Sam greets Boris with a smile, a bit of a hip check and then a friendly rubbing of his neck. “Thanks for playing guard out here, any problems?” Sam asks.
The Half-Orc is a lot more effusive with Órga, putting down the chest so he can kneel and get down face to face with the lion and give them a proper greeting. There are scritches and pets and playful pushes and all, it’s much like a man and his dog… “everything ok back by the portal?” Sam asks, mostly rhetorically. He does expect the king of beasts to provide some indication if there is a problem but it’d be so much easier if the could communicate easier. “Wait til you hear what we did while you were gone…”
Sam side-eyes Gewyn as he talks about the newest party member and sighs. After he questions the use of gold Sam advises him “don’t worry about it, I’ll take your share after they’ve devoured you…”
”Hokum’ll be able to find a use for each coin,” Sam grumbles a few steps later. “You’re more than welcome to empty your pockets and give them more. Myself, I’ve no idea how much it costs to break a curse… after that I know plenty of woes back home that can be lightened with a few gold spread around. I suppose you really would be surprised how quickly gold disappears when your helping people pay the rent or put food on the table…”
Privately Sam wonders just how best to stretch the gold he does have filling his pack. Jimmy would have ideas, surely. The WFM would gladly accept it all into their coffers to continue the fight for the working man, to aid their multitude of outreach and charity projects. But they’re already doing those things, Sam thinks. Is there a more direct way to help The Tangles? Other than just passing out gold til it’s gone?
“Maybe I’ll hire someone to write a ballad of the Heroes of Hokum,” Sam says with a bit of a grin. “You know anyone who can carry a tune, Gewyn?”
Neferox seems to grin and and tries to get as close as she can to Gewyn then gives a growly woof directly behind Gewyn as he mentions that she is most likely to eat him. She shows off her canines as she purposely tries to make him nervous. Vin seems to appreciate the vote of confidence that he could take care of the mimic but he wasn't sure he would keep it. He just wasn't going to abandon it... or kill it. Vin definitely thought it would be a cool new friend as long as it didn't turn deadly. He was certainly going to ask someone that knows more about taking care of such creatures. Perhaps someone that runs a zoo. There was one in Marblestead. Perhaps someone in Trundlesten or Hokum know some things too. He just had to keep the critter out of trouble until then.
When talk of gold comes up Vin seems uncomfortable about it but adds to the conversation saying "I... I've never seen this much gold in my life. To be honest, it makes me a bit uncomfortable. I was going to just give it all to the people of Hokum but Nef says they don't need it all. Told me I should keep half of what I am carrying because I will need it to get better gear to help me on becoming a better adventurer. Do any of you have experience in buying magic gear? We learned a lot in school but its not like student have enough money to go shopping for such expensive things."
Muir puts down the chest and pats his brow with a cloth before turning and smiling at Vin "I am sorry I am not much help young Vin. I use the land for things that I need but I know of shops that sell trinkets and magical items. I had to accompany one of the keepers into a larger town to recover something that was lost to them. It was an....uncomfortable conversation. Perhaps when you get to a big city they will have something that suits your needs." Muir continues to ignore the fact that Vin is taking a rather deadly creature to care for. Muir quietly thinks to himself what's one more demonic, evil beast accompanying them. If the others are fine with the demon dog surely they should be fine with the baby mimic. Muir continues to smile as he picks the one end of the chest back up "Shall we continue?"
Elthana doesn't add anything to the money conversation. She knows how money can change people and she worries a bit about this. These people have grown on her despite herself and she doesn't want to see them changing.
After talking to Roggi a bit, she turns to the group, "Alright guys, he can lead us out the way we came, bypassing the issues we ran into but should be quiet. Or there is another route that is shorter but probably not as quiet. Votes?"
"I was going to say we take the louder shorter route and if there is anything else dangerous here we can deal with it before it becomes a problem for Hokum. However, Sam brings up a good point. We got to keep the chest in mind. If the shorter route works for that. Let's do that then."
