Zinou's Among the Dead (#1-49) (Inactive)

Game Master Zinou

Good. I'll ask you to update your stat line with your buffs (such as Torean's AC). I may not remember them all during the fight. Ready to go? Waiting Gunnar and Vordrek's answer.

Guunar will recast Barkskin so his AC is at 24

In anticipation of Rolando's weapon enhancements, Vordrek will draw his dagger.

-Posted with Wayfinder

As you move forward, you quickly find another room. This adjacent chamber is made of smooth walls, covered in strange glyphs, and also lit by the same standing lamps. At the center of that chamber stands a tall stone dais. In the middle of the dais is a huge boulder which, by all appearances, fell a great distance before crashing here. The boulder glows with an eerie green light. Ahead is a MASSIVE zombie but you can't tell what it was before because of the severe rot.

The Chamber of the Stone - Round 1 - Fight!
Rolando, Gunnar, She Who Waits, Eladrian, Torean, Vordrek
GRZ

"I have just the thing for you!" the witch shrieks as she positions herself to see into the corner of the room. A mass of sticky webs erupt in the side of the room, catching the massive zombie in its grip.

Casting Web. Lasts for 70 minutes. The giant zombie must make a DC 18 reflex save or become grappled.

If this save succeeds, the creature is inside the web but is otherwise unaffected. If the save fails, the creature gains the grappled condition, but can break free by making a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check as a standard action against the DC of this spell. The entire area of the web is considered difficult terrain. Anyone moving through the webs must make a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check as part of their move action, with a DC equal to the spell's DC. Creatures that fail lose their movement and become grappled in the first square of webbing that they enter.

If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover.

Note: Web is dismissable. If it is a massive headache, I will get rid of it with a standard action. I'm just assuming this thing has reach and I want to shut down it's ability to 5-foot-step.

Buffs Remaining: See Invisibility (70 Minutes, can see invisibile creatures within my range of vision).

Move and eat an AoO. Cast Call Lightning Reflex DC 19. WARNING DO NOT ENTER SQUARE NORTH EAST OF GUNNAR High voltage electriccity goung on there...

Gunnar steps into the chamber and summons forth a mighty bolt of lightning which he unleashes at the Zombie. But even after the fact the energy continues to sizzle around his fingers.

Damage 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) = 7

How does that web work for my archery? If the thing is large and covered in web, I assume that I would be able to see it pretty easily.. is it because of the strands of web being sticky?

Sing--same buffs as last time, sorry I can't post more now but didn't want to hold everyone up.

Vordrek can't see much of the large zombie from here, but he can see enough to recognize it for what it is: an enemy.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

His dagger once again glowing with Rolando's magic, he flicks his wrist and lets his arcane power do the rest.

Hand of the Acolyte (dagger): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (6) + 1 = 9 (the extra d6 is fire? I think)

Knowledge, Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Torean grunts at the sight of the giant zombie. "Here we go again! Come here, fella. Let's see how hard you'll fall!" Torean steps towards the zombie, drawing his axe. The axe lights up with flame from Rolando's song, but begins to shine with light as it imparts Torag's justice.

Activate Justice Judgement. Also, the Zombie does not get any bonuses to hit Torean from being on higher ground (Sky Sentinel ability)
Attack (PA, Flag, Song, DF, Judgement): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 26
Damage (PA, Flag, Song, DF): 1d8 + 13 + 1 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 1 + (1) + 2 = 22

Sorry I couldn't post this sooner

As Rolando sings he contemplates the grotesque scene with a discerning eye.

Knowledge Local or Religion to figure out what the zombie is: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Knowledge Arcana or History (if history, +1 more) to identify the glyphs: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Knowledge Arcana to determine anything about the glowing boulder: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

The web only interferes with archery if you're shooting through the web and on to the other side. There's no web between him and you, so you should be shooting without penalty. If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover.

Ok, after Gunnar steps in, he triggers something, but since it will not change the rest of your actions, I'll wait on Eladrian to tell you what happens.

