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That’s great! We don’t have any opportunist here! Some out jump at change to get magic of their own…
Since no one seemed to be paying any particular attention to the necklace, Catcher pick it up and then walk to Roland.
”Thanks again for helping me earlier…”she says touching tenderly region near his wound, her fingers a bit stained with blood, she takes to her mouth.
”This taste reaaaally bad!” then she look up to Roland, realizing what she just said, embarrassed she continues ”Not your blood!” she starts to get even more embarrassed ”Oh no, gods! I din’t mean to say your blood was tasty either!”
She cover her face, and take a really deep breath and the finally continues
”Your fighting style earlier seemed a bit too reckless at some point.” she hands him the necklace, without looking in his face. ”This will help you.”
Chezarion says, "We got a grand total of 2 gold pieces, 10 silver pieces and 30 copper pieces. We also got a small handful of semiprecious gems worth about 100 gold pieces and a small stoppered vial of something that's probably contact poison for use on weapons. Last but not least we have a dark iron necklace and a dark iron masterwork dagger."
"I would suggest that we let Gromff carry the money and the gems until we have enough to split up. Whoever wants the poison can have it. The two dark iron items can probably go to Catcher as she needs more protection and a weapon she can actually use."
Chezarion shrugs. He says, "What somebody plans and what actually happens can be two different things. Nevertheless I won't try to make you take something you don't want."
"Regardless, we can't spend much more time here. We should be moving out after the refugees. Tessandriel and I will take point, Gromff and Roland can play rear guards and Catcher can go in the middle."
Gromff accepts the money and gems (after giving the a cursory look, dwarven habit) and puts them in a separate pouch from his own money. looking at the necklace and the dagger, Can't do much with that little poker and I've me own magical protection if need be so I say give the trinket to the angry one. May be reckless but it gets the job that's for sure. And I'd say keep the poison with the dagger or put it on an arrow. Could be handy later. He then falls in where Chez suggested to move out.
Roland seems to be enjoying Catcher's embarrassment, until he finally gives her a way out, nodding. "I got it. Really." He smiles and looks at the necklace. "You know, I've seen the enemy use this kind of stuff before, but I never lost too much time studying them. You say it's magical?"
"Another thing, I know that Dark Iron is very light, even compared to Mithral, and also that Mithral can overcome a devil's tough hide. Do you think Dark Iron could do the same?"
"And there's the missing footprints stuff. What do you think happened?"
Gromff looks up from packing, Missing what now?
Chezarion says, "The fact that we can't seem to track Meldara is both easily explainable and puzzling. My father was a ranger, so I know that experienced rangers can travel without leaving any tacks if they so choose. Normally they would do that when they were trying to hide their presence from enemies so that their trail could not be picked up and followed. What is puzzling is why Meldara would want to hide her trail from us. She said that she was going to see the refugees and their trail should stand out almost as badly as a paved road. This raises questions that I have no answer for. I suggest that we try to make contact with the refugees as soon as possible."
"She could have been captured... But yeah, I agree. Perhaps she was the enemy disguised as an ally?"
Tessandriel parts with the dagger while keeping the poison for later study.
"Chezarion is right, time to go. Pack it up, shorty!" she says.
Taking the lead, she stays about 50' in front of the group so as to keep the distractions away while she concentrates.
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When Tess says shorty, Gromff slowly stands, hands on his hips. Remember what I said about me boot finding Chexarion's backside? It'll find yours just as easily. He goes back to packing but if she says it again he stomps towards her until she leaves. If she doesn't leave he will attempt to kick.
Tessandriel laughs and starts on the trail. Provided everyone is ready.
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Feeling that their safety is likely compromised, our heroes pack up their favorable camp site and move out into the cold snowy night.
You once again reach the crest of the hillside and gaze out across the snowy mountain-top meadow. The sky is awash with twinkling stars and the plain is carpeted with ever-deepening snowfall. Of the two moons in the sky, the purple moon is larger in its cycle. It casts a soft violet haze over the twinkling snowy field before you.
The footprints of the refugee party are all but covered now--it appears the snow gathers better here where the ground is level. Despite the falling snow, Tessandriel picks out the path and leads the party onward.
