Through the door of Angels

[Thundercracker]

Amara

Amara nodded.
“It’s quite a ways, probably not safe to stay here while we send a carriage,” Amara said, “perhaps Lord Benedict would be willing to take you on his horse? Shall we ask him?”

[JShield]

Daruk

Daruk was just planning on moving to the group to inform them of the prisoners´ unfavourable view towards our, and especially Joshua´s, actions when Joshua popped in. He turns to face Joshua and gives him a "this-is-an-awkward-situation" glare, hoping that Joshua would be diplomatic about things. It seems that whatever repair Daruk had managed was not yet fully destroyed by his arrival, but all depended on his first response.

He makes sure he is positioned somewhere in between the prisoners and Joshua, providing them with an invisible shield of comfort that may help them to stay calm. He smiles visibly at Joshua, signalling that Daruk has a positive attitude towards the him.

[Fliggl]

We don't need any of your help!

Fine! You looked very comfortable the last time I saw you, bound, with all these demons around, but whatever. I need your help right now, especially yours Daruk. I need enough cloth for the victims over there. If you, or you all, could hel...
Joshua stopped stalking. He saw the dead miner, the one he thougt was a devil in disguise. No black blood, no shaped back body - just a slain human.

Daruk, can you prepare him, I'll take care of the others, ya? He says more silently, takes a huge pile of cloth and walks back to the other victims

[Janwin]

Benedict briefly glances between Lady Claudia and the bodies of the victims.

"My apologies, good lady, but unfortunately due to the numerous victims of these creatures, my steed will be needed for returning them to town. It would be untoward to leave them here in such a state, after all, and their families would be left in their grief for an unnecessary amount of time. Naturally, you would not wish to ride on a horse bearing the dead."

He seems to consider a moment, looking around the dark room.

"Perhaps the few survivors that we saved would be willing to assist with the bodies, though I do not believe there are enough to carry them all. I'm afraid you may have to walk, Lady Claudia. At least for a ways. We passed a wagon on the way here whose owners had been victim to a bandit ambush which we could use once we reach that point."

He then gestures to one of the openings that leads back toward the entrance. "This way, Lady Claudia. Let's get you outside and out of these horrid conditions."

He makes a quick glance at Amara once the lady starts walking toward the entrance. A very clear "we need to talk at some point" type of glance. And then he moves to follow the lady and escort her out of the mines.

[Thundercracker]

“I’ll be with you every step of the way, Lady Claudia,” Amara said.

Amara smiles and gives a sheepish wave to Benedict as he passes by, then returns into the cave to see whether she can assist preparing the dead for transport. She wanted to depart as quickly as possible.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked Joshua.

[RCgothic]

"What size boot are you?" Crystal asks lady Claudia practically. "I'll see what I can find among the supplies."

As well as looking in the break room and asking the surviving miners if they know if there are any to spare, she'd check the bodies. After all, it's not like they need them anymore. But she wasn't going to tell the lady that.

[Fliggl]

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Yes... No... Sorry Joshua stutters, babbles. We could... no... I made that already.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THEIR SHOES? he shouts all of a sudden at Crystal. Ya, sorry... let me finish this.

After wrapping them up, he takes the first corpse and carries it to the exit

[JShield]

Daruk

Daruk helps out wrapping the bodies as good as he can and providing first aid to injured people when needed. All the while, he makes sure to not leave the traumatized miners alone with Joshua.

[RCgothic]

Rather than conduct a shouting match across the mine after Joshua's abrupt outburst, Crystal approaches him to have a quiet word.

"The survivor can't walk back to town in her current shoes - she needs boots. And these guys don't," she explains.

"Are you ok?" she asks, concerned for his state of mind.

[Fliggl]

I have to apologize! It's not you, nor your shoe seeking... It's just... Joshua has to overthink what he wants to say, like, he can't express what he feels right now.
Have you ever did something wrong while trying to do - no - doing an act of good?

We risk our lifes here, I almost died in this cave here what? 2 times? 3 times? I'm spilled over with blood and I am unable to say how much is from me and who's blood is from the devils, the poor souls I'm making ready for transport and so on.

You know, this last room? The tied up persons? The evil one? He wasn't a devil. Just a miner. Evil by Benedicts meanings. Does he beat up his wife? Don't pay taxes? Steal apples? Set dogs on fire? I don't know, and I don't care! But he shouldn't be dead now! It wasn't his time to go! He died through my strike, I ended his life. A mortician, a servent of The Mother is a killer!

Wait! No word to the knight. I don't know how he will react, he told me whom to attack! Can you talk with Daruk, that this is our secret? I will pay my dues, I promise. But I heared a Paladin falls deeper.


With a friendly clap on Crystals shoulder, Joshua continues to bring the corpses out

[RCgothic]

"When I was little I made my parents display an school project I called 'Taco Fish', but I later realised it looked like a... never mind..." Crystal tails off. "I guess that's not really the same. Look, no, I haven't killed anyone by accident yet. But that's really just luck. The devils were using tricks, we were hard pressed, and if we'd been a few seconds slower everyone here would have died. I know it's awful. It could have been any of us. I'll talk to Daruk. And... I have experience breaking bad news to family. I'll handle it."

She squeezes his hand on her shoulder, finds some boots for Lady Claudia, and then helps Daruk smooth things over with the surviving miners, volunteering to break the news of the accidental death when they get back to town.

[dantiesilva]

And so you each go about your jobs, be it preparing the dead for transport, checking to make sure that the lower levels of the cave are still sealed (which Amara and Meri reassure you they are), and getting proper walking shoes for Lady Claudia. By the time you all leave the mine roughly two hours have passed since you first entered. You have wounded with you, as well as dead to carry along, hopefully the wagon you passed early is usable but all that is uncertain. All that is clear is that you survived, and saved Alberich Eversharp, Timothy and his two friends that were with him, Two other miners who keep their distance from Joshua unlike most of the others who are unaware of what happened and see the man as a hero, and Lady Claudia. Without all of you they would all be dead and no one would ever know why.

On the walk home Lady Claudia stays close to Amara, Crystal, and Lord Benedict knowing they are from the upper crust of society she believes it is safer with them and often talks about her adventures at the different balls she has attended every now and then asking Amara what she has been up to recently.

Timothy and his friends Stay with Joshua and Merienda who has been silent as if troubled for quite some time now. Thanks are often being exchanged to Joshua for saving their lives from that pit and promises are made to offer him a fine meal when they return which begins the three arguing about who should cook first.

The last group is those who are mourning the loss of their friend. They trust Daruk, he is a priest and has been nothing but kind and understanding to them. And while they are not as hateful towards Joshua as earlier after seeing how he took care of the bodies, they are still cold towards him when he is around. Issarel can be seen mixing between all the groups with ease, her talents as a bard helping to ease the tension and inspire everyone to keep walking.

[Thundercracker]

Amara van Tannin

Amara chatted amiably with Claudia, telling her about some of the outings she’d had and events she’d attended in the Capital. The young noble also inquired of Claudia and how she was finding life outside of the city. She turned on the charm, seeking to make the older (how old?) noblewoman feel better about both herself and Amara, and take her mind off the journey with a combination of wit, humor, and flattery.

Spoiler

Show

diplomacy improve attitude take 10 for 28

When breaks in the conversation happened and Claudia spoke with either Crystal or Benedict, Amara would drift back with the other and whisper about the symbols she’d found inside the cave.

[Fliggl]

Joshua puts a smile on his face to cover his heavy heart. A lot of you're welcome - you would have done the same thing for me - it's ok are spoken, but overall, he doesn't say much.

[dantiesilva]

Spoiler: Amara, Crystal, Lord Benedict

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"Well darling I will say this, while all the action happens in the capital when it comes to gallas, out here in small little villages like Angelis Ianuam are a lot more close knit which makes the drama oh so much more fun. Can you imagine seeing the same people each day and getting word from traders about the latest gossip from all over the kingdom? Plus lets be honest, all the men in the capital all look the same, out here lets just say there is a lot more candy." she says before subtly looking between Lord Benedict and Amara with a raised eyebrow.

As the talk slowly dies down Lady Claudia turns to Crystal "I must say your skills at finding a pair of shoes close to my size was an amazing feat of deduction. I don't think I would have even known where to begin looking, when we get back to town to return the favor you can go shopping with me and Lady Amara, we can get you some nice shoes, not those ugly practical things. No offense." she says pointing at your boots.

Spoiler: OOC

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She is 20, slightly older then Amara, but still well within her social circle age where the two could have hung out as friends when Claudia still lived in the capital.

I'm stopping it there to give Amara a chance to talk to Benedict, as well as Crystal and Amara to get some interaction with her

Spoiler: Joshua and Merienda

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"I don't know sir, running in and fighting whatever those things were, that takes a lot of courage. I would have honestly run sir, I'm not so sure I would have survived a fight against them like you did." one of the survivors says.

