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Story Hour
"Murder, Lies and Civic Duty."
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<blockquote data-quote="Kidjake" data-source="post: 6747906" data-attributes="member: 6776876"><p>It's been two days since Ibaeli vanished into the forest swearing revenge and neither Kavos nor any other member of Westbank has seen hide nor hair of him or his companion since. Just to be safe, Kavos has set up a regular night patrol with Looman and the deputies and personally keeps an eye out during his daily duties. Everything has been silent, so it's past due when he gets a hastily scribbled letter from Professor Rambalt which simply reads: "Come quick, there's been an incident."</p><p></p><p>Kavos drops what he's doing and rushes to Rambalt's house immediately, when he arrives he finds Rambalt waiting on the doorstep pale and jittery.</p><p></p><p>"I don't know.." Rambalt says shaking his head. "I mean, it couldn't...there's no way, I just... Something happened." he finally says exasperatedly.</p><p></p><p>Kavos tells him to calm down and just show him.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt leads the aging priest inside and Kavos can clearly hear the sound of somebody ransacking Rambalt's basement, he readies his staff and inches down the cowardly mage's stairs as quietly as he can. On roughly the third step he hears a mournful wail cut through the house, causing him to shudder slightly at the sound. The wailing seems to pick up its tempo rather than subside.</p><p></p><p>When Kavos finally steps into the basement proper he sees that it is set up as Rambalt's cellar in Briar's Pass was, with tables laid out and doodads hung up; the corpse of the bandit is laid on one table and a naked, gaunt corpse is staring at itself in Rambalt's full sized mirror; pieces of glass showering everything as the creature shatters it. It's holding its head in its hands as it turns around and then suddenly stops, staring at him.</p><p></p><p>"Kavos!" it shouts, rushing forward and throwing its arms around him before he can react. With a start, Kavos realizes that it's Gandil only...deader. With a second shock, he realizes that the creature has sapped his strength and it's become impossible to move.</p><p></p><p>"I vividly remember being killed by bandits and then....other unpleasant things. How am I alive?" Gandil asks, confused.</p><p></p><p>"You, erm...aren't." Rambalt says, coughing nervously. "I was repairing your wounds to prepare you for umm... But it seems that your spirit was still bound to your body, waiting to come back."</p><p></p><p>"Oh....Kavos," Gandil says, fear evident in his voice as he realizes where he's been. "The priests are all wrong, the afterlife is a horrible, horrible place. Way more fire and blood than I was led to believe would be waiting for me in paradise...I'd hate to see what Hell is like."</p><p></p><p>Rambalt seems to be trembling. "I don't know what happened..." he whimpers "I...I repaired the body and it sat up. It's not supposed to do that. They're not supposed to do that!"</p><p></p><p>Gandil turns to face Rambalt, his skin is gaunt and sickly, taking on an unnatural tone much like a man with jaundice; however his eyes (though unnaturally yellow) are sharp and alert,most definitely not the eyes of a dead man. His numerous wounds are stitched together haphazardly but he doesn't seem to mind or notice. As he releases Kavos the cleric tumbles to the ground, temporarily paralyzed.</p><p></p><p>Kavos realizes that Gandil is some form of ghoul, though a chattier specimen than is usually observed. Rambalt apparently realizes the same thing and as Gandil reaches to help Kavos up the usually reserved mage warns him against it; after a few seconds Kavos takes a deep breath and sits up under his own power.</p><p></p><p>"Gandil?" Kavos asks incredulously.</p><p></p><p>"Do you...know it, Kavos?" Rambalt asks with a note of wonder in his voice.</p><p></p><p>"It?" Gandil demands, "I am Gandil, SHERIFF of this town! What the hell are you doing in my basement?"</p><p></p><p>"Gandil..." Kavos says, putting out a hand to silence him as he stands up. "Gandil, when your head was detached from your body, Looman became the sheriff...and I gave Professor Rambalt your house."</p><p></p><p>"Nonsense!" Gandil shouts, "Looman doesn't have what it takes to police this town, I've got to get out there and make sure everyone's safe!" he says, bolting towards the stairs buck naked.</p><p></p><p>"Wait, wait, wait!" Rambalt says, running after him. "You're naked and quite obviously undead, you HAVE to cover yourself before you go out!"</p><p></p><p>Gandil stops in his tracks and looks down at the grisly wounds which cover his body, "You...make some good points." the impulsive warrior says. "Fetch me something that's nicer than whatever this is that you're wearing. I've got sheriffing to do."</p><p></p><p>Kavos steps between Gandil and the stairs, "Gandil, you're undead. REALLY undead, you can't just take a stroll through town, you'll cause a panic. We need to figure something out."</p><p></p><p>Rambalt returns from a closet with an outfit identical to the one he's wearing but without any obvious blood stains. "I don't own any finery," the professor admits by way of an apology, "Though I may be able to help your...umm...appearance."</p><p></p><p>"How long would it last Rambalt?" Kavos asks, immediately distrusting anything that sounds too easy.</p><p></p><p>"Almost indefinitely...so long as he' careful." Rambalt responds. "It'll take me a day or two to prepare, but so long as you wear this hat," he says, digging a modest looking cap from one of his closet, "You should appear human."</p><p></p><p>Gandil sighs and apologizes to Rambalt for his rudeness, he says that it's just the 'murdered and woke up naked' thing that's getting to him. Rambalt says that while he doesn't understand, having never been in Gandil's posotion, he does assume that it would be trying.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt gets to work fashioning Gandil a Hat of Disguise and while Gandil doesn't understand why he should hide himself from the town (claiming that the townspeople would adore him no matter what he is) he sits patiently all the same.</p><p></p><p>It's early morning when Rambalt finally finishes the hat and Gandil immediately paces it on his head and rushes outside to meet the day. Since it's so early, the only people that Gandil see right off are a handful of laborers dragging boxes down to the dock in preparation for their promised delivery from Eastbank. From his/Rambalt's house Gandil can see the temple of Pelor, as well as the inn and Hadran's home.</p><p></p><p>Gandil takes a deep breath and Rambalt steps out behind him, placing Longarm's enchanted falchion into Gandil's empty hand. Rambalt helpfully suggests that every sheriff needs a weapon and Gandil cheerfully agrees as he straps the weapon's sheath to his back.</p><p></p><p>"People of Westbank!" Gandil shouts at the top of his vestigal lungs, "Your beloved sheriff HAS RETURNED!"</p><p></p><p>The workers look up at the noise and one of them drops their load in surprise. A murmur arises from the startled laborers and it quickly becomes a commotion which brings more and more townspeople out of their houses to see what it's about. Rambalt is nervous at all of this attention and slips back into his home to leave Gandil alone with his public.</p><p></p><p>Everyone had heard of what happened to Gandil and many had seen Jonathan Lark carry his headless corpse into Adrian's basement, that he's somehow back from the dead is a chilling concept. Several people cheer and one rushes to get Father Adrian to see what he thinks of this.</p><p></p><p>Soon a crowd has gathered and continues growing in front of Rambalt's house, they begin asking questions concerning what the other side is like and which god he worships that was considerate enough to bring him back. Before Gandil has a chance to answer anything however, Kavos steps out of the crowd with his hands up.</p><p></p><p>"Good citizens of Westbank, our lord Pelor has granted me the miraculous power necessary to resurrect our fallen hero in these troubled times. Do not pester Gandil about his final reward, it is the place of great Pelor alone to reveal such marvels." Kavos says, dripping with false humility.</p><p></p><p>Gandil shudders at the thought of what he actually witnessed on the other side, though noone seems to pick up on it. The crowd seems disappointed, but accept Kavos's plea. The devoted Pelorites of the town ttake this opportunity o tell everyone else that they'd always told them so.</p><p></p><p>Gandil takes this opportunity to slip back into his home while Kavos offers to perform further miracles for the crowd in the name of Pelor(since he's apparently Pelor's chosen prophet now). Once Gandil is out of sight he grabs Rambalt by the throat paralyzing the little man, he growls "Tell NOONE of what really happened. I'll only warn you this once!"</p><p></p><p>As soon as the paralysis wears off, Rambalt seems strangely relieved. "Me?! I was terrified YOU were going to tell them that I turned you into a monster!" he says, collapsing into one of the living room's chairs. "Villagers generally don't like to hear that about their neighbors...and they generally voice their displeasure with fire and clubs and ALL KINDS of things that are bad for my health."</p><p></p><p>Gandil suddenly feels bad for the sheepish little mage and apologizes again, saying that he just wants what's good for the town and that he wouldn't really hurt him. Of course knowing that Rambalt wants the same secrets kept that he does makes that easier to say with a straight face.</p><p></p><p>Stepping back out onto the streets, Gandil discovers Kavos leading a prayer session in Pelor's name and making promises of prosperity and health for everyone present. Gandil whispers in Kavos's ear "Don't lay it on too thick, you'll blow it for both of us. I may have been gone for a little while, but we're still a team.</p><p></p><p>"Blessed day!" Father Adrian says in a powerful, resounding voice, interrupting their conversation. "Pelor has returned our sheriff!"</p><p></p><p>Both Gandil and Kavos turn to face his sudden appearance and Father Adrian lunges forward before either of them can say anything, Gandil realizes what's happening a split second before Father Adrian connects and takes a step back, causing Adrian's grab attempt to miss.</p><p></p><p>"Apologies sheriff." Father Adrian says, a smile on his face. "It was only a handshake, though I suppose you're still a little jumpy from your ordeal."</p><p></p><p>Kavos is quick to step in, "Yes, the trauma of the bandit's assault still weighs heavy on his mind; it will take him a while to feel comfortable with the touch of another."</p><p></p><p>Father Adrian nods in agreement. "Of course, of course. Come sheriff," he says, motioning towards his temple for them to follow him away from the gawking crowd. "I'll send word to Looman that you've returned, I imagine he's anxious to return to his corn."</p><p></p><p>Once they're inside the temple and alone Father Adrian turns to them. "The reason I was searching for you mayor is a matter that I believe is very close to Sheriff Gandil's heart. I've heard a disturbing rumor that bandits may have taken over the Jannerson's cabin up in the mountain. Now most people don't look on the Jannerson's as even being part of the village proper, but they've always been pious and I feel that Pelor would have us look after our own."</p><p></p><p>Gandil swallows nervously at the prospect of facing the bandits again. "We have to proceed with caution," he warns ominously. "They are tougher than even the mighty ettercap and each fights with the strength of three men, their black sorcery alone nearly brought me to my knees."</p><p></p><p>Now I'm not sure if that's how Gandil remembers it or if he's trying to save face, it's really hard to tell with Gandil, but it cracks me up regardless because I know that they were literally a bunch of CR1 warriors that just got lucky against a 6th level fighter.</p><p></p><p>Regardless, Gandil assures Father Adrian that the bandits will fall and the Jannerson family will be saved. He grins and says that he knows just where to secure some assistance.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>As soon as they step outside Kavos tells Gandil that they can't go to the unicorn for help. Gandil is understandably upset by this.</p><p></p><p>"We can't do this alone Kavos, are you forgetting that they've already murdered me once!?" Gandil exclaims, barely able to keep his voice under control. "He still owes us a favor right? Let's call it in!"</p><p></p><p>"Gandil..." Kavos says, shaking his head. "While you were gone, the unicorn situation got a little hairy. I angered one of his minions and haven't heard from either of them since, we've got to assume that we aren't welcome in the forest anymore."</p><p></p><p>"I'm sure that whatever problems you had while I was gone can be resolved-" Gandil starts, but is interrupted by Kavos.</p><p></p><p>"Gandi! I don't think you heard me. A druid wants me dead. I'M not going into the forest." Kavos states flatly. "We can take care of this on our own. We have to, that's what they're paying us for."