Hmm...good question. I think a mace, longsword and a dagger would work. I can pay right now, as a mater of fact. 60 gold...a little extra since it is a special request. Rallos fishes the coins from his purse.
If you cannot get enough, leave the dagger out. The longsword and mace are more important. The dagger is just a backup. Might be some nasty surprises when we go back to the Spire. If I need anything else, you will be my first stop. Good day, Tsador.
[ooc] removing 60gp from sheet[/b]
Ea will bury herself in books-how fitting for a Pharasman- for the day, researching information about liches, ghouls and ghosts
Could you take some notes on the various creatures we found information about earlier, Pertreeko, while I'm seeking knowledge on some specific unliving foes?
The druid nods and amiably settles into his role of note-taker for the day. He studiously records everything he thinks might be of use about the underground dwellers, storing away the notepages in a leather-bound pad for later use.
Yasmin helps herself to some scrumptious breakfast in the morning. Once she's fully awake, she heads over to her friend Abernard Royst. "Good to see you again Abernard. We've mapped most of the third level of the spire, and managed to snag a bounty on Tarrin Dars in the process. How goes your studies regarding the teleportation crystal?"
– Tsador curls an awkward half-orc smile as Rallos places his order, ”A week…return in a week and your weapons shall be here…finest weapons…”
– You are directed to Sefurd’s Potions and Reagents, a shop between North Way and Fountain Square that is run by Londor Sefurd. Opening the door to a room heavy with pungent odours, a bell gently tinkles…and a few moments later a lank haired man, reddened eyes streaming, appears. ”Yes??? What are you after??? I’m just in the middle of something…do you need it now??? Hey, are you one of them who have been out the spire…sure you must be…what did you find???”. The man’s attitude has changed from offensively dismissive to intently interested over the course of a few seconds…
– Arriving at Abernard Royst’s house in the mid-morning, you find the front door closed and the window shutters in place…whereas other houses have plumes of smoke gently rising from their chimneys, no such sign of life is present here. A man shovelling snow from a nearby path sees you and calls out, ”Old Abernard travelled up Thornkeep way yesterday lunchtime…he does that a lot, old fool’s going to come a cropper in the snow one day but he won’t listen when we ask him to slow down. I expect he’ll be back in a couple of days – he’s rarely away from the Fort for too long. Who shall I say called?”
Yasmin hears the news of Royst's travels with alarm. "Seriously? The roads are dangerous, especially now. There've been sightings of ogres and undead--he's going to get himself killed. Are you sure this is all normal? Did he go alone?" Yasmin shakes her head, and looks around Royst's place for anything that might suggest he's not just out on a normal business trip.
When nobody is watching, she calls out for her genie friend. "Hakan, present yourself!"
Blue mist lifts from Yasmin's skin and materializes in the form of a tiny blue genie. "What do you want this time, woman?"
"I don't know why you insist on being so angry." replies Yasmin. "I haven't kept you even a fraction of the time you charmed me."
"You took my powers!"
"You tried to kill me!"
Hakan throws up his hands in exasperation. "Well you're trying to get us both killed, delving into this spire. Why are you even doing this anyway. You just got hundreds of gold as your reward. You're not poor anymore. You should just move along."
"But . . . but then what about the others?"
"Bah! Let them meet their fate, and let us escape ours."
Yasmin wondered if he had a point. But she didn't feel like arguing it now. "I wish you to go through the chimney there and check inside to see if Royst had some reason to leave so suddenly. If you're lucky, the place won't be booby-trapped."
The genie grumbles, but is forced to obey.
Ea's day, with Pertreeko and Father Faldindor assisting, reveals much on the nature of the undead...
Few creatures are more feared than the lich. The pinnacle of necromantic art, the lich is a spellcaster who has chosen to shed his life as a method to cheat death by becoming undead. While many who reach such heights of power stop at nothing to achieve immortality, the idea of becoming a lich is abhorrent to most creatures. The process involves the extraction of the spellcaster’s life-force and its imprisonment in a specially prepared phylactery—the spellcaster gives up life, but in trapping life he also traps his death, and as long as his phylactery remains intact he can continue on in his research and work without fear of the passage of time.
