Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

Aryn will meet Gaelin's gaze and nod.  She'll wait a second or two after Mucor leaves to hear Draco's report then follow behind him casting Pass Without Trace on herself.  She'll hug the walls and stick behind corners peering to watch his every step while Mucor makes his way out of the keep.  Once outside she'll take an indirect route but maintain her sight of the minotaur.  Once inside the grove she'll swiftly dash from tree to tree hanging just behind him listening to the sound of frustration coming from each snort.

Stealth: 37  (Ha try to see that Mucor!)

If she thinks he's going to do anything harmful/ stupid to himself she'll immediately rush up behind him, if not she'll wait a minute then jump on his back covering his eyes in a playful manner.  "Gotcha!"  she says playfully and will plant a kiss on the top of his forehead then hop off.  "How you holding up big fella?  You took a nasty burn back in the cave." she adds trying to keep the focus away from the prisoners or elemental all together. 

(OOC: Damn your stealth! Perception! 27)

As Mucor makes his way into the grove, he would he would move quickly.. turning his large horned head back and forth as though he were looking for someone. After a moment or two he would stab his staff into the ground outside of the monastery and toss his shield to the ground. A moment later the staff would turn into a large tree. The hulking minotaur would place his head against the tree and slam his fist into its bark as leaves shake and fall around him. Then, in an instant, everything goes dark and he feels a small wet spot on his forehead and the sound of Aryn speaking to him from his back. "I... " Mucor would reply as the elf hangs from his back. "I would never lie to you Aryn.. I am not doing well.." He would say as he rubs his large bovine head with his thick hands. "I had forgotten all about the burns to be honest... That is, until your hug reminded me" Mucor would finish with a small laugh. Assuming Aryn slides down his back and stands beside him, he would turn to her and force a smile. "I was looking for Herbert. I was hoping that maybe we could use the power of grove to reincarnate the innocent man I murdered today." He would finish as the smile fades and tears roll down his face. "The other prisoners said that perhaps he is happier now, but how can they know that!? For all we know he had a life and a family that misses him! If I bring him back and he would rather be dead, then so be it! I can make it quick and painless and he can go right back to the afterlife... but if he wanted to do more... if I took his future from him... I want.... I NEED to give it back." Mucor would say.. his voice getting louder almost to the point of yelling. He is not yelling at Aryn, not in the slightest.. but getting louder as the anger builds up inside himself.. directed at himself. "There were others I killed today with my ignorance that were innocent as well... Prisoners whose whose remains were so pulverized and smeared across the cave walls that there is nothing left to bring back. How do I fix that? How to I make up for that? Forgive myself for that?"

(I imagine Aryn jumping on his back being the equivalent of slapping someones skin that has a nasty sunburn lol)

(haha it distracts from the pain.)

"Mucor! Stop.....  It's okay.  We all make mistakes.  We all do things that we have to live with... forever.  All we can do is try to make more good decisions than bad.  Save more than we harm."  she replies placing her small hand on his cheek.  Using Shape Water she'll bring some water from the marshy ground and nearby streams or pond to pour on Mucor's burnt skin to soothe the pain. "We can go get Herbert, but I don't know if it will bring you any peace.  Think of how many you saved from Daegon Mucor.  Thousands upon thousands... even millions...  you did that.  We have a chance to do more good but not if you keep harboring all this hurt.  We need you...I.. need you..."  she says softly turning back to look away from Mucor's face to hide her own.  Aryn exhales deeply and turns back to him, her eyes glazed over one the verge of tears and a sweet smile on her face.  "Let's go get Herbert.  Then we can take it step by step."

Mucor would relax slightly as the cool water washed over him. Aryn's words would further calm the minotaur and when she said that she needed him, He would place his large hands on her shoulders and carfully turn her around. Without a word, Mucor would embrace Aryn as tightly as he could (without breaking her). Holding her close and ignoring the burning pain from his raw skin. Looking down and seeing Aryn's face, he would return a sincere smile. "Thanks... again... I need you too." He would add before giving her a nod. "Let's see Herbert.. " Then as they made their way to find the Tortle, He would give her a nudge with his large elbow. "I got a couple more charges on my ring for the day. Any suggestions?"

”You should try to look like Herbert just to see how he reacts.”  Aryn says playfully. 

(Assuming Mucor complies with Aryn's joke.)

Mucor quickly expends a charge of his ring and his form shifts into that of a tortle nearly identical to Herbert.  You find the true Herbert beside the cot of one of the exhausted prisoners in the middle of expending a spell.  The prisoner's face shows relief as the spell takes effect and falls fast asleep. Herbert turns as he notices your presence and greets you warmly but with a slightly confused look on his face.  Familiar with Mucor's wish to change and Aryn's blatant grin, Herbert uncovers all and says, "Ah, yes.  I was expecting you, though not necessarily like this.  One of the priests said you wished to do something with the deceased."   The priests and acolytes turn and are confused at the sight of Herbert talking to... Herbert? and shake their head choosing to resume their work rather than focus on the strange sight.

Torq will look at Gaelin and shrug in response to his question then turn to the twins.  "I'll leave that choice to them.  They are the ones who've suffered under the hand of these fiends.  Do you think there's anything else he might be good for?"  he says looking back to Draco and sizing him up.

(OOC: So if Gaelin knows he is a transformation wizard.. he would know that he can turn stone and silver to wood and break out of there with no problems right?")

Mucor would smile at Herbert. "Still trying out appearances, so why not try out the appearance of one of my closest friends." The tortle would say to the tortle. His face however would turn serious very quickly as the conversation turned towards the body. "There was... an accident. I was responsible for the death of that man and wanted to know if we could use the power of the grove to bring him back to life." Mucor would ask nervously.

