Shrek pulls his finger out of his nose, making a popping noise as it comes out, having dredged up a large diameter spheroid ball of disgusting goo.  Flinging it at the lifeless body of Hellenrae, he begins whistling a happy little diddy while turning on his heals and returning to where the prisoners were holed up (beckoning the rest of the group to follow, as he leads the way back).

“Bruldenthar, use that key and go to get the rest of the prisoners.”  He nods to Melchor, saying “If you think it will help…”  He lifts up his battle axe and with finality chops the head off of Hellenrae.  “Maybe this will let them know we mean business, that they should not mess with us.”  He looks through the journal Hellenrae was keeping, reading quickly to gain any further clues.  

(Lots for me to write here, will get it done tonight)

Randall looks down at the dead monk, sighs, and begins untying and bundling back his rope.

You flip through the book which appears to be a diary although the script is crude and uneven.

"This is the diary of Hellenrae, warden of the Sacred Stone Monestary, lieutenant of the grea tMarlos Urnrayle, Prophet of the Crushing Earth. It's purpose is to inform any who take my place should I fall in the honor of the Earth."

There is a lot of miscellany and rambling but a couple of pages stand out.

"The Lich has refused our offer again, this time with a warning to not bother him in his studies again under threat of death. I must speak with Marlos to see how he wants to proceed; this may be too great a foe for even him."

"The fool air believers interrupted our abduction of the Mirabar delegation. They were fought off but the did steal some would be slaves. We can replace what was lost due to the ogres temper now. Jurth has been warned to control the thing. I have sent 2 below"

"Marlos Urnrayle. A great man with a great vision. The Day of Reckoning is getting closer. Soon he shall release the God upon us, and the world will be reshaped to its will. He has trusted me and so I have removed my vision so I may stand proud in his presence."

"The Howling Hatred followers continue to be a thorn but should not be a real threat. I am unsure of the intentions or progress of the other two."

"There are reports of a meddling adventurers in Red Larch. I have informed Marlos and reinforcements are ready."

Shrek:

At the end of this tunnel, three cell-like rooms have been excavated from the rock. Iron bars wall off each one, with a chain and padlock securing a swinging gate. Inside, a number of prisoners huddle on miserable straw pallets.

You and Bruldenthar unlock the cells, and free the prisoners. There are 17 in total.

Ankita heads down to see who all Shrek and Bruldenthar had unlocked.  When she sees the amount of them, she stops in her tracks.  "So many prisoners...." then she looks directly at Shrek, "Is the entire delegation here?  We aren't missing any others are we?"

Bruldenthar shakes his head. "There were others. Some got taken away somewhere. Some were lost to the strange people on giant birds."

You witness, comically, Shrek attempting to count the prisoners, but starting and failing over and over again. He can’t seem to count more than three before getting lost in his numbers, running out of fingers and dirty toes to assist in his counting. Frustrated, he throws his hands in the air in disgust, and announces “Every people’s, me Shrek and me here to rescue. Please follow and me make sure you safe in gettin’ out of this dread place.”

When it appears that he’s gotten their attention, he’ll lead the prisoners out of the jail area and back to where the rest of the group is waiting. 

Olaerys reads the journal aloud to everyone, going over the interesting parts.  “This freak show removed her vision herself, for her Earth God.  And we were I guess the “meddlesome adventurers” from Red Larch.  Hah!  And she thinks she would have gotten away with it too…. It seems like we need to speak to those “air believers” that we met next, the rest of the delegation is trapped there it seems.”  He closes the book at puts it in his pack.  “Should we search the rest of this level for any other stragglers and then head out?  Where are Hellenrae’s quarters?”

Shrek understood about half of the words in Hellenrae's journal, but enough such that he announces to the group "We bring new friends home and then go find others at birdie peoples fort?"

Continuing, but moreso to the delegation this time, "New friends need weapons to help defend selves from bad people as we get outta here?"

He'll then offer up a javelin to anyone who wishes to take one to defend themselves.

