The Source
You are seeking out the source of the plague, and visions in the form of a spell cast by Mikilos have led the Soldier's Defense to believe that one of these sources may be beneath the city. Which is where you currently find yourselves. It's thanks to other adventurers bravely delving these depths that you have some idea where to look; toward the center of the sewer system. The dank, dirty, disgusting... Surprisingly clean?... sewers.
This isn't at all what you expected to find. Sewers so pristine that you could eat off the ground (though why would you want to), walls so shiny and smooth it looks as though someone scoured them. There's no sign of anything down here. Not even rats. The water that flows by your feet is clean and clear. So far, all you've found is that this place is spotless.
Morgan looks around and says "One person once said I would stop coming here when people knew my name. So who here is a good artist, I want many pictures of my face and my name on it." Though she is confused on how this place is like this.
Kore sniffs the air faintly, the black clade Mul'niessa Monk crossing her arms over her cfhest as she surceys her surroundings. She walks with slow steps, lips pressed into a faint frown. "Ten thousand visits to the sewers. This is the first time they were clean. Something eating the waste?" She'll glance over the rest of the group before returning to scrutinizing their surroundings.
Boshter, of course, is on his way with them.
"I hope we find the source and then we can punch it very hard," he announces all too loudly, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Hyperactive? Boshter? Noooooooooooo.
Garak looks surprised. "-Eating- the waste?" he repeats. A small part of him wonders, if that is indeed what is happening, and it is somehow linked to the mysterious plague...then maybe it isn't so sinister after all. But he quickly squelches that thought. He shakes his head and then puts a determined expression on his face. "Clearly something unusual, and perhaps even unnatural, is going on here. We'd best be on our guard." To be fair, Garak's response to pretty much everything is to 'be on our guard'.
"Last I heard, there was a slime that was eating the waste down here. The Otyguhs were near starving." Raethon looks about and rubs his hands. "If someone is causing the plague. I'll erase him."
"Otyughs? Starving? But people poop all the time!" Boshter seems confused about that. "And that's not even getting into the rat poop and the monster poop and the animal poop and..."
He's going to go on for a while if someone doesn't stop him. Please stop him. Somebody.
GAME: Garak rolls survival: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Morgan rolls Knowledge/Local: (17)+12: 29 GAME: Boshter rolls Survival: (17)+3: 20 GAME: Kore rolls survival: (2)+11: 13 GAME: Raethon rolls survival: (11)+2: 13
It's actually a challenge, as you talk about and traverse the too-clean tunnels to make any sense of which direction you're headed. That bit of paint you normally would turn left at? Gone. That pile of bones you know marks a dead end? Gone. Even so you manage to find your way. That handy sense of direction kicks in and you just head north. Until you find a box. A broken stone box sitting in the middle of the sewer.
"Ugh," is what Boshter says as they stop at the box. "What's in the box?" he asks, skeptically, stopping to kneel down by it and study it curiously. "This is a weird box!" He announces.
In case anyone didn't think this was weird.
GAME: Morgan casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 10 DC: 17 GAME: Morgan rolls fort: (13)+8: 21
"...The box is perfectly normal. The location is weird," Kore replies to Boshter in perfect deadpan. She'll come up beside him and frown, her head tilted to the left as she stares at the stone box. The two Monks couldn't really be more different. "At least it isn't exploding." She'll come close enough to risk reaching out toward the empty box. "Or... Containing anything at all, actually. We should probably keep going?"
Morgan squints her eyes "ok there is a lot of magic residue all over the place, even more so in the box..... Damn it it's one the stupid magic eating slimes. Can someone see if there is a symbol or any kind of shipping company on the box."
The box itself is stone, and sealed to the ground in such a way that... you slowly realize that it's a /part/ of the sewer. Someone shaped the sewer into a box.
Garak leans closer to the box, then walks in a slow circle around it to inspect it from different angles. "If it did contain slime, and was broken to release it...the contents could be anywhere." He glances around again, for what must be the tenth time. Then he seems to remember something and tilts his head back to inspect the ceiling.
"...that is very weird," says Boshter after a long moment. He looks at the others. He clearly is uncomprehending as to the point of this, given the relatively blank look on his face. He's evidently hoping that someone else will have an idea as to whether or not they NEED to do anything. When Morgan speaks of magic residue, he straightens up and scans their surroundings.
GAME: Kore rolls PERCEPTION: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Garak rolls perception: (12)+18: 30 GAME: Raethon rolls perception: (9)+15: 24 GAME: Boshter rolls PErception: (12)+21: 33 GAME: Morgan rolls perception: (19)+13: 32
There's a smell hanging in the air. The smell of a recent fire, the scent of fire and smoke and something horribly charred. And underneath that an even worse scent like rotting garbage. All coming from the corner just over there.
Rae sniffs a bit. "That's....not good. Boshter? you smell that?"
