Dia smirks to himself when he has an idea.

He turns to Redbreast
"Well. Fickle fortune and the Darkest Deck have blessed all of us here to various degrees. Would you like a draw from the Deck to catch up with the rest of us?"

OOC:
11:08, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 33 using 1d20+19.  Persuasion check. Would you like a card?

Robin whences at the suggestion, but is torn. On the one hand this is a terrible plan, on the other...Free Will, if Redbreast wishes to take Dia up on this that is her business. "I'll just go on record saying this is ill-advised, but please do as you will."

Redbreast shrugs. "I suppose I do need to catch up..."

Of course, she pulls The Donjon. She seems upset at Dia. "You little son of a-" And then vanishes. The Deck gives a laugh that can be heard in everyone's mind.

Well, she might as well be dead. Good riddance. Reduces the head count. You have no reason to find or rescue her with the Occallium, as your time and resources are finite, and pointless diversions are not the point of being a freelance adventurer.

So, what do the four of you do?

Dia realizes what she pulled and says "oh shit."

Then he thinks for a bit after she is gone.
"... I was not expecting her to draw that card. I was hoping that she would draw something to make her stronger."

Robin gives a face palm. "Well I can't speak for the rest of ye, but I'm good aligned. So I'm going ta rescue her... Once I know where she is..." She lets out an aggravated sigh. "ANY'NE ELSE wanna get on the rescue list before we find this thing?" Having finally calmed down and recognized the odds of what happened she jokingly adds.  "We have two do I hear three?"

Olivia watches with interest and is surprised by the turn of events.  She wonders, What if Dia had asked me instead and I accepted?

"Robin, is it?  I can force Derrick to help you once we awaken him, but until then it would probably be better to find this Occallium.  If Redbreast is a capable fighter, then they can handle themselves.  Then you'll have two extra bodies in your recue endeavor," Olivia slaps the unconscious rump of Derrick.  "My vote is to rest for the night.  I have Leomund's Hut on standby.  Tomorrow, dust yon manor for the magical debris that we need.  I should prepare different spells, regardless."

"But I love pointless diversions! Either way whoever you decide to save first I'm in."

Olivia watches Robin storm off to search the houses a bit while the rest of the part mulls over her ultimatum.  "We could risk a rest if Robin finds something useful, as in a place to secure.  Then maybe with a brief respite and clearer heads we can continue.  Also, don't ask me to pull one of those cards." Olivia directs the last to Dia.

Olivia looks at the darkened windows and then at the darker woods beyond and can't decide if something worse than kobolds is waiting in that dark or it's her imagination.  When Robin returns Olivia approaches her, "Did any of these houses you checked have a cellar we can secure or better?  Having a safe place to stay for the night would be good for all of us perhaps.  We can check the manor and look for Redbreast in the morning."

Robin hadn't realized she was stomping away, she was just really focused on finding a safe place for Olivia's spell. She ducked into buildings paying extra close attention at what she thought was the bar in hopes that they might have some hidden cellar that might do for Olivia's purpose. If push came to shove though Robin felt awake enough for at least part of the night watch, naturally though she was hoping to avoid that outcome.

22:53, Yesterday: Robin rolled 30 using 1d20+14.  Stealth.

22:53, Yesterday: Robin rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Awareness, I'll also walk around to look for trap doors, cellars ect.

22:51, Yesterday: Robin rolled 16 using 1d20.  sense motive straight wisdom.

Well, Robin, being the perceptive type, noticed an abandoned encampment overlooking the town from a bluff above it. All signs from here indicated the lack of occupancy had been for some time.

Her sharp vision indicated that it was curiously unlooted, but reaching it would be simple. If she wanted, she could guide everyone to it.

Dia, for his part, senses a curious antipathy to his energy.

Do you wish to go around, and follow Robin's guidance to the tent overlooking the town, or perhaps instead find a more indoor type of place to cast one's spell? The choice, ultimately, is Olivia's.

So naturally, this is her question. "You" in this case is singular, not plural.

Dia looks to the old camp oddly
"... Who in hell wards an old abandoned tent?"

"Someone who doesn't want to be disturbed?" Olivia answers Dia's possibly rhetorical question.  "That place will probably do just fine for a rest."

"I mean, don't wards only last a few hours at most? It looks like it has been abandoned for a while so how is it still warded? Maybe there is someone there and that is an illusion. We should check i out anyway. "

"Welp, lets see if it's owned."

Jarn makes his way to the camp, bellowing his question.

"Hay! Anyone Home?!"

Well, Robin did make it clear she was looking for whatever the hell I wanted her to find, and find it she did. I know what this tent is about, of course. I'm surprised they might even still be around.

They make it up a winding, nearly abandoned pathway - which Jarnbrautarlest makes into a very obvious trail after he walks through it. From the high view of the bluff, Robin can make out undead under the rising moonlight, surging from the manor ruins to the town proper. They seem to be congregating in the middle of the town, although for what purpose is unclear.

