Not quickly or easily, no.  You can try climbing across the ceiling like you guys did when you crossed the first time, but even that wouldn't be very fast.  If you do try though, give me a Defy Danger.

"Of course we saved you." The paladin smiled at the child, glad that the boy felt better "We'll get all of you out of here." he promised and drew Lunisy's circle in the air with his forefinger.

Marcus paused for a moment when Ilura handed him the potion, but seeing the determination in her eyes he accepted it with a thankful bow of his head. Unstopping the bottle, he reached out with one hand, holding the ranger's gently as he drank the potion, sharing the curative energy that coursed through him.

The holy warrior's spirits seemed to rise with every child found, and by the time they made it back to the bridges, he was positively beaming. The sight of Mira quickly dimmed his demeanor, for he had all but forgot she still waited here. "We need to rise one of the bridges." he voiced his opinion, pointedly not looking at the awaiting witch.

21:06, Today: Marcus rolled 13 using 2d6+2.  Lay on hands - Ilura (after potion).
21:06, Today: Marcus rolled 1 using 1d8.  Heal amount.
Seriously... two times in a row with the minimal roll for heal...
And yea, potion used

When Eryn announced the good news, Druzy got up from her seat excitedly and took a few steps closer.  "You saved him?  He's alright?" she asked happily.  "Thank you.  Thank you!"

As the little dwarven girl celebrated the rescue of her brother, Mira slowly stood up on her old legs and hobbled closer as well.  When the witch reached Druzy, she stood behind her and put a hand on the girl's shoulder. The kid calmed down significantly.  Druzy looked over her shoulder at Mira as the old woman spoke a reply to Marcus.  "If it is a bridge you need, then perhaps you all will be willing to hear my proposition.  I would like to suggest a mutually beneficial arrangement."  The witch's knuckles squeezed a bit tighter on Druzy's shoulder.  "Or would you rather put my hospitality to the test a second time?"

Eryn's smile vanished, but she tried not to seem hostile. They had no way to cross the chasm without the witch getting the first move.

"I think I can already tell what you are going to ask of us," she said, "and although I may be opposed to the suggestion I see no reason not to hear it in your own words. Please remember, however, that we came here because undead have been attacking the city. People have been dying and given the location and circumstances we do not know who we can trust. Any hostility between us is not due to a disregard for your hospitality, but due to tension being high all around. We may need some time to discuss whatever it is you propose."

With an admonishment of "Stay here until we have the bridge up and tell you it's safe", Ilura left the children and returned to the front of the cave.  Her bow was nocked, but aimed down and to the side.  Her manner was relaxed and non-threatening.  She seriously hoped that no violence would be necessary.

Mira narrowed her eyes at Eryn and moved her jaw from side to side for a few moments before speaking up to reply to the fighter.  "Time is something I have in spades.  Use as much of it as you need to come to whatever conclusion you deem... appropriate."  She then leaned forward and said to Druzy, "Now tell them what we decided."

"I- I'm going with Miss Mira.  To live in the sea."  Druzy looked a bit uneasy, but not really afraid.

Mira, on the other hand, looked across the chasm with a crooked smile.  "She is coming with me.  To live in the sea!"  The witch let out a half second cackle, then said, "I have seen people like you before.  People that would go to the ends of the earth to find this little girl if we left without a word.  And people who could overcome Mr. Shadows might even succeed!  But how about this.  I will ensure your ability to leave this cave quickly and safely with the other children IF you agree not to seek out me and my newest sister, Druzy, when we go.  Just leave us be."

Eryn's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She looked back at her companions. "As expected," she said in a low, bitter voice, "the witch wants a child after all. I believe the decision is not mine to make, but I doubt the child knows what she's in for either. I don't like her saying 'sister' either - she called the two others her sisters, and look where that ended."

NO! Marcus nearly screamed the word aloud. If not for the children he most certainly would. But there was no telling what the witch could and would do. Looking around the cavern, his eyes passing over his exhausted and wounded companions, tear-stained faces of children, the smug witch and finally settled on brave Druzy. "You lead us all out. And if Druzy truly wishes to leave with you, without being deceived, and if you will not seek to harm others, we can go on our paths."

