Felix steps back within striking range of the rotting mass of flesh and brings his nodachi down in an overhead swing...
...burying his blade deep into the creature once again before quickly withdrawing it and readying for his next slash.
The force of your swing cleaves the creature in twang. Slicing it straight down the middle. It seems to move for just mere moments more before each side crumbles and melts down into rotten fetid mess, making you sick to your stomach. You suddenly hear a voice, as if emanating from the air.
HAHA, The master was correct about you. You are strong, Now then, I bid you farewell for good for now, but we will meet again, I am positive. hehehehehehe
The voice fades off into laughter just as the sound of guards rushing into the building above reaches your ears. And as Daniel just makes a movement from where he hangs on the wall.
As the fight ends, Bill finds his voice returns to normal. He moves over too Danial and checks him out.
He then turns back to the party
does anyone else need healing?
Sensing that the immediate threat is over , Rockjaw holsters his hammer and heads over to the wall where he last saw the acolite and thinks he dissapeared, looking for the passageway and anything unusual.
Arryn raises a hand, letting his hook slowly drop to the floor. "I think I have a busted rib or two, Bill."
Nitrus will give Arren one of the potions he has
While doing so, he shoves a vial or two of the potions in everybody's hands. 2 each. Giving them a look of If I cant get there, use these
Bill shakes his head at Arryn's request. I'm sorry arryn but I'm tapped out of spells for the day. When Nitrus offers his potions Bill smiles. good finds a way. Just when you needed it.
We should search this den of evil for information, as I think this is only the start
As the enemy falls before him Felix sinks down to one knee, coughing blood up onto the ground. "Well that was a bit closer than intended..." he muttered to himself before struggling back to his feet, using his nodachi as a crutch. Turning back to the other the gnome places a strange concoction in his hand. "What's this?"
The goblin sighed
Its healing potions, I dont want you people to die while we on a mission. Or I would be viewed as a bad doctor
@As you search around the room you notice that most of the semi-clothed and intact corpses have a bit of stray cash, not much, but around 200g worth all together if you wished to take it. Also there is a scroll on a pedestal near to where the Monstrosity was created. Other than that you don't find much other dead things.
@Rockjaw- As the others prowl about licking there wounds you merely wipe the green goo from your helmet and begin feeling across the walls, eventually you find what you were looking for, A nick so small noone but a dwarf as trained as you could find. With a simple knock and a kick you pop open a stone door revealing a small stair case going up to what seems to be old style basement doors.
@everyone-
As you bandage yourselves up Daniel awakens, he smiles and lets out a sigh.
ah, I thank you friends, I feared the worst for you, and myself. This is a place most foul, and I will see to it that it is burnt down at once once I get back to my father. Thank you for coming after me, even to such an obvious trap.
As he ends a sharp voice rings up from the house area above.
Hello! Is anyone here? We heard a commotion going on. This house is off limits to everyone! Show yourselves!
The goblin sighed
Its healing potions, I dont want you people to die while we on a mission. Or I would be viewed as a bad doctor
Bill casts a spell (read magic) and looks at the scroll.
Rockjaw calls over his shoulder as Nitrus stuffs a few vials in his pocket
Course people gonna be suspicious if'n a goblin gives em somtin ta drink. Could be poision toads fer all they know.
Hey. Foun somthin.
Rockjaw rears back for a second, his head hanging in the air momentairly before rushing forward with no small amount of might, causing the hidden door in the stone to explode open.
After the call from above rings out, Rockjaw will bellow back with as loud a voice as a dwarf can muster.
WE BE KNIGHTS AH THA NOT-SO-ROUND BARREL, BY TUNDAR! ANN WHATTA BOUT YOU LADS EH?
Rockjaw lets out a gravely sigh, then mutters to those behind him Im goin up, see wha the fuss is aboot.
He then pulls out a bottle of ale, takes a swig and heads up the staircase.
Bill looks around. Little left of value here. jhow could things be left to get this bad.
He sighed, slung his shield and weapon and headed after Rockjaw. From what Bill had seen, the Dwarf was not the most diplomatc of persons, but he was sure his heart was in the right place. He did tend to lead with his head. Bill wanted to be quit of this place.
