I fail to see the difference?
Of course you don't. You're an angel.
Was.
Are. You just have to believe it.
Tina just keeps walking and staying out of the conversation.
"I typically require more information about my business partners but, given my current situation, I suppose I can make a small exception this time around. However, if things go wrong I'm holding you responsible."
With that last point, Horgus jabs his finger in Kel's direction for emphasis.
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"Really? We have to do this right now?" thinks Deia to herself.
Then she says, with some obvious sarcasm in her voice, "Horgus, I am glad you are willing to make an exception to your rules to let people help you. I think they really appreciate it."
Then to everybody else in the party, "The one thing I think we can all agree on is that this isn't helping us get back to the surface. Can we keep our disagreements to ourselves until we are back in the city?"
With the small argument over, the party continues up the street to catch up with Lann. A few moments later they reach the chief's residence. As they reach the doorstep, Lann turns to the party.
"Wait here. I'll come for you once I've given my report."
With that, he disappears into the house. A couple minutes pass, and Lann returns. He holds the door open, ushers you in, and says "The chief would like to speak with you now. If you'd please come this way."
Inside, you're greeted by a bloated, misshapen man. His hair, what little there is of it, lies in matted braids. His face bears more than a passing resemblance to that of a rat, with a sharp, upturned nose, actual whiskers, and a wide, sharp-toothed grin. His left eye is solid black and beady, while his right is large, clouded, and unblinking. He waddles his way closer to you, arms wide.
"Come in, come in. Welcome to Neathholm. I am Chief Sull, the erstwhile leader of this small settlement. Lann here tells me that you helped save one of ours today, and for that you have my thanks. We aren't very numerous, and our lives are short enough as it is, so a tragic death avoided is cause for much thanks. But please, have a seat. I'll fetch some drinks."
Sull motions to a few ragged furnishings and leaves the common room. He returns in short order with a tarnished silver platter that's been filled with cups of a strange-smelling brown liquid. He offers everyone a cup in turn.
"It's a spiced tea I've taken to brewing recently. It may not be what you're accustomed to on the surface, but down here we have to make due with what we can find. Now, please, if you'd tell me what brings you down into these tunnels. It's been quite some time since any decent Uplanders came down here."
Horgus moves to stand against the wall closest to the door. When offered a drink he merely turns his head away from the platter and crinkles his nose until Sull moves on.
Anevia sits down in what looks to be a broken chair. A look of relief crosses her face as she sets her crutches beside her. When Sull offers her a drink, she takes it graciously, sniffs it, and then holds it in front of her.
"Thank you. It feels nice to sit down finally."
Tina takes a cup of tea and inhales the scent, lightly sipping as she weighs the various flavors.
Thank you for your hospitality. Unfortunately our presence here is because of a great tragedy, the city above has been attacked by demons and the silver dragon slain. We tumbled down here in the chaos and are trying to find our way back.
Aravashnial remains standing, not knowing where to go. As Sull brings the drinks into the room, he begins to sniff the air. When Sull comes over to him, he says.
"That smell is familiar... An herbal tea made with various roots and meant to help relaxation, isn't it?"
He then carefully feels around for the tray, takes a cup, and immediately takes a drink.
"Yes, I believe it is. Though something is missing. I can't quite say what, though."
Chief Sull looks at Aravashnial in surprise.
"How did you know? I only recently found the recipe in an old journal. And yes, it's missing the actual tea leaves. We have a hard time getting them."
"It's an old Elvish recipe. I've made it on more than a few occasions myself. This makes me wonder how long you people have been down here. I'd actually like to speak with you in depth about that sometime."
For a second Sull ponders what Aravashnial has said. Then he turns to Tina.
"You say the city's been attacked? And Terendelev has fallen? This is grave news indeed... Sull's face darkens, and he continues. "We've been down here for what seems like an eternity now, but our ancestors were crusaders. They were among the first to take up the mantle and to strike out against the demonic hordes. And though we may be deformed and misshapen in the eyes of the Uplanders, we are still crusaders at heart. If Terendelev has fallen, then the city will be soon to follow. And to hear this lays a great sadness upon me..."
"Tell me, when did the attack start?"
Within the past day. We have lost track of time down here, we fell into the tunnels from our spot in the festival square I believe.
"Within the day? That must have been the cause of the quakes..."
