D&D 5E (2014) [IC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[DMAesh]

OOC: Got it.

 

[JustinCase]

In the distant tunnel, laughter erupts as if echoing the strange gnome's laugh. It increases in volume, as if the source gets closer to the group. It is not really a malign sort of laughter, but rather... detached? In the darkness, the first thing you see is a smile of perfect teeth, but the strange shape of the tunnels makes it hard to know if it's the origin of the sound.

Then the laughter stops, the smile still some distance away from the fugutive slaves. Two eyes open above the smile; darkgreen in the dark, reflecting the light of the party's torches similar to a cat's eyes. A familiar voice speaks, "Lost, are we?"

Taking several more steps towards the light, it seems like suddenly Erevan appears out of the darkness. The highborn elf slouches somewhat as if tired, but he looks much like he did just before falling down from the webs. A pair of small shoes, tied by the laces, hangs around his neck; they look familiar, but Erevan is wearing his own boots. There is a strange gleam in his eyes and a few more wrinkles around them.

"What did I miss?"

 

[DMAesh]

"Erevan?" Ezraen looks from the elf to Surana and back, "Is it really you?"

Out of instinct, the paladin places his hand on the hilt of his thinblade, "You'll have to forgive our suspicion, for this place twists our perception and taunts us."

OOC: I have been forgetting, but after that gnome, Ezraen will use his Divine Sense to detect if the Erevan standing before us is fiend, celestial, or undead.

 

[SunGold]

Surana draws both swords without hesitation.

"Tell me the name of the orc who died in the pool below Velkenvelve. Quickly."

 

[SunGold]

OOC: She'll also add silently, to Drum: "You know his mind. Is it him?"

 

[JustinCase]

Erevan's smile disappears for a moment. "Really? You're asking me about a dead orc when I just went through seven hells just to get back to you guys? Escaping giant spiders, mad goblins, fungal mazes, two hungry giants, flying monkeys and of course, drow slavers, all to come here being interrogated on the dead while we get closer to joining them with every passing moment?"

Erevan stares at Surana for a few tense moments. Then his smile returns. "Ront. That was his name. Ront. Oh, and I might have exaggerated a bit about my adventures without you. But not a lot. "

 

[DMAesh]

Ezraen's hand moves away from his blade. Letting out a held breath, the paladin extends his hand, "How in the hells did you survive, 'Van?"

 

[SunGold]

Surana's grip tightens around her weapons as the elf starts stalling, but her pose relaxes a little when he finally says Ront's name. She slides her swords back into their scabbards, but still doesn't smile or go near him.

"You would understand, if you had gotten here a moment sooner."

With one foot, she nudges the remnants of the moldy cask that her angry kick hadn't managed to scatter across the cave. "I'd offer you some ale, but I'm afraid we didn't save you any." She smirks. "Welcome back."

 

[JustinCase]

Erevan takes Ezraen's hand with a genuine smile smile before hugging the elf tightly. "To be honest, I'm not quite sure myself how I survived. That YukYuk fellow and the other one... well."

Erevan lets go and turns to Surana with a question in his expression. "Seems I wasn't the only one to feel betrayed."

 

[SunGold]

"No. There was...something...here, a moment ago. I grabbed it, but it vanished, laughing...and then and then you come back from the dead...laughing." She shrugs apologetically.

"I'm glad you're alive, and you must need rest, but it's not safe here. Think you can travel just a little longer?"