Yrar roars upon seeing Shulim slump. “Now that I got my rhythm, you’re mine you rotting piece of sea scrap. Fudrick, Ghari and Shulim need you, but it is too late for this thing. Especially when I’m done with it.” The zombie begins to rise and Yrar sees an opening. Producing another deep, resonating roar, Yrar explodes into action with an overhead chop.
Roman, not seeing any nearby enemies, attempts to climb upon an urn , and sit there watching in waiting, in meditation.
(I'm on like round 6 for shillelagh, and it only lasts a minute which means im probably lost the rest of the use as the ugly one has ran away, I figure everyone will come down here when they get a chance)
strength check if you need it for climbing and sitting 6
Spot and Listen Check for my ugly friend 16, 19
Yoraal stands before Yrar. The hammer has not brought him low.
"Ghari and Shulim need,... what?!" Fazaam runs for the ladder and begins to climb it. He gets almost to the top and can see Yrar and the horribly disfigured Yorall squared off next to the hole.
"Whoa! I owe Ghar an apology, You ARE even uglier than before!" He exclaims. "But I'm glad your here, I've got a present I've been saving for you!"
Fazaam's usual grin fades as he gathers his will. His eyes gleamed as he focuses his will to a razor's edge in preparation to cast the one spell the pirate crew had never seen him cast. The spell he did not want them to know he could cast. Because it never missed. A single gleaming mote of energy formed in the palm of the hand that was not holding onto the ladder. It was no bigger than a marble but burned with white-hot radiance. Fazaam speaks softly, but with conviction.
'Shapak Shashara!'
The miniature sun turned into a bolt that shot from his palm, out the hole, made a sharp turn, and slammed into the side of the reanimated Yorall.
Fazaam only reaches the top of the ladder near the hole. Yoraal and Yrar stand right beside the hole, with the gnome between Yoraal's feet.
Tears streaming down his face, Fudrick, takes a look around the chamber. Trying to decide on where the journal could be hidden he is suddenly jolted back by the sounds of combat up top. He quickly runs to the ladder but not quick enough. Fazaam has started up and is blocking the way out. "Hurry up and get out of the way!", he yells at Fazaam.
Fudrick is fifteen feet below Fazaam.
. . . . . . . . . . . gurgle . . . .
Confidence growing with each swing, Yrar gives the zombie an evil smile, "Still standing eh? Give it up. From what I'm told, you sucked in life. Now you suck in death. JUST DIE ALREADY!" Yrar takes a great swing with his maul.
He quickly runs to the ladder but not quick enough. Fazaam has started up and is blocking the way out. "Hurry up and get out of the way!", he yells at Fazaam.
"Hang on!" FAzaam calls to both those above and below. To Fudrick he says. "Their blocking the exit! Hang on a sec,.."
The maul thuds into Yoraal's chest which tears flesh and shirt. Both hands come up for Yrar's throat, fingers hooked like claws.
Yrar ducks away from the zombie's grasp and gives a wicked smile, "Rottin' meat ain't touchin' me. I like my steak cooked."
As Yrar dances around the zombie, he bellows out a new song, "Ohhhhhhh, Dead meat, dead meat, You smell worse than my feet."
As Roman looks up out of the Chamber, he can see Fazaam at the top of the ladder. Fudrick is about halfway up the ladder at the moment.
ZZZZzzzzz[small]zzzz.[/small]
Ack. ~Cough~ Ack.
:)
Fazaam's usual grin fades as he gathers his will. His eyes gleamed as he focuses his will to a razor's edge in preparation to cast the one spell the pirate crew had never seen him cast. The spell he did not want them to know he could cast. Because it never missed. A single gleaming mote of energy formed in the palm of the hand that was not holding onto the ladder. It was no bigger than a marble but burned with white-hot radiance. Fazaam speaks softly, but with conviction.
'Shapak Shashara!'
The miniature sun turned into a bolt that shot from his palm, out the hole, made a sharp turn, and slammed into the side of the reanimated Yorall.
Fazaam slumps for a moment, beads of sweat visible on his forehead. He quickly recovers, looks up, and says, "Take that you sorry excuse for ballast!"
Fazaam glances down at Fudrick, "I've ben wanting to do that for weeks!"
As Fazaam's magic hits the Yoraal, he drops as if someone cut invisible strings attached to his limbs.
Another smoky shade pours from his mouth and dissipates in the breeze. Yoraal's body begins to ooze rancid black blood and his arms and legs collapse in on themselves.
