Round 7
"....what are you DOING?" Cairenn yelps to his friend sidekick, when the other half-elf bodily hurls himself at the abomination.
"It's going to make mincemeat out of you! Let it chase me, you nit!"
....he's touched, really. A friend sacrificing his life for another... the stuff of which stories are made.... it's brave of Lueck... Cairenn feels annoying emotion welling up in his throat, and runs back the other way, hoping to perhaps strike fear in the monster's heart before it can shred Lueck like a dog's chew toy.
Round 6
Despite the insistance of her new companions Urrnir hesitates. With the zombies now delt with her immediate concern became seeing to the well-being of the wounded Ares. However, that would mean leaving the others to fend for themselves; hardly a noble thing to do.
Cursing loudly the maiden tears her eyes away from her charge and starts bolting back up the stairs. Taking them two at a time she quickly closes the distance. With the gravekeeper in sight Urrnir throws all of her momentum into a desperate body tackle aimed directly at the abomination.
"Is it finished? Can anyone tell us what in the world that thing was?". Lilia stopped moving away and began heading up to the body. "And what was with that necklace it kept grabbing?"
As she approached, she casts Detect Magic.
Ronen looks down at his sword brother,
"If any of you have suffered injuries then gather close please. While Brother Valorn is in no immediate danger I would rather not move him until he awakens on his own. Any questions we have can be answered after we determine the extent of our injuries."
Prisilla puts away her sling and heads over to inspect this weird gravedigger and smiles."A necklace you say? I mean seriously where do these guys get the idea to make corpses walk. Oh..HEY IS EVERYBODY OKAY" she says then yells out hoping they hear her and respond.
Spellcraft
"Oh my...whatever magic is on that amulet is stronger than I've ever felt before. That necklace clearly has great power, but it's beyond my understanding.". Lilia takes a step back, not completely sure if she wanted to get closer to the powerful object.
With the conflict at end Urrnir picks herself up and hurriedly returns to the side of Ares. She had little concern over the nature of these undead or their abilities, instead her focus lay now with her fallen companion. Even her own wounds fell by the wayside.
As the healing energy washes over Ares he awakes with a grown, and sits up holding his head. "Guess the after life makes you a little rusty." He says with a light chuckle. He looks to his side and asks Urrnir "Is everybody okay?" Then slowly starts to get up.
Eerily silent from the lingering shame, Urrnir merely says "They're collecting themselves now" motioning towards the top of the stairs. She helps the warrior to his feet and then lets slip a weary and thankful look towards Ronen - but for only a moment, her face returning to stony indifference moments later.
As the healing energy washes over Ares he awakes with a grown, and sits up holding his head. "Guess the after life makes you a little rusty." He says with a light chuckle. He looks to his side and asks Urrnir "Is everybody okay?" Then slowly starts to get up.
Lueck answers "It slashed me, with its claws. The wound is... burning, it feels like."
"It wouldn't shock me if there wasn't some old funky disease on those nasty claws, Lueck. After we get finished here, you probably need to get that wound looked at by a healer."
As nothing else stood out to Lilia, she called out to the others, "I'm going to take this amulet. I wanted to warn you all in case I start acting strangely. Im scared to put it on, but either it is valuable and with something, or it is evil, and we need to have it destroyed. If we leave it here, there's no telling who might stumble upo n it."
With the threat dealt with, Caireen breathes out gustily and then stomps back over to Lueck and... smacks him in the side of his head with his open palm.
"What were you thinking?! You could have been killed! Look, if you want a spot in my poems so badly, you just have to ask! You don't need to die for me, you noble idiot!"
Cairenn looks elsewhere for a moment. "Give me your waterskin, I'll try and wash that wound out for you."
He says to Urrnir, "...thank you for defeating that thing. My friend is not the brightest, but it was very brave of him, I suppose, and I'm... glad he's still here."
When he's given up on that, Cairenn can't help but look curiously at the amulet.
"Ah, I've heard of this! The Hand of Ancev! A cursed artifact infused with the souls of the damned. It ought to be tossed into the river.... no, better yet, taken to a volcano... immolated in the very bowels of the earth..."
"Well, whatever this dastardly piece of magic is, we can't leave it to unknowing hands. Like I said, if I start acting strangely, try not to kill me, please." With that said, Lilia takes the amulet, takes a deep breath and puts it on her neck. She looks around to see if she feels any different.
"What were you thinking?! You could have been killed! Look, if you want a spot in my poems so badly, you just have to ask! You don't need to die for me, you noble idiot!"
"Flushed with embarrassment, Lueck says [b]"I wasn't thinking. I-I just did it."
[ooc]I'm not sure how long the heal checks take, and if more than one person can try at a time. If it goes into a second minute, here's his fort check .
