"While I'm certain on some level such humor can be appreciated, now is not the time for it, Lady Nadia." Nadaar stated dryly, having looked up from the chipped edges of his scimitar to level a light but still somewhat disapproving look in Nadia's direction. "But... good try, I suppose." He admits as much before going back to scanning the room. Seeing the door to the north, Nadaar sheathes his blades, has Wonder retrieve the Death Staff, and goes over to the northeastern door to inspect it.

Although he had not expected a secondary trap, the Dragonborn would try to be cautious. "Although some may not be keen on it, I would suggest we rest here a moment. Catch our collective breathes before proceeding in deeper. With any luck, the master will think us dead by our delay." He comments on during his inspection. Which at some point he whispers to Rillex, asking if they notice anything unseen in the room.

Nadaar's Door Inspection: 6.

Rillex's Perception: 17.

Zack sighed off the adrenaline it has been put into that last attack. He never hit anything quite that hard in his life. He wondered if you would ever be able to replicate it by choice or if it was just some freak accident of luck.

Seeing Nadaar finish off the last one, he relaxes. Taking just enough time to look around the room and make sure it was all truly over before sheathing is weapon.

"Glad you're good Nadia. Had me a bit worried there for a second. And dont joke, we needed you there or Angar might be scared!" He said with a chuckle. "But... speaking of... Angar. Can the undead or those who control them.. us sense or see anything from them? If so, I dont think we should stop. If not then I'm for letting nadia rest a bit."

Nadaar's disapproving look is met with a crooked smile and a shrug from the ranger, trying to make a dim situation just a tad bit lighter, all things considered. "Can't blame a girl for trying, can you?" She chuckles lightly as she pushes herself off the wall. It takes her a moment to regain her balance and composure before walking about the area at an attempt to walk off whatever pain she still was feeling from the blow. Her hand absentmindedly goes to where the arrow struck, frowning a bit at the thought of another scar forming because of it. Then again, she should have expected this...  Putting her life in danger and not getting scarred up? Her eyes go to Nadaar briefly, then to Zack before returning to the ground. You have nothing to complain about.

Nadia plucks up whatever salvageable arrows there were on the skeletons (sure to give a small kick to the pile of bones who hit her so hard for good measure), even giving them a closer look over if anything (Inves, if needed: 24). When the fighter proposes his question to Angar, she comments, "I certainly hope not, the creep. I'd like to get a little rest before kicking their ass."

Nadaar thoroughly inspects the only other noticeable door in the room for any potential traps but is relieved to find the door appears to be safe to open. Meanwhile Rillex flys around the room looking for anything that may be hidden from the party but returns to Nadaar habing found nothing of interest. Angar pulls himself to his feet and stares at the large statue in the room for a moment before regarding the fighter. Ah, yes. That seems like something our foe is capable of. At the very least, I would not rely on him thinking we are dead like our last foe assumed. While I would welcome the chance to rest, I fear that would give our foe more time to prepare an ambush or increase the number of undead we might face. I say we push on and end this sooner rather than later.

"So long as none are as deadly as the Bodak from before, that seems a risk worth taking, if only given our current states. But maybe, Hlal will find it more amusing the worser state we're in when this arrogant and self-proclaimed 'Master' yet finds his ends at our blades." Nadaar chuckled softly at the notion. While it did not sound to be genuinely mirthful, he paused all the same as if considering it more deeply before truly brushing it from focus in a curt head shake.

"But very well, Angar. /I/, at least, am willing to cede to your wisdom, having more than likely dealt with this sort of magic and danger." He softly smiles. "It is good as well to see you open up a bit more. A shame it has only been in such circumstances. But mayhaps that can change in the future, hm?" When Nadaar's first step is a painful one, he clicks his tongue at still wounded thighs. "This will drain much of my remain reserve -- at least, that which I can safely call upon without severe likely deadly consequences. What I have remaining will only be for emergencies. So, we should endeavor to avoid harm."

With the warning out of the way, he takes a breathe, then turns to Nadia and says, "You know, Lady Nadia, some wounds feel and seem more badly than they're actually are. I know mines isn't. And I'm certain this is truth for you, isn't?" As he spoke the words, a subtle magic had been spun into them. So indeed, the sting of the injuries did seem fainter than seconds ago. And looking to the more major one at least, some of it had stopped its bloody weeping. "But what do you think, Zack? One last passionate speech to embolden our spirits as we move to deny the Master's ambitions?"

