Fey rubbed his head, an ache was setting in and he disliked it. More scales disappeared as his bestial appearance began to recede more quickly.
Seeing the hole undisturbed makes him mumble, a painful throbbing in his head making it hard to think. "Curious. Might have another way out..."
He turns back to the northern room where the Demon summoning priests had been and searches for a way to advance forward from there.
"Neathholm ain't gonna be coming if we don't clear a path..." Fey mumbles, to no one in particular. Grabbing his head again. "Leave nothing unchecked. Got it."
He heads for the eastern door with his blade in hand.
"As long as we're headin' up, 'at's fine," the dwarf relents, holding his weapon cautiously as they move onward.
"Le's go back and keep checkin' for a way up," Tarov states, his voice booming a bit in the narrow corridor. He pauses for a moment, before continuing, "Ya can pull the rope up, if it pleases ya. It'd make gettin' t' this level harder for the folk down below, and 'at means we got less t' worry 'bout."
"Gotcha." He picks up a stone and casts light on it before casting it into the dark below to see what possibly lay at the bottom of the shaft before pulling up the rope.
"Taking a quick look, sounds like a lot of water but whats the point of the rope?"
Fey was interested in what was down there as well. He tests the rope before climbing down and taking a look at what was down below. Making sure to stay as far above the water as he could. Lest he fall and get swept away...
Must make a mental map of this place, lest we return here. These creatures have a decent place despite their evil. It would make for a decent hideout...
Tarov sighs heavily as Julian makes the detour, keeping at eye out at the edge of the shaft. "Be quick, lad. I don't like sittin' 'round here more than's needed."
A muted roar echoes down the walls of this hallway. Near the eastern end, the worked stone give way to natural cave walls, just before the hall ends at an open shaft. Hanging over the edge of the shaft is a knotted rope - the other end tied to an iron spike driven into the ground.
Julian takes his time climbing down.
He takes a quick look around using his darkvision to look at the area before climbing up to report his findings. The ache in his skull was toning down as well as Julian was finally regaining control of his mental faculties once more.
"Theres a ledge and a well hidden door Tarov, theres a bit of water and a ledge but..." Fey maintains a steady grip on the rope. (Continues to take 10 for a 15 on climb check) as he starts assessing the possibility of jumping to the ledge. After a few moments he loses his mental battle and climbs up.
Once back topside he looks to Tarov. More of his bestial nature has receded and still appears to be flaking off with every second. His voice too appears to have returned to normal save for sounding somewhat strained as though finding the words was difficult. "That door appears to have been shut for sometime, the mongrels probably know nothing about it. However I doubt they were just getting water out of this place. Before I attempted a jump I'd rather test my theory on possible creatures dwelling hereabouts." He thinks momentarily before adding. "Forgive my morbidness but since its a flowing waterway we could dump one of our deceased foes in there and see if it is safe to swim and investigate the door. I'm hoping we can find something of use." Or Something to fight... Julian focuses on something else lest the more confrontational part of him emerged once more.
Tarov grumbles. "Ya think there might be another way up in there? If th' mongrelfolk don't know nothin' 'bout it, we can at least guess it ain't too dangerous... but those are famous last words, I s'pose." The dwarven knight runs a hand through his beard as he thinks. "A'right, do it," he says, before turning to the three following him and Julain. "Head back t' 'at big room we was in. We're gonna try somethin'."
"Thanks Tarov. Lets keep an eye on the hole we covered. I am tempted to do something there as well... Like driving moles out of their dens..." All that bedding, their clothes and that brazier of coals will make a nice pyre... Drop the flaming debris down below and let it burn. Seal the hole and wait. Julian heads back and grabs up one of the fallen mongremen that are deceased and drags them back to the water hole, after withdrawing the rope just in case he drops them in. Just to make sure there isn't something large waiting in the water below...
Julian, somewhat relieved looks to Tarov. "Alright I am gonna climb back down and try again. Looks like it should be safe." He waits until Tarov is able to stand watch from above before he climbs back down. He gets a bit of a swing going on the rope before throwing himself towards the ledge...
