Tide of Shadows

[Charon]

"Like hell it is." The construct rumbled rather loudly. "Our contract was finding out what happened to Blackdell, with a bonus for finding out who did it. The contract didn't say anything about taking on an army of undead to get at their master."

[rhoenix]

Looking shocked for a moment, Fehl broke into a smile a moment later. "You're absolutely right, Eight. We should maintain our fiscal as well as ethical responsibility, and report our findings back so that we may consider this a job well done."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Ophidian just sighed. He had no particular ethic other than maintaining knowledge, but sometimes mercenaries could be so damn short sighted

"Eight, think of it like a long term investment. Yes, you should get paid for the job you did. Hells, I should get paid for helping you folks do your contracted job. We can negotiate that later. However if you dont do something, what do you think the entire region being depopulated will do for your job prospects? No people means no jobs. If you go elsewhere, the areas that depend upon Eastwind for trade suffer economically hard times. Poor economy means no war, which means one out of work mercenary"

[Charon]

Eight shook his head. "Fleshbags." The construct almost seemed to take on an air as though it was speaking to a child. "I didn't say I wouldn't do it. I said that it wasn't in our contract. I don't kill for free. So if someone does expect me to do something about it, they had better pay me to do it. As for the people that would be killed here, so what? There are plenty of other places to work, including other regions that will be building the armies to kill this guy. Yes the economy here will die, and for awhile pay will be low. But I don't have to worry about the decades like you squishies. If I play my cards right I'll still be around centuries from now."

The construct shrugged. "Regardless, if we are going to end up taking on an army of undead, we will want to return to the city to stock up on appropriate gear."

[LadyTevar]

"As distastefully as Eight puts it, he's correct," Ceridwen added sourly. "We need to report our findings to the authorities, and to the Culbertan Church elders. Hopefully, both of them will not be so hidebound as to ignore the danger and work together." From her tone, she sounded doubtful one or both would listen.

"Volemack and I will warn the Church of Bahumet. The Elders will spread the word throughout the region." Although she wondered if any of the draconic members of the church would feel the need for action. It would depend on if they felt themselves or their holdings threatened, she supposed.

"Either way, we need to inform our halfling guides of the news first, so they can warn their people of the danger. -THEN-, Eight, we can return to claim our reward. Is that satisfactory?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I do tend to agree. I shall inform the Church of Boccob as well. Wizards, priests and the occassional Theurge will come in useful in the trials ahead methinks"

[Rogue 9]

"Fehl, you and your companion can do what you wish," Bartel growled. "But my responsibility is to the common folk. You do what you will, but I go to warn my church and then to find and slay the monster who did this."

[Academia Nut]

The halfling leader hopped up on to the cart and said, "So I see that the snake came back on its own and those two woke up just fine. So what happened?"

After being filled in, the halfling frowned deeply and said, "I'll have to send word out to all the other caravans immediately to gather the warriors and get the civilians to safety, but where will either group go? You said yourself that the cities will become death traps as plague and famine set in from the vermin taking over the fields and crops. And the enemy controls an army at least two hundred strong of incorporeal creatures. They can't be tracked and they can hide in the ground beneath our feet, just out of sight or they can fly through the air. A smart general with that sort of force can pick when and where he fights and pick apart a larger force nearly at will so long as he's patient. We need a strategy, and I'm at a loss as to what to do."

He then scowled and asked, "But what was the point of that chamber the farmers found? Surely they would have told someone, so the attack couldn't have come more than a few hours after they uncovered that place. What is the connection to that Noxeus god to all of this?"

[rhoenix]

"Well, said Fehl, while reaching for his ordinary-looking sack at his side, "I did find some substantial equipment in the room that might help all of us, and put it all in here, so we can sort it out at our leisure - that should help with the re-equipping part," he said, looking reasonable.

He continued with a smile warmer than usual. "And to be honest, once Father Bartel here and Lady Ceridwen tell their respective orders, word will swiftly spread through the town and beyond, leading very quickly to jobs for Eight and I to hit things. I agree that this is a menace, and needs to be properly addressed and dealt with - however, it must be out-maneuvered, which will require more powerful forces than we have at present, making dashing off on our own to attack it equivalent to thinking that licking windows is a fun and exciting pastime. Once the fat and influential types hear about this, it'll set their fat jowls bobbing in alarm, and they'll get together and make some big impressive army that will work as a wonderful diversion for a smaller force to accomplish what a larger could not - but events must unfold properly before that happens."

Looking around at some of the faces that perhaps were surprised that he could string four or five words together properly without stuttering, he just said "What?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I am not sure what role Noxeus plays, if any directly other than not wanting this to occur. He was, from what I remember a god of secrets, dreams and protection, before my visions he could have been like Umberlee, godess of the sea, protecting those who pay her prostrated reverence and cruel to those who do not. However he seems now to be one who offers protection through understanding and cunning which is a far different beast."

Naja coiled up in Ophidian's lap, almost like how a large dog would do so despite it being somewhat awkward for the owner, and Ophidian stroked his silky scales affectionately, much to the snakes appreciation.

"Still, what Fehl says has merit. We need to inform those in authority to give us room to maneuver. As it stands our enemy controls the engagement through ignorance. We need people of power stationed at his or her likely targets to thwart his plans, slow him down or make him start over. This will give us the time we need to track him down. We may not be able to track his army, but we can track the general."

