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Post by Jay on Mar 25, 2021 14:45:56 GMT
Legolas sat out the discussion over whether or not to pull the lever, which they all assumed would release the dam and flood the lower passages of the cave. If Stella had really seen some kind of lizard man come out of the water and kill a goblin, then he was no more sure than anyone else about whether or not it was a friend, or something else they needed to worry about in this dark and damp cave. No, while that option was discussed, Legolas kept his bow at the ready, an arrow notched, pointed in the direction of the blood trail.
When the dam broke, the elf turned his bow towards the other path. Anything they needed to worry about from below was just carried away by the torrent of water. He was too slow, as a goblin seemed to materialize even as he adjusted his aim. It took a poorly aimed popshot with its short bow and then scurried back from whence it came before Legolas could get his own arrow into the air.
"At least one up ahead," he said pointedly to the party, just in case they hadn't noticed the creature's ugly features in the dim lighting.
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 25, 2021 22:49:19 GMT
"Whoa," yelped Nilly as an arrow whizzed past her head drawing her attention to the southern passageway.
There she spotted the tail and of a goblin as it scurried back around the corner as Legolas spoke. Unfortunately, there was no time for either of them to retaliate. Still, Nilly wasn't about to allow that fiend to inform his friends that the group was on their way.
"Here, let's go," said the young elf as she tossed Stell a light-infused stone before beginning her pursuit.
As Nilly rounded the corner, the goblin came into sight along with another further down the hall. With her bow in hand, Nilly notched an arrow and let fly down the narrow corridor catching the fiend in the back. The goblin's reached out with one hand, trying to alert its friend as its mouth filled with blood. Nothing but gargling fluids escaped its lips as it stumbled on its own feet before collapsing to the ground in a slump.
"One more on the left ahead," whispered Nilly as Stella came around the corner behind her. |
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Mar 26, 2021 14:54:14 GMT
The arrow flew at Nilly before any of them had a chance to react, but the small elf was quick to make her move. Before she rounded the corner however, she tossed a small bright stone to Stella - it wasn’t a torch, but it would certainly be enough light for the human to see with. Had she been wrong about this woman? Maybe she could be a friend after all - but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Stella moved quickly but quietly, entering the passage just as Nilly’s arrow pierced the goblin and sent him stumbling to the ground. The warning of another goblin up ahead caused Stella to nod at her companion, taking a step onto the bridge. She couldn’t see the goblin, but the sound of shuffling feet told her exactly where he would be. Her mind extended outwards as she took a slow breath, her hand moving behind her to sound a single string on her lute. The second the noise started, her attention honed in on the goblin just around the corner. The noise was heard by him alone, and it filled his very mind. ”Alone in the dark.
Hear the water, hear it roar,
Alone in the dark.
Lose an ally, lose a friend,
Alone in the dark.
Always watching, always waiting,
Alone in the dark.
Feel the crush, feel the break,
Alone in the dark.
You can’t escape, you can’t contend.
I’m here in the dark.”The words bounced around the goblin’s skull until his own thoughts were no more, taken over by the rhythmic thumping of the discordant melody that plagued him. It took the only way out it knew - and snapped. The goblin fell the ground without a word, his brain having merely surrendered itself to the one attacking him. Stella muted her lute, just as Li made to move past. The last faint echoes of music still filled her voice as she whispered ”Luck.” to him as he passed her.
Rolls:
Dissonant Whispers: 13 dmg (kill gob)
Bardic Insp on Li Jie
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 27, 2021 19:23:43 GMT
After reaping the lives of two more goblins, the group traveled further down the southern passageway. Although they tried to be cautious in their approach, the remaining inhabitants were already aware of their position. Unbeknownst to the group, danger lurked in the shadows, and Li Jue was soon struck by an arrow as he led the path around a blind corner.
Nilly acted swiftly, entering a full dash towards the end of the hall before the enemies could harm Li further. The young elf skid to a halt at the end of the tunnel as she reared back the drawstring of her bow. Using the base of the stone surface as support, Nilly sprung off the wall towards the goblin, releasing an arrow into its throat before her feet touched back on the ground.
