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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greybar" data-source="post: 1098462" data-attributes="member: 4938">The Defeat of the Slavers (Episode 6)A growl issues from the darkness.  In broken Sunborn, the voice comes forth:"I have slain a Skyrider of Dana.  In my touch I gave her suffering that she never had felt, and she broke beneath it.  Her mount fled from her side in fear! I cracked open her ribs and ate of her very heart and her very strength.  I have drained her blood and made it my wine.  Yes, I see that you have slain Roghru and taken back her shield and sword, but those were the lesser gifts that I gave to him as my lieutenant.Come into my home and I shall eat you as well, youngest born."---After a weary night, the Llassans greet the dawn with a thankfulness that you just don't get by sitting around a temple in a land at peace.The heroes push into the cavernous tunnels.  They plunge through a feeble defense of gnolls barricaded crudely behind crates and scraps of wood.  They push forward with anger and with strength against the slavers, the way lit by a Continual flame of Llassa whose unflinching white flame shines from the tip of Arlissa's staff.At one point Karrinkas bursts around a corner into a room and sees dozens of forms moving.  He ducks back and shouts to Arlissa.  Her anger is upon her, and she leans in and calls upon Abanta's Blades - a storm of razor-sharp shards of ice and water sprays across the room.  Terrible screams echo.  As Arlissa recorded in her journal:"When I returned later, it turned out that they were all females and pups.  That’s when I vomited.  But I know they had been fed on the bones of men, women, and children, and the pups would grow to be evil monsters, so my feelings of guilt are fleeting – but I know I shall see them in my dreams."But there was no stopping.  Soon enough they had found the dark gnoll-priest's lair, where he was prepared to sacrifice three captive humans in exchange for greater power in darkness.  He and his minions were cut down in seconds, and Samus reduced their dark shrine to fragments of stone.  There they learned the name of the dark gnoll god Yennoghu, which Arlissa has cautioned the others not to speak aloud.The three captives (Rinaltus, Scalino, and Athana) were gently helped to the surface and their wounds tended to.  They were the last survivors of Selino's Vale - the forest village the heroes had found.A teenage gnoll-boy was also captured trying to escape the mines at dusk along with some friends.  The friends were downed with arrows before the cry to take a prisoner was lifted.  He was interrogated something like this:"Like the priests have always taught.  The powerful will strike down the weak and make them their slaves.  You killed my brothers, and you will kill me or make me your slave.  I don't want to die, I can serve you, show you good hunting."Did he take part in the raid: "No, too young"Did he eat any of the humans: "No, only the warriors get to eat the flesh of such."Do you know what happened to the human: "Many sold to the caravan that came through three days ago.  Most of the good ones."The heroes also learned that the gnolls had taken the city of Velesca and made it their own, naming it Greshothuth.  To pursue the caravan of the other slaves would be to march directly into heart of the gnoll nation.  Velesca was the home of a Divine Gift - a forge some say was made by the goddess of the same name.  Our heroes saw this forge once, centuries ago.  Berke shuddered at what evil things might be forged there even now by the gnolls.A debate over the fate of the gnoll-boy tested the heroes.  Arlissa, haunted by the non-combatants she had already slain - though none would call them innnocent - argued against him being killed.  Daphna saw nothing but a creature of evil.  The others, and the survivors themselves, were divided.  The next morning he was released with a warning not to track them or try to bring others against them.* The caves were also searched with little luck but to find a beastie that tried to eat Daphna.* Daphna took up the sword and shield of Dana, as well as a helm found near the dark shrine.  Inside the helm is inscribed: "Sigura of House Dana, Blessed Skyrider and Guardian of Asirdana."  Daphna hopes she may honorably bear these weapons of the righteous goddess of war.</blockquote>

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