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As you wake up, you oddly dont feel much of anything. You kinda feel warm..? A bit too warm actu- okay owowOW. Qucikly getting the source of warmth away from you, you stand up, dizzy, kinda hurting, and trying to orient yourself. It takes a bit before you realize your angle didnt change from getting up, and you soon see a headless body "looking" around. I takes a second before you realize that it's your's, and you see why you felt hot. Embers on your right shoulder, side and leg. Instinctively you put it out, only to realize the flames at the neck wont go out! For a second you panick, only to realize that those dont hurt, and they are oddly blue.

Other than that, you are half naked, your clothes half burnt. Lifting up your head (which also has those weird flames on the neck 'wound'?), carefully, you look around, and see the ruins of the village that was Rydding. Well shit. You dont feel a great loss from it, honestly, but this is a bother. An odd sensation sets in, you realize when moving. Testing it with a hand, it kind of feels like drawing your hand through water. Soothing even. And by grasping this odd feeling, you find you can slowly mend your wounds, through some dark light that manifests from all around you.

>Look around for someone
>Look around for something
>What's this dark light?...

>>2950384
>>What's this dark light?..

>>2950384
>What's this dark light?...
Time for EDGE

That's curious. Your wounds heal up when touched by the light. Erh, darkness. Whatever. After experimenting for a bit of time, healing up all of your burns, you're fascinated by this soothing thing. Feels like there's a lot of it around too. You look to your halfnaked side. Those burns were pretty bad.. But they are completely healed up. Although... do you look a shade paler than you remember? Maybe a bit. Which reminds you... What the heck. You died, why are you alive?! Aarrhh.. you HAVE heard rumors of the undead. You dont feel like eating people though.. Weird. Also weird? Holding your head at stomach level while looking around.

>Look around for someone
>Look around for something
>...What else can it be used for?

>>2950411
>Try to see if you can stick your head back onto your body

It's worth a shot

>>2950411
>>...What else can it be used for?

After getting weary of this odd angle, you try and see if you can somehow put your head back where it belongs. Hell, with this ominous looking healing magic you apparently have, it might work. It turns out to be surprisingly difficult placing your head at the exact spot it seems to fit right. It reminds you of how it's hard to cut your own hair. Guess that one will be easier now though, huh?
To your surprise however, once you actually place the head down onto the neck, it kind a just sticks there itself, as soon as the two blue flames touch, which is an odd feeling. Wait, flames have feelings? "Ah, I give up.." you say, shaking your head lightly from side to side, but promptly get anxious that such movement might tip it off. It keep sitting there however.
Using your healing magic doesnt seem to change anything, other than feeling nice. You can still take the head off apparently, which surprises you. It's like there's an initial resistance, before it suddenly gives in. It's easy to put it back on too. Odd. Guess you really are undead huh? The living can't do that, and stay living..

Getting curious about this healing magic, you look around a bit. Lots of debris, burned buildings, some still burning, the aroma of bacon subtly mixes with the smell of charred wood. After a quick look around, you see a dog in poor condition, to say the least, half stuck under some stones and a smoldering wooden beam. You manage to remove some of the debris without getting burnt, and free the dog. Is it even still alive though? Ah well, might as well try healing it. You always kinda liked animals - way easier to get along with than people. And dogs are mostly nice.

Roll 1d20 for healing the dog.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2950480
LIVE CHILD! LIVE!

Giving it a bit more to see if any more want to roll. Will be taking an average of the rolls for this one.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>2950480

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Succes!...?
As you borrow some darkness from the air around you, and will some black light into your hands, you try to heal the poor dog. It seems to be too late, but who knows, it might still be barely alive. Your hands touch the torso of the dog, spreading the gift of life into its' body. It's like you push your will through its' veins, opening channels where once life flew abundant. But it seems empty, all too empty. Trying to fix this, you lend it some of your healing essence, pouring into these channels the essence of what healed you. It seems to be hard to keep it from flowing out of the dogs' wounds, but eventually you find a fix to this, something akin to rekindling a heartbeat? Making the energy flow in a cycle through the body of the dog.
As you finish up, you look at the dog.
Didn't seem to work. Ah well, was worth a sho- huh?

It's moving? It doesn't some to have healed it any amount however. Disregarding this, the dog stands up, giving a short, hollow, and deep, growl. A faint red light can be seen in its' pupils. As it looks around, it finds you in its' vision. As you get a bit nervous, it just stops, and looks idly around, suddenly way more tame in attitude. You try and ask it to sit, which it immediately obeys. Huh.

You have aquired [Control Negative Energy] & [Animate Dead]

>Look around for someone
>Look around for something
>...What else can it be used for?
>Something else?

>>2950566
>Look around for someone
Look for best friend!

>>2950566
>Look around for something

File: Tina, bit of a tomboy.jpg (37 KB, 485x750)

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As you get up and about, you start searching. Not sure for what. Maybe whatever really. You kinda wanna find Tina, your elven friend. Looking around at the thoroughly ruined village, your hopes aren't that high. As you start to walk, the dog seem to follow you. Creepy, but better than being alone, you figure. The dog is alone too, after all, would be mean to just abandon it. Can it even feel or think though? Well you can so.. Ah who konws.

Another thing that springs to your attention as you walk about, is your severe lack of modest clothing, you have to actively tug at part of your clothing to have it properly cover your right side, and even then it's still too revealing for your comfort.

As you walk through the streets, you see a few corpses of adults scattered about. Looks like quite a few put up a fight. Pitchforks, knives, a chopping axe, a spade. You even recognize the town's butcher, Latch, loosely holding a meathook in one hand, sitting against a halfcrumbled wall. Must've been a scary look, having Latch run towards you with a meathook. He's by no means a small man, probably around 6'3'' (192 cms), and pretty plumb.

Moving on, you eventually find Tina, you're pretty sure. Yeah, that yellow ribbon on her wrist, that's her. Face down, broken shaft of a weapon sticking out her back. You kneel down beside her, gently touch her. She's cold. Bandits... Why are heroes never where they are needed? Tina...
Maybe...? You've heard of some mighty heroes able to bring the dead back to life. And you DO have healing powers, right? Looking at the dog, however..

>Look around for someone
>Look around for something
>Something else?

Off for tonight, will probably start up again tomorrow

>>2950698
>Look around for something
>Clothes

>Something else
>Flip Tina's body over

This quest looks interesting

>>2950698
>Look around for someone

>>2950698
>>Something else?
see if we can fix tina maybe also the butcher later

>>2950698
We have to fix Tina, she is the only thing we like, we need her.

>>2950698
>>Look around for someone

>>2950760
this
and this>>2951509

>>2950698
>>Look around for someone

Writin' an update
and testing to see if I get this tripcode stuff

>>2950698
>>Look around for someone

This is good stuff o3o

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Oh Tina.. You feel a venomous frustration build in your gut, as you think of the raiders who did this. It's surprisingly easy to be deeply hateful about this whole thing, a more vigorous hate than you usually know.
It was not a good life, honestly. But it could have gotten better. And Tina didn't deserve this...

Bandits...

You get up, pace around a bit. Eventually you get uncomfortable with your clothes again. Walking into a mostly extinguished building, you look around. Wonderfully easily, you find some clothes: A brown tunic with a belt, black breeches that stop at the middle of the shin, some linen socks, a solid pair of travelling boots, and a fresh set of nondescript underwear.
In the remains of the bedroom you are in, you see the corpse of a woman, not sure who, given the burns. You get the impression someone tried to force themselves onto her, but decided the fight she put up wasnt worth it, and gutted her instead. It smells bad, but it doesn't really bother you.
Despite the macabre scene, the air is abundant with that soothing energy. It's a weird mix.

Outside again, you see Tina. You can't just leave her there.. But what if your healing doesn't work properly?... You could just bury her? You do have some experience with funerals, after all, you spent the better part of your 'working' youth, being a burial assistant, doing decorations, and such...
No. You don't wanna lose Tina. That'd just be too sad.. You gotta try.

Rolls up: 1d20 per reader.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2952063

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>2952063

>>2952071
man we are going to kill some bandits hard, very hard, I hope we can heal her like we are, I wouldn't like to see her shambling around like the dog

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2952063

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2952063

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2952063

>>2952063
best of 3 I imagine

>>2952065
>>2952071
>>2952077
>>2952078
>>2952079
Well this was a rollercoaster.

Gathering your courage, you once again approach her. Kneeling down, you give the weapon shaft stuck in her back a tug. It doesn't take much force to get it out, just some finesse with the angle. Turns out it's a spear. There are two other stabs in her back, seemingly from the same weapon. As you turn her around, you feel a pull on your heartstrings. Using the back of your hand, you clean the dirt from her face, and wipe her dry tears off. Giving her a hug, mostly for your own sake, you then sit back up.

Alright, don't fail me now..

You gather the light from the air around you, and pour the lifeforce into her being, similarly to what you did to the dog. As you experiment around a bit with the flows through her being, you find that it seems to be as much an art as a science. You have to have a feel for this, you think, to be good at it. And the myriad of ways this can be tied together.. going through the options, you feel calm. It's actually kind of a spiritual process - serene, almost.

You realize you have to do something different than what you did to the dog. Thus, you try to make a more complex schematic of energy. More energy, spiralling in patterns. Sometimes something sort of clicks, and just feels right. It seems that if you make things complex, but symmetric, or otherwise follow a pattern, like something pretty... it just seems better? It's an odd but intuitive feeling.
Eventually you finish up, and fill up the flow of energy.

The wounds in her back close up.

(cont.)

>>2952080
So far, I like to involve all rolls, haven't figured a specific system I'll settle for yet.
But don't worry, the low rolls will have an effect, but it won't necessarily mean something bad happens to you, just that something.... unintended happens.

>>2952044
>>2950760
this actually means more to me than I thought it would, thanks

>>2952083
Poor girl, I fear for Tina.

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As her wounds quickly heal up, you start to get hopeful - this is already different than for what you saw with the dog!
She gives a short spasm through her left shoulder and arm. It startles you a bit, but movement is good right? She then blinks her eyes a couple of times, the manner reminds you of having something in ones' eyes. She then sits up from her prone position, somewhat close to you. If she's sentient, then she looks really dazed... That's not good..

As you hesitate to speak up, fearing a lack of answer, she looks around. Your eyes meet. As you are about to speak up she's suddenly on top of you, you being the prone one now, and you feel a sting in your right bicep, the shock of it making you give out a yelp. She's biting you?! She looks ferocious too, wild like. Doesn't hurt as much as you thought it did, guess it was mostly just the shock. And why are you so calm? Things seem slow again, not as slow as that one time, but still. After a short second she releases you arm, spitting some blood onto the ground. Tina punches your dog, and pries it off after a short struggle (it had apparently latched onto her leg), and then she runs off.

You call out her name a few times, to no avail. Hot in pursuit, dog by your side, you try to catch up. After a short run, you end up in the town square, near the well. Tina practically pounces a corpse and bites it. Or so you thought, the older man, who you thought was dead already, seem to wake up from his pain- and blood loss induced state, giving a few panicked and pained expressions. He seems to be fading fast however, as you get there. This time, Tina is the ones latched onto someone, in this case the old man's side, as he fell over from his sitting position from her assault.
You notice the wound on her leg from your dog hasn't healed yet, but it seems to be actively healing right now.

>Get Tina off the man, maybe he can still be saved? Although, what good did this town ever do to me...
>Let her do her thing, maybe it'll settle her down? Somehow stabilize something about her?
>Write in

>>2952093
>See if you can use your light to calm her down
I'll bet that she's hungering for living flesh since she stopped eating us as quick as she bit us.

>>2952093
>Let her do her thing, maybe it'll settle her down? Somehow stabilize something about her?

"Tina are you in there? Please answer me!"

