Lilianne will enjoy some of the wine that Andrei pours, but she drinks very little. Who knows how long they will need to make it last? Lilianne does lean up to whisper something in Andrei's ear as Blaze speaks to Baahir. Her hand covers her mouth.
She will flash him her seductive smile as if to remind him of times past and nestles in. "It is nice to take a break, but I need to check that pond. Hopefully, it is a spring...Although we shouldn't need it unless Andrei goes down."
"That is fine," she will respond to Alia. "I'm sure we can handle things without needing you involved. Still, I'm glad to know we have someone out here besides us and thank you for the advice."
Looking to Andrei, she asks him, "Can you prepare your mending spell still? The one you used to fix my dress...remember?" She hands her glass to the invisible servant and commands it to clean those dishes of those in the camp that have finished. She then turns back to Andrei, "I was thinking perhaps some small fragment of those fabrics down in the cellar can be repaired. It may get cold here eventually if I read the weather right. It might do good to have some more blankets and such. If nothing else...we can use the cellar as dry storage and the bed as a medical area in case any of us get injured or sick." While she speaks, she is not quiet, so anyone can chime in.
She will then ask her servant to get her a small portion of her daily ration, as she'd rather let the others eat of the hunt since she failed so badly at it today. Surely she will find something to let them feast upon in the coming days once the animals return.
Andrei smiles as Callie whispered something in his ear. He turns to the half-elf and nods.
Looking to Andrei, she asks him, "Can you prepare your mending spell still? The one you used to fix my dress...remember?" She hands her glass to the invisible servant and commands it to clean those dishes of those in the camp that have finished. She then turns back to Andrei, "I was thinking perhaps some small fragment of those fabrics down in the cellar can be repaired. It may get cold here eventually if I read the weather right. It might do good to have some more blankets and such. If nothing else...we can use the cellar as dry storage and the bed as a medical area in case any of us get injured or sick." While she speaks, she is not quiet, so anyone can chime in.
"Âye hâve dă orîşon prepâred now. Fînâlly ăye feel uşeful! Ăye hăve yeț țo şee țhîș bâşemenţ every one îz tâlkîng ăbouț. Leț uș şee țhîș fâbrîc în need of mendîng ăfțer înțroducțîonș ăre măde."
As everyone finishes with introductions and telling of their abilities she stands up to stretch. "Well this has been... nice, definitely a change. Lillyanne has the signal whistles if you need my help. I should get back onto patrol unless you have a reason for me to stay?"
Andrei stands as the elf stands. "You âre welcome țo our fîre ânyţîme, Âlîâ. Pleâse stăy săfe."
Blaze and Alia seemed to have some disagreement over the map. Blaze kept trying to point out landmarks on the southern half of the map, while Alia kept returning to the northern half, tapping the marking that she insisted was their current location as Blaze became increasingly agitated.
"But we CANNOT be in Irrisen! Where is snow?" She argued, suddenly seeming very invested in knowing precisely where their camp was located. But as much as she resisted the information, Alia's argument began to sink in. Rather than getting louder, Blaze grew very quiet.
She returned to the fire and it was clear that tears welled in her eyes. Her voice was husky with emotion. "The news... is bad. We are further north than I thought... much further." She settled down close to the flames, curled in on herself and rubbing her hands over her arms as if she felt some phantom chill.
She begins to speak, but her voice cracks and she swallows hard before beginning again. "I... must tell you. I have... enemy here, in Irrisen. I escape her... long ago. I was..." She struggles with the expression and ends up uttering an Infernal word so harsh it sounds like the vilest curse in any language. "It means... a being bred for blood sacrifice. I was a witch's chattel... chained... kept in cage. She bleed me, cut away my flesh. I escape her and go... south, always south. But now I am here, she will find me, I know." Finally she closed her eyes and the tears spill out and run down her pale face, hissing like water on a hot griddle.
---
Later that evening, she worked like a demon on a new piece. One that did not give her pleasure to render, though she worked to ensure her detail was as true to life as possible. When she was done, she sneered at the face burned into the wood. A face more horrific to her than any she had ever laid eyes on. The face of her Nemesis.
