< New Beginnings 02 | Campaign Logs | New Beginnings 04 >
SESSION 3 - The Hole in the Ground
ST ::Balthasar's voice starkly echoed across the hilltop settlement, leaving an audible void of silence in its passing. The speaker stood there, in the center of the settlement, before the Feast Hall itself. Slowly, the Hill People began to respond...::
ST ::Most turned to regard the merchant, their eyes alight with a mixture of admiration and fear. Akin to how one would regard a great hero, a chieftan, or perhaps even a God. The women came out of their homes, turning their dirty faces toward the speaker, while Warriors filed out of the Feast Hall itself, eyes more wary.::
ST ::They filled the small square in the center of the village, standing as they could to get a look at the one who had called them...::
ST ((Balthasar, reaction but no action yet. Rest of the Circle, you might wanna array yourself behind Balthasar or add your own words.))
Balthasar coruscates with pale golden light. His arms fall to his side, and he raises his gaze to comb the heads of the people gathering.
Balthasar waits, his bearing imperious.
Crazy-Cabal stands beside Balthasar, silent for the moment.
haren stands near Balthasar, having for the first time in this village, removed her helm fully, to let her scarred face show. "Listen people to the words of this man! For we come for the good of all here."
Skyla and her hammer step up behind Balthasar, and to his left, in the position of the Twilight sun. The half-filled circle of her castemark glows on her brow. "You know me," she adds quietly, "And I vouch for my friend's words - they are true, kind, and just."
Masati naturally finds her appropriate spot and stands quietly in the background
Horin`Skychaser ::A voice breaks the silence...::
Horin`Skychaser "You are known to us; you're friend, however, is a stranger."
Horin`Skychaser ::It is a strong voice, brimmed with confidence and an air of authority. One used to being listened to; a leader. A voice that calms the others.::
Horin`Skychaser ::The Chieftan, Horin Skychaser, stands in the entranceway of the Feast Hall and glances down at the Solar arrayed below him. Hard gray eyes stray from him to Skyla, one he knows, and he nods as if in understanding before returning his attention to the one who spoke out earlier.::
Horin`Skychaser ::He is a tall handsome man, with long black hair and a scruffy unshaved face. Dressed in dull colorless clothing somewhat better made than most of the Hill People, looking more like a peasant than a hillsman. He even sports a few scattered pieces of armor, and a heavy overbalanced sword at his side.::
Horin`Skychaser ::Two warriors brace him, one to either side, fierce and protective...yet currently not in any real state of alert.::
Skyla "I ask only that you listen to him. You can choose whether or not to heed his words."
Horin`Skychaser regards the gathered Heroes of the Dawn.
Balthasar 's face remains neutral. Lit by the dancing waves of sunlight that pour forth from within him, his chin raised, he does indeed appear the very image of a perfect, ageless God.
Balthasar locks his gaze, eventually, with that of Skychaser's.
Balthasar says nothing, for a long time, instead letting the sudden silence linger uncomfortably.
Finnre`Merayen stands there, a scarred and terrible figure, yet one who's face is shaped with kindess. It is obvious that some of her wounds are caused through battle.
Horin`Skychaser maintains the silence, meeting Balthasar's intense stare with just the slightest amount of weakness -- he is obviously intimidated, but is also a proud and willful enough man to not let it show.
Balthasar 's demeanor changes, and a note of mercy seems to slowly reshape his countenance. His body turns slightly in Skyla's direction, and he inclines his head towards her. Then he looks back to the village. "Your people are not unknown to me. But these ways of yours, they are - yet, I suspect that few could stand before the might of the Silver God."
Jackal glances at Skyla and shrugs, not wanting to say anything to ruin Balthasar's speech.
Horin`Skychaser merely remains silent, for the time being, listening to what Balthasar has to say and keeping a guarded tongue...
Skyla nods, with a sad look on her face at the mention of their new ways.
Balthasar 's face firms up, then. "Was it that you felt alone, driven before these whims? What was it, I wonder? To forget of the natural order of things so thoroughly, you must have felt as though you suddenly walked on blades of grass, wrought of sharp metals, instead of soft greenery."
Balthasar Yet, though you have taken this road to protect yourselves, there is a compliance within you all. I see the shame written on every face as I pass!
Balthasar frowns slightly.
Balthasar Do you deny the difficulty you have now, in even facing us, knowing what we are?
Balthasar Deny it, if you will.
