Teos doesn't hesitate for more then a split second - he jumps over the benches and moves to smash the bailiff.
The dead shall not judge the living! he silently curses.
"I have to agree with our silent companion's sentiment." Seherab mutters as he reaches for his mace.
Teos darts forward and swings at the nearest skele-bailiff, but even with the element of surprise, he misses! The judge turns and regards the party with fiery eyes. He screams. "Bailiffs, seize them!"
The skeletons swarm forward and attack Teos, but none land a blow against the squirrely monk!
Harkuf orders his quite large snake into the courtroom. The serpent slithers in and bites the skeleton, but its fangs are not as effective against the bony enemy! It tries to coil around the skeleton, but fails!
Harkuf then moves up and hammers the same skeleton, smashing it to flinders! As the bones fall to the ground, they explode, showering Teos, Harkuf, and Jafar with bone splinters!
"Bailiffs! Arrest those in contempt!" The skeletal judge yell as he moves closer. As the judge moves closer, Jafar feels an urge to leave the courtroom.
Teos throws himself flat, briefly, to dodge the bone splinters. Kipping back up to his feet, he starts by striking out at the northeast undead, accelerating this biology to the point where his hand bursts into flame; he calls upon his inner qi to move even faster as the throws strike after strike.
+
Teos' fist go aflame as he punches out three time, landing two strikes and dropping two skeletons!
As before, both fallen skeletons explode, this time showering only Teos!
The monk twists his thick dwarven body deftly, avoiding each blast in turn. He spins back around and pops up to stare at the "judge". With is left hand, he waves the monster closer...
Ankhef will command the undead!
Seherab moves closer but hesitates to close in, trying to find a weak spot.
Ankhef exerts his will upon the undead, taking control of the skeleton, but the judge resists!
Seherab moves up and studies an opponent!
The judge screams in fury. The judge then steps up to Seherab. "Eyes! Eyes, I say!"
The takes two swipes at Seherab, landing one claw!
"Ai! I'll have your eye!"
Teos circles and attacks the judge.
+
Ankhef will move up and stow his shield.
Seherab attacks, but misses!
Harkuf fairs equally poorly!
Teos moves up and attacks the judge, landing a nice punch!
Ankhef moves up and stows his shield.
"Eye! I'll have your eye for this!" The judge bellows as he attacks Teos, but misses!
As the judge yells, you note some of his bones repairing themselves.
"Yeah, yeah, you like eyes, we get it."
Seherab lands a solid blow on the judge. The skeleton sneers at the investigator. "I'll have you eye next!"
Teos tsks very loudly in response the mad dead judge's monologue. Then he unleashes a flurry of fists.
+
Ankhef will stay here to help flank and begin casting Summon Monster 2.
Teo and Harkuf combine blows, bringing the judge down!
Searching, you find a circlet of persuasion on the judge.
Ankhef declines to finish his summoning spell and nods gravely.
"It worries me that I seem to have been right."
Searching, you find a circlet of persuasion on the judge.
Why many many dead walk? he signs to the others questioningly.
Teos snorts in disgust at the fallen "lawman" He'll begin searching the rest of the building, making sure no other innocents have been captured.
Ankhef will continue collecting loot and take the circlet.
Seherab lowers his weapon and stashes it after given it a quick clean. "Indeed, it seems you were, Ankhef. Disturbing. I still have no idea who could be behind it. Undead do not just come back like this, not on this scale at least. Someone has purposefully done this or accidentally opened something foul they should have left alone."
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"This is indeed a disturbing development. If this has been done on purpose, than it is even more so disturbing." Harkuf kicks aside the remaining bones gently out of frustration.
Harkuf turns his head sideways to crack his neck before bursting out, "And this is sure puttin' a damper on our tomb-raiding, isn't it?" His eyes widen a bit, "You guys think any of the other teams are farin' as well as we are with this blight of dead? You think maybe it was one of them other teams that may have done this? Make everyone busy fightin' zombies and skeletons while they go 'splorin' some off-limit tombs?"
Harkuf will continue to pepper his companions with similar questions as they make sure to clear the building of any threats, undead or otherwise.
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"This is indeed a disturbing development. If this has been done on purpose, than it is even more so disturbing." Harkuf kicks aside the remaining bones gently out of frustration.
Harkuf turns his head sideways to crack his neck before bursting out, "And this is sure puttin' a damper on our tomb-raiding, isn't it?" His eyes widen a bit, "You guys think any of the other teams are farin' as well as we are with this blight of dead? You think maybe it was one of them other teams that may have done this? Make everyone busy fightin' zombies and skeletons while they go 'splorin' some off-limit tombs or so forth?"
Harkuf will continue to pepper his companions with similar questions as they make sure to clear the building of any threats, undead or otherwise.
Ankhef ponds Harkuf's comments
"This seems way too big to be a tomb robbing front. I suspect something much more sinister."
Finishing at the old courthouse, you find the sun is starting to near the horizon. Continuing on your patrols, you round a corner to see three zombies attacking a woman. As you move to intervene, a soul-shaking howl fills the air and a pair of hideous creatures-horrible masked amalgams of bear and crocodile-burst from the alley. The creatures tear into the zombies, but injure the woman in the process, dropping her unconscious in the intersection. You can see the woman bleeding out in the street, but as you approach, the creatures growl and snap at you.
take 10 Know: Planes => 15.
"They are servants of Pharasma, they will strike at both living and undead. I doubt they will let us aid that woman, but I am loathe to attack anything fighting against the undead right now."
Teos signs.
Without hesitation Teos approaches but drifts to side of the alley, circling away from the party. He stamps his feet and claps his hands to gain the attention of the beasts, but keeps rocked back on the heels of his feet ready to spring away.
"Good idea, Teos. Keep 'em busy and then lose them as soon as you can."
Once the beasts have moved away, Seherab rushes up to check on the woman.
As Teos moves forward, the two esoboks growl and turn their attention to the monk!
Both creatures turn, charge and pounce at the monk, but his defensive stance is able to fend off the attacks!
Seherab runs over to check on the woman.
Seherab moves to check the woman and finds her bleeding out. He suspects she will die within a half a minute if not stabilized!
The dwarven monk takes the next few steps in the flowing dance of combat, focusing on his center of gravity as he weaves and strikes with open palms at the southern creature.
Teos swings twice, landing his first punch! The creature's hide seems to resist some of the damage!
Ankhef moves up to help support Teos and casts stabilize on the woman.
Teos moves closer and casts a quick spell, stabilizing the woman!
Harkuf casts a spell, granting himself the strength of a bull!
The southern esobok attacks Teos, but has trouble striking the wily monk! Meanwhile, the northern one tears in Harkuf, biting and clawing him!
Ankhef begins to circle in an attempt to get a flank before stabbing.
Teos, finding himself in single combat, lunges forward to grapple the strange beast he faces.
Now that the woman seems to be better for the moment, Seherab steps over to help assault the monsters. He draws his dagger and stabs.
Ankhef circles the creature and stabs it with his spear!
Teos reaches out and grapples the creature!
Seherab stabs, but misses!
Harkuf swing his hammer, smashing it into the northern creature!
The grappled creature tries to bite Teos, but fails.
The other creature attacks Harkuf, but has no luck in striking the man!
Teos goes for the pin, emulating in his mind the subtle movements of Jafar
Seherab studies his foe for a weak spot and then stabs!
Ankhef finishes circling, finally in a flank with both Seherab and Harkuf.
Ankhef stabs Seherab's undead.