Shadowy Past - RPLOG
Participants
Date
24/11/478
Log
It is cooler here above the Silvervein clothing than it is along the coast and a chilly breeze blows through the long grass in the valley from Northwarden. It is far enough from Mossy Stone that there is little chance of any shamblers coming out this far, but not far enough to shake the feeling of being watched from the ruined city's walls. Every now and then, there is the husk of a ruined farm house, but the area is otherwise still and quiet.
Sitting on a stone near the road, at the top of the hill, is the usual tiny feline, cane resting against the rock. It seems she's waiting for someone, or perhaps is simply tired from having climbed up all the way up the hill early.
Bazalt Grumbles and forwns as he finds Zalthar. "i get you dont want others but..could we have hired other freeswords..Guards? anything.. this makes me uneasy.." he grumbles. "I...What are you even looking for.. all you said is back to the start..where you.. got your.. body.." he rubs the back of his head frowning.
There is nothing at all atop the hill. Just grass and a few tumbled stones. A few large black boulders jut from the crown of the hill, making it fairly obvious why this land was not cultivated. The shadow of one of the jutting stones holds a shallow depression that might be a small hole. Could bear looking into.
Zalthar smiles and nods, slowly standing up "I'm not quite sure exactly what." she says, reaching into her sleeve for a moment, before pulling out a broken jewlery chain, apparently snapped halfway down "When I came into being, I found this in her pocket. Do you know what that means?" she asks, before tilting her head towards the depression "Oh, and Bazalt...if things get too dangerous, we can always come back. Since we don't know what we're looking for, neither does anyone else."
Bazalt nods "So... a locket or something?.. you.. wnat to see if it has a picture of her family?" the wolf Rubs his eyes. "you know I almost envy you..you got to know your host before you...got it..mine...I got nothing I tried to be he was..not fully there..he might've lost his mind or something I dont... know..honestly..I dont rember much back then either i dont wnat to rember or cant.." he shrugs. "I will helpy ou though.." he nods. "SO....Any ideas?" he asks, looking around before pointing to teh rock with the depression. "what about that?"
The chill wind whistles through the stones, but it has no answers. This seems like a strange place to have this conversation that could have happened anywhere. Perhaps there is more to Zalthar's story.
Zalthar nods "Locket, necklace, watch. I'm not sure, but something along those lines." she nods "It's worth checking out." As she starts walking, her ears fold back "As for what I hope to find, well...even if it's already things I knew, it's something I can do to honor her memory." As she reaches the depression, she kneels down and starts looking through it.
Bazalt nods "yeah I get that.. it's all I want to do too.." he sighs before looking around "so why here?" he Frowns "this place feels ..strange..not quite right.." the wolf reaches for his bow, frowning. "almost like we are being watched..."
There is not much to see in the shadow of the stone. Just more long, dry grass. At the base of the stone, almost concealed by the all consuming grass is a small opening, just large enough for a being to slide through. Wind whistles through the opening, indicating that there might be a cavern or tunnel below.
Zalthar shrugs "That's probably because Mossy Stone is nearby. They don't come out this far, so we should be good. though." Curiously, she starts crawling into the hole, keeping her tail raised high, until she gets deep enough for that to be engulfed too.
Bazalt frowns "be.. careful....You'll be faster here than me.. miss tiny cat.." the wolf sighs and attempts to make his way into the hole, Gumbling as he does so. "better not be water." he mumbles.
The little tunnel is very nearly a perfect fit for Zalthar, and a much, much tighter fit for Bazalt. The smaller cat finds that it is very short, barely a body length before she tumbles through into a low tunnel of dirt and stone. It is dark, and there is not much to see without some kind of light, but the tunnel is warm and seems vaguely familiar for some reason. Bazalt manages to wriggle his head and shoulders through into the tunnel, but finds himself trapped half way, head sticking into the warm darkness and toes waving about in the chilly outside air.
Zalthar blinks and rubs her head gently, smiling as she pats down her abdomen "This is...wow..." she purrs to herself, looking about, and then casting her gaze back up where she came from "Need some help there?" The cat asks, reaching up with both hands to try and wiggle the comparatively very large wolf free.
