Ch 3: Part 4.1: Graveyard: Session 42

[15:36] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:36] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 3: The Armageddon Echo~~~
[15:37] <@Kilarra> -Session 42-
[15:38] <@Kilarra> The party had ventured back into the ruins of Celwynvian to find a way to assist with the war effort further. Kilarra was irked by the notion that there was a rising number of undead amongst the ruins, and wanting to do something about it.
[15:38] <@Kilarra> On the way back in, the party had to burn a leftover web spell.
[15:42] * Kilarra glances around; "Alright, we should keep moving if there's nothing left nearby that put that web here."
[15:44] * Aluthyra nods, cautiously moving forward. She keeps an eye out, just in case the caster is still in the area.
[15:46] <@Kilarra> The group doesn't encounter a caster, but they do cross paths with something. A quartet of Troglodytes escorting a couple elves in shackles, leading them deeper into the city.
[15:50] * Aluthyra frowns, readying her bow.
[15:51] * Aluthyra fires a quartet of arrows into the quartet. An arrow for each.
[15:52] <Kilarra> The troglodytes don't even have time to look shocked as each one is downed by a single, well placed arrow.
[15:52] * Kilarra just gapes
[15:52] <Kilarra> The shackles elves blink in surprise. They hadn't even had time to notice what was happening.
[15:53] * Aluthyra slings her bow over her shoulder, walking calmly to the elves. She looks over them. "You are not hurt, are you?"
[15:53] <Aluthyra> Tognik blinks. That was fast. He stays a safe distance away in the shadows. Better to not draw attention in a war zone.
[15:54] <Kilarra> The elves nod to Aluthyra, "Your intervention is most appreciated. We have not heard of drow prisoners ever coming back."
[15:54] <Kilarra> Kjell motions to Tognik, "I think this is your department. Think you can get those shackles off them?"
[15:56] * Aluthyra nods, quickly making his way over to the shackles. He retrieves his tools, working at the locks...
[15:57] <Kilarra> The shackles come loose with relative ease for Tognik, their quality not apparently a hindrance.
[15:58] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Need help getting back to camp?"
[15:59] <Kilarra> The elves nod; they are stripped of their gear and just about everything else, their clothes tattered.
[16:01] * Aluthyra nods, turning around. "Then stay back, and keep clear of any enemies."
[16:03] <Kilarra> The Elves nod and fall in behind the group
[16:04] * Aluthyra keeps watch for any threats to the elves.
[16:04] * Kilarra takes up the rear, not refraining from oggling the scarcely clad elves while she was in a position to do so.
[16:04] <Aluthyra> Tognik follows ahead of the elves, but at the back of the group.
[16:04] <Kilarra> Kjell takes point with Aluthyra in case they needed to clear a path
[16:06] <Kilarra> Mercifully, the group doesn't encounter anything upon their return trip.
[16:10] * Aluthyra leads the elves to the camp clerics, making sure they are properly taken care of before returning to her companions.
[16:12] * Kilarra smirks, "Well, not what we were aiming for, but I'd say that was at least moderately helpful." She smirks at Aluthyra, "Not that anyone other than you can really take credit for it."
[16:16] * Aluthyra smiles. "I did my best." She shrugs. "Shall we continue? Perhaps find more to assist?"
[16:18] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "Aye, there's still plenty of daylight left to burn."
[16:19] * Aluthyra nods, continuing back into the ruins with her companions.
[16:26] <Kilarra> Something rushes overhead of the party, casting a large shadow over them for an instant as they make their way along the road.
[16:27] * Aluthyra frowns, looking up and trying to find the source of the shadow.
[16:30] <Kilarra> Neither Tognik or Aluthyra manages to spot the source of the shadow clearly before it passes over the horizon.
[16:31] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs, squinting his eyes and failing to see anything else of note. "Odd. Well, let's continue."
[16:31] <Kilarra> Kjell doesn't like that; "That was ominous. Let us hope we don't run into whatever cast that shadow."
[16:34] * Aluthyra nods. "Then we best continue before it comes back."
