Crystal grits her teeth as the 'order' from Doc comes, but remains silent, focusing instead on the remaining threat before her. There would be time for admonishments and lessons later. The priestess steps up to the quicker, smaller foe, swinging her magicked mace at the zombie.
Fate extends her hands, fingers splayed. "The fires of Fate vill consume you, foul miscreations!"
Although Fate showers the zombie in flames, Crystal's mace bounces harmlessly off of it's armor.
The fast zombie responds to Crystal's attack by attempting to bash her into her base components.
,
,
But even as a fast zombie, it just isn't fast enough.
Victor, even as his arms are slowly getting sore, makes a final attempt to wrestle control over the creature's mind.
Victor overcomes the mindless hunger of the zombie, bringing it under his will.
Searching the room, the party finds very little, but the zombie himself appears to be wearing an amulet and a +1 agile breastplate. It also carries a ruined dagger and mace, as well as a jeweled holy symbol of Asmodeus worth 450gp.
Crystal's eyes widen as the creature attacks her, back pedaling and throwing up her shield to fend off the blows. She looks curiously as the creature stops it's attacks, putting things together as she spies Victor with a look of concentration.
Seeing Sarcon is half-dead and likely not up for another beating, she rushes forward and claims the treasures, just in case things went south.
She grins cockily at the others. "Seeing how things just went down, I think Sarcon should take his well-deserved spoils." She lays the breastplate before him.
The priestess also studies the amulet, casting a spell to see if it radiates magic.
Crystal finds that the amulet radiates mild abjuration, almost as if it were some kind of key.
Fate nods and pats Sarcon on the shoulder. "You did vell, Brute. No harm came to Fate."
Crystal grins at Fate's proclamation, silently agreeing that Sarcon makes a wonderful damage sponge. "I believe this amulet is our ticket out of here." She starts making her way back to the pedestal, knowing from their recent experience that this might take some time. She approaches through the mountain of body parts, looking at the depression to see if it matches the size of the amulet.
Crystal finds the amulet would indeed fit, and further examination reveals a circle carved around the altar that pulses with teleportation magic.
Victor inspects his newly acquired servant with a keen eye, running his hands over the ruined flesh and the dents that time has taken upon the creatures. Seemingly satisfied with the necromantic work and the treasury that was gathered, the fast zombie and Victor marches behind Crystal.
Victor pauses behind Crystal near the teleporation marker and awaits her actions, while she ponders and wonders, he continues his inspection of the undead creature.
The blonde calls out, "Sarcon, my dear, if you think you're up for it, gather up your new treasure and get yourself to this circle so we can leave this place behind. Fate, Doc, you as well. I am anxious to be gone from here." Crystal secretly makes a mental map of this place. A secret place to hide out could never hurt, especially with what her companions and her were building towards.
Crystal then waits, giving Victor a neutral look as he inspects his new 'thing'. As long as it wouldn't hamper things, the priestess was all for it. "Keep your weapons out...the villagers might have gathered their nerve and come to investigate, so we might have to fight our way out."
With that (assuming everybody gathers), she places the amulet in the pedestal, activating the teleportation magic.
Fate nods at Crystal. "Fate concurs. She vishes to replenish her healing items. If the villagers vish to stop us, they might find themselves compelled to fight each other, instead." She smiles under her mask.
She waves a hand towards Sarcon. "As a reward for your service to Fate, she vill allow you to claim this armor."
Crystal returns everyone to the sacrificial chamber. It's darker out now, and an almost eerie silence is broken only by faintly howling winds passing outside.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Before leaving the cave
Well done. I wouod prefer to have some time to fix up my patient here before we leave as he is still very injured, but if the rest of you are eager to be moving on, then i guess we shall. As for sneaking that zombie into the city, i have an idea.
After we are teleported back
Doc goes around collecting a few sets of cultists clothing, then he starts covering the zombie from head to foot an trying to leave no skin uncovered. Next he pulls out his set of manicals and chain, cuffing the zombie an handing the trailing end to Sarcon.
There. We have a cultist prisioner. That should satisfy any curiosity.
On the trip home (if w are at that point yet)
Doc slides up to both Crystal and Victor, 1 at a time and privately.
Victor licks his dried up lips as they arrive in the darkened chamber, his post-teleportation sickness quickly lightens up and he realizes that something is terribly wrong. His ears nearly stirs from the eerie quiet of the room and he lets out a sigh of relief as the Doctor breaks the quiet.
