Session 4

Now, steady and well conscious, Kai took a deep breath of relief and lead the team back in to room for further investigation. The altar stood still in the centre of the room, but much covered in ash as it was all burnt up in the fight. The gang looked around the place one more time. They saw one only door forward. So forward they went. Yuldra kicked the pedestal. It fell right off like a brittle piece of burnt wood. The door wasn't locked or hard to open at all. Jisnu continued on with the task. The foul smell of death stroke them as the door open. Yuldra had to hold himself in order not to throw up by the smell. The room seemed to be a wait room with two large wings on both sides. And it filled with dead bodies just like the previous ones. Jisnu went in and started carrying all these bodies out like he just did not care anymore. But Kai have a strange feeling about the alter room, something missing. The carving resemble the rune he used to learn but he quite not catch the hang of it. So he spent half an hour sitting in the room looking at the carving while others taking care of the bodies (ritual for releasing their souls so that they would not become zombies or other dark creatures). On the way of carrying out the bodies, Valar notice a door wasn't opened before. The same foul smell of death stroke his nose. So he put up a simple booby trap to warn them of any unwanted intrusion. All of a sudden, Kai yelled in joy as the team're finishing up their work. They gathered around to ask him what was on his mind. Kai didn't say much. He stood up, went to the very wall with the rune carving, he turned here a bit twisted there a bit. "Voila" he said and stepped back a few feet. The air suddenly burst under the stone wall like the air was sealed and now had opened. The wall shook and slide up into the ceiling. Behold, a hidden room right in front of people eyes. The room was dark and inside that darkness, danger're waiting. some small screams wall calling out to them, but too small to actually defined what the screams're coming from. They lit up the torches to go in. Jisnu decided to take a break and stayed outside. The room was dark and a stone screen was blocking their way. Sensing that something might stayed behind the wall to ambush or booby traps, Valar took a severed head from a nearby dead body and used it like and bowling ball to scout Ahead. The head rolled a few feet, lighting up the room and soon its fire went out. Everything seemed to be harmless, but it was still too dark. So they took a rope, tied up to Alistair, the header, and the rest of them holding to it.

As they past the screen, Alistar felt a lack of the steady floor under his foot. He was stepping down a big hole. Well preparation had paid off. The gang simply pulled the line to hold him back up his balance. This room has a large round hole in the middle of it. To the left side wall, drawers was carved into it. In every holes, there were boxes with various size. Four, to be particular, with the last one one the top much larger than the others. There wasn't a proper and safe way to cross the pit but a narrow ledge at the side wall's foot. The room seemed to be not a place for anyone who could not fly or somehow hover over the air. Kai snapped and a magical hand reappeared. he made the hand moved to the boxes to retrieve the but those things're too heavy for the hand to carry back. So Kai made a rope loops, had the hand to wrap around a small box. Then pulled it back. The loop was loose and the box fell into the pit. So fall the rope tying fall into Valar, an actual ranger who should familiar with these kind of thing. Valar made the loop and the hand again wrap a round another small box. And pull. The weight of the box was not in their calculating so the box fell by gravity. But the rope held onto it. The box hit a side of the pit and opened up. The contents inside it fell into the abyss pit. Yet the team still have enough time to pull the box up and savage what was left. Inside the box was a lot gold pieces (about 400s) and many gems that may worth a net of 150 gold and a necklace with 3 rectangular diamonds it. Kai said he had to made this into the report and hand in all of the gold and gems. The team obviously persuaded him other way around. So the record has 200 gold piece and the rest was split between them, Kai took the necklace for himself thou. In the meantime, Valar spotted something else near the large box. Some scrolls and other thing as well. So they divided a plan. Kai will walk the ledge, tied to the rope held by the rest of them of course, and Valar will guide him to the scrolls with his keen dark vision. After a lot of yelling and curses. Kai made it to the under of the drawers containing the scrolls and box, with his magical hand blindly finding the scroll under Valar instruction. The hand succeeded snatching the scrolls and pulled them out but they were tangled with others in the drawer. Everything else followed the scrolls out and under such weight, they all fell to the pit. Kai extended his hand to grab the scroll but lost his balance. He too fell. But luckily Kai had his comrade, they hold tight to the rope as he's falling. Valar wanted to keep the scrolls so he let go off the rope and flew his dagger at the scroll, nailed it to the wall. The rope however slipped off the team as a pair of hands just let go. But they quickly recovered and hold it back, just not quite enough to keep Kai from harm. He hit the side wall of the pit, hard. Blood started to run on his face and dropped down below. The team managed to pulled him up in the end. But his drops of blood may have awaken something. Down bellow the pit bottom. A blue light glowed up. Looking back down, they saw something like rune carving was the source. A loud scream spat at them. Rose a humanoid, technically a portion of him appeared before them. the creature was all green from the top down. And in the middle of his chest, a big circle hole, just empty hole right in the chest where the heart should be. He growled in pain as the spiritual chains from the rune caught up to him, bind him in shackles.

