Joyce
Stern Logarsh, caverns of Gorangrad

Stern was about to turn his back and follow Tanyth, but when he began looking for the cave on the left, he found nothing but a wall of cold stone. The paladin took a few steps back, trying to understand the meaning behind that so unexpected event.
"What sorcery is this!?"
Stern pushed against the wall, finding it as real as the rest of the cave. 
After slamming his fists against it, he picked up his spear and began running in the other tunnel. Something was wrong and he didn't like it.
George
Tanyth Carven,
Caverns of Gorangrad

Tanyth waited just a moment, locating the soft pitter patter of Mirian's feet. "There you are, oh darling I was worried," She said gently as she stepped forward and caught the girl up in one arm. She tenderly hugged the girl against her cold Steel armor before she turned back to look behind her. 

She could hear the pounding, "I should have bought a latern while we were in the village... It was foolish of me to rely on the moon." She took Mirian's hand in hers and resolved to move away from the pounding sounds, the child was her priority, Stern would just have to catch up. "Come on, Mirian, we need to get out of here... Did Stern tell you the way?" She spoke softly, gently as not to create an echo or scare the child. 

Tanyth could not see where she was going and so she focused on her other senses, smelling the air and listening for a breeze. She needed to get Mirian out of here, "Stay close to me, Mirian, we will not be able to use our eyes. But all is not lost, try to smell the air, it is foul but if that smell weakens we are going the right way. Furthermore, listen and feel for wind, follow the way it is blowing from." 

She pulled Mirian close and began to walk through the darkness, "If we are alert, and vigilant, we can get out of here." She had not left Mirian to wonder and fear, she had given the child something to focus on... A way to help them both. It was far better, in her eyes, to have two sets of senses looking for the same things.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

As the mercenary hugged the child, the body began to dissipate into a fine dust, falling from her arms and leaving her alone once again.
Cold began to fill the tunnel as a faint green glow could be seen on the other side of the tunnel, hidden by rocks.
Then a sound, something sinister... Something dark...
It sounded like murmurs coming from the same spot.

Stern was nowhere to be seen and yet Tanyth felt like she was not completely alone...
George
Tanyth Carven 
Caverns of Gorangrad

Tanyth growled hatefully, dumping what was left of the dust out of her hand. The light ahead of her and the sounds served only to anger her further. "You'd better hope that you fabricated that child... Because if I find her body there will be nothing that will protect you from me." She murmured hatefully, standing and striding toward the unearthly light.

Behind that mask of rage and murderous intent, she was devestated, she'd been growing attached to Mirian in the short time she'd known her. Whatever these creatures or apparitions were, they'd awakened feelings in her they had not intended to with the use of mirian... And created a rage deeper than had fueled Tanyth before.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

The dim green light seemed to be caused by what appeared to be a lantern with green glass... It was fairly similar to the lanterns found in any town or village and the lenses were covered by dust, the object was half covered by rocks and yet it was lit...

The light revealed a much smaller tunnel heading downwards, from which the murmurs appeared to sound slightly louder. 
The cold was getting sharper and so was the feeling of being observed...
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

Mirian continued to slowly walk towards the faint silhouette in the darkness, gripping her axe tight. 

"Tanyth..? Where is Stern?"
She asked the figure as she got closer and closer.
Joyce
As for Mirian, the hand she was holding began to crumble to dust and slowly the whole silouette faded away.
The cavern was empty, dark and humid...
Something began to whisper... Something all around her...
George
Tanyth Carven,
Caverns of Gorangrad

Tanyth approached the latern, frowning behind her helm as she reached out and snatched up the strange thing, causing the rocks to tumble down to the cave floor. She shined it down the tunnel ahead, eyes narrowed in irritation. 

"Where is my girl, spirit? If you so much as harm a hair on her little head..." She mumbled furiously before she began to make her way toward the whispers, thoughts ran through her mind. She'd always had a fondness for children, they were safe and sweet... No threat. It always made her angry to see one hurt or in danger, but now... Now she was so angry she wondered if she could reach into the spirit world to throttle whatever creature was causing this and endangering her little Mirian.

