NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8244841" data-attributes="member: 7015827">Dermot moved further into the cavern and then called to the others, who rapidly came to where the ranger was standing, in front of several humans imprisoned in wooden stocks. All of the people were alive, if barely conscious, but appeared unable to move or speak, due to their bonds. Shanni, impatient with her companions, yelled at them to let them out, which impelled Darrow and Dermot to action. The dwarf began undoing the stocks on one prisoner as the ranger took out a hatchet and tried hacking around the hinges on another. Shanni took the obvious route – for her – of picking the locks, looking very concerned.At Aerikoth’s suggestion, they started pouring some healing potions into the mouths of the victims, Dermot alternating this with the contents from his personal liquor flask. One man, the first to recover, expressed his surprise that they were not his tormentors, not comprehending fully what was going on. Darrow attempted some levity and Dermot reassured him further, continuing to share his healing draught and strong booze combination. Shanni, who had finished picking all of the locks, told him that they were his saviors, like as not, and that it would be a good idea to try to get up and walk as fast as he could.The other captives started to revive as well, so Dermot began asking the first man some questions, including why they were there. The victim was evidently still disoriented, but revealed that they had been fed upon, rubbing his neck and thigh as he spoke, then healed afterwards to keep them alive. A female prisoner started looking around and crying out for her baby, as the adventurers attempted to organize their new charges and get them moving towards the upper floor. Shanni went over to comfort the woman, as the others debated whether to investigate the only door exit from the chamber. Darrow volunteered to guard it and Aerikoth joined him, while Dermot and Shanni escorted the weak, staggering former prisoners upstairs. (Although I am admittedly cynical about much of what people choose to do in this world, including the true motives of adventurers, moments such as this can render clear our vision about what is true righteousness, as we walk on the Path to Judgment. --R)With some effort, they all made it to the entranceway, where the first man to revive spotted the sprawled-out corpse of the vampire spawn. After being assured that they had killed it, he hobbled over and kicked the corpse, earning a grim nod of approval from Shanni. Dermot told the group they could go to the Gatereach Inn, which one of them said he was familiar with, and say they were with the adventurers. The ranger then offered them the four money pouches he had taken from the vampire spawn corpses, which worked out to one for each of the victims. After taking moment to organize themselves, a thuggish-looking man who knew the way to the Gatereach took charge, leading them through the door to the outside.Dermot and Shanni returned below and informed their companions that the ones they had saved were on their way to the Gatereach for shelter. The petite rogue confirmed that the door was not trapped and told Darrow to just give it a shove. Beyond was what looked like a mining cart railway to Shanni, snaking around long underground corridors. It terminated in a ruined chamber lined with rubble and four coffins, which Aeirkoth pointed out was the number of vampire spawn they had fought. The wizard also recalled that it was the former altar area for the temple to Leira. Dermot enlisted Darrow’s help in moving some of the rubble, which appeared to be what remained of the altar, but found nothing underneath.Searching the cavern room, they noted that a door which had appeared to lead to an up-sloping tunnel had been blocked by falling rubble. Shanni also showed interest in the nearby large pool of water, which looked like it could have had a bridge across it before, but there appeared to be nothing left of it. The four adventurers concluded that they had discovered what they could in the Hidden House, which the vampires evidently had been using as some sort of supply depot, as Dermot recalled from overhearing the previous visitors’ conversation. Shanni cursed and said that the Lathanderites had better pay attention now, while Aerikoth concurred that there was now proof for Lady Tylanna, in the form of living witnesses and the remains of the parasites, as the wizard put it. (I am unsure what the Lathanderites were supposed to do about this hitherto unknown den of vampire victims. The rogue appears to have much anger towards the undead - quite understandable - but also a need to blame others as part of it. Perhaps something in her past? --C)</blockquote>

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