Cauldron, Part 12

3/5/08
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- After a few minutes of trying to scent for Yuathyb's direction of departure, Jiona's ears and tail sag in defeat, a telling indication that she was not able to detect him leaving in any conventional manner.

Calico, on a whim, searches the room to the south for Yuathyb's scent or trail.

* Tillandor's voice echoes through the room.

Rayne upon hearing the shout for Yuathyb from Tillandor, opens his eyes from his fitful doze against the wall to see the priest with Tass and Ethkin.

Rayne looks around, unkinks his neck with a audible pop, and then asks, "Good you finally made it - where is Yuathib?"

Calico checks the unexplored south passage from the room.

Ethkin grimaces, "That's what _I'd_ like to know."

Rayne's expression sours as he recalls the events of the past few hours, and looks none too friendly at the moment.

Tillandor says, "He excused himself to take a short rest, and his breathing could be heard for some time."

Rayne listens thoughtfully and nods, then gives a start at the sudden implication.

Rayne asks, "Did he....?"

Tillandor says, "And now he seems to have gone. Whether off into the depths of this underdark or succumbed to the Vanishing, I cannot say. Though a dread fills me at the possibility."

Rayne looks confused and asks, "How long has it been?"

Jiona's defeated expression showly shifts into profound irritation, perhaps even shading into anger, as she turns to look at Ethkin and Tass. "Do you have any idea how long you were gone?" she inquires, her tone of voice rather too nice to fit her changed mood.

Rayne asks, "Why would he leave knowing we were bringing him help?"

The DM says, "Probably about 6 hours, for anyone who's been keeping track."

Calico returns the the larger hall, "he didn't head south. but I smelled some creapers that way."

Tillandor says, "I believe I heard him as little as an hour ago."

Tillandor says, "Breathing deeply as if in sleep."

Rayne asks, "And no one noticed the absence?"

Rayne shakes his head hardly believing what he is hearing.

Tillandor frowns. "Indeed, we noticed he was taking a nap. And now we have noticed he is no longer. What more would you wish?"

Calico says, "I'm guessing he went back where we first met him."

Ethkin leans back against the wall, and sinks to the floor, feeling useless.

Rayne grimaces with a pang of guilt evident on his face,

Calico ventures to check the tunnel east.

Rayne says, "Well if that is the case, lets head that direction."

Rayne follows Calico.

Tillandor says, "Kristof, are you needed urgently elsewhere, or would you travel with us for some short time? If indeed Yuathyb has returned to the smithy, you may help him there."

Kristof says, "Is it safe here? Seems a little..."

Kristof is cut off by a loud metallic bang sound and clanking.

Kristof speaks a bit louder, "Seems a bit... dangerous here."

Calico says, "we've only been attacked, what, 3 times since getting down here."

Kristof looks over at Rayne as he exits into the southern room, "Well, you all seem to have done well so far. As long as you know where you're going, I will go with you. But I cannot stay."

Ethkin chuckles humorlessly, "Only thre times."

Jiona glares intensely at Ethkin when he doesn't even bother trying to defend himself, then very deliberately turns her back on him, returning her attention to Tillandor and his discussion with Kristof.

Rayne returns to catch the look between Jiona and Ethkin.

Tillandor claps Kristof on the shoulder. "Excellent. Well, if we cannot find him in short order he is likely not to be found at all."

Rayne walks close to Jiona and whispers something.

Kristof nods, looking just a little nervous.

Ceealico leads the way down the tunnel.

Tillandor follows, his staff clicking on the stone floor.

Kristof rather conspicuously tries to stay close to the guy with the bigass sword.

Kristof, seeing that Rayne is not immediately following, looks a bit indecisive.

Ethkin gets up amd follows Till through the South door to the tunnel.

Kristof follows Ethkin, who seems sturdy enough.

Jiona looks over at Rayne, perking an ear, and her tail twitches in agitation as she murmurs a short reply back to him, then follows after Tillandor.

You whisper, "(in a tone of disgust) Six hours." to Rayne.