</p><p></p><p>"Then I'll go myself." Gandil says, starting off in the direction of the forest.</p><p></p><p>"You're undead!" Kavos says under his breath, catching up. </p><p></p><p>It suddenly occurs to Gandil that the unicorn isn't exactly the understanding type and that he should probably keep his undead ass away from him. "Then we'll call on our dwarven ally in Eastbank!" Gandil says with a final nod.</p><p></p><p>"Bryce?" Kavos asks with a snort. "It'd be more productive to just deal directly with the bandits. He's a cold man Gandil and we've got nothing to offer him for his assistance."</p><p></p><p>"I've never seen anything like them!" Gandil says, his ego not allowing him to believe they were anything less than a legion of supermen. "If we don't get help they'll kill us both and you'll end up as a monster like me."</p><p></p><p>Kavos sighs and tells Gandil that he's fought them before as well and that they're just common thieves. He tells Gandil that he actually has the corpse of one of them in Rambalt's basement and Gandil demands to see him so they visit Rambalt to check on the corpse.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt explains that it's still sitting where he left it on the table downstairs, he says that he's not been able to summon up the courage to try and repair this one yet. </p><p></p><p> Gandil recognizes the bandit as the one who attempted to flee and tells Kavos that if they can bring him back like he was brought back that he might be an easily cowed ally. Gandil demands that Rambalt bring this man back immediately.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt sputters out that he's not some sort of necromancer, that he's never done that before. "I don't even know HOW I brought you back Gandil, certainly not how you retained your personality."</p><p></p><p>Kavos rolls up his sleeves and offers up a prayer to Asmodeous as he casts Animate Dead on the bandit's corpse. It sits up with a hollow groan and stares at Kavos expectantly, but without intelligence.</p><p></p><p>"What's this?" Gandil shouts. </p><p></p><p>Kavos screams back "I don't know, I thought that might work!"</p><p></p><p>"Well kill it and start over again!" Gandil demands.</p><p></p><p>"We don't even know if we <em>can</em> bring him back." Rambalt says, trying to calm everything down. "I've worked on plenty of corpses in my day and yours is the ONLY one that's ever stood back up on Gandil. Maybe it was the circumstances of your death or simply your unwllingness to, well, die."</p><p></p><p>"Regardless," Kavos says. "We can use this man in death more effectively than in life. We'll bind and gag him, the bandits will think that he's our prisoner and let us within their ranks."</p><p></p><p>"We'll call that Plan B." Gandil says, turning on his heels and heading out the door.</p><p></p><p>"Then what's Plan A?" Kavos calls after him with an exasperated sigh.</p><p></p><p>"I'm going to Eastbank." the stubborn sheriff says like it should be the most obvious thing in the world.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The journey to Eastbank takes most of the day but Gandil doesn't feel any sense of weariness from his long walk. Once in Eastbank he seeks out the office of Bryce Haverston but is stopped by a guard standing by the door with a heavy bound leather book in hand, the guard dismisses Gandil by saying that Bryce isn't accepting visitors today.</p><p></p><p>"I have an appointment!" Gandil says, feigning outrage.</p><p></p><p>The guard checks his book and shakes his head. "Apparently Mr Haverston has canceled it. What's your name sir? He has an opening tomorrow morning, so long as your business takes no longer than a quarter of an hour."</p><p></p><p>"Bryce will have you sodomized for treating me this way! Let me in now or a most undesirable fate shall fall upon you."</p><p></p><p>"Sir, I apologize. However I was personally instructed to cut off my predecessor's feet and drop in the river. Whatever Mr Harverston does or does not do to my aresehole; I intend to avoid drowning." the guard says in a sincere tone.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, understandable...but try to avoid this!" Gandil shouts, lunging toward the man's face with his exposed hand, attempting to paralyze the man with his ghoulish powers. </p><p></p><p>The guard bats Gandil's hand to the side and says "Sir, please make an appointment if you'd like to see Mr Haverston."</p><p></p><p>"Guards! Guards! Guards!" Gandil begins shouting at the top of his voice. A pair of burly men in polished scalemail show up to the commotion.</p><p></p><p>"This man assaulted me!" Gandil shouts, "He attempted to cast some sort of evil spell or other such nonsense. He's a witch! Burn him!" Gandil continues accusationally, unsure of where his own tangent is going.</p><p></p><p>The guards stare at each other and then at Haverston's guard. "Is this guy for real?" one of them asks with a confused look on his face.</p><p></p><p>"You want us to 'lose' him for you Jack?" the second guard asks with a laugh.</p><p></p><p>"I demand he be sodomized and I want an audience with Mr Haverston!" Gandil shouts.</p><p></p><p>"See?" Haverston's guard asks. "He keeps saying he has business with Haverston, but won't even tell me his name."</p><p></p><p>"I am Gandil, the legendary sheriff of Westbank and slayer of ettercaps. I request audience with him to offer him the head of a unicorn in exchange for his help" Gandil says, puffing out his chest.</p><p></p><p>The guards in scalemail look at each other for a moment, amusement etched into their faces. "Sir, have you been drinking?"</p><p></p><p>"I challenge all three of you to a duel!" Gandil shouts. "If I win, I get to see Haverston. If you win I'll spend the night in the drunk tank with no further commotion."</p><p></p><p>All three guards exchange glances.</p><p></p><p>"I won't even use my sword, we'll settle this like gentlemen." Gandil says proudly.</p><p></p><p>The guards nod. "Fair enough." one of them says and throws a haymaker that would've knocked the sense from a lesser man, but fails to even whip Gandil's head around. Gandil grins and responds by savagely clawing the guard's face and biting the man's throat so that all present are hit by the eruption of blood.</p><p></p><p>"What the f*** is wrong with you?" the guard's partner shouts, trying to stop the bleeding while the door guard begins tearing his cloak to make gauze.</p><p></p><p>"Do you concede?" Gandil asks obliviously, his victim's gore still dripping down his face.</p><p></p><p>Both remaining guards look at each other before drawing their swords and charging with a full-throated roar. Both pierce Gandil painfully, though it doesn't seem to affect him like it should.</p><p></p><p>"Have you no honor?" Gandil asks in shock. "We agreed to settle this as men, without the use of weapons!" he shouts, palming one of the guards in the face, paralyzing the man completely. He grabs the second guard by the back of the head and bites his face completely off.</p><p></p><p>A commotion has broken out and several more guards are charging into the fray. Gandil dodges and weaves as best he can though even when the blades do make contact they don't seem to phase him. Gandil bites another of the guards on the arm, causing the man to drop his sword and fall back in terror, Gandil claws another man to the point of death with his bare hands.</p><p></p><p>The fight goes on with Gandil thinning their numbers quickly, but before he's finished more than a dozen new guards show up in full battle gear. He declares that this is the most dishonorable town he's ever been associated with and bolts into a back alley as the guards shout after him. A good samaritan attempts to tackle him and loses an eye to Gandil's instinctual hunger for his trouble.</p><p></p><p>It doesn't take long until half the town is after Gandil and the suddenly panicked sheriff charges for the river, mutilating anyone who gets in his way, and tosses himself into the current. He claws his way out about 2/3rds of the way downstream and walks the rest of the way to Westbank feeling a little disappointed.</p><p></p><p>Plan B it is then.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Gandil washes up as best he can on the way back to Westbank, though the Hat of Disguise hides the worst of his mistakes. It's the next morning when he finally makes his way back and he finds Kavos and Rambalt fitting the zombie bandit with a Hat of Disguise of its own.</p><p></p><p>Kavos inspects the bandit zombie's illusion; it appears slackjawed, underfed and ignorant. He declares the illusion complete, it's just as he remembered him. Kavos casts Glyph of Warding onto a small jewelry box he picked up while Gandil was terrorizing Eastbank and orders the former bandit to hold it.</p><p></p><p>When Kavos notices Gandil standing nearby he asks how it went in Eastbank. "Met some interesting people, had a bite to eat..." Gandil says innocently. "We can't rely on Eastbank for assistance, they're a bunch of honorless thugs. They violated the terms of a formal duel and then reneged on our agreed terms."</p><p> </p><p>"Sounds like what the folks around here say about them." Kavos says, putting the finishing touches on the bandit's illusions.</p><p></p><p>"There is something else though..." Gandil says nervously. "I'm sort of...hungering for human flesh."</p><p></p><p>Kavos and Rambalt's heads both snap up to stare at Gandil in shock.</p><p></p><p>Gandil holds up his hands "And that's worrisome!" he quickly explains defensively, "Not something I want to do."</p><p></p><p>"Keep your voice down!" Kavos hisses. "Rambalt, why does he suddenly want to eat people?"</p><p></p><p>Rambalt stammers for a moment "The common theory is that undead sustain themselves by stealing the life of others. It's the main reason I abandoned undead research in favor of golems, as a sizable undead population wouldn't be sustainable."</p><p></p><p>"Do we have any prisoners?" Gandil asks, licking his lips in a disturbing manner.</p><p></p><p>Kavos just goes into a thousand yard stare, twitching in irritation.</p><p></p><p>"Sadly, the bandit's corpse would no longer satisfy you as he too is now undead. It may be possible to capture live bandits or maybe even..other creatures." Rambalt suggests.</p><p></p><p>"Unicorns?" Gandil asks, knowing right where to get one.</p><p></p><p>"Unicorns are too rare and their beastblood may make them unsuitable to your needs." Rambalt says with a shake of his head. "You need humanoids. From what I've heard of the creatures in the lake, they should do the trick just fine. Another option that is nearly as numerous would be kobolds. The impish creatures multiply like rats and inhabit most every forest in the known world. I would wager that they are responsible for a multitude of nuisances both here and Briar's Pass."</p><p></p><p>Gandil salivates at the thought of eating one of the childlike creatures but Kavos shakes his head. "We don't have time for that Gandil, I'm going to take care of the bandits. If you're brave enough to help out, I'd love the company."</p><p></p><p>"Bandits should do just fine..." Gandil mutters, forgetting his former fear of them.</p><p></p><p>"Just to be safe," Rambalt interjects, "I'd recommend bringing in at least one bandit alive. You may need to...stretch your food supply a bit." he says, disturbingly ok with this.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> It takes several hours for them to find the Jannerson's cabin and they find it swarming with bandits who are hanging out fairly informally and wearing light or no armor. There's more than a dozen of them cracking up and lounging about.</p><p></p><p>Kavos sends the bandit out ahead of him and Gandil and makes enough notice that nobody could miss their approach.</p><p></p><p>One of the bigger guys moves down to meet them once they're brought to his attention. "The hell do we have here?" he shouts.</p><p></p><p>"I've come to negotiate with whomever may be leading you." Kavos says loudly. "I bear gifts and coins for your leader."</p><p></p><p>The big man swells his chest with pride and announces that that was him.</p><p></p><p>"Excellent." Kavos says, "I am the mayor of Westbank and I have come to hire you as a militia of sort for our village. Are you interested?"</p><p></p><p>The big man laughs and glances over his shoulder at the suddenly interested bandits. "Yeah, alright. So long as it doesn't conflict with our, ahem, dayjobs too much. How much are you offering?"</p><p></p><p>"The only problem, is that we need you to decapitate a local sheriff." Gandil calls out coldly. "Is that something that you guys do?</p><p></p><p>"With pleasure." the big man says, his broad grin widening. A particularly greasy looking bandit that's obviously drunk out of his mind giggles and says that it wouldn't be the first time.</p><p></p><p>Kavos places a hand on Gandil's chest subtly and smiles. "Can we discuss business inside?"</p><p></p><p>The bandit leader nods and invites the PCs and heir captive into the house to talk things out, apparently not caring why his captured friend is so quiet. The inside of the house is a complete mess and two members of the family are obviously dead by the door with their hands bound and their throats cut. The big bandit motions to a chair as he takes a seat himself.