Arryn heads up after Bill and Rockjaw, his hook slung casually on his shoulder, though he waits to see who presents themselves before responding to the voice.
When the guards see your emblems upon your armor they quickly sheathe there weapons and salute.
a youth, seemingly the captain speaks up.
Sirs! We heard the sounds of battle and made our way here as quickly as we could! Do you need help? are you ok? was something going on here?
he looks towards one of the guards.
As they notice Daniel being helped up the steps of the basement he blanchs,
Get a cleric here NOW DAMMIT! And tell the head General! Quickly!
He looks back to you all
Is there any other way we can be of assistance?
Bill grabs the unconscious cultist and dumps him on the ground. Yes. Seal off this building. Bill points at the building. also we have a cultest under arrest. Secure him and keep him intact for questioning. It is important he be questioned by the church. At some point this building must be destroyed, but that will be decided later.
There be more that needs done. This dump needs ta be burnt to tha ground, its covered in tha filth an should go up nice an easy. Should talk to tha gome back there, he'll orchrastrate it.
Then, as if an afterthought
Burnt to tha ground is not gonna be 'nuff. There be an entire section below ground. At leas 2 rooms, a tunnel an this staircase. Maybe more behind any secret doors. First ya half ta seal that up, fill it wit rocks or somesuch. Then burn it down. Else it will jus come back.
He then uncorks the bottle of ale, taking a swig.
Ya thirsty?
"Somehow, I don't think destroying this building will prevent evil from returning to the city, but it will force it to return to a location we don't know. Wouldn't it be better to just keep the building under surveillance for the next while?"
Bill thought about it for a moment, considering the possibilities, but the shook his head. I think it unlikely our opposition will return here. And the area is tainted. It should be destroyed. But we wwould have to be careful, so the fire does not spread. And we should let our superiors decide the next course of action. Bill indicates the slumped form of the prisoner. Maybe they can also get information from this wretch
Well then lets get a going. Im sure tha the Headmaster woulda like to know wha happened here. Im sure he will be most pleased to hear the head o all this got away.
Rockjaw seemed to growl that last bit out, almost a little testilly.
With that he starts heading back to the keep, expecting the others to follow along.
An i should pinch another o this Ale! Its quality stuff! he calls back over his shoulder as he goes.
Nitrus raises his hand
Oi! Oi! What does this mean?! Chopped orc liver? What am i? he points to his medical badge
Bill looks at the gnome, confused by his statement What do you mean, nitrus?
The young captain signals to two of the others who then promptly take the captive man away.
Whether he escaped or not, rooting them out and forcing them to show there hand is not small victory.
he looks to the gnome.
I am sorry my good gnome, I did not see you! Either way, I feel you have been through quite a lot and I would prefer to have someone tend you. Allow us to take Daniel back to his father, you should all rest at the local inn before returning to Headmaster, We will send ahead to garner you free room and board as well as a meal and will send by a healer to make sure none of you are harmed.
after making your way to the inn a cleric stops by not long after you receive your rooms and gives you all the A ok. After a thankfully uneventful rest of the night you arrive back in the Headmaster's chambers late that morning. You see Daniel standing beside the headmaster's seat.
I hear you ran into what was an evil much greater than we had anticipated.. Pray tell, can you describe this wizard? I fear Daniel has little memory of anything other than a fight and a fall. What happened within our own city?
the headmaster questions you, a look of sincere worry on his face.
Bill thinks for a moment, ruminating on their encounter It was a necromancer, sir, one who creates and controls undead. I saw no sign of an unholy symbol, so an arcanist I feel. Zombies, and a larger undead monstrosity. Several fanatical cultists, one whom we captured
"He had magic capable of moving himself from place to place in the blink of an eye, which he kept using to escape us. He kept saying how we would never stop him and we were already too late. However, he seemed the melodramatic megalomania type that liked to hear the sound of his own wind."
