Your mind flits with memories. Your childhood. Your family. Your father and the bow... The einhycacht the night they came and took everything from you. The pinpricks of their eyes, descending like a flood, a plague.
Deep in the caves... deep you searched, to no avail. Even here, the caves are dry of clues. Aren't they? Why would einhycacht be this far from your homeland? How far have they mined? How far have they spread their disease?
You see your journey. Your friends. Kobolds, dwarves, dragonborn and men. Dragons and necromancers. Monsters and elementals. Nothing escapes your tunnel of memory. Delving deeper. Deeper. You see a strange entity... a blackness that is darker than any abyss you've known. Blacker than a dark mood. It breathes...
Your eyes open.
You see Zabrenossk above you, his fingers barely trailing your forehead. His eyes look cool and calculated. You can tell he was watching your dreams. Your memories.
Etny takes in a sharp breath, her violet eyes searching the illithid standing over her. "Wh-what are you doing, Zabrenossk?" She begins to sit up on her elbow, her face full of worry, and a hint of anguish at having to relive her dreams. And then seeing something so dark, she could not name it...
She shakes her head and sits up all the way, her violet eyes staring back into the chillingly almost emotionless orbs of the illithid. "More than getting out of here, I see, Kathulu," she pauses, "for so I name you in my tongue."
"What were you doing? Just now?"
As soon as you begin to sit up, he withdraws his hand and drifts away, nonchalantly.
"Kathulu... A language ever-changing, I see. How intriguing."
Zabrenossk seems to ponder your questions for a moment, letting them hang in the air. He leans back against his table.
"What I was doing... perusing your thoughts. It's not as detailed as...." He trails off, choosing to leave that unsaid. "I see there were others with you. Would they come? Here?"
"It is a combining of two words together," she pauses, thinking. "It is what I name you for your...," she pauses again, trying to dredge up the most polite way to convey her meaning. "...For your outward...appearance." That last word hangs in the air much quieter than she probably meant to.
Watching the illithid carefully, still not completely trusting of the strange and intriguing creature, Etny looks around for her bow, the need to mend it weighing heavily on her mind.
"Ka," she explains, "means 'face' in my tongue."
"'Thulu," she blushes, embarrassed, but sincere all the same, "means 'octopus.'"
(16 charisma)
His cold eyes seem to glow slightly. "A cephalopod.... Yes, from your world..." He tilts his head. "Creatures of great intellect. Masters at re-contextualizing information. Stealth..." At that, Zabrenossk's skin begins to fragment like a shattering stained-glass window, and he disappears in the pale light.
"Disguise..." You hear his voice from right beside you, tentacles trailing up your cheek and your ear. There's definitely a hunger in the nearness, so close to a potential meal. But when you turn, he appears as Atriox. There is a cocky grin on his dragonborn face, but the older armor he used to dawn in Dragonshore.
"Retrieving information..." He lifts a clawed hand that isn't his, and the room changes. Morphs. You are now sitting in a grove of trees, beautiful aspens and pine draped with snow. Your homeland.
"I assume you worry that the term is offensive, child..." The illithid's form melts back into his original stature. "I will take it nonetheless."
"Shiza!"
She watches helpless, listens fettered, and shivers violently at the clammy touch of his tentacles. She gasps audibly as Atriox--or Zabrenossk disguised as Atriox--appears before her. She cannot help the tears that threaten to break from her eyes at the sight of Grove of Andraya, one of the holiest places to her and her people.
Sinking to the ground, she curses again. "Shiza," a whisper on the damp air of the cavernous oval-like room.
"It's not as detailed as feasting on my brains, yes? That is what you stopped yourself from saying. If you are able to read the thoughts of others, Zabrenossk-Kathulu, you saw my...my dream."
"Yes... I did. And I helped induce it." He blinks, as if this isn't a worry to him in the slightest. The bitter honey taste still lingers in your mouth. It did heal you as well, but at what cost? If anything he seems almost intrigued watching you display all of these strange, human emotions.
"And you are correct, child. As much as I was able to replicate your memories, it is not as detailed as absorbing your psyche." The illithid's voice is dry. "Feasting on brains sounds so... base." Zabrenossk approaches, stopping inches away and standing over you. It is an imposing sight, and his voice becomes harder. Fevered.
