Head's Up
Log Info
- Title: Head's Up
- Emitter: Asmli
- Characters: Nels, Namira, Cryosanthia, Kaydin, Elleandra, Lysos
- Place: Village of Asterin
- Time: Sunday, February 23, 2020, 6:25 PM
- Summary: The Explorer's Guild sends a party to investigate strange goings-on in a village's graveyard. Upon arrival, the group is attacked by three vargouilles and several skeletons. The Vargouille's screams paralyze half the party. Cryosanthia discovers she is immune, and the only melee fighter in the party, and desperately tries to get the monsters to focus on her while she defends Lysos, while Nels and Namira fire a thunderbelcher and spells respectively. The group prevails, searches the graveyard and finds nothing, and heads back to the village. While they are settling in, Cryo starts telling terrible death themed jokes.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Nels 5'7" 142 Lb Human Female Former goblin, now woman with long dark braided pigtails. Namira 5'0" 98 Lb Shadow Elf Female Dark Elf wearing Vardaman Vestments Cryosanthia 6'7" 245 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos. Kaydin 5'3" 158 Lb Half-Elf Male A blonde half elf male with fair skin Elleandra 5'4" 108 Lb Wild Elf Female Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori in green leather. Lysos 5'6" 105 Lb Human/Tsuran Female Dark eyes, dark hair, olive skin, a jotun-sized chip on the shoulder. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Guild job as described to you sounds quite odd, but a typical Guild job. The village of Asterin, a fishing village further up the coast of Alexandros from the city itself, finds itself with a strange problem. Its burial ground, just inland from the city, has been seen to have heads without bodies, perching on the gravestones. The bodies, in some cases, have been found dead in the burial ground or nearby, and in other cases have gone missing entirely.
Nels has been having problems all his own lately. Starting with having the body of a human female. Embarassing doesn't begin to describe his problems, but he's decided that some Guild work will maybe distract him from his issues. Her issues, just at the moment. It's so complicated! Either way, she'll show up, and go where they ask her to go. You now find yourselves just outside the fishing village, where the burial ground is set on higher ground overlooking the village proper, some hour's walk away. You don't see anything from where you are, but it may be necessary to get closer.
Namira looks up at the burial ground and tilts her head. "Interesting." She says from the village. "Why put the grounds up there, I wonder..."
GAME: Kaydin rolls knowledge/nature: (16)+8: 24 GAME: Elleandra rolls knowledge/nature: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Namira rolls knowledge/religion: (17)+10: 27 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/religion: Trained Use Only: 0
A tall and lithe white-scaled sith-makar, wearing white leather armour, a fancy hat, and bearing a rapier nods to all assembled as they stand on the high ground, overlooking the burial place. "I forget if I introduced myself on the way over, I'm Cryosanthia, Cryo in emergencies and it's a pleasure to meet you all. Peace on your nests. I'm not sure Namira, maybe they wanted an excuse not to visit?"
Kaydin walks with the others. "The reason why it is on higher ground is because the village is close or below sea level. And anything buried in a flooded graveyard can float to the surface or out to sea." He explains as he walks along with the people. "So if there is undead I can give advice on how to kill them more effieciently."
Elleandra nods to Cryosanthia, "A pleasure to meet you," she says formally. It is a bit out of place, but she bobs into a polite curtsey, "You can call me Elleandra, or Elly if you prefer." She turns her eyes to study the burial site with pursed lips.
Namira sighs and facepalms at her own dumbness. "Ah.......I'm braindead." She then looks to Kaydin. "Follower of Vardama are you?"
Lysos leans on her staff, squinting as if to try and make out the burial grounds better. Nope, still she still sees nothing. "Maybe they get flooding issues?" she suggests. Then her squinted eyes widen a bit at Kaydin's explanasion. "Huh, I was right? That's a first." She straightens off of her staff, then gives herself a pat down to make sure she has all of her gear. "Never seen an undead. Oh, I'm Lysos."
Cryo bobs her head to Elly, dipping a little herself. Not quite a curtsey, not quite a bow. Her head snaps back to stare at the graveyard. She doesn't blink for a long time. She watches for movement, anything. "This one's first question Kaydin, are rapiers effective?"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (12)+4: 16
"I just know nature. Grew up in the forest. My mother is a sylvanori Druidess." He says calmly. Kaydin then pulls an arrow out of his quiver and nods to Cryosanthia. "Yea, just aim for the head." He explains to the sith and he looks around. He then begins to approach the graveyard and looks around.
