Sekathral waits for the right moment and then asks where the pub is
Khazmia translates faithfully,though her mind wanders. Did he never have an ear? Did one of the others bite it off in a rabid round of wrestling gone wrong?
"Ask them if they need help building things. I can help build walls. Stone walls," Kyson offers. "I can make their shanties real nice."
"What? Oh yes!" The many questions from the others bring Khaz back to her task, translating each in turn.
"Are you interested in trade?" She tries not to let her gaze roam about the various shanties, or her mind dwell on anything they might have to trade. poor creatures
"Or help building things? Our scribe has a talent for building nice stone walls for your sha-uhh, homes." Khaz breathes a sigh of relief to realize she is not the only one to notice the... condition... of their town. *whew* I thought it was just me. I didn't want to be *that person*.
The headman looks very concerned as Linah mentions the Lords of Dread.
"We have heard of these creatures, and they concern me greatly. Barbas used to be a nicer place, but now I fear for the safety of my people. For many generations, we lived in relative peace with the troglodytes of the upper caverns. But recently they have become more aggressive, warlike. We had to create defenses for ourselves, which kept them from attacking us directly, but travel in the caverns is far more dangerous than it used to be.
"Change is coming, I think. I hear whispers warning of dire events, and of creatures stirring in the deeps below. I think it is these ... Lord of Dread. In my dreams, I have seen images of men and women from the land of light who come to Barbas to deliver her from these dark times."
His expression makes it clear that he thinks ... or at the very least hopes ... that you are these people of his dreams.
"You may stay as long as you wish here, certainly, and please, be welcome to barter. We may not have much, but we survive by trade."
"I do not know," Vertram replies. "Our legends tell of a war between a city of demon fish deep below called Golismorga and the surface, which ended when the surface cast down the tear of the god of rain and drove the waters of the flooded caverns away. The spirits of the fallen ancients now guard this region, holding the waters at bay, and as long as they persist, the demon fish cannot return. I think something has come to Golismorga to find the demon fish's vile secrets."
If allowed (and maybe Khaz will join him), Kyson will walk the city, seeking ways to help the people therein and show them the potential of Sarenrae. He is not actively trying to convert anyone, but merely looking for ways to use his spells and prayers to help the people therein.
He can build walls, tend the sick, provide food.
"Hey Zstelian, how many days are we staying here?"
Khazmia is happy to walk with Kyson and look for ways to help the people of this town, though she does worry about time. "If we are to catch up with those Dreadful "Lords", perhaps we shouldn't stay too long, but come back when we are done to do more? Still, I wouldn't mind starting out fresh."
If there is a low dive, Sekathral will dive into it and 'socialise' / 'gather information', as well as attempting to scrounge alchemical/healing supplies
As you emerge from your meeting in Barbas' town hall, you find yourself swarmed by children -- so disfigured that in other circumstances you might mistake them for monsters -- and adults, who maintain slightly more distance though clearly have no less interest than the youth.
The children prod and poke you, reaching for your equipment and, not infrequently, your very flesh, pinching and pulling in fascination.
You are able to eventually explore, finding a place called only Store where the proprietor Shifred Ogsmoth welcomes you excitedly and urges you to look around. The story has a wide variety of goods and knick-knacks, from swords and alchemical gear to fodder and jewelry. He offers to barter for anything you find interesting.
Further exploration also reveals a public hall apparently known as Ganfer's Wallow; a shrine featuring an ancient stone statue of a skeletal figure wrapped in a large python in the center of the settlement; a communal nursery; a communal forge, smoke from which sweeps up and out of a cavern through a narrow natural chimney; and a small stream that drifts to the west.
If allowed (and maybe Khaz will join him), Kyson will walk the city, seeking ways to help the people therein and show them the potential of Sarenrae. He is not actively trying to convert anyone, but merely looking for ways to use his spells and prayers to help the people therein.
He can build walls, tend the sick, provide food.
The people seem generally happy, despite their sad-to-you lot in life. They are certainly grateful if you work to improve their homes or walls, though.
Khazmia is happy to help Kyson help the people, going so far as to cast tongues on Kyson so he can speak directly to the people for better communication.
"Have you heard of these Lords of Dread outside of your communication with the troglodyte tribe? When you say that you believe that somebody is trying to uncover secrets these devil fish, what makes you think that?"
Linah displays the patience of an angel letting the children poke and prod to their hearts content. She tries her best to communicate, but since they lack a common language most just boils down to smiles and friendly gestures.
"I do not know. It is just a ... feeling, I guess. There is nothing good down there, I think, so if there is something down there, it must be up to no good. I have not heard much of the Lords of Dread from anyone else, but we have few visitors here"
Linah, you believe it represents Mictlantecuhtli, the Olman god of Death, though you soon discover the villagers worship it as the "Snake Father." You also realize the rituals surrounding his worship here are entirely the residents' invention and in some cases go directly against Olman canon.
Kyson's efforts to introduce them to Sarenrae seem to bear little fruit -- some 1,600 feet below the surface of the earth, they seem to have little reference for a goddess of the sun, which might as well be mythological itself.
Zstelian, you think the people have simply changed over years of interbreeding in the darkness into some new race all their own. You think there's little to be treated. They seem to be in relatively good health despite the frequent deformities.
