A Light in the Darkness [closed]

[Dr._Bob]

Lady Valentine gazes at Si'rene with perfect equanimity. "Why should you not trust me?"

"I am merely one of several custodians of the City of the Dead, created centuries ago by my master, 'he-who-walks-again', whom I obey without question." She lowers her eyes as she says this.

She then raises her chin, and you can see pride in her eyes. "But, though I am merely a servant, do not make the mistake of assuming that I am without power. I have three legions of undead under my command. You live now only by my grace.

"Is not the fact that you still live evidence enough that I mean you no harm?"

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

The madness of the woman was apparent when she referred to his drow companion and himself as abominations. All natural creatures birthed by Otherwhere were of The Balance. Life and Death were part of the cycles of the Order of Things. Dead flesh that moved with a semblance of life were anathema to any of the druidic faith lizardkin or otherwise.

The folly of these pinkskins: humans, elves and gnomes as Wolverine-Heart/ Fizahn had taught him was their greed in baubles and their need to pursue corruptive magic that warped the Balance that would otherwise sustain them.

Looking to the Gnoll, he recognised its pack-instinct to protect the fallen human. He could not abide its smell but accepted its company and knew the words of the stranger to be false. It HAD a place in the Balance even if he had yet to understand it. As for his drow packmate who honored his weapon, he neither knew or sensed his place in the order of things but knew him to be a different breed of pinkskin and the only creature he had encountered in the Deep Earth other than giant ants and spiders that had a niche in the Great Balance.

The retreat of the zombies gave him pause to consider all these thoughts. He still held aloft his scimitar and began formulating a plan to kill the source of the undead. The word Teflamn distracted him but he would not accept help from this one any more than he would have boarded the boat with the hideous squid-man.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel grins. ahh, now we will see your true colors...
"I didn't mean to offened you. Prehaps the word abomination was a bit, mischossen. It must have been the stench of rotten flesh that made me speak so, rudely. Forgive me."
Tiriel makes a shallow bow,
"I was only trying to express that some of our group will have more than the standard amount of trouble trusting a stranger since you walk with those most consider foul. Please excess their mistrust, the last few weeks have been very tiring."

diplomacy check: 12
ooc: the goal of this piece is to throw Valentine off balance by seeming to use badly chossen words in seemingly well meaning sentances....
It probaly won't work, but it's fun.

@Dr.Bob: should "the House of Relik in Telflamm" be ringing alarm bells?

[Dr._Bob]

Lady Valentine leans forward and takes a few sniffs of the air. Cocking an eyebrow she asks, "And how long has it been since your last bath?"

"Look at yourselves, unwashed and filthy from weeks (or is it months?) wandering lost through the Underdark! Your lizardkin friend hasn't even bothered to wipe the gore from his scales.

"Your collective stench almost makes me want to vomit, but common etiquette would suggest that it would be boorish to point out your lack of attention to hygeine."

Turning on her heel, she exits the chamber without further ceremony. Her escorts raise their two-handed swords to their shoulders and follow her, marching two-by-two with practiced precision.

"Well, are you coming?" her voice echoes from the passageway.




OOC: The city of Telflamm is one of Thesk's major cities. It happens to be where Tiriel, Ginevra and Si'rene were heading, and it also was where the lizardman's friends were going. The 'House of Relik' doesn't ring any bells for anyone except for the lizardman who feels like he might have heard the name 'Relik' before.

[blackfox]

Ginevra

Ginevra thinks over this latest information from her hiding place in the shadows. Not wanting to be seen or heard, she remains in the shadows, and concentrates on the thought: Yix? Can you hear me? If you would be willing to tell the others something, I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to let Tiriel, S'irene, the lizardkin and the gnoll, Tychus, Trinark, and Thallios know that they should call me 'Katrin' until I tell them to stop. Also, they should know that I will be disguising myself, so they shouldn't be surprised that I'll look different when they see me next. I don't want to make you feel like a messenger, but I don't trust this woman and I don't want any more death.

If the group chooses to leave, Ginevra will follow, keeping unseen in the shadows. She will keep her daggers out and hidden flat against her wrists.

