The rush of attention by both Kevin and Callen seems to catch Horgus by surprise. He looks quickly between the two, considering the offer of magical inquiry by Kevin and the pleading commitment of Callen. After stammering briefly, he pulls a handkerchief from his pocket. Dabbing his mouth then drying his brow, "Eh hem, my apologies gentlemen. I was caught off guard by the suddenness of everything, and my exhaustion has got the better of me. Yes, of course I trust that you are both men of honor, and will see this through. Still, I have concern that - umm, well - no, nevermind. If you swear to our safety in their company, then I will trust in your word. You have not betrayed it thus far. My apologies." Horgus adjusts his coat, pulls a small flask from a pouch on his belt, and takes a sip.
Once Horgus' outburst is silenced, Lann looks at Nicolette as he listens to the request. "No malady of significance was suffered upon my body during the collapse, though I cannot attest to the condition of my comrades. If ye be a physic, then I'd trust your eyes to look us each once over." The trio allow Nicolette to check each of them over and, other then a few bruises and superficial cuts, they all came through the collapse miraculously well. After he is checked over, Lann climbs atop a small pile of rubble, and he looks across the further remains of the tower, his eyes tracing across the bodies in the ruin. "Others will be necessary to set forth the memorial that awaits our fallen kin. 'Tis ill to leave them resting as such, but we have not the hours to attend to suc duties. Come, let us be onward." He looks across your group with anticipation in his eyes.
Lann takes Meraati's hand at her introduction, and bows politely before it. "Our kindest greetings, miss. Might I enquire as to your lineage? Did your forebears serve alongside ours in yesteryear?"
Aravashnial gasps at Lann's question to Meraati, then slowly stutters out, "It… it… is true? It is all true! By all the Gods, they are real! The Children of the First Crusade!" With is finishing word, he let's out a boisterous laugh.
Neither the names of the individuals, nor their settlement, pose any significance historically. Dyra's gray surcoat matches the common arming coat worn by many footman in distant years. Lann's purple tabard is curious, it is familiar from several written histories on the early days of the Crusades, and there appears to be the remnant of some kind of silver emblem on his chest, though it is heavily damaged by age. Being able to determine what is was might lend a great deal of insight.
Lann takes Meraati's hand at her introduction, and bows politely before it. "Our kindest greetings, miss. Might I enquire as to your lineage? Did your forebears serve alongside ours in yesteryear?
Slightly surprised by the sudden taking of her hand, she nonetheless shakes it back. His elvish half was kind of neat looking.
"I was told my birth-parents were 'umans in service to the last crusade, but 'ow far back either of their families 'ad ties to first crusade, i know not. But given the many years presence of crusaders up there, anything could be possible."
"My birt-father's family name was said to be Stanford, and my birth-mother's family name was said to be Varian. I know not more of them aside from supposed names and occupation."
"All for certain, is something entered one of their bloodlines at some point, as with Kevin 'ere."
Callen is a little taken aback by how effective his words are at calling Horgus. 'Wait, did he actually just apologize', he thinks to himself. Out of the corner of his eye he catches Meraati's curious look at him.
Callen nods to Horgus, then turns and walks up to Meraati. With a slight smirk on his lips, "Neither, kind lady. I mean no offense. You are neither vile and twisted such as Kevin or myself, nor are you what some might consider normal. Like an erratically cut gemstone, you might not fit the measurements of expectation, and yet, when the light hits that stone, there are none who can deny its appeal."
Turning toward Lann, he nods toward the exit tunnels across the chamber. "How long will it take us to reach Neathholm?""
Where does that place me?
Ah, doesn't matter.
Once the medic is finished examining them, she sorrowly departs at the mention of the memorial.
"I am gravely sorry for the loss of what were your kin. I am certain their valiant life will have led them to better places in the hereafter. If it is better for you to attend to them, we can understand and will carry on without escort. Please, don't trouble yourselves on our account."
