Maddy this will hurt but make some screams about how it burns as you are dragged through the illusionary firewall! Alexandra ESPs, adding one and one together.
Everybody started hurrying deeper into the cavern. Alexandra and Turvy tried to move the badger along, pulling Maddy up along the rope. The shepherd swung at the scorpion one more time, then was jerked upwards so unexpectedly that the beast didn't have an opportunity to strike back.
The stone edge where cavern met cliff face was sharp and rough, and Maddy had a bad moment where she thought the rope would fray and break before she got up. She obligingly screamed as she came through the illusionary fire, then she was being pulled along the tunnel.
Scrambling to her feet, Maddy ran after the others instead of being dragged. Ksenia followed behind, keeping an eye on the wall of fire, but nothing came through it. Then they were around a bend and out of sight.
The party hustles through the tunnel, which is dimly lit with more of that phosphorescent algae on the walls.
Ok, we lost contact with Buppido? Is everyone else still with us Alexandra asks, panting heavily.
Also, Maddy how hurt are you?
Just as Maddy is about to give in to the voice in her soul, the rope lurches upwards. Then it begins to make sense as she sees the fire that Alex had warned her about. She let out blood-curdling screams as she passed through before collapsing on the floor.
Maddy how hurt are you?
Maddy groaned as she dragged herself to her feet. "Very. But I'm on my feet and can keep going." She suppressed a wince as she took a few steps down the tunnel and away from the giant arachnids, "This place hasn't killed me yet."
:: Thisss place isssn't done trying yet. There'sss a hole above uss, about 8 feet, there'ss ssomething there. It'ss moving. ::
Kalanzadar freezes in place, staring at one point - the hole where the sound comes from. This lets everyone else know which place in the tunnel he is talking about just by following his gaze. To know and to prepare for a possible fight.
Aiming Alexandra replies, embracing her eldritch power and aiming at the hole ready to blast critters that jump out of it.
There is a tense moment of silence, and then a voice calls down tentatively, "Dudes? It's just us. Don't splatter us."
A second familiar voice says, "Did you get them all, bruhs?"
"In the small sense of whether we killed our attackers, we did not get them all. In the larger sense of whether we pulled one over on them by escaping their nefarious plans, we did indeed get all of them." Ksenia taps her lips with her short sword. "In the grand sense of whether they will yet catch us and murder us and thus by getting us avoid being gotten? That is to be determined yet by our speed."
She pauses and then carefully adds: "Bruh." as she understands it is their polite way of ending with respect.
Upon hearing the goblins' voices, the lizard makes a sound like a mixture of a sigh and a sneeze. Then the creature begins to rapidly shrink, changing shape, and a moment later your familiar drow is standing in front of you again. He approaches Maddy, briefly asks permission, and puts his hands on her wounds. At the same time, the stars on his body begin to shine brighter, and he himself whispers a prayer to the Good Goddesses of Darkness.
The wounds heal in a light silvery-white radiance emanating from the druid's hands, similar to the light of the moon on a cloudless night. When Kalanzar finishes, he nods to the woman and smiles slightly. Go the moon road, he tells her. It sounds like a blessing.
So... Shall we go on our way?
The question is not addressed to anyone in particular. Drow peers into the darkness that awaits them ahead...
we still having effing Mrs. Oozearse Nipplehands on our far-more-attractive-then-hers rear, so lets not dally. Alexandra is eager to venture forth.
"Let us not tarry then!" Ksenia enthuses. She moves forward into the darkness, pausing to ask the goblins for guidance at any forks in the tunnels, but otherwise staying forward to scout out the way for others as quietly as possible.
Alexandra gets the idea to be stealthy, and, to her shakes induced surprise, actually is.
As the adrenaline of the chase begins to wear off, and it becomes clear that you're not being chased by either spider or scorpion, you "relax" back into the tediousness of travel through the underdark. The blackness presses in, on some of you more than others. The goblins lead you for a few hours, through narrow tunnel and soaring cavern. Eventually, you come across a trickle of clear water, and then Shuushar picks up the "scent" again.
Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait halt, and bid you farewell. "Good luck, dudes! I hope Nipplehands doens't find you. If we see her, we'll tell her you're inside that scorpion."
As they're speaking, Sir Tubbyrubs suddenly vanishes. Alora, half asleep astride the badger, falls to the ground with a startled shriek.
Ah, so he was summoned? He appeared when we threw something we found on a dead body right?
Dear Sir Tubbyrubs, may your tubbyrubs be excellent, your wood tasty and your female dire badger girl friends endowed with sleek whiskers and cunning plans. Alexandra makes up a short prayer.
