Morgrym draws out his earthbreaker before following after the monk, yet, at a great distance.
Zeriax you scout the town and while there are signs of demons having been here previously it does not seem like any true threat remains. The town is truly deserted. Onto used searching brings your to the edge of the town where the cemetery begins. Indeed this is a large plot of land dedicated to the lives and then deaths of the townsfolk. Words of caution flutter in your mind as your recall the warning that Maelchar expressed. Not wanting to press your luck too much as yof recall the last graveyard you all explored yiu head back to the group. As you turn to leave though a strange sight catches your eye. It seems that there is indeed a mausoleum on the very edge of the land overlooking what would have been the river. What is more disturbing is that even from this distance you see the name on the mausoleum: Tirabade.
So'rien decides to head with them as well, leaving his chain of magic shoppes in the capable hands of his familiar, Mr. Shin.
Zeriax doubles back to meet up with the others - "A mausoleum with the Tirabade name inscribed..." - he ponders when finishing his description - "On the one hand I would like to retrieve anything that may prove valuable to our friend's heritage, but on the other I would not like to offend her by simply invading the mausoleum" - he adds - "At the very least we should confirm it has not been desecrated though"
"Do we have means of speaking to her from afar? It might not even be her family."
Zeraix you were at the edge of the graveyard and about 200ft away from the mausoleum.
Pakak seems distracted but focuses as they are told about the situation, "I can teleport now, hardly a precise spell and not really meant for typical messaging."
"And not an efficient way to get a reply. This is not the area our excursion set out to find. Is there any need for us do anything here until we have spoken to the Tirabade we know?"
"I understand Nasira, but it stands in our path, and it pertains to someone I believe is a dear friend to us all, ever since this evil beset Kenabras - we know many of the areas around us have been corrupted, and foul creatures roam about" - the monk insists - "We should make sure to retrieve any of the Tirabade family heirlooms, or even mortal remains which may about, lest they be desecrated by all the evil around us, and return them to the only surviving family member we know of, should we not?"
She shakes her head. "If we had gone a different route and not seen this lost city, there would have been no harm done. This stands in our path no more than Kenabres does."
"We can investigate. I merely point out that there is no reason it must be done today, before we complete the intended mission, or even before we return to speak to our friend to make sure she doesn't want to be here when we do investigate. Believe me, I am very sensitive to the possibility of the dead being desecrated - and we are both aware that it's probably happened decades ago. A few days will make no difference, though it might salve your conscience."
"Master Abujamal, had I not been in Kenabras when I was, and mayhaps I would have no role in all the events which have unfolded since then. It does not make them less important" - Zeriax nods.
"We could investigate it any other day, but why not today?"
"Respect for the family. You brought it up yourself. I merely suggest that if we truly wish to show respect for the family and our friend, we can wait."
Morgrym strokes his beard a moment in thought before finally speaking up. "I'm gonna have ta side with the lass, Zeriax. If we go in there and start takin' things, go back ta Tirabade and tell her, and she gets a right mad, we're gonna feel a might guilty. Because if it had my own name on there, I know I'd be wantin' to investigate it personally. And I probably wouldn't be too happy if stuff was removed without me agreein' to it. And honestly, I'm not so sure there's a reason out there for me to agree to it," he says, shrugging.
He then moves over next to Pakak, speaking in low tones. "Pakak, ti'n iawn, bachgen? Rhywbeth ar eich meddwl?"
"Agreed friends" - Zeriax bows in respect at Morgrym and Nasira, with a more intense look at the priestess - "I will defer to your wisdom, as I have done before without regret"
"I did not wish to be contrary, merely to offer an alternative less likely to offend our friend. Let us make sure the area around the structure is as free from taint as we are able."
"That's only prudent," Pakak nods in agreement. He hopes there are no troubles with undead. Too often these places if tainted lead to that
Moving through the ghost town you can truly appreciate how dilapidated some of the buildings have become. What once may have been a relatively busy small town trading center on the river bed is nothing more than rotting wood and pitted stone. Moving quickly past the buildings to the far side where the cemetery lies you cross over the threshold and stop mere feet inside. As you do so a ghostly crusader rises from the earth in front of the mausoleum and floats just above the ground. Its translucent form would be harder to see if not for the twin motes of hellish red light staring out from behind its helmet. In a raspy voice it calls out to you, You are neither kith nor kin. Be gone from here or suffer my wrath.