Being still a fair ways away from the site, after a moment the group decides getting closer will be necessary to better see what they are dealing with. "If anyone sees anything, anything at all odd, just call it out," suggests Elleandra.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Nels rolls perception: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Lysos rolls perception: (18)+1: 19 GAME: Namira rolls perception: (3)+8: 11
GAME: Kaydin rolls perception: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
Nels is going to move closer to the burial ground to see what there is to see. She's got her thunderbelcher ready, held in the crook of one arm, though it feels odd with her current build.
Cryosanthia nods to Kaydin's answer and draws her rapier. She touches the blade to her hat in a general salute to the graveyard as the group draws close, and shakes out her free hand, limbering it up. Her pace moves from walking to stalking, a little lower, each step a little longer, her tail higher and coiled. Ready to dance, ready to strike. She looks around and sees absolutely nothing of interest.
Walking her way up the path, behind Cryosanthia, Namira looks about a bit, but is very distracted by Cryosanthia's antics. "What....are you doing?"
Kaydin was so focused looking at everywhere else, he doesnt see him walking into a tree, grunting as he collides with it and he sighs. He then picks up the arrow which he dropped and renocks it as he looks around once again. He then looks to Cryosanthia.
"I'm getting ready to stab something or shoot a spell at it if it's too far away." Cryo answers, turning to look at Namira, "I get a better start for the sprint if my claws are dug in and legs bent."
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+8: (12)+8: 20
Getting to the burial ground is something of an uphill climb, but given what Kaydin said, that is to be expected. As you get closer, there is definitely something sitting on one of the gravestones. It looks from the back like a rather large, hairless human head, except that there are leathery, bat-like wings where its ears should be. A hideously ugly thing, really, and it doesn't seem to have spotted you yet.
Lysos waits a few heartbeats for some to get ahead of her, then she too starts the hike towards the burial grounds using her staff as a walking stick. Along the way she checks her crossbow and quiver, making sure they aren't caught on anything and are within reach. In fact, she's so preoccupied with it one has to wonder how she manages to even see the head on the gravestone when they get close enough. When she does, she stumbles back with a "Gyeaaah! The hells!"
Elleandra is surprised to see Kaydin's predicament. With a shake of her head and a small smile she reaches out to pat his shoulder. It's then that Lysos' reaction gets her attention. She raises her eyes to see what the fuss is about, and narrows them quickly when she sees it. "Exactly like they said, too," she whispers faintly.
Nels pauses on seeing what we see, and she pulls a paper cartridge from her beltpouch, ripping the top with her teeth and pouring the powder inside down her gun's barrel, followed by the lead ball inside. Finally, the paper cartridge itself is crumpled and rammed up the barrel to wedge the ball and shot in place. -Now- she's ready.
"So... shoot that?" Cryosanthia asks quietly, getting ready with a gesture. "What's the plan? Someone say go?"
Kaydin turns when he feels a pat on his shoulder and he nods to the woman. He then looks to the head when it comes to view. He then begins to pull the arrow back, aiming at the head and taking a breath. He moves closer slowly with the head in his sights."
The party is approximately 30' from the entrance to the graveyard, and about 70' from the head.
Namira makes it a point to stay out of the firing lines of her companions. She doesn't have anything to attack with....yet, but she does want to see how this plays out first.
The voices of the party from the other side of the wall seem to have gotten the thing's attention. It immediately jumps into the air and whirls around, to reveal a distorted face with a fanged mouth, open as if in horror. More fun still, it isn't alone. Another one drops out of the tree near the graveyard's entrance, and a third was sitting behind one of the canted gravestones to the other side of the grounds, but now flutters up on leathery wings to see what all the fuss is about.
Worse still, this graveyard isn't as quiet as it should be, and a pile of not-yet-interred bones begins to ... organize itself.
From the piles of bones yet to be interred, three human-sized figures form. Totally absent of clothing or trappings, they nonetheless move with a remarkable grace for being dead, and their fingerbones come to razor-sharp points.
GAME: Elleandra casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Sensing that things are getting dangerous, Elleandra calls upon her arcane powers. At a soft command and a few gestures she calls about herself a protective field of force. She watches the enemy closely, planning her next move.
