The man looks up when Aliva reasures him, he glances at Nak't for a moment as if still unsure but eventually stands up when he sees the dragon-creature isn't a threat. He smiles and runes into his shop to return moments later handing Aliva two packets of seer’s tea with a smile "Thank you! May the desert sun smile upon you and light your path." Without another word he heads back into his shop and starts to promptly lock it up.
With the merchant safe you decide to make your way to the Grand Mausoleum.
As you make your way toward the Mausoleum you come across a grizzly scene as you see very large two headed snake swallowing a person whole. It's body has multiple large masses in it which you can only assume are other innocents that this snake has eaten. As it notices your approach, the two heads bare their fangs at you ready to strike.
"It's some sort of giant two-headed snake! I don't recognize it, but it doesn't look friendly!" Khufu calls out.
"Ardenti Sidere!" Khufu shouts and he blasts a ray of fire past the snake monster.
"Yeah, not just a two-headed snake. It's a Amphisbaena. You know? It's bite is poisonous and you know what is even more amazing? The thing is resistant to cold. Who would have thought that a cold-blooded creature would be resistant to cold. Right? But I guess that's beside the point right now. Maybe we can get some of those people back." He gestures with his head towards the lumpy snake body and jogs towards the creature. He pulls his bow out while moving then fires a quick arrow into the snake.
Aliva double moves a head moving to the middle of the street to hopefully cut the snake off.
Khufu and Irakelesh both miss and as Aliva rushes forward the two headed snake move to meet her and attempts to bite her as well.
The snake bites into Aliva's shoulder as she feels the sting of poison.
Khufu moves up and ducks around the corner behind Irakelesh.
He casts a quick cantrip and tosses a flick of acid at the snake monster.
(touch attack)
"I'm just going to stay back here and shoot at the thing." Irakelesh loads another arrow onto the string and fires at the snake.
Aliva grunts with pain as the snake bites her, quick stepping forward she brings her Cold Iron Morning Star down on the creatures body.
Nak’T charges the thing, bringing his glaive down at one of its heads in a powerful arc.
Ai'sha charges towards the creature, drawing her scimitar and swinging it at one of the heads.
Nak't charges the double headed snake, throwing caution to the wind but it pays off as he buries his glaive into the creature. Haji, still in the back moves up to join the rest of the group as he draws his weapon, following just behind Ai'sha as she charges forward, following Nak't example and slicing into the giant snake.
Aliva steps up as the poison courses through her veins sapping her vitality, but she still manages to land a blow on the creature. Khufu conjures some magical acid that he tosses at the creature and with it being so big it is pretty easy to hit as the acid burns at the snakes flesh. Irakelesh happy to stay far away from the large snake launches an arrow at it, meeting similar success as the others. The thing looks pretty injured but it is still alive. It lashes out at the ones who hurt it most, Nak't and Ai'sha.
Both heads bite their targets leaving a wound and the burn of poison.
Clenching his fangs against the pain, Nak’T brings his glaive around for another powerful slice.
Aliva sags a bit as the poison saps her vitality, clenching her teeth Aliva presses the attack with Nak'T and Ai'Sha backing her up.
Khufu projects a glob of acid in the direction of the giant snake.
Haji also charges the large snake.
Nak't ends up missing this time, but luckily Haji steps up and finishes off the snake.
"I have a wand that can cure minor wounds, but I do nott have any means of combating poison."
Ai'sha does her best to shrug off the poison's effect, then rushes up to Aliva who is visibly weakened.
"Say still, calm your breath, I think I might have something to help you."
”በደንብ አይታይም ፡፡ የፈርrsማ ካህናት ስለዚህ ርኩሰት ወረርሽኝ አንድ ነገር ያውቁ ይሆናል ትላላችሁ? ከዚያ እኛ እንፈልግ እና ምናልባትም እርሷን ሊረዱትም ይችላሉ ፡፡,” Nak’T says as he returns his glaive to a resting position on his shoulder.
Aliva starts to sag more in her armor as it weighs heavily upon her body. "The poison from that snake thing.... is taking it's toll on my body." Aliva manages to spit out.
With Ai'sha helping to treat the poison coursing through Aliva she manages to avoid some of the worst of its effects but the woman is starting to look very pale.
Those who understand the ancient tongue nod to Nak't's words and translate to the others as the group continues on their way to the Grand Mausoleum. The remainder of the journey is uneventful, the streets are eerily quiet as people do their best to stay indoors a general sense of panic and dread evident throughout the city.
