This undead info is a bit to game specific for your character as you dont have any knowledge undead skill nor the ability to make undead. Specifically the reference to corpse crafter and where elite undead come from.
It depends who the necromancer was. They can make many different types of skeletons. I believe the term is corpse crafter. They can make undead much more advanced than there common counterparts. So they can make one elite undead which they control and it in turn controls the others. Until they attack there is no way to tell them apart. I can tell you that they are stronger, faster, tougher and are harder to turn. Some of them have bones as strong as steel. They possess a malign intelligence. A priestess at the Oracles who befriended me explained it as a wolf is sheeps clothing.
Greetings, I am Grymbol, an enforcer of the Sidhe courts.
"What, if I may ask, is it that you seek from us, Kalona? This is a place where we expect few friends and many enemies, so forgive me if this query offends you, but how might we know that you are the former and not the latter?"
"A riddle is it?"
The raven begins to pace back and forth across the middle skeleton's shoulders, flapping her wings a bit to hop over the head.
After a few laps, it stops and turns back to you.
"Whether a being is friend or foe, is not for the one questioned to determine. For those who are friends can give harm and those who are foes can give aid."
"Thus the only comfort I can offer, is that I have not given any harm to you or your companions and it was I who intervered and thwarted desires of the shadows and thus gave aid."
"As for what I seek from you and yours, tis nothing more than a enjoyable time along the journey set before us. I intend to find those-who-would-steal-the-sun and interfere with their plans. It is rather boring for it always to be dark after all."
Greetings, I am Grymbol, an enforcer of the Sidhe courts.
The two side skeleton's return the bow. The raven's head moves in typical bird fashion to view the little creature.
"Oh, most formal of you Grymbol." A bit of surprise in her voice. "Do I welcome you with flowers or is it the winter upon which our meeting does fall?" When she speaks to Grymbol, the words are in the same language she was spoken too.
[ooc]Valegrim, is it winter or summer in the courts?/ooc]
Kemnebi watches teh Raven's actions with great interest. But perhaps not as interested as his familiar,... When his familiar tenses up her hindquarters, the mage firmly places his hand on her neck. Without ever taking his eyes off of the Raven and Namaste.
"Now now, you told me you weren't hungry." He mutters to his companion.
He catches Nebibit's eye and grins. "She says she wasn't gonna eat it." He whispers to his fellow feline friend.
Kemnebi watches, and listens, to the exchange with undiminished interest,...
"Whether a being is friend or foe, is not for the one questioned to determine. For those who are friends can give harm and those who are foes can give aid."
"Truer words were ne'er spoke! Even amongst our number, the dark and the light have a momentary harmony, and your ability to cajole the undead could prove vital for what we face ahead. Very well, if my companions have no objection, you may join us. I'm sure Falco would welcome some more winged company, though no doubt to the chagrin of a certain feline familiar who will no doubt suffer in wistful agony at yet another morsel he cannot savor! What say the rest of you?"
"I would be hard pressed to reject an ally that has already proven to aid us in our last battle."
"I also see no reason to turn down an offer of companionship from one who has already provided assistance. And would be glad to welcome another into our eclectic group. And worry not for Hathor. She doesn't eat anything that talks back." He says with a feline grin.
The familiar named turns her head to give the mage a look, but remains otherwise silent on the subject.
"Well, while everyone considers my situation, I will get ready and hopefully provide a bit of entertainment. Oh, and dont worry, this certainly isnt as noticeable as combat..."
With that the skeletons form around around the raven shoulder to shoulder in something of a triangle, face outwards. The raven steps onto the uplifted hands of the one she had been on which puts her within easy reach of all three.
She then seems to duck her head into a spot under her wing and out pops a small wooden object with a hardened leather end, it rattles a bit and she hands it to a skeleton on the end then repeats the process for the other skeleton. She then pecks each skeleton on the head and presses her ear to where she pecked. Holding it there for a moment, you may notice that the skeletons jaw moves a bit as she does this.
