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Deia blushes somewhat. "Well, we are happy to see you well, Chief. Please forgive our intrusion. If you are upset, please do not hold it against Lann. He is only here because of our insistence. I think we were all nervous because of Seer Oppoli's predictions of turmoil. "
Turning to face Aravashnial, she asks "So, did you come back to the house after I saw you, or did you go straight over here? "
"Well, I suppose I owe you all my apologies. I wasn't exactly lying when I said I needed to relieve myself, but I did come here right after. Not only did I want to learn more about the people here, but I thought that maybe I could help the Chief in making his decision. One topic led to another, and before long he broke out the wine. And you've seen what happened after that. Though we probably should be leaving now, let the Chief get some more rest before his announcement."
"Yes, sincere apologies, Chief. We look forward to hearing your announcement!"
Max withdraws from the room, and dismisses the light once everyone has departed. "Well, since we're already out and about from that little scare, maybe we can sell some of our things? I ran into quite a few interesting folks yesterday with useful items." Max will lead the way, assuming the party wants to sell.
After party discovers the blood is actually wine, Rex quietly holsters his pistol. "Wine, we are indeed chasing our own shadows with all the chaos of the past day."
That sounds like a good idea, Maximillian.
Kel nods and holds the door open for everyone while they file out and head towards the market.
As you leave the chief's house and go about attempting to sell your wares, Lann leaves the party to their business and heads back to where he was sitting before.
While trying to sell your wares, you have little difficulty in selling most of them. The one item that gives you trouble is the brooch. Every time you present it to someone, their eyes grow wide and they back away from the deal. Eventually, Crel sees you trying to sell it and comes over.
Pointing at the brooch, he asks, "What's this here, then? How'd you get your hands on that?"
"We found it off a deranged dwarf. He was running experiments on rats, trying to 'improve' them by grafting demonic body parts. His intentions may have once been noble, but by the time we found him, he seemed to have become quite insane and perhaps evil."
Crel seems a bit puzzled by what Max just said.
"Wait, you're tellin' me you got that thing from a dwarf? That's... Not right..."
"Well, it looks an awful lot like the one Chief Sull gave to his son for his birthday, is all. Think that's why poeople're stayin' away from it. Boy ran off after he and Sull got in a bit of a fight, haven't seen him since. I'd bet most people think you offed the lad, but that's been a few months ago so I don't figure you're lyin'."
We should return it to the chief.
"Perhaps we can figure something out through the dwarf's journal turned spell book?". Max proceeds to examine that book to see if it also has information on the brooch or the chief's son.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Lunchtime rolls around and the people of Neathholm begin to filter towards Chief Sull's home. It's hard to say why they do so other than out of tradition and respect, for the island that the town sits on is small enough that someone shouting could almost certainly be heard from one end to the other. Nonetheless, you make your way towards his home as well.
Sull stands in his doorway with Lann to one side of him and Aravashnial to the other. He still looks tired, hasn't changed out of his wine-stained clothing, and he holds his hands clasped together in front of his stomach. As the last few stragglers fill the small path in front of his home, he stands as tall as he can, takes a deep breath, and begins to speak.
"My friends, I will try to make this brief. As you know, yesterday we had a few visitors from the surface come here. They brought with them grave news of the city and of the world above. Apparently, the demons have attacked with great force, destroying two of the greatest bastions of hope for its survival in the process - A keep known as Kite, and the great dragon Terendelev. They say that the city was caught unprepared, and that before they were cast below the surface the battle was appearing as though it was lost. It is a bleak time for the city indeed."
"Because of this, and because of our ancestry, I have decided that I shall offer our services to it. Nearly a century has passed since our forebears were driven away and, from what my new Elven friend here has told me, the crusades have become more accepting of those who would have been spurned previously. He says that even those born of demon blood have seen some acceptance, and so I believe that we, the first children of the crusades, shall have few issues in finding our place. Especially not in this dire time. I have already sent runners to the other villages, carrying the news and asking them to join us."
Sull's face grows even more serious, and his voice bellows.
"Tonight we will lay down our plowshares. Tonight we will dust off our blades. Tonight we will rejoin the crusades!" With his last statement, Sull produces a tarnished silver Iomedaean holy symbol from between his clasped hands and thrusts it towards the roof of the cavern where it ignites with light.
The crowd erupts as Sull finishes his speech, though it quickly dies down as the people rapidly disperse back to their own homes. A few people stay behind, conversing excitedly, but most take off towards their homes at a full run.
Well it looks like things have turned out well, we should get ready to head for the surface. I'll go brew up one of my potions and then we can head off.
Tina will brew a Dexterity mutagen while everyone is preparing.
