The Blackmire Company: Campaign

(Combat Ends)

All: Make a CON Save v DC 16.  Failure, take 1 level of exhaustion.

The Lion blinks, as if not even believing what Abigail just did.  He presses his fingers against the stone.  He says something to it, before smashing the stone with his own claws.  Carving it into tiny pieces as it shatters.  Faint amounts of mist rising up as he destroys it.  There's a bit of laughter from him, but also, tears welling up in his eyes.

(What he said, in Sylvan:)

 The Lion looks back to you all.  His ears turning as he looks further down the mountain.  "Come with me.  I not only have a favor I will pay you for, but you are not safe right now.  Other Hn'ti are stalking to here, and I do not believe you are in shape to fight."

He begins to head away, motioning for you to come.  He heads through parts of the ruins, heading back. More towards the beginning.  It's there that you see a chain ladder heading down.  It's easy enough to climb, heading down into a small dungeon.  Silvered manacles lining the wall.  "You'd be safe here, for a little bit.  They will eventually come this way."  Bones litter the floor.  Some small animals. Some goblin.

"My favor, in which I will pay you for, is to destroy that."  He points over to this small box.  Inside is a heart.  Scraps of paper are wrapped around the heart.  The paper has strange writing across it, all tied together by silver threads.  

The Paper has Druidic Writing on it

 What do you all do?

Sim watches fascinated as Rune collapses inward.  As the ball rolls to a stop he turns his attention to the lion. 

His comments and reactions lead Sim to contemplate something. Looking inward on the one memory he received from the Hn’ti he pauses a moment and asks. “Exactly how long have you been a prisoner no a slave to the Hn’ti?  What can you tell us about this temple and what is inside?  We seek the silver apple but have no desire to release what is trapped inside. Is the heart connected to what is inside?”  

persuasion 16

And to gauge his response insight 20

Con Save 15

Con save 24 

Diadochi follows the lion "by 'safe here for a little bit' did you mean 'for an hour or so because, you're right, we are in no shape to fight, and need respite. Especially of they have more of those quill people. What are those, any way? " Diadochi will a work into the flow of conversation about the silver manacles and the heart box as well to try to get all the Intel he an on the situation. 

Con save 21

Yaalin clearly still not in complete control follows the group reluctantly wishing instead to remain and purge the town of all Hn'ti that could be there.

after the lion tells them of his favor, "Ha, and why exactly should we do this for you?  What do we gain in exchange for what is obviously setting you free of some compulsion?" her eyes still black gleam in the dim light, the one thing of possible benefit to us you have already crushed in your hand, as I see it you already owe us for the opportunity to do that." she scoffs, maybe we should simply place you back in these shackles and wait for those outside to deal with you.  You need us far more than we need you"

If someone intervenes/ gets her off track she will begin the rituals for Detect Magic  otherwise she will continue to stand defiantly before the lion man to demand answers.

Con Save: 2

Following the lion-tabaxi actually puts Abigail at ease. Her curiosity piqued and a new sense of optimism allows her to easily fight off her exhaustion.

Assuming no one takes any sort of immediate action(s) regarding the heart:

The Lion gives a small nod to Diadochi.  "Yes, you should be able to gather some strength here.  Before they come and search.  I'd say you could escape through side tunnels, but, you are far bigger than the goblins that scurry under the ruins."  

The lion turns and looks at Yaalin.  "I have lead you to a place to be safe. But I wouldn't take you for a slaver.  Someone who binds creatures to their will.  Unless you wanted a fight.  That was the Hn'ti orders. To fight you all.  I could not pick up the ring myself. It had to be given. Perhaps you're a cleric that doesn't understand faith.  Putting trust in others, and hoping for a better outcome."

He lets Yaalin begin her ritual, as he sighs.  He tears off a bit of goblin meat - entrails really - taking a bite before offering it to Sim.  Clearly, it's not meant for consumption by most people. "If you're hungry."  There's a bit the lion looks taken back.  "TRAPPED?!"  He shakes his head vigorously.  "The high preistess is who is trapped in there.  If by trapped you mean locked away by the same creatures that deserve my wrath."  