Then she turns and faces the group and fully stretches her wings. It is easy to recognize that she is not anywhere near a normal ravens size with her wings outstretched. Her wing span is nearly that of a normal sized human. The site is somewhat impressive and a bit unnerving with the raven perched atop the skeletons.
Then her wings drop and as the breeze is felt by the on lookers the skeletons begin shaking the rattles to a beat in unison. One of her claws starts tapping and she begins pecking the heads of the skeletons as if they were drums. Each head giving a different accoustic tone. The music is oddly upbeat and somewhat primitive in nature, yet it is catchy and those who like music (performance roll total: 27--entire performance) will find it quite enjoyable, though a bit eerie.
A minute or so into the performance the "drumming" stops and in a dance like twirl her head again disappears under her wing and suddenly pulls out a long leather like coat that she tosses directly up into the air above her.
As it reaches its appex it becomes clear it is in fact some sort of armor made of leather, highly decorated with bones, feathers, beads and gems. She lifts her head up to it and begins to sing, in a voice more like a Nightingale than a raven, clearly female. The words are in a language foreign to this area. (language is only spoken on the continental shelf in Val's world)
Viewers get the impression that the words caress the armor as it descends, unexpectedly slowly. Shortly before it reaches the Kalona it stops and begins to take on an emphemeral appearance, glowing slightly as it becomes more an more see thru.
An unexpected change in the song re-directs the attention back to Kalona as she begins a dance while singing, hopping along the skeletons heads and hands and slowly the armor begins to follow suit till they are moving in tandem. Then together they begin an arial dance through the cavern, always being careful that they are in view of the on lookers. As song and dance progress, the armor glides closer and closer until one can no longer distuinguish their movements. A final beat of the wings and the song comes to a close, the skeletons stop the rattles and she glides back. The armor loses its emphemral nature and it is clear that she is wearing it, as anyone would...if they were a bird.
Perching back on the middle skeletons head she turns to those who have followed her performance and bows, wings outstretched.
"I hope everyone enjoyed my show." She winks in Hathor's direction
"Have the rest decided yet?"
Thank ye for grand show. Ye have a sense of humor and have proven to have power over the undead. I have no problem with ye joining.
Hathor gives Kemnebi another look. This one plainly says, 'See what I put up with for you?!' The cat then turns, and bows her head towards the raven.
Kemnebi starts to laugh, but smothers it at another look from his familiar.
"I think she said thank you for the show Master Raven." He says. Almost straight-faced.
Astinos, what is this roll in regards to? what are you attempting to gain information on?
Keep in mind that there is a waferfall in this room that if pretty noisy; no one who is not in 10 ft of the raven and namaste can hear this conversation; assume +3 difficulty every 5 ft and your about 60 ft or more away if your around carts; Namaste didnt say how much of the conversation she is putting in the mindlink; am assuming just her part since the raven is not in the link.
[ooc]Valegrim, is it winter or summer in the courts?/ooc]
hmm, late fall; winter coming on soon; but that doesnt matter to much here as you guys are right at the equator pretty much; so spring in the southern continent is just starting.
to Namaste in familiar link:
you gotta be kidding, this bozo has the stink of the upper planes; something wierd about him too; this aint no bird but I dont know what it is; ever heard of a talking bird; next thing we gonna find a talking Dog? sheesh; already got cats; now birds; what next; riff raff if you ask me. Me and you can do this whole thing ourselves; we dont needs anybody. Most of these guys are silly beyond words; sheesh we would do better with three drunks and a halfling hopped up on sweetweed.
you sure he aint no shapechanged Quasit, that sure is big bird, and that dance is downright creepifying?
"Whether a being is friend or foe, is not for the one questioned to determine. For those who are friends can give harm and those who are foes can give aid.""Truer words were ne'er spoke! Even amongst our number, the dark and the light have a momentary harmony, and your ability to cajole the undead could prove vital for what we face ahead. Very well, if my companions have no objection, you may join us. I'm sure Falco would welcome some more winged company, though no doubt to the chagrin of a certain feline familiar who will no doubt suffer in wistful agony at yet another morsel he cannot savor! What say the rest of you?"
