"I am Lym the Blackhanded," Lym introduces herself.
Her red eyes narrow.
"And we are here to put an end to the chieftain leading your people into slavery to the risen Runelord while making them think he is bringing them glory."
Praxim scans Conna and the shrine for evil.
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Noticing the depiction of the dwarves getting crushed, "Hmph. As if!" He scoffs under his breath while rolling his eyes. Turning to the Stone giantess, "Name's Thordak. And what the lass told ya was spot on."
As he finds a place to stand, he notices movement from the wall out of the corner of his eye. He quickly cuts his eyes toward it, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Scanning it a moment, he eventually looks away. Not a moment later he notices the movement again and turns his attention back toward the wall, this time giving a more thorough exam of the many figures drawn upon it, wondering which one it was. Eventually giving in, he turns back to the conversation at hand until he notices MORE movement! Thordak then snaps his attention back to the wall again, and a very low guttural growl of frustration manages to escape as he sees nothing has changed. A clever idea then hits him. Crossing his arms, he nonchalantly looks away, pretending as if he's minding his own business before shooting a glance with lightning speed back toward the wall. Noticing nothing, he repeats the ruse multiple times. Again and again and again he tries to catch the moving figures in the act but to no avail. The frustration then becomes quite obvious as one hand follows another multiple times in rapid succession down his face before growling at the wall and threatening it with a fist. "Why you! I know yer there!" He rapidly scans the whole wall once more for good measure before, out of the blue, it finally dawns on him what this may look like to the others.
Slowly turning back toward the others and noticing the awkward stares, the dwarf turns a slight red. "I was... I was just kiddin'... ya see," he says, chuckling nervously. He then mentally searches within the deep recesses of his mind to come up with exactly "what" he was kidding about. As the look upon his face appears as if he has found an answer, he turns to Conna, "Name's Thordak. And what the lass said was...," he pauses in a panic as he can't remember what it was he said. Shaking his head in frustration, "Blah, blah, blah, boring conversation anyway Why haven't you lot introduced yerself?! C'mon! What's the blasted hold up? We've not got all day ya know. Time's a wastin'," he says as a matter of fact and in mock frustration as he quickly moves to an area of shadow and attempts to hide as best he can.
"I take it your late husband's spirit manifests through the.... artwork," Lym says to Conna, giving Thordak a brief nod of acknowledgment.
Praxim scans Conna and the shrine for evil.
Conna looks open-mouthed at Thordak as he speaks. She looks as if she is about to say something to him, but thinks better of it when none of the party reacts in any way to the dwarf's outburst. She turns back to Lym.
"Yes. The blasphemy that was his death has prevented him from leaving the place where he was slain. He may only be at rest if his murderer is killed. But that is but a small part of what you must do."
"As you have guessed - though how you know is beyond me - I am Conna. Once clan-mother for our tribe. My husband was clan-father, Vanderrec. Mokmurian sacrificed him to an evil power of Thassilon, the one named Karzoug. We know that name from the old myths passed down from clan-mother to clan-mother. I heard him whisper the name as he cut my husband's throat."
She pauses a long while, with her head down. When she looks up, her eyes are red and wet.
"I must think of my people, whom Mokmurian leads to ruin. Ten thousand years ago the Plains People were slaves, I do not intend on that happening again."
Thordak peeks around from behind everyone to look at Conna as she speaks. What the dwarf never expected, though, in all of his years of life, was to feel this feeling he never thought he'd ever have for a giant - sorrow. His eyes then narrow in anger at her, or possibly because he hates the fact he feels for her. I bet she was part of the clan that killed me kin. I bet she was. She probably led the charge. Staring at the sadden giantess for a moment longer with those narrowed eyes, he eventually relaxes and sighs in defeat. Blast it all, Thordak. You've gone too soft. What's wrong with me?
Shaking his head at himself, he slowly makes his way out from behind the others and up to Conna, looking directly at her. "I'm sorry for yer loss. By me word, lass, we're gonna send this Mokmurian to his grave. Or at least die tryin'. But we're gonna need a bit o' help from you, lass. We're gonna need ta know which, if any, of yer people would be willin' ta help us. Mainly due to the fact I don't want me and me friends here ta start killin' 'em all if they would be willin' ta help. Ya know, under different circumstances, you and I would probably be fightin' right about now," he says plainly and with a slight grin, but it vanishes quickly as he continues, "but we've a common enemy. And we could use any allies you can muster ta help us fight this battle and end this nightmare yer people are livin'. This lot," he motions to the group, "is a fine lot and they can hold their own well enough; but not against an entire army of giants," he says, shrugging as a matter of fact. "Any help you'd be willin' ta give us would be much appreciated."
Keeping her wits about her, Aurora fixes the shadows with a stare as they dance at the corners of her vision.
