The three liberated captives, a half-orc man, and a glassy-eyed male and female elf climb stiffly out of the carts. The two elves cling to each other comfortingly, and the half-orc who'd spoken up before says, "Th-thank you for s-saving us." The three of them shiver, though whether from shock or the sheen of cooled sweat is hard to say. "W-we owe you our lives, and I swear it to be a d-debt I'll repay."
"wait..." Vilus interrupts before the captives can even think of going off anywhere, he looks to Malachi specifically before saying, "is there anyone who can check these guys over? They might have had rasmus magic put in their heads without their knowledge... So we still have that multicoloured indicator thing??"
"I am thinking Samir has it?" Joren tries to remember through his exhaustion. "Blue for Ashley and Marion and other magicians, Red for me, and was it yellow for the cultists near the first Opportunity Knocking Inn that we were holding it near? Is that right? Yellow for Razmus?"
He turns to the captives again. "I should have been introducing myself. I am Joren Kryn of the Dalmodh Plains." Joren proceeds to introduce his other companions unless one of them shakes there head in a way that indicates they do not wish their name publicly shared (e.g. Silas for Vilus).
"The best way you can be helping us is with knowledge. Perhaps some clue on how we can be defeating these cultists of Razmus, this dark god, or 'Apogee.' But as my magic-fluid-spilling friend is saying, we are needing to ensure they have not left some vile invisible hook in all of you."
"Oh, uh, yes. I suppose that is something that those people would do, isn't it." Samir begins digging in his satchel-bag, eventually coming up with the item in question. With an almost apologetic look to the captives, he moves nearer to them and brings the color changing necklace near to each one in turn.
Ashley does her best to patiently wait as the hostages were checked over. She appreciates their sentiment, she really does. But at the moment? All she wants is to go back to their shop and sleep for a week. Everything from the day and now the almost unchecked heat of her was almost too much to bear and this was just slowing them down.
The glassy surface of the small device shines its normal reds and blues, lighting up for the three ex-captives as well, though all of the hues are a bit dimmer than usual. There are no streaks of yellow, however.
"G-gorm," says the half-orc, still a bit shaken, and looking nervously at the device. He gestures at the other two and then shrugs helplessly. Apparently they had not gotten a chance to exchange names. "I think you've s-stopped the worst of it for now. I didn't hear much of their p-plan until we were d-down... there. But they were trying to destroy that stone to bring about... some kind of explosion."
"A volcano," says the female elf, speaking up at last. "They called it a volcano, and expected it to destroy Cambria. When the land settled once more, they were to land their fleet within the crater and strike out at the surrounding lands."
Malachi looks on as Samir brings out the medallion and passes it over the freed captives. He steps forward and takes a closer look filled with apprehension as Samir holds it close to him as well. The last time it had a streak of yellow, but that was before Samir’s work on his mark. Was the link truly broken?
He listened to Gorm’s story with growing unease. “A volcano that would destroy all of Cambria? From the stone?” He looked over at Ashley “Try not to do that, please. Can you control the stone’s power? Do you feel any different?”
Joren listens, yet his worry remains, though the half-orc captive Gorm thinks that the worst is over with the volcano the elven woman mentions averted.
"Needing sleep, yes. And being good that none of us are showing signs of yellow in Samir's medallion. Yet now that Ashley is one with the Heart of Fire, the cultists must be thinking of how to capture the stone, or Ashley or both. Being the obvious play once they are finding out."
He lets out a breath, sounding incredibly weary for the first time. "Going home to rest yes, but we cannot be letting down our guard."
(Once the checks with the medallion are done, he continues heading towards the surface, with his echo in the lead).
"There we are, nary a yellow streak to be found." Samir gives Malachi a tired smile as he moves near the other man with the amulet. "None at all to be seen." With that task accomplished, he slips away the amulet once more, tucking the satchel close to his side once more. His attention is caught by the half-orc's words, a stirring of a class on geothermal activity and other matters pertaining to rock and stone: Matters Most Earthy and Deep.
"A volcano? Here? That is less than wonderful news. Although... those statues, I believe they were made of a stone known as obsidian. Few other things are quite so black and glassy. It is produced by volcanic activity, which makes it exceedingly rare in most parts of the world. And it seems that somehow the Heart allowed Ashley to control the statues... I wonder if thatwould extend to other obsidian objects, or perhaps even the source of such things as well..." Still musing quietly over the ideas percolating up in his mind, he follows behind Joren, seeming to perk up a bit from his exhaustion at the idea of an academic question.