[Soluna]

Si'rene

Grumbling, and looking around at Tiriel and knowing that Ginevra is watching her, Si'rene nods her head slightly and starts walking to Tiriel, but never puts her bow away, mearly holding it down to her side rather than up in front of her, arrow still in her hand. To Tiriel: I am inclined to go, get back on track for our mission. If she can lead us out of here, so be it. Your feeling?


OOC: I am ready to march out, bow never leaving my hand, an arrow always in my other, for quick dispersal of any problems that will come up on our way.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel shrugs."I'd rather walk behind her than before her. And personaly, I think she was telling the truth."

ooc: Tiriel's ready to go. She'll sheath her sword, but keep her hand on the pommel.

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

With no apparent way out than to fight a losing fight where many if not all may fall, the reptilian slings his shield onto his back and scoops an arm around Andrea's shoulders. He looks to the gnoll behind him expecting him or another to help him carry Andrea.

He only hoped that the wretch that had captured them now would have an unguarded moment for him to take her out.
Rel-lik...
Something felt like he should have known that pinkskin name. It surprised him, shrugging his mind back to the present he prepares to move. He watches the undead warily.

[Yoric_Steele]

Trinark, Drow Cleric

See the rest of the group prepare to move out, he admitted to himself that it seemed like the easiest option. Which usually meant they were in for a world of trouble.

Trinark moved over to help his Druid friend carry their fallen companion.

One thing weighed heavily on Trinark's mind...he would have to say goodbye to his companions when they reached the surface. The world of sunlight was no place for one such as himself.

[Dark_Stalion]

Gnoll

The Gnoll shares a strange moment of recognition with the Lizardcreature. Their eyes meet and it seems to understand for the first time the similarity of their position, the fact that both come from repressed and what is generally considered barbarous backgrounds and that they both owe a debt to the same strange collection of creaturs. Noticing the others readiness dispite their intended aparanyt calm, the Gnoll feels strangely... safe, as though he didn't need to be on his guard because the others were. This is a new feeling, something he didn't even experience among his pack, and it disturbs him slightly that he should be so trusting of these weak creatures. But then her realises thatthey have shown repeatedly their toughness. Maybe he underestimated them. Maybe they did deserve his trust. Still pondering this, he helps the Lizard with Andrea, lifting the creature easily. Rogormortis is yet to set in, and the dead weight might be a greater toll on someone weaker, but the Gnoll is strong and willing to help those he can now trust...

[Dr._Bob]

Bearing Andrea's body, your party reluctantly decides to follow Lady Valentine and her retinue.

She strides bodly through the labyrinth, seeming not to require any light to see by. Many of your party members are also comfortable in the dark, but for the rest, the single everburning torch at the rear of the party provides only minimal relief from the oppressive darkness.

After many twists and turns, you are grateful to be following someone who knows where they are going. It would have taken an eternity to navigate the maze of catacombs and blind passages.

At almost every intersection, zombies step back and bow reverently, allowing your party to pass unmolested.

[hr]
Eventually you lose count, but there appear to be hundreds if not thousands of undead wandering the passages of the "City of the Dead." The entire complex of tunnels reminds of you of a bustling anthill.

The journey takes several "days," possibly half of a tenday. As always, it is hard to judge the passage of time without any sunlight to guide you. Lady Valentine is always careful to keep her distance from you. The other undead likewise do not molest you during your trip.

Your rations had run out long ago, but Lady Valentine's minions surprise you by providing palatable, if simple, food and clean water to drink.

The minions even provide a canvas cloth to wrap Andrea's body in. Perhaps through magic, Andrea's body seems not to decay at the expected rate during the final passage through the Underdark.

[hr]
Eventually, you find yourselves in wider, more-recently dug tunnels.

"We are near the surface," announces Lady Valentine. "I can accompany you no farther. Follow this passage to the end. You will emerge in the sewers below the city. Find your way to House Relik, and fare well adventurers."

With that succinct goodbye, Lady Valentine sweeps down a side corridor along with her tireless escorts. As she passes through the penumbra of the everburning torch, you note for the first time that she casts no shadow ...

[Spaz]

Yix

"That was surprisingly odd." Yix thinks to himself while making his way further into the tunnels before him. He breathes the air deeply trying to tell if it is any fresher than before.

