"Stickin' together sounds like a good idea" Angus said with an approving nod "Safety in numbers an' all that". Angus then looked over at where their host had been only to find that the wraith was no longer there. Angus shrugged, then he spotted the brazier. While the temple wasn't cold, it wasn't what you'd call warm either. Although there were plenty of wooden pews, Angus had a feeling that the wraith wouldn't take kindly to them being used as firewood. Fortunately the pews weren't the only flammable objects on hand. "Oi lads" Angus called out to the others "If each o' ye be willin' to donate a pair o' torches, I can get a nice fire goin' fer us".

@Riaxh @rush99999 @Duthguy @Lucius Cypher

Roy's attention shifted from his sores to the great weapon wielding adventurer. Roy admits that the man was rather rude and uncouth, but he had at least reasonable. He was asking for a couple of torches from the others to make a campfire of sorts. He had to admit, the temple was not that cold yet but it would be better to have a fire ready before the cold sets in. Roy offers the man a single nod of approval before setting his pack in front of him; pulling out two unused torches and handing them to Angus. The sticks were rather thin compared to regular firewood but it would make do.

Without saying a word Thokk followed the musketeer's example though he only offered one torch, hoping to save the other nine for later, though if it would become necessary he was willing to burn more of them. With that done he took out of rations and began eating despite not being hungry yet, after all there was no way of knowing when he would get another chance. Then after taking a few sips from his waterskin he placed his longsword, scabbard and all, on the ground before him and prepared to form a weaponbond with it.

"Very well. It is decided." Raugar said with a nod, glancing over at where the wraith had been. Oddly enough he felt more uneasy now that the spirit had departed. "I suggest we wait until morning before our next move. I'll take the first watch." He plucked two torches from his pack for the fire. We better not miss these when we're underground he thought, handing them over to Angus. The temperature might not be ideal but it was hardly freezing, however if his companions had been chilled by the rain it wouldn't do for them to get sick either.

Raugar hesitated as the soldier lamented his wounds. Things were likely going to get worse in future and he had no interest in mollycoddling the man. No doubt a good night's rest would set him straight. But still, even if they seemed safe for the moment, there was no guarantee they would remain undisturbed and it was best for the group to be at full strength. "Indeed. I suggest you steel yourself. Pain and discomfort are likely the best we can hope for in the coming days." he said, putting his cleaned blade aside and trudging over. "Still, whilst the times permit..." Reaching for the small well of energy inside himself, he layed a hand on the man's shoulder, and allowed some to flow over and repair the man injuries. "I can heal you too, Thokk." he said, offering a hand to the half-orc and doing the same.

Angus smiled as each of his newfound companions cooperated with his request. But the smile soon left his face as he noticed that Thokk had only left one torch for the fire. "Ye know, missin' a pair o' torches ain't all that different from missin' just one" Angus said before Thokk could begin casting his spell "I cannae make a fire with nine torches, Thokk. I need the full ten or it won't be big enough to be of any use to us. If it makes ye feel any better, I'll be addin' four o' me own torches to the fire".

Thokk thought Raugar's offer over and decided to take it, after all if those troglodytes managed to get in he wanted be in the best shape possible. "Yeah, thanks." At first he was planning on ignoring on Angus' guilt tripping about him only donating one torch but hearing that the noble himself needed ten and that he was going to use four himself, combined with Raugar healing him, made the half-ork change his mind. Wordlessly he took out another two torches and begrudgingly threw at them the barbarian's head.

Angus caught the pair of torches flung at his head with a light chuckle. "Only needed one more torch" Angus said before he sent the extra torch back the way it came. Angus then walked over to the brazier and deposited the six torches he received from his companions. He then added three more torches from his own supply before finally throwing the torch he'd lit earlier onto the pile. Soon enough, the brazier was burning bright and making Angus feel nice and warm. Sitting by the fire, Angus brought the mouth piece of his bagpipes to his lips and began playing a cheery rendition of 'Dachaigh the Brave'.

With everyone settling in, they would have no disturbances as they waited out the storm. Roughly six hours would pass before the storm would finally let up, but it was now nighttime. The grounds outside was wet with only the moonlight illuminating anything that wasn’t hidden in the ruins. And even then, it seemed like the slightest bit of cover created an absolute darkness capable of hiding all sorts of monster.

