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Thread: A Light in the Darkness [closed]
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2006-04-23, 03:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Ginevra
"The customs above are as complex as those of the drow," says 'Katrin'. "Perhaps the best way for me to help you is to answer your questions; I wouldn't even know where to start if I were to try to explain it all to you." To no one in particular, she comments, "I'd like to get moving soon, if we can, I don't want to spend any more time underground then I have to."
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2006-04-23, 05:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- Maryland, USA
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
It is hard to know what changed the drow's mind. Was it Tiriel's persuasive argument? The memory of the other humans who rescued him from being sacrificed to Lolth? Or could it have been something else?
[hr]
The party moves forward down the mortared stone passage indicated by Lady Valentine.
The passages appears to dead-end, but damp air can clearly be felt blowing between crevices in the stone. It takes Yix and Ginevra only a few moments to identify the small secret door in the wall. The lizardman and gnoll work their claws into the stone where the rogues indicate the edge of the door lies.
With straining muscles, they pull the portal open as stone grinds upon stone.
[hr]
One by one, you pass through the small opening into a tiny cramped tunnel. The end of the tunnel is visible as a small square of not-quite-black. As you exit the tunnel and stand erect, you find yourselves on a 10 ft ledge, running along one wall of a large aquaduct.
The sewer stretches as far as you can see in either direction. The vaulted ceiling arches overhead (perhaps 15 ft high at its apex), punctuated at intervals by small grates. It must be night, because only faint moonlight spills through the grates, but after your time in the Underdark, the sewer seems almost brightly lit.
The sewer is not as digusting as one might have anticipated. Dark water rushes down the middle of the aquaduct. Perhaps it had rained recently?
Looking up and down the sewer, you wonder how you are supposed to find "House Relik."
[hr]
Yix zips about through the air, overjoyed to have some room to spread his wings.
Suddenly the pseudodragon squawks and sends a telepathic alarm, Movement!
About 120 feet away on the same side of the sewer, a torch suddenly flares to life, revealing group of six heavily armored knights.
They raise their swords to their foreheads, then point them toward the ground in salute. "This way! Lady Sheyra has been expecting you!" one of them calls out ...
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2006-04-23, 06:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2005
- Location
- Singapore
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Lizardkin
The lizardkin breathed easier, knowing he needn't abandon his companion down in this festering pit of a place. As they picked their way through, he listened to Ginevra and the others advise Trinark. He didn't understand completely why Trinark was frigtened of the surface.
A moth may fear the world outside its coccoon, but it HAD to emerge..
He knew his companion'd be safe once they found the others. He wondered about them. Having been too busy to think about them in the danger they had. The one named Fizahn, with a ferocity even lizardkin might admire. The witch. The other bignose. The female one that watched the ..half-ling when she thought he wasn't looking. His immediate worry though was finding Sheyra before she got to Teflamn. Once in the city, he'd be in as much trouble as any pinkskin who dared walk into the middle of his tribal camp.
[hr]
The moonlight had been a welcome sight and he delighted in pointing out the source to Trinark. It had been obscured by the clouds but Trinark nodded simply seeing the enthusiasm of the reptilian.
The men in metal had alarmed him but the common they spoke was undeniable.
Sheyra was waiting for them!
Was the creature down there Sheyra's servant?
SHEYRA!...She was alive!
With the recklessness that was becoming increasing prominent at the prospect of failure, he moved to them with arms lowered and out, palms outward. Showing that he was unarmed, he uttered
Take me... to her!!
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2006-04-23, 07:30 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Yix
Yix flies slowly after his lizardkin companion, he was never one to trust strangers that well. He tails flits from side to side as he makes his way over. He flies over and lands one of the knights soldiers, crooning softly as he does so to show the innocence of his actions.
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2006-04-23, 08:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Ginevra
'Katrin' narrows her eyes. "Wait a minute. How do you know Sheyra, druid? What do you want with her?" Ignoring the armored men, she walks towards the lizardkin, looking at him suspiciously. "I don't mean to be rude, but I don't know your intentions. I will not stand to see Sheyra hurt. Be assured, if you intend to do her harm, it will be over my dead body."
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2006-04-23, 09:50 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- central valley, CA
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Tiriel grabs Katrin's sholder and stops her advance on the lizardman. "Hold it, hold it. Who's this Sheyra that everyone's talking about?"
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2006-04-23, 10:36 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- Maryland, USA
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Si'rene interjects, "Don't you remember the girl we helped out on the Sea Lion? She was travelling with that elf and his human companions. How the lizardman knows of her is beyond me ..."