Thanks. In that case...
Eladrian groans as he sees the decayed mess rise up before them. He steadies his nerves, and takes a close look at the thing, trying to see where it would take the most damage. Studied Target before releasing a single arrow.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 8

Considering it is stuck in the web, I think that means it is considered flatfooted.. I get to add Precision: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 to that attack if this line of reasoning is true.

The worst it can have is the grappled condition, which imparts a penalty to dex but does not make it flat-footed for deny it its dex bonus. However, since it hasn't yet acted in initiative as far as I'm aware.

Twice true, She Who Waits. The grappled condition gives it a -4 to dex but as the zombie didn't act this round, he was indeed flatfooted.
@Gunnar: No AoO, the thing's flatfooted :)

As Gunnar goes in to summon thunder, he feels an icy hand on his neck. As he turns his head, he sees a cleric with the unholy symbol of Zyphus with a smirk on his face. Will save DC 19, please. It was a readied action, since he heard you coming. The man was invisible but She Who Waits couldn't see him from where she was.
After that, he makes a step back and downs a potion. As he does so, he becomes a little blurry.

The witch conjures a spider web, while Torean moves and strikes the fat zombie. Rolando helps his companions singing and Vordrek throws magically his dagger into battle.
The fat zombie breaks free easily and faces his dwarven opponent, ready to strike.

The fat zombie is a Grey Render Zombie. It is a normal zombie but is pretty tough.

The Chamber of the Stone - Round 2 - Fight!
Rolando, Gunnar, She Who Waits, Eladrian, Torean, Vordrek
GRZ [38] and FB

Pending: Gunnar: will save to halve the damage (25/12)

She Who Waits sighs and says, "This is going to take some time, it will."

She sketches a mark in the air and begins to meld in and out of space casting Blink.

Please be aware that Blink/Blur has a weird interaction with those that can see invisible creatures, reducing its miss chance down to just 20%.

Don't forget that Moment of Greatness is active. So Gunnar, instead of getting a +3 to your save for that spell the cleric just cast on you, you can use Moment of Greatness to add 6 to your WS vs the spell. Not too shabby.

Rolando moves around behind Eladrian, summoning a greasy substance under the cleric to keep him at bay.

Grease on the four squares south of the big fat zombie. DC 14 Reflex for the cleric or fall.

As the thing breaks free of the webbing, Eladrian begins sending arrows downrange at a furious pace.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30
Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 2 = 16
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13

A1: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6
RS: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12
A2: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

"Necromancer!" Torean shouts as he sees the man appear at Gunnar's side. You can tell the dwarf desperately wants to charge right at the necromancer, but his tense of tactics, let alone the magic grease and lightning between him and the spellcaster keep him where he is.

He turns back to the Grey Render zombie and hacks at it with his axe again, the flaming axe turning even more deadly to the undead corpse.

Activate Bane (Undead)
Attack (PA, Flag, DF, Judgement, Bane): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 23
Damage (PA, Flag, Song, DF, Bane): 1d8 + 13 + 1 + 1d6 + 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 1 + (3) + (3) + 2 + 2 + (5, 5) = 41

Bane Used: 4/6

Eladrian, my flag and song are active. Add two to your attack rolls and 1d6 + 2 to your damage rolls.

Gunnar, I think Call Lightning is vertical unlike Lightning Bolt. So it just lands on the zombie from the top and doesn't risk blasting anyone else.

Vordrek chants and holds out his hand, from which erupts a gout of flame. The fiery missile also glows with Rolando's magic as it lances through the air.

Using my bonded holy symbol amulet to cast scorching ray at the zombie.

Scorching ray: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 4d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 3) + 1 + (3) = 12

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'll do as Rolandso suggests and burn moment of Greatness here. Wil versus spell 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 3 + 6 = 36 Out of curiosity does the dude provoke an AoO from gunnar due to casting a spell?

One who is deeply entoned with nature and magic as _Gunnar is not easily bewitched and the Cleric's spell passes the Dwarf by without scathing him in the least.

