Pizazz's Beyond Annihilation

Kari stands up and walks to the priest, sort of waving her hand at her group as she does. Her face is set in a determined calm, masking whatever else may be underneath. "This... Grols, is it? Who is he? Why does he deserve my attention?"

Quinn shivers inside Mordekai's vest, "The lies beings build inside their own mind are the most powerful. Often the world is more likely to change than self wrought illusions." 

Zendrak clears his throat at Mal's comments, "Actually, we need to be here for 24 hours before this holy water will do its job. I'm not leaving until this thing is destroyed." 

The priest curls his nose at Mal's comments, seemingly entirely unphased by her attempt to cajole him, "If you wish to threaten me and our townsfolk, who've done nothing other than assist you, then perhaps you should find another source of holy water. You paid me only for what value I needed to create the holy water, not including my own time, so don't think you're money has set us at an equal place. Either leave, or respect our people, and our beliefs, and go....face the music...as your friend suggests."

The priest looks to Kari as she stands, "Yes indeed, come forth." 

He leads Kari (and the rest who follow) forward down to the front door and opens them.  A crowd of angry townsfolk faces the group. Though....each face is painted with a cute little nose, and black streaks to represent whiskers, and suddenly in that moment it's hard to do anything other than smile at the threateningly cute faces arrayed before them. 

A hulking man stands in the center. He looks like he must be half-bear as his muscle bound frame stands at the front of the group.  Kari recognizes the boys father from the crowd as he taps Grols on the elbow and says, "That's the one, right there. Her."    

Grols sets his hands upon his hips, "You. Did you heal this mans son's broken leg? A leg that the child broke in daily activity. Our god revealing the weakness of his bones to all the world.  Did you prop up his weakness so that it could continue to water down the strength of our people for generations?"

Mal looks at the retreating priest as he leads Kari outside, and her hand strays to the crossbow and removes it from her shoulder sling, carrying it now in her one hand laying the tip of it against her shoulder.

She stops in the half shadow of the doorway and leans against the wood of the entryway, staring out at the gathered crowd. I could just yell out to my friends, and then be done with this town in mere moments, as once again her hand fondles the ring under her glove, being done with the idiocy of these cultists, she thinks and sighs, though that might ruin Kari's fun. Fine whatever, you godless heathens, let's see what trouble you bring to your town.

Kari Walks down the steps to within 10 feet of the hulking man, looking over him and the dad for a few silent seconds. "Thats a lot of words from someone who is here to substitute their strength for someone else's weakness. Or am I wrong in thinking that you're here to fight me instead of letting the person I offended do their own fighting?"

Mordekai steps forward in front of Kari, hoping his own smaller stature might serve to de-escalate things a little. He also casts Calm Emotions on the crowd (20ft radius sphere, trying to get as many of the townsfolk in as possible, but specifically Grols and the father. DC19 CHA save).

"I do not mean to cause offence here, but simply seek to provide you with some information that might be useful to you. In my humble experience, broken bones are not a sign of weakness so much as a sign of sufficient leverage placed on the bone at a crucial point." Looking to the hulking bear-man he presumes to be Grols, "Good sir, even your mighty bones would break under such circumstances. But another thing I've learned is that where a bone is broken, if it is set properly and given time to heal well it will, once fully healed, be stronger than it ever was in the first place. What my friend has done is not prop up a weakness and water down your town's strength, but improve your town's strength as a whole."

At this, Mordekai uses his Fey Presence ability (10-ft cube from me, again specifically targeting Grols and the father plus as many other townsfolk as possible, DC18 WIS save it be charmed) "Please, forgive any perceived transgression, and simply accept this action as a one-off gift of strength to your town that we will not repeat or exacerbate"

Persuasion: 25 (second roll for advantage if charm was successful: 23, and minimum result of 26 if both are below that)

As Kari steps forward to bluntly state her case, in a not so subtly threatening way, she feels a wave of cold air brush past her. She looks back and sees Mal, her eyes icy blue, staring almost eagerly at the crowd....a breath of cold air flowing from her. But then Mordekai steps in front of Kari.  With him he brings the very definition of calm and cool as his words, immediately reassuring and reasonable, begin to weave a pathway to de-escalation. 

Grols: 14 vs 19  / 6 vs 18

Father: 16 vs 19  / 13 vs 18

As Mordekai continues his speaking, everyone seems to settle down, and into listening to his expert smooth voice expressing what is not only reasonable, but fair, and obvious and clearly right. The sense of calm is almost visible as it echoes across the crowd.  Soon enough, Dolf and the father are nodding along with each word. When Mordekai is done Grols steps forward and places a hand on Mordekai's shoulder.  There is only the briefest of concern in Mordekai's mind for a moment, but the touch is light and without malice.  "Grols is glad you understand and respect our ways. That is all we came to seek." 

He turns to the rest of the crowd, "They have apologized, and indeed respect and understand. It will not happen again."  To the father he says, "Your sons new found strength in his leg...well, we shall see how nature rewards, or punishes him....as is the way of survival." 

He nods once more at Mordekai and the crowd begins to disperse.  Zendrak makes a huff noise from just within the door behind Mal and turns away.  Mal's icy blue eyes glare glacially at the departing crowd and likewise makes a dismissive noise before returning to the inside of the church. 

