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Cyrus leans over to whisper. "Tai, I don't think hanging around a bunch of people just as likely to kill us is a good idea. Plus I'm not exactly carrying around a lot of gold to spend at an auction. The creature with the ax is also a burning pit to my senses."
Tai really takes things in stride. Although I guess after all the strange things we've seen, it would be hard not to. Cyrus lets Tai take the lead on this one and busies himself gauging the other bidders on the metaphysical scales of morality.
"Be my guest." Cyrus rolls his shoulder, tucks away the wand back into his belt and readies his sword.
"Hold on a second, we took quite a few wounds in that scrap." Brother Cyrus pulls a wand from his belt and gives it a few goes.
Tsk, not happy about letting this creature go, but probably safer to conserve our strength. "Let's go Tai."
Cyrus's wounds begin to rapidly heal as he continues his assault on the humanoid.
"Tai! Let's take him down together before the rest!" Cyrus yells as ants move to wall him out and he shifts his attention to the strange three-eyed man-creature. Gods, please grant this victim peace in the afterlife. Cyrus slashes high and tries to get the creature's attention on him.
Cyrus kept his silence out of respect for Tai since he was humoring the horrible spider monster, but since the farce was over he steps forth and brandishes his blade. "Enough." "Oh benevolent Gods above that grant me thine will to fight
Cyrus swings his blade with little fanfare and a blast of scorching white light utters forth.
Cyrus focuses a moment as he attempts to ascertain this man-spider's moral standing. His eyes' irises faintly gaining a golden hue to them while he does so. "Truth be told, we're looking for something of a 'snake-man'. Is that Yrval?" Cyrus cuts to the chase.
"Do you...do you think the ants let us through because they hate whatever is in this part of the tunnel more than us?" Cyrus glances back to the previous chamber before moving to back up Tai Leng. He pinches his nose in response to the acrid smell. "I'm not sure if this gate was the smartest first choice..."
"Blasted creatures!" Cyrus curses aloud as he steps back to avoid getting snapped at. He looks curiously at the stone gate and cautiously approaches it, blade drawn.
If nothing suspicious stands out to him, he'll attempt to open it if there is an obvious means.
"If they're anything like normal ants then the workers shouldn't swarm us. If we hurry maybe we can get what we need and go!" Cyrus says as he quickly moves into the tunnel.
Cyrus shrugs and circles around to get a decent charge lane before swooping in. He rushes in holding his blade low before bringing it to bear in a horizontal slash!
"What do you think Tai? Should we try to take one out together before the other or one apiece?"
"Let's follow them back to this Snake Man like the troll said."
"Right, let's go." Cyrus follows the river after waving Tai Leng after him. Once a distance away Cyrus speaks again. "I think the pale man from the sewer might have found some new allies..."
"Thank you for your help. Where do we find this Snake Man?"
"I'm sorry for your loss. So it was not you who killed these people." Cyrus nods to himself as he glances at the staked bodies before turning back to the troll. His voice as he speaks gains a steeled edge as he declares. "If you desire revenge for your mate, I can help you." Cyrus draws his blade and plants it in the ground, his hands fold over the hilt as he stands straight-backed and looking towards the troll. "It is not easy to find a mate and even more so to replace what is stolen from you. My name is Cyrus Vance, oathbound to balance the due when Evil hungers. I would like to know your name sir Troll."
Cyrus takes a bit more cover behind the bridge remains. "Are you sure we can't cross? We have a lot of money! We won't tell your boss."
Cyrus draws his finger back. I don't know what kind of magic has been cast over this river, but it would probably kill me if I tried to wade through it. "Excuse me! Can I cross?" Cyrus yells out to the other side while stepping over to the bridge.
"Uh...huh." Cyrus replies to Tai Leng before he jumps, his eyes widening with surprise as Tai Leng manages to travel the entire distance of the river in an instant...afterwards he examines the stakes for a moment before crouching near the water and dips a finger to see if it really is like water or smoke.
"What the Hells kind of sorcery is this?" Cyrus glances over his arm, turning it to and fro as he quickens his pace to catch up with Tai Leng. He looks about as he walks, taking in the distorted scenery. "I hope the village is okay." Cyrus says worriedly.
"Hold on Tai be care-..." Cyrus cuts himself off as Tai Leng enters the dome. He then sighs, waits a few seconds and enters after him.
Cyrus dismounts and approaches the dome of darkness. He looks in all the directions it stretches before trying to poke it with his finger.
Cyrus dismounts for a moment and waves Tai Leng to draw his horse over. He spends a quiet moment in prayer and as he speaks, fatigue washes away within the mounts and himself. "Under the light of thine stars above, permit us to tarry not oh luminescent Starsong."
