D&D 5E The Kalarian Precipice - Chapter Two

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Carthum One-Tusk: Second Landing

Carthum's nose wrinkled at the acrid smoke- or maybe at Metea trying to butter him up. Well, as a half-orc, he had quite a keen nose... and as Metea's brother, he was putty in her hands whenever she started playing nice. He would still keep an eye on Otiroth, though. The sorcerer protested too much.

Upon arriving at the landing, they had what seemed a safe place to set up a brief camp and calm themselves. The mine, the darkness... it seemed timeless. He was not sure how long they had actually been traveling downwards. Carthum felt a slight emptiness within himself.

Hunger?

No, something else.

They would all kind of quietly agree to take camp on the landing, for a short rest. They'd all take turn keeping watch, but at that exact moment, Carthum seemed content to settle down near what must have been a brazier or a fire pit some time back, but is now cold and still.

The half-orc scans the ceiling, then, as if expecting to see a small hole.

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna: the second landing

Jeovanna was not sure she could relax... though that had little to do with the dungeon itself.

Still, she'd manage what she hoped was a friendly smile to the others, though she was afraid it came off as more of a grimace. Perhaps Dolstian law should have been more concerned about constructs than people like Otiroth throwing flames.

"We should take advantage of this quiet while we can," Jeovanna murmured. "And maybe, we can take this time to figure out what we're really looking for?"

Perhaps they would know it when they saw it, but Jeovanna had truthfully never seen a proper gemstone herself. How could they tell which ones were valuable or what their 'employers' were looking for? Did Annit know?

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: The Second Landing

Otiroth had a bit of perfumed cloth to cover his mouth and nose, keep out the acrid smoke, because the alternative was just unacceptable. Magic fire burned clean. This was just uncivilized.

Once they'd gotten past that gauntlet, they'd find a relatively safe place to hunker down for a bit. He imagined anything more than a brief rest was dangerous, even if the way behind them was clear. There were too many variables here. Still, a rest would do them all well.

The sorcerer would show the lot of them one more trick he had up his sleeves- his spell could also warm and flavor even the stiffest of underground rations (which all probably smelled a little smoky otherwise) and so they could enjoy, if nothing else, the illusion of some fresh hillfolk bread- the most notoriously crunchy of breads- instead of tasteless rations. If the others didn't like the flavor! They seemed a hardened lot, so maybe that was their style of supper. Well, some of them.

"Well, my friends, I suppose now we stand on the brink of seeing if this mine was locked up with these magical trinkets within them, or if some were built after it was sealed. I've read stories of impressive magical spells, ones that put that construct to shame. If they are anywhere, they would be here. And to think- so close to Kalair!" A forbidden society had access to forbidden books, but most of the best tomes and scrolls were lost forever... or buried places like this.

 

[daindarkspring]

Dain - The Second Landing

Dain would not have minded pushing on, but he had to admit that a small rest after their encounter could be beneficial. The truth was, their battle with the phantom warrior was probably still sinking in.

He put the torch in the old brazier, to provide some semblance of central lighting. Otiroth's trick to improve their rations was a strange one, but Dain found himself not minding it as much as he might have thought. He did, however, have plenty of goat jerky that was in no need of extra flavor!

Annit seemed to want to take the first watch, so Dain sat amid the old cushions along the far wall, his legs stretched out as he ate sparingly. Mostly, he was watching the others. The torchlight reached him in flickers and waves, casting strange shadows over his face.

"I wonder how many in Kalair know of this place and its secrets? You are all natives of his land, I assume. Have you ever heard tales?" This was his addition to the conversation, and he seemed content to listen to anything that followed.

 

[Metea]

Metea: The second landing

With a defeated sigh, Metea dropped down to a sitting position across from the others, watching the strange lights that the flickering torch created.

"So serious, Carthum. Didn't you see my magic? Aren't you the least bit curious?" It drove her crazy that he would not bite!

Dain's inquiry did bring her back a bit, though. "There's a lot of hidden places, all over the city. I'm not surprised there's even more just a day's walk away from it," Metea absentmindedly pulled a small talisman from her pocket. It was an old, worn thing that looked like it must have spent many years, if not centuries, hidden away. Made of petrified wood, but wood from the deep places, she liked to imagine. She didn't know for sure.

