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Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7097834" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 27</p><p></p><p>After resting for about an hour the companions retraced their steps back through the shrine. Glori kept custody of the artifact, putting it in the special container that Starfinder had given them. That was a wooden box just barely big enough to hold the stone, with faint marks in silver filigree traced upon the panels. After lighting a fresh torch, they set out again.</p><p></p><p>They were wary of more traps, or another surprise designed to catch someone trying to depart with their prize, but the Eth’barat apparently had already thrown everything they had against them. But as they made their way back up the steps and approached the entry chamber with the now-ruined stone masks they sensed motion up ahead. Quellan whispered a warning back at the others, but they all knew that whoever it was must have already seen the light from their torch.</p><p></p><p>When they entered the room they found a familiar face waiting for them. Arras was examining a small steel axe that she’d apparently found under one of the dead bugbears. None of them failed to notice that she’d flipped the hulking corpse over on her own.</p><p></p><p>“You missed this,” she said, holding up the axe. “A minor enchantment, but valuable nevertheless. Fairly careless, I’d say.”</p><p></p><p>“Were they working for you?” Kosk asked, indicating the bugbears with one hand while the other kept a ready grip on his staff.</p><p></p><p>“Did you find the book?” Arras asked.</p><p></p><p>“What book?” Bredan asked. Kosk’s face twitched, but he kept his focus on the old woman.</p><p></p><p>Arras shifted her attention to the smith. She didn’t say anything, but after a moment Bredan flinched back. “What are you doing?” he asked.</p><p></p><p>“Never mind,” the old woman said. “You can take your rock and go.”</p><p></p><p>Kosk took a step forward. “You’ll answer our questions first.”</p><p></p><p>“Or else what?” Arras asked. “Don’t bother, I already know the answer. And as amusing as that might be, I have more pressing concerns to attend to.”</p><p></p><p>“Now wait…” Quellan said, but before he could finish his statement the old woman made a small gesture and disappeared.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, where’d she go?” Bredan asked.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Invisibility</em>, I expect,” Kosk said. He held out his staff and walked quickly over to where Arras had been standing, but found only empty air.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe a <em>teleport</em>?” Glori asked.</p><p></p><p>“If she’s that powerful, we should be grateful she didn’t want to stick around and chat,” Quellan said with a meaningful look at Kosk.</p><p></p><p>“Are you all right?” Glori asked Bredan.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah. I felt… it was like she was in my head, somehow.”</p><p></p><p>“Another magic spell,” Quellan said. “More powerful than I could manage.”</p><p></p><p>“Let’s get out of here,” Kosk said, and that time none of them disagreed.</p><p></p><p>The trail down the bluff gave them no difficulty, though they were careful to use their rope again on the descent. They found Arras’s camp empty save for some assorted litter; there weren’t even any tracks to suggest which direction the mule might have gone. They had only spent a few hours in the shrine, but they all agreed it might be better to remain close to the shelter of the bluff before starting out on the return journey. They still had a few healing potions left in reserve, but they also still had a few lingering injuries and the cleric and bard would be able to treat them the next day when they had a chance to recover their spells. Glori explained that the magic in her lyre functioned much like that of a living caster who could cast a certain number of spells each day.</p><p></p><p>Kosk went over every inch of the old woman’s camp and the surrounding area before he joined the others around the fire. She’d even left them some cut wood nearby, so all they had to do was refresh the pit and light it. Glori helped Bredan get out of his armor, wincing as she saw the damage it had done to his clothes during the mephit’s magical attack.</p><p></p><p>“I hope I don’t need to tell you to trust my instincts in the future,” Kosk said to them. He pointed a finger at Bredan. “If you hadn’t raised such a stink earlier, we might have gotten a chance to search the old woman while she was out, and find out what she truly was.”</p><p></p><p>“We’re still not sure what she truly is,” Glori pointed out. “And she might have just been shamming when you hit her.”</p><p></p><p>“There are some things you can’t fake,” Kosk said, but he frowned as he considered her words.</p><p></p><p>“The ends don’t justify the means,” Quellan said as he unpacked food from their stores. Their packs, at least, had been right where they had left them.</p><p></p><p>“Well, we got the jewel,” Kosk said. “You do have it, right?” he asked Glori.</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Don’t worry, I’m keeping a close eye on it.”</p><p></p><p>“It didn’t seem like Arras was interested in it,” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“Still, we shouldn’t let our guard down until we’re back in Crosspath,” Kosk said.