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Lilith relishes the ride in the boat. At first she enjoys the scenery and takes a turn watching. But then she begs for a chance to scribe another scroll and is at it for close to 2 hours. There is so much room on this boat. We could build cabins on it if it were permanent. she muses.
when the boat stops to allow the river to be cleared she takes position in the front of the boat, alert and ready to act if she is needed.
Valex enjoys the ride, but sighs as he sees the obstruction. He hops out with Euron, and moves to the barrier.
As the scenery drifts by, Polonius finds himself able to relax a little for the first time in what seems like years.
He begins removing alchemical equipment from his bag in preparation for potion brewing or some other exercise when he stops himself and decides to simply enjoy the afternoon, to feel the breeze in his beard and pretend, even for a moment, that they are just a group of friends going on a sailing trip.
After a while, he moves to sit beside Valex and says:
It occurs to me that we haven't really had much time to get to know eachother. I was wary of you and Euron at first, I think the world has made me so when we encounter new people, especially after what happened to Turrey and Shomari. But I'm glad we met you.
He offers the historian his hand and nods when it is taken in a shake.
So tell me about yourself, where are you from, where were you going to when we came upon you in Sandpoint? Do you have family out here somewhere?
Polo takes the glasses the shaman gifted them and wipes clean the lenses. He places them carefully on the bridge of his nose and blinks hard a few times, though all he can see is a coloured blur.
I don't think I can wear these, they would give me a migraine within th hour. Lillith, let's see what you look like in glasses.
Valex shakes the gnome's proffered hand and sits, back to the gunwale, musing for a moment.
"I spent almost all of my life, before the Harvest, in Magnimar. My family has an..had a small estate in the Heights. Well off, but not one of the real aristocratic families. To tell the truth, I was a bit of a dilettante. I was the third son, not really interested in the family business - spice and dye merchants, some minor shipping concerns - and, it seemed, no-one really expected much of me. So, the University seemd a natural fit.
I spent years there. Graduated somewhere along the way, and just stayed on, really. I secured a minor position in the library and archives. Met some interesting people..." He breaks off, face clouding.
"Met people that were interested in keeping things like the Harvest from happening" he says quietly, staring off into space. "Thought I might be able to help them, some."
After a longer pause, he says, flatly, "We failed."
He shakes himself a bit, offering Polo a quick, tight smile. "Magnimar, after the harvest, quickly became a not-very-nice place to be. I took what I could, tried to make my way home. The estate was a wreck before I got there, no sign of my family. I did see something walking around the grounds that might have been my grandmother, and that was enough for me! " That draws the ghost of a chuckle from the young scholar. "She was harsh enough to face in life... Anyway, I made for the closest temple of Pharasma. The priest was...a friend. But the falling of the Shroud, well, that was apparently too much for him. Found him dangling at the end of his own stole...
After that, i knew it was time to get out of the city. Maybe I'll find some of my friends out here. Or clues or caches like we found in Sandpoint. I met Eulon...was it really just a couple of weeks ago? The days don't seem to add up, anymore. We fell in together on teh road, and then the goblins came after us. We made Sandpoint, holed up for a bit, and then all of you came along!
So there it is, in a nutshell. And now you know the dangers of getting a stuffy little lecturer talking! Now, how about you? What was it like before?"
Jumping down first Azmerai works hard to clean the debris.
Now you're closer, it seems evident someone felled the tree in the forest and had it dragged here some time ago. It must have taken a number of people to do it, but there is no sign of them aside from the tracks found earlier, and no indication why they bridged the river here.
Azmerai works with Euron and Valex to clear away the detritus quickly, and the other members of the party anticipate a delicious fish supper tonight, salivating already at the thought of the treat.
However when a large tangle of branches is moved, glistening and bloated hands lurch out of the water to grab at Azmerai, Euron and Valex. The slippery hands manage to grasp the ankles of Valex and Euron, but slide off of the half-orc's boots, finding no purchase. The water-saturated half-rotted forms pull themselves out of the water as they try to pull the party in!
