"A simple request for barter..."There is long pause. "...I seek only nine drops of your blood freely given in exchange for your birthright knowledge." She motions to a servant who steps forward carrying a ruby encrusted goblet along with an ivory ceremonial knife.
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Hey dark and scary, what can she do with that? he asks Kalim
Her bony fingers make a steeple in front of her. "Not only will I reveal your birthright, but I'll show you, your clan in my crystal ball." Her finger tips tap together.
While he lets Kalim ponder. What do you want to do with my blood? You hint that I am important to a clan, and ya know I would never put another dwarf in danger
"Danger...no." She cackles, "Potent virility potion...yes."
"Neat. Well I won't judge what kind of kinky stuff you're into."
Kalim tsks at the lich's answer. "And here I thought lichen were intelligent undead. Grungsdi, you make your own identity. Leave the past in the past and your blood in your body."
"Yes, insult the lich. Show who the smart one really is." Des takes a step away from Kalim.
Not what I asked dark and scary. What can she do with my blood?
Kalim shrugs. "Evil things. It's a lich, not a geneologist."
Ya could just say you have less of an idea than I do.
Then to the lich Since my conpabion doesn't know, why do you want my blood?
She does sneer at Kalim. Then answers Grung. "I seek to brew a potent virility potion. A potion that offers strength, resistance, and protection. Your blood is the missing ingredient." Her sagging flesh jiggles a bit. "As I said I'm putting no dwarf in danger."
sm
Grung you listen to her and she's been fair to the others so far. Besides she hasn't killed anyone. Overall, she seems believable.
"It would be polite to do so... especially, you know the circumstances." Felicitas chimes in.
He turns to karnog
Dwarven:
Here bony fingers tap the ivory throne. "Do we have an agreement?"
Let's do it
The ornate ivory knife is handed to the dwarf as the assist holds the goblet under his hand to catch the precious drops.
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Grung makes the prick and lets the drops fall. Then he wraps the wound in cloth to not lost anymore.
”Grung you hail from a long line of ancient dwarves from the clan Hammerford. You are the second son, Prince Grung, from the Highhelm of Druma clan.” She pauses and lets that sink in. ”You left the tunnels near Highhelm on a trading expedition. Your caravan was on the Coast Road and it failed to pay tribute to Aragnak the Red Dragon. It was a short slaughter. You survived the trauma…barely. Finding a small cave for refuge.”
She waves you closer. See your family and she pulls out a crystal ball canting a few foul sounding words and a foggy image appears in the glass. You can see an old man sitting at a forge, his arms still have strength, but you know he’s seen a better day. He pounds with his hammer and behind him a shadow moves, stepping out of darkness is your youngest brother: Prung. He has look vile look on his face and there’s glint of metal coming from his left hand. He steps behind your father, your father’s eyes widen and he drops his hammer.
She waves her hand over the crystal ball and the scene changes. Your clan is gathered toasting the life of King Hammerford. Then an advisor stands and makes an proclamation, ”Three months ago the Great King Hammerford’s oldest son, Prince Brung, died in the tunnels putting down the duegar attack. And it’s been eighteen months since the second son, Prince Grung, was last heard of. Now, we need leadership and King that thinks of his clan first, not himself, and Prung is that rightful dwarf. All Hail King Prung Hammerford.”
She smirks, "It appears as if your brother has taken your rightful throne."
Desmond smirks. "Him, royalty? He's about as royal as my left..." He trails off with a wink and whistles.
"Well, your highness... what now?
A bit of a snotnose...but he's a good dwarf. I expect with the rest of us lost he will do well. As for us, I guess we should finish what we started, and perhaps I will find something to help my people.
He says as he watches, with only snatches of memory coming back him, mainly memories of his brothers come back and hit him hard and fast.
"If your business is concluded my assistant will show you out."
The flap to the door opens and you step out of the dimensional space that you've been in. The dwarves being thankful for have "real" stone under their boots. You can scan those in the outer encampment and see there are a few other wary folks waiting their turn.
"Somehow fitting to start to make RA our home. We should think about hiring ourselfes some guards!"
Karnog you know you will need to rest outside of the area you are heading. The city is the place where you were warned that you prayers will go unanswered..
"So, off to the big bad city? Its a bit away, which is good. I plan on using some magic to obscure my more obvious traits, especially to those with opposed magical abilities."
Karnog looks to Grungsdi with a big dwarfy smile,
"How's it feel to know yer important, Yer Highness?"
He ponders it for a momen. About the same, other than it is heartening to know that ya will be buying me more ale! he says with a huge grin
Think I should try to send a message?
"I don't know. Do you remember yer kin? Would they be happy ta have a brother and king back, or would it lead to jealousy and anger? A dwarf on the throne could go either way, just depends on his character."
You don't remember your snot nosed younger brother, Prung Hammerford, fondly. He was tended to be a troublemaker and bit on the cruel side. Of course, the glint of steel in his hand when he approached your father should not sit well with you.
As you contemplate the safety of where to rest it dawns on you that the lich's encampment is your safest bet. Who would be foolish enough to attack a lich with all her guards?
Grung frowns as some images begin to flood back.
If'n I recalls, Prung is an arse. Not sure I like that blade in his hand. Think yer god can put us in touch?
"Up on the surface, or closer, yes. Down here in this cursed place, I doubt it. My visions related that my powers would be diminished, including a blockage to the heavens for my summoned friends. I would be glad to ask when we have left this place."
The next morning comes and remarkably, you had a peaceful evening. Rest was had and you can regain your spells.
Over the next two days you manage to stay clear of most the unsavory traffic that roams the tunnels.
Then roughly a half day out from your destination you come across 3 husk of bodies, their life forces drained by death magic. They are all wearing torn peasant outfits and their ankles are callused from a life in chains - escaped slaves.
heal
Knowledge: Planes
Knowledge: Religion
You know these corpses were toyed with and tormented. It was as if they were drained of energy and life.
"Something toyed with these poor wretches before having their life essence drained. Several undead or extraplanar creatures can do so, and many necromantic spells work the same way. I feel sorry for their lives, and especially in passing through such horrible, violent means."
Karnog says a silent prayer to Torag over the fallen, very briefly, before continuing on with the rest of the group.
Confering with her friend and partner Fel ponders for a moment.
Felicitas and Karnog brainstorm their findings and thoughts. You ultimately decide that what creature did this manipulated negative energy. You suspect that it could be undead and most likely from another plane. It appears as if there former slaves were stalked then brutally murdered. The claw marks on the bodies suggest that this creature is not humanoid.
Desmond notice there is small tertiary tunnel that breaks off nearby, you almost missed it in your scouting but other than that there is nothing else worth noting.