While a little doubtful that the creature worked in the same way as living ones did, and hitting the head would do anything meaningful, Torra rallies at the shouts around them.
Torra blasts at the earth elemental, this time striking home on the creature's shell, sending shards of broken stone and mud skittering across the ground. It rumbles once more, furious.
Riftun continues guiding his allies in their assault on the massive creature, urging them to victory.
Yuto, aware of his own condition, retreats carefully.
Andochtuir slashes a heavy chunk off of the earth elemental, though his blade continues to struggle to pierce its armored shell (he'll need to sharpen it after this, he's sure). The beast roars, turning on him and swinging heavy fists of stone at him. The half-elf is more than ready, dodging and deflecting the attacks enough that he only strains his muscles in his defense.
Dodging the first hits through grit and luck, Andochtuir pushes into the slams and swings again!
Again!
Torra psyches herself up as one volley hits, pulling up cobblestones and loose bricks to fling them at the creature.
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Yuto tries to throw the katana at the elemental in a stubborn attempt to defeat the beast, but he has no strength left and it just falls in front of him.
Trembling and holding to the building to avoid falling, but resolved to not abandon the fight, the young Tien picks up a potion from his bandolier "Gjk, hj*#kj" his eyes look with terror at the open wounds.
"Again! Hit it again! Now!... And again now!" Riftun cries out attempting to time his allies' blows against the earthen creature.
With Riftun's advice, Torra hurls a blast at the earth elemental, shattering its head and sending it toppling towards the ground. However, before it crashes down, it flickers, fading out of existence, along with all of the pieces that the elemental had lost during battle.
Silence falls for a moment, before the a few voices in the crowds that remain break out in cheers, which swiftly grows into bellows and whoops. Others quickly hush them - this is not a time for celebration, as there has been great losses.
A few people move forwards, seeking through the fallen shrine's rubble.
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As the elemental crumbles and dissipates, Torra immediately turns to Yuto, pulling out items from her belt as she rushes to his aid. There is not much that she can do though, beyond keeping him from teetering over the edge of his grave, so she leaves the warrior in the care of more adept healers and moves to help the locals search through the temple rubble, lifting off pieces of masonry and listening for signs of life.
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Similarly, Andochtuir wasted no time pulling out the healing wand to take care of his ally!
"Damn it, Yuto... you're brave, really brave, but you're so hurt it's difficult for even magic to put you back together. Most humanoids would be *dead* in this state," he says, with some incredulous admiration for the samurai's fortitude. He tries again and again until he is convinced the samurai can walk normally:
Afterwards, he looks around towards the cheering crowd and gauges whether someone else nearby needed their help. Was there any sign of Akhsokkha?
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Yuto exhales relieved as the rocky monster collapses, and he collapses himself, with his back leaning on the building next to him. He tries to smile as Andochtuir's wand start to close a few injuries "I-I am trying to learn from the tough ones..."
He does check his shield arm removing part of the plate protections to see how it is the part that took most of the hurt "Gosh, it did not matter to s-stop it with the sh-hield, i-i-it was like being pounded by a mountain..."
Slowly though, he starts to feel better as the magical healing does its thing "Th-thanks a lot... I-I think I feel better now..."
The young man stands up and has a look at the collapsed shrine while Torra is moving the rocks there in search of survivors "B-but how are we go-going to find the Shelyn priest now?"
As it turns out, the Shelynite priest is among the injured - Torra finds him almost immediately as she searches for survivors. An elderly Tien-Shu man, he wears the symbol of Shelyn openly on his neck.
Torra's treatment awakens him, and he blinks blearily at the heroes. "What... what happened?"
Yuto, still on pain despite the wounds fully healed, tries to help the priest up "Th-thank gods you are alive! A-are you ok?"
Without bringing too much attention, the Tien produces the songbird clay token Uksahkka gave them and places it on the priest's hand "Pe-perhaps we should look for a safe-place to treat those injuries"
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"And perhaps, being a priest, you could help nurse my friend and the other injured from this attack back to health? A large elemental attacked the temple and we were but barely able to contain it without deaths on our side, but the same might not be true for everyone..."
