Bring Me To Life
Log Info
- Title: Bring Me To Life
- Emitter: Aftershock
- Characters: Paenitia, Percy, Skielstregar, Smuldur, Vaera
- Place: A khazadi vilage near Alexandria
- Time: Thursday, December 09, 2021, 5:55 PM
- Summary: It seems that a sleepy village on the edge of Alexanria is having some difficulties with zombies. But that's not all that's going on in this remote location! Bring Me to Life! Take Me to Church! The adventurers are briefed on the situation by the local gnome priest, although he is more of an elected functionary than an actual cleric. Zombies have arisen and wander the cemetary, and he'd like something done about that. They are local, and only active at night, and don't leave the compound. It shouldn't be difficult. There is a complication, a woman struggling with childbirth and in need of aid. The priest and Paenitia go to address that while the others examine the cemetary. The difficulty is one that could be resolved with a knife or some elbow grease, and the paladina selects the second as Tarien doesn't actually give her any paladin mercies. Fortunately, she's a skilled healer. At the cemetary, the others are confronted by seven dwarf zombies, ambling around an unmarked grave. They enter and are attacked. Percy is hesitant, these were once living beings, and locals, and cared for. It seems wrong to beat in the head of a beloved grandparent. The others assure her, sometimes dead is better, especially when they're supposed to be dead, swing away. Vaera is accurate with her thunderbelcher while Skielstregar rages and rips the dwarfs asunder. Smuldur, likewise, puts them down with fire. Finally, the zombies are down. Paenitia rejoins the group as they open the tomb to discover a sleeping beauty. At which point, the gnome interrupts, threatening to kill them. They counter, that most of this seems to be accidental necromancy and perhaps he won't hang for kidnapping. The gnome, an admitted wizard of Thul, runs off, and is aprehended by Vaera. She will bring him to justice.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-= Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Smuldur 3'4" 45 Lb Goblin Male A gently used (cut, scraped, burnt, exploded) gobber. Percy 5'5" 121 Lb Dawn Elf Female An expressive llyranesi with a big blade. Vaera 7'0" 262 Lb Sith-Makar Female A tall, dark red Makari with a wooden leg. Skielstregar 7'2" 330 Lb Sith-Makar Male A tarnished bronze scale with fangs and empty eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aftershock It's what comes after... -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It's dark, and bitterly cold outside, so you're somewhat grateful to be inside. The church that you're inside is manned by a single priest. A gentlegnome named Linkin. His last name is a cocophany of noises that is almost impossible to repeat. He wrings his hand and looks at you nevously. "I didn't know who else to call. The local cemetary has been rising up every night! So far no ones been hurt, they just kind of wander around inside the fenced area."
Skielstregar, a massive, imposing bronze scale, bobs his head, cowled by a hood and a cloak wrapped around him. "Well.... thisss one findsss it ssstrange the dead is risssing, yet they do not ssseek elsssewhere to be," he rumbles, wringing his hands as well. "How long hasss thisss been happening...?"
One of those inside the church is a halfling knight, a waist-high armoured sentinel in red, with a wide brimmed hat, and a cloak of peacock feathers. White, so she will blend in with the snow, with spatterings of crimson in case she enters battle.
Her face is obscured by the visor of her armour, which is a mask of a stylized man's face, distorted by a wide grin.
"It is good you call us." She gestures at Skielstregar, "we have the knowledgeable specialists. Now, the dead, they are from this village? They are known to some. Do the living relatives have... requests?"
Neither the chilliest cold nor the coldest chill can defeat the power of Torchie! Smuldur holds its burninating warmth and light on high to be shared with all. His other hand scratches his chin at this news. "Got bored with graves, move around to pick new ones! If not enough left, last one without must go another place!" He has a number of theories. They may even be good ones.
A request was a request within reason, and where work was to be done there was coin to be made. Not to mention that leaving undead wandering around was not a good idea in the slightest. So Vaera had joined the group that had assembled in the church, checking over her weaponry as she did. "Undead don't rise without a reason. But them only coming out at night and returning is strange enough. Yes, Paenitia has the right of things. How are we expected to deal with it?"
