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"This is very odd that the sun is setting, yet my eyes keep working the same," Tath says. He could also strangle Golthwur, and perhaps lose the body on this farm. "Do we want to go to this farm or should we continue on to the town? Hmm, we still have to sleep in this form. That might give us away. We'll probably to find somewhere secluded and sleep under the stars."
The town of Corpselight is virtually devoid of activity, its inhabitants mostly indoors going about their daily lives. In the various pens and corrals around town, however, shackled humans in tattered rags stand or sit in their own filth like poorly tended livestock. You realize that unlike most other farming towns throughout Golarion, Corpselight raises intelligent humanoids for use as food by the various forms of undead found throughout Geb.
As you near one of the pens, you see a slender, gaunt arm reach out. "Master, some water please. Or food." A young woman speaks, but even her plea has no energy, clearly not expecting any response.
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Khorshid is clearly feels insulted by the explanations although they are enlightening.
"Well ... ehh ... okay! Was not so important with the proto and all that!" he says defensively.
~
Later when they meet the woman he sighs.
"Someone please give her something to eat so she stops talking. This land is really not properly managed if people live under these conditions. Where is the security that people need? Where are the laws!?!?"
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Looking about and reflecting on his general knowledge of Geb and their laws wondering if providing food for the personages here would break a law.
The woman's eyes go wide at the sight of the rations and she grabs them, trying to hide them from anyone else. Luckily, most of the other humans in the pen don't seem to notice. Their eyes are glazed over and they make no sound or movement. It seems they long ago accepted their fate and now act and think like the cattle their owners treat them as.
The woman glances down at the rations and then back at Lancyn and Khorshid. "Masters, please some help for my father. He's ill and needs help. If he's sick, he may not be as fulfilling a meal for you." She points to an older man in the center of the pen, lying on the ground.
The pen is latched, but isn't locked. It would be simple for you to get inside.
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"Given the clear abundance of necromantic energies within this country and the severity of the man's plight, if he's sick enough to expire, this young woman may very well turn out to be an unfulfilling meal for him, rather than the other way around as she has suggested," Golthwur ponders aloud without regard as to who may hear his analysis or the impact it may have. "Of course, if these 'Masters' persistently permit such conditions, which are likely to result in the spontaneous creation of undead, to go unabated, it would have a profoundly adverse impact on the nation's food stock as the newly-spawned undead would ravage the living stocks quickly, penned up as they are, whilst they seek to satisfy their new-found, undead hunger. Therefore, one would think that such necromancers have some sort of measures in place to prevent such diminishment of their food stocks."
"The typical preventative measure would involve some infusion of positive energy." The wizard continues his vocal assessment in a scholarly tone. "Yet, such must almost certainly be discouraged, if not outright banned, within this nation due to the obvious detriment that it would pose to the nation's undead population. Quite, a fascinating conundrum, really."
Suddenly you hear yelling from both undead and living throats! Sounds of battle erupt through the town. A band of Pharasmin faithful race through, trying to cut down any undead they see. A trio spot you near the human pen, and they veer off from the main attack to destroy your group. The priest shouts, "Quickly, destroy them before they can hurt those people!" Two acolytes advance on you.
Khorshid
Blue
Green
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red
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Khorshid stares at one of the acolytes and shakes his rotten head.
“Big mistake … bad timing… you’ll regret that!!“
Khorshid then casts hideous laughter on the intimidated man and moves to the back on his not so living riding dog.
One of the acolytes' eyes widen as Khorshid scolds him, then he begins chuckling at the little undead creature. This blossoms into a full-blown laugh and he sinks down to his knees as it overcomes him.
"Some sort of fear effect that has messed with his mind!" The other acolyte races up to Khorshid and swings a heavy morningstar at him. The laughter from her friend distracts her and the attempt is pitiful.
As the initial contact wears off, the laughing acolyte begins to calm down. Still on the ground, he says, "Oh, just the look at that little undead trying to scare me, seemed funny at the moment..."