When he finishes, he joins Torra in her search for survivors through the rubble. "Thank you, Torra. Perhaps I don't say it often enough, but without your help I'm sure we'd have tied many times by now. I'm not sure how we would have stopped this giant, or the demon in the castle earlier." He gives the dwarf a low, respectful bow, more than aware that she might have just saved just about everyone's life. Well, along with Yuto, as he'd kept it busy...
The man stands up. "What? I, yes. I am well enough, thanks to you." He nods at Torra, before his brow furrows. "Some of you are injured. Allow me to aid you first."
With a burst of iridescent light, the wounds of the people surrounding him are healed.
When he sees that Yuto is still severely injured, the priest turns his attention directly to the samurai. "You've suffered a great deal, my young friend. I'll do what I can." Touching his holy symbol, he lays his other hand on Yuto's wounds. A soothing heat floods through Yuto's body, and he feels the rest of the pains fading.
The group manages to swiftly find the other injured - blessedly few, and the priest heals them as well, free of charge.
When that is done, he turns to his saviors. "I am Yin-Po, the priest of the Lady of Chrysanthemums." The old Tien-Shu man says in Skald-accented Taldane. "Might I ask who you are, my saviors?"
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Riftun embraces Yuto after the healing is finished and buries his head in the taller man's shoulder so he wont see the tears welling in the young man's eyes. "Thank the gods, a-and specifically Shelyn, that you're alive Yuto! I-I was so scared." He then turns to Torra and brushes away a tear with a smile. "And thank you Torra, you may well saved saved us all. You're kind of amazing."
Turning his attention back to the priest Riftun bows politely. "A pleasure to meet you Yin-Po. My name name is Riftun, a follower of the Song of the Spheres and traveling storyteller. These are my brave friends Yuto, Andochtuir, and Torra. I-I am devastated to see what has become of your beautiful shrine but at least everyone survived, even if only just... May I ask? Do you know what happened here? Where that creature came from?"
Yuto feels much better after the ministrations of the priest. He smiles when Riftun hugs him and nods agreeing with what the Ulfen says and asks to the priest "Y-yes, it is a strange sight the elemental... I-I fear the target was our common friend... i-it might be related to the e-enemies that have been following us around the city..."
Torra looks a little confused at people thanking her - in her mind she hadn't done anything special, or different than usual.
"Thank you for healing our friend. That creature seemed very powerful, we are all lucky to be alive. What do you remember of what happened?"
Yin-Po inclines his head politely at each of them. "I am honored to meet you all, and my thanks once again for your aid. As for what happened, well." His brow furrows. "I'm not entirely certain. I saw a raven across the street, with a blood-red feather, just before the elemental materialized. An ill omen, to be sure. Although," he adds wryly, "rarely do I see misfortune follow such an omen quite so immediately."
He closes his eyes thoughtfully, stroking his narrow beard. "It's possible that the earth elemental was waiting beneath the streets, only to emerge then, but it's also possible that someone summoned it."
Yuto looks at the others "A raven again... no doubt this has to do wi-ith the cri-iminal ninjas that have decided to target us..."
"Look, Yin-Po San, a friend of us, told us to look for you, if w-we wanted to look for her... w-e-ee fear she might be on trouble..." the Tian presents the songbird token Uksahkka gave them.
"It is good to meet you, Yin-Po," He bows his head respectfully. "My friend Yuto speaks the truth; Uksahkka told us she thought there was trouble brewing around the temple, and she went to investigate. But now that she isn't here, I fear she either was captured by whoever was behind this, or lied to us."
He goes back through the interactions, wondering who had been in the best position to lure them into a trap, first with the boat, now with the temple. "I wonder if these Ravens allow someone to see what is happening, and if so, cast spells on targets he or she sees from the eyes of them. That would allow them to plant lies and compulsions on others from a distance... and we still don't know who is truly behind them."
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Yin-Po's eyes widen as he looks at the token. "Come right this way." He says quietly. "Fortunately, the hideaway isn't inside the shrine, so it should be largely safe."
He leads the party to an alleyway behind the rubble of the shrine, only to stop short, eyes wide. A (formerly) secret door hangs wide open on the lower portion of the shrine's remnants. He curses softly in Tien. "This... this is bad."
