CH. 11: Dark Side of the Mond

[HorizonsDream]

"We ran into a few of those," Jocelyn chimes in. "According to what we have been told, the league is behind this attack. We saw a few of them raise the dead then take off one some sort of bone dragon with a horde of zombie behind them. Matter of fact, one of those frogmen actually did something to Baeros' dog, but I'm not sure how to treat something like that."

[JadedDM]

"Did something?" Saren repeats. "You fought with one? Then any of you who were attacked may be infected. You see, red slaadi have a gland under each claw that can inject an egg-pellet into another's body. The egg-pellet slowly moves through the victim's body until it reaches the chest cavity, where it then gestates. Once full grown, the baby eats its way out of the victim's body." He adjusts his glasses. "The result is always fatal to the host."

[Breila]

"Then this is probably what happened to the poor dog here" Ouragna tells Saren, pointing at Takit. "Is there anything that can be done?"
"We also saw that these - slaadi, you call them? - can summon more of themselves out of thin air" she adds.

[BishGada]

Baeros hacks again at thin air before understanding the fight is over. When the zombies turn all to ash, Baeros looks at Saren in admiration, "Sorry about calling you a fool. I didn't know you had such powers." he glances again at the pile of ash, "Then again, going by yourself to their midst is still brave act. And every time I thought I'm acting bravely, my mom called me stupid... so you can understand where it comes from." Baeros says completely tactlessly.

As the conversation wounds about the Slaadi, Baeros agrees with Jocelyn and Ouragana, "Yes, we have seen these cursed creatures. Takit! Hopper!" he whistles to his dogs to come forward. "We have seen something crawling into his body." he points at Takit cut, "I tried to dig it out but failed. Do you know anything that can force the filthy creature away?" Baeros pleads.

[HorizonsDream]

"All of us should be checked out," Jocelyn says. "As I think most of us were injured in the fight with those...slaadi."

[Nuke]

Val is a little uncomfortable with all the talk about the Slaadi. "Maybe we should put Takit out of his misery."

[JadedDM]

"We also saw that these - slaadi, you call them? - can summon more of themselves out of thin air."

Saren nods. "They are not of this world, but rather from a dimension known as Limbo; a universe of pure chaos. They have the ability to create gates between this world and their own, bringing in more of their kind. This is what makes them so dangerous. They can increase their numbers both by creating gates and by implanting their egg-pellets. The city could easily be overrun by them in a matter of hours."

"I tried to dig it out but failed. Do you know anything that can force the filthy creature away?"

"Although the Slaadi are not evil in themselves--they are driven by a need to feed and breed, but do not act out of malice--a simple Detect Evil spell can be modified to find their egg-pellets. And the pellets can be removed with a modified Remove Curse."

Saren holds up his holy icon and speaks a prayer to Octhanus. He then holds it over each of the party members. It glows in reaction to being near Jocelyn, Baeros, Areilon, Andar and Takit. It does not react at all to the presence of Val and Ouragana, however.

"I'm afraid most of you have been infected," Saren says. "Have you been experiencing an unusual itchiness around your wounds? I can cure most of you, but these two," he gestures to Areilon and Andar, "are in bad shape. It would be better to wait for them to regain their strength before attempting a cure."

[HorizonsDream]

"Yes," Jocelyn admits with a nod of her head. "And I agree that Andar and Areilon should get some rest. There really isn't much more either of us can do for them at this point."

[Breila]

"I admit I kept out of the fight" Ouragana says in a sad whisper. "I have been trained for navigation in peaceful times, my spells and skills are not fit fot these times." she looks up at Saren, hoping vor a word of absolution.

[Nuke]

"And I was out of commission from that blasted sound." Val adds.

[JadedDM]

Saren has some of his crew escort Areilon and Andar down into the ship's hold with the rest of the wounded. "Perhaps you and your group would prefer to remain here and defend the ship then, at least until the other groups return," Saren says to Jocelyn.

To Ouragana, he says, "There is no shame in pacifism. But as a man of 52 years, I can tell you that the past was no more peaceful than the present." He sighs. "I long for a future where violence is not considered 'necessary' anymore; where the islands all live in peace, where their citizens' rights are respected by all, and there is no war or hatred. There are many who call me 'naive' for dreaming for such a thing. Perhaps they are right, but I cannot imagine living any other way. Octhanus teaches us that killing is neither glorious or necessary, but I admit I'd probably believe that anyway, even if I had never heard of Her." Despite his claim of being 52, he looks half that age, likely due to his elven heritage.

He shakes his head, then turns to Val. "Ah, yes. Their croaks can be quite disorienting. If another should appear, though, I can banish it back to its home plane of existence. In any case, allow me to remove the egg-pellets within you all now."

Saren begins with Jocelyn. "Pastor, if your vestments become any more shredded, they will hardly constitute vestments at all," he jokes. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he prays to Octhanus. A warmth fills Jocelyn's chest, and the itchiness of her wound immediately clears up. He then does the same to Baeros, eliciting the same response. Finally, he approaches Takit. "Rest easy, boy," he says, petting the dog. Takit whimpers and licks at Saren's hand a bit. He says the prayer and it seems to work, because Takit barks twice happily.

===========

Saren casts Remove Curse on Jocelyn, Baeros and Takit. They are no longer itchy.

[HorizonsDream]

"They probably don't even constitute as clothes at this point," Jocelyn jokes a bit. "I need to buy some new ones."

[BishGada]

"Maybe we should put Takit out of his misery."

"Maybe we should put you out of your misery!" Baeros instantly responds.

After Saren explains about the Slaadi and removes the pellets from the group members, Baeros hugs Takit and then not controlling his emotions, he hugs Saren too. "Saren! You are a true friend. Are you going back to the city to find more survivors? I can join you, the others are in a worse shape, but they will be OK on the ship. By the way, have you seen the skeletal dragon? The wizards that caused all this mess in the beginning had ridden it."

=============================
(OOC: Baeros goes to collect his long sword.)

[Breila]

Ouragana turns to Saren or another crew member who has authority to allocate space on the ship.

"Is there a place where I could sleep undisturbed and study afterwards? I think the sooner I get my spells back, the better. Who knows if the evil creatures we're facing will do even worse things during the night."

[JadedDM]

"Are you going back to the city to find more survivors?"

"It may be more prudent for me to remain here and protect the ship," Saren says. "I see now that leaving an acolyte behind is insufficient. If more zombies approach, there's always a chance her attempt to turn them will fail."

"By the way, have you seen the skeletal dragon? The wizards that caused all this mess in the beginning had ridden it."

"I have not, but I heard of it from some of the survivors," Saren admits. "Any wizard powerful enough to reanimate a dragon is quite dangerous. I'm not certain even I could turn such an abomination."

"Is there a place where I could sleep undisturbed and study afterwards? I think the sooner I get my spells back, the better. Who knows if the evil creatures we're facing will do even worse things during the night."

"You may use the crew quarters," Saren says. "Although I'll admit even I would have trouble sleeping on a night like this." He looks out to the city, which is still burning in several places. When everyone is quiet, the sounds of people screaming can still be heard in the distance.

Baeros retrieves his fallen blade, although Andar's pack remains on the pier, still holding some of Val's and Jocelyn's things.