Duncan looked heart-broken.
He called his earth angel over, Do not hurt anyone else."
He quickly caught himself and added, "Please."
Duncan then turned to Quinn, to Jibril, to anyone, "I may not want to continue doing this."
He sighed, "Don't get me wrong. I like you and all but I don't need to kill goblins to get loot. I'm only here because my dad forced me."
He looked at Khaddar with concern, "I'm sorry but this isn't worth it. What if Khaddar is really hurt?"
-------------
He sighed, "Don't get me wrong. I like you and all but I don't need to kill goblins to get loot. I'm only here because my dad forced me."
He looked at Khaddar with concern, "I'm sorry but this isn't worth it. What if Khaddar is really hurt?"
---
Jibril gets out his healing kit and works to make sure Khaddar's bleeding is stopped and he is stabilized. "I thought of the games as a proving ground. It is why I came - to throw myself into the crucible and be re-formed. It is as Khaddar said, we are the orra hoping to find the gold once the slag melts away. I came to prove something, some romantic notion. I came to prove it to a people I no longer know. He says this like he is only just realizing it.I will face death dealing with kind and I will protect my friends. I will kill those who try to kill us. If there is a cost to that then I was prepared to face it the moment I released my bow string. I will fight, struggle, be placed in harms way to further our standing in the game."
The half-elf looks over at the cowering goblins and the dead in front of the chest "But I also do not wish to be a thug. I know from my infancy what thugs are like and if proving to be like them is the cost of this game then this is not the proving ground I thought..." Jibril takes a moment to look at Quinn and Duncan, Elia and Ifanna, and down at the wounded Khaddar, "I hope what I have really been looking for in this game I have already found. If you will let me, I will follow you all to whatever end. I hope it will be to try our utmost in the challenges of this game and to walk out at the end unashamed."
Quinn approached the chest. "Let's see what was worth killing and dying for, shall we?"
As she was getting out her tools, Quinn countered Duncan's question with some of her own. "Why wouldn't you want to continue? The Game makes you a celebrity, Duncan. Do you really think the twins you keep talking about would give you the time of day if you weren't in the Game? Or that you'd be invited to so many parties if you weren't part of the Game? The Game makes you a household name. People will know who you are rather than who your family is. That's why you want to continue because this Game will make you important. And the better you do, the more important you are."
Quinn studies the chest before she even touches it.
She then took a calming breath and inserted her tools into the lock.
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Quinn settled herself down in front of the chest. It was a big, heavy chest, stout boards wrapped in iron bands, and looked like it belonged in a pirates ship rather than a goblin cave. It sported a heavy iron padlock, which turned out to be not too difficult to open. However, before Quinn lifted the lid, she examined the edge and found a thin wire running around the edge.
Tracing the wire carefully around the back, she saw that it followed one of the iron bands, and ended near the stone floor, with a small, magical sigil. Working carefully, she defaced the sigil without triggering it, and disarmed the trap.
The old hinges creaked as the chest lid opened. Inside, they found:
A silver dragon statue with rubies for eyes.
A heap of loose coins: 69 gold, 230 silver, 3084 copper
Four scrolls.
Three potions, all different.
A MW dagger with a vine etched into the blade
A plain looking wooden wand.
A wooden bowl with animal carvings around the rim.
A silver ring with no markings.
[ooc]Anybody doing anything else for 20 minutes? Khaddar is stabilized but mysteriously won't wake up. We'll assume that Elia and Ifanna are just chilling.
Jibril looks from Khaddar to the stone barrier, "This will not be a simple task." and then starts to rummage through the dwarf's possessions. At first it seems like looting but he only removes a bedroll and two torches. With the two 10' lengths of rope he cut from his own 50' he carefully affixes the torches to either end of the bedroll to make a kind of handled hammock. "Elia, please help me get Khaddar into the body sling. Perhaps you and I can carry him out of here to a room of respite." He grabs Khaddar by the back collar resting his friend's head against his forearms as they move him. Once in, Jibril takes off his cloak and rolls it into a ring pillow to protect the dwarf's head from bumps and to keep it from moving, protecting the spine.
Jibril is distracted from his task as the chest is opened. "We should not take anything from the chest that might be a religious relic lest the fallen here become unbecalmed dead ... and it's tacky."