Looking forward as she landed, Nilly noticed two more figures in the room ahead. She couldn't see much more than the lower half of their bodies, but it was enough for her to recognize one of them as an enemy. There was no mistaking its sickly green skin and ragged clothes, another goblin. All she could see of the other figure was their worn out and bloodied underclothing, making it hard for her to discern their identity.
"There's another gob on a hill in the room ahead and someone else," said Nilly as Stella came running around the corner behind her.
The bewitching woman appeared to cast a spell of some sort as she uttered some magic-laced words, but Nilly was uncertain of their effect. Legolas had joined them soon after with his bow drawn, but before he could do anything, a coarse voice called out to them.
The foul voice from the room requested that the trio cease their violence with an ultimatum before inviting them further inside. Nilly frowned with discontent as they proceeded into the room, still keeping her bow raised on the goblin as she waited for a chance to take him down.
The creature introduced himself as Yeenik and went on to bargain with Stella for its freedom as he held a hostage over a cliff as leverage. Yeenik seemed to want the group to kill off his boss and didn't mind the death of his comrades as Nilly leisurely walked around to cut their throats as they slept.
Throughout the negotiation, Yeenik seemed awfully confident he could get what he wanted and refused all compromise, insisting that the group handle his boss before he would allow them near the hostage. Nilly didn't like it. Yeenik even refused his chance to leave unharmed.
Nilly couldn't figure out what he was thinking. There was no reason for him not to accept their terms and keep his life. Looking around the room when she killed the sleeping gobs, she didn't see another exit. He was alone, and there was no place for him to run. With three against one, Nilly could only assume Yeenik had a death-wish and had no intention of releasing the hostage even if they did what he wanted.
Coming to this realization the young elf was left with little choice. She felt it better to risk the hostage's life against the cliff rather than leave him in the hands of a greedy fiend. With Legolas nearby, she felt there was a good chance he could catch the guy before he hit the ground.
"I guess negotiations are over," said Nilly as she raised her bow, releasing an arrow towards the stairs as though she intended to miss.
A sudden burst of wind caused the arrow to halt momentarily, as though it floated midair, before altering its trajectory and gaining speed as it lunged towards Yeenik from his side. Wrapped in a shroud of wind, the arrow found a weakness in Yeenik's armor and buried itself just below his ribs. Nilly was uncertain if this was enough to loosen his grip, but she was preparing herself to try and catch the hostage anyway if she could. She only hoped Legolas was on the same page and they could make it in time. |
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Post by Jay on Mar 28, 2021 16:24:57 GMT
The elf knew that any goblin in a corner would say anything it took to save his skin, but he had a strange feeling that Yeenik, as this one introduced itself, would hold true to his word. Granted, whether or not their little ragtag band of half-effective archers and deceitful mages could beat this Klarg or not was up in the air. He started to ask for more information about their target, but Nilly decided she didn't want to play games with Yeenik.
Before Legolas could protest, the other elf put an arrow to her bow and let it fly. He barely had time to process the unusual movements that it made in midair before it buried itself up to the fletchings into Yeenik's side. The goblin howled in joint surprise and pain, releasing his grip on the prisoner. Displaying his dexterity, Legolas leapt forward and caught the prisoner in his arms, though the weight drove him to his knees.
Yeenik, realizing at once that he'd lost all leverage, leaped off the embankment. He landed hard beside Nilly, but rather than lunge out at her, he made for the tunnel. Before he could get away, his foot got ripped out from under him and he found himself face down on the floor. Something sharp pierced his upper back, making pain lance through his body.
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Post by Indifferent on Mar 28, 2021 23:01:26 GMT
Fortunately, Legolas was able to make it in time to catch the prisoner. Nilly would've felt even worse than she already did had the man's life been in more danger. She believed that Yeenik wasn't any different than the rest of his race, vile scum that cared not for anything but themselves. Leaving the prisoner in his hands was no greater a risk than his fall in her eyes.