Horin`Skychaser "I would deny nothing. I don't doubt that you are quite powerful, and your numbers speak of that even more. More importantly, you are here in my Settlement, where as the Silver Gods are distant."
Horin`Skychaser "But this does not mean that the Silver Gods are any less powerful."
Horin`Skychaser "Nor that their wrath would be any easier for us to endure."
Balthasar listens calmly, his eyes locked on Skychaser again.
Horin`Skychaser ::Several of the other Villagers respond; more than a few know that there is no shame in war, but all of them had known friendship with the people of Nulam and few seek to argue with a god about such... Indeed, Balthasar notes, a few figures from the crowd lived in the Village within his memory.::
Balthasar nods slowly, after a moment.
Balthasar steps forward, advancing on the gathered Hillfolk.
Horin`Skychaser gestures for everyone to be calm.
Horin`Skychaser manuevers as well, walking down the steps from the Feast Hall, toward the gods...
Masati quietly waits in the background, watching the crowd
Balthasar You are not all strangers to us. Some of you, even I can name. Tell me, then, how you could be turned against your neighbors. Tell me, then, how it is that the glory of a God could be such that it would not invoke your pride, invoke you against the things which truly threaten you.
Horin`Skychaser "The glory of a God is one thing," he rebutts, "the threat of his retribution is quite another."
Horin`Skychaser "And though you could not know it, our people have waited for such as this for countless seasons."
Balthasar sets in on the comment immediately, his power flooding suddenly through him, pouring from his mouth, his eyes, the folds in his longcoat in unbroken rays of pale white-gold light.
Finnre`Merayen stares at Horin fiercely, stepping forth on Balthasar's right, formidible and ready... she lays a hand upon Balthasar's shoulder, waiting for her time to speak.
Horin`Skychaser ::The rest of the circle remains in the background as well, buffering Balthasar's speech with their very presence...::
Balthasar roars, "So," his fist raises in front of him. "You would trade one wrath for another? You would diminish yourselves in the eyes of the spirits who have *Always Been With You*, for the sake of a young beast-lord, to whom you are chattel, to take and spend as he deems?"
Horin`Skychaser melts, momentarily, under your strong attack -- but seems to come back, under it, as if the force of it boiled up inside him and came back at you...
Horin`Skychaser "You act as if we have always been strong friends, your people and mine? Look around you, Defender of the River Valley. What have you given us? We shelter, cold, on bare hilltops. We sleep in the dirt."
Horin`Skychaser "You take our women, occasionally send us a small part of your great bounty and wealth, and call yourself friends."
Horin`Skychaser looks shocked, as if afraid for having said that, but holds fast...
Balthasar dismisses the rebuttal with the wave of his hand, which still shines with criss-crossing beams of light. "And so your choice is laid bare, and I see you for what you are. You have not traded one wrath for another - you have traded a small blow to your pride, for a lifetime of servitude. How sad."
Finnre`Merayen begins to remove her armor as she steps forward. "And the price to be paid is not one by him, but by you. Should your men be lucky, they will look as I do. This is the price paid to be one who battles beside those and against those who would call themselves gods. The unlucky shall find shallow graves or worse. I have battled long and hard, and look at how I paid!"
Balthasar nods to Merayen, and supplements her statement with another, "If you had come and spoken to us, you would have been brought in. If you had come and asked for sustenance, it would have been granted. If you had been humble enough to ask for our help, we would have known you needed it. You have never asked."
Horin`Skychaser seems to focus on Balthasar, for the moment, though he hears Merayen's words and can see her actions -- many of the Villagers, especially, are focusing on her...
Horin`Skychaser "No, Godling, you shall listen to me for a nonce. You are correct in that we have chosen, but it is a choice made long ago, with Gods that have served us for long years. As for service, and choice, a pride? Is what you would offer any better?"
Horin`Skychaser "Yet for all that, what did we truly choose?"
Horin`Skychaser "Do you think we are the only settlement, or even the main one, to attack your village? A few young hotheads, angry and bitter, who have been angry and bitter long before the arrival of the God."
Horin`Skychaser "These hills are hot with our people, but you come to use, accuse us, throw bitter words in our face..."
Horin`Skychaser shakes his head...
Balthasar squares off with Skychaser, not backing down in the slightest, "You call me Godling, yet you have no concept of my responsibilities. Yea, though I speak to you now, a long road stretches before me. You are but my first concern."