@Gunnar: No, he was invisible. You're still up, by the way. :)

Ooops sorry... Gunnar will summon another Lightning bolt and target the cleric. 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 6) = 11 and then attack him with my hammer. Dude is threatened in case he wants to cast spells or run...

Tryin to bewitch me ey? Gunnar boasts as magical energy passes him by he then lets loose another bolt of lightning and follows it up with a hefty swing of his hammer which ricochets of the wall.

Attack PA 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 Damage 1d12 + 1 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 7 + 1 = 21 Fire and Ice2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

Wow good job, Torean! What's your "DF"?

She Who Waits casts a spell, Rolando conjures an big area of grease but the cleric laughs, holding firm on his feet. Eladrian unleashes a volley of arrows that doesn't seem be much effective but his dwarven friend opens a large gash in the beast's fat belly. A second bolt of lightning comes down and strikes the zombie but it's still standing!
Its gaping mouth opens to bite the dwarven warrior in front of him and tears a chunk of shoulder off Torean, laughing loudly.
The cleric smirks and cautiously comes into Gunnar's guard. Eating an AoO (don't forget to roll miss chance): as I read the Grease spell, I'd say you can't 5' step within the zone. Well done, Rolando!
He unsheathes a heavy pick and tries to hit the dwarf. The man's laugh echoes into caves as he hits a weak spot in the dwarf's armor.

The Chamber of the Stone - Round 3 - Fight!
Rolando, Gunnar [5/43], She Who Waits, Eladrian, Torean [13/45], Vordrek
GRZ [110] and FB

Pending: AoO from Gunnar on FB (don't forget miss chance 20%)

"By the Mother's bones, what foolishness is headed our way?" She Who waits mutters before chanting, "Before the night is even young, you should find your plots undone."

A roiling ball of black light surrounds her hand and she steps forward, past Vordrek and through the wall as allowed by Blink with a 50% chance of failure.

There is a 50% failure chance that She Who Waits becomes material while walking through the wall. If you would like to roll the percentile for me, on a d100, 1-50 will mean that I fail.

If successful:

Starting slightly to see the cleric next to her, she sighs and says, "This was for the zombie, but it will do for you too."

Touch attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Miss Chance?: 1d100 ⇒ 91

The spell is Bestow Curse. If the touch attack is successful, the man must give a DC 19 Will save or have a curse bestowed on him. She Who Wait's curse of choice is the option to have a 50% chance of doing nothing on each turn. This is a permanent effect. If the attack is unsuccessful, she continues to hold the charged spell.

As a note, if we're both blinking, She Who Waits does not suffer a miss chance against him. If it's a different spell, it will still apply.

If unsuccessful:

The witch curses as she materializes in the middle of the wall and appears behind Torrean. Wounds from becoming whole inside of stone bruise her skin for 1d6 ⇒ 1 damage. She glares at the zombie, the roiling mass still filling her hand.

GM did you get my spell as well?

-Posted with Wayfinder

DF = Divine Favor. At this level it provides +2 to hit and damage.

Torean yells in pain as the zombie bites down on his shoulder. He rips his shoulder out out from the zombie's mouth and swings his axe at the large head. The axe ripples with both Rolando's magic and the divine spark from the Father of Creation. It trails fire and frost, and sheds a divine light as it speeds towards the giant zombie.

Continue Bane (Undead)
Attack (PA, Flag, DF, Judgement, Bane): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 28
Damage (PA, Flag, Song, DF, Bane): 1d8 + 13 + 1 + 1d6 + 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 1 + (3) + (1) + 2 + 2 + (2, 5) = 35

@Rolando. Thanks.. I figured that there was something I forgot about.

As Eladrian watches, the battle becomes fully joined off to his right. Torean and Gunnar trade heavy blows, and Eladrian HAS to up his contributions.. but there is little choice but to continue his barrage.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 25
RS: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 29
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 24

A1: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + (1) + 2 = 11
RS: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 + (1) + 2 = 13
A2: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + (6) + 2 = 14

She Who Waits--don't forget you get +2 to your attack from my song and flag. If you succeed in walking through the wall, then I will add the following to your touch attack on the Bestow Curse roll from Gallant Inspiration...