Healing Word at first level for Nadaar: 4.
Healing Word at first level for Nadia: 5.

Zack almost felt slighted by Nadaars comment, as it may have been Angars knowledge, but... He shook his head to dismiss the thought. He had taken a few rusty scratches, but nothing major. And he still felt like he could pull off a healthy resistance, if need be. Heh, good that your spirits still on fire Nadi. Zack looking up as he realized the shorthand sounded like something else, bringing a small smile to his face that faded quickly back into the seriousness of combat. And if that's even a chance of the case, I agree with Angar, we need to just push. It's why I asked. Cause if he knows what we're doing tor can see through their eyes or some BS we're just allowing him time to come at us, or prepare for us. And unfortunately my speeches only seem to work when I'm impassioned myself. And right now I'm tired, and ready to be done with all this. And I don't mean sleepy or exhausted physically. I just want to get this over with.

he says, noting that Nadaar already checked the door for traps and found none. So lets go. He'd say, kicking in the door hard. And proceeding down the hall. At this point, he didn't care if he was heard, let them come, and filter themselves down a thin hallway. Or whatever lay beyond. readying  to 'block' any attack he can see coming.

Zack kicks the stone door hard and starts walking down the tunnel before coming to another door. Inside is a small chamber with a stone sepulcher similar to the last few rooms you all crossed through.  In this room the body of an older woman is splayed out among the stone with her abdomin cut open and organs spread out similar to the young man in the prior room, likely another experiment toss aside. Directly across from where Zack entered the room is another door continuing forward.The stone statue in here reads

Nadia doesn't have a single complaint about moving forward, only giving the boys a nod and thumbs up. As her hands reach back for her bow, her attention to drawn to Nadaar when he speaks to her, her expression going solemn for a moment, then nods once again once she feels the magic flow through her, healing her wounds. "I suppose you're right... Thank you, Nadaar."  When Zack speaks to her, a smile at least returns to her face, though, she didn't pick up on any other connotations behind his words had there even really been any. "Gonna take a lot more than that to put it out." 

The ranger follows behind the others, letting Zack take the lead now, with her string taut had there been any surprises for them as they traversed forward. However, once her eyes are met with the dead body, she freezes with a knot in her throat. Gotta get used to this... Gotta get used to it... She forces her gaze onto the statue, reading aloud what it said, then follows it up with; "'Mad mage of the house'," She repeats again, tilting her head. "Another Autumnfire, huh?"

She shrugs, too tired to think more into it. "Shall we keep moving?"

 Nadaar merely sighed at the new body. While he did entertain the thought there might yet be clues in the placing of the body in such a way, it is soon pushed aside at Nadia's question. "Yes. We press forward. And may the gods have mercy on this fool's soul, for he will not find any upon this plane for this horrid debauchery he calls these experiments." He states venomously as held both scimitars in hand, and Wonder just as his backside with the staff.

You all pass through the room and into the next chamber. This hall leads to a similarly sized room as the last, but with a much different feature. In the center if the room is a large, pale golden fungus. The fungus emits a foul stench that permeates through the air causing you to gag ever so slightly. Angar and Nadia manage to resist the affects of then fungal spores and cover their mouths. Nadaar and Zack however both start to feel sick to their stomachs again and are poisoned.

There is another door opposite from where you entered leading onwards. 

Zack as before, had seen the corpse, and chose to ignore it. Not out of lack of concern, but to maintain his focus on the task at hand. He felt sorry for each and every person that had fallen victim to this, but every moment they stopped was another moment the bastard had to prepare. For once, Nadaar and I could not be more on the same page. Had he been looking he might have noticed Nadia's hesitation but his focus was ahead, not behind. Mad mage? I wonder if he may be connected to that tavern in waterdeep. In the army there were whispers of something going on there. Might be connected. he mused without stopping.

Once in the next chamber though, he immediately begins coughing, along with Nadaar, and his go-to assumption is it must have something to do with the weird plants. Igniting his blade, and keeping the flame going as he moves forward through the room. Coughing occasionally as they passed through. Ouh ****in' shit.... and as he holds the blade aflame in front of him, barring somethign else happening, he takes the empty sack out of his side-pack, and puts it around his face so he doesn't catch coronavirus using his other hand to hold it over his mouth and nose. If you got something to cover your face with, I'd suggest it.. he'd say as he proceeded towards the door on the far side.

