Raven, now more used to her larger form, swings in a wide arc at the already-damaged skeleton.
The tide of battle begins to swing in the favor of the party, as Raven's the force of her massive swing throws one of the skeletons flying back into crashing into a statue, scattering bits of bone. Vasilyn explodes in the skull of one with under his volley of arrows, which falls to the ground lifeless.
It's a bones on bones brawl as the remaining enemy skeleton attempts to destroy the skeletal minion.
Injured by the explosion, Alexei looks up at the man to make a quick estimate of their distance before channeling energy once again, this time to heal the living.
Aris screams as the bomb blast tears into her, then again as the wounds knit themselves shut. She rushes forward, shouting something in Draconic, and flings a suddenly-created ball of snow toward her foe. Alas, it flies wide.
(vs. Touch)
(plus stagger on hit, Fort 15 negates)
As Alexai undoes all the work that the madman's thrown bomb did, he gibbers a bit as he drinks from another flask.
"She has said it! I will dangle you like marionettes from your entrails!"
His eyes bulge out slightly and you can see the muscles under his leather armor ripple and grow!
As holy energy floods through Raven and knits her wounds shut, the mercenary relaxes a little bit as the pain is relieved. Raven begins rushing forward, awkwardly manuevering her large form as she makes her way towards the madman, sizing him up and taking full stock of his abilities, preparing for a charge.
The minion Vorsirion summoned, though battered, remains on its feet, clawing mindlessly at its fellow.
Vasilyan grunts, satisfied with the outcome of his last attacks. He turns to normal arrows again and begins targeting the madman on the balcony. "Your heretic practises will be punished!" he shout out at the man as he focus on his inner faith in Erastil.
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The ranged attacks on the madman begin to wear on him, though he seems little sign of stopping despite multiple javelins and arrows sticking out of him like a pin cushion. His eyes begin to take a black-cast.
The remaining enemy skeleton makes a strong attempt at being the last skeleton standing!
The skeleton then moves towards the party.
As the skeleton approaches, Alexei draws his mace and cautiously strikes at the undead, more focused on keeping his shield between its sword and him than destroying it. "Once you've taken care of the resident madman, I could use some help."
The madman glares at Raven, his eyes now resembling black mirrors as black as the void. His voice becomes hollow, reverberating, "You will join me..." He lunges forward, trying to drive his spear into the enlarged slayer.
His spear drives in deep as he continues to yell, "Join me..."
[ooc]Next up: Everyone but Alexai
Aris focuses on the rules that hold her magic together, plucking a single thread out of the spell Snowball to strengthen it, then lobbing it quickly toward the man.
Raven growls as the spear punctures her armor and lands in her abdomen, then lashes out with her blade...
As her blade lands, Raven says calmly, "Join you? In Hell, maybe. But not while I'm still kicking topside."
As her gigantic blade cleaves through the madman, sending him tumbling into the abyss, Raven says calmly, "Join you? In Hell, maybe. But not while I'm still kicking topside."
She then turns her attention to the remaining skeleton, already planning her next move...
"We've almost made it! C'mon!" shouts fiercely Vasilyan as he aims for the only remaining target, the skeleton, with two blunt arrows.
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Arisl's spell strikes home, causing frostbite to spread out from the wound and slow the madman's reflexes. Moments later, Raven's absolutely huge blade crashes mightily down onto her foe with devastating effect, slicing through him in an explosion of gore. Raven is able to see how his blood pool turns from red to black, hardening like stone.
With their main foe removed, Vasilyn turns to the final skeleton, which the paladin dispatches with ease, skull and ribcage collapsing under his blunted arrows.
There is a silence and stillness for a momment as the thrill of battle dies down until there is an enormoush cracking sound comming from the stone doors at the far end of the chamber that the Pharasmite statues appeared to face.
