For ten tense minutes, shattering glass, splashing water, and chanting issued down from below. Then silence. Nothing raced down to meet the explorers.
"Soo... Another five?" Lu suggested quietly and stretched a bit. Waiting for something like this made her tense. Especially since she didn't know what would actually happen! Hadn't expected nothing though. "Maybe zey were just chilling? Hmph."
"Nah. I think we can go now." Saeri said, standing up and dusting off her clothes once the chanting had been done for a bit. "Things probably aren't going to get better if we wait any longer, so we might as well see what's going on."
After a few more breaths, a man's voice called down. He had a Waterdhavian accent.
"Are we going to go on like this all night? You haven't attacked me yet so I will grant you the courtesy of not retaliating for your invasion and doubtless pillage of my home. What business do you have here?"
Chaïa exchanged a look with the others. It’s a civilized start to tearing each other apart with magic, at least, she thought. With a shrug as if to say, Keep him talking! she called back up the stairs in turn.
“Oh, I wouldn’t call it pillage,” Chaïa answered breezily, “Providing a de-skeletonizing and -zombifying service, rather.”
“I do beg your pardon, but the people of Daggerford seem to be unaware that anyone actually lives here, and what would you do if you came across unexpected undead? In any case, we are investigating a series of burial desecrations and suspected acts of unholy necromancy. I don’t suppose you might have seen anything that might help us?”
So far Chaïa was quite pleased: she had avoided a direct accusation, and depending on how mad this creature was, she would be happy to talk about the green worm sent to him and other bits of magical biology before trying to subdue him, if they could steer the conversation that way.
"Two silver says he'll be hard pressed to cough up ze property deed." Lu mumbled and carefully circled the stairs. Looking up she tried to figure out how well the the floor - roof for them - were holding up. If it was just rotting planks a well aimed strike might cause it to tumble down. If it came to that of course. She just needed to figure out where the "homeowner" were standing. "Keep talking. Maybe zis can be solved with some choice words...?"
For her part, Saeri just twitched her hand a bit and readied cards for throwing. The less this fellow knew about her and what she could do, the better - surprises were lovely when they were on your side.
"Two silver says he'll be hard pressed to cough up ze property deed." Lu mumbled and carefully circled the stairs. Looking up she tried to figure out how well the the floor - roof for them - were holding up. If it was just rotting planks a well aimed strike might cause it to tumble down. If it came to that of course. She just needed to figure out where the "homeowner" were standing. "Keep talking. Maybe zis can be solved with some choice words...?"
[Dice=Perception]1d20+8
The ceiling looked pretty sound to Lu.
"Call it what you will. I'm here at the invitation of Guildmaster Smenk, who owns this all. I keep a tight rein on my guardians, none of which have troubled Daggerford."
Chaïa nodded at Lu’s muttered advice, only to raise an alarmed eyebrow at their interlocutor’s next comment. So S. in that note we found must be Smenk, she thought, filing the idea away for later use, since knowing what she would do in Filge’s position, she didn’t want to admit she had rifled through and then pocketed his spellbook. Not that she intended to give it up, in any case.
Looking for another conversational gambit, the elf mage also noted that if she hadn’t directly accused Filge of graverobbing, he hadn’t denied it either. She extended another tentative feeler, “I apologize for the inconvenience, but perhaps in future adding a homier touch, or at least a notice, ‘Beware of minions,’ so things don’t look like what crawls out of an abandoned ruin, would result in fewer misunderstandings.”
“From what we’ve seen, though, you’re clearly a man talented in the Art,” she flattered, “and someone’s still going about Daggerford disturbing graves, presumably for nefarious purposes. If we join forces, you could help us put a stop to them, and perhaps acquire some new minions. Might we discuss the possibilities?”
Chaïa scrupulously avoided actually specifying undead minions, an abomination in the eyes of the Seldarine, especially Sehanine. One and the Three, guide us! If we can just talk past him, and get him to come downstairs…
"You mean I'd best announce my presence to every superstitious lout without the intellect to understand Art? Yes, I'm sure no one would take that as an invitation to come play Smite the Wizard."
"But...what is it you know of grave robbery?"
Bleh. Why do they always have to put so much work into structural integrity in the old times? Though Lu suspected there might be some confirmation bias sneaking into that thought. Still she would have relished the chance to literally rip the floor away from underneath someone!