(how long boss?)

"Might be a bit too late for that." Nadaar hawks up an almost acidic bit of spit. "Let me know if it worsens. Could be another form our other mad man has figured out to deliver his 'masterpiece'." He warns as much, well aware of the potential sacrifice that might be needed to offer relief. Again he could feel vitriol lace his tongue, if albeit of a different kind. He fights back, and with a low rumbling growl, continue to trail after Zack.

Nadia lips thin into a frown behind the hand covering her mouth. "I certainly hope not..." The ranger takes a glance at the golden fungi, trying to see if she had any knowledge of it from books and/or whatever her mother might have taught her on hunting trips when she were younger. 

Nature(?): 20

Regardless of outcome, she merely follows behind the others, hand covering her nose and mouth until it is safe to draw her bow again.

Nadia, you get a bit closer to the mushroom to give it a closer inspection. You remember learning about app sorts of plants and fungus when growing up, even some quite strange ones. While you don't remember what the scholarly name was, you do remember reading about a pale golden mushroom known for its stench that is native to areas of thick jungles. How the mushroom got here or is a bit if a mystery, as it certainly isnt native to the area. You know the affects of the mushrooms spores won't last very long, maybe a minute at most, unless of course someone were dumb enough to try and eat it.

You all enter though the next passageway coming to an identical stone door. Opening the door reveals the next room with six tombs and a large stone dias at the far end. On each tomb is a corpse in various different stages of decay. At the far end of the room, by the stone dias between two lit braziers is a small gnomish man with a hunch back and several green growths on his body. On the stone slab in from of his is a villagers corpse, guts cut open, and some various types of fungus. Leaning on the stone next to him is his strange looking staff. He is currently dissecting the corpse in front of him, acknowledging your entrance with a grunt of annoyance. 

Your intrusion has proven to be quite annoying! Don't you people have better things to do than to disrupt my work!? My favorite subjects will help take care of you!

The six corpses splayed out on the tombs start to move and rise from their slumber. As the zombies turn towards the group, a flicker of recognition hits Zack as one of the zombies looks at him. Zombie 6, a human female who appears to be in the later stages of decay which have likely been slowed or stopped by magic. Someone who he hadn't seen in a long time, is late mother, being used as an undead servant to the plague bearer. 

The gnome turns around to face you all, as he grabs his staff the corpse that he was just working on also rises to fight.

Initiative order is  Zack, Zombie 6(Zacks mom), Zombie 5, Plague bearer, Zombie 4, Zombie 7, Nadaar, Nadia, Zombie 2, Zombie 3, Angar, Zombie .

Zacks eyes are shifting around in the shadows, still coughing from the exposure to the fungal crap. And finally they enter yet another chamber, filled with yet more corpses. He was honestly gettign tired of this constant room full of enemies, long passage, rinse repeat. Especially after the last room had caused so much harm to Nadia, and several before that to himself.It was clear who the leader -at least of this room- was. His eyes shifting to the somewhat shadowed bodies that were just starting to move, and as he continued walking in, having not ceased his movement just because the thing was talking. 

I don't frankly give a flying **** if you're annoye... that was when his mind recognized what his eyes were seeing. The partially decayed visage of mom... for just a moment, all time stood still as he fought that internal mental struggle of 'is that really... it can't be... it is..' and his breathing quickened, forcing out another cough but this time it didn't wretch him into momentary paralysis like the other coughs did. Ruagh! he shouted, loud enough to echo several times through the chamber. You son of a *****! dropping the cloth on the floor, in too much of a rage to worry about what it might touch when it hit the floor.

A vivid crimson aura surrounding him, and his veins beginning to bulge. That vivid red bleeding into the sword, as for just a moment, his muscles grew immensely, taking the blade in both hands as he took one stride forward (to be between 1/2) and as the sword came down DIE you piece of shit! the blade hitting the floor with such force that the very earth where he struck crumbled beneath the blow, and a moment later, the area immediately around the Plague ***** erupted with violent force, the entire area shaking slightly from the impact.

