From his hidden vantage, rubs his eyes in disbelief, and looks again, his peepers agog.
"Buddies' britches! I'm seeing it, but I ain't believing it!"
Marsden manages to break free from his distracted captors.
" Lord of Light! Surely this is the champion you spoke of!
Hurrying to Rua's side he, loosens the straps on his armor and inspects the gaping wound in his shoulder. He mutters something close to the dazed warriors ear. Rua nods, slack-jawed and starting into the distance. The cleric brace himself, mutters a prayer and gingerly works his fingers into the wound to the knuckle. The sky darkens for a moment and Rua's chest glows for a second with golden light. The priest mutters his incantation, again, and again each time followed by another pulse of energy.
The chanting has broken off, to be replaced with excited chattering. A grizzled warrior steps into the circle and attempts to pull the priest of him
"Get your hands of him honky, he's tapu!
Rua raises his hand weakly and mutters something inaudible
The warrior nods and releases his grasp on the cleric. "My apologies tohunga..." He turns to address the crowd "Keep it down you fullas, the chief's crook, eh? Jackson and Levi, giz the tohunga a hand to move the chief into the tower. Hori, youse fullas better go see to the wounded. Rawiri, the chief has put you in charge of the Pakeha. Uncle, the chief wants a korero, eh?
The warriors move to their appointed tasks: Rua is helped to his feet and is assisted into the ruined tower with Marsden hovering at his side. Hikioi's body lies in the dirt ignored by all.
Rawiri, , leads you to a campfire close to the tower "Rua, I mean The Chief has given you his protection.None of these fullas will harm you now. You best rest up here and have a fee. We got some hori business to get through tonight but I'll try to get you fullas out of here in the morning, eh?"
Benzo skulks about in a puzzled way before deducing that the balance of power has well and truly shifted. He wanders down out of the brush to join his companions.
"Hi team! It's me. Well, that was really something, huh! I was just about to rescue you guys too! Might've been a bit tricky though, phew!"
He bites his lip.
"Listen, I dunno how to break this so I'll just say it. The Sheriff didn't make it. That was about as a bad a wound he took as I've ever heard of. But he died knowing his killer was in grip of justice, I caught up with that rotter and he's tied up in trees back a ways. Tied up a couple of these tribal fellers as tried it on also!"
"So, um, anybody want to come back with me and fetch these guys? Maybe I can let the tribesmen go, I guess we're all pals now, is that right? This Bruce guy though - he needs to go to jail and have a good long think... I tell ya, there's not much in this tired old world worse than a betrayer!"
His heavy black brows knit together fiercely and he punches his palm.
"So who's coming back with me!?!?!" he chirps.
Benzo looks askance at Lambert momentarily.
"Oh, still a monkey, huh? Okay."
I'll assume that any interjection Vizigog might want to make will include gettin' looting ASAP.
"Oh, still a monkey, huh? Okay."
Lambert backflips off Baasa's back, morphing into human form as he does so
"Shuddup dick. I'm not a monkey. I'm an ape!"
The party wanders back down the hill to the battlefield. Rua's men are seeing to the wounded and laying out the bodies of the fallen warriors into two piles. The bodies of the sheriff and his men have been set to one side; Their bodies seem unmolested but they have been divested of their weapons and valuables.
A portly warrior, evidently the one in charge wanders over.
"Eh, you fullas f*cken did a number on us eh? That big monkey of yours is tumeke, eh? He gestures to a pile of corpses and assorted body parts "That pile over there, that's the fullas you killed. They're all patu now. Whatever you can find amongst the offal is yours. You wanna bucket? I can get you a bucket if you need one"
Gingerly sorting through the dismembered savages, Vizigog is able to recover the following
4 Jade tikis
6 Bone tikis
5 spinels
2 greenstone mere
Meanwhile, Benzo, Lambert and Baasa see to the captives. All three are still unconscious. Bruce looks particularly bad, he may need medical attention if he is to make it back to town alive.
He has in his possession:
2 evil looking daggers
An erotic (and now disturbingly bloodstained) depiction of a washerwoman and a hobgoblin in an erotic embrace
A small pouch containing 24gp and 12sp.
The savages are untied and duly put in the recovery position by Benzo. Baasa cradles Bruce in the crook of his huge arm like a swaddled child and wanders back to the battlefield.
As they emerge from the bushes, Vernon hurries up "The prof sent me a message, he's holed up with the captives about a click back up the path. He had to put em to sleep to be safe but it worked a little to well... We gotta go fetch em and drag em back..."