He reaches into his traveling satchel and withdraws a rolled up scroll, handing it over to the Doctor.
Crystal rounds on the Doctor, blue eyes burning with anger. "Did we not divvy the spoils from our last outing? Because I picked up the item, you are implying that I intend on holding out on you? Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't someone have to pick the things up, otherwise they just remain where they are? Take your foolish prattle elsewhere, sir!" Unlike Doc, Crystal makes no effort to be private. After a moment of fuming, she takes out the expensive holy symbol of the Lord of Darkness, then throws it at Doc. "There, have at it! You just make sure you bring me MY share."
After the 'heroes' rise the next day, Crystal yawns and stretches. With every day and every piece of equipment they eased closer to ultimate victory, control of The City. The argument with Doc (leaving this open in case he wants to retort) still buzzing in the back of her mind, the priestess shakes her head, dispelling her badwill, for now. A team worked better than five individuals, so she'd have to let this episode go.
She exits the building, saddling her horse and climbing on before looking back, waiting for her companions. Satisfied that they followed, she begins the slow trot back to The City, a pleased smile on her face as more mysteries of her deity opened themselves up to her, burning their way into her mind like the flames of The Pit, itself.
Well thank you Victor, for the show of good faith. But alas, i am a man of principled science and would not know of such magics as scribed here. Instead, you keep it, and use it at a time i am unable. Doc hands Victor the scroll back. As for that other matter, well, i think it best we leave that till we are in a more private setting. Preferably at my residence.
As night fell and everyone lay down for the nights rest, Doc did something peculiar. In his corner of the tent he took all of his equipment and sorted it neatly in a pile. But then instead of laying his head down to sleep, he slumped against the wall and clutched his heart, then lets out a gasp before his head saggs forwards. He then remains motionless...
6 rounds later
You know, you shouldnt touch other peoples things. You should also let the dead rest...
Blue eyes blazing, it takes several moments for the conciliatory words to worm their way around the anger seething inside her. She visibly calms herself, breathing in and out deeply. Not trusting herself to speak, she nods briskly before heading off to a corner of the building for sleep.
Fate, restless from the spirits haunting her, checks in on her fellow villains before heading to bed. She looks much the same as she does during the day, except she wears a white tunic of light--but opaque--fabric over pajamas the color of blackened burns. Naturally, her steel mask still covers her face.
Seeing Der Gute Doktor apparently die, she approaches softly and waits, glancing about the room in case some silent predator had done the deed. When he "resurrects" and makes his comment, she shakes her head. "You should be careful, Herr Doktor. One day, Mr. Ravenport might attempt to turn you into one of his minions. He has a very different idea of respect for the dead than you might."
Victor, being exhausted from his share of spell-slinging and adventuring, only barely manages to spread out his bedroll, changing out from his heavy robes and into his conveniently prepared pajamas set. The set being little more than a loosely fitting set of brown linen trousers, a low quality shirt and a black sleeping cap that he happily tugs over his head.
With a wave of his hand, he directs his rotting companion over to him, the chains rattling as the zombie stands besides Victor. He raises his voice slightly and orders: "If anyone else than those currently in this rooms tries to enter or leave the room, eliminate them. With those words, he crouches down and tugs himself into his prepared bedroll and drifts off to sleep, and through sheer luck, or terrible hearing, he is not awakened by Doc's little change of state.
Unfortunately, Sarcon is unable to find any cultists nearby, dead or alive. He instead considers sleeping without a pillow, or filling a sack with parts from his parts box.
As Crystal rides ahead of the others on their way out of the strange village, she notices...
Never rest while you yet live; we shall not.
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Sarcon stretches and yawns as he hears Crystal preparing to head back to the city. Still sleepy and definitely hungry, Sarcon goes wondering around the village looking for things of an edible nature.
Sarcon reads the note and lets out a snort.
heh, double negative.
Before heading back to the main tent to retrieve his self heating table and join Crystal as she leaves.
She looks back on Sarcon standing before a stump. She chuckles in amusement. "What's going on over there?" Half-expecting the half-orc to start trying to eat it, she halts her horse to wait on the others and his reply.
Crystal rolls her eyes after reading the note. "Whatever. They can make their vague threats if it makes them feel better, our triumph is no less."
After thinking for a moment, she nods. "A very astute observation, Sarcon. Perhaps I will get you to proofread my missives from now on." She chuckles, starting to move forward once again.
