Dyrm has been writing between each adventure, sending letters to his beloved Ularrka, The correspondence is a mix of informative, and sometimes humbling, for some of his exploits with his new comrades have been most odd indeed. He gives each ally his or her due, for that is honorable and he has grown to respect their courage and ingenuity. And, of course, it is here, in writing, where he dares to let his prose run a bit purple with praise for his trueheart.
The gifts they get on the morning of the 18th surprise and touch him. He has helped his trueheart's clan, and won recognition for it. This makes getting their blessing that much more likely.
Elbert buys him a drink, and Dyrm is happy to accept...
but then there is that speech.
Dyrm listens as Elbert announces he is a fraud, he listens as Elbert reveals he is Krohon Veldollow. And the Scion of Stonefist, who hopes to wed a daughter of Clan Tollor, listens, as Krohon announces his dishonorable actions, his punishment.
And he puts the drink Elbert/Krohon gave him to the side, unfinished, and drunk from no further.
And he gazes at Krohon with a mix of distress, offense, and perhaps a small sample of pity. His eyes show a spirit at war. Yet, Krohon also claims that this is not just a chance of redemption, but restoration of the people's history?
"You have sworn by Torag's anvil, Krohon turned Elbert.My name is Dyrm Stonefist. While I do not doubt Miss Ravenheart's seeking redemption, she is not a dwarf. You are. And, perhaps I am unjust, but I expect more from our own peoples. I ..am not sure I can bring yourself to trust you fully, Krohon turned Elbert, no matter the prize of glory and restoration of lost lore you seem to be dangling before us as a prize. I find myself torn on this matter, gravely. I am but a simple son of the stone. However," He glances to Korox, then back " While I prefer Bolka and Folgritt to Dranngvit, I respect that if a holy man of that faith, such as Korox, who I have come to see is wiser than I, can allow you a chance to claw your way back to honor by deed, then I have no right to deny you."
His face is grim though, "But should this be something with sinister intrigues on your part where you use us to selfish ends, I will be most cross with you. And there will be a matter to settle between us." his tone indicates the matter might be settled by steel, should treachery be involved..
He looks to his companions, "Pardon if I can yield no more than this, I have much to lose should dishonor stain me. Indeed, I dare say everything to lose." Then he gives a nod to the elf "And I truly do hope you find the redemption you seek, Miss Ravenheart."
Finally, he says to Krohon "If you can accept me, despite my caution , then I will go with you to seek out the relic."
It is best to lay this out clear before they go further. So that Krohon does not confuse aid with approval.
Krohan first answers Dyrm's question.
"As you know, Clan Tolorr's Family Festival comes soon. It's a time to strengthen bonds and rebuild bridges, and I intend to deliver the clan dagger to my clan elders in an attempt to repair the damage that I did long ago."
He shrugs and adds "I hope they might accept me back into the clan, but even if they do not, I'll have done what is right.
He then addresses Dyrm. "I understand your distrust. My actions in the past did cause me to lose my honor. I hope to regain it and to also prove to you, and others who doubt my sincerity, that I am, indeed, sincere. I have no issues with your caution. Thank you for assisting me even with your reservations about me.
Krohan first answers Dyrm's question.
"As you know, Clan Tolorr's Family Festival comes soon. It's a time to strengthen bonds and rebuild bridges, and I intend to deliver the clan dagger to my clan elders in an attempt to repair the damage that I did long ago."
He shrugs and adds "I hope they might accept me back into the clan, but even if they do not, I'll have done what is right.
He then addresses Dyrm. "I understand your distrust. My actions in the past did cause me to lose my honor. I hope to regain it and to also prove to you, and others who doubt my sincerity, that I am, indeed, sincere. I have no issues with your caution. Thank you for assisting me even with your reservations about me.
Dyrm listens to this, then nods slowly. They understand each other, it seems.
Jaxi sat there among the others, eating her breakfast, calmly munching away on a biscuit as she watched the others talk and discuss. Between the magic items they had found and the two people who had approached them, there was a lot. She was oddly quiet through the conversation, just sitting there watching them with a biscuit in hand. It was a rather large biscuit at that, bigger than her first, and in her opinion, rather tasty. Especially when she spread a little bit of mushroom jam on the inside. Delicious.
