Sapphira takes a look around as well.
Jade and Kelda lose count after fifty goblins. They notice a large tent towards the back of the camp. Kelda sees a hulking figure (as far as abnormally large goblins go) standing guard over a female goblin dressed in dirty but fine robes.
"Well that's an unsettlingly large number of them, I guess we've found where they've been coming from." Jade whispers.
Kelda takes a good look around at how vastly outnumbered they are and sighs, "There's nothing we can do here without getting ourselves killed. Discretion is always the better part of valor. Jade, can you add the burned out village and this place to that map you've been making? I think the best thing we can do, now that we found their main war camp, is to take this information back to the Dwarves and let their army wipe them out. I kinda think that's what we were supposed to do in the first place. Let's move back a little ways to give you time to make the necessary changes to the map you were working on, and then we'll get out of here. Unless anyone has a plan that won't get us all killed?" She whispers quietly, knowing that if they tried to do anything here, they wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.
It is very clear in both her expression and body language, that the idea of leaving the goblins unharmed bothers Jade at her very core. Yes, there is no denying their numbers exceed anything manageable.
When all was said and done, she wouldn't risk Sapphira's safety in a reckless attack that would only gain them death.
Kelda sees the look on Jades face and knows all too well what she's feeling, "Hey...I promise they will all answer for every horrible thing they have done, but we can't do it by ourselves. I've almost exhausted my magic, and I think your sister said something earlier about being low on bolts for her crossbow. I swear to you, if you can get this camp put on the map, they will be dealt with. Okay?" She says softly but earnestly, hoping that her words will somehow soothe Jade's mind and spirit.
Knowing that this was difficult for everyone, and how much her sister sacrificed to take care of her after their home burned down, Sapphira silently moves over to her sister and takes one of her hands in a gentle supportive squeeze, while giving her a subtle nod, letting her know that even though she's not happy about it either, she's okay with this course of action.
Not trusting herself to speak, Jade simply nods, squeezing her sister's hand before retrieving the map and adding the details of the goblin camp to it, her eyes wet with tears of rage.
Lysithia takes a deep breath as the scene unfolds regretting the fact that there wasn't much they could do. It felt like this was just part of a larger pattern of constantly being less capable than they needed to be, to help the people who needed it most.
As Jade fills in the map, Kelda goes to Lysithia and puts an arm around her waist, "I'm sorry honey, I know this sucks, but I couldn't come up with an alternative that wouldn't get us all killed. As much as I hate this, I see no choice but to go for reinforcements. We'll just have to move as quickly as possible to get this information back to Varota, so we can come back here in force and wipe them out....hopefully before they finish their ritual." She says, the anger and frustration in her voice is almost palpable, even though she speaks in hushed tones.
Not being able to deal with the goblin camp was a very hard pill to swallow, but even Sapphira could recognize the folly in taking on that many goblins by themselves.
She fights down every single feeling she has, so she can be there to offer her big sister moral support.
Once Jade finishes putting the details on the map, Sapphira goes to her sister and gives her a reassuring hug, "This totally bites the big one, but they won't get away with any of it. I promise." She says, attempting to help her sister feel a little better about their current situation.
"We killed that spellcaster...maybe that will buy us enough time. Do you think Ardin can find a way to get us to Vorota quicker?"
"It would be worth it to find out." Lysithia agrees.
Kelda nods, "That sounds like a good idea. The tower is much closer, and if he can get us to Varota quicker somehow, we might still stand a chance of stopping them from completing their ritual." She says, turning away from the war camp, and toward the direction of the tower.
Pausing for a moment, Kelda turns back toward Jade and the others, [smaller]"Do you think you can find the way back to the tower Jade?"[smaller] She asks quietly, hoping that giving Jade something else to concentrate on, would help give her something else to think about other than the camp of goblins they were walking away from.
Simply nodding, Jade wordlessly, and effortlessly, leads the group back in the direction of the tower.
Sapphira stays close to her sister, but doesn't try to touch or comfort her in any way. She knew there was nothing she could say that could make Jade feel better, and she didn't blame her for being upset. It was frustrating beyond belief to find a camp swarming with the little jerks, and not be able to do anything about it.
She was sure they would have another chance to settle the score with the little green menace, but in the meantime she would just stay quiet and try not to annoy her sister.
Jade safely guides the group back to the tower and you find yourselves in front of the iron gate.
Seeing the bell so high up, Sapphira reaches out with her magic to make the bell ring, "I hope they don't get annoyed that we're back so soon."
The man who let you in previously appears. "You have returned. I will inform Miss Erytheia immediately."
He opens the gate for you and motions for you to follow. He takes you to the sitting room before disappearing down the hallway.
Giving the man a polite nod, Lysithia enters, leading her companions in to await Erytheia.
Kelda follows Lysithia into the sitting room and takes a seat. She really hoped that Master Arden would have a way of getting them to Varota more quickly so they could gather reinforcements. They took out the spellcaster that was there, but she wasn't sure how much time that had bought them. Kelda absently starts chewing on her nails while waiting for Erytheia, and wondering how much time they had to act.
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Sapphira follows the others into the room, but is too unsettled by everything they had seen to actually sit down. She instead paces nervously around the room while waiting on Erytheia, casting furtive glances every so often at her sister. She knows better than to actually approach her while she's so upset. Jade needed space right now to think and sort out her feelings, and Sapphira always tried to give her sister what she thought she needed. Jade would let her know if and when she was ready to talk about anything. Until then, she would just continue to offer her silent support.