About to speak, she instead purposefully listens to the dwarf instead as he speaks to the giantess with care and compassion, despite the history he had so recently revealed. Pleased that her instinct about the dwarf was right, Aurora nods and smiles.
Both Mistress Blackhand and Master Ironheart represent us true, we are here now to remove Mokmurian's threat, from both our own people and yours. A mutual acquaintance advised us to seek you out and beseech you for aid in our endeavour, we stand ready to receive it now...
"A map I can give you," she begins slowly, "of the lower level where he currently resides. There an ancient library down there. It is the source of his knowledge and power." Conna sighs. "More I cannot do, Master Dwarf. It is against the traditions of my people to aid directly in the downfall of a new chieftain when he takes power. I can assist you with my magic, and I can sketch the map." She begins drawing on the dirt of the floor.
"Commit this to memory. Mokmurian lairs here." She points to a spot on the map "Be wary, there are many dangers between here and there."
She sighs again. "As for my people, I would ask you withhold from killing them if possible, but...they have have this doom upon themselves by breaking from our ways. If any stand in your way, do as you must. The armies above will not be a factor if Mokmurian is dead. Of that I am sure."
The noises of the complex under alert sound again in the halls outside the shrine. "You must hurry, they will find you soon enough! Go back the way you came, there are fewer enemies between you and the tunnel to the lower level now. Keep to the right as you leave the kobold's cave, that will lead you down."
Lym rapidly fires off a series of questions: "Do you know of any particular weaknesses or strengths that Mokmurian possesses? When in battle, what is his favoured technique? Does he always lead with particular spells or other attacks? Does he surround himself with particularly noteworthy bodyguards?"
Concentrating as he looks thoroughly over the map, "Yeah I'm never gonna remember all that. Everyone pick a room and commit it to memory. I've got the big circle one in the middle." He then looks to Lym, "I can tell ya right now, lass, he's NOT gonna be by himself with a couple of lowly guards. With the kinda importance he's labeled himself with, he's gonna be guarded with nothin' but the best. Unless he's so sure of himself he's concerned about nothin'. And if that's the case, then that'll be his last mistake."
He then looks over back to Conna, "If you can tell us anythin' about him that'll help us gain an advantage, we'll take it. But me hairs on the back of me neck are standin' up and I'm thinkin' we should move out NOW and just trust in us on figurin' it out."
Conna stares at Lym with a blank look. "He has powerful magic at his command. Is that not enough? That he has subjugated the whole of the Plateau and brought it under his thumb? Your dwarf friend is right, you do not have time for more talk."
Turning to Lym, "We'll figure it out, lass, we need ta move. Let's go!" He looks to Conna one last time and gives her a nod of thanks before turning and heading back down the way they came.
Praxim continues to scan for evil as they move down the hallways. He also takes a moment to bond a spirit to his bow, making it holy.
Noticing that members of the group are hurt, Tomaru beseeches Desna to lend them healing.
Tomaru goes along with the rest of the group remaining quiet and alert in these caves full of danger.
I like your idea Master Thordak, I don't have much of a head for diagrams and lists, too many fire-flowers and mischief crammed in for there to be room!
She glances over the map enough to commit a portion to memory as Thordak suggested, as Lym questions the giantess further.
Well ok, you've done well enough for us to have a chance to find our way around down there. What we'll also be needing is safe passage back out, none of this 'I squashed the lot that did for our last king, all hail the new queen nonsense...'
she looks Conna in the eyes calmly, despite their racial animosity
You offered to help with your magic, so you can do that if we need it to make an exit quickly and without fanfare
She stares until Conna nods her agreement, then turns to the others.
Now, there's much confusion outside in the corridors already, do we want our friend outside to cause a distraction and draw more of them out or not? Or would that surprise be best saved for later?
"They'd immediately suspect her, because of her husband," Lym says, bluntly. "I am not prepared to let her be murdered for our convenience. We can make our own distraction if such becomes necessary. Let's move."
Aurora shakes her head at Lym
Not this new friend, the previous new friend... the one who said they would make a big distraction should we want it...
Her eyes gleam with fire at the thought.
"Give me 5 minutes. Then head back to the cave where you came in. I will try to clear them from your path. It will only last a short time, I'm afraid." She waves her massive hand at Lym's objection. "I will be fine. I still have some minor influence, i can point them in another direction."
Conna stands up and walks to the entrance. She pauses at the bearskin screen and looks back. "5 minutes. Back to the cave, then stay right." With a sweep of the skin, she is gone.
------------------------
It's only 5 minutes but it seems an eternity. Gradually the noises outside grow less, and then there's a rush of feet that pass close by the shrine. Then they are gone. Right on time.
