"Eeeyup," Amelia answers plainly. "Parents died when I was, mm, 'bout 14 or 15. I'm an only child, so I didn't have anyone to really lean on. Dad's grandparents were gonezo and my mom's were super far away." She shrugged. "It wasn't easy, but I met a group of mercs who taught me to defend myself. There's a lever over there, by the way."

"Oooh, can I activate it, mama?"

"If we're all ready?"

"It seems that we do indeed have a lot in common, Madame Hiriart." Jill looks away for a moment, thinking about something. "You're pretty cool, much more than most people your age that I have come across." She smiles at the older woman.  "And I am ready to go down."

When Misha tells him to shut up, Riannis spiritedly sticks his tongue out at her. "You're not very nice. I never did anything to you!" He turns invisible.

Allynna smiles a bit at Riannis's antics and merely nods when it's asked if people are ready to go down.

Meep: You've heard of these altars before - blessed by Torm and having restorative properties.

Jill: LOL.

Nok: Nothing comes to mind, but Meep seems to recognize something about the altar.

CATACOMBS LEVEL

H15 - AN UNKNOWN HERO

The level activates a secret downstairs passaway that leads down to the Catacombs to H15. This small, isolated tomb opens up at the end of a flight of broad stairs off the open central area of this level. The body of a young woman lies on the bier, a gleaming greatsword at her side.

"Is anyone capable of identifying that sword before I pick it up? I would rather not have another cursed weapon."

The more Yoska saw, the more reticent he became as the group went along. Eventually, almost as if to avoid having to speak at all, he turned into a white-furred ranger. Before the transformation has completed itself, he'll say to Jill, "'Fraid not. But if she's a defender, can't be bad." Without so much as a gesture, he steps up further into the hall, looks around solemnly, then starts to head towards the southern halls to start looking around if not stopped by the others.

Quietly, at least at first.

Stealth: 16.

(Heading towards H-10 southeast corner eventually)

Jill will claim the gleaming longsword if Yoska doesn't come across any enemies in the hall. "If this longsword has another obnoxious demon inside it, I'm going to lose it."

“It’s a greatsword.” Corrin whispers to Jill, pointing at crispys previous post.

Allynna approaches the body respectfully, looking to see if there are any identifying marks on her armor or blade before slipping briefly into Elvish. "Corellon and Sehanine, if your reach can extend to this place, bring this woman to the afterlife she deserves. Do not let her soul be taken by the creatures here below. Please...I know I don't really pray to you, but...I'm trying to be a bit better."

Warily, Persephone follows along behind Yoska, sticking to the comforting darkness of the shadows (where she is completely invisible). Witnessing all this death and destruction had no effect on her. In fact, completely the opposite. Death, to her, was merely a step in the direction of future growth. It brought new adventures, new mysteries to solve, and a sought after break in the tedium of living a corporeal existence. It was the bastions of hell that bothered her. Those hideous beasts were the mark of something that was antithetical to her Queen’s rule. A pimple on the nose. An ugly wart, challenging the cycle of life and death and rebirth her Queen held ultimate domain over. They must be destroyed for violating her Queens dominion.

So silently she continued on, with murder in her heart. 

"Ah, merci. I was more focusing on whether it had a demon or a curse attached to it. Remind me to tell you about the time I accidentally got a demon axe. I think that you will find it to be a funny story."

Earlier: Meep studies the altar before speaking absentmindedly. "An altar blessed by Torm. I believe my teacher said they have regenerative pripertues." She pauses and looks to the others. "I'm ready to head down if you are." 

Now: Meep nods to Jill's comment. "I'm sure it is an interesting story. But for another time perhaps? I'm sure the greatsword is fine..." Meep follows behind the others carefully. 

"HA!" Misha barked at Jill's comment about the tainted axe. "Yes, was a good tale, that axe. And a good time." she said to the group. At the last sentence, you could tell if she was talking about the axe, or perhaps..something else, her eyes lost in affection and remembrance.

Jill: As you touch the greatsword, your world suddenly goes black and you are still. You are shown a story in your mind, drawn out in rough sketches, like an animated story told from the point of view of someone, or something. Years before the Companion appeared in the sky, a young red dragon made life miserable for the residents of Elturel. It ate livestock, burned crops, and demanded tribute. Then one day, a scruffy-looking, unarmored woman wielding a greatsword marched up to the dragon and hacked at the beast with mighty swings. Before the stunned creature could fly away, she slew it. A startled and overwhelmed populace rushed toward the woman to thank and reward her for her bravery. As they approached, however, she fell dead. The unknown woman was laid to rest in this special place in the cathedral, and her body has never decomposed. Her nonmagical greatsword was placed at her side. Rumors suggest that she was an incarnation of Torm, or that Torm’s essence filled the woman and inspired her to defeat the threat.

This is the body of that woman.

Yoska/Seph: 

H10 - RECESSED MAUSOLEUMS

These areas are the final resting places of esteemed priests, warriors, and other dedicated servants of Elturel. 1 You come across 3 terrified commoners, obviously survivors and refugees from devil attacks since the city arrived on Avernus. They spook and shiver in fear upon seeing you.

Nok eyes the terrified commoners with true concern in his eyes. Mind you, the concern is not for them, but for himself. “They seem pretty spooked,” he says, moving closer to the bigs. “Perhaps, we should be too?”

Before they move to the next room, Allynna approaches Misha, head high. "I thought it was time we talked about Gargauth," she says levelly.

“Sure.” Misha’s smile vanished. ”As long as you’re aware I hef a very large hammer. What ees eet.”

Allynna eyes Misha cooly. "I am growing very tired of the threats, Misha," she says flatly. "They are juvenile and, quite frankly, rather pointless. We are in Avernus. Despite your prior declaration, you've made no effort to talk to me, and it's a tactical weakness to have this conflict in the team. So, if you can keep from telling me how you'll kill me for a few minutes, I'd like to tell you what I did to Gargauth."

"This sword is definitely not cursed. In fact, I do not think that it is particularly magical at all. But this woman was a hero, she killed a dragon that was attacking Elturel long ago. The people kept her here as thanks. I am not so sure that I should be taking this blade now."

“As Misha say before, don’t care about your feelings. That ees problem weeth you. Always putting up big brave face, sharp teeth, then when shove come to poosh, you are weak, and scared, Misha can see it. Bek on my world you not last two hours. Do not talk to me about tactics, like you are expert? YOU brought confleect to teem, not Misha, remember. And I know where we are, my people fight on thees plane for our very exeestance while you talk to me about your opinion. You know nothing of me. Now. Say what you hef to say so I can earn honor and glory for The Lord General.”

Allynna gives a scornful laugh. "And you know nothing of me either, Misha. I don't care about your opinion, or your judgements of me. But I thought this was something you should know." Her eyes turn hard as steel. "I summoned Gargauth-or at least the part of him that was speaking to me-and I used a power I barely understand to bind him somewhere he will never hurt anyone again. He's under my control now, and I never intend to let him out again. Despite your threats, your dismissal and your scorn, I chose your side. Not for you, though." She gives a contemptuous laugh. "I am quite done doing things because other people want me to. I neither asked for nor care about your forgiveness, your affection, or even your opinion." continues to give Misha a cold look. "But Misha? If you do try to kill me, or hurt me, know that I will fight back-I will not merely accept your judgement. And despite the fact that you seem to think I am a weak child, keep in mind that I just bound the essence of a pit fiend that has lived for centuries. So if you cannot accept me attempting to mend fences, accept the only language you seem to be able to speak with me. Hurt me and I hurt you back." Her eyes are hard with anger and determination.