I take it that we intend, then, to return to the crypt before visiting civilization? First things first though. Bury or burn the dead and find the key.
I take it that we intend, then, to return to the crypt before visiting civilization? First things first though. Bury or burn the dead and find the key.
"I guess" - Garrosh shrugs - "We are too far away for that. And what would be the point?"
So I can learn new spells. Frankly the ones I have are more defensive than we need. Also, we need another wand of cure light wounds, unless you have one? Some of us are still beat up from our last fight and we could not get the wand we had to work.
"Do you have the means to acquire such spells - I have barely any gold on me" - Garrosh ponders as they move away - "But I do have a wand with some curative power, and I can invoke its powers yes" - he adds.
Do you think it worth it going all the way back into the nearest town for those spells?" - the half-orc presses on - "I have been travelling for days to get here"
Belle raises her eyebrow at the mention of the wand. "You don't say? Well, you may want to put that thing to use before another horde of unmentionables descends on us. Or, since you can use it better than we could, perhaps you could spare a few seconds to heal us up."
Belle herself is not sure whether she is being catty or not.
"In any case, we have the gems we collected to sell and I can make a bit on the side crafting scrolls. The spells I am looking at are not expensive to add to my spellbook."
"But, even without returning to civilization, there are some battle spells in Magnus' book I can copy over once I figure them out. They are a bit tricky though. His notations seem to be difficult for me to comprehend. It may take a few hours to do the trick and I'd have to wait until I rest before I can use any of them. If we do not return to civilization I need at least a day to recover from the magical expenditures I've made today, see if I can copy some battle spells over, and to prepare the new spells."
Tony's been listening in on their conversation as he looks back at the stair way littered with the newly redeadened ghouls.
"The last party I was with was lead by a man that was paying out in platinum. The ghouls got him, and I assume many others if your looking for gold and tools. You can back track if you want, but I warn that there may be more ghouls who stayed to feed on them."
He says this more as a warning about wandering back into the woods and adds,"Should you survive that you'll have many days of wild lands full of bandits, beasts and the barley sane spell casters that litter the area. I don't suggest going back without finding out that building actually hides anything."
"Well, I'm not going back in there until we heal up and I get new spells. Period. So let's bury the dead, scout the area, and camp for a day."
Belle checks to see if the key is back in its original location.
"Ok" - Garrosh chuckles - "You want to go back for a week, and another week to get back here, so be it" - he finishes decisively - "I tire of this back and forth"
"As for the wand, and healing, you are right - give me the one you have, and I will check if I can use it" - the half orc follows through with a raised eyebrow.
"You misunderstand. I am not insisting that we return to civilization, I am merely insisting that we camp for a day before we reenter. If I can puzzle out the spells in Magnus' book and you can heal us all up, that takes away my main reasons for making the journey."
"So 2 hours out, bury the dead, camp for a day and see if I can learn some battle spells. Then decide from there what to do depending on how successful I am - perhaps look for the ghoul hoard or Pill."
I would suggest against finding the rest of the hypothetical ghouls, but yes. Let's find a way to put our dead to rest and then either enter that secret door or find our way back to civilization for supplies that we lost on that mule.
"So 2 hours out, bury the dead, camp for a day and see if I can learn some battle spells. Then decide from there what to do depending on how successful I am - perhaps look for the ghoul hoard or Pill."
"Agreed" - Garrosh grumbles.
I would suggest against finding the rest of the hypothetical ghouls, but yes. Let's find a way to put our dead to rest and then either enter that secret door or find our way back to civilization for supplies that we lost on that mule.
"Then let us not go out of our way to find them just yet" - the half-orc nods at his companion as they move away - "And let us heed Tony's words, and be constantly on the lookout - I would say there are many other dangers around this most damned place besides ghouls"
Stopping for a moment, he turns back to face all the others - "Magnus has perished, but I still want to say this - well fought my friends. Others would have faltered at the sheer number of enemies pressing upon us, but you did not, and we prevailed"
Not that we had any real choice. I'm no hero and I for one was scared out of my wits.
"Well, thank-you Garrosh. Without you around we would most certainly have perished or worse."
"Not me Belle" - he chuckles - "US" - the warrior adds, motioning for the companions around him - "Enough compliments though. Let's get out of here for now"
Again putting Magnus's corpse down, Garrosh motions for the wand, picking up and turning it around in his hands - "Let's get you all back in shape" - he adds, setting to the task of healing his companions.