Three heads approach, the one that was spotted first, a second which dropped out of a tree 15' from the party, and a third that emerged from behind a gravestone 45' away.
GAME: Kaydin rolls weapon4+-2: (17)+7++-2: 22 GAME: Kaydin rolls 1d8+2: (1)+2: 3 GAME: Kaydin rolls weapon4-2+2: (12)+7+-2+2: 19 GAME: Kaydin rolls 1d8+2+2: (5)+2+2: 9
Kaydin aims the bow at the head and he fires, watching the arrow sink into the head but it doesnt stop. The Skeleton forming though causes him to frown and he quickly pulls another arrow out and fires at it's head, watching the arrow smash through the skull and causes the skeleton to become a pile of bones. He smirks at that.
The arrow in its ugly face certainly seems to have gotten the thing's attention. Its distorted mouth twists even more in anger, and its leathery bat-like wings flap vigorously and heavily as it launches itself in Kaydin's direction. Meanwhile, from a different pile of bonuses, a fourth human figure takes shape amid the pile, draped in tattered sailcloth.
GAME: Lysos casts Shield. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
"Didn't they say there were more than... oh." Lysos's voice falls flat as another winged head comes into view. Her staff slips from her fingers then shoots fowards, fingers splayed as she shouts, "Defendarius!" A shimmering shield flares briefly into existance, glowing silver, before fadint to faint translucense. Meanwhile her other hand fumbles at her crossbow, undoing the snap holding it to her hip.
GAME: Namira casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14 GAME: Namira rolls fortitude: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Elleandra rolls fortitude: (5)+1: 6 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls fortitude: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Lysos rolls fortitude: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Kaydin rolls fortitude: (2)+5: 7 GAME: Nels rolls fortitude: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Kaydin rolls fortitude: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Asmli rolls 2d4: (5): 5 GAME: Asmli rolls 2d4: (5): 5 GAME: Asmli rolls 2d4: (5): 5 GAME: Asmli rolls 2d4: (6): 6 GAME: Asmli added note Paralyzed with a duration of 5 rounds.
The last of the flying heads flutters up and towards the party, and opens its mouth to let out an ear-splitting, soul-rending shriek that rings in everyone's ears like a wail of the damned even as one final skeleton rises up from yet a third pile of bones, the gut-wrenching sound ripping across your consciousness. The one that dropped out of the tree takes the opportunity and flies into Lysos' face, its fanged maw open to take a taste. That shield she put up, though, has something to say, and it slams into the translucent force effect, its jaws unable to reach her.
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1+2: (2)+5+1+2: 10 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls intimidate: (13)+3: 16
"SsKkss! SsKkss! SsKkss!" Cryo swears as the other heads appear, and skeletons start rising. As one swoops in, she shudders, feeling something wash over her. Whatever it was, the others are paralyzed.
"Namira, keep me up!" Hopefully she isn't. Cryosanthia moves to the head that dove in at Lysos, flanking and stabbing with her rapier.
The thrust goes wild.
"Attack me! RAAAWRRRR! ME!" She raoars at them, swirling her blade in the air.
Meanwhile, the skeleton-creatures are beginning to get themselves together, and start off with remarkable speed for being magic-infused bones, heading in the direction of the graveyard gate and the party.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (12)+12: 24 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (9)+1: 10
Nels shoulders her thunderbelcher and draws a bead on the nearest creature. Pulling the trigger, the weapon erupts in a gout of flame that gives the weapon it's name. Her shot is dead on, striking it in the face and making it even uglier than it already was. She doesn't bother to take the time and appreciate her shot, she's got her ramrod out and clearing the smoking barrel before drawing and loading another round.
The scream impacts Elleandra profoundly, and she finds herself unable to move. Somewhere in the back of her mind a voice screams for her to snap out of it, but nonetheless she stands rooted in place, barely aware of what is happening around her.
Lysos is... frozen. Almost like she's posing for some sort of action portrait. One hand out in front, palm facing the barely visible shield of force, the other holding a crossbow pointed behind her. Of course, the painting will have to edit her face somewhat... the horrified grimace is decidedly NOT heroic.
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4: (4): 4
The flying head that Kaydin first targeted may have been hit in the face with a thunderbelcher and as a result look like the ugly tree's worst nightmare, but it is still very much functional, and it sinks fangs into the paralyzed Kaydin. Another skeleton starts to head for the beleaguered party, as well.
