Kajetan smiles at Laithe's comment, "I would prefer company over warmth any day,", slightly reluctantly he steps out of the sun light and falls into place behind the others.
Nicholai shivers more than once himself, but simply draws his short cloak closer to ward off the morning's chill breeze. He smiles at the wizard.
"'Friendship warms the soul', I heard that once, don't remember where. Maybe it was Stephan,..." Nicholai trails off and frowns thoughtfully at the reminder of his friend.
"One day when this is all over," he talks to Pharris, "you will have to tell me of your childhood and your people, there is so much in the books that you seem to dispel as myths or Alton lies." As he walks he withdraws his note books and starts scribbling in it, repeating the tune several times under his breath to get the words correct.
He raises an appreciative eyebrow at Pharris's tune, and grins as he notices Kajetan scribbling the words into his notebook.
"Yes, I too would love to hear more about you, and your people." He adds so smoothly that only a trained speaker like Keildrithe is likely to notice the pause in the sentence. He smiles.
"Obviously the tales we have heard do not do your people justice. I would love to learn what the elves are really like." He says as he briskly rubs his gloved hands together to warm them.
"I'm not, worried, about Alton. That rascal has proven his ability to defend himself more than adequately. It would put my mind at ease if we could determine exactly where he went off to, though." He admits. The dandy takes a deep breath and turns back to the trees.
'Up and at'em sleepy head!' He sends through the link with a mental smile. 'And while your hunting for breakfast, please let me know if you see our friend, or anyone else for that matter!' He asks his familiar. There is a flurry of motion from the trees they just left, and a flash of sunlight on golden feathers, and Wij'kan takes to the sky. Nicholai stands still for a moment, watching his familiar with a beatific look on his face. When he notices the others watching him, he raises an eyebrow.
"What? I never get tired of that sight." He says laconically, straightening his ascot. "Maybe someday I'll join him. Someday." He adds softly before turning to follow the others.
Kajetan smiles at Laithe's comment, "I would prefer company over warmth any day,", slightly reluctantly he steps out of the sun light and falls into place behind the others.
Nicholai shivers more than once himself, but simply draws his short cloak closer to ward off the morning's chill breeze. He smiles at the wizard.
"'Friendship warms the soul', I heard that once, don't remember where. Maybe it was Stephan,..." Nicholai trails off and frowns thoughtfully at the reminder of his friend.
"One day when this is all over," he talks to Pharris, "you will have to tell me of your childhood and your people, there is so much in the books that you seem to dispel as myths or Alton lies." As he walks he withdraws his note books and starts scribbling in it, repeating the tune several times under his breath to get the words correct.
He raises an appreciative eyebrow at Pharris's tune, and grins as he notices Kajetan scribbling the words into his notebook.
"Yes, I too would love to hear more about you, and your people." He adds so smoothly that only a trained speaker like Keildrithe is likely to notice the pause in the sentence. He smiles.
"Obviously the tales we have heard do not do your people justice. I would love to learn what the elves are really like." He says as he briskly rubs his gloved hands together to warm them.
"I'm not, worried, about Alton. That rascal has proven his ability to defend himself more than adequately. It would put my mind at ease if we could determine exactly where he went off to, though." He admits. The dandy takes a deep breath and turns back to the trees.
'Up and at'em sleepy head!' He sends through the link with a mental smile. 'And while your hunting for breakfast, please let me know if you see our friend, or anyone else for that matter!' He asks his familiar. There is a flurry of motion from the trees they just left, and a flash of sunlight on golden feathers, and Wij'kan takes to the sky. Nicholai stands still for a moment, watching his familiar with a beatific look on his face. When he notices the others watching him, he raises an eyebrow.
"What? I never get tired of that sight." He says laconically, straightening his ascot. "Maybe someday I'll join him. Someday." He adds softly before turning to follow the others.