"I agree. I hope she returns her horse or that will be awkward for the 'Definitely Not The Goldensmiths' when we return." Cyrus pulls out his Ioun Torch and we continue by it's convenient light.
Dying of smoke inhalation would be embarassing/painful so Cyrus turns back.
"I think we should turn back Tai. Whatever made this tunnel probably covers more ground than we can match by walking."
Cyrus ties down the horses somewhere safe with some feed before hopping into the tunnel to follow Tai Leng. "It's the only lead we have."
Brother Cyrus whistles loudly. "I think I found something over here!" "Perhaps some kind of escape tunnel?"
"By the gods, what kind of horror befell these people? Perhaps...perhaps there are survivors..." Cyrus dismounts and pulls his inner shirt up and over his mouth and nose. He calls out as he searches the remains of buildings, trees or other places people might not have taken the full brunt of the flames by sheltering behind or inside.
Cyrus browses the merchants wares before returning the others to be ready to move on. A gift to the right person at the right time might open a door normally kept shut.
"Thank you for your time sir." Cyrus bows to the guard and looks around to see what kind of merchants are around at the fort. A month ago? I sure hope he is still alright. I'm afraid we may be returning remains at this point.
"Thank you for your time sir." Cyrus goes to meet this Ionus fellow and ask him the same question. "Hello! Your captain said you may have seen this missing man."
"Where can I find Ionus?"
Cyrus goes up the mustached man who looks like he is in charge. "Excuse me sir, have you seen this man?" And shows him the picture.
"What seems to be the problem? You delay a matter of import. In fact, have you seen this man?" Cyrus inquires whilst dismounting and showing the guard the picture.
"Best of luck to you then." Cyrus murmurs a prayer that the man ask for forgiveness of the gods and repent before leaving. "Let's buy some feed for the horses and be away from here. I don't have much of a stomach for this kind of 'justice.' It's barbaric and demeaning to the guilty and people alike." With that, Cyrus will leave to go restock their rations/horse feed.
"I suspect foul play. Crimes of passion do not usually invoke tight-lipped silence. Grief and guilt usually follows or self-righteous pride in the act." Cyrus approaches the man in the pillory and gets down on one knee and looks into the man's face searchingly. "Are you alright?"
"It takes a certain breed of madness to pull someone's heart out..." Cyrus' face casts a grim expression in response to Tai Leng's words. He inclines his head in respect for the villager's time. Unable to resist the lure to defend against a potential threat to these common folk, Cyrus seeks on the militia man on duty near the crowd. Before speaking to him, the outer rim of Cyrus' iris glow with a faint trace of gold as he glances first to the man in the pillory before turning to the guard. "Hail! My name is Brother Cyrus. I am a travelling holyman seeking a missing priest by the name Samwell Ritto. Pray tell have seen this man and could you elaborate on the crimes this man has committed?" Cyrus shows the militia the artist rendition of Ritto before nodding towards the man in the pillory.
Cyrus frowns at the jeering crowd and approaches a random person just going about their day. "Hello! Do you know where we could purchase feed for our horses...and what is going on over there?" He gestures towards the crowd.
"What the...I wonder what could have happened? Perhaps the people at the village will know."
Brother Cyrus yawns awake and stretches his arms. He shifts slowly into a kneeling position of prayer and gives thanks to the new morning. "I thank thee Desna, Shepard of Trails, for seeing us through under thy stars. I plea of thine generosity to lengthen our step and grant succor when our feet fall heavy. I give thanks to the friends you have brought me to and of the friends I have yet to meet." Cyrus murmurs quietly to himself. He stands slowly and finishes his prayer. "Under thine gazes, I stand knowing no fear for thine wills shalt be done and my path 'tis clear. Praise the Divines." Finally taking stock of the situation, Cyrus glances at the smoke in the distance. "Huh...I wonder what that smoke is coming from." He straps his armor on and breaks his fast quickly. "Let's get moving again. We should be able to go much further today."
Cyrus rolls over. Lightly snoring as he finds cool night air very good for his sleep. Dream!Cyrus clinks cups with a few of his fellow dockworkers as they relax with a game of cards atop one of the dockside warehouses. He stares out across the horizon at the strange burning fires in the distance. Well that's odd.
"I am not beholden to any god in particular. All the gods have their place in this great balancing act that is creation. Even some of the less than...Good ones. It is better to pay respect to each of their spheres of influence lest you anger one." Cyrus holds his holy symbol, a small decorative chalice with a snake entwined around it. It is not unlike a simple charm on a silver necklace worn around his neck.
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