At Aravashnial's indication, Nicolette runs a hand gently over her Yardley family's insignia. Her ancestor's mark from the First Crusade on her outfit still shows clearly, whereas the insignias belonging to the children of such great paragons of virtue have faded. If only she had a mending spell available.
"It is unlikely that any of these present here were alive then to recognize this. They are the offspring of those unfound peoples long ago."
Nicolette nods to the elf and answers, "I think you're right, sir. What an honor..."
She will gently pat the excitable elf on the shoulder (in such a way not to startle him) and then head toward where the others had intended to lead them.
"What can we expect ahead of us? Have you had many battles here? And have any of you experienced the likes of a crazed cannibalistic dwarf?"
Joska shakes Lann's hand. "It's good to meet you Lann, Crel, Dyra. My name is Joska. I'm glad we could help. Thank you for your offer to guide us in return."
Joska is glad Kevin and Callen shut down Horgus quickly and effectively. She really didn't want to be in the middle of another round of bickering.
"Are there any preparations you need to make before leaving Lann? If so I can help."
Meraati smiles modestly at Callen.
"Why, Callen, i 'ave not even said anything just now.
But thank you anyway."
An outright smooth talker. But it's nice to 'ear.
A faint blush comes to Callen's pallid cheek. "My apologies, but I caught the look you cast my way during my words with the noble. I have seen such a look before. I meant no offense, with neither my first words nor my follow up to you. My apologies, if I have given any." He nods to her, hoping to withdraw himself from the awkward misstep. 'Dammit, Callen, remember your place. Stay to the shadows, don't cause trouble.' as he steps back, he pulls up his scarf over his face, then flips his hood up, then turns to follow the others.
Lann looks at Meraati as she recounts what she knows of her history. He thinks for several moments, then shakes his head. "I have sorrow in saying that the names of your bloodline are unknown to me. Though that does not prevent a lineage from elder days. Those days came to quite suddenly, there is little written tradition among my people. The word carries our tale. Any your involvement on this day will be so noted in our annals."
With a smile he turns toward Nicolette and Joska. "Ye offer an honor that in other times accept I would most graciously. By time slips by, as sand between fingertips, and what destinations could be attained most directly have been barred to us," he point to three tunnels exiting the cavern that are all blocked by recent cave-in, "thusly it would be folly to direct you into the chaotic web that lies ahead to ascend to locales most desired in this moment. Were ye to navigate the lost dark whereupon leads to Neathholm, welcome ye'd be denied without us present. Uplanders have greeted us rarely kindly, so an eye wary watches out for their step. Besides, my kin resting lay," he gestures towards the fallen buried amid the rubble, "time has left their path, and so, is no longer essential. When hours are had for reflection, to them we will attend. Thus we should be onward with haste."
As if to emphasize his point, he looks to Dyra and Crel, who each pick up a few personal effects from the ruin, then the trio move towards a small tunnel on the northeast corner of the chamber. The pause just before entering the tunnel, and Lann turns back, making a strange symbol with his hands as he half kneels facing the tower ruin and its occupants. He then turns back and heads down the tunnel, clearly trusting you all will follow.
The gesture is an archaic form of the Cruciform Sword, a religious gesture within the Church of Iomedae.
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"Very well, good sir," she replies with as kind a smile as she can muster. His honor and valiant words are a balm to her.
Thinking then about how frumpy she must look in her medic garb , she smirks. She knows it shows nothing of her body off. That is literally its point. For someone to think Nicolette is beautiful at this point, they must really have a great imagination. The medic mentally shrugs and continues on unbothered it seems.
Internally, it hurts a bit to recall how young men fawned over her when she was in her younger 20s, causing memories of Monty and Henry to flutter back into her mind. That smirking smile fades almost immediately. Nicolette's cheeks turn flush with a light peach color (probably imperceptible in the darkness) and she channels her thoughts to think of the stinky dwarf she just killed and those who really irritate her. Nicolas and Mr. Bridgeforth come to mind.