Jewel to Llevnoc as their walking:
well, you seem ok; no infection or parasitic beasts I can see; you could eat better and work harder; to much time doing nothing has made you soft.
Well, lets go over to our fearless leader and that skeletal pantomine and see if we will be moving into this room for the duration or if there is a plan to go forward.
tell me; did you see anything in the room where you found Nebenit (sorry about mispell), is that a way out; did it get searched; what condition was that door; are there others; did anyone check; I would think a leader would set forth some plan of gathering information and and making a few decisions; I am not good at all this waiting around; There was a dance tomorrow night I am hoping to attend and need time to do my hair and get my nails fixed; I dont wanna spend my life down here.
Namaste and the two drow; make spot rolls; I dont think anyone else, well, besides June and March can see in darkness very far; also; anyone in the light from Kenembi's rod cannot use dark vision; you must be more than 30 ft from the rod.
Jewel spot; 19; sucky roll hehe shoulda took a 10.
tell me; did you see anything in the room where you found Nebenit (sorry about mispell), is that a way out; did it get searched; what condition was that door; are there others; did anyone check; I would think a leader would set forth some plan of gathering information and and making a few decisions; I am not good at all this waiting around; There was a dance tomorrow night I am hoping to attend and need time to do my hair and get my nails fixed; I dont wanna spend my life down here.
The room was not properly searched. The priority was to get Nebebit out. There was a large pile of bones in the room, and several dead snakes. The door was in good condition. It would be prudent that we take another look at that room.
To Jewel in Drow
to Namaste in familiar link:
** spoiler omitted **
"Whether a being is friend or foe, is not for the one questioned to determine. For those who are friends can give harm and those who are foes can give aid.""Truer words were ne'er spoke! Even amongst our number, the dark and the light have a momentary harmony, and your ability to cajole the undead could prove vital for what we face ahead. Very well, if my companions have no objection, you may join us. I'm sure Falco would welcome some more winged company, though no doubt to the chagrin of a certain feline familiar who will no doubt suffer in wistful agony at yet another morsel he cannot savor! What say the rest of you?"
Keep in mind that there is a waferfall in this room that if pretty noisy; no one who is not in 10 ft of the raven and namaste can hear this conversation; assume +3 difficulty every 5 ft and your about 60 ft or more away if your around carts; Namaste didnt say how much of the conversation she is putting in the mindlink; am assuming just her part since the raven is not in the link.
"Kalona, I possess an ability to establish a network of telepathic communication with all of my companions. In this way, we are able to speak silently with each other and understand each other in a common tongue. Will you consent to be included in this Mindlink?"
Namaste and the two drow; make spot rolls; I dont think anyone else, well, besides June and March can see in darkness very far; also; anyone in the light from Kenembi's rod cannot use dark vision; you must be more than 30 ft from the rod.
Jewel spot; 19; sucky roll hehe shoulda took a 10.
To everyone: "We do not know if we will be able to accomplish our task in a day or over many days. We should try to find places where we can safely rest, places where we can barricade ourselves in if need be. The undead do not need to rest and clear their thoughts [], but we do."
"Llvenoc, ThoronHen and Nebebit, the room that you saw into which Nebibit had fallen, do you think it could serve such a purpose if we need to retreat to a safe place?"
"And Kalona, you arrived her shortly before we did. What have you seen of this place besides this room and the tunnel through which we entered?"
To everyone: "We do not know if we will be able to accomplish our task in a day or over many days. We should try to find places where we can safely rest, places where we can barricade ourselves in if need be. The undead do not need to rest and clear their thoughts [], but we do."
"Llvenoc, ThoronHen and Nebebit, the room that you saw into which Nebibit had fallen, do you think it could serve such a purpose if we need to retreat to a safe place?"
