Ch 2: Part 4: Zincher's Camp: Session 25

[15:38] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:38] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 2: Children of the Void~~~
[15:41] <@Kilarra> -Session 25-
[15:45] <@Kilarra> The meeting with Clegg Zincher has ended reasonably well. Nothing came to blows and the party has been given their own pair of tents in the camp right next to Zincher's in exchange for helping bolster his evening guard shifts. He has also offered gold payments for the work, payable upon all of them returning to Riddleport safely.
[15:46] * Kilarra is anxious to get away from Zincher before she has a fit and steps out of the tent for some air.
[15:46] * Aluthyra exits after Kilarra, giving Zincher a bow of her head before leaving.
[15:47] <Aluthyra> Tognik exits quickly after, looking to see if they would be able to talk without being overheard outside of the tent.
[15:49] <@Kilarra> Kjell follows, not really liking the man, but getting no calls for his immediate apprehension or disposal from Tyrant's Bane. He glances around and spots Zincher's thugs setting up a pair of tents for them. He looks to the group, "Shall we check in on Samaritha quickly while our 'accomodations' are set up?"
[15:50] * Aluthyra nods. "That would be good, yes."
[15:50] <Aluthyra> Tognik whispers in gnomish, his message at Kjell once more, "We should see if she is enchanted as well."
[15:52] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I doubt that she would be, considering she is at least aware of such magical coertion. Still, better we make sure she's safe than the alternative."
[15:52] * Kilarra smirks a bit. Any excuse to visit the sexy, tattooed half-elf lady was fine by her.
[15:56] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow at the whispering gnome and shakes her head, starting in the direction of Samaritha's tent.
[15:57] <Aluthyra> Tognik follows behind Kjell, once Kjell starts to move.
[15:58] * Kilarra follows Aluthyra, her eyes more on the unusual woman's midriff than where she was going.
[15:59] <@Kilarra> On the far corner of the sleeping tents is one with the flaps presently closed. Inside are a pair of simple cots, each housing one of the two remaining cyphermages. They look completely exhausted and are sleeping soundly.
[16:00] * Aluthyra stops, looking at the two sleeping forms. "Perhaps we should let them rest?"
[16:01] * Kjell quickly casts detect magic. "I see no signs of enchantment. We should probably leave them be," he whispers.
[16:03] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow. "Enchantment?"
[16:03] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Yes, Zincher seems to be under some form."
[16:03] <@Kilarra> Kjell points to Tognik, "Little Red here believes that... yes that."
[16:04] * Kilarra raises an eyebrow, "Really?"
[16:04] <Aluthyra> Tognik looks to Kilarra. "You wouldn't happen to be able to dispel magic, would you? And yes."
[16:06] * Kilarra nods, "Probably, but I had my higher level magic today devoted to precautions against monster bites."
[16:08] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Right. Then maybe you could prepare it tomorrow, if possible."
[16:09] * Kilarra nods, "Sure. Question is, who'd bother enchanting a dolt like him, and why?"
[16:10] * Aluthyra frowns. "Perhaps he has seen more than he led us to believe."
[16:11] <@Kilarra> Kjell ponders that a moment, "That is possible. If he were under a compulsory enchantment, he wouldn't exactly be able to advertise it."
[16:15] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs. "We can find out tomorrow. Why don't we eat, then we can take our shifts watching."
[16:17] * Kilarra gives a bit of a yawn, "I'm all for that." She glances across the camp, "And they got two tents set up for us. Same size as this one, so two to each."
[16:18] * Aluthyra blinks. "I see. So we will need to share then..."
[16:20] * Kilarra smirks at Aluthyra, then notes, "I figure it should be ladies in one, lads in another. For decency of course."
[16:20] <@Kilarra> Kjell raises an eyebrow, skeptical that Kilarra even knew what Decency was
[16:21] <Aluthyra> Tognik yawns. "Sure. Seems reasonable enough."
[16:22] * Aluthyra sighs lightly and nods. "Then Kilarra and I shall share." She blushes. "Just, wake me up before you begin preparing your spells..."
[16:24] * Kilarra smirks at the cute blushing, then heads over to the tent, her tail wiggling of its own accord.
