"Wizard! You do well with the basting! Should be easier to cook now!" Tamiro yells with a chuckle, his second sword springing into his hand as he swings away.
Seeing the directed assault on the wild beast, Lina steps forward drawing rapier and trusting in Cayden's luck, thrusts at the beast.
Wiping his blades down and sheathing them, Tamiro grins, "Tonight we feast!"
Grabbing the giant bird he hauls it over to Kino, and tosses it up into the saddle, strapping it down.
"We continue now!" he exclaims, and continues to lead along the trail.
Pluck dismisses the grease, just in case it should get in the way. He makes sure to leave some on the bird for Tamiro. "Think it tastes more like pigeon or chicken?"
|
Lunch over an open fire with spit-roasted axe beak goes well, and the island is mostly silent as you eat. The bird tastes more like turkey than chicken or pigeon (which would've been truly fowl). After finishing up lunch, burying the ashes and completing any other preparations needed for the day, the party embarks on the trail to Witchlight.
It's a difficult slog up a steep, overgrown trail that winds up the mountainous island to the highest peak. The Varisian Gulf expands below, the sea stretching into the horizon to the west, and the haze of Riddleport shimmering to the Northeast.
As you approach Witchlight itself, turkey vultures wheels in the sky above, and a few lights flash from the highest level of the tower. Most of the buildings in the town are crumbling or close to rubble. The tower is the only building remaining that still has a room.
Two of the crumbling buildings appear to be former stone houses, one is a rotting timber building with flecks of colorful paint on it, and the final one is a large timber-and-stone structure on the southern slope of town. Large windows give the impression that it may have been a shop at one point and several corpses lay near the outer wall of this building. The turkey vultures circle these bodies.
Catching sight of the scavengers circling above, Nel urges her horse onward. "No." she whispers out at the carnage at their "safe" haven. Quickly dismounting, Nel lets out a whistle and a snap before advancing towards the nearest corpse. "S$@%, what in the blazes happened here?" She whispers out, pulling her longsword from its sheath as she turns the body over.
Staying well away from the corpses, Setzer hovers in silence, giving Nel the opportunity to examine the bodies to try to form some sort of explanation. As he scans the carnage for any threats, images flash across his mind's eye of a similarly gruesome scene he left back in Ravenmoor. He shudders visibly.
"Snake eyes." His voice is no more than a haunted whisper.
|
|
As Rilia walks to the tower door and tries it, it doesn't budge, obviously barricaded from within.
With a quick glance, it's obvious that this body and the other three are dwarves, each wearing the finery befitting a worker from the Gas Forges. Nel turns the corpse over, flopping it on its back and landing with a squelch. As she does, she sees the corpse's lower jaw missing and its massive tongue lying free. The corpse sends it tongue flying upward at Nel, trying to wrap around her wrist.
V3 - Nel's Bestie
Party Group 1 - Setzer, Tamiro, Nel
V2
Party Group A - Tamiro, Lina, Rilia, Pluck
V1 and V4
Torn from his dark thoughts by the flash of movement, Setzer calls out, "Oh! Nel, look out!"
He drops from his throne, flicking a dart out of one of the hidden pockets of his scarf and blasts it towards the vile creature attacking Nel.
Temporary hit points: 8
Non-lethal damage: 8
"I read about these at the Cypher Lodge. They are void zombies. Infected by creatures known as akata and they will drain your blood given the opportunity." Determined not to give them that opportunity, Pluck casts a glitterdust spell positioned to catch all of the zombies and to barely miss Nel.
Rearing back as the jawless creature lunges at her, Nel widely swings her sword. "Well I suppose we found the missing dwarves!" As her blade cuts deep across the void zombie's face, Nel moves backwards in an effort to keep from being surrounded. "Wait, what in all the realms is a akata?" she shouts out, trying to keep up with the new information.
"I prefer the dead to stay dead!" Tamiro yells, kicking Kino into a charge as his blade appears in a flash.
Charging into the zombie behind Nel, he lashes down at it from the saddle, yelling at the zombie "Meikai ni modorimasu!".
|
|
V3 - Nel's Bestie
Party Group 1 - Setzer, Tamiro, Nel
V2
Party Group A is up! - Tamiro, Lina, Rilia, Pluck (normal iniative after surprise round)
V1 and V4
All of the zombies are blinded by Pluck's spell and spend their entire round trying to overcome the effect.
Nel's blow cuts deep into the zombie's face, and Tamiro's charge nearly slices the zombie's head from its shoulder. However, it stays on and manages to continue moving.
Upon hearing the commotion Rilia round the building only to find their attractive leader and her crude bodyguard(?), thug(?), friend(?), paramour(?), prostitute(?) being accosted by slavering outsider undead with tongues the size of-- well....
"Don't let the ardent (and gifted!) suitors within those poor flesh sheaths gift you with love bites, elsewise you'll be carrying similar lovechildren in your own bellies." Rilia would explain more later but for now she draws her silver rapier while her free hand brushes the spot about her exposed navel where her holy symbol is inscribed. She utters a word to her patron Calistria and is bathed for a moment in a faint halo of amber light.
