After the feast, Domayoku sat and enjoyed the dwarven tales with rapt attention. The half-fiend frowned slightly when the guildmaster dismissed the gathering.
Ginza enjoys the dwarves company finding them a straight forward folk.
With Dominque's actions though, it seems that it was time to move on.
Ulfgar states, "You are welcome to stay the night should you care to. Though you are welcome to go as well. I am sure the captain of the guard is still waiting for you."
All of the dwarves in the hall are off duty you believe and enjoying in different forms of entertainment. Cards, dice, song, drinking, darts, and many other frivolous activities.
At the chime of a bell a dozen dwarves come in to wind down as others leave. This happens about every 4 hours.
The dwarves don't look too closely to Kazko and welcome him to the game. As they see some distinguishing features the game stops as one of them points at Kazko while shouting, "Troll!" The others quickly back away as well.
The Dark Dragon is at the scene right after the word is yelled. He quickly says, "Yes he may be a troll but he is with me. As you have seen he has not attacked you. But if you keep up the prejudice we shall leave."
The dwarves settle down at the Dark Dragon's words. They warily eye you both as they collect their coins, leaving most of the pot for the troll.
We have joined up in part because we werent a great fit for our societies. In case you didnt quite notice yet, I am a half Demon.
Lady Ekaterina interjects
Not that myself or for that matter my father had much of a choice about it. On any account, we have banded together in part because we didnt exactly fit into our societies, in terms of alignment and also in other ways.
"Lady Ekaterina! You're half-demon!" Domayoku performed in obvious heavy scene-chewing, playing up for the dwarves's benefit. "How could you?! All those nights together in my bed, and you were a half-demon this whole time?!!" The half-fiend warrior could stop himself from laughing.
"In truth, I am also half-fiendish, but it's not visually apparent to most. Despite our separate and desperate backgrounds, we are dedicated to helping your cause", Domayoku said with a grand hand waving back toward Lady Ekaterina and Guildmaster Dominique.
Perhaps I am Half Demon Half Dwarfish?
She opens her hair, makeing it fall as if she had a most fine, magnificient, lustrously golden and expertly braided beard, in what she just happens to know is the latest dwarfen fashion, coiled in the end into elaborately woven flail-heads, which she promptly uses to nonlethally smack Domayoku for his insolence.
I have wings, horns and a tail, the latter would have been rather memorable had you actually ever shared my bed my dear
She chides him.
The half-fiend warrior laughs as he takes his lumps, knowing no harm was done to either party.
Ulfgar chuckles at the scene and stays in his stone chair. He offers, "They are friends settle down and get the music started again."
The music starts up again, and most of the dwarves settle down those closest to Kazko leave.
He lightly growls and leaves the keep, waving to Ulfgar before leaving.
"I'm fine with either though I wonder if the other side has started making their movements as well." muses Ginza.
The captain of the guard is still outside of the keep when the group exits. He escorts you out of the established area and waves as you continue.
He suggests as they continue down the path, "Once we are down the next stairs we should fly over the fungus forest."
"Sounds good, Guildmaster", Domayoku smiles. Looking to the others, the half-fiend asks, "Who needs a lift?"
"I'll ride through the forest. Might make for a scenic ride." Chuckles Ginza as he prepares to summon his mount.
He laughs a little, "The spores won't affect you, we will stay aloft overhead just in case you need some help."
---
Having lead the group away from the main path he stretches his hands over the runes which begin to glow. He explains, "It is a secret trove of loot. You can take a leather bag of wealth or a magical item."
He speaks the words in dwarvish, "Ulk mer thiadun brock fin."
If you know Dwarven
He also states, "There could be mimics within, go ahead and kill them. I have seen a few strange looking goblins before. Also if we take too much we will be dumped into the dungeon."
Once the magic has covered all the runes the archway seems to have a portal appear within it.
Kazko and Amadea likely ask for a ride. Which Dominique and Domayoku could easily cover.
But before you take a stroll through or fly over, a fungal forest, Dominique points out a diversion. You can see the faint etchings into a archway but there is solid stone beyond it.
Ginza catches sight of Dominique's signal and rides towards the archway. Once there, he studies it.
Flying high, in the summer sky
Oh, lore skils! Time for some tears to Vodka! She liberally spreads some booze around the party (+2 to kn and int checks, one level 1 spell consumed, 70 minutes).
Time for heroism!