Balthasar And fear not that my hand will not be felt across this entire countryside.
Balthasar narrows his eyes, "For it will."
Finnre`Merayen finishes baring herself. "And no you know the price your men, your children, your families and friends will pay. Why do you still agree to this? If you fear him, we will protect you as we would protect any who ask. I ask only that you know the price and understand the cost of these battles."
Jackal watches Merayen for a moment...it's too cold for that!
Masati continues to stand by, watching the crowd
Horin`Skychaser ::Merayen glances around; she can feel the crowd touched by her word, by what she has shown them... More than a few of the warriors are filled with horror and a strange fascination...::
Horin`Skychaser glances, especially, at her...
Horin`Skychaser ::She's started to make an impact here, she can tell.::
Horin`Skychaser , drawn silent once again by both Balthasar and Merayen's words...
Balthasar shakes his head slowly. Though he did not display open signs of agreeing entirely with Merayen, it is plain that one such as he would have said something had he not.
Balthasar looks at Skychaser, his tone softer, now, more personal. "Do you see, as I do," he asks, "That you have committed a grave error. You seek to bolster and lead your people to better ways. This path shows you, at its end, complicit in your people's destruction."
Balthasar You have a choice, now.
Balthasar Will you be remembered as the man who led his people against the traditional method of thought, who had wisdom enough to bear them through rough times, yet towards a brighter tomorrow?
Horin`Skychaser sighs, glancing at Balthasar, clearly on the edge...
Balthasar Or will you not be remembered at all, indeed, when your people have reached the end of the ruin of consorting with the wars of the Gods?
Balthasar Indeed, to perish when we have not yet even spoken with this Silver God. I cannot imagine he even knows the allies he could lose with his brashness.
Horin`Skychaser just sighs, and nods...slowly.
Horin`Skychaser "I will think on what you have to say. These traditions are old with us, but -- the world is changing, and it might be time for our ways to change as well."
Balthasar steps forward, and raises his fist, which opens, turns, and rests on Skychaser's shoulder.
Balthasar You will not have to resist this Silver God again. We will find him, and speak with him, before he will ever return here.
Horin`Skychaser "We will see,"
Balthasar drops his hand.
Balthasar steps back, and nods. "Hold firm."
Finnre`Merayen It is hard, but we came here not just for Nulem, but for you. I shall offer aid, but first we must speak to the Silver God and see your men come home.
Horin`Skychaser ::A quick detour back through Nulam manages to see the Circle acquire several horses, supplies for a longer trip, and a rough idea of how things are progressing with the prisoners... Thankfully, most of them are still too injured to cause trouble.::
Horin`Skychaser ::Then, galloping off over the horizon, the group proceeds off toward the far off ruins of Caer Dharrow.::
Skyla , mounted on her own pale white mare, holds the reigns somewhat inexpertly and follows after the others -- lost in thought.
Finnre`Merayen is seen to sleep while riding at times, as she stays awake for much of the night guarding the others.
Masati rides along seeming surprised at her own skill
Jackal rides on his old stallion, riding easily, an old hand at long distance travel, but keeping an eye out for any ambushes from the other tribes.
Balthasar keeps an easy, relaxed trot. He was able, through pulling of strings, to secure rather adequate mounts for the Circle, though his refusal to accept lesser stock will, perhaps, cost him a favor or two when they return.
Balthasar Is this not the direction your... opponent fled to, Masati?
Balthasar nods towards a gloom in the distance.
Balthasar knows full well that it is, but is curious what her response will be.
Masati takes a careful look at her surroundings
Masati I beleive so...
Horin`Skychaser ::Jackal, glancing off, frowns -- they are indeed getting fairly close to that horrible place. He'd been there once, looking for the lost boy when he Exalted... It seemed, on top of all the other issues, the lands of the Dead were growing restless.::
Finnre`Merayen yawns as she looks around. "So do you want to hunt him Masati? I mean, how large can it actually be?"
Jackal "Large. We'll wind up on the other side at night..."
Balthasar listens, his gaze plainly resting on Masati.
Masati I was under the impression that time was a factor...however, if I'm wrong tying up that loose end could be good
Balthasar notes, "We will easily beat any travel-estimates we had, if we are not majorly held up. We no longer travel on foot, for instance."
Finnre`Merayen It will be short, and they did attack you... I would not wish to be attacked from behind some night in the future.