Determined to bring down the zombies as quickly as possible, Pluck holds his ground and casts another spell sending two shimmering balls forward, one into the zombie that Nel injured and another into the one Tamiro charged.
"Pluck! I need a translation of what the elf said! Why would I lay with these abominations?!" Tamiro roars, dodging the incoming ball of force.
"These zombies will drain our blood. Akatas will be a bigger problem when we find them. Blue cats whose bites turn you into these."
|
|
V2
Party Group 1 - Setzer, Tamiro, Nel
V2
Party Group A is up! - Tamiro, Lina, Rilia, Pluck (normal iniative after surprise round)
From the top of the tower, a window opens and a red-haired half-elf appears in it. "Oh, for the love of Desna, say something! Prove you aren't dead!" Samaritha yells out, staring at the madness below.
One of the zombies rushes from around the corner, zeroing in on Tamiro. Unlike its zombie brethern, this one does not appear to be slowed by its death, and attempts to wrap its tongue around Tamiro's neck.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Turning in the saddle, Tamiro yowls at the surprise tongue, "Faurukurīchā o shinimasu!!Kino! Sore o fumitsukemasu!!"
Lashing down at the creature with his blade, cutting into it. Wrenching his blade free, Kino rears up tries stomping down onto the undead. Looking up to the red haired woman, he yells "Do we LOOK undead to you!?"
"Give it some time dear."
Pluck glances up at the elf, "Something!"
Setzer looks up at the amber-haired lady with a wink and a smile, "Oh, hello there! Don't worry, we'll have these things taken care of in just a moment."
He flips another dart into the air from a pocket in his scarf and blasts it towards the fiend trying to get familiar with Tamiro.
Temporary hit points: 8
Non-lethal damage: 8
Rilia moves up behind Nel and gives her a little squeeze.
"Now doesn't this get the blood pumping?" She whispers.
Pluck gets out a vial of holy water and moves up to hug the wall of the tower where the zombie will have to get past Tamiro to reach him.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Glancing up at the tower she has taken shelter near, Nel breaks out into a grin. "Samaritha! It's us! You okay up there?" she calls out to the other half-elf as she moves up to the void zombie, putting her weight behind her swing. Nel shouts in triumph as her blade cuts deep, slicing a good portion of zombie's flesh.
|
|
The zombie next Tamiro and Nel dies with a squelch from Nel's sword and a sickening pop as Setzer's dart hits it.
The blind Dwarven zombie lurches forward, heading away from Nel, but obviously hunting, its hands and tongue grasping ahead.
Samarithia calls down and says, "Oh, thank god, something that's not dead. Hold them off as I open up the tower for you!"
Party's Up! Setzer, Tamiro, Nel, Lina, Rilia, Pluck
Zombie
"Not to worry, my dear, we'll have these things taken care of shortly! I'm Setzer by the way!" Setzer gives Samaritha a quick wave before he rushes forward, hoping to put down the confused zombie dwarf. He tosses a carved stone die into the air and blasts it towards the shambling form of undeath.
Temporary hit points: 8
Non-lethal damage: 8
Samarithia calls down and says, "Oh, thank god, something that's not dead...."
"Well I've had more enthusiastic welcomes."
Rilia reaches around Nel grasping her upper arms and gently helps guide her next stroke.
"Perhaps if you loosen up your shoulders a bit--you are so tense right now."
Pluck holds onto his vial of holy water defensively, confident that the last zombie will soon be returned to the grave.
As Nel opens her mouth to shout up a comment, she nearly chokes as Rilia caresses her. Her blue eyes widen in horror, as Nel glances hopelessly at Tamiro for assistance. Deciding to deal with the lack of professionalism later, Nel brings her longsword down on the remaining zombie in a truly gruesome blow.
|
|
Setzer's dice and Nel's sword strike them with a odd slosh, and the creature stops moving under the assault.
Samaritha flings the door to the tower open, calling out, "Oh, it's so good to see you. come in quickly. There's dead about and monsters lurking in the woods. Nel, Tamiro, Pluck, it's such a pleasure to see you. And who are your new friends? Is the Goblin doing well?"
She herds the party inside and quickly shuts the door, sliding a bench, a bookshelf and table in front of the door.
The fifty-foot-tall circular watchtower stands precariously on the edge of a steep slope overlooking the sea. The tower itself seems to be made of stone, yet no seams or individual blocks are apparent; it's as if the entire tower were formed from one block of stone. An enclosed octagonal platform protrudes from the tower roof.
Setzer quickly rushes in with the rest, "Thank you for the temporary bit of refuge, Samaritha. Ah, please don't strain yourself! Allow me." As soon as Sam begins barricading the door, Setzer lays a gentle hand on her shoulder. He extends a hand towards the bookshelf and table and concentrates for a moment before the heavy objects gently lift off of the ground and float over to rest neatly in place against the doors. "There, now that that is done allow me to introduce myself properly." Setzer bows slightly, his stark white hair spilling over his shoulders. "I am Setzer Gabbiani, newly appointed Gamesmaster of the Gold Goblin. A pleasure to meet you." He eyes their surroundings for a moment, "This is quite the structure - masterfully crafted - I admire that level of skill." He nods approvingly, his amber eyes surveying the ground level of the tower.
