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Once they have secured Nkechi’s cooperation, the Thirteenth return to Apollonia to complete their preparations for the upcoming expedition. Placidus secures the services of an auxiliary guardsman.
General Havelar invites them to several planning meetings with Nkechi and other experts where it is determined that the Thirteenth will set out before the main expedition, acting as “trailblazers” for the rest of the expedition, which will travel a few days behind them.
General Havelar gives the group a map of Apollonia and the known parts of the southern Grave of the Serpent, which together with Yarzoth’s notes should enable them to find the Atlantean ruin of Tazion. Jask reveals that the inscriptions indicated that the ruins of Saventh-Yhi are near or in Taizon.
The general and his advisors suggest that they travel light and stop in the city of Kalabuto to restock on supplies. The Apollonian Guard has allies in the city who can make arrangements for the Thirteenth’s stay and continuing journey. The soldiers are warned not to stay at an inn, and to limit their interaction with locals who might be working for any rival factions going for the city. When they arrive in Kalabuto, they should make contact with an oread named Cheiton in the Shrunken Head, one of Kalabuto’s most popular taverns. He can be recognized by the distinctive cave-and-pick tattoo on his shoulder. Cheiton owns a house near the tavern, and the group can safely lodge there while preparing for the next stage of the expedition.
According to the map, the fastest route to Kalabuto is to travel overland through the wild scrublands and savanna, along the older trade routes that skirt between the Bandu Hills and the Laughing Jungle. These routes were used primarily by early colonists, most of whom were prospectors seeking their fortunes in salt, gold, and diamonds. While several successful mining operations remain, the trails are far less used than they were in the past, particularly because merchants using them are easy targets for brigands and wild beasts. This same remoteness should lessen the chance of the legionnaires encountering any rival factions seeking to block or sabotage their mission. The caravan routes lead to the edge of the M’neri Plains, at which point they can break from the trail and head west to Kalabuto.
Once the Thirteenth have resupplied in Kalabuto, they should follow the Upper Korir River north into the Screaming Jungle. Here the terrain climbs upward through a series of rocky falls and churning rapids, greatly impeding passage via boat, and in many places the water becomes too shallow to navigate, so overland travel is recommended over riverborne travel. Leaving the Screaming Jungle, the trail continues to follow the Korir until it comes near the northeastern Bandu Hills and then turns east. At this point, the trail leaves the river, heading almost due west through the northern foothills of the Bandu Hills until it reaches the southernmost reaches of the Grave Jungle. Somewhere beneath those trees lies the Atlantean outpost of Tazion, which should show the way to the lost city of Saventh-Yhi. In all, the route from Apollonia to Tazion runs just over 1,010 miles, with an estimated travel time of almost 2 months (for the main expedition). The distance to Kalabuto is about 280 miles, with an estimate travel time of just over two weeks.
Other than all the shopping, meetings and organizing the group catches a few small moments to relax and have drinks or a meal. The Twelfth are surprisingly respectful and deferential when encountered. Jask spends most of his time working on the notes or praying, and Alexandra drinks. A couple of days into the preparations, there is a minor stir as rumors of a cook turning up murdered at the guard base filter into the warehouse.
Otherwise the rest of the week goes by uneventfully and the day of departure finally arrives.
After some negotiation, Garland reached a deal with the fisherwoman. As thanks for her magic dagger and taking her on another adventure, Alexandra waved the payment for the first month entirely. For the second month and anything beyond, our hero would pay her 1 gp per day, and he paid for thirty days upfront. As a free bonus, the generous Garland also provided Alexandra with sixty days worth of food and a small tent.
As the end of the week approached, Garland also noticed Ilistra having some trouble preparing for the journey. Our hero was well-versed in stewardship and logistics. As such, he offered his assistance in this endeavor.
Ilistra takes Garland's advice, making whatever purchases he suggests except she doesn't hire a servant.
When word of the murder reaches her, she gets quiet for a moment. Then she shrugs and spits on the ground while muttering in her native language.