Big blue eyes darted around the church and found their way to the nearest window, Percy did her best to stay far away from the windows while staring into the dark night through the church's apertures. She held her sword defensively in case things go south, she stood her ground strong but clearly wasn't as stable with how she felt as cold sweat fell down her face. Slowly gathered herself and pulled her hair up into a bun rather than the ponytail she normally would. "Has the undead attacked anyone yet, non the less make any hostile gestures?"
"Three nights." Offers the priest slowly, clearly unhappy. "I'd have called sooner but... I was hoping it'd go away."
The gnome sighs and looks at Paenitia. "The dead are from here, at least we assume they are. Not many other dwarves in this area and the zombies are clearly dwarven. Though we haven't gotten close enough to identify them as who they were. Really... We just want them laid to rest. However that needs done."
The priest glances toward one of the windows. "I really should be heading off myself, the dead will be rising any moment now and I need to protect the people should they get out." He lets his gaze linger on Smuldur a moment then shakes his head. He has no idea what's causing the dead to rise, but he clearly doubt it's for a game of musical graves. "As I said, they haven't left the fenced area of the graveyard yet. I'm not sure they're smart enough to figure out the gate. So they haven't had a chance to attack anyone yet." This last to Percy.
Skielstregar gives a solemn nod. "Very well," he sighs, a hand reaching back to brush against the hilt of his halberd. "We shall take care of it."
Fortunately for the villagers, the valiant problem-solvers ARE smart enough to figure out a gate. Smuldur is mostly sure of that. He nods three times to the priest. "You protect, we put back down. To rest!" The nodding carries as he looks to the others.
"Okay." Paenitia says, nodding towards the gnome priest. "Do you mind we take a look around, borrow the holy water from the baptismal font? The dead do not often get up without the help, the necromancy may be hiding in the forgotten sarcophagus."
The little knight has faced her fair share of undead, some were rather conversational. This prompts another thought, "The sleep during the day is more like the vampire. The Zombie just slow go all day and night."
Her voice becomes oddly serious, "I ask you do not let the locals come watch. It may be the upsetting thing to see us hit the grand pa or ma."
"Yes, at the very least, stopping them from reanimating will solve the problem here, but not the root of it, whatever that might be." Vaera nods as she collapses her thunderbelcher and stows it back into her coat. "That they are all only dwarves is strange, and a bit concerning however. And it does not solve that. Perhaps something happened to the dwarven families living here? Or a wizard testing on them specifically? All unpleasant, but something may have happened."
Percy began to pace slowly in circles getting faster and faster as she mumbled to herself. "What's the population of this town? Not counting the undead of course. Has anybody gone missing before this happened? Anyone at all, homeless, orphans, even somebody most people wouldn't notice?" She stopped her pacing at the last question and attempted to push back the strands of hair in her face, though it was unsuccessful. she began to get more and more frustrated with the strands and gave up, she picked up her sword and placed it in her sheath.
"The population is pretty small. Nobody's gone missing, or I'd have noticed. As for holy water, I'm more an elected official than an actual priest. I have no holy power; I just lead the folks in prayer." The priest responds to Percy, a bit embarrassed then nods to the rest of you, clearly trusting you to do your work, and begins to head for the front door when one of the townsfolk - a dwarf, enters into the church in a panic. "Priest! Malinda's giving birth! The midwife is at a loss because the baby isn't coming! They sent me to get you!"
The priest's eyes widen. "But I've no experience birthing babies!" He looks at the lot of you half-hopefully. "Do any of you know anything of the healing arts? Something that might be of aid?"
Smuldur is certain that the proper application of explosives is also appropriate to childbirth...
GAME: Paenitia rolls sense motive: (18)+13: 31
He's being honest - right up until the bit about the missing person. He was a little quick to answer that one. It's fairly certain that he thought of someone, but didn't want to say.
Skielstregar gives another lofty sigh. "Very well," he repeats. "We shall go then before anything odd arisesss-"
Blink blink. "... uh... n... no.. thisss one doesn't..." he mumbles, his polearm already in his hand as he rests his weight on it.
GAME: Vaera rolls sense motive: (2)+6: 8
He seems on the up and up.
GAME: Paenitia rolls knowledge/local: (9)+11: 20 GAME: Percy rolls knowledge/local: Trained Use Only: 0
Something in the priest's response makes Paenitia tilt her head. Her expression, as always, is obscured by her grinning mask. She's about to pursue this further when they are interrupted by good news! Good news and terrible news.
