Reaching Out – Telepathic Communication:
Mellali's heart raced as he watched the creature continue its slow, methodical movements, dragging the heavy stone slab across the floor. The low scraping sound filled the quiet room, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. But there was something else—a strange, almost unnatural calm in the way the creature moved. It wasn't frantic, and it didn't seem aggressive.
Still, it was clearly not human. Its gaunt form, the way its bones protruded sharply through its skin, and its hollow eyes gave it an unnatural, eerie presence. But what was it trying to do? And why hadn't it noticed them yet?
Mellali felt the faint buzz of magic in his mind again, that same energy he had used earlier to unleash his chaotic spells. But this time, he wasn't thinking about attacking. No—he wanted to reach out, to understand what this creature was, and why it was moving this stone.
"I'm going to try something," Mellali whispered to Hadjer, keeping his eyes fixed on the creature.
Hadjer glanced at him, her brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean?"
Mellali took a slow breath, feeling the telepathic energy stir in the back of his mind. "I'm going to try to talk to it. See if I can communicate before we make a move."
Hadjer didn't protest, but her grip tightened slightly on her makeshift staff. "Alright. Be careful."
---
Making the Connection:
Mellali closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the telepathic energy within him. He had seen the skill window earlier—Telepathic Speech—but he hadn't tested it yet. Now, he had no choice but to rely on his instincts.
He reached out mentally, focusing on the creature before him, trying to bridge the gap between their minds. The magic flowed through him, subtle but strong, as he sent out a simple thought.
Can you understand me?
There was no immediate response. The creature continued dragging the stone slab, its movements slow and deliberate. Mellali held his breath, unsure if his attempt had even worked. He reached out again, this time with more focus.
Who are you? Why are you moving this stone?
This time, there was a shift. Mellali felt it—an unsettling ripple in the air, like something had stirred beneath the surface. The creature's movements slowed, then stopped entirely. Its bony hands rested on the stone slab, and for the first time, it raised its head slightly, its hollow eyes staring blankly into the distance.
Mellali's pulse quickened, but he held the connection steady.
And then, like a faint whisper in the back of his mind, he heard it—a voice, hollow and broken, but there.
You... disturb my work... the creature's thoughts came through, slow and strained, as though the act of communicating was foreign to it. I... must finish...
Mellali swallowed, steadying his breath. What work? What are you doing here?
The creature shifted, its head tilting slightly, though its gaze remained distant. The stone... must be moved... came the response. It blocks the path... The way forward... must be opened...
---
Understanding the Task:
Mellali furrowed his brow, still maintaining the telepathic link. The creature's thoughts were fragmented, unclear, but it seemed to have some purpose. It was trying to move the stone for a reason.
Why must the path be opened? Mellali asked, keeping his tone calm but curious.
There was a pause, and for a moment, Mellali thought the connection might break. But then the creature's voice returned, weaker this time.
The others... wait beyond... I... must join them...
Mellali's mind raced. Others? Was this creature trying to reach something—or someone—on the other side of the stone? And if so, who or what was waiting for it?
Hadjer's voice broke the silence, pulling Mellali back to the present. "What is it saying?"
Mellali blinked, breaking the connection briefly to answer her. "It's trying to move the stone... to reach something beyond it. I think there are... others waiting on the other side. It's not attacking us because it's focused on its task."
Hadjer frowned, her eyes flicking to the stone slab. "So it's not a threat? Not yet, at least?"
Mellali shook his head. "Not right now. It's... single-minded. It just wants to open the path."
---
A Decision to Make:
The air was thick with tension, the creature still unmoving in the center of the room. Mellali had made contact, but the information he'd gathered was vague at best. Others waiting beyond the stone... It could be anything—other creatures like this one, or something far worse. They couldn't be sure.
Hadjer glanced at Mellali, her expression serious. "So what do we do? Let it finish? Or stop it before it opens whatever's on the other side?"
Mellali bit his lip, thinking. The creature hadn't been hostile so far, but that didn't mean whatever it was trying to reach would be as passive. The fact that it was moving the stone indicated there was something important beyond it.
But what?
They could let the creature continue its task and see what lay beyond, but that could invite more danger. Or they could stop it now, before it opened the path to whatever waited behind the stone.
"I don't think it's a direct threat," Mellali said after a moment, his voice steady. "But we don't know what's beyond that stone. If we let it open the path, we could be inviting something worse."
Hadjer nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Then we have to make a choice. Do we stop it... or see where this goes?"
Digging Deeper – Telepathic Dive & The Creature's Stats:
Mellali kept his gaze fixed on the creature, its hunched form still hovering over the stone slab as if waiting for permission to continue. His mind raced, the weight of the decision pressing down on him, but there was something about this creature that pulled at his curiosity. If this was anything like Dungeons & Dragons, creatures had stats, just like they did. If he could tap into that—see more than just fragmented thoughts—he might learn what they were really up against.
He glanced at Hadjer. "I'm going to try to get more information—maybe see what we're really dealing with."