Bill nods in agreement with Arryn. He did like to monolog. Another thing that bothered me was the willingness of the cultists sacrifice themselves. This indicates a hardcore cult that is well established, with intensive indoctrination. It would be good to see if they are locals, or outsiders
this is troubling news indeed, though I fear I already have a new issue for you to deal with. A village about 2 days travel from here as sent a request for aid, I firstly though it silly and nothing to worry about, but with the news of such evil finding roots in our grand city I dare not chance a thing. Here, this is the letter from the mayor of the town.
he pauses a moment as he hands the letter then speaks again
I would have you leave today if you are all willing. This time though, I will ask if you would allow for Dart to accompany you. If so, he will meet you at the gate. But before you do, please go by the quartermaster, fully fledged knights you are now, and promising ones as well, so a reward is in order. Hm, and fret not, we will acquire all we can from this prisoner you have detained once he is moved here from the lower city and the guards and other knights are already scouring the entire city as we speak seeking out any signs of evil.
Letter
It has been two weeks now since the first complaint of unusual and strange noises coming from the forest was registered, the noises start about an hour or two after nightfall and go on all though the night until the first rays of dawn are barely beginning to light the sky. So far there has been no other complaints other than the strange noises though people say they do awake in the morning feeling tired or sore. Some say they have slept through half the day! while most believe this to be a sign that their bodies are just forcing them to catch up on lost sleep or that they were just working too hard I know some of the men who have claimed to have slept late into the day and I know that they would never push to far past their already exceptional limits. I have also heard this stange noise staying up past sunset just to hear it and I tell you it gave me chills. I don’t like it, I would like to have someone come look into this.
Sincerely, Arack brunning, governor of Abril
Bill reads the letter, concern on his face. This may still be nothing, I suppose, but we should check it out. In my studies I have noted several creatures of evil that could inflict this sort of damage to people.
Bill then brightens up, as he thinks further. The armory. I always enjoy going there. Interesting place! Well, I think so anyways.
To Bill, nothing could be better than crafting metal. It truly seemed to sing to him, and danced at his command.
Harumph! Scared O a little noise? And your sending a whole cadre O knights ta investigate? I wont renge on tha orders but they seem a bit piceuliar ta be certian!
Now then, tha Armory! Off we go. Also, don let tha prisoner go lightly. Id hate fer him to escape, by Tundar!
And with that Rockjaw stomps off to the armory hoping to improve his helmet into something a little stronger.
As you make your ways to the armory you are greeted by the quartermaster Bremen.
Bill-
once he is given the shield he pulls out a bag of sparkling powder and begins murmuring. He places the shield in the furnace and heats it to a glow, then while still glowing, grabs the shield tosses it in the air, and then throws the powder up with it. Remarkably instead of falling straight to the ground the shield hums in the air and draws in the powder. with a slight flash the shield then gently floats down to Bremen as he stops his murmuring that you now realized was a rite of some sort. Upon finishing he smiles and hands you the shield, which now holds an aura of power.
Many weapons and armors are made famous in these halls, I only ask you make my work as known as some.
Rockjaw-
When you enter bremen, a dwarf, smiles. Well well, the stone boulder himself! already a name made for yourself hehe. Hand me your helmet, I have an idea for your gift.
He take the helm, places it upon a carving of a dwarfs head, throws a powder in the air as he chants a rite, the helm glows blue and all the cracks are mended, though the scuffs and scratches are left as scars of battle.
may it serve you well my friend.
Well ill be... Its truly a mark of master smithmanship! It will get plenty of use, that i can garantee! Thank you friend, an go with Torags blessing!
Now, to pinch some more ale...
Bill laughs as he tries out the shield. excellent. Thanks, master smith. May the divine smith guide you.
@aryyn.
When you enter the armory later that day you are met by the same dwarf the others met. Ah, the noble rogue. I have the perfect item for you my friend!
He then produces a ring from his pocket That shimmers in the light of the forge.
this wrong is imbued with power. It will allow you, once per day, to become invisible. Use it wisely, and may it aid you in all endeavers.
@ Felix
When you enter after collecting your gear you are greeted by a gruff looking dwarf
hello there my honorable friend. I have been commissioned to reward your efforts. Hmmm. Hand me your blade.
He takesnl the blade and places it in his forge to a red glow. He takes up the blade and runs his hand across the length. As he does so he chants a rite to torag and where his hand touchs cool glinting steel is all that remains.
a warrior such as you, deserves a blade worthy of legend. Go, may it serve you well and aid you I'm brining our noble cause across the land.
Bill only-