What were they talking about again? Oh, potential job. Trying to seek redemption for past wrongs, she could relate to that, actually having another woman traveling with them. She'd give them a smile with a jam mustache. "Sounds like a good adventure to me! When do you think we leave? What do we gotta get for preparations? I just hope we don't wind up missing the festival to do this. It'd kind of defeat the point!"
Batsu listens intently to the dwarf and elf's stories, his mug also untouched (though for himself it is simply forgotten because of piqued interest in the conversation). He's mildly surprised by Korox's response, but entirely unsurprised by Dyrm's. He's lived his whole life next-door to dwarves, and he knows how implacable they can be when it comes to forgiveness, particularly for something so egregious as losing the clan dagger of an ancient ancestor.
He mulls it over for a moment, then finally shrugs. "I have no problem with you, Krohan. Your deception was minor and understandable, and you're being honest with me now, so far as I can tell. I have my own reasons for wanting in with Clan Tolorr, and I won't pretend they're not self-serving. You seek to regain honor, I seek vengeance. We all have our own tragedies that drive us. I'll help as best I can."
He offers a small clawed hand for Halanestra to shake. "Myōbatsu. Most people just call me Batsu. I also have another name, but that's for special occasions." If he's joking, it certainly doesn't show on his face, which remains stolid.
Halanestra cordially returns all of the greetings given her by the group, and smiles in particular at the gnome--did she introduce herself and I forgot her name, as usual, or... no, she didn't. Right?
"Ah, so many questions! You've got a mind for planning. I appreciate that! Something we learn in the Society--those agents who survive their first dozen missions, anyway--is to plan, plan, plan. Information is more valuable than gold, no matter what an Abadaran will tell you." Here, her eyes light up and she smirks a bit, perhaps remembering a previous adventure. Then, the jocularity fades as quickly as it appeared, and she takes on a serious, matter-of-fact affect. It's time to work, jokes can come later.
"As with every job like this, we leave when we're ready. I'm ready now, of course; Krohan hired me specially for this job so I'd not be here if I wasn't ready. We're going into the Darklands, so likely some of you will need light to see with. That's the most important thing, light, if you need it. Groping in the dark is the best way for something unsavory to make a meal out of your hands. Once you can see where you're going, the next step is to know where you're going. Krohan's got some ideas there, but of course no plan ever survives unscathed, especially one going into the Darklands. I'd suggest wrapping up anything up here afore we head out, for we may be there longer than expected. Oh, and food, of course, can't go without that." Here, she finishes her breakfast--eggs, ham, and some coffee, though she does grimace a bit at the coffee. Yeeeeep, that's dwarven coffee, unmistakable for somehow tasting as smoky as a forge. As she breaks her fast, she gauges everyone's responses to her words.
"I'd like to leave tomorrow. But, if you need more time, then you do. But we do need to leave soon. Here is the first half of your payment. I'm not about to ask you to venture into danger on my behalf for free."
He tosses a bag of coins on the table. Inside are 25 gold worth of various currencies.
"Make whatever preparations you need and then we will head out. It should be no more than five days each way."
Krohan’s extraordinary revelation and the tale of the lost clan dagger sends Zothan’s sense of adventure into overdrive. Tail and whiskers twitching, his mind swiftly wanders to his own exploits in the Darklands, and he is thrilled at the prospect of another visit. So absorbed, he barely registers the dwarves’ talk of honor and Halanestra’s introduction.
The clink of coin on the table rouses him, though…
”Ah, what a glorious prospect! So much to do, and so little time. Let’s get started at once! I’m Zothan, by the way. Noted explorer and collector of knowledge in my own right. Delighted to meet you both!”
In his own spare time, Dyrm will seek out Ularrka, and speak to her directly as he may. And see what she would wish to do with the hours of the day before he must take this new motion.
Rummaging through her packs, Halanestra realizes she doesn't have some essential items for adventuring into the Darklands--most notably, a compass. Beyond this, she spends the day trying to get some advice from the locals--anyone who's been to the Darklands and come back to tell of it. Should she find things like maps for sale, she'll consider purchasing them. She confers with Krohan throughout the day, and even if he has a compass or other navigation gear, she insists on having duplicates in case the (un)expected happens.
