Doing What Is Right

**Doing What Is Right** is the fifty seventh episode of *Another Bad Side Quest.* The party investigate the undead problem told to them by Gio and find a fight bigger than they were prepared for.

## Doing What Is Right

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* Don't forget - Mak is leading Ian, Haelley and Zach through an all new adventure in *Mist Connections*. Using the *City of Mist RPG* rule set, enter a world where myths and legends come to life!
* No stream September 27th, as everyone returns from *New Jersey Web Fest!* And Darrin moves the ABSQ headquarters into his new house!
	+ ABSQ will be live the first two weeks of October but after that we will go pre-recorded on Youtube (and possibly "premiering" on Twitch) starting with another mini-series, *The Edensong Chronicles,* because Darrin doesn't know how to take a break

### **Summary**

After leaving Pollen and Powder’s some of the party briefly discussed Sterling’s disregard for the *Skorian Empire’s* disdain for magic by summoning Tollanessa to learn the new spell and Sterling agreed and admitted while they did have paperwork they may be in areas or situations where ruffians might not care about government official’s signature. Sterling then brought up how they might handle the undead situation in the swamp and RX suggested they could just look at the place to start. Quincy commented that they had experienced fighting undead and new certain attacks were more effective against them and when RX commented that the ones good at killing undead were currently dead agreed before noting they no longer had *Soul Piece* anymore. Sterling pointed to Kaz and noted she was capable of big spells, that he could also, that might be best to put out before anyone who had to be in close range was too close, then offered that he could help magically position Quincy in a better place to fire *Reputation*. Sterling also brought up preparations to avoid drowning, noting that it was a swamp area with water around, and that he and likely most of the party couldn't swim and the group noted just falling was their best chance. Sterling then suggested distributing the newly acquired healing potions to those likely to survive or could do healing and when the party decided it should remain with those who were often in the frontlines split them with two going to RX while the other two remained with Yashani. Kaz also offered that as long as everyone was wearing *Ob’s Charm,* she could keep them from falling further into death, but not bring them back up to consciousness. Sterling finally suggested a stealthy approach, citing that the undead were likely not to be very perceptive and when the group agreed made their way.

The party approached the area Gio described and when they were about an hour away Sterling cast *Enhance Ability : Cat's Grace* on himself and Kaz to help the two move more quietly. The party soon found a sort of clearing where the trees thinned out and spotted short undead creatures that seemed to mill about aimlessly. Sterling suggested they determine where the undead were coming from before he began to cover himself in mud and twigs and disappearing into the underbrush, followed by Alaerith who cast *Invisibility* on himself and the rest of the party found their own hiding spots. Sterling cast *Arcane Eye* to follow the zombie and spotted about seven undead circling around along with a large and concerning looking flower that seemed to shift and move of its own volition. Sterling told the group of his findings suggested he and Kaz move closer and to both cast *Fireball* while the rest of the party spread out. They all attempted to get into a suitable position and all managed to find a hiding spot without issue, while Kaz unfortunately slipped in the muddy waters and alerted the undead to the party’s presence.

Yashani, aware their cover was blown, rushed to the nearest spore zombie and quickly killed it with her staff. Sterling activated *Ob's Charm* to warn that the large flower was likely to spawn more undead and to focus their offense on that before he cast *Slow* on a group of four spore zombies near to Alaerith, then activated *Manifest Mind* to summon Tollanessa near the plant. Quincy dropped prone in the mud, fired *Reputation* twice at the large flower *(Corpse Flower)* per Sterling’s advice and as it shuddered from the blows appeared to stand on vine-like legs and that it had a sort of basket under its belly that was filled with corpses. Kaz cast *Fireball* on the Corpse Flower and a spore zombie while RX activated *Passus*, rushed one of the *Slowed* spore zombies and slashed it. The Corpse Flower shuddered as four tentacles with red human shaped corpses swayed around it, rushed to Sterling, activated *Corpse Spray* to fire shredded and mulched corpses at Sterling, Kaz, Yashani and RX, in spite of Sterling activating *Ob’s Wraps* to teleport a bit way leap out of the way, who resisted the spray while Boris disappeared from the damage. The remaining spore zombies made their way to RX with one futilely trying to claw him as he called for their attention, away from where the rest of the party engaged with the Corpse Flower. Alaerith seeing a clear line *Quickened* cast *Lightning Bolt* to destroy three spore zombies at once, apologizing to them as he noticed the goblin shape of them and dropping *Invisibility*, then *Twin* cast *Firebolt* to hit the remaining two burning one to ash.

Yashani noticed an odd thumping noise from beyond the corpse flower and activated *Ob’s Charm* to warn the others before she activated *Rage*, rushed the Corpse Flower, flailed at the dangling corpses as they were out of her range and backed away from it. Kaz looked around at the chaos, froze as a volley of arrows landed at her feet missing her and warned the others. Sterling, very bloodied injured, ran further from the Corpse Flower and failed to cast *Vortex Warp* through Tollanessa on the Corpse Flower as it resisted. Alaerith ignored remaining spore zombie, believing RX had it handled, cast *Fire Bolt,* with *Vile's Fang* lightning magic added to the flame, but the Corpse Flower shuddered again from the blow. Quincy, seeing Kaz and Sterling were not looking good, stood from the ground, put away *Reputation* in favor of *Panache,* loaded a *Negative Image* bullet at Kaz to immediately swap places with her and, now closer front of the Corpse Flower, fired with *Panache* again, but saw it unbothered as it bounced of it. Kaz cast *Misty Step* to get closer, pulled out her *Glaive of the War Priest*, activated *Sandstone* to summon a hunk of flaming sandstone to bludgeon the Corpse Flower and set it alight, then stepped back again to keep her distance.