She casts heroism on herself, 70 minutes
In my incredibly expert opinion, narrowly, maybe, beaten by Kazko is he does some retroactive booze consumption this is a...
Having lead the group away from the main path he stretches his hands over the runes which begin to glow. He explains, "It is a secret trove of loot. You can take a leather bag of wealth or a magical item."
The Demon King tries to gingerly take one of the leather bags full of coins.
Kazko can ride his Roc.
Domayoku takes one of the leather bags, he finds it empty, you then begin to fill it with gold!
He grabs a belt and slips back out of the treasure trove.
"A door that leads to another space? And a direct one too to operate." Ginza lets the others know surprised that there's such a thing.
He observes the contents for a while before he picks out something.
An Amulet he noticed catching his eye.
Ekateria grabs the ring she requested.
Domayoku gets close to the doorway, trying to look through but not step inside.
With items selected the group leaves the treasure trove without any problems, no mimics, goblins, or worse.
Most of the group flies over the fungal cavern. With Ginza trailing behind on his mount. It is a phosphorescent magical forest of all sorts of mushrooms. The air is thick with spores and moisture.
It takes a few hours to fly over the forest. Then after a few more hours you find a nestled Dwarven outpost. Really more of a hole in the wall but marked by torches.
Landing and resting for a few moments he asks the group, "Shall we continue or take a rest, it might be a bit cramped in there for some of us."
Domayoku, as he lands, does a quick aerial recon or roughly two miles in around the dwarven outpost. The half-fiend fighter looks for abandoned siege machinery or old campsites nearby.
Domayoku you find several campsites within that range. One actually has a low fire and you can see figures huddling around it. Near the fringes of your recon you find spiders and luckily see their webs before flying into them. Likely set so high to catch bats. There are lower webs as well but they are far more numerous.
The Demon King sets back down near Dominque and the others and reports what he saw.
Ekaterina does a stealthy fly over and checks if the huddled figures ping as good.
"I have no need to rest as you well know so If need be I can take watch as well as be outside to not take up space." Ginza replies as he waits for their scouts to return.
Figures do not ping as good, lets see some further
SLA once per day (havent used it today) Detect thoughs, Ekaterina stealthily flies 60 feet down and initially focuses on one outlying figure, the minimize the chances of being detected.
(I think I get some extra boni because of good meaneuverability, but it doesnt matter in this case)
Domayoku steps just inside the entrance to the fallen dwarven outpost, using his darkvision to see as much as he can into the structure.
Domayoku enters into the crowded hallway, back 40 feet before coming to a wooden door. Opening the door you can hear some dwarves being rowdy. Though two dwarven guards in heavy armor stand alert as the door opens. The guard on the right states, "And who do we have here? At least it is not an elf!" The other dwarf responds, "Yes too true!"
Ginza waits for his allies to do what they need to do and if they would need him.
Huddled figures are not good, hungry, and pissed at the dwarfs, proceed with caution. Ekaterina reports
Shall we investiage?
He mentally responds to her, ::Ekatrina, do you want me to come and assist?::
he guard on the right states, "And who do we have here? At least it is not an elf!" The other dwarf responds, "Yes too true!"
Domayoku raises his hands off to the side. "Men of the Mountain, I am Domayoku. I and my guild, Götterdämmerung, have been sent to offer aid against invaders, who are camped outside."
Ekaterina, flying, approaches one of the huddled figures.
Greetings, May I enquire who you are? This position seems, mildly unsafe She is about 30 feet away from it.
In the night, they would see as lithe, beautifull female flyer with wings.
Hmm, Ettercap? Nah, the dwarfs would attack that on sight She does not have her weapons drawn but is ready to react to hostilities.
I am making contact, if they are hostile, I shall retreat, not showing our full might She repsonds to Dominque.
"We don't know ya but you are no elf. You may enter and wet your whistle." The dwarf simply replies as if it was evident, "Filthy elves."
----
Two of the nine figures quickly stand dropping their cloaks. After the start they settle at your words. Apprehensive the speaker says, "We are ravenent elves of the moon. No safe place nearby that is welcoming at least. The dwarves... they have their prejudices versus our people. Who are you?"
"Thank you! My guild of adventurers are finishing up some recon, and will likely join us shortly" the half-fiend warrior smiled and nodded.
Ekaterina tries to figure out what ravener elfes are. Making use of her tears to wine and long hasting heroism buffs, before giving her answer.
Huddled figures self identified as ravener elfs, does anyone know what this means? She broadcasts to the nearby party.