Borgol blinks, "Are your bombs not fire, Maga? Seems more efficient to blast them all rather than burning them one at a time."
Maddie spreads her fingers and a wave of fire washes over the worms.
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Borgol blinks, "Are your bombs not fire, Maga? Seems more efficient to blast them all rather than burning them one at a time."
The alchemist is mostly dismissive, as he instead focuses on the spell from the young wizard, "I do, but my dear boy, there is much too great a difference between alchemical fire and magical fire. These worms were conjured by old magics, the likes of which i have never seen. Besides, it wouldn't be gentlemen of me to steal such an opportunity from this young lady..."
As Maddie sets the worms on fire, the the rest of your collective fiery talents aiding in the effort, the last of the worms burn up in a hauntly sream, as if the creatures have been keeping that inside them for millenia.
Taking a moment to yourselves to patch up, you also notice that now all of the slabs, except for the damaged on on the far end of the massive chamber have been lowered.
"Bah! Good riddance!" Remy declares. "Well, it looks like all the other paths are open. Let's explore the closest one we haven't been through yet."
Maddie raises a hand, "Could we sleep? I'm done for the day." she points out with a yawn.
Remy looks around to see the rest of the group looking rather exhausted. The monk nods. "Very well. Let's set up camp over by the well. We'll keep our backs to the wall so nothing can sneak up on us and use our usual watch rotations. With luck, we'll finally reach Thybidos tomorrow so that we can be done with this brutal dungeon."
Borgol shakes his head, Never thought I'd ever hear an alchemist admit that their great power is less than that of the least of a mage's fire spells..., but despite the smirk, says nothing.
He shudders and says, "I thought normal undead were bad... that was... worse. Well done with the tentacles, Maddie - bringing it down into our reach is the only way we were going to win that."
At the suggestion of rest, he pauses and says, "Do we have to worry about these things... resetting... somehow? I mean, this whole thing seems like someone's idea of an elaborate game - and I'd hate for whomever's hand that is to, well, turn the crank, as it were."
Remy shrugs. "We'll have to wait and see, I suppose. We'll keep the gemstones we have already acquired safe. With luck, we'll only have to find the remaining ones to proceed further."
Borgol nods, "All right. I suppose, on the plus side, this gives us time to figure out the puzzle of the skulls so we can unlock it first thing in the morning."
He pauses, then adds with a grimace, "Still, this whole thing feels manipulative... I really hate the feeling of being toyed with for someone's entertainment..." He shrugs, "I guess it's a good thing we're here now and not back in the age the Runelords ruled and everyone was a source of amusement."
He homes his weapons, and says, "I have some healing magic left .. guess it's best we use it so we can sleep well and be fresh in the morning... Gather 'round."
He then asks, "If anyone needs anything else, I have two spells left."
He then looks at the well and shrugs, "And since we're recharging...", and takes another deep drink of the water, feeling the power fill him again.
Remy makes sure to give Borgol a wide berth as he drinks from the pool in case the results are as explosive as the last time.
Later, once everybody has settled down for the night, the monk sits next to the ranger, leaning her back against the wall. "I'll be glad to be done with this accursed place. We've only scratched the surface of Hollow Mountain. I shudder to think what sort of horrors lurk in the deepest reaches. I only hope the next place our quest leads us is more pleasant."
Borgol chuckles, "See? I told you, we're all craving fluffy kittens, if only for the novelty." He takes a pull from his waterskin, then taps it, asking Erastil to refill before offering it to Remy, "I'm told Torag's clerics can make ale that way," he says with a smile, then sighs, "I know what you mean... Honestly, we've seen and experienced so much, that I'm worrying what mark these things are leaving on us. I mean, I found it a bit of a challenge relating to, well.. normal... people from the mental scars I got growing up in the pits - even after my time with Leandra... After all this..." he waves his hand, "...well, I guess that's why they say some bonds are forged in fire." He turns to face her, his eyes earnest, despite a sudden stiffness as he adds, softly, "Like ours, for one." His face flushes and he turns, motioning the others, and chuckling nervously, "...I think we're kind of all stuck together now."
Remy happily drinks from the waterskin. The monk flushes as well when Borgol mentions their bond.
”I can sympathize. I spent most of my formative years in a monastery, trained by a reptilian woman from the Dragon Kingdoms. Then one the first things I did after rejoining normal society was get killed and reborn in a woman’s body. Suffice to say, I have my own fair share of scars.