On his corpse is additional gear:
potions of cure light wounds (2)
potions of enlarge person (2)
wand of command undead (13 charges)
acid (2)
alchemist’s fire (2)
smokesticks (2)
tanglefoot bag
thunderstone (2)
There are two other notable things that you find: a holy symbol of pharasma that has been tarnished and corrupted among his belonginings, and a piece of obsidian-like stone in the shape of a teardrop around his neck. The stone seems vaguely similar in color and consistency to what the remains of his blood has congealed into.
Each of the skeletons carries longswords, a breastplate, and a broken shield.
Ahead, the strangely opened chamber awaits.
Picking up a flask of alchemist's fire and the wand, Alexei readies shield and mace to stand beside Vorsirion. Agreed. No sense in letting a potential enemy prepare.
As she shrinks back down to normal size, Raven scoops up both of the enlarge person potions. "These are going to be useful," she says, takes a swig from one of the cure light wounds potions to heal her wounds, and then takes point before moving into the chamber.
Vasilyan spends some time amassing the skeleton's weapons and armors in a heap in the corner of the room. "These weapons and armors are quite valuable. We should come back back and retrieve them before we leave." Then, the archer grabs an alchemist's fire, a vial of acid, a smokestick and a thunderstone and puts them into his backpack. "These could come in handy as well, you should take the others" says Vasilyan as he grabs the wand and the tarnished holy symbol. "These are valuable proofs of the activity going on down here. We should keep them and show them to the priestess."
Leaving the corpse and skeletons behind, the party ventures further into the Ossuary. The walls and furnishes seem to almost be... timeless despite the ancient dates of interment you find. Not a spec of dust is on the floor and tapestries of Pharasma seem to be freshly sewn. However, the overall creepiness that the party observed seemed to have been prominent here. Every crypt is opened, unanimated skeletons stare towards the party, and black veins of the strange material spreads across the walls, floors, and ceiling. The blackness seems to be solidifying from some form of liquid.
After a short walk, the hallway opens into a massive room, with a yawming whirlpool of black water that fed the veins. Before your eyes, the roiling inky waters goes to stillness, assuming a glassy, almost mirrored sheen.
Even more disturbing in the blackness, a massive white orb of an eye appears, blinks once, then deepening black covers the entirety of the surface.
Leaving massive oddity behind, you continue along to what appears to be Pharasmite quarters, whith defaced holy symbology covering a majority of the surfaces. In the chamber black furniture—a few chairs and tables, an armoire, and a dresser—flanks a large canopied bed in the center of the room, topped with satin sheets and a heap of lumpy pillows.
The alert of the group hear some movement coming from a closet door. Opening the door, a black robed, shackled woman with Pharasmite symbology woven into her clothes recoils back from the light. In the flickering light, though, her white pale skin and black deadened eyes are evident. She whispers quietly, "Please... no..."
Alexei carefully skirts the pool of liquid, looking for anything that might tell him more about it. Could it be related to one of the gods that promote undeath?
"Arisl, Vorsirion, do either of you know anything about this? Whatever it is, I think we should destroy it if we can. It seems to be the source of the corruption."
With the appearance, and disappearance, of the eye, Alexei raises his holy symbol in a ready/warding position. "Everyone, I suggest we move back and ready ourselves. This seems to be the source of the corruption and I will attempt to purge it."
Alexei tries to position himself so that the channel will cover the entire pool. Sheltering as much of himself behind the shield as possible, Alexei raising his silver key and unleashes a blast of positive energy.
Alexei keeps his key ready, but holds up his hand in a non-threatening gesture. Moving closer to the woman, he tries to get a better look at her condition without being threatening. "Don't be scared. We are here to help. I'm Alexei, a healer. Are you alright?"
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Vorsirion follows the others into the room with the flowing black ichor. Unconsciously, his hand moves to the skull at his waist. The elf holds the skull, missing its jawbone, in his left hand, and turns it from side to side, as if it is surveying the scene.
He turns to Alexei, as if startled someone was talking to him.
"I...I will examine it..." the elf says.