Far too easy... "I made it Tarov! I will keep in touch as best I can..." Thinking far smarter about it he keeps his scimitar out and starts sidling along the far wall, making sure to avoid the center of the chamber until he reached the chest...
He curses, loudly, somehow making it to the otherside before calling upto Tarov. "Bless my bones, of course theres a trap... Found some interesting things. Going to try and make my way back shortly." He picks up the items, kissing his symbol of Desna for the blessing on their journey thus far, and for quite frankly saving his beautiful ass just then. Spikes don't go well with my horns...
"Ya a'right down there, lad? I don't think I'll be able t' reach ya if ya ain't," Tarov calls, a note of humor in his voice. He looks back towards the others, his previously grim expression softening a little. He taps the butt of the glaive against the ground once more, looking over the ledge and into the shaft below.
"As good as it gets Tarov. Besides I don't plan on falling here!" He dashes forward and leaps for the rope...
Tarov extends a hand down to Julian to help pull him up on the ledge, once he reaches the top. "Now 'at ya've had yer fun, let's get movin'. Daylight's burnin' an' our friends here must be tired an' uncomfortable messin' around in a place like this."
Julain nods, showing the items he found to Tarov and explaining their uses of course. "Right under their noses. Ha! Although I admit that trap was rather... devious of whoever left it for others."
He draws his Scimitar as he follows Tarov to check on room H4 where they had blocked the hole with the slab. "I know we talked about this already..." There was a bit of nervousness in Julian's voice, now that he was fully in control of his faculties once more. He was quite mortified by his earlier behavior but something was nagging at him now. "Are we sure we want to press on and leave this mess to our allies when they gave us gear to wipe these traitors out? As it stands we have a place to fall back to now, however..."
He grimaces as he speaks. "We don't know what awaits us topside. We could be in real trouble emerging with almost all our resources exhausted and nowhere to run. I know that everyone wants to get to the surface quickly." He raises his hands defensively trying to finish. "But I agree we press forward and clear the way through here and make sure it does lead to the surface. However we stack as much debris on that hole and make sure that if anything we have the advantage on this end. And... I..."
"I'm sorry..." His mortified state shown through, his wings sagged as they rounded the last corner. "You saw a side of me I never wanted anyone to see. An unexpected side effect." He frowned as he thought of the mutagen.
.
Tarov sighs once more. "Ya really want t' drag injured folk through 'at kind o' stuff more 'an is necessary? We get 'em t' the surface, and then if they don't need our help topside, we can come back down 'ere an' help the Mongrelfolk clear this place out," the knight explains. "I ain't got a problem with 'at. But we got three people with us right now, who can barely walk, let alone defend 'emselves. I ain't gonna be lettin' 'em come to harm if I can help it." He turns and looks back to the three trailing behind, worry clear in his eyes. "It might not be safe above, yer right. But it sure as the Hells ain't safe down here."
Tarov walks over to the tiefling and reaches up to rest a gloved hand on the other man's shoulder. "I un'erstand, lad. I get 'at th' stuff ya drank is some o' yer mixer's junk. An' I un'erstand 'at it made ya act diff'rent 'an ya normally would, maybe e'en against how ya normally would. I'd say ya should avoid usin' it if ya don't have t', but we pro'ly ain't got 'at luxury," he laments. "Jus' try t' keep it un'er control. I need ya bright-eyed an' bushy-tailed, else this whole thing's gonna blow up in our faces."
Julian nods reluctantly. "Never tried it until now... It was like watching a dreadful play with little control over how it turned out. I heard of such effects but thought I could control it and at first I could but at its height I lost that control over my anger and regret..." He shakes his head avoiding to trail off as he analyzed aloud what had happened to him. "I will do my best, at least Id... I was still fighting alongside you all." Like a rabid dog aimed at ones foes at least...