“But I can think of a whole lot worse people to be stuck with,” she continues, studying the ranger’s face in profile. She lowers her eyes and takes a deep breath.
”Hey, Borgol,” Remy says, her voice soft. ”When we get back to Magnimar... Would you like to go somewhere with me? Just, uh, just the two of us, I mean.”
Borgol pauses a moment, his thoughts locking up at the reminder of Remy's origins, that familiar ice-cold dagger driven into the warm feeling and hope of her following statement, --he's just a man in a woman's body, idiot. You know this. You've always known this. Your stupid jumbled feelings won't change that. You're a trusted and valued companion, and friend -- like Fergus or Flik.
He sighs, a slightly sad smile on his face as he nods, "Me too. I still don't understand what weird magic and twists of fate had you come here, but I'm glad they did."
He nods again at Remy's invitation, the voice of warning now screaming in his head, and he says, "Sounds like fun. We can tour the taverns and see who has the best ale -- just don't tell Fergus." His chuckle turns forced as he adds, "Who knows? Maybe I can even be your wingman, not that you've needed any help. I should probably ask you for pointers."
He takes back the waterskin and takes another pull, as if internally debating something before just taking a breath and diving in, his tone rushed, as if needing to speak before he could stop himself, "You know, I've heard you talk about what happened to you a few times - well, mention it really -- and I just can't wrap my mind around it. I mean, the fact of what happened, sure.. But, I really can't imagine how something like that must change a person.... I'd have to think it's more than just needing to remember which outhouse to visit. I think of the way I had to relearn most of my reflexes when puberty hit and suddenly I had these long limbs that didn't work the same way... and that was gradual, and in the same body..." He pauses a moment, Say it, you coward... Just open your mouth and say it... and clenches his jaw a little before adding, "- and, honestly, there were more than a few mental changes happening there too." He shakes his head, and says, softly, "I just can't imagine so profound a change, all at once..."
”Oh, uh, yeah. We’ll do a pub crawl,” Remy says with a forced laugh. She turns away to hide her disappointment.
She turns back when Borgol starts asking about the changes. ”Yes, it was a significant adjustment, to say the least. A woman’s center of gravity is completely different than a man’s. It took months to get my forms perfect again. But ever since, my inner strength—my ki—has gotten stronger and stronger. Whether that’s due to this body’s influence, or because of the steadily increasing challenges we have been facing, I can’t say.”
Remy pauses for a while before addressing the second part. ”As for the mental changes... I won’t lie and say there haven’t been any. I’ve been having... dreams. I think they’re echoes of Sorshen’s thoughts. I don’t know for sure the extent they have been influencing some of my actions. I don’t know if they are the reason why...”
The monk trails off, leaving the sentence unfinished.
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Borgol pauses a moment, waiting to see if Remy adds anything, and then nods.
"It could be a bit of both. I mean, I understand why you'd think it was the new body, the Runelords were all about chanelling power, and your inner strength, or my faith for that matter -- are all types of power, even if not the ones that they preferred. But, at the same time, we've all grown more powerful. When we met, I couldn't even make a magical light, and now I'm a Vindicator of Erastil that can channel my faith to make my weapons burn evil with a silver fire. I admit, it's not as impressive as what you can do, but... I can at least hold my own and almost keep up."
He smiles, then turns more serious, "As for the rest, well, I can't pretend to know what you've been going through -- but I don't think that's all the new body either. I think we've all been feeling the Runelord's influence -- I've had more than a few strange dreams myself, tempting me and testing my faith in Erastil... And I'm still in the body I was born with..." He smiles and adds, "..at least, I think I am."
He shrugs and hands the waterskin back, "I bet there's a spell that turns water into wine," he jokes, then sighs, "I'm sorry, this is clearly a complicated subject - one that's probably painful and confusing - if not traumatizing - for you. The last thing you need is a clumsy Vindicator fumbling around in there just so he can have answers to his questions -- which I'm sure pale in comparisson to the ones you've had to ask yourself -- or making stupid jokes while he does. It's just that--"
Borgol trails off for a moment, as if trying to figure out how much to say and how to say it, before he turns to face Remy and says, softly, "It's that I want to apologize if I've ever done or said anything that's made you feel uncomfortable. I really try to remember who you were - who you are inside - but.." He pauses, then sighs, "I have to admit, it's harder than I'd thought..." ..and my hormones, stupid emotions and the influence of Sorshen are not helping with that "..even after having met the, um, original, you. Actually, if I'm honest, that may have even made it harder, since you don't seem anything thing like that guy. You're amazing, and he needed a shield-bash to the sku--"
He stops, realizing what he just said, then shakes his head Aye, like that.... He sighs again, looking away as he has an internal debate, before forcing himself to turn back to face Remy as he adds, his voice sincere and vulnerable, "Anyhow, I really do want to apologize. I'm sure I'll work it out at some point.. but in the meantime, if I do something stupid, maybe let me apologize before you kick me in the teeth ?"
