Quickly assessing what he man had on him to be as bare minimum, Progo concludes that the man must reside near by as to not carry more possessions on him. In normal circumstances that Progo would be retrieving lost goods, he would have taken the time to get the jerkin, if its good enough for this fellow, it woukd be useful to another. Progo grabs the cudgel and pouch and let's the jerkin stay as the dwarf mentioned another guard or two still out there. Progo turns to follow the dwarf he looks at Maggie. "Progo would describe how good of a climber you are? Well, you start to climb and I'll push you from behind." Progo scratches his head trying to think how Maggie was going to make the climb. "Perhaps Progo just ties the ladder around you and climb up first and we will pull you up, yeah that sounds a better plan." Progo will try and use the rope ladder to tie Maggie and then he will tie his own rope around her. Then he will climb up with his rope and assist pulling with his rope and the ladder if attached. Progo will pull up the ladder even if not used to pull Maggie up to slow followers.
Dev has been kneeling at the top of the rope ladder, looking down the shaft. He remains oblivious to the presence of the forest animals. Or rather, is so focused on the man coming up the ladder that he doesn’t consider the creatures’ behavior unusual. As Werhann ascends, Dev notes his broad shoulders and half expects a commanding form like Quinn's, tall and long-limbed, to emerge. As Werhann nears the top, Dev steps back, eyes still focused on the dwarf, noting the layers of bruises of various stages of healing, contusions, abrasions. The lad winces in distress. When Werhann pulls himself up completely onto flat ground, and he – the presumed lion – is not even as tall as Dev, who stands a mere 5 foot 7 inches, Dev blinks in surprise. But only for a moment. Though Werhann is weakened and bruised, and his head only reaches Dev’s shoulders, the Huntsman’s prodigious physicality, his muscular build, the hands like steel claws, in short, his power, stands out just as much as a much taller man’s (I suppose?).
When Werhann faces Dev, he sees before him a gawky teenaged boy, a tiefling with brick red complexion and a pair of yellow horns – small like a cow’s and not at all broad like a bull’s, poking out from behind a shock of dark hair – protruding from the hood of a charcoal cloak of shifting hues. The lad’s sympathetic, wide-set eyes are deep and cinnamon-colored like his hair, and his features and jaw are delicate. He wears a simple brocaded shirt, open at the collar, from which hangs a small set of pan pipes on a thin chain which he holds in one hand, itself enclosed in a glove of white lace. Black trousers fit snugly around his gawky lower limbs, ending at the ankles above faded red-sequined dancing shoes.
When Werhann’s glance meets his, Dev lowers his gaze shyly, steps back half a step, and listens to Normont. The gnome will determine if this is indeed the captive they’ve been searching for. As an afterthought, with a few softly whistled notes on his pan pipes, Dev releases the illusion below which fades away to golden fairy dust in an instant.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
(OOC: Seems like blond hair (or horns) is common in Whitestone.)
'An odd bunch to be sure, ' Werhann thinks to himself when his eyes finally adjust to the sunlight enough that he can look at each of the rescuing party's members in turn. If they were sent by the squids, those must have really made an effort in choosing a varied group. Or maybe they just offered a neat price/threat of whatever it is they did to him, that caught the eyes of these people.
Even if not aimed directly at him, Werhann felt uncomfortable on this side of the rifle's barrel. On the other hand, it meant that the wielder might be a fellow Hunter, or perhaps a member of the Corps. Werhann hoped it was the case, because otherwise, even an unintentional discharge could be Werhann's rather anticlimactic end. "Given that you bear one similar to mine yourself, I suppose you know I'm not really supposed to answer that, don't you? But you're right, it is my duty to make sure my rifle doesn't stay somewhere it doesn't belong, and down there are places I've yet to search."
