Iragha’s eyes stay on Aleena, still assessing the former prisoner.
Karameikos? I’ll eat a lettuce if she is what she says. No Karameikan would ignore the presence of a Shunite with such…ease.
”It’s is unfortunate that your… magics are… spent. My own thrice-cursed Shune denies me healing this day, but my sins are not so many that she keeps other, greater magicks from me.
For her part, Iragha stays clear of Aleena, perhaps understanding from Creeg’s watchfulness that there is…something to be…watched.
"Creeg" the old man says gruffly as he inspects the crates. After a little while he looks up, notices Iragha watching the other priestess and nods.
"These're from Kelvin" he points to the symbol, then heads out to the braziers to cautiously try and move a brazier into the sleep space, after putting out the torch.
As you all begin to settle into the dimly lit cave, the faint glow of the brazier provides just enough warmth to ward off the chill that lingers in the underground space. The air is still, save for the distant sound of dripping water echoing from unseen fissures
Aleena gratefully accepts the food and water from Ralina, her expression softening. She takes a small bite of the salted meat and sips the water slowly.
”Well met to you all, and thank you, Ralina,” she says, her voice warm but tired. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Your gran is wise indeed.”
As she finishes eating, the woman looks around thoughtfully, her eyes lingering on the shipping marks Creeg had pointed out.
“Kelvin…” she murmurs, her expression thoughtful. “It’s been a while since I’ve traveled there.”
Her gaze then shifts to Iragha. After hearing the half-orc’s mention of Shune, Aleena’s brow furrows in contemplation. “Shune… That name is old, older than the teachings of the Church of Karameikos, if memory serves me right… I did not get your name, Miss…?”
Iragha bows slightly as the priestess shows some small knowledge of either history or religion.
"Aye, Shune predates the new "religions". Her words were literally law and lore - each breath forming and coalescing into a magical spell. These breaths are her gift to us, though the aged harridan can be...flighty and contrary."
The half-orc makes ready to rest by the brazier, loaded crossbow cradled next to her nest. She pauses as Aleena offers assistance with watches.
"Mistress Aleena, we would wish that you respect our own, previously made compact...to each other. At this time, you are an unknown to us, and though you seem to be rescued, we can neither validate nor guess at your provenance or aims. Lest we throw our previously rewarded caution, that has, after all, successfully led us to both live and...rescue you from your confinement, we will, at least for the forseeable future, continue to rely on that not-hastily made compact. We will not allow you to take a watch."
Iragha smiles, but not a smile of conceit, or of misdirected sleight toward the woman. If anything, Iragha seems less distrustful of the priestess.
"In time, I hope I can count on you as shieldmaiden, and ally, if not friend. Not many I have travelled with are familiar with Cursed Shune. I'm am but one of her many blighted devotees. Iragha Draghul.'
With that, Iragha bows again and lays down.
"So...Creeg first. Then you Yriel. I will take third. That leaves you last Ralina...to make breakfast. Don't burn the porridge, and if you add lemon rind again I'll skin you and wear you as a hat."
Creeg grunts his acceptance being first watch.
Ralina waves away Iragha's threat as she settles into her hammock. "Pffft. How was I supposed to know you had an allergy? Everything seems to have settled and cleared up fine." She says sitting back up. "Got to flavor it with something. Plain porridge breeds plain thinking." She rummages through her stash of rations. "Now, gran used to flavor it with...ah yes, I think I still have a bit of cinnamon in here. If only we had some raisins...hrrmmmm, I bet there's a little stash of spices or dried fruits or something amongst all those supplies in the bandit's cache. I'll take a look in the morning."
Aleena nods to Yriel as he offers to escort her. “Thank you for the company, Yriel,” she says, her voice steady. “I’m looking for my armor—a chain mail—and my weapon, a mace. I also had a shield and a backpack with some of my gear. It should be somewhere among the bandits’ spoils.”
As Iragha speaks, Aleena listens closely, a soft smile forming. “I understand your caution, Iragha. It is wise not to trust too quickly, especially in these dangerous times. I wouldn’t want to cause any discord in your compact.” She nods in respect. “But I give you my word, should the need arise, I’ll be there as a shieldmaiden at your side.”
Meanwhile, as Ralina rummages through the bandits' cache, hoping to find some spices or dried fruits, she pauses. Her sharp eyes catch something out of place - a faint wire running along the edge of one of the crates, almost invisible in the dim light. With her trained instincts, she quickly realizes it's a trap.
Carefully inspecting the crate, she notices a sharp spike rigged to jab anyone attempting to open it.
With Yriel's help, Aleena is able to recover her gear.
Aleena seems more than a little disturbed at the piled up corpses - she carries out some short religious observation, and a few whispered prayers near the dead, then finds a place to sleep.
