Surprised and not a bit awed at the capabilities of the blade, Alan stares at it for a second, and not wanting to waste any more time, he says
"Line up, people, we get rid of these chains. I will try to cut them as long as I can, so until we find some other weapons we can use chains to hit things if needed"
Equally surprised, Rÿarkaelin nevertheless approached to offer her chains for cutting, indicating to Therudrim to follow. "The chains are too short to do much damage," she commented as her hands were freed. She peered at the obsidian blade curiously, then the skeleton that had held it.
Therudrim nods in response to Rÿarkaelin, and follows to stand next to her to have her manacle chains sliced. She watches in silence as the human breaks the chains, while studying the unusual weapon.
Once the chain is broken she outstretches her arms sideways, then quickly readjusts her cape around her wings properly, with a clear happy smile easily seen.
With no need to have his manacles cut off, Eadfaas keeps an eye out while the others free themselves.
"Keep a few individual links for me, please," he said, indicating the bits of chain that fell free after each cut. Thrown properly, those bits of metal could be useful, should things get nasty.
Anwyn stares at Alan for a few seconds, a look of surprise on her face. "I did not expect that...That blade is extremely valuable Alan." She then holds out her arms ready for him to cut the manacles away.
Once they have been cut away from her hands, she gives Alan a soft smile. "Thank you." As the next member of the group is freed of the manacles, she reaches down to pick up the chains which held the rings together.
Perhaps this will serve as a crude weapon, at least for the moment.
Also having shed his restraints earlier, Taemon'dow stands off to the side, waiting for the task to be completed. He hefts the short sword he carries; that stolen from one of the hob-golbin guards earlier. Looking back the way they came, he strains to hear what might be coming from that direction, as well as searching out through the darkness.
|
With no need to have his manacles cut off, Eadfaas keeps an eye out while the others free themselves.
"Keep a few individual links for me, please," he said, indicating the bits of chain that fell free after each cut. Thrown properly, those bits of metal could be useful, should things get nasty.
[OOC]Easily a hundred or more. But bear in mind the weight of all that iron, as well as the fact that you don't exactly have a bag to put it in.[/ooc
|
|
Anwyn stares at Alan for a few seconds, a look of surprise on her face. "I did not expect that...That blade is extremely valuable Alan." She then holds out her arms ready for him to cut the manacles away.
Once they have been cut away from her hands, she gives Alan a soft smile. "Thank you." As the next member of the group is freed of the manacles, she reaches down to pick up the chains which held the rings together.
Perhaps this will serve as a crude weapon, at least for the moment.
|
|
Also having shed his restraints earlier, Taemon'dow stands off to the side, waiting for the task to be completed. He hefts the short sword he carries; that stolen from one of the hob-golbin guards earlier. Looking back the way they came, he strains to hear what might be coming from that direction, as well as searching out through the darkness.
[dice=Perception]d20+6
The silence reigns in the darkness behind you. It seems that the undead have ignored the passage to the underground - and you as well.
Yardiff Bey smiles widely as the sword severs his chains. With a bow to Alan, he goes to investigate the skeleton further.
Now with his hands free he searches the chair and its occupant for anything else useful.
Perception
When everyone's bonds had been severed, and weapons had been improvised as best as could be, Edfaas picked up and pocketed several of the loose and/or severed chain links. He certainly wasn't going to be fighting anyone - or anything - hand-to-hand, and you never knew when throwing something in someone's face would be enough to get you away safely.
"Now what," he asked the others.
Therudrim enjoying the freedom of her hands decides to look at the mound, altar and trees more closely to see if she recognizes anything of the origins and it's purpose.
Alan stays the last one manacled after he released the rest of the company. He holds out the sword hiltfirst to Lantesh and Taemon.
"I would be grateful if one of you could remove my chains. Also if either of you thinks you could wield it better than me, please keep it. I could use it, but I do not think I have much aptitude for it."
Anwyn nods to herself as she adjusts the length of chain before hooking it through her belt and letting it hang from her waist. This should do...this dress was not made for the battlefield unfortunately.
Once Alan has freed the others from their bonds, she takes the obsidian sword from him and motions him to spread his hands apart. "Hold still, Alan." With a swift stroke she separates his hands from the manacles. She starts to hand the obsidian sword to the white haired elf before she pauses, her mother's words echoing in her mind...
Always be on the path of gaining knowledge. Our world sorely needs it, far more than food, metal or other forms of so-called wealth.
She instead turns the sword over and looks it over with an appraising eye.
|
|
Anwyn nods to herself as she adjusts the length of chain before hooking it through her belt and letting it hang from her waist. This should do...this dress was not made for the battlefield unfortunately.
Once Alan has freed the others from their bonds, she takes the obsidian sword from him and motions him to spread his hands apart. "Hold still, Alan." With a swift stroke she separates his hands from the manacles. She starts to hand the obsidian sword to the white haired elf before she pauses, her mother's words echoing in her mind...
