As the grauladon dies, Gofran stops spinning his sling and steps into the courtyard after opening the gate. He frowns to Alak and Beau, but says nothing. In his mind, they risked themselves unnecessarily, but they were big enough to decide if they had already lived enough.
He looks up to the battlements, noticing and hearing the goblins. "Ve found the goblins." He states the obvious to the others then speaks to the goblins in a louder voice. "Arre ye safe?" He then repeats the question in the goblin tongue.
The goblins begin hopping up and down as Gofran addresses them in their own tongue, hollering back in a cacophony of answers until someone shouts for silence and an older goblin woman comes to the front.
Kyrie finally lowers her shield and relaxes from her battle stance as she sees the creature finally fall still and silent. She joins the others in speaking with the goblins, though she has to rely on translation from others in that regard. She curtsies and nods her head. ”I am glad we could help. I hope you are all okay.”
Karana transforms back to her normal self. “That was amazing, Bea! Your icy blast looked especially powerful from a bug’s-eye-view!”
Karana translates Dame Kyrie’s words and answers the elder,
Karana is making introductions so the goblins can refer to everyone by name. She starts with Bea, who felled the creature, then names the rest simply by proximity.
Bea's cheeks turn a bit rosy at the praise since she missed with every other blast she threw at the thing. Shuffling a bit she deflects "It's not much. Just flipping the thermodynamics across a linear vector."
As the gnome looks up the cheering goblins she asks mumbles something about longshanks "Shortshanks would be more appropriate.
Unless they are taking the average, which I doubt." the wording is bothering her.
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The older goblin inclines her head to Karana.
To Beatrix, she replies.
Another goblin interjects, excitedly and pointing at the mound of rubble.
Prompted by the goblins' mention of dragons in the plural, a cursory search locates another grauladon, several days dead and mostly buried under the collapsed masonry of stairs and battlements. With many reassurances that all the "dragons" were dead, the goblins begin shuffling alongside the battlements towards the remains of the stairs. There, they tie the most makeshift piece of rope anyone in the group has ever seen - a creation woven from seemingly dozens of pieces of rope, string, cloth strips, all of different lengths. Fortunately, goblins are not heavy, and the haphazardly braided "rope" seems to hold them without issue as they begin the laborious process of descending from the top of the wall into the courtyard.
One of the first to descend is Helba Bumblebrasher, who comes to greet everyone, bowing with visible relief and gratitude. Several other goblins venture close to the grauladon's corpse, sneaking up to it and then running away yelling and screaming. The bravest of them throw small stones at it, or even poke it with a toe before bolting.
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Karana is delighted—but worried—and delighted again when she sees the rope can handle goblins’ weight. She is mostly quiet, thinking about how her friendship with Tutok led her to this moment. Because her mind is already on her childhood friend (from the only summer in her teens and twenties in which she had a sentient friend), she initially dismisses the chieftain’s circlet as coincidence.
But if it is coincidence, why do her eyes linger and moisten?
“Tutok…!”
The name is barely whispered, and Karana doesn’t know why the circlet she made is on the chieftain’s head and not Tutok’s. Or maybe her eyes have guessed enough or the tears would wait.
She approaches Helba, kneeling before her.
<And she made this to me.>
Karana touches the necklace that Tutok made for her.
She is embarrassed to say it like that. But it is the truth.
<Chieftain Helba… I fear I know why it is not Tutok who wears this now. But please tell me. And… who is Tutok to you that you wear the circlet I crafted for her?
Helba's eyes widen at Karana's words, and her hand flies to her necklace. She then becomes very animated, alternately bowing to Karana and gesturing towards the elf's necklace and towards Karana herself.
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“Chieftain Helba is the daughter of my childhood friend—Tutok—the goblin girl…” Karana chokes on the word. “Eleven summers, and she has grown up and… passed on.”
Her father had warned her elves outlive others not of their kind. It hurt when her brother died before his time at sixteen. Did Tutok have as many years, having lived a full life? Even though Karana spent half her life remembering Tutok, and only one summer with her, the pain is like when she lost her brother…
…almost.
There is joy too. Why does the joy hurt as much as the sorrow?
<And I am touched she still thought of me… fey-girl! I will help tell Tutok’s story to the people below, so they might understand the Bramblebrashers’ way. Oh, but there is one trouble-maker, Calmont.>
While talking, Karana consults her dictionary a couple times. She mentions Calmont then asks the others, “Did Warbal remain with Miss Greta? Calmont fled while Warbal was still with us, correct?”