There is a flurry of motion from the trees they just left, and a flash of sunlight on golden feathers, and Wij'kan takes to the sky. Nicholai stands still for a moment, watching his familiar with a beatific look on his face. When he notices the others watching him, he raises an eyebrow.
"What? I never get tired of that sight." He says laconically, straightening his ascot. "Maybe someday I'll join him. Someday." He adds softly before turning to follow the others.
Laithe nods, agreeing with and sharing in Nicolai's admiration for his familiar. He then adds "Perhaps we need not take a sweep of the area after all, with Wij'kan's eyes watching for us from above? He'd have a better chance than us of spotting any danger, and as for finding Alton, we are more likely to work out which way he went by a close study of the ruins."
He awaits a while longer for the golden feathered bird to do a sweep of the area and then, assuming there is nothing to report, starts towards the ruined tower.
Wijk-An takes to the air, wheeling up into the sky in wider and wider circles, sending empathic impressions back down to Nicolai.
As the hawk flies further over the area, you get no sense of danger, and soon Wijk-An flies off to hunt.
"Perhaps we need not take a sweep of the area after all, with Wij'kan's eyes watching for us from above? He'd have a better chance than us of spotting any danger, and as for finding Alton, we are more likely to work out which way he went by a close study of the ruins."
Nicholai nods, but slowly, as he watches Wij'kan rise and circle.
"He is far better equipped to spot people than I am, that is for certain. The slightest movement seems to draw his attention like a lodestone to a sword. But as far as tracks or other signs, I would still trust our many sets of eyes up close." The dandy reluctantly admits, obviously not wishing to say his familiar can't do something, but not wishing to miss any sign of their friend either.
The dandy starts to follow Laithe, when he suddenly stops short, head snapping upwards. "Where?" He whispers. He stands still for a few moments longer as Wij circles, then relaxes with a grin. Overhead Wij'kan can be seen flying off to hunt.
"Wij'kan is happy. He sees no sign of our previous 'visitors', And It seems he's spotted a friend. That way!" He says with an infectious grin, pointing the direction for the others.
"Wij'kan is happy. He sees no sign of our previous 'visitors', And It seems he's spotted a friend. That way!" He says with an infectious grin, pointing the direction for the others.
"What a relief!" exclaims Keildrithe with a broad smile. "Let's not tarry, our friend awaits!" Then, as an afterthought strikes him, his mood abruptly becomes a bit more sullen. "Let us hope he is unharmed..."
As the party makes their way toward the hill and his position in the forest, Alton steps from the tree line, and hurries towards the group. The small figure looks a little disheveled, his clothing and hair have not quite as tidy as usual, but other than this he appears healthy.
'Nice of you to return for me' he says in mock hurt, but then his face breaks into a relieved grin. 'Im glad you all appear well. Did you engage again with the Artonites?'
As the party makes their way toward the hill and his position in the forest, Alton steps from the tree line, and hurries towards the group. The small figure looks a little disheveled, his clothing and hair have not quite as tidy as usual, but other than this he appears healthy.
'Nice of you to return for me' he says in mock hurt, but then his face breaks into a relieved grin. 'Im glad you all appear well. Did you engage again with the Artonites?'
When Nicolai mentions Wij'kan had spotted Alton, Laithe changes into wolf form and lopes in the direction indicated, covering the ground quickly. He changes back as he draws near, and is relieved to see the diminutive warrior is unharmed.
"Well met Alton" Laithe replies, clapping the halfling on the back. "You had us all worried there, for a while. Artonites? No, we did not see them. We emerged from the ruins to find the trapdoor closed and you gone. Was it they who returned and caused you to take cover? Any idea on where they are now?"
Alton nods at Laiths warm welcome.
'Indeed, they must have regrouped after our last skirmish and decided to try another attack. I saw them coming a little way off, and tried calling down to you, but to no avail. So I closed the trap door and covered it, in the hope they wouldn't discover your location. I then took to the trees to hide and watch their movements.'
