Sands of the South - Game Thread

"When a friend is in danger, I will comply." I look towards the Kobolds. "Now if my friend has been distressed in any way, I will not be so compliant," I say with an extreme seriousness in my voice.

I pick the sand out of my nose as we chill.
Also healing my hurt body.

*in Draconian* "Understand that we are strangers to you and this land, while others may passively drop their guards and go with you, others in our group may not be as willing. How can we entrust our safety and that our elf still lives?"

Tolr'ax wrote:I pick the sand out of my nose as we chill.
Also healing my hurt body.

Roll Hit Dice.

A'mryl wrote:*in Draconian* "Understand that we are strangers to you and this land, while others may passively drop their guards and go with you, others in our group may not be as willing. How can we entrust our safety and that our elf still lives?"

[Draconian] "Because there is no blood on my blade; he lives. Had I wanted you of you dead, I'd not have lit this torch, nor would I have come with so few warriors. The Master says bring you, so I am to bring you."

After a moment, he realizes something might be missed. "The Master, he is an elf."

I look between the Kobold and A'mryl. "What does he say A'mryl? Can they be trusted?"

Rolled 3d12 = 28 health restored!

*I communicate to Olo what the Kobold has said.* "I believe if we go with them then one of us should stay behind with our weapsons. I can send Diaval as a warning. What do you say, Olo? Dook? Eiznof, you're Elvish. It may be useful in this situation. Will you three join me?"

"I will go."

Eiznof doesn't hear you. He is away with the Goliath.

"I will also go. The only weapons I have are my fists and they will suffice if things go south."

*remembering Eiznof was last seen with the goliath, I lay town my bow and short sword a bit reluctantly. Then to the Kobold* "We are at your mercy. Take us to this elf master of yours, and our friend."

You surrender your weapons, the Kobolds snatch them up, and escort you down the tunnel. For their part, they go in silence, torches blazing brightly, and make no moves of any sort towards you. You pass through a relatively straight tunnel with countless rooms, large and small, opening off to both sides. Inside every room is at least 3 Kobolds watching your little procession. There's a low rumble of voices, but nothing at all threatening. Curious, on the main, but some sneers thrown towards the Gnome, Olo.

After some time, you arrive at a larger hallway, finely-carved walls branching forward towards a small waterfall with natural lighting from an opening above, and left towards an ornate entrance with ample lighting within. Here the Kobold throng is densest, and your escort pushes through with some snarls and hisses of effort.

You are then presented with the same sights Jamros enjoyed, albeit from a higher position. There are small little rooms set up about the room, cots and fine furniture set up. Around the perimeter of the room, upon said cots and seats, are a number of Elves... unlike any you've ever seen. And they seem not to notice you at all, to move very little, and generally make no fuss about living at all. No Kobolds are in this room, save for a few gathered at the door.

In front of you, in good health, is Jamros. Before him stands an Elf of astounding height - looking Dook eye to eye - of what must be an old age for an elf. He is garbed in fine clothing, though unassuming. And, to your eyes, foreign, or very old. When he speaks, it is a strong voice, resilient and clear.

"I trust you were found in better manners than your friend here, yes?"

"Yes, we have not been harmed...But I must ask in a frank... Who are you and what is this place what do you want with our friend?"

I turn around to see the three entering, "It's ok A'mryl I'm fine, be at ease for a while, this is Abraxax, and it seems we have intruded into their home." I sigh, "Ah, a welcome sight you all are...but the others, where are they?"

"The goliath could not fit through the door way, Eiznof stayed with him. As far as the woman and boy I can not tell you." *I relax quite a bit seeing our friend unharmed*

After feeling well rested, I get up and collect my things, and head down the middle tunnel with my torch lit, inspecting the tunnel for any visible traps or threats.

A'mryl wrote:"Yes, we have not been harmed...But I must ask in a frank... Who are you and what is this place what do you want with our friend?"