"Timothy would have the fool, he is always trying to play the hero, its how he got caught. Idiot didn't realize it wasn't one of us until the thing was right on top of him." one of the others laugh's, the one who had been unconscious earlier in the pit.

"Well next time maybe I'll just leave you in a hole and you can dig your way out." timothy shoots back at the previous speaker.

[RCgothic]

Crystal beams at the suggestion the trio go shoe shopping! This exactly aligns with her goals. Not only is this an in with the social group she aspires to, but fashion advice to help her fit in would be invaluable.

"I think I'd enjoy that very much!" she replies. "I didn't bring much with me from Cor Justorum, so I had been thinking about getting an entire new wardrobe. When duty allows that is..." she qualifies reluctantly. "We have a lead on a matter connected to the devils in that mine and it can't wait unfortunately. Perhaps afterwards you could show Amara and I where to find all the best shops in Angelis Ianum?"

With Lady Claudia's offer Crystal will be happy for the rest of the day; the failure to prevent the summoning of the smoke monster relegated to a minor concern for later.

[Janwin]

With the bodies safely loaded on the back of Sigfried, Benedict leads the horse back down the mountain paths that they traveled on the way to the mine. He carries on polite conversation with the Lady, and when he finds a moment to speak privately with Amara, he does so.

"Lady Amara, I feel I must warn you about your friend. I was able to sense some evil in her heart when I was in the mine. I felt it prudent to warn you that you do not let your guard down around her." He smiles a little, then. "It were only a small amount, though, so perhaps with some guidance and friendship she might be swayed back upon the right path."

[Thundercracker]

Amara

“Really,” Amara replied.
She was surprised and at the same time not surprised. She didn’t know Claudia very well, after all. She pursed her lips in thought.

“I wonder why that would be...” she asked quietly.
“At least she seems somewhat grateful,” Amara continued, “I’ll keep my eye on her, at least while we are shoe shopping. Thank you for the warning, Lord Benedict.”

“Would you care to accompany the detective, Lady Claudia, and I?” she asked almost automatically.

[Ancient]

Joshua puts a smile on his face to cover his heavy heart. A lot of you're welcome - you would have done the same thing for me - it's ok are spoken, but overall, he doesn't say much.

Issarel gives Joshua a knowing glance.

"The truth of a blade is that it cuts, both ways."

[dantiesilva]

Spoiler: Amara, Crystal, Lord Benedict

Show

Listening to Crystal's plight of not having been able to bring anything with her from the capital and that they had to follow a lead about the devils in the mine Claudia nods, "I suppose it cannot be helped, the working class do have to work after all. And you say those were devils in the mine, so that is what those vile creatures were?" she asks, no doubt only having suspicions about what the things were up until that point. "How did they get into our fair empire though it makes no sense?"

It has been almost three hours since you left the mines before you arrive at the tipped over cart, carrying the dead is a lot of work, and with a group so large moving at as quick of a pace as you had earlier has become almost impossible as Lady Claudia often asks for breaks to rest her feet, which the mines don't argue with as it gives them a chance to rest from carrying their dead friends. If the pace continues like this you will make it back to town by nightfall if your lucky, and if you are not you will have to make camp somewhere or press on into the night.

Looking at the cart it is clear that it is not in the best of shape, however so long as you take it easy, and don't drop it to hard when you all try to flip it over it should hold until you reach town.

Spoiler: Flipping the cart

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Strength check DC 15 to flip the cart back on its wheels without any damage, if you pass or fail by 5 or more though you may damage the cart. No taking 10, though you can use aid another. Only need 1 person to roll, you can all decide in OOC

[Janwin]

Amara“Would you care to accompany the detective, Lady Claudia, and I?” she asked almost automatically.

Benedict smiles a bit at the invitation. "I'd be glad to do so until we reach town, but once there I'm afraid that I should assist the good priest Daruk in administering final rites to those we could not save, offer prayers of thanks to Lord Heironeous for seeing us through the battle safely, and clean and mend my equipment."

Spoiler: Amara, Crystal, Lord Benedict

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Listening to Crystal's plight of not having been able to bring anything with her from the capital and that they had to follow a lead about the devils in the mine Claudia nods, "I suppose it cannot be helped, the working class do have to work after all. And you say those were devils in the mine, so that is what those vile creatures were?" she asks, no doubt only having suspicions about what the things were up until that point. "How did they get into our fair empire though it makes no sense?"

As they walk, Benedict pays some attention to the conversation of the noble women. "Devils, yes, but not seemingly normal. When slain, they tend to return to the hell from whence they came, but these did not."

