Zophio exits and closes the door, to allow the fire to burn itself out without concern for the fallen poblin who wouldn't have thought twice about taking the lives of himself and his comrades.
Instead, he turns his attention to the locked door, thinking their goal may lie behind it.
"So, uhh, we're not putting out the fire in the old ruined castle?"
Vi looks between Zophio and Shubshi
I can't see any nearby source of water so Zophio's idea to contain the blaze seems appropriate she tries to reassure the griffon.
Seeing Zophio struggling with the door, she grins and then charges straight at it.
Zophio simply shuts the door on the fire, and the heat and smoke within the room swiftly begin to abate. Mercifully, the poblin never wakes as the room burns around him...
On the lower level, the other door resists Zophio's every effort... but then Virtue charges, and the door bows... cracks... and shatters! Virtuous hard dashes through the spray of wreckage, clattering full-tilt into a long, low-ceilinged dungeon without other exits.
Squalor reins all around her. Three kopolds, are roughly tied with crude ropes to a large spike not far from the entrance, attacked to rusty iron collars about their necks. Further back, a battered Breezie languishes huddled inside a small steel birdcage. Several sets of rusty manacles and horsecollars dangle from the walls, empty save for the occasional, crumbling remains of pony's who've had the misfortune to run ahoof of these poblins before.
When the fallen poblin was left behind, Midnight felt slightly guilty. After all, no living creature, even as mean and cruel as the poblins, deserve such a sordid fate... But the sight of the prisoners changed her mind. If he was that merciless to commit such an abomination... Then she won't mourn him.
If these crimes are his, then may his soul wander in the Darkness forever...
"I'll help the kopolds... Can someone free the Breezie?" she asked to the party.
Her tone was rather cold. She hated seeing someone suffering, and was more than happy to free the poor things, and stop this pain...
She knelt down to examine their ties.
"Clan-friends!" Meepo meeps cheerfully. "You are rescued! And now," he beams happily, "we can rescue our Cally together!"
The kopolds look barely enthused by this proposal to head into battle once more against the poblins who'd so recently defeated, captured and abused them - and they don't look much happier to be 'rescued' by yet more equines - even accompanied by Meepo.
Their collars are rusty iron, crudely hammered together with twists of metal - but at least the ropes can be trivially un-knotted or cut. The Breezie's cage, however, is a rather better-sealed piece of fine ironmongery.
Vi helps Midnight free the kopolds when her examination of the cage reveals it difficult to open without a key.
Zophio might you be able to get this open? Did any of those horrid poblins have a key on them?
She remembers her manners and turns to the kopolds
We are happy to rescue you from these vile poblins, Meepo has shown us that you are a people of honor and compassion, so we will treat you as such
Then she remembers they probably don't speak the common pony tongue
Erm...could someone please translate for me!?
"Why don't you let me handle this?" Shubshi suggests, stepping up to the cage. He inspects it for a few moments, making sure there aren't any traps, before taking out his tools and beginning an attempt at opening it.
Moonstar puts the poblin out of it's misery. Burning alive is a wrong way to end even for these primitives. She does a quick check for any pouch, necklace, or anything of the sort, taking anything useful or that might be recognizable as belonging to that particular poblin, and studies it's face and patterns so she can copy it later. Then finally being pushed out by the heat, she exits the corridor, reclosing the door behind her. Following where everypony else went, "Next time, close the door after I'm out of the way. It was dreadfully hot in there."
Zophio apologizes to Moonstar, and translates Vi's message to the kopolds in draconic.
"Breezie?" The breezie stirs in his shackles. "Breezie!" He seems excited, as Shubshi steps forward to work on the tiny lock. "Eezy-breezie-peezy," he laughs, as Shubshi's clever, quick claws soon have the lock snapping open.
Poor Virtue, alas, is having little luck with the poblins... whilst Meepo is having conversational rings run around him. In no time at all, he's given up how to return to kopold territory. They mutter swift, begrudging thanks in draconic, and make to scarper, with wary looks at Zophio and Virtue, to see if their way will be barred with the threat of force. They almost seem to expect it...
Zophio backs out of the chamber nonchalantly.
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"You went in there alone?" the oracle replied to Moonstar, apparently stunned. "Sure! Sorry..."
She looked down.
"Thank you... Call me next time. I could lend you a hand."
As soon as the kopolds were set free, Midnight Dove took some steps back to take care of the other prisoner.
"Is the Breezie alright?", she asked, examining him.
From what you know of breezie biology, he's okay - though somewhat the worse for wear from what must've been quite an extended period of imprisonment. He'd doubtless benefit from a warm hug and some decent food and drink... but he seems delightfully grateful already.