Up here, so to speak, the lone tent has an abandoned campfire. The ashes are cold. Both Olivia and Dia can sense the wards at this range - antithetical to the living dead; and while Dia can walk beyond the wards, he certainly feels them resisting him like forest foliage.

Whoever made these was an ally of nature - druidic, divine magic. Jarn feels only a mild tingle as he crosses the camp threshold.

Oddly, no one seems to have occupied it, though. Jarn's bellowing goes unanswered. It's lonely, but you are safe enough.

So, what is your plan? Await the sunrise after a good night's rest and deal with the undead then, or do something extremely contrary and irritating to me?

Actual OOC: Honestly I am cool with whatever you do.

"This will do.  We should keep watch, but I may not even need to put up the Hut.  Rest and study are my plans, Derrick's body can even substitute as a pillow."  Olivia settles in next to the cold pit that was a camp fire at some point makes herself comfortable.  Charles Dickens appears out of her bosom and hunts crickets for a couple of minutes before coming back to rest.

"Jarn, what do you think?  Bob's trying to get us killed or he's truly interested in taking care of the Darkest Heir?"

Robin takes a long stretch, it looks like the kind of morning stretches one would do to wake up. "I could take first watch anyways, I don't mind taking the last watch eiter if it comes to it. But even I like sleep."

"Bob's trying to kill us? nah! Doesn't seem the type, and if he is we'll deal with that problem then."

"Also I'll take second watch."

"Next question? What's are plan for da zombies come morning?"

Dia looks at the group of zombies milling around town and sighs.

"I suppose that I will take third watch then. Hopefully I can carve something that I can channel my power through. I am actually a specialist with dealing with undead. But I lost all my physical tools. So I am much more limited now with how I deal with them."

Well, well - Olivia is not planning on using the Hut with this warded zone? Alright, then. Don't let me discourage you.

All of you experience the same thing during your watch.

So, in order -

Robin responds first to this.
Then Jarnbrautarlest.
Then Dia.
Then Olivia.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whoever is on watch, you are approached by one lone, shambling, obviously undead warrior, armed only with a broken sword and armored lightly. Their baleful, crimson gaze falls upon you with the unfiltered malevolence of the grave, and they speak words heavy in fell essence.

"Can I come in?"

Robin's tail twitches violently like a cat, gives a mother's glare at the undead, and slowly growls out a "No."

"Ah! Your da git Robin told me about. Well about yer question, hmm let me think about it, EAT TREE!"

Jarn attempts to bull rush the undead into the nearest tree.

17:20, Today: Jarnbrautarlest rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Bull Rush.

If it succeeded:17:22, Today: Jarnbrautarlest rolled 34 using 4d6+16.  Zombie eats tree.

"I was annoyed that Jarn didn't pay enough attention to the body and let you drag it off. That is a nice Skull you have."

Dia rushes and leaps up to the undead's skull and then Channels negative energy through the the undead's skull to Rebuked him.


OOC:
Initative
22:00, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.


22:10, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  jump.

22:02, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 23 using 1d20+19.  Bluff to get drop on undead.


22:07, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 25 using 1d20+8.  Grapple touch attack.


22:08, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 6 using 1d20-2.  Grapple his goddamn skull.


22:12, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Rebuke Check.
Can affect up to a 7hd Undead


22:14, Today: Dia de Muertos rolled 22 using 2d6+11.  turning damage.
up to 22 total hd of undead


This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Wed 12 May 2021.

Olivia looks up from her books to examine the undead warrior.  The small lizard on her chest cocks its head, - Don't do it. -

"Wouldn't dream of it, Dickens.  But he's so polite," Olivia stands and steps away from the others just a couple of steps to get a better look at the Skeletal Warrior without crossing any barriers.  "Is there something I can help you with, warrior?"

Well, let's describe how your shift at guard went. This, for the record, is the only notable event for most of you.

--------------------------------Robin-------------------------------------
The undead's skull betrays no emotion, although it's voice is surprisingly pleading. "Please?"

---------------------------Jarnbrautarlest--------------------------------
As Jarn picks it up to slam it into the nearest tree, the undead has time to say, "Please don't" before being smashing into bits. He hears a bit of movement in the trees, although what sounds he can make out fade quickly - it seemed to be a retreat of some kind.

With that in mind, his Perception is low enough that the mystery enemy collects the ruined bones without him noticing. He is not bothered for the rest of the night.

--------------------------------Dia---------------------------------------
The undead in question has no idea why this halfling is leaping at his head trying to grab his head, and it has no intention of sticking around to find out why. After what happened with Jarnbrautarlest, the skeleton simply praises whatever dark god is watching over him in that moment, and bolts for the treeline.

He is not bothered for the rest of the night.

------------------------------Olivia---------------------------------------
Its red pinpoints glow slightly brighter, almost as if its eyes were going wide. "Yes, uh. Can I come in? Your camp has a circle around it we, err, I cannot cross unless one of you rubs out one of the symbols on it deliberately. So, I need you to remove one of those, if you will."