Embers of the Wilds: Episode 20

__NOTOC__
==Synopsis==
The party dig up Eva's grave and find that Eva is alive and well, despite dying a month ago. Closer inspection shows that Eva has no pulse and doesn't need to eat or drink. The party visit the necromancer Stuka for clues, but don't come away with an answer. The party then venture into the underground cavern and speak with the water elemental, Crystal. Crystal shows the party around the cavern, but a 1000-foot waterfall halts further investigation.
==Recap==
===24th October, Year 20 Age of Iron - Eva Rises===
The party have just returned to Trog Canyon from Ipsum and now details with the apparent resurrection of the elderly , still trapped in her grave. The party rush back to the town from the graveyard to collect some shovels to dig Eva out. This draws the attention of the Townsfolk.
At the graveyard the Ipsum guards keep a parameter around the grave as Kyra gets digging. The party decide not to yet inform , Eva's wife, about the situation in case this is tomfoolery. Pearl goes to collect the town cleric, . Annabelle's reaction to the situation is an "Oh no". Annabelle then introduces herself to the new guards from Ipsum.
Annabelle explains in ages past Clerics of Martha could resurrect people with the spell . Some generations ago the spell was removed from the world. Annabelle warns the only time people come back now is with necromancy and as an undead. Pearl points out the voice is Eva's. Lieutenant , as a follower of the god of hope, hopes this is a sign of the gods returning the greater magic to the world.
When the hole is half dug, Tristelle casts and detects necromantic magic around the grave. Tristelle tries to test Eva by asking questions down the pipe only Eva would know, and Eva is able to answer correctly.
The digging finally reaches the coffin. The lid open and is found, looking alive, healthy and old. Eva shivers, saying she feels cold. The last thing Eva remembers is going to sleep. Pearl and Tristelle help Eva out of the coffin. Eva's hands are deadly cold. Eva wants Greta, but is surprised no one woke up Greta. Eva walks over to Annabelle, and Annabelle gives a prayer to Martha, thanking her for giving Eva some more time in the world.
Pearl, Tristelle, and Annabelle go escort Eva back into town.
Lieutenant Venat asks for help filling in the grave, and Kyra agrees. This is a pretence to allow the 2 of them to talk. They agree to keep Eva under surveillance because of the suspicious circumstances. The possibility that the necromancer is involved is strong. Lieutenant Venat uses the excuse that her 8 people need lodging to give them accommodation at the inn that Greta and Eva run, so they can keep an eye on Eva easily.
Eva and Greta are reunited.
===25th October - Guards Settling In===
In the morning Greta serves breakfast as Eva sleeps in. Kyra plans to question Greta about Eva in a few days time to see if anything is amiss.
Kyra introduces the 8 Ipsum Guards and Lieutenant Venant to Mayor and the Town Guards. Shifts are established.
Kyra is told that once or Twice a week the Draconians march though the town at night to reach the plains, then come back. 
===27th October - Eva's Medical Checkup===
Kyra goes to question Greta about Eva. Greta says that Eva is physically cold and hasn't warmed up. Eva also hasn't eaten or drank anything in the past few days. Eva is shy and prefers to remain indoors. The townsfolk have been intensely curious about Eva and her circumstances. Eva appears to have all her memories and skills. Eva has also been distant in the bedroom.
Kyra asks Annabelle to give Eva a medical checkup. Afterwards Annabelle reports to Kyra and the party that there is no pulse or heartbeat.
The party decide to consult Stuka on the matter. From the top of the Canyon, Northridge's tower can be seen and it appears taller now, likely repaired. It is bone-white in colour.
The party set out to Northridge and end the day a few miles outside of town. The town appears to be in ruins except for the tower. In the night the party hear the singing from the ruins. Kyra suggests that Stuka calmed down the Banshee. The song is from a bygone era and isn't contemporary.
===28th October - Northridge Bone Tower===
At dawn party enter Northride and the road into town has been slightly rebuilt. At the entrance are 2 skeletons standing guarding. Pearl suggests just walking into town from another spot. The party find a section where the town wall is destroyed and enter from that location and head to the tower.
Up close the party can see that the tower isn't just Bone-White, it is made of bones, except the base which is still stone. On the tower they can see skeletons working on the construction, making it taller. Near the tower the roads have been cleared of rubble. There are 20 skeletons at the base of the tower traveling up and down the tower, carrying bones up.
A skeleton with a red cloak notices the party, takes off the cloak, and takes a step back. Tristelle thinks maybe Stuka told the skeletons to be friendly. The party follow the skelton which leads them into the tower. The party don't want to go into the tower, so call out for Stuka instead. Stuka waves from the top of the tower, waving at the party to come inside. The party reluctantly go inside.
The party head up the staircase, and 5 floors up they find Stuka sitting on an innocent throne of bones. Stuka warmly welcomes the party. Stuka is eager to chat with the party. He shows off a skeleton he has modelled to look like a tabaxi skeleton by using non-human bones. Pearl is scared and horrified by the situation. Stuka apologises for upsetting Pearl.
Stuka shows off how he constructs with bones, showing with a little blood he can hold 2 bones together at any angle. Pearl debates about the ethics of using bones. Stuka points out the practically of it. Stuka points out that most people build houses out of the bones of trees, yet elves can talk with trees.
