[Respite] - Factions

[Toboran Redhand]

 Toboran nodded and followed behind Balin in a hunter's stance.
 "I have a bad feeling about this..."

[valadaar]

The light, once present, seemed to intensify the darkness. Nearly blinding at first, it stole away some of the acquired night site and deepened the shadows.

It revealed that the cliff-side did eventually reach the floor, perhaps 100' from the entryway in a long curve. It also showed that the ground was covered in a grey-green substance similar to moss or fungi.

The once shadowy buildings were revealed to be what once perhaps were beautiful stone structures, but their fine stonework was marred by apparent vandalism.  Cornices were smashed, runes chipped out, and foul stains coated the few walls that could be seen.

The architecture was oddly similar to what Balin was familiar with, yet different.

<ooc> The party is now within 10' of each other.</ooc>

[EchoMirage]

"Hooray, reunited once more!" Gideon laughed. "Let's fan out, and explore; anything tries to eat you, scream nice and loud!"

[valadaar]

[ooc]Is anyone fanning out?[/ooc]

[Toboran Redhand]

 Toboran, despite his fears, began to move slowly away from the rest, keeping looking and listening. He knew how to handle himself, and he could always yell fairly loudly.

[The Spiritborn]

Fafnir nodded and began to seperate himself from the group his scimitar held high. He struggled to see in the half darkness but made up for it by telling himself that the others had his back.

[EchoMirage]

"I will take right flank. Darkness holds no terror for me."

And so he did. The faster they explored that place, the quicker they'd have ore aplenty, and sweet civilization and a bright future soon thereafter. What was a haunted forest compared to stout men with steel axes?

"Chop, chop, chop goes the woodsman, down, down, down goes the tree..." he sing-sang silently for himself as he explored the ruins.

[valadaar]

The party spread out and searched the city of abandoned and defaced buildings.  All the while, the green panels high overhead began glowing brighter and brighter.

The glowing had brightened to the point where everyone could clearly see the defaced carvings on the wall, and gauge the dimensions of the cavern.  It seemed to be a grand hemisphere a thousand feet in diameter, with the curved ceiling peaking perhaps a hundred feet above.

Balin found it first.  Deeper in the center of the abandoned city he came across what might once have been a park or central square.  Regardless it appeared to be the scene of a great battle, or at least a great slaughter.  Hundreds of skeletons poked up from the mossy ground, though all that he saw appeared of dwarvish nature. What had they fought against, for fight they did.  Broken weapons abounded, axes, spears, swords and shields, along with more of the strange crossbows.  Most items not of metal were rotted terribly, and most metal was corroded.  There were a fair number of weapons still in decent shape.

Balin had held back, cautious, for other dead had risen against them so recently, but the dead rested, and told no tales.

[Hrofgar]

"I've found something, a last stand perhaps by the dwellers of these caves," Balin called out to his fellow party members. Should there be something else here to hear him it would have been aroused by the light first, so he was safe on that count.

Balin began to search for bodies other than those of the dwarf-things, hoping that his kindred had done at least some good in their last hours.

[Fafnir]

Fafnir came upon the scene of devastation. He hissed "What could have slaughtered so many of the stoutfolk? Why would sssomeone try to kill every one of these fellows?" He searched the corpses looking for clues as to how or why they were slaughtered. Perhaps he could find out who killed them all?

[Toboran Redhand]

 Toboran came in close behind Fafnir. He did not stop to examine the corpses; the dead are dead, after all. Instead, he kept a wary eye out for anyone that he didn't recognize coming into the square.

[valadaar]

Balin and the others searched the square, but naught but the dried corpses of the dwarves could be found.  Did they fail to score against their assailants? Did they slay themselves? Or did their enemy see to their own dead, and left the dwarves to stay where they fell? The answer did not seem forthcoming.

Now, the lighting had crept up in its intensity, equal now to a fullmoonlit night, and nothing but the sounds of the party, and the subdued roar of nearby warter broke the silence.  It seemed they were alone with the dead.

[EchoMirage]

"Well, it seems the dwarves did not move on... they all stayed here."
Gideon scratched his head.
"Something malicious had to fell them all; we must find if it lingers, and bring it down if we hope to mine here."

[Hrofgar]

"Well Gideon, I know that in my home we would have great stores of ore in case we could not find a fresh vein for a while. it helped us keep a steady production while not letting our miners get lazy. Perhaps there is some here as well, I think it would give Respite enough for quite some time."

[EchoMirage]

"So, no bringing down huge nasty critters for added glory and ego? Don't be a spoilsport, Hrofgar! We need boasting material if we are to attract choice damselfolk! Those looks of mine don't exactly help in that regard."

He tugged at his goatee, then added less enthusiastically: "Though, hauling a heap of ore home might be bragging material enough, especially if it involves less dying than battling baleful ... uh ... baddies."

[Fafnir]

Fafnir began listening more closely to the waters roar. Turning to the others he said, "Perhapss the water will lead to more clues of our small friends demise. Either way we gain nothing by standing about, the search must go on!" With that he strode off in the direction of the water noise.