Masati gives Finnre' Merayen a cold smirk. "Then by all means, lets find him and kill him."
Finnre`Merayen shakes her head. "We should offer the chance for change..."
Finnre`Merayen "Death should only be the price if he will refuse to change his ways.
Balthasar Hnh.
Balthasar says nothing, and instead turns slightly, and spurs his horse towards the gloom.
Jackal sighs and follows Balthasar...once again into that lightless place...
Masati "I think that choice has already been made"
Finnre`Merayen follows after, shaking her head.
Horin`Skychaser ::The gentle green grass, and line of trees comes to something of a sudden end as you reach the Moaning Fields. An extensive nearly flat field covering several square miles, rocky and precarious, the Shadowland has been "there" for as long as anyone in the village could really remember. Whatever battle had birthed it long forgotten.::
Horin`Skychaser ::Yet the signs of that battle still remained. The ground was lightly disturbed, rocky and hard to navigate, and occasionally an aged bone or broken weapon was seen in the gray underbrush. Phantom sounds were less frequent, but no less disturbing for the fact.::
Horin`Skychaser ::Above, the sky was dark and gray, keeping out most of the suns light... Balthasar had only been here infrequently, for it had little to hold the interest of a merchant, and Jackal had only made the trek the once... Even so, both were impressed with the idea that something had changed.::
Horin`Skychaser ::Trotting lightly over the broken terrain, dodging rocks and moving out of way of...bones. Broken skulls, cracked femurs, bent and rusted weapons. Was this place always so littered? Even Jackal wasn't sure...but he had the feeling that it was getting worse.::
Jackal "Hmmm...this is new."
Masati follows along quietly taking in her surroundings
Finnre`Merayen finds herself disgusted by this... monument to a war and battle long since forgotten.
Balthasar Eh, Jackal?
Balthasar I've only crossed the outskirts before. What is new?
Jackal "There didn't used to be so many bones..."
Skyla "You sure it's not just your imagination?"
Masati looks over at Jackal "What does that mean?"
Skyla hasn't been here since she was a child, though.
Balthasar It looks odd, I admit. I just... I can't put my finger on it.
Jackal "I'm not sure. I don't know anything about them but they seem to get stronger when there's more conflict in the area. We've certainly had our share..."
ST ::Balthasar's horse steps on a skull. It crumples noisly under the shod-hoof.::
Balthasar doesn't give any outward sign of distress at the crunching noise. He expects more of it, from the looks of the fields ahead
Finnre`Merayen looks around, searching for any sign of life or anything beyond this death
Masati Actually this isn't nearly as bad as the pit. That's really creepy.
Jackal "The pit is new."
Jackal "Atleast it was last time...where are the ghosts?"
Masati "Really?"
Masati thinks for a moment
ST ::The only signs of life seem to be what you brought with you, Merayen can't help but think.::
Masati "Not that many, only a few at night, just bodies"
Masati doesn't seem nearly as bothered by as she should be
Finnre`Merayen If any place needed the light of our patron... this is it.
ST ::Trotting forward; Color! No village kids have been coming out here much since Madaska died, but those pretty yellow and gold flowers that grow near some of the bones were always favored among her herbs.::
Balthasar pauses near some of these flowers, and dismounts.
Balthasar crosses, his boots crunching on fragile bones, to kneel near a patch of them.
Masati watches Balthasar curiously
ST ::These particular flowers, called Skull-Cap, are growing around a cracked rib...::
Finnre`Merayen smiles slightly... wondering if this was a sign after her words so recently uttered
Balthasar draws a belt-knife, and prunes the Skullcap free of the ribcage. He collects what he can, placing them in his saddlebags. Pausing, he spares three blossoms, and gives one to Skyla, Merayen and Masati each, and then remounts.
ST ::Madaska always used to use them, Balthasar believes, in elixirs to break fevers...::
Skyla smiles softly, and puts the flower in her hair.
Masati raises an eyebrow as she takes her flower, but says nothing, tucking it away in a pocket
Finnre`Merayen takes it and slides it into the weave of her armor.
Balthasar looks at Jackal, "I don't mean to offend," he grins. "Would you like one, too?"
Jackal smirks and shakes his head. "No, the less about this place I remember the better I find."
Balthasar Oh, come now. There are worse things than memorials.
Masati gives Jackal an odd look "One shouldn't treat memories so lightly"
Finnre`Merayen I find it promising, even if it is tainted in death, that life can flourish in a place such as this.