Always be on the path of gaining knowledge. Our world sorely needs it, far more than food, metal or other forms of so-called wealth.
She instead turns the sword over and looks it over with an appraising eye.
[dice=Knowledge Local (Shadowlands)]1d20+8
|
|
Yardiff Bey smiles widely as the sword severs his chains. With a bow to Alan, he goes to investigate the skeleton further.
Now with his hands free he searches the chair and its occupant for anything else useful.
Perception 1d20+5
There is no chair. What you initially thought is chair are in fact the remains of an ancient altar. The skeletal figure sits on the mound of rubble and earth beneath the altar and its back are against the altar. While inspecting it, you can not help but notice that the threes around it are extremely strange.
|
|
Therudrim enjoying the freedom of her hands decides to look at the mound, altar and trees more closely to see if she recognizes anything of the origins and it's purpose.
[dice=Knowledge (nature)]1d20+5
[dice=Perception]1d20+10
Believing she spotted something of interest, she points her one hand in the direction of the farthest tree speaking softly in jungle mouth, "I think I see something glittering at the base of that tree.".
She moves a little closer to have a better look, though still remains safe distance from the tree until she can see clearly what it could be.
Seeing that the trees were very odd, especially since they were underground, Yardiff Bey was about to investigate further when the beautiful woman spoke and indicated one of the trees.
Not understanding her words, but understanding her intent, Yardiff Bey moved to assist.
Perception
Rÿarkaelin understood a little of what Therudrim was after, and translated for the benefit of the others. She joined the winged woman and Yardiff Bey in examining the source of the glitter more closely.
While the others headed to check out the tree, Anwyn stays back a moment and holds out the obsidian blade. Her voice trembling slightly she says, "This blade has magical properties, but I cannot determine whether they are active or possibly latent, waiting to be brought forth."
She looks around her and adds softly, "Whoever crafted this blade is long gone by now, so I say we take the blade with us. As for who wields it..." She looks at Alan briefly then shakes her head, "I know not what other enchantments may be stored in it. Mother may know but she is far away from here. We would need to travel a long way from here." Her gaze traveled over the Snow elf, who called himself Taemon'dow. Holding the blade out for him, she adds "Perhaps you wish to carry this?"
Best to have someone else be the brunt of whatever the blade holds within it. I care not to risk Alan for such a test.
Alan nods and looks at Taemon'dow expectantly.
|
|
"Has anyone else seen what the pale thing in the bole of the tree behind the altar is?" Rÿarkaelin asked conversationally, filing away the precision of the trees and the nature of the skeleton while focusing on the tree she had mentioned. Uncoiling her whip, she touched Therudrim's arm and edged away from it. She was all too aware of what little protection the whip offered, and didn't intend to be too close if whatever was in the tree proved to be alive (or worse, Fell) and unfriendly. Caution came naturally to her after the ill-advised foray that had resulted in her capture by the slavers.
Gauging the position of each of the others, she moved to be between those who were better armed and nearest the tree, and those who weren't visibly armed at all. Cautious she might be, but craven she was not.
Hearing Rÿarkaelin's question Alan says:
"I think that we have tempted fate and dallied here long enough. Let us move on and if there is some living or undead relic of ancient days down here, let our pursuers be the ones who run into it."
Edging forward cautiously, Yardiff Bey gripped his knife tightly, eyes fixed upon the bole within the tree.
Will Save
Eadfaas was about to agree with Alan, and take his place at the back of the party as they headed out, when he noticed the three staring at the tree. Not wanting to shout, for fear of attracting the attention of anyone unpleasant, the little gnome headed over to the group.
"Come along," he said in the halfling tongue (he knew both the women could understand that, and the fire-haired one hadn't seemed to understand any language any of them had used to this point.), "It's time to be leaving now. What are you all looking at, anyway?" He followed their collective gaze
Therudrim slowly steps backwards away from the tree, pointing her hand at the bole of the tree, speaking in jungle tongue with trembling tone, "Something very bad there. Very bad."
While the jungle tongue was not familiar to her, there was no mistaking he fear in the winged woman's voice. Anwyn nods quickly in agreement, "Yes it is time to leave." She holds up the obsidian blade, "Apparently, this blade IS guarded after all."
Rÿarkaelin backed away together with the winged woman, her movements careful. "Yes, very bad. Let's go - don't turn your back or run..." Her voice was even, but her eyes never left the pale whatsit as they eased away. She touched Yardiff's arm as they went, trying to tell him to come with them.
At the words of Anwyn Lantesh instantly becomes alert and moves into a half crouch stance. He smells the air in an attempt to find anything unusual.
Regardless of finding anything he methodically moves with Anwyn away from the object that holds everyone's attention.
Yardiff Bey's eyes narrow as the air around himself and the other two noticeably cools....or perhaps is was just his imagination. Nonetheless, he nods a the other's words of obvious caution ,and backs away slowly from the "guardian" tree , his senses on alert for any change from said tree.
