Nethan was about to reply before Gray stepped in and eloquently replied, "Do not fret Chieftain Sarangeral this our fellow wizard friend who has been with us from the beginning and has metamorphosis like a butterfly into a new man taking on a new name. In fact, before we depart here, I will do the same for I feel a change in the wind. However I digress, and Gray has answered why we need to speak with Chieftain Zenikuta. It is for the sake of all Eldred and other civilizations. We will not harm her if she is an ally and if she is an enemy, she will become an ally."
Nethan ends with a bow
"Gray" shoots Nethan a look, but rolls with it.
Elise was just curious to see if the girl/woman was among the ones training for battle. It was a bit intriguing to see all the water mages drilling - but that probably wasn't too important in the grand scheme of things. So she just checked out the training area and then the bath, giving the woman a wave before heading back to the others. And now I'm not sure if she'd notice that.
---
They don't seem to be big fans of Zenikuta. Elise thought to herself. Or maybe they weren't comfortable with outsiders poking around her. A mix of both? They'll probably find out soon enough though! So for now she simply settled for backing up Al Gray with a nod. "Yeah, grim things are on the horizon."
Sarangeral looks quizzically at the groups "new" arrival but thinks nothing of it. After all, there still is a gorilla somewhere in the camp. Though Nethan's explanation does not help the matters much he just tilts his head in confusion before shaking it off to continue the conversation. "Right sorry, Zenikuta is a rather ruthless woman who is taken up in politics. Her name has just been coming up a lot lately and I found it odd that you lot had heard of her. I guess you could have been eavesdropping on some others. No matter, Zenikuta right now is attempting to hold some sort of summit on the south side of the great lake. Between the three cities of Dietrich, Ejderha and Dearganach. It's west ways from here but across armies of those walking dead.
"Yes we did have a bounty on siphons being dispatched, did you get rid of any?"
"A summit? How ... convenient." Elise noted and glanced at neoAl. Then she quickly turned her attention back to Sarangreal. "What's her idea? Surely she must have some reason to gatherer the Eldred. Any rumours?" Gather them all in one place for easy conversion to undeadhood? Or convincing them to rally under her banner. If it was our banner ...
Nethan looks at the group, "Let's dispatched some siphons to and from meeting with Zenikuta. And during this time, we can speak with Tenzukia about a more permanent siphon solution we discussed earlier? If we figure out the solution earlier, we can apply it sooner so no more Eldred are lost to the siphons?"
Nethan takes out the Bloodstone compass to see if it registers Zenikuta and not the other sisters.
"Still - we should try." Gray suggests.
Nethan nods, "Although colour magic, when it comes to Eldred, are more like colour souls. And I agree with The Gray, we need to try convince Zenikuta especially now! Once the Eldred army is on the move, it may be harder to stop them than if we can stop her at the summit and it will reduce the number of Eldred lost? Perhaps, we shouldn't combat the siphons now and fly there first thing tomorrow after we prepare? Then worry about the siphons as soon we have Zenikuta allied with us?
"Yes. If they're ringed with the undead, then our time may be running short."
"Zenikuta seems to be trying to rally many of the houses into one unit. Though she seems to mostly be gathering dissenters at the moment. The main houses have yet to budge. However, from my reports, we would be guessing that she will be contacting others for to make a peace offering. At least to create an open discussion between the groups." Sarangeral replies to Elise.
"As for rumours I do not have my ear much to the ground over there but she seems to be specifically targetting families with her idea of sanctuary. Not sure if that means anything."
"As for the siphons, we had some money squared away for bounties." He does not seem to require proof of your deeds, likely because of his trust for you. Whether you choose to exploit that is another matter. Sarangeral sends off for an Eldred to retrieve the bounties. It would come to the equivalent of 4000gp. (2000gp per siphon.)
His ears perk at the mention of Zenikuta's schemes. "I do not have much reason to doubt you and she is indeed gathering Eldred to a summit. Why do you suspect she is in league with this 'lich'? Also, what are your plans to convince her if she is in league with the lich. Appeal to her goodwill?"
