Tying a rope around Khabsha's waist, she swims down through the tunnel, which descends a short way before coming back up into a half submerged cavern roughly twenty paces across and thirty long. One fitfully sputtering oil lamp gives light and she can see across the chamber two stone columns with bodies tied to them. One body appears to have a large boulder lying across it's lower half, as if the ceiling collapsed. The uneven floor lies about four feet below the sea water, and Khabsha carefully approaches, aware that just because the chamber appears empty of enemies, looks can sometimes be deceiving.
Sure enough, she realizes the truth at the same time that the boulder moves, revealing itself to be a rock shelled crab the size of a small pony. With lightning quickness she brings her shield up just in time to avoid it's massive claw. from across the chamber she sees another crab approaching and quickly retreats toward the entrance, but not quite quick enough.
The first crab reaches out with it's serrated claw and grabs hold of her lower leg, eliciting a cry of pain. She holds her shield up to defend herself from the second crab while slamming her warhammer down on the first, but it's rocky shell deflects the blow. With sharp, urgent tugs she lets the others know that she would most emphatically like to be hauled back to safety.... NOW!
Feeling the tugs, and knowing what they mean, everyone on the other end of the rope pulls. Together with Khabsha's efforts they manage to drag her back to the chamber entrance, with the stubborn crab still holding on to it's equally stubborn meal. Another tug and she is wrenched below the surface and through the tunnel, slamming hard against the underwater cave walls as the crab finally relinquishes it's prize. Gasping for breath, bruised from her rope trip, and nursing her throbbing leg, Khabsha is pulled to safety.
While Graham guards the tunnel, the Oroka shamaness tells the others of the crabs, the bodies and the chamber. She notes that the bodies appeared to be just that, dead bodies, though she couldn't be sure. As Rowen sets to healing her leg, they discuss the science of the tides, and how it probably meant that there was another exit to the chamber. After the healing, they decide it's worth dealing with the crabs and moving forward.
Once more, they take a breath and swim through the tunnel, this time Graham taking the lead. One by one they pop back up in the chamber. The crabs have returned to their meal at the columns. Khabsha, taking advantage of the chance, casts a spell to befriend the creatures. Though she feels a resistant magic already binding them, she's able to break through it and establish her own magic. Eerily, the giant crabs leave off their dinner and scuttle toward Khabsha, apparently ready to protect her now, as opposed to eat her.
Carefully skirting the giant crustaceans, the others check the bodies and the chamber. The bodies turn out to be beyond saving. Pierced through with spears to the chest, the Storm Crow and Ian are somehow glued to the stone. Rowen is able to find a narrow passage beneath the water, that by the push and pull of the current, appears to lead to open water somewhere beyond.
Flanked by her crabs, Khabsha takes a bit of the tongues from both bodies in preparation for her Death Whispers spell. First she asks questions of the Storm Crow, who tells her that he was hired by a masked and cloaked noble in the town of Neued (btw, this is pronounced New-eth). He also tells them that the Nas Kudra mage hid their gear in a secret tunnel a few feet away.
Ian tells Khabsha how they were captured, explaining that their boat crashed on the rock, injuring both men. Soon after, the sea goblin's arrived and their Nas Kudra mage grew incensed, sure that they had stolen his precious Head of Shulheen. In a last, faint whisper, Ian asks Khabsha to save his family before the lips fall silent for good.
With a short search, they find the slab of heavy stone covering the hiding hole. Taen swims down and returns with a large, seal hide sack. Inside the sack they find the Storm Crow's gear, including his leather armor, a finely crafted shortsword, a pouch with much coin and a smaller pouch with a small handful of shiny gems. They also find a strange silver chain of very fine quality and tipped with small clasp-like hooks. Last but not least are a pair of witchwood daggers with arcane runes engraved into them. These Taen takes most eagerly, glad to finally have found the stolen items she sought.
Unable to do anything with the bodies, they then leave the crabs to their meal and swim out through the exit tunnel, emerging in the deep open waters of the sea. After carefully making their way back to shore, they hike back to Kaerig and his boat.
Here they make a decision to go back with Kaerig to see to the welfare of Ian's family, and possibly face the Nas Kudra mage before he can do any more harm. Kaerig warns them that the weather could grow worse and delay their travels to Neued even further, but the group decides to travel south anyway.
Upon reaching Ian's home, the party waits by the boat as Kaerig breaks the news of Ian's death to his wife and daughter. To pass the time, they lay out several snares and traps along the beach, hoping to give any sea goblin raiders a surprise should they follow through on their threats.
When Kaerig returns with Ian's family and sacks full of their belongings, Khabsha offers the woman a sack full of the Stormcrow's coins, offering her the party's condolences and regret that they were unable to save Ian.
