"I think you've already answered my question, Ivan. We were sent out to discover if there were any demons or cultists in the nearby vicinity. You say you haven't seen any in the last day or so. How far south were you? I want to give Irabeth some sense of how quiet it is and where."
Cole takes out some rations and offers them around.
"It was like nothing I'd ever seen before, Cole. We could see them, lined up along the line, like they were just waiting for an invitation to cross. There were so many of them, just like on Armasse Day. Suddenly, a brilliant light ran like lightning all along the Wardline. I was knocked back at least 50 feet, and my men too. But all the Demons were gone. Nothing but dust. Nothing.but.Dust!" He shudders, uncomfortable being so close to something so unworldly, even now.
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Quednys Orlun catches up with Beagan as he is on his way to the Librarium. "Mind if I walk with you, Ser Beagan? I thought we might travel together to see our friend Aravashnyel."
"The noble elf is you friend, right? He was quite knowledgeable and commanding on our trip from the depths, so it was a honor to listen to his wisdom. I would like to learn more of the organization... well.. his work with... ummm, others, against the demons. At the Librarirum. So certainly, if you'd like to come that's fine with me."
He nods fervently. "I'm a knight, you know, so I can protect you! It's what I do!"
Beagan Beaganizes... because it's what he does.
He nods fervently. "I'm a knight, you know, so I can protect you! It's what I do!"
Quednys' eyes sparkle, though he holds the gnome in high regard. "Oh yes, Ser Beagan. I have heard some of the stories that have come back from the attack on the Gray Garrison.You were very bold, and very brave, from the sound of it. I appreciate your company, and the offer of protection."
They walk in relative quiet for a time, before Quednys answers the previous question. "Oh yes, Aravashnyel has been working with me ever since he came to our town."
He stops, quirking a brow, "Which organization did he speak of?"
"Are we alright, Avery? How well do you see in the dark? Let me know if we need to stop." Eli keeps an ear and eye out, hoping for little or no confrontation.
"We're fine. We go this way. I can't see that well beyond the light of my helm, but my ears are well tuned to the sounds down here."
Eli can also hear the sound of equipment, water, and a squelchy suckiness from the distance.
Eli directs Avery's attention to the sound of sucking. "Uh, Avery, is that... normal? Is that part of the ambiance?" Eli even goes so far as to attempt to recreate the sound as best he can, hoping Avery takes on a jovial, 'you fool' attitude.
He stops, quirking a brow, "Which organization did he speak of?"
The Gnome's eyes widen, he's cheeks flush a bit. "Oh, maybe I'm mistaken. It's probably a myth. Errr, ahhh, probably just the Librarium and its work." It's really not likely that the rumors were true in the first place, that the swirl means nothing, and even if it does, it's probably not Ara's organization in any case, right?
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Kastor's friend joins him towards the middle of the afternoon, though where he is antsy, she proves quiet and studious.
Perception
"...and lo did Saint Atol stare unto the face of his...blahblah...and bequaith unto Saint Atol another calling..."
Serra looks up from his reading-out-loud to look at the veiled one.
"What are you looking at, young knight? What is more important than knowing the names of Ascended? Those who have lead such holy lives that they now serve in the court of the Gods?"
"Nothing, Ser Serra. I just wanted to remember this moment, before you join them." Both respect and a deep sadness color her words.
"It was like nothing I'd ever seen before, Cole. We could see them, lined up along the line, like they were just waiting for an invitation to cross. There were so many of them, just like on Armasse Day. Suddenly, a brilliant light ran like lightning all along the Wardline. I was knocked back at least 50 feet, and my men too. But all the Demons were gone. Nothing but dust. Nothing.but.Dust!" He shudders, uncomfortable being so close to something so unworldly, even now.
Cole grunts and nods his head. "That must have been something to see. So you say you were on the line when it happened? And demons across the river were dying too? I wonder how far the blast radius went? That would be good to know."
He stretches his right leg out a bit and rubs his knee. "Well, you've given me more information than I had - thank you. It'll help my report to Irabeth."
Cole sits quietly, considering what Ivan has said. Such power. He munches casually on supper. He sprinkles a little water on his bread to soften it before warming it by the fire and eating it.
"Nothing, Ser Serra. I just wanted to remember this moment, before you join them."
Serra lets out a belly laugh, then another, trying to stifle the thought. He looks at his young squire, then the veiled one, and contains himself.
