Quest #23 "Even The Jungle Wanted Them Dead"

[Karaunios]

Galanthas

He listens attentively, his mien looking even more worried than before. "Maybe he's more powerful than each of us but than all of us? I don't know. Maybe it's too risky. Maybe we should do some scouting for several days or even weeks before attempting anything more direct. We should get an idea of what this Gorman's plans are... And what are this obelisks that you mention. Never heard of them, but things are gradually getting more shady..."

He nods to the what's left of the undead: "Monocar is right. Burning those corpses might be our best option. Who knows who they prayed to when in life. Besides, ashes can't be awoken."

[SirOwen]

Avaala The Grey

Avaala looks doubtful at Galanthas' words. "One thing I do know is this: The more days we leave him to his own devices, the more days he has to create more undead. I would oppose giving him any more time than is absolutely necessary. In military terms, today, he sent a couple of squads. If we give him weeks to prepare, he might hit us with a company." He lets that hang for a moment, and then goes on. "Our new friend here has told us that he is more powerful than we are. Fine. We don't allow this to be a battle of strength. We need to make it a battle of wits and stealth. Those are our strong points."

Avaala throws an arm around Monocar's shoulder. "Well, at least most of us."

[SirOwen]

Avaala The Grey

"Obelisks are pillars. They can serve any number of purposes, from astronomical to architectural to magical." Avaala absentmindedly draws out some pillars in the dirt. "These have been here for a long time and seem to have a history of some kind of magical power. Treasure remembers seeing them long ago, likely something to do with his master then." He shrugs. "Treasure was imprisoned for a very long time, but we aren't sure how long. But they were of interest then, and apparently, Gorman has taken an interest in them now. Who can say why, exactly?"

[Karaunios]

Galanthas reflects for a moment on Avaala's words. "Yes... I guess you're right. Better to take action now than waiting for him to get more powerful. Besides, according to that letter, it looks like we just disposed off the bulk of his army."

He listens to his explanation of the obelisks first attentively, then frowning. "I know what an obelisk is, thank you, master Avaala. How did you get to make you're acquaintance with this companion of yours, if I may ask?" His tone now looks somewhat defensive.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey frowns, then takes the letter and peruses it silently before handing it back. “I beg to differ. Nowhere in this message does it imply that these were ‘the bulk’ of his forces. The very fact that there was a message attached implies that he considered it distinctly possible that this force would be defeated and the message ‘delivered,’ so to speak. He then speaks of returning in a month if his demands are not met, presumably with more undead minions. Perhaps many more. We had best proceed as if this were nothing more than a small detachment,” he says.

Turning to the newly visible lady he adds, “More powerful than any of us, you say?” He looks dubious. “Someone, perhaps, has not yet heard tell of my exploits to date on this island....”

[SirOwen]

Avaala The Grey

Avaala, realizing how he must have sounded, actually blushes under his weathered skin. "Please pardon me, Galanthas," he says. "I did not mean to lecture or condescend. I have a tendency to take things too literally sometimes. I would not presume to lecture one of the Olvenfolk on the arts or architecture."

He nods in Treasure's direction. "I had the excellent good fortune to find Treasure here on the island. We suspect that he had been locked away by his master to protect him from some threat. But then something happened, and his magical protection became a prison when his master did not return. He can tell you the rest."

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeking Out The Jungle Priest
Starday, the 13th of Goodmonth
Midday, Misty, Hot, Buggy

The woman listens to everything being said intently, smiling slyly when Avaala finally asks her name. "I'm Krystal." Some of you notice a hint of recognition on her face as she watches your reactions. "No, not that Krystal. I have heard that some of you once knew a dark woman by that name, but I assure you that I am not her." This woman is clearly human.

"No need to tell me all your names, as I have been watching you for a while now." She reaches into her side pouch and suddenly vanishes from sight, before eventually becoming visible again. "Neat trick, eh? It helps me sneak around a lot, that's for sure. I have had to keep my distance recently though." She nods in the direction of Treasure. "You can see the unseen, cant you little fella?" Treasure folds his tiny arms across his chest and stares back at the woman menacingly. Krystal looks at Avaala again. "What.....is that thing anyway?"

She answers Jaxsen next. "I can show you exactly where he is, but I cant help with your healing. You will definitely need to be at full strength if you plan to confront the man, though. Hey I gotta ask......what's with all the bug references? You like bugs a lot or something?" She swats and waves her hand at the many insects currently flying around her pretty face.

The woman listens to the rest of the suggestions but doesn't add anything else, until Chauncey speaks up. "Yes, even more powerful than you.......Monkey Man," she finishes sarcastically.

Actions?

Wes 26/34 2/6 first 0/4 second 2/3 third
Jaxsen 2/14
Galanthas 4/12 CL, DM, RM 1/1 first
Luther 7/26
Avaala 11/12 CL, DM, RM 1/2 first 0/1 second
Treasure
Chauncey 20/20 CL, DM, RM 0/2 first 1/1 second
Mr. Wrenly 4/4
Brother Gilbert 12/16 0/4 first
Monocar 15/31

[SirOwen]

Avaala The Grey

Avaala shrugs. "Perhaps, Chauncey, but allow me ... um... two questions. Gorman obviously intends to take this entire island, as unlikely as that seems. If he were ready to eradicate Beachtown, would he not do so now? He sends a few skeletons and zombies and a threat for the survivors. He offers them a month to leave. This would be an incredibly foolish ploy if the town decides to get ready and fight him. Why give them a month if you can wipe them out now? After all, every victim can be added to his army later. The faster he kills his enemies, the faster he can built his forces. He's bluffing, at least partly. What little money I have says he has a shortage of bodies and needs time to find more and raise their corpses."

