Looking back and forth between the bull and the vulture. The oread visibly flinches at the deaths of the crocodile and the eagle. With a low rumble in her throat Kallik walks over to the bull Great I am killing that bull. I cannot believe I am doing this. Slow steps bring her near the bull and bringing her blade up only to slam it into the beasts throat.
Brinn holds back a sob as he attempts to stab the vulture. His hands are shaking so much he misses; the spear tip makes a high-pitched screech against the obsidian. The undine's shoulders tense, and he gives a tearful yell as his spear strikes true.
Three more soft, sighing deaths breeze out of the room. You wait for a burst of flame, or a shining beacon. Absolutely nothing happens. Even the worshipers in the sanctuary below are silent - it is a moment of quiet reflection in the service.
Tonelessly, as if reading from a dull book, So Khong says, "Do you require a moment to compose yourselves? Heroics await you."
I trust you believe what has happened but I believe in little I do not see..enlighten me as to what this weapon is now capable of doing. Ibinu looks with some consternation at So.This will do two things...increase the trust building we are attempting between you an Inqi and I, and prepare me to use the weapon in battle. It is not wise to use untried or unknown things in combat. Then with a wry airy chuckle..someone might get hurt.
As Ibinu begins his inquiry of So Khong, Inam kneels before the fallen bird. Closing it's eyes as she closes hers, she whispers a prayer for the poor creature.
Looking up after completion, she nods to the barbarian's statement. "He is right." she says matter of fact. Standing, she awaits So Khongs reply.
To bothering to turn around Kallik just stands there staring at the dead bull. If she hears the words being spoken then she gives no sign of it. What have I allowed to happen to me?
So Khong nods. "When you strike a darkspawn or one infected by the Dark, your weapons will flare like Volcano itself. This is harmful to darkspawn, but innocuous to all other creatures."
He spreads his hands open slowly, patiently. "Do you have any other questions?"
Interesting that they should flare like volcano...weren't they "gifts" to all the "gods" Ibinu muses silently
Still staring at the bull, "Should it not have been four eagles then?.. Also when is this training beginning?"
"The sacrifices were chosen to reflect each of you."
So Khong motions for you to follow him out of the room. Two fresh-faced acolytes scurry in as you leave, carrying buckets of soapy water and towels embroidered with the red triangle of Volcano. "The training will begin tonight, after you deal with the threat in the sub-levels. It is imperative to observe and contain whatever infection is below - we must trust in Volcano that the infestation is limited to younger spawn, like the one that was encountered earlier."
Tell us some of what you know of the abilities of the creature from below. If we have some idea we stand a better chance of surviving.
Again Ibinu defers slightly to SO.
Obediently following the inquisitor out of the room, she asks "So if we, Volcano forbid, hit an innocent the weapon would do no damage? Or it just wouldn't do extra damage?"
"The one I ran into had tentacles...seemed to sap my strength somehow with them. It didn't take much to defeat though. Oh! It also had some strange noise it made that was a bit jarring." Inam offers.
"Any specifics you could offer would certainly be helpful So Khong"
Crouching down to touch the bulls face. Kallik quietly runs her hands down from the top of its head to its nose before rising. Turning around and sullenly following the others.
To Inam, So Khong simply says, "Your weapons are still made of steel. Steel makes no distinctions between right and wrong, innocent and guilty. That is the job of the wielder, not the weapon."
The inquisitor leads you by a different path - it may just be the suffocating sameness of the hallways, but it sometimes seems that So Khong takes deliberately complex routes when leading you. You pass by several kitchens, where the alternating scents of bread and meat contrast with the smell of blood and death that still lingers on your blades.
"As for the creature, darkspawn can vary greatly in their abilities. Based on what the warrior has said of her encounter, he indicates Inam, "you should be on the lookout for the following methods of attack: One, ambushes from walls and ceilings, as these creatures can often climb walls. Two, avoid being bitten if possible - the poison can be deadly if enough invades the body." He pauses a moment, reaches into his robe, and hands each of you a square vial with a urine-yellow liquid inside. "Take this antitioxin. It will strengthen your resistance to such poisons for a time."
He resumes walking, taking a sharp left turn that finally brings you to the outside of the temple, facing north. "Three, the best way to deal with that..." For a moment, he seems at a loss for words. "That sound, that hissing sound...combat it with your own voices. Shouting, screaming, or singing- whatever you feel might help you block it out."
Far too soon, you have descended the wide stairs, looped around the back of the Temple, and you find yourselves facing the narrow steps leading down into the dark.
"Are you ready?"
"It's not very lady like to scream and shout because of a mere spider." Inam replies, winking at So Khong.
Adopting a more serious demeanor, she adds "I'm likely as ready as I'm going to be. Lets make certainly the sacrifices of those poor defensively creatures wasn't in vain!. Stoney, Ibinu, shall I lead us in?"