Welp, I think she became a vampire. No so much let her do her thing but we are trying to figure is she is really back.

>>2952093
>Talk to her, try to calm her down, bring her back to us

You recognize the old man, you don't remember his name however. Some human. You're pretty sure he was one of the bratty teenagers who threw goat dung at the improvised shack you and Tina had built, about 50 years ago. Being an elven race, you are the human equivalent of about 17, but you're 125 in actual years. Obviously, such behavior isn't worthy of a death (even if you did feel that way at the time), but somehow you can't bring yourself to feel very sorry for him. Regardless of your interference, he's probably dead either way.

You try to bring some light over Tina, maybe that will calm her down? However, as you try this, you find that there isn't any to pull from the air right here. That's a first. But you do feel a reserve of it inside of you, from having spent time where the light was abundant.

Discovered ability: [Energy Battery: Negative]

You spent a bit of this reserve, about 10 %, and try to bring that soothing healing to Tina's being. The old man groans at the light. Well, it does look ominous. Tina however, rapidly calm down. After a minute or so, she release her grip and teeth from the old man, who has long since passed out again. You feel a bit of the soothing light in the air around you now, and fill up on your reserves again. Did it come from him? Hmm.

Tina looks up, and around here. Bloody around the mouth, like a wolf, freshly fed. She looks calm now however, and you cease the flow of light.
"A..Alice?" she mutters, a searching look on her face. "Wha... I don't... There were.. And they stabbed me..? Am I dead? No, I feel alive... And what's that blue stuff on your neck? Where are the bandits? And what is that ghastly dog?! Is it undead?!"
She slowly gets up, obviously confused about the whole thing. You can't help but smile however. This is definitely her. Tina is back. You actually brought your friend back. Relief washes over your tense mind - you hadn't realized untill now how much this meant to you.
She does seem quite a bit paler however, and were her canines actually pointy?

>Try to explain things from your perspective
>Save it for later. If so, what now?
>Write in

>>2952117
>Let's scavenge for some things that both Tina and us can use. Like spare clothes and the like.

>>2952117
>>Try to explain things from your perspective

>>2952117
>Try to explain things from your perspective

"I'm so glad I didn't loose you"

>>2952117
>>Try to explain things from your perspective

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Reunited
As you reach the house where you found your current clothes, you a pleased to find that there's still a good amount of clothes in here that aren't ruined, these folks must've had more money than they let on. You'd have to be lowkey wealthy to have this much, and no one in town other than the town elder and merchant Pably were known to have any real amount of money.
"What do you mean you can take your head off?" Tina asks, a bit of disbelief in her voice, but all the weird things you've told her about your awakening has numbed her a bit to shock by now. As you lift off your head, all you get for a reaction is a bit wider eyes, and slight shaking of her head. "Huh, well would you look at that". You pop your head back on. According to her, the place where your head meets your neck (as long as it is attached), has an unnerving blue outline, around it, "it looks a bit like a glowing choker", she adds.

As she takes off her current blouse she looks at the bloody back of it, with three holes in it, with an 'ow' expression.

Picking some new clothes, she asks you "so you basically brought me back to life? Don't think friends come much better than that!". You smile at her halfjoke, and admit that you're not sure about the specifics, and even admit, looking at the dog, that you suspect yourself of being undead of a sort. "Arh, who cares about details, I was in shit, and you helped me up, that's all that matters to me". "I dont know about that blood I drank, that was a bit unnerving, but it tasted good. And that healing light you did? That felt sooo nice! Better than massage!", her voice going a pitch higher while describing it. You can't help but smile a bit, even if this is a bit odd, her company is making everything so much better, and you let her know. "Thanks Tina.. I'm so glad I didn't lose you". "Teehee~, aww shucks, I glad I didn't lose you as well!" she answers, scratching her neck in an embarrassed manner.

As you search through the house, you find a couple of linen sacks that you fill with spare clothes, you even find some coins and grab. Tina washes her face, cleaning off the blood. As you get outside, Tina heads off, you ask her where she's going. "To the butcher's, I bet he's got some quality knives, might as well bring one, figure we aren't staying here right?"
That's right... you'll need to think about what to do with your life from here on out.

>Find a weapon (what kind)
>Maybe a couple of bodyguards like the dog wouldn't be such a bad idea..
>Search the ruins (generally, or for something specific)
>Write in

>>2952142
>Find a weapon (what kind)
a blade of some kind, we should be able to get a sword or an axe from whatever passed for militia around here, or even a dead bandit....dead bandits, I kinda want to kill them for what they did to us, they can't be far

>>2952142
>>Find a weapon (what kind)
>Look for a scythe or something similar with a chain attached at the handle.
>>Maybe a couple of bodyguards like the dog wouldn't be such a bad idea..

Out of game comment:
By the way, if anyway feel up for trying to shop Tina's pic to make her skin look paler, and her eyes a bit more vibrant, that'd be appreciated.
I'm not exactly a shark at that stuff myself.

It's not an expectation either, just figured if I didn't say anything, there wouldn't be any chance of anyone doing it.

>>2952142
>turn the butcher in a zombie like the dog, he's big and will serve as a meatshield in case we run on those bandits again

>>2952142
>Find a weapon (what kind)
A Woodcutting axe or something that can also function as a tool because we are probably going to have to rough it out for a long time.

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Fool me once, shame on you..

She's right. You kinda knew the risks of living in a remote village like this, but you never really thought of what you'd do if bandits or monsters came. In other words, you realize, you have been punished with such a fate, because you didn't prepeare yourself properly. That won't happen again, you promise to yourself, as you look at Tina's figure strolling ahead in front of you. You pass a farmer's barn, and notice a farming scythe. It's got reach, it's sharp & pointy. Taking a slight detour, you grap it with your free hand, carrying a sack of loot in the other. There's also a semi thick chain hanging in there. Looking at your full hands, you bind the chain around the torso of the dogs, who's seemingly indifferent about it. Along the way you also pick up a chopping axe (one handed), and have the dog carry it in the mouth. Huh, scary thought, if it could actually use that.
Chopping axe could also but used to make firewood gathering easier.
Holding the scythe in front of you, inspecting it, you can't help but imagine bringing it into the stomach of a bandit, maybe a couple of times. Or maybe just take the head clean off. That'd be fitting. Or maybe just tie him up and have your dog feed off of him from the toes and up..

"Oooh~, I wonder if there's any good meat in here we could take!". Snapping out of your thoughts, you blink a few times as you follow Tina into the shop. She looks around a bit, and find two knives that she puts in her belt. "There we go, all good for selfdefence, prepearing foo- woah", she pauses as she looks at you, wielding a scythe. "Well yeah I guess that'd work too", she adds.
She hands you a piece of smoked meat, guess there still was some lying around. She smells a piece she's got for herself, making a wide smile of enjoyment.
As she takes a bite, however, her face changes to one of disappointment, "ehh.. somehow thought it'd taste better". You nibble on your own piece. Tastes fine to you - way better than porridge.

(Cont.)

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As you both go outside, you start heading for the butcher, Latch. He's setting nearby, close to his shop. Tina follows you with a sound of wonder, "Hey Alice, where'ya going?".

You stop in front of Latch's corpse. "I don't think you can heal him, he looks way dead. Then again..." trailing off, she looks at your dog.

You put down the sack, and wave your hand slowly through the air, gathering some of the dark energy from the area, and attempt another enchantment.

What sort of awakening are you aiming for?

>Beefstick
>Something randomly new
>Write in

>>2952167
A more mobile zombie, I don't want him with a mind of his own, he was probably a dick like the rest of the village

>>2952169
Ah, so we can use him as a pack mule of sorts. Smart thinkin.

>>2952167
>>Beefstick

>>2952171
>>2952169
I think this is the option right?

>>2952167
>>Write in
>Something like a zombie golem of some kind, like 3 times bigger so it can carry us.

Aight, beam me up with some d20s. Only one per player.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2952183

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2952183

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2952183
wewie!

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2952183

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Soldier

Thinking that you'd benefit from some safety, you try to build this one up with more rough strokes of energy. What you want here is something big, brutish and impossible to take down. Given that Latch is already a beast of a man himself, bolstering that seems the obvious choice. Maybe a bit more speed though? The dog isn't exactly graceful, but it *can* run.
You build up layers and layers of energy, and wring the tightly. This is all experimental after all, but you think you've got the right idea. You make sure to not get too creative with the patterns though, as you dont wanna accidentally give him intelligence.

After the last finishing touches, you fill your newest creation with energies.
Aaaand.... Done. You think you are getting better at this. Wonder what would happen if you did it to a living creature?

Taking a step back, Latch gets up, like the lumbering hulk he is. For a few seconds you just stand there, until you realize that you've no idea what you are waiting for, this isn't a person anymore, just a tool. And as such, you tell Latch to "walk over there", which he does as soon as you will it. Realizing speech isn't a must, you will him to come back, and carry your sack, which he does. Tina whistles an impressed tune. Curious, you will him to run to a short distance away. Immediately he throws himself in that direction with wild strength and reckless abandon. Stopping isn't exactly elegant though, as he keels over and tumbles on the ground, before walkng back to you. Doesnt seem he took any damage from the fall, despite his size. Luckily the sack didn't either, as you had forgotten he held that.

Deciding another experiment, you gather a few corpses, or rather, Latch does. You try to use the energies to have the grow together, building a bigger carrier undead.

Roll 1d20.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2952209

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>2952209

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>2952209

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2952209

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Here there be monsters.
As you go through a more taxing process of creating this amalgamation of flesh and energies, you realize it takes quite a bit of energy. If you used your own reserves, filling this being would probably take 120 % percent, in other words, impossible. Luckily, the atmosphere is rich in this light of shadows, and you can just rip it right out of the air.
Building up the rugged patterns that you think is required for this being takes a minute though.
However, at the end of it, you believe your work to be sufficient. Feeling like an artist of energies, you finish up, and behold the horrors of your work.

Pack mule? Quite possbily. Chair for travelling? Erh.. Doable, sure, but... It leaves a lot to be desired. Like a seat. As it starts to get up, you instinctively take a step back, which goes double for Tina, one of her hands sublty go for a knife and tighten her grip around it, though you're not sure she realize this herself.

The big one however? Starts wandering around, shuffling slowly, aimlessly. Odd. You mentally order it to stand near you, to which it doesn't comply. What the..? You try again, this time with words. Same result. As you ponder this for a few moments, you realize you have sort of a bond to both Latch and your dog, but you don't seem to feel that mental connection to neither Tina nor this shambling wreck. Trying to establish such a bond to this creature, you find you are at your limit.

Discovered detail: the amount of undead you can control with [Animate Dead] is limited by your own level as a necromancer. Currently you are capped out with the dog taking 1 slot, and Latch, being a lot more powerful, taking 3 slots, 4/4 slots taken

It seems you have absolutely no control over big shambler there, and you can feel that you wouldnt be able to either, it would take up 6 slots. Annoying. Ah well. At least it isn't attacking you. Yeah you're probably undead for real..

>Now what?

>>2952249
>>Now what?
Well, just leave it there, let's go around looking for more pocket money at the ruins.

Btw, you currently have about 25 % of the experience require to level up. Experience is gained through various things - combat is the main one, but other stuff gives experience too, most of what you have so far is basically from getting to know all this magic stuff and being wise enough to pick up loot and such.

>>2952249
Let's leace before it decides it doesn't like us, if wefind the bandits we can take whatever valuables they took from the village

>>2952249
Leave and find us a new hidden home

>>2952259
Three questions:
- Do we have something like a status (a measurable way to know how strong we are)?
- If we fight our own creation we get experience?
- If we fight our creation, will they fight back?

