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Aphonion: Journals of a Licensed Diabolist (Sat. and Wed. updates, last 9/3, 9/10)
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<blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 4338944" data-attributes="member: 3448"><p>The following day, while we were on the march, one of the Rappa scouts returned to inform us of a column moving perpendicular to our path.</p><p></p><p>“A column of what?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“The dead that walk.”</p><p> </p><p>“How many?”</p><p></p><p>“A foot of foots of foots of foots.” I checked quickly to confirm that Rappa have five talons on each foot, and then calculated that total as 625—well more than we would want to fight if we could avoid it.</p><p></p><p>“How close will they pass?” asked Sideh. “And how quickly are they moving?”</p><p></p><p>“Two hops,” squawked the scout, which based on the Rappa’s flight patterns would be about 100 to 120 feet. “They plod steadily-- they will be here soon.”</p><p></p><p>We quickly gave orders to find hiding places and crouched behind dunes to wait for them to pass. Spring flew up to watch. He later reported seeing a collection of skeletons and zombies, stiffened with some ghouls, lurching along in an organized column. Several wraiths floated above them. Spring counted seven wraiths before one of them headed towards him.</p><p></p><p>“Hail, cousin,” the wraith rasped.</p><p></p><p>“Hail. Where are you headed with these things?”</p><p></p><p>“We are crossing the waste, passing into the mountains, returning as it were to the Count.” Spring interpreted that, along with his observation, as indicating that they were heading eastwards.</p><p></p><p>“What mission were you on?”</p><p></p><p>“We cleaned up a small band of resistance, near the old laboratory, southeast of the fallen place we do not name. There are still insect warriors here and there, with their insect jewels. We lost many-- 400 of us fell. But a full star of them won’t rise again.” </p><p></p><p>That description implied phraints who owed allegiance to the Orange Mage. A star would be a commander and four drones.</p><p></p><p>“Do you know your way to Dragonhold Blackgleam?” asked Spring.</p><p></p><p>“Yes.”</p><p></p><p>“You should reinforce that area to prepare for a counter-feint. They may have been trying to draw you out of position. They have already moved at Ripgut.” Because Dragonhold Blackgleam had fallen to our bonewater dust, Spring hoped to send the undead to their destruction.</p><p></p><p>The wraith sneered. “That fool Ripgut might fall, but Blackgleam demonstrates more commonsense than Ripgut has ever had. He will not fall to such as they. Word will be sent to him to watch the North. We will report this to the Seneschal as well.”</p><p></p><p>“Who is your immediate superior?”</p><p></p><p>“I answer to the Seneschal via the Chaos Champion Sudenay.”</p><p></p><p>Spring nodded and remained where he was as they continued on. As they passed, he noted a dozen shadows among the wraiths.</p><p></p><p>After narrowly avoiding the undead army, we traveled for two more uneventful days, bringing us to within a day’s travel of the Circle. That night, a sense of chill settled over the camp.</p><p></p><p>Spring cast <em>see invisibility</em> and flew up over the camp. As he flew, he felt the chill increasing. A female, diaphanously robed, pale figure watched the camp, floating in the air. He noted that she was watching primarily the humans. Occasionally her eyes flipped over to someone else, but she ignored the Rappas entirely.</p><p></p><p>Spring concluded that she was a ghost and caught her attention. “What brings you here?”</p><p></p><p>“I watch your companions. They are warm. I ponder why you are here.”</p><p></p><p>“Why are you here?”</p><p></p><p>“This is my place. This is where I was slain. This is where I am bound.”</p><p></p><p>“Who killed you? Do you wish to leave?”</p><p></p><p>“Rest is not for I. Not until the fall of all things, or the fall of Shadow.”</p><p></p><p>“Will you help us bring about that rest for you?”</p><p></p><p>“Do you have any idea of the price for failure?”</p><p></p><p>Spring shrugged and gestured for her to follow, leading her to meet with the rest of us. “Perhaps the end of your binding is closer than you think.”</p><p></p><p>“Your group is so warm. It distracts me.” The ghost appeared tormented. “Helping would cause nought but pain, pain so exquisite that it could not be endured. And yet…”</p><p></p><p>“We would ease your pain if we could,” replied Sideh.</p><p></p><p>“There is a beast within the tower. I know what lies covered on the cart. But I will tell no-one that it is here.”</p><p></p><p>“What beast?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“A thing that devours all comers.” She paused. “It is mighty. I could slay it, but then if you nonetheless failed, they would know it was I.”</p><p></p><p>“We would not fail,” I said resolutely.</p><p></p><p>“How would they know it was you, anyway?” asked Spring.</p><p></p><p>“There are those who know its name-- if they came by, they would know.”</p><p></p><p>“How would you kill the beast?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“By my word-- the same way that I would destroy your army if I were not uncertain.” She looked over at Sideh. “You are a priest?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes.”</p><p></p><p>“Of what god?”</p><p></p><p>“Of the Lord of Light, Glor’diadel.”</p><p></p><p>“Will you swear that you will find my remains and lay them to rest?”</p><p></p><p>“To the best of my ability, I will.”</p><p></p><p>“Then I will use the word that I gained in my death to destroy the beast. After that, it will be up to you.”</p><p></p><p>She directed us to a small stone manor house nearby. She describes the beast, part human, and part demon. Sideh guessed that it might be a cambion, but her description implied that it was very powerful in any event. We found the manor easily, and quickly found what we took to be her bones-- she apparently died defending a crib. A small body lay in the crib with an ugly curvy dagger stabbed through it. Sideh solemnly buried both sets of bones, intoning funeral rites as he did so. They were not proper Paranswarmian rites, but it was well that the bodies received some requiem.