"It is a sensation indescribable to your kind. Devouring a mind, especially an intellectual one, is euphoric. Like feeling the birth of a star in one's core... An eruption from a lifetime of memories, flooding through us... Experiences, sensations, emotions that we are otherwise unable to make for ourselves."
You see his tentacles twitch unpleasantly, and from this angle you can actually see his mouth... a terrifying, sucking, lamprey-like maw... hungry. Desperately so. He stands silent for a moment, staring hard into your face.
But he withdraws... turning abruptly away. His cloak follows after him and brushes the floor.
"You have me here, Zabrenossk-Kathulu," Etny says, a quiet tone to her voice. "What now? The dragonborn you made an illusion of is a dear friend and ally, and is probably looking for me. He is wise, powerful, and resourceful. He is a Prince, one of an old dragonborn kingdom from the ground above. What do you desire to accomplish?"
She stares at his cloak, billowing like death behind him.
(I use my Primeval Awareness ability to sense what kind of creatures are in this sort of area.)
Your mind focuses, through the power of your goddess, on anything base or strange within the miles of darkness surrounding you. Anything. Aside from the imposing figure in the room, radiating such strange, alien vibrations, you cannot feel... anything. No other monsters. Illithids. Kobolds. Even the aberration's sicking aura is gone. The only thing you can feel, perhaps a mile above you... is that... Atriox? What is that... sensation? Your focus is broken as Zabrenossk begins to speak.
"I wish to escape this pit of hell I have inadvertently landed myself in. As I've explained. I've survived the years feasting on the minds of unintelligent creatures, and those sickly white kobolds which you are so feverish to kill. They are all gone now, and my death is imminent."
You hear the illithid sigh. It's a long moment before he speaks again, and the fire has somewhat extinguished from his voice.
"I am aware you could have easily killed me. I have seen what you have faced before. But your sacred weapon is damaged and you fear to break it... yes?" He tsks, then continues. "And you wish to escape this place as much as I. So you wish to survive."
"As do I. I cannot ascend the tunnel alone without fear of the giant monstrosity above. I know not if it is dead. Against neither it nor this dragonborn ally of yours would I fare well. So we are at an impasse."
He turns, his tentacles writhing. His eyes are distant. "I could eat you, child. I should." He drifts back over, a clawed hand hovering over your head. "I'm starving to death. I haven't eaten in months... The knowledge it would give me would be invaluable in escaping up above... The strength it would give me to fight my way out would be tenfold of what I can accomplish now in my pitiful state."
His claws rake against your hair, as if your words have tempted him. "But alas... it is equally difficult for me to, as you are the first being in a long... long time... with which I can communicate. Being severed from my elder, from the entire hivemind, has been more painful than a thousand deaths." His eyes burn into you, baleful.
Etny flinches ever so slightly, but remains resolute in the baleful gaze of the illithid. Her violet eyes stare back into the blazing orbs of Zabrenossk. "Let us make it a priority to get out of here, then. I will lead and track as best I can. I will need your skills and knowledge of these caves to aid."
Slowly, cautiously, and gently, she averts his hand from grazing against her hair. She still looks him in the eyes, and speaks again.
"If...if I get you and I it of here, and with the promise of the more...nourishing minds of enemies, will you swear to keep my mind intact? I know you are...starving, but...mayhap we get out, I will let you to your own...devices in that regard."
Zabrenossk recalls his hand slowly, pulling in his claws and tucking his arms into the cloak drawn around him. He doesn't take his gaze from you.
"Yes... I suppose that would be optimal. Though you give yourself far too little credit, child."
He blinks and turns away. Drifting to the exit to his room the illithid peers down into the dark. You are suddenly aware of the sound of water, closer than before.
"The tide has begun to go out. It rose while you slept. That is the only indicator of time in this dark abyss." He sucks in a little raspy air. "I shall take you to where I've made the most progress. You can track to your heart's content."
"I will do my best, Zabrenossk-kathulu," she replies. With that, she turns and gathers her things, making to leave. She reaches into her satchel, producing ashes of a mistletoe and a small sprig of spruce. Sprinkling a little of the ashes upon the crown of her head, and crushing the sprig in her hand, she utters a prayer to the All-Mother, and suddenly disappears from sight.