"Yeah, because *not* having a sign worked so well right?!" Lu couldn't help but butt in. She looked quite pleased with herself until she realized that she might be sabotaging their chances at actually figuring out what's going on. With a small shrug she deflated a bit and added apologetically - "Sorry, please do go ahead..."
Chaïa couldn’t repress a grin at Lu’s outburst. “Well, I do think you’re right. The folk of Daggerford seem reasonable enough: after all, our friend Yellowknife keeps his tower squarely in the middle of town.”
They could drop names too, if that was going to be part of the game. Then again, a moment too late, Chaïa remembered that Filge seemed to have been expelled from some sort of order of wizards, and might not take too kindly to being reminded of the possibility of living in society. It was probably a good thing she hadn’t mentioned Evereska, even if growing up in the shadow of an active mythal was her normal.
“Anyway,” she continued, refocusing, “It’s simple – but sadly little – enough. Miscalculating the pace I would need to set travelling, I found myself benighted in the hills outside of town, and had to make camp in one of the hollows about. Fortunately, I found one without beasts lairing in it, but there was something else: the remains of a lost child, whose spirit took notice of a weary traveller. Like any priestess, I tried to lay it to rest, and so promised to bury and bless its bones where it asked, a long-abandoned homestead not too far off. Imagine our consternation when I found that the family plot had recently been plundered, with cart-tracks leading to Daggerford! I did what I could in the moment, but the poor child’s spirit could not pass over with his family’s grave desecrated. Surely, you can understand that I was honour-bound to bring the perpetrators to justice?”
Stretching the truth a little to avoid enumerating and describing the full party and circumstances, and doing her best to give heartstrings a little tug, didn’t seem entirely unfair given the current standoff.
Saeri continued to keep silent, happy to let others get all the attention for the moment. People tended to lose track of other matters when talking... and she looked around the area, keeping watch for any threats that might have been coming in.
Saeri marked no menaces quietly approaching while the others parleyed.
Filge listened to Chaia's story and answered it with a grunt. "Don't know anything about it myself. Sounds like something for 'venturers to see about. There a reward yet?"
“Apart from the knowledge of a good deed done, laying restless souls to rest?” Chaïa said, a bit more primly than she meant, before acknowledging more practical motivations, “I doubt even the most dedicated necromancer has no other magic in their toolbox, which, firstly, someone responsible should look after, and secondly, no one would mind seeing separated from the sacrilegious.”
“There should be enough to go around,” she said, dangling the bait that her own wizard’s heart would find almost irresistible.
“Apart from the knowledge of a good deed done, laying restless souls to rest?” Chaïa said, a bit more primly than she meant, before acknowledging more practical motivations, “I doubt even the most dedicated necromancer has no other magic in their toolbox, which, firstly, someone responsible should look after, and secondly, no one would mind seeing separated from the sacrilegious.”
“There should be enough to go around,” she said, dangling the bait that her own wizard’s heart would find almost irresistible.
"Enough to go around how many of you? I heard two voices. What's there, six of you?"
At the questions, Saeri kept her mouth shut. She wanted to see how the others were going to handle this.
“Oh, one wouldn’t want to be so calculating as to rank and reckon all one’s friends too precisely,” Chaïa parried, “we work together on various projects, and separately. And all of our needs are comparatively modest, and spell-lore, say, can be shared. Suppose we do have a full hand in our company now: as unusual as it might be, an extra digit might be helpful. We might be able to assist you with your work for the guildmaster, even.”
"Why is zat important? Let's talk about ze other aspiring necromancers in town. If you didn't take ze body it makes sense zey did not? So zey are less scrupulous and pleasant. What else?" Lu bumps in to try and steer the conversation. Hopefully the one upstairs would comply!
"Why is zat important? Let's talk about ze other aspiring necromancers in town. If you didn't take ze body it makes sense zey did not? So zey are less scrupulous and pleasant. What else?" Lu bumps in to try and steer the conversation. Hopefully the one upstairs would comply!
"It's a matter of the coin. More hands means less for everyone. Split a big reward seven or eight ways, what's the point?"
"Reputation." Saeri said, finally piping up. "Accomplish something noteworthy and others are more likely to offer you other jobs in the future. Most people start small and work their way up - the ones who rush and try to do everything themselves are the more likely to end up dead."