Gallant Inspiration: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Also, guys, anyone who is next to the cleric on their turn can use the spirit punch from my song.

Rolando stops his song abruptly, then starts it up again in a rising crescendo. The spirits respond by channeling their power into the Pathfinders weapons.

The dead cannot be so easily fooled--you can't hide from them. But I suppose you already new that, with the company you keep.

End song free action.

Standard Action: Start up song again with the following enhancements:

Spirit Punch for everyone (only works on the cleric), Superstition for everyone (+3 morale bonus to saves vs SLA, spells, SUs, can be doubled with moment of greatness)

Melee weapons--standard bonuses. +1 and flaming for mundane weapons, flaming and frost for already magical weapons.

**New: Eladrian's bow, Vordrek's spells and dagger, Rolando's chakram, any other ranged weapons I'm overlooking--if mundane, you get +1 and seeking (ignore concealment). If already magical, seeking and flame. Take that, blurry cleric!

AoO PA1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 Damage 1d12 + 1 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 7 + 1 = 15Fire and Ice 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

@She Who Waits: You can roll the dice yourself :)
@Vordrek: Yes I did, sorry I forgot to include your action in the narrative sum up.
@Rolando: I didn't know you could split your song between ranged and melee weapons. Not that I don't trust you but could you quote me where it's written you can? Thanks!

Wall in your face: 1d100 ⇒ 65

The witch blinks through the wall without harm and lays a hand on the surprised cleric, helped by Rolando's inspiration. The dude has a mighty touch AC of... 9.
Gunnar doesn't manage to hit the blurry cleric, his heavy armor doing all the work.
Eladrian and Torean combine their strengths to bring down the heavy zombie who falls on the dais with a disgusting noise. FLÖÖÖÖÖRTCH! The thing had 153 HP :D

Gunnar and Vordrek are still up!

The Chamber of the Stone - Round 3 - Fight!
Rolando, Gunnar [5/43], She Who Waits, Eladrian, Torean [13/45], Vordrek
FB (cursed)

Badly hurt with no place to run Gunnar once more zaps the Cleric and then prepares a spell but cannot concentrate properly.

Move action Lightining. 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5) = 7 Standard action cast frostbite on the defensive Conetration DC 171d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 -->failed spell fizzles

Just didn't want to seem suspicious... "oh, high's good for me, surprise, I rolled high...". For the rest of PbP, if there's a miss change, the low roll means I fail and the high end is success, just so I can take care of that.

1d100 ⇒ 98

Quiet joy-weeping... I thought for sure something of this plan was going to go horribly wrong (well, besides caster-in-combat issues). So, my total attack with everything included is 16. Thanks Rolando!

Wait... strike all of this, you already took it into account... I'm not sure how She Who Waits feels about fate smiling on her.

With the zombie down, Vordrek rushes into the room to support his allies. Safely behind the others, he chants and unleashes more bolts of energy, targeting the evil cleric.

Magic missile: 3d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) + 3 + 1 = 10

The witch looks down at Gunnar and to the cure light wounds wand at her belt, then at the cleric. She sighs and mutters, I hope that this works.

She steps backwards provoking an attack of opportunity, and summons an vague cloud that appears to the cleric as his worst fear about to devour him.

Casting Phantsmal Killer. DC 20 Will save to disbelieve the illusion. DC 20 Fortitude save or die. If he succeeds on the Fort save after failing the Will save, he will take 3d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2) = 7 damage.

You were a bit over-enthusiast, She Who Waits, you acted twice in your turn ;)
About the d100, I always rule that you must roll higher to succeed.

Vordrek makes a force to appear and hit the cleric while a lightning bolt strikes him as well.
He brings his face near from Gunnar's and sucks life from the dwarf's corpse, kissing him. Gunnar becomes white and falls to the ground, lying dead.
Licking his lips, he turns towards the witch with a large grin. He strikes her as she gets away and waves off the phantasmal killer, laughing. "You are too weak, witch. You'll be part of Zyphus' realm!"