You whisper, "(in a tone of disgust) Six hours." to Rayne and DM.

* Tass follows the group in the back, looking a bit distracted with some spot on his coat.

Rayne looks shocked.

Rayne grimaces and narrows his eyes in disgust.

Rayne follows the group

Calico pauses at the junction to check for scent trail.

Rayne glances from time to time at Ethkin and Tass - sometimes particularly at Ethkin, his scowl deepening

* The group arrives in the room where they had met Yuathyb with no event, other than the slow fading of the metallic clanking, and eventual end of the sound.

* Tass follows in the back of the group, focused on trying to rub out the spot.

Calico again checks for any sign of their would be guide, before turning around and heading back.

* The glassblowing workshop contains bottles, flasks, and pottery cluttering shelves. A stone oven fills the northeast corner. There are shards of glass all over the floor, such that it would be difficult to cross without stepping on some.

Rayne asks, "Turns to face Ethkin and Tass and asks with some suspicion - what exactly were you doing all that time?"

* Yuathyb is not here.

Ethkin ignores Rayne, more than a little upset at being too late to help Yuathyb.

Kristof looks around, "Good thing I'm wearing boots."

Rayne steps directly in front of Ethkin, seeing the avoidance, and confronts him again, "What exactly were you doing?!"

Rayne looks about ready to explode.

Tillandor looks about to start speaking, but blinks and says nothing upon hearing Rayne.

Kristof says, "I assure you, we came straight from the temple."

Rayne does some math and asks, "How long ago did you leave from the temple?"

Jiona makes no secret of listening closely to Rayne's questioning of Ethkin.

Rayne does not appear to believe it took 3 hours travel time to and from the temple.

Tillandor clears a spot on the floor with his boot, sits, and examines some pages from his pack.

Kristof says, "Perhaps no more than half an hour. The temple... well it is more of a shrine... is very close by."

Kristof says, "Tass and Ethkin seemed quite urgent... I am very sorry if we came too late."

Rayne eyes widen and mouths, half an hour?

Calico makes a clumbsy attempt at diplomacy, "Rayne, if you want to kill something, I think I can direct you to some creepers."

Rayne voice calms, disturbingly so as he starts to say something, and he visibly reacts to an unseen force.

Rayne seems on borderline of rage now staring directly at Ethkin.

Ethkin exclaims, "Back off, Rayne!"

Ethkin exclaims, "We were fetching the very supplies YOU sent us for!"

Rayne asks in a cold voice, "What were you doing."

Rayne blinks.

Ethkin says, "I've had enough to deal with today with out needing uppity palladin wannabees with anger management issues getting in my face about my activites."

Rayne says in almost a still quiet voice, quivering, "You are the only one I haven't checked and you were gone a very long time."

Rayne does not look intimidated.

Ethkin gets a 'that does it' look on his face, and quietly slips into a combat stance, "YOu wanna pick on the blind man? Go ahead. Try it shrimp."

Calico nearly looses her temper, "we have CHILDREN to rescue. until then a pick pocket is small potatoes."

Ethkin grins darkly, "Explain that to him."

Rayne's hand rests on the hilt of his sword, not backing down in the least, and appears tensed to rush at the little blind man,

Rayne asks, "I will not travel with someone I cannot trust. My pocket now, my life later?"

- Watching Rayne and Ethkin closely, Jiona enters the room and stands protectively near Tillandor. If anyone is watching closely enough, the broken glass seems to move out of her way whenever she takes a step.

Ethkin's stance is perfect. He is obvioulsy ready, but no where near as tence as Rayne.

Rayne says, "This is not just about gold - its about trust. In life or death circumstances I have to trust those I am with."

Rayne says, "Otherwise we will all die to an enemies blade."

Calico would prefer to save her magic for other uses, but prepares...

Calico asks, "shall we take this to the enterance hall, not so far to drag your bound body?"

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor whispers to Jiona as he quietly leaves, "I'll leave them to it for now."

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona whispers, "I'll go with you."