Bazalt blinsk and Frowns "light-Nrrgh- First..." he drops a piece of Flint and grumbles "Annd then we can try Get me Free...damn this is a tight Squeeze..." he says wriggling and bit. "shoulda expected this...and stay on guard... still might be.. thigns lurking about.."
If there is anything else in the dark cavern, it is very quiet. It seems like a good, solid heave could get poor Bazalt out.
Zalthar nods and pulls out a small piece of wood, lighting it and stickign the unlit end into the dirt, before turning back to bazalt "Ok, on my mark, exhale." she instructs. "Three...two...one...go!" At that, she plants her feet into the side of the wall and pulls with all of her might (Which isn't terribly much)
Bazalt nods and Squints a slight bit. "Ok.. here we-" The wolf Does is said and pushes himself with all his might wriggling his body too.
Dirt and grass roots cascade from the suddenly widened hole in the tunnel wall as Bazalt suddenly pops free and tumbles on top of Zalthar. That was not so bad.
In the light of the torch, the pair can see that they are in a low tunnel, just barely high enough for Bazalt to stand upright, though it would require him to scrape his head along the ceiling should he walk without stooping. It seems to stretch off in both directions.
Zalthar grunts and pokes Bazalt, trying to wriggle out form underneath him. Once free, she stretches and picks up the makeshift torch, slowly heading down the tunnel "You konw...I kind of like it here..." she says idly, purring to herself.
Bazalt blinks "Gah well taht was.. easy.." he gets up and slouches "this'll be wonder on my back...wait you like it? huh, all right then" he Grins "lead on Zalthar." the wolf says, looking around carefully. "might want a way to mark it so we know our way out.... any ideas there?.."
The tunnel is sandy and dry with an obvious, but easy downhill slope. It does not seem natural, but it does not really feel like it was made by beings either. There do not seem to be any support beams or tool marks on the rough walls, but the path is smooth and clear.
Zalthar ponders and looks up, before drawing an 'x' in the sandy floor, with an arrow pointing out from it towards the exit "Just in case something happens." She looks back "How are you doing back there? You have been pretty quiet."
Bazalt nods and ten frowns?" how do you mean how I am? Because we're in a Creepy tunnel that might lead to an abandonded shadow nest or something in the slim hope we might find a relic of your bodies past...." he blinks "I'm being pessimistic this time it seems." he shrugs, not taht the Cat can see. "In all honestly i'm good, you know that because i'm complaining...It's a thing I do."
It is not a very long walk before the path abruptly ends, leaving Zalthar and Bazalt looking over a large, empty cavern from above. This seems to be one of several tunnels that lead to this central chamber, though at first glance there seems to be no way down. This chamber is decidedly different from the clean, dry tunnel. The walls are covered in jagged pits and scorch marks and there is rubble scattered haphazadly around the cavern floor. In the center of the cavern is a wide, circular pit of charred ruin. It is obvious this all happened quite some time ago, but the extent of the battle that went on here is quite evident.
As soon as Zalthar enters the central area, she steps to the side, letting her friend in. But once she does that, she takes a deep breath, holding her head "I remember this place." she says quietly, leaning against the wall and sliding down it, until she's sitting.
Bazalt Frowns and shudders "a fight happened here.." he then looks to Zal. "what, What's wrong are you ok"? HE asks, concerned as he moves to hold and help her. "takes is easy.. dont.. fight the memories.. let them.. flow." he says softly, Frowning as he looks about.
"Easy for you to say..." she hisses a bit to herself "It wasn't a fight...I..can't remember what happened to wipe it out...I wasn't there. But something of this magnitude...I..was going to until I was caught..." With a great amount of effort, she slowly stands up, "Let's look for a way down.." she suggests, before pulling out a knife and drawing a couple of large X's in the rough wall near their entrance.
Bazalt nods slowly and frowns "It's.. ok Zal.. I'm here for you...you dont need to rush this.." he says, still looking around and frowning. "I have some rope, if you wish to try climbing down?.." he asks watching her carefully. "this..cant be easy for you.. are you..ok?"