The party can choose to wait until morning to travel forth again, or proceed onwards into the night. They have effectively gained all the benefits of a long rest, they they won’t gain anything further if they continue to wait until morning. Angus’ fire would still be going fairly strong by the time the storm lifts, though it won’t last entirely throughout the night. More wood would be needed to keep the flame lit.

As the others began to settle down for the night, Angus ceased playing his bagpipes and offered to take the first watch. During his watch, Angus heard the troglodytes outside trying to either set an ambush or get inside. However for whatever reason, they seemed to leave en mass suddenly. Angus wasn't entirely sure why, but they fled, he heard the scraping of metal against wood. Like someone unsheathing a sword. The sound was very brief however, and between the trogs scurrying about and the leftover rain water dripping against the stone, Angus would have missed it had he been even slightly distracted at the time. Being a warrior-like person, he could tell from the sound alone that the sword in question had been a blade of considerable size. Greatsword sized at least. And for the trogs to run instead of fight against someone like that, even when they had a vast numerical advantage, whatever this person or creature it was that sent them away, it was't one that could be defeated with numbers alone. Angus had no clue if whatever chased off the trogs had left or not by the time his watch ended. It never made a sound coming nor leaving, and he hadn't heard anything similar to the unsheathing since.

"I dinnae think yer gonna believe this" Angus said to Raugar as the dragonborn came to take over the watch "But I'll tell ye anyway". And so Angus told Raugar about the sounds he heard during his watch. "I dinnae 'ear the one what drew the sword leave" Angus added once he'd finished explaining "So listen well in case whoever or whatever it was decides to try an' get in. I'm gonna see if I can find anymore fuel fer the fire before settlin' down. It's startin' to get nippy in 'ere". With that said, Angus moved deeper into the church through the left most corridor.

Despite having no reason to doubt it had worked Thokk decided to check his new weapon bond, and summoned his long sword to his hand. He immediately put it away to avoid angering the wraith and wondered what else he could do to kill the time until the storm was over. Eventually he decided to take out his drum play it , making sure not to sit close to the wall or play loud enough to overpower any sound from coming outside.

Angus was right, Raugar did have trouble believing him. Someone with a giant weapon was out in the storm scaring off the creatures? He was inclined to think the barbarian had let his imagination run away with him, but he sounded very convinced. Something must have scared the troglodytes. He nearly discouraged Angus from wandering further into the temple, since they hadn't secured the other rooms, but the man could look after himself, and Raugar had ended up being grateful for the fire's warmth. We should salvage more firewood from the town in the morning he thought, as he took up a kneeling position in front of the entrance, with his blade layed out before him. He sat in quiet reflection, his ears pricked to discern anything amongst the sounds of the dying storm, and waited...

Dawn rolled around. Raugar had heard nothing unusual. No trace of Angus's mysterious swordsman. He stretched his stiff legs as he stood up, whilst the rest of the party roused themselves and got ready. "We need to decide our next move." he said, when they were all assembled. "I for one do not think there is much point in staying in Brighthaven. We should head into the ruins whilst our supplies last. However, Angus heard someone outside scare off the trogs last night. If people still live here, it might be worth trying to find them and find out what they know, before they find us."

@Riaxh @rush99999 @Duthguy @Lucius Cypher

Roy sat down quietly on a pew, resting but keeping an alert in this state of rest. The dragonborn had healed his wounds and greatly eased his pains. It was not necessary for the paladin to do so, but the gesture enough was well appreciated by the musketeer. The storm raged on outside, he couldn't help but entertain his thoughts regarding the cure for the curse that afflicted him and many others. Thinking if it were enough for all of them to be able to rid themselves of the curse or even if there was a panacea for their seemingly incurable malady, hidden within the ruins. He shook his head side to side to clear his mind of such doubts, he could not fail. His thoughts then wandered to his beloved and his soon to be child. A faint smile crept onto his face as he imagined how his son or daughter would feel in his arms.

Dawn soon reared is face and soon Roy was preparing his breakfast, unsure as to how long until they were to locate a stable food and water source, Roy opts to eat his rations in halves and drinking sips from his water skin. He then heard the paladin suggesting their next move. "I agree with you, paladin. Though when before I met up with you three, I noticed that there were bodies of both commoner and adventurer that littered the ruins. The idea of a lone adventurer thriving here may be a long shot, but not out of the realm of possibility."