</p><p></p><p>The ghost spoke again. “Thank you. I will go now.” We later learned that even her mighty power only sufficed to half-slay the cambion, destroying part of its nature but leaving the rest for us.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cerebral Paladin, post: 4338944, member: 3448"] The following day, while we were on the march, one of the Rappa scouts returned to inform us of a column moving perpendicular to our path. “A column of what?” I asked. “The dead that walk.” “How many?” “A foot of foots of foots of foots.” I checked quickly to confirm that Rappa have five talons on each foot, and then calculated that total as 625—well more than we would want to fight if we could avoid it. “How close will they pass?” asked Sideh. “And how quickly are they moving?” “Two hops,” squawked the scout, which based on the Rappa’s flight patterns would be about 100 to 120 feet. “They plod steadily-- they will be here soon.” We quickly gave orders to find hiding places and crouched behind dunes to wait for them to pass. Spring flew up to watch. He later reported seeing a collection of skeletons and zombies, stiffened with some ghouls, lurching along in an organized column. Several wraiths floated above them. Spring counted seven wraiths before one of them headed towards him. “Hail, cousin,” the wraith rasped. “Hail. Where are you headed with these things?” “We are crossing the waste, passing into the mountains, returning as it were to the Count.” Spring interpreted that, along with his observation, as indicating that they were heading eastwards. “What mission were you on?” “We cleaned up a small band of resistance, near the old laboratory, southeast of the fallen place we do not name. There are still insect warriors here and there, with their insect jewels. We lost many-- 400 of us fell. But a full star of them won’t rise again.” That description implied phraints who owed allegiance to the Orange Mage. A star would be a commander and four drones. “Do you know your way to Dragonhold Blackgleam?” asked Spring. “Yes.” “You should reinforce that area to prepare for a counter-feint. They may have been trying to draw you out of position. They have already moved at Ripgut.” Because Dragonhold Blackgleam had fallen to our bonewater dust, Spring hoped to send the undead to their destruction. The wraith sneered. “That fool Ripgut might fall, but Blackgleam demonstrates more commonsense than Ripgut has ever had. He will not fall to such as they. Word will be sent to him to watch the North. We will report this to the Seneschal as well.” “Who is your immediate superior?” “I answer to the Seneschal via the Chaos Champion Sudenay.” Spring nodded and remained where he was as they continued on. As they passed, he noted a dozen shadows among the wraiths. After narrowly avoiding the undead army, we traveled for two more uneventful days, bringing us to within a day’s travel of the Circle. That night, a sense of chill settled over the camp. Spring cast [i]see invisibility[/i] and flew up over the camp. As he flew, he felt the chill increasing. A female, diaphanously robed, pale figure watched the camp, floating in the air. He noted that she was watching primarily the humans. Occasionally her eyes flipped over to someone else, but she ignored the Rappas entirely. Spring concluded that she was a ghost and caught her attention. “What brings you here?” “I watch your companions. They are warm. I ponder why you are here.” “Why are you here?” “This is my place. This is where I was slain. This is where I am bound.” “Who killed you? Do you wish to leave?” “Rest is not for I. Not until the fall of all things, or the fall of Shadow.” “Will you help us bring about that rest for you?” “Do you have any idea of the price for failure?” Spring shrugged and gestured for her to follow, leading her to meet with the rest of us. “Perhaps the end of your binding is closer than you think.” “Your group is so warm. It distracts me.” The ghost appeared tormented. “Helping would cause nought but pain, pain so exquisite that it could not be endured. And yet…” “We would ease your pain if we could,” replied Sideh. “There is a beast within the tower. I know what lies covered on the cart. But I will tell no-one that it is here.” “What beast?” I asked. “A thing that devours all comers.” She paused. “It is mighty. I could slay it, but then if you nonetheless failed, they would know it was I.” “We would not fail,” I said resolutely. “How would they know it was you, anyway?” asked Spring. “There are those who know its name-- if they came by, they would know.” “How would you kill the beast?” I asked. “By my word-- the same way that I would destroy your army if I were not uncertain.” She looked over at Sideh. “You are a priest?” “Yes.” “Of what god?” “Of the Lord of Light, Glor’diadel.” “Will you swear that you will find my remains and lay them to rest?” “To the best of my ability, I will.” “Then I will use the word that I gained in my death to destroy the beast. After that, it will be up to you.” She directed us to a small stone manor house nearby. She describes the beast, part human, and part demon. Sideh guessed that it might be a cambion, but her description implied that it was very powerful in any event. We found the manor easily, and quickly found what we took to be her bones-- she apparently died defending a crib. A small body lay in the crib with an ugly curvy dagger stabbed through it. Sideh solemnly buried both sets of bones, intoning funeral rites as he did so. They were not proper Paranswarmian rites, but it was well that the bodies received some requiem. The ghost spoke again. “Thank you. I will go now.” We later learned that even her mighty power only sufficed to half-slay the cambion, destroying part of its nature but leaving the rest for us. [/QUOTE]
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