Book Two: Chapter Seven: "Restless Remains"

Breakfast is cooking on the fire.

Going over the map, Straegis and Verity are able to plot out several paths, all of which weave through the hills, to achieve varying degrees of directness and concealment; but none promise to be free of undead. Harley and the Brothers Rihn look at the suggested routes, and come to the same conclusion.

Verity, and the others, know that corporeal undead gravitate toward population centers; this is true for both mindless undead and free-willed undead. You guys, however, are operating under the assumption that the undead are created and controlled by a Necromancer; in which case, they could be anywhere. It's conceiveble that any route, no matter how remote, could be watched by the undead; and undead can wait for a very, very long time.

The fact that the undead didn't attack the Dwarves validates the notion that they are being controlled. Furthermore, evidence of their ability tp "lay in wait" could be seen at yesterday's battle; the undead buried "screamers," in the cave and along the beach, to alert others when the living were nearby.

The tracks Davin found were mostly going from from the Temple to Jaru; but some did come from elsewhere, and relatively few were headed to different destinations. Straegis knows that a conquering army would do the same thing; sending the bulk of their force occupy the port, and sending smaller units to take out local resistance.

So, basically, none of the direct routes will avoid the undead. By taking an indirect path, you might avoid most of the undead, but you would probably face sentries anyway as you neared the Temple; and it would take longer.

What to do? What to do?

"I dunno 'bout no cloakin's, but if a mist'd be boon to y'all, then I can tell ya when the next one'll be rollin' in." She looks around, at the sky, and seemingly toward the distant sea. "I'd guess tomorro'd be better, if a fog's what ya require."

"Sounds like a plan. No wagon for this stage of the attack: Harley, can I leave the girls with you?"

Assuming all are in agreement, Davin is ready to leave when the others are; take 10 on Stealth/Perception while on the move.

-Swift

“Or perhaps we bring the wagon to load with undead for Harley’s pyres?
“In any case I think a sending is in order to warn the troops. Davin saw that most of the tracks go from the Cave Temple towards Jaru. Yet we stayed in Jaru and, well, even I would have noticed if the town was swarming with undead. Being as it was not, they could be lying in wait offshore. It would be a disaster if the fleet were subject to a surprise assault from these formidable creatures and before reaching land. Do we have something to write with?”
The Deathknight spends some minutes scribbling and x-ing things out. Once he’s nearly filled a page he hands the parchment to Straegis.
“There, I think that covers the relevant details. Feel free to edit as you see fit.”
It reads:
Fog tomorrow. Undead including flyers mass in Jaru, hidden, possibly offshore. Roving bands, some at Temple. Provide attack details. The Companions

Halcyon wrote:“Or perhaps we bring the wagon to load with undead for Harley’s pyres?"
“In any case I think a sending is in order to warn the troops..."

Fog tomorrow. Undead including flyers mass in Jaru, hidden, possibly offshore. Roving bands, some at Temple. Provide attack details. The Companions

Straegis readies the components for the sending ritual as they continue their discussion. "I see the point of bringing the wagon with us but my concern would be with the safety of the team while we carry out our offensive. If there is a chance they would have to be left at some point to await our return, I would rather they stayed here."

O.O.C. - Is there a way to be sure the undead we kill do not rise again? Is burning them all that Harley doing?

-Swift

"Give me 10 minutes to finish this ritual, then I'll be ready to go." Straegis completes the Sending ritual and stows his ritual book and the remaining components for the journey.

O.o.C.: Who am I sending the message to? and are we all happy with the message?

"Aubrey, can you cast a sending to the Imilites docked in Jaru? I'm sure we can count on Alex, Katrina and the rest to aid us in reclaiming the Temple from our shared enemies. Their command of water could prove invaluable in the battle to come. Something like: The Companions of Brackwater request you escort Imperial ships to Cave Temple for coming battle. Fleet approaching Jaru presently. Your old friends.
"Send it to Alex."

"For today we should clear a path to the beach so tomorrow we can arrive at the Temple fresh for the fight."

Then Verity starts pacing, thoughts of laying low the enemies of his people and his faith filling his mind.

OCC: Mal, I think the fleet was heading towards Jaru, right? If not please edit appropriately. If we don't know where the Imperials are we can save that sending for later.

After Straegis completes the Sending to Ferrall, Aubrey casts another and Sends it to Alex.

OOC: The Imperials are supposed to land in Jaru.

OOC: Okay, we need to move things along. Are you guys leaving today or tomorrow? Let's do this.

As per phone conversation with Halcyon ...