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t think anyone will disagree with you there,” Glori said. She looked serious, but after a moment broke into a wide grin. “You have to admit, though, that we kicked that shrine’s ass.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7097834, member: 143"] Chapter 27 After resting for about an hour the companions retraced their steps back through the shrine. Glori kept custody of the artifact, putting it in the special container that Starfinder had given them. That was a wooden box just barely big enough to hold the stone, with faint marks in silver filigree traced upon the panels. After lighting a fresh torch, they set out again. They were wary of more traps, or another surprise designed to catch someone trying to depart with their prize, but the Eth’barat apparently had already thrown everything they had against them. But as they made their way back up the steps and approached the entry chamber with the now-ruined stone masks they sensed motion up ahead. Quellan whispered a warning back at the others, but they all knew that whoever it was must have already seen the light from their torch. When they entered the room they found a familiar face waiting for them. Arras was examining a small steel axe that she’d apparently found under one of the dead bugbears. None of them failed to notice that she’d flipped the hulking corpse over on her own. “You missed this,” she said, holding up the axe. “A minor enchantment, but valuable nevertheless. Fairly careless, I’d say.” “Were they working for you?” Kosk asked, indicating the bugbears with one hand while the other kept a ready grip on his staff. “Did you find the book?” Arras asked. “What book?” Bredan asked. Kosk’s face twitched, but he kept his focus on the old woman. Arras shifted her attention to the smith. She didn’t say anything, but after a moment Bredan flinched back. “What are you doing?” he asked. “Never mind,” the old woman said. “You can take your rock and go.” Kosk took a step forward. “You’ll answer our questions first.” “Or else what?” Arras asked. “Don’t bother, I already know the answer. And as amusing as that might be, I have more pressing concerns to attend to.” “Now wait…” Quellan said, but before he could finish his statement the old woman made a small gesture and disappeared. “Hey, where’d she go?” Bredan asked. “[i]Invisibility[/i], I expect,” Kosk said. He held out his staff and walked quickly over to where Arras had been standing, but found only empty air. “Maybe a [i]teleport[/i]?” Glori asked. “If she’s that powerful, we should be grateful she didn’t want to stick around and chat,” Quellan said with a meaningful look at Kosk. “Are you all right?” Glori asked Bredan. “Yeah. I felt… it was like she was in my head, somehow.” “Another magic spell,” Quellan said. “More powerful than I could manage.” “Let’s get out of here,” Kosk said, and that time none of them disagreed. The trail down the bluff gave them no difficulty, though they were careful to use their rope again on the descent. They found Arras’s camp empty save for some assorted litter; there weren’t even any tracks to suggest which direction the mule might have gone. They had only spent a few hours in the shrine, but they all agreed it might be better to remain close to the shelter of the bluff before starting out on the return journey. They still had a few healing potions left in reserve, but they also still had a few lingering injuries and the cleric and bard would be able to treat them the next day when they had a chance to recover their spells. Glori explained that the magic in her lyre functioned much like that of a living caster who could cast a certain number of spells each day. Kosk went over every inch of the old woman’s camp and the surrounding area before he joined the others around the fire. She’d even left them some cut wood nearby, so all they had to do was refresh the pit and light it. Glori helped Bredan get out of his armor, wincing as she saw the damage it had done to his clothes during the mephit’s magical attack. “I hope I don’t need to tell you to trust my instincts in the future,” Kosk said to them. He pointed a finger at Bredan. “If you hadn’t raised such a stink earlier, we might have gotten a chance to search the old woman while she was out, and find out what she truly was.” “We’re still not sure what she truly is,” Glori pointed out. “And she might have just been shamming when you hit her.” “There are some things you can’t fake,” Kosk said, but he frowned as he considered her words. “The ends don’t justify the means,” Quellan said as he unpacked food from their stores. Their packs, at least, had been right where they had left them. “Well, we got the jewel,” Kosk said. “You do have it, right?” he asked Glori. “Yes. Don’t worry, I’m keeping a close eye on it.” “It didn’t seem like Arras was interested in it,” Bredan said. “Still, we shouldn’t let our guard down until we’re back in Crosspath,” Kosk said. “I don’t think anyone will disagree with you there,” Glori said. She looked serious, but after a moment broke into a wide grin. “You have to admit, though, that we kicked that shrine’s ass.” [/QUOTE]
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