The quest to become a lich is a lengthy one. While construction of the magical phylactery to contain the spellcaster’s soul is a critical component, a prospective lich must also learn the secrets of transferring his soul into the receptacle and of preparing his body for the transformation into undeath, neither of which are simple tasks. Further complicating the ritual is the fact that no two bodies or souls are exactly alike—a ritual that works for one spellcaster might simply kill another or drive him insane.
An integral part of becoming a lich is the creation of the phylactery in which the character stores his soul. The only way to get rid of a lich for sure is to destroy its phylactery. Unless its phylactery is located and destroyed, a lich can rejuvenate after it is killed. The most common form of phylactery is a sealed metal box containing strips of parchment on which magical phrases have been transcribed although other forms of phylacteries can exist, such as rings, amulets, or similar items.
Beyond the fact that a Lich is, by definition, an extremely powerful Spellcaster, these profane beings also exude auras of pure fear - many is the foolhardy adventurer who thought to defeat a lich only to find themselves terrified for the few short moments before their deaths. Their touch is also known to impart terrible necromantic energies upon their victims - causing enduring paralysis.
Ghouls are undead that haunt graveyards and eat corpses. Legends hold that the first ghouls were either cannibalistic humans whose unnatural hunger dragged them back from death or humans who in life fed on the rotting remains of their kin and died (and were reborn) from the foul disease—the true source of these undead scavengers is unclear. Ghouls lurk on the edges of civilization (in or near cemeteries or in city sewers) where they can find ample supplies of their favorite food. Though they prefer rotting bodies and often bury their victims for a while to improve their taste, they eat fresh kills if they are hungry enough. Though most surface ghouls live primitively, rumors speak of ghoul cities deep underground led by priests who worship ancient cruel gods or strange demon lords of hunger. These “civilized” ghouls are no less horrific in their eating habits, and in fact the concept of a well- laid ghoul banquet table is perhaps even more horrifying than the concept of taking a meal fresh from the coffin.
Ghouls can infect their prey with the dreaded 'Ghoul Fever' with their bite - victims who die whilst infected will rise as undead on the strike of midnight the following day.
When a soul is not allowed to rest due to some great injustice, either real or perceived, it sometimes comes back as a ghost. Such beings are in eternal anguish, lacking in substance and unable to set things right. Although ghosts can be any alignment, the majority cling to the living world out of a powerful sense of rage and hatred, and as a result are chaotic evil—even the ghost of a good or lawful creature can become hateful and cruel in its afterlife.
Much is written in the temple's library about ghosts yet there are few consistencies - it appears that there are precious few things that are common... the lack of a material body, the ability to fly, the sense of outrage and subsequent malevolence... beyond that you find writing talking of corrupting touch, telekinesis, energy draining, the ability to suck air from a room - it seems that the variety of ghosts is only matched by the number of ways that the unfortunates died...
- Hakan is gone for a short time during which time you watch a patrol do the rounds along the internal perimeter of the fortress walls, a dog running loose and three children playing hide and seek. When he returns, slightly dusty and sooty from the chimney, he tells you of his exploration into Royst's house.
He tells you how he could only explore two rooms, wards across the internal doors stopped him seeing much of the house...but what he did see was intriguing: a suit of Hellknight's armour in an alcove, several stuffed monkeys, numerous books and maps of Echo Wood and the Spire, a well stocked library - all things that tell of the occupant's arcane leanings. An opened letter on a table give you some concern though... According to Hakan, the writer invited Royst to Thornkeep to show 'the article' at a meeting of the order - the Marid checked and sadly the seal on the letter isn't legible.
"Funny, I didn't think Royst would be so fond of Hellknights - I wonder how he got their armor?" But the next bit of news is more alarming. "A meeting of the Order... was it a meeting of the Goldenfire Order? He probably took the damn crystal with him. Did the letter say when or where he was to meet?"
Yasmin will share the news with the others at an available opportunity.
Rallos wanders the market section, looking for specific gear.
- you look high and low within the shops that line Fort Inevitable but none seem to offer what you are looking for. Any discreet suggestions or questions are met with indignation - clearly the iron fist of rule from the Hellknights is at play here.