"And, my good illithid," her voice is suddenly everywhere and nowhere at onceonce, "you aren't the only one who can toy with your surroundings." She produces a series of small lights, and lets them float freely nearby. "Not to worry, Kathulu, I am nearby. Lead the way, and we will both be covered by the All-Mother's power." Her disembodied voice echoes softly off the rock walls.
His strange face contorts slightly from... some kind of emotion. Not used to expressing or even feeling any to begin with, it's an incling of humor, confusion and surprise.
"All-Mother's power... Indeed." The words feel distant in your mind as he ponders them. Then he drops down into the halls below.
It's quite a journey further into the caverns, and you travel for what feels like hours. Time really is difficult to track so deep down below the earth. You eventually come to a honeycomb of tunnels, branching off into several different directions. He seems a little nervous, checking over his shoulder every now and then.
"I have tried some of these, with no avail. Others go on for miles... what are your thoughts, invisible child?"
***
Atriox snorts in painful amusement. Though he’s been healed some he is still hurt and very sore from this nearly a fatal encounter.
With effort and a few grunts he uses his free hand to climb to his feet he looks to Tak
“We have to train together sometime again my brother......because that would have been so much better with your help”
Atriox coughs out a laugh and waves jockingly at Tak before putting the egg carefully into his bag. He moves slowly over to its head and looks at the monstrosity. After a moment of silence Atriox raises his sword high and begins to cleave the head from the body
Tak grunts a kobold curse under his breath, getting to the point of not caring now. He watches quietly as you hack away at the head, and his eyes roam around the room. They land on a small object--the handle he pulled from the pillar. He groans as he sits up, padding his way over to it.
Your sword finally severs the last of the tendons holding the monster's skull to its spine. Probably at least a hundred pounds on its own, you admire your handiwork.
"Atriox?"
Tak stands nearby, staring down at the object he's holding. "Did handle come loose for you?"
Atriox grunts and holds up his own, looking at it
(Roll an Arcana check)
(Meh 12)
(That's ok you get a little bit ❤ )
The handle looks... strange. Runic. It's covered in symbols of ancient draconic that even you can't seem to decipher. Tak holds his up to you, and--taking the two--you see they connect together to create an even longer string of text. It appears complete, but small. A tool perhaps? A rod, or wand? These were undoubtedly another artifact left hidden in this place, protected by the eons.
Atriox looks at the object more closely and then around the room
(Investigation raw 19 yeshhhh)
(Dang that works XD )
You definitely feel the artifact has a purpose. Somewhere, somehow. Keeping it with you and the egg, you search the room. The wall the monster crashed into when it hit you is cracking and breaking apart, pebbles tumbling from the debris.
Beyond the wall you can hear.... water. It sounds like the great room you first started in, the one with the large lake.
Atriox looks at the cracks and then walks over to the wall. He begins to wonder if it could be broken through
(Investigation 15)
You feel these stones are compromised enough that, with force, they could be broken down. There is a cold, damp breeze coming through from the other side.
Tak walks over, looking up at the rubble. He pulls at some of the stones. "There no doors out.. We try?"
Atriox grunts and straps his sword to his back as he steps back.
“He’ll yeah we try brother. We’re getting out of here. Now I’m gonna slam into and try to loosen it up. You get the loose stuff out of the way.”
(Niceeeeee roll a str check)
(14)
Tak nods and starts scrambling to pull the loose rocks away. His fingers are dexterous. It reminds you of when they came to rescue you from the prison so many months ago.
You slam into the rocks and feel them shift under your muscular power. They start to crumble away, revealing the room behind. It's another section of the first room... The large cavern filled with stalactites and glowing bioluminescent plants.
You see there is movement from across the hall. With your vampiric vision you can tell that they are kobolds--yours--flanked by orcs. They are just coming down the stairs. You're not sure how long you've been in here.
Atriox backs up and slams into it one more time for good measure before helping take move aside rocks
Upon seeing his people he breaths a sigh of relief. He looks to Tak
“Brother go get some help would you ? I’m going to go sit down for a moment.”
