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"Personally I'm not opposed to plunder, but we're already being paid to stop the theft of corpses from the Ossuary. I can't help noticing that you've got a pair there that look a lot like those that the hunchback alchemist had about him.
Now if you've got an innocent explanation for that, we'd certainly like to hear it, and perhaps then we can come to terms."
She nods positively, ”Ok, maybe we can work out a deal then. Basically, I gotta get out of here safely. That’s what I want. Get me through the temple. In return, I can have these two mindless skeletons destroy themselves. I have no real use for them. And you can do whatever you want with the Alchemist you captured. He is the one creating all these undead. While you think on it, I’ll tell my life and unlife story.”
”While I lived, I contracted a nasty disease. Or a curse. Or something really f@$@ed up. I started rotting like the undead. No cleric or doctor or anyone else could find a cure. So I came to this city to search the dark necromantic arts for an answer. But I started running out of town. Then I met Svilennius, who thought he might be able to help me. Well, not cure me, but maybe allow me to retain my mind as I transition to unlife. With a rotting and dying body already, it seemed like I had nothing to lose.”
”It worked, but took way to long for me to return. Svilennius thought it failed and destroyed his notes in a fit of rage. He has always been a bit unhinged, honestly. Anyway, I came back but haven’t been able to go anywhere. And it has been good. I think he loved me. Or at least loved what I became. But then his research lately has been going poorly. I get less attention and I feel us drifting apart. Maybe this is a good thing? Maybe I can go out and start some sort of new chapter in my life?”
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The issue will not be with us dwarves here but with the priests above, who think an extension of life in the way you have achieved it is an abomination. I do not think we will be able to convince them that you are a special case. So we must either disguise you or find a different way for you to leave here. We believe there are other ways out. What do you know of that?
She shrugs her shoulders, "Svilennius used the stairs near his lab to go up and bring stuff back. I think that is how we originally came down too. I don't know of any other ways out."
The undead not-quite-a-monster covers herself with a cloak, spritzes herself with some cheap perfume and pulls the hood and cloak tight.
"A simple disguise, but probably enough if I get a quick and solid escort out."
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Grunigon watches and listens, but stays out of the discussion. This creature was just a question that he didn't want to answer. It wasn't "living", or "evil", but it sure had the look of a monster that should be destroyed.... But, maybe on her own she'd figure out a way to get "fixed"?
He heads to the stairs with the group.
The dwarves, with a plan in place, head to the pit and chuckle as the skeletons toss themselves into it. They hear a few bone crushing thumps and then silence.
Returning to where the alchemist is bound and unconscious, they haul his ass up the stairs and pull a lever on the side of a stone doorway. With a smooth oiled swing, the door opens into…
A FIREBALL AND INSTANT DEATH
Or the cathedral. Whatever you all want, really.
You hear an ‘eek’ and then see the scared face of a young male temple acolyte. The dwarves recall seeing him earlier, but were never introduced. He looks terrified.
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Point the way lad....might be a mess if you aren't quick enough! the stocky gunner says as he lights up a fresh cigar.
Hey son...what's your title? Brother? Anyways...as I was saying...wait..what was I saying? Ah yes...fancy some jerky? Looks like you need some grub in your gut...you weren't sleeping on the job were you? he says with a side eye.
"Oh hey. Hi. Yeah, job's done. You can pay us now.
First though, which way's the women's latrines?"
Maybe there'll be a window our boney friend can escape from.
His eyes go wide, "Oh. OH! Oh my gosh, I'm sorry. Right down the hall to the left. I didn't mean to uh... stop you or anything."
Halali and your new undead lady friend prance off and disappear around the corner.
He looks embarrassed and turns to Ander, "I'm uh... not a priest or anything. Just Calvin. I would never sleep on the job."
Nodding at Bilos he seems to register the spirit finally and steps back away from Xev before regaining his composure, "Oh. That's. Interesting! There are many documented cases of helpful spirits of various types. Our order is less concerned with those that voluntarily come back to this plane of existence." His eyes narrow a slight bit, "It was... voluntary. Right?"
He looks oddly at Grunigon, "This is no door. Well, it wasn't one we knew about. It's just a section of wall." He moves over and inspects it. It looks like if the door were to be closed it would indeed seamlessly blend into the wall.