Gewyn taps his chin in thought at Sam's question about writing a ballad. "If anyone comes to mind, I'll let you know."He jumps as Nef barks at him, but the reaction seems to be exaggerated for comedic effect.
"Well I'll have to follow all of your leads with the money, I suppose. I'm not used to having much cash. Normally people just give me whatever I need, but usually the only things I need are a stiff drink and a potent pipe."
Once the group are out of the hole they make preparations to move, following Roggi's disembodied footsteps northward back towards the portal room.
Once the path branches, however, the footsteps lead the group left, away from the portal chamber and following a rocky path strewn with twigs and branches left over from Old thicket's escape.
The path that the giant tree struggled to get down for a few days, according to him, takes the group only two hours before they find themselves stuck, a dead end, the oath Infront of them not blocked with stone or a cave in, but the bushy canopy of a tree that has been shoved into the cave to block it off, the group hear quiet voices on the other side.
Sam, carrying one end of the crate, pauses and tries to look past those up ahead. Seeing the path blocked he's a bit surprised it's by what appears to be... the top of a tree? "Is that what Old Thicket left behind, you think?" he asks in a hushed voice, looking and trying to determine if the leaves look old and dried out or fresh and lively.
Signalling Muir to do the same, Sam gently puts down the chest and instead takes up his weapon. Stepping slowly and carefully to the canopy of branches and leaves and such blocking the way, Sam listens as carefully as he can to try to make out what is being said on the other side. (Perception: 7 this time...)
"Could this be where we left the others?" Sam asks Muir in a hushed tone and starts trying to push aside some of the foliage to try to get a better look.
There are some questioning mumbles for a moment as Muir shouts through to the other side, some shuffling and then silence for a couple of minutes, before the cavern where the group stands is filled with golden light.
Shionne's face emerges from the canopy and smiles then retreats once more, before anyone can say anything the group hears someone shout from the other side, "Wait a moment, lots of people to move.." it is another twenty minutes before the tree blocking the path begins to move, slowly dragging it's leafy top out of the cave and into the dusk light.
Exiting the cave, the group see the survivors, awaiting some kind of news. Those who can, crowd around the mouth of the cave, they see the curse which has afflicted Elthana and some eyes glance toward the mutated. Shionne and Terry seem to be doing a lot better, Old thicket looks as grumpy as ever and the familiar face of one elven guard who joined the group atop the trade post building can be seen in the crowd. He steps forward, "the forward scouts from the clerics of Hermes found us this morning, they have spent the day scouting the town before the main force of Hermes arrives at dawn. I'm glad to see you all alive!"
Goldsheaf is next to approach, "what happened in there?" She asks bluntly, but with a concern lingering on her words, and a very curious eye which lingers a moment too long on the chest carried by Sam and Muir.
While waiting for the passage to be cleared, Sam grumps. Waiting sucks. Always.
He does take some time to talk with the animals and show them his appreciation. He also directs them both to stay close to Elthana when things open up. "Don't chase everyone away from her or anything," he quietly tells them. "But don't let them crush in and surround her, ey? She's enough issues right now without everyone squeezing in to take a look."
Also while waiting Sam takes a stone out of his pocket in full view of all and activates it to call his Faction contact. "Going to report in to Jimmy Connelly," Sam says to everyone, pauses a moment to see... To see. Then he activates the stone and gives his report.
The report he speaks aloud to the stone is direct and matter of fact. "In Hokum fought a ton of little red capped fairies. Mostly won. Found some survivors, freed them and set them up in a hopefully safe place but then moved on to caves in search of Giant and Hag and this Portal. Found them. Defeated the giant and hag, freed the portal. It's... healing, best I can tell. Weak but growing stronger. Didn't clear out rest of caves, we may later but for know we're heading to check in with those outside. Have to see if portal fix is working out there. Have to see if the badness out there died with the hag. Have to see about curing one of our own... I believe Hokum will be needing supplies and builders far more than soldiers but will be more clear about that tomorrow." So saying, Sam cuts off his sending to the stone and gives everyone else a shrug and a bit of a sigh.