By sundown the party are gathered around the campfire. Tsuto lies prone, still asleep. Lyrie, her hands bound, sits sullenly staring into the campfire. The fallen Moa are roasted unceremoniously over a huge fire; Rawiri brings a huge cut of Moa breast and kumura to share and presents a delighted Baasa with a giant drumstick.
The natives continue their celebrations long into the night, dancing and singing around the blazing bonfire. Of Rua there is no sign.
Meanwhile, Benzo, Lambert and Baasa see to the captives. All three are still unconscious. Bruce looks particularly bad, he may need medical attention if he is to make it back to town alive.
He has in his possession:2 evil looking daggers
An erotic (and now disturbingly bloodstained) depiction of a washerwoman and a hobgoblin in an erotic embrace
A small pouch containing 24gp and 12sp.
Benzo waves one of the (for him) over-size daggers around. Balance doesn't feel quite right for a little feller. He lost his last blades though, and you never know when you'll need to cut a slice of cheese and/or zombie after all.
"Hey Lambert! Do you reckon these daggers is magic or anything?"
He got clocked by a tribesman and was taken down to 1hp. At this point you felt it would be appropriate to beat him unconscious. He's not looking good.
"Hey Lambert! Do you reckon these daggers is magic or anything?"
Lambert scratches his head "Faaa, I don't reckon. We should hold onto them tho, theys what kilt the sheriff, eh? Hows anyone gonna know we didn't kill em?"
He smiles up at Baasa
"But I guess if we killed him he'd be all torn to bits, eh?"
He pats him lovingly on the muzzle
"Hey Lambert! Do you reckon these daggers is magic or anything?"Lambert scratches his head "Faaa, I don't reckon. We should hold onto them tho, theys what kilt the sheriff, eh? Hows anyone gonna know we didn't kill em?"
"Evidence! Of course, right."
Benzo stashes the daggers.He thinks to himself for a moment, then sidles up to Lambert.
"Check it out..." he whispers out one side of his mouth.
Folding back the inside lapel of his robe, he displays the steel star of deputydom.
"Before he died, the Sheriff deputized me."
Benzo waggles his eyebrows.
"So I care about evidence now," he adds.
Benzo has a word with Rawri when he returns to camp
" The honky tohunga? He's busy with the chief but I know someone else who can help"
Rawiti wanders off into the night and returns with a sheepish looking Uncle.
"Aw, hey you fullas. Funny how things work out, eh? Rua reckons he still has some use for me so I'm noone's dinner tonight. Thanks for getting rid of that Nooallya chick, the chief.... aw, I mean that other guy took me back just like I said. No hard feelings, eh? I reckon I owe you one. I'll have a look at this wasted fulla, eh?"
Uncle waddles over to the still unconscious Bruce.
" Aue, this c*nt looks like he's f*cked. I'll give it a go, but."
He lays his hands on the turncoat and mutters a few words. A pulse of green light surges from his palms and Bruce seems to breathe a little easier.
" That should help but he looks like he's been out a while. If he ever wakes up he might be a bit retarted, eh?"
He turns to leave but pauses and turns to Lambert
" Hey boy. You and your monkey ever wanna learn some green-fulla makutu just let me know. maybe we could both learn something' eh?
Uncle shuffles off towards the smell of boiling moa and puha
He turns to leave but pauses and turns to Lambert
" Hey boy. You and your monkey ever wanna learn some green-fulla makutu just let me know. maybe we could both learn something' eh?
Uncle shuffles off towards the smell of boiling moa and puha
"Remember when I had that guy tied up but then he turned a big eagle and flew off? Turning into an eagle must be pretty great huh! Pretty great animal to be able to turn into, yes sir. Super useful."
Benzo looks sidelong at Lambert.
"Not that there's anything wrong with apes. I'm just sayin'."
Benzo looks sidelong at Lambert.
"Not that there's anything wrong with apes. I'm just sayin'."
Lambert huffs in derision " Yeah, turning into a bird is cool, but only if you need to run away all the time. Me an Baasa are more into making other fulla's run away from us. Well, until we pull thier legs off, eh?
The adventurers fall asleep to the sound of tribal drums and revelry. The night passes without incident.
Benzo, rouses himself just before dawn to practice his kata. The hilltop is silent; warriors lie around smoking campfires, wrapped in their cloaks, presumably sleeping off the excesses of the night before. Camp followers move through the gloom, gathering and pounding fernroot for the morning meal. A pair of guards, standing at the entrance to the ruined tower, eye the hobbit briefly before returning to their conversation.
Before Benzo can complete more than two cycles a commotion breaks the silence. A conch is blown and the assorted warriors stir from their rest. A slight figure enters the clearing: he is a half-orc, evidently a member of the tribe, but, judging by his height and slender physique, not a warrior. He leads a line of riding beasts, 4 tall , nimble looking Moa and a large fearsome beast. As the bizarre parade approaches you recognize it as Hikioi's axe-beak - the creature is the worse for wear after it's flight through the undergrowth, but seems calm and under control.
