The morning had been cold, so much so that as the five departed from Three Corners, the cloudy and dim morning light illuminated a thin layer of frost on the first bits of green grass sprouting up to mark the beginning of the wet season.  Even as the early morning drifted on and the sun occasionally peeked through narrow gaps in the grey skies, the day remained cool and crisp, though the quick pace of the march kept the five from complaining too much about the weather.

The five comprised of Rolf, Gustav, Sajaa, Lisa, and Terri.  Though there had been little time between arriving in Three Corners the previous evening and their departure this morning, the latter two had managed to refit themselves, Lisa from some of her belongings that she had sent ahead and Terri who had settled for equipment pillaged from the bandits and had found at the smithy a premade mail shirt which was just overlong in the sleeves and waist though overtight across the chest.

To round out the group were their animals: Lilly, Rolf's broad shouldered dun quarter horse who plodded along at a slow and sturdy sturdy pace despite her significant load; Sayidat Sawda, Sajaa's black arab whose constant high head and and perky step made her seem inexhaustible even if a bit stubborn; and Gustav's mule, who he simply called 'girl' when he needed her attention, though most often he simply led her with the light touch of a hand or the halter.

Though the way was familiar and the five no strangers to one another, most of the trek had still been spent in silence.  For it hadn't been discovered until late in the evening the previous night that Runt, previously one of their number, had somewhere along the lines been lost from the group.  He had certainly left the canyon with them for he had been vocal and uncomprehending of the decision to leave without determining the fate of Conal, apparently a friend.  But somewhere along the trek home, the boy had disappeared, his absence masked by the dozen prisoners added to the group.  Though Sajaa had initially volunteered to search for the boy, Magnus had flatly declined the suggestion, insisting that everyone wait until morning to return lest there be more of the bandits than they knew.

By the time the five made it back to the canyon it is already time for lunch and the group takes the opportunity to eat their food prior to descending into the relative danger of the canyon.

"He definitely passed back through here."  Terri murmurs as she rubs a vial of thick, black liquid across the tip of an arrow.  Terri's words are clipped and her countenance seems pale, though perhaps it is simply the contrast from the creeping black bruise which spreads across from her eye to her left cheek from where Hamish struck her the day prior.

Her arrowhead now covered with the dripping grey ooze, Terri tosses the glass away into the high grass before gesturing to some spots of mud with her hand.  "You can see a few tiny prints there...  and there...  There's other ones here and there from us leaving too, but they're all broken up and walked over... his are clean..."

OOC:  It is 1230 on the 5th of January.  Thanks everyone again for the patience.  I decided to drop you all off at the mouth of the canyon to let you make any decisions about what to do with the animals before getting you too close.

If it isn't clear from the OOC, Magnus and Giles stayed in Three Corners to tidy up the business of the caravan, report to the governor, and to deal with the one prisoner of the previous thread.  The rest of you decided to come back, both to find what happened to Runt as well as to clean up any last vestiges of the bandits which may still remain.  You have all already eaten breakfast and lunch, which has been taken from the group stores.

If you wish to leave anything (animals or gear) please let me know specifically what you are leaving.  Rolf, you can corroborate Terri's assessment with a successful Tracking -3 roll.

Gustav leaves Girl below, loosely tied, so she can break free if the need be.
He takes his new Saber, and his shield, his main gauche and knives on his belt.
He brings the cross bow across his back and bolts also on his belt.

He has added a first aid packet  and his canteen.
He is ready to go back up into the upper caaves where they left yesterday.

Rolf moves in silence with the others.  He wishes Giles and Magnus had returned with them, but the assembled group is reinforced with a now geared up Lisa and Terri.  Lisa he doesn't know too well, but at the very least she is a healer which means their collective wounds won't fall entirely on his shoulders to deal with.  And that makes Rolf feel a little better.

Terri he knows well.  She's a capable fighter and tracker.  He is confident he can depend on her in times of peril.

Rolf suspects the enemy will be on the run and the caves to be emptied by now, but he's not one hundred percent sure.  If they have taken flight then he and Terri should be able to track them down, and fighting them out in the open should go a little better than the caves.  But if they have to fight in the caves then so be it.

"Could be.  But I'm not sure.  I'll defer to you on this one." Rolf says as he thinks he can make out Runt's foot prints, but he's not entirely sure that the impressions could be something else.

Damn the lad. Rolf ponders as he shakes his head.  What trouble has he gotten himself into?

Standing up he adds "If we can track where he went then great.  Regardless of whether we can find him or not though, we need to check the caves to see if they are clear.  The bandits should be our top priority."

OOC: While out in the open, Rolf will leave his backpack on his horse and carry his crossbow in both hands.  When investigating the caves he will leave his horse where it makes sense.  While in the caves he'll carry his backpack slung on his right shoulder, his right hand keeping the sack in place.  On his left will be his shield, with his crossbow hooked on the outside of his backpack if that's possible.  If not, he'll leave the crossbow on his horse.

Sajaa al-Kassem takes a last bite of hardbread. She chews, swallows, and then takes a moment to wash her hands with water from her canteen.  She dries her hands on her pant legs, then bows low to the ground and thanks Allah for the sustenance.

”Allahumma barik lana fima razaqtana waqina athaban-nar.”  She murmurs softly.

She hopes God is not cross with her for consuming bread baked by Christians – for that seems to be the major religion at Three Corners.  Had she had time yesterday to bake her own bread, she would have blessed it in the name of Allah to render it truly halal. But Gustav and Rolf were eager to return to the Caves and she was anxious to set out in search of little Runt, so she settled for buying a loaf at market.  Sajaa presumes God will understand that one must eat, even if the food is not an ideal choice.  It could be worse. She thinks to herself with an unconscious shrug of her shoulders.  At least I abstained from the flesh of swine that is served so plentifully in the village.

Her meal, hygiene and prayer completed, Sajaa stands and begins unsaddling Black Lady.  She is not keen on leaving her beloved horse unsupervised, but the other more experienced adventurers do not seem overly concerned about it, so she does not let herself worry too much.  As she hefts the heavy saddle from the mare’s sleek, sweaty back, she winces at the dull throb of pain in her side where a stray club swing had glanced her in yesterday’s battle.  Last night, after peeling off her armor and clothing in the room Gustav offered her, she had observed the dark bruise.

~Well, he paid for that one, dearly.~ She thought to herself with a wicked smile touching her lips. Oddly, she is feeling eager for the fighting that is to come...

She leads Black Lady over to where Gustav has loosely tied his own horse, and mimics his technique.

Then she slings her shield across her back, loosens her sword in its sheath, and, with some clumsy effort, cocks her crossbow.



Sajaa sweeps her long tendrils of jet black hair back, and fumbles with a hair tie to keep it in place.  She dreads wearing the big, clunky helmet, but is sure that one of these days it will save her life.

”Yes, Son of Erik…  Master Rolf.” She says to the smallish Mage.  ”The bandits are our priority, but I do hope we will spend some time seeking out the boy.  He is a cunning little thing, but I fear sooner or later his impulsiveness is going to be his undoing.”

Her hair back, Sajaa stoops and lifts the heavy helmet and pushes it over her head. She leaves the visor up, for the time being.

She turns to the dark-haired beauty, Lisa and offers her a smile.  ”Are you ready, Sister?”

OOC: Sajaa will have her shield over her back, her sword sheathed, and will carry her loaded crossbow.  She’s traveling light, with only her satchel, mostly empty, to carry any (hopeful) loot they come upon.  The rest of her gear she’s keeping in the saddlebags of her horse, which she is tying off near Gustav’s “Girl”.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Sat 23 July 2022.

Lisa sits and spents some while rubbing the ache out of her feet: the price of not having a horse. She look at the others, not in envy, no, not that, but in gratitude. It was so marvelous not to be so alone. Stretching her feet once more, the dark-haired girl stands again, tugging to the heavy leathersto shift the weight on her shoulders.

With a buckler on one hip and rapier on the other she was equipped to give the bandits what they were accustomed to givving out. A sour taste in her mouth, revenge was not a thing Lisa was proud of considering, but she'd take it without a moment's hesitation.

"Fine here. Good to go," she says simply, nodding to Terri, fairly sure that the tough girl wouldn't hesitate either, not that either had said a word about it.

Despite Rolf's attempts to find the boy's prints, even after they are pointed out by Terri, he still has a hard time filtering them out from the chaos of other marks and prints that are scattered across the mouth of the canyon.  Though as he counts, he realizes this is now the third time they have walked through this area, not to mention the horses, the fleeing fighters yesterday, and the extra dozen prisoners they had let out.  The thought of how difficult it would be not just to find them, but to differentiate them from all the rest, let alone the other two sets of Runts tracks that crisscrossed the area, Rolf takes a moment to appreciate just how skilled of a tracker Terri must be.

After a few moments of conversation back and forth, the five appear ready to go and Terri nods her assent to continue following the boy's prints.  They lead the horses down into the canyon again, stopping briefly to tie them off in some of the heaviest shrub nearest to the river.  Rolf reasoned that it was not so close as to be easily seen from the mouth of the caves, though it was near enough that a return trip wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience, or add too much danger.  Much farther, without putting them outside the canyon altogether, didn't seem to add any safety for the horses though it increased the burden significantly.

This too appeared to be Runt's path, originally starting near the shadows of the cliffs though straying towards the river as he slunk from heavy brush to heavy brush.

The five start out again, Terri leading the way for the moment, her arrow knocked and held loosely in place with her left hand as she uses her right occasionally to touch the earth as she searches.

"...And that's it."  She says suddenly as they approach the southern bank of the stream.  She stands up, glancing towards the caves at the end of the canyon.

The one on the left, on the south side of the river rises high up against the canyon wall.  While the other ones, the bandits and the bugbear, had been a bit of a climb, this one was much more so, steeper and with no real path that led the way up.

The one on the right was the bandits lair, a cave where they had already been.  Though in truth they had only explored a few of the corridors, so hurried had they been in their mission to retrieve Terri from the Hamish's compatriots.

Though their own prisoner, Macchus, had said there was a third cave, straight up the mouth of the river and into the very base of the canyon, though their view is completely obscured by thick river scrub that grows high out from the edges of the stream.

"Maybe he stepped in here to cross to head back over to the bandit's cave...  but it looks like he was headed straight upriver."  She points towards the scrub and shadows upriver.  "We could head that way... or look to see if he came out of the stream somewhere..."  She glances over at Rolf, letting the words drop away into quiet.

OOC: As Gustav said he was leaving the horses below, I wasn't sure whether he was intending to leave the horses at the mouth of the canyon (where we were doing the last post) or if he wanted to wait to leave them below the cave(s) you were entering.  I opted to leave them just inside the canyon at the river, near some brush so they'd be harder to find but easier for you to return to if needed.

Rolf, you can consider your crossbow tied to your pack (rather than on an easy access hook).  It will allow you to use it, but it may take a little longer to ready.

Sajaa’s gaze follows the options Terri points out as to Runt’s whereabouts.  She is simply awed by the older woman's ability to identify and isolate Runt’s spoor from the seemingly senseless riot of marks, imprints and scuffs in the dirt.

It heartens Sajaa to see how Terri, a woman, is so respected and trusted by the Men of the party.  ~Women are equals in this Land of Heathens!~ She thinks to herself.  ~It is no wonder the men of our village forbade us from ever communicating with the northern caravans!~

Sajaa looks to Rolf, who appears more determined to hunt the last of the bandits than locate their miscreant Runt and then back to Terri.

”Can you tell which of the boy’s tracks are freshest, My Lady?” Sajaa asks softly, somewhat intimidated by the tough woman.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Mon 25 July 2022.

Being completely useless at anything like tracking, Lisa does her best to be useful by keeping out of Terri's way and watches the rear of the group. They seem so very capable and to know each other and their abilities. She shakes her head and concentrates on the moment.

Gustav follows Terri's pointing noting the things she points out. He sees it all clearly and can point to a few more signs to which way Runt went.
He has his shield up and his glowing Saber ready.

Despite his best efforts, Rolf just can't find Runt's prints in the mess of tracks left by all the coming and going of the slavers, their formally enslaved, and his own group.  However Terri thinks she's sorted out which set of prints is the boy's, so he leaves her to it.

Before long they reach the canyon and a decision point.  Do they follow Runt, or the caves?

"I have a feeling we'll cross Runt's path eventually if we follow the slavers trail, so I say we head to the caves first." he says as he looks the array of tunnels over.

"Let's try the cave where we found the prisoners first.  It's the easiest to get to and we should confirm it's clear before leaving it behind us for the others.  Though I'm not certain how we'll get to the higher one.  Seems a bit of a climb." he adds as he shifts his pack on his shoulder.

Keeping his shield in his left arm he keeps the sack ready on his right should to drop on a moments notice.  He'd love to rather have his crossbow out and ready, but he's been jumped more than once with little to no time to use it effectively.  And certainly hadn't the time to bring his shield to fore.

Which lead to getting his leg slashed quite severely!  This he has not forgotten and plans on not repeating if he can help it.

OOC:  I would like to explore the cave on the right first, where we found the prisoners.

Terri is somewhat surprised by Sajaa's question, for a moment she even seems taken aback, though when she realizes that Sajaa is asking in earnest, Terri backtracks slightly.  "I suppose the could be from earlier, but I don't think so.  We basically followed the same track down the southern canyon wall in before, but I don't remember anyone going this far upriver on the south side...  And the tracks from where we came in before are consistent, all in a line as we were following each, other but these from the boy sort of meander a different path.  Most of all though, they're the cleanest, they're set into the other prints, even if they aren't rubbing them out.  If it were the other way round, Runt's tracks would likely be totally wiped out by the people and horses that weigh four times his weight or more.  Honestly, I doubt I'd be able to find any of his older tracks even if I tried, unless they were off on their own."

As the women converse, Gustav takes a tentative step into the stream, peering upriver for a moment before he points out to the thick scrub hanging down into the center of the river.  It is barely noticeable, but caught on one of the low hanging branches there are few threads of the same sort of coarse cloth which made up Runt's oversized shirt, making it seem ever more likely that he headed, at least originally for the center cave.

Never the less, Rolf argues that the tracks are a day old regardless, and they will be better served by a methodical approach than to hunt and peck to follow Runt's traces.

The five instead wade across the shallow stream and after a few moments of searching out for trouble, they begin up the narrow path to the bandit's cave.

Gustav's saber lights up the entryway of the cave with the brightness of a torch, casting a heady glow which illuminates the tunnel, ten feet wide which travels for several yards to both the left and right before opening up on both ends in various directions.

To the left, there appears to be a larger room ahead as well as another tunnel that opens to the right.  On their right side, the tunnel splits into a 'T', though the group knows that the right fork leads to the prisons below.  The caves have the same cool chill and musty air, punctuated by a soured smell...  something like the stench of decomposing food.

What is missing however, are all of the bodies.

Insects and worms gather at the browning bloodstains which are splashed haphazardly across the stone walls and floor.  Some are smeared, pulling in streaks down the hallway, seeming to converge at a nexus near the entryway.  Near the end of the hallway, there are still freckles of skull and brain littered across the floor from where Magnus nearly decapitated a foe with a mace.

But the bodies themselves are gone, moved from the cave or else obliterated.

"Oh god."  Terry moans as she steps gingerly around a rather larger pool of bugs, which thrums and clicks in unison as it feasts upon the remnants of the gore.

OOC:  Map of what you guys have already explored is below.  You are presently at the entrance marked by 'h'.

Gustav's crit success on tracking gets him an extremely difficult tracking clue (at least to see from that distance!) not to mention a hero point which has been added to his character sheet.

I suspect that the left tunnel leads toward the one higher up and is where the many attackers came from.

Rolf gingerly strides across the stream, doing his best to keep his boots dry.  He enters the cave trepidatiously, remembering the last time he was here and how close he and his party came to being overrun.

He is visibly surprised to see all the bodies gone.  The mage pauses to look the room over and wrinkles his nose in response to the rotten smell emanating from somewhere.  He bends down and looks to see if he can tell which way they went.

"Well, it looks like we didn't get them all after all.  Someone tidied up." he says as he looks the floor over and thinks on where to search first.

At Gustav's suggestion he says "The left passage is fine with me."

OOC: Rolf will try a tracking roll to see if he can tell which direction the bodies went.  I'm assuming the cave exit?  In any event he'll propose going down the left passage.

Noting Rolf's efforts at tracking, Gustav looks closely himself.

After Rolf and Gustav cross the stream, Sajaa follows.  She is not eager to drench her boots again, for they had barely dried from the day before. She turns to give a nod to Lisa, to ensure the woman is coming.

Crossbow readied, Sajaa walks slowly behind the two men, trying to identify and analyze any mark that the trackers find interesting. She once more marvels at the woodcraft of Terri and these men, and hopes to learn from the experienced veterans.  But her focus is divided, for she spends most of her time observing the environment around her, seeking out any would-be ambushers.

OOC: Follow others. Keep watch but also try to pick up tracking tips through osmosis.

Gustav and Rolf take a moment to study the scene, looking to be sure which way the bodies were taken, though even Sajaa could guess it was towards the exit.  The pools of blood are smeared like pats of butter all in the direction of the entryway.  Here and there too are drips and drops of blood along the way or else the scrape of a boot marked by a crimson scar upon the floor.

With that information in mind, the five set out into the left tunnel which dead ends into a room, some ten yards square.  Set in the center is an iron brazier, with coals still hanging in the top, though they are ashen white and long extinguished with a thick layer of dusty ash fallen down to the bottom.  Around the brazier are four low stools and set against the two back walls are weapons racks which still boast a handful of weapons including two clubs, an axe, a spear, a knife, and a small buckler style shield, not to mention a rather intricate looking bow, a small quiver full of arrows and another quiver filled with bolts.  There's also a chestguard, fashioned of light scale which has been thrown haphazardly in the corner.

"That's mine!"  Terri bursts out, rushing ahead of Gustav and grabbing the bow which hangs from the rack, inspecting it for a moment for damage.

It takes a several moments, but Terri eventually re-dons her scale armor, leaving her newer mesh chain upon the floor.  She also throws her small quiver over her shoulder to complement the larger one already settled upon her hip and leaves the bandit's bow she has been using in place of her own.

"Oh, this is much better."  Terri smiles, restringing her weapon and pulling it once for test.

Meanwhile, Gustav is shining his exquisite saber up the stairway to the right.  The stairs continue for several yards, then seem to shallow out, so that Gustav can see nothing but the ceiling beyond.

OOC:  Terri has retaken her own equipment, but still left are:  two clubs, an axe, a spear, a knife, a small buckler shield, and a shoulder quiver of crossbow bolts (10/12).  Terri is also leaving some of her equipment which includes a light mail shirt and the medium bow she took from the bandits.

Sajaa gives a glance at the mail armor Terri abandons in place of her own and considers whether or not she should take it for herself.  She knows mail would provide superior protection to the coat and leggings of the studded, boiled horse-leather she wears, but she is loath to deal with the greater weight.

She looks over the remaining weapons to see anything that might interest her and settles on a few additional bolts to add to her quiver.

She thinks back to the ferocious combat that took place here not twenty four hours earlier, noting the congealed blood spattering the cave floor.  She wonders how many more bandits lurk here – and, too, wonders if there are more of the big, brawny bugbears to contend with.

She listens intently for the sound of any distant voices or footsteps, and then falls in behind the leaders, following closely…

OOC: Grab 3 of the bolts and tuck them in her quiver with the rest.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Thu 28 July 2022.

Gustav also adds to his quiver of bolts so he has 12.
Then heads to the stairs and awaits the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Mon 01 Aug 2022.

Rolf notes the blood and guts leading mostly out of the cave exit, or entrance depending on your point of view, and wonders where they were taken.  And where the man, or men, who took them are?  But these are questions likely only to be answered by exploring.

He follows Gustav's beacon leading to the left and finds an array of weapons scattered about.

"I could use some bolts too." Rolf says as he picks up the remainder to replenish the ones he's spent over the last day or so.

"Anyone want the shield?  It's not very big, but it could save your life if we encounter heavy fighting again." he says he picks up the buckler and gives it a once over inspection.

OOC:  Rolf surely could use at least a few crossbow bolts to replenish his supply.  If no one wants the small buckler shield he will put it in his bag of holding as a backup.

After a few moments looking at the equipment on the racks, the group only pilfers the ten bolts from the quiver.  Though Rolf picks up the buckler and finds it entirely serviceable, no one seems to want it so the party simply moves on up the stairway opposite.

Slowly the group climbs, with Gustav's saber held high and lighting the way ahead, though they find rather quickly that the way does not go far.  After climbing a short way the corridor levels out and only goes on for a few dozen feet before stopping entirely.  At each wall near the dead end are two doors fitted into the wall, each of them open and showing beyond a barracks of sorts, with rows of straw mats visible from the hall.

OOC:  Crossbow bolts were taken from the armory, with Sajaa taking three, Gustav four, and Rolf three.  All have been added to your character sheets.

Crossbow held at the ready, Sajaa steps quietly into each room, scanning the rough, spartan furnishings for anything of interest -- whether valuables or clues as to the remaining bandit's whereabouts... The enchanted light of Gustav's magic sword dances in her golden eyes.

"It appears to be a dead end." She whispers. "We should go back and seek a new route..."

OOC: Examining both rooms and contents for any items of apparent value, clues as to the occupants current whereabouts, or, perhaps even secret passages if any might exist.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Mon 01 Aug 2022.

After the short climb, Rolf silently motions them to head out into one side of the barracks.  "Lets look around first.  Make sure the area is clear." he says softly to Sajaa.

OOC:  I would like to give the area quick once over to make sure no one lay in wait or is hiding.

Raddek, I intended to pick up the small buckler and stash it if I ever need it.  I will PM you.

Let us verify that there are no hidden ways out or in here.  He looks for paths and or signs of a door opening or the like.

Lisa returns the nod to Sajaa and follows, so looking for tips on owing trails..

***

When they reach the unattended equipment, Lisa tries to assess whether the chain might fit and what it might weigh.




OOC: Long weekend away, out and about without my phone.  Back now, sorry for holding you folks up
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Tue 02 Aug 2022.