Remy gazes evenly at Borgol when he speaks. When he finishes, the monk shakes her head. "No, Borgol, you don't need to apologize. The man you met--me, or a version of me, at least... I was embarrassed for you to see me like that. I used to be a bit of a pompous ass. My experiences have humbled me greatly. I'm not that man any more. I'm not a man anymore."
She takes a deep breath before deciding to go all in. "I was going to wait to have this conversation until we got back to Magnimar, but I guess now is as good a time as any. We've danced around it long enough. Borgol, I see the way you look at me. I... I like it. I think I like you, too. But it's complicated, yeah? I've never felt this way about a man before. I don't know if that is this body's influence, or if I simply never met the right man before.
"Likewise, I dont know exactly how you feel about me. Are you attracted to me just because of this body? If I were still a man, would you feel the same way?"
Remy looks into Borgol's eyes, as if searching for answers. "What do you think?"
Flik looks almost at tired as Maddie.
"I'm not constituted for all of this fighting! I don't mind finding ancient libraries and solving riddles, but I could do without the undead monsters trying to destroy this poor little gnome!"
Borgol blinks, and blinks again, "I'd almost think this was one of those troubling dreams, except this is more complicated still. Now I'll just be waiting for Sorshen or Erastil to arrive."
He shakes his head, "Sorry. Just trying to cope with the idea that everything isn't just in my head, despite what I've spent weeks -- months telling myself. You say we've been dancing around it, but I've been spending the whole time screaming inside my head that the it you're so gracefully dancing around it isn't there... and that I need to snap out of it... and that my inability to deal with these feelings would cost me your friendship..."
He stops, realizing that he'd been speeding up, and takes a breath to centre himself. He looks up at Remy again, and says, "I think... I don't know."
He quickly holds up a hand, "Sorry, there were a lot of questions, and I should be clear which one I'm answering. First, no. No, I'm not only attracted to you because of that body. There are many, many things that I can say about that body, some of which would make a Callistran blush, but that's not all this is." He stops, then laughs at himself for pausing, Seriously? Why would you be holding back now?, "Sorshen's been taunting me enough - both in dreams and once in person, or at least a projection - that I can definitely confirm that."
He takes another deep breath and says, "The other question, though, I can't answer because, as much as I've been trying, I don't see you as a man. And, trust me, I've been trying. I was starting to consider getting a curse or a geas to force me to change my perception."
He looks back at Remy, locking his eyes on hers and says, "Honestly, I've been finding it harder and harder to see you that way -- and it's been tearing me up inside. And I don't know if it's because of my attraction, if you've changed, if I've changed -- both, all, none... I.. don't know. To me, you are the single most amazing woman that I've ever met -- and I've got a long list of why I think that which doesn't begin or end with 'Sorshen's body' -- and I've met the Sidheron heroes... Heck, one of them all-but adopted me. But that's the problem. I don't care how you got this way and came to be here, but it doesn't matter how I see you. It doesn't matter what I want. It's you. And as I've been telling myself for a long time now, you've enough on your plate without the jumbled mess of emotions from the guy who's supposed to be your best friend."
He shakes his head, "Could I love you if you were a man? I don't know. Like you, I've never met a man I found attractive. But then, it would be you in there, in that body... so I don't know... But, if we change the question, say, to would I still have feelings for you if you were polymorphed into a dwarf?" He starts to nod, "I... think I would. After an adjustment period, mind you, and I'd probably really want you to shave."
He shrugs, "So, yeah, it's complicated. It's enough of a mess, I almost wish we were still fighting old wormy - at least, there, I knew what was right, even if I didn't know how to do it. Here... I don't even know if I've been lying to you or to myself or what.... but I can't shake the feeling that you deserve something sure... something more... and that kills me... and worse, now that this is all out, I know we can't go back, and so I'm terrified I've lost you either way."