A baby is coming! And it isn't!
"I have the little skill with these things," She volunteers, glancing at her comrades, "You will be able to handle the graveyard while I look at this? I will not be far, yell loudly I will come."
She looks at the priest, "Do you have the healing kit supplies? We should make the haste."
"Then it sounds like you need a proper priest here to keep things in order. Someone sent from the temple of the death singing dragon perhaps, or most, as they would be able to stop such events from happening in the first place." Vaera suggests. "Many make it their lives to quelling such issues, but for now, the safety of those here comes first."
She looks over and raises a brow, but nods to Paenitia. "If you have it in hand, I will trust you with such. If anything starts happening, well, you will likely be able to hear me wherever you may be."
Torchie does all. Torchie knows all. Smuldur looks at Torchie, carrying the question about healing to the one that would know. Torchie flickers in a shrug, at least as far as Smuldur can tell. That answers that.
Smuldur then answers Paenitia. "Yes! We handle old and dead, you get new and alive!" He then moves next to the big cloaked lizard, stands a little straighter, and gets ready to head out.
Taking a deep breath she approached the door with her sword ready, again. Percy put on her brave heroic smile widely on her face. " Well you know what they say! Gotta take a leap of faith, You never know until you try! So let's see for ourselves if they are aware enough to be hostile!" She straightened her things nervously and let her hair down to a ponytail; she herself wasn't completely ready to deal with the undead. She muttered under breath assuring herself it's as ready as she'll ever be.
With that, the group of you head toward the cemetary while the priest, looking more shame-faced than ever after Vaera's comment and Paenitia head toward the house where the woman is giving birth. Paenitia quickly comes face-to-face with a dwarven woman in the midst of screaming at the room in general.
In the House
Paenitia steps into a room full of screaming, and rises to the challenge, taking charge and loudly calling back, announcing herself in an excessively cheerful manner. "Hola! I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, Knight of the Pillar and Paladina of Tarien. Angoron, he is not available, so instead is the assistance from his traveling friend's follower, the knight with the man's face."
"Most important," she strips off her guantlets, "I have the smallest hands in the room."
"You, hot water and towels. You, the sterile knife. You, unbuckle my armour sleeves, then we adjust how she sits." The little knight starts ordering the occupants around, the priest included, as she opens up the borrowed healer's kit and goes through the supplies. The grinning mask faces the woman in labour, "I have the painkillers, but you are the strong woman. Do you want them?"
Everyone hops to listening to Paenitia, aside from the midwife who informs her that the woman has had the maximum amount of painkillers which are allowed for childbirth. The priest eagerly helps divest Paenitia of her arm-guards, and everyone else does the job that they were alloted.
GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+4: (8)+13+4: 25 (+4 for 1/2 cav levels for heal on others.)
The baby is trying to come out sideways rather than head-first. The midwife probably knows this but doesn't want to admit that this is extremely bad news for baby and mother alike. You can try to move the baby, but your best option at this point would actually to be to try and cut the baby out of the mother. This wouldn't be good news for the mother, but you've got lay-on-hands so you might be able to heal her.
Aftershock pages: Okay! Roll a separate heal check for turning the baby then! GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+4: (15)+13+4: 32 Aftershock pages: That's a success! Congrats!
Divested of armour enough to work, Paenitia is quickly able to determine the problem. A quick glance at the midwife suggests she knows too. It is bad news. The baby is coming out sideways. It might be humorous bragging rights in the future, right now it is deadly serious for both mother and baby.
At this point the best option would be to cut the baby out. Not good news for the mother, but the paladina can use her mercies to lay on hands and bring her through it.
Except, that is the punchline.
Paenitia doesn't have that ability. Tarien makes her work for it. Somewhere, he might be laughing. "Do not watch, I need turn the baby." She sets in to do so. Khazadi are strong, she is determined, and with assistance and some muscle relaxant is able to do so.
The rest the dwarf woman should be able to manage, and the little lucht steps back to observe and be on hand if she's required further.
Not far away at the cemetery
The screams of the woman are distant, but audible. The rest of party finds themselves not far away the cemetary. All is not asleep there at the moment. There are in fact seven dwarven zombies roaming around the cemetary.
Skielstregar passes off a kit to Paenitia as they part ways, it having been lightly used before.