"Make room, make room!" Sam will shout out later as the group does start exiting the cave, Órga chiming in with a threatening roar. He's not shouting at those they know, of course, but is worried about the refugees all pressing in eager for information. Nobody needs a crush of bodies and it's best to put some hesitancy into them from the get go. "I think we cleared the big problem but these caves are far from safe yet."
Once the chest is fully carried out of the caves Sam looks over inquiringly to Elthana to try to determine if their Ghoblin friend has moved on or not... Either way, Sam then promptly sits upon the chest and takes a rest. Nobody needs be poking into it quite yet. The group had more or less determined to donate the remaining contents to the city but... How? In Sam's experience giving it to the leaders and well to do to spread out is most common... And usually results in it being given to the leaders and the well to do, very little spreading out. How to get it the most people in the best way is the question though. They'll need to discuss it.
"How is the town?" Sam asks in response to news of the clerics having scouted it. "Rather, how's the people? We rescued a batch but didn't have time to search the whole place for survivors..."
Sam squints at Goldsheaf as he notices her lingering eyes and tries no to growl. "Malformed giant. Delusional hag fairy witch. Stuck Goblin Ghost... But worst of all? Spiders. Large, vicious, disgusting ass spiders!" Sam knows she wants more details but he doesn't care, he's not the spokesperson of the group.
Muir helps Sam carry the chest and hears the Elf mention the Hermes Scouts. "This is good news. I am happy they have arrived. We all will have much to discuss later" Muir looks at Shione and Goldsheaf "What happened you ask....That is a good question. The short version is the town was overrun by the redcaps but with the the help of Old Thicket's friends we were able to clear a path to the caves. Once there we fought spiders and a corrupted giant before facing the hag. The hag nearly completed her ritual by killing Gewyn and Vin but we others were able to thwart her and save them. Together we all defeated the hag returning the portal back to it's old non corrupt form. From there we came back here but first we stumbled upon a cavern within the cave system that once belonged to a Keeper....Keeper Yen. Keeper Yen must be well before my time. We found this chest there. We plan to use it to help those in need, the townsfolk, and help them rebuild their lives. That is the short of it." Muir looks at Shione and says in Sylvan
Elthana finds it amusing as Sam has his animal entourage surround her as they emerge from the caves. She has difficulty seeing Shionne again after the fight they had but is glad to see that she and Terry seem to be doing better after the fixing of the portal.
Keeper Yen? She doesn't remember anything about that.. wonders what Muir is talking about but doesn't interrupt him. When Sam asks about Roggi, "I believe he has moved on? I don't hear his footsteps any longer. I don't think there is anything else we could have done, and now we have more riches than any of us could imagine. I'm glad we did it."
When Muir and Shionne stop talking, Elthana hobbles up to her, "Is there anything you could do about my um, condition?"
Recognizing Sam's attempts to steer the press of curious survivors away from the group, Gewyn sees his queue. Speaking in an aside to the crowd while the others communicate with Shionne, Terry, and Goldsheaf, Gewyn says, "Now I know you must all be hungry for news, so allow me to regale you with all the juicy details." With that, he starts half telling, half singing, a version of what transpired that borders on truth, though some details are omitted, and many more are embellished. As he does so, he holds his bird pipes out, and magical streams of wind draw notes forth from the instrument.
Gewyn rhythmically weaving the tale in a sort of prose, captures the attention and praise of the larger group of survivors, they hang off of his every word and the group watches as a wave of releif grips them, some seem to let go of the stress of their traumatic experiences by breaking down in tears, others stand in shock, whilst more still continue preparing for the next morning's travel back to the town, and looking after the soulless, the mutated and the injured, though this time with more of a spring in their step and a smile on their faces.
Listening to Sam's brief description and Muir's explanation, Goldsheaf raises a brow, "the gold will go a long way to rebuilding our homes, re-seeding our lands and helping us all get back on two feet, as well as covering the care that our injured and afflicted need... But what of this portal, you say it was corrupted and you fixed that, but the invasion came from there yes? Did this hag and those redcap things come from the corruption? My main concern is preventing anything like this happening ever again, should we cave in all entrances when these Fae creatures have left? Shionne has been a great help in guiding us but I'd sacrifice that help a thousand times over if it meant that nothing like this could happen again, what state did you leave the portal in? Is it safe?" She looks between Sam and Vin in particular as she speaks.