The rest of the day passes uneventfully as the group waits for the holy water to do its work. Near the end of the day, the box begins to show signs of age. Rapidly, erosion and brittleness begin to appear. Then, as you watch, its as if the box ages a thousand years in a just a few moments, and within the holy water it crumbles into nothing.  A dull misty haze seems to escape from within and evaporate into the water as well.  Nothing but silt and bits of rubble are left in the water.   Zendrak nods confidently.  "It is done."

Kari talks to Mordekai shortly after the group goes back inside. "Thanks for doing what you did, it was very effective. Though I won't say I don't miss the chance to beat his face in." Her fist is clenched hard and the fire is still swirling in her eyes. "What kind of parent doesnt even stick up for their kid, won't give them any kind of support, just abandons them to fate! Dobyou know what that does to a kid? To feel-" She abruptly cuts off and blinks back the growing fury. Nodding silently another thanks she moves to find a place to wait. As soon as the box has disintegrated she is up and strapping on her pack, not willing to spend a moment more in the town than is necessary.

Mal looks on, "That's it? That was somewhat anti-climatic, works for me though. So where we heading next it appears we have, unfortunately, the jungle to go to for the Lich named Shock, or I believe Demise, which is also in an underground cave. If I am not mistaken the Lich we just took care of was named Ruin. Does anyone remember which Lich that other group was going to go after?"

[OOC: had to go back to #1026 to get the info on which Lich was where if anyone else wants to read the descriptions.]

Mordekai nods as Kari speaks and quietly replies. "I would have joined you happily, this place angers me likewise. You'll notice I didn't say we were sorry for the action, just asked them to forgive whatever offence they'd taken. We can stick around and pursue the issue if you'd like, but unfortunately the holy water was the more pressing matter for the moment. I can always have a word with the priest before we leave, see if I can leave behind some more lasting sense of reason and compassion, but it would likely just anger them all over again. We would be better to take our leave, and leave them and their ridiculous face paint to their fate."

To Mal's query, Zendrak shakes his head. "No, the elf wizard from the other group has been keeping me apprised. Apparently they were somewhat more efficient than we were. They've already destroyed one, and retrieved the second and are currently seeking out lava, in which they can destroy the last one. So...these Lich Phylactery's are done for now. The air almost smells sweeter for it."  

(Previous conversation) Kari pauses when Mordekai replies and turns back for a moment, looking only tired now. "It wouldn't do any good to say anything. I'm tempted to just take the kids out of here but- as sour as it is to say this, they are probably safer here. I just want to leave, as soon as we can."

(Current conversation) "Well that's it then, the litches are dead and we get Badger back, right? We can figure that out on the road though, my feet are itching to leave and I have a feeling Badger would want to stay longer if you were to switch out here.."

Zendrak looks to Kari, "I have learned from the other group that the Mythallars' of ancient Nether are awakening. In fact many of the great Netherese wizards that ruled them, have aligned. Not to mention the designs of the descendents of Netheril, the Shadovar, are to acquire these. With so much evil rising in the world, I have begun to think my re-emergence into the world is no random thing. In fact, they have said there is a veritable ARMY of Liches, under the control of some dark foe of the Netheril age. A name as old as man has walked this world. Larloch. Until we have defeated them, I can not surrender your curious little ally."  

Mordekai checks in with Quinn, "How are you feeling? Has the destruction of these phylacteries improved your condition?"

Quinn mentally shrugs to Mordekai. "Entity traps do not affect my condition. The big floating balls of magic....it was related to the taint."

Mal stares at Zendrak for a long while before she speaks, calmly. "You never have any intention of bringing Badger back do you. You have tasted life again and you have decided to live regardless of whatever person's body you have stolen. As much as the little guy is annoying I have grown fond of him and I want him back. How about we bring you another body to possess and then this one can be set free. There is a whole town back there where I can grab a body for you, how about that big fella at the end. He seems to more match what you used to be?"

Zendrak looks to Mal. "It's not so simple as all of that. To become master of the bones requires intent. Do not worry for your .... little guy. And no. This is not life. This is revenge. This is justice. I can't wait to be done with it."

Kari rolls her shoulders under her pack impatiently. "Look, I can only be mad at one thing at a time. Can we leave this place so I can properly be mad at Zendrak?"

"I agree." Mal states as she gathers her belongings and makes for the door. Then she stops, "Ummm, which direction are we going, just getting out of town and then deciding or are we going in the direction of this summer entity and deal with this ring."

Zendrak, "Yes, fine, let us get out of this place." 

The group heads down the main road, north, leaving the strange village behind. The forest once again closes in on the road and you find yourself walking through tall trees, mostly deciduous. During the afternoon a light rain starts. Most of the drops down reach you directly, but soon enough the ground is damp and large drops of water fall from the leaves overhead plopping down in an uneven staccato.  The air is cool and moist, the ground is a bit muddy.  It looks like the day will come to a close with the conditions unchanged.  Camping in the rain...never pleasant. 

The silence of the group lays over the strain of Zendrak's statements, as well as the stress of not being sure what is going to happen next. Mal is still focussed on ridding herself of the ring, but finding the Summer fey doesn't have a clear starting point. 

Everyone begins propping up tents and trying to find slight rises away from the mud and puddles. Getting a damp fire going without some magic would be tough...but fortunately...magic is with you and soon a smokey, sputtering fire dots the middle of your camp as the group rearranges a few logs so that they can sit and eat a mediocre meal.