Well met, Suryani Chaitanya, I am sure both of our gods smile upon as, as does Torag, says Caleb as the cleric comes to help him re-consecrate this temple.
Anevia stands up to join Caleb and Suryani, helping in what what she can. She waves off anyone telling her to get some rest and says, "I cannot in good conscious watch you two do this alone."
Caleb will respond, Your help is much appreciated Anevia
"Please sir, I understand how eager you are to return to the surface—my brother is out there somewhere, and I'm worried sick for him. But we should not split up in any case, since we have no way of predicting how long it will take us to get back up to the city, or what we might encounter down in these caves. There is strength and safety in numbers, and I promise we'll get you home safely."Horgus looks at Suryani and Sioned one more time, "I suppose you're right." He adds finally with a sigh "Well, let's not dally here for too long then, but I will defer to your judgement on the timing."
"Thank you, sir, for your graciousness,” Sioned says, giving a slight bow.
Just before they head back, Sioned asks, ”If I may be so bold, and so I know what we’re dealing with, what did Anivia do that made her akin to a common thief?”
I’ll have to thank Suryani properly later for helping me with this stubborn fool.
"Right, waste your energy on cleaning a sewer. Whoever it was that worshipped left long ago, so far we've seen giant flies and maggots, but nothing of dwarven size."
Kloss is boiling with frustration. "Nice situation you got yerself in here. Moaning noble, zealous paladin, some rain priest that's hiding something. Some bad wounds that will fester in this filth if the monsters in this sewer don't get me first"
Then he sniggers to himself "business as usual"
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Considering all the words being spoken in haste, Caliban sets about to make the area slightly more comfortable and defensible.
"We find ourselves in an awkward place here, were the rest of you all planning to join the Crusdaes? or was Armasse merely an opportunity to connect with people in Kenabres?"
After tending to the reconsecration of the Temple in the way that he can, Caleb will look over the wounds on the party, starting with the tiefling.
These look bad, maybe we can use some of the water in the basin to clean them out so that they don't get infected?
"I'm only here to accompany Timeon, my brother, who wanted nothing more than to join this crusade. Truth be told, my parents sent me along to convince him otherwise. I was planning on leaving the day after Armasse, and then this happened. I don't belong here, I'm not a crusader. I'm just hoping I can find my brother again," Suryani says in a soft voice.
To Caleb, she says, "The water in that basin is actually holy water, we shouldn't squander that. I have a waterskin that we can use, and we still have those potions that we haven't been able to identify. Actually, let me have a look at them," and she dips her pinky in them to have a taste.
Nodding at the words Suryani said, "I rushed too quickly to properly identify their properties. If you cannot tell I will look again after I sleep and turn freshened eyes back to them."
The elf breaks off to tend to other things, then stops, turning back to Suryani, "I will help you find your brother Suryani, we will emerge from here and then understand what fate has befallen us."
Kloss doesn't directly answer Calibans question, but a change in stance does betray that he heard it. That slightly vacant look comes over him again, dreaming, lost in thought.
"not sure what I was thinking to go to armasse. Did I want to prove myself? Belong? Hunt my inner demons? I was looking for a fight, I was looking to hunt what made me this way, but why was I so stupid to throw my fate in with these crusaders while I knew they could do nothing for me. Would mean nothing to me. Had I spent too many nights alone? That never was a problem before, listening to the raging demon voice keeping me company, yelling at me, raving, until I would fall asleep and it would hunt me in my dreams. Then I started spending hours, whole nights staring at the moon, and the voice would be quiet. Maybe I thought I had it under control."
He suddenly looks up and says, addressing the air like Caliban did "How I long to see the moon."
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Kloss, we shall see the moon again and the sun and the stars. We will leave this underground and emerge, as a phoenix into greater and more glorious things.
”If I may be so bold, and so I know what we’re dealing with, what did Anivia do that made her akin to a common thief?”
Horgus looks towards the temple sideways and says quietly "I have my suspicions. The was a break-in at of one of my warehouses - one that happens to house something of great value to her." He backs off slightly then adds, "Nothing was stolen mind you, but needless to say I would keep an eye out, if I were you."
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Suriyani recognizes that these are both Potions of Cure Light Wounds.