Balthasar 's eyes linger on the pit, glancing back over his shoulder to do so.
Jackal "You'll see Balthasar...a few bones isn't the worst of it."
Balthasar We will definitely see.
Balthasar turns again, and goes towards this pit.
Masati follows quietly behind him
ST ::Moving deeper in, passing more bones and a rusting shield, you pass a few more herbs... None attract the attention as much as Skullcap, though, which is probably the most colorful such in the entire Shadowland.::
ST ::Balthasar, checking with Masati to ascertain that this pit is where he expects, he continues forward... He'd figured he was already moving toward it, that it would be in the very center, and he was correct.::
Finnre`Merayen has already prepared both her bow and arrows, in case of any sort of attack.
* The`Dead`Tree , the single tree in the entire Shadowland, is dry and withered. Several empty branches reach up toward the sky, while its bark has long since succumbed to age, leaving just bare gray "skin" underneath... * The`Dead`Tree seems almost like an old man, in its own way.
Balthasar 's head turns to witness the tree as they pass. Unbidden, images of men hung from these gnarled boughs drift into his mind. Without even thinking to, his eyes comb the thickest of these aforementioned boughs, looking for rope-burn.
<The`Dead`Tree> ::Sure enough, he spots such -- though the ropes have long since rotted away...::
Finnre`Merayen shakes her head, wishing to see more life to this dead place, but knowing it unlikely
Balthasar A hanging tree.
Jackal glances at the tree. "Well that would explain why it's here..."
Masati Did you expect anything less?
Balthasar turns without further comment to look ahead, to the precipice of the pit.
Masati asks quietly
<The`Dead`Tree> ::Even before you come up upon it, you can see the raised rim -- smell the scent of upturned dirt, rot, and other things less identifiable. It's maybe 50 feet in diameter, a massive hole that looks to have been dug into the center of the Shadowland quite some time ago. Years ago, even, except that Jackal knows that's not possible.:: <The`Dead`Tree> ::A fair amount of herbs, gray spidery spindleweed and flecks of blood-red slaughter blossom, grow around the rim in various places along with a few splashes of white in the form of thindlethorn.:: <The`Dead`Tree> ::Moving closer to the rim, gazing down into the pit itself... It's almost like all the shadows chose here to gather, fleeing into the safety of this massive hole. It must go 30 feet down, if not deeper, though the bottom seems somewhat obscured. There are /bones/ down there, however, some of them seeming...recent.:: <The`Dead`Tree> ::They are the bones of animals. Cows, bulls, horses, deer, wolves, and other creatures. A few of them looks to still be decomposing, alive with maggots, while others have long since wasted away...::
Finnre`Merayen What have you found, Balthasar? Is it important?
Balthasar dismounts.
<The`Dead`Tree> ::The horses whicker and protest as they grow close to the Pit...::
Balthasar We shall see.
Balthasar pats his mare comfortingly, trying to ease her skittishness a bit.
Masati dismounts and steps a bit closer to the pit
<The`Dead`Tree> ::Balthasar's care and attention calms the horse...mostly.::
Balthasar turns back to the rim.
<The`Dead`Tree> ::It doesn't like it here at all, and especially not near this pit.::
Finnre`Merayen does not force her horse near the pit, letting those who know of these things best handle them as she watches for any attack.
Balthasar exhales slowly, and then, hops into it, skittering down the edges, trying to keep his balance even as he slides amidst the bones down to the bottom, towards the knot of darkness.
Skyla also remains back, with Merayen, patting her horse comfortingly and letting it know its okay.
Masati looks over the edge of the pit, with a distastful expression on her face
Masati "I really don't want to go down there"
Jackal watches them head over into the pit and pats his horse comfortingly before dismounting and looking down into it. "This is new. It can't be as old as it looks.
Balthasar takes a spill, a few yards down, and causes a bone landslide as he plummets, somewhat ungracefully, to the bottom. In the bone-dust clouds and gathered shadows, he is hardly visible, after his fall.
<The`Dead`Tree> ::Balthasar comes on over the pit, falling down...the dirt on the interior of it is dull and hard, but not particularly so...even so, it is quite uneven and very very steep, and Balthasar loses his balance before reaching the bottom...ending up falling on his ankle.:: <The`Dead`Tree> ::He sprains his ankle a bit.:: <The`Dead`Tree> ::A cloud of bones comes down, naturally, behind him...::
Masati calls down "Balthasar you still alive down there?"