Blaze returned to the fire and it was clear that tears welled in her eyes. Her voice was husky with emotion. "The news... is bad. We are further north than I thought... much further." She settled down close to the flames, curled in on herself and rubbing her hands over her arms as if she felt some phantom chill.
She begins to speak, but her voice cracks and she swallows hard before beginning again. "I... must tell you. I have... enemy here, in Irrisen. I escape her... long ago. I was..." She struggles with the expression and ends up uttering an Infernal word so harsh it sounds like the vilest curse in any language. "It means... a being bred for blood sacrifice. I was a witch's chattel... chained... kept in cage. She bleed me, cut away my flesh. I escape her and go... south, always south. But now I am here, she will find me, I know." Finally she closed her eyes and the tears spill out and run down her pale face, hissing like water on a hot griddle.
Anfrei walks over to the huddled Blaze and rubs her back . "Àye em very șorry for whăț you wenț țhrough, Blâze", the cleric began. "Eff worșe comeș țo worșț, know dăt thîngș wîll be dîfferenț: for you âre șurrounded by frîendş! Câpâble frîendş who wîll noţ leț ânyone căușe you pâîn. Rîghț, Bââhîr?" The caydenite made a little 'come-over-here' look to his fellow cleric.
"Aww!" she whines at Blaze's internal conflict. She will shake her head "no" in answer to Alia and will give her a kind nod in saying goodbye. "Thanks for coming with us. I do hope we can be good friends." She will then turn her attention to her old firey friend. She recalls her many scars and old wounds. Now the picture makes sense.
"Don't you fret, Andrei is right. We're here for you. I'd gut that b%@ch in a heartbeat if she but steps foot in this clearing."
Clearly there is a strong defensive bond between her and Blaze. Boiling up inside, she calms her emotions and checks them into control. Subconsciously, her hand has moved to her sword's hilt.
She bends down and gives the crying woman a kiss on the temple, regardless of how hot her skin is, before moving to find a flat piece of collected wood. After finding it, she will bring it and set it next to Blaze. Maybe when she is done crying she will see it?
-------
For the rest of the day, Lilianne will try to conscript Thorn, Andrei, and Aramyros to help her with the pond. If this is a spring, they should find the source and dig a channel for the water to flow so some crops can be grown. After all, an outpost should sustain itself. If it is just a pond with no source, they should investigate as to whether there are fish for eating within it and if the water is safe to drink.
An hour or so after noon, the clockwork automaton stops beside the firewood and drops its last load.
Lilianne soon finds out that the pool is fed by an underground spring. Looking around the small pool you dont see any other source that feeds it.
Amaramos the wall that the automaton made is nothing like a palisade. Merely the stacking of logs and sticks leaning against them. Also you could walk through it with little effort.
"I am sure we will meet again, Alia. You have my thanks as well." he says as she departs.
Anfrei walks over to the huddled Blaze and rubs her back . "Àye em very șorry for whăț you wenț țhrough, Blâze", the cleric began. "Eff worșe comeș țo worșț, know dăt thîngș wîll be dîfferenț: for you âre șurrounded by frîendş! Câpâble frîendş who wîll noţ leț ânyone căușe you pâîn. Rîghț, Bââhîr?" The caydenite made a little 'come-over-here' look to his fellow cleric.
As Blaze recoiled and began to speak with panic, Baahir leaned closer wanting to make his presence known to her. He had brought his fellow anchorites back from the precipice of fear in the past but this was different, and he felt himself struggling for the right thing to do. Andrei snapped him out of it when he heard his name called.
"You are correct, I would not let any harm come to you...or anyone else here. My flames have burned witches in the past but together, our flames can turn them to ash." Baahir agrees as he moves closer to Blaze, he knelt down close to her and the fire. Rather than touch her abruptly, he made sure she could see his face as he spoke.