Verity mounts up, and rides out to clear a path from Harley's place to the beach. All three of the Brothers Rihn follow; as does Azzy and Kersh, and anyone else who'd like to go. Aubrey chooses to stay behind.

The "vanguard" marches all the way to the beach without encountering any trouble. The undead are either not there, or they are very well-hidden. Either way, the group returns to Harley's place well before dinner time; confident they've done all they can to secure the way, they wash-up for dinner.

Verity asks Harley whether the fog will persist for three or four days, until the ships arrive. She informs him that it will not last that long, but each morning a new for shall arrise.

Taalgarnuk grills up some large mushrooms, and serves them along side a wild tater-and-parsnip stew. The heroes are comforted by the warm and rustic meal in their bellies, and shoot-the-breeze until nightfall. One-by-one they fall asleep.
...
...
By morning, a thick blanket of fog has covered the land. The heroes rise from their slumber, and begin preparing for the day's journey.

"Harley, can I impose on your hospitality once more? Will you ride with us over water to the Cave Temple and then bring the girls and ATW back here with you? I will not leave them unattended outside the Cave Temple."

Assuming Harley will aid us, Davin hops up on the wagon, and whistles for Hound to do the same.

"I suggest we fight a delaying tactic against the undead in the Temple proper until we can find the necromancer in charge. Then we cut off the source of this filth."

Once everyone is aboard, Davin snaps the reins. "YAH!!"

On the water: "Aubrey, did you ever remember what you were supposed to do after we raised you?"

We are approaching the Cave Temple via the water, using the fog as cover. Take 10 on Nature/Stealth (30/31) to get to the Cave Temple. Once Harley is away, we will enter the Temple and begin the offensive.

-Swift

Ferall responds, promising to alert the ship captains. "Thank you. I will alert the ship captains."
Harley responds, promosing to bring the wagon back. "Oh, sure. I'd be happy to take care of them again."
Alex responds, promising to escort the ships.
Aubrey responds, "No. I think I was supposed to tell Master Vangg something, but I don't remember what it was."
...

The heroes jump onto the wagon, and Davin leads them down to the shore, and out onto the water. A thick blanket of fog makes it difficult to see anything, but you all hear the lapping of waves against the sides of the wagon (Davin, with his magical eye, can still see well enough to navigate).

With Kersh's bulk, there isn't quite enough room for everyone. So, Juugug rides with Verity, atop Zephyr, just as he must have done during their errant days of training. Harley follows on her own magnificant mount, allowing Aubrey to ride with her. Azzy follows on the wind. That leaves Davin and Hound on the teamster's bench, Kersh and Vangg and Straegis in the back of the wagon. Poor Taalgarnuk is forced to ride with azzy, allowing the powerful angel to carry his tiny kobold mass.

After a couple hours, the wagon would be in sight of the temple if not for the fog.

Soon, the mountains are a featureless grey patch amidst the other fog, to most of you ... but the templars still recognize it as their old home.

Davin pulls the wagon up to the stoney beach, under the shadow of the mountain, and hands the reigns to Harley. Once everyone is out, the young shephardess leads the wagon back out into the sea and away from view.* (Anyone still on the wagon leaves with her, I'm afraid). "Good luck!"

*Is she taking Zephyr back, as well?
...



You guys land at A64.
...

Quickly and quietly, the party moves over the rocky coast, approaching the Cave entrance.

Assume Davin makes it to B32. Everyone else single-filed behind him, press tightly against the cliffside for cover.

On the way there Verity will ask Harley,

“I’d like Zephyr to head back to your place after the battle if we need to venture where he cannot tread. I’d tell him myself but sometimes he pretends not to understand me.
“He’s got a soft spot for beautiful women though, so I’m sure you can convince him to return to your house at my signal.”

Diplomacy: 41

To the others he says,

“Watch out for those screamers underfoot. Soon we send them and their kind to the hells.“There are no words that can describe the desecration of the Cave Temple profaned by these wretches. But where words fail my blade shall sing!”

As they approach he invokes OHOM hoping to retain surprise and asking that they aid each others stealth.

Davin - 35, 40
Hound - 27, 24

We add +16 for OHOM? That is not included in the above totals. Any fails and Hound and I will give Crucial Advise.

-Swift

Malazek wrote:Aubrey: 24, 15[/i]

O.o.C.: Is Aubrey staying with us then?

Stealth: 1d20=19+7(half-lvl)+16(OHOM)=42,
1d20=10+7(half-lvl)+16(OHOM)=33

Straegis follow Davin's lead and treads as lightly as possible so as not to alert anyone to their presence.