While Chloir fixes the ladder, Abraham reloads his dagger into his wrist-sheath. Before moving back to the downed men.
"Really doesn't seem like we can catch a break here. How is he looking?
With the zombies dealt with, Abelone kneels down next to the prone man and starts doing a more throughout examination of his health.
Abraham kneels beside Abelone and watches as she looks over the man.
The man is extremely ill, even with the healing. It is clear that the bites and scratches of these zombies contain something unusual. The fact the wounds are already turning black is definitely a hint of this.
This just keeps getting better, he's not doing well. Abelone, you see that black stuff in there too? Has anyone ever seen anything like that? I have some antiplague I could try and give him, it might help. Though I don't know of anything that we can directly do for him."
Kovar eyes the man's wounds with sympathy. "Do you think you can save him?"
Priest keep saying how the gods smile on those who do good. Then why does it seem that whenever I try to help someone, even giving them potions I need myself, my generosity gets rewarded like this?
Chloir tries to figure out if there is anything to be done about these infections, besides a quick decapitation.
Basic magic will cure this disease. The disease is the basis of the myths that being bitten will cause someone to rise again as a zombie. Even without the brutal Necromantic Effect permeating Harper's Bay, this would cause someone to rise again anyway. And it's killing him.
The bites covering the man's body make it difficult, but it might also be possible to boost his system so he can fight it off himself.
"Magic, you say?" Abelone says, looking lost in thought for a few seconds before throwing her backpack into the ground and rummaging through its contents like a madwoman while muttering angrily to herself. "So stupid... Almost forgot about it... Here it is!" she yells in a triumphant manner and lifts up an ornate scroll. "I managed to save this from the temple before it got overran. It's not guaranteed to work, but it's the best that I can do."
Having said that, she unfurls the scroll and starts reciting the formulas that unlock the divine power contained within.
With a wave of blessed energy the dark, corrupting stains around the wounds vanished. He started breathing easier and his eyes fluttered open. "What...what happened?"
"Nice job everyone."
Abraham survey's the man. "It would seem you were set upon by a bunch of zombies, we were moving our way through the sewers down here for a supply run and happened to notice you in the midst of the attack.
Now, if you are feeling up to it, would you mind explaining why you were out at night with all that is going on? And what happened?"
"I was holed up in a warehouse nearby," the man said rising slowly to his feet. "The damned things managed to break in through the harbour entrance, and we had to run."
A dreadful feeling of forboding grips Chloe. "Anyone care to wager if that's the warehouse we were heading for? The barkeep's directions suggested that there was only one in this vicinity. Add to that our luck so far, and I know what I'm betting
And I for one have had enough close scrapes for one day. If we're going to fight a horde of these things, or look for other places, I need a rest."
Abraham begins to disagree with Chloir "Yes but" before feeling the weariness still in him and stopping.
Turning back to the man.
"Could you give us an idea of how many there were?" Perhaps it would be best to return to where we are held up. Supplies are running short, hence our venture, but maybe with some rest and information from you we could come up with a plan."
Abraham eyes the others to see what they think.
"I saw at least 20," the man replied, "But I think the bulk of them followed us out. They certainly managed to track me down in numbers."
Sighing to himself, perhaps in relief or just from exhaustion.
"In that case, perhaps we should reconsider just getting this done with now. Waiting longer isn't doing anyone any favors?
What say each of you? Chloir? I know your worn down as well. How are your magical energies holding up Abelone?
What about you? Do you think you would be up for going back. The inn we are at would likely have you, though I'm sure they would be far more warm in their welcome if you were to help in a joint effort to retrieve supplies."
"Before we decide, I would like to know what kind of supplies were in that warehouse. Was there really enough food in there to make it worth the risk? Do you have an estimate for how many day's worth of food for one person were stored there?"
"More importantly, if we move quickly, we may be able to save the others as well."
The man shook his head at that. "Everyone scattered. You'd have to hunt the city for them. If you see one of my friends at that warehouse, they'll be trying to chew your face off."
Nodding to Chloir, he added, "A lot. There were three pallets of dried beans alone. A cold room with some salted and smoked fish and meats. We barely scratched the surface, if I'm honest. Just boarded up what we could and when we thought we were secure opened the first load of food we could easily cook."
Abrahams mouth waters slightly as he imagines the variety of food that is being described. He pushes the thoughts out of his mind before commenting.
"It does sound as though there would be plenty there. Though more than we could likely carry. I think it would be worth investigating still, if we could get a better idea of the state of the warehouse we could plan future expeditions better."
"I have a spell that can make three of us almost completely undetectable to undead for half an hour. It's not really that good for emergency use since it would only conceal some of us, but it could make scouting the warehouse a lot easier," Abelone suggests.
Ah, I forgot I should have asked about any survivors first. People can get very unhelpful if you forget to ask, no matter how unlikely it is there are any.
[B]"That sounds useful Abelone. But I'm a bit worry about that "almost". If there are no survivors still inside, and since I doubt the undead will eat the beans tonight, I would still prefer to wait until tomorrow, so that we are in better shape to fight if it does come to that.
And perhaps someone at the inn has a few spare planks to build a makeshift bridge over the... well, the tentacle tank. Because I'm not sure I can still hop across the gap while carrying a whole pallet of beans."
"I still think we should at least scout it out, but I'm not opposed to going back and resting and regrouping if that is what we want to do."
"Well, intelligent undead might be unnaffected by it if their will is strong," Abelone describes the spell further to assuage Chloir's doubts. "Mindless ones, like the zombies we just fought, would not be able to notice you in any way unless you'd go and touch them. I think the risk would be vanishingly small."
