>>5392921You realize what it is as the bugbears rise and eye you up with indifferent, slack-jawed faces. Th odour you detect wafting from them in unpleasant plumes is that of decay. These creatures are UNDEAD! No wonder, then, they do not flinch at pain or fear for their lives—their lives are forfeit, gone, and some dark purpose not their own now animates their husks!
An arrow flies over your shoulder, embedding itself in the head of one of the Bogbarri before you. The bugbear’s face snaps back at the impact, then slowly lowers. It stares at you with the same eerily-palcid expression as before, unbothered by the arrowhead embedded in its brain of the thin trickle of rotten blood which pours forth from the wound.
“Dragonborn,” Olu harshly whispers, “I know this one. This bugbear… He was part of Paeris’ assassination squad! He died prior to our first assault!”
You’ll have to take the Archer’s word for it, as most of these mammals look quite alike to you, even when you are not distracted by a dozen biting stab-wounds. But the entire scenario is rather troubling. You opt to…
>Flee, as quickly as you can, with a <Jump> and all the athleticism you and your party can muster>Draw your own bow and join Olu in repelling the undead while you beat a fighting retreat>Use the last of your mana to assume <Dragonshape> and let loose a torrent of Firebreath to cleanse this place>Charge and attack, with a mighty roar and a warrior’s heart—you are the nightmare which THEY should fear!>Write-in 