"You think that to be true, do you? That is a warming thought, but hardly the case. There are knights like Irabeth, much greater than I, who would be way ahead of me for Ascension...let alone those like Grasker, a true holy warrior. Or Ser Beagan, if gnomes ascend, I am not quite sure..." Serra looks at the book wondering if there are any gnomes among the ascended or just among the villains or the mockers.
Shaking his head, he gets back on point.
'"No, I shall likely not Ascend. More like that I shall train Kastor here to be a great knight then pass him my blades and armor so that he might protect the innocent from the demons while I live out my days in a moldy shack. But we shall see what happens, won't we?"
Serra smiles at the veiled one, then Kastor, and resumes the lesson.
Eli directs Avery's attention to the sound of sucking. "Uh, Avery, is that... normal? Is that part of the ambiance?" Eli even goes so far as to attempt to recreate the sound as best he can, hoping Avery takes on a jovial, 'you fool' attitude.
Avery tips his head, listening. "Uh, N-no-no.... that's not normal. Come on, we need to see to that, right away. The engineer begins to hustle towards the sound, all his tools jangling as he goes.
The Gnome's eyes widen, he's cheeks flush a bit. "Oh, maybe I'm mistaken. It's probably a myth. Errr, ahhh, probably just the Librarium and its work." It's really not likely that the rumors were true in the first place, that the swirl means nothing, and even if it does, it's probably not Ara's organization in any case, right?
"Oh, aye, I'm sure that's the case, Ser Beagan. Will you be joining us, then, to work in the Librarium?"
Cole and Laina spend an uneventful evening with Ivan and his knights. In the morning, then men are ready to head out, but are headed in the opposite direction as Cole and Company.
" Travel safe, Cole. It's been very quiet out here. I just... well, I saw them go, but I don't trust it, you know. It's never been this quiet before."
He smiles to Laina and wishes her the same.
'"No, I shall likely not Ascend.... But we shall see what happens, won't we?"
Kastor looks both saddened and relieved by Serra's words, but the small veiled child simply laughs softly to herself. "yes, Sir. We shall see."
Cole and Laina spend an uneventful evening with Ivan and his knights. In the morning, then men are ready to head out, but are headed in the opposite direction as Cole and Company.
" Travel safe, Cole. It's been very quiet out here. I just... well, I saw them go, but I don't trust it, you know. It's never been this quiet before."
He smiles to Laina and wishes her the same.
"Thanks for the fellowship Ivan. I agree, it is too quiet, and I expect the demons and their kind to come swarming back in time. Maybe even a short time - we'll need to be ready."
He heads east with Laina toward the pond he spent many days swimming in during his youth. Should be there by the end of the day if we're lucky. Early tomorrow either way.
He trudges on.
"Uh, N-no-no.... that's not normal. Come on, we need to see to that, right away."
Eli girds himself, readying for more hostility, and remembering what massive damage a little dagger so recently did.
"Alright, Avery. Let's move quickly. We make too much noise to have any chance of catching anything unawares. Especially the deeper we go. Let's not be reckless, as we're only two shovels against any pile of manure more than three..."
"Cole..." Laina begins, after Ivan and the knights are behind them, and they trudge along alone once more.
"You didn't tell them." she states simply. A flick of her gaze is the only sign that this is a conversation rather than a stray comment. Her step doesn't change and she continues to peruse the nearby brush, looking for dangers.
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"Cole..." Laina begins, after Ivan and the knights are behind them, and they trudge along alone once more.
"You didn't tell them." she states simply. A flick of her gaze is the only sign that this is a conversation rather than a stray comment. Her step doesn't change and she continues to peruse the nearby brush, looking for dangers.
Cole walks along a little in silence before responding. When he does so, he does it in step with barely a glance at Laina.
"Should I tell them that the greatest defense against the demons in generations has been destroyed? For a single surge of power that killed some demons along the line? What sort of news is that to spread?"
"This is, has always been, a war of attrition, and there are more of them than there are of us. But we had a wall. A wall they couldn't easily cross. A wall that gave us some breathing room to plan, and execute."
"Granted, had the demons been able to subvert the wardstone to their will, it would have been much, much worse. So we won the battle, but it's not a time of celebration."
"Not by a long shot."
Cole wonders how their group will be remembered by the people of Kenabras. Winners of a battle, or losers of a war.
He trudges on.
I don't know about that. I'd be... well, something terrible... right now, if not for you." Her shudder is nearly imperceptible as she recalls the multiple times her uncle and his friends had saved her from a terrible fate.