At Muir's final words in Sylvan, Shionne begins to get visibly upset, Terry rushes forward to Muir and begins speaking with him quietly.
When Elthana approaches Shionne the dryad seems all too consumed in her own grief to notice, not that she would have understood Elthana's words without Terry's translation anyway, she reaches out to embrace Elthana, more a desperate need to find some kind of connection in her emotional state than a need for it to be specifically Elthana.
“If’s I was Grand Poobah of Hokum and all that surrounds it? Sure as shit I’d destroy the portal, collapse the room and the tunnels bring down the whole damn mountain atop it if I could “ Sam answers with not a little intensity.
“But asking me is like asking a pig farmer to bake you a cake, ain’t it?” Sam follows up, a bit of a grin on his face now.
“What you should probably do is talk to Shionne and the Druids and the people of Hokum and everyone else and take time to consider it all. Maybe it’ll be the same conclusion but at least it’ll be a considered one, eh?
“Truth is, the hag wasn’t corrupted so much as doing the corruption. She was hateful and spiteful and… well I can’t explain it exactly but she was using her magics and such to turn everything foul,” Sam said. “The redcaps? I think maybe they just bad and her magic made them worse. I suppose the other side of that portal is likely similar to this side, yes? You gots your hood and your bad…. Im not of a mind that all them from the other side of the portal are bad, which is another reason maybe you shouldn’t decide in haste…”
“As for the tunnels themselves? We only seen a small part. We could maybe explore more and make sure they’re all clear of critters but that’s more a tomorrow thought, I think…”
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Sam greets Boris with a smile, a bit of a hip check and then a friendly rubbing of his neck. “Thanks for playing guard out here, any problems?” Sam asks.
The Half-Orc is a lot more effusive with Órga, putting down the chest so he can kneel and get down face to face with the lion and give them a proper greeting. There are scritches and pets and playful pushes and all, it’s much like a man and his dog… “everything ok back by the portal?” Sam asks, mostly rhetorically. He does expect the king of beasts to provide some indication if there is a problem but it’d be so much easier if the could communicate easier. “Wait til you hear what we did while you were gone…”
Sam side-eyes Gewyn as he talks about the newest party member and sighs. After he questions the use of gold Sam advises him “don’t worry about it, I’ll take your share after they’ve devoured you…”
”Hokum’ll be able to find a use for each coin,” Sam grumbles a few steps later. “You’re more than welcome to empty your pockets and give them more. Myself, I’ve no idea how much it costs to break a curse… after that I know plenty of woes back home that can be lightened with a few gold spread around. I suppose you really would be surprised how quickly gold disappears when your helping people pay the rent or put food on the table…”
Privately Sam wonders just how best to stretch the gold he does have filling his pack. Jimmy would have ideas, surely. The WFM would gladly accept it all into their coffers to continue the fight for the working man, to aid their multitude of outreach and charity projects. But they’re already doing those things, Sam thinks. Is there a more direct way to help The Tangles? Other than just passing out gold til it’s gone?
“Maybe I’ll hire someone to write a ballad of the Heroes of Hokum,” Sam says with a bit of a grin. “You know anyone who can carry a tune, Gewyn?”
Neferox seems to grin and and tries to get as close as she can to Gewyn then gives a growly woof directly behind Gewyn as he mentions that she is most likely to eat him. She shows off her canines as she purposely tries to make him nervous. Vin seems to appreciate the vote of confidence that he could take care of the mimic but he wasn't sure he would keep it. He just wasn't going to abandon it... or kill it. Vin definitely thought it would be a cool new friend as long as it didn't turn deadly. He was certainly going to ask someone that knows more about taking care of such creatures. Perhaps someone that runs a zoo. There was one in Marblestead. Perhaps someone in Trundlesten or Hokum know some things too. He just had to keep the critter out of trouble until then.