Maddy's eyes were as round as saucers as she watched what she thought were scars began to glow as Kalanzar healed her wounds. She was always amazed to see magic of any kind. The words the drow spoke were as unfamiliar to her as the words her brother spoke when he did magic but she knew that she immediately felt as good as new.
Maddy returns Kalanzar's smile with a larger one of her own. "Thank you for sharing your blessing. You are a credit to your goddess."
Now that her previous wounds were almost a distant memory, Maddy easily kept pace with the others. There was a tense moment when they were reunited with the goblins before they knew they were the goblins but other than that, the trip was fairly smooth.
When Sir Tubbyrubs disappeared, Maddy immediately moved to help Alora get to her feet. "Your ride disappeared so it looks like you'll need to walk. If you get tired, let me know. I may be able to carry you on my back."
She waved at the goblins as they left them, "Thanks, dudes! May you always have grease to surf."
Looking at Shuushar expectantly, she asked, "Can you tell how much further?"
Distraught, the twins cry out for their lost friend, looking around as if he might simply have wandered off. It isn't until Alex makes her comment that they think to pull out the grey bag again. Reaching in, Topsy pulls out another fuzzy object and tosses it on the floor. It rolls around for a moment, then rapidly expands to produce....a regular sized badger!
::No!:: Turvy shrieks in undercommon, and Stool (having finally calmed down) translated. The little svirfneblin scoops up the badger and examining it all over. ::Why are you shrunken? What happened?:: The badger happily snuffles her neck and licks a tear off her cheek.
To Maddy's questions, Shuushar says, ::I do not know this place. But the smell of home is stronger. A day away, perhaps two?::
Alexandra was looking for a resting place.
And faceplants herself on a random wall.
Its Sir Tubbyrubs, maybe? Perhaps before he became a knight! He is still at the beginning of his heroic story!
When things go to camp, Alexandra tells Topsy and Turvy funny made up Stories of Sir Tubbyrubses great adventures, in particular the notorious noodle incident as well as the epic quest, together with his trusty hat known as the Kobold Paladin Compensates for nothing!, to deliver the sacred Desna dream snow as well as the holy Apsu Weed to Lady Nocticulas court, which, in a series of very weird varied and humorous situations, considerably contributed to her ascension.
Kalanzar also joins the search for a good and safe place to rest.
::I do not know this place. But the smell of home is stronger. A day away, perhaps two?::
Maddy sagged against the wall in relief, ::One or two days seems manageable after everything that's happened::
Even though Kalanzar's healing made Maddy feel back to normal, she realized that she was exhausted. ::Stopping to rest may be wise. If we keep going when tired, we'll be easier to track::
Between the darkness and her unfamiliarity with the Underdark, Maddy was unable to help find a suitable place to camp. ::Once you guys find a place to camp, I'll help set things up::
Ziyad and Kalanzar team up, and find a mid-sized, dead-end cavern that looks safe enough. Topsy and Turvy find some dead fungus that burns well. They seem quite agitated by the days adventure, and even Turvy has a hard time engaging with Alexandra's stories. They huddle up together, whispering and looking around, as if afraid of being snuck up on.
Jimjar reveals handfuls of a pale, multi-segmented worm, or perhaps larva. "They're not too tasty, but they're protein." He offered them to Ksenia, hoping she could improve them somewhat.
Shuushar flopped down, rubbing his sore feet. He seemed shrunken and wrinkled, and was clearly in discomfort, if not pain.
Alora helped the twins with the fire, and sat near it, huddled, as if desperate for heat.
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"I'll take first watch, if no one else wants it." Ksenia says. "After eating I like to sit and ponder a while. Learned it from my grandpa. Helps settle the humors and such."
Ksenia furrows her brow and stares at the handfuls of larvae. "They may not look very tasty, but the trick is just cooking them the right way, get rid of that texture and ... " she gestures waggling her fingers and makes a grotesque face "Fundamental worminessitude."
She begins pacing, talking aloud. "Once in the bar we had a shipload of traders stay for a month, in from the Shaar lands off in the Shining South. They'd pay street kids a bent copper to scamper outside the city to dig up certain types of grubs." She laughs brightly. "Old Bejelik tried cooking them himself and everyone about threw up their livers it was so horrible. Like eating toes marinated in sewer water. So the Shaar had to show him how to make them right: sear them hot and fast, but stab them as you do, and they squirt oil that fries up like olive oil. And you needed spice, so much spice!"
Ksenia pulls out her carefully reserved packet of orangish spicy lichen. "Smoke this and grind it fine, it'll be Underdark paprika. I'll have to import it when I get home, the Shaar will pay top coin for it!"