Together in the now crowded curragh, they make their way south to Kearig's home. After getting the family settled, and helping the fishermen prepare a defensible camp further back from the shoreline, they offer Kaerig Cinder's armor and the Stormcrow's shortsword, along with several of the sea goblin's spears.
The next morning, they set sail for Neued, unable to put off their mission any longer. Taen, after hearing the story of the Shade demons and the party's quest to stop whatever demonic plot is in the works, decides to accompany them, both in repayment for their help, and because she REALLY hates demons.
The weather holds, and Kaerig delivers them all to Neued that evening. He recommends the Cat's Cauldron, an inn known to him for its fairness and hospitality. He once again thanks them for their help in preparing his home then sets off to sail back toward that home, using what's left of the daylight to get start on the return trip as quickly as possible.
Hiding their Syvani features with hoods and headwraps as best as they can, and disguising Taen as a cloaked child, they make their way into town, unsure of what welcome they may find. At the Cat's Cauldron, Graham pays for rooms. Over dinner in the tavern, they learn that word of the massacre at Wheat Hill has not reached Neued yet, and no one appears to be looking for them. For the moment content, they retire to their rooms for their first night of actual "bed" rest in weeks, even availing themselves of a tub and brush, to wash away what stink of battle, travel and crab the sea could not.
In the morning they split up to accomplish many different tasks. Rowen takes clothing and armor to be mended, finding a Fimar craftsman who, though he apparently shares the Fomish dislike of Syvani, offers to fix the gear for a large sum of coin. Graham and Cinder seek out an apothecary, hoping to purchase some alchemical supplies, picking up what rumor and tales they can on the way. Khabsha and Taen walk the town, gathering what information they can about Laird Jory, the bard Dags and anything else of interest.
Khabsha and Taen find the following:
- Laird Jory and Dags MacRowd returned more than a week ago from the south, after an extended absence. Dags was sick with some strange illness, and the Laird himself was unwell, but Jory has since recovered, and left five days ago to attend the Princess's ball in the capitol... in two days.
- Dags is still in Castle Talis, laid low by whatever illness he is fighting and tended to by the castle healers.
Khabsha, Taen, Graham and Cinder all hear the following information from different sources:
- Woodcutters returned yesterday from the forest to the west, spouting tales of seeing a dragon. No one really believes it, but the sensational nature of the story means its being told alot.
Rowen, Graham and Cinder all notice frequent groups of guards patrolling the town. From the talk of the townsfolk the law is being unusually strict of late, throwing lawbreakers in the stocks or keepin them in the town jail for even small infractions.
Rowen meets up with Graham and Cinder near the town square. Shortly thereafter, she hears a familiar voice coming from the seat of a nearby wagon. It's Ferg Wayfinder, the Fimar trader. He's in an argument with the leader of three Dinari tinkers, who, by what she can overhear, are looking to rent his mules.
When the Dinari depart, promising to come back in the morning to get his answer, Rowen steps up and makes her presence known. Ferg is delighted to see her. In their ensuing conversation he informs her of the following:
- Upon leaving the Shadow Tower with his caravan guard Malis, they bypassed Wheat Hill and came straight to Neued. He is just about ready to take a full wagon north to Kaergot, but Malice was arrested last night for some unknown reason. He suspects it might have to do with Malice's mixed Syvani blood.
- The Dinari tinkers want to pay Ferg a great deal of money for the rental of all of his mules and ponies. They insist that the exact nature of their need can't be discussed, but promise him the animals will be returned in one day. Ferg is weighing his suspicion and fear that the tinkers will steal his animals and prevent him from making his northward trip over the prospect of quick and easy profit.
Regardless, he wants to treat the party to dinner in hopes of starting to repay them for his rescue from his possessed caravan guard, Geordie. Rowen gladly accepts and the three adventurers walk back toward the Cat' Cauldron. Graham mentions to the others that he spied what looked to be a secreted sword strapped to the Dinari tinker leader's back, and that none of the Dinari seemed very "tinker-like," being far to serious for the usually fun loving gypsies.
Back at the Cauldron, everyone discusses the days events and what they might mean. Dag's continued illness worries them, and the fact that Laird Jory is to attend the princess's ball in two days worries them even more. Any horse or ship travel to Kaergot will take nearly a week, meaning they may very well be too late regardless of what they discover between now and then.
Who the masked noble is that the Stormcrow whispered about is also on their mind. They feel that he would have mentioned the noble's size, if it were Jory Talis. Graham only knows a little of the nobles in town. He believes there are three or four noble families that live in estates around Neued and owe fealty to the Laird.
