While the remaining miners helped to very carefully escort the wounded Zarth on the long journey back to the road and the cart that would carry him to town, Maiya fingered her mace, nervously eyeing Daniel; clearly in doubt as to how ready he was to venture down below and face a pack of goblins.

Noting his determination, she hurried to follow him. Before either could begin their descent, a hand emerged from below.

"Wait!" Maiya called, drawing her weapon and pointing at the emerging figure. A young man with freckles emerged, and balked as he say Maiya's longsword levelled at him.

"It's okay!" he cried out. "We have them!" Behind him followed two very dirty, terrified looking children, blinking in the bright afternoon sun.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:37, Tue 26 Nov 2019.

As the group progressed upwards, Harbek sought out Karadin and spoke to him in Dwarven. "Stonebrother, I suggest that you and I should serve as the rear-guard until everyone in our group reaches the surface. I think that we have given the Goblins enough of a bloody nose that they shall not trouble us further -- but cowards that they are, if they are of a mind to do so, I suspect that they will try to nibble away at the hindmost of us instead of trying to do battle with the entire group."

"Thus, you and I should put some Dwar steel betwixt any possible trouble and the Humans. We two shall be the last up out of the Goblin-tunnels, as is fitting for Dwarven warriors."

---

OOC: Assuming that Karadin agrees, the Dwarves will be the last two to exit the tunnel.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Mon 25 Nov 2019.

Mari followed Heiber and the children out, desperately subduing her growing need to reach the surface as fast as possible. She distracted her mind with genuine curiosity towards Raven. It was unusual for foreigners to travel outside of the coastal cities, especially to north of Merinthia. Why was she here, what was she looking for? It was mixed with more mundane curiosity of wanting to learn more about Raven and where she was from. She also still carried the readied crossbow, trying to guard the front.

Final push through the tiny tunnel was only bearable for the light that was showing at the end. Hearing Maiya's challenge from ahead, she called out, "Peace, peace, champion of Ellantha. It is us!" But of course the sight of the children was proof enough, even before Mari struggled free of the tunnel.

Squinting against the sunshine, Mari leaned on her knees for a while catching her breath and just enjoying the open air for a while before paying more attention to the people outside.

"Praise Ellantha, we are out, sunshine has never felt so good before!" Mari breathed quietly.

Karadin nodded as Harbek proposed taking up the rear guard. [Language unknown: "Pe ekstek menvirear thastrshe hoca nti lall rearatwerwhi intvenhas ek ichoulate sa iopa, ne m haekev a int eauad pro ei rutthuhat. Cangha, Lo nt il llaist e ainratder eeek eeest neella aihote staichcom... heni, heli whnc. Res, utdiou pe!"] he laughed.

When they finally reached the surface, the sun was blinding. The dwar looked around at the other injured. "I see we weren't the only ones to take a beating, but we completed the task at hand. Your young are safe. Not sure about the rest of you, but I could use a drink and some rest."

Emerging in the sunshine again, Raven raised a hand to shield against the glare, allowing her eyes to readjust to the daylight. Being a scholar adapted to the close quarters of stuffy libraries and cramped archives, she was perhaps more used to confined spaces than Mari appeared to be -- but nonetheless the dark and low-ceiling tunnels of the goblins were no place she cared to revisit anytime soon.

She smiled at Mari's comment about being free once more, but made no reply. Instead she moved over to where Daniel was. (laying down? sitting? standing conscious?) He was unconscious and near death when she had ventured down below and she had worried about leaving him in the care of the miners. "This is the tracker I spoke of, Mari," she said to the young priestess, gesturing for her to come over and see what she could do for the man.

When the dwarves emerged Raven hailed them and moved over to speak with them privately...

In reply to Raven (msg # 5):

Harbek turned as the dark-haired Human female approached. He had liked her when they had previously spoken -- mayhap, he had decided, because, as was the case with him, the prevailing Human ways and customs of Merinthia were foreign to her. He found himself liking her even more when she had the good sense to seek out Karadin of the Axebeard family and Harbek himself and speak to them privately, mayhap realizing that the two Dwar would have seen more in the dark underground tunnels than would their Human companions, whose vision was limited to what was within the area lit by whatever light-source they were carrying along with them.

Stroking his beard-whiskers thoughtfully, he listened to her words. When she had finished, he smiled at her and nodded affably. Speaking in the Merinthian tongue of the Humans, he replied "'Tis no trouble at all, Mistress Raven of the city of Arvada of the Sapphire Empire," he replied, repeating the words that she had spoken to him during the time-honored Greeting Ritual. "I am pleased to see that you are well. Seemingly Rahashu favored your efforts in defeating the bnarr-stealing Goblins, as the All-Father favored Karadin and me."

"As for your question about the possibility of other bnarr still being held captive down in the Goblin-tunnels . . ."

After a moment of thought, he shook his head and replied "I neither saw nor heard any evidence of other children being held captive. But that does not mean that none are down there -- for as we have seen, the Goblin-vermin will seize Human younglings and carry them down below whenever the opportunity arises."

