"Well there's the smaller island where they keep the ships they capture. And there's a spring with the purest water not that far away. There's also the disturbing cliff face with those wooden heads that look like they're starin' at the ocean."
"We'll check out those cliffs", the minotaur says.
Atop this thirty-foot-tall sea cliff loom a half-dozen towering, wood-carved heads peering out over the ocean. Each head stands ten feet in height, and bears a strangely curious expression. Although carved of wood, the heads seem not to have weathered or become covered with overgrowth—each appears to have been carved as if only yesterday. As you get close to the carved heads a booming voice speaks out: “OUTLANDERS! STEP AWAY FROM THE DUSK WATCHERS OR BE JUDGED!”
Bjorkus scratches at his shaggy mane.
"What's a duskwatcher?"
"Duskwatchers are the monuments you are encroaching. I am tasked with guarding them until the ancients release me from service."
Bjorkus studies the wooden heads.
"Uh... maybe you were guarding them for us?"
"Hmmm... If that's true, you know how to release me then!"
"Maybe..."
"Why don't you start by tellin' us what you are. I see a lot of magic talking heads and get them all mixed up."
"Well that's silly. Wooden heads don't talk. I'll show you what I am." A figure appears right in front of Bjorkus. Beneath its cloak, this man-shaped creature appears to be part statue and part metallic machine.
"I am called Lakorian-Kriss."
Bjorkus studies the strange creature closely.
"Good to meet you Lako. So about those ancients..."
Opal scratches her head as she cannot figure out what this creature is. Kal also does not know what it is and neither does Zirul.
"Why don't you start by tellin' us what you are."
"Oh, I am an inevitable of the Kolyarut variety."
"So uh... what are the terms of your service?"
"To stay here and guard the Duskwatchers until the ancients come back and anoint their brows with the sacred spring water."
"Oh, that's easy", Bjorkus says as he pulls the flask he filled with the not-quite-magic spring water.
He undoes the stopper and tosses some on the wooden heads.
"There, you're done."
As Bjorkus nonchalantly does the ritual to dismiss Lakorian from its duty, a slight tremor rushes through the surrounding soil. Minutes later, the towering wood-carved heads crumble to ash and blow away in the ocean winds.
"Thank you very much! I promise I will reward you at a later date. I am free at last1"
And everyone feels the rumbling of hitting level 12!
Bjorkus watches in confusion and then delight as the casual water-tossing turns into real magic.
"Well look at that", the bull muses in surprise.
"When did you become a shaman?"
"Just now I think", the minotaur says with a laugh.
"Nice."
"Throw holy water around and suddenly you're a shaman. Turn into a seven foot tall monstrosity with multiple extra limbs and you're just weird." he grins, playfully poking fun at the big guy.
"You were weird before that," remarks Kal, tousling the surgeon's hair.
Zirul chuckles. "I take that as a compliment."
"Hey, I've never seen him do that before. Does that you mean you can cure me too?"
"Here, let me have a look."
Kal is able to heal all the ability damage though Luthor still has the dark splotches on his skin. Kal thinks it has to do with the claw marks from the undead that the party fought. For some reason, the scratches are still there.
"Hmm... let's give those until tomorrow to disappear, and if they're still there at that point we'll let old Zirul operate on you."
He winks at the alchemist and then goes back to examining Luthor, trying to identify the illness.
"Oh good, wait what? You're not serious right? I kinda like my organs where they are." Luthor says with a worried look on his face.
"Hmm... let's give those until tomorrow to disappear, and if they're still there at that point we'll let old Zirul operate on you."
He winks at the alchemist and then goes back to examining Luthor, trying to identify the illness.
[dice=Heal]20+10
Kal thinks that the disease is causing Luthor to bleed internally as well as the skin issue. He also believes that it won't do anymore damage until the next morning.
Zirul doesn't find out anymore than he already knows.
Bjorkus also doesn't know anything about this.
"Let's get him back to the ship. Maybe Sandara can help."
"He should be fine until tomorrow morning, at least. I say we keep going."
Zirul thinks a moment, stroking his chin. "For now, we continue on, but I'll keep an eye on Luthor. If he gets worse, we head immediately to the ship. No ifs ands or buts about it, are we clear? Doctor's orders on this one. I can get him taken care of if it gets really bad."
The party explores the rest of the island and finds nothing else of interest. And over the next few hours, you have your crews repair and haul the 4 ships out of the cove. With your help fending off the waves of undead attacks, they are able to do so unimpeded.
Luthor seems to get a little better, and by that I mean he does not get worse. But he is still afflicted.
Zirul is keeping close notes on Luthor's conditions, what seems to change and what doesn't. He's going to suggest, once they're back on the boat that Luthor be kept separate from the others, in the treatment area of the ship.
Overnight the quarantined Luthor's condition worsens, and the semi-Ulfen wakes up to vomit more blood, but Kal prepares and casts his spell to great effect and the Luthor seems to be cured, though the damage already done will still need to be fixed.
As they wait for a clean bill of health for Luthor, Bjorkus finds Zirul for a moment aside.
"What about the castaways? Do they look clean? I kind of need to know", the bull says a bit anxiously.
They seem a little malnourished but otherwise healthy.
Zirul nods. "They're ok. Just a bit malnourished. The worst hit seems to be Luthor. He'll make it fine, just like the rest. If we see these things, we need to have ways to remove diseases. I'd suggest stocking up next time we're in port."
Bjorkus breathes a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad to hear it. Is Luthor going to make it?"