Namira only then closes her hand around her medallion, after she blesses her allies. "Grey Lady....there are some abominations in this resting place. Please assist me in destroying them." An arc of blue energy pulses out and severely damages two skeleton....while one skeleton explodes under the assault. "Keep the pressure on."
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Cryosanthia spends ONE point of PANACHE. (4 remaining) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1: (6)+5+1: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1: (10)+5+1: 16 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls damage2: aliased to 1D6+2: (1)+2: 3
The other two flying heads bring the fanged attack, but neither is very successful - the one that shrieked goes after Nels and his thunderbelcher, the bite well short of its mark, while the one Cryosanthia hissed at turns on her, and manages only to snap its fangs in her general direction.
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (14)+2: 16 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1+2: (11)+5+1+2: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls damage2: aliased to 1D6+2: (5)+2: 7 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls intimidate: (10)+3: 13
"Nels! Thank the Empress!" Cryo cheers, hearing her Thunderbelcher. "You can move! Focus on the heads, keep them off the others. I'll do what I can."
"Yes Namira!" She cheers as a skeleton explodes. "Get Elleandra's!"
A win. Yet, the paralysis of most of the party deeply unsettles her. A fear, that she won't be good enough, that they're overwhelmed creeps up. She does what she always does when she's afraid. Keep attacking. Never stop attacking.
"COME AT ME!" The white-scale sith screams back at the vargouilles. Her voice won't terrify them, but her passion is still there, "Taste my pointy stick! Fly and Die and Fly and Die! The fight is over here!"
She stabs. She hits! The other wing! Another hole."
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (7)+12: 19 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (10)+1: 11
Nels backs a step away from the one in her face, she's got more team-oriented goals just now. She draws a bead on the thing menacing Elleandra and pulls the trigger. There's a loud report, and the thing explodes from the force of being struck dead on. "Hah!" she cries victoriously even as she frantically reloads her weapon, weaving as much as she can to avoid the one next to her.
Namira doesn't even move...as she holds her hand on the medallion she has. She sends out healing energy for herself and her fellow paralyzed allies......
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (18)+2: 20 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4: (3): 3 GAME: Kaydin rolls fortitude: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Namira rolls 2d6: (10): 10 GAME: Namira rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Cryosanthia spends ONE point of PANACHE. (3 remaining) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1: (7)+5+1: 13 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1+2: (11)+5+1+2: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls damage2: aliased to 1D6+2: (6)+2: 8
The flying heads continue to bite at Nels and Cryosanthia, neither one finding purchase as they have done on the paralyzed Kaydin. Keep at it Cryo, keep at it, she tells herself. She hears the thunderbelcher. Hears the skeleton exploding from mundane energies. Feels the healing warmth, which she doesn't need yet praise the Lady Grey. These flying heads, which she can't seem to take down. Split the difference and stab! She does! Poking solidly in the middle of the head. It looks messed up, but still flying.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (6)+12: 18 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (9)+1: 10 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17
The remaining, badly-damaged skeletons' fingerbone claws make sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard, only metallic, as they scrape down her armor, leaving long marks in the metal, but none find a purchase.
Nels is on fire today, which is kind of just what she needed. Ignoring the one that's attempting, poorly, to menace her, she leans to the side and draws a bead on the critter menacing Kaydin. Another loud BANG as the gun fires, and the thing splatters, mess going all over as she reloads as fast as she can. "That's how you do it," she tells herself happily. "Full combat support. BAM!"
GAME: Namira rolls knowledge/the planes: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Namira casts Spear of Purity. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Namira rolls ranged+1: (8)+3+1: 12 GAME: Namira rolls 3d6: (18): 18 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (19)+2: 21 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4+2: (1)+2: 3
Namira's deoing pretty decently, but she came to protect her companions. So when gets a good look at the floating heads and grits her teeth. "THAT'S what they are!" She says as she claps her hands together....which emits a loud *CRACK* as she winds up and throws a luminescent ball at the head near Nels.....mid flight...it turns into a glowing, runed SPEAR....which goes through the head.....