Nethan looks at the runner, "Chieftain, please call back the runner? We have not killed any more siphons since the last two but we plan on destroying more and/or modifying their behavior if we can like siphoning undead instead of Eldred or something other than eldred."
Nethan than looks at the sisters, "We will have to see what we need to do to convince Zenikuta to follow unless one of my colleagues has an idea."
"I believe she may be a pawn, rather than an ally." Gray added.
"I see..." Why families? That didn't make too much sense if she was indeed gathering a warhost. Maybe if it was a tribute ...
Sarangeral is a little confused at the requests but he lets you decide if you killed one or not.
"You could perhaps meet Zenikuta before her summit. Though you would have to be relatively quick about it. Large groups of people move slow of course, but if you want to stop her before too many people arrive time is of the essence. Especially if you have to fight your way through the dead." He ponders for a moment.
"Either you can fly again but there are bone lizards that appear to fly as well patrolling the the skies between here and the summit, which might prove difficult to get past. You can also go closer to the ground which is a longer route but will be less perilous at my guess. Though I do not truly know everthing on the opponents force so there might be other dangerous groups either round the north or south way of the battlefields."
Nethan looks back, "Chief Sarangeral, we killed two siphons but we don't have the stones as evidence because we needed one of the stones to use on a second siphon for a task we needed to accomplish and the first siphon stone was destroyed in the process. We killed the second siphon in the middle of the task process but we could not collect the stone as evidence from the second siphon. If you feel we still deserve the bounty, we would be grateful but we can not provide evidence that we killed the two hence the reason for inconsistency. As for the summit, how long do you think we have to get there?"
"We don't really have much time to waste. But on the other hand, getting shot out of the sky ... Isn't good." Elise restates their opinions and glance at the rest of the party. She couldn't help but feel a bit stressed about the impending end of (this) the world. But at the same time this was too important to screw up by doing something reckless. And reckless things were what she did best ... so she felt a bit out of her element.
Nethan shrugs, "Unless we are dealing with other night flying creatures or flying creatures that can see at night, I don't think anything can see and hear a silent owl flying high?"
"You can risk it I suppose, though at night might be the best. I do not know how often these creatures look up or how good their sense are at night. The dead, not the owls." Sarangeral says.
"Well with the bounty you will likely purchase equipment for your journey which is sounding paramount to your and possibly our survival so I do not think the money will go to waste. Nor have you done anything that would make me think you are lying." Sarangeral holds out the bounty expectantly.
Nethan bows as he takes the bounty, "Thank you Chief Sarangeral, we will gear up and put it to good use"
"If you wish to depart now we can make ready some other owls if you stable the ones you were using earlier." Sarangeral says as plans seem to be firming up. "You can always rest at the inn before you depart, have a little rest before the night trip. I can see the trip is urgent though.
If the party wishes they may converse with people they know before departing during the night.
Nethan nod bows, "Thank you Chieftain for the continuing hospitality. We have some preparations that we need to make which our bounty will come in handy and then rest until it is time to go or when the night is at its approximate darkest."
Nethan looks to the group, "Shall we get a hotel room to divvy up coin for equipment or do you want to take turns with the combine sack like last time?"
"I have nothing I *need* - so if there is anything like that we could purchase we should do so. Seeing as there might not be many more chances with the world ending and all ..." Elise replies to Nethan's question. [i]That's an invigorating thought .../[i]
"Bleh. All this unnatural dread is getting to me; I'm almost wishing the Tyrant would show his ugly mug right here so I could smash it in. Almost. Bleh again. I'm going to ask Spook to try and keep track of the major undead movements while we are gone."
"Tar-Baphon's forces are all traditional undead. At least from what I have seen so far. These could be dispatched with turn undead or undead wards. Of course, we do not have enough manpower here amongst the Eldred as they do not use positive energy at all from what I have seen. I could set up wards or train others to use basic powers. Eldred being similar to Elves seem to be good at picking up magic." Ayla ponders. "My own band of fighters can probably be creative with colour magic if I give them an idea what they are aiming for."
Spook nods at Elise's request. "Seems easy enough, most of them are slow of speed and wit. Anything I should be looking out in particular?"