As they arrive they find the temple a mess. Cries of pain and agony echo throughout the halls, as several injured are being tended to, and you notice several more dead are having last rites administered in hopes of stemming anymore undead from rising. The group takes in the scene for a moment but as they do one of the priests notices them and calls out "Hey you lot! Yes you! You appear a capable bunch. We need all the help we can get, go see the high priestess!" He points off deeper into the building.
Heading through the halls you are eventually directed to the high priestess's chambers. Inside the woman, you remember as leading to lottery, is hunched over a map speaking with several others. As she notices your approach she waves you in and the others excuse themselves "I remember you..." she pauses and gives Nak't a questioning look for a moment before continuing "well, most of you from the lottery. I hope you have come to offer your aid?"
Nak’T slips his glaive into a loop of leather that rests on his back, then steps forward and scoops up Aliva effortlessly. He cradled her close to him as he carries the weakened mortal along to the temple. It was a strange, massive building he was not accustomed to being here...
Inside, the people still spoke this strange, uncouth language. He stood quietly to the side, gently cradling Aliva’s body until someone comes to provide her further aid.
Aliva heads to the temple with the others, sweat pouring from her face as she wipes it off on her leather glove. "We will go yes." As they head further in as sees the woman. "We are yes, how can we help?" Aliva says with sweat still pouring down her face as she pales more
"We come both to offer aid and in search of it as well." Khufu answers.
"Our companions suffer under the effects of venom from a giant snake.
Can any here aid them?"
The priestess calls out to one her to fetch one of the priests. Shortly after a young man comes in. The priestess points to Aliva and the man comes over to take a look he asks Aliva's permission to examine her before he starts, assuming she agrees it doesn't take him long before he notices the snake bites and how they are festering. He calls out a short prayer to Pharsma and touches the spot of the wound.
After the spell is cast the color starts to quickly return to Aliva and she immediately starts to feel much better. Seeing some are injured he asks you all to gather close as he recites another prayer to Pharasma and a warm light washes over the group.
Seeing some of you are still pretty injured he does it once again.
With everyone mostly healed he looks to the high priestess who gives him a nod and the man turns to leave noting to you all "May Pharasma judge you kindly."
With everyone in better shape the high priestess speaks "Now, that you are better... the temple can offer you healing during this crisis if you vow to assist us in cleaning up the city of this undead scourge and return some normalcy to Wati." She shuffles through some papers on her desk and pulls out a few handing a stack to whomever comes to take it, one paper each, a writ noting whomever holds this paper is to receive free healing aid while the city is in crisis.
"Most generous. Is there any any particular place we should help, or should we just go back out into the city and look for people to help."
The woman shakes her head as she replies "As you probably noticed when you arrived, we have had our hands full in tending to the wounded and the dead from this catastrophe. I've received varying reports of issues all around the city, but there is currently no concerted effort to deal with the threats. You may wish to check with the leadership of the guards in the Precinct of the Left Eyes, they may have a plan established. I would also recommend ensuring the gate to the necropolis is secured. Otherwise, just help where you can."
"Making sure the gate is closed sounds like a really good idea."
Aliva nods to the man as he inspects her wounds then heals her of the poison. "Thank you for your aide I will return it in kind when I can."
Aliva listens to the woman as she outline the places where help would be the most useful. "Check with the gate then to the city guard. Who should we check in with at the gate?"
"A young acolyte, Bal Themm was assigned to the gate when all chaos broke loose. The last report I had was that she was still there with some guards holding the gate." the high priestess replies to Aliva.
"We will go see him then." Aliva thanks the woman. "I am Aliva Kulthane, who do we have the pleasure of speaking with"
As the others spoke in some primitive, uncouth tongue, Nak’T began to grow restless and frustrated. ”ከመካከላችሁ ከሁላችሁ ውስጥ ይህን ጂብሪሽ ወደ ተገቢው ቋንቋ ለመተርጎም ክብር ሊኖረው ይችላልን?”
Irakelesh helps get the others to the temple. At Nak'T Akh's small outburst he replies back to him in their shared language.
"Oh boy. It's just a big mess all around. They need our help. We think that the best option is going to the gate at the entrance to the necropolis and ensuring that it is closed. They also said we could go check in with the guards at the Precinct of the Left Eyes. But we think the gate first. Make sense?"
Nak’T nods at the information, heading that way with heavy footfalls as he retrieved his glaive and readies it.
"It sounds as if we should hurry."
