Tillak takes the long scenic ride down and steps off the slab. There is another man kneeling over a glow of red light coming from some handmade slings he's made in a doorway just behind the slab.

Tillak instinctively prepares for attack, but quickly realizes that he has left his shield and hooded lantern up on the ledge above...

SullyB74 wrote:

[Sh*t!]

Tillak curses himself for his carelessness and calls up to his new companion to see if he's able to drop down Tillak's shield and perhaps carry his lantern down with him. 
[What a noob! Sorry, fireinthedust!]

Tillak looks at the figure kneeling over the red glow. He studies his appearance. 

His back is turned. His winter furs are matted and filthy.

The man straightens and turns. A spectral, ochre glow emits from a bundle dangling from scraps of fabric from one mittened hand. The other hand grasps a strange, crystal rod that seems eagerly to absorb the rubescent luminance and re-emit it even more garishly. From behind the man’s long, sodden black mustaches and beard, a broken smile shines forth, though the man’s squinted eyes are suspicious.

“Brother,” he speaks in perfect Esquimaux, “welcome to hell.”

Last edited by Eirvit (2/02/2021 5:23 pm)

Eirvit wrote:

The man straightens and turns. A spectral, ochre glow emits from a bundle dangling from scraps of fabric from one mittened hand. The other hand grasps a strange, crystal rod that seems eagerly to absorb the rubescent luminance and re-emit it even more garishly. From behind the man’s long, sodden black mustaches and beard, a broken smile shines forth, though the man’s squinted eyes are suspicious.

“Brother,” he speaks in perfect Esquimaux, “welcome to hell.”

Tillak is shocked to see a fellow Esquimaux, particularly one who speaks the coastal dialect. He smiles in return and responds in Esquimaux, "It seems that I have returned to hell, yet again. I am Tillak, of Clan Orca. My father was Kanaaq. Is the southerner (gesturing towards Kondor) your spear-brother? Do you share your catch with him?" 

[Tillak looks for the symbol of Cthulu anywhere on Gundrabu's clothing or equipment.] 

Eirvit wrote:

Gundrabu’s smile turns grim and he strides forward—perhaps threateningly—so that perhaps the fellow Esquimaux can perceive the scrimshaw holy symbol on the cleric’s chest.

“Spear-brother? Nay. I do not share my whale-oil with aught but they who willingly submit to the Clutching Coils of Khalk-xu.”

Gundrabu’s glinting eye becomes penetrating. This close, Gundrabu’s unwashed, utterly-shredded furs become overwhelmingly ripe—what did this mad Esquimaux do? swim in a midden heap?

“Tell me, ‘brother,’ do the coastal Esquimaux still vainly call upon he who dwells slumbering beneath the frozen Plain of Leng?”

Tillak realizes that if he shows weakness to Gundrabu that he will loose face, and maybe more than that. He also knows that to lie to one who has brought you aid is dishonorable. So, he steels himself, and returns Gundrabu's gaze, looking him dead in the eye. 

"My village did. I do not." 

[If the symbol around Gundrabu's neck is not that of Kthulhu, then Tillak is slightly relieved. He remains on guard, however.]

Last edited by SullyB74 (2/02/2021 10:03 pm)

Tillak quickly realizes that he is perilously close to conflict with this man. He did not think that he would have to reveal so much about himself to a stranger so quickly, but he knows that if he hides anything from these two, especially this man, that he may not leave this cavern alive. Still not breaking his gaze with Gundrabu, Tillak speaks:

"One year there was a thin harvest of fish. The village shamans chose me to be set upon the Great Mother, on an ice floe, as a sacrifice to Great Khutalhu, the one whose teachings you say they vainly cling to. My mother and father would not allow me, their only son, to be done this way. My line would have died. So, they took me with them into the wilderness, hoping to find my mother's people's land. Ythaqqa was not kind, and my father fell to the claws of wolves, trying to cover our escape. Then my mother took ill, and perished. I was alone, with little food, but I continued until I reached the sea on the far side of the mountains. There, I was found by Viking raiders, who had taken ashore to find supplies for their journey. They were shocked to find a boy by himself, in the wilderness. Their leader spoke a little Esquimaux, and I was able to tell him my tale. They could not believe that I had survived as long as I did and were impressed.  They took me on as one of their own and taught me the riddle of steel. Their leader," and here Tillak motions toward the symbol around Gundrabu's neck, "wore that. I asked him what it was and he said that it was Kraken, the dweller of the deep. Seeing as I was brought  out of the wilderness as a lost traveler, I praise Ythaqqa, and as I was given a home by Igthor, the captain of the raiders and a devotee of Kraken, I give tribute to Kraken for I believe that he brought his follower to me. I will not praise Khthulhu, though, for he has brought great suffering upon my head." 

Tillak continues to lock eyes with Gundrabu, but his hand goes to the pouch at his hip, and he pulls from it a piece of dried seabird meat, the kind that is carried by Esquimaux when hunting or fishing. He holds it out to Gundrabu. 

"I have no quarrel with you. I have not seen someone of my people in many moons. Here is the gift of food, the pledge of the spear and shield." 

Tillak waits to see what Gundrabu does. 

Last edited by SullyB74 (2/03/2021 12:23 am)

1d20: 16!
 

Kondor doesn't want to interrupt the ceremonial greeting of the esquimaux, so he's going to look at the other locked doorway from the one they're in - he wants to get that crown back!

When they were at the door, trying to push it, it didn't open. However, I don't know that we tried to slide the sword in to unlatch it. Kondor is going to do so now.

[Thanks. Esquimeauxes can get back to their juicy business.]

Iron Ranger wrote:

fireinthedust wrote:

Kondor doesn't want to interrupt the ceremonial greeting of the esquimaux, so he's going to look at the other locked doorway from the one they're in - he wants to get that crown back!

When they were at the door, trying to push it, it didn't open. However, I don't know that we tried to slide the sword in to unlatch it. Kondor is going to do so now.

The other "door" is shrouded in pitch black darkness across the chamber, away from the warm glow of Tillak's hooded lantern and Gundrabu's glands satchel.

I believe Kondor has the hooded lantern right now, as he carried it and the shield down with him. Heh.

Using the lantern, going over to the doorway, attempting to get his awesome helm of brilliance back! Woo!