Clutches of Evil - IC: Chapter Two

[Nonlethal Force]

The guard opens the gate as Bahruul speaks, allowing the party to meet their escort. Judging by the look of them, the escort team consists of four melee specialists and one who is not.

The melee specialists all seem to be wearing some type of leather armor and carry both swords and morningstars. Two of them carry heavy shields and two of them carry light shields. Each of their shields are strapped to teir back so as to not be in the way during walking.

The one who is not a melee specialist looks a bit older than the rest, also still not yet middle aged by any measure of age. His fingers are long and bony. He seems unarmed, but he wears a thick and heavy green cloak. The guard that the party has been talking to nods to this one in particular as they reach the otehr side of the gate.

The robed (apparent) leader picks up on Bahruul's question. "There is no reason to think that you cannot be shown the hiding place for the token. Knowledge is power, and the power of knowledge is power that cannot be taken away from you. You cannot carry it on your person, however, because quite honestly should you be killed and the token taken from you it could spell disaster. In our current arangement, if you are killed there is no reason to think that whatever kills you will find a well hidden token." His voice is solid and commanding.

 

[jkason]

Byntrou, roguishly sorcerous barbarian

The robed (apparent) leader picks up on Bahruul's question. "There is no reason to think that you cannot be shown the hiding place for the token. Knowledge is power, and the power of knowledge is power that cannot be taken away from you. You cannot carry it on your person, however, because quite honestly should you be killed and the token taken from you it could spell disaster. In our current arangement, if you are killed there is no reason to think that whatever kills you will find a well hidden token." His voice is solid and commanding.

Byntrou raises an eyebrow, but says little else. Magic, it seems, has a home even in rural mining communities. He waits to make sure Bahruul is satisfied before nodding agreement to Keryth's suggestion that they might check their supplies before beginning.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Not sensing any other need to explain objections, the robed one guides the party to the general supply store.

[Sblock=OOC]Feel free to generate a list of needed supplies in the OOC thread. You can assume anything in the PHB Table 7-8 (p. 128) is available, but only from the Adventuring Gear, Special Substances, and Tools and Skill Kits table. Of course, double the listed price[/Sblock]

Once the party is finished, he establishes firm command over the more armored guards. "Same plan as the priests, soldiers. Aurexus and Vaadania take point. I shall walk between your protective flanks."

He turns to the party. You shall follow me closely. I encouarge you not to lag to far behind. I will be tyhe only source of light permitted in the mines until you all pass into the ancient tunnels. From that point on, how you handle lighting is completely up to you."

Not waiting for a response - or perhaps not caring about one - he continues barking orders. "Parsha and Ohleria will carry the rear. You know your assignments, soldiers. Move out."

[Sblock=OOC]Assuming the party follows without complaint ... I'm cutting forweard in time to advance the plot.[/Sblock]

Destiny moves to a position behind the robed figure and follows as they begin marching forward. The soldiers keep near perfect step and time with each other, demonstrating a highly practiced skill in this regard. Occasionally one or the other seems to nervously test out the hilts of their swords, especially once they enter into the darkness of the mine.

They travel several hundred feet into the mine, to the point of complete darkness overcoming the traveling group. The robed leader calls out, "Halt! Vaadania, Extend your sword."

The brief ring of metal is head echoing through the cavern walls. "Arack!" is commanded by the robed leader and Vaadania's sword begin to pulse with an orangish light. The mine cavern seems to stretch on for a long distance. The echoing of the sword continued far beyond what the party was able to see from the illumination of the sword. The tunnel continued to narrow as the company proceeded further inaward. Eventually the tunnels closed in on the company to a mere 10 feet across. The robed leader stepped behind Aurexus and Vaadania as they came together. Parsha and Oleria came together in the back as well.

The company walked for the better part of an hour, although the walking had become much more slowed on account of the rough ground. After an hour, the lead guards turned down what appeared to be a newer tunnel that had been dug off to the side. The leader explained, "There was some exploratory digging performed in this area. It showed great potential for digging onyx. Unfortunately, as you will see in a short while the digging was halted. We recovered a fair bit of onyx, until we met with the other end."

After a few more minutes of walking the party can see a small hole and blackness beyond. As they draw near the hole, the robed figure spoke, "Kashan." The edge of the hole twinkled momentarily as if it had been reflecting light out of a diamond and then the light vanished.

"Once you pass through the hole, you will see the ancient tunnels. The stone work is admittedly quite magnificent, clearly the tunnels were not used for mining purposes. On the inside, you will notice two blue stones waist high. Below those stones are a red and an orange stone. Below those stones are naturally colored stones to the floor. The token will be behind the second one down of the naturally colored stones. We will remain here for three days, guarding this exit. Once we leave, the token will alert myself and the guards that you wish to pass through the barrier I just released. You will have to give us time to return to the barrier after you signal. That process will take us about an hour - possibly two."

 

[unleashed]

Keryth, Male Drakontos Cleric

“Understood. Thank you for your assistance,” Keryth says, stepping through the hole and lighting their lantern.

 

[D20Dazza]

"Yeah thanks" Bahruul says with an eager nod as he readies his weapons and checks his armour once more.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Bahruul's arms and armor seem to be in tip-top shape, not having been harmed ast all by the descent into the more humid mines.

Stepping through the hole, the party can feel a bit of warmth. This tunnel is significantly bigger - a minimum of what appears to be a mind-blowing twenty feet across as far as the eye can see. The stonework is simply magnificaent. From Byntrou's wais heigh and down there is not a single colored ston. From Byntrous waist height and up there is not a single stone that is not colored! The stone don't mesh to make any pattern or piscture, but the fact that they are all colored is noticeable. It is unclear without further inspection if the stones are naturally colored or painted with a fine oil or powder.

The tunnel entends to the left and right, as if the mining tunnel gutted the thing from the side. Both the right and left appear to descend, but only slightly. The robed figure nods as an indication of good luck. "We'll be here for three days," He says as a reminder.

 

[unleashed]

Keryth, Male Drakontos Cleric

“Yes, well hopefully we’ll be back by then. Which way did the priests go?” Keryth asks, as he hands the lantern to Destiny.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The robed figure smiled wryly. "It would seem it does not matter. Miners were found dead in both directions. The priests initiall headed to the left. But we left after three days. We do not know where else they could have gone in that time period."

Destiny takes the light and shines it in bothe directions. Either way, the tunnel extends beyond the ability of anyone to see the end.

 

[unleashed]

Keryth, Male Drakontos Cleric

“True, but it gives us a direction to start,” Keryth remarks, with a wry smile of his own. “Let’s go left then, as at least we know the priests went that way."

 

[D20Dazza]

Bahruul, suddenly all business like, draws his Greatsword from its sheath across his back, nods his head once at Keryth and cautiously leads the way down the left hand tunnel.