The creature opened eyes. In his eyes, there is more than the normal emptiness in the eyes of those wraiths they faced before. They held such grief that bring incomprehensible sadness from the deepest of heart to anyone peered into those eyes. Yet the creature did not made any attempt to communicate with the gang. Yuldra ask it:"Who...who are you?". No reply. Maybe another way of approach was needed. Kai heard and take the creature's response with a frown. He took a moment to retreat to his deep thought. Yuldra stepped forward the edge to examine the chains. Those chains was somehow unmaterialized yet so real that the creature show such agony from the chains. The rest of the gang try to speak to it but the creature just curled itself inward in pain. After a while, slowly and calmly, Kai speak as a certainty to the creature:

- Oh lief kindly sir, i wanteth not to only talketh to thee, but rath'r a tradeth f'r thy knowledge on our ign'rance. I wond'r what is thy desire.

(Oh dear kindly sir, I want to not only talk to you, but rather trade for your knowledge on our lacks of such. I wonder what is your desire)

- I am at thy s'rvice (I am at your service) - The creature suddenly stopped it curling up and moved closer to Kai, like just a few inch to his face, and replied.

- I has't something yond might breaketh thee out of this suff'r. I only asketh in returneth of thee yond may we learneth thy valorous nameth and wherefore art thee chain'd h're?

(I have something that may break you out of your suffering. In return, I only want to learn of your good name and why are you chained up here?)

- I am at thy s'rvice - The old man like thing repeat.

- Hmp, I wonder whether he meant me or all of us. No matter, I want to know your most desire, gang. Maybe we can trade it from this creature.

- I want power for my revenge - Yuldra said with low volume.

- Home... i wanted to return home - Valar response, with lump in his throat.

- Sentimental, but true desire. On the other hand, Revenge, really buddy. Revenge is never a good path to follow. - Kai said

- I know the risk. They have always say that Revenge is digging up two graves, one for the enemy, one for your own skin.

- Alright. Jeez. That's rough buddy. Anyhow, I will need that blood stone of ours. My kindly sir... ahem... Oh lief kindly sir, I off'r thee this spec of life. - Ki said to the creature then turn to Valar - Would you kindly do the honor!

- Aye! - Valar replied and grab the spec of crystallized blood. The pain run up to his core but the man hold himself together.

Then Kai took the cloth gently wrapping around the crystal and show it toward the creature. The stone suddenly flew up toward it, and spiraled up in the hole in the chest of the creature. And the crystal blasted into dust. The creature cry out in pain one last time as the chains loosed up. It then only spat at Kai face these word: "IMMORTALITY. Traitors. Kill them. Kill them all. For ME". And again, he screamed and return into the pit below. So learned of the truth of the alter now the whole gang. It was used for some kinds of rituals that seek immortality. And this creature, still not knowing of it identity was the victim of it all, or perhaps just the betrayal of those ritual practitioners. Kai carefully take note of all of this into his book, put only a little of information regarding this encounter into his report note.

