"It would be good for us to have some light," Mihail comments quietly. "This cloying darkness is unsettling. Who knows what could be lurking down here?"
'Derro...Or worse.'
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"Let us push through these miscreants," Mihail growls. He stomps over the fallen Okik and takes up a position behind Gonan.
"We cannot allow them to raise the alarm," Mihail grits his teeth as he swings at Okik again. "We will be easily overwhelmed under the horde of vermin. Best to avoid that."
"We must end this quickly," Mihail warns the others. He takes another swing at Okik to send him out for the count.
Damnation, Mihail cursed silently. He ripped his flail from his belt prepared to smash the Derro's face in.
"Where there is fire, there is smoke," Mihail began. "Smoke is often far more dangerous than fire itself. In sufficient quantities and with certain...additives, smoke can be quite the distraction."
"What are the walls of the vault made of?" Mihail inquires. "Could we tunnel into the vault if we had a big enough distraction?" He turns to his squire. "Kaid'an, how do you feel about arson?" A wide grin splits his face as he winks at Gonan. "I am sure our pyrophilic friend would be happy to lend his assistance."
Mihail gazes upon the shard, a grimace on his face. Would that my brother or sister were here. They would be far more helpful than I. As always, it seems. Mihail examines the party's surroundings in case things go sour.
"Well, let us give 'diplomacy' a try. Iluna, can you do this?"
Mihail waits for the possibility of eavesdropping to disappear before he begins speaking. "How many of these things are down here? Is the town in danger? And what do we do if it is? We are but a small party, not a Crusade force." Mihail looks around the room, making eye contact with each and every member of the party, seeking some indication of how the others feel about the situation.
Mihail makes eye contact with Andaris, and nods slowly, indicating that the risk is worth it. With a shrug, he adjusts his black cloak in order to prevent it tangling on his weapon, should he be required to draw it. "We should be cautious, but still investigate. Things here are likely more complicated than they appear."
"Is rushing into things without communicating going to become a pattern?" Mihail mutters sardonically. Mihail draws his flail, but does not advance.
"Perhaps we should move on," Mihail suggests as he gestures towards the two branching passages.
Mihail shifts away from the edge of the pit. "Foul things lurk in the depths of the world. Let us not disturb anything beyond what is necessary." He eyes the pit mistrustfully, hand on the hilt of his flail.
Mihail sucks in a breath at the near miss, concern spiking for a moment. Looking closer at the dart, he frowns. "Could this be poisoned?"
"What import is it that this is cytillesh?" Mihail asks,reseating his hat on his head.
Mihail traverses back up the tunnel to give his instructions to Lanfarnesse. "Hey there, Lanny-boy. I need you to guard this area, okay? Guard, got it?" Lanfarnesse knickers affirmatively, tossing his head. "There's my boy. I'm sure I can find a good bag of feed for you tonight." Mihail pats Lanfarnesse' neck once again, and moves back to the basement of the lighthouse. Turning to Gonan , he beckons him closer. "Do you have some way to ward the area? Or perhaps to aid Lanfarnesse in his efforts to guard the entrance?"
Mihail follows the pair of intrepid explorers at a distance, so as to give them time to scout properly. He arrives to catch the tail end of Andaris' comment, and hums quietly in thought. "What use are two tunnels that open up at the same location?" He muses softly.
"Well, this should prove illuminating. Speaking of, would someone mind shedding some light on this matter?" Mihail peeks down the tunnel, scratching his goatee.
Mihail, having already awoken by the time Andaris enters his room, grunts unhappily over his morning cup of tea. He grumbles quietly the whole way to the tower, muttering about strange dreams and over-enthusiastic peasants. Mihail glowers darkly at those who seem perkier than himself.
'Gonan, that was not what I meant at all.' Mihail rubs his face tiredly with one hand. 'Whatever, maybe I will care in the morning. Mihail heads to bed for the evening, sighing softly.
Mihail watches Andaris flit over to the other table, and sighs quietly. "Gonan, could you watch him? I fear he may get himself into trouble, sticking his nose into other beings' business so rashly." Mihail eyes the four adventurers. Raiding ruins, eh? That can be right dangerous work. Either the ruins here are tamer than the ones back home, or these men are more capable than I thought. Memories of the Ustalavian Crypts drift across his mind, and he absently rubs the scar on his hip. He shivers briefly, flashing back to a hideous flaming skeleton dressed in blood-drenched chainmail ramming a pike into his thigh. No, raiding ruins is not for the faint of heart. [i]These men must love their liquid courage.[i] He tries counting the tankards, but gives up when he reaches twenty.
"Well, that's as good a plan as any. Let us do so." Mihail nods decisively.
"I think we need an engineer. Gonan, could you devise a contraption to move this slab?" Mihail proposes. "I have a feeling that whatever is beneath here is either a secret that needs uncovering or a treasure that needs liberating. Possibly both."
Mihail follows, Gonan' and Iluna's spells lighting the way.
"The growth is only a couple of months old, at best." Mihail comments, poking the algae with a gloved finger.
"That would be best," Mihail agrees. "We've been told that this lighthouse is a bastion of evil, and are investigating it. Please, let me escort you out."