"If they are just milling about or if they are heading somewhere. And, if possible, who seems to be commanding them." She agreed with Spook's assessment. If the driving forces behind the undead menace could be destroyed or disrupted the grunts would be much easier to deal with. With a bit of luck maybe they'll even be trapped in this world as it died. "Hmm. Also do you know if anyone in this camp has researched the art of teleportation? Al and Nethan is up to something and there's some questions I'd love to ask."
Nethan stores the bounty in his bag of holding for safer keeping and turns back to the Chief, "Chieftain, sorry for one more disruption, it is my understanding you know black colour magic? Do you have time to see if I qualify for more understanding or will that take too long? Also, who would I talk to add my crossbow to the conduit weapon calling feature?
Nethan adds "That is, do you have time later?"
After what feels like a long rest the group looks at each other trying to piece together what to do next.
The group was about to set on a journey to get to the summit being held by their next target, Zenikuta, who appears to be working for Tar-baphon. They have to fly or sneak by a large group of undead to get there. Across a battlefield. It might not be the easiest to do.
Spook has been sent on a reconnaissance mission at Elise's request and is leaving at the dead of night. Probably at a similar hour to the rest of the group as they decided to be under the cover of darkness.
The group looks to see if they need any supplies before leaving.
"Hmm..." Elise tries to remember if she had missed anything.
The group gather up and under the guise of night get onto their battle owls once more to fly towards the summit. The silent wings carrying them far.
However as the group approaches midway through their flight they see that the skies are becoming filled with bony creatures. They look to be skeletal wyverns. The group notices that these creatures have only started to take flight as they sky was relatively open when they set off. Perhaps something has spurred them into action. The forest below seems to be rustling with activity as well.
What would the group like to do?
After resting, Nethan has taken a new look.
Nethan's stature has changed from bulky strength muscles to thinner cat like muscles. In addition, his clothing has changed to a Scarlett and Gold Robe. Nethan no longer carries any type of weapon but seems to carry something in his hand that is attached to thick leather lanyard which is also attached to Nethan's wrist. Lastly, Nethan's backpack and quiver are now join together on his back but he is no longer wearing the circlet and his crossbow seems to be missing.
Currently
Nethan looks for a hole or something to help obfuscate their movement. It is obvious, that flesh will not fly higher than dead nor out endure.
"*Grumble*" Elise didn't like the appearance of the flying undead. Of course if could just be a coincidence ... "Do we think anyone spotted us in the sky? Or tipped them off. Now that's a thought."
"I'd say we find some shelter quick and just observe them for a few minutes; if they are searching or patrolling that should be obvious. And if they are just moving somewhere that might give us an opening."
"Were the scouts headed this way?"
Al's whispered voice fills the ears of the group.
"I suspect they are to drive someone - us presumably - to the ground. While we plan, go up. Now, quickly: suggested plans?"
"Destroy them all?" Elise suggests hopefully. It probably wasn't a viable way right now - but it was what felt natural. "Or ... fly high above them? Most senses aren't too accurate at night and the owls are quiet."
Nethan looks for a hole but really does not find any below or on the same flight level, and thinks ...
Knowing that the an owl and a wyvern have the same flight speed but in the owls favor in maneuverability, and probably more so now unless the wyverns have improved flight and vision in their undeath.
Nethan points straight up answering Al's question and looks around if everyone agrees before pointing the owl up for higher altitude.
Between the pair of the mages they know these are basically raised wyverns. They are unsure if their sense are heightened as undead creatures but they doubt it. This means they likely only have 60ft darkvision. However at this distance it is hard to tell, but Amelia can make out what looks to be a saddle on the creatures or at least some sort of harness. So they might have riders on them with different senses.
As far as Amelia is aware the wyverns motions appear to be on alert.
Looking down below Nethan sees there are patches of open grass they could feasibly land on. The owls like he suspects are relatively maneuverable and accustomed to the forest. So would be able to make a decent landing. However, he notices that the forest is likely filled with something, quite likely undead, though more or less dangerous than the wyverns is hard to say.
"Hmh. Let's go for it." Elise agrees to go down into the forest.