"I can speak the common tongue, there is no need to translate." Suishen says gruffly. "After 50 years of silence, it is good to be heard."
"I cannot tell you where they are. She is, as you suggest it is a female. I can tell you when we are fairly close however, once she comes within my range of about sixty feet."
Shalelu nods then looks to Rel, happy the thing can speak common as well so she doesn't have to use her not great Tien "Should I take it and scout ahead, see if we can't narrow down our search?" she asks as she motions toward the blade.
"Excuse me." Suishen says, speaking over top of Shalelu. "I have a name. It Suishen. I prefer that to it when you talk about me as if I am not here as well. Furthermore, you may ask politely to hold me if you wish, but I do not advise doing so against my will. I could also force you to do as I wish, but I would not be so inclined as to be so rude to my rescuers."
Relisha stows her scimitar and takes the katana in her hand. "Do we need to go back through the water?" she asks in dismay when she notices that there aren't any other exits other than the way they came in.
Ahreni hisses when the sword speaks in their minds and the fur that has covered most of her skin stands up on end. She shows no inclination whatsoever to touch the weapon or even listen - not that that helps.
Thanara looks at the sword, utterly enthralled. ”This...this is wild. I’ve heard about such things but never expected to ever meet one...” she mutters to Olaff and Ahreni.
"Back then. Let's go." Ahreni growls, leading the way to put as much distance between herself and the creepy sword as she can.
Shae looks around just to make sure there aren't any secret doors leading deeper in. If she doesn't find anything she moves up along Ahreni as they depart "You ok?"
As Relisha takes up Suishen, the blade seems to judge and weigh her for a moment before speaking. "I see. And what is your name, scion?"
Shalelu finds no secret passageways or anything else, so she slips beside Ahreni and moves east and then north to the fast-flowing waters.
A deep channel of flowing water crosses the hall here. On the opposite side lies a heavy timber plank. A brass bell and clapper hang from the wall on this side of the stream. Where as the other was shallow, you would guess that these are at least seven feet deep, if not more. [ooc]The channel is nine feet across. You can swim it
As Relisha takes up Suishen, the blade seems to judge and weigh her for a moment before speaking. "I see. And what is your name, scion?"
"I am Relisha Tamm, companion and ... and friend of Ameiko K... Amatatsu. I give my oath that I will return you to her if at all possible."
Relisa looks at the others. "So is someone going to swim across and put the plank down so the rest of us can cross as well?"
Shae nods as she pulls out a rope and ties it around her waist then hands the other end to Ahreni "Give me a minute and hold on tight, if I run into trouble I'd rather not get washed away..."
With that she, puts her bow over her shoulder and jumps in and begins to swim across.
Olaff nods to Thanara's comment but then shrugs. "I agrree... but if ye think about it, since ve met, therre verre a lot o' things that happened to us that I vas not expectin'..."
He then follows the others, his mind a bit lost, perhaps thinking about who killed Svalk and what he would do to that person.
Shae looks around just to make sure there aren't any secret doors leading deeper in. If she doesn't find anything she moves up along Ahreni as they depart "You ok?"
"Sword. In head." Ahreni has a fierce look in her eyes that Shae, experienced hunter that she is recognises as an animal on the edge of panic and covering with anger. "Get it out!"
When they reach the river, the shifter loops the rope around one arm and braces herself before nodding to the ranger.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble," Relisha speaks to the sword in a quiet voice, "Would you refrain from speaking to Ahreni? She finds it uncomfortable that your voice is inside her head."
"What is an Ahreni? I am capable of normal speech out loud as well if it makes any difference, but that method seems archaic to me when I can just put the thoughts in your head directly. Why take the longer path? Ah, she must be the primitive looking one then? Yes?"
Shalelu swims across the other side and the plank turns out to be a fifteen foot, two-hundred pound piece of timber.
"Yes, that's her, but I think using the word primitive is rather judgmental so please don't call her that, she's my friend," Relisha whispers back as she waits for the offered bridge.
Before messing with the plank she quickly scouts ahead just to ensure there aren't any direct threats that may become a problem when they bring the bridge down which will likely make some noise. Assuming no immediate threats, next she will look for any easy means of lowering the 'bridge'. If she doesn't find any she will try and push it over herself to make way for the others.
If that doesn't work, she will tie the rope the plank and call out to the others "You guys pull and I'll push to try and get this thing down."
Before she drags the heavy wood over to the water, she scouts ahead and finds threats. Just passed the narrow passageway to the north that she has to squeeze through, there are two trolls strolling about in the room beyond.
Finding the trolls she frowns then shrugs, at least they couldn't easily get to them but it would be tough to fight them if they blocked the way, so getting the others across quietly would be optimal.
She waves her hands to try and get the others attention when she gets back from scouting and then holds her finger to her lip to indicate 'quiet' before she goes to tie her end of the rope off and then waves for the others to use the rope to get across the water, knowing that Ahreni or Olaff will need to end up swimming across so they can hold the other end of the rope.
Olaff’s comment struck Thanara like a dagger in the heart. She knew she had hurt him, but didn’t expect him to carry the hurt so closely...
”Olaff...I...” she starts before she is interrupted by their newest obstacle. She hangs her head and waits quietly as the talented ones begin unraveling the problem of crossing.
Making her way back, she works with the rope and large piece of wood to help secure a method of passing through the deep channel. It takes fifteen minutes before everyone is across, but eventually you all make it to the other side and are once again soaking wet.
Suishen says to Relisha "I meant no disrespect, Relisha. I was merely stating the obvious. I will refrain from calling her primitive from now on." And after a brief pause "I do not sense the heir nearby."
