Story I: The Rift

Pyrrah leads the way back towards where they had made the climb. Feeling slightly foolish that she hadn't thought of it before, she quickly conjures her shadowy, translucent wyrd-hand and bids it to carry her torch. After a few practice attempts to make sure the hand can move without twitching her own hands in control, Pyrrah readies her harness and starts the climb, keeping the torch-bearing hand close in order to light up the rock and expose handholds that she hadn't seen before. With the extra light, the journey goes surprisingly more smoothly, with her hand only slipping twice but not her feet. Though her heart was thundering by the time she made it over, make it over she did. She took the torch back from her ghostly hand and waited on the other side, ready to help Neph back across using the same rope trick as before.

Having finished tending his wounds, Devanis pokes his head out of the small dwelling to see if he can find the others.

"I think Id better cross first so we are both on the same side if we are going to use the wyrd hands again Flare." Ameera calls from across the gap. She harnesses herself and with the aid of the boot spikes, crosses the gap with a little more practiced hand than the last time.
Once across, Ameera cooperates with Pyrrah to bring Neph across to gather her gear and begin the trek back to her village. "This rig seems to have held up, we'll need it to get back over there with the rest of the group, although I think our drum banging dwarven friend is a bit heavier than either of us."Ameera coils up the safety rope they were using and shoves the harness back in her pack. "Let's go see if the old man has regained his senses enough to discuss our next steps. Maybe he has some ideas."

Devanis approaches the gaggle surrounding Baric. "What's going on?" he asks the dwarf.

As Pyrrah nears the village she slows down. She sees Baric leaning over a corner of broken building and Devanis standing nearby. He looked alright; that was good. If those things were going to come back, they'd need the manpower to protect the village. She turns to Neph.

"Neph. We need to speak to whoever is in charge. If your barriers are down in multiple places then we need to organize a watch at all of the entrances to the village. We need to know if something is coming so we can be ready to defend the village. Can you lead the way?"

She turns to Ameera. "I want to make sure we're safe before we waste too much time. Do you want to come with me? It looks like Devanis and Baric are doing just fine."

Neph watches Pyrrah's lips closely. "Berry... er.." She mutters. "Lead." Neph looks as though she ponders for a moment, and then she points down the way you had come. "Berry.. er.." She mutters again, and then points upward, toward the cavern entrance that would lead out onto the land bridge with the monstrous, skeletal corpse. She speaks again, more clearly, "Barrier."

You got it Neph, Barrier! Flare is saying that we need to put a watch at all of the entrances to your village because the barrier is down. We need to talk to your father.
Ameera, responding to Pyrrah, says "I agree, we need to figure things out with Neph's father. Lets's find him."

Neph smiles proudly, and gives Ameera a nod after the translation. As the trio approach the hovels, Neph shouts towards some of those pixies that were idly watching Baric. Soon, four of them break off from the group, and split into pairs. Two descend to the cave below, and with a deep thrumming sound, two begin to fly toward the entrance above. Neph then beckons Ameera and Pyrrah, and leads them toward one of the hovels in particular, on a level above. On the way there, Neph tries to get the attention of both Baric and Devanis, urging them to follow as well.

Within is Neph's father, presumably the headsman of the village. He is visibly older, though not by as much as you might expect. He is small, even for these pixies, and with white hair as opposed to his daughter's raven black coloring. The hovel is small, with barely enough room for everyone to be within it at once (if seated). Knickknacks and stone sculpture adorn the walls. A small cot rests in the back. The man himself sits on a small mat behind a low desk. As you appear outside, gestures for everyone to enter. Neph approaches and steps around the small desk, to give you room to sit within.

Neph and her father trade a few words in their foreign tongue, and then her father begins gesturing and reciting incantations. The cast is quick, and his motions are smooth and practiced. With the power spoken, he places a few imbued fingers upon his daughter's shoulder.

Clearing her throat, Neph speaks, "Did it work?" She looks puzzled and worried, addressing her father, "I don't think it worked."

"It worked," he assures her, before turning to address those of you present, "My name is Eahldun." He smiles and adds, "I'm the village headsman, and Nephany's father. Thank you for protecting my daughter, and thank you for aiding my people." Eahldun leans forward, plants his hands upon the ground, and bows his head in respect.

Devanis returns the bow. "We are honored. We only wish we could have been of more help."

Ameera glances to Neph with a smile.

Pyrrah glances at the others quickly, but maintains her composure despite the shock of the rather abrupt language change and addresses Eahldun. "It was our pleasure, honored headsman. Your daughter Neph has been very gracious and has aided us on our journey. It was only fitting that we helped her in kind."

She quickly glances away and gives Neph a small nod and the hint of a small smile, probably the most smiling that anyone has see her genuinely do at this point. She turns back, the smile falling away. She wants to get right down to business, and the pleasantries would die soon enough anyway.

"I'm afraid we don't come bearing all good news, however. We've just come from your barrier. It has been taken down somehow. By my guess, that's where those hounds came through. Two more smaller individuals came into the cavern as well, then turned around and went back the way that they'd come. I believe that those may have been the two that took down the barrier, and then released those monsters into the village to kill your people. To prevent such a tragedy in the near future, you need to keep eyes on all entrances of the village at all times while you repair your field."

"While we plan how to restore your barrier Eahldun, sir, perhaps you can convince your daughter to have her wing tended to?"

Neph turns an odd shade of blue-pink in the cheeks as she shares a glance with Ameera, before she very pointedly looks away.

Eahldun ponders Pyrrah's words carefully. He crosses his fingers and places them beneath his chin as his eyes roam over each of you, as well as his daughter. He acknowledges a few of the statements with a slow nod of his head. "What you say makes sense. The Shadowkin have tried getting through our barrier ever since they found this village." He frowns and adds, "We have had to relocate too many times, whenever they found us before, and now the tunnels are more dangerous than ever. We had hoped the barrier would hold, but... the shadowkin are cunning, and powerful with dark magic."

Neph chimes in, "I've already sent some of us to watch those entrances. We'll know if they're coming back. I'll make sure we're protected."

The elder pixie smiles, "I know." At Ameera's suggestion, Eahldun chuckles, "I have long given up on trying to tell Nephiny what to do. I know she'll do it when she wishes to."

Neph frowns, "But, it doesn't hurt."

"On top of that," Eahldun adds, "We are not gifted healers. The best thing she can do is to have it wrapped, and rest. Which, yes, she should be doing."

The scowl that follows shows Nephs disapproval.

"I have been gifted with some limited healing magic. It would be my honor to offer it to whoever needs it and will accept it. However, I am quite spent at the moment. Perhaps we would all do well to rest a while. My friends and I can take turns helping your people stand guard."

Pyrrah glances over at Ameera. "I hate to throw you to the wolves, but maybe you and I should take the first two watches? Devanis and Baric could use the rest a bit more than us, I think."

"I'm good with that Flare. If I can sit and have a meal and not go rock climbing for an hour, I think I will be good to go. I can sit and eat on duty up top or on this side of the gap down below." Ameera holds her stomach to highlight that they haven't stopped to eat in some time.