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Despite several pleasant days recently, the weather has turned sour. It is raining, chilly, and windy - not ideal conditions for fighting. However, what must be done must be done, and Kevil awakes at first light, heading out into the muddy streets of Marsember towards Lisl's home. As a matter of fact, Kevil loves the rain - it's a common side effect of having lived most of your life in a desert. He's not so crazy about the "chilly" part, but he wraps a warm wool cloak around his shoulders and tells the innkeeper at the Dragon's Den to have the fire lit in his room around mid-afternoon. As he passes a patrol of Purple Dragons, he overhears the words "never seen no wounds like that afore. Blackened little holes all through 'im. Must be some new sorta spell, I reckon." Curious, Kevil lingers under the eaves of a small bakery, listening. The Dragons continue to discuss the new case, a robbery and possible kidnapping. A local herbalist was found dead in his home, just outside of the city, early yesterday evening with several small wounds. Misshapen lead balls were found in these wounds. His herbal garden had been rampaged through and his home supplies were either smashed or missing. His wife and three young children were also missing. The nearest neighbor, who found the body when going over to let the herbalist know that his chickens were lose again, had heard several loud noises, like thunder, earlier in the day, but had not paid it any attention, as the herbalist was known to practice alchemy on the side. Kevil feels more than a little ill as he approaches the Dragons. "My lords," he says, bowing respectfully, "I could not help but overhear your discussion. I may be able to offer some insight into the problem." He explains as much as he can about guns (comparing them to an arquebus and implying that they are a fairly recent invention) and illithid (if the Dragons haven't heard of illithid already - some *do* live on-world.) He does *not* talk about spelljamming or space, but says that he himself is a traveler, and that he thinks the current menace came from near his home, as it is something he has seen before. He suggests that patrols outside the city travel in groups of no less than five. Once he has answered as many of the Dragons' questions as he can, he continues on to Lisl's house. "There is a problem," he tells Elgara'a. "We must hurry." At Nacheyla's cottage, he fills the two women in on what he learned, and suggests that they do some local hunting, instead. "The hatchlings aren't going very far in the next few days, and out there the nesting 'flayers aren't going to kill anything but animals. Innocents are being destroyed, here." He asks Nacheyla if she can contact Xarroch - his assistance could be helpful. Nacheyla frowns, then brews up a pot of very strong tea, pouring cups all around. "Here, have something to drink, this might take a while." She turns to Elgara'a and presses her lips together firmly. "Please don't take this badly. I won't harm anyone, but I need to use my alternate form to cast this spell." She shimmers and turns into her demoness self. She watches Elgara'a to see if there is an adverse reaction Elgara'a's hand automatically raises in a superstitious warding gesture, but with obvious effort she stops her fingers in mid-motion and brings the hand back down to her lap, covering it with her other. Despite a seemingly relaxed pose, her spine is ramrod-straight. Nacheyla casts her spell, a ritual magic of arcane gestures and harsh, guttural language. She poses, moving her fingers through the air, chanting. At the end of the ritual, she says clearly "Xarroch, it is I, Nacheyla. I need you." She stops, panting with effort, her face and neck glistening with sweat. She takes several deep breaths, then sits down at the table, picking up her tea, which is now slightly tepid. "Now, we wait." Elgara'a hesitates a breath before speaking. "Milady Nacheyla, I intend no insult to you, but... I had thought you... human? If I may ask..." the note of tension in her voice is well restrained, but still obvious. "What *are* you?" Nacheyla blinks a few times and takes a deep breath before speaking. "To be honest with you," she hesitates. "I'm not entirely sure. I was born a human, a little over three hundred years ago." She indicates the yellow star spinning around her head. "Through magical means, my life has been greatly extended. Only recently, because of a miscalculation, I became a child again. Zoya, a good friend, you met her, I think, helped bring me back to adulthood. However, as a chaos mage, she surged and I took the form you see now. About two weeks ago, I discovered that, with an effort of will, I could shift between any form that I had been in, including this one and any age that I have lived through." She shrugs. "As I have found, form dictates thought. In this form, I am a demoness. I retain my memories and my loyalties, but I gain the abilities, and, somewhat distressing, the appetites of a demoness. Fortunately, before this happened, I was given proof that a demon can still serve the forces of good. As you are about to see." Nacheyla looks at Xarroch's portal forming in the room. A point of swirling red and orange light appears in the middle of the room. It quickly expands into a large, flattened oval shape that brushes the floor and the ceiling. Xarroch can be seen as a tiny shape in the center at first, which grows to fill the gateway and emerges from the flat surface like something emerging from a pool of water. An oddly spicy, incense smell follows him. He makes a flat gesture and the swirling orange-red oval collapses and vanishes. Xarroch turns to smile and nod at Kevil and Elgara'a, a smile which widens as he faces Nacheyla. "I am here, Nacheyla. Is everything all right?" Kevil, knowing already Elgara'a's aversion to magic, places himself about halfway between her and Xarroch's entry portal. As quickly as he can, he explains what the Purple Dragons discovered, and what it means. "We'd planned to go stomping out the nests - but I think this is more critical. Can you help?" Elgara'a sags back into her chair with a sigh after half-rising during Xarroch's abrupt entrance. She shoots Kevil a grateful look for his consideration and shakes her head. "It has been too long since I have ventured out among the berrani, where people cast spells as easy as I whistle for a mount... this will take getting used to again." Although her dark face looks a trifle more ashy than usual and her hand has a white-knuckled grip on the small, jeweled, curved dagger at her side, there's a small smile on her lips. "Truly, my elders would say I had fallen into the realm of demons. In sh'allah, I count myself lucky I talked them out of an honor guard." Kevil chuckles a little. "The elders doubtless would have been concerned as soon as you stepped into the first woodland. It is the way of elders." He