As they approach the flipped cart, Benedict leads Sigfried over to it. "I believe we should be able to right this easily enough with the help of my noble steed. However, I'm afraid I do not have the ropes necessary. Do any of you have any lengths of rope that we might use?"

[RCgothic]

"No, but I think I spotted that Joshua has some," Crystal says.

[Fliggl]

Pardon, me has what? Joshua asks. He wasn't listening or paying attention anymore, only after he heard his name, he recognises where they are right now

[RCgothic]

"Some rope to help get the cart upright," Crystal replies. "We need to be careful or we'll damage it as we overturn it. If a few of us help we've got more chance of not breaking it. Here, I'll help."

Aid other: (1d20+3)[4]

[Fliggl]

Ou, yeah, indeed I have some rope. Wait, here is it. If you need a hand, let me know, okay
Joshua takes care to not stand in the way, but to be there if needed. Is it to help lift it or to hold it to slow it down (what men are doing if heavy things get moved: holding here a bit, know about this better, comments there...)

[Thundercracker]

Amara van Tannin

Amara had actually been inviting Benedict to shoe shopping but let the misunderstanding pass.

At the wagon, Amara approached the miners.

“We’re trying to right the wagon for an easier ride for the injured, and anyone else who will fit,” Amara said, “does anyone know how to use ropes to make it simpler? Anyone able bodied willing to help push?”

Amara tries to convince the uninjured miners to lend their expertise or strength.

Spoiler

Show

diplomacy take 10 for 28, hoping one of the miners has ranks in use rope and some of them are willing to help push.

[dantiesilva]

As Lord Benedict explains how devils normally return to their own existence once killed on the prime material world yet these ones didn't Lady Claudia looks at him a bit confused. "If they are devils why didn't they poof as you say they normally do then? I don't like the sounds of this one bit. Perhaps we should call the Silver Knights when we return to the town." she says not liking what you are explaining to her, as if it didn't fit into her perfect little idea of how the world should work.

As the group go about trying to flip the cart over without breaking it, Lord Benedict properly ties Sigfried to the carriage as Crystal looks around trying the best she can to help, however it is of little use as her skills were more practical and related to the city, that didn't stop her from being an extra pair of hands however in flipping the cart over.

Joshua quickly pulls out his rope and Timothy takes it after a bit of poking from Lady Amara. Looking over the carriage a few times and the trees in the area he quickly goes to work, giving orders to a few of the other miners as he does so. In a matter of moments the entire carriage looks like it is rigged up perfectly with the rope so that so long as the rope didn't snap the cart would be safe. "We are all ready when you are." Timothy calls out as Alberich Eversharp, the dwarf you found at the beginning of the mine hiding in a cart orders all his men up to work and they take up positions on both sides of the cart, totaling five extra hands to help.

Spoiler: Use Rope check

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Nat 20 for a total of 24, so unless you really roll bad this baby is as secure as if it were wrapped in bubblewrap.

[Janwin]

With Sigfried tied to the cart, Benedict maneuvers the horse slowly and carefully, gradually using the horse's strength and his own strength to pull the rope in order to right the cart.

With the help of everyone else to guide the cart as its center of balance flips, the cart manages to right itself onto its wheels with a small jostle.

Spoiler: Actions

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Benedict: Aid Another (1d20+4)[14]
Sigfried: Flip the Cart (1d20+4)[20] (+2 from Benedict)

[dantiesilva]

It is a short process as Lord Benedict uses his mighty steed Sigfried along with some rope from Joshua to right the carriage. With it on all four wheels once more the group looks it over and it is determined by Timothy that it will be stable enough to help transport everyone to Angelis Ianuam.

The road is long and with the dead prepared by Joshua in simple sheets it is not exactly the most pleasant ride. Many here have lost friends this day, some to devils and sacrifice, others to mistakes. However all you can do is keep moving forward and hope to not make the same mistakes in the future. And so it is sunset by the time the caravan of people return to the gate of the village. Immediately the town guard stop you seeing a wagon with dead in it as well as many wounded from the mines. "What happened here? Who are they?" and many other questions are asked by the guards, who wait for someone to answer.

Spoiler: OOC

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If no one wants to speak to the guards one of the NPC's will, but wanted to give you the chance. Sorry for the time skip and such but I felt it would make little sense making you wait longer to get to the town.

[Thundercracker]

Lady Amara

“Hail!” Amara called to the guards, “we came from a nearby mine, nearly a day’s travel away. There are wounded, who were being held captive there. Is there anyone who can see to them?”

Spoiler

Show

diplomacy improve attitude take 10 for 28