Rayne turns to regard Calico and the not so implied threat.

DM to Tillandor and Jiona: "You see a heavy wooden barrier ahead of you."

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor tries to peer through the barrier.

* Rayne rolls 1f20+3: 18,3 = 21.

Calico asks, "Ethkin, Tass, Kristof, shall we leave this chaotic hot head and join the others?"

DM to Tillandor and Jiona: "You see a massive room in the darkness... hard to see how big, really."

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona looks over the barrier, trying to use some of her Engineering knowledge if necessary to determine how thick it might be from its outward appearance.

Ethkin back peddals swiftly...

* The stone beneath Rayne's feet reaches up to grab his ankles, but Rayne manages to leap out of the way.

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor asks, "Does it look like the barrier might move, by machinery perhaps?"

Ethkin remains in a fight stance, neither loose nor tense, but ready...

DM to Tillandor and Jiona: "The barrier is made with heavy wood, but seems to be in a somewhat slapdash manner."

Rayne has a semi-shocked look upon his face, looking between Calico, Ethkin and.... Jiona?

* Jiona has left the room. Tillandor is also not here.

Jiona is... nowhere to be seen. Although there is a clear path of glass that heads from the south to the north entrance.

Rayne has not yet drawn his sword, but upon the attack pulls it free from its scabbard.

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor explores a bit down the southern passage.

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona looks the barrier over for minute, and then offers, "We should be able to get through this without too much trouble. It seems rather... shoddily made."

DM to Jiona and Tillandor: "The barrier is probably about 2-4 inches thick. There are iron spikes hammered into the walls and iron braces in the floor and ceiling to keep it from moving."

Ethkin circles Rayne to his own right, towards Kristof, "I"m sorry to bring you into this Father.

Rayne shifts into his combat stance, ready.

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor says, "I agree, however... Yuathyb did warn me against going this way. At first I thought perhaps he was just trying to keep me from finding something, but... he never did badly by me."

Rayne spats, "The thief... sorry? Don't make me laugh."

Rayne says, "Your actions only speak of your guilt."

Calico readies a spell prepared with this eventuality.

DM to Jiona and Tillandor: "Half-made kegs, tables, bookshelves, and chests clutter this dark room. Most of these unfinished works have been pushed against the outer walls, making room for four cots in the middle of the floor. Two workbenches covered with carpenter's tools flank the north exit. A few rat bones litter the floor."

Ethkin sneers, "My REactions, you mean."

Rayne holds his sword defensively before him, casting a spell.

Kristof backs away towards the north corridor, "Why do you fight amongst yourselves when there are orphans to be found?"

Rayne gestures and chants, "Maen'ae, artifice!"

Ethkin says, "Good question."

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona nods, agreeing with that, and goes south as well. "I wish I could believe that he was still around somewhere," she says, softly. "But unless he was magically taken somewhere else... it seems a slim hope."

Rayne asks, "I ask a question, and in response I get magically attacked. Interesting is it not?"

Rayne moves to keep Ethkin from moving to the opposite side of himself from Calico.

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor, seeing no other way from this room and not relishing walking back through the storm in the other room, begins searching through the tools and detritus for anything useful.

DM to Jiona and Tillandor: "You note a small passage going west in the southern part of the room."

Rayne says, "Calico, I don't know why you would insist on protecting him."

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona peers down the newly-revealed passageway.

Ethkin says, "I made no such attack! All I did ws tell you to back off."

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor smiles. "Ah, this will do."

Calico says, "Kristof has a point. We should just leave Rayne."

Ethkin takes Kristof's shoulder, "Let's go back this way, Father."

Rayne asks, "Do you deny your magical heat, and the attempt to grab me with earth?"

Rayne asks, "Or that upon questioning you settled into a stance for combat?"

Calico moves to leave with the others.

Ethkin says, "Aye, I grabed you with the Earth, to keep you from doing soething stupid."

Rayne asks, "Or to hold me in place while you do your evil?"