And that’s exactly what he does. He goes over and sits by all the treasures and the decapitated head
It's not long before the other kobolds and orcs arrive where you're at, being led by Tak. They begin shoveling away the other rubble and begin cleanup of the area for you. The kobolds seem rather in awe at this place--this entire underground lake, and chitter in hushed tones about it.
One of the orcs walks up to you, admiring the kill you made. "Nasty critter. You wish it burned, sir?"
You also hear Tak taking a few kobolds to the side, explaining to them about the other strange room and how Etny disappeared. It may still be connected to the first door you all went through, but for them to get back... the ring seems important, unless they can break the magic or tunnel in from another way.
Atriox shakes his head slightly and stands up, looking at the orc
“No. I want the beasts entire skeleton as a trophy. Take it out of here and have the hunters skin it. Also I send someone to inform Oxious of all this and have him add the valuables to the royal treasury”
"As you wish." He bows swiftly and whistles, rallying the other orcs to him. One is sent as a messenger to Oxious as the others work on the monster.
Tak walks up to you, quiet and unsure again. "Tak let others know about hole. We finding tunnel into it... hope anyway. Any idea?"
Atriox looks at the little kobold and scratches his neck
“Can we not just redo the puzzle and follow our foots steps ? The longer we take the more danger Etny is in.”
Tak nods. "Right, uh, we do that then. We has special ring, should help?"
He bounds off ahead of you, obviously tired but pushing through it. He doesn't look like he has been sleeping much, to be honest. A few other blue kobolds follow after, eager to help if you give them the direction to. One you recognize as Wul, a fellow who was injured on a scouting venture and healed by Etny. She'd been quite insistent on his strength and honor when they'd returned.
Atriox stops by this Wul he’s heard about
“I’ve heard of you. Are you geared up soldier?”
"Sure am." He grins menacingly, showing his teeth. "Down into the dark, yes?"
Atriox grunts at the little man with a raised eyebrow. My this one is bold. He didn’t even avert his gaze when speaking to him
“Perhaps.....we will see once we are there. Come.”
You trek with your kobolds back to the original portal, just in time to see Oxious descend the stairs. He seems to be wearing some newer robes, and carrying with him some instruments of curious make.
"Atriox," He mutters in greeting, looking around the strange underground cavern. The tiefling seems intrigued by the glowing plants, as well as the state of the water in the lake and the orcs carrying out pieces of the large aberration. "You called?"
Atriox snorts blowing some smoke out of his nostrils. He spreads his arms out and smiles wide in a obviously false welcome. The attitude in what he says next.....
“Well hellooooooo to you too. Yes I did. Through there is some treasure to be added to our collection and I’m sure you’ll want to look around but for now you will come with me. Etny is missing and apparently was last seen falling through the ground.”
"That's a shame..." He shakes his head, ignoring your mocking tone and stepping past you, more intrigued with the magic here than anything else. It's almost as if he didn't quite register what you've said. "Let me see then, let me see..."
He approaches the portal you're standing beside, the kobolds filing into it. Testing it with a wand in his right hand, he seems to make a mental note and steps through himself.
Atriox rolls his eyes and simply follows after, hefting his sword over his shoulder and muttering to himself under his breath
You appear back into the crystaline room, the kobolds mesmerized by the shining, colorful stones. Wul immediately starts hacking at one of them, irritated by what they're saying.
Tak wanders about, confused that the crystal from earlier is closed up again. Oxious isn't perturbed at all by the strange voices or runes. "Fascinating place... definitely a magic beyond time. If only I could..." He pulls out a little book, jotting down some notes.
Atriox grunts and rolls his eyes yet again
“Yes yes I realize your having orgasms here but can we proceed please you old goat. I’m in no mood to piddle around “
Oxious turns, looking aghast. "Well excuseeeee me..." He stuffs his notebook back into his pocket. "Lead the way then, wherever indeed that may be." The kobolds snicker, much to the frustration of the tiefling.
Atriox snickers and nods for Tak go keep leading them to where he saw Etny fall through
Tak approaches one of the crystals, thinking it was the one from before... it has re-materialized, but he places his claw upon it and it shatters into a million, glittering shards. The others turn in awe and he shrugs before hopping through.
In the next room it looks like a disaster... rocks and debris lay strewn about, and a large crack in the floor takes up a quarter of the room. It looks like part of it descended to some other room of this temple, but another...