Zack using Earth tremor lvl 2 centered on the Plague *****. DC 13 Dex save or be knocked prone and take 12 bludgeoning damage. The 10 foot area around him becoming difficult terrain. The effect should be just large enough to effect the 3 around him. As much as he doesn't want to hurt his mom, he's not necessarily in the right mind at the moment.

 Zacks sword hits the ground causing the area around the plague bearer to crack and shift. The nearby zombies all collapse to the ground as the stone beneath them because unstable and jagged. The plague bearer however seems to be unconcerned with the change in terrain and doesn't appear hurt at all, be it from his small from or something else you do not know. (Unless reflected) with undead strength she slams her arms at your head in an attempt to tear at your flesh, leaving bloody scratches in her wake.

Zack, your undead mother slowly gets up off the ground and slowly makes her way through the rubble, just barely being able to get right in front of you. You see no recognition in her eyes as she attempts to attack you. 

Zombie 5 stands up but has no where else it can go just yet.

The plague bearer laughs as he realizes what is happening between you and the Zombie. Hahahaha. I see I see. You're from one of those towns then? Dear mommy got sick one day and died a few days later? Tell me. How do you like my work? Ah but don't worry, I know just the thing to help you feel better hehehe. Let the good doctor help reunite you in undeath! 

The disfigured gnome steps forward and pulls out a vial of a thick, black liquid. He tosses toward Zack, but his balance is off while in the destroyed rock and the vial lands uselessly on the ground. Bah! Don't worry, we have plenty of doses. 

Meanwhile Zombie 4 attempts to lunge at Zack but doesn't manage to get through his armor. Zombie 7 stands up and move to where the plague bearer had been.

"Of all the cretins to have caused such madness." Nadaar commented on tightly beneath his breathe. Knowing, however, that he wouldn't be able to get to the gnome any time soon, the Dragonborn instead focused upon the zombie closest to him, trusting Nadia and Angar to play support for the soldier. Something that, judging by Zack's reaction to the news of his mother... might need, least righteous fury turn to blind rage.

Action: Attack w/(Main-Hand) Scimitar.
To Hit: Attack: 7/17 For: 7 Slashing Damage to Skeleton[2].

Bonus Action: Attack w/ (Off-Hand)Scimitar.
To Hit: Attack: 13/21 For: 6 Slashing Damage to Skeleton[2].

Nadia's expression twists into one of disgust when they finally come face to face with the bastard that's been causing all this chaos. She raises her bow and aims at one of the raising zombies, but hesitates to let loose an arrow when she hears Zack's whisper and sudden outburst. Her lips part to call out to him, but his name gets lodged in the back of her throat, only for her to swallow it a few seconds after, finding that it would be pointless to try and stop him at this point. Caution had thrown at the wind at the sight of his mother, and Nadia had to at least be there to support him from where she was.

Having never met the woman, she is unable to discern which undead he was referring to (aside the obvious male from female zombies, had she been able to tell) and instead aims her sights down on the gnome, leaving Nadaar to take on the small fry for now.

Action 1: Long bow attack on Plague ***** - Attack: 19 Damage: 11
Action 2: Long bow attack on PBJ- Attack: 12 Damage: 6
Bonus action: Moving Slayers Prey on Lunch - Bonus Damage: 2 

(well... i knew that was comin)

Nadaar delivers two quick slashes to the nearest Zombie (actually zombie 1 ya goof) causing streaks of rotter, putrid blood across the ground. Meanwhile Nadia fires two arrows at the gnome, the first one missing by a few feet. As she draws the second arrow she hears a dreaded *Snap* as the bow string comes apart entirely. This would need more than a simple field repair, as she will need to have the entire string replaced.

As If seeing its opening, Zombie two shambles over to Nadia (possibly triggering AoO from Zack) and attempts to grab at her. At the same time Zombie 3 is attempting to assault the fighter. Z2 manages to just barely get its sharp fingernails into Nadias skin for minor damage while Zombie 3 slams itself against Zack.

Angar, hearing the words being spoken by Zack and the plague bearer realizes what's happening and gives a sad sigh, having somewhat expecting this from the start. Sorry Sir Zack. He mutter before slamming him staff on the ground and shouting for the undead to halt. As Angars voice booms throughout the room all the Zombies come to a halt and go passive. Ignore the undead! They will pose no threat! Kill this monster! He screams loudly at the group.