A portly figure staggers out of the ruined tower and rubs his eyes in amazement
"What's this? The Manaia? I thought we were rid of that bloody thing, fat load of good it did the Ch...."
Uncle catches himself, evidently there is some tapu around speaking of the dead..
"And whose this? Wait... You're Hoiho's son aren't you? What the hell are you doing here?"
The Manaia seems agitated at the sight of the druid. The young man turns and strokes its beak to calm it.
" Manaia are difficult to raise and even harder to train, and not everyone has the mana to ride one. The fool who stole him for you is lucky he got all the way to Upoko Kino without it eating him. Faaa! The only reason he didn't gut you all the first chance he got was that you kept him weak from hunger. Looks like you beat him too, you should be ashamed!" The young man stamps his foot indignantly
Uncle shrugs his shoulders "He wanted a Manaia, so we got him one. I used my makutu to keep it under control at first but when that white b*tch turned up they chucked me off the island. Looks like they tried to beat it into submission... Anyway, what are you doing here boy?
The youth straightens up and fixes Uncle with an intense stare " I am Korora, one of the few alive that can train the mania to accept a rider. That I was here to witness the ascension of the Turehu is surely no accident. I will restore the vitality of the Manaia and train it to accept the Turehu as it's master, this is the ancestors will."
Uncle sneers and opens his mouth to speak but is interrupted before he can ridicule the youth
"Aye, you speak true, Korora, son of Hoiho. The ancestors have spoken of this. Your dreams of glory will have to wait"
Rua stands in the doorway, his chest swaddled in bandages. The guards lower their eyes in respect as he passes.
He approaches the great bird without fear and rests his hand on its razor sharp beak. The bird lowers it's head and allows Rua to scratch its neck
" You bucked and heaved like Raumoko in Papatuanukus' womb and my enemy fell to the ground. I name you Ru, the earthquake."
The gathered crowd murmurs its approval at before moving back to their campfires. Rua issues a command to one of his guards and Ko and the Moa are led away. He glances at Benzo monetarily, nods in acknowledgement and returns to the tower. A few moments later Uncle emerges and hurries over.
"The Turehu is pleased to see survived the battle. He knows you are eager to return to your people but would speak with you before you go. He asked that you bring your friend, the green one with the ears of a little girl..."
Benzo goes off and locates Vizigog.
"Hey Mister Vizigog, Rua wants to jaw with the two of us."
"I think he's a chief now or something. But what about the old chief back at Ruapekapeka? I dunno how it works. I'm just a kid from the monastery."
He throws out a couple of kicks at the air, to emphasise the fact that he is just a kid from the monastery.
Pulling his luxurious Kiwi feather cloak close around his shoulders, Eustace Vizigog steps gingerely through the mud, over to the small patch of grass where Benzo is posing with foot upraised.
"Yes by all means man, lead the way. And I should say Mr Wickerfloat, you're presence was sorely missed during that unsavoury hullaballoo with our friend, the native phenom," He flicks his fingers down at his feet and with a few pink sparks the mud is struck from his fine Honu leather boots.
Vizigog cast cantrip: REPEL DIRT
"But I can gladly say Im pleased the chief and I's dinner date has been cancelled and that I confess its good to see that you're still in one peace old boy, ...that past sport got a bit rowdy what?"
The Man-Orc shrugged in his fine sky-blue silk blouse and set to straighten his enormous brass headdress, before extending his arm from Benzo, "After you." purred the grinning green rascal.
"Hey, I had eyes on ya Mister V, and a bullet in the pouch! If that tough old rascal got close enough to bite I'd have let fling and he'd a been drinking you throughs a straw instead."
The two amble back towards the tower.
"When all them ghosts started flying around our man Rua though, I dint know what was up and just kinda kicked back and watched 'til it seemed safe to come down."
"You know about magic and whatnot Mister V, what in all the broad green lands is going on?"
"You know about magic and whatnot Mister V, what in all the broad green lands is going on?"
Eustace toys with the sihedron amulet around his neck and ponders the Hobbits question...
Vizigog rolls for Spellcraft/Know Arcana...whichever is relevant they're both at +7
"You know about magic and whatnot Mister V, what in all the broad green lands is going on?"Eustace toys with the sihedron amulet around his neck and ponders the Hobbits question...
Vizigog rolls for Spellcraft/Know Arcana...whichever is relevant they're both at +7 1d20+7
Your rudimentary understanding of magical theory provides no enlightenment to what transpired. Your familiarity with manipulating magical energy enables you to determine something about the ebb and flow of the forces unleashed in the event.