"Mayhap, once these two bnarr -- Todd and Ami, as you say -- have recovered somewhat, you might ask them the same question. Mayhap they saw or heard something that I did not."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Wed 27 Nov 2019.

Maiya looked evidently relieved to see everyone safely out of the tunnels. "It is good to see you all safe. The other man who accompanied is already being escorted back to town to rest. This one," she nodded in the direction of Daniel. "Should almost certainly have gone with him, but was determined to head down below to aid the rest of you. I was able to channel enough of the blessings of our Lady to return him to the waking world, but that wound is not fully healed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:05, Thu 28 Nov 2019.

Mari nodded to Raven when she pointed towards wounded man, one that she recogniced to being the exceptionally rude man from earlier when they were travelling to the caves. Now Mari, shame on you, Ellantha's servants shouldn't let their personal opinion affect their willingness to help, she almost heard the words of Mother Eilia in her mind, when she approached Daniel.

It was obvious the man was up and about, it was as obvious that he was worse for wear. But then, so were the two dwar. Mari had nothing to give them other than bandages and getting them to safety to rest.

Karadin spoke of needing rest and Mari agreed, but the place was not safe. "I can bind your wounds, but that is all I can do for now without more supplies and rest. I don't think this is the best place for rest, we better walk away from the immediate area, if not all the way to Criplot. We scared the goblins to fleeing, but who knows if they manage to collect enough courage to come out eventually. Better not be here when they do."

Karadin nodded in agreement. "Yes, you should speak with the little ones. Find out what they saw down there. They ain't likely to talk a dwar covered in goblin innards," he chuckled.



"Ahh, me rest is best had on a bar stool back at the village tavern." Karadin laughed.

"I reckon the goblin scum will be licking their wounds and disposing of their dead for the rest of the day." The dwar spoke up loud enough for all to hear. "There was a unusually large and strong goblin among the runts. He took a couple nasty licks from Harbek and me weapons, but escaped. I plan to stay a few days in town, as I suspect they may try to retaliate once their wounds heal. I welcome any of ya to stay and fight by me side."

Daniel shrugs when it becomes clear he's not worth healing, and goes to recover his arrows from the several goblins he killed.

Mari had been thinking about what the goblin shaman had said and what she had seen from her vantage point on top of the ladder. That large goblin was probably the one called Skliz wanted to 'play' with the children and the room had been covered with blood spatter and torture implements, Mari shuddered at the thought of the kind of play that must mean for those children that were trapped in the room. She sent a fervent prayer to Ellantha thanking that they had been in time to save Todd and Ami.

"I don't have much hope for there being any other captives alive," she said with a sad shake of head and after glancing to make sure that the children were not within hearing range. "I will pray that we didn't abandon anyone there unknowingly. And yes, I agree Karadin of the Axebeard family, we should go back after we have rested. I will see if I can send word to Lord Phelmus of Oterhal, Criplot falls under his fief and maybe he would be willing to spare some help or supplies to our mission." Mari was not so sure that they would receive any help, but it was the responsibility of the nobility to take care of the people on their land, as much as it was the responsibility of the people to pay their taxes and work the fields and mines. She wanted to remind the local lord that the deal should be honored both ways.

Then Mari turned her attention towards the miners and the children, she went closer to them trying to smile soothingly, even as her cheeks reddened again when she saw Heiber. It had been many years since she had seen him and he had also changed, matured, grown more good looking. But probably it was Mari who had changed the most since that one day when she had called down Ellantha's fire for the fist time and then soon sent to Merinth to study.

Putting the personal thoughts aside for a while Mari knelt next to the children. "Hello, I'm Mari. You don't know me yet but I used to live in Criplot before I went to study to become a priestess. Would you allow me to see if you are alright and not wounded? We will take you back to your mother soon, but I would like to make sure you are ok." She smiled at them and held out her hands to invite them to step closer to her. She glanced at Heiber, hoping he would encourage them to do as she was asking.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Fri 29 Nov 2019.

Tod, the younger of the two, was clearly still too shaken to speak. Nervously, he continued to cling to Heiber's leg, avoiding meeting anyone's gaze. Heiber tried to gently encourage him, but the boy remained where he was.

Ami stepped forward, looking into Mari's face with eyes worn red from crying. She spoke in small voice. "Thank you for helping us, miss."

A quick inspection turned up no injuries more serious than some bruising and grazes round the wrists and ankles where they had been tied. Tod, still not speaking, submitted to the same inspection after some coaxing from his elder sister, and also appeared to be mostly unscathed.

Heiber had carefully watched Mari work. "By the Lady's grace, but it's good to see you again, Mari. You have to tell me all that's happened to you these past years. But first let's get these two home safe to Ma Flitfoot."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:09, Sat 30 Nov 2019.

Given the way that Mari of the Taysley family and the miner named Heiber were reacting, it appeared to Harbek that the two children had not suffered any serious injuries -- of the physical variety, any way. The Dwar was not certain how the two Human bnarr would weather the mental strain, however -- he suspected that Humans were not as strong-minded about such things as young Dwar would be in a similar situation.

