Pizazz's Beyond Annihilation

Kari sits back sharply in her chair snd sits there looking very tense. she looks at calm Mal, and around at all the guards. If any of them seem to be staring at her she will stretch out one leg and grip onto it saying "AH! Leg cramp. Must be from all the walking." Otherwise (or after a believable amount of time massaging out a "cramp") she will slowly relax. "Well. This seems like a conversation for later tonight. Maybe in our rooms. I'll be watching you." For the rest of the evening she pays extra attention to Badger's body and it's new occupant.

The group spends a good amount of their time in the mess hall, since they aren't really allowed any place else except the stark rooms. That said, eventually they find themselves alone, in amongst the rooms they've been given.  Kari, Mal, and Kurik, along with Mordekai, left in a position to discuss Badgers current situation. Kari and Mal share what was mentally discussed.  "Zendrak, servant of bones", seems happy to let them chatter as he leans casually against a wall, looking impassively towards them.

Chuckling Mal says to the group, with a sarcastic grin, "I always knew he did now have the mental discipline he always spouted on about to be so easily controlled." As she flexes her hand with thew ring on it, "I mean it isn't that hard." as her hand frosts over a little bit. "So what are we to do, do we correct the issue now or do we stay with the current predicament and continue on in our quest? Not being that knowledgeable about magic I am not exactly sure what we can do about it, except seek the help of a priest which I am sure any that are currently around would not be able to help us."

I was going to say that somewhere between the mess hall and getting into a room with the others - perhaps a detour to his own room for a moment - Mordekai will find a private moment to mutter into his cloak, "What's going on with this Badger character?  Do you sense anything to explain his change?" 

But then once we're all in the room together discussing it openly, Mordekai will just speak into his cloak without any real explanation and ignoring any odd looks he gets!  "Zendrak, servant of bones? What's that about?  Have you ever heard of Zendrak?"

Mal will look over at Mordekai incredulously, then place both hands on her temples look down at the ground and slowly shake her head from side to side. Eventually she will stare up at the ceiling rolling her eyes and mutter out, "Is everyone in the party insane and talks to inanimate objects!" As her eyes slide over to her white frosted gloved hand.

(Mordekai was discrete about his side conversation, so Mal didn't notice.....though...that is hilarious.) 

Quinn danced about a bit on the inside of Mordekai's jacket, 2-dimensional. He's been unusually quiet and it's clear that his affliction is making him lethargic.  "Character? Two. Two of them there are. One behind, one in front. Zendrak? Very very true this one. Ancient and true. The other one behind dances with lies, lies of his own mind, but...he is...behind right now."

Kari replies to Mal's question on what to do about Badger/Zendrak. This could be trouble, he says he is a wizard slayer but we need to cooperate with the wizards. At least for now. Let's see if we can find out more about his plans. Then she will turn to Zendrak. I bet you know how odd this is, to just take over a body and start doing your own thing with it. And you say you are a wizard slayer but we, our original group that is, plus our new companion, but not you yet, we need to work with some wizards. We need information and possibly more help. If you go around killing all the wizards, or trying to, that will cause us a lot of problems. So why shouldn't we have an exorcism right away to get Badger back?

Mordekai, who I think was swapping stories with guards when the initial conversation with Zendrak was going on, takes a keener interest in the conversation on hearing this,  "When you talk of wizard slaying, which wizards are you referring to? Not all wizards everywhere, surely?"

The strange partial Badger face with all of its changes sneers, a deep seated emotional response bubbling to the surface, "I seek the destruction of the Netherese wizards. What you call wizards in the here and now are but simpleton tricksters with a few sparks and flames. You may consort with them as you please. But when I find the Netherese wizards....they perish beneath the sharp edge of my will."

He says this out loud as opposed to in your individual minds. 

Mordekai puts on a look of mock offence, and jokes "Hey, there's nothing wrong with simpleton tricksters with a few sparks and flames.  I've made quite an entertaining life of it, in fact.  Forgive me though, I'm not familiar with any renowned wizarding collectives.  I've heard mention today of your Netherese wizards, and the Arcane Brotherhood, both of which are new to me.  Are they related in any way? If you could fill me in on some more details, perhaps we might be able to help - at least to find them?"