Garak wrinkles his nose and sniffs at the air. He glances around quickly at the party to verify none of them are smoldering. Then his focus narrows on the corner. "I think it's coming from over there," he ventures, edging that way. His fingers reach for his holy symbol, but which spell to cast? He asked Serriel for blessing that would help in investigation, and also in resisting the plague-ooze.
GAME: Garak casts Find Traps. Caster Level: 11 DC: 16
Morgan snifs the air "I dont like this smell." she agreas with Garak "Well that is just as good enough start for us to go." she takes a moment to then cast a spell that helps her lift off the ground.
GAME: Morgan casts Overland Flight. Caster Level: 10 DC: 22
Sniff.
Sniff sniff.
Boshter is smelling something and wow that's bad. He gags a little. "Ew," he says, as he turns towards the corner. Sniff. He's gonna start heading that way to check it ou. That corner, that is.
As Garak goes around the corner he is greeted with the sight of char. Of an entire hallway that smells of it with such strength that it's nearly overwhelming. That's not the main thing that's noticed however. It's the zombies. The zombies that crowd the hallway until it's packed with them. All turning hungerly toward you.
GAME: Garak casts Blade Barrier. Caster Level: 11 DC: 20 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+15: (7)+15: 22 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (14)+20: 34 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (18)+20: 38 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+15: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+10: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (10)+6: 16
Blade Barrier? Pffft.
Boshter slides through it like its not even there, nimbly weaving between slices and cuts and arching divine energy blades. He stops by a zombie after a sailing through, landing a kick in its midsection and following with an blow to the jaw. His next two strikes are the result of him slipping on a bit of mud.
GAME: Raethon rolls wisdom: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Raethon casts Haste. Caster Level: 11 DC: 19 GAME: Morgan casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18 GAME: Morgan rolls 2d4+2: (7)+2: 9
Rae flew his way behind Garak and Boshter....and actually ponders casting fireball, but...something tells him not to. So rather than cast that spell, he casts haste. "Weird. it seemed like a good idea. Morgan....Don't use fireball. Have a gut feeling not to."
GAME: Morgan rolls 3d4+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+0: (10)+0: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+0: (8)+0: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+0: (5)+0: 5 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+0: (19)+0: 19
Morgan nods "Yes I know no fire spells in the sewers, but testing a idea of my own." She sends a few bolts of energy to hit them both only annoying them.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 11d6: (34): 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (4): 4
The zombies dive through the barrier mindless of it. Two of them explode trying to get through, one of them sprays the two men up front with bits of its body. The two others attack Boshter with their hands and teeth but not very effectively.
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+13: (10)+13: 23 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d10+5: (3)+5: 8
Splut! Kore's fist goes through the head of a zombie.
Let's be honest. Kore is also probably wishing that didn't happen.
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (13)+20: 33 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (11)+20: 31 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (8)+20: 28 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+16: (9)+16: 25 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Garak rolls 6d6: (26): 26
Garak holds his lance in one hand and plants the end on the ground like its a staff. His other hand raises his holy symbol again. He unleashes a burst of divine energy - but his specially enchanted symbol lets him unleash it around Boshter rather than himself.
Boshter is, of course, amongst the many zombies.
"These are fun," he says, happily punching away! Sure, they've hurt him a bit, but he's hurt them MORE. Even if there's lots of them. TWo more are destroyed. "Are these victims of the plague?" he asks, curiously. "Where did he get all these dead people!"
GAME: Raethon used a Wand of Magic Missile. GAME: Raethon rolls 3d4+3: (7)+3: 10 GAME: Morgan rolls 5d4+5: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Morgan casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18
Rae brings out a wand before a gravelly deep voice says.."Sir...using the wand instead of me is a little insulting." Rae looks at his staff. "Trying to conserve spells, Havok. Zombies kinda seem like scrubs for the moment, especially with Boshter in the middle of them." Then Raethon casts the trio of bolts....and the zombie doesn't die. 'Scrubs huh?'
Rae stares at his staff. "Smart ass. Seems I underestimated these zombies."
Morgan notices the one that Rae hit as she says "I hate we cant use our good spells now." said as she sends 5 bolts and kills it.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8
The zombies have Boshter surrounded, but their attacks are futile.
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+12: (11)+12: 23 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+12: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2: (2): 2
So, Kore flings shurikens. She's not going to try dancing through that barrier of blades, herself, but she does manage to get one through that sticks in a zombie's head. Otherwise, the rest are pinged off by the blades.
Garak leans to one side and then the other, trying to get a look through the blade barrier what is going on around Boshter. Seeing the monk is still surrounded by Zombies, Garak unleashes another burst of positive energy to thin their numbers. "The smell - could these have been plague victims who were -burned-?!"
GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27 GAME: Acedia has disconnected. <Quit> GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (1)+20: 21 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+20: (9)+20: 29 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+15: (17)+15: 32 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+10: (8)+10: 18 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Boshter rolls 2d8+6: (13)+6: 19
Garak dismisses the blade barrier. He heads out towards Boshter, then inspects the fallen zombies surrounding the warrior. "It appears you know how to deal with them as well," he admits. Then he looks at the others, inspecting each in turn. "Is anyone injured?"