Ilura put a calming hand on the palidin's shoulder.  The witch could easily kill the child before the party could intervene.  That would likely worse than losing her to a life under the ocean.

She had seen enough of this old woman and her conversation with the child to have a good sense of what the witch was after.

"I am sorry for the sisters that you have lost, but this one is not yet of an age to make her own choices.  Her people are not of the sea and she has little knowledge of it.  If you wish it, I will seek to find a young woman who is of age who would find your offer of knowledge compelling enough to serve you.  In fact, I am happy to send all to you I find who have the inclination towards magic, a love of the ocean and a need for something new.  In this world, there are not a few who would make this choice.  It may be that even this child will choose to seek you out when she comes of age and is ready to choose her own path.

You desire sisters to work with you and to not come to the same fate as those who opposed us.  With your proposal you have only a young child who is not atuned to the ocean.  We desire that ALL of the children be returned to their parents and have the freedom to choose their life paths when they are of age.  I offer you more sisters, those who choose freely and who will be more atuned to your work.  I also make no demands for your help.

However, you must trust that I will keep my end of the bargain.  Keeping the child as a hostage is not an option as we have no way to know that you would release her.  At a minimum, I will swear an oath by Lunisy's name.  If you would ask for a greater guarantee, then name it.  If not, while we cannot prevent you from taking the life of this one child, we can assuredly prevent you from taking the lives of anyone else."

quote:

13:55, Today: Ilura rolled 5 using 2d6+1.  Parley with witch, using +1.

Even with aid, that's not quite going to do it :(

While Ilura was talking, Eryn could tell that their bargaining was going to lead nowhere. The witch had them right where she wanted: Tired and worn and too far away to do anything too useful to stop her if she decided to run. The sell-sword remembered what they had thought about Mira after they first met her too - the old woman was likely to be both quicker and stronger than she looked at first glance.

For that reason Eryn studied the witch and the child closely, trying to figure out what to do in case they had to act quickly.

23:21, Today: Eryn rolled 8 using 2d6.  Discern Realities, trying to see what the witch is planning.
What is about to happen?

Hiran listened to the bargaining for a few moments and felt frustration well up inside of him until he felt he had to speak up. "Stop, just stop this bargain is fair and saves the most children we are possibly able to save. None of you understand magic but I promise you this girl can be turned into one of Mira's sisters, with the right time and rituals it shall be so.  Perhaps instead of endless fighting we can find an ally that we might come back to at a future time of need!"


Hiran stepped near the edge and looked over to Mira. "I cannot speak for my companions but I accept your bargain Mira and seek an alliance that carries beyond the unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in this cave tonight.  Our fight has never been with you or your sisters only with my former master and his minions."

Mira listened patiently as the adventurers spoke to her.  She seemed a bit surprised by Marcus's words, but gave him an approving nod.  Then, as Ilura spoke, Mira appeared to be getting annoyed.  Perhaps even bored.  She was about to say something when Hiran spoke up.  A broad smile crossed her wrinkled old face.

"Finally, someone with some common sense!" she said across the chasm.  "It's not surprising that the oldest among you is also the wisest.  I have no interest in starting a school, bow-maiden." She nudged Druzy playfully with an elbow as she called the ranger the nickname the dwarven girl had come to know Ilura by.  "And besides, it would do me no good to try and make a pie out of a fruit that is already over-ripe.  The mind of a child is what is needed to attune to the sea.  If you have a problem with Druzy exerting her own free will, well, then you can go ahead and find your own way back home.  You won't be getting any help from me, bow-maiden."

Mira then pulled two vials from her ragged robes and held them in front of her.  "To the children, the wizard, and those of you who agree to my bargain, I will create a bridge for you to cross." She leaned down and whispered in Druzy's ear and the dwarven girl covered her mouth and nose with her hands.  Then Mira unstoppered the bottles.

