"I hope you place the corpse back in the bag. We have no way to otherwise easily transport it. I understand you wish to handle it with care, but anything that makes us slower and slower to react could cost us our lives. But if you wish to meet the lady of graves early, I will not be stopping you" she sighs as she gently strokes Pac's head
"You are right I mean gingerly into the bag. After that we have to beable to move with speed." She says a brow raised.
" Simons body is no longer holding his soul, but we do this to respect and honor him. Though its sad, if we have to we may have to abandon his corpse to save our own. I would do the same for you. You deserve the same respect and I hope you would share the same sentiment" Olga says somberly. as she looked at the teifling.
"When i die, i do not care what is done with the shell left behind, as i will not be here to give an opinion"[b] she shrugs at the priestess [b]"But i also know people like to honor the bodies of the fallen, even if myself do not understand the need to"
The dwarf aasimar nodded and smiled up at both ladies. Vonda took out his silk rope as well. The godling carefully tied the bedroll tight around the halfling body; to help keep the remains from spreading too much in the bag. Then with the other's help, Vondal carefully slid Simon's corpse into the magical bag.
"I'd thought you would appreciate having your remains burned to ashes", Vondal looked up at the tiefling.
"I'd think of all people would appreciate the gesture."
As you pack up and move out, approaching the gnomes, erf replies.
i think four days? hard to tell down here. no sun, you know.
He snaps out a sound that sounds like a bark, and the gnomes form up in a line before the party. Shields interlock, forming a solid barrier between the wild that is Undermountain and this party.
Let's form up. We will lead you to the lift.
Falling in behind them, you follow the group through Undermountain.
Take a left here Vondal speaks up as you approach the open door to the large room where you first encountered the orcs and bugbear.
Erf nods and gives the direction. the shield wall turns and walks through the opening.
the walk back is quick, traveling with such a large force.
soon enough you are back in the large room where the lift descends from up high.
a gnome draws his sword and slaps it three times against his shield, the clang of steel on steel sounds up the large tunnel overhead. A long moment passes before you hear coming down
It is several minutes before the lift is lowered.
We will wait here. erf says You go on ahead.
"Thank you, Erf", Vondal states as he gets on the platform with his 'special cargo'.
Ceirn gives a small wave and moves to stand on the lift.
"Thank you" She says as she hops on and smiles.
Astrillith also joins the group on the platform
"We're on this platform more than we are exploring" she sighs
" Though some may say Aaterdeep can be just as dangerous, if not more!" she giggles with wisdom.
The ride up the lift is a quiet affair, each of you somber as you escort your fallen comrade up to the Yawning portal. As you lift higher and higher, the crowd noise grows louder and louder. Heads peak over the lip high above, curious individuals attempting to gaze upon heroes who have made the journey and survived.
and yet, as you get closer, the crowd noise begins to die down, until only the sound of creaking pulley, of straining rope is heard.
Finally, you come to a stop, five feet below the top of the portal.
a voice, somber and reflective, almost gentle, intones have you 1 gold piece, or something of value off of your body?
you look up, and recognize the man as the one who sent you down the shaft, the man in charge of collecting payment for passage up.
"Your tone has improved. And yes, we do have coin" she states as she was rather ammused, though her face was the usual dead rest, how the whole place attitude towards them has changed since their first ride
The dwarf pulls a gold coin from his pouch. Balancing it on his thumb, Vondal flicks it up toward the man in charge.
"There you are, Ferryman." The godling states grimly.
" A coin and A Jiyful kiss to bless you?" she says flashing a coin and an award winning smile.
Ceirn tosses up his coin and doesn't bother to say anything to the man.
The caretaker of the lift waves his hand, and the lift begins to rise once more.
You have a dead companion. My cruelty only applies to the living when they can dole out coin that is due. he waves at Simon's limp body. He, however, has perished. He deserves respect. And honor. It takes a brave individual to descend into the depths here, and respect shall be extended to the individual that has perished down there.
A long hook extends out and catches one of the load ropes. slowly the lift is brought over to the edge, allowing all of you to offload.