The caverns below Jorgenfist are oddly quiet as you make your way back to the kobold's cave. Some sounds can be heard from above you, as if the search efforts have concentrated on the surface. Continuing along. the next opening to your right reeks of vinegar, rotting hair, and worse. A single large stone basin sits in the middle of the room, about ten feet square and filled with foul looking fluid upon which float patches of wet fur. Around the basin stand a dozen wooden frames over which leather and hides are stretched. At the far end of the cave, a stinking mound of hides and furs awaits tanning. Otherwise the room is empty.
The walls of the next cave have been chiseled away and made almost regular. Four anvils stand in the middle of the room, while to the south burns a bright forge fire. Immense bellows stand near a row of low iron cages, each featuring a filthy mound of straw. The bellows’ handles extend through the cages, allowing anyone imprisoned within to work the bellows without the necessity of leaving their confines. To the north, mounds of steel and the broken and bent pieces of a dozen weapons await work. The cages are occupied by five ragged-looking dwarves. No other creatures are present.
Thordak's eyes go wide at the sight of the dwarves, "By Torag's hammer," he says in stunned disbelief. The dwarf immediately heads to the nearest cage with an unwavering determination to release them all.
As he reaches the first one, he looks within. "Lad! Can ya stand? Are ya okay?" He immediately looks for the lock as he awaits a response.
As Thordak engages the dwarfs,Tomaru quickly scans them to try and ascertain their physical well being.
Eyes burning, Aurora calls out
Thordak! Wait!
She moves quickly to the dwarf's side as his hands reach for the locks on the cage, resting hers lightly on his
If you let them out now they have nowhere to go but up and through the giants, they wouldn't stand a chance in their condition, unequipped, unescorted...
her eyes implore him
I'm not saying don't release them, but at least understand how desperate they might be to get out, whether they will listen to reason and wait if we unlock the cage...
She glances around for support
I know there's a right thing to do here and we should do it, but we're here to take down Mokmurian as the highest priority. We can always come back...
The dwarves look startled to see someone who isn't a giant speaking to them. They are in bad shape, malnourished and worked nearly to death. One of them rolls on his side a bit, and manages to open his eyes a crack. "Well now, now I knows I be seein' things...if it ain't a dwarf by Torag...and not a prisoner! Look lads..." But the effort is to much for him, and falls back over on his back.
The locks are present, and look to be fairly formidable. Luckily the key ring rests on a peg across the room, forgotten when the alarm was sounded.
"Blow that for a game of soldiers," Lym replies to Aurora. "Ethical and moral considerations aside, if we leave them in these cages, they become hostages against us when we have to make our way out again. There are tunnels below; some of them are probably unused and can make a safe hiding-place."
Tomaru hoping to get all of the dwarves within the area of effect. He'll also cast Create Water for them. "This will give them some comfort, but what they really need is food and rest." He gives what little rations he has to the dwarves.
As the dwarf looks to Aurora, the pain for his fellow dwarves is obvious within his eyes. "I can't... I can't just leave 'em, lass." He looks back toward the weakened dwarf and now finds himself torn between Lym's idea of leaving them in tunnels - more than likely unprotected - and leaving them in here as prisoners. "BLAST!" he yells in frustration as he doesn't know which option is better at keeping his fellow dwarves alive. Looking around, he moves over and grabs the keys before heading back to the prisoners. "Tomaru, are they respondin' any better with yer healin'? I need ta speak ta them. One of them at least. If we can't get them all up and movin', we may have no choice but ta leave 'em like Aurora says until we put and end to Mokmurian. We can't take 'em out like this; they'll die for sure." He looks again at the weakened dwarves and shakes his head in anger. "BLAST!" the dwarf yells again at the whole situation.
Tomaru's healing and the water do bring them around somewhat, but he is right: food and rest is what they really need.
The one who spoke first sits up, his back resting on the bars of the cage. "Thank'ee mate. We've seen better days, that's for certain."
As he snaps his attention over in the direction of the first dwarf, he quickly moves over to his cage. "Okay, first off, we're gonna get ya outta here. But I'm fearin' if I take you and the others with me now, I might be doin' ya more harm than good. But I don't want ta leave ya in this... pit," he says, looking around and sighing deeply. "I'm not sure what ta do..." The dwarf's thoughts keep going back to Aurora's words. As much as he utterly hates her idea of leaving them here, he can't help but see the reasoning behind it. He looks over at the gnome a moment, knowing deep down she's simply trying to help. Though, he still can't help but shake his head at what he's about to do as he slowly lets his forehead rest against the cage in despair. "Brother, I can't take ya with me. I'm sorry," he says solemnly. "But I SWEAR by me dwarven blood - I'll. Be. BACK. If I don't come back, then that means I'm dead. And if that's the case, I'll ask for your forgiveness in the Halls of Torag. But I don't plan on that happenin' so I just need ya ta hang on for me; all of ye. Can ya do that? You've got ta do that for me." An idea then hits him as he pulls out all of his rations and divides them among them all. "It's not much but it's somethin'. Eat up. And hang on. Because when we're done with what needs doin', we'll be comin' back; there won't be no stoppin' us," he says with absolute conviction, the determination in his tone obvious.
