A moment of clarity strikes Xeur and he looks at the priestess solemnly.
”Tell me about Pharasma, and what you think my connection to her is Sylla.”
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Lady Sylla arranges her robes and takes a seat in the field, making herself comfortable. ”Pharasma, The Lady of Graves, is considered by many to be the goddess of death, but she is much much more. She is also the goddess of birth and prophecy. From the moment a creature is born, she sees what its ultimate fate will be, but reserves final judgement until that soul finally travels the River of Souls to her Boneyard. Pharasma makes no decision on whether a death is just or not; she views all with a cold and uncaring attitude, and decides on which of the Outer Planes a soul will spend eternity. She abhors those who would cheat fate or steal life. Though associated with death she considers undead a perversion and commands her follows seek out and destroy them.”
Pointing to the sword Xeur now carries, she says, ”That is the Sword of the Kingdom of Damorland. The symbol of the realm’s ruler. With Lord Midon sent to Pharasma’s Judgement I am afraid we have left Damorland in chaos. Now we need to seek his heir and set things right.”
”What does it mean if I am the Immortal Hero of Pharasma?”
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”Well, it doesn’t mean you will live forever, or that you cannot die.” Lady Sylla explains with a sad smile. ”It means that you will be reborn after your death. Reincarnated into a different form to serve the will of fate. We have met a few times in my life. Each time you were different, and temporarily weakened, yet you remembered who you were. I do not know why this time is different. This battle with Lord Midon was terrible. I saw you fall three times before we were separated and it took me a while to find you again in this form. Perhaps it was too many rebirths in quick succession.”
”What must be done now Lady Sylla?”
”Well, we need to find Lord Midon’s heir and return the Sword of Damorland.” Lady Sylla stands and rummages around in a haversack she carries, turns it over and dumps out a pile of poles, rope, stakes, and canvas. ”But first, I need a nap. Would you be so good as to set up this tent while I prepare some food?”
Xeur looks around once the Tent is up. He says nothing, lost in contemplation of Lady Sylla’s reveal. He knows he can just do as guided, but something tells him to seek out his own truth. He waits until Sylla is asleep, and travels to the highest vantage point he can find within close distance, to survey a greater portion of the land he is in.
Taking his time it takes Xeur about an hour to set up the tent. By that time Sylla has prepared some basic food, mostly bread and cheeses with an apple. After eating Sylla produces some basic furniture from her haversack to provide sleeping cots, a small desk and chair, and a fuzzy sheepskin rug. Curling up the Lady is soon asleep, and Xeur takes his walk, heading toward a hill he can see a short distance off.
Making his way from the clearing, Xeur enters a woodland filling a glen between the clearing and the hill. The place is peaceful, and quiet.
Too quiet...
Even at night there should be the sounds of some wildlife. A wing on the air, a scamper across leaves, the chitter or hoot of nocturnal birds. But here there is nothing.
Suddenly Xeur sees a light bobbing among the trees, drawing closer.
With no small amount of haste, Xeur runs back to the camp.
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Xeur turns and begins running back toward camp and notices other lights in the forest. A pair suddenly veer toward him and out of the darkness comes a shambling corpse with glowing eyes!
INITIATIVE
INITIATIVE
Xeur
Zombies
Xeur looks at the Undead and says, ”So be it Lady of Graves. Let us see if I truly am your servant. I will send these creatures to their fate as you wish, and pray that you will restore the memories I have lost.”
Xeur Attacks The Undead Zombies!
Xeur attacks with a kick that takes the zombie square in the chin. The blow is even more powerful than he expected, shattering the thing’s jaw and sending teeth flying. But the zombie is also tougher, and quicker, than he expected, lunging to grab and pummel the tiefling.
Meanwhile, other shambling forms move into sight.
INITIATIVE
Xeur (7/13)
Zombies (melee -9, 1 more zombie arriving in 2 rounds)
Knowing that he won’t be able to take on a hoard of undead, Xeur attempts to slip passed them into the clear, and then lead them to Lady Sylla.
Xeur tries to tumble by the zombie, but he’s not quite fast enough to completely avoid the undead. His shield, however, is strong enough to take the hit.
Running off he quickly puts the slow moving creature behind him, but in avoiding other shambling corpses emerging from the trees he is forced through a gully where he finds himself cut off by two more ahead!
Xeur once again attempts to slip past the Zombies!
Xeur runs directly toward the zombies, then leaps right, kicks off the gully wall, and flips right over them!
Running on...
The way ahead is blocked by fallen trees and rubble!
Xeur leaps and pushes past the trees and rubble, still trying to lead the Zombies towards Sylla.
Unable to get past, Xeur braces himself seeing the Zombies closing. He attempts to climb past one more time.
”Pharasma. Let us see what your will is.”
Xeur, unable to get passed, places his back against the barrier and prepares for battle.
”So be it Lady of Graves. I will send these abominations to you, or die in your service.”
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Xeur’s grip slips, then looses his footing! Sprawling on the ground the zombies shamble closer... and closer..
Grabbing at tree limbs Xeur pulls himself up, then again. The task is easier than he expects, and it feels as if he is stronger than when he first awoke on the battlefield. But luck is not with him.