The kobolds all gather about it, jabbering to one another quietly. One tosses a rock down to listen to how far it falls. Oxious just raises an eyebrow.
"It was here, little one?"
He addresses Tak, who nods once.
Atriox looks down the hole looking with the others for any signs or and clues.
***
Etny smells the air, also holding her hand up into the still air, checking for any sort of cross-wind or breeze.
"You are invisible as well, Zabrenossk-kathulu, no doubt," she continues, her voice almost at his ear, and yet so far away, "you may have already known this." Etny smiles slightly to herself. "You aren't the only one who can...'Pass Without a Trace.'"
She continues to look for a way out.
(22 Survival, and 23 Perception.)
He mutters slightly under his breath as you do your work. He's been mostly keeping his thoughts to himself during your travels, not talking unless you say something first.
With your superior tracking skills and the glow from your soft lights, you sense the forth-most cavern, one that looks the smallest, has the faintest... faintest breeze... If you were to enter, you would have to duck down uncomfortably for an unknown amount of time.
"There," she points at it, "the forth-most cavern," clarifying as he cannot see her. "It'll be a bit of a tight squeeze, but there is air flowing from that one."
"That one seemed like a dead end to me... but I will trust you, I suppose. If we get lost too long, forgive any hunger that may come over me." His voice is somewhat sour as if he's not actually going to care if you forgive him or not, but the concept of forgiveness and politeness seems to be attempted at least.
There's a faint noise from somewhere... distant. You can't quite tell from where. It is a little unnerving in these tunnels, especially with the old smell of the white kobolds that must have once visited here. Zabrenossk seemed to acknowledge their existence too, it seemed.
You follow the tunnel for some ways, inching your way along, crawling on all fours at times after your dancing lights. It feels strange knowing that Zabrenossk is right behind you. The only extra solace is the protection of your invisibility, which may not last much longer. There really is no escape from this tunnel, and you can see why he could not travel very far into it on his own.
Up ahead your lights bob against the surface of a rock, covered in a thin moss. Water trickles down from them, just slightly. You're not sure if it is salt water or not. The thin breeze is slightly stronger as it whistles through the rocks. A voice is almost at your ear, and you feel tentacles along with it.
"As I've said... not really an easy way to go, is it? Unless you are a mouse..." He sounds frustrated.
***
( investigation 16)
You see scraping on the rocks, likely a path the snake took to get to one of its many boreholes. A drop off seems to slide on slick, wet rock down even further. Even your vampiric eyes cannot pierce the darkness beyond a few hundred feet. You're not sure if anyone could survive a fall like that, if it were to go straight down.
Atriox looks at Oxious seriously, worry on his face
“What do you think my friend ? I don’t like this one bit.....not even my special eyes can pierce that darkness.”
Oxious stares down into the darkness, sensing for magic. For anything. You see him concentrating, beads of sweat on his brow. After a long, tense minute he lowers his hand and turns to look at you.
"That friend of yours has a magic about her, Atriox. Of which... I cannot sense." He says this with a defeated, saddened sigh. "Either she has gone too far from my arcane reach, or..." The tiefling looks back at the crevice with pity. "I am sorry."
The kobolds seem unaware of your discussion, except Wul and Tak. Wul just pales and Tak looks guilty as sin. He covers his eyes with his clawed hand, muttering quietly under his breath as he wanders away from the group.
"Perhaps... with care..." Oxious suggests, gently, "we can send a recovery team in..." You know his disposition toward women, and Etny seems to be no exception.
"What do you wish to do?"
Atriox shakes his head with a sigh
“Very well. I’m approving the mission but I want every precaution taken. Only our best will go and they will be careful and not take risks..”
Atriox turns to the orcs and shouts for someone to quickly fetch Dorokor and to tell her come prepared. He turns back looking at oxious
“I’m case they find something they will need to signal. Do you have any of those flare wands ?”
Oxious nods, fishing a wand out from inside his jacket. He hands it to Atriox. "If there is anything else I can provide, please let me know. Who else do you plan on sending down to fetch her?"
Atriox sighs and thinks
“Kora will lead. Her abilities will make it easier for her to get down there and she’s capable in my place. Tak I assume you wish to go down there ?”
