HP 42/42
AC 19 (21 with shield raised)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Hero points: 2
Effects:
Shield raised, Mithralline charges forward onto the zombie trying to kill her maidservant -- no one gets to do that but her! -- and slashes with her scythe.
"Smoke, stay away from those nasty things."
Telvir gestures at the scattered remains around the room and chants, "Rise, rise and feast on dead flesh!"
The risen corpse claws at the orange zombie.
for
The warrior starts hewing into the zombies with his fauchard, using the length of its blade to slice and dice.
Ceceka slices into both zombies, his fauchard proving quite effective. He shoves the first zombie back and moves to follow. Mithralline's attack comes up just short of hurting the zombie she targets, but Aily cuts it down with her daggers! Telvir conjurs a ghoul, which rips at the other plague zombie.
The plague zombie retaliates, pummeling the ghoul and grabbing a hold of it. This makes it an easy target for the other nearby zombie, which destroys it with a heavy blow before shambling forward.
The other zombie shambles up to Mithralline and swings on her. She manages to deflect the attack with her shield.
The musical zombie steps forward and then expels air and bile in a trumpeting blast from its exposed guts!
Telvir tuts as his ghoul is destroyed, but it clearly wasn't his finest work. Becoming furious, he reaches out a hand to attempt to tear the opponents apart.
As there's only one way to make the music stop, Ceceka continues to brutalize the zombies.
Bile splatters into the face of the fastidious maid, stunning her in the vast unpleasantness of this taste and texture (always make sure your mouth if closed in battle).
A wall of zombie has formed after she retches violently to get as much as the rotting spittle out of her.
HP 27/42
AC 19 (21 with shield raised)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Hero points: 2
Effects: Sickened 1
Mithralline screams as the zombie blast her, matching its noise with sound of her own.
Then, shield raised, the little tyrant jumps onto the next closest zombie and slashes with her scythe. driving it deep into the zombie.
"Back to Urgathoa!" she snarls.
There is something immensely effective that Caraid could do right now, but Mithralline would seize upon it to turn him in to the Blood Lord and that is not a direction he wants to go in, so he fires off some divine power and retreats out of range.
Ceceka's swings are wild, but luckily, the zombies prove easy to hit. He cuts down two zombies between his three attacks. Aily flails ineffectively, but Mithralline moves in and decapitates the already damaged zombie.
That just leaves the piper. The zombie resists Telvir's spell, and while Caraid scores a critical hit, it doesn't slow the zombie down much. As its grotesque piping continues, the zombie pulls out a length of its own intestines and whips it at Mithralline!
Disgusted by what's going on, Ceceka steps forward and aims for the zombie's innards.
Still dripping with disgusting gore, Aily moves behind the piper to help end its horror show.
HP 18/42
AC 19 (21 with shield raised)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Hero points: 2
Effects: Sickened 1
Mithralline snarls and, shield raised, launches herself at the zombie piper, cutting into it.
With everyone closing in on the zombie Caraid can't get a good shot.
Telvir sneers at the remaining zombie, though he barely manages to keep his drink down.
He manages to get it together and flings a sharp piece of debris at the piper.
for
The zombie reels as Mithralline chastises it. Ceceka scores a critical hit, then Aily and Mithralline both land hits, and the grotesque piper goes down.
Aily leans against the wall, looking more distressed than anyone has ever seen her. It might be that the maid truly does have a thing about being clean. Which she is NOT right now. She is dripping in regurgitated bile. She doesn't even have a good place to clean her knife before putting it up.
"Some of the worst zombie music I've ever heard." Telvir cradles his aching head. Smoke whines in agreement.
Telvir gestures at one of the filthy chairs under the worktables, which promptly levitates, shakes itself off, and floats over beneath him.
"I'll be ready to go on in a moment. Do you suppose that piper was the one the ghoul was warning?"
Aily leans against the wall, looking more distressed than anyone has ever seen her. It might be that the maid truly does have a thing about being clean. Which she is NOT right now. She is dripping in regurgitated bile. She doesn't even have a good place to clean her knife before putting it up.
Caraid pulls out his waterskin and a small towel before offering both to Aily. The dhmapir woman is clearly in dire need of both.
"There, that will make things better." He says quietly, in the soothing tones one would use on a skittish horse. "Clean yourself up and it'll all be better."
Mithralline snarls and kicks the dead piper. As her henchmen and maidservant rest, she begins investigating the corpses to see if they have anything left on them, or any hint other than the makeup of what's going on.
She's willing to give them a few minutes before leading the way forward again.
Aily nods in thanks, after a brief moment of something from her eyes. She cleans her knife first, slipping it into its hidden sheath behind her bow, then cleans her face as best as possible.
The dirge piper grips a flute in its hand, which is a lesser maestro's instrument. None of the other zombies have anything of value, nor are there any clues as to what is going on.
The cell opposite the one from which the zombies emerged is occupied by a thin husk zombie—formerly a human—with a filthy but finely made outfit of vibrant gold-and-crimson fabric. He clutches the bars of his cell as you draw near. "Please! Let me out of this prison! I am Minister Se-Maut-Get, of the Celebrants! Free me and I will tell my superiors of your good deed!"
"By all means, put in a good word for us. Could you also tell us what's going on here? I did not expect so many thralls in the hideout of some third-rate gang."
Telvir is happy to have the Celebrants owing a favor.
Aily stiffened at presenting herself to a minister in her presently stained maid's uniform, but better that than in her small clothes. "Of course, my lord, one moment." she moves toward the cell, after a long careful look for danger from both the man and the door.
