OOC:
If you’re doing that, give me a Perception check.

As the last fell, and it became apparent everyone would live to tell the tale, Lenelle smiled with relief and joy.

And on the heels of it felt sick to her stomach, as she considered what almost happened.  She dropped to her knees and - different for her - offered a short, soft, heartfelt prayer of thanks. She didn't know what god it was addressed to. Perhaps Pelor. She wasn't there, yet.  It didn't matter right now.

(Oops - after everyone's safe again)

She looked at the safely returned trio, addressed Cela "When I was a child, there was nothing like the presence of a cat to push back nightmares.  Watching you down there, I remembered why. Somewhere, your master is honored, I think."  She made a gesture of reverence for the deceased.

"To say nothing of your own heroic act," she said to Joshua.

He needed healing; medical attention for the arm and perhaps other injury.   The basic curing Lenelle could do wouldn't mend bones.  And she'd burned a lot of power, rapidly.   She could work perhaps one more true spell, and then it was cantrips and crossbow. Mercion or a physician would see to Josh, she was sure.

And on the topic of pushing back nightmares, she turned to the man who'd literally done so:

"How long?" she asked Sundos, almost not wanting to know.  "How long before they return?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Sat 08 May 2021.

Simon answers for him, "Could be any time. Something isn't right with that Fog. It could well restore them or replace them. It is interesting that the undead are corpse eaters, however. Not what I would have expected. I would really like to find their source."

"I don't doubt what you say.   It fits - more or less - with what we've heard.  And aye, we must handle the source of this."  She frowned.  "Azatch had a theory about the dragon's corpse.  Or perhaps in dying, it invoked some sort of curse?"   

Unlike Simon, she didn't know much more about the occult than most people. She'd little to offer aside from guesses...

 Lenelle Toreth rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  perception. Will also look for movement out there. 
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Sat 08 May 2021.

Cela waits at the bottom of the wall, making sure Joshua can get up the rope.  "Should we burn the dead ones?  It can't be good to just leave them."

OOC: Cela has already demonstrated that she can climb the wall without a rope, if you want to pull it up.

Sundos shrugged. "It's as Simon says. It can be any time. Usually, from what I have seen, the undead will flee for about a minute. So it would take take them another minute to return. But I don't know anything about the fog. If Simon is right and the fog is evil or has an evil source, it can be anytime."

"Cela, Azatch, you are very brave and fought well."

Once Joshua has climbed (or been pulled up) the wall, Sundos will climb the rope and try to regain the top of the wall.

EDIT:  opps. I changed the robe to a rope.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:53, Sun 09 May 2021.

Traill sighed as she looked at the corpses on the ground. She followed the others to retrieve the others, hearing the talk. “Following the trail shouldn’t be too hard, but I suggest we stock up and hurry. My thought is while it’s dark, the closer the source, the more of them there will be.”

She looked at pockets, a grim look, but nodded...the halfling was cocky and a show off, but he was skilled, and she couldn’t deny that. “You want to impress me, big mouth....you protect these people. “

Two of the watchmen helped Joshua descend the stairs, Mercion following with a concern in her face. As Lenelle watched the woods, she noticed that the fog remained dense closest to the woods. Did she hear rustling out there? As she turned around to join the discussion, she also noticed Connie awaiting the men. She clasped her hands as she watched them.

Before she left the catwalk, Mercion replied to Traill’s “request”. “You underestimate Pockets’ usefulness, but if you’re leaving him behind, he could take Joshua’s place on watch.” She glanced at Lenelle. “Don’t worry. I’ll set his arm. My healing spells will take care of the rest. He’ll be well within a day or two.”

Simon shrugs, "I once heard of a wonder cure amongst some nomads, but it wasn't very effective. You see it started when a Barbarian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the druid. After a brief examination, the druid took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the druid returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, 'The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on.'"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Mon 10 May 2021.

Lenelle had inclined her head in respect to Mercion, after the priestess addressed her.  It was not the lip service she'd for years paid to the priests of her homeland, but a genuine gesture.   Her eyes narrowed at Connie just a little.  Before she relented, in empathy.   She understood.

She then listened as Simon spoke, respecting his knowledge of the occult and the spiritual, and thinking there was some point he was going to make.   Once he stopped speaking, there came a light smacking sound.  Which was Lenelle slapping her forehead.  But she was also laughing softly, in spite of the darksome threat that still must be contended with.