“Ugggg-yuuuck,” Yrar grunts in disgust as the sewage-seeping zombie collapses to the ground. His gaze turns upward for a moment as he watches the shadowy form fade in the winds. Looking back down and using his maul, he shoves the body away from his unconscious companions and the hole to make room for Fazaam and the others.
He looks to the Elf, “Good magic. Felled him good.” Looking past Fazaam and down toward the hole, “Fudrick, you got some healing goods left?” the Half-Orc shouts. “You all alright down there?”
Yrar then kneels by his fallen companions and checks for breathing and open airways.
While administering help, he says quietly to his unconscious friends, "I am sorry lads. I failed you both. I should have crushed him a long time ago."
“Ugggg-yuuuck,” Yrar grunts in disgust as the sewage-seeping zombie collapses to the ground.
"You can say THAT again!" Fazaam grimaces as he finishes climbing to where he can see the remains. HE hops thru the hole, and rushes to check on Ghari.
He looks to the Elf, “Good magic. Felled him good.” Looking past Fazaam and down toward the hole, “Fudrick, you got some healing goods left?” the Half-Orc shouts. “You all alright down there?”
"Thank you." Fazaam replies, but instead of basking in the praise as you might expect, his focus is on Ghari. "Come on buddy, what are you waiting for? The work is over, you can get up now!" he says lightly, belying the concern on his face.
administering help, he says quietly to his unconscious friends, "I am sorry lads. I failed you both. I should have crushed him a long time ago."
"No!" Fazaam cries. "You did fine Yrar. We shouldn't have split up is all, or I should've stayed up here with you, teams of three,... " He slowly stops talking, obviously taking this just as hard as Yrar is.
Yrar's experience on board ship has taught that both Ghari and Shulim will start recovering in a matter of hours. The damage isn't serious. Had Yorall not lost his mouth then he may have bitten them badly. They were lucky from one point of view.
In fact Shulim should be up and about in the next hour or two.
Clambering up the ladder, Fudirck, surprised at the scene exclaims with fear, "Are they ... No I see them breathing, but it is very shallow." He bends to examine them. "They will be fine in a few hours time. I have used all of my major healing magicks already." Pointing to his pack on the ground, the visible shape of the urn inside, "I want to save that healing dirt for when we really need it." Nodding at Ghari and Shulim, "Lets get these two as comfortable as we can for now. Yrar, I hate to ask but can you get one of these others, Roman perhaps, to help you drag this disgusting, bloating corpse away. Far enough so the smell doesn't overpower us, but close enough for us to keep an eye on it? I don't want another surprise like we had at the camp." Standing, he takes a quick look at the setting sun. "It is nearly dark now so lets get a guard up so the rest of us can sleep in shifts. I want to check out the chamber below in the morning after we are all refreshed and have a bit of light to help us in there. Whatever is the cause of this is more than likely still around." Looking at Yrar, Roman, and finally at the unconcious Shulim, "Lets not forget the body by the shore is still unaccounted for."
After he is done he fields any questions, etc before helping to stabilize Ghari and Shulim, making them as comfortable as they can with limited resources.
Once everything is seen to and any other suggestions are made and followed up on he goes and stands near the lip to the hole into the chamber of urns.
"Cousin. I will not let your plight go unanswered. If there is anything that can be done to save you I vow to try until my last breath has been taken.
Fazaam nods at Fudrick's words, and lends a hand. While helping Yrar move the remains of the body (Carefully not touching it directly!) HE asks,
"Yrar, when Yorall finally fell, did I see what I thought I saw? A black cloud-like thing escaping from the remains? Because it looked very similar to what was coming out of the urns that we had to fight below."
After setting up for evening, Fazaam offers to take the first or last shift. "I don't need to sleep as you all do, I just need to rest for a few hours to gather my strength. I couldn't light a candle, magically, right now if my life depended on it. But not to worry, I still have my blade and my bow!" He says, flashing a charming grin. "And with me on watch, you get two eyes for the price of one! Don't they Hasan?"
At this, Hasan looks at Fazaam, hops off his shoulder, goes to a blanket, and pulls it over his head. Fazaam stares at Hasan, then grins large again.
"He loves to help, really." He says, smiling through clenched teeth. "Excuse me,..." He heads for the blanket. "Hasan! Get up you little,...!"
Roman eventually turns up topside, and helps out offering to take watch in the middle of the night. Roman before helping move the body, asks for knife and begins dismembering it.
Roman's Night Shift Spot 10 Listen 25 (Natural 20!)
Roman seems preoccupied by the dungeon looming below them, and the beast that was zatari.
