Magic missiles slam into the back of the leader, a blast of fire rips over his shoulder splashing against a tree. A hammer appears and tries to crush him, narrowly missing, and then a streak of light rips through the jungle and strikes him in the back.  He collapses, and then the shadow wolf is on his body tearing at him. 

Several of the fleeing men run into the spike filled ground screaming as they do so, several collapsing.  The rest continue fleeing for their lives into the darkness of the jungle.  Many bodies litter the ground near the camp. 

We're sorta out of initiative at this point, as they flee into the jungle.  The wolf creature, it's prey dead, slowly fades away into the blackness, it's red eyes the last thing you see regarding you. (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 will all escape, many of them very badly wounded....though you can keep taking more out if you wish..)

Badger examines the group.  There are a few minor injuries. It seems Ham got struck by a couple crossbow bolts, but he seems to be taking it like a champ.  

Sir Darak strides back to the camp, and begins cleaning the blood off of his black blade. 

Mandra has no wish to send anyone else into the clutches of the Soul Monger. She sits for a bit, listening to a jungle full of life, contemplating how she ended up a zombie in a tree. Assuming battle doesn't unexpectedly erupt again, she'll slowly climb down and amble towards the fire to stare at its light again.

Sickle will throw out a second level Healing Word to Ham for 9 HP, then stalks across to Sir Darak.  “My friend, I have traveled with you a long way. Mountain and snow, dust and mud, and now this jungle and the deadly nightmares it contains. Never have I seen anyone do something so brash.  Attacking a force larger than ours, without warning to your allies, for the simple reason of the banner they fly. They were creepy and prying, yes, and perhaps they presented a danger to us, but next time let’s try only killing things that are actively trying to kill us. Your god is powerful, but even he can’t bring you back from the dead until we finish this thing. Perhaps you weren’t in your own mind. I’m not sure. But fix it, before you feed us all to the Soulmonger.”

Sickle stalks angrily back to the fire and sits, staring into it.

Silas will call out to any injury to gather around him as he casts Prayer of Healing, healing 16. "That was exhausting," Silas states as soon as he's finished. 

The fire slowly burns down. Ham smells of wood smoke as you heal his wounds. Azaka, indifferent as always, goes back to setting up her camp.  The glow from the burning jungle slowly subsides, the crackling continues for a while though and the smoke continues to drift lazily into the air.  The crispy, blasted bodies, plus a few other bodies with torn feet and other bloody wounds lay where they fell.  

The undead strolls casually into the light and stands to one side, smelling badly....though for a change the smell of burnt jungle is overpowering her stench. 

Sir Darak finishes cleaning his sword and sheathes it, seemingly thoughtful regarding Sickles reprimand, as Boris and Sedrik finishing the evening setup and cooking. 

As adrenalin flushes from your bodies, the rush of blood in your ears dies away, and all that's left is a hollow tiredness. It's difficult to believe it's been less than 5 minutes.  The blasts of energy, electrical spheres, the shots of light, the shadow wolf, the eruption fire, the attacks, the spiked ground and all the death happened in what feels like a split second.

Azaka says, "If we leave the bodies as is, it'll attract predators. We either bury them, or move camp." 

Badger sighed wearily. He glanced sideways at the bodies laying around the camp, and each one seemed to show the bloodied face of Gregory. He peered at the dark, smoking jungle, expecting not to see the return of the recent assailants, but the lunge of a velociraptor or the glare of a ghoul. Each face around the camp seemed displaced by that of a nesting primate, a masked watcher or a giant lizard. The presence of Mandra and Ham, both by sight and smell, only highlighted the absence of Kasaaptu and Yroc. Right now he would welcome another of the jungle's sudden downpours, just to dilute the cacophany of smells of dead, undead, smoke, humidity, and whatever smell from Ham would next intrude on his senses. More than ever Badger felt a longing to be transported out of this wretched jungle and back to the burrow of his clan, and without conscious thought his hand moved to the magical rod in his pouch. But instead of merely fingering it, he clutched it tightly as he longed for respite from this nightmare, and to be taken away to a place of comfort and security...

Rod of Security activated

Sickle will begin moving the bodies at Azaka’s reminder, checking them as he does for any interesting things, including information about why they were searching for Ham’s companion.

Investigation: 18

Overwhelmed at the number of bodies they had strung across the jungle he returns to ask for help and is whisked into Badger’s dream world of safety.