"May I present my lady, Mithralline Cort, and her companions as your saviors." she tells him as she works at freeing him.
Se-Maut-Get is grateful as Aily unlocks his cell. He bows to Mithralline. "My lady," he says. "I am a distant cousin of Ombteg, the former owner of this brewery and tavern. After learning of the recent rising food
prices in Graydirge, I arranged a trip to the city to investigate. I tried to visit my cousin here, only to find a gang had taken possession of his former holdings. They captured me when they learned of my government affiliation.
"The leader of this gang is a changeling named Kepgeda. I've seen her a few times. She's grown increasingly angry lately, and I was afraid she might destroy me out of rage. I haven't seen her in a few days. Kepgeda has another prisoner closer to her quarters, somewhere to the north. They seem to be someone Kepgeda kept alive for other reasons than a bargaining chip, perhaps someone from whom she seeks information, but I am not certain."
"Very well. We have come to find out more about this Kepgeda, so if we can take her prisoner from her, so much the better," Mithralline replies. "Can you tell us anymore about the gang, and what you've encountered here? And will you accompany us to find this other prisoner, or can you find your way out?"
Se-Maut-Get is unable to offer any more useful information. "Sorry, I've spent most of my time here in this cell. I'll find my own way out, and as I said, I'll ensure the Celebrants know that you helped me!"
Once the minister departs, you continue into the next chamber. The four wooden vats in this room are stained from excessive leaks that have gone without repair. Mold and seepage crust their bulging seams. The distribution pipes leading between the vats and into a hall to the west look like they’re about to burst from whatever is fermenting inside them. A raised walkway wraps around the south and east walls of the room, though the portion of the walkway nearest the vats is covered with mold.
A massive zombie stands at the far end of the room, and behind it is a ghoul wearing a bloodstained apron and a bubbling vial of acid. "You will go no further!" the ghoul promises as he orders the zombie forward!
The ghoul quickly hurls a trio of flasks at Ceceka. Only one scores a direct hit, but the acid splashes on Mithralline as well.
The brutish zombies shuffles forward and swings, but does not hit.
Aily dashes behind the brutish zombie, drawing her clean dagger as she does so.
Caraid summons the spectral longbow of his goddesses once more and it fires on the ghoul from point blank range!
Telvir points an accusatory finger at the ghoul and unleashes missiles of force.
The warrior screams in agony as the acidic fluids bite into his skin and ravage his body. Driven by anger, Ceceka unleashes a terrifying barrage of strikes at the zombie, eager to carve a path through the monstrosity so that he can charge past it and give the ghoul a piece of his mind.
HP 16/42
AC 19 (21 with shield raised)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Hero points: 2
Focus Point: 0/1
Effects:
"You dare!" Mithralline snarls and raising her shield, launches herself once again at her mortal enemy.
Aily and Ceceka are able to take out the hulking zombie brute with a team-up assault! Caraid's spiritual weapon and Telvir's magic missiles strike the ghoul alchemist as Mithralline closes the distance to him.
"Get off me, you little insect!" the ghoul snarls as he bites and claws at Mithralline. She blocks with her shield. He then rushes away, moving around the corner.
Telvir moves up, following the ghoul, and whistles for Smoke to follow.
HP 16/42
AC 19 (21 with shield raised)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Hero points: 2
Focus Point: 0/1
Effects:
"I'll squash you like a BUG!" Mithralline screams, moving with preternatural speed as she launches herself on him.
Caraid moves up but expends most of his effort on ensuring that his weapon keeps pace.
Aily hears someone scream about an insect, and knows even before the clever retort, it is her mistress they are screaming about. With rolled eyes, she rushes to go help.
All Ceceka can do is move on up.
As the team moves up in pursuit of the ghoul, Mithralline rushes in and manages to grab a hold of him on the second attempt! Snarling in anger, the ghoul bites and claws at the pesky sprite! Mithralline goes down, and the ghoul swipes at Aily, but misses.
Ceceka starts swinging at the ghoul but his anger shows as he starts hacking at the ghoul, leaving little room for technique.
"Again???" Aily snaps in angry surprise as her mistress is once again face first bleeding on the ground. The surprise and the ghouls absurdly long nails slicing at her face keep the maid from proper stabbing in retaliation.
Telvir flings a stake at the ghoul, then commands Smoke to assist Ally.
for
for
Mithralline gracefully allows her minions to have a moment of glory.
Caraid sighs and then channels negative energy into Mithralline.
And I hope it hurts. He decides.
HP 12/42
AC 19 (21 with shield raised)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Hero points: 2
Focus Point: 0/1
Effects: Wounded 1
Mithralline's eyes snap open and her lip curls in a snarl as she realizes her minions haven't gotten the job done and she's going to need to end this threat for them.
Never trust others to do what you know must be done!
Grabbing her scythe, she stands back up and swings.
The ghoul dodges some of the attacks that come his way, but Ceceka scores a hit with his third swing. Telvir's projectile slams into the ghoul, as does Caraid's spiritual weapon, then Mithralline slices the ghoul's leg off with her scythe. He goes down hard and doesn't get back up.
Mithralline snarls and kicks the corpse. Then she picks up the bracelet, considering.
Ceceka goes for another strike but reins himself in just before the blade would hit. "Bastard had it coming."
Aily helps her mistress to clean the dust and muck of the floor she had been recently put down on again "A stunning de-feat, my lady." she compliments in a deadpan voice.
Caraid cannot be bothered to fight Mithralline over a trinket - her whining would give him a headache so he simply ignores the issue and looks around the room instead, wondering whether this ghoul was the 'Poisoner' that seems to be at the heart of whatever this plot is...