Aravashnial erupts into an exultant whoop of triumph I knew it! I was right! Again! The Cult of Baphomet, also known as the Ivory Labyrinth, has infiltrated the Crusaders! I proposed such a theory to Lord Hulrun back when.. Aravashnial stops suddenly but Horgus finishes
Back when you accused me of being one of them. This is stupid, I'm with the...tiefling. Lets leave as soon as possible.
Anevia says If Cultists of Baphomet have infiltrated the ranks of the crusaders...my gods Irabeth, stay safe. She finishes in a small voice.
Aravashnial continues We should bring the bodies with us as proof! This will show everyone how right I was!
Lann lingers near the northern tunnel with his mongrelmen compatriots, waiting on the party to decide.
Daenal joins Lann and the other mongrelmen. Daenal is clearly not comfortable around the dead bodies. When hearing Aravashnial's comment:
"I am NOT dragging a dead body out of here. Let their bodies rest, that they may have some measure of peace in death."
She then performs the sign of Arshea. "May the spirit of abandon help them find freedom"
Victrix snickers at the thought of the Crusaders being infiltrated by cultists they're sworn to oppose.
Well, so much for being 'pure and incorruptible'.
"I'm with Daenal; I'm not interested in draggin' bodies around. Still, we could at least take the Baphomet symbol with us so we can destroy it later."
"Though it pains me to carry such a vile and crude implement but I will." Brighton offers.
"Mibbie we shuid tak' something else wi' us, tae. Some piece o' clothing or something. Even wi' all o' oor eyes accounting fer it th' crusaders mibbie be less than willing tae think worshipers o' Baphomet hae infiltrated thaim. We need concrete proof."
At Daenal's mention of giving the bodies some measure of peace, the dwarf snorts, spitting on the ground near the feet of one of the corpses. "Peace? whit peace haes this betrayer earned? Mae he spend eternity chained beneath torag's anvil!" he answers, his lips forming into a scowl at the traitors beneath their feet.
"Eeither wey, we mist nae tarry. Whitevur manner o' cratur it's that calls this cavern hame is aff tae return, 'n' with oor luck sooner more'n than efter. We need tae leave."
Daenal responds in a forlorn tone to Barundar:
"If they turned to evil, they could not have had peace in this world. If they had been reached earlier, something more might have been made with them..."
Victrix nods. Gathering her wits, she approaches the body holding the Baphomet symbol, anticipating the worst.
"Be ready fer a foight."
"Maybe we should leave before we overstay our welcome here. Still, I agree we should be ready for a fight."
Daenal looks impatiently towards the various exits.
Konny circles the body to approach it from the other side from Vic. Just to be sure.
"I was born ready" "to cause all kinds of mayhem"
Victrix finds that the bodies are indeed still dead.
Victrix breathes a sigh of relief when nothing jumps out at her.
She doesn't linger too long; she picks up the Baphomet symbol... but her eyes land on the scrolls the dead Crusader holds. She decides to pick them up as well before following Daenal.
Deanal asks the cleric "What is this Baphomet creature?"
Daenal waits for everyone to follow the mongrelmen down the tunnel, then follows keeping a rear guard.
"Desna smiles. These can be handy and you baddies will not need these anymore." Konny picks up the potion, gold bars and gold pieces.
"Anybody wants their armor or weapons? They are quite well made."
"Well made you say? Allow me to take a look please...I consider myself blessed in Torag's art."
He inspects the weapons and armor closely for a minute. "They are serviceable. Not so good as to be prayer worthy but good enough to be the best the likes of these have seen." he toes one of the dead bodies, distaste evident on his face.
Brighton, anything in the link I placed above.
Lann leads the group another half an hour or so through some upwards winding tunnels until you come to a circular 20' diameter cave. The four mongrelmen standing guard tense at the sight of outsiders but Lann assures them that you are with him and not enemies. The guards call out greetings to Lann, Crel and Dyra and then open two large stone doors leading into their home.
A small, dark lake ripples in the center of this two - hundred foot-
wide cavern, the walls and ceiling glow with thick sheets
of luminescent fungi. In the center of the lake, over two dozen
low stone buildings cluster on a rocky one - hundred -foot-wide
island. Lights glow in the windows of the buildings, giving
the settlement an almost welcoming look . Rafts made of
mismatched planks of timber bob along the length of a crooked
pier at the lake's closest shore.
Lann walks you through the streets pointing out things in Neatholme such as their spiritual leader's hut Seer Oppoli, and his own hut, and finally Chief Sull's hut.
The Cheif waddles out to meet the group, flanked by two burly mongrelmen who have the faces of boars.
Lann gives Sull a quick rundown of what happened with the cave in and then Sull speaks to the party.
Thank you for saving Crel's life, we owe you a debt of gratitude. Now tell me, why are you uplanders here down below?
"Leaving.". Belladonna replies.
With the scrolls and symbol stowed away in her backpack, Victrix follows the mongrelmen out of the cavern.
When the party meets with Chief Sull, Victrix bows to him. He was their leader; it was only courteous to do so.
"I thank yeh for allowin' us ta meet with yeh, Chief Sull. My companions an' I we're trapped in a cave-in, an' now we seek a way back ta the surface. If yeh could per'aps point the way fer us, yeh'd 'ave our deepest gratitude."