The Kobolds’ plight has always been that the world was much bigger than them So much so, that the only reason that they were able to survive at all… is that always met adversity on their own terms. Those who don’t, or stray too far from home, or do anything to suggest a hint of bravery… often meet the sweet fangs of death. A lesson taught in the egg nursery, a lesson taught by reality.

There deeper in the unlit halls of that church was a small abandoned barrow. The entrance was a tunnel small enough to give most creature’s hell for attempting to enter. A story told true by a puddle of blood and smears of similar material starting - then leaving the tunnels hole. But it opened up to a small den large enough to hold two Kobolds.

One had died through the night to the grievous wounds it had suffered from the troglodytes in the area. Its possessions placed nearby, and is in the process of being buried by his trembling companion, Lilt. There had been a larger group of kobolds they were with, but after the attack their fates are unknown. Most had been killed, and she had attempted to drag who she could to safety.

Once the burial was done, the Kobold began to dress herself in the departed’s possessions. First his armor, a simple and primitive regalia of leather and metal bearing the insignia of the dragon she and her comrade served on the back. It had separate segments that protected her thighs, wrapped around her foot and protected the shins, and for her chest. The only other clothing she wore was a simple belt and loin cloth with similar emblems.

Finally, his sword. A crudely made, mass produced weapon that was easily a twin to her own. Minus the blood that caked the side of her blade. The new addition to her arsenal was hitched to her side directly under her own.

Lilt strongly desired to stay where it was safe. But sooner or later, the kobold would meet the same fate if she did not leave. She gave one final mournful look to her companion, and pushed her into the halls. She turned about and sealed the entrance with a large piece of rubble. “This journey was a mistake. This journey was a mistake. This was a mistake,” She hissed to herself through a shaky breath in draconic. Her head darted left and right to check her immediate surroundings, and made her way towards a nearby door.

Once her claw touched that door, she was mostly sure that her luck couldn’t get much worse. Why she had already hit rock bottom! Her comrades were probably all eaten! Why the only thing that could happen now, is that when she returns… a hero she will be! Or… death. But one was more likely than the other, and hopefully the former.

The door slowly was pushed open. A deep groaning squeal echoed through the halls from the rusted hinges. Her new found resolve absconded faster than a cockroach in light. Just ahead were a group of adventurers. Armed to the teeth. And very much awake. Her tail immediately went limp and fell to the ground with a thump. Her jaw fell slack. And her eyes dilated into thin quivering slits. She tried to back up slowly and pull the door close. But her body was stuck in place.

@Riaxh @rush99999 @Duthguy @Tangletail @Lucius Cypher

Roy's attention moved from the paladin to the door that produced the loud creaking sounds that reverberated throughout the relatively quiet room. His eyes widened as he saw the diminutive humanoid form that stood still in shock before him and the rest of the party. If Roy didn't know any better, he would have assumed that this was an illusion or trick. Though his doubts were cast aside as the small creature fell to the ground with an audible thump. Slack jawed and wide eyed, the kobold attempted to return from whence it had came but to no avail as the door had closed behind it. Roy dared not draw his weapon in this hallowed place, yet opted to lay a hand atop his sheathed rapier.

He was no stranger to Kobolds; cowardly and weak, but far from foolish. The lone one that stood before them could be only one of what could be dozens of them lurking in the shadows. Narrowing his eyes on the lone kobold, he roared to the creature. "Drop your weapons and lay on the ground, kobold! Any unwise decisions and we will make it your last!"

When he returned to the brazier, Angus had four woolen sacks with him. One of which appeared to be carrying something within it. Anyone curious about the contents of the sack would have their curiosity satisfied before they had the chance to voice it. Angus emptied the sack onto the floor, revealing pieces of what had once been a crate before being scoured thoroughly and then chopped into pieces by a handaxe. Angus threw the wood onto the brazier, set three of the empty sacks down next to the brazier while keeping one for himself, set up his bedroll, and turned in for the night.