Erytheia arrives along with Ardin. The wizard looks you over as the elf speaks. "What did you find?"
Kelda looks from Ardin to Erytheia, "We found a small group of goblins at a burned out village. We killed a good number of them including a knife wielding one that seemed more skilled than the others, and one that was a magic user. A few of them escaped, but we tracked them with Jade's help, to a large war camp. Jade notated it on the map we were making as we went through the woods. We lost count after fifty goblins....there was also a larger tent with a female sitting in front of it wearing dirty, but fine robes, and there was the most muscular goblin I had ever seen guarding her. I don't know how much time we bought ourselves by taking out their magic user.....but we can't stop them alone. If there was a way we could get word to Varota and get their army here, or if you have any ideas that would help us stop them from bringing back this evil...we will gladly hear it. It was very hard for us to just walk away after everything they've done, and what they're trying to do....so, I really hope we can get enough help in time to stop them." She says, the weariness and regret of not being able to confront the goblins apparent in her voice.
"If the wizard is dead, then they may be stalled until they can find someone sufficient to guide their ritual," Erytheia states. "Tomas and Elowen are still missing and Master Ardin fears that they may be used as sacrifices for the ritual. If you did not see them at the war camp, they may be kept at their third location until they are ready for them."
Master Ardin clears his throat. "I can send you to Vorota. I once assisted at the Quarry, identifying gems of power. You will have to make your way to the city proper from there."
He glances at Kelda. "Though you may be aware of the problem there."
Erythia resumes speaking. "Once you've finished in Vorota, use the silver whistle to return and we can work on saving Tomas and Elowen while the dwarves mobilize."
Kelda nods, having heard the stories from her parents. Looking at Ardin she says, "Aye, I remember the stories my folks told me. If we run into him, I'll just make it very clear that we don't care about him or his stupid rubies, and that we just need to get to town. We will get to the town as quickly as we can and get things in motion."
Looking back at Erytheia, "We'll be back as soon as we can, and we will save them. Thank you both so much. We're ready to go as soon as you're ready to send us." Looking around at the others, she realizes she just spoke for all of them, "Is that okay with everyone? Are we all ready to go?"
Sapphira takes inventory of her mostly closed wounds while listening yo Kelda and the others talk. Unsure of what problems that Master Ardin and Kelda are talking about, she gets a confused look on her face before addressing Kelda.
Looking at the Dwarf she asks, "What are you talking about? What problems, and what about rubies and this "him" that you're referring to? If we're gonna be running into trouble, I think we have a right to know what it is."
Kelda nods, "I'm sorry, in my haste I forgot that not everyone knows about the issue at the quarry. Many of my Kin worked in the quarry digging up the metals and gems that our blacksmiths used for...well, everything they made. One day they came across a lot of rubies, but didn't realize that they were Hell Rubies, and a fierce devil appeared to guard them. No one has been able to vanquish him, and so eventually the Dwarves gave up and sought out another source for their metals and left the quarry abandoned." She pauses for a moment to catch her breath, "I realize that's a bit to take in, and scary to think about dealing with....but if we just make sure he knows our only interest is getting to the city, I'm sure we can convince him to let us through. We don't have time to fight every single thing we come across, and he's only there to protect the gems....so, we should be okay."
Sapphira's mouth falls open as she tries to process what Kelda just said. She looks to her sister and Basil to see what they think about the possibility of running into a powerful devil.
"Devils are supposed to honorable, right?" Basil asks. "Maybe we won't have to fight it."
Ardin nods. "They are creatures of their word, but you'd have to convince it to make such a deal. Probably at your expense."
Kelda sighs, "Whatever we have to do we'll do it. We have to get Varota's army mobilized as soon as possible if we want to stop them."
She cocks her head to the side, "So, we're just gonna talk to this guy and hope he's in a listening type of mood, and let's us pass without a fight?"
Nodding she says, "Yes, that's what I'm hoping for. If we approach him openly and honestly, I have good reason to believe that we can convince him. So, what do you guys say? This might be our only hope of stopping them."
Sapphira shrugs and gestures at her sister, "If Jade is okay with it, I'm okay with it."
Kelda looks from the sisters and Basil, to her beloved, wondering what Lysithia thinks about the quarry situation and the devil they might run into.
"If it'll let us go without a fight, then good. If not, we fight if we have to, run if we have to. Getting to the army is more important than some devil." Jade replies after listening to the discussion.
"If we can avoid its notice even better, though us magically appearing at the quarry is likely to draw the attention of anything extraplanar in the area." Lysithia surmises.
"Come along then," Ardin says, leading you through the tower.
You go past his office and through a small passageway. You feel like you are being watched by unseen eyes here, until you emerge into a large ivory room. Devoid of windows and ornamentation, you see an ornate circle carved into the floor below.
"Join hands and I'll begin the incantation," the wizard says.
Basil offers his hands to his companions.
Kelda forms a circle with the others and takes one of Basil's hands in hers, while taking Lysithia's hand in her other hand.
Sapphira takes position between the Druidess and her sister and takes both of their hands in hers, giving her sister's hand a supportive squeeze.