Chapter 28: The Mining Bee & Other Shenanigans

General Summary

The 7th of Ruvaen passed without note. On the morning of the 8th the party noticed that new tracks had been left in the dirt and mud next to the river. After following it for some time, they found that they led to a tunnel in a hillside. Following downwards into the earth they found an intricate series of tunnels dug crudely out of the earth and stone. The tracks were lost after a few turns and the party was left in the dark, only illuminated by cavelight moss. Eventually they found a decayed body that looked as if it had been stabbed in the chest with something round and sharp. In the next chamber they encountered a swarm of rats but easily defeated them. Wandering a bit more, they found themselves on a ledge overlooking a large chamber. In it was a gathering of pigs and pig-like creatures. They saw the missing pigs from the farm being pushed and organized into a line by several hogs that appeared to be more intelligent and a have a bit sharper hooves. These pigs were joined by even larger porcine creatures. These larger ones had large tusks protruding from their maws as well as small nubs along their backs where their skin stretched tightly, almost ready to burst. There were eight or so of the middle pigs and about four of the larger pigs. After the regular pigs were in line, the other pigs began to chant. This chanting grew as a loud scraping sound of two hoofed feet came from a tunnel opposite the party. Emerging from thos tunnel was a demonic creature called a Nalfeshnee. It was large, with long. sharp tusks, razor-sharp hooves, and two ripped leathery wings on its back. It walked in on two legs with a round, black void trailing behind it. It went down the line, inspecting each pig carefully. Finally, ot let forth a mighty squeel and directed the void towards two smaller pigs. The void sucked the two smaller pigs into it and they disappeared completely. As the rest of the pigs left, the demon pig started to sniff the air. He squeeled angrily and sic'd the rest of the pigs on the scent of the party. The party reached the mouth of the cave with the demon pig close on their heels. Leon activated a stinking cloud while Jaquora used her travelling hole punch that miraculously opened a hole to the Shadow Plane. The creature, sickened and confused by the noxious cloud, fell into the hole and disappeared. The lesser pigs sooned showed up and stayed at the outskirts of the hole. Knowing that it was going to be easier to collapse the cave than try and fight off dozens of macho pigs, they did just that. After causing many fissures in the rock, Lenihlra summoned an enormous bee that drilled through the earth and collapsed the cave. With the remaining pigs presumably trapped beneath the earth, the party returned to Bellindola. During this time, Lenihlra received a note from Thydona that she wanted to talk. When they returned they went to the Bounty Hunter's Guild to collect and tell them what had happened. The incredulous guild member didn't believe the story of a large demon pig. Jacquora, annoyed at the person, used her magical hole punch which irked the woman even more. That night, they returned to the inn they had stayed at before. Lenihlra, who had sent word back to Thydona to meet that night, convened with Jacquora and they spoke with her. She appeared, like a specter, in their room and told them everything that had happened to her. She informed them that she, and the others, had made it back to Ilythyra. After some tense negotiations with her god, Ilyth, she was back in the good graces of her deity. Falaern had resumed her duties as Princess but both had noted that more and more reports were coming in of strange happenings occuring throughout the land. There were creatures appearing that shouldn't be able to appear there. People were travelling to places that were seemingly impossible. She told them that there was perhaps a thinning of the barriers between the worlds and that the land had suddenly become much more dangerous than it had before. The new war might be a symptom of this. She then decided that the other two members, Aqia and Leon should know this information as well should the party remain alive and safe. Leon, suddenly confronted by a (now) living Saint/demi-god was taken aback but kept it together...barely. Aqia showed respect to her but was understandably less shocked. Thydona quickly explained some of her backstory and got them up to speed. She told them that the second-best library in the world was located in Arnsholdi, where they were headed. It was second only to the libraries of Ilythyra and was better than the libraries in Lorisen. The tomes kept there were different than what was collected in Ilythyra, however, and they should take a look through it to see if they could find any information and what was happening. In the coming days they spent some time at the casino, winning and losing their money, before boarding the ship again on the 13th with some old and some new passangers. With that, they began their journey onwards towards their final destination with Captain Hanna.