Hawk takes a moment to study the gear in the box from which the creatures emerged while the parlay continues.
Prae quickly holds a gloved hand up to the party, motioning for them to stop.
"It can understand me. Wait while I speak with it."
"ਪ੍ਰਾਰਥਨਾ ਕਰੋ ਦੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ , ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਤਰੀਕਾ ਹੈ ? ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਥੀ ਉਸੇ ਹੀ ਵਿਚਾਰਧਾਰਾ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕੀ ਸ਼ੇਅਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਅਤੇ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਆਪਣੇ ਰੂਪ ਤੇ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਨਾਲ ਸਹਿਮਤ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ. ਪਰ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਕੌਮ ਨੂੰ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਧਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਬਖਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਵਿਚ Zon - Kuthin ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਮੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਪਤਾ ਹੈ. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਸ਼ਰੀਰ ਉੱਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਦਾ ਦੌਰਾ ਕਰਨਗੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ Pangolais ਨੂੰ ਵਾਪਸ."
Zaitherin shuffles her feet anxiously, not accustomed to being told to stop slaying things.
"Are you sure I can't just rend it asunder? What in the damned Nine Hells is it saying?"
Dario watches with some incredulity as Prae converses with the undead being. "Prae...what's going on?" He glances at the others, ready to direct them against the creatures again.
"I'm trying to convince it to leave this place peacefully, preferably without eating one of us in a sacrifice."
He answers, not taking his eyes off of the cloud.
"Any other questions?"
Tightening his grip on the glavie and glaring at Prae, If it is so intent on eating someone then why are you letting it live. I thought you were trying to help this town?
"I am merely trying to get it to wait here until we are done with our investigations, and then relocate to the temple in Pangolais when I return."
"If you believe me to be only to be concerned about this town, then I am afraid we have had a bit of a miscommunication. I also aim to discover the source of this town malady, and if this creature turns out to be it, the Court would be very interested in studying it further."
Lluvia raises once she had a look at the dead body, but remains silent, her rapier pointing to the floor, but in the direction of the shadowy appearances.
Even though her face, as far as it isn't covered by cloth, shows nothing but calm confidence, there is something predatory in the way the unsteady light is caught in her green eyes and reflects on the weapon's smooth blade. Apart from those two features the elf's exact shade is hard separate from the shadowy half-light of the cave.
The shadows wavered in the light and seemed to surround Praetorix in a cloak of umbral darkness, their voices a cacophony of wails and whispers sent shivers like cockroaches skittering upon the walls.
"ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ, ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਧਣ ਦੀ ਜੁਰਅਤ. ਮੇਰੀ ਭੁੱਖ ਨੇੜੇ ਖਿੱਚਦਾ ਹੈ. ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਅਨੁਕੂਲ ਬਰਤਨ ਮੁਹੱਈਆ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਤੇ ਮਿਹਰ ਕਰ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ."
I'm digging the role play.
In regards to your checks, you've the impression that they're staunch in their desires.
Lluvia angles her head slightly as the strange motions begin. The tip of the elf's rapier already raises when she's still formulating a plan: Try to fool them? No... Prae might not have the time for elaborate trap
From a position directly opposed to the pale man makes a lunge and a thrust forward with her weapon, so simple that it might be from a human schoolbook on fencing.
Growing impatient from the dialogue between the shadows and Prae, Lluvia takes action and attempts to skewer one of the shadows. Her rapier strikes true and for a moment, she was met with a ghastly faced that was seemingly unaware of the rogue's talents. However, now that the creature recognized her move, the conversation was over.
"ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਦੋਸਤ ਆਪ ਦੀ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ. ਸਾਨੂੰ ਉਸ ਦੇ succulent ਮਾਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਖਾਵੇਗਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ!"
"Mortal, your friend has offered herself. We shall feast upon her succulent flesh"!
Monster 1 HP - 5 / ???
Monster 2 HP - ??? / ???
Dario shouts and points to the creature Lluvia attacked. "Watch out!" He begins climbing down the ladder to help the others.
