Before leaving the Bazaar, Issam lets the people he talked to know that he will pay for any new information about the two murderers whereabouts.
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At the appointed time the next morning, you arrive at the Mosque of Zann in Muluk, the priest who introduces himself as Hanoushin is dressed appropriately but his beard is not trimmed and is a soft, pudgy man in his early thirties, with skin as pale as a house wives. He greets you earnestly and with a lot of reverence.
You immediately notice Ayyam’s body wrapped in a
white linen shroud. Her hair has been perfumed and her
body anointed with scented oils and frankincense to
offset the faint odor of decay that has already started its
inexorable process.
The funeral procession is made up of 13 people including you and Muli. The balance of the
procession consists of four litter bearers and the rest
veiled women.
Before the procession starts its march, Hanoushin the priest says, "Oh, Zann the learn-ed, it is such a solemn day to say farewell to your daughter, please be kind to her soul in the afterlife and may she find the peace she deserves."
Aggrammar really is somewhat out of his element, so he just stays close to his companions while they do their investigation in the Bazaar.
At the funeral, he is mainly focused on observing the attendants, firmly convinced some of the perpetrators will show up - "They always do" - he had commented to his companions early that day.
Fadilah keeps her gen squirreled away and remains somber through the proceedings. She watches Zairiah to see the woman's response—whether she is staid, or emotive, which tells a lot about how close she was to the deceased.
Zairiah does her duty as a pallbearer, trying not to sob and disturb the occasion, but there are silent tears that she has to wipe away from time to time while helping to carry the litter.
Nymeria remains on her best behaviour throughout the funeral, watching the proceedings with a quiet and observant eye.
Issam quietly asks the priest if there is anything he could do to help. He has presided over multiple funerals but they were in his tribe and not run by city dwellers.
"May the gods be with you, brother Hanoushin. I am Issam ibn Walin from the House of Hanif. If there is anything I can do to assist with the ceremony, please ask. I am willing to help as best as I can but I do not want to cause an impair."
Hanoushin says, "My part in the ceremony is complete, there will be another priest at the Mount of Forgiveness at the end of the procession."
As the procession slowly winds its way through the city
streets, everyone trills their tongues in high-pitched
kreening, except Muli, who weeps uncontrollably and
curses Fate for taking Ayyam away from this world.
The procession leaves the city through the Gate of Eagles
and walks to Muluk’s oldest cemetery on the Mount of
Forgiveness.
The funeral hall is a single story, octagonal
structure built at the summit of the cemetery. Flanked
by monumental tombs, the domed hall is entered from a
wide portico through a single entrance. The hall’s heavy
iron portal has been swung open to admit the
procession.
The procession slowly enters the Mount of Forgiveness and the air inside is heavy with bitter incense, myrrh, and smoke from the hundreds of candles lit around the periphery of the hall. There is a small altar
at one end of the hall, where five turbaned priests kneel
solemnly in prayer. A low stone table sits in the center of
the room, where the procession rests the litter bearing
Ayyam and stops.
"One priest was waiting for use, the priest had said. Why are they 5 of them praying and no one is waiting for us?"
Issam looks suspiciously at the five priest praying and positions himself between them and the procession without a word.
"I may be paranoid but this would be the perfect place to stage an ambush if whoever killed Mistress Ayyam wanted to finish the job."
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Zairiah
Zairiah, after she is done helping to place the litter, drops back to stand beside Fadilah and her other friends, whispering
Be on guard. That is an unusual number of priests.
Anger smoulders behind her eyes to think that the assassins could be using Ayyam's funeral to continue their work of death.
Nura watches carefully, her scimitar hidden beneath her funeral robes, but still within easy access. Her eyes narrow dangerously at Zairiah's warning.
Issam nods at Zairiah comment: "Agreed" and he puts a hand on the pommel of the scimitar, keeping the "priest" in his sight.
Likewise Aggrammar stands on watch, but his hands are far from his weapon for now.
At the warning, Fadilah whispers to her gen and sends it off with an unusual request... for a glitterdust spell.
Nymeria starts to shift from foot to foot at the mention of an excessive number of priests being present.
While the party is taking in the somber surroundings,
Muli slips quietly outside, shutting the iron portals
behind him and locking them. Taking this as their cue,
the five priests slowly turn around, laughing while
shouting “Let the funeral begin!” as they tear their clothes off to reveal their true undead selves
Initiative: Party Enemy
The five of them pounce on 5 of the women pallbearers and start to devour them whole.
Party
Aggrammar sees the horror in front of him and he stands in befuddlement at the scene.
Issam seeing the horror play out in front of him he trips and falls.
Expecting assasins and not undead, Issam steps back in horror and trips. Shakily standing up, he calls for Balla to help him repell those abominations.
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Nymeria manages to keep her wits about her!
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Zairiah unleashes a loud scream
A little shell-shocked by the unexpected turn--undead?!?--Zairiah retains her wits enough to go into a defensive pose, ready to drive off any attackers.
Nura reacts swiftly, lashing out with her scimitar.
Nymeria promptly draws her bow and fires two shots at the blue undead creature!
Fadilah flees.
Fadi Fadi is slightly startled by the horror and can otherwise act normally. She moves to the iron door and finds out it is locked.
Because Nura is wearing orange, she attacks the orange one and takes out a big chunk ghoul.
Nymeria quickly looses two arrows into the blue ghoul and falls to the ground redead.
The non attacked pallbearers run back and forth hysterically.
Round 2
Party , Enemies
Party
--If Zairiah is still trying to overcome her fear:
she is still shaking.
--If Zairiah has recovered, she shoots at Orange:
Nymeria turns her bow on the Purple one and fires again!
Issan draws his scimitar and runs towards an undead left to its own, trying to take it down before it turned on the pallbearers.
If Zariah's shot takes down orange, Nura will shift her attack to red. Otherwise, she continues her assault on orange.
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Agrammar, Fadilah
Reaching for his Holy Symbol, Aggrammar presents it before the creatures - "Avast!"
Fadilah yanks at the iron door and sobs hysterically with fear.
A combination of attacks takes down the orange one.
Issan strikes the red one but it is still up.
Nymeria's two attacks miss the purple one.
Agrammar is unsuccessful.
Fadi pulls at the door but it is locked.
The purple one moves into melee with Nymeria
Nymeria Saving throw vs poison pass
Claw, Claw, Bite hit Save vs. Paralysis fail miss, miss
SInce the three attacks happen simultaneously Nymeria is rendered paralyzed for rounds
Red attacks Issan claw, claw, bite hit ,
claw miss, crit
Save vs. Paralysis pass
Green moves to attack Nura miss, hit Save vs Paralysis pass, miss
Round 3
Initiative Enemy , Party
Party
Issam recoils as the ghoul bites and slashes him but he fights the poison an tries to strike back.
Nura slashes wildly at green.