"Of course." Xanos said. "It has a body, and a soul. Those are the only requirements. The nuance of the creation of undead has more to do with what kinds of undead are suitable for which creatures."
"Lacking a skeletal structure, Treants cannot become animated skeletons. With such hardy bodies, ghoul infection is likewise improbable. Zombification is the option I currently have the resources for, so that is what I will be pursuing."
"Do you think the tree was guarding the Horn from far away from it?" Xanos asked archly. "I suspect our destination is rather nigh."
As you near the stone spire, the ground becomes increasingly marshy. Eventually, as you approach the base, the area before you opens into a small swamp that leads right up to the horn. A large cave mouth opens directly onto the swamp. From a distance, you can see a couple of hunched figures standing around the entrance.
The change to swampland immediately put Xanos in mind of the frogmen they were warned about.
He detached the chain from the horse and the tree corpse and dismounted. This was close enough.
With a wave of his hand a series of glyphs crawled up his form for a moment, then vanished. His other hand crawled up his leg and hung from the baldric on his chest again.
Sitting atop his corpse horse, Albrέkt eyes the distant figures with a baleful gaze.
As the others prepare warding magicks the vampyr draws his greatsword and bids Golgotha slowly advance...
At his master's behest, the rotting warhorse shifts forward; a small cloud of flies rippling and dancing in its wake.
Leading his enchanted mount by its reins, Molasbar advances with the others on foot. At the sight of the creatures, he pulls forth his favored weapon, letting it hang casually at his side. He lets the others lead the way forward, but he keeps a sharp eye out for snares, pits and ambush.
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Sarianna speeds up, leaving the rest of the group behind as she flits through the shadows to close with the silhouettes.
Once she gets close enough she takes a moment to examine the cave for reinforcements before leaping out of the undergrowth to take the fight to the frogmen.
Not as fast or stealthy as the vampire, Molsabar nonetheless approaches after her, still wanting to prove himself to the cultists. He slides up, slashing at the guard that Sariana bypassed. With a backward glance, he makes sure that he is not in Albreckt's path should he decide to charge in.
Stealth
To hit (two handed, power attack)
Damage
As the half orc duo move at speed to engage the distant frogmen Albrέkt looks to his original companions with a jagged grin;
"Har! Und you zhot me der blutrünstig vun!"
The ironclad vampyr continues to slowly advance atop Golgotha.
As his master bids him continue to move forward, the rotten destrier snorts a cloud of flies, and navigates the increasingly swampy ground under hoof.
Xanos sighed, watching for a moment to see how this unfolded.
Sariana cleanly dispatches one of the creatures, but while Molasbar lands a mighty blow, the creature does not fall. Unfortunately, Rose's arrow arcs wide.
The creature is slow to react and is felled before it has a chance to let out a croak of warning. The cave complex extends deep into the mountain. A few flickers of reflected light can be seen, but it is mostly dark.
Xanos gave Haruk a steady look. "They worship demons and devils. Bringing them under your sway may be a possibility. There is likely a language barrier to consider. I assume you speak Infernal or Abyssal?"
He handed the devilish sorcerer two scrolls from the back of the tome that hung from his belt like the scabbard of a weapon.
Albrέkt dismounts and leaves his cadaverous steed keeping vigil.
As he passes the felled frogmen, the ironclad vampyr stoops, digging a gauntleted finger into its sundered corpse.
Smiling appreciatively as he tastes the ichor, Albrέkt unsheathes his greatsword and follows his quicker moving companions.
While Sariana slips ahead and Rose starts to search the fallen, Molasbar takes up a watch in case the brief struggle drew the attention of more boggards, or more misguided guardians.
Xanos walked to the mouth of the cave near Molsabar and Rose. He looked up at the twisted spire of the Horn and into the cave.
"Hold, Albrekt. I do not remember this being the entrance. I would like to circle the Horn once Sariana returns."
Haruk nods at Xanos, "I speak the language of the Pit, but not of the Abyss. I think attempting to turn them to our side is a good idea"
The infernalist will use one of the scrolls to allow him to speak with the boggards
Haruk nods at Xanos, "I speak the language of the Pit, but not of the Abyss. I think attempting to turn them to our side is a good idea"
The infernalist will use one of the scrolls to allow him to speak with the boggards
Hearing them discussing the boggards, Molasbar volunteers "I speak the tongue of demons and can translate, should that be their tongue and the spell doesn't last long enough."
