Tales of Jahe Chapter 2: The Bigger the Area, the Stranger its Inhabitants

[Dragonsbane]

"Sorry about that...I thought you might have broken something in the fall!" Naerzul said quickly, but earnestly, "You were unconscious, and I was worried that you had hit something..." he looked down at her hand on his arm, then looked away quickly, slightly embarassed. Inwardly, he cursed at himself for sputtering in such an awkward manner, then pushed those thoughts aside, getting up, "I heard something moving...and it wasn't-" he felt a bony head poke into his side, his faithful badger nuzzling him, "I haven't named you yet, have I?"

He smiled, tracing a rune on the creature's bony forehead, whispering a name, "Il'rashna...the word in the tongue of my father's people means 'Eternal Guardian'. Appropriate....and for a nickname, 'Crawlbone', for obvious reasons."

The rune glowed golden, and points of light the same color as the necromancer's eyes appeared in its eye sockets, blossoming into view as Naerzul's new familiar was formally bound.

[Ganurath]

Howling Call held out his hand, which glowed a yellow-green. He pulled out a blindfold of thin leather, and used it to summon a bat spirit. "Find the being that skitters about us." The bat flies out, and Howling Calls hand still glows, but the light now touches his eyes. "If my spirit finds it, I will see it."

[My Lead Airbag]

With a sudden squelching sound the spirit ceased to be. Howling Call had a quick glimpse of many teeth, but it could have been from the bat's perspective. "It's probably...just a cave creature that feeds on bats. It won't bother us, just keep the lights up and your eyes open..." Job assured, then went to the front, always staying in the light's field.

[Dragonsbane]

"Want backup?" Naerzul asked, looking at the Lupos over his shoulder, "I can see in the dark, this little corpselight is just here for the rest of you." he indicated the ghostly-flaming skull.

"Either way....if it was skittering, that means it has lots of legs. Bug-type legs. Whatever is down here is some sort of insect or arachnid..." feeling around for his staff, the half-hume was relieved to discover it unharmed. Normal obsidian might chip and shatter, but enchanted stone was much stronger than unenchanted. This staff was an old artifact, a gift from Mul'thross itself...and a treasure he would hate to lose.

[My Lead Airbag]

No one heard any more of the skitter,nor saw anything that might be skitter-causing, as they traversed through the cave. A sort of worn away path had been established and Job was pretty sure it was on an upward path. Eventually they came out into an area that supported them all comfortably. Job felt along the smoothened walls, feeling the moisture, and then came to a hole with a small trickle of water. The light revealed more such holes, most with dripping water.

"Probably used to be an underground aqueduct or something. I guess we could rest here, get our bearings straight...heck maybe even introduce ourselves for the first time..."

[Ganurath]

Howling Call nodded, setting his staff in the center of the cavern and transfering the glow from his claw to the head of the staff, which brightened the light enough so the perimeter was easily illuminated. "I am Howling Call. I am a shaman who was seeking my destiny the spirits set for me when the Church demanded I come with them. I will not be naive as to trust their patrols again."

[Solnac Relishan]

"I am Splitting Howl," said the other Lupos. "I was told to find ways to control my...magic by my elders before your Chruch demanded I come with them. I was hoping maybe they'd have a clue before I end in the cage and the bubble." A soft growl came from the other Lupos. "I was tricked as well, and the Chruch almost executed us. What are they up to?" Splitting demanded of Job.

[Dragonsbane]

Naerzul rolled his eyes, then grinned amiably, "Naerzul, of the swamps. Arrested by a patrol of Whiteys, for the 'unholy crime of necromancy'. They took me by surprise, and knocked me unconscious before I could harm any of them....filthy bastards." turning to Splitting Call, he added, "Normally, I'd ask the same way...but this particular Whitey let us out of that bubble. Show some gratitude, wolf-boy." he paused, then added, "He's got a good question, though, what in the Nine Hells are they up to?" he looked over at Job, waiting for an answer.

[My Lead Airbag]

"It's ok, if I went through half the stuff you guys had to endure, I'd be giving the evil eye to anyone I thought might be connected. Truth be told, all I know is that you guys were a ploy to show the Church's power, or potential for power. I guess you guys all caught an almost lethal dose of 'wrong place, wrong time'." Job explained, wrapping a torn sleeve around his gash-arm. He could have used some healing magic, but he wanted to save it for the Naga girl if anything, and he still didn't trust the cave. "My name's Job, soldier...or former soldier, or deserter, or whatever, of the Military. I guess, well I dunno, life's been weird for last few hours or whatever, but hopefully they think we're dead."
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"They're not dead."

"How can you be so sure Bartleby? I have had my best surveyors investigate that area and while some weak ground was found, those caves could hold anything, things the Lupos would be unaware of."

"I know your High Priestessness, but I know Job, and he has the stuff to put his great-grandaddy to shame, if his no good father wasn't such a pansy, and the whole deserter thing I guess."

"Hmm...I will take your word Bartleby with my highest consideration. Now, would you like to start rebuilding your squad?"

"Nah, I couldn't do it till I got this whole business squared away."

"Very well, you and Arellios rest up, I'll see if I can't find you a suitable endeavor."

"Thank you milady."

[Ganurath]

Howling Call walked over to Job, nodding slowly. "They will not assume such. They're too precise to make assumptions, especially after we routed their rhinocerous cavalry unit. Now show me your arm." Howling Call began to chant slowly, remembering a minor spell he had learned early in his training before he turned toward the aid of spirits. Pale green flames lept from one of his clawed fingers, and the slightly warm fire turn Job's wound from a gash to a long yet narrow cut, while stopping the bleeding. "It isn't much compared to the Church's magic, but it works."