Still feels the sting, but he managed to both avoid enough of it, and absorb the rest that he might have slightly pinker skin for a while, but otherwise will recover - assuming he survives. I wish I could charge in there and kick this pricks ass, but when I got near him.... Was like the bodak thing... he sighs, focusing on the present. Loading another bolt as the magic around him fades. Nadia had been acting strange but he chalked it up to not wanting to leave, but he'd apologize later for it. 

He felt faint healing energies flow through himself, unbeknownst to him it may have been tied in with her feeling weaker. But taking the crossbow, he aims for the gnomes mouth. Can't cast if you can't speak, *******!

Snipe at DA to mouth-throat-shot him. Attack: 15 Damage: 4

Finally responding to Angar. Thanks to that cutie, Yeah, I'm up. and i'm actually feeling MUCH better.. And yeah, lets finish this prick. By the way, Angar. Sorry about before. I was wrong about you. Hopefully you understand you don't exactly give off great first impressions. But maybe if we both make it out of here I can give you one simple trick that should fix it.

The bolt strikes the plague bearer in the throat sending him reeling back. Unable to speak, the angry gnome grabs two vials disease from his belt and rushes towards Zack and Angar 

Nadia's eyes were wide in wonder as she traversed through the decorated tunnel, and when her eyes meet the priestesses statue, she stares in awe, her mind unable to process the sheer beauty of it all. She is taken aback at the sudden appearance of the spectral Elven woman, but when her voice filled her head, washing her mind and body of the dread and fear she had felt just a few seconds prior, she knew she could trust them. When told to take the bow, she hesitates just a moment, looking up at the priestess then bowing her head in respect for her.

"Lo haré. Gracias. Podrás descansar tranquilo pronto. Lo prometo." With a breath, she takes the bow in her hands, then promptly packs away the gems as well before turning her back to the statue and running back to the fight with a relighted flame.

The ranger returns to the fight just as she sees the gnome running at Zack and Angar with two vials in his hand. Keeping a good distance away from the gnome, she raises her new bow and aims to stagger him back.

Action 1: Attack: 23 Damage: 7
Action 2: Attack: 25 Damage: 11
Slayers Prey Bonus Damage: 1 
Healing bear (from last post): 1

(To all: Just putting this belatedly forth for the record)

Rillex did not need to be told twice. And yet, he lingered if but for a moment more, looking to and fro as sorting himself before finally nodding to firmly to Nadia. After which the two are off. Rillex mirror's her holding breathe, futile though it was(poisoned earlier), eventually bursting out of the cloud of spores. In his haste and due to the extreme mobility flight afforded the small beast, he fails to see that Nadia had stopped and turned elsewhere.

He would deliver the message come hell or high water! This much the black blur could do as it weaved through many a tunnels on the way for the exit. Or so was the goal....

Rillex flys off with lightning speed out of the cursed dungeon and cave, hoping to find somebody, anybody who can help. Meanwhile Nadia returns to Zacks side, likely to his shock and dismay, but with a new, powerful weapon. She draws and arrow from her quiver and knocks the arrow. Those nearby can hear Nadia whisper in elvish before realizing it wasn't Nadia but rather the bow itself. The arrow is loosed, and strikes the gnome right between the eyes. His momentum carries him forward a few feet before he falls to the ground, the disease vials shattering on impact. The raised Zombies each collapse as the magic that bound them to this plane dissipates, indicating that it is truly over.

Couldn't help but smirk smugly at having at least temporarily silenced the little *****, and the look of an bolt sticking out of his mouth like a cigarette was somewhat hilarious. If it wasn't for the gravity of the situation, and the fact this ass-wipe had dug up his mother and defiled her body... But he did derive some joy in having dismembered the little man. As he began to make his death charge, Zack was calmly replacing the bolt to fire again, when a single arrow whistled over head like a fatman in fallout 4, knocking the little man to the ground with a thud. 

Looking behind him to find out who their unknown assistant was, only to nearly slip onto his side. He catches himself mid way and though healthier, still looked thinner than usual. Nadia?! I told you to run! I'm not normally a what if kinda guy...  but what if we had both already died and you had to face him AND all his.... ah **** it, never mind... I'm glad to see you. But still... Bad girl! he'd say with a weak chuckle. And where the hell'd you get that bow, I thought yours snapped? But now I just feel embarassed about all that stuff I said... I meant it but.. this isn't how these scenes are supposed to go.

