Necromancer scum. Regin sneers and he shoves their captive to his knees before his master.
Arundel gives Regin a sidelong glance, before jumping in. "We have a prisoner we have left in the care of the temple of Ishtar. He is a necromancer. He claims to have information that sounded grave indeed, regarding worms and a local cult and unkillable zombies. We thought it best to report to you and see if you could make more sense of his ramblings."
"Unkillable Zombies!?" Maka exclaimed with a glow in her eyes. However, her excited look is quickly replaced by one of confusion and suspicion. "Wait, what kind of worms? I've fallen for that trick before."
"Not dragons," Amarekashu replied, "I already checked."
"Not dragons," Amarekashu replied, "I already checked."
"That is very troubling. I have heard rumors of such things, but only rumors. Some time with my books may help. Did this necromancer know how the zombies were unkillable? Is there one of these worms I could examine?"
"He is being held at a nearby temple. We thought it...unwise...to drag a screaming spellcaster through the streets, and hoped you would be able to join us in questioning. Or have some ideas as to what we should ask if you do not."
"He is being held at a nearby temple. We thought it...unwise...to drag a screaming spellcaster through the streets, and hoped you would be able to join us in questioning. Or have some ideas as to what we should ask if you do not."
"Good idea, spellcasters are dangerous. One turned me in to a frog once."
"I'm not rightly sure. You seem to have done a thorough job. If the priestesses are in charge then I'm sure the necromancer is not a threat at the present. But this cult business...do you think he's held anything back from you about it?"
I wouldn't be surprised in the least of he did, sir. I distrust every inch of him and he remained defiant in attitude, if not in action.
"An enemy gives you something to stand firm against. The trick is to try to become his friend so he wants to tell you what he knows. But it's a really hard trick, especially if you've already punched him."
The bulky man shook his head. "We planked him and gagged him, and removed his components. It is unlikely he can cast anything."
"I think..." Amarekashu looked distant for a moment, considering. "Yes, I believe I know a spell that will allow us to discern whether he speaks falsehoods."
The bulky man shook his head. "We planked him and gagged him, and removed his components. It is unlikely he can cast anything."
"I think..." Amarekashu looked distant for a moment, considering. "Yes, I believe I know a spell that will allow us to discern whether he speaks falsehoods."
"Really? That's a lot more impressive and easier than my idea, that's do that." Maka said with a wide grin.
I listen to the discussion with interest and wonder where they stashed the poor fellow in the temple. I wonder if he might need some medical attention after hearing some of the vile things this band of ruffians have done to him. No wonder the high priest wanted me to watch out for something unusual. At least Zummabu should set them straight....
I listen to the discussion with interest and wonder where they stashed the poor fellow in the temple. I wonder if he might need some medical attention after hearing some of the vile things this band of ruffians have done to him. No wonder the high priest wanted me to watch out for something unusual. At least Zummabu should set them straight....
I might just know something.
[dice=Knowledge (Religion)]1d20+7 I might just know something.
Horatio knows of various sorts of zombies and similar undead purported to be unkillable, but only one has a close association with worms: the spawn (or sons, in some older authorities) of Kyuss. Though not truly unkillable, they are markedly more dangerous than ordinary zombies of their size. They are impossible to distinguish from more run of the mill zombies at a distance, only on drawing near would one mark the segmented green worms that writhe in every orifice. Of course to get that near, one risks being seized by the unnatural fear they command and driven to rout before one can get that close look. He believes they are more difficult to harm than usual, possessing a kind of supernatural resistance to mundane weapons as well.
Spawn of Kyuss are quite rare, with some believing all those in existence were created by an ancient archmage of that name who lived in the days of the Old King, or perhaps was a Thayan some centuries ago. A few believe him to have been one of the High Artificers of the ancient and hated Imaskari, godless enslavers of the Untheric and Mulhorandi people slain by the gods at the dawn of time. It might be that Kyuss is not a proper name at all, but rather a collective term used for a cabal ancient necromancers. Others argue that the secret of their creation exists in a particular tome or, rarely, more obscure sort of record which is itself called Kyuss.
"I think I shall accompany you during this additional questioning and see if what he says is inline with the knowledge I've recalled about these zombies and worms."
"By the way, I'm Horatio, a former apprentice of the honored Zummabu."
Amarekashu raised an eyebrow, but if Zummabu didn't object then he wouldn't either. "What is it that you have recalled?" he asked, partially out of curiosity.