It seemingly works and now there is a more irritated look upon her looks as she continues on. This is her way of distracting her brain from resting on sorrow and it works. In not much time after, she has moved on entirely from any thoughts or feelings except to focus on the path ahead and these others.
Nicolette will observe the recent cave-ins as they approach. With tremendously less people available to Lann, he would need any insight she can gift to aid him in clearing out such tunnels safely.
As they walk, Nicolette will try to explain where the wall structure is weak on certain sides and what to avoid when shifting rocks for their safety. Once past these areas and into the tunnel they are directed, she will take up a position up front, but not before voicing her intent to those coming with them.
"Often, Callen and I scout ahead for the safety of the group. If you are not otherwise wishing to be up front sneaking with us, you may wish to take the opportunity and time to better your relationship with Horgus back there and find common ground. I believe money would be a shared topic, as he is a merchant I believe? He is a decent man, but fears what he doesn't know. The more comfortable he is with you, the more he will trust you."
Missy just packed up her medical tools and moved them back to her bag. Everyone else had talked to the three strange people, she didn't exactly have anything to say that wasn't already said. Just feeling tired and worried about her family, she shifted the bag on her shoulders and moved to follow the three towards the tunnel. Didn't seem like there was anything else to do here, besides look at more people who lost their lives...
Kevin steps forward to walk with Lann and smiles at the gesture he makes. He smiles a large toothy grin at Lann and says to him "You bring back pleasant memories. I haven't seen that sign since I was a little child and my mother used to make it. That was so many years ago. She was a paladin like myself except a servant of Iomadae; my father a cleric of Sarenrae. She returned to Absalom with my father when I was born like this up in Kenebras. They are both gone now and I continue the family tradition of serving in these Crusades. I will be happy to take the lead with you through these caverns if you will allow it."
Your company gathers together and follows Lann and his kinsmen into the narrow tunnels leading away from the grand chamber. Those towards the rear can hear Horgus grumbling, "I still don't feel this is the safest or wisest of choices. Who knows what manner of things live down here..." Meanwhile, Aravashnial continues his excited questioning, "Amelia, you need to describe everything you see in detail. Every abnormality and deformity, every sign of these people's heritage tracing back to the first crusade. I must know every detail, and you must record it, with copious notes. Because of course I can't write right now. Yes indeed." Anyone with a keen eye will see Anevia silently shaking your head from the rear as she looks at the two in front of her.
At the front of the column, Lann listens intently to Nicolette's words, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed together. "Would that the path we traverse be direct and clear, I might encourage your course of action. But the past most clear is gone and our journey complicated it be, like a web woven of infinite paths. A wrong step taken could lead to death for one or all. Nay, these tunnels known they are to us, and though vexxing, home we can reach. Besides, the sun scars on your eyes deny the illumination found by those who know only night. Trust us in this path, your safety is my word." Lann turns back to the darkness ahead and leads on.
To credit his word, this tunnel is far narrower and short, and you dip and weave through multiple intersections and confusing passages. Just when it seems that the underfolk are slipping away ahead, one is suddenly right near the party, ensuring their way along the correct path.
Uhhh.. Amelia glances between the Mongrels and Aravashnial.
I'll.. Uh, Try. Though, I wouldn't want to be rude. Though... might I suggest we wait for when we are in safer conditions? Like wherever these folk are taking us, sitting comfy around whatever these folk would call an Inn?
For her part Joska is content to let Lann and his kin do the leading. They know the tunnels, which is better than having to scout them fresh and figure out a route.
She falls back a bit, not having the insider crusader knowledge and history Kevin and Lann share, she gives them space to chat.
Lann's gesture resonated with Callen even though he could not quite place the nature of it. 'These fallen are his family and friends. His willingness to leave them in this state shows his devotion to his word. He will surely do his best to help us to the surface.' As they move out of the chamber, he offers a similar blessing, offering a brief prayer to the Inheritor.
