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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 973108" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #227] Butt-kicking for Goodness![/PLAIN]"I say Ledare, this is troubling news," Ruze said, turning away from the gory scene to whisper into the Janissary's pointed ear. "This man in black appears to be a leader or sub-leader underneath the Black Bishop.""So now we have to worry about a bishop and a king?" Ledare muttered back. "What happened to She Who Was Coming?" Ruze shrugged slightly."I would say maybe the Black Bishop is a very powerful person under She Who Is Coming," he offered. "I think the baven leader of the cave is under this man in black. He appears to be a very potent spell caster in the dark arts. We will need to be a full strength to deal with him.""Agreed," Ledare replied and Ruze raised his voice to address the group."Let's back to Rhem so I can outfit you all with healing kit," he said. "I have prayed for My Queen's sword arm. Then let's back to the caves. Find the Baven leader, determine the location and use of the portal, and sanctify the cave. In the meantime mayhaps we can find Den Lent's daughter and even Kirnoth or what used to be Kirnoth.""Is this related to that business with the kidnapping and the banditry?" Baron Wicaop asked, he voice full of concern."Most likely, your lordship," Ledare grimly replied and the mayor's face grew dark."Were that I had men to spare you, Janissary," he replied. "Wealsun is the busiest moonsdance of the year in the fields and I dare not impress any of the peasants into military service else we'll miss the opportunity to harvest the first of the winter wheat. I can entreat my Lord, the Count of Woodbury, for temporary guards to manage law within the Junction until I can recruit more men from the city, but..." His voice trailed off and Ledare nodded."We're on our own at the caves," she finished and he nodded back.Ixin drew open her cloak and fished out her familiar. Maritivir ruffled his feathers and let out a startled hooting at the sight and smell of the jail."I know. I know," the mage soothed, but the owl wouldn't be calmed."What are you doing?" Ledare asked."I thought that perhaps Marty could tell us something," Ixin explained as the owl fluttered on her hand. "His senses are more acute than ours.""And...?" Ledare asked and Ixin shook her head."Nothing we didn't already figure out," she replied. "He says there was black magic at work here." The owl launched itself from her hand, then and flew to the narrow window set high up in the right hand wall. It perched there and hooted once."Fine," Ixin told the bird. "We'll meet you back at Rherram's. But stay out of trouble." The owl ducked out through the bars and flew off. They all heard a startled cry go up from the crowd outside and Ixin sucked in her breath in shock."They're throwing stones at him!" she growled, the warm honey glow in her eyes suddenly burning with inner fire. "He wasn't hurting anyone! What's wrong with these people?""They're afraid, good lady," Archal Annette said. "And fear breeds hatred. They're looking about for a target... something to be the focus for their hatred.""Archal, I must say that I am unnerved at the crowds response to me as well," Ruze told the priestess. "I mean, they spit at me. A holy cleric of Shaharizod should not be spit upon by those he seeks to heal and cure.""I am well-known to the folk hereabouts, Battleguard, and I received much the same treatment when I arrived with my retinue," the cleric explained. "The crowd was smaller then, but with talk of plague in the capital being spread by clerics there, the townsfolk are lashing out temporarily. It will pass.""I am also concerned that the holy powers of the Gods have been unable to cure this pestilence in Barnacus. I fear the spread of Chaos is over tipping the cup and is spilling over the brim. We are now just seeing the results," Ruze explained and the woman spread her arms in a gesture of acquiescence."You may be right, Battleguard," the cleric told him. "The Archals are not a martial order. We know little of these things and do not wish to know more. Merikka teaches us to tend our flocks and leave the smiting of evil as the domain of other Gods' followers.""And smite we shall!" Ruze said, turning to address Ledare and the others. "We need to strike at the head of chaos. We could spend years trying to stop the small occurrences, but it would be like stopping the tides. We need to strike a decisive blow to this cave, the black bishop if possible, and continue on. I may not be able to stop the tide, but I will not stand idly in its wake either.""I think we are all in agreement," Ledare said, "Let's be off.""May the blessings of the Sky Father shine upon you," Archal Annette called as they turned toward the door."And may Ibrahil guide your swords!" The Mayor shouted zealously.Ruze snatched up a bucket in the front room and held it up to the crowd as he walked out into the early morning sunshine. The surly villagers grumbled and began to part a little as the Companions tramped forward. Ruze stooped and placed the bucket on the ground amidst the peasants as they passed and then clutched his holy symbol."Here, is some clean fresh water people, may you drink from it and be blessed by Shaharizod!" he intoned and clear water began to surge upwards from the empty bucket, easily filling it and then spilling over the sides in its bounty. The Battleguard smiled and bowed and then turned to follow the others out of town.None of them saw the angry villagers kick over the bucket, sending its contents into the mud."Ewww!" Vade said, scrunching up his face after they had recounted the scene at the jail. "I am glad I didn't have to see that pile of green slime. Yucky!!" He shoved another piece of saltpork into his cavernous mouth and began chewing it with zest. "Ruze, you hurl? I bet I would have." He paused long enough to swallow thickly and reach for another griddle cake. "Breakfast anyone?" he offered. "Mama Briarhopper said never to start an adventure on an empty stomach. I bet your mom said that too Ruze, old buddy." The halfling reached up and patted Ruze's belly with a smile. "I never miss breakfast!  