Namaste, the room Nebebit was held in has not been checked yet. There is a pile of bones in the room, with some dead snakes. The door is sturdy and can be locked.
"Llvenoc, Thoron, Jewel, why don't the three of you give that room a good once over. Llvenoc and Jewel have the keen eyes of the underdark, and Thoron probably has the best training for details such as traps and hidden doors, and if we eventually have to take refuge there, I don't want us being surprised. Plus, a priestess should be with you in case any of those bones start dancing on their own. As there were snakes, keep an eye out for snake holes as well."
"The rest of us should stay close near that room, I don't want the group getting separated. But I also don't want us getting in the way of their search."
"Kemnebi and Nebibit, Astinos and Kalona, anyone else who may have special insight into the undead, now would be a good time to tell the rest of us what you know so that we're better prepared for the next battle. What works well against skeletons, and what doesn't? What works well against incorporeals like those shadows, and what doesn't?"
"Kalona, do you have any insight into what would trigger those monstrous skeletons to attack? Can we move safely past them?"
Val
Grymbol: "When you study or pray of a morning to select your available spells for the day, are you able to take time away during the day to set aside spells you've memorized and memorize new ones in their stead? If you can, this might be a good time for you to take repose and learn more instances of your spells that can make us invisible to the undead, while the rest of us are engaged in searching and planning."
When I pray to my Lady, I request what I would like to be able to do, and if she is willing, she or her representative on this world, will grant me the power to do it. Of course, to her this is a minor thing, since she is one of the greatest powers in the planes.
"Many thanks for allowing me to join your group. I should say that my abilities with the undead are quite limited, but I have many other talents to rely on so I do not think you will be disappointed."
"Oh, you can talk mind to mind, how utterly exciting. I would love to join the group...however, I am guarded against such intrusion and I am not entirely sure it would work. But please lets try, can we hear what everyone is thinking? Do you have to conciously talk or does it just pick up everything?"
"I have flown around this cavern and been up in the towers, but not searched it. There seems to be many different types of walking-bones around, but I have not seen anything else. They have not taken any notice of me and if moving at all simply do what they have been doing."
"All I can do is guess at what would result in some action on their part."
She goes back to pacing across the skeletons and looking in the direction of the skeletal groups. As she paces, she begins humming a tune.
After a time she stops and turns back to Namaste.
"My intuition is telling me that they guard that entrance/exit point by the towers. Either going through from this side, returning, both or perhaps there is an object in that location that will set them off. If I were to further leap off the cliff and plunge into the unknown, its good to have wings you know, I might hazard that since no one was attacked in this room and the skeletons seem to all reside here, the intent is to prevent something from entering this area from that location."
"Of course if I were particularly devious and wanted to prevent wingless ones from going down that path, I might set up a pit type trap and a falling wall farther along the path in that hallway and wait for everyone to cross, activate it and have the skeletons shower the area with arrows. But that is just me, most wingless ones go for the simple stuff." She shrugs.
"When all is said and done, we can only go forward or back. A search of the area may yield another path, but if time is not something to waste it could also prove the worst choice of them all."
Astinos, what is this roll in regards to? what are you attempting to gain information on?
Snakes; what kind of Snakes?
Preistess Nebenit, attend me when you have a chance; this might be important; says the Jewel in the mindlink; tell us of the snakes in the room you were in; what kind, how many; anything you noticed; Llevenoc; bring me one of these snakes.
tell me; did you see anything in the room where you found Nebenit (sorry about mispell), is that a way out; did it get searched; what condition was that door; are there others; did anyone check; I would think a leader would set forth some plan of gathering information and and making a few decisions; I am not good at all this waiting around; There was a dance tomorrow night I am hoping to attend and need time to do my hair and get my nails fixed; I dont wanna spend my life down here.The room was not properly searched. The priority was to get Nebebit out. There was a large pile of bones in the room, and several dead snakes. The door was in good condition. It would be prudent that we take another look at that room.