As he grabs the third branch, it cracks and comes free in his hand!
He bounces off a the trunk and slides down to the ground as a zombie closes in.
The creature lunges forward and slams into Xeur’s magic shield, but is unable to get past it.
Xeur targets the nearest Zombie and smashes it in the skull with a palm!
"To Pharasma with you!"
Xeur definitely feels empowered in his strike as the zombie rocks back from a blow that completely dislodges its jaw. But it is not yet defeated and you feel like bludgeoning attacks might not be as effective as a blade or axe.
It tries, and fails again to get to Xeur with its filthy rotting fingers. Behind it another zombie shambles slowly closer.
Xeur keeps the pressure up and kicks the undead thing in the ribcage!
Xeur’s kick shatters the zombie’s skull, splattering brains across the gully wall. It falls back lifeless.
Xeur uses this chance to try to get ahead of the Zombies again!
Having pulled free all the weak branches Xeur scrambles up and over the debris.
Coming over the other side, he finds himself on the ridge of the gully among the trees, but another zombie ahead turns and looks at him with glowing eyes.
Xeur attempts to circle around the Zombie!
Xeur can circumvents the undead, returning to the trail on the far side. Ahead he hears Sylla’s voice calling in the distance.
”Xeur!? Xeuuuur?!”
"Xeur?!" Sylla's voice echoes oddly, and Xeur has a hard time telling what direction it comes from.
As you make your way through the trees a small group of zombies staggers out from some bushes ahead. You turn to circle around and find them closing in all around. Then you notice an old dead tree to your left and realize you might be able to push it over onto them.
Xeur dives past the growing crowd of zombies and continues his frantic escape.
”Xeur!? Xeuuuuuuur!?”
Hearing Sylla’s voice again he soon comes upon her further up the trail.
”Xeur! What are you doing in the forest! You know that it’s haunt... oh... OH! You don’t remember!”
Meanwhile, the zombies have caught up, and begin shambling out of the trees toward you. Sylla does not seem to notice them.
"Nice...," Xeur mutters to himself. "I brought Pharasma a gift Lady Sylla!"
Xeur gestures at the Zombie horde approaching from behind him.
"Shall we?" He asks as he rejoins the Cleric, raising his fists in the direction of the Undead.
"Oh, you don't..." Sylla begins to says, then seems to reconsider. "Well, I suppose this would be a good opportunity to see what you can really do."
Sylla touches Xeur's shoulder and heals his cracked ribs.
The zombies shamble forward, two in the lead of a larger group.
Xeur wastes no time, coming in quickly on the first zombie!
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Sylla makes a squeak of surprise at Xeur’s fumbling attack. ”Oh dear. I think we have a lot of work to do. You should know a blade is much more effective against this sort of walking dead.”
The zombies reach for the tiefling...
”You don’t say! You wouldn’t happen to have one on you would you?!”
”Well, no. But I think in dire situations like this it might be ok for you to use the Kingsword.” She gestures to the bastard sword you took from King Midon.
Meanwhile the zombies continue their slow assault, a third joining the melee after Xeur breaks one’s nose.
One zombie lands a blow, but it isn’t enough to slow Xeur down, and he notices that Sylla flinches when the blow lands. It seems she is still connected to your health from the magic she used in the battle hours before.
”As you wish Lady Sylla,” Xeur says as he finally pulls the magic sword.
Xeur drops his shield to wield the Kingsword.
Xeur feels the weight of both the magic sword and his unfolding destiny being revealed before him.
Following Sylla’s advice Xeur draws the Kingsword. It feels heavy and wrong in his hands, as if reluctant to aid him, but the tiefling’s strength wrestles it into an arc that connects with the nearest zombie. With a flash of light the undead corpse is cut in half!
While distracted by the reaching hands of one zombie Xeur takes a hit from the second.
Sylla grunts again. ”Ow.” Taking a wand from her sleeve she heals Xeur.
”Clearly Pharasma’s loyal suffer for her will,” Xeur states flatly.
Xeur targets the next Zombie and unleashes the power of the Kingsword!
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”Indeed!” Sylla replies without sarcasm, and steps out of the way of an approaching zombie. A few others shamble closer, but seem only interested in Xeur. It’s like they can’t see Sylla at all.
Xeur slashes down another zombie, the job suddenly very easy with a weapon like the Kingsword.
The zombie slams at Xeur, but misses, and another closes to melee.
Xeur slashes at the next Zombie!
Xeur swings and somehow misses. Briefly off-guard he makes an easy target for the zombies.
”Ow.. owwww!” Sylla jumps with each hit. ”Have you had enough? Should we end this now?”
Xeur was nearly knocked unconscious, but her healing wand keeps him in the fight.
Meanwhile, another zombie arrives, and two more stumble out of the trees in the distance.
”As you wish Lady,” Xeur says as he withdraws from the Zombies. He moves to stand next to Sylla, sword raised on guard!
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Sylla raises a hand and a glowing symbol appears on her palm. A moment later a brilliant flash lights the area. As it fades the zombies wither and crumble to dust.
”There we go!” She slaps her hands together, then turns and walks back toward the clearing. ”Let’s gather our supplies and eat some breakfast. Then we can decide where to go next.”