Balthasar rises out of the cloud, dusting himself off. He tests his ankle, winces, and turns back up, "Don't come down that way!"
Jackal "Balthasar! You alright?" Comes down after him, can't have a circle member breaking his neck amidst rotting animal bones...
<The`Dead`Tree> ::At the bottom, admist the shadows of the ground...Balthasar finds the dirt down here is wet, slick and muddy, and... strange... stinks of rot, and blood.::
Masati "Well do you have any other suggestions?"
<The`Dead`Tree> ::From up top, as he stands, Balthasar can indeed still be seen...but seems somewhat obscured by the darkness of the bottom of the pit.::
Balthasar I'm fine! Thanks! Well... if you've got some rope, use it to ease down, maybe?
Finnre`Merayen What have you found, Balthasar?
Balthasar turns back to the bottom of the pit.
Balthasar limps, slightly, as he goes towards the darkness.
Masati looks goes to look through their supplies to find rope
<The`Dead`Tree> ::Jackal, more able to handle his balance, carefully moves down the rim of the Pit...::
Balthasar Some of these bodies are fresh!
Jackal "Maybe sacrifices? There are ghost animals..."
<The`Dead`Tree> ::...and? Did Balthasar feel something move, under the bloody mud?::
Masati finds something to tie the rope off and throws the other end into the pit
<The`Dead`Tree> ::The rope goes easily down!::
Masati "Do you want us down there or you up here?"
Balthasar pauses.
<The`Dead`Tree> ::It felt like maybe it brushed past his leg.::
Balthasar backpedals a bit, his eyes narrowing.
Balthasar , in a flash, has unlatched his sword and has it in his hand.
Masati "Balthasar?"
<The`Dead`Tree> ::There's a flash of light, as the bare light that makes it into the pit reflects off Balthasar's sword!::
Jackal glances at Balthasar questioningly as he draws his weapon. "Maybe coming down to the pit wasn't a great idea..."
Masati "Are you gentlemen sure you want to be down there?"
Masati calls out again
Finnre`Merayen leaps off her horse, leaving it with Skyla as she draws towards the pit with bow and arrows at the ready.
<The`Dead`Tree> ::Skyla takes the reigns of Merayen's horse, steadying it and keeping it calm...while maintaining her own readiness, if she should be needed. But for now, she's watching after everyone horses. It wouldn't take much for them all to run off...::
Balthasar There's something down here with us, Jackal. Be ready, man.
Jackal "Hmph." He keeps his spear at the ready, not particularly worried about any monster. "Well I wish it would just show itself then."
Blood`Thing seems to be moving under the mud; Balthasar can spot the telltale signs of its movement, see the trail it leaves as it slithers through...
Masati takes another look at the pit and sighs. "I hate this" she mutters.
Balthasar It may be nothing.
Masati "I'm going down"
Masati takes the rope and carefully climbs down, tucking her skirt out of the way
Blood`Thing ::With the aid of the rope, Masati has no trouble getting down at all...::
Finnre`Merayen looks to the sky, and senses for the time
Balthasar tries to remain mostly motionless, but follows the trail of the thing with the point of his sword, to illustrate it to Jackal.
Masati looks for a stable place to set her feet, before letting go of the rope
Jackal watches the thing move through the mud and waits for it to come around again, preparing to grab it.
Masati "Next time you should just answer the damn question and I wouldn't have to ruin a good dress" she whispers
Blood`Thing ::Masati, now at the bottom, sinks a bit into the mud...but seems to find her place a bit. It's easy enough to move down here in the mud, but disgusting...::
Blood`Thing comes around again!
Balthasar I'm very sorry, but presently there's something else occupying my mind... Ah, there it is again.
Jackal reaches into the mud and grabs the thing!
Blood`Thing ::Jackal reaches in, his hands getting muddy and bloody, and reaches around it! It's not too hard; it doesn't move very fast... It IS Heavy, though, and as he pulls it out... he notices a few things.::
White`Thing is ghost white, and about as thick along as ones arm. It's skin is cold, clammy, and... Well, it's LONG! You're pulling it out of the mud, maybe showing a foot or two of round clammy-skinned worm-like thing...but most of it is still under there.::
Jackal "Hmmm...I think it's just eatting..." Struggles with the thing.
Masati retrieves a wicked looking dagger from...somewhere
White`Thing is pulled out more and more...