Hiran could recognize one of the bottles as one of the rare poisons he had glimpsed on their way in.  The other seemed to be an unknown powder that she poured into the poison.  A large green bubble formed at the lip of the poison bottle, then broke away and floated toward the ceiling.  It floated right up next to a bat, popped, then the bat dropped to the floor.

It seemed dead at first, but then its wings started twitching and it grew in size.  It began turning white, feathered, and its feet became orange and webbed.  It screeched as its mouth became a beak and before long it had taken on the full visage of an incredibly confused seagull.  Mira knelt down next to it, muttered some inaudible words, and offered it the poison bottle.  The seagull took the bottle in its mouth, then flapped away into the tunnel behind Mira.  The bottle left a trail of green bubbles in its wake as the seagull disappeared from view.

"When the bridge appears before you, do not dwaddle.  I will not be able to maintain it for long.  Except for the bow-maiden.  Dwaddling would be in her best interest."  And with that, Mira grasped a shell necklace that was under her shirt and looked to the ceiling.  She began chanting to herself and her eyes took on a stormy grey glow.

Moments later, screeching could be heard coming from the tunnel the seagull had exited into.  A lot of screeching.  Seconds later a storm of feathers erupted from the tunnel and the air was filled with noisy seagulls.  They circled and swirled like a cyclone as they siphoned into the chasm air.  Then they began flying back and forth across the width of the chasm, creating a line more than a cyclone.  The densest part of the swarming flock was focused on the path between the adventurers and Mira.  The flock was so dense in places, it almost looked solid.

"Now!" Mira yelled.  Anyone brave enough to take a step out onto the flock of seagulls would find a solid purchase for their foot.  The seagull's bodies continued to move underfoot, but somehow the flock-bridge was still walkable.  Almost as if by magic...

What do you do?

Eryn
What is about to happen?
You can tell that despite the way Mira implies that Druzy might be a hostage, she has no intention of actually harming the child to get her way.  Also, the skilled fighter can tell that Mira still seems to be more physically fit than she lets on.

Ilura
If you try to step onto the bridge, you find only empty air for your feet.

"Damn it," Eryn muttered, and the words were drowned out by the screeching seagulls. In the cacophony of birds, she leaned over to Marcus and spoke loudly enough for him to hear: "Marcus, loathe as I am to say it I don't think we can stop her even if we try, so let's get out of here with the children we have!"

With that, she took a step onto the living bridge, hesitant but still trusting of the witch's abilities. If she wanted them dead, she would have made the birds toss them into the chasm directly. If the bats they were made from could lift a man in armor, they could manage that much. Eryn marveled at the power displayed before her while she crossed the bridge, and became even more determined to learn magic herself as soon as possible. If Hiran was still willing, hopefully he could show her a spell or two...

When she reached the other side, she glanced apologetically at Ilura, then reached out her hand and gestured encouragingly for the children to follow.

"Pardon me for asking," she said to Mira while waiting for the others to follow, "for I don't know how much time you have, but will you allow the girl to speak with her brother before you leave?"


EDIT: Spelling.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Thu 08 Feb 2018.

Ilura looked about to say something in reply then bit her tongue and stepped back.  When the bridge formed she helped herd the kids onto it who were willing, but kept her own feet clear.  Instead, she handed one end of her rope to Erin and kept hold of the other.

"If we're going to get anything from the lizard, we'll need the old bridge up.  Marcus, you can help from this side, Eryn and the others can work from the other side."

Marcus clearly had the same idea as Ilura and once it was clear the bridge would hold them the paladin encouraged the children to cross as quickly as possible. But as he turned to Ilura to suggested his plan of carrying her over, she shared her idea and Marcus nodded in agreement "Good thinking." as he offered his hand to hold onto the rope that would hopefully pull up and hold the bridge in place. His gaze turning to Mira, he called out "You helped us out, but there is still the matter of your intentions. Once the bridge is restored we'll talk and then you may leave."

Hiran rushed over the magically created bridge without a second thought.