"Perhaps instead her finding you, we will find her together. We an make sure you no longer have a reason to feel fear. Then your tears will only be shed for moments of joy and beauty." he whispers to her, he smiles through the difficult situation. He extends his scarf to her so she can dry any tears that survived the heat surrounding them all.
Those scars...they must still feel pain. he thought to himself, wanting to embrace her but unsure of his own actions. Instead, he would make sure he was there for her and as close as possible.
As Baahir moved in closer to comfort Blaze, Andrei extracted himself from the campfire. The caydenite gave the half-elf a secret smile as he stood next to her.
-----
The varisian, his love and the towering aasimar work on the coaxing the pond water deeper into land. Andrei removed his armor to work shirtless under the midday sun, making discreet flexing of muscles when Aramyros wasn't looking. Andrei made sure everyone had plenty of fresh water for the hard work, and sing old varisian songs to help pass the time.
Thorn had not spoken much during their last campfire tete-a-tete as he was trying his best to look inconspicuous as he steals glances at Alia.
His companions were holding back and he knew it but deep inside he knew that this wasn't the time to be calling it out. Alia was more then just a guardian of the forest. More then the elf she seems to show but who was he to talk? He surrounded himself with magic to hide his true appearance after all.
Seeing Blaze's breakdown, the fat man's gaze softens. He knew about enemies and escaping near death very well. All too well in fact.
In Common, Taldane
"We all have enemies Blaze, some more closer then we would like but we are all together this time. I too have enemies and they nearly took my heart. Beaten and wounded, barely living I crawled to a building I believe though when I do not recall. The resident was very kind, though my eyes had being sliced open leaving me blind, the flames this person wielded were both warm and soothing keeping my life's fire ablaze. Would have have liked to thank her before my family found me and whisked me away to heal my wounds. Without her, I might not have lived long enough to be found. So is this enemy of yours come, she'll find that you too are not alone." he shrinks back as gazes fall upon him.
Looking to perhaps escape, Thorn latches on to a possible route.
"I would like to join you Alia on your patrols. Learning this forest dangers and possible shelters would aid us more. The goblins, other creatures and places that we should avoid such as those sleeping dragons you mentioned. The map we have could be updated and it'll help us to learn about game in this area that we can hunt for."
"Lilianne, I'm afraid I'll have to decline as I further scout out the area we are in. Knowing Irrisen, the snows might just come in suddenly and should Blaze's enemy decides to vist. We at least would be better prepared to receive this foe." he leaves out that that includes his likely true family coming as well.
"That palisade might do with more work."
"Lilianne, I feel that I might be best suited to help build a solid wall as that doll doesn't seem capable enough of completing that task. The sooner we have those walls, the better."
Lilianne soon finds out that the pool is fed by an underground spring. Looking around the small pool you dont see any other source that feeds it.
Aramyros assists Lilianne in assessing the situation, but has no expertise. Like everyoneelse apparently. He wonders, why Ethos or the dragon assembled such a misfit crew. At least one kind of engineer would have been reasonable. Our boss is not very foresighted.
"It seems we need to build a pump or something. We need to put it on the list for Ethos."An hour or so after noon, the clockwork automaton stops beside the firewood and drops its last load.
Amaramos the wall that the automaton made is nothing like a palisade. Merely the stacking of logs and sticks leaning against them. Also you could walk through it with little effort.
In Draconic, after restarting the automation: "So you can't build wall. Please build table."
After that, with Baahir's help, he'll start in finishing the palisade.
Thorn seems to have a tragic story as well. She will notice he doesn't seem to go into detail on himself, and based on his words earlier, she doesn't think he will. She picks up on his change of subject and will help deflect the conversation by standing to get ready to work; as if the conversation is done.
After inviting him, Thorn seems to have other commitments and she nods, "Do what you will, my friend." She will wave to him and head across the meadow with her Andrei, Aramyros, and her unseen servant in tow.
Andrei has the right idea to work hard and she will make sure Aramyros is working just as hard. Even the modestly dressed half-elf will strip down to her underwear initially and then will tie her red inner lining of her outfit as a skirt about her waist with her natural breastband about her top. Her gear in the meantime is held by the unseen servant, who is readily at hand to wait on her.
