Ch 2: Part 3: Witchlight: Session 20

[15:43] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:43] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 2: Children of the Void~~~
[15:43] <@Kilarra> \Part 3: Witchlight/
[15:43] <@Kilarra> -Session 20-
[15:45] <@Kilarra> The group approaches Witchlight from the south after a long slog up the steep slop of the island. There they see only delapidated buildings, save for the solid stone watchtower, which has weathered both the tremors and the starfall reasonably well.
[15:49] <Aluthyra> Tognik looks at the buildings as they approach, searching for any sign of life. He notes, "They might be hiding with some sort of spell, since they're mages..."
[15:49] * Aluthyra nods her head, keeping her bow ready in case of hostile creatures.
[15:50] * Kilarra looks around, "We saw that light that Gavin thought might be them trying to get attention though, right? It came from the tower." She glances at it. "It looks pretty sturdy for now, so if they're hiding from something, it's either in the woods, or the other buildings."
[15:54] <Aluthyra> Tognik motions for the group to hold, quickly walking to the front and holding out his open palm as he whispers, "I can scout ahead while invisible, if you'd like. If the mages are hiding from something, it'd be nice to find out what /you're/ going to fight."
[15:57] <@Kilarra> Kjell ponders that, "And if these mysterious beasts can detect you while invisible?"
[15:59] <Aluthyra> Tognik frowns. "Then... I have other spells in which I can make distractions." he adds, "Plus, I'm not too bad at sneaking around otherwise."
[16:00] <@Kilarra> Kjell shakes his head, "I would still rather we go together to sweep these buildings. We have heard nothing good about what has been happening on this island."
[16:03] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs. "However you wish. Just in case, though... let me at least cast a spell to help you in battle."
[16:03] <@Kilarra> Kjell smirks, "Of course."
[16:04] <Aluthyra> Tognik mumbles a few arcane words, touching his hand to Kjell's leg.
[16:05] <@Kilarra> Kjell feels mroe heroic, "Wow. Whatever spell that is, I'm gonna have to see if I can get it for myself. I feel great!"
[16:07] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods, pulling out one of his wands as he moves to the back of the group.
[16:09] * Kilarra moves up behind Kjell, allowing him to take the lead. That's what she had brought him for after all.
[16:10] <@Kilarra> Kjell follows the winding path through the village, stopping at the first partly collapsed residence. He opens the door and looks inside. "Tognik, since you're the lightest, it might be best if you took a look first. This building does not look like it can take much more before it collapses."
[16:11] * Kilarra likes that plan. The Gnome would be good for somethign after all: bait.
[16:12] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods, heading to the doorway and proceeding quietly and slowly.
[16:14] <@Kilarra> Kjell draws his sword and keeps his right hand free to cast spells if needed.
[16:14] <@Kilarra> Tognik can't find anything in the building.
[16:15] * Tognik turns back after a look around the building, heading back out the door to inform the others, "Nothing. That I can see, at least."
[16:16] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and keeps his sword out, leading the party down towards the next building along the path
[16:18] <@Kilarra> This large timber-and-stone structure stands at the edge of the steep southern slope, overlooking the sea far below. Large windows facing the village’s main thoroughfare suggest a shop in at least one portion of the building, but the windows have been hastily boarded over. Several corpses lay near the outer walls of the building, obviously a source of interest for the circling turkey vultures above.
[16:18] <@Kilarra> Notably, this building is the only two-storey structure in the town.
[16:20] * Kilarra doesn't like the look of those corpses, especially after the mention of those bitten by the mysterious beasts rising up as some kind of undead. She uncurls her whip and gives it some slack.
[16:20] * Aluthyra frowns, moving closer to look at the corpses and perhaps find out what exactly killed them.
[16:23] <@Kilarra> An investigation of the corpses determines that they were slain by numerous slashing blows and what appear to be bite marks. More horrifying, however, is the mutilated nature of their faces. Each body is missing its lower jaw; in its place is a nauseating, gray-green, twitching tendril that looks almost like a bloated tongue.
[16:24] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra's search triggers a shift in the quartet of corpses. They stand eerily silently and move to attack. The only sound they make, in spite of their thrashing, is the scraping of their feet against the ground.
[16:30] * Aluthyra grimaces, taking a step back and calling upon her ki energy to release three arrows out from her bow, shooting each one at a separate corpse.
