She takes off her hooded cape, and rolls it up to store on her backpack for times when she still needs a hooded cape. She takes the cloak from the half-orc, and puts it on her immediately resizing to her height.
She hardly paid any attention as she walked next to Vinnick, thinking to herself of the poor ranger loosing his companion tiger, then his life.
Hearing the conversation with the pale lady, she thinks to herself, So this one must be the powerful undead, they had to seek out. Not under the influence of the lich. Wonder what her secret is...
She ponders for a moment and finally answers "I suppose it would change little to tell you. Very well you can call me Arazni...Yes, that Arazni former goddess, former herald to Aroden, and former Queen of Geb. I would appreciate it however if you would omit to mention your meeting with me to your handler. I do not believe that he or his master know that I have become involved in this matter yet and I think it can be to both our benefits if it stays that way."
Other than investigating an unique event near you, how else are you involved lady Arazni?
|
Slid's mouth hangs agape for a few moments as he takes in who she is. If someone is a valuable ally, she is it. He says "You can count on our discression, lady Arazni." Thinking a bit more, he says "On the spirit of friendship, would you want us to have something you can use to communicate with us? You know, in case the need arises?" He wonders if Arazni still has any loyalty to Aroden's philosophy, if not the god's memory itself, which would be bad, but that doesn't stop him.
@Stav "I'm not about to share all my secrets"
@Slid she winks "If I need you I can find you and if you need me you only need to pray"
"I will be in touch" she says and she opens a dimension door. She waves you goodbye and steps through and it closes behind her.
Well, that was... unusual. I somehow feel lucky to be walking away from that one. What is next? Do we hunt knights and clerics?
"We just spoke with a goddess. A minor one, but a goddess nonetheless. Her turning that knight to dust was barely an effort for her. I guess it's a good thing she currently finds us useful," Cori says. "So, are we agreed to keeping this little encounter to ourselves for now? Her implication is clear, Don't tell the boss, unless we have to!
Like I told the lady, I appreciated being rescued from that prison, and I am all about pay-back, but our current situation feels, well less roomy than I'd prefer - almost like we are owned. I am all about future options. Stanislav concludes as he agrees with Cori.
She studies the lady before, and when she hears from Cori, that she is an undead goddess, Though an undead. Being a goddess, I sure she be of aid to rid the lich and his cronies.
I must say, I think we found the rumoured powerful undead in the area. What else do we need to do here?
You decide to press on continuing towards the town center when you come across a curious sight.
A group of undead is looting a store and loading the goods on a cart. A ghostly woman floats above giving the zombies orders as they continue to load the cart.
What do the dead need the supplies of living for? Perhaps that ghost is the powerful undead we seek.
”Awfully organized looting for something that happened only a little while ago. Perhaps this is another of the Tyrant’s teams, like the Ravens?” Cori supposes.
At the mention of keeping their meeting a secret Vinnick laughs.
And do you think we are not being watched at this very moment? Bold of you to assume we aren't a lenses through which our master can view his work.
at the strange sight, He tries to better understand what he sees.
From the way they are acting the zombies are most likely Juju zombies. Undead zombies who retain all the memories and skills they had in life. The Elf woman is an animous Shade, it is a fragment of a soul that was shattered into the pieces. Usually, an animous shade becomes the embodiment of that person's dominant traits (rage, greed, lust, etc...) and will attempt to pursue the original person dominant goal (often revenge or some unfinished business)
Stanislav explains what he has read of these undead and wonders Perhaps we should leave these to their business?
”They look like a perfect scapegoat for this little apocalypse. Best let them go on looking guilty,” Cori says.
Seeing the group of undead loading a cart with goods, speaking softly in draconic, Now that is the strangest thing we ever seen. Working zombies as if they still alive.
Hearing the others making comments, Wonder how many more strange sights we will be seeing.
Deciding to leave the intelligent undead alone you press on and finally reach the edge of the blast zone. It looks like the blast destroyed most everything in a two-hundred-foot radius, stone structures survived a bit better than others but wooden buildings completely rotted away.
In the center of the cleared space, something seems to be growing. It looks almost like a giant plant (knowledge nature dc 20 - Crypt flower) the plant-like thing seems to be spewing poison into the air.
Around the thing, many undead have gathered among them eyeless undead horrors that seem far more dangerous than your typical zombies (knowledge religion dc 18 - Bodaks)
”Bodaks!?! That plant is creating bodaks? Oh my, I can’t wait to see the fear the eyes of the milksop nobility!”
I am unable to make out what this plant is, giving a shrug of her shoulders.
|
|
Having no great knowledge about creatures, Slid focuses a bit more on the practical aspects than the scholarly ones. He says "We're here for intel. So far I am very happy with what we've gathered. This seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I tell you, if being bound to the Tyrant is like this all the time, I'll end up being pretty satisfied to be blood bound."
Looking around, Slid tries to think of something else they might have missed. He says "We should look for somewhere with a cellar, figure out if the weapon went below."
Stanislav first considers the plant and then the undead. Yes, Bodaks. I believe they actually have a death gaze, if you get too close. Lets not do that.
Just that the plant doesn't seem to be creating the undead simply manipulating them as some kind of defense mechanism. That along with the poison gas would make it extremely hazardous for any living being to aproach.
"Let's not test the extent of our protective aegis when it comes to that," Cori says, indicating the plant. "Let us continue our sweep and report back."
Agreed. Stanislav says as he moves away.
She quickly turns away and walks with the others while rubbing Ajikisshochraos' head.
Think we found the centre of the blast, with a strange plant growing.
Looking about the damaged town Stanislav ponders How do we know when we are done?
"I'd say we've probably seen enough to report back," Cori replies. "If we circle 'round as we return, we might see a few other things to pad the report."
Fine with me, to take the long way back to our meeting point.
You start making your way out of the town and you see that a small group of people have gathered a pair of wagons and are currently trying to fight their way through the undead to try and make their way to the town's western exit. Among them, you see some of the knights and clerics of Sarenrea. The group is moving slowly but making progress. You estimate that they likely will make out after taking a few losses.
(You need to head southwest to go back to where the ship is waiting and the western exit is the fastest path for you as well.)
Pretend to be allies to get close? Stanislave suggests. Ambush them at the gate?
"Are these the same knights that Arazni scared off? Didn't she warn them who was behind the attack? Perhaps it would be in our current interests to eliminate them. I like the idea of hitting them after they break through. They'll be weak, and won't expect it."
Rubbing her chin, speaking softly in draconic, Survivors of this cursed place. Need to eliminate them so they can't create another monstrosity on the land.
Ajikisshochraos responds, Oh yes, some targets to practice my breath on, ending off with some laughing.
Hearing the others thinking of waiting for the group to first break through the undead, she rubs Ajikisshochraos on the head, speaking excitedly, They planning to ambush them once they get through the undead. We need to get ahead to hide, ending off with teeth showing, as much it can represent her grinning.
Speaking in common, Let us be quick to get ahead to hide, though not too far so they don't get a chance to heal.
The large group is making a lot of noise and attracting all the zombies on themselves making it easy for you to discreetly get ahead of them. You move into positions and wait to make your move.
As part of their preparations Stanislav offer Slid a flask. Take this to use in the coming fight. It is ghast retch. It sickens the target it hits and those directly around him. It can also nauseate for a short amount of time. I recommend using it on one of the casters as strong fighters will have a better chance to resist.
She whispers, I will keep an obscuring mist as an emergency departure.
Cori removes her hide from undead potion from her bandolier and downs its contents . She then moves with the group to a position to intercept the knights once they break through.