The night passes on without incident, and in spite of the growing smell of death and oozing bodily fluids, the group wakes up refreshed the next day - in the dark of night during her watch, Iragha could swear she had heard some shuffling sounds coming from the east, and at a certain point she had the impression of eyes peering at her from the ceiling further ahead up the corridor, but they disappeared when she blinked a couple of times - just tired probably...
Actions?
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Ralina hisses a warning at Yriel when she spots the wire and its nasty companion.
"Well, well, well." She says pointing out the spike and then following the wire back to its origin point. "Someone left a little surprise. Not much of a mouse trap, so the question is, did this Brom tuck a trap in here to discourage his own guards or other thieves and cutthroats?" A shrug of her shoulders as she pulls a pair of cutters from her belt. "Otherwise, why trap your own stores? And only one? Not much of a deterrent when you really think about it. Never much use in killing just one rat unless you're hungry."
The puzzle occupies her mind as she goes about disabling the trap. First, she carefully wraps the spike in one of the filthy blankets from the bandit's camp, wary of any poison that could be dabbed on the iron point. Then with a quick, strategic snip with her small wire cutters the danger passes. Giving Yriel the all clear, she tosses the blanket wrapped spike off into a shadow filled corner and cautiously surveys the rest of the cache before starting the morning's cinnamon and dried apple porridge.
Ralina was careful, but not careful enough - her hand slipped while manipulating the wire, and the blade sprang up to jab at her!
The group goes through some of the crates in the small confine, retrieving some extra food and travel rations. Still quite a few are left unopened, perhaps they can be of use in the future.
Aleena wakes up with the group, though she remains mostly in silence, and away from the corpses.
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Ralina cooks a breakfast of porridge, cakes, and salted pork gathered from the bandit's stash. It is a passable meal. The cakes a little overdone and the lack of syrup highlighting their dryness. The porridge is once again over spiced, probably because Ralina's constant cough bothers her sense of smell at times. Or it is her constant use of the medicine for the cough that is more the culprit. Either way too much cinnamon. But the pork is good.
"So where are we off to?" She asks while washing up her dish and the pots. "Do we escort Aleena back to town, or delve deeper here to see what brought Brom and his band of misfits to such wonderful surroundings?"
Creeg eats with a nod of thanks to the halfling. No complaining, just munching. "We should take her back." the old man suggests, not stating whether he is suggesting that for her safety or theirs. Then he's brushing off crumbs out of his beard and standing up to break camp (a task that needs to be done no matter what they decide).
Iragha’s eyes open as the hint of cinnamon wafts through her nostrils. Her eyes open, and eyebrows raise.
Not dead. And breakfast too. Blessed be Shune.
Rising and feeling refreshed, the half-orc dips a bowl into the rind-less porridge and eats contentedly. She munches as a debate seems in full swing. Finally, she grunts and taps her bowl out.
”I’m for staying. I don’t like the thought of leaving the place…unfinished. This Brom is still unaccounted for…though I feel he *isn’t* on the other side of the barricade.”
She turns to Aleena, nodding at Yriel’s words.
”What say you, Karameikan? If you would rather, we can escort you back to safer environs. Or, you might aid us in further exploration…”
Aleena gratefully accepts the porridge from Ralina, offering a simple but warm, “Thank you, Ralina. It's just what I needed.” She takes a few bites, savoring the warmth despite the strong hint of cinnamon.
At Creeg’s comment, her brow furrows slightly, and she glances at the wizard. “I appreciate the concern, but my actions are my own. I intend to see this through.” Her tone remains polite, but there’s a firmness behind her words.
Turning to Yriel, she nods thoughtfully. “I overheard bits and pieces of their conversations while I was being held… There was talk of exploring the cave, though nothing clear enough to make sense of. Have you checked the leader's quarters? There might be something there that could explain their presence.”
Finally, Aleena addresses Iragha with a steady gaze. “I intend to stay. It’s not in my nature to abandon a situation half-finished. If there’s more to uncover here, I will aid as best I can.” The faintest smile touches her lips, a subtle echo of the respect the half-orc had shown her earlier. “I trust we’ll both see this through - and are you not Karameikan as well?”
Iragha smiles and bows slightly.
”I will look your protection, as you will mine.”
Ralina frowns at hearing Aleena speak of the leader's quarters. She recalled the room with the silly, ugly throne. Then she looks beyond some of the crates and barrels and notices the other exit. Flushing with embarrassment at having missed the second exit and potential threat, she grabs a torch and goes to take a look.
Creeg slips his pack on his bony shoulders, making a sound like an annoyed old muskrat, then follows the halfling to go scouting.