[16:35] <@Kilarra> Two of Aluthyra's arrows hit their mark, but the bizarre zombies slog on, less phased than a living person might be.
[16:36] <@Kilarra> Kjell steps up, "Allow me." He picks one of the uninjured zombies and lashes out with his sword. With his off hand he throws a quartet of magical projectiles, two at each already injured one.
[16:38] <@Kilarra> Kjell's slash very nearly bifurcates the uninjured zombie. His first set of magic missiles fells one of the injured ones, but the other just barely remains standing.
[16:40] * Kilarra sees to injured zombies and one uninjured one. She claps her hands together around her holy symbol, "Calistria, you know full well I'd like to inflict soem serious hurt on the zombies. But since they don't feel pain, let's dust them." A burst of holy light and positive energy explodes outward from her, encompassing all three zombies.
[16:42] <@Kilarra> The two already damaged zombies dissolve into a fine dust, while the one that had peviously been untouched is seared by the burst of positive energy.
[16:43] <@Kilarra> Kjell's hand glows with an expenditure of arcane energy, restoring the spent power of his spell.
[16:46] <Aluthyra> Tognik flicks his hand, mumbling as he takes out a stick of butter from his components pouch, infusing it with a spell of grease underneath the standing zombie.
[16:50] <@Kilarra> The zombie, in spite of its grotesque appearance and eerie silence, ends up looking rather comical as it slips on the greasy ground and falls over
[16:52] <@Kilarra> The zombie attempts to stand... and fails, looking ridiculous
[16:53] * Aluthyra nocks another arrow, firing it along with a second in rapid succession to end the zombie, once and for all hopefully.
[16:54] <@Kilarra> The two arrows, even with their lesser effectiveness, are enough to put the zombie down after the searing positive energy damage.
[16:57] <@Kilarra> Kjell keeps his sword out, "Wretched creatures."
[16:57] * Kilarra spits on the corpse of the last one, "I vote that once we've dealt with the drow, we take the rest of our time here to get rid of this island's pest problem before it can spread."
[16:58] * Aluthyra looks around for any more corpses in the area before nudging Kjell. "We should continue. We need to find these mages and clear the area before more are claimed victims of the undead."
[16:59] * Aluthyra looks to Kilarra, noting the sore spot concerning undead, planning to talk of it later when they were all in less... hostile areas. "Agreed."
[17:00] <@Kilarra> As if on cue, a window on one of the upper levels of the watchtower is thrown open. "Stop there! Say something so I know you're alive!" The voice is female, and looking up to the tower would give someone a view of a pretty, yet bedraggled half-elf woman with tattoos on her face.
[17:02] <Aluthyra> Tognik calls back and waves, "We certainly are alive!"
[17:03] <@Kilarra> The woman calls down to them, "Come into the watchtower through the Barracks at the base. It's not safe outside, and if I've noticed you, they probably have too."
[17:05] * Aluthyra starts to move in the mentioned direction, motioning for the others to follow.
[17:06] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and, while keeping his sword out, moves around to the barracks.
[17:06] <Aluthyra> Tognik follows, his steps light in case of any more undead in the area.
[17:06] * Kilarra smirks at hearing the woman speak. It was nice to finally meet something not trying to kill them, and bonus, it was a sexy half-elf lady.
[17:07] <@Kilarra> This fifty-foot-tall circular watchtower stands precariously on the edge of a steep slope overlooking the sea. The tower itself seems to be made of stone, yet no seams or individual blocks are apparent; it’s as if the entire tower were formed from one block of stone. An enclosed octagonal platform protrudes from the tower roof.
[17:09] <@Kilarra> Inside the barracks at the base of the tower, there is a fair amount of blood and other signs of combat. The outer door hangs askew off its hinges, while the interior door leading to the watchtower itself is shut and barred
[17:11] * Aluthyra is careful to look for corpses that may rise up against them.
[17:12] <@Kilarra> In spite of the signs of battle, there are no bodies inside the barracks thankfully.
[17:14] * Aluthyra breaths a sigh of relief, and assuming that the half-elf would come down to open it, waits near the barred door.
[17:14] <Aluthyra> Tognik puts away his wand for the moment, seeing as the immediate danger passed.
[17:16] * Kilarra curls her whip back around her shoulder, but leaves her holy symbol where she can reach it in case of more zombies.
