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Lym slowly rolls up her scroll, walks up to Lucrecia and draws her falchion.
"Told you," she said as she looks into the glazed eyes. "You were going to die."
With a brutal overhand stroke, Lym cuts into the lamia matriarch's neck. She chops again and again until the head tumbles free of the monster's shoulders, making sure to step aside so as to avoid blood splatter.
"Someone needs to check our wounded," the Wizard says, shoulders heaving with some terrible emotion.
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Thordak runs over to get back into the fight, drawing his longaxe as he does. "Here I come! No worries! We've got her...!" he stops as he sees her fall in a massive heap, multiple arrows protruding out. He stares at the dead lamia a moment impassively, looks back at the others and then back at the dead lamia again before his mouth curls up into a smile and he explodes with, HA! HA! HA! SHE'S DEAD! THE EVIL WITCH IS DEAD! TAKE THAT!" The dwarf does a little dance and mocks the dead lamia by continuously pointing and laughing and talking more trash. "I SAID YOU WERE GOIN' TA DIE EVEN IF IT KILLS ME! AND IT DIDN'T! HA! Well, it almost did BUT IT DIDN'T! HA!"
Once the dwarf finally stops acting a fool, "Well... I'm tired now." He then finds a place to sit, his wounds taken a pretty good toll on him. "That stupid wand of his drained me good. The hammer smashed me good too. That stupid dagger of hers. My own weapon." He then concentrates a moment as if he's pondering something. Shrugging, "I'm thinkin' that's it. I'm done complainin' for now."
"When I kill you...stay DEAD!"
As Kellen lays at the foot of the fight, watching as a rain of arrows punctures Lucrecia to bits, he mutters with a wicked grin: "No...you first, heh heh."
Watching Lym's rage against the head from his prone position, he can't help but reply smarmily: "You gonna keep that as trophy, Wizard? *cough* Don't forget to get mount it properly now...heh heh...ouch, that stings a lot when I laugh."
HP @ -6; -2 negative levels; -2 wisdom.
"I'll throw it to those hags if they promise not to reanimate her, is what I'll do!" Lym growls. "Filthy, mass-murdering, soulless piece of...!"
Lym utters several phrases in Orcish which do not bear translation.
Spotting the rolled-up scroll, Lym mutters a Word of Power and scans it. She takes a moment to give the celestial aurochs a respectful nod before she dismisses them, and then focuses again on her find. Provided there are no magical traps on the thing, she carefully uses the tip of her falchion to unroll it so she can read what it says -- and her eyes widen with shock.
"We need to get back to Sandpoint," she says. "Fast as we can. There is going to be an attack -- and the enemy will be bringing a dragon."
As the dwarf rests his eyes from where he sits, they immediately pop open and he's about to blurt something until he starts choking on some of his own saliva. Holding up a hand to let everyone he needs a moment as he rises, he manages to finally clear his throat. "What in the blazes did ya say?! I'm pretty sure I heard ya wrong, lass. I could've sworn ya said 'dragon'," he says, looking intently at the half-orc. "But I'm sure that's not what it was. So, um, what was it that ya said again?" he asks, cleaning out an ear with the end of his finger just to make sure he hears clearly this time.
"Big. Ill-tempered. Greedy. Foul-smelling. Flying. Reptile. I said dragon. It could be code for a device of some sort, but after lamias and giants, I am inclined to err on the side of pessimism. Let's go."
Tomaru will heal everyone up.
When we can get more diamond dust, he can take care of all the ability damage and level drain.
We can buff ourselves the best we can, then try to just slip past them, rest up outside in some defensible position, and go back in. The bath heat was locked up, these witches aren't, and there's no way Praxim can stomach leaving them there.
"Big. Ill-tempered. Greedy. Foul-smelling. Flying. Reptile. I said dragon. It could be code for a device of some sort, but after lamias and giants, I am inclined to err on the side of pessimism. Let's go."
Thordak remains in a position of listening intently as the Cyphermage walks away, as if he's frozen in time. Finally relaxing, he blinks a couple of times and breathes a sigh of relief. "Whew, that was close. I was afraid she said 'dragon'."
Thordak then goes and retrieves the nasty trident as they ready to move out. He also snags the over-sized earthbreaker and shrugs. "I guess you'll do for now. I bet ya don't bite like this other one does," he says, glaring at the trident.
As the talk surrounds going after the witches, Thordak pulls out multiple vials and downs them to help out with his wounds.
Praxim comes over to Thordak and lays a hand on his wounds.
