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Garen heads down the hall when Silvio calls. He detects evil just because he can and when all seems safe he drinks of the fountain. Then setting his pack on the ground he begins to undo his armor for a proper rest. ”I can take first watch or last watch if that is ok. I don’t want to have to mess with all of these straps and buckles more than i have to.”
As the restorative properties of the fountain become apparent, Silvio encourages Winter to drink as well, and lets Sledge drink before drinking himself. "Winter and I can take one of the middle watches. And I can work on anyone who's still injured to help with healing."
The water is deeply refreshing, as promised by the message. Whatever had corrupted the rest of the Crypt seemed not to have touched this room. For his part, Garen does not detect the presence of any evil in this place, and instead feels a deeply calming presence in the space. As far as the party can tell, it should be a safe place to rest.
Garen:
Median:
Silvio:
Sledge:
Winter:
Silvio is stunned as the fountain seems to cure nearly all of their wounds! "Truly a magnificent fountain. Has it been sanctified to the Gods? Whatever the case, it seems untouched by corruption."
As the party rests, Silvio settles in to his work, occasionally tending to the poison effects still lingering for Median and Winter.
He and Winter take their turn as appropriate for watch.
Silvio wonders if he might have heard something about this fountain that he so admired.
Regardless, as he tears into some dried meat alongside Winter, he considers with some puzzlement the words of the last skeleton they slew. "When the last skeleton died, it said something very troubling. That we would die at the hands of Asar. It doesn't make any sense, does it? Asar was the name of Kassen's companion, right? Or a bandit? Or both? I know we're all a little confused about that, but still, Asar is history. Yet the skeleton spoke his name. Could Asar somehow be alive? Or if not alive . . . then undead?"
Silvio has heard that Ekat Kassen was a devout follower of Aroden, having carried The Last Azlanti's banner into Lastwall nearly 200 years ago to face the undead hordes. While he fought with distinction, he soon realized that he wanted more from life and left the Lastwall military to find his fortune elsewhere. His travels took him all over the region around Lake Encarthan, and he decided to settle down in 4522 AR after a very profitable adventure. Using a sizable portion of his fortune, he set out to tame a small area of the Fangwood on the banks of the Tourondel River, making it a natural stopover for those traveling up and down the river to Skelt. For the next 10 years, the town, which was then known as Kassen’s Hold, grew and prospered.
The Crypt of the Everflame was a personal project of Ekat Kassen's. The crypt was already ancient by the time that he founded the town, carved out in the style of old Kellid tribes that occupied these lands before Taldan expansion. But Ekat wanted to create a place for himself and his descendants to rest their weary bones. It is very likely that Ekat himself, or perhaps one of his companions, enchanted this fountain.
Of course, Ekat's bones were interred here far sooner than he likely anticipated, after he and a contingent from the town of Kassen's Hold tracked a group of bandits to this very crypt. The bandits had set up their base of operations in the crypt, and the two sides clashed in a bloody battle that left most of them dead, including the leaders of both sides.
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Median got up for her last watch feeling much better than she had the day before. She practically felt like a new person. I mean, being here still wasn't ideal of course, but as she stroked the sleeping snake idly and thought about what they had all been through, she thought that they had done well to get this far. It was hard to believe that Damira was still alive, but they could at least retrieve her body. And who knows. If Sarenrae sent them a snake to help, maybe she was watching over Damira as well, keeping her alive until they could get there. She desperately wanted to believe in a world like that, and here, in this room, it was almost possible.
She cleaned herself and her clothing and gear up with some prestidigitation spells, cast quietly so as to not wake everyone else up, and then she did the same for the others' equipment that she could see, removing slime and grime and sweat and dust. Just being clean made a world of difference psychologically, and they probably needed that edge.
As morning came, but before the others awoke, she prayed to Sarenrae, thanking her for the help and asking that she would watch over their little group and, if possible, help them get Damira and her brother back to town alive.
Silvio makes sure to collect anything that might have been valuable from the skeletons they fought--particularly any weapons or shields of unusual quality or even magical.
"We were probably just lucky, but it's still nice to finish some fights without anyone falling unconscious. Sledge, you fight well." He pauses. "For a wizard."
* * *
As he contemplates on the day's adventures, Silvio is heartened that they'd endured and found a place of apparent sanctuary. But he is also concerned, as yet another day passes without any sign of Damira. This fool's errand of theirs might end in grave disappointment. But he keeps such depressing thoughts to himself.
"Is this at all like what Ekat Kassen and his allies must have felt as they journeyed here to fight the bandits? If these skeletons are actually the remains of some of the bandits, it's almost like the same thing."
Silvio prays to Erastil in gratitude for all his god had provided, and for his continued presence as they continue the fight against whatever evil had taken root. May you cleanse this crypt so that it is as pure as the sanctuary here.