She looks over at Aravashnial. "But, I 'ave only one other request. Do yehr people 'ave 'ealin' magic? Per'aps strong enough ta restore a man's soight?"
Daenal removes hir helmet, revealing an androgynous face that looks essentially human. The two aformentionned horns seem to be comming out of the side of hir head.
Daenal otherwise stays silent, and lets others do the talking.
Konny bows to the chief and stays silent.
Chief Sull responds to Victrix and seems honored at your deference to him.
You say you were trapped in a cave in. What caused such a thing in the World Above?
Victrix continues.
"'Twas a tragedy, Chief Sull. A great silver dragon, Terendelev, was slain by foul demonic invaders when they invaded Kenabres. With 'is dyin' breaths, 'e cast a spell upon my companions 'n' I as we fell beneath the cathedral, savin' our loives. There were two others--" Victrix gestures to Barundar & Daenal. "--but not these two. We met these two later. I don't know where the other two ran off to, but I 'ope they're well."
"Ta that end, allow me t'introduce ourselves. I'm Victrix, an' this 'ere's Konny, Broighton, Belledonna, Barundar & Daenal." She points to each person she names.
Daenal gives a slight bow when pointed at.
"It wis th' identical fur the twa a' us. Th' egg-sucking Storm King attacked Kenabres in th' first o' Armasse 'n' Terendelev, a stoatin' silver dragoness, tried tae figh' him aff. Rest her soul, she didnae seem tae hae a muckle o' a chance against him. Thair battle caused a cave-in oan th' surface. Dunno if we wur jammy enough tae hae a dragon-spell keep us fae dying in th' avalanche, bit something sure seemed tae want us nae ta die."
Sull seems interested... It seems that perhaps fate led you to us. In your wanderings in the lower tunnels did you perchance come across a young First One named Belri, his Sigul was the purple eyed bat. He holds up a broach of a bat with amethyst eyes. He is my son, he left to scout the lower tunnels days ago, just before the cave ins and the earth shook.
But, nevermind the plight of an old man. What aid you require we shall give. You may rest here and Lann will show you the way to the surface...but beware the route leads through...dangerous territory.
What is it you say about scouting the depths? Was where you hoping to find there?
I've been thinking, perhaps something underground might have made the collapse easier than it would have been otherwise. Kenabres had been above for a long time, no? Why would it collapse now...
Daenal quickly scratches hir horns in a pensive fashion.
I have no idea if it would be safer down here than up there. Even I know I cant defeat something that slew a dragon...
Daenal has a very worried look on hir face.
Victrix feels a pang of guilt as she sees the bat brooch.
Her hand reaches into her belt, and withdraws a similar brooch.
"I... when the cathedral came down, we were stuck in the lower tunnels. I'm sorry ta say we found 'is body, sir." She steps forward and kneels, the bat brooch held in her palm.
"My condolences on yer loss."
Sull's one good eye mists up as he chokes back a sob. My boy...tha..thank you. You do good to an old man's heart. Sull turns and motions to one of his bodyguards the reptile faced creature scampers into the hit and returns with a cloth wrapped item.
This is the last vestige of our Crusader ancestors. You..you will need this more than I.
He throws off the cloth to reveal a beautifully crafted Heavy Mace adorned with the faces of singing angels.
It is enchanted to deal more powerful blows and strike true.
As the chieftain presents the mace, Belladonna looks rather pointedly at the more martially inclined of the survivors.
Though I could certainly use it, I believe it should be Victrix that carries the mace, as she returned the pendant.
Victrix's eyes widen at the sight of the mace. The angel faces cause her to stare.
Those... those look like the angel from my dream. Is this some sort of sign?
Victrix takes the mace, feels its weight.
"Thank yeh, Chief Sull. I'll make sure this weapon does yehr ancestors proud."
She rises and gives the mace a few practice swings before putting it at her side.
The old Chief smiles broadly I am sure you will. Go then, rest and when you are ready Lann will show you the exit tunnels.
The Chief indicates several vacant huts.
Victrix nods at Chief Sull.
"My thanks."
She turns and enters one of the huts, having a seat in a comfortable spot while she waits for the rest of the party.
Daenal request the use of one of the masterwork glaives found earlier. They also seek out any local weapon merchants to see if they can sell any old 2-handed weapons.
After shoping, Daenal offers to use the last of their healing on those who require it.
Who is in the most need of healing in our group? My hands may yet have some use for the day. Daenal asks the others.
Victrix raises her hand again.
"Yeah, I know. I'm 'oggin' all the 'ealin'." She says with a small chuckle. She winces at the end and holds her side.
Certainly Daenal passes hir hands over Victrix's wounds once more.
Daenal searches for a greatsword.
And aparently she finds one, and pays 50 GP for it.
Before leaving, Daenal goes to find the mongrelmen that had helped hir & Barundar in the underground and thanks them for all their help.
Victrix expresses a great deal of relief after being seen to by Brighton, Daenal & Neatholme's healer.
During her rest, she looks over the two scrolls, the cloak of resistance wrapped about her.
Seeing as how she can't understand what the scrolls say, she hands them off to Belledonna or Brighton, whichever one asks to see them first.
Belladonna accepts the scrolls from Victrix, cautiously perusing them with her mystic perceptions.