Max claps with the crowd, pleased by the turn of events. After the crowd disperses, he comes up to Chief Sull and Aravashnial enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Chief Sull. That was a most inspiring speech! And thank you, Aravashnial, for being our finest diplomat. We will return with Crel to the surface and ensure that Kenabres will show you the same warm hospitality that you showed us."
However, Max is reminded of other grim news that the party has to offer. His exuberance dims quickly. "There is some other news we have to share, however. We believe it involves your son. As part of our travels underground, we encountered a dwarf - someone else who desired to aid the crusade and yet was cast aside. Unfortunately, his time underground made him paranoid, delusional, and dangerous. We had no choice but to slay him. But among this dwarf's possessions, we found this." Max sorts through the party's possessions and pulls out the brooch. "We don't understand what this means, but we understand this belongs to your son. We know this is not a great time for such unclear news, but in fairness believed you should know."
Sull takes the brooch from Max and stares at it for a minute, his recently serious face falling into sadness. His good eye begins to tear up, and he clutches the piece to his chest.
"Well... I suppose I should say thank you, but all this does is confirm my fears. My son is lost to me... And over such..."
Sull's voice trails off and he stares at the brooch for a minute longer before pocketing it. With a few tears rolling down his face he says,
"Please, stop back here before you leave. I have some things that may help you in your travels, one of which is an old family heirloom. I had intended to pass it to my son when I died, but now he's gone before me. I can't see myself taking it up, I'm much too old now, but you or one of your friends could put it to good and noble use, I'm sure."
Having said that, Sull forlornly retreats back into his home. You hear the dull thud of him collapsing into a chair just a moment later, followed by stifled sobbing.
Aravashnial hears the sadness in Sull's voice, followed by the sobbing, and says,
"It's always a shame when something like this comes about. We built up a bit of a rapport last night, so I'll see what I can do to comfort him. If he doesn't want my help, I'll return to the home we stayed in last night. Either way, fetch me when we're to head for the surface again."
He then enters into Sull's home and you can hear him offering words of condolence.
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Deia listens to Chief Sull's speech intently. After he is done, she looks at the display of the silver holy symbol.
Hrm. It seems the chief is not just a leader, he is also a spellcaster of some sort. That is very interesting, she thinks.
After Aravashnial takes leave of the group, Deia has a quick conversation with the group. "That was an unexpected turn of events. I hope that we can all work well together to get to the surface. I don't have anything specific to do before we restart the journey but we may want to see what the people know about the cultists. We've been told that getting through them is the only path out of here."
Kel smiles at the impressive display and the rousing words. "You see, Horgus. They might not look like you, but they certainly have heart. It is a rare sort that will take up arms in defense of those they do not know, especially when those people once wronged them."
Is that what you tell yourself? How very noble. You get to pretend you make a difference, sustain your delusion, and feed your hero complex all at once.
Could be worse. I could spend my life doing nothing out of fear, and hating myself for things that are beyond my control.
HOW DARE YOU!! I am going to laugh while you die, guardsman! Your pathetic life means nothing! You can't save anyone! There are billions of people in this world, and it is only one grain of sand in a desert of worthless worlds just like it, and that is only on this plane! There are countless! An unfathomable number of planes, all with countless worlds, each with millions upon millions of lost souls who all think they're f#@$ing special, and that the gods have some kind of plan that they are an integral part of! They're all selfish, rotten children with delusions of grandeur and entitlement complexes that the love of gods can't sate. And you think you can save them? You think you matter? That they matter? You think you're so damn smart, with so much perspective. Has your life been so hard, guardsman? Your parents loved you, didn't they? Lucky you. Then what? Oh, right, they died. What difference did they make to anyone? Who cares? Couldn't save them, could you! What's the point? What do you really think you're going to accomplish? How do you think you're ever going to make any difference.
One person at a time.
"Yes, yes, preach more why don't you? They put on a good show, I'll give them that. But I still say they're tainted, and until they back up their words with actions I'm not going to trust them as far as I could throw them."
Lann hears Deia asking about information on the cultists, and approaches her.
"It's hard to say how many of the traitors there are. They occasionally attempt to recruit from the citizens of Neathholm, and I know they've recruited from other tribes as well, but we've never had any friendly dealings with them. The most I've ever seen gathered in a single place was six or seven, and that was during an attack on our gates. If they have help from uplanders, there could be far more than that."
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Deia smiles at Lann. "Thank you for the information, Lann. That is very helpful. It looks like we might be on our own, then. "
Deia hands the scroll to Max. "You can discharge a shock like lightning from your hands when you use this scroll. I'm not confident I could do it under stress. Do you want this?" she asks. "I still have no idea what the other scroll might do."
"Intriguing, Deia," replies Max once she points out how the magics work. "That would indeed seem useful, particularly given the dangers we are facing."
"Let's get Anevia, then return to the Chief's house to get Aravashnial, so we can resume our journey."