"Reputation." Saeri said, finally piping up. "Accomplish something noteworthy and others are more likely to offer you other jobs in the future. Most people start small and work their way up - the ones who rush and try to do everything themselves are the more likely to end up dead."
"I got plenty that know my talent. It's the coin I want," Filge said. "So it's six of you? I'm in if I get a double share."
"Double share? Bleh darn amateur. He should have asked what ze reward was first. It's almost as if he just wants us to not play 'stab ze necromancer'..." Lu mutters quietly to her companions. She wasn't sure how she felt about this and tried to stall a moment while she got things straight.
Chaïa was glad that she didn’t have to worry too much about controlling her facial expression yet, as traces of bemusement and exasperation flitted briefly across her features in response to the self-assured demand. Who did this creature think he was, with his appalling taste in help and decoration? Her Hanalian leanings and training helped her keep calm and polite, though.
“Well, if you join us,” she said smoothly, “given the present company, and not all of whom take a share.”
“However, before we make any promises, what exactly do you offer that warrants such a division of the spoils? Not that it might not well be warranted, of course, but just to be perfectly fair…” Chaïa continued, dickering shrewdly but good-naturedly. “Why don’t we come upstairs, settle the details? Also, as a gesture of good faith, we’ll check for more tomb motes for you, gratis. Did you know you had a few running around? Not a nuisance anyone would want to have to deal with, obviously, sponging off one’s magic and gumming up the Weave. Now, if you have any other pets, you’ll have to move them, just for a moment…”
As she made her offer, she moved to the foot of the stairs, wondering if it would be safe to ascend.
When the Necromancer started talking, Janus smirked...their gambit might have paid off - chances were the guy used up his best buffs, and now tried to talk his way out of this. Chances were his overly bloated self-confidence would allow him to actually not feel insecure about his ability to weasel his way out of the situation he was in...but listening in wouldn't hurt, either way. Plus, as with the bloodletting earlier, it seemed a good idea to keep hidden, not giving away one's presence.
Saeri considered the question of the man's offer for a moment-
-and looked at the Mute Hag, the purveyor of treacherous secrets and blood pacts that turned friends and family against each other. As the Neutral Evil card of Wisdom, it was also one of the worst possible results on a question like this one, suggesting no wisdom in accepting. Glancing at the others, she shook her head and made a slashing motion across her throat. She wasn't going to jump the spear and force them all into a fight, but nor would she be in favor of any alliance here.
"Hmmmm..." Lu squinted ad Saeri. Now that was a gesture she recognized! With a firm grasp of her sword she turned back to the stairs, just in case some stabbing would be needed after all!
[dice=Sense Motive!]1d20+8
"Hmmmm..." Lu squinted ad Saeri. Now that was a gesture she recognized! With a firm grasp of her sword she turned back to the stairs, just in case some stabbing would be needed after all!
Lu thinks that Filge is serious about joining up, provided he gets his share of the spoils, but also quite paranoid about these adventurers in his home.
"You can stay down there just now," the necromancer called down. "I'd supply the Art. More and better than you've got. And zombies and skeletons to take up the slack."
Chaïa paused as Filge’s demand floated down. Unless he had another spellbook somewhere, he was either bluffing about providing undead, or relying on something other than whatever magic he could usually draw on from day to day. In any case, his peremptory posturing wasn’t endearing him to her, and where was he getting all the bodies for this necromantic support? She hoped he didn’t already have a supply to hand. And, lastly, what he was up to was repugnant on most levels she could think of, even without the support of decades of religious training crying out against such crude and cruel reanimations.
She wasn’t sure what card Saeri had drawn, but her subsequent gesture was unmistakeable, and Chaïa nodded in turn. She gave all the others a chance to indicate their feelings before taking action. She held up one hand in what was obviously the start of a ritual gesture.
“Tempting as the offer may be, I think for now it would be best if we go our own ways. Perhaps we’ll meet again? Until then, may the Lunar Lady shine her light upon this place.”
"Mm. Some deals are not worth making." Saeri said quietly, scooting towards the door but staying close enough to support the others. Some people scoffed at the ability of the Harrow to understand and predict the future - and while interpretation was difficult even for the trained, sometimes the messages were pointedly clear. There were too many red flags in this situation - better to keep away from any deal doomed to treachery.