"Oh! Stoney, can you say cara? It's a sylph word, but a simple one. If we ever get separated down there, we'll use that word to ensure we aren't being tricked. Agreed?"
Not sure i'll ever be ready to die, so lets see about living through this one. Ibinu says as he downs the liquid and then deposits the empty vial in his belt pouch. After a brief pause he takes out his sword and steadies himself both mentally and in resolve. Before we enter, I forgot to attend to my damaged physique from helping the guard, would you be 'So" kind...Mr. Inqi?Ibinu smiles at his pun on So Khong's name as his eyes dance haughtily towards the large oread,
The inquisitor's face is absolutely still in response to Inam's and Ibinu's jokes. He spits out an abrupt syllable, "好好," and Ibinu immediately feels his fatigue disappear.
Did that sylph just try to joke with the humorless priest? Freaking chicken, bad names, and even worse jokes. This should be fun.
Slowly saying the oddly familiar word, "Ca ra." Where have I heard that before?
Looking back at SO Khong and trying to keep the rumbling growl out her voice that seems to pop out whenever she looks at him, "Since you are handing out healing would you mend this wound I have on my shoulder?" Turing just enough to should So Khong but not enough to let him out of sight.
Uttering a similar syllable, So Khong makes a brief, clinical contact with your shoulder. The pain subsides.
Nodding and mumbling, "Thank you, that should make this easier."
Looking forward, "Well lets get this over with then."
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Well in the game of rock river wind it is always rock that leads before wind and river conquer. So Ms. Rocky, lets roll..Ibinu mockingly bows to Kallik and motions her through the door.
Clinching her jaw. I did this to my self. I did this to myself. Damn it all! Tightening her grip Kallik starts down the stairs.
Taking a deep breath to steel her nerves, the air folk draws her sword. With one last look towards the temple's interior, she follows Kallik down into the dark unknown.
Well, there's no turning back now...Volcano...Etrah...Protect me!
Pulling a copper from his pouch, drawing the fauchard with his other hand, Ibinu slows his pace just enough to not rush over or past Inam.
At the bottom of the stairs, you pass through a wooden door, still ajar from Inam's earlier encounter. You are now in a long, straight corridor, much different than the twisting hallways above. The bloody triangle Inam witnessed So Khong inscribe into the wall glares at you, but it appears to be flaking. Three small, slimy corpses--they appear to be darkspawn--are slumped in front of the triangle.
The three slimy corpses do not move as you approach them. Brinn gives all of them a cautious prod, the point of his spear eliciting a little squelch each time. The things resemble a rotten seafood dinner. Tiny, sharp teeth and two tiny, hard eyes are embedded in a bulbous, fleshy mass that approximates a head. Failed attempts at claws and hands sprout from random places. The smell emanating from them has hints of raw sewage and toxic alchemy.
Brinn walks next to Kallik. Out of the corner of her eye, Kallik sees the undine freeze with involuntary horror as another rotten-seafood darkspawn drops from the ceiling onto his head. After a moment's struggle, Brinn manages to rip the thing off and toss it five feet away with stiff revulsion. His face is covered with dozens of small scratches. His breathing is labored, with a faint sound of keening fear behind it.
ibinu steps quickly to the side but still a step behind Kallik and scans the room for more of the vile creatures.
As his eyes scan the ceiling he prepares his sword to pierce into any creature attacking from above him.
Damn should have gone with an axe! Wide eyed Kallik takes a step back so that she has space to swing her polearm at the creature.
"Back to the Dark, wretched thing!" Inam swings her greatsword overhanded toward the spawn. At the apex of the arc, the sword bursts into blinding red flame. On Inam's shoulder, Etrah's feathers are lit up in crimson and amber tones. A squish as skin is parted; a clang as the sword hits the floor; a sizzle as the flame consumes dark flesh.
The sword's fire goes out. A false-purple afterimage, crescent-shaped, dances before all of your eyes.
Brinn tries for a false bravado. "Well then...on-onward!" He looks away from the rest of you, hiding his face.
Raising an eyebrow at Inam's rather dramatic killing of that creature. Figures it would be fire.
Reaching out an lightly touching Brinn's shoulder, "Before we continue. What is wrong?"
Brinn looks at you. Most of the scratches seem superficial, but the sheer number of them have transformed his handsome face into a mask of naked pain.
"Lady Kallik. There is nothing wrong. Our path is clear. The...the right thing to do, given this 'blessing' we have received, is clear. Strength and bravery will come with time, I am sure. For now, I will do my utmost to fake such virtues." He gives you a heart-breaking smile, and walks down the stairs.
"My poor Brinn, that looks painful."
Prompted by a gentle nudge from Etrah, Inam looks down at her hands. Glancing over to Kallik and back at her hands, she looks up.
"Does it hurt? Perhaps I could help."
It worked once...could it happen again?