Rallos heads back to the inn, resting at the end of the bar. He idly chats with the innkeeper and staff as he drinks a warm cup of tea and picks at a loaf of hearty bread. He eyes every person that comes in, and strains to hear any gossip/info that might come in useful.
Rallos heads back to Tsador's shop after lunch.
Tsador, a quick question. Where might one find a particular sheath for a weapon? It is something I have use for, but do not know who might have it. I want it to go on my forearm, for a dagger. You never know when access to a blade is needed, right? any idea where one would fid such a thing?
"A wrist-sheath? No problem, I can get one of those for you - I know a few folk over Thornkeep who deal in such items, always good to be prepared in the River Kingdoms I say...these can be wild lands - best to have a weapon is my motto"
Excellent. I knew you would know how to get one. So next week then. Until then, Tsador. Rallos hands over the gold then shakes Tsador's hand.
Yasmin nods with approval at Hakan. "Nice work. I just hope Royst doesn't get waylaid on his journey to Thornkeep. Or sell off the crystal we so kindly lent him."
In the afternoon, Yasmin feels drawn toward the lake outside of Fort Inevitable. Unaffected by the cold, she finds herself rejuvenated by the experience. It seemed that the Marid's blood was truly running through her veins.
You are directed to Sefurd’s Potions and Reagents, a shop between North Way and Fountain Square that is run by Londor Sefurd. Opening the door to a room heavy with pungent odours, a bell gently tinkles…and a few moments later a lank haired man, reddened eyes streaming, appears. ”Yes??? What are you after??? I’m just in the middle of something…do you need it now??? Hey, are you one of them who have been out the spire…sure you must be…what did you find???”. The man’s attitude has changed from offensively dismissive to intently interested over the course of a few seconds…
"We found a great many things, sir..." Pertreeko comments cautiously, mistrusting the man's sudden...enthusiasm. "I'm after potions of Protection from Evil, about four of them, and I'm willing to pay. What do you want to know about the Spire?"
"Potions...potions, you say? Well, you've come to the right place...there ain't no better place in the Fort than Sefurd's. The Spire, Aaah, the Spire - so much is unknown - secrets and mysteries... Surely you can see a business opportunity? There's creatures down there who don't see the light of day...we could trade with them...or we could take what they have... I could help you... In return for information..."
"A breastplate you say? I could buy the chain shirt back from you for two hundred gold? There is no levy to pay on that as it isn’t plunder from the Spire...it'll take a day or two to forge something that I would be happy with though...I could measure you now and you could collect it the day after tomorrow?"
Grayface hands Rillin the 50 gold that he owed her. Then he returns the masterwork chain shirt and an additional 150 gold coins for the breastplate commission.
As he gets measured for a good fit, the fighter takes a moment to admire the various pieces of craftsmanship around him. He liked Rillin and her work. Gray was looking forward to seeing this new breastplate in a day or two.
"Tell me more," the druid says, his beak making it easy to keep a neutral expression. "What are you offering, Sefurd, and what are you asking for in return? I'm not familiar with this civilized custom of bandying words about as if they were meaningless gruntings. If you have a point to make, get to it and let me go about my business."
This scraping, cringing, dark-hearted man puts Pertreeko on edge, and makes his normally polite words come out more rudely.
Once she's done playing in the lake, Yasmin heads to the Temple of the Golden Key. After admiring the undoubtedly opulent temple, she goes in search of an orderly who can assist her. "Hello, I'm one of the adventurers retained by High Mother Dremange to put a stop to some rampaging undead. The High Mother said she would aid us with a curative wand. Do you know where I might pick that up?"
- The Temple of the Golden Key is a grand building in the south east of Fort Inevitable - High Mother Dremagne, who was deep in concentration and reading a tome, stands when she sees you arrive with one of her acolytes, "Aaaah, Yasmin isn't it? I have the wand here...". She passes a small case over to you asking how much you know of the faith of Abadar, "The faith looks to protect trade and prosperity here in the Fort Inevitable...if you can end this growing threat, you will have done the entire town a great service"
- taken aback by your response, Sefurd gets straight to the point, "I trade in rare oils and unguents...the deeper you travel into the Spire, the more likely it is that you will discover strange creatures and unique geology - I will pay good money for anything you bring back that I can sell onwards...think about it... In the meantime, as a sign of my good faith, please accept these potions as a gift from Sefurd's"
Pertreeko doesn't trust this man, but he hasn't given him any cause to refuse his request, so he cautiously accepts his proposition.