The lizardman is stunned. "You three know the little one? How this can be?"
"Katrin", Tiriel, and Si'rene are likewise surprised to learn that the lizardman knows and traveled with the girl they had met while crossing the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Tychus listens with interest. "There is no such thing as coincidence. Tymora has brought you together, but for what purpose only She knows ..."
[hr]
The soldier is frightened at first when Yix lands on his shoulder. Once the pseudodragon shows him that he means no harm, however, the soldier laughs, as do his companions.
The soldier reaches into his pack and pulls out some crackers, which he offers to Yix.
OOC: Soluna, BlackFox and kuja.girl should read a little bit of Into the East to learn about Sheyra's previous interactions with "Angela", Tiriel, and Si'rene.
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2006-04-24, 08:38 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Si'rene
Well, seems our paths will cross again. Spunky little one if I recall correctly, I wonder what this is all about... Si'rene is just as confused as everyone else, surprised at how well traveled "Lady Sheyra" was. Si'rene holds back, wondering if this is a ruse on one hand, anxious to see the light of day again on the other.Illianna - A Thourougly Useless Monk
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2006-04-24, 08:49 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- Behind you.
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Gnoll
The Gnoll is very confused. First there is all this bright light which blinds him momentarialy, causing him to throw up his claws to his sensitive eyes. Then there is all this comotion with the Armored creatures and now all the creatures seem to be talking about someone he doesn't know. He is also unsure wheather this person is good news or bad news, and is starting to regret following them. A blood debt is all very well, but a city...humans and elves and dwarves and halflings and... wh knows what else. His breathing quickens and eyes widen as he starts to panic. This is not good. I've strayed too far. I need to go home. He starts to move slowly back through the secret door. If he came here via the underdark, he could get back via the underdark.
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2006-04-24, 03:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Yix
Yix greedily eats the crackers that are offered to him. He gobbles them down before giving the man a look of thanks. He knows he could just thank the man telepathically, but why waste the few surprises he has, and plus he doesn't want to scare his ride away.
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2006-04-24, 04:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- central valley, CA
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Tiriel
"But, wait that little girl on the boat, I remeber that she was being chased or something, but I don't remember anything being said about her being a 'lady.' Are you sure this Lady Sheyra isn't someone different?"
Tiriel's been thrown a bit off balance by this whole exchange. Prehaps the weirdest part was the fact that the lizardman also knows someone named "Sheyra" who he describes as a "little one."
"Well whatever. Let's just get out of this sewer, we can work the details out later."
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2006-04-24, 06:33 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Si'rene
Grabbing the gnoll by the sholder, Si'rene stops him with a glare. Not so fast friend. You need us, we need you.Illianna - A Thourougly Useless Monk
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2006-04-25, 11:09 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- Behind you.
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Gnoll
The gnoll looks rather sheepish for a moment (don't ask how a hyena headed humanoid can look like a sheep, I don't know myself, but this one can ;)) and doesn't try to force an exit. He seems resigned to his fate. "I was going to check the tunnel..." His rough voice trails away as he sees her disaproving disbelief of what he is saying. Sholders hunched, he stands imobile, waiting for this torment to be over.
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2006-04-25, 02:45 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- Maryland, USA
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
The soldiers lead the way forward, with Yix perched jauntily on one's shoulder.
They seem completely nonplussed by the motley composition of the party. Either they are used to seeing drow, lizardkin and gnolls coexisting with humans and elves (unlikely) or they were warned in advance that the group they were meeting was unconventional.
[hr]
You move quickly but cautiously along the wide ledge, passing several small cross passages. The sewer tributaries are small enough to leap over without difficulty.
Eventually, you come to a large central grotto with high arched ceilings. Moonlight floods the chamber and casts dark shadows into the corners. In one of the shadowy nooks, a hidden staircase is revealed, and you follow the soldiers upward to street level.
[hr]
You emerge into a narrow hallway that opens into a large sitting room. The walls are covered with rich tapestries, and a roaring fire blazes in the hearth, the room's only source of light. A rich buffet is set out on a linen covered table. Glittering cut crystal decanters, filled with water and wine, sit on pewter plates.
The contrast between the Underdark and sewers to this opulent chamber is dizzying. You are acutely aware of your filth and hunger and thirst.
The soldiers bow courteously, then withdraw from the chamber, leaving you alone for now.