Alton pauses in his recount and a red flush crosses his cheeks.
'I ah... was rather tired and... well thought it would be best to rest my eyes for a short time. That must have turned into a longer time than intended, for when I woke up there was no sign of the Artonites and you lot had already left.'
The halfling lapses into silence, still looking somewhat sheepish.
Alton nods at Laiths warm welcome.
'Indeed, they must have regrouped after our last skirmish and decided to try another attack. I saw them coming a little way off, and tried calling down to you, but to no avail. So I closed the trap door and covered it, in the hope they wouldn't discover your location. I then took to the trees to hide and watch their movements.'
Alton pauses in his recount and a red flush crosses his cheeks.
'I ah... was rather tired and... well thought it would be best to rest my eyes for a short time. That must have turned into a longer time than intended, for when I woke up there was no sign of the Artonites and you lot had already left.'
The halfling lapses into silence, still looking somewhat sheepish.
"Well, the important thing is that everyone is safe -- thank the old gods. Do you know where the Artonites went, Alton? Are they still in the area? We found some undead spirits lurking in the chambers below the tower, and have agreed that it would be wise for us to return and release their souls once and for all... but it wouldn't do for us to be ambushed by the Artonites while we did so..."
Keildrithe returns the magical longfang dagger the halfling had lent him. "You'll definitely need this, if you are coming with us to confront the shades below the tower..."
Nicholai hastens with the others, and gives a grin at the sight of their disheveled, diminutive friend. He gives a self-mocking courtly half-bow of greeting, but his smile shows his relief. He glances around nervously at Alton;s mention of the Artonites, but quickly shakes it off.
"Well, Wij' sees nothing of interest nearby except us now. Ah, and apparently a fat rabbit." He adds drolly, leaning his head to the side slightly as if listening to a far off sound.
"But that doesn't mean they can't return. And the last thing I want is to be stuck between deadly shades, and Vorn's inquisitors!" The dandy arches an eyebrow.
"Alton! I knew it! I said you were fine!" the elf maiden gives the halfling a huge kiss and even longer hug while she whispers, "who would I spar with?"
Then she settles back with a small sparkle in each eye, but that is soon dabbed away as Pharris looks out from the party to the horizon.
"Well, Wij' sees nothing of interest nearby except us now. Ah, and apparently a fat rabbit." He adds drolly, leaning his head to the side slightly as if listening to a far off sound.
"But that doesn't mean they can't return. And the last thing I want is to be stuck between deadly shades, and Vorn's inquisitors!" The dandy arches an eyebrow.
"My instincts tell me they have probably cleared off. They lost their primary trackers in the battle and they seem to have had no luck tracking us or Alton since then. Still," he pauses and turns to Nicolai "is Wij able to stay above to keep watch while we head back down?"
*Knowledge (Religion) : +7 (+4 Int, 3 ranks)
*Knowledge (Local) : +5 (+4 Int, 1 rank)
Kajetan tilts his head to one side as if recalling something, "Didn't we pass a keep a few days back?" he scratches the growth on his chin, "I would put money they have headed back there, where they could press gang another tracker from the locals."
"My instincts tell me they have probably cleared off. They lost their primary trackers in the battle and they seem to have had no luck tracking us or Alton since then. Still," he pauses and turns to Nicolai "is Wij able to stay above to keep watch while we head back down?"
Nicholai gives that pleasant, 'I-know-something-you-don't' half smile and nods.
"I don't think that will be a problem." He says dryly. "I'M certainly not going to try to convince Wij' to enter that accursed hole. I still have scars from the last time I tried to convince him to come indoors!"
Kajetan and Nicolai, you know that amongst Artonites, proper burial is very important (as it is in most cultures and religions); it is quite possible that as well as / instead of heading back for a follow up attack, the soldiers may have been collecting their dead. This hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that Wijk-An did not seem to notice any carrion on the hill in his fly over (although being a half celestial bird he may simply have no interest in feasting on dead humans).