Some of the children required more prodding than others to venture out onto the seagull bridge, but they all eventually made it across the chasm.  When the last of the children made it, Mira released her grasp on her necklace and leaned forward, breathing heavily.  It seemed the magic had taken quite a bit of effort.  The seagulls scattered and flew about the cavern, now without guidance.

Between labored breaths, Mira finally answered Eryn's question.  "They have time to speak.  I need a bit of a rest anyhow."  The old witch panted as she moved to go sit by the fire once again.  Druzy and her brother could already be seen off to the side of the group of kids, celebrating their reunion.

Mira did not respond to Marcus's comment, but did wait patiently by the fire as the bridge was restored and any further supplies were gathered from the dead vorlag.

What do you do?

Let me know what everyone is doing and if they are grabbing anything from the vorlag before departing.  The group can fix up one bridge easily enough.  Tying it securely will use up the rope though.

Ilura worked with Marcus to pull the back to the far side of the gorge once Eryn had attached the rope.  It was easy enough to secure.  She allowed Eryn to talk to the dwarf to verify the child's will.  The ranger wanted no further part in it.  Once someone was ready to accompany her, she returned to the lizard and made quick work of butchering the animal, fashioning part of the creature's skin and legbones into a sledge to use to help drag the meat back to the fire for cooking for both the children and the party.  She took the opportunity to grab a good quantity of the quills for herself.

"Do you think it's worth the risk of trying to find its lair?"

She was feeling tired, both from exertion and a bit of blood loss.  But if they were going to hit the lair, it was best done before other denizens of the cavern complex realized the monster was dead.

"No, I don't think so," Eryn responded. "We have enough to carry as it is, and I doubt it had anything valuable to us beyond the meat and magic."

I'd like to carry some skin/leather for making armor, and some meat to feed us along the way. I'm guessing this might weigh the same as the potential armor would, plus a pack or two of rations?

---

Eryn could scarcely believe what they were doing. They had survived despite the odds, and were even getting a little something out of it. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that the dwarf girl was being taken against her will. She may not understand the full consequences of what she was agreeing to. For that reason, she watched in silence while the girl was reunited with her brother, but then walked over and went down on one knee besides them.

"How are you two holding up?" she asked them. "What are your thoughts about all this?"

With the bridge restored, and everyone safe, if at least for the moment, Marcus moved off to the edge of the cavern while Ilura went to get the rest of the usable Vorlag parts. For a while he prepared his blade, the holy symbol and searched for some items in his gear while he uttered lines from holy texts under his breath.

Finally, he he filled his helmet with water and dipped his holy symbol into it "Lusiny, Divine pearl, a child is on crossroads and I wish to set her on a right path." he raised the cup to his mouth "She could learn much, but the knowledge she gains could be dark and twisted. Let not those powers oppose me." he drank and refilled the helmet, once again letting the crescent shaped symbol stay in it for a while "Durzy is smart and brave, and could go far." he lifted the helmet and held it in front of his face "But her teacher-to-be is cunning and deceptive. Let me see and hear the truth." with it he poured the water of his head, letting it drench his eyes and ears.

Stashing his equipment once again, he rose and slowly moved towards Mira and Druzy "We may talk now." he said to them both, giving a small bow to the girl "Why do you wish to go live in the sea?" he observed her closely, but his face remained kind.

Initiating a quest.
Mission: "Defend Druzy from the iniquities that beset her"
Boons: "Senses that pierce lies" and "Invulnerability to Mira's magic"
Vow(s): ?
Used a waterskin from gear

Druzy and her brother, Bronnth, turned to Eryn when she asked how they were holding up.  After looking at each other, the two dwarven children ran up to Eryn and hugged her.  "Thank you, thank you!  You saved my brother!"

"I thought I was a goner."

Right about this time Marcus approached and asked his own question about why Druzy wanted to live in the sea.  The kids both ran to hug Marcus too, but Druzy paused when the paladin asked his question.  She got all somber, then replied, "Well, I mean, I don't really want to.  But Miss Mira can teach me how to stop this from happening to other kids.  And it isn't like I can go home to mom and dad..."

