DMZ

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

The monk's head raged with sharp pain for seconds and then completely cleared up, as if a giant rock had been removed from his head. When he looked up, he saw that he was no longer standing up, but sitting slouched against a wall in the middle of Two Stars, facing the fountain. Across the pavement, half sitting half leaning on the marble basin, was the all too familiar figure of Glith.

Keystone noticed that a sharp stomach pain and his muscles protesting anything more than sluggish movements. He involuntarily squinted at the sun, now high up in the sky and took a while to adjust to his surroundings. His knuckles and armour were nowhere to be found, as was any indication of his horse, Saran, or their shared saddlebags.

Two Stars was a lot dirtier than he remembered. Stray bits of hay, bricks, chunks from walls and various other props littered the square. The fountain's water supply was slightly murky, reflecting a reddish sort of colour as it flowed down into the basin. A stray sword and broken spear were visible towards the town entrance, but of people there was no sign.

The undead knight seemed...exhausted?...as he leaned on the fountain, staring at Keystone with eyes that kept flickering out of existence. On the knight's armour he could see a few dents in the same places the monk had struck. The sword that the knight held in his left hand and used as a makeshift crutch was proudly displaying the glowing inscription: Kaylee.

"So..." Glith forced out, his voice displaying the exhaustion his features couldn't, "I have finally done it. She's back with me. You should leave, human, before you suffer any more," the knight rose to his full height, trying to appear as menacing as possible. The attempt was undermined by a slight slouch and the sword visibly digging into the dirt as the full weight of the undead came to rest upon the pommel.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

@SigilRealized I have kept you waiting for the earth shattering conclusion to that fight, when that post is sitting ready on my PC at home...

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

@POOHEAD189It is not. If you want to join, you still can.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

@SigilWell, that got interesting quickly. You actually played exactly as I predicted, for once.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

Keystone's words seemed to fall upon no ears other than his own, carried away by the wind. The statue's eyes flared up with a neutral blue glow and it, he, turned towards the monk, stepping out of the basin. With ease Glith pulled the sword Kaylee free from the ground and leveled it in one hand, blade hanging low and open to the side.

"I have finally found you. The time required was most...worrying," spoke Glith with an air of benevolence. "Return her now and you still have a chance at a normal life. I have no trouble with you: it is the spirit I want." the suit took a few more steps forward, until it and the monk were separated by but a few strides and just out of reach of the blade. The knight's blue eyes flared with a calm and repeating motion, illustrating...compassion? as far as Keystone could make out.

Keystone felt a firm hand on his shoulder as Saran stepped in beside him:
"There is great evil contained in that abomination. We can fight it, Keystone. We can win," she whispered into his ear. Keystone felt a surge of energy course from her hand through his shoulder and to the rest of his body, strengthening the fighter's form.
Glith's faceless visage turned towards her. Keystone did not need to see Saran to know what she was going through: her hand dug deep into his shoulder and the she-mage took an involuntary step behind the monk.

"What's this? A mirage? Tis cruel to make an old knight feel such pity," the suit chuckled, amused by Saran's reaction. "Tis a strange tale, that girl in your head. You would do well to be careful," it said and turned away slightly. The feint was clear a second later when the knight spun back around, dragging the sword through the sand to throw it into the monk's face.

"Give her back!" the knight roared, falling into a defensive stance.

Despite the growing headache and the mounting anger that was starting to strain his will, Keystone felt another influx of strength and vitality, but not from Saran. His muscles hardened until they were as smooth as stone. Saran fell back behind him and started concentrating. Glith chuckled and took a step back, starting an incantation of his own.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

It's a statue in the sense it's completely immobile, but it's not made of stone. Apart from the aura there's nothing odd about it.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

@SigilWell, I hope that solves your looting problem.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

@ZhalioraYep.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

The pair moved through the deserted main street, poking their heads into various shops and houses. Keystone quickly noted that while the city seemed to be in pristine shape, there were no signs of any inhabitants anywhere they looked. No tools were charred with the fires of a smithy, no mugs were left on tables in the taverns and no footsteps marked the dirt under their feet. Food and other valuable trinkets seemed to be nonexistent, as was any clothing or other every day items. If there were any stockpiles of valuables to be found, they were not anywhere in their path.

Reverin's tower was clearly visible in the small gaps and side streets, silently towering over the empty houses. No magical protections seemed to surround the fencing, no shimmer warned of the many wards guarding the perimeter. Saran motioned an indifferent 'no' on the presence of magic surrounding the tower, using a long range scrying spell. Erepar's chapel was not visible from inside the city, requiring some travel to get to.

The monk and the mage reached a small square in one of the smaller regions of the city, a place Keystone knew well. Many old and deprecated houses lined the edges of the square, laced with balconies jutted roofs hanging so low one could touch them at will. The center of the square housed a small fountain, much like the big one Keystone had seen in the town's main square. Inside the barren and dried out basin stood an immobile, all too familiar suit of armour with a familiar greatsword planted in the stone in front of it, two gloves resting on the end of the pommel. The suit's empty eye sockets seemed to stare directly at Keystone. The figure was surrounded by a clearly visible pulsating aura. In between the pulses Keystone could see faint images of the Two Stars he knew: a populated square with people walking, thieves weaving in and out of alleys and eyes in every corner.

The headache grew and spread through Keystone's head the moment he saw the statue.

Forgotten Realms: Tales of the Dead

Players are still welcome!