[blackfox]

Ginevra

Ginevra narrows her eyes and the back of her neck prickles as she realises the Lady Valentine is less (or more) than she appears. She tries to catch everyone's attention, and says quietly, "Do not call me Ginevra in Teflamm, I am to be called Katrin there. I will be disguising myself before we leave the sewers, so don't be surprised when I appear different to you."

[Yoric_Steele]

Trinark, Drow Cleric

Trinark turns to his Druid companion, "I am afraid here is where our paths seperate. The surface world of the sun is not the place for me or my kind. I would be instantly recognized by those above. I am familiar with the persecution my kind have suffered in the past. The brightness of the lights and especially the sun would leave me debilitated and unable to function except at night."

He turns to the rest of the group, "I wish you all well during the rest of your journey. If you ever return to the Underdark again, call my name and I will find you."

Looking sad but resolute, Trinark drifts toward the rear of the group as they prepare to enter the sewers.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel mutters I knew it. when she observes that Valentine has no shadow.
well if she chosses to rot with the zombies, so be it. It's no buisiness of mine.

Tiriel's mood is steadly improving now that Valentine is gone and the surface is close. When Ginevra asks to be called "Katrin," Tiriel laughs a little. "Are we back to that again already?" she says as she smilies at her friend.[hr]
Trinark's annoycement that he is not continuing with the group strikes a nerve with Tiriel. While she can't understand the words that he and the lizardman exchanged she has a fair idea of their content. She turns around and grabs Tirnark's arm, "That's a crappy excuese. Comm'on, we need to talk."
::Tiriel wants to take Tinark around a bend in the tunnel where the other's cannot see. She doesn't seem egar to physicaly fight, but does seem pretty peeved about something. She's not using her strength to move him...yet::

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

The drow's announcement came as a shock to the lizardman. The degree of imbalance in this hellish place that lay simply beneath their feet was startling and he had been expected to be betrayed at any moment.

Now Cloudhair wanted to remain here alone. He had no place among his own kind. And all kinds of horrors waited to devour you.

A pack of one..
He would not survive..

He had intended to speak with the drow but one of the ladies, the one with the flaming sword had cut in and seemed to want to talk to her himself. He had tried to follow but a look from her had told him that she wanted to be alone with him. He lagged behind, just within earshot, intent on talking to him after her. He hoped she spoke slow enough for him to catch and follow what she said.

[Yoric_Steele]

Trinark, Drow Cleric

Looking resigned, Trinark allows himself to be steered away around the corner for a chat.

Folding his arms across his chest, he looks intently at Tiriel obviously concentrating intently to understand her.

[OOC: Trinark only understand a *very* little Common.]

[blackfox]

Ginevra

Sighing, Ginevra follows Tiriel, doubtful that Trinark knows enough Common to carry on a conversation, but unsure if Tiriel wants her conversation to be private. She will translate if Tiriel and Trinark have trouble communicating accurately.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel
Gesters for Ginevra to remain behind and continues down the tunnel with Trinark.

ooc: sorry all'ya'll but I'd like to conduct the rest of the conversation via PM...Dr.Bob can forward what he wants to those who still insist on preforming "Listen checks."

Yoric_Steele/Dr.Bob - check your mailboxes.

[Spaz]

Yix

Yix continues blissfully unaware of his companions as his joy for finally reaching the surface paint images in his mind. He even begins silently crooning what appears to be some sort of melody, but it is rathee hard to tell what exactly it is.

[Soluna]

Si'rene

Not at all surprised that the one that was dark would feel the urge to stay here, but shocked he had less courage than she had previously attributed to him, Si'rene waits to see if Tiriel can fix whatever he feels the problem is. She is visually anxious to get out of this place, as she sits to roll another of her tobacco sticks, only to find she had finally run out of the precious commodity. Sighing in disgust, she sits down so close to out of this horrid place, yet forced to wait once more.

[Dark_Stalion]

Gnoll

"City?" This comes out in a horse whisper. The gnoll looks visably shocked as though just hit over the head unexpectedly. Where there were cities there were humans, and humans tended to not like gnolls. For a matter of fact, gnolls tended to not lke humans, but then there seemed to be some humans here who did not dislike him, or at least human like creatures. It was difficult to tell the differences between humans and elves and then you have half elf, half humans. Now that was just going into the realm of imposibility, trying to distinguish between those...