Khorshid
Blue
Green (shaken, prone)
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red
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Already feeling ruffled by the state of the humans in the pens Lancyn turns to the acolytes. Seeing their Black cloaks trimmed in Silver he recognizes the Pharasmian holy symbols hanging about their next and lets out a howl "Pharasmians! You dare attack us without reservation. Your ignorance is beyond incorrigible. But what should I expect from those who prostrate themselves before a god who does aught but hide the truth!!!" Lancyn bolts forward around Angela drawing his morning star as he moves brandishing it in a way as to subdue rather than deal moral wounds.
Swinging at the one hued in blue hoping his weapons connects to knock the smug Pharasmian down a peg or too.
The lead acolyte dodges strike from Laycn, while the one on the ground yells as Tath slams him with the Naginata.
Khorshid
Blue
Green (shaken, prone) -18
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red
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"Oh, the follies of the living, am I right?" sighs Golthwur. The presently undead wizard casts a spell covering two of the Pharasmins in a smattering of golden particles.
Cast glitterdust on green and red; Will (DC 17) to negate blinded
The acolyte screams as his world suddenly goes dark. He shouts out, "They've cursed us!" The priest, meanwhile says, "Pharasma, save us!"
Round 1
Khorshid
Blue (blind)
Green (shaken, prone) -18
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red (blind)
Angela's spear scrapes across the Pharasmin armor, but doesn't punch through it.
"Faisul, Alexis?! Careful, they have magic!" The priest rubs at his eyes and tries to blink away Golthwur's magic. When he looks back up his eyes are clear. The priest pulls out a vial of holy water and opens it. He sprays it out in an arc towards you. "You will tremble at the presence of the Lady of the Graves!"
The air around everyone except Golthwur seems to thicken and slightly burn your throats. It's not actually harmful, but it's extremely unpleasant as you feel positive energy fill the area.
Khorshid
Blue
Green (shaken, prone, blind) -18
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red
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Khorshid takes a 5 ft step back and suddenly spits dragon acid in 60 ft line on the warriors in green and red.
Khorshid's breath sears the one on the ground, while the priest shields his face, but then shouts, "It's not real! They are trying to trick our minds!"
The one acolyte gets to his feet, though he is blind, burned and battered badly. He fumbles for a potion on his belt, hoping for some recovery.
"Look out!" The other one moves to attack Tath and protect his priest. Tath easily dodges the blow and the morningstar whistles by harmlessly.
Khorshid
Blue
Green (blind) -24
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red
Golthwur's wand strikes true, causing one of the acolytes to grunt. She watches Tath hit the priest with the flat of his blade and winces, though she points to Tath. "Kuryn, I've never seen undead attack not to kill..."
Khorshid
Blue -5
Green (blind) -24
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red -20
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Angela's nearly completely white eyes shoot up at the realization that these people have no bloody clue what the hell they are doing. She leans in and pulls out the Wayfinder she normally leaves handing from her longspear, but hid for this mission. "WELL, there's a reason that Muy Tath there isn't trying to strike you down dead." She leans a little closer into Blue, flashing her Wayfinder at him, a grin that might be best described with creepy or unnerving on her face. "We're Pathfinders in disguise as undead for a mission to retrieve a missing agent. Lancyn there shouting obscenities about the Lady of Graves is actually a full fledged Paladin. But you have to keep this quiet or our lives would be forfit."
"You hear that?! Pathfinders that have been risen from the dead! We can put their souls to rest and the Society will thank us!" The priest shouts to his acolytes.