The rough walls offer some handholds, but it won't be an easy climb. It looks like there may have been more to the ledge once, but it seems t�o be nothing more than a pile of rubble several meters down at this poin�t. The rope might be a good idea.
Zalthar nods back "I'll be ok." she confirms, giving a smile. "The rope is a good idea. Lets..find something to tie it around." The cat takes another deep breath, eyes crossing briefly "Just before we became one...she was calling out at someone..." she mutters to herself, shaking the confliction out of her head for the moment.
Bazalt nods and Pulls out his rope and Looks aroudn "see naythign we can tie to too that looks stable?" he asks, nodding 2It's ok Zal just Relax, one step at a time, ok?"
Zalthar ponders this, looking about, "Well...hmm..." With the mostly smooth, slihtly rough surfaces, there's not much to work with "I know it's not a solution you'll like, but you kind of are a sturdy, stable object, in a sense..."
This part of the cavern does not seem to have anywhere to tie the rope. And the drop is not too far. . . Maybe that idea could work.
Bazalt Blinks and frowns "and let you go down there alone?" He frowns "I-i'd prefer not...if something ere to happen.." he shakes his head. "we can always look for another way.. you see all the entrances to this cavern."
Zalthar ponders, and smiles "I have an idea." Once more, she pulls out her dagger, and hands it to Bazalt "Jam it into that crack, and we can use it to tie the rope around." she suggests, pointing to a crack in the floor. It's not very big, but it is near the edge.
Bazalt Frowns "Will.. it.. hold?" he says looking at the dagger then the Crack then teh floor around the crack."hrrnn Maybe...your weight.. but mine?" he tilts his head to teh side, frowning.
Zalthar shrugs "It's the best idea I have." she ponders, sitting at the edge, closing her eyes in thought "Can't you do air magic? Would it be possible to use air currents to reduce the strain on the rope as you go down and up?"
Bazalt blinks and nods slowly "That is... possible.. yes..I'm not taht skilled but that sounds... do-able.." he nods slowly. "I suppose.. it's worth a shot.." he sighs andWraps the Rope round the dagger, knotting it and checking it before pushing it fiercly into the crack. "hope it holds.."
Zalthar moves and positions her weight ove rthe dagger, to add some stability to it "It's now or never." she comments, nodding at Bazalt, taking another deep breath.
Bazalt, taking the first attempt at the rope manages to shimmy his way down, but Zalthar is not so lucky, she has only managed to make it a short distance before the dagger comes loose!
Bazalt Blinks and catches zal and jumping back to Avoid the DAgger. "Damn...Well.. That's going to be fun trying to go back up." he mumbles. "lets look around.. maybe.. one of the caverns lead out.., might be quicker-when we are done that is?.."
Zalthar smiles as Bazalt catches her and nods "While we're here though, let's look around." she gets out of his arms and grunts, looking kind of stiff. "It was somewhere around here..." she says to herself.
It is dark down here in the rubble and the broken stone casts strange shadows in the light of the torch. Deep in the crevasse between two stones, there is a glint of light on metal.
Bazalt glance up and Sighs. "ehh.. damnit... one thing at a time." The wolf sighs and rubs his head. "You good zal?" he asks, as he looks around. "maybe one of the otehr caves lead out.. or something?" he shrugs as he moves to where he thought he saw the glint of Metal, glancing to Zalthar as he does. "Thought i saw something... Shiny."
Zalthar nods "I'm ok." she clambers out of his arms and stands up, groaning softly. Without a second thought, she starts heading towards the shiny object, rummaging through any stones and dust to pick it up, tail curling about behind her.
The little lynx just manages to shimmy in among the rubble close enough to retrieve a little silver pendant. It is nothing fancy, but it appears to be well made. It has no chain and the metal is tarnished. It has probably been here for a while.
Bazalt blinks "oh?.. What's that?" he tilts his head slightly and frowns, trying to get a better look at it. "wonder how that got here.. Seems a Strange place for it to be... "
Zalthar sits down and stares at it, leaning against the rubble. She doesn't seem to respond to bazalt at all, until she opens it and looks inside. Instantly, her ears droop and her eyes go wide, apparently frozen with some sort of emotion.