</p><p></p><p>Kavos quickly takes in the room to make sure they're alone and takes his seat, glancing by the windows and noticing that they're widely spaced and built high, obviously installed by someone unskilled. "What would it take for us to make a deal? What are your terms?" he asks pleasantly.</p><p></p><p>"We want what any man wants," the big bandit says with a laugh. "A fair week's pay for a fair day's work."</p><p></p><p>"Sounds fair." Kavos says, returning the laugh. "How much does a fair week's work come to nowadays? I haven't done any in years."</p><p></p><p>"We're clearing almost one hundred gold a week with our current employer, as well as other, less tangible benefits." the bandit boss says as he leans back in his chair.</p><p></p><p>"Current employer? So you aren't just opportunists?" Kavos asks.</p><p></p><p>The bandit leader laughs, "Oh no, we strike where we're told. This area is too sparsely traveled to be worth hanging around just waiting for an opportunity."</p><p></p><p>"Then how much gold would loosen your lips on who that may be?" Kavos asks.</p><p></p><p>The bandit seems insulted. "No amount of gold can get that information; our business is a discrete one. I answer your questions and the next thing you know you're wondering what I'm going to go around saying about you. Our work demands secrecy or we don't get no more."</p><p></p><p>"Do you know who I am?" Kavos asks pleasantly. "For that matter, do you know who this is next to me?"</p><p></p><p>"You already said." the bandit says flippantly. "The Mayor of Westbank and if I had to guess, I'd say that that fella there is the man standing next to the Mayor of Westbank."</p><p></p><p>"Close." Kavos says with a soft laugh. "He's the Sheriff of Westbank, the very one that YOUR men murdered. I can assure you that I am more powerful than any employer you may have. If I can bring a man back to life do you really want to know what else I can do?" Kavos asks coldly.</p><p></p><p>The bandit's boisterous exterior falters and a look of fear covers his face, however it only lasts for a moment before his grin returns. "Your sorcery is impressive, but our employer works his own brand of magic. While I don't know what you can do to me, I know EXACTLY what he'll do."</p><p></p><p>With that Gandil removes his hat and reveals his horrific visage, including the nasty scar where his head was reattached. "Does it involve digesting your innards?" he growls.</p><p></p><p>The bandit stares open mouthed at Gandil's undead form. "W-w-what is this? You bring monsters into my home?!"</p><p></p><p>The bandit begins to rise but is struck with Cause Fear by Kavos, he shouts in panic and our heroes hear footsteps rushing towards the door. Both Gandil and the zombie bandit press against the door with all their strength to keep it closed and the bandits outside begin cursing.</p><p></p><p>"I don't want to see you dead." Kavos says, rising from his chair and keeping his voice perfectly calm. "But you give me little incentive not to."</p><p></p><p>"If I tell you anything then he'll cut out my tongue and sew my eyes shut! The sick son of a bitch lives to send a message!" the bandit leader nearly shrieks.</p><p></p><p>"I'll do much, much worse." Kavos says, drawing out his amulet of Asmodeous.</p><p></p><p>"I don't know his name! He's some crazy dwarf in Eastbank, he seems to be a big shot!" the bandit shouts in terror. "He's got the clout to back it up, enough to pull us off or put us on the chopping block whenever he wants!"</p><p></p><p>Kavos grins. "Was that so hard? Now, let's iron out this deal while we're here, hrm?"</p><p></p><p>The door heaves and Gandil and the zombie are finally pushed out of the way, four men push in and Kavos raises his hands cordially, explaining that it was just a misunderstanding and that things are better now. The bandit glances at the scene before him nervously however is suddenly paralyzed by a blow from Gandil once the sheriff recognizes one of the bandits as a man that had a hand in his death.</p><p></p><p>The first bandit goes down paralyzed and the second, the one that watched Gandil die the first time, has his throat bitten out by the suddenly enraged warrior.</p><p></p><p>The remaining bandits skewer Gandil, however accomplish little and he responds by tearing into a third bandit and leaving the man as little more than a pile of screaming meat. Three more bandits from outside charge into the fray as the Bandit leader takes this opportunity to attack Kavos from behind, impaling the distracted cleric easily.</p><p></p><p>The zombie finds itself in the middle of a group of enemies and opens its jewelry box, causing a wave of sonic damage to strike almost everyone in the room. Several bandits are knocked out outright. Kavos stumbles away from the bandit leader and follows up by Channeling Negative Energy to both heal the damage he just did to his allies and knock out most of the rest of the bandits.</p><p></p><p>Gandil grabs the last bandit facing him and snaps the man's neck easily before rushing the bandit leader. Kavos shouts not to kill him because he may be valuable.</p><p></p><p>The leader deftly parries Gandil's blow before moving closer to Kavos and cleaves deep into the elderly cleric's side. Two more bandits rush in from outside and rush Gandil, however the warrior is too fast for them and they fail to land a blow.</p><p></p><p>Kavos attempts to cast a spell, but is driven to the ground by the large bandit who continues hacking away at the defenseless priest. Gandil seizes his two opponents with his vicious claws and tears their throats out with a roar.</p><p></p><p>Kavos finally manages to cast Command: Fall on his attacker and the bandit leader throws himself to the ground, Gandil immediately pounces and paralyzes the big man with a touch, then he and Kavos curbstomp him savagely. Kavos then takes this opportunity to whip out a length of silk rope and tie the bandit up for later. </p><p></p><p>Once Gandil realizes that nobody else is coming he falls onto one of the slain bandits and begins devouring the man in great noisy bites. Kavos draws his dagger and forces the bandit leader's mouth open.</p><p></p><p>"Like I was saying before, you worry too much about what the dwarf can do to you. You'll see though, it's not that bad." Kavos says with a sadistic grin, making the man's nightmare come true. The man shrieks wordlessly without a tongue but Kavos continues comforting him. "Hey, if this is the worst thing that happens to you today, consider yourself lucky."</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Once Gandil finishes eating his fill he looks up and notices Kavos sewing the bandit leader's eyes shut. Despite the fact he's literally dripping with the juices of his victims however, Gandil seems offended at this. "Was that necessary?" he demands, placing his hat back on his head and becoming a picture of normalcy once again.</p><p></p><p>"Rambalt said that you need a living sample to feed from. I don't want to hear what he thinks of you eating him and I don't want him to be able to see our operation just in case he somehow manages to escape before we cut off his legs." Kavos explains, wiping of his tools.</p><p></p><p>Looking around, Kavos notices that they've got nearly ten useable corpses but realizes that they have no way of getting them down the mountain. He flips a table and breaks the legs off and then has Gandil assist in finding other odds and ends to work with. They find crudely drawn unholy symbols all over the house, some carved and others smeared in blood; Kavos starts thinking that there might be more to the bandits than they let on.... </p><p></p><p>Finally they manage to fashion a makeshift sledge to tie to the back of Kavos's horse and Gandil and Kavos pile both the mess of corpses and the sobbing shell of the bandit leader onto the sled before tying them down but good. It's getting late and the mountains are treacherous, however Kavos doesn't want to wait until the morning and risk corrupting the bodies any further so they set off at a slow, even pace.</p><p></p><p>As the sun is going down Gandil notices a glinting far off in the distance to the wet, it appears to be a large structure made of polished black stone. Most likely the very Blackstone Keep they were sent to take over. However time is of the essence and they decide that it's not worth investigating tonight.</p><p></p><p>The going is rough and several times they very nearly tumble off the side of the mountain and break their necks, but outside of poor visiblity and the call of a cougar in the distance they don't encounter any further dangers. It's nearing 10pm when the two of them (along with their zombie bandit, hostage and pile of corpses) return to town and luckily everyone's bedded down for the night, so they miss the ghastly procession into Rambalt's home.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt is burning the midnight oil and lets the PCs in excitedly, nearly swooning when he sees the sheer volume of fresh corpses they've brought him. "They're still fresh!" he nearly shouts. "Yes...yes, I can make these work. They'll work just fine!" he happily proclaims.</p><p></p><p>Kavos leads the bandit leader into Rambalt's lab as the little man and Gandil begin dragging bodies downstairs. Rambalt motions to a steel collar in the corner and suggests that Kavos hitch the voiceless bandit there for now.</p><p></p><p>Gandil eyes the terrified man somewhat guiltily and asks if there's any flesh substitute that Rambalt could make so that he wouldn't have to eat people.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt shakes his head. "Not that I know of. There's never been much research on alternative undead diets, at least none that's ever went anywhere."</p><p></p><p>"How rare is an undead with a mind of its own?" Gandil asks.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt wipes sweat from his brow and shakes his head "Exceedingly." he says simply. "Ghouls naturally have a faint spark of their former selves left, but a truly sentient undead requires powerful magic to animate."</p><p></p><p>"You mean somebody purposefully brought me back?" Gandil asks incredulously. "Does that mean that they could be controlling me and I wouldn't even know it?" A note of panic creeps into his voice. "Do you have the juice for something like that Rambalt?"</p><p></p><p>Rambalt shakes his head. "If I had that kind of expertise I wouldn't have spent the lsat decade studying golem production. Fully sentient undead that don't attempt to eat me would be much, much easier to produce."</p><p></p><p>"Well somebody did it!" Gandil shouts. "People don't just get up and run around after getting murdered. Either somebody powerful brought me back as a flesh eating monster out of the goodness of their heart....or they're in my mind, controlling me like a puppet!"</p><p></p><p>Kavos moves to calm Gandil down, though it doesn't seem to work.</p><p></p><p>"The unicorn! Kavos, what about the unicorn? He's powerful. Could he be behind this?" Gandil asks frantically.</p><p></p><p>"He's powerful Gandil, but I'm positive this isn't him. Even if this wasn't a complete violation of the natural order, he wouldn't do us a favor without demanding something in return." Kavos assures his companion.</p><p></p><p>"You should go talk to him. Find out!" Gandil suggests. "Kavos, I've got to know if I've got free will!"</p><p></p><p>"I'm not going to be doing that." Kavos says dismissively. "You're back, I'm not going to risk my life finding out why. Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. Besides, you seem to have plenty of control over yourself."</p><p></p><p>"I'm eating people Kavos! Does that seem like self control to you?" Gandil demands.</p><p></p><p>Kavos holds ups his hands reassuringly. "We'll figure this out Gandil, if someone has a hold over you I'm sure I can break it." the wily priest lies.</p><p></p><p>Gandil insists they do it immediatley, but Kavos needs a night of prayer to regain his energy. Gandil agrees and paces the lab all night.</p><p></p><p>The next morning Kavos sends word that he's only to be bothered if it's an emergency and takes Gandil somewhere secluded to test some things. He uses Command Undead on Gandil and forces the sheriff to climb a tree and leap out just to assert his control. He explains to Gandil that this is what being under someone else's control feels like and Gandil admits that he normally doesn't feel like this. However Gandil does point out that Kavos isn't trying to be subtle about it.</p><p></p><p>They spend the day trying different variations of commands to see if Kavos can convince Gandil that everything he asks is Gandil's own idea, however nothing works. Gandil feels a bit better, but still believes he's being manipulated and fears the moment when his mysterious benefactor calls in his debt.</p><p></p><p>Kavos releases his control come nightfall and returns to his home to sleep, placing his zombie on guard inside his home and leaving Gandil to his own devices. Gandil spends the night debating on visiting the unicorn by himself.</p><p></p><p>Eventually Gandil decides that visiting the unicorn in his current condition might strain their relationship and instead visits with Rambalt, finding the normally reserved mage cheerfully cutting up corpses, picking and choosing the least damaged parts from among them to form a more perfect whole.