>>2952273
>Status
You do now. Average respectable adult stats would be 10. Yours currently are:
Str 10, dex 14, con 14, wis 16, int 16, cha 18.
Before shit went down, your str were 6 and con were 8.
Your abilities are:
[Animate Dead]
[Control Energy: Negative]
[Energy Battery: Negative]
[Nightvision]

Zombie dog:
Str 8, dex 6, con 16, wis 6, int 0, cha 0
Resistance to piercing weapons

Latch:
Str 26, dex 10, con 26, wis 6, int 0, cha 0.
Resistance to piercing weapons.

>Exp from fighting own creations?
Yeah if you dont control them directly. Sparring with Tina would grant you some, fighting the shambler would also give experience if it fights back, although it might be a bit much at your current state.

>will they fight back?
Those you control? No chance. Those you dont? Oh yeah

I haven't settled on a system for hp yet though

>>2952293
What about Tina's stats before and after her "rebirth"?

>>2952300
You dont have control over her, but you do know that before all this she was quite a bit more physical than you (not that it took much). You'd probably guess her str to have been 10, dex around 14-15, con probably 10. Elves are less hardy than humans, so that's actually a respectable elf con. During your conversations, she says that she finds herself both stronger and more agile now, even faster, and she even jokingly adds how she's happy you changed her to what she is now.
She does, however, feel kind of weakened in the sunlight. In a cellar you looked through however, she voiced her surprise to discover that she sees perfectly in darkness now, just like you do.

>>2952249
>>2952293
>Now what?
Now, here's the deal, but I recommend taking shit slowly, but if people and OP agree, we should go around reanimating kids all over the place, and fight them, since we don't have enough slot. Once they're reanimated and since they're kids they wont be much of a treat.

>>2952307
Interesting idea. If more people are for it, you'll try it out, see if it works. In the meantime, I'm gonna write an update on the other stuff too.

So everyone else, feel free to voice your opinion on this idea in the meantime.

>>2952304
That's a good start.

>>2952249
Raise more undead and Practice fighting them with both your Scythe and your Chopping Axe. See if Tina can get used to carving things up with her claws and Knives.

>>2952310
It is more or less a reasonable idea for basic practice in fighting, but after a few times we are going to need to fight bigger sized beings so we can harm the bandits more effectively.

>>2952310
Btw OP, I recommend use a pastebin to keep our (character) information as in other quest was used.
Also, if is not a secret, exist an evolution system for creatures in this quest?

>>2952321
Yeah I think I'll do a pastebin for info, gotta gather up some energy to find out how to do that stuff, haven't used pastebin before.
I'm not sure what you mean about evolution system. Im guessing you mean if monsters can become stronger too, like characters with class levels? If that's the case, then yes, monsters can level up too. Your undead can't, however. If that's not what you asked, please elaborate?

Waste not
A bit wary of the shambler, you tell Tina why it isn't staying near you. She seems somewhat uneasy about the fact, not much unlike yourself, but you agree to look a bit more before moving on, it could be important.
"Say, Alice... I think we can both agree that our plan is just surviving from here on out.. What should we bring to make that easier? I'm thinking I'll bring a pot to cook food in. And food, if I find any more. That makes me wonder, do you think I even need food now? Be kinda cool if I didn't. Do you?" Other than that, Tina propose that you try to find some kind of shelter, a tent of possible, and a tarp if you can find one. Quilts too. "Maybe a hammer too? Tools are good, and a good hammer is expensive"
>What do you propose to add to your search list?

>>2952330
So, we are leaving this place to find the bandits?
I'm not opposed to looking one more time around town for valuables or something but we should get going, mayne they have some people as hostages with them, they may be dicks but the bandits are dickier.

>>2952330
Ok, what I mean is that, we're a kind of zombie elf, I guess. If we level up enough we will become a ghoul elf and so on?

>>2952330
>Your undead can't, however.
So they can't get any stronger from what they're right now?

Another question pup up. What our creations kills, do we get experience or we must participate directly into the battle?

>>2952335
Get rope, digging tools too. Does the village have any books? Bandits usually ignore those and they can catch a fair price in a city

>>2952335
>What do you propose to add to your search list?
Some wooden or metal bowls and feeding utensils.
Spare rope, A small couple of shovels. And some spare backpacks for both us and Tina. See if there's any soap to clean ourselves with. Either Canteens or Waterskins to carry fresh water in.

>>2952341
Ah I see. Not quite, you undead type for now is fixed. There exists methods to change or add or upgrade type however.
for now you are actually an Elven Dullahan

You don't have to participate directly in combat to gain experience. Using your negative energy or using your undead mobs to attack will both be valid methods to gain experience. You have to be present however, you wont get exp for sending undead away and do battle with whatever they find.

https://pastebin.com/JDebSRSF
Did I do this right?

>>2952354
It's good enough, later we will need to add there our items too.

>>2952354
Outside of what equipment we're carrying. It's looking good for a start so far.

Alright, took a bit to learn about pastebin stuff.

Beam me up with some d20s to see how well your search for loot goes

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2952372
GIMME A GOOD PAIR OF SHOOOOOES!

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>2952372

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2952372

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2952372

Spoils of war
As you walk through the ruins of the quiet town of Rydding with Tina, and your two combatants in tow, you start your search for materials in proper, after agreeing on what takes priority. After meeting up near the pile of items, you count what you've gotten so far:
Money: 65 copper coins, 5 silver coins, and 1 gold coin. 1 gold = 10 silver = 100 copper.
Scythe
Chopping axe (one handed)
Chain (5 meters/16 ft)
2 linen sacks
6 spare set of peasant clothes.
2 decent quality kitchen knives, thick blades.
Hammer
Meathook (latch holding it)
4 pieaces of smoked meat.
Pot.
2 wooden bowls, with 2 forks and spoons.
Spade
2 bars of soap.
4 waterskins

>>2952382
You even found a pretty brass necklace. You haven't decided if you should keep it or sell it, given the opportunity.

>>2952451
And a small stash of an additional 8 silvers!

>>2952385
Thanks to some luck, also manage to find a good quality travelling backpack, even though those can be a bit pricy!

>>2952425
What's more, you found a stashed away Book in the ruins of the small shrine to a local god. The book seems to contain information regarding religion, and, to your mild surprise, various information about undead creatures. This could be worth some money - and you could even learn a thing or two from it first.

Thanks to the backpack, you manage to carry most of the stuff without trouble, though the pot is a bit cumbersome.
For now, you've given the backpack to Latch (carrying in one hand, along with the sack, so they are easy to drop), and Tina is carrying the pot.

You didn't find any food however, to which Tina regards you, and asks "No food huh... so, you think we need to eat? Otherwise we should probably find something. Haven't gotten hungry myself yet". Thinking about it, you add that you haven't gotten hungry yet either.

When you bring up the idea of animating and fighting the former villagers of Rydding, Tina stops for a second, thinking. "Combat experience, huh?.. You wanna grow strong like some hero huh?" she exclaims with a wide smile, her pointy canines freely visible. It actually looks kinda cute, in a way. She continues by saying "Hells, it might work, who knows. I sure wouldn't mind getting a class of my own, so I can feel useful too! I think I wanna be a Fighter, that way I can protect you as my witch!", grinning again. You smile at that yourself, you really appreciate her ability to give things a positive and playful mood.
"So, how do you wanna go about this?" she asks. You explain your idea of animating weak ones at first, and seeing how it goes.

Roll me some d20s for the following animating and combat.

Updated pastebin:
Inventory: https://pastebin.com/L2Ysed2z
Character: https://pastebin.com/cuLbLQT5

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>2952481
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hihEhsdwiIk

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2952481

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>2952481

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2952481
Hmmm I didn't want to fight the dead villager at all.

After that are we going after the badits?

David Vs. Goliath
You search for some obvious corpse to animate, the first one you find is just... Legs with a scarce amount of torso. Gods, how did that do that? Looks like he was pulled apart.. Actually, thinking about, you've heard of such an execution method, tying a person to two horses. They did have horses. That's gotta hurt. You can't imagine it's as quick as what happened to you. Moving on (because that simply can't possibly work), you find a proper corpse. Young lad, maybe around 14. Parents had probably started pushing for his wedding. You always did have a hard time relating to the human lifespan. You vaguely remember making a human friend as a child at some point.

Deciding to animate the boy, you go through the motions. It's a simple one - the very basic one you did on the dog. Doesnt take you much more than 10 seconds, and the kid is up and about. And sure enough, you notice that distinct lack of mental dominance that came with the other two. And sure enough, he starts wandering around, aimlessly.
"So uh.. How're we gonna do this?" Tina asks. Thinking about it logically, you reason that simply assassinating him from the back probably wouldnt give much experience. So uhh.. Huh. You look at Latch, and mentally command him to go to the kid and, maybe, just kick him? No sooner have you intended it before Latch lumbers over to the boy, and kicks him solidly, and with fierce force - Latch himself looses his footing and falls to the ground, as the kid literally flies a good solid 3 meters (10 feet), and ram into a wall, and with that amount of force, you're fairly certain a regular kid would've died from a caved skull. This one doesn't however. Possessing the unnatural [Damage Reduction] that most undead do, he seems to hold on for that first attack. Though you can clearly feel he's taken some damage. And sure enough, since you didn't order Latch to stop, he gets up and goes for another kick. The kid, in turn, tries to charge the big man. Having the reach advantage though, Latch kicks first, and the kid sails through the air, this time his head both breaks open and falls off upon hitting the wall.
+50 exp.
Tina complains that "Man it sucks that you've already gotten a class and I don't! I wanna train to, but I've heard that it's all for nothing if you don't have a class first, and those can take years to learn by yourself! Hey Alice, let's get some money somehow and pay someone to train me!", as she says the last part, she's close to you, leaning forward and holding your hands with an overly pleading look.

>Continue this training.
>Continue, but change something
>Do something else

>>2952552
>>Do something else
Let's go after the bandits, they have all the money from the town and between us and Latch we can take them. maybe even rescue some villagers if they had been made hostages. with that kind of cash we can pay for Tina's training

>>2952552
>>Continue, but change something
So let's revive them and tell Latch to crush their head, we do to attack others using our scythe to decapitate them as quick as possible. All of this at the moment they raise. Also Tina can participate too using the same method but with the Axe.

>>2952552
>Continue this training.
>Something else: Talk to Tina
"We already have money!"

This training feels so meta

>>2952552
>Do something else
This is meta grinding af, let's move on, we have what we need from here.

>>2952552
>Do something else
Bandit hunting time

I personally don't think it's meta that we'd want to practice a bit before going after murderous criminals.

>>2952611
>>2952599
>>2952584
>>2952579
>>2952552

Although to be honest, I was expecting us to actually use the scythe or axe to practice our own combat skills instead of sic'ing Latch on them, so it was a bit disappointing.

(Can I join in?)

>>2952636
why wouldn't you be able to join? it's an anonymous site after all

Fair point

(So do I just introduce a random useless starter character with a random class, or is there a discord or something for that?)

>>2952658
Not really no, this isn't that sort of quest.

>>2952634
>us to actually use the scythe
I actually did that, anon, did you even read it? Also you can suggest it too, OP is fair with our suggestions.

>>2952666
I meant in the OP, didn't mean that you didn't suggest it.

>>2952658
we have one character, and collectively through vote majority decide what she will do

>>2952658
the QM (me, in this case), starts a quest thread, then posts what it's gonna be about, and players respond with what they want to happen, based on what the QM gives them. In this case, the story is of Alice, a dark elf necromancer. You can vote for what you want her to do

>>2952666
Now that I realized that fact

>>2952552
Changing my post to
>Continue, but change something

Actually train with either the Scythe and the Axe on the raised villagers. We need the actual training.