On waking, the adventurers pray, meditate, study for spells, and drag potentially useful items into the central chamber for retrieval later. Perhaps there is a bit of breakfast as well, though rations are beginning to run low. When they are ready, they move to the west.
As the party approaches the western passage, their noses are assailed by the stench of rot, getting stronger as they enter. They forge ahead through the corridor, which opens up into a winding catacomb. The walls are skillfully carved with deep recesses where bodies might have once lain. All that remains now are cobwebs, dust, and the tattered remains of ancient clothing. The stench of rotting flesh is overpowering here, but the source is not immediately evident.
After a light breakfast, Silvio goes to riding Winter again--his companion was very good at compensating for Silvio's slow legs.
"Don't trust this rot smell, better be ready." Pulling out his wand, he channels the blessing of Erastil.
Winter and Silvio then move in slowly.
"Garen, you should take one of the longbows, and maybe the luceurn? It's good for you to have options."
"Could Asar somehow be alive? Or if not alive . . . then undead?"
"Don't be ridiculous Silvo. It was probably just parroting it's final thoughts. A tiny bit of psychic residue sticking to the inside of it's undead skull after untold years. I'm sure that if Asar is up and kicking, he'll be no more dangerous than any of the other skeletons that we've fought." He pauses for a second, "Which isn't to say not dangerous, but certainly manageable if we remain diligent." He continues thinking. "If this water is friendly towards us, perhaps it will be an enemy to undead. Silvo, you're good at throwing things, perhaps fill a spare waterskin with some, and try throwing it at the next skeleton we see?"
Inspired by his own idea, Sledge tromps back into the last room, grabs a bone fragment from one of the skeletons, and tries pouring some fountain water over it to see what happens. You are a mage after all, Sledge, he thinks to himself. The others are looking to you for answers, and it's up to you to provide them. Emboldened by that thought, he is immediately smacked back down to earth by Silvo's commentary on his fighting. "And you fought well too. For a halfling. Perhaps we should push onwards so that Damira doesn't end up like your old friend Tolly? Even as Sledge said it, he knew he had gone too far. Still, he was disappointed by everyone's desire to set up for the night instead of pushing on. Damira could be dying at this moment, and Silvo was joking? Trying to push his buttons? Sledge couldn't tell, but he always had a knack for finding people's insecurities. He wished he hadn't played his hand just then.
"It's been a long day, and I'm more concerned about why we in particular were sent here." he says shortly. "If we're going to rest, so be it. I'll be over there. Wondering if we were sent to die,."
Sledge moves into the room, deciding to stand behind Garen this time. "Smells awful. Means recent dead. Not a good sign."
Inspired by his own idea, Sledge tromps back into the last room, grabs a bone fragment from one of the skeletons, and tries pouring some fountain water over it to see what happens. You are a mage after all, Sledge, he thinks to himself. The others are looking to you for answers, and it's up to you to provide them. Emboldened by that thought, he is immediately smacked back down to earth by Silvo's commentary on his fighting. "And you fought well too. For a halfling. Perhaps we should push onwards so that Damira doesn't end up like your old friend Tolly? Even as Sledge said it, he knew he had gone too far. Still, he was disappointed by everyone's desire to set up for the night instead of pushing on. Damira could be dying at this moment, and Silvo was joking? Trying to push his buttons? Sledge couldn't tell, but he always had a knack for finding people's insecurities. He wished he hadn't played his hand just then.
Silvio is stung as Sledge fires a backhanded compliment of his own, and frowns. Though the mention of Tolly isn't what bothers him the most. "Don't joke about Damira like that," he says, quite seriously. "It's already been so many days. But we can't run on empty." Silvio's pessimism about their quest leaks out.
"It's been a long day, and I'm more concerned about why we in particular were sent here." he says shortly. "If we're going to rest, so be it. I'll be over there. Wondering if we were sent to die."
Why would anyone do such a thing? Silvio almost says aloud. Surely Sledge was just being paranoid, right?
As Sledge pours some water over the bone fragment, he waits and watches as...nothing happens. The water still detects as magical, but the bone does not. Any lingering necromantic energy that had animated it has long since dissipated.
Garen and Silvio both know although this water has healing properties, it is not the same as holy water. Median and Sledge could confirm through Knowledge (arcana) that holy water requires the use of powdered silver and transmutation magic, while the conjuration magic associated with channeling positive energy only functions appropriately if applied directly through touch or specifically brewed into a potion and subsequently imbibed.
But experiments are well worth the time.
Bracing their noses against the stench, the party cautiously enters the room. So far, they don't see or hear anything. But that smell is just offensive.
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Median:
Map
Garen advances into the chamber, moving around the corner. As he walks, he sees a pool of dried blood in the corner of the room, where a pack lies drawn shut. He notes the pack and continues advancing forward towards a door to the south. But as he reaches the door, he turns to his right and sees the source of the smell: a bloated, suppurating corpse dressed in tattered, decaying clothing, ambling towards him. He looks up to see one sunken eye fixing on him before it opens its mouth in a snarl.