"Be on your guard. Despite its appearance, this place is occupied. I saw something moving around on the fourth floor." Mihail dismounts with a frown, and stows his lance. He draws his flail, and points to the entrance. "Guard," He orders Lanfarnesse sternly. With that done, Mihail follows the others inside.
"I suppose," Mihail shrugs. "Still, best not tarry too long. WHo knows what kind of trouble these people can find."
Mihail mounts Lanfarnesse and follows Andaris, lance at the ready. "Perhaps we should contact the local authorities before we push further," He muses. "What do you think, Kaid'an?"
"How are we going about this?" Mihail asks tersely.
Mihail watches, boredom suffusing his very being. 'Peasants,' he scoffs mentally.
"Then let us depart, goodman." Mihail's left hand brushes the pocket beneath his breastplate. 'Not yet. We are not finished our duty.'
Mihail exits quietly, having much to think on. Caught in his thoughts, Mihail heads straight to bed, his thoughts too chaotic for him to want to visit the Vaultkeeper. Unfortunately, his thoughts do not give him much rest, and he tosses and turns for much of the night. The next morning, Mihail's dilemma remains unresolved. 'To take pay for a job undone is not a precedent I want to set. The money will keep, no matter what is decided.' With little preamble, he gets to the meat of the matter. "Baron Wylder has deemed Cassomir to be Governor Bozbeyli's problem. He does not see the matter in the same light as we do. While he has not specifically ordered me not to investigate further, his stance on the matter is clear." Mihail frowns deeply. "Is pursuing this matter further a dereliction of duty?"
Mihail bows politely. "Indeed I do, Lord Baron. We slew two Nightgaunts that were harassing the villagers. Later that same night, some of my party received dreams that prompted us to believe that this threat comes from the east, at a lighthouse named 'Treacherous Jack.' We stopped here to report, but are planning to continue towards our objective," Mihail reports. "Is there anything we can assist with, Baron Wylder?"
Mihail waits patiently for an opportunity to see Baron Wylder.
"Half a day's search is all I ask," Mihail bargains. "I will not have my honour sullied so easily. I was given this task, and it must be done to the best of my abilities. A challenge given is a challenge accepted, after all." 'I will have to watch this man. For an elder he is rather...rash.'
"That's a week's journey," Mihail protests. "I would feel remiss in my duties if I did not make certain that this area had been cleared of hostiles. We must be sure that these good folk are safe." Mihail is resolute in his desire to search the surrounding area.
"This doesn't feel right. We've missed something. I think we need to explore the area. We've missed something," Mihail repeats angrily. 'I can feel it burning in my gut. That dream meant something, it had to. We need to find out what it means.'
"Always find the queen, or you will spend every day killing the ants,” Mihail mutters, a dark grimace on his face. 'There is wisdom in Father's words, just as much now as then.' Mihail muses. "We aren't done here." Mihail's dark pronouncement rings with grim responsibility.
Mihail is deep in thought. 'It has been months since I last saw The Sword. Why did I dream of it now? And that dream... It matches my memory exactly. This must mean something. It has to mean something.' He sighs quietly. 'Strange dreams of late. And so vivid! Some Greater Power is at work here.' Mihail covertly examines his companions, trying to see if they are as perturbed as he.
Mihail and Lanfarnesse charge the second nightgaunt.
Mihail edges Lanfarnesse closer to the corpse.
Mihail readies himself to charge past his foes, and then rounding on them to charge again.
"So what should we do? Do we venture forth in hopes of finding these demons, or do we fortify this position?" Mihail whispers to the others, trying to discern the mood of his party.
"Where did this girl go missing? Was it anywhere near the boy's last known location?" Mihail asks quietly, trying not to be rude. "Who was the last to see her?" Mihail shifts slightly, still getting used to the fit of his armour.
"Excellent. Tomorrow we should take the time to adequately equip ourselves for an expedition to one of the outlying villages. The Lord Baron has asked me to investigate some problems of the monstrous variety that have been harassing a hamlet. I will need to visit the armourer for much of the morning, so we have plenty of time to acquire supplies. The hamlet is one day's ride from here." Mihail looks around at the group gathered around him. He sighs, palming his face.
"It might be prudent to purchase one. A good horse can save your life."
'The f*** do I need a lion cultist for?' Mihail contemplates sluggishly. "Sir Eren might be a better choice to deliver this..thing...to. However, since you already woke me up, I suppose I shall have to get dressed." Mihail gives the group a grumpy glare. Withdrawing behind the flaps of his tent, he begins getting dressed. When he has finally equipped himself, he saddles Lanfarnesse. "Let us be off. I have no desire to be out and about too late. I have an appointment with the armourer in the morning." Mihail adjusts his signature hat, poking most of his hair under it to hide the mess.
Mihail sleeps contentedly, having had a long day.
Unfortunately, his sleep is disturbed by a large group of peasants. "What." Mihail's voice is terse, conveying his displeasure at having been woken. His eyes are bleary, his hair mussed, and he is only wearing a battered pair of breeches. 'Better have a damn good reason...'
Mihail agrees with a nod. "It would be my pleasure to assist you in this matter, my Lord Baron. I know of some good folk who could aid me in the accomplishment of this task, including this fine young gentleman. This is Gonan, he has given me some counsel on the matter of the magics employed on the field today."
Mihail nods in response, and continues his preparations for the evening. |