The Elf smiles. His skin is a deep bronze color, though pale, as if he has not seen the sun in quite some time. Unlike any elf you know he has thick facial hair framing his face - a thick black beard - and sharp green eyes. The eyes of a predator, watching, studying, seeing every tiny movement. "Abraxas Maat Tauret Tiye is my name, and I would be happy to quell all of your concerns. I waited until you arrived so that I need not repeat myself. Jamros, here, has heard only very little." His words are accented heavily. You've never heard the like. Every word of Common seems curiously archaic.

"Let me begin a long time ago, for it seems our ways are alien to jauna Jamros. I fear the world has forgotten us entirely... In the Dawn Times, the Dragons created life upon the world, primary of which were we Dawn Elves. Or rather, in our own time, we simply were the only Elves. The distinction of eguséntiän - simply 'Dawn' - came later to reference our ancestral roots. In those days, we served our Creators faithfully and diligently. But they were not the only forces at work in this world, and eventually a jealous and greedy entity took form and sought to corrupt and usurp the Dragons' power. So jealous was this... "god" that he even attempted to take the shape of a Dragon... thus, we have Snakes. If you've ever had a snake problem, you may thank the Night Serpent, Densudar, for bringing them into our world. She feeds on fever dreams and nightmares, and they believe that once she is powerful enough, she will eat the sun, plunging the world into darkness. She is, I believe, the one responsible for the collapse of my people. Of course, she is merely one of their Triumvirate. Her cohorts Aphosis, the Master of the Pit, Sseth, the Sibilant Death, each have their strengths and powers to aid Densudar, but she is the most... active."

He stops speaking for a moment and regards the room and his fellow elves. He gestures to them all. "We are the last of my people, driven into hiding in this corner of what was once one of our greatest cities. The Night Serpent has overcome our natural resistance to sleep. Her powers render us one by one into unconsciousness, and there she torments and twists us." His voice, near as you can tell, is uneven, emotional. He begins to walk slowly around the room, gesturing to intricate friezes carved into the cavern walls.

"In those days when the Dragons ruled and the Snakes crawled out of hiding, there was a war. A great and terrible war. The Snakes had multiplied and corrupted civilization after civilization. They teemed in their millions and came at us relentlessly in their drive to overwhelm and defeat the Dragons they so despised. In the end, their Great God Sutsipena was slain by Esangéziön, Alderdi of the Black, himself mortally wounded in the fight. In their tremors, the Snakes broke unity and collapsed in on themselves, in-fighting, betrayal, and endless blood sacrifices for greater and greater power finally broke them under our counterattacks. They were driven from the world, underground and into the halls of memory so great was their destruction. But our ancestors had been savaged beyond belief, and the power of the Dragons were sundered, their ranks shattered. This was, ironically, the twilight of the Dawn Elves."

He stops in front of a map, crude in some portions in comparison to the friezes. He points to one such blurry spot on the map - a map of a land unknown to any of you - and speaks. "This was our Home, where we tended our young, served the Dragons, enriching the earth, and brought light and culture to the lesser races. It was lost in the fighting." He traces a line across the map, still unfamiliar for the most part, though regions in the north are somewhat similar to those some of you might know. "Our ancestors eventually came here, over the seas, and settled in the small fertile coastal plains. In time, with the waning of the Dragons touch upon the land, the land turned sterile, blighted, and the deserts encroached. We adapted well enough, and became a seafaring people and traded overland with all manner of tribes, bringing wealth to our people... and then the nightmares began."

"It came shortly after the Dragons Departed. The Great War had altered their aspects, and our services to them. We did what we could, where we could, as we could. But the nature of things had changed, just as nature itself changed. At some point there was a magical... backlash - we believe it had to do with the Dragons withdrawing from our world - but this backlash, it disrupted much. Our people are inherently magical, touched as we are by the Dragons during Creation. It somehow weakened us, as if our symbiotic relationship was suddenly forced to stand alone. This was also the time the Kobolds came to us... a sort of parting gesture by the Dragons to aid us in what they somehow knew was to come in our weakness." He reached out and petted the Thug, Kip, on his head. "The Snakes did not waste time. We were instrumental in their destruction before, they would not allow us to be so again. The slithered from the depths and subtly began corrupting the minds of the weakest of us. These... sleepers caused disunity, undertook acts of violence and terror, and eventually treason and civil war. They were sworn now to the Snakes, and they did their jobs well. It has been a long, long time here in the dark."