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Median:
Zombie
Map
As Garen advances along the southern hallway, Silvio and Winter move along the northern hallway. Unless anything catches their attention first, they end up noticing a foe in the hallway. Silvio and Winter consider whether to attack.
Silvio urges Winter on and quickly discovers his own trouble. As he rounds a corner, he sees not one but two shambling corpses in the hallway. They growl at him as he and his dog come into their field of vision.
Silvio easily recognizes these creatures as zombies, the animated corpses of dead creatures. While the most commonly encountered zombies are slow and tough, others possess a variety of traits, allowing them to spread disease or move with increased speed. Based on their pallid skin and bloating, Silvio believes that these are the disease-spreading variety. That means that they lack the rubbery skin of some of their brethren . Zombies are unthinking automatons and can do little more than follow orders. When left unattended, zombies tend to mill about in search of living creatures to slaughter and devour. Zombies attack until destroyed, having no regard for their own safety.
"Two more up here!" warns Silvio as he ventures to the northern path. Winter instinctively attacks the nearest threat, and Silvio doesn't stop him. Instead, he draws his magical dagger and slashes!
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Winter and Silvio dive in to attack the first zombie that they encounter. The sheepdog savages the walking corpse but is unable to bring it down. Silvio's magical dagger almost succeeds in taking the creature's head clean off, but the corpse gurgles as its head lingers by a few bits of sinew. It lunges for Silvio and delivers a savage counterblow , giving about as good as it got.
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Zombie:
Sledge:
Median:
Zombies:
Map
Median lets an arrow loose, which sinks into the zombie's bloated torso. It's distended abdomen shakes slightly, but it remains standing, if only barely.
"Cut them down, let Pharasma sort them out!"
Yellow Move
Sledge brings his flail down, forcefully severing the last tangles of flesh holding the zombie's head on its shoulders, but creature then explodes in a fountain of foul fluids that showers Silvio, Sledge, and Winter all. The wizard's apprentice unfortunately knows little more about these horrors than that they are zombies, as Garen and Silvio already pointed out. And now that they others seem to have noticed them, they turn upon them snarling.
The zombie in Garen's face swings a clumsy limb at the armored warrior, but the paladin is far too well-trained to allow the creature any quarter, simply stepping out of the way. Another zombie comes staggering around the corner to Garen's other side, its nose seeming to twitch as though sensing the paladin beneath his armor. Finally, the zombie further down the hall lurches, lunging at Silvio with surprising speed, but ultimately unable to lay its hands on the halfling or his sheepdog.
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Median:
Zombies:
Map
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Despite the disgusting mess, Median moves forward to shoot blue, firing over the shorter pair of blood-spattered halfling and sheepdog.
(bless)
She reminded herself that she could easily clean all the blood off later. It didn't matter that it was squishing under her feet, or that some got on her as she was moving past Sledge. This was definitely not a good time to get squeamish.
Even with the cover provided by Silvio and Winter, Median's arrow finds its mark, lodging deep in the zombie's abdomen. It gurgles and flails, perhaps hungry.
"Ugh, zombie guts!" Lacking time to worry about whatever disease the zombies may bear, Winter and Silvio fight back against the next undead foe.
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They then dance out of the way so that Sledge might advance.
Winter seems momentarily disgusted after being showered with guts, and his bite is more timid than usual. But Silvio's dagger flashes out, cutting into pallid flesh and spilling viscera onto the floor. As the mounted pair slip to the side, Sledge moves in to fill the gap and brings his flail down, caving in part of the zombie's head. Teeth crumble and flow out with thick fluid from the creature's ruined mouth.
Even as it gurgles its final clarion call, the zombie seems to wind back before it slams into Sledge with all its might. The wizard's apprentice is unable to brace properly for the blow .
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Median:
Zombies:
Map
The paladin lifts his sword to try to cut down the undead horror in front of him, but his elbow hits the wall behind him and his sword clangs against the sarcophagus instead. The two zombies near Garen swarm around him, but their staggering blows are unable to get past his nigh-impenetrable defenses.
Garen:
Silvio:
Winter:
Sledge:
Median:
Zombies:
Map
On his second swing, Garen's blade finds its mark, opening up a savage wound in the northern zombie's side from which black tar-like blood spills out.
Feeling somewhat backed into a corner, Sledge takes a swing at the blue zombie.
Too bad that it once again goes hopelessly out of control. A flail truly isn't a precision weapon.
As Winter appears ready to climb up the sarcophagus, Silvio appears ready to leap off and let him do so! Winter fails, however, and attacks successfully around the bend anyway.
Silvio drops his sling staff, stows his dagger, and climbs up.
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