After more than four hours of hiking across the field, up higher mountains, then taking a bewildering series of ups and downs into crevasses and fissures, you reach the end of your path. You come to what appears to be a small cave entrance, no more than 5' high and 4' wide at the mouth. Tessandriel is sure that the tracks lead to the cave entrance. There doesn't appear to be anyone outside on lookout.
Elven eyes are just barely visible, looking out of a snow bank about 20' from the cave mouth. The eyes are looking at you, the party.
No one is going to hit that but just cause.
Gromff whistles in appreciation, now this is a defendable position. Assuming that cave has a back exit that is.
Chezarion says, "It could be that I'm just jumpy, but something about this doesn't seem quite right. I'll take point going into the cave."
Chezarion pulls out one of this throwing darts and concentrates for a moment or two. Then he touches the tip of the dart casting light on it. That being done, he tosses it 10 feet into the cave.
"Tell me one thing that did seem right this night. Even the moon is purple! We can try that with an arrow, if you would like."
Chezarion replies, "Why waste an arrow when you don't have to? The darts can be used over and over again. The arrow would likely get busted up on the rocks. Besides, we would have a harder time convincing the refugees we were friends if one of them got an arrow stuck in him."
"That is, if they are here." He tests the echo of the cave. "Yo! Meldara!"
What are you two wastin ammunition for? I can see in the dark. Durned fools. And he walks forward towards the cave, shield and morningstar ready. If something attacks me we'll know its a trap.
"psssssst... Please be quiet" said the snow drift 20' from the cave mouth, or so it seemed.
As you look to the voice, you also hear shifting feet and movement from inside the cave. The glowing dart casts light back out from the cave, sending shadows dancing on the snow behind you as Roland, Chezarion and Gromff each vie for a view inside the cave entrance.
As you might have expected, the elf Meldara emerges from the snowdrift, covered in thick furs. She pushes aside a sheet of canvas and wooden supports that apparently kept her mostly sheltered from the elements. "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." "But I wouldn't do that to a friend, now would I?
I am curious and concerned; what on the face of Atma made you seek us out in the dead of night? Has something happened?"
Apparently the sound of Meldara's voice set them at ease, so a half-elf woman and a human, each grasping firmly to their spear, emerge into the night. Hello again," the man says cheerfully.
All three of them look to you, their visages one part puzzlement and one part apprehensive.
"Hey! You're alive! Good! I need to rest or I'll be useless tomorrow..."
Gromff crosses his arms, obviously not amused. Then again that's not much of a change from his normal look. Bah. Waste of an arrow. Still wouldn't shut me up. Ye're little camp's been found out. Attacked a few hours ago by a little flying annoyance and people that shoulda stayed dead. Not safe. Doubt anywhere is safe really. This place is good enough though.
Chezarion says, "We had a crow come visit us at that campsite. It said that you sent it and one of us needed to go with it. When Tessandriel did she was attacked by an imp with a poisoned dagger. While we were trying to get that sorted out we were attacked by a couple of zombies. This led us to believe that staying at the camp was not a good idea. With nowhere else to go short of Archdale we decided to see how you were doing."
"Beside, your tracks were not found, and we thought you could have been kidnapped."
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"...or dead!" completes Catcher after Roland.
”Have you been telling your name to devil, only to fail to kill them later? I mean” she then tries to strike a pose of a mighty warrior holding her greatword high and says ” ‘Wicked and foul devil! I’m the great and famous Devilkiller Catcher! And today, I’ve come to beat your ass to a pulp….’ ” she look around trying to gauge the others reaction, but continues anyway ” ‘…but will you give me some moments? I have some camp to compromise, some wanna-be adventurers to betray and a cave to hide in.’ ” she then drops her act and continues in a serious tone ”The devil knew your name, it used it to lure one of us. It knew where we were staying, and it was you that recommend the place.”
Meldara keeps her eyes glued to Gromff, then turns to Roland, then to Chezarion. Her eyes grow wide at thei words. She opened her mouth to respond, but Roland and Catcher finish with more information and more questions.
She shakes her head slightly, holds her hands at her side, palms up and open toward you.
