Blaze pointed out the strange liquid that the cursed items were submerged in. "This is working to dissolve the curses, but it takes time. They will be good weapons, once the curses are gone." She explained, hoping Sasha, Nima and Pharos would be satisfied. "Ethos gave us all gifts when we answered his call. He might want to do the same for you, if you want to join us. But I do not know if you have places to return to, once you feel your debt to Aukan is paid."
"I have my answers from the book. I will have to use the card to free the little fire mephit, but at least I will have kept my promise."
Nima quickly responds to Thorn in Ignan:
Pharos responds in Ignan as well.
Once Blaze is done with the book, Aukan walks up to it and begins thinks on what to write... Thinking out loud he says a few iterations before writing down the following questions. He says the questions and answers out loud:
"Who can take an item from the vault?"
Response, "Anyone who can enter the vault with a key."
"Do you have to be of the Order of Crimson Knights of the Black Blade to take an item?"
Response, "No, but please return items you don't use anymore!"
"Is there a penalty for not returning the item?"
"No. It is merely done by the honor code."
"Oh okay, so we can all take one item from the vault. Though if you finish with it you should return it to the Order or a vault." He states to the group.
Looking to Aukan, she nods.
"From the sounds of things, Aukan, you opened the door. You are the fully-fledged member here who opened the vault and let us all in. That means permission is coming from you, then, by all means, they can take what they want. Who am I then to stop them, even if their taking of these weapons may cause issues in the future? I guess that's on your head then. As a guard, we don't allow people who have been given access to our guard room to take our weapons in the armory and use them. If that's what the Order of the Crimson Knights of the Black Blades do, then so be it."
She will shrug and move over to the goo that is currently working on her headband. It has been a few days and she is wondering if it has changed at all. Knowing it will take about a week, after she looks, she moves out of the vault and will await the party to head back to the camp.
Andrei watches as Lilianne leaves the wault; while hands in pockets, the caydenite watches everyone while in the vault and leaves with them.
"You have dragons to kill? So I take it in times to come you'll likely leave to sate that axe's bloodthirst back home then. Also that Glaive craves Elven Blood. Some of us like our blood where it belongs. In us."
Thorn shakes his head as he senses that the girls are pretty adamant on taking those weapons. His head begins to spin as he thinks about how not to get caught in the likely crossfire...
"So anyone can take anything from the vault with out question or penalty?" he pauses for a while as Lilianne speaks.
"Fine then. As long as you know their various curses." Thorn points out as he too leaves the vault. He was feeling a bit jittery being around the glaive......
Once out, he shudders.
"Baahir is actually the one who placed his blade blade into the key hole. Baahir I am willing to take responsibility for Sasha, Nima, and Pharos. I trust their word and intentions." Aukan states.
Lillianne as you look into the goo with the headband it looks like it is bubbling and working on the headband. It does not look damaged in the least.
Soon the visit to the vault is over and the last to leave the vault is Baahir, Aukan and the fire gals.
Aukan nods and agrees with them. They wait until the rest of the group is on the other side of the former goblin camp. Baahir catches up to the group and states, "They have decided to activate the items now, so should the worst happen, the ramifications will not affect the group."
They watch as Pharos takes the glaive in hand and swings it. Though the stone in her left hand shrinks in size as her skin color changes. It turns to more of a golden color as her hair seems to ignite. Now it seems her hair is living flames. She offers her hand to Nima and Nima accepts it. Nima seems to begin to be drained and her hair looses all color and her red pigmentation lessens. The rock was in their hands and as she leaves it in Nima's hand only a glittering diamond is left behind.
The curse of ability damage activates and she must make two will saves...
"Pleâşe be câreful!" Andrei tells the others as they leave the vault. "Âye only hăve one remove curşe șpell grănțed țo me țodăy."
Aukan before he leaves he asks the book several more questions:
Which he tells the group while they are still there:
"Where does the Cloak of the Bat need to go back?"
With his answer he puts it back into the vat with the plaque...