winks at her. "We count ourselves lucky you escaped their surveillance, as well." He looks expectantly at Xarroch. "Well? Shall you come hunting with us?" Xarroch nods, beginning to grin just a little. "And here I had thought nothing was going to be left behind for us." He flexes his talons a bit in anticipation. "Only some illithids and their young though, eh? Not too straining, but something we shall certainly need to eliminate." The large demon notes Elgara'a's hold on her dagger and smiles a little. "A realm of demons? I can show you the true realm of demons if you truly wish... But rest assured, you are among friends. I hope you shall get used to things, and us, swiftly. For it sounds as if we have little time to deal with this threat before they cause further damage." Elgara'a barely restrains a shudder. "The true...? Thank you, no. I have no desire to place myself at the mercy of Nas'r's minions prematurely. My people are... very wary of much magic, but I have traveled-- and fought-- in these green lands before. And I have fought illithid at home. I shall cope." She bares her teeth in a fierce grin. "And a Bedine may fear, but it will not make his blade the slower." "So. Where will be looking for our tentacled friends and their young?" Xarroch looks at Kevil expectantly. Kevil thinks for only a few minutes, then says, "I think the easiest thing to do would be to start where the Purple Dragons found the most recent evidence of their passing. We should be able to track them from there. "Unless someone else has another idea?" "That sounds like a good idea. If it is recent enough I may be able to pick up a trace of their scent. And that will certainly help eventually." Xarroch grunts for a moment and compacts into his human form, then looks around expectantly. "I take it you know where this place is, Kevil. Lead on." Elgara'a looks somewhat relieved that Xarroch does not offer to handle the travel arrangements, and stands ready to follow. Xarroch grins quietly as he notes the desert woman's relief, but says nothing, waiting for Kevil's response. Kevil nods and leads the group out of the city through the eastern gates. The herbalist/alchemist's house is not far outside the city's walls, and seems almost unnaturally quiet. A notice has been tacked to the front door, reading: "Investigation in Progress. This Home Closed until further notice by Order of the Purple Dragons." Kevil grins at the notice. His body blocks the others' views of the door for a moment, and then the door swings silently open. Kevil bows and gestures for the others to enter. "We probably shouldn't move things around too much - it would be a shame to interfere with an Investigation in Progress - but this is our best bet for picking up tracks or clues." Inside, the one-room house is a mess. Furniture is broken into bits, papers and shattered decorations are scattered everywhere. The wall is peppered with tiny holes, which Kevil explains are the results of the pistol shots. "Whoever it was," he muses, looking at the pattern on one wall, "they weren't very good." There is a large splatter of blood against another wall and pooled on the floor where the house's occupant was apparently finally slain, though the body itself has already been removed by the efficient Dragons. Nacheyla kneels by the pooled blood, touching it lightly with one fingertip. She sniffs at her finger almost delicately, then shrugs. Xarroch looks around at the damage in the room, including the holes from the firearms and the traces of blood. He smells deeply of the room several times, and in different places, even examining parts of the broken furniture. Kevil looks around, then heads out the back door into what had apparently been an herbal garden. It has recently been dug up, the plants tossed aside in pieces. Kevil looks around, frowning. "Illithid aren't usually this... destructive." He looks up, half of a wry smile tweaking his lips. "Not with mere *property*, at least." He points at a footprint in the churned-up garden. "And *that* isn't an illithid's footprint." "What's different about it? I didn't look closely at the feet of the one I saw yesterday," she picks up a broken plant, sniffing at it. Xarroch walks outside to join the others at this point, dropping down to al fours for a moment, heedless of dirt, and examines the plants and footprints closely. "Interesting..." he says quietly. "Illithid usually wear these shoes..." Kevil holds up his hands, as if to mime the shape of the shoes, then shrugs at the futility. "Not like this. Or else they're barefoot, with four toes. This looks like human boots, and they just wouldn't fit a mind flayer." Elgara'a stoops to inspect the footprint and nods, reaching out a finger to trace the pattern almost wonderingly. "At home, it is the same... although never does sand keep so faithful a track." She frowns, and glances across at Nacheyla. "You had spoken before of the bodies of the hippo-people-- mercenaries, the young scholar said. Might there have been other such, working for the other side? Or--" here she looks up at Kevil, "the illithid are strangers here, with no direction. I have heard of a skill they have, to turn others to their will. Perhaps... is there anything here they might have required?" Kevil shrugs. "It's possible, yes. Though why they'd enslave others to destroy this place, rather than merely enslave the one who lived here..." He shrugs again and looks at Nacheyla. "Was there evidence of any man-sized beings on the Maiden?" Nacheyla looks up. "I didn't note any but the Maiden is a tall ship, made for those Giff-things. I suppose there could have been man-sized creatures aboard." Kevil nods absently. "No point trying to guess, then, if we don't have enough facts to work with. We'll find out when we find out." At the south end of the walled garden is a small outbuilding. It exudes thick and foul fumes: sulfur and other chemicals. Kevil wrinkles his nose. "The alchemy lab, I presume... Who wants to be first through the door?" Nacheyla gags at the smell emanating from the small building. Xarroch listens to the talk of illithids footwear fashion with half an ear, but comments on this last, "The little blue creature did not mention any, excepting the chaos mage and psionic that were needed to power the ship." He stands and walks over to the outbuilding, apparently unbothered by the noxious smells. In fact, he smiles slightly. "Ahhh... there's a scent that brings back some memories!" He opens the door casually and peers inside. Elgara'a grins, and produces a pair of soft, yellowish squishy things, which she proceeds to stuff up her nose. "From the ast'ik plant," she explains in a somewhat nasal voice. "For sandstorms. Our camels can close their noses; we humans are not so lucky. I never thought to have a need for them here." Her grin disappears from view as she spreads her headcloth and winds it several times about her face until even her eyes are