"Drow don't summon them..." repeats Khessa, musing

'So they don't control them either' she thinks to herself. 'We could send them against the drow, should it be possible to reason or to bargain with them... But maybe in the future. As we are now, we have nothing to offer'.

The rest of the breather that Khessa and Aster have allowed themselves passes talking about this and that, without her asking any further specific questions.

After that: "Well, now it's much better. Before the Manes interrupted me so indelicatedly, I was exploring this settlement to find a path that would allow us to continue towards the surface. What do you say, will you accompany me, Aster? In case of problems, you could always prove again that 'the lessons your mother spent on her pitiful child weren't wasted'" she winks. "I'm sure your mother would be proud of you. What do you say? Are you coming?"

"Oh, Song, my dear friend..." Khessa puts her hand on the shoulders of the tiefling "While I'm away, would you be able to ascertain if it is possible to go to the roof of this building?Retreating there could make us stay safer in case of new attacks. The demons could not just enter, they would be forced to try to climb. It should be easier for us to defend or to make them fall down. Although, of course, I hope there will not be any more attacks!"

(Sorry, I was at my step-dad's birthday and then my son threw up -- busy day)

"Of course, mistress, I shall follow you. I am in your humble service," Aster bows. It is a bit difficult to get a read on him. Once he stands up, he runs a hand through his white hair. He seems to be thinking about something, but you have doubts he will share them with you.

"Yes, I can see about that, but I don't know if the wounded will be able to make it up there..." Song nods and runs off to see what she can manage.

Khessa, to speed some aspects along, could you roll a perception check twice and an investigation check for me?

Perception 1: 5

Perception 2: 10

Investigation: 16

Quote from LaRue >>

(Sorry, I was at my step-dad's birthday and then my son threw up -- busy day)

(Lol! Yes, busy days happens. I hope it will still end up as a day at the end of which you go to sleep glad of how you lived it)

So, ok... Khessa will then go to explore like she wanted to do before the Manes came... Most likely as aware of her surroundings as a rock in a box, given the rolls 😉 but she still will go. We need to keep trying to reach the surface!

Khessa as you and Aster explore, he lets you know that this settlement was a dwarven one. His excellent night vision seems to be informing what he's telling you. As expected, its hard to tell which tunnel leads where. Aster himself seems to be somewhat confused and admits he's never really ventured outside his own city before, so he barely knew where you all were to begin with in that slave pit. 

Coming back after some time searching, just to make sure everyone in the house is safe, you do notice that the wall you destroyed earlier has something glinting beyond it. You and Aster step through the rubble and find yourself looking at the living area of a former dwarven home. There is a sword hanging above the fireplace that is in better shape than what you have. Its fine dwarven steel seems like it could give someone a clean cut.

Khessa is really interested in the sword she is seeing...

"I still know more of cabbages than of weapons, but that one really looks fine!" and she starts coning near "I could use it. Or maybe Song, who is still wielding that corroded blade that seems ready to break in two at every impact and that is so keen that probably does more bludgeoning damage than slashing..."

Khessa wields the sword (is it a longsword, a shortsword or a greatsword?) and tries a few slashes in the air, to check its balance and to confirm its apparently good quality. She also look for eventual rune, signs or writings on the blade or the hilt. If the weapon still looks fine, she keeps it.

Anyway, she reasons after: "We did not find any clue where the other tunnels lead and I'd like to avoid wandering clueless... Let's explore the other buildings of this settlement. Maybe we can find some other useful thing. A map, would I like above all. If only we could find a map showing a way to the surface... But even food, weapons or equipment would all still benefit us greatly". 

And she leads then the search.

(no formatting on mobile, sorry! I will update again soon with the search, I just didn't want to leave you hanging on the Sword bit!)

"As you wish." Aster nods and follows.

As for the blade, I'll let you decide. It can take the form of a short, long, or double-handed sword. There seem to be runes etched into the blade. 

Definitely double-handed sword then! But, just to be sure, are you letting me, Painted, decide? Or is Khessa that can decide the form - and the weapon enlarge or shortens itself? (I think the former, but I ask, just to be sure).

"Really a wonderful weapon" gasps Khessa in awe, after trying it. "And look Aster! There are runes etched into the blade! Are you able to read them, by chance?"

Rolling a Perception for the search (OOC: hoping that this is the righ ability to use - else we can keep the roll and add modifiers for anothe ability - Khessa has +0 in Perception, so easy enough to adjust). Rolling with advantage, since I hope Aster helps with that: 15

While still contemplating her new weapon, Khessa remembers when a minstrel once passed through Twardens (most likely because he had lost his way) and told that story of a king and his magic sword... what was its name? Excuse... No, not like that. Exchange... No, either. Ah yes, Excalibur! Could this wonderful dwarven blade also be a mythical magical weapon?

'If so, I should give you a name...' Khessa thinks, imagining speaking to the sword 'But certainly not Excalibur! Who would ever remember such an abstruse name? No, no... your name will be...' her dreamy blue eyes fall on the large knob of the weapon, the shape of which immediately makes her think of a small metal cabbage patch - and then it's decided! '...your name will be Cabbage Patch Avenger!'