Glad that the battle is over, Amaya smiles when she sees that the goblins are safe. She keeps to herself, though, as the others speak with the goblins in their own tongue.
At seeing her friend eyes start to tear up, Amaya moves to stand near Karana and places a hand on her shoulder for support, saying nothing.
"When they say, 'the dragons came from below', where do they mean Below?" Bea wonders as she always does "Does this place have a basement?" her curiosity peeked at what a hellknight basement might look like.
Gofran scratches his beard. He finds the story between Karana and this Tutok interesting and acknowledges that if everything is true, then these goblins might indeed not be dangerous in the end. "Varrbal is just outside, vaitin' forr us to rrescue ye all."
Karana wipes her cheeks, and acknowledges Gofran’s words with a silent nod. She asks Helba, “Shall we bring Warbal here, or do you prefer to come out with us, Chieftain Helba?”
"When they say, 'the dragons came from below', where do they mean Below?" Bea wonders as she always does "Does this place have a basement?" her curiosity peeked at what a hellknight basement might look like.
"What?" Amaya asks, confused. "What did they say? What's going on?"
Helba points at the fallen stonework on the northern side of the courtyard.
When she hears that Warbal is outside, the chieftain claps her hands together and nods vigorously.
Karana says, “Let us get Warbal first.” She translates her words to Helba, then acts upon them.
"She said 'We came up from our village below, and the dragons came from below that.' Gofran said they don't belong around here so where did they can from?" Bea tells Amaya. "Maybe there is some kind of portal down there?!?" her voice raises in a kind of eager excitement normally reserved for something like Ice Cream.
Gofran nods to Bea. "I have not thought about that, but it is a possibility... I'm cerrtain these drragons arre crreaturres o' the jungle and even if I had neverr seen the Innerr Sea, I know it is vast and the jungles o' Mvangi arre even furrtherr avay." He explains, trying also to wrap his head around what has been revealed. "I believe it is absurrd to think therre is a tunnel connectin' herre to therre."
Kyrie breaks out in a rare huge smile at Karana's news about the Chieftain. "I am completely shocked, but in the best possible way! I am so happy for you, Karana!" A bond of that strength bodes well for their ability to help the goblins here and will provide great evidence to the people of the town to the goblins' intentions and character. The power of a true heart can speak more powerfully than any cynical fact, and Kyrie sees powerful truth in that bond. Her joy abates as she reminds herself of her own lack of family and the search that brought her here. In all of her focus on keeping the others protected and in not freezing under the weight of her own traumatic memories, she has not been able to focus much on her search. There will be plenty of time for that once she ensures everyone is safe, though. The lives of those depending on her are more important than any lost past.
Speaking of which, Gofran's point about the dragons brings up important questions. "I wonder if they were experimenting with portals." If they were, they were certainly up to no good.
Awkwardly wobbling on his feet as one does when witnessing a family reunion without being in the loop of the how and what, Beau offers a simple but genuine small to all while Karana exchanges words and a gift with the goblins.
"I guess when the answer seems impossible, Gofran, magic must be the answer. Not that I know much of or about magic, but my uncle's books are full of the wonderous and devastating effects magic can have on our world. We're in a Hellknight citadel, and would it really be beyond the realm of possibilities that they either guarded a place of great magic or constructed something capable of such magic? The answer, I reckon, is beckoning us to venture on down as we speak."
Alak also hovers on the edges of the scene, watching the goblins with a frown.
"Several levels underground make sense, no castle has only one floor. But if these stairs were the only way to access these levels..." He sighs heavily. "It would be the work of a dozen stonemasons and labourers for a week or more to clear out the rubble and repair the stairs." Gofran reckons that his cousin's workers could probably do it faster, but not by much.
It is a simple matter to get Warbal, who has camped on a low rise a little ways away from the main gates. The goblin is also happy to translate from Goblin to Common and from Common to Goblin, relaying any questions.
As the initial effervescence settles down a little, Helba goes to inspect the collapse area as well.
Alak's words cause Bojas to consider the question 'what next?'. "Regardless of how long it takes to fix the stairs, it's clear that whatever is downstairs is somehow capable of making these Mwangi creatures appear here, in Isger. If we take it to the city council, I'm sure they'll give us the resources needed to fix the stairs so we can investigate the problem further."
Bea perks up and eagerly engages Helba in conversation.
Beatrix is concerned for the safety of the goblins and the village, but more important is the vast INTEREST in portals. She just doesn't want to frame it that way.
