Kalt is greatly relieved when the all-consuming fear simply washes away, as if it were never there. He looks around a moment, then hears the sounds of battle from up the stairs behind him and it dawns on him what he has done. Reeling with shame that he has just fled from a fight where his friends are in danger, he charges back up the stairs, drawing one of his many blades as he moves.
"Shanya?!? " Ankih begins as the lady warrior rushes by.
"What...Where...?"
"Damn. It's healing."
Moving forward, He casts a spell and begins hurling fire at the plant.
Avora moves the ball of flame to menace the tendriculous.
Ankih's fire singes the large, slow-moving creature, while the distraction of Sven's personal combat allows Avora the opening she needs to roll the ball of fire onto the creature.
Avora will close the distance and stab at the plant creature as well.
The tendriculos staggers under its many oozing, sap-filled wounds but still fights vigorously for its last meal. It hisses terribly in great, rasping breaths, much as most plants do not.
Having closed the distance with incredible speed, Kalt slices low and fast across the plant-like creature's main stalk.
Lana moves quickly after Shanya, pausing in the hallway to free the changeling from her fear as she'd done with Kalt.
Shanya nearly trips over her own feet as she runs. "Father! Father, please! I can't! I can't do this! I can't leave you behind again!--"
Then something settles on her... a warmth she had never truly experienced before. The phantoms of her father and his killers blur and fade from her eyes as her fear subsides, replaced by a soothing presence.
She stands still for a while, her heart still racing. She bites her lip and swallows, her hands trembling with fading adrenaline.
Kalt's blade bites deeply into the fibrous flesh of the plant creature; it screeches loudly and it's tentacles suddenly go limp. Sven finds himself unceremoniously sprawled across the moist, dank carpet of moss and fungus, having overextended himself with the sudden lack of resistance.
There are a few baubles of interest upon the dying satyr, who still breathes raggedly as he bleeds to death.
shortbow with 20 arrows, amulet of mighty fists +1, mwk panpipes
The she-wolf opens and closes her mouth, obviously trying to shake the taste of something putrid. (Skald) "I never know the Witch Queen favored green servants. Witches were always bone grinders and man-hunters, not growers of killer trees and tentacled... things."
She snorts in the direction of the devil-satyr. "And that thing is far too foul to make a good meal"
Shanya weakly trudges back into the room, stopping only to scoop up the dagger she dropped in her flight.
She doesn't say anything.
When the plant monster falls to his blade, Kalt takes a quick look to make sure Sven is okay, then collects his fallen blade. He then moves to the fallen satyr to make sure it's no longer a threat and searches the body of the creature. With that done, Kalt takes a more measured look down the stairs to the west than he got during his last trip down them.
In the center of the cavern beyond, Kalt sees a series of head-high partitions fashioned from intricately brocaded cloth panels stretched over wooden frames. Altogether, they form a large enclosed area in the center of the chamber that looks to be divided into several smaller parts.
There is nobody outside the walls of the makeshift apartments.
"I'm not sure, Bjornson," Kalt replies. "Looks like some sort of gypsy camp in the middle of a cavern, can't guess why."
Seeing Shanya come back into the room, Kalt asks, "Where'd you go?" Then realization dawns on his face, and he moves closer to speak to her, "You too, huh? Never felt a thing like it, but that piper's song just filled me with fear - awful visions, I tell you - couldn't think of anything but getting the hell away. You all right?"
Shanya flinches and looks at her feet. "...I'll be fine." It's fairly clear that she's trying to convince herself of that more than anything else.
She sheathes her dagger and readies her rapier. "Let's go."
The heroes approach the makeshift shelters, seeing no obvious sign of the inhabitants. As they near the keen among the group note light and sounds issuing from the far tent. That tent, at least, appears to be occupied. However, the two nearer tents seem dark and still.
Kalt holds a hand up to Sven, gesturing for him to wait a moment. Moving more quietly than a breath of air, Kalt approaches the odd shelter and tries to peer inside.
Stealth not being his strong suit, Ankih hangs back about 60 feet.
Should be close enough to move and heal if needed...
Shanya hangs back with the others.
Avora waits anxiously to see what Kalt and Sven report.
Kalt nimbly slips between shadow and silence, and slides ghost-like through the hanging cloth across the door of the western room.