He turns back to you. "And here we are. And here, suddenly, you are. Clearly you are Dragon-sent to aid us. The Snakes have overtaken the eastern sectors of the city. There is a shrine near the center, not far from the Cathedral you must have passed through. Some of my brethren are there... serving the Snakes. I believe that if they are eliminated, we might stand a chance."

Kip barks something in Draconic, and several Kobolds appear with your weapons and gear. Abraxas inspects it at a glance and nods. They push your possessions to you. In Common, Abraxas speaks. "Kip - the ibala." The Thug produces the long curved bronze dagger Jamros had taken from the alcoves in the cathedral. "This is... was a sacred instrument. I suppose after all this time, there's no harm in you having it. Perhaps it will bring you some blessings on your mission. To kill my kinsmen."

I take the blade and holster it, having a new appreciation for its worth to these people. My eyes go back to Abraxas, "You said these Snakes claim to be gods and can nullify our resistance to sleep. What advantage could we possibly get over them?" To the others, "Our group had been split in half, we would need a plan, and lots of luck. What say the rest of you?"

"As blundering as he is, the goliath needs to join us if we are going to stand against these Snakes." *To Abraxas* "Is there a chance our group could be reunited? We are stronger when we stand together."

Jamros Mageblood wrote:I take the blade and holster it, having a new appreciation for its worth to these people. My eyes go back to Abraxas, "You said these Snakes claim to be gods and can nullify our resistance to sleep. What advantage could we possibly get over them?"

Abraxas sighs. "We do not know, simple truth. It is some manner of psychic assault, it renders its victims unconscious, and from their they are tormented in their dreams and subconscious. If we know how to counter it, we would be able more to protect ourselves." He pauses. "I do not know how you and your Dark Elf friend might react to it."

A'mryl wrote:*To Abraxas* "Is there a chance our group could be reunited? We are stronger when we stand together."

You may exit the way you entered, certainly. There are a few tunnels from the cathedral heading eastward, but they all eventually converge in the same area. Kip will join you as a guide. We do not venture far into the city for fear of drawing the Snakes' attentions. We have survived this long because they can't be bothered with lowly Kobolds, but that won't stop them from attacking on their own territory. Indeed, this whole venture could backfire should you fail, and we'll have nowhere to run."

As he speaks, he shows signs of impossible weariness. "There are four you must face. They were some of our most ardent defenders at one time, but the corruption took them. There is Lady Alacondra, a power druid who has surrounded herself with blighted things of nature, bound to her twisted will; Lord Cobirah, a master monk and his school of cadets; Lord Vipras, a deadly whirlwind of death; and finally their leader, Lord Serpenti. He was once a holy champion, and as such a capable mage as well as warrior."

"These four will not be alone. The way is treacherous and filled with creatures both aligned with the Snakes and restive creatures responding to their spreading blight... there is more. The last of our champions, Lorximon, a master wizard. He went into the Caverns attempting to break this Sleeping Sickness from the Cave of the Guardian - a holy place of immense power. If he still lives, he may be in his sickened trance state, or perhaps he's been turned against us... though I feel he hasn't yet fallen. Find him, save him. If he is gone, then once the others are slain and the way is clear, I shall come to the Cave and perform what rituals I can to cleanse this place."

"Good luck."

Tolr'ax wrote:After feeling well rested, I get up and collect my things, and head down the middle tunnel with my torch lit, inspecting the tunnel for any visible traps or  threats.