When you first arrived you felt a faint aura of divine magic suffusing the hilltop but it was quite unlike anything you have experienced before; ancient, alien and with a subtle hint of necromancy.
The energy seemed to build in strength during the spectral light show, peaking during Rua's apparent ressurection.
This morning, the background energy seems much weaker in the general environment but, in your brief glimpse of Rua, he seemed to positively glow with it. You suspect that, whatever this energy is, Rua has now become it's living receptacle.
What happens next is I get a whole bunch of assignment deadlines. Will write up some more stuff next week.
A smiling and fawning Uncle leads you towards the ruined tower, lifts the hide hanging over the entrance and ushers you in. The tower is damp and gloomy and the main source of illumination a flickering campfire in the center of the room. the roof seems to have collapsed centuries ago and is open to the sky.
Rua sits cross legged in a one of a cluster of humpies that have been constructed against the tower walls. Marsden lies snoring on a pile of skins nearby.
Rua smiles as you enter and gestures for you to sit
”Welcome my friends. I apologize for not speaking to you sooner but, as you can imagine, I have had other issues to deal with. I understand that you are eager to continue on your journey as soon as you are able and I will make every effort to help you. But first, I have a favour to ask of you and... a gift”
He shifts in his seat, grimaces at the pain from his wound, and continues
“Long have I wished to see your kainga, Woodenhead, but I am afraid that I must remain here to gather my strength and deal with the consequences of my new.....status. I will send a group of my best men to accompany you to the edge of the forest, you may leave as soon as we are done here. The bodies of the sheriff and his men have been left unmolested, we will do what we can to assist you in taking them home so they may be laid to rest in the manner of your people.”
“Here is where I must ask for your help. There is bad blood between our people, the death of the sheriff's men at Hikioi’s command will not help with this. I ask that you explain that this was entirely Hikioi’s doing, that he was responsible for the raid on Woodenhead and that he is no longer a threat. The men who killed the deputies were slain by you and your companions, I offer you their bodies and that of Hikioi if you wish to take them as evidence that Utu has been satisfied”
“In return I can offer you guidance, the wisdom of the ancestors. Long have they whispered in my ear, begging me, mocking me, showing me glimpses of things I do not understand. Ask me a question and I will entreat them for information that will aid you in the tasks that lie ahead”
Vizigog has not even drawn breath before Benzo clambers all over him.
"WOAH WOAH WOAH Mister V, take it easy! Don't say nothing yet! We gotta think this through, we only got one shot!"
He mutters at Vizigog out the side of his mouth.
"I think we better ask how we're gonna beat the ancient evil under Woodenhead... somebody's gotta step up on that one y'know..."
He clears his throat and addresses Rua.
"We should DEFINITELY take all the bodies back to Woodenhead just like you said. Let me be clear - this is not a question for the ancestors. But - can you please lend us a horse and cart."
His eyes flicker skyward a moment.
"By the way, also, what exactly is your 'new status', Mr Rua? Seems like you're kind of a big wheel alla sudden!"
His eyes flicker skyward a moment.
"By the way, also, what exactly is your 'new status', Mr Rua? Seems like you're kind of a big wheel alla sudden!"
Rua smiles mysteriously
"Hikioi was a chief, I killed him, now I am the chief. At least I am to these men at least.That it happened here, and that it happened the way it did is going to worry some people..."
He sighs, and leans back onto his skins. He gestures and a servant produces a lit pipe. He takes a drag and blows a neat smoke ring.
"The details will bore you I'm sure. Lets just say I have come into an inheritance of sorts but how I spend it is my business...
He takes another toke..
"At the very least, I have brought our poor wayward brothers back into the bosom of the tribe. I am sure I will soon find out whether Titokawaru approves of my actions"
He takes a big long drag on the pipe and taps the spent cone into the fire. His servant nervously steps forward with a fresh pipe.
"I might not be a chief for long, I should try and enjoy it, eh?"
He clears his throat and addresses Rua.
"We should DEFINITELY take all the bodies back to Woodenhead just like you said. Let me be clear - this is not a question for the ancestors. But - can you please lend us a horse and cart."
" We do not have the things you ask for my friend but we can take you to where your tohunga hid his carriage. It is but half a days ride by Moa from here.
Exasperated at the impotence of his earlier attempts to control Hikioi, Eustace would rather put this episode behind him and scurry back to what locally constitutes civilisation.
"Sirrah, as you may know, our recent adventures have uncovered a cell of devious monster worshippers, active within the ancient Pa that the opoko kino called home. One source of this evil, an ancient font of wrath, lies beneath nearby Woodenhead. In order for us all to prosper, we must consider the wellbeing of the people of this town, therefore we must venture neath the streets, and stem this ejaculation of black magic."