shrouded by the thin material. "And so... into the sink of Nas'r. And, sahim, if you care for your lives, no fire. I know this stench." She cautiously follows Xarroch inside. Kevil peers carefully through the door, his eyes visibly watering in reaction. The destruction of the house is echoed in the lab, lacking only the bloody finale. There are dozens of smashed glass vials and jars, leaving a ruin of chemicals and other supplies mingling on the tables and floor. One table, surprisingly intact, holds several iron bars. Nacheyla turns to Kevil. "I've never fired an arquebus, but I understand they use some sort of sulfur compound to make the balls fly from the barrel. Do these smaller ones work similarly? If so, that could be what they were after," Nacheyla says, holding one hand over her nose. Kevil nods. "Black powder, or perhaps just the ingredients to make more." He considers. "This actually relieves one of the worries I'd had - that local bandits had stolen the guns from the ship before you found it. If that was the case, they'd have used up what was there, and then probably been at a loss as to what was needed to make more. Whoever did this almost certainly knows something about the guns." Elgara'a looks around, shaking her head at the devastation and gathering the hem of her robes in one hand to keep anything from trailing on the floor as she picks her way through the wreckage. Musingly, she picks up one of the iron bars from the table and carefully turns it over in her hands, studying it with a frown. "Knows about guns... yet not how to hit a target with them? Even a fletcher has some skill with the bow, so that he may prove his arrows will fly straight and true. I confess, I am becoming quite curious to meet this raider." She puts the bar down again and arranges it neatly with its mates to her satisfaction before dusting off her hands and turning to the door.
He looks around quickly, then backs away from the fumes in the shed/lab. "Xarroch, do you think you've got enough of a scent to work with? I'd like to get moving as soon as possible." Xarroch nod, and looks around the alchemy lab again. "I probably have scents to work with... however." He turns and looks at the others, eyes slightly narrowed. "There were thirty different scents inside the house. Five were very similar, and were everywhere. Possibly the occupants and the intruders. There are six different sets of tracks out here.. one set only at the edges of the planting areas. Perhaps that one is the owner and the others intruders?" The demon steps out of the alchemy lab, then looks at Kevil. "How well do you know what is needed for this 'black powder'? Could you identify if perhaps the necessary items are missing?" Kevil shakes his head regretfully. "I don't know very much about them. I've only used one a few times, and I never studied the powder. Zoya might be able to tell us, but..." He shrugs and grins ruefully. "Besides, in this mess, I doubt I'd be able to piece much together anyway. It would take hours, if not days." He heads back toward the house, that being the only way out of the walled garden. "The Purple Dragons may have the kind of resources to mount a full-scale-" He stops abruptly, lifting a hand for silence. "What's that?" Xarroch listens with half an ear to Kevil, still looking around the garden and back at the alchemy lab thoughtfully. He looks back around at Kevil's startled question and walks inside the house quickly. Almost beyond the range of human hearing, they hear a noise that can only be described as "snuffling" coming from... under the floor? The demon cocks his head, then begins pulling up and moving everything covering the floor, rubs, furniture, etc. heedlessly looking for the way down. "I don't know that that is, but we had best find out. I would prefer not to just break the floor, however..." Under the wooden table, resting on a small woven rug, Xarroch finds a small trap door, probably leading to a root cellar. The snuffling noise breaks off with a gasp and a slight scrabbling noise. Xarroch unhesitatingly opens the trap door, obviously ready for something to jump out, or to leap down himself if necessary. Sidestepping the heavy wooden table as a casual shove from Xarroch sends it screeching halfway across the room, Elgara'a ducks her head forward and reaches over her shoulder. A large, ornate, and obviously well used scimitar slides free of the back sheath beneath her robes with a faint ring. With her covered face and foreign blade, she looks very much like a desert raider herself as she holds the sword at guard position and waits for Xarroch to open the door. Two small blue eyes, set in the middle of a very dirty face look up at the group. The small boy's face is slack, as if he has been so terrified for so long that nothing new can bother him. He glances at Elgara'a sword, his lip beginning to tremble, then stares at Xarroch. "I dinna know I was so bad," he speaks quietly, as if to himself. Nacheyla stares at the boy in shock, then shimmers, becoming the human version of herself. She walks slowly over to the child, touching Elgara'a's sword arm lightly. She kneels down in front of the boy. Elgara'a nods minutely and reaches up slowly to slide her scimitar back into its sheath. With the same hand, she unwraps her head coverings and pushes them down to fall around her neck in scarf-like fashion, blinking a little as the fumes sting her eyes. "It's all right," Nacheyla says in a comforting voice. "We're not here to hurt you. Why don't you come on out?" Kevil blinks in astonishment, then puts a hand on Xarroch's arm. "Come," he whispers. "Lady Nacheyla will get more from the child if he is not frightened by our looming." He grins as he draws Xarroch across the room. Xarroch pulls his gaze from the child as he allows Kevil to draw him away, and smiles at he and Elgara'a as he settles on the bench, which creaks under the new strain. He resettles his wings close to his body, and he holds himself non-threateningly. "Yes, hopefully....," he grins for a moment, then chuckles softly. "Looming." The little boy goggles as Kevil approaches the huge demon, as if waiting for Xarroch to rip off the smaller man's arms and feed them to him. "Honey," Nacheyla says, rummaging through her pockets and finally finding what she's looking for, a small furry animal and a clean white handkerchief. "Come here. You want to look at Manfred?" She places the miniature giant space hamster on the floor and sits down cross-legged on the floor. Frowning dubiously, the little boy climbs out of the root cellar, one grubby fist clenched around a half-eaten turnip. Manfred, the space hamster sniffs at the air, then scurries over to the little boy, climbing up his clothing in his efforts to reach the turnip. Grinning, the boy sits down on the floor, never taking his eyes off the space hamster. Nacheyla, in typical motherly fashion, wets her handkerchief and begins cleaning the boy's face