Some in the group feel the the Dinari might have some connection as well, though no one know how.
It is agreed that they must try to see Dags first, both to cure him if he is indeed still damaged from the shadow poison, or to talk with him if something else is the case.
Sure enough, she realizes the truth at the same time that the boulder moves, revealing itself to be a rock shelled crab the size of a small pony. With lightning quickness she brings her shield up just in time to avoid it's massive claw. from across the chamber she sees another crab approaching and quickly retreats toward the entrance, but not quite quick enough.
The first crab reaches out with it's serrated claw and grabs hold of her lower leg, eliciting a cry of pain. She holds her shield up to defend herself from the second crab while slamming her warhammer down on the first, but it's rocky shell deflects the blow. With sharp, urgent tugs she lets the others know that she would most emphatically like to be hauled back to safety.... NOW!
Feeling the tugs, and knowing what they mean, everyone on the other end of the rope pulls. Together with Khabsha's efforts they manage to drag her back to the chamber entrance, with the stubborn crab still holding on to it's equally stubborn meal. Another tug and she is wrenched below the surface and through the tunnel, slamming hard against the underwater cave walls as the crab finally relinquishes it's prize. Gasping for breath, bruised from her rope trip, and nursing her throbbing leg, Khabsha is pulled to safety.
While Graham guards the tunnel, the Oroka shamaness tells the others of the crabs, the bodies and the chamber. She notes that the bodies appeared to be just that, dead bodies, though she couldn't be sure. As Rowen sets to healing her leg, they discuss the science of the tides, and how it probably meant that there was another exit to the chamber. After the healing, they decide it's worth dealing with the crabs and moving forward.
Once more, they take a breath and swim through the tunnel, this time Graham taking the lead. One by one they pop back up in the chamber. The crabs have returned to their meal at the columns. Khabsha, taking advantage of the chance, casts a spell to befriend the creatures. Though she feels a resistant magic already binding them, she's able to break through it and establish her own magic. Eerily, the giant crabs leave off their dinner and scuttle toward Khabsha, apparently ready to protect her now, as opposed to eat her.
Carefully skirting the giant crustaceans, the others check the bodies and the chamber. The bodies turn out to be beyond saving. Pierced through with spears to the chest, the Storm Crow and Ian are somehow glued to the stone. Rowen is able to find a narrow passage beneath the water, that by the push and pull of the current, appears to lead to open water somewhere beyond.
Flanked by her crabs, Khabsha takes a bit of the tongues from both bodies in preparation for her Death Whispers spell. First she asks questions of the Storm Crow, who tells her that he was hired by a masked and cloaked noble in the town of Neued (btw, this is pronounced New-eth). He also tells them that the Nas Kudra mage hid their gear in a secret tunnel a few feet away.
Ian tells Khabsha how they were captured, explaining that their boat crashed on the rock, injuring both men. Soon after, the sea goblin's arrived and their Nas Kudra mage grew incensed, sure that they had stolen his precious Head of Shulheen. In a last, faint whisper, Ian asks Khabsha to save his family before the lips fall silent for good.
With a short search, they find the slab of heavy stone covering the hiding hole. Taen swims down and returns with a large, seal hide sack. Inside the sack they find the Storm Crow's gear, including his leather armor, a finely crafted shortsword, a pouch with much coin and a smaller pouch with a small handful of shiny gems. They also find a strange silver chain of very fine quality and tipped with small clasp-like hooks. Last but not least are a pair of witchwood daggers with arcane runes engraved into them. These Taen takes most eagerly, glad to finally have found the stolen items she sought.
Unable to do anything with the bodies, they then leave the crabs to their meal and swim out through the exit tunnel, emerging in the deep open waters of the sea. After carefully making their way back to shore, they hike back to Kaerig and his boat.
Here they make a decision to go back with Kaerig to see to the welfare of Ian's family, and possibly face the Nas Kudra mage before he can do any more harm. Kaerig warns them that the weather could grow worse and delay their travels to Neued even further, but the group decides to travel south anyway.
Upon reaching Ian's home, the party waits by the boat as Kaerig breaks the news of Ian's death to his wife and daughter. To pass the time, they lay out several snares and traps along the beach, hoping to give any sea goblin raiders a surprise should they follow through on their threats.
When Kaerig returns with Ian's family and sacks full of their belongings, Khabsha offers the woman a sack full of the Stormcrow's coins, offering her the party's condolences and regret that they were unable to save Ian.
Together in the now crowded curragh, they make their way south to Kearig's home. After getting the family settled, and helping the fishermen prepare a defensible camp further back from the shoreline, they offer Kaerig Cinder's armor and the Stormcrow's shortsword, along with several of the sea goblin's spears.