"Breezie-thankeezie ponies," he burbles. "Eeky-breezie thought breezie would never escape at all."
The kopolds, in turn, are already slipping out the door, back towards their own territory. "Wait!" Meepo protests. "You have to help me rescue Cally!" He smiles. "Kopolds and Cally go back home together, yes? Kopolds will take care of Cally like they used to!"
"Cally can look after herself," the last kopold snaps, on his way out the door. "She already 'took care' of Ixiltrix and Kalkrix!" He protests, then his head vanishes around the door and is gone. He barely glances at Zophio, as he and his three comrades slip ungratefully away...
"Are you feeling okay?" the unicorn asked. "Why were you prisoner? Did the poblins put you in there?"
Moonstar nods to Midnight, "It is alright, though perhaps accounting for everyone after a fight, and before closing doors, would be a good idea."
As the kopolds start chattering, she listens intently to the kopolds conversation, gleaning what details she can from it, particularly since Meepo doesn't seem to be keeping up very well.
At the sight of the kopolds leaving, Zophio raises an eyebrow and sighs whilst looking toward Meepo.
Without help from your fellow tribesmen, let's not dally,"
He says with reverent seriousness.
Turning to the others he says,
"Does anyone have a clue paramount,
Where one might keep a dragon hereabout?"
"Breezie agreezie," Eeky agrees, staggering and fluttering. "Some seasons ago, I was travelling to Canterlot to seek my fortune, but I~" the breezie blushes, "took the wrong road, and the poblins captured me. I've been here ever since, watching ponies come and go, but the druid isn't interested in breezies, and breezie's only seasoning for poblin food, not meat enough to eat."
"The druid? Who's the druid?"
Hm, Zophio thinks, the poblins have a druid... He addresses Eeky,
"Would I be right to assume that by and large,
This druid is the leader, the one in charge?"
We had better move on and swiftly, if this druid is still around somewhere we don't want to give them any more time to prepare for arrival than necessary!
she starts to leave the room
Oh and where are our manners! Eaky I'm Virtuous Heart, this is Shubshi, Midnight, Moonstar and Zophio. You're welcome to join us as we continue through this strange underground castle, at some point we'll be returning to the surface after all!
"Druid is Belak, Belak is druid. Belak is not a bad druid, but Belak is a bad druid, not a nice-eesy-Eeky-Breezie," Eeky smiles, supporting himself with occasional beats of his gossamer wings as he staggers... "Belak not leader of poblins. Poblins led by biggest, meanest poblin Durnn, but even Durnn afraid of Belak - but still trade with Belak, give ponies in exchange for fruit of silver, fruit of gold, poblins sell for coin."
"Durnn very big and very mean," Eeky draws breath. "Likes to hurt poor ponies. Eeky-breezie is lucky - Durnn not pull wings from little flies anymore. Graduated to larger cruelties." Eeky sighs, his wings and posture drooping. [b]"Poor, poor ponies never came back, whether from Durnn or Belak..."
"Breezie-thankeezy," Eeky agrees. "Breezie-weakie, but will fight as fight can."
"Are you sure? You already suffered a lot... We could bring you outisde, if you wish," Midnight Dove suggested.
"I'd rather not be alone," the breezie whispers softly. "I've seen too many ponies pass through this dungeon, to whatever terrible fate. Many of them I called friend. Mine shall now be the same as yours, although," his wings flutter softly, "I hope it will be better than I believe theirs to have been."
"And Solar Breeze, along with Sapphire Treats and Treasured Heart, apparently went this way," Shubshi added flatly. "And there's a young missing dragon involved. Ugh, this wasn't what I signed up for. I hope I get paid extra for this."
He addresses Eeky directly. "Did you happen to see a dragon or these ponies get brought in?" He describes the ponies they're following to the breezie.
We should move on, that one poblin escaped earlier and the longer we wait the more prepared the other wretched things will be...
Vi trots out the door, head swinging from side to side to make sure the battlement room is still safe.
"And Solar Breeze, along with Sapphire Treats and Treasured Heart, apparently went this way," Shubshi added flatly. "And there's a young missing dragon involved. Ugh, this wasn't what I signed up for. I hope I get paid extra for this."
He addresses Eeky directly. "Did you happen to see a dragon or these ponies get brought in?" He describes the ponies they're following to the breezie.
"Oh!" Eeky exclaims. "I know them! They were here for awhile..." his voice trails off. "They were my friends. They... went to Belak a few days ago..."