The makari man huffs a gout of frozen air as he sets his sight on the zombies. With his halberd in hand, he rolls his shoulders and looks over at everyone else. "Thisss one can take the brunt of them if you ssso desssire."
His gaze settles on Percy. "... relax. All will be well," he tries to assuage, smiling. Which.. isn't very settling, as he shows off long fangs.
Smuldur skitters his way out with the others, holding Torchie on high for warmth and light (for those that need it). When he keens the khazad khadavers khanoodling about, he peers. "Which one first? Last? What make walk? Does it burn?" He asks the important questions.
Vaera shakes her head when she sees the zombified corpses shambling in the fenced in cemetary. "I still do not understand the fascination with burying the deceased. It invites trouble like this." The makari chuffs. "Still, that is neither here nor there, what matters is dealing with it now. If we need put them down, we will do so. And once that is done, they will not be in shape to be brought back up again."
Head turning as fast as her eyes move their way to count the supernatural dwarven. And back at Skielstregar her eyes meet his teeth she smiles more calmly and much more sure. "Thanks, I appreciate that I guess even I sometimes need a light." She looks back to the dark and cold sky and remembers the moon. " I miss Auranar she's nice to me, hmm a light. I wonder if this town has seen any 'new' faces? Before us of course, anyone like a strange adventurer or a Merchant of some kind?" She put her hand to her chin and muttered possibilities and variables that could be causing an effect like this one. "Could somebody be summoning a higher being and as effect to it power certain phenomenons take place?"
The zombies don't seem to notice you, so you've plenty of time to observe them ambling about the graveyard. They seem to be circling a tomb in the center of the graveyard which looks to be very, very old. Other than that, they seem to just be roaming around without any real intent. You can also determine which of the graves have been disturbed by the zombies crawling upwards, though the darkness of the night and the distance created by the fence makes it hard to read any names.
Skielstregar squints some. "Hmm.. seems as if they are around a particular tomb. Though, thisss one agreesss with Vaera."
He shakes his head. "You are welcome," the makari man nods to Percy. "Uncertain. Mayhaps this is something within the graveyard that happens. Regardless. Thisss one is ready."
He readies his weapon, and assembles at the gate, first in formation, as his duties bid him as Warrior.
"If they gather around a single tomb, perhaps the problem lies there. But we cannot discern so at the moment, as I do not expect the undead to be passive should we enter." Vaera notes. "That is good to know however. We could wait until dawn, and investigate the tomb at that time, but there is no guaranteeing they will remain unanimated after the source is dealt with, either. We should resolve that, and then investigate this tomb."
"Go to middle one, first! If they like it, must be special!" Gobber logic is undeniable, especially when others have pointed it out. Smuldur looks between the tale scaley ones. "Go now, go later? Which? When? Put rest now?" He's ready, and Torchie is ready.
Warm breath breaks into the cold air as Percy breathes into her hands to keep them warm and regretting her choice of wearing shorts. She sighs as she looks at her cold legs and her hands, shoulda brought some leggings. "Well if we wait it'd be best if one of us at the very least stays out here to keep an eye on the tomb, just in case something or someone leaves it. If that were to happen and a person comes out we'll need to question them. If we head straight to the tomb now we need to be cautious, and do our best to not touch the breathless if they remain passive. However, what's the plan if they attack us? Formation of any kind in mind? Even if we manage to surpass the awakened, what is there to say about the disruption of their sleep? We can't nilly attack them back, they were once alive and we need to respect that? I for one know that I couldn't harm the once mindful and living." Percy's eyes traced to the ground below her upset but calm about it she crossed her arms.
As Skielstregar opens the gate the zombies begin to quickly move your direction, seemingly _now_ filled with purpose.
<OOC> Percy says, "could percy hide behind the group? she dosent feel comfortable fighting the dead" <OOC> Aftershock says, "Sure! She can stay in the back and hold her action. Make a pose as to the effect!"
Percy's eyes winden in surprise. "Uhh, I dont think we had a plan for this!" She Runs to the back as she hopes she isnt spotted.
<OOC> Vaera says, "Alright, I'll shoot at the closest one, point blank shot and deadly aim" GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+5+4-2: (15)+5+4+-2: 22 (vs touch) GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+1+4: (8)+1+4: 13 <OOC> Aftershock says, "Zombie goes down!"