"Well, as I said, we here in Neathholm still stand with the city at heart, even though we live in the dark beneath it. If the city truly is in peril, I want to help it as best I can. The children of the first crusaders have long dreamed of joining them again, but we have been stigmatized as freaks and monsters by those above. If I were to give you a route to the surface, would you do all of us a favor? Would you simply offer our services to those above. Give us the chance to prove ourselves! Let us stand and fight with the rest of the city!"
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Deia takes a seat in an open chair and accepts a cup when it is offered to her.
"Thank you, " she says to Sull. After he walks to the next person, she sniffs the tea and takes a small sip. The taste is nothing like she has had before, but it is not unpleasant.
After hearing the conversation, Deia thinks to herself, That is certainly what I would like, to find the surface. I'll wait for Max or Kel to say something, though. They are much more convincing than I am.
Rex looks about the chief's room, sipping on the spicy tea.
"Well this tea is certainly good, Chief Sull, never had Elvish tea before."
Rex quietly listens to the conversation with the Chief.
"I think these people could be great allies of the city, misshapen in form, but noble of heart. It is too bad the city elders were to over zealous and cast them out."
Max accepts the offered cup of tea. "Your offer of aid is a generous one - not only do you seek to aid us strangers, but also the city that sent you into hiding. We would surely accept your offer." Max pauses, taking a sip from the tea. He feels his muscles relax, and realizes how unceasingly tense he had been throughout their perilous journey in the caverns.
"But are you sure that you wish to draw attention to your people? We Uplanders are mostly unaware of your presence. That may change if you announce yourselves. It may be important to decide whom to trust with this knowledge. Do you know of anyone in particular we might talk to?"
More help is always welcome, especially with the attack that has just happened. Tina pours some of the tea into an empty vial for later study.
Kel gladly accepts the tea, taking a deep breath to inhale the scent, letting the others talk while he enjoyed it.
"Thank you, sir."
The tea was the first thing Kel had other than water in a long time. He hadn't come to the city for more than an hour before the attack happened. He wouldn't ever admit it, but he was definitely starting to feel the fatigue of a long journey, and then the harrowing turn it had taken just when he thought it was finished.
"We don't know what became of the rest of the city after we fell, but the battle didn't seem to be going well. I'd imagine any survivors up there are going to need all the help they can get."
Thinking on what Horgus had said earlier, his brow furrowed. "It might be a good idea to send a diplomat with us. We could put in a good word, but better would be to have an actual representative of your people to come with us and personally offer help. If nothing else, maybe a trade agreement could be made." he said with a sidelong look at Horgus.
Sull ponders things for a moment as everyone says their piece.
"Well, let's see..."
"I don't really know of anyone who may still be alive that would trust us outright. We've been down here for almost a century now, and if Terendelev is dead, I'm not sure there would be many who would remember our ancestors on the surface. From the stories, they were stricken from the crusader's rosters and branded as heretics when they were chased out. Unless someone of a long-lived race still remembers them, we would be starting anew. As for an ambassador, perhaps Lann could accompany you. He's probably the most eloquent among us."
"As for the route to the surface, it's really not much farther. The problem comes from the traitors. They've based themselves in a complex close to the surface, and they've cut off all access."
It seems that we'll have to go through them unfortunately, perhaps we should rest and recover our strength before going further. Just what else can you tell us about these traitors? We were told by Lann that they are working with a demon cult.
Kel thought for a moment. "If your ancestors were crusaders… were any of them knighted by the queen?"
"Knighted? Not that I was ever made aware. But their history while above was always a somewhat touchy subject. Being exiled for their service by the overzealous and the self-righteous was something that never sat well, and most did little to speak of it."
"And yes, the traitors have aligned themselves with some of the most evil of men and have consorted with demons for quite a while. We have tried to ignore them, though we have had our conflicts. But with the city falling to the demons, the time for inaction is over. I can't spare any of my people to aid you, but if you would destroy the traitors on your way to the surface we would be in your debt."
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Deia adds some thoughts to the conversation, "I think Tina is wise on this matter. If we took some time to rest here, we would be able to deal with the cultists on our terms."
Turning to Sull more directly, she asks "We don't need much, just a place where we can be undisturbed for the night. Can you and the city spare that?"
"Certainly, certainly. It's the least we could do. With the collapse of the watchtower, a few residences have become... Vacant... We also have a few supplies that we would be willing to sell or trade. There are more than one tribe living down here, and some of them have made contact with various other underground dwellers. We trade with the other tribes, and by extension with those they trade with, so we may have a few things of use to you."