Roman also keeps his distance from "The Unlucky One" and the monkey
Logos
Yrar nods to Fudrick and starts to work with the body, “You sure you don’t want me to burn this one?” The Half-Orc gives a half smile, but it turns into a grimace as he shifts uncomfortably around the waist area.
While working with Fazaam and Roman, he looks to the Elf Wizard, “Aye, I saw it. A black cloud thing. I didn’t like it. Not solid enough to smash.” While working, he watches the exchange between the Elf and the monkey. He just shakes his head and says, “Hey Elf, if he’s not gonna help, we could just eat ‘im.”
When needed, throughout the night Yrar sleeps and takes watch.
Fazaam and Hasan's Spot/Listen Rolls: (1d20+2=19, 1d20+2=18, 1d20+5=18, 1d20+5=9)
Fazaam glances at the recalcitrant monkey at Yrar's suggestion. "Don't tempt me,..." He says. Your pretty sure he's joking, mostly.
At the switch in the shifts, Fazaam lingers for a moment longer than necessary, and speaks softly to Roman in Elvish.
"Noble sea-dweller. This unworthy one offers his most abject apologies if he has offended you in the chamber. I merely sought to dissuade you from killing the creature, in hopes that Fudrick's cousin might be saved. His family is obviously important to him. Know that I meant no insult, or bear you any ill-will. I have nothing but respect for my cousins under the sea. Hunt well Sea-warrior."
Fazaam Salaams, gathers up the now sleeping Hasan, and makes his way to his pallet.
Assuming we get to the middle watch without incident.
Spoiler for Roman and any light sleepers:
Eventually, he gives up the task of cleaning as hopeless, thinking, "Maybe I'll find some clean water tomorrow."
He searches his sack for some bread. "Great Krackis, it's all got monkey spit on it."
Then he strides over to Roman. Speaking in a low tone, "Good morning, or is it? Do you have any food to spare for a poor victim of theft?"
If Roman gives him food, Ghari will thank him in the most gracious, overblown terms possible.
Whether Roman gives him food or not, Ghari asks, "How comes a noble son of the sea to join this landlocked quest?"
Roman Answer's
to ghari
to fazaam
Roman, being such a center of nighttime activity and conversation, amicably ends his shift, and goes to sleep, offering a small prayer to the deep, before soundly going to the last half of his sleep.
"Oh me bloody neck," Shulim mumbles at some point in the night, "feels like someone tried ta twist ter off . . ."
Shulim sits up and slowly glances around the camp, his neck is still very sore from the encounter with the zombie, and he twists at the waste more rather then strain his peck too much as he looks.
"We all among the living? No one joined the celestial choir?" Shulim asked whoever is currently awake.
Fazaam acknowledges Roman's reply with a bow of his head.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." A familiar voice taunts Ghari as he wonders where he can get something to eat. A smiling Fazaam walks into view, holding a small package of rations.
"The 'Great Woodland Warrior' my arse!" Fazaam smirks as he tosses the ration to Ghari. "You're supposed to be this great, legendary warrior of strength and skill. I should know, I made up the stories!" He complains, smiling at the memory of what got them into trouble with the pirates in the first place.
"I thought we had a deal. If you can't hold up your end of the bargain, I'm just gonna have to find myself a new ranger!" He says, hands on hips, trying not to smile. It takes him 5 seconds to give up the battle and pound Ghari on the back. "Sorry about the rations. I told Hasan to get something to eat, not to take a bite out of everything in your pack!"
Quickly he relates the basics of the battle below, (Skipping the part where a flying lid opened the second urn.) And the conclusion of the battle above. He mentions that the black cloud that escaped from Yorall looked a lot like the ones released from the urns. And he believes that they are spirits capable of possessing humanoids. "What they are doing in the urns, or how they got there, I don't know." He admits with a pout. "I still haven't made heads or tails of these runes yet."
"Fudrick said they found a body on the beach when they first arrived, and that it is still unaccounted for, but I think that may have been Yorall." Fazaam muses out loud. "But still, better safe than sorry, that's why the guard shifts. And since YOU got your beauty rest while the rest of us were fighting, you can take the next shift!" He grins.
"Nope. We're all still here good Shulim. Though it looked close for a moment." Fazaam replies softly from his pallet, where he is still halfway in the trance that passes for sleep among the elves. "Including master Yrar and his delightful, if off-key, limericks. At least, that's the only singing I've heard lately!" Fazaam chuckles, then falls silent as he slips back into his trance.