"Is the headband of charisma in the right vat or should it be moved? It is in the right spot for its curse. Should I move the immoveable rod? Yes, take it. Thank you book, should I move the white crystal lattice? Yes, but it is now gone. Dissolved away."
He would pull out the immovable rod, unless someone else did and attach it to his belt or but it in his bag.
Nima decides to put the Axe of Dragon Execution back. In her broken common she says, "Be back for it when time is right! Curse be gone?!"
"It take time. Then curse is gone." Thorn answers Nima.
He does appreciate it as the group activates the curse on them early though he shudder at the thought that the curse would be in effect.
As Baahir comes up to the group, she nods in response. Although she wishes to shake her head in disbelief at people's willingness to use cursed items without knowing what they do, she lets it alone and makes sure that the people who come over across the camp were the same in the vault. Who knew if the rod would take over the mind of Pharos or anyone else? She is cautious, but when the others come and seem somewhat okay, she looks to Andrei and draws close to him for the walk back.
Andrei reaches out and holds his Callie's hand. "Şo! Hăve your țhoughțș chănged ăbouț dă orgănîzătîon we fînd ourșelveș în? The cleric whispered to the mesmerist.
On your way back to camp you don't encounter any problems.
Moving far away from anyone else, she will turn to start to walk back to camp before the others (just a good hundred feet ahead) with Andrei. She will whisper to him privately.
"No...I don't see anything to speak to them being something I couldn't be part of, but to be honest, I am not looking to join them. I was sent here to investigate them. They work outside of many realms and my superiors wanted me to discover more about them. So far, nothing has impressed upon me a negative outlook. I don't particularly feel safe letting civilians who have not been vetted take up such mighty tools. It doesn't sit well with me."
She sighs and continues, "Each of us were carefully spied out and approached to fit this organization. It's like giving farmers weapons of destruction instead of pitchforks. They could be the best warriors in the world, I wouldn't trust them until I know where they came from and what Aukan pulled them from...since we don't know that, I just have to trust Aukan, and that trust is very minimally earned so far. Anyways...we should be focusing on the goblins."
After making it back to the camp, she looks to Blaze and the others.
"We need to scout out the next goblin camp here soon. The quicker we work against them, the less prepared and aware of us they will be."
"No...I don't see anything to speak to them being something I couldn't be part of, but to be honest, I am not looking to join them. I was sent here to investigate them. They work outside of many realms and my superiors wanted me to discover more about them. So far, nothing has impressed upon me a negative outlook. I don't particularly feel safe letting civilians who have not been vetted take up such mighty tools. It doesn't sit well with me."
She sighs and continues, "Each of us were carefully spied out and approached to fit this organization. It's like giving farmers weapons of destruction instead of pitchforks. They could be the best warriors in the world, I wouldn't trust them until I know where they came from and what Aukan pulled them from...since we don't know that, I just have to trust Aukan, and that trust is very minimally earned so far. Anyways...we should be focusing on the goblins."
The caydenite brings up the half-elf's hand to his mouth and kisses it. "Âye em wîțh you. Âlwâyş. Jușț măke șure you țell me whăț dîrecțîon țo run șo ăye căn keep up, you heâr?" Andrei whispered to his love.
Blaze tries twice more with the ledger before they leave the vault.
For what reason has the climate been changed in this place?
What is the Blank that caused the village to the north to become abandoned?
On the way back, Blaze spoke with Sasha, Nima and Pharos about their plans. "You said you must kill dragons, back where you came from. You are free now, why must you return to do this?"
---
Once they were back at camp, she referred to her notes from interviewing the goblins. "Black Fangs are strongest tribe, but there is also Green Vipers and Red Death. Which one should we go after next?"
'The climate has been changed to make it more habitable to the creatures and the wizards who constructed the spire. The village to the North became abandoned when the wizards left the tower. The great catastrophe.'
The book responded to Blaze.
As they talk Sasha points to Nima and then to Pharos. As the group can see the three are now three very different variations of what they once were.