Please, follow Shurin he points at a slender elf maiden, who curtsies at you all. She will guide you to a private room for you to properly care for your fallen friend. She is also a priestess of Kelemvor, and will gladly help prepare your fallen friend for his eternal slumber, should you need it
A loud noise fills the room as everyone in the large common room, along with the two higher levels, rise to their feet. they all lift mugs, and intone Brus'noh!. As one, they tip their drinks back and swallow.
She shakes her head, looking at Pac "Such strange thing, being so 'respectful' for someone who no longer can appreciate their sentiment. Could never understand this kind of behaviour for what is essentially just a thing now"
Please, follow Shurin he points at a slender elf maiden, who curtsies at you all. She will guide you to a private room for you to properly care for your fallen friend. She is also a priestess of Kelemvor, and will gladly help prepare your fallen friend for his eternal slumber, should you need it
A loud noise fills the room as everyone in the large common room, along with the two higher levels, rise to their feet. they all lift mugs, and intone Brus'noh!. As one, they tip their drinks back and swallow.
Vondal looks up to the warpriest. "What do you think, Olga?"
'I trust in the Shepard of Deaths Clerics. We can go and be there for his last rites. Kelemvor will make sure he gets to Oghma." Olga says and smiles.
"We will be able to mourn and Pghmas rites will light a beacon for the binder to come and claim him."she pauses and looks to Astrilith.
" As for respectful, it can be for many reasons. As the spirit does linger with the body long after its dead, It also is for those who are left behind to give them something to gather together to remember the fallen, For some its to watfch and make sure predators dont come ot feast or they raise as undead. For Joygringers like me its a celebration of the goodtimes, to show that the life lost is not forgotten as these memories show us that true joy in those moments. I already have a few of you should the unfortunate happen" She says with a smile and then places her hand on vondals shoulder.
"And you too"
'I trust in the Shepard of Deaths Clerics. We can go and be there for his last rites. Kelemvor will make sure he gets to Oghma." Olga says and smiles.
"We will be able to mourn and Pghmas rites will light a beacon for the binder to come and claim him."she pauses and looks to Astrilith.
" As for respectful, it can be for many reasons. As the spirit does linger with the body long after its dead, It also is for those who are left behind to give them something to gather together to remember the fallen, For some its to watfch and make sure predators dont come ot feast or they raise as undead. For Joygringers like me its a celebration of the goodtimes, to show that the life lost is not forgotten as these memories show us that true joy in those moments. I already have a few of you should the unfortunate happen" She says with a smile and then places her hand on vondals shoulder.
"And you too"
She rolls her eyes, one of the few emotions she has shown so far "When i do die, i couldnt care less what you do with the corpse, feed it to goblins, throw it in the ocean, as i will not be around to say anything about it. But as you said, up to those behind what they wish to do" she gives a strange look at Pac, something about what she said hints at something more
"Well if you die, I will make sure to celebrate in kind. I will remember all the good and fun things we do together from hince forth" She says as she giggles and reaches over to touch the Magus.
"Let's go honor Simon, then Vondal we get a bath and some booze!" She says heartily as she squeezes the dwarf's broad shoulder before she lets her hand come up to curl a bit of loose beard hair around her finger.
"Do we want to try and raise Simon. We did not know him long. I am not sure whether he would want to return." Ceirn says.
"We could ask?" Olga says
"Balanced Coin! We don't have resurrection money!" Vondal chastised the group. "Maybe speak with dead, though." The godling's tone softened. "Either way, I'll stay here with Simon unti he's all settled. I may meet you all later, but I think we're done for the day. I'll meet you all at the lift in the morning, regardless."
"Ah, and here I thought we'd have a bath together tonight?" Olga says with a smile then sighs.
"Well, if we can't resurrect him, speaking with him would be nice, but Oghmites will prep him due to their rites." She says, undoing her gauntlets.
Shurin leads all of you towards a closed off area of the Yawning portal. the wind howls loudly in this area of the sprawling inn, tendrils of icy freezing snaking in through gaps in the walls. After your brief stint in the warm dungeon, the cold forces an involuntary shiver from your body.