To Jewel in Drow
** spoiler omitted **
I am going by the book in this game; doesnt matter to me what time of day you pick to choose your spells though some religious orders have rules on it perhaps from their dieties; basically, I interpret it as your body can only channel so much energy in a day without extiguishing yourself; you have spells that are the methods of channeling power of various kinds safely with built in guards agaisnt the danger of the raw powers being used. The memorization of those spell particulars keep you from burning out. You will find that in my game there are days; times; places; and beings that can cause this amount of power to fluxuate which can cause dramatic results.
The rules for 3.5 have changed things a lot which makes my old rules for magic in the game lopsided and sometimes pointless; so am going pretty strickly by the book until I get a good feel for it and wrestle it around in my brainpan a bit.
Val
** spoiler omitted **
Grymbol: "When you study or pray of a morning to select your available spells for the day, are you able to take time away during the day to set aside spells you've memorized and memorize new ones in their stead? If you can, this might be a good time for you to take repose and learn more instances of your spells that can make us invisible to the undead, while the rest of us are engaged in searching and planning."
as Grymble aluded to; 4th and higher level spells of divine nature are given directly by a carrier from the diety.
ok; this room is only 10x10; it has a pile of bones in it 15ft high and 8ft high iron spikes every 10 inches apart. The bones have obviously been sorted through for parts and are sloped up in the room; they are only about 3ft high near the door; each of the snakes in this room are 15ft long; but not as thick around as your arm. It is a hooded snake with strange spots on it; not one you have seen before; not one anyone from greece/rome has seen before though anyone from the southern continents would know and Egyptians a very good chance; any northerners or east continent; not at all.
Astinos; what you know:
intelligent undead can be created or just come across from the negative plane on their own; can be controlled or uncontrolled and still act on their own. Evil and dead places seem to draw them; so where any necro sets ups shop; things like ghouls, shadows and other lesser undead tend to just show up. many of the most powerful undead are mortals cursed or blessed by various deific powers; but some are created through long arcane rites.
Skeletons are the lowest of undead minions, but are always created; you know from others; that they follow a specific set of orders, but there is a limit to how complex and how many; you think about 20 to 30 words; they have no brains; cant weigh consequences or make choices; orders an be ; attack anyone who wears red who crosses this line from a novice creator; (though how it can see red nobody knows) to; Each day at noon; take 10 steps forward, clap twice, kill any living thing you percieve, return to this spot; guard and kill anything that enters this circle from a master necromancer. orders can be so boluxed that the skelly does nothing. You know there is a limit to how many creatures can be controlled; this many skeletons if animated; would need many necromancers or some powerful artifact or perhaps a god; you know that Hades for instance; can animate and control vast armies of millions of undead. A powerful necromancer; maybe 10. Human skeletons are said to be easier to make and control; magical skeletons of things like ogres; not so easy; same necromancer might control 2 or 3 total. it is said that liches and death knights dont have the same limitations as mortals in this control.
your personal experience; maces and flails are best agaist skellys; spears and arrows useless; swords nearly useless.
Zombies; follow same as skellies in creation and orders rules; but swords and axes good; arrows and spears nearly useless; maces forget it.
Astinos, what is this roll in regards to? what are you attempting to gain information on?
Snakes; what kind of Snakes?
Preistess Nebenit, attend me when you have a chance; this might be important; says the Jewel in the mindlink; tell us of the snakes in the room you were in; what kind, how many; anything you noticed; Llevenoc; bring me one of these snakes.
It looks like this room is periodically visited to obtain fresh building parts. Its best we decide on a course of action and move.
Yep; you have a sense about it; as does anyone over a century old; you kinda feel the movement of the time and place as a fey as well; it is still not yet lunchtime; it has been about 15 minutes since the party entered from the street.
basically; you will need to make a wisdom roll; but since its only been about 15 minutes you pretty much know what time it is.
