Torod keeps backing out of the area and begins summoning (Summon Monster II).
Strawberry rushes in to help.
Bite:
to hit to hurt trip
Elaina sends another arrow flying from her bow.
'
She barks a laugh at being surrounded and brings her large blade to bear, calling upon her oath to serve Asta she strikes at the one Asta has engaged. Wishing to see it clove in two lest it turn her harm her mistress. As she brought her blade close to herself once more she angled the flat side and tried to use it like a shield against the hungry dead. "At least they are more numerous then the bandits. Lets crush every last one of them!"
"Can you consecrate this graveyard?" Asta asks Jhod as she walks up to the priest. "No telling how many are left. And even if there are none, it might be well to counteract whatever curse caused them to rise in the first place."
"The bandits' treasury should provide enough silver to grind into dust," Asta says. "We'll rely on your spiritual aid for the holy water, good Jhod. Everyone in favour, say 'Aye'."
Aye!
"Aye! I don't want to have to do this again!"
She set her blade on her shoulder, the flt side and gave a shrug. "What a bunch of pushovers... Sure lets end it, not like they are much of a fight anyhow." She smirked then, utterly confident in her ability to fight these undead. With help of course.
Marten watched the fight and only now realised he had not participated at all.
"Oh, I am sorry. I kind of froze not being able to decide how to help you fight those zombies." he looks embarrassed.
Seraph chuckles. "No problem there Marten, easy. Like burning onions." She gives him a smile as she waits for the Priests to do their thing.
"Well, it kind of looked that way. More like running around hoping they will appear then actually fighting... Still, I do hope I will be able to help more next time." responds Marten.
"Most assuredly," Asta says. "Once the cemetery has been consecrated, of course. But before you go, would you perhaps add your signature to the letter we will be sending to confirm the death of the Staglord? Your confirmation would count for much."
"Not bloody likely," Croft caws, indignant. "This one can go by regular mail. I'm all tuckered out from carrying that stupid spear."
Asta just smiles and soothes her familiar's ruffled feathers.
Strawberry's stomach grumbles or did she growl?
The day after Jhod and Kressel have left, Asta calls together the war council. (Basically everyone in the party, Mikmek and anyone else of interest.)
"Alright," the Witch says. "We have the fortress, we're finished with the bandits... Time to decide what we'll do next. Things are advancing nicely - we have secured goodly compacts with our neighbours" (she nods politely to Mikmek) "we have interesting options for the future, and the worst threats I can recall have been neutralized. We've even found the lost temple of Erastil. So! What's next?"
"As this is going to be the capitol of this new region, I would be very sad if Kobolds failed to become residents here," Asta says, smiling a little at Mikmek. "At the very least, you would need to have an embassy here. I for one would be deeply grateful if your people would be so kind as to shore up the tunnels and maybe scout around a bit down there as well."
"That is great idea. What shall we do while our friends secure the location?" Marten chimes in.
Asta steeples her fingers and her tone becomes serious.
"The Fey," she says. "Not our little friends. Not the Mites. The great ones of the First World."
"I'll be going with Jhod and Kressel. I feel the need to rededicate myself to Erastil and feel that the temple will be a better place for me to do that at."
"They're not going to the temple right now," Asta reminds the Elven hunter.
Elaina wanders off as the others get to the business of discussing what's next and where the next threat is likely to come from. The ranger was beginning to feel restless after nearly a week in the fort. She sets out late in the night, resting a few hours before dawn then setting out a few hours after.
Something pulls her into the Kamelands. She wanders to the southeast, meandering through the area like a slow lazy river near an ocean. Every now and then, though she catches a glimpse of white darting behind a rock or a bush. As the days wear on, she becomes used to the furry shadow she seemed to have acquired. She foraged from the land, hunting and picking as she needed, and always leaving some choice cut of her game for her white, furry follower.
Seraph icks close to Asta, doing what she could to protect her charge as she watches the events unfold with an amused smile.
"Well," Asta says after the others have left for the time, and she turns to Seraph. "There is something I need to do while we await further developments from the capitol - or the return of the others. I need to know whether there are any youngsters in the land with an affinity for the arcane."
"I offer to help you with that, if you are interested. All I want is to make sure the land is safe for new settlers. And I can work on that while helping you." Marten reacts to Asta's plan.
Asta quietly takes Seraph and Marten aside and - in a whisper - tells them what she has noticed about the 10-year old girl and the way the other newcomers defer to her.
The girl takes no notice of the other and says nothing to any of you, with her is a small monkey....
She walks past the kobolds and looks for a shady spot to lay down, her monkey lays with her and the both of them look as if they are going to sleep.
"I will follow you, always. Where would we start looking first?"
As the newcomers appeared Seraph appraised them staying close to her companions. Especially Asta in case they threatened her.
Seraph nods and taking what Asta said into account she welcomes the newcomers with open arms. "Welcome, you are in the presence of Milady Heart and her companion Maester Gorlan. I am Seraph servent of Arshea and defender of Milady." She unclasped the belts holding her blade to her back and puts the massive blade tip down into the earth, ensuring that there was no question how much strength she could bring to bear if needed. Belting it back on she spreads her arms wide. "No need to be frightened! We have liberated this fortress of its ill masters and if you seek an audience with Milady then please approach one at a time."
The girl walking past was of no importance to her, she noted the girls rudeness as she sought to set her followers at ease. A house divided cannot stand.
"Indeed, no need to be frightened," Asta adds with a subtle little smile. "Even if it isn't just 'Heart' but Blackheart. It's just a name where I come from, not a statement of character."
The Witch glances at the little girl, her blue eyes difficult to read...
"Is that so," Asta murmurs. "Is that so, indeed..."
The Winter Witch taps her arm, then shrugs as she makes a decision in the forthright Ulfen fashion.
"I don't see you carrying any books," she says as she approaches the little girl and talks to her, voice pitched for the child's ears only. "So that means you're either an Adept or a Witch. Which is it?"
"The bandits stole everything from me and killed my parents, I was going too get them!"
She stomps her foot at you.....
Although a fairly attractive child her dirty finger nails are nearly sharp talons......
"Who says you can ask me question?"
"We are all hungry you know!"
"You will be fed in due course," Asta says, her eyes narrowing.
Abruptly, her hand snakes out, seizing the little girl's wrist so Asta can inspect her fingernails. "That is a useful Hex," she says, calmly. "Although you are, perhaps, a bit young to use it effectively. As for me, I rather like this one."
The Winter Witch turns her blue gaze on the little girl's familiar and issues a series of soft chittering noises at it.
Asta holds out an arm for the monkey to jump onto if it's interested in the medlars.