Tellerian Hawke
Defender of Oerth
The party travels the road with no encounters, and steps into the forest at the same point as before. The camels are tied at the same place, about 50 meters into the forest, so as not to be visible from the road, but not deep enough in to attract attention from the ravine inhabitants, either. The only real danger to the camels will be predatory animals, but Nimbar has come prepared on this trip. As he casts a spell, he explains:
Nimbar explains, "This is an Alarm spell. It will last for most of the day, probably about 6 hours. The spell will mentally notify me if anything gets near the camels."
After leaving the camels behind, the party begins to hear voices as they approach the ravine where the caves are. Approaching quietly and unseen, the party observes a disturbing scene.
The Tribesmen, numbering 15 in all, all of whom are wearing ceremonial-looking robes and jewelry, are being commanded in the Eryptian tongue by a woman, also clad in ceremonial robes, holding a large, wooden staff in her hand. When she moves, the party hears the tell-tale clink of chainmail beneath her robes.
The Tribesmen are arranging the bare corpses of several (Hawke counts 12) of their dead brethren in a neat row, and filling their mouths with a dark, viscous, syrup-like liquid.
After the bodies are arranged, the ceremony moves into one of chanting and ritual dance, lasting another 20 minutes. After the ritual is concluded, the Wendol form a single-file line, and proceed solemnly back to their cave, which is location #11 on the players map.
The party can detect no Humanoid activity in the area. After the Wendol return to their cave, there is an eerie sense of quiet to the ravine. The party knows that there ARE Humanoids awake at this hour, mostly the posted guards who stand watch while the rest of their kind sleep. But because of their general sensitivity to light, you suspect that their guard posts are probably well-within the confines of their respective caves.
EVERYONE: What do you do?
Nimbar explains, "This is an Alarm spell. It will last for most of the day, probably about 6 hours. The spell will mentally notify me if anything gets near the camels."
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After leaving the camels behind, the party begins to hear voices as they approach the ravine where the caves are. Approaching quietly and unseen, the party observes a disturbing scene.
|
The Tribesmen, numbering 15 in all, all of whom are wearing ceremonial-looking robes and jewelry, are being commanded in the Eryptian tongue by a woman, also clad in ceremonial robes, holding a large, wooden staff in her hand. When she moves, the party hears the tell-tale clink of chainmail beneath her robes.
The Tribesmen are arranging the bare corpses of several (Hawke counts 12) of their dead brethren in a neat row, and filling their mouths with a dark, viscous, syrup-like liquid.
Priestess: "That's it, my children. That's it. Do not fear, the souls of your brothers are proud and happy to have this chance to serve us again, after death. Their spirits are in paradise, and they delight in the knowledge that their bodies still grant us protection and solace. Tonight, when the moon is at its zenith, your dead brothers will arise, and you shall fight alongside them once more. Not even death can stay the loyal Wendol from his true task of defending his people and his queen."
Religion Check DC 13: (20) = Success. These bodies are being prepared to become Zombies. Unless their mouths are washed of the goo with holy water, and then stuffed with either holy wafers or with mistletoe, they will rise as zombies when the moon reaches its zenith tonight. This is a ritual which is associated with the god Set. In order to revere Set, these tribesmen must be diabolical and evil, and completely without remorse; Set does not tolerate sympathy, mercy, or empathy among his followers. Followers of Set hold a different set of "virtues" dear: ambition, lust, greed, and cruelty.
The party can detect no Humanoid activity in the area. After the Wendol return to their cave, there is an eerie sense of quiet to the ravine. The party knows that there ARE Humanoids awake at this hour, mostly the posted guards who stand watch while the rest of their kind sleep. But because of their general sensitivity to light, you suspect that their guard posts are probably well-within the confines of their respective caves.
EVERYONE: What do you do?