Ever the gentleman....
"This is Lina and I am Rilia, what is your situation here Samaritha?"
Rilia takes in the tower interior.
|
|
The elf stares somewhat dead-eyed at Setzer as he begins moving things around. "I can do it myself, thanks. We found this tower a few days ago, once we got here. It's been a good place to hide from all the monsters, but I'm pretty sure that they're planning a massive attack. Have you encountered any of these monsters yet?"
Setzer pouts at being rebuffed by the feisty elf woman. As the conversation continues, he listens whilst rummaging through his pack and unfolding his flying throne. He mounts it and rises into the air, going for a closer look at the smooth stone walls - determined to find a seam.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The elf stares somewhat dead-eyed at Setzer as he begins moving things around. "I can do it myself, thanks. We found this tower a few days ago, once we got here. It's been a good place to hide from all the monsters, but I'm pretty sure that they're planning a massive attack. Have you encountered any of these monsters yet?"
"No we have not encounter them before. 'We' who? And why if there are monsters chasing you are you still here?" Rilia says the last part without blame but rather genuine interest.
Rilia notes the cute little ears and small expressive irises and takes the woman for a half-human. Still, Rilia decides she wouldn't mind messing with Samaritha when she is not wearing her khakis.
Nel gives her friend a one armed hug as she leads the two horses into the tower. "Thanks Sam for letting us in. As for the Goblin, we're renovating again. It might be finished once we get back to Riddleport." Watching her good friend interact with her coworkers makes Nel crack a smile. "Unless you're talking about an agitated axe beak, we haven't run into anything interesting. We came straight here to meet up with your expedition, since Clegg Zincher and Avery Slyeg are on the island. I figured that our two groups together could help located a certain 'haunted' library?" Making air quotes, Nel offer a grin to Sam.
Glancing up at Setzer's inspection of the walls, Nel shakes her head before beginning to climb the stairs. "Are you the last one left, Sam? We ran into the dwarves by the docks and let them take our ship back to Riddleport. They said something stalked them all and killed over half of their party."
Sam sighs and says, "Let me start at the beginning. Fenella Bromathan lead this expedition here three days ago. I am - well, was - her apprentice, so it was only natural that I go. The first two days were okay, I guess. There wasn't a lot of noqual around given the nubmer of craters. Originally we thought it was because other prospectors got to them before we did, but now," Sam pauses a moment with a shudder as she unlocks the door to the stairs. She continues talking as she begins to climb.
"There were twelve of us, and now only five remain alive. Out of those five, two have been wounded heavily and we struggle to rouse them. Fenella was the first to die during the first attack. The monsters that attacked as magic-resistant and deadly; we were torn apart and only survived by retreating here and barricading ourselves in. We could do little more than watch our dead friends rise as zombies and shamble off into the woods to do Cayden knows what."
"I've taken control of this operation ever since Fenella died. I've been trying to summon help by setting off spells like fireworks. When the dwarves came by yesterday, I thought that we were saved, but the dwarves refused to come into the town. The monsters took the time to ambush in the woods, and they were slaughtered."
"Then we saw your boat; I tried to signal you, and I hope that's why you came. We have wounded nearby. I was tending them when I saw you. Please, we need help. I saw some of those monsters amassing in the woods, and I think they're about to attack again. Please, we need to get off this island and save as many of my companions as possible. And, no, we haven't been bitten. We won't turn into those foul tongued creatures. Oh, please help us. We need a ship to get us out of here."
She opens the door into the final level before the roof. Two women lay unconscious on reed mats on the floor while two men tend to their wounds. They look at Samaritha nervously as she enters.
"May I?"
Given leave she moves past Samaritha and offers a quick prayer.
"Calistria."
And moves to diagnosis the two women's problems.
Once the initial exam is complete she gives her opinion, but spins it as positively as she can.
Pluck looks concerned, "Can you tell us more about the creatures Samaritha? From those zombies, there are definitely akatas around. Blue cat-like creatures. Have you seen anything else?"
|
|
The wounded stir a little and seem to rest easier with Rilia's channel. One of the blinks her eyes open and grasps at Rilia's hand, looking for any succor.
Samaritha shakes her head, "I don't know their names, but they do sound like these akatas. Ferocious blue creatures with manes made out of tentacles. Their bites -" Samaritha's eyes flit to the window and she becomes very still.
"Oh no."
Outside the window a more than two dozen akatas amass and move toward the tower with unnatural silence. The tower seems to settle into grim resignation as Samaritha bolts the window shut.
Setzer will immediately drop to the ground and begin barricading the windows with whatever heavy objects he can find.
Setzer huddles in with the others, bracing himself for yet another onslaught by creatures of the unknown. "Brace yourselves, friends, we've just been dealt another hand."
Tamiro darts inside, pulling in Kino, he then shuts and bars the door. "We have guests."
Drawing both his swords he joins the rest of the group, by Nel's side, "These things die easy, but there are many. Where do they come from??"