The five take a moment to scan the two rooms, taking care at first to ensure the whole area is empty.  With that assured, Lisa, Sajaa, and Terri scan the rooms with their eyes, while Rolf and Gustav take a little more pains to search for hidden tricks or treasures.

The room on the left seems the common barracks, for it is larger, and has some ten beds set up in two rows of five, one pressed up against each wall.  Each bed has a small trunk at the end, thought the meager belongings therein seem more bare essentials than treasure.  Between the ten there are blankets, dishes, flint, waterskins, and boot knives, a few pints of oil, and twenty yards of cordage.  There is even one small satchel and a roll of bandages.

While at first the other room appears to be just the same, with the obvious differences of being much smaller, and only having two beds as opposed to ten, after a few moments of searching, Gustav pulls away several small rocks and some dirt to reveal a small niche where a silver necklace and a knuckle-sized gem are hidden.  The gem is pearl like in appearance, though it shimmers with an internal flickering blue.

OOC:  Amongst the bandits personal possessions, you find several personal basics, several blankets, several water skins, two pints of oil, twenty yards of #90 cord, a 1 gallon leather sack with a shoulder strap, and a roll of bandages.

The obvious finds are the silver chain and the gem.  Feel free to make merchant/jeweler rolls to appraise them.


The large gemstone

Lisa has a bit of a search around the area and then examines the valuables.

======
OOC: Search 9 versus skill 12; Merchant 5 versus skill 12

***
Edit: Afterthought - does Lisa's handling of these items to evaluate them also allow her to tell if they're magical? (She has Magery 2.)
If so, is a roll required?
Thx!
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Mon 08 Aug 2022.

After a quick scan the barracks are all clear which is a relief to Rolf.  They rummage through the meager belongings of the trunks in the larger room, but it is the smaller room where Gustav finds some valuable baubles.

"Let me have a look." the mage says as he reaches to briefly tumble the necklace and gem in his hands.

OOC:  On the off chance they are magic, Rolf will touch both the necklace and gemstone to see if he can detect any.

Rolf touches the necklace and the gem, hoping for some trace of magical residue, but to the best of his knowledge it appears both the items are mundane.

Lisa too takes a look at the items, handling each for several moments before handing them back.  She too deems the items mundane, though she gets a better feel for their worth.  She estimates the silver chain to be somewhere between forty and fifty farthings.  The gem however, she is happy to report, is a moonstone and quite large.  If she were to try and sell the gem on her own she imagines she could ask as much as a two or three marks.

OOC:  Sorry it took so long to just get an admin post out.  No magical traces noted on either of the items.  The necklace is between $40-$50 and the Moonstone $400-$600 based on Lisa's merchant roll.

Lisa shares her valuation of the items.

======
OOC: Has the values be updated into the loot thread, please?

Nice little find then. we should be aware, there may be more stashed about.

"Good find." Rolf says as he hands the trinkets to Lisa to inspect.

Satisfied they are finished with this area, Rolf says "Let's keep moving.  I want to head back down and explore more."

Hoisting his pack back on his shoulder he waits to fall in line behind Gustav and Sajaa.

OOC:  On the main floor I would like to investigate the northern tunnel we passed.  This would still leave the "T" on the right hand side, or eastern part of the caves, to explore. See msg#11.

Raddek:

To the left, there appears to be a larger room ahead as well as another tunnel that opens to the right.  On their right side, the tunnel splits into a 'T', though the group knows that the right fork leads to the prisons below.

Sajaa observes the others in her party admiring the gemstone. She has little knowledge as to its appraisal value and doesn't particularly care, much. Matters of money were not something the women of her Clan worried about back home, though more than a few of her female peers would complain about their father's, husbands or son's mishandling of finances and many quietly voiced that they would be far more fiscally conservative than their male superiors.

As long as she can keep her and her horse fed and sheltered, Sajaa is fine with that. Though her now-dead groom boasted to her about how financially elevated her station in life was going to be as the newest of his wives, Sajaa couldn't care less.

Aljashae hu eubudiat dayimatun. So said the Imam at one of his sermons. Greed is permanent slavery.

Sajaa wholeheartedly agreed.

Crossbow ready, she begins advancing in the direction indicated by Gustav her eyes and ears peeled...

After finding the jewelry, the group maneuvers back down the corridor, turning left at the end of the hallway and back across the entrance hallway to the last corridor they missed.

The group climbs up the shallow sloping way, bending around to the right before the corridor ends in a single doorway.  This one, unlike the last is pushed all the way open, showing ahead what appears to be a store room, though it appears to be completely disheveled and trashed.

A large water barrel has been turned on its side and appears to have leaked most of its contents out onto the stone floor beside.  Ropes are scattered this way and that, some of them looped around a large pickaxe which lays across the floor.  Animal tack is thrown in various places, leather cases are open and spilling wooden hammers, and cutting tools amongst other gear...  All in all, there is little room on the floor to walk without stepping on some tool or piece of gear.

OOC:  Rolf, I think you may have double counted passageways.  I have you going back to the T intersection on the right and choosing the northern passageway there.  Map is below to make things clear.

While there is a lot in the room that is openly visible, it is all splayed out in a chaotic fashion.  Still, it looks like the following items are there:

Various ropes
Pickaxe
Carpentry Kit
Sledgehammer
Iron spikes
Climbing gear
Lead rope and Bridle
Torches

The torches may be useful, if not too wet. Fire scares off a lot of things.

"Ropes and piton can be useful too. Might be worth coiling one up?" asks Lisa.

OOC: I really appreciate the map; TY!
Which room is it that we're moving back from?

Returning from the barracks, Rolf is glad to see the way to the storage room free of the Slavers.  The mage is beginning to think they might be truly gone, or at least in this lair.

"We should give it a quick search." Rolf says as he looks over the disheveled mess of items strewn across the floor.

OOC:  Lisa, I believe we just finished searching h3 and h4.  We are now in h5.

I would like to spend 1 minute searching this room.  Rolf won't take any of the mundane items listed.

He does a quick searh for things that would be useful.  A couple of dry torches if available for sure, perhaps some rope too.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:08, Thu 11 Aug 2022.

While the others search the room, Sajaa keeps watch with her crossbow readied.



"I agree, Master Du Meseries." She replies softly.  "With your enchanted blade as our only light source, it would be wise for us to have a back-up."

OOC: Keep watch. If we can get a second light source going that would be best and ideally someone with a free hand (not Sajaa as she has both hands occupied with her crossbow) can hold it.

Gustav sifts through the flotsam across the floor, picking out two of the torches with his shield arm and a thirty yard coil of heavy rope which he throws over a shoulder.  All of the gear appears to be in good condition, the torches dry and the rope whole, despite their haphazard placement.

Rolf, however, seems less interested in the things on the floor than other things he can glean from the room.  Across a small back shelf, he notes several dust silhouettes where large tins or some other containers had been moved... littered across the area are tiny bits of aromatic, green leaves.

"Hashish."  Terri informs the group after looking at Rolf's find.  "It's a drug...  Usually doesn't grow this far north though..."

OOC:  Just a note that Lisa's rapier also has a light spell cast on it, so you do have two light sources.  I've mostly talked about Gustav's as he is the one in the front, and Lisa is behind.

Gustav, I have you holding two torches in your left (shield) arm.  I'm not sure where else you want to put them as you don't have any other bags with you, other than your purse which is much too small.

Sajaa’s top lip curls in disgust.

”I know of that foul drug.” She says.  ”It is grown widely in the foothills of my homeland.  It is a plant, yes, but it is not halal.  Allah forbids it as He forbids all manner of smoking.  Only brigands, cutthroats and other sinners smoke it.  There is an Order of Assassins who call themselves Hashishin for their propensity to imbibe in the stuff.”

She shakes her head.  ”I heard some of the bandits in these caves speak Arabic.  Given your finding of this drug here, and the language they spoke, I would not be surprised at all if the inhabitants here are some faction of Hashishin.”

She frowns.  ”All the more reason to eradicate them from this land.”

OOC:  Oops, I didn’t realize Lisa had a MAGIC SWORD!  Okay, no need to get a third light source going, then.  Sajaa will continue to keep watch for any intruders.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Fri 12 Aug 2022.

Gustav will see if anyone can carry the torches and rope... he'd like to be free to fight if need be.

Lisa remains quiet, feeling that she hasn't really proved herself to this seemingly vastly more experienced crew with whom she's thrown in her lot. She's feeling emotionally exposed and just concentrates hard on not being incompetant.

With sword out, she follows in the rear of the group.

======
OOC: Magic sword? Yes, please! I wish!
The expert mage with us cast some kind of light spell on it.  (What's the strength, radius and duration of the spell. please?)

Rolf roots around a bit looking for anything that is not the mundane.  He notes the removal of some type of containers by the silhouette left in the dust on a shelf.

He takes a whiff of some type of green leaves speckled on the shelf and smells some sort of drug he surmises.

At Sajaa's behest he moves on from the shelf and helps Gustav store his torches.  Rolf takes his backpack and sets it down on an open spot on the ground.  Removing another bag from it's depths, he puts the torches inside this second bag and puts the bag away.

With his shield on his left arm and his backpack reslung on his shoulder he motions to leave with a head nod.

"Lets check that last tunnel."

OOC:  I would like to check the tunnel heading east off of 'h6'.

Lisa, I cast continual light "bright as day" on your sword previously.  Not sure how long it will last as it has a random duration.  The spell doesn't give a radius.

"Last tunnel, ok," acknowledges Lisa, and follows on.

OOC: TY Rolf
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Fri 12 Aug 2022.

Gustav asks the others to take the torches and rope, and Rolf agrees, stuffing the two light sources into the depths of his pack as the swordsman simply adjusts the thick cordage over his shoulder, crisscrossing the strap of his hanging crossbow.

The group wanders out of the storage, back down the slope of the tunnel and down the stairs to the prison below.

The smell of rot grows from the moment the five begin to descend.  Gustav wrinkles his nose as he holds his blade aloft, illuminating the path ahead.

The small room at the bottom of the stair remains much unchanged from the day before, a small table and some chairs, with the wall sconces meant for light, though all of the torches have been long since burned out or taken.

Without hesitation, Rolf points them on towards the left corridor, which turns abruptly right and then back to the left, before ending in another sort of prison.

The room is some thirty feet square, dank and smelling of piss.  Unlike their previous rescue however, the prison here is empty however, the iron lattice door knocked entirely free from the stone so that it uselessly hangs from just one side.  Where the door has been knocked free, the stone of the wall is gouged with fresh cuts, as if smashed with a chisel or pick.

Edited to reflect that Rolf took the torches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:19, Tue 16 Aug 2022.

Sajaa moves along as quietly as she can. Her golden eyes probe the darkness for signs of enemy or traps or any feature that seems out of place.  She begins to wonder if, perhaps, yesterday's raid was enough to drive the rest of the Hashishin out of the caves for good...

Curiously, the prospect of the bandits having fled disappoints her...

She is ready for a fight ... eager for one ...

Rolf's nose crinkles in response to the offending odor permeating the room.  He turns his head and averts his gaze.  He doesn't want to ponder the despair that must have been felt by those who suffered here.

"We've exhausted this cave system it would seem.  We should move on." he says to the group pondering their next move.

"We could change course and try to track down Runt, but I'd rather stay focused on the slavers.  There's that cave high up across from us, but getting to it will be a difficult climb.  I just don't see the slavers using that entry way on a regular basis."

"Macchus mentioned a third cave through the river itself, hidden at the base of the canyon.  But I'm not sure we can get there without a boat."

"Lastly we could try to track the trail of the dead leading out of here to see where they were taken.  I'm leaning in this direction myself."

"What say the rest of you?"

Didn't Runt say something about they took the waons into the cave by the river mouth? That would implya fairly easy access.

Sajaa nods her helmed head thoughtfully.

"Yes. I believe that is what the boy said." She says softly.

"I think we should follow the stream to the caves and see where it leads. We may find both the bandits and Runt, if we're lucky!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Tue 16 Aug 2022.

Rolf laughs.  "Not sure what I was thinking about needing a boat.  Lets ford this stream and find this hidden cave.  Shouldn't be hard to spot if it's big enough to store their wagons!"

Lisa says simply, "Ok, we can do that."

After a few moments of conversation the five decide to head back out and attempt the cave at the source of the creek, knowing at least that was where Runt had been headed when he entered the canyon.  The trek back outside is uneventful, though Terri steps wide around the beetles and flies which still swarm over the dried and sticky blood which still coats the entranceway.

Outside the five do not tarry, but hurry down the slope and back back into the stream with plodding footfalls.  Here, the thicket is dense.  The shrubs grow wide and tall, spreading their limbs high overtop of the creek, creating a canopy overhead.  Gustav and Sajaa lead, the shadows above and the surface of the water below causing an eerie reflection from the lighted weapons up from underneath.  Only when the five approach the mouth of the cave does the cover of shrub break for a moment, giving a narrow view of the cliff walls above and the high cave to the south.

From the mouth of the cave, the room beyond appears fairly large, expanding back some twenty or more feet.  The room opens up both to the left and right as well, the left side climbing out of the water onto a damp stone and dirt while the river continues on, winding to the right, where it and continues as the cave ceiling droops down to meet it.  Unlike the last cave, where the cooridors where mostly straight and smoothed down, this cave appears much rougher in appearance, with the stony ceiling jagged at points and dropping low as it approaches the walls.  On both the left and right, there are darkening tunnels where the light of Gustav and Lisa's swords don't reach.

Though Runt had been sure this cave was where the wagons were taken, and had suspected the animals were here too, at first glance, this cave is empty.  For there is nothing on the dry ground to the left nor anything protruding from the water on the right.  It doesn't take long however, for Terri to find traces that suggest Runt was right all along.

"These are wheel tracks."  Terri says, stopping down as she steps out of the creek and up on the dirty rock beyond.  "Wagons...  lots of tracks.  Though I couldn't be sure they are all different.  That's a hoof print too..."  She stoops down to look.

"It's really hard to tell how old.  I bet these things never go away until they are stepped over... there's no wind or rain here."

OOC:  Feel free to roll vs. tracking for more information for those that have it.  The room is essentially broken down on two sides, the left side, which is flat stone and wet dirt, and the right side, which is mostly taken up by the creek as it surges from somewhere deeper in the caves.  It's pretty clear based on the tracks Terri has found that the wagons/animals were led up and out of the river and up on the left side of the cave.  There are passages that lead farther on to both the left and right, though you'll have to get back in the water to check the passage on the right.

Gustav also looks around, confirming Terri's findings.

Rolf sloshes through the creek water lamenting that his feet are getting wet.  He's not fond of having soaking wet feet and generally does his best to keep them dry, but there's no avoiding it in this situation.

He enters the dark, musty cave with trepidation, half expecting an ambush the moment they step inside, but none materializes.

He too notes the obvious tracks and bends down to take a look.

OOC:  Rolf will check for tracks around the cave.  He made the roll by 2.

Lisa pays attention to the tracking and follows the trackers around..

Having slogged along the creek with the others, Sajaa examines the bleak environment around her.  Fascinated with Terri and the others' woodcraft, Sajaa decides to assist as best she can hunting for tracks...

OOC: Failed default Tracking roll by 1

Gustav, Rolf, and Sajaa all make their own attempts to make sense of the chaotic tracks.  Animal prints litter the room, mostly single hoof, though here and there a print appears splayed at the toe.

Wheel tracks too, seem to be all over within.  There is a well used path, where ruts in the dirt fall one on top of the next, coming from out of the creek, though from there, the tracks seem to fan out.  Here and there, the dirt is hard packed in places, as if a wheel sunk down slightly, pushing the dirt and silt out to the sides.

The tracks appear to be consolidated mostly in the room however, for as they step deeper into the cave, the dirt thins, replaced instead with rougher stone.

OOC:  Everybody succeeded by about the same amount, so I figured I would just write about what you saw.  The synopsis is about what Terri has already said.

Rolf stands from examining the tracks.  "Lots of activity here." he says in short summary.

"Lets head off to the left first and wind our way right.  But keep alert, this place is bigger than most and they could still be hanging around."

OOC:  I would like to start searching to the cave's left where it's drier.

In response to Rolf's suggestion, Sajaa merely nods her helmed head and moves in the Mage's indicated direction.

Lisa takes up her habitual last place.

Gustave joins the lead to Sajaa's right side.

Holding their light sources high, Rolf leads the others through the opening on the left side of the cave.  The thin film of mud on the cave floor slowly thins away, leaving only rough-hewn rock, and erasing any evidence of animal or carts passing through.

Almost as soon as stepping out of the last cave, the group finds themselves in a small nook, barely large enough for all five of them to stand, though three more caves shoot out like fingers.  The first one on their right offers the best view, a narrow alley in the stone that goes back some thirty feet.  The floor of the cave seems scarred black, and shimmering with the damp returns of Gustav and Lisa's blade.  The other two caves are more difficult to make out detail as most of the view is obscured by stone hall, though the one ahead seems larger, or at least longer, and the one farthest ahead and to the left seems largest of all, with small blots of purple visible in the distance.

This seems strange...

Rolf suspects the cave system is a mostly natural one so odd shapes and designs are to be expected, but he agrees with Gustav that some of it is indeed odd nonetheless.

In keeping with his suggestion of working from a counterclockwise direction he says "This way." as he points to the cave with some sort of purple blotches.

"But let's go a little slower and cautious.  They do like their traps as I recall."

OOC:  Lets investigate the left most cave with the purple blots.  I will search for traps as we advance.

At Rolf's direction, Sajaa proceeds, extra slow and wary, her eyes sweeping the area for signs of trouble...

Gustav moves along side of Sajaa with some trepidation , very much on guard and searching for anything odd.

Lisa keeps a wary eye to their rear, only stepping forward when looking in the group's direction of travel.

The group steps cautiously along, passing two of the caves on their right on the way to the cave with the odd purple color.  A spared glance in each of the other caves as they pass gathers little farther information.  The cave on the right is small, with the glossy black covering most of the floor...  though there are small rivulets, almost like veins on the ground where the black has been cut through and the floor matches the rough grey surfaces of the walls.

The second cave passes much the same though this one larger and seems to spread out wide towards the left and right as the cave opens up...  again the floor is blackened, as if the floor had been painted with dyes, then naturally washed away by the drips and drops of water spattering down from the ceiling.

As they reach the cave on the far left, it becomes clear that this one too, has some of the same black smeared across the floor, though it starts just at the entrance, and is slowly replaced by a bright purple fungi which crawls all over across the floor.

The mushrooms are oddly shaped, their stems small in comparison to their caps, which bulge outward like a goat's stomach tied off and blown up to bursting with air.  Closer towards the entrance, the mushrooms are rather small, only a few inches in height, though towards the back of the cave they grow to enormity, some of them nearly three feet!

Terri stoops downwards, rubbing a finger across the blackened floor which immediately smears off onto her finger...

Then, reverberating off the walls, a bestial chitter echoes through the room...

OOC:  It is 1330 on the 5th of January.  Everyone roll vs. Perception please, Gustav, I'll just go with the one you already rolled.  Everyone can be assumed to be in the left cave, fanned out in a sort of pentagon so everyone can see, with Gustav and Sajaa in front, and Terri in the back.

Purple Mushroom
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Mon 22 Aug 2022.

Sajaa pauses, mouth formed into a little O of fascination at the strange, violet mushrooms, some enormous in size. A fleeting curiosity as to whether such fungi might be poisonous or palatable and good for cooking flickers briefly through her mind. But that thought is instantly replaced by alarm when she hears the chirrup of some creature coming from somewhere not far away...

"Do you hear that?!" She whispers urgently to the others, shouldering her crossbow and poising it in the direction of the sound...

OOC: 15:38, Today: Sajaa al-Kassem rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,3,3.  Sajaa cooking roll to analyze mushrooms (10).  15:37, Today: Sajaa al-Kassem rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,3,5.  Sajaa perception (needs 12).

Rolf is a confident man.  And feels that he is capable of handling just about any situation.  But the one before him gives him pause.  He knows a little bit about mushrooms and mold, enough to know you need to be at least careful with them.

"Back up." Rolf says softly through gritted teeth.

OOC:  Rolf will start to move out of the cave.  Imploring everyone to follow.  He made his perception roll by 4.  And a naturalist roll by 3 to try to determine what the mushrooms are.

Jaw dropped and looking like the village idiot Lisa looks around, then closes her mouth to whisper to herself, "Pretty!"

Hearing Rolf's warning, she glances behind, and smiles at Terri while backing up as bid.

Sajaa complies immediately with the urgent tone of Rolf's voice.

She retreats out of the area, eyes constantly searching her surroundings for trouble.

Standing about halfway between Terri and Sajaa, Lisa smiles again at her sister-friend's back as she thinks, "Despite where we are, in this cave, this is the safest I've felt in many months." Her hand seeks her buckler and readies it just in case.

Sajaa takes a moment to contemplate the purple mushrooms, though they are nothing like any of the fungi she has used for cooking.  Where button mushrooms are merely puffy and bell mushrooms wide and fleshy, these seem less substantial, almost as if they are a narrow shell and overfilled with air.  She has certainly never used them in a recipe, nor ever seen them in the markets back home.

While Rolf does not know these fungi either, he has something more of a knowledge in general.  And fungi like these are inevitably packed to bursting with spores.  While he couldn't guarantee they were poisonous, he knew enough to determine that a three foot spore-cap exploding its whole contents couldn't be good, regardless of how harmless it was under normal circumstances.

He gives the order to back up under gritted teeth, and not a moment too soon, for the bestial chittering continues... echoing... returning calls.  Narrow, low, glittering eyes appear in the shadows between the fungus, and just as the last retreat out of the room, a face appears out of the midst of the flora, furry, matted, and hissing in fury.

It's a rat.  And one of the largest any of the five have ever seen.

OOC:  All five of you have backed up out of the room.  The rat you see is about two feet long.  It's hard to tell how many of them there are, though many of you saw at least a half-dozen sets of eyes peering out of the fungal trove.  You are back in the first room with the cart tracks (it's only about a 4 yard retreat from where you were standing), though you are all still facing the cave you retreated from.


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:13, Mon 22 Aug 2022.

