Genevieve gives Cairenn, Lueck and Ronen a long look, as though making sure everyone is cool.
"I haven't told Erlend, but I heard music coming from that barrow mound the other night. I recognized the scale. It is from the people who lived here in ancient times. Fairy touched people, married to the gods of the earth. They say their spirits became animals when they passed into death. Isn't it interesting that our civilization has built a cemetery in the same place where they buried their dead? It's as if the earth remembers, and calls us back. But something or someone doesn't want to let them rest. It has been thirty years since the dead marched out of this place in throngs... but I still see overturned graves and churned earth here on a daily basis. We just smooth everything over and pack it back in."
"Music coming from one of the mounds?" Ronen turns to Cairenn and Lueck clearly surprised at Genevieve's words. "You were able to hear music playing but did you see the one who was playing it? Perhaps we need truly investigate what is going here. It leaves me uneasy that something clearly is amiss."
What is going here? All these occurances happening at the same time is too much coincidence. But can she be trusted?
"Genevieve may I ask if you plan to continue keeping this from Erlend or the others of your guild?"
Lilia takes the list and shows it to the others. "An archeological dig? I wonder what else they are hoping to unearth? Bears investigation, don't you think?"
As no one answered her, Lilia's sense of curiosity began to get the best of her. She took off in the direction of the singing. "Strange noises in a strange place. Seems like as good a place to start looking around as any, don't you all agree?"
"And she said she wasn't going to be rash" mutters Urrnir as she follows.
Along the way she becomes occupied by the tune. Something about it is oddly familiar, though she is not able to say exactly what. Her brow furrows while she struggles to bring memories to light.
"Let us see what festivities they have aroused in there." The aasimar moves with companions ready to block anything that will attack them.
Ronen watches as Cairenn's eyes meet Genevieve's and in that moment he can sense that some wordless message is shared between them. He wonders what these distant echoes repeat to her or Cairenn. Perhaps prayers or last words of regret. He was quite sure when his time came it would be one of tranquility knowing Muir would receive him justly.
But the moment is short-lived as he spins and turns to find himself staring at four individuals no more than forty yards away just passing by one of the many tall gravemarkers that stand within the City Of Ashes. He makes out three women with a man attempting to lead the way.
His eyes fall squarely not on the man but what the man wears about his neck, the holy symbol of Muir. With his sword still sheathed Ronen presents it to the man his left hand tightly gripping the middle of the scabbard so that the blade is parallel with ground. His eyes firmly fixed to the man, "May our blades only know the taste of the unjust, Sword Brother. I am Ronen Carst a fellow blade of Our Lady. Present yourself and those you walk with."
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Cairenn pauses a moment, mulling things over to himself. Affirm what she thinks she hears, or discredit a possible rival? His life choices are so hard.
After a few seconds' deliberation, he smiles. "It's true that there are many whispers in the world, and not all have the ears to hear them. If you hear musics of any sort, that is a rare gift. I should greatly like to go to these barrow mounds, and see if the past whispers also to me."
When Ronen turns, Cairenn does as well, scowling slightly. It's hard to get a dramatic monologue going when people keep entering stage right. He wordlessly waits to see the response of the newcomers... a motley lot, in his estimation.
"It sounds like an old fashioned sing along had broken out. Kind of a strange spot for one, if you ask me. I'm Lilia Stinison," she says with a nod to Ronen.
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"It's true that there are many whispers in the world, and not all have the ears to hear them."
At this, Lueck cranes his neck and closes his eyes, straining to hear. He slowly turns his head this way and that. Eventually, he gives up and opens his eyes again. He flushes a little when he realizes others could see him doing that.
When Cairenn says he'd like to go to the barrow mounds, Lueck stands up straighter and looks expectantly at the others.
Priscilla slumps in the saddle looking at the others. It was daunting seeing them all bandy about back and forth with no real answers. Gosh they were so pretentious. Priscilla looked at the others and smiled.
" Singing songs to accompany the laments of the dead? Wait so the dead like lament to you isn't that a bit overwhelming here. I mean this is like their home right? permanent residence without the chance of return?" She says with a bit of a giggle before she looks at the others.hopefully they wouldn't chastise her too much
Ares Mirrors the salute back to Ronen, "Brother Ares Valorn, Son of Marl Valorn, and humble servant of our Lady Muir. These are my companions are my lady Priscilla Springheel, survivior of the Valley shrines and the sweetest scout you will ever meet." He gives her a wink, then continues "This is Urrnir Drahaenn, Valkyrie of Freya and guide to lost souls." He nods to Urrnir, "And finally we come to Lady Lilia Stinisen, a mistress of preparation ,and comrade to one of valiant adventurers that fell at the valley of shrines." He gives a genuine smile towards Lilia.
"It is nice to finally meet another that respects and follows the teachings of Muir. Though who are your companions?"
As he lowers his sheathed sword he nods at Ares his expression betraying little emotion. "Well met Brother. This Cairenn Bell, listener of lost souls. His companion, Lueck, who finds guidance in Cairenn's words. And this is Genevieve, a member of the Caretakers guild and historian of City of Ashes." Pausing he looks at each member of Ares' group. "You journey with an interesting group, Brother Ares. From the way you are all dressed I take it you are in search of something specific? The four of you do not look like you are paying respects to the recently departed."
Turning now to directly face Urrnir. A thought passes over him as he looks at her but he stays quiet.
Urrnir holds Ronen's gaze, raising an eyebrow curiously but otherwise remaining silent. With Priscilla riding the horse Urrnir was left as the shortest of the group so it was not surprising that she drew some sort of attention. Maybe he wondered what a mere shrine attendant was doing travelling in the company of such hardened adventurers? Then again, given Ares' introduction the man may be curious about something else entirely.