She addressed Traill, the group in general, after- "Follow them now?  With the sun down?  Why don't we just await the remaining number to return, and pick them off from up here.  Then after daybreak, we can set out and search for the source of this evil.  The undead's power will be at ebb then.   That fog will be gone.   Our odds of success, and survival, should be far better.  It would also let me replenish my spells."   
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Mon 10 May 2021.

In reply to Lenelle Toreth (msg # 51):

Simon shakes his, "This is a recurring event. That implies an endless number, albeit making them probably takes time. Less than 3 hours each, from tonight's numbers. While I wouldn't want to walk into that fog, if it starts to retreat we should follow it's edge whatever time of day or night. We don't want to wait until it's gone, as it's what we want to track...and I doubt it leaves footprints. Come to that, the ghouls probably don't leave many prints, either. It's a swamp. Water doesn't keep impressions of feet, generally speaking."

Traill looked at Simon and smiled. "You are a clever boy." She muttered, then looked at the rest. "I don't know if the fog is causing this or if tbe fog is summoned by whatever is causing this, but if we tarry, tracking the trail will be harder in a swamp. We know a direction and while ghouls aren't the smartest and usually follow a straight line, we can't! I'd rather dawn, but if we move slowly, dawn will come before we find anything."

She looked into the darkness. "I have no love in going out while some of those things still roam, but with holy water and Sundos we have an advantage. If we wait, then prepare and we leave an hour before dawn."

Sundos looked at the group. "I rather wait until dawn.  However, as Captain Edward always said, 'strike while the enemy is scattered.' Let's not give the Evil a chance to gather strength. We have defeated it's attack. Let's follow up now."

Simon looks at the Fog bank and shakes his head, "We didn't defeat anything. It's a war of attrition. Every night it wins a little more, and, apparently, no one realizes it. It's undead appear endless, but the town doesn't rebuild it's losses daily. Every towns person that dies is another body for it, and one less for the town. All we did is maintain the status quo for a night."

"Why so glum, Simon? The Dawn will be here soon. We have stopped this attack. As you said, let's go find it before the gathers new strength. That's the great thing about Dawn. No matter how dark things get, there will always be a Dawn coming."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Mon 10 May 2021.

Simon looks at Sundos like he missed something, "Because at dusk it starts all over again. Daily."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Mon 10 May 2021.

Grog will prepare to head out, (though that doesn't require much on his part.)  He will make his way to the gate.  Grog will partially stifle a chuckle at Simon's retort to Sundos, shaking his head.

When the party heads out, Grog will follow.

Lenelle nodded.  "I see where you're all coming from.   There's no question this has been a reprieve, and not a victory.   But, I keep wondering, what is the source of them?   If it's something physical -  the dragon's corpse, or an idol -  we may be able to destroy it.   That is to be hoped.  If it's something intangible - such as a curse, or a bound spirit, then I'm not certain how we'll address that. But that sort of thing is far outside what I know.  Perhaps not for one of you, or for Mericon."   

"But better that it's a mindless curse, than something intelligent and crafty.  That might be keeping a reserve of corpses, with which to defend itself.   Or be capable of the Gods know what sort of necromancy."      She concluded, shaking her head.

"I'm not going with you.  Curse me for a coward, as you will.   What I have left won't make a significant difference.   And, I'll be damned if I'll be a liability at some critical moment."     She reached into her pack.

"I have these," she offered to any interested takers.   "They are all I can offer, aside from my prayers."

1) Potion of Greater Healing
2) Red gem - if broken releases a fire elmemntal -  Lenelle doesn't know that, but will explain that Amara said it was to be broken as a very last resort.
3) Vial of holy water   

In reply to Lenelle Toreth (msg # 59):

Simon's eyes light up at the fire gem's appearance.

"Probably the plant reborn coming for the sword that killed it. Which might explain corpse eaters. Fertilizer."

OOC:
Why give up a good lame theory until it's disproven?

Lenelle laughed softly, shaking her head.

"You're exasperating!  But insightful.  And cute. Sometimes." 

She handed Simon the gemstone. "Just don't fall on it."

In reply to Lenelle Toreth (msg # 61):

Simon grins, "I serve an Efreet as the scout for his vengeance. It wouldn't dare..." Then he looks at the fog, "You've been warned, Fog." Then back at Lenelle, "Thanks."

OOC: Simon, roll Perception.

OOC:
19:25, Today: Simon rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  perception.

Simon only saw fog hovering over an endless expanse of swamp. However, the hairs on the back of his neck tingled. He felt a subtle tug of Power.