</p><p></p><p>"What do you know about unicorns?" Gandil asks curiously.</p><p></p><p>"Before I came here I would have I didn't believe in them, at least not anymore. They've always been rare to the point of extinct and I haven't heard of a credible encounter with one since I was a kid. I mean back in Briar's Pass I heard people talk about there being unicorns in the forest, but they claimed that LOTS of things live in the forest." Rambalt says with a chuckle.</p><p></p><p>"So you've never seen one up close?" Gandil asks a little surprised, just assuming the little man knew everything.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt shakes his head. "No and I don't want to. That druid that Kavos mentioned wanted to bring my head to it."</p><p></p><p>Gandil's a little disappointed that Rambalt doesn't know anything of importance about unicorns and their powers, but he still hangs out and assists where he can. Rambalt tosses him leftover bandit scraps as they work and seems altogether more comfortable with Gandil's new feeding habits than Gandil himself.</p><p></p><p>Several days pass in this manner with Kavos helping Rambalt to keep the bodies fresh and Gandil helping out nearly 24/7 now that he no longer needs to sleep. The village seems to be running itself at this point and outside of Father Adrian's broken heart when they report the death of the Jannersons, everything seems to be going fine.</p><p></p><p>Kavos is rightly proud of his work here.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Several days later, the sun isn't up, but they know it's morning. Rambalt is a madman with a basement full of brand new corpses, so obviously he's not sleeping. Gandil has replaced his base human needs with the ability to survive off of murder so he doesn't have to sleep anymore, instead he's playing Igor to Rambalt. Kavos is the only one getting a good night's rest as well as the only one above ground.</p><p></p><p>Kavos wakes up, unsure of exactly why since it's still another hour or two before he normally rises. He starts to go back to sleep when he hears it: Shouting in the street. Faint, like it's heading away from him but definitely there. Grabbing his staff and ordering the zombie to attack anything that steps into his house and isn't him, Kavos rushes outside to see what the commotion is about.</p><p></p><p>Deputy Devon and a group of laborers are gathered on the docks, gawking upstream and shouting excitedly. Other townspeople are being drawn out of their houses by the noise and add their own shouts to the mix once they reach the docks.</p><p></p><p>Kavos walks down to the docks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stops in his tracks when his vision focuses. Nearly a dozen ships are coming to Westbank, each appears to be a merchant vessel and unarmed. The mayor starts to smile broadly, assuming that Bryce had exceeded all expectations in reopening trade.</p><p></p><p>The excitement is short lived however, as Kavos notices that one of the vessels is emitting a thick, black smoke and doesn't seem to be under anyone's control, beaching itself on the side of the river as the rest maneuver the best they can to avoid being dragged under by its erratic movements.</p><p></p><p>Kavos estimates that they'll be here in about fifteen minutes and runs as fast as he can back to his home to quickly dress in his finest clothes, not wanting these people to see the Mayor of Westbank as some sleep-addled rube. With time to spare he beats on Rambalt's door and tells Gandil to get the deputies and be ready for anything before returning to the docks.</p><p></p><p>The first ship docks, it's a small craft with about a dozen people obvious on board. Kavos moves to welcome them when a mother clutching a small, bloodly child to her breast rushes off of the boat; wailing loudly as she rocks her child back and forth. One of only two men on board begins shouting that the kid needs help now!</p><p></p><p>Kavos rushes forward and casts Cure Light Wounds on the injured child, however the boy is clammy and burning up, Kavos realizes that this kid is deathly sick and he doesn't have a Cure Disease prepared. Kavos sees Gandil out of the corner of his eye and shouts "Get Adrian!" and the sheriff rushes to do as he's told.</p><p></p><p>"What happened?" Kavos asks, seeing the next pair of ships move to dock as well.</p><p></p><p>The man from the first ship shakes his head "I don't know, there was some sort of riot in Eastbank. Everything's gone to hell! Some guards bit a bunch of people a few days ago and by last night it seems like the whole damned town's joined in!"</p><p></p><p>Gandil and Father Adrian arrive just in time to hear that and Gandil exchanges a slack jawed glance at Kavos. Father Adrian takes the boy from his mother and utters a prayer, saying that the child will be fine but that he doesn't have any more prepared at the moment.</p><p></p><p>"Anyone that's been bitten or feels ill, please line up with me!" Kavos shouts as the ships begin to empty of other terrified survivors. He repeats his call several times saying that he can cure them all but he needs their cooperation.</p><p></p><p>Gandil sidles up to Kavos and whispers "Am I infectious?"</p><p></p><p>Kavos glances from the throng of survivors and hisses through his teeth "Why are you asking me? Seems like something YOU should know!"</p><p></p><p>Another thirteen ships can be seen in the distance.</p><p></p><p>"How would I know that?" Gandil asks. "You're the religious guy, this seems like something you should know!"</p><p></p><p>"Well OBVIOUSLY you're infectious!" Kavos answers between encouraging quips at the crowd. "A city doesn't just start eating itself." he whispers before shooing Gandil away so he can concentrate.</p><p></p><p>Gandil summons his deputies and they begin investigating each ship as it docks, sending anyone that's been bitten or is in anyway sick over to Kavos's quarantine zone. Kavos then has Father Adrian take the infected people to Jessop's farm and quarantine them in his barn, he tells Adrian that he'll square things with the grieving farmer later but right now it's all he can think of.</p><p></p><p>Another ship docks, though this one is quite unlike the rest. It's a massive and gilded pleasure craft with intricate carvings and gold platings all over its hull. </p><p></p><p>Gandil's men are ordering everyone not infected to return to their craft until further notice and Kavos instructs the townspeople to do the same, not allowing ANYONE into their homes unless it is himself, the sheriff or one of the deputies. Elder Hadran and the ranger Jonathan Lark head out to the farms to warn them personally.</p><p></p><p> The ships are resistant to this treatment however and the more ships that land, the harder it is to control the occupants; no matter how dire the situation the fact remains that it's five men versus what looks like the entirety of Eastbank.</p><p></p><p>As the tide of bodies grows larger and larger, a familiar face appears in the crowd. Bryce Haverston exits his gilded craft wearing a heavy suit of similarly etched plate mail and escorted by nearly fifteen guards, five of which are fellow dwarves in similarly elaborate plate, the rest are the more strapping examples of the human guards found in Eastbank. His faithful right hand man is at his side as usual.</p><p></p><p>Bryce balks at Deputy Horace's attempt to search him for bite marks, however his very presence on the docks seems to calm down the other refugees who suddenly seem less excited at the prospect of just walking over the deputies to freedom.</p><p></p><p>"Why does this man keep trying to peek under my armor?" the dwarf growls. "Is this how you treat guests in Westbank?"</p><p></p><p>"It is when there's an outbreak of undeath my good dwarf." Kavos says pleasantly.</p><p></p><p>"Do I appear undead to you?" Bryce asks gruffly.</p><p></p><p>"Of course not, but we must be thorough. Or would you prefer your new safe haven to be infected too?" Kavos asks.</p><p></p><p>"By all means, search the riffraff, but it took me the better part of the morning to get into this. I'm not taking it off until I know we're safe." Brye growls.</p><p></p><p>Kavos nods at Deputy Horace and he lets the dwarf through without inspection, hoping to engender a little good will with their numerous, heavily armed visitors.</p><p></p><p>Bryce asks Kavos about the situation and Kavos explains just how bad it is, before the cleric is even finished however Bryce orders the ten human guards with him to disperse the crowd back into their boats. </p><p></p><p>The guards move swiftly and aren't polite like the deputies. When somebody gives them lip, they lose teeth. When they raise a hand to defend themselves, they lose <em>it</em>. Kavos dislikes the rough treatment and believes it's only going to bite them in the ass later, however it's better that Bryce's men are overrun later than his men overran now.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> When the headcount comes in there are 19 infected and more than 100 healthy refugees with little more than the clothes on their back. Another dozen or so merchants, most with what little they could save at the lsat minute, but a few (Bryce included) with massive stockpiles and even some luxury goods on board.</p><p></p><p>Kavos asks Bryce how many ghouls are in Eastbank and if the town is saveable, he glosses over how exactly he knows they're ghouls.</p><p></p><p>"I have no idea." the dwarf says flatly. "It looked like a mob that stretched from one side of town to the other. I don't know how many were the eaters and how many were the eaten"</p><p></p><p>"As soon as we deal with the infected here we're going to have to put something together to deal with the ones in Eastbank. We can't leave them unchecked." Kavos replies. "I can't at least."</p><p></p><p>Bryce nods. "I agree, there's too much merchandise left in Eastbank to just walk away."</p><p></p><p>Kavos sighs and excuses himself, heading to the quarantine area.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Gandil meanwhile is visiting with Rambalt and asks if it's possible he's responsible for all of this. "Can I really turn people into ghouls by biting them?" he asks, alternatively horrified at his own potential and wondering what would happen if he turned his powers loose in the capital.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt nods. "Ghouls are known to replicate in that fashion."</p><p></p><p>Gandil ponders. "Can you come up with a cure?"</p><p></p><p>Rambalt thinks for a moment. "Not biting people?" he suggests, somewhat less than helpfully.</p><p></p><p>"This isn't a joking matter Rambalt, a literal boatload of infected people have come through and we need to cure them before they infect Westbank." Gandil says.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt replies that he doesn't have much of a head for curative magic, but says that he'll look over his books and see what he can come up with. Gandil insists that this is top priority and sits down with Rambalt to help him find something.</p><p></p><p></p><p>In the quarantine area Kavos is questioning people about when they were bitten and how fast the turn happened for the people that were infected before. He gets unhelpful and occasionally conflicting answers, but from the time that the first guard attacked until they had to abandon the town took less than a week. Kavos is on a deadline.</p><p></p><p>Kavos spends the night with the infected, keeping watch to observe their behavior, deputy Horace assists him. It's the middle of the night when he hears the terrified infected screaming that Ban is dead and discovers that Ban is an elderly man with a deep bite in his side. Horace asks Kavos if they should do something and Kavos replies that they are.</p><p></p><p>Kavos has Horace watch the rest and drags the old man outside to watch the corpse himself, it's several hours before the old man wakes up with a predatory growl, any weakness he may have suffered in life is long since forgotten. Kavos immediately casts Command Undead and strips the creature of its will.</p><p></p><p>Having learned what he set out to learn, Kavos instructs the ghoul to go behind the barn and lay face down in the dirt with its eyes closed until further notice. He then steps back inside and tells Horace to go coup de grace the thing. Horace pales and swallows hard but nods his acceptance and goes to do as he's told.</p><p></p><p>Kavos turns to the rest of the group and encourages them not to worry, that cures will be here first thing in the morning, casting Calm Emotions on the crowd to keep their spirits up.</p><p></p><p>In the morning Father Adrian appears with a basket of food for the refugees, between Father Adrian and Kavos they heal 5 of the 18 remaining infected. They're discussing what to do next when Gandil bursts in shouting that they've found a vaccine. A potion that can help you fight off the effects of even the most potent disease.</p><p></p><p>Kavos asks how many Gandil has on him and Gandil replies that they haven't actually made any yet, they just discovered it. Kavos sighs and says that that doesn't do THESE people much good, now does it?</p><p></p><p>Gandil grits his teeth and throws up his hands in exasperation, leaving the farm without another word. He's still mumbling under his breath about ungrateful this and ingrate that as he gets to town. He's so distracted that he just barely notices the predatory humanoid shape slinking through the field leading up to town; taking cover in brush and foliage along the way.