He begins to speak to the heart, but notices that Abigail drives a dagger into it.  "Oh by Jeshur...." a wide smile comes across as the heart just deflates.  The silver around the his wrists, and his ankles, disappear.  The grey around the muzzle still lingers though.  "You beautiful creature."  The lion simply stops and gives Abigail a look before snapping his fingers.  "Yes.  Right.  Let me make sure I still understand how to do this."

The Lion makes a few gestures into the air.  A faint residual glow lingering before he seems to pull a massive great sword out of the air.  "Still here.  Good."  He turns and jams it into the ground, hard.  Wiggling between two stones.  It takes a few minutes before they pop, and a small hidden compartment is inside.  A rather large trunk hidden under the stones.  "For you... my friend." he says to Abigail. Gesturing to the trunk.

"I am Alul, bodyguard of the Priests of Jeshur.  Captain of the City Guard of the High City of hope. And for the past few hundred years, I have been here since the traitors did what they did.  I barely know what year it is, let alone my age."  He glances over to Diadochi, who asks about the manacles.  "They burn the skin.  Keep people here, until those that get here can be shipped off to the Hn'ti for whatever devil magic they use."

Yaalin's detect magic eventually does go off.  His sword is magical, as are a few items inside the trunk.  But their auras are rather faint and nondescript. 

Sim, you do believe that he's telling the truth.  And after his silvery bonds seem to be gone, a very angry look comes into his eyes whenever he mentions the Hn'ti.  "I'll tell you this.  The temple isn't here.  But, a few years ago another came asking about the Temple and the Apple.  Why have you come looking for it?"

Inside the Chest (and other things)

Orb of Shielding (Cold) - What Rune turned into
[magicitem[Potion of Healing[/magicitem]
[magicitem[Potion of Healing[/magicitem] (Greater)
[magicitem[Potion of Climbing[/magicitem]
Potion of Mountain Breath
Scroll of Thunderwave - Cast at 2nd level
Scroll of Word of Radiance - Cast at 1st level
3 gems, worth 10 GP a piece 
20 gold coins
900 silver coins
2,300 copper coins

 Yaalins agitation continues to tear at her mind but seems to ebb ever so slightly when it becomes clear the lion hates the Hn'ti. 

She pulls the Orb from the pocket she stowed it in glancing over it then tossing it to Diadochi. "Here, this will help you more than me"  then moves to the deepest corner possible and sinks to rest against the wall her eyes closed.

Abigail, somewhat distracted by the sudden appearance of treasure, slowly turns to Alul, "To be honest, we were hired to retrieve the apple for a client, but the purpose of the acquisition was not given. As our journey has progressed, it appears more and more that the answer to that question could be of importance."

She pauses, looking back at the small horde, before asking, "Now that you are free, what will you do?" 

Lafetha follows the lion and the group into the small dungeon. Looking at the box, she notices that the writing around the heart is in Druidic. She walks over and picks it up, and begins to read it out loud. She asks the lion if the heart in the box is his.

She takes another look at the box.

Use whichever one makes the most since:

investigation 3

arcana 22

Con save

15

Lafetha, you take a look at the heart.  It's old, but most likely the magic is preserving it.  The written druidic words keeping some kind of binding spell with a combination of nature magic, and more arcane styles of blood magic.  You don't have a deep understanding of blood magic though, outside having seen what the Hn'ti elder did.  With words of "mate" and "blood," it's possible that this heart is the significant other to the Lion, Alul.

Placing it down for a moment to get a better look, or perhaps just a bit more context clues, is when Abigail stabs the thing.  It deflating and seemingly the magic lifting off of the lion.  The silvery threads vanishing.  The way he uses his hands to bring back a sword, though.  It makes you think they locked away his own abilities to cast magic.

Sim takes the potion of mountain breathing and downs it. He pauses a moment as he feels his body acclimate to the mountain heights and his lungs expand with wonderfully deep breaths of air.  Finally Sim looks over and asks Alul "If you would please tell us exactly what happened with the priestess and the temple.  Who betrayed her and why? Where is the temple?  Do you recall the name of the one who came looking for the Apple?  I feel like the information you have may lend some answers to who we should trust in this journey."