Angar, how you holding up? I feel almost back to normal. His smile faded when his eyes landed on Nadaar, who truly took one for the team. And Nadaar, you dumbass... he said, falling to his rump as he finally relaxed. You had a promise to keep, remember? You were gonna show me how to do that thing... there was clearly no malice in his words. And his somber tone only grew dimmer as his eyes saw his mother collapsing like she had just been a doll... a puppet. He swallowed hard, putting down the feelings that were welling within him. 

I suppose all thats left is seeing if he had more vials on him... and if so, we need to destroy them, so no one else can use em. See if he had any notes or trinkets on him that may lead to some other master... just in case. After that.... we'll need to figure out how to get Nadaar ... and my mom out of here. And back to town..... I won't let either of them rot in this hole, no offense to the original occupants, but this ******* .. defiled this place. And I'm no preist or paladin. And I never had much faith 

 He sighed, and pulled out the last of his waterskin, drinking it to help hydrate his drained body. Lets check the *******.... and ..I'll carry out Nadaar, and my mom. We'll rest outside, where we can atleast breathe fresh air...

Zack listens to anything Nadia or Angar have to say, and unless they suggest something else more logical, after they're done, he goes to carefully inspect the gnome with his sword, after summoning it back to his hand. Checking to see what the little shitstain had on him.

When the Gnome drops Angar leans back against the wall and collapses. He looks to be drained of nearly all his energy and he has some painful looking wounds but he doesn't appear anywhere near death himself. Years of investigation, finally over. But not without the loss of new friends...I'm okay Master Zack. Thank you. I'm sorry I dragged you all into this, but I don't think I would have survived alone. Nadaar sacrafice will never go forgotten. Angar looks over to the pile of goop that was Nadaar with a solemn look on his face and tears well in his eyes. Nadaar having been one of the few people he met who seemed to not only accept him but actually seemed to understand him. 

Zack inspects the corpse of the plague bearer and find 1 more vial on his person but nothing else. Inspecting the dias he had been working on, Zack finds several papers and journals with notes about the disease as well as various others that have the words "Complete" written on them. Diseases that cause blindness, diseases that turns flesh into stone, disease that cause a person to hemorrhage violently, some that when the I'll fall asleep they die and raise as undead, and the disease where in two days a person falls asleep to never wake up. It seems he was working on a more potent version of this disease that could spread rapidly and kill quicker, and he was trying to combine it with the disease that raised the victim as undead.

Among the rest of the gnomes items, Zack also finds a holy symbol to Asmodeus, and a single sending stone.

As the arrow left her hand she heard it, the faint whisper of the woman's voice in her native tongue. "Una rápida derrota a mis enemigos." She could be seen standing there, almost in shock, at the sight of the gnome falling back at her shot before she releases a breath of relief. It was over. It this nightmare of a day was truly over, and for the first time since stepping in here she was able to breathe. She takes a look at the bow for a moment, whispering, "Gracias por ayudarnos. Que descanses en paz ahora." before putting it away and bringing her attention to Zack.

The ranger musters up a shy grin, sheepishly saying, "Well, I've never been one to follow directions too well... As for the bow..." She stops briefly to think of how to put it without sounding like she lost her mind, her gaze falling to the ground. "There was a door that we overlooked where the fungi are. This... This place is of Elven origin if you didn't know that already, and my people were angry at this thing was defiling their graves and using their corpses for evil. I... suppose they sensed that we were here stop it, and they saw that I was... worthy to use the bow to end this once and for all..." The ranger pauses, then rubs the back of her neck in embarrassment. "But that sounds crazy, doesn't it? Haha... " She clears her throat, then brings her eyes back on the fighter with a small smile on her face. "As for the things you said... We can talk about that later."

Though, her smile faded too when she looked upon Nadaar. The spiritual bear had moved itself to rest itself near the dragonborn's body, almost as if hoping it's presence could bring Nadaar back. It gave Nadia a wary look before fading away in small globials of light, she only managing a sad smile in return. "... It's okay, Angar. We all knew the risks of coming here, but... it's finally over."

As Zack inspected the gnome and dias, Nadia brings herself over to Nadaar's corpse, unsure if it would even have been possible to remove him from where he currently laid. The acid had did such a number to his body, and the sight itself was something that she needed to take a break from every minute or so to breathe and recollect herself. She would like to think by now she would have been desensitized to this sort of thing, but it still made her stomach twist and turn. "I really don't think we can get him out of here without an urn or something to put him in... I think the acid still may be eating away at him too... Augh..." Nadia takes a step back from his corpse then looks to the death whisperer. "Angar, I don't suppose you have a spell to keep him... um... better preserved, would you?"

