The Unbeating Heart - Chapter 8

He watched unseen from the treeline. Watched the little one, and the Knight.
*Ah yes, the knight,* he thought to himself. This one he knew would be a great ally... or great nemisis.
He longed for human company, longed to step from the shadows into the light of day. But now was not the time. Soon... very soon he would make his presence known.
But for now let them face the common enemy, weaken or even destroy him. All that mattered was that he get her back, to make her realize that he was so much more than what he had become.
He turned, sliping like a ghost into the shadows of the deep forest, to where there lay a single individual, heavily bandaged and covered in bites.
His eyes widened in fear at the Watcher's approach. "Please, not again!" he wimpered.
"Is this how you repay your saviour? Were it not for me you would have been a meal for the wolves!" He stopped, It had been a long time since he had spoken. Had his voice changed in so long a time? He shook his head. He couldn't remember. The years had gone by, he knew, with out him even noticing them.
"Enough of your wimpering! COME... here." He felt the the magic take hold as the man locked eyes with him, watched as his pupils expanded to form a thin ring around a pit of blackness.
He smiled, "This is what I require of you..."

Nkosi nods as his companions describe themselves, then asks Slim, "What else can you tell us about this ... Gondegal? He sounds like an interesting man, to say the least. Where is he now?"

Slim narrows his eyes a bit, "I can't say."

After that the woods grow still and silent, there is a chill in the air, faint at first, but growing more bitter with each step. Soon you see it. Out of the parting trees, skirted in a low fog, is the Monastery.

Nkosi, apparently not troubled by the unnatural chill, looks around carefully, searching for any signs of movement. He whispers to his companions, "I can call upon a spell that will allow me to hear noises within the monastery, but I prefer to wait until we're a little closer. Are we ready to move forward?"

Syn pulls her cloak around her, as both a protection against the chill and to help hide her from prying eyes. She scans the monastary for any signs of the occupants that are inside.
"It is hard to believe that some place so solemn and respected could contain the evil we have seen." Looking at Nkosi, she says "I am ready to move forward."

The monastary is as still and as quiet as a desert tomb. The sounds of chanting, so often associated with such places, no longer exists, if ever it did. Lightless windows let you peer into the hidden depths of the place. But no movement stirs.
"This is a place of ghosts," says Slim.

Stephan stops in his tracks as he sees the monastary. His eyes are wide as he stares.
"Is...is this...?"
He suddeny snaps to attention. "We shouldn't be wasting TIME, some of the monks might still need help."
He pulls his coact tighter around him and starts forward at a brisk pace.

Nkosi is caught slightly off-guard by Stephan's intense reaction, but he doesn't question it.
As everyone moves forward toward the main entrance, Nkosi says, "Once we get inside, I suggest we move quickly toward the chapel. If any monks are still alive, it seems that would be their last refuge. If the Evil has already won here, then our enemy might try to desecrate the chapel and occupy it."
Turning to Slim, he asks, "Are you at all familiar with the interior of the building? Any knowledge might help us save time."

He shakes his head, "Never been here before."

Nkosi nods his head. "Very well. Let us proceed -- and may the gods protect us."

Syn looked up at the Monastary. She shook her head a little. "It is a shame that some place that is seen as such a 'holy' place and inspiration, could spill forth the evil that we fought."
With a some what dishearted spirit, Syn follows the others towards the Monastary.

From the bushes comes a rustle and a groan. There is a subtle scent of decay...

The groan from the bushes is answered with a faint groan from Syn. She wrinkles her nose and adjusts her hankerchief with her off hand while she draws her sword.
"It looks like we are about to have some company," she says with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "Anyone have any suggestions on what we should do?"

Both Slim and Thurgood slip blades free from scabards. Slim silently slips into the shadows of a tree and seems to merge with the murk...

Syn searched the forest around them for signs of the creature she could smell. Her sword was at the ready and she was trying to stay close to the others.

A pair of the things step from the bushes, dragging behind them a groaning woman. Ovbiously unconscious, her head and shoulders scrape the ground with everystep the creatures take.
The creatures havent seen anyone yet.