with it. Elgara'a backs away as well, hooking a sturdy-looking bench with her boot and offering it to Xarroch with a nod in the child's direction. "Perhaps you would loom not so much were you sitting down, O great one." Her tone is much softer as she turns to address Kevil, but her eyes are angry. "The boy... he was put in that poisonous hole for... punishment?" Kevil has been grinning as he watches Nacheyla clean the boy's face. At Elgara'a's question, he shifts his gaze to the trapdoor, considering. "I'm... not sure," he responds. "His comment might have been in response to Xarroch - that he wasn't so bad as to require demons to take him away." He looks back at Elgara'a. "It's not a poisonous hole. I think it's a storage cellar. Many foods keep better if they are in a cool, dark place. He might have been down there fetching something, and been shut in by the attack." He glances at the boy, and looks back at Elgara'a. "It might have been punishment." Suddenly, he grins. "Though placing a naughty child in a storage place that likely holds the year's supply of jam and honey doesn't seem like much of a punishment." After the boy is relatively clean, Nacheyla sits back. "My name's Nacheyla," she says. "What do they call you?" "Aric," he replies, petting the space hamster, who seems content to be petted, so long as Aric doesn't take the turnip away. "Aric, honey," Nacheyla bites her lip. "Is this your house? Can you tell us what happened?" Aric doesn't look at her, just keeps petting Manfred. "Some men came. Killed my pa, and took ma and Celia and Idamae." "I'm sorry, honey," Nacheyla says, glancing at Kevil. "We're looking for some people who have little sticks that make loud noises. Where those the people who took your ma?" Aric nods, snuffling. "I was down in t' root cellar when they was outside. Ma pushed t' door shut on me, but I could see a bit, thru the floor. There was five men that I saw, having them noisy sticks." "Do you know where they went?" Nacheyla asks him, her voice cracking a little. "Dinna see them, but one of 'em was talkin' 'bout a cave. 'Nother one said sumpin' 'bout headed north, makin' some good time. They had them some horses, I heard 'em. You gonna find my ma?" He starts crying again. Wordlessly, Nacheyla nods, gathering Aric into her arms, rocking him. He sniffles for a while, then falls asleep. "Xarroch, make me a portal back to my house, please. We can't take him with us, and I want to make sure he's safe. I'll go get Vallel to come look after him for a bit, then rejoin you here. See if you can't find horse tracks." Xarroch nods and stands. "Very well... I will set the portal to stay in place until you come back through. If we're forced for some reason to move quickly, we will leave you a sign." Xarroch studiously avoids looking at the child as he conjures the gate in a corner of the room. He marks the floor in front of it by drawing a talon across the floor, then gestures again, and the portal seems to fade away. "That should prevent anyone from seeing it and stumbling through..." Nacheyla steps through the portal, carrying the child. She looks back once as she enters her house, smiles, and is gone. He smiles a slightly at Nacheyla, then motions lightly at Kevil and Elgara'a and heads out the front of the house. He compresses back into his human shape just before steeping out, then looks around the ground and sniffs the air deeply. "There is horse-smell here... I do not know how common they are here, but knowing that our prey went north should help..." Elgara'a follows Kevil and Xarroch out, looking back over her shoulder from the doorway at the deep gouge-mark in the floor marking Xarroch's portal. She shakes her head, and pulls the door carefully shut behind her before removing her nose plugs. "We go now?" It is obvious that the men leaving the house were trying to hide their trail - the tracks have been brushed out, and the group of riders crossed several shallow streams, leaving the water further up the bank than they started. Knowing, however, that the group was headed north, the party is able to pick out small confirming signs of their passage, and, indeed, once, they come across a definite clue. A small rag-doll, missing one button eye and somewhat bedraggled from having fallen in the mud, lays off to one side of the path. As they progress slowly northwards, the forest seems somehow unnaturally quiet. Very few birds sing, and the ones who do silence themselves almost immediately. Further into the forest, the silence grows oppressive, almost hostile. The smell of rotting flesh permeates the air. Behind a thicket of thorn bushes, they find a crude grave, housing several animals and a few people, all with a strange, hollow look to their heads. Several animals have had the tops of their heads removed and everyone can see the emptiness inside the skull. "Haraam!" Elgara'a breathes the word as a quiet curse and retreats a few steps from the open mass grave, revulsion clear on her face. She breathes through her mouth for what little relief that can gain her against the sickly-sweet stench of rotting bodies and looks around. Pressing the thumb of her left hand against the blade to still the sound as she draws her scimitar. She moves to Kevil's side, leaning close to speak in his ear, her speech lispy to keep the sibilants from carrying through the silent woods. "When thith ith done... we return to care for thezhe. Our prey should be near, yeth?" The party stands, aghast, looking at the corpses when they hear a slight noise behind them. Kevil spins, crouching into a defensive stance. Nacheyla stands behind them, panting quietly. "Whew!" She leans over on, resting her hands on her knees. "I haven't done much running recently." Xarroch looks around the area, seeking prints and scents. <Xarroch> Welcome back, Nacheyla... ::gives her a smile:: Nacheyla looks over them at the crude grave. <Nacheyla> How horrible! Kevil relaxes at Nach's appearance. "Illithid." Elgara'a pulls her blade up short when she sees who approaches, and points at the pit, speaking softly. "They rarely bother to carry their trash far from where they eat. We are near." <Kevil> ::nods:: Kevil glances around nervously. "I don't suppose any of you are capable of generating psionic wards, are you?" Nacheyla shudders, pulling her bladeless sword from its sheath. "We'll teach them to think of humans as trash, shall we?" <Xarroch> Wards for others? Hmm.. I could shield those who are very close to me, somewhat. <Kevil> ::grins at Nacheyla:: Well, this bunch of them, at least. Nacheyla looks around, wrinkling her nose. "What is that *smell*?" <Kevil> ::to X:: Well, shield yourself, at least, and anyone who's close enough... Xarroch nods and concentrates for a moment <Kevil> The rest of us will just have to move as fast as we can. <Elgara'a> ::frowning:: We can teach them nothing. We can only kill them. And that quickly, before they may attack *us*. <Xarroch> It is