”Borgol...” Remy realizes that she’s started crying at some point. She wipes at her eyes. ”Thank you for being honest with me. You haven’t lost me, not as a friend or as anything else. We both have been feeling turmoil inside, but we don’t have to suffer alone anymore. As confusing and unexpected as it may be... I want to explore things with you. You are brave, and kind, and compassionate, and you are likely more than I deserve. So no, we can’t go back, but let’s go forward. Together. And we'll figure things out along the way.”
She reaches out to hold Borgol’s hand in hers.
Borgol stops... just... stops as his brain tries to process what Remy has just said. He simply nods in agreement, unwilling to trust his voice, then reaches over and takes Remy's hand for a moment, before putting his arm around her shoulder and sliding in next to her. When she settles her head onto his shoulder, he just closes his eyes and smiles, "We've run headlong into countless horrible dangers, and I still think that having that conversation was the scariest thing I've ever done. But, I'm so far beyond pleased that we did."
He gives her a squeeze, partially to prove to himself that she's actually there, then whispers, "I'm going to be so annoyed if this turns out to have just been one of those "torture the ranger" dreams..."
Remy relaxes against Borgol, snuggling close. It feels good to have his arm wrapped around her. It feels safe.
”Yes, that was terrifying. But we survived, and now, here we are. No dream.”
She waits a beat, just enjoying being held. Then she looks up at him. ”So, you think I am amazing?”
Borgol runs a hand through Remy's hair, looking down at her and chuckling, "You literally fell out of a hole in time and space. I think the greater challenge would be to find something normal about you...." He stops, and keeps a hand on her cheek, whispers, "But, yes, yes I do," as he leans forward and into a soft, simple, and mostly sweet kiss. He pulls back and says with a smile, "As if I needed another reason to wish we were out of this place.."
Remy closes her eyes and returns the kiss. A year ago, if somebody had told her she’d be sharing a first kiss with a man, she would not have believed them. But a lot can change in a year. The taste of Borgol’s lips sends a thrill through her body, and her pupils are dilated when he pulls away.
”Borgol...” she manages to say, but all other words seem to have fled her mind for the moment.
Borgol spends a moment running his hand through Remy's hair before sighing, "One of us has the watch, and one of us needs to go try to sleep to regain his spells." He stands, reluctantly, then adds, "Oh, and I'm taking back that offer to be your wingman."
”But you promised!” Remy says with a mock pout that quickly gives way to a grin. ”Alright, fine. Get some sleep. We’ll need all our strength tomorrow, I’m sure.”
The monk rises to take her watch.
Fergus is snoring away until it is his shift.
Maddie looks like she might be sleeping, half-curled into a ball and using her spellbook wrapped in some cloth as a pillow and her cloak as a blanket, breathing softly. However, that would imply that she can sleep-cast, as some glowing lights dance around her twitching fingers to some unheard tune, creating a glittering aurora in the air and casting splashes of dazzling color through the area.
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Borgol nods, "All right. I suppose, on the plus side, this gives us time to figure out the puzzle of the skulls so we can unlock it first thing in the morning."
...
He then looks at the well and shrugs, "And since we're recharging...", and takes another deep drink of the water, feeling the power fill him again.
Borgol drinks again from the pool, however he feels no different that he has the moment he did so. Whatever magic coursed through his body once, does not come back.
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Maga is visibly uncomfortable with the idea of staying one more night in this place, however, he has no other choice. His mood is sour the rest of the evening, and greedily watches over Remy who keeps his price within her position. From time to time, he glances and wanders over to Maddie to see what the small wizard is doing. He has become strangely fascinated with her. His advances towards her having no real affect on Maddie, though noticed by the whole group.
"My people have been through much terror over the past month. But it appears that the lot of you have been through something similar...if not worse." The man looks sour, and lost in thought. "You talk about Runelords as if they are something common. Does it not shake you to your core, knowing that some might walk among us again...To think you would date spend a night inside one of their tombs is..." He dismisses the thought of saying something untowards the group, "...you are either all mad or lost your senses. Whatever answers you hope to find here, i hope they're worth it."
The alchemist does his shift, making no other threats towards you.
At this point you are quite well versed in spending the night inside strange dungeons, and those of you on watch do a good job of listening to the darkness as the presence of something within Thybidos tomb lingers over you.
...
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As the last shift ends, you feel like you have all recovered some of your fatigue from the previous day. But the feeling of dread still lingers in the air, and you are reminded that you only have one day left before you have to rendezvous back with Kelhuud on the island. Was leaving the Pathfinder with Viralane such a good idea?
You quickly eat some of your rations, and drink some water, before preparing to continue deeper into the unknown.