Ethkin says, "And I moved to be ready because you were getting uppity and in my face."

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor turns south, to confirm his suspicion that the tunnel presents a way around the fight room.

Ethkin backs up the hall...

Kristof asks, "Must this end in bloodshed? Do we not have laws?"

Calico follows.

Ethkin worries about Tass...

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor asks, "It seems we may explore other areas than this one corridor. Which would you prefer?"

Ethkin says, "Not if I can help it, the rest is up to Rayne."

Kristof gestures to Rayne, "You are part of the nobility here in Cauldron. You should know law better than most."

* Tass does not appear to be here.

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona sniffs the air a few times, then says, "I don't smell the creepers in either direction, but there are likely other dangers around." She considers his question, hmming softly. "Did Yuathyb suggest any particular directions _to_ go, or did he just warn us of that particular passage? We still need to find the children, and I doubt they're going to be any place undefended."

Kristof says, "In any case... I do not wish to be witness to this battle."

Rayne seems caught in frustration.

Ethkin smirks, "Nor I."

Kristof says, "Would the two of you refrain from combat long enough to direct me to the surface? You do not appear to need MY services."

Rayne shakes his head at Ethkin and says, "To think I helped carry you from place to place, and you do nothing but return our kindness with evil? You who call yourself a follower of Kord and yet use magic against one who is not attacking? You ought to be ashamed... Get out of my sight. I will think upon how to deal with you as the law permits later."

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor says, "He warned us of the passage. But... I feel certain that Kazmojen is our enemy. And the Well of Kazmojen is the path we must find. And I have the impression it was exactly that which Yuathyb was keeping me from with his warning."

Calico says, "I do not wish there to be a battle here, but if there is, I intend to see it ends well."

Rayne sheathes his sword and walks away in disgust.

Kristof eyes Rayne with trepidation, then turns to Calico, "Could you perhaps lead me back to the surface? Or do you feel my services may yet be required?"

Kristof says, "I am loathe to leave my shrine for too long... there is talk of goblins marauding in the city at night."

Calico leads Kristof following Ethkin.

Ethkin's voice echos back into the room, "Kristof, you comeing with us, or going with him?"

To the DM and Tillandor: Jiona considers that for a moment. "Then it would seem that we should head beyond the barrier, although perhaps in a slightly roundabout way if possible. In other words, west." She starts leading the way down that particular corridor from this junction.

Calico guesses the others turned south.

To the DM and Jiona: Tillandor nods and follows, though unsure the tunnel will circumvent the barrier.

Calico finds Jiona and Tillander in a tunnel to the south.

Tillandor glances cautiously at Calico. "Did... Is he... ?"

Calico says, "no big fight, yet."

Jiona looks over her shoulder as Calico catches up to them, and she listens cautiously, then relaxes, if just a little, at the news. "So... how did it end? Or is it... still going on?"

Calico says, "we walked away, though things got way too tense."

Tillandor looks over Calico's shoulder, to see Ethkin approach.

Ethkin says, "He thinks I'm the alleged thief, because I wouldn't show him my pockets, because he got in my face about how long it took Tass and I to finish the very errands he and the rest of you sent us on, and all for naught for Yuathyb."

Tillandor, ever the scholar, points out, "You ARE the alleged thief. You just deny the allegation."

Jiona's posture turns wary but nonthreatening when Ethkin appears, and she listens to him before saying anything herself.

Tillandor says, "Calico I believe could simply walk away from the situation. But you..."

Tillandor asks, "Where is Tass?"

Ethkin rolls his eyes and scowls, "Oh not you too?!?"

Calico asks, "shall we return to the entry hall?"

Tillandor blinks and steps back. "Sorry, me too what?"

Ethkin exclaims, "I didn't take Rayne's purse!"

Tillandor says, "I believe you."

Ethkin sighs, "Glad SOMEone does..."

Tillandor says, "At least, I have no particular reason not to."

Tillandor asks, "But... where are Tass, Kristof, and Rayne?"