"Percy, yes? Undead are not the people they once were. The soul has passed on." Vaera states as she pulls out her thunderbelcher again, flipping the hinged front out and securing it, barrel extending as she took aim. "And it seems they will attack if we get close. You are not harming anyone, but stopping their body from being used."
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "skiel will run in to the front and block what he can, Power attack, negated by furious focus <OOC> Skielstregar says, "taking as swipe at one with power attack. He also tells the last person in to close the gate." GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+3: aliased to 1d10+4+3: (4)+4+3: 11 (slashing)
With a crack like thunder and a bright blue flash, the projectile is sent piercing through one of the closest zombified bodies, causing their spine to splinter as it falls into itself.
Skielstregar sighs some as Percy takes cover behind them. "Come now! That won't be rid of them fassster!"
Despite the armor he's in, the makari briskly runs into the fray with his weapon cocked back. With a heavy swing, he buries the axe end deep. Over his shoulder, he firmly advises, "Lassst one in, clossse the gate!"
GAME: Smuldur RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP GAME: Smuldur rolls melee+2+1: (7)+7+2+1: 17 GAME: Smuldur rolls 1d2+strength+2+1 fire: (1)+2+2+1 fire: 6 <OOC> Aftershock says, "The fire seems to do it, and the body falls lifelessly to the ground!"
"Die! Er, rest! Burn!" There. Burn always works as Smuldur shifts yells a little before skittering up to the still ambulatory dead thing and bonking it with Torchie. The power of flame compels it! To fall down. And burn.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19
The zombies move in on Skielstregar and Smuldur, one of them trying to push the sith warrior backwards, but the blow leaves him unharmed.
GAME: Percy rolls weapon7 -4: (16)+7+-4: 19 (-4 Non Lethal) GAME: Percy rolls 1d10 +3: (10)+3: 13 <OOC> Aftershock says, "Down goes the zombie!"
Percy turns to the gate in a hurry to close the gate almost slipping on her own feet but saves herself, quickly rushes to block the zombie in the way of Skielstregar and strikes with the dull side of her sword in order to keep from killing the disturbed but alas fails and down goes the undead. Percy quietly squeaks in sadness as the zombie falls to the ground completely clearing the way. "Ah! I killed them! I'm so sorry I only meant to get you out of the way!" She continues to apologize to the dead on the ground and back away from the corpse and stills herself to return to her pose from before.
<OOC> Vaera says, "Swift action to reload, and another shot at one of the zombies" GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+5+4+1-2: (14)+5+4+1+-2: 22 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+4+1: (1)+4+1: 6
Vaera chuffs and begins loading another projectile into the side of the weapon. she takes aim to fire at the zombified body, and with another crack of thunder a second round pierces through one of them. But the undead are much more resilient than they appear, and hitting something vital to take it down is easier said than done.She stays near the gates, determined to not let anything through.
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "going to hit the one vaera clipped!" GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+3: aliased to 1d10+4+3: (2)+4+3: 9 (slashing!)
Skielstregar ducks out of relfex as gunfire erupts from behind him. Though, he presses on, pulling his halberd back just as one just clangs against the haft of it. He looks over his shoulder, scowling faintly. "Persssy! They are already dead! Focussss! Thisss is just bringing their body to reassst!" he rumble/growls as he fells the axe end down on the one Vaera opened up for him on her volley.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10
The remaining zombies dilligently attack Skielstregar and Smulder, but only the one attacking the goblin manages to land an actual hit.
GAME: Percy rolls weapon7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Percy rolls 1d10 +3: (10)+3: 13
"They deserve to rest in peace, not to be brought back! Whoever did this is in major trouble!" She takes her sword in a good hold and strikes again at the disturbed in Skielstregar's way, the blade side of her sword and slashes the undead to the ground. " See you in your next life, sorry you got raised from the dead." Percy poses still again, ready for the next one up in line.
<OOC> Vaera says, "another swift action to reload and shoot at another zombie" GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+5+4+1-2: (3)+5+4+1+-2: 11 (vs Touch) GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+4+1: (3)+4+1: 8 <OOC> Aftershock says, "You take a bite out of one"
Vaera ducks back now that the crowd was thinning out, and from her belt she pulls out another round, becoming increasingly aware of the increasing empty loops in it. But there was enough for now, and another shot rings out, burying in the chest of one of the remaining zombies.