After hearing Nicolette and Lann's exchange, he chuckles, "Hey Nicolette, guess they've little need for our skills. Might as well relax a bit, am I right?" He takes up a position still toward the front of their company, though behind their new allies. He pulls out a biscuit of wandermeal, breaks off a small piece and pops it in his mouth, chewing as he begins to hum a soft tune. Looking to Missy and knowing the benefit of a taste of home, he reaches out with a piece of the dense halfling biscuit in his fingers, offering it to her.
"Well, if you insist," she answers their gracious guide. Nicolette will let him lead them out of the massive cavern and takes note of his gesture.
With Callen taking stride again near to her, she looks over and down at him.
"I suppose you are right," she answers the halfling, "It definitely is nice to be strolling like the others have been doing. It'll certainly give my hamstrings a rest from all of the crouching."
Given that she is no longer needing to be sneaky for a while, she reaches behind her neck with a finger and will tug her hair out from where it was tucked into her outer garment. She will shake it loose and get it off her neck. All the action previous, the sneaking, and the effort made with shifting the spear had made her a little sweaty, so she decides to tie it up into a messy bun, using her own hair to tie it up.
She casually mentions to the halfling, "Did you by chance happen to see the symbol Lann made? I think that's some old form of Iomadae worship...isn't it? I bet Aravashnial would love to know that he made that gesture."
Callen smacks himself open-palmed in the face as Nicolette mentions the origin of Lann's gesture. "Gah, how could I be so blind - I have seen that scene depicted in both literature and on the tapestries. It's just different enough from today's, but I still feel a fool. No doubt Brother Hurin would be most amused. And you are right, I am sure he would be overjoyed to hear such a tidbit."
Letting his pace slow, Callen drifts back through the ranks of his fellows until he is near the back, alongside Amelia and the blind elf. "Master Scholar, as we were departing the chamber with the fallen tower, the speaker for the survivors, Lann, knelt and offered an older form of Iomedae's blessing in memorial to his fallen brethren. It would seem that the Children of the First Crusader's still embrace the faith of those first warriors who took up arms against the horrors of the Worldwound."
The company continues into the darkness of the narrow tunnels, frequently diverting down one side passage or another. As you travel, several conversations occur.
Lann listens to Kevin's sharing of his memory as they walk towards the front, cloaked in darkness. "Absalom, the City at the World's Center, some of our elders speak of this place. Your sires were most devout and charged ye thusly, a son of the Inheritor that bears the Dawnflower's Everlight. A most noble charge. But many years ago, to whence does your birth recall?"
The short, stocky Crel comes over toward Nicolette as they continue down the tunnel. As he draws close Nicolette sees a small notebook and a piece of charcoal in his hands. As he speaks, he uses a similar speech pattern as Lann, yet it is heavily accented with a heavy drawl. "Der be dingers a many, jian' verm'n, foul dem'nspawn, an' corse torchbeer'n hunters from upland - but no dorven flesh-feasters. Now, de tunnals back yon, ye spoke of dangers teh clearin' dem. Som of wut ye sed I got, but de passige back tord ned'hom, was it shallo'r? Ye dink cleared it'd be stable?"
Aravashnial makes an odd sound, as though clearing phlegm from the back of his throat. Leaning down toward Amelia, "Well yes, of course I won't be rude, for that might prevent them from sharing their story. That is not the point, though. We must compile everything we can to present to the council and my colleagues about this grand discovery. Too many have denied their existance, this is most important to share. You are taking good notes, yes?" He is about to press the matter further when Callen drifts back and shares his tidbit. "Hmm, thank you indeed! Does he wear the regalia of the Church of the Inheritor, or bear a holy symbol of some kind? The other two, did they make a similar prayer offering, or was it just him? Did the other two perhaps offer a different prayer or gesture? Most intriguing?"