"Allah! It is HUGE!" Sajaa cries. She raises the crossbow to her shoulder, taking careful aim...

OOC: Turn One, aim at Rat, center mass. Turn Two, fire (provided no one moves into her line of fire before she gets off her shot) +1 All Out attack.  Once she fires, she will step back and draw her saber. If she has the opportunity to defend, she will extra effort retreat, Aggressive Parry the Rat.

Gripping her rapier comfortably but not too tightly, Lida eyeballs the overlarge, presumably alpha-, rat. If it takes a run at her sister-friend, Sajaa, she will try to skewer it.

======
OOC: Evaluate maneuvre

Gustav backs up alongside Sajaa and eyes the beast. He considers getting his crossbow out as well, but dismisses the thought as too time consuming. He expects a melee before that.

Rolf doesn't like the look of those mushrooms one bit and is glad to be clear of them as they back up.  Though the collection of them are called "fungi" he doesn't see what's fun about them.  Not one bit.

And despite falling back, he is unsure if even at this distance they could still affect them if one were to burst.  But his mind can't spend more time considering the matter and turns to more immediate concerns.

Preparing for battle Rolf tosses his sack to one side and draws his falchion.  From the sound of it they will be swarmed by rats soon enough and is glad to have his shield ready in lieu of his crossbow!

OOC: Rolf will drop his backpack off to the side and draw his falchion.  Defense retreating dodge.

Not sure of how to attack them especially since they are a big group. I have nothing to cover such an area.

Hearing Gustav's request for inspiration Lisa suggests, "Create Fire then Shape Fire might work. Certainly a decent try for clearing out fungi and still keeping a distance in case of spore explosions or whatever.. Might help bottleneck rats, too."

With a shriek to her God, Sajaa raises her crossbow aims at the monstrosity and fires!

Twang!

The bolt barks out of Sajaa's bow, flying straight for the monstrous rat at the base of the mushrooms ahead.  Still bearing its teeth and hissing, the rat seems oblivious of impending death.  The bolt hits!  It tears away at the flesh of the beast's right haunch, sending splashes of blood streaking across the mushrooms all around, and the rat it self flailing in pain...  But the bolt continues on, going straight through the animal and the purple fungus behind.

"Reeeeeeee!"  The rat shrieks as it disappears into cloud of exploded sickly green gas, blasted from one of the mushroom caps that had been hit in the chaos.  The plume ruptures upwards and out, reflecting back the light of Gustav's saber and shadowing all behind.  It thins, however, as it floats to the edges of the cave ahead.

After a moment, the cloud has cleared enough to see beyond, though the purple grove now stands motionless and empty, though the chittering scree only increases up in volume.  The rats call, one after another, back and forth in a crescendo of fear and rage.

"REEEEEEEEEEE!"

OOC:  I think maybe there may be a bit of back and forth, probably that I caused by going a little bit too far with the groups actions before everybody was ready.  Map is below that hopefully gets us all back on the same page.  A quick note first that everything probably isn't exactly as the players imagined it, for example a little ways back Gustav said he was on the right, but Sajaa's shot simply doesn't make any sense without her being either on the right side or in front, so I just did what made sense to me.

The rats and mushrooms are in G5.  For the moment, it doesn't seem like the rats are following you out, but they are making a fairly big ruckus.  The spore explosion came from the area the rat was shot in, presumably from either the bolt going through and hitting a mushroom, or from the rat flailing around after he was hit.  The spore cloud also expanded for several yards before visibly thinning, though it hasn't seemed to come quite as far as any of you yet.

As you can't see any of the rats at the moment, you aren't in combat, so no need to post in second increments.

Lisa had wanted to show Sajaa that she wasn't useless, but she's ended up moving back further than she'd planned.

Desperate to contribute, to feel less useless, Lisa pipes up, "With a reception like that I think bandits wouldn't make a habit of going that way. It could still do with clearing out. Never know, someone carrying lots of interesting stuff may have expired in there. Fire would do the job, I think. But maybe we should investigate other caves first? Probably Runt would have gone one of the other ways too."

When her bolt streaks through the giant Rat and then continues on to puncture a mushroom behind it, releasing a cloud of spores, Sajaa falls back, swearing: "Ya Ibn el SHARMOUTA!"

She retreats from the expanding cloud, even as she is unslinging and readying her shield...

OOC: Retreat with others, ready shield, sling crossbow on back, draw saber. Defense Extra Effort Retreat Aggressive Parry. If the cloud starts to overtake her, she will hold her breath and continue backing. PS, I, Sara, knew the shrumes were likely toxic-spore releasing and didn't want to fire, but Sajaa didn't know this. Sorry folks! :(  Here's to hoping the rats aren't immune to the spores.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:20, Tue 23 Aug 2022.

"Great shot!" Rolf says before recoiling at the sign of the the green gas.  The gods only know what that cloud might do to a person, and he is loathe to find out.

"Let's get out of here and let things settle.  We can always come back if we have to, but I suspect the bandits didn't use any of these three caves, so maybe we don't come back at all."

"We could try to burn it out, but it's a hornets nest of rats in there.  Not sure if it's worth the bother."

Putting his sword away, he picks up his backpack and looks to head to the right side of the cave and the stream winding it's way through it.

OOC:  Unless no one objects I want to head to the right side of the caves.  Away from mold, mushrooms and rats.

The wagon tracks came this way, and I doubt through that mess... so anther tunnel must lead somewhere.

Lisa reaches forwards and touches Sajja on the arm to get her attention. With looks, a definitive nod and a smile she communicates how impressive the shot was.

"Sure, guys, that sounds fine. Let's go around the other way then."

Fearful that the burst mushrooms may be poisonous, and unwilling to test their luck in these circumstances against an unknown group of massive rodents, Rolf bids the group to continue to retreat, which they do, step after step.  Though once they see one of the rats flash across their view of the room beyond, it doesn't seem like any of their number intend to charge, and after a short ways the group feels comfortable turning and walking back towards the other passage from the main cave.

Plunging back in the shallow stream the five follow the water upriver, slowing a bit as it deepens up to their knees.  Though they do not have far to walk, only some ten or twenty yards as the cave turns slowly back towards the left before the passage ends, terminating in a cave that is some thirty feet wide by twenty feet deep.

Almost the whole of the room is filled with a large pool, or perhaps an underground spring of sorts which seems to feed the creek.  Only a narrow band of floor, maybe an inch or two of sloped rock, is visible between the steep walls of the cave and the waterline.  The pool itself seems quite deep, sloping downwards from the edges of the room until the bottom is no longer visible.

In any case, it seems there are no other passages here than the one they entered through.

"Allah, but this place is an endless labyrinth!" Sajaa whispers, more to herself than anyone else.

She pauses by the pool's edge, her golden eyes trying to penetrate its depths.

"Mayhap this was used as the Hashishin's water source in addition to the creek?"

OOC: Sajaa will have reloaded her crossbow, slung her shield back across her back and sheathed her sword. She will examine the pool, the ground, the ceiling and walls to see if this is a natural cavern, manmade or a combination, and also look for any secret passages, etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

Rolf is glad to be away from the rats and mushrooms.  Nothing but disease and poisonous sickness.  Both of which he wants nothing to do with.

He trudges along the right hand tunnel and tilts his head curiously as the water rises, ending in a large pool.

"This is odd.  I find it implausible they took horses and carts near the rat filled mushroom cave so they must have gone this way.  But this way is flooded."

Stumped he thinks for a moment.  "What if there is a drain somewhere they've plugged?" he asks openly.  "If there is there must be some mechanism they use to safely close and open the water outlet.  If I can find it there may be passage through this cave if the water can be drained out."

"Anyone care for a swim?"

OOC: If Sajaa's search doesn't bear fruit, Rolf will take a swim around the cave pool.

Rolf can swim.  He's not great at it, but well enough maybe for what he wants to try.  My plan is to drain my water skin and do my best to fill it with air.  Then strap it to the back of my upper torso as a weak floatation device.  If anyone wants to add their waterskin in the same fashion I would appreciate it.  I assume the caves water is potable so they can just be refilled after.

Then swim encircling the cave looking for anything mechanical in nature under the water.  With either Sajaa's or Lisa's light lighting my way.  I would like my hands free so I'll need to strap/tie a light source to my chest.

I'll keep to the water surface and not try to dive.  At least not yet.  This pass is mainly to see if I can find anything.

I have rope and will tie a some around me just in case I get in trouble so I can be pulled back.

Sajaa hesitates for a moment, looking down at the water. Then turns back to Rolf.

"I will go." She volunteers, her expression unreadable.

She lays down her crossbow, helm and shield, then wrestles out of her leathers and boots.  Last, she strips off her outerwear, a homespun Megalosian style tunic and loose fitting woolen leggings which she bought at the market in Three Corners, folds them neatly and places the bundle on top of the shield.

She feels painfully self-conscious standing here in nothing but her smallclothes before two Men, with her hair unbound and arms and legs bared. So says the Quran:

Say to the believing women that they restrain their looks and guard their private parts. And to Muslims, one's arms, legs and hair are private parts. It is one thing to have foregone her burqa and hijab -- that alone would have likely resulted in a backhand across the face by any random man on the street back home in Quazr as-Sawh. In her current state, before Men -- and, worse, Non-Believers her Hudud could go as far as a public flogging or even death by stoning.

~ But I am far from home now. And I have sinned so much already, it probably does not matter anymore.~ She thinks to herself.

She begins to pad barefoot toward the water, but stops, turns and takes up her weapon belt, buckling her scabbarded sword around her hips, just in case.

And then she returns to the waters edge and dips a toe in...

~Allah, pray that You keep me safe, despite my sins.~ She thinks to herself and then hyperventilates for twenty seconds before executing a neat dive into the water...

OOC: Swimming skill 13 +3 (entering water intentionally) = 16. She stripped to unencumbered, so shouldn't have a penalty there, I don't think. Her goal is to hyperventilate and dive into the water.  Her goal will be to explore, dive to the bottom search it for Vorpal Weapons or drainage plugs or anything else of interest.13:09, Today: Sajaa al-Kassem rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,4,2.  Swimming after Hyperventilating, needs 13+3 = 16.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

Sajaa ! ... Gustav turns away to prevent her em bare ass ment.

Rolf start to undress when he is stopped by Sajaa.  "Ok." he says simply at her suggestion, somewhat relieved of not having to take on the watery task.  The mage is certainly capable of swimming, be he is not that great at it and the depth of the pool concerns him.

He averts his gaze at the sight of Sajaa barely clothed.  She is a comely woman and there is no time for any monkey business on their search for the slavers.  If the evil men have fled as he suspects they will have had a significant lead on them that may be a struggle to close.

"Be careful if you find a plug.  You don't want to me anywhere near the drain if you release the water.  The suction could easily kill you." he says with deep concern.

Lisa hesitates wanting to go with Sajaa but decides against it; she can swim but not so very well. Instead she puts her shield away so she can spellcast and steps to the water's edge to watch over Sajaa.

Completely flummoxed as to where the carts and animals may have gone, Rolf proposes the possibility of a drain in the pool, such that when the plug is pulled, the way onward reveals itself.  While what strikes him most is the oddity of the situation, Rolf thinks this possible explanation is worth exploring, and asks for any volunteers to explore the depths of the pool.

Within a few moments, Sajaa has removed her outer-garments and placed them near the edge of the pool, where at least there is a bit of dry stone.  The woman steels herself, tightening her weapon belt around her waist, and walks a few short steps from the edge of the pool as she quickly submerges to her hips, then to her chest.

Sajaa takes a few forceful breaths before plunging her head under the surface of the water...

"I don't understand!"  Terri says, shaking her head as Sajaa drops out of sight.  "Do we really think that the wagons were taken through here?  This spring feeds the river right?  Do we really think there's any way to drain it?  Wouldn't it just fill right back up?  And why would the slavers want to go through?"

Sajaa continues her story in 30b, Head Under Water

Rolf is a man of ideas and possibilities which a plus for a mage.  Knowing how to weave spells is great, but even better if the caster has a creative mind.

But being an idea man can get him bogged down at times chasing things that have a slim chance of working out.  This could be one of those times...

"It would be a neat engineering trick wouldn't it if they had a way to divert the water here and close off a potential passage leading beyond.  They could hole up in the caves beyond and anyone investigating would see nothing." he replies to Terri.

"Why flee when you can hide?  In any event, this investigation shouldn't take long.  I'd give Sajaa a minute or two at most to look around.  The pool isn't that big."

OOC: In case something goes wrong with Sajaa's swim, Rolf will strip down to his skivvies so he can go in after her if he has to.  He will wear his falchion's scabbard, but otherwise not carry anything else.

Looking at Terri, Lisa gives a single but definite nod as if to confirm the female warrior has just said the most sane thing in the world.
Retuning to peering into the pool Lisa's unable to contain herself for anxiety about what's happening to her friend. She bands her hair, kneels down, takes a deep breath and submerges her face in the pool, looking for Sajaa.

"Perhaps..."  Terri concedes as Rolf explains his reasoning, though she bites her lip, holding back a retort.

Meanwhile, Terri's comment seems to make Lisa nervous, for after a quick nod, she pulls her hair back and glares down into the pool, even submerging her face, though the thick and cloudy water obscures her sight beyond just a few empty feet.  She is surprised however, at how warm the water is, compared with the cool, trickling stream they had been plodding through just a few moments ago.

The comments seem to have Rolf second guessing himself as well, for he slings his crossbow and backpack to the floor of the cave and begins to pull the heavy leather wormskin up and over his head to prepare in case Sajaa needs a rescuer.

"It just seems so steep!"  Terri finally adds, her bow hanging down loose as she thinks through her words.  "Even if it was drained it seems like it would be hard to get an animal through, and near impossible for a cart or wagon."

As if to emphasize her point, a rapid spray of bubbles burst at the surface near the center of the pool.

Several tense moments pass.  Lisa glares down a kneel at the edge, Rolf struggles to lift his armor up and over his chest...

Then suddenly Sajaa's head breaks the surface of the water four or five feet from the near edge, her eyes wild with anxiety!

Sajaa rejoins the thread

OOC:  Rolf is 5 seconds into taking off his worm-skin armor.  It takes a total of 25 more seconds to remove, or you can spend another 5 seconds to put it back on.

Lisa is on hands and knees next to the pool.

Sajaa is standing/treading in about 5 feet of water a few feet from the mouth of the creek.

Let's do a shortened round.  We aren't quite in combat, but I'm looking for about 5-10 seconds worth of actions.

Sajaa is close to us, or on the far side?


Gustav comes on guard, unsure of what is going on...

"Someone throw her one end of a rope!" exclaims Lisa as she stands and steps back. "We'll pull her out! the water's warm. Something strange going on here." She rubs her eyes and then twists her hair wringing water from it.

Unsure of what is going on Rolf hurriedly begins to put his armor back on and ready his shield.  If something is chasing after Sajaa he wants to be ready to give it a fight it will regret!

OOC:  Rolf will put his armor back and ready his shield.

Sajaa bursts to the surface and releases her spent breath in a high-pitched scream!  She swivels her head around to find her bearings, all color drained from her face.  When she spots the others, she kicks wildly for shore and scrambles up the bank on hands and knees in a panic.

”There is … a dead body… down there!  At … at first I thought it was a ghul... but now I think … not!  I think it was ... just a corpse...”  Sajaa cries between gasps for breath.  She shakes the water from her eyes and leaps to her feet, brandishing her sword toward the water, the tip of the blade trembling…

”The … body … it was … contained in something… like … like jelly or something…  I could not see it!  I touched it and, look!” She holds up her arm to show livid red bumps.  ”It stung!  It burned!”
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Fri 26 Aug 2022.

Some sort of slimeor jelly fish no doubt. I think we are barking up the wrong tree as Terri has suggested.  I am sorry Sajaa, I did not bring a towel for you to dry off.

"It is not a worry, Master Gustav. I shall dry off soon enough..."

She then turns her back on the men.

"Kindly do not look, good Sirs." She says, embarrassed. She slithers out of her wet smallclothes, wrings them out and tucks them in her satchel.  Next, she pulls on her outer garments and then wrestles into her leathers, seeking assistance from Lisa to help with a difficult-to reach buckle or tie.  She pulls on her boots, then slings her shield and helmet across her back. She uses her fingers to comb through her wet hair.

"Master Rolf. Whatever was that thing down below that stung me, I wonder if you might have a look at these burns?"

OOC: Sajaa will redress. She will rearm herself with her crossbow. She is seeking some healing from Rolf.

Lisa whips off her cloak and holds it so as to preserve her best friend's modesty. As Sajaa is about to pull on her outer clothes, Lisa carefully drapes the cloak over Sajaa's shoulders, and rummages amonst her own things, "Just a few moments, please." Triumphantly she pulls out her own spare smalls and offer them. "Tight in places, but should stop chaffing."

Lisa suggests throwing a rope, though Sajaa is already scrabbling her way up from the pool, a half swim and half backwards walk with her saber thrust out in front of her like a ward.

Rolf hurriedly redons his still leather tunic, kneeling down to grab his shield from where he dropped it a moment ago.

Terri curses and readies her bow, her arrow drawn back to her ear and aimed at the waters from whence Sajaa came.

For a moment, the waters are still, and it seems possible that Gustav is right...  That whatever injuries Sajaa has suffered are from some small underwater creature... no longer a threat.  Though it only takes a moment for the full scale of the monster to make itself apparent.

The water itself seems to rise from the pool.  Nearly half of the surface breaks with the rest, lifting up towards the group.  One, two, three feet high, and only growing and nearly half as wide as the pool itself.  A slime perhaps as Gustav suggested, nearly the same color as the silty water around, though the thing is massive, nearly ten feet square as it lurches forward from the depths.

"Shit!"  Terri curses, loosing her arrow which hits the monstrous wall with force!  It carries several feet into the mass before stopping dead, now part of the flotsam which resides within.

And then the others see it.  The head of the screaming corpse which Sajaa had described.  It rises up from the water, half decomposed and interred several feet deep within the flesh of the gelatinous cube.

OOC:  By now the players likely would have recognized the gelatinous cube if I have managed to describe it even decently, so let's just call a cube a cube.  Thanks for playing along if you did recognize it before this point Sajaa.  The cube is about 10'x 10' that you can see, and is rising up out of the water with about 3' of its height showing.

Sajaa has her saber ready, is facing north, and is knee deep in the water of the stream.  Her equipment is near Terri's picture, just at the side of the pool.

Rolf has donned his leather shirt (is fully armored) and has grabbed his buckler with his left hand.  He is still on one knee, though you can stand as part of your first turn instead of a step action.  Your sword is not yet ready.

Lisa is standing with an unready sword (it doesn't make any sense for you to scabbard it since it's a light source, but you wouldn't have been able to do all the other stuff with it in your hand... so I'll just say it's unready).  Your buckler is on the ground next to you and can be readied in two turns with a change position (kneel) then a ready maneuver.

Gustav is standing has his buckler and sword readied.

Terri is standing with an unloaded and unreadied bow.

Let's do 2 seconds of action.  It's worth noting that based on the limited dry ground around the pool, only Sajaa has the ability to retreat unless you shift yourselves towards the stream.

Lisa bends and grabs the buckler, then stands and runs.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:17, Sun 28 Aug 2022.

Gustav remains on dry land and holds back, to strike when it comes in reach, as he does, the tries to think of anything he has that might repel or hurt the thing.  He remembers the Dagger of Venom, may do nothing, but maybe it will have some effect. he puts his saber in his shield hand and draws the little dagger.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:18, Sun 28 Aug 2022.

In his somewhat short adventuring career, Rolf Erikson has already fought against a menagerie of tough and varied monsters.  Once a wickedly vicious worm, armed with razor sharp teeth and insanely thick armor, balls of horror that lay patiently from cave ceilings to pounce on the unsuspecting below, and even a variety of summoned demons.

But this...this is something different entirely.  He's not sure what it is, let alone what might hurt it.  What in the gods is it?  How is it so impossibly huge?

Suddenly the mage feels very small, very insignificant and very ill equipped to deal with this menace!

"RUN!" he shouts as begins to stand and grab for his backpack.

OOC: On round 1 Rolf will grab his backpack and stand fully.  Defense blink (moving 3 hexes in a southern direction to retreat back out of the cave from whence we came)
Round 2:  Move as he can back through the southern tunnel, keeping an eye on the creature and not turning his back on it.  I would guess he'd have to side step to that if possible.  Same defense.

Rolf doesn't have to say it twice...

Even as a panicked and stung Sajaa is fighting her way through the shallows for shore, she sees Rolf's face and hears his cry.  She whips her head around to look back over her shoulder to behold the big, wiggly cube ploughing through the water toward her, revealing the decomposing cadaver suspended in its semi-transparent mass.

For a fleeting, insane moment, Sajaa thinks of jelly -- a dessert treat among Non Believers, but a food strictly forbidden to Muslims, for it is made primarily from pigskin. This thought makes her all the more revolted by the thing and goads her on to greater speed.

As she reaches dry ground she glances down at her neatly arranged bundle of clothing, armor and gear. She is nearly naked but has no time to snatch up her dry clothes. So she sprints, sword in hand, splashing down the creek to escape the creature...

OOC: Sajaa will flee as Rolf said, as fast as she can run. If it appears she is being overtaken, she will turn and slash at the thing using extra effort for more damage. Her defense will be extra effort, retreating dodge.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Sun 28 Aug 2022.

The monstrous ooze surges from the pool, its massive girth thrust forward in a dizzying undulation of expanding and contracting sides.  Rolf commands for all to run, though even the mage himself stoops down to recover his bag, hoping for an orderly retreat more than a panicked route.  Lisa too stoops down to grab her shield, her eyes on the massive thing as she too readies to flee back down the stream.

Only Sajaa, who seems to have the most to lose, turns and runs without any additional urging.  For though all her clothing, her armor and her crossbow all bundled in a pile just a small leap away, Sajaa has already felt the burning touch and has no intention of letting the thing get anywhere near her again.  She turns on her back foot and runs, the knee high water splashing all around as she makes with all haste away from the room.