"I seem to spend more time on me back then the harem's favorite," Shulim mutters, "Why'm I always in the thick 'o things? Wouldn't hurt Yrar to get the tar knocked out a him once and a while. Why is it danger n'bad news always likes d'taste of ol' Shulim?"
Yrar wakes up at the mention of his name, "I am surprised he didn't try to choke me first just to get me to stop singing." The Half-Orc lets out a chuckle. It leaves quickly and he says, "Good to see you up and about. You had a tough last few hours." Looking around the camp then back to Shulim, "I guess we all did."
Yrar wakes up at the mention of his name, "I am surprised he didn't try to choke me first just to get me to stop singing." The Half-Orc lets out a chuckle. It leaves quickly and he says, "Good to see you up and about. You had a tough last few hours." Looking around the camp then back to Shulim, "I guess we all did."
"Maybe yer singing sounds good ta da undead. Maybe yer singing is relaxing ta dem. Must sound down right comforting next ta the wail o' da banshee."
Yrar laughs, "Then I guess I take my song to the grave. Probably where it belongs anyway." Yrar laughs again. "That guy over there though,” Yrar thumbs a meaty fist over to the cut up corpse of the zombie, “or at least what’s left of him, he's not invited."
Yrar laughs, "Then I guess I take my song to the grave. Probably where it belongs anyway." Yrar laughs again. "That guy over there though,” Yrar thumbs a meaty fist over to the cut up corpse of the zombie, “or at least what’s left of him, he's not invited."
"No worries mate," Shulim says as he slowly lays back down, "I ain't gonna invite em', and I doubt any o'da others will either. So da only way he's getting in is if he crashes da' party. Course he did that once, and he seems a rude fellow, personally I'd grind him ta burger and feed em' ta da pigs. Probobly give da pigs indigestion tho . . ." Shulim's voice drifts off as the gnome closes his eyes and tries to get a little sleep.
"I'd rather hear ya singing though," he mumbles, rolling over to find a more comfortable position, "easier on the ears den some of these monsters are on me body. Ol' Shulim ain't built fer dis abuse."
"I'd rather hear ya singing though," he mumbles, rolling over to find a more comfortable position, "easier on the ears den some of these monsters are on me body. Ol' Shulim ain't built fer dis abuse."
"I agree with your sentiments completely noble gnome." Fazaam's soft voice barely carries across the small camp.
A smiling Fazaam walks into view, holding a small package of rations.
Ghari accepts the package saying,"For the bounty of your beneficience, I am once again your grateful and humble servant." Then he smiles. "Next time I'll store the food in a wooden chest, with a BIG padlock."
Quickly he relates the basics of the battle below, And the conclusion of the battle above.
Ghari's tone is more sober, "Sounds like I owe you -- again. And Yrar and Shulim as well. I'll thank them in the morning."
"I still haven't made heads or tails of these runes yet."
"Fudrick said they found a body on the beach when they first arrived, and that it is still unaccounted for, but I think that may have been Yorall."
"What, a few scratches in stone are too great a mystery for the sorceror supreme? Surely the answers lies in the great warehouse of your mind. Misplaced in a small sack buried under a heap of collapse crates of arcane trivia. " ~grins, listens, chews, swallows, ~ "I don't think the body on the beach was Yoraal. We were still in the jungle when he was struck down. And he would have had to move fast to catch us up here. I fear there of more of the walking dead here."
"I'd rather hear ya singing though," he mumbles, rolling over to find a more comfortable position, "easier on the ears den some of these monsters are on me body. Ol' Shulim ain't built fer dis abuse."
Yrar laughs, "Then I guess I take my song to the grave. Probably where it belongs anyway." Yrar laughs again. "That guy over there though,” Yrar thumbs a meaty fist over to the cut up corpse of the zombie, “or at least what’s left of him, he's not invited."
Hearing Yrar and Shulim, Ghari comes over and bows low before crouching down. "Fazaam told me of the battle after Yoraal vanquished me. I owe you both a debt of thanks. My blade and bow are at your service in need."
"What, a few scratches in stone are too great a mystery for the sorceror supreme? Surely the answers lies in the great warehouse of your mind. Misplaced in a small sack buried under a heap of collapse crates of arcane trivia. " ~grins, listens, chews, swallows, ~ "I don't think the body on the beach was Yoraal. We were still in the jungle when he was struck down. And he would have had to move fast to catch us up here. I fear there of more of the walking dead here."
Fazaam beans Ghari with the wrapper from his own ration with a grin, then sobers. A most unusual look on this particular elf. "Yes, That is what I figured as well. The other was mostly wishful thinking."