"Do we know where each of these tribes reside? Also as the goblin tribe that has been destroyed was likely the closest one, the others might take a full day to travel to... leaving us out in the dark. We should do our best to find some kind of shelter before that happens." He points out hoping that the group has more direction than he knows.
"Yeș. Âcquîrîng șome înțellîgence on dă țhree țrîbeș would be îdeâl for plănnîng purpoșeș." The cleric offers his perspective.
Blaze shared what she had learned from the ledger with the group before they left, in case anyone else was inclined to ask more on the subject. And made a mental note to ask more of the catastrophe at a later time as she did not want to inflict any lasting damage to herself.
---
"We should consult the Dossier Ethos gave us, it may have more information on the Goblin tribes. Baahir still has it, I believe. I need to go below to release Jasse, the mephit who will no longer be known as Fire in the Oven." She said as she turned to go that way. She didn't expect to meet any trouble but made no objection to anyone accompanying her either.
"I'll go with you." Thorn offers.
"Then we'll read through the dossier once more before we pick a tribe to go after first."
He hesitates.
"Perhaps we could ask Alia seeing as she knows the land far better then us."
Walking down into the tower/dungeon you find it very quiet. The only sounds are those of your shuffling boots. Down to the kitchen you find the oven with the mephit.
Dossier in Baahir's possession:
Country: Irrisen
Province: Hoarwood Forest (southeast of the country)
Local area: Cursed Valley of the Hidden Vaults
Locations:
Abandoned Village: Black Crows, suspicion of witches. North of the closest goblin tribe. Spyglass should point to that tribe.
Vaults: Goblins are residing around vaults, beware of mutations! The magic of the vaults do strange things to evil creatures.
Silver Spire: Far to the South West on the border between warm and cold. I wonder if there are other spires like this along the edge of the border too? Please investigate!
Contacts:
Alia Silverleaf - Aloof, elf, ranger. Attach whistle to an arrow and shoot it in the air, she will find you.
Aether - Ghost, will try to possess you, only contact in dire emergency. He will help but the cost will be high. Location: black stone ruins to the South.
Aukan the Goliath - dangerously curious, fearless, loyal. He was a scout but we lost communication with him after several weeks, he made watch tower and is a good engineer. Location: in the ruins below your outpost, LOST.
Chest of goods: Hidden below the watch tower.
Barrel of goods: Hidden under the dead tree with a Y to the East.
Abandoned Stash: South of the second vault, near the Viper Clan
Remember only take 1 item from a vault, otherwise: DEATH ~ dire consequences. One of us early on did it, he got out but was utterly magicless, he was a sorcerer.
Other items in satchel:
Whistle, whetstone, magical compass tied to Aukan (I don't know how it works!)
"Alright," she answers Blaze as she suggests they consult the Dossier again. There is no doubt that she is going downstairs with her friend to make sure she is safe down there. Until every location in the underground area is mapped out, she will not be letting anyone go alone.
"I think Alia would know exactly where they are," she responds with a slight smile and a flash of devious eyes to Andrei.
She watches as Blaze lets free the prisoners. She hopes that they are now allies and not more problems for them, however, is on the defensive just in case.
As Blaze frees the fire mephit it thanks you and then hangs onto her shoulder until he can see sky. Then it takes off...
"Well, I am all for striking the leader of the region. Goblins are much weaker if they don't have a leader. I do hope we can handle the strongest tribe though. We might have to play it smart."
He hangs out listening to the plans and goes through swinging his greatsword in a routine. Making sure no one is near him and aware of where people are located.
The three of them go down with Lillianne and Blaze. Though as the other two leave, they keep working to tidy the place up. Now moving into the main room. Most of the upstairs seems to be free of debris and all bodies.
Andrei watched the mephit soaring into the sky. The cleric came up to pat Blaze's shoulder. "Well done, Blâze. Congrâtulâtîonş! You dîd ît! You freed ăn unforţunâţe from împrîşonmenţ ănd şlâvery. Câyden would be proud!"
"If no one has any objection, perhaps we should send a signal to Alia and ask her about the goblins then."