The gnoll looks thoughtfull at his inner reverie, an unusual visage for a gnoll, but this one manages it quite well.

[blackfox]

Ginevra

Ginevra respects Tiriel's wishes for privacy and goes over to a corner with her disguise kit. With her back to the group and her hood up, Ginevra applies her disguise. It takes her about 20 minutes to finish. After she puts away her kit, she turns around. 'Katrin's' hair is now visibly shorter, about shoulder length, and it seems darker than before. It is pulled back into a horsetail. An almost-white scar runs across her face from her left cheekbone to the bridge of her nose.

EDIT: (OOC: Disguise check: 31 because I forgot to add the bonus from my disguise kit)

[Dr._Bob]

Tiriel and Trinark have a quiet conversation together while the others look down the passage indicated by Lady Valentine.

Indeed, the air does seem different from either the arid, stale atmosphere of most of the Underdark or the faintly putrescent odor that permeated the City of the Dead.

A gentle, damp breeze wafts down the corridor toward you. You catch a faint whiff of sewage, but sewage means civilization, and after weeks (or months) in the Underdark, no smell could be sweeter!

[hr]
Yix seems to be whistling or wheezing, it isn't clear which, until you realize that he seems to be singing a song. Indeed, all of your hearts are lifted, except perhaps for those belonging to the lizardman, gnoll, and drow ...

[hr]

While Trinark and Tiriel converse, Ginevra Katrin reveals her new appearance. The disguise is remarkable, and Tychus actually goes for his sword for a moment, as if she were a stranger, before he realizes his error.

Chuckling to himself, Tychus walks away. He steps over to Andrea's enshrouded corpse. Patting the body on the shoulder he whispers, "We'll be back on the surface soon, my friend! Just a little farther, that's all."

[Yoric_Steele]

Trinark, Drow Cleric

After hearing Tiriel's words Trinark pauses a moment. He closed his eyes, turning his head slightly off to the side. Slowly his head reclined until it looked like he was lifting his face toward the heavens.

Softly he wispers, "Valrae nep ga'est moren'em."

He opened his eyes looking directly into Tiriel's, his eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light.

"Thank you Tiriel, you are most convincing." he stated in a normal tone of voice that carried down the tunnel. "I will continue onward with you, and learn what it means to walk in the light."

He turned on his heel sharply, and rejoins the rest of the group. Stopping only long enough to smile warmly at his faithful Druid companion.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel smiles at Trinark. She knows that all of the unusual members of their party are going to have a rough time when they reach the city, but she feels confident that it'll be worth it.
She then rejoins the rest of the group. When everyone is ready, she'll suggest that they start putting as much distancee as possible between themselves and the zombie nest.

[Dark_Stalion]

Gnoll

The Gnoll has dropped to the back of the group now, and looks distinctly unhappy. Sholders hunched and face lowered, the only thing keeping him going is his debt towards the other creatures in this strange tribe.

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

Unable to hear how the conversation had gone, he had stamped about and paced.

Returning from the rear, Trinark smiles at him.

"What is your decision? Do you remain with this one, pack-mate?"

He peers intently into Trinark's face.

"When we have guided these.. people up, we must search for and rejoin our former pack?... The little one may be in danger.."

He looks at his feet
..and so may be my people..

He waits for Trinark's answer.

[Soluna]

Si'rene

In seeing the dark elf return with Tiriel and seeing the look of success upon her face Si'rene knew that she has worked her magic again. The dark one would stay with this motley group for the time being at least. Standing and dusting off, Si'rene signals she is ready to go when the others are. Tired of the cramped dark caves. Even the sewers seem better. They at least bring hope.

[Yoric_Steele]

Trinark, Drow Cleric

Trinark answered the Lizardkin, "Yes, I will remain your pack-mate. I hope that we can soon resume the search for the one who is lost to you. Her fate is cloudy to me as well..."

Trinark turned to the rest of the group, "Perhaps you can tell me about the customs of those above. As I have heard only stories and rumors."