Pratavh marches along with the rest, staying close to the palanquin with Bahni's body, keeping a careful eye on the crowd and the ghosts should something come up. Hirati, meanwhile, sits on the palanquin near Bahni's head drawn up into her fiercest and most majestic dragon pose and keeps a careful eye out as well.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar will take some time before the procession departs to study the route, taking in the potential side alleys and riskier spots. Upon departure, he sees Shiko taking the lead so Mohktar travels at the back of the grouping around Bahni's palanquin so he can keep everything in his field of vision.
Mohktar you spend a good hour checking the route before arriving at the temple. There are three places that give you pause (marked A,B,C on the map).
The proximity to the water is of concern here, if the crowd got out of control here you'd end up in the river. Also an attack from the river would be tactically difficult to deal with.
The bridge over river is narrow, if somebody wanted a good sniper ambush point, this would be one possibility.
.
Mohktar gathers the group together to view the map of the city and the route of Bahni's palanquin. He points to three areas in turn - (A, B and C on the City Map). "This first area (A), so close to the river as the road parallels it. Should our adversaries be of aquatic nature, defense of the procession will be difficult. And if the crowd should descend into zealotry...we could end up in the river."
To Alwyn and Pratavh, "Your idea to play music and summon up a good memory for the crowd could assist in keeping them calm. Between you and Pratavh perhaps some illusions could cause a displacement of the palanquin?"
"The second area (B) will be a bottleneck. An enemy or other obstacle could block the south of the bridge, and stop our progress. Out on that bridge we will be easy targets for archers on the high ground." He looks to Shiko. "You're ability to blend into the shadows would allow you to go first and establish if there are dangers lurking. Perhaps you and I can coordinate on scouting ahead of the group once we clear the first area."
"The last spot of concern is here, (C)." He traces his finger down along the main road to nearly the harbor. "The throngs. The press of people will be the highest here. We could get overwhelmed quickly and the confusion could open an opportunity for our enemies. Lilly, in Absalom you once turned aside a cluster of enemies by generating an impenetrable cloud of darkness. Perhaps something that can help us escape being hemmed in could be useful."
Mohktar stands from the map and looks at the others for suggestions.
"A cloud of darkness? That would be neat, but i can't, you must have me confused with someone else. Unless you are referring to that incident with the cart full of fine ashes, that went into a dark cloud after i dropped something into it from great heights. A rope system i think, was used back then."
Yes that can be done, although you will have to concentrate to make it sway realistically.
Shiko nods his assent at Mohktar's strategy...
This was supposed to be a vacation.
Considering the idea, Pratavh nods in agreement, "It would be worth a try Alwyn, if you think you can keep the spell in place that long anyway."
Lets see if I have this:
Alwyn will be maintaining an illusion to displace the palanquin, presumably standing close to it?
Mohktar travels at the back.
Pratavh stays close to the palanquin.
Shiko moves toward the front of the procession.
Lilly goes, well I'm not quite sure where.
.
Perception Checks for each of the Areas:
The motion in the distance slowly resolves itself as a great host winding its way through the streets. The spirits are following a particularly huge lantern with a strange ruddy brown hue that's on the back of a wagon. The high priest of Pharasma one Chari Xetrapati heads the procession dressed in extravagant ceremonial gear looking like a cross between the grim reaper and a mortician. His under priests walking along side the wagon are dressed only in loin cloths with bones painted in white along their skin. They partake in a strange dance as they move, and they leave trails of evanescence in their wake.
The spirits seem entranced and follow their lead towards the ocean and the great portal from which they will travel to the Boneyard for judgement. Some peculiar property of the island of Jalmary renders this ceremony as they only way spirits may find peace. Several centuries past the ceremony didn't always happen with macabre results as spirits piled up. The festival is now so entrenched in Jalmary that for it not to happen is unthinkable.
As the spirits approach you notice a layer of sparkling hoar frost appear on the ground and lower levels of buildings. Great clouds of condensation appears above the road, and the refracted sunlight twinkles into rainbows and sundogs. This is augmented by the magics of the clergy and various artisans, such that playful zephyrs of light swirl among the billowing clouds along with the tinkling of bells and the sounds of the multitudes.
The ceremony is celebration of life and death, and already families are mingling inside the rush of spirits seeking departed loved ones, and for a short bittersweet time they are reunited. Here you see a favorite aunt walking alongside her descendants, and there you see a son reunited with the father. Over there is a missing sister walking along side her brothers.