"As for them." He sighs. "I understand your concern as I share it too. Thats why I am trying to remain objective and avoid narrowing the focus. If we leave the enemy they will only cause trouble, its seems they have some small part in all of this with that earlier fanatism but your words are true too. Thats what makes it difficult to see the right path clearly." He thinks for a moment before adding with a nod. "Lets clear the way topside and we can decide again then."
Tarov nods deeply. "I can agree with 'at," he says, resting the haft of his glaive against his shoulder. "Le's get movin'," he says, loud enough for their other companions to hear.
He hands the magical shield to Horgus, since he wasn't injured and probably would appreciate the item momentarily. "Please, hold on to this for a minute, its magically enchanted, really useful for protection. But I need my hands free or else I can't fight effectively."
Julian takes the lead again, leaving Tarov with the injured. This was more or less because if he went down he was sure the hardened dwarf warrior could perform a fighting retreat better than he could have.
He enters the room where they had felled the two cultists and looks to the way upwards. He disliked the idea of having to stick his head out before his sword but, tucking his scimitar away he looked to Tarov and whispered. "If I don't answer within twelve seconds assume something is wrong. If I see anything bad I will drop a rock down." With that he quickly scaled the ladder...
He didn't take his time scaling the ladder, with the rings unique magic he was sure he could make quick work of the climbing and hopefully quietly...
... However his sickle, in his haste, comes loose and slaps the ladder just as he reaches the top...
Tarov winces at the sound, gripping his weapon tightly as he listens for sounds of danger.
He kicks a rock down the shaft and proceeds forward. Better Tarov is forewarned in case this is a bad situation...
He presses forward, drawing his Scimitar as he heads towards the curtain!
Tarov brings a finger to his lips, instructing the others to remain quiet, before gripping onto the rungs of the ladder. "I'm gettin' too ol' for this nonsense," he grumbles beneath his breath as he attempts to heft himself towards the tiefling.
Everything has gone to hell...
Kenebras was under attack and she fell into a warren of tunnels...
The cities guardian was dead...
IN the debris she found a scale she clutched too as if her life depended on it...
Had the gods truly abandoned the war?
Iomedae would never give up the fight! Never!
Than why was the world always losing?
She felt the tugs on her arms, the familiar rattling of her gear was marred by the sound of her jacket being dragged across stone. The guttural grunts and periodic voices that pierced the heavy veil of her bruised skull were unfamiliar to her. It wasn't until she reached for the void and stretched her divine might outward that she realized...
She was surrounded by evil!
Her eyes flew open. A spell was on her lips as quickly as she could cast it. The one holding her feet let go and uncermoniously dropped her to the floor as her spell took effect. The loincloth this beastly creature wore crushed down on his genitals with the force of a smithies hammer impacting a vice.
In the sudden confusion she drew steel and rose to her feet before swinging at the recovering beastmen. She barely punched the first club side as her armored coat absorbed the second blow completely. She was in a desperate situation and swung clumsily at the one that had been holding her hands, the blow caught the beastmen between the shoulder and throat resulting in a heavy spray of arterial blood that she barely avoided.
As his companion slumped the one behind her swung again but without the aid of greater numbers he stood no chance. She blocked with her buckler, punching it forward before he had a full swing with his club and grunting with the effort as the beastmen's face turned into a frustrated snarl at his defeated swing. She stabbed forward this time, scoring a blow to his gut. He swung again, this time coming in low and her buckler hand was too slow to compensate, she grimaced as one of the armored plates bent with a heavy grinding noise from the impact. However she was still fine.
"Suffer not evil to live!" She raised her ladies blade and struck downward, a killing blow to this detestable creature. The blow drove it into the floor, leaving her standing victorious over her fallen foes.
The moment passed as the filthy curtain nearby was pulled aside, revealing a tiefling armed with a scimitar...
She looked at him stunned for a moment as she remembered the Tieflings face. "Impossible... You..."
Her moment of indecision was just that a Moment before she cast forward her divine might once more. Her eyes glowing brightly as the flash of insight would determine the ones fate before her. His face is like the one before, but Wurmwood executed him... How could he be here! Her divine will flickered as the memory of the wrack, the days of torture and the defiant tiefling smirking in the face of Wurmwood's rage and certain death.
