"So we made it to your base and cleared a few hostiles that were in the area but when we got to your wall we heard sounds from inside. I took the rookie here and we snuck in and saw a ton of undead rat people some of them skinless and rotted while others showing bones and missing pieces. There was a cave that looked to have been reinforced at some point but the logs were broken apart and stuck on it was a huge mouse with most of its body looking horribly beaten. There were also what looked like smaller versions that were quick and they jumped at us as soon as we were found out. Weak but tons of them crawling everywhere and there's a couple skinless gnolls as well and some freaky looking bone constructs wandering around that I think are just golems made out of anything dead lying around. Overall undead are hard to kill so we might need to find someplace new." Jeff explains as everyone is tense after the explanation before Harold clears his throat and pull Mog to the fore front with him.
"The undead are no concern because we can cleanse them as well as use our spells to fight them but from what you said one of them are either a Lich which I doubt since they need to masters of magic and from the bone creatures you described they are basic constructs, or a high level undead with a lot of hatred when it died has created an area that is slowly creating an area that death will infuse any bodies nearby bringing them back under its control. Either way we need a plan." Harold says as everyone nods along with him before another creature walks forward and sits next to them to my surprise before I use inspect on it.
(Embermane Hellhound Level 6)
Hellhounds of a fire element that are extremly social. This breed is usually used by various churches in the destruction of undead creatures. Hellhounds themselves all feed on the energy exuded by area's of death and undeath so it is very common to see these creatures hunting down and consuming the undead in death infested regions.
Reading its description jolts me into a plan and I begin to get excited about our chances after realizing that apparently Don Juan Demousso and his family aren't quite done with us yet. But hellhounds eat the undead? Seriously who would have thought of that I mean back in my world they were always evil demon dogs from hell who would kill anything and everything! As I think this it further hits home that this is definitely not my world any longer and I can't rely on myths and stories I might remember from there to get by.
"Ok so here's what I'm thinking. All our melee need to form a defensive line with the hellhound in the center of it to eat up the undead that it can. The frontline everyone focus on keeping the dead at a distance while our ranged and less bulky fighters whittle them down. Try to avoid the boss until we get rid of his minions after that we sweep and focus fire until the boss is dead." I say as everyone nods along before Ogis waves his hand before signing.
"What about the gnoll? This sounds like we'll need everyone and it might help to have an extra body to throw in." he signs at me before Harold nods and starts to speak before I cut him off.
Stolen novel; please report.
"Your right Ogis the gnoll could be helpful. As everyone knows we have a gnoll with us and I'm sure everyone here is not feeling all that happy about it but before I release him let me tell you some information. This gnoll defected from his tribe and gave us information about the camps defenses at the price of his own life possibly so take that into account before showing him any hatred and remember without him we might not have ever found you." I explain as everyone's eyes go from pure hatred to silent contemplation as the gnoll is brought to us and cut free from his ropes.
As soon as the gnoll is freed he looks around at everyone present and his face pales slightly as he back up before I place my hand on his shoulder and tell him quietly that its safe and he's under our protection as long as he stays with us. After he nods shakily I tell him to introduce himself and tell everybody what he can do as well as maybe apologize for the whole slavery thing just to start off on the right foot.
"OK, hey everybody my name is Slab and I just want to say I'm sorry for all you guys went through. My old cackle was horrible and I was considered weaker because I use a bow versus running into every fight. I hope that maybe we can put everything behind us and do whatever we're doing and maybe let us all be okay with each other." Slab says nervously as he stutters through the sentence before darting behind Wug and trying to hide from the crowd. Wug intentionally moves out of the way and walks over to where Tugta is drilling with the few other melee fighters, trying her best to teach as well as learn what she can before the battle. As Slab looks around nervously the hellhound approaches him while wagging its tail happily, a beaten crossbow and quiver held in its jaws as it nudges Slab with its head.
"Jawbone you made it out! Oh who's my special little man? Is it you? Oh yesh it is!" Slab gushes in happiness as he tackles the hound and begins wrestling with it, small amounts of flaming drool scorching his leather armor and fur as both creatures happily play. As I watch this I realize I never inspected Slab himself and only assumed he was like the other gnolls I saw. Once I inspect him I realize that even though the levels are the same the people and creatures themselves are worlds apart.
(Slab Gnoll Beastmaster Level 9)
Beastmasters are born with the innate skill to understand and more easily form bonds with wild beasts of the world. Although rarely seen most do not know of their power and feel as if they are outcasts of their respective species due to feeling more comfortable around beasts than their own kind. This is more true for Slab who was assumed to be a weak barely effective hunter and was tormented constantly by his own cackle. Beastmasters who have their own tamed creatures have the innate ability to buff, heal, and if skilled enough and the bond is close enough even revive their pets a limited amount of times. Pets trained by beastmasters have a higher chance of attaining evolution than their wild counterparts.
After reading Slab's description I can't believe my luck at finding probably the one gnoll of the whole group that was actually worth anything and since he was treated so poorly I may even be able to obtain his loyalty just by treating him decently. But as I finally nod in acceptance I hear Jeff call everyone into their positions and we begin marching towards the clearing that's supposed to be our new town, and the shambling corpses contained within it as well.