This is preposterous! The hands of thieves coming to what? Steal from us? Our lives?
He continues to shoot, but now at the hands...
Erei will stop singing, seeming a bit unsure, but stabbing at the nearest hand.
"What accursed monster did you fools bring back from the Burial City?!" Assam shouts to those left in the auction house as he now swings his sword as a crawling dismembered hand.
The two servants seem fine now that they're clear of the rubble. Most of their wounds have closed because of the power of Nevai's god.
Those of you out near the doors see that not only has the awning fallen, but the stone pillars as well. You recognize Maru and Namaru Meshhoten as the two woman whose screams were cut short. Despite being buried under quite a bit of stone, you can still hear them calling for aid.
Several of you cut down scrambling hands as they try to scuttle into the room. One particularly small hand quickly scales a wall and jumps on to Menya the Whip as he hides behind the crates of goods he just purchased. It seems to have an inordinately powerful grip on him.
Leto quickly shoots two arrows at the hand trying to snuff out Menya the Whip.
You there with the big sword! You seem strong, can you try to lift the stones so the two under there can crawl out? Nevai, Setesh, maybe you could assist him?
And what was that noise from the western room just now? This whole situation is out of hand, literaly.
"Yes, let's get these women free, can someone help Menya?" Nevai called out as he hurriedly sheathed his sword and began lifting the rubble.
Lacking the strength to help move stone, Thea chooses to head to the Western to see what Leto was hearing from there.
With a nod, Setesh moves to lift the stone, pulling out a crowbar as he does so to provide additional lift.
Assam offers a simple prayer as he slips his sword back into his sheath. Hurrying over to the collapsed pillars, he sets about helping the others remove the stone from the buried victims.
Leto blasts the tiny hand from Menya's throat. It briefly twitches while being pinned to the wall by two arrows.
Those outside have almost removed all of the rubble from over the women. A few more large pieces and they should be able to get free. They look injured, but if you work fast they shouldn't be in any danger of perishing.
Almathea, as you approach the storeroom door, you notice it is slightly ajar. Suddenly the door bursts open and a pale skinny man with blonde hair that you recognize as a member of the Four Lanterns, flees past you screaming, M...m...Mummy! A moment later a figure appears in the doorway. A tall female figure covered with wrappings, and wearing an ornate golden necklace with an amber colored gem in the center, stands for a moment in the opening. Its eyes glow red and you can almost feel its anger.
You dare rob my tomb! You will all perish!
Nevai slipped on some of the loose rocks as he struggled to lift the last large piece trapping the women. "Once we get you out of there, you need to run, and find some of the guard. Tell them there's some kind of undead attack going on, and there's been at least one sighting of a mummy. We'll stay here to deal with the immediate danger, but if the attack is more widespread in the city, the guard needs to know about it. Do you think you can do that?" Nevai asked the terrified women.
Setesh continues to try to free the trapped women.
Almathea's eyes widen at the sight of the mummy and she takes a step back and then casts Protection from Evil upon herself.
Paralyzed.
I have no idea who you are, but your dress is certainly inapropriate! Is this some sort of scam to claim the legacy of Osirion that was freed here for the greater good of the country for yourself? What petty thievery! Are you responsible for those zombies and the animated hands? Here, taste some justice!
Nevai's grip on the stone isn't solid and he barely manages to budge the last bit of stone. Setesh, however, lifts it and throws it aside. The women thank you profusely and limp off to find the guards. They look injured, but well enough to carry each other to safety.
Meanwhile, inside Leto's arrows go wide. The creature almost seems to snear as it turns its gaze upon him. It plods forward and leaps at Leto with surprising power if very little grace.
"Just be careful; there may be more undead out there..."
Setesh then turns to Nevai.
"Come on, we should see what all of the fuss is about back inside the building."
Heading back inside, he lets out a whistle of appreciation.
"An honest to goodness animate mummy! And so well preserved! Impressive!"
I will need to take a closer look after this.