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (19)+5: 24 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4: (2): 2 GAME: Nels rolls fortitude: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia spends ONE point of PANACHE. (2 remaining) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1: (2)+5+1: 8 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4: (2): 2 GAME: Asmli damaged Cryosanthia for 2 points. 20 HP remaining. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls fortitude+3: (16)+2+3: 21 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+1+2: (7)+5+1+2: 15 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls damage2: aliased to 1D6+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Cryosanthia gains ONE point of PANACHE. (3 remaining) GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (3)+12: 15 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (9)+1: 10
That damned flying head. Cryo tries to parry it, and instead it tears at her arm. The bite stings, she flicks her arm quickly. Charmed life, sith resilence, its poison has no effect. Finally, she thinks she's figured out where to hit it. Cryo thrusts, stabbing her rapier through its eye socket. It drops.
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+2: (16)+2: 18 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4
Nels draws a bead on the last of the flying heads and pulls the trigger. The gun fires, a gout of flame erupting from the muzzle, and a cloud of smoke blooming and slowly dissipating. The bullet impacts, and there's a crimson explosion. "Splash one more," she says with a smirk. "So far, so good," she says as she crams another round into her thunderbelcher.
The flying heads may be down and out, and as they die, they one by one wink out of existence, suggesting that Ea is not their home. The two remaining skeletons, however, continue to press Namira, and one claw slips through her defenses, leaving bloodied marks in her flesh.
Despite being hurt badly, Namira still has her hand on her medallion when she calls out to her goddess. The pair of skeletons explode as soon as the energy touches them. She turns from the bits to look everyone over.....especially the ones that can't move.
Cryo skids to a stop, it's over. Nels and Namira got theirs. The sith turns around, looking at the paralyzed, "How long will this last?"
Nels looks around, but there's no targets left she can see. "I think we got them all," she says, scanning around.
As the paralysis finally wears off, Lysos's muscles give out and she crumbles to the ground. Her crossbow clatters off to the side as she barely keeps herself from collapsing completely with her hands pushing into the ground. And then she throws up. There isn't much, just what remains of the dried trail rations she'd eaten earlier, but it does take a few moments for her stomach to settle down.
GAME: Namira casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14 GAME: Namira rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11
"Just long enough to be annoying," replies Elleandra. She shakes herself, managing to just keep her feet. As soon as she is steady again she makes for Namira, "Are you alright? Do you need to go back now?" With a wary glance towards the burial site she adds, "Was that it?"
Namira smiles to Elly before her medallion glows....and her wounds begin to close. "I'm fine, now. Just needed to close my wounds for the moment."
Cryosanthia rubs at her arm, "I think I'll be okay for now. I'll need something if I get hurt again." She looks back at the graveyard, carefully scanning the headstones. "I think those things might pop out of anywhere. Namira, you seemed to recognize them, the flying heads. What were they?"
Namira says, "They're called Vargouilles. They're like ravens on a hellish battlefield. And they 'reproduce' by kissing helpless victims." She gestures to Elleandra and Kaydin. "Like they were.""
Namira says, "Something I remembered from my time in the Shadow Council."
Nels looks around to the others, her gun still held ready, though it looks like those things are staying gone. "Is everyone OK?" she asks. "If you're dead, say something." Apparently that's goblin humor. She ughs as the Vargouilles are described. "Sounds bad, yeah?" "Okay, that's.. disgusting," says Elleandra. She looks to the ones who just saved her life. "But, thank you. Thank you for your help. Sorry, I didn't do much there at all." She has a feeling the only thing she'll be adding to this job is a good meal on the way back.
"They're minor things. More annoyance than anything else, Cryo." Namira says before looking to Nels. "It's not bad. Just annoying. Paralyzation sucks."
"That... would have been unpleasant." The sith's pupils widen quite a bit. Cryo looks over at Kaydin, "Is he okay? Their bite stings... and he was bitten a lot. And Elly, it's ok. They... had powers. This one guesses they aren't normally on this plane, they were brought by someone?"
"They sound terrible," Lysos rasps, settling down on her knees as some deep breaths calm her. Then, after rinsing her mouth out with a swig from her waterskin, she retrieves her weapons and finds her feet. She can't help but briefly eye Namira, but then looks back to the burial grounds themselves. "So... did those vargoobles make those... undeads?"
"You can stop giving me the hairy eyeball, Lysos. I am not with them anymore...and I am here to right many wrongs from the past. I am also a Mourner of Vardama. This is sort of...my thing." Namira says before looking to Elleandra. "You were paralyzed before you could do anything. But you got to save your spells."
