Sha's soft touch comes almost at the same time Sebastian does a request the genasi is nowhere near ready to accept, and this seems to give Saoirse strength enough to pronounce not the words she wants to say, but the ones the man needs to hear.
- ...I will do what needs to be done. I will always have your back, Sebastian - she says, as he looks deep into his troubled eyes.
But though she tries very hard to imprint a sense of confidence and conviction in her voice, deep inside she wishes very differently.
"...Lightbringer, give him strength. Please, don't let it come to that..."
She then turns her back away from her senior blood hunter and moves a few steps towards Hássan, not really paying attention to where the kobold wants to lead them, just trying hard to not look back. A quick movement from her hand towards her eyes is the only indication for those watching of what must be going on with her at that precise moment.
A couple of seconds later she asks her friends:
- Shall we, then ...?
On their way, Saoirse suddenly remembers the message received:
- Tesfaye has sent a message - she tells them, repeating the contents - I could answer saying we are okay, but I guess the full report must wait until we go back to Village Tree. I'm happy to hear that the teenagers made it back safely.
Lam takes one more look at Sebastian, trying to understand the man better. There is at least one key difference to their worldviews that Lam just isn’t getting. He is glad Sebastian has agreed to at least the first part of the judgement, though. He hopes it helps, and that maybe the man will realize before they see him again that he can do more alive than dead.
He turns to follow Hássan, and his face visibly brightens when Saoirse mentions Tesfaye’s name. Trying to be genuinely helpful, he takes a moment to recall why they have come to these mines in the first place. “We can say… HMC is looking for crown? And… it is not here?”
He is ready to follow his friends to wherever Hássan wants to lead them.
Hemlock listens to Sebastian's plea, and waits as the others have their say. Then as the others move off he squats down before Sebastian.
"I understand your wish to have your life ended. It is a much quicker and simpler solution to your problem. For what it is worth, I hope you find the inner strength to live".
With that he turns and joins the others.
"Ah Tesfaye, it seems like so long ago we left him, although it is mere hours. I think Lam's message is a good one".
Hássan leads you through dimly lit mining tunnels, rough-hewn by recent mining picks and shovels. There are some carts filled with loosened stones, and abandoned mining equipment here and there. Then, you approach a space where the rough, almost random tunnels give way, a place where the HMC had very recently broken through a wall into an ancient citadel or underground town, carved beautifully out of stone. There are details along some of the walls - mostly decorative patterns. You can tell, looking behind you, that the wall the HMC broke through had been largely covered by a detailed mural. The small bits of it still intact show kobolds, deep elves, and dwarves, standing together and looking towards some part of the center of the design that is now destroyed. On this side, there are signs of life all over the place, and the low echoes of conversations happening elsewhere within the colony. The lighting is still a little dim to Hemlock's eyes, but perfect for the kobolds and others with darkvision. White crystals mounted regularly along the middle of the cieling in halls or rooms give of a constant glow.
To your left, you can see the dwarven guard who you gave over to the Kobolds, deep in conversation with someone who looks like a grey-skinned, white haired dwarf. Their dwarvish accents are noticeably different even to untrained ears, but they are speaking the same language. The guard you all had hidden from and put to sleep earlier still has her feet in manacles, tied to the wall, but she has a bowl of some sort of food in front of her, and is talking in an animated way that gives a sense that she has forgotten that she is there against her will. A DC 13 nature or history check:
The grey dwarf is a Duergar - stories tell of a race of dwarves enslaved by creatures of the underdark, slowly twisted into a separate race.
"Ægte? Du har aldrig set solen? Det kan jeg næsten ikke tror på. Den er... man kan ikke beskrive det. "
"Tja, men det er vel lige så mærkeligt for mig, at møde en Dværg som har aldrig set livende lava... men også en hvis familie har aldrig været slaver. Jeg tror der er mange af os som ville gerne tale med jer om den kultur vi har fortabte."
"Men jeg er vel også nysgerrig på den kultur i har skabt!"