Only those checking out the room know this description since no one has relayed it in the mindlink.
as Grymble aluded to; 4th and higher level spells of divine nature are given directly by a carrier from the diety.
ok; this room is only 10x10; it has a pile of bones in it 15ft high and 8ft high iron spikes every 10 inches apart. The bones have obviously been sorted through for parts and are sloped up in the room; they are only about 3ft high near the door; each of the snakes in this room are 15ft long; but not as thick around as your arm. It is a hooded snake with strange spots on it; not one you have seen before; not one anyone from greece/rome has seen before though anyone from the southern continents would know and Egyptians a very good chance; any northerners or east continent; not at all.
Jewel looks at the snake...
in the Mindlink; Nebbenit; did this snake bite you? this snake is deadly poisonous; it bit can kill most men in minutes. This is a King Cobra; this is a snake of swamps in the South Continent; this snake was brought here; there are none indigenous to this place. This does not bode well
Kenembi, is this snake enchanted, if either summoned or controlled it would explain a few things; I believe you attacked a snakeman earlier; this is what I think; I believe one attacked Nebinit for the Priesthood of Bast always stood against those of Set.
Politically, this makes little sense.
Snakes; what kind of Snakes?
Preistess Nebenit, attend me when you have a chance; this might be important; says the Jewel in the mindlink; tell us of the snakes in the room you were in; what kind, how many; anything you noticed; Llevenoc; bring me one of these snakes.
It looks like this room is periodically visited to obtain fresh building parts. Its best we decide on a course of action and move.
Kalona,
You too recognise this snake in Jewel's hand as one somewhat common of the Southern Continent, some tribes use the poison; some kill them; some keep them as pets and for tests of bravery; it is said thier strike is very slow comparatively; but some spit poison a great distance - though you have no information about snakemen unless you have ancient history; drow themselves usually use spiders of some sort to attack and for service and you have seen some huge and larger spiders in your time.
To answer ye question Namaste, I pray at twilight for Me Lady's power. We have a while to go before then.
yes; you figure about 7 hours ish.
To answer ye question Namaste, I pray at twilight for Me Lady's power. We have a while to go before then.
Snakes; what kind of Snakes?
Preistess Nebenit, attend me when you have a chance; this might be important; says the Jewel in the mindlink; tell us of the snakes in the room you were in; what kind, how many; anything you noticed; Llevenoc; bring me one of these snakes.
"Lets see vipers of some sort about 5 of them. They did seem to be acting strangely..... More organised than you would expect from regular snakes."
Jewel looks at the snake...
in the Mindlink; Nebbenit; did this snake bite you? this snake is deadly poisonous; it bit can kill most men in minutes. This is a King Cobra; this is a snake of swamps in the South Continent; this snake was brought here; there are none indigenous to this place. This does not bode well
Nebibit goes a little pale before responding through the mind link
"Yes one of them was able to bite me. although I think I have shaken off the worse of the affects."
I would say that I have about 7 hours before twilight.
"Lets see vipers of some sort about 5 of them. They did seem to be acting strangely..... More organised than you would expect from regular snakes."
Hey Nebebit. You might really consider having that bite looked at. I don't know much about serpents or the like; but I do know spiders. There are some venoms that might hurt immediately, but the real damage might not happen for a couple of hours or days. By then its usually to late. That room was set as a trap. So I except those serpents are extremely lethal.
Greetings, I am Llvenoc, and the one beside is the Jewel. I was too far away for proper introductions earlier. You are very skilled with percussion. Are you a bard by any chance?
Kemnebi looks back and forth as the introductions and orders/suggestions fly. He is obviously in thought. And several times looks as if he is about to say something, but either thinks better of it, or is afraid to speak up.
When Nebibit admits that she was bitten by one of the snakes, his demeanor changes immediately.
"Nebibit! Why didn't you say something?!? You heard the Jewel! Those things are deadly! Sit down! You should stop moving until we can get the poison out! Yeah, that's right. Don't move. Umm,... Do you have an antidote prayer memorized? OR Grymbol?! Maybe I have one in my pack,..."
He blurts out all at once, hastily shedding his tiny pack and rummaging through it, pulling out far more than should be able to fit inside,...