Your business more or less complete within the Fort, the majority of you spend a second evening / night in the comfortable rooms of the Julliver Arms – you narrowly avoid meeting the bard who wishes to turn your adventures to verse; he had a pressing engagement in Thornkeep so travelled out before you returned. Pa Julliver reassures you that he will be back though…
The next morning you are greeted by a note sealed with the insignia of a key, Abadar’s holy symbol, opening it over breakfast you read that there has been another attack on a ferry crossing over the West Sellen River. The assault was repelled with no loss of life but the High Mother writes that she is alarmed at the boldness of the attack – in broad daylight and some way from the border of the Echo Wood – she urges you to move against this threat at the earliest opportunity.
Pertreeko hums in concern as he reads the note aloud. Finishing it, he glances up at his companions. "This sounds like a higher priority than the Spire, do we agree? Whatever evil lies in the bowels has rested there for years, it can wait another few days for this bandit business to be addressed, to protect the ferry..."
I agree. The taint of the unliving shall not be tolerated.Take whatever you need, let's regroup in one hour, and we will get out of the Fort to seek and destroy the undead
Rallos meets up with his colleagues at breakfast and is excited at the chance for more adventure.
This is good...it is a break from spiders....I hope. I am ready to go. Just one quick errand before I go. Just thought of something.
Rallos dashes out right after eating and heads to the armorsmith.
Rillin? Nice to meet you. I am Rallos, a friend of Grayface. I hear you make excellent pieces of armor. Gray spoke highly of your work....it helped him in the Spire. I have need of one item in particular. I would like a buckler, but I need it well-made. I need it lighter than normal so it does not interfere with my activities away from combat. I am willing to pay upfront. 165 gold is sufficient? And whenever it is done is fine. I know you are busy.
Rallos takes out the gold and offers his hand to the smith.
After he leaves, he heads back to the inn and gathers up his gear before setting out.
"Aaah, a friend of Grayface is a friend of mine...a good customer that one", Rillin smiles warmly, "A buckler? No problem...a couple of days? Any particular design or motif?"
"We might as well check out the attack site. It could give us important clues."
Pertreeko nods. "We're in agreement then. As soon as Rallos finishes that little errand he wanted to finish, we should be off."
A rapier in front of two crossed daggers perhaps? Something like that will do speldidly.
Rallos meets up with his friends before heading out.
I think we should investigate that attack site. Might be some clue or tracks we can use or follow.
Leaving Fort Inevitable through the imposing Mosswater Gate, two of the on duty Hellknights nod at you - possibly in acknowledgement of your efforts bringing Tarrin Dars to justice, possibly due to another reason - the impassive skull-like helms worn by the guards make it impossible to tell. Striking out towards the West Sellen River, your journey is much easier than your previous treks through the snowbound Echo Woods - the mid-morning sun is high in the cloudless sky when you finally arrive at the ferry crossing referred to by High Mother Dremagne.
The crossing, perched next to the Crusader Road which runs northwards to Mendev and the Worldwound, is a focal point for trade and passage between the River Kingdoms and neighbouring Ustalav. As you approach, the jetty that juts into the West Sellen is empty - there is no sign of any ferry vessel - but there are signs of life within a large wooden building adjacent to the jetty. A large wooden sign over the entrance to the building proclaims it to be both the Ferry offices and 'Border Control for the Immortal Principality of Ustalav'.
Entering the building through a set of double doors, your arrival is acknowledged by an immaculately dressed man stood behind a counter, "Ferry left earlier friends, won't be another one until around three..."
Ea walks to the counter
I am Sister Zalinsel, from the temple of the Lady of the Graves in Fort Inevitable, and these are my companions. We're not here for the ferry itself.We've been send to try to put an end to the undead threat, if Pharasma allows. There was a recent attack, it seems. Could you tell us more about it, or tell us who could give more information?
While Ea chats up the immaculate receptionist, Yasmin looks around for some guards or other folks who might have also witnessed the attack.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Rallos scouts the area, trying to see if there is any signs that the group can follow.
