3 - 035: The Third Piece

[K Man]

Krysta - Mordrock puts on the robe, picking up as it comically drapes about his body. After a bit of magic and shimmering, the small goblin no longer looks like a Goblin, but like a teenage human who has yet to grow into his skin. He smiles a - a pathetic attempt to look charming that forces a chuckle out of those around him.

When asked;

"Mordrock, what can you tell me of the Leader from Boone's Freehold? You were fro there, and would know more than most about that leader and why they were looking for the shards as well."

He replies; [Knowledge, Masters Troops Check, Mordrock]



"Hmm...you mean vampire? He big in Masters army, some call him 'Right Hand', others call him 'Hirsuthe'. Mrodrock think it strange he named 'Right Hand Hirsuthe', but then again, Mordrock thinks fighting for 'Master' is silly."

"Mordrock not know much else about Right Hand Hirsuthe, but he know he mean, fast and like to hunt people. He not one to mess with."

The Goblin hobbles along, quietly remaining out of distance from anyone else. He doesn't fully trust magic, so he remains apprehensive. Krysta is never far from sight though.
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Hero, Callian, Caelith, Garor, Newt, Krysta, Girud and Galdren - You find Delomme in a cave, helping to wrap a young girl up in furs for the coming night. It's almost the fall and the nights have become chilly. The hillside begins to light up, each cave starting a roaring bonfire at the mouth to stave off the cold air rushing into it. A few of the caves hang cloaks over the entrance to block in the heat.

As you approach Delomme, his face is beyond weary. He listens to your pleas, face twisting in anger when you mention that some of those responsible for the tragedy at his city has survived. [Diplomacy Check Hero, Aided by Caelith, Callian and Garor. (Everyone chipped in, so why not?)] Upon seeing such a display of commradery and trust from those he witnessed do goods deeds, Delomme's face melts.



"Alright, I trust your judgement in this matter, Ambassadors of Sturmguard. As Callian stated, we are now under your protection and will fly no other flag than that of Blackwing, so essentially we are following orders."

"Do not ask the people to forgive so easily, many of them witnessed what happened and it will take time for their hearts to heal." Delomme looks around the cave as survivor after survivor brings whatever piece of clothing they can about their necks and falls asleep soundly. "And we could all use a bit of healing... emotional healing. I will make an announcement in the morning to inform everyone that they are on our side."

"Good night...."

Without much else, Delomme crawls away, finding a smooth bit of stone to rest on and closes his eyes.

The night passes slowly, but uneventfully. The party takes watch, carefully moving from cave to cave throughout the night, making sure fate is not so cruel to bring more tragedy to these people. Thankfully, the twinkling fires and sleeping survivors sleep through the night uniterrupted and, when morning comes, Delomme makes his speech about the true traitors and the valiant rebuttle of Krysta, Girud and Galdren.

Though the eyes still cast their direction are fiery, they have lessened in intensity.

The survivors organize quickly, arranging hunting parties to gather food and more fur for everyone. They shock you with the effeciency that they begin to settle into the rough surroundings, picking up as though nothing has happened.

If Callian's words were true, there should be boats here within three days to pick up the survivors and transport them to Ravenshead via Final Shore quickly. Delomme assures you that the survivors here will be fine, especially with the threat of the 'SlaughterFog' gone, and that should the ambassadors need to head somewhere in force, they may. As Krysta reopens the cloth map, knowing it refreshes the location of the crystal shards every day, she immediately notices something strange.

The shard from Cannon's Foot is no longer where the city was, but it is rather almost a mile off the coast...in deep waters...

Delomme comes over, offering a bit of breakfast and some water.



"So where are the ambassadors off to now?"

[I have, according to various posts;
Garor and Newt - Bazarkrak Castle
Hero Krysta, Girud and Gladren - Staying here.
Callian and Caelith - Returning to the glade.
Is this right? Or with above info do you want to change, decide.]
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Romar and Yuri - Veya nods as you explain the presence of the metal mounts, admiring the craftsmanship of the Dwarves. She watches you trot off to find your companion, gently stroking the neck of her giant mount.

