When the arrow strikes the first of the hidden figures, there is a roar as four heavily armoured humanoids charge out of their hiding places...
...and, as soon as they reach the bottleneck in the cave, Nike charges...
The first of the humanoids falls under the combined blows of Tychi and Nike but before the monk and his companion can retreat, they are caught in the strange glare of the other approaching men.
Nike will charge to the point indicated, charging the one in front of her. Nike will then flurry, switching targets if the first one goes down.
Tychi then flurry powerattack's 2-handed. He spends a point of Ki for an extra attack.
Carran takes a 5-foot step back so he has a better aim on whoever is still left standing and unloads a volley of arrows on the group of men before him, focusing on the one that's aboviously hurt the most first.
Between them, Carran and Tychi make short work of two of the leading guards...the final one lumbering forward, his skin a strange amalgam of metal and flesh, raises his sword to attack...
...and then a woman's voice cries out, "Stop!!! Enough!!!", and the guard's sword lowers...
From around the corner where the voice called from, comes the sound of someone walking...hard heels against the stone floor...
Nike steps backward through the opening until she's within arm's reach of Carran, in case Tychi needs to jerk the fellow up onto the Unicorn for a retreat.
Carran gets close to Nike as well and keeps poised to jump on Nike's back and get away. He keeps his eyes and ears peeled for any signs of either the source of the woman's voice or the source of the hard heels that approach.
Striding out, with some purpose from a far door, a tall horned woman carrying a pistol introduces herself, "Thankyou, thankyou...let's just all calm down, shall we?" You have destroyed what we had here...the mining operation will take months to recover, my Ettin friend has few of his tribe left...and my Orixium...my poor Orixium"
"I think...that a truce may be in order...we can carry on taking chunks out of each other...Murg-Nurk has a few more ogres and I have my consorts...but where would it lead us? Me dead? You dead? Why? For what?"
The Tiefling ponders for a moment, "I have something of yours...you are welcome to it...it makes a poor plaything. All I ask is you let me go...I have no desire to die on behalf of my 'so-called' benefactor...what say you?"
Tychi / Carran - the Tiefling appears to be alone
Carran frowns and raises an eyebrow at Tychi and Nike. He smells the air in front of him deeply and tries to make out any more scents besides from the ones he can see.
After that he looks at the tiefling and starts to converse with her.
"Let you go huh? You should at least tell us your name and the name of your so-called benefactor before we give in to any compassion or demands."
Nike gets an uncomfortable feeling from the woman...her senses tingle in the presence of evil...but Tychi's intuition suggests that she is being genuine with her offer of a truce. Carran can't smell anything untoward...maybe the slight scent of ogre and Ettin...and undertones of human.
"You may have my name...I am Metruni, born of farmers in the Sesaro Dell; my appearance, I'm sad to say, made me outcast...a wanderer of the wastes. That's where I met my benefactor...some noble from Alkenstar - he never shared his name nor did I ever care for it...he pays my way, and I kept an eye on his operation here...but that's all finished now I guess"
"So...would you like your friend back? I offered him Haagenti's gift...but he didn't want it...he's seen better days actually"
Tychi nudges Nike in the ribs, and speaks. "Under normal circumstances, I would decline your offer. However, given the realities, while I certainly believe I could kill you before you could escape or hurt the good Major, I cannot take that risk, given it is not my life I would be risking. Therefore, if we can come to an agreement..." He looks to Cathan to see if he objects, and if there is no objection, continues. "...I believe we can arrange for you to leave. The conditions, from our side, would be that you leave, with all your followers. You would need to leave Alkenstar and it's environments, at least 1 week from it. You would take no slaves with you, and you would release any other slaves you have without injuring them. Any evil creatures that will not abide by your agreement you would need to dispose of before you left. Finally, you would need to tell us what your benefactor paid you to do here, in detail. In exchange, I and my steed will escort you to the exit of the cave, ensuring you are not molested, and see you safely on your way. You can take anything with you that you can carry. Do we have an agreement."
”It is a fair offer and, for my part, you need have no worry…life was getting boring here anyway. Murg-Nurk, myself and my poor consort here will strike out to the north…fresh adventure keeps the soul alive…I was never welcome in Alkenstar anyway, the Wastes have always been my home. As to what happens here…it’s quite simple really…we mine Eidite and send it topside for further refinement…course the stuff’s damnably unstable and as poisonous as all hell – hence our reducing quota of slaves. What did you do to those guys anyway?”
Metruni pauses for a moment, ”Give me ten minutes, I have little that I wish to take with me…and there is the matter of your friend’s eyes…”
Tychi nods, and Nike snorts irritably.