[16:34] * Kilarra frowns, "Shalelu did say there was a dragon around. Not exactly something I want to see up close."
[16:43] * Aluthyra nods, moving forward. "Then let's continue."
[16:44] <Kilarra> As the party continues along the southern edge of Celwynvian, eventually they come across what looks like an old graveyard. Strewn with uprooted trees and scattered rubble amidst the small stone markers, the verdant expanse of what might have seemed a garden is now rought with ruin.
[16:50] * Kilarra approaches the graveyard cautiously. Graveyards meant dead, and in places like this, with people like the drow, dead meant undead.
[16:51] * Aluthyra leads, making sure the less combat oriented companions are behind her-- such as Kilarra-- as she moves closer to the graveyard.
[16:51] * Kilarra frowns. Killing Undead was one of the few things she actually was proficient at. She made a point of it.
[16:55] <Aluthyra> Tognik follows a safe distance away.
[16:55] * Aluthyra shrugs. She still stays close.
[17:01] <Kilarra> Aluthyra and Tognik can spot mounds of dark earth, recently exhumed. As well, amidst the graveyard, the both spot the form of what looks like an elderly elf, hunched over on a staff for support.
[17:06] <Kilarra> The old elf seems to glance in the direction of his new company
[17:06] * Kilarra attempts to look around ALuthyra, "What is it?"
[17:12] * Aluthyra quirks her head. "An elderly elf..." She waves, noting the elf's attention.
[17:12] <Kilarra> The elf moves a little, hobbling on his staff, "Who goes?" His voice is raspy, ancient.
[17:14] <Aluthyra> Tognik raises an eyebrow. "Allies to the elves." He quirks his head. "Are you part of one of the war parties?"
[17:14] * Kilarra frowns, this seemed odd. "Not exactly a pleasant place for a stroll. Are you the one responsible for digging up these graves?"
[17:19] <Kilarra> The elf shakes his head slowly. "Dark skinned elves. They come, they dig, they take grave dirt and bone dust."
[17:20] * Aluthyra frowns. "Then you are not from the war party? Have you lived here?"
[17:22] <Kilarra> The elf takes another few steps closer; "Who are you then?"
[17:24] * Kilarra is getting suspicious
[17:25] <Kilarra> Kilarra can see that, through the illusion of the old elf cleric, there is naught but ragged cloth and bone
[17:26] * Aluthyra frowns, dipping her head lightly. "Aluthyra. As our little friend said, allies of the elves."
[17:26] * Kilarra grabs Aluthyra by the arm and pulls her back; "Huecuva. I knew something was off here."
[17:26] * Aluthyra blinks. "What?"
[17:27] * Kilarra frowns; "Undead clerics, cursed by their own heresy."
[17:28] <Kilarra> Kjell reaches for his sword, "I've never met a zombie that was talkative before."
[17:28] * Kilarra shakes her head, "They're -almost- intelligent, and sometimes remember who and what they used to be. Doesn't make them less dangerous though."
[17:30] * Aluthyra frowns, drawing her bow. "Then we will be rid of it."
[17:33] <Kilarra> The huecuva moves alarmingly quickly now that its facade was penetrated. It lunges at Aluthyra with filthy claws of bone.
[17:34] <Kilarra> The Huecuva gets close, but doesn't manage to grab hold of Aluthyra.
[17:35] * Kilarra frowns, "Careful! Its claws are disease ridden."
[17:36] * Aluthyra returns the claw attempt with four arrows.
[17:38] <Kilarra> Aluthyra's arrow barrage shatters bone at this close proximity, her final shot piercing the creature's skull, its pale blue eye lights fading as it slumps to the ground in a heap of dust and tattered cloth.
[17:40] * Aluthyra nods. "There."
[17:41] * Kilarra nods, "Good riddance."
[17:41] <Kilarra> Kjell observes the remnants of the corpse carefully, "It mentioned drow taking things from the graves. I think we can assume that's been the source of ghouls Shalelu mentioned?"