That puts him at 100.
Then he moves on to Kellen and repeats the procedure.
Puts Kellen at full.
You quickly discover that with the fall of Barl and Lucrecia, it's an every-ogre-and-witch-for-themselves panic trying get out of the lair. Within minutes, Hook Mountain is empty. Only you, and the bodies of the fallen, remain.
"So much for laughing in our faces and mocking our abilities to bring our enemies low," Lym summarizes the general treat. "Let's pack up the corpse and get out of here."
Seeing that there's no one to disturb them, Kellen goes about the task of wrapping the corpse up in a proper burial shroud from cloth he can find in the lair. "I'd skin that snake woman and making him a proper memorial cover if we were going to bury him, but this will do."
He then places one of the medallions on the corpse to delay any decay and places it in the bag of holding for transport. "He doesn't need to breathe, so he should be fine in there."
As the majority of his wounds heal up nicely with Praxim's aid, "Thanks, lad!" he tells the elf, nodding in thanks. "And you too, lad, for keepin' me alive back there," he tells Tomaru, nodding again. "I was nearly a dead dwarf! Now, let's go get us some witches." As they make their way back to the witch's lair, they find it empty. "Hm. Well that was easy," he states with a shrug.
Tomaru will heal everyone up.
When we can get more diamond dust, he can take care of all the ability damage and level drain.
Save your consumables. Tomaru's gots your healz. But if you need the numbers.
The next day can cast Restoration to take care of negative levels and ability damage.
I like Kellen's suggestion
My opinion is:
1) Head back to Turtleback Ferry; let the Mayor know what is going on and give him Lucrecia's list.
2)Go see Myriana and get Lamatar resurrected
3)Bring him back to Fort Rannick and settle up there. Maybe leave some of that gear we found behind for Black Arrows.
4)Send a message to Magnimar about what's going on?
5)Head to Sandpoint.
The only amendment I'd make is we should actually go to Magnimar to give our report so we can ask for aid for Sandpoint. We can also do any shopping we need.
PS: Restoration will cost the group 100gp in diamond dust for each character unless those were permanent negative levels? If not, each of you get a save to reduce the damage by one negative level the next day. Otherwise each of you can only have one negative level dispelled each week at a cost of 1000gp in diamond dust, which we have. Also, I forget is the wisdom damage Ability Damage (heals one per day) or Ability Drain (requires magical healing)?
PS: Restoration will cost the group 100gp in diamond dust for each character unless those were permanent negative levels? If not, each of you get a save to reduce the damage by one negative level the next day. Otherwise each of you can only have one negative level dispelled each week at a cost of 1000gp in diamond dust, which we have. Also, I forget is the wisdom damage Ability Damage (heals one per day) or Ability Drain (requires magical healing)?
He mentioned it was drain.
The ooc at the top of linked post. It was very well hidden I gotta say. That is something that could easily be missed. I would've if it wasn't for me asking about it a few posts up. :P
Hey! Good call on that, Tomaru. According to this:
We actually do get a new save each day.
But, hold a minute, it was a wand and all it took was a touch attack. So there was no initial save. So do we still get a save? How does that work exactly?
Negative levels from enervation can never last long enough to become permanent, unless you die from it.
PS: Restoration will cost the group 100gp in diamond dust for each character unless those were permanent negative levels? If not, each of you get a save to reduce the damage by one negative level the next day. Otherwise each of you can only have one negative level dispelled each week at a cost of 1000gp in diamond dust, which we have. Also, I forget is the wisdom damage Ability Damage (heals one per day) or Ability Drain (requires magical healing)?
Kellen's level drains were from the wight attack, not the wand. So I assume I have to make a FORT check for each level. If 100gp will cover casting it twice before the check, I'll cover those two. If you can only cast once, then I suppose I will try the check for the other. Otherwise, I think that was it for anything that is potentially permanent. I thought Thordak's were from the wand only, so they should be gone on their own.
As for the Wisdom damage, Lamia Matriarch's effect is Wisdom Drain, but supposedly has a DC21 Will to negate - but can that be done in post effect. Otherwise, does Restoration also need to be used?
The descent down Hook Mountain is cold and windy, but within hours you reach a more agreeable climate. It's still winter, but the sky is bright and clear. For the first time that you can remember, there is no rain or even sign of rain, in the skies over Turtleback Ferry.
Mayor Sheed is very relieved to see you. He listens to the tales of your encounters with a grave face, and takes Lucrecia's list of names with some trepidation.
