PRP: Troubles in Marburg
Marburg, once a fairly prominent small town, at least until the fall of the local count which spelled the town's final days, is a dreary little place in the distance. Despite the day having been rather clear and sunny, the closer to Marburg one travels, it gets darker and gloomier, as if there is an otherworldly pall hanging over the town.
The adventurers that volunteered for this little duty were scheduled to meet a small cadre of soldiers under the leadership of a local man by the name of Corporal Lorne on this very hill. Despite the doom and gloom feeling in the local atmosphere, the soldiers are where they are supposed to be, not missing, as some might anticipate. So, that bodes well.
Sasha arrives and....looks around. "It's dark." Gee. never would have thought that. "Strange though. Why would it get dark this quickly?"
Hun'rar scratches his chin as he looks around "What we need here is a celebration, a festival perhaps?" he offers. "Corporal Lorne is it, whats the situation and mission?" he says with an enthusiastic salute.
Riding along on a hired horse, Duthei looks as blissful as if they were approaching a pastoral town wreathed in perfect picnic weather. "Clearly it senses that we are a threat," says the pretty blonde tower in fur-trimmed mail. "The land fears us, as it should."
Erakirak has been riding on a rented pony, seeming largely inattentive to the mission itself. When going downhill he gets off the pony, letting it follow the group on its own, and practices gliding for as long as he can. The rest of the time he stays in the saddle and works on training a hawk whose coloration almost matches his own.
"We're not really... um... here to fight the land, though," points out the voice of Zant from down below the horse-bound Duthei, where he pads along srprisingly casually, considering everything. "I'd imagine we're here to do something about it *being* like this, rather than... Us causing it. I really would hope the latter wasn't the case anyway."
Just because it is dark, doesn't mean it is bad. It is getting sort of late, afterall... and it might storm! Who knows!? But there is indeed something ominous in the air, and it might be the rather intimidating beard upon the face of Corporal Lorne which appears as if it needs its own suit of armor. So luxurious!
"Yes, I am Corporal Lorne. This is Hinord, Teina, Ennos, and Lorich." Lorne states, introducing his comrades. A second, rather large and burly man, a suspiciously old and wizended woman who looks to be some sort of cleric, a man with more weapons than most armories and scars to pair them with, and a dwarf who looks like he has some bad gas, respectively.
"Can't say for sure the land is... fighting us or anything, but I sent my scout ahead and haven't heard back from him yet, so either he got held up for some reason or we're in for a surprise or two. Anyway, if you have any concerns or don't feel up for shaking down some peasants or the trouble that might come with it, now is the time to not come with. After this, you're expected to follow through and will be held accountable for cowardice. Or so I am told."
"It's a joke," Duthei says placidly. "Of course there's horror and death up ahead. We just have to make certain that we outdo it in our own ferocity."
Erakirak twists his beak in a faint sneer. "Worry about your own courage, human. My own is well established. This missing scout of yours... was he competent?"
Hun'rar laughs "I have the Great Hunting Dragon in my corner, I have nothing to fear." he says donning his helmet. "We shall find your scouts and see whats wrong."
<OOC> Erakirak says, "Other than the dwarf everyone seems human?"
Sasha says, "One way or another." She then looks to Erak. "Your opinions should be held if they're derogatory of other species. Althea loves all...or tries to.""
<OOC> Devola says, "Yes."
Erakirak shrugs. "Universal love is all well and good, but the battlefield is not the best place to demonstrate it."
Lorne clears his throat loudly. "If you say so." He replies to Erakirak and then waves his hand, which is apparently a signal of some sort as his soldiers start to make their way towards the town. "He was good enough. Not likely to be done in by a few peasants. I hope we find him, because I don't want to bring back any bad news."
Whether the adventurers follow or not, the soldiers are making their way towards Marburg, which will take about five minutes at a walking pace. As before, the closer they travel towards Marburg, the darker and gloomier things get. Fog starts to creep in, typical forest sounds are replaced by spookier things and creatures watch them from the shadows.