</p><p></p><p>Gandil acts like he doesn't notice it, but keeps it in sight and change his own course to lead him to the houses on the outskirts of town. Gandil hurries as best he can and comes around the corner of the last house just in time to see the creature trying to pry open a window. He realizes it isn't a simple mindless beast after all, even if it is a hungry one.</p><p></p><p>Without making a sound Gandil charges and tackles the thing away from the window, trying to paralyze it but discovering that it's immune.</p><p></p><p>Gandil pins the creature to the ground and discovers that it used to be human but now it's just like him, only hungrier.</p><p></p><p>Making sure that nobody can see him before tearing into the creature with every attack in his ghoulish arsenal, Gandil sinks both claws and his teeth into the growling thing's face. The ghoul returns blows of its own but is unable to seriously injure Gandil. </p><p></p><p>Gandil continues raining down blow after blow until the ghoul fights less and less and eventually just stops moving altogether, finally succumbing to final death. Gandil immediately tosses the ghoul over his shoulder and rushes to Rambalt's, doing his best to move unseen.</p><p></p><p>Bursting into Rambalt's lab Gandil demands to know what this thing is. Rambalt glances at it and then says with some certainty that it's a ghoul, pointing to the bite marks on its forearm and saying that it's most likely from Eastbank.</p><p></p><p>"Where did it come from? Everyone's on lockdown." Gandil says.</p><p></p><p>Rambalt swallows nervously. "I would wager that they're running out of food...so they're migrating. It most likely walked here from Eastbank, and I doubt if it came alone."</p><p></p><p>Gandil curses. "How's the potion coming along? We're going to need a lot of it."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Kidjake, post: 6747906, member: 6776876"] It's been two days since Ibaeli vanished into the forest swearing revenge and neither Kavos nor any other member of Westbank has seen hide nor hair of him or his companion since. Just to be safe, Kavos has set up a regular night patrol with Looman and the deputies and personally keeps an eye out during his daily duties. Everything has been silent, so it's past due when he gets a hastily scribbled letter from Professor Rambalt which simply reads: "Come quick, there's been an incident." Kavos drops what he's doing and rushes to Rambalt's house immediately, when he arrives he finds Rambalt waiting on the doorstep pale and jittery. "I don't know.." Rambalt says shaking his head. "I mean, it couldn't...there's no way, I just... Something happened." he finally says exasperatedly. Kavos tells him to calm down and just show him. Rambalt leads the aging priest inside and Kavos can clearly hear the sound of somebody ransacking Rambalt's basement, he readies his staff and inches down the cowardly mage's stairs as quietly as he can. On roughly the third step he hears a mournful wail cut through the house, causing him to shudder slightly at the sound. The wailing seems to pick up its tempo rather than subside. When Kavos finally steps into the basement proper he sees that it is set up as Rambalt's cellar in Briar's Pass was, with tables laid out and doodads hung up; the corpse of the bandit is laid on one table and a naked, gaunt corpse is staring at itself in Rambalt's full sized mirror; pieces of glass showering everything as the creature shatters it. It's holding its head in its hands as it turns around and then suddenly stops, staring at him. "Kavos!" it shouts, rushing forward and throwing its arms around him before he can react. With a start, Kavos realizes that it's Gandil only...deader. With a second shock, he realizes that the creature has sapped his strength and it's become impossible to move. "I vividly remember being killed by bandits and then....other unpleasant things. How am I alive?" Gandil asks, confused. "You, erm...aren't." Rambalt says, coughing nervously. "I was repairing your wounds to prepare you for umm... But it seems that your spirit was still bound to your body, waiting to come back." "Oh....Kavos," Gandil says, fear evident in his voice as he realizes where he's been. "The priests are all wrong, the afterlife is a horrible, horrible place. Way more fire and blood than I was led to believe would be waiting for me in paradise...I'd hate to see what Hell is like." Rambalt seems to be trembling. "I don't know what happened..." he whimpers "I...I repaired the body and it sat up. It's not supposed to do that. They're not supposed to do that!" Gandil turns to face Rambalt, his skin is gaunt and sickly, taking on an unnatural tone much like a man with jaundice; however his eyes (though unnaturally yellow) are sharp and alert,most definitely not the eyes of a dead man. His numerous wounds are stitched together haphazardly but he doesn't seem to mind or notice. As he releases Kavos the cleric tumbles to the ground, temporarily paralyzed. Kavos realizes that Gandil is some form of ghoul, though a chattier specimen than is usually observed. Rambalt apparently realizes the same thing and as Gandil reaches to help Kavos up the usually reserved mage warns him against it; after a few seconds Kavos takes a deep breath and sits up under his own power. "Gandil?" Kavos asks incredulously. "Do you...know it, Kavos?" Rambalt asks with a note of wonder in his voice. "It?" Gandil demands, "I am Gandil, SHERIFF of this town! What the hell are you doing in my basement?" "Gandil..." Kavos says, putting out a hand to silence him as he stands up. "Gandil, when your head was detached from your body, Looman became the sheriff...and I gave Professor Rambalt your house." "Nonsense!" Gandil shouts, "Looman doesn't have what it takes to police this town, I've got to get out there and make sure everyone's safe!" he says, bolting towards the stairs buck naked. "Wait, wait, wait!" Rambalt says, running after him. "You're naked and quite obviously undead, you HAVE to cover yourself before you go out!" Gandil stops in his tracks and looks down at the grisly wounds which cover his body, "You...make some good points." the impulsive warrior says. "Fetch me something that's nicer than whatever this is that you're wearing. I've got sheriffing to do." Kavos steps between Gandil and the stairs, "Gandil, you're undead. REALLY undead, you can't just take a stroll through town, you'll cause a panic. We need to figure something out." Rambalt returns from a closet with an outfit identical to the one he's wearing but without any obvious blood stains. "I don't own any finery," the professor admits by way of an apology, "Though I may be able to help your...umm...appearance." "How long would it last Rambalt?" Kavos asks, immediately distrusting anything that sounds too easy. "Almost indefinitely...so long as he' careful." Rambalt responds. "It'll take me a day or two to prepare, but so long as you wear this hat," he says, digging a modest looking cap from one of his closet, "You should appear human." Gandil sighs and apologizes to Rambalt for his rudeness, he says that it's just the 'murdered and woke up naked' thing that's getting to him. Rambalt says that while he doesn't understand, having never been in Gandil's posotion, he does assume that it would be trying. Rambalt gets to work fashioning Gandil a Hat of Disguise and while Gandil doesn't understand why he should hide himself from the town (claiming that the townspeople would adore him no matter what he is) he sits patiently all the same. It's early morning when Rambalt finally finishes the hat and Gandil immediately paces it on his head and rushes outside to meet the day. Since it's so early, the only people that Gandil see right off are a handful of laborers dragging boxes down to the dock in preparation for their promised delivery from Eastbank. From his/Rambalt's house Gandil can see the temple of Pelor, as well as the inn and Hadran's home. Gandil takes a deep breath and Rambalt steps out behind him, placing Longarm's enchanted falchion into Gandil's empty hand. Rambalt helpfully suggests that every sheriff needs a weapon and Gandil cheerfully agrees as he straps the weapon's sheath to his back. "People of Westbank!" Gandil shouts at the top of his vestigal lungs, "Your beloved sheriff HAS RETURNED!" The workers look up at the noise and one of them drops their load in surprise. A murmur arises from the startled laborers and it quickly becomes a commotion which brings more and more townspeople out of their houses to see what it's about. Rambalt is nervous at all of this attention and slips back into his home to leave Gandil alone with his public. Everyone had heard of what happened to Gandil and many had seen Jonathan Lark carry his headless corpse into Adrian's basement, that he's somehow back from the dead is a chilling concept. Several people cheer and one rushes to get Father Adrian to see what he thinks of this. Soon a crowd has gathered and continues growing in front of Rambalt's house, they begin asking questions concerning what the other side is like and which god he worships that was considerate enough to bring him back. Before Gandil has a chance to answer anything however, Kavos steps out of the crowd with his hands up. "Good citizens of Westbank, our lord Pelor has granted me the miraculous power necessary to resurrect our fallen hero in these troubled times. Do not pester Gandil about his final reward, it is the place of great Pelor alone to reveal such marvels." Kavos says, dripping with false humility. Gandil shudders at the thought of what he actually witnessed on the other side, though noone seems to pick up on it. The crowd seems disappointed, but accept Kavos's plea. The devoted Pelorites of the town ttake this opportunity o tell everyone else that they'd always told them so. Gandil takes this opportunity to slip back into his home while Kavos offers to perform further miracles for the crowd in the name of Pelor(since he's apparently Pelor's chosen prophet now). Once Gandil is out of sight he grabs Rambalt by the throat paralyzing the little man, he growls "Tell NOONE of what really happened. I'll only warn you this once!" As soon as the paralysis wears off, Rambalt seems strangely relieved. "Me?! I was terrified YOU were going to tell them that I turned you into a monster!" he says, collapsing into one of the living room's chairs. "Villagers generally don't like to hear that about their neighbors...and they generally voice their displeasure with fire and clubs and ALL KINDS of things that are bad for my health." Gandil suddenly feels bad for the sheepish little mage and apologizes again, saying that he just wants what's good for the town and that he wouldn't really hurt him. Of course knowing that Rambalt wants the same secrets kept that he does makes that easier to say with a straight face. Stepping back out onto the streets, Gandil discovers Kavos leading a prayer session in Pelor's name and making promises of prosperity and health for everyone present. Gandil whispers in Kavos's ear "Don't lay it on too thick, you'll blow it for both of us. I may have been gone for a little while, but we're still a team. "Blessed day!" Father Adrian says in a powerful, resounding voice, interrupting their conversation. "Pelor has returned our sheriff!" Both Gandil and Kavos turn to face his sudden appearance and Father Adrian lunges forward before either of them can say anything, Gandil realizes what's happening a split second before Father Adrian connects and takes a step back, causing Adrian's grab attempt to miss. "Apologies sheriff." Father Adrian says, a smile on his face. "It was only a handshake, though I suppose you're still a little jumpy from your ordeal." Kavos is quick to step in, "Yes, the trauma of the bandit's assault still weighs heavy on his mind; it will take him a while to feel comfortable with the touch of another." Father Adrian nods in agreement. "Of course, of course. Come sheriff," he says, motioning towards his temple for them to follow him away from the gawking crowd. "I'll send word to Looman that you've returned, I imagine he's anxious to return to his corn." Once they're inside the temple and alone Father Adrian turns to them. "The reason I was searching for you mayor is a matter that I believe is very close to Sheriff Gandil's heart. I've heard a disturbing rumor that bandits may have taken over the Jannerson's cabin up in the mountain. Now most people don't look on the Jannerson's as even being part of the village proper, but they've always been pious and I feel that Pelor would have us look after our own." Gandil swallows nervously at the prospect of facing the bandits again. "We have to proceed with caution," he warns ominously. "They are tougher than even the mighty ettercap and each fights with the strength of three men, their black sorcery alone nearly brought me to my knees." Now I'm not sure if that's how Gandil remembers it or if he's trying to save face, it's really hard to tell with Gandil, but it cracks me up regardless because I know that they were literally a bunch of CR1 warriors that just got lucky against a 6th level fighter. Regardless, Gandil assures