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "smacc the one vaera shot, teamwork!" GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (2)+7: 9
Skielstregar nods in approval as Percy drops another. "Keep that going, Persssy, we can do it! Do not fear, thisss one is ssstill here!" he encourages. One gets on him just as he's about to backswing, and so he quits the strike to shove them off with the bottom of his heel.
GAME: Smuldur rolls melee+2+1: (1)+7+2+1: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
Smuldur just got punched by a zombie. He doesn't like that. No one told him they can swing that low-oh, khazad zombies. "Go to sleep! Go to sleep! go to sleep!" He swings at the z's knees... and goes right between them.
<OOC> Aftershock says, "The two remaining Zombies attack Skiel, and Smuldur respectively" GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10 <OOC> Aftershock says, "Right? Smuldur isn't looking so good."
The zombies are mindless things, attacking Smuldur and his companion on the front lines without rest or respite. A second blow makes it through the goblin's defenses and he hears a ringing in his ears.
<OOC> Percy says, "I'm just gonna attack again and maybe talk is that okay?" GAME: Percy rolls weapon7: (2)+7: 9
She brings back her sword for another attack ready for another breathless to fall but Percy missed by a long shot. Her sword fell to the ground below her at her feet, She took a deep breath and muttered to herself again. "Okay, I missed once. No biggie, just need to try again!" She rolls her shoulders and readys her sword to be prepared.
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+5+4-2-1: (12)+5+4+-2+-1: 18 (vs Touch) GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+4+1: (5)+4+1: 10 <OOC> Aftershock says, "Down goes the zombie!" <OOC> Aftershock says, "One remaining!"
Vaera takes her thunderbelcher, and fires off another shot, snapping one of the zombies' legs and sending it to the ground. "There are not many left, those injured should fall back now!" she shouts to the others, seeing Smuldur and Skielstregar not doing too well.
GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+3: aliased to 1d10+4+3: (8)+4+3: 15 <OOC> Aftershock says, "Downed zombie!"
Skielstregar shoves the last zombie back as it tries to assail him, staggering it for a beat before the makari twirls around and sends all three hundred and thirty pounds of bronze-scale straight downward in a fell cleave on the axe end of the halberd, ceasing the energies that keeps the corpse together. He yanks the weapon free, and huffs once, him looking about. A thumbs up is provided to all, "Good work!" he chirps, before looking a bit concerned at Smuldur. "Are you okay, small one?" he rumbles.
"Only hit on head! Thickest part! Still strong!" Smuldur corrects Vaera. One of the three he sees. The one on the left... then center, then right, as he turns to tell her and keeps spinning a bit more. He stops and steadies himself, then turns to face the right way, towards the center. Torchie points at the crypt in the middle. "That way now?"
Paenitia appears, in a slow clanking jog that brings her to the group. She halts, adjusting the wrist of her right gauntlet. She peers comrade to comrade, presenting the mask, her always grinning mask and sounding gleeful.
"The birthday is the happy one now, the midwife take over. There the funny story, when the baby ... no, it is they story to tell. Ask the dwarf."
The little knight flexes her hand, rests it on the head of her warhammer and looks past the group into the ceremony, "the successful bedtime then? They are back in the graves?"
Indeed, the zombies are unmoving now, which leaves only the question of the tomb settled into the ground before you.
The tomb is a sarcophagus set into the ground only without the face-plate.
Vaera takes a hand off her firearm as she steps inside the gate, and in the process of closing it, she opens it to let the small knight through. "This is good, it is a good day for that family, and hopefully the rest of the town." She states to her. "They are still now, but seemed to surround one tomb. There is a chance it caused them to rise as they did. And Percy, you should meet with some of the Vardaman clerics in Alexandria. They can explain further why it is not a problem to put down the undead. They understand the process much better than I."
Skielstregar raises his polearm as Paenitia rejoins them. "Thisss is sssplendid news, Warrior Paenitia. We have laid them back asssleep onssse more."
He hefts his weapon over his shoulder, looking to the tomb. "Thisss one suggesssts we deal with thisss tomb before laying thessse bodiesss back to ressst, just to be sssure that nothing creepsss up on usss as we do ssso."