Cairenn offers a bow to the newcomers, his hand over his heart. 'Listener of lost souls'... mmm, yes, that will do nicely. This Ronen chap has a decent enough voice for introductions. Still, it's not his habit to let others describe him, even if they do a passably decent job of it.
"As he says: Cairenn of the house of the Bell. It is my duty and burden to serve as a voice for those who are no longer with us."
When Genevieve looks hopefully at him for poetic advice, Cairenn visibly stands straighter. A-ha, no rival after all... a potential student. He's always thought he'd make a good teacher-- though of course genius can't really be taught... but some elements of the craft, yes... he takes Genevieve's parchment with his slender fingers.
Cairenn mouths the words silently to himself, his brows quirking here and there. Hmmm.
"Nice bit of alliteration there in the second-to-last line," he murmurs, ignoring further introductions right now in favor of focusing on the written lines. "Now is this a lover, or a ghost of one the speaker has no relationship with, save the commonality of mortality...? Hmm, yes, I can see a bit of potential, though..."
He shoots a slightly-peeved glance from the parchment scrap to Lueck, who is looking round him like a country bumpkin. Ugh, Lueck, there are new people about. Try to look a little less... you... ...more impressive.
Urrnir breaks her gaze with Ronen. There was little point to all of this. She turns to Ares and says "Forgive me Sir Valorn, but are there not more pressing matters at hand? We have made very little headway in our search and we can't risk remaining in the city after nightfall."
"Yeah, we've got this list of supplies that are ready for us. Should we go investigate why someone here needs all these digging supplies? That might be a place to find out more about you know, the reason we are here," Lilia whispers, not sure she wanted to actually mention the mission in the front of the others.
Ares nods in agreement with the two women, "Ronen how long have you been here? I am curious if you know of anybody digging up holy sites for profit?" He spits out the last part like it left a sick taste in his mouth.
"I have been here since this morning. However, Genevieve did mention that the barrow over there has been of interest that she heard music coming from there one evening something that she had failed to tell the other Caretakers." Ronen takes a few steps towards the barrow mound,"She made mention that in various parts of the cemetery that each morning they find the ground disturbed. Other than that I cannot say more. I would think we should start there. And if we can find nothing during the day we prepare ourselves to see what wakes during the night."
Maybe it is too forward of me to include myself in whatever these four are looking for, but the Caretakers guild hides something and I will find out what it is. And if they are innocent in whatever is happening then at least I might find a way to protect the departed whose final resting place lies here.
"You still have not told me why you are here, Brother. Do you come here on Church business or your own?"
Cairenn is still absorbed with the scrap of poetry, but glances up as he notices a cart approaching. For a moment, he assumes it is merely cranky T'Salix again...
Cairenn's posture of indolent poet drops away as he stands straight, eyes flashing.
"What blasphemy is this?" he says shortly. "The undead walk where the honored dead should rest? I will not stand for it!"
"Ware, Lueck-- and you others, I suppose! That is a foul animator of the grave, and his claws carry his blight!"
Watching as the creatures amble towards the party Ronen's eyes take note of the peddlar that pushes the cart. Never taking his eyes off the creature you hear Ronen say, "My Lady let my body be your blade and show no mercy to these abominations. Everyone ready yourselves. The lead one have care, it's power is greater than the others that follow it. It is a risen gravedigger able to breath foul life back into the departed."
As he settles into his stance Ronen can only hope the others are ready.
Lilia remains silent at the appearance of the undead. First, she looks for a place to duck behind to give her protection. Then she prepares to blast one of them with a burst of acid as soon as they close distance.
Unsure of what exactly is happening Urrnir reacts nonetheless. She steps to the front of the group and raises her bare fists, preparing for the coming conflict. Her attention is focused entirely on the oncoming undead, no longer caring for the pleasantries of conversation.
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Round 1
Outnumbered, Urrnir holds herself at a chokepoint to let the scum draw closer. They would have a harder time pressing their numbers.
Round 1
"If those filthy claws hit you, you may contract a horrible disease," Cairenn warns. "Something to waste the very blood in your veins in a matter of minutes. Use blades against them! Blunt weaponry or arrows will barely pierce their skin!"
"Fire is also effective," Cairenn says with a grim smile. "I'll send a rivulet of oil down the stairs, and give them a flaming path to climb towards us! Has anyone else but me the means to create a flame? It will be more quickly done if we work together."
Round 1
Having slowed to read to a few of the grave markers, Lueck quickly closes the distance to Cairenn, getting to a vantage point where he can see the approaching foes.
Double move to position now shown on the map.
"Cairenn, I have a few tinder twigs if you need them to start the fire. Flame magic has been a touch beyond me so far."
Priscilla sees everyone reacting and as she is on a horse is a bit usless. So she slides off the horse and gets to her feet.once set on the ground she readies her sling just incase.
Round 1:
Gravekeeper
The gravekeeper tips his cart and the pile of heads spills forth, but instead of piling on the ground they float to the air, chattering, and glide swiftly towards the companions perched atop the stair.
In seconds Uurnir and Lueck and Cairenn find themselves surrounded by dismembered heads biting and gnashing at them. Uurnir and Lueck and Cairenn feel waves of nausea coming over them as the floating heads gnaw on their limbs.
The gravekeeper crouches low and advances with his cart, still managing to keep pace with his shambling minions while using the cart for cover.
Swarm Traits
A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate).
A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons.
A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
Swarms possess the distraction ability. Spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a swarm requires a caster level check (DC 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Will save.
Round 1
Lilia pulls her vial of alchemist's Fire from her belt, and waits for the swarm to close in, not wanting to get caught by it near the large set of stairs. "Fall back towards us! I've got something for that swarm!"