Julian stares in shock, blood dripped from the sword of a familiar woman who was now. Like Than. Piercing his soul to find whatever evil lurked beneath. He frowned as he barked. "What are you doing here Inquisitor Rowan!? " Desna, bless me for the journey you place before me. However I believe you find humor in the way you test my resolve.
He'd never forget the face of the woman who arrested him years ago. Her righteous snooty face was right there alongside Wurmwood Head of the Inquisition he had so righteous stood against.
"What's goin' on up 'ere, lad?" Tarov calls.
Sensing nothing she wipes her sword blade off on her dead foe as she speaks. "Since you asked so politely I fell into some tunnels during the attack. I presume you suffered similarly Crusader Fey?"
Hearing Tarov's calling to him he looks over his shoulder and calls back. He was less than pleased but tried to not let it carry in his voice. "Found another survivor..."
Her response made him grimace in anger. "Just Julian Fey Inquisitor Rowan. I'm not a crusader anymore..." his free hand was balled into a fist as he restrained his frustration at seeing this woman here.
A terrible slip on her part. He had been stripped of his rank of which she was ashamed to say was right only in the sense of the charges levied against him at the time. She doesn't let it show on her face as she nods. "Apologies... Julian. I too am no longer an Inquisitor, I am merely part of the Watch now. More importantly, who is that calling to you now?" Her sword was still out, her duster spread wide and its plates clinking as she slowly moved forward.
"Pity." He kept his tone neutral as he continued speaking. "One of my companions, he and four other survivors found ourselves down here. Anevia is badly injured, broken leg, Our riftwarden companion was blinded and we have a rather pleasant fellow named Horgus who is a nobleman of some repute. The one calling to me is Tarov Boulderfist. Call him Stalwart." He sighs trying to give her the gist of their situation. "We've fought our way here, found some allies who pledged to send aid among the mongrelfolk but their fallen brethren control these warrens. We have them holed up and are making a break for the surface."
Seeing her gear he begrudgingly added. "We've recovered a number of decent items so far as well. If there is something useful it be best to see it used..." He leads her back towards the ladder and the awaiting Tarov and the others as he explains in a very technical tone.
Tarov dismounts the ladder in a clunky storm of metal on metal. "Dwarves ain't made for climbin' 'ese damned things," he complains. Smoothing his clothes and making sure all his belongings are mostly in place, he turns and approaches Rowan. "Greetin's, lass. Tarov Boulderfist, Knight o' Thanehelm, at yer service," he says, bowing shallowly and grinning at the woman. "So, ya know me pal 'ere?" the dwarf asks, clapping a hand on the tiefling's shoulder. "He's been a trusted ally so far, an' I'd be glad for more of 'em."
Despite Julian's tone she listened carefully not wishing to miss a single detail. "I see."
She arcs an eyebrow at his comment of decent items. Seeing Tarov she smiled and nodded to him. "A pleasure to meet you Master Boulderfist. I do know Julian and his... Loyalty." The choice of words was a hard one, she was still surprised to see Julian alive after all.
"I heard there were some interesting items recovered and more foes to be dealt a grievous blow. Am I correct Master Boulderfist?"
"Thanks Tarov. We met under grim circumstances." He gives his companion a small smile despite the feeling of resentment he felt for the former Inquisitor as he looked at her with hard eyes. He waves his hand dismissively as he turns his thoughts to the equipment they had acquired. "Have at the items, each of us can't really use them." He recovers the magic shield from Horgus, with a swift apology, and hands it to her.
"We have some well made armor as well, I suggest you take what you need, we're gonna need all the luck we can get..."
She takes the shield lightly and tests the moriningstars weight before Julian shows her the masterwork gear as well. Her eyebrows were as high as they could go as she looked at both of them. Still waiting somewhat for Tarov's answer as she took off her duster and started equipping the chainshirt instead. "Too add Master Tarov, I am primarily skilled at healing and thankfully I haven't wasted my abilities this day."