The team back out to check on the room that they missed earlier. Yuldra and Kai, submerge in their own thought didn't join the rest however. Kai waited all others to come out of that room and seal the room back to how they find it using those rune. Jisnu lead Valar and Alistair into the last room to find it was a torture room with some prison cells. Inside those cells, there were still some prisoner hanged upside down but they appeared to be quite dead. Valar rushed up to examine the body before the cleaning work destroy the evident of their identity. Jisnu found a key nearby and went on open those cells. Valar saw some tattoo on the body and tried to sketch it down. Jisnu interrupted him however. He went in and grabbed the body but they just crumbled, and decomposed themselves into dust. Every single one of them. So Jisnu grabbed the broom and started sweeping. Instead of helping Jisnu, Valar search the surrounding. There were some boxes containing cheap jewelries, some weapons, some leftover torture tools. Valar took some tools and a scimitar for his personal purpose and went out. While in his search, he heard some weird noise, like a kitty sound. Somehow, under those dust of the dead, a black kitty jump out. The cat was Kai's familiar. Having complete the task at hand, the rest of the gang went out of the warehouse tunnel for the night rest. Valar, with his special vision to see in the dark, noticed some runes on the way out. Maybe another hidden door. He walked toward the wall, however, it was a booby trap. Fire rained down from the ceiling as Valar touch the runed wall. He didn't have the time to dodge, so he braced himself, absorbing all the fire. The whole team set up their camp on the nearby site with an advantage to defense when needed. This place was picked from the experience of the old veteran Jisnu. Upon them, fell the night, and the campfire was lit.

By the crackling camp fire, the team sat together to talk about what an encounter they have witnessed in the day. Kai sat imposingly on his bedroll, petting his familiar. The cat's just curling all up in his lap, comfortably taking a nap. Jisnu and Alistair stood up and went out for some dry wood. The rest of the gang sat around enjoyed the night as their first job was done. For the first time since they met, the Entourage could let loose and have a good conversation like a band of friends. But joy was never to last. Kai had to brought back the subject of the stone of Immortality, which they thought to be missing from the altar back in the warehouse. He thought that was the most interesting thing came out of this trip of his. Maybe some of these newbie from the guild could have some extra info about it. Hence the mood among the tree dropped. To break the tension situation, Valar asked Yuldra to take a walk with him. Valar questioned the kid about his revenge intention:

- Not that I judge anything but I see much potential in you, why do you need that devious kind of power to achieve your goal. We don't even know if it were real or how much would it cost, to be honest.

- I don't know would it be safe to tell you..

- Uh huh.. - Valar answered, taking out the knife used to torture and put his finger across the blade. - What a sharp blade this is.

- Well, I could tell you a bit but you would not understand, Valar. You were not betrayed by your own brother. By everything that you hold dear. I would trade anything. ANYTHING. to get back to the time when I was more naive. I don't want to avenge anything. But they, my own family, need to be stopped, at any price I can pay. - Yuldra said, with such sadness in his voice.

- Such a burden was never meant for a kid like you, boy. so that's the story of the finger in the locket around your neck?

- No, that's another story. But i don't think i should share this with you.

- Look, I don't know if I could trust any of them, or even you. But i could see goodness in your hear, and kindness in your deed throughout our adventure. Maybe this could ease your mind a bit... I have some more confident in telling you this more than to the others. So I grew up in the forest, believing that I was a defective child of Elf that to be abandoned for the very reason. A failure of mother nature herself. Then I learned that It wasn't the case at all. And I have a home to come back to.

- Yeah, right, you're homesick. So what. Wait, Did you just say defective Elf? What do you mean defective?

- This. This cursed skin of mine.... - Valar stop and took of his glove to show Yuldra his ash red skin - You see, I was not barely an Elf. I am one of the lasts of a fallen empire. Might be the very last of it. I wouldn't call that place home by now, but a place to come back, nevertheless.

- ....

- I know. I know. I too have a duty to fulfill. Unlike you, I do have something to hope for. That's only mean I have more to lose. We might walk different paths in the future. Who knows. But i promise you this: When i found my Hall of Family Lineage, you will always be welcome as the guest of honor.

- Thank you, i guess...

- It's late, boy. Let's get back to the camp. And, uh, don't tell anyone 'bout our little story. Okay.

- Yeah, okay...

So back they went. Jisnu was warming himself by the the fire. Alistair still trying to roast his ration to perfection as a reward to himself of a hard-working day. Kai fell asleep in his bedroll, snuggling his pet cat. It's time they took their rest. So they divided their guard shift.

On his shift, Yuldra noticed something like a black shadow jumped out of Kai place into the forest. He tried to follow up the trace but a branch fell on his head.

- Wake up. Wake up, boy. it's morning, stop being a lazy ass. - Valar grumpily said, knocking on the boy head.