Maybe that was it... Maybe... No, no the quest was too important. Her revenge was too important, she stopped short and straightened up. "Do I want kids?" She asked aloud in a confused tone, then shook her head, "No, no, I'd be a terrible mother... But maybe... Bah, focus Tanyth, focus." She murmured as she continued forward once more.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

As Tanyth descended into the unknown recesses of the forest, the cold became almost unbearable. The ice covered walls of the tunnel glimmered as the light of the lantern gave the cave a surreal atmosphere.
She had been walking for five minutes when she found herself standing before a wall. A wall made of stone bricks showing some carvings in an unknown tongue.
A small grate of rusty iron was the only entrance beyond the wall. The murmurs grew more intense...
George
Tanyth Carven,
Caverns of gorangrad 

Tanyth was doing her level best to ignore the cold, it was nothing she hadn't experienced before... Well the odd magic bullshit was new, but the cold felt familiar. 

"Oh well this is just fine, probably a fucking necromancer." She snarled as she approached the grate and tried to force it open, nothing was going to stop her from finding that child... If there was one to find. "Stern better get to the source of this shit before I do or I am going to do some shit to whatever it s that'll make his blood run cold. Probably call me Ko... Koda... Whatever that fucking word was." She'd gotten used to having someone to talk to... So now she couldn't help but talk to herself.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

Beyond the grate Tanyth could see a short corridor ending with a door. The light of a torch was showing from beneath the door. There was a slight trace of a scent... It reminded incense, but much more pleasant to the nose. She could hear a voice from behind the door... The voice of a woman speaking in a tongue she couldn't understand.
George
Tanyth Carven 
Caverns of Gorangrad

Tanyth frowned, gripping her greats word tightly as she advanced toward the door. She once again muttered a few hateful words about the situation before she paused st the door, perhaps to be coy and throw the creature off or perhaps because she was merely polite, possibly a mixture of both, the mercenary raised her hand and pounded on the door. Her mothers hadn't raised a rude woman who just barged in on others.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

The female voice stopped talking and, after a couple of seconds, the sound of bare feet on stone was heard. The door opened slowly, letting out a beam of warm light coming from several torches.

White fingers appeared, pulling the door aside.

On the doorstep was standing a vision of beauty worth the songs of a thousand bards. Black, curly hair were falling onto ivory shoulders, the skin was free of any flaw or mark, covered by thin and almost transparent veils of linen. Green eyes shun like emeralds as the lantern's light kissed them. The lips of the same shade of passion were perked into a confused smile.
The rest of the figure was a voluptuous body wrapped in a green robe. 
"My lantern..." The lady muttered before looking at the armored mercenary "Who are you, brave knight?" Her eyes seemed to reach Tanyth' even through the holes of the helmet.
A gaze filled with curiosity and a pinch of fear.
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

Mirian put her now dust covered hand back on the axe and held the axe up, ready to attack.

"Stop your whispering and come out! I-Im not scared of you!"
She proclaimed, trying to keep her voice firm. By the end of the sentence, though, her voice started to quiver.

"Show yourself!"
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

 

The whispers grew closer before one among them became much louder than the others began to slither around the child's ears.

"You're all alone in the dark... Your friends are gone...
And we are alone..."

A voice that sounded both feminine and masculine at the same time, vibrating through the dark cave like the cold shriek of metal grinding on metal. 
The temperature began lowering itself, becoming almost unbearable.
George
Tanyrh Carven
Forest of gorangrad 


"I will not give you my name, but you may refer to me as Luna." She'd read legends... Myths about creatures who'd steal your soul if you gave them your name. She looked into the room beyond the figure, looking for Mirian. "I was attacked, ambushed, my... My daughter ran I to these caves and I've lost track of her." She was lying but was doing so without any outward expression to betray it.

"Strange things have happened since then," She gripped her sword and her eyes narrowed at the woman, "You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad

She swung the axe around her, grunting and huffing.

"Stop it! Leave me be!"
She squeaked out as she felt the cold creep up her legs. She started to shake, but still continued to look around.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

 

The young woman frowned, opening the door a little more. Her expression was a mirror of her worries as she raised her gaze once again.

 "Lady Luna... I fear you and your daughter are in grave danger..."
The green eyed lady held her hand on her own chest, looking at the sword Tanyth was holding. "I am Valeria, I came here to study the ancient forest... I can help you, please come in."