After a short discussion, the presence of Yuri is revealed and Veya regards him with a simple nod, indicating she thinks nothing else of him. The giant bird however, unleashes a resounding squawk and flaps its wings a bit, startled by the presence of undead.

Veya clearly does not understand the birds response as she calms the bird by stroking its neck.



"There, there Vraak...it's fine, he's a friend." The bird, although calm remains with beady eyes fixed on Yuri. "Hidden City? I've not heard of such a place but if you refer to the mountains across the sea, I can have you to their Northenmost peaks within five hours of flight. Or rather Vraak can have you there."

Veya pats the neck of 'Vraak' and motions to the mountains high above you that dissappear into the clouds above. Even from the base of them here, you can tell that life up there would be both incredibly cold and lightless as the low-lying clouds seem to stick to the mountainside.



"It's not much, but I can carry you both and your mounts to what we call 'New Rocroost', high in the mountain peaks and shrouded by cloud and fog. It's a cold lightless place, but I think you will find it hospitable..."

"...at least for the day."

Veya looks to the coming dawn, now a less than mere hour away and then to the peak above.

You wonder if being two men in a town of widowed women is a wise idea...or one that can't be ignored...
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Hero]

Are we going to try to retrieve the shard in the water?

Hero will try to notice if anyone is diseased, and cure them of it if they are.

[Fangor the Fierce]

"It seems as though we have a choice. Perhaps the Elves came and took the shard, and if so, then they would need two more to power their weapon. When that weapon is powered, it would be enough to fight the Master. We can choose to try and get to this shard, that they seem to have taken, but that would not be so benificial. We would have to fight our way through the elves again, and that would be futile. Perhaps we should grant them this one shard, while we make way for another. It is your decision to make, as I will merely aid in what way I can. I am all for grasping the shards from the Master instead of from the elves. His main force is annihilated, as the Slaughter Fog was his primary weapon."

Krysta almost begins planning again, but with the eyes of Caelith and the others, she simply restrains herself. They are the ones that would have to make this decision. She can only wait and aid.

[BluSpecs]

Garor will offer Healing to Krysta, Girud and Galdren (3 cure moderate, and 2 cure serious are available)

Garor takes Newt aside.

I'll warn you newt, I don't know what I'll be getting into, I didn't leaver on the best of terms so I don 't imagine I'll suddenly arrive back on good ones. If at anytime you want to leave I won't hold it against you. If you still want to go, There is a small grove of tree's ner the stronghold that we can arrive at and walk the rest of the way to the gates.

I must be off, Best of luck friends both new and old, I hope to see you all again very soon, preferable at a winning battle next time

That said unless anyone objects, he melts into the ground headed to his home mountain...

[Fangor the Fierce]

OOC - Garor, you could state that you would grant the ability for some to be able to heal quicker that night, with your aid. Even so, I am back up to within 3 HP of my max, so I don't see the need for a spell to heal 3 HP. Fighter mentality. "It's just a flesh wound...."

[Jevva]

"But isn't the map the only way the elves have of detecting where the shards are? We killed all the elves who know where it was, and how would the other elves know that we killed those scum? I think it's far more likely that the servants of the Master have taken it, because they at least know that we took it."

[Japic]

Thinking hard on the subject of the crystal being moved Girud finally speaks.

"I believe that the queen is not one to put all of her eggs into one basket so to speak. She seemed prepared for us turning on her men, and therefore caused the items to lose thier power. It seems likely to me that this queen had someone else on the job as well. Perhaps a secondary force? Or, it may be possible that they used majicks to detect where her warriors were, just to find them dead. If she did, then another force may have been sent to gather the crystal. Perhaps even her son again..."

"I am not the best swimmer, but I will do what I can to help this matter. The choice is yours, we have been the cause of enough trouble of late."

{OOC: Has anyone tried scrying on these crystals? Maybe with the map a scry check can be made to determine it's exact whereabouts. If we can find it, we can make a more educated decision about the next move. If not, then I suggest that we go for another shard, perhaps the Glade. Even if we have to go to hell to get it.}

[Merovingian]

Newt nods and smiles. All the more reason not to go in alone.
Looking to the others, Best of luck and may we see each other soon so we may trade stories and have many new adventures together.
With that Newt heads to Garor's stand of trees.