Malachi returns Samir’s smile with one of his own and has a sigh of relief at the report that he, and the freed captives, are free of yellow marks. At least as long as the amulet could be trusted. “The cultists will have to find a new place to land their invasion fleet now, that is something at least. And without the distraction of the volcano, Cambria can mount a defense.”
He keys onto Joren’s words and looks back at Ashley “Well, we will just have to make sure no one finds out that Ashley has the heart. Assuming the crown of fire eventually goes away, I mean.” Malachi follows the others back to the surface, eager to get back to the shop.
The group slowly makes their way to the surface. The sky is dark, as are the streets. Few lamps are lit at this time of night, and no one is out on the streets, whether due to the heavy rain, or the ongoing situation at the docks.
The party picks their way through the eerily abandoned streets until they reach the shop. Gorm and the two elves hesitate outside, unsure whether they are welcome inside.
(Assuming neither he nor anyone else notices anything suspicious):
"Getting inside, inside," Joren urges the three captives gruffly, ushering them inside unless someone objects.
"Not going to pull you from the clutches of the cultists and the gloazworm mother and then be refusing you a place to sleep. Who knows what has been happening here in Talmouth. It was chaos when we left. I would love to go scouting and be speaking to the council and Marion to find out the status, but we are all too depleted and needing rest. We can be talking more in the morning. I will be taking the first watch."
As the group walk two shadow shrouded butterflies peel off the back of vilis and fly off into the air going in two separate directions.
Once the group reach the shop, Vilus nods as Joren usher's the survivors in, but shakes his head as Jordan tries to take a watch. "Leave the watch to me, it's not like I'll be sleeping anyway. You need rest, you all do. Brave faces and honourable gestures ain't worth shit right now and we'd all rather have you fully rested quicker mate." With that Vilus posts himself up sitting on the counter in the front room of the shop and opens his book of shadows with a renewed interest.
Ashley lets the others figure things out with the newcomers and a watch and all that, she heads straight upstairs. Looking around briefly to make sure it looks exactly the way she last saw it..
Perception 17
She then unrolls her bedroll and climbs in. Fire dances in her mind as she tries to fall asleep.
Joren and Ashley reach the same conclusion. Everything is as they'd left it. For as cunning and sneaky as the cult has proven, the individual cultists are not faultlessly meticulous. It seems the shop remains uncompromised.
The male elf looks around a bit before settling down like the other two and says, "Wait I've been here before. What happened to the lady who used to run this place?"
Meanwhile, Vilus meditates on his counter-top perch. Butterflies of shadow unfold themselves from his tattoos and take flight, quickly disappearing into the black, rain-streaked night sky.
Samir, with one hand on the door to the smalle room he has co-opted for his own use, pauses and glances back to the man. "Sadly, she has passed on. Rather than let the place run to ruin, the city saw fit to let us utilize it for the meanwhile." With a nod, he slips into the backroom and closes the door. It does not take long before he is tucked into his bedroom and fast asleep.
Joren looks at Vilus meditating and wonders about leaving him on "watch".
"Oh, after my watch I am planning on at least six hours of sleeping like the dead, unless disturbed, Vilus. Trusting me on that."
The warrior considers briefly. "If you are truly staying on watch, so be it. Yet sometimes Vilus, you are seeming to go away inside your head and I am not feeling certain. After what we have been going through together, promise me a proper watch and I will be trusting you. Otherwise, given the potential danger, other watchers should take turns staying up as well, to be safe. And not the former captives - they are seeming too exhausted."
Comes back from his meditation after a moment or two, his eyes flitting back and forth under their lids, he opens them and smiles, "stay up for an hour with me, we have a meeting to attend and I could use your tactical mind. Once that is done I'll give my full attention being on watch for the rest of the night." Vilus gets up to lock the front door and then walks to the back room opening the trapdoor to the cellar motioning for Joren to join him and then and hopping inside, leaving the trapdoor open to hear any motion above.
Joren pauses, taken aback at the offer from the inscrutable goliath.
"Mind for basic battlefield tactics, me. No commander or general. Just... my past has me always suspecting overly complex tactics. Have been knowing... people for whom such tactics were more boasting rather than truly the best path. But I think you are not meaning battle tactics here."
He turns to the two elves. "If I am not mistaking, elves do not sleep, instead entering a trance for a few hours. You are going through much, but with the two of us in the cellar, could one of you two delay your trance for an hour, acting as an additional watch-person here while we are down there?"
(He assumes everyone else will be going to sleep immediately. If Vilus is going to remain down in the cellar, Joren plans to wake one of his companions to replace him on watch after two hours is over, wishing to take maximum precaution.)