done.. those close to me will benefit... <Kevil> ::to Nach:: You mean *aside* from the bodies? <Nacheyla> ::nods:: Like... rotten fish... ::points slightly to the west of the grave:: From over there. Kevil steps closer to Nach and sniffs carefully, then nods. "That would be them. Ready?" <Xarroch> ::nods:: I am ready. Nacheyla pulls out several ioun stones, setting them whizzing around her head. "Yep." Elgara'a steps slightly closer to Xarroch, wraps her headcloth tight again, and nods. Kevil grins ferally. "I'd suggest staying as close to Xarroch as possible until you're close enough to strike, and then moving as fast as you can to take them out." <Xarroch> ::grins:: I won't go too fast for you, then... ready? go! Xarroch dashes forward, careful not to outrun the others Kevil lets El and Nach take positions at Xarroch's sides, and stays close behind him as they move through the forest. Elgara'a follows closely at Xarroch's right heel. As they move forward, past the thicket, they see a several bandits lounging around in a clearing. Several horses are tethered at the far end of the clearing. Five rough looking men are lounging around a fire. Nearby, in an iron cage, are two young girls, an older woman, and a half-elf, all dirty, exhausted, and hopeless. Off center from the fire is a dark crevice in the earth, leading down into darkness. Kevil 's face darkens as he surveys the scene. "Don't forget about the guns," he whispers, and then he almost literally disappears into the foliage. Scruffy Guy goes over to the crevice, calling down "Hey, squiddies, breakfast is here!" Xarroch circles a little towards the prisoners, looking around intently for other people or illithids, then launches himself into the nearest bandit, pushing him into the fire as he bears him down. The man screams as he falls into the fire, several tons of large angry demon on top of him, then scrabbles backwards desperately trying to rid himself of a leather pouch on one hip. A large explosion erupts from the man's powder kit, spraying the clearing with fire and shrapnel. Nearly invisible, Kevil works his way around the clearing toward the cage. He keeps a close eye on the action, but remains intent on his task. Nacheyla hits the ground, rolling and protecting her face as the explosion rocks the clearing. Elgara'a curses, and pushes on Xarroch's elbow, indicating the cave. "They will be there... go! Keep them in! We will deal with these first." She spins away with a high, ululating cry, slicing at a bandit closing in from behind. Xarroch nods and stomps the bandit into the flame and rushes for the cave Scruffy Guy turns from the crevice, pulling out his pistol and aiming carefully, he points the weapon at the screaming desert woman and pulling the trigger. Nacheyla finishes her roll about two feet in front of one of the bandits, flips lightly to her feet and rams three feet of non-existing blade into his chest. Strangely, he reacts as if pierced by actual steel, blood running from his mouth and back. Xarroch charges into the cave, eyes adjusting quickly to the darkness and scanning for the illithid Elgara'a turns from her bandit and drops suddenly, rolling on the ground as a bit of hot shrapnel catches fire to her sleeve. The cave is dark, humid, and smelly. Only a few feet down, the floor is puddled and damp. The tunnel leads downward at a slight decline. A quiet *chink* sounds from the back of the prisoners' cage, barely noticeable over the din of combat. Xarroch continues quickly down the tunnel, scanning for illithids, and for any obvious traps. Nacheyla pulls her sword from the chest of the dead man, whipping around to look at the man with the gun. As Xarroch progresses, the smell in the cave grows thick with brine. <Kevil> ::another quiet *chink* sounds:: Scruffy Guy turns, fires at Kevil, then drops the small pistol, pulling another from under his vest. Elgara'a looks up as a bullet whines inches from her skull, and scans for the pistol, dodging around the other remaining bandit as she engages him to present a harder target. One of the bandits, eyeing the group of adventurers who have appeared out of nowhere, suddenly remembers a pressing engagement he had somewhere else, and heads for his horse. Xarroch grins slightly and continues down quickly, flexing his talons and casting a quick spell on himself Kevil realizes he's been spotted and stops trying to be quiet. The back of the cages gives a shriek of protesting metal as he pulls it open, having disassembled one set of hinges. "Come on, out!" he orders the prisoners. The prisoners, obviously exhausted and terrified, stumble out of the cage. Kevil dives for the fleeing bandit, tackling and carrying him into the undergrowth. The fleeing bandit tries to push Kevil away with one hand while tugging on the butt of his pistol with the other. Kevil grabs the bandit's hair in one tight fist, his scruffy beard in the other, and yanks *hard*, breaking his neck. Scruffy Guy reaches into his pouch, pulling out a small gold wand. He pauses for a moment, as if listening to a voice no one else can hear, then points the wand at the crevice. The earth shakes, as if hit by a sudden quake, and the crevice seals itself in a flood of rock and debris. Elgara'a dispatches her bandit with a handful of dagger to the belly and grabs him as he sags, using him as a human shield as she advances on the scruffy man. <Nacheyla> Xarroch! ::screams as the shaking earth throws her to the ground:: Scruffy Guy points the wand at the ground at Elgara'a feet, sinking her suddenly knee deep in mud. Kevil disentangles himself from the bandit and sits up, looking over at the source of the noise. His eyes narrow and he heads into the clearing, focused on the bandits' obvious leader. He has entirely shed his genial bard's demeanor in favor of something more like a panther on the prowl. Xarroch looks back as the mouth of the cave collapses... grimaces and moves very quickly in deeper, making sure there is nothing down here... Elgara'a growls and begins to extricate herself from the sudden sinkhole. "Filthy borjuni! You fight like a coward and a woman!" Something slithers in the cave, behind Xarroch. Scruffy Guy reaches into his pouch again, throwing a handful of shivs at the struggling Elgara'a. Nacheyla stands gingerly, limping towards the Scruffy Man and the crevice, her face twisted in pain. Kevil takes advantage of the bandit leader's attack on Elgara'a to launch into a full-speed attack. Xarroch grins slightly as he seems to notice something, and leaps at the nearest illithid hidden in the darkness, grabbing it by the head and smashing the creature into the stone walls. Elgara'a ducks, yanking the lifeless bandit a little higher from the muck with an obscene squelching sound and using him for cover. She doesn't duck quite quickly enough, and one shiv cuts her headcloth loose from her face and lays open a two-inch gash along her skull. The Illithid slumps to the