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Ingra takes another swing at the the prone beast, hammer whistling through the air.
She hits the beast on the side of the head with an undercut blow, and goes into a cleave into the next beasts shoulder, turning to get the best force out of the hit.
As the second blow also hits, she hopes this gets their attention rather focused on her, and that these magi can now focus on getting these things knocked out fast.
Ingra destroys the creature laying on the ground with a heavy swing of her hammer. Before the other can react, her hammer crashes into its skull like a ripe melon and snuffs the evil force out. Both stop moving.
* End Combat *
The party rushes to the air of Pai Song and is able to revive her.
After you dropped the last of the undead, there is a moment
of calm. One of the boards reinforcing a cottage window
is pried open from the inside, and the heavily wrinkled
face of a purple-haired gnome woman pokes out of the
window. Once she spots your party, she worms her way
headfirst out the window, despite a chorus of protests
from inside the cottage. Eventually the tiny old gnome
wriggles through the gap, landing deftly on her rear end.
She bounds to her feet and addresses the party in a rapidfire
voice:
“Finally! I was getting thirsty in there. Did you bring any wine?
Bloody owlbears. You’d think they’d know better than to trifle
with me! Is that my packhorse? I’ll settle for grog, if you have it.”
The dishevelled gnome climbs directly over the rotten corpse
of an owlbear and starts rummaging through the packhorse’s
saddlebags. Meanwhile, a shocked group of young Pathfinders
emerge from the cottage, surveying the carnage with horror.
“Been like this for a week, you know. Nothing but undead and
southeastern winds. Wretched awful smell. And me without
my astrolabe. You should hear these youngsters whinge and
complain. One little undead horde and they go all to pot. By the
Eldest, I’m thirsty. I’d drink a flask of ink at this point! Bloody
zombos did drag off one of the youngsters, though. You should
hear them complain: ‘Oooh, we’re all about to die! Oh my,
what’s-her-face was abducted by zombos! Oh, I don’t want to
be eaten.’ And they call themselves Pathfinders!”
“Aha!” The gnome triumphantly holds up a bottle of dark
red wine.
She whirls around, addressing the assembled group, “You
youngsters, burn these carcasses. Bloody awful stink. You lot
with the weapons, unpack this horse, build a nice fire, and pull
some turnips from the garden. Then come have a drink and tell
me how fat Sheila’s gotten.”
With that, the renowned researcher Ignizi Dinnelletter
scuttles back into the cottage, uncorking her newly acquired
wine along the way.
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Ingra can't help but laugh at the gnome and the way she discribed the situation, and seeing her plod off with the wine.
Greetings to you too. One would think you are getting use to being harrased by undead. We will burn this filth for now and rather discuss what's been happening here soon. Any idea what the source is for these beasts perhaps?
She begins to roll the two corpses together for the bonfire they are about to make.
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Rysalius raises an eyebrow as the elder gnome disappears into the cabin. Dismissing his mirror images, he turns to the younger Pathfinders to help them in their tasks, and engages in a conversation with them, hoping to befriend some of them and learn what is going on there.
Is she always like that? I mean, we were warned about her... quirks, but this is far worse than eccentric. What's really going on here, fellow Pathfinders? Where did these undead come from? And who was abducted by zombies, exactly? I wasn't aware the brain eaters were in the Pathfinder-napping business!
Throughout the evening, your group has the chance to
speak with Ignizi and her four researchers.
Over a dinner of turnip soup, the researchers reconfirm
that one of their party was dragged off by the undead
several days ago and hasn’t been seen since.
Ignizi responds to Rysalius questions while cooking.
"Who was abducted? Why the kidnapping victim’s name is
Dijjit—a female gnome with short, orange hair. She was
tending the garden when a horde of zombies descended
upon the cottage and dragged her into the forest. Several
researchers wanted to chase after Dijjit, but I knew
that, between her advanced age and the neophytes’
inexperience, a rescue mission could only spell disaster." She looks towards the half-elf and female human.
Ignizi asks "Well, you destroyed the owlbears. So you are capable. I think you should rescue the youngster and eliminate the undead incursion. I insist that you have to bring my assistant back alive, due to the fact that the kidnap victim “has a real way with fungus.”
Rysalius and the rest of you are able to speak to any of the assistants of during dinner and the evening.
Lemmy Monelli (male halfling)
Leona Marideth (female human)
Narsisco (male half-elf)
Marsia Backar (female human)
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b]There is definitely a problem here that we will attempt to resolve. Creating and contolling undead has to be just about be the worst form of tyranny I can imagine. Not satisfied with taking away someone's freedom while allive they actually control their body after death and deny their soul the peace of the afterlife.
We Andorens have devoted our lives to fighting any sort of tyranny. We would be pleased to host your visit to Magnimar in the near future. Come see what we are about. Even if you do not agree 100% with our ideals I believe you will find something of benefit. If nothing else, you are Pathfinders. Knowledge is our business. Come and lear what Andoren has to offer. [/b]
During the meal, Lavode questions Ignizi, Of course we will be glad to help as we can. But we need more detail. When did the undead attacks begin? Could it have anything to do with your research (even if it is just someone wanting you to fail)? How many zombies? Were they humanoid or monster zombies? What direction did they go? Have you seen other undead? You are an experienced Pathfinder yourself madam. You know how essential a proper briefing is to success.