As she was getting out her tools, Quinn countered Duncan's question with some of her own. "Why wouldn't you want to continue? The Game makes you a celebrity, Duncan. Do you really think the twins you keep talking about would give you the time of day if you weren't in the Game? Or that you'd be invited to so many parties if you weren't part of the Game? The Game makes you a household name. People will know who you are rather than who your family is. That's why you want to continue because this Game will make you important. And the better you do, the more important you are."
Duncan considered the advice, or was it encouragement?
The man fixed his blond curls, "Yes, people have said that I enjoy the attention."
He lowered his voice, "But not at this cost. I don't want to kill goblins to steal their treasure. I mean, how would you feel if someone did that to you?"
He thought for a moment, "In fact, I think I can walk out of the Games and still have attention I was doing fine before these games if it wasn't for my father and over-achiever brother."
He looked at the others, "I don't want to leave you but I want no part in killing people just to get their loot."
--------------
Quinn emptied the chest of its contents. "I don't think any of these are relics, Jibril. And they could come in handy - either to sell or to trade."
She turned over the dragon statue in her hands, almost mesmerized by the ruby eyes. This one will be hard to sell. Maybe I'll keep it as a remembrance of the Game.
Quinn sighed and looked upwards, "Duncan, we didn't come in here planning on killing anyone to steal their treasure. They made their choice. Besides, these challenges are designed for the Game. Everyone knows what they're signing up for. It's not like we broke into anyone's home to take their stuff." Not like that really matters...
Jibril notices somebody peeking out of one of the tunnels that exits this room.
Jibril tries to hide that something is most definitely up - he actually tries to whistle inconspicuously, as he rummages through his stuff. He removes the worn ash torch with the copper cap and copper plated grip. ”Lux!” The torch lights with a ghostly blue flame as he tosses it down the before unnoticed side tunnel. He rushes forward to make sure he’s between his friends and this new spy.
Quinn sighed and looked upwards, "Duncan, we didn't come in here planning on killing anyone to steal their treasure. They made their choice. Besides, these challenges are designed for the Game. Everyone knows what they're signing up for. It's not like we broke into anyone's home to take their stuff." Not like that really matters...
Duncan would not let it go, "How do you know? Do these goblins live here? Were they brought in just for the game?"
He sighed, "There's a lot of magic and plenty of illusion involved so I don't know what's what anymore."
He looked at Khaddar, "I mean look at our dwarf. He's not the type to fake an injury. So is all of this really worth it?"
@Duncan and Quinn "Careful! We are being watched!"
"Careful! We are being watched!"
Duncan straightened out his hair and arranged his clothes. With a big smile on his face he asked, "Yes, we know Jibril. Now where's that spy eye now?"
With the addition of Jibril's light, they're able to see that a young elf in official IGA colours is waiting in the tunnel, a very heavy-duty wand in his hand. Startled at the sudden appearance of the torch, he shrinks back a bit. After a moment, he looks around to make sure there isn't a spy eye present, then whispers loudly. "Hey! Ignore me! If they know you saw me I could get sacked. Just hurry up and get out of here. I gotta raise these guys before the next team gets here. Go on, scram!"
He makes a shooing motion with his hands, eyes constantly looking in the corners for spy eyes. Fortunately for him, the two spy eyes in the room are not able to see into the corridors. In fact, it would seem they are places specifically to only show the main room, and not what's "in the wings".
"We should get started.", Jibril indicates he means Elia and himself, "Carrying Khaddar out could take some time. His possessions are quite heavy." He collects his torch, "Tenebris!" and the light goes out. He picks up the front of the improvised stretcher and Elia, taking the lion's share of the weight, helps get Khaddar through the small hole and onto the portal sigil.
Doing their best to ignore the young elf waiting in the tunnel, Team Orra finished gathering all the treasure, and made their way back to the teleport pad. It took some work to get Ifanna and Khaddar back over the rockpile, but in the end they managed it. With relief, they finally linked hands and said together, "We are ready."
The dark of the goblin chamber dissolved to reveal the dark of the teleport chamber instead. Jibril opened the door, and light from the corridor spilled in. The companions, still carrying Khaddar in the sling, poured out of the small room, only to find they were not alone.