When talk of gold comes up Vin seems uncomfortable about it but adds to the conversation saying "I... I've never seen this much gold in my life. To be honest, it makes me a bit uncomfortable. I was going to just give it all to the people of Hokum but Nef says they don't need it all. Told me I should keep half of what I am carrying because I will need it to get better gear to help me on becoming a better adventurer. Do any of you have experience in buying magic gear? We learned a lot in school but its not like student have enough money to go shopping for such expensive things."
Muir puts down the chest and pats his brow with a cloth before turning and smiling at Vin "I am sorry I am not much help young Vin. I use the land for things that I need but I know of shops that sell trinkets and magical items. I had to accompany one of the keepers into a larger town to recover something that was lost to them. It was an....uncomfortable conversation. Perhaps when you get to a big city they will have something that suits your needs." Muir continues to ignore the fact that Vin is taking a rather deadly creature to care for. Muir quietly thinks to himself what's one more demonic, evil beast accompanying them. If the others are fine with the demon dog surely they should be fine with the baby mimic. Muir continues to smile as he picks the one end of the chest back up "Shall we continue?"
Elthana doesn't add anything to the money conversation. She knows how money can change people and she worries a bit about this. These people have grown on her despite herself and she doesn't want to see them changing.
After talking to Roggi a bit, she turns to the group, "Alright guys, he can lead us out the way we came, bypassing the issues we ran into but should be quiet. Or there is another route that is shorter but probably not as quiet. Votes?"
“We got this chest to haul and three animals not exactly suited to climbing or swimming,” Sam points out. “Which path is most suited to that?”
"I was going to say we take the louder shorter route and if there is anything else dangerous here we can deal with it before it becomes a problem for Hokum. However, Sam brings up a good point. We got to keep the chest in mind. If the shorter route works for that. Let's do that then."
Muir nods along with Sam as he does not want to carry the chest along a harder route to take.
Gewyn taps his chin in thought at Sam's question about writing a ballad. "If anyone comes to mind, I'll let you know." He jumps as Nef barks at him, but the reaction seems to be exaggerated for comedic effect.
"Well I'll have to follow all of your leads with the money, I suppose. I'm not used to having much cash. Normally people just give me whatever I need, but usually the only things I need are a stiff drink and a potent pipe."
Once the group are out of the hole they make preparations to move, following Roggi's disembodied footsteps northward back towards the portal room.
Once the path branches, however, the footsteps lead the group left, away from the portal chamber and following a rocky path strewn with twigs and branches left over from Old thicket's escape.
The path that the giant tree struggled to get down for a few days, according to him, takes the group only two hours before they find themselves stuck, a dead end, the oath Infront of them not blocked with stone or a cave in, but the bushy canopy of a tree that has been shoved into the cave to block it off, the group hear quiet voices on the other side.
Sam, carrying one end of the crate, pauses and tries to look past those up ahead. Seeing the path blocked he's a bit surprised it's by what appears to be... the top of a tree? "Is that what Old Thicket left behind, you think?" he asks in a hushed voice, looking and trying to determine if the leaves look old and dried out or fresh and lively.
”Trees from old thicket? Maybe our friends can hear us if we shout!”
Signalling Muir to do the same, Sam gently puts down the chest and instead takes up his weapon. Stepping slowly and carefully to the canopy of branches and leaves and such blocking the way, Sam listens as carefully as he can to try to make out what is being said on the other side. (Perception: 7 this time...)
"Could this be where we left the others?" Sam asks Muir in a hushed tone and starts trying to push aside some of the foliage to try to get a better look.
Muir shrugs, follows and decides to give it the old shout “Hello!? This is Muir and friends! Gore?! Shionne?! Town folks?!”
There are some questioning mumbles for a moment as Muir shouts through to the other side, some shuffling and then silence for a couple of minutes, before the cavern where the group stands is filled with golden light.
Shionne's face emerges from the canopy and smiles then retreats once more, before anyone can say anything the group hears someone shout from the other side, "Wait a moment, lots of people to move.." it is another twenty minutes before the tree blocking the path begins to move, slowly dragging it's leafy top out of the cave and into the dusk light.
