Bolkvar rolled and cracked his neck. He had a bad feeling about this. If he was a betting dwarf then he’d put gold on there being blood on his hands before the day was over.
The children must certainly come first, but I'm also in favor of returning to cleanse whatever evil yet remains in this place. Otherwise, more kids may yet be taken.
Of course there was no way he could trust these voices, they would have to be vigilant. Marcus opened his senses and really looked, if something evil was sneaking up he'd note it Torm willing.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Of course there was no way he could trust these voices, they would have to be vigilant. Marcus opened his senses and really looked, if something evil was sneaking up he'd note it Torm willing.
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
Peering into the darkness, Marcus could see the outline of something large within. He suspected it was substantially larger than a troll. It did not seem to be moving.
Aldon stays calm and embraces the Way, it seems a fight is inevitable as the children simply cannot be moved.
After some time, and a concerning amount of blood coming from a child's skull, Thurvek found the crystal shard lodged within the girl and drew it carefully free. As it came loose fine, black ash also trickled from the wound.
With the paladin still nearby, Thurvek exclaimed, "WATER! I need some more water to clean the wound!" Still holding the crystal shard in his tweezers, the dwarf also asked "Someone take this damn crystal from me!"
Marcus peered at the child with his god given sight and hoped and prayed he'd see a different tale then before.
Marcus whispers a fervent prayer and his hand starts to glow with a soft blue light, he touched the boy and the wounds vanish
Ranek pulls out his waterskin and hands it to Thurvek as he also takes the crystal shard, holding open his belt pouch for the dwarf to put it in.
Thurvek, using Ranek's waterskin, attempts to flush out the remaining ash from the wound before attempting to close and heal it.
Ari remains alert next to Marcus for whatever lurks in the darkness. She prays to Ilmater that it will let them leave. If she's honest with herself, she doubts whatever it is will be rational enough to let them go, but hope is all she has right now.
As Thurvek cleaned the wound, Marcus called on Torm. He could tell the girl still held some taint in her, but it was rapidly abating. His further casting closed the wound neatly, though she remained frail. As the power went out from his hand, the stray ash about it popped and kindled tiny whisps of blue flame before subsiding.
Thurvek breathes a weary sigh of relief, as he carefully bandages up Maelra head.
"She's as ready as she'll ever be for transport. I could carry her back, but that mean my first priority will not be combat if it comes", the dwarven cleric spoke. "Regardless of who cares Maelra, everyone else forms a barrier around the children until we get back to town."
”A hard decision. But those who did this are within our grasp. We risk these children, but if we don’t stop these fiends now, who knows how more they will harm? Who is with me?”
Ariyana shakes her head at Bolkvar's question. "We have a duty to protect these children. We can't be as effective at that as possible if we're also trying to fight something unknown. Besides, Thurvek won't be able to do much at all in a fight as he's taking care of Maelra. I agree that we should deal with the threat, but we have to get the children to safety first. Then we can return."
With feeling Marcus replied, "Believe me I know what you mean Bolkvar. Just think who Hackon and I are and what the Tormtar represent. Leaving evil unchecked is very frustrating..."Shaking his head sadly he added, "Thing is we can't have our cake and eat it. Ariyana 's right, we have a duty of care to see the little ones home, it's time for us to go."
"Besides, if they bolt before we come back then at least they're gone." Barra half mutters, turning to the kids. "Alright, we're going to take you all home now. Aglar, see the big Paladin? Stay with him, alright - just follow him and you'll be fine. Orn, you do the same with the archer lady, okay?"
"Besides, if they bolt before we come back then at least they're gone." Barra half mutters, turning to the kids. "Alright, we're going to take you all home now. Aglar, see the big Paladin? Stay with him, alright - just follow him and you'll be fine. Orn, you do the same with the archer lady, okay?"
Aglar nods sullenly. Maelra is in no state to give an answer. Orn simply did as he was told without fuss.
It took some time, with Maelra needing to be carried and all the spiraling, slippery tunnels back through the mountain's heart, but at length the company exited the mine the same way they'd entered and found themselves only a quarter hour or so from Auvandell at the worst.
"Well, at least we don't have far to go. Let's get back to Auvandell, and then get the children home."
”On one hand, none of us died and we got the children.” He didn’t mention the elf, whom he didn’t trust one bit. ”But I can’t help but feel that we failed. Those who did this were in our grasp and we could not stop them.”
"Do not fret, Bolkvar", Thurvek said gently as he carefully carried Maelra in his arms. "We won. We are bringing these children back from an assuredly horrible fate."
