Kazimierz leads the two young thieves through the mines to the surface, listening intently as Steeple rambles on about Greek letters, occasionally stopping as the voices in his head chime in to give their opinion on the situation - usually greeted with great enthusiasm and respect.
He also watches Heldric's similarly intently listening face with great interest. The Nosferatu doesn't say much but he takes everything in; not uncommon of their kind.
I wonder if they'll try to save me anyway.
Perhaps it is best. I will regret throwing away my only hope at salvation in a few years, but at least I was strong enough to do it now.The soft glow of moonlight starts to light the caves, Kazimierz lowers the intensity of his soul's glow.
Heldric's happy cry when Mr. Whitey slithers into the cave to welcome and assault him gives Kazimierz pause, bringing a smile to his face. The sight of the albino crocodile gleefully crushing and rolling about with his master is a happy one - perhaps one of the last he shall ever enjoy.
The necromancer cocks his head to the side, listening to an unheard voice. His thoughts race quickly, and the words are out of his mouth before he can reconsider.
"Gutka has given me permission to roam for a short while. I will follow you to the tavern, I wish to say goodbye to Seelie personally."
---
Steeple and Heldric are both incredulous - seemingly, not a day had passed since they went into the mines. Both wonder at how Gutka managed to make the salt crystals grow around them in such an amazingly short amount of time. There should be about 2-3 hours of night-time left, and they wonder briefly at what to spend the rest of their night doing.
They also marvel at their lack of a need to feed - where did Gutka get the blood to feed them?
The realization that the ancient had almost certainly begun a first step blood-bond on them strikes Steeple first, but Heldric realizes it soon afterwards. It is not a pleasant realization.
While the two discuss their situation, Kazimierz deals with his own business. Inside the prison world made by the mirror, he holds Seelie's head to his chest in a gesture of comfort.
"Then you understand what I need you to do girl?"
"Yes Father Kazimierz. Are you sure about this?"
"Yes, I am certain. But... before you do, how about we have Heldric try on the helm, hmm? I've always wanted to see for myself what you described."
"Of course father. I'll be sad to see you go."
"Don't worry about it girl. There are worse fates; among them yours. Be good to Steeple, he is not yet a bad man. Perhaps he will stay that way."
"Yes father."
---
Kazimierz' request comes as something of an oddity to Heldric but the Nosferatu was dying to try out his new awesome ancient relic so, well, why not? Heldric grabs the Helm by the side and slides the thing onto his head. He notes with apprehension Kazimierz' sudden gasp.
---
Blazing flames surround the fierce warrior standing before the necromancer. Holes adorn his broken armor, memories of the spears that were driven through into its occupant. The helm glows fiercely with terrifying power, almost blindingly bright. A thousand whispers fill the air with every shaky movement the warrior makes.
Kazimierz laughs, clapping all the while.
"The Helm of the Penitent General suits you quite well Heldric. I never quite believed Seelie when she told me this but it changes you when you put it on - your
ether changes into that of Liahm, with quite a few theatrical additions. You cut a rather intimidating figure!"
Kazimierz sobers up quickly from his brief, almost childlike joy at the discovery.
"My companions, I thank you for your efforts, however unsuccessful, to save me.
Steeple, Heldric, before I go, I wish for you to assure the head of the Tyniec abby that myself and the brothers died combatting some evil dwelling within the mines. But it has been cleansed now. Do you understand? I cannot bear for those good and holy men to cast my name and those of my companions aside in evil disdain."
Kazimierz feels a tug on his soul as Gutka grows tired of his freedom. Before either vampire can answer, he says out loud - "Now Seelie. I'm sorry girl."
Kazimierz gasps as the very essence of his soul is torn apart by a sudden blast of obliviating power that spreads out from Seelie's hand. The girl is crying her blood tears, her hand shaking where his shoulder had used to be - though be it from sadness at his destruction or because of the pain caused by use of the Obliviating Arcanoi he is unsure.
Kazimierz hears Gutka's howl of rage as his soul comes undone before he can be pulled back to her lair. His last thoughts are of satisfaction at her failure, and gratitude towards Seelie.
---
Nadia wakes with a flutter after Steeple drips a tiny bit of blood into her throat, his life force merging with and augmenting her own. Waking, she immediately sits up and pulls Steeple to her after a short, choked cry.
She asks questions that he answers slowly and patiently, and then she pulls him to her and asks him not to leave her for the rest of the night. He gladly complies.
---
Andreas wakes much less gracefully, coughing up small salt clouds from the crystal vial of Gutka's blood that Heldric surmises had been hidden inside of Andreas to break or melt and wake him. Andreas looks about and first grabs his blood brother, pulling him into a brutal hug that pops more than a few bones, before doing the same with mr. Whitey.
Andreas mutters something in a low series of growls, and Heldric knows what he means before mr.whitey ever tells him.
"This place is hell. Let's get out of here brother."
---
The abbot at the Tyniec abbey understood Heldric and Steeple's mentions, and promised to give the brothers and Kazimierz an honourable final ceremony. He invited the two to stay at the abbey for a few more days but the Prince and Seneschal had to return to their individual cities. They both received blessings for their efforts.
Leaving the city the next day, the two have a happily uneventful trip back home. The howling of wolves in the countryside might unsettle some, but neither of their carriages are assaulted by the roaming packs of Shadow Lords.
It's almost as if something was watching over them. Or perhaps looking up at them would be a more appropriate analogy.
---
April 19th, 6:00 AM,
Salt Mine of Krakow
Domain of Gutka the Salt QueenDimitri coughs loudly.
The air in the salt mines was always very dry, terrible for the lungs and worse for the eyes. Not as bad as a coal mine but not good nonetheless.
He puts aside his pickaxe and takes a long swig from his canteen, and hears his friend calling down from below; excitement filling his voice.
"Dimitri, come down here! You won't believe what i've found! I think there might be gold here! Come on, hurry!"
The miner stumbles while running down - if there was gold down here then they might be able to sneak some ore away before more stringent measures were put up. Gold in a salt mine! Who would have thought?
Then again, miracles were always possible after what Mr. Trevesky, Heldric, Nadia and Andreas had done. He'd been sure they would die when he saw them off but lo and behold, miracles of miracles, they and Father Kazimierz' two disciples drove the demons from the mines. Good men there.
He comes to where he'd heard his friend call out and starts looking around, turning and searching for the man.
"Daniel, where are you? Dan-"
Gutka stands inches away from the man, her wrinkled, haggish, salt-encrusted face burning itself into his brain.
She speaks slowly and deliberately, her voice mimicking Daniel's exactly.
"Mr. Trevesky lied."
She strikes before he has a chance to scream.
---
Deep within the salt mines of Krakow, there is a temple made from crystal salt shaped by the skilled hands of the high priestess to the Crone. At the center of it about 40 of her childer stand in a circle, their petrified bodies frozen in abject worship and fear of the ancient goddess and her earthly incarnation. The most recent addition is a man whose twisted body is covered in the scars of his mortal combat with monstrous creatures - most notably a scar coming from his left shoulder down to his right hip, five long marks, like those of the claws from an immense beast.
The temple dwells within a cavern lit by the souls of her children, the only sound being the whistle of a cold wind that shouldn't live pushing through the empty, dry air.
The souls circle the cavern, the glow they make made into a sparkling display by Pillars of Salt.
End Sidequest
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Topic: Steeple and Heldric - Pillars of Salt (Read 238424 times)