Father Adrian that the bandits will fall and the Jannerson family will be saved. He grins and says that he knows just where to secure some assistance. As soon as they step outside Kavos tells Gandil that they can't go to the unicorn for help. Gandil is understandably upset by this. "We can't do this alone Kavos, are you forgetting that they've already murdered me once!?" Gandil exclaims, barely able to keep his voice under control. "He still owes us a favor right? Let's call it in!" "Gandil..." Kavos says, shaking his head. "While you were gone, the unicorn situation got a little hairy. I angered one of his minions and haven't heard from either of them since, we've got to assume that we aren't welcome in the forest anymore." "I'm sure that whatever problems you had while I was gone can be resolved-" Gandil starts, but is interrupted by Kavos. "Gandi! I don't think you heard me. A druid wants me dead. I'M not going into the forest." Kavos states flatly. "We can take care of this on our own. We have to, that's what they're paying us for." "Then I'll go myself." Gandil says, starting off in the direction of the forest. "You're undead!" Kavos says under his breath, catching up. It suddenly occurs to Gandil that the unicorn isn't exactly the understanding type and that he should probably keep his undead ass away from him. "Then we'll call on our dwarven ally in Eastbank!" Gandil says with a final nod. "Bryce?" Kavos asks with a snort. "It'd be more productive to just deal directly with the bandits. He's a cold man Gandil and we've got nothing to offer him for his assistance." "I've never seen anything like them!" Gandil says, his ego not allowing him to believe they were anything less than a legion of supermen. "If we don't get help they'll kill us both and you'll end up as a monster like me." Kavos sighs and tells Gandil that he's fought them before as well and that they're just common thieves. He tells Gandil that he actually has the corpse of one of them in Rambalt's basement and Gandil demands to see him so they visit Rambalt to check on the corpse. Rambalt explains that it's still sitting where he left it on the table downstairs, he says that he's not been able to summon up the courage to try and repair this one yet. Gandil recognizes the bandit as the one who attempted to flee and tells Kavos that if they can bring him back like he was brought back that he might be an easily cowed ally. Gandil demands that Rambalt bring this man back immediately. Rambalt sputters out that he's not some sort of necromancer, that he's never done that before. "I don't even know HOW I brought you back Gandil, certainly not how you retained your personality." Kavos rolls up his sleeves and offers up a prayer to Asmodeous as he casts Animate Dead on the bandit's corpse. It sits up with a hollow groan and stares at Kavos expectantly, but without intelligence. "What's this?" Gandil shouts. Kavos screams back "I don't know, I thought that might work!" "Well kill it and start over again!" Gandil demands. "We don't even know if we [i]can[/i] bring him back." Rambalt says, trying to calm everything down. "I've worked on plenty of corpses in my day and yours is the ONLY one that's ever stood back up on Gandil. Maybe it was the circumstances of your death or simply your unwllingness to, well, die." "Regardless," Kavos says. "We can use this man in death more effectively than in life. We'll bind and gag him, the bandits will think that he's our prisoner and let us within their ranks." "We'll call that Plan B." Gandil says, turning on his heels and heading out the door. "Then what's Plan A?" Kavos calls after him with an exasperated sigh. "I'm going to Eastbank." the stubborn sheriff says like it should be the most obvious thing in the world. The journey to Eastbank takes most of the day but Gandil doesn't feel any sense of weariness from his long walk. Once in Eastbank he seeks out the office of Bryce Haverston but is stopped by a guard standing by the door with a heavy bound leather book in hand, the guard dismisses Gandil by saying that Bryce isn't accepting visitors today. "I have an appointment!" Gandil says, feigning outrage. The guard checks his book and shakes his head. "Apparently Mr Haverston has canceled it. What's your name sir? He has an opening tomorrow morning, so long as your business takes no longer than a quarter of an hour." "Bryce will have you sodomized for treating me this way! Let me in now or a most undesirable fate shall fall upon you." "Sir, I apologize. However I was personally instructed to cut off my predecessor's feet and drop in the river. Whatever Mr Harverston does or does not do to my aresehole; I intend to avoid drowning." the guard says in a sincere tone. "Ah, understandable...but try to avoid this!" Gandil shouts, lunging toward the man's face with his exposed hand, attempting to paralyze the man with his ghoulish powers. The guard bats Gandil's hand to the side and says "Sir, please make an appointment if you'd like to see Mr Haverston." "Guards! Guards! Guards!" Gandil begins shouting at the top of his voice. A pair of burly men in polished scalemail show up to the commotion. "This man assaulted me!" Gandil shouts, "He attempted to cast some sort of evil spell or other such nonsense. He's a witch! Burn him!" Gandil continues accusationally, unsure of where his own tangent is going. The guards stare at each other and then at Haverston's guard. "Is this guy for real?" one of them asks with a confused look on his face. "You want us to 'lose' him for you Jack?" the second guard asks with a laugh. "I demand he be sodomized and I want an audience with Mr Haverston!" Gandil shouts. "See?" Haverston's guard asks. "He keeps saying he has business with Haverston, but won't even tell me his name." "I am Gandil, the legendary sheriff of Westbank and slayer of ettercaps. I request audience with him to offer him the head of a unicorn in exchange for his help" Gandil says, puffing out his chest. The guards in scalemail look at each other for a moment, amusement etched into their faces. "Sir, have you been drinking?" "I challenge all three of you to a duel!" Gandil shouts. "If I win, I get to see Haverston. If you win I'll spend the night in the drunk tank with no further commotion." All three guards exchange glances. "I won't even use my sword, we'll settle this like gentlemen." Gandil says proudly. The guards nod. "Fair enough." one of them says and throws a haymaker that would've knocked the sense from a lesser man, but fails to even whip Gandil's head around. Gandil grins and responds by savagely clawing the guard's face and biting the man's throat so that all present are hit by the eruption of blood. "What the f*** is wrong with you?" the guard's partner shouts, trying to stop the bleeding while the door guard begins tearing his cloak to make gauze. "Do you concede?" Gandil asks obliviously, his victim's gore still dripping down his face. Both remaining guards look at each other before drawing their swords and charging with a full-throated roar. Both pierce Gandil painfully, though it doesn't seem to affect him like it should. "Have you no honor?" Gandil asks in shock. "We agreed to settle this as men, without the use of weapons!" he shouts, palming one of the guards in the face, paralyzing the man completely. He grabs the second guard by the back of the head and bites his face completely off. A commotion has broken out and several more guards are charging into the fray. Gandil dodges and weaves as best he can though even when the blades do make contact they don't seem to phase him. Gandil bites another of the guards on the arm, causing the man to drop his sword and fall back in terror, Gandil claws another man to the point of death with his bare hands. The fight goes on with Gandil thinning their numbers quickly, but before he's finished more than a dozen new guards show up in full battle gear. He declares that this is the most dishonorable town he's ever been associated with and bolts into a back alley as the guards shout after him. A good samaritan attempts to tackle him and loses an eye to Gandil's instinctual hunger for his trouble. It doesn't take long until half the town is after Gandil and the suddenly panicked sheriff charges for the river, mutilating anyone who gets in his way, and tosses himself into the current. He claws his way out about 2/3rds of the way downstream and walks the rest of the way to Westbank feeling a little disappointed. Plan B it is then. Gandil washes up as best he can on the way back to Westbank, though the Hat of Disguise hides the worst of his mistakes. It's the next morning when he finally makes his way back and he finds Kavos and Rambalt fitting the zombie bandit with a Hat of Disguise of its own. Kavos inspects the bandit zombie's illusion; it appears slackjawed, underfed and ignorant. He declares the illusion complete, it's just as he remembered him. Kavos casts Glyph of Warding onto a small jewelry box he picked up while Gandil was terrorizing Eastbank and orders the former bandit to hold it. When Kavos notices Gandil standing nearby he asks how it went in Eastbank. "Met some interesting people, had a bite to eat..." Gandil says innocently. "We can't rely on Eastbank for assistance, they're a bunch of honorless thugs. They violated the terms of a formal duel and then reneged on our agreed terms." "Sounds like what the folks around here say about them." Kavos says, putting the finishing touches on the bandit's illusions. "There is something else though..." Gandil says nervously. "I'm sort of...hungering for human flesh." Kavos and Rambalt's heads both snap up to stare at Gandil in shock. Gandil holds up his hands "And that's worrisome!" he quickly explains defensively, "Not something I want to do." "Keep your voice down!" Kavos hisses. "Rambalt, why does he suddenly want to eat people?" Rambalt stammers for a moment "The common theory is that undead sustain themselves by stealing the life of others. It's the main reason I abandoned undead research in favor of golems, as a sizable undead population wouldn't be sustainable." "Do we have any prisoners?" Gandil asks, licking his lips in a disturbing manner. Kavos just goes into a thousand yard stare, twitching in irritation. "Sadly, the bandit's corpse would no longer satisfy you as he too is now undead. It may be possible to capture live bandits or maybe even..other creatures." Rambalt suggests. "Unicorns?" Gandil asks, knowing right where to get one. "Unicorns are too rare and their beastblood may make them unsuitable to your needs." Rambalt says with a shake of his head. "You need humanoids. From what I've heard of the creatures in the lake, they should do the trick just fine. Another option that is nearly as numerous would be kobolds. The impish creatures multiply like rats and inhabit most every forest in the known world. I would wager that they are responsible for a multitude of nuisances both here and Briar's Pass." Gandil salivates at the thought of eating one of the childlike creatures but Kavos shakes his head. "We don't have time for that Gandil, I'm going to take care of the bandits. If you're brave enough to help out, I'd love the company." "Bandits should do just fine..." Gandil mutters, forgetting his former fear of them. "Just to be safe," Rambalt interjects, "I'd recommend bringing in at least one bandit alive. You may need to...stretch your food supply a bit." he says, disturbingly ok with this. It takes several hours for them to find the Jannerson's cabin and they find it swarming with bandits who are hanging out fairly informally and wearing light or no armor. There's more than a dozen of them cracking up and lounging about. Kavos sends the bandit out ahead of him and Gandil and makes enough notice that nobody could miss their approach. One of the bigger guys moves down to meet them once they're brought to his attention. "The hell do we have here?" he shouts. "I've come to negotiate with whomever may be leading you." Kavos says loudly. "I bear gifts and coins for your leader." The big man swells his chest with pride and announces that that was him. "Excellent." Kavos says, "I am the mayor of Westbank and I have come to hire you as a militia of sort for our village. Are you interested?" The big man laughs and glances over his shoulder at the suddenly interested bandits. "Yeah, alright. So long as it doesn't conflict with our, ahem, dayjobs too much. How much are you offering?" "The only problem, is that we need you to decapitate a local sheriff." Gandil calls out coldly. "Is that something that you guys do? "With pleasure." the big man says, his broad grin widening. A particularly greasy looking bandit that's obviously drunk out of his mind giggles and says that it wouldn't be the first time. Kavos places a hand on Gandil's chest subtly and smiles. "Can we discuss business inside?" The bandit leader nods and invites the PCs and heir captive into the house to talk things out, apparently not caring why his captured friend is so quiet. The inside of the house is a complete mess and two members of the family are obviously dead by the door with their hands bound and their throats cut. The big bandit motions to a chair as he takes a seat himself. Kavos quickly takes in the room to make sure they're alone and takes his seat, glancing by the windows and noticing that they're widely spaced and built