Glancing away, Harbek's gaze randomly passed over Raven of Arvada, whereupon he started and immediately turned his attention back to the dark-haired Human female. It took him a moment to realize what had caught his eye, but when he did, he pursed his lips thoughtfully.

Harbek tried to remember what he had heard about such things, but found that in that respect, his memory was quite hazy . . .

Daniel puts his scavenged arrow back in his quiver, and strips the broken one of its head and any usable bits of fletching, which go into his pouch.

Raven pursed her lips in thought for a moment and then replied. "Yes, I will. Thank you," she began, agreeing with the pair. "Though I should probably wait until a more appropriate time. They are more likely to open up about the experience when a little distance to time and place robs the terror from their memories." She turned back when she heard Mari speak again...



"Then let us be away from this gods-cursed place," she said, after Karadin had replied. "Letters can be sent more easily from the village and mayhap we all could use a good stiff drink after what we just went through."

"Will you be joining us, Master Tracker?" She said to the one who so far had not spoken. "Pardon me, but I don't believe we know your name..."

Daniel shrugs, "No one has thought to ask, yet. Or offer their own to me, come to think if it. Daniel, now that we are introducing ourselves."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Mari smiled to Heiber, her cheeks flaming, "It is good to see you, I'd like to talk more and know what has happened to you. At least you seem to have picked up a fatherly visage, considering how the children cling to you." She tried a little clumsily teasing to an old friend. Then realised he might actually already have children of his own, it wasn't too unusual at their age. Deciding swiftly to not dwell on that, since she knew her own mother would be keen to point that out, Mari changed the subject. Meri Taysley would be disappointed if her oldest daughter never produced grandchildren, but Mari had another path now, not many priestessess married. Better not dwell on that either.

"Since you and the other miners were here, I'm assuming we are fairly near to the mine?" Coming throught the hills had made it harder to figure out where exactly they were. "Should we walk that way and take the path from the mines to Criplot or should we take the route that we came from." She pointed towards from where they had approached the goblin burrow.

Leaving the others discuss the path for a while, she went to pick up her travelling pack from the bushes she had left them in. Mari strapped her shield to the pack, but decided to keep her crossbow out just in case. Lamenting briefly after the bolts that she had lost in the tunnels and to corpses of the goblins she had killed, left behind when they hurried to surface, Mari shouldered her pack and was ready to leave.

Raven smiled wryly at Daniel's response. "Well met, Daniel. I'm called Raven. That's Mari," she replied in a clipped tone (one that almost made her drawl disappear) indicating herself and then the blonde priestess. "Here's Heiber, Radek, Ami and Tod," she added, gesturing to the miners and then the children. "And these are Masters Harbek Hardstone and Karadin Axebeard of the dwar," she continued, using the term she'd heard the dwarves use for their own people. She had the fleeting thought that she might have overstepped herself slightly in taking on all the introductions herself, but given Daniel's 'no-one-thought-to-ask-me' approach to getting to know your fellow goblin-hunting allies, she'd have rather not spent until tomorrow evening for him to eventually get around to learning everyone's names.

"So now that we all know each other, are you going to be joining us back to Criplot or not?" She asked, already deciding that it was probably for the best to be as direct with the tracker as possible. Who knows, perhaps all the time spent in the wilds had dulled his social skills. It would have made sense, she'd hardly have thought squirrels and rabbits were good conversation partners.

In anticipation of heading back to the Human village sooner rather than later, after staring at Raven to be certain that he had seen what he had thought he had seen -- ~Or, mayhap more accurately, not seen one of the things that I had expected to see,~ the Dwar thought to himself -- Harbek had angled over to pick up his backpack from where he had set it before venturing down into the Goblin-tunnels.

As he returned after shrugging his shoulders into his pack, Harbek heard Raven of the city of Arvada calling out the names of some of the group to the Human male who had tracked the Goblins to their lair. She was doing a more than passable job of it, but as a Human, she was (as might be expected) not quite following the strictures of the Greeting Ritual -- and Harbek quickly decided to set things aright insofar as his personal information was concerned.

Striding over near to the twosome, Harbek turned to face the tracker. "'Tis Master Daniel, aye? I hope that I just now heard your name aright."

Not quite coming to a military "Attention" stance, but squaring his shoulders and throwing out his chest, Harbek continued, "As Mistress Raven of the city of Arvada has told you, I am Harbek of the Hardstone family."

"More properly, I am Harbek of the Hardstone family of the Stoneshaft clan, hailing from Krak Vestri -- that is to say, 'Westhold', in your tongue."

Completing the Greeting Ritual, Harbek gave a shallow bow -- more a nod of his head, really -- and intoned "The pleasure of the meeting is mine."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:27, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

Heiber visibly blushed at the mention of his 'fatherly visage', and seemed about to speak, but quickly seized on Mari's change of topic. "Why yes - of course. We're mining just over that ridge." He indicated over his shoulder to the North. "I don't know which way you arrived, Mari, but we're quicker cutting straight north till we hit the roads. Going that way we'll probably beat the rest taking your injured friend back on the cart." He briefly looked over at Daniel's wounds "Assuming we're all okay to make it on foot.".