"I will help you find your brother Suryani, we will emerge from here and then understand what fate has befallen us."
Anevia stops cleaning for a bit to rest. "I don't know about you, Aravashnial, or about Horgus, but I too will be searching for a loved one as soon as we reach the surface. It is a fell thing that happened to my beloved city, I only hope there are survives to look for." She adds to herself: She will be looking for me as well, I am sure of it.
Having been quiet for a time now, Aravashnial finally speaks up from a bench, "I have none to look for topside. In fact half of me regrets not being more friendly in my studies at the Blackwing, while the other half is relieved to have no others for which to distress myself. I can only pray the demons have spared the books since there is no joy in tormenting the inanimate, but even that I dare not hope. The knowledge held there on demons was hard won with many good lives sacrificed, and once lost it would be gone forever." He bows his head in prayer.
Horgus looks towards the temple sideways and says quietly "I have my suspicions. The was a break-in at of one of my warehouses - one that happens to house something of great value to her." He backs off slightly then adds, "Nothing was stolen mind you, but needless to say I would keep an eye out, if I were you."
Sioned nods. ”Understood, sir.”
A break-in without theft is not the action of a common thief. Then there’s the question of how Anivia knows about Horgus’ faith, or alleged lack thereof. He’s hiding something, like myself I suppose, but if it were sinister then he’d be dead. I’ll keep an eye out on him as well.
Upon returning, Sioned hears Caliban and the others talking about their reasons for joining Armasse.
”I suppose I’ll have to join Suryani and Anivia in our quest to find somebody important, though I’d have to go deep into the Wounded Lands for my journey. You can say it was her that indirectly got me interested in fighting demons.”
Knowledge Religion Check. I don't know if anyone else will help and if so what the modifier will be but here goes.
Suryani will assist Caleb.
So, they all have others above, do they fight to live? Do they fight to return to those above? Do they fight because it is right? I wish I knew why I was fighting, what my purpose now is...
Caliban seems pensive for a moment, then turning to Caleb, "A job well done young paladin, and you as well, Suryani."
Turning to Kloss and Sioned, "Do we wish to set some watches if we are staying the night in these underground ruins? I need some time to rest and prepare spells eventually. "
"We haven't yet encountered much intelligent creatures down here, but I will leave that up to the rest. Perhaps we can hang my messkit from the door so that it falls when it opens? That should make quite some noise and wake us up, I reckon," Suryani says as she pulls a tin bowl, plate, cup, and several pieces of cutlery out from her backpack.
She smiles sheepishly and says, "Or am I just being a big dolt? I'm sorry, today has been filled with a lot of new experiences for me."
If necessary, I and Ragathiel shall guard your rest.
"Kloss, drink one of these potions, they should help against your wounds," Suryani says as she hands the tiefling one of the cure light wounds potions.
When Suryani approaches Kloss with a potion, he lets out a "hm" "it could be anything, but she helped me before. If she wants me dead, i'll be a pushover in my current state." "all right. I'll drink it."
After feeling better, he looks up at Suryani in mild confusion. He utters a wordless thanks by nodding, and for a brief moment, there may even have been a smile. "why does she keep helping me?"
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Knowledge Religion Check. I don't know if anyone else will help and if so what the modifier will be but here goes.
Caleb and Suryani work together to consecrate the old temple in the name of Torag. The paladin feels like he has a handle on the intricacies of the ceremony, but Suryani is able to point out a few details as he forgets them and helps in the prayers. Looking about the newly restored area gives everyone in the party an overwhelming sense of safety and peace. Anyone with Detect Magic will notice a faint aura of enchantment radiating from everyone in the party.
Ragathiel and Torag be praised Caleb says as he feels the presence of the divinity enter one more into his temple.
"they've actually done it. Now only to find some followers to pray here. Guess that's a story for us to write."
Seeing the consecration completed, kloss says "for the night, we should have guards. Shall I guard with Sioned?" in a matter of fact tone, and somewhat transparent motives. "my best guess to survive the night"
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If you all want to sleep now, alas I need a full right hours. I think I will need more offensive magic tomorrow.
Caliban says taking up a position to watch the door. He lays his long sword across his lap and settles in to watch.
I think I will need more offensive magic tomorrow.