He rushes in, followed swiftly by the heroes, where they find a cellar that has been utterly ransacked - indeed, it looks like a battle was fought here. Chairs are overturned, the table scarred by weapons, and a few arrows are stuck in the walls. "She should've been here... was the elemental just a ruse? A distraction?"
Yuto is quick to come first, shield up, when the door is found open. The sight of the disarray breaks all hopes the interaction with Yin-Po had created "Th-this is horrible..."
Yuto picks up one of the arrows to check them more closely, when he notices something more in the corner of the room. He kneels to pick it up "Wh-what might be this large black feather? It is far too large for it to come from any raven. At least any no-o-ormal street raven..."
The boy gulps while he thinks if this matches any of the oni or other stories he has read about Tian-Xia.
"And what would a raven do inside here anyway? But here, look at this."
Torra gingerly holds a dart out for inspection, its tip gleaming in the light streaming from outside.
Riftun trepidatiously makes his way inside, his heart sinking as his mind drifts towards the wellbeing of their new ally. Was she even alive now?
When Yuto pulls out the feather, Riftun takes a closer look to see if he can identify the creature.
Tengu have a reputation (whether fair or not) as sneaks and thieves, rogues and liars.
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Riftun frowns at the feather and shakes his head, causing his braid to sway in front of his head. "I-I believe this to be a tengu feather. Much like the one we slew back at the fortress... Y-You don't think a tribe of tengu could be looking for revenge do you?" The bard asks with some fear in his voice.
"Would anyone mind if I kept the feather? I-I think I know someone who might want it." Riftun adds somewhat sheepishly at the end.
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Torra frowns. "Kikonu's family? A friend? That does not bode well, and it would make us responsible for these people getting hurt, if we were actually the target."
The dwarf gestures at Riftun to take the feather. "So what now? Try and figure out where this tengu went? They can't fly that well, can they?"
Yin-Po shivers. "You know aught of who might have done this?" The old priest looks around, his expression broken. Suddenly, he whips around to stare at them. "Wait! Uksahkka mentioned you were bringing a friend. Where is he?"
Andochtuir raises an amused brow at Riftun wanting to keep the feather, but says nothing. But Yin-Po asks about the missing friend, he frowns. "You mean Ulf? He was not with Asvig. According to Uksahkka, Asvig supposedly hired him weeks ago to scout out a certain route but hadn't returned. Then after that, when we were at his cottage, a surviving servant informed us he was sent by Asvig to be a human sacrifice on the Ulfen funeral pyre that was a certain boat sending off a senior Jarl. However, when we got there, we also couldn't find him."
He crosses his arms and thinks. "Somewhere along this trail, we were either lied to, or one of the servants of Asvig informed the other Ulfen of our goal and had him removed. Though, the latter seems unlikely as we then ran into assassins on the boat, Tien-min ones, and not Ulfen. So unless the Ulfen have a habit of hiring the assassin's guild rather than take care of business themselves, which feels off, it seems to point to an outside party."
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"Tengus, oh, yes, that makes sense. I knew we had seen someone like that be-before" Yuto stammers by the end, remembering the combats at the fortress.
"So-someone has been pursuing us since we arrived to Karlsgard. And we have been told the hints we found in the ninjas and ra-ravens that this is related to someone from Karlsgard underground." he looks attentive to the feather "But now this points very clearly to so-something related to Minkai. W-we need to find out the responsible. It is our only hope to find Ulf and the katana "
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When the dart Torra uncovered is passed to him for inspection, he closes his eyes and deeply inhales the scent on the business end. "This is blue whinnis. Used in some circles as an anxyolytic or soporific. Useful when dealing with the psychologically ill... however, it is sadly also potent enough to knock people unconscious in high enough dose. I'm sure everyone here can imagine the many forms of evil it is used for. The real question now is, what local faction is known for using it, and more specifically... where in Kalsgard we can buy doses of it, as that seems a good source of information on this mystery Tengu assailant and his allies."
Yin-Po rubs his face wearily, muttering in his native language.
He switches back to Taldane. "I wish I could help you more, but I know little about what is going on here. If you find Uksahkka, please, help her. I owe her much."