Helba nods eagerly at Beatrix's question, and Warbal translates.
"There is a hidden entrance not far from here, we use it when we go hunting but we don't think anyone else knows of it. We are scared to go back, what if there's more dragons? But if you want to go check, we would be very grateful!"
Alak perks up at the mention of another entrance. "Oh, another entrance, that's fortunate, I bet my grandfather's ring is down there somewhere."
Karana makes it a point to bring the wargs and goblin dogs.
She is completely on board with the idea of exploring. She rises, eager to help the daughter of her childhood friend!
"She said 'We came up from our village below, and the dragons came from below that.' Gofran said they don't belong around here so where did they can from?" Bea tells Amaya. "Maybe there is some kind of portal down there?!?" her voice raises in a kind of eager excitement normally reserved for something like Ice Cream.
Amaya listens intently to Beatrix's explanation of the exchange, her expression changing rapidly during each section. She lets out a startled gasp at the mention of dragons before remembering that she was referencing the ornery grauladons. "That is.... perhaps a little unnerving," she responds, but if there are monsters coming out of a portal, or what ever is going on, perhaps we should, umm... maybe see if we can stop it..?"[/b] Her tone of voice is uncertain. Everything is still all so new to her, but she seems to be just taking it all in stride.
Gofran thinks about what had been exposed. "At firrst I thought that ourr mission vas finished vhen ve killed the grrauladon and rrescued the goblins, bit if therre could be morre beneath us, then ve need to check." He says, agreeing with Bea and Amaya.
"Once ve rreturrn to Brreachtown, ve also need to talk vith the council once morre. I believe this development and the possibility o' porrtals varrrant an incrrease in ourr pay." He declares. "I'm not grreedy, I just look forr vhat is fairr, in the same vay I vould rrefuse the full payment if the grrauladons ended up being some common lizarrds." He adds while looking at Dame Kyrie, anticipating she might judge him for his concerns.
Kyrie glances around, unsure at first why Gofran is looking to her. She finally gathers that he must be assuming she would disapprove somehow. ”I know that if I were the person contracting others for a dangerous task and it turned out to be more complicated than expected, I would wish to compensate them more. I have no issue if you bring the subject up.” She is not one to haggle herself in all but the most unfair or extreme situations, but she also sees no reason to stop someone else from arguing their own opinion on a fair exchange. She does not care the slightest bit about money as a concept and would be happier if it was done away with, but she cares a great deal about fairness and mutual respect.
Gofran smiles. "Grreat! I once vorrked vith a serrvant o' Iomedae that used to rrefuse payment, sayin' that helpin' the vorrld vas payment enough. Vorrst job I had everr parrticipated."
The rest of the goblins have lost interest in the grauladon's corpse and are now gathered to watch the conversation, although it is clear they don't understand a word. Helba organizes a party to go hunting or scavenging for food, sending the others to find temporary quarters in the ground level of Citadel Altaerein. The goblin dogs seem familiar presences, but the warg puppies are greeted with curiosity, excitement, and many exclamations - until Helba makes it very clear that they are not to be eaten.
That settled, the chieftain approaches once more, Warbal in tow as translator.
"You want me to show you the hidden way? Come, come, this way!"
Climbing over the rubble back into the keep's corridors, the goblin chief exits the citadel the same way Alak originally entered it - through the breached wall north-west of the courtyard. From there, it is a short walk to a steep hillside covered in underbrush and small, scraggly trees. With the setting sun behind it, the side facing the citadel is in deep shadow, and without Helba pointing it out, the study door tucked deep into a crevice and covered in ivy would surely have gone unnoticed.
"Be careful down there, I think the dragons were not alone. We heard much shouting, but we couldn't understand the words." Helba cautions, looking quite worried as she pulls on the tips of her large ears. "Oh, and there's Big Bumble, too - he must be quite hungry by now."
As the others are talking, Karana takes a moment to say to Amaya and Kyrie, “Thank you both…” She is not sure how to follow her words. She is still in shock. “I think I told you about Tutok earlier. I… never dreamed I might meet her again, or as it happened, her daughter. I did not expect she would speak of me to her people.
“She credits me for teaching her how to get along, but… I always felt she taught me.” She looks as if about to laugh, but a thought she is dwelling on simply makes her giddy with joy. “Fey-girl, she called me!” In a more serious tone, she confesses, “I am still… processing this. But if there is work to do, I will of course be helpful.”