Gustav thinks of his Dagger of Venom, a wicked looking blade he had won in the Witten Assylum.  He tosses his saber into his left hand and yanks the small blade from his belt, appreciating the greenish sheen of the steel and hoping that the magic of the blade will have some great effect upon the massive ooze.

But before Gustav has a chance to ready his attack the thing is upon him, its whole broad side pressing forward towards the cave wall and encroaching both Gustav and Rolf as the latter manages to finally stand back to his feet, bag in hand.

"Ictu!"  Rolf shouts, and his body disappears in a flash of sound and the stench of ozone, only to reappear nearly ten feet downriver, already turning to flee.

But Gustav has no magic to fall back on, he whips the knife around in a defensive arc as he steps away, trying to discourage the cube from approaching further.  His tactic seems not to work, for it surges forward still, blocking out his way towards the cave exit, though at least his blade slashes a wide gash across the opaque gel.  But as Gustav is pulling his hand back to a guard, he feels the gel brush against his hand, burning his skin with a jolt like lightening!

"Gustav!"  Terri screams, pulling her own knife free from its sheath as she steps forward towards the monster.

Lisa too pushes herself to her feet, finding the massive thing almost upon her!

OOC:  The cube doesn't seem to move terribly fast, but it is large enough to make up for it's lack of speed, at least in the small space of the cave.  Gustav has been 'hit' by the cube, please roll vs. HT.  Failure will cause temporary paralysis based on the cube's poison/acid/nerve agent/whatever.

Gustav is also cut off from the short way to the hallway with the river, (unless you want to try moving through the cube) though you can move around the cube on the west side freely.

Lisa is standing with a readied buckler and an unreadied sword.  Rolf is facing north and backpedaling through the water while Sajaa is facing south and running at full speed.

Let's do 2 more seconds for now.

Sensing the knifedid little if anything Gustav falls back and moves around the outside of the room  to his rear and left. He moves slowly enough to try and dra the creature away from that side of the pool, but quickly enough to avoid it. He is willing to reverse himself if that seems most profitable.  He sheathes the dagger and grips the saber back in his right hand, more from habit than any desire to use it on this thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Tue 30 Aug 2022.

When it occurs to Sajaa that she has outdistanced the others, she slows to a stop and whirls about to check on them...

OOC - If it looks like anyone is in serious trouble and unable to flee, Sajaa will head back, prepared to extra effort slash the thing if necessary. Defense will be extra effort retreat dodge. If she sees an opportunity to grab her crossbow she will.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Tue 30 Aug 2022.

Rolf stands and eyes the jelly-like creature and recoils.  A slow, painful death is close and he looks to slide east and make his escape.

But he is too late as the creature oozes forward!  Looking to absorb himself and Gustav alike!

With just a mere second to spare the mage utters an arcane word, disappearing in a puff, only to reappear in the southern cave!

His eyes adjust to the sight before him.  He knows Gustav is still behind and in deep trouble as he doesn't seem him in the tunnel with him, cutoff from escape from the creature, or worse dead.  While Terri and Lisa are still in the cave, but still have the means to escape.

"Stay away from it!" Rolf pleads the pair as he drops his sack.  "RUN!" he implores as he reaches inside a pocket.

OOC:  Rolf will drop his backpack to the south of him 1 hex, keeping it dry if he can, and draw forth a fireball from the robe he wears.  He will draw on round 1 and aim on round 2.  Defense blink if needed.

Rolf will also try to keep the distance he's at with the creature.  Depending on the creatures movement, he will 1 hex step as needed to keep the same distance.

Heeding Rolf's command Lisa moves away from the wobbly foe, transferring the backlet back to her belt.

***
Hopefully having line of sight to some part of the jelly-thing, she tries casting a spell, but only gets a spark and a damp 'phut!'

Gustav sheaths his knife back in his belt, stepping back in an attempt to decoy the monster on, letting the others attack from behind... if even the thing has directions... though instead of following him, the cube continues to slide to the side, shadowing down the length of the hallway.

"He can't!"  Terri shouts back when Rolf urges everyone to run.  "He's trapped!"

The words cut at Sajaa, who turns on the spot and looks behind her where she sees Lisa and Terri both at close range to the monster, the former slashing at it with her knife and the latter stowing her buckler away on her belt.

The thing surges into them, crashing into Terri's hand as she pulls it back from her strike and rolling forward to Lisa's leg before she can pull it out of the way.  Pain rockets up from Lisa's shin and knee, sending angry jolts arcing through her hip and up her back.  The pain sears through her, catching her breath in her chest though she tries to stumble back and away!

Terri screams as well, though she redoubles back and attacks again, her knife slashing a wide arc across the face of the ooze which cracks and splits like a seam.

Sajaa storms back again, her saber striking out in a brutal cut that sinks deep into the cube's opaque mass.  A vast chunk of the thing falls away to the floor, splashing into the water at Sajaa's feet before the current carries it on downstream.

Rolf too seems to hesitate with Terri's remark, and instead of running, he plunges his hand into the pocket of his robe, pulling forth a fireball just larger than an orange.  Knowing he has only one shot with the robe's magic, Rolf holds the sphere back in his hand, sizing the monster up the best he can before he throws...

OOC:  Gustav has stepped back from the beast and sheathed the Dagger of Venom.  As it takes two rounds to sheath a weapon, your sword is still in your left hand, but can be readied in your right next round.  I think I missed your general intention of moving around the cube until now, and though you can't take a full move with the ready maneuver, you may take an additional step next round to make up for my blunder.

Lisa has sustained a moderate toxic injury to the leg, and has her buckler stowed on her belt, her sword is still unready.

Terri sustained a minor toxic injury to the hand, though she seems to still be fighting normally.

The cube does seem to be taking cumulative injury from the various hits with normal weapons.

Rolf has dropped his pack and has a 3 point fireball ready in his right hand with 1 round of aiming bonuses.

Lisa, please roll vs. HT or suffer temporary effects from paralysis.  If you fail you can use a hero point to reroll.

Gustav will move around toward Terri, moving his saber to his right hand as soon as he can.

"Ooowww!"shouts Lisa, not realising the jelly-thing could move as fast as her. She moves away from it as far as she can.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Wed 31 Aug 2022.

"SISTERS!" Sajaa cries to both Terri and Lisa. "GO BACK THE OTHER WAY!". She jabs her sword to point out the narrow strip of shore circling the pond to the north.

Now, saber held in a white-knuckled, double handed grip, she leaps back into the fray, ripping her sword in a silvery arc, trying to separate as much of the thing's gelatinous mass as possible!

OOC: Does attacking with 2 hands add +1 to damage? Flurry of Blows, both Telegraphic Attacks. If attacked, Extra effort retreat Dodge.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:14, Wed 31 Aug 2022.

Rolf feels the orb of fire crackle in his hand as he pulls it forth.  He hasn't practiced much the art of hurling magic, so spends a bit more mental energy aiming and preparing to throw than maybe he would otherwise.  He only gets one shot at this and his friends need it to hit square.  Which shouldn't be to hard to do with the size of the creature, but still he has to be sure.

OOC: Rolf will aim one more turn then throw.  Defense blink.

Gustav switches his sword from his shield hand to his right, stepping forward to get around to the back of the massive ooze, but even as he attempts to clear around, the thing continues moving towards the hall, forcing the swordsman to hurry ahead to close range.

Lisa, her leg burned by the ooze's toxic touch, stumbles back and away as quickly as she can, holding up her sword up to try and give light to the others.  As the cube surges towards Rolf and Lisa, the light now flows through the thing like sunlight through water, sending shadows of the decomposing corpse across the cave walls.

Sajaa flies to meet the cube, her saber glinting in the magical light as she hacks it this way and that, spittle and sweat flying as she uses both hands in her swings, hacking off chunk after chunk of the revolting goo.

"It's working!"  Terri says, as she too cuts ahead, taking advantage of the blob's apparent focus on the fighters to the south.  Her knife cuts a small gash in the thing's flesh, which despite the beasts's size, now seems to be sporting various slashes and gaping holes from its wounds.  Still, the thing seems impervious to real harm... at least until Rolf attacks.

Taking his time to ensure he cannot possibly miss his ten foot wide target, Rolf steps forward and hurls the ball of flames, which slams square into the goo's middle, causing a high-pitched hissing scream.  The flames gore a hole through the flesh much wider than the ball itself, and sending forth a torrent of filthy melt.  The cube shudders violently as it slows to a stop, before sagging in upon itself, its top collapsing in as its bottom splays out under its own weight.  Sajaa and Rolf both find themselves quickstepping backwards to avoid touching the suddenly dispersed slime.

And as quickly as the thing appeared, it now slowly begins to ebb away, the current eating away at its outers, bit after bit.

OOC:  Lots of successful attacks there that I didn't detail in all.  Rolf's was just the last before the cube finally failed a HT roll.  All defenses that time were successful as well.  Though the cube blocks the passage way for a few moments, it will slowly start to ebb away downstream, and there won't be any issue with getting the band back together.

Sajaa pinches her nose shut with her fingers and falls back, nearly gagging at the stink as the rotting cadaver emerges from its dissolving jelly encasement...

She high-steps away from the oozing goo, mindful of her bare feet.

"Lisa! Are you hurt badly?" She calls out, even as she is making her way to her bundle of clothing and gear...

OOC: Sajaa will return to her clothes and suit up and cock her crossbow. She'll sling shield over back, put helm on head and clean and sheath sword. Then will be ready to continue on with crossbow readied.

Gustav also rejoins as soon as he safely can.

That was ... awful beyond mere words.

Putting her best face forwards Lisa replies, "It stings a bit." Holding the sword for light shelimps forwards towards her friend.
Upon reaching Sajaa, Lisaholds out both armss, being careful with the sword, and enfolds her in a hug. She whispers. SLightly embarrassed she tries to save her friend the same by breaking the hug and putting her cloak over the other girl's shoulders. "Hold still, and show me where it got you, please." Grimacing with her own pain, Lisashifts her weight to her good leg and concentrates, casting a curative on Sajaa.

With that done Lisa adds, "There. That's better. Hold this for me please?" and haldns Sajaa the illuminated sword. She tries the same curative on her own leg.  Feeling better, albeit tired with the effort, she rummages among her things to find her spare undergarments and hands them to Sajaa. "Here, try these. Might be tight in places but should prevent chaffing." She takes the sword back, still holding it for illumination, and holds some of her sister's clothes with the other hand.

While Sajaaa dresses under such modesty as the cloak provides, Lisa says loudly, "If anyone is still hurting, please, bear with me. I need a few minutes rest before I can do any more major healing. But I will do so, gladly." As an afterthought she adds, "I wonder if the jellied corpse retained anything useful on it?" She idly watches Sajaa dress, marvelling at the bravery and the strength, of her sister-friend.

Sajaa, now fully dressed, fastens the last buckle to her leather cuirass.  She smiles at Lisa's effervescent personality and healing touch.

"Shukran lak."  She thanks the dark haired woman, relieved that the burning sting to her arm has abated. Some of the elders of her village consider magic an affront to Allah. Others, feel magic is God's way of channeling through spellcasters to unwittingly do His bidding. Sajaa chooses to embrace the latter theory.

She looks over, with her upper lip curled, at the decomposing corpse that has come free of its gelatinous containment and now lies, face down in the stream, snagged to a rock, its skeletal limbs moving limply with the current of the water.

"The poor soul." She murmurs softly to herself, thinking this could have been her own fate. "Even if he was Hashishin in life, no one deserves such a death."

OOC: Sajaa is not keen on trying to scavenge anything from the gelatinous cube remains or the corpse. She will, instead, first wash any of the jelly off her blade, dry and sheath it, then ready her crossbow and keep watch until it is time to move on.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Fri 02 Sept 2022.

Whatever he has, is his tokeep in my view. I'd not want any of that jelly to touch me.

Rolf takes careful aim with his fireball and sends it hurtling towards the creatures center mass.  At the onset at seeing the cube he was unsure of what, if anything, could hurt the massive creature and it's unique chemistry, but he was pretty sure fire would do the trick.  At least he hoped it would.

His magic sphere impacting as he planned, the fire seems to do more than he thought it would as the creature...whatever it is...releases a hiss akin to a scream (despite the lack of a function mouth and lungs), as the fire melts away a large hole in its mass.  Slowly deflating into a gelatinous goo, it ceases it's attack and begins to melt away.

"What in the gods was that?" Rolf asks openly.

"Glad to see you're still alive Gustav.  That was close." he adds as he springs to action and looks to see who might be hurt.

Heartened to see they all still live he says as he starts to assess their status, "We all okay?  Anyone need healing? And what gear did we lose?".

Seeing Sajaa clean her blade he says "We should clean anything that came in contact with it.  Seems it thrives on acid and there's no telling what long term exposure will do to even a little of it."

OOC:  Sajaa, I have a light hooded cloak and a small buckler shield if you want either.   Rolf will pick his backpack back up and retrieve those items if Sajaa wants either.

Gustav nods at Rolfs advice and draws the  Knife of venom and cleans it carefully, as well as the sheath, using water and  a rag.
Then he cleans his saber and anything else that may have touched the thing.

As the cube deflates and begins to ebb away with the gentle current, the five assess the state of their injuries and their equipment.

Sajaa leaps towards the stack of her equipment, relieved to find that placing it all the way against the wall had kept it out of the trail of the cube and prevented it being sucked up like so much dead flotsam.  She sheathes her sword after a quick clean, re-dons her leathers, puts her shield in place and shoulders her crossbow, now cocked and with a bolt in place.

Lisa spends a few moments to heal, gesturing with her hands as she says a few soft words, placing a hand on Sajaa which sends healing energies into the raw and inflamed skin on her hand and leg.  Having finished the process on Sajaa, Lisa turns her spells upon herself, diminishing to nothing the angry red splotch across her leg.

"It got me a little bit."  Terri says in answer to Rolf's question as she stoops down to clean her knife in the dirty water of the pool.  "But I'm ok.  I can wrap it up with some balm and I should be fine if healing is going to slow us down.  I think Gustav got some on him too, but I'm not sure."

She replaces her knife on her belt, pulling an arrow from the quiver on her shoulder and knocking it though she leaves the bowstring limp, holding the arrow in place with the fingers of her left hand.

As time ticks by, the cube gets smaller and smaller, and little by little the corpse inside begins to leak out into the stream.  Surprisingly enough, the body does not stink, at least not nearly as bad as they would expect with most of its flesh eaten away and its innards exposed.

OOC:  It is 1340 on the 5th of January.  Lisa has successfully cast major healing on herself and Sajaa, and is significantly fatigued.  Terri and Gustav have sustained minor injuries, though both seem to be ready to continue on.  No gear was lost to the cube.

I only have a bit of a burn on the back of my hand, I'll be ok, heal those who need it.

Sajaa finishes wringing out her wet hair, then pulls her helm back over her head.  She flips up the visor.

"Sister Lisa tended me fine. I am ready to go."

"Can we pause for a few minutes, please?" asks Lisa. "I need to to get my breath back."

Somewhat battered and bruised, his group seems to be mostly ok and ready to go on which is good.  The battle with the cube was a tough one and could have gone far, far worse he knows.  One or more of them could have joined the deceased man in a clear jellied grave.  But by pluck and luck they have defeated the creature.

"Lets go outside to rest Lisa.  I will help you recover, but first I'd like a closer look at the cube's remnants, such as they are." Rolf says as he moves towards the dead man.

OOC: I will inspect the man to see if I can learn anything about him.  I'll also see if there is anything in the cube that it couldn't digest.

After that I would like to retreat to just inside the cave entrance where there is dry ground.  I will lend energy to Lisa 1FP and rest 5 minutes to recover.  I'll keep doing that every 5 minutes until she's fully rested to help speed things up.

Though some in the group are eager to move on, everyone is wearied, and no one complains with the direction to rest.  First however, Rolf takes a moment to look a little closer at the jelly, investigating the corpse and whatever else was still present from within the cube's innards.

There is little to discover of the body... its clothes are mostly gone or else pressed and melded with what remains of the flesh beneath.  In other places the body is eaten down to bone.  There does not seem to be any remnants of armor or weapons to go along with the man and all the other objects that Rolf slowly begins to make out are eroded almost to the point of being unrecognizable.  There is boot, though all that remains are the hardened leather of the sole and a bit of the toe.  Indeed, the only thing that seems to be mostly in tact is Terri's arrow that she fired, though that too is already starting to show streaks in the wood and the fletching is entirely eaten away.

Rolf notices too, areas with what look to be pebbles, a dozen or so all in a small bunch here and there, though when Rolf finally manages to find some that have dropped to the bottom of the stream bed he finds them to be nothing more than human teeth.

Finding nothing of value, the group walks to the entryway of the caves.  Everyone rests while Gustav stands guard, though there is little for him to see from without with the dense cover of the shrub hanging over the river.

After a half an hour passes, the group is fully rested and ready to go once again.

OOC:  It is 1415 on the 5th of January.  Sajaa's thread has been opened up for all of you to read if you are interested.  All of the casters are full on FP.

Rolf checks the decayed remnants of the Gelatinous cube and finds little of interest.  He was wondering if it's digestive process would be unable to break down certain things, like some gem stones perhaps, but alas that seems to not be the case.  Whatever entered it's depths was subject to a slow digestive burn.  And fortunately none of his group met that fate.

Glad to withdraw, he joins to others and assists Lisa on recovering.  Giving her some of his own strength a little bit at a time, he rests after each transfer and repeats.  After a short time she's ready to go.

"I don't think we should head out yet.  Let's check the first tunnel on the right near the rat cave.  Those carts had to go somewhere.  And those rats should be settled down by now so it should be safe if we give their cave as wide a berth as we can."

OOC:  Let's check the first tunnel on the right on the dry left side of the cave.  Before entering I will check for traps and also to see if the tunnel is covered in mold.  I want to see if the mold is safe (naturalist) if there is any.  I'll also check to see if there are any tracks heading that way.  (Which mold might help identify.)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Tue 06 Sept 2022.

Sajaa is impressed with Rolf's thoroughness.  Indeed, if their task is to clear out these caves and make the nearby village safer by doing so, best to leave no stone unturned.

Crossbow cocked and ready, gear back in place, Sajaa nods her helmed head in agreement with Rolf and prepares to move out with the group.

While at first, Terri is shaking her head at Rolf's suggestion, when Sajaa backs the assertion up with a nod, she reconsiders.  "I suppose you are right...  I don't think that the carts went through here though, or the animals...  I think whatever was in here was simply taken back out...  But if we have the opportunity now we may as well rule out the rest of the area...  There's no point in leaving the area unchecked now we're here."

Rolf leads for the moment, turning right well before the cave with the rats, into a narrow but long opening where the floor is rounded out like the bottom of a scoop.  In the center of the cave is a small pool, probably only an inch or so deep where the grey stone of the cave is well visible at the bottom and the shallower parts of the room have a glossy black film spread across them like a paint, much the same as the hallways and the other rooms they had seen.

Rolf stoops down, rubbing a finger against the floor and coming up with a big, wet smear across his forefinger.  He gently investigates the substance, smelling it intently before rubbing it between his fingers.

Apart from the wet, black film and the puddle however, this cave appears to be entirely empty...

OOC:  Went ahead and moved ahead to keep things going.  To the best of your first impressions, there doesn't appear to be anything here, including no traps.  The black film doesn't seem to be mold.

It looks like slime, similar to the jelly beast... but different. Or maybe hundreds of baby jelly creatures?

"Is it different, Master Gustav? Or mayhap this is the trail of the cube beast we just slew?" Sajaa offers with a shrug.

Whatever it is, it is time to go, so she turns and, with a nods, beckons the others to move on.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Wed 07 Sept 2022.

Glad to hear they agree to keep exploring, Rolf takes point on the way through the first unexplored tunnel.  It's narrow and there's not enough room to bring carts, but the bandits could still carry stuff by hand so it's worth a look.

He looks as they go for traps but finds none.  At least not obvious ones.

He stoops to rub a finger on the black substance on the floor and rubs it a bit.  Giving it a whiff he says "Definitely not mold.  Seems to be ash from something burning."

"Lets not tarry here and move on." he adds not wishing to push his luck.  The Gelatinous cube still fresh on his mind he's leery of stumbling on something untoward.

"There's one last tunnel.  Lets see what it might reveal."

OOC:  If no one objects I would like to investigate the last tunnel.  I'll take the lead looking for traps.

Gustav is right there... leery as any of slimes.

Lisa checks with Terri, "So how are you? Did it get you? How bad? May I see?"

Gustav surmises that the watery film is remnants of slime, though Rolf describes it as layers of plain water and ash... the former condensed over the latter through the natural processes of the humid caves.  Terri nods with the assessment, "That's what I had thought too, about the ash.  Hard to figure out how it got there though," before quieting down and searching the room again with her eyes.

Lisa offers to look at Terri's wound, though the other woman simply shakes her off.  "It barely touched me, I'm fine, thanks."  She says succinctly before getting back to her searches.

Finding nothing else, the group moves slowly on to the next cave... the one in the middle.  Gustav warily stands a vanguard, ensuring none of the rats or the spore clouds are an issue from the farthest cave along, though it seems as though both the rats and the mushrooms are calm enough for the moment.

The five step forward into the cave and find it much the same as the last, though this one is wider, split into arms like the letter 'T' at the end as it slopes upwards at a gentle rate.  The same coating of black ash seems to cover the floor here along with the dewy residue on top.  In a few places, the water has flowed in drops and rivulets, cutting through the ash on the floor like thin transparent veins.

As Rolf takes a step forward though, he notices in the crevices at the back of the room the same purple mushrooms they had found in the last cave, though these are small, the largest only an inch or two tall and they are all crowded back towards the recesses of the room.

Sajaa slows when she sees the vigilant Mage make note of a cluster of juvenile mushrooms of the same type the group encountered earlier, though smaller in size.

"It would be best if we avoided these." She says, stating the obvious.

OOC - If we can skirt these and continue on, or hop over them without risk of bursting them, my vote is we continue on. If not, we should decide if further exploration of this passage is worth the risk. If not, let's turn around and find a new place to explore.

As Rolf enters the next cave he is glad to see the rats seem to take no interest in them and they pass without incident.