GAME: Namira rolls knowledge/religion: (8)+10: 18
Cryosanthia move over and crouches down beside Lysos, legs folded and her tail stretched out behind her on the ground. She wobbles her head a little, "You're Tsuran right? One of my good friends is a Tsuran. Thanks for the assist."
Namira takes a deep breath. "However Vargouilles enjoy places like this. But....they are not powerful enough to create undead. So....there's another issue here." She then looks about. "What we need is a tracker."
Elleandra sighs softly, directing her words to Namira, "If not for you I don't think I would have survived. I.. apologize, I have always been afraid of Mul'niessa. I hope when this work is done you might give me a chance to correct my ways and maybe repay you." She secretly hopes that the work is almost done. Her confidence is not what it was a few scant minutes ago. "I might be able to help a little with tracking, but I am no ranger. More of a last resort you might say."
"Never said you were... Mourner," Lysos says quickly. And then quietly to herself, "and my eyeballs are not hairy." She doesn't quite flinch when Crysanthia crouches beside her... but she does manage a tight smile, one that turns someone sour as she says, "Thank me? Thank /you/. I saw everything. That head would have eaten me." Then she sighs, including Namira in her gaze. "I would have died if not for all of you. Thank you."
"You are just beginning your journey, as am I, Elleandra." Namira says before looking to Lysos...then Cryosanthia. "I don't think we're done yet though. Something else raised these skeletons. We need to find it. So don't thank me yet."
Nels hrms about tracking, and asks, "What are we trying to track?" She's also looking around for more badguys. That's one of the searches you want to fail.
GAME: Elleandra rolls survival: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Namira rolls survival: (12)+3: 15 GAME: Nels rolls survival: (3)+1: 4 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls survival: (19)+0: 19
"No, really, you helped. It had to bobble to get around you. It was passive help but it made it a little easier for me to get it. This one is sorry she couldn't kill it faster." Cryosanthia says, seemingly in ernest. "Trust me, I would have gone down first."
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* Session Pause *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Head's Up - Part Two
Monday, February 24, 2020, 7:02 PM
Cryosanthia carefully stands up beside Lysos, avoiding her meal that has been uneaten. Looking for tracks, we're looking for tracks. The sith has very low expectations, her survival skills are just about non-existent and she's terrible at spotting things. She takes a few steps, this way and that, bent over and scanning the ground and around. There must have been some lingering hunting experience left in her nogging because she releases a sudden squeal of glee. "Tracks! There's tracks over here, going that-a-way."
"Oh. It's the skeleton's. I'm sure there is nothing here to find. Not seeing anything. Not smelling anything."
Nels peers at Cryosanthia, and says, "Wait a minute. If the skeletons walked here, don't we want to go find where they walked from?" Since the fight is over, she's relesed the hammer on her thunderbelcher, but at the idea of tracking them back, her thumb is hovering over the hammer again.
While tracking the occasional game has been something that Elleandra has some experience with, her attempts at making sense of the tracks fails spectacularly. It is only by good fortune that her failure is covered-up by Cryo's discovery. "So.. what now?" she manages at last, having only discovered the tracks that she left herself while seeking a trail.
Lysos climbs to her feet, kicking some dirt over her mess as Cryosanthia leaves to start poking about. She swishes a bit more water through her mouth before spitting it out, and is just returning the skin to her pack when Cryosanthia makes her excited announcemente. She looks at the lizardwoman, then listens, then looks at Nels and nods her agreement. "Unless there are open graves, maybe, that the.." She shudders. "Skeletons came from?"
Namira says, "Don't be too afraid of the skeletons. From the moment they're created...they're 'boned'." Namira says in the flattest tone she can manage. She does, however, looking to Cryo. "Find something?""
"Well... sort of." Cryo says, lookng into the graveyard, "looks like some of the coffins and bones are only recently moved up here to be re-interred, like this is a fairly recent problem. It wouldn't hurt to do what Nels says, Reconnoiter the spectaculur crepuscular sepulchre to see what loiters. I'm pretty sure there is nothing here, but a quick once around in the graveyard is bound to pop up anything that didn't already come at us. We might have to consider... the problem is elsewhere?"
Still, for lack of a better idea, she walks towards the graveyard to get better angles on things.
Nels will follow along. Not that she's creeped out by graveyards, but this seems like a bad time to split up. She follows Cryosanthia, saying, "The problem's got to be somewhere. Since we've got no other clues, we might as well check this out. It's as good a lead as any other we've got."