Khorshid
Blue
Green (blind) -24
Angela
Lancyn
Golthwur
Tath
Red
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Grabbing the Bridge of his nose briefly with his shield arm Lancyn begins to shake his head. "All that Angela, my fellow Pathfinder, says is true." dropping his morning star to the muck covered ground Lancyn draws his longsword granted to him by Iomedae and shouts "Perhaps this will help you idiotic philanderers understand the truth of the situation. Iomedae my goddess Grant me your strength. Help those who stand before us bare witness to your Light of truth." as he holds his weapon in hand high above his head he calls upon the power bestowed upon him by Iomedae herself casting light upon this blade, its power shines brightly near double the normal distance on would expect.
The priest scowls at Lancyn. "Any simple magic user can do that. Even proto-liches can make light. But we'll see what your undead words are worth!" Kuryn steps forward near Tath and holds up his holy symbol. A flash of light erupts searing your undead flesh.
As he sees your pallid flesh sizzle and burn, he shouts at you. "Liars!"
Khorshid (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Blue
Green (blind) -24
Angela (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Lancyn (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Golthwur
Tath (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Red
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A chart caster can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier.
Khorshid again spits dragon acid in 60 ft line on the warriors in green and red.
He then moves away.
The blinded acolyte catches the acid full in the face and drops. The priest stands firm, not believing Khorshid's magic. The other acolyte continues to try and bring Tath down, but his morningstar bounces off his armor.
Khorshid -9
Blue
Green (blind) -36
Angela (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Lancyn (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Golthwur (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Tath (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Red
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Gritting his teeth and bearing the full force of the channel Lancyn steps around in between Angeala and the Acolyte dressed in blue in order to position himself opposite of Tath and their horse. "It seems our words fall upon the ears of those who would rather remain closed minded Angela. Now is the time for action!"
Swinging his sword Lancyn attempts to knock the Acolyte in blue down.
Lancyn smacks the acolyte with the flat of his blade and she yelps, though it will only leave bruises instead of killing her. "They're really trying hard not to kill me, Kuryn! It's like sparring in the training yard!"
Khorshid -9
Blue -6
Angela (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Lancyn -18
Golthwur (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Tath (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Red
Unlike Lancyn, Golthwur unleashes deadly arcana magic and a bolt slams into the acolyte.
Khorshid -9
Blue -10
Angela (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Lancyn -18
Golthwur -18
Tath (-18 or Will DC 21 for half)
Red
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Angela gives an inadvertent hiss at the light and healing of the channel energy. "Abadar's Golden Scales, never thought I be on the wrong end of a HEALING channel energy!"
She rolls her eyes at the simple logic that the pharasmaites use and flourishes her longspear around a few times, jabbing and feinting to help Tath smack the man in blue around. "I mean if we were to disguise ourselves and not pass a basic negative/positive energy test, we'd be poorly disguised. I really ought to write your church a strongly worded letter about how stupidly single-minded and aggressive their parishioners are! What branch do you go to? The Lady of Bones in Alkenstar? Or one of the Bone Palaces from Holomog?"
Tath uses Angela's help to slam the Naginata into the woman's face. She drops like a sack of meat. He turns and tries to hit the priest, but he avoids the blow easily.
The priest steps away from Tath and points a finger at Lancyn. "Die, walking dead!" Light like the power of the sun shoots out and slams into him. It does not, however, burn away his flesh.
The priest stares at Lancyn, lowering his hand. "What the devil? That should have cooked you completely. Maybe...maybe you're telling the truth?"
Khorshid -9
Blue -30
Angela -18
Lancyn -28
Golthwur -18
Tath -18
Red
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Angela just shakes her head and moves closer to the priest. "I see that sun is finally dawning in that face. You should try and listen to people when they talk. I mean I have a personally engraved Wayfinder AND my pathfinder ID which both identify me as myself."
She studies the man for a second as she berates him before feinting out with her longspear.
The priest relaxes. "My apologies, you don't know what things undead mouths can spew when you're fighting them. I thought these were more lies to trap us. I'm Kuryn Jexel. Please, help me with Alexis and Faisul." He leans down to touch one of the acolytes and heals him.
