[Gameplay] 5. Best Left Buried

Iseret recoils slightly at the explosions but manages to evade the worst of it. Relying on her memory, she tries to position herself behind the necromancer.

Tabat tries to throw his shield up to minimize the impact of corpse shrapnel.

As the room goes dark, both he and Andromeda's vision goes grey - they can still make out their foe.

Tabat closes on the necromancer swiftly, tossing the spear to the ground and pulling his flail. He swings the weapon at the enemy's feet, hoping to trip him up and knock him to the ground.

If successful, he shouts to the others, "Quick, he's down - let's take the advantage!"

Andromeda sidles up next to Tabat and nips at the enemy.

Jaware considers the dark folk man, and what they've done to him. He suspects that he's not that resistant to their attacks, but unfortunately he can't see where he is. He casts a spell (True Strike).

Iseret tries to maneuver behind where she last saw the necromancer.

The necromancer does try to stand up, not expecting that he can be seen.

Tabat and his camel both hit and the man crumples to the ground. Combat is over

Tabat stows his weapon. "This could have gone so differently," he says with a shake of his head.

Tabat rushes to the form of the unconscious darkfolk the necromancer was toying with upon their arrival, to check and see if they are able to yet be saved.

Khadi joins Tabat also seeming at ease in the dark, ready to take over but instead being impressed with his check, adding a couple of pointers.

'What of the necromancer..I feel the others may have been right, that he is beyond reasoning,

Tabat's healing aptitude stabilizes the woman. She remains unconscious but isn't dying any more.

Jaware points. "There's something magical inside him, in his belly. And something magical at his belt."

"In...side?" Iseret says distastefully. The thought of cutting someone open sickened her.

'I.. think I have the expertise to make it quick and clean, as it is teh proof requested. If we are to go for it.' She looks to Tabat for his say, knowing he wanted to look for alternate options to end the conflict.

"The man is, unfortunately, passed. I will not condemn you for doing this thing, Khadi, but it is not proper, to defile the dead in such a way without properly preparing it for the afterlife...no matter his transgressions. I will search the area as you complete this grim task. Would that we had the strength to bring these men to their people so they might be prepared properly. I will talk to them on that matter."

First, Tabat will lay his hands upon the stabilized creature and see if they might awaken. Tabat will then set about to looking over the necromancers belongings after helping to drag the body into an area of light.

The woman awakes with a start, and with assistance sits up. "Thank you, strangers. You saved me from a fate worse than death. He snatched me from outside, and then..." She sniffs, overwrought with what almost happened.

Treasure: Gaunt Cadaver’s followers have collected most of the estate’s most valuable grave goods in the surgery, consisting of a bolt of Qadiran silk (worth 400 gp), a 3-pound jar of giant bee royal jelly worth 300 gp, 20 ivory servant statuettes called ushabti (worth 15 gp each), a pair of gold and onyx earrings (worth 100 gp) and matching necklace (worth 250 gp), a lapis lazuli bracelet (worth 50 gp), 240 gp, 345 sp, and 75 cp.

In addition, Gaunt Cadaver himself had a scroll of speak with dead, black smear poison (3 doses), a masterwork buckler, kukri, healer’s kit, and surgeon’s tools.

After the surgery, (not entirely dissimilar to initial part of the mummification process if that helps), Khadi retrireves Gaunt Cadaver’s magical steadfast gut-stone. It is the "magic stone" required by Unwrapped Harmony as proof of her apprentice’s death.

"Will you be able to return to your people in safety? If they are close by, we could escort you. It is unfortunate, this fate that was nearly brought upon you. I am ever thankful to my Lord, Horus, for bringing us to you just then."

She describes her home and it turns out she will be returning to the same place as you, one of Unwrapped Harmony's people.

'I understand your apprehension Tabat. I will be respectful. I have trained in Pharasma temple, I can try and ready him for death best I can.'