The three liberated captives, a half-orc man, and a glassy-eyed male and female elf climb stiffly out of the carts. The two elves cling to each other comfortingly, and the half-orc who'd spoken up before says, "Th-thank you for s-saving us." The three of them shiver, though whether from shock or the sheen of cooled sweat is hard to say. "W-we owe you our lives, and I swear it to be a d-debt I'll repay."
"wait..." Vilus interrupts before the captives can even think of going off anywhere, he looks to Malachi specifically before saying, "is there anyone who can check these guys over? They might have had rasmus magic put in their heads without their knowledge... So we still have that multicoloured indicator thing??"
"I am thinking Samir has it?" Joren tries to remember through his exhaustion. "Blue for Ashley and Marion and other magicians, Red for me, and was it yellow for the cultists near the first Opportunity Knocking Inn that we were holding it near? Is that right? Yellow for Razmus?"
He turns to the captives again. "I should have been introducing myself. I am Joren Kryn of the Dalmodh Plains." Joren proceeds to introduce his other companions unless one of them shakes there head in a way that indicates they do not wish their name publicly shared (e.g. Silas for Vilus).
"The best way you can be helping us is with knowledge. Perhaps some clue on how we can be defeating these cultists of Razmus, this dark god, or 'Apogee.' But as my magic-fluid-spilling friend is saying, we are needing to ensure they have not left some vile invisible hook in all of you."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"Oh, uh, yes. I suppose that is something that those people would do, isn't it." Samir begins digging in his satchel-bag, eventually coming up with the item in question. With an almost apologetic look to the captives, he moves nearer to them and brings the color changing necklace near to each one in turn.
Ashley does her best to patiently wait as the hostages were checked over. She appreciates their sentiment, she really does. But at the moment? All she wants is to go back to their shop and sleep for a week. Everything from the day and now the almost unchecked heat of her was almost too much to bear and this was just slowing them down.
The glassy surface of the small device shines its normal reds and blues, lighting up for the three ex-captives as well, though all of the hues are a bit dimmer than usual. There are no streaks of yellow, however.
"G-gorm," says the half-orc, still a bit shaken, and looking nervously at the device. He gestures at the other two and then shrugs helplessly. Apparently they had not gotten a chance to exchange names. "I think you've s-stopped the worst of it for now. I didn't hear much of their p-plan until we were d-down... there. But they were trying to destroy that stone to bring about... some kind of explosion."
"A volcano," says the female elf, speaking up at last. "They called it a volcano, and expected it to destroy Cambria. When the land settled once more, they were to land their fleet within the crater and strike out at the surrounding lands."
Malachi looks on as Samir brings out the medallion and passes it over the freed captives. He steps forward and takes a closer look filled with apprehension as Samir holds it close to him as well. The last time it had a streak of yellow, but that was before Samir’s work on his mark. Was the link truly broken?
He listened to Gorm’s story with growing unease. “A volcano that would destroy all of Cambria? From the stone?” He looked over at Ashley “Try not to do that, please. Can you control the stone’s power? Do you feel any different?”
Joren listens, yet his worry remains, though the half-orc captive Gorm thinks that the worst is over with the volcano the elven woman mentions averted.
"Needing sleep, yes. And being good that none of us are showing signs of yellow in Samir's medallion. Yet now that Ashley is one with the Heart of Fire, the cultists must be thinking of how to capture the stone, or Ashley or both. Being the obvious play once they are finding out."
He lets out a breath, sounding incredibly weary for the first time. "Going home to rest yes, but we cannot be letting down our guard."
(Once the checks with the medallion are done, he continues heading towards the surface, with his echo in the lead).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Ashley turns to Malachi and smiles... a bit maniacal, "Oh yes, I feel different."
"And as for capturing? Bah, let them try."
"There we are, nary a yellow streak to be found." Samir gives Malachi a tired smile as he moves near the other man with the amulet. "None at all to be seen." With that task accomplished, he slips away the amulet once more, tucking the satchel close to his side once more. His attention is caught by the half-orc's words, a stirring of a class on geothermal activity and other matters pertaining to rock and stone: Matters Most Earthy and Deep.
"A volcano? Here? That is less than wonderful news. Although... those statues, I believe they were made of a stone known as obsidian. Few other things are quite so black and glassy. It is produced by volcanic activity, which makes it exceedingly rare in most parts of the world. And it seems that somehow the Heart allowed Ashley to control the statues... I wonder if thatwould extend to other obsidian objects, or perhaps even the source of such things as well..." Still musing quietly over the ideas percolating up in his mind, he follows behind Joren, seeming to perk up a bit from his exhaustion at the idea of an academic question.