"Know this, tiefling. I hold no scorn for thy kind, for thy kind did not choose thine parents. However, thou hath chosen evil. If we should meet again, and thou hast not forsworn thy path, I shall cleanse this world of thy evil taint. Not for thy blood, for that thou hadst no choice in, but for thy choices." The unicorn says, her eyes unblinking. "Dwell on thy life, and ask thyself if this is truly the life thou wisheth to live. Forever beset by evil, never trusting anyone save thy more honorable enemies. Evil is a house divided, forever doomed to internal strife and bloodshed." The unicorn's voice is low and clear, and takes on the cadence of one reciting a formal ritual.
Tychi clears his throat. "And did thy benefactor have a coat of arms? Did he have red hair? Yellow hair? Black hair? Was he human, or other?"
Carran seems to rest easy now against the wall, plucking his bowstring and fidgeting with arrows as the others talk.
Heh, they mostly do the talking, saves me my breath. Also them asking my questions saves me the trouble of doing it.
The Tiefling listens as Nike makes her speech....and then merely shrugs before answering Tychi, "He carried the badge of office for an Alkenstar High Minister...his hair was dark and his eyes...he had a gaze sharp enough to claw your own eyes out"
Gesturing to you, Metruni bids you follow her into her chambers, "Come...let me pack and you may be reunited with your friend"
Also, I look forward to you guys explaining things to The Major.
Leading you into her chambers, Metruni opens the door to what is clearly some kind of temple or shrine...
The ceiling of this worship chamber is easily fifty feet high, a fine altar encircled by an eerie iron frame takes up the northern corner of the room. An intricately crafted crystal battleaxe stands blade-up in the center of the altar, its handle set into the altar’s stone. Torches within wall sconces light the entire chamber.
...and there, tied to the altar, lies Major Luke Rand...alive and, despite the injury to his eyes, in reasonably good condition...
"I believe you know each other?"
The Tiefling and her Ettin 'companion' mostly ignore you as they start to sort through the shelves in the room and throw the occasional trinket into a couple of crates...
"Major Luke Rand, Retired. You are well?" Tychi asks, his voice dry and droll. "We have come to an understanding, the mines are being abandoned by the last three survivors. You are being returned unharmed, and they are leaving this area of the world. It is not the best of solutions, but it is the best one available given your current predicament." The tengu sounds faintly disapproving.
The unicorn in the background snorts and stamps her foot, sending sparks flinging, obviously quite unhappy with the situation.
Carran looks over at the Luke Rand and approaches slowly, his hands still on his bow and glancing sideways toward Metruni and her companions.
I don't trust her. We'll see if she upholds her end of the bargain. For now let's see if we can Luke back fully.
When he's near the Major, he holds his hand before his eyes, waves a bit to check if his sight has returned at all, then murmurs softly.
"You okay? You think you can walk? Did they say anything interesting to you while you were here?"
Carran says as he moves to untie the Major from his place.
"I believe we had a wager, and I'm pretty sure I just won."
Turning towards the sound of the group's voice, Luke will say "So it sounds like you guys had some excitement. Sounds like you've managed to help secure Alkenstar as well. Good work all!"
The major seems in good spirits, blindness and all.
The tiefling stops searching through her parchments when Major Luke Rand mentions the wager, "Aaaaah!!! Yes, there was that... Let me see to that". Reaching for a dagger at her side, she sashays over to the restrained Major and, holding the blade above his head, turns to Tychi and Carran..."Trust me..."
Carran lifts his bow and aims for her, his eyes never twitching.
"If you do anything else but cure him, you'll die on the spot."
Closing her eyes, Metruni grimaces as she slices the dagger over her palm…she whispers quickly to herself and allows the blood from her hand to spill onto Major Luke Rand’s face where it fizzes and steams…”There…I could have given you so much more….but a wager is a wager Major”. Stepping away from the altar and returning to her parchments, Metruni indicates that she needs only a few more minutes to prepare
Major Luke Rand, there is a spattering of something warm on your face…slightly unpleasant but not painful…and then, almost as if being drawn out of a pitch black pit, light streams into your mind again…colours, shapes, images…it takes several minutes for you to focus on your surroundings – and Tychi, Nike and Carran standing before you.
Blinking from the return of light, Luke will say "Ah, that's much better. So, where do we stand?"
"Okay...that's everything...time to leave this forsaken hole in the ground forever...Murg-Nurk?", Metruni points out two large chests and the Ettin, grunting tucks one under each arm and stands by the door.
"Take either of the lifts up...you'll come out about 5 miles or so south of the old Dwarven factory... Megator Facient... That's where your Alkenstar fellow is working on those Guardians of yours... Course, he's got it a lot more guarded than here..."
"Thank you for being honorable." Luke says to the tiefling, completely unfazed by her race or appearance.
Tychi nods, and then he and Nike escort the two out. They also make sure that the halflings are not molested as the two leave. Once they are gone, and the halflings and Mr. Not Figwidget are ensured are safe, he returns.