The elf watches the unfolding scene with fascination. When the woman speaks, he tries to determine what is happening to her.
Yesss...
The inky blackness seems to recoil back from Alexai's channeling, though it absorbs it rather than dissipating. Examining it carefully, it seems to be made of pure Negative energy! As it solidifies, though, it appears to become harmless glass. The only closest approximation that the scholarly types can think of to describe it is the material of the Endless Tapestry itself.
The woman appears to be clearly animated, though just as clearly dead. Undead to be specific.
She mutters a cry, "You can't heal me.. no one can help me... oh, Pharasma, why have you forsaken me?"
Once Vorsirion finishes his examination, Alexei nods encouragingly. "What can you tell us?"
Lowering the shield slightly, Alexei turns to the group. "Well, it did seem to react to positive energy, if not violently or dramatically. A negative energy infused substance perhaps? A well of undeath to strengthen the... undead?" Alexei pauses at the awkward phrasing. It seems apt though.
Focusing on Vorsirion, "Could this be useful to you? While I do not want to offend our employers or the Lady of this house, it may be worth our while to take some before they remove it. Do you need special tools and would there be any danger?"
Alexei's grip on the key tightens, and he reaches within and out to the energy that is part of his calling. Sentient! Unbalanced scales! The thinking dead are all supposed to be terribly dangerous. What is she? Wight? Vampire?
To the... woman, Alexei attempts to smile confidently. "We haven't even tried, so don't give up just yet. And I wouldn't count the Mother of Souls out either. She waits for all of us, and the invitation never expires, as even gods have learned.
So please, tell us what happened to you. Then we will have a better idea of what is possible, and what is not."
Raven hangs in the back of the room, letting the experts analyze the strange black whirlpool. In her experience, magic is always best left to the experts-such as Alexei and Vorsirion.
She does, however, keep a constant eye out for any trouble. As soon as the eye appears, Harbinger is in her hands in the blink of an eye, and Raven is already crouched in a defensive stance, tension rippling across her entire body. As soon as it is apparent that there is not immediate danger, however, Raven relaxes-if only slightly.
When Alexei advises Vorsirion about the properties of the pool, Raven pipes up. "I would advise against that, both of you. That madman we fought earlier, remember him? His blood hardened into... whatever that stuff is after he died. My guess is that no good will come of messing with it."
Raven again keeps a suspicious eye on the Pharasmin woman, taking a cue from Alexei's stress that she's not to be trusted. Turning to Vasilyan, she says brusquely, "Vasilyan. What's your opinion on her?"
The undead woman adjusts her black hood to cover her face. She was likely once lovely, but death has given her an unhealthy palour. "You are kind, but I can feel the touch of Pharasma has abandoned me. Her voice, which once comforted me at midnight prayer has gone silent." She shakes her head sadly, then continues. "But why would She give me aid? I have become an abomination, anathema to Her holy teaching."
She sighs. "You asked of my fate, though. I am... was... Delana Karaheis, High Priestess of Death of my order. Before. I was betrayed by a member of my order, that... bastard... Tripe, murdered me. Then I awoke in this state. The creation and command of intelligent undead should be beyond his abilities, yet clearly he had some means.
In his act of blasphemy, I believe that Pharasma may have turned from him as well. He visited me frequently, and each time his grip of sanity seemed to loosen."
As the woman speaks, Alexei relaxes his grip, slightly. "Whatever power he used to raise you was overwhelming him as well." Alexei describes the fight with Tripe and the pool. "I imagine your colleagues will be able to deal with problem when we make them aware of it, but anything you could add to our understanding would be appreciated. I have never heard of such a thing before."
Thinking about possible decisions, Alexei's face grows pensive. "I am afraid we cannot undo what was done to you. My thought is for you to accompany us back to the cathedral so that you and your order can decide on the best course to ensure this tragedy does not keep you separate from your goddess."