"I have no other ideas," says Elleandra. "I was honestly kind of thinking maybe we already solved the problem. I don't suppose the flying heads could have just made the skeletons, right?"
Namira says, "They didn't, Elleandra. They're not powerful enough. SO we need to find the source, or else this will keep happening."
Lysos is creeped out by graveyards. Especially since her introduction to this one was being frozen in place for near on a minute. She eyes the headstones distrustfully, as if expecting more flying heads or skeletons to burst out.. then gives a start as people start heading in deeper. "Great," she mutters. Knuckles whiten around her staff, then she hikes her skirts up a bit to hurry after Nels and Cryosanthia.
"So, a thing or a being that can raise dead, and pull flying heads from the abyss? Is that a Necromancer, a wizard?" Cryosanthia asks, scanning the gravestones and heading for the coffins that are lying there. Perhaps they have some clues, "I have no idea what those require, in place, or components. You... would, yes Namira? As a holy one of the Death Singing Dragon?"
The rest of your walk through the graveyard is quiet. You find nothing save recently replaced headstones, in neat rows, line after line of them inside a newly built, low basalt wall, mortared so that prayers for the dead can be carved into the stone. This process has only just begun, it seems, but there are large swaths of stone untouched.
Nels follows Cryosanthia, but at the end of the trek is yawning and not at all convinced we're on the right trail after all. "Are you sure there were tracks?" she wonders. "Or maybe we've got to wait until night time for bad things to happen?"
"No. To raise the dead is an affront to the Grey Lady." Namira says softly. "those that follow the foul one would...and that's why I want to investigate. For he is the grey lady's enemy."
"Yes, because when night falls, I often find wonder if I wouldn't be better off wandering through a graveyard where the dead have already been proven to rise," Lysos offers up as commentary, no doubt an attempt to still her own nerves. "I'll wager those blackish flying heads will be so much easier to spot now, too."
"We had best take some precautions," suggests Elleandra. "Also, is it possible that whoever summoned these creatures would know that they were destroyed?" She finds the search tiring, but only because it seems so unproductive.
The search takes several hours, and the sun is low in the sky, and still you have found nothing.
Cryosanthia proves to be right - by day, at least, there seems to be nothing to find. Whatever hatched this problem ... it is hard to say.
The search turns up nothing that would point to who might have done this, and as the sun sinks low and night begins to fall, the air grows chill and damp, with a sniff of rain. You now face a choice - find a space in the village, head back to Alexandria, or camp out.
"I am doubly sure there is nothing here now." Cryo says, crossing her arms, "Did anyone see anything strange in the village we went through? Should we stay, stay in the village, go back and says it's resolved?"
Nels says to Cryo, "Well, we haven't found out /why/ they had these things happen. But if we don't want to camp out here in shifts, we could go back to the village and tell them we're still working it. If we camp here, we might be first to see ... whatever there is to see. What we might do is head back to the village, bed down for the night, then sneak back here to see if someone is doing something."
"We either find shelter here or go to the village. Perhaps we might get some more information there." Elleandra looks to Cryo and then to Nels. "My vote is to check in the village. We can ask better questions now."
Namira says, "Let's look at the village. It's the only clue we have at the moment. I don't see much other choice at the moment."" "I vote for not camping in a graveyard," Lysos says, half raising a hand.
"Oh that's a good idea. If we don't come back, they'll know we're still out here. If we do come back, they'll think it's safe to do whatever they do. I like that. This one agrees." Cryosanthia nods vigorously.
Elleandra says, "To the village!"
Cryosanthia says, "To dinner and a bed!"
Elleandra says, "I hope their cooking is better than their burial work."
Lysos might skip dinner, all things considered.
The journey down the hill is a good deal easier than the one back up, and when you reach the village, the tang of fish and salt is strong in the chilly night air. Most of the town of Asterin lies on the water proper, as sheltered as this area is, and a short walk through town in search of lights and activity points you towards the local tavern and inn, known as the Rusty Gull. It isn't much of one, really, certainly not a place like Alexandria with lots of rooms, but it seems warm and cheerful enough.
Namira looks to Cryosanthia and lets her go into the tavern first. "Strange that they would call us just for this little bit." She then gestures to Cryosanthia. "They're more likely to listen to you than me. I mean...Mul'niessa are distrusted."