[GeneralMHB]

Yuri looks at the bird, worried about that proposal.

The bird knows, but her rider do not.

[glow=green,2,300]At least the rider does not.[/glow]

Yet...

Yuri looks to Veya and speeks.

I must appoligize for hiding. Determining friend and foe in these lands is difficult indeed. Chances cannot be taken. However, you have proven to be a friend indeed. Your hospitality is most appreciated. It is up to my companion here to decide as such. I personally will be more than happy to stay a night before taking off for the "Hidden City".

Keeping under his black robes and hood, he motiones for Sindri to stand beside him. He looks at Romar and waits for an answer. He too eyes the bird.

[VemuKhaham]

Romar is more then relieved as he knows Veya trusts Yuri, and if she is indeed the leader of her 'clan' then that trust is a powerful gift.

But he too notices the distrust in the eyes of the bird, the same bird that might carry them into the air to a height of hundreds of feet above the sea, for five long hours. If anything, anything goes wrong during those long five hours, they will be at their mercy.

As Yuri speaks his first words to Veya, he nods agreeably, but as he finishes, he adds:

"The night is almost over, and our hurry requires of us that we do not waste more then a day to rest. We will therefore not stay another night, Yuri, as we must leave as soon as the sun sets.

Veya, you are too kind to take us to your high and well-secured homes. If it's really not too much of a trouble to your people, we would ask that we shall be able to leave with your birds after the sun has set."

After he has spoken to both Veya and Yuri, he looks at the bird. He tries to gain a bit of trust for his companion from him, almost like he is actually conversing on some level with the bird like only a ranger can.

After this, he follows Veya to her home, agreeing to whatever necessary to get there.

---

So that would be a wild empathy +7 check if possible to make the bird a bit more friendly and trusting. This can only be used on animals, and on magical beasts with a -4 penalty: I hope the bird is one of those.

[Fangor the Fierce]

Krysta shakes her head, not really knowing what to do at this moment. She turns to Mordrock, and asks him, in whispered tones, "What foul group under the Master's control has the ability to go into deep waters? Does he have ships and the like of which we do not know about?"

Turning to Hero, Krysta whispers as well. "There seems to be another option, since things are not going well. We could wait here, for days as the ships come, and then wait even longer as they return to Ravenshead. Perhaps we can use the items from the Elves to move everyone quickly to Ravenshead. Sort of a test. We can try and insert one of us into the Bag of Holding, and one of you that are able to can travel through the ground to Ravenshead. If it works, we can gain audience with Sturmguard quickly, as well as shelter the refugees and get the wounded aid as quickly as possible. The resources of Sturmguard can be called back from the ships, and less time will be lost on this matter. If you are uncertain on whether or not this is able to work, I will offer myself as a test. But if you feel that it would not work, then I will understand."

[TheUdjat]

"Garor, Newt - You are valued companions, and you will be missed. I wish you both the best of luck in the Dwarven kingdom."

---

Caelith gives Krysta an odd look. "I am reluctant to admit it, but such an idea might have merit. Very experimental and uncertain, ofcourse."

"As for the rest - I am undecided. We can pursue the crystal in the water, or simply continue to keep an eye on where it goes. It will have to reach the shore eventually... Unless it is in the belly of some creature, in which case it is beyond the Master's reach, for now, anyway. I dislike giving up on a crystal we have worked so hard for, but perhaps we should wait and observe its location in a day."

He thinks more on the other idea. "If Hero can take you all, one by one or however many can fit at a time, I would suggest heading to Morten after your meeting with Sturmguard. If you are granted forgiveness, that is. Then you can be taught vein-riding, and travel a bit easier."

Caelith looks to Hero and Callian to see their thoughts on the matter.

[Jevva]

OOC: Um, you can't put living matter into a Bag of Holding. It dies as soon as it enters.

[Fangor the Fierce]

OOC - from the DM Guide:

If living creatures are placed within the bag, they can survive for up to 10 minutes, after which time they suffocate.