The Chamber of the Stone - Round 4 - Fight!
Rolando, Gunnar [Dead], She Who Waits [38/44], Eladrian, Torean [13/45], Vordrek
FB (cursed) [17]

Ooops, that'll be my next action.

@DM Zinou--well, we've already accepted that different weapons can get different bonuses, right? Mundane get +1 and flaming, magical get flaming and frost. I'm just doing the same thing but delineating that the ranged weapons get seeking. Seeking can only be placed on a ranged weapon, so if you couldn't decide which get seeking and which don't, you'd only be able to use your song for either melee or ranged weapons, which doesn't seem right to me. Do you agree?

No! Gunnar! Pharasma will judge you for your treachery, coward, not some lowly would-be god!

Rolando bounds past his companions and up the stairs where the bloated corpse lies. He throws a shimmering chakram and the blurry figure of the priest and strikes home.

Move: Draw chakram

throw chakram, no miss chance due to seeking: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 24

slashing damage, magical: 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 8

This is the last round of my song, so make it count. And don't forget--spirit punch the dude if you're next to him! We missed out on a couple of those opportunities. Torean, I left the window open for you to attack him since you are a lot stronger than me in melee.

Torean stares as he sees the necromancer suck the life from Gunnar. "No! You'll not steal his soul! It belongs to Torag!" The dwarf quickly closes with the necromancer and lashes out with his axe. It continues to glow and trail fire and frost, eager to cut into the man's flesh. Spirits seem to swell out of the dwarf and harry the cleric too.

Swift Action to change Bane to Human. (I'm assuming he's human. If there's a need for a roll, I can do that.)
Attack (PA, Flag, DF, Judgement, Bane): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 22
Miss Chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 94
Damage (PA, Flag, Song, DF, Bane): 1d8 + 13 + 1 + 1d6 + 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 1 + (4) + (3) + 2 + 2 + (2, 4) = 38

Spirits: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 4 = 25
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Note: Torean's saves vs. Necromancy spells/spell-like are +15/+11/+15 (Fort/Ref/Will respectively). Casting defensively is 2 higher in Torean's threatened area, and he has the Step Up feat.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" Eladrian calls, as his companion falls before the evil cleric. His scream chokes off, and his eyes alight with a furious vengeance as he turns his gaze upon his friends murderer.

I have to make use of the last round of song, so no studied target yet. Lets see what next round holds.

With vicious anger boiling over, Eladrian sends three arrows after the cleric.

Seeking, no miss chance
Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 2 = 19
Rapid Fire: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 2 = 31
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (1) = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (3) = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 3 + (3) = 13

I really hope this man's magic isn't beyond the Society's, Vordrek thinks as he watches Gunnar fall, knowing that there are spells that can still save the dwarf (though none within his capabilities) but knowing, too, that the stronger the killing spell, the stronger the spell needed to undo it. He flings his dagger at the necromancer, hoping for a direct hit.

Hand of the Acolyte: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23 (kept forgetting about that banner)
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (3) + 1 = 7

@Rolando: I'm not totally convinced but since the battle is at an and, let's move on :)

Before the evil cleric can explain his plan, the Pathfinder team lays him low. Perhaps the Society will send in a spellcaster to interrogate the corpse.
Before him is a stone of obviously evil magic. In this room, there is no sign of Wuthers. The artifact is well beyond your means to destroy, and indeed when you report back to VC Eliza she sends a team who specialize in just such a find.
Eventually you do find the poor Pathfinder. His death was mundane. He was one of the first zombies slain in the initial attack.

As you look about the theater, it seems that a little more than half of the nobles survived, thanks mostly to your bravery, and their cowardliness. Meanwhile the nobles who did survive quickly turn it into a conversation piece for their soirees and dinner parties, stories in which they are the heroes, not the Pathfinders.
Within Skyreach, however, your fame grows. For such a young group of agents to stop so dastardly a plan shows great potential. Well done Pathfinders.