Lilianne is attentive always to her surroundings, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have fun. She will secretly giggle at Andrei, and when he isn't looking, will scoop mud to toss onto his back, and a bit later, will do the same to Aramyros to see if he has some humor in him.
Eventually, Lilianne will use unseen magics to dry them off and clean their clothes of any debris, mud, or stink that had been on them previously before doing the same to herself.
After the watering hole, she too will settle into helping with the wall.
Aramyros, what do you do precisely to 'restart' the automaton?
Helping with the wall will take a woodcutting or carpentry craft skill, or k engineering. DC 10 for all of them.
She would nod and let him join her but at the wall his decline makes her confused.
"Aramyros, it seems it has trouble with complex tasks...or we are missing something. At least , we have the supplies it gathers and perhaps it will be able to handle tools for creating planks and such. I am curious to see how to command it." Baahir says walking up to Aramyros and the automaton, slowly walking around it to examine the lever and build.
He sighs, a bit out of his expertise.
"If we cannot create a large enough wall, we could create one with stakes. If it can dig holes that may help as well." he says thinking through ideas that will make for more expedient defenses.
Aramyros, what do you do precisely to 'restart' the automaton?
"You are correct, I would not let any harm come to you...or anyone else here. My flames have burned witches in the past but together, our flames can turn them to ash." Baahir agrees as he moves closer to Blaze, he knelt down close to her and the fire. Rather than touch her abruptly, he made sure she could see his face as he spoke.
"Perhaps instead her finding you, we will find her together. We an make sure you no longer have a reason to feel fear. Then your tears will only be shed for moments of joy and beauty." he whispers to her, he smiles through the difficult situation. He extends his scarf to her so she can dry any tears that survived the heat surrounding them all.
Those scars...they must still feel pain. he thought to himself, wanting to embrace her but unsure of his own actions. Instead, he would make sure he was there for her and as close as possible.
Blaze despised weakness in herself most of all. But it was not every day that she was thrust unawares into her own personal nightmare. She felt she should take hold of herself, but as her friends surrounded her in support, both new and old, she could not resist taking comfort for just a moment.
Baahir was so close as he offered the end of his scarf. She merely leaned toward him and pressed her tear-streaked face to his chest. Some part of her wanted to wail that they did not understand, that this evil was beyond them all, beyond destroying. But maybe that was the child in her, who only remembered her helplessness and despair at the witch's mercy. She hoped it was so. She willed herself to believe his words, though she did not understand how or why one might weep for joy. She drew a hitching breath and dried her eyes as she steadied herself, drawing stability from his confidence and strength.
It was only a moment, but most everyone had drifted away when she lifted her head and smiled sheepishly up at him. "Thank you," she said quietly, "I will be more brave, if you are with me." Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and the light in her eyes flared briefly as she growled their patron's name. "Ethos..." Had he known, when he sent her here without a word of warning? He knew so much, it was hard to fathom this might be mere coincidence. "The satchel... the one he gave you, we need to look at what it holds."
When she saw Aramyros growing frustrated with the machine, she offered her aid once more. "Did you ask if can show plans yet? Mebbe it need better wood than little pieces for campfire." She activates the lever again, eager to be doing something productive.
"I seem to not understand how to operate it. If you get it going again, I'll ask it."
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Pulling the lever seems to have little effect on it alone. As Blaze pulls the lever and brushes her hand over its core you see the runes flash again. It stands at attention. Then you command it to build a table again and it grabs a few pieces of firewood and then freezes in place again holding the wood. The gears in the clockwork automaton slowly come to a halt.
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!)
Once away from the others, Thorn studies Alia.
Her beautiful profile and the way she stands.
It might be painful and it doesn't always work but he tries to remember the times he had with her and how. He examines the nearby trees as he crouches and begins building yet another stick building, fortified somewhat with soil.
"Alia." he begins.