- Ouch, I'm up, don't knock on my head... - Yuldra responsed, yet his eyes weren't open. Clearly he's stil felt sleepy.

The team packed up their camp and went back to the city. Back to The Bitter Chestnut, they pushed the door and walked right in. Jisnu split up and went to his house instead. The interior has been completely innovated into a new, luxury inn for great adventurers with wall of paintings and new decorations.

- Ah, customers. Oh, Adventurers. Welcome, welcome. Have a sit. Just stoke the fire. - Said an old lady. Her hair was all white, but somehow, she's still as beautiful as a thirty years old lady. the green of her eyes enlightens all of that beauty.

- What can i get for you fellas. - She continued.

- Two cup of milk, please. - Kai ordered his drink

- A mil... um, a mead please - Yuldra called for his drink as well as he tried to impress the gang for ordering mead instead of milk like a normal 14 years old would.

- Where is Balin, lady? We want to check-in on the job- Valar gruffly said

- Two milk and a mead for the boys. And your Balin is over there. I'll call him over for you. You two sure not want anything? Great, I'll have them brought up to ya in a minute.

- Oh, heyyyy.... Greeting to you. You're back. Wonderful. So i would take it that the job is done? - He stopped and turn around to pick up the gang's beverage from the barmaid behind him. - On the house. Help yourselves out boys. So how did the job go?

- Great, awesome, just like the report i wrote right here. - Kai replied and tossed the notebook over to Balin. - As usual, Balin, as usual.

- You don't hand me this kind of note, made an official report, Kai.

- Nope. I'm done here. I've put everything you need in there, Balin.

- Okay. fine. Anyway, how do you think about this decoration? Pretty cool huh?

- It's kinda cool and all but you seems still busy as hell. So, who the new lady over there? - Yuldra asked

- Who? Her? Oh, It's the new Head of the Guild. Lady Ursa. Don't be deceived by her charming and the wrinkles.I'm telling ya. One wrong word upsets her would lead to certain death.Like dead dead, not unconscious or anything. heh heh - Balin scratching his nose and laugh off.

- Um, Balin. Would you happen to know anything about these tattoos. - Valar pulled out a paper that he used to replicate the tattoos of the deceased in the cells block.

- What do you mean tattoo? All i see is dog and cat drawing. Did you take this painting from a kid ? Haha

Valar just sigh in returned and walked out the table to eardrop around the bar. Yuldra inquired about a place called Twin Vale but Balin did not hear about it as well. So they changed the subject to where to heal their wound. And Grape Vine Market their place. They finished up their drink and off to the Market. The team head to a infirmary. The doctor took a quick look on their injuries and give them a prescription. Valar and Yuldra recognized one of the wound on Kai when the doctor described the wounds and explained to them. That wound resembled those on the goblins that they had encountered. With no more to share the same way, the team split up to find their wanting. Yuldra and Valar went for the smoke bomb that Yuldra has all of a sudden fancy about it. Kai want a trade on his necklace on the other hand.

Valar and Yuldra found a shop of odd objects named Jinjustsu. They came in to find the whole place was stacked with piles weird things but the owner was nowhere to be found.

- Hiiiiii, Is there anyone. I want some smoke bombs!

From the high ceiling, a mystery figures rappelling down from above:

- Smoke bomb, you say?! Not many know the use of smoke bomb and their versatility. Well, I've got exactly what you want. Come up here. C'mon. - The man said while hanging up side down, and his hand were waving around instead of supposedly holding to the rope. But some how he did not fall. After a little bit of observing, It looked like he held the rope with his foot?! The two climbed the rope up into a small room. The room however small, was decorated very simple yet elegantly. Which somehow brought a familiar feeling to Valar. There was a small tea table in the middle of the room, some paintings on the walls. The two didn't know where's the original of the paintings but pretty sure they're not from around here. There were also some strange curve swords on the racks on a wall table as well. Valar run his finger through the sword scabbard and noticed a familiar sigil of a stylized purple cherry blossom. He unconsciously reach for his axe and pan around a sigil he had carved into the handle. Mean while, Yuldra was imitating the move in the painting thou. The figures took off his mask and reveal himself to be a mere human. He said out loud, interrupting the duo's doing: "Sit down, boy. Let's do some business." So they sit down for a talk.