[16:25] <@Kilarra> Kjell smirks at Tognik and heads to the other tent, "So, has this excursion been living up to your expectations thus far?"
[16:26] <Aluthyra> Tognik chuckles as he walks by Kjell. "Yes. It's been fun. Woulda liked to find more skymetal, but seeing all of those beasts was fun enough."
[16:27] * Aluthyra takes a deep breath and calms herself as she follows Kilarra. Her blush doesn't diminish as her eyes follows the tail for a few moments.
[16:29] <@Kilarra> Kjell raises an eyebrow, not really sure he would consider that fun. "Well, we could all use some rest I'm sure."
[16:30] * Kilarra slips into the tent and examines the cots. Mercifully, they were at least clean.
[16:32] * Aluthyra smiles as she notes the clean cots, before looking over to Kilarra. "I do not mean to be rude, or intrude into something I am not welcome to know, but it seems as though you have some sort of vendetta towards the undead. May I ask why?"
[16:34] * Kilarra blinks, then turns to look at Aluthyra, "You may, but we haven't exactly known each other that long."
[16:35] * Aluthyra looks down and frowns. "I am sorry if I am being too curious. I do not mean to be rude."
[16:35] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods, sighing happily as he flops onto his cot.
[16:43] <@Kilarra> Kjell lays down as well, wanting to get some more rest after not sleeping properly the night before.
[16:45] * Kilarra sighs, "I have my reasons. Mainly its related to my parents, and my... heritage." She doesn't say anything else.
[16:47] * Aluthyra shakes her head. "Being a tiefling is nothing to be so ashamed of. Heritage does not determine what kind of person you are, nor does it matter." She shrugs. "I do not know my own heritage. Were it to be something horrible, or good, it would make no difference."
[16:50] * Kilarra smiles a bit, "Thanks, but it's a bit more complicated than that." she raises one of her legs, stretching it, scratching at the patch of fur above her hoof. She takes a good looks at it and sighs before putting it down. She removes her breast plate and lays down.
[16:53] * Aluthyra lays down after a moment, deciding to rest. She can ask Kilarra about the rest later. She doesn't want to press her for too much.
[16:54] <@Kilarra> About four hours after the party dozes off, they are awoken by their tent flaps being opened, a pair of thugs peeking in each side, "Oi, you lot. It's your turn to go on the watch."
[16:56] <@Kilarra> Kjell wakes with a start, immediately drawing his sword. He lowers it when he sees Zincher's men and what they said takes hold. "Right." He stands up, sheathing Tyrant's bane, then prods Tognik a bit. The gnome really liked his sleep.
[16:57] <Aluthyra> Tognik groans and rolls off of his bed. "I'm up, I'm up!"
[16:57] * Aluthyra yawns, nodding to the thugs as she sits up. "One moment."
[17:00] * Kilarra grumbles as she's awoken prematurely. She gets up and puts on her breast plate, 'accidentally' stepping on the feet of one of the thugs with her hooves on the way out.
[17:01] * Aluthyra pulls out her bow as she exits behind Kilarra, taking watch on the border of the camp.
[17:02] * Kilarra follows Aluthyra, drawing her whip.
[17:02] <@Kilarra> Kjell redraws his sword and heads out with the group
[17:03] <@Kilarra> At the edge of the camp, the party runs into Akron Erix, the man with the sledgehammer from Zincher's pavillion. He gives them a curt nod while keeping his eyes on the woods.
[17:03] <Aluthyra> Tognik gathers his thinks then heads out behind everyone else.
[17:04] <@Kilarra> Erix speaks up when the party is all present. In spite of his stature and breadth, his voice is rather soft. "So, what are you folks really doin' way out here?"
[17:07] * Aluthyra looks to Kilarra, staying silent.
[17:07] <@Kilarra> He notes again, "You ain't with the cyphers you said, but the gnome was the only one who said Skymetal. What about the rest of you?"
[17:09] * Aluthyra remains silent.
[17:09] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs. "I thought they were all here for the metal."
[17:10] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks at Erix warily, then glances at his sword. "I see." He looks to Erix, "You've been with Zincher since this expedition began, yes? Has he been acting strange lately? At least, compared to what you know of him?"
