When the others are done with it, Dumah too will read the note.
History
Religion
Dumah clears his throat, and then addresses the others. "I'm not certain what you're involved in here, but it is clear that I owe my life to you for freeing me from that awful spider and its teeming young. My skills may be modest, but I'd be willing to put them at your disposal to express my appreciation."
Sounds good to me
The woman's cry is silenced by the sound of the ceiling coming down, dust rising into the air to fill the hallway with a grey mist. Enoch steps out of the hallway, clearing his lungs with a cough as Lorr reads the letter outloud. It seems they had discovered where everyone had been disappearing to and uncovered some strange organization. The names sounded familiar and Enoch wracked his mind to try and remember any details he could.
The ratfolk offered his services to them and Enoch would give a slight nod before speaking in that low, soft, almost monotone voice of his.
"We are employed by the Heralds of St. Helba. Your skills would be a useful asset to the organization." Enoch's attention turns towards the others, the original ones sent down into this venture. "I hope you will provide Lorr and I with positive recommendations. This was our first assignment with the Heralds."
Religion DC15
"Lady of Tears" is another name for the Goddess Hectate. It is her statue that you've moved behind during the confrontation.
Religion DC12
The Red Mother is another name for Marena (Red Goddess of Winter, Lust, Sickness and Death; The Blood Maiden, The winter maiden, Patron of the Greater Duchy of Morgau. - Patron goddess of Whores, vampires ghouls, and the Order of Ghost Knights.
@Dumah>>:
Griot coughs a little at the cloud of dust that races past from the cave-in. He nods at Dumah's offer. "I'm sure St. Helba appreciates your support and I will certainly recommend you all to our supervis.. um, contact, Clotch. I'd like to know how you got that dragon magic though, Dumah."
Griot chuckles as Croaker reads the note aloud. "Ha.ha. Kreul the ghoul, that's goofy. Now this is interesting. The Red Mother AKA Marena is a nasty goddess of lust and death worshipped by ghouls and vampires and with all the talk about hungry wolves and lambs, it may be that our kidnapped victims ended up in someone's belly."
He nods at Dumah's offer. "I'd like to know how you got that dragon magic though, Dumah."
Dumah grins widely at the genuine interest in him. "Yes, sure. But first, why does this note talk about the head of the city council?"
He looks at Enoch emerging from the dusty collapse. "You know, those cartways run all over and about under the city. I mean, it makes a rat warren look like a arrow, but if you don't get lost, there is probably a way around the collapse."
The halfling listened to the conversation and asks, "so what's the plan? Should we go advise our employer that we've a lead on his nephew's alibi? Don't know about you, but I could use a rest. I'm beat."
Report back? That isn't a bad idea... and there's no point in charging into the dark right now. I think you're right, besides I think we need to gather some more information.
"I don't know these cartways well enough to be sure we won't get lost." Enoch says softly, folding his arms. Looking at his comrades, he imagines that the if there were anymore fierce encounters that they would be risking themselves. It was better to reconvene, recover, and set out once again.
"I am in agreement. We return to the surface and report back our findings. We did good work today."
Still suffering from a smattering of cuts, bruises and maybe a cracked rib, Croaker simply nods his agreement about heading back to the Roach to rest and prepare to go after the woman and any of her blood loving minions.
He nods at Dumah's offer. "I'd like to know how you got that dragon magic though, Dumah."Dumah grins widely at the genuine interest in him. "Yes, sure. But first, why does this note talk about the head of the city council?"
"City Council? Where do you see that?" Griot asks their newest companion. "Well, explain on the way out. I could use a rest and a tasty bite at the Roach."
Something occurs to Griot. "Oh. King Kroto is waiting for our report. And he might learn something from this note that will get us rewarded."
The thought of visiting the kobold king gives Croaker a a welcome chance to pursue the monarchs education into the vast mysteries of the Scouring Wind. Plus, he's probably the best source to get more information about the hidden passages within the cartways as well as the local political situation.
"A fine idea, Master Healer." Croaker says to Griot with a flourishing wave. "Best we are off before more of the wicked woman's beasts beset us from a hidden corner."
"City Council? Where do you see that?" Griot asks their newest companion. "Well, explain on the way out. I could use a rest and a tasty bite at the Roach."