Xanos halts haruk from using the scroll as well. "It will only last ten minutes. Do not use it until it is needed."
"Also, remember that while the spell will allow you to understand any language, it will not allow you to speak it. That will fall to Molsabar, or myself."
He mused a moment. "The Sons of the Apocalypse were dedicated to the Four Horsemen. Daemon Lords. This place was a site of Daemon worship for many years. It could be that which drew the boggards. If so, Infernal will be their tongue of worship."
"You may need to pretend to be a Herald of the Horsemen to sway them. What do you know of Daemons?"
As he spoke, he watched the mouth of the cave, waiting.
At Xanos' behest Albrέkt stoically halts and waits as the others talk and speak of scrolls, languages and a potential ruse to fool the frog-creatures.
He tries to track the other vampire's movements as he stands...
:
... but finds Sariana far too elusive, soon losing her in the shadows.
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Sariana slips through room after room of the caverns, suppressing her snorts as the boggards repeatedly fail to even detect her passing. Her unnatural speed keeps her moving quickly through the various caverns, which she catalogs neatly in her mind as she goes.
Finally, once she has seen everything there is to see, she returns to the entrance - keeping within the shadows to avoid stray sunbeams.
"I've seen housecats with more understanding of their surroundings. They didn't see me once. I could probably walk right in, take the Horn and walk right out again without issue. The caverns are laid out... Either a small, stealthy party goes straight for the Horn, or we can move in as a full show of strength. We could even combine the two and strike their leaders while others of us" She looks pointedly at her fellow vampire, "keep their attention."
Albrέkt listens intently, then as he is offered up as a diversion, flashes his jagged toothed smile.
The ironclad brute pats his greatsword and nods reverently;
"I vill be der instrument of zhier Übergang to der grave."
"Did you see anything that looked like an altar or site of worship?" Xanos asked.
Looking to Haruk and Xanos, Molasbar asks "Have you decided yet if the boggards will serve us as cowed minions or undead soldiers?"
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"That depends on them," Xanos replied. "If Haruk can convince them to obey, they will serve him. If they refuse to listen, they will serve me."
Albrέkt looms at Xanos' shoulder, nodding reverently at the necromancer's wisdom;
"It vill be but a matzer ovf timing. Des Blassen Prinzessin sagen: "Der grave opensch to us all. Ve hazten der living on zheir inevitable path." All vill die und rize reborn.
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"Their shaman appeared to be passed out on mushrooms, or some other form of drug. Eliminating him should be simple - I will go back in, with Molasbar perhaps, and dispose of him. That defeats any magics they may wield - then Albrekt kan duel their chieftain if they have one and they will fall under Haruk's sway or yours Xanos. Then we can move upwards - which is where I assume we find the Horn."
"Is it possible to speak with the shaman without killing him?" Xanos asked. "The chieften, yes we will need to kill as publicly as possible, but killing the spiritual leader will likely be detrimental to our goal. Convincing the shaman we represent their demonic lords would likely win over the whole tribe."
"Now, while his brain is addled by halucinagens, may be the ideal time to convince him he is having a religious experience."
Albrέkt listens stoically, then casts a baleful eye toward the heavens-blooded cleric;
"Der Hure Königin und infernalisch lords alvays seek das massen..."
The vampyr chuckles eerily before continuing to impart his grave wisdom;
"Zie do nicht realize... Der living, be zie worschippers of der upper or lower Plansche - All belong to Des Blassen Prinzessin eventually. Death komes to zhem all. You vill all bear vitness..."
Xanos not so subtly rolled his eyes. "We are not looking to convert them. We are looking to use what they already beleive against them."
He disconnected the chain from the wrist of the spiked gauntlet hanging from his chest. The disembodied hand jumped down and scuttled into the cave.
"I will attempt to lure the Shaman to us. Adjust your disguises to something apropriatly Daemonic. Let Haruk do the talking."
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The hand didn't quite know exactly where it was going, but the vampire's directions were close enough for a start. Hunting was what the hand had been made for.
It slipped past everything else until it found the shaman.
When it found its prey it wasted no time. It crawled forward making no effort to hide until it was ten paces away. It stood up on the stump of it's wrist and beckoned with one finger.
You wait for the hand to return.