Bronnth's eyes watered up.  "Why did Mr. Shadows have to burn our houses down?"  A lot of the other children within earshot seemed to be getting sad at the thought as well.  That's when you remember that this journey started because houses were getting robbed and burned.  None of the children here probably have a home to go back to.

Mira was watching the exchange, but had refrained to comment as of yet.

What do you do?

Ilura
You can re-fill your quivers with arrow-quality quills.  You will have to craft them into actual arrows before they will work with your bow though.  The sled you make can easily drag enough meat to the fire to feed the children a meal of vorlag meat.

Eryn
Enough vorlag skin to create a set of leather armor has weight 1.  Or if you go for the thicker skins to make a set of Scale mail out of actual scales, it is 3 weight. (4 for both)  You can also harvest as many rations as you can carry (5 for 1 weight), but they will only last for a day or so before the meat goes bad.

Marcus
Your vows are Truth and Honor.  In order to maintain your blessings from Lusiny, you cannot tell lies or use cowardly tactics and tricks.  So far what everyone has said was true. Or at least, what they believe is true.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Sun 11 Feb 2018.

"Animals," Eryn muttered when she heard Bronnth's comment. "Destroying innocent lives for no good reason."

The fighter quickly went over their predicament in her head. Their first priority would be to get the children back to town, which thankfully wasn't that far. Beyond that, however, they would need to get them food and shelter, which could prove to be harder.

"Don't worry," she said as soothingly as she could. "If you go with the witch, I promise I will check in on you if I can. We'll find a place for all of you to stay, as well, and make sure we get the ones responsible for this."

Eryn counted her coin. There was enough to get all of them a roof over their heads for a day, maybe two. After that they would need a permanent solution. Was there an orphanage in Markhain? she wondered, and thought back to the times she had visited the city before.


22:14, Today: Eryn rolled 10 using 2d6.  Spout Lore: Orphans in the city of Markhain.
I wish to know what options an orphan would have in the nearby harbor town.

I have quite a bit of load left, so I will take both skins and fill up the rest with rations (2 weight). We can eat what we need and throw away whatever goes bad.

Deciding that engaging further with Mira would be neither her own, nor the party's benefit, the Ilura set about making herself useful in other ways.  The ranger set about carving up the meat into thin strips she could hang off a long bone to cook over the fire, using a quill to poke and turn them occasionally.  Once a cooked she let them cool a bit before offering pieces to the children, starting with the youngest, filling the space with fresh raw meat.  She continued this way until the children and the party were sated, then hung as much meat as she could over the coals to smoke.  If Mira remained, she begrudgingly offered some of the food to the witch as well.

She returned to the lizard to grab what more meat she could and a couple more weight of quills.  They'd cook more meat in the morning for their breakfast and lunch and carry the smoked meat with them for future days.  Between bouts at the fire, she inspected the two fallen bridges to see if she might be able to salvage any useful lengths of rope from them if she were to disassemble them.

"We should sleep here.  Neither us nor the children have slept in too long.  And it would be best to have our wits about us before we take to the roads."

When Eryn mentioned checking in on Druzy, Mira pipped up.  "You won't be checking in on us if you intend to hold up your end of your bargain.  Remember?  I get you out of here safely, you leave us be.  I have been honoring my end of the bargain, so I expect you to honor yours."

Even as Mira spoke, Eryn was able to remember something in Markhain that was like an orphanage of sorts.  There was a school that would take in stray children and teach them a trade.  Usually some form of dock work, since it was owned and operated by the harbor.  They would teach children how to sail, take inventory, ship building, merchant trades, etc. depending on where the kid's talents were. The teachers and staff were former dock workers themselves who were too old or physically disabled to work out at sea any longer.  It had a good reputation as far as orphanages go.

Marcus
I forgot to mention, your debility was removed when your quest started too, since it was caused by Mira's magic.  The graininess in your throat is completely gone.

Hiran did a few progressively more difficult symbols in the air with his hands.  A common greeting among spellcasters.  Then approached Mira. "I trust that this makes us even then? I hope that if we meet again it can be as friends rather than as foes."