The next morning, they set sail for Neued, unable to put off their mission any longer. Taen, after hearing the story of the Shade demons and the party's quest to stop whatever demonic plot is in the works, decides to accompany them, both in repayment for their help, and because she REALLY hates demons.
The weather holds, and Kaerig delivers them all to Neued that evening. He recommends the Cat's Cauldron, an inn known to him for its fairness and hospitality. He once again thanks them for their help in preparing his home then sets off to sail back toward that home, using what's left of the daylight to get start on the return trip as quickly as possible.
Hiding their Syvani features with hoods and headwraps as best as they can, and disguising Taen as a cloaked child, they make their way into town, unsure of what welcome they may find. At the Cat's Cauldron, Graham pays for rooms. Over dinner in the tavern, they learn that word of the massacre at Wheat Hill has not reached Neued yet, and no one appears to be looking for them. For the moment content, they retire to their rooms for their first night of actual "bed" rest in weeks, even availing themselves of a tub and brush, to wash away what stink of battle, travel and crab the sea could not.
In the morning they split up to accomplish many different tasks. Rowen takes clothing and armor to be mended, finding a Fimar craftsman who, though he apparently shares the Fomish dislike of Syvani, offers to fix the gear for a large sum of coin. Graham and Cinder seek out an apothecary, hoping to purchase some alchemical supplies, picking up what rumor and tales they can on the way. Khabsha and Taen walk the town, gathering what information they can about Laird Jory, the bard Dags and anything else of interest.
Khabsha and Taen find the following:
- Laird Jory and Dags MacRowd returned more than a week ago from the south, after an extended absence. Dags was sick with some strange illness, and the Laird himself was unwell, but Jory has since recovered, and left five days ago to attend the Princess's ball in the capitol... in two days.
- Dags is still in Castle Talis, laid low by whatever illness he is fighting and tended to by the castle healers.
Khabsha, Taen, Graham and Cinder all hear the following information from different sources:
- Woodcutters returned yesterday from the forest to the west, spouting tales of seeing a dragon. No one really believes it, but the sensational nature of the story means its being told alot.
Rowen, Graham and Cinder all notice frequent groups of guards patrolling the town. From the talk of the townsfolk the law is being unusually strict of late, throwing lawbreakers in the stocks or keepin them in the town jail for even small infractions.
Rowen meets up with Graham and Cinder near the town square. Shortly thereafter, she hears a familiar voice coming from the seat of a nearby wagon. It's Ferg Wayfinder, the Fimar trader. He's in an argument with the leader of three Dinari tinkers, who, by what she can overhear, are looking to rent his mules.
When the Dinari depart, promising to come back in the morning to get his answer, Rowen steps up and makes her presence known. Ferg is delighted to see her. In their ensuing conversation he informs her of the following:
- Upon leaving the Shadow Tower with his caravan guard Malis, they bypassed Wheat Hill and came straight to Neued. He is just about ready to take a full wagon north to Kaergot, but Malice was arrested last night for some unknown reason. He suspects it might have to do with Malice's mixed Syvani blood.
- The Dinari tinkers want to pay Ferg a great deal of money for the rental of all of his mules and ponies. They insist that the exact nature of their need can't be discussed, but promise him the animals will be returned in one day. Ferg is weighing his suspicion and fear that the tinkers will steal his animals and prevent him from making his northward trip over the prospect of quick and easy profit.
Regardless, he wants to treat the party to dinner in hopes of starting to repay them for his rescue from his possessed caravan guard, Geordie. Rowen gladly accepts and the three adventurers walk back toward the Cat' Cauldron. Graham mentions to the others that he spied what looked to be a secreted sword strapped to the Dinari tinker leader's back, and that none of the Dinari seemed very "tinker-like," being far to serious for the usually fun loving gypsies.
Back at the Cauldron, everyone discusses the days events and what they might mean. Dag's continued illness worries them, and the fact that Laird Jory is to attend the princess's ball in two days worries them even more. Any horse or ship travel to Kaergot will take nearly a week, meaning they may very well be too late regardless of what they discover between now and then.
Who the masked noble is that the Stormcrow whispered about is also on their mind. They feel that he would have mentioned the noble's size, if it were Jory Talis. Graham only knows a little of the nobles in town. He believes there are three or four noble families that live in estates around Neued and owe fealty to the Laird.
Some in the group feel the the Dinari might have some connection as well, though no one know how.
It is agreed that they must try to see Dags first, both to cure him if he is indeed still damaged from the shadow poison, or to talk with him if something else is the case.
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