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2006-04-25, 02:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Yix
Yix flies above the table looking at all the food before landing down amongst the fod. He moves from dish to dish smelling them as he walks by. He looks at the other with a sense of urgency. And a small growling noise, either made deliberately or by the makings of an empty stomach, tell the rest that Yix is hungry.
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2006-04-25, 05:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Ginevra
"Is now to late to express my amazement?" Katrin whispers to herself. She quickly counts the pewter plates, trying to figure out if company might be on the way. She then attempts to clean her hands, motions for her friends to sit down, and does so herself and begins to eat.
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2006-04-25, 07:23 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- Behind you.
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Gnoll
This food looks strange. It looks... arranged, neet, tidy, unnatural. Ginevra's lead seems to dispose of most of the restraints that the Gnoll feels as he immediately rushes to join her at the table with far messier eating habits.
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2006-04-25, 11:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- central valley, CA
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Tiriel grins, sits down, and starts eating. She'll encourage anyone who hesitates to join her.
Weither or not they know the host can wait. Though she does hope that she'll be able to take a bath soon.
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2006-04-25, 11:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Si'rene
Wearily, Si'rene watches her peers jump right into food they don't know who set it out. She instead reaches for the last of her rations and sits quietly, hoping that it is she that is being rediculous.I don't trust the food of an unknown host. And since we aren't even sure if we are really in this LADY Sheyra's home, how can we possibly know that this food has not been poisoned?Illianna - A Thourougly Useless Monk
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2006-04-26, 03:02 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
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2006-04-26, 03:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
- Brunswick, Maryland
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Trinark, Drow Cleric
Trinark had been very reserved during the appearance of the Knights and their subsequent escort to the surface.
When the group is lead to the Dining Room, Trinark can no longer supress hunger. His stomach growled so loudly, he was sure someone would be able to hear it out in the hallway.
He didn't immediately recognise a lot of the food on the table, and the tools sitting next to the plates only vaguely familiar. Trinark grabbed a still-warm hunk of bread, and stuffed his mouth full before someone mentioned the possibility of poison...
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2006-04-26, 06:42 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- Maryland, USA
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
While Si'rene watches disapprovingly, the others dive into the prepared feast, eating and drinking until they are sated.
Yix ends up lolling about on the tablecloth, his belly distended, full of rich meats and delicious pastries. Even the drow and gnoll help themselves to the unfamiliar dishes.
Si'rene shakes her head as she nibbles on one of her last rations.
[hr]
Once everyone (except Si'rene) has eaten their fill, another guard enters the room, bows and leads you down a different hall and up a flight of stairs where you find a half dozen guest rooms prepared for you.
As you climb the stairs, you peek out of a window. You can see that you are in one wing of a large enclosed compound. A number of armed soldiers can be seen in the central square, which is illuminated by a number of lanterns.
There are two beds in each room. Clean linens and robes have been laid on the beds for you.
The guard indicates a hidden staircase. "The springs are down below. You are invited to bathe if you wish ..."
[hr]
Those of you who choose to descend the spiral staircase find yourselves in a subterranean chamber that seems to lie on top of a natural hot spring. The chamber is only dimly illuminated by small lanterns set into the walls at regular intervals.
An enormous pool lies before you. Steam rises from its surface, and the air has a faintly mineral tang.
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2006-04-26, 07:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Si'rene
While not eating the food set before her was easy, the temptation to get the grime and filth off of her was too much, she takes the opportunity to bathe herself and feels much better for it. She watches the others to make certain that none of them start to look ill as she relaxes some of the ill will out as she washes the filth and stink off.Illianna - A Thourougly Useless Monk
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2006-04-26, 08:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Yix
Yix tries to fly to follow the guard, but finds it more difficult than he thought it would. He settles for walking behind the group, even though it is somewhat slower than the rest. When he finally reaches the room he plops down in the middle of the room, letting out a soft moan as he tries to fall asleep.
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2006-04-26, 10:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- central valley, CA
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Tiriel quickly follows Si'rene into the nearest room where she quickly exchanges her grimy clothes and armor for a robe. As an after thought, she grabs her sword before heading down the staircase indicaided by the guard.[hr]When she sees the springs she smilies wide and wastes no time disrobing and plunging into the water with an audible "whoop."
::before that she'll put her robe and sword close to spring's edge::
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2006-04-27, 08:06 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Ginevra
Ginevra scowls at the staircases. She looks down at her dirty clothes and hands, and appears to make up her mind, though she doesn't like her conclusion. She enters the room with Tiriel and S'irene, emerges with an even bigger scowl, goes into the next room and comes out with a robe, re-enters her friends' room, and re-emerges wearing the robe and holding her sheathed belt dagger.