On the appointed day, the Thirteenth and their followers gather at the warehouse with all their mounts, provisions and pack animals. As agreed, the general's contingent will follow behind by a few days, using the trail marked by the Thirteenth.
On the way out of Apollonia, the group blends in with the flow of merchants, adventurers and citizens going about their business. Their uniforms prevent anyone from bothering them as they make their way through the outer slums and into the rolling plantation country surrounding the city. The first leg of the journey runs through the foothills between Apollonia and the Bandu Hills. There is little trailblazing to be done in this relatively civilized region. Placidus flies overhead on his vulture as the others ride below, passing acre after acre of tropical crops being worked by natives under colonial overseers. As the days go by, and they get further east, the plantations spread out further and further until they disappear entirely. The legionnaires travel through a wild hilly savanna next, following the merchant's 'road' ever eastward.
After 5 days of travel, the main trail snakes northeast around a tall section of hills, and then detours north connecting with several of the region’s more profitable and still operating mines. The map provided by General Havilar shows the location of an abandoned mine to the southeast marked as the Fzumi Salt Mine. It appears to lead to the edge of the M’neri Plains, suggesting that passage through the mines provides a shorter route south through the hills.
”While we could gain a day or so, I think exposing the caravan to the dangers of the deep realms is foolish. We can gain that time in other ways if we feel we must,” Darius says practically.
"I wonder if Yarzoth will be so cautious as she races us to Taizon?" Placidus counters. "We managed the dangers of the Shiv, what threat can a mine pose to us?"
”Goblins...orcs...cave trolls...demons of shadow and fire...”
Garland carefully contemplated the situation. Under normal circumstances, he would have agreed with Darius. However, as Placidus indicated, time was potentially of the essence...
"I do not think it would hurt to at least take a look," Garland finally proposed. "If the mine proves to be dangerous, then we can go around it. If not, we shave a day of the journey."
Ilistra stays silent, not really feeling if it's her place to voice a preference. She wasn't too worried about going underground, ultimately, but not knowing what could have moved inside the mines since they've been abandoned was nerve-wracking. She certainly understood if they wanted to go around.
"Aww c'mon!" Cica gives Darius a slug in the shoulder. "We're in this to get there FIRST, right?!? Of course we're going through the mine.
"Don't worry, you can stay behind me."
Darius looks Cica in the eye, the tone of his eyes one that is very reminiscent of an ice covered lake. ”I am not worried about myself. I have no doubt I will be fine.”
"Then we're decided!" Cica announces.
Leaning over to Darius, she whispers, "And I'll protect you if there's somethin' scary down there, Pretty Boy. Just don't go running off on your lonesome again!"
Decided to at least check out the mine, the group makes their way in that direction. Not long after, a vitan woman leaps on to the trail they are following, blocking their path. She is six feet tall with a perfectly muscled figure and stunning features, her dark hair woven into clumped tangles. She dresses in scraps of animal hide and carries a glaive crafted from the toothed jaw of some fearsome jungle beast.
She bears he teeth at the group like a threatened dog.
The air starts shimmering around Ilistra at the sudden appearance of the woman, but she doesn't start gathering power yet.
She holds up her empty hands. "No hunt! Pass through!" She points in the direction they're headed.
Cica shows that she's leaving her weapons sheathed as well. "We have our own food, see. We can even give you some, if you'd like, in exchange for your word that you will let us and those we lead pass through here without hassle."
"As my companions said, we are merely going to the nearby mine to pass through it to the plains beyond. We mean you no harm, and won't hunt here..."
The woman shakes her head looking confused and irritated. "Na-ekwu ọtụtụ okwu m na-enweghị nghọta. Leave here!" Behind the woman, a reptilian head the size of a pony's emerges from the leaves. The woman turns to it, saying "Mba, Jaji. Zoo! Clothesmụ nwoke na-acha ọbara ọbara na-egbu ndị na-atụ ụjọ!" in an urgent tone, shooing it back. The saurian creature just tilts its head at her like a curious bird. The woman looks worriedly at the Thirteenth to gauge their reaction, glaive at the ready.