Or an adventure for that matter.""We don't have any time for breakfast, Vade," Ledare said with a tone of exasperation. She stood in the hallway between the front room and the kitchen area, busily tightening the straps on her vambrace. "Whatever we're to eat we'll have to eat on the march.""I'll gather some things," Draelond offered and began to shovel food wrapped in napkins into his empty pouches."Ewww!" Vade said again. "Do you have to touch all the food? Your hands don't look very clean and that armor! Pheeww!" He fluttered his tiny hand in front of his nose and blinked his eyes. "You are smelling riper than this peach I have in my pouch." He produced a pit and tossed it out the open window behind him. "The stream is that way, big guy."Draelond glowered at him and continued to collect food."Man, that is a big sword!" Vade added with a frightened smile, looking at Ravager's handle peaking over Draelond's massive right shoulder. Draelond grinned ferally at the halfling and, without breaking eye contact stood up and called to Ledare."What?" she asked, pulling on her gauntlet as she entered. She followed Draelond's pointing finger to Vade's dangling feet, kicking idly back and forth beneath the table. He was wearing the Slippers of Spider Climbing. "Those. Are. Not. Yours." Ledare said through gritted teeth."What?" Vade asked innocently. "Oh, these? I was just trying them on. Come on! They won't fit you! They fit me because I have really tiny feet. You know what they say about small feet don't you? Small shoes." He laughed at his joke and squirmed in his seat. "I don't know how that guy got into these things. They look girly, but they sure are comfy slippies!""Kitten, perhaps it is best to just let him wear them for now," Ruze suggested. "I do not think that any of the rest of us intend to make use of them, and every little advantage helps our cause."Ledare's expression softened and she nodded at Ruze. Then looking skeptically at Vade she asked, "What else of Finian's have 'just tried on'?"Vade began emptying pockets and pouches, producing the dagger that had once been Kirnoth's, Finian's unidentified ring, the Archer's pierced mithril coin, the unidentified potion and candle they had found in the woods where they had been attacked by the exploding undead, a double handful of assorted coins, and a few lumps of polished amber. He blinked up at the others. "I was holding it for you guys... really."The trek overland to the caves was uneventful and quick now that most of the group knew the way. Of course, it seemed longer with Vade's incessant story-telling. "I met this ogre once who wanted to have me and my brothers for dinner, but Duece wasn't feeling well and we had to leave," the halfling yammered as he walked along, holding Ruze's hand like a child. "Usually ogres aren't friendly, but Grumblebutt kept insisting we stay for dinner. He did, in a way, treat us to dinner though, as a going away present. Too bad he couldn't come since he kind of got stuck in the back door of his lair... too bad."As they crested the hill that led down into the small bowl into which was cut the cave mouth, the halfling was silent for the first time since they'd met him. After a pause he whined, "I'm not going in there! It's dark in there!""Then you're staying here," Ledare said and started scrambling down the hillside."By yourself," Draelond added as he went to follow.Ruze called upon the glorious might of Shaharizod to cleanse the taint of chaos and evil from the cave. Holding his holy symbol high, he channeled the energy of goodness at the opening. It had no visible effect."Did that do anything?" Ixin asked dubiously."At the very least, the evil that we eradicate will have to take the time to rededicate the cave," the cleric explained as he fished torches from his pack. "I'm just trying to stem the tide of chaos any way I can."They lit torches and picked their way through the abandoned cave. The dead carrion crawlers were still there, but the skaven bodies they had left behind were gone and while they had clearly been dragged, no one was skilled enough at tracking to tell anything more. They encountered no resistance and in short order found themselves at the unexplored passage that lead downward toward where their prisoner had said Kirnoth and the portal lay. Ixin paused there and reached out her magical sense. The hectic power of the nexus point was clearly down that passage. She informed the others and they started down.About halfway down the curving staircase, Martivir hooted into Ixin's ear and she started to inform the others what the owl had heard, but Ledare held up her shield hand. "I already heard it," the Janissary said. "A gurgling and a shuffling sound.""I didn't hear anything!" Vade said loudly as he squeezed Ruze's hand tighter and clutched at the Battleguard's mailed thigh."Nor did I, Ledare," Draelond confided but the Janissary simply lowered her arm and continued down the natural staircase. At the foot of the staircase, she was set upon by six shambling corpses that were pressed into the cramped area at the foot of the stairs. It took her only an instant to recognize them as the creatures they had killed the day before. The three nearest her seemed prepared to slam her with their fists, but Ruze was more prepared than they."Hide thy unclean faces from the glory of the Silver Queen!" Ruze commanded, shoving his holy symbol passed Draelond's thick arm in order for the undead to see it as it flared with holy power. The zombies had time enough to shield their eyes from the moonlight streaming from the symbol before they exploded into dust.For a moment all was silent and then Vade said, simply, "Wow! That was pretty good!""Yes, Ruze," Ledare said, turning to favor the cleric with an approving nod. "Well done."Draelond clapped him on the back and they moved into the small chamber. Of course, there was little to see within. The chamber was low-ceilinged, of natural stone, and inexplicably blocked at the far end by an iron gate. The gate blocked ingress into the large cavern dimly visible beyond. There were no apparent locks or hinges, merely several iron rods stretching from the floor to the ceiling. A gurgling sound could be heard in the darkness beyond.Ixin closed her eyes for a moment and turned to face the bars and the cavern beyond. "The power nexus is through there," she said. "But I'm still barred from anchoring to it unless I can make flesh-to-nexus contact.""Well, I don't see any way passed these bars," Ledare said moving closer to investigate. "Vade do you think you-"Before she could finish, there was a grating sound and the bars and circular section of floor around them spun on a central axis, trapping Ledare on the far side of the bars. There was an audible thunk as the gate locked into its new configuration."Great," she muttered. "A trap. I hate traps."Behind her in the cavern, something enormous and misshapen moved at the edge of their lightsource. The Devourer made a wet gurgling sound as it sent a huge tentacle toward its armor-plated meal.</blockquote>

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