The svelte ManOrc steps silently foward towards Rua before continuing,
"My question is this: How can we stem this emanating evil beneath Woodenhead, so that it may be banished from this realm forever?"
The svelte ManOrc steps silently forward towards Rua before continuing,
"My question is this: How can we stem this emanating evil beneath Woodenhead, so that it may be banished from this realm forever?"
"A worthy question my friend. I hope the ancestors will favour you will an answer"
He closes his eyes and mutters a waiata under his breath. A chill enters the tower, the ground seems to vibrate with a steady rhythm. Rua's eyes snap open, burning with an eerie green light. He speaks with a voice of a thousand dead souls
"The pool of rage hungers. To starve it, feed it."
He shudders and falls back into the arms of his servant, drenched in sweat. Warmth returns to the room and the ground stills. Marsden, roused from his slumber, rushes forward in alarm.
"My lord, you are far too weak, you must rest!"
Light spills into the gloom as the hide hanging in the door is pushed aside. Uncle's head is silhouetted by the morning light.
"Come on you fullas, leave the chief be. You gotta get going if you wanna get back to your Kainga by sunset, eh?"
He closes his eyes and mutters a waiata under his breath. A chill enters the tower, the ground seems to vibrate with a steady rhythm. Rua's eyes snap open, burning with an eerie green light. He speaks with a voice of a thousand dead souls"The pool of rage hungers. To starve it, feed it."
"Shucks! It's just like one of Master Strokbeard's koans! A koan is kinda like a 'brain-teaser', Mister V. I can't say I've solved a bunch of them... I'll definitely meditate on this one later though..."
Benzo and Vizigig are ushered out of the tower into the bright morning light. The camp is a hive of activity; warriors line up at by a recently unearthed umu, receiving their morning repast. A line of Moa has been loaded with the bodies of the fallen. Bruces’ still unconscious body is draped unceremoniously across a Moas back under Vernons watchful eye. The professor and Lyrie seem to be having a heated argument, whilst Tsuto rocks and gibbers by the campfire.
Benzo helps with the packing and loading with his usual cheerful enthusiasm, whilst Vizigog, after seeing that his loot is safe and secured, produces his pipe and finds a sunny spot to observe the proceedings.
After enjoying a meal of wild tapir and watercress stew, the party prepares to leave (unless there is anything else you want to do?). Rawiri approaches, leading a brace of riding Moa ” Ready to go you fullas? Yeah? Let’s get a move on then.
The powerfully built Moaa are trained to hold a fully armored savage warrior and can easily carry two humans (or svelte man-orcs). Benzo and Vizigog share a mount, The Professor and an unbound Lyrie another, whilst Vernon rides with a trussed up Tsuto. Lambert sits atop Baasa’s powerful shoulders, scampering ahead or into the bushes to investigate interesting sounds and scents. A retainer leads the pack animals, whilst a pair of armored knights bring up the rear.
The party follows a faint path through the forest to the banks of a swift flowing river
You follow a faint path for the rest of the morning, reaching a clearing at the forests edge just after noon. A small circle of stones mark the center of the clearing, through the trees you see the wide plains that lie to the north of Woodenhead.
Rawiri dismounts and directs his men to begin unloading the bodies.
” The forest road lies a little way to the north of here, our scouts report your carriage is hidden nearby. I wish we could accompany you further - this circle marks as far as we can go. Rua has instructed me that if you should ever wish to contact him then you should come to this place and wait.”
The warriors unload the Moa, and bid you farewell, and melt into the forest. Vernon heads off to locate the carriage and returns half an hour later leading half a dozen horses. After a hour or two of back and forth the bodies and your effects are transported to the clearing where the horses were hobbled. The professor mutters a few words, the air shimmers and the great black carriage materializes, seemingly untouched by it’s weeks in the wilderness.
“At last!” The professor sighs “Gentlemen, our little adventure is nearly at an end. We have been away from town for some time and I am not certain to how we should proceed. Perhaps we will be met with open arms, or perhaps we will be led straight to the gallows. I am tired and weary and have not the energy for intrigue. What do you suggest we do?
"Professor, you know about magic and stuff." states Benzo. "After you've had a kip, maybe you could please find out about this Pool of Rage under the town. I think we better do something about that."
He claps a hand to his mouth suddenly.
"Crumbs! I bet that old blocked corridor at the back of your digs leads right into th' Dungeon of Dread! We better check that out!"