"Thank you for your hospitality," replies Max. "Not all of us here are fighters, so any assistance with rest and with trade for armaments would be most welcome."
"Look into your records, if you have them. If any of your ancestors were recognized for valor, or awarded any honors or medals, then its possible the queen will remember them. You are the leader of your people and still swear fealty to her. If you wrote a letter asking for an audience, and we could get it to one of her agents somehow, she might be willing to see you, or Lann in your stead."
"Assuming we can get through this splinter group."
I can help with healing as well.
"I think you may have mistaken me. We swear no fealty to a liege, we swear ourselves to the world. There is a difference. We do not wish to fight to bring Mendev glory, but to protect the innocent from the Abyss. If anything, we would swear ourselves directly to the Church of Iomedae as did so many of our ancestors. Kenabres may be our home and the first battle we fight, but the Worldwound threatens all. We would not simply drive the demons out of the city and then return to our homes. We would continue as crusaders, and in doing so perhaps find solidarity and acceptance. At the very least we would find ourselves standing proudly beside our forebears as we passed into the afterlife."
"As for the wounded, I know of no one aside from Crel. Seer Oppoli typically tends to our ill and injured in quick fashion. I wouldn't be surprised if Crel has already made his way to Oppoli's home."
"Then perhaps when we return to the surface, we can seek out the Church of Iomedae to accept your aid. It is a noble cause indeed to serve as crusaders for the Inheritor."
After the conversations conclude, Max will go about the town, seeking information on what magic items might be available. His friendly bird assists in the task. .
Tina tries identifying the potion from the dwarf wizard that she wasn't able to before.
A potion of Cure Light Wounds
"Yes thanks for your hospitality Chief. We are quite wary from our travels in the undercity. A rest will do us good."
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Deia does not have more to add to the conversation so she sits quietly until the audience with Sull ends.
Once the group is shown to their new dwelling for the night, Deia approaches Rex and Avavashnial. "You still have some injuries that I can probably help with. Please let me help you."
Assuming they do not object,
"Stars of the sky, mend the wounds of Rex"
"Stars of the sky, mend the wounds of Aravashnial"
"I don't think I have mistaken you, sir. It is my understanding that the queen is an Iomedean crusader. From the stories I have heard, an aleigence to the crusade is an aleigence to her, and vice versa. If your ancestors were crusaders, it is likely they swore their oaths to her, which is why I thought writing her a missive would be a good idea. She is said to be immortal, and so she may remember them."
How do I know these things!? I've never met the queen!
Because I have. We fought together many times. I was her guardian before her ascendancy, tasked to watch over her and lead her to her destiny. She is... good. Very good.
That is why I was taken, I think. We were friends. Now, I think she would kill me. I hope so, anyway.
Not if she is as good as you say. None of this is your fault.
It doesn't matter! I am evil! I am a monster a I need to die!
You haven't ever done anything evil. I know that. Evil is about action.
It is also about intention! It is about thought! The only reason I haven't ever done anything evil is because I can't. It isn't because I don't want to, it is because you stop me! That is why I have to die! I can't control it. I can't stop myself from wanting these... things.
Sometimes I just want to kill... everything.
After being healed by Deia, "Many thanks milady, that fly left a nasty bite, I hope it is not infected."
Speaking of which, I better check it again just in case.
+2 vs. poison/disease
While resting, Tina will cook up her new Mutagen to enhance her dexterity.
Sull's face drops as he's told of the immortal queen who leads the Iomedaean crusaders.
"If our ancestors swore loyalty to the queen, and she is still the same as she was then, then I'm not sure what good it will do us to ask for an audience. They fought in her armies and at her side, proving their valor and their willingness to die for the cause through action, while we have done nothing but live a simple existence. Why would she accept us when she allowed her comrades in arms to be chased and tried as heretics? Perhaps it would be best for us to stay in hiding after all... I'll have to think this over carefully now, for the reaction will mean our salvation or our destruction with nothing in between. Please, leave me to my thoughts for tonight. If you are planning on heading out in the morning, do stop by beforehand. I will let you know my decision then."
Sull then heads over to the door and opens it, holding it until everyone has left. The door then closes softly behind you. Lann meets you outside, and offers to show you to the homes in which you'll be resting.