The next cave is much like the last, but with a few budding purple mushrooms taking root in the corners of the room.

"It must be the green gas these mushrooms contain is flammable.  At some point one of them must of caught fire which cleared this and the last cave of just about everything."

"Lets tarry here no longer.  We have found no sign of the slavers anywhere in these caves.  They must be on the run."

The mage considers their next steps.

"Lets try to track down the boy Runt.  Both to see that he is okay and to see if he saw any sign of them as they took flight.  He just might have."

"Sound good?" he asks the group.

OOC:  If we all agree I'd like to leave and try to pick up Runt's trail.

Gustav starts looking for tracks or signs ... especially if Runt were sneaking after the outlaws.

Submitting that there likely isn't anything of interest in these caves, or at least any longer, Rolf leads the group back out of the entrance and into the small creek beyond.  The dense scrub overhangs their heads and weaves close knit, knotty branches at the shore, blocking much of the view around for nearly two dozen yards.

Rather than trying to push into the vegetation, Rolf walks to where the canopy ends, stepping up onto the far bank where it is immediately evident that someone has been walking around.

There are various prints upon the bank just at the end of the scrub, at least two different ones as far as Rolf can tell, going back and forth into the river and out upon the shore.  He follows them for short distance, and notes that they go all the way to the canyon wall before wrapping around to the west, towards the end of the canyon.

It is Gustav however, that recognizes a child's print among the large ones, the tracks leading along with the others towards the back of the canyon...  towards the high cave on the southern wall.

"Lisa, isn't that cave where you said you saw the lookout yesterday?"  Terri asks, her attention drawn up towards the high opening as she holds her bow ready with an arrow knocked.

OOC:  Gustav found what could only be Runt's prints in the damp earth heading towards the high cave at the end of the gulley.  You are still about 30 yards away from the base of the cliff there, though from here it seems as if it would be a significant climb to get to the cave from the bottom.  The rock face is steep (though not vertical) and the cave is about 60 feet off the gulley floor.  There doesn't appear to be any well worn path up to cut out the difficulty of the climb.

The path to the cave from where you stand is hemmed in between the cliff wall on your left and the dense scrub on your right.  There's plenty of room to pass one ore two across, though not much room to deviate wider than that.

These people do not seem to have climbed that wall, so there is a way in around here.

"Yes, Terri, that's pretty much exactly where I saw him," she replies, nodding vigorously. With a smile to her friend, really a 'thank you' for pointing out that she, Lisa, had actually contributed something, the woman's eyes scan ahead for some hidden nook in the rocks. She knows from her time as a mine guard that what seems to be a fold in a rock face can hide a man-sized opening a too easily. Brushing past Terri she steps forward to have a look.

When she learns of the discovery of Runt's footprints, Sajaa steps over, kneels down and studies them carefully.

She looks up, first to Terri, then to Gustav.

"How old are the boy's tracks?" She asks, heartened to find some sign of the impulsive child.

Rolf heads out with the others and searches for Runt.  After a while it looks like the kid climbed up to the higher cave opening, some 60 feet up.

"I can use my magic on Gustav to fly and carry as many as he can up to the cave.  I also have rope that we could lower down and help pull the rest up that way." Rolf says to formulate a plan.

"I'm a lousy climber though, so I'd like to be one that Gustav carry's up.  If any of us feel to be good climbers please say so.  I'd like to set an order of who to carry up with the worst climbers being first."

"Assuming you all agree to this plan.  It will some time to get us all up there and then I'd need time to recover from casting."

OOC:  If we all agree I'd like to cast Fly on Gustav and have him ferry people up to the cave.  The spell allows a move of 10 unencumbered.  His actual speed will be based on his carrying ability and all our individual weight. Fly lasts for a 1 minute duration.

Sajaa cranes her neck to study the steep precipice.

~Allah, but that Boy continues to amaze me!~ She thinks to herself, trying to picture tiny Runt daring such heights.

She slides off her pack and shield and sets them on the ground, then lays the crossbow down on top of them. She turns to Rolf.

"I think I can climb this." She says with reasonable confidence. "Though it would help if someone carried up my crossbow, shield and pack."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Fri 09 Sept 2022.

"I will. If you take one end of a rope you can pull up your things afterwards," offers Lisa, unsure about her own capability to climb.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Sun 11 Sept 2022.

Trying maximize their efficiency the mage says, "Sajaa, maybe you should wait for us to fly up first to make your climb?  We could lower a rope to you.  It'd make the climb must easier."

"And I'm sure one of use could store your shield, crossbow and pack on the trip up if we divvy it up amongst us."

Gustav searches for an alternate way up... but he sees nothing.

Sajaa nods in agreement, her eyes returning continually to the rocky cliff face that she will be climbing, seeking the best route to take.

"It's settled then.  Gustav will fly us up one by one.  Then we'll lower a rope and Sajaa will climb up.  After that we'll rest."  Rolf says as he starts to tie his shield to his backpack.

While the others get ready, Rolf creates a rope harness to tie around Gustav as a safety measure in case someone slips in the flight up.  Ever the worrier, he doesn't want to risk a death or serious injury in case something goes awry.

Taking charge he says to those going down, "The plan is for Gustav to carry us up one at a time using my magic for flight.  He'll wear a rope harness that will fit under the arms of those he carries for safety.  Then we'll lower a rope and Sajaa will climb up."

OOC:  I would assume the safest way up would be a mutual bear hug between the flyer and flyee, with a rope loop under the armpits of the flyee.  And over one shoulder for the flyer.  The last thing I would want to see is someone get dropped.

Rolf will strap his shield on his back to keep his hands free.  If I can strap Sajaa's crossbow as well I will.  I'll leave her pack (weight?) and shield for someone else.

Order of those carried up: Terri, Rolf, Lisa.  Sajaa will climb with a lowered rope from the group once they are all up.

If and when air-lifted Lisa says, "Hmmm this is nice. Thank you!"

Not to argue, but we need a fighter up there first and perhaps Lisa could give you enough energy to fly the last person up as well.

Rolf considers Gustav's suggestion.  "Ok.  I'll maintain the spell longer and Lisa can help me get back on my feet later."

"Be aware that we are trading getting Sajaa up faster to the expense of recovering later.  It'll take a bit more time to rest.  But it could be worth it.  We have no idea what we'll meet up there."

OOC:  Change of plans.  I'll maintain flight for 2 minutes to get us all up.  I'll let Sajaa carry her own gear.  The new order going up will be Sajaa, Terri, Lisa, then Rolf.

Sajaa tries not to show any emotion on her face when she hears the change of plans.

In truth, she is afraid of being levitated into the air where her fate does not lie in her own hands, but in the mysterious and often fickle phenomenon that is Magic -- Sahar, in her own tongue.

Instead, she tries to show indifference to the plans and simply says, "Very well." And she collects her crossbow, shield and pack...

OOC: When/if Sajaa is lifted, she will pay extra attention to the surroundings from this height vantage to see if she discovers anything else of interest.

Gustav Holds her tightly, but tries to respect her femine dignity. He sets her down and quickly drops down  for the next run.

Sajaa had, at first, intended to scan the area during her magical ascent to the top of the cliff.  But when Gustav gathers her up in a firm embrace and Rolf levitates them into the air, she is so terrified she squeezes her eyes shut and buries her face into Gustav's chest, her own arms tightly hugging his neck.

Afraid to look ... afraid to move ... all she can do is cling to him with all her might...

Face buried between Gustav's neck and shoulder, she breathes in his distinctly masculine fragrance ... An oddly intoxicating mix of perspiration, woodsmoke, damp wool, cured leather and the faintest trace of some kind of sweet smelling soap. His scent, combined with the feel of his rock-hard, muscular body molded so intimately to hers, stirs a weird, tingly feeling inside her she has never before known.

OOC: Edited post cutting it short to reflect update from GM.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Mon 12 Sept 2022.

They way up to the cave is steep, not a difficult climb for those who with a bit of background and practice, but it never the less poses the possibility of a treacherous fall.

Not willing to risk the injury, not to mention the time it would take for everyone to climb their way to the top, Rolf comes up with a plan to get everyone up as quickly and safely as possible.  Though the plan goes through a few iterations, it is not long before they settle on flying up the fighters first to ensure they can hold the small perch just at the entryway.

So Gustav is fitted with a makeshift harness, Sajaa prepares herself, Rolf casts his spell of flight, and before long they are lifting up off the ground.

Gustav makes his way straight up, letting the cliff pull away from him just slightly so that they will get a glimpse of their landing before they alight.  But he finds that a glimpse begs for much more hesitation than he had expected...

Ahead, the landing in front of the cave is small, only a dozen or so feet across and extending only a few feet from the cave entrance.  Though, now that Gustav thinks on it, it hardly seems to be a natural cave at all, for the sides and floors of the hallway ahead are smoothed almost to a polish, and the entrance seems to be made of two separate vertical stones at the sides, set with a lintel atop.  Set off to the side, coiled up in a two foot ring that rises almost a foot from the ground is a thick rope, secured at one end to the worked stone of the entryway.

Though the most concerning bit for Gustav, and the reason why he pauses his approach, is because of the three men who stand a few yards back in the little hallway, two of which hold loaded crossbows, all wearing the same odd expression of confusion.

"That isn't something you see every day now is it?"  One of the men expresses, his eyes ogling the swordsman, suspended midair by magic and dangling the Wazifi beauty through the means of a few ropes and a frugal embrace.

The words shock Sajaa, who spasms with energy, her fingers gripping Gustav ever tighter, though she is caught between the twin perils of enemies around her or falling to her death!

The men do not hesitate, but walk out on to the small ledge, though their crossbows stay trained low and away, never pointing towards either Gustav and Sajaa, nor the others.

"Oi!"  The man in the middle shouts leaning far enough over the side to see the others at the bottom.  Though he is the one without a crossbow, he is by no means unarmed as a long sheath drops down from his hip to his shin.  "Miss Norla wants to talk with you.  Civil like."  He seems to address all of them, though his gaze falls last on Gustav, who is the closest one facing him.

OOC:  Rolf has successfully cast flight and Gustav and Sajaa have successfully risen up 60 feet to the level of the cave.  As I think you described it, Gustav is facing the three men, with Sajaa harnessed and holding on facing the other direction (so they can both hold on to each other).  I figured I would let Gustav decide however, whether you wanted to let Sajaa down here or head back down to the ground.  As of now, the three men are not being threatening, though they seem very cautious.

It's kind of a crazy week for me.  I'm traveling again tomorrow, though my wife is out of town too, so I've been doing a lot of prep for sending the kids to their aunt's.  I'll try and keep things moving at a decent pace, but we are getting to the point where threads are very much dependent on each other, so forgive me if things slow down a little.

Her face buried in Gustav’s chest, Sajaa does not, at first, see what Gustav sees.  But when she hears strange male voices speaking, she twists about in her harness and spots the three men – and their crossbows…

”Are they bandits, Gustav?! Should we fight them?!” She whispers urgently in his ear.  She risks releasing one hand from Gustav’s neck so that she may rest it on the pommel of her sheathed sword.

OOC: In a kind of vulnerable position, so will defer to Gustav.

Gustav is surprised, and not sure what to do, exposed as he is.   Uh... lemme talk to the leader about a meeting...


He returns to the ground and lets go a Sajaa, taking her out of the Harness   Three guys up there say a Miss Norla wished to speak with us. I did feel like I knew what you'd want to do, so came back down. They have a big rope up there well secured, so Iguess that's how they get up there.

Lisa looks around, not feeling qualified to have an opinion of this situation. She's just grateful to have some friends.

Gustav aborts the ascent and returns Sajaa to the group at the bottom of the cliff.

She wrestles herself out of the harness and immediately sets to work cocking and loading her crossbow.

"Are these men ... and this Miss Norla ... part of the bandit gang?" She asks no one in particular.

Rolf is surprised by the appearance of the men.  He immediately begins to work to ready his shield.

"We can talk from here if you like!" Rolf says in regards to the men staying above and his group below.

OOC:  Rolf will start to remove his shield from his pack in anticipation of getting it ready for use.

Seeing Sajaa prep her crossbow, Lisa mmoves forward to do her best to play shield maiden for her and provide cover..

Gustav and Sajaa set themselves back down upon the ground and Rolf allows for his spell to expire as the group readies themselves for a possible fight.  Though Rolf calls back that he's willing to talk, he quickly also removes his shield from his pack for use, and likewise Sajaa readies her crossbow for a fight, though at least for the moment, one does not come.

Instead, the man backs off from the high precipice, and a few moments later his place is taken by a woman... and a striking one at that.

Norla appears extremely pretty.  Her hair is long and black and seems to glow about the edges with the golden sheen of the midday sun.  Her skin is quite pale, a stark contrast the the red of her lips which seems to be like a shining rose petal.  The whole of her body is covered in bulky black leathers and she holds a thin but lengthy pale staff at her side.

It is not the woman that surprises Rolf though... but rather the sight of Runt calmly standing at her side.

"Congratulations."  Norla says with a smile as her eyes travel slowly and intentionally across the five adventurers, though they seem to dwell on Sajaa for longer than the others.

At her side, Runt cocks his head, shifting his ear and his eyes to the woman.

"I hear you have rid this canyon of its plague of bandits."  Norla continues, her smile splitting wide.  "They have been a menace to us for some time.  I thank you for your efforts, and I hope that you do not expect that the same danger you've faced in other parts of this canyon extends here."

Her eyes shift momentarily between Gustav and Rolf, finally alighting on the mage as she starts up again.

"It is Rolf, yes?  It is my hope that we need not resort to uninformed violence...  For you see, we mean you no harm."

OOC:  A bit to digest here, so I'm going to stop.  Please be very careful to note the volume you are talking in.  If you say whisper, use <small> tags or anything of the sort, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are attempting your best not to let the people above hear you.  If you say shout, or use <large> tags I'll assume you are trying to be very clearly audible.

You are sixty feet away (down) so it's difficult to make out a lot of detail, not to mention you can really see Runt's head.  It is clear however, that he is not chained, or bound in any way that is apparent.

So if you please, Milady, who are you, that you were here, but could not rid the canyon of these bandits? You seem powerful and have an obviously a strong guard.

"Perhaps Runt has been charmed?" suggests Lisa in a quiet voice. "Perhaps we can ask for him to descend so we can talk to him? And then detect for magic?"

The sight of Runt standing among the strangers alarms Sajaa. With a grunt of effort, she struggles to finish cocking her crossbow.

"Master Gustav... Master Rolf...  Lisa makes a good suggestion. Ask them to send Runt down so we may speak with him and confirm they are the friends they claim to be."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:03, Fri 16 Sept 2022.

Their approach to the cave foiled by the surprise arrival of armed men, the mage is glad Gustav and Sajaa beat a hasty retreat to the relative safety of their group.  He is a bit tired from the casting of flight, but better this way than to be caught trying to climb up and have potential hostiles armed with ranged weapons pointed back towards them.

That had the potential for a blood bath!

Rolf rips his shield from his backpack and readies it.  He keeps his right hand free for the moment as he gauges the situation.

These caves have him on edge.  They've met bandits, bugbears, and an assortment of nightmare fueled monsters that will haunt his thoughts for months.  Yet amongst this menagerie comes the offer of an oasis on the heels of the most beautiful woman he has seen in some time.  And Runt too!  The boy is safe!

The lad seems to be in good shape, but it's possible he has been deceived.  Or ensorcelled by some magic.  Rolf closes his eyes to slits for a moment before responding to Sajaa and Lisa.

"Maybe.  Let me talk a bit more first before we ask for him." he whispers in response to the suggestion of asking for Runt to come down.

Addressing Runt he says "Lad! Is it safe?"

"And you there!" he adds in the direction of the man armed with a sheath on his side.  "Is this some trick?"

OOC:  I will try to detect lies on Norla.  And anyone else that speaks to me or in response to Gustav.  I assume you'd only get one roll per person in any event.  And that the roll should be private.  I should probably never truly know how successful my skill is, unless I crit roll success maybe.

Norla does not answer immediately as Gustav asks his question, but instead continues to look at Rolf for several moments of silence before she turns her head and addresses instead the swordsman.

"Yes, we are a strong group I admit.  For we are travelers of a sorts, brought to the area by a threat that we believe even now barks at the door of Megalos...  Were you aware, I wonder, that Megalos was invaded, the fort here attacked but a few months ago?  My fighters and I seek to do our part for the security of this region."

Norla pauses for breath, glancing across the canyon momentarily.

"As for these bandits, I will say that we did not have much interaction with them.  We knew of their presence though not much of their activities...  we recently learned most of what we know when one of their number fled to our cave in an effort to escape you."

Norla turns her attention back to Rolf with a quick turn of her head and a devilish smile.  "If it would help to prove our sincerity, I am willing to hand him over."

At the bottom, Lisa, Rolf, and Sajaa whisper hurriedly as Norla talks, though when Rolf again speaks, it is not to Norla, but to Runt, and then to one of the fighters that has retreated from the edge.

Neither Runt, nor the man behind her respond immediately, and Norla's face flickers with a frown and a glare of annoyance.

"Of course the boy is safe!"  Norla says, keeping any bitterness from her voice as she glances down at Runt.  "Daniel has joined us to be trained as my apprentice.  He is quite happy with his lot."

She returns her look to Rolf, the corners of her mouth still downturned and her frozen blue eyes still glaring with determination.

"Though there is no need to insult me by addressing my men when I am seeking to speak to you.  Perhaps you have not dealt with a woman as an equal before, but I assure you I am quite capable of answering any questions you might have...  I assure you this is no trick."

~Daniel?!~ Sajaa thinks to herself. ~Is that Runt's 'real' name or did the woman simply choose one for him?!~

"Daniel was a prophet." She says to no one in particular.

Sajaa cannot help but be impressed by the beautiful woman poised at the top of the cliff. Here she is a leader of Men and, clearly, a strong one at that.  That she has the gumption to command respect from Gustav and Rolf mildly amuses her. Sajaa is drawn to this woman and eager to make a good impression.

"I choose to believe Mistress Norla means us no harm. If she is a friend of Ru---Daniel, she is a friend of mine." Sajaa announces, slinging crossbow and shield on her back. "Let us go up and speak with her."

She steps to the rocky wall and is about to pick her way up, when Rolf stops her by grabbing her arm.

OOC: Editing to reflect Rolf stopped Sajaa's action..
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

Gustav shakes his head ever so slightly. Hold Sajaa, there are easier ways to get up there, perhaps they can lower the rope.

So she has been sucked in too, or is she also playing a game  he thinks.

Trusting Sajaa's judgement Lisa sheathes her sword and calls up, "So will you help me come up to you?"

Rolf listens to Norla intently.  While she speaks he still holds his shield and keeps on his guard.  This group is entirely unexpected and just feels out of place to him.

Why are they here?  What are they after?

Seeing Sajaa impulsively seek to start climbing, he grabs hold of one of her arms gently to get her attention.  "Wait one moment." he says with a steely gaze indicating the wheels of his mind are churning.

Addressing Norla he says, "Sorry if I misspoke.  I'm no statesmen and still have much to learn in this area.  I mean no disrespect."

Pausing he considers their next move.  He knows Runt, whose real name is Daniel, would likely be able to tell them much.  The lad is insightful and might be helpful to them.  But more importantly he's possibly in danger, even if he doesn't know it yet.  Rolf has to warn him.

"Please send down Daniel if you may Norla.  We'd like to catch up with him."

Not waiting for a reply, Rolf pulls his group near and says softly.  "She lies.  We can't take any chances.  I suspect if we climb up that slope their bows will fire on us and cut us to shreds.  We need to be cautious and try to learn more about them."

With the tense negotiations going on, the mage doesn't delve into his methods of sussing out the truth and hopes the group trusts his word.  Especially after the affair with the bandit that attacked Terri.

I too, feel things are not at all as represented. he says softly

"Masters Rolf ... Gustav ... I have a good feeling about her...  Why not let me go consult with her -- woman to woman?" She asks, slightly miffed to have been manhandled and overruled by the little Mage.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:09, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

Lisa, wanting to syupport her sister-friend but without crossing their male companions, takes the bulkl by the horns, "Right, you've got an easy way up and down, yes, Lady Nora? Well, you may have noticed, I'm a woman but I wouldn't claim to be your equal. I'm just a woman. Having said that, you've said this is no trick. Well, if there is no trick, and pardon me, please, for being suspicious, all overly trusting adventuers that I've encountered seem to meet unpleasant ends.. Pardon again my digression. Simply then, please will you send Daniel, the fellow previously know as Runt, down to talk with us? It's almost certainly the fastest way to cut through all this, assuming that on wishes to, of course."

At Sajaa's mention that Daniel is a prophet, Norla snaps her gaze towards the Wazifi woman, her brow furrowed in thought.

For a moment, Sajaa places her hand on the stone of the slope along with a single foot.  Though she is no expert, it seems to her easy enough to ascend the face, and she feels confident she would have but for Rolf grabbing her by the arm.

Up above, Norla's mouth moves to speak again, though she holds as Lisa and Rolf back and forth about sending Runt... or perhaps Daniel as it were... down to the canyon floor so that the group can talk with him.

Norla pauses for several seconds, her mind clearly at work.

"We have a rope is all..."  Norla decides to respond to Lisa's query about an easy way up first.  "Serviceable, though I will admit that most of us find little reason to go down to the canyon floor so it does not have much use."  She glances at Lisa, her smile quirking back to her face with deep red and sharp upturned corners.

"Of course, you must turn your own logic back upon yourself Lisa.  What reason do I have to trust?  For while I have offered you the last of these bandits as proof of my sincerity, you have killed everything you have come across here and Rolf seeks to undermine me in front of my men."

"I shall be honest."  Norla says, glancing down between the five below her.  "I wish for you leave.  I fear that you are bringing violence here which serves no one."

She looks down at Runt at her side.  "I do not wish for you to go down to them Daniel, for you have told me how they ignored you, how they refused to look for Sally or Conal when it was clearly so important to you...  though of course the choice is yours.  Tell them what you wish."

It was a moment before Runt stepped to the very edge and spoke up, projecting his voice to those below.