He looks around. "I'll take another look at those arcane chicken scratches in the morning. Right now I need to rest to regain my strength. I don't think I've ever cast so many spells so closely together before. That was fun!" He says with a smirk to hide how tired he is.
But from their friendship Ghari knows that Fazaam loves to show off his swordmanship and athletic skills, and would only use that missile spell as a last resort. To not only resort to magic, but to exhaust himself doing so, That alone tells Ghari how desperate Fazaam was really feeling in the battle.
Hearing Yrar and Shulim, Ghari comes over and bows low before crouching down. "Fazaam told me of the battle after Yoraal vanquished me. I owe you both a debt of thanks. My blade and bow are at your service in need."
"Naw mate, tank Yrar, all I did was keep it's hands busy. Dat ugly son-b*&+! better be in hell now. Tell me doh mate, does dis witch gots many more like em'? Could make tings difficult gettn' da girl."
"Naw mate, tank Yrar, all I did was keep it's hands busy. Dat ugly son-b@@*~ better be in hell now. Tell me doh mate, does dis witch gots many more like em'? Could make tings difficult gettn' da girl."
"That place is too good for the likes of Yorall and his ilk." Fazaam responds softly. Then chuckles at the last half of Shulim's question.
"If you mean, 'More like him' in the sense of a 'lying, cheating, murderous psychotic b@$$tard', yes. She has plenty of those. If you meant in the sense of 'ugly, smelly, oily-black-blood oozing undead creature', then no. Thank the stars. I believe that was courtesy of whatever is currently trapped in those urns below."
"No, all we have to worry about as far as rescuing the fair maiden is a couple dozen psychotic cutthroats! NO problem that I can see." You can hear the grin in his voice.
"That place is too good for the likes of Yorall and his ilk." Fazaam responds softly. Then chuckles at the last half of Shulim's question."If you mean, 'More like him' in the sense of a 'lying, cheating, murderous psychotic b@$$tard', yes. She has plenty of those. If you meant in the sense of 'ugly, smelly, oily-black-blood oozing undead creature', then no. Thank the stars. I believe that was courtesy of whatever is currently trapped in those urns below."
"No, all we have to worry about as far as rescuing the fair maiden is a couple dozen psychotic cutthroats! NO problem that I can see." You can hear the grin in his voice.
"Dat's good," Shulim says, his eyes still closed, "tricky I can handle. Ol' Shulim can be very tricky indeed, never tangled with a sea witch 'afore though."
Shulim nods off to sleep. His blades close to his side.
<Begins dreaming of Beguiling Gnomish women>
Fazaam relaxes, fully in the zen-like state that most non-elves mistake for sleep. Meanwhile, Hasan quietly gets up from where he is 'sleeping' and slowly and silently makes his way to Ghari's pack,... again.
Marwan - this is in the main thread so that everyone knows the brief rest is over for me.
Three or four days ago Yoraal, Ghari and Fazaam were ordered to spy on the gnome explorer up the volcano. Zerea kept her vessel, the Sea Harem, anchored nearby to the isle of Shelitan.
Marwan managed to get chosen as part of the daily shore patrol meant to make contact with Yoraal by the seventh day. They also were to replenish the water and food supplies as best they could.
This morning’s patrol turned into a nightmare. Marwan went off to fetch fruits from the tangled and dark jungle. It was a great opportunity to have some alone time. Not easy on a packed ship. Then a muffled scream brought you back to the boat on the beach. Then a tall man is bedraggled robes was holding one of the crew off the ground. Suddenly his other arm all covered in suckers ripped open the man’s chest and he was dropped like a stone.
Another shambling figure was busying chewing the face off another pirate. Worse still was the strange pig animal with two strange tentacles on its back that was chasing down the last pirate.
The tentacled leader suddenly pointed and a bolt of black energy flexed out of his hand and cracked against the fleeing pirate twice. The pig zombie caught the falling body and ripped it up.
Marwan fled when he heard the man say, “I go to take the ship for myself. There is another in the jungle, get him. The awful pig squealed and well by then Marwan was gone.
Marwan ran all day towards the island’s centre and somewhere in the night reached the volcano. As dawn breaks, he wakes from a fractured sleep among tall grass several hundred feet below the summit of the volcano. He knows that the gnome explorer and his men were somewhere at the top from the scuttlebutt onboard the Sea Harem.
There is an obvious trail leading up to the top. Below in the bay, the Sea Harem still waits at anchor.
Patrick – for information and a description of the ruins at the top where the party are look at the game thread. It saves repetition.