Can't neglect physical prowess either.
Looking over Tina's shoulder, at the so called combat, where your zombie butcher was victorious, you start to wonder if this was really a productive use of your time.
Looking at the pleading Tina, you agree with her: "mmh, it would be a lot better if you could get some training too.."
"Right? But it's not cheap to pay someone for that, from the research I did, it seems to be about 50 gold coins - but it's pretty fast! I've heard it can be done in as little as 10-20 days!". Ah, that's right, she did have a phase where she talked a lot about becoming a hero. But, to you it's clear from her attitude that she knows it's a lot of money, but also that she still really wants it.
"However", you change the subject, "I wanna try a bit more training here first.. Then I guess we could try to get back at the bandits? They should have some coin too, from the village".
"Smart thinking" she says with an overly enthusiastic smile, bumping your shoulder lightly with a knuckle, "That's why you're the brains of the team, and I'm the brawn".
"Actually, I've been thinking of trying out a bit of a hands on approach myself" you add. Tina looks a bit surprised at that, and answers "Hey now don't you go making me obsolete, if you can do everything yourself, then how can I protect you?".
Looking at the sun, it's afternoon, you've spent the better part of noon gathering stuff. There's maybe, what, 5 hours left of daylight.

(cont.)

File: brass necklace.jpg (7 KB, 499x379)

7 KB JPG

Stepping through the village, you eventually find another corpse (not too big), and animate it. It's easily becoming second nature to you. At first you try to attack it from behind with your scythe. With your newly bolstered strength, and the using a weapon type known to be effective against zombies - slashing/cutting weapons - you lob the head straight off of the meek zombie. It's actually rather cathartic - it was the corpse of a woman who had often slighted you for trivial things. You've no idea why she didn't like you.
10 experience gained.
That didn't feel very rewarding.

You find another, repeat the process, but fighting it head on this time.
50 experience gained.
A little better, but still not much. After a few more of those, you try creating a stronger one.
150 experience gained.
It did get a solid punch in on you, however, and you spent a few minutes healing it. You swear something broke in your torso, maybe a rib?
In total you spend no more than 20 minutes on this.

Speaking a bit with Tina during that pause, you talk about getting back at the raiders, on which you both agree. You point out that since it seems they were mostly humans or half races thereof, it'd be best to attack them at night, given their distinct lack of night vision.

That's it for now, taking a pause. May post more later, but most likely last real update for today. May return tomorrow.

Thanks for running, and being patient with each other.
if you have any questions, or any feedback to the run so far, you're welcome to attach it to this post - anything you liked, or something you think can get better.
I saw some people writing something about part of it being very meta, not sure I understood that part?

>>2952822
>I saw some people writing something about part of it being very meta, not sure I understood that part?
It was because of the way it was being written and the idea seemed to come about that all we have to do to farm EXP for easy gains is literally just spawncamp our own reanimated zombies.

>>2952832
I see. Well it's not wrong - that is certainly something you could do. There are certain limits that would reveal themselves if you tried to do it long enough though. For now you've only killed a handful or so.
I hope it doesn't seem too..... distateful? to you guys

>>2952862
nah men, it's nothing, quest is good, will be playing when you get back

>>2952862
Just seems a bit more game-y than what's usual for these sorts of quests. I like the setting and setup, but I think it'd be more immersive and entertaining if you kept the specific stat gains 'behind the screen', so to speak.

Would also like to add that I am exhilarated by the amount of readers and voter that showed up, that really made my day.

>>2952920
Aight, I read ya. So, specifically, you'd prefer it I didn't write experience gains in? As an example.

>>2952862
>>2952936
Another suggestion is giving us in character hints that imply that we're getting something out of it our not. To create an example.
>"You slash at the reanimated villagers to try getting some practice out of your weapon, they fall easily as fast as you raise them but you feel as though you didn't get much out of them as you thought you would."

Other than that it seems like a decent start so far.

>>2952942
Yeah agreed, that'd prolly be important, especially if I tone down the technical info feed.

File: Vamp Tina.png (319 KB, 485x750)

319 KB PNG

>>2952147
Not my best work, but I've got a cat on my lap at the moment.

It's a living.
After you've spent a few minutes recuperating from that last one, you get yourself fixed up properly. It's bewildering, really, how fast you can heal up your body. And even though you're fairly certain the zombie cracked a rib or two in you, the pain honestly wasn't that bad. Well it was there, but you didn't even feel the need to flinch from it. You're also decently impressed by your physical capabilities - you used to be quite weak. Not only did you not have any proper strength to brag about, but your Rustblood made it impossible to do anything about it either. Hold up.. You'd completely forgotten about that in the midst of all of this. You should have gotten pretty nauseous from the combat you've done, but if anything you just feel refreshed. Maybe that's another perk from this undead thing? That'd be rather nice - you *did* use to hold a small degree of envy towards people who could exert themselves freely.

While sitting there and thinking about things, you also chat a bit with Tina, about mostly anything that's on your minds. Among the concerns of possibly being undead, will you be able to enter other villages? Neither of you have ever heard of undead staying among the living. On the other hand, you both agree that your conditions aren't exactly obvious at first glance - if you manage to hide your neck, that is, and Tina her canines. In jest, Tina says "Well as long as it's us, I'm sure we'll manage", with a reassuring look, and adds "Even if it turns out to be too dangerous to live, erh.. unlive?.. In a town, we can always just make our own place. 'S not like we haven't done it before, right?". You think back on the shoddy shack you had both made long ago. It was fun, visiting it, but it was mostly just playing. You had never stayed there for more than a day and a half. You appreciate her spirit, however, and let her know with a warm smile.

(cont.)

File: You haven't changed much.jpg (24 KB, 430x602)

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After the break, you tell her you wanna finish up the bit of training you'd planned, and that you should start looking for the raiders after that. She tags along as you start looking for another possible training puppet. Ah, perfect. You find an adult male, 30 or 40 or so. Your clearest memory of him is him intimidating you as a late teenager, basically telling you to stay away from the village's spring festival, "so as to not put a damper on the occasion for the rest of us". Of course, when your parents brought it up with his, he was reprimanded, but you'd already missed the party by then. He was a pretty despicable person in your experience. He did seem to get less so in the last five years or so, which is good. But that doesn't change what he had already done. And you are kind of bad at forgetting.

Animating his corpse, you take a particular joy in lining this kill up. Deciding to tag-team it a bit, you surround him with yourself and your two minions. You have your dog stay out of reach, sometimes jabbing in when there's an opportunity to do so, while you have Latch take the undead's attention with wide frontal swings. Your intention this time around is try out flanking. From the initial combat you realize that the zombie you've just raised isn't all that sluggish, it's actually rather quick. And it has got long claws? Like 10 cms (4 inches) each. Come to think about it, it kinda does look different, more lean and.... sentient? Whoops. Well, at least Latch seem to be able to tough out the feral one's attacks, for the most part.
After a bit of back and forth between the undead, yourself circling the feral, you start to get a read on the flow of combat, and find you window to strike. Taking a long step forward with one leg, you sweep your scythe down on the feral with as much momentum as you can muster, really putting your back into it. Speaking of which, the feral, being flanked, and focusing mainly on the two other zombies so far, has no real chance to defend against your attack, which promptly pierces into the upper part of it's back. And it goes deep too, you estimate about half of the blade punches into it, which it respons to with a hoarse scream. As you start pulling out the blade, your butcher zombie catches the feral's neck with the meathook, and start punching it with vigour. This makes it both easier and harder to get your scythe out of the feral - the yanks the feral makes from the assault inches the blade out bit by bit, but the angle is way off, so you can't effectively pull it out in one motion.

File: for firewood & creative a(...).jpg (50 KB, 634x431)

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Improvising, you let go of the scythe, wield the chopping axe your dog had dropped in order to attack, and aim for the feral's head. The first strike doesn't seem to have been hard enough to kill it, though you did feel it's skull give in. The thing looks back at you, desperation in it's eyes, as it's arms are preoccupied with the vain effort of holding Latch back in a grappling match. It hisses at you, first in aggression, soon in desperation, and as you start swinging the axe at it's head repeatedly, you think you even see a bit of pleading.
As you finish the kill, it's remains start crumbling into black ash, just like the others you've killed so far. This one seemed stronger than you thought you made it, maybe your feelings clouded your judgment? At any rate, you do feel the combat was rewarding.
Butcher zombie took some clawing attacks though, but you promptly heal them up. Can't have your tools breaking on you. Moving on, you continue this training for about another twenty minutes. That's when you feel a surge through your body, a good feeling. Sort of adrenaline like. You instinctively know that you're now a level 2 necromancer, and that you are stronger for it. Progress. That's good, great even.
On the flipside, you've noticed as you've spent more and more of the dark energy, that it isn't infinite. You've spent a decent amount on raising zombies, and some on healing, and you can feel the area isn't as rich in it any more. There's still some around, but no where near what was there when you first tasted it.

Taking this as a sign, you tell Tina that you're ready to head off now. Time to hunt some bandits

Throw in some d20s to see how the tracking down part goes.
Also, if you wanna add some details - stuff you wanna do or say, feel free to.

>>2953800
Kudos my man, it's everything I wanted it to be

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2954293
Let's see how are Tina's senses, let her lead the search, she's an elf after all, tease her a bit about it

Level up notes:

Increased stats.
Acquired [Undead Flame]:
Imbues an undead with an offensive bonus. Costs 4 negative energy, lasts for a minute per caster level.
Acquired [Energy Negative: Javelin]:
Throws a javelin of negative energy, damage scales with caster level. Costs 5 Negative energy.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2954293
Well, they are probably celebrating the raid do look for sigs of camps, camp smoke and the like to find them, maybe have our dog snif them along with Tina sensing their blood.

>>2954304
Opps, maybe they found us before we find them

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2954293
Luck be a Lady!

And so the search begins
As you and Tina decide to set off, you find yourselves stumped rather early. You know there were bandits, but you honestly have no idea where they came from. You both wonder how to track them, as you wander through the ruined town. For a while you just search around, no idea what you are looking for. Until you reach the northern side of town - at the outskirts of the town, where the earth is softer, you find a great deal of tracks. Horse and boot prints aplenty. They seem to go down the valley, over a hilly terrain, towards one of the bigger forests in the area. There's a lot of them it seems, but you're no ranger, and can't really begin to guess how many, but you're fairly certain there's no more than 50. Come to think of it, that's a damn lot of people to take on. Then again, you wouldn't be surprised if there were just 10 of them, you don't know much about tracks after all. Still, better be careful.

You set off down the countryside, Tina by your side, and zombies in tow. The sun is setting soon, maybe an hour or two more of daylight.
Walking down the valley, you decide to try and lighten the mood a bit yourself. Putting an arm around Tina's shoulder, you give her a mischievous look, and say "So.. you're the brawn of the team, right?", sensing some sort of mischief, she warily says "Erh.. yeah?".
"So, since you're the brawn, it'd make sense that you're in charge of these scouting matters, right? Especially with the famously sharp elven senses you possess!", as you say the last part you take on a playful tone, as you lightly grab her ear on the opposite side of her, wriggling it a bit. Touching her ears is always a sure way to get a reaction from her, you've found. And sure enough, her face twists a bit to one of mild discomfort, as she gives you a bit of a shocked yelp.
"Ehh~, you're a dark elf yourself, your senses should be as good as mine..." she objects, fidgeting slightly. "..but I'd like to feel more useful, so I wouldn't mind it if you're serious.. It could be a way to prepeare for my training I guess" she adds. "Arrh, will you let go already!" she says as she push your hand away from her ear.
Letting her go, and actually thinking seriously about it.. why not? As long as we are walking together, there shouldn't be any harm in letting her lead the search.

As a side note, you've noticed that there's absolutely no energy in the air here outside the town, so if you wanna use magic, you gotta use of your own reservoir.

Anything else to add?
Otherwise, I'm writing the search (cont.)

>>2954322
let her lead it, enjoy the view if she takes it very seriously and tease her about it. "The very image of an elven ranger!"