Really? You've never seen the sun? I can barely believe it. It's... it's impossible to describe.
Yeah, well it's just as weird for me to meet a dwarf who's never seen real lava... but also one whose family were never slaves. I think many of us would like to speak with y'all about the culture we've lost.
Well I'm also curious about the culture you've built!
"Come along," Hássansays, "The colony's center is just up ahead, and there you will meet your final test."
Hemlock nods as he sees the dwarven guard being well taken care of, even though he cannot understand a word she is saying.
"So they broke through to your home, and destroyed a fine looking mural. What it did depict?", he asks Hássan.
Once he had the answer, he will address the issue of the final test again.
"This final test, if it is indeed the test battle, I would request some time to rest first. That is if it is not possible to simply skip it", he says with a smile.
Lam is glad to see that the guard they left here earlier is doing ok, having almost- but not entirely- forgotten about her in the midst of everything they just went through. He cannot understand the conversation, but is glad the dwarves both seem to be enjoying it. Lam listens with interest for the answer to Hemlock’s question, and nods at his request for rest. Lam is not so tired himself, and still feels some of the adrenaline from the previous trial wiring him for battle, but does not want his friends to go into the last test feeling unwell.
Hássan considers both of Hemlock's queries. He is able to answer about the mural himself. "It was nicely built, fine craftsmanship, but none of us are sad to see that image destroyed. It showed lots of different peoples looking up at a mind-slaver master, one of the horrid Ilithids. We probably would have covered it up at some point."
(Saoirse recognizes that word as referring to mind flayers. Others can roll a history check if they wish.)As for the hope to rest before the final test, you can tell from his face that he agrees that it is unfair - he's already well convinced of your goodness and of your skill. He's been brought back from the brink of death by all of you twice now, and seen you free an innocent man. He consults his gem, which glows before he turns and answers you. "I'm sorry, but Hamza insists that you continue to the final test right away. She wishes to see how you can work and fight together, even when you are tired and resources are spent. She says this makes it a better test - but she also promises that none of you will die. Should any of you fall, she will stop the test immediately. She will also protect the fighters who challenge you - and intervene before you strike a killing blow. But she wishes to see you give it your all. I would not do this to you myself, but I do not question her wisdom."
Saoirsedoes not really pay that much attention to their surroundings, but does pose a question that's been bugging her since they arrived at the mines.
- ... How is this community going to guard themselves against the HMC? They are still coming here tomorrow. Even of we managed to convince them that the Crown is not here, they did mention that these mines are supposed to belong to Strixwell, so... how to deal with that?
"We will talk to them, and offer trade. If they can not be stopped, and want war... we will do our best, and failing that, Hamza will protect us. Or we will retreat into the deep."
- I see- she simply says, not really sure how they could fare against the HMC war machine, but simply trusting the kobold's better knowledge - Hamza, your leader, must be really strong. In fact, wait, did you just say "ilithids"? Those where the mind-slavers you mentioned a while back? The ones your colony's grandfathers were submitted to in the past? And Hamza fought against them? When did that happen exactly?
"Yes, Hamza is extremely powerful. She hunts the mindslavers, whenever she hears that there are some who have taken a tribe or a people under their thrall. She says that surface people think that the mindslavers disappeared when their main army was broken and the human crowned himself king, centuries ago. But they are not all gone, and some of them still conquer corners of the underdark. My people have been free for almost 60 years, but this place was a palace for one of them until just a few years ago, when Hamza slew the monster and freed the few Grey dwarves that were here, and invited the colony to move here."
"Hamza sounds impressive, where does she herself come from?", Hemlock asks curiously. "I am unsure what was in the book still, but does it not strike anyone else as a little too coincidental that this Strixwell is crafting items to enslave minds, and this place was once inhabited by a mind-slaver creature?".
He looks around at the others, "I know we found the text about the crown, but it still seems odd".
He looks to Hássan, "As does Hamza wishing to see us fight for sport. I am not comfortable with this. I fight to protect myself and others, I will not simply attack someone for a senseless reason after we have demonstrated everything she needs to see already".