Shurin opens a door, and leads you into dark room. a lone candle stands vigil against the darkness. the illumination only serves to enhance the darkness in the dark room rather than pushing it back. Where there is light though, you easily see thick veins of frost caking the walls. Your breath blows heavy, filling the room.
two tables stand centered in the room. One table lays empty, the other occupied. a single figure rests eternally upon the wood structure, covered by a single white sheet.
Sha'ni'fro was his name. A member of the Moaning Nymphs. Shurin intones as she walks around the table. she lays a hand upon his unmoving chest. Here he rests now, until the storm outside breaks. her breath exhales long and a sort of anguish. Im sorry. Please, place your companion upon the table. I shall say prayers for his soul's arrival before Lord Kelemvor.
Vondal nods. The aasimar takes off his magical bag and lays it down on the floor. The godling then careful reaches into the bag, pulling the opening as wide as it can, before carefully taken Simon's body out of the bag; the rope still tying the bed roll around the body.
Vondal then carefully lifts the bloody bundle off the floor and onto the table. Once there, the dwarf begins to carefully remove the rope bindings around the corpse and winds the rope back up.
"The bed roll is a lost cause. I'll just buy another."
"Hello Sha'ni'fro, our friend Simon is gonna be resting here with you. I shall pray for you too. So that you may find Joy and Festivities in your next life!" She says as she helps Vondal and then touches the Dwarf's shoulder.
"You could always share mine!" She giggles then looks to the priest.
"Sorry, just as a Joybringer, I want even the dead to find joy!"
Tolenn refused to believe the gnomes were truly acting with altruism, and kept glancing backwards as they led the group back to the Well, half expecting a another group of gnomes to ambush them!
When they arrived at the Well without incident, she pursed her lips, allowing herself a small bit of reflection, her time in the underworld of Waterdeep having jaded her opinions.
She ascends with the others, and wordlessly hands over the fee to the Well tender.
Her eyes widen at the mention of resurrection, knowing how dear that kind of magic can be.
She nods to Vondal, "Tomorrow morning then, if you'll still have me along. I'll leave you to your rites with your friend. "[/b]
Vondal returns the nod. "Thanks, Tolenn. See you tomorrow."
"Yes, tomorrow we should see if anyone else wants to join us and then head back down. Hopefully, this trip will be a little more fruitful." Ceirn says and turns to go get a drink before finding a place to rest.
"Yes, Lets celebrate life tonight for our fallen friend. For he has no more life here to live, so we must do it for him!" Olga says as somber as she could muster.
"Absolutely!" Vondal smiled. "Back to the Yawning Portal?"
"Very well, back to the portal, as we hope to drag another person down into the depths with us come the sun." she kinda waves those around her off as she meanders towards the portal, Pac lazily laying around her neck and shoulders
The cold bite of winter's icy talons pierces your flesh and rakes your skin as you leave the cold room. You quickly hurry down the hall, and enter the raucous environment that is the common room of the Yawning Portal.
The drinks are flowing fast and heavy. Bar maids, elf maidens and human alike, flow through the crowd, trays laden with foaming tankards, short bottles of wine, tall stacks of shot glasses. Like trees in the wind, they wave and bob as the women move through the crowds, delivering drinks of liquid gold to the patrons that sit at the tables and benches.
The crowd roars loudly, either because of the arrival of the drinks, or because of having consumed numerous drinks, or the various dancers that leap, bounce, flex, bend, twist, gyrate to the barely heard music from the band that plays upon the raised platform at the back of the inn.
you cannot hear yourself think.
You spot a group of people stand up from a table towards the back wall, A free spot to sit at!!!
you glance around, and notice three other groups of patrons, all standing, spot the open table as well. and, like you, they glance about the room, looking for others!
in a heart beat, they all begin to rush through the packed room, beelining it for the single open table....
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"Go. Go. Go. "
In no rush, as it seemed a waste of energy for something as trivial as a table, she meanders along, "I know it's loud, don't have much of a choice" she nods at Pax who has lifted his head and hisses in annoyance
Momentarily separated from her new companions by the raucous crowd, Tolenn weaves her way adroitly past other revelers. It's at that moment that she spies the very valuable real estate becoming available. She also sees others have done the same. With a feral grin, she sets off towards the prized table, utilizing all of her acrobatic skills to navigate around, over and under the other patrons in her way....