high, obviously installed by someone unskilled. "What would it take for us to make a deal? What are your terms?" he asks pleasantly. "We want what any man wants," the big bandit says with a laugh. "A fair week's pay for a fair day's work." "Sounds fair." Kavos says, returning the laugh. "How much does a fair week's work come to nowadays? I haven't done any in years." "We're clearing almost one hundred gold a week with our current employer, as well as other, less tangible benefits." the bandit boss says as he leans back in his chair. "Current employer? So you aren't just opportunists?" Kavos asks. The bandit leader laughs, "Oh no, we strike where we're told. This area is too sparsely traveled to be worth hanging around just waiting for an opportunity." "Then how much gold would loosen your lips on who that may be?" Kavos asks. The bandit seems insulted. "No amount of gold can get that information; our business is a discrete one. I answer your questions and the next thing you know you're wondering what I'm going to go around saying about you. Our work demands secrecy or we don't get no more." "Do you know who I am?" Kavos asks pleasantly. "For that matter, do you know who this is next to me?" "You already said." the bandit says flippantly. "The Mayor of Westbank and if I had to guess, I'd say that that fella there is the man standing next to the Mayor of Westbank." "Close." Kavos says with a soft laugh. "He's the Sheriff of Westbank, the very one that YOUR men murdered. I can assure you that I am more powerful than any employer you may have. If I can bring a man back to life do you really want to know what else I can do?" Kavos asks coldly. The bandit's boisterous exterior falters and a look of fear covers his face, however it only lasts for a moment before his grin returns. "Your sorcery is impressive, but our employer works his own brand of magic. While I don't know what you can do to me, I know EXACTLY what he'll do." With that Gandil removes his hat and reveals his horrific visage, including the nasty scar where his head was reattached. "Does it involve digesting your innards?" he growls. The bandit stares open mouthed at Gandil's undead form. "W-w-what is this? You bring monsters into my home?!" The bandit begins to rise but is struck with Cause Fear by Kavos, he shouts in panic and our heroes hear footsteps rushing towards the door. Both Gandil and the zombie bandit press against the door with all their strength to keep it closed and the bandits outside begin cursing. "I don't want to see you dead." Kavos says, rising from his chair and keeping his voice perfectly calm. "But you give me little incentive not to." "If I tell you anything then he'll cut out my tongue and sew my eyes shut! The sick son of a bitch lives to send a message!" the bandit leader nearly shrieks. "I'll do much, much worse." Kavos says, drawing out his amulet of Asmodeous. "I don't know his name! He's some crazy dwarf in Eastbank, he seems to be a big shot!" the bandit shouts in terror. "He's got the clout to back it up, enough to pull us off or put us on the chopping block whenever he wants!" Kavos grins. "Was that so hard? Now, let's iron out this deal while we're here, hrm?" The door heaves and Gandil and the zombie are finally pushed out of the way, four men push in and Kavos raises his hands cordially, explaining that it was just a misunderstanding and that things are better now. The bandit glances at the scene before him nervously however is suddenly paralyzed by a blow from Gandil once the sheriff recognizes one of the bandits as a man that had a hand in his death. The first bandit goes down paralyzed and the second, the one that watched Gandil die the first time, has his throat bitten out by the suddenly enraged warrior. The remaining bandits skewer Gandil, however accomplish little and he responds by tearing into a third bandit and leaving the man as little more than a pile of screaming meat. Three more bandits from outside charge into the fray as the Bandit leader takes this opportunity to attack Kavos from behind, impaling the distracted cleric easily. The zombie finds itself in the middle of a group of enemies and opens its jewelry box, causing a wave of sonic damage to strike almost everyone in the room. Several bandits are knocked out outright. Kavos stumbles away from the bandit leader and follows up by Channeling Negative Energy to both heal the damage he just did to his allies and knock out most of the rest of the bandits. Gandil grabs the last bandit facing him and snaps the man's neck easily before rushing the bandit leader. Kavos shouts not to kill him because he may be valuable. The leader deftly parries Gandil's blow before moving closer to Kavos and cleaves deep into the elderly cleric's side. Two more bandits rush in from outside and rush Gandil, however the warrior is too fast for them and they fail to land a blow. Kavos attempts to cast a spell, but is driven to the ground by the large bandit who continues hacking away at the defenseless priest. Gandil seizes his two opponents with his vicious claws and tears their throats out with a roar. Kavos finally manages to cast Command: Fall on his attacker and the bandit leader throws himself to the ground, Gandil immediately pounces and paralyzes the big man with a touch, then he and Kavos curbstomp him savagely. Kavos then takes this opportunity to whip out a length of silk rope and tie the bandit up for later. Once Gandil realizes that nobody else is coming he falls onto one of the slain bandits and begins devouring the man in great noisy bites. Kavos draws his dagger and forces the bandit leader's mouth open. "Like I was saying before, you worry too much about what the dwarf can do to you. You'll see though, it's not that bad." Kavos says with a sadistic grin, making the man's nightmare come true. The man shrieks wordlessly without a tongue but Kavos continues comforting him. "Hey, if this is the worst thing that happens to you today, consider yourself lucky." Once Gandil finishes eating his fill he looks up and notices Kavos sewing the bandit leader's eyes shut. Despite the fact he's literally dripping with the juices of his victims however, Gandil seems offended at this. "Was that necessary?" he demands, placing his hat back on his head and becoming a picture of normalcy once again. "Rambalt said that you need a living sample to feed from. I don't want to hear what he thinks of you eating him and I don't want him to be able to see our operation just in case he somehow manages to escape before we cut off his legs." Kavos explains, wiping of his tools. Looking around, Kavos notices that they've got nearly ten useable corpses but realizes that they have no way of getting them down the mountain. He flips a table and breaks the legs off and then has Gandil assist in finding other odds and ends to work with. They find crudely drawn unholy symbols all over the house, some carved and others smeared in blood; Kavos starts thinking that there might be more to the bandits than they let on.... Finally they manage to fashion a makeshift sledge to tie to the back of Kavos's horse and Gandil and Kavos pile both the mess of corpses and the sobbing shell of the bandit leader onto the sled before tying them down but good. It's getting late and the mountains are treacherous, however Kavos doesn't want to wait until the morning and risk corrupting the bodies any further so they set off at a slow, even pace. As the sun is going down Gandil notices a glinting far off in the distance to the wet, it appears to be a large structure made of polished black stone. Most likely the very Blackstone Keep they were sent to take over. However time is of the essence and they decide that it's not worth investigating tonight. The going is rough and several times they very nearly tumble off the side of the mountain and break their necks, but outside of poor visiblity and the call of a cougar in the distance they don't encounter any further dangers. It's nearing 10pm when the two of them (along with their zombie bandit, hostage and pile of corpses) return to town and luckily everyone's bedded down for the night, so they miss the ghastly procession into Rambalt's home. Rambalt is burning the midnight oil and lets the PCs in excitedly, nearly swooning when he sees the sheer volume of fresh corpses they've brought him. "They're still fresh!" he nearly shouts. "Yes...yes, I can make these work. They'll work just fine!" he happily proclaims. Kavos leads the bandit leader into Rambalt's lab as the little man and Gandil begin dragging bodies downstairs. Rambalt motions to a steel collar in the corner and suggests that Kavos hitch the voiceless bandit there for now. Gandil eyes the terrified man somewhat guiltily and asks if there's any flesh substitute that Rambalt could make so that he wouldn't have to eat people. Rambalt shakes his head. "Not that I know of. There's never been much research on alternative undead diets, at least none that's ever went anywhere." "How rare is an undead with a mind of its own?" Gandil asks. Rambalt wipes sweat from his brow and shakes his head "Exceedingly." he says simply. "Ghouls naturally have a faint spark of their former selves left, but a truly sentient undead requires powerful magic to animate." "You mean somebody purposefully brought me back?" Gandil asks incredulously. "Does that mean that they could be controlling me and I wouldn't even know it?" A note of panic creeps into his voice. "Do you have the juice for something like that Rambalt?" Rambalt shakes his head. "If I had that kind of expertise I wouldn't have spent the lsat decade studying golem production. Fully sentient undead that don't attempt to eat me would be much, much easier to produce." "Well somebody did it!" Gandil shouts. "People don't just get up and run around after getting murdered. Either somebody powerful brought me back as a flesh eating monster out of the goodness of their heart....or they're in my mind, controlling me like a puppet!" Kavos moves to calm Gandil down, though it doesn't seem to work. "The unicorn! Kavos, what about the unicorn? He's powerful. Could he be behind this?" Gandil asks frantically. "He's powerful Gandil, but I'm positive this isn't him. Even if this wasn't a complete violation of the natural order, he wouldn't do us a favor without demanding something in return." Kavos assures his companion. "You should go talk to him. Find out!" Gandil suggests. "Kavos, I've got to know if I've got free will!" "I'm not going to be doing that." Kavos says dismissively. "You're back, I'm not going to risk my life finding out why. Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. Besides, you seem to have plenty of control over yourself." "I'm eating people Kavos! Does that seem like self control to you?" Gandil demands. Kavos holds ups his hands reassuringly. "We'll figure this out Gandil, if someone has a hold over you I'm sure I can break it." the wily priest lies. Gandil insists they do it immediatley, but Kavos needs a night of prayer to regain his energy. Gandil agrees and paces the lab all night. The next morning Kavos sends word that he's only to be bothered if it's an emergency and takes Gandil somewhere secluded to test some things. He uses Command Undead on Gandil and forces the sheriff to climb a tree and leap out just to assert his control. He explains to Gandil that this is what being under someone else's control feels like and Gandil admits that he normally doesn't feel like this. However Gandil does point out that Kavos isn't trying to be subtle about it. They spend the day trying different variations of commands to see if Kavos can convince Gandil that everything he asks is Gandil's own idea, however nothing works. Gandil feels a bit better, but still believes he's being manipulated and fears the moment when his mysterious benefactor calls in his debt. Kavos releases his control come nightfall and returns to his home to sleep, placing his zombie on guard inside his home and leaving Gandil to his own devices. Gandil spends the night debating on visiting the unicorn by himself. Eventually Gandil decides that visiting the unicorn in his current condition might strain their relationship and instead visits with Rambalt, finding the normally reserved mage cheerfully cutting up corpses, picking and choosing the least damaged parts from among them to form a more perfect whole. "What do you know about unicorns?" Gandil asks curiously. "Before I came here I would have I didn't believe in them, at least not anymore. They've always been rare to the point of extinct and I haven't heard of a credible encounter with one since I was a kid. I mean back in Briar's Pass I heard people talk about there being unicorns in the forest, but they claimed that LOTS of things live in the forest." Rambalt says with a chuckle. "So you've never seen one up close?" Gandil asks a little surprised, just assuming the little man knew everything. Rambalt shakes his head. "No and I don't want to. That druid that Kavos mentioned wanted to bring my head to it." Gandil's a little disappointed that Rambalt doesn't know anything of importance about unicorns and their powers, but he still hangs out and assists where he can. Rambalt tosses him leftover bandit scraps as they work and seems altogether more comfortable with Gandil's new feeding habits than Gandil himself. Several days pass