ground in a puddle of crushed bone and black ichor. Kevil tackles the bandit leader no more gently than his compatriot, knocking him to the ground and landing neatly kneeling on his chest. Scruffy Guy turns in time to see Kevil's charge, but not in time to respond. He falls heavily to the ground, then roars, pushing Kevil off. He gets to his knees, pulling another pistol from under his vest. Kevil grins again and rolls immediately into a defensive crouch, his hands ready in front of him. "Come on, then." Scruffy Guy smiles, revealing brown and rotting teeth. "Goodbye, hero." He pulls the trigger. Elgara'a hisses as blood wells from the cut, obscuring her left eye as it drips down her face. She ducks deeper into the muck for a moment and re-emerges without her jellaba, looking for all the world like a moth emerging from its nest. <Xarroch> Next! ::turns and finds the other illithid, having tried to form a crossfire with the mental blasts, and runs it down, breaking the body with his hands even as her rends it with his talons, then tosses aside the lifeless husk:: Nacheyla limps over faster, lurching along on her broken ankle. "Kevil! Get down!" Kevil leaps as the bandit pulls the trigger, and falls short with a bitten-off yell of pain as the pistol-shot turns his leg into a bloody mess. <Nacheyla> Damn! ::she lunges forward, her bladeless hilt in her hand:: Xarroch sniffs the air and heads in deeper, following a scent... Scruffy Guy dodges Nacheyla's charge, shoving her in the small of the back as she passes him, knocking her to the ground again. Elgara'a pulls her lips back from her teeth in a silent snarl. Finally free of the muddy pit, she launches herself at Kevil's attacker from behind, scimitar leading the attack. <Kevil> Va d'na! ::he pulls himself back into a crouch, looking awkward with his wounded leg sprawled behind him.:: Kevil looks around wildly and pulls himself toward one of the fallen bandits, groping for his belt knife. Elgara'a runs the man through from behind, her blade emerging from his chest and spraying Kevil with a warm, red shower. She leans forward to hiss in his ear as he sags. "Die like a coward, then. And may the jackals tear your corpse." Xarroch continues until he finds a pool of "briny gook".. at least partly water, and looks at the illithid tadpoles swimming there. He leans down and begins scratching and squashing them Nacheyla rolls over, wincing. Gritting her teeth, she pulls her sword out of her stomach, where she landed on it when she fell. The Scruffy guy falls forwards, slithering off Elgara'a's blade with a steely hiss. Kevil looks at the blade emerging from the bandit's chest, grins at Elgara'a, and drops the knife. He pulls himself over to Nacheyla. "How bad is it?" Nacheyla coughs. "Not good." She pulls up her loose tunic to look at the wound. Livid red blood is seeping from the wound, bubbling as she inhales. <Nacheyla> Damn ::she flinches:: I can't believe I fell on my own damned sword. Are they all dead? Elgara'a wipes her blade on the fresh corpse, and then wipes her face, grimacing as her hand comes away bloody. "Stay still, effendi. I could ask you the same question." She hisses as she sees Nacheyla's wound. Xarroch finishes off the last of the illithid young and swipes away the water-stuff, making certain there are no more, then stalks back to the closed cave mouth <Kevil> ::nods at Nacheyla's question:: Aside from whatever friend Xarroch faces. ::he glances at the collapsed crevasse:: Which he will have to do alone. Nacheyla laughs weakly. "I didn't think to bring a shovel, did you?" <Elgara'a> They are dead. ::she looks over her shoulder:: And we can only pray that Xarroch is not... he would not kill his own masters, I think. ::she drops to her knees and tears a strip from her already-soaked headcloth:: You will not die. We will not let you. ::she grins:: Kevil grins - or perhaps grimaces - at Elgara'a. "I can't believe we didn't think to bring a healer." Nacheyla lays back on the ground. "You'll need ::cough:: to seal the lung. Push down. ::cough::" <Elgara'a> I have some knowledge of healing, but no magic. ::she frowns:: We must stop the air from escaping her lung, or it will collapse... I need something to make a seal. Kevil picks the bandit's knife up again, and uses it to slice away a large piece of blood-soaked leather from the bandit's vest. "Here. It's filthy, but air will not pass." Elgara'a nods, her hand already over the wound. <Xarroch> ::looks at the cave in and sighs:: How annoying. ::he begins clearing rocks away quickly:: <Kevil> ::looks around:: The prisoners...? Where did they go? Did anyone see? The half-elven man comes up behind Kevil, handing him a small tin flask. "Here," he says in badly accented common. "Liquor. Ease your pain. Thank you."
<Half Elf> The lady is tending her girls, in the water. Kevil smiles with relief and takes a long drink from the flask. "My thanks." He sighs at the liquor hits. Elgara'a resheathes her scimitar with her free hand, and begins searching under her robes, fumbling with a buckle and finally freeing a pouch from her waist. "Here... third compartment, the gray powder. I only pray there is some still dry. It will make a seal. The half-elf kneels by Elgara'a. "What can do to help you?" <Elgara'a> I do not have a free hand to mix it, if you will, sahim...? <Kevil> ::to the half-elf:: Are they all right? The half-elf opens the pouch, then turns to Kevil, briefly. "Sad. Men kill their sire. Madam, do what with powder?" Xarroch moves some of the larger rocks, watching the cave roof to make sure it won't cause further cave ins, then proceeds with the work <Elgara'a> Nacheyla, lie quiet... try not to struggle for breath, it will only make it worse. You will have air soon. ::looking at the half-elf:: A little wine... mix it, and spread it on that... ::points to the thick bit of leather:: Nacheyla tries to take a breath and a strange, bubbling noise comes from her wound. She turns an interesting shade of green, then slumps back, unconscious. The half elf follows her directions, making a slimy gray paste over the dirty leather. <Kevil> ::nods, assuming the half-elf's words mean they are not physically harmed, and lays back on the ground, taking short breaths and counting leaves on the trees above:: * Elgara'a holds out her hand for the patch, watching Nacheyla carefully. The half-elf hands it to her. "Can do anything else? For you, sir? Will fetch some water?" <Kevil> ::nods slowly:: Water would be good, both for drinking and cleaning.. And tell the woman and her girls not to stray too far, in case there are more of them. <Elgara'a> As long as it bubbles, the lung has not collapsed... ::sites the patch and slaps it down on Nacheyla's bare skin, holding it firmly and counting under her breath. Udelliath moves quickly to the stream, talks briefly with the woman and her daughters, then fills a bucket with water, bringing it back. Kevil pulls himself into a