The town itself seems to be in good condition, though from outside the town, only one person can be seen, shuffling slowly through the fog towards the entrance they were approaching. He seems to have a small canine with him.
Erakirak pays some attention to the ground to see what kinds of tracks are visible along their path, especially those of this scout, as they travel.
"Well, best to dismount here, I suppose." Duthei slides from the back of their horse, taking up the polearm hung from the saddle; undoing the leather bag at its business end, it is revealed to be a billhook of vicious-looking make with a thick mahogany shaft. Gleaming in the dimming light, the hook leads, and Duthei follows it down the road with the rest of you.
Hun'rar has his shield up and his hand on the pomel of his sword. "Brace yourself for potential trouble and smile. It will help aleviate the gloom here!" he says in a chipper tone. "Perhaps a song is in order?"
Erakirak unlimbers his bow and follows, paying attention to the shadows all around, making no noticeable effort to either smile or sing.
"Ah, geez..." Zant murmurs while they walk along and he peers to the way of the town -- though despite the slightly-worried tone of his words, he still maintains a faint smile on his lips and steps along with much more energy than he might be justified with, nearly skipping every now and then, all while his hands are wrapped together behind his back. "Have you seen anything liket his anywhere?" He asks of Sasha, since he's walking more or less besides her -- he probably gets along with her decently well, see. "I mean, I've heard of stories like that of Felwo-- Ha?" He slows his pace down upon seeing the silhouettes within the fog. "... I don't suppose that's just the scout?"
Sasha slides off the saddle and tilts her head. "They're.....acting weird too." She says softly. "be ready."
Duthei does pick up the song, having a rather sweet, soft, but clear soprano. The words they use, however, are strange and barbed. "I shall sing them to their doom," Duthei says pleasantly, pausing their song, "If they don't behave themselves." Blue eyes flash with keen interest, and the bill's savage end sets ready in their hands.
Preparation can be good. Having weapons at the ready can show that one means business, and in the case of uppity peasants, that can disuade them rather swiftly, but considering the general atmosphere, that is likely not going to be the case.
"Nuh! A song... not likely the time for that!" The dwarf named Lorich retorts at Hun'rar. "Best be silent. If something caught that smarmy little bastard then its likely able to catch us too. Sneakiest bugger there's ever been."
"Yorich is right." Lorne agrees. "We best keep ready. And no, that is not him. I do not recognize that fellow, but I am originally from here, so let me do the talking, alright?"
So, Lorne approaches the man who looks rather frail and emaciated. The dog doesn't look much better. "Hail, man of Marburg. We have come to investigate the reports coming from this region. Will you help?"
The Old man looks down at the dog like its expecting it to answer, then looks up. "Sure, sure..." He wheezes. "Might as well come in." He then gestures to the village proper.
<OOC> Sasha says, "Can I....try a heal roll to see how badly emaciated he is....and perhaps find signs of why?"
<OOC> Devola says, "Sure."
GAME: Sasha rolls heal: (19)+10: 29
You paged Sasha with 'You don't see any real blatant reasons that he might be in the condition that he is, nor with the dog, either. However, it could be attributed to the general poverty of the town, though something does seem off.'
Sasha tilts her head quietly and places a hand on Hun'rar's shoulder....pointedly. "Something seems off about the old man. there's no real reason why he should be in that condition, even with the poverty of the town...."
GAME: Hun'rar rolls heal: (19)+9: 28
You paged Hun'rar with 'You don't see any real blatant reasons that he might be in the condition that he is, nor with the dog, either. However, it could be attributed to the general poverty of the town, though something does seem off.'
Hun'rar nods to Sash and draws his sword, although he tries to be as non-threatening as he can. "Hail, citizen. Forgive my rudeness but you appear of ill health, is there a plague or other disease in the town?" he offers as he approaches. "We have healers amongst us, we can help."