Calico says, "indeed, I think it unlikely Ethkin is the thief. Rayne, on the other hand, may be no thief, but I do not trust his temper."

Ethkin says, "Dunno, and I think they went back up top side."

Ethkin nods at the cat, "Hear-hear."

Calico says, "Kristof was following us. Rayne we left behind. Last I saw Tass he was at the enterance to that room."

Jiona considers for a few moments, then says softly, "For what it is worth, I don't believe you did, either. I'm not very pleased with how long you were absent, admittedly," and she makes a throwing-away gesture, "but that matters not now. You were with us long enough to know that Rayne is... not one to be trifled with. Blindness doesn't mean foolishness."

Kristof has followed Ethkin into the hall.

Ethkin'looks' around, "So why are we in this tunnel, and not up the main corridor?"

Tillandor says, "Ok, let's get out of this dark tunnel. Right."

Calico procedes down the tunnel, towards what she hopes is the entry hall.

Tillandor says, "One way is as good as another for now."

Jiona follows after Tillandor, as usual.

Tillandor says, "We must talk, we five."

Jiona nods emphatically. "No longer having Rayne with us does change the situation."

Tillandor says, "And brings up the point of trust, honestly."

Kristof says, "HOLD."

* DM says, "Okay, we need to figure something out real quick.

Tillandor stops moving, and holds his staff above his head in both hands.

Ethkin catches up to the rest of the group in the tunnel, "By the way, apparently there are goblins hitting the city now, too."

Tillandor, still holding his staff over his head in both hands, eyes Ethkin and says nothing.

The DM says, "Okay. We can resume now, methinks."

Calico says, "I hate to think that one of us was the thief."

Tillandor asks, "Goblins? From whence do they come?"

Jiona grimaces at Ethkin's news. "That is unwelcome to hear, but we shall have to leave that to the city forces. We have our hands full down here." She nods to Calico, then also inquires, "What happened to Tass? Did anyone notice?"

Ethkin shrugs, "Dunno, but everyone in town's all tense about it. Kris?"

Ethkin says, "Tass was in the tunnel behind me into the broken glass room... when Rayne turned on me. That's the last I sensed him."

Calico hurries towards the room where they first met hostility down here, a junction between unexplored areas and returning to the surface.

The DM says, "Methinks we should leave the Tass question in limbo until Lauren can play Tass."

The DM says, "Forget he exists. For now."

Kristof looks a little nervous, "Seems like goblins were trashing a few remote areas, but that can't bode well."

Ethkin snirks, "Does it ever?"

Kristof quickly puts in, "The city guard are looking into it now."

Kristof says, "I suspect they will catch the vandals soon enough."

Kristof says very quietly, "I hope."

Jiona looks up as Calico starts to rapidly move away, and says, "Calico, where are you--" She trails off as the cat disappears down the corridor. "Huh. I wonder where she's going in such a hurry."

Calico waits for the others to catch up.

Tillandor asks, "Calico may have a long wait. Why are we going that way?"

Calico notes the others not following and returns part way, "any reason to stick around there?"

Jiona shrugs a little, then motions for Tillandor to keep moving. "Let's at least get back into the open."

Kristof follows warily, eyeing the different passageways and corridors as they pass.

Kristof asks, "Do you know where you are going down here?"

Tillandor says, "I have some memory of this place."

Jiona grins at Kristof, and replies, "We know where we've been, so we can get back out. In places like this... that's as good as it gets. Unless you happen to know of a map...?"

Ethkin grins to Kristof, "No clue, our guide vanished, right before we could get you to him."

Kristof grimaces.

Kristof says, "That is unfortunate."

Ethkin nods, sadness touching his grin.

Calico says, "we pretty much know our way around the eastern side on this complex. what we're looking for isn't in that area."

Kristof asks, "Hmmmm, so what exactly are we looking for?"

Calico says, "a malachite hold."

Tillandor says, "Missing orphans."

Ethkin says, "All of the above."

Ethkin says, "We find out what happened to the kids, and the ancient gnomes who built this place, we might just be able to prevent it from happening again."