(I think that's why he expended all of Draco's spell slots.)

"I see... perhaps you would like to speak with him before we revive him to see if he wants to be brought back?  If he does, then by all means we can.  Come, let us make our way to the grove and see what he has to say. If you would be so kind as to carry the body..."  Herbert says motioning to the corpse as he looks at Mucor with a look of kindness and understanding.  You make your way to the grove and prop the body up against a tree.  Herbert casts Speak with Dead and the eyes of the man open and a gasp of breath escapes his mouth.  Herbert look at the corpse then back to Mucor and says, "You have five questions you can ask him."

(Back in the prison)

The twins look at one another and discuss in whispers coming to an agreement.  "Though he may be able to provide more information, we think it's too dangerous to leave him here.  We should either kill him now or entrust him to another who has the capability to hold him securely."  Draco, hears this and seemingly resigns to his fate before snarling and lashing out at the bars wildly.  "You seek to ruin me!  You have no courage... no honor, you answer to females.  What kind of men are you?!? Insignificant swine." he continues to attack the bars that damage his claws and skin  for a few more seconds before he yields, choosing to pace back and forth while continuing to hurl insults at you.

(OOC: They can do it without spell slots though)

(Yes, but I figured that since that process takes 10 minutes to do a cubic foot, the guards would notice and either alert the group or kill him before he could make a large enough hole to escape from.)

Mucor would nod and pick up the body, making sure to be careful as he positions the body as instructed by Herbert. As the body seemingly awakes... He would pause for a moment and rub his face as though trying to keep himself composed. With a deep breath he would nod.

"I am sorry... I am sorry for everything you have been though. My first question is..... would you like to be resurrected? I have a way to bring you back to life but you might not return as your old self. You might be an elf or a dwarf... would you like to return to the land of the living?" The minotaur would ask before taking another deep breath. "If you do not wish to return... do you have any family that would want to know what happened to you? Do you have any way you would like to buried?" He would add..

Gaelin would nod at Alexandria and Juliana's words then watch as Draco freaked out.  He'd wait about 15 second before saying to the group, "I'm sure Varian would be able to keep him safely..." trying to deceive Draco from his intentions then cast Hold Person on him. 

Deception:  31       DC 18 WIS save from Draco or be paralyzed.

If successful he'll say, "Hurry, I'm not sure how long I can hold him."

Aryn would watch curiously as the events unfold.  She'd think of placing her hand on Mucor's shoulder then think better of it seeing the blistered skin from the burns and when Mucor finishes speaking she'd say softly, "Mucor that's four, you have one more question."

The man's face is slightly confused but responds to the first question in a soft slow raspy moan, "Nooo" then listens to the second question and repeats, "Nooo. I am at peace."   As Mucor continues his face peers into the depth of Mucor's eyes to glean the true intention of his questioning and responds, "Nooo, they were slain by the Drekthar before I was captured."  His eyes look around him slightly and he replies, "Under the shade of a willow tree."  His eyes return to Mucor's and he stares awaiting another question.

Draco WIS:  18.

Draco goes silent as Gaelin's spell takes effect.  Theodore opens the cell and Alexandria and Juliana enter wielding their weapons.  Alexandria steps behind Draco while Juliana faces him.  Alexandria thrusts her greatsword through Draco's back and blood splatters out as the sword pushes through his chest.  Juliana smiles and makes a wide sweeping swing with her greataxe that severs Draco's large head from his shoulders.  Alexandria plants her foot in Draco's back and kicks forward as she withdraws her blade.  Juliana picks up the large black wolfhead and exits the cell leaving behind the crumpled headless body that begins to pool blood.

Mucor would pause for a moment and turn and nod to Aryn in acknowledgment. He would take another deep breath... "What can I do to earn your forgivness?"

(Ah, an escape from the craziness.)

Torq will admire the swift and fatal strikes from each twin and nod in approval.  "Let's retire for a while and check in with Mucor. We can make plans to conquer this organization later this evening if we must discuss it now."  he says draping a comforting arm over each twin as they exit the prison. 

Mucor- the man's face changes to one of contempt, confusion and happiness. "You saved me... allowing me a moment of repose from the tortures of that place.  My death has reunited me with my family.  I... am grateful." the man says in slow methodical breaths.  As he finishes his last proclamation his eyes roll back and he exhales for the last time leaving behind only a small smile and face that seems to be quite at peace.

The group exits the prison cells and makes their way out towards the grove.  You find Mucor, Aryn and Herbert stooped around the corpse of a man just after the expiration of Herbert's spell.

Aryn's heart leaped in her chest at this last response and she felt as if a burden had been lifted and she hoped the same for Mucor.  She would walk over to the nearest source of water and using the same spell coat her hand in water and place it on Mucor's shoulder.  "I will help you bury him.  Is there a particular willow you wish to bury him at?"  Aryn asks softly giving Mucor whatever time he needed to absorb everything that happened. 

Mucor would sigh... and then laugh. "Well.... Alright then!" The minotaur would say with a snort and a smile. "I mean.. if he wanted to die.. I am sure I could have made it much less painless... I mean.." The minotaur would hold up his hands and shake his head. "You know what... nevermind, I am very relieved.. Thank you Herbert" Mucor would finish with a smile. As the cool wet hand lands upon the mintaurs burned shoulder, Mucor would smile and some of the tension in his large body would seemingly melt away. "And thank you again." He would say to Aryn. "I would like that... there is a very nice tree over here that I think would appreciate having our friend buried at its feet." He would say before placing his hand on her shoulder and leading her towards the tree the center of the grove. As the others make their way towards them, Mucor would give them a wave and a smile with his free hand. "Hello. We were going to bury the prisoner. If you need help with anything, I am happy to provide assistance. I do not think it will take long." He would finish with a smile..