She motioned her to enter the room. It was a rather spacious area, lit by torches and candles. Books and scrolls piled up in the corners and some vials were neatly tidied on wooden shelves, giving the impression of being kept with great care. Two more doors led to other rooms.

Caverns of Gorangrad

 

"You cannot harm what lies in your mind, child"

A dark and slow laughter echoed in the cave. The cold was stinging like needles as the voice spoke once again.

"A young murderer will be a fine soul to harvest... I can't wait t—"

The voice broke as the world around Miriam began to spin.

Seconds later, strong harms were shaking her frail body. A familiar voice was calling her name.
A voice too growly to be human.

 "Wake up, little one! We have no time to spend sleeping!"

Stern was about to slap the child when he realized she was starting to regain consciousness. The orc sighed in relief and took a step back to leave room for the child to breathe. The cave was lit by a torch held by the paladin, who seemed covered in dirt and dust.
George
Tanyth Carven
Caverns of Gorangrad

Tanyth hesitated at the door, an old saying from a story came to her mind, *'Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly'* Even so... She was much more well equipped than a fly.

She stepped forward into the room, eyes watching every corner, "What have you learned... What has happened to my daughter, witch?" She hoisted the lantern and shook it some, "Do not deny magic... This fire is not natural, nor are the voices I've been hearing."

The woman was beautiful, but Tanyth was not so foolish as to let her guard down around this stranger, no matter how attractive she was.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

Valeria's ivory skin became even more pale as Tanyth called her a witch. She shook her head before closing the door behind her. "The whispers are not something I can control... I'm not a witch, I'm a healer from Terresol!" She appeared startled.
She motioned towards a book.
"I need to show you something... Please don't hurt me..."
The scared voice of the healer was a prelude to tears if Tanyth wouldn't have changed her aggressive behaviour.
George
Tanyth was glad for her helmet, the hot wave of shame that passed over her would've been visible. She pulled her scabbard off her back and placed her sword within it. 

"I'm sorry... I'm just worried about my girl. I... I won't hurt you Valeria, and my name is Tanyth. I've had a bad life," She lowered her sword and set the lantern down. She removed her helmet, revealing her handsome face an platinum hair. "Please, show me, I will not hurt you."
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

Mirian whined and covered her head, rolling up into a ball on the ground as the cold surrounded her. 

"Stop! Stop! Sto-"
She felt a faint numbness and a ringing in her ear as she returned to consciousness. She jolted awake and looked to Stern.

"Stern! Y- There-"
She looked around, her lips curled into a frown as she grew confused. She looked back to Stern.

"Where's Tanyth?"
She asked as she got up and held her axe.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad 

 

The healer nodded timidely before opening the book, her fingers moving quick through the pages before she had found the information she was looking for. She looked up at Tanyth, looking directly into her eyes "A creature... An old one... It lives in these galleries... Sleeping." She shuddered before frowning slightly "It can talk through its thoughts and steal your soul... If your child is lost in the caves I hope she will not be noticed by it..." The girl looked back up at Tanyth, this time worriedly. "You... It touched you..." She put the book back down before cupping Tanyth's cheeks in her hands "You have a shadow in your eyes..." She kept eye contact before taking a step back "We must cleanse you of its influence before It's too late!"

Caverns of Gorangrad

 

Stern sighed, shaking his head "I cannot seem to find her... Yet I think I heard some voices... They were looking for you." The hunter growled before he stood back up. His spear had yet to be stained by blood, something the greenskin could percieve as very likely to happen. He picked the child up. And let her sit on his shoulder before putting out the torch "We will see with my eyes, try to remain quiet..." He whispered before walking back into the tunnel. He would have found Tanyth... No matter the cost.
George
Tanyth Carven 
Cavern of Gorangrad

Tanyth pulled her head away and frowned at the woman, "There is no influence upon me... My life has been a waking nightmare since I was five years old." She sighed, she cupped the woman's beautiful face and shook her head, "This creature cannot break me, nothing can," She paused a moment then pulled her hand away. "But if it will bring you comfort to do a cleansing ritual, then go ahead... It makes no difference to me."
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