"Oh. Well, it mentions Vandemic. Melancha Vandemic is the head of the city council. Though I guess they could mean another by that name. It just seems like a strange coincidence if its not."
So the party decides to head back and find King Crag Claw. They retrace their steps realizing that there are still two doors unexplored in their hurry to leave.
When they get to the long staircase moving upwards they are surprised to see Kwarrel, Koto's scout awaiting them. As you start to explain yourselves he holds up a hand.
"Just wait till we get to the King's side. No need to tell your tale twice".
He then leads you back to the Kings lair a completely different path than what you remember him leading you here.
"It will be interesting to hear how you seem to have lost some members of your group and added more".
After about 45 minutes of travel you arrive outside the King's chambers. Kwarrel askes you to wait a moment, then beckons from behind the closed door for you to enter.
@Khanol>>
As you think of the wound you notice that it has quit itching. The surprising thing is that when you reach back to feel the wound you most certainly feel the presence of a dagger that somehow seems to be sheathed in your back awaiting you to pull it forth.
Lorr takes the opportunity to try to get in a short rest...
BEFORE heading back up, Khanol stops everyone, "Guys, this magic wound feels like a dagger is sheathed in my back. Do you see it? Do you think it's a curse?"
If no one sees a dagger, Khanol will try to reach the dagger. If he can feel the hilt, he will try to pull it out himself.
You all have time for a Short rest as you await your meeting with Kobold Royalty.
Khanol
When the others look at your back they see an intricate tattoo of a dagger. When they feel it it is flat to your skin. When you grab the handle and pull it out it is a fine dagger with a silver and ivory handle and strange unrecognized runes... but similar to those that Croaker has been describing. If you try to put it back it slides into the sheath tattoo just like a normal dagger would back into it's sheath.
BTW... Who has the small petrified bats at this time. I've lost track of them?
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BEFORE heading back up, Khanol stops everyone, "Guys, this magic wound feels like a dagger is sheathed in my back. Do you see it? Do you think it's a curse?"
Griot looks sideways at Khanol. "A literal or figurative dagger in the back?" he asks as he inspects the wound again to see if there is anything broken off inside it.
"Yes, I think it's a curse. I told you that the wound is marked by that evil sigil Croaker was going on about. You cut yourself on that obsidian shard sticking out of a casket. Let's look for it on the way out."
BTW... Who has the small petrified bats at this time. I've lost track of them?
Lorr expends a hit dice
@Croaker>>: Distracted by the sounds of combat from the new room, Croaker takes the time to carefully store the small petrified bat in a pouch, guaranteeing it's safety all the time.
Croaker spends the time resting his bruised and weary body to regain as much strength as he can before seeing the king.
The King is sitting where you last left him munching on cube of some unidentified meat.
He smiles widely at the characters as they enter and begins to speak.
"Ah you return! Seems you might have lost some of your friends along the way but made new ones. I have your reward ready. Now give me the proof we can use to show that Brik is innocent".
Griot bows low, "Great King Koto Crag-claw, we have returned rom the crypts scarred and sorely wounded by what we encountered there, but we do have some evidence that may be of use. We found a ghoul lord and possibly a vampire lady engaged in a clandestine meeting beneath an image of Hecate. We slew the ghoul and found this note upon his body." Griot bows low again and beckons his companions to reveal the note.
Dumah realizes he was the last to have looked at the note. He fumbles in his pouch, separates it from several other pieces of parchment, and scampers up to the... King? Realizing the deference the others are paying, he offers the parchment, then bows awkwardly himself.
"Indeed it is as Griot says. With the blessing of St. Helba and Calipha we are closing in our our quarry." Croaker says offering a rough bow. "I believe the proof we seek will be a the location mentioned in the letter. Unfortunately, we do not have the knowledge to the twisting and winding ways beneath Zobeck. So we have come seeking your knowledge which must certainly extend to all pathways within the hidden realms beneath the city. Do you know how to reach this Lady of Tears?"
Griot squints at Croaker. "I think the meeting between Lady F. and Kreul the Ghoul discussed in the letter is the one that we interrupted. I am remembering that "Lady of Tears" is another name for Hecate. Dumah thinks that the Vandemic mentioned in the note might have something to do with the head of the City Council."