Angus awoke to the sound of Roy shouting at someone. Angus sat up a bit and turned in the direction of the shouting to see a kobold. Normally, Angus would have flown into a rage fueled by his hatred of dragons and their servants and attacked the kobold. But he'd just woken up and he remembered all too well the warning the wraith had given them when they had entered. "Pipe down ye daft sod!" Angus called out to Roy "Some of us are still only wakin' up. Also, just let the little bastard run. If ye draw steel in 'ere, yer liable to piss off the wraith...Also, last night I found some sacks durin' me search fer wood. I brought back one fer each of us. They're by the brazier if ye want one". With that said, Angus lay back down to get a little more shuteye before getting up.

@Searat

After feeling the kiss of cold rotting wood to her back, the kobold quickly spun around and leapt for the handle. Her claws secured a firm hold, but the talons of her feet could do little more than gouge at the wood as she tried to pull it open. But after a few seconds in vain, she hung limply from the handle. Her toes a mere inch from the ground.

Then came the quite frightening demand. The already terrified Kobold, was quite quick to follow the orders. She kicked off the door and fell to the ground on her belly in a heap. The trembling wretch still held onto her weapons, but her claws were stretched out in front of herself. It is as they say, a cornered animal is not to keen on giving up on fighting if they feel that is their only out.

As she spoke, a feminine bite can be heard over the reptilian like sounds of her voice. While it is typically difficult for non-draconic races to identify whether the creatures are male or female by appearance alone... this was certainly enough to give an accurate guess.

"No kill! No kill! No kill, please," Lilt shrieked out in a hiss. The ease those words were pronounced suggested the Kobold was quite fluent in common. But with the hysteria she was in, her grasp on the language happily through its self through the window and careening down the cliffside. While it hurt what little pride she had left... she certainly wasn't too keen on rolling over and dying just yet. Especially after nearly losing her life just last night! And so she continued prattling on. "Kobold alive alone! Kobold sssswear!"

The half-orc looked up when he heard the Kobold beg for it's life. He didn't have any serious trouble with them, sure he didn't like how they always fought in large troops and used tricks but at the same time they were too weak to have a choice. Anything that weak that still choose to fight when threatened was at least deserving of some begrudging respect in his book.

"If she really is alone she is no threat to any of us, if she is lying though..." He got up. "I say we keep an eye on her and check the rest of the place out."

"No Angus, we cannot allow it to leave." Raugar said grimly. "It may fetch others of it's kind." He removed his hand from his weapon as he overcame his surprise, and drew closer to scrutinize the creature. What was a kobold doing here? Did that mean there was an Ancestor dwelling nearby? It was clearly terrified out of it's wits. It had a wild look. He'd seen that look before in soldiers after a desperate battle. It, or she, he realized, had been through something harrowing, though that was hardly surprising in this place.

Still, they finally had a denizen of the area to interrogate. Hopefully they could learn something useful. "You will answer our questions." he said addressing the kobold slowly, but firmly in draconic. "Answer truthfully, and I give you my word we will not harm you. Attempt to trick or deceive us, and I will drag you outside, where the wraith will not be disturbed. Firstly, whom do you serve, what is your purpose in this place, and where are your allies? What do you know of Brighthaven and the surrounding area?"

@Riaxh@Lucius Cypher

Lilt

Lilt's claws began to dig into the stone. From the sounds of these stilt walkers, they were all suspicious of her. She couldn't fault them of that. But she did not enjoy the risks implied by their words. She could easily lose her life on a whim if they were to jump at a shadow, or there was something she had no knowledge of. Her head began to shift slowly along the stone, letting her eyes search for an exit to dart through if things turned south for her.

This however was stopped once she heard the creaking of stone and scales. Her head snapped back to attention to the large dragon born. Instinctively she began to slowly shrink back as he approached. Her stomach rising off the ground while her body lifted it's self just slightly on all four claws like a cornered animal.

When the dragonborn spoke, she was certainly taken off guard. Her head recoiled in surprise, and lifted gently off the ground. The trembling creature quickly took to the dragonborn's amicable approach. It also certainly helped that Raugar was a creature of draconic descent. Lilt slowly lifted herself into a sitting position with her knees to her chest, and tail wrapped around her feet. With her chin resting on her knees, she stared off to nothing really. She had calmed a bit, at least. But not entirely.

