Katia approaches the bodies together with Lethander, searching them for weapons, and identifications (uniforms, jewelery) and any magical items they may have carried.
Katia narrows her eyes at her discovery. Then she shudders and when she looks up, her eyes are hard and unforgiving.
"That's a symbol of Baphomet. These are not crusaders, they must have been infiltrated somehow. And I know their kind, from very close. Maybe this is somehow linked to the demon attack."
Having removed all the valuables, she takes out a dagger and start to carve a symbol of Desna on their foreheads.
"The real hero, here, is the fungus", she says while completing her gruesome work. "We can let these ones rot."
Garrett will take a closer look at the fungus, "I imagine there must be more of these false crusaders about. I doubt the fungus killed them all and then died."
Abigail is the last to eventually approach.
they may have had evil hearts in life, But we should not allow their evil past reflect in our own. Sarenrae's blessings are deserved by all, not just a select few.
Abigail goes and says a prayer over the fallen men. Their treasures are a gift for their repentance
"Personally, I couldn't disagree less.", Lethander remarked with a shrug. [b]"Two fewer servants of chaos and evil on Golarion. Good riddance."
I can't believe them wizards. When one is done, it's the other one. They're going to get me to like that merchant.
Sighting one again, Katia turns to the blind wizard. "And knowing that and having proofs, you did not warn anyone? This is even worse."
"It's true that now that we're all here with nothing else to do, we can as well hear you. So what are your proofs? And I'm curions as well to learn what master Horgus knows about these cultures"
"He was brought to court and found innocent?" Garrett will ask mildly "Then the matter is closed, unless you wish to bring charges of coruption against the court? If so, it will have to be another time. Let's follow our host."
"It's true that now that we're all here with nothing else to do, we can as well hear you. So what are your proofs? And I'm curious as well to learn what master Horgus knows about these cultures"
"Then I promise I will investigate, and if the judges are guilty of accepting bribes, will cast them down... if any of them are still alive after the demon invasion. For the time being we should move on." Garrett will give him a direct look "I am not interested in re-trying a case already disposed of, especially without any of your witnesses or evidence. Let it drop."
Lethander cleared his throat.
"Master Wizard, I assure you none seek to punish the demons or those assisting them more than I do. They cost me my parents and I will do all in my power to bring them down. But I'm certain you can see that this is not the time nor the place for this conversation. We should focus on surviving and escaping these caves. Every hour we spend in these caves is one less we spend fighting the demons invading our world."
He leaned in a bit closer to Aravashnial and spoke more quietly. "I've heard of a group names the Riftwardens; I gather they are wizards specialized in these things. Have you any idea how to reach them? From what little I learned of them, if anyone knows how to fight these demons, it is they."
Garrett shrugs, "He's just doing his job. He probably doesn't get to make the decision of who can and cannot enter."
"That sounds very reasonable.", Lethander replied. "Thank you for letting us keep them... These are perilous times to travel unarmed."
Garrett nods
Abigail simply follows along. unless stopped she apparently does nothing with her spear considering there is no sheath nor attach to her hip option.
Nodding her assessment, Katia cuts out small pieces of twine to give to everyone.
"Thank you for you willingness to trust us. Could you direct us to a representative of your town council ?", she adds, "We have dire news from the upper lands."
"We fell down a crack in the ground when the demons invaded Kenabres and the earth shattered below our feet. We've been looking for a way to the surface ever since. Please give us news of the city! Have the demons been repelled?", Lethander asked with urgency and desperation in his voice.
With a crystalline laugh, Katia steps in. "Reign your horses, Lethander."
Bowing her head to her host, she presents her companions: "Your majesty, we thank you for your welcome. I am Katia Shelensdottir and my companions are Anevia Tirabade, Horgus Gwerm, Aravashnial, Lethander Grey, Abigail Merosa, Garrett Carr and Zakon Hellborn. As we told your men, Kenabres, the town just above you was attacked and we fell through a large rift. Thanks to the gods, we survived and are trying to reach the surface. We were also lucky to meet your men when they were in need and they've fully repaid us by bringing us here."
Pausing a moment to measure the effect of this revelation ( ), she adds:
"Do you per chance know a way to the surface, or at least a direction to get closer?"
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Zakon waits for the mongrel chief to answer Katia's question then asks another while staring intently at his body language.
"We learned that uplanders aren’t normally allowed into glorious Neathholm. Thank you for your hospitality and one good favor deserves another. We were told that a different tribe of mongrels that resides in a southeast of Neathholm. What can you tell us about them?
"Accept? What is there to accept? Message or no, we need to get to the surface, urgently! There's a war going on above and I for one will die before sitting by watching while demons take over Golarion!", Lethander said full of frustration. "And what do you expect us to do with that other tribe? I can't speak for the rest, but I'm neither missionary or diplomat."
Katia takes the time to think through her answer: "As my companions says, we will be honoured to bring your message up to the city. But you are wrong on one count. I see no freaks here, just people ready to fight for the good of all. That's the only thing that counts for me and my goddess."
Bowing again to the chief in sign of respect, she adds: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but this tribe of traitors, do they ally with cultist bearing these weapons and this symbol," Showing the pendant and weapons they took on the cultists, she waits for an agreement before going on.
"If you want us to pass through them, we'll need more information. Can you tell me which language they speak? And how much you think they are?"
"We don't really need much, but some of my companions were badly injured by their fall. Some of us have some good knowledge of healing, but maybe one of your kin could have a look at them and tell us if there's anything we can do. They also lack basic gear and I hope we can trade that."
Grabbing a piece of rock, she bends down and charts a quick map of their route. "And last, to thank you for your welcome, we can offer to share our knowledge of the route we took until we found your patrol."
Pointing to the dwarf cavern, she adds: "There, we found a mad dwarf and had to defend ourselves. There, we found an abandoned temple of Torag with the last priest turned into a zombie-like creature. The temple is now reconsecrated and you're welcome to it when you want. Right before, we found a ruined camp site with tracks that looked quite fresh. Right before is the site where we were thrown with the collapsing roof."
"I could certainly do with some rest.", Lethander admitted.
During the time the group rested, explored and traded, Lethander took some time to research the spellbooks they'd found among the possessions of the strange dwarf that attacked them.
He offered them to Zakon for examination, too.
He found a trader where he sold the brooch and split the proceeds evenly with the rest of the group, handing 40 gold pieces to everyone.
"Oh, I see. I am very sorry, I wasn't aware that... I offer you my apology and my most sincere condolences."
Lethander solemnly accepted the weapon. "Thank you, I am honored. I assure you, it will be put to good use."
On their way through the tunnels, Lethander showed the morningstar he'd received.
"This is a very nice weapon the mongrel king rewarded us with. He asked only that it be used against the traitors. But I fear that it will be of little use in my hands, I prefer to keep some distance from my enemies. Certainly one of you can make better use of it."
"I could use it but Garret or Zakon are better with those weapon than me. And for now on, I'm going to play the infiltrated crusader role with that glaive. With Zakon playing the mongrel mind, we may be able to fool their guards enough to get close."
"It's a fine weapon but not really my style. I'll cary it as a backup weapon if nobody else wishes to use it."
"Then I'll keep it", replies Katia. "I can use it and it's better than the one I've got."
Then, turning towards the tunnel they are about to explore, she adds. "Shall we move as usual with Zakon and myself couting ahead? If so, I want to try something. Zakon can easily pass for a mongrel and I would try to impersonate a cultist with the weapons and symbol we retrieve for them. I can even look like one thanks to the scale Terendelev gave us."