"Remains to be seen what to do with this. I'll have to give some thought on it." He says. But he recognizes your wounds and pains, and offers to put you up as long as it takes to heal. Over the next few days you regain your strength while Lamatar's body lies - covered of course - in state in the temple. Only Jakardros and Vale dare to look at the undead horror their leader had become. They are shaken by the sight, but more determined than before to carry on the Black Arrow tradition. Already several volunteers from the widows and widowers of the village have signed on, people with nothing left to lose and a desire to have a positive impact on the region.
There is much discussion about what to do with the body. The surviving Black Arrows are genuinely surprised that their Captain was having an affair with a nymph princess. "He never let on," Vale says, "not sure we would have believed him if he did."
The trip to Whitewillow is solemn. The Black Arrows, Shalelu, and the Mayor all accompany you into the heart of Myriana's realm. The swamp is deathly quiet, with a sense of anticipation and dread. You reach the grove and pond in the center, presenting the body to silent watchfulness.
Myriana busts from the water once again, but does not say a word. She slides gracefully across to where her love lies, disembodied arms stretched out to him. Carefully she lifts the wrapping from his face, and to your amazement, you do not see the face of the wight, but rather Lamatar as he was in life! But the silent tears streaming down her face tell you that he is indeed dead. Slowly she passes her hand over him, a deep blue glow beginning to build within her. The glow passes to Lamatar, until neither he nor Myriana can be seen through the brightness of it. After a moment, the glow fades, revealing the body of a large grizzly lying where Lamatar once did. The voice of the nymph princess echoes in your minds as she fades from sight.
"Thank you..."
As she fades, the bear stirs, struggling to it's feet. Shaking it's big furry head from side to side, it sniffs the air about the glade. Suddenly it turns to face you. The great grizzly shuffles up to each of you, sniffing each for a momen. When he has examined all of you, he speaks in a great, deep growl.
"I...I know you." He rumbles. "Some of you anyway. Jakardros, Vale, Shaelin. Some I do not, but she told me you have brought me to her. I...I have failed all of you, and for that I am ashamed..." The great bear that was Lamatar hangs his head low to the ground, the huge jaws nearly on the damp turf. "But she told me not to waste my second chance, not to abandon hope we would yet meet again, and I will not. I will stay here."
'But..."Jakardros stammers, "b-but, the Arrows, the fort!"
"No old friend. The Arrows are yours now. I will stay here and guard Whitewillow until the end of my days." With that, the bear turns and shuffles off into the depths of the marsh, never to be seen by mortal eyes again.
It is quiet on the way back to Turtleback Ferry. No one speaks as each contemplates what transpired in the glade. Finally Mayor Sheed speaks. "She should not have been able to do that." He begins softly. "Reincarnate him, I mean. His soul was tainted as an undead abomination, and should not have been reached by her spell." All is silent for a time. "The only thing I can think of..." Shaelin Sheed begins again, "is that her love for Lamatar overcame that taint. That she powered her spell with the depth of feeling she had for him."
"Humbling, really..."
"Indeed," Lym says. "To love... that is beautiful. Beautiful beyond marvels of magic."
The Wizard maintains silence until the group has returned to Turtleback Ferry.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Back in Turtleback Ferry, however, Lym regains her energy.
"I need some things," she tells the Mayor. "Need them urgently. Two scrolls of Sending, one of Summon Monster VI, one of Magic Circle against Evil. I will, of course, pay for them, but I must have them with all speed. This was a great battle we waged in these lands, but it was but one protracted battle in a war, and the next stage of the war will be held in Sandpoint. I need to warn the people there, and I need to arm myself for the next battle. Can you help me?"
Mayor Sheed shakes his head sadly. "If you are in a hurry, then I am not the best option. Turtleback Ferry is just a remote village, as you know. We usually have to get our supplies of that nature from elsewhere."
"Ah, well. I thank you for your hospitality, sir Mayor," Lym says.
Turning to the others: "We should get moving. A brief stopover in Magnimar to do some much-needed shopping, and then off to Sandpoint... and the next battle. I have a spell to shorten our travels. It will be a... dark path, but a fast one. Is everyone ready to go?"
Kellen has watched the events of the resurrection with quiet surprise, clearly looking a little out of his depth. After the events have unfolded, he keeps quiet on the way back to Turtleback Ferry - his time spent studying some object from his pocket periodically or studying Jakardros, Vale, or Shalelu to see if they have much to say.