Dyra suddenly lets out a harsh hiss and throws up a hand, calling for everyone to stop. Crel and Lann quickly draw close to her, then turn back to the rest of the party. Lann leans in, "Beyond this tunnel lies a beast most fell, a cognicent vegitate, whose spore warps minds and even steals breath from the heart. Is most dangerous, yet together, with our might combined, it can be laid low."
The youthful medic treats Crel's wild speech similar to those she has experienced with drunkards. You can pick up a word or two here and there if you listen intently and guess to what they are muttering about. His way of speaking is very different than that but it helps her to pay similar attention. It is harder for her to understand the dwarf, significantly harder, so she tries to ease communication.
"Hmm, I...canst not...be sure. There was the main passage we traversed... to get hither, ...yet there were many other directions that could...hast had...more villains lingering," the half-elf speaks with rising inflections, as if trying to match his old tongue but desperately trying to do so in a civil-like manner. "We cleared out many. E'en leading way to a shrine to Torag. Um...'twere left 'i disrepair, with a dwarf there whom was undead. We set...it 'i order...with honor. Um...we fell down a deep chasm, not shallow. It is not safe."
Her father tongue, Elven, was older than the first crusade and likely unchanged. Furthermore, she can speak it fluently. Nicolette wonders if the dwarf speaks it, as it would remove their language barrier.
She is called to silence as the lady Dyra signals to halt. This is what it felt like when she saw something. Nicolette follows suit with moving up with the dwarf.
"If we can sneak to its flank, I might be able to identify its vital regions. Is the area ahead wide enough for me to find cover from its sight?"
She looks ahead, trying to identify the region before them.
Crel looks at Nicolette as she speaks to him in elven, a thoroughly confused look on his face.
Nicolette moves up beside the underfolk, who gaze into the cavern ahead. Far smaller than the giant space that housed the tower, it is still by no means small, and has many stalagmites blocking movement and sight. The chamber itself has a strange blue-green glow, lent no doubt by the bio-luminescent flora within. There is no sign of activity or movement, but just before declaring her investigations fruitless, Nicolette spots a booted leg on the ground, sticking out from behind a stalagmite - motionless.
Nicolette will proceed further into the luminous room with a cautiously light step. The soil under her feet hardly makes a sound as she issues forth and to the side of where she can see the aforementioned boot. This does not stop her from scouting around herself or above. She really has no idea what this beast could be, but fortunately, her vision is aided by the glow. The whole of the cavern can almost be seen to her except by distance, so anything not bothering to hide because it considers itself in darkness, she will attempt to spy it out.
From stalagmite to stalagmite she hops, hoping to get a view of their real target or what the booted leg truly is. She hopes to get some hits in with her needles before combat truly starts. Her eyes scan also to her companions, as to whether they were ready to enter into the cavern yet.
Joska has trouble with the underfolk's speech sometimes. She doesn't know what a "cognicent vegitate" is, but she does understand "beast" of course. When they stop at the edge of its territory she comes up to ask them some questions.
"What is the nature of beast's dangerousness exactly? Is it very large? Fierce or stealthy? You say it steals breath? Does it grab and squeeze or smother?"
She quietly prepares sword and shield for trouble as she peers ahead into the darkness.
"They said spores, th-that probably means it just fills the air so thick th-that you can't get any air." Kneeling down onto the ground, Missy opens her healer's kit. She knew she had something she could potentially use in here. Grabbing her bandages, she placed one on the side of her face... and started wrapping it around the lower part of her head. Using it as a makeshift mask, she finished up before looking at Joska and wiggling the bandages.
Meraati was pondering if those explorers last year had spoken of any odd plants.
Joska looks at Missy, amused respite the gravity of more danger ahead.
"Ah, so it is a kind of foulness in the air?"
Callen had been combing his memory for any information regarding dangerous living plants when Nicolette suddenly plunged forward into the chamber. In a whispered yell, "Nicolette, wait!"
