She shakes her head. "That's far from my specialty... Destroying is not a good thing to do to a body, but perhaps disabling them as Tsura mentioned, by cutting the heads off, will prevent them from turning which is a far better destiny than what's to come. After we deal with this" - she stares at the darkness for a second - "wicked threat, we can take them to a proper burial outside, even burning the bodies would be a good option. Hmm, I've got a better idea..."
Elxurian turns to the people that were protecting the rear at the last combat, and who seem to be worried or scared about this incursion. They couldn't take chances with people freezing during combat. "You're a good scout, aren't you, Hanz? Could you take these bodies outside and arrange a proper burial by burning the bodies? You don't need to wait for us, If you prefer, that camp we came by before getting here is probably where they came from. Be careful tough, if you choose to take the bodies there and exchange information. They could still be as evil as whatever is sleeping in this cave. Quarick, please go with him, since you are... fast... and help him gather the necessary wood or make friends in camp. Just try not to show them any tricks, ok?"
She turns back to the party. "Ok, now, can we deal with the orc? What's preventing him from being conscious?"
"He is wounded, it looks like to me. Perhaps he just needs a bit of your magical healing, Elxurian?"
Nodding to the paladin, Hanz and Quarick work to prepare the first body for transport. The gnome ends up being of little help, his small form definitely not fit for the task of hauling a corpse, but the dwarf shoulders the additional load stoically, and they begin their task, disappearing into the tunnel where the party entered from.
She is not as strong as she would like to, obviously, because she changes her proud posture, lowering her head a little while she answers. "Not my specialty, as I said. The energy I spent before was all I could muster at this point. And it was more than I could yesterday. I'm getting better, but not fast enough."
Moving closer to the tables, the group discovers the forms of two humans and a half-orc. Tied down securely, it appears that the humans have expired some time ago, and have been experimented on and cut open in several places. The half-orc appears intact, but it unconscious and wounded.
"Perhaps he's under some kind of spell?" She pats him on the face, to see if it's enough to wake him up.
Ausk stirs By the Inheritor's light... he groans as his eyes open slowly.
Who are you friend? And thank you for dispatching those Ghouls, I was sure I would be their next meal.
Noticing the absence of his previous companions Ausk says You did not happen to find two others?
She smiles at first when listening to the jargon, but then shakes her head, breaking the news to him at once. "Sorry, they didn't make it. Those things were experiencing on them, and they would follow them to undeath soon enough. I had the bodies dealt so that would not happen. I'm Elxurian, brother." She lets everyone introduces themselves, if they want, and continues.
"Can you stand? Do you mind telling us what happened?"
"We are wary in this place, traveler. Who are you, where do you hail from, and what brought you here?"
Ausk shakes his head in sorrow Jorrin and Reglar were a good lot. Thank you for your actions once again, It seems I am in your debt
Ausk stands tall and seems to straighten up I am Ausk, Servant of the Inheritor and Emissary from the Church of Absalom. I was here with the others to investigate, and if necessary remove, a Necromancer. If you are here for that purpose, I lend you my sword...if I can get it back.
"Yep, that's our mission too! Nice to have you on board... you Iomedaeans are generally alright. Haven't met a one of you yet I didn't like!"
Penka beams at Ausk. "This here's Tree. He's my protector!"
Elxurian just stands there for a second, trying to decide if Penka likes her or if she didn't see her holy symbol. She comes back to the present and tries to get a more specific answer. "And perhaps did you see this necromancer? Do you have more information about this place?"
She sheathes her Greatsword and grabs her torch from the ground. The paladin takes a quick look around to see if Ausk's sword is nearby, but otherwise she offers him her warhammer and the torch.
Seeing Elxurian's abashed look, Penka blushes and says "I was including you, Elxurian! You're A-OK with me!" She gives Elxurian the same beaming smile as she did Ausk.
"I am Jonas, Jonas Crow," the Taldan rogue introduces himself, "though Jon will also do nicely." He chuckles softly and to himself, at least mostly. Between Tsura, Elxurian and now Ausk, piousness seems to be winning over mischievousness.
No, we ran afoul of yonder Ghouls. I was paralyzed and knocked unconscious... and then to the gnome Ausk gives a nod of appreciation.
To Jonas I am honored to meet you Jon Crow. he says formally with a small salute.
Ausk too looks for his sword in the room.