Then he pockets 4 gold and his 180 Silver.

8

Alul leans against his blade.  His eyes perking up and shifting to a corner before looking back to Abigail.  

"A client looking for the apple?  I suppose there are always going to be legends and relic hunters.  The apple was a item only viewed by the Priests.  I never saw it personally.  But everyone knew about it."  He looks back over at Yaalin for a moment, continuing to talk but trying to assess the creature.

"It was said that long ago, 3 Sisters all came to this mountain.  Hungry, poor, and alone, they happened upon a wanderer named Jeshur.  It was he who gave the Sisters a apple from his sack, as a gesture of kindness for them making him not lost.  He promised great things, as long as they helped to guide others who were lost.  So they built a place of refuge in the mountains.  Those Three Sisters, became the Three Priests Jeshur - the god of Travelers and Wanderers.  In time, people came.  In time, a village came to the side of the mountain that was lush with animals and water and life.  It gained the name of Hope.  And things were good.  There were goblins, giants, the people you now know as Hn'ti - although they were not called that yet.  Others kinds of people too, but their faces are long gone to me."

He moves over to the chest of coins, a foot going up on the side of it.  "I was born in Hope.  Married there," his eyes glance over to the heart that lays deflated.  "Had sons and daughters. Made sons and daughters.  In fact, this chest was to be the dowry gifts to those my daughters married."  His eyes look over to Abigail for a second.  "And if I had a son left to marry off, I would gladly force his hand to you for doing what you have done."

He opens his mouth as if to talk about his family, but falls silent.  "I suppose not everyone likes society and some want to change it," he begins again, looking over to Sim.  "A druidic circle, lead by a thing called Yeth came.  Calling the mountain home.  Saying that the spirits of the mountain were done being disrespected."  Alul's voice seems to have a inflection of hatred towards Yeth, and confusion as to what  it could even mean.  His shoulders shrugging as he recalls the story.  "But Yeth came with a creature who called itself Gore.  He was goblin like.  Just, much bigger.  MUCH bigger.  I don't know the name of the race myself.  Just he wore black armor, and was the slayer of giants.  It was them that tainted the tribes and villages around us.  Poisoned our Hope.  It lead to a war."

"I honestly don't know what happened at the end of the fighting, I am ashamed to say.  I was injured fighting Gore when one of the Priests fell in combat to Hyun'Thai.  It was that leader that the Hn'ti named themselves after, once it was all over.  Things are foggy from there.  Hyun'Thai and his... things... using some dark arts.  Made my mind not my own.  Stole memories from me.  Made me slay my own so I could be bound in servitude."  He walks over with that and puts a paw on the heart.  "But I do not know how things ended.  What happened to the other two Priests.  Or how they locked the temple away.  I just know they used me for some ritual generations ago. And when I helped them kill whoever was here, they would sometimes give a memory back of those I cared about."

Alul just stands there in silence.  His hand moving to the corner of his eye for just a second.  "But enough of the past.  We speak of the present now.  The man I met was like a human, but short. Carrying books and notes and things. A sneaky person who seemed more into drawings and playing a flute and study than anything.  He skittered in here.  And we chatted when we could, but he's long gone now.  And as for what I am to do now... I have a tribe to wipe cleanse from the mountain.  Then I can turn my attention to Yeth and Gore.  First, I can help you get to the stairs...." he snaps his fingers.  His eyes looking across the room at you all wide a bit of wide excitement.  "Perhaps, you can come with me? Help me take them down.  I can make you powerful enough to do it, too.  But this rightful vengeance must be done before I take on any other tasks.  I owe it to those lost by their magics."

Abigail listens to Alul as he talks, getting lost in his memories and muscle tone, but when he finishes she is hesitant toward his request. 

Bending down to collect the Healing Potion and Potion, she turns to him and notes, "You do realize that it sounds like you want to commit genocide, right?"

Abigail collects her share of the gold and silver, then scoops up the gems and puts them in a separate pouch in her bag.

She looks around at the party, "Neither the Hn'ti nor the goblins have any friends here, and we may hold morally ambiguous stances on a number of issues... But harming women and children is a bit much for treasure hunters and adventure seekers."