"Perhaps you're aware of us or not but we each bear a title even if we're not aware of it. Mine is Lost" he pauses a little.
"I have the unfortunate ability to travel through times and we knew each other well. You said the goblins and dragons moved in fairly recently and the fey left. The dragons are asleep too as you mentioned it not once but twice and you seem to have a very close relationship with them." he pointed in the vague direction of the goblins.
"Isn't that what you said?" he asks.
Lilianne can see that Aramyros struggles with the construct and she will lend a hand with Blaze.
"He's a touchy little machine," she jokes. "I think if you don't tweak these levers to the right degree and pressure, it won't work. Plus, it has a magical connection, so you have to activate that component at the correct time too. I could try to teach you if you are interested?" she offers the odd-skinned aasimar.
Once the mechanical servant is operational, she will go back to the wall and will dig and construct what she can.
Her experience with tactics and military training seems to help out in planning where she places each spike.
"He's a touchy little machine," she jokes. "I think if you don't tweak these levers to the right degree and pressure, it won't work. Plus, it has a magical connection, so you have to activate that component at the correct time too. I could try to teach you if you are interested?" she offers the odd-skinned aasimar.
Andrei begins to snap his fingers, as if trying to remember something. "Ţhere..wăș â goddeşş of conşţrucţş, dăt ăye heârd ăbouț while en Kâer Mâgâ, ă few yeărș ăgo", the cleric offered. "Her nâme eșcăpeș me rîghț now, buț ă prâyer țo her would noţ hurţ."
Their eyes meeting provided more warmth than the fire next to them, he enjoyed that moment.The only thing breaking his joy was the mention of Ethos. His eyes went wide as he remembered the dossier.
"Ah, I have been a fool letting it slip my mind. Ever since rushing through the portal I forgot! I will be right back." he said rushing to his tent and returning with the packet, sharing it with Blaze.
"By Sarenrae...I had a trove of information right by my bedroll. I am so sorry...we should share this with the others." he says, completely embarrassed but waving the others over.
---
Baahir watches the the gears turn, spotting a handle in the core.
"I can't imagine how it works but as these gears turn I spotted a handhold within the creature, on it runes are flashing when you activate the lever. It is certainly magical. Was there anything else where you found him? WAIT, the dossier from last night! The owner was was mentioned to be lost within ruins...under this outpost!" he says pulling it back out, gliding his finger over it before landing on Aukan the Goliath. He digs in his pack for the compass supposedly tied to the engineer.
He seems ready to sprint off to the tunnels but holds, fidgeting with the compass.
"Aramyros, Blaze, this may be the best way to get him working."
She stops and looks at you like she smelt an odor, flatly saying, "There is no us. I don't know you. Yes that is what I said."
Andrei begins to snap his fingers, as if trying to remember something. "Ţhere..wăș â goddeşş of conşţrucţş, dăt ăye heârd ăbouț while en Kâer Mâgâ, ă few yeărș ăgo", the cleric offered. "Her nâme eșcăpeș me rîghț now, buț ă prâyer țo her would noţ hurţ."
Baahir watches the the gears turn, spotting a handle in the core.
"I can't imagine how it works but as these gears turn I spotted a handhold within the creature, on it runes are flashing when you activate the lever. It is certainly magical. Was there anything else where you found him? WAIT, the dossier from last night! The owner was was mentioned to be lost within ruins...under this outpost!" he says pulling it back out, gliding his finger over it before landing on Aukan the Goliath. He digs in his pack for the compass supposedly tied to the engineer.
He seems ready to sprint off to the tunnels but holds, fidgeting with the compass.
"Aramyros, Blaze, this may be the best way to get him working."
"Yes, I see it too. We find tools too, and Henry Joneston journal nearby. Mebbe find answer in book."
Reviewing the contents of the dossier along with Baahir, she exclaimed over the entry about the lost engineer. "Ethos mention lost friend at meeting... I thought he mean given up for dead. Could he still be alive down there?"