But even as he speaks, although none of it is anything but the truth, Werhann's eyes drift from the Gnome's rifle to his waterskin. "Now, if my answer satisfies your justified suspicion, may I ha-"
Interrupted by the scream, Werhann doesn't finish his sentence. Perhaps it is not time to relax yet. "That might have been the squid, or the guard that fled, if the squid found him," Werhann speculates, ignoring the wildlife at the moment because, as far as he knows, they might be related to the group that surrounds him. "Might we continue this discussion in a more suitable setting?" Over a good meal, and a few large jugs of anything liquid.
Normont listens to Werhann and smiles as he gives him the answer he was hoping for regarding his firearm. He inclines his head and lowers the rifle when asked if the answer is satisfactory.
But then comes the scream, and the reaction of the animals. Very similar to the animals near the Far Gate portal.
"Hammer and tongs, this is not good. We've seen this otherworldly influence on animals before, and I expect the Illithid, or as you call it, the squid, is doing something similar", he says as he trains the rifle on the creatures.
"I am not sure whether we are better off up here or down there right now", he says pointing at the hatch. "If the squid is down there, we could end this now by removing the head of the snake, as it were", he suggests, using Werhann's term for the Illithid. He sounds determined but slightly nervous at the thought of going after the squid.
(OOC: Haven't posted for Maggie yet, as I don't know where she is. I also don't really know how good of a climber she is, being mechanical she might have ways and means to climb a rope. If not, Normont will build that in for the future :-) )
Lokilia tries to make sense of the animals' behavior. "Oh! Could those be more of those brain things?" she says speculatively. "I mean, like inside the animals. If they see us they're probably relaying that information to the illithid!" She looks at Werhann, and adds, "The squid. I think we should go."
After the last of Maggie clears the door, Progo falls to his knees, slightly winded from the struggle. In an attempt to hide the act of tiredness, pulls his dagger and holds it down to cut the ladder free to slow pursuit. Just before starting to cut the ladder free, Progo freezes at the sound of the scream. Seeing the suprised/shocked look on the others faces Progo asked, "Just to confirm Progo's assumption, we have no intentions to re-enter that hole before, you know, Progo goes snip snip."
Seeing the dwarf in the sunlight and how ragged the poor fella looked, Progo pulls the 3 goodberries out of his pocket and holds them out to him. "You look like you want these more then Progo." Remembering the tobacco from the dead guards pouch, he offers a little, "first ones on the house if you're interested." (Assuming no concerns Progo will cut free and bundle the rope ladder.)
"Oh, please refrain from that," Werhann hurries to stop Progo before he can cut off the only way back inside. "As we've just discussed, I'll need to return at some point and retrieve my rifle if it's still there. Even if it also allows them to go out, I doubt cutting the ladder will achieve much more than slowing them down, at best."
When offered the goodberries, Werhann doesn't think much about the strange offer, thinking of the berries as nothing more than regular berries. Although he does not expect it to be satisfying, it'll be more than nothing and, even if just for that, he didn't want to return the kind offer. "You have my gratitude." He grabs the berries he was offered, eating them all together not really expecting much, but within moments his eyes widen momentarily in surprise as he suddenly feels, for the first time in gods know how long, anything except hungry. "That was... an unexpected, but very welcome surprise."
If the others seem undecided regarding whether to use this chance and delve deeper or retreat for the moment, Werhann will at least use this chance while they stand still for his basic needs. "If I may, and I know you've done much for me already, but does any of you still have some water in one of those waterskins? It's been days, at the very least, since I last drank anything."
Progo let's out a bit of a laugh as he hears the newcomer mention returning. He reaches for his water skin and takes a good swig before handing it over. Perhaps might look like Progo was proving its safety, but reality was the Dwarf might drain the thing and Progo didn't want to go without for so long. Seeing the face of the man as he holds out the container. "Oh? You are being serious. Ah..." He looks around at the others, they don't seem to see it as Progo either, ""Well I'm not sure how to say thing easily, but chances are either this location or this entrance won't exist come tomorrow. When your secret entrance has been compromised, you either abandoned the whole spot and clear it out, or you destroy the entrance, in this case, destroyed walls and fill it with dirt a few room deep. Basically impossible to rediscover. And if those options don't exist, you reinforce all defenses. Surely they would expect a force from the guard to come swiftly and would cover there tracks. Either you take your chances now, have another way in, or simply let it go and no purchasable item is worth dying for my friend."