Once back in the village, his response is nowhere near as energetic as Lym's. "Sandpoint can keep a few more days; we have matters to settle first," he responds surly. He adds with a simpler tone: "No army is going to march in the dead of winter unless its commanders are stupid or insane. Despite what we've seen, that doesn't seem to be the case. Whoever 'M' is; it's got a plan."
With that being said, he turns his attention to Jakardros and Vale. "You fellas have been through a lot; and now it seems you're about to have more work ahead. We couldn't have gotten it done if you didn't buck up; stand; and fight with us. So before we head to Magnimar, is there something you need; any message you want us to give the Lord-Mayor? Figure it's what we can do under the circumstances."
"As a minor point: if the enemy knows passages through the Darklands or has access to spells like mine, winter is not an obstacle. That said, I am not at all opposed to helping the Black Arrows if we can."
Jakardros rubs the rough stubble on his chin thoughtfully.
"I don't think so, but I appreciate the offer. You've done more than enough, and the blow you dealt the Grauls and the Kreegs will keep the region quiet for some time. With the Mayor's help, we'll keep an eye out for the hags, but I doubt they'll be an issue."
Vale adds: "We owe you our lives. The least we can do is hold the fort and keep the region safe."
"I think," Shalelu adds with a glance at her father, "that I will go back to Sandpoint. That is my home, and I suspect you all will need a good scout in the area before long."
Kellen nods and offers them his hand in departure. "Fair enough then; good fortune be with the Black Arrows from here on."
He glances at Shalelu with a slight grin; turning and adds"Well, Wizard, you got room for one more in your Darklands carriage? Seems we can be off then."
"We're not going through the Darklands. We travel through Shadow - and I can ferry ten living creatures besides myself. We should be alright - but we will only be able to bring so many mounts. I can conjure one for myself on the other side. Maybe we can make use of my carriage again, hitch your horses to it as needed?"
Praxim bids farewell to the Black Arrows with military posture and respect. With the mayor, his farewell is more fond and appreciative, now that he seems to have himself back on the right track.
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As the ghost fades and the bear takes his leave, Thordak can be seen rubbing his watery, red eyes with his sleeve. "Blasted allergies. I can't go anywhere."
Thordak looks curiously upon Lym as she talks about traveling through 'Shadow'. "Now, lass, this 'Shadow' business, it's not gonna leave us stuck in the Plane of Shadow, is it?" Just after he lets out that last bit, he looks around at the others confidently, a proud expression upon him. "Bet you lot didn't know I knew about the Plane of Shadow, did ya? Huh? Huh? I thought not. Oh I know, I know ALL about the Plane of Shadow I do. Well... maybe not know all about it; it's possible I've heard all about it. Okay, okay, it's possible I may have overheard all about it, okay?" He looks to them all a long moment before, "Or maybe I just heard it in passing BUT THE FACT REMAINS:" he states adamantly, a finger in the air as he looks back to Lym, "Are we gonna get stuck in the Plane of Shadow? Because I just don't want to, lass! I don't know what ta do there!" he exclaims with a shrug. "I've never been! Can ya breathe? Can ya eat? Can ya... breathe?" he asks with near panic in his voice.
"Yes, we will travel through the Plane of Shadow. No, we will not get stuck there; the spell has a finite duration and I can end it at any time. We should be able to breathe just fine, but I don't recommend staying long enough to dine.
Now. Safety tips. We will only need to travel about six miles in Shadow to cross the 300 separating us from Magnimar, which is a net advantage. Shadow is not without its native dangers, however; we should travel fast and alert. I have prepared spells of Daylight to reduce the chance of undead shades sneaking up on us, but everyone needs to keep on their toes! Shadow is treacherous. What you see may confuse you. It may try to distract you. It may try to kill you. At the first sign of danger we cannot take, I will end the spell and take us back to the Prime Material.
Travel by Shadow is not exact, so we won't end precisely on Magnimar's doorstep, but we still stand to gain a LOT of time. Any questions?"
Kellen crosses his arms as he hears the explanation, and looks around for any responses - but otherwise remains quiet in agreement.
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Nodding occasionally as Lym explains things in detail, he pauses after she finishes, lost in thought a moment. Finally, "Okay, I got several. Now..." he starts but stops as he notices several scowls aimed right at him, Praxim's being the most defined. "Now, I uh, my first question is, um... when do we leave? That's... that's all I was um... wantin' ta know," he says with a clearing of his throat and a nervous chuckle.
"Now is good," Lym replies. "Get your mounts and get your gear. Next stop: Magnimar."