The Dragonborn is happy to let events unplay around him.
The halfling dancing bear guide looks bloodied, tough, and bloody tough.
Enoch quietly listens to the quiet conversation being held by the original members here and this king. The half-elf is almost uncomfortably still, watching and listening.
The King takes the note and holds it upside down carefully studying it. He then hands it to an older Kobold Female standing near him and addresses her.
"This light is bad on my old eyes. Can you read this out loud to me"?
The woman does so, and the King scratches his head and looks thoughtful for the moment. "I'm inclined to agree with you but the evidence is not clear. We still need more. And while Quarrel knows the cartways better than anyone they are still dangerous and confusing. I might have a better idea. Perhaps I'll send a work crew to clear out the collapsed passage, and you can return after a rest and investigate further"?
"Or I could turn it over to the city guard and let them handle it from here".
Griot shakes his head furiously, "Oh Shining Scaled Paragon of Kobolds. we have not found the city guard to be the least bit sympathetic to our plight and we would certainly not want to tip our hand so to speak if someone on the city council is involved in this. Your wise and generous offer to have the passage cleared while we recover at the Roach is certainly the best way forward."
"I would agree with Griot's assessment. So far the gods have smiled upon us with only the occasional frown of dismissiveness. Best to stay our course with only a brief respite to recuperate. Surely we will have these treacherous daughter nappers in hand within a day or two." Croaker soliloquies in his most prophetic, prophet like manner. "Indeed, how much more glory will come to your most glorious highness should your own agents outshine and outperform the city guard. Not only stop the kidnapping menace and proving your kith and kin innocent, but also potentially uncovering a nefarious plot against the entirety of Zobeck."
"All brought into possibility by the guiding wills of Calipha and St. Helba of course." He adds with a modest bow.
"Hmmm. Perhaps you are right. We are much more efficient than the aboveground longlegs. Please you will be my guests for the evening, then you can go in the morning to finish your task. The way will be clear by then. Quarrel... show them to the guest suites".
Quarrell leads the party down a staircase... and up a staircase... then up a ladder, then down a rope to an area of the undercity a bit drier than most, and though the accommodations are not sumptuous they are nevertheless dry and probably safe.
"The king will serve a breakfast feast in a couple of hours. I shall come for you then. In the meantime I would stay here so that you don't become lost".
The wild, blonde-haired halfling, who stands a little less than three feet tall which is about the average height of three-year old human. While his facial features are like a human child, his eyes show much more wisdom and tragedy. He wears fur-trimmed traveling gear with an emblem of the Lodge of the Dancing Bear Guides. His weapons' belt carries a three shortswords and handaxe. He shoulders a backpack. quiver, and crossbow.
When the crew is by themselves, he introduces himself as Khanol Treefall. He grew up in the shadow of the mighty Riphean Mountains in the Tunturi Range within the wolf-infested forest of the remnants of the Duchy of Domovogrod. From their hidden homes, his clan waged a difficult, sporadic war against the occupying army of giants and ogres. When he was eighteen, his small clan was wiped out by a hunting band of giants. Severely wounded, he followed the Raven’s Road to Stalimisto, in the Kingdom of Vidim.
In Stalimisto, Khanol joined the Lodge of the Dancing Bear Guides and started guiding civilized folk through the brambles to expand their horizons. Most of his jobs were with merchants wanting to stray off the beaten paths to find profit. However, he has taken a few jobs for nobles and academics who wanted to travel the wilds for esoteric reasons. He just arrived in Zobeck to close a long-term contract and wound up joining the Heralds of St-Helba.
Lorr has always felt amusement rather than kinship with kobolds but he's happy enough to wait, rest and be fed.
Griot frowns once Kwarrel/Quarrel leaves. "Well, I was really looking forward to a meal at the Roach and some sleep. I hope it's a decent breakfast at least." He yawns. "One thing is for sure, I'm not heading down there again until I get some sleep."
Griot curls up in a comfortable spot and is asleep before Khanol finishes his tale.
Tired and worn out from having brushed the hand of death once again, Croaker happily accepts the opportunity to rest and recover without having to trudge through the dark, dank corridors of the undercity.