"Wait...," Dev's voice, though half-whispered, eerily drives between Progo and Werhann like a wedge. (Thaumaturgy). "Progo, I think Werhann is right. It makes sense to, like, get away but... someone's down there. That scream was terrible. I can't just stand here. We need to help whoever it is."
If the others look at Dev, they seem him almost trembling in fear. But he is moving closer to the trap door and, trembling or not, seems to be getting ready to climb down again.
Lokilia's instinct had been to get out of here and Progo's decision to keep cut the rope ladder made sense to her. But she listens as Dev mentions 'someone's down there'. She can only nod and says, "You're right Dev. We should help whoever that was."
Progo, still remembering being paralyzed and ravaged by yhe brain dogs, recalls his plan in his head, get the dwarf, get out. "Maybe you all couldn't hear or new friend's explanation of who was down there with him, in particular a guard who ran away before Progo entered. So Progo imagines this guards master wasn't pleased to hear his captive escaped and took it out on the messenger, who technically also was at fault for letting him escape. So instead the scream indicating there is someone to save, Progo thinks that's the sign that our presence has been reported and our que to vanish."
Normont had been listening to the others as he pondered the situation himself, but it is actually something Progo said that makes his own mind up.
"You are right, Progo", he says as he grabs his backpack and reaches inside. "The squid knows we are here, knows we have Werhann, and will move and we will lose our opportunity to take it down", he adds, now holding a three vials in his hand.
"I know you didn't sign up for this, Progo, so if you would rather leave that is fine, you have done a great service already and we are grateful", he says, genuinely grateful. "Back in Whitestone, just tell Trish of the Pale Guard that you were with me, and explain what happened. Ask her to get word to Lady Cassandra de Rolo. Unless of course you would rather come inside and see what one of these squid creatures might have for you to sell", he finishes with the flash of a grin.
He hands a couple of the vials to Werhann and one to Progo, "A little healing, you both look like you could use it".
"Whether it is the guard that screamed or not, this is the best chance we will have of taking the squid out. It is my duty to at least try", he says, his mind set.
He looks to Werhann, "You coming? Do you need a weapon until we find your rifle? I have a spare pistol".
As Progo feared, and without shame, Werhann downs every single drop of water he can squeeze out of the water skin into his throat. Far from enough, but it will suffice for now. "Thank you. Remind me to buy you a drink when we're back in Whitestone," Werhann offers his gratitude as he hands Progo his now-empty waterskin.
"You could be right, I didn't see every part of this place, but," Werhann offers from what little he observed inside, "from where I was held prisoner to here, there was only one intersection that could lead to another exit, and the path there sloped downwards. Only slightly, and yet I don't think that leads outside. This might be the only exit. And if they leave, they'll be more exposed, at least for a while, which also works in our favour. Be aware, they've set at least one trap down there. I imagine there could be more. But you're right, perhaps in leaving and returning later, I'll miss my best opportunity." Werhann accepts Normont's vials, drinks one and keeps the other, for now. "I'll follow you down there."
When offered a weapon, Werhann hesitates for a few moments. On the one hand, he could just create his own weapon. That might raise a few questions, but as far as he knows, the others don't know whether or not he could do it before, and they are not strangers to magic. On the other hand, a pistol is a good replacement for his rifle, at least temporarily. It will also allow Werhann to fight at a distance should he get hurt again. "I've... found a weapon on the way, one I left downstairs. But if I may, I'll happily accept your offer. A pistol is always useful as a backup."