Exiting the cave, the group see the survivors, awaiting some kind of news. Those who can, crowd around the mouth of the cave, they see the curse which has afflicted Elthana and some eyes glance toward the mutated. Shionne and Terry seem to be doing a lot better, Old thicket looks as grumpy as ever and the familiar face of one elven guard who joined the group atop the trade post building can be seen in the crowd. He steps forward, "the forward scouts from the clerics of Hermes found us this morning, they have spent the day scouting the town before the main force of Hermes arrives at dawn. I'm glad to see you all alive!"
Goldsheaf is next to approach, "what happened in there?" She asks bluntly, but with a concern lingering on her words, and a very curious eye which lingers a moment too long on the chest carried by Sam and Muir.
While waiting for the passage to be cleared, Sam grumps. Waiting sucks. Always.
He does take some time to talk with the animals and show them his appreciation. He also directs them both to stay close to Elthana when things open up. "Don't chase everyone away from her or anything," he quietly tells them. "But don't let them crush in and surround her, ey? She's enough issues right now without everyone squeezing in to take a look."
Also while waiting Sam takes a stone out of his pocket in full view of all and activates it to call his Faction contact. "Going to report in to Jimmy Connelly," Sam says to everyone, pauses a moment to see... To see. Then he activates the stone and gives his report.
The report he speaks aloud to the stone is direct and matter of fact. "In Hokum fought a ton of little red capped fairies. Mostly won. Found some survivors, freed them and set them up in a hopefully safe place but then moved on to caves in search of Giant and Hag and this Portal. Found them. Defeated the giant and hag, freed the portal. It's... healing, best I can tell. Weak but growing stronger. Didn't clear out rest of caves, we may later but for know we're heading to check in with those outside. Have to see if portal fix is working out there. Have to see if the badness out there died with the hag. Have to see about curing one of our own... I believe Hokum will be needing supplies and builders far more than soldiers but will be more clear about that tomorrow." So saying, Sam cuts off his sending to the stone and gives everyone else a shrug and a bit of a sigh.
"Make room, make room!" Sam will shout out later as the group does start exiting the cave, Órga chiming in with a threatening roar. He's not shouting at those they know, of course, but is worried about the refugees all pressing in eager for information. Nobody needs a crush of bodies and it's best to put some hesitancy into them from the get go. "I think we cleared the big problem but these caves are far from safe yet."
Once the chest is fully carried out of the caves Sam looks over inquiringly to Elthana to try to determine if their Ghoblin friend has moved on or not... Either way, Sam then promptly sits upon the chest and takes a rest. Nobody needs be poking into it quite yet. The group had more or less determined to donate the remaining contents to the city but... How? In Sam's experience giving it to the leaders and well to do to spread out is most common... And usually results in it being given to the leaders and the well to do, very little spreading out. How to get it the most people in the best way is the question though. They'll need to discuss it.
"How is the town?" Sam asks in response to news of the clerics having scouted it. "Rather, how's the people? We rescued a batch but didn't have time to search the whole place for survivors..."
Sam squints at Goldsheaf as he notices her lingering eyes and tries no to growl. "Malformed giant. Delusional hag fairy witch. Stuck Goblin Ghost... But worst of all? Spiders. Large, vicious, disgusting ass spiders!" Sam knows she wants more details but he doesn't care, he's not the spokesperson of the group.
Muir helps Sam carry the chest and hears the Elf mention the Hermes Scouts. "This is good news. I am happy they have arrived. We all will have much to discuss later" Muir looks at Shione and Goldsheaf "What happened you ask....That is a good question. The short version is the town was overrun by the redcaps but with the the help of Old Thicket's friends we were able to clear a path to the caves. Once there we fought spiders and a corrupted giant before facing the hag. The hag nearly completed her ritual by killing Gewyn and Vin but we others were able to thwart her and save them. Together we all defeated the hag returning the portal back to it's old non corrupt form. From there we came back here but first we stumbled upon a cavern within the cave system that once belonged to a Keeper....Keeper Yen. Keeper Yen must be well before my time. We found this chest there. We plan to use it to help those in need, the townsfolk, and help them rebuild their lives. That is the short of it." Muir looks at Shione and says in Sylvan
"The hag was your sister"
Elthana finds it amusing as Sam has his animal entourage surround her as they emerge from the caves. She has difficulty seeing Shionne again after the fight they had but is glad to see that she and Terry seem to be doing better after the fixing of the portal.