[valadaar]

As the other searched about for some added clue to the demise of the dwarves, Fafnir strode towards the sound of water, accompanied by Toboran. Not far past the end of the buildings, a huge underground river came into view, with warves and small shacks clustered on the edge.  Nearby was what appeared to be a stone mausoleum, in much better condition then the other buildings they had seen thus far.

It was then that Jhoric felt a familiar presence, or somewhat familiar.  He could almost hear a voice and the sensation drew him on.

He followed the sensation to a small garden - thats what it appeared to be, though with mushrooms and fungi, and statuary. Among the small dwarven statues - small even by theier measure, was a stone orb enscribed with more symbols.  A voice in his head, barely audible above the water sounds, could be heard.

Touch it!

Gideon was finding examining the sad remnents of the dwarves both tedious and unnerving, and was close to giving up when he encountered one better preserved then the others.  It was sitting up, its back against another heavily armored corpse, in one hand was a battle axe, the other clutched something that looked like leaves.  Hrofgar noted that the head appeared to have been removed rather abruptly.

[EchoMirage]

"Hey, fellow. You seem to have held out longer than the others, didn't you?"
Gideon imagined himself in such a situation, surrounded and embattled. Well, there were worse deaths than that - like, being shot in the back while running.
"Show me those ... leaves, fellow. You don't happen to have mining records scribbled on them? Or a map, towards a vein?"
Examining the strange find, he further spoke to the dead dwarf: "We will give you a proper burial; I just wish I knew your name to write upon the headstone. And the axe of yours, we will take care that a deserving warrior wields it to continue its service, for a just cause. How would you like that?"

He turned to the prospector on his back: "Well, Estwick, what do you make of this?"

[Fafnir]

Fafnir was suprised by the presence of such an intact building. Turning to the others he called out " Look my friends! This stone building is largely intact. Perhapss we have found something important." With that he motioned for Toboran to follow him and he set off towards the mausoleum.

[Jhoric]

As he was wandering through the strange fungal garden he had no interest in the mushrooms or statues, there was something here. Something he was meant to find. An orb? Touch it? Yes, we should recover all of the magical artifacts we can find. This orb is no doubt magical, just look at the runes.

Jhoric picked it up.

[valadaar]

Estick peered at the corpse, and its contents.

"Don't look like theres writin' on them leaves.  Maybe they was healin' or somthin.  Coulda tore 'em off something mayhaps.

Anyway, this here place is a trove - there is good solid rock here, and other stuff.  We could be as rich as kings when we get back"


Jhoric touched the sphere and immediately his mind lit up like a starburst.

Sir, I'll need a Will check from you.

[Jhoric]

Jhoric's body tensed and his eyes started to roll back in his head as he touched the strange orb. What in the nine hells was this? Whats is going on? Where am I now? He fought for some semblance of reality to cling to, to bring his mind out of the chaos. He didn't know if this would be the end, or a new beginning.

Will Save: This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+4 : 16 + 4, total 20

Edit: Changed post owned from Pieh to Jhoric, Will save was a total of 20. Don't know if the edit will mess with the roller.

[valadaar]

In Jhorics mind's eye, he saw the city as it was, dwarves similar to Hrofgar, but with ruddier complexions and brilliantly colored clothing.
They seemed anxious and harried, moving about with an air of desperation.


"This is what was," spoke a voice in Jhorics mind, cold and inhuman, "and could be again, if you are weak."

A stream of warriors burst into the city, fleeing as if death itself was on their heels. 

"Join us, become stronger!" the voice extorted.

They moved to the center of the square, a priest of some sort, bedecked with shrunken heads and fingerbones was carrying a sphere that seemed  decidedly familiar.

Jhoric yearned to join the voice that bespoke of power, but part of his mind signaled an alarm, something was ..wrong.

They turned as one, and a great cry of anguish was raised in their throats as something came into view...

Jhoric found himself back in the square alone with the sphere, and his own thoughts...

[EchoMirage]

Gideon packed up the axe and armor, and then turned to his compatriots: "Let's go on, explore further - for example Fafnir's find. Everyone accounted for? Hey, Jhoric, don't stand around all lazy! You magicky types always think others will do the hard work!"

[Jhoric]

Jhoric stood quietly for a moment. He was confused. What am I holding, he wondered. He looked at the orb, decorated with symbols alien to him, until he could not stand to look at it any longer. Sometimes, he hated his gifts. For they were more than the gifts of most men, yet they were not strong enough to pierce the mysteries he came across.

He pondered what his destiny might be as he heard Gideon's loud voice calling out to him. "I am sorry, Gideon, but my magic has found us something strange." Jhoric began to follow after Gideon, in search of the others. "It would appear this was indeed a city of dwarves, I saw them in a vision as I touched this orb," He held it up for Gideon to see, "I saw them, with brightly colored clothing an- Wait. I must go back to the square. There was a priest. I want to find his body."