The journey of the Legend part 4

As we leave the Sewer, Melfina tells us that we just fought some form of Marid, A water type genie. I hope if we ever meet another one it is more Water than piss. We head to the center of town, and find a store that sells Healing potions, the proprietor seems to be a rather oddly shaped creature, as if it was 5 kobolds in a large coat, but he... or... they.. give us a good deal on the potions, and even wrap one in a bow for us. Nice, I guess. We head back to the estate to get some lunch, and a good thing too, as we had to pool our resources to buy the potions, and now the only one with money is Rorin, so we can't afford to go out and Eat anywhere. Oh well, guess I'll have to do my own cooking again. I will learn how to appreciate good food again. We rest for a small amount of time, have our lunch and decide to go back out. Getting back to where we fought the Marids isn't hard, and as we get there, we see that something else has been through here. A trail of blood spilled by our party was left, and something has trailed through it, leaving a smear on the path. Without a better clue, we decide to follow whatever left this streak, and follow it deeper into the sewer. With only the magical Light of the Clerics Hammer, we pass several branches of the main line we are on, but we press on. following that trail. eventually, the blood disappears, and we are left to think of what to do. While we stand there and try to decide, Melfina closes her eyes and briefly concentrates on something, then announces that she can track her blood, and knows where to go. Yeah we could get lost, but a few of us think we should be able to find our way back, and we press on, Melfina leading us on. Soon, a more earthy smell is noticeable, and the floor of the sewer seems oddly more natural, as if something were growing beneath our feet. Sure enough, with just the light from Aurane's Hammer, we can see that moss is somehow growing down here in this sewer! We can hear something approching us, and before we can do anything, a small.... mushroom(?).. is standing. Thinking back I remember having heard tales of being called Myconoids living in colonies. Mostly harmless, they lived in large groups as a hive, and would help peaceful creatures who were in need. Standing about 4 feet in height, he seemed to shy away form the Bright, Radiant light of the hammer, so Aurane adjusted his spell to a dimmer light, and the mushroom man introduced himself as Mellow. We asked him a few questions, and he says that he has seen some other humans recently, like we aren't the only ones down here. He also tells us about how the Myconids came to be, and how some had been enslaved by Evil Drow and Dueragar, and that Harold Ravenswood had brought them to the city to work in the sewer, and they were paid, and nearly had voting rights. Aurane seemed to think it was important they paid taxes, and Mellow agreed to take us to the place he had seen the other humans. but he wanted to be paid. Having no money myself, I looked at the others, and the ladies seemed to think he wanted food, so they gave him some berries and lettuce. While Mellow took it, he told us to bring gold next time, and started off. Shrugging to the others, we followed him back into the sewers.
 
 
Mellow lead us through many twists and turns, and while a concern of getting lost was voiced, but Rorin, Aurane And I feel that we can get back to wehre we need to go if we get separated. Mellow eventually leads us to a narrow passageway behind falling water, a crevice that leads to a larger chamber, or so he says. At this, Mellow stays on the sewer side, saying he doesn't want to go into the chamber with us, and we ready ourselves, and squeeze through. At first, there doesn't seem to be any one here, and we slowly creep into the chamber. It seems to be a worship site, maybe offering site, not sacrificial but of goods. High vaulted ceiling, with a balcony above so others can observe. I hear Aurane muttering about incredible stonework, then he stops muttering altogether. Marda Clears her throat, and as we look at her, she nods out into the dark perimeter of the chamber across from where we are. we can see several crossbows pointed at us. I notice more as I look across. Well Crap. I prepare myself to move, Imagining the Flight of a falcon, the strike of a viper. Focusing, I tense my muscles, but before I can move, Aurance calls out a greeting, and... nothing. Slowly, some crossbows are lowered, then more as a very small figure steps out into the light. I can't determine a gender, but it is obviously a gnome. It seems to have made at least part of it's outfit from... Curatins?... whatever it is, it's an odd material. We are introduced to Garnet The Tonedeaf, the Head of the Bards Guild.
 
Apparently, this is a part of the temple dedicated to the Lady Constance, the goddess of the city, and this is a common room. It seems that both our leads, and those of the Bards college had both merged here at this chamber. The chamber had evidently been cleared out before we got here, Caleb getting away may have been the reason for that. Whoops. But that does match with what mellow told us. The Bards were about to check the upper floor of this chamber when they noticed us coming in. Garnet says she will let us Check upstairs see what we can find, the rest of the bards will check down here, make sure it is secure. Before we go upstairs I notice Danerai is here too. I smile and wave at her, but she doesn't seem to notice. That's fine. I don't need to open my mouth, only to say just the wrong thing at a tiem like this, with many people who can spread word far and wide, singing songs, and telling jokes about me. Not to mention the Bards. I should keep to business, and go search upstairs.
 