Duthei pages: Let's start with religion. Might be undead.
GAME: Duthei rolls knowledge/religion: (15)+3: 18
Erakirak regards the villager and the dog, now that his attention has been called to the anomalous nature of his condition. He attempts to determine whether it's reminiscent of any natural condition he knows of.
GAME: Erakirak rolls knowledge/nature+2: (7)+4+2: 13
You paged Duthei with 'Due to a lack of any noticeable markings or deformities, you are unable to determine if there is a undead-related cause, though he does seem to be... probably alive.'
From afar, Duthei laughs. Okay. I'll wait until more stuff happens for additional cues.
You paged Erakirak with 'Just looks like poor nutrition and general lack of food.'
Duthei squints at the old man, the bill at rest against their shoulder. "This place looks like it's cursed," Duthei says cheerfully. "Did you have a monstrous overlord or somesuch take up residence here?"
Erakirak shrugs indifferently after a while and stops paying much attention to the old man and his dog.
"Pfah!" The old man replies and tries to spit on the ground, but its fairly ineffective. "Naught but a curse of poverty in these parts. Food has been hard to come by, too. Sickness came and went, didn't help any."
Corporal Lorne looks back at the others and then gestures forward, indicating that they should take the old man up on his offer to enter the village so they can see what is going on. The dog barks weakly and disappears into the foggy village as the man shoos it away. "Haven't had a true lord here for generations." He claims. "Naught that anyone would wish to own these parts, anyhow."
Erakirak nods silent agreement as he follows the locals into the village. There doesn't appear to be much of anything here worth owning. Or stealing, for that matter.
Sasha walks along with the old man without question. "Maybe I was wrong, Hun'rar." She says softly as she walks along with him.
"This place has a cloud hanging over it," Duthei says, passing through the gates with the rest as they do so - always in the rear ranks, it must be said, but the again that's where a GIANT BRUSH AXE should be positioned. "Literally. Are you sure nothing's happened besides this 'sickness'?"
"Then..." Chimes out Zant from the very center of the group, with a vaguely worried tone in his voice for once. "... Who governs these lands, here?" His eyes flick up to the sky, then, at the heel end of Duthei's statement. "...And yeah. that."
Erakirak attempts to split off from the group surreptitiously as they enter the village itself and moves more stealthily more-or-less paralleling their direction of travel, keeping an eye out for anyone who seems to be stalking them. Well, anyone else.
GAME: Erakirak rolls stealth: (13)+9: 22
GAME: Erakirak rolls perception+2: (10)+10+2: 22
"This village has been under the jurisdiction of the neighboring lord for some time." Lorne states. "Ever since the mines dried up, just not worth the trouble of keeping someone here to watch over it. The land isn't worth what it once was." At what Lorne says, the old man turns and looks at him. "Know quite a bit, don't you?" And Lorne nods, before stating he grew up in Marburg.
The old man pauses. "I... I don't remember you." He states.
Around them, a few more people can be seen, peeking out from the fog and from their rundown homes.
"Really? I suppose I do not recognize you, either." Lorne replies suspiciously.
Hun'rar taps his gauntletted finger on the cheekplate of his helmet. "Well better have a look around if you don't mind. Make sure everything is tip top." he adds raising his hand, casting a detection spell.
<OOC> Hun'rar will detect evil.
"I'm going to end up taking someone's head," Duthei cheerfully asides to Ekariak.
You paged Hun'rar with 'You detect a rather extreme quantity of evil. Very extreme. Something is definitely going on here.'
Hun'rar pages: Is the man evil?
You paged Hun'rar with 'The whole place is evil. So much evil!'
Hun'rar pages: But is the man specificaly? Like if he were undead? It lets me focus in on targets.
You paged Hun'rar with 'He is excrutiatingly evil.'
Hun'rar raises his sword "Down on the ground and keep your hands behind your back." he says pointing the sword at the man. "By the power of Gilead this whole place reeks of evil and you must be purged of its taint." he declares. "Submit and we will take it easy on you."