Torra sniffs at the dart tip in turn, but whatever Andochtuir can detect escapes the dwarf. "So now we try to find this assassin's guild? I hope the people back at the caravan are alright. If they have birds spying for them they might have discovered the camp."
Torra looks at Riftun. "Could Zaiobe tell you what the situation there is now?"
"It would surely help to find the assassin guild, but other than by tracking the poison supplier first, I am not sure how to find them. As far as I remember, we have no other leads." He smiles wryly. "I guess we could always casually ask the people outside that we need assassins?"
His ears twitch and he frowns, turning around. When he sees nothing, his arm reaches for his backpack and takes it off. "Wait... Something, er... seems to be moving in here? What could-?" He states, then looks around for an enclosed space to open it, such as a confessional or a basement access. Once there with whomever wished to come, he opens the pack.
Yuto looks at the priest with increased interest when he speaks in Tien "A-are you from Tian-Xia, Yin-Po San? Ha-have you ever been the-there?"
"Tha-that is a great idea actually Andochtuir. W-we can ask around for w-who is selling this stuff, or wh-where we can get some. And we can follow the string from there on..." Yuto agrees this is a solid clue to follow.
But before we move on, he will accompany Andochtuir to check his pack.
Yin-Po shakes his head at Yuto. "No, I was born here, but my parents were. We have a thriving community here in the Jade Quarter, and we speak Tien rather than Skald as our first language."
As Andochtuir opens the bag, the Ulfen winged helm flaps free of where he had stowed it, gleaming dimly in the light shafting in from outside. "Hail, heroes." A strange, harmonious voice echoes in the cellar. "I am Helgarval."
Yuto looks marveled at the helm as it flies and talks "I... I think it is not a normal helm but a ca-cassisian, so-some type of angel that serves good a-and who treasure strong memories..."
"H-hi Helgarval! I am Yuto..." the Tien performs a small nod, but keeping his eyes on the strange creature "S-so you are a cassisian? Di-did you see what happened at the ship where w-we found you?"
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"An angel? Like Spivey?"
Torra turns to the flying helm and bows slightly. "Well met, Helgarval. I am Torra. We are trying to find some evil people, so if you could help us we would appreciate it."
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Andochtuirs tries to suppress a laugh at Torra's description of their enemies. 'Evil people'. It was apt, but very non-specific. Still, her go-getter attitude was an endearing part of her down to avistan personality.
"I believe Spivey is an Azata, a good-aligned creature usually from Elysium whereas Angels tend to be from Nirvana. However, their homeplane is further determined by their alignments..."
He nods at Yuto's assessment. "Well-met, Helgarval. My name is Andocthuir," He begins, and introduces his friends. "We were looking for a Katana that has been stolen, as well as an Ulfen prisoner named... well, Ulf. Supposedly, both should have been on the ship we found you on. Could you tell us anything more on why they weren't there when we got to it?"
Helgarval peers at Yuto with its empty eyeholes. "I am." It acknowledges, before turning to Torra. "I am aware. I have been with you for some time, after all."
Yin-Po remains silent, awed.
Helgarval continues. "Your efforts outside proved your good intentions, thus I shall share with you what I know. For some years, I have studied fiends working in this city, that I might aid in their end."
It pauses. "I have found little more than you - I have heard nothing about a katana, nor much about this Ulf. I stowed myself on Snorri's funeral ship in the hopes of learning more about his connections with an organization called 'the Rimerunners Guild.' It is a powerful trading guild here, and I have learnt that it is a front for the syndicate known as the Frozen Shadows."
"The Rimerrunners Guild?" Yuto echoes the name without knowledge about it "Wh-what is the Frozen Shadows? Do-do you think we ca-can negotiate with them the release of Ulf and the katana? Y-you say they are a trading guild... wh-what can we trade them in e-exchange?"
"Weren't the Frozen Shadows that assassin's guild Riftun warned us about...?" Andochtuir asks as he looks at the bard for confirmation. "Maybe we should consult with Fynn on how to proceed from here. We can probably find the trader's guild if we ask around enough, but if they are both powerful AND a front for an assassin's guild, we are walking on very thin ice. It would help to have some aid of the local authorities or such, but I am not sure if such could be achieved."