Ronen silently nods at Urrnir's gesture. A strange relationship to say at best. Why is a warrior of Freya watching over one of my order? His attention turns to Lueck after hearing about the burning feeling left by the gravekeeper's claws.
"Sit down Lueck and let me see if I can determine the potency of the creature's claws. I do not have my kit with me so let us hope that by the Lady's wisdom I can help you."
Ronen examines Lueck's wounds already noticing that the half elf's face is flush and that his body is colder than it should be. He keeps this to himself and continues his observations.
"I am sorry Lueck but without my kit I'm not able to determine what effects the disease will have on you nor how long it will last. I will need to keep watch over you until you feel that it has passed."
Prisilla looks at the body a bit more trying to see if she can get any distinguishing marks on the body or possibly hidden gems the others miss.
"Well, it was very brave of you, anyway," Cairenn sighs, wiping his hands clean of Lueck's blood. "Now just don't get sick and die, alright? That is REALLY not the way you want to be remembered."
He watches the blond woman-- what had she said her name was? He'd been focusing on important things like impressing Genevieve-- Lily? Lilith? Something like that-- put on the amulet with an arched brow.
"Feel any more dead?" he asks drily.
Ronen watches as Lilia examines the amulet now hanging around her neck.
"Can you not feel that? Not even touching the amulet I can sense it's nature. You would be better to hide that amulet deep in your bags it will attract other, possibly even more vile, abominations to it."
"That symbol there on the front is not of any benevolent god that I know of. Whatever created it did so with evil intentions."
Having walked through the City of Ashes many times before Ronen takes no notice as the gust of wind scatters hundreds of leaves into the cemetary, but as the second gust of wind brings the sound of baying he stops immediately.
The sound seems to come from all around as if trying to confuse his senses. Scanning the others his face is grim, "It would seem that the night has only just begun."
He nods that he is okay to Urrnir and begans to go around the group. He turns to Luek "It seems we were both a bit impulsive, but no need worry we can learn from our mistakes. Now let me see that wound."
"There that should do it, now to tend to my own wounds." Ares begins to pray.
"You are right, Ronen. There is clearly something evil with this item." At not noticing any obvious powers, Lilia pulls the amulet and stashes it away in her bag. "We can show it to the Mitran priests. Perhaps they might have some idea what that strange writing means."
Is everyone ready to keep looking around this place? We still need to see what else is in this graveyard. But we need to be out of here before those wolves get closer, that's for sure."
"What, are we a 'we' now?" Cairenn says with brows arched towards the group besides himself and Lueck. He tilts his head consideringly at the others.
"I mean, Lueck and I are quite busy, we have many important things to be doing... but I sup-pose we could lend our talents to this problem..."
He gazes out towards the wolves others are mentioning, though he cannot see them squint as he might. "If the dead are unquiet in this hallowed place, that does not bode well. Not at all. Yes-- we will join you."
(He's gotten used to making decisions for Lueck. Sorry, Lueck.)
He nods that he is okay to Urrnir and begans to go around the group. He turns to Lueck "It seems we were both a bit impulsive, but no need worry we can learn from our mistakes. Now let me see that wound."
"There that should do it, now to tend to my own wounds." Ares begins to pray.
Lueck looks down at the wound, and sees the red and black streaks under his skin starting to fade and recede under Ares's care. "Thank you." he mutters quietly, the relief thick in his voice.
"In light of what has happened I still have no idea what has brought the four of you here and would ask that one of you answer this so that I might know what you are searching for in this graveyard? The sun still shines upon these grounds yet the risen walk this ground and now wolves seem to stalk us from the very shadows."
Ronen comes face to face with Ares. "And how is it the warrior of Freya is indebted to you in a such a way that she would seem to sacrifice her own life in exchange for yours?
We are sworn to the Lady and I will not abandon you in your cause Brother Valorn yet these are strange occurrences that have seen to throw us together."
"Do not forget our local, we are hardly in the position for pleasentries." says Urrnir, pointing to the shadow figures moving beneath the hand of fate "Look, even now creatures stir in the darkness. We should focus on concluding our business here before nightfall."
Lueck recovers his spear and keeps watch while the more educated amongst us discuss the options.
"In light of what you have told me we may either follow back along the trail where the gravekeeper came from or there is a barrow that the Caretaker Genevieve heard an old song coming from very recently. However I doubt that is where this dig site would be as she has said nothing to anyone else until now. Still...if Cairenn is able to communicate with these restless souls might they not have some answers to questions we might have."
After telling Ronen of there task, Ares looks over the amulet of grave digger a twinge of anger comes over Ares face. "Nameless fiends of Orcus...." As the Aasimar tries to mask his anger he looks back over to Urrnir, "Indeed let us get moving, Ronen please take us to her. The night will not be our friend here."