"Also... and I mean no ill will by this, only courtesy. We may directly free you from your current state and send you to meet the Lady presently. Of course, that is only to present an alternative. Considering the unusual circumstances involved and the unhallowed state of where we are, I would recommend a different location."
Scratching his chin with the shield's edge, Alexei's gaze grows a bit vague. "There are certainly other paths open to you as well, though finding them might take a certain amount of time and consideration. Not being among the living could surely be an advantage when hunting the undead. Surely Pharasma, or perhaps even another deity, would find a role suited to you."
"What are your thoughts High Priestess?"
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Vorsirion frowns at the pool, unsure what else to say about it beyond his observation that it is negative energy, almost in a solid form.
The elf listens in fascination as the woman describes her state. "What is it like for you? To be both alive and dead...at the same time? Is it...like drinking, but ever thirsting? Eating, but always famished? What would you have us do? Would you leave this place?"
The woman looks from Alexai to Vorsirion, pensive to appalled. "Do you not understand? The members of my order would destroy me without hesitation. There is no rehabilitation, no reversal that could be accomplished without the aid of a Wish or similar deific intervention." She regard's Alexai's holy symbol. "I suppose Abadar is more... egalitarian in his teachings... but the rote of Pharasma is quite explicit. It would be best if you were to tell the rest of my order that I had perished. Once freed from here, I know of an exit from here that I can use to leave this place. Perhaps I could find a new life to the Southern wilds."
To Vorsirion: "It is horrid. Like suffocating without able to breath, yes." She nods sadly. "It is an eternal torment lacking the full feeling of the senses. The worse of curses I could have ever imagined.. but as much as it sickens me, I. Do. Not. Wish. To. Perish."
With those last words, her pallid face seems to be set with determination, almost seeming to surprise herself with her vehemence to exist in such a state.
As the elf necromancer(?) has nothing else to add, Alexei nods to Raven. "That is probably wise." He makes no further attempt to investigate substance.
Nodding to her statement. "It is nature of death to be absolute. It is the nature of civilization to be flexible. If you are thinking of heading south, you might even consider joining us. Business will take us there soon enough."
Alexei raises his eyebrows at the passion in her words to Vorsirion. Waiting for the elf's response, Alexei speaks up once again. "I would not object to telling your fellow priests you have perished, as it is certainly true. And your desire to... live is understandable. However, it would put my mind at ease if you were to swear an oath before the Judge to the effect that you intend harm to none, particularly the priesthood you wish to leave behind."
Shrugging a bit uncomfortably, "Aiding a undead priestess of the Lady of Graves escape from her diety's shrine while concealing that fact from the same priesthood that employees him leaves even a worldly banker on somewhat unsteady ground. Knowing we are helping a unfortunate victim rather than a vengeful reverent would firm things up considerably."
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Vorsirion looks saddened at the woman's state, and especially her despair.
"I understand," the elf says. "Maybe more than anyone could," he says sincerely.
"We should let her go," he states. "You retain some shred of your humanity. You must fight to ensure it stays with you. Every day you must fight."
Alexai's spells reveal her to be telling the truth: she isn't immediately a threat to civilization. How even the most open minded society would react to her and the panic she might cause... that he can't say. With no further words for the unfortunate woman, you free her and take both of the two ex-pharasmite holy symbols to the surface, dispelling the ward from the (probably forgotten by this point) Chime.
Upon your return, your Pharasmite contact is incredibly curious to hear what you have to say. "Well, what did you find? I take it from their absence, my missing brother and sister are no longer among the living?"
Raven stands stalwart guard throughout all of the exchanges, always on the eye for any trickery. She stays silent. Negotiation is not her business.
At the meeting, she again keeps silent, just hoping that those kids are back at the Tipsy Kobold.
Nodding to Vorsirion's brief explanation. That is the gist of it. Though there are several troubling things that deserve further scrutiny from your church.