The old man shakes his head. "My memory escapes me, but perhaps... perhaps my boys might recognize you." He turns slightly. "Boys! Get out here. See if you recognize this man."
Nearby, two figures shamble out of a house. They are... probably the old man's boys, but they definitely are not what most people would consider the model family by the looks of it. Skin sloughing off, rotting, and bones jutting out in various places, with hair falling out and a ghastly palor to them, the boys are... well... not exactly alive. And they have rather long claws at the end of their fingers.
"Well...? Do you recognize them?" The old man chides before looking back over his shoulder at the others.
From around them, the villagers begin moving in closer. Like the boys, they are dead. Armed with shovels, pickaxes, rakes, and other village tools, they look ready to do battle.
Lorne draws his sword. "Well... this explains a few things." The dwarf spits as he hefts his axe.
"Evil... you say?" The old man asks as he stands up tall, no longer even a bit hunched. "Its been so long since anyone has come to visit us, let alone cared to. So, we are just making due." He cackles a bit. "Obviously, you must perish... like that other one that came in earlier. He wasn't as stealthy as he thought."
Sasha says, "That....explains a lot about what happened." She says softly as she immediately puts a spell on Hun'rar."
Erakirak sighs and climbs up onto the nearest roof before preparing to rain arrows down on the undead.
"Alright, we're surrounded..." Lorne states with a bit of frustration evident in his voice. "Me and my troops will watch your backs and get us a way out."
"There will be no way out for you." The old man states as he backs up a few paces to join his boys while the villagers close in around them.
<OOC> Devola says, "Anyway, there are four zombies between your group and the old man and the two bigger zombie-things."
<OOC> Devola says, "Lorne and his men are keeping the zombies off you from behind."
<OOC> Sasha thought we were surrounded?
<OOC> Sasha says, "that makes sense..."ooc You are. Lorne and the other soldiers are defending the back side. You're going forward.
<OOC> Devola says, "You are. Lorne and the other soldiers are defending the back side. You're going forward."
<OOC> Sasha says, "Also....can I put Bull's strength on Hun'rar before this?"ooc Nnn... roll d20
<OOC> Devola says, "Nnn... roll d20"
GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20: (15): 15ooc Yes.
<OOC> Devola says, "Yes."
GAME: Sasha refreshes spells.
GAME: Sasha casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
<OOC> Sasha burns it.
<OOC> Sasha says, "now....Channel energy....to damage the undead."
<OOC> Devola says, "Okay."
GAME: Sasha rolls 2d6: (8): 8+roll +4
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Red-head Zombie's turn! Erakirak is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Erakirak's turn! Super Fat Zombie is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Erakirak ended.
<OOC> Erakirak says, "Did I make it up on the roof already? (posed it before the timestop) If so, shoot the redheaded zombie. If not, climb to the nearest roof if one's available."
<OOC> Devola says, "Likely would not have had time to climb to the top before the stuff happened, so you can do that this turn."
<OOC> Devola says, "Also..."
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20: (19): 19
<OOC> Devola says, "Roll athletics."
GAME: Erakirak rolls athletics: (11)+8: 19
<OOC> Devola says, "You fall through the old, moldy roof, but don't take any damage from it."
<OOC> Erakirak says, "Yay glideywings!"
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 19.
It is now Super Fat Zombie's turn! Little Boy is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Super Fat zombie attacks Sasha, angrily."
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 19.
It is now Little Boy's turn! Big Boy is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Little boy passes."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 16.
It is now Big Boy's turn! Lorne's Crew is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Big boy passes."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Lorne's Crew's turn! Eyeless Zombie is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20: (19): 19
<OOC> Devola says, "They take 19 damage."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Eyeless Zombie's turn! Old Man is next!