"Once ve rreturrn to Brreachtown, ve also need to talk vith the council once morre. I believe this development and the possibility o' porrtals varrrant an incrrease in ourr pay." He declares. "I'm not grreedy, I just look forr vhat is fairr, in the same vay I vould rrefuse the full payment if the grrauladons ended up being some common lizarrds." He adds while looking at Dame Kyrie, anticipating she might judge him for his concerns.
Amaya seems a little uncomfortable with this statement. "If the council is willing, I suppose it's okay, but I'll leave the discussion of such things up to you."
Amaya's attention is easily diverted by Karana's happiness, smiling at the young elf's enthusiasm. "Hopefully, this can be the start of some new lessons and memories," she adds.
"Big... Bumble??? Who and more importantly What is that?" Beatrix asks with more than a little curiosity.
While she asks, she remembers she has some food she could share with the hungry goblins.
The gnome slides off her pack, moving the lovely book on hellknight rituals, and pulls a wrapped bundle of trail rations. She starts to offer it when a black rubbery tentacle slips out of her satchel on her hip to lightly wrap around her wrist. "no, I'm not giving all of it away, I still have your lunch, don't worry"
Sighing she turns back to the goblin chiefess "Here, it is not much but it might help get your strength back to make hunting easier."
The Bumblebrashers are more than happy to accept food, clustering around Beatrix. Warbal explains to her right away, without waiting for Helba to say anything: "Big Bumble is our tribe mascot! It took us many days to lure it into our village, we were very proud of having such a strong mascot! But then Big Bumble got hungry and angry and hurt a few of us, so we locked him in a room and fed him through the door." As an afterthought, Warbal adds, "Big Bumble is big-big bear."
Gofran shakes his head at the stupidity of luring a wild bear inside their home. In the end, it looks like the goblins are a much greater danger to themselves than to the people of Breachill. "Do ye think it vas a good idea?" He can't help himself from asking.
The urge to facepalm overwhelms Beau. Instead, he digs his toes into the soles of his boots and tries to think happy thoughts. "If we do come across Big Bumble, he might want to take a break from this whole citadel thing and enjoy nature for a while. If so, we'll make sure he gets out and back to the wilds. You don't mind, right?"
Sometimes, a white lie is just what's needed.
Warbal looks a little embarrassed. "We thought a big strong mascot was a good idea. But I don't think he likes living there." The goblin smacks a hand on their thigh in sudden inspiration. "We can keep Big Bumble in the courtyard! More space here!"
"Should we report back to the town before we go venturing any further?" Amaya asks.
Beatrix does her best to hide her disappointment at Big Bumble being JustABear. "He sounds delightful."
At Amaya's suggests she thinks, "We could buy some food for the bear, to appease him enough that Karana might be able to talk to him like she did the dogs."
With the few hours of daylight left, Beau and Gofran skin the grauladon - a grisly business that draws most of the Bumblebrashers to gather round and watch in fascination. As twilight comes, Helba instructs a few of them to hold up lit torches so that the two can continue working, until finally the scaly hide comes completely free. It will have to be treated before it can be used for anything, but as a bonus the goblins now have a handy source of meat.
Warbal offers to take care of the warg pups while the party is away, and with those arrangements made, the only thing left is to navigate the path back to Breachill in the dark - but with several people used to wilderness that is a simple feat, and a good night's rest is had.
Beau honestly didn't feel like going all the way back to town, but since they managed to best a grauladon and skin it, the Andoran is elated to be heading back to Breachill! Surely people will hear of their accomplishments and regard young Beau as a talented young adventurer!
"Bears tend to dig for roots in spring and summer. Oddly enough, they mostly go for fish and meat when they can't find anything, eh, less-mobile to munch on! Yeah, I know, goes against all common wisdom, huh? But ... if we're feeling generous, we could bring some fish as well."
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Beatrix scurried off to her room and her new book, but her sisters insisted she eat and Tell Them What Happened. "Now" Peppercorn threatens good-naturedly. So at the Ear, with a plate of some meat smothered in gravy Bea tells the tale of the Dragon At The House Of The Hellknights.
Bea might mostly be a flute player, but a good story can tell itself.
Apparently. And everyone is portrayed as properly heroic.
In the morning she is a bit hoarse from having to tell the tale repeatedly but meets up with her adventuring companions. "Should we talk to the council before going back up?" Bea is more interested in finding out about a potential portal than increased wages, but she knows asking for more BEFORE the job is done is more likely to succeed.