Pulling his scarf tighter around his face, he mutters a briefly under his breath, "Damnit, she is as impetuous as me." then follows her in.
He is so focused on staying silent as he catches up to Nicolette that he puts little effort into checking for dancers.
Kevin pauses for a minute at Lann's question not sure if he is asking when or where he was born and decides to answer both questions, "I was born up in Kenebras in the second half of the first crusade. My parents spent a long time fighting before they met and were inseparably after they met and married. When I was born they felt they had to step away from the conflict seeing what the Demonic energies did to me. The Tempering Hall in Absalom trains paladins from many faiths and most end up here. My parents helped train many who came here and fought. My siblings have all spent time here as have my nieces and nephews and too many cousins to count."
When advised of the danger ahead Kevin says "I will be happy to fight by your side." He is set to lead the way in when Nicolette and then Callen sneak in. He shakes his head and waits a few moments for them to signal before entering.
Lann leans in toward Joska, "It's spores carry the most dangerous of threats, the beast's mandibles can break armor, and lashing stalks are barbed appendages that can reach far from its core. With swiftness and stealth, our force united can prevail. Once position is attained by your scouts, we move." He waits patiently for some signal or word from Nicolette and Callen to move in.
Moving swiftly from one stalagmite to another, Callen eventually catches up to Nicolette just after she reaches her vantage point. Coming around her side, you both find the site of a recent battle, wherein lay the bodies of two fallen men, both armored in a suit of chain with a white tabard of Iomedae atop it. The men both bear a dark, spiked gauntlet on their right fist, and each has a glaive lyign nearby. Between in a crumpled pile is the beast Lann spoke of - a tall, multi-tendriled plant creature with what appears to be a bulbous head. Vital fluids of both plant and man alike stain the ground, and a faint green haze hangs low over the bodies and the nearby area.
Missy frowned a bit as Joska didn't get what she meant. It was hard to talk when your face was covered like this, but she tried. "C-Come down here." Tugging on Joska's clothes to try and drive the point home, she wanted to wrap bandages around her face as well.
If that is the case, perhaps we would be better suited to sit at range and strike it. Those that aren't great at range can set up an ambush for it when it tries to close with us. Hopefully they won't need to get near it, but staying out of its reach sounds like a good plan.
Amelia says to the others.
Joska catches on and takes a knee so Missy can wrap her as well. Rather than trying to talk through the covering she gives the halfling healer a light cuff on the shoulder as a "thank you".
When she stands she asks Lann, in reference to Amelia's idea, "any reason it can't be handled from range? It sounds sounds very nasty up close."
Wrapping up her face, she gave Joska a thumbs up before turning to inspect the rest of the party. No one else should really get into melee, well, besides... She walked over to Kevin and gave him the stare. The stare that said 'get down here'. Being short sucked sometimes.
Kevin smiles at Missy and gets down on one knee. "Thank you very much."
Nicolette has the same idea as Amelia, by striking it at range. Still sixty feet away (or the maximum of her sight in this cavern), she will look to Callen who has just come up to her. If he has a bow, she signals to use it. The sound of combat will be their signal to the others, as it will be significantly loud.
Callen will see Nicolette pull two slender needle-like tools from a pouch at her side. Their long, hefty weight makes them good for throwing, but also, they are brilliantly sharp. What they seem to resemble acupuncture needles, but are bigger and thicker on the back end; clearly a weapon designed to spin in flight and hit with the point.
While they sit at the edge of her sight range of the beast, she waits until Callen is ready and then Nicolette pulls out her dragon scale, given by Terendelev. She could feel its power calling to her then. Would it help her now? A few moments later, she will then speak to her divine source in a whisper.
"Great one, please bless us in battle and see us to a swift victory."
An almost tangible feeling of luck is bestowed upon the half-elf as she exudes success.
Once in range, Nicolette will throw a series of needles at the beast.
