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With Redd's help, she pulls Incendia through the door of the Library, just as the ceiling collapse seals the temple complex from the exit. As the party draw their breath, they continue their escape only to find the corridor, where they passed the statue full of smoke and flying sparks.
The bowls the statues hold have erupted in dark flame. Sparks and smoke fill the corridor from the carvings that are part statue and part relief, as if the statues are escaping from the wall. The life-size depiction of the cyclopes, dressed in robes with fire motifs with each holding a bowl in their raised hands. Flames and sparks in the bowls casting billows of smoke into the corridor.
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With Redd's help, she pulls Incendia through the door of the Library, just as the ceiling collapse seals the temple complex from the exit. As the party draw their breath, they continue their escape only to find the corridor, where they passed the statue full of thick black smoke and flying sparks.
The bowls the statues hold have erupted in dark flame. Sparks and smoke fill the corridor from the carvings that are part statue and part relief, as if the statues are escaping from the wall. The life-size depiction of the cyclopes, dressed in robes with fire motifs with each holding a bowl in their raised hands. Flames and sparks in the bowls casting billows of smoke into the corridor.
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The smoke and the spitting sparks are no match for our intrepid heroes as the continue to find a way out of this cyclopean temple complex.
They are left with just one last push to the exit, along the long passageway to the Rannarix and Nal leading the way encouraging Redd and Incendia onwards. The corridor to the wine cellar, is long, will the company of Pathfinders have the stamina. Phantasmal flames, thunderclouds, and other disasters roil in the darkness as the malevolent will of Urxehl bears down on the collapsing tunnel. Dust and flames intermingle, looking back, a dreadful storm approaches as the tunnel collapses.
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Beaten and bleeding, Rannarix first makes sure his companions are all present and alive, then stares wistfully back at the dust rising from the collapsed complex.
"We left Amkha trapped in there.," he sighs. "Entombed forever with an angry god. I hope you were right about him... it... whatever." It felt strange to be wishing someone was evil, but Rannarix is sure in his gut that they'd missed an opportunity here to do something important. He sits and stares for awhile. Then lies back on the forest floor, staring up at the blood red pines.
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One, two, three. Okay. Good. Nal counts companions to make sure no one was left behind. "Everyone okay? Who's injured?"
At Rannarix's musing, she gently responds: "We had no idea the troll could do all that. If we had, we would've handled it differently. But Amkha is a stone, so it's possible that it survived the collapse. It would take a while to dig them out, but it's possible." Her expression darkens as she considers the implications of unearthing it. "I just hope the ritual that they were waiting to finish is ruined. Seems too much to hope for, though."
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Rannarix raises his hand. "Me," he says glumly.
"Yes. You're right. Still, I want to come back here some day and see if we can't dig it out of there."
Then, with a shrug, the kobold seems to forget all about his melancholy and rolls over on the grass to focus a reptilian eye on Redd. "Did I hear you mention cobbler? Because that sounds good, too!"
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Redd bursts out of the colapsing main entrance in a cloud of rocks and dust and tumbles head over heels until finally coming to a stop in a heap. She lies motionless for some time before finally looking up and gathering her senses.
"Wha...? Who...? Where...? Where are we?"
She mumbles dazedly as her hair and clothing smoulders. She slowly gets to her feet, pats out the smouldering ash, and pants with exhaustion.
"Is everyone... alright? Great buttered biscuits! That... was one... heckuva adventure."
She stumbles over to regroup with her companions. She rubs the soot from her face.
"We survived! I can't believe all that we went through. Lets go home and get some much deserved rest and recuperation."
"And... Yes. We'll have my granny's famous apple cobbler with ice cream. As much as you can eat, Ranny."
She says with a wink and a smile.
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As the dust settles and the Nal and Rannarix lead the way and climb out of the ruins of the building, other Pathfinders rush toward them, offering stretchers or healing to the wounded. Everyone is brought to a field hospital in the camp where they get their wounds and diseases treated and can recuperate for a bit. After everyone has been seen to, Eando visits, looking to debrief you. He listens with rapt attention to everything the
you have to say, and though the tone of his voices is severe, he reassures you that you did an excellent job. You findings have shed new light on the situation, which for now, has raised more questions than answers.
Before leaving, Eando gives everyone a firm handshake and thanks them for risking their lives for the Society. Daana and Jaci come to visit a bit later, concerned about how you are doing after the great catestrophic collapse of the building into flames, which means their teams of archaeologists have slow and painstaking work ahead of them.
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As the group is ushered into the field hospital, Nal arranges to land in a cot beside Rannarix. She makes no secret of watching how the medics treat his wounds, occasionally asking questions so that the next time she works with a kobold she'll be able to heal them.
Before Eando leaves, Nal meets his eyes in earnest. "Honestly, we had no idea Naxath would or could do all that. He seemed like he was in a coma or something, and that Amkha was playing down its control of the situation. At least, that's how it seemed to me. I really thought the worst thing that would happen was the troll getting up and attacking us, not caving in the whole structure. <sigh> ... When your people excavate down that far, make sure they have backup, just in case. Naxath might not be truly dead."
Once all the visitors are gone, Nal turns with a sympathetic half smile at Redd. "I think you're looking forward to your grandmother's cobbler even more than we are. How're you doing?" After checking in with Redd, she does so with Aunt Cindy and Rannarix too.
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"I think I'm doing okay, Nal. Thank you. I sure do miss being safe at home. That was a very difficult adventure. We got ourselves clobbered pretty good. I am very surprised we made it out alive. And then that terrible cave-in."
Redd says quietly with a frown.
"But, you know what?"
She looks up at Nal and the others and gives a small smile.
"It's friends like you that keep me going as a Pathfinder. It's a terribly dangerous job, but, teamwork and watching out for each other makes it all the better."
"I am so ready for that apple cobbler. And peach pie. And blueberry blintzes. And strawberry cheesecake. And... well, whatever tasty sweets we can stuff in our faces!"
Redd whistles a merry little tune as she skips off towards home.