"Thank you." Sasha says to the forces behind her. She then looks to Hun'rar. "Get tot he old man! He's gotta be the one holding them here!" She raises her staff. "ALTHEA! THESE PEOPLE ARE IN PAIN! RELEASE THEM!" and she stamps the staff on the ground, putting out a dome of positive blue energy, that seems to do a good deal of damage to the dead....
<OOC> Devola says, "The eyeless zombie attacks Hun'rar"
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 12.
It is now Old Man's turn! Zant is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Old man passes."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 12.
It is now Zant's turn! Hun'rar is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Zant ended.
<OOC> Zant says, "I was walking besides Sasha, so is the fat one in my immediate range?"
Erakirak scowls and shakes his head. Should have known better than to trust a village full of humans. He climbs the nearest wall to secure a good firing position, but before he can nock and draw the roof crumples under him. His wings flare instinctively and bring him safely to the ground. He takes advantage of the opportunity to glide away from the circle of undead, landing about 40' away.
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (5)+6+1: 12
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (13)+6+1: 20
<OOC> Erakirak says, "...assuming that's possible?"
<OOC> Devola says, "I suppose that is fine. But... you're isolated."
GAME: Zant rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7
<OOC> Devola says, "Okay. Sasha and Zant, roll Fortitute."
<OOC> Zant says, "Uh oh."
GAME: Zant rolls fort: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Sasha rolls fort: (13)+7: 20
<OOC> Devola says, "The zombie POPS like a nasty bloated tick, covering you two in gross, nasty zombie guts!"
<OOC> Devola says, "Zant acquires False Death, which is completely irrelevant unless you want to RP it for the future."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 9.
It is now Hun'rar's turn! Duthei is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Hun'rar ended.
<OOC> Hun'rar says, "Right, attack the one that attacked me."
<OOC> Hun'rar says, "Power attack and Arcane Strike."
GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10+2-1: (2)+9+2+-1: 12
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 8.
It is now Duthei's turn! Possible Leper Zombie is next!
GAME: Duthei RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 6 temporary HP<OOC> Duthei says, "Imma turn into space!"
GAME: Duthei rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Duthei rolls 1d8+6: (4)+6: 10
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 6.
It is now Possible Leper Zombie's turn! Sasha is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Possible Leper Zombie goes after floaty bird dude."
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Devola rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: You damaged Erakirak for 3 points. 17 HP remaining.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 21.
It is now Sasha's turn! Red-head Zombie is next!
Hun'rar catches a zombie on his shield and tries to return the favor with a slash from his sword only to catch air.
Battle with the zombies begins! The old man and his boys stand back for the time being, content to watch the lesser zombies tear the adventurers and soldiers apart, but it seems that it is not going to go perfectly well for the zombies.
They start off with little impact, only one managing to catch Ekakirak and scratch at him a few times, but the most noteworthy thing is the particularly fat zombie that Zant decided to punch into next week exploded like a bloated, beached whale a week out in the sun. Needless to say, the smell is atrocious, and Zant gets a good mouthful of zombie guts or something, because he manages to pick up some sort of not-so-good ailment from it. The soldiers fare slightly worse than the adventurers.
"You shouldn't have come!" The old man mocks. "It will be the last bad choice you make, thankfully."
And now, Duthei will turn into space.
One moment, the blonde tower is beautiful and fair - the next moment, their pale flesh grows transparent, bones and organs visible for just a hair's breadth of a moment before all biological matter turns a nebulous violet-green, flecked with what looks for all the world like a smattering of distant stars. Their hair turns into a blue-black mass of silken tendrils, and their mouth opens to exhale a sound like that of the moaning of some faraway wind deep in a distant cave.
< MULCHING TIME, > the Duthei-thing says in a horrible, resonant voice as it brings the head of its billhook down past Zant's shoulder and carves deeply through the formerly fat zombie's rotted flesh and bone, opening up a new, fetid valley in its body. < I DO SO LIKE GARDENING. >
"I dunno about that!" Calls Zant over all the ruckus back to the old man while his fist is sent flying towards the zombie that got WAY too close to Sasha. "I've seen some REALLY bad decisions ma-" SPLOOSH goes the fat. "BWAAAAAGH?!" Cue hands going rapidly flailing at all the muck that splattered on him, and rapid coughing.