The stout wooded door opens into the hallway. Backing his was through the door is a ... a scarecrow? This lanky, straw haired, boyish figure looks about the least magical thing you've ever seen. He's slouching his way backwards and seems entirely uncomfortable in his own skin. He smells musty. His scaled leather armour looks borrowed, old, and beautiful - each scale looking like a leaf, each leaf stained a slightly different colour. His ear, which you notice is long and pointed, twitches and he turns to see you. His build, his ear, his wild unkemptness ... he's a half-elf, perhaps a tracker or guide.
He makes a quick assessment of you and a show of looking cheerful but he's transparent - there is tiredness there. Yelling back to the group awkwardly, "There is someone in the hallway - don't worry, it's not another IGA porter." He takes another look at you. "Definitely no one official."
He's lifting one end of a make shift hammock. Inside is the quiet body of a dwarf. His head is sporting a ghastly gash. At the other end a woman in patched hides followed by a large wolf.
Before they move back to where spy eyes can see them, Quinn points at the IGA official as he scurries off. "See? No one stays hurt permanently if they're part of the Game. This is a testing ground, Duncan, and we have to beat the other teams so we'll be remembered. No one remembers those who don't win."
Quinn follows Jibril and Elia as they contend with Khaddar's litter. "We'll have to find one of the rest areas to get Khaddar some healing." The rogue didn't want to mention that she was more worried about how this injury would affect their chances of winning than she was about the dwarf's well-being. She'd need to try harder and pick up the slack. She wasn't about to let Timothy's team win.
She stops short as they exit the teleporter into the hallway because she sees someone lurking around the door. Her dark eyes narrow and her dark curls bounce slightly as her lithesome frame shifts and muscles tense for action. Almost imperceptibly, her wrist flicks dropping her dagger into her hand. She says no greeting, leaving that to the others. If this person was there to try to sideline their team, she'd make them regret it.
Before they move back to where spy eyes can see them, Quinn points at the IGA official as he scurries off. "See? No one stays hurt permanently if they're part of the Game. This is a testing ground, Duncan, and we have to beat the other teams so we'll be remembered. No one remembers those who don't win."
A new understanding came over Duncan. it was evident that his shrewd mind was weighing all the different variables. He smiled, "So... I guess there's no permanent damage but being raised... that sounds rough. Do you think they get paid to do this? is everyone just acting then?"
tag?
-----------------
Without any angels in tow, Duncan once more fixed his hair and his clothes.
He commented to his companions "It's probably another reporter. I'll handle this."
He stepped forward and started his rehearsed speech, "Yes, so I am Duncan Clayton the Third and this is Team Orra. We are doing great in the Games and would welcome other sponsors."
He lowered his voice and asked the stranger, "Are you here to tell us that the Games are over?"
tag?
In the hallway a man was pacing slowly, every so often stopping to look over his shoulder. The behavior is somewhat like that of an animal expecting a predator to leap out at any minute, but one that has no intention of simply becoming a meal. The man has a rough looking appearance, with an unshaven face, muscular physique and a wide variety of scars across his body. His equipment bears an ostentatious style, particularly his large shield, which has several short rods protruding out into spiked tips and his bright red cloak. Despite this, the clothes he wears under his armor appear to be threadbare.
Upon seeing the party enter the area, his pacing stopped, as he seemed to size the group up. First the boy. Scrappy. But keen eyes. He had seen fighters like that before and knew better than to underestimate them. Next he looked to the girl. Noticing the flick of her weapon, it took most of his will to not instinctively not reach for his own. She may be hard to win over. But a cautious ally would be well worth it. Before his eyes could scan the rest of the team, Duncan had stepped forward and announced himself.
The man frowns as Duncan speaks. He remembers this guy from the scene he had made during the opening ceremonies, but the name Clayton brings back much older memories too. From what he could recall they were as wastefully wealthy as his own family. He also had vague memories of a young Clayton boy at a party who had cried to his mother because the estate owner would not let him run amok of the house. He wasn't sure if this man was that same boy. He certainly hoped not.
He looked an Duncan somewhat incredulously, before replying, "Over? We've only been playing for about half a day! Surely you haven't completed all the doors yet..."
Elia hitched Khaddar's sling a bit, in order to get a better hold, then heeled Ifanna to her, and started to move with Jibril to the stairs. Eyeing the newcomer carefully, but confidant that he alone posed no threat to her and her pack, she said, "You look lost, soldier. Where's your team?"