"This jungle is driving everyone mad I think," Silas speaks as he walks into the extraplanar world. 

Sickle has a few moments to investigate the nearest bodies, seeing some light crossbows, regular crossbows, bolts, short swords, and leather armor strewn about.  He notices the one man who had devils floating around him wears the symbol of Shar around his neck, and wears a chain shirt. He spots belt pouches on many of them, there is probably gold to be had.  But then he feels the pull of the rod and submits to it. 

The rod whispers to Badger, "Safety...safety...safe safe safe safe...you can be safe...yes..let's take you someplace safe...yes, let's go, this is good....good good good..." 

With a similar feeling of your stomach dropping out of your body, and your vision blurring, you find yourself in a tunnel of darkness for a brief moment before appearing within the same gnome cave as before.  The table is set once again, the food uneaten, looking fresh, and warm.  Warm bread, roasted chickens, fried eggs all greet your eyes and nose.  The soft grass underfoot is green and lush. The air is cool. The caves twinkle with the gentle and colorful light from small gem stones that cast purple, green, or blue light in a festive manner. 

Ham and Mandra look around, greeting this site for the first time.  The process seems not to have disturbed Mandra's soul from her undead body.  The bugs are gone.  The heat is gone. The moisture is gone. The sky above where this massive cave opens up is clear, stars twinkle above.  With a hoot Boris drops his gear on the grass, and walks straight towards one of the caves that held a warm spring.  He peels off his clothes as he goes, hopping on a foot at a time as he discards boots, and as he disappears into the cave you hear a victorious "wooooh!" followed by a splash. 

Azaka places her gear gently to once side of the cave, and begins peeling off her light armor and boots, and then goes to sit at the table.  "Wonderous.."  she mutters. She looks to Silas, "The jungle does drive people mad. It's well known. But, this place is like a soothing ointment on the wound of madness...it may save you all from losing yourself, this respite..."  She begins shoving food in her face.

Sir Darak, still quiet, looks to Sedrik, "Help me from my armor."  Sedrik and him begin peeling his armor off.  

Ham watches curiously for a while, Pine excuding from him for a while, and then the smell of tar floating about his person as he sits down to eat. 

Mandra, interested to see if what food tastes like as an undead, will try sampling the various provisions to see if anything is palatable. She will also begin to investigate the caves to see if there's a bath, ointment, oil, anything really that might relieve or at least disguise her rotting nature. She contemplates the possibility of pickling or curing her zombified body.

Sickle finds himself standing in the cave with the others, relishing in the comforting relief of the gnome burrow.  He drops his gear in one of the caves, then takes a seat and eats quietly with the others, observing them but keeping mostly to himself, though taking note of Mandra's efforts.  He finds himself a bath, then rests comfortably for the first time in days.

The next day after their rest, he pulls Silas aside. "Silas, my friend, tell me more about your background?  Where did you learn the ways of your faith?"  After discussing whatever Silas is comfortable with, he asks, "What do you know about resurrection magic? Other than that something has disrupted it, obviously."

"I was raised in a temple of Torn. It was where I lived the ways of faith," Silas explains, "For magic to bring back the dead. The soul, if willing, returns to the body. The magic, depending on the strength, can restore health to the body for the soul to reside in. All resurrection magic requires a toll, Revivify requires a diamond of great value for example. This thing that stops the dead from returns isn't just stop the dead from coming back, it's causes those who have returns to decay,"

Leveling-up prose, sequestered in spoiler to curtail clutter...

New spells added to spellbook: Animate Dead, Fear

It was night time, and so people are quick to get clean and then pass out in soft spongy beds with thick silk cotton sheets. 

The next morning the group cleansed, not looking greasy, dirty, sweaty, or otherwise, sit about the space relaxing in a variety of ways, enjoying the samples of food. Boris and Sedrik care for weapons and armor, cleaning clothes and equipment, mending, making sure things are well oiled for the entire group.  Ham spends time exploring, and you're all reminded of your first time in this place, as he finds delight in small discoveries.  He spends time in the water, and then, once clean, enjoys more food and then asks to speak to Badger with his mind.  "How long do we stay in this wonderous place?" he wants to know.  

Mandra tastes the food, but seems disappointed, the flavors stunted and bland in her mouth. But, though she ruins one of the bathing pools, she is able to clean most of the rot out of her body, and as she remains over the hours, her rotting flesh seems to rot less, chunks seem to firm up, and tears and sags seem to tighten up.  By the afternoon the second day, her body is seeming much more cohesive.

