Sprig sniffs once, then turns back to tell the others what he found. "No sign of Berrind, though there's a pool of water down there that might be used for fishing... Ah ain't sure that helps right now."
He shrugs his tiny shoulders. "Guess we're gonna hafta try another one."
"At least the other two passages are large enough for the rest of us to move through."
Saraon takes the lead now, venturing down the narrow passage and motioning for the others to follow. He conjures a small light to help him see as he watches and listens.
Hezekh follows Saraon down the tunnel.
This passage proves to be a strange and twisting one, it's walls bedecked with druidic sigils. Some are painted, others are carved, and still others seem to have been shaped from living moss, lichen, and small bioluminescent plants.
It goes left, then down, the sharply right, then back up again, widening out and leading to a T-junction.
The right path goes down, with walls that are covered in jagged rocks that might take some extra effort to avoid. However, a faint light, one different from the bioluminescent plants, can be seen at it's end. The other one heads gently upwards, with smoother walls. A faint smell of something cooking comes from that direction.
"Tight places... ya know ain't be natural." Katheryn said as she looked around. "Well... meanin' they... They ain't for us!"
Kat can't make out anything beyond what's obvious. The darkness of the cave is stifling, and all is quiet.
Sprig chuckles, "Ah suppose it's a little hard t' move around when yer as tall as y'all are."
The kobold traces his claw along one of the symbols on the wall. "Ah ain't too familiar with the particulars of yer customs Saraon. Any idea what these mean?"
Katheryn stopped as she looked around. "Can't see nothin'" She huffed a bit.
"Yeah, me neither. Can I light things up, or would that be agains the rules, Saraon?"
"Be my guest, Hezekh," Saraon says.
He takes a closer look at the symbols Sprig pointed out.
The sigils don't indicate much about the direction that Berrind might be found in. They are incantations to the spirits of the earth and stone, though Saraon can't divulge much more without starting to explain the meanings of Druidic text.
Even with darkvision, the passages go a bit too far to be able to make out anything extra.
"They're invocations to the spirits of the earth and stone, and are not for outsiders to understand," Saraon explains. He makes the Sign of the Sun with his right hand and bows his head, speaking the incantations himself reverently.
Sprig listens carefully to Saraon's description. "Well, Ah suppose they're at least not warnin' signs or somethin'. The fact they're here at all means someone's been 'round, so that's good sign!"
He sniffs out the left path. "Smells like someone's been cookin' this way. Even if it ain't Berrind, we might be able to get some directions."
Hezekh casts light on his hat, providing additional lumination for the area.
"Let's go, then!" Saraon says, following his nose.
The party heads up towards the roasting meat-smell.
It's a short-ish jaunt up the rocky incline until the party comes to the largest chamber yet. Almost large enough to build a house in, it's hard to tell whether this cavern is an magical creation, a work of nature, or some masterful combination of the two.
In the center, a small fire burns. Five people sit around it. Four are novices, unmasked and simply clothed. The fourth wears a wooden mole mask, and can be none other than Berrind Star-Nose.
He looks up at the party and gives a slight wave before going back to cooking.
Saraon waves back to Berrind as they approach.
"A merry meeting, Berrind!" he calls.
Berrind looks a little shocked that he's been addressed by name, "Oh! You're...you're here for me? I thought you were just exploring the caverns. Most folk who come here are."
Hezekh moves to one side, where he can see and be seen, but stays back and lets Saraon do the talking. He'll nod in acknowledgement if Berrind looks his way.
Saraon chuckles a bit.
"I got that exploring out of my system as a child, Berrind. You remember that time you found me after I'd been lost down here a whole day?"
He allows a moment to reminisce before moving to the point.
"My journey outside the Grove alerted me to potential dangers from the outside, and I came back to warn the rest of us. You may need to know most of all, Berrind, since the caves in your care do cut into the mountains outside, and thus you may need to be the Grove's first line of defense."
"Great, we find them... does that mean we can get out of here now?" Katheryn whispered to Hezekh.
"That does not bode well. Not all have the patience to seek me out in the caverns here, but I am glad to see that you and the newcomers do. I will vouch for you, if I am asked."
He motions to one of the novices, a young human man, "Teb here can guide you out."
With Berrind's support, only one Elder's support is needed, that of Jade Bull, the leader of the Glade's shifters.
"Great, we find them... does that mean we can get out of here now?" Katheryn whispered to Hezekh.
Hezekh smiles back at Katheryn, but shrugs slightly. "I don’t know, but I hope so."
"That does not bode well. Not all have the patience to seek me out in the caverns here, but I am glad to see that you and the newcomers do. I will vouch for you, if I am asked."