Sure enough, Yeenik had shown his roots the moment he lost hold of his prisoner. Although, to Nilly's surprise, Yeenik had not tried to attack her after jumping off from the ledge above. Instead, he attempted to run past her. She was uncertain of his goal. Be it to capture Stella instead because she looked less dangerous or flee for his life. It mattered not to her. Nilly wasn't about to let him get away after his threats and swiftly stuck out her leg as he ran by, causing him to plant his face into the stone floor without mercy.
After untying the prisoner, Stella took the rope to see if Yeenik would enjoy the taste of his own hospitality. Meanwhile, Nilly tended to the prisoner's wounds as best she could at the time before leaving the room to relieve Li of his watch. Joined shortly after by Legolas, Nilly waited on the bridge for any signs of the one named Klarg with her bow at the ready. She wasn't sure what to expect but considering he was the boss around here, she assumed he'd be much stronger than anyone they faced thus far. |
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Mar 29, 2021 14:31:25 GMT
 The faint words of Stella wisped into the monk's ear, the single word 'luck' filling his heart with an inspiration to do the best he could. " Charming," he said with a hushed chuckle as he exhaled. For a moment he let his eyes rest, as he had once done just after freeing the wolves. A calming meditation that would steel his nerves and harden his mind to come. His breathes began to slow, and finally he began to creep forward. As silent as a mouse, as nimble as the flying monkeys of his home, Li Jie moved across the bridge. The shadows danced with him, weaving in and out of them like a ballroom waltz. He felt confident, never before he had moved with such grace and skill. Knowledge seemed to flood his mind, instinct taking over as he avoided the slippery surfaces and noticeable angles that he could be seen from. Leading his group they approached the bridge, his allies loosing arrows from afar taking out all the sentry that would stand in his way. They worked like a well oiled machine, covering for one another's weaknesses. Eventually Li Jie came to the bend, just past the bridge, two bodies- slayed by his allies from afar- still twitched with the last signals of their brain. From there the tunnel began to bend and his mind was still racing with the adrenaline from the approach thus far. He thought he was skilled, he thought he blended with the shadows, but alas, he did not. As soon as he peaked over the rocky partition he was greeted with the cold embrace of steel. Once more, in the same shoulder as before, the arrowhead bit through his skin, swimming through muscle and blood like a shark through the ocean. Li Jie stumbled back, falling against the rocks that were still slick from condensation. Only a grunt escaped his lips as his back hit the wall to his rear, and his and lifted shakily to his shoulder. Who knew how many were inside, lurking and waiting for them. Twice now had Li Jie been attacked, and twice now has he failed to react in a manner that would suit his allies. Grunting he struggled to his feet, blood seeping from the wound as he snapped the shaft of the arrow before pushing the head through the rest of the way. His veins began to bulge as he strained to remain silent, the sound of tear flesh and muscle could faintly be heard on his right, while to his left he heard the steady thumps of bodies against bedrock. Sweat dripped from his head and shouting filled the cave. They had been seen, but once more Li Jie had failed to be there. The party handled what they could, slaying what stood in their way, and capturing what they deemed fit. Legolas had mentioned the credibility of Yeenik, the goblin who had been torturing the person they had heard. Stella and Nilly would not have it though. Li Jie came into the room, his left hand gripping his right shoulder with blood oozing out from beneath his grip. Grunting and huffing he meekly made his way over to the prisoner. He looked over his shoulder, seeing Stella bind the goblin and begin to drag him off. His heart sank, were they the kind of adventures that were only interested in killing? That wasn't who Li Jie was, he was calm and loving spirit, one that adventured for the sake of discovering his past and seeing the world. " A man who fears death, speaks truth." Li Jie said, trying to gain Stella's attention. " Numbers are often the ally of the weak, he might help us in our battle, if you just talk to him peacefully." A sadness washed over the monk's eyes as he looked to Nilly, a person who was once tender hearted as he, yet now the one who shoots first. Sighing he kneeled beside the tortured man, his face trying to brighten to the warmth and welcoming smile that he had practiced for all those years. " We are here to help, is there anything we can do to ease your pain friend? Please, let me know." He said his eyes moving over the wounds. " I'm no healer, but I can help bandage your wounds while you tell me who you are and how you came here. We heard your screams from the path outside, I am glad we got here before you died." If the man would allow him to, Li Jie would begin to crudely bandage up what wounds he could. Not enough to heal or stabilize, but enough to slow or stop bleeding and infection. Rolls Persuasion @ Stella: 15
Medicine: 13 |
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Post by Jay on Mar 29, 2021 15:02:15 GMT
Sildar had long given up on the possibility of life. The goblins had held him for more hours than he could accurately count, and so he'd quit trying. At least as much time had passed since then. No matter how much he pleaded, the torturous little creatures refused to kill him outright.