"Meanwhile, we got a message of peace to deliver from Ruapekapeka, but we all know for a fact that the town boss means to have them as his foes, be they willing or nay! I say we gotta take our message straight to the townsfolk. You're smart with words Mister V, I bet you could think up a real pretty speech that'd make everybody understand as to how the attack came from that Hikioi and not Titotokowaru and he's been totally neutramalised and there's nothing to worry about. I bet if the goodfolk know the truth of the raid, boss Kreed'll have a hard time to rile them up again."
"But, we can't let slip the whole truth yet. Though it sticks in my craw, we can't let Kreed know we're on to his game. We don't know how many cards this guy got up his sleeve. I gotta go find this Llewellyn - he's the Sheriff now..."
Benzo reaches into his robe, and removes the deputy's star he was given. He scrapes dried blood from the surface with a fingernail, and pins it over his heart.
Benzo reaches into his robe, and removes the deputy's star he was given. He scrapes dried blood from the surface with a fingernail, and pins it over his heart.
"HA! Marvelous!" Vizigog began clapping his hands lustily and cackling with abandon "That trinket looks fantastic on you my friend! I for one cast my vote for the next election, Benzo Wickerfloat for sheriff! Huzzah!" The ManOrc pumped his fist in the air for effect and chuckled to himself.
"Seriously though, why not make our late Sherif the hero of this tale? A real knight in shining armour who saved the fair river town from the savagery of the barbarian horde? We spin the true story to the hoopleheads, and sprinkle in some flavour so this Kreed has no choice but to resurrect Baleson by way of expensive sorceries?" He magicked a waterskin to appear in his hand and took a big swig, before continuing, "It can be done y'know, I saw it once performed on a Lordling who couldnt handle his pesh..."
"Seriously though, why not make our late Sherif the hero of this tale? A real knight in shining armour who saved the fair river town from the savagery of the barbarian horde? We spin the true story to the hoopleheads, and sprinkle in some flavour so this Kreed has no choice but to resurrect Baleson by way of expensive sorceries?"
The professor appears to be taken by surprise at this " oh, well... I.....mean...." A gnarled hand claps down on his shoulder..
" It's a crazy plan, but it might just work..." Vernon grins "always want'd to say that..."
"Seriously boss, this feller may look like a chelaxian pillow biter, but he's got the gift of the gab alright. He could serve Callistra 'erself a bowl full rat s~!$ and she'd think it were caviar!" He laughs, wandering off to see to the horses
"Very well, a bold move, but it will certainly put Kreed on the back foot, mmmm? If you play it right you could gain a degree of esteem in the town that would put you out of his reach, if you mess it up though..."
The professor wiggles his fingers and a intricately carved wooden box floats out of the carriage into his hand
"By my reckoning tomorrow will be market day, the perfect time for your ruse. If you leave now you could make town by nightfall, but I fear your best course is to stay here another night and leave in the morning. You would be arrive at noon and ride into the town square at it's busiest."
He draws a scroll out of the box and continues
"This scroll will allow me to send a brief message back to Woodenhead. I suggest we contact Lewellyn and ask him to meet us halfway to town. I would feel more comfortable with your scheme if I knew it had the Sheriffs approval. We must also consider what we are to do with our captives. I understand there is a sanatorium down the river from the town, it would suit us well to keep Tsuto and Lyrie out of sight for now and it may be the perfect spot.... providing the director can be trusted..."
"Professor, you know about magic and stuff." states Benzo. "After you've had a kip, maybe you could please find out about this Pool of Rage under the town. I think we better do something about that."
"This pool that Rua spoke of, perhaps it refers to the runewell? I'm afraid I've never really paid much attention to Thassolonion magic, it always seemed a bit....provincial. You could always try talking to Lyrie..." He gestures over his shoulder to where Lyrie sits on a fallen stone, unbound but under Vernon's watchful eye.
He claps a hand to his mouth suddenly.
"Crumbs! I bet that old blocked corridor at the back of your digs leads right into th' Dungeon of Dread! We better check that out!"
"Oh, would you? Nothing lowers one's property value like a coven of devil f*$#ers in the basement. Clear it out and i'll convert it into a rumpus room for my nephew and his pet"
"This scroll will allow me to send a brief message back to Woodenhead. I suggest we contact Lewellyn and ask him to meet us halfway to town. I would feel more comfortable with your scheme if I knew it had the Sheriffs approval. We must also consider what we are to do with our captives. I understand there is a sanatorium down the river from the town, it would suit us well to keep Tsuto and Lyrie out of sight for now and it may be the perfect spot.... providing the director can be trusted
"Useful trick, Prof! It'll definitely be best if we can talk to Llewellyn before we get there..."
"The sanitarium's a good location, but if we don't know the guy in charge, maybe not gonna be secure. Let's run it past Llewellyn when we meet him. Town jail could be the best place for these three."