File: Here there be elves.jpg (50 KB, 564x564)

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Those who are hunted by elves
Seeing how Tina takes her role as the tracker very seriously, you ease up a bit, enjoying the sunset over the plains and hills. It's really a nice view here. It makes you think about how much better it must be from a bird's view.
Walking down the valley, and over the hills, you notice a lack of fatigue - you're not the least bit tired from all this walking, and you've probably walked about an hour now. Thinking about it, you still haven't felt any hunger or thirst yet (you've still eaten a bit of smoked meat though, partly out of habit, and partly because it just tastes damn good). Asking Tina about it, her answer is "Hmmm~, I'm not really sure.. It's not that I don't feel hunger or thirst at all it's just...." she pauses a bit. "I don't know, the meat and water we brought just seems, like, really boring?"
In a joking manner you say "Maybe you really *are* a vampire now - prowler of the night, drinker of innocent blood!". She laugh at your overdramatic tone and gestures (you think you did a pretty solid vampire-hiding-behind-his-cape impression). "Well who knows", she answers, "I do remember trying to get some blood out of that one guy, and it did taste pretty good.. But don't vampires die from sunlight or something?". You agree that you think so too, from what you've heard. Maybe you should really look into that book you've got, see if you can learn something about undead from it.

Following Tina's lead, you eventually get to the forest. It's getting pretty dim, but that's not a problem for either of you.

>>2954300
Navigating through the forest, the undergrowth is actually making it sort of difficult to follow the tracks, so you decide to help looking, but also spur her on a bit.
"Hey Tina, I think it's pretty amazing you can follow the tracks in here. Personally, I'm having trouble seeing them properly now, but seeing as you're our duo's Ranger, this much should be doable for you, right?", you say it with a bit of a mix of ignorant innocence and some amount of expectation, and just a pinch of playfulness. It seems to work out as intended too, as she answers
"Hm? Oh, ahh.. yeah, no, of course I can do THIS much, juuust, gimme a second to concentrate...". She narrows her eyes a bit, looking at the ground, obviously having some difficulty with it, but trying not to let on, as she wants to do this well.

(cont.)

As she concentrates for a minute, it looks like she suddenly realizes something. Sniffing the air, she softly says "I smell people", a bit of disbelief on her face as she says it, "It's.." As she inhales the air in a few sharp breaths, she points ahead "..this way? I'm... pretty sure". Huh, neat. Following her lead, you both start walking carefully, which makes it painfully obvious that, your two zombies? Not so graceful. Ahh, but you can't really leave them here, can you? It's a big part of your combat power.. Walking on, reluctantly, suddenly you stand face to face with a man, no more than 4 meters (13 feet) ahead of you. He's holding a short sword and a clay bottle.
>>2954304
He had apparently heard you from a blind angle behind a tree you were about to walk past. Although, luck seems to be a lady this evening, as he squints in the darkness, he calls out "Sarah, Targ, is that you guys?", in your direction.
>>2954320
Through the cover of darkness, and you're pretty sure he's partially drunk, you definitely got the drop on him. You can faintly hear more people further ahead, but too far to see. Sounds like loud talking, maybe they are partying like you suspected?

>Try to kill him silently
>Try to kill him swiftly
>Something else?

>>2954347
>Try to kill him silently

He's both drunk and alone, let's not try anything funny like running fast to set him off before we're ontop of him.

Taking a break for an hour or so, continuing when I get back.

>>2954347
Are we positive he is a bandit?

>Try to kill him silently

>>2954362
(QM phone post)
Mostly yes. People usually dont live in the woods like this, and youve never heard of someone having a drinking party there either. Plus he's armed. Honestly there's a small chance that this is just a group of unaffiliated mercs, but most likely they are the bandits you are looking for

>>2954347
>Try to kill him silently

Aight, back, roll some d20s to get a result of the takedown

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2954402
rollan

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2954402
IGNORE ME! I'M A PDF FILE!

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2954402

Rolled 1, 20, 2, 5, 11, 18 = 57 (6d20)

(don't mind me. Also, wow, so extreme and yet so average rolls. Funny)

>>2954408
>Dat natural 20 and 1

It truly is a comedy of errors and slapstick.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2954402

>>2954410
Yeah no kidding, seems like these dice have mostly 3 modes:
-Fuck yeah
-Fuck no
-Eh

Executed with impunity.
Oh, uh.. Think fast... Oo! Trying for a momentary distraction, you hurriedly untie a waterskin from your belt, and throwing it to him in and underarm throw, while say "Uh, yeah, here, catch", slurring a bit as to make it harder for him to realize whether it's a voice he knows or not. As soon as you let go of the waterskin, you grib your scythe with both hands, and swing wildly at him.
>>2954403
The bait? Worked like a charm. He drops both bottle and sword to try and catch your waterskin, in a manner both clumsy and panicking. That's your cue.
>>2954405
The attack, however... Eehhh.. The upside? It's a direct hit, centermass and all. The downside? You didn't really aim for the tree. And this time it's your turn to panick, as you try to force the scythe free from the bloody tree, the damn thing breaks?! You stare in disbelief at the shaft in your hands, whose blade remained in the tree...
Meanwhile, Tina tries to pitch in, especially given how the man is armed with no more than a waterskin.
Her attempt.... Also eh.. She hurries too much with no real feel for the terrain, and trips, lying prone right in front of the man. Lucky he dropped his sword. The man seems to get that he's in danger by now, especially as your dog starts growling and going for him, and Latch steps forward as well.
As he turns and tries to leg it, Tina, from her prone position, manages to jab a knife halfway into his calf muscle, and he immediately drops to the ground as well. Taking this chance, you are reluctant to try out your new spear spell: you haven't tried it before, and you have a limited amount of energy. Instead, you hurry and grab the axe that your dog dropped once combat started, and go for him.
>>2954407
Rending his back with several chops like a madman, you do your best to end his life as quickly as possible.
>>2954412 vs roll 18
Victory is pretty damn certain at this point, Latch is also closing in, and you know his strength is real. However, between your first and second chop with the axe, the man manages to let out a pained yell. You quickly silence it, as you chop on with energy, but the yell cannot be taken back. It is likely someone heard.

Strategy time: Gimme an overall pitch on how you want to handle things from here.

>>2954427
Have Latch grab the body, we grab the sword and everyone gets away to find another angle of attack. Hopefully we can harvest the bandit's life energy while we're at it.

>>2954435
>>2954427
Oh yeah, and have Tina grab the bottle of booze while we're at it. Don't want to leave any evidence behind.

>>2954437
>>2954435
>>2954427
Crap almost forgot the Waterskin as well. Don't forget that too.

Leaving this one up for a bit, getting something to eat in the meantime

>>2954427
Take the remains and get back to hide. make the bandit into a zombie and wait until become completely night, then go on full raid leading our 3 zombies and Tina, while we attach the chain that our dog has to the scythe left.

>>2954445
Why don't we arm one of the zombies with the remains of the scythe? It frees up the dog to actively attack. Also, should we arm ourselves with the sword or should Tina get it?

>>2954447
>sword
She want to be a fighter, so the axe or sword are fine for her I guess, but we can ask her ingame what she prefer.
>scythe
Those zombies are very mechanical, I doubt they can handle it very good. So that's why we better have it.

>>2954449
At this point since it's broken, it's pretty much a stick/club. So it's ok.

Back and writing, seems like it's hiding game until its completely dark

I like the general idea, grab everything and hide, it's night and maybe they won't find us, if just one or two come to check we can ambush them too

>>2954464
I was kinda inspired by the old skinwalker and spooky threads that /k/ had in the past.
Since it would put the spooks on them a lot better if one of their own just straight up disappears with barely any trace of them to find.

>>2954445
>while we attach the chain that our dog has to the scythe left.
Im assuming you mean the blade part of the scythe? So that you'd end up with a chain with a blade on one end?

Also, what kind of undead are you going for with this bandit?
>Regular footsoldier
>Experimental

>>2954497
>the blade part of the scythe? So that you'd end up with a chain with a blade on one end?
Exactly, and about the bandit, something easy so we can control it. we need a good output power to begin the fight, then things will go easier, as we kill we transform then into zombies, even if we don't control them they pretty much will attack the living ones.

>>2954497
>Experimental
We don't have enough to make the regular footsloggers an actual force to be reckoned with. So we gotta get as much as we can out what we have now.

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The slow death - unforeseen, unforgiving.
Ah, by the green plague.. That didn't quite go as planned. Maybe it can still be salvaged though. Getting up, you look around, and towards where the rest of the band is supposed to be. Listening, you're pretty sure the merriment of it all has settled down. Now it sounds a bit more agitated... Speaking of which, you see Tina, mouth full of deadguy leg, looks like she's trying to drain some blood. After a second, your eyes meet, as she looks up, and she even has the nerve to give you an apologetic, cutesy, look, even though she doesn't let go of the guys leg immediately. Ah, but in a way she does manage to look kinda cute, damn her. She does let go after a few seconds though, getting up. "Ahh, so uh, sorry 'bout that, I had to try it, and it just tasted sooo good..". You can't help help but smile begrudgingly for a second, before getting more serious.
"We should hide, and the body too. I wanna use the cover of dark for a night raid, and it's not completely dark yet". She nods to this, getting a bit more serious herself, as she uses a backhand to wipe away some of the blood around her mouth, some of it just get smeared, but she at least wipes enough away that she isn't dripping blood from her chin anymore. Ordering Latch to grab the body, and generally having everyone help clean up the scene in a fast manner, you start to sneak away, trying to find a better hiding position.

As you move about, you ask Tina, in a hushed voice: "So, you wanna have the sword? Aiming to be a martial class and all", for a moment she hesitates, and answers "really? You don't mind me having it?".
"Well, no, it'd make sense for you to have it, right? You gotta learn how to fight in melee after all, and it has got to be better than your knives". She seems to make up her mind about something, before nodding with a resolute expression, quickly changing into a compassionate one, "Thanks Alice".

(cont.)

>>2954497
>Regular footsoldier

We are at our control cap, if we make him too powerful we may not be able to cobtrol it

>>2954512
Are we really? I thought we had more room to work with since we leveled up. I could be wrong on this.

>>2954517
>>2954512
capacity has increase from the lvl up, used to be 4, now it's 8. Currently you have used 4 out of those 8.

>>2954517
We do but I don't think it's much, I'm aiming for numbers here since they will heavily outnumber us.

As for your actual minions though? Might as well prepeare a bit. Latch's meathook is pretty damn intimidating, not by size, but by theme. But you'd rather have more killing potential that intimidation at this moment. Thinking about scaring the raiders shitless before killing them however, does bring a smile to your face... Maybe intimidation isn't so bad after all... Ahh.. Nonono, shaking your head, you clear your thoughts. Winning is the important part here. For all you know, there's a very real chance at losing this battle.
You arm Latch with the shaft from the scythe - basically a club at this point. The scythe blade? You try tying the blade to the chain you've got, but it doesn't really work at first. That is, untill you use a bit of cloth from deadguy to tie it. There we go. A bit makeshift, but it'll probably work for a while. Great reach. You wield that for yourself, and keep your chopping axe in your belt. A good combination of reach and up close stuff.
As you decide to raise the corpse, you find yourself on a bit of crossroad. You could possibly make stronger stuff by experimenting. But that may give you something that isn't suited for now.. Ahh..... Picking the safer route, you decide to animate him. It takes more energy than the dog, but less than Latch. It feels like it has to do with how powerful of a creature you are trying to animate. Choosing the safer route, you go for a simple build of symbols and patterns of energy, but try to fill it up to the best of your ability, hoping for a stronger version. You spend about 30 % of your energy reserves on this, since he is apparently lvl 2. Thinking about it, you try to see if you can extract some life from him - it's something related to life, since it can heal, right? Maybe he still has some left. And sure enough, you're able to recover a bit of energy, not much however, leaving you at 75 % full.
As for the result.. Sure enough he animates like they use to. But... He seem different from a regular zombie. The abundant energy you filled him with, radiates an odd feeling from him. You're not sure what it is.