Searching through the room there are no signs of the missing gear, the majority of the space dedicated to the tables and desks used to further the obviously foul research being practiced here. To the north the long room continues, well into the darkness and the unknown.
Further off, in the darkness, there is a definite echo of sound, clattering and clanking, and possibly getting nearer.
Ausk accepts the warhammer and torch Thank you. and then as he hears the approaching commotion Allow me. and he reaches for Elxurian's greatblade and if she relents his fingers trace a symbol on its blade Holy Iomeade, Bless this weapon against Evil, may it smite the wicked in your name.
Ausk readies himself for battle.
Blessings were always welcome, specially by another one of their faith. She wondered if he was a cleric or something like that, but he also looked like a warrior. Of course, every orc and half-orc looked like a warrior to her, but this man was as strong as her, if not more.
Although the prayer he performed was not addressed to her, since she was not a goddess, Elxurian seemed confident enough to answer it. "It will." Without losing any time she nods to Penka, Tsura and Jonas, and starts walking north to find the next enemy, with her impressive Greatsword at hand, glowing white with the blessings from their goddess.
Ausk moves behind Elxurian, preparing to assist the paladin in her martial endeavors. He raises the warhammer, its heft and weight were odd to him, he was more at ease using a longsword, the symbol of his beloved Iomedae.
I am with you. he says in his characteristic deep rumble.
Tsura leans in and whispers to Penka and motions toward Elxurian and Ausk with her chin.
She draws a large knife from her jacket and nods. "Right, then. Let's find us a necromancer."
Penka giggles at Tsura's joke, then whispers back
"Alright, we all like Iomedae, let's get a move on, people!"
The group steels themselves and moves north. As light illuminates the northern section of the larger room they discover a carefully traced circle inscribed into the floor in red ink...or blood. A shelf of scrolls and papers stands against the roughly carved western wall and appears in dire need of organization, stacks of documents heaped upon each other. Peering further, around an outcropping of stone, the party comes across what can only be described as a laboratory. Several tables take up much of the space in the room, their surfaces cluttered with all manner of bottles and vials, bags and boxes, as well as a wide array of alchemical and spell related components. Heaped into a pile in one corner are numerous articles of adventuring gear, as well as weapons and armor. As they are taking in the scene, the source of the clattering noise becomes apparent as several humanoid skeletons make their way around a northern corner, a darkly clad tiefling male not far behind them.
"Get them, Tree!"
Tree moves forward to within 10 feet of the nearest skeleton and slams it with a quickly-extended branch.
Penka, being mostly out of magic, will allow Tree and her other allies to take care of these undead things.
Moving ahead just enough to be able to get a better look at the skeletons, Jonas takes less than a second to decide against using a bow to strike at what are essentially walking piles of bones. Instead, he brings to mind and lips the words of magic and holds his right arm outstretched in front of him, palm facing forward towards the undead. There is a greenish glow less than an inch in front of his hand as a globe of acid materializes and stays there for but a moment before speeding towards the closest of these new enemies.
Finally! "The necromancer!" The paladin had some doubts about he being the real threat in this place, but nonetheless she was addressing him as if he were. Her words seem more like an accusation than a question. "Are you the responsible for this?"
She moves to get closer to the remaining skeleton, taking a sidelook at Jonas and his weird magic before trying to focus on the skeleton and not in the necromancer, which obviously do not work, as her holy-sword swing is clumsy in this confined space.
Ausk raises his warhammer and moves to attack a skeleton also...
By the Inheritor's light!
Tsura gets into position [2 square up, 4 squares left] and hurls her blade at the tiefling.
mindblade
The party quickly launches their attacks at the skeletons and supposed Necromancer. Penka commands Tree to attack, and the large plant-like thing strides forward, crushing one skeleton to splinters with a single blow. From behind the lines, Jonas conjures up a blob of acid and hurls it towards an unsuspecting foe, the acid finding a critical junction in the animated bones, causing them to immediately collapse. Elxurian and Ausk both rush forward, making attacks against the remaining skeleton, which holds strong against the smashing blow of the warhammer, not yet done with the fight. Tsura flings a blade at the tiefling in the back ranks, but a shimmer of magical energy deflects the attack, leaving the man unharmed.
The skeleton raises its clawed hands, raking at the paladin while its jaw opens wide in what can only be a silent scream of rage. One bony claw manages to find a weak spot in the woman's armor, tearing into the soft skin beneath. The tiefling, chanting to himself and holding something under his tunic, sends out a wave of chillingly evil energy which washes over the group, sapping at their lifeforce.