The wizard thought for a moment before continuing.


"Controlling that many undead is very difficult. Normally the power of a spellcaster controls how many undead and of what types he can control. If he is doing this alone, he will need powerful talismans to amplify his power and ability to control undead. We can find and track those through research and visiting the locations they once occupied if they have been moved. No one takes an artifact without leaving some evidence of who they are, where they have been, or where they are going. If he is working with subordinates they too can be tracked. Keeping that many minions under your heel without being discovered and where you can keep their individual ambitions in check is more difficult without a central location that needs to somehow be supplied."

[Academia Nut]

"Well, unless of course whoever is doing this found some sort of thing buried in some place like in that well," the halfling noted. "And how are you sure we aren't just dealing with a particularly smart example of one of those shadow things? Don't undead get smarter with age?" The halfling leader asked.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Well, unless of course whoever is doing this found some sort of thing buried in some place like in that well," the halfling noted. "And how are you sure we aren't just dealing with a particularly smart example of one of those shadow things? Don't undead get smarter with age?" The halfling leader asked.

"Some do, but they dont typically have the ability to control others unless they are spellcasters. And shadows do not get smarter..."

[LadyTevar]

"Still, the captain is right," Ceridwen said, refering to the halfling leader. "The hole may have held more than just the statue of Noxeus. It wouldn't be the first time a temple has hidden items thought dangerous upon holy ground."

"The statue was a guardian meant to last the ages," she added. "Could an item of power have been buried, then Noxeus asked to watch in his guise as Protector?"

She eyed the statue as she asked that, knowing well that if something breaks a god's protection, usually the deity sends agents to rectify the situation and punish the offender. Unfortunately, sometimes the agents aren't asked beforehand. By touching the statue, Fehl just might have 'volunteered' for the task.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"It is certainly possible that the temple was plundered before we got there. We wont know more until records are searched for what the temple was, and what it contained. It has been buried for a long time"

[Comrade Tortoise]

'So, we seem to have two primary options. We can go the record wagon, and gather what information we can and then warn the authorities in a few days. We lose time, but have a better chance of being believed. The second option, is to go back now and warn the authorities. We can do so quickly, but also risk being locked up in a cell by the people in white robes..."

[rhoenix]

Looking considerably more serious than usual, Fehl's eyebrows were knitted in thought. "This really is a difficult one. I'm going to lean towards going back to town instead of the caravan for now, but not because I'm choosing one or the other yet. We have to get back and have this stuff we found identified and checked out, and then have all of us be a bit better equipped to handle this problem afterward, with all due hope. We can decide once we get the jobs completely handled and the items taken care of."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Hmm... there may be a way to have our cake and eat it too..." the wizard thought

"Pardon my forgetfulness" he asked "I know it is a day from here to Ashvale, but at a break-neck pace, how quickly could we get to your records wagon. Time has become a rather precious commodity I am afraid, and relative distances will come into play somewhat in decision making"

[Charon]

Eight snorted. "Hey I have an idea. We're going to a records wagon. Why don't we send a few of these," the construct paused, considering its next words "halflings ahead and tell them to start moving towards Ashvale, we meet them halfway and we get to learn a little more about the problem while not losing too much time."

[Academia Nut]

The captain of the halfling scouts nodded and said, "We already have members ranging ahead to get the wagon ready to move towards us, but our legs do not carry us as quickly as you tall folk... and your golem," the halfling added on, clearly annoyed at Eight. "They'll move a bit faster than this cart, but not by much. When we get to the wagon we can turn it around and get it moving towards Ashvale, but it we might only shave a day off the trip if you decide to go back to Ashvale first. I already sent out scouts to alert the human leadership about what we found and that we met up with you though, so your superiors will know most of what has happened by the time you get back, either way. I can dispatch another scout with this new information if you wish. We're a known factor in the area, so we might have more sway with the authorities if its us saying it if you're all from elsewhere in the kingdom."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"By all means do so, It will kill two birds with one stone, as the saying goes" the wizard replied. "Provided the rest of the group, or at least the majority other than myself, is in agreement?"

[rhoenix]

Nodding, Fehl looked satisfied. "That seems sensible to me. Yes, let's go straight back to Ashvale, and we'll meet you there the following day - that should work nicely."

[LadyTevar]

Ceridwen remounted her warhorse. "That sounds like an excellent plan, Captain. It is indeed well known that your scouts warn the townsfolk of dangers they'd otherwise have fallen to. If you have a scout to spare, please send one. If not..."

She looked to the other members of the party. "Hurin is fresh, and can get to town faster than the cart. I could go on ahead, carrying one of the scouts with me, if we so desire." She did not mention that Volemack would be flying on his own wings following her.

[SirNitram]

Quite aware of the subtext of his aunt's words, Volemack was busy eyeing the statue. The last one he touched had attacked, but everyone seemed to think this one was safer. With a gingerness that embodies a child who has burned himself on a pot, then has to pick one up, he touched the statue gently to see what happened.

[Academia Nut]

There was no great fanfare and no great action, but almost the instant Volemack touched the statue he felt drowsy. It wasn't like Fehl, who had been wearing a ring that suppressed his need to sleep. Volemack just felt like he'd had a long day flying about and now he needed a nice cloud to snuggle up on to take a quick cat nap.

[LadyTevar]

"Volemack! What are you.........."

She saw it was too late.