He motions to one of the novices, a young human man, "Teb here can guide you out."
With Berrind's support, only one Elder's support is needed, that of Jade Bull, the leader of the Glade's shifters.
Saraon bows.
"Thank you, honored elder."
He takes some time to explain what the group had discovered out in the Wastes and the threat that may be right on Berrind's doorstep, before letting Teb lead him and the rest of the group back out of the caves.
The party makes their way to the headquarters of the Circle's shifters. It's a series of rooms shaped from a mountain side, with a large sparring ring out front. Two beasts fight in the sparring ring. One is a large preying mantis, claws lashing out at it's foe, a great and sharp-horned stag.
Standing and surveying them is Jade Bull, implacable as always.
As the group enters the area, Saraon holds up his hand to indicate the group should stop, and watches the combatants. Knowing Jade Bull's stern teaching style, interruptions were not welcomed. She knew he and the others were there, and she would address them when she deigned it time.
Katheryn whistled softly as the walked along. Let it not be said that the headquarters were not extensive... and a fair bit impressive. But the thing that really caught her eye was the two large creatures fighting. At first she thought these people wouldn't like thinks of this nature, however then she realized this might be something that wasn't what it seemed.
A few moments pass, and the mantis seems to almost best the stag before, at the last moment, the stag turns around and delivers a mighty backwards kick, catching the mantis off-guard.
It tumbles to the ground, shifting form to that of a lithe half-elf.
Moments later, the stag shifts back to it's humanoid form as well, being a muscular human woman. They clasp arms and smile at each other, before wandering off together into the shifter's quarters.
Jade Bull nods to the party, "They fought well. Still room to improve, but there always is. So I understand you are here seeking support. To gain mine is simple. Best me in a fight, and I will judge you worthy of my word."
Hezekh steps forward. "Any rules or limitations you had in mind? Not to the death, surely."
Sprig grinned. "Ah doubt we'd be able t' get her support if she's dead Hezekh. Though Ah'd like t' believe the same courtesy is extended to us."
”Full contact, no holds barred. If you have me on the ropes and I fear death might be close, I will leave the circle. I expect you to do the same.”
Saraon nods gravely.
"I suspected as much. One important question: Do you mean one member of our band in single combat, or all of us against you? I know that the definition of 'a fair fight' can change depending on a one's belief in their own strength. And you are easily the one of the strongest of elders."
"Magic?" Hezekh asks, knowing his own combat abilities are limited if he isn't permitted to use spells.
She gives a slim smile to Saraon, "As many as you think it will take. The glory is greater with just one, but the desert wolf knows when to strike as a pack."
Jade Bull simply nods to Hezekh.
"I'm willing to try my hand alone. Unless you're sure we'll need a group effort, Saraon." Hezekh says, flexing his metal hand.
"Ah'm certain Hezekh'll do us proud, It's downright amazin' how much he's grown since we first met." Sprig said with a smile.
"He'll get the job done im sure."
He said quietly still stepping softly through the druids enclave. He felt out of place here. These were good folk doing good things. The dirt on their shoes held more value than he did probably.
Saraon nods to Hezekh.
"If you wish to do so, Hezekh, you may. Remember, if you feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to leave the ring. Jade Bull is fierce...but she is fair."
"Very well. Let us see who is made of the sternest stuff, then." he says, stepping forward to approach the ring opposite Jade Bull.
Jade Bull nods to Hezekh before stepping into the ring. She stomps heavily before slamming her fists down to the ground. As each fist hits the earth, her arms transform into hooved, heavily muscled legs, followed quickly by the rest of her body transforming into a large bull, it's coat a glossy black with horns that are easily half Hezekh's entire height.
She lowers her horns and makes ready to charge. The battle, it seems, is on. Jade Bull thunders forward, horns pointed straight at Hezekh. She slams into the magus like a force of nature, dealing a whopping 34 damage!
Staggering back from the devastating blow, Hezekh thinks quickly, mentally flipping through his spellbook for anything that might get him out of this pickle. Hitting on an idea, he grabs a pinch of ground mica from his component pouch and, speaking a few words and gesturing with his other hand, throws the powder into Jade Bull's face!
Having done so, he channels arcane power into his arm, hoping he'll have the chance to use it.
Hezekh’s spell goes off without a hitch, blinding Jade Bull with magical dust! She takes a step forward to where she remembers Hezekh being, thrusting forward with her mighty horn. It goes wide of the magus, not quite able to connect due to the blindness.
Thinking quickly, Hezekh casts Shield, taking care do so without drawing an attack from the bull-druid.
Then he channels some of his arcane power into his metal arm, then takes a swing.
Finally, he steps back and hopes she can't tell.
Saraon watches, his form tense.