Paenitia strides up to the tomb, making a careful path around all the fallen zombies. She places her hands on her hips and stares up at it, "Ah, the stone worked building. If only we had the dwarves to explain it to us. Do you think there is the trap? I am, with the big regrets, not the honourable thief of the party."
She takes up her warhammer, "Nor the wise wizard. This is my knock spell. We ready to say Hola?"
"Yes! That one!" No one said no, and the tallester one said yes. So Smuldur skitters to the sarc of Gus and immediately checks to see if it trapped, in true gobber fashion. He jabs Torchie in at a corner to try and pry open the lid. Because Torchie the All-Powerful has crowbar in its domains.
GAME: Smuldur rolls strength: (18)+2: 20
Torchie must have some kind of strength (or more realistically the goblin behind the torch), because the tomb slides open with ease. The scent of ancient corpses rises to your nose, but it's not a corpse you see. Rather you see a woman. An elvish woman of remarkable beauty laying in the place that a corpse belongs. There's a touch of blush to her cheeks that suggests life along with the rise and fall of her chest, and yet... She is unmoving.
"Now that you've seen her... I'll have to kill you." Says a voice from the edge of the graveyard. It's the priest.
"You are the very jealous man. I am sure she will not leave you for us." Paenitia says, turning and adjusting her shield and clanking forward, "I give you my name before, so you fight only me."
"If you have the explaining to do, I have the ears for listening." Somewhere under that helm and hair are ears, "What go on? This town is known to drive off the unwanted sorts, if you are here, they approve? Why the elf, amongst the dwarves?"
Skielstregar doesn't seem too pleased at seeing a live person inside the tomb. He checks to ensure they're still alive, and he whirls around to face the priest from before. He scowls as much as a sith can. "Anssswer the Warrior," he rumbles lowly. "Ssshe helped deliver life, yet you forbade one. Explain..."
"You will kill us for doing the job you asked?" Vaera asks herself, allowing a forced, but not less threatening for it scowl creep into their visage. "you asked us to clear out the undead, and they were around here. If you would kill us for seeing this, then explain yourself now, before we are forced to defend ourselves. Which I do not see going well for you."
It was a team effort! Together, there is nothing the gobber & insightful ignited stick cannot conquer! He blinks at the sight in the tomb. Peers. "Ewww. This one look worst than the others!" She's too pink. Too not wrinkly.
He turns at the voice and Torchie points at the priest. "That why you hide in ground? Not want anyone tell?"
"....Oh, no." Percy held her sword tighter with a firm grip but placed her sword back in the sheath and took a step back." He's a priest, a man sworn to help those in the darkest night, as a priest you are to bring the brightest light. But I fear the promise meant to be kept never broken has been struck. You chose to give us a task and we held strong and fulfilled our mission and rather than thanks we're thrown your threats? Why? Why did you choose this way? Explain, our ears are open."
"None of them knew who I was! None of them cared. Not even her." The gnome's eyes are lit with a mad light. "I was once a wizard in service to Thul, and I learned many things in that time. But I grew weary of it. Thought to settle down and make a life for myself and then I saw her... She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I told her of my love and she scoffed at me!"
Tiny fist slams down on his leg and he glares at you all. "I put her in an enchanted sleep, but then the dead started to rise around her. If you had killed them and left well enough alone... But you fools went and looked. I won't go to prison for what I've done. I'll kill you all first!"
GAME: Paenitia rolls diplomacy: (15)+9: 24 GAME: Percy rolls diplomacy: (16)+1: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Smuldur rolls diplomacy: (13)+2: 15 GAME: Skielstregar rolls diplomacy: (7)+2: 9
Smuldur peers at the gnome. "Like them?" He points at the ones one the ground. Since they were just up and walking around. "Her?" Torchie points down. Since she's still breathing. He thinks. "Forget tell them you kill them?" Now Torchie points at the priest again. "You kill terrible. We safe. You not."
"Ah." Paenitia says, not sounding cheerful at all. Her mask, as always, maintains its wide, fanatic grin, "that complicate the matters. It is the tale of True Love. Unrequited with the kidnapping and the grave robbing."
She approaches the priest, former wizard of Thul. "Your power is clear. You wake the dead, but you are not strong enough to make the fire of love in the heart that is cold to you. All the tales say this. She will hate you, you will be lost."