"Ayep."
Cole walks on a little while.
"...and I'd be dead if it weren't for my mates, and we'd all be dead if it weren't for Irabeth and her troops defending the city. ...and the Dragon."
"I wish I'd seen her. I've only ever seen dragons in my picture books." She blushes at the admission, realizing how young she must sound, and feeling entirely too old all at the same time.
"I mean, well, if not a celebration, at least an acknowledgement. Something. We're still alive. That got to count for something."
Cole mutters, "Do you need praise to look after your mother?"
He tries to pick up the pace a little.
"Of course not!" Her face reddens and her stride more than matches his. She bristles for awhile, but in time, the journey draws more of her attention.
Still, they reach the pond just before sunset, the russet and burgundy clouds reflected in the depths of the water.
"Wow!"
"Alright, Avery. Let's move quickly. We make too much noise to have any chance of catching anything unawares. Especially the deeper we go. Let's not be reckless, as we're only two shovels against any pile of manure more than three..."
[dice=Perception]1d20+9
The squelching grows louder, until they finally reach the source of the offending sound.
The tunnel opens into a wider area, a five foot walk way circles what should be the pump room. The elaborate pump machinery sits in the center, sticking up out of a softly eddying pool of water.
"And there's your squelching, Ely. I hope you can swim." Avery nods, pointing out the ladder disappearing into the water below.
"Of course not!" Her face reddens and her stride more than matches his. She bristles for awhile, but in time, the journey draws more of her attention.
Still, they reach the pond just before sunset, the russet and burgundy clouds reflected in the depths of the water.
"Wow!"
"Yeah."
He pauses a while.
"My dad brought me here to swim as a boy. Taught me to swim here in fact. Come, we've something to do before we camp."
Cole heads down to the south side, near a particular tree. He sets his gear down and takes out his crowbar.
"If I'd a been thinking, I'd have brought a shovel, but nope. Not today."
He uses the crowbar to break up the soil and help dig a shallow hole at the base of the tree on the water side. He takes the second pack he's been carrying all this while and buries it.
"Remember this spot. If something happens, this is where dad and I are coming. This pack has some emergency survival gear for the lot of us. You wait here two days, tops. If no one shows, you take the pack and you head out for safety. Probably east."
"Now you don't tell anyone about this mind. This is for family."
Laina helps as she can with the digging and the burying, but her attention keeps straying to the water.
"Isn't it cold?" She asks, reaching down, she cautiously dips her fingers into it, then shakes them off to follow Cole to the tree.
"I brought one. Maur...uhh, uh, your dad told me to bring it. He got it from one of the guys he plays cards with, I think." Not afraid to get dirty, she digs in to help.
"Now you don't tell anyone about this mind. This is for family."
Laina takes in his instructions,nodding once. Her eyes, already wide with the responsibility, prickle and shine. Quickly turning to study, well, anything but Cole's face, she answers.
"I won't tell a soul... Uncle Cole."
Cole smiles and straightens up.
He goes a few feet away and digs up some sod to put over their freshly dug mound. He presses it down and adds some other nearby detritus to help camouflage their work.
He then moves off toward their campsite. A spot he's used many times before.
"It is cold, but it's invigorating. We can take an early swim tomorrow if you wish before heading back north to check the line."
He makes camp, gets a fire going, cooks a little, and general relaxes and enjoys the neighborhood - likely turning in early.
"And there's your squelching, Ely. I hope you can swim."
Eli looks about the chamber, dismayed that the day's resulted in several opportunities to get wet. Wet with blood, wet with drink, and now, wet with wet, wet water.
"This is just grand. I'm not sure we can navigate this, Avery. Are you sure? Me with my armor, and you with your tools. Would it be any easier if we didn't worry too much about breathing?"
If Avery assents, Eli reaches out and touches Avery, producing a sustaining air pocket around the man's head. He turns to his own backpack and seals it for now, as well.
He wades in, hoping Avery doesn't require much time to assess the damage/work to be done.
Avery takes off his tools - pack, bandoliers and all - then strips out of his outer clothes before moving down the ladder. The water reaches to his waist by the time he moves away to address the wall of the pump.
As he moves to his left, a series of bubbles come from the wall to his right. Immediately after, the squelching sounds from the same place.
"Right. There it is. There's a hole. Are you coming in?"
"Right behind you. Just, you know, be careful. No telling what's been damaged." Eli does the same with his backpack and hammer, and finds a dry spot to keep them in.