Victor, scuttling along besides Crystal's mount, seems very pleased with himself and even more proud of the figure decked in torn cultist robes. And while he is pleased, he remains yet still wheezing and sprouting to regain his breath as he moves forward.
The figure besides him doesn't seem to suffer from the same issue and while its movements seem difficult they are easy and doesn't seem to suffer from the same exhaustion as its master's. "Idle... threats. I shall personally send a squad of.... my creations.... as soon as I can. They will... deal with these troublesome pests."
No, Victor. Wait for them to come to you. Why send away perfectly good bodies when you can have them come to you? I say accept the gift of revenge that they are so willing to grant you.
Victor gives Doc a small shrug as he marches onwards, coughing and wheezing as he talks; "I suppose that preparing a trap would be easier than striking back. Now, seeing as we have just murdered a great deal of worshippers of Asmodeous, perhaps we should consider how we can abuse this fact? We might be able to reap some goodwill from the locals at the city, which would make our rulership even easier."
His lips curl up in a smug grin, as he proceeds. "After all, they are going to be more compliant if they think we are benevolent individuals with noble intentions. Subtly and our recent slaughter is on our side. We even have a Holy Symbol to prove it. Think of it; We have stopped a possible devil invasion from an army of POWERFUL magic wielders."
Crystal looks past her pride and blind faith in the Prince of Darkness, seeing the wisdom in Victor's suggestion. She nods wearily in agreement, for coercion would better suit them right now than force. Force could come later.
The party returns to town, now more formidable then ever before. Having learned from their experiences, found valuable treasures, and crafted still more, they turned a collective eye towards the legendary Finders' Keep, the seat of power over the entire city.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Victor shakes hands with his compatriots and gives Sarcon a clap on the back for his splendid work with keeping them all alive: "Remember, we are meeting up near the keep's gate; saturday, when the sun is at its highest. Bring whatever you need for the invasion itself, I will prepare a bit of trickery for the legal change of ownership of the keep."
Victor returns to the boundaries of his small lodge, supporting what could appear to be a poor bum. While walking he speaks rather loudly to the bum, promising a warm bath and a meal.It a starts by writing a small message to his benefactors in Ustalav.
Victor, being deep in thought sends the holy symbol of Asmodeous a wide glance, licking his dried up lips as he enters the gate of the town. His brow furrowed while he continues forward. "Doc, could I be allowed to borrow that pentagram symbol? I might have a nefarious plot in mind that could benefit us greatly and I require that symbol as proof."
"You see, it would be a most splendid sight if we, the good heroes of the town, were to stand before the masses on the town square and announce that we halted a grim invasion from countless gibbering devils and mad cultists. Those who cheer and give us good will are those who would later deny us our power. We might weed out those who would deem to fight us. With such a grandiose deed, we will place a certain amount of legitimacy behind our claim to the Keep, and the citizens will accept us so much more easily for doing so."
"I shall personally begin spreading word through the town that I wish to come into contact with "like-minded individuals", I will learn what I can about those I meet and then when the time is right, we shall eliminate these foul blocks on our road to glory."
Victor brushes off his coat with his left hand, turning towards the rest of the group to gauge their reaction.
Crystal's face sours as Victor explains his idea. While it had a solid premise, the bit about devils and mad cultists certainly grated. Plus, that holy symbol, while glorious, would net each of them around 100 gp, the better to outfit themselves with. She decides to remain silent on this matter.
Victor's eyes latches unto a slight change of tone from Crystal's expression and raises a tired arm, patting her on the shoulder gently. "You are forced to tell the mindless peasants what they want to hear if you want them to jump and dance merrily for you, they do not see the Lord of Darkness as we do. They are cowardly creatures, devoid of most wit." Victor, channeling the raw emotions that only elderly grandfathers seem to be able to express, gives her a genuinely caring smile as he withdraws his arm.
"As soon as the symbol has served its function, we can proceed to sell it to the highest bidder and earn a pretty coin on the sale.
The honeyed words have their effect and she nods almost eagerly, anxious to begin her...ahem, their rule over this mass of fools.
The priestess giggles at the sheer absurdity of the half-orc's song. With that, she proceeds to ride home, trusting in Victor to spread the word to the right people. She would do her own part, of course, and perhaps they might even run into each other over the week and work together on pacifying the sheep.
Fate steeples her fingers in from of her mask as Victor describes his plan. "Victor's plan has potential. Ve should also take steps to implicate those that vould oppose us as enemies of the city as vell. Ve vill gain allies und isolate the do-gooders from theirs."