sitting position and begins to carefully slice at his pants, pulling the cloth away from the multiple shot-wounds, hissing softly with the pain. <Udelliath> Here is water for you, sir. The women, they come. <Elgara'a> ::eases pressure on Nacheyla's side a little and starts to bind the wound, wiping her face again as she does so and pausing for a moment to brace herself as the world seems to tilt for a moment.:: <Kevil> Thank you. ::he uses his cupped hands to take several drinks of water, then resumes cutting the cloth away from his leg:: Nacheyla's face begins to return to normal color, and she gasps for a breath, then another. <Elgara'a> ::beckoning the elf:: Pour a little of that here... let me check the seal. ::indicates the new patch:: Udelliath takes a double handful of water, pouring it carefully over the seal. No air seems to be seeping from Nacheyla's lung. Kevil looks around, sighs, and pulls one sleeve from his shirt to begin cleaning his leg. "Bandages," he mutters. "Must remember to carry bandages." Elgara'a watches keenly for telltale bubbles, and sighs in relief as there are none. "Praise be to Kazah... she will have infection, but the healers will be able to cure her." Udelliath kneels down near Kevil. "Why did you come here?" <Elgara'a> ::grins and sits up carefully, looking over at Kevil and wordlessly removing her headcloth, handing him several yards' worth of thin, fine silk.:: Kevil picks up the bandit's knife again and carefully uses it to pry a piece of shot from one wound. "Ah!" He glances at Udelliath. "We have been hunting the illithid." <Udelliath> Can help with that? ::he holds his hand out for the knife:: The 'lithids? the Squid-monsters? Kevil smiles gratefully at Elgara'a as he takes the silk. He continues to use his sleeve to clean his wounds, keeping the silk to tied the bandage. Xarroch grumbles something about it being easier to teleport back and wait, but continues clearing the rocks Kevil eyes the half-elf for a moment, then shrugs and hands him the knife. "My hands are going to start shaking in a minute, anyway. Yes, the squid-monsters. They're also called 'mind-flayers'. <Udelliath> ::eyes the wound dubiously:: Take drink. This one is deep. ::he puts a gentle hand on Kevil's leg, the hold it in place:: Ready? <Elgara'a> ::shakes her head and moves over to his side, handing Kevil a folded-up bit of leather:: Here. You will need it. * Kevil takes a deep drink from the flash. He gives El a grateful look as he puts the leather between his teeth, clenches his fists, and nods at the half-elf to indicate readiness. The rocks shift and skitter on the outside of the cave in as more of the support from inside is removed, and a small hole forms at the top. Udelliath sets his jaw, then dips the knife into Kevil's wound, prying the small iron ball out of the calf muscle. Elgara'a looks up, and scrambles to her feet, drawing her blade and swaying for a moment as dizziness claims her again. <Kevil> ::lets out a grunt of pain that turns into a prolonged moan. He gasps as the ball is freed:: <Kevil> ::looks at El with some concern:: Lady? What is amiss? <Udelliath> Is last one. Is good. ::lays the knife on the grass, pouring water over the bleeding wound:: Elgara'a puts a hand to her head for a moment and takes several deep breaths before crossing to the caved-in cave and putting a finger to her lips. She holds her scimitar in an overhand grip and waits on the other side of the wall of rock. <Kevil> ::sighs:: I'm glad to hear that, my friend. If there was another, I might have decided to just leave the damned thing in there. He tosses the leather to the ground. Udelliath looks over at El, picks up the knife and stands, slightly crouched, in a defensive posture. Kevil starts to roll into a crouch, but looks at his leg. He sighs and begins to wrap El's silk around his leg. <Xarroch> ::a few Xarroch-grunts can be heard as more rocks shift and the hole gets bigger:: Udelliath creeps forward on silent feet, joining Elgara'a on the other side of the cave in. Elgara'a tenses, keeping an eye sharp for purple tentacles, waiting to see what will emerge from the hole. Kevil glances at the woman and her children at the stream to make sure they're out of the way, and pulls himself carefully up to stand on his good leg. <Xarroch> ::with another grunt, the hole gets much larger, collapses both inward and outward, and Xarroch is now visible on the far side, chucking a boulder deeper into the cave <Elgara'a> Xarroch! ::she lets out a sigh and relaxes her stance... crumpling bonelessly to the ground as stress and bloodloss get the better of her and she passes out:: <Kevil> Elgara'a! ::starts to run forward, and collapses, cursing, when he forgets about his leg.:: Udelliath swallows hard, his eyes wide. He tightens his grip on the knife handle, obviously preparing to attack. <Kevil> ::in a loud, but calm, voice:: It's okay. He's a friend. <Kevil> ::to X:: Have you any healing skill? <Udelliath> ::whips around, spinning on his heel:: You lie? ::his face is incredulous:: <Xarroch> ::peers out the hole:: Damn. Yes. Give me a moment, and this will be large enough.... <Kevil> ::shakes his head:: No. No lie. He came to help us. He killed the one bandit - you saw, before I opened the cage, yes? Udelliath staggers backwards several steps before tripping over the comatose Elgara'a. Xarroch lifts another huge boulder, rocks and gravel dust showering from it, and tosses it back into the cave, then crawls out the larger hole <Kevil> ::to X:: Nacheyla should probably be your first priority. Then Elgara'a. I'm at least conscious. <Xarroch> ::looks around:: What happened? The illithids are taken care of... Xarroch moves over to Nacheyla's side and kneels beside her, assessing the wounds and laying his hands on her for a healing spell... they close slowly, then vanish. Nacheyla sighs, blinks a few times, and opens her eyes. Xarroch leans over and kisses Nacheyla tenderly. He gives her a smile, and moves over next to Elgara'a, giving her the same treatment. <Nacheyla> ::coughs:: Nice to see you... is everything all right? <Xarroch> Everything is fine, Nacheyla... except that you all were rather wounded while I took care of the illithids. Elgara'a groans, sits up, and frowns. "Why am I on the ground?" <Elgara'a> Her eyes widen after a moment, and she looks around wildly. "The illithid! Are they--?" <Xarroch> Dead... do not move so quickly, I can only heal so much. <Elgara'a> ::puts her hand to her head wonderingly:: You... can *heal*? Nacheyla climbs gingerly to her feet, wincing. She eyes Kevil, then limps over to the edge of the woods, cutting two tree branches. She limps back, using one as a crutch, then hands the other to Kevil. Kevil smiles at Nach as he takes the crutch and pulls himself to his feet again. "Thank you." <Xarroch> ::nods at Elgara'a, only a hint of a smile leaking out:: Of course. And what of you? ::turns to Kevil:: Where are you hurt? And