Atriox looks at his brother
Tak shrugs. "Y-yes. Tak will go. Tak wishes to. Will lead the others, follow Dorokor."
Oxious nods. "Wise choices. Shall I...?" He motions to the hole, but also indicates the rest of the room. "As orgasmic as it is," he huffs, trying to lighten the mood, "I may also be of assistance canceling out any other wards or curses in these rooms."
Atriox grunts and hands Oxious his mother’s ring
“You’ll need this. It unlocks some things here. But be careful with it will you ? It’s a family heirloom of sorts. I would be going down there myself but I’m in no shape and I have to get this to safety”
Atriox pulls out the egg to show Oxious
Oxious is almost too distracted by the ring at first, but does a double-take so fast you think it gives him whiplash.
"W-what in the unholy nine...?" His eyes are as wide as saucers. "You found that? Here?"
Atriox nods to the old teifling
“Indeed. In a vault of sorts. That ring was the key.”
"May I?" He nods to the artifact in your hands, stepping forward to sense the magic within it. His brow furrows with intrigue. "A pure object. No curses or charms. This must have been here for years... but it has been in a stasis, perhaps...? It is still viable... a beautiful specimen."
At that moment Dorokor appears at the doorway, dressed in her lighter armor and looking ready for a fight. Her red eyes take in the room. She glances at you, Atriox, as well as Oxious, The egg between you makes her pause in confusion.
(19 Persuasion)
With a sigh Atriox puts the egg back in his bag before walking towards Kora. Upon reacher he places his hand on her arm and gives it a affectionate squeeze.
“How are you doing my chieftes ? Are you in good enough condition to do this ?”
She sneers slightly trying to be nonchalant. "Yes, yes... recon mission, correct? Body retrieval?"
With another look at you, she can tell you're honestly concerned and wants to assuage your worries. "I'm fine... It's been a month. I'm fit as ever. Just glad I don't really need sleep with those ravenous buggers." She cracks her knuckles as she glances at the hole. "I left them with Dahlia and Ismene."
Atriox snorts in good humor, his tail thumping on the stones behind him.
“Yes to the first possibly to the second. We aren’t sure of anything, and we need to know more. I’m hurt and need to do some things other wise I’d be going down there. I’ll sure as hell be here when you come up or call for backup though. While I’m busy I’ll check on the two little demons.”
Kora smirks, putting a hand on your shoulder. "Sounds good... don't get yourself killed while I'm gone."
You see her walk over to the hole and Oxious backs up to give her room. Dropping her gear and a very long length of rope for the kobolds, she stretches and flexes her back, before materializing into a cold mist of vampiric magic. With a whoosh, she disappears into the darkness.
The kobolds chitter excitedly, tying the rope to the center pedestal in the room. It's not long before they all disappear after her, dropping soundlessly like little spirits.
Oxious gives you a nod as he begins testing the orbs in the room--at least the ones un-smashed. Periodically he tests the ring on things, making notes as he goes.
Atriox heads for the tower at a quick stride. He doesn’t want to miss anything and he has stuff to do while they are gone
The trip goes quickly considering how much is on your mind. You're somewhat hungry from your fight, but not intensely so, and the pulsing warmth from the egg in your bag keeps you thoroughly distracted.
By the time you reach the tower you hear a fit of giggling and laughter from upstairs. You reach one of the upper rooms and as you open the door, you come upon an interesting sight.
Ismene is rather beside herself with horror and humor, and Dahlia has her mouth covered in laughter. Both children are squealing with happiness, crawling around and chasing after some wild rabbits that have been brought in. Darzal already has one in his grip, and the squealing creature is quieted as he teethes on its neck with small little fangs. His eyes glow bright blue.
Shaavra is insistent on catching one, which is running right for the door.
(Reflex save to try to stop the rabbit from escaping her)
(....sorry Dex save lol)
(14)
You reach down and just miss the rabbit as it rushes past your legs. You can hear it thumping down the stairs as it rushes away from the ravenous children. But you are able to catch little Shaavra, who begins to squeal and whine in protest, her frustration devolving into tears.
Dahlia just shrugs and gives you a soft smile, glancing over the injuries on your shirtless body. "Are you okay...? We heard the explosion earlier, and from the scout that came to fetch Kora. Ismene told me a little more."