Keeper Yen? She doesn't remember anything about that.. wonders what Muir is talking about but doesn't interrupt him. When Sam asks about Roggi, "I believe he has moved on? I don't hear his footsteps any longer. I don't think there is anything else we could have done, and now we have more riches than any of us could imagine. I'm glad we did it."
When Muir and Shionne stop talking, Elthana hobbles up to her, "Is there anything you could do about my um, condition?"
Recognizing Sam's attempts to steer the press of curious survivors away from the group, Gewyn sees his queue. Speaking in an aside to the crowd while the others communicate with Shionne, Terry, and Goldsheaf, Gewyn says, "Now I know you must all be hungry for news, so allow me to regale you with all the juicy details." With that, he starts half telling, half singing, a version of what transpired that borders on truth, though some details are omitted, and many more are embellished. As he does so, he holds his bird pipes out, and magical streams of wind draw notes forth from the instrument.
(Performance 27)
Gewyn rhythmically weaving the tale in a sort of prose, captures the attention and praise of the larger group of survivors, they hang off of his every word and the group watches as a wave of releif grips them, some seem to let go of the stress of their traumatic experiences by breaking down in tears, others stand in shock, whilst more still continue preparing for the next morning's travel back to the town, and looking after the soulless, the mutated and the injured, though this time with more of a spring in their step and a smile on their faces.
Listening to Sam's brief description and Muir's explanation, Goldsheaf raises a brow, "the gold will go a long way to rebuilding our homes, re-seeding our lands and helping us all get back on two feet, as well as covering the care that our injured and afflicted need... But what of this portal, you say it was corrupted and you fixed that, but the invasion came from there yes? Did this hag and those redcap things come from the corruption? My main concern is preventing anything like this happening ever again, should we cave in all entrances when these Fae creatures have left? Shionne has been a great help in guiding us but I'd sacrifice that help a thousand times over if it meant that nothing like this could happen again, what state did you leave the portal in? Is it safe?" She looks between Sam and Vin in particular as she speaks.
At Muir's final words in Sylvan, Shionne begins to get visibly upset, Terry rushes forward to Muir and begins speaking with him quietly.
When Elthana approaches Shionne the dryad seems all too consumed in her own grief to notice, not that she would have understood Elthana's words without Terry's translation anyway, she reaches out to embrace Elthana, more a desperate need to find some kind of connection in her emotional state than a need for it to be specifically Elthana.
“If’s I was Grand Poobah of Hokum and all that surrounds it? Sure as shit I’d destroy the portal, collapse the room and the tunnels bring down the whole damn mountain atop it if I could “ Sam answers with not a little intensity.
“But asking me is like asking a pig farmer to bake you a cake, ain’t it?” Sam follows up, a bit of a grin on his face now.
“What you should probably do is talk to Shionne and the Druids and the people of Hokum and everyone else and take time to consider it all. Maybe it’ll be the same conclusion but at least it’ll be a considered one, eh?
“Truth is, the hag wasn’t corrupted so much as doing the corruption. She was hateful and spiteful and… well I can’t explain it exactly but she was using her magics and such to turn everything foul,” Sam said. “The redcaps? I think maybe they just bad and her magic made them worse. I suppose the other side of that portal is likely similar to this side, yes? You gots your hood and your bad…. Im not of a mind that all them from the other side of the portal are bad, which is another reason maybe you shouldn’t decide in haste…”
“As for the tunnels themselves? We only seen a small part. We could maybe explore more and make sure they’re all clear of critters but that’s more a tomorrow thought, I think…”