At Aliva's inquiry she replies "I am Sebti the Crocodile, High Priestess of Pharsma, co-council of the church of Pharsma."
With a plan of action the group sets off toward the gate into the necropolis. It takes a few minutes to walk to the necropolis gates, but as you arrive you see a few guards and a woman looking out at the gate.
Sturdy doors of iron and bronze stand in this high sandstone wall, barring entry to and egress from the city’s necropolis. Barred windows in the gates offer brief glimpses of what lies beyond and what you see is very concerning. A mob of undead creatures can be heard groaning and pounding on the metal. A glance through the doors’ windows reveals nearly a hundred skeletons, zombies, ghouls, and more gathered behind the gates, but for the time being at least, they are clearly unable to break through.
Nak’T proceeds to step straight up to the window, looking out sternly at the nightmare that besieged the gates. He tightens his clawed hand on the shaft of his glaive as he begins trying to ponder his options. He locks eyes with one of the ghouls out there and grinds his fangs in disgust and frustration.
The guards give the dragon-man a questioning look and the woman is a little startled when he strides up right next to her to look at the window as she exclaims "Oh! Uh... hello." She turns to look back the way he came and sees the others as she notes [b]"Can I help you with something? This area is not safe, you should get back to shelter..."[b] she attempts to sound authoritative but it is clear the woman is a bit out of her depths.
"Good to meet you, now we know who to talk to once this is over." Aliva says with a smile and a nod.
"We were sent here by Septi the Crocodile, she asked us to help here if you need it. We were a group of adventures that went into the Dead City and came back out."
Sebti gives you a slight nod in return to your statement of Good to meet you, but says nothing more as you gather to leave and she returns to her papers calling her assistants back into the room.
THe younger woman smiles widely as Aliva mentions coming to help and almost excitedly notes "I am glad for the assistance!" She clears her throat and tries to stand up tall, realizing her own exuberance in how she responded and once again atttempts to take on a more authoratative tone. "Ehm... I mean... I have everything under control here for now. The undead gathered behind the gates seem mindless and undirected and none have yet broken through, but nearly half of the gate guards have deserted their posts..." She starts out strong but concern quickly becomes evident as she finishes.
Deflated she asks "Perhaps you could do me a favor? If you could carry a letter to the Grand Mausoleum and return with additional holy symbols and holy water it would be of great assistance."
"We can do that yes, is there any other way we could help? Could we dispatch them from the walls hoping to thin them out enough that they may not be of such a concern?" Aliva asks the woman
The woman looks back at the gate hesitantly "Uhm... no, no I don't think that is a good idea. There are way to many and if we opened the gate for you to try and fight them... well I'm pretty sure it would be a disaster. No I think the best thing is to get more resources, maybe she if they can spare any more men in case things get bad. Here, give me a moment, let me write a brief letter for you to take."
She moves over toward the wall next to the gate, retrieving some parchment and ink from her pack. She starts to scribble a note on the paper as you all wait. All of a sudden some dark shape passes through the gate and suddenly takes shape behind the woman about to attack.
"Look out!!! Something has escaped!!!" he cries out, pointing to the shadow.
He pulls a wand from his belt and activates it to cast Mage Armor on himself.
Khufu has heard of creatures like this. Undead made almost purely of shadow. Unlike most undead, he knows these creatures are incorporeal and can’t be damaged by weapons that aren’t enchanted by magic. He remembers hearing that creatures like this can will drain your strength when the hit you and worse, if you die by its hand you will return as one of the creatures as well.
"It is an undead shadow ... it will be resistant to weapons that aren't enchanted and it will drain your strength if it touches you!"
Aliva steps forward calling upon her Divine Powers to ensorcle her Morning Star With Magic.
Aliva smashes her now magical morning star into the Undead.
As Khufu explains what he knows of the creature to the others he casts a spell to better protect himself. Haji, unsure what to do faced with something he can't easily bash stays back and casts a spell as a small ray of energy springs forth toward the undead.
The ray slams into the undead, definitely drawing its attention away from Bal. Aliva moves up calling on her divine powers to enchant her weapon, allowing her to slam into the creature further injuring it.
The creature, now focused on Aliva, reaches out to grab at her.
Its hand passes right through her armor as if reaching into her very being, sapping her strength drastically.
Nak’T steps over and draws his falchion, given the narrow fighting area, and takes a mighty swing! The blade passes right through the spirit though, causing him to look at his weapon in confusion!
Ai'sha takes a brief second to enchant her weapon and also steps in, swinging her scimitar at the shadow.