- Wait, hang on. I see you're wearing a uniform of some kind of a martial school, kid. What is it? Show me your stance. Yes, show me the moves.

- Could we do business first? - asked Yuldra.

- Yes, but I prefer some entertainments. I may throw in a discount for you too. heh heh

- Alright, I'll do some move. But just a couple of punches, okay.

Yuldra stood up and readied his stance but the mystery man stood up and requested for a sparring instead. Yuldra sigh and prepared to do his one-inch punch. Right at the time when Yuldra's punch touching the man's body, he just vanished, then reappeared behind Yuldra and used his hand swipe at the boy legs, flipping him on his back. Yuldra use his hands as leverages to jolt himself backup and turned into a spinning kick at the man. He caught the kid's leg and hurled him back, once again put him on his back. Then he said:

- Woo hoo. Good moves. Need to work more on your balance on your stance thou. Now, what do you need. The man calmly sat down and talked to Yuldra.

- I want some smoke bombs and a chain dagger please. - Answerd Yuldra, still holding his back from hurting.

- Very well. Your goods will cost 25 gold for the bombs and 50 for the chainblade. And what do you want, kenku? - the man then turned to Valar.

- I want to lighten my axe a bit, if that's possible. - Valar replied - um, well, like to make it lighter to swing and for more accuracy.

- Sure thing. But I have another axe just fit your description . Would you like to purchase it instead. Or maybe this axe have something sentimental on you?

- Well for the matter of fact, It does.. - Valar responsed and turned the handle of the axe toward the man, showing him the sigil that he carved.

- This, how do you know this? Who are you? - the Firbolg nervously asked them again.

- I am, what i am. - Valar remove his mask for the first time, showing his face to everyone in the room.

- Oh my, forgive me, my lord. - The man looked shocked but quickly recovered and said to Valar, using Goblin instead of common language.

To Yuldr's frustration of not being able to understand, Valar and the man traded more words in goblin. Then they bowed to each other and Valar left the axe to the man. Their deal was done. Valar and Yuldra came out of the shop, trying to find the other. It had already took them 2 hours walking through the market but still not able to find the rest of the gang. So they returned to the Guild's dormitory to wait for the other.

On Kai side, he search the Market for hours to find a place to his liking. The place was small, crooked and all peculiar. He had a tough time just try to come through the door of that shop since it somehow fit in a small niche of an alley. Even his cat jump off to somewhere else. The place was a lot spacious than from it looked from outside. Waiting for him inside is an Elf with a non-gender beauty. He has a high nose and such exquisite grace that even someone like Kai had never seen before. He ask Kai:

- Ah, greeting young man. What brings you to my humble hut. - the Elf gently asked.

- This, my good sire. - Kai took out the necklace.

- You, take that hideous thing out of my sight now. And what exactly do you want from me?

- I want to examine this jewelry to see if it has any special property or what it's real value. Maybe trade it to you as well?!

- Hmm. And why do you think I want that... thing? I have no interest in something not delicate as I am. Now, get out if you don't have anything else.

- Well I see you have a set of teapot. A cup of tea then. IF you want not to trade then perhaps a tea talk. And please consider this as a gift of hospitality. - Kai put the necklace down the table nearby.

- Very well, tea I could do. But be quick with your word. I have more things to do. - He then took out a set of teapot with cups and waved his hand. And it's set up on a table in t he middle of the room.

Kai asked him around everything, not specific in any topic as not to upset the man. They kept talking for a while, seemed very enjoyed themselves. Suddenly, the elf stood up and told Kai:

- Ah, time passed quickly as you doing what you like, don't they. Anyhow, I do enjoy your company this evening. Maybe we could do this sometime. - Then he crouch toward the sitting Kai, touching the stones on the necklace. They all turned crimson red. - Now, go. Your time is up.

With a wave of the man's hand, Kai found himself standing outside the house, with the necklace of now red stones on his hand. Kai then returned to the Guild Dorm for the night. As he walked in, he and the gang met up at the great hall of the dorm. They asked about what the plans for two weeks off for recovering. Kai chose meditate in his room. While Yuldra went to ask around for clues to Twin Vales and Valar took up some bounty contracts to fill up the pocket and pay for the axe modification fee.

The team stay true to their plan for the coming weeks as something was storming up behind the curtains. Something wicked.