She was strongly in agreement with Baahir, the puzzle of the magic builder could be left for another time. A missing, potentially still living ally had to take priority. "Yes, we need tell others." And hurried off to do just that.
Thorn flounders at Alia's reply.
In Common, Taldane.
"That wasn't exactly what I meant." he scratches his head.
"Perhaps you might be more confident in Elven?"
"Questo sarebbe invece più preferibile?"
"Would this be more preferable instead to prevent further misunderstanding?"
Thorn pauses to see how Alia would take to it.
"What was he doing in Kaer Maga?" she thinks to herself for a moment and then realizes possibly why. Lilianne chews her lips and nods. "Alright, but later you are going to have to tell me about Kaer Maga...," she states, encouraging the action.
When Baahir speaks up, she wonders about this dossier and what it says. Then nodding, she agrees with what Blaze says about the friend missing.
"I think this takes top priority, even more than the wall. If this all happened a long time ago, not so much, but if you think he could be alive, we should probably hurry."
She will then give a little whistle to Thorn to wave him back over.
"Let's wait for Thorn. In the meantime, I've been wrestling these logs for a while now. I'm filthy. Just let me get in that water really quick to get clean of all this mud. I'll be right back."
A quick douse without getting her already wet hair wetter and she'll be free from mud. A quick few prestidigitation spells and she will dry herself off and begin to reclaim her armor and weapon from her unseen servant. In just under a couple minutes she is ready and able to go. Being the one likely to look for traps as well, she will be the first one down into the tunnel.
[ooc]Feel Free to roll perception for me for traps. If I get +5 over the DC of a trap, I'll be trying to see what type it is, for future reference[/dice]
Anything else Thorn might have spoken to Alia remains unspoken as he hears Alia's whistle. He's sure she heard it too.
"Il tempo ha dimostrato ancora una volta di non essere dalla mia parte e anche se desidero saperne di più su di te, non vorrei fare un fallo sui draghi di cui mantieni la compagnia. Addio Alia Sliverleaf. Possa la caccia ai Goblin andare bene."
"Time has once more proven to be not on my side and though I wish to know more about you, I wouldn't want to run a foul of the dragons whose company you keep. Farewell Alia Sliverleaf. May the hunt for Goblins go well."
With a turn of his heel, he leaves the elven ranger and makes his way back swiftly to the camp.
There would be another time to speak with her.
He knows it.
Pulling the lever seems to have little effect on it alone. As Blaze pulls the lever and brushes her hand over its core you see the runes flash again. It stands at attention. Then you command it to build a table again and it grabs a few pieces of firewood and then freezes in place again holding the wood. The gears in the clockwork automaton slowly come to a halt.
Before actually commanding it to build the table, Aramyros kindly asks the automation to reveal any design plans it knows.
"Yeah, this is something the whole group should be in on. I never went down the ladder so I am not sure just how deep the tunnels beneath here go." he says agreeing to wait for Thorn.
"Perhaps we shouldn't all go down, leaving at least one or two to watch over the camp. I will admit my curiosity is piqued so I would like to be on the party heading below."
---
Heading down with Lilianne and the others that join he offers to light torches with his control of flame.
"How are your eyes in the dark, Lilianne? Let me know if I need to light up a torch." he says comfortable in the dark himself, peering down the dark tunnels from behind her.
Pulling the lever seems to have little effect on it alone. As Blaze pulls the lever and brushes her hand over its core you see the runes flash again. It stands at attention. Then you command it to build a table again and it grabs a few pieces of firewood and then freezes in place again holding the wood. The gears in the clockwork automaton slowly come to a halt.Before actually commanding it to build the table, Aramyros kindly asks the automation to reveal any design plans it knows.
She pauses to see if any answer is forthcoming from the bot and then suggests "Come, we hide it among the crates, in case goblins come near while we are below."
While they waited for Thorn, she took the time to gather up some of their camping gear. There was always a chance they would need to rest and eat below ground tonight. Not a happy thought, though being caught without her bedroll would be worse.
---
Blaze took up point position for the group unless someone else preferred to go first. She peered down the dark tunnel as they prepared to go further.