"Charge now!"
Callen knocks an arrow at Nicolette's direction. He waves to the others to come forward then prepares to fire as soon as Nicolette attacks.
Nicolette sneaks forward with Callen covering her from behind. Drawing within a short distance, she leaps out of cover and launches two projectiles into the plant-creature, followed swiftly by Callen's errant shot, which skitters off into the darkness. The twin needles strike deep into the body with quiet thwack and a little bit of fluid squirts from the wounds, but the creature neither reacts not even makes a sound. It sits there on the ground between the two dead knights.
Seeing Callen fire, Lann waves the others forward and breaks into a run, charging into the chamber to see the sight of the two dead men and the motionless plant-beast between them. Glancing up to Nicolette, "It's last breath you've claimed?"
"I have struck it twice in what I assumed were vital regions, but cannot be sure of its death. I have never seen such a creature."
Joska runs forward on Lann signal, then lowers her weapon on arrival.
"That's it?" she asks, a little confused considering the buildup beforehand.
Missy wraps up Kevin's face as well, giving him a thumbs up. At the sign to charge, she follows after, ready to keep people alive as best she can! Skidding to a halt, she tilted her head to one side at the fact that the thing was seemingly already dead. "I-Is there more than one maybe? Also, I-I think those are some guards who fell as well. P-Poor men..."
Though no expert on sentient plant physiology, it strikes Nicolette as odd that the creature did not so much as flinch when her darts struck. Observing the wounds delivered, only a marginal amount of bodily fluid oozes out, though there is already a plentiful amount of its green-brown ichor staining the floor. In all likelihood, the creature is dead.
Lann edges carefully forward before finally poking the creature with his axe. It does not move. "This creature has plagued our village, obfuscating this approach for many years. It's defeat was always ascribed as too costly - now these two uplanders hath delivered the sum due." He looks down at the two knights, then to Missy. "Guards, no. Come from above, they do. In recent weeks several, seeking passage to our kin most foul. Betrayed their oaths, their way is lost. These men would for their lair make."
The creature has suffered several large wounds from a heavy slashing blade, likely the polearms that lie near the two dead knights. The spore sacks around its bulbous head look deflated, it likely released them shortly before its death.
Each knight carries the following: tabard of Iomedae, masterwork chain shirt, glaive, spiked gauntlet, potion of cure light wounds, 65 gold. The first also carries a scroll of cause fear on his belt, while the second is found clutching a small brass bull's head with tiny red gems for eyes within his spiked gauntlet.
The brass bull's head is likely a holy symbol of Baphomet, a demon lord worshipped by beasts and conspirators alike. His followers frequently wield the glaive, further cementing the affiliation of these so called 'knights'.
Nicolette holds her breath and moves closer to the creature cautiously. With her surgical mask up, she speaks through a hooked elbow over her mouth.
"Hmm...dead..." She recovers her needles and judiciously cleans them of the green-brown ichor.
"They bear some nice armor..." she comments as she moves back out of the range of the spores for the moment to finish cleaning her weaponry. As she does, she thinks on what her eyes saw while there. "I think you are right to call them conspirators. Servants of Baphomet, no doubt."
The plant does indeed seem dead to Joska.
"These two don't really seem like th Iomedean knight I've seen before. What is Baphomet?"
Kevin runs in ready to fight the monster and pulls up short seeing the scene of death. He turns to the group and says "Well that was anticlimactic."
He carefully looks through the corpses and helps gather their gear. "Some of this may prove useful. That abomination of a bull's head needs to be destroyed though. It looks like the crusade has been infiltrated by worshipers of the demons."
"Baphomet, is a notable Demon Lord. A primary enemy to us on the frontlines who deal with conspirators and deadly beasts."