"Wait, should we not ask about 'invincible zombies' and ze other necromancers in town?" Lu asked her companions. Not that she didn't also want to just leave but ... Felt like they should.
"For serious, you just want to leave? It's one thing to raise someone already dead for labor or as guard. But that, in the dinner room? That was disturbing. I'm not keen on the idea of cooperating, but either that or we go up there and settle this now. Just leaving seems like the worst possible thing we could do, revealing ourselves, letting him report, replenish his minions, and try to single us out and pick us off if he decides we are enemies after all.", Janus whispers, far enough away from the way up to be absolutely certain he won't be overheared.
Janus takes point, Falcata in hand, and, one hand on the wall, sneaks up step by step.
Lu made herself as quiet as possible, clearly one of her better efforts actually, and follows Janus up. She hopes that Necromancers dumped their wisdom. I mean - who would go down zis route with zeir sanity intact?
Saeri crept behind the others, a smidge less stealthy in her robes... but not too bad, all things considered.
[dice=Stealth]1d20 + 4
Saeri crept behind the others, a smidge less stealthy in her robes... but not too bad, all things considered.
As the others filed silently past her in the hopes of surprising the necromancer, Chaïa wiggled a bit to adjust how her pack sat on her back, and fell in. A few steps up, and she thought she was doing surprisingly well for someone not used to doing a lot of sneaking around. Hopefully it was a sign of the Luminous Cloud's favour.
As Chaia lies to Filge, the others pad up the steps. They come up to the tower's highest level and find there a single, open chamber. Light filters through the wide slit in the roof, making the whole space bright. Four large mirrors set along the outside wall reflected it toward a large stone slab resting on a raised dais, making the stone sparkle for a thin, yellow fluid spread across it. At the dais' corners stand metal and glass tanks, two full of a yellowish liquid clouded with streaks of rust and harboring humanoid silouettes. The other two are shattered ruins. Two long shelves cluttered with piles of papers, rotting organs, and instruments comprise the east and west extent of the chamber.
Amid it all stands Filge, a pale man in black robes wearing a curious amulet made of a bird's skull that flows faintly with red light. Next to him stands the skeleton of an elf or half-elf, bow in hand and arrow nocked. A matching red glow floats in its empty eye sockets. Between the necromancer, his skeleton, and the stairs stand a pair of hulking corpses with rotted skin and exposed bone. Their bodies are strangely shaped, as though more flesh had been added to them and then lashed tight with many crude lines of stitches.
"Then it is death you seek!" Filge cried out. "As I suspected all along! Come and my creations will give it!"
The sucker. But does he hear?
Welp, there we go. Looks like no one gets the drop on anyone.
Init
"Get ze necromancer! I'll distract zese sewing projects." Lu grunts and dashes towards her enemies a little slower then she'd liked. Damn that poison!
She swiped at the closest undead with her blade, ditching her flail for now. "Take zis you stinking corpse!"
"Get ze necromancer! I'll distract zese sewing projects." Lu grunts and dashes towards her enemies a little slower then she'd liked. Damn that poison!
She swiped at the closest undead with her blade, ditching her flail for now. Take zis you stinking corpse!" The corpse proved too quick for her steel, dodging with startling alacrity and then swinging a huge club made out of many bones lashed together what what looked to be tendons. She ducked under the blow, but came up a second too soon and took the second with bone-crushing force. The blow was so heavy that it knocked her out of line for the skeletal archer's first arrow.
Behind the undead, Filge cast a spell and a ghostly hand appeared at his shoulder. As he spoke the final word, he flinched and the amulet about his neck flickered brighter red while the glow in the skeleton's eyes briefly dimmed.
Archer shoots Lu, because it's her head stuck up and all.
miss
Filge
Hearing the commotion upstairs as the necromancer proved to be as touchy as she had feared, Chaïa abandoned her efforts at stealth and raced up the stairs behind the others. Drawing up just as Lu plunged into the fray, Chaïa quickly took in the scene and tried to figure out just how to get the necromancer.
I don’t like the look of that, she thought, spotting his extra disembodied hand.
For now, she gathered up a violently useful bit of magic, her free hand tracing signs in the air to pull it into a ball of storm.