Inside, he sees a crudely furnished apartment. A roughly-carved table sits in the center of the room, with clay bowls and cups spread across it. A chest and a well-used sleeping pallet are at opposite ends of the room, and upon wall hangers are worn cloaks, blankets, and other necessities of life.
Sitting at the table is a thin woman with bare feet and a homespun dress. Her dark hair, raven-hair and dark eyes lend her the look of Kellid who inhabit parts of Iobaria. She quietly sips from a thin soup, unaware of her watcher.
Kalt studies the woman a moment, much like he'd studied his quarry in a hunt, looking for any sign of danger or her intentions. He then slips back out of the tent and returns to report what he's seen, leading them back to the satyr's chamber before speaking, so they won't be overheard.
Once back with the group, he describes the woman and her tented room, adding, "She doesn't look like she runs the place. Very simple lodgings, and she's not exactly eating high on the hog. I say we approach her and try to talk. Maybe you can lead the way on that, Bjornso. If it won't get Greta and Avora too upset, of course, you talking to strange women."
There is a surprised noise coming from the apartment; moments later, the door covering is thrown open. She holds a staff defensively, if awkwardly, in her hands. She starts talking in a shaky voice.
(Iobarian)"Who are you? Where did you come from? Stay away, I can defend myself!" She swings the staff in a clumsy arc in front of her.
Not understanding the woman's words, Kalt nudges Shanya and says "Well, that's not the first time Bjornson's advances were met with a stick. What'd she say? Maybe you should talk to her, a woman's touch and all that."
Shaken out her thoughts, Shanya approaches the woman.
"Don't worry--we're not here to fight. We're looking for Jadrenka--do you happen to know where she is? We wish to speak with her."
The woman seems momentarily relieved when someone starts speaking clearly - but a flash of anger crosses the woman's face when Jadrenka's name is uttered.
(Iobarian)"Jadrenka! I curse that name." She spits dramatically. "I am Varka of the Ice Steppes and that witch is the reason I am here. I am a holy woman among my people, but I am kept here against my will, kept from my friends and sisters. Had I the power I would put that arrogant woman in her place." She strikes her staff against the ground. "I hope you do not intend to befriend her; you would be a fool to do so. She makes deals with evil faeries, giants and worse."
Shanya translates for the party before continuing. "Please, keep your voice down--we have no idea what's up ahead. How did you end up here?"
The woman looks annoyed at Shanya's plea; however, she gestures to the West and South in answer to the changeling's questions. (Iobarian) "Those ways are locked. To the north are three torturers, fey brothers I think. They torture the animals in the name of their "science"."
Varka leans heavily against her staff and coughs slightly as she continues. "I came here seeking aid, looking for strong tokens protect my people against the diseases that ravage this land. Instead she told me I had potential for "the gift" and that I would remain her, and then she set her servants against me and used magic to bind me to this place. That was two years ago; my tribe is no doubt dead and gone from Iobaira's curse, and I am left here to rot because I will not become Jadrenka's good little witch."
Greta walks quietly up behind Sven and nuzzles his hand. Varka notes the winter wolf and turns back to Shanya. "Unusual company you keep."
Understanding only part of the conversation, Ankih stands quietly, awaiting a decision.
Shanya offers a translation of Varka's words, then translates Sven's question for her.
The woman looks disheartened when she hears Sven's translated words and realizes that you do not intend to immediately attack Jadrenka. Crestfallen, she meekly asks another question through the Shanya's translation.
(Iobarian)"If you will not attack the jailkeeper, will you at least help free the jailed? Please help me find freedom. Take me with you; I just need a moment to collect a few things."
Avora nods her silent agreement to the proposition.
Kalt agrees as well, "Of course, we'll free you from this place. But as my friend said, we don't want you fighting everyone we come across, there'll be fights enough with that. You just do as we say, and we'll see you safe and free."
The woman nods her head vigorously and quickly retreats back into her primitive shelter. You can hear her rooting around her belongings as she stuffs her bag; it takes a surprisingly long time given her sparse furnishings. Nevertheless, she emerges a few minutes later with a laden shoulder bag - indeed, almost comically so; it seems too large for her slender frame although she manages it easily enough.
(Iobarian)"The spirits bless you. Please, let us go - I've spent too long here already."
Varka takes up a spot near the rear, although she seems to keep her space from the winter wolf.
Shanya moves up to check the door.