Though leaving the comforts of the Fort behind wasn't easy, Grayface was thankful for the road and its potential for adventure. He also felt good about the work they had recently done at the spire. Bringing murderous bandits to bloody justice was satisfying indeed, but exterminating the living dead was something that went deeper. It was somehow more important.
During the uneventful trek to the ferry landing Gray tried to remain as attentive as possible, keeping an eye out for trouble, danger, and this new wave of undead he'd heard about.
Entering the wooden building, Gray puffed up his chest to show his strong presence. His rough appearance and poor communication skills had often gotten him into trouble in the past, so he was more than content to let others do the talking. The fighter stood and awaited more information from the well-dressed man. Hopefully he would know something that could put Gray's companions on the right track.
Pertreeko is keeping his hood raised to cause as little disruption as possible as he peers out using his Spirit Sense. Tapping into the natural energies around him the druid will keep alert for the presence of undead or aberrations.
The man behind the counter looks momentarily dejected that you aren’t going to be using the ferry, ”We haven’t had a full vessel for many a month – seems like less people are on the road these days and, if news were to get out about yesterday’s attack, that’d be the end of business… yeah, a bunch of skeletons came down upon the caravan that we had hear yesterday – damned mindless undead though didn’t reckon on the Hellknight patrol that was resting here. Smashed-up bones are out back if you want to look at them… hopefully the message will get back to whoever or whatever was behind the attack – you don’t mess with the living… not when we got the Hellknights”.
– there isn’t anyone else in the publicly accessible areas of the building.
– Looking around outside, there aren’t any unusual trails between the road and the building – you do however find a pile of smashed and blackened bones next to an outhouse… Pertreeko's spirit sense isn't tingling as you approach the pile - it seems to be a benign pile of remains.
Feeling no disgust whatsoever at handling dead remains, Pertreeko nods at the man behind the counter and moves out back to approach the bones. He glances at the Pharasman priestess. "Ea, will I offend your goddess in some way by inspecting these remains for evidence?"
I honestly don't think so, as long as the remains are treated carefully and put back after your inspection
If there's anything unusual about the bones, Pertreeko will discover it.
Afterward, he will ask the man operating the store, "Did you see the direction the undead came from?"
...Smashed-up bones are out back if you want to look at them… hopefully the message will get back to whoever or whatever was behind the attack – you don’t mess with the living… not when we got the Hellknights”.
Grayface looked around in a sarcastic manner, casting his mane of black hair to and fro. The fighter was growing impatient with this man and his lack of information.
"I don't see any hellknights right now. If more walking corpses make their way here again, you won't be so lucky. Considering we're here on Fort business, I suggest that you divulge some more details so that we can root out this menace.How many skeletons were there?
How were they armed?
Where did they come from?
Were they accompanied by anyone or anything?"
Gray stood in a firm posture that demanded respect.
"Look at Grayface in there. Reminds me of when boar bears square off over a sow during mating season," the druid mutters under his breath to Yasmin, in a joking tone.
The man stands from his seated position, towering over most of you as he stands nearly seven feet tall, his hand subtly moves to the pommel of a weapon slung around his waist, "No need to take that tone sir...I didn't mean no insult...shame you weren't here yesterday isn't it? Mighty warrior like yourself would have protected all us Ustalavi from the tottering bags of bones from your wondrous forest", the tone of sarcasm is worse than from Grayface. "Look, I'm sure you mean well and I'll tell you what I know but I very much doubt you are on Fort business... Far as I know, the Lady commander hasn't taking to using sellswords.". The man smirks at his private joke and then continues, "So, there were six skeletons...all armed with clubs...from the east - from your forest... They rushed the caravan and were smashed within seconds... Wasn't no one hurt. And, like I told the good sister... Bones are out back"
'Out Back' Pertreeko discovers that the shattered bones of the skeletons have tiny flecks of luminous green crystal embedded into them...and that each of the skulls bears a mysterious symbol— that of a skull wearing a majestic crown.
Rallos scours the area looking for any signs there were more than skeletons around.
After his search, he heads back to see what his friends have found out.
Skeletons rushing a caravan? That seems a little out of the ordinary, doesn't it Ea? I know little of the undead, but that strikes me as strange.