"We are here to help," came a voice. He'd drifted in and out of consciousness many times since his capture, so this was nothing new. He opened his eyes and looked the source of the voice in the eye, the realization that it wasn't a goblin coming slowly. The man listened to the rest of his savior's words with blank, wet eyes.
"My name," he croaked in a hoarse voice, "is Sildar Hallwinter." He laid back gently, an unspoken consent to let this man tend to his many wounds. "They captured us. I haven't seen my companions in..." His voice trailed off, as he had no idea how long it had been.
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Mar 29, 2021 15:44:52 GMT
The negotiations with the goblin were over quicker than expected - and they ended in violence. Nilly’s arrow pierced the goblin’s side, forcing the hostage over the edge of the cliff where he fell into the waiting arms of Legolas. How romantic…She couldn’t bring herself to be angry or annoyed at the young she-elf, however. As Yeenik landed on the ground and fell victim to Nilly’s extended leg, Stella rushed over. In the blink of an eye she had swapped the predicaments of the prisoner and the goblin - now his hands were tied behind his back, and he was at their mercy. Li chose this moment to re-appear, preaching words that Stella knew were the right thing to do - but unfortunately, sometimes they had to do things that weren’t good in order to get what they needed. For a moment her thoughts dwelled on her father, a man who had devoted his life to the worship of Milil - and then she quenched the thoughts. Where she was going, she couldn’t think of what her Father would say - or what his god would say. She grabbed the goblin’s ropes, pulling him to his feet and marching him away from the group. As they rounded a corner into a small alcove, she tossed him to the ground. The movement caused her lute strings to ring once more, and suddenly the world darkened for the goblin - all that he could see now was the face of Stella, her eyes burning with an inhuman fury. “How long ago did Klarg leave?”"Hours ago," the frightened goblin babbled. "Don't know how long he be gon. Sometime short while, sometime days. Klarg boss, do what he want." Stella gripped the arrow still piercing the goblin's side, slowly twisting it. "Did anybody else go with him? What does he normally do after he comes back from hunting? Where does he go?"The goblin clenched his teeth through the pain. "Klarg alaways take Ripper wid em. Heard he tooka Fangtooth too. Alaways go into da woods alaround." "Ripper? Fangtooth? Are they his wolves? What weapons does he have, what armour? What is he afraid of?""Der his teeth, dats for sure," the goblin said with a slight laugh, despite his position. He coughed and blood ran down his chin. "You gonna let Yeenik go ifa he help you?" "You think you're in a position to bargain, goblin?" The arrow twisted deeper into the goblin beneath Stella's hand. "If you give us enough useful information, I'll see to it that you get out of this cave. Now answer the questions."Yeenik barred his sharpened teeth, his own blood staining them as he fought not to cry out. "Klarg carry a club wid a spike ball onna chain. Killa goblin wid one swing, anna hit em again before it hit da ground. Dats all Yeenik know." "That's it? Armour, shield? Have you ever seen him use magic? Are Ripper and Fangtooth his wolves? How big are they?"Yeenik coughed up more blood then closed his eyes. "You scared of Klarg?" he asked, his eyes remaining closed. "Dats smart. Never saw him usa magick, but he never need it." He sighed, opening his eyes again and staring the ghostly figure before him in the face. "You not gonna let Yeenik go, are you?" "Scared? No, goblin - just prepared. If you don't answer my questions then you won't be leaving this cave - I won't warn you again. Now, tell me!""I hopa you kill Fangtooth. Don't lika him," Yeenik continued. Then he coughed before spitting a glob of blood and mucus at the figure. "Try a do it before Ripper rips your throat out." The goblin's eyes were unfocused as he spoke. Blood loss, and who knew how much internal damage, were taking their toll. Stella gritted her teeth. "I'll keep my word, goblin - I'll make sure you get out of this cave." She pulled the dagger from her hip, sliding it cleanly across the goblin's throat and spilling his blood onto the floor. "I never said you'd get out alive."The goblin's eyes went wide, but then a sense of calm came over him. "Knew it allalong," he said, as he dropped to his knees. His hands tied behind his back acted as a counterweight, so that when he died, he remained in a kneeling position with his head leaned back. Stella wiped the blood of the goblin onto his clothes before her hands began to search him.
