Tak hands one end of the rope to Salvatore.
"Hey Sal hold this for sec, will ya?"
He then takes a running start and jumps across the opening, carrying the other end of the rope with him.
Salvatore will hold onto the rope and then look for something to tie the rope off to. After the rope is tied off he will use the dragon scale ability to use levitate to bring Anevia over the gap first then bring over himself over after everyone else gets over the gap.
Chanting and waving his fingers, Aravashnial casts a spell.
"There is a rope? Can someone pull me across please?"
man dis place be a quaking and changing every day. Ill hold da rope while odders work demselves cross. Then I will give it a go.
Tak, Anevia, and Aravashnial wait patiently on the other side of the chasm.
We got another rope, in case someone in armor doesn't quite make that jump?
Using the knotted rope, WalMir is able to climb down and back up to the other side.
The mongrelmen opt to just climb on the walls, taking their time and moving cautiously they make it across safely.
With everyone across, the mongrelmen put themselves in front again and lead everyone down more of the twisting tunnels.
"Let's hope that was the worst of it."
Roughly twenty minutes later they signal for a stop. Scowling at a portion of the tunnel that has collapsed.
"That was our easiest path to Neathholm. There is another, but it is rarely used. There is a spore-cougher in there. It might be dangerous, but with your help, together we could defeat it."
Well if that's the only way through then that is what we are going to have to do. Taking care of this "spore-cougher" would probably help you guys in the long run also, am I right?
Yeah, there're lotsa fungi that grow underground
we got to do what we got to do. Lets get it goin eh
Heading into the tunnel it takes Lann about ten minutes before he starts to look around nervously at his companions.
"We are nearly there. Everyone, be ready."
The tunnel opens into a circular cavern, roughly forty feet in diameter. Thick sheets of fungus grow in the cave, and several tunnels branch off. All of these save one in the north wall lead downward; the northern one leads upward. What appear to be two dead bodies lie on the ground in the middle of the cave, next to a strange heap of ropy green fungus.
"Unbelievable. The creature is already dead. But who are these uplanders?"
could it be dey died at da same time eh? Best keep our wits could be more at play
Darius will keep his scythe at the ready striking anything that makes a aggressive action at the party
Salvatore will pull out his crossbow and load it to be ready.
Looking at the body of the creature, Lann nods and indicates that this is indeed what had been living here and blocking this path. He gives the pile of green mushroom a tap with his boot and it does not seem to respond.
Both men are dressed as crusaders of Iomedae, and each still wears a masterwork chain shirt. One of the dead bodies carries a potion of cure light wounds, while the other has a scroll in a pouch. Between the two of them, they also carry 129 gp. Each was carrying a glaive, while one also has a spiked gauntlet. In the hand of the one with the scroll, you also find a pendant made of brass with a bull's head and tiny red gemstones (50gp)
Cause Fear
Unholy symbol of Baphomet
"I'm sure he wouldn't want it to go to waste." Tak says as he starts removing one of the chain shirts.
I wonder why these Iomedae crusaders had an Unholy Symbol of Baphomet?
Also I would love to hold onto that Scroll if you guys don't mind. I do think we should take these things, you never know when things will come in handy.
no need to let dez tings go to waste. Lets go head and grab some stuff and maybe say some good words
The mongrelmen are anxious to proceed to their home.
"We are sorry if these were friends of yours, but we must press forward. There may be others in Neathholm that could be hurt if the quakes were felt there as they were here."
Well, whoever they are they probably fell down here like us. Probly lotsa folks like that. Let's get going
After grab the items, Yes let's get going and see if your people are ok.
Tak settles into his new chain shirt, stowing his old studded leather in his pack. "Hey Sal let me help you out. I'll carry one of those glaives... and that spiked gauntlet."
Upon hearing about the pendant, Aravashnial exclaims in joy.
"So the rumors are true. There has been talk lately of a secret cult infiltrating the Iomedaen crusaders, and this seems to be proof. We should bring these bodies with us to the surface. If the temple does not recognize or acknowledge them, that will confirm it."
Anevia just scoffs, "I have heard the same rumors Aravash, let's just hope these two were prancing around down here by themselves."
Lann speaks up as the journey proceeds. "We have seen uplanders dressed like this before. More lately than usual, but we try to avoid them. They are often... unkind. They also have an alliance with the bad tribe to the southeast of Neathholm."