Perception
Taemon'dow takes the blade that have been offered to him, and looks it over with a close gaze. He marvels at the edge, at the heft, and the material of its manufacture.
"It is a beautiful blade. However, I am not familiar with the type, and would not be able to use it to its best effect. Furthermore, I am more prone to weild small, swift weapons," he lifts the short sword as an example, "I am better suited to wield this. Perhaps another would be more able to put this unique blade to good use."
He looks over and gestures towards the others moving into the copse of petrified trees.
"What are they doing over there? We should have long since moved on from this chamber..."
|
|
At the words of Anwyn Lantesh instantly becomes alert and moves into a half crouch stance. He smells the air in an attempt to find anything unusual.
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
Regardless of finding anything he methodically moves with Anwyn away from the object that holds everyone's attention.
|
|
As you enter the rubble-free tunnel, you realize that it slowly descends every hundred feet or so. Not only that, but it turns suddenly, as if some giant worm made it eons ago - and the slime left in its wake turned to stone. From time to time, you encounter slabs in the tunnel wall, marked with strange faintly glowing patterns. Slabs look like doors, but they are beyond your power to move them. After an hour or so, the tunnel suddenly starts to climb at a relatively steep angle. At least steep enough to tire you after the long day of walking in chains.
After another two or maybe even three hours of walking and climbing, you finally feel the wind on your faces and fresh air in your lungs.
Anwyn nods in reply to Taemon'dow, storing away the information for future reference. As the group prepares to leave the cavern, she speaks softly to Alan and Lantesh "It seems as if no one else desires the honor of wielding this fine blade. Therefore I will carry it for the time being."
As the hours drag on, Anwyn finds it increasingly difficult to carry the blade, not so much for its weight but for its awkwardness as there had been no way to affix it to her dress sash. Soon her breath comes in short labored breaths.
Is that fresh air I smell?
As the group travels Lantesh notices Anwyn growing weary. When he has arrested his attention, he motions to Alan to help her.
"Fresh air. The surface is close. Be wary." He says to the rest of the group.
Eadfaas had no idea what the others had been afraid of, but he followed the group out of the cavern willingly enough. He was interested in the slab-doors, but not enough to spend much time investigating.
Eventually, the little gnome was invigorated by the smell of fresh air, and an upward slope to the floor.
Relieved to be moving again at last, Taemon'dow followed along with the others, bringing up the rear. When they finally smell fresh air, a bit of the tension leaves him.
I don't want them to figure things out too quickly. If I can't do something to prove that I'm still on their side, they may turn on me the moment they figure it out.
He looks around at the others, noting how tired many of them seem. Fortunately, he notices that not all feel the same way, and that he need not feign fatigue.
I've done many marches harder than that before, but it seems odd for it to have been so effortless this time.
"Once we get up top we should make a effort to get some distance from the exit before making camp. Since there was only one way out of these tunnels, if we camp too close, anyone following us through the tunnels would be led right to us."
Therudrim nods to Rÿarkaelin and continues to move backwards slowly until the altar before turning to regroup with the rest, choosing to remain more or less in the centre of the group as they headed out of the chamber.
She looked about as they travelled along the tunnel with it's strange features, taking her mind away from the recent memories of being a slave with the attack of the fell, though the question still remained in thought, Who was that skeleton at the altar, and what was that strange chamber?
She noted the dark elf breathing a little more difficult so move to be closer to her.
Feeling the wind of fresh air, a smile formed.
Yardiff Bey felt palpable relief as he put more space between himself and that terrible tree.
There are many strange terrible things in this world that should not be disturbed...that was one of them he thought with a shudder , trotting to catch up with the others embarking down the tunnel.
Seeing the strange rune covered doors, he occasionally felt enough curiosity to pause looking up in wonder, until he noticed the others doggedly continuing down the subterranean passage.
Fort Save
Buoyed by the sense of freedom, Yardiff Bey seemed unaffected by the long journey underground,even when the floor of their passage begins to angle more and more upward.
Even more bounce is added to his step as the first few breaths of fresh air hits his face.
The wisp of an elf trotted gamely after the others, but the effects of their long march and escape were finally catching up with her. She focused on keeping up with the others, with only the occasional glance back the way they had come, looking for any sign of pursuit. Her footsteps began to drag, though she never stumbled. The manacles on her wrists seemed even heavier than when they had marched with the other slaves.
She closed her eyes in relief when she felt the cool air on her face. I only hope there are no Fell or other surprises where the tunnel ends. The thought invigorated her enough to raise her head and pay more attention to their surroundings once more.
Eadfaas looked a little startled when the two members of their erstwhile party spoke. Caution made sense, but talk of making camp? They were no where near far enough from the Fell to be discussing making camp, for his liking, and besides...
"We really don't have much to 'make camp' with," he pointed out in the trade language, with a friendly shrug. "It never occurred to me to grab any supplies from that wagon. Perhaps we can take a short rest once we reach the surface, whilst I and one or two others do a quick, quiet scout to figure out where we are?"