A quick scout around the area reveals no further sight of the Artonites, and Wijk-An did not see them either – so unless they are well hidden up on the top of the hill itself amongst the ruins, they appear not to be around.
Kajetan, the keep or fort that you passed on thew road is actually only a few hours ride back, but it appeared to only have a very small garrison. The town of Lichford is a long day’s travel back along the road.
"To the tower, then?"
"To the tower, then?"
"Aye" replies Laithe, leading the group on towards the ruins.
The girl warrior follows Laithe and Keildrithe, "you know when I first met you, I was hunting gnolls for sport. This seems to have become altogether more serious since then."
She gradually reverts to silence as the party nears the hill, but keeps a watchful eye out at the shadows.
Warily, the group climb the hill and approach the ruin. It all appears much as you left it the day before, but the bodies of the slain Artonites are indeed gone.
Pharris:
"Well, the important thing is that everyone is safe -- thank the old gods. Do you know where the Artonites went, Alton? Are they still in the area? We found some undead spirits lurking in the chambers below the tower, and have agreed that it would be wise for us to return and release their souls once and for all... but it wouldn't do for us to be ambushed by the Artonites while we did so..."
Keildrithe returns the magical longfang dagger the halfling had lent him. "You'll definitely need this, if you are coming with us to confront the shades below the tower..."
Alton shakes his head at Keildrithe's questions. 'Your guess is as good as mine.' Alton accepts his dagger back gratefully, indicating that this time he will join the group below the tower rather than risk being seperated again.
Kajetan looks up from his notes, his mouth dropping open a little at Pharris's last comment, he quickly drops his head back to his page and scribbles. Nicolia who is probably close enough to see he has written 'Pharris.. insane? Who in there right minds hunts Gnolls for sport?' He stumbles over a tree route and decides it is probably best to either walk or write, but not both. He closes his journal with loving care.
The girl warrior follows Laithe and Keildrithe, "you know when I first met you, I was hunting gnolls for sport. This seems to have become altogether more serious since then."
Nicholai winks at Alton, obviously glad to see him safe and sound, and bobs his head in grim agreement with Pharris' statement. He glances at Kajetan's notebook as the young mage tries to write and walk and the same time. He gives a small half-grin as Kajetan stumbles, but whether it is at the mage's clumsiness, or what he glimpsed in the journal you cannot tell. He quickly reaches out to steady Kajetan.
"Easy there lad! Don't deprive us of our magus due to a twisted ankle! They are not nearly as impressive to the ladies as scars, but no less deadly in a battle!" He grins at the bookworm's look. "Although at the rate we seem to be acquiring opponents, we shall soon ALL be as scarred as the most battle-hardened legion!" He quips merrily.
The girl warrior follows Laithe and Keildrithe, "you know when I first met you, I was hunting gnolls for sport. This seems to have become altogether more serious since then."
She gradually reverts to silence as the party nears the hill, but keeps a watchful eye out at the shadows.
"I seem to remember that being serious enough!" Laithe replies, recalling that the imp had briefly taken control of Pharris, and subsequently escaped their clutches yet again. However, the others may notice Laithe walking a little lighter, his face a little less grim, as the companionship of the group, particularly now that Alton had been found unscathed, lightens the oppressive mood of the last few days.
He hums an old Karandic tune quietly as they approach the ruins.
Kajetan smiles at the dandies word, "And I bet you would milk those scars for all they were worth, I hear girls 'dig' scars". His smile broadens a little, and for a moment he forgets where they are heading and he can almost imagine that he is on a nice stroll with some friends.
Growing embolden he speaks again "I never had many friends growing up," Kajetan, smiles at the others, "but I am glad I can count you all as my friends, even if you have made my life complicated".