The Shadow departs from Prae and lands a chilling touch upon Lluvia's should sending shivers through her body!
Grumbling mostly to himself, About damn time. Dropping his glaive and drawing his bow then quickly letting an arrow fly.
[ooc]If I am within 30ft then add a +1 to attack and to damage[/dice]
"ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸੱਚਮੁੱਚ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਬਿਹਤਰ ਘਰ ਦੇ, ਹਨੇਰੇ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪਤਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ . ਇੱਕ ਤਰਸ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਗਲਤ ਚੋਣ ਕੀਤੀ ."
"T'ila iyewanyu ye’irisiwoni iniba irigifi!"
Lluvia fields the cold of death running through her veins as the creature touches her. But there is no worrying about it right now, it's do or die. "Beware of their touch!" she presses out.
Trying to keep the motion fluent despite the cold feeling in her veins and strikes again.
_______________
Krasimir's arrow explodes upon contact with holy wrath as the ghost salt substance peels away the shadow beast from the material plane! Umbral shapes burn and fizzle as they are removed from existence!
Prae attempts to talk to the remaining shadow creature once more but finds that his words fall upon deaf ears.
Reeling in from the fear of dread, Lluvia pulls herself together while trying to manage a strike against the remaining shadow monster. Though her arm seems to shake, her blade pierces true!
- - - - - - -
Setting: The room is stuffed with packing supplies necessary for the chandler's business. As a result, the room has difficult terrain. The chamber is about 20ftx25ft with a door lying to the east.
While the negotiation continues, Hawk muses on the nature of the undead. As I recall, even ghosts can't escape force magic...
When the negotiation fails, he is ready. Hawk weaves a simple spell sending two bolts of energy slapping into the mass of the cloud-like creature.
According to the SRD: "Force spells and effects, such as from a magic missile, affect an incorporeal creature normally."
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - +4 AC - 3 hours
A series of magical darts erupts from Hawk's finger tips which pierced that shadow's body leaving gaping holes!
Zaitherin offers a quick prayer to Gorum as she levels her morningstar in a ferocious attack!
In one clear swoop, the oracle manages to dispatch the remaining shadow!
As the cloud dissipates in front of him, a slightly regretful look crosses Prae's face, and is noticeable for those looking, but it quickly passes as he refocuses on the task at hand.
"Let us continue to look for the knowledge we seek here, yes?"
Lluvia raises her blade to see whether there is any residue of the shadowy creatures on it and wipes it off, just to make sure. It did not seem like "Prae" had the intention to share what he had been talking about with the creatures and normally she'd leave it at that, but as far as the case was concerned she had to ask. "Was there any indication of what happened here in what they said?" her voice sounds calm and well measured, but it is apparent that the elf feels cold and her equipment suddenly burdens her - she even wraps her free arm around herself, but it's not the kind of cold that comes from the outside.
Nevertheless she turns to the body on the floor for a third time to have a look at it. The quiet elf maiden adjusts the cloth in front of her face, so that she does not have to inhale the possible fumes of decay. Even though she just cleaned her weapon she uses it to find out whether the liquid on the floor is blood, as she suspects. If it is still liquid this must have happened relatively recently.
(If there is indeed a large amount of non clotted blood she also checks whether the body is still warm and if so, she checks whether it is actually dead or the person might be saved.)
She also has a look at the features and clothes of the dead person and tries to make out possible wounds. Defensive Wounds? Weapon or claw wounds?
Hawkren remembered that there was a particular lock box and magical candle that he had found among the crates.
Glaring at Prae and quickly moving down the ladder. Refusing to start an argument at this moment. Once down he moves to kneel next to the body.
"We've got the residue of magic here along with an eldritch candle and a lockbox. I would speculate the candle was used to summon those creatures, possibly as a trap to guard the lockbox." He pauses briefly, "At least that might explain this scene somewhat."
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - +4 AC - 3 hours
Lluvia was still busy with the body but briefly looked up. There was obviously a lot things going on her mind but she merely remarked: "Suppose you wanted to spread a small amount of residue in the air where people live, how would you do that?" She glanced at the candle, but then turned to the dead body again.