Alexei gives the priestess a brief description of the party's exploration leading up to the confrontation with Tripe, which he describes in exacting detail along with the substance in the pool. Although he does not mention the priest's name. Whatever and however it happened, your brother was infused with, if not possessed by, that substance. While it seems to have become quiescent, I would strongly recommend dealing with it immediately and with prejudice. The opening the children used to enter the crypts also ought to be sealed and a thorough examination conducted to ensure that there are no other breaches or weak points.
If Valanthe has any questions about specifics, Alexei tries to answer them in a concise and complete manner, while avoiding any mention of the conversation with Delana.
After the questions are over, Alexei offers Valanthe Tripe's holy symbol. While its last bearer did not remain worthy of it, I thought you might wish it returned. If not, the Bank will find a use for it.
As a last detail of to taken care of, Alexei addresses the issue of payment. I believe the final issue to be taken care of is payment for services. Will this be handled by youself or by the third party?
The priestess recoils in horror at the description of Tripe and what you saw. She remains somewhat skeptical about the fate of the High Priestess, but doesn't have enough immediately to base her suspicions on.
"I had feared the worst, however, I couldn't have imagined things could have gone so wrong. I thank you for your aid, your payment has already been made available to... the one that arranged this all."
She thinks for a moment, then adds, "Please, do be discreet about what you found. If the people of the city were to learn that one of our order could go so far astray, they could loose faith in Pharasma's teachings. You, of all people, should understand that." She nods at Alexai knowingly.
"The one that arranged this meeting said that you should return to where this began. I personally will be glad that I no longer have to associate with men that speak in such cloaked terms, though I imagine that is a far off future for you. In the meantime, the services of the Lady of Graves is welcome to you here, should you require them."
Bowing respectfully, "Thank you. I do not believe any of us require such at this time, and you may be assured of be assured of our discretion. It was, after all, part of the agreement. If there is nothing else high Priestess, we will take our leave and conclude the rest of this business."
If no one else has matters to discus with the High Priestess, Alexei looks to the others. "Is there anything that needs to be done before meeting with out Solicitor? If not, I suggest we finish this and discuss the rest of the business."
Returning to the Bargewright Inn, you notice that the Stables are full, with several picketed outside the main structure and several merchants appear to be making deliveries of a mix of provisions and travel necessities.
Speaking to the Malrgim Bargewright, he looks at you with his one eye, and goes back to the bar before pulling out several small pouches that each have the metallic sound of coin. "Yer friend said 'e was busy with other matters, but I should give you these. Sumthin' about yer reward. Yer rooms are paid through tonight, and each of you that need them have fresh horses for your travels, though those are explicitly a loan, mind you." He pulls out one several rolls of parchment, one that has several official seals at the bottom. "And there's this, of course. Read this in your quarters, if you would."
He looks thoughtful a moment. "I don't tend to involve myself in politics, but things round here have gotten a bad sort. May Cayden smile on yah." With that he goes back to shouting at a pair of unruly patrons.
The first note seems simple enough:
You have been granted a Charter to explore a plot of the Stolen Lands. The Word of Kings has little weight in that lawless land, but it should give some legitimacy to your efforts, as well as allow you free passage past Brevic patrols in your travel. Your first destination will be to Oleg's Trading Post, set at the very frontier of the Stolen Lands. Follow through with his request for aid, and investigate the bandit problem that has been popping up as of late.
Your other task is to map and explore these lands. Unfortunately, the maps that exist are a chaotic mishmash of contradictions. For any further efforts to occur there, a detailed lay of the land will be required.
Godsspeed in your journey
-The Solicitor
One parchment is an elaborately drawn map of Restov and Brevic lands in a small corner... with large blurry borders and a large white space. Nebulously drawn are the names of border countries: Mivon and Pitax. This is clearly the map for you to fill in.
Finally, and most importantly, you find your Charter
So witnessed on this 24th day of Calistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne.”
On the way out of the tomb, Raven grabbed the breastplate that seemed to be in the best condition.
At the inn, Raven carefully inspects her survival gear, taking each bit out and making sure it meets her exacting requirements. Satisfied, she puts them back, before inspecting the note.