GAME: Nels rolls diplomacy: (9)+0: 9
Elleandra asides to Cryosanthia, "I'll be the smiling happy person and you can do the important talking." With that, she leads the way inside. As soon as she is greeted, she offers a polite curtsey and explains, "We have been sent by the Guild to assist in your village's current challenges. Having made a successful initial exploration, we would like to meet with the one who sent for us. Could you help?"
Nels will go in with Elleandra and try to look supportive. Solidarity among the adventurers and all that. She also smiles, though wit this cursed body, the smile and the appearance all hideous, she's not sure how much she can help.
Namira keeps back...Mul'niessa tend to....cause problems with diplomacy.
"You're nicer than most I've known," Cryo tells Namira, also nodding in agreement. She waits for Elleandra to go in, make the introductions. Nels too. It usually goes better when the sith isn't the first to speak. She hangs back, finally entering and giving the place a good look around. Some music and few jokes, maybe that will warm them up and loosen some tongues. That's her plan at least. For the moment she simply goes in and hangs around.
Namira says, "The fact remains that I am a Mul'niessa. We're not trusted because of our tie to the bitch." She then rolls her eyes. "Deeds don't mean much to people who sees you for the first time.""
The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses stop when Elleandra, Nels, and Cryosanthia venture inside, and you can feel all eyes on you as you make your way towards the bar. The inkeep eyes the three of you, but immediately relaxes as you state your intentions. "Oh, thank the gods. We haven't dared go up there all winter, we thought they'd just go away, but then they didn't. So ... you took care of them already? And you'd be wanting to talk to Mikka. He's sort of our headman, see?"
Nels asides to the rest of our group, "This was easier than I was expecting." To the bartemder, she asks, "How do we find Mikka, then?" The direct method seems to be working, she'll run with it.
Elleandra notices that Namira is not with the group and sighs softly. She understands, but she has no intention of leaving the woman who saved her life outside alone. "Cryosanthia, I am thinking none of us should be alone," she explains softly, and with a polite nod she says more clearly, "I apologize, I am unused to rooms, even those as cheery as this. My friends are best qualified to speak to you, in any case." With that, she steps back outside to join Namira.
Lysos remained outside. Not that she'd seemed to be all that warm towards Namira; earlier apology aside, one does not simply cast aside generations of boogey man stories. But for one reason or another, she seems unwilling to let the mourner be by herself. So.. there she is when Elleandra steps back outside.
GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Lysos rolls perception: (10)+1: 11 GAME: Namira rolls perception: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perform/comedy: (11)+7: 18
All eyes are on her! Cryosanthia stares back at the Inn occupants, her eyes glittering as her head pans from side to side. Impromptu stages are the best! She decides... humour! Yes, that will be it. Borrow Namira's joke, and... "Villagers! Don't fret! We brave adventurers from Alexandria have dove into the grave... yard. We always quit when we're ahead, and we got three! I had one, right here on my arm. The thing you have to remember about Skellingtons is, they're always boned! Normally I like to have a chat with my ancestors, have them over for tea, but not the other way around, when they have me over to eat. Get it? E, A, T. Anyhow, that graveyard is a long way away, up a hill, I was dead tired when I got there."
Namira looks over to Lyso and Elleandra. "You don't have to stay here with me. I'm the only Mul'niessa here."
Lysos shrugs her shoulders, eyes looking up towards the sky and the expected rain. "Well, you know... no reason for anyone to be alone. Maybe the one who caused these problems is here in town."
"It would disgrace me to be there with you out here," replies Elleandra. "And Lysos is right, we should be cautious. It seems likely that the most dangerous part of this work lies ahead of us, not behind." She looks out into the gloomy night with a frown. "There's something so depressing about this night, isn't there?"
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* Session Pause *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Dramatis Personae
Lysos
A Tsuran of average height and the typical olive skin of her people. Dark, wavy hair is mostly tamed by a leather thong binding it behind the base of her neck, though a few locks remain free to frame her face. A mouth that seems to want to smile, but doesn't dare. Dark eyes both wary and tired, not quite haunted but far from care-free. Overall an expression that suggests she expects the worst.
Clothes are what would be expected on a traveler. A brown leather vest worn over a dust-stained cotton blouse. Brown woolen skirts, divided for riding and walking, and soft traveler's boots. The clothes don't quite fit, like if someone were expecting to grow in to them. Or didn't have much of a chance to adjust them.