Mirian sat on his shoulder gripping her axe tight. She did as she was asked, and kept quiet as she scanned the darkness. She wasn't sure what was happening, and she was very scared, but she tried to keep it together. Luckily for her the voices in her head were quiet. She didn't need two sets.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

 

Valeria swallowed as her cheeks became visibly darker. She looked away, nodding. "Follow me." She locked the door Tanyth entered from then reached one of the two doors, opening it and entering the room. The sound of running water reached Tanyth.
The room was candle lit and filled with vapours, showing what must have been the source of a thermal water source. The healer began searching a small chest for the ingredients required by the ritual. In the rush she tripped, almost falling into the chest and tearing the back of her robe, something she didn't notice.
"The ritual must take place into the water..." She walked back to her, holding several plants and vials. "Being a cleansing procedure I..." She looked away, her blush fairly evident.
"... No armor nor clothing..."
She muttered as she lowered her voice and her head at the same time.

Stern had been walking for several minutes when he froze in place. His nose had perceived a scent which was fairly new to the area: incense.
He growled and gripped firmly on his spear. The scent was faint, yet persistent. As he walked slowly, he could see some torchlight at the end of the tunnel, then the smell of sweat and wool...
He gritted his teeth and hugged the wall of the tunnel, following the shadows to get closer to the source of the scent. 
Like a predator on the prawl, Stern could sense his prey near...
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

She held onto his shoulder as she looked down to him and whispered.
"Wh-"

She noticed the light and shut up. She held her axe close and was ready to hop off and help Stern fight if she needed to. She swallowed her fear and shut her eyes, before slowly opening them as they approached.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

 

Stern took a moment to pat her head, nodding to her. 
As they got closer, the hunter could distinguish two figures standing by the entrance of a tunnel. They were wearing dark blue hoods and were armed with swords. 
The paladin looked at Miriam and tapped on her axe, his way to ask permission to use it. He would have definitely had the advantage of darkness. What he couldn't help but notice was the similarities those men shared with the cultists he had killed years before. An old hatred began pumping through his veins.
George
Tanyth Carven
Caverns of Gorangrad

Tanyth smirked a little, seeing Valeria blush, and followed her quietly toward the room. She watched in amusement as the woman hurried around them room, and as she approached she listened. 

The knight shook her head, "I do not think I will be undressing in these Caverns, Valeria. You will have to wait, you may cleanse me once we have left this place with my daughter." She murmured, the distrust returning to her eyes. She was in a combat zone, her military instincts were telling her that removing her armor was a very poor tactical choice. This creature could fool with the mind, how could she be sure this was even real?
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

She looked to the figures at the tunnel, and then turned her attention to Stern. She wanted to help him fight, but sighed as she obliged and handed the axe over, reluctantly. She held her knees in her hands as she watched the tunnel's entrance with anticipation and fear.
Joyce
Caverns of Gorangrad

 

Stern nodded to thank the child and took a deep breath. 

One of the men turned slightly to his left as his attention shifted to a glimmer of light in the dark.

 "Alexios ther—"

The sound of flesh and bone being torn and split by cold steel echoed through the tunnel. Seconds later the thud of the body startled the second guard, who had a fraction of second to realize that a spear was stuck in his chest. A second thud. 

Stern growled as his red eyes emitted a faint glow for both the darkvision and the bloodlust being satisfied. 
The paladin reached the bodies and cleaned the weapons, handing the axe to the child. The torch lit tunnel in front of them was going upwards.
He could hear a choir chanting, a sound that made his hatred towards heretics and the murderers of his clan burn like magma in his veins. "We must move, Miriam." He growled at her.

Caverns of Gorangrad

 

Valeria shook her head "You cannot fight it when it can still play with your mind... I beg you, let me purify your mind... If you won't be rid of its influence you'll die!" There was truth in her words, truth worth being afraid of. The young woman bowed her head. "I've been locked in here for three days... I need someone able to kill that creature and that person must be purified." She sobbed. "I'll be in the water with you if that will make you trust me..."
The tone of plea and sadness were of incredible intensity...
Esther
Mirian Trunth, Caverns of Gorangrad.

She took her axe back, and nodded to Stern.
"Can I help you fight?"
She asked as she hopped off his shoulder and looked up to him. 

"I promise I can do better than I did by the fire."
She whispered up as she glanced forward, further into the tunnel.