Game Thread Chapter 4: The Neddermurk - Page 30

GallupsMirror · #**436** Sep 17th, 2013, 11:33 AM

Awarded XP: The Neddermurk
Besting numerous obstacles XP
Defeating the Dawdlemares XP
Story milestone XP
Discovering important clues XP
Bonus XP

You are each awarded 15,001 XP
&
Promoted to Character Level 8th

PIG · #**437** Sep 17th, 2013, 08:26 PM

They have escaped the Neddermurk.

Hesperis converts back into his natural elven form, shrinking and shedding the extra mass like mist. He stands in the wastes, shaking from the expierence of Neddermurk. The rot still in his nostrils, he still finds his limbs stiff and rigid and has to wring his hands even though they were not cold. So many times the curious elf brought up the nature and history of Neddermurk with Rhea and Orthag-Ring back in the Hawkling forests. They always fell silent or Rhea would divert her eyes. Now, if someone asked about their recent so called 'dungeon crawl' into the belly of the sunken city, Hesperis would find his self doing as they.

Hesperis crotches to one knee, tucks the one long lock of pale white hair behind a pointed ear without realizing it, and searches through the Lamplighter Bag to find the Tomb of Merges. He begins to panic, thinking that they left it down below. That the enemy has it. That many will die.

The book magically clamps down into his thin hand and he yanks it out. He breaths a sigh of relief when he finally sees it in the baking sun. He stands.

"Come Rhea. Come Prince Orthag. We have far to go and much to do." The elf gets them started towards the gate.

In the mean time, Hesperis tries to flip through the Tomb of Merges to get a genreal idea of it's language, structure, and depth.

schmev · #**438** Sep 18th, 2013, 09:45 PM

The taint of evil is so thick, it clots the very air around Rhea's head. She can smell it. It clings to her flesh and skin and she wants only to strike out at it, but her companions are unable to defend themselves, and Orthag is readying their escape, and Mayaheine, my body is so broken-

And, suddenly, it is all gone. There's a bright light that precedes a violent silence, and the paladin crumples to the ground. She closes her eyes, but the light still creeps in and she rolls to her side -aching the entire way - to cough out moist spittle. Her throat is raw and she can taste a coppery bile rising. Oh, Mayaheine, that was close. Concentrating on her goddess, Rhea hugs herself whilst tapping into the never-ebbing drought of Mayaheine's power. The healing magic works quickly, and it is enough to stop the pain and staunch the leakage she senses inside.

She can hear Hesperis fumbling about in his gear. A moment later he beckons her on, walking away before the paladin can even roll over to her back.
He is right though. Their mission is not over. They have miles to cross before returning to the Elf Queen with the book that may prevent a larger catastrophe. She's surprised to find she can lift her shield easily enough, with little pain. It is in good enough shape considering the blows it took. She rises, stretching her back, and watches the old elf totter along into the dust. She turns back to peer for a moment into the darkness. There's a wealth of unfinished business down there. One day, if Mayaheine allows, she will have to return and finish the good work they have begun. They have a lot to be proud of.
Still, it is with a heavy heart that she turns and follows her companion across the cracked earth.