"You will find, the prison is the happy place, but will not lock the pain away. She does not love." The little knight stands looking up at him. "The sad story is you do battle here and lose, there is no love for you. The happier one, you wake the woman, beg apology and leave, to find love elsewhere. Fight me I will meet the challenge, yield may it be there things that can be work out."
"She made a mistake to treat you unkind, everyone does but the good thing about that is that we learn from them. If you let her go she'll realize what she did wrong and the conscience you gave her?I highly doubt that she'll scoff at another person again. She isn't the only one that made a mistake that they needed to fix, you took a person and put things into your own hands and you know that was wrong, you have the choice to be better than this. If you turn yourself in, the charges won't be as bad as you fear, as you tried to tell her ' when you do something you gotta pay the price for it, you have to face the conscience. Not just her but you do too. Do the right thing and we can all leave safe and unharmed."
Skielstregar frowns heavily, a hint of a crimson filling his eyes. "And then Thul comes back around to bite you. What good will putting her asssleep will do for you? Thisss digsss your own grave, ssshould othersss find out. You are to turn a new leaf, not rot it," he growls, eyeing Paenitia and her challenge to duel him. He nods towards Percy. "The udnead isss not your doing, ssso you will not be in there long."
The man seems to really consider it. Fighting Paenitia. Fighting you all. Then he looks at the tomb and sighs. "Fine. I'll release the spell... but..." He looks torn. Finally he flings a hand toward the woman and she takes a deep shuddering breath before shakingly looking around her in mild horror. One does not often find oneself waking in a tomb surrounded by graves. With that however, the priest flees, running as fast as his little legs can carry him toward the forest. It seems... that he can't quite face the music.
"I chase him!" Paenitia declares, breaking into an impressively slow pace. With short legs, heavy armour and stiff joints she is a slow moving, clanking terror. She'll catch the priest if he wants to be caught. A lightfooted gnome can easily outdistance her.
"I coming for you." She taunts cheerfully, matching the wide grin on her mask. The edge of the forest... slowly... approached.
Vaera sighs when the gnome makes due on their escape. He could not leave and not answer for his crimes, and the others there likely would not like for such payment to be in the form of a hole in the back of her head. The red makari takes off at a sprint after them, her firearm dropped to the ground in her haste. They were quick enough, but for every two strides of the wizard, it was almost covered in one from Vaera. And in a few more steps, her metal leg tearing up the grass, she reaches them, grabbing them by the scruff of the neck and slamming them to the ground, before her metal limb is planted squarely on their back, while she begins the process of binding their hands, and gagging their mouth so they could not speak any magic.
"My thanks, Paenitia. The noise was an excellent cover." She shouts back to the lucht, pulling the wizard to their feet. "Now, did you think we would let you go? Your actions have consequences, and they will be faced. Necromancy is outlawed in Alexandria for a reason."
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
19 Percy 1
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>> 18 Vaera 1 <<
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18 Skielstregar 1
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16 Smuldur 1
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10 Paenitia 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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7 Zombies
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OOC
<OOC> Paenitia will preface hers with 'in the house' and perhaps make a split section in the log if it makes sense to do so, to keep things a little clearer, if that's all right.
<OOC> Aftershock says, "As you will <3"
<OOC> Paenitia says, "I'm assuming a genteel, overview sorts of posing and not an 'All Creatures Great and Small' graphic detail posing, and also that the heal check is decent enough?"
<OOC> Aftershock would prefer that yes.
<OOC> Aftershock has no desire to make everyone here grossed out by full-on birthing of baby
<OOC> Paenitia nodnods, she is the small side-scene, so will stive to be non-distracting
<OOC> Skielstregar noddles
<OOC> Paenitia is fine with her current task taking longer than 6 seconds and being skipped. Hopefully, no zombie babies.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "Soo... if I need to do something I can but am not expecting to?"
<OOC> Aftershock says, "Pae, yes. LOL No zombie baby."
<OOC> Aftershock will consider you held.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "oooooh noooooo"
You paged Aftershock with 'It's Undead Sleeping Beauty'
Aftershock pages: It 100percent is
Aftershock pages: Although she's not undead
You paged Aftershock with 'that's hilarious. Well I'll let the others realize.'
Long distance to Aftershock: Paenitia nods