Calvin finally notices the bound and unconscious body being lugged by Dran, "Is this the one causing all the trouble? They stole the bodies? A magic user, you say?" He moves up to the alchemist and then regrets it. His nose wrinkles, "Eww. He smells terrible. Like fire and acid and vomit. Gross. Do you need me to go get Sister Valanthe?"
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Grunigon nods to Calvin. "Alchemist I think is what you'd call him. The stink is the chemicals that he was using to create zombies. And he adds magic to make bombs and stuff to mutate him and the undead things. I'd recommend keeping the gag in too until your Sister Valanthe, or someone else from the temple can take him for.... questions, or whatever. Judgement! That's right. Judgement by the principals or Pharasma. We can take him wherever, then maybe get some ale? And payment?"
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”Nice to meet you, Calvin. I’m glad to be back amongst the lane of the living. Might head out for a drink and a smoke after I catch a shower. I figure your bosses should be pretty happy with the job we did!”
Kaz wasn’t 100% sure he’d made the right decision in allowing the not evil undead lady live. On one hand, she was undead. On the other, she wasn’t evil and he shouldn’t beat up on no evil creatures. Being a paladin was a headache sometimes.
The pathfinders, sweaty and dusty and dirty from their adventure in the crypts.
Well, mostly just dirty. Crypt dust is naaaaasty. And just thinking about it being made up of old dead bodies that turned to dust, makes your skin crawl just a bit.
At least until you get outta the temple and to a bathhouse. It takes a while to clean up, but in the end with really dirty water left behind everyone heads to get some good lodgings. The pay was hecka good this time too. Even the cheapest of you all splurge on a nice meal out.
The next day there isn't much to do but head back home. But the trip is long, so a few of you work on your crafts or professional skills on the way.
Dran drafts up three new brew recipes to sell once he gets back home. He is really excited about one of them. A smoky death ale! Inspired from traipsing around all those crypts.
Ander earns a few coins selling seasickness cures to all the other passengers on their various ships.
Bilos FINALLY catches up with his correspondence work, completing almost all of his scribing duties. He finally feels a bit less stressed about the backlog. Everything is sent off and he expects a nice payday in his mailbox back home.
And even Grunigon earns a little bit. The Captain on one of their ships lost a key overboard and he was able to earn the right to pick the lock and craft a new key.
___________________________________
Back in Absalom, the group quickly sells off any valuables found in the crypts, splits the proceeds and agrees to meet up at the lodge in the evening to report their mission success.
Everyone has the time available to make purchases and check personal mail.
That evening the group meets up at the Grand Lodge and heads in to drop off their reports. They are called in to a meeting with Zarta Dralneen and then…
Audible alarm spells fill the Grand Lodge with shrill chimes, as apprentice Pathfinders hustle through the ground floor locking doors and casting protective spells. Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin rounds the corner in a visibly agitated state, when Paracountess Zarta Dralneen pops out of your room and grabs his attention. “Ambrus, this kind of situation is exactly why I founded the Dark Archive in the first place. Give me and my agents a chance to...”
“A chance to what, Zarta? Tinker around with unstudied artifacts while Pathfinders’ lives might be at risk?” Valsin’s voice booms curtly over the alarms. As if startled by the harsh sound of his voice, Valsin flinches and quickly gains his composure. “I’m sorry, Zarta. I understand your point; I just can’t think about it right now while something is happening inside our very walls. If you can marshal a team to put a lid on this debacle, I’m sure the Decemvirate will give you some more rope. Just be careful you don’t wind up hanging yourself with it.”
As Valsin stalks down the corridor checking to see if the doors are secured, Zarta turns, a sly smirk spreading across her face. “That’s the closest I’ve gotten to a ‘yes’ in months. Of course, now we have to prove that we can handle emergencies like this in a pinch. Come along then. I’ll explain on the way.”
Zarta rushes down a flight of spiral stairs, drawing a crooked wand from the folds of her dress. “As you may know, the Dark Archive has been gathering, cataloging, and reinforcing magical wards over all manner of dangerous or mysterious items, some of which we store in these underground vaults. Apparently one of the items has activated and malfunctioned. The good news is that our alarm system and lockdown procedure ran swimmingly; the bad news is that now we have a bizarre magical device wreaking havoc in our basement. That is where you come in.”