The only sound is the gentle crackle of the torch while Zalthar examines the little bauble and whatever discovery she has made on the inside.
Bazalt FRowns and Moves Closer to teh lynx, Trying to see whatever's inside it. "Zalthar?! what's wrong? What ii-is.." he Frowns and Squints, did he just what what he thought he Did? The Wolf Drops the Torch nad frowns taking a step back as he shakes his head.
Zalthar closes her eyes and takes a deep breath "We should get out of here." she says quietly, looking over to Bazalt. She's visibly shaken, and almost in a hurry to move, searching around for the nearest exit. It seems like it's been put in one of her hidden sleeve pockets.
It looks like there are two large tunnels leading out of this central chamber at ground level, one on either side of the charred pit where the shadow nest once thrived. Both seem equally dark and forbidding.
Bazalt Frowns. "Zal.. B..Did...What.. was.. that?.. did.. I.. see... Myself.. You?...or.. atleast.. our.. bodies?.. BEfore.. us?.." he frowns and rubs his head "tell me I just saw it wrong.." he sounds almost as if he wnat to be wrong, however. "what.. ..what was that doing here?.." he asks, starting at her as he Slowly makes the connetion.
Zalthar sighs "I believe so. This is what I was looking for." she says quietly, picking her way to jut outside the leftside tunnel, ears tuned to listen down it "This...is really not the place to make connections." she suggets, voice forcibly stable.
Bazalt nods slowly and picks up the Torch "So..Our... before... us they were a family?" he Frowns "Adopted no doubt...but...still...." he gulps-had... one gone searching for the otehr only to meet the Exact same fate? The wolf shudders, how grusome. "Yeah..Lets.. get out and talk though..SOrry I.. just.. dont know..how to.. React." he sas following after her.
Zalthar holds up a paw, pointing down the hallway. <I hear something.> she says privately to Bazalt through their shared shadow telepathy, such that nobody else can hear. The lynx flinches again, holding her abdomen, before preparing to slip into the tunnel.
In the moment that Zalthar utilizes her inborn gift of shadow speech, there is a sudden, loud chittering from somewhere deep in the tunnel ahead! Something is coming!
Bazalt Blinks nod and then frounds as he hears the noise. <Yeah and it heard us." He Stick the torcuh in teh Ground and Draws his bow as he knocks an arrow and takes aim down the tunnel.
Zalthar pulls out a knife from her other sleeve, crouching down stiffly. As a broadcast in general, she says <We're not here to fight.> IF the creature rounds the corner and is hostile, she seems prepared to strike, howeve.r
There is a momentary hesitation in the scrabbling chittering as something comes into the range of the torch, lying on the floor. Large, multifaceted eyes reflect the light of the flames as a trio of large skrith halt at the edge of the circle of light. [Hungry! . . .] comes a rough mental cry, though it seems confused. [Same?] comes another skittering thought.
Bazalt Blinks and Lowers his Bow slightly <Uhhh..> he frowns and looks to Zalthar, unsure how to react. He sighs and Speaks Privately to her. <what.. now? this is unexpected> he says, glacning to the three Skrith
Zalthar nods [Same.] takes a deep breath and sheathes her dagger, turning to face the skrith. She whispers quietly, in person {Keep moving.}
The skrith seem unwilling to enter the light of the torch for some reason. [Not same!] comes the stray thought, [Same, Not same!] The large insects shuffle about in agitation, their eyes fixed on the pair of beings. These are obviously not ordinary Skrith. Perhaps they are the last dregs of the shadow nest that was once here.
Bazalt Frowns and sheaths his Bow but He Draws a dagger as he Picks up the torch, nodding to Zal As he walks forwards, keeping pace with teh cat. "If worse comes to worst." he says, whispering to her. "hope on my back and I'll run, you can shoot tehm or something.."
Zalthar nods and keeps walking, staying well within the light [Same. Shadows. Posessed bodies.] she explains [Same, and not same.] She turns to Bazalt, smiling softly {Keep the light moving. Do not leave our cast shadows in one place too long.}
The skrith must have heard Bazalt, because their agitated shuffling only increases as they seem to become a little braver, inching into the light of the torch. With the added light, it becomes readily apparent that these are not simply a mutated strain of skrith. Shadow boils and bubbles at their joints and the pincered maws seem slack. They do not seem ready to attack just yet, but the way their gazes shift and their slack mandibles click, it may be only a matter of time.