"We must remember one of Clanggedin Silverbeard's most profound lessons: Choosing the proper battlefield often determines victory. We could not engage the bastards who would do this to children for the sake of the children's safety."
The dwarven cleric's voice lowered to a growl. "Oh yes. They are gonna get their's. And it will be a horrid reckoning!"
”From your lips to Clangeddin’s ears, brother.”
The company returned to Auvandell to find the residents in a tense mood, just as before, but all the children received joyous welcomes with many tears and thanks
Ari smiles as the children are reunited with their families. The trouble they went through proves to be completely worth it now that they see the end result.
To her companions, Ari says, "Perhaps we should sleep for the night then return to face whatever dark creature still lies within the mine? There's also the matter of that elf we found."
"I agree", nods Thurvek. "Tonight will consist of two objectives: Speak with any physican or cleric in this town to explain what I did and what I found in Maerla. And find a bar and drink it dry. I think I've earned it", the dwarven cleric smirks.
”Ye’ve got your priorities straight. I’ll join. Might be able to help with this investigation, and with emptying a tavern or two.”
"Agreed - a night of rest is vital, as is informing the clergy and physicians to tell them your procedure. Perhaps the inn we booked rooms at will provide the necessary alcohol for the latter plan - at the very least, you won't have to go far to find a bed."
Marcus watched the children's reunion and found a lump in his throat, even a day ago he privately thought the rescue mission to be in vein. Quietly to Arianna he said, "I understand where Bolivar is coming from but he's wrong about one thing, this is a victory. Of course the war is far from over and we must be vigilant. As they say Waterdeep wasn't built in a day."
When Thurvek suggested that he'd earned himself a beer, Marcus replied "Aye I believe you have, oh what's more I think it's my round..."
Marcus had no intention of getting drunk, but a couple of beers would certainly take the edge off things.
Ari relaxes a bit at the mention of a night of rest. She hadn't realized just how tired she had become from their adventures.
"I'll get the round after you, Marcus. I imagine there should be several of those..."
Marcus nodded, "And in the morning I shall do what I can to help Ser Thurvek find somebody to report his findings to. We should also try and talk to the local watch again - perhaps they will be more favorably disposed towards us now."
Marcus nodded, "And in the morning I shall do what I can to help Ser Thurvek find somebody to report his findings to. We should also try and talk to the local watch again - perhaps they will be more favorably disposed towards us now."
The night passes with troubled dreams, though the details all fade away on waking save a sense of looming malevolence and a vague sense of being torn apart.
You do not know where you are.
You know you have been here before, but for the life of you you cannot remember where it is. Or how you got there. Your surroundings look just familiar enough to be distracting. You had been casting...
Wait. Can you cast spells?
You wander, seeing people that you might know, places you might have been in. People talk to you but their words mean nothing, and you forget what they say almost immediately. You run your tongue across teh place where your teeth used to be, knowing that you used to be more than you are now. It infuriates you, with a sense of sick dread for all the things you cannot remember you have lost...
And suddenly, it snaps back. You once had a mind that missed nothing. Arcane formulae were as nothing to you. Your memory was good. And then you resisted him. In anger he broke your mind, taking it apart piece by piece until you have been left a drooling, foolish imbecile who draws nothing but laughter as you walk the streets of the town you once called home. This did not need to happen; you could have helped him instead. And now, he just allows you those these tiny windows of clarity that-
And once again, for what you now realize is the many hundredth time, you feel it all slipping away. You do not know where you are. And you wake up, confused and groggy, consumed by loss.
Waking alone in a strange in, Barra shakes the cobwebs out of his head and curses to himself. Those dreams had been unpleasant, to say the least, and on top of that he'd missed dawn service. Not that he'd ever consistently made it, but still... bad omen. Especially what with awaited them today.
Rubbing at his eyes, he pulled a bowl of water close and started to shave.
Ranek awakens, troubles by his recent dreams. He remembered Thurvek and others had dreams involving serving “him” in the mine. After preparing his spells, he went to Marcus’s room to tell him of the dream.
Bolkvar slept well that night, all things considered. He was dead tired, which likely helped. He got up in the morning and went about his morning routine. Meditation, exercise, reading, all in the name of his god. He still wasn't happy, for there were far too many questions unanswered. But still, at least none of them had died when underground. It could have gone far worse than it did.
Thurverk wakes slowly, as the effects of last night's celebrations, still linger. Despite his dreams, the sour dwarf is happy. He not only performed the best field surgery of his life, but helped save three innocent lives. He is proud of himself, but is careful not to feel prideful. Gazing up at the ceiling, the dwarven cleric murmurs, "..Thank you..so much, Clanggedin. Thank you so much for your wisdom and guidance..long may I continue to benefit from them..Praise be your name."