"Give me a moment to scrounge for a bit more of this lichen. I've seen it growing here and there as we have traveled. And anything that resembles an onion. Can never go wrong with a bit of onion."
Ksenia happily returns with some forage and goes to work with the scavenged dented pan and other makeshift utensils.
wow, this is art Alexandra says after tasting, being very impressed.
She doesnt say much else because she is stuffing her face.
Need to compose a Poem later NOM
Ksenia, this is brilliant. Kalanzar obviously eats food with great pleasure. I'm ready to be the third on duty. That way I have enough time to meditate. After that, I'll stay on guard until the end. Hmmm... I'll probably just ask for another hour for prayer.
Ksenia blushes and smiles as she chews on her own serving, tipping the bite she has speared on her knife towards Jimjar.
"And I thank Jimjar for finding something to put all this seasoning on!"
Maddy relaxed a bit as the rumbling in her stomach eased with eating the surprisingly delicious food that the group had found. "Who knew that bugs could taste this good."
"You'll have to give me some tips, Ksenia, for the next time I run out of my packed food when shepherding in the hills."
As everyone ate, there was little talking until people began to feel satiated. When talk turned to watches, Maddy offered, "I can take first watch or one of the middle watches. I've learned to sleep whenever and wherever I can."
Shushaar, can we talk a bit? I have some questions about your philosophy, my Patron kind of has too. You may ask similar questions back to either me or her.
She pauses, and then talks to Shushaar in a softer voice, probably still needing stool, but keeping things a bit more private.
I understand that you refuse to conduct any and all violence, even in self defense against completely unprovoked attacks. Is this correct?
She asks.
Is there any specific trigger that caused your awakening, or was it a longer process?
She continues.
Thats a bit of a rude question Yza, but I shall ask him.
She interjects after the first 2 questions.
Is the reason you refuse justified violence your commitment to your philosophy, your belief that "justified violence" is subjective and essentially still "just violence", or do you fear to fall back into your ways before your awakening if you were to conduct violence for any reason?
The third question was very clearly her patrons. Alexandra does not do philosophical double meaning plays with "justified violence" juxtaposed by "just violence", casually.
To her second question, he crossed his legs and settled in. "I have always been odd amongst my people. Happy to spend time alone, fishing. This does not mean I was peaceful in my youth. I fought with my brood-mates, with anybody who wanted to.
"But as I grew older, I began to feel sad. What was the point? Our people die young, knowing mostly violence. I began to meditate, to spend days at a time pondering the nature of life and death, and what comes after. The nature of souls and spirits. It was a long spiritual journey, but eventually, I became Awakened. It is better to live a peaceful life, and cherish life, and bring this peace with you into the next life."
To her last question, he cocked his head and grinned gruesomely, his mouth full of needle-like teeth. "Perhaps a bit of both, if I am honest. My Awakening demands that I do not add to the violence and death of this world. The peace I spread will follow my spirit to whatever comes next. I no longer feel the urge to tear at other creatures with my claws and teeth." He motioned towards Ksenia and added, "Except for these succulent grubs, of course! And fish! I could never not eat fish." For a moment his eyes misted over and he looked like he was far away. After a few seconds, he focused on the warlock again. "If I were to force myself to fight, would I fall into my "old ways", as you say? Possibly. Our people have great blood-lust. But I don't think so."
He took a moment, then said, "Can you explain to me about this "patron" you have? We do not know of such magical relationships amongst the kuo-toa."
Maddy was able to find some water, pooled into small depressions in the cavern walls. It was very....green...tasting, but it seemed healthful enough.
Their bellies fuller, the party of escapees sorts out their watch rotation, and fall into exhausted sleep. The "night" passes quietly, with nothing of note happening until near the very end. .
My Patron, hmmm, how to explain it. For me, it is a personal relationship with an extraplanar being. It is an exchange so to speak, she grants me powers, I further her interests. For some warlocks, it is almost slavery, for me, I am not her equal, but she respects me and furthers my growth. I could become her equal, and she is fine with this. Perhaps, something between a priest and her deity and an apprentice and her master?
I also think I got really lucky with her. I have heard of plenty of such relationships that are much less cordial.
She pauses
This is my Patron speaking: Alexandra says and in a somewhat different voice continues:
Your history in some aspects mirrors my own, but is also different. My own change having been more gradual, and happening over millenia.