A compass is pretty easy to find. It will cost 1 gold. Maps of common trade routes would also be easy to find. A folio would cost 10 gold. It would not be useful for this expedition, as you will not be on common routes, but it might be in later expeditions.
Jaxi would take her cut of the coin and head off to buy enough rations to last herself for the trip. It was a fairly simple task as far as she could tell, so it wouldn't be a problem. Mostly she was using it as an excuse to head up top and talk to her new friend, Mharsilekinass the Cloud Dragon!
Mostly she wanted to explain she'd be out of the city for probably around two weeks, and so she wasn't going to be around for when they were supposed to meet to tell new jokes to each other. Though she'd take the opportunity to share what new jokes she had thought up with him and try her best to have some fun. Before it became all work.
Zothan tags along with Jaxi, both to schmooze the merchants and get a better deal on their purchases and to meet the dragon.
Batsu spends the morning gathering supplies, then finds a shady corner of the tavern's common room to brood in.
Though he really loves his hand crossbow, Koros has a great curiosity about firearms. He like the way the sound, so he'll go to the Round Market to do some window shopping for future purchases. He'll then go do some shopping before returning to his lodging for the evening.
I'm eager to get back underground.
Dyrm has a wonderful time with his lady, but does shop for a certain rune for his weapon.
19 Rova
The first day of the intendedly short expedition is uneventful. You are traveling on a major Darklands route, close to a well-patrolled major city. You pass many other travelers and stay the night at a caravanserai.
20 Rova
The second day has you head off into a side passage that Krohan took many years before. He shows you the place where he fell, and the crevice that he dropped High King Taargick's clan dagger into when that happened. "There was a ledge there a decade ago. As you can see, it's gone. The dagger is elsewhere now. But, we'll find it.
The rest of the day is a slow trek downward. Krohan and Halenestra guide around some hazards that they encountered when they first came this way over the last couple of weeks, while the rest of you were earning reputation and helping people.
21 Rova
By the early afternoon of the 21st, you have come to a ledge overlooking a cavern. The cavern's roof is 40 to 50 feet above the level of the floor. The ledge you are on is 25 feet up, and a narrow, slick-looking pathway leads to the floor of the cavern.
On the far side of the fungus-filled cavern, you can see two things. The first is a passageway.
The second is a two-story mushroom with windows on the upper parts of it. It is very likely a residence for someone or something.
"This is where we turned back. I didn't want to risk a fight with whoever lives there with just her and I. We need to get to that passage." Krohan tells you.
On the first day, Halanestra spends some of her evening chatting with members of the caravanserai, talking shop with other scouts. She's eager to hear about anything unusual that would impact their plans for the rest of the expedition, and besides that just has a hard time putting her work down for the day.
The third day she'll offer to take the lead through the single-file pathway. This is what Krohan hired her for, after all. Before setting out, she stops, raises her arm behind her to signal folks to stop, and quietly addresses the group. "Probably best to leave whatever's in that tall mushroom alone. If you do what I do, we should have no trouble getting past without them noticing. As you can imagine, being a Pathfinder often requires some discretion, so I've some experience helping people be quiet."
Batsu eyes the path down to the passageway dubiously. "Hm. Maybe. I can avoid being seen by the average eyes, I need no help there. But we have folks in some very heavy armor. If we get caught skulking through here, we're likely to rouse suspicion from the denizens of the mushroom, and talking our way out of it could be more difficult." He shrugs. "Then again, the Darklands aren't exactly known for fostering friendly neighbors. It could be the residents would stab first and ask questions later even if we knocked on their door and said hello. If everybody wants to try to sneak past, I'm fine with it."
Zothan is in a great mood during the first couple of days of the expedition, obviously thrilled to be adventureing in the Darklands again.
At the mushroom dwelling, he also favors skulking by without announcing their presence.
"If we get challenged, we can always attempt diplomacy, but we won't get into a fight if noone knows we are here." he muses.
