Staff IC III -A Skele-Ton of Second Chances

[Emperor Ing]

What? Oh pony's sake, they found us! One of the beings, now visibly obvious to be one of the four skeletons in the trees, replies immediately.

What do we do, boss?

Just stick to the plan! At that, they all swoop down, skeletal wings extended to try and glide down and soften the landing. However the air doesn't catch their non-existent feathers, so they just end up crashing against the ground in four distinct heaps of bone.

Aarrghh...

Art thou all right...? Rose asks.

[Emmerlaus]

" I hope you are alright. My name is Tea Agony, personnal assistant of Master Starswirl the Bearded. Can we help you with something? "

[igordragonian]

"But no hugs.' Deepwood has warned, putting down his bow.

[DualShadow]

As the four skelepony jumps down, Astral jumps up to put herself between them and her group. "What plan!?" she demands from the pile of bones.

[DaOldeWolf]

BubbleGuard wondered what exactly the ponies were talking about. He remained in silence nevertheless. It was quite a sight to be hold when they tried but failed to fly away. He guessed they hadnt been that much time in this state. "Miss Tailwind, are those the ponies you met earlier?" He asked trying to keep the details of the castle secret from these suspicious group.

[Emperor Ing]

Unfortunately Tailwind is nowhere near Bubble Guard, having gone on ahead to find the two skeletons they were originally looking for.

A clacking of bones echoes through the forest as the skeletons reassemble themselves at an ease at which a living pony might simply stand up.

This...isn't going to work. Let's go with plan B, sir. The fourth one echoes that the other three are obviously thinking. You can see on their bodies are various tattered cloaks and what appear to be bows in various states of disrepair.

Okay, plan B it is.

Um, let's see here, it goes-Greetings travelers! The skeleton waves at you all. We're here looking for the dastardly necromancer Dread Hoof. He has last been seen in this forest, creating evil spells to resurrect the dead!

We're, uh, pretty sure he succeeded. The other skeletons glance about their hooves sheepishly.

Do you know anything about him?

Spoiler: Arcana or History DC 16 (It's pretty obscure)

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The name rings a bell as one of the pen names of Light Bright, a Unicorn Wizard who made up for what he lacked in raw magical power and knowledge with an almost uncanny ability to discover new schools of magic. Some benevolent, others not so much. Dread Hoof was what he used to publish a heavily enchanted and very powerful grimoire on a form of magic over the dead, he dubbed Necromancy.

Spoiler: DC 17

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The grimoire's capabilities are unknown, as it has never been found.

[igordragonian]

Deepwood sighed.
"I only surprised that, Old One hasn't hired this Dread Hoof to our staff....' he grunted.

'I personaly didn't to suffer and meet this disgustingly sound pony. Yet."' Deepwood muttered.
'But why did he... awakened you? Is he terribly bored or something?"

[DualShadow]

Astral stands with a eyebrow raised higher than the other one, puzzled "Necromancer? Dread Hoof?" She leans a little bit towards Deepwood "Huhhh sir? Just how many weird thing is there is this forest again?"

[igordragonian]

Astral stands with a eyebrow raised higher than the other one, puzzled "Necromancer? Dread Hoof?" She leans a little bit towards Deepwood "Huhhh sir? Just how many weird thing is there is this forest again?"

"I have been living in this forest for more than horrifing ten years, I have wrote a book exactly about your question- and it seems I already need to make a second edition. Hmph. How terrible!"

[Emperor Ing]

We're...not sure yet.

It's an army! Dread Hoof wants to create an army of the undead to overtake Equestria!!

No way. If he did, we wouldn't have control over our bodies...would we?

But it's subtle! Don't you see?! Dread Hoof WANTS us to think we're in control, until suddenly, we think that attacking Equestria and joining Dread Hoof to do so seems like it was our idea in the first place!!

No, that's stupid.

...It COULD happen.

Boss, I beg of you: If I ever think attacking Equestria is a good idea, end me right there and then!

Though the only contents of the Boss' eyes are small pinpricks of white light in empty eye-sockets, you can see the eye rolling. Deal.

Had I never beheard the name before. Art it beyond mine time!

Ma'am, you don't want to attack Equestria, do you?

Pardon? Nay! I shalt never!

Well, at worst, we can say his magic is involved. Somehow. Have any of you seen anything unusual or suspicious? The skeleton asks the group.

[Emmerlaus]

" I think the right question should be: what year do you think we are? We are at the year XXXX. And since none of us ever heard of this fellow, it would be safe to assume he is already dead himself... unless he became a lich, somehow. In any case, we are searching for the cause of this phenomenon ourself. "

[igordragonian]

Deepwood sighed.
"I don't know if bunch of skeletons could make Equestria WORSE..." he grunted.
"But again, why do you think this Dread Hoof is the one responsible for this? Where do he live?" he perked his ear at Agony\s question
"Or unliving."

[DualShadow]

"Either that Dread Hoof is still around living or not, or somepony found his work?" Astral asked out loud to the group. "Either way, this sounds like the most obvious cause for now."

[DaOldeWolf]

"If I have to guess, there is a chance that a magical artifact of some sort is behind all this. We should start by searching for a radius of the emergence of skeletons and the look for the center. That is unless The Dread Hoof pony is the one responsible" BubbleGuard shares his thoughts with the rest.

[Ishimi]

Alexcanter tapped his muzzle in thought, the name sounded vaguely familiar, but the details escaped him.