Quickly assessing what he man had on him to be as bare minimum, Progo concludes that the man must reside near by as to not carry more possessions on him. In normal circumstances that Progo would be retrieving lost goods, he would have taken the time to get the jerkin, if its good enough for this fellow, it woukd be useful to another. Progo grabs the cudgel and pouch and let's the jerkin stay as the dwarf mentioned another guard or two still out there. Progo turns to follow the dwarf he looks at Maggie. "Progo would describe how good of a climber you are? Well, you start to climb and I'll push you from behind." Progo scratches his head trying to think how Maggie was going to make the climb. "Perhaps Progo just ties the ladder around you and climb up first and we will pull you up, yeah that sounds a better plan." Progo will try and use the rope ladder to tie Maggie and then he will tie his own rope around her. Then he will climb up with his rope and assist pulling with his rope and the ladder if attached. Progo will pull up the ladder even if not used to pull Maggie up to slow followers.
Dev has been kneeling at the top of the rope ladder, looking down the shaft. He remains oblivious to the presence of the forest animals. Or rather, is so focused on the man coming up the ladder that he doesn’t consider the creatures’ behavior unusual. As Werhann ascends, Dev notes his broad shoulders and half expects a commanding form like Quinn's, tall and long-limbed, to emerge. As Werhann nears the top, Dev steps back, eyes still focused on the dwarf, noting the layers of bruises of various stages of healing, contusions, abrasions. The lad winces in distress. When Werhann pulls himself up completely onto flat ground, and he – the presumed lion – is not even as tall as Dev, who stands a mere 5 foot 7 inches, Dev blinks in surprise. But only for a moment. Though Werhann is weakened and bruised, and his head only reaches Dev’s shoulders, the Huntsman’s prodigious physicality, his muscular build, the hands like steel claws, in short, his power, stands out just as much as a much taller man’s (I suppose?).
When Werhann faces Dev, he sees before him a gawky teenaged boy, a tiefling with brick red complexion and a pair of yellow horns – small like a cow’s and not at all broad like a bull’s, poking out from behind a shock of dark hair – protruding from the hood of a charcoal cloak of shifting hues. The lad’s sympathetic, wide-set eyes are deep and cinnamon-colored like his hair, and his features and jaw are delicate. He wears a simple brocaded shirt, open at the collar, from which hangs a small set of pan pipes on a thin chain which he holds in one hand, itself enclosed in a glove of white lace. Black trousers fit snugly around his gawky lower limbs, ending at the ankles above faded red-sequined dancing shoes.
When Werhann’s glance meets his, Dev lowers his gaze shyly, steps back half a step, and listens to Normont. The gnome will determine if this is indeed the captive they’ve been searching for. As an afterthought, with a few softly whistled notes on his pan pipes, Dev releases the illusion below which fades away to golden fairy dust in an instant.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
There is a sudden scream from deep underground, and all the animals around the clearing cock their heads to the right in unison.....
(Where are Progo and Maggie when the scream occurs?)
(OOC: Seems like blond hair (or horns) is common in Whitestone.)
'An odd bunch to be sure, ' Werhann thinks to himself when his eyes finally adjust to the sunlight enough that he can look at each of the rescuing party's members in turn. If they were sent by the squids, those must have really made an effort in choosing a varied group. Or maybe they just offered a neat price/threat of whatever it is they did to him, that caught the eyes of these people.
Even if not aimed directly at him, Werhann felt uncomfortable on this side of the rifle's barrel. On the other hand, it meant that the wielder might be a fellow Hunter, or perhaps a member of the Corps. Werhann hoped it was the case, because otherwise, even an unintentional discharge could be Werhann's rather anticlimactic end. "Given that you bear one similar to mine yourself, I suppose you know I'm not really supposed to answer that, don't you? But you're right, it is my duty to make sure my rifle doesn't stay somewhere it doesn't belong, and down there are places I've yet to search."
But even as he speaks, although none of it is anything but the truth, Werhann's eyes drift from the Gnome's rifle to his waterskin. "Now, if my answer satisfies your justified suspicion, may I ha-"
Interrupted by the scream, Werhann doesn't finish his sentence. Perhaps it is not time to relax yet. "That might have been the squid, or the guard that fled, if the squid found him," Werhann speculates, ignoring the wildlife at the moment because, as far as he knows, they might be related to the group that surrounds him. "Might we continue this discussion in a more suitable setting?" Over a good meal, and a few large jugs of anything liquid.