in this manner with Kavos helping Rambalt to keep the bodies fresh and Gandil helping out nearly 24/7 now that he no longer needs to sleep. The village seems to be running itself at this point and outside of Father Adrian's broken heart when they report the death of the Jannersons, everything seems to be going fine. Kavos is rightly proud of his work here. Several days later, the sun isn't up, but they know it's morning. Rambalt is a madman with a basement full of brand new corpses, so obviously he's not sleeping. Gandil has replaced his base human needs with the ability to survive off of murder so he doesn't have to sleep anymore, instead he's playing Igor to Rambalt. Kavos is the only one getting a good night's rest as well as the only one above ground. Kavos wakes up, unsure of exactly why since it's still another hour or two before he normally rises. He starts to go back to sleep when he hears it: Shouting in the street. Faint, like it's heading away from him but definitely there. Grabbing his staff and ordering the zombie to attack anything that steps into his house and isn't him, Kavos rushes outside to see what the commotion is about. Deputy Devon and a group of laborers are gathered on the docks, gawking upstream and shouting excitedly. Other townspeople are being drawn out of their houses by the noise and add their own shouts to the mix once they reach the docks. Kavos walks down to the docks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stops in his tracks when his vision focuses. Nearly a dozen ships are coming to Westbank, each appears to be a merchant vessel and unarmed. The mayor starts to smile broadly, assuming that Bryce had exceeded all expectations in reopening trade. The excitement is short lived however, as Kavos notices that one of the vessels is emitting a thick, black smoke and doesn't seem to be under anyone's control, beaching itself on the side of the river as the rest maneuver the best they can to avoid being dragged under by its erratic movements. Kavos estimates that they'll be here in about fifteen minutes and runs as fast as he can back to his home to quickly dress in his finest clothes, not wanting these people to see the Mayor of Westbank as some sleep-addled rube. With time to spare he beats on Rambalt's door and tells Gandil to get the deputies and be ready for anything before returning to the docks. The first ship docks, it's a small craft with about a dozen people obvious on board. Kavos moves to welcome them when a mother clutching a small, bloodly child to her breast rushes off of the boat; wailing loudly as she rocks her child back and forth. One of only two men on board begins shouting that the kid needs help now! Kavos rushes forward and casts Cure Light Wounds on the injured child, however the boy is clammy and burning up, Kavos realizes that this kid is deathly sick and he doesn't have a Cure Disease prepared. Kavos sees Gandil out of the corner of his eye and shouts "Get Adrian!" and the sheriff rushes to do as he's told. "What happened?" Kavos asks, seeing the next pair of ships move to dock as well. The man from the first ship shakes his head "I don't know, there was some sort of riot in Eastbank. Everything's gone to hell! Some guards bit a bunch of people a few days ago and by last night it seems like the whole damned town's joined in!" Gandil and Father Adrian arrive just in time to hear that and Gandil exchanges a slack jawed glance at Kavos. Father Adrian takes the boy from his mother and utters a prayer, saying that the child will be fine but that he doesn't have any more prepared at the moment. "Anyone that's been bitten or feels ill, please line up with me!" Kavos shouts as the ships begin to empty of other terrified survivors. He repeats his call several times saying that he can cure them all but he needs their cooperation. Gandil sidles up to Kavos and whispers "Am I infectious?" Kavos glances from the throng of survivors and hisses through his teeth "Why are you asking me? Seems like something YOU should know!" Another thirteen ships can be seen in the distance. "How would I know that?" Gandil asks. "You're the religious guy, this seems like something you should know!" "Well OBVIOUSLY you're infectious!" Kavos answers between encouraging quips at the crowd. "A city doesn't just start eating itself." he whispers before shooing Gandil away so he can concentrate. Gandil summons his deputies and they begin investigating each ship as it docks, sending anyone that's been bitten or is in anyway sick over to Kavos's quarantine zone. Kavos then has Father Adrian take the infected people to Jessop's farm and quarantine them in his barn, he tells Adrian that he'll square things with the grieving farmer later but right now it's all he can think of. Another ship docks, though this one is quite unlike the rest. It's a massive and gilded pleasure craft with intricate carvings and gold platings all over its hull. Gandil's men are ordering everyone not infected to return to their craft until further notice and Kavos instructs the townspeople to do the same, not allowing ANYONE into their homes unless it is himself, the sheriff or one of the deputies. Elder Hadran and the ranger Jonathan Lark head out to the farms to warn them personally. The ships are resistant to this treatment however and the more ships that land, the harder it is to control the occupants; no matter how dire the situation the fact remains that it's five men versus what looks like the entirety of Eastbank. As the tide of bodies grows larger and larger, a familiar face appears in the crowd. Bryce Haverston exits his gilded craft wearing a heavy suit of similarly etched plate mail and escorted by nearly fifteen guards, five of which are fellow dwarves in similarly elaborate plate, the rest are the more strapping examples of the human guards found in Eastbank. His faithful right hand man is at his side as usual. Bryce balks at Deputy Horace's attempt to search him for bite marks, however his very presence on the docks seems to calm down the other refugees who suddenly seem less excited at the prospect of just walking over the deputies to freedom. "Why does this man keep trying to peek under my armor?" the dwarf growls. "Is this how you treat guests in Westbank?" "It is when there's an outbreak of undeath my good dwarf." Kavos says pleasantly. "Do I appear undead to you?" Bryce asks gruffly. "Of course not, but we must be thorough. Or would you prefer your new safe haven to be infected too?" Kavos asks. "By all means, search the riffraff, but it took me the better part of the morning to get into this. I'm not taking it off until I know we're safe." Brye growls. Kavos nods at Deputy Horace and he lets the dwarf through without inspection, hoping to engender a little good will with their numerous, heavily armed visitors. Bryce asks Kavos about the situation and Kavos explains just how bad it is, before the cleric is even finished however Bryce orders the ten human guards with him to disperse the crowd back into their boats. The guards move swiftly and aren't polite like the deputies. When somebody gives them lip, they lose teeth. When they raise a hand to defend themselves, they lose [i]it[/i]. Kavos dislikes the rough treatment and believes it's only going to bite them in the ass later, however it's better that Bryce's men are overrun later than his men overran now. When the headcount comes in there are 19 infected and more than 100 healthy refugees with little more than the clothes on their back. Another dozen or so merchants, most with what little they could save at the lsat minute, but a few (Bryce included) with massive stockpiles and even some luxury goods on board. Kavos asks Bryce how many ghouls are in Eastbank and if the town is saveable, he glosses over how exactly he knows they're ghouls. "I have no idea." the dwarf says flatly. "It looked like a mob that stretched from one side of town to the other. I don't know how many were the eaters and how many were the eaten" "As soon as we deal with the infected here we're going to have to put something together to deal with the ones in Eastbank. We can't leave them unchecked." Kavos replies. "I can't at least." Bryce nods. "I agree, there's too much merchandise left in Eastbank to just walk away." Kavos sighs and excuses himself, heading to the quarantine area. Gandil meanwhile is visiting with Rambalt and asks if it's possible he's responsible for all of this. "Can I really turn people into ghouls by biting them?" he asks, alternatively horrified at his own potential and wondering what would happen if he turned his powers loose in the capital. Rambalt nods. "Ghouls are known to replicate in that fashion." Gandil ponders. "Can you come up with a cure?" Rambalt thinks for a moment. "Not biting people?" he suggests, somewhat less than helpfully. "This isn't a joking matter Rambalt, a literal boatload of infected people have come through and we need to cure them before they infect Westbank." Gandil says. Rambalt replies that he doesn't have much of a head for curative magic, but says that he'll look over his books and see what he can come up with. Gandil insists that this is top priority and sits down with Rambalt to help him find something. In the quarantine area Kavos is questioning people about when they were bitten and how fast the turn happened for the people that were infected before. He gets unhelpful and occasionally conflicting answers, but from the time that the first guard attacked until they had to abandon the town took less than a week. Kavos is on a deadline. Kavos spends the night with the infected, keeping watch to observe their behavior, deputy Horace assists him. It's the middle of the night when he hears the terrified infected screaming that Ban is dead and discovers that Ban is an elderly man with a deep bite in his side. Horace asks Kavos if they should do something and Kavos replies that they are. Kavos has Horace watch the rest and drags the old man outside to watch the corpse himself, it's several hours before the old man wakes up with a predatory growl, any weakness he may have suffered in life is long since forgotten. Kavos immediately casts Command Undead and strips the creature of its will. Having learned what he set out to learn, Kavos instructs the ghoul to go behind the barn and lay face down in the dirt with its eyes closed until further notice. He then steps back inside and tells Horace to go coup de grace the thing. Horace pales and swallows hard but nods his acceptance and goes to do as he's told. Kavos turns to the rest of the group and encourages them not to worry, that cures will be here first thing in the morning, casting Calm Emotions on the crowd to keep their spirits up. In the morning Father Adrian appears with a basket of food for the refugees, between Father Adrian and Kavos they heal 5 of the 18 remaining infected. They're discussing what to do next when Gandil bursts in shouting that they've found a vaccine. A potion that can help you fight off the effects of even the most potent disease. Kavos asks how many Gandil has on him and Gandil replies that they haven't actually made any yet, they just discovered it. Kavos sighs and says that that doesn't do THESE people much good, now does it? Gandil grits his teeth and throws up his hands in exasperation, leaving the farm without another word. He's still mumbling under his breath about ungrateful this and ingrate that as he gets to town. He's so distracted that he just barely notices the predatory humanoid shape slinking through the field leading up to town; taking cover in brush and foliage along the way. Gandil acts like he doesn't notice it, but keeps it in sight and change his own course to lead him to the houses on the outskirts of town. Gandil hurries as best he can and comes around the corner of the last house just in time to see the creature trying to pry open a window. He realizes it isn't a simple mindless beast after all, even if it is a hungry one. Without making a sound Gandil charges and tackles the thing away from the window, trying to paralyze it but discovering that it's immune. Gandil pins the creature to the ground and discovers that it used to be human but now it's just like him, only hungrier. Making sure that nobody can see him before tearing into the creature with every attack in his ghoulish arsenal, Gandil sinks both claws and his teeth into the growling thing's face. The ghoul returns blows of its own but is unable to seriously injure Gandil. Gandil continues raining down blow after blow until the ghoul fights less and less and eventually just stops moving altogether, finally succumbing to final death. Gandil immediately tosses the ghoul over his shoulder and rushes to Rambalt's, doing his best to move unseen. Bursting into Rambalt's lab Gandil demands to know what this thing is. Rambalt glances at it and then says with some certainty that it's a ghoul, pointing to the bite marks on its forearm and saying that it's most likely from Eastbank. "Where did it come from? Everyone's on lockdown." Gandil says. Rambalt swallows nervously. "I would wager that they're running out of food...so they're migrating. It most likely walked here from Eastbank, and I doubt if it came alone." Gandil curses. "How's the potion coming along? We're going to need a lot of it." [/QUOTE]
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