"Thanks, Garrosh, that feels much better. Wit a night of sleep I should be as good as new."
"No need to thank me Belle" - Garrosh winks at the elf.
I love healing magic. Even the crick in my neck from sleeping on my shield last night is gone.
"It is a most amazing thing yes" - Garrosh smiles.
Tony looks at the gash along his side.
"I could use a light healing"
Belle feels a profound sense of relief when she leaves the crypt area, though the mood of the place still follows her and she speaks little.
"Nice view. Let's do the pyre here."
Tony looks around at the scenic view of the hill.
"Not a bad place to be sent off," Tony says to no one in particular, "but if we are going to be gathering wood here, we should stay together.'
"Wood gathering it is" - Garrosh nods - "Let us get to it. Stick together" - he finishes, after pausing for a just a moment to stare, and catch a glimpse of the sea in the distance.
Belle will use her wand to get the services of an unseen servant to help her with her gathering.
Agyen, while physically weak, is mentally strong and lifts wod with but a thought.
Reynaud looks over at Garrosh and chuckles quietly.
Stick together? Good one.
Reynaud gathers wood and sets the bodies down, hands clasped.
Belle facepalms.
"I can't believe I missed that"
A long-missing smile lingers on her face for a bit.
Garrosh chuckles at their friend's good mood, even as they set to such a grim task.
"They lived well, and died fighting - take them to your side, and lead them into the Afterworld lord Ragathiel, General of Vengeance" - Garrosh utters a prayer in strong voice, while the fire leaps at Tessai and Magnu's bodies - "Their names will not be forgotten, and their fall will find retribution"
Agyen holds his holy symbol against his armor and whispers something that shouldn't be audible, but is. "Pharasma bless these souls for their courage in battle, and guide them swiftly through your Boneyard and to their destination. May they find eternal rest."
"May those left behind find solace in their deeds carried forward."
May your resting place be warmed by her light.
After all is said and done, Belle will say,
"How about we try to track these ghouls back to their lair? There's still daylight left and I doubt we want to hang out next to this beacon for long."
"Let us do that" - Garrosh nods.
It's possible the smell of corpses would draw them here and we could lay traps and ambush them, but I doubt they'd come near a funeral pyre after we killed so many of them.
He scratches his chin.
You're right. I just hope it isn't too far. We do not want to be caught halfway there and need to camp.
Tony stays silent during the vigil, not really knowing what to say.
But as soon as he hears, they want to track the ghoul, he shivers a little.
"I think I know the area of the forest their in. Didn't run to long with them chasing, but I think it'll be a couple hours. Retracing from those tombs would be easier too. They left enough tracks."
The smoke from the dying crematory fire rises slowly on the morning breeze. The fire burned long and hot into the night, reducing the bodies of Tessai and Magnus to charred bone fragment and ash mixed in with the wood ash. With the size of the fire, it could have been a beacon to whatever laid in wait in the surrounding, but nothing bothered the group. They were allowed a full night's rest.
The five stood on the apex of the hill, with the morning sun breaking over the sea in the distance. Mist, glowing orange and yellow in the morning sun, shrouded the lowlands and making the few hilltops appear as islands in a golden cloud sea. Such beauty. How could one of the world's most vilest places lay under this beautiful landscape, and was today going to be the last sunrise the five of them saw together?
with the last dying column of smoke from the fire, the five adventurers looked at each other, questioning looks on their face, as if asking "Now what?"
"Well, have you all given thought to tracking these Ghouls back to their lair and seeing if the rest of the gargoyle gems are there?"
"Let's double back to the mausoleum, and follow the tracks from there" - Garrosh gets ready to move out.
"I advise against running towards the reconstituted dead. But I bet death awaits all corners of this land." say Tony.
Better that than have them come in behind us when we're fighting someone else.
"They started this Tony, and have killed more than one of us" - Garrosh grumbles - "I think we should finish it, if they are not beyond our strength" - he adds - "And I agree with Reynaud - we risk them attacking us when we least expect it, so better get it out of the way"
"At the very least let's see if we can even find a trail. This argument may be moot. Once we get closer, perhaps someone can scout and see if there are a lot more. We may have finished the majority of the lot off yesterday."