Zack offers a wry smile at her first response Well aint that a Lark.. But hopefully, if you don't find such good fortune should it happen again, you'll actually leave - as much as I don't want you to. But that's some crazy luck. And I'm glad they.. he says, gesturing around them. ..Whoever the Autumnfires were... found you worthy. Who knows what woulda happened if that little assmunch had made it to us before we downed him. he says, before coughing, still under the effects of the spores. At her latter comments about it soundign crazy he just laughed, a wispy laugh. 

In a world where the dead can walk, demons and angels exist, and magic is a thing, it just sounds like the start of a heroes tale t me. Who knows, maybe you're meant to be the hero and not me? If so, just share some of the limelight with me. he says with one of his trademark winks. Their eyes meeting when she looks at him and despite his clear sadness at Nadaars loss - as much as the guy frustrated him, he didn't dislike the man and definately didn't want the guy to die. However his expression wavered at the 'talk later' it was clear his mind was screaming this isn't how these things are supposed to go, it's against the rules! in such that he wanted to return triumphant and now he just felt awkward, but not so much  that he wouldn't reply Yeah, lets. and that awkwardness passed into sincerity with a soft sigh.

As he began making his rounds and angar started to speak as well. Dragged me into this? You? Nah that little shit here did.  he'd say as he carefully pocketed the vial Gonna dispose of htis outside, so that we don't defile this place anymore than he already has. And even if you hadn't been here I woulda came, the difference is is when you finally found this place, you'd probably have seen atleast mine and Nadaars corpses. But this little spice here may or may not have ran then too. he turns around, and gives her a look. a faint bit of mirth behind the otherwise somber expression, though it faded fast as he looked down to his mothers corpse. It was clear he wanted to do something about it right now... but... he forced himself to remain on task, looking over the notes, and seeing them all, including the one about the one that hit his mother. 

Hey, Angar. I was gonna keep these and take them so some authorities, but maybe I'd better just give these to you. Atleast I know you ain't 'evil' and with it you can devise some cures maybe, to the plagues that are still going around. And then destroy these notes so it can never easily be done again. He pulls up the sending stone, a common enough item in the military to maintain reports from the front-line or when needing to maintain occasional contact with other forces.

He sets it back down for a moment, and clears his throat. Ok guys, So I'm planning to try to contact whoever this goes to. There's a symbol of asmodeus here, and I have a hunch....So.... we may very well be about to find out if anyone else was behind this.

 He clears his throat one last time, and does his best to make sure there won't be any hiccups, or other problems. Trying to recall exactly how the shits voice sounded. The types of language he used, and the way he spoke.

Finally, tapping into the magic of the stone itself. Hahahaahahaha! I've done it. I've perfected the ultimate plague! One that will suit my-... our purposes! I don't want to meet in our usual spot... that man who's been seeking me is catching wind of the trail. Where would you suggest we meet so I can deliver the sample? Hnhahahaha

Angar looks up to Nadia and nods. Getting up he weakly walks over to Nadaars body, touching it with a hand of if holy light.

Almost immediately Nadaars corpse slows its rapid decay, buying more time for the party to bury their fallen comrade. Rest easy friend. He mutters before looking to Zack and accepting the notes. I'll do what I can. Hopefully no one else will have to suffer from this mans evil. At the very least, at least we won't be able to make the disease anymore. We should collect these bodies and the ones in the other rooms. We can use Alvins cart. Even without a horse, if we pull it ourselves it will be faster than carrying them one by one. They should be brought home and given proper burials.

When Zack indicates he plans to speak through the stone, Angar step back to prevent any background noise on his part ruining the deception. Once Zack speaks there is a brief moment of silence before a reply comes forth. Very good. It's about time, our queen was getting impatient. Have your man servant deliver it to Daggerford. To a halfling man known as The Snail in the Rover Shining Tavern and Inn. Just tell him you need an important package delivered to the Duchesses palace and pay whatever price he asks and his men will do the rest. And be careful, he may be a criminal, but he is not to learn of the contents of the package, lest he keep it and try to sell it off. Contact me again when this is done.