After ten minutes well over half of the spirits are accompanied by their mortal relatives. The vast majority of the spirits are non-communicative, but it seems even to an uneducated eye that they get some measure of solace by the presence of mortal kin. And it is beyond doubt that their mortal kin get one last chance to say good bye properly.
Many of the spirits are dreamlike to look at, transparent and their form shifts peculiarly under the eye. Some rare ones are much more coherent, seemingly able to manifest more accurately and are even able to converse after a fashion. All this and more you observe as you and the palanquin get swept along with the flow of the parade of souls!
There is much talk of some unusually powerful spirits marching this year for a coven of necromancers was uncovered and crushed a year ago in the Surakpor.
Did you hear about the Dhalavi Cultists? They got destroyed by a band of foreign heroes in the employ of the Thakur! Will their spirits be here, no! Everyone knows that fowl goddess devours the souls of anyone crazy enough to worship her.
You overhear somebody saying I've been advised to only go as far as the commerce district. My cousin in the watch says they are expecting massive crowds from the harbor district and they fear a crush.
You notice that perhaps one out of a thousand spirits seems to have such a powerful grip on reality that they warp the environs around them in strange and peculiar ways. The cordon of lantern bares seem nervous of these apparitions.
There is a red mist approaching the Palaquin! Something about it's disposition raises the hairs on the back of your neck.
Pratavh hears most of the comments about him, the most important ones registering. What really bothers him are the ghosts that are causing strange effects nearby. He points them out to his compatriots and says quietly, "Keep an eye on those ones, they're more powerful than the others and are making even the lantern bearers nervous." He keeps a sharp eye on the aforementioned spirits as the march progresses.
.
.
.
"There, look. A mist of crimson shifts it's way towards our position. Be on guard." Mohktar points in the direction of the apparition, drawing his Temple sword and keeping it in a reverse grip alongside his body.
Lilly keeps her eyes open, both to danger and the amazing details of the ceremony.
Mohktar shouts a warning and before your eyes the red cloud changes into green and in the midst of it appears, a hideous rotting and skeletal humanoid dressed in tattered and worn robes with ancient runes etched on their surface. Its eyes blaze with a crimson fire! People around it scream and scatter. The lantern bearers block the other spirits from the street to the west and the east, momentarily stopping the parade, leaving you to deal with this hungry spirit!
Thanks to Mohktars's warning you are not surprised by this creature's appearance.
Can you protect Bahni from the undead hungering for her soul?
Initiative rolls:
Combat order:
Undead Creature
Pratavh
Mohktar & Alwyn
Lilly
Shikyomaru
The skeletal undead screams a wordless cry of hate and rage, and a reddish bolt flashes from it's outstretched hand to strike Pratavh, searing the mage!
Giving the skeletal creature a dirty look, Pratavh quickly chants and points, bolts of force shooting from his fingertips and slamming into the creature .
Pratavh's spell sends bits of decayed fabric flying off the skeletal humanoid and smashes various pots and things behind, raising a cloud of grave dust! Some of the distant crowd cheer then scream when the dust settles and they realize the thing is unaffected!
Combat order:
Undead Creature
Pratavh
Mohktar & Alwyn <--- WE ARE HERE
Lilly
Shikyomaru
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar leaps into the fray, dodging from right to left to avoid further ranged attacks as he closes the distance with the undead creature. "Pratavh, Alwyn, remain with the palanquin and stay at range, be vigilant for other attackers!" He spins right and rebounds off the wall, swinging his weapon. "Shiko-san, Lilly, close the distance and attack!"
(dodging)
|
Alwyn maintains his position near the palanquin but shifts the enchantment to appear more that the holders had begun backing away from the apparition. In the meantime he readies his bow and an arrow for the point at which the enchantment is broken. Heeding Mohktar's warning he scans the area to their rear and sides.
Mohktar's sword connects solidly with the decayed skeletal figure, but although it cuts through dedicated flesh and fabric, the blow doesn't seem to have much effect.
"Guys, this is not a cheerful corpse. From what i've read about, this is a lich-shade. They fail at achieving lich-status and are mad for power, preying upon casters and the elderly."
Lilly moves to I3 and casts prot-evil (commune), touching Mohktar, Alwyn and herself.
Shiko dashes forward, katana in hand.
The creature ignores Mohktar and Shikyo and shambles forwards towards the Palanquin or maybe Pratavh, you're not entirely sure which. The creature moans and you feel waves of numbing cold emanating from it!