"Yeș Țhorn. Șhe îz dâ experț în țhîș ăreă," Andrei agrees.
"Sure," she answers Thorn and pulls out the signal arrow she was given. "I do not have a bow, however."
With the arrow given to him, Thorn draws his bow and fires it up high into the sky.
With that done he prudently steps back so that the arrow doesn't land back on him. :P
The arrow lands a dozen yards away safely in the dirt. The whistle seemed to have a strange shrill to it.
Within the next hour she arrives. She greets the group with a wave and walks up to talking distance. "How fares your day?" She asks the group as a whole.
During the hour of waiting, Lilianne will forage for food nearby for the group. With the battles dying down in the region, more and more animals should have felt comfortable returning, particularly to the glade and pond. She hopes to provide enough food for all of them for at least a while.
Once Alia arrives, Lilianne will lightly push Thorn in her direction.
"It goes well. Thorn here has some questions for you about the goblins in the region."
A devious smile is on her face as she turns to linger by Andrei.
With the aid of others you might be able to take down more birds than expected. Those resting on the pond get caught by the group. Four at least maybe more. Also looking around you find some roots that should be good to eat.
She looks to Thorn and waits for his questions...
Andrei wanted to add something, but seeing Lilianne's knowing smile, the caydenite kept quiet.
Retrieving the arrow, Thorn helps out in foraging though with his little skills, he manages to find a bush and persuade to to give up some berries.
Taken off guard, Thorn asks his question.
"I would like to take you out to the goblins." and then snaps his jaws shut, horrified and attempts to recover with a his cheeks showing a blush of red.
"I mean we were wondering about the remaining goblins and which are the strongest in order, their territory and their numbers. I would like to see you- I mean since you have being living in this region and we are in sore need of information."
She smiles a bit at the fumbling of Thorn's words and gives a quick look to his allies. Then she replies, "The goblins in the abandoned village have an elder worg as their leader and are likely the strongest. Red Death, as they call themselves in their rituals of blood, have the fewest members. Then the last tribe has the most goblins. I would be willing to guide your group." Finally she gives a reassuring touch to his arm as her smile gets a bit bigger.
Lilianne quiet jabs Andrei in the ribs at the conversation between the elves. "Yeș. Yeş! Âye șee îț. Șhh." The varisian whispers to the half-elf.
"She has touched his arm to break through the figment so she can see 'not hideous Thorn'.
Aukan was over by the fire listening to his mechanical bird sing and reading a journal.
Once Alia appears he shrugs and keeps reading. At the mention of goblins he gets up, stretches, and grabs his blade before walking over to those talking with Alia. He looks at Andrei and Lilianne, then the other two, then his eyes get a little bigger, then shakes his head. "Soooo, we want to stalk out which one?" He states blandly.
His gaze not leaving Alia as he hears Aurkan's question.
"Can we know more about these three tribes? I assume that the Red Death are magic users?" he asks Alia.
He nods his head to the rest as he reminds them.
"Demons were part of the last goblin attack even though they weren't on the goblins side. We might need to take out the one more dangerous if one of them is actually adept as summoning."
"Sure but I don't know what else to tell you? I don't know, it... they could have been magic users. I don't know." She states a bit unsure. "Oh they are more productive than the first tribe. They have made their own dwellings. The Red Death has lookouts on towers and a wall of palisades. You could enter between the watch towers or by the water, a pond fed by a spring. Black Fang has three walls in place."
"We aren't well equipped to take on an outpost, but I suppose we should start there. The less prepared they are the better. If we start attacking the other clans and they perceive they are under attack, that would turn the Red Death into our death," she jokes. "Alia, you wouldn't happen to have a decrepit old bow left lying around. I feel unprepared out here with just a sword. We were not told where we were going or what we were going to do before coming here. I'm literally off a boat that has been at sea for weeks."
Thorn Looks a bit discomforted.
"They built fortifications? That changes things quite a bit..." he pauses as he asks.
"Do you have any idea if they're supported by external forces?" he asks with some dread.