Ilistra takes a side step away from the others. She had shed her tunica the instant they left the walls of Apollonia, so the only non-native thing she wore was her magical cloak.
"Ndo! M ga-atụgharị. Anyị anaghị achụ nta na ókèala gị," she explains.
She watches the woman's body language and her interaction with the lizard creature. "Jaji bụ enyi gị? Aga m agwa akwa na-acha anụnụ anụnụ ka ha ghara imerụ ya ahụ."
"Sorry! I'll translate. We are not hunting in your territory."
"Is Jaji your friend? I will tell the blue cloths not to hurt him."
"She worried you kill that creature. Maybe it her friend? Like Luna?"
The woman seems to be convinced not to attack or flee for the moment at least. She looks at Ilistra. "Ọ dị mma. You chọrọ ịbanye n'ime ala? Ọ bụ ihe o kwuru?"
Cica looks suspiciously at the serpent thing--suddenly much less sure that they can trust this woman--but she holds her tongue for the moment.
"Ee. Anyị chọrọ ịhụ ma ọ ga-eburu anyị ọsọ ọsọ nke ndịda karịa ịga gburugburu ugwu," Ilistra says.
"Yes. We want to see if it takes us south faster than going around the hills."
The woman frowns. She shakes her head. "Ikwesighi. Ebe a na-egwu mmiri bụ ọdọ mmiri nke dị n'okpuru ala. O juputara na mmuo nke ndi nwuru anwu. Mgbe m dị obere, mama m na papa m gara ebe ahụ. Ha alaghachighi. Ihe ojoo ndi nwuru anwu ka putara ma gbue onye obula n’ogige anyi. Enwere m obi abụọ na ị nwere ike ime ya site na .... mana ...." She hesitates to complete the thought.
"Ma, gịnị?" she asks, leaning forward.
To the others, Ilistra translates. "She say mines bad. Full of spirits of dead. Her parents go in long time ago, never come out. Dead people come out of mines, kill her village."
"But, what?"
Enweghị m ntụkwasị obi na ị ga-eyi akwa uhie. Ma unu niile yikariri iche. Ọ bụrụ n’inwe obi ike, dị oke egwu, ịbanye ebe ahụ ... can nwere ike ịchọ Papa. Chọpụta ihe mere ya. Ọ na-eyi uwe ime ọla ọcha. Ọ ga-amasị m ịnwe ya. Agaghị m abanye ebe ahụ n'onwe m, mana enwere m ike ichere gị n'akụkụ nke ọzọ. Ọ na - apụta na ala dị ka i kwuru."
When Ilistra mentions what the native warns within the mines, Darius gives Cica and the others an “I told you so,” look and crosses his arms victoriously.
"I would still like to take a look," said Garland. "If nothing else, we should barricade the entrance to stop the rest of the expedition from accidentally venturing inside."
Ilistra nods.
"She doesn't trust us. But if we go in she asks us to find locket of her father."
She tilts her head, curious.
"Anyị chere na ogbunigwe ga-abụ obere mkpụmkpụ na mbara ọzara. Kedu ka ị ga - esi buru ebe ahụ?"
"We thought the mines would be a short cut to the plains. How would you get there first?"
The still-unnamed woman laughs. "I na-ewe iwe, ndi nwere akpụkpọ ụkwụ. Amaara m ala a dịka ahụ m. Mụ na Jaji na-ebu ọnụ dị ka ikuku. Animals nwere ọtụtụ anụmanụ, na-egbutu ụzọ ka ị na-aga." She shrugs. "Esorom gi nwa oge, i na echeghari dika anwu"
Darius knows that in the small picture, it would be beneficial to save the time. And on the grand scale of his purpose, these undead were abominations to the cycle of life, and should be eliminated. At least with the caravan he would have aid.