"You said you were Pathfinders. I would actually like to see those wayfinders and ID. But why are you here in this forsaken place?" He watches you carefully.
Kuryn barely notices Golthwur muttering to himself. He leans down and heals Alexis, helping her stand up. Both of the acolytes grabs their weapons but stand at ease, looking back and forth between Kuryn and the Pathfinder undead.
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As the adrenaline rush begins to back down Lancyn sheathes his longsword and goes over to collect his morning star and clips it back into its holder. Begrudgingly Lancyn barks back "Now that you failed in your objective of taking a life before your goddess deems it the right time you finally see reason and truth." Standing at ease outside of being flambéed alive lancyn flicks his wrist releasing the wand of Inflict Light Wounds hidden in his Spring loaded Wrist sheath. In a slight growl Lancyn presents the wand to the priest "Not one to make hasty assumptions of another Kuryn Jexel. Might you be so inclined and able to make use of this wand of Inflict Wounds upon myself and the others around us to heal the harm done this day? It's power is waning and I'd rather ensure its power is utilized before expending any of our other resources." looking at the wand in his hand the Paladin realizes some explanation may be needed, "Do no fear of causing further harm as the magics worked upon us giving us this guise will ensure the negative energies will restore us."
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Angela reaches down to grab her small purse and wallet fishing out her ID and hands it and her Wayfinder over for a second. "Here you go. I can recite the entirety of that card if you want further proof." She does stand close enough to slash out if they decide to run with her things though.
After getting back her identification, she gladly grabs up Lancyn's wand. "Truly wish I could make inflict infusions, but they're not something that codifies well, and few have tried."
She gives a flick of the wrist in reverse of what she'd normally try with a Cure wand.
Angela -18
Lancyn -24
Golthwur -18
Tath -18
Angela is able to activate the Inflict Light Wounds wand and a small bit of Lancyn's dead flesh knits together in a horrific way. It's not like healing at all; more like semi-dried dough being pressed together.
Kuryn steps up to look at Angela's credentials. Alexis looks over his shoulder at them too, then whispers something to him. The priest nods, looks over to Khorshid and then back to the identification, sighing. "Well, I want to say that whatever you Pathfinders are playing at in Geb, it's damned dangerous. This place is filled with hateful and dangerous undead who will kill a living being if they so much as smell you. And some can be effective liars and weasels too. But you deserve the truth."
He takes a wand out to finish healing himself and his acolytes. You get the sense that he's stalling. He finally turns to you and shakes his head. "I think we know your Pathfinder. We encountered a band of undead roaming the land a few weeks ago. It seemed much like similar ones we dispatch all the time during our raids. We cut them down only to realize afterwards that they might have been living creatures instead. One carried a wayfinder hidden in his belongings. I bet it was him."
Kuryn nods, although he gives a small grimace. "Yes, I'm glad you understand. Regrettable, but it was bound to happen in that guise."
At Khorshid's question, he glances at the acolytes, but they merely shrug. "No, anything that was with him we buried with the body. We encountered him in the swamp about a mile south of the town. It's not far from an Urgathoan temple atop a hill. They seemed to be heading that way, which was part of why we cut them off. Do you know why they would have been seeking out a vile undead temple?"
Kuryn offers to use any wands on you for your 'healing'.
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As the effects of the pushing of soft dough fades Lancyn turns to Kuryn intending to ask a question but hesitates in patience waiting for Khorshid to finish their question.
Cupping his undead visage with his fist at his chin Lancyn thinks for a moment then speaks "I cannot say to the exact reasons as to why they were heading to a temple of the Lady of Despair but I can tell you that it was of extreme import as we have been tasked to follow-up and locate the missing Pathfinder." in a brief moment of reflection Lancyn asks "Might you be willing to forward a message along to your troops both ahead and behind, that our party is here and we are only seeking to fulfill out mission set upon us by the Society? Also, when you buried the group did you leave markers or shall we need to keep an eye out for fresh churned dirt?