"The tiefling is on her way. We should assume she will send a warning to her former employer, as we did not require her not to. So we should proceed assuming they are aware of our approach." He tilts his head. "Do you think we should return to town and inform our benefactor's of the progress thus far? You have also been exposed to magics we have no control over, I would think it might be prudent to have you looked at and ensured that you have not been cursed or affected by blight." He eyes the Major.
All things considered, the major seems in good spirits.
"If you think that is wise, then I am all for returning to town, but I would caution that if someone is intentionally churning out bad guardians, then we should move to stop them as soon as we can."
"Agreed, but rushing ahead, blindly, without plans, will result in our capture... or worse..." The Tengu says with a chuff, turning his head to star at Rand out of one black eye.
Nike snorts, scraping her horn tip on the wall to make a few sparks to underscore the words. "Agreed. Also, we should get supplies, we are going to be low on healing very shortly, especially with Figwidget having mentioned he's not continuing on with us. Which leaves only me, and the wand. If we're going forward with such things, we should spend a day to get a custom sling to hold the wands for me, so I can manipulate them with my mouth." She mimes drawing the wand from her side with her mouth and touching it to something.
"Ya, we can probably get some potions in town as well. I'm just not looking forward to trekking through the Mana Wastes on foot. It's not something a sane person does lightly."
Nike snorts. "It is only a few hours, at top speed. I will take Tychi back first, then return, and carry the two of you back again. I have made the trip a couple of times now. There are very few things that can keep up with me."
Returning to daylight, it takes a good while for your eyes to adjust to the bright sun searing the wastelands before you. Wherever Figwidget, the escaped slaves and, for that matter, Metruni and her gang have escaped to is not clear...there are several rocky hills and mountains with obvious pathways that they could have taken...one can only hope that the slaves are safe now...
It takes two trips, during which time the sun slowly settles on the western horizon, for Nike to bring everyone safely back to the gates of Alkenstar...where you are greeted by several surly Shieldmarshalls, "We lock the gates at sundown...you are fortunate we are here to grant you access...but before you enter, what business had you in the Wastes? You do not look like merchants?"
"We are currently on a mission for the city, which is still ongoing and of a rather....sensitive nature that we am not authorized to discuss with you." Pausing for a moment, The Major adds "Why are you here to meet us? This is most unusual."
"The Brass Guardians are still malfunctioning...the Councillors won't take them off the streets though...the best we can do is control who goes in and out if the city. What do you mean, you aren't authorised to discuss with us? How do we know you are not enemies of our city? Who are you working for?", the marshals are indignant at being told there is information that you won't share.
"Now now, there is no need for anger." Nike says with a small huff and trots forward, shaking her head. Her horn glints in the sunset, and her mane flows in the wind. "The Major, retired, speaks the truth. We are bound by oath not to discuss the issue with anyone. I can say that it has to do with the safety of the city. We are reporting back on our findings. As a Paladin of Ragathiel, will you accept my word on this?" The unicorn asks, her voice lilted with a sylvan accent.
The Shieldmarshalls converse amongst themselves for a moment, there is clearly some difference of opinion as to what to do with you and whether you should be allowed in the city at all...but eventually common sense prevails and one of the Marshalls waves you through...
"Sergeant over there says you must be the folk who took down the Guardian in the Market Square the other week...normally we'd not be letting folks in on 'Secret Business' but you gotta be doing something right...in yer go..."
"While in town, we should split up. One of us should get the shopping done, someone should follow up on the halflings, and someone else should go and give our employer an update on what is going on and where we are headed in case we don't survive."
Tychi nods. "I will talk with our employer then. I am not good at shopping, people raise the prices when they see my feathers. Also, you were not there when we dealt with the teifling. Therefore, it falls to either myself or Carran to deal with talking to the woman. I believe Nike and I are somewhat more diplomatic and used to reporting details of explorations to those we assist. Perhapse Carran could look after the halflings, and you could shop?"
Nike shakes her head. "I would check on the halflings, birdbrain. You deal with the woman, I'll accompany Carran to check on them and Not Figwidget."
Tychi whistles in amusement. "Ah, well, I appear to have been put in my place for being too presumptious." The tengu rolls off the back of the saddle, flipping into a backflip to land on his feet behind Nike.
Carran nods in agreement to Tychi's statement. "I'll keep an eye out on those halflings. I'm not sure if they've even arrived yet, seeing as we could use Nike's speed to cross the desert again."
"They did have several days lead though, given we took extra time to rescue the blind major, and escort the tiefling out of the caverns to ensure she didn't renege on her agreement."
"Guess it falls to me to do the shopping. Give me what we have to sell, your lists of what you need and the money to pay for it, and I'll get it taken care of."