The dwarf reaches out of the cage to clasp Thordak's wrist. "At least leave me the key mate. That way if'n ye don't get back, we get a chance ta break for it."
----------------------
Continuing to follow Conna's directions, you come upon a split in the tunnel. Although she told you to stay right, the left hand passage is notable. First: it's a finely-carved hall, different from the rough stone you've seen so far. Second: at the end of the hall rests two large stone doors with the Sihedron Rune carved on them.
"Curiosity will plague us," Lym says, "but I vote we hurry and take out the target. We can play with relics after he's dead and when the Giants are no longer out to murder us."
Praxim leaves the dwarves a few rations.
He scans the Sihedron doors for evil, but if they're stone...
Although he's a bit trepidatious about it, he nods and hands the keys to his fellow dwarf. "Don't die!" he tells him before turning to the others. "Let's go."
"Curiosity will plague us," Lym says, "but I vote we hurry and take out the target. We can play with relics after he's dead and when the Giants are no longer out to murder us."
"I agree with the lass. Let's get this over with." Thordak continues on down the path to the right, his longaxe firmly in hand.
Eyes full of unshed tears as she watches the dwarf struggle with his feelings
You did the right thing, especially leaving them the key and provisions. They stand the best chance now, whether we return here or not...
Aurora squeezes his hand gently.
As they move on, her attention is drawn to the sihedron runes, but she tears her gaze away and simply nods as Lym suggests their target is of more urgency. Aurora moves down the right hand corridor after the others.
The doors are indeed stone, and reveal no secrets to Praxim's search.
The passageway widens here into a cylindrical cavern, the walls black with soot and scorch marks. Praxim's evil sense sounds alarms as flames fill the passage!
Eyes full of unshed tears as she watches the dwarf struggle with his feelings
You did the right thing, especially leaving them the key and provisions. They stand the best chance now, whether we return here or not...
Aurora squeezes his hand gently.
As they move on, her attention is drawn to the sihedron runes, but she tears her gaze away and simply nods as Lym suggests their target is of more urgency. Aurora moves down the right hand corridor after the others.
The dwarf nods, giving a partial and tired grin as he does feel a slightly bit more at ease.
Tomaru channels healing to mitigate the damage from the flames.
Despite the warning, despite her blood's protection, the flames wash across Aurora and burn terribly. Then Tomaru's healing energy wraps the pain in a cocoon, flesh on the verge of charring blossoms in to pink health again.
Eyes seething in barely suppressed rage, one glance at the enemy tells her all she needs to know, fire hates cold. She shudders at the thought, yet grits her teeth and throws one hand forward, feeling the fire surge within her in answer. As the flames begin to form in response to her will, a tiny shrug of her shoulder sends the rod up her sleeve sliding forward from its concealed sheath and in to her waiting grasp. For a moment her fire recoils from the touch of the frigid metal, before it succumbs and the flames' hue turns blue, almost white as the air chills around the sorceress. Shuddering with gritted teeth, her power surges once more, sending the tiny orb of frozen flames flashing in to the midst of the dragons...
...the shards of ice explode outwards with such force that giant icicles embed themselves in the surrounding walls, floor and ceiling, leaving a churning mist its wake.
hp 49/68, mage armor
Spells: 5th 5/5, 4th 3/7, 3rd 8/8 2nd 8/8, 1st 6/8; Spell tattoo 2/2, AC 21 (25 versus giants)
Have to edit.
The blasts of flame burn Tomaru and he drops to the floor, dying.
Praxim stoops to lay hands on Tomaru.
Obscured by the mist from Aurora's spell are the dead forms of two young red dragons, impaled in a veritable forest of giant icicles. Their gaping jaws still smoke from their blast of flame, and hot blood drips steaming on to the icy floor.
A female voice, deep and resonant, calls out from another cave further beyond the dragon's lair.
"What is it my pets? What do you see? Are they here?" The sound of heavy claws on the stone floor can be heard approaching.
Lym grunts at the pain of scorching flame, and curses -- "Bloody again!" -- but manages to keep her feet.
Hearing the sound of approaching claws, the Wizard starts a low-voiced, angry chant which causes three spheres of crackling electricity to appear in mid-air -- and move forward, blocking the area the next enemy is coming from.
Now Tomaru will do that Channel Positive Energy excluding the two dragons (can I keep that last roll?). Then he stands up.
"We should probably keep moving." As he moves he prepares Spiritual Weapon in case it is needed.
With not much to do, Praxim readies himself.
"Can anybody make us some cover or at least fix the rest of these burns before we get new ones?"