GAME: Sasha casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
<OOC> Sasha uses the weapon to attack the bloated dead.
GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20+3+3: (13)+3+3: 19
GAME: Sasha rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4
<OOC> Devola says, "Big fat zombie goes down."
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Red-head Zombie's turn! Erakirak is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Attacking Sasha!"
+roll 1d20+4
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Erakirak's turn! Little Boy is next!
<OOC> Erakirak says, "5' step back, shoot Leper Zombie"
GAME: Erakirak rolls weapon3+1: (2)+7+1: 10
Sasha's attention is towards Zant at the moment, and she puts up a weapon to help him out as best she can. A bill of force appears with Zant to poke at the bloated dead....and since the smell doesn't bother force weapons.....
Unfortunately, Rak was unable to gain enough distance from the zombie horde to avoid being attacked, but fortunately it was only a scratch. He really hopes that isn't enough to turn him into a zombie or give him some loathsome disease. At least it means they aren't quite so surrounded, and he wasn't covered by zombie guts. He backs up and tries to fire an arrow into the rotting eyesocket of the zombie attacking him, but his shot goes wild.
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 19.
It is now Little Boy's turn! Big Boy is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Pass."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 16.
It is now Big Boy's turn! Lorne's Crew is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Pass."
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Lorne's Crew's turn! Eyeless Zombie is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20: (6): 6
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Eyeless Zombie's turn! Old Man is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Attacking Ek"
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 12.
It is now Old Man's turn! Zant is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Pass."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 12.
It is now Zant's turn! Hun'rar is next!
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (12)+6+1: 19
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (6)+6+1: 13
GAME: Zant rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 9.
It is now Hun'rar's turn! Duthei is next!
<OOC> Hun'rar will power attack and arcane strike him.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10+2-1: (1)+9+2+-1: 11
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 8.
It is now Duthei's turn! Possible Leper Zombie is next!
<OOC> Duthei says, "Who's closest?"
<OOC> Duthei says, "That is, at 10' range."
<OOC> Devola says, "Red-head."
GAME: Duthei rolls 1d20+8: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Duthei rolls 1d8+6: (6)+6: 12
"AUGH WHAT IS THIS STUFF IT FEELS AWFUL," clamors Zant, hands all flailing in a brief moment of panic while the goo somehow feels like it's MELTING INTO HIM. AAAAUUUUGH!!! His priorities shift over again when a new zombie comes along to shuffle towards them -- and for that matter, a sword of energy stabs into the fat one. "Thank you! Again!" He calls to Sasha, gratefully, and apparently decides to repay her by way of ORA!ing the redhead getting all up in her grill.
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 6.
It is now Possible Leper Zombie's turn! Sasha is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Attacking Hun'rar."
+roll 1d20+4
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 21.
It is now Sasha's turn! Red-head Zombie is next!
As zombies are hacked apart all around, the old man seems unconcerned. Is it possible that he has a trick or two up his sleeve? Perhaps, because a moment later he nods his head and the two bigger zombies with him rush at the adventurers.
Duthei is still space, still scary, and still making with the billhook. Zant makes a good lead indicator, punching things into bags of jelly, and so the howling monstrosity in the fur-trimmed mail swings its polearm down and takes a vertical section out of the redheaded corpse's ribs. Sandwich meat of the damned!
Hun'rar continues to do his best impression of a wiffle ball bat as he swings and misses at the zombie. At least its not hitting him either.
GAME: Sasha casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
GAME: Sasha rolls 2d8+4: (3)+4: 7
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Erakirak's turn! Little Boy is next!
<OOC> Erakirak says, "5' backup, shoot."
GAME: Erakirak rolls weapon3+1: (2)+7+1: 10
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 19.