[17:17] <@Kilarra> Kjell stands guard at the exterior door until such time as the elf woman came to let them in.
[17:21] <@Kilarra> Afetr a few minutes a noise behind the door signals the shifting of the beam barring it, and the door creaks open, revealing the form of Samaritha Beldusk, with whom the party would have been familiar had Daroskt of Katarina stuck around.
[17:23] <@Kilarra> Samritah looks endless relieved at the presence of the party, "I am so glad to see you all here, whoever you are. I am Samaritha Beldusk, acting leader of this ill-fated exposition. Please, come with me."
[17:24] * Aluthyra smiles at the woman and dips her head in greeting, following as she is asked.
[17:25] <@Kilarra> Kjell bows low to her, taking note of the varisian tattoo on her face. He quickly glances at his own right arm, then follows behind her.
[17:26] <Aluthyra> Tognik follows in the back as usual, quietly humming a tune to himself.
[17:26] * Kilarra smirks and watches Samaritha closely. Damn, adventurers really did hog all the sexy. Apparently living in a brothel for eighty years wasn't the best place to find attractive people.
[17:28] <@Kilarra> As Samaritha leads them up the tower, they pass by a makeshift infirmary, where two other mages in similar dress to hers are tending to a pair of unconscious cyphers. Samirtha leads them past the infirmary for now, and is noticeably also injured herself. All five of them are injured to some degree or another, but the two unconscious ones look the worst
[17:29] <Aluthyra> Tognik clears his throat. "I have a wand of healing, plenty of charge left, if that'd help."
[17:31] <@Kilarra> Samaritha seats them down. She immediately gives Tognik a grateful look, but motions for him to have a seat, "That would be greatly appreciated, but for now they're stable and it's crucial you be made aware of the dangers here as quickly as possible."
[17:32] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods, having a seat.
[17:33] <@Kilarra> Samaritha also sends one of the two conscious cyphermage apprentices up to the upper level of the tower to keep watch. "Now, how long have you been here, and do you have a ship that can get us off this cursed island? Have you encountered any of the monsters yet?"
[17:34] <@Kilarra> Samaritha bombards the party with her questions in rapid succession, scarcely waiting for a reply in her haste and slightly reluctant excitement at the prospect of a rescue.
[17:35] * Aluthyra blinks at the quick questions, but quickly nods. "We arrived here at the start of the day, we do have a ship, though it will not return for another three days, and we encountered some of the undead not too long ago... along with local boars."
[17:39] <@Kilarra> Samaritha shakes her head, "The zombies are the end result of those bitten by the monsters I speak of." She takes a deep breath and begins to tell the party their story. "We arrived here three days ago on an expedition under Fenella Bromathan, the cyphermage I was apprenticed under. Things went well enough for the first couple days, except that, in spite of the number of craters, there wasn't as much skymetal as we had hoped. I imagin
[17:40] <@Kilarra> - I imagine Zincher's group or some other prospectors got to it first."
[17:44] * Kilarra raises an eyebrow, "Was?"
[17:46] * Aluthyra frowns at the mention of Zincher.
[17:46] <Aluthyra> Tognik's brow furrows. Not much skymetal? Zincher would pay...
[17:50] <@Kilarra> Samaritha sighs, "Everything went to hell yesterday. We were attacked by those monsters. Sleek, clawed and with tendrils. We were caught by surprise and, worse, they we resistant to magic! Of the twelve of us, seven were killed, including Fenella. We had to hole up in here and could only watch as our dead got up and walked off." Samaritha begins to tear up, "Since then, I've been trying to signal for help as well as keep any more of more of my companions from dying. Thank the gods for small favors, none of us that remain were bitten."
[17:52] * Aluthyra sighs. "I am sorry for your losses. I am sure that Captain Josper will be able to take you all back, but again, that is three days from now..."
[17:54] <@Kilarra> Kjell places a hand on Smaritha's, "By Cayden's blade, you have my word. We shall keep you and your companions safe as well as we are able."
[17:56] <@Kilarra> Samaritha gives a small smile and wipes her eyes, "Unfortunately, with your arrival, I wouldn't be surprised if the monsters were reading for another attack. If we can fend them off though, it might create an opening for an escape. Was the port where you landed safe?"
[17:56] * Kilarra looks to Samaritha, "What about those zombies we fought already? Were they yours?"