(cont.)

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Actually no hold up. Before I go on to the actually combat, there's a waiting period, so as to leave and humans at a disadvantage...
Is there anything you wanna do in that period?
>Talk with Tina (about what? write ins are recommended)
>Something else?
You estimate that you have about an hour or two before it's really dark.

(also forgot pic to last post)

>>2954567
>so as to leave and humans at a disadvantage
Meant "so as to leave the humans at a disadvantage", just to be clear

>>2954567
>Talk with Tina
See if she can channel some kind of vampire power or ability to give her an edge in combat.

>>2954567
>>Talk with Tina (about what? write ins are recommended)
So, how good blood taste? Makes me curious.
>>Something else?
Absorb the surrounding life (from death creatures) and when we begin the assault use [Undead Flame] on everyone.

>>2954567
Ask her what does she want to do after here.....we could make a home together like we used to.
Maybe go to a city where we could train.
And if we find some people from the village that they kidnaped, i thibk we should just let them escape, they've suffered enough and they can't hurt us now, speacially if we are together.

>>2954567
>>Talk with Tina (about what? write ins are recommended)
Almost forgot, ask her if leaving a bandit that can teach her swordplay or better would be a good idea.

>>2954610
aaahhhh, let's kill them all!, they killed us, and worse, killed Tina. she can train with their corpses

>>2954637
Well, that works too.

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"Hey Tina, since I've become whatever I am, I've felt some kind of, I don't know, instinctive abilities. I've just felt it, y'know? Since you've become something too, don't you have something as well? Whatever it is that you've become". She ponders this for a few moments
"Mmm~, is there? I don't think I've felt anything like that", she says in a puzzled tone. You try to elaborate a bit more about how you use it, just, using what you are, accepting whatever it is, and kind of just releasing it. You spend a few minutes talking about the subject, as you try to guide her through the motions, and to your surprise, something comes of it. You don't even know why you're surprised, as you realize you somehow expected it'd be there. Maybe because you created her?
At any rate, what unfolds would baffle most common folk, as Tina during a fraction of a second turns shadowy is skin colour, and split up into a cloud of bats! You had heard of vampires turning into wolves or rats, but not bats (peasants don't get very reliable intel these tales). She must be some kind of vampire though, after this.
Even if their agitated movement startles you at first, you just know that this is your friend, and there's nothing to be afraid of. As quickly as they scatter around and flutter everywhere, just as quickly they gather up, and emerge as Tina, now sitting on a branch a bit above you.
"Woah, that was really damn confusing at first! But you're right, it's really kinda intuitive once you get into it.. hahaha! That was fun - I'm probably gonna use that a lot!", her enthusiasm very clear in tone and body language. Though you can't help but smile at the sight, you still remind her to stay a bit quieter, just in case, which she swiftly agrees to, "Oh, right sorry, haha..".

(cont.)

As she transforms twice and sit near you again, she swallows nothing a couple of times, looking a little dissatisfied, "Ah, it makes me thirsty.. Guess I can't just use it recklessly".
"Maybe so", you answer, "but it's still an amazing ability, especially how fast it is. If you do it right, you could even avoid getting hit by a weapon like that... And I do envy your ability to fly a bit"
"Yeah, I AM pretty amazing", she says, puffing her chest out with closed eyes, a broad smile, and nodding in an exaggerated manner.
"Speaking of drinking blood", you ask, "how good does it taste to you? You seem pretty crazy about the stuff".
"Hm, it's hard to describe", she says, adopting a more natural sitting position, "It's like.. Remember that rainbow colored candy we got from the merchant a while back?"
"Uh-huh, the dwarven one right?" you ask
"Right, right.. Kinda sweet like that, you know, overly sweet. But in a muuuch better way... Ahh, it's hard to describe, it's as much a feeling as it's a taste.. It is absolutely divine. In a guilty pleasure kind of way.. I know it should be bad? But it's just way too good.."
As she sits there with a thousand yard stare for a bit, with a hint of a dangerous hunger in her eyes, she suddenly sits upright, "Oh, so-so-so sooo sorry, for when I bit you! It just came back to me... I don't think I was really myself at the time!"
"Don't worry about it, you mostly just surprised me, it didn't hurt all that badly", you assure her. She still looks sorry about it though, thinking of how to fix it, you add "You can just, like, owe me one, or something like that.. y'know, if the opportunity presents itself". She nods and gives a slight smile. You can't help but think it'd be more appropriate to be thankful to be brought back to life though? Ah whatever..

(cont.)

Thinking of absorbing life, you wonder if there's anything to gain from around here. You try to get a feel for it. It's there, faintly. There's so little of it, you can't even pick it up.. Getting nowhere with it, you drop that effort.

Thinking a bit about it, you decide to ask her: "What are your thoughts about our future? After the bandits are dealt with, I mean.."
She cocks her head, putting a finger on her chin and looks up.
"mmm.. Just, like, living with you, I guess? I don't really know what to expect of anything anymore.. I wanna stay with you, that part is for sure. Always have been, always will be"
"Where would we live though?", you ask.
"Well if we're lucky, the raiders have a camp we can just take over", she answers with a big smile, seemingly joking.
You consider it. Hm, could work.
"What about your need for blood, then?" You ask.
The joy fall from her head "ah.. I uh, hadn't really thought about it.. Maybe I can just, I don't know, find an animal every now and then? Or maybe we could tie up some of the raiders and hold them prisoner!" The last part she says with renewed vigour and pumps a fist, you're honestly not sure if she's joking or not.
On that subject, you ask "Maybe one of the raiders have got a class that they can train you in? If we force them. From the one I raised I'm pretty sure some of them do have levels in something". She looks at you "Ooo~, smart thinking! I like that. That'd save us money and trouble. Oh, but if we don't manage to get one, I think we should take their stuff and go sell it off in one of the bigger cities - they obviously had horses, and those alone should be worth something. We'd need to hide our undead give-aways however".
"Well, we'll see how it goes I guess", you finish.

>Talk about something else?
>Do something else?
>Skip ahead to combat

>>2954758
>Talk about something else?
I wonder if it's possible for you to control yourself while feeding on someone, because if you can then we can see if you're able to live among the living since you don't have to kill people to feed. I think we can experiment on any surviving bandits for that.

>>2954758
>Skip ahead to combat

>>2954758
>>Talk about something else?
Does Tina love us? Tell her we're straight, if is for her we may as well...

>>2954802
Are we?, I vote we love her back tho

>>2954812
Honestly, I don't fucking know, so I better leave that decision to QM.

>>2954812
yeah, we obviously have the hots for her, if anything it's she who is gonna let us hanging,judging by the way we look at her and admire all the small things

>>2954802
>>2954812
>>2954816
>>2954821
For what I've already built in, regarding Alice and her love life: there isn't one. 125 years old, and never kissed, she's gotta be somekind of top tier wizard I guess.
She has always been a bit of an outsider in the village, and physically neither humans nor halfling ever appealed to her in her teenage years (and even if they did, she'd probably deny it, given how she disliked most of the village, kinda blaming them for her alienation). Tina was one of the only people in town she didn't dislike, and she became sort of a pillar of light, to Alice. As for that meaning something more? Well, nothing is set in stone really, i'll let it be mostly up to you guys if she starts feeling hot'n'bothered about someone, though I will still adjust it, if other elements of her personality affects it - for example, she won't easily fall for a human or halfling

What better laboratory than the blood-soaked battlefield?
After a pause, you speak up again: "I do wonder, do you think you can control your... hunger? Well if you can't, then mingling with the living would be difficult.. If you can control it, on the other hand, maybe it could work? I'm assuming you just need blood, in that case you won't have to kill people to get it, maybe just, drink a little? We can experiment on the bandits for that part".
"Well why wouldn't I be able to control it?" She looks like she genuinely doesn't understand your concern.
"..You do remember the old man in Rydding near the well, right?.. And.. The raider we met just now, right? You didn't seem wholly in control to me" You answer flatly.
She at least has the grace to look a little embarrassed. "Well.. I.. Think so?", she admits, "I-it's.. well, I think so yeah, maybe.. I think if I get too hungry, it may be a problem..". Well, at least she's honest enough about it.
"But that guy", she says, and nod at your new zombie, "I could have held back if I wanted to, I just didn't wanna.."
You think to yourself that, that sounds like something someone who can't hold back would say. But instead of voicing your objection, you decide to let time tell it's own tale.

Taking a break for now, I've been at it for hours. Seriously, QMing takes a lot longer than I thought it would. Then again, so far I've written more here than I did on my bachelor's thesis.
May post more later, maybe it won't be until tomorrow, or the day after. No promises about tomorrow though.

If there are no more objections, next is combat phase.

>>2954876
thanks for running, I'm looking foward to creating some grotesque aberrations that will actually follow us

>>2954876
Nah it's cool QM, I just figured that we should bring up the whole self control thing with Tina before we dive back into the fray since it will be a problem that has to be tackled soon.

>>2954876
We're good OP, see ya then.

>>2954880
Probably a good call, thinking ahead often saves you a lot of headaches

Also, thank you to everyone for reading and/or participating.

Roll me some d20s to see how the overall battle goes. Luck be with you.
(Won't actually be posting right now, unless someone roll quickly, but I'll need the rolls regardless for the combat)

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2955285
Let's avoid killing any hostages if they exist and then slaughter these bandits to the last men, Tina can have a drink to see if she can stop midway before resuming and killing the test subject

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Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2955285
How quickly the Tide turns

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2955285

Well that was quick indeed. Throwing out a last update for tonight.

Feel free to keep rolling, if there are any who hasn't yet, as I keep tabs on the thread while I write.

>>2955313
Can I roll All the Dice?

>>2955314
Only one roll per anon I'm afraid, though your enthusiasm is appreciated. Lol.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>2955285

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2955285

(still here, it's just become something of a wall of text)

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2955313

Confidence surges as the enemy crumbles!
Deciding to not spent the rest of the time doing anything in particular, you wait in patience, only having a bit of smalltalk here and there. But mostly silence. Oddly, you find yourself quite comfortable doing nothing. Usually sitting still wasn't your strong suit. But now? Second nature. Fitting, you figure, being an undead. And death is patient, it will wait.

After another hour of doing nothing, except thinking of the upcoming storm, you finally get up, and with a resolute visage you order the death sentence of a large group of people: "..Let's go". Tina gets up as well, with a bit of a stunned look, as far as you can tell it's because of your attitude. You can feel a chill in the air, and you feel like you wear it as a mantle.

As you pace quitely, but swiftly, through the forest, you come to the place where you found your newest minion. Here you take great care to not give yourself away, as you recall the last encounter's start. And it pays off. As you circle the area, you find two other people, both human. And they look wary, their faces lit by torches. You're far outside their light, however. Examining them for a bit, Tina fills out her Ranger shoes, by tapping your shoulder lightly, and pointing to the ground two meters (6,5 feet) in front of them. Some rope has been strung up, a bit over the ground, obviously to trip the unsuspecting foe. The rope has been colored green and brown too, as to better blend in. Smart. It's gonna be a wasted effort, however. Staying in the area for a few minutes, you make sure to properly scout the area for any more of such traps, but find none. Tina volunteers to circle around them, to get a clearer image of the situation. Given her thirst, you're not sure it's the best call, but she seems confident enough that you trust her to try it.

(cont.)