"I'd assume they go deep enough for one to be lost." she muses. "I don't think watching the camp will be a problem in regards to the goblins. We still have many hours left before they likely rouse from their drinking. I cannot speak to other things in the forest though. In any case, I have all my valuables, so if anything wants to steal some wood, I'll just gather some more."
She climbs down the fixed ladder and moves into the other room. There she will answer Baahir.
"My eyes are exceedingly sharp in the darkness, Baahir. Thorn definitely needs a torchlight, so if you have the means, provide one. It will aid me as well."
If there is nothing else, she will proceed into the tunnels.
Aramyros will be the last one to climb down. But once they are at the entrance of the tunnel and discussing marching order, he gently shoes everyone aside and moves in first.
"I don't need light, too. Except, maybe if the tunnel would be straight for a very long time. But we don't even know, if the tunnel is patricularly long."
After a few meters he suddenly stops again and turns around. "By the way, who besides Blaze speaks Abyssal? Asking for a friend..."
Andrei takes the role as camp guard as the other descend into the basement.
She nods and speaks in Elven to Thorn before the whistle goes off.
Pulling the lever seems to have little effect on it alone. As Blaze pulls the lever and brushes her hand over its core you see the runes flash again. It stands at attention. Then you command it to build a table again and it grabs a few pieces of firewood and then freezes in place again holding the wood. The gears in the clockwork automaton slowly come to a halt.Before actually commanding it to build the table, Aramyros kindly asks the automation to reveal any design plans it knows.
The automation does nothing.
The elf comes into camp and seeing Andriel she walks up and asks, "Guarding the camp? I can do that until you all return."
The tunnels are mostly 5 feet wide. Traveling down the tunnel you see it comes to a wooden door after 80 feet or so.
You look for traps, locks, and likey any other signs and soon just open the door. Inside you see a a staircase that goes down 12 feet but the ceiling stays. Then you enter a dinning hall that has long been abandoned as these ruins seem to have seen better days.
Many of the chairs are broken but the six large tables in the room seem intact.
There is another staircase up on the far side that leads up. To the left are three staircases that lead down. Also there are two doors on the right wall.
Aramyros surveys the room with wonder. "Who builds something like this down here in a deep tunnel? I find that a strange place for a dinning hall."
After carefully opening the doors he continues. "And here's the kitchen. And, oh, one oven still has flame in it. Someone was here not too long ago. Everyone be careful. We're no longer explorers. We're officially trespassers and burglars now." Someone might not like that. I wouldn't...
"This alliance is already paying off..." she thinks as Aria offers to watch the camp.
"Thank you, we'll take you up on your offer."
With that, she'll snag Andrei and make him come with her.
As Aramryos speaks about Abyssal, she will listen to what others have to say and then will volunteer:
"I have learned fragments, but not enough to converse or put into practice. I'd say I may be able to construct some of the language if needed..."
Her answer to Aramyros is hesitantly given, but she doesn't go further into detail. She just leaves it at that and moves on further.
+1 if given guidance by someone.
The room seems old and worn. Perhaps a battle raged at one moment in time, as chairs don't often break themselves. She moves directly to the doors to the right, wanting to clear them first.
"Yup, It is a kitchen," she agrees with Aramyros and relays to those behind her. "I wonder at that too. I can't be certain. One moment..." she speaks up about his ideas about being burglars.
After spying it out, she lingers at the flame in the oven and figures it to be a continual flame spell, but waits a moment to make sure. In doing so, she thinks she sees a face inside the flame.
A quick search leads others through the bathroom and pantries before returning to the kitchen. "If we can mend all of this from age, it will be quite useful in the long run."
Being a little bit further away from the fireplace, she reveals,
"I swear I'm seeing a face in that little flame...I'm not crazy. It's a living creature."
After Lilianne whispers to the group you hear a quick bang come from the oven. Like something hit it from within. The flame did move back and then forward. Then you see two little orange red arms bang on it frantically.