The fallen were once sworn champions of the previous
four crusades against the Worldwound to whom fate has
perpetrated a cruel trick. Unable to receive Pharasma’s
judgment and receive whatever reward awaits them in
the afterlife for the deeds they performed in life, they
are the grim, ghostly remains of the men and women
they once were. However, the fallen’s original goal
of valiantly marching into the Worldwound to save
Golarion from the demonic tide has washed from their
tortured minds, and is replaced instead by pain, sorrow,
and hatred. Their fall in battle remains the greatest
disappointment in their souls. Most fallen are still
adorned in the battered and breached armor they died
in and armed with the weapons they once carried into
battle. Sentient and suffering, the fallen wander the
Worldwound in search someone to end their misery by
performing last rites.
Maelchar will advise the others of the information in the spoiler.
Morgrym keeps a wary eye on the red eyed spirit as Maelchar explains who they are. "Sounds like ta me this is a job for 'family'?" he asks the others cryptically. "Or do ya think Nasira can finally put 'em at ease?"
Nasira attempts to address the spirit, her holy symbol held in one hand, her scimitar in the other, "Indeed we are not kith or kin by blood, but we are kin by nature of the battlefield. We fight the same demonic foes that you gave your life to oppose. We are close friends and allies to one we believe to be kith to those that sleep within those chambers you guard and we seek to assure her that her ancestors sleep peacefully as they deserve. What prevents you from attending to that final rest, soldier? The light of the Dawnflower would see you receive your just and final reward. Where lie your mortal remains?"
Garith you think that you know the correct rites to put the spirit to rest for good but typically there is more to a fallen's appearance then just missing rights. Something happened to it as well that made it come back in the first place.
Nasira as you are about to speak it seems that the fallen is about to attack you, however your words and tone have put the fallen at ease temporarily. Standing a bit straighter as if in attention the fallen replies slowly as if it is difficult for him to speak words that are not in anger. Battlefield kin we may be but family you are not and family is needed to put my soul to rest after our ancestor's vault is cleansed.
He then disappears in the ground close by your feet.
"Perhaps we should go get IRabeth before we continue on here."
"Perhaps we should go get IRabeth before we continue on here."
"That would seem to be the correct course of action. I believe he wants us to succeed in the task he set before us, to be put to rest. He seemed to be resisting his instincts to attack the living - I think that's why he disappeared so abruptly."
"Well, we could all go back and fetch her, but that would take a while. Alternatively, Master Pakak could teleport back, spend the night, and then return with her in the morning, and we could find a place to camp nearby perhaps, to wait for them?"
"Perhaps, but not too near, I think. I'm not sure how much control he has over his undead nature. Finding us at night might be too much for him to overcome."
"I agree, not too nearby."
"I'm thinkin' somewhere outside might be good. Better ta not tempt 'em, I say."
"Agreed" - Zeriax nods, doubling back, and leading his companions away from the Mausoleum area, to look for a suitable camping site.
"No argument here... that poor soul." Pakak actually shudders a bit
So'rien says He also mentioned that the place needed to first be "cleansed" is that not something we could do to spare his kin the task?
"I agree. I think Irabeth's presence would make the process more straightforward. To do otherwise would appear to incur unnecessary risk."
Deciding to wait till the morning to allow Irabeth the chance to be with you, camp is made on the far side of the deserted town with Pakak teleporting back to Drezen with the help of some inner fortitude. Returning about 2 hours later he has Irabeth and Anevia with him.
I may not have my ancestors with the same last name but if this involves Irabeth's family then it involves me as well.
I understand that dear, but as I already told you when Pakak first spoke of this revelation that I knew nothing about any family in the Worldwound. My only thought is that it was from my father's side many generations back. There was a great, great, great, great uncle that split away after an argument with his brother. Perhaps this is his lineage. Regardless I am honor bound to see if it is my family and put them to rest.