Kyra brings up the topic of an undead like Eva, without revealing that Eva's current situation. Stuka suggests a raised soul aka zombie, but he doesn't like the zombie having negative connotations. Tristelle shares some red wine with Stuka. Tristelle brings up the intelligence that Eva shows, and Stuka brings up his Aunt Pat, a zombie, which shows they exhibit no intellect. Aunt Pat is a tradition rotten zombie.
Stuka says that Aunt Pat's brain was removed before she was buried, so he had to source a brain from somewhere else for her. His undead are all mindless, and work to their programming and tasks that Stuka gives them. Pearl asks since Stuka's undead are mindless, are they really his family members anymore.
Tristelle asks about Stuka making the lyre out of bone. Stuka says he could make the shape, but it wouldn't make the right sound. Tristelle suggests that Stuka use some paint so not everything is bone-white. Stuka says he had no paint and would pay handsomely for some.
Pearl asks Stuka about his goals. Stuka says this temporary visit here has become more of an art project, with no long-term aims. He is curious about the other source of magic that covered the area. The party opt not to tell Stuka the location of their town. 
Stuka orders a skeleton named Jonathan to help escort the party out of the tower and out of town. At the entrance to town, Jonathan raises a hand to "order" the 2 guard skeletons to stand down. The party head due north instead of heading in the direction of Trog Canyon.
===29th October - Back into the Glory Hole===
The party return home. The new guards have seen the draconians walking though town one night, which they excitedly talk about as they have never seen a draconian before.
 talks with Pearl about her meeting up with the creepy Necromancer, saying that Pearl is too precious to die, unlike Kyra and Tristelle. Lydia guilts Pearl over the situation.
Greta tells the party that Eva is still isn't eating, drinking or sleeping. Pearl suggests bringing Eva to Stuka for direct advice. Greta is against sending her wife to an evil necromancer. The party says to inform them if anything changes. Tristelle points out that Eva had said she had slept while being trapped underground in the coffin.
Mayor Barnaby is very happy about the reinforcements coming to town, and finds out the party told Arc Wizard the location of Trog Canyon since these are his solders.
Kyra remembers that their order for bows in Kah-Ella would be ready. The party find out from the carpenter that their canoe is finished.
The party return into the Glory Hole and head down to the underground waterway. To bring out the water elemental, Tristelle plays her lyre. The water elemental comes out easily enough. Pearl casts upon the water elemental. The water elemental is pleased that the party can now understand them.
The water elemental reveals their name is and they are unsure of how they ended up in the underwater cavern. They followed the sound of music (not Tristelle) one day and ended up here. The water elemental has unlocked higher thought forms while in this place. Kyra explains to Crystal that they are in the Prime Material Plane. The party offer to take Crystal to the surface, but Crystal reveals that her mass would take up 8 barrels, so it would be difficult to get her out.
Kyra asks permission to explore the cave network. Crystal agrees. Kyra lowers the canoe into the water. The party get into the canoe as Tristelle plays music. Crystal creates a current/wave that helps the canoe move in a direction down the underwater passages.
Crystal shows the party a singing chamber, and a relaxation chamber. The elemental explains down the underwater central passage ends in a grand waterwall that goes down The underwater passageway goes for 100 yards. Beyond that are new pools below. Crystal first appeared down below the waterfall. The water fall is 1000 feet in height.
Kyra and Tristelle then travel though the underwater passage, getting propelled forward by Crystal. Pearl stays behind in the canoe. But the other side is dark and the both can't see. Crystal takes the pair to a shoreline. The sound of the waterfall is loud. Crystal removes the water from Kyra's torch, so Kyra is able to light it. The air in this chamber feels stale.
Kyra and Tristelle walk down the passageway to the waterfall edge and it is as Crystal described. Crystal says there are mineral deposits down the bottom of the waterwall, describing a blue-sliver metal.
The spell wears off and the party are unable to understand the water elemental anymore. The water elemental rushes back to Pearl. Pearl is knocked out of the boat and rushed though the passageway to the west of the party. Pearl casts again on the water elemental.
Crystal continues her explanation, saying beyond the river at the base of the waterfall she could see fire, but she didn't go to investigate since it would mean traveling across land. Tristelle casts and sees the magical concentrations in the cavern are the same as the previous section of the cave. Crystal says the underwater river doesn't go anywhere, but has a constant flow. 
The party travel back to the start of the cavern where the canoe is. Pearl talks about future mining efforts, but the loud noises are not comfortable for Crystal. Crystal suggests she travel down the waterfall during any mining operation to avoid the vibrations. The party make their farewells and leave the cave and the mine. On the way out of the mine they see Gloria hanging out with the other miners, as part of the society.
Pearl rushes home because of her being soaked. Lydia forces Pearl to be towelled dry.
The party ask the blacksmith, , about the metal that Crystal described. Horst says that sounds like mithril with a glitter in his eyes. The party explain the difficulties of getting down the waterfall. Horst is cavalier about the fate of the water elemental however.
==Experience==
No experience given this episode.
Category:Embers of the Wilds Episodes