Kneeling down Kajetan goes through his many deep pockets, finally with-drawing a small brown bottle, uncorking it the smell of alcohol suddenly fills the air. He pours a small amount into his palm, dabs a free finger in the liquid and traces some sigils on his face, chanting softly as he does. The alcohol evaporates immediately turning into a black, sinister looking mist that Kajetan sucks in with one long breath.
Standing up he asks "Shall we get to it?" as he takes a step towards the hill, pausing briefly as he enters the sun light.
"Something moved up in the shadows, see?" Pharris points towards some undergrowth, and then after a while adds, "its probably an animal...."
Kajetan smiles at the dandies word, "And I bet you would milk those scars for all they were worth, I hear girls 'dig' scars".
Nicholai sniffs, and taps the side of his nose with one finger. "Of course I would. What else are scars good for? Other than to remind you of something you should try to avoid doing again!" He grins back at Kajetan, absent-mindedly rubbing his belly where the chain devil had hooked him.
Growing embolden he speaks again "I never had many friends growing up," Kajetan, smiles at the others, "but I am glad I can count you all as my friends, even if you have made my life complicated".
Nicholai looks thoughtful for a moment. "I had many, acquaintances, growing up. Pals, buddies, a few sycophants, but friends,... friends are rare." He murmurs in agreement, then grins again, dispelling his unusually somber mood.
"And complicated is good! It beats the heck out of boring!" He quips, lightly elbowing the mage in the side.
"Something moved up in the shadows, see?" Pharris points towards some undergrowth, and then after a while adds, "its probably an animal...."
Nicholai perks up immediately, following Pharris finger with his eyes.
"Right,... probably just an animal,..." Nicholai agrees softly. He pulls out his crossbow and removes the safety."Just in case." He says innocently to the others.
Growing embolden he speaks again "I never had many friends growing up," Kajetan, smiles at the others, "but I am glad I can count you all as my friends, even if you have made my life complicated".
Laithe enjoys the banter of Kajetan and Nicolai, quietly nodding in acknowledgement to the former when he speaks of the bonds of friendship that have formed amongst them.
"Something moved up in the shadows, see?" Pharris points towards some undergrowth, and then after a while adds, "its probably an animal...."
When Pharris alerts them of movement, he quickly looks in the direction she points, scanning the area indicated for confirmation that the movement was indeed caused by an animal and nothing more sinister...
There, flopping weakly, stuck in the dried mud, is Atrek’s eagle, lying where it dropped in yesterday morning’s fight.
But something about this strikes Laithe as very wrong. The raptor should have died … if not from the injuries that Alton and others inflicted on it – the gaping wounds are still evident, crawling with flies which buzz up then settle back down as the bird flaps and flops – then from lying here on the ground for a day and a night … and yet it moves.
It’s head turns towards Laithe, fixing him with the gaze of a sunken eyesocket, and it open’s its beak – a croaking, rattling sound is all that emerges. It appears too weak, or too well stuck to free itself from the dried mud.
There, flopping weakly, stuck in the dried mud, is Atrek’s eagle, lying where it dropped in yesterday morning’s fight.
But something about this strikes Laithe as very wrong. The raptor should have died … if not from the injuries that Alton and others inflicted on it – the gaping wounds are still evident, crawling with flies which buzz up then settle back down as the bird flaps and flops – then from lying here on the ground for a day and a night … and yet it moves.
It’s head turns towards Laithe, fixing him with the gaze of a sunken eyesocket, and it open’s its beak – a croaking, rattling sound is all that emerges. It appears too weak, or too well stuck to free itself from the dried mud.
Laithe recoils visibly at the sight of the undead bird. His face then sets into a determined mask, his lighter mood dissolving. He grips his spear tightly and strides towards it determindly.
"This place is truly cursed if the dead who fall here rise of their own volition" he says, rising his spear to strike at the struggling eagle.
After striking the eagle, Laithe turns to Alton. "Are you certain Vorn returned and took his dead with him? I don't fancy facing those we struck down yesterday for a second time..."