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Riftun barely has time to carefully tuck the feather away before the cassissian flaps free of Andochtuir's bag and the bard is stopped in his tracks audibly gasping before clasping his hands together in prayer and muttering his thanks to the gods.
"An angel! By the gods we are blessed to be in your presence! An honest to goodness angel!"
Riftun's eyes widen upon the mention of the guild and the young man reflexively mutters a hushed response. "Y-You are correct Andy, the Frozen Shadows are our assassins but the fact that they are connected to the Rimerunners Guild is... I-It's troubling to say the least." the bard gulps heavily.
"My mother had made mentioj of them in passing a few times a-and they've come up in several tomes in the family library. They are lead by one Thorborg Silverskorr though few have seen her face as she is rather reclusive, purportedly. She has many powerful connections in Karlsgard i-inclusong the Linnorm King himself!... Their guild hall is located in the Jade Quarter but it is likely extremely well defended." He shivers.
"If she is truly our enemy then we have made a powerful foe i-indeed."
Yuto swallows a bit intimidated by the prospects of facing a whole guild "Pe-perhaps it is time to let so-someone not marked and more apt at dealing with this cla-class of people... maybe Ameiko and Sandru know better how to convince those ones to release the captives..."
When Andochtuir proposes to check with Fynn, Yuto nods "Th-that's also an option. B-but whatever we do, we should act fast. We do not know for how long Uksahkka and Ulf will be kept alive..."
Torra scowls as Riftun talks about the Frozen shadows, seemingly undaunted by their fierce reputation.
"Fynn might have ideas about how to approach this. We are in a foreign land, against a powerful force connected to the king himself. We should ask the locals for advice."
"Then it sounds like we're in agreement. Let's consult Fynn on how to proceed from here. Perhaps he will know more of their workings and how to approach them. I'd rather not have to fight an entire assassin's guild, but if that is what it takes after they already attacked us at least once..." The warrior cracks his knuckles. "I'm sure the world will be better for their absense."
He begins heading back towards Snyvald's mansion. On the way there, he grins. "You know, I can't quite decide if I'm happy or miss having to do the Minkaiaboo part. It was fun in a way, despite how silly we might have looked. Now, it all seems so serious and arguably morbid, with the human sacrifices and open attacks on temples of good gods and such."
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The helm-angel turns empty eye-holes to Yuto, before bobbing at Andochtuir's comment. "He is correct. It is a criminal syndicate here in Kalsgard."
Yin-Po speaks suddenly. "I believe that the less I know of this, the better. If I am caught, I would not give you away to your enemies - our enemies, I suppose." The old man rubs his face. "I beg your leave." He says, bowing to the angel. Helgarval bobs once more, in what is probably a nod, and the priest excuses himself.
The cassissian turns back to the heroes. "Moreover, I believe that the Frozen Shadows have connections to a group of fiends - oni from Minkai - known as the Five Storms."
It turns to Riftun. "It is true. I am an angel." It says matter-of-factly. "And the Frozen Shadows are the ones who attacked you on the ship, I am certain."
It continues. "I believe that the raven that Yin-Po saw before your battle with the earth elemental is relevant to this conversation as well. It is the familiar of a spellcaster known as Goti Runecaster, an associate and advisor of Thorborg Silverskorr."
"S-stay safe Yin-Po. If you fi-find out more, please, send note to our caravan outside town" Yuto gives the priest farewell.
The Tian closes his fist on the mention of the attack on the ship "The Five Storms... w-we should remind this. Pe-perhaps this is the reason of their interest i-in the katana."
"Go-goti Runecaster... is he Ulfen?" Yuto takes also note about the advisor before trying to reach for the helm "I-if this guild is a Minkai me-menace, then I fear I will end having to face it to pr-protect my liege. Th-thus, if you are interested on this fight, wo-would you like to join us Helgarval?"
Also, Yuto will join the others on visiting Fynn.
Helgarval flicks its wings in what might be a shrug. "I do not know more than his name and that he is a mage." After a moment, it bobs again. "I will join you. Should any of you wish to wear me, that I might witness more easily, it would be useful. Otherwise, I shall remain hidden as best I am able."
The party returns to Snaevald's manor, going through crowded streets and market squares.