He looked an Duncan somewhat incredulously, before replying, "Over? We've only been playing for about half a day! Surely you haven't completed all the doors yet..."
"Dun Can has a very powerful sense of optimism. If you don't find it charming, you will at least find it distracting."
Jibril keeps jerking his head to the left abruptly. He starts cupping his bottom lip and blowing upward sharply. He keeps shifting his hands like he wants to let go of Khaddar's body sling with one. No matter what he does the hair on his forehead will not move. He keeps taking glances at this grizzled warrior."You look lost, soldier. Where's your team?"
He looks very capable. Is he a team of one? Oh great, stairs.
Strong sense of self, indeed. Rex thought to himself, for a moment questioning his resolve. But that moment of doubt did not last very long, as he watched them begin to walk away. Looking over his shoulder towards the doors, he picked up his pace to jog after them. "No, no. Not lost. Just...Ouch...he doesn't look so good..." For the first time Rex caught full sight of their fallen companion. He was no medic, but he knew that fighters who looked like that didn't usually get up for a round two. Noticing the elf boy struggling a bit, he moved up next to him. "Here. Let me help with that." Nudging the half-elf to make room, he lifted one side of the body sling with seemingly little effort. "With wounds like that, the last this you want is him bumping into those stairs."
Rex looked back other his shoulder one more time. Better start getting straight to the point. I'm probably running out of time. "So. I do not mean to be disrespectful, given your friend's condition. But, he doesn't look like he will be able to continue in the games. At least not any time soon." He paused for a moment, trying to choose his next words very carefully. "I, actually, am currently looking for a new team myself. If you were looking for some new muscle? The name is Rex, by the way..."
He looked an Duncan somewhat incredulously, before replying, "Over? We've only been playing for about half a day! Surely you haven't completed all the doors yet...""Dun Can has a very powerful sense of optimism. If you don't find it charming, you will at least find it distracting."
Duncan's hopes were shattered by the knowledge that the games were not over and that he was still playing.
He turned to Jibril, "Charming. It's charming or so do the twins say. Remember Jibril that we are working on you becoming more... charming."
tag?
Resigned to his immediate fate, he extended his hand to Rex, "I am Duncan Clay--, wait you know that already. It's good to meet you Rex."
Immediately seeing an opportunity to stay away from fighting, even if it was all make-believe of sorts, he commented, "Rex, why yes, we may be looking for another member. But we are very particular about this. Do you have a drinking problem?"
tag?
he quickly added, "What about funny accents? Communication is paramount in this team so we must understand each other. You don't talk funny, do you?"
tag?
Quinn brought up the rear, staring at the backs of the rest of her team in disbelief. A stranger lurks outside their door, alone and without a team, and no one else thinks it odd? Why was he outside their door? Where was the rest of his team?
She quietly moved up behind Rex, ready to take advantage of the fact that his hands were now occupied with Khaddar's litter. Her dagger was still in her hand and she knew she wouldn't be putting it away until she had some answers.
Once she had positioned herself to get maximum advantage on the man if necessary, she demanded, "Where is the rest of your team? Why were you waiting for us? I would suggest no sudden movements on your part or you will get hurt."
"Here. Let me help with that."
"I, a, wha-"
Nudging the half-elf to make room,
"yes, ah no, I don't think he'd want- he's heavy"
he lifted one side of the body sling with seemingly little effort.
"oh, ooh."
"With wounds like that, the last this you want is him bumping into those stairs."
"yes, -Ahem- Thank you."
---He turned to Jibril, "Charming. It's charming or so do the twins say. Remember Jibril that we are working on you becoming more... charming."
"Oh yes, I think..." Jibiril tried to remember back to the party last night and Duncan's various bit of advice - he straightened his back, tilted his head slightly, flicked his hair, and gave out a slight giggle ... then shrunk immediately back to his former self. He looked back at Duncan, "How was that?? My last job was six months as a mortician in Cittagrigia. The corpses did not require much char-"
"A drinking problem? Rex replied, surprised by the specificity of the question. My uncle always said I drank too much...but its been years. Somehow the thought of wild nights at the tavern doesn't have the same appeal that it used to... He shook his head, "No, I don't think so...", though there is the slightest bit of uncertainty in his response.
He found himself even more confused by the next question. Raising an eyebrow, he answered, "I don't know. You tell me?" His speech was fairly clear and proper, perhaps surprisingly so, given his somewhat brutish appearance.
Caught up answering Duncan's questions, Rex did not notice Quinn sneak up behind him. When she announced her threat, every muscle in his body tensed and his fist clenched tightly. It took everything he had to not whip around and start throwing punches, an instinct born, not of rage, but of pure self-preservation. He closed his eyes and took three deep breaths before responding, a trick that Arthurs had taught him. Slowly, he began turning around to face Quinn, carefully transitioning the body sling handle from his right to left hand. "You should be careful about sneaking up on people, girl. People can react unpredictably when startled." As hard as Rex was trying to remain as unthreatening as possible, his entire body was stiff and his eyes watched like she was a bomb ready to explode. You knew she was going to be a hard nut to crack. You should never have turned your back on her... he chastised himself, as he took another deep breath. Trying to answer her as calmly as he could, he replied, "I do not currently have a team. I left mine due to...irreconcilable differences. My former team is currently in the process of completing the Mind Door. I was not waiting for your team specifically. But, I do need to join another team if I am to continue in the games...and you seem to be down a fighter. So, I would consider our meeting good fortune for all, no?"
Quinn gave Rex a sickeningly sweet, fake smile that she often reserved for her mother. "That's why I told you to make no sudden movements. You're lucky I gave you an option."
She held Rex's gaze as her smile disappeared. "You'll have to forgive me for having more sense than to just say 'you look like a fine upstanding citizen - why don't you join us?' You being where you were is highly suspicious and we've already had to deal with other teams behaving unscrupulously. So what were these irreconcilable differences? Maybe the reasons you left your previous team are the exact reasons why we wouldn't want you as part of ours."
Duncan stepped in to calm frayed nerves, "Quinn, what's wrong with you?! He's just looking to play in the Games, like you are."
He then counted on his fingers, "He speaks clearly and he does not admit to having a drinking problem. That in and of itself is good."
He looked at the stranger, "And he looks like he can take care of himself in a rumble. I think he should join us."
He quickly interrupted himself, "Wait, I almost forgot. Pinching. Do you have a need to pinch people?"
tag?
Rex let out a sigh, as his form became less tense and more resigned, "...No. Her question is reasonable. I shall tackle yours first, since its easy. No, I can't say I have a particular need to pinch people. I do what I need to if someone attacks me, but generally I have better options than pinching." He turned back to Quinn. "Your question is more difficult. I can assure you that my reason for leaving them would not be a problem with your group...But I expect even that answer is not going to be sufficient, is it?" He rubbed his temple. "You see it's like you said, there are unscrupulous people here...and I...Well I didn't exactly join their team willingly."
Quinn raised an eyebrow looking unconvinced. "How could they have forced you to join their team? And wouldn't that reason still exist? Or did you just choose poorly?"
She rolled her eyes at Duncan, "Your list of what qualifies a good team member is questionable. It's ok if he kills us in our sleep and steals our stuff as long as he's sober, doesn't pinch you, and you can understand him while he does so? That doesn't make sense."
Rex looked a little surprised by Quinn's response, "For one so distrusting, it seems you are still quite innocent to how evil humans can be. But, you have me in a corner, so I guess I must say the words that I despise more than anything. I am a slave." Quickly, he corrected himself. "I was a slave. But the rules of the game are clear. I can defect to another team and that request must be honored! And if I win? Well, who would dare shackle a winner of the great game! If you hope to win this game, I assure you that you will not find another more loyal to your cause." He turned away from Quinn and tugged on the body sling, as he began walking again. "Its your choice at the end of the day. But either way, let's get this fallen warrior to the medics. Your friend needs urgent care and we shouldn't be wasting time..."
Quinn resheathed her dagger. "We wouldn't have been wasting time if you'd just been more forthcoming," she grumbled. "Fine. We'll see how you prove your fighting skills when the time comes."
They managed to get Khaddar up the stairs without smashing his head into too many of the steps. The door at the top opened easily, and they stepped through it into bright sunlight.
The walls here were much the same as they were in the lower level - smooth stone with no signs of joins or tool marks. The corridor was still just under ten feet wide, and the walls were about 12 feet high. There was no ceiling, just blue sky and sun overhead.
Their doorway was in a corner - the corridor ran straight ahead, and also to their left. Ahead, they could see that the corridor opened out into a wider space, and from here they could see what appeared to be a few round, low ledges - possibly fountains or pools?
To the left, there were two more doorways on the same side as their own, and then the corridor turned to the north.
They could hear the sound of voices coming from somewhere ahead - possibly where the pools were, or maybe even a bit further away. No sounds of fighting, just general sounds of people and conversations.
Jibril rushed forwards to check out the sounds keeping eyes out for the room of respite symbol. He seemed to have a powerful need to appear useful after Quinn drew her dagger drive things forward, drive things forward - to keep the peace. He is behaving like a sheepdog again - wayfinding in waves but always orbiting back towards the group.
"Indeed." Is all Rex replied, his expression unreadable with his back turned.
"So, boy?" He asked ahead to Jibril, "You see a respite symbol up there?"
Duncan become more interested in finding this place than he'd been since the Games started, "Does this Respite Door provide lunch or dinner? Even a snack would be nice. I mean breakfast only goes so far..."
he called out to the half-elf, "Well Jibril? What's going here? Not getting any younger..."
Jibril returned to the team looking unsatisfied. "The food vendors are ahead in an open expanse that may be the centre of the Gamefield. There are other stalls, perhaps we can get some all weather gear. I also saw other teams ... Jibril's eyes flashed briefly to Rex, does this news make him seem nervous? then with a slight tone of failure but no respite door. --- The ponds ahead are interesting. Three ponds in two foot marble circlets filled with clear water. A sign warns one contains health, another riches, and the last death with no sign of which is which. I can think of no reason to take such a gamble but a pond of health may become useful. Even a pond containing death could have a purpose. Perhaps we can ask a vendor about the Room of Respite?"
Rex did not seem at all bothered by the suggestion to go to the area with the other teams. If anything, the man seemed eager to keep moving forward regardless of the direction. It would seem that Rex was most likely being honest before when he said his team was still in the mind door and that he is worried about little else than what is behind him.
"Asking a vendor seems like a solid plan." Rex replied, "Probably better than walking around 'til we find it." Though he knew that he was already on thin ice with Quinn as far as not being considered a spy, he couldn't help but ask them, "All weather gear? You have a particular door in mind to do next?"
The ponds he merely eyed with curiosity and suspicion.
Quinn takes a look at the doors off the hallway as the group moves forward towards the pools and the stalls.
She thought she may have heard Duncan's stomach rumble at the mention of food vendors. "What we need to do first is find Khaddar help. That means we have to find the respite symbol. I think in other games there was usually one near the market."
She gave Rex a hard look, "Then we can decide what door we plan to do next."
Quinn sees that the next door over to them is a plain wooden door, and has a picture of a bed on it. The one at the end of the corridor is a large, heavy, iron door, with a sigil denoting a wand with sparkles coming off the end, and a bubbling beaker.
As Jibril returns and they discuss moving Khaddar into the market, Ifanna suddenly lets out a yelp and bounds forward towards the pools. Although Elia calls her name in surprise and runs after her, she is not quick enough to stop the wolf from drinking from the closest pool.
Almost immediately, the wolf begins to whimper, pawing at her muzzle and throat as if they pain her. "Ifanna! No, what's the matter?" The witchwolf runs strong and sure hands over her companion, but can find no source of ailment.
Suddenly a small voice begins to laugh, and gnome peeks her head around from where'd she'd been hiding (a doorway opposite the market). "Ha! That's what you get for brining a poor animal to a place like this! Shameful! Shame on you - making her fight for your glory. That poor wolf is out of the fight now, and out of time, unless she gets the antidote. Which will be made available after the Games are over."
"You monster!" Elia shouted. "You're killing her!"
The gnome laughed again, cocking her head as if very pleased with herself. "Oh, I did nothing, other than cast a little spell, making her aware of her thirst. She'll be fine, just fine, if you get her to some respite. Soon. Then she can wait out the game in safety, and have a long and happy life after, free from the likes of you."
She pointed to the market and said, "Save her, if you would. Or have her drink from another fountain, if you dare. But respite is just around the corner." Laughing, she ran north into the market.
Rex clenched his fist causing his knuckles to crack. Damn near killing the thing to 'save it'!?! He hated that kind of hypocrisy more than anything. It was too much like the people who justified slavery as merciful, because they were spared death. Still, the gnome wasn't wrong that the wolf needed immediate aid and the dwarf had gone far too long without medical attention. There wasn't time to deal with this guy the way he deserved.
Rex raised the hand that wasn't holding the sling and pointed it towards the gnome, with fire in his eyes. "Slimy weasel that you are, you've caught us at a bad time. But come near us again? I don't care if I am the one in the stretcher. I will still get up and break all four of your limbs! Understand?"
He turned to Jibril and handed him the sling again, "Here. I need you to lift him again." Once the dwarf was secure, he approached the fading wolf and hoisted the creature up into the arms. It was not so easy to hold the squirming wolf as it was to carry the sling. "Hush creature...Hush..."
Once the creature was somewhat secure, he began moving as fast as he could towards the direction the gnome had said. Hopefully, he was at least honest about wanting to 'save' the creature...
Trying to keep his stomach from making too much noise, Duncan conceded to Quinn's logic, "As hungry as I am, I think we need to get Khaddar and the wolf to this respite place."
He kept his distance from Rex, hoping he wasn't going to turn into another grumpy, slightly violent, dwarf or man.
--------------
Before Jibril took over Khaddar’s handle Was that a gnome or an imp! This new family is getting smaller. Jibril looked at Ifanna serenely, walked over to one of the other two pools and stuck his face in. When he pulled his head out he stared down the hall to the market ”There is nothing for it. We must find the Room of Respite and urgently. Perhaps we may be able to meet some EFA members later and repay them for their dedication to their cause.” Jibril said this last part with such calm that it was a little frightening then he took the make shift handle from Rex and headed down the hall.
Jibril, make a fort save, DC 22.
As Jibril pulled his dripping head from the pool, he felt a sharp pain deep in his guts. Like a knife twisting in his stomach, and as the seconds ticked by, it worsened rather than ease. There was no doubt in his mind - he'd been poisoned.
EDIT - I took the NPCs off the map just for clarity.
Jibril rushed to grab for his pack. He rasped to his team mates ”water ... kit” he hoped someone would help him with his fathers old healing kit.
"Boy, what are you...?" Rex exclaimed, as Jibril began drinking from the fountain. As he saw him double over in pain, he knew it was bad. I can't carry three people! Turning the others, he declared, "One of you help him up! Or help him do...whatever it is he's trying to do! I will get help!" Still holding the wolf he ran for the respite room.
As he did, his eye caught someone watching from the east. However, not having time to waste he continued towards his objective, but now wary of of the spy.
Rex bolted towards the market, Elia hot on his heels. She dragged Khaddar by one end of the blanket sling - fortunately the stone floor here was smooth, and the dwarf wasn't bumped about too much.
As they turned the corner into the market, they saw a large open courtyard, with a dozen or more stalls and booths. Rex quickly spotted the respite sigil on a door to their right. The wolf was a dead weight in his hands and he was trying to figure out how to open the door when a young elf, wearing official IGA uniform, hurried over to open it for them.
"You can put your wounded inside. Make sure their entire body is within the sigil. It will freeze them in time, until the games are over. After that, they can receive medical attention. Just be sure not to linger on the sigil yourself. You'll have about half a minute to settle them, longer than that and you'll be caught in the spell as well."
Inside, there was a gnome girl lying in the sigil. She looked to be frozen in the process of bleeding to death - three long slices in her belly were the clear cause. Elia dragged Khaddar in - the dwarf fit neatly beside the gnome. She then moved to take Ifanna from Rex. "My thanks for your help, friend. Perhaps we shall meet again on the other side. I will stay here with my companion and wait out the game. Apologize to my team for me, but I dare not linger here."
That said, she moved to the edge of the symbol and sat cross-legged, Ifanna's head in her lap. A moment later, and she was little more than a warm statue.
Quinn watched as everything descended into chaos and Jibril seemingly lost his mind. When he doubled over in pain after sticking his face into unknown water, she was actually stunned for a moment that he would have done such a thing. "What the hells, Jibril? What were you thinking?" She rushed over to help him rifle through his things. "What do you need?"