The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[Dr Simon]

The old lady wrinkles her nose at Mystal's proffered knife, and doesn't take it.

"Let them bleed," she says, staring down at the dying men. "Let them suffer to the last." She looks up at Ape, and it is as if she has dismissed the paper lantern thugs from her sight.

"These men, they came to our shop," she gestures with the end of her stick. "They asked for money from my son and daughter-in-law, who refused. So they came back and took my son and daughter-in-law away. The next day, my son and his wife came back. As walking corpses. Carrying their heads under their arms. So now I keep the shop, with my orphaned grand-daughter" She shrugs her shawl into a new position on her shoulders with careful dignity. "So yes, enough innocent people have died, taken away by these monsters and brought back as living dead, but if you've come to stop them, there are more of them in there," she points with her stick to the building where the remaining gang members have retreated to. "And dead people who've been taken from Shrinam*, who can't find rest." She sniffs, and turns to address the group as a whole. "I've seen you, you work for the Vashti. Did she send you to help us?"

*Shrinam, Keeper of the Dusk Gate, Imperial God of Death. For more, see the bottom of this article

 

[Blackrat]

Three Flowers wipes his blade and sheathes it as he walks to the woman. No, we came by our own after hearing of your troubles. I don't think these men could do such feats of magic as to raise the dead. They must be working with someone else.

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 39/39, F +5,R+3,W+6 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:3/4, 2:3/3)
Ape Form (AC: 17, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 13)

"I'm truly sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you have chosen not to defile your memories of your loved ones by killing in cold blood. Bringing them back as undead is an abomination to nature. Can you give us a direction where we can continue our search?" Ape asks the woman, his face full of regret and determination.

[sblock=ooc]


--------
Spells (CL: 3, DC: 13+spell level)
5/Day Level 0: Cure Minor Wounds, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Read Magic
4/Day Level 1: Produce Lightning, Shillelagh, Summon Nature's Ally I.
3/Day Level 2: Summon Nature's Ally II

Baboon Traits:
AC: 17, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 13
Fort: +6
Refl: +5
Will: +6
Move: 40', cimb 40'
Init: +4
Listen/Spot: +9
[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

The old lady points to the building across the Court.

"That's where they come from," she says. "The old Tamsa Building, used to be apartments. For decent folk."

[sblock=OOC]
I forgot, Three Flowers was checking on the condition of the four fallen men. All will die without attention, the leader seems weakest.
[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

Annika listened to the story, and looked at the dead and dying men in the street.

"Is it enough to kill them?" she asked, unsettled. "If something in that building can return the dead to the living...these men might rise to fight again."

 

[Blackrat]

Three Flowers kneels back down next to the leader and places his hand on the man's temple. As much as it pained him to do this to such a foul defiler, he channels part of his grace to stop the bleeding. We can question this man.

OOC: Lay on hands for 1 point to stabilise the leader.

 

[Dr Simon]

The thug leader, the one that the Vashti called "Yago" when Three Flowers, Annika and Growling Ape clashed with his men last time, becomes more stable. He is still badly mauled and unconscious, but he is no longer bleeding to death.

Just then, the doors to the Tamsa Building slam open once more and several figures step forth. Six of them, leading the way, are headless bodies walking upright, flesh pale, bloated and necrotic. Following them are two of the thugs who just retreated (#4 and #5, if it matters), who seem to be herding the headless undead onwards with their clubs, whooping and hollering.

"Come on, big heroes!" they shout. "Let's see what you've got now"

The old lady hisses between her teeth and scurries back towards her shop.

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: Was there full round pause? Did Mystal recover Shadow Jaunt? If so, he has all maneuvers ready again.

[sblock=Stat block]
Mystal Mar..........................Male Salsham'ai

Strength............10-2 (-1)
Dexterity...........16+2 (+4)...........Small Size, Speed 20 ft.
Constitution......12 (+1)............Initiative: +9, BAB: +2, Grapple: +1
Intelligence.......12 (+1)............Melee: +2 (+6 Finesse), Ranged: +6
Wisdom...........15+2 (+3)
Charisma..........8 (-1)...............Fortitude: +1+1, Reflex: +3+4, Will: +3+3

AC: 10 + 4(DEX) + 3(WIS) +1(small) + armor = 18 + armor = 23

HEALTH: 18; GRACE: 20

Active Stance: Island of Blades

Readied Maneuvers:
Shadow Jaunt
Shadow Strike Technique
Fire reposte
Cloak of Deception
Stone bones
[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

[sblock=OOC]
I figure a couple of minutes have gone by whilst you've been speaking to the old lady, and the paper lantern gang have been regrouping, so Mystal can have recovered his maneuvres in that time, plus anyone who has lost Grace gets one point back.
[/sblock]

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 39/39, F +5,R+3,W+6 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:2/4, 2:3/3)
Ape Form (AC: 17, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 13)

"Those who use clubs for control, lack real control." Ape says. Then he moves forward growling and barking, summoning lightning to his hands. Maybe he and the others can herd the undead back on the gang members. They are only two, and if the undead can intimidated...

[sblock=ooc]

Do as said above. casting produce lightning.

--------
Spells (CL: 3, DC: 13+spell level)
5/Day Level 0: Cure Minor Wounds, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Read Magic
4/Day Level 1: Produce Lightning, Shillelagh, Summon Nature's Ally I.
3/Day Level 2: Summon Nature's Ally II

Baboon Traits:
AC: 17, Touch: 17, Flat Footed: 13
Fort: +6
Refl: +5
Will: +6
Move: 40', cimb 40'
Init: +4
Listen/Spot: +9
[/sblock]