Tales from Talaveroth

"I'm not sure he's making them... I think he might be trying to stop this from happening. If only I remembered more of grandpa's stories... maybe the Life of Myrkul woul mean something to me."

History check: 19

Perception: 7

(Twitch or Si'Juul, make a perception check)

You think back to the stories and something clicks. You know Myrkul by another name, the Lord of Bones. He was once a necromancer who ascended to godhood. His coming is dreaded for it means death, usually from old age. He has a small church but they are mostly outsiders, tending to the graves of those too evil to have prayed to other gods.

Perception: 20

Through the small part in the doors you see a room with 5 coffins. Three of them are covered in books and scrolls. The fourth is open, just like the others above. 

On the fifth you see the body of an old woman. Around her are a number of burning candles. Shuffling into view you see another zombie with flowers in its hands. It begins arranging them around her head. 

Moving from coffin to coffin you see an old man. When he turns you catch a glimpse of his eyes. They put you in the mind of some of your old targets, ones who folks claimed had gone insane. He turns back to his work, either not noticing you or not caring.

Si'Juul will enter just inside the room and fly up 15ft, trying to be quiet as he does, but still going up either way.

Stealth: 16

Poinki thanks Elhanna for the healing. He feels much better now! He will head down the stairs after the others. (Stealth: 3 Perception: 1 )

Though he tries to listen, all sounds are obscured by the clatter of the two huge greatswords he has stuffed under his backpack...the loose blades scrape against the walls and bump down the steps.

Twitch follows into the room, but doesn't try to be stealthy. She makes a point of putting her weapons away and walking into the chamber with her hands outstretched and unarmed, after giving a brief nod to SI'Juul near the ceiling.

"Oleg, don't be afraid. I've come to talk, I didn't want to destroy your creatures upstairs. Can we talk? I know about Olivia. I know what you're trying to do. My parents died in an accident when I was five, I understand wanting your loved ones back. Have you gotten her back? Or are you still working on that? I'm here to help you, a friend of yours sent you. They worry."

She makes a point to speak slowly, and calmly, but with determination.

Persuasion to try and stave off any hostilities: 7

Si'Juul keeps his gun aimed at Oleg, but let's him speak his piece, only firing if it looks like he is going to make another undead or attack Twitch. And even then, only to the hand or someplace non-lethal.

Hearng Twitch's words, Poinki understands the situation, and adds his own words. "Let her go. She die, you die later, be together in afterlife forever. She stuck in rotten corpse, she not happy ever. If you make you undead, too, both never happy forever."  (Persuasion 13 +5 Emmissary of Peace. )

Oleg turns, seemingly a little startled at everyone in the room but not hostile. "No, I have to make it work. The spells just won't work. I don't understand why, they worked on the dogs, why won't they work on her?" 

The zombie just keeps arranging the flowers under the old woman's head.

He looks to Poinki, "You don't understand, she's all I have left. The children are gone, my magic is gone, she is everything." 

After he's done speaking he begins to move back to the books.

(Anyone proficient in religion may make a religion check)

"You fool. If you keep this up, even if you succeed, she will still be gone."

Si'Juul holsters his pepperbox and lands down next to him, arms crossed.

"Do you really think she would want to be turned into an animated corpse?"

Twitch steps forward, cautiously: "Isn't it obvious? There's so much more to her life than to a dog's, no? And your own strength, it's getting weaker as you spend all your time studying and experimenting. When was the last time you ate a proper meal? Took a bath or got some sleep? Let me help you. Please come with me, back to your cabin. I promise you, as you will get stronger and healthier, the magic will return. I can't promise that it will be enough to bring her back, but my granddad always said that if you're running against a wall, turn around and find another way. You're working yourself ragged, and for what? You already know that it won't work now, not like this, not with you in this state. I know it's difficult. But try to follow me out of here."

She reaches out with her hands, stopping about a foot before him, to encourage him to take the step into her arms and out of the tomb.

Persuasion: 13 and 18 if I get advantage from Si'Juul and Poinki trying to convince him as well.

"She won't be a corpse. The dogs aren't corpses. They're alive again, like they were before. I just don't understand why it won't work for her." He looks to Twitch. "I don't need to eat, not anymore. What was once a blessing is now a curse."

He doesn't step towards you but this time he doesn't go back to the books.

Twitch gives a look to the others in the room, hoping that they can help her talking Oleg down: "Even if you don't need to eat anymore, something is preventing your magic, you say so yourself. Maybe we can help you regain that, and maybe you can explain to us what has been going on, so we might better understand how to help you best. I'd prefer to do that outside though, I for one like the smell of fresh air" 

She carefully reaches out for his shoulder, to connect to him physically.

Persuasion: 10

"Not like we're going to let you continue such work either way, so you might as well come back above ground with us."

"You say dogs alive again," says Poinki. "Dogs seem happy? Dogs play? Dogs love you? If no, they not alive. She not be alive, just...moving. Oleg need to let go, find more new life, not moving dead bones." (Persuasion 15 +5 )

"What new life is there for an old man. Everyone I've ever loved is here, all my family. As for the dogs they're perfectly alive, go up and see for yourself if you want." He looks at all of you. "I know that what I have done here isn't life but it helps me practice. It's been many years since I used this magic. And I don't understand why it won't work on her."

"Alright, I can see there's no talking to you."

Si'Juul grabs Oleg and throws him over his shoulder and carries him out.

Strength check, just in case: Natural 20

He carries him all the way back up to the surface, into his messy house, and sits him on a chair.

"Regardless what you believe, or what my friends here do, I will not let you continue your work down there. I am going to destroy all remnants of what you have done, to make sure you don't do it again. Undeath is never an answer. The dead should stay dead."

Twitch is curious about the two undead in the crypt. The flowers seem to point to some semblance of memory of beauty, or of of kindness. But was it truly something they understood? Or was it merely trained? For the next ten minutes or so, Twitch is intent on observing the creatures before her.

Perception: 15
Investigation: 15

The undead at the crypt immediately attacks you once you lay a hand on Oleg. 

"Put me down. Put me down and I will make him stop. I still control this one." 

(Put him down or roll initiative, your choice)