"Non desidero essere mangiato, le mie scuse. Forse un'altra volta."
"I do not wish to be eaten, My apologies. Perhaps another time.
As he hastens to join the rest.
Having joined the rest, Thorn is as usual garbed for exploration with his packs on his back. He grimaces though as he looks down into the depths.
"I do need light if anyone has a magical source to spare. Shyka has not seen fit to grant me the blessing of light. I also do not know the abyssal tongue......yet"
He gestures with his symbol and sends a glowing light that disappears upon touching Lilianne.
"There's a face inside. It also wants out." Thorn points it out.
Baahir shakes his head at the question of speaking Abyssal.
"If we find this Goliath we may just end up saving the owner, they may overlook our transgressions. Or at least I hope that to be the case."
He sticks with the group, entering the kitchen.
When Lilianne mentions the face in the flames followed by a bang from the oven, he speaks up. "A face? A living flame? My curiosity is piqued now, are these simple cooking ovens?"
With his blade out by reflex, he slowly walks forwards till he can see into the oven. Waiting for this face to appear...
"Show yourself." he calls out quietly attempting to see if is sentient and possibly a creature he has heard of.
Blaze smiled to herself when she heard Aramyros ask about Abyssal. It seemed she alone would be privy to his strange demonic battle cry. She took her position as second in line. It was good the metallic skinned man was resistant to fire much as she was herself. If something threatened them from the front, she would be clear to throw flames.
When Thorn requested light, she merely opened her palm to reveal her torch flame. She smiled, feeling comforted by the warm presence of flame as they proceeded into the dank underground.
Blaze was not surprised in the least to find living flames. "All flame lives. It breathes, it eats, it grows. It dies." But she did seem more than intrigued to come face to face with it.
Kneeling down on level with the oven door, she greeted in the little flame creature in Ignan. Her speech sounding like the hisses and sighs, crackling and popping, rushing and roaring of flames.
Being a little bit further away from the fireplace, she reveals,
"I swear I'm seeing a face in that little flame...I'm not crazy. It's a living creature."
" Ăre you şure, love? Mâny thîngș căn be șeen en dă flîcker of flâmeş", Andrei questioned Callie.
"There's a face inside. It also wants out." Thorn points it out.
"Buţ you could be rîghţ ăș well", the cleric concedes.
When Thorn discussed light, the varisian simply activated his ioun torch, producing more than enough light to see.
The little thing puts its face between its arms and does a raspberry on the steel grate of the oven. After Blaze talks to it, it seems to settle then begi s to cry a bit.
"No, they are not simple. They are warded magically," she answers Baahir, "Thus why the poor thing can't get out. I just hope that if we do let it out, it doesn't consume us all in flame."
To Andrei, she nods with a cute, bright smile as Thorn backs her up. It's the kind of playful smile that says, "I told you so". She will whisper in his ear, "ready your water spell if indeed this gets a little toasty in here"
"We will let it out, even if it is a demon or an elemental. Whatever this is, it's sentient and I'd wager has been stuck for many many years."
Lilianne doesn't even seem to understand that Blaze is really speaking to it, as it is such a uniquely odd language. She just figures it's Blaze being Blaze with fire. If Blaze doesn't open the oven door, she will, but she'd prefer those more resistant to fire willingly get in there first.
Blaze gets a very sympathetic look on her face when the little creature begins to cry. This oven was not so different than the small cold cage she herself had been trapped in for countless years. A determined scowl had begun to form on her face as she realized it was imprisoned here, but it disappeared into a smile as soon as Lilianne declared they should let the creature free. She agreed wholeheartedly and did not waste a moment. Speaking again in the strange fiery language, she motions for the party to step back a bit and then opens the oven to free the little creature.
It shakes its head and holds its big floppy ears over its eyes and speaks to Blaze.
"We should be wary even when releasing it. I believe it to be a mephit, obviously immune to flames but this ice around the ovens may be what weakened it. Vengeful things, that means it may leave us be when we release it while it looks for revenge." he informs Blaze as she attempts to get the oven open.