Hmm, well, I suppose it would be useful to scout the place out, so we can properly plan recovering the food tomorrow.. Lets make sure we don't destroy any undead inside though. We don't want that vampire thrall to show up there.
Abelone, do you need to stay close in order for the spell to work. If not, perhaps it's easiest if Abraham and I go in alone. Even if the spell fails, we can run or hide by normal means quite well."
"Oh, no, it should work regardless how far you go. Just remember that it lasts only for half an hour, so don't get too distracted. And sure, I can stay behind. Though since the spell can affect three, you should take my familiar with you," she points at the little bird perched on her shoulder. "He's a quite fast flyer, so if anything happens he can come alert us."
"I suppose I'll stay back with Abelone. I'm not exactly sneaky and my blasts sound like an earthquake." Kovar smiles worriedly.
However nice the spell might have sounded, relying blindly on it seemed like a good way to get killed. With that in mind, Chloir resolved to sneak in as quietly as she would have without the spell.
As she slowly makes her way to the building, she checks the exterior from the shadows, and tries to sneak closer to the building. While doing so, she keeps her eyes open for, in order, inteligent undead, traps, living creatures, uninteligent undead, ways in and out of the building and any equipment that might help carrying the supplies to or through the sewers.
Taffy dislodges himself from Abelone's shoulder and starts gliding silently behind Chloir, looking for pretty much the same things that Chloir, plus tasty bugs.
Between the spell and the stealth, Chloir and Taffy get into the warehouse with little trouble. The man was telling the truth - even discounting some fresh food that's beginning to rot, there is more than enough food for the people in the inn to eat well for several days. Maybe a week with rationing.
There are few zombies remaining, and most of those are feasting on what is left of the people in the warehouse. As you watch one body, left alone by the creatures, shudders back into life and rises up. All told, there are perhaps a dozen zombies of the same kind as before.
Abraham follows after the two birds, keeping an eye on their tail end to make sure nothing sneaks up on them.
Chloir had hoped for more than a week's worth of food, but at least it would last longer than it had taken to collect. Assuming they would get it. She looks around. A dozen zombies, perhaps more depending on who would reanimate. And if all of them would burst into that putrid mess upon death... This definitely required her bow. And a hard to reach perch if possible. Chloir looks around the warehouse to find a good spot. If Abelone cast the spell again tomorrow, she could get into position before starting the battle. And Kovar might like a spot too.
Chloir also looks if some of the almost spoiled food is lying close enough to cover, or far enough away from the undead, to tuck into her bag. She doesn't know exactly what the limitations of the spell are, but good old fashioned sneaking and quick fingers should work.
Abraham watches Chloir from behind. What is she doing? I wonder if she found anything.
Being far too weak to carry any significant amount of food, Taffy keeps an eye out for any undead getting too close while Chloir is looting the place.
Chloir is able to get a few meals without any major issues, and sneaks back out with a fair sampling.
Chloir returns to Abelone and Kovar with her bounty of aging food. "Well, there's plenty of food and undead in there. I grabbed these bits for tonight, because I'm not sure if it'll last till tomorrow. The rest is a little too much for me to carry here before the spell runs out, so we'll have to come back for that.
I spotted a dozen or so zombies, and they looked ready to burst like the one from before. We should try to pick those off from a distance if possible. Tomorrow, I'll bring my bow. Then maybe Abelone can cast that spell again, and any of us who can climb and attack from a distance can find some nice hard to reach sniping spots to perch on. It won't matter that they can see us once we attack if the clumsy things can't reach us."
As Chloir speaks, she tries to package her prizes as best she can, so they won't be spoiled too badly during the trip back through the sewer.
And did Chloir see if the food supplies will be easy to get down in the sewer with the tools and materials available in the warehouse, or would we need to bring some rope, wheelbarrows or pulleys of some kind?
Jarred, potted and bagged foods will probably fair the trek through the sewers best, although some of the meats are wrapped in oiled paper and will probably make it as well. The fruit and vegtibles would likely fair worst, but are also the ones most liable to start going off earliest.
Abraham follows Chloir back.
"That's a good plan I think. I'm not fond of getting in close with them again. Once was quite enough..."
"This is as good as I can pack the stuff. Perhaps it is some small luck that smell of the sewer will be in my feathers for days. We'll be so used to that smell that we might not even notice it on any food that the others will turn up their noses at. At least we'll be well fed when we make another trip tomorrow. Shall we get going?"
"Don't worry Chloir, I know a minor spell that makes contaminated food edible, I'm sure it'll work on the smell as well," Abelone says, pretending not to have noticed what Chloir was going after. "I'm sure that everyone will be able to eat. Though if you're still worried, I could conjure a few bucketfuls of clean water over you once we're out of the sewers, see if that'll get rid of the smell."
"Somehow I doubt people will mind how it smells. But there is plenty to go around so I don't think it will matter much." Abraham gives a tight smile before dryly adding.
"Just don't sleep too close to me with those feathers and all and I won't say anything."
Abraham sighs to himself, too tired to offer much more than dry humor and definitely not in a state of mind to be getting into a dispute over the food. Far better to leave things pleasant for now.
As you return to the inn and knock on the door, you can hear the sound of fighting somewhere above. No one answers the knock.
"Oh crap, we need to get in there and try to help out."
Abraham will quickly(ish) start to move towards the blockaded door and start trying to open it.
Abelone rushes to help Abraham with the door. "Make way, Abraham! I'll see if I can get it to budge."
With both Abelone and Abraham hammering it, the door gave way. It appears to have been partially opened a;ready, before someone was interrupted.
"Thanks." Abraham keeps moving inside as quickly as his fatigued body will allow him to.