Surprised by the zombie hands grabbing at him Euron instinctively starts to pull away trying to get free.
But the strange of the zombie and the water pull him back in.
Well, there goes MY appetite for fish! is the wild thought that whirls through Valex's mind as he kicks and struggles to break the undead thing's grip.
Kicking the hands away, Valex flops backwards, scrambling to his feet and drawing his blade.
What is it, what's got them!? I can't throw a bomb in there!
What's happening?!
asks Shayliss, obvious concern in her voice.
The pair of missiles produced from Lilith's incantation slam in to the back of one watery menace, blowing holes in the torso and spraying gore over Azmerai, Valex and Euron. It snarls but keeps trying to claw its way towards the now escaped Valex...
Laylu moves to the front, nocking an arrow but aiming too fast to be on target, the shaft disappears in to the water.
Groaners! she replies grimly
Azmerai attacks again.
Polonius pauses for a few seconds but seeing his friends struggle against the sudden grasping hands he makes a fist and upon opening it produces a small ball of flame that he hurls at the zombie attacking Euron.
As Azmerai draws his sword, the undead next to him takes the opportunity to smash its arms against the half-orc's legs . Retaliating, Azmerai's return blow slices powerfully through the chest area, but it keeps on coming after him, though fails to strike the agile barbarian a second time.
Lenneth's hastily slung stone skips off the surface of the water and disappears in to the surrounding grass.
The ball of flame produced by Polonius flies true, arcing through the air with a heat shimmer and landing square on the zombie grappling Euron. There is a 'fssss' sound as the fire makes contact with the zombie's skin and dissipates instantly. Polo deduces that being water-logged, these creatures likely have some resistance to fire...
The creature Valex escaped from snaps its jaws and drags itself out of the water, liquid and flesh sluicing off it as it straightens in the afternoon light before moving to engage him. His academic mind notes that it is moving faster than its earth-walking cousins, perhaps the additional liquid in the body somehow assists its movement? Reality crashes back in however as it lurches forward, thankfully missing with its grasping hands.
The zombie holding Euron tugs with unearthly strength, knocking the oracle prone and dragging him in to the water!
Polonius curses himself a fool for using fire on these drenched creatures.
Instead he pulls out his sling and hastily loads a bullet.
"Euron!" Valex shouts uselessly as his friend is dragged into the water.
Resolving to finish his opponent quickly so he could help the others, Valex charges his blade again and strikes at his attacker.
Getting pulled under the water Euron tries to right himself and starts to swim up to the surface dragging the zombie with him but he ends up only thrashing about in the water struggling to keep his breath.
With all the thrashing he again tries to break free of the zombies grip.
hp: 28/30
Whilst Euron chokes and goes under, swallowing some of the river, he does manage to break free of the zombie's grip!
Though Polo's aim is true he lacks the strength to do anything with the sling bullet than have it softly plink off the zombies head and drop into the water with barely a ripple.
There's nothing I can do to these things! he shouts in frustration
Azmerai swings once again, neatly decapitating the shambling corpse grasping at him.
The zombie facing Valex attempts to grab him, stepping in and successfully getting him in a clinch. Valex can already feel the pulling from the corpse's arms and fears he will shortly join Euron unless he breaks free!
The one in the water again attempts to grab Euron to drag him under, but succeeds only in making a large amount of waves, splashing the area with river water.
Laylu swears and uses another arrow, this one thunks into the zombie in the water, but doesn't look like it has done much to stop it.
Azmerai charges closer to Valex and swings his sword down on the zombie attacking him.
Azmerai's mighty blow easily destroys the remainder of the zombie's chest not already damaged from Lilith's spell, the corpse falls in to the water and washes away downstream.
This leaves only the zombie in the water, still trying to get its hands on Euron to drag him under...
Free from the grabbing hand Euron turns and swings at the zombie with his gauntlet. Deciding to end the treat than run away.
The water proving harder to fight in than he expected he misses.
26/30
Valex, with a quick nod of thanks to Azmeri, works his way along the makeshift dam, hopping down to the shore beside Euron and his dead opponent.