The 'skull slab' which lowered the previous night reveals a long flight of steep stone stairs which descend into darkness. With Remy in the lead, you make your way down. The floor of this empty stone chamber is inlaid with a distorted oval shape made of strange sigils and surrounding a heptagon. A single oval gemstone, bright orange in color, sits in the center of the room, well within the boundaries of the heptagon.
Everyone except Maddie, notices something strange about the circle.
From behind the room, Maddie can see a feint blue hue of a creature caught in a bubble of sorts hovering in the middle of the circle, clasping the gem in it's hands. Her arcane eyes light up, to see faint drifts of web line strains connecting the circumference of the cirle to the creature, who seems to be neither here nor there. This large worm’s body is muscular and scaly, its mouth a nightmare of row upon row of triangular teeth.
Remy awakens with a smile on her face, despite the grim surroundings. She does her morning stretches and katas, making sure to be in a position where Borgol can watch her. Now that all their feelings are out in the open, it feels like a burden has been lifted from her shoulders.
The monk frowns, though, when they come upon the strange sigils surrounding the gemstone. "This is a trap, right? It looks like a trap. Nothing here can be that easy." She looks to the others. "Do any of you see anything?"
Maddie waves good morning to Remy, having taken the last shift as usual, looking over her spellbook.
As they venture back through the halls, Maddie makes sure to grab samples of all the strange liquids that she hasn't yet gotten bottles of.
"Can you stand back? I wanna try drinking." she asks, and once people are clear, Maddie likewise tries drinking from the lesser Runewell.
"Deathworm. Cool! So many ways to kill you. It's holding the gem, I guess?"
"What? A deathworm?" Remy squints and looks into the circle. "I don't see it. So it's an invisible deathworm. Great. Got anything to protect us before we try to take the gem?"
Borgol waits a moment, then says, "I don't know if we've depleted the pool, or if there's time limit before it works again, but.... that didn't work... as you probably noticed when I didn't explode."
Borgol shrugs at Maga's statements, "Does it shake me to the core? Yes, it does. But knowing what we do, I also can't just go hide under my blankets and hope for it to go away... and running away from here won't help anyone.... I'm not so naive to think their reach is limited to their tombs." He then laughs a little bitterly, "But I'm not going to pretend that we have good sense."
Borgol nods at Remy's statement, "There's no way, after everything we've been through, that this could be as easy as it seems. Flik and I will take a l--" He then jerks upright, "What's a deathworm?"
Not knowing what they will face that day, Fergus will also dring from the well after Maddie.
At the mention of the deathworm, Fergus will take his normal space next to Remy.
Once the spellcasters have made any preparations they think will help with the fight, Remy takes a deep breath and steps into the circle to try to grab the gem, fully expecting the deathworm to appear and attack!
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As Remy steps forward and goes in to reach for the gem, suddenly reality begins shifting around her. From beyond the ether, stringy webs appear around her, stretching towards a horrid scaly figure who suddenly appears clenching the stone. The worm screeches as it becomes corporeal, emerging from whatever stasis was keeping it at bay.
Round 1
+ Maga Sorsh (--)
@ Borgol (--)
@ Maddie -3 CON (MA)
@ Remy -2 CON (MA)
@ Fergus (Smite)
@ Flik -2 CON (--)! Death Worm
Everyone may act!
Remy enters her dragon stance as she moves around the worm and jump kicks it, providing an opportunity for her allies to flank,
Flik will share whatever he learns about the creature and start performing, then cast good hope on everyone.'
Borgol mutters, "Here we go again..., before leaping forward, both his shield and flaming sword awash in holy energy.
for
Fergus will follow Remy and Borgol into the circle.
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Only Remy is able to land the blows which hit the worm, bashing its flesh until black bruises begin to form on the creature. The creature recoils, as if it is about to throw up, and releases a torrent of bile in a straight line up the stairs.
Round 1
+ Maga Sorsh (--)
@ Borgol (--)
@ Maddie -3 CON (MA) MAY ACT TWICE
@ Remy -2 CON (MA)
@ Fergus (Smite)
@ Flik -2 CON (--)! Death Worm -38
Everyone may act!
Thanks to Flik's advice, Remy is ready for the breath weapon. She spins to the side, evading the blast, then continues to pummel the monster!
Maddie first pulls on the threads of time to help her allies, then unleashes a barrage of offensive magic at the worm.
Borgol calls on the power of life and growth, doubling in size as he begins to swing his flaming sword at the strange creature.
for