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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2124
(9/24/03 10:14 am)
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Re: Morning
The clean, well rested Sangraal shines in sharp contrast to the blackened, battle-worn dwarves as they spill into the main hall of the temple. Their armor is universally battered, with more than a few dented helms among them and many torn links in their chainmail hauberks. Their gleaming dwarven weapons and armor, as well as the hands and faces that peek out from beneath their panoply, are all covered in black soot.
"Ah," Vhraalam beams. "At least one of you folk are ready at the working hour. Come, rouse the others. There's a bath and a warm meal back at the lodge."
"I'm starving," Madfilin yells, then laughs at himself.
The Ghurugil are clearly in high spirits, though by the red in their eyes Sangraal believes many of them haven't slept in some time.
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 616
(9/24/03 11:21 am)
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Re: Morning
Elated and prepared, Draxim's boyish enthusiasm returns. He cavorts through the mass of Ghurugil like a dog welcoming his masters' return from a bloody hunting expedition. He offers water and clean wet rags to any who wish them as the others prepare [I am assuming these items would be readily available in a temple of healers.] He begins immediately trying to extract their story from the last few days.
"how did you beat the shadows?"
"where have you been?"
"Have you been fighting the fires?"
etc.
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Atan
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 259
(9/24/03 11:39 am)
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Re: Morning
Himself up with the dawn, Atan arrives shortly after Sangraal's geeting and with the jubilant Draxim in tow. Walking to Vhraalam he extends his hand and gives him a vigorous shake and a punch to the shoulder. "Four days! Four days in Potters Row! I think I saw a building still standing so you may want to go back and finish it off", barks the elven ranger with a laugh and a smile.
Moving about the others he congratualates them heartily interspersed with grateful thanks. "We would not have made it if it were not for the Ghurugil.", he remarks many times. Finally as the others mill in, he wanders back and fetches his cloak, the only thing he needed to pack, and is ready to return to the Hall.
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2125
(9/24/03 11:51 am)
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Re: Morning
Kildeer steps forward and gives Atan a knowing wink.
"Aye, you made it out alive I see, and walking straight as well. We held the ground against the shadows, but wouldn't have been there at all if it weren't for a stubborn elf rousing the Ghurugil from their bunks."
The rest of the war band nod and grumble their assent, and it is Atan's turn to be congratulated.
"I thought we were due for a dust up," Harek croaks. "But never thought we'd burn down the damn place. Good riddence I say!"
"Aye," Madfilin agrees, his tone drenched in mock innocence. "But we had no torches... so someone else must have set Potters Row alight. Who could it have been?"
Almost in unison the dwarves cast their eyes into the courtyard where Madragar is just rising from his bedroll.
"I guess we'll never know," Tolm declares, and the whole band erupts in laughter.
Edited by: Jubilex at: 9/24/03 11:53 am
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 673
(9/24/03 12:22 pm)
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Its a Good Morning
Sangraal joins in on the laughter. Laughing for the joy of it more then at Madragars expense.
The price paid, the price that but 3 days prior seemed so high, now limited to the loss of but a single friend. All have returned from a precieved death.
"What of Ghurugil Lodge and the Yelminite left in its halls? Any know if either still stand?" Sangraal asks of the soot covered dwarven band.
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 644
(9/24/03 12:26 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
With a sheepish grin, Madragar shrugs his shoulders. "It needed tidying up," he says.
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Atan
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 261
(9/24/03 12:42 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
Atan seems almost electrified by the acitivity as the Ghurugil stomp about and laugh and cheer. Snatching up his cloak he quickly wraps it into a bundle and tucks under his arm while whistling and singing an old Nral Valley tune.
As you walk through the wood
tipy-toe, tipy-toe
As you walk through the wood
like th' doe, like th' doe
You don't wanta go where the old growth flow
and the snap of a heel on a fallen bough
So ya make no sound like the hound hunted doe
Tipy-toe, tipy-toe
Like a shade of the tree
tally ho, tally ho
Like a shade of the tree
tis-a-foe, tis-a-foe
You don't wanta row or to steel you will go
and the song of the string from the old yew bow
So you steal the breath from a dark hearted foe
tally ho, tally ho
Chased from the glade
so you know, so you know
Chased from the glade
so they know, so they know
Now they learn not to go where the old folk show
or to woe they'll know the old yew bow
So you slide through the wood like a hound hunted doe
So you know, so you know
Ending the last verse with a big mischevious smile he stands next to Kildeer, "So, will you be carrying me back to the hall or shall I lend you a lift?"
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2126
(9/24/03 12:53 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
Seeing that the group has risen and is ready to move, Vhraalam turns on his heel and leads the Ghurugil back out into the street. Vagn lags behind to make sure everyone is accounted for, takes a moment to thank Caed for his hospitality, and educates the companions of the events of the last few days as they march. Kildeer turns east, however, commenting that he needed to see the temple of the Swordelders for himself and would return to the lodge shortly.
The battle in the street was fierce. Despite the incredible strength and resilience of the spirit-possessed humans, the Ghurugil skill at arms (not to mention superb armor and divine protections) delivered victory in the name of Urox. Vagn was kept quite busy countering the lethal spells directed at them from the hidden sorcerer on the rooftop, which he assumes was the notorious Gudr. That is, until some other sorcerer joined the fray from yet another rooftop. Vagn becomes quite animated as he relates the tale of bolts of energy streaking back and forth between the two structures, but no one is certain what became of either combatant. The duel did, however, buy the Ghurugil enough time to dispatch their adversaries.
With the Coffin Nail ablaze and quickly setting fires all over Potters Row, the Ghurugil sought out the mouth of the underground passage from which Atan had emerged a few hours earlier. Exploring the labyrinth they found a warren of dark chambers beneath Potters Row, and even a stairway that led up to the burning pyre of the Coffin Nail. Going deeper they found cells and implements of torture, including the stone basins of frigid water described by Atan. The labyrinth, it seemed, was once a maze of catacombs from when the Raven Legion inhabited the town, though its extent was unknown.
The Ghurugil searched for some time for a way back out of the tunnels, each of the known exits having been engulfed in flame, or covered in ruined timbers. Forced to go deeper into the catacombs they found another hive of the possessed creatures, these so far removed from the world of the living that they were twisted and corrupted into horrid, unspeakable shapes. These creatures were quickly destroyed. Among them they found a number of strange barrels secured by thick chains. Many of the barrels were filled with the liquified remains of unfortunate humans.
Finally, Kildeer managed to find a passage that happened to be just a few narrow bricks away from where someone dug one of the many wells inside the town walls. Knocking out a hole in the passage allowed them access to the well. Kildeer scaled to the top of the well, acquired a few lengths of strong rope, and hired some townsfolk to help him haul the Ghurugil to the surface.
After finally reaching the lodge, Savud told the weary dwarves that the companions were at the Temple of the Ash Lion, so they came straight away. Since the night of the fire, however, neither Irian Aros nor Sal'el have been seen.
Edited by: Jubilex at: 9/24/03 12:54 pm
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 674
(9/24/03 1:31 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
Sangraal face wrinkles in disgust at the mention of the barrels and their unforutnate occupents.
"We seen those barrels before under the tower though the exact usage of such containers escapes us. Did you all glean any knowledge from there discovery? Any writings on the walls?"
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2127
(9/24/03 1:36 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
"No writing," Vagn replies. "But I too have seen such barrels before. I believe they are a means of storing food for these creatures."
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 645
(9/24/03 2:23 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
"And were you able to learn anything about the leadership of the cultists who inhabited the catacombs?" asks Madragar, his arm around Vala's waist.
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Ulwe
Ulwe Suulosse
Posts: 216
(9/24/03 8:53 pm)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
Upon the noisy and quite spectacular arrival of the Ghurugil, Ulwe gets up from his morning prayers by the small pool of water in the courtyard.
He is filled with gratitude for the Ghurugil's timely arrival which helped him survive that awful night.
