Story II: City of Shadow

"I already had Zubie scout ahead, the path drops down into a huge cavern, we didn't see anything waiting there."

Devanis runs his hand along the pillars. "These used to be magical, but aren't any longer. In fact, there doesn't serm to be anything magical here anymore."

Ameera scuttles back up to the cave entrance to quickly ask the pixies what they know of the path ahead. She sees Pyrrah and Evendur on the other side of the gap and calls, "So you two are coming? I assume me and the old man will need the help, so good. Need my help to get across?". Ameera checks the ropes on this side and sees they are still secure. "Where is Baric? As noisy as he his, he is good in a fight. He didn't decide to leave too did he?"

When able, she will ask the pixies her questions. How far is it to the Shadowkin city? What should we expect to fight on the way?

Pyrrah snaps her fingers at the crossing and the hand reappears to carry her torch as she goes. Why had she never thought to use it like this that entire time before the village? Must be because she's still new to magic. She sets her gear and climbs across first, calling to Ameera as she goes. "He's still coming, as far as I know. Probably looking at a rock or something. That's something dwarves do, right? "

Evendur sighs, relieved at having climbing gear, and will turn to Baric. With a small smile, Evendur says, "Thanks."

Evendur secures his halberd to the his pack, similar to how a maul is secured on the opposite side, securing it in place with leather straps. Any climbing gear not currently needed will get put in the pack, after all, the lack of supplies has made is easier to carry things at this point. Now with hands free, he makes his way carefully across the gap.

"I hope you don't plan on swinging that stick around in close quarters, these people " Ameera indicates the Pixie guard "say we have some fighting to do before we reach the city, and I'm betting that we're gonna get ambushed in some narrow passageways." she steps to the edge of the gap and calls over to Baric "The city is two days away by their measure, I hope you can catch up, my guess is that it was built by your grandfathers so you should get the chance to see it.... But fix up that beard before you show you face to your ancestors."

Ameera turns back to Evendur and starts toward the defunct barrier "You can call me Ameera, and this one you can call Zubie, although he won't answer to you." She pats the back of the imp on her shoulder, he rests there with a very bored look on his humanoid face.

A wry smile crosses Evendur's face. He pats the Halberd's handle, still strapped to his pack and responds in an amused tone, "I'm well aware that there is a time and a place for this stick as you called it. I have other options if the situation calls for it."

Evendur nods when Ameera gives her name, but when the Imp is introduced, he cocks his head to the side as he examines the bored looking creature, almost looking a bit perplexed. With a shrug, Evendur says "I think we'll get along fine unless he messes with me or my things." With another glance back at the imp, he adds, "Though, if there is any kind of fight, might be best for me to keep a bit of distance from him. Some of the things I can do might not agree with him."

"I'll keep that in mind, I am not sure what will or won't hurt him, but I don't have the means to bring him back if he gets destroyed. I borrowed stuff I needed the first time when I didn't really know what I was doing."

Zubie clicks his tongue a few times, though it is uncertain if this is from boredom, irritation, or both.

As the conversation is about to continue, there's a bit of a dull humming sound coming from the direction of the pixie hovels. Soon, Neph comes into few, flying (albeit clumsily) to the ground. On her back, nestled beneath and between her wings, is a pack of supplies. On her hip is a jagged-looking knife. She falls into line with the rest of you, shrugging her shoulders as she adjusts her leather-and-chitin armor. "Ready," she says in the Common tongue, all too coherently for her gift of tongue to not be magically enhanced.

A voice echoes from the longsword at Baric's hip. Seraph's blue gem begins to glow as his disembodied voice speaks in question. "Devanis?" Seraph asks, "Am I coming with you?" He sounds somewhat lonesome and hopeful at the same time.

"You're coming with us? I'm not opposed, but you were injured, and your people..." Pyrrah says to Neph, eyeing her wing with a look of wariness and maybe a hint of worry.

When Seraph speaks, Pyrrah's mouth twitches into a poorly masked look of distaste. She walks towards Devanis and whispers quietly, so that none else may overhear. "My dislike of that blade is obvious Devanis, but hear me out. We can't afford to take it with us; it's too childish. Apart from the fact that it will probably blow our cover completely as we sneak into enemy territory, that thing has been doing something to you. It's made you careless and naïve, something none of us can afford right now, especially with two of our fighters gone and only an exhausted man and a small pixie in exchange. We need to leave it behind. Baric can bring it with him when he meets up with us, but we need a head start without it. Please don't bring it..." Pyrrah looks the old man in the eyes, following them if they stray, her own burning with fierce intensity and maybe a hint of pleading. That sword was doing something; it had to be. He'd been acting weird since they'd found it. She didn't want it around, even despite of her dislike.

Evendur smiles when Neph approaches, and after Flare asks her question, he asks, "Looks like the wing is doing better after a little help. How is it feeling?"

When the sword on Baric's hip starts talking, Evendur's smile falls to a neutral expression, his eyes slightly narrow. The idea of something getting into his head was not a pleasant thought.

Neph nods her head to Pyrrah, and looks about to explain something until Evendur speaks up. Instead, she just gives him a nod and, smiling, she says, "Much better. Better than I would have ever though in such short time! You really know your stuff."

"Devanis?" Seraph asks again, as Pyrrah whispers. He sounds slightly less hopeful, with a touch of disappointment.

Devanis thinks long and hard as he meets Flare's gaze. Ignoring Seraph for the moment, the grizzled seems to be having some sort of internal argument. At length, he comes to a decision. Walking up to Baric, he reclaims the sentient sword. "It'll be fine." he says to Flare (in a reassuring way rather than in a naive way), giving the sword a little pat as he slings the scabbard into his back. He checks the rest of his gear and nods. "Shall we go then?"

Ameera turns indifferently and begins to walk down the tunnel past the defunct barrier. "Zubie please, go ahead again to the next cavern and keep an eye out for enemies until we get there."