It is now Little Boy's turn! Big Boy is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Little boy runs in and attacks Sasha."
+roll 1d20+6
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 16.
It is now Big Boy's turn! Lorne's Crew is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "big boy attacks Zant"
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24
Erakirak briefly has two zombies slashing at him, though fortunately the eyeless zombie misses and the possible leper attacks a different target. He caws loudly and steps back, attempting to quiet the pounding of his heart as he looses an arrow at the eyeless zombie, once again firing wild.+roll 1d8+2
GAME: Devola rolls 1d8+2: (4)+2: 6
GAME: You damaged Zant for 6 points. 24 HP remaining.
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Lorne's Crew's turn! Eyeless Zombie is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20: (18): 18
GAME: Devola rolls 1d2: (1): 1
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Eyeless Zombie's turn! Old Man is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "attacking Ek"
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 12.
It is now Old Man's turn! Zant is next!
As the red headed zombie shambles up to Sasha and scrapes her armor, Sasha's hand reaches out and grabs it's forehead. "You shall be destroyed by the light of Althea....and meet Vardama!" And the red headed zombie explodes.....
<OOC> Devola says, "Pass."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 12.
It is now Zant's turn! Hun'rar is next!
<OOC> Zant says, "I, um... I punch a little boy...? And probably feel really bad about it."
<OOC> Zant says, "I'll spend Ki this time because two flurry of blow attacks is clearly not enough."
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (18)+6+1: 25
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (19)+6+1: 26
GAME: Zant rolls melee+1: (9)+6+1: 16
GAME: Zant rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Zant rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 9.
It is now Hun'rar's turn! Duthei is next!
GAME: Hun'rar rolls weapon10+2-1: (4)+9+2+-1: 14
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 8.
It is now Duthei's turn! Possible Leper Zombie is next!
<OOC> Duthei attack little boy.
GAME: Duthei rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15
<OOC> Devola says, "Miss."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 6.
It is now Possible Leper Zombie's turn! Sasha is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "Attacking Hun'rar"
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 21.
It is now Sasha's turn! Erakirak is next!
"OI!" Zant's voice yells out from besides the little boy of a zombie, pronounced by his foot stomping down besides him. "IT'S REALLY..." A fist flies into the thing's head. "RUDE TO ATTACK..." Another one. "A HEALER!" Another punch flies along, but this time the fist just chiffs along the boy's scalp. "ALSO I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL REALLY BAD ABOUT THIS IF YOU WEREN'T A ZOMBIE." His eyes flick briefly to Sasha, then, and to her he calls, "Back up if you can! I'll keep them off you!"
With the two larger zombies in battle, things look like they could swing either way, even though the basic zombies are falling in droves. Though the old man's boys take swings, they are ineffective, and then Zant punches the crap out of one of them, sending it reeling. The old man sneers as his kid is struck.
<OOC> Sasha says, "I'll step 5' away from the little boy and channel energy."
GAME: Sasha rolls 2d6: (8): 8
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14
<OOC> Devola says, "The leper zombie that Hun'rar is fighting goes down."
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Erakirak's turn! Little Boy is next!
GAME: Possible Leper Zombie removed from initiative list.
<OOC> Erakirak says, "5' step back, miss eyeless!"
GAME: Erakirak rolls weapon3+1: (7)+7+1: 15
Duthei is not going to have any child actors on THEIR set. Slashing out with the billhook, the astral horror-person tries to hook the kid by the ribs, but doesn't quite make the mark.
"Thank you, Zant." Sasha says as he comes over to attack the little zombie boy. She stamps her staff on the ground again, damaging the undead in the area, and the zombie Hun'rar had been fighting goes down. "go for the old man, Hun'rar!"
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 19.
It is now Little Boy's turn! Big Boy is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21
GAME: Devola rolls 1d8+2: (7)+2: 9
GAME: You damaged Sasha for 9 points. 28 HP remaining.