As Kajetan and Nicolai talk about the bond that has grown between the party members, Keildrithe finds inspiration in their words and begins to recite an old Karandic hymn:
These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is in the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Now the sun's gone to Hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We are fools to make war
On our brothers in arms
The bard's voice becomes quieter and quieter the longer he recites; the last few verses are barely audible...
There, flopping weakly, stuck in the dried mud, is Atrek’s eagle, lying where it dropped in yesterday morning’s fight.
But something about this strikes Laithe as very wrong. The raptor should have died … if not from the injuries that Alton and others inflicted on it – the gaping wounds are still evident, crawling with flies which buzz up then settle back down as the bird flaps and flops – then from lying here on the ground for a day and a night … and yet it moves.
It’s head turns towards Laithe, fixing him with the gaze of a sunken eyesocket, and it open’s its beak – a croaking, rattling sound is all that emerges. It appears too weak, or too well stuck to free itself from the dried mud.
Laithe recoils visibly at the sight of the undead bird. His face then sets into a determined mask, his lighter mood dissolving. He grips his spear tightly and strides towards it determindly.
"This place is truly cursed if the dead who fall here rise of their own volition" he says, rising his spear to strike at the struggling eagle.
Keildrithe's recitation and meditations come to an abrupt end as the group stumbles upon the undead bird. He grimaces in both pity and disgust. "Better make sure that we are not the next to fall in this cursed ground," he mumbles...
A few quick stabs puts the eagle out of its unliving misery.
"That settles it for me, Keildrithe. Covering up this place isn't enough, we cannot leave here until the source of this black death is gone, can we?"
Pharris grimly watches the hawk die again, shaking her head.
"Fascinating..." Kajetan whispers before crouching down in the mud to study the dead/undead/dead again bird. He pulls it out of the mud by a wing, "spontaneous reanimation...." he pulls a winter blanket out of the bottom of his back pack and sits there briefly considering if it is worth going with out a blanket to take the dead bird with him. After a short consideration comfort wins and he plops the bird back down in the mud and stands up, a strange look of determination on his face.
*Knowledge (Religion) : +7 (+4 Int, 3 ranks)
"We may want to properly inter anything we kill down there," he announces with a point at the trap door.
Nicholai bobs his head in time to Keildrithe's chant, nodding thoughtfully as he winds down to almost silence at the end. He is equally shocked/appalled/fascinated at the discovery of Atrek's flopping bird in the mud. He recoils as Kajetan kneels down to inspect the avians remains, obviously appalled at the thought of touching them himself.
After striking the eagle, Laithe turns to Alton. "Are you certain Vorn returned and took his dead with him? I don't fancy facing those we struck down yesterday for a second time..."
Nicholai shudders, then his usually animated face becomes as still and inexpressive as the masks in his pack.
"Yes,... Although I'd warrant that finding his men newly revived would prove to be as much a hindrance to Vorn as to us, No creature deserves such a fate. If the darkness below is already strong enough to revive a dead being above ground, even so small a one as a bird,... It is much more powerful than I thought. And much more dangerous." Nicholai intones soberly. His face remains an impassive mask of stone, but there is an almost visible golden gleam in his eye. It is echoed almost instantly by the cry of Wij'kan, out of sight but still hunting nearby. The dandy nods solemnly as if in agreement with an unheard statement.
Nicholai shudders once more involuntarily as he watches Kajetan make one final inspection of the raptor, his face assuming its usual aristocratic expression.
"We may want to properly inter anything we kill down there," he announces with a point at the trap door.
"Agreed. I'm no priest, but I know a few simple blessings. Probably won't be enough by themselves, but perhaps with a liberal dousing of holy water,..." He muses aloud, then turns to Laithe.