(I think this is another case where Mordekai might know more than Xarboth about wizarding lore - so if a history or other check would make more sense than assuming Zendrak is about to tell Mordekai everything he needs to know, let me know what an appropriate check might be!)

Mordekai can make a History check. 

In the meantime, Zendrak clarifies as well, "The brotherhood? Some modern collection of charlatans. They are not my concern. The Netherese....they have existed for thousands of years. The height of their magic is unmatched across existence. Though their empire fell near two thousand years ago, their shadows remain. Though crushed and defeated many times....remnants exist. My task is to extinguish those remnants." 

History check: 17

"Why do you seek to extinguish them?  Are they evil?  Just because they were once powerful and keep popping back up every now and again isn't really enough to convince us that you're in the right and they in the wrong.  What have they done to require obliterating?"

Zendrak sneers at Mordekai, "They subvert the very laws of nature to suit themselves. They have incredible power and answer to nobody, and that power corrupts. You are ignorant of the past, but their hubris is responsible for the death of millions, including a god. And be assured that those are alive have done so by shirking the veil of death and surviving as undead abominations. Their presence is like a festering rotting wound on the world.  If they are left alone, that rot will take hold and more death and destructions will be the outcome."

Quinn vibrates inside Mordekai's cloak and mutters into Mordekai's mind, "Festering wound....much truth echoes here, more than this creature can know."

Mordekai has heard of the Netheril empire before. It is a long lost ancient empire built upon mighty magic. They had cities that flew through the skies, and built mighty symbols of their power. He recalls something about their downfall...cause by one of the mightiest wizards trying to take control of all magic and it backfiring.  A god was probably involved. This caused their empires collapse, thousands of years ago.

"I see.  Well, I certainly agree that such an extent of unchecked power, and the desire to use it in the way you describe is a recipe for corruption."  Mordekai looks thoughtful for a moment and adds, "I journeyed with an undead wizard for a time.  But he wasn't Netherese, he was a kobold.  And he was restored from his undeath in the end.  Funny little guy.  Could identify different colours of dragons just from the sound of their roars..."  There's a hidden smile that creeps unbidden into Mordekai's features as he speaks of this old friend.  His long-practiced control over his facial expressions doesn't allow it to show on his lips, but the more perceptive might spot a slight mischievous twinkle in Mordekai's eye, before he realises he's gone way off topic.  "Anyway...you talk of a festering rotting wound on the world.  Are you simply being metaphorical, or might they have left their mark on the land in an actual physical location?"

Zendrak raises an eyebrow, clearly not having considered this idea. "I was speaking with metaphor. But...there is something physical in the world that has disturbed my rest. Can you not feel the very fabric of existence being tugged and strained by something? Indeed, there may be a very physical mark in a location, now that you mention it." 

Zendrak smiles, "And not so long ago, I was also....traveling...with kobolds. They are more complex creatures than I gave them credit for in the past."

Huh, we came across some kobold recently. Some sort of miners or something. They must be more common than I thought. But more to the point, you can't have Badger's body forever. At some point when we have been successful we will be leaving, whether or not your mission is finished. What will you do then?

Zendrak looks at Kari without much emotion, "We will see. Let us just hope my mission is also complete by then and your friend has been returned to you." 

Kurik scrunched his face.  "Are you the bones?  We met kobolds with a ghost and he was 'don't let them find the bones but they were found and Badger looked at them.   Is that what happened?"

Zendrak looks at kurik, then reluctantly nods, “Indeed the bones are mine.”

Mal has a look of shock on her face, which disappears quickly, "That was not the answer I was expecting, I assumed you were the ghost from the cabin, but it appears you have been around longer than I thought or we noticed. I assume Badger put up quite the fight before you took over, is that the recent changes have been happening he lost a battle of wills? I will also assume you have your bones with you somewhere on your person, or badgers body? If so I would request that one of us keep them for safe keeping, particularity Kari here should be the one who keeps them safe. That would allow us to trust you just a bit more than I do right now."