Kristof nods vigorously and says, "Sounds great to me, I would very much like to find and stop the cause of these problems."

Ethkin walks 'blindly' into the center of the sphere, and stops to hear what Till has to say.

Calico ponders, "any news on Keygan"

Tillandor asks, "I think that is what I'd like to hear first. What DID you discover and do on your journey topside. Ethkin?"

Tillandor looks around.

Calico tries to scent track the monk.

Ethkin says, "We heard about goblins, bought supplies, got me sandals, fetched Kristof... uh."

Kristof turns to Calico and says, "What of Keygan? I heard him shouting for guards a few days back..."

Stepping into this familiar room, Jiona suggests, "Perhaps someplace where we're not prone to being ambushed would be better to talk? This is where the mechanical lobster-thing snuck up on us last time."

Kristof asks, "Mechan-i-wha?"

Ethkin invisably roll his eyes, "That would be Rayne's fault."

Tillandor gestures. "Lead the way."

Jiona backtracks south. It's the nicest room in the place so far, after all.

Calico resumes walking towards the entry hall.

Tillandor follows Jiona.

Calico spots the other head a different way and rushes to follow.

Ethkin follows as well.

Kristof follows wondering out loud, "A sneaky mechanical lobster....?"

Tillandor gets out his notes. "Ok guys. Here is what we know."

Ethkin shrugs, "Don't ask me. I never saw it."

Calico finds the forest room a bit unnerving, knowing the illusion behind it.

Kristof consider's Ethkin's appraisal of Rayne and does not doubt it.

Tillandor says, "People have been disappearing all over town. The orphans we are most interested in did not Vanish, but were taken."

Tillandor says, "By wrinkly black creepers, as far as we can tell."

Jiona sits down for a few minutes, resting her back against the tree, even though both are illusions. "It's... hard to explain. Just be glad we took care of it - I think - and leave it at that." She quiets after that comment to listen to Till go over what they know so far.

Tillandor says, "We have received a note from Jenya, which may be prophecy."

Kristof looks around the room, slightly perturbed.

Kristof says, "Really?"

Kristof leans in towards Tillandor, more than interested.

Tillandor reads, "The locks are key to finding them (This may well mean Keygan Ghelve's locksmith shop). Look beyond the curtain, below the cauldron (We are probably at this point now). Beware the doors with teeth," glances at Calico, "We've discovered that one, of course. Descend into the Malachite Hold, where precious life is bought with gold. Half a dwarf binds them, but not for long."

Ethkin waits to see if Till's notes match his memory.

Kristof murmurs, "Interesting, very interesting."

Tillandor says, "So our next course should be to find a way deeper, I think."

Kristof asks, "The Malachite hold you suspect then?"

Calico says, "indeed."

Tillandor says, "Yuathyb may be gone now, but he did provide good information."

Tillandor says, "He told me of Kazmojen, the ruler of the creepers."

Tillandor says, "As he commands the creepers, he most likely is responsible for the kidnappings."

Ethkin nods.

Tillandor says, "The passage between Jzadirune, where we are now, and Kazmojen's Fortress is something called The Well of Kazmojen."

Ethkin says, "As for the Vanishing, the rest of the group tells me they've seen it first hand. And an old Halfling told us of an ancient civilisation fo Gnomes who built this place, and then Vanished dispite their best efforts to avoid it."

Tillandor says, "We have periodically heard mechanical noises since we descended to Jzadirune, and I believe those noises come from the Well."

Kristof chuckles and says, "Sounds like something St. Cuthbert would say in his impartations. Pelor is much more direct so I hear. We probably could have received a - turn right at the stone wall, go down 5 steps, defeat the enemy and free the children."

Tillandor nods to Ethkin, forgetting that he will not see it. "Correct. We have no clue whether The Vanishing is related to Kazmojen or not."

Calico notes, "if it's any help, I smelled creepers south of the entry hall, in an area we haven't explored yet."