(OOC: Here I'm purposefully playing with the two quite different things that a 'Cabbage Patch' in our world and time can be - the doll or the plant - to have fun, but Khessa of course has only the plant in mind)

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Definitely double-handed sword then! But, just to be sure, are you letting me, Painted, decide? Or is Khessa that can decide the form - and the weapon enlarge or shortens itself? (I think the former, but I ask, just to be sure).

 

 Sorry yes, you Painted gets to decide! Letting you pick the upgrade for Khessa. :)

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

While still contemplating her new weapon, Khessa remembers when a minstrel once passed through Twardens (most likely because he had lost his way) and told that story of a king and his magic sword... what was his name? Excuse... No, not like that. Exchange... No, either. Ah yes, Excalibur! Could this wonderful dwarven blade also be a mythical magical weapon?

'If so, I should give you a name...' Khessa thinks, imagining speaking to the sword 'But certainly not Excalibur! Who would ever remember such an abstruse name? No, no... your name will be...' her dreamy blue eyes fall on the large knob of the weapon, the shape of which immediately makes her think of a small metal cabbage patch - and then it's decided! '...your name will be Cabbage Patch Avenger!'

(OOC: Here I'm purposefully playing with the two quite different things that a 'Cabbage Patch' in our world and time can be - the doll or the plant - to have fun, but Khessa of course has only the plant in mind)

"You seem quite pleased with yourself," Aster muses as he spots Khessa's expression after having looked more closely at the runes. "I don't know what is going on in that human head of your's, but I don't think this blade will be all as extravagant as you were expecting. Still, in dwarven the runes read something quite peculiar... 'Bulette.' That's all it says. Of course, in dwarven is pronounced...Gundharok, more or less. That's gu-nn-da-rok. You must stress the 'nn' sound."

"Gundharok..." repeats Khessa, not convinced at all "Well, it is an interesting name, but this blade was lost and has been found again. It is kind of reborn, so it is right that it becomes a new name; it will be called Cabbage Patch Avenger! Now matter how extravagant it is or not; it is so keen and well-balanced... I've got the feeling that we will do well together!"

"Anyway," the blonde warrior continues "let's keep searching the settlement. Anything we find can make the difference, given how clueless and low on resources we are at the moment!"

"Cabbage...?" Aster murmurs to himself, squinting at the woman. He shakes his head at his own thoughts and decides not to say much more about the matter. However, it should be noted that as Aster takes a step behind Khessa to follow her, Khessa becomes keenly aware of where he is exactly behind her. As soon as his foot fell, she could sense that small movement in her very bones. Actually, now that she is focusing on that sensation... she can even almost feel some of the insects of the Underdark moving around nearby. 

"Aster..." Khessa is in her awe state again "I... I think i was right to be 'quite pleased with myself'. This blade... Cabbage Patch Avenger... it is even more extravagant than I was expecting! I can sense everything that moves on the earth around me! It is... It is..." she doubts she could be able to exlplain, so she passes the sword to the drow "Try it! Just wield Cabbage Patch Avenger for a moment. Yes, that way" she approves, as soon as he does as she said.

Then she starts moving around him, even behind him: "Do you feel it? Do you sense my position on the ground? Is it fantastic or not?"

She takes Cabbage Patch Avenger back, brandishing it with enthusiasm "At least, from now on, it will be much more difficult to come near me undetected! We can proceed to explore the settlement with a bit more of safety!"

And she leads the search with even more enthusiasm than before, keeping the wonderful weapon in hand and mantaining concentration on this brand new supernatural sense.

Aster takes the blade, but he raises a brow. "I think I shall have to take your word for it." He chuckles to himself and shakes his head.

Khessa, you attune to Cabbage Patch Avenger. You feel it grant you some power in combat (+ 1 to attacks and damage). In addition, when you say the command word, which is currently "Gundharok" you gain a 30 ft tremorsense for 1 round. You can do this 3 times before taking a long rest, which recharges it to full. You have already spent one charge on accident, so right now it has 2 charges left.

Great! Khessa then avoids wasting other charges, for now, and keeps exploring the settlement with Aster like she had planned (looking both for clues about directions for surface and eventual useful items for her and the refugees).

There are a few points of possible interest you found:

A building that looks like the mayor's office -- its very administrative looking.

A building that looks like a church.

A building that is just really big. Its basically a mansion. It is surrounded by walls and a gate that hangs open.

"The mansion looks like the most interesting one..." reflects aloud Khessa "...but it might take some time to explore it in full. The church and the office should be quicker to explore. Plus, the office might contain some clue about the directions to surface. Or at least why the settlement has been abandoned. Or where the dwarves went. If we can find the dwarves, they might know the way to surface. So, let's explore the office first".

And with that, Cabbage Patch Avenger held in both hands in case of troubles, the blonde warrior heads to the supposed mayor's office.