”Very well. Let’s do this.”
Ilistra nods, conceding. "She will be on other side of hills when we come out. We go through mines, then?" she asks.
She points to herself. "Ilistra." Then gesturing to the woman who knows a bit of the colonizers' speech, she asks, "What is your name?"
"I Athyra. Jaji me go now. See you next day!" The barbarian woman lowers her head in a sign of respect before motioning to her companion and melting into the brush.
The rest of the journey to the mine is not far. The sagging and overgrown remains of a small camp mark the site of the old mine, its gaping entrance visible in the hillside behind the camp. The mining camp is abandoned, and consists of a large barracks and meeting house, an operations office, two storage buildings, and a small house for the mine owner and his family.
Gazing into the hole, Cica quips, "Well, it sure looks nice and cool down there."
After a deep breath--and a pause to gather her nerves--she adds, "Here we go!" and starts to lead the group down.
"Should we search these buildings first?" Placidus asks as Cica heads for the mine entrance right away.
Cica glances up at the sun, checking how much daylight is left...and then laughs at herself. Daylight won't do any good down there, anyway, right?
"Fine with me. I wouldn't be surprised if the locals have picked them over already...but we won't know for sure unless we look."
She veers away from the mine entrance to the nearest building, and checks the door.
"If they are dangerous, or haunted, we should leave warning for those who follow us," Placidus replies.
As they searched the Operations Office, Garland noticed something sinister!
"Do not touch that log book! See that green growth on it? That is a virulent mold that preys upon the soft tissues of the eyes!" he warned.
"That sounds awful. I suppose we should just head into the mine then."
Ilistra frowns at the log book, but can't help but be curious. It might contain information about the mines that could be useful.
"I wonder, can mold be cleaned off?"
She uses her cloak of the hedge wizard to cast prestidigitation and uses the spell to clean the book.
Using her spell, Ilistra is able to clean off the book.
The last few entries in the logbook are dated 15 years ago and document the mining company’s downfall. The mine’s owner, a man named Feran Crinhouse, was looking for new salt deposits and decided to secretly try connecting his mine with another mine on the far side of the hills, abandoned earlier under mysterious circumstances and rumored to be haunted.
Just as the miners broke through to the abandoned mine, they unearthed a strange orb that glowed with a pulsing blue light. Crinhouse decided to go down into the mine to personally investigate. The final entry is in a different handwriting, and reads, “They’ve come up from below! They’re all dead, and their touch withers the flesh! May the gods have mercy on us!”
”That sounds pleasant...”
Cica shudders as she reads over Ilistra's shoulder, but she tries to keep up a brave face.
"Right then. Don't let'm touch us...and DO keep our eyes out for a glowing orb. (And a locket.) Got it. Shall we?"
Acting braver than she feels, Cica again offers to lead the way (bow in hand).
Cica leads the way down into the mine shaft. The wooden beams supporting the mine’s main entrance are weathered and sagging. Water trickles down the sloping floor among the wooden footholds leading down the main shaft. Inside the mine, the tunnels are pitch black. The walls of the mine are carved from gray rock salt, and most of the tunnels and chambers in the mine are flooded with water, ranging in depth from knee-deep to shoulder-deep. Narrow walkways connected by rickety wooden bridges run along the walls in most of the rooms and passages.
Suddenly, Cica finds herself sinking into some kind of transparent ooze. She didn't notice it, and walked right into the goo.
Recoiling in horror, she manages to fight her way free of the sticky liquid crystal. She feels her flesh begin to harden and crystalize where it touches her, but the effect stops as she manages to escape.
Party 12.6
Crystal Ooze -1
After reading the logbook, Ilistra has grown pale. "Not good to go into the mines, right? How about we let competitors think it safe, and they fight withering flesh monsters?"
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Ilistra gasps as the crystal puddle comes to life and attacks. She gathers power in a showy display, and then flings a ball of fire at it.