She descends the staircase, glaring at the water. She quickly removes her robe, and, after placing it and her dagger 5 feet from the edge of the hated water, she enters the pool almost gingerly, and washes off the grime and muck, staying in the water only as long as it takes to wash off her body and hair. She then exits the pool, dons her robe, grabs her dagger and almost runs back to her room, looking around for a towel and clean clothes.
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2006-04-27, 11:56 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2005
- Location
- Singapore
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Lizardkin Druid
Decadent...
was the thought that entered his mind at the sight of the food. He was just as interested in the furnishings of the room as the alien food.
The only human habitation he had been in being Oden's home. Thinking of that reminded him of the marsh and his home and all the walkabouts he took in the forests near the marshes.
He sighed hoping that day would soon come.
Shuffling closer to the food he wished that he could visit a nearby river and bathe before eating.
He settled on something identifiable as meat. Casting a simple orison to ensure it contained nothing harmful to a lizardkin. He ate it measuringly, not wishing to gorge himself sick and squinting as the unaccustomed richness washed over his mouth.
He returned to the thoughts he had had when he first discovered that the 3 deadly warriors had known Sheyra. Semuanya had wanted him to break away from Sheyra. Somehow they would aid in his hunt. Marvelling at the complexity of semuanya's hunt and grateful he had not failed him, the lizardkin sagged his shoulders.
Any who observed the lizardkin would note that a lot of the nervous tension and paranoid aggression were gone.
When the meal had concluded and the bath was shown.,the Lizardman lagged behind. Letting the others go ahead, he dumped his pack and aarmor at a distant corner. Stripping his pants off, he plunged into the pool and happily submerged himself in the heat of it. With nothing more than a loin cloth, he swam in the bottom of the pool at distant end and did not notice Tiriel until he felt her actuall step into the pool. Coming up to see what had caused the disturbance, he watched the woman strip in a detached manner.
The naked human held no interest for the reptilian and he simply sank back into the warmth and to his thoughts.
OOC: sorry. was a bit busy. actually wanted to interact with Yix b4 we got to the house.. in any case I was wishing for a bath since i read that there was food. so ladies whther you bath or not the lizardman doesn't care he doesn't see you that way and everybody in his tribe use the river anyway
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2006-04-27, 02:12 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- Behind you.
- Gender
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Gnoll
The gnoll has gorged himself to sickness with the food. Eyes even larger than his stomache he wolfed down anything he could get his hands on, familiar or otherwise. As a result his own bloted stomache (though not as obvious as Yix's) is making his armor uncomfortable. Slugishly he follows the others upstairs and colapses on a soft rug, moaning in unison with Yix. Strange how creatures so diverse can have such similar reactions.
Gradually he removes his armor and lies there. He makes to follow those that go, but finds the effort too much and sinks back down onto the floor. Unsure of what the other furnature is for, he leaves it to the other creatures.
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2006-04-27, 11:05 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2004
- Location
- Maryland, USA
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
The gnoll and pseudodragon sleep deeply, their bellies full for the first time in a long time.
Katrin, who apparently has an aversion to water, returns to her room as quickly as possible, settling down into an exquisitely soft mattress with down comforter.
Down below, the bathers find themselves especially buoyant in the mineral water. The lizardman swims gracefully with elegant flicks of his tail. The others float peacefully on their backs, letting the warmth of the pool seep into their tired and knotted muscles.
After weeks, if not months, spent in close quarters in the Underdark, modesty is not a big issue, but there are a few screens placed strategically at the poolside that offer some privacy for those who prefer it.
As you float in the pool, Si'rene and Tiriel can't help wondering who "Lady Sheyra" is and if she could possibly be the same forlorn girl whom they briefly watched over on the Sea Lion.
Likewise, the lizardman rewinds the dreams in his head, trying to figure out how the women he encountered in the Underdark could possibly be connected to the "little one" he last saw climbing onto the mind flayer's ferry.
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2006-04-28, 08:13 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
Re: A Light in the Darkness [IC]
Si'rene
Tiriel, that girl we met, do you really think that it could be the same girl? she seemed to be in a bad place when she got escorted away, how could it be this short time later she can make it home? There is something about this that is not settling with me... Si'rene asks this as she is stepping out of the mineral bath and finding her robe to prepare for her journey back to the room for some much needed sleep. A bed. It has been so long since she has seen a bed.Illianna - A Thourougly Useless Monk