I hope you all have had an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and know you are loved. If not, know that you are still loved. Here’s to a fantastic New Year for each of you.
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For those that celebrate it, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving today. And if you are preparing the meal, find time for you, not just the guests. Of course, if you don’t celebrate American Thanksgiving, may you enjoy a great day as well.
Dwarf accounted for! Hope you are well - things take their normal ups and downs around here, but no real complaints.
I obviously do not know what challenges you are dealing with (and I'm not asking you to tell me). I fully support your decision to do what's right for you and your health. If you find the time and energy to return to this story, I'll be happy to continue the story of Edrukk with the gang. Peace.
Edrukk notes the others getting into position, nods to Kata, then motions forward with his head. He moves forward, shield and axe in hand. He moves slowly and carefully, looking for traps (but not pausing to search, just looking for tell-tale signs).
I’m ok with that or if you want to swap Broccan and Alais to have a bruiser on both ends.
Edrukk doesn't have to take point, but he's inclined to out of dwarven habit. Feel free to talk him out of it. In the cult of Vecna, I as player do not expect threats to come from expected directions or take normal forms. Everyone will need to be on their toes.
Edrukk raises a hand to stop the impetuous one. ”I’m n’ good fer much, but Ah can be a wall fer ye. On yer signal.” He readies his shield, holding the haft of his weapon in the shield hand and moves in front of Alais to lead the incursion. He looks at each of his companions, questioningly. Are ye ready?
Edrukk watches their backs, expecting a cultist to wander out. Hearing the click, his ears perk up for any following noise. At Kata's comment, he pats her on the back reassuringly. Whispering, "Good on ye, lass. Well done."
”Th’ lot down here prolly don’t get on well together. Long as they don’t realize we’re down here after all of ‘em, they prolly won’t even lift a finger to help each other. Slim advantage, but advantage it is. We need to make sure none get out fer help. No mercy, me friends. May our gods look favorably on us tonight.” After hearing what Alais discovered, he sighs. ”The tricks and whispers start before we even open th’ door. That’s just great.”
In the dim light, Edrukk holds up and hand, unnecessarily signaling quiet in the wake of the rattling winch of the platform. He points at his eyes, then around the room.
Whispering, he motions to the elven dilettante, ”D’ye read the tongue there on the wall? Guessing’ the doors go to different chapels. Hextor of the gauntlet, Vecna the keeper of secrets, and Erythnul for the chalice? Where do we start?”
Edrukk has prepared light for his friends that don't have his dwarven vision. Once they have completed the descent, he realizes the difficulty they might be having. He had expected that those occupying this place would have lights in place. He whispers, "Do ye have something I can put a light on? Or would you prefer I carry it meself?"
Edrukk studies the elevator and looks at his allies. "Oughta work. Thing is how many can ride it at once."
"Ah think the way t' go is t' 'ave Broc 'n meself work th' winch and one o' th' ladies take th' third wheel. Th' other two keep 'r eyes and bows ready." Translation: "I think the way to go is to have Broccan and myself work the winch and one of the ladies take the third position. The other two of us keep watch as we descend, preferably someone with bows."
"Aye, yer n' goin' 'lone, lass. Too long fer us t' get t' ye - if'n we can even bring th' platform up without ye. We go t'gether. Jus' wishin' 'twas a quieter way t' do 't." Edrukk's flinty eyes indicate that he will brook no dissent on this. Translation:
"Yea, you aren't going alone, lady. It would take too long for us to get to you - if we can even bring the elevator back up without you. We go together. I'm just wishing we could do it more quietly."
"Gimme a nice firm tunnel any day, but this, lemme look at it."
Edrukk looks around the chamber for any signs of other people or their equipment before stepping closer to the suspended platform and looking down the shaft cautiously.
Edrukk looks at the contraption with a critical eye. ”Doubt it’s a quiet affair, aye, Broccan?”
Edrukk spits, "Ah know the language o' those lil rats. It'll work fine if'n ye need t' use it."
Edrukk shakes his shaggy head, "Nah, goblin works. Ah know th' lingo of those wee folk. Don's ask me t' explain 'alfling-talk, though. Can't do it."
Edrukk spits, "Ah know the language o' those lil rats. It'll work fine if'n ye need t' use it."
Edrukk grins, teeth showing through the thick beard, "Fine, fine, that's good t' know." He looks around, "So, we have our team, we have our destination. What's our plan?"
”Lass, ‘tis yer decision t’ be makin’, but I’d rather know we’ve yer bow t’ reach out and touch the ones outta my reach. I’d be having ye stay, but ye have t’ live yer own life.”
Edrukk mutters, "A good fight'll be fair more interestin' than all this talkin'."
Edrukk nods in response to Broccan. He stares at the goblin for a moment before nodding firmly, ”Aye, be seein’ ye soon.” He offers a hand before turning to leave.
Edrukk offers a broad hand to the porter. "We'll not be fer forgettin' who's 'elped us. If'n we can be gettin' yer leader outta trouble, we'll be doin' it. No' jus' th' two of 's, 'r 'ole group. Don' take stuff like this lightly." Translation:
"We won't forget who's helped us. If we can rescue your leader, we'll do it. Not just the two of us, but our whole group, we don't take stuff like this lightly."
Edrukk nods, sighs, and tries again. "Th' boy 's no silver-tongue 'n neither'm I. Someone 'n town be makin' 't 'ard fer wee folk like yerself 'r 's t' keep food 'n 'r tables. 'n be doin' 't sneaky-like. Ye know what be goin' 'n 'n we 'oped ye could let 's 'n wit' th' secret."
