"I'm not sure if Torag will be pleased, but at the very least I'll sleep better not having had to kill everyone in the village, evil or not," she responds quietly.
Aranthis follows close behind as Zogar charges forward, her weapons still drawn, clearly expecting their luck in avoiding conflict to run out.
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H10. Kicking in the door to the north reveals what is most likely a trophy hall of some sort. The worked stone walls of this large room hold a number of shelves, each of which display the preserved bodies of dire rats, bats, rock vipers, cave lizards, and other creatures that pose in eerie stillness. A pair of bedrolls have been laid out to the southeast.
H3. A rack of hooks hangs from the ceiling, cured slabs of meat dangling from them and filling the room with a smoky aroma. A group of barrels appears to hold other preserved foodstuffs. a pale-scaled, pink-eyed cave lizard that he uses as a guardian for this room. The lizard, the size of a pony, has no interest in dry or dead meat, but a very deep interest in the man who just kicked in his door!
Zogar, Surprise round to you. Cleave away!
"A beast to join the ranks of the dead," Zogar snarled, slashing with his greatsword.
Aranthis barely gets to move before the lizard dies to Zogar's quick stroke. Moving in to the room, she helps look around for anything of interest or value.
"Well, I was expecting a bit more resistance. It doesn't seem like this encampment was as heavily populated as I thought it would be." she says, sounding slightly relieved.
"Perhaps they have seen the folly of worshipping demons," Zogar rumbled, cleaning his sword on the lizard's hide. "But I think not. If they heard the alarm, they have gone deeper to mount a defense." His grim face lightened a bit. "Maybe they will summon a demon against us." He jabbed at the air, looking forward to such a match.
He too looked around for anything of worth before going back out to kick in another door.
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Pantry: The meat hanging here is primarily dire rat and mongrel meat—it’s all stringy, over-salted, and fairly unappetizing.
Common Room: In the southwestern part of this room, stout stone chairs surround a block of larger stone that serves as a table. The table’s top strewn with bone dice and cracked clay jugs. Stained canvas pillows rest on the chairs. A copper bowl filled with coals hangs from the ceiling, filling the room with warmth and an orange glow.
"A cultist with conviction! Lay down your bow or die now," Zogar snarled. By unspoken agreement, he and Ghorza moved to flank the mongrelman(?).
Ripping the arrow free, Zogar cast it to the ground with a sneer. All the same, it was clear that the wound was serious enough by the way he grimaced when he re-gripped his greatsword.
Convinced of the mongrelwoman's ill intent by her arrows, Zogar moved to attack!
Aranthis moves quickly to investigate the sounds coming from the crates. Realizing there are people packed in, she sheathes her weapons. "Zogar, help me get these open! Hold on in there we'll have you out in a moment!" she says in a remarkably cheerful voice despite the situation.
Iomedae quiets herself and tries to sense evil outside the crate. Not feeling any she hopes for the best. And with aid on the way, Iomedae gives her goddess a silent prayer.
Using his sword as a lever, Zogar helped Aranthis to open the crates. "What foul use would they have set these people to, to hold them so?" he boomed with a scowl.
The newcomers saw a towering Kellid clad in furs and fine chain, four ragged claw marks marring his weather-beaten right cheek and a whopping great sword in his hands. Blood dripped from where an arrow had been ripped from his flesh. For all that he appeared a savage, his blue eyes were keen and intelligent.
After seeing that the strangers were all right, he left the introductions to Aranthis and bent to search the mongrelwoman for useful items.
There are muffled thumps coming from one box in particular upon which (when opened), results in a young women with long red hair tumbling out, coming into a rather ungainly halt in the dust. Breathing hard, hair in disarray, her eyes dart around, adjusting to her new surroundings. Upon seeing that these strangers seem helpful, she relaxes slightly, but watches the rather large, bloody one out of the corner of her eye just in case.
Addressing the closest stranger nearby (hopefully Aranthis), she gets to her feet and starts speaking:
"Many thanks for rescuing me...us", she amends quickly upon seeing others exiting other boxes, before shuddering slightly " Being in small dark enclosures doesn't agree with me"
"My name is Seraphine" at this, the women pauses slightly,"I presume you all have names, yes?"
"Well now, I thank you, I don't much like confined spaces. I'm Allrianne, a pleasure to make all your acquaintances."
Allriane looks a little dishevelled from being held captive in a crate, but still bears the look of nobility about her. She makes an attempt to straighten her clothing, though it does little for the dust and wood-scuffs.
You see a woman of the elven race, with pale skin, stark white hair, worn short, and golden eyes. She is lean with taut muscles. Very fit but not bulging. Her hair and face slightly dirty except in streaks down her face that gives her the appearance of having cried.
"The goddess bless you. I thought my death was upon me in that crate. My name is Iomedae Starfall. Holy warrior of the goddess Iomedae. And I will include you in my prayers."
After Aranthis had introduced them to the newcomers(?), Zogar nodded and poked a finger at them. "It is well that we found you before these demon-worshipers could do to you whatever it is they intended. We seek a path to the surface, and for good reasons it leads through these people who dwell below the city. If you are of good heart, maybe you will wish to join us? There will be danger, but no less than if you choose to stay behind, I think."