White`Thing ::You must have grabbed it in the very middle..::
Jackal glances at Balthasar. "Satisfied?"
Masati "I came down here...for that?"
Finnre`Merayen keeps an arrow nocked and ready... in case the being was angered by this disturbance
Balthasar turns, and marches into the thicker part of the shadow, nearly vanishing into the darkness. If giant maggots are all there is...
White`Thing doesn't seem to care, at all, for having been grabbed...
Balthasar crouches on his way in, his hand dipping into the mud, and following the length of the maggot.
White`Thing ::Actually DOWN in the pit, the shadows are...well, shadowy. But it's not quite THAT dark...'cept from the perspective of the top of the pit.::
Masati follows Balthasar quietly
White`Thing ::Balthasar follows, and follows...::
Balthasar is taking a very slow pace, as his ankle still smarts.
Jackal lets the critter go and climbs back up.
White`Thing ::He eventually reaches what seems to be the "tail", which after what must've been 4 feet from where he left it... That's at least 8 feet or so... Maybe 12, all total, if Jackal had the middle.::
Masati "Why are we down here again?" she whispers
Finnre`Merayen shrugs unsure of what this pit means or is for.
Jackal "I wonder if giant ghost worms are the same as normal worms. Just good for the soil..."
Nemissary decides he'd better do something, and slips easily into the Beasts mind.
Nemissary ::With a flurry of sudden movement...::
Nemissary ::The worm disappears, it's white tail flickering.::
Nemissary ::You think it dived.::
Masati jumps back, ready to throw her dagger
Nemissary takes the thing deeeeeep under the mud, to its lair, and waits...
Finnre`Merayen Back everyone...
Balthasar What in the hells?
Balthasar backs up, very slowly, still brandishing his blade.
Masati "Can we please leave now?" she hisses wondering if she could get away with just conking him over the head and dragging him up
ST ::The thing was lazily swimming around in the bloody mud one second, then it suddenly just... WHIPPED itself in a sudden frezny of quick movement, diving down under the mud with deliberate action...::
Balthasar nods slowly.
Finnre`Merayen whispers a prayer, "Sun, may your glory shine through my arrow and drive this beast from the mud where it might hide. Please let it's light reach through the darkness and bring it to our sight!" Then she unleashes the arrow.
ST ::Backing away, Balthasar dumps into something else. Ewww; he thinks its a dead cow.::
Jackal "Hmmm...maybe something is coming."
Masati warily starts backing towards the rope
Balthasar , as alarmed as he is by nearly having a second spill, he pauses, and stares at the cow. This can't have been here long, at all.
ST ::Not long no, and mostly buried under the mud (hence why you didn't see it), but it HAS been here a while...::
ST ::The blood around it seems...thicker.::
Masati puts a steadying hand on Balthasars shoulder "Don't stop moving"
Balthasar steps over it, and gets back to following Masati, "Someone's been bringing sacrifices here."
Balthasar No cow would wander to the edge of this pit and fall in on its own. Nothing comes here on its own.
Jackal shrugs and leaps out of the pit onto the topside, leaving a ripple of bloody mud behind him.
Masati "We'll worry about that, up there. This place is really creeping me out, and this dress is ruined"
Balthasar I can find you more dresses. Don't worry about that.
Balthasar , himself, however, doesn't even have a spot on him. And, all of his hair is still neatly in place. In fact, he doesn't even have a speck of the bone dust on him, either.
Balthasar watches the Jackal soar over him.
Finnre`Merayen releases her arrow which burns with the aura of a diving eagle down into the mud, striking deep.
Balthasar gestures at the rope, indicating that Masati should go ahead up.
Masati "I'll hold you to that" she teases, a bit nervously, as we grabs the rope and gracefully starts to climb
Balthasar keeps his curved blade ready, grabbing the rope himself, and starting up after her.
ST ::The arrow, at least, disappears under the mud...::
ST ::It lights up the mud like a bulb for a few seconds afterwards.::
Jackal "I don't think it's hostile..."
ST ::Masati makes it out first, followed by Balthasar, pondering what he's seen so far...::
Masati gently pulls herself out of the pit "I don't care as long as it stays down there"
Balthasar , for his part, looks more analytical than in any part alarmed. He climbs out, calmly, and stands at the top. After a moment, he muses, "Interesting."
Balthasar This isn't a sacrificial pit at all, is it?