We should move on, that one poblin escaped earlier and the longer we wait the more prepared the other wretched things will be...
Vi trots out the door, head swinging from side to side to make sure the battlement room is still safe.
"Don't worry. We'll help them. Do you know where they were taken?"
"That's good," Eeky says, then turns downcast. "If they can still be helped..."
"And Cally too yes?" Meepo breaks in. "Cally can still be helped too, yes?" He pauses. "By Meepo, but you can help Meeop help Cally."
"Eeky, if you could please answer Midnight's other question as you can best,
Did you see where the other ponies were taken? North or West?"
He turns to Meepo and reassures him in draconian.
"Of course we'll still help you and Cally,
We would never even think to let down an ally."
Eeky shakes his tiny head. "I don't think they meant for me to know, but I've heard them take prisoners both north and west."
Well thank you for telling us Eeky Vi nods in gratitude
Which should we pick I wonder? Perhaps the Western corridor if that fire is out?
The door to the western corridor is still hot to the touch... the fire will burn for some time, it seems... unless the poblins are successfully fighting it from the far side...
Midnight Dove shook her head.
"Well. Let's head north, then."
The northern door leads to a corridor running east-west along the side of the room you were just in.
Opposite (to the north) a door dangles open - clearly the source of the poblins you just dispatched - but that room itself is empty, save for the detritus poblins accumulate over even a short period of occupation.
At the western end of the corridor is another closed door, of the aged-but-robust wood so common in this sunken fortress.
Unfortunately, as Zophio approaches the door, the ground gives way behind him. There are a few, criss-crossed boards, but its impossible for him to keep his balance on them, and he tumbles into the pit-trap.
Damage (Reflex DC18 halves)... I'm afraid you didn't make the search DC to notice this one.
Though there's an unpleasant layer of filth at the bottom, and a few ambiguous bone fragments, the pit is devoid of spikes or caltrops that could've caused serious injury. Thankfully, any poblins who might've heard the bang have already been dispatched... and from the room ahead of you, you can hear shifting and banging of heavy objects too.
Retrieving Zophio will be a simple matter of dropping a rope and a little pulling.
Vi grabs a rope and throws it down, hauling up Zophio like he was a sack of oats.
If you're quite finished exploring the cellar, shall we move on?
Shubshi assists in hauling Zophio up and says, "Maybe you should let me go ahead, eh? At the very least, I can fly."
He approaches the door and tries to find out what's ahead.
From inside the room, you can hear thumping and banging - not the sounds of battle, but rather, those of random destruction... the door is, however, locked (DC18 disable device to open).
Shubshi attempts to pick the lock, taking out his tools.
If Shubshi fails, "Did anypony find a key on the poblins, or in the guard room?"
If that is a big resounding no, then she will burn the door a time or three to weaken it then, "Okay Shubshi, it should be weak enough for you to break it down now."
You can keep trying until you beat the DC or roll a 1, in which case you break the lock and are forced to resort to other means. Please note how many attempts it takes you to succeed.
Shubshi frowns when one pick struggles against the old mechanisms of the door. He gives it a little jiggle, working it out slowly until the lock pops open.
"There we go," he says, putting away his tools after wiping off the accumulated grime.
Mounted and stuffed animal heads adorn the walls of the horseshoe-shaped room beyond the door, some thirty feet across and along at its longest points. The work of mounting the heads has been sloppily done, and includes animals that no noble's manor would hold - cattle, rats, and other similarly unimpressive specimens... but sharing space with them are a few gristly visages, including both pony and kopold visages... one of whom bares the face of the no-longer missing Treasured Heart...
...but you have little time to absorb this horror. Smashed and broken cabinets and the remains of small tables line the walls and litter the floor, mute victims of some kind of rampage, scattered with detritus that the poblins might once have revered as treasure - a shiny cooking pot, a few silver and copper coins, a smattering of marble with interesting patterns...
...and in the centre of the room, an iron spike driven deep into the ground, rusted and trailing a broken chain. Thin patches slick, melted glass or metal coat sections of the ground, walls, debris...
DC15 acrobatics to move about the room without falling. Carefully treating the room as difficult terrain avoids this check.
Virtuous Heart, if and when you enter the room: [spoiler]You espy the tiny red-scaled tail of a red-dragon wyrmling protruding from beneath a wrecked table...
Zophio, with bruised flank and ego, thanks his comrades for helping him up and even chuckles weakly at the "cellar" joke. His laughter quickly gives way to a look of wretched disgust when the contents of the following room are revealed. He kneels and says a prayer for Treasured Heart's soul.
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