Arise! And be reborn!

[DM Bob]

The day goes on. Kleys is used to scrawl designs upon the roof in ash and chalk. Aman joins above on top of the tower. The wind picks up, causing dramatic tatters of robe to flutter in the dry wind. It moans, perhaps in expectation of magics... the very magics that can tear a hole into the realm of the dead.

The rest of the party is given drums and hand chimes as Hurk's body is positioned to the center of the pattern. The sun dims, the color of blood as it retreats far to the west.

"When the portal opens, I will need you chant your friend's name in unison. It will hopefully call his spirit nearby..."

Pause.

"Assuming he has not forgotten his life so soon. Time is different in the Grey."

A musical chant is made. It repeats a verse that changes slightly every three choruses. The words are alien. It does not take long for smells of faded burning tar, rosemary and even the taste of pomegranate to affect all nearby.

Grey, shadowy swirls of smoky dust appear before the undead lord, who then raises an ivory colored horn from his sleeve. Hardly stopping the chant, he blasts three loud peals into the twilight. Taking a step forward he fades, leaving you alone.

A minute passes, then eight. The corpse of Hurk shudders and Aman reappears. It takes him a moment to find his words.

"Now let us see his state. The passage from life to Grey and back affects every mortal differently. Do not be surprised if your friend has changed."

[Awaiting die rolls from Markus.]

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Kem is astonished with all the process - 'What kind of art is this one?.. Will HurK be able to make it? Which changes is Aman speaking about?' - aware and ready, sticks in hand, of anything other than HurK or Aman showing up

[DM Bob]

Hurk picks up two side effects of having passed and revived.

Dirt… there is always dirt and worms issuing from your clothes. It falls out of your ears, from the cuffs of your pants and shirt, when you pull out your sword, when you open your pack… the dirt of the grave is always with you.

As the day progresses he rots. Your eyes will bloat, ears or fingernails will fall off, teeth will fall out, and you smell like rancid rotting meat. When you wake the next morning you are back to your normal visage and the process starts all over again.

Currently? He looks rotten. Upon the next morning, he will look like normal Hurk once more.

"Success!" Exclaims Aman.

"Now." He turns to the other living goliath. "Let me find that weapon I was thinking about..."

Ten minutes pass and he returns to the roof. It is now early evening. Hurkette sits up, but in a near dead form, yet living. The undead lord's hands appear empty, but he strains slightly as if carrying something heavy.

"This is an axe. A brute lost it here once... claimed a warlock sent him to steal something from my home. It is not his anymore."

There does not appear to be anything to take.

[Deleted]

Mak chants a quick divination. ((Detect Living, Lv.1, Priest Spell Compendium)) Though he looks directly at Hurk while doing so, he'll take a moment to look around at how the spell interacts with the others and anything else unseen within 60'.

"Welcome back. This is Aman, the master of this tower. He restored you to us."

[DM Bob]

Hurk *does* register as living... even though he looks a mess.

Aman is obviously undead.

[Niachi]

Laakh puts down the tools he was given and wipes his hands on his clothes, eager to remove the taint of this witchery from his psyche. Without waiting for a reply to the druid's words:

Mindlink to the risen:

Rolled 17 vs 14.

"Nothing."

He waits as darkness falls, watching the thing that used to be his friend and kicking aside the maggots and grave dirt that fall near him.

In another minute he will try again. Jaw clenched. The tattooed eye on the back of his skull is somehow unsettling in the bloody dusk.

[Attilius]

Aug 22, 2021 2:41:52 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"Success!" Exclaims Aman.

The female half giant loudly coughs several times, expelling grey dirt clouds as she does. A molar flies out into her hand as well from the exertion. “SHIT” she says to herself. HurK raises an arm to shade her eyes from the blinding sun. “Who… who are you?” she says weakly to the speaker, weazing.

Aug 22, 2021 2:41:52 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"Now." He turns to the other living goliath. "Let me find that weapon I was thinking about..."