He nods to BubbleGuard as he mentions the possibility of an enchanted relic.

"That would be reasonable; perhaps one has been recently unearthed or activated in some way.
However, I feel we certainly shouldn't oust the idea completely that this "necromancer" is still walking among the living."

He looks to the skeletons

"After all, one hundred percent of the instances of resurrection we know of have succeeded."

[Emperor Ing]

I wouldn't call it a "success." We're undead. Free-willed undead, but still undead.

In other words you're just as lost as we are. The "boss" sighed.

Okay colts, let's keep moving. These ponies don't know anything.

Hold up a minute: One of the skeletons stops his group.

I just want to point something out that I thought was strange: When I was trying to regroup with you all, I saw a few other skeletons who said they were looking for a way out from the forest. What ever is happening seems to be affecting the forest, specifically, and it's probably coming from deeper within. The skeleton points a hoof deeper into the forest.

Well it's a start. But we gotta keep moving before things get dangerous. Let's go. And with a flash, the four undead ranger ponies vanish into the foilage, towards the direction that leads deeper into the forest.

The tracks Deepwood was previously following are also clearly visible.

[DualShadow]

"Lets follow them. If only to make sure they don't get into trouble." Astral started to go in their direction before stopping in mid-track to look back "We're following them right?" she asked looking between Deepwood and Bubble Guard not entirely who was the bigger boss at times.

[Emmerlaus]

" I agree, we should follow them. Deepwood, do you agree to lead us there? "

[DaOldeWolf]

BubbleGuard knew that it was currently their most viable plan of action until they learnt more about the situation surrounding this case. He remained in silence and kept his attention on the newcomers. This was still the best chance to see the new ponies in action especially since the castle usually got involved in all kind of situations.

[igordragonian]

"Sure. Let's see how things can get worse.' Deepwood grumbled and led the way

[Emperor Ing]

What of...very well. Rose follows along.

As you travel through the foilage, between winding trees and around bushes that a faint slithering can be heard, just on the edge of your hearing. When you stop to listen, nothing unusual is heard.

Suddenly and without warning, the trees come alive. Creeper vines shoot out from around the tree towards the group, snaking through the air, attempting to ensnare everypony.

[igordragonian]

"Hmph. I actually have expected some kind of overly huge undead. But I guess this is terrible enough.' Deepwood groaned, and then he has narrowed his eyes, he dived and have captured Tea Agony, trying to fly up with her in his hooves.
"Some of us, might want to party after that, if we'l survive.' Deepwood grunted.

Spoiler: roll

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(3d6)[4][1][6](11)+3

[Emmerlaus]

Tea Agony was gonna cast a spell to protect the group but then she is grabbed princess-like by Deepwood who then fly above with her. It disrupted her concentration for a moment, made her creep a smile on her face. One only Deepwood saw.

She whispered low enough: " Thank you dear. "

Then her smile disappeared and her attention back on the situation below.

Spoiler

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Harmony on Deepwood roll

[DaOldeWolf]

"This brings back memories of the mirror incident. not exactly the best of memories." BubbleGuard complains as he sees the plant life come to life. He decides to keep his spellcasting for other possible threats and tries his best to avoid the vines.

[DualShadow]

"Is that in one of your books sir?" she let out as she tries to jump of the way of those vines.

[Ishimi]

AexCanter attempts to dodge to the side as he speaks to no one in particular.
"plant life always this lively around here?"

He's obviously joking, but at the same time is genuinely curious.

Spoiler: OOC

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roll total was 11 in the OOC

[Emperor Ing]

Deepwood jumps into the air, taking Tea Agony with her and into the air as the unicorn fires bursts of magic to repel any vines that try to take advantage of what ever carrying a unicorn mare does to the agility of the batpony.

Bubble Guard is able to keep himself safe, knocking away the vines as they come too close.

Alexcanter attempts to use his agility to avoid the vines and although he is quick on his hooves, a vine wraps around a hind leg, as it does Astral.

The vines cease their assault as the forest becomes still suddenly as a new figure treads into view. A pony, clad from head to toe in some form of armor. The design or varation thereof is concealed underneath a full-body black cloak. The only way you know the pony is wearing armor is the clanking of metal as the figure strides into view. A long-beaked avian mask peers out at you from underneath a black, wide-brimmed hat. As the figure stops, a hoof emerges from the cloak, tipping the hat to you all.

Somepony lives. A stallion's voice regards you all. A massive sword suddenly shoots out from the brush, piercing the ground just a hoof away from the armored pony. The blade is longer than a pony's length and easily as wide. A navy blue aura is visible on the sword's hilt, though if the pony has a horn, it's concealed underneath his hat. You shouldn't be here. These are dragon lands.

[igordragonian]

"Meh. We have staff member who can pull such a trick. But it apearring on chapter 7." Deepwood has answered Astral.

Deepwood fronwed, and narrowed his eyes, while his noserils widneded.

"No. It's not. Who do you think you are, messing with OUR terrible forest?"

[DualShadow]

Astral shook her hind leg trying to get out as the mysterious sword wielding pony came out. "I think we are having another misunderstanding here so how about you set the sword aside and we talk?" the grey pony asked with a calm tone. "We have a pretty go idea of what is going on in this forest so could you show us your face? It would help to solve this misunderstanding."

[Emmerlaus]

" Mister, we are in year XXXX. A spell have being cast around here to bring back the dead and we are trying to find the source. "