Badger's time alone seems to leave him much more settled. 

Sir Darak continues to be quiet. He seems to place his blade with Boris, leaving the black thing alone and spends time in prayer by himself away in a cave. 

Everyone feels rejuvenated, comfortable, free of stress, and well fed.  Only a few more days would be lovely, but you're also keenly aware you're on an important quest. 

Nodding toward the undead’s chosen chamber, Sickle responds to Silas, “She saved our lives back there, I’m sure of it. When this is over, if we make it out, we should do what we can to repay her.” And with that, Sickle wanders off, attempting to connect with the way of the Ancients in this strange place. Reaching out, expanding his mind, over the course of several hours, he finds that his nightly meditations pay off, and he finds his horizons broadened, and new ways of manipulating the magic of the.land flow into his mind.

When the others are ready, he gathers his things and braces himself for the heat of the jungle.  When back, if the bodies are still present he will remove whatever he can salvage from them. He would especially like to see if he can tell what was around the neck of the leader.

Badger appears at the breakfast table alert and refreshed, and back to his normal appetite. As the others assemble and prepare to depart the burrow, he asks: Are we all ready then? Where is Sir Darak?

Once outside, Badger will attempt his newly-crafted Animate Dead spell on one of the corpses.

Boris, having spent the evening working hard with Sedrik and sword work and hand to hand combat seems to have grown up a bit. Literally.  He's clearly a growing boy and his shoulders are a bit wider and he's almost as tall as Sir Darak now, at least a couple inches over Sedrik at this point.  Obviously it's only been a few weeks, so maybe it's just that he's standing up straight and picking up some muscle from the jungle.  As you watch their battle it's clear that Sedrik's formal training has made him a competent sword fighter, while Boris tends to lose patience and make unskilled but vicious attacks.  Either way, the two of them seem more than the young men that were first accompanying Sir Darak.  

In the morning well oiled and mended gear is handed back to folks and people pack up. Rejuvinated, clean, and with full stomachs, the group reluctantly gathers their gear.  Sir Darak emerges from his isolated prayer, quiet...somber, and picks up his goods.  He leaves the black blade with Sedrik and uses Sedrik's blade instead. He makes the change with silence.  Everyone spreads their insect repellant on and nods their readiness.

Looking around, it seems everyone is ready, and, bracing for the heat, Badger returns the group to the jungle.  The heat hits everyone like a wall. It's remarkable how quickly the cool air of the sanctuary draws you in and you adjust to it.  

It's before morning as everyone appears back at the jungle. The swath of burnt jungle forms a small clearing. The bodies are still around, though in a much different state. Many have been dragged away, and the rest have been picked apart by scavengers. Bits of cloth, leather, or metal lay strewn about the place. A number of small fox like creatures look up as you appear and scatter into the underbrush, their snouts red.  

Sickle searches the area where the priest was, finding a gruesome chain shirt nearby and a necklace.  He bends down examining the blood splattered thing.  It's not magical, and feels cold in his hand. The thing is an evil priests unholy symbol to his god.  The group can also scavenge enough to put together 4 suits of leather armor, some bits of jungle warrior jewelry that is not worth much but may be meaningful to them, six crossbows and six short swords of average make, and 150 gold pieces worth of coin scattered amongst the groups. It's clear the defeated Zhentarim did not return to this spot. 

Looking about, Badger finds enough bones, or a enough of a body to raise either a skeleton or a zombie, his choice.  As the undead servant climbs to it's feet, Badger looks over at Mandra. The two share a look, but her face is unreadable.  His servant shambles over to him and waits further commands.  Sir Darak mumbles something under his breath, but it's not loud enough to be heard and he doesn't repeat himself. 

Azaka looks to the group.  "Shall we resume our journey?" 

"We have means to hopefully deal with Flaming Fist without issue but Zhentarim will probably have kill order for us. Fun," Silas states as he throws his backpack over his shoulder, "Let us continue forward and hope what we leave us behind does not catch up with us,"

(How many people are we split everything up among)

Mandra, her skin more cohesive and smelling more tolerable, walks over to the newly risen undead companion and tries to determine if any fragment of its soul still lingers in the body. She asks Badger, "Can you return this one from the Soul Monger as well?"

While everyone gathers their things she takes a minute to cast Mending on her robes to try and patch the holes and remove the rot. She stares into the tree towards their destination, ready to depart with the group.