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax bows to the woman. "I am of the warrior brotherhood of Queen Bralm. She is the Goddess of the Swarm and the Queen of Industrialness. We have a tendency to feel ourselves as one with the Queen's Children. I'm afraid my speech betrays that sometimes. But believe me when I say that if I refer to you as one of my hive, it is the very highest of compliments."

[Urson]

Luther
That makes a lot of sense. I think we better get him while we can- and sneak attack is the way to go. As long as it's more sneak than attack- we were lucky at the smuggler's camp.
Luther grins a sour grin.
He looks at the vial he used earlier, pours a little water into it, and drinks, then shakes his head.

Another question I got:: I get the impression he's watching Beachtown. How?

[SirOwen]

Avaala The Grey

Avaala answers Krystal. "He is Treasure, a Wizard's Wyrm, ancient and wise. And my friend."

[ChubbyPixie]

At the word “monkeyboy,” the second time Chauncey has been on the receiving end of that epithet, once pre and once post-monkey, a screech rings out from the canopy above and a single nut flies out of the foilage to strike the woman harmlessly on the torso. “I will take that... as a compliment,” says the wizard, turning up his nose and turning on his heel from the crass new addition to their ranks.

“Well I hope you are correct, Avalaa,” he says in response to his fellow guild member, “but I fear you have arrived at your conclusions largely through conjecture. No point in disagreement. Time will surely tell.”

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Thinking on what Avaala has just said. So he is building a Corpse Corps? You think these guys were supposed to go down to town and kill off some more folks for him to make more zombies? Would that mean he was not far behind them then?

[OGRE MAGE]

Technically, the end of Goodmonth is only 15 days away. Not a full month.

Carry on.

[SirOwen]

Monocar

Thinking on what Avaala has just said. So he is building a Corpse Corps? You think these guys were supposed to go down to town and kill off some more folks for him to make more zombies? Would that mean he was not far behind them then?

Avaala the Grey

"Perhaps," says Avaala. "But unless the note, and the threat, were just a distraction, I don't think so."

[SirOwen]

Thanks, OM. An important point.

[Karaunios]

Galanthas waves his hand condescendingly, accepting Avaala's apologies. He then suddenly begans to laugh, as if embarassed himself from his reaction. "All's fine. Don't worry."

Then, from his sitting position, he looks at the woman who just introduced herself: "Pleased to make you acquintance, Krystal."

He meditates a bit, listening to what she and all his companions are proposing as the next course of action: "Alright, I, WE, can't really know if these were the bulk of his forces or not. Therefore, we shouldn't go directly into the wolf's mouth. I think a more careful approach would be in order. That way we'll be able to consider the number of forces he has available and maybe even knock down some of them... and then burn them so they never get up again. For the time being I suggest we go back to the cabin, some of us are really in need of rest and can't wait for the priests here to call on their gods so we can get our wounds healed." He stops for a second. "And, as I said in the mist of the battle: I've four vials with unidentified content that we could surely put to use... If they don't kill us upfront, that is."

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Perks up as if struck by lightning!

ZomboMeme 14062019161402.jpg (99.62 KiB) Viewed 464 times

Sorry OM! I know your opinion on memes but this seemed too perfect.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

Having done what he can to heal members of the group, he has been listening to the conversation. He walks over to Krystal and personally greets her.

Greetings, Krystal. It is nice to see you and to know what to call you. I am following the discussion, but methinks there are too many words, and not enough planning. Do you have any suggestions?

Until I joined this exploration group, I knew nothing of this Gorman person. What is he? And why is he so malevolent?

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes ruminates over the contents of the note and the other challenges facing the group. "I'm not sure if we can assume that this is a significant number of Gorman's creatures. He might have sent just enough to cause a lot of damage and spread fear. He did the same thing the day many of us arrived. Easier to frighten everybody away than commit a lot of forces and maybe lose a lot. As someone said, he's got to worry about the dwarves, the phanaton, the islanders and who knows what else as well.".

"With a bit of luck he won't send out another force for a while, these things were obviously expendable and probably not expected to report back to him. So we may well have another two weeks before he attacks."

Wes takes in Luther's comments about sneak attacks and how Gorman may be watching Beachtown. "I think I, or rather Obad Hai, can help with a few ways to sneak and observe. We shall have to see."

"As for watching Beachtown, well Miss Krystal over there has popped up around there once or twice, and now turns up again. The zombies and skeletons won't have been able to report back. But another observer could...Not necessarily you, Miss Krystal, since you seem to be done with Gorman. But you did say he has other folks that work for him too"

"Now then", he says."The matter of shelter. Monocar's idea of the cabin is excellent. We should return there. As for these bodies, I think we should leave them where they are. If any animals are attracted to the smell, they'll come here. The cabin should be far enough away to be safe. Burning the bodies means collecting them all up, building a pyre and then watching it to make sure the fire doesn't spread. There's no wind down here under the trees, so the smoke will just cover the area. It might spread as far as the vegepygmies and wake them up."

Wes laughs as he contemplates the idea of being the leader of Beachtown. "No, I'm just trying to show them the way to Obad Hai. I'm sure they can find their own leader. Hopefully, we can find the current one and bring him back alive and the problem will solve itself".

"Besides," he whispers quietly. "I'd have to deal with Marge every day..."