Nevai rushed back into the building and noticed his friends paralyzed with fear only a moment before a wave of palpable dread washed over him as well.
Assam assists the others in removing the last of the stones, then turns to run back inside at the screams of a mummy. Damn, our worst fears realized...
As Assam runs back into the building, he does not miss a beat. Remember, this is what we have trained for. This is what we have prepared for. Sarenrae blesses us, the fire of her radiance courses through my heart.
Raising his mighty falchion aloft, he charges the undead horror, "By the Fire and the Fury, I will drive you back into the sands, foul beast!"
Leto lets out a cry of pain as the creature pounces on him.
He takes a step back and shoots again, taking especially good aim.
Thea remains paralyzed.
Paralyzed.
Assam slams his sword into the creature, nearly severing its arm. Leto lets fly and hits with one of his arrows. It thunks solidly into the monster's chest.
The mummy's red glowing eyes turn to Assam, You dare, it screams as it slams its good arm into him.
"We dare plenty!"
Setesh moves around to a flanking position.
Assam reals with pain from the zombie's horrid blow. Glancing down, he realizes lesser men would undoubtedly contract an illness from the wound, but Sarenrae's purifying flame keeps him safe.
Raising his righteous Falchion yet again, Assam swings at the abomination.
Paralyzed.
Assam once again strikes out at the creatur, but this time the blow doesn't seem to hit anything solid glancing off the toughened body and tangled wrappings. Setesh makes his way around to the other side and the mummy finds itself surrounded.
The mummy roars and presses the attack on Assam, flailing wildly.
Round 4, Initiative 12:
Setesh winces as he sees the mummy deliver yet another punishing blow, then takes a swing with his mace.
By Sarenrae's Furious Flames, this beast is truly mighty, I must not let it escape... Assam stumbles under the continued assault of the desicated corpse of some long-lost pharoah, yet pulls himself back together to rise up and strike at the creature yet again.
Drawing strength from his faith, he calls on Sarenrae to once again mend his wounds.
Erei cringes at the end of the round as the paralysis starts to wear off.
The body of the creature crumples under your assault. Everything falls deathly silent within the auction hall. Slowly the other people in the hall start standing and looking around in confusion. For now, it seems like the danger is over.
Thea finally shakes off the paralysis and stares down at the mummy. "What exactly just happened here? Was one of the other adventuring groups stupid enough to bring back a real, animated mummy to sell?"
Almathea casts Detect Magic as she examines the mummy and then the storeroom that it was located in.
"Ptemenib, a Pharasmin priest, left the auction early to attend to some church business. It's possible he suspected that there may be danger. It's also possible, though very unlikely, that he may be in league with whoever instigated this attack, and thought it wise to duck out before the attack came. Either way, we should probably have a talk with him once we're sure everything is settled down here." Nevai made his way around the room, reassuring the people that the danger had passed and tending the wounds of those who had been injured as they attempted to flee.
When he came to the man that had stood his ground and struck back at the mummy, Nevai smiled. "You've done your goddess proud today, both in the defense of these people, and the destruction of these foul abominations. It was a pleasure to fight beside you. I am Nevai Alaro, and these are my companions. As you might expect, we were one of the teams that recovered some of these ancient artifacts from the old necropolis. It seems that someone brought back more than treasures though."
Though she doesn't know what they do yet, Thea clearly sees that the clasp about the mummy's neck and its bracers are both magical. So she is quick to remove them before anyone comes over to gather up the mummy's body for disposal.
As the roar of battle and the screams of the innocents give way the total silence of the aftermath, Assam closes his eyes for a moment in reflection. The Everflame be blessed, let these souls find rest in the after life. Pulling out a simple cloth, he wipes his mighty blade clean, then returns it to its sheath.