+ninit
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 16.
It is now Big Boy's turn! Lorne's Crew is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26
GAME: Devola rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5
GAME: You damaged Zant for 5 points. 19 HP remaining.
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 15.
It is now Lorne's Crew's turn! Eyeless Zombie is next!
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+5: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Devola rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20
GAME: Devola rolls 1d8+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Devola rolls 1d8+4: (3)+4: 7
GAME: Devola rolls 1d8+4: (7)+4: 11
GAME: Devola advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 15.
It is now Eyeless Zombie's turn! Old Man is next!
<OOC> Devola says, "The old Man steps forward and unrolls a scroll, promptly casting a teleport for him and his boys, pulling them all out of combat and disappearing."
GAME: Duthei ends its rage.
GAME: Devola removes the timestop.
Timestop by Devola has left.
GAME: You remove the timestop.
The arrival of Lorne's troops among the adventurers, post-slaughter of the other zombies, causes the old man to apparently panic and he steps forward, reveals a scroll, and then activates the magic upon it, teleporting him and his boys out of there. As soon as he disappears, the remaining few zombies drop to the ground.
"Well..." Lorich states, battered and bloodied. "That was more than I was barganing for." Corporal Lorne wipes his blade clean and sheathes it. "We'll need to figure out where that old man departed to. He's clearly central to whatever is going on here. Ennos is too injured to fight, so I'll send him back with a message about what is going on here, and ask for reinforcements. But if we wait too long, they may escape us."
"Well, that, uh..." Murmurs Zant, sweaty, battered and... covered in goo and such. "...Could have gone worse." Saying that much, he immediately collapses down onto one knee with his fist slamming down onto the ground to help steady him while he goes through a brief series of coughing fits. What on earth was that goo made of, anyway? "How..." He looks to Sasha, with a faint, rueful smile. "...Are you doing? I saw you got hit."
Hun'rar looks at where the Old man and the zombies dissapeared. "Well... that was something. We need to seach the town and secure it. Somehow I doubt he will not stay away for long." he notes raising his visor.
Lorne frowns. "He's over there. You can give it a try, but he's pretty beat up." Indeed, Ennos is in pretty rough shape. Though Sasha could probably help him feel better, he's not likely to return to fighting strength today.
Immediately, the wild, howling, void-fleshed thing that was Duthei reverts to its calm, feline self; the restored beauty lets out a sigh as they hold out the gore-stained billhook in one hand, whilst flicking off chunks of dead men off their breastplate. "Well," they say, chuckling with a hint of fatigue in their melodious voice, "That wasn't /quite/ as much as I wanted to do, but at least nobody died." A beat. "I mean. Except for them."
Erakirak rejoins the group, somewhat warily. "Well. They died quite a while ago, I suspect."
Sasha places her hand on ennos and gives him a lot of healing power in one shot. "You should head back towards your camp." She then looks to Duthei. "They were already dead." She says putting out more healing energy for everyone. "We should bring the temple of Vardama into this. They have Specialists."
"We'll work at securing a small section of the town... as best as we can." Lorne states. "It'll be tough work, I suspect. Should give you some time to look around and see if you can find any trace of where they went to. We'll also burn the bodies. Should help somewhat."
Erakirak nods. "Sensible. I'll search the area for any indication of where the creatures are based."
"Well, certainly," Duthei says cheerfully, as if they had never changed. "But now they're dead again. And I need a bath." At the mention of corpse-burning, they chuckle. "I'll do that. I've lots of experience. You have to get the pyre just right, or they won't disintegrate properly."
Sasha says, "Cut their heads off first. That'll keep them from being raised."
Erakirak says, "How were they turned in the first place?"
Lorne nods. "Alright. We had better get to work. Half of these things could get back up again if that old guy comes back." He and his soldiers wander off to start building a small barricade place.
Duthei is already using their evolved brush axe to lop off heads, humming a bright tune to themselves. Well.