He paused, then added with narrowed eyes, "Unless you fear to take this path, and would prefer to remain with the good mongrelfolk we have met. They have a village, not far distant." The sneer he was trying to keep under control told them what he thought of that option. He eyed the tear-tracks on Iomedae's face suspiciously.
"Well, with such a charming speech as that, how could we refuse? Allrianne says in an amused voice, looking at Zogar.
"I don't know how much use I'll be, I am after all just a pampered noblewoman, but if you let me tag along I'll help where I can."
Allrianne seems fairly cheerful, to say she's been kept in a box for who knows how long.
"A good choice," Zogar boomed. He bent to clean his sword on the fallen foe, but the glint of his blue eyes through the hair that fell over his face suggested he was still keeping an eye on them.
"Aranthis, does your god have healing for this wound?" He brushed his hand over his arrow wound, which was steadily trickling blood. He wiped his wet hand unceremoniously on his pants, frowning.
"Take no offense at Zogar's words, he means well. It's true though that the path we are taking is fraught with danger. Still we'd happily welcome your company on our journey." she says with a smile.
"I'm Aranthis, by the way, and that, as I mentioned is Zogar. In the back, are Aravashnial, Anevia and Horgus." she adds, pointing at the three respectively.
Turning to Zogar, she says "Yes, give me a moment."
She walks over to him and extends her hand, uttering a prayer to Torag as he does.
"There we go, all fixed up!"
Zogar flexed his arms and chest experimentally, then nodded his thanks to Aranthis. "Your Torag is a god skilled in healing as well," he said, thumping his chest. "Many are the virtues he teaches, and he has knitted my wound completely! You have my thanks."
He hefted his sword and pointed to the door. "Let us see what lies beyond. There are many cultists yet to slay, I would think." With that, he went over and kicked in the door in a manner that would become quite familiar.
"I fear no death but those of the innocent. And I have spent must time with soldiers and know their way. Zogar does not offend." At this Iomedae arms herself and follows close behind Zogar
"I am good with a blade, and can heal as well. I have been told I am skilled at talking peace, tho if such cultists are evil, such discussions may be futile. Which of your party is the leader?"
Having said all this as fast as she could before the door was kicked in.
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Ghorza and Phoenix are still here, but both seem keen on remaining in the monrelman town you recently left. It seems they have an opportunity to help educate the men about the surface world, and spread the word of their respective gods to help ease the transition to the surface, should the opportunity arise. Ghorza seems especially keen to rededicate the temple below.
The dead woman at your feet seems to be holding onto the weapons of her captives. It is reasonable to assume the other crates might hold their other gear.
Seeing the weapons in the grip of the dead women. Iomedae immediately picked up her sword and daggers. Realizing that the other crates might contain the rest of her gear she starts prying them open. Hoping to at least find her armor, she was determined to search until she found it.
Seraphine considers Zogar's remarks, before shrugging slightly "I see no problem in working together to get to the surface"
Moving gracefully, she strides over to where Zogar is kicking the door down, and prepares to ready a spell.
Allrianne searches for her gear, then hurries to catch up the impetuous Zogar and the others.
"Great, from a box to garbage, like my day could get any worse." Allrianne says cheerfully.
"So glorious saviours, do we go that way?"
"If you like I can go ahead, I'm a little less encumbered than you warrior types and can be passably quiet? Or do we assume this is just a rubbish heap and find another direction to go?"
Seraphine looks at Allrianne and raises her eyebrows slightly, with a hint of a smile showing on her face. "Far be it from me to deprive you of the pleasure of crawling through a garbage heap...but if its cultists we are looking for, then I suspect this current location is unlikely to be a place they might frequent"
Zogar's nose wrinkled in disgust at the state of the hallway. "Well do I know that demon worshipers are to be found in places as foul as their black hearts, but surely even they would not stoop to hiding in a midden. Let us go back the other way. Maybe we can catch another cultist, and it will tell us whether there is more to find this way."
"And I was so looking forward to it." Allrianne says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Seriously though, I don't mind scouting ahead, if you think it worthwhile, though you seem to enjoy kicking the doors, so don't let me stop you."
"You are welcome to go, but beware of ambush. They know we are here," Zogar rumbled, following Allriane back the way they had come.
"Just trying to make myself useful."
Allrianne will scout ahead a little ways, though not too far.
Aranthis is clearly relieved at the decision not to go traipsing through the filth.
"Zogar's not too loud, but I admit I'm absolutely terrible at sneaking about. It would certainly be handy to have someone who can warn us of threats ahead!" she replied to Allrianne's suggestion.
"Before we continue further, I should mention that not all of the cultists are fighting to the death. One of the mongrelmen who accompanied us from their city took three prisoners back with him, along with two of our companions who decided to remain behind. I know they have treated you three poorly, but please show mercy if the mongrelmen surrender. Perhaps some of them may yet be turned from their path."
"I agree with Aranthis. Those who surrender should be offered mercy. But I warn you any demons and we will have to revisit this discussion."
She dones her armor.
Seraphine looks a little disgruntled at being told what to do
At Aranthis' comment, she sighs a little "I understand your advice, and I will follow it, that said, I don't intend on feeling particularly merciful to those that don't surrender...is that fair enough?"