When they get to the area of the hole, Eli brings his bubble to bear, hoping to give him the most time possible.
Avery presses himself against the wall of the pump, running his hands over it. "I don't think it's too bad, actually. But it'll get worse if we don't fix it." He calls Eli close, then sinks beneath the water, only to pop back up again.
"Yep, right here. I can do it by myself, but an extra set of hands would sure be helpful."
When Eli joins him, Avery hands him a small handful of pebbles. He dives under and begins fitting pebbles into the whole, then somehow smoothing them out and onto the wall.
Eli strains to see what Avery actually does with the pebbles, but the water obstructs his sight. Seeking a clearer view, Eli considers another bubble. He decides instead to simply hold his breath, and watch as long as he can, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man's work.
"What are these pebbles good for, Avery?" When Avery goes below water, Eli joins him.
Again and again, Avery takes the pebbles,presses them against the previous one, until the hole is blocked, and the bubbles still.
"There. That should hold for now. I hope." he says, as he surfaces for the last time. "They're just rocks, for a patch." Avery shrugs, clearly embarrassed by the scrutiny.
Eli sees something in Avery's work, and so takes a pebble in his hand, and tries it himself. After concentrating for awhile, Eli brings his Mend to the wall, hoping to solidify the fissures. He remains underwater for what seems like several minutes...
"Wait! Let me..." Avery tenses as Eli lends his hand, but seeing no ill comes from it, he relaxes, grateful for the help.
"We should head back. We can go north tomorrow."
"If you think we've seen enough to report to the captain, I won't argue with our return. That cask, though. Do you think we should try and secure that at least? Perhaps a later time." Eli shakes off like a wet dog, and starts back towards the Heart, glad at least that Avery and he are in one piece.
"If you think we've seen enough to report to the captain, I won't argue with our return. That cask, though. Do you think we should try and secure that at least? Perhaps a later time." Eli shakes off like a wet dog, and starts back towards the Heart, glad at least that Avery and he are in one piece.
"Ahhh! The cask! I nearly forgot! No, we should at least secure that cask. And then, back to the Heart." Squelching as he walks, Avery moves as quick as he's able back to the Heart.
"Excellent! We may just be able to carry several more barrels with us back to the Heart, given a little extra effort." Eli taps his temple, and continues the walk home.
"So, you have a way with Weaving, do you, Avery? I assumed wrong. Thought you were just good with your tools. You have more tricks up your sleeve, it appears." Eli smiles at the drunk, familiar with the words he's using on someone else, once used on him.
Retrieving the cask, Eli draws upon the last of the Wardstone Boon, providing both himself and Avery a greater carrying capacity for their trek back to the Heart.
"What? Nooo, not me, Eli. I *am* good with my hands, with my tools. Sometimes it seems like something else, but that's really all it is." The man shrugs again, but puts the rest of his effort into creating a litter to move the drink back to Defender's Heart.
Eli works with Avery to make it easier to port as much back as possible. He likens the two of them as oxen, with a rather good haul for the day. Only once on their return does Eli request a break for a drink. Maybe twice.
"It is cold, but it's invigorating. We can take an early swim tomorrow if you wish before heading back north to check the line."
He makes camp, gets a fire going, cooks a little, and general relaxes and enjoys the neighborhood - likely turning in early.
Laina wakes early to find Cole still tending the fire. "Did you sleep at all?" she asks, still blinking the night from her own eyes. "You should have woke me."
She settles in next to him. "You could sleep now if you want. And then maybe we could try the swimming thing?"
Cole stretches out and rubs the sleep from his eyes. He gets up and stretches, carefully working the kinks out of his joints and muscles.
"No, I'm OK. I got some rest last night, of a sort. It'll be enough for what we have planned today I'm sure. Let's get a quick swim in and then dry by the fire over a hearty breakfast to take the cold off."
He worries a bit about his growing reliance on magic and the supernatural, but he shrugs it off for now.
Seeing in the dark and staying up all night to protect your charge - these are good things. He argues with himself, Yes, but are they reliable? I know when I flex my muscle it'll be there - short of damage. Where does this power come from and why do I have it?
He takes off his hat and boots and sets them by the fire. After a careful look around, he removes his armor and other gear - though he takes his quiver with him to the water's edge.
"Ready?"
He launches himself as far out into the water as he can, surfacing several feet from shore - already shaking with the early morning cold. A little dirt and oil stain the water where he entered. His teeth chatter a bit as he hollers, "C'mon in!"