You walk back through the odd waiting room and follow the curving tunnel as it veers left. You enter another room, larger than the first. Perhaps 60 feet long, and 30 feet wide. This room is devoid of benches like the others you've seen, and instead features multiple little cornices in the wall around the room, like little decorative shelves. Upon the shelves are numerous small items - mostly dusty matter by now - but a few pieces stand out. A couple of carved stone figurines, an engraved plaque bearing the image of some elf long dead probably, and some various and sundry.... things: some stone dice, a cup, a bracelet and a ring, seems to be simple bronze, matching set, and a little bell.

The room branches left and right. Left you can see leads back to those other waiting type rooms and the cathedral beyond, and right leads into expansive darkness. You faintly hear water - or some liquid - dripping.

Eiznof trails behind you, picking his nose.

I take the dice, cup, bracelet, ring, and bell. Inspect the ring to see if it would fit on any of my big ole fingers (put it on if it does, in my pack if it doesn't). Inspect the bell to see if it still jingles, if it does, rip a small piece of cloth off my shirt (in my pack) and wrap it in it.

I let my torch light the way as I move down the path to the sound of water, again, inspecting the path for threats or obstacles as I go.

Tolr'ax wrote:I take the dice, cup, bracelet, ring, and bell. Inspect the ring to see if it would fit on any of my big ole fingers (put it on if it does, in my pack if it doesn't). Inspect the bell to see if it still jingles, if it does, rip a small piece of cloth off my shirt (in my pack) and wrap it in it.

I let my torch light the way as I move down the path to the sound of water, again, inspecting the path for threats or obstacles as I go.

You continue East, though you can't really tell direction in this place. It's a short tunnel, no more than 10 feet, and when it opens, you're hit with more humidity than you expected. It's warmer here, too, and water drips down in a steady stream from above in the center of the room down into a pool perhaps 20 feet across and 10 feet wide. It is, upon inspect, a manmade little lake. From wherever this water had come, so too had more dirt, creating mud, and some sort of seedlings for scattered about the pond and the room in various crevices grew ferns and shrubbery.

To the [north] of the pond, are a series of steps chiseled into the stone heading upwards. It is, however, blocked with debris from above. Lots of rubble.
To the [south] of the pond is another room, about the size of that other waiting room, and it has been ransacked at some point in the past. Shelves carved into the wall have been emptied of their contents - apparently bowls, utensils, and whatnot, much scattered about the floor and worktables - and in one wall there's the tell-tale charring of what was once a hearth. This must've been a kitchen of some sort, but hasn't been in use in quite some time.
To the [east] of the pond the room the room continues on into darkess for another 40-50 feet before dropping down a tunnel at a gentle slant. On the left side of the room heading towards the tunnel, there's some crumbled parts of the wall, large cracks spider-webbing outwards.

There are a few small critters crawling around. Your ultra-alert mind notices some small life in this cavern, centered around the water. A rat skitters away from you towards the undergrowth. Before it gets there, however, a snake strikes from the water, jaws snapping shut as the rat gives out a terror-filled shriek and is then silent. You can hear other signs of movement - a curious centipede crawling over the leaves of a sapling, the soft sound of dirt being moved nearby, muffled as though something is burrowing, and always the steady drip of the water.

Eiznof mutters about his hair frizzing in this humid air.

I plant my torch in the ground, pull out one of my axes and my water skin. I open the skin and take healthy swig of water, and move towards the water, ready to bring down my ax on any snake or other beast that might jump out. I lower the skin into the water to fill it up.

Tolr'ax wrote:I plant my torch in the ground, pull out one of my axes and my water skin. I open the skin and take healthy swig of water, and move towards the water, ready to bring down my ax on any snake or other beast that might jump out. I lower the skin into the water to fill it up.

The water is cool and clear, though your placement of the torch doesn't give the greatest light over said water.

Nothing bites.

I put my waterskin back in my pouch and grab my torch up. Ax still in hand. I move over to the crumbly wall and inspect how weak it is testing it's strength by pushing on it with my ax.