"Let me say this-- we are new friends and you have no ironclad reason to trust me yet, but I tell you with all the sincerity that I can muster that I believed that camp was safe. I know no devils, I don't know how they knew my name, and I ask you to believe me when I say it.
Are any of you harmed?" She takes a closer look at everyone, individually.
"Many creatures from hell can render their appearance invisible, even to dwarven and elven vision. It is possible that we were spied on, which would explain them knowing my name. It is also possible that you were followed here, which is exactly what I was trying to avoid. Please, come inside out of the cold. You should rest here tonight."
You hear sudden loud groans of pain from the cave-- a female voice.
"I understand the possibility of being followed, though, it was one that we felt had to be taken. Your lives on our conscience would not have boded well. Enough people have been lost already. I will help with the watch while we stay, and the cold doesn't bother me anyway." the ranger replies.
Upon hearing the woman groaning:
"Is that the pregnant woman I hear? Do you need some assistance?" Tessandriel asks with concern.
"Nothing that will kill me." He follows her anyway. "Damn, I should have brought the demon's body!"
@Roland And taint the whole cave? I think not. Best to leave it there so they know they ain't messin with pushovers.
@Meldara I believe ye lass. If'n ye wanted to kill us ye woulda sent more then a bat with a poker and a couple o undead. Sides, all it would take is one blabbermouth in Sojourn to know o you and the most o the people in this cave.
As he walks into the cave, You lot did okay with the cave but by Clanggedin's fartin arse if there ain't an escape route I'll beat ye all senseless cause that's what ye are.
During the rest of the day he helps with wounds, water and defenses until its time to go to bed. Before that he expends one use of Spontaneous Casting to cast Cure Light Wounds on Roland.
Shazam, full health.
"Nothing that will kill me." He follows her anyway. "Damn, I should have brought the demon's body!"
"You would have carried it as I would have destroyed the body if it was up to me."
Tessandriel notes with some hostility, though not directed squarely at Roland but at thought of the devil.
"How's that foot tasting these days?" she asks with some humor.
"Then again you judge my words without knowing their intent."
Since the phrase served to provoke both the half-elf and the dwarf, Roland does not add anything else aside a "Thanks" when Gromff heals him.
@Roland If ye're gonna talk to a dwarf then say it straight lad. How am I to know what's goin on between yer ears?
Chezarion nods affirmatively as Meldara speaks. He says, "That's kind of what I thought, but it was necessary to try to make sure. "
Upon hearing the moans coming from further inside the cave Chezarion says, "Why don't those of you who can heal help with that while I keep watch out here?"
Chezarion retrieves his throwing dart and puts it back in his dart quiver. To make sure that no light is giving him away he draws his dagger, casts a light spell on the dagger's blade and then sheaths the dagger. He then takes a suitable spot just outside the cave to watch from.
"How's that foot tasting these days?"[/b] she asks with some humor.
She beckons you all toward the cave, and ushers you inside. It is a little tight at the entrance, followed by a downward slope that opens a little. You smell cooked meat coming from further down.
The passage spills out into a with a remarkably flat floor for a natural cave. This room is lit by one lantern, but there are several torches in sconces along the wall that are not lit. Most of the refugees are sleeping in this room, (or trying to sleep, but are unable due to the sounds of labor nearby) looking up doe-eyed at you when you enter. You get several scattered hellos and greetings. There are 3 more caves that lead off from this main large chamber. Twinkling firelight and a woman's moaning is coming from one. The others are dark.
To Tessandriel, Meldara says, "Yes that is our pregnant woman you hear, her name is Brielle. We now believe the forced march induced her labor, for better or for worse. I believe she is in good hands. Jorno is with her, he was a healer-adept in Sojourn who is skilled with herbs and potions. Unfortunately he had to leave most of his ingredients behind.
You are all welcome to stay the night here, there is more meat ready to be cooked if you're hungry."
She then addresses Gromff, "Yes good dwarf, we have an escape route, over in that passage. Rest assured my wise dwarven friend." She points to a dark cave exit.
+2 for Stonecutting Wasted a 20.
