[KAUAI]The Rod of Seven Parts: Of Hexes and Gems

[SlagMortar]

"Oh, goodness! That's Celine of Jorunne, daughter to the regent of Isle Jorunne." His eyes are clouded for a moment at the thought of arriving back in Gwyund and delivering the Isle into his king's hand in one swift stroke. Battle is glorious, but the looting and pillaging by the common soldiers is a thing best avoided. Maybe I would even have married her and become regent myself. Now she is dead, and my own cowardice is to blame. "We could have saved her! What have I done? My imagination created a fearsome beast, but I now see it was my own fear that was the enemy." There is only one way to earn forgiveness for my failing.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

After the discovery of the dead girl, the remainder of the night marches past without incident but also without sign of Maelicent's return. Inside, the stiffling humidity of the cave amplifies the scent of death rising from Celine's corpse. Outside in the clean white light of dawn, the rain has let up to a steady drizzle. The entirety of the wood and the citadel grounds as glimpsed from the cave's crack seems to be shrouded in heavy fog. Footsteps on the ledge outside announce the probable presence of the goblin, returning at last from his foray into the wood for food and kindling.

[sblock=Ambrus]Maelicent has been gone overnight. Half hour travel time to glade/build fire/fight trees, two hours unconscious, then the rest of the night spent sheltering under the burned out stump of the mallorn in the clearing. When Maelicent woke, smoke to the west accompanied by the acrid smell of burnt wood filled his lungs. Rain has been and still is coming down. No sentient trees were anywhere near him when he woke. The oak was nowhere to be seen. His bonfire was out, but that was more a function of the rain than anything else. For half an hour after waking, he was staggered. Upon attaining the ledge on the crag in the early morning hours, Mal's back at full hp due to the non-lethal damage having healed itself overnight.[/sblock]

 

[Ambrus]

Maelicent awakens to a nearby pounding sound. It's only once the goblin opens his eyes and tries to push himself to his feet that he realizes the pounding is within his own skull. Head spinning, the Gudwulf warrior slowly lowers himself back into the comforting embrace of the muddy puddle in which he woke. Once more he let's the darkness of oblivion engulf him.

Awakening a short while later to peels of thunder, Maelicent once more tries to pick himself up off the ground before the growing puddle of water threatens to drown him in his sleep. Sitting up, the drowsy goblin looks around and sees that he's at the edge of a burnt-out clearing. Suddenly memories of the epic battle flood into his aching head. Scanning the area reveals the charred remains of the mallorn tree. It appeared that the rest of the trees had moved back to create a firebreak and so avoided being engulfed in flames as well. There was no sigh of the fir tree or the oak who'd nearly succeeded in squeezing the life out of the last Gudwulf.

Maelicent tilts his head back and tries to let out a booming laugh, but barely manages to force a raspy chuckle from his aching chest. He'd survived, and even managed to push the forest back with his courageous attack. The victor lets the rain wash the grime from his face. If he'd been able to stand the goblin might have considered dancing a jig. He was too weak for that however. He also had little desire to try braving the forest again so soon without a clear head and fire at hand.

Climbing to his knees, the goblin slowly makes his way to the charred husk of the mallorn. Using his woodland skill, the Gudwulf improvises a simple lean-to, using the toppled giant's trunk to shield himself from the driving rain. It wasn't great, but he'd suffered through worse shelter since leaving the tribelands. He was Gudwulf! He'd survived the battle and he would survive this night. Wrapping himself tightly in his russet coat Maelicent covers his face with his helmet and, with his handaxe clutched to his chest drifts back into sleep to dream dreams of vengeance against all those who'd wronged him.

 

[Voadam]

"Oh, goodness! That's Celine of Jorunne, daughter to the regent of Isle Jorunne." His eyes are clouded for a moment at the thought of arriving back in Gwyund and delivering the Isle into his king's hand in one swift stroke. Battle is glorious, but the looting and pillaging by the common soldiers is a thing best avoided. Maybe I would even have married her and become regent myself. Now she is dead, and my own cowardice is to blame. "We could have saved her! What have I done? My imagination created a fearsome beast, but I now see it was my own fear that was the enemy." There is only one way to earn forgiveness for my failing.

"The dragging sounded like a beast of bulk to my ears as well, not a lass dragging broken chains. A regent's daughter? Well this complicates matters and brings in realm politics. She looks somewhat starved and to have been a prisoner down here awhile unless she was always so gaunt. If Jorunne has access to powerful priestly magics they will want their young princess raised from the dead and returned to them. Since she died here tonight we know we have days before it will be too late and her soul is beyond such magics' reach."