Rolls:
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Mar 29, 2021 18:01:24 GMT
With the utmost care and patience Li Jie listened to Sildar and tended to his wounds. As the man slowly drifted off in his own thoughts, Li Jie interjected. " Of course," he began with as calm and tranquil as he could possibly come off as. " Who were you traveling with?" The monk was careful not to pry as he finished wrapping the last of the wounds. " Why were you traveling in the first place? Gold I assume?" As if speaking on eggshells with his words he began to tread carefully. Who could know when the man may snap or what words could trigger an emotional reaction. Still, the questions were important to ask, more so it was possible that Sildar was one of the drunkards companions from the Courageous Pony Inn. The man, whoever he was, began tending to his many wounds in a surprisingly tender sort of way. An amiable trust layered itself across Sildar's frantic, crisis-mode cerebrum. "My companions," came the words, even before he had decided to speak them, "were Gundren Rockseeker, and my oldest friend, Zakris. Bound for Phandalin." The man's hand reached instinctively reached towards a water skin at the man's side, as if he'd just decided that he'd die on the spot if he didn't get a drink. It was out of his reach, so he just held his hand out towards it. " Gundren?" Li Jie said slightly angling his head. " A wizard looking fellow talked about being hired you as a contact." The pieces didn't seem to fit quite as well as the monk would like, but for the time he continued to listen, smoothly leading the conversation without seeming like he was prying. "A wizard?" Sildar replied, his outstretched hand still weakly swaying as he focused his eyes on the waterskin. " Yeah, found him drinking after he said you were ambushed by goblins." As Li Jie spoke he grabbed the waterskin on his side, uncapping it and lifting it to the cracked lips of Sildar. The human let the water roll around his mouth, then he drank somewhat greedily. A few seconds later he sighed, and his voice was a little less hoarse when he spoke. "I do not know a wizard, but I know that Gundren hired a few people to escort his wagon of equipment. They would have been a day or two behind us at most," he replied. " Woah now, slow down friend." Li Jie said calmly as the man guzzled down the water. " You don't want to get sick, no one will take it from you." He said assuring him to and stepping back to give the man some room. " Have you seen or heard of anything or anyone else?" Li said with a concerned frown. Two parties with a large number of missing individuals and only two survivors. There had to be a reason for it. " Why did they keep you?" Sildar frowned. "They brought someone else here," he said. "Maybe a cleric. He didn't last long though." The human pushed himself up to a sitting position and drank a little more of the water. "They torture people here," he continued, glancing around the room. "See how long they can survive, then eat them when they die." A dark look came over his face, but he shook it away. "I've been here for... hell I don't even know. Days? A week?" " I'm very sorry to hear that." Li Jie went silent for a moment as the expression darkened on the man's face. " There is more I have to ask though, things that may save others. It may be hard, but I need you to give it your best shot." Days, weeks, the man didn't know, but whatever events held in this dark cavern would scar for years, possibly a lifetime. "We gathered information from one of these bastards. Some dwarf, was taken to a castle. Do you have any information of this?" Li Jie figured that Gundren was the dwarf, considering the information given at the Inn, but out of fear of triggering emotions; he remained vague. At the mention of a dwarf, Sildar went rigid. "They took Gundren shortly after we arrived here. I thought he was dead. That has to be him that they took to their castle!" he was excited now, but still too weak to stand. "And Zakris... He escaped after they took Gundren, but I never saw him again. Have you? He's a Kobold." " Calm down, one thing at a time." Li Jie said holding his hands up toward the excited man. " Listen to me Sildar, we need to get