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Rysalius first approaches Ignizi and presents her with a history book titled "The History of Gnomes in Taldor".
A present for your, Master Dinnelletter, from my masters. They offer you this volume in good faith, trusting you will appreciate its contents. Please accept this gift and keep this volume henceforth.
Then the elderly opera singer turns to Leona Marideth, eager to entertain the woman with some of his well-told stories from the Pathfinder Chronicles. He obviously attempts to make her friendlier, in order to learn more about Ignizi, what she means about "fungus", and the reason of their presence here.
Lavode speaks to all of the researchers and convinces Leona and Narsisco to visit Magnimar at some point. Leona replies "Both Narsisco and I are unhappy that we were not allowed to perform the rescue and are ready for something new away from here"
Pai Song also uncovers a bit more information from Lemmy.
"Where did the zombies take Dijjit you ask? Good question. When the zombie horde left, they headed north. That’s all we know. We did not follow."
Marissa also chimes in...
"Nobody what is causing the incursion, but a rumor is floating around the local gnome communities that something is collecting bodies and gradually building a zombie army."
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Well the good news, such as it is, is that they took him alive. That means they needed a live being not just another body. Taking the body back would be easier than a captive, so they must have been ordered to do that. Doesn't mean they intend him to stay alive long though. Zombies mean necromancers. Necromancers mean sacrifices.
Kuraishimo, I agree we should head out while there still might be some chance of a rescue instead of just a punitive raid. But let's see if Ignizi has any further information first.
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I concur, Kuraishimo. Every instant we spend here is one additional risk to see our fellow pathfinder die. We should rescue her without delay, but nonetheless proceed with caution.
Then turning to Ignizi and her assistants:
Do we know anything about the source of these undead, the creature that is buildig this zombie army? Anything might be helpful.
Rysalius speaks further with Ignizi. She considers his questions and looks out the window, then up at the sky.
"As far as where the undead could be going? I have a friend, Riddywipple—who lives in a hollow log a day’s march
north—who can likely help. Riddywipple knows Sanos inside and out and will be an excellent guide. But the night is moving in and it will not be safe in the woods. I suggest you stay the night in our cottage
and depart first thing in the morning."
"Now lets see. Where did I put those. You might need them for your trip in the morning." Ignizi holds up her hand to her chin as if thinking, then scurries around the cottage looking under furniture, behind the stove, in the bookshelves.
Ignizi digs up several items to give your team. She
hands each of you one or two items from a list
of three potions of neutralize poison, a potion
of cure light wounds, two scrolls of detect undead,
and a small box of uncut alexandrite worth 500 gp.
"There, that will have do to."
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Rysalius nods to Ingra and uses her wand on her.
We then shall depart on the morrow. I'll gladly take one of the potions of neutralize poison. I guess the masters of the arcane should take the scrolls?
Really, you should keep that book. I know it from authority that newfound links between gnomes and the First World were recently discovered and reported in this tome.
The gnome turns to Kuraishimo and says
"Who is Riddywipple you ask? He’s been in Sanos Forest longer than most, and knows how to stay alive in the unforgiving woods.
He’s a bit reclusive and normally doesn’t help strangers, but that if you mention my name near his log, he is more likely to help."
With a book in hand, Ignizi tells Rysalius...
"The relationship between the Pathfinders and
the fey, or First World ones, as you mention, is a tricky one. The fey are notoriously difficult to research,
given their secrecy and unique talent for disruption. I apparently have however,
a knack for dealing with them, which is why I was chosen for this assignment. Anyone in my charge company is extended amnesty by the fey. However,
I cannot say they will treat your group with the same courtesy."
"Best be getting to bed if you Pathfinders are to be off to save the world before breakfast!"
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Is there further information that any of you can provide? Sometimes the smallest scrap or remembrance can yield significant results.
So, I'm curious, how fares your research? Some of us have long held interest in the fey. Probably at least partly because they seem so different from the demons which no plague our world. Have you found anything interesting or useful?
Ignizi and the assistants continue to talk into the late evening, about their research, the undead, the fey and the Sanos forest.
Finally, Ignizi stands up...
"We must let these Pathfinders get their rest if they are to find undead tomorrow. On their return we can share all of our research to-date and they can tell us how they vanquished the undead menace."
The night passes uneventfully and you are awaken with the smell of coffee and bacon in the morning.
"Rise and shine sleepy heroes. A rescue awaits. Here is where you need to search... "
Ignizi draws a crude map on a chalkboard. She as the others wish you the best of Desna's blessings with the instructions on how to find Riddywipple’s log. The directions are fairly simple, leading them to clear landmarks throughout the forest.
Unless there are any special activities before leaving the cottage, you are able to march through the day, following a series of ravines that Ignizi indicated would lead you to Riddywipple’s fallen log. You manage to locate the log, which is distinguished by a series of distinctive carvings that adorn the trees for twenty yards in every direction.
Though you locate the log, you don’t see anyone around in log or nearby trees.
After half a minute, however, you hear a squeaky voice about 30' feet up a nearby hillside a good fifty feet to the southeast of the log.