At Kevin's searching through the gear, she slowly makes her way back and comments:
"Not yet," she replies to Kevin. "While I understand your intent to destroy such a vile insignia, it may prove useful. A number of us bear the appearance of allies to our enemy. There may be a moment in the future where infiltration can be used, or may even need to be used, and brute force only rewarded with death. Until we are beyond the point of our escape, I would not destroy such a tool so able to aid our success." However, it is clear from the half-elf's face that she wishes it wasn't so.
She then further comments, "I believe looking at this being further, that most of its hurt came from this weapon here, and the expired 'knights'. This...goop...down here is not from my wound. See?" she explains. "And here...its spores were already released...thankfully. Let us make sure these here are dead for certain, distribute their gear, and then continue onward."
"Does anyone have a preference for what they once carried? Armor? Weapons? Goods?"
The knights and plant thing was a new scene. Much unlike any other she'd seen or heard of.
Her allies were upon it before she knew it, leaving her to casually approach the scene without incident.
"Then we are safe to assume the spores in'aled was the cause of these men's demise?"
To Lann,
"Does its demise open up many paths you previously could not tread?"
Callen, visibly upset, approaches the bodies and spits on the ground near one of them. "Worshipers of Baphomet? Bastards. I know their type well enough… well… I've heard stories of them. From what the other Woundstalkers have told me, they have worked against the Crusades for years, from without and within. It was on a mission to strike at a ranking cultist that my father was last dispatched on, never to return."
Calming his anger, Callen kneels down and carefully removed the two tabards from the cultists. Handling them with a measure of reverence he folds them up and shows them in his pack. "I shudder to think how these two foul men came to wear these tabards, and what happened to their original bearers. I will return them to the church, as is my charge. Consider them my share of whatever we can scavenge from these two."
He rises and turns to walk away, then glances down at the two men. After a moment he looks to Nicolette and Meraati. "Ladies, their armor is well made. Perhaps it will be wise for the two of you to take a few moments to gain some additional protection?"
Hearing the discussion of how to handle the unholy relic, Callen steps toward Kevin and Nicolette. "If one need risk to carry such a thing, I am willing to submit myself for it."
Nicolette hesitantly folds her arms about herself as Callen speaks of his father's death. There is raw emotion in his voice, and she can sense the anger. The medic wants to help, but holds her arms about herself to show restraint in her sympathy for his loss. "There is a moment for it and a moment to restrain it. Let him feel it here." Her eyes follow him as he carefully removes the two tabards. With danger surely passed, Nicolette returns her needles to their proper place and helps Callen lift their upper torso.
"There are two polearms here, Callen has claimed the tabards of Iomedae, there are these spiked gauntlets and there are potions here that looks familiar to those curing potions we've found. Perhaps Joska and Kevin should take those? Some gold...let's see, there is also a scroll here. I am unsure of its contents."
She will willingly hand it off to Amelia or whoever takes it, will then hand the relic of Baphomet to Callen, and then will begin to undress the body of its armor. It takes her a while, and after she is done, she will help Meraati make light work of her chain shirt as well.
Nicolette will then set her gear down and step off away from the body to undress down to the point of her leather armor, which rests a couple of layers down. What they will see is a slender-bodied woman, far less frumpy and shapeless than previously understood. Curvaceous and prominent features are revealed as she slides off her previous leather for this new suit. The shirt seems to fit, but once again hides her features, and as her additional garments are once more added, whatever beauty of form seen in her is gone.
"This will take some getting used to," she mutters as she stretches to the left and right.
"Perhaps Anevia, you will want this suit?" Nicolette asks, holding out her armor to the woman and half gesturing between those others there for anyone to take it from her. It holds no specific importance to her, so she is not hesitant to give it away to someone to help keep them alive.
It takes her a while, and after she is done, she will help Meraati make light work of her chain shirt as well.
"Thank you Nicolette. Adjusting the size between a bulky man and our figures is makeshift, but the result is pretty good."
Her own studded leather had been folded and placed in her pack.
She did make sure she cleaned off the shirt of any potentially remaining particles from the spores.