Undead Creature
Pratavh <----- WE ARE HERE
Mohktar & Alwyn
Lilly
Shikyomaru
Shiko attacks the creature as it passes
Shiko gives Mohktar a hand signal that says the equivalent of "Hey, distract it while I plunge my sword into its ribcage."
Then Shiko moves to G4 to set up a flank with Mohktar
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar, reverses his grip on the sword, raising the implement is not as effective time as his own body against the horrid creature. As it passes, he sends a kick its way.
Nodding understanding to his Tian Xa compatriot, the monk positions himself opposite to the ninja to press his own attack.
》Move to F5 (Acrobatics to avoid AoO)
》
》
》
Pratavh, realizing that he's not going to be very helpful against this creature, casts another spell which causes his shape to become blurred and indistinct before stepping back a bit from the creature.
Mohtkar smacks the fetid undead is it passes and this time he feels the satisfying crunch of bone. He follows up with another expert kick but the monstrosity lurches unexpectedly taking much of the power from his kick.
Shiko hits the creature twice deeply with his sword, it hisses in annoyance! Some base level of cunning remains in the spark of evil driving the thing and it neatly steps out of the flank and swipes at Shiko! Numbing waves of cold cause his body to monumentally seize up as he gasps at the pain of it's deathly touch.
--> HIT
--> MISS
--> FAIL, STAGGERED 1 ROUND
Undead Creature
Pratavh <----- WE ARE HERE
Mohktar & Alwyn
Lilly
Shikyomaru (staggered)
Using the only spell he knows that will be of much use, Pratavh conjures a small blob of acid and sends it at the skeleton.
|
Hirati, my dear can you make yourself invisible and check on the rooftop there to the North where those pigeons keeps getting spooked? I think we have company that doesn't wish to be known.
Alwyn asks the little dragon.
He leaves the image of the little dragon intact as part of his spell he is maintaining.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
》5 ft Step to F5
》Flurry of Blows
》Spend Ki point for additional Flurry Attack
"Shiko-san!" Mohktar flips forward to bring his right heel down like a hammer, then sound into a series of blistering kicks and punches.
》
》
》
》
》
》
》
》
》 (ki pt)
》
Pratavh's spell winks out of existence, seemingly consumed by the undead monstrosity!
Mohktar pounds the undead with a veritable whirlwind of kicks and blows. But the creature ignores him and Shikyo-san seemingly fixated on Pratavh, or maybe it's the Palanquin it's after?!
Hirati flies off to investigate.
Undead Creature
Pratavh
Mohktar & Alwyn
Lilly <----- WE ARE HERE
Shikyomaru (staggered)
Lilly and Shikyo are up.
Lilly moves to I6, then to H6, so she's flanking with Mohktar.
"You guys are having all the fun, leave something for a girl to smash."
Hirati nods her convent, disappears, and flies up to see what is wrong.
Pratavh lets out a curse as his spell is absorbed, "Careful! It can eat your spells and make itself stronger with their energy!"
[spoiler=Kn:Arcarna DC 20]Whenever a spellcaster within 50 feet of a lich shade casts a spell, the spellcaster must make a DC 20 Will save or the spell is lost, as if it were counterspelled. The lost spell's energy is transferred to the lich shade, who can use the magical energy in various ways.[/dice]
Lilly attacks the undead but it doesn't seem to care, it seems fixated something else.
Shiko dodges past the undead menace
Shiko then lashes out with his Katana
Shiko then channels his KI to strike again at the undead horror
Between Lilly's thrust and Shikyo's precise strikes, the undead goes down, just yards from the one it was fixated on.
COMBAT OVER.
The lantern bearers are cautiously approaching, soon the parade will continue. Hirati reports that she saw a blur of movement, but it what ever was up there seems to be gone.
What are you doing now?
For good measure, Lilly chops its limbs and head off, before smashing it to mush with her morning star.
She shrugs if any of the guys raise brows on it.
"To be sure, you know. Let's get back to the parade."
Shiko cleans his sword. This place... he looks at Mohktar Is cursed...
He replaces the weapon in its sheath and moves forward, scouting the way.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar nods once to Shiko as he disappears into the crowd ahead, heedless of the frightening contact with the creature. "I'm starting to believe you, my friend." he mutters to himself. Immediately after the words leave his lips, he regrets them. This is the homeland of his forefathers. To see only the horrors is like dismissing the beauty of a mountain because wolves patrol its trails.
The monk bows to his companions and gestures for them to move forward, but as Pratavh approaches, he falls into step with him near the rear of the procession. "The entity sought you out specifically, did it harm you?"
---------------
Perception (Area B): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27