Tillandor asks, "So. Does anyone see anything I've missed, or have any insights?"

Ethkin pirks, "OH!"

Jiona adds, "There are also a few traps we've discovered here, so move carefully. Be especially wary of doors."

Tillandor chuckles. "With teeth, no less."

Ethkin says, "One of the kids had a bad dream about a Gnome, though it may have been just a dream."

Ethkin shrugs, "Still, ya never know with kids and dreams."

Kristof asks, "Doors.... with teeth?"

Ethkin says, "We think it means the cogs of the traps built into the doors. Or the traps themselves."

Kristof shudders at the thought of a door with a large gaping maw and rows of sharp pointy teeth...

Calico points to the closed door in the south west corner of the room.

Tillandor says, "Nothing like that. The doors down here, as you may have noticed, have toothy gears around them."

Kristof examines the door Tillandor refers to, and sighs with relief.

Tillandor says, "Ah yes, the dreams! At first I thought it was something to do with Ghelve, but now I think it points to the 'half a dwarf.'"

Calico says, "gnomes."

Tillandor frowns. "Oh, yes. Huh."

Jiona also volunteers, "Our guide also suggested that we avoid a certain area, but Tillandor is fairly certain it is because the Well lies in that direction... which means we should explore that way." She pauses briefly. "That is, once we work out how to handle this change of events now that Rayne is no longer with us. Other... problems aside, he knew how to handle a sword."

Tillandor frowns sadly. "I hope he went back to the surface, and arrived safely."

Calico says, "if we knew what he was scared of..."

Tillandor asks, "Theives. Or did you mean Yuathyb?"

Calico says, "Yuathyb."

Tillandor says, "He seemed to think it was too dangerous for me to go that way."

Tillandor says, "For us, I mean."

Tillandor says, "And the implication was that we should walk softly and try to avoid the notice of Kazmojen."

Kristof asks, "Who is this Kazmojen guy?"

Tillandor says, "I have told almost all I know."

Calico says, "by all accounts, someone I'd like to remove from play."

Ethkin quirks an eyebrow, "Almost?"

Tillandor says, "Yuathyb is a creature of the underdark. He and his people fled to Jzadirune when Kazmojen and his dark minions invaded their land."

Tillandor says, "And THAT is all I know."

Kristof hmmms.

Tillandor says, "I believe the Vanishing did not strike until they arrived in Jzadirune."

Kristof asks, "So you believe them to be the cause?"

Calico muses, "we passed a barrier on our retreat from Rayne. any idea what's on the other side?"

Tillandor says, "No, I mean the Vanishing did not strike Yuathyb or his people."

Tillandor says, "So it may be a curse of this place."

Jiona answers Calico, "A dark room. Beyond that, we do not know."

Tillandor asks, "So now we must decide what to do next. Kristof, would you like an escort back to the surface?"

Calico says, "another interview of Keygan may be in order."

Ethkin likes the sound of more fresh air.

Kristof shakes his head and says, "If we have the ability to do something to find out what is the cause of the vanishing, then I think we should try."

Ethkin likes the sound of more answeres as well.

Jiona shows a faint smile. "I doubt Keygan will be inclined to speak with us. He left in some haste, if you think back. And the children still need help. We should not waste too much time trying to get answers that may not be forthcoming."

Calico asks, "Tillander, if we caught a creeper alive, could you speak with it?"

Tillandor smiles at Kristof. "It will be nice to have you along. I think we should examine the western passage we were warned against."

Jiona stands up again, stretching fully, and nods agreeably. "It looked fairly secure for its rather hasty construction, but I think we can make a way through it."

Tillandor says, "Yes, I can understand them if they choose to speak to me."

Kristof returns the smile and is ready to move along.

Calico says, "If we can find one alone, I think we have a good chance of catching it alive."

Jiona leads the way back to that obstacle.

Tillandor asks, "Shall we go then?"

Tillandor follows.

Calico follows.

* The trip to the barrier is uneventful.

The game is paused here.

CategoryCauldron