"Always good to see you both again Madames Tirabade. Perhaps this is an offshoot of your father's family, as the name cannot be that common."
The night passes easily although many of you on watch feel a presence over the city that weighs upon you. In the morning you approach the cemetery were you first met the apparition. Again it rises from the ground but this time it ignores all of you as it flies towards and through Irabeth! Sucking in a deep breath as the icy cold washes over her she bends over double in pain before issuing words in a strange voice. There is a darkness in the ground below, festering in the place forever barred to me. I am a monster made such by this land yet the monster below is far worse! Remove it from my proscribed crypt that only its proximity may still vex me, for one more night with the demon squatting within may well drive me to seek out your kith and kin, slay them, and bring their souls back with me to torment this area!
With that the creature exits Irabeth and drops into the ground apparently waiting to see what happens next!
"The spirit definitely recognized you as kin. I think we should go slay this demon and free the taint on this crypt."
The stone walls within this mausoleum are engraved with images of a celestial woman bearing a longsword and shield. Deep claw marks deface the engravings, and some phrase is scrawled in caked old blood and filth toward the top of the east wall. Those that can read Abyssal can make out "Filthy Usurper" written in the blood. Stairs can be seen leading downward underneath the crypt.
Grabbing his hammer, "Alright, let's get this taken care of so these spirits can be put ta rest. If it's one thing I've learned if I've learned anythin', it's that spirits aren't ta be trifled with. Trust me, they'll drain yer life and leave nary a scratch on ya. Let's move!" And with that, Morgrym leads the way down, keeping a watchful eye out.
When they first arrive, Zeriax greets both Anevia and Irabeth with a smile, and bowing low - "Well met Dames, it is good to see you again"
At the entrance to the crypt, the monk inhales deeply, casting a communication spell to link him with Nasira, then heads off into the darkness - "I will scout ahead. Master Pakak, can you conceal me with Invisibility?"
So'rien says to Pakak Save your spells Pakak. I can assist Zeriax.
So'rien will then cast Invisibility on Zeriax.
"Thank you" - Zeriax bows, then moves into the darkness.
"Thank you, So'rien, I thought i'd mentioned it before, but I do not really do illusion," He admits sheepishly, "Nor necromancy."
Nasira prays for a different selection of spells in the morning, hoping to anticipate some of the challenges that lie ahead. In the morning, she casts status on all of her allies. "Inspiration struck and I asked my goddess for a way to protect us all from foul air under the ground. She has granted me such a protection that I can share with each of you - shall I do so now or wait until the need is obvious?"
Irabeth takes a moment to pull Zeriax aside before he becomes invisible. I do not know what is down there but do not act impulsively till we know for certain what we face. The spectre warned us of the threat but not the severity of it. Be careful.
A row of six stone doors, each carved with an image of a saluting woman with a sword and shield, runs along the east wall of this room. Statues of the same woman stand in three of the room’s corners. These statues are easily identified as Iomedae. What is more alarming is the presence of 2 creatures that move along the corridor in front of you. The flesh of these emaciated creatures appear charred or dried and the empty eye sockets seep trails of smoke.
These creatures are bodaks and from the looks of them powerful ones at that. (advanced)
CE medium undead (outsider)
init +6; darkvision 60ft, perception +18
Irabeth takes a moment to pull Zeriax aside before he becomes invisible. I do not know what is down there but do not act impulsively till we know for certain what we face. The spectre warned us of the threat but not the severity of it. Be careful.
"I understand" - Zeriax nods - "But this is my role among us, and these are the risks that need to be taken" - he smiles before disappearing from sight.
Backtracking from where he is, the monk returns to his companions after having seen the creatures, describing them in hushed tones to the others, in particular the emaciated look and the trails of smoke produced from their eye sockets - "Do any of you recognize them?" - he whispers.
"Sounds familiar, but can't place anything.. sorry.. perhaps if I saw them with my own eyes.
"Bodaks... powerful ones I'd wager." Pakak says.