Lam listens to the conversation, doing his best to learn and understand- he has tried to learn more new information in the past 24 hours than he has in a very long time.
He rolled a 7 history check, so I am guessing he doesn’t know the word.
When Hássan talks about the conditions of the test, the breaths Lam takes are quick but not shallow. He puffs out his chest a little, and he seems almost excited to continue to the test. When the conversation turns back to the HMC, Lam glances back at the dwarf they brought here. Maybe she would be willing to help smooth things over? The HMC surely would not want to just proceed as before after what Samantha did to CaptainJonah? But Lam is not going to pretend he understands the reasoning of the HMC. He remains silent as he listens to the conversation, and does his best to pay attention to both the questions and answers, but does slightly, unconsciously pick up the pace as they walk towards the final test.
"You will meet her soon enough, and can ask her yourself. I trust her wisdom. That she is testing you so... it would be a great honor for any in my tribe. I believe she intends to entrust you with secrets, and with a great quest. Else she would not test you so." Hássan looks quite eager to continue further jnto the colony, and to lead you to the final test.
- Most people in the surface have forgotten about the mindslavers, yes. But not everyone. My Order keeps those memories very much alive. In fact, that's the reason people such as Sebastian and are trained the way we are - she grows quiet for a moment and then adds - I hope Hamza will tell us more about her exploits when we meet her, I'm certain we will learn much from her.
To Hemlock she replies:
- Not only is Strixwell crafting mindslaving collars, which is bad enough in itself. But she is also using the good name of the True King - he who defeated the mindslaver army all those years ago - to attract people to use them. All under the promise of restoring his former kingdom, if we are to believe Samantha's words! That's really twisted! It's no wonder Sebastian thought that ... Wait, if I say this you are not going to understand me, Hemlock, as I read this in the Journal of Secrets. Have you thought of letting that tingling you mentioned before enter your mind? It may be the only way for you to be able to understand its contents.
She mentions nothing about the test, though she completely understands Hemlock's concerns. It seems that the only way to reach Hamza will be though that final test, and all they can do now is hope it goes well. And that it is less traumatic than the previous one.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“Well I’m very curious to finally meet Hamza. I agree it’s unusual to be tested in order to gain an audience, but we’ve already agreed and we have assurance that our encounter will not be fatal. Are there any reasons to suspect foul play?” Sha-gravis looks up to Lam, (goblin)“Begeben Sie sich auf einen Dreher, seien Sie wachsam und auf alles vorbereitet.” Next he looks to Saoirse,(sylvan) “Fique atento, sabemos muito pouco sobre nosso anfitrião.” Sha retrieves Alptraum and dons his shield, “Ready as ever.”
Head on a swivel, be alert and ready for anything. vigilant blessing. Stay sharp, we know very little about our host. guidance 4
Hássan leads you, unless you actively decide not to follow, to the next room, a large square with what looks like a disused fountain in the middle. There are openings in each of the cardinal directions, and out of one of them, two kobolds step out, each glowing slightly with the same sapphire hue as Hássan's gemstone. The one in front carries a large, beautiful sapphire shield, which looks to be one solid piece, almost organically grown in that scale, shield shape. The one behind carries a small rod the same color as the gemstone, gripped like a wand. When you enter, they each bow with respect and courtesy, before gripping their weapons in a fighting stance.
Hássan offers one last attempt to convince Hemlock: "It is not for sport. It is for training, or for testing. It is to convince Hamza that you can fight for what is right, and protect each other."
Sha's soft touch comes almost at the same time Sebastian does a request the genasi is nowhere near ready to accept, and this seems to give Saoirse strength enough to pronounce not the words she wants to say, but the ones the man needs to hear.
- ...I will do what needs to be done. I will always have your back, Sebastian - she says, as he looks deep into his troubled eyes.
But though she tries very hard to imprint a sense of confidence and conviction in her voice, deep inside she wishes very differently.