Zarta stops outside a stone door with sickly yellow roots lazily snaking between its edges. “This is the vault. All we know is that whatever is inside is animating the other devices stored in here, and spewing plant-like matter throughout the room. The plants aren’t any sort I’ve seen before, so I would recommend caution. I’ve brought a wand that I should be able to use to repel the flora. You all take care of the animated items and disarm whatever’s causing this situation, preferably without damaging it until we can learn more. Understood?”
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"Just one minute," a familiar, sandy-haired dwarf now toting a shield that seems too large for his frame, says hurriedly. "Literally one minute, if you want me to be able to help at all."
He chants in what you presume to be an archaic dialect of the common Dwarven tongue, drawing sigils on the floor with chalk, and soon another, translucent dwarf appears in the hallway.
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You can tell through the whitish tint of her incorporeal body that she was a dark-skinned woman in life. She lacks her race's usual stockiness as well as their meticulous care for their facial hair. Her threadbare robes bear a faded sigil of Torag. The cudgel on her belt seems like it had been well-used before whatever befell its owner.
"Blessings of the Father of Creation upon you, though they were not upon me," she intones as her ectoplasmic form finishes maniesting in the Material Plane.
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Halali shows up, looking somehow taller than before, and broader too. Her hood is down and her scars seem more livid, as though they were freshly won.
"The spirits seem to have foreseen this event. I am eager for battle! Though I do hope I'll be fighting something more than the furniture!"
"Bilos, hit me with a charge of this shiny new wand would you? It's a mage armour spell. Should be called 'monk armour' if you ask me."
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When Dran rejoins the group he is wearing masterwork full plate. The holy symbol of Gorum is emblazoned onto the chest piece. Had it on layaway for a month now. I think it suits me. What say the rest o' you?
As the group receives orders from the Paracountess Dran cannot help keep a scowl off his face. The Dark Archive likely caused this mess. he mutters under his breath. But he draws his greatsword and stands ready. At Go-9 he blesses the party and at Go -10, as the Phantom shows up he activates War Mind as a standard.
The phantom pops into somewhat real existence (ectoplasmic it appears), Dran blesses the group and prepares himself for battle. The rest also seem ready to go. Kaztor pulls open the doors and...
Sticky, humid air saturates this dome-shaped chamber, and veins of yellow-green tendrils form a web across its stone walls. A thin layer of slimy green pollen coats the hundreds of small curios scattered throughout the room, as well as the sundered crates that once stored them. Bulbous tubes of spiny fungus sprawl across the floor, connected to thick columns that reach up to the ceiling and dangle pods of prickly, putrid fruit. All of these growths are rooted to a glowing glass sphere filled with churning yellow protoplasm, which hovers six feet above the floor. Two bands of coalesced spores encircle the sphere like planetary rings.
Zarta looks at you all sweetly, "Well come on, times a wasting. You all got this." You feel suprisingly inspired and courageous.
Group Buffs: Bless, Inspire Courage +2
Grunigon
Zarta
Bilos
Dran
Ruya
??
Ander
Halali
Bold May Act. The Fungal Columns function as Massive Trees. The vines function as Heavy Undergrowth. Most of the boxes provide Partial Cover. The middle boxes provide Full Cover. The fungus/plants are not recognizable as any species that exists.
Bilos has literally never even heard of anything like this. It just seems so… alien. It would be reasonable to assume it could carry a poison or disease though.
Halali has mage armor up.
Ruya, squeezing her body past the tight vines, finds the sticky coating on them to be poisonous!
Ruya feels no ill effects from the poison.
Group Buffs: Bless, Inspire Courage +2
Zarta
Ruya
Grunigon
Bilos
Dran
??
Ander
Halali
Bold May Act. Moving through any plants triggers poison (once per round). The Fungal Columns function as Massive Trees (can’t move through them but could climb them). The vines function as Heavy Undergrowth (4 squares of move for one square). Most of the boxes provide Partial Cover. The middle boxes provide Full Cover.