the people you rescued, are they all right? ::looks around at them:: The woman is crouched near one of the tents, her arms around her children. Kevil points to the blood-soaked silk wrapped around his leg and grins ruefully. "I forgot when I jumped that he was such a lousy shot. Perhaps I should have remained still." <Kevil> ::to Nach:: Perhaps you should talk to her? The rest of us are a little intimidating, I fear. Besides, she'll want to know where her son is, I think. Udelliath picks himself up off the ground, brushing his hands together. "Madam, he is your friend? I never see one like him?" Nacheyla nods, limping over to the woman and talking quietly with her. <Elgara'a> They are all right. ::she nods carefully in the direction of the woman and children:: And this one was ready to take on the illithid with us. ::nodding to the half-elf:: Xarroch crouches beside Kevil and removes the bandage, probing the wound with surprising gentleness, then proceeds to heal it. Kevil sighs with relief as the healing sets in. "Ah... Much better." He grins. "You are a useful one to have in a fight, d'va?" <Xarroch> ::grins as he stands:: I like to think so. <Elgara'a> ::to the half-elf:: Yes, he is a friend. ::grinning a little:: And I have never seen his like, either. I am Elgara'a ibn Al Shudhyr, of the Raz'hadi Bedine. You were very brave, to face this one." She nods to Xarroch again, and grins. "Would you honor me with your name? Nacheyla looks over, laughing. "Much more useful than I am. Fall on my own sword, indeed!" Udelliath bows gracefully. "Udelliath Jairus, Madam. Thinking you are very brave, as well. Am much thanking you, for my life and freedom." Kevil walks over to the half-elf, stepping carefully on his recently healed leg. "Kevil Talarin." He offers his hand. <Udelliath> Thanks to you as well, sir. ::shakes Kevil's hand:: <Xarroch> ::nods to Elgara'a and Udelliath:: Xarroch. And what's this about falling on your own sword? ::raises an eyebrow at Nacheyla:: Nacheyla flushes. "Well, I broke my ankle when the earth shook. Then, that man ::points to the Scruffy Guy:: shot Kevil with that black-powder weapon. And I charged him. He was quick, and I fell again. Landed on my sword." <Kevil> ::nods his acceptance of Udell's thanks:: How did you come to be their prisoner? You are not from here? <Elgara'a> ::she starts to return his bow, puts a hand to her head again, and restrains herself to a nod and a hand-gesture:: Your life and freedom are your own, Master Jairus. It was only honorable that we seek to return what was stolen from you. <Udelliath> Have been traveling much. Was struck from behind, woke up in cage. <Kevil> ::frowns:: How long ago? <Udelliath> Was two days since. <Elgara'a> ::sneering at the corpse of their scruffy leader:: Cowardly borjuni, indeed. This one earned his death. Elgara'a kicks his body. <Kevil> ::frowns:: Two days? ::he looks around:: Are there any others? <Udelliath> Were others caged, before. Squid... Illithids came, took them away. Hearing screaming from the hole. <Kevil> ::nods:: I meant, other bandits. Or did we take care of all of them here? ::he gestures at the bodies:: <Elgara'a> ::nodding:: We shall tend to the other victims later. <Udelliath> Oh. ::shakes his head:: Not see any others. Have made bargain, them. Squi... Illithids make powder for gun, men catch food for them. <Xarroch> ::shakes his head:: Nasty business. <Kevil> ::blinks:: They *dealt* with them? ::shakes his head:: I thought they'd been enslaved. <Udelliath> ::he shrugs:: Not think so. Nacheyla gets up, wincing. She leads the woman and her daughters over to the group. <Kevil> ::shakes his head:: The evils of men... ::he looks back at Udell:: We're not far from Marsember. You're welcome to travel back with us. <Udelliath> Will come. Thank again for kindness. <Xarroch> ::nods sadly:: Too much evil around, I think. ::looks critically at everyone:: Are we all right to travel? Or would it be prudent to make a camp nearby to rest and eat and recover somewhat? Elgara'a moves creakily over to the mudhole, and, with a few yanks, frees her dirt-encrusted jellaba from the muck. She looks at it with a sigh, and rolls it carefully. "Thank the spirits for launderers." Nacheyla limps over to the horses, gathering them together. <Nacheyla> Some of us can ride, I think. Kevil nods again to Udell before crossing to El. "Are you well?" Nacheyla boosts the two girls up onto one of the geldings, before giving the mother a leg up. <Elgara'a> ::looking at the half-elf:: How long has it been since they fed you last? <Udelliath> Ate ::thinks:: Mid-day, two days since. <Elgara'a> Well enough, now. ::she fingers her scalp again, looking away in consternation as she realizes she's bare-headed:: His knife creased my skull... I shall be the better for a meal. ::looking at Nacheyla:: Perhaps food first, and then we may go? <Kevil> ::grins at El:: You have food? <Elgara'a> A little... a bit of lunch, at least. I did not know how long our hunt would be, this morning. ::looking around the camp:: And I'm sure these ones have no more need for their stores. <Nacheyla> Oh! I hadn't thought about that, actually. I think I have some rations in my pouch. ::starts digging through her belt pouch:: <Xarroch> I'm afraid I have nothing... <Elgara'a> ::curiously, if a trifle hesitantly:: What is it that you eat, ke'beera? Nacheyla finds some dried fruit, then helps the mother and her daughters back off the horse. <Kevil> ::blinks:: Bandages *and* food. I am blessed in company. ::he grins:: But not hungry. I am never hungry for food after a battle. He walks over to the horses and pulls himself into a saddle to wait. Nacheyla limps over to the bandits' tents and finds some brown bread, a hard cheese, and a bottle of red wine. Elgara'a glances over to where Kevil waits, and, biting her lip, turns away, unwinding her belt sash and reaching up to work it into a turban over her bloodied black braids. <Nacheyla> ::looks at El:: There's a hooded cloak in that tent, if you want it. Xarroch looks at Elgara'a curiously, then walks over to Nacheyla Elgara'a sighs in satisfaction as she drops her arms and nods her thanks to Nacheyla, dropping her victual-filled pouch on Nacheyla's pile before making her way to the tent. <Xarroch> ::quietly:: Should I go take care of the bodies we found earlier? Everyone here seems wounded and weak... Nacheyla nods to Xarroch. "Could you, please?" Xarroch takes Nacheyla's hand and gives it a small squeeze, then stalks off into the forest in the direction of the ugly mass-grave Elgara'a emerges after a moment with the cloak wrapped around her shoulders and settles down to their makeshift lunch. "Perhaps not quite as relaxing a day as I had envisioned, but... I think we have done well today." Nacheyla looks after Xarroch fondly as she sits down for some lunch, breaking the bread and handing out pieces. ::fade to black:: |
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