D&D 5E The Kalarian Precipice - Chapter Four

[97mg]

The Ranger's understanding of healing is quite different from the half-orc's divine learnings. Out in the wild, alone, one must learn to improvise and listen carefully to the needs of one's mind and body. The dwarf will live, Dain can be certain of that. What kind of life... that is the true unturned card on the table.

His body though frail and weak, is ready to be made whole again. He was tough once, that you do not doubt, but how tough was his mind? Dwarves... you know them to be resilient creatures, unafraid of pain and ruthlessly tiresome work. It is this innate refusal to give up, a self-righteous and bumptious arrogance, that probably sees him still live this day... as a dwarf rather than some hairy crackling fiend.

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna: The Crevice

Some things are universal, and it does not take familiarity in hillspeople speech to recognize cursing! Nor is the dwarf's request for ale a foreign one. "We could all use a drink, dwarf," she grumbles, but she reaches for her wineskin regardless. It is, as perhaps everyone might have guessed, quite empty.

But it is all just natural hops in the end, is it not? Dain might not be able to get the dwarf a proper mug of ale, but some of the local mushrooms mixed with water will at least give the pleasant, numbing feeling of beer. The fungus growing on the walls down here is quite similar to that that grows on the trees above ground.

Though even properly mixed, it'll not taste as good!

<Survival check = 14>

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: The crevice

Otiroth could flavor the medicine for them- that is little trouble. While a wine man himself, Otiroth has at least tasted some of them stout ales the hills people brewed. While he imagined that they watered down their artisan crafts when they shipped it outside of their own mountain homes, the ability to create an approximation through prestidigitation and memory is at least there. The sorcerer rather doubted the others would've appreciated the fine details of spices and aging, though, so he kept that to himself.

He was all for a bit of numbing drink, though, even if he had to wonder how healthy it actually was. Well... if it'd keep the dwarf from cursing the skies in his madness, maybe it was enough for now.

They were not all that well equipped to care for him!

<Spellcasting: Prestidigitation to add flavor>

 

[Metea]

Metea would take a moment to retrieve her moonstone while the others fussed over the dwarf. "This is what got you into trouble in the first place, I reckon," she'd mutter at him. Not the moonstone specifically, but the hunt for similar gems? Oh yes, it seemed obvious enough to her that she was willing to not give him the benefit of the doubt.

But it was good to hear his voice! Even if he was just shouting curses. Leaving him up in the sleeping quarters area probably would've been a bad idea after all.

Well... depending on what the paths ahead looked like. He was all bones, so maybe the path of bones it was?

"Mix a little potion in there!" Metea suggested. "Let's see what they do," just a little taste was needed!

 

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Carthum said nothing at first, though perhaps his thoughts were shamefully in line with Metea's over the stone. Then again, were they any better? Not really. His sister cut right to the quick. He would die before he let something like this happen to her.

While he seemed quite hesitant at giving the dwarf Dain's medicine, it wasn't doubt in Dain's mushroom-craft but rather doubt in the whole situation. "This is medicine," he said, because he didn't feel it was right to trick the dwarf into drinking it, even if it did taste like ale, "drink it slowly!" He could help him.

They were likely not getting any answers out of the dwarf any time soon. Better that he was alive.

"The path of bones and the path of fire ahead. Undead and demons, I wonder? We must decide not only for ourselves, but for our dwarven friend here. The faster we can get back to the surface, the faster we can get him to some proper help. Agh! We should have asked Sela if her people had a healer she could ready!"

Carthum was not letting them test potions on the dwarf! They were testing enough on him already!

 

[97mg]

With a little assistance, the dwarf manages to sit up a bit and at least let the priest raise a skin to his lips. The small man's eyes meet the half-orc's a moment, then he sips a little.

“Aha! Not top shelf, but ale none the less!” He raises the skin in thanks, and then gulps on it heavily. Perhaps this act, in some small way has reinforced that he is no longer dreaming some horrible alternate reality.

“I'm here, ain't I,” he states once the brew is close to polished off. “Oh faraus, if this hockja is real then…”

He grunts, wiping his lips on a sleeve, and works to try and leverage himself into a standing position.

“Haha greeny, you know ya kaggicked when the priest starts asking who the healer is, hahaha.” So at least the dwarf was hearing ok.

Moving closer, the stench of ale with notes of rockfungus on his breath, he whispers into the priest’s ear, “tell the lass she can borrow it? Let her nestle me stone in her hand as long as she desire haha. A haughty uurusk ah?”

Thankfully, at that point a side effect of the hand-selected ingredients kicks in. The dwarf yawns, and then slumps back against the wall, snoring loudly.

 

[Jeovanna]

The dwarf was back asleep- but at least their 'ale' had worked as intended. And not a moment too soon, perhaps!

"One of you two can carry him next," Jeovanna says to Dain and Carthum. Perhaps she had picked up on the dwarf's none-too-quiet whispering? Ha! Anyway, it was probably Dain's turn.

"So? Which path are we to take forward, then?" She'd glance up one path and then the other. Both sounded ominous, but Sela had come from one way and not the other. As little as that might mean.

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: The crevice

Otiroth nodded- at least the dwarf seemed... happy? At peace somehow?

"Let's save some of those mushrooms, huh?" The sorcerer muttered.

But the others were right- they could not linger here for long! The longer they stayed in one place, the more they risked something coming up behind them. Perhaps they no longer had to fear random monster attacks, but there was certainly a test before them, and such things could be just as deadly as a monstrous attack.

"The path of bones- or the path of flames. While the path of flames seems to my own taste, bones could well teach us more about the people of this underground realm."

 

[Metea]

Metea: The crevice

"Hmph. He wishes!" Metea stuck her tongue out at the dwarf, not that he was awake any longer to appreciate. She'd stand up, wandering over to Otiroth, tracing one finger down his shoulder. "And you- up to no good, hm?" She gave a little smile.

"All this fuss about which way to go- they both sound pretty unpleasant, don't you think? Let's go..." and she'd hold up one finger, pointing back and forth for a moment, "that way," she'd point down the right tunnel.

<Dice equivalent of a coin toss to decide>

 

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Perhaps upon returning to the temple, Carthum would have some questions for his superiors.

And it seemed as well this dwarf had some knowledge of the clerics' healing arts; it was good he was asleep until he was of sound mind, but also a shame, for perhaps he knew about the magic of the gems they sought! Carthum nodded to Dain as the ranger picked up the dwarf, and would join the others. They should move on, and quickly!

They had an affinity for light and fire, but Carthum saw no reason not to challenge the path that his sister had chosen seemingly at random.