Night Below (IC)

[Xihirli]

The forceful crossbow bolt embedded itself in the lizard's neck and it gurgled as it hit the ground.

In Mirafa's mind she heard squelches and gurgles in what sounded almost like a more complicated version of the lizard's speech. Then after a moment this sound stopped and instead she could understand the message.
A necromancer... a captain... that old sword of yours really means quite a bit to you, doesn't it?

[Ricky S]

Liara expended of her more powerful spells draws flames to her hands and points towards a lizard. A bolt of flame shoots from her finger tip.

Before even stopping to see if it hits her target she begins to cast again.

"I can do this all day!" She shouts at the creatures though clearly her fatigue from the fight is showing.

Spoiler

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Fire bolt to hit(1d20)[6]+5
Damage (1d10)[4]

[Xihirli]

Surrounded and uninterested in surrender, the creature falls to you all just like the rest.
And as you stand among a pile of lizardfolk bodies, felled by various injuries, we are out of initiative.

[Ricky S]

Liara breathes a sigh of relief and kneels down on the ground taking a few moments to regain her composure.

"Is everyone alright?"


"I was not expecting something like that to occur. I know we were expecting some sort of resistance but there were so many. Should we risk exploring further? I am all but spent."

She looks at the bodies on the ground, "Are they being controlled by the brain creatures as well?"

She puts a hand on her knee and pushes herself off the ground before inspecting the bodies. She uses her dagger to prod the bodies and inspect them.

Spoiler

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Investigation check to discern if there are brain creatures inside the lizards (1d20)[12]+5

[Xihirli]

Liara pries open one of the skulls and within it she finds that the brain is indeed missing from the lizard, but instead of being replaced with a walking brain within is a pulsing octopus-like creature beating like a heart. Listening closely it sounds almost like it's gasping. This thing is dying.

[Lentrax]

What in the nine hells is that thing? Mirafa shouts as Liara reveals the pulsing creature inside the lizards head.

[BobMacBobson]

"Whatever it is, I'm glad it's breathin' its last. Nasty buggers, these." Emrig spits on the ground as a sign of disaproval. "That was some skirmish, eh?" he says with a grin, which quickly becomes a grimace. "Got a headache like the worst kinda hangover. Ye think we should take a breather, or head on?"

[Lentrax]

I think we have exhausted ourselves for the day. It would be foolish to press on now.

Mira then looks from one of her comrades to the next.

I... am also leery of the idea of staying in this mine while we rest. We are far too exhausted to mount a proper defense should anything come.

[Ricky S]

Liara continues looking at the creature for a few more moments.

"I have no idea what this is." She says seriously to Mirafa. "All I know is that they are dangerous. There seem to be too many creatures inhabiting other creatures bodies"

She turns to Emrig "Yes definitely some skirmish. I am not used to such heavy fighting but it seems our path is a dangerous one.

Mirafa is right, we shouldnt stay here, I have depleted my spells for the day and will be of little more use until I can rest.

We should probably stay the night somewhere nearby but away from the mine entrance."

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Avaris was not really hurt, but he was spend indeed.

"I concur. We must rest and regroup. Is it worthwhile to go back to the inn to do it, or should we set camp somewhere around here?

I would suggest the inn. In our current state, we will not easily fend off another attack in the wilds."

Avaris searches the bodies as he speaks.

[Xihirli]

As Avaris searches the bodies he observes the tentacles on some of the lizardfolk's horns squirm their last. However they carry no weapons or gear.

[Lentrax]

Yes. Perhaps the inn would be best. In addition to resting comfortably, we could perhaps better equip ourselves for a better expedition come morning. Maybe we could also pay a visit to the old man, what did they call him, Grizzly? He may be able to give us an idea of just how large this mine is, as well as perhaps, a map.

[Xihirli]

You make your way back to the baron of mutton, where you have rooms promised you. It is late into the night when you arrive and you'll probably miss breakfast unless you make a point to wake up in time for it, but Andrea is awake and lets you in. She guides you to two two-bedroom rooms that you can take for the night.

Is there anything in particular you'd like to do before going to sleep?

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Avaris asks for a bowl of water to wash. Other than that, he puts his things down and gets some much needed rest.

[Xihirli]

Those of you who sleep awaken late into midmorning, your muscles sore. Emrig's headache is finally beginning to subside. In some ways those of you who were brought down by the altered lizardfolk are still feeling your wounds, in other ways you feel like you are stronger now than you ever have been.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

As you benefit from a long rest, everyone advance to level four.

The new day is yours.

[Lentrax]

Mira awakens. Her body is sore. Her mind is still aching from... whatever that was she heard the night before.

With stiff, aching muscles, Mira pulls on her chain. Girding herself in her armor, and donning her pack and her shield, she straps her sword on as she heads downstairs.

Good morning.

[Ricky S]

The bed was extremely comfortable after the late night and Liara had a very comfortable trance. She woke earlier than the others to study her spellbook.

After studying her spells she made a breakthrough in her work and madly began scribbling two new spells down before neatly writing them in her spellbook.

"Good Morning Mirafa, I shall join you for a late breakfast momentarily. But then we really do need to move again."

She returns to her writing, finishing up before joining the others

[Lentrax]

Mira nods to Liara, and heads downstairs to see what could be had for breakfast.

[Xihirli]

The inn portion of the Baron of Mutton is emptying out as Mirafa heads downstairs. The best of the breakfast is already eaten, leaving behind only some day-old bread to split as a spare meal.

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Despite staying up late, Avaris was up to greet the sun. He meditated deeply, more deeply than ever before. Perhaps it was the way he all but exhausted himself harnessing the Light of his faith, but today, Avaris felt his devotions and incantations resonate deeply within him.

He went down, suddenly famished. Brewing his tea, he split the bread among all the others. Catching the eye of a passing server, he asked

"Is there any butter, cheese or honey to go with this? We would pay extra, if needed"

He then addresses the others

"What are your thoughts? Should we go down once more? If yes, I would suggest we buy some transportation."

[Xihirli]

Barthelew is running the inn at this point, and manages to locate some cheese for the table.
"It seems we're out of honey, so thank you for letting me know that before lunchtime."

[Ricky S]

Liara finishes writing her spells and rushes downstairs after taking up probably too much time already.

"Morning all," She says quickly grabbing a hunk of cheese before they are all gone "Tranportation sounds like a great idea"

[Lentrax]

You may recall that I did ask about that last night. Of course, this a bit earlier in the day, so we may be able to catch a ride in a cart.

[Xihirli]

"There's stables by the smithy, or I suppose you could ask to hitch a ride with some of the mining carts that will be leaving all morning," Berthelew muses while refilling your drinks.

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Avaris nods his agreement and listens carefully to Berthelew's words.


"I do recall, yes. And it seems that some carts will be going that way, which we can hire. I do not have sufficient funds for a horse now, so it is the cart for me."

[Ricky S]

"Indeed, I am rather poor in funds at the moment. Shall we get a cart now and see if we can venture further into the mines than last night?"

She turns to Berthelew "Any idea of the cost to hire it? And thanks for the refill"

[Xihirli]

"You're quite welcome. As far as cost goes, a lot of the carts are empty on the way up so you might persuade someone to let you ride free... though I suppose a lot of the miners would want the seat, too."

[Xihirli]

You go out the same way you'd headed to the mines the previous evening, and this time it isn't long before you encounter a large group of miners this time headed the same direction as you.
None of them are going to Garlstone mine, but they can bring you to Carman's operable mines, which is most of the way.
"If you can get a few of the miners to give up their seats, you can ride in this cart. Nothing explosive in that one."

[Ricky S]

Liara walks up to the cart, "Good Morning, would any of you be interested in trading your seats for a ration of food? I have four rations available as we need four seats."

Liara presents four pouches of rations hoping some will accept her offer.

[Xihirli]

A middle-aged man looks expectantly at a seventeen year old sitting next to him, who stands.
“Far be it for me to sit while a lady stands, ma’am.” He nods to you and lets Liara have his spot on the back of the wagon. The older man, who looks to be the boy’s father, follows suit upon seeing Mirafa.