"Thanks for joining us Chief Sull, hopefully after this, your people can rejoin us on the surface if you wish and not be persecuted for your looks."
And after Max tells of the broach, "Your son may not be lost, perhaps he lost it on his travels in the undercity."
An hour passes as Tina brews her mutagen and the rest of the party makes with whatever preparations they have left to do. Once she's done, everyone heads back to Chief Sull's home to pick up Aravashnial and meet up with Lann.
As you walk nearer, you find Lann leaning in the doorway with his back to the street. He hears your approach and turns his head, revealing a wide grin.
"The chief seems to have turned to his drinks again. How he got more I'm not all that sure of, but he did. He seems to be in quite a better mood than he was an hour ago. See for yourself."
He then steps out of the doorway to let you see the scene inside.
Inside you see that all of the furniture in Sull's common room has been pushed aside and against the walls. A few pieces show fresh damage that wasn't there previously. Sull stands in the middle of the room, swinging a perfectly polished morningstar around wildly and extolling its virtues to Aravashnial.
"You see, it just won't slip out of my hand, no matter how clumsily I swing it. It's just that perfectly balanced. You don't find that very often, no sir! And, let me tell you, it's quite a menacing piece. One good hit is all it takes and your enemy is your enemy no more! At least, that's what my grandfather told me. And he should know! Said he killed more than a few demons with it during his crusading days."
Aravashnial stands pressing himself against a corner, likely to stay out of the Chief's way.
"I'm sure that it's impressive, really. But could you please stop swinging it? I've head you hit something more than a few times now, and I'd prefer to leave here intact." he says, with concern in his voice.
Sull continues swinging, and says
"You've got nothing to worry about! I only hit that chair when it was still in the middle of the floor. You're over by the wall, so you're..."
He cuts himself off in mid-sentence as he sees the party standing near his door. He lowers the weapon and says, "Oh! I wasn't expecting you back just yet. I, uh, I was just showing Aravashnial here this morningstar. It's the heirloom I told you about. Belonged to my grandfather in his crusading days, and it's been passed from father to son since. But with my son likely dead, and at the very least gone, it would end its travels with me. So I'd like you to have it instead. It's really quite exquisite, and magical too!"
That is very generous of you! Perhaps Rex or Kel can use it best.
As the chief swung the morningstar around, Kel immediately moved forward, putting himself closer between the chief and the others, hoping his proximity would curtail the chief's swinging. "It looks like a fine weapon. May I see it?"
Hopefully he'll hand it over so everyone can relax.
Hopefully he'll trip and hit you in your stupid face.
"Of course! I mean, I am giving it to you all, so it's more yours than mine at this point." says Sull as he hands the weapon to Kel.
"Take good care of it, and promish me you'll bash more than a few traitorous heads in with it. Oh, and there's something else I wanted to give you, if you'll excuse me..."
Sull disappears into the back room of his home again. You hear the sound of drawers and cupboards being yanked open as he mutters to himself.
"Now where did I put... No... Not here either..."
He then shouts "Aha!" and comes out carrying a small sack.
"Some refreshments. The red ones are quite handy for dealing with injuries, while the blue ones are good for a little pick-me-up after a long night."
The blue ones are lesser restoration potions, derp. I can't figure out the red ones.
Kel nods. "I'm sure it will taste traitor's blood before our job is done."
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"This is most generous, Chief, " says Deia. "Thank you very much."
Deia looks at the potions in the colored bottles.
"Tina is right about the potions in the blue bottles. How severe of wounds would you expect the potions to cure, Chief Sull? The mixture is not one that I recognize. I assume they are from local sources, " she asks.
"They're good for everything from a stubbed toe to a solid fall from my roof. I can tell you that from a bit more experience than I should rightly have!" Sull says with a laugh. "Though I'd hope you wouldn't use them for the former. As for where they're from, that'd be Seer Oppoli. He really does know his medicines."
"Thanks Chief Sull for your generosity and hospitality. We will be sure to bash a few heads in for you."
. "Indeed, these are potions of cure light wounds. Quite potent. You have our thanks, Chief Sull. We will make sure those on the surface will welcome you and yuor people."
"Well, if you're ready to go and show those traitors a good what-for, I'll show you to the exit."
Sull leads the party to one of the doors that exits Neathholm. He opens the door and points down the passageway.
"The traitors make their home just a short distance down this path. Take care in dealing with them, because we don't know their numbers. And remember that Neathholm is more than willing to welcome you back if you need time to rest and recover."
As the party is making their final preparations before stepping through the door, Kosz makes an announcement.
"I'm not going further. These people have pledged themselves to fight in the crusades once again, and I believe I can do more to help in preparing them than I can in helping you to reach the surface."
You have been a great help to us Kosz. I am sure you will be a fine teahcer to them.
Tina takes one of the CLW potions.