He waits for an answer to Madragar's question before he approaches the red-headed Llovas and asks
"My companion of my kind, a fellow Grovewarden named Naredru, have you seen him? Last I saw him he was reading his musty old book at the Lodge, that was days ago... a lifetime."
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2131
(9/25/03 8:04 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
Vagn shakes his head in response to Madragar. "If they had a leader we couldn't discern him from the rest. The old dwarf shrugs, "we slew them all."
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Atan
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 262
(9/25/03 8:30 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
As the band nears the Hall Atan shouts to be heard over the commotion, "Dwarves of the Ghurugil! We have had four days of rest, " as he pats Kildeer on the shoulder a small cloud of soot rises from his garments, "and time to clean ourselves. I don't think any of us to be chefs but we can skin potatos and dress game as good as the next person. So let us make you an offer, allow us in your kitchen and we will prepare a feast while you all bathe and put on some cleaner wardrobe. Then we can talk and debate properly....with a full belly and a mug of ale!"
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2132
(9/25/03 8:48 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
[Kildeer isn't with the group at this time.]
Vagn reaches up to pat Ulwe on the shoulder, then nods, a silent assurance that Naredru is in good health.
Madfilin glances back to give Atan a strange and worried look. The dwarf doesn't seem to like the idea of any strangers mucking around in his kitchen. "Maybe," he grumbles, then continues on.
With a marching song on their lips, the Ghurugil throw open the doors of the lodge and stomp inside. Savud is there near the fire, which has been stoked into life, with Naredru and a human no one immediately recognizes. The dwarves fan out, some dropping their heavy equipment along the length of the hall, others disappearing into the depths of the lodge.
Naredru gives Ulwe a smile before the two clasp hands, old friends reunited. "Brother, I truly hate this town."
Ancient Savud moves through the group both greeting them warmly and checking their injuries. "All in one piece," he intones, the words drifting through his bushy white beard like smoke throught the trees. "A gift long hoped for delivered. Friends you are welcome as always."
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Ulwe
Ulwe Suulosse
Posts: 218
(9/25/03 9:10 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
[Was there any 'thank you' said to the Temple of the Ash Lion?]
Ulwe is immediately relieved to see his travelling companion once again, and unhurt.
"And I as well. Tell me of your ordeals these past turbulent days."
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2133
(9/25/03 9:15 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
"Well," begins the mousey Naredru. "Yesterday I cut my finger while serving up a plate of roast, and the day before I wounded my toe on the door yonder."
The young elf rings his hands, and Ulwe at first believes him to be joking, but is soon forced to concede that Naredru is seriously lamenting his hardship. The apprentice catches Ulwe's unsympathetic look and tries to recover.
"Oh, nothing befell us worth mentioning. Heh..."
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Ulwe
Ulwe Suulosse
Posts: 219
(9/25/03 9:29 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
The sea-elf rolls his eyes at Naredru. "Brother you don't know the half of it. Suffice it to say we have suffered and prevailed. I have been meaning to discuss something with you: I do not think I will be returning to the Grove with you. If I do I shall not stay. These new companions of mine need me and I am never one to question the will of Orlanth."
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 2134
(9/25/03 9:33 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
Naredru gapes for a moment, clearly not able to conceive of a logical reason for Ulwe to remain with a pack of grubby humans and dwarves. The young elf quickly gets flustered.
"Well, I'm going back as soon as I can. This town is full of madmen. Hey," Naredru chirps, eyeing the terrible, blood-stained hole through Ulwe's body armor. "What happened?"
Edited by: Jubilex at: 9/25/03 9:33 am
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Ulwe
Ulwe Suulosse
Posts: 220
(9/25/03 9:42 am)
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Re: Its a Good Morning
"That is a reminder; the treachery of the Dark One knows no bounds. Remember that Naredru."
Ulwe's patience is wearing thin and he turns from Naredru and addresses the strange human.
"I am Ulwe, what are you called?" He extends his hand.
Edited by: Ulwe at: 9/25/03 10:02 am
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