Dawnforge - The True Kings

[unleashed]

(OOC: Didn't the tree fall off a cliff to get here? It probably isn't quite that easy to get to where it was rooted)

No cliff mentioned in relation to the tree, just... the terrain on either side was rocky and treacherous, this was more than annoying... so taking 10, Haedyn would have a Climb check of 20.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

“So much for secrecy,” Haedyn mutters, looking at Dalart, as names and allegiances are bandied about thoughtlessly.

Darvekis has the grace to look chagrinned when Haedyn says that, and abruptly becomes absorbed in studying the sundered woman, his lips firmly pressed together. It's odd, the man was a spy for Deluin for years, he should know about keeping a secret...

Solara will sense motive during the slipup, as it seemed odd...

Solara: [sblock]It seemed he was going to say something that started with a "muh" sound. Mud, mother, mulberry... something. Though in context, "mother" seems likely. Though why a tiefling would call a moon elf his mother is a mystery.[/sblock]

*Raynard nods.*

"Very good then. We will first need to search at the point where the gouts of unnatural flame first struck."

"Well, the roots were burned off, so checking the hole where the tree was is a good start," Solara says, looking in the hole the tree left when it was felled.

“Good idea!” Haedyn says enthusiastically, flicking Riva into the air with his foot and grabbing it casually with one hand, he moves to where the tree originally stood and searches for tracks.

Jillian, who normally remains silent, speaks up. "We must get to the bottom of this." Then she moves to the spot where the tree was rooted and searches for clues.

Haedyn and Jill clamber up the slope, Haedyn pulling himself up with the tenacity of a goat, Jill leaping lightly up from rock to rock like a squirrel. A good fifty feet up, behind a large boulder, there is a large gaping hole where the tree once stood. The hole is thick with ash and smells strongly of smoke and sulfur, scorched iron and blood. Ssiran comes up behind them with a bit more effort, his nostrils filled with the stink. Haedyn crouches down beside the hole, brushing away several weeks' accumulating of dirt from the edges. Searching carefully about, he finds something on the boulder bordering the hole. It must have braced the tree from countless landslides and avalanches, but there's something near the bottom that's clearly not natural. It's a handprint, melted into the rock as if by great heat; a handprint with six fingers. It's nothing that he recognizes, but Ssiran recognizes it at once. Also you recognize that all around here the tough mountain vegetation is dead or dying, from where the tree was and upward and from side to side as long as you can see. The sickness is only really apparent once you get into it, as you have.

Ssiran: [sblock]They're the handprints of lava children, spawn of elemental fire and earth with hands like flame, with six fingers. Born of flame, they are not harmed by it, nor can spells of earth harm them. They pass through metal like it was air; they can strike through metal armor, and metal weapons pass through them without harm. However, they adore the deep earth and consider the surface world boring at best. Whatever enticed them above had to be powerful.[/sblock]

Sir Aravir, Galan, Ebony, Hiitar, Darvekis, and Solara wait below, with Dalart, his donkey, and the shaking sundered woman. She watches the three above with wide eyes, alternately clutching her throat and making slashing motions in the air. The donkey is clearly terrified, and Shade takes most of Sir Aravir's attention to keep calm. Her aura of madness and pain is terribly unsettling to the animals. Finally the poor donkey can take no more and gives a loud bray and bolts away, Dalart's hand caught in his bridle, the dwarf being dragged behind him. The sundered woman screams, her momentary quiescent madness bursting to the fore. With shocking swiftness she throws herself at Ebony and Hiitar, them being the closest. Ebony begins to gag, his throat slit in grotesque parody of the sundered woman's own cut flesh, while Hiitar is set reeling from a deep gash to his thigh.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Lava children...they are immune to fire and earth, and even ignore metal as if it was air..." Ssiran says quietly, then he looks down in dismay when he sees the diplomatic failure down below.

 

[unleashed]

Haedyn, Male Lowlander Spirit Adept

“Guess I’d better find myself a big stick then, if we’re going to hunt them,” Haedyn remarks, glancing down the slope when he hears the donkey’s bray.

 

[Starman]

Galen hollars at the woman in Sylvan. "

Spoiler

Stop this madness! We can help you!

"

 

[Bront]

Solara grabs Ebony and pulls him away from the woman, trying to stop the bleeding if she can.

OOC: She'll case cure minor to stop the bleeding if she thinks it will help, otherwise she'll cast shield of faith on herself.

 

[Guest 11456]

Jillian, female wood elf rogue

Seeing trouble brewing below, Jillian pulls out her bow and nochs an arrow, training it on the mad woman. "Hurry, we must assist the others!"

 

[unleashed]

Haedyn, Male Lowlander Spirit Adept

*Haedyn nods at Jillian’s assessment and heads downslope as quickly as he can, as he tries to bring Riva to bear on the madwoman and aid his companions.*

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Strike to subdue, if you must strike. The madness is not the lady's fault."

 

[Guest 11456]

Jillian, female wood elf rogue

Jillian keeps the bow trained on the woman but hesitates to fire for now. "What do we do then, Raynard?"