[17:57] <@Kilarra> Samaritha blinks, then shakes her head, "No, they were from Goldhammer's expedition. They were suspicious of us after we took the best camp site on the island, and didn't heed my warnings to come inside. They were killed by the creatures as well."
[18:00] * Aluthyra shakes her head. "Goldhammer and a few of his men are safe, as they boarded our ship as we arrived." She raises an eyebrow. "Beside the creatures on the island and Goldhammer, have you seen anyone else?"
[18:01] <@Kilarra> Samaritha shakes her head, "Not aside from Goldhammer's group. We deliberately avoided Zincher's camp."
[18:02] * Aluthyra nods. "You would not happen to know where it is, would you?"
[18:04] <@Kilarra> Samaritha nods, "South of the crater, along the main path. I had considered going to him for protection, but I won't abandon my fellow cyphers." She looks to Tognik, "Would you mind?"
[18:07] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods, pulling out his curing wand. He moves to Samaritha first, activating the wand to heal her wounds.
[18:10] <@Kilarra> The room in which Samaritha has seated the PCs in their makeshift barracks, with a couple of bedrolls and a small chest. After the light healing, which covers most of her scratches, she heads over to the small chest and opens it, plucking out a small lump of shimmering green ore that she hands to Tognik. "I know it's not much, but please, take this for your help."
[18:12] * Tognik smiles and places the ore in his packs, then moves back to the makeshift infirmary, using the wand to get the mages back to good, or at least decent, health.
[18:13] <@Kilarra> Kjell follows Tognik back down to the infirmary and watches him work. The little gnome was full of surprises.
[18:13] * Kilarra eyes the ore curiously, assuming that was the much sought after skymetal, although she didn't recognize anything about it at all. She follows Tognik down to double check his healing efforts and possibly advise him on the condition of those healed.
[18:15] <@Kilarra> After Tognik goes through the healing charges with his wand, Kilarra's inspection reveals that each of them has been fully healed, including Samaritha.
[18:15] * Aluthyra waits while in the infirmary room, not being of much use for healing. She glances a few times at Kilarra's backside. The woman was undeniably attractive, though a little too forward. She blinks, realizing what she was just thinking about and blushes, looking away and meditating to clear her mind.
[18:16] <@Kilarra> The quartet of lesser mages look extremely relieved, and Samaritha looks overjoyed.
[18:17] <Aluthyra> Tognik places the wand back into his quiver, smiling widely as he sits down, taking out the ore and examining it.
[18:20] * Kilarra doesn't really consider herself that attractive physically, but her legs and backside are at least well toned and shaped. She nods to Tognik, "You done good gnomey."
[18:21] <Aluthyra> Tognik shrugs, far too busy examining the ore.
[18:23] <@Kilarra> Tognik's analysis, while not exactly thorough, reveals that the ore is resistant to magic, and, while it looks more like a gem, it's consistency is closer to that of steel.
[18:23] <@Kilarra> He figures a single pound of the ore could probably go for 50 gold pieces.
[18:26] <Aluthyra> Tognik smiles, looking to Samaritha. "Is this the skymetal?"
[18:28] <@Kilarra> Samaritha looks around the group, and then sends one of the now healed mages back up to the watchpost. She nods to Tognik, "It is, since I've never encountered an earthly substance like it. I know it's not Adamantite, but other than that, I'm not sure which of the other six varieties it is. Aside form Adamantite, most other forms of skymetal are ridiculously scarce, almot to the point of myth."
[18:29] <Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Thank you then."
[18:30] * Aluthyra looks to Kilarra after finishing a quick meditation. "Perhaps we should lead the mages to a safer area, then continue on our search?"
[18:32] <@Kilarra> Samaritha looks to Aluthyra, "We should wait. If there are more creatures massing, which I would think likely given your presence here and your fight with those zombies, then our best bet would be to wait out their attack and then attempt an escape."
[18:32] * Kilarra smirks at Aluthyra, "We could probably take them to the port, although this place seems fairly secure by itself."
[18:34] * Aluthyra nods. "Then we shall wait for any massing creatures."
[18:34] <@Kilarra> An alarmed cry rings out from the top of the tower, the voice belonging to the cyphermage on guard, "Here they come again!"
[18:34] <@Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:36] <@Kilarra> Rewards: 4 CR 1; 400 Exp each