Voadam reaches down and inspects the amulet of sea glass. "Gwyund and Jorunne are not on the best of diplomatic relations I understand. I wonder how she ended up down here, and whose prisoner she was."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gamad

Do not play with the dead.
Reply the Dwarf to Voadam and looks at the woman's body.
Those who you wish to bring back can return with another soul, wicked and vile. who knows which souls inhabit the forest and the cave, do not endanger yourself or us with bringing evil soul into a pure body.
He puts his hand on Brakkus's shoulder and say with grief voice.
We can't leave her here. Her body will attract unpleasant being who seek to devour flesh. You must bury her, away from here.

 

[SlagMortar]

Gwyund and Jorunne are not on the best of diplomatic relations I understand.

"Gwyund and Jorunne have much history. Any conflict is a misunderstanding that will be remedied for the best for both parties."

I wonder how she ended up down here, and whose prisoner she was

"Good question. We should take her back to the authorities. Commander Burne can vouch for us that we entered the wood with the best intentions. It is clear we were not involved in her demise and perhaps they can provide some divinations into what happened. But first we should finish investigating this cavern. We can build her a cairn for so she will remain undisturbed. It should take too long, and there could be more prisoners. How deep could the tunnel go?"

Those who you wish to bring back can return with another soul, wicked and vile. who knows which souls inhabit the forest and the cave, do not endanger yourself or us with bringing evil soul into a pure body.

"That decision should be left to her family. If they wish to ask the gods that favor, then that is their business."

 

[Voadam]

"Good question. We should take her back to the authorities. Commander Burne can vouch for us that we entered the wood with the best intentions. It is clear we were not involved in her demise and perhaps they can provide some divinations into what happened. But first we should finish investigating this cavern. We can build her a cairn for so she will remain undisturbed. It should take too long, and there could be more prisoners. How deep could the tunnel go?"

"If there are any Jorunne diplomats in the city they would be the likely personages to bring her to. But agreed, a cairn to keep savengers off her then we need to explore further, both to recover the second wand and to see if there are other prisoners needing to be freed.

I am concerned about our goblin scout. This wood is allegedly his home, but it is malevolent and there is that banshee in the night. I would have expected him back long before now. With the wood covering over paths and working against us I do not think I could track him succesfully, especially not in the night."

 

[Voadam]

Do not play with the dead.
Reply the Dwarf to Voadam and looks at the woman's body.
Those who you wish to bring back can return with another soul, wicked and vile. who knows which souls inhabit the forest and the cave, do not endanger yourself or us with bringing evil soul into a pure body.
He puts his hand on Brakkus's shoulder and say with grief voice.
We can't leave her here. Her body will attract unpleasant being who seek to devour flesh. You must bury her, away from here.

"Have no fears, I will not reincarnate her here with a new soul."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gamad

"If there are any Jorunne diplomats in the city they would be the likely personages to bring her to. But agreed, a cairn to keep savengers off her then we need to explore further, both to recover the second wand and to see if there are other prisoners needing to be freed. ."

We can place her body in the niche …
The dwarf points to where they found the mining equipment.
...And then block it with rubbles and rocks, the cool, airless niche will prevent the corpse from decaying quickly.
The dwarf kneels down and lay to rest on the cavern's wall, he is too tired and decides to leave the job to those who have the muscle for it.

 

[SlagMortar]

We can place her body in the niche …

"Good thinking." Brakkus sets about preparing the space and placing the Lady's body inside, and then stopping it up with some of the rubble from widening the cave entrance. He continues talking to keep his mind off the grim task at hand.

I am concerned about our goblin scout. This wood is allegedly his home, but it is malevolent and there is that banshee in the night. I would have expected him back long before now. With the wood covering over paths and working against us I do not think I could track him succesfully, especially not in the night.

"Ah, he's always popping in and out. He might be here right now for all I know, waiting to pop out and surprise us. He'll be back, though I do wish he would hurry. Those rabbit-things did look like good eating." The distraction of discussion had worked, and he had barely realized he was about to pick up the woman's body. Unfortunately the thought of food came up right as he was reaching to lift her and his stomach suddenly roiled violently. He quickly rushes to the cave entrance and a moment of retching is heard. He looks a little green as he comes back in, but finishes the task in a more subdued tone.