"...Lightbringer, give him strength. Please, don't let it come to that..."
She then turns her back away from her senior blood hunter and moves a few steps towards Hássan, not really paying attention to where the kobold wants to lead them, just trying hard to not look back. A quick movement from her hand towards her eyes is the only indication for those watching of what must be going on with her at that precise moment.
A couple of seconds later she asks her friends:
- Shall we, then ...?
On their way, Saoirse suddenly remembers the message received:
- Tesfaye has sent a message - she tells them, repeating the contents - I could answer saying we are okay, but I guess the full report must wait until we go back to Village Tree. I'm happy to hear that the teenagers made it back safely.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Lam takes one more look at Sebastian, trying to understand the man better. There is at least one key difference to their worldviews that Lam just isn’t getting. He is glad Sebastian has agreed to at least the first part of the judgement, though. He hopes it helps, and that maybe the man will realize before they see him again that he can do more alive than dead.
He turns to follow Hássan, and his face visibly brightens when Saoirse mentions Tesfaye’s name. Trying to be genuinely helpful, he takes a moment to recall why they have come to these mines in the first place. “We can say… HMC is looking for crown? And… it is not here?”
He is ready to follow his friends to wherever Hássan wants to lead them.
Hemlock listens to Sebastian's plea, and waits as the others have their say. Then as the others move off he squats down before Sebastian.
"I understand your wish to have your life ended. It is a much quicker and simpler solution to your problem. For what it is worth, I hope you find the inner strength to live".
With that he turns and joins the others.
"Ah Tesfaye, it seems like so long ago we left him, although it is mere hours. I think Lam's message is a good one".
With that he motions for Hássan to lead on.
Saoirse nods, and replies back to their tortle friend:
"We are fine. About to meet the kobold's leader. HMC is looking for the Crown of Divine Right. It is not here. Miss you, friend."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hássan leads you through dimly lit mining tunnels, rough-hewn by recent mining picks and shovels. There are some carts filled with loosened stones, and abandoned mining equipment here and there. Then, you approach a space where the rough, almost random tunnels give way, a place where the HMC had very recently broken through a wall into an ancient citadel or underground town, carved beautifully out of stone. There are details along some of the walls - mostly decorative patterns. You can tell, looking behind you, that the wall the HMC broke through had been largely covered by a detailed mural. The small bits of it still intact show kobolds, deep elves, and dwarves, standing together and looking towards some part of the center of the design that is now destroyed. On this side, there are signs of life all over the place, and the low echoes of conversations happening elsewhere within the colony. The lighting is still a little dim to Hemlock's eyes, but perfect for the kobolds and others with darkvision. White crystals mounted regularly along the middle of the cieling in halls or rooms give of a constant glow.
To your left, you can see the dwarven guard who you gave over to the Kobolds, deep in conversation with someone who looks like a grey-skinned, white haired dwarf. Their dwarvish accents are noticeably different even to untrained ears, but they are speaking the same language. The guard you all had hidden from and put to sleep earlier still has her feet in manacles, tied to the wall, but she has a bowl of some sort of food in front of her, and is talking in an animated way that gives a sense that she has forgotten that she is there against her will. A DC 13 nature or history check:
The grey dwarf is a Duergar - stories tell of a race of dwarves enslaved by creatures of the underdark, slowly twisted into a separate race.
"Ægte? Du har aldrig set solen? Det kan jeg næsten ikke tror på. Den er... man kan ikke beskrive det. "
"Tja, men det er vel lige så mærkeligt for mig, at møde en Dværg som har aldrig set livende lava... men også en hvis familie har aldrig været slaver. Jeg tror der er mange af os som ville gerne tale med jer om den kultur vi har fortabte."
"Men jeg er vel også nysgerrig på den kultur i har skabt!"
Really? You've never seen the sun? I can barely believe it. It's... it's impossible to describe.
Yeah, well it's just as weird for me to meet a dwarf who's never seen real lava... but also one whose family were never slaves. I think many of us would like to speak with y'all about the culture we've lost.
