Does a fireball only count as one?
The first attack these creatures now identified as Otyugh throw is an explosion of psionic energy, catching Aranar stunned. Quickly thrown back at them is Thryn’s own explosion magic as a loud shattering crack and explosion of force is thrown back at these creatures. After a tousle, it is roundly ended as Ami contributes to the explosion, throwing a fireball out that Thryn had given them, turning one to dust as the other flees. After a quick look around the mausoleum, the party decides to set out away from this place and after a short rest, continue towards the mountain that Thryn’s dagger is now pointing towards.
Following some unusual tracks and depressions in the ground as well as many undead footprints, the party head towards the mountain in the centre of this island.
Following a jagged crack in the mountain, which becomes a valley the part moves silently towards the mountain entrance. Anya’s casting of a spell which allows the party to move silently may have been more useful if the target of Thryn’s dagger couldn’t feel the presence of the item like a beacon. At the base of the temple is a figure in armour, almost identical to the ones carved in the mausoleum except for the tarnish to their armour and what skin and hair you can see. Sheathed in their belt, however is a shining sword, a larger counterpart to Thryn’s dagger. Flanking out around the figure is several zombies, seemingly better constructed than the ones the party has seen before, awaiting the lead’s command.
“You have what I want, little one” The voice booms out, louder than what any creature of that size could make naturally. “No, I believe you have something I have been looking for”, Thryn replies. After a moment of silence the figure pulls out their sword, pointing to Thryn and taunts, “I have been asleep a long time, let’s hope this was a fight worth the wait”. Dropping then into a unknown language that also feels familiar to a few of the party, the figure shouts a few commands and the zombies charge in.
After a few missiles and spells are exchanged, the figure shouts a new phrase and bursting from the ground around the party more zombies rise up to fight. Anya and Thryn obliterate the reanimated corpses with fist and arcane words. A few zombies get to within hitting distance of Thryn before stumbling over their own feet and dropping their weapons (better constructed does not mean well constructed).
After Thryn obliterates more undead with a fireball, the figure sees the tide is not turning his way and attempts to get out of dodge by summoning another 4 zombies before turning around to flee, he barely gets 3 steps before Aranar whiffs 4 shots. In panic Aranar fires a 5th which only grazes the figure, now 5 steps away and running. After taking a deep breath and finding the rhythm of his heart, Aranar breathes out slowly budum…budum…budum, the figure is now 7 steps away, budum…budum…CRACK. With a thunderous retort and a steady hand, the bullet finds its mark in the back of the head, a centimetre under the bottom of the helmet, snapping the head forward as the corpse returns to its natural state, collapsed on the ground.
The rest of the corpses are quickly made into a similar state to their commander and the field of battle is peaceful, however rising from the corpse of the warrior a feint figure is seen rising from the corpse. Turning towards the party the face of a young warrior with a now peaceful expression nods towards the party before disappearing.
After catching their breaths for a few seconds, the party notice another figure, standing still in the entrance to the mountain. A tall figure, purple skin with dark black tattoos adorned in purple robes with silver trimming, a dark twisted form of Anthusian royalty. Turning her back on the scene below her, she walks back into the mountain.