Translation: "The boy is no silver-tongue and neither am I. Someone in town is making it hard for small folk like yourself or us to keep food on our tables. And they are doing it sneakily. You know what is going on and we hoped you could let us in on the secret.
”Th’ lad’s got ‘is way o’ speaking’, Mother. Let ‘im get ‘is feet unner ’im, if’n ye don’ mind.”
"Heh, start a rumor we need 'em t' 'elp 'aul loot from one o' th' empty cairns. That oughta put a bee in yer girlfriend's bonnet." He snorts.
Edrukk looks at his mug, looks at his friend, takes a deep breath, and throws down the entire contents followed by a loud "Ah!" "Le's be off, then. 'r we gonna act like we're seein' fer a job 'r jus' chattin' nice-like?"
"Seems like a lotta work fer that lot. But if'n ye can get'em t' speak, even a dumb one might know a thing 'r two." He glances at the ladies in their group, "Don' think they be talkin' t' Brocc'n 'r me, but mebbe someone wit' a softer tone 'd do better."
"Means some o' th' folk we see 'n th' street - folk we know fer years - could be part o' th' 'ole mess. 'n they be 'avin' time t' dig 'n like a tick, wherever they be 'idin'. But if'n they be under th' ground, they be eatin' mushrooms 'r they be why the miner's food 's scarce. Thinkin' yer new friend told ye somethin' valuable, lassie." Translation from Edrukkian:
"It means some of the folks we see on the street - people we've known for years - could be part of the whole mess. And they have had time to dig in like a tick, where they are hiding. But if they are underground, they are eating mushrooms or they are why the miners' food is scarce. I'm thinking your new friend, told you something valuable, Kata."
Edrukk looks brightly at Kata, then her conversation partner. He realizes that Broccan has changed course and perhaps why, so he nods, says "Ladies. May ye 'ave a fine day. Th' ale calls." Turning deftly, he heads to the bar, wagging a finger to get the server's attention.
"Don' know why we wanna talk t' them. Leave 'em be, Ah'm thinkin."
"Didna think 'bout 't. D'we care who they 'r?"
"Seems good t' me."
Edrukk simply nods and presents his mug to the keep.
"She's right!" He taps the gold coin, "'ere's 'r fortune, right 'ere! Ha!"
Edrukk enters the bar and lets his eyes adjust. He yells, "Lad, ye cheated me! Ah came 'ere fer four beers 'n ye let me leave after only two!" He laughs as he approaches the bar and takes a seat. "Didja leave any fer me 'r didja drink mine already?" He signals the barkeep and asks quietly, "Ye don't seem t' 'ave any wounds in ye. Did she leave ye 'lone, then?"
Relatively certain that any excitement would come quickly, Edrukk draws back from the door when he doesn't hear any commotion. He's almost waited as long as his patience can stand when the elven woman comes out looking none too pleased. He watches her go on her way, not hiding his interest. If she doesn't come accost him, he will head back into the bar.
Edrukk nods, downs the remains of his mug, and slams the vessel onto the bar. ”Be seein’ ye, lad.” Raising a hand to acknowledge the others in the bar, he heads for the door, taking up a position nearby to listen for any commotion within.
The dwarf grins and points a stubby finger at the miner, making a funny observation between friends, he says in a low voice, "'r a third thin'. Ye keep talkin' 'ere while Ah 'ead out 'n we see if'n she chooses one 'r th' other. Ah'll wait outside fer ye - mebbe go fi'teen minutes 'n follow me. 'f she follows me, follow 'er. If'n she causes trouble, give a 'oller - she's good wit' those blades. Don' mess wit' 'er." Translation: "Or a third option. You stay here talking to folks while I leave. We'll see if she chooses to talk to one or the other of us. I'll wait outside for you where I can hear inside - give it fifteen minutes or so and follow me if she doesn't come up to you. If she follows me, come on out. If she comes to talk to you and causes trouble, give a shout, don't pick a fight, she's good with those knives of hers."
Edrukk whispers back, "Aye, but first, we 'ave a watcher. Lassie 't th' knife-board seems t' be keepin' 'er eye 'n ye." He nods solemnly in that way that drunks do when they've imparted the most important thought they've had all day to the unfortunate listener before leaning back and taking another swallow from his mug. Translation: "I agree, but before we go anywhere, we have someone watching us. The elven woman throwing knives at the target appears to be watching one or both of us closely."
Edrukk shakes his head, "Ye cannae dig n' tunnel 'r mine n' ore wit' no folk t' swing th' pick. What're they think 's gonna 'appen if'n they starve th' lot o' ye t' death. Who's gonna work their cursed mine when 't gets out they be killin' th' workers? Fools, th' lot o' them." Translation: You can't dig a tunnel or mine any ore with no workers to do the digging. What to they think will happen if they starve the miners? Who's going to work their mine with it gets out that they're killing the help? Fools, every one of them.
Edrukk considers his personal arsenal and opts to keep a throwing axe on his hip. Hopefully all they will need is a bit of deterrent and he’ll not regret leaving his greatsword behind.
”Aye, ‘s fine. Takin’ a pocket blade?”
"Aye, le's leave 'r stuff somewhere else, go 'n like we jus' need a drink. Not like we be comin' from a delve, y'know."
Edrukk catches Allustan's and suspects the thought behind the glance. With a knowing wink, the dwarf happily munches on the treat. "'s very good, thank ye." |