We spent the better part of the day searching the mountains for undead. We had begun to think the undead had outpaced us overnight. But we kept going and agreed to discuss our plans around the fire tonight if we didn't find anything. Finally, we came across a group of zombies huddled around a giant dead goat, eating it.
Two of the four zombies looked to be partially burned, "These must be the ones the travelers chased off." I whispered.
After a quick discussion, we took advantage of their distraction and surprised them. I wish I could say our first fight as a group went smoothly, but it did not. Kelemvor blessed us today, I've never been more thankful for my connection with him. At the church I think I often took my link with Kelemvor for granted, thinking it would always be there for me to call on. But at the church and even around Waterdeep it was peaceful and easy to call on Kelemvor. In the middle of the chaos of fighting is another story.
Yukouth pulled out a handaxe, "Good Dwarf weapon" he informed us, ran at the group, and attacked the one on the left of the three closest zombies. Elisha followed him, gracefully slid to Yukouth's left, and ran his rapier through the same one. The zombie crumbled to the ground, lifeless.
"Nicely done my boy!" Yukouth exclaimed.
I set up my crossbow, took aim, and shot a bolt at the zombie to Yukouth's left, and missed, again. I used to be so good with this thing, hunting with Dad. I growled and threw my crossbow to the ground.
"Just getting a better eye on them!" Adrala announced while she stepped to my right, and threw her handaxe at the same zombie I just missed. She never stopped moving, when she pulled out a second handaxe and charged a zombie that looked almost charred to the bone. I honestly don't know how it survived her strike.
"Freeze!" I heard Israel shout from my left as a bolt of icy blue-white light streaked toward that same zombie, which now had bits of icicles hanging off of it.
I saw him out of the corner of my eye, standing tall, looking every inch of his 6'3" height, and pointing his staff at the now frosty zombie. I was shocked to see quiet and reserved Israel command such presence.
The zombies looked up from their meal, surprised, but Yukouth didn't give them a chance to do anything before he attacked again, taking down the second zombie.
"Nicely work Yukouth! That's how you take them down!" Shouted Elisha, as he stepped over to attack the last zombie.
Free of the useless crossbow I charged at the Zombies to unleash my frustration. I held my badge of Kelemvor out and cried "Cinnos!" The barest glimmer of light hit the burned one, and it still stood. As I took a moment to center myself and find my connection with Kelemvor, I saw Elisha fall to his knee, from a zombie attack, holding his stomach. Adrala must have seen Elisha go down because without skipping a beat she threw her handaxe at that zombie. Unfortunately, it flew wide and landed far past it.
"Don't worry I've got another one of them!" she said with a smile while pulling it out and sinking it into the burnt one in front of her, finishing it off.
"Zira, go to him!" Israel cried out. "I'll take care of it."
He swirled his hand, created three glowing darts, pulled his arm back, and threw them while saying, "Fly free!" I don't know how the thing survived the force of Israel's attack, but it was still standing, barely. Elisha stumbled back away from the zombie as Yukouth stepped over to finish it off. But he swung wide and missed.
I reached Elisha, pressed my hand onto his wound, and prayed to Kelemvor, "Help me heal your warrior's wounds." I watched his wound seal, something I've seen many times, but this time was different, this time it felt like it was fated. I didn't have long to think about it because I saw the most irrational thing, Adrala's last handaxe dropped the zombie, it fell to the ground, and then it stood right back up!
A blue icy beam dropped the zombie again seconds after Israel shouted "Freeze!" And it didn't rise again.
Israel ran over to us as Elisha was sitting up and the brothers hugged.
Everyone was impressed by Israel! He thanked us and as the conversation turned to the zombies, Israel returned to making himself small and faded into the background. We searched the bodies and found that all four were branded with the symbol of Velsharoon on their chests. I shuddered when I saw it, remembering the feeling of terror from my dream. And in that moment I knew I had to tell them more about my quest and my dreams. Surprisingly, they had only a few questions and accepted that my path is fated. I think this first fight together has created a sense of trust between us that I expect will only get stronger as we continue on this crusade together.
We needed rest and dusk was upon us. Yukouth mentioned a tower in the mountains north of Thornhold, so we decided heading back to regroup in Thornhold was the best plan. I couldn't feel any undead nearby, so we felt relatively safe to find a place to camp close by, but we did want to start making our way out of the mountains. We didn't push too far since everyone was tired.
Yukouth woke Israel and me up a short while ago. It's been nice to have time to write since Israel is a quiet watch companion. I like that it will give me time to think.
Z