At the mention of his armor, Dyrm does look concerned, "I am not geared or adept at moving quietly. I will follow your lead in this, as seen best. Should I take up the rear? That way if at the last minute, I do endanger us all, the rest of you should at least be clear?" He frowns, clearly not happy with the idea others should take the danger first, but trying to be pragmatic
19 Rova
Jaxi was expecting more... interesting stuff to happen right out of the gate. Literally, out the gate, in an adventure! She was a little disappointed to see that things were pretty calm. There were plenty of travelers to talk to at least to help deal with the monotony.
20 Rova
Jaxi peered over the edge down into the ravine, letting out a low whistle at seeing how deep it was. "No wonder you couldn't get it back after dropping it down there. Frankly, you should be glad you didn't fall as well."
The trip was at least a little more interesting than the first day besides that, with how many hazards there were. She could let out little 'oohs' and 'aahs' at seeing what probably was standard stuff for explorers like Krohan and Halanestra. Just goes to show how little she got out of the city.
21 Rova
As everyone talked about sneaking, and fighting, and everything like that. Jaxi just stared at them all with a fair bit of confusion and a little concern. Finally just voiced her own thoughts on the matter.
"That's house. With a front door. And windows. There are no skulls, warning signs, or anything to say "Hey, stay away!" I don't think anyone who lives in a cute mushroom house is gotta be that bad. And we're only three days away from the city." At least in her mind, that meant they couldn't be that close to the super dangerous stuff yet.
"Why don't we just... knock on the door and say hi? It might be a kindly deep gnome grandma who'll bake us mushroom pies for all we know."
Batsu stares blankly at Jaxi for a long time before answering. "Sure. It could also be derro slavers. Or a gug who's just really into fungal architecture. Just because something seems pleasant on the outside doesn't mean it actually is. That goes doubly for the Darklands. 'Cute' doesn't really survive down here unless the cute thing also has venom sacs. Just saying." He raises his hands in a 'who knows' gesture. "But if you wanna test your theory, I'm not stopping you. I'll back you up if Grandma gets stabby."
"I'm all for meeting new people, but Batsu has a point. The Darkland does not breed friendly neighbours. Besides, we'll never find the missing dagger if we go knocking on every door along the way. How about we push on, and if we are succesful, we can consider stopping in on our way back to Highhelm?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As you discuss your plans, you do see, off in the distance, two small things flying around the cavern, but at this point, they are too far away to make out any details, and they do not seem to have noticed you.
Dyrm ponders, "It is a risk, but on the other hand, Miss Jaxi has a point in that it IS more mannerly. Maybe Zothan's compromise on stopping by to pay respects on the way back will appease propriety?" He appears to be absolutely serious about not wanting to be rude.
Then he glances over towards the distance, "Thought I saw something in the air."
Korox is very relaxed the first couple of days of the journey. He has been here often and finds himself discussing things with Zothan who also seems to know much of this area.
"Perhaps we can find a more discreet place to descend. I can summon a sturdy ladder or staircase to get us down. Perhaps we can find a less conspicuous place to descend. Perhaps one not so obvious to whatever awaits in the shroomhome".
He describes his ability with the "Helpful Steps" spell.
"The residents of said house might be welcoming... but from my experience down here, I'd just as soon visit them on the way back".
Cave Lore (To look for a suitable spot to descend more discreetly. +2 more if perception can be used.)
Having given her perspective, Halanestra eagerly listens to everything the rest of the group has to say. She's clearly more interested in leaving the inhabitants (if any) of the mushroom home alone. And indeed, this isn't what Krohan hired her for. She can't help but be moved by Jaxi's enthusiasm, even if it's misplaced in her mind. Addressing her, "The most dangerous things in this world don't post signs saying so. We've no idea who, or what, lives there. And that wasn't what Krohan hired me for, at least. We're here to find that dagger, and I'd like to focus on that so we can get back. As Zothan mentioned, we could pay them a visit on the way back. That said," with a pause, glancing at Krohan now, "you're the boss, here. My professional opinion is we leave the shroomhome alone and keep going, but I'll defer to your judgement. I can try to make a good introduction if you'd like--you know I've got a way with first impressions, too." She then falls as silent as a stalking goblin, eyes fixed on Krohan awaiting her boss's decision.