"There are old books, in the temple of Suru's library, that make mention of great delvings and the riches obtained... but the monk that assigns us books to transcribe, he never lets anyone touch that one. Not to read it, and certainly not to copy it."

Of course, how she happened to know about that despite it being 'forbidden' was probably pretty obvious...

 

[Carthum One-Tusk]

Carthum One-Tusk: the second landing

Carthum bowed his head for a moment, saying a prayer of gratitude to Suru, for surely he was instrumental in their victory.

He glanced up as Metea went on. "I noticed," he replied. "You did well. Did you learn that from Otiroth? I had wondered where you were always sneaking off to," he said, with a hard grimace at the sorcerer.

At Metea's mention of the books, well, he did not seem upset, really. Suru's words found their way to those that needed them, even if the reason and purpose was not immediately clear.

"Would I have listened better in sermons," the half-orc said, "I may more to offer."

 

[Jeovanna]

Jeovanna- the second landing

A nod to Annit. If she'd take first, Jeovanna would take second. She still felt fresh- after all, it had not been her who had gotten a pounding.

She joined the others, leaning against the rough hewn wall, arms crossed. "You work at the temple?" She'd ask Metea... well, she'd blurt it out, mostly, but hopefully it was not too crass. More than appearances and all, but Metea had been dealt a rough hand in regards to that. Had a quick tongue, though.

A permanent grimace had now returned.

"Hm. They could be all over. Wouldn't be any use in outlawing people from keeping stuff from mines and using magic if it weren't all over the place, hidden away," she murmured. Of course, all she had really ever heard were rumors from folks with mead-filled bellies and empty heads. But it made sense. No use making a law about something that didn't exist.

 

[Otiroth]

Otiroth: The Second Landing

Perhaps Otiroth read a bit too much into Carthum's comment, but framed as it was by earlier accusations, it was kind of hard to just let go.

He held up both hands. "I'll stop you there, priest. For my honor! I do not 'sneak', and certainly not with a lady. My Order may be a secretive one, but you do me a disservice."

A frown, then, as he contemplated the others' mention of secret places... and secret mining. "Magic and the product of mining is linked in a way, I think! Incantations scrubbed from history, only a scrap of them left behind... though if we were to find an opal, I might like to try-" he cut off, and laughed. How would he even know what an opal looked like?

 

[daindarkspring]

Dain - The Second Landing

Dain listened to the others as they talked back and forth. There was familiarity between them, something that though they may have taken it for granted, Dain most certainly did not. Had some proud beauty batted eyes at him like Metea batted hers at Otiroth, back in whatever land he had once lived? Metea was a Tiefling, and a rare one at that, but her expression was no different than a human's when it came to attraction.

They were an odd company! A vagabond guard, large in both size and melancholy. It would be telling to see how she coped without the soothing caress of tankards of ale. A Tiefling with secrets she barely cared to hide, as if she tempted the others with them. A sorcerer with eyes of fire, and a wit to match. There was more to that one. A cleric, with the form of a mighty brute but the heart of a saint. He was close to the Tiefling, but she seemed to delight in annoying him. And then there was the thief. Sprightly...and vain? Dain was of a mind that she knew far more than what she was telling them.

If I die in this tomb of a mine, who will tell my tale? Are there any yet living who remember me? In some far off land? Or are they are like I am, cast to the wind...pages torn from a tome and left to scatter like dry leaves.

Otiroth's words make Dain smile slightly. "When we find what we have come for, much may yet be known."

 

[Metea]

Metea- the second landing

Metea smiled back at Jeovanna. "I grew up at Suru's temple! My brother and I," she nodded to Carthum. "It is good work, if a bit dull."

How could she be offended? They had fought together, that had to mean something, she figured.

As for what they were looking for, well... she was sure once they had the Meaning of this Mine before them, Annit could point out what was actually worthwhile. Metea knew her patron must want her to find something in here, or at least learn something. Perhaps the mysteries of her companions were the secrets she seeked.

If so, well... they were all rather tight-lipped about it!