Well I'm also curious about the culture you've built!
"Come along," Hássan says, "The colony's center is just up ahead, and there you will meet your final test."
DM: Heavy is the Head
Hemlock nods as he sees the dwarven guard being well taken care of, even though he cannot understand a word she is saying.
"So they broke through to your home, and destroyed a fine looking mural. What it did depict?", he asks Hássan.
Once he had the answer, he will address the issue of the final test again.
"This final test, if it is indeed the test battle, I would request some time to rest first. That is if it is not possible to simply skip it", he says with a smile.
Lam is glad to see that the guard they left here earlier is doing ok, having almost- but not entirely- forgotten about her in the midst of everything they just went through. He cannot understand the conversation, but is glad the dwarves both seem to be enjoying it. Lam listens with interest for the answer to Hemlock’s question, and nods at his request for rest. Lam is not so tired himself, and still feels some of the adrenaline from the previous trial wiring him for battle, but does not want his friends to go into the last test feeling unwell.
Hássan considers both of Hemlock's queries. He is able to answer about the mural himself. "It was nicely built, fine craftsmanship, but none of us are sad to see that image destroyed. It showed lots of different peoples looking up at a mind-slaver master, one of the horrid Ilithids. We probably would have covered it up at some point."
(Saoirse recognizes that word as referring to mind flayers. Others can roll a history check if they wish.) As for the hope to rest before the final test, you can tell from his face that he agrees that it is unfair - he's already well convinced of your goodness and of your skill. He's been brought back from the brink of death by all of you twice now, and seen you free an innocent man. He consults his gem, which glows before he turns and answers you. "I'm sorry, but Hamza insists that you continue to the final test right away. She wishes to see how you can work and fight together, even when you are tired and resources are spent. She says this makes it a better test - but she also promises that none of you will die. Should any of you fall, she will stop the test immediately. She will also protect the fighters who challenge you - and intervene before you strike a killing blow. But she wishes to see you give it your all. I would not do this to you myself, but I do not question her wisdom."
DM: Heavy is the Head
Saoirse does not really pay that much attention to their surroundings, but does pose a question that's been bugging her since they arrived at the mines.
- ... How is this community going to guard themselves against the HMC? They are still coming here tomorrow. Even of we managed to convince them that the Crown is not here, they did mention that these mines are supposed to belong to Strixwell, so... how to deal with that?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"We will talk to them, and offer trade. If they can not be stopped, and want war... we will do our best, and failing that, Hamza will protect us. Or we will retreat into the deep."
DM: Heavy is the Head
- I see - she simply says, not really sure how they could fare against the HMC war machine, but simply trusting the kobold's better knowledge - Hamza, your leader, must be really strong. In fact, wait, did you just say "ilithids"? Those where the mind-slavers you mentioned a while back? The ones your colony's grandfathers were submitted to in the past? And Hamza fought against them? When did that happen exactly?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Yes, Hamza is extremely powerful. She hunts the mindslavers, whenever she hears that there are some who have taken a tribe or a people under their thrall. She says that surface people think that the mindslavers disappeared when their main army was broken and the human crowned himself king, centuries ago. But they are not all gone, and some of them still conquer corners of the underdark. My people have been free for almost 60 years, but this place was a palace for one of them until just a few years ago, when Hamza slew the monster and freed the few Grey dwarves that were here, and invited the colony to move here."
DM: Heavy is the Head
"Hamza sounds impressive, where does she herself come from?", Hemlock asks curiously. "I am unsure what was in the book still, but does it not strike anyone else as a little too coincidental that this Strixwell is crafting items to enslave minds, and this place was once inhabited by a mind-slaver creature?".
He looks around at the others, "I know we found the text about the crown, but it still seems odd".
He looks to Hássan, "As does Hamza wishing to see us fight for sport. I am not comfortable with this. I fight to protect myself and others, I will not simply attack someone for a senseless reason after we have demonstrated everything she needs to see already".