"I thinks that I wants to stay here with Mistress Norla.  She gonna be teaching me 'bout magic an how to be a mage!"  His voice was a bit excited at that last part.  "She got me all my stuff back that Niall and his gang stole an got me Conal's lyre so I can takes it back to his family.  An I is gonna get to bury Conal proper like.  An she gots me my own room an it's got a pallet!"

OOC:  Sajaa's assessment is that despite the thin margin of the roll, you likely wouldn't have had any issue climbing up.

"So, Lady Norla, I do whole heartedly believe you when you say you wish us to leave and that in general you're not telling us untruths. Now if I had placed an enchantment on Daniel-Runt then the wording you chose, expressing your wishes prior to him making his own decision, well, that is pretty much the wording I would use. Now, I'm not sure how well you'll take this, but Runt was our friend and that work both ways. It means that while there's a very distinct possibility that he has been enspelled, effectively arcane kidnapping, and we, certianly I, can't just abandon him that way. I'm sure, Lady Norla, you can see where this is going. Either you'll show your hand and have us attacked, or else we'll end up following you, all unless we can have an uninfluenced conversation with Runt down here. I'm guessing you can tell if I'm teliing the truth or not. Well, I'm also telling you that this is the whole of the truth as I know it. And also that if there is actually some huge threat to the realm then we're actually just the folks to help defend the realm. Now, Lady Norla, assuming the things you've cited about the realm and so forth are true and not self-serving hyperlobae, you have a decision to make. And, by the way, Daniel-Runt can vouch for how effective this little group dwen here can be," spouts Lida, piquedd by the superior woman's offhandedness.

Sajaa listens and watches with a slight frown on her face.

"Apologies, friends, but I am going up." She says, and she begins picking her way up the cliff wall...

OOC: Will climb up and hope for the best.

Good Lord woman, be careful! Gustav says to Sajaa

Sajaa glances back over her shoulder down to where Gustav stands and offers him a rare smile.

"Allah is good, indeed!" She says. "I will be careful!"

And up the cliff she goes...
This message was lightly edited by the player at 17:55, Mon 19 Sept 2022.

Chaos swirls as Rolf tries his best to keep up.  He doesn't recall Norla offering them a bandit to question and is unsure to believe her when she said that she has one captured.  He is sure she is lying, but like any skilled liar the false statements are likely intermixed with truthful ones so he has no idea what to believe.  In any event, the slavers are the least of his worries.

When Daniel speaks he is glad to hear the boy seems to be well cared for.  But is saddened he won't come down and talk to them.  If he is enspelled Rolf won't be able to tell and for now at least it would seem he is on whatever path Norla has in store for him.

Before he can respond to Daniel's new benefactor, Lisa chimes in.  Which he is glad for as the entire affair has him off balance.  He listens to her response, but does not hesitate to take action and turns to Gustav the moment he sees Sajaa start to climb.

"Gustav, this could go south real quick.  If Sajaa is attacked and needs rescue, I'll cast another flight spell on you and another spell to make their weapons harder to hit you.  But after that I won't be much use as I'll be exhausted, so keep that in mind."

OOC:  Rolf will take the wait maneuver.  If Sajaa is attacked he will cast a 3FP Blur and then another flight spell, in that order, both on Gustav.

I'll give it my best shot Rolf, but I doubt we'll see her attacked., They will wait until she is out of sight I am sure. He replies softly.

Lisa responds to Norla and Runt, voicing her suspicions of magical persuasion along with a her stiff resolve to see ensure her friend's safety.

Though if Lisa expected her words to change Norla's mind, it quickly becomes apparent that the other is unmoving.

"I tell you my concerns of your violent nature and you respond with veiled threats?"  Norla asks, her smile thinning.  "Do you have ears to listen upon your own words?  Daniel has heard your offer and has made his decision, and yet you insist that you know best?  I will admit that I am not surprised by it."

Seeing that the conversation is getting nowhere, Sajaa makes to climb the canyon wall, hoping that closing the distance physically will make some difference to the mediation.  Despite the weight of her equipment, the awkward crossbow strap pulling at her shoulder, and the nervous sweat on her palms, Sajaa starts to make slow, steady progress up the slope.

There appears to be a rustle of movement on the plinth above, though Norla holds out a hand at her side, and the movement ceases.

"Throw her the rope."  Norla says after a moment.  Within a few moments, one of the men behind her appears near the side of the outcrop, lobbing a massive coil of rope over the side, which smacks the cliff face as it tumbles down, straightening by the force of its own weight and settling just a few feet away from where Sajaa hangs.

Deciding that she will be exposed one way or the other, Sajaa grabs at the rope and quickly hand over hands her way up as she uses the toe of her boots to grab at any hold she finds available in the slope.

It is a few minutes, but eventually Sajaa pulls herself over the edge.  Though she stands exposed at the edge, sixty feet above the ground, none of the soldiers attempt to take advantage of her vulnerability.  Instead, the three men have pulled back, all the way to the entryway of the cave.

Sajaa takes the moment while she is catching her breath to take in as much as she can.

Norla is the most striking in the scene by far.  While Sajaa could see that she was beautiful from a distance, being close to her now, she is only all the more impressed.  The woman's features are flawless.  Her sleek and glossy black hair falls down just below her shoulders, framing her pale complexion.  Leaping out from the appearance of her wan skin, is the color of her eyes and lips, her eyes the shocking blue of ice and her lips the brilliant crimson of cherries.  Though Sajaa's father had always forbidden the powders and dyes merchants would sell to accentuate facial features, Sajaa was never the less aware of them... and she is certain in an instant that Norla is a master in their use.  Norla contrasts her brilliant features with simple clothing, black full body robes, and a white staff that looks more of bone than it does of wood.

At her side, Runt stands, his ever present curious and knowing expression set upon his face as he glances upwards at Sajaa.  As Runt had said, he appears to be outfitted in his own things, even sporting the hilt of a knife at his waist.

Behind those two, the same three guards stand in watch, the sword still sheathed and the crossbows lowered, though they are able to be ready in an instant.  The men wear leathers, their eyes shifting between Sajaa and Norla as the two women stand off.

Behind those, a few feet into the recess of the cave, Sajaa sees two more men.  The nearest appears  miserable at best, his arms and hands disappear behind his back and his face and shoulder are pressed into the smooth red and black walls of the entryway.  He has all the look of a man who has not slept, his eyes unfocused, his meager clothes unkempt, and his body slouched.

The last one, the man behind appears as alert as the three guards, and stands close to the first that Sajaa can only see his head over the first man's slouched shoulder, though it does not appear that he is keeping that distance to be a crutch...

Norla is the first one to break the silence, her voice low and soothing, though her eyes are narrowed suspiciously.


OOC:  Though Sajaa is going to be privy to more than everyone else, I'm going to keep everyone in the same thread.  The rope has now been lowered down and it reaches all the way to the canyon floor where the other four still stand.  It took Sajaa about two minutes to climb up to the top, which was not overly difficult, though she is a better climber than most.  There has been no overt reaction from Norla's group yet.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Tue 20 Sept 2022.

Rolf, allow me to climb up beside Sajaa, you save your strength. Gustav says sofly.

He barely gets two or three feet up before his footing fails and he falls back to the ground level.   Zut Alors!

With a sigh, "Would have been easier if he'd come down," Lisa takes hold of the rope, wraps it around limbs as appropriate tries to climb up.

======
OOC: 22:20, Today: Lisa Rufbin rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,3,6.  Climb 10 (Does the rope help?).

The climb, though not technically difficult, especially with the help of the rope, is still physically taxing.  Once she reaches the ledge and straightens up, her heart is beating rapidly in her chest and she is breathing hard.  But the exercise warmed her after her cold plunge in the water not long before, so, for that, she is grateful.

Chest rising and falling quickly, she allows her golden eyes to sweep over the seven people gathered on the ledge.

The trio of bodyguards, though watchful, does not appear overly hostile and has fallen back near the cave entrance to make more space on the ledge.

The wretch, presumably a captured bandit, stands sullenly in front of another man – possibly a fourth guard, for he appears watchful of the prisoner.

Runt looks healthy enough and is even armed with his dagger.  She pats the boy on his tousel-haired head and offers him a gentle smile.  Though Sajaa has never been able to read the little boy’s enigmatic expressions and he has always been a bit of a mystery to her, she does not gather he is here by sorcery or intimidation.

Sajaa was ready for a fight if one broke out, but, for the moment, she feels reasonably safe and makes no move to the sword at her hip or the crossbow across her back.

But then the woman – Norla – speaks to her in a low voice, loud enough only for Sajaa to hear and her words cause Sajaa to become more alert once more.

What an extraordinarily beautiful woman is this Norla!  Sajaa considers Lisa one of the most attractive women she has ever met.  But Norla is in a class all by herself!  Sajaa finds the woman’s face paints, so artfully applied, simply fascinating.  She can plainly  see how makeup can enhance a woman’s features but she knows Allah forbids such practices that promote vanity and the sinful attentions of men.  As she stares at the sapphire-eyed beauty, trying to interpret what she just said to her, Sajaa finds herself awed, envious and … and … sinful of thought – all at the same time…

She leans in nearer to Norla and speaks her reply in an equally soft tone.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Wed 21 Sept 2022.

Rolf shrugs as Gustav starts to climb.  "Go for it." he says softly.  "Just be careful." he adds with some urgency.

The mage looks up to the scene above and wonders how Sajaa is doing.  He worries about these strangers and what danger lurks beneath the facade they show. He'd prefer if they were all below and that they Norla and her crew had come to them.  Somehow the thought of huffing and puffing up a hill would somehow put his group on a lesser foot and he refuses to do so.  Not to mention the danger of being exposed to missile fire on the climb.

Rolf is certain she is deceitful.  She's playing some game, but he's not sure to what aim yet.

"You okay?" Rolf says with surprise as Gustav tumbles to the earth on his climb!

Uh... I think so, just feelings hurt I think.   {Pending GM]

Down below, Gustav grabs the rope and begins to haul himself up the slope, though not nearly as nimbly as Sajaa's lithe frame.  Slowly he moves his way up, and Lisa, impatient to see her friend safe, begins to climb up behind him as well.

But misfortune strikes!  Nearly halfway up the slope, Gustav slips on the rock face and loses his grip on the rope!  He tumbles downwards, gripping at anything, rope included to slow his fall.  At the last moment, Lisa recognizes the swordsman falling down straight on top of her and leaps off the stone face to the side, Gustav narrowly missing crashing into her!  Gustav clings at the rope as he nears the bottom, though he rolls off the face, hitting his hip as he stops at the canyon floor.  He sucks in his teeth, though he knows from the first that the fall was not bad, he has no doubt it will leave a bruise, though apart from that, the most serious injury has been to his pride.

Above, voices have lowered, though whatever tension is festering above remains in words only, for Norla, Sajaa, do not seem to be taking any actions against each other.


But then Runt steps out ahead of Norla, putting his body between Sajaa and the other. 

Norla glances down at Runt, her eyes appraising the boy silently.

OOC:  Gustav has taken a light, bruising injury to his right leg.  Lisa has managed to escape any injury, though had to jump away from the rope to avoid being crashed into and slid down to the bottom as well.  Everyone other than Sajaa is still at the bottom.

Rolf remains firm in his standing that Norla is not to be trusted and remains rooted where he stands.  He doesn't try to stop the others from climbing up, for they are seasoned adventurers and can make up their own mind on what to do.  He gave them fair warning at least and they've judged the risk low enough to warrant a climb up.

Though the climb seems too much for Gustav!  The mage watches with concern as Gustav falls hard and nearly wipes Lisa out in the process!  Fortunately after dusting themselves off they both seem ok.

He would otherwise attend to them to see if they are hurt, but his attention is drawn to the scene above as Daniel steps between Sajaa and Norla...

 he says softly to Gustav, Lisa and Terri.

"I think she's a Charmer, literally," responds Lisa. "If so, is that something you can counter? Take some of my energy if you need to. No way could I outfight Sajaa if she's been enthralled."

When Rolf gestures to ask, 'You mean me?', Lisa nods.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Thu 22 Sept 2022.

I guess I had best let you put me up there Rolf ... sorry, and apologies to you Lisa, arrogance over wisdom I guess. And Rolf, can you shield my mind? I maay need that more than a physical shield.

 Rolf says softly in response.

At first, Sajaa believes her party is being unreasonably suspicious of Norla’s motives.  But now, after hearing what Norla has to say in low tones, she is beginning to regret her impulsiveness – for here she stands, alone against half a dozen armed strangers who's intentions are still uncertain to her.

~O Allah! Did I choose to trust Norla merely because she is a woman?~  Sajaa flushes with shame. ~How naive of me to think Norla and I have some kind of sisterly bond merely because we each have ovaries? Perhaps this is how it is in my Clan at Quazr as-Sawh – but not up here in Megalos…~

Sajaa swallows hard, takes a deep breath and speaks to Norla in a low but firm voice:


She then turns to Runt and places her left hand on his shoulder.

OOC:
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

Gustav Looks at Rolf and nods...  I too am concerned

Lisa offers her arm for Rolf to draw on her vitality to fuel his spells. It probably the best she can do to help her sister-friend.

Down below, the three whisper feverishly to each other while Terri holds her bow ready, her eyes peeled on the Wazifi, the boy, and the pale woman who stand at the brink of the cliff.

The tense moment up above draws out like a blade.  Sajaa puts a hand on Runt's shoulder, though the boy shrugs it off nearly the moment it is placed there.  The boy responds, his normally high pitched voice warbling with emotion.

"I trusts em lessen I wouldn’ have said I wants to stay here.  But why is you asking me?  You not be trustin’ me when I says I wants to stay with Mistress Norla.  I jus’ say that I go with you if you leave.  Even iffin I really want to stay here.  But I’ll go anyway cause I don’t want anybody get hurt.  Ain’t that good ‘nough?"


Norla looks back and fort between Runt and Sajaa, her eyes narrowed and her face chiseled into an expression of stoic contemplation.

"Very well."  Norla says finally, lifting her chin up towards Runt.  "Though it is against my better judgement, there's no doubt you know them better than I.  Go with my blessing, on one condition."  She turns her gaze towards Sajaa, then down to the group below.  "All of you leave this canyon.  Your efforts to this point have been for the good, though I assure you there is nothing to gain from spreading your violence any further here..."

She lifts her eyes back up to Sajaa, setting her staff tip upon the ground and gripping it with both hands as she leans forward into her subtle smile.

"Do we have an agreement?"

OOC:  Still no overt action above.  Lisa, if you are planning on casting lend energy to Rolf, let me know how many FPs you want to transfer and then go ahead and make the roll.

If it isn't clear, Norla is offering for Sajaa and Runt to leave by rope, so long as everyone then leaves the canyon.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 19:47, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Lisa treis to transfer energy to Rolf but the spell fizzles.

Seems fair enough, Runt can tell us more I suspect.   <small>and we can watch from outside the canyon if we wish</small>.

At first Sajaa was impressed with Norla.  But now she is growing annoyed at the woman's impatience. But Sajaa does not overlook the fact that Norla has the upper hand as she, alone, stands high up here surrounded by Norla's lackeys.

"A moment!" She says, lifting a finger, anger flaring in her eyes.

She turns to Runt, who's juvenile ramblings make no sense at all to her. Perhaps it is his youth. Perhaps it is that she fails to grasp all the nuances of Anglish speech.

"Runt." Sajaa says as gently as she can, forcing a smile.  "I still do not understand you. Do you want to stay here with Mistress Norla more than you want to come with Rolf, Gustav, Lisa, Terri and I? If that is your wish, Little One, we will not force you to come. We just do not want to leave you here if it is not safe for you."

Sajaa squats down so she is face to face with the boy. She sees his trembling lower lip and the glitter of tears in his eyes.  Gently she brushes a strand of Runt's unkempt hair from his eyes, smiles again, and says: "What say you, Child?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:32, Tue 27 Sept 2022.

Runt flinches back at Sajaa's question, though he does not drop her gaze.  He takes several moments before he answers.

"Yeah, I really do wanna stay with Mistress Norla.  You guys were nice to me.  Real nice.  But Mistress Norla be real nice to me.  She be teaching me how to do magic like Master Rolf.  An she gots all my stuff back.  An now I gots Connal's lyre to take back to his family.  She did that for me.  An I gonna get to bury him proper."

He pauses for a moment, breathing in deeply.

"I is sure dat I is safe with Mistress Norla.  She not gonna let no man eatin' monster get me.  So I'd like to stay with her.  But I has to go with you so you will leave then I will."

He put his hands on his hips and looks at Sajaa squarely in the eyes.  "So do I gets to stay and you leave or is I gonna haf to go with you so you leave?"

OOC:  Sorry for the delay here.  Ball is back in your court.

Sajaa nods and smiles.

She reaches for Runt and takes him in her arms and draws him into a long, hard embrace.

"Then, if you wish to stay here, Little One, I will not stand in your way." She says in a tight voice, surprised at the sting of tears in her eyes. By Allah, I have known him but a few days!

"If Mistress Norla takes good care of you and is going to teach you her Arts and you feel safe with her, then stay, Child. Stay. Neither I, nor any of the others are your Keeper. If you were just any child, we might have protested your decision. But you are not just any child. You are a remarkable little boy ... Daniel? Is that the name you wish to keep? You are a resourceful, brave, cunning and talented boy with abilities that exceed your youth. So, stay and be well."

She brushes away a tear and stands and turns to Norla.

"Take care of him, Mistress. And know I will check on him from time to time. But now I ask ... why do you wish to drive us so swiftly from these Caves if you know we are the enemy of the Bandits who prowl here?  If you claim to be a force of Good in this region, and the welfare of Three Corners is as important to you as it is to us, then why do you wish to be rid of us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Thu 29 Sept 2022.

Rolf watches the women talk intently.  He fears the worst if violence were to break out as they are not easy to reach perched atop a steep sixty foot incline.  Even with his mighty magic it would take time to cast his spells and time to reach them.  By then Sajaa could be mince meat.

He softens somewhat as it seems Sajaa will return.  But without the boy?  It's unclear to him the fate of Daniel, but in any event he remains alert as things could turn south quickly and he must be ready.

For now at least he says nothing and waits.  It's all he really can do for the moment.

Lisa looks up anxiously and uncertain. Unconsciously she takes a step towards Terri.

"Of course."  Norla responds with a smile when Sajaa insists that she take care of the boy.

However, when Sajaa asks why they are so keen for the adventurers to leave, the woman waits for several moments, her eyes fixed and narrowed on Sajaa in thought.

"I shall admit to you."  Norla finally responds.  "That we had not intended to stay long here in these caves.  It was merely a midway point... a transitory solution.  Even now we are in the midst of relocating.  Your presence here..."  She trails off for a moment, her lips pursing in search of a word.

"...Is a distraction.  I do not trust you, nor do I believe that you trust me, as was made clear by Lisa who accuses me of subversion."  She turns her head down towards the other woman, her mouth wrapped in the thinnest of expressions.

She turns her face back towards Sajaa.  "My reasons are simple.  If you leave, we can continue, and then be on our way.  If you stay, I am forced to split my resources, leaving valuable personnel to watching for attack."

OOC:  Appreciate the patience.  I haven't yet posted in Runt's thread, which is why there is no immediate response from him.  I figured you guys are more of the priority for the moment.

I say we leave, we have removed the scum. We can plan for future problems with the Captain's aid at Three Corners.
He looks straight at Rolf and winks.

The parley between Sajaa and Norla seems to be wrapping up, and without violence which Rolf is thankful for.  Though he doesn't trust Norla as he has said so plainly, he agrees with her that it is time for them to go.  A potential new threat to the mining town has emerged and the news should be transmitted to Broskow as soon as possible.

"Give us the slaver and we'll go." he says to the group above, Norla in particular.  "He should stand trial for his crimes and be questioned as to where the rest of his lot have gone off to and if they are still a threat."

Sajaa looks down the precipice when Rolf speaks up, demanding their prisoner.  She then turns back to Norla.

”We will go then, Mistress.  As Master Rolf says. But it is only fair that you turn over your prisoner as he asks.  That man and his band have preyed on the locals.  We will see to it that justice is served.  Too, we shall stay away from these Caves for a time, until you and your group have cleared out – if you are threatened by our law enforcement activities here.  But once you have departed, we shall return, to continue what we have started – to clear this region of outlaws.”

She steps back and gives Runt’s touseled head one last, affectionate ruffle.

”I will miss you, Daniel.” She says with a smile.  Sajaa then tugs free the coin purse that hangs from her belt and gives it a shake to show Norla that it is filled with coins.

”Though you understandably do not trust us strangers, please accept this coin as a small gesture of our goodwill and as a token of appreciation for taking in this boy.  You do not have to, Mistress Norla, but I Sajaa, Daughter of Kassem the Candlemaker, shall consider you a friend.”

Sajaa executes a short bow and a smile. "May Allah bless you." Then she turns, takes hold of the rope and begins picking her way carefully back down to her comrades.

OOC: If my sheet is accurate there is $1014 of mixed coin in Sajaa's purse. Please remove it from my sheet.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Wed 05 Oct 2022.

Sajaa moves to embrace Runt, and though the boy flinches back just slightly at first, he makes no move to avoid the contact.  The embrace over, Runt answers Sajaa's question, his youthful face making its best impression of stoic seriousness.

“Mistress Norla is naming me after Daniel from the Bible so that is what I will go by now.”

From down below, Rolf makes mention of the prisoner, and Sajaa too turns her attention to the man held bound just barely within the shadows of the cave beyond.

"Very well."  Norla agrees, nodding quickly as she turns her head to the men behind her.  "Hugh, bring him out."

With a rough thrust of the palm to the prisoner's shoulders, the guard in the cave shoves the other man forward into the light and Sajaa takes in the countenance of the miserable wretch all at once.  The man's eyes are reddened and tortured, narrowed immediately as he is exposed to the light of the day.  His body hunched and useless-looking... and Sajaa can smell him almost as soon as he sets foot into the light.

Hashish.  The man reeks of it worse than Sajaa has ever smelled on any beggar in the city.