Having no discernable effect with either his spell or sling, Polo begins tearing into the bags on the boat.
Who has the rope? he cries
Laylu draws another of the scant and swiftly dwindling arrows in her quiver, speaking rapidly as she aims
There's rope in the half-orc's pack and some in mine over there!
she looses the arrow, and though it strikes the zombie, like her other shot it has no dLenneth effect.
The zombie is thrashing about and clawing at Euron, and manages to get a good grip on the oracle's armor this time, the weight of the creature pushing Euron down below the waves.
The bolt of positive energy from Lilith's spell strikes true and visibly burns the head of the thing clawing away to get inside Euron's armor. Swiftly following, the twin bolts of force snake their way through the air and pummel the corpse, one detonating on the head and showering Euron with ichor and bone.
The corpse is still wrapped around Euron however, and combined with the weight of his armor he is being dragged down!
Seeing Euron struggle in the water, Polo throws the coil of rope as close to the warrior as he can.
Euron, grab this!
But the rope falls disappointingly short.
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Lilith, having no rope, and seeing Polo's rope miss, Quickly grabs it and starts pulling it back into a coil.
Lilith 5' steps over the the bag, using her dimensional step if needed to get there and removes the rope. She then quickly tosses one end to Euron.
Seeing the rope land across Euron's shoulder she calls out I am going to need some help.
Laylu drops her bow and grabs hold of the rope, adding her sinewy muscles to Lilith's exertions.
Euron failing to get out of the water only slashing about more sees the rope landing in the water next to him grabbing for it hoping to get pulled out.
Everyone, pull him in!
Polonius pulls hard on the rope but the weight of the sinking warrior almost pulls him off his feet.
Kicking and splashing Euron still can't surface as he swallows more water.
hp:23/30
Lilith, Laylu and Lenneth manage to pull Euron to the side of the boat where he thankfully clings on as Polo wrenches the rigor-mortis-like grip of the corpse off of him and casts it to the bottom of the river.
There is a nervous pause before Shayliss ventures
No fish supper then?...
***
It is the work of a couple of minutes to finish clearing one end of the tree-trunk, Azmerai leads you in the grunt-work of shoulder-barging the heavy wood out of the way and it finally slides in to the water with a massive splash that drenches everyone to the bone. It drifts down river slowly, and as you hop back on to the swan boat you swiftly pass it.
The rest of the day is uneventful, the afternoon delivers a clear pale sky and cold wind, but at least it isn't raining.
As evening falls and the Polonius gets the sense the boat won't last much longer, you coast out from under a tangle of overhead canopies in to the lowlands proper. Guiding the boat to the riverbank and hastily disembarking, the smooth white craft seems to simply fade away in to the dwindling light, as if the sun was gathering it back up to the heavens.
Shayliss gasps suddenly, but when you turn around in concern she is actually grinning. She points out across the valley before you and in the scant twilight illumination you are just able to make out a stone structure in the distance, maybe a day's walk away.
Looking around at the faces of your companions reveals a mix of emotions. Shayliss seems filled with hope but Laylu looks apprehensive.
You are able to secure a small area to camp in for the night as talk turns to what you'll find at the ruined fortress.
Dawn breaks, sending silvery talons of light dancing across the frosted ground. It seems winter has finally caught up to you and sunk its claws in to your surroundings. The air is chill and sound is muted, breath misting in the air.
Shayliss is in good spirits, dicing the remainder of your wolf jerky with some wild herbs she found that add a pleasantly warm spice to your breakfast, helping just that little bit to ward off the cold.
Laylu is pensive, spending the time breaking camp in uncharacteristic silence and occasionally exchanging looks with Lilith. Looking around to see everyone is ready to go she sighs.
One moment, before we take another step forward together..
she places her bow across her back, deliberately making it difficult to draw.
I've made my peace with Lilith, but you all deserve to know. I'm not who you think I am
Shayliss freezes, and subconsciously moves behind Euron and Azmerai as Laylu continues
...that is, Shalelu Andosana is an identity I assumed a couple of decades ago. Since then I've sort of grown in to it, and became divorced from my previous life.