"It hurts a great deal." He looks at your hands as well. "I suppose I prefer your ministrations to those of our beloved So Khong. He might just harvest my organs soon as heal me." He tries to joke, but his words come out strained.
Hey look, healing from someone more lovely than So...wait a minute that includes almost everyone...or anyone. Hmm I know that was SO...lame Ibinu guffaws at the group as he proceeds down the hallway.
Stepping up to Brinn, Inam cautiously...tentatively reaches out and touches the undines face. A few moments pass and nothing hapens. Withdrawing her hand she frowns.
"I'm sorry...I guess it was a one time thing."
The sylph pats her companion reassuringly on the back. Suddenly a loud crack errupts as a blindly light shoots from her shoulder into the injured being.
"Oh bata cac!" she screams.
With a deep breath, slightly more calm, she adds "Uh, that feel better?"
Narrowing her eyes and watching Brinn. Water is mutable. He should improve over time.. I hope.
Brinn gasps in shock. The scratches on his face shrink, then close entirely, lending a strange motion to his face for a few seconds. A shadow of his humor returns - he cocks his head to the side and says, "Should I be thanking you, or Etrah for that?"
You all go down the stairs cautiously, but see nothing out of place. Your footsteps echo, echo, echo down the black, glassy walls. Another hallway stretches before you - wider than the first, and flanked by barred cells on either side. This must be where prisoners of the Temple are held, as Eo mentioned to Inam earlier. The first few cells you pass are empty, and neatly made.
Distracted by recent events or your own individual troubles, none of you hear a soft whimper ahead. A moment later, at the edge of your darkvision, you see an elen huddled behind a shield, with their back to one of the cells.
In a weak voice, a faltering tenor voice stammers, "Ssstay back, false creatures! I am not deceived!"
"My dear Brinn, the thanks would go to Volcano. Etrah may be my guide, but anything I do right in this world is of Volcano. I'm not worthy without the Warrior." she advises with a respectful curtsy.
Following the corridor in silence, her thoughts distract her. Is there a way to control this new skill? Volcano, am I to select the recipients...or are you?. Looking over her left shoulder at the avian perched there she muses Too bad you can't talk. Well...talk in a way I can understand. This would be so much easier! And less painful than your typical bites...
"OH" gasps the sylph, starteled by the elen's sudden appearance. "L...Lui is it? We are here to help... Uh... Eo sent us."
Stopping in her tracks, she whispers to her companions "Let's give the guard a moment. We needn't frighten her more."
Aloud she adds "Are you hurt? We've had some luck fixing wounds as of late."
Ibinu turns to face away from the group and watches and waits while the others decide what needs to be done with the guard.
The guard starts visibly at Inam's words. Peeking over his shield, embossed with the red triangle of Volcano, you see a young ifrit, marked with signs of an undine heritage. "You know my name? Thank Volcano! We must be quick. I have an injured inquis-"
His words are cut short by the scrabbling of claws across the obsidian floor - behind you. Come from two of the cells you passed a moment ago come five crystalline-looking darkspawn. Scythe-like arms protrude from faceted torsos. One of the spawn, larger than the others, looks at all of you, as if assessing the situation.
Falling back so that she is no longer in the front and opting to be in the middle instead, polearms need more space. Stopping but being quiet while Inam does the talking.
Great! Of course there are more. Looking at the guard, "There is someone else down here? Where?" She will wait for an answer before turning back around to face the darkspawn.
Turning towards the noise, Inam draws her trusted sword. Volcano help us!
As her mentor hops from her shoulder, he licks her neck.
"Have at you cowards! Come meet a worthy foe!" she screams, echoing through the near empty dungeon.
Facing the onslaught already, Ibinu moves the waved sword into a better position for attack in a corridor.
I hate things who are to cowardly to attack from fair ground ... the front. I'll bet the big one is the head of this motley crew. That's where i'll focus I know the others got my back..well atleast i know kallik does.
Trinh and Bang quickly become aware of the nearby danger. Trinh stands up and readies her longbow.
Lui still sits and cowers behind his shield, staying in front of Trinh's cell. Upon closer inspection, one of his legs is broken at a sickening angle. In response to Kallik's question, he says, "Mistress Bian is behind me."
Ibinu stabs at the larger spawn, but the thing has speed that belies its size; it jumps back, then springs forward in a counterattack.
Inam swings at an oncoming darkspawn, but the thing stops short, as if anticipating her blow. The sword touches only air.
Brinn and Kallik both make contact with their polearms, but the points skitter off the armor of the darkspawn .
The darkspawn move forward, silent save for their claws. Two of the smaller ones hang back with the larger. The larger one slices at Ibinu, but it is only a glancing blow . The two spawn that rushed forward do not attack - they seem more intent on dodging attacks.
Now that the crystalline beasts are closer, they almost resemble headless wolves, apart from the scythe-claws that sprout from their torsos. Where a neck would normally be, there is instead a small crack, which pulsates with a dark purple light.