"This pool that Rua spoke of, perhaps it refers to the runewell? I'm afraid I've never really paid much attention to Thassolonion magic, it always seemed a bit....provincial. You could always try talking to Lyrie..." He gestures over his shoulder to where Lyrie sits on a fallen stone, unbound but under Vernon's watchful eye.
Benzo wanders over the Lyrie.
"Hi! Well. I guess you've had plenty of time to think about the silly decisions that got you here. Maybe you're ready to make some good decisions now, like, telling me what the deal is with this dungeon and this Runepool under the town. There's lots of innocent folks gonna be in trouble if that thing gets out of hand!"
"The sanitarium's a good location, but if we don't know the guy in charge, maybe not gonna be secure. Let's run it past Llewellyn when we meet him. Town jail could be the best place for these three."
"As you say, we would be wise to seek Llewellyn's counsel."
The Prof opens the scroll with a flourish - a bulbous silver speech bubble appears, bobbing patiently above his head. He mutters his message - strange runes appear in the bubble, sagging slightly as it fills up.
"llewellyn, chot magh baleson HoH!
chegh vengHom 'ej!
maHvaD ghom legh juH tuq HutlhwI'!
ghojmoHwI''a' crowley!"
He clicks his fingers and the bubble floats gracefully up into the air As it reaches the top of the trees it seems to catch a breeze and quickly disappears from view.
"Now we wait. Who fancies a sherry?'
Benzo wanders over to Lyrie.
"Hi! Well. I guess you've had plenty of time to think about the silly decisions that got you here. Maybe you're ready to make some good decisions now, like, telling me what the deal is with this dungeon and this Runepool under the town. There's lots of innocent folks gonna be in trouble if that thing gets out of hand!"
The captive wizard is tall and slender and radiates an almost palpable aura of confidence. Beneath the mud and filth she seems to be rather attractive; her fine features and smooth uncalloused hands mark her as someone who was raised in life of ease.
As you approach she fixes you with fierce stare.
“Ah, finally, the great hero deignth to sthpeak to hith wretched captive.”
Her accent is strangely familiar... Benzo recalls the day the grand carriage broke an axle on the way through Bitterbridge and the fancy lord and his lady were forced to spend the night in the monastery while brother Shem fixed it. They didn't speak much to the monks but their accent was a lot like Lyries.
She eyes your badge “Oh, I sthee you are represthentative of the law? Pleasthe forgive me! I thought you were a vile brigand with evil planths for me! Oh, thsir! There hath been a terrible mithunderstanding! I am but a silly girl who was led astray by her curisothity!”
Her eyes well up with tears; the effect is rather alluring
“There I wath, a Thathillonion scholar with the opportunity to study a unknown ruin of major consequenthe! It would have made my career!"
She wipes a tear from her eye
“Oh, but my infatuation with that wretch Thuto blinded me to the real intenthions of Nuaila. You muthst believe me! I never meant for anyone to be hurt!”
She breaks down into uncontrollable sobbing
"Hi! Well. I guess you've had plenty of time to think about the silly decisions that got you here. Maybe you're ready to make some good decisions now, like, telling me what the deal is with this dungeon and this Runepool under the town. There's lots of innocent folks gonna be in trouble if that thing gets out of hand!"
"Sooo, that rotter Tsuto led you astray huh? It figures!"
Benzo punches his palm, pok!
"You weren't concerned by them shadow hounds and the bugbear and whatnot? Musta really been in love, huh..."
Benzo shakes his head at the idea of this crazy emotion.
"Well I can't promise nothing lady, but we sure could use the benefit of your Thashilsokium expertise 'cos it sounds like we got some bad Old Empire mojo under the town. If you can help us figure out what in the wide green lands to do about it, might be Chief Deputy Llewellyn and me can cut ya some slack!"
"Well I can't promise nothing lady, but we sure could use the benefit of your Thashilsokium expertise 'cos it sounds like we got some bad Old Empire mojo under the town. If you can help us figure out what in the wide green lands to do about it, might be Chief Deputy Llewellyn and me can cut ya some slack!"
She falls to her knees and clutches at the hem of your robe
"Nethyth bleth your thweet mercy!"
After indulging in a little more hysterics she seems to compose herself. She wipes the tears from her eyes andp. stand u
"Now what exthactly do you want to know?"
"Okay," says Benzo, "I skim-read most of what you had out at Upoko Kino. As I had it, the old Thazzykonian ruins under the town contain something called a Runewell, and it's powered by emotional energy and it makes regular folks feel super angry when they're near it, which is probably why that town is on kind of a bad buzz."