I have been a Demon, preying on Souls for centuries, before fighting in the Blood War against the Devils. Somewhat unusually I survived. I also prefered to kill Devils, who fought back and whom I considered equals, over preying on mortals. I became a devotee of the philosophy of the "Upward blade", we sought to mimic of mistress, Lady Nocticula the first Succubus, by killing and defeating those stronger or as strong as ourselfs, rather then preying on those weaker then us.
From that... It may surprise you, but most Demons spend most of their existence utterly afraid, of themselfs, their peers, their overlords... I have fought and survived, even defeated foes far beyond my capabilities, at some point I was beyond fear. And then I noticed I no longer cared one bit about the Abyss.
When Nocticula moved out of the Abyss, over a floating bridge of dead Demon Lords she had slain, and into her, well our, new home in the Maelstroms Midnight Palette, I laughed, farted into the Abysses general direction, and followed her. Singing a Dwarfen pirate drinking song, you see, I had recently finished a mission, impersonating a Dwarfen Pirate Captain and "accidentally" leading a Dwarfen group to victory over a Pit Fiend, I was also totally drunk from the victory feast, because enough Dwarfen booze can get through Demonic poison immunity eventually, but I digress.
SHIT Alex immidaditly begins poking, kicking and slapping everyone around her, and especially Stool to raise a silent alert.
FOE DETECTED UNKNOWN TYPE NUMBER AND POSITION She ESPs through Stool.
As Alexandra begins mentally shouting at everybody to wake up, it takes Stool a few moments to gather his thoughts and project the tranlation, but eventually you all hear Stool yelling about unknown foes. Alexandra roughly tries to wake everybody up, and quickly notices that Buppido is back. He's not responding or waking up. Neither is the rescued halfling, Alora.
And where are Topsy and Turvy? Their meagre possessions are gone, and there are no signs of the twins.
Alexandra checks Alora and Buppido for wounds.
Kalanzar jumps out of his meditation and looks around without understanding anything. He puts his two palms together with his fingers spread out in a strange gesture, as if he is waiting for something and looks around.
As soon as he sees an enemy, he will cast a spell at it.
Ksenia wakes from nightmares of the drow prison hissing, she rolls clear of her meagre blankets before she is even awake, whipping her sword out as she does. She doesn't wait to assess the situation or look for enemies and instead dives towards the nearest cover of stalagmites and inches her way around the darkness surrounding their camp.
Where are they? How many are there? she asks into the mental network.
Everybody scrambles awake, trying to react to a danger they can't see. Shuushar sits up and flattens himself against the cavern wall, trying to stay out of the way. Jimjar followed Ksenia's lead and melted into the rocks and debris. Stool clung to Ziyad's leg, his confusion and anxiety colouring all the mental communications.
Alexandra leans over the two that aren't moving. Alora's neck is slit, and she is lying in a pool of blood. Not far from her, Buppido is lying face down, breathing raggedly. Alex quickly flips him over and discovers an ugly welt on his forehead, oozing blood.
There is nobody else around.
Ok, how did nobody hear him coming, Topsy and Turvy apparently leaving? And Alora getting murdered? SHIT, what does not add up is...
Her thoughts race.
Alora neck is slit, Buppido wounded and unconcious She transmits
Topsy and Turvy are missing
Kalanzar, I am not a healer, you are, I can stake over overwatch positions, while you heal what can be healed?
Did anyone see Buppido reappearing? If yes, when and in what state
Even though the means by which she is awoken was somewhat unorthodox with yelling in her head, Maddy quickly shakes off sleep and is on her feet. She draws her weapon and begins to circle their camp looking for the danger.
Her brow furrowed in dismay at the revelation that Alora had been murdered, Buppido attacked, and the twins missing. Were they taken? Did they run off? How did no one notice someone killing Alora?
::Does anyone have eyes on our threat?::
Kalanzar rushes to his wounded comrades. First, he will examine Bupido and, if he is still alive, cast a healing spell on him.
:: Bupido, what happened? :: Drow will ask the question telepathically, hoping that everyone will hear the answer, and then will study Alora's body. Something about the murder weapon, the time of the murder, and so on. He'll also look for footprints around.
Kalanzar examined the derro, and found him starting to stir. The wound on his head was ugly, but not dangerous. With his healing magic, he managed to bring Buppido to consciousness.
Rubbing his healed head wound, Buppido sent, ::I...I don't know. I finally picked up your trail - it wasn't that hard, actually. We should probably start trying to cover our tracks again. Anyway, one of the little squirts was bent over the upworlder girl. I saw blood, and then I heard a sound behind me. I turned around, and whammo! Next thing I saw was you.::
Kalanzar looks around, but the ground is mostly bare rock, and there are no tracks to see.
Alexandra listens attentively to Buppidos tale.