She shifts her weight uncomfortably
The problem you will face in a moment is deciding whether someone's previous life is something that tars them forever. Does a criminal remain a criminal and deserve punishment when they were raised in a den of thieves and have since decided to leave the life?
She looks each of you in the eyes, nodding slightly at Lilith with the hint of a thankful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, before her expression becomes sombre once again.
If you decide you don't want to travel with me any more, then I will understand and move on, seeking to never cross your paths again. Otherwise if you let me stay, then all I can say is that I will do justice to your decision to trust me.
She reaches up slowly, and tugs off the circlet keeping her dark-blonde hair in place. With a slight shimmer, her hair bleaches silver-white instantly, eyes still squinting and now lacking pupil and iris, and a heartbeat later her skin turns black as soot. You are facing a creature of darkest nightmare, torturer of their surface cousins, cruel and violent with no pity or remorse. Standing scant feet away is a drow, and hands held tightly at her sides, she awaits your decision.
Looking at the transformation Amerai patiently waits just to ask"Yes and what is the point. You come from south?clearly showing he has no idea about drow. After the gasps from the others he shrugs. "I made my peace. We now living vs moving death. You have dreams, they only hunger. You in my team!"
For the half-orc life has become in a fundamental way very simple!
As he's pulled onto the deck of the ship he coughed and heaves as he brings up water from his lungs, enable to move from the exertion he just pulled off in the water. But slowly he looks up. "Thank you." He pants trying to catch his breath. "I let my guard down for a split second." He stands taking hi armor off and clothes as he attempts to get warm and dry.
--
Waking up his feels the chill in the air. I will never miss this cold, but hopefully the frost will slow the zombies down. He goes about his normal routine, entell Shalelu calls the group.
As she takes her circlet, Euron stands his ground and watches. Listening to Azmerai's sentiments he frowns and steps in after he finishes speaking. "Drow.. I've heard the horror stories that are told of your people. The simple fact that you haven't done anything to hurt us yet seem to tell of your intentions, and as Azmerai said. Its us versus them now. If you stand with us now, i see your past as no problem im sure we all have things we've done to survive."
Vaelx's eyes widen at the transformation, but he pauses a few minutes, considering, before speaking.
"You are among the living. Who we were, all of us...what matters that now? You've stood by us, and defended others, " here, he nods at Shayliss, " in need. I would have you stay with us, if you would. "
When everyone has had a chance to respond, Valex chimes in, his academician's face screwed up in concentration and curiosity. " I wonder, does the Tyrant's curse extend below the surface? Are the Darklands now awash in their dead as well? Have you had any contact with those below since the Harvest? Sorry, the scholar's curiosity..."
As the squat castle appears on the horizon, Polo feels a thick lump rising in his throat. Everything he had done so far was to chase a crazy dream that his son may be out there alive somewhere and the vision granted him in the church only fuelled that obsession.
Now, standing in the cold air with the realisation that his son may be only miles away is almost too much to bear. He turns to tell the others they have to press on but bites his tongue when he sees the camp taking shape. Patience. He just needs some patience.
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As Laylu removes the hat of disguise, Polo take an involuntary step backwards, his hand instantly reaching for a vial at his belt.
He sees the others rally around the newly revealed Drow and he watches on incredulously. How can they be so short-sighted? How can they forget?
You wait until now to show your true face? he says to the woman. When we are in sight of that castle. Do you think they will accept you?
He turns to the others.
You have already decided to trust her and that’s your decision. But I know exactly what the Drow are like. We trusted a bugbear and he turned on us, killing one of our own. I wanted to trust the goblins, to believe things could be different, but what good has that done us? Bought us a year or two of peace before they begin marauding the countryside again. And now this. A torturer and a killer in our midst. My suggestion is you watch your backs lest you end up like Turrey.
He shakes his head and walks away from the group, heading toward a small hill where he can look upon the castle once again. As he passes the drow he whispers;
If you try to do anything that stops me reaching my son... I will burn your life to cinders.