Turning to the Garundi man approaching him and offering him regards, he bods in recognition of the kind words. "Those that have passed beyond this mortal realm deserve to be left to their eternal rest. It would have been best that the City of the Dead were never disturbed. Sadly, we arrived too late to offer objection. I am Assam Fadhrun, a Guardian of the Everlight and one of the Badawi. When we heard rumors about the necropolis being opened, I was dispatched to confirm or deny this strange tale. It would seem that our worst fears have come to light."
As things calm down and silence overtakes the auction hall, you start hearing echoes from out in the streets. The distant roars of rotten lungs and the screams of mortal terror drift through the market on the wind. It is difficult to pinpoint direction, but it appears that the whole city is awake...and afraid.
"It sounds as if this place wasn't the sole focus of trouble. Let's go outside and see what else is happening."
Almathea will go out the door and pause, looking in all directions as she tries to figure out which way to go.
Nevai addressed the room full of panicky merchants. "It seems obvious that this place is not secure. We should make our way to the temple of Pharasma. With an undead attack in the city, I'm sure the priests there are organizing a response, and I can't think of another place that would be more tightly secured against such necromantic abominations."
After heading outside, Nevai called Skyblazer to him. "Skyblazer, I need you to fly high and see if you can see what's going on. We're going to make our way to the temple with the spiral symbol and we need you to tell us if more of these shambling creatures are nearby as we go so we are not surprised. Make sure to stay far away from them as they are very dangerous. We can handle the fighting if you can be our eyes."
Skyblazer takes to the sky to guide you on your way. From the sounds around you and the calls of your guide, it quickly becomes clear that the whole city is in chaos.
The auction house is, luckily, located in the southern area of the market. The Grand Mausoleum is across the open area and pool of water. As you make your way along the edge of the market area several of the walking dead stumble out of the side streets into the open, but you quickly cut them down. As you approach the temple you see several armored figures on the stairs. You recognize the leader as a member of the Voice of the Spire, and a knight that you've met before. Despite the blood covering her breastplate, she removes her helm and smiles down the stairs at you.
Is that you, thief? Her tone is rueful, and the wry smile she aims down at Nevai belies her insult. I'm glad to see you alive. We need all the swords we can get. Do you need healing or aid? She only pauses briefly to look each of you over quickly, Khalid! Get one of the priests out here.
There are only four other soldiers standing at the temple's door and all seem to have been through a rather difficult battle. The priest that approaches is in the robes of an acolyte. She looks harried, as if she just woke up. Yes, what...oh. Good. We've sent out most of our priests to find out what's going on. The Voices have, of course, all been mustered as well. Some are...well, we're dealing with that. What we need is more bodies in the streets. People are being attacked out there! I'm... she trails off as she tilts her head to the side, Yes, of course, Lord Ahsan, of course Her eyes focus back on to you, My apologies, she says as she runs a hand through the strands of her hair to get them out of her face, I...where was I? Oh, I'm getting messages back about attacks all over the city. You must help. You will help, won't you? The look on her face is desperate and pleading.
Nevai reached up and touched his forehead, reminded of their first embarassing endeavor and smiled. "We are healthy enough, save your healing for the wounded that will surely make their way here. And yes, of course we will help. We have no more love for the undead than you, I'm sure. We simply wanted to get these people to the safety of the Grand Mausoleum and find out if you know anything more than we do. We faced down a number of zombies, as well as mummy back at the auction house. Did Ptemenib make it back here? I noticed him leave the auction a bit early, and it's possible he saw something outside before the attack began in earnest."
The priest quickly sees to Assam's wounds.
Seeing the small assembly of guards on the steps of the Mausoleum, Assam eases the tension in his body a bit. In letting his guard down, the pain that he has staved off since the meee in the auction house suddenly catches up with him. By the gorgon's horns, that mummy hit hard. Sarenrae be praised for the righteous fury I wanted used to deliver.
As the young acolyte offers her assistance, Assam thanks her, "Thank you for your kindness, may Pharasma ever judge you just and dutiful. How fare the rest of your order? Has the attack reaches the games of your temple?"
"With all the messages received, could you tell us which part of the city might benefit most from our presence?"