Well Aravashnial if you think it's a good idea to carry these bodies back then maybe we should. What you guys think? Darius and Grizst are you guys up for carrying them?
"Whats the purpose of lugging these corpses around? To verify our suspicions? I'm good. Secret meetings below ground, carrying unholy symbols, clandestine relationships with unfriendies. Consider my suspicion verified. And why carry two? Wouldn't one suffice? Its easy for the old blind guy to volunteer y'all for the hard labor, but it ain't necessary."
It 'twas a mere suggestion but I am fine with whatever the group decides.
yeah I tink dey good where dey be. People can always come back down later after da we tell dem bout it
About twenty minutes later, the group arrives in front of a large, stone door. Four mongrelmen stand as sentries outside the closed portal. Lann and his companions move ahead and greet the guards, exchanging pleasantries and inquiring if Neathholm had been damaged in the recent quake.
One hisses out a response though a snake-like visage. "We have felt the ssssshaking and quaking here too. But there wasssss no damage done in town. Who are thessssse outsssssidersssss?"
Salvatore will wave up at them trying to be friendly.
Hey guys. Didn't mean to "drop in" on ya like this Grizst looks around and realizes his sense of humor doesn't seem to translate well.
WalMir notices that two of the mongrelmen at the gates are wearing bronze pendants. The details are hard to make out from a distance.
Hey bruddahs. Darius nice to meet ya!
Darius will give a quick head bow out of respect
Could we possibly take rest in your city? We fell down here a couple of days ago and are trying to find our way to the surface.
One of the door guards looks to Salvatore. "Normally we do not allow uplanders into Neathholm, but Lann told us how you helped Crel. You have our thanks and welcome."
Two push the heavy stone door open revealing Neathholm beyond. A small, dark lake ripples in the center of this two-hundredfoot-wide cavern, the walls and ceiling aglow with thick sheets of luminescent fungi. In the center of the lake, over two dozen low stone buildings cluster on a rocky one-hundred-foot-wide island. Lights glow in the windows of the buildings, giving the settlement an almost welcoming look. Rafts made of mismatched planks of timber bob along the length of a crooked pier at the lake’s closest shore.
Lann takes the lead. "Come, we should goto the chief's house. He may know of another way to the surface you can use."
The three head towards the island.
Thank you very much for allowing us to enter. This place looks magnificent.
Salvatore will follow Lann.
Oh bruddah dis place be real nice! Got dat good homey feel to it! Reminds me us my uncle Jimmy's home in da swamp.
Arriving at the largest building in sight, Lann knocks on the door. There is shuffling from the other side and shortly the door swings open. A bloated and unpleasant looking mongrelman stands in the doorway. "Ah Lann. What brings you here today? Shouldn't you be at the outpost?"
The chief invites everyone to come and sit in the house while Lann fills in the details of the outpost and highlights that you five helped to free Crel.
"A grave tragedy upon our people to be sure. This will take a long time for our people to recover, and our borders will need to be smaller for safety." He pauses for a few moments.
"Tell me, how is it exactly that you all got down here in the first place?"
Unfortunately when the Storm King Khorramzadeh attacked the ground collapsed and we fell down here. We have been down here for a couple of days now. There was 1 more person an older human man but he left an went out on his own. I want to thank you again for your peoples hospitality for letting us into your beautiful town.
The guard looks perplexed at WalMir's question. "These are our family crests. Passed down through the generations." One of the guards slips a thumb under the brooch and lifts it to show off, the pattern on it is that of a dog or wolf with spider-like limbs.
The chief listens to Salvatore relay their circumstances with great interest.
"Demons running amok in Kenabres. That is certainly bad news. Our people are often treated as freaks or outcasts by the uplanders, but our ancestors..." He reaches up and grips a hand onto a silver brooch depicting an bat sitting on a mushroom. "They helped drive back the demons in the First Crusade. Their presence is a blight that must be dealt with. We would aid the fight on the surface, but I fear, that the uplanders might judge us on looks and assume we were yet another threat. Perhaps you folk could take our message to them. Tell them we are here and willing to fight."
Well you certainly have my vote and it is a shame people judge by appearance alone. I would gladly bring a message to them at perhaps with not just our input but also Anevia and Aravashnial as well, they would be more willing to listen.
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That's a strange brooch. Didn't we find one like that made of copper?
Actually yes I have been holding onto it because I thought it looked fascinating.
Salvatore will take it out of his pocket and shows the Chief.