[17:11] <@Kilarra> Erix blinks, then look contemplative, "Y'know, he -has- been acting a bit funny lately. Like he's got a secret. Why, you know something I don't?"
[17:12] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Think he's been enchanted."
[17:14] <@Kilarra> Erix raises an eyebrow, "By who?"
[17:15] <Aluthyra>  Tognik shakes his head. "Don't know, but we need to find out who and why."
[17:17] <@Kilarra> Erix looks contemplative, "When my shift is done, I'll have a chat with him. You suspect anyone in particular?"
[17:19] * Aluthyra shrugs and looks to Kilarra.
[17:19] * Kilarra sighs, "Yeah, we do, but we don't know you well enough to trust you with our suspicions."
[17:19] <@Kilarra> Erix blinks, then nods, "I suppose that's fair."
[17:22] * Aluthyra goes back to watching the woods for any hostility.
[17:25] <@Kilarra> Some hostility comes. In the form of a sextet of void zombies, lumbering forward towards the camp as though spurred on by something.
[17:35] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra can see that the zombies aren't alone. Moving silently through the shadows behind them is a ghostly black figure approaching from the southeast.
[17:36] * Aluthyra squints her eyes, attempting to see whether or not it was a drow.
[17:37] <@Kilarra> As the figure grows closer, it seems to be more akin to a black, vapourous man than a dark elf. It's obviously some kind of ghost though, and it looks angry.
[17:38] <@Kilarra> A pair of pinpoints of light mark where a person's eyes might once have been
[17:40] * Aluthyra whispers to Kilarra, pointing a finger towards the figure. "Some kind of undead?"
[17:43] * Kilarra glances in its direction, then nods, "Yeah, and unlike the zombies, it doesn't have a body." She looks around the group, "Kjell, if you got any spells that use raw magical force, now's the time. That and positive energy are the only things that'll work properly. Aluthyra, bronze guy, keep the zombies off us while we deal with this thing."
[17:45] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and gets ready
[17:45] <@Kilarra> Erix raises an eyebrow at being called bronze guy, but turns towards the zombies and readies his sledgehammer.
[17:45] * Aluthyra aims her bow forward.
[17:46] * Kilarra is up first and cracks her whip at the wraith, attempting to deliver a full dose of positive energy straight to it.
[17:47] <@Kilarra> The wraith fizzles and warps at the burst of positive energy channeled through Kilarra's whip. It's hard to tell how badly hurt it was though.
[17:48] <@Kilarra> The wraith however, didn't like that, and floats towards Kilarra, reachign out to grasp her with what could almost be a hand.
[17:51] <@Kilarra> Kilarra feels a cold, painful rush as the wraith gorges itself on her life force
[17:51] * Kilarra screams
[17:52] * Aluthyra winces, gritting her teeth at the fact that her arrows would likely not hurt the creature.
[17:55] * Aluthyra turns her attention back to the zombies, firing three arrows forward in rapid succession, each at a separate zombie.
[17:58] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra's first arrow misses, possibly startled by Kilarra's scream, but her second two find homes right between the eyes of a pair of the zombies, felling them instantly.
[17:59] <@Kilarra> The remaining zombies shuffle forward obliviously, striking first at Erix, because he was closer, then at Kjell, because he hadn't yet moved to deal with the wraith.
[18:00] <@Kilarra> Erix and Kjell each take one blow, but the zombies aren't that strong
[18:01] <@Kilarra> erix hefts his hammer and takes two swings at the nearest zombie, aiming to bash it in before it could attack again.
[18:02] <@Kilarra> Erix's first swing, which is remarkably graceful for a man of his stature, lands, half caving in the zombie's head, but his follow through is lacking.
[18:03] <@Kilarra> Kjell moves to do as Kilarra instructed, as well as to give the wraith another target. Her holds up his right hand and sends a barrage of magical force projectiles at the creature.
[18:05] <@Kilarra> The wraith is pierce by the magical projectiles just as effectively as the positive energy.
[18:05] <@Kilarra> Kjell taps into his arcane pool to recharge the spell again, seeing as how it was rather effective.