Nadia passes Angar a nod of appreciation his way when he casts the spell, still looking relatively downcast that it even had to be done in the first place. Her arms go to hold herself, and at the death whisperers suggestion of taking the bodies back home, the ranger wholeheartedly agrees. "It will also help the Autumnfire's rest easier, I'm sure... and, while I'm not too sure how far he got, we should also go and find Rillex . I had him deliver a letter to Sarah to gather the local militia to come here, but..." She takes a second to look at the scene. "It's... been taken care of, for the most part. I don't want anymore people to come in here to disturb this place anymore."

When Zack announces he was going to speak through the stone, Nadia simply nods and steps back as Angar does for the same reason. As she listens, she finds herself impressed at how he nailed his impression of the mad gnome, even rendering a reply that gave the group another lead at just who exactly was in on this whole thing. Had Zack wanted to add anything else, she remained silent until the conversation with the being behind the other stone had ceased. 

"... So," She passes a look to Angar then to Zack. "I guess we have a date at the Rover Shining Tavern soon, huh?"

Not wanting to risk his voice cracking or catching a hiccup that would reveal himself, the only thing he said in reply was Understood. before ending the magic walkie talkie.  Breathing a sigh of relief that it had went so well. Yeah, we'll use his cart. That's a good plan. After that we'll burn that cart once all the bodies have been taken off. As that cart has been part of all this mess, I just want to burn as much of it as we can to remove this bastards taint. Luckily town isn't that far away, so lets wait to rest until we're back. And hopefully, they won't have sent for a militia yet. Or if they have, hopefully they'll pass through town and we can explain to them whats going on.

And yeah, I agree Nadia. I'm not a fan of people entering tombs without a need. Though we should send an elf preist or paladin in here to cleanse it of the undead taint that will linger. I don't know much about magic or undead, but I do know that in ever tale about defeating some necromancer or lich, that their lairs always leave some horrid taint until it's dealt with. And that we do sweetheart. That we do. I wonder when the dm fate will set us back on the path of the Giants.

With a heavy sigh, Zack begins the gruesome work of collecting the bodies, and carrying them back to the cart, setting them all in gently, but making sure to put his mother in a 'spot of honor' away from and not beneath the others in any way. By the way, Angar, when we're on the road.... if you would do your thing? he'd say with a sigh, and continue on until the group found a way to also pick up Nadaar, or as much of him as possible without also being singed by any lingering acid, or leaving any that would burn through the cart. 

As they moved, and eventually began to head out of the tombs, he'd look around, and ask Nadia to translate when nessecary, to find more about the Autumnfires (so the DM's efforts don't go to waste, lol)

Zack, Angar and perhaps Nadia all work towards moving the dead back to the cart, and putting the dead who belonged in the tomb back into their stone coffins. As a precaution Zack burns the poison mushroom with his blue flame blade, making it safe to enter the room again. Out of curiosity, or perhaps to thank the spirit, Nadia eventually return to the burial chamber where she had found the bow. The spirit doesn't return, and the braziers remain dim. The golden coffin seems duller than it had been earlier. The inscription on the coffin reads as thus in elvish.

 Further searching of the tomb reveals little, the one room you hadn't inspected contained the tombs of more of the house guard, the undead already falled when the magic lifted. You gather your things and your fallen, and finally make it outside, greeted by a bright and sunny afternoon which seems.wrong given the tragedy that had occured.

As the group are taking at least a brief moment to take in the change of atmosphere, or perhaps even doggedly focus on just trying to move the cart that last few inches out of the cave, it is inevitable that their eyes eventually fall upon another strange sight. Slowing itself to a canter and then eventually to a stop altogether is perhaps the largest clysdale either elf or human have ever seen in their life. Although what's even more shock then that might have been the fact that its fur deep blue, mane and withers a ruddy red, and either bound or even growing from said mane were various bits of vines and flowers.

And seated atop the stallion's back is Rillex; looking very uncomfortably, and quite kick to hover back in the air as soon as the beast of burden stops moving for a moment. After circling the beast of burden once, it flies over to Zack, Nadia, and even Angar, rubbing its face against a cheek whenever allowed and meowling happily at the party. Eventually he circles back to the Clysdale and meowls one last time triumphantly before landing atop its back. The whole while the behemoth of a horse just observes with an uncanny feeling intelligence behind its gaze.

Nadia does indeed try her best to help move the dead bodies onto the cart, wanting to at least pull some weight and not merely watch and translate while the two men work. She also found that it was a good way for her to better stomach the sights of the dead, finding that now would probably be the best time as any to start. Though, before they really get into it, the elf at least shows the two were she had found the bow, having translated the inscription to them first prior to paying her respects a final time to Amber. "Gracias por su bendición. Prometo que usaré este arco para hacer el bien y derribar a los que hacen el mal." 