Syn rushes forward and attacks the creatures.

She cuts a deep gouge into the nearest creatures arm. They have dropped the woman and are turning their attention towards the group.

Nkosi rushes forward with his dagger, attacking the same target as Syn.

Not wanting to get hit again by these creatures, Syn takes another swing at the creature that her and Nkosi are fighting.

The creature that she attacked snarls at her and swings its clawed hand toward her face, and drags a dirty claw under her chin.

Thurgood spins his blade in palm and rushes forward relishing the luck that mighty kelemvor has shown him this day. He raises the blade to the first creature and flashes down a powerful thrust coinciding with a yell of satisfaction.

Hearing the battle cry, Syn takes another swing at the creature that just attacked her.

Nkosi stabs again with his dagger, plunging it into the creature's side.

Stephan's reverie about the monastery is broken with Thurgood's battle cry. He turns, and realizes just how far ahead he's gotten, but seeing that the group has things well under control he is faced with a dilemma: go on, or turn back?
After a quick thought, he retrieves his rod of flailing from it's sheath and walks on ahead towards the monastery, readying himself for battle as he does so...

The atacks of the Party have decimated the Creature. The other however has turned toward the Monastary and is s-l-o-w-l-y dragging the woman towards it.

Nkosi lunges at the creature with his dagger, but he stumbles over the arm of its dead companion and misses the target.

Syn moves to hit the other creature as it drags the woman off.
It's a miss.
A soft "arg" escapes Syn's lips and and she takes another swing at the creature.

The paladin chuckles at the hopeless creature dragging the woman and strolls up to catch it. He throws back his right arm and the blade flashes across again seeking to slaughter the creature.

He catches it in the shoulder, severing the arm. On the bright side it is no longer dragging the woman.

The paladin smiles again and looks to the fallen woman for a brief moment before bringing his blade back in a wide arc that nearly costs him his blade. He grimaces as he reaffirms his grip and gets ready to strike the creature again.
The paladin glares at the creature with a sigh, "By Kelemvor why do you shy away as if you are human. Come at me abomination and I will set your mortal soul free to be judged." He stands there glaring at the creature waiting.

It bows before you, its neck extended. "puhhhhhleeeshe."

Syn quickly glances at the creature when it speaks. Making sure the woman is safe, Syn gets up and stands next to Thurgood.
"Why should we listen to your plea? This could be a trap to delay us." Syn glances around keeping an eye out for a possible trap or another attack.

Nkosi adds solemnly, "I don't think it's pleading for help. It's asking for Thurgood to end its undead torment."

The knight grins slightly, "My pleasure." He has a lust for vengeance in his eyes that always seems to ride in tandem with the appearance of such creatures as he drives a powerful slice of his blade at the creatures exposed neck.

The slash is clean and swift, but emotionaly unfulfilling. As the creature finally expires you are left hollow and empty...

Seeing Thurgood strike down the creature, Syn turns her attention to her surroundings. She sees Stephen heading towards the Monastery. Quietly calling to him,in a voice barely above a whisper,Syn says "Stephen wait for us, we have a unconscious woman her and need to see if she is alright before we go on."
As Syn waits for his reply, she keeps her eyes scanning the area in case there are more creatures lurking around.

The paladin's eyes narrow and he looks at his blade. He shakes his head briefly and continues walking, "Come on then let's deal with this scourge." The paladin still looks deeply troubled about the recent events and he starts running to catch up with Stephen.

Nkosi looks unemotionally at the creature that Thurgood dispatched. He reflects on its pathetic plea, then he whispers, "Anubis, guide to the afterlife, I ask that you escort this doomed man's soul to eternal rest." He then runs off to accompany the others at the entrance.

Syn watched as Thurgood dispatched the creature and mumble a quick prayer for it's soul to be able to find its eternal rest. Looking up, she saw Nkosi moving to catch up with Thurgood and Stephen.
"Ah, Guys. Don't you think we should see if we can help this woman too? I would hate to have to leave her behind. She might be able to help us out."
Syn turned back to the woman to see if she had recovered yet.

Nkosi turns toward the woman and joins Syn in attending to the woman.