[18:06] * Kilarra looks a little emaciated after being touched by the wraith
[18:08] <Aluthyra> Tognik points in front of Erix and Kjell, whispering in gnomish as he forms a pool of grease in front of them.
[18:09] <@Kilarra> The quartet of remaining void zombies, in spite of their continued silence, slip on the grease, looking almost comical.
[18:12] * Kilarra glares at the wraith, "I will -not- allow a shadey fucker like you to cop a feel and get away with it." She raises her hand and channels positive energy directly into the Wraith
[18:13] <@Kilarra> Though weakened by the wraith's touch, Kilarra just barely manages to pump it full of enough positive energy to dissolve the spectre.
[18:13] * Kilarra pants, sweating and looking drained.
[18:15] * Aluthyra fires another barrage of arrows, one at three of the downed zombies.
[18:16] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra's shots finish off the one Erix had started on, and badly wound two others.
[18:16] <@Kilarra> Erix hefts his hammer again and goes for the last uninjured one.
[18:17] <@Kilarra> He crushes it to a pulp
[18:17] <@Kilarra> Kjell turns away from the Wraith, relieved that it was destroyed, and uses his spell again to send a pair of missiles at each remaining zombie.
[18:19] * Kilarra staggers a bit, seating herself. She takes afew deep breaths, shuddering. "Stupid... lousy... Gods damned..." she mutters a bit incoherently.
[18:20] <@Kilarra> Kjell smiles at Erix, "You fight quite gracefully for such a large hammer. Most impressive."
[18:20] * Aluthyra motions for Tognik to move to Kilarra as she asks, "Kilarra, do you need healing?"
[18:20] <@Kilarra> Erix nods, then looks to Kilarra, "Didn't know you were a cleric. Got any interest in exchanging favours?"
[18:21] * Kilarra nods to Aluthyra first, "A little, yeah. Although, the thing got some of my life energy. I'm gonna need to prepare something a little stronger come morning, but I can fix it."
[18:21] * Kilarra looks to Erix, "What kind of favour?"
[18:21] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow.
[18:22] <@Kilarra> Erix nods, "We got a couple guys bit by those blue things and no way to fix 'em up. Zincher's got them strapped down in the infirmary tent, but if you got something that could cure their affliction..."
[18:24] * Kilarra nods, "As it happens, I did come prepared for that, but why should I waste my curings on them when we're still at risk here?"
[18:25] * Aluthyra frowns. "You would not wish the infection to spread, would you?"
[18:25] * Kilarra shakes her head, "No, but the zombies just carry it, they don't spread it."
[18:26] <@Kilarra> Erix nods, "You help them out, I'll let you in on why -I'm- really doin' here with Zincher. I think I can trust you, since you don't seem fond of the guy and could have just as easily let me be zombie chow."
[18:27] * Aluthyra nods. "If Kilarra would agree, that seems fair enough..."
[18:27] * Kilarra looks intrigued. "Shorafa would probably be very interested in any dirt she can get on Zincher... deal." She stands up, taking another deep breath.
[18:28] <@Kilarra> Erix nods, "Follow me, quick and quiet like. The rest of you can keep watch for now, we'll come back when it's done."
[18:29] <@Kilarra> Erix leads Kilarra around where the other guards would be posted and slips her in under the rear of the infirmary tent, the front flaaps having been sewn shut. Therein, lay two more of Zincher's thugs, strapped down and in the late stages of akata infection.
[18:30] * Aluthyra nods and keeps watch.
[18:31] * Kilarra nods and lays her hand on the chest of one first, "Calistria, remove this unnatural affliction and keep this one from becoming another undead nightmare," she whispers. The spell courses through the victim, who stops writhing and seems to fall unconscious. She repeats the process on the second one.
[18:32] <@Kilarra> Erix smiles, "Alright, you took the worst of that wraith thing, so you and your friends go get the rest of your rest. I'll finish up this shift."
[18:32] * Kilarra nods appreciately and slips out to rejoin the group. She tells them that they're free to go back to sleep with Erix's leave.
[18:34] <Aluthyra> Tognik is happy to do so, and quickly moves to fall back asleep in his cot.
[18:35] <@Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:36] <@Kilarra> Rewards: 1 CR 5, 6 CR 1, 2 CR 1; 1200 Experience Each