Ten minutes pass and he returns to the roof. It is now early evening. Hurkette sits up, but in a near dead form, yet living.

Aug 22, 2021 5:58:41 GMT -12 @rpgagmjay said:

"Welcome back. This is Aman, the master of this tower. He restored you to us."

She gets up very very slowly, as if her body has been hit by a Mekillot and every muscle fiber in her aches. More dirt falls from her clothes, making small dirt clouds at her feet.

“Ah” she nods painfully, finally standing, still shading her eyes from the setting sun. She cocks a half smile as she recognizes most of the people standing around

“Aman is it? Your winged statue packs a mean sting.” She painfully jokes "It's good to see you all again, what happened?"

Her eyes slowly scan over everyone and stop as she reaches the new massive armored giant. She takes a moment. A look of mixed surprise and questionable doubt covers her face...

----------------------------------

Aug 22, 2021 2:41:52 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"Now." He turns to the other living goliath. "Let me find that weapon I was thinking about..."
Ten minutes pass and he returns to the roof. It is now early evening. Hurkette sits up, but in a near dead form, yet living. The undead lord's hands appear empty, but he strains slightly as if carrying something heavy.

"This is an axe. A brute lost it here once... claimed a warlock sent him to steal something from my home. It is not his anymore."
There does not appear to be anything to take.

Attilius wide eyed, sets his shield down and opens his palms, facing upward, under the undead's hands. "What Axe mi Lord?" He says astonishingly

[DM Bob]

"This my friend is a smuggler's axe... a weapon of wood! And ensorcelled to be not only invisible... but as strong as a steel blade!"

He releases, there is a definite heft.

"I will warn you that a strange little beast, scarab-like and full of lips tried to steal it from me recently.***"

***Remie might get the reference. Probs not. But ask away! Well, the others might too, but in character they'd be at a loss.

[ascieszl]

"'A scarab-like and full of lips?'  By The Air, what?"  Klyes' mind boggles at something full of lips.  "What kind of terrible abomination might this be?"

[DM Bob]

"Meh. A familiar of some sort. Have you not seen odder things dwelling in the wastes?"

[ascieszl]

"I believe I have not."

"So: where are these necromancers, how far away are they, and how do we get to them?"

[Attilius]

Aug 22, 2021 10:34:29 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"This my friend is a smuggler's axe... a weapon of wood! And ensorcelled to be not only invisible... but as strong as a steel blade!"

He releases, there is a definite heft.

"I will warn you that a strange little beast, scarab-like and full of lips tried to steal it from me recently.***"

The giant gladiator is stunned with wonder and amazement. He swings the invisible axe in the air away from any of the group to feel it's weight and balance "Th... Thank you Lord! What is your price?"

---------------------

HurK shambles over to Mak & Laakh, away from the gladiator and undead. "Wh.. Who's the new guy? He looks... familiar?" she says, absent mindedly rubbing her chin in thought trying to place him.

[how I see HurK now:

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

Aug 22, 2021 10:53:46 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"Meh. A familiar of some sort. Have you not seen odder things dwelling in the wastes?"

- Kem replies - Yes, we heard a few days ago something that awoke us in our rest through the wastes but we could not resolve what it was.. - And faces HurK How do you feel? It is nice you back - smiles to him and turns to Aman - Interesting weapon.. Do you have knowledge or any proficiency from old, lost in time, that could be useful nowadays? I would not mind to learn new skills

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Pallia meanwhile says softly to Hurkette, "You seem a little worse for the wear. How do you feel?"

[DM Bob]

"Southwest, before the Edge... there is a chasm. The trolls held their last stand there. An ivory citadel still stands at the edge of the mudflat. That is where your quarry plots and ensorcels. I am glad you like your gift. But for now? I wish to rest in torpor. DO NOT VENTURE BELOW. My bloodlust might not be sated if you are nearby."