The end of this story doesn't conclude as well as it should have been as your friend Gunnar lays cold on the ground, displaying a greyish face of horror.

Well fought, folks! Before I make the chronicles, Gunnar please tell me if you have enough (16) prestige to revive your character (if you want to).

After the end of the battle:

Engraged, the witch pulls her athame from her spell component pouch and drives it into the soft portion of the man's throat. "Kill my companion," she says through tears, "and I will be sure to send you to the place no one returns from."

Gunnar, if you want to come back, I have spent very little gold on this character. I'll be happy to pitch in for spellcasting services.

You weep your friend's death and vow to yourselves that you'll seek revenge as you're inscribing the name Gunnar on the wall of names at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, among his brothers and sisters pathfinders fallen during their mission.

Briefing flashback!

It has been nearly five days since late evening messengers pulled you awake from your tasks and ordered you to appear before Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng by midnight. Dreng, ever presenting the appearance of the doddering, decrepit old man, met you in the Great Hall of Skyreach, the main fortress of the Grand Lodge in Absalom. Dressed only in tattered night clothes complete with a faded yellow sleeping cap, the youthful excitement in Dreng’s eyes belied his elderly appearance.

“We’ve found them!” he declared, the moment you arrived in the Great Hall. “Those pitiful bastards who murdered Pathfinders Bodriggan Wuthers and Gunnar Graubart in Oppara those many months ago — you know, the Zyphus-worshipping fools who tried to turn Oppara into a zombie-filled nightmare and murdered savagely your colleague and companion? After all this time, we finally tracked their remnants to a burned-out temple in the vagabond camp across the river from the capital. You will set out for there at once—there is a ship waiting—and meet a man named Sebastus Hustavan outside the burned-out temple. Once a man of great importance, he seems to have fallen on hard times—fallen so far as to join those Zyphus fiends. But he’s redeemed himself by telling us their location! Find Hustavan — it can’t be hard, there’s only one burned-out temple to Sarenrae in the vagabond camp—learn all you can about the cult’s hideout, and then cleanse it of their presence. Cultists across Golarion must know they may not use the Society to fulfill their horrid glories—so too will they know that the Society will not stand by and watch its members murdered!”

Dreng cleared his throat then, his posture losing the sudden youthful fire and passion, his shoulders hunching once more, his face pinched and tired. “Of course, while you are there,” he rasped, “do your duty as Pathfinders and seek anything they may have that the Society would need in the vaults.” he said with a wink at She Who Waits and Vordrek. "To complete this task, you shall need the help of our agent Farg. A solid bloke!" he told you, waving with a fatigued hand at a muscular tiefling standing in the room as well.

So, after a hurried early morning rush to gather supplies in Absalom, several days in the blustery Inner Sea, and another spent weaving through the bureaucracy of the Taldan customs rituals, you find yourself walking through a chilly, early morning rain storm and approaching what the vagabond locals say is the location of the burned-out temple to Sarenrae.

First, I'll ask Farg to present himself to the party and you can also retcon any questions you might have for Drenge. :)
Let's kill zombies!

Tall and broad shouldered Farg is rather imposing, his massive tusks and oddly shaped horns as well as the dark sheen of fur that covers his face and body indicate his orcish and fiendish heritage. The man, or should you say beast, stands there with a broad smile on his face and revealing his massive tusks.

Good day fellow Pathfinders. I hear one of your companions was not tough enough for the task at hand. Well good thing they sent me.

Clearly the Tiefling does not suffer from a lack of self confidence.

Vordrek returns with the others dressed in his usual reinforced silk robes-- less than substantial, as armor goes, but stronger than it looks and a garment that glimmers now and again with magical energy. He had spent the majority of the interim time in the Nethysian temple, providing his spellcasting services as most priests of the All-Seeing Eye are wont to do. He snorts at the newcomer. Another brute who uses every muscle except the most important one. Well, if this is to be just more hacking things apart, I suppose that sort of ally will come in handy. "Glad to have you on board. Well met again," he adds to the others he recognizes.