RX, seeing his injured allies, told Alaerith he could take care of the remaining spore zombie, went to Kaz, fed her a healing potion and tossed the second potion to Sterling. The Corpse Flower threw the flaming stone off itself towards Quincy, RX and Sterling, which Quincy dodged while RX and Sterling didn't quite make it leaving Sterling *Unconscious* on the ground and causing Tollanessa to disappear. The Corpse Flower rushed Yashani and activated *Disarming Quickstep* who dodged its attacks with ease. The party soon all heard hoots and hollering of dozens of small voices and the pounding of feet as two giant spiders (war spiders) appeared, ridden by 20 goblins each. Both war spiders rushed the Corpse Flower, unaware Yashani was in the way, and only managed to slash her while missing the Corpse Flower. The remaining spore zombie advanced on Alaerith who cast *Shield* to block it's blows. Yashani quickly worked to hit the sack of corpses under the Corpse Flower’s belly, which activated *Sombre Dirge* to use it's dangling corpses to take the attack, struck the sack again and activated *Step of the Wind* to get away freely from it.

The sniper goblins leapt from their ridden war spiders, totalling 10 in total, soon followed by 8 spine cleaver goblins who also jumped down and all focused on the Corpse Flower, while ignoring the party. Alaerith, seeing Sterling was down, cast *Shocking Grasp* on the remaining spore zombie, noticing that it's mold fell on him leaving him *Diseased* before he activated *Soul D*rain to heal Sterling from *Unconsciousness*. Quincy, seeing the goblins appear and Yashani run, put away *Panache,* ran to Sterling, activated *Life Drain* to heal him further and suggested the party turn and run while the flower and goblins were distracted with each other. Kaz failed to cast *Accursed Act* on the Corpse Flower before ran after Quincy. RX displayed a wonderful use of sarcasm as he said he was having fun before he activated *Second Wind* to heal himself. The Corpse Flower activated *Harvest Dead* to collect and consume some of the dead goblins, then activated *Corpse Spray* on the war spiders and some goblins, taking the targeted goblins out in a wave of gore.

Yashani activated *Ob's Charm* to warn that the plant will get stronger as it gets more bodies, headed to Alaerith who was scratching at the mossy remains, activated *Hand of Healing* and *Physician's Touch* to heal Alaerith from the disease and followed those who ran. As the sniper goblins attacked the Corpse Flower Sterling cast *Phantasmal Force* on it to show visions of it being pinned down by more advancing war spiders and effectively keeping it still. Alaerith thanked Yashani before asking if they were going or staying and when Sterling convinced then to stick around to make sure something killed it failed to cast *Lightning Bolt* on the Corpse Flower as it activated *Sombre Dirge* to block the blow, then *Quickened* cast *Fire Bolt* causing it to shudder from the blow. Quincy cast *Hex* to give disadvantage from breaking from Sterling’s *Phantasmal Force,* then grabbed Kaz’s hand and motioned for her to run away. Kaz cast *Scorching Ray* on the Corpse Flower before she ran off with Quincy. RX, seeing Sterling intended to stay behind, said it was fine to do but would keep as much distance as they could and pulled him along to get behind cover. The Corpse Flower broke free from *Phantasmal Force* as it's flowers attacked the goblins. The goblins continued to assault the Corpse Flower as Yashani dashed after Quincy and Kaz. Sterling, seeing that the rest of the party was on their way out, cast *Arcane Eye* and left as well. Alaerith, in an effort to aid the goblins, paused long enough to *Twin* cast *Spell Polymorph* to turn two goblins into giant apes, with slight green fur and some blue speckles, before he followed after Sterling. RX activated *Telekinetic Movement* to move Alaerith more before following after everyone else.

As the party rushed through the swamp back to the town of *Su’Hish* Sterling narrated the last of the battle between the Corpse Flower and the remaining goblins, with the two polymorphed giant apes helping them last longer than they would have but only delayed the inevitable as the Corpse Flower collected and consumed the fallen goblins till none were left. Sterling, having always had a soft spot for the little guys, became immensely upset watching the goblins die until it was necessary for RX to remind him he would explode soon and carried him to keep the party moving. Sterling cried out that they should have done more, but RX and Quincy pointed out that there was nothing they could do without also dying, especially if it was only being fed by the dead goblins. Quincy stated to Sterling when they got back to the town they could talk to Gio to get him to contact the Holy Enclave who were around for exactly this, dealing with deadly problems that other people can’t and Sterling, brow beaten, reluctantly agreed.

After arriving back to *Su'Hish* the party immediately ran back to Gio’s church, immediately explained the danger they found out within the swamps, what they tried to do, what things didn’t work and asked if he could call in the Holy Enclave. Gio, after hearing them out, stepped away from them, pulled out an old *Sending Stone* and requested Arcus Malasana to come to the town. Gio said they might need to stay as they might want to talk to them and Quincy asked if they could not. Gio said he didn't feel there was enough time as a force pushed, a foliage of cherry blossom leaves appeared and within the centre stood a woman in deep blue robes and an orange sash, along with two heavily armored knights, in the middle of the church.