Balthasar No, there's no ritual implements. And nowhere to store them.
Balthasar pauses.
Balthasar No. No, this is all wrong. We can't go. We have to go back in.
Balthasar points to the pit's bottom.
Balthasar Whatever that thing is, there's someone feeding it.
Balthasar It's just a... a larvae, right now. As it grows, this pit will grow, to house it. And it will need larger, and larger amounts of food.
Balthasar frowns.
Balthasar But we might not even be able to do anything about it just now.
Finnre`Merayen And there is only so much cattle this near... which means likely it will turn to sacrifice.
Jackal "Hmmm...what's the point of having a giant work?
Finnre`Merayen And something doesn't want us to deal with it... but I do have a suggestion
Balthasar mentions, after a moment, "I doubt that this is the first, or the last, such creature or pit, as well."
Masati "you've got to be joking"
Finnre`Merayen Think about it... we explore, and suddenly, the beast decides to hide?
Balthasar nods in agreement.
Balthasar Yes, there could be no other reason.
Masati "It's obviously used to dealing with dead bodies, maybe the movement frightened it."
Masati doesn't actually really beleive that, she's just hoping
Finnre`Merayen If it had been frightened, why not hide before they dug it up?
Balthasar It wasn't frightened at first, was it? It was only when I moved deeper that it started to withdraw.
Balthasar tests his ankle.
Finnre`Merayen They dug up quite a bit.
ST ::Balthasar's ankle is still a bit sore, but nothing too serious.::
Masati sighs "Fine lets go back down there and kill it as quickly as possible"
Balthasar But, what in hell is it?
Balthasar glances at Masati.
Balthasar glances back, seeming to consider everything.
Balthasar Well... we could come back later, if you did not feel comfortable continuing.
Balthasar To be honest, if it's deep below, I doubt we'll be able to pull it out... well, without staying the night.
Masati "It's not going to be any more pleasant later...and that thing might be bigger"
Finnre`Merayen I suggest that perhaps we could ask for aid from the Silver God, once we convince him against war with things that are no threat
Finnre`Merayen I have only one suggestion as to it...
Masati looks a Merayen "We're going to go up and and tell him he can't do what he wants but oh by the way will help us kill a giant worm? That'll go over well"
Finnre`Merayen When I was at the battle for Thorns... there were large maggots on the... "fortress" of the Deathlord
Finnre`Merayen I know not if this is the same, but perhaps a related beast.
Jackal "Maggots have legs though."
Finnre`Merayen "And I suggest that we alert the Silver God to the true threats that are within range of "his" people.
Masati "I highly doubt he cares too much about 'his' people."
Finnre`Merayen Then we should make him care.
Balthasar ponders.
Finnre`Merayen For they deserve the care of his, if he desires to be their patron
Balthasar nods.
Masati "I think you'll find that he desires power, not responsbility. But that's beside the point. Are we killing this thing or are we leaving?"
Balthasar If my guess is right, then perhaps we should leave and later return.
Balthasar When we're ready to deal with more than just this. Also, as I said.
Finnre`Merayen We are not prepared for this thing, and while they may set protection, we will know what we face, while they will not.
Balthasar To kill this one, would mean to stay the night. I'm sure that idea is unsavory to each of us.
Jackal "Eh let's come back later. It's just a big bug."
Masati "Well then lets leave so I can get out these closthes"
Balthasar nods.
Finnre`Merayen nods in agreement
Balthasar I will catch up with you all. Though not as pretty...
Balthasar gestures to the plantlife around the edge of the pit.
Balthasar These herbs have their use.
Finnre`Merayen Perhaps one of us should stay to guard you.
Balthasar laughs.
Balthasar Do as you wish.
Finnre`Merayen looks around... "Jackal, do you think you could watch Balthasar while he picks these herbs?"
Skyla "I could."
Balthasar draws his knife from his belt again, replacing his blade in his sheath, in the deft motion of a master swordsman.
Balthasar strides off to collect the herbs, looking highly amused.
Skyla "I wouldn't mind helping; I used to do this as a child... Well, not with the giant death worm pit, but in general."
Jackal shrugs. "Sure, if you like Skyla."
Finnre`Merayen nods. "Fine then. Let's be on our way."
Masati shakes her head at the large swordsman picking flowers and mounts her horse
Skyla is actually a large blacksmith Hammergirl!
Jackal mounts his horse and waits for Sky and Balth to finish their herb hunting.
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