Ismene nods, tilting her head to the side. "What ended up happening?"
Atriox holds onto his daughter gently but tightly. They’re small but strong and he imagines they could squirm there way into just about anything
He tries to calm her down as he looks at his beautiful daughter ignoring the adults for a moment
Her sobbing slowly recedes, the rabbit forgotten. Wet brown eyes look up into yours... comforted by your presence.
She is still smaller than her brother, but with what seems to be bottomless curiosity. Her small hands reach for your face, grabbing onto your beard and tugging it, and a small giggle escapes her. White scales have begun to form down her arms, in stark contrast to her soft, black hair, and when you stroke her head you can feel the smallest touch of horns beginning to grow.
Atriox smiles at his daughter a moment more before turning to the others. Still holding her he says
“It’s a long story. Ancient ruins unearthed, big monster, fought and killed it, found treasure. Also Etny is missing. I sent Kora and a team to look.”
***
(Ima roll during this to make it more.... unique. I won't say where the rolls are but I'm sure you'll be able to tell)
Meanwhile...
Down into the darkness, Dorokor descends as best she can with her abilities. It's definitely farther than she's ever traveled in this form, but it is the safest. Getting back up...? That will be a hell of a time. "Definitely need a drink after all this, damn it." She thinks to herself.
Behind, Tak and the other kobolds shuffle along, their claws able to grasp onto the almost impassable, slippery rock. The rope is of some help--at least, til they make it half way down, when it runs short. One of the kobolds climbs back up to fetch more while the others keep going. Tak slips a few feet as the smooth stone continues below him, smelling Etny's scent and perhaps a bit of her blood as well.
Suddenly, there's a yelp from up above and Tak grits his teeth. "Karrak.." He barely has time to mutter this before the retreating kobold, the one ascending to the top, falls from up above--the length of rope with him. It was not tied tightly enough.
Going to fast to be able to catch himself, he crashes into the others. Wul loses his grip almost immediately, and Tak scrapes the sides of the wall with all the strength he can muster--but being as exhausted as he is, his arms give in. They and the other few kobolds all tumble down into the abyss.
Near the bottom, Kora re-materializes in the damp, frigid sea water that's slowly retreating. As shallow as it is, it stings horribly and she feels almost unable to move from the motion of it. Gritting her teeth, she looks around frantically, seeing no body, no corpse, no fresh smell of blood. Any that may have been there likely washed away with the tide.
The kobolds fall out after her. Barely able to move out of the way and saved only by her vampiric ability, she watches with a grimace as they all crash into the water together.
A mass of yelps, barks and groans, they scramble out of the pile and try to right themselves. Tak hefts himself up on his sword, grumbling at the cuts it made on his back. Wul stares at the water in confusion.
"We are not near the sea... correct? But there is salt water here?"
The other blue kobolds shift uncomfortably in it, testing it, sensing if it is trapped ground water, with more concentrated salt, or perhaps a stagnant pool... But the movement of it proves it is somehow, even this far in, connected to its mother ocean.
"Tsk," Kora grunts, adjusting her supplies on her shoulder. "The girl isn't here. Search down that way." She gestures roughly toward the deeper end of the water. "I'll go this way. Meet up with me when you are done."
It's perhaps a half hour before everyone finds each other again. Tak steps forward to talk with Dorokor himself, Wul hovering with the other kobolds nearby.
"We find no sign of body, But... She alive. And not alone."
Kora narrows her eyes. "What do you mean not alone?"
He wrings his hands. "Something else found her, maybe? There a room, high up. Smells of Etny. Few of her feathers. Footprints. Some other thing, not human. Strange smell, ill smell. Bad smell. Bottles, vials of things." Tak hands her one that he brought, and uncorking it, the smell almost knocks her off her feet.
It's got a tinge of iron to it, like blood. But sweeter, spoiled. It is flesh from a creature, but...
"Brain matter."
She growls under her breath, a stream of orcish curses. Tak is able to decipher a few himself and looks away, concerned.
"Well the huntress has not gone into the sea. Get the others. We track the tunnels ahead and pray we find her before she really is a corpse."
***
No comments:
Post a Comment