Amarekashu raised an eyebrow, but if Zummabu didn't object then he wouldn't either. "What is it that you have recalled?" he asked, partially out of curiosity.
Zummabu shrugged, "Horatio can be trusted."
Amarekashu raised an eyebrow, but if Zummabu didn't object then he wouldn't either. "What is it that you have recalled?" he asked, partially out of curiosity.Zummabu shrugged, "Horatio can be trusted."
Maka gave Horatio a friendly, but forceful pat on the back. "Good! You look like the book type, what do you know about these indestructible zombies? Just how indestructible are we talking here?"
I feel like every eye in the room is on me and I'm a bit uncomfortable being the center of attention. Especially with my old master staring at me after having endorsed me to this group after so long. I want to make him proud of me so I do my best to help out here.
I relay to the assembled the results of my knowledge check above. "The spawn of Kyuss..."
After finishing, I look to my old master for a sign of acknowledgement and approval that I did well. I hate myself a little for still seeking out his approval but at the same time I still respect his knowledge and power even if my skills never quite lined up with his teachings.
"Ugh so the worst kind of worms huh?" Maka slammed her fist in to her palm, small flames erupting from the impact. "Let's go ask this spell caster were we can find them and test how burnable these zombies are."
Regin chuckles a little. I like the sound of that.
Amarekashu allowed the energy between his fingers crackle. He was sure he could do something to these zombies...but large numbers of them might be a problem.
Arundel nods in agreement, then looks questioningly to Zummabu. "Would you like to come with us, to hear his reports first hand?"
Zummabu gave Horatio a knod of acknowledgment, more a gesture among equals than that of a teacher congratulating his pupil.
Arundel nods in agreement, then looks questioningly to Zummabu. "Would you like to come with us, to hear his reports first hand?"
"It would be better if I could, but I am still a watched man. If my brother were to take an interest...we smart mightily enough beneath the God-King's rod. Most likely he'd see it as a way to increase his standing in the church by taking command of such creatures."
Understood, sir. Regin says with a respectful half=bow
"We have some idea of what to look for now," Amarekashu added. "Let us be at it."
"We have some idea of what to look for now," Amarekashu added. "Let us be at it."
The company, plus their new acquaintances, move through the dark streets of Dalath once more. Several times in the distance they hear the sound of whipping and once someone praying loudly.
They found Gunidu still held tightly by the temple of Ishtar, guarded by a group of four acolytes.
"Brothers I have returned now, you can wait outside while we interrogate this heretic."
"And before we do, I shall place a spell on you to make sure you speak the truth. Please do not make me break anything to make sure the spell works." Amarekashu moved forward to cast touch of Truthtelling.
Maka stood impressed by Amarekashu's magic, a wide smile on her face. This was a lot easier than Sully's technique, which involved a lot of confusing "bad guard" antics on Maka's part.
"Brothers I have returned now, you can wait outside while we interrogate this heretic."
"And before we do, I shall place a spell on you to make sure you speak the truth. Please do not make me break anything to make sure the spell works." Amarekashu moved forward to cast touch of Truthtelling.
"Nothing left worth lying about" Gunidu said. He submitted to the spell with a glower and for a moment the crescent moon obscured his face.
"Ask him how burnable the worm zombies are."
"The Worms you speak of, do you speak of the Spawn of Kyuss?" He glanced over at Maka. "And are they weakened by flame, lightning, acid, cold or another element?"
"The Worms you speak of, do you speak of the Spawn of Kyuss?" He glanced over at Maka. "And are they weakened by flame, lightning, acid, cold or another element?"
"Don't know if they burn more or less. The worm I got was the only one. Didn't want to waste it."
"And who granted you such a thing?" Amarekashu asked, noting that he hadn't confirmed the Kyuss part and checking the glowing symbol for lies.
"And who granted you such a thing?" Amarekashu asked, noting that he hadn't confirmed the Kyuss part and checking the glowing symbol for lies.
Amar didn't see any evidence of lying.
"I have friends in high places. Pit Lord Sumbar called me in on it. He had the thing."
"Was it one of the undead we destroyed? If not, where are you keeping it?" Amarekashu looked over to see if anyone else had questions.
Maka suddenly brightened as an idea came to her. "Oh I know, ask him if there is anything else we should ask him. He'd have to say if there was right?"