The elf takes in a deep breath once they finally make it outside, having desperately missed the feeling of the sun on her skin and breathing in fresh air. It was enough to put a small smile on her face for a second before noticing Rillex flying towards her to nuzzle her cheek in a greeting. "Woah, hello, haha! That was fast! Where--" She cuts herself off when she finally notices the large, oddly colored horse in front of them. Surprised at the sight, she blinks a few times just to make sure she wasn't seeing things, but that was quickly thwarted when Rillex sits on the stallions back. 

"Well, that's a coincidence..." Nadia comments with a tilt of her head and an arch of a brow. "Rillex... This isn't Sarah, but, ah, is this our help? Wh... Where did you find this horse?"

Rillex cants his head to the side at the question, then flew around to hover again within line of sight of the horse. After a few meows and limited gesturing, the horse just nods and looks back to Nadia. He then too just looks back down the same path the group had used to reach the cave, gesturing with its snout at the tracks leading to it, and then looks once more at Nadia with an expectant look.

Nadia eye's follow the path in which the duo cant their heads over to, nodding in understanding soon after returning her gaze to them. "Found him on the trail and led him over to us, huh? Just our luck too, it seems." She gives Rillex a smile as she rests her hands at her hips. "Good kitty! When we're back in town I'll get you something tasty to eat as a reward, okay?" The ranger is unable to shake off the feeling of discomfort with the horses eyes on her, causing her to give it a closer look...

(I'll roll insight, but if something else would need to be rolled just lemme know!)
Insight: 15

(looks like a horse to me!)

Zack had been moving sluggishly the entire time, making the ordeal take much longer than it otherwise would have. His breathing was fine, but his movements were slow. When they finally made it out of the tomb, he winced, as the sun met his unexpected eyes, at that light-pain you experience when driving facing the sun. Arm raising to block the light until his eyes adjusted. Augh, shit... he says with a sigh.

Pulling the cart out  before his eyes are drawn to the giant horse which takes him a second to register.... before noticing Rillex was atop it. Rillex's presence let him calm down. The cat was smart, so if it had brought this guy, then something must be up with it, on the positive side.  When the cat flies over, if he flies to Zack, he'll offer the cat a few scritches along the base of it's ear and just under its jawline, since the animals he raised seemed to love it, he hoped it would translate. Watching the cat gesticulate, was somewhat funny but it seemed for once, someone other than him needed more convincing. Well, hopefully he doesn't get the most delicious snack... you. he says with a bit of a humored tone that's still somewhat tainted by the fact that his mother is a corpse behind him. His smile fades to neutrality quick but its also clear he's trying to keep a positive aura.  

But yeah, as we're moving Angar, could I talk to her? Though I'll understand if you refuse, all things considered.

Angar pet the cat and inspects the curious looking horse. I suppose Rillex knew what he was doing when he brought him so....Angar trails off, not really sure how to finish the thought. To Nadia this horse looked to just be a very odd colored horse. When Zack asked Angar about speaking with his mom Angar would nod and say Of course. I can only do it maybe once today, as I've nearly exhausted the limits of my magic, but I would be happy to help you. 

Angar would climb into the cart to prepare his spell, it wouldn't last long, but would give Zack a brief moment to speak to his mother. Angar waits for Zack to give him the word to start the spell.

Rillex tries to be mindful in his approach. So, if there are any clearly injured shoulders, he at least alighted on the cart for any head scritches, enjoying the attention before being reminded of the dead. That promptly got him flying back to the horse again as it moved now closer to the group. Despite the uncanny color and nature, the stallion at least appeared familiar with wagon's as it would move into position to be hitched up if any of the old pullies, reigns, and so forth appeared even remotely visible.

Although it absolutely refused the bit itself. No matter how nice and coaxing or demanding a person tries to be, it is the one part it does not budge on. Though if things start to get more heated, its neighing in Rillex' direction eventually results in the Tressym reluctantly flying interference to grab attention before roughly moving and gesturing again back to the trail. Indeed, once hitched up and everyone more or less appeared at least ready to move, the Stallion would begin pulling at a fairly sedate pace on its own down it. Perhaps it understood the need for such while the ritual was being performed? Or maybe it was some mystical horse like the Tressym? Animalistic in many ways, but as smart as a commoner at the very least.

Nadaar... he once explained as much about Tressym's, in any case.