He listens to Khanol tell his story in a half awake, dream like state, but the halfling's story does trigger something within the groggy huginn's mind.
"Pear brandy." The ravenkin mumbles. "That's what I recall of Stalimisto. On our march south we spent a few days there camped outside the city with the Tsar collected taxes and conscripts. Our flock leader managed to get his feathers on a half dozen bottles of Golden Orchards Pear Brandy." He smiles at the memory. "Nectar of the gods in a bottle."
The smile slowly fades as the reminiscence brings back other not so welcome memories. "Of course, he died along with so many of us. His arms feet flailing in the mud with a half dozen Khazzak arrows in his chest."
Lorr, from his reclined position, throws Croaker a salute.
It is good to have fond memories of old comrades. Sadly I remember them well with fondness but have few good memories of my time in service itself. The Edjet was ordered to do things that I can't stomach.
The night passes uneventfully, and the morning... probably as you can't see whether it is dark or light in the Cartways comes with everyone stretching out sore muscles, and dining on leftover breakfast. Soon there is a knock at the door and Kwarrel leads the party back into the catacombs by yet another route. He once again stops at the top of the stairs, and wishes you all luck. You retrace your steps to the collapsed passageway, and see a "Kobold Sized" hole has been cleared through the rubble. It has been braced by pieces of destroyed coffin and bone and seems to be holding for now with only the occasional drift of dirt or rock falling. Unfortunately the medium characters in the party will have to squeeze through at half movement to navigate the cleared tunnel.
After a few minutes and about 20' the party emerges into the area beyond the collapsed debris.
The tunnel slowly begins to rise and lead to a more finished area of the undercity.
Wisdom - Survival DC10
You can see recent footprints of dainty slippers... likely the footprints of the Red Sister who escaped yesterday.
The footprints lead to a crossroads of tunnels that all terminate in a chamber dominated by massive metal doors.
The intense smell of decay permeates the air of this chamber. A hulking figure at the northern end of the hallway slowly rises to its feet from a pile of bones and offal. Its taught, gray skin and beady, red eyes betray its distinctly ghoulish nature. It licks a mouth full of needle-like fangs with its hideously long tongue as it lumbers forward.
Croaker:
Griot:
Khanol:
Enoch:
Lorr:
Dumah:
EVIL 1:
INITIATIVE ORDER:
Griot, Dumah, Croaker:
Ogre Ghoul:
Enoch, Lorr, Khanol:
Combat Setup
You are all in Zone 2 at the moment from the enemy.
The chamber is about 30' long, and 20' wide and ends in closed double steel doors
Griot squints at the trails in the dust. "Looks like we're on the right path to find Vampirella."
Moments later he is taken aback by the size of the ghoul. "Best if we can just get by that thing. I'll try and chase it off."
Griot dances around behind the front line, brandishing his shield with the symbol of St. Helba. "Ho-ho! Hey-Hey! We don't need your stink today. Ho-Ho. Hey-Hey! Best you go the other way!"
Dumah chirps in alarm at the two bulky foes! He points at the ogre and unleashes a bolt of frost at it, hoping to slow it enough that mighty Lorr can get into place.
Ray of frost, to hit , damage cold, and slowed by 10' until my next turn.
Dumah chirps in alarm at the two bulky foes!
Enoch had remained quiet most of the night that they rested, watching the others where they sat and the conversations between them. He had not been with this many people at once since he had been in the cages. An idle hand runs along his left ribs. The ghost of ink needles played through his mind before he turned over for the night and quietly took off his mask. Rest would be over sooner than he thought.
Without complaint, Enoch squeezes through the kobold tunnel and wriggles his way through debris, rocks, and crawling insects that have moved into the new home. When he emerged on the other side, he would dust himself for a moment before looking over the ground carefully with the others. A trail was quickly found and they made their way deeper. Quietly, he secured his bow in hand as they moved into another chamber.
The smell of death lingered over everything and Enoch quietly nocked and arrow loosely. A massive being stood from the other side, reeking of decay and hunger. Enoch's chest tightened instinctively before his training kicked in. If it wasn't dead, it could be made so again. Didn't matter the process; he'd kill it. Now it was time to see if his comrade's holy magic could push it to flee from them.
Dumah chirps in alarm at the two bulky foes!