Malachi returns Samir’s smile with one of his own and has a sigh of relief at the report that he, and the freed captives, are free of yellow marks. At least as long as the amulet could be trusted. “The cultists will have to find a new place to land their invasion fleet now, that is something at least. And without the distraction of the volcano, Cambria can mount a defense.”
He keys onto Joren’s words and looks back at Ashley “Well, we will just have to make sure no one finds out that Ashley has the heart. Assuming the crown of fire eventually goes away, I mean.” Malachi follows the others back to the surface, eager to get back to the shop.
The group slowly makes their way to the surface. The sky is dark, as are the streets. Few lamps are lit at this time of night, and no one is out on the streets, whether due to the heavy rain, or the ongoing situation at the docks.
The party picks their way through the eerily abandoned streets until they reach the shop. Gorm and the two elves hesitate outside, unsure whether they are welcome inside.
Despite his exhaustion, Joren attempts to do a once over of the shop out of habit, trying to detect any signs of it being compromised.
Perception: 12
(Assuming neither he nor anyone else notices anything suspicious):
"Getting inside, inside," Joren urges the three captives gruffly, ushering them inside unless someone objects.
"Not going to pull you from the clutches of the cultists and the gloazworm mother and then be refusing you a place to sleep. Who knows what has been happening here in Talmouth. It was chaos when we left. I would love to go scouting and be speaking to the council and Marion to find out the status, but we are all too depleted and needing rest. We can be talking more in the morning. I will be taking the first watch."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
As the group walk two shadow shrouded butterflies peel off the back of vilis and fly off into the air going in two separate directions.
Once the group reach the shop, Vilus nods as Joren usher's the survivors in, but shakes his head as Jordan tries to take a watch. "Leave the watch to me, it's not like I'll be sleeping anyway. You need rest, you all do. Brave faces and honourable gestures ain't worth shit right now and we'd all rather have you fully rested quicker mate." With that Vilus posts himself up sitting on the counter in the front room of the shop and opens his book of shadows with a renewed interest.
Ashley lets the others figure things out with the newcomers and a watch and all that, she heads straight upstairs. Looking around briefly to make sure it looks exactly the way she last saw it..
Perception 17
She then unrolls her bedroll and climbs in. Fire dances in her mind as she tries to fall asleep.
Joren and Ashley reach the same conclusion. Everything is as they'd left it. For as cunning and sneaky as the cult has proven, the individual cultists are not faultlessly meticulous. It seems the shop remains uncompromised.
The male elf looks around a bit before settling down like the other two and says, "Wait I've been here before. What happened to the lady who used to run this place?"
Meanwhile, Vilus meditates on his counter-top perch. Butterflies of shadow unfold themselves from his tattoos and take flight, quickly disappearing into the black, rain-streaked night sky.
Samir, with one hand on the door to the smalle room he has co-opted for his own use, pauses and glances back to the man. "Sadly, she has passed on. Rather than let the place run to ruin, the city saw fit to let us utilize it for the meanwhile." With a nod, he slips into the backroom and closes the door. It does not take long before he is tucked into his bedroom and fast asleep.
Joren looks at Vilus meditating and wonders about leaving him on "watch".
"Oh, after my watch I am planning on at least six hours of sleeping like the dead, unless disturbed, Vilus. Trusting me on that."
The warrior considers briefly. "If you are truly staying on watch, so be it. Yet sometimes Vilus, you are seeming to go away inside your head and I am not feeling certain. After what we have been going through together, promise me a proper watch and I will be trusting you. Otherwise, given the potential danger, other watchers should take turns staying up as well, to be safe. And not the former captives - they are seeming too exhausted."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Comes back from his meditation after a moment or two, his eyes flitting back and forth under their lids, he opens them and smiles, "stay up for an hour with me, we have a meeting to attend and I could use your tactical mind. Once that is done I'll give my full attention being on watch for the rest of the night." Vilus gets up to lock the front door and then walks to the back room opening the trapdoor to the cellar motioning for Joren to join him and then and hopping inside, leaving the trapdoor open to hear any motion above.
Joren pauses, taken aback at the offer from the inscrutable goliath.
"Mind for basic battlefield tactics, me. No commander or general. Just... my past has me always suspecting overly complex tactics. Have been knowing... people for whom such tactics were more boasting rather than truly the best path. But I think you are not meaning battle tactics here."
He turns to the two elves. "If I am not mistaking, elves do not sleep, instead entering a trance for a few hours. You are going through much, but with the two of us in the cellar, could one of you two delay your trance for an hour, acting as an additional watch-person here while we are down there?"
(He assumes everyone else will be going to sleep immediately. If Vilus is going to remain down in the cellar, Joren plans to wake one of his companions to replace him on watch after two hours is over, wishing to take maximum precaution.)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk