They Hunger
Log Info
- Title: They Hunger
- GM: Riptide
- Place: The village of Emberline, Alexandros
The mining town of Emberline is under attack.
An urgent distress call came from this town and was delivered via the quickest courier that the town had to offer. You and your allies answered the call. Currently, you're in a rather frantic horse-drawn carriage out in the direction of the town, which is a good few hours away from Alexandria.
The report is a gruesome thing. It speaks of the dead and the reanimated dead, lead by what appears to be one living necromancer. The remaining townsfolk that weren't slaughtered overnight have abandoned their homes and set up an infiltration force outside. You're their reinforcements.
When you arrive on the outskirts of the town, there's makeshift barricades and improvised traps, making careful and clever use of mining tools and implements to ensure the undead have to overcome an awful lot to attack the remaining townsfolk. It's an older human woman with streaks of grey in her blonde hair, dressed in armor that's seen better days, who approaches your group first.
"Th'name's Jennae," she says, gruffly. "As of last night, I'm the acting mayor of Emberline. I'm grateful the Guild was able to get people out here so quickly. We need some specialized forces to go in and take care of the necromancer and his pets. There's plenty of zombies that were created from the graveyard and from our fallen, but we can take care of them on our front so long as you take out the ones we can't take care of."
She regards all with bright blue eyes. "I'd love to answer any questions. But we don't have long." She gestures up to the afternoon sky. "I want to press the attack soon before they gain the advantage of night."
Rocky chuffs and nods, tail lashing in anger behind him. "This One is called Rocky. The Corspe-botherer, a local? Anyone known? Do you have map of where fighting will happen?"
A quick kiss for Andelena, two fed cats, and Dolan's out the door, gear and all, and on the wagon. He'd wasted no time, and wastes no time hopping out of the wagon on arrival. Today, instead of his usual topaz-golden eye set in its arcane-stamped ring of bronze and steel, it's a gem with a wholly different set of arcane runes set into the ring, this one night-black in all but the brightest light, and in the very brightest of light, only a mere glint of deepest red-black can be seen. The greatsword over his back is different as well, and positioned as a right-handed draw once more.
"Name's Dolan," he greets, grinning in what he hopes is a reassuring way. "So they move only by night, yeah? Can you describe what you've seen, so we know what we're dealing with?"
The Goblin spent most of the trip clinging to one of the seats in the carriage, trying to keep her teeth from clacking together over each bump in the road. As their conveyance comes to a stop outside the town, she steps down with wobbly legs and looks around. Acedia is silent as the mayor explains the situation. As the others begin speaking, she eyes each one in turn, nodding slowly as good questions are asked.
"Has it only been zombies? This could be good news, as... as far as undead go, zombies are not too terrible. Perhaps this necromancer is... an apprentice?"
At word of an undead problem, Harkashan was quick to step to the front of the line in regards to the distress call and those signing up for it. As a Deathsinger, there is a sense of intense duty when it comes to the abuse of the dearly departed.
As the group arrives at the outskirts of town, Harkashan notably arrives with a separate horse and carraige: stacked with various woods for burning, as well as burial cloths. No doubt for some, that may be a bit of an intense reaction. But at the same time, there is something to be said about the Sith-makar adherence to fire as Children of Flame.
As the cart gets stopped at the edges of the barricades, Harkashan steps off of the horse and ties it off, and bows his head to Jennae.
"You have done well to protect your people." Acting Mayor, that means the original mayor is no doubt no more. "I am Harkashan, a Cleric to the Death Singing Dragon." Speaking to the matter of Specialized Forces. There's a finality to his tone. An intenseness that Rune has seen with him before when it comes to matters of undead.
"You would know the town best. Do you have a town map, or can you draw a rough map of the town - and the likely place of this Necromancer? The graveyard..." He pauses, touching his hand to his armor. "We are not from here, so your knowledge would be greatly helpful." Putting more power into their hands and those listening, hoping to raise morale and get a further sense of taking back control to the people.
GAME: Harkashan rolls Diplomacy: (14)+13: 27
The call for help would have been enough to have Rune stepping forward, but the fact that this seems to involve undead means that it has a particular meaning to Harkashan. Thus, double the reason for the rogue to volunteer.
Hopping down from the carriage, Rune is already reaching for her blades, not knowing just how quickly they might be thrown into the heat battle. She touches an amulet at her throat, causing a small smattering of scales to appear across her cheeks and forearms, then steps forward. "I'm Rune." She nods to those familiar to her, and listens for the names of those who are not.
"Anything particular we need to know? Creatures striking from hiding, or with unusual abilities that we might need to be aware of." She asks, then shoots a glance to Rocky, nodding again. "Or anyplace in town that we might be able to use to our advantage?"
Jennae snorts a little at Rocky. "Corpse-botherer? Bud, that's under-selling the man by about a mile and then some. He's a stranger that showed up in town a couple of weeks ago--a half-sil man with a mask that covered half of his face. Said it was a skin condition. I didn't believe him, but my predecessor sure liked the way that he talked and liked the money he was spending at his inn even more. Wouldn't be the first criminal or outlaw we harbored in this town by a long shot." Her blue eyes roll. "We kept finding disturbed graves here and there--and then last night it all went to the Hells. By my estimate, half of us are alive. The other half are dead or one of the undead horde now."
She turns to look at Dolan and nods. "They stalled their activity during the day. My guess is the necromancer's hiding out in the inn. It's smack dab in the center of town and allows him the most control of the field." The way she speaks, she's more than familiar with battlefield tactics. "I've had a couple of boys risk life and limb to get closer to the town and they reported the undead have withdrawn into our homes for now. My thought is if we rush in first, we draw the zombies out and give you cover to move into the inn."
She sighs. "But I'm sorry to say--it's not just zombies. There's these ghoulish-looking things that he's got with him, three of them. They still have their entrails and everything in them. They've got these wicked-long tongues and everything. Freakiest shit I've ever seen. I saw them grabbing and cleaving down everything in their paths. You don't want to get caught by one of them."
"The graveyard's behind the inn," Jennae adds. "'swhy I think that the necromancer's holed up in that building. As for a map--I can have someone draw up one for you. Not gonna be the nicest thing in the world, but I don't think you'll much need it."
GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/Religion+2: (15)+9+2: 26 GAME: Dolan rolls knowledge/religion+3: (20)+14+3: 37
Harkashan touches a hand to the bottom tip of his muzzle, considering what Jennae is saying. Listening carefully. A half-sil with a mask. Possibly hiding rot. "Did they by chance smell... 'sweet' to be around?" Harkashan inquires with Jennae. "Or wear a lot of floral scents to cover up their own?" It will be important to know if the Necromancer themself is undead or not.
There's a little huff from him, taking note of where they are. Where they've hold up. "Your tactics are sound, as far as I can tell." He then adds, in regards to heading into town and drawing them out. "And I've got some abilities to clear them out en-masse if they form up on your people, if you'd want to keep a closer formation." He adds.
But then there's the matter of the ghoulish things. "Mohrg. Yes, I know of them." He looks at Dolan, no doubt sharing a moment of recognition both. "You'll have to be careful of fast zombies in that case."
Rocky exhales slowly, upset, but nods. "This One does not like idea of townsfolk risking themselves for our benefit. It is we who do the risking. But, is a good plan." The greyscale peers towards the town, falling still a moment before nodding. "Hit fast, hit hard, hit before nightfall. This One is ready."
He says that, but fiddles with his large blade and heavy shield anyway. One tiny flaw can make all the difference.
Tapping the side of one sword against her thigh, Rune seems to be listening. She mutters a curse under her breath at the fact that it is a fellow half-sil responsible for this. As if half-breeds didn't have enough problems. "Maybe the graveyard is what drew him in the first place. Easy access." That, however, is just a wild guess.
The prospect of letting the townspeople lure out the zombies is met with a firm set of her lips. Certainly, they can't take on everything, and the necromancer is the most important target if they are to deal with this before night falls. "This is your home, I trust you to know it best. But if you get overwhelmed or need to fall back, do it. From the sounds if it, there have already been enough lives lost."
Then, looking towards Harkashan and Dolan, Rune seems to raise her brows, as if expecting more information.
Acedia makes a face. "Well, there goes the hope that the necro is not really skilled. Ghoulish-looking things? I'll keep your warning in mind, certainly. Three of them. Okay." She eyes Rocky a moment. "I am loathe to put them in danger, I would not ask them to do so, however, who are we to tell them they cannot defend themselves, or their homes? All we can do is do our best to keep them from harm." The Goblin eyes Jennae, "I think the mayor has it under control. And we can call upon the gods for assistance as far as wounds go."
"Mohrg?", she wonders, eyeing the lava-scaled Sith. "Fast zombies, you say? Hmmp." Acedia nods to Rune, "That is good advice..."
She, too, eyes Harkashan and Dolan.
Dolan nods immediately at once to Harkashan, a firm thing that holds immediate recognition. "The Deathsinger's got it in one," he warns the others. "They're like a lot of undead, don't even try anything that messes with the mind, because it's not likely to work. Jennae's right, though, you do not want to get in the face of that tongue. If you get grappled, it'll try to turn you into another undead, because it'll restore their strength if they do. Still, they're vulnerable to holy power, so don't be afraid to pull out anything that counters evil."
His scowl deepens, even as he nods to the plan. "Be careful," he tells Jennae. "Have your people be careful, too. Let us take on the big uglies. You ever considered jamming some of those doors and windows shut from the outside?" He mutters, half to himself, "I damn sure hope this ain't the half-sil necromancer I've seen before. If it is, I've got some payback to lay down."
"You misunderstand," Jennae says, looking at Rocky. "Nobody's being forced to do anything other than the fact the necromancer forced us all to flee our houses. With your help, we take back our town. Every single able-bodied man and woman who ain't caring for a little one or the elderly's signed up for the effort."
Then she looks to Dolan. "I'm having my men come in with the stuff to do just that," Jennae responds with a broad smile. "Now, with any luck, we box in plenty before they have the opportunity to run out, and you lot don't have to worry about us."
She breathes out. "No. The necromancer wasn't undead himself, I don't think. Didn't have a particular smell with him. His blue eyes just looked... Dead. Like the light didn't quite shine in 'em."
Jennae crosses her arms. "Now, we all set here? Our push is soon. We've got a formation assembling and you're gonna be on the rear."
Harkashan nods. "I am ready to go." He answers. The things he brought, the burning wood, the ceremonial cloth... that would come at a later time. For now, he draws his blade and touches the pommel to one of the lavastones on his armor. "Lead the way."
Rocky understands, he just doesn't like it. The Heroes are here, the day is saved, everyone goes home safe. At least, that's how it should work. Rocky quite understands things seldom actually work out so nicely. And so he just nods, stepping forward to position, ready to charge in.
"The last thing I need is to be tongue-lashed by any more monsters." Rune shivers slightly, but it is more a gesture of disgust than fear. The rogue firms her grip in her weapons, drawing closer to Harkashan and the others. "Think we may need some of your spell expertise here, big-guy." He is, afterall, a specialist in the dead. Letting her gaze slip over each of them in turn, Rune nods, "Ready."
The Goblin's pointed ears perk up, and she begins checking her weapons. A longsword is inspected and sheathed, her dragonspitter is emptied, inspected, and then reloaded and reholstered. A number of pouches are inspected, and then she reverently looks over the Golden violin she carries in a case attached to her pack.
"Yes, I am ready. Good luck, and may Her light illuminate your path."
"Oh, that's Karan'taara, all right." Dolan fairly snarls, his scowl blacker than the gem that replaces his right eye. "Look out for mind-fuckery from the mage, too." The harness holding the bright, silvery greatsword to his back falls to the ground and away, and he rests the mighty blade over his good shoulder - the one not bound in a leather brace. "No mercy for that son of a hornet's nest and goat runs, and don't hold back, neither."
He, notably, does not explain, instead turning his whole body to survey the others. "Let's go."
GAME: Harkashan casts Bless. Caster Level: 7 DC: 15 GAME: Harkashan casts Prayer. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Harkashan casts Shield Other. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Harkashan casts Owl's Wisdom. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Harkashan casts Bull's Strength. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Harkashan casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 7 DC: 15 GAME: Harkashan casts Lesser Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Dolan casts Align Weapon. Caster Level: 9 DC: 15 GAME: Dolan casts Flames of the Faithful. Caster Level: 9 DC: 15 GAME: Harkashan casts Magic Weapon. Caster Level: 7 DC: 15
Rocky has no spells to cast. Just armor, shield, and a willingness to lend a hand where ever it may be needed. Be it lugging supplies, lending a solid shoulder to brace upon, or just an ear to listen a few moments. Which isn't to say he's not thankful for the magical spells used on his behalf.
The Goblin walks up and down the line of people setting up defenses, fortifying doors and offering words of courage and encouragement. "You've got this, stay steady and fear no darkness! Vadama is here, and she will smite these undead alongside you. Eluna will light your way, and Daeus will burn the undead with the purest fire. We shall send them back to their graves, and make a new one for the necromancer!"
Rune has no magic to offer, but she she does talk briefly with some of the townspeople and offer them a touch to the shoulder and a friendly smile where it can be offered. There isn't much that she can bring them other than to fight beside them to take back their homes. In the end, she returns to join the others, weapons drawn and at the ready, expression set with determination.
GAME: Harkashan casts Archon's Aura. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Dolan casts Coordinated Effort. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16
As the preparations begin as they step into town, wave after wave of pale grey-red light emanates out of Harkashan. Moving amongst the people. It's not just the specialists - the Adventurers - that he speaks to. As the towns people move forward, Harkashan tries to bolster their spirits further. Giving them hints.
"They will come at you fast. Don't be too afraid. Steel your mind, as their bodies will be weaker than some of the other zombies." He rumbles to a few of the ones who look like they are equipped with shields.
Touching his own blade, it begins to burn with a deep flame-like ember... right before a set of ethereal ember-like feathers flare out of his back, flaring across his body and illuminating the area around himself further.
"Let us return them to their proper resting place." Harkashan then rumbles, as he begins this deep low rumbling song - a Sith-makari dirge for the dead... hissing, clicking...
Meanwhile, seeing that the townspeople are being bolstered, turns to his allies, and speaks a few prayers in quick succession. By the end of the first two, the silvery greatsword ripples with sunlight and fire that turns the silver to Daeus' gold. For the last one. "Deathsinger, Rune," he pauses, and stares at Rocky, lets out a long sigh, and adds, "Yeah. You too. Come here. I've got one last prayer that'll help us work together. Anyone strikes home, take the opening, yeah?"
The prayer is a swift one, to guide their hands as they work together against evil, and then he turns to the others. "Let's be done with this."
Quickly, the army's mobilized for war.
It's a hundred men and women, give or take a few, that are armed in various degrees of armor and weapons. Not everyone was able to escape fully armored and fully kitted from their homes, but with the preparations and inspirations that the adventuring party offer them, this is less of a ragtag army and more of a band of people who are angry that their homes have been invaded by the undead and by the necromancer that controls them--angry enough to be unified as one.
Jennae sounds the assault and the army goes charging into the town. There's the sound of skirmishing already with a few zombies that have escaped here and there, but the civilian army is holding their own. Homes are boarded up quickly.
"Move, move, move!" Jennae orders your group into the direction of the inn once the path is clear.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1+2: (15)+13+2: 30 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+6+2: (7)+6+2: 15 GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Harkashan casts Burst of Radiance. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+10: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Harkashan rolls 5d4: (12): 12
Dolan fairly runs up, sword in hand, and jiggles the inn door. Barred. There's a surprise.
This is not the first time he has been faced with such a situation, though, and the solution is readily enough had. A short search turns up a window that had not yet been boarded up, and with quick and fearless motions, galvanized by the violin and the prayers at his back, he reverses the greatsword and *slams* the pommel into the mutton bars of the window like a man who's done that a few times. Glass and wood splinters fly in every direction, and his hair and clothing are liberally decorated with same, but there's an opening. A fairly large one.
"Fucker. Pay attention to the details, you little shit. Come on, everyone in."
Rocky lowers his head, perfectly ready to smash into the door. But then Dolan offers an alternative route, and the greyscale changes heading. There's a momentary scramble, as there's a lot of armor and sith to lift and get through the opening, but Rocky gets through the broken window and into the Inn.
"Makes sense they'd board this place up." Harkashan rumbles as the team gets to the inn, moving up on it. "Just remember we are in here, Jennae. If you need help, do not be afraid to ask." He calls out to her, as Dolan breaks down the window.
"There's things inside." The Sith-makar then is quick to note, with the window broken... "There!" He points, and then snaps his finger. In that same moment, there's a burst of radiant energy, blinding in that spot, temporarily illuminating the spot in the dark - before jumping inside after Dolan.
Readying himself for what comes next.
The fact that the door is barred is little surprise. Rune is quickly looking around for alternate methods of egress at the same point that she hears a crash of glass and notices Dolan sending glass and wood in all directions. The man is quite effective.
With the larger members of their party all piling in the window, Rune hangs back a moment, looking to Acedia with the patience of someone used to waiting on the front-liners to make their move first.
"After you?" She offers, then will wait for the Goblin before leaping in last to join the others inside the inn.
GAME: Acedia rolls acrobatics: (4)+13: 17
The Goblin grins nervously at Rune, "Why certainly, and thank you!" With a short dash, and an unlady grunt, Acedia is up and balancing precariously on the windowsill. For a brief moment, it appears as though she may be making a quick return trip, but with a flailing of arms,and dropping of her instrument and bow, which poof into quick smudges of smoke, the Gobbo throws herself into the room.
"Oof. That was almost embarrassing." At least she landed on her feet! "EEWWH, uglies!" She quickly reaches for her pistol.
The sight inside is horror.
Tables are turned over or onto their sides. There are so many bodies. So many detached limbs and entrails that have been ripped apart. Three skeletal creatures with their innards, impossibly, still inside of their bones are eating with tongues that are far, far, far too long, pulling away at the dead flesh on the floor. Behind them, a half-sil man with raven-black hair and dark ankle-length robes lounges lazily by a dead fireplace, a bone-white mask covering all of his exposed face but his eyes, his mouth, and his chin. There's a smile pulled across his lips, but neither that mirth nor the light reach the blue eyes that peer out from the mask.
Those blue eyes focus on Dolan, and the man laughs, clapping his hands together. "Oh, hello again. I'd ask you to send my regards to Cor'lana, but..."
He snaps his fingers.
"My pets are hungry."
The man with the mask offers a wide-toothed grin, rising from his chair. "Now, I would love to stay and chat, but I shan't make the same mistake twice. As lovely as corpses as all of you would make... I know better."
His eyes go to Rune, blue eyes meeting blue. "You in particular. Such a pity," he croons. "Perhaps I will meet you soon."
With a flash of light and an incantation, he is gone.
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15: (16)+15: 31 GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+5: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+9: (8)+9: 17
And one of the necromancer's pets comes charging forward, going straight for Dolan. The horrifying thing lashes out at Dolan with a slam of its limbs, far stronger than what amounts to a skeleton with its innards inside should be. Such is the foul potency of necromancy.
GAME: Harkashan casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18
"Rune... what is it with you and people knowing you?" Harkashan rumbles to Rune, trying his best to ease her heart a bit. He understands very well how worrisome all of this is. Aaaand then the man with the Mask is gone.
A deep rumbling growling 'hrrrm' from Harkashan. It seems the root of the problem will be dealt with another time. "Dolan, incoming." He notes, right before...
Energy.
There's this sudden powerful sensation that passes through people, almost like lightning ripping through their muscles. Their senses expanding as Harkashan's droning dirge seems to grow like a mantra in the air, as he paces, almost stomping to the beat of his dirge, moving around the Mohrg. Looming behind it with the might of the Death Singing Dragon behind his presence.
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2: (3)+10+2+2: 17 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2: (16)+10+2+2: 30 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1+3d6: aliased to 1d6+1+1+3d6: (5)+1+1+(8): 15
As Rune lands in a crouch, her weapons are held out in front of her in a defensive posture, looking towards the masked man across the inn. The array of gore spread out before them is nothing new, but it does cause her stomach to roil in protest.
Standing a bit more fully, she seems just about to say something when the half-sil man calls her out in particular. "I don't know him." Rune mutters in return to Harksahan, giving the cleric a scowl. "Ever think that sometimes it may be because not everyone is into hot-scaled Makari?" Huff.
She seems to wait a moment until said Makari has moved into position, then steps up beside Dolan, ready to flank the creature. It seems important to her not to be caught out against such powerful creatures. Staying close to her allies, Rune slashes out with her weapon, slashing into the flesh of the creature in question.
GAME: Acedia rolls weapon11+1+1+2: (9)+13+1+1+2: 26 GAME: Acedia rolls damage11+1: aliased to 1d6+0+1: (5)+0+1: 6
The Goblin's hair bristles, threatening to straighten, as Harkashan's spell washes over her. She grins at the lava-scale Sith, "Thanks!" Quickly tilting her head left and right, causing vertebrae to pop in her neck, and she quickly steps out of the crowd by the broken window.
"Pffff. The Sith can be very pretty, I will admit." Acedia pauses to put a deep hole into the mohrg's stomach with her dragonspitter.
"However, a woman who is both a pretty face AND deadly with a blade is often the last thing some may ever see. And that, my friends, is the cause of love at first sight! Even if it kills them!"
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15-1-2: (13)+15+-1+-2: 25
Another one of the necromancer's 'pets' comes lunging forward, this time at Acedia. The horrible undead creature just misses, however, slightly weakened by the power emanating from the Deathsinger.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1-3+2+2: (17)+13+-3+2+2: 31 (THREAT) GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1-3+2+2: (2)+13+-3+2+2: 16 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1-3+2+2: (13)+13+-3+2+2: 27 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+6+6+2+2+1d6+2d6+6+6+2+2: (3)+6+6+2+2+(3)+(5)+6+6+2+2: 43 GAME: Dolan rolls 1d10: (6): 6 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1-3+2+2-5: (12)+13+-3+2+2+-5: 21 GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1-3+2+2: (3)+13+-3+2+2: 17 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+6+6+2+1d6: (2)+6+6+2+(2): 18
Dolan lets out a cry as the slams crash hard into him, leaving bones cracking and flesh bruising. Caught off guard, the force of the blow nearly knocks him off his feat.
His answer, though, is a feral grin, and the answering slash from the new-looking, silvery blade fairly whips through the air. It slams with the force of a hurricane into the bag of bones and entrails, sending splinters of bone and bits of guts flying in every direction as it carves through the mohrg like a hot knife through butter. A second strike finishes the job, leaving the oversized tongue draped over an overturned table a man's height or more away from where it was standing.
What is left of it crumples, and Dolan is left to stare at the blade in his entrail-stained hands with the widest grin ever plastered across both sides of the harlequin features. "Damned fine work, baby," he murmurs. "You're so getting kissed when I get home."
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+9: (4)+9: 13 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15-2-1: (3)+15+-2+-1: 15
The last of the necromancer's pets continues onward even in the wake of the carnage that Dolan's wrought with his blade. It hisses and tries to swipe at Rocky, but the beast is similