Jerrik was relieved to hear Arim's voice again and breathed heavily, as if he had been holding his breath since the man left. As they came back into view, Jerrik smiled and saluted. He gave William one last pat before climbing back down to greet his returning friends.
"Alright, try to get some rest. I'll take first watch. Let's get some torches burning and close the gate. We should have enough rations to fill everyone's bellies." He slowly looked around at each and everyone present, and again he smiled.
"I am glad you're all okay."
Aleksara works out the gate mechanism with Aibreann in order to close it securely, while the others set up the torch lights. She then smirks to the others as they work.
"Remember guys: Don't pass in front of the the torches when moving on the wall or in the guardhouse. It makes a great silhouette that a sniper can't resist shooting at usually."
She then gets serious and looks as Jerrick.
"If any bandits arrive trying to get in, what are we going to do? I can sleep in the guardhouse and can enchant myself quickly to appear as one of the dead guards if I need to do so. But then what? Send them off on a wild goose chase? Let them in and try and take them out? I think I remember something about at least two patrols that could be still out there somewhere...still looking for wandering booze I guess."
Alfentinius scratches his head and kinda coughs to get the others attention.
Maybe we should leave a clear sign for the bandits. If we were to tar and leave the bodies hanging on the walls it would quickly communicate to any that came back that they should seek a new form of employment.
Aleksara frowns and points to the dead bandits.
"I would prefer to rid our lands of the murdering scum, not scatter them to the four winds. However, you all know my feelings pretty well by now too."
There is no trouble while you rest, though the sun begins to rise 4 hours into your sleep. Regardless, however you rotate watch, there is little to speak of save for the dreams you have.
Aleksara wakes with a start in the guard tower, sweaty and yet chilled throughout her small frame. Mountain Cutter is in her hands and fully exposed, blinking gently in the dawn's early light.
She looks over at Abreann to see her still sleeping peacefully.
"Good gods. What a dream..."
Jerrik sat up with a start. Sweat covered his forehead and even his teeth hurt. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair, slicking it back. He wiped his forehead with his arm and began to climb to his feet. He reached for his waterskin and waving his hand over it, refilled the contents before taking a long drink. He then poured some of it over his head and shook his head again like a wet dog, water spraying all around him.
He stood there for a moment, his eyes blinking while his mind contemplated his dream. The conversation with the kobold chief replayed in his mind as the scene with his father breathing fire occupied his thoughts. He slowly fastened his armor back on and retied his sword around his waist before he set out to rouse the others.
Arim awoke suddenly with a gasp hands scrabbling frantically at the blanket that had somehow risen to cover his face. It feels like hours as the Kayal lays awake in the darkness breathing heavily, but eventually fitful sleep returns.
It is late in the day before he finally rises. Ready for a day of fatigued exploration...
Alfentinius woke up in the morning and quickly got to work getting some breakfast ready. He kept a smile on his face and kept close to Prunus trying to make sure the Mite warrior felt welcome and valued by the band. He made light talk with anyone who came close simply waiting to see which direction the group would choose to travel next.
Investigating the hidden passage Aleksara found, it opens up into what appears to be a cellar.
This room feels miserably damp, and greasy swaths of mold cake the carved stone walls and floor. The ceiling fifteen feet overhead is thick with cobwebs. Three archways in the walls open into other rooms, all of which are filled with mounds of crates, furs, sacks, weapons, and other obviously stolen loot.
Stepping forward a little, Aleksara raises a hand.
"Watchit! If these are loot-holding rooms, There are probably traps of some kind."
Then, casting Detect Magic...
Aleksara finds no traps, only heaps of mundane trade goods like pelts, furs, tobacco, iron, bronze, miscellaneous weapons and armor, and miscellaneous adventuring gear and tools. None of which carries a magical aura.
Scratching her head, Aleksara grins.
"Well I guess you were right to bring the wagon Jerrik! Can we return this stuff? Who does it all belong to? My guess all the previous owners are dead. Iron! Bronze! Ooohhh I can sure use those at my forge."
"There must be more to it than this. Wasn't there supposed to be some old man, pulling the strings?" Jerrik shrugged.
"Everyone grab a crate. No one goes empty handed."
Aleksara snaps her fingers.
"During the fight...there was a creepy voice! Did anybody else hear that? Faint...on the breeze. I also remember hearing about some prisoner/ Druid guy...is there a dungeon here somewhere? Let's check for secret doors too when we have time. I've heard old ruins like this can be full of them."
Arim begins to aid Aleksara poking around the side rooms using his drawn dagger to lift corners of this and that, or prise the lids from unidentified crates.
While you all enter the cellar and begin to search, a crouched figure suddenly steps out of the wall. Running up the wall with a limp and onto ceiling, this dirty, old, and frail being transforms into a wolverine. Crouching on the ceiling 15ft overhead, the odd animal snarls at you all menacingly!
Aleksara’s comment on the “Druid prisoner” still resonates in Alfentinius ‘ ear as the searching group sees the man shape shift.
Hold up guys... I want to try something.
Alfentinius steps out in front of Jerrik and gives a little bow.
Det behøver ikke å være konflikt her. Stagkongen, og alle de som har tjent ham over, er blitt beseiret. Forswear et liv av banditri, og passer til gjerninger i tjeneste
Du kan bli tilgitt deg til hjortkongen.
There does not need to be conflict here. The stag king, and all those that served him above have been defeated. Forswear a life of banditry, and your past deeds in service to the stag king may be forgiven you.
Sensing Alfentinius’ goal at a peaceful resolution, William who is less trusting than the gnome steps out in front of the gnome taking a defensive stance in case the Wolverine attacks.
Arim races forward to face the is new foe. His hand draws back to launch his dagger at the creature by at the last minute his friends voice from behind stays his hand and he instead sheaths his sidearm and draws his great, square tipped sword, standing defensively in the doorway beside William.
A wet raspy voice shutters in shock, (Druidic)"The. Stag. You.. he's dead? You, muah, ah hah hahaha! You killed my Son?! HE'S DEAD?" The creature on the ceiling then looks between all of you for the first time. "I'm free? I'm finally free?"
Aleksara quickly draws her sword and readies a spell in her off-hand.
"Ok...Al? Why is the crazy man-wolverine thing laughing like a deranged lunatic?"
"Alfentinius, wait!" The words escaped the Ulfen's lips before he realized he had said them. Alfentinius's small stature and peaceful demeanor were enough to make Jerrik question his friend's decision to step forward into a potentially dangerous situation, but once he heard the little gnome start speaking, he was reminded of why he trusted his friend. Alfentinius was no fool. He knew what he was doing. And Jerrik knew that there were several behind the gnome that would defend him to the end. While his legs tensed and prepared to quickly step forward, Jerrik bit his lip to hold his ground and give the gnome the time he needed.
The creature begins to murmur to itself, doing something with it's wolverine hands out of view.
"Beware! He casts a summoning! Strike him before he can complete it!"
Realising at Aleksara's shout just how short time was, Arim once again reaches for the dagger at his hip and this time tosses it up at the creature, hoping to dislodge it
The knife harmlessly strikes the roof and clatters to the ground.
I think he’s gone mad in the head... He’s saying that he’s free now that his son is dead. I think he means the Staglord.
With that the gnome gets a look of determination on his face then tosses an icicle at the Wolverine as he retreats to the back of the group.
Seeing that the Wolverine is out of his reach William chooses to stay close to Alfentinius maintaining his defensive stance.
A Giant Ant appears at the entrance to the room, it immediately strikes out in attack.
The wolverine then begins another ritual.
"If he's deranged, should we kill him?"
With that, Aleksara reaches out with her free hand and converts her memorized Shocking Grasp spell into a bolt of mini-lighting at the weird Druid on the ceiling!
The wolverine appears to falter.
If Alfentinius can't make him see reason and he doesn't back down, I see no choice" Jerrik answered. He stepped forward in an attempt to draw the creature's attention.
"There is no need for further violence. We don't want to fight you." As he spoke, Jerrik focused his own vision to look deep into the man's soul. If any morality still lived there, surely he could find a spark of it.
Chet growls and rushes up to defend against the ant, but fails against the hard exoskeleton.
Wendell fully moves into the room and fires at the wolverine on the ceiling, connecting with the odd inverted sight.