Varielky | Werhann
Normont listens to Werhann and smiles as he gives him the answer he was hoping for regarding his firearm. He inclines his head and lowers the rifle when asked if the answer is satisfactory.
But then comes the scream, and the reaction of the animals. Very similar to the animals near the Far Gate portal.
"Hammer and tongs, this is not good. We've seen this otherworldly influence on animals before, and I expect the Illithid, or as you call it, the squid, is doing something similar", he says as he trains the rifle on the creatures.
"I am not sure whether we are better off up here or down there right now", he says pointing at the hatch. "If the squid is down there, we could end this now by removing the head of the snake, as it were", he suggests, using Werhann's term for the Illithid. He sounds determined but slightly nervous at the thought of going after the squid.
(OOC: Haven't posted for Maggie yet, as I don't know where she is. I also don't really know how good of a climber she is, being mechanical she might have ways and means to climb a rope. If not, Normont will build that in for the future :-) )
(Currently l'm just picturing Progo triying to pickup/ push Maggie from behind, faiiling miserably and cursing the whole time!)
Lokilia tries to make sense of the animals' behavior. "Oh! Could those be more of those brain things?" she says speculatively. "I mean, like inside the animals. If they see us they're probably relaying that information to the illithid!" She looks at Werhann, and adds, "The squid. I think we should go."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric
Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
( Progo after much struggle gets Maggie up the ladder, then the scream occurs.)
After the last of Maggie clears the door, Progo falls to his knees, slightly winded from the struggle. In an attempt to hide the act of tiredness, pulls his dagger and holds it down to cut the ladder free to slow pursuit. Just before starting to cut the ladder free, Progo freezes at the sound of the scream. Seeing the suprised/shocked look on the others faces Progo asked, "Just to confirm Progo's assumption, we have no intentions to re-enter that hole before, you know, Progo goes snip snip."
Seeing the dwarf in the sunlight and how ragged the poor fella looked, Progo pulls the 3 goodberries out of his pocket and holds them out to him. "You look like you want these more then Progo." Remembering the tobacco from the dead guards pouch, he offers a little, "first ones on the house if you're interested." (Assuming no concerns Progo will cut free and bundle the rope ladder.)
Dev’s glow of satisfaction blinks away at the sound of the scream.
“What was that?,” he breathes, his musical mind filtering and categorizing the sound to try to register what made it. (Nature?: 15+3=18)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
( Almost certainly human....or at least humanoid.)
"Oh, please refrain from that," Werhann hurries to stop Progo before he can cut off the only way back inside. "As we've just discussed, I'll need to return at some point and retrieve my rifle if it's still there. Even if it also allows them to go out, I doubt cutting the ladder will achieve much more than slowing them down, at best."
When offered the goodberries, Werhann doesn't think much about the strange offer, thinking of the berries as nothing more than regular berries. Although he does not expect it to be satisfying, it'll be more than nothing and, even if just for that, he didn't want to return the kind offer. "You have my gratitude." He grabs the berries he was offered, eating them all together not really expecting much, but within moments his eyes widen momentarily in surprise as he suddenly feels, for the first time in gods know how long, anything except hungry. "That was... an unexpected, but very welcome surprise."
If the others seem undecided regarding whether to use this chance and delve deeper or retreat for the moment, Werhann will at least use this chance while they stand still for his basic needs. "If I may, and I know you've done much for me already, but does any of you still have some water in one of those waterskins? It's been days, at the very least, since I last drank anything."
Varielky | Werhann
Progo let's out a bit of a laugh as he hears the newcomer mention returning. He reaches for his water skin and takes a good swig before handing it over. Perhaps might look like Progo was proving its safety, but reality was the Dwarf might drain the thing and Progo didn't want to go without for so long. Seeing the face of the man as he holds out the container. "Oh? You are being serious. Ah..." He looks around at the others, they don't seem to see it as Progo either, ""Well I'm not sure how to say thing easily, but chances are either this location or this entrance won't exist come tomorrow. When your secret entrance has been compromised, you either abandoned the whole spot and clear it out, or you destroy the entrance, in this case, destroyed walls and fill it with dirt a few room deep. Basically impossible to rediscover. And if those options don't exist, you reinforce all defenses. Surely they would expect a force from the guard to come swiftly and would cover there tracks. Either you take your chances now, have another way in, or simply let it go and no purchasable item is worth dying for my friend."