"S-sure..."
Laina follows Cole into the water, stepping in gingerly up to her waist.
"I... I don't know how to swim." she admits.
HP: 41/41
Weapon Equipped = Composite (+3) Long Bow, darkwood, MW
Cold Iron Arrows = 54/54
Silver Blunt Arrows = 30/30
Cold Iron, Adamantine Blanch Arrows = 20/20
+1, Outsider Bane, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 10/10
+1, Holy, Cold Iron Blanch Arrows = 5/5
+1, Evil Outsider Slaying (DC20 fort or +50hp damage) = 1/1
Conditions = None
Mythic Power = 4/4 (d6)
Ranger Focus = 2/2 (ex, swift, +4 attack/damage)
Child of the Crusade = 1/1 (free, reroll failed save to be demonically possessed or incapacitated)
Silver Dragon Scale = 3/3 (standard, bolstering)
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +5, Dex +4, Bow MW, Weapon Focus +1, Rapid Shot -0, Deadly Aim -2
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +3, Deadly Aim +4
Spells (caster level 2, concentration +4)
Level 0 (DC 12) Create Water (1/1)
Level 1 (DC 13) Aspect of the Falcon, Keep Watch
Cole frowns, worrying about the skills his niece possess if she can't even swim.
sigh
"OK then. I'll teach you. First thing, dunk your head and pull back your hair so it's out of your face. Go on - get wet."
He then helps her learn to dog paddle, to lean back and just float staring at the sky, and a few basic survival tips while in the water.
If they're not too cold at that point, he'll show her a few simple strokes.
Eventually, tired, cold, and dripping wet, they arise from the water and huddle around the fire. Cole adds a few limbs to stoke it and cook breakfast.
When they're dry and fed, he stands and gathers his gear, putting his armor back on, and other things.
"Let's get going. We have a lot of walking to do today. We should head north to the river and camp at the edge of the 'wound tonight. Then back home tomorrow. Should be there by dinner now that we can move a little faster." he gestures to the pack, hidden in the dirt.
"That was... cold!" Laina laughs over breakfast, then helps clean up to leave. Still no great swimmer, she feels much more confident around the water.
"I'm sure we can go much faster now." With that in mind, she keeps up with Cole as they head North and West.
The land, which had grown greener and more natural on the way East, reverses the trend as they head back toward the wound. The ground grows dry and weeds more numerous. By the time they reach the edge of the wound, even the sky to the west has grown odd and ugly; violent clouds hover in the distance, like clotted blood on gangrenous flesh. It is nothing new to someone from Kenabres, but after the relative normality and beauty of the pond, the contrast is sharp indeed.
Cole grows more dour as they walk - more his normal self. As they reach their stopping point for the day, he looks out over the river - looking for mounds.
He makes camp quickly and somewhat uneasily.
I wonder when the counter attack will begin? I hope it is not tonight.
He looks around at their campsite and marks the exit points if they need to flee quickly. When Laina falls asleep, he casts his spell and restlessly gets up and puts a few javelins around the site like punji sticks along their most likely exit routes. Something to funnel the enemy into one-on-one combat if need be.
Alone, this close to the wound, was a bad idea.
If the night passes uneventfully, he gathers up the javelins early and puts them back in his quiver. He's slow getting going and lingers a bit over breakfast as sleep grapples at the edges of his consciousness.
Returning to the Heart, Eli hauls the load to the mess hall, informing Kimroth of the location of the cellar, and the remaining counts and contents of barrels. "I'm not sure who owned it previously, but I'd hate to see it rot away unused." Eli pats the smaller cask. "Also, could you find a cool corner to store this? Avery and I would be most appreciative. I can understand if space is limited, but we find it most comfortable to do our drinking here."
...
Later in the day, Eli seeks out Serra. "I remember something being discussed, about your knack with strengthening weapons and armor. If you find the time, I'd like to contract your work on this hammer. I also have a masterwork breastplate that could use conditioning as well. This breastplate is a little too gaudy for my tastes. Perhaps you'd like to use it instead. If you have other obligations, I will understand."
Serra looks up from his work to respond to Ely. He smiles, a clean happy smile at finally having something to do. He seems delighted to be of service.
"I am no hammersmith, Ely, but I think I've solved the riddle of imbuing some protective magics into armor and the might of knights into weapoons. With Kastor here working with me, we could finish this task in two days, Ely," Serra replies. "I have the young squire's education to see to as well as my own training. I hope two days will be okay?"