Hadjer raised an eyebrow, her grip still firm on her staff, but she didn't object. "You think you can do that?"
Mellali shrugged slightly, feeling the faint hum of his telepathic powers swirling in the back of his mind. "I don't know, but it's worth a shot. If I can understand it better, maybe we'll know what's waiting on the other side."
Hadjer gave him a brief nod, her eyes narrowing as she glanced back toward the creature. "Alright. Just don't get too deep in its head."
Mellali took a deep breath, centering himself again. The telepathic connection he had made earlier was still there, faint but present. He just had to focus—push deeper, without losing control. He let his mind drift, reaching out toward the creature once more.
---
Telepathic Dive:
Show me more, Mellali thought, his mental voice firm but calm. He focused harder this time, not just on communication but on understanding—pulling at the strands of the creature's thoughts to uncover what it was truly hiding.
At first, there was resistance. The creature's mind was fragmented, broken in places, but Mellali pressed on, willing the connection to strengthen. He could feel the creature's thoughts swirling around him—chaos, confusion, purpose—but within that mess, there were truths. Deep truths.
The creature twitched slightly, its head tilting toward Mellali, though its hollow eyes remained blank, unseeing. Then, through the haze of its broken thoughts, Mellali began to see.
---
The Stats Reveal:
Suddenly, a familiar window flashed before his mind's eye, just like the one that had appeared for him and Hadjer earlier. But this time, it wasn't his own stats—it was the creature's. Mellali's breath caught in his throat as the information unfolded before him.
---
Name: Unknown (Undead Thrall)
Race: Undead
Class: None
Level: 2
HP: 25/25
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 18
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 7
Charisma: 2
---
Neutral Evil. Mellali's stomach twisted slightly at the sight of it. He had played enough D&D to know what that meant. This creature wasn't just acting on instinct—it had a purpose, but it wasn't bound by any sense of morality. It did what it needed to do, regardless of the consequences. The fact that it was focused on moving the stone slab suggested it wasn't just a mindless drone, but that didn't mean it could be reasoned with.
It was dangerous—its high strength and constitution meant it could easily overpower them if it became hostile. And it had the durability to withstand a fight if it came to that. But its low dexterity and intelligence meant it wasn't particularly fast or clever.
---
The Creature's Purpose – A Dark Truth:
Mellali pressed deeper, now trying to understand why the creature was so determined to move the stone. The image that formed in his mind was fragmented, but it was clear enough: there was something waiting beyond the stone slab. Not just others like it, but something more.
Flashes of shadowy figures drifted through the creature's thoughts—undead like itself, waiting, trapped. They had been sealed away, hidden behind this stone barrier for centuries. The creature had been tasked with releasing them, opening the path so that they could return to the surface.
Mellali's pulse quickened. This wasn't just about moving a rock. If the creature succeeded in its task, it would be releasing an army of the undead into the world. And worse, something was guiding it, pulling the strings behind the scenes. There was an intelligence behind all of this—a force that had set this creature on its path, long before Mellali and Hadjer had stumbled upon it.
Who gave you this task? Mellali asked, his voice firm in the creature's mind.
For a moment, there was silence, and then a faint, distorted answer drifted through the connection.
The one... who commands us...
The image was blurry, but Mellali caught a glimpse of something—a dark figure, cloaked in shadows, watching from the depths of some distant place. He couldn't make out the details, but the sense of malice was unmistakable. This wasn't just a random undead—it was part of a larger scheme, a plan set in motion by a dark force.
---
Breaking the Connection:
Mellali gasped softly as he broke the telepathic connection, his heart racing. He staggered slightly, the weight of the creature's thoughts pressing down on him like a physical burden.
Hadjer stepped closer, her eyes sharp with concern. "What did you see?"
Mellali ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady his breathing. "It's... bad. Really bad. The creature's trying to release something—an entire group of undead, sealed behind that stone. If it moves the slab, it'll open the path, and whatever's behind it will be set loose."
Hadjer's eyes narrowed. "An army?"
Mellali nodded grimly. "Yeah. And worse, there's something controlling it—a dark figure, pulling the strings. I couldn't get a clear look, but... whatever's behind this, it's powerful. And it's not done."
Hadjer cursed under her breath, gripping her staff tighter. "So we stop it. Now."
---
The Decision to Act:
Mellali straightened, his mind racing. The stats he had seen confirmed what he already knew—the creature was strong, tough, and determined. But it wasn't fast or particularly clever. If they acted now, they could stop it before it opened the path.
"We have to stop it," Mellali agreed, his voice firm. "If that stone moves, it's not just one creature we'll be dealing with—it's an entire horde."
Hadjer nodded, her eyes hard. "Then we take it out, before it has a chance to finish."
Mellali felt the psychic energy surge through him again, ready to be unleashed. Hadjer, ever calm, took a step forward, her staff held tightly in her hands. They were ready.
The creature still hadn't noticed them, its bony hands gripping the edge of the stone slab, its hollow eyes focused on its task.
This was their moment. They had to act now, or risk losing everything.