Tree moves around his allies, provoking an AOO from the remaining skeleton. He then slams at the necromancer.
Unfortunately his attack whiffs. Penka moves forward and conjures a bit of acid, slinging it past Elxurian at the remaining skeleton.
Her acid misses wildly.
Ausk continues his assault on the skeleton
Definitely the one responsible for all of this, imagined Elxurian. "You will not be standing when the day ends, evildoer!" She tries to make short work of the skeleton, this time focus on it properly so she could advance to the necromancer!
Tsura tries again, taking careful aim to really make the shot count.
Target the tiefling.
mindblade
Moving forward a little more, Jonas once again casts the simple acid spell. This time, however, his aim is hindered by the various allies and foes in his way and the orb splashes harmlessly against the far wall.
With two of the skeletons down, the party senses victory at hand. Tree, heeding Penka's commands, takes a swipe at the tiefling, but the smaller and more agile man avoids the clubbing branch with relative ease. Penka follows up with a bolt of acid, aimed towards the skeleton, but all the activity around it prevents her from properly lining up a shot, and the blob splatters harmlessly against one of the cave walls. Ausk takes a swing with the borrowed warhammer, the weapon not feeling natural in his grip and his blow connects with only air. Elxurian makes an attack of her own, the heavy blade of the greatsword coming down on the skeleton and crushing through its collarbone and ribcage as the creature bursts into shattered fragments of bone, completely destroyed. Tsura lines up another knife, sending the weapon spinning end over end until it lands solidly in the man's chest, burying itself deep into his flesh even after a floating piece of bone circles around his form to partially deflect some of the blow. Jonas conjures up another blob of acid, but his aim is off and the magical bolt misses the tiefling completely, slamming instead into the wall behind him.
The dusky skinned man barks out a series of words in a strange language, and fans his hands forward, sending waves of energy rippling through the area. The energy strikes the ground in front of him, sending shocks through the earth as it buckles and shakes, knocking down everyone in the party with the exception of Jonas, who is far enough from the quaking earth to avoid the effects. His spell finished, the tiefling quickly ducks around the corner and into the darkness beyond.
Tree's swing misses wildly, and he stands, then lumbers toward where the tiefling just went.
Penka then follows him, pulling out her sling as she moves.
Elxurian is furious! She gets up immediately and follows after the fleeing devil, although she doesn't have any light source anymore.
Ausk gets up and moves forward with the group, he spots the fleeing tiefling and shouts You flee true judgement evildoer! The Light of the Inheritor will find you!
Tsura hurries to keep up with the group, cursing the twisting tunnels obscuring her line of sight.
Hot on the tail of the fleeing tiefling, the party hurries around the corner in pursuit. As they make their way around the corner the man steps from behind an outcropping of rock and once again calls to some dark god to punish his pursuers. Grasping at the item beneath his shirt he channels more dark energies which blast through the group with their vile presence.
Elxurian resists against the negative energy attack, determined as she is to kill the evildoer. She would not have him running again, and thus she used her momentum to go around him and prevent the vile creature from running again.
She brings her glowing sword down on him, although not with much precision.
Penka falls unconscious, and Tree stops moving, then slowly his limbs and leaves shrivel up into almost nothing, leaving a small pile of plant remains on the floor.
Moving along behind the rest of the group in pursuit of the necromancer, Jonas manages to keep a safe distance from their foe and his divine magic. As soon as the chance presents itself, the rogue fires an arrow at the fleeing tiefling.
Ausk shouts For Victory! For the Heart! and charges at the tiefling with his warhammer raised high
Tsura hisses her breath through her teeth at the pain of the negative energy. Not seeing a way to reach the tiefling, she retreats slightly to stay out of the range of the channeling.
HP: 12/22
The group continues to press the attack against the tiefling, Elxurian and Ausk leading the way with their weapons. The heavy greatsword is expertly avoided by the man, but his dodge puts him in the path of the incoming warhammer swing by Ausk, which crushes him in the chest and sends him stumbling back a step. Jonas fires another arrow, but the cluster of bodies in melee make for a difficult target, and the shot goes wide.
The man, a nervous look in his eye, sees he is quickly being surrounded and darts off further down the corridor, attempting to make an escape.