[17:42] * Kilarra nods, "Yeah. This thing may have been a heretic, but if it went down that easily, it wasn't powerful enough to spawn its own undead."
[17:43] * Aluthyra frowns. "We should tell Eviana about this. They might wish to secure the area so that no more ghouls are brought up."
[17:44] * Kilarra notes, "Or, we could make ourselves useful and deal with them at the source." She seems to be very eager to take down a necromancer.
[17:44] * Aluthyra frowns. "If you wish, but be careful."
[17:45] <Aluthyra> Tognik shakes his head. "I'm not sure how useful I'd be in that fight." He nods. "More spells of grease."
[17:46] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "Although we should certainly tell Eviana of this grave desecration, I would think it more important to stem the tide as quickly as possible. If the drow responsible are not out during the day, they are likely within whatever structure houses them, making use of what they scavenged."
[17:47] * Aluthyra nods and looks about the area. Guessing the necromancer might be close, she looks for anything that might fit for shelter for the necromancer.
[17:48] <Aluthyra> Tognik helps, searching for any signs.
[17:51] * Kilarra frowns; "Damnit, should have thought to ask for directions before I exposed him."
[17:57] <Kilarra> After taking some time to thoroughly inspect the area, ALuthyra stumbles across a spilling of grave dirt that forms a vague trail.
[17:57] * Kilarra watches Aluthyra, wondering if she found something.
[17:59] * Aluthyra waves over Kilarra and the others. "I believe I've found something!"
[17:59] <Kilarra> Kjell steps up as well; "What is it?"
[18:03] * Aluthyra points to the dirt. "A path, it seems."
[18:03] * Kilarra smirks, "Nice work. Lead on."
[18:04] * Aluthyra nods, carefully treading the path with her trusty bow.
[18:04] <Aluthyra> Tognik follows in silence and quietly, trying to be stealthy.
[18:05] <Kilarra> Tognik is quite stealthy
[18:10] <Kilarra> Aluthyra's dirt trail eventually leads her to what appears to be an old, abandoned tavern. A circular patio surrounds three-quarters of the main floor, with wide windows looking into the moldering taproom.
[18:11] <Kilarra> Throught the grimey windows, Aluthyra can make out a few shambling forms
[18:12] <Kilarra> Ten in total
[18:13] * Aluthyra points to the windows, trying to direct her other companions' view. "Something is inside... moving."
[18:14] * Kilarra snorts; "Figures. All necromancers leave their experiments to block the way for them."
[18:14] * Aluthyra nods, approaching the door. "Then... shall we?"
[18:16] * Kilarra nods and takes out her whip. She would throw her channeling energy through it on any particularly threateningly looking undead, allowing her companions to handle the more mundane varieties.
[18:17] * Aluthyra proceeds forward, nudging the entrance open.
[18:17] <Aluthyra> Tognik sticks to the back, still proceeding stealthily.
[18:17] <Kilarra> Inside the ruins of the barroom are nine run of the mill zombies, and a single ghast.
[18:19] <Kilarra> The stench coming off the Ghast is putrid
[18:22] <Kilarra> Thankfully, the party manages to hold in their revulsion
[18:25] <Kilarra> The Ghast lumbers up to Aluthyra, the first to enter the door, clawing and biting at her
[18:26] <Kilarra> Which mostly amounts to a lot of flailing
[18:27] * Kilarra frowns at the Ghast trying to make a snack out of her would-be lover. She cracks her whip, flooding it with positive energy and striking at the ghast
[18:28] <Kilarra> The ghast recoils as Kilarra's flaming, energy imbued whip sears it rather painfully.
[18:31] * Aluthyra fires a single arrow into the ghast, hoping to end it. After, she turns, firing three arrows into three zombies.
[18:32] <Kilarra> Aluthyra downs the Ghast, and two of the zombies
[18:32] <Kilarra> After that, Kjell and ALuthyra can make short work of the shambling undead.
[18:32] <Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:34] <Kilarra> Rewards: 4 CR 1 (EL 5), 2 EL 2;
[18:34] <Kilarra> 700 Experience Each