Diadochi listens to Abigail and nods "since we got here we've been hearing a lot of tales about great evils spreading across the world that need to be righted. The more time I spend here the more I just want to go home which... well isn't an option. If there are wrongs in this world that need righting, it is a Loxodon's duty to right said wrongs. The goblin's are being taken over by an evil supernatural being, and the Hn'Ti have a blood Grudge with the witches. But maybe the Hn'Ti aren't all evil" Diadochi sighs "You know my great uncle used to tell me about his adventures out in the Safari, they were nothing like this... You said you could make us stronger. I'd like to hear more about that."

Assuming we get a short rest 2 hit dice 5 7

"I've heard that some believe an eye for an eye makes the world blind.  But I'd rather be a blind than live without justice."  He holds up his pay a bit, as he shakes his head.  "But you all are outsiders, and I respect that your lives are not mine to request.  So if you do not wish to come with me against them, I understand.  I will still help you in this town to the stairs and from there we will part ways."

He looks over to Diadochi and gives a nod.  "Yes.  I can make you stronger. I can make it so you can survive blows that would kill a normal man," his eyes glance over to the silver manacles for a second.  "But you are not invulnerable.  That would be the gift I give for you and coming and aiding me.  Becoming my allies against the Hn'ti.  But again, I stress, I am going there after this town.  I cannot wait.  It has been a long time coming."

Tell me what are the names of the three sisters of the temple?  My heart tells me to go with you but my friends here need my help too. I’d ask if there is anyway you could assist us then we assist you?  Isn’t your high priestess locked away in the temple? Shouldn’t you free her before moving on?

He shakes his head no.  "They tortured me too long with the memories of my family.  Perhaps I can make them all whole, and gain them all back.  I have to find how to right that wrong, before I right the wrong of my failure with the Priests.  But they're names?  I'm shocked you've never heard of them, as they used to be quite well known on the mountain."  He gives a bit of a look, glancing around the room.  "But then again, I have been here for a long, long while.  Priest Orta, Priest Syvtia," he pauses after Syvtia - possibly the one who died he mentioned earlier, "And High Priest Nyra."

Diadochi thinks about the Hn'ti village being attacked, then about a burning village, an injured child clinging to his leg, speaking in a language Diadochi can't understand but it's clear they are asking for help. Diadochi shakes off his thousand yard stare.  "What was done to you was terrible, I understand your need to hurt those who've hurt you. I wouldn't call least you describe to be Justice, revenge won't heal this. The leader and the spiritual advisors of the Hn'ti village are evil, but I've seen good in the village as well. Wholesale slaughter isn't as simple as you think and I won't allow it ((pause)). If your first act if free will is to commit evil, maybe you should have stayed on the leash. If you want to take out the leaders we can work something out, if you want to kill an entire village you'll step over my body first."

As Yaalin meditates scenes from her past swirl and mix in her mind , beaches of slaughtered tortles an army unmarked leaving her for dead, watching as her first clutch of eggs is raided by monsters only a few small younglings making it to the water.  The second clutch many more survived, but the seas are unforgiving to the young.  friends and family lost to diseases and illness she was not prepared for, darkness and light coming from the mysterious shapes in the sky.  comfort and strength but heightened emotional states.  memories that aren't hers begin to join the struggles of her life a gnome trapped in a city of bronze and steel, a orc dying shamed and alone, a village on fire,  a mate betrayed....

Her eyes snap open the blackness still gleaming but now with purpose. "I, will join you in your task of purging the bloodwielders off this mountain.  Their souls are beyond redemption for all but the youngest and those I fear may be to far gone as well." she turns to Diadochi, "you may not like this task but they cannot be allowed to taint the world further, if you wish to attempt to redeem them you may try but I cannot help you in preventing their death." turning back to Alul "We...well, I at least, am in no condition to help right now though without rest I am likely to be more hinderance than help. do you know if we can rest longer nearby before purging the city at large? or if there would be sanctuary inside the temple while you begin your work?"

she thinks back to the last week or so, "you should know Yeth is dead....though I cannot say she will never come back, I know not what allies she had left."

she falls silent here, the blackness of her eyes swirling gently as she waits for replies.