[Game Thread] A Song of Silence

[Uruz]

The application of the bandage to the wounded Dwarf seems to have a nearly instantaneous soothing and healing effect. Within seconds, the ashen grey pallor of Magnus' features returns to his natural, ruddy bronze and his breathing evens out. His eyes flicker open and he groans with pain, but he is definately out of danger of sudden expiration.

OOC Magnus is at 1 and conscious.

[Evoles]

Ooo Neat!

Scarlett looks at the other two former friends, laying in pieces on the floor, then back at the last bandage.

Somehow I don't think this will work on them.

Maybe I'll hold onto this for later.

Scarlett puts the bandage in her bag.

So.. if we're all done reading and dying can we go save some children or lay waste to the town or something... it's starting to stink in here.

[Kailtrin]

Magnus stands to his feet, holding a hand to his head as if hung over. The hand on his head slowly begins to glow blue and his countenance improves tremendously.

Cure Light Wounds Magnus heals himself for 8 hit points.

Next time I try to heal any of you, it will be from behind something solid! Who knew an old wench could summon up that much strength?

Magnus then looks at Scarlett and nods in agreement, tilting his head towards the door and obviously hinting that someone other than himself will leave first.

[Ark]

Well, I'm all for getting the show on the road, but the way I'm feeling right now a stray splinter might serve to put me down. Might I have a spot of healing from your divine patron now that you're on your feet, Magnus?

Taking a moment to sip from his waterskin, the battered elf goes on.

By the by, according to this journal, old Hespy--before she went off her nutter--was investigating something the miners came across in their diggings. She claims after the big find, whatever it was, folks started acting weirdly. There is activity in town related to whatever was going on, apparently centered on the jail. As I suspected from her behavior, the old woman was fighting mental compulsions of some sort, which is what caused here to lash out at us.

Aere pauses a moment, touches a knuckle to his forehead in a gesture of respect, I know we took grievous losses from Hesperath, but she was truly a Rift-Walker worthy of the title, retired or no. She fought whatever was dominating her enough to at least save the children she could. Perhaps if we had been more cautious...

[Evoles]

Ya speaking of children that need saving, I know of a few. I suggest we go get them or burn the town to the ground trying, or maybe both. In what order? We'll have to see how things go.

[HenryLockwood]

Gwydion looks askance at Scarlett. Her manner is crude, rather, but her point is sound. We should save whom we can.

"Let us save the children, burning as little as possible. Once we have them far from here, then we can return - and burn what needs to be burned. Then we can investigate whatever caused this problem."

[Uruz]

Hefting the glowing his arms once more, Gwydion leads the quartet out of the cave cautiously, looking for any sign of the children after Scarlett's reports of lashes hoisting the children skyward. While there are plenty of footprints leading to the mouth of the cave, they all end in a flurry of scraped earth and it woudl appear that none escaped whatever it was that captured them. While the swordsage and sorceress assess the ground, Magnus casts a restorative enchantment upon the Elf, who's wounds seem grow less livid with the healing energies coursing in his frame.

With no other indication of where to look other than the town, the group returns to the hills overlooking the well tended cottages in order to scout the surrounds. What you see is shocking; 4 spherical brass looking objects with a brilliant crimson eye at the front and four tentacles heanging below seem to be lowering small figures into the village square before the gaol. The villagers all seem to be standing quietly about the spectacle even though the screams of the figures echo to yoru ears even at this distance.

OOC Magnus heals Aere for 4. Please check the rewards thread - you should now be level 2.

[HenryLockwood]

"Damn!"

Gwydion is finally startled out of his usual calm demeanour, and begins running down the hill towards the town. Even though it seems that the tentacle-things are returning the children - are they? - he is still suspicious.

[Evoles]

Scarlett gasps at the sudden surge of speed from Gwydion.

Hmm, that should provide an adequate diversion.

Scarlett sneaks away quickly while the rest of the group observes the charging swordsage, perhaps using the hill as cover and circles around towards the manor if possible.

If a battle erupts I wanna know where that hissy butler is. Or.. worse comes to worse I can flank our opponents. Sometimes I think I'm too clever.

Scarlett grins.

OOC if the manor is unreasonably far Scarlett will circle around to a closer building and observe the opening outcome of the commotion.

[Ark]

Welladay, from sitting around recovering to instant action...I always knew humans and halflings were hasty...

Before they can get out of range, Aere draws a piece of copper wire from his belt pouch and concentrating on both the swordsage and the tiny caster, he swiftly mutters an message spellincantation along with some quick instructions in a whisper,
I'm casting a spell that will allow us to be in contact over a short distance. Just whisper or speak anything I need to know or pass to either of you, while thinking of me.

Aere then heads down the slope as the point of a moving triangle whose points consist of himself, Gwydion and Scarlett, while endeavoring to move quietly and using both natural cover and building between his starting point and the spot in town where all the action was taking place.

[Evoles]

Lightning strikes Scarlett's brain.

If one old woman took out a third of the party, and laid-low another third... what chance do we have against an entire town with such... augmentations, plus whatever those floating orb thingies are.

Scarlett stops cold.

Aere tell Gwydion we must run for now. That orb must be important and we should return it to the riftwalkers. Our mission was only to find the source of Hesperath's disappearance. I'd say we've done that, and anything else right now would be suicide. I'll have to cook that lizard later.. er.. forget that last part.

Scarlett starts to retreat away from the town with fear that her message to Gwydion might be too late or ill-received.

[Ark]

Ye gods! The halfling is right--the old woman alone nearly put me down...and did put paid to 2 of our comrades. If Hesperath's uncanny strength is any foreshadowing of that of her slavemasters'... Aere shudders.

Gwydion--stop! We were sent to find out what happened to Hesperath! The plight of the children has blinded us to our original mission. We'll do them no good if we rush in and perish as quickly as Lil Barra and that crazy old witch and her bird. We need assistance, or at least some counsel from those who sent us here. If we fail, no one will know about Hesperath or the orb we found.

With saddened resolve, he concentrates again, The poor waifs will have to wait a little longer...but I promise you this, I for one vow to remove the yoke on them, whatever it takes!

[HenryLockwood]

Gwydion hears Aere's words directly in his mind. It's a strange sensation.

"Give me a moment." he says, replying to Aere and trusting him to relay the message. "I can find out more information here."

He carries on down the hill, moving more slowly now, keeping low and cautious.

[Ark]

Scarlett, the swordsage plans to continue on and scout, cautiously. I think perhaps I'll gather our healer and move back a bit. Nothing in my repertoire will aid him in subterfuge--most of my skills only help me. He does move quietly, for a human.

Something nagged at Aere's thoughts...something that might be a problem in Gwydion's attempt to sneak in without being noticed...

[Kailtrin]

Magnus catches the look from Aere and moves behind him, preferring not to end up at death's door once more from foolishness.