"Thank you. I appreciate that. Wait! You can sense if Ameiko is nearby?!" Relisha responds, the rising excitement in her voice evident. This being the first bit of good news she's heard in a while, she ignores the feeling of water-soaked clothing in the worst places.
Ahreni 40/43
Olaff 49/49
Relisha 52/53
Shalelu 47/47
Thanara 27/27
When the others get across Shae tells them in whispers of the trolls down the hall then goes on to suggest a plan "Olaff, you and Ahreni should squeeze through first, I will follow behind. As soon as you get through head for the trolls to the north, I will start shooting and then Thanara and Relisha can squeeze through behind us."
Thanara was not happy when she emerged from the frigid waters once again. She immediately set to using her magic to drying her clothes, small arcs of lightning dancing along her dress causing the water to sizzle and steam to rise from her as she wrung out her hair.
”That’s fine, but I’m worried about the sword being unable to sense Ameiko. Does...does that mean she’s dead?” she asks it.
Suishen replies "Yes. I can sense scions and heirs alike with a short distance. I sense you five, but I sense no other. Either they are dead or not within my range."
The blade pauses and then adds "Should the heir fall, one of you must take up the mantle of the heir and stand for the Amatatsu's."
Ahreni keeps the passage safe for the others and then swims the cold water without comment before shaking the water off vigorously on the other side. Shalelu's plan seems sensible so she steps into place behind Olaff and nods silently.
Relisha looks down at the sword in surprise, but keeps her thoughts to herself.
Olaff and Ahreni squeeze through the gap and the two trolls turn to face them. One of them looks down at the pair, curious and asks in Giant tongue "HEY! Me no see you before. What you do here?"
Ahreni points to Olaff and when the giant's attention is diverted, sidles the other way to clear a path for the others.
Both giants look away from Ahreni and stare down at Olaff, unsure who the Ulfen is and what he is doing here. "YOU! What you do here? You no belong." it asks, cracking its knuckles.
Relisha squeezes through the opening, cringing at the sound her armor makes as she does so.
Ahreni 40/43
Olaff 49/49
Relisha 52/53
Shalelu 47/47
Thanara 27/27
Shalelu follows behind but staying behind the others, keeping her distance from the trolls, waiting to see if Olaff has anything to say to them that might avoid a fight.
Not understanding giant, Olaff looks at the closest troll, gathers as much phlegm as he can and then spits at it. He smiles and draws his weapon. "F&+# trrolls. I hate them."
When it is obvious there isn't going to be any diplomacy Shae looses arrows at the nearest troll.
With no attempts at fooling the trolls, they give up on diplomacy and decide to smash the intruders!
Ahreni waits a moment to see which troll Olaff goes for and then jumps on the same one from behind, ripping at its flesh with claw and fang.
Thanara sends a bolt of lightning at the same one the others are attacking, hoping to bring one down quickly.
"For now though, let us slay these trolls. Please bury me firmly in its over-sized thigh."
Thanara's jolt of electricity followed by both of Ahreni's attacks tearing into the large troll rip open some wounds that the party sees begin to heal and close all on their own.
The troll in the front bends down and bites Olaff's arm , ripping some flesh from his body. Behind him, the other troll picks up a large piece of rubble and throws it the woman that shot lightning at them
Shalelu mentions to the others as she fires her arrows "In case you didn't know, we can hurt them, even knock them out if we do enough damage, but they will keep healing until we use acid or fire to stop the wounds from healing."
Olaff's pupils shrink as he is consumed by rage, the anciant hatred his people and his many shield brothers in Blackraven Hall shared against the Irrizen trolls. He retaliates the troll's attack with one of his own before he eyes the giant in its eyes and yells. "Arrrgh!"
The tiefling steps up and attempts to slash at the troll Olaff is engaged with with her borrowed blade in both hands.
Ahreni 40/43
Olaff 43/49
Relisha 42/53
Shalelu 47/47
Thanara 24/27
Shalelu, Ahreni, Olaff and Relisha all land their attacks against the large creature, Olaff critically injuring the creature so that the rest of his team can put it down.
The first creature drops to the ground, creating a gap between you and the other that had been throwing rocks in the rear. It steps up overtop of the body of its companion even as the fallen troll's injuries continue to heal. The troll first bites Olaff before slashing him twice with its claws and then lifting him off the ground and causing tremendous damage as it tears his flesh before dropping him back onto his feet.
Shalelu winces when she sees the troll ravage Olaff, but she can't do much more than continue putting arrows in the monsters so that is what she does.
Ahreni leaves the living troll to the rest of the group as she begins to rip through the prone trolls throat, apparently intent on either detaching its head or drinking all of its blood. Hard to tell which...
Even if severely wounded, Olaff remains on his feet and attacks again. "It von't be that easy!"
The tielfling continues to slash at the same troll that Olaff is engaged with, hoping to bring it down before too much damage results.
Ahreni 40/43
Olaff 14/49
Relisha 37/53
Shalelu 47/47
Thanara 24/27
Still unable to get into position to lend any aid, Thanara stands back behind the others, electricity dancing along her arms and hands in anticipation.
As Ahreni rips apart the fallen troll, Shalelu, Relisha and Olaff all land their attacks on the other one.
The troll continues its assault in much the same manner as last round except it misses its bite this time, but slams each of its claws into Olaff's body before rending him with them. . This time the large Ulfen doesn't land on his feet however, the troll dropping his bloody and broken body to the ground and the troll laughs heartily