answers." Li Jie spoke and calm, his hands moving up and down in the 'calm down' motion. " Let's started with Gundren, they took him?" Li Jie looked over his shoulder to find there was still no sight of Stella. " Okay, do you have any direction to point us in? Did they take him north, south, east?" Sildar blinked blankly at his savior for a few moments. Then his hand raised and pointed towards the cave mouth that led into the room. "They took him that way. It sounds like you know more about it than I do," he said plainly. "Maybe one of the goblins knows where they took him? Did you guys capture any of them?" " We have captured a few and gotten what we can outta' them." Li Jie said bluntly, rubbing the back of his head. " Honestly, I think the lady is with the one called, Yeenik at the moment." Li Jie sighed, there didn't seem to be much information that we was ascertaining for the distraught captive. " You were bound for Phandalin, maybe we should head that way for more answers?" Li Jie first addressed Sildar and then turned to Nilly with his assumption. As if to punctuate the man's words, a wet squelch reached Sildar's ears, followed by the ragged gasps of a dying creature. The human raised his eyebrows. "Yes, perhaps someone in Phandalin will know more about the surrounding lands. I heard some of the goblins talking about a castle, but I have no idea where it might be." Li Jie fell silent once more, another life taken by the knife of his allies once more. Goblin, monster, human, it mattered not, Li Jie could feel the ever lingering sense of death looming over the group he traveled with. Adventuring had it's price. " Ah, that is great information, thank you very much." Li Jie said with another smile, as bright as he could muster. " Stella, Nilly, Legolas!" Li Jie called out, calling them over to rely the information he was given. Rolls
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Apr 22, 2021 16:06:42 GMT
The illusion of Yeenik faded, but it had done its job. Klarg’s morningstar crashed into the wall, lodging deep into the rock and leaving him open to the arrow from Nilly, fired from the bridge. It pierced his knee and sent him into a heap on the ground, his weapon dropping from his grasp as pain overcame him. Stella slid gracefully down the slope towards the party, gently touching Legolas on the arm as she squeezed past him to stand over the fallen Bugbear. She turned to the others, offering them a nod. ”Time to find out what he knows. Bring him into the other room, make sure the tie him up tight,” she said, before ripping a strip of cloth from the dead goblin’s tunic and wrapping it over Klarg’s eyes. Once they had brought Klarg into the other room, Stella turned to her companions. ”You won’t want to watch this - but I’ll find out what he knows. Just make sure nobody interrupts me.”They left, and she was alone but for Klarg - not that he would know. ”Whatsa youse gonna be doing to me?”Yeenik’s voice seemed to come from the right of Klarg, still blindfolded, and he turned his head slightly in that direction. ”That depends on if you answer my questions, goblin.”Yeenik spat. ”Yeenik was thinking we having a deal, so why would Yeenik be trusting human now?””You failed to uphold your end of the bargain by not telling us everything you know, Yeenik. We found the map, which you conveniently didn’t tell us about.””Y-Yeenik will talk! Yeenik tell you errything you wanna know, just don’t kill Yeenik!””You had your chance, Yeenik. I don’t give second chances.”Yeenik’s guttural cry permeated Klarg’s ears, seeming to go on for an age. Eventually they faded away, and all he heard was silence. The blindfold over his eyes was pulled away a moment later, and the light of the nearby fire caused him to squint. Looking to the side he saw the discarded corpse of Yeenik, covered in his own blood and a multitude of cuts. The woman standing before him held a bloody knife, and a look of fierce determination in her eyes. ”Looks like you get a chance as well - tell me what I want and I’ll see to it that you make it out of this cave. Let's start with this,” she said, holding out the map that they had pulled from the bugbear’s pockets. ”Start talking.”
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