Turning to Malgrim, Raven nods gruffly as a way of saying thanks, before saying, "Hate to refuse your hospitality, but I have other arrangements." She turns around and begins walking away towards the Tipsy Kobold before stopping and tossing, "Malgrim? I would suggest you lay low for a bit. Make sure that barge is riverworthy, maybe," before continuing on.
Striding through the winding streets of Brevoy, Raven certainly cuts an imposing figure. But she seems troubled as she opens the battered door to the Tipsy Kobold, her brow lined with thought as she enters.
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Vorsirion thanks the priestess for the reward and hefts his small share and jingles the coins.
He examines the charter with great interest.
Go to the Stolen Lands...
He is right. The time has come.
This expedition meant something, Vorsirion knew. But what? Why this? Why now?
Vorsirion bundled up against the chill air--though he was always cold--and walked out into the night. It suddenly donned on the elf that he had been here before. Long ago, almost in another life. Still, there were many things he had forgotten.
As he walked slowly down the street, his head cocked to the side at the sight of the Tipsy Kobold.
That...looks familiar...
Vorsirion can see Raven chatting with a woman who is obviously her mother through a window over a mug of ale. They laugh freely at some joke as a willowy child carefully runs drinks to the customers. Raven ruffles the kid's hair as she walks by and gives a contented smile. Raven relaxing is far different than Raven on the job, it seems.
Alexei takes possession of the note and charter after the others are finished examining it. "It seems that our authority will be tested from the very beginning. I'm not familiar with the trading post, are any of you?" He looks particularly at Raven and Vasilyan, who seem the most likely to have traveled passed there. His face hardens as he looks at the charter again. "Whatever else, I mean to put the last clause to good use."
The grimness vanishes as quickly as it appeared, dissipated by a wry smile. "But that is getting ahead of ourselves. I will report to the bank, and then invest the reward in some more useful assets, particularly a few pack mules and supplies to round out those we've been provided. If you wish, I would be glad to take care of similar purchases anyone intends to make. We might be able to get a better price that way, or at least prevent needless duplication."
After arrangements as the inn are taken care of, Alexei heads to the bank. First to tithe his payment for the assignment. Second to ensure everything is in order for his departure and start making arrangements for supplies.
After a few last minute purchases (and possibly farewell to departing party members), the group sets out at first light. As you are preparing to depart the Barge Wright Inn and are overseeing the packing of a literal mound of provisions, another cryptic mail from The Solicitor arrives, directing you to meet the fifth member of your Expedition at Fort Serenko, the last permanent presence Brevoy holds on the border of the Stolen Lands.
As you lead your horses out of Restov, a young boy that you recognize from the Ossuary dashes out from the crowd towards Raven. He gives a quiet "Thank you" and presses a small carved figure that looks vaguely reminescent of the Slayer into her hand, before running off back into the crowd.
The journey to Fort Sarenko lasts two uneventful days including a brief stop over in Nivikta's Crossing. Approaching the Fort, you are met and challenged by a small patrol of mounted men wearing the livery of Brevoy. While initially dubious of your rag-tag group, displaying your Charter is sufficient to grant you clearance to the Fort, with the instructions of "Meet with Knight Captain Garrek for lodging" before they ride off.
The fort itself is a small affair, that looks to currently house a dozen knights, though it appears to have been built for three times that number. Once again, you are given leave to enter after being challenged and are brought inside the Fort walls. Despite the reduced presence (and presumably funding), the courtyard stirs with activity and appears impecably maintained A small blacksmith forges horseshoes and a pair of soldiers drill under the command of a middle-aged man barking commands. At your approach, the soldiers break off, and the commanding officer turns to you. His piercing gray eyes seem to capture every detail of the group before he barks out "Allert the mess that we will have extra mouths tonight." He then turns his full attention to you and says, "Clearly, you are on official business to have gotten this far, but by the look of it you're no merchants. What business do you have here?"