Hoping to set the distrust at ease, Sajaa removes her coin purse from her belt, and hands it over to Norla, who holds out a hand to receive it, though her brows are furrowed and her head tilted slightly to the side.  She says nothing, even to Sajaa's blessing, and the purse sits in her hand as she turns to watch Sajaa walk over to the rope, grip it with both hands, and throw a leg down over the side.

"Give him to them Hugh."  Norla says calmly after a moment, while Sajaa's coin still hangs like a limp fish in her hand opposite her staff.

"Off you go."  Says the guard, again shoving the prisoner roughly towards the rope.

But the second push seems to bring life to the prisoner, who finally seems to be able to shake the stun brought on by the daylight.  He turns his shoulder down and away from the rope, showing Sajaa the thick rope bindings which hold his wrists fast together.

"I won't go!"  The man shouts, his voice crackling with emotion as he turns his head towards Norla.  "This is bullshit!  I done everything you asked!"  The man struggles against his captor, though his motions are wild and drunken.

"Quiet you disgusting inebriate!"  Norla's voice is instantly cold, her nostrils flare and her eyes cast daggers at the wretch.  Though the prisoner seems to take little notice.

"We fucking did everything you wanted!"  The prisoner shouts, pushing his way back towards Norla and the center of the plinth.  Hugh, the guard, moves quickly to regain control and the contest is short and decidedly one-sided.

Sajaa peers up to try and see over the edge as the commotion intensifies.  There is a shout, a curse from the guard, then a scream as Sajaa watches the prisoner stumble backwards and over the edge a few feet away!

The man screams!  His legs kick furiously as he plummets through the air, straining against the ropes that bind his hands, though his efforts are useless as he rockets downwards straight towards where Rolf and the others stand below!

OOC:  Sajaa has made it about 5-10 feet down the rope without issue and can continue to the bottom as she wishes.  There is no danger posed to her from the falling prisoner.  Lisa, Rolf, Gustav, all of you please roll vs. Dodge.  You can make the dodge feverish (+2) all-out (+2) or diving (+3) if you wish, though if you do please state so in your roll (not just in your post).  If you fail, feel free to use a hero point.

As Sajaa picks her way down the cliff, gripping the sturdy rope, she becomes instantly suspicious again…  From the stink of the prisoner, her hunch that he is Hashishin is strengthened.  But by the wretch’s words and tone – Sajaa begins to believe that Norla has played her.  "We fucking did everything you wanted!" He said.  Which begs the question – is the man truly a prisoner of Norla and her gang, or was he and his crew in league with her?

But any chance of interrogating the truth out of the Hashishin is quashed when he is pushed, wrists bound, off the cliff to make a bone-crushing tumble to the ground!

How convenient! Sajaa thinks to herself.

Down, down she climbs…

OOC: Sajaa will complete her descent, look back up to see what Norla and the others are doing, then will consult with Gustav, Rolf, Lisa and Terri about what to make of this.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:49, Fri 07 Oct 2022.

Rolf watches the happenings above and waits for the prisoner to be returned.  He sees Sajaa start her descent, but wonders where the slaver is?

In mere seconds the man either hurls himself or is pushed forcefully over the side!  In a flash the poor soul crashing down is upon them!

Diving to the side, Rolf barely hurls himself out of the way of the human missile!

OOC:  Rolf made his feverish diving dodge roll by one I believe.

Gustav's response is to drop everything and try to break the mans fall.

"Eeep!" Lisa narrowly throws herself out of the way.

As Sajaa easily slinks down the side of the cliff with the help of the rope, the others at the bottom fly out of the way of the falling man!  Terri leaps backwards on her feet while Lisa and Rolf fling themselves to the side, desperately trying to stay out of the way of the plummeting villain.

Only Gustav does not shy away, instead, running towards the place where the man is falling!  Gustav holds out his arms, intent to shield the man from as much damage as he can!

WHAM!

Though Gustav is positioned perfectly for the catch, the weight of the falling body is far more than Gustav was braced to handle.  The man smashes into Gustav's arms, knocking the swordsman backwards with the blow as he fails to arrest the fall.

Gustav falls to his backside as the prisoner smashes into the ground in front of him, moaning with pain after he hits, though he quickly goes silent.

Amazingly, Gustav has escaped any serious injury from the attempt... and he may have just saved the man's life...

Norla's form steps to the edge where she looks down upon the scene, her expression as unmoved as a mask.  "You have your prisoner, yes?  Then go."

Sajaa alights upon the ground just as Gustav and the others are making their way back to their feet.  Terri holds her bow ready and her gaze on the men above, though she keeps her weapon pointed well away from anything that may be perceived as a threat.

OOC:  Gustav has taken a minor crushing blow from attempting to break the man's fall.  The prisoner has still taken major crushing damage and is unmoving.  Everyone else has managed to evade any injury from the event.

Rolf, can you spare a bit of healing for the prisoner, he may have useful information. Don't tax yourself, but lets keep him alive.

Picking herself up Lisa moves across to Rolf and with the lightest of touches, "Please, allow me," tries to infuse him with some of her own energies to better enable his spells.

Rolf picks himself up from the dusty ground.  Only moments before instinctively he hurled himself to the side to avoid the poor slaver careening towards certain death.

But Gustav in a moment of brilliance and bravery attempts to catch the man!  Not wholly successful, as the man crashes through his arms, but his attempt does slow him some.  Hopefully enough for him to live.

Rolf doesn't respond to anyone and immediately tries to revive him.  Every second counts and the man surely has grievous wounds that need immediate attention.

OOC:  Rolf will try a full 4FP major healing on the slaver and see how he responds.

When Sajaa touches down on level ground once more, she examines the palms of her hands for blisters, and catches her breath.

She pays only passing interest in the others as they huddle over the gravely injured prisoner whom Norla had so cruelly ordered to be thrown off the cliff. As cold and sadistic the gesture, Sajaa feels no sadness for the man. As far as she is concerned, the bandit is Hashishin, the worst kind of outlaw -- and he played a role in the predations inflicted on the peace-loving settlers of Three Corners.

I've been duped! She thinks to herself, grinding her molars against an anger that ir rising to frightful levels. Though the woman is of lovely appearance and noble bearing, she is no less a cutthroat than the rest of them. Norla is likely just as implicated in the slaving operations as the dying man at her feet.

What was it the Hashishin blurted, when he learned his fate from Norla that he was going to be turned over?

"We fucking did everything you wanted!" He had said.  He spoke to her with familiarity and seemed astonished by her betrayal. Surely, Norla knew her plot would be revealed once Gustav and Rolf went to work interrogating the prisoner. So wasn't it  convenient that the man suddenly suffered a life threatning fall?

Sajaa tastes shame, sharp and bitter, in the back of her throat.

I just handed over my life savings to that Bandit Bitch! She fumes.

She leans in and speaks quietly to her party.

"Come. Let us kill them all." She says, lifting her eyes up to precipice where she sees the woman gazing down at her.  "But save the woman for me."

OOC: Sajaa is speaking in very low tones.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Tue 11 Oct 2022.

In time, first we leave the canyon, then we go someplace I have been before, above the caves.

There is a flurry of activity at the bottom of the cliff, with Gustav and Rolf immediately going to the aid of the fallen man.  While Rolf's healing spells do not make him skilled at diagnosing an injury, he knows the pooling red and purpled bruises across the man's face and body where he struck the ground are certainly not good signs.  Rolf wastes no time, but places his hands upon the man's back and sends his mana forth to heal the damage inside his body.

Slowly, the bruises fade from angry red to darker blue with hints of yellow, and the man groans in relief, though he remains unconscious.

Meanwhile, determined to keep their most skilled caster from fatiguing himself to exhaustion, Lisa sends some of her own mana into Rolf, restoring that energy which he has just recently spent.

While the others huddle around the prisoner, Terri and Sajaa keep their attention up above, where they see Runt step up to the edge and watch the scene below.  His speaks, not to anyone in particular, but loud enough for those below to hear.

"It was an accident."

OOC:  It is 1430 on the 5th of January.

Rolf has successfully cast major healing on the prisoner, who seems to be out of any immediate danger of death.  He is still unconscious however.  Lisa has also successfully cast lend energy to Rolf.  Norla is still watching down on the group from above and waiting on the group.

Gustav tries to lift the man and put one of his arms over his shoulder to get him away from here.
Watch for crossbow bolts to kill this guy
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Tue 11 Oct 2022.

Rolf waves his hand in an intricate pattern and places his palm on the broken man.  It's clear he's done this before and is maybe getting better at this spell.  Even to an untrained eye Rolf moves with a growing confidence when trying to use the healing mana.

He doesn't notice Lisa, but does feel her hand on him and notes the normal spell energy drain he'd feel being replaced immediately by her own life force.

"Thank you.  That helps." he says to Lisa as he stands.  "I do believe he'll live." he says simply as he looks above.

He shakes his head disapprovingly at those higher up in the cave, but says nothing in reply to Daniel and doesn't address Norla.

"We have much to discuss, but not here." he says softly to Sajaa as he moves to help carry the slaver.

"Everyone grab hold." he says indicating he intends to move the man and themselves away from the cave entrance.

"We need to find a place to regroup out of their sight.  Formulate what to do next.  Much of which depends on what he does or doesn't say." he adds in a whisper, unsure if he'll be awake anytime soon.

OOC:  I would like to move the man somewhere that's behind a bush, or around a corner where we will be out of sight, but able to keep an eye on the cave entrance from good cover, in hopes of doing so out of their sight...

"Welcome," Lisa says simply to Rolf.
She feels tired by the effort but says nothing as she fears seeming weak in front of Sajaa or Terri.

Eyes returning regularly to regard the band up on the cliff, Sajaa steps in to lend a hand carrying the unconscious prisoner away.

~T'was an accident, is that it, Daniel?~ She thinks to herself bitterly. Once more Sajaa is worried about Runt. The boy has clearly fallen in with the wrong crowd and now Sajaa wonders if he is under some sort of mind-controlling sorcery. Or that in his naivety he actually believes that Norla is of sound character. Or (and this causes her gut to tighten) that Runt is an evil little brat who has no compunctions about joining the bandits.

Once the man has been borne away from the cliff and into some tree cover, Sajaa reloads and cocks her crossbow.  She turns to Gustav.

"Were you thinking we should set up an ambush for them, Master Gustav?" She asks hopefully, wrestling with the crossbow. "I intend to get my money back!"

Sajaa thinks briefly of how she has so profoundly transformed from the shy, submissive, frightened girl who fled Quazr as-Sawh only two months ago. But exactly what she has transformed into, Sajaa has yet to label.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Wed 12 Oct 2022.

With no real response to Norla, Rolf instead bids everyone to grab a hand on the fallen prisoner to move him away from the bottom of the cliff.

"I … It … I’m … I didn’t mean to.  It were an accident.”  Runt's voice calls from above, though the youth quickly turns and recedes from the edge of the cliff.

With some small effort, the five lift up the man, who groans in pain as he is jostled, immediately wakening, grabbing reflexively at his right hip and leg, which seems to be misshapen as they turns his body over to carry.

Still, they must be away, and despite the man's clench-jawed shouts, the five quickly recede with their prisoner, back to the heavy brush where they had hidden the horses.

OOC:  It is 1445 of the 5th of January.  The prisoner is awake and in pain - he seems to have broken his upper right leg or hip rather badly during the fall.  You are all about 100 yards downriver in the thick brush where you hid the horses.

I'm not sure if Sajaa was planning for immediate retribution but the rest of the group seems to want to get some answers out of the captive first, so I went in that direction.

Lisa is comfortable with resting for a while to replenish some of the donated energy. Seeing the other's distress she says quietly to Sajaa, "He is a good boy. Perhaps lead astray, but still good of heart." The woman rests what is intended as a reassuring hand on Sajaa's shoulder. "I will help in any way necessary to help pout this right."

In reply to Sajaa al-Kassem (msg # 232):

Yes, I hope to catch them moving what I think will be more slaves and some valuables, likely also stolen. Norla is a concern, she is lovely to look at, but seems to have a heart that is cold and black. Her magical abilities are also something to be concerned about. Is there anyway to weaken her abilities Rolf?

The man is heavy.  Rolf does his best to carry the broken slaver, and is tempted to leave him where he lay with all his shouting, but he knows they need him.  He has spent time with Norla and her crew and surely knows useful information about them.  Which is likely why she had him sent to what she hoped would be his untimely death over the cliff edge.

"Great job back there Gustav.  That was quick thinking on breaking his fall.  Let me know if you need any healing later." Rolf says as they search for a place to hide.

Settling on where they are keeping the horses, they plop the injured man down.

Addressing Sajaa and Lisa Rolf says "I'm not sure what to do.  Clearly this Norla is not telling us the truth and is quite comfortable at killing in cold blood.  But what should we do about her and her crew I'm not sure.  I suspect she has plans for the Three Corners and the mine.  I can't think of any other reason she'd be here so we need to do something."

Addressing Runt he adds, "It's not totally clear to me if she has enspelled Daniel, or has simply bought his affection with guile and flattery.  He's just a kid and I find it likely she has pulled the wool over his eyes so likely the latter.  It's possible, but less likely she's using magic.  Trying to maintain that kind of spell would be incredibly difficult and taxing to do."

"The real question is why she has taken an interest in Runt.  Bargaining chip maybe?  Inside intelligence he would know about us?"

Rolf turns his attention and sits near the slaver.  He crosses his arms and leans forward, unafraid of any danger from the brigand with his hands tied and mangled leg.  Still, he is somewhat sympathetic to him despite his crimes.

"What Norla did to you was not right and if I can bring some sort of justice on you behalf, I will.  But first tell me your name and story.  How did you fall in with the slavers?  What was your role with them?  Are they still a threat and will they come back?"

"And be truthful.  I will know if you are leaving things out or are telling me things that are not true.  I want to know everything, warts and all."

"If you speak well and true I will weigh this when trying to sort what to do with you."

Aye, and give it a lot of weight when we way out your future.

Feeling less exposed in the wooded area, away from the cave, Sajaa relaxes only slightly. She carries her loaded crossbow in her arms, her shield returned to its place slung across her back.

She looks down with indifference on the wounded prisoner. She feels no sympathy for him. His life choices brought this all on himself. As her mother used to say: Ou fè bouyon ou kounye a ou dwe manje l. Which means, loosely, You made the broth so now you must eat it.

She is still smarting from being played by Norla. Sajaa was sure the woman was going to be an ally, but so quickly had she shown her true, dark colors. More and more she is wondering if Runt is under some kind of charm spell. Would he have actually pushed the bandit off the cliff? What benefit does Norla have in keeping the boy? Leverage as a hostage, as the men suggested? A house slave to serve her or sell on the black market? Sajaa does not know.

She just wants her money back and some revenge.

As she gazes up at the cliff through gaps in the trees, she searches for some sign of activity, cradling her crossbow. Not for the first time she is struck by the dramatic change she has experienced since fleeing her village.

~~Forgive me, Allah of my sinful thoughts...~~

The prisoner grits his teeth in pain as the five set him down on his back.  Despite Rolf's healing, the man favors his left side heavily, his right hand gingerly moving down towards his right side where the heaviest marks are gouged into his leathers from the fall.

The more Rolf looks, the clearer it becomes that this man has broken something quite badly.

"Fuck that bitch."  The man spits as soon as Rolf mentions Norla's name.  "I'll tell you whatever you want...  Just..."  He does not seem to be able to finish the sentence.

The man is a complete wreck.  He stinks of foul smoke, his eyes are bloodshot, and his face is twisted up in pain, though he begins to talk, slowly at first, with many pauses, though the act of speaking seems eventually to be cathartic and his pace becomes more measured.

"My name is Elkins..."

"We ain't but been here than for a few months.  Niall hired us.  Mostly locals.  I was one of the first.  He suited us up with armor and weapons, most of us barely even knew how to use em.  See, there was rumors that they was carting out gold from the mines.  It was supposed to be easy, just one shipment of gold would be worth a fortune!"

Elkins coughs and winces hard, gripping his hand again on his right side.

"But turned out the rumors were shit.  They were hauling back copper, and it weren't even all that pure from what they said...  Anyway, the arrangement was, we'd take down the shipments and scrape whatever we wanted off the top... weapons, cash, whatever they was carrying.  The big stuff, the ore, the animals, we'd take that into the cave at the mouth of the river and let her lot,"  He jerks his chin towards the high cave.  "Deal with it.  They'd pay Niall some of the profits based on whatever they could get from it, then he'd pay and feed us..."

"Well, when there wasn't any gold, seems like things got more complicated.  Niall said we'd have to do more shipments to make up for the lost money, we started going after caravans coming down to the town.  We started holding prisoners for that fat shit to take back to Craine.  Weren't ever easy though.  Bunch of the slaves that were working the mines busted out of their cell and ran off down the valley one night."

"Then you guys came.  I got no issues stealing from people, but I didn't fucking sign up to get eaten by no minotaur.  So I ran for it, went up to their place."

Elkins stews for several moments before lofting a fat spittle over to his side.  "I thought they'd take care of me, but soon as I get there that bitch starts yelling.  'Clean up the cave!'  'Take care of the bodies!'  'Work harder!'  Didn't give a shit that I was burying friends.  When I came back she tossed me in a cell for the rest of the night.  Cold as fuck.  I couldn't even sleep.  Only time I got out was when you saw me, so she could have me tossed down the damn cliff!"

Elkins is silent for several moments before his stifles a brutal laugh.  "Funny.  Niall never even mentioned her.  He was always talking about some other guy, said he was right decent.  If I'da known she was in charge I woulda high tailed it down the valley and never looked back!"

Through the foliage, Sajaa gazes up to the cliff, where she still sees two men standing on the plinth, keeping watch.

OOC:  It is 1555 on the 5th of January.

Lisa treies, "So what did you see or hear about the little fellow? The one she calls 'Daniel'."

Rolf listens to Elkins and nods silently as he speaks.

"So Norla is some sort of launder of the larger stolen goods that Niall didn't want to deal with.  This would explain why she doesn't want us around when she and her crew leaves.  They're going to be carrying a lot of bulky, heavy, and impossible to hide items.  Upon seeing that it'll be obvious what they've been up to."  Rolf says in summary to Elkins and his group.

Speaking directly to Elkins he says, "I have some questions though.  This Niall, is he the fat shit you spoke of?  Regardless, do you think Niall and the other slavers are gone for good?"

"And who is the man Niall spoke of that was in charge of her crew?  Is he in their group?"

"And what did you mean by saying we did everything she wanted?  Are there more prisoners she has under her sway?"

Joining in with Lisa's question the mage adds, "Also, did Norla enspell Daniel?   He is acting strange, but to be fair I've never known what drives the boy."

Sajaa listens on silently to the prisoner's story, then to both Lisa's and Rolf's replies.

She is still inwardly burning over Norla manipulating her as she did.

She turns to Gustav.

"When they leave, Master Gustav, let us ambush them, kill Norla, take their belongings, keep what we want, and deliver the remainder to the citizens of Three Corners. Runt ... or Daniel, if that is what he desires to be called ... is not going to like it, but such is the price for falling in with Brigands."

She peers through the treetops to still glimpse the plinth and whoever remains on watch.

~~O Allah! Why have I changed into this wicked thing that I have become? Why do I harbor such ... anger? Rage?  If this was a test, O Allah, I believe I have failed it. Perhaps one day You shall punish me for the many sins I have committed and intend to commit. But today, when Norla leaves the safety of her cave, give me the strength and courage to defeat her, for she is a wielder of Dark Magic and I have never fought a Witch before.~

In reply to Sajaa al-Kassem (msg # 242):

I think that is the plan, at least for me, except I'd rather not kill Norla if it is avoidable, I think she knows things of value, but controlling her may make that impossible.

Lisa nods, but doesn't have much to add at this point. She's been alone for so long that she has to relearn team working.

The five sit and listen to Elkins, who seems to have no compunction against turning on Norla.  At the end, Runt and Lisa both ask a few questions.

"Niall?"  Elkins asks when Rolf asks about the slaver.  "No.  Niall's dead.  Carried his body out of the cave myself, skull was shattered in, like it gave no more resistance than soft mud."  He looks up at Rolf as if he is going to say more, though he eventually just shudders and looks away.

"No, the fat ass is named Mendel.  He's the only slaver I know.  Came by a few times, took a handful of people out of the holding, s'much as he could handle, I think he only had a few of his own people to keep em in line.  Rest of us only held prisoners, cause we were told to.  Didn't really help us at all, wasn't enough food to go around as it was."

Rolf moves on to the man in charge, though Elkins only shakes his head.  "I can't remember...  Lenin, Leonard...  Maybe Rufus.  Something like that.  He's the one Niall talked about, seems like he was in charge, but I never saw him when I was up there...  Though I can't really say I saw much anyway.  Like I said, I was pretty much stewing in a jail the whole time I was in there."

When Rolf asks about what Elkins meant when he used the word we, Elkins twists his mouth down in a half grimace.  "Well, it's like I said!  We worked for them they paid us!  I didn't figure we was friends, but hell!  I figured that if I ran over there and told 'em we been overrun, they might have a smidge of pity, but nope!  Instead I get some jumped up bitch who yells at me and has me pushed off a damn cliff!"

"No offense,"  Elkins sneers.  "But I figured it was you guys and the minotaur I had to worry about, not them"

Finally, Elkins gets to the matter of Runt, who now both Rolf and Lisa have asked over.  "The kid?"  Elkins asks, though he is already shaking his head.  "Hell if I know.  I never but seen him til just now.  He weren't there when I showed up, and he weren't kept with me overnight.  I was alone.  I'm not sure what she's done to him.  I can't imagine he likes her, so maybe it is some witch-spell, though I can't imagine one strong enough to make her tolerable."

OOC:  If you all want to wait for an ambush, let me know where you want to lie in wait and what your general plan is.  No rush though if you want to hash through things.

Rolf listens to Elkins carefully and lets him finish.

"Seems to be layers in the slavers hierarchy.  I would bet this Lenin, Leonard, Rufus person works for Norla and was the point person Niall dealt with.  But he was not in charge." Rolf says to Elkins matter of factly.

To his group he adds, "Mendel.  Good to know the name of the man who absconded with the slaves.  We might be able to track him down maybe."