After about 10 minutes, she carefully gets to your side again, telling you that nothing and no one else are near. Then they move. Alarmed, you ready the attack, but wait out a while. They seem to head back to the others. Have you somehow been spotted? No, you were quiet, and humans are infamously bad at seeing in the dark. Deciding to play the defence, you wait. They leave, and you don't follow. In a couple of minutes, another two come and take their place. Good, just a guardshift. Another couple of humans, one of each gender. They are both equipped with some basic leather armour, the guy has got a longsword and a buckler, while the woman's got a boar spear, and a longbow. You decided to have your group split out, attacking them from as many angles as possible. And you make sure you yourself are between them, and their group - since now you know the exact direction. As you minions reach their positions, you mentally order the attack. Tina will have to rely on her senses to know the sign. All three charge forward, but mindful of the rope, you make sure.

The first to reach them is your dog. They hear a lot of movement before they see it. But as the undead enter the torchlight, the two of them are ready, but with panick in their eyes. The dog pounces the woman. Normally a bad choice, given her boar spear, and it's excellent abilities at stopping charging opponents with a violently bracing attack, turning the opponent's momentum against them. Your dog can somewhat counter the fact, however, seeing as piercing weapons are the absolute worst weapon type against zombies. Sure enough, she gouges the spear right into it's torso, The dog doesn't take too much damage from it however, and relentlessly pushes forward. This surprise causes her to fall on her ass, but she manages to keep the dog at bay, by holding onto the spear. During their short meeting however, which couldn't have taken more than a few seconds, your new fodder pet reach them. It's not armed, but she's very preoccupied. She barely registers the movement to her right, before it's on top of her, violently punching, ripping and biting. It's unnatural strength, bolstered from it's transformation, makes quick work of a prone lowlife as her.

(Cont.)

Meanwhile, the male bandit is just about to go and help his companion, before he notices that he's got his own stuff to deal with. Latch, the towering brute, comes charging at him like a bull. The rope however, lends the bandit a brief respite, as it trips up the brute. Before he can make use of the opening, he is engaged by Tina, swinging at him with her sword. His experiences seems to save him, as he reacts swiftly, and only get a light wound on his leg. "By Torag's Vigil, who in--". That's when you close in from behind. Fancying your makeshift chainscythe, you decide to try it out. You can almost taste his demise, looking at his back. Eager, to have his life ebb out, you throw an attack. It didn't quite happen as you had hoped. Sure, it gashes open his back diagonally, from which he begins to bleed profusely, but you had hoped to impale him. Ah well, you'll take it. That's when Latch, still prone, sweep him off his feet with his makeshift club. The cleanup from there is easy.
You're not sure which one, but you're pretty sure you heard one of them scream or yell something, or some such. The whole thing did make a bit of a commotion, and you hear footsteps approaching fast.

You hurry up and hide, you don't have time to bring both corpses however, his will have to do. You pry the spear out of the dog, and behold the group that arrive. Three people, 1 of them a Gnoll. That's trouble, they can see in the dark. Good thing you've hidden pretty far away too then. You hear them speak, an elven man among them gets pale, looking at the fallen woman, and promptly start vommiting. The gnoll gives him a demeaning look, but otherwise ignores him. You hear the third one, a human woman, say "Oh Gods, it's the Mist Witch isn't it?! I knew it, I-". He sounds scared. You feel a black warmth in your stomach. The gnoll interrupts her with a deep growl, "Quit your moaning he-bitch".

(cont.)

A few moments later, another group of 8 come trickling to. An orc among them. 11 people, 2 of which can see in the dark. In the meantime, you've raised the guy you managed to drag with you, unceremoniously naming him fodder 2. That makes 2 fodders, 1 dog, Latch, you, and Tina. You are at your cap for what you can control, too. 6 vs 11. But you are undead, you should be stronger, compared to one of them. And only 2 of them see in the dark. They brought plenty of torches though.

Deciding to wait it out again, you stay hidden. You hear talk, no one seem the wiser. "It was probably wild beasts, I've heard there are a few dire wolves in this forest" "That's nonsense Tob, dires were hunted down by that hero group".
A shaky male voice you recognize offers "It's the Witch, I'm telling you! Th-there's no way it was ever a good idea to stay here", a few sighs, and a single gasp follows.
Eventually they go back, all of them together. Mist Witch, huh? You don't know about that, but you take a wicked pleasure in being feared like that.
After they've left, Tina face you, looking kinda excited, like a kid that won hide & seek, asking "Should we try that again? Picking someone off?"
You nod. If a fight breaks out, so be it, but you wanna try weakening them first, to be safer.
Tina grabs the longsword instead, and gives Latch the short sword. Moving on, zombies in tow, you approach what must be their camp. And indeed it is.

(Cont.)

A small fort, even. They've build a wooden palisade wall. Some people have way too much free time. This is a bother. Guess there's nothing to do about it. They gotta die, after all. Sending your 4 minions into the fray, a few ranged attacks quickly are aimed at them, as they charge for the door. At first, fodder 1 seems to be taking some punishement - it even seems to work too? What the heck, you tried to make it stronger, but it doesn't seem to have proper undead hardiness? Devils, you gotta practice this shit. To your astonishment, they even fell it as it reaches the door, a hammer hitting it like a nail. It collapses before doing any damage to the door, what a letdown. But instead of withering into black dust, it shakes violently for a spell, as though possessed, and then proceeds to explode, leaving a cloud of green dust in the air. Huh.
Meanwhile, your other zombies haven't let up. You decide to one-up the situation, and try out your [Undead Flame] on Latch. He's still your midboss, after all. As you channel from your internal reserves of energy, black/purple flamelike aura envelops your brutish minion, and you feel his strength & endurance increased by the enchantment. There's also a bit of something else, that you aren't sure about. As your collective group of undead reach the door, they start hammering it with no regard for own well being. Your dog doesn't do much here, it just slams it's body to the door. Latch and fodder #2 do something similar really, but they've got more strength to back it up. Especially the brute. And though they are met with some resistance, it doesn't do much: some poke-y weapons are directed at Latch, but he's quite resilient, especially to those. He's hit with a hammer to the face however, by the gnoll, and that does seem to hurt him some. But still, he's tough.

(Cont.)

And the door given in faster than either of you expected, and a few of the bandits even get stuck under the door. Now your dog can reach them. You and Tina start to move up as well at this point. The green cloud has almost completely dispersed by now, and it didn't seem to quite reach the people inside.
Trying out your [Energy Negative: Javelin], you aim for the gnoll. A black mass of semi solid energy forms, and sizzles through the air, penetrating the torso of the gnoll, leaving a 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide hole near it's center before dissolving. From here things go south real fast for the raiders, and their morale is in the gutters, especially seeing the aura wielding brute of an undead punch a guy so hard his torso caved in a bit, only for him to catch on fire - black fire, for a second, lightly frying him, before the fire went out on it's own. Huh, that fire is probably that "extra" thing you didn't know what was, about [Undead Flame].
What's left is 6 dead raiders, and 5 survivors who have surrendered.
You recognize the guy who killed you among them.. Again, a wicked warmth spreads in your gut. What to do, what to do.

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Ah shucks, forgot to add: Your fodder #2, as well as your dog, both perished in the struggle after breaking the door in.

Oh my, that turned into a bigger thing than I thought it would. Should've realized though.. ah well.
Hope it ain't too much for you guys to read through.

I'm ending it here for tonight.

For next time:
I'm gonna need write ins, as for your plans with these bandits.
What to do about the dead, as well as the living.


You are pretty low on energy reserves by now - only 5 % left.
From each corpse you can recover 5 %, but if you drain it complelty of necromantic energy, you can gain 10 % per corpse instead - you won't be able to raise them then, however.

>>2955501
Who survived?
Tell Tina to drink from one of them killing him.
We should tie the guy who killed us to horses and quarter him like he did to the villagers.
Can we drain the other 3 compleately of energy while they are alive?

>>2955501
Have Tina practice feeding on one of them to see if she can stop herself from draining one.
Recover 5% from four of the corpses, completely drain the last two corpses.
And Experiment on the man who killed you.
Once we are done, kill them all.

After they are all dead we should celebrate with drinks, they probably have a lot of booze and after that we see what they have here and how would this place work as our new home

>>2955501
Tie them up first, so they think we're taking them prisoner, then feed one to Tina and drain the all completely

>>2955562
I do think the tying them up part is a good idea, however we will need to see if Tina can actually restrain herself when it comes to feeding.

>>2955501
Want to save the Gnoll for animation. Goal of limited awareness and ghoul recharge by eating corpses.
Tie up living (Latch hold them).
Test controlled Tina feeding and stopping on one and test draining on the one who killed us. Maybe he needs something like a wound to get the necro energy. Examine patterns. Draw something to hold and pull necromantic energy to something like a bone.
That leaves 3 live ones. Work on a bit of ritual and patterns to see where the dark energy goes or comes from. Some way to focus or draw more.

>>2955501
Say QM, when is the next session/thread scheduled for? I'm just asking for curiosity's sake.

So the plan so far is:
-Tie up bandits
-Experiment with Tina's drinking problem, using the raiders that surrendered
-Execute your murderer by quartering, or experiment on him (if so, which what?)
-Recover some energy from the corpses, draining 4 of them partly (meaning they can be animated), and drain 2 of them completely (meaning they can't be animated)
-Celebrate a bit, possibly making this your new home/base of operations
-Testing what the conditions are to renewing your energy, possibly requiring some bandits for experimentation
-Save the gnoll for animation

If there are any objections, speak up.

Also, a bit of out of game info, since I don't want you guys to feel you didn't have informed consent:
Having a class and it's level, is what defines your usefulness in combat in this setting. It is possible to go from peasant lvl 0 to fighter lvl 1, if you train yourself properly. But it's rarely done, since it takes a decent amount of time (possibly months). Having a mentor teach you, however, cuts that time down to maybe 1-4 weeks, depending on various things.
If there is someone with a martial class among the prisoners, having him train Tina (if you can make that work), would go a long way to save time or money on her training.

>>2956423
Sort of thinking of running a bit now, not sure how much though.
Other than that, there's a very real possibility of tomorrow

>>2956449
>-Execute your murderer by quartering, or experiment on him (if so, which what?)
I'm thinking we use our energy/magic to see if we can siphon/drain memories from him to see what he knows. Hopefully we can pull an Ass Creed 1's Animus and gain a couple of memories involving combat or some other useful skill.

(Letting it hang for now, I wanna give people time to react. For now anyway, idk, I'll see. Will probably post within 4 hours regardless)

>>2956468
How much of the stuff on the list will you vouch for doing? Thinking of making a post based off of that (guess I'm restless or sth)

>>2956526
I'm thinking that all of the stuff on the list is a good start since all of the bandits lives are forfeit.

>>2956526
>>2956526
all the stuff is good as long as the bandits end up dead for me

>>2956449
Having here for a while, but good so far.

-Execute your murderer by quartering, or experiment on him (if so, which what?)
Do we still have fodder #1? If so want to try fusing it with our killer.

>>2956547
Unfortunately no, your last fodder died off screen, but I'm sort of showing it in the coming post

>>2956555
Oh well, I'm fine if we can fuse our killer with anything else. Would be nice if somehow retain his consciousness while being undead.

>>2956559
no no let it die, no chumming up with the killer

Aight, I'm not done, but I'll start posting what I have so far after I've proofread it, so there' something for you guys to read, while I cook up the last parts.