 
When we get up there, we start searching around, and find evidence of the sleeping arrangements of possibly 6 people, and evidence of cages. from what we can infer, it seems this was a place where captives were held, before being moved to other places. Unfortunately, no cages, nor kidnappers to question were around to give us more leads. looks like we will have to search around, see if any evidence was left. We all start to look around, and after a while I seem to find a chalk message! It says.... Your princess is in another Fucking castle! What the hell does that mean? maybe one of the bards would know? I should go ask them. Before I have the chance to do so, Rorin and Aurane say they have found somethings we should look at. They both seem to have found some scrolls, but when we go to read them, they are both in complete gibberish. we start to get dismayed, but Rorin finds a cipher key on his, and before anyone can think about cracking it, he seems to know what his says anyway. Aurane's note seems to be a different cipher, so we can't tell yet. Rorin's note says that the shipment should arrive in 7 days. until then, the captives are still going to be in the city. Rorin also deciphers there are 6 possible locations that the kidnappers could be holding everyone. those 6 locations are going to be underneath any of The temple of Dreams, The gypsy Jamboree, the temple of Pudge, The Solstice Study, Eros Choza, or The Temple Forge. With the possibility that we may have missed something, we tell Garnet that we are going to start searching under the temples tonight. Garnet says she will have the Bards patroling the city, so there won't be any more kidnappings tonight, and we decide to go over and check out the area under Eros Choza, we just have to find a way out of this temple.
 
After searching for a couple minutes, we find a stair up to a passage, and a ladder. The ladder itself looks old, and rather unused, and the party tries go to up. As it turns out, Melfina, at the top, can't lift the access stone, and she looses her balance on the ladder. Marda, who is right below her, tries to catch her, and only manages to get knocked off as well. Aurane, below her make no attempt at all to stop the falling Ladies. I spread my legs on the rung of the ladder, clamp down my metal arm and hunch my shoulders to stop, or at least slow, their fall. As they land on me, it hurts, but it does stop their fall. I tell everyone to climb back down, and I'll go up and lift the stone, so we can get out of this place. When I get to the top, I once again brace myself against the ladder, and try to push up the stone slab covering. As I heave, I hear a snap of metal. Worrying that it could have been my arm, I try a bit more gingerly to lift, and with a slight grind, I feel it lift up, and I can move it out of the way. I climb back out, into the fresh air, and More Darkness. yay. While I know we had be down there a good amount of time, I had not realized it was past dark. We head over to the Temple of Eros Choza, and, consulting the map, we find the easiest way to get down would be a sewer access, then find the narrow passage into the area under the temple. We all climb down into the sewer and again, we have to go in a single file. I choose to take the rear, and Aurane takes the Front again. We head toward the temple, and after walking for less than 5 minutes, we hear scurrying and squeaking of what could only be Rats. A large, vile swarm of them came at Aurane, and started clawing and biting at his legs, crawling up him to get to more tender areas. Unable to do anything, I could only watch as rats were squished, sliced, and skewered by Melfina, Marda, and Aurane himself. I decided it would be a rather bad thing if we were taken from behind, and good thing I did, as some rats were coming from that direction too. they were not yet in range of my axe, but we dragonborn have another weapon, and I took a deep breath in, and Fed my Inner Forge. as the rats got into range, I let loose with my fire breath, and roasted a good amount of the little flea ridden plague carriers. I readied myself to take some bites, and swing with my axes, but before I could even step forward, Rorin Jumped Over Me! With a fine display of acrobatics, he flipped over my head, landing just as the last fire went out, and with 3 precise punches, Obliterated the rest of the rats before me! Just Where The Hell Had he Gone?!!? I'm glad he was there, as I hadn't had to use my fire breath like that for a long time. Sure I use it to light the forge if it goes out, maybe once or twice to warm up some food that Max may have not cooked all the way.. but I hadn't had to use it to kill in a long, long time... No! this isn't a time to dwell on any of that. I need to check on the others. I looked to the front, and Aurane had fallen, and the rest looked a bit winded. I get them to let me through to Aurane, and focusing my power, Heal him once more. I feel more power drain out of me. I can continue on, but it almost feels like I become more... Bland each time I use an ablity like that. As if I am using what Nature I have in me. I have to take a rest, usually several hours, before I can use them again.
 
We decide to continue on, as we do still have the health potions, in case of emergency. I haven't seem anyone take one yet anyway. We are able to find the tight passage into the under temple, and quietly squeeze into the chamber. Nothing greets us, and upon a closer examination, nothing has been here to greet anything for at least a couple days. A bit of foot traffic, but nothing more than that. We had guessed wrong. Damn! I want this over with. although, in the shape we are in now, I'm not sure stumbling into the main base of these bastards would be a good idea. We have to keep going. The party is wondering if we should call it a night, but I at least want to push on. the others agree, all of them feeding off each others energy. We can do this. I feel I can heal once more if I need, but I would rather not, as I hate that feeling of... Grayness. Of being washed out. The group decides on one more temple, The Solstice Study. If they aren't there... well, we have a week. We can turn over anything we find to the Bards, and try again in the morning. I hate to think of people in trouble, being helpless, but I can't help them if I am too exhausted to save them from the Scum that took them. We all agree there has to be a way out of this chamber similar to the staris and ladder we found at Lady Contance's temple, and after looking a short time, we find it. It is agreed that I will go up first and try the cobble stone, as I am pretty sure the only other person that could lift it is Aurane. I climb up to the top of the ladder, and push, again hearing a snapping sound. I stop, and examine both my arm, and the ladder, and see that the top rung is popping out of the shaft's wall. If I don't lift this cobble properly, the whole rung, possibly the whole ladder, could fall out. Bracing myself again, to spread out the force, I lift up on the stone, and pop it out of it's setting. As I move it aside, a warm liquid rolls down my arm, towards my face, and down me. With that smell instantly recognizable, I scramble out of the hole to see some drunken asshat peeing onto the pavement! With the first thing that comes to mind, I vigorously tell him how to make the perfect Nail. In Draconic. Now, for those of you who have never been yelled at in draconic, it is not a pleasant tongue to hear in normal speech, and a good bit worse when you are yelling at someone. And, May I say, ever so terrifying when you are stone cold drunk, and not expecting it. Not as vile as Gnoll, or some Giant Dialects, but still. It'll shock you. And that is exactly what it did. Scared that bastard all the way home I suspect.
 