"You think these creatures were responsible for the plague? That somehow their essence caused the disease?" Dario helps Hawkren with the lockbox, carefully trying to open it.
Dario has no trouble looking at the coffer for any problems. He easily pops the lock and finds a sizable amount of coins and a rolled up piece of parchment.
Hawkren notices that this particular candle has a silver base with a series of chains and hooks embossed within its design appearing as undulating waves to the observer.
Meanwhile, Lluvia decides to apply her medicinal knowledge and skills upon the resting corpse of what was presumably the owner and caretaker of the establishment. The body belonged to a woman in her mid 20's, a meager looking individual who was utilitarian clothes and kept a semi professional outlook. It seem that had she not met her untimely demise, she may have found a suitor in some years to come. Her body was...a terrible wreck. What had once been her neck was now a potted plant sized hole that looked like something violent exploded. Chunks of cartilage and skin barely held themselves together amid a sea of congealed blood. Her body felt somewhat warm, you posit that she may have died within the last few hours.
Lluvia reaches with her hand out to make sure that the woman's eyes are closed. She had not expected someone so young; the elf offered a silent prayer to Pharasma for the woman's soul.
Turned to the half-elf she said: "No and yes. My guess is that the shadow creatures are being used." She could elaborate on what she meant, but the body's state already put her previous theories in question again. "Either way, we should analyse this candle thoroughly; also I would like to secure some candles which have been recently created, but do not seem special in any way."
"Her neck looks like torn apart from the inside." She said pointing to the body. "That might be the disease - they call it 'tallowthroat' after all." She shook her head. "Anatomy is not my field of expertise. A parasite?" She shrugged a little helpless and looked at her comrades to see whether anyone else had an opinion.
She looks around to see whether there is any way out of the room other than the ladder up, or anything else out of the ordinary.
It was a shameless waste of occult energy but Hawk wanted answers now regarding this candle. He utters an ominous phrase in the tongue of dragons and delves into the secrets of the items before him...
Spell Effects:
Mage Armor - +4 AC - 3 hours
Meanwhile, Dario examines the scroll, deciphering it's magic with his own.
"Fortunately, there is someone here more skilled at anatomy."
With no further explanation than that, Praetorix makes his way over to the body carefully before inspecting it.
"Perhaps it is this 'tallowthroat' we've heard so much about. Isn't tallow often used in making candles? I must admit that is out of my area of expertise."
I am sure that knowledge came from a wholesome place too. Kraimir stands back up and steps back out of Prae's way.
Zaitherin keeps a sharp eye out, and true to form, keeps her mouth shut.
Having been blessed by the Midnight Lord, you have a different interpretation of the chandler's death. It seemed as if...her neck was a vessel for one of ZK's lesser vassals...but didn't hold enough faith. The fact that the shadows were...limited in their reasoning and form gives you the opinion that hadn't fully matured. As you know, the Midnight Lord doesn't bless just any person. Perhaps something foul was afoot...
Hawken's magic abilities reveal that the candle is of no ordinary construction. With a pass of his hand, ominous runes being to appear along the shaft of the waxen form. Light reveals that the candle stand's base has a rune shaped like a scale. It had to be a...
Meanwhile, Dario employed his scholarly talents upon the scroll. It took sometime to understand its contents but he was able to identify it as a .
While her party was busy, Lluvia could only hear the sound of something bubbling from beyond the door.
Lluvia steps closer to the door and examines it closely. Someone must be working beyond the door, it likely leads to the workshop were candles are created. Strange that there was no reaction yet, but maybe their fighting got lost in the sound of boiling wax.
Dario nods at the scroll he found. "This could be useful later." He slips it into his pack and then notices Lluvia examining a door.
"What do you hear, my dear?" He moves up to her and helps her examine the door.
Hawk collects the candle and stand while the others check the door.
Lluvia finds that the door is devoid of traps but does appear to be locked.
Dario nods to Lluvia and begins working the lock.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Dario finds that his "scholarly" pursuits come in handy once again as he is able to disable the lock and gain access to the following chamber.