"Wait...," Dev's voice, though half-whispered, eerily drives between Progo and Werhann like a wedge. (Thaumaturgy). "Progo, I think Werhann is right. It makes sense to, like, get away but... someone's down there. That scream was terrible. I can't just stand here. We need to help whoever it is."
If the others look at Dev, they seem him almost trembling in fear. But he is moving closer to the trap door and, trembling or not, seems to be getting ready to climb down again.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Lokilia's instinct had been to get out of here and Progo's decision to keep cut the rope ladder made sense to her. But she listens as Dev mentions 'someone's down there'. She can only nod and says, "You're right Dev. We should help whoever that was."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric
Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Progo, still remembering being paralyzed and ravaged by yhe brain dogs, recalls his plan in his head, get the dwarf, get out. "Maybe you all couldn't hear or new friend's explanation of who was down there with him, in particular a guard who ran away before Progo entered. So Progo imagines this guards master wasn't pleased to hear his captive escaped and took it out on the messenger, who technically also was at fault for letting him escape. So instead the scream indicating there is someone to save, Progo thinks that's the sign that our presence has been reported and our que to vanish."
Normont had been listening to the others as he pondered the situation himself, but it is actually something Progo said that makes his own mind up.
"You are right, Progo", he says as he grabs his backpack and reaches inside. "The squid knows we are here, knows we have Werhann, and will move and we will lose our opportunity to take it down", he adds, now holding a three vials in his hand.
"I know you didn't sign up for this, Progo, so if you would rather leave that is fine, you have done a great service already and we are grateful", he says, genuinely grateful. "Back in Whitestone, just tell Trish of the Pale Guard that you were with me, and explain what happened. Ask her to get word to Lady Cassandra de Rolo. Unless of course you would rather come inside and see what one of these squid creatures might have for you to sell", he finishes with the flash of a grin.
He hands a couple of the vials to Werhann and one to Progo, "A little healing, you both look like you could use it".
"Whether it is the guard that screamed or not, this is the best chance we will have of taking the squid out. It is my duty to at least try", he says, his mind set.
He looks to Werhann, "You coming? Do you need a weapon until we find your rifle? I have a spare pistol".
As Progo feared, and without shame, Werhann downs every single drop of water he can squeeze out of the water skin into his throat. Far from enough, but it will suffice for now. "Thank you. Remind me to buy you a drink when we're back in Whitestone," Werhann offers his gratitude as he hands Progo his now-empty waterskin.
"You could be right, I didn't see every part of this place, but," Werhann offers from what little he observed inside, "from where I was held prisoner to here, there was only one intersection that could lead to another exit, and the path there sloped downwards. Only slightly, and yet I don't think that leads outside. This might be the only exit. And if they leave, they'll be more exposed, at least for a while, which also works in our favour. Be aware, they've set at least one trap down there. I imagine there could be more. But you're right, perhaps in leaving and returning later, I'll miss my best opportunity." Werhann accepts Normont's vials, drinks one and keeps the other, for now. "I'll follow you down there."
When offered a weapon, Werhann hesitates for a few moments. On the one hand, he could just create his own weapon. That might raise a few questions, but as far as he knows, the others don't know whether or not he could do it before, and they are not strangers to magic. On the other hand, a pistol is a good replacement for his rifle, at least temporarily. It will also allow Werhann to fight at a distance should he get hurt again. "I've... found a weapon on the way, one I left downstairs. But if I may, I'll happily accept your offer. A pistol is always useful as a backup."
Potion of Healing: 1+2+2=5 HP.
Varielky | Werhann
The ring of silent wildlife continues to regard the group......