I ask Aurane to see if he can't fix that ladder on his way up. Wonderful things city clerics. They don't mind mending anything as long as it is part of the city. Rather nice to be around too. some seemed a bit preoccupied with taxes though. As if Taxes fueled their magic. we head over to the study over the surface. We don't want to go through the sewer, as we don't know our way down there, and there may be some more naty things down there. it's easy to find our way on the Surface, as some of us Have lived in the city for a long time. Once we get to the Study however, there doesn't seem to be a way down into the sewer nearby. There is however, a well. Wed decide to lower each other down, and Rorin says he has a special grappling hook that he can get down with. OK, that will work fine, and after a few minutes of discussing in what order we should lower people, Marda. Melfina, Myself, Aurane and the Finally Rorin lowering himself. We get into the wel, and see that there is a passage, I would call it more of a mere crack, in the wall that may lead into the sewer. everyone goes in, and I take the rear guard again. After attempting to squeeze in, that seems to have been a mistake, as I get rather stuck. Rorin notices, and tires to come back and help, but I just end up jamming in real tight. OK. Next time, I'll leave the others to go looking in at cracks. Rorin Calls for the others, and the come back, I could swear smirking, and try to haul me out. After some grunting, and pulling, and swearing, (mostly on my part) I get free. the noise and disturbance seems to have awoken some critters however. Bats attack the group in front, and that wonderful beautiful cozy crevice must have mug home to some crawlies, as they start swarming over me in the most, urgh, buah. nasty sensation. Rorin once again helps kill the ones on me, and the the other three dispatch the bats. as I stomp on the remains on the bugs, and try to get as much....Juice... out of my mechanical arm, we heading to wehre we suspect is the passage into the underground portion of the temple. right where we expect to find it, we go in and ... There.. is someone here, but we can't tell where. we do a quick search, and finding another note, Aurane gives it to Rorin, then suddenly, there stands Mellow. Hullo mellow. In his squeaky almost throat hurting voice, he tells us that he saw some people leave not 40 minutes ago, and they were heading east. Rorin deciphers the note, and again, it says, that the shipment is due in 7 days, and some of them members have noticed people looking into the kidnappings, and they are worried the Cerulean Sanctum may know what is going on, but the rest of the city has no idea. The Headquarters is still secure. And that is it. With out anything else we can work on, and with Mellow saying there were more than 4 people leaving this location. with us tired, covered in slime, good, piss, and insect gunk, we decide to call it quits. Finding the ladder up, I again open the stone, first letting Aurane fix any damage that time may have done, and we head back to the estate. As aurane needs to check on his buisness, and I need to clean my arm out, we tell the others that we are going to our own homes that night. thye protest, but Even though Rorin may be a jumping punching master of running, he wopuldn't have my tools, and the special jig I made to care for my arm. And I need to check on Max and Leona. Aurane and I head back across a seemingly empty city, taking as many of the wide open roads as we can. Weapons out, eyes and ears sharp on any input we can muster, we Meet only a lone figure in the middle of the city. Wary it may be a trap, we approach, only to find that it is Danerai. Oh. we ask what she is doing out alone, and she says with some surprise that most of the Bards are out on patrol right now, how do we think the city got so quiet? Oh, that's kinda... spooky. She agrees to secort us home, although, I don't remember asking... and we walk along in the early morning air, alert for anything that could come jumping out of the darkness, and telling her what we have found that night. Her voice seems almost... soothing, calming. maybe it was just the adrenaline from the fights, and being wound up so much. Maybe.
 
 
We drop Aurane off at his place, and head over to mine, just a few minutes away. I try to think of something to say, maybe invite her in for a drink, but as we get to the shop, I decide it would be better to get some sleep. I can't invite her in just to have her watch me remove my arm and give it a good Cleaning. That's Not how to impress a lady. Sure, they dig the scars, but missing limbs hasn't worked for all that many lads I would take a guess. Besides. she would say she has a patrol to keep or some such, I am sure. I wish her a safe night, and go into my shop. needing my kit to clean my arm, I open the door to my room, and find that the whole room has been thrown insideout... Wellll Shi