Raethon says, "I'm not injured, but I avoid direct confrontation myself. Boshter?" he says looking his way."
Morgan shakes her head as she is floating in the back. "Due to your spell none have gotten to us back here."
Constantin runs up towards the sound of battle, huffing and puffing. Armoured wind sprints are nobody's friend. His sword-tip droops as he arrives. "Is everyone alright?"
Finishing the last of the zombies, Boshter proceeds to wipe his hands off on the wall. No longer clean. "Ew, ew, ew," he says after a long moment. "So what do we do now? Go deeper? I say we go deeper and find more things that need fighting! That we found zombies means we are on the right track! Next, we will find ghouls and ghasts or perhaps a Mohrg! I like fighting Mohrgs."
Raethon says, "Mohrg? Really? You must like looking for challenges."
Morgan fakes a damsel in distress. "Constantin my hero, he is here to save us." she blows him a kiss.
Constantin just looks at Morgan. "You're fine." He steps forwards to share the front line.
So with that you go forth, further into the sewer system. You do find more zombies, but they're fewer and further between now and more easily dealt with. So easily in fact that it barely warrants mentioning. Eventually you find yourself on the precipice of a giant cistern. A huge stone room that dips in the center and is filled with water.
As you watch a body falls down from the center of the ceiling and falls limply into the water with a little splash. A few moments later a zombie walks out of the water, stumbling toward a branch of the sewer you can't see. The water itself is black. Perfectly black in the dim lighting around you. Sparkling black.
"Yes! I like punching monsters and undead especially! It is very satisfying for Boshter of Blar!" He says his name loudly. He wants any potential monsters down here ot know that he is coming.
And then the body falls down into the water and a zombie stomps out.
"Oh, bother," he says after a long moment.
Morgan says "I been reading the history of the undead attacks here, we need to start burning our dead."
Garak grimaces. Where does this water come from? Someone must be intentionally sending corpses through the opening meant for water. Almost absently he summons his lance. He's ready to stab the zombie through the head should it move towards the party.
Raethon looks to Morgan. "No. I've heard reports from the Temple of Vardama. Anyone that has had their bodies burned come back as ghosts...."
Constantin looks up at the ceiling. "Can we seal that off from the inside?" He looks at Morgan. "Can you make the stone move?" Then he looks down at the water. "Is that water? Or something else?"
The zombie wanders away into the dark, coming nowhere near the party. Meanwhile you realize there's no opening above the pool of water. Which begs the question - where did the body come from? Meanwhile the water just sits there. Sparkling.
Morgan shakes her head "Rae do you know how to shape stone. but I have a feeling we need to the controls."
Raethon says, "Lemme look at my spellbook. I don't think I can, but..." Raethon says, "Fire, Ice, Force, Sound....not stone."
"...we burn our dead frequently in Blar! Well, then. I say we find out where they're getting the dead. Then we destroy everything on our way out!" Boshter beams.
Garak watches the zombie with distaste until he deems it far enough away. Then he looks up and squints at the ceiling. "My goddess grants me the power to reshape stone..." he begins slowly. "But I don't see an opening to close." He looks at the others to see if any of them disagree.
GAME: Raethon rolls fortitude: (20)+6: 26 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
As you stand there talking another body appears. Magic. Appears from thin air and falls into the water. Except this time no zombie wanders out a few moments later.
Boshter just sort of blinks at this. slowly
Constantin squints up. "Magic." His commentary has a surprising vehemence to it. "Corpse-bothering magic." A pause. "Maybe we could suspend a net across to catc-- hey, where did that body go?"
GAME: Morgan rolls spellcraft: (13)+26: 39
'Ow' Rae's staff says...and Rae looks to his staff. "What's the matter, Havok?"
'That pond.....it's like the sun when I use detect magic on it.'
"So...I'm going to guess it's very magic. And...well....zombies coming out of the ceiling."
"This seems very bad," Boshter peers upwards. "Should I destroy the ceiling?" he asks, apparently sincere.
Raethon says, "I wouldn't. Whatever is going on...it's at the pool."
Constantin pauses. "Can you dispel the pond?" A pause. "Or just set it on fire, or something?"
Raethon takes a look at the pond. "Which would be preferable?"
"Try to dispel it," replies Boshter in the tone of someone who would prefer setting it on fire. All forlorn.
GAME: Raethon casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 11 DC: 24
The spell goes off without a hitch, and for a second it seems like you've done the right thing here. Then a wave starts to form in the water, and something... black and sticky-looking hoists itself up off the ground on either side furthest away from you. Suddenly you find yourselves facing a towering cascade of water and... whatever the black clamoring ooze-things are headed toward you faster than they have any right to move.
-TBC