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Morally, it's disgusting. Legally, it's questionable at best... Personally? I like it
As you have your last zombie hold it's attack, you regard the quivering group of bandits. Not so fun when the tables turn, huh? You feel the battle was very rewarding, in regards to experience, and that you're not far away from a level up.
Hearing some gagging sound, you spare a glance to your left, you see a dying raider, convulsing on the ground, foamy saliva and vomit covering his mouth. He was the one who felled your last fodder zombie, earning a decent amount of cuts before he succeeded. Seems that weird misty powder explosion it left did actually do something. Good to know. As you regard him, Tina speaks up.
"See? I told you I could totally hold back, I didn't bite a single one of them!"
You nod acknowledgingly a few times, and answer, "good, good. Buut, just to be sure how it works, I want you to keep holding back for now."
"Eehhh~...", she mutters, obviously disappointed.
Now, what to do with this, you feel like you've got some options here.
First off, you have Latch keep guard by the bandits, and you have Tina tie them up, Latch being uncomfortably close to them, in case they wanna try anything (and you've given him back his meathook, partly for intimidation, partly because you figure it'd be good even if they tried to bullrush him).
As for yourself, you stroll about, inspecting the dead. Deciding it'd be best to fill up on energy, you drain 4 of them partly, still allowing them to be raised. The last two, you empty out to the best of your ability. You recover a total of 8 energy, leaving you at 9 out of 20, almost half full. You take your time too, 'cos you really feel like you need to know how this stuff works. And during your wine tasting of this energy, you come to realize.. This cold embrace, this unnatural feel it's got, however cozy it feels to you, it's not life. It's death. What you are feeding off here, is literally the presence of death, from the deceased, siphoning off of whatever that process involves.

(cont.)

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Letting your mind ride the experience to the fullest of your ability, you also realize that it's not something that's strictly tied to the corpses, but also to the place where a life ends. That explains the abundance of it in Rydding, around 40 people must've died in the raid.

Speaking of the villagers, you approach the bandits.
"So.. for starters, I'm curious - do any of you recognize me?", making sure not to stare too much at your murderer, you kinda wanna see their reaction here. They tense up, but in two sets of eyes you see a faint hope blossom, as one of them grasps at the chance of sucking up, as far as you can tell. "Uh, yeah, of-of course, you're uh.. that very wise and powerful noble right? Haha, boy am I grateful you're letting us live, I-I promise you I'll do whatever you want!".. Hah. Another whispers in an intense tone, "The Mist Witch..!", ah, the elf survived. You sort of just let the conversation hang in the air there for a while, until you finally see your murderer's eyes widen in disbelief. "Yo-you-you.. YOU... How a-are you?!..." He stammers, seems like he's having as much trouble articulating his thoughts as his words, if you read his expression right. You even see him start shaking, even if he did keep his cool a bit before. The others seem to get anxious at the exchange.
"Ah, right, right.." You change the subject, "Do you hold any prisoners, per chance?". A guy that hasn't spoken up yet, does so: "Yes, they're down there, our leader meant to sell them off as slaves", he nods insistingly. He seems to think full goodwill and cooperation will lead to his survival. Well it's a nice thought.

(cont.)

Moving over to a larger tent, you look inside and find that they've dug an improvised cellar. Looking down, you find a spiked barricade, and behind it a small room with 10 people in it, all in manacles. Eight of them are from Rydding, the other two you don't recognize. Being pitch black, only one of the strangers sees you, a draconian (biped, scaly humanoid with a reptilian face, sometimes with a tail, claws, wings, or other traits like that). Back up in the tent, you find a pile of manacles, and decide to bring some outside. Putting a set on each prisoner, you tie them to the wall, making it a formidable challenge to escape.
Waving Tina over, you look her in the eyes, and sternly say, "No drinking". You let your eyes rest on hers until she slowly nods, mouth slightly open, obviously wondering what's about to happen.
The bandits too seem anxious about it, no idea what you're talking about. Grabbing your scythe blade with one hand, and a bandit's shoulder with the other, you place the blade on top of his naked shoulder, and swiftly draw the blade. He makes some begging sounds before it, and some whimpering as you cut, but you don't give that too much attention for now. Instead, you put the blade back, and draw Tina's mouth closer to the wound (wait, when and how did she clean her mouth? Blood stains aren't easy to clean up). Fear spreads through the group, some mutterings of disbelief, the elf even whispers "vampire" under his breath. Bingo. Erh, you think? Anyway. Inching her face closer to the wound, she seem to get the idea, judging from her expression. It's very easy to read her, staring intently at the gathering blood. After you let her go, you just observe for a minute. Looks like she isn't giving in. Good. Still, that hunger in her eyes when she sees blood, she'll need to work on that. Deciding the experiment to be a success after a minute or two, you relent, "Alright, I guess that's sufficient, dig in to your hearts content". She hesitates for a moment, trying to decipher if meant it or not, but shortly after she sinks her fangs into the guy's neck, in the manner of a starved animal. Of course his panick peaks as you let her have at it. Screams fill the air. But it's quickly silenced, as her lack of finesse this time around has him bleeding profusely out his neck.
You're not sure whether to find it ironic, or fitting, that your friend leeches off of life, and you leech off of death. At least you won't have a disagreement on who gets what.

(cont.)

That being out of the way for now, you move over to your killer. Looking up at him. He's pale. Afraid. Good. He should be.
"Wh-wh-wha-what are y-you gonna DO-to-me??". You wonder that yourself as well.
Ah yes, why not get creative. Gathering up 4 horses, you have Latch hold him as you bind him to them with some pieces of rope and chain, a horse for each limb. Ceremoniously placed in the middle of the encampment, you have Tina slap two of the horses on their leg, while you slap the two others. And, recognizing the signal, they run. He screams, and you make sure to savour his despair. As his confines meet the limitations of their lengths, his body gives in to the force. His arms are the first to leave their sockets, as they plop right off. It takes a few seconds before the horses tied to his legs split up, but when they do, his left leg comes off just as quickly.
After the horses settle down (you've made sure they wouldn't run outside of the palisade walls), you eventually gather up his limbs, and behold the gasping man. His eyes won't focus on anything it seems. He's not bleeding as much as you thought he would. Still, you're fairly certain that he's not long for this world. Tina asks if you mind her having a snack at him. Right. How much can she drink anyway? Ah, but you don't see the harm in it for now, so you yield to her request. As she has her drink, you make sure to get some energy from the two newly dead, adding another 2 energy, leaving you at 11 / 20.

(cont.)

we should just send the villagers on their way, no sense in letting them around when we are not what we used to be

While I write the last part, throw me some d20s

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2956722

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Rolled 8, 5, 5, 15, 8, 7, 16, 15, 15, 3 = 97 (10d20)

>>2956712
It's a excellent attempt at wanting to be good. However if we do that we may need to get the hell out of dodge since villagers are perpetual engines of spreading news.
And I'm pretty sure that there's at least one light based religion that hates the undead and will go to great lengths to see Tina and Us destroyed.


>>2956722
YOU WANT D20S? I'LL GIB YOU ALL THE D20S!

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2956722

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2956722

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>2956722

>>2956726
Maybe, but we are still not monsters, we just got our revenge, I think we should let them go too, they were dicks but not murderous bastards like the bandits

>>2956757
Oh and add to that the fact that they haven't seen anything yet, we should let them go.

>>2956757
I never said we should kill the villagers. I just said we should get the fuck out after we free them.

>>2956764
Good point, maybe go to the city where we can try to blend in

As your murderer expires, you feel a surge through your body. You've leveled up again.
(sheet updated)
You've acquired the spell [Fear of Death], a spell that instills fear in a target. If successful, the target is overcome by fear, and do their best to escape the caster. Duration is based on by how much the targets fails to resist the spell. Costs 4 Negative energy.
You've acquired the ability [Corpse Collector], an ability that enhances your [Animate Dead] spell, so that you may cast the spell for free, once per day.
Acquired ability, [Patience of the Grave], an ability that allows you to collect Negative Energy over time, in the presence of death. If you collect some corpses, and don't drain them of negative energy, you would be able to fill up your resevoir of Negative Energy over time just by being near them.
You also know that you've got a choice to make now. You can try to affect what kind of spell or ability you gain, other than those you just gained. You're also pretty sure, somehow, that it has to be thematically an extension of either the theme of death, you being an undead, or you being a dark elf. Could probably also be something thematically near, like a curse or poison or some such.

Putting that aside for now, you look over at Latch. Yeah, just like you figured, he took quite a beating during the fight. Head half hammered in, several cuts and stabs scattered about. Due to your link, you feel that his 'necrotic integrity', is at about 30 %. He *was* kind of reckless in his approach. But that left you and Tina completely unscathed. You could heal him some with your energy, but that'd probably cost you a some (he's currently short 71 hp, and you can heal undead creatures for 1d6+1 per energy spent, so on average rolls you'd need to spend 16 points to heal him fully). You're the same level as him now, by the way.

(So.. I think we've covered most of what was talked about. It seems that rather than staying here for a while, your plan is to gather any valuables, free the prisoners, and then maybe just skedaddle outta here yourselves, in case the peasants wanna start rumors about the place or you? Also, if my count is right, you've got 3 live bandits, and 4 dead that still have a bit of negative energy about them)

>Free peasants, gather loot, go looking for a larger city, but not the same direction the peasants leave
>Other (specify)

(Also, the idea floated that you could raise your murderer as something semi sentient, as a way to make him suffer more, but it wasn't clear to me who wanted what, so I'd like a vote on that. To which I should prolly mention, you are able to raise him as sentient, and still have full control over him. Bonus notes: You control 3 out of your possible 12 levels of undead. And you have 11 out of 30 negative energy ready)

>>2956795
>>Free peasants, gather loot, go looking for a larger city, but not the same direction the peasants leave
>>Other (specify)
Kill the rest of those bandits, and let out our link with Latch, use the new acquired corpse to experiment and make a new one (collect enough energy to do so).

>>2956795
>Free peasants, gather loot, go looking for a larger city, but not the same direction the peasants leave

I vote for a negative on raising our killer or even giving him sentience. It's a bad idea that will bite us in the ass sooner or later.

As for the rest of the bandits, kill them. And see if you can drain the last's one soul for extra Energy.
I'm under the belief that since we can infuse energy into the dead, it would stand to raise that Souls contain more energy than dead corpses.

On a entirely different note if I did not catch it right away, is Tina able to stop herself from completely draining someone while feeding? Because if we didn't, we should probably get that one out of the way.

>>2956802
Agreed

>>2956808
Agreed on not giving him sentience or raising him too

Oh and let Tina top her blood need from the bandits too.

After they are dead and the villagers away we should celebrate and drink, let's hope we can still get drunk

>>2956808
You did indeed not test that yet. With three living bandits left, it is doable.

>>2956802
>and let out our link with Latch
I'm assuming you want to free up the space because he is wounded, is that correct?
Just to be clear, you have plenty of capacity to control more undead: he takes up 3 slots, you have a total of 12. Releasing him wouldn't really give you anything

Also, just to be clear, since no one voted for this one yet: you have an unchosen ability/spell ready to pick.

Also;Also
Reanimating a corpse generally costs 3 energy per level of the creature, with possible extra prices if the undead you create is stronger than a regular zombie or skelly. And all the bandits here are lvl 2

>>2956818
>is that correct?
Correct, I want more space to create new things, also don't wanna heal him, so if we create a new one will has full hp and we can fight Latch for experience.

>>2956818
>You did indeed not test that yet. With three living bandits left, it is doable.
Ah good, let's test it out while we can.

As for unchosen ability/spell, I'm not sure if we're meant to write up a custom ability or pick from the three you've already written up.

>>2956824
>I'm not sure if we're meant to write up a custom ability or pick from the three you've already written up.
Same question.

>>2956823
Ahh, didn't think of that, I get your point now.

>>2956824
The ones I've written you got automatically. The one you pick is just a bonus.
And it's sort of a possiblity for some kind of write in on what it could be, as long as it's thematically reasonable, and within some unmentioned limitations I haven't brought up

>>2956818
I think we should heal our butcher actually.

As for the skill, hoe about something that can make us see through the eyes of a minion? So we can make some spy birds and rats

>>2956829
>The one you pick is just a bonus.

Well, if we can vote, I want a skill related to miasma, like create around us (3x3 meters or so) a miasma or swamp.