"You notice that too, Mr V?" he calls over to the spell-flinging scapegrace.
"Huh?"
"Woodenhead! That place is on a bad buzz! Everybody acts like they want to throw down all the time. Like... really grumpy, y'know?"
Benzo shakes his head. "Yeah, that totally figures!" he murmurs to himself.
"So - do you know how to shut a thing like that down? The Proff says we should seal off the catacombs to start with... but it doesn't matter if the Runewell's under a ton of rock, if it's still brewing then the townsfolk's gonna keep getting meaner, and the Runewell's gonna keep getting stronger! A vicious cycle, just like anytime that you're mean to people, only waaaaay worse! If there's a way to destroy it, we gotta try!"
"Thank the Buddies, I'm having a lot of insights today!"
"You notice that too, Mr V?" he calls over to the spell-flinging scapegrace.
"Huh?"
"Woodenhead! That place is on a bad buzz! Everybody acts like they want to throw down all the time. Like... really grumpy, y'know?"
Wrapping his Kiwi feather cloak about his narrow frame, Vizigog stalked over to where Benzo consoles the bedraggled scholar.
"I suppose its all well and good to turn a blind eye to Demon worshipping fanatical Bugbears and hellhounds running amok in ancient temples.
And I predict we will be able to put all those strange accusations behind us in favor of a friendship based on our pool of knowledge, and how we can use it to benefi...help the poor souls of Woodenhead. Am I right madame?
I understand sometimes the thirst for knowledge can be all too oft unquenchable, and may lead you to some far and dangerous oasis'..." Smirked the ManOrc as he fondled beneath his cloak at the sihedron amulet.
"But more to the point, we wish to know more about this runewell of wrath below the village, and moreso 'to starve the well, we must feed it'...please illuminate us dear...what were these bloody Thassilonians up to?"
There is the thud of hooves and a horseman approaches the clearing. He is a compact man in dark colours, with a black cloak, and on a black horse. There is a spear strapped to his horse, a morning star at his side.
Even your untrained eyes can tell that he is an unpractised horseman, but he has ease enough in the saddle.
His face is gaunt, and has the complection of someone who does not spend much time in the sun. His leather armour is unconcealed under his clothes. His eyes are dark and deep-set.
He steps down from his horse with what looks like some relief.
”My name is Mahlo,” he says in a low voice, obviously well-used to being listened to, ”Sergeant Mahlo, now.”
He shows the badge of Woodenhead’s sheriffs.
”I have come to talk to the Professor.”
Benzo steps up to Mahlo and pointedly angles his torso so that HIS deputy's badge is plain to see.
"Hi! I'm Benzo." says Benzo.
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There is the thud of hooves and a horseman approaches the clearing. He is a compact man in dark colours, with a black cloak, and on a black horse. There is a spear strapped to his horse, a morning star at his side.
The conversation with Lyrie is happening right after the professor sent the message to Woodenhead. Riding hard Mahlo would still need 3 or 4 hours to get to the camp. Lets finish the conversation with Lyrie before we continue to develop this thread yes?
"Okay," says Benzo, "I skim-read most of what you had out at Upoko Kino.
"I gueth you read Nualiath Journal...She never let me thee it. My job wath to work on getting patht the door of cointh at the thavage fort."
As I had it, the old Thazzykonian ruins under the town contain something called a Runewell, and it's powered by emotional energy and it makes regular folks feel super angry when they're near it, which is probably why that town is on kind of a bad buzz."[/b]
"She mentioned a runewell oneth or twith when she was talking with the thavage cheif but never dithcuthed it with me."
She sighs wistfully
"We know tho little of the Thassalionions; The thcholars back in Magnimar belive they were virtuouth and benevolent rulers, and thier empire was brought down by natural dithasters. Those of uth who have thtudied their workth in the field suthpect they were much more ruthleth than the thcolars make out.
"But more to the point, we wish to know more about this runewell of wrath below the village, and moreso 'to starve the well, we must feed it'...please illuminate us dear...what were these bloody Thassilonians up to?"
"We know that Thasssolionion magic wath bathed on theven schools. The thcolars would tell you these schools were "wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest". Those of uth who know better can thee they were actually "greed, lutht, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath,and thloth". We know the ancient Thassalionion mages harnessed the power of human emotions to power their magic but, up till now, we never knew how"
"Thith Runewell thounds like a kind of thtorage device for the emotionth of the town, particularly their feelingth of wrath. Maybe the hunger the oracle mentioned is thomething to do with filling it up? If that is the case then thtarving would mean emptying it, yeah? Perhaps feeding it ith a clue as to how to drain it? If you can clear out any beasties that are lurking around down there I would would be happy to have a closer look!"