"I understand that you are a priest of nature, but my (Admittedly limited) understanding of the old gods is that they don't like undead any more than Arton. I'm betting that even a simple blessing from one such as yourself would go a long way towards preventing, or at least interfering, with the ability of a corpse to reanimate." Nichoali says, his expression not even trying to hide the fact that he's hoping the Karand will agree with him.
Kajetan:
The entrance to the cairn below the hill lies as you left it the previous day.
Alton unconsciously makes a sign to ward of evil spirits, while his other hand clenches the hilt of his blade.
‘Perhaps we can burn the bodies.'
The halfling looks uneasily at the trap door.
Alton unconsciously makes a sign to ward of evil spirits, while his other hand clenches the hilt of his blade.
‘Perhaps we can burn the bodies.'
The halfling looks uneasily at the trap door.
"A very good suggestion, Alton. I'm not even sure that we will have the power to overcome the source of this evil. And while I'm willing to try to eliminate it, Pharris I remain adamant that it would be wiser to run a live to fight another day, than it would be to become one of the damned, if the fight should turn against us... and hope that you will agree to do the same... Sacrificing our souls will accomplish nothing..."
"A very good suggestion, Alton. I'm not even sure that we will have the power to overcome the source of this evil. And while I'm willing to try to eliminate it, Pharris I remain adamant that it would be wiser to run a live to fight another day, than it would be to become one of the damned, if the fight should turn against us... and hope that you will agree to do the same... Sacrificing our souls will accomplish nothing..."
"Agreed!" Nicholai says, just a little too hastily. While his expression remains as cavalier as ever, his eyes are just a little wider than normal. "Make no mistake, I have no intention of sacrificing myself. But this must be stopped! Whilst I honestly have no desire to be a hero,... I will risk myself, IF I thought that would put an end to this evil. But I am not willing to risk anyone elses lives. And I can assure you, I will not risk mine own needlessly! If the fight turns against us, we run!"
He catches his breath, and says, much calmer.
"If fire will help prevent them from rising, again, I can help with that!" He says with a smirk, tiny candle flames dancing on his fingertips.
"I understand that you are a priest of nature, but my (Admittedly limited) understanding of the old gods is that they don't like undead any more than Arton. I'm betting that even a simple blessing from one such as yourself would go a long way towards preventing, or at least interfering, with the ability of a corpse to reanimate." Nichoali says, his expression not even trying to hide the fact that he's hoping the Karand will agree with him.
"May Ehlonna lift you up to soar free, something you never were truly able to do in life" Boland whispers to the eagle.
He then wipes his spear clean on the grass, frowning at Nicolai's request. "Perhaps..." he muses, but with no great confidence. "To be honest I know a lot about the ways of nature, but very little of the spiritual world. The magic granted me by the Lady is of a similar kind - utilising the powers of nature and life, but with little that can influence or effect the unnatural powers of undeath. As a child I met a priest of Ehlonna who I have no doubt would have had the ability to do as you ask. But I am less a priest and more a follower, or companion of the Lady."
Turning to the others he says "Indeed, a priest such as Vorn would likely be of great use against what we are about to face. It is a great shame that he and so many like him are consumed with their false quests and inquisitions that their powers have been turned against the innocent, and away from the things that truly deserve their attentions. But we have a mightier weapon - the strength of our wills, the strength in our limbs, the power of our magic and most importantly, companions who will stand steadfast beside us. We will win this fight, and find a way to purge this place of it's evil taint..."
Having said, he turns and begins the march up to the hill.
"May Ehlonna lift you up to soar free, something you never were truly able to do in life" Boland whispers to the eagle.
Nicholai nods, eyebrow raised, obviously impressed with the druid's force of will.
"When you put it like that, How can we lose?!?" Nicholai asks cheerfully.
He smiles at the others, and follows the druid up the hill to the dungeon entrance,...
The trap door is as it was left – it is a simple enough task to climb back down into the cellar, and from there into the cairn below.
Pharris leads the way, her sword out and ready.