"I think you all need to make the decisions here. I've already shown 10 years ago that I'm not cut out to be an adventurer." Krohan defers to the group.
"I would think the longer we stand here the better chance we're spotted. Let's keep them from seeing us as long as we can anyway".
Korox steps to the concealed area, draws forth his new fancy holy symbol, and beseeches Dranngvit to build him a staircase.
Dyrm nods, "of course you're right." He is rather stunned to find a staircase can just manifest but then, they don't call such things Miracles for nothing.
After the group makes it down the stairwell that Korox briefly created, it is even more clear that bats often frequent the cavern. The floor is guano-littered and many species of mushrooms grow here. This creates a risk of spores being blown into the air as you move. In fact, you are walking across the mushrooms.
After making it down the steps and ensuring that White Molly gets down safely as well, Zothan crouches among the mushrooms. His tail flicks slightly as he keeps a sharp eye on the shroomhouse.
”Lead on. Slow and steady” he says quietly to Halenestra.
Jaxi would let out a quiet sigh and just move to follow after the others. They had decided they didn't want to chat with them. So she would accept their wishes. Heading down the stairs onto the mushroom caps, she'd follow after Halanestra. Watching her step more than the elf, she'd try and go fast to avoid having to breathe in any of the spores. "Just try to stay quiet."
Batsu also heads down as discreetly as possible.
Halanestra watches quietly as Korox conjures a staircase out of nothing, then moves quietly with the group, pointing out things others can avoid to keep quiet. She almost slips on the slick floor, but rights herself and keeps going. She takes particular notice of how absolutely silent Jaxi is--I wish I was that good!--but otherwise focuses on the task of getting everyone down quietly. She takes her time going through the spores, altogether not interested in learning firsthand what's down here.
You make your way along the tops of the fungi, down the west side of the trail, hidden by the rocks, and the front of the group turns towards the east, the direction of the shroom house and the passage that you need to get to.
As you start along, two things happen.
First, Halenestra notices a human-sized purple mushroom that seems to have been planted on top of the other mushrooms.
If that was not strange enough, the two flying creatures seemed to notice Batsu! They descend towards the group and you quickly realize that the flying creatures are sheep heads!
One of the sheep heads swoops down and is flying at about head level now over the mushrooms. As it closes in, it spits in the direction of Batsu!
However, its aim is off. The spittle hits some nearby mushrooms and they sizzle and smoke.
Krohan readies his short bow and moves forward. Everyone can see Squirrel. The ridge path blocks Line of Sight to Fox from everyone on the far side of it, and vice-versa. Halenstara, Jaxi, and Zothan are hidden to the sheep heads.
Flying sheep heads?! I wonder if those are from the same headless sheep we fought back in Highhelm? Zothan thinks to himself as he studies the flying heads and draws one of his chakrams.
Let’s Hero Point that roll too.
Zothan doesn't recall anything about flying sheep heads. You do have one action left.
Stealth... Just for fun since the cover is blown. :-)
Zothan takes cover for +2 AC with his remaining action.
Dyrm wasn't sure about QUIET, but he was moving slow and steady...
As Batsul is attacked, Dyrm readies his crossbow
And then fires it at the closer sheep skull, "Forgive me all, if I may say, my encounters by your side since I met you fine folk have leaned towards the utterly bizarre." It is said stoicly, but there might be a touch of dwarven humor in the observation.
And then he fires once more. Having little recourse to facing flying foes, however macabre!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Dyrm's bolt flies past the skull.
Blinking a little at the flying sheep-heads, she mentally complained to herself that she was wrong about whoever was living in the area being friendly. Still, at least she hadn't gotten noticed yet... Wait were those the heads from the Inn? Small world.
Raising a hand from where she was hidden, she pointed two fingers towards the closest sheep skull. Giving a slight grin, she'd mutter out the needed incantation. A beam of cold energy would fly out towards the flying head.
Following that, she would mutter out another incantation, a curved plane of magical energy forming across one of her arms. She expected some kind of retaliation for her shooting the thing.