As you broach the subject, Zstelian, it turns out the village apparently already is planning to move. Though most aren't willing to say anything more, Vertram will explain that his visions have warned him that the doom that comes to barbas cannot be diverted, and he intends to lead his people up to higher caves.
"Barbas' time has come and gone," he says sadly.
Kyson will try to sketch out the route up higher, so that the village might move with some certainty. He will offer to sketch a map or even meet with the village when they discover "Goddess" aka, the Sun.
Despite his lack of overt success, he will still plant the seeds of what they might see when they reach the surface...and how the Sun might be worshipped. He even offers to find them in time to show them some of Sarenrae's gifts for the pentitant.
Other than that, Kyson won't be buying too much, save for a pair of antivemon's, but will pass the two days healing and resting. After the first day of rest, he will Message (via the Sending spell) the ship with a short update of where they are and what they are doing, asking them to wait for longer.
"If it would help," Vertram suggests, "I can take you to see one of the demon fish..."
"What do you mean, demon fish?"
Sekathral looks uncharacteristically worried.
"If it would help," Vertram suggests, "I can take you to see one of the demon fish..."
"Nothing good is named a 'demon' anything," Khaz observes, though she listens to hear more.
"I ... don't know," Vertram replies. "I just thought you might like to see one."
"I ... don't know," Vertram replies. "I just thought you might like to see one."
Kyson looks side to side at the party, then at Vertram.
"I think I would like to see it. Do...do...uh...is it a danger? Should we prepare for danger?"
"I ... don't know," Vertram replies. "I just thought you might like to see one."
"Well", answers Sekathral, "Might as well. If the ****er eats me, though, I'm holding you responsible"
”It’s hard to prepare for a fight when we know nothing about these Lords of Dread. Linah, I suggest you prepare a prayer for our weapons in case they’re some kind of demon.”
"I shall, but I am afraid that what part of the Dawnflower I can channel into the weapons will not hold for an extended period of time."
"If it would help," Vertram suggests, "I can take you to see one of the demon fish..."
"I am not sure that I understand. Is this a specific devil fish? Is it alive? Will it act hostile towards us?"
"No, no. Is safe. Is stone now, no danger."
Once the group is ready, Vertram and several mongrelfolk guards lead you out of the underground village. Children trail you as you leave, calling out farewells, while you can see some adults packing and preparing to depart. Vertram leads you safely through the maze and back up the tunnel, where you reunite with the nervous Irgzid.
After a couple miles, descending once again deeper below ground, you arrive at a large cavern, a shimmering blue wall extending all the way to the 60-foot-high ceiling on the far side. As in the earlier cavern, ghostly Olman warriors shimmer and flicker on its surface. Just beyond it, the occasional bubble or flash of scales reveals the presence of thousands of gallons of water, their awesome weight apparently held at bay by the shell of energy.
On the floor in the center of the save is a strange-looking ound of stone shaped like an enormous petrified fish.
"See," Vertram proclaims with satisfaction. "Is devil fish! You should study it, open and learn before going to Golismorga!"
Linah makes pleasant conversation during the trek asking Vertram about different aspects of the caves as they trod along. When the group comes to the barrier she stops and looks on in amazement . "How long has this been here?"
"Kyson, can you tell what that is?", Linah asks the cleric, asking both about the devil fish and the barrier.
"How long has this been down here?" he asks while scanning the area for magic auras.
"How long has this been here?"
Kyson steps forward gingerly, looking and definitely staying behind Linah.
"Lemme get a good look."
Sekathral steps up to it and places one enormous ear to the stone devil-fish, just to see if he can hear anything.
"My people found it long ago, before our time," Vertram replies.
The area radiates overwhelming abjuration magic.
Seka, you hear a sloshing, rhythmic thud from inside the thing.
"That is a...demon...fish alright." Khaz say. Awe colors her tones and she reaches a hand towards it.
Kyson looks at it, trying to figure out what it might be.
"I don't know. Nothing that I have seen under the sun, for sure. Something of a downhere monster, that's what that is."
Linah stands almost mesmerized looking at the barrier holding the water at bay. Never a scholar, much to her own chagrin, she has no idea of the nature of either the devil fish or the mystical barrier and she can't help to feel a little bit helpless because if it. Most of her life she had been trained and taught to be a protector but not knowing what she is up against chafe her confidence.
"What do you think is holding that barrier? I can not help to fear what would happen should that power source be depleted", she says.
"What do you think is holding that barrier? I can not help to fear what would happen should that power source be depleted", she says.
Khaz eyes widen, "yes, I don't know if swimming would be enough to save us if that barrier fell. Where did it come from? Is there any way to bolster it" She can't help recall the time she almost drowned. She suspects there would be no "almost" about it should that bubble break.
Seka, it takes you a few moments, but you soon realize that whatever the thing is, it's still alive.
Kyson remembers, his thoughts turning to powers higher than his own...those of demigods and gods, the miracles that defy explanation.
"This...this is amazing. Their legend was true. Their legend...is truth. And how they prepare to flee what should be a holy spot to them. Why would they flee the site of miracles that protected them?"
Kyson does not to see more, but still wonders why the people would abandon the glories of those that protect them.