Slowly, Thurvek stumbles around the room, gathering his gear and weapons to pray for his spells, ever grateful for his god's blessings.
Yet again Marcus had a night of strange dreams, of course he didn't remember anything, he hardly ever did but he awoke feeling decidedly uneasy. To clear his mind he shaved, bathed and went straight to the shrine of Torm to pray.
Since the shrine wasn't permanently manned, he set about tidying it and after that was done he decided to wait for a few hours to see if whoever normally tended it was about.
Yet again Marcus had a night of strange dreams, of course he didn't remember anything, he hardly ever did but he awoke feeling decidedly uneasy. To clear his mind he shaved, bathed and went straight to the shrine of Torm to pray.
Since the shrine wasn't permanently manned, he set about tidying it and after that was done he decided to wait for a few hours to see if whoever normally tended it was about.
Marcus was nearly set to give up on waiting when a haggard middle-aged man who looked as though he'd not slept in a month shuffled in with a broom in hand. It took him a moment of blankly staring at Marcus to entirely process that he wasn't alone.
"Oh, well again then. Here to help with the-" He looked slowly about and blinked, shaking his head. "Right enough. I'll leave you to pray. Truesayer knows we all need it." He turned to depart.
Ari's sleep is once again plagued by troubled dreams, but she wakes up to find things are still okay. Or as okay as she could hope for them to be under the circumstances. The children are safe and the fate of the adventurers has been discovered. The creature in the darkness... and the elf maiden... are the only matters to still be resolved. Oh, and the reason they came there in the first place, the retrieval of the sacred relic.
The archer decides to stay in her room for now till the others are ready to return to the mine. She may or may not have drank too much the night before and also wants to take at least a few minutes to relax before danger and chaos take hold once again.
Marcus called after the man, "Hey wait up a second! Name's Marcus, it's good to see somebody cares for the shrine. I've been here a day or so now and it seems to me this is a troubled land. I'd like to help but it's hard to know where to begin..." He tried to give his best earnest smile, hoping the man might share what he knew of the situation.
Marcus called after the man, "Hey wait up a second! Name's Marcus, it's good to see somebody cares for the shrine. I've been here a day or so now and it seems to me this is a troubled land. I'd like to help but it's hard to know where to begin..." He tried to give his best earnest smile, hoping the man might share what he knew of the situation.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+9
The shrine keeper stopped when Marcus called out and turned back to him.
"Well met. I'm hight Yondul. You're..." he shook his head in passing confusion. "You saved the children?"
"Aye" nodded Marcus, "we were lucky to find them. One of them had a crystal about about yay long inserted into their head, it was trying to subvert them." Marcus shivered as he described the scene, "Too bad we where unable to rescue the adventures who set out to rescue the kids, slaughtered to a man. So as I was saying it's a troubled land..."
"Aye" nodded Marcus, "we were lucky to find them. One of them had a crystal about about yay long inserted into their head, it was trying to subvert them." Marcus shivered as he described the scene, "Too bad we where unable to rescue the adventures who set out to rescue the kids, slaughtered to a man. So as I was saying it's a troubled land..."
"Time enough something good happened around Auvandell, those Silver Fools or no. And Dark Gods turn their gazes from us, I've never heard of such a thing as that crystal business. Sounds like wizard work."
Marcus nods, "Aye it's beyond my ken too. Do you know if there's anyone round here who might be able to help us?" He smiled hopefully, the chances are the old man didn't but you never know...
Marcus nods, "Aye it's beyond my ken too. Do you know if there's anyone round here who might be able to help us?" He smiled hopefully, the chances are the old man didn't but you never know...
"Can't say as I do, Truesayer's wrath upon me if I lie," Yondul said. "Only one left that might know anything about it is the witch and she's gone now. Ere that was the wizard and the Battlelady, but they were both gone first."
The dwarven cleric stomps down the stairs leading from his room to the common room below. Thurvek see the human wizard deep in thought, and walks over to sit at his table.
"Morning, Ranek", Thurvek said with a half-smile. Sleep well?"
Marcus shrugs sadly, "Well then I guess it's up to us, I can only hope we prove up to the challenge. Anyway good day you sir, if you ever have need of aid you have but to ask."
At that moment Marcus's stomach rumbled to remind him that he hadn't eaten. So he headed back to the inn where he noticed his friend Ranek giving him a meaningful look. Thurvek was there too and Marcus nodded at him. Noting the bags under Ranek's eyes, Marcus observed, "Looks like you didn't sleep properly either. My rest was plagued with dreams, but they evaporated with the morning light leaving me none the wiser."