While she processed the questions carefully, she gave a brief nod to confirm her compliance.

"You ask the shakened so much? I'll answer what I can now. Just please... do not harbor ill will," Lilt rumbled quietly in draconic. She removed her hurdy gurdy from her belt and stretched a single leg, then brought the instrument into her lap. She contemplated playing... but she'd rather not anger the slumbering man with the really big sword. Instead, she leaned back against the wall and stretched a claw out to wave it over the stone earth.

A mere second later, a minor illusion was conjured of a blue dragon standing regally at the summit of a mountain at the heart of a storm. The vision was small, but the surrounding objects in the scene was enough to give scale to the massive creature.

"I serve Stormurrfadir. The father of storms," The kobold's chin dipped back onto her knee as the image dissolved. She was already spinning up a new one. Her claws flexing, and sculpting shapes. "I am a herald and his entertainer. I sing. I dance. I collect news, rumors, stories, and legends. And tell them on the mountain. My purpose here is clear enough... find a story worthy of an epic... or a tragedy I suppose... and entertain my charge. I desire to do this... and go home. Away from... this nightmare."

Finally her claws began a puppeteering dance, showing a small scene of a group of kobolds setting up an entrenched camp inside a ruined hovel. Some figures disappeared from sight, or were frozen.

The image of some kobolds were broken or still. Reasonable as she had little memory of what happened to these individuals. She was among the group, dressed in a cloth armor suitable for her role. The terror was quick to come. Those setting up the perimeter barked an alarm before hungry jaws tore their scales. The kobolds scrambled to formation, but many were picked off too quickly. They fought like in a phalanx formation but the damage to their numbers were too severe. The desperate order of a scatter was given, and what were left darted off in every which direction. Many weren't fast enough. The panicked image of Lilt endured a test of her resolve - she packed mud into the wound of an unconscious and grievously injured kobold. And dragged the dead weight off with more of the attackers hot on her heels.

Lilt seemed entirely numb as she re-watched her own memory. She let the illusion fade, and turned back to the one towering over her. "I can not account for all of my companions' fates. I assume dead. If not... they will be soon. If not soon, then tomorrow. Then certain the day after. I am sure you can guess, dragonborn. Guess right and you win a pumpkin..." The trembling creature gave a faint and grim smile. The grisly humor gave her a brief moment of respite. "The poor wretch of a newt that was with me now sleeps in the earth. Just in the halls beyond this door. The damnable mud-lurkers... took a bite out of his neck and wouldn't allow him the benefit of a chance."

Finally she pulled her leg back in, holding her instrument close to herself. She scanned her mind carefully, to recall the sights she had seen... and the stories she may have collected on her arduous journey. She lifted her head up eventually to look to the larger reptilian. "Your last answer will be given regardless. But before I answer, will you make a promise? If I join your journey, and assuming I make it out alive, will you take me home? I may not be the first whelp you'd want fighting with you, but I have enough tricks to carry my weight......... in the metaphorical sense."

Raugar tried to hide his surprise at the small display of magic. There was more to the kobold than met the eye. More surprising was the request to be taken home. It was a great commitment to ask and perhaps a foolish one for him to make. He felt like he had heard the name "Stormurrfadir" before in his studies with the order, which leant credence to her story, but scholarship had never been his forte, and he had no idea where or how far away he might dwell. But still... Returning to the dragon delivering a favoured servant. Could he turn away from the chance to meet one of the Elder race under favourable circumstances…? Perhaps the presence of the kobold in this temple was some kind of sign.

"Very well. You have my word." He answered, after a moment of deliberation, before turning back to the others. "Her purpose here is not so different from our own. She claims to be a bard, on a quest to collect tales and wonders for her master. As you can probably tell from that projection, her party fell afoul of the troglodytes. I'm inclined to believe her, and promised she will not be harmed, though I still say we can't let her go just in case." He gave a shrug. He couldn't be sure how the kobold would behave once it was no longer frightened for it's life, but he couldn't see many alternatives. "I guess that means she's coming with us. I will take responsibility for the outcome." he said seriously, looking outside. The sun had risen properly now. "In any case we're wasting daylight, whether in search of the ruins or this mysterious swordsman, we should be away."