With my quick departure into these caves and the others following along, we managed to reach the end of it, with lights dancing around, same as Zachary Parsons. But as soon as we realized where we were, a strange shift happened. It is quite hard to explain and escapes general logic, and I don't seem to find the correct words. We suddenly found ourselves in front of a mansion, with those dancing lights still around. And, strange as it is, everything seemed to have lost colour, besides me and the others.
Ratyn and the others seemed rather eager to investigate the building in front of us, and even though I don't see any reason for it, I stay silent. Let the scout do the scouting, as one says. After a few minutes of her, I suppose, looking around, she comes back and ties a rope up there, to help us get up. She does not seem alarmed at all, so why bother with that. I simply jump up to that roof she stands on, Oris does the same. Aggma and Sett use the rope. And the huntress looks at us weird. If there is no reason to be cautious, dear scout, why not hurrying up. At least this is what I try to convey with my stare, but she seems to either ignore it or not caring about it.
So Ratyn and I enter the house, with her disarming some traps. One sadly was too complicated, I presume and hurt her. Out of schadenfreude I can't contain a grin. Oh the big scout, judging me and my skillset, and now hurting herself. How sad. While all of this is happening, Oris believes, we just have to dance to get out of whatever this is. Of course he starts playing a flute now, what did I even expect.
Inside the house, Ratyn scouts ahead, returning after a couple of minutes, talking about a weird room and a baby. Curious, we all went there. There was a cradle, with a crying baby inside, but also an unconscious woman lying there. Not wanting to enter the room without precaution, I decided to check for any breathing signs of the woman, tossing a handful of sand towards her face. Nothing happens, not one grain moved even slightly. A dead woman and a crying baby.
Then I only remember Aggma doing something, as soon as Ratyn returned with her rope, and another shift happens. And here we are again, in that cave.
I ready my weapon, but before I can actually do something, Oris jumps forward and befogged the whole cave! I cannot see anything, but I just know where those weird lights were. Not seeing anyone of the group, I strive forward, trying to hit one of those things. I think I missed, I am not too sure if a light even has a body one can hit, but I did not feel any resistance.
Soon after, some sort of lightning hit me, and unsurprisingly shocked me. Without actually seeing anything, not knowing where the others are or even Zachary, I decide to play it save and jump back a bit. I am far from being a hero, and I would not call myself a fighter. Survival should be my top instinct. I wait for a sign of any sorts, to maybe being able to point out the light's location, but nothing. I run forward, hear something to my left, and suddenly am out of the fog.
So, it was not the whole cave, after all. Which is a good thing, at least. And here, before me, is the body of a woman, and from the looks of it, dead. With not much time on my hands, I decide to look for anything identifying or otherwise useful, but to no avail. Just a few pouches, which contained a bit of gold. Well, she most definitely won't need them any more, so why not take them. Leave no bird unstoned, as they say.
When I turn around, the fog is gone, and I clearly see the other in front of me, fighting those lights, and doing a far more formidable job than I did. So I concentrated my efforts in getting Zachary out of there, having to knock him unconscious and dragging him with me. Ratyn rushed behind a rock, severely hurt, as far as I could tell. Other than her being useful, I rushed inside this cave to get as many people out alive as possible, I will not leaver her here to die, or I could have just ignored this whole ordeal. Putting Zachary beside her, I ready my rapier and try to shield her from the lights. That the others just finished off. I tried.
After the fight ended, I grabbed Zachary again, while Ratyn and Aggma went to check on the dead woman. They seemed to have found something magical, is what the Bone-Devil proclaims. I have to trust her on that, my arcane knowledge is basically non-existent, hence the importance of The Bells. Zachary slowly come to himself, and gets a short rundown of what transpired. And finally we leave that cave, promising the merchant to bring the venison to the orphanage.
Upon returning, Ratyn speaks a few words with Julie, handing us all a few coins afterwards.
The return to Tilley was as unimpressive as one could imagine. Just one last thing that stood out to all of us. The hunter's guild or whatever it is Harris leads, is holding a fundraiser at the same time the orphanage holds theirs.
I should not have provoked that weasel of a man. But I highly doubt that our short encounter yesterday warrants a drastic action like this. There must be something else going on.
We get back to Lady Trudgeon, informing her of both, the venison that we brought back, and the new fundraiser. As expected, she would not know why the hunter would do something like that. Good thing is, I already have a plan. For this instance it might be better to not involve the others. They're not part of the merchants world, and with all due respect, they would not understand the ichor that might await anyone diving in too deep. Your relationships are everything, much like the social circles nobles associate with.
So, who better to ask than Charles Veiss. If someone knows anything about potential sponsors or merchants involved in this debacle, it is him.