Cairenn listens, feeling vaguely irritable. 'Warriors of Freya' and so forth... he has the annoying sense that there are people more interesting than him around. Or at least with more interesting stories going on. With big, dramatic life events happening to them, which obviously, rather ruins the chance to explain his own quest and get anyone to listen.
He huffs and pulls his hair back from his face. "Yes, do tell us exactly what it is that brings you here. I can speak to spirits, but information from the living never goes amiss."
"As Ares said, there's a cult of Orcus that is in full swing, apparently. We are tracking the head of a statue of Muir that seems to have gone missing. No doubt the cult plans on using it for something nefarious. I heard a rumor it was on its way to the City of Ashes, so we are following up on it for the Muir church. That's about as succinct as I can make it." Lilia looks again at the wolves out of the area.
"Now it seems that Ronen is also correct. We have two options currently. Follow the trail of that awful necromancer, or head to where the old song was coming from. To me, necromancy sounds more like a cult type thing, so I would suggest following the trail first. Opinions?"
While waiting for the others, Lilia hears a rustle of paper in her pocket, knowing very well that it was a return letter from her friend Janna. The two of them had been gifted the magical sending pocket connecting them as they graduated the arcane college together. While the others decided, he looked at the letter, wondering how her friend was getting along.
Janna's letter to Lilia:
Hey there Lilia,
Things been a little crazy. but do you remember Feriblan the mad?, especially his creepy assistance Vortigern? He's that boy with the wierd eyes, and that even creepier raven named Talon. Anyway, ran into Vortagern just outside of Fairhill. he is still creepy, but also very evil. He tried to actually kill me.
Anyway, it seems someone is using Feriblan's name here in fairhill. Can't say for sure but there are way too many coincidences coming together. Some religious items were stolen, and some sort of symbol of Orcus was left behind.
Well anyway I am off to explore the old keep of Eralion the staff maker. Rumors around here say he's a vampire. I don't believe that.
Anyway, gotta go. got two military types tagging along, sometime I let them think they are in charge.
May the magic always be on your side, Janna
After reading the letter, Lilia thrusts it into the hands of the others. "Look at this! Orcus worshippers are everywhere! And mention of undead there, too. Zombies here, vampires there. This makes me even more certain we need to follow the gravekeeper's trail." She pulls out the evil amulet and looks closely. "I wonder if this is an Orcus symbol?"
When Lilia mentions tracking the gravekeeper back, Lueck suppresses a shiver, but quietly steps away. He starts looking at the ground around the cart. Would it be relatively easy to follow the wagon back?
Survival (track)
"While we are born good. We are easily corrupted. It is for that reason why the foul creature and it's minions are able to survive when for all purposes they should been removed from this world so long ago."
He manages to notice that Lueck is not amongst the circle. "Cairenn where did your companion run off to? Now might not be the best time to wander these grounds alone."
"Well, let's not just stand here and let that fool run off by himself. The wolves will take him before he knows what has hit him," Lilia groans as she takes off following Lueck.
"Oh come on mister tall dark and broody.You know this is not normal and look I know the air is a bit thin up there but with all these possible dead thingies wanting to get their hands on some necklace I would have to say its better if we stay together." Pris says with a cherubic smile as she looks over at Ares and waves.
Not waiting for a reply she walks over to the guy and shakes her head."You trying to die on me again, Cause so help me if you die on me again I am gonna go to whatever after life you are in and drag you back myself, Got it" She says staring him down with her brow furrowed and her hands on her hips.
Ares keeps his shield and sword drawn but his blade is pointed down. "It is the symbol of Orcus, Lilia." The aasimar spits the venomous name out. "Where is your contact Ronen?"
"Who would have taken these heads like this? Does that look like the work of the grave keeper to anyone else?"
"Lueck--? Lueck!"
Cairenn quickly chases after his friend, giving him a look when he catches up. "Tell me when you're going somewhere!" he mutters to the other man, as they look over the things in the cart.
"....ew. Heads."
He pokes curiously at one-- he's never really seen a decapitated head this closely before. Then he wipes his fingers off on Lueck's cloak.
As they head along the cart trail following Lueck, for a brief moment, Ronen feels his body enter a state of oneness.
He is only present within himself. The wind blowing, the sounds of his new companions' feet crunching over the hard earth not even the rays of the afternoon sun matter. It seems to last minutes for him but in reality only a second has passed. This is an ill omen. A warning that he keeps to himself. Something is observing them. Something is hunting them.
Sense Motive
"There are strange things afoot in this place. What's the meaning of those dwarf heads? Are you responsible? Tell us now!"