Lam listens to the conversation, doing his best to learn and understand- he has tried to learn more new information in the past 24 hours than he has in a very long time.
He rolled a 7 history check, so I am guessing he doesn’t know the word.
When Hássan talks about the conditions of the test, the breaths Lam takes are quick but not shallow. He puffs out his chest a little, and he seems almost excited to continue to the test. When the conversation turns back to the HMC, Lam glances back at the dwarf they brought here. Maybe she would be willing to help smooth things over? The HMC surely would not want to just proceed as before after what Samantha did to Captain Jonah? But Lam is not going to pretend he understands the reasoning of the HMC. He remains silent as he listens to the conversation, and does his best to pay attention to both the questions and answers, but does slightly, unconsciously pick up the pace as they walk towards the final test.
"You will meet her soon enough, and can ask her yourself. I trust her wisdom. That she is testing you so... it would be a great honor for any in my tribe. I believe she intends to entrust you with secrets, and with a great quest. Else she would not test you so." Hássan looks quite eager to continue further jnto the colony, and to lead you to the final test.
DM: Heavy is the Head
The genasi shakes her head:
- Most people in the surface have forgotten about the mindslavers, yes. But not everyone. My Order keeps those memories very much alive. In fact, that's the reason people such as Sebastian and are trained the way we are - she grows quiet for a moment and then adds - I hope Hamza will tell us more about her exploits when we meet her, I'm certain we will learn much from her.
To Hemlock she replies:
- Not only is Strixwell crafting mindslaving collars, which is bad enough in itself. But she is also using the good name of the True King - he who defeated the mindslaver army all those years ago - to attract people to use them. All under the promise of restoring his former kingdom, if we are to believe Samantha's words! That's really twisted! It's no wonder Sebastian thought that ... Wait, if I say this you are not going to understand me, Hemlock, as I read this in the Journal of Secrets. Have you thought of letting that tingling you mentioned before enter your mind? It may be the only way for you to be able to understand its contents.
She mentions nothing about the test, though she completely understands Hemlock's concerns. It seems that the only way to reach Hamza will be though that final test, and all they can do now is hope it goes well. And that it is less traumatic than the previous one.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
“Well I’m very curious to finally meet Hamza. I agree it’s unusual to be tested in order to gain an audience, but we’ve already agreed and we have assurance that our encounter will not be fatal. Are there any reasons to suspect foul play?” Sha-gravis looks up to Lam, (goblin)“Begeben Sie sich auf einen Dreher, seien Sie wachsam und auf alles vorbereitet.” Next he looks to Saoirse,(sylvan) “Fique atento, sabemos muito pouco sobre nosso anfitrião.” Sha retrieves Alptraum and dons his shield, “Ready as ever.”
Head on a swivel, be alert and ready for anything.
vigilant blessing.
Stay sharp, we know very little about our host.
guidance 4
SEA MISTRESS CREW
Lam nods in response to Sha’s words, gratefully receiving his magical touch once more. “Danke. Ohne Tabus. Ich bin… aufgeregt.”
”Thank you. No holds barred. I am… excited.”
Hássan leads you, unless you actively decide not to follow, to the next room, a large square with what looks like a disused fountain in the middle. There are openings in each of the cardinal directions, and out of one of them, two kobolds step out, each glowing slightly with the same sapphire hue as Hássan's gemstone. The one in front carries a large, beautiful sapphire shield, which looks to be one solid piece, almost organically grown in that scale, shield shape. The one behind carries a small rod the same color as the gemstone, gripped like a wand. When you enter, they each bow with respect and courtesy, before gripping their weapons in a fighting stance.
Hássan offers one last attempt to convince Hemlock: "It is not for sport. It is for training, or for testing. It is to convince Hamza that you can fight for what is right, and protect each other."
If you accept, please roll initiative.
https://www.owlbear.app/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP
DM: Heavy is the Head
Lam follows the Kobolds’ lead and bows back at them before dropping into a fighting stance.
Initiative: Would have been 11, but it is 19 thanks to advantage!