Nishoh climbs up the ladder in front of him to get closer. Then he fires at the man again, knowing he is the source of their problems.
Aurlia follows Nishoh up the ladder. 'So much for diplomacy' She chants the words of a Blessing. Golden light emanates from her and sweeps out in a circle. It washes over Nishoh and Jesselle leaving a small glow on the constables. '
Jesselle looks from one threat of the rock creature to the next over behind Alyssia... She takes up her bow and infuses her bow with a little bit of her arcane power and fires on the shadowing figure attacking the brawler.
Taken aback, Alyssia jumps backwards, acting on reflex to escape the thing that seemed to sap the power from her muscles. Clinging to the ladder, she hauls herself up it, trying to reach Fortinbras and the hostile Danoran.
Nishoh's bullet and Jesselle's bolt find their marks. The Danoran man pulls a dagger out and lunges at Fortinbras, slicing the investigator's arm. "You can't fool me," he snarls. "I heard them talking. You're Risuri."
The shadow creature writhes in pain before hurtling across the water towards Jesselle.
The earth creature stomps up to Alyssia, slamming a stone fist into the ground where the brawler stood moments before. She can hear the wood platform splinter and crack from the elemental's brute strength.
Nishoh frowns, reloading and firing again as he steps closer. They know one of our names. Not good.
Jesselle jumps back as the shadow flies at her from across the cavern. "Ack!" She pulls upon her arcane magics to empower her bow and the arrow that she grabs up from her quiver. She quickly lets the arrow fly the short distance between them.
Aurlia concentrates on the shadow attacking Jesselle. She shoots a spark of magic at the creature before moving closer to the ladder
Fortinbras shakes his head and sighs as the man refuses to listen to reason.
"If you will not calm yourself, I shall have to do it for you."
Nishoh's bullet smashes into the barrels the crazed Danoran hides behind. Jesselle's enchanted arrow flies into the shadow creature again, stopping the thing dead in its tracks. It shudders for a moment before seeping into the ground. With a crack, Fortinbras connects with the man's head. The Danoran sways for a moment before collapsing unconscious. The earth elemental immediately stops attacking Alyssia, standing as if transfixed.
Nishoh starts looting the bodies. "Can somebody sweep the area?"
With the shadow destroyed she briefly looks at the spot where its form seeped into the ground. She turns her attention to the others above her, "All good up there?"
She starts down the later after securing her bow once again. She then makes her way to the strange stone sticking up from the middle of the cavern to examine it.
"Can you tie that man up? I've got manacles should you require them"
Aurlia heads up the ladder. Once she's up top she starts combing the area.
Fortinbras will stow his sap, then take a drink from a flask.
He walks over to his companions, waving at them to let them know that the situation is taken care of.
"He is merely unconscious, if we wish to interogate him."
Once Aurlia makes her way up, Fortinbras approaches her, giving a slight informal bow.
"If you would not mind, Aurlia, I do not have restraints at the moment, unfortunately."
The man's unconscious form has five items: a suit of studded leather, a dagger, a pistol, and two strange gold coins. They are over-sized, almost three inches in diameter, and bear primitive designs. One shows a mountain, the other an eclipse. Both have patterns of line-connected dots, which resemble constellations.
The eclipse coin displays the Adversary, a mythical enemy figure in the Risuri pantheon. Associated with the invisible planet of Nem, which influences secrets and the dead.
In a tiny nook carved into the tip of the marble splinter sits an oversized gold coin. About three inches across, it has primitive designs of birds, clouds, and dots that might represent stars.
Shortly after the Danoran man is shackled, he begins to stir. He wakes with a start and stares in shock at the bonds that hold him. He looks at his captors and asks, in Danoran, "Why haven't you killed me yet?"
Nishoh happily tucks away the pistol, leaving the studded leather and dagger. Not thinking the coins are anything special, he picks up both of them to examine them, gasping as he feels the power. "Hey guys...you should check these out."
Nishoh looks over the pistol he picked up, casually strolling to the Danoran. "Because we thought you might be useful." He twirls the gun, flipping it into the air before tucking it away. "So, are you?"
Jesselle looks over the symbol for several long moments... and after a look about she discovers a golden coin with more symbols. What they mean is on the tip of her thoughts, but she just is not able to place them.
She takes the coin and at Nishoh's comment moves up to join the others. She calls upon her magical sight and looks over coins in particular and the other gear as well.
"I found this," She shows her companions the golden coin with some sort of symbol on it, "I cannot place it though."
As the Danoran wakes and comments, "Why would we? We have no quarrel with you. We are not here for you or your people. Believe it or not we are here to help you."
The man stares daggers at Nishoh, saying nothing, but Jesselle's words seem to calm him. "Why should I believe that? My men are dead and it was Risuri that killed them. I served. I know what that barbarity looks like."
Aurlia puts on the manacles with practiced fingers. Once they're in place she moves to Jesselle's side. After a moment's study she nods to herself. "I know these constellations. The mountain is the Wyrm, influencer of fortunes, the earth and meetings. The eclipse is the Adversary. Boogeyman of Risuir lore. Associated with secrets and the dead."
She taps the last coin. "The Eagle. Air magic and weather. And pretty appropriate for us"
Once the man is awake she watches him carefully. "Acts of barbarism are not limited to one side in a war. War is a vicious creature" The men who attacked you are traitors. We are here for them. If you're judging us by accents surely you've noticed that two of our number are Danoran? And since I'm Eladrin that means most of us aren't Risuri."
Aurlia tilts her head as she questions the mad "If we are with the barbarous men who attacked you then why would we talk to you instead of killing you?"
Fortinbras folds his arms, staring down the captive.
Alyssia doesn't drop her stance until realizing the earth elemental's been immobile for several moments. She eyes it warily, feinting suddenly to one side to confirm, before turning away from it, apparently satisfied.
Knowing her place as the muscle of the group, she remains silent through the interrogation, knowing she'd be called upon if her own brand of persuasion was needed.
Jesselle nods to Aluria and while she did not understand Fortinbras the tone he is using indicates that he is trying to help as well. She continues, "Sir, beleive us or not, but we are here to try and rid those who might seem, or perhaps claim that they are of Risuri. They are not. If you wish to help us, we would appreciate it. If not, that is fine as well, but let us do what we need to do and perhaps judge us for our actions then."
Slowly, the man starts to calm down. "I... I don't know." He eyes the party up and down from his manacled position. "When the fighting started, I ran to the safe and grabbed the coins. I knew they held power, but when I returned, my men were either dead or run into the jungle. I hid down here, like a coward." He looks to Fortinbras and Jesselle. "How can I help? I'm just a miner."
Jesselle looks at the man and comments, "To start, tell us what happened. Any details you may have of the attackers may be of use."
She considers a moment and asks, "Do you know a Nathan Jierre? And if so where he might be?
Aurlia adds "Do you know any passageways or routes that may be clear? I'll wager these invaders don't know the island as well as a local would."