Gromff merely grunts and nods wen he hears that there is indeed a back exit. Then he notices the floor and the walls. It appears to be natural and yet some parts are definitely not. There is not a score mark from a pick or shovel though to indicate how the alteration was made. Only other option is magic.
Some magic been at work here. Floor's too flat and the rooms too round. Was it like this when ye got here? he asks of Meldara.
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They are sure fast to trust. Say a few beautiful words, then change the subject to a pregnant woman or food and all is well again…
Catcher let the subject drop, but she still does not trust enough to follow blindly any advices the elf provides. However, she cannot put any guild on the woman; she has after all a very good argument. Keeping her thoughts and things to herself, she enters the cave. During her stay, she will do her best to stay with other party members.
She will approach Roland, at some time after eating a small portion of meat and ask ”Why do you wanted to drag around that devil’s body?”
@Roland If ye're gonna talk to a dwarf then say it straight lad. How am I to know what's goin on between yer ears?
"You won't, and usually there's no time to tell you, so you might as well just trust me."
He follows along inside the cave, and the dwarf's search draws a smile on his face. "Are you trying to find the entrance to the elven city, dwarf?"
To Catcher he waves a hand, showing it was not important.
"No big deal. I was just going to hang it at the cave entrance to put some fear in the next ones who come after us."
Chezarion will go ahead and take 20 then. :-)
"Are you trying to find the entrance to the elven city, dwarf?"
Gromff continues to look at the stone but still answers. Nay. Magic users are a secretive and strange bunch. This place was built with more than a little magic and usually folk like that put in more than one two secrets. Always preparin for the worst. Not a bad trait but more often then not it just means things get left behind in forgotten places.
"Good luck then Gromff, but try not to find a secret passage to hell right now." He waves a hand at Catcher. "Tomorrow we can do that, kiddo." He looks around, seeing many folks trying to sleep. "Now let's rest cause we may not have another chance so soon..."
The barbarian tries to rest a bit, since they will probably need full force tomorrow.
Some magic been at work here. Floor's too flat and the rooms too round. Was it like this when ye got here? he asks of Meldara.
The elf woman raises an eyebrow at the query. "No actually. I first found this cave...as a child. I had wandered too far from my parents and had gotten myself quite lost. Before long it was starting to get dark and I must have been walking in the wrong direction for hours. I climbed a tree and slept in a comfortable arch in the branches that night.
The next morning I climbed down the tree and realized that I wasn't alone. I looked up and into the eyes of a monstrous troll. The smell was awful! His massive clawed hands reached out for me but I ran like a frightened little rabbit. I ran for what felt like hours and eventually I came upon a doe, standing alone in a glade. It hopped toward the edge of the clearing, and turned to look back at me. I can't explain it, but I instinctively knew that it wanted me to follow it!With the sound of a hungry snarling troll not far behind, I didn't need much encouragement, so off I went into the deeper woods following this doe. It took me up and down rock cliffs, in and around thickets, and eventually we both ended up just outside this cave. I followed it further into the cave and there was a pool of fresh spring water, a hammock made of vines, and a bowl of fruit in a small circular chamber. I called out, but no one was there; I was alone.
The fruit was filling and delicious. After I ate, I looked up and the doe was simply gone. Not in the cave, not in the clearing outside, just gone.
I came back over the years several times. Every time I have come here, the cave looks different. I believe it is a sacred place. I have been a follower of Erastil, as taught by my parents and their parents before them. I don't know for certain but I believe this place to hold some significance for the God."
She holds up her longbow. It is beautifully made, a fine piece. "When I had come of age, the next time I visited this place I found this bow. It has saved my life many times. I cherish it above all of my possessions."
Gromff, in your search of the main central chamber area, you sense very clearly a hollow behind a section of the cave wall.
Well then. I take a while to see if I can find a way to the hollow. Take 10 or 20 depending on time. If I can't I will get Meldara and ask her if she knows about it or can get to it. If I can figure it out I will go get Roland. Gonna rub it in a little. As I op en it I say, Never doubt a dwarf.
You feel like the stone right here, though it looks the same as the surrounding wall, would crumble if you gave it a good push.
You see no indication of traps.