"But for right now I agree we should ambush Norla and her men when they try to make good their escape.  But exactly where I'm not sure.  Surely we won't try to scale up to their cave, that would be suicide."

Returning to Elkins he says seriously, "Any thoughts on which path they might take and where a good ambush spot would be?"

"And have you given any thought to you current situation?  I am obliged to bring you to the Three Corners to face justice, but I am also reasonable and open to suggestion.  What can you do for us?  And what would you expect in return?"

Leaving Elkins to think on what he said he returns to his group to discuss in private their plans for him.

"If he helps us with the ambush, are you all open to seeing if he might do more and fight with us?  I recall there was a club, axe, spear, and a knife in the caves we searched so we can get him armed with something.  Maybe even lend him a crossbow if he can use it." the mages asks in whisper.

"If me and Lisa can get him on his feet, if he promises to fight for us and I believe his word, I would be inclined to let him go free after.  But we'd all have to be in agreement.  Certainly behaving in such a transactional way is less than ideal.  But I'm trying see how to get the most justice possible.  If I trade a small player to help get the big fish I'm willing to do that.  I really think bringing Norla and her crew would be worth it and any help we can get to do that should be considered.  These people were the top players in this slaver business and those they harmed demand retribution."

Certainly makes sense to me, Iam sure he would be scarce around her pretty quickly.

"I need some time resting to get rid of my tiredness," comments Lisa. She sits and rests, or maybe, continues resting.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Wed 19 Oct 2022.

Sajaa listens quietly to Rolf, Gustav's and Lisa's discussion.

She does not trust the Hashishin named Elkins and would prefer to see him executed, but the Men are more experienced adventurers in these matters and so she defers to their judgment.  She is eager to punish Norla, but tries to remain patient.

Crossbow cradled in her arms, she steps over to where Lisa sits, declaring her need to rest. Sajaa positions herself in a protective position to guard the Woman Mage, while she remains vigilant...

Lisa looks up a Sajaa and smiles thankfully. It's nice to have a friend.

She explains, "I donated my energies so that Elkins could be healed somewhat. I am not yet as accustomed to the path of adventure as your group." Dropping her voice so that hopefully only Sajaa may hear, Lisa adds, "I feel somewhat ashamed to show this weakness. But I judged it dangerous to pretend otherwise. I pray that you, and they, especially Terri, will not think too poorly of me.." She sighs, clearly unaccustomed to being so suddenly fatigued. After all, it has been a rather long time since she dared to cast spells openly.

Sajaa smiles and places a hand on Lisa's shoulder.

"It seems you and I are new to this area and the customs are much different. Here, it seems, women can walk about without chaperones; without face coverings; ride horses; own property; and swing a sword. That is not how it is in Al-Wazif. I like it much better here where there is so much freedom! The same seems true about the practice of Magic. You see Master Rolf wield his Arts without shame or fear. Indeed, it seems he is proud of his Magical abilities. So, too, should you feel, Lisa. I do not claim to have any knowledge of Magic, but it is a rare and amazing gift. One you should be proud of and have confidence in practicing."

She shrugs.  "I know not where you came from, but it seems you have come to a better place."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Thu 20 Oct 2022.

To Rolf's responses, Elkins merely nods, at least until he asks about ambush spots and exit routes.  Then he starts shaking his head.

"Like I said, I've never been there 'cept for being walked around for a few minutes, then yelled at and shoved in a cell...  Only way I've ever gone in is up the slope.  Climbing up or down or being thrown off it...  As for where to ambush em?  I mean, hell, this whole valley is full of hiding spots.  Caves and brush taller than your head.  No doubt you could keep an eye on the front while hiding in the scrub.  Or Hiding an archer in out of the high caves when they try and walk out."

When Rolf asks for further support from the thief however, the man laughs with a snort before immediately grimacing in pain.

"What can I do?  My leg's broken in a thousand pieces, what do you want me to do?"

He opens his eyes back up, looking at Rolf beseechingly.  "Don't get me wrong, hand me a crossbow and I'll shoot that bitch in the head from right here on my belly... I owe her that.  If you want me to stand up to do it though, I'm just not sure that's going to happen.  Take me to Three Corners?  I guess.  Not sure why you'd bother.  I'm happy to do whatever, I just don't think I'm capable."

OOC:  I forgot previously to add FP for the 10 minutes of rest.  Fixed now.

Lisa pats the hand on her shoulder, gives it a tiny squeeze as she looks up and on meeting Sajaa's gaze smiles, "Thanks, Sajaa!"
Releaseing her friend's hand she sighs again and looks back at the ground. She'd welcome another ten minutes' sit before being ready to go.

Leaving the case of the mans broken leg for now, Rolf moves on to other matters.

"How many of Norla's crew would you say you saw?  And are you aware if they have riding or pack animals?  I ask as I'm curious if they'll have to be carrying by hand their ill gotten goods."

They should have the wagons from the ore convoy they raided, should they not?

"Eh."  Elkins tips his head back, closing his eyes as he thinks.  "I was clearing out the caves with maybe seven or eight of them?"

Elkins pauses for several moments, his mind buried within his thoughts.

"Yeah, something like that.  I can't imagine I saw everybody in the short time I was in their cave, but it didn't seem like there were that many more, maybe ten to twelve?  Their place was much nicer than ours, but it wasn't like it was any bigger."

When Rolf and Gustav ask about pack animals though, Elkins stifles a laugh, though the movement causes him to grimace with pain.

"How you going to get a horse up there?"  Elkins asks, shaking his head.  "I didn't see none anyway.  Like I told you, Mendel and his ilk took the animals straight away.  They're too big, too much work, eat too much, and die too easily to have them just hang around.  We had 'em holed up at the mouth of the river, but I wouldn't be shocked if they were long gone, specially if they had all day yesterday after your raid.  Same with the wagons.  I told you where they should be, but I've got no idea where they may have moved them to."

OOC:  Just noticed the IC questions here too, so I figured I'd answer what was asked.

"I would like to get you on your feet if we can." Rolf says to Elkins.  "I can't in good conscience leave you here in your state, and if we take you I would worry about the risk of you making some noise from the pain of travel, which might give us away.  Lisa, could you try another healing spell on him?  I would, but I have cast on him already and it would be difficult to try again."

The mage leaves unsaid for now about what they should actually do with Elkins.  At this point he just knows it would be wrong to leave him injured and defenseless in the wilds of these canyons.  He would almost surely die.

Rolf thinks about where Norla and the men might be headed.  There's lots of places they could go based on his knowledge of the area, but most reasonable ones are bunched in generally the same direction.  But even knowing the general area leaves a wide swath.

Speaking to his group he adds, "It would seem they will be headed either due north or east, and anywhere in between.  But I'm not sure where exactly."

"It's unclear to me what to do.  Perhaps we could find good cover northeast of their cave, but still close enough that we could watch them depart?  Then launch our attack from there?"

"Or we stay put and follow them once they leave?  Try to attack from behind them?"

OOC:  If Lisa agrees, I would like to try another major heal on Elkins and then rest so Lisa and I can recover FP.  Using Lend Energy to Lisa if she needs it.  And also use the time to plan on what to do.

Well the Canyon boxes them in for an easy ambush. They will expect that. Perhaps we should look for another confined area outside of the canyon, but I also think a hit and run in here with our crossbows would be worthwhile. We have three I believe, and Norla would be a good target.

Sajaa looks from one man to the next.

"Another option is to launch our attack while Norla and her lackeys are in the process of climbing down the rope.  Those climbing down will be ... very vulnerable to our arrows. They would be like... what is the phrase you Anglish use?  Sitting geese?

"And if we attack them midway through their descent, it will cut their dozen in half."

She suddenly blushes and looks down at the ground.

"But I do not profess to be trained in the tactics of war."

I do wonder if they will need to use that exit... some how I feel there is another way in and out.

Joining in the discussion Rolf adds, "I like the idea to attack them when climbing down, but it might be difficult to get close enough to be effective.  And any left above will likely just stay there and could rain arrows and bolts down on us."

"There could be other ways in and out of that cave Gustav.  Maybe it makes sense to scout for any other cave openings nearby that we aren't aware of?"

Terri and I can do that, but we need a sign tha  they are departing and another that we have found how they left, perhaps a thrid to say we have found a way out but don't think they have left. I cannot do bird calls and kikely shining a mirror is too obvious. Any other ideas?

"I'm feeling a bit stronger but the amount or energy I lent to Rolf ealier, on top of my previous exertions, took their toll. If we can give me about fifteen minutes' rest then I can cast some healing," answers Lisa honestly, hoping no one with think her to be too soft.

Sajaa steps forward. Having observed the way the Mages lend and take energy from each other, Sajaa wonders if energy can be drawn from a host such as herself.

"Lady Lisa. If you so desire, you may draw energy from me." She says with a smile. "Not enough to exhaust me, but enough to take the edge off of you?"

"Lets rest for a bit.  I could use a bit of downtime too." Rolf says as he sits against the base of a tree.

OOC:  15 minutes will get Rolf to full FP.  He could then use lend energy for 1 FP every 5 minutes to Lisa if she needs it.

"I don't know what you plan to do to get me back on my feet..."  Elkins grimaces.  "But I just don't see it happening.  I dunno, maybe you mages can do more than I realize."

The conversation lulls into talk of tactics while both Rolf and Lisa listen in, eyes closed as they feed on the surrounding mana to replenish their own energy.

"It'd be nice to have the high ground if we are to shoot..."  Terri surmises, shaking her head.  "But what's higher than that cave, the cliff above?  It seems that are choices are either to separate ourselves by the barrier of the chasm, or else to accept that we are forced into the low ground."

Up high at the cave, the guard still stand watch, unmoving.  Their heads merely turning at interval to survey the valley below them.

OOC:  It is 1615 on the 5th of January.  It's been about a half an hour total with the conversation and the resting.  Both Rolf and Lisa are full FP.

Minor time retcon:

After about fifteen minutes of resting Lisa feels recovered enough to try aiding Elkins, which she does, casting her spell successfully. "There. I hope that feels better."

With that she feels tired again and settles back down to rest for the remeainder of the debate whic, lasting for a further fifteen minutes, means that she feels almost fully recovered when the discussiion peaks to a close..

======
OOC: 09:51, Today: Lisa Rufbin rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,3,5.  Major helaing 12 on Elkins 4FP.
Lisa regains FP at 1/5 minutes and so after a total of 30 minutes resting (while the others debate and so forth), 15 each side of the castng, she has recovered 3 of th 4 HFP spent on the healing.

Elkins can recover up to 8HP

After some rest, Lisa lays her hands on the slaver, casting her strongest healing spell on him.  Elkins moans in relief, though it doesn't take long to determine that the spell has not had any larger impact on his fractured bones.

"Thank you."  Elkins says.  "Feels much better, but I still can't move it.  Like I said, I think it's broken pretty bad."

OOC:  Lisa's Major Healing spell was successful and she spent 4 fatigue to heal 8 HP.  Elkins seems to be significantly better, though it didn't change his crippling injury.  Unfortunately, your 'time retcon' is inaccurate - you've already been credited all the FP regained from rest and you remain down 4 FP.

"Tis a pity.  I was hoping we could have gotten you on your feet." Rolf says as it's clear Elkins leg is far too mangled for him to move on his own power.  "Well, it looks like you will be our responsibility till you're mobile again."

"I think you'll need to be tied up before we head out.  I for one would not want to return to find my horse stolen.  No offense, but you do have a history." he adds as he begins to pull out some rope.  "It will be just temporary I think.  Till we get back after scouting a bit."

Returning his attention the group the mage says, "Seeing as Lisa is a bit tired from casting.  I think we should delay for ten minutes to recover.  I don't want to risk facing Norla under anything but full strength."

OOC:  I will use lend energy for 2FP to Lisa, then rest for 10 minutes to get back to full.

To Sajaa, who has no understanding of the physically draining effects of spellcasting, the seemingly endless resting and waiting is grating on her nerves.

But she is also excited, for it has been decided that she, Terri and Lisa will be setting off as their own team, to conduct further reconnaissance of Norla's cave entrance. Strangely, since the first time she felt the warm splash of blood on her face when she murdered her husband, Sajaa has felt an inexplicable, disturbing -- yet exciting --- desire to fight. Not in her seventeen years has she before felt such a thrill as when she is engaged in the life-and-death dance of swordplay.

Once, long ago when she was a little girl, Sajaa had listened to the Mullah counseling some of the boys in the Clan. "Aitabae alnaeim alkhasu bik." He had told them.  Follow your Bliss. And, though the Mullah made it clear that any pursuit of one's Bliss involves some connection to God -- what struck her at the time is that the Mullahs -- or any of the men in the Clan, for that matter -- never suggested to girls to follow their bliss.  Serving Men, it seemed, was enough bliss for the woman, as far as the men were concerned.

"Mistress Terri.  Have you a bow?" She asks, looking over the woman's arms and armor.  "I believe any encounter with Norla and her ruffians will be taking place at a distance, at least in the beginning. Better to lower their number before we find ourselves toe to toe."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:53, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

Once the arrangements are made at the horses it is not long before Sajaa, Terri, and Lisa are on their way to scout.  There is the simple matter of Rolf casting a spell of renewal on Lisa, which seems to go awry at the outset as the mage stifles a curse, though he quickly redeems his work, sending forth a bounty of energy to the young woman.

Though Lisa admits she would like longer, neither Sajaa nor Terri seem to have any patience for it and indeed Terri is already moving back down the canyon even before the whole spell casting affair is over, with Sajaa not even a step behind.

As for Rolf, he takes the next ten minutes to regain his own energy from the casting, waiting with Gustav as the other takes a few minutes to tie some bonds across Elkin's wrists, then to a rather large branch, despite the fact that the other can't walk.  Still, the two cannot gamble with the chance that the criminal might take it upon himself to pull himself up on a horse and ride out of the canyon with no one being the wiser.

Once Rolf is near to fully recovered, he and Gustav make their way first to the only cave they know is unexplored.  The 'spider' cave as Hamish had called it.  Gustav holds his lighted saber high, just within the entrance of the cave, to quickly confirm Hamish's story.  The whole of the entryway, wall to wall, and floor to ceiling, is caked with webs.  The strands are enormous, most of them easily the width of a finger with one, farther back, looking to be almost as thick as a grown man's wrist.

OOC:  It is 1627 on the 5th of January.  Rolf has spent 10 minutes resting, which has almost put him back at full fatigue, the culprit keeping him from that being the first failed attempt at lend energy.  I figured this would be the first place you would look for alternate avenues for Norla's people to escape.  Feel free to keep looking here, or else you can tell me where else you want to look, or else I can move you on to somewhere else that I think your characters would believe might be likely.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:32, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

Rolf botches his first attempt to give some of his life force to Lisa.  This small misstep leaves him a smidge fatigued, but time presses him into action nonetheless.

Joining Gustav they check out the cave supposedly occupied by spiders and from the look of the thick webs coating the cave he figures this must be the one.

"No way Norla is using this for entering and leaving." he says with clear trepidation at the mere sight of the strands of webs throughout the cave's entrance way.

"Let's move on.  Maybe there is some secreted hole in the ground they are using, or hidden entrance somewhere."

OOC: Without stepping into Sajaa's teams territory, I would to search the canyone floor and walls for any entrances on each end of Norla's cave.  Plus I'll try to keep an eye out for any well worn paths/tracks.

Gustav looks at the ground for any sign of wagons or animal/human traffic. He'll keep looking for such sign as they move around, as hiding those traces would be hard and over time the constant attempt to hide the tracks would itself be apparent.

Rolf and Gustav spend little time looking into the spider cave, convinced enough by the thick and sticky strands both that they want nothing to do with it and neither would Norla and her crew.

So instead, the two walk their way around the northern edge of the canyon, looking at the cliff and surrounding area for any evidence of transit.

All the while, the two keep an eye on the cave above, where the guard still stands lazily.  There are three men, two still holding crossbows nearer to the edge, and another who stands back, closer to the cave entryway so that much of his body is obscured by the rock below.  The two men at the edge seem to be keeping tabs on Rolf and Gustav, their eyes following their movements whenever they are moving through the open floor of the canyon, though they make no moves to either communicate nor to stop their actions.

Before long, Rolf and Gustav find themselves back at the slaver's cave, though they bypass the small winding path which leads upwards for the moment, instead making their way towards the scrub just beside.  And it is here that the two find there first evidence of something new...  A wide area, easily ten feet in diameter, where the grass is flattened down in all directions.  In some areas there are pools of blood which stain the grass, on a rock jutting out from the base of the cliff just below the slaver cave is another wide splatter of crimson...

More bent grass and bloodstains lead away, following the edge of the scrub and the rim of the canyon in the direction of the other side...

OOC:  You guys are a little bit ahead of the girls so I don't want to move you too far along all at once.  However, you did find an area of interest just at the base of the slaver cave.  It seems like there was lots of activity here.  Tracks lead away Southward, towards the small river and Norla's cave.

In your current location, you do not have eyes on Norla's cave based on the high scrub in the way, and presumably, they can't see you either.

Leaving the spider cave behind, Rolf feels a bit perturbed at being in eyeshot of Norla's men, but it can't be helped.  On a positive side, they don't seem to care much for their prescence.

They don't find much in the canyon till they find themselves returned to the slavers cave.

"I think this trampled area was some sort of way station before continuing on to Norla's cave." Rolf says to Gustav.

"I'll give it a once over to confirm then I say we follow the trail south to see where it goes."

OOC: I'll attempt to check the circular tracked area to see if there is any sort of trail leading out besides the one that goes south.  Or anything else I might find.

I think this is where they threw the bodies from above, then moved them from here.

Gustav also looks around, expecting to see either pack anmal tracks or more likely wagon tracks.

Rolf searches for another path, though as soon as Gustav suggests this was where the bodies were thrown, he immediately sees the value of the idea.  He goes back, looking over where their own footsteps have trod, and believes he sees marks of other prints mingling there as well.  He sees the images in his mind's eye of the men at the mouth of the cave, hurling the dead bodies to the floor of the canyon, then walking down single file along the rocks to move them on from here...

Gustav searches the area for animal tracks, though despite the fact that the grass is tromped down with abandon, he can't seem to find any proof of animal passage... which he would think would not be that difficult to spot.

OOC:  Throwing in a short post here to give you answers to immediate questions.  Hold off on any further action for the moment please, I'm waiting on a few things that may/may not have happened while you would be doing your tracking.

As the two men are examining the area, and just about to follow the tracks off towards the other caves, voices erupt from high up, behind the veil of the shrubs...

"They are up on the ridge!"

"AAAAggggghhh!"

The scream is followed by the heavy sounds of something falling and scraping down the sides of the slope.

"Shit!... Damnit!"  The first voice yells again... a man's voice... from somewhere up on the slope.

OOC:  Thanks for the patience guys.  Your thread may continue to be a little slow to update depending on lots of things.  Feel free to make a normal post as to your intentions and I'll keep you up with the timeline as best as I can.  You can't actually see any of what is going on, based on all the high scrub that grows up from along the edges of the river.  You can elect either to run straight towards Norlas cave (along the edge of the canyon), or upriver, which would give you the fastest view of the cave without getting too close.  Or you can do anything you can think of.

I'll go, you cover me

Gustav sprints toward Norias' cave, but checks on the opening and the bottom before closing the bottom of that area.

Preparing to depart and follow the tracks heading to Norla's cave, Rolf is startled by a man's shout.  It takes a moment to realize it's coming directly from her lair!

Seeing Gustav break into a run, Rolf follows wondering what mischief Sajaa has gotten into.

OOC:  Rolf will follow after Gustav.

Without a second thought, Gustav charges ahead, crashing directly through the shrub and towards Norla's cave.  The sudden burst of energy causes Gustav's burning wound from the jelly to flare, though he grits back the pain and redoubles his attention, taking only a moment to glance at the opening as the scrub opens up into view as she splashes across the creek.

What he sees there is certainly a surprise - The crossbowmen who had been standing at the edge of the slope are now gone... disappeared, and Lisa stands at the top of the cliff, her hip pointed thrust out to accentuate her curves like a woman of the night.

Just to the left, Gustav notices a cloud of dust kicked up just to the side of the cave, and sees the briefest glimmer of Sajaa skidding down the slope towards Norla's cave before the scrub blocks his view again.

Pushing across to the other side of the river, Gustav crashes into the brush again, his bracers thrust out in front of his face to fend off the branches as he breaks through.

Gustav breaks out of the scrub at the foot of the cave and instantly recognizes the two bodies of the crossbowman above sprawled out on the valley floor.  The one on the left has a broken arrow shaft protruding from a bloodied spot at the back of his ribs, and it seems clear the two men are dead or dying from their injuries.

Behind him, Rolf breaks out through the scrub as well, his breath coming in gasps as he looks up at the cave for himself.  Unfortunately, from here below, whatever is going on above is obscured by the cliff face, and there is no longer any rope with which to climb up...

OOC:  That was about 10 seconds of 'sprinting' with some serious delays for terrain.  I rolled HT for each of you, and Rolf failed his roll, losing a single FP.  It's also worth mentioning that Gustav has sustained moderate injuries which have never been healed, though the wounds aren't affecting him in any way yet other than just normal pain.

To the best of your understanding, it appears as if Sajaa is sliding down the canyon (from the top) towards Norla's cave.  Lisa appears to be stationary from your momentary glance.  Give me about 10 seconds worth of action.

Rolf charges after Gustav and finds he struggles to keep up.  Yet keep up he must as trouble is afoot and his help may be needed.

Whacking his way through scrub brush and brambles he stumbles upon two of Norla's crossbowmen dead, or likely so, on the canyon floor.  The why and how of it he can only guess at this point.

At the top of the cliff he notes Lisa's presence and a brief glimpse of Sajaa scampering down the cliff face to the landing where the men once kept vigil.

Rolf purses a finger over his lips Gustav's way and moves to the men.  "Search them." he implores softly.  "They may have keys we'll need."

OOC:  Rolf will search the men for anything interesting like keys or notes.

Gustav does a quick check and removes all weapons, hiding them in the brush a short ways away.
He tries to get Lisa's or Sajaa's attention with out making noise... if that fails, he throws a rock up beside the cave.