"If you're able to, and you feel it won't impair your abilities, would you be willing to prepare a cleaning spell tomorrow? If nothing else it'll help with morale."
Acknowledging the wisdom of Sioned's words, "Yes, I can take care of that tomorrow. You have a good idea for that."
The night (although it is hard to tell what time of day it actually is) passes uneventfully, those that plan to keep watch can either sleep once the rest wake up or take less sleep.
Sioned will take first watch (5-7 hrs).
Caliban will get 8 hours to re-memorize spells.
0 Levels prepped:
Prestidigitation
Ray of Frost
Detect Magic
Level 1
Hydraulic Push
Shocking Grasp
Using detect magic on the War Hammer, is it magical?
Using Spellcraft to try and identify the properties of the ring (+8):
Can I go ahead and claim the hammer? It might help in case we come across skeletons or something else that needs to be smashy smashy.
"I have no objections to Caleb taking the hammer." Caliban says as he finishes examining the ring. "While someone who is knowledgable as a lapidary may be able to tell more about this ring, I can tell you it bears no magical aura."
Kloss will, as announced, take the first watch with Sioned (for 5-7 hrs of sleep).
Caleb will take whatever watches are necessary.
After resting, Suryani kneels down, and says a prayer, clasping her holy symbol between her hands.
"It comes, through thy divine grace, oh great and glorious Everlight, the sun of righteous fire rises with hope in its wings.
The glory of the Dawnflower shines upon us, more precious than gold, your shining splendor.
Sweeter than honey, your radiant forgiveness.
Oh dispeller of darkness, shining one, radiant and effulgent goddess of mercy.
You banish choking night and the blindness of our ignorance.
The dawn brings a new day, so lead us out of this darkness and into Your light once more.
Sarenrae be praised."
After this, she stands up and gathers her gear. "So, shall we be on our way? I must say I am eager to leave these caves behind."
I believe that we should continue forth. That is the only way we will be able to get these civilians out, and return to the Crusade. , Caleb says after praying to Ragathiel for guidiance and thanking him for his favors.
"Some rest helped me gain some perspective on the situation. Whether we plan to rejoin a crusade or just look to aid those above." Caliban says nodding to the others while he shoulders his pack.
Kloss, waking up sore, rubs his joints and silently packs up his items. He nods in agreement as Suryani suggests moving on.
I believe that we should be off and not tarry here in these caves. The longer we stay the more likely it is we or our companions will not survive and obtain the help that they need.
"Fortunate for me that I don't have a dissenting opinion. I'll help Anivia up and we can be going."
Upon bending down to help Anivia up, Sioned whispers "When we can get a moment alone, I'd like to talk."
We haven't seen a living soul. That camp was the only thing giving us any hope this place is inhabited, but it seems abandoned long ago. Still, if dwarves dwelled here in the past, there may be a passage to the outside world. And it may be very narrow
Breaking camp, the party decides to adventure on. They travel back to the junction, retracing the winding path to the west that brought them here for a half an hour. There is a familiar path here with one unexplored path to the south, which being their only real option now, they take.
After another 40 minutes of plodding through the caves, gradually rising in elevation, they discover another cave. Quite different from the rough, unworked stone that they've been traveling through until now, the walls of this cave bear carvings. Stone figures, each depicting a different crusader clad in armor and wearing weapons, are etched into the walls at least 15ft tall. They are quite imposing, with expressions of pain and sadness.
Is this some kind of shrine as well? A graveyard, perhaps? A monument?
Whatever the case, we seem to be getting closer to the surface - this at least looks like it has some connection with Kenabres
Despite his ignorance in the matter, Kloss will have a look at the statues. Do they depict a story, or are they more intended as singular monuments?
"These look quite old and intricate, these caverns must have been once part of the city. Perhaps some kind of place of worship? I don't think this is a graveyard though."
"Do not sometimes humans seek refuge underground? Perhaps this was once a place of refuge from the assaults of the demons aboveground. I certainly hope we are not about to discover some necropolis..." Caliban says, attempting to examine the statues to no avail.
Stone figures, each depicting a different crusader clad in armor and wearing weapons, are etched into the walls at least 15ft tall. They are quite imposing, with expressions of pain and sadness.
Sioned inspects them.
Such a shame to have one's beauty marred...