The paralysis that bound her is beginning to disipate and she is starting to show signs of movement...

Karyna slowly pushed herself up on her hands and knees with a groan. 'Idiot,' she thought, 'You just opened right up for that ghoul. Practically invited him to scratch you.'
She glanced up to find herself surrounded by people. They were tending her wounds so she figured they mustn't be here to hurt her, or responsible for all the undead she'd run into around here.
Karyna brushed long, silver hair from her face. Dark brown eyes regarded her saviors, "I don't quite know how to say thank you for saving me." She inclined her head toward the ghouls, "That is not a fate I'd like to share."
"My name is Karyna Whitestone." Karyna looked around, puzzled for a moment, then whistled. A rather large grey wolf trotted from the bushes nearby, shaking it's head. "This is Softpaw. If there is anything we can do to help you, you have only to ask."

A halfling with tousled brown hair walks up. "Well, you might start on how they happened to catch you.

"I've been traveling for a while. I haven't seen a town in a while either. I was hoping to find some shelter for myself and Softpaw. I saw the monestary from below and headed for it. We had just climbed a small stone wall," Karyna pointed into the bushes, "Just over there about 100 yards. All of a sudden, Softpaw started growling and darted into the bushes. I was about to go after him when something jumped on me and bit my shoulder."
"Then I was tumped all over the place, and I found myself staring up at the sky."
"Thank you again for saving me. If you don't mind, I think there might be safety in numbers. May I travel with you? I'm guessing from the direction your friends headed in, that you are headed for the monestary."

Nkosi listens to the woman's tale, keeping a very wary eye on her wolf.
When she finishes, he says, "Yes, we are going to the monastery -- but not for shelter. This may be the base for the creatures that attacked you."

The paladin walks up to the doors and stephen and beams at the man gesturing as if confused, "What in the seven heavens are you doing man?" He looks for the handle to the door and grips it tightly. He starts to pull on it soundly to get the damnable door open.

The door opens with a soft, inaudible grating of its hinges.

Karyna's head turns in that direction as well.
"If that place is the home of the creatures who attacked me, perhaps we should be there as they get ready to enter it?" She suggests.
She draws her sword and heads toward the door to the monestary. The large wolf follows along at her side.

Slim follows closely behind her, sword drawn and eyes looking for any sign of danger...

Syn watches the others start to head towards the doors. She looks at the building. A slight sigh escapes her lips and a shutter crosses her shoulders.
In a soft tone, Syn jokingly says "Remember Thurgood, you are my good luck charm." She quickly looks at everyone in the party, "I just wanted to say Good Luck and may whatever diety you worship bless our adventure."
Syn waits until she is sure that everyone is coming and then falls into step between Nkosi and Thurgood.

Stephan looks at Thurgood,
"Ok, it opened..."
When Thurgood finally opens the door, Stephan peers inside.

The paladin smiles and draws his blade. He sidesteps through the open doors and steps to the side of the open door to watch as others enter.

Syn walks through the doors and smiles at the sight of Thurgood keeping watch over them. For some unexplainable reason, the Paladin made her feel safe.
Letting her eyes adjust to the light change, Syn keep looking around the room that they were in. She half expected to have something lunge out of the dark at her.

The room is dark, and for a tense moment you wait for your eyes to adjust. Only the light from outside Illuminates the room, and when you have adjusted to the light you see that the room, perhaps a triple armspan wide, is a simple foyer. Torches lie forgotten in sconces on the wall, a testament to the unnatural nature of the creatures the dwell still in these wall.
"Hand me one of those torches, and I will light it," Slim calls from your elbow.

Syn carefully and quietly moves close enough to a scone to reach out and take a torch. Stepping back to the group, she hands the torch to Slim.
"Should we have more than one torch?" She asks. "Do you know the layout of the monestary, Slim?"

Nkosi enters behind Slim and Syn, cautiously observing every detail. He silently says a prayer to Anubis and Osiris, asking for their protection against these creatures that would defy their sacred rule over the dead.

The Foyer has three doors, One ahead and one to each side. "Where to now?" Slim asks in a hushed tone.