes to pick up their shield.
"And to you elf, calm your tongue, lest it become like the abyssal energies you so fear. Discord only helps those that would destroy us. Find the love in your heart, and let it soothe you."
Before Victrix can reply, Barundar chimes in with agreement.
Or, at least, what Victrix thinks is agreement.
"'Old on--before we move out, is yehr friend gonna be alroight?" She says, gesturing to the mongrelman named Crel. "'Cause, we moight be able ta spare 'im some 'ealin', if 'e needs it."
The salute triggers memories in Victrix.
"Is everything all right miss? You seem to all have had a hard journey, but you seem particularly unhappy."
Her wince of pain & frustration as her efforts to shift the stone prove naught transmutes into a grimace of aggravation and impatience as certain of her companions add, once more to the difficulties they all face by their demeanor's & thoughtlessness, Belladonna silently nods her thanks to Victrix at her efforts to keep tempers from boiling over.
"Ua papû ia'ue ia te tikanga o pai, engari e hiahia ahau e tutakina e ia ki runga ki tona ariā tae noa matou i roto i te iti...
āhuatanga taumaha."
stressful circumstances."
Victrix notices Daenal's question, her grip on her axe relaxing slightly.
"It's nothin', really. I took a few injuries gettin' 'ere, but that's it, more or less."
She nods in agreement with Belledonna.
"Io, koe me ahau e rua."
"Well, in any case, you look gravely wounded. If you will allow, I will channel my holy power over you to close those wounds. The offer is open to everyone hurt."
Victrix nods at Daenal's offer of healing her.
"Well, I'm not about ta turn down an offer o' 'ealin'. 'Elp yehrself."
Daenel puts down hir shield, takes of their gloves and delicatly passes their hands over Victrix's wounds.
Some of Victrix's injuries have healed, but the worst is yet to be fixed.
She gives Daenal an appreciative look.
Daenal heads back over to Crel and offers to heal him.
@ Daenal, indeed Crel does accept your healing, he looks pretty beat up.
Lann leads the party down the right hand tunnel about 1400 feet which takes about 20 minutes, to the dwarves in the party it seems as if you are traveling southeast but upwards at a slight grade. Lann stops everyone and says
I did not want to pass this way, but it seems that we had no choice with the cave in. Ahead is the lair of a spore cougher, a dangerous but mindless beast, we should be able to either defeat it with our superior numbers. We have no choice if we wish to reach Neatholme
"If it is mindless, can we not avoid it?"
Victrix pauses, her hands on her axe.
"Just 'cause it's moindless doesn't mean it isn't alert. It moight be fer the best if we get in there 'n' surproise it before it 'as a chance to react."
Lann replies to Daenal and Victrix It is mindless but very watchful and protective of its lair. We First Ones usually avoid it, but the cave in has left us no choice. Perhaps it will be out hunting and we can pass unmolested...
Lann begins leading the party towards the lair...
"A plant? Out hunting?" Daenal seems rather confused by the idea, but still follows.
Konny watched the exchange from a safe distance, not wanting to use his negotiation skills and cause trouble with the strangers. He followed when a course of action was decided.
"Uncle Anvil always said there is strength in numbers, I hope he ment the number of people and not mathematics..." He utters.
Victrix chuckles.
"No worries, Konny. I'm two or three, at least."
Lann leads the group to a new cavern..
The tunnel opens into a circular cavern, roughly forty feet in
diameter. Thick sheets of fungus grow in the cave, and several
tunnels branch off. All of these save one in the north wall lead
downward; the northern one leads upward . What appear to be
two dead bodies lie on the ground in middle of the cave,
next to a strange heap of ropy green fungus .
Lann, upon seeing the bodies says We have seen others like this, Southeast of Neatholme near the...other tribe.
Daenal unsheathe's hir sword and prepares hir shield.
Belledonna looks a tad suspiciously at the newcomer who predicted so accurately what this new danger might be. "What magics I possess will do little against that."
"I can aid your fortunes slightly however." She whispers before intoning a few arcane sylables.
Victrix prepares her axe. She has no idea if that fungus-thing is vulnerable to her blows, but she has the feeling that she's about to find out.
The equipment the Crusaders were carrying is one hell of a temptation to rush in, though... especially the potion labeled 'Cure Light Wounds.'
"Thanks, Belledonna." She says after the sorceress casts her magic.
Seeing two apparently dead crusaders, Daenal starts advancing slowly towards them, while keeping an eye out for danger.
Daenal notices that as a fact, everything in the chamber is dead and unmoving.
"That way goes up (pointing north)! We might be able to get out!"
Seeing everything appears to be completely unmoving, Daenal picks up the pace and towards the northern exit, only glancing quickly at the bodies.
Brighton listens to everything without much to say. He has seen some disfigurements in those who were less than attentive at the forge.
"This...this was forged by someone worshiping Baphomet. Some foul artisan, the craftsmanship on this is subpar at best."