Bazalt nods slowly walking a bit faster now. [yes. Same. not same.] he sighs and glances to her <yeah.> what a day! find out Zal was here before she Became a shadow... posilibity of Dying by shadows!
Zalthar begins to talk faster, still trying maintain an air of grace [We walk the outside world. We will bring you food.] she says, still not drawing her dagger. {Remind me to get some flash bombs, once we're safe.}
[Not same!] [Not same!] come overlapping bursts of shadowspeak, though it seems to become more garbled as the bravest of the three finally decides it has had enough and lunges toward Zalthar, the small of the two targets!
Bazalt Blinks and Spot it lunging. "how about no!" he says, directing waht he plans to be rather nasty air magic at it. "Zal, my Back-We run, NOW!" The Wolf GRowls as he Moves closer to the lynx.
Bazalt's blast of focused air magic blasts the possessed Skrith back down the tunnel a short distance, but not before the eager attacker managed to takes a vicious gouge at Zalthar's shoulder! The respite is short, however, and the now enraged Skrith shriek as they rise to their feet and skitter after the two beings, murder �glittering in their multifaceted eyes!
Zalthar:whips about as the creature lunges, only to see it pushed back. Without a moment's hesitation, she leaps up onto Bazalts back with her still good arm, right arm hanging limply. With what strength she can muster from it, she pulls out what looks like a dulling potion, with a green cap, though she doesn't make any motions to open it.
Bazalt Begins dashing down the tunnel as soon as Zal Hops nto his back. "Hold on!" he says running as fast as he can with the torch held out. "I have NO clue what I could run into."
The wolf is fast, but weighed down by a passenger, he is not fast enough to outrun the shadow-touched Skirth! One makes a lunge for Bazalt's heels and another skitters quickly ahead, running along the tunnel wall to block the pair's escape.
Zalthar bides her time, and as soon as an opportunity presents itself, she drops the green-lidded phial, aiming to land the glass container in the skirth's mouth, or at the very least coat its mandible! She quickly grabs another [I AM POISON AND DEATH.] She shouts in her mind, giving it as much of a demonic sound as she can muster, all while attempting to hold onto the wolf.
Bazalt Attempts to jump or hop over the One moving to cut him, his free Arm mvoing back to Stabliize zal and ensure She dont fall off. however that also mean she's unable to anything in reguards to teh one dashing past time, Crap.
Neither Zalthar's shout, nor her throw seem particularly effective, since the latter simply shatters on the floor before the tailing beasts. A bit of fancy footwork keeps Bazalt a step ahead of the angry insectoids as he comes to a bend in the tunnel. The Skrith that moved ahead to cut off their escape waits dead ahead, sillhouetted in the light of a distant exit. It seems like this is it! If the duo can just slip by, maybe the wild shadows will not follow into the afternoon sun!
Zalthar takes the phial that she was holding and flicks the cork off with her thumb, pouring it over as much of her fur as she possibly can, dousing herself in the flavor and its effects.
Bazalt Blinks. "bugger.. HOLD on!" first he tosses teh torch at the thing then he attempts to slice it with some precision Air. If things go right, the thing gets knocked out the tunnel or fall over or something, badly He get stuck-nasty thigns...whatever the case, he was gonna make sure the lynx got out.
The shadow skrith hunkers down, avoiding most of the force of Bazalt's attack, and gets a glancing blow against the wolf as he bolts past, but the possessed insects pursue no further, obviously off-put by the daylight. It would be wise to get some distance before sundown, though. No telling what these things will do.
Bazalt Grunts as he hits off the Creature but refuses to stop, instead he just keeps going-even once they get out. "stay on my back for now, faster this way, tiny" he chuckles and smiles as he runs, much happier to be in the sun.
Zalthar doesn't seem tooo happy to be in the sunlight, but does relax noticably, hanging on with a slowly weakening grip.