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Amaya sleeps easily that night, but is interrupted by something that she hears at the back of her consciousness. Not really sure what draws her, she makes her way from her small room in the Great Dreamhouse, and makes her way to the garden, and the fountain within. As she sits on the edge, looking into the water, a form starts to take shape of the water itself. Oddly, the shape starts to look like it is no longer crafted from water, but coral, with a pearlescent sheen to it. She knows immediate, though without any clue as to how, that she is looking on the physical manifestation of Lysianassa, the Empress of the Torrent.
No words are spoken, as the shape, that of a sailfish, holds her attention as if she were physically being grasped. There is a sense of pride, but urgency. The path is being layed out, she only needs to trust and walk. Learn to use the gifts give, and do not fear them. A trust in those around you as well. They will be pivotal to success.
Amaya wakes up, with the sun shining through the open ceiling, finding herself still in the garden, asleep on the edge of the fountain. The night before is still fresh in her memory, but was she truly awake for it?
The young oracle suddenly realizes that there is something pressing against her palm, and she opens it to see a small carved sailfish, made of some unusual mix of coral and mother-of-pearl. She tucks the trinket away with a smile on her face, and heads back to her room to get ready for the day.
-------------------
Amaya greets everyone with a warm smile when they all join up. She responds to Bea, "That may be best. We were hired by them, after all, and they will want to know that the goblins are safe." Amaya seems to hold herself with a confidence that wasn't evident the day before. The tone in her voice also belies the same. Perhaps the day before had just exhausted her.
"I would like to hold onto the wooden shield we found and the Hellknight texts. I can use the shield as a backup. I think the texts may have useful information for me." If Lictor Maris collaborated with someone at this citadel, perhaps there will be some record that will help her pick up a trail. She spends the evening studying the texts for link or mention to the citadel she was raised at.
Karana agrees with Bea. “I would very much like to tell Miss Greta about my own connection to the Bramblebrashers. I think it will help most people make sense of the change in attitude… not to say that one so lost as Calmont could be swayed.”
As they reach Breachill, Gofran invites everyone for a drink on either the Wizard's Grace or on the Pickled Ear.
---
On the following day, as they regroup to start their preparations for the next trip back to the citadel, Gofran agrees with Bea. "Ve should indeed."
Greta Gardania and two other councillors are at the Town Hall, and upon hearing that the group has an update on their mission messengers are sent to gather the ones missing. After waiting for a short time, the full town council is assembled in a meeting room, far smaller than the large rotunda in which the Call for Heroes took place. Teams of carpenters are hard at work repairing the fire damage, and the meeting is punctuated by the muffled sound of hammers and saws.
"I received word that you returned last night, how did it go? Did you find the creatures?" Greta Gardania leans slightly forward across the table, her hands clasped together.
Karana happily reports, “We did. Most were killed by the collapsing structure. One was not, so we defeated it.
“In other news, if happens that Chieftain Helba wears jewelry that I crafted for her mother, eleven summers ago. If you do not object to hearing the tale, it is relevant.” She tells of Tutok, if Miss Gardania will hear it. Else she simply skips to the moral of her tale: “I do believe the Bramblebrashers, under Tutok’s leadership—and now under Helba’s—are a peaceful tribe. I confidently stake my credibility on this.”
"Well! That is quite the story, indeed." The councillors look at each other after Karana tells her story. "But, first things first. In recognition of your services to the town of Breachill, please accept the agreed-upon payment of twenty gold coins, as well as the official title of Heroes of Breachill."
Greta Gardania motions to an attendant, who leaves the room, only to return shortly with a small, sturdy chest which the councillor unlocks with a key that is hanging from her belt on a thin long chain. From within, she withdraws two pouches, placing one on the table and then extracting several items from the other, which she also places on the table. One can surmise that the first pouch contains the gold, while the items are six copper discs a little larger than a coin, with Lamond Breachton's profile etched on one side and the town crest on the other, the words "HERO OF BREACHILL" inscribed around their circumference.
"Show these to any business in town to get the hero discount." She waits for the medals and the coin pouch to be retrieved before continuing. "Now, you are saying that there may be other creatures in the lower level of the citadel, and potentially a magical portal. This is of course very concerning, and if you agree to investigate further then the council will arrange for further reward, based on what you find and any actions you might take in dealing with such." Greta Gardania nods to Karana. "As to your assessment of the Bumblebrashers, we shall have to wait and see. As a Hero of Breachill, your opinion carries weight, of course, but we cannot draw a conclusion just yet."