Randall will pull Melchor aside for a moment.  "You're without a doubt the most clever of our bunch.  It sounds like there is some enmity between these 'Air' people and the 'Earth' people.  Since we've killed most of the folk here that have actually seen us, do you think there is some way we can frame our little expedition here on the 'Air' people?  Maybe get them openly fighting with one another?  Would that be a good thing, or just make matters worse?  And how would we go about that ruse if we wanted to?  Paint 'Air was here!' on the walls?"

Melchor grins evilly at Randall’s suggestion ‘An excellent idea Randall, an excellent idea. We can smear the walls with the sigil of the flying knights, painted in Hellenrae’s blood.’ 

Wasting no time he dips his fingers in the blood and marks the symbol prominently…

‘I’m interested in the reference to the lich, too - it seems as though there are treasures down here worth pursuing, if only to prevent these cultists from acquiring them…’

(OOC: Symbol shown in post #703 I believe?)

Olaerys smiles a strange grim smile, he slips back into the persona for a minute of a City Guard veteran who has seen some shit go down, he grabs a stone off the floor and scratches on the wall, “Air power!” and then draws an image of a flying pair of buttocks expelling bad air, blowing over an earth cultist figure.  “This’ll get ‘em.”  Then he draws the earth symbol and puts “Sucks” after it.  

Ankita watches as Randall and Melchor come up with the idea on marking the area with the symbols.  As Melchor creates the symbols on the doors, she understands what he is doing.

As Olaerys adds to the symbol creation, she starts cocking her head as she sees the artwork he has created.  "I don't understand your symbolism Olaerys, must be something beyond my understanding.  The Air Power is good though!" She tries to do her best to encourage him even through her confusion.

Shrek can't read, so he just sits there, dumbfounded at what is going on.

He's a gentle giant, so he's somewhat aghast at the blood being used to write the cryptic symbols and letters on the wall, but in his mind, whatever it takes to get out of here and back to his 'regular' life quicker, he's on board with it.

Absentmindedly, he begins to daydream of the shiny heroes medal he's going to get when he returns back to town with the delegation.  Plus, piles and piles of gold and gems, no doubt.  A slight smiles cracks open on his flaccid face as he stares off into the oblivion, waiting for his teammates to ready the room.

The prisoners seem relieved, but a little startled by Shrek; happy to be free, unsure about their rescuer. Most seem apprehensive about taking a weapon. One recognizes him however: "I know you! You deliver parcels! I've seen you in Westbridge before. This guy is really nice everyone, don't be scared"

Shrek and the prisoners come back to the room just as Olaerys is painting with Hellenrae's blood. 2 immediately throw up. 

Assuming you go back upstairs; you enter into an broad hallway. To the left is a door to what seems like an open air courtyard. Ahead of you is a closed door, and another hall leading to an imposing looking oak door. To your right is an open door to a dojo it seems, and a hallway to another door.

are you going to try and leave or explore the other areas?

Quote from Twombley >>

Olaerys reads the journal aloud to everyone, going over the interesting parts.  “This freak show removed her vision herself, for her Earth God.  And we were I guess the “meddlesome adventurers” from Red Larch.  Hah!  And she thinks she would have gotten away with it too…. It seems like we need to speak to those “air believers” that we met next, the rest of the delegation is trapped there it seems.”  He closes the book at puts it in his pack.  “Should we search the rest of this level for any other stragglers and then head out?  Where are Hellenrae’s quarters?”

Bruldenthar grabs the journal from Olaerys and begins to read:

"I have met a prophet, one who shares my love of thd earth. Marlos Urnrayle. He is powerful. He was drawn here by visions, to what he calkd the Fane of the Eye, deep in an old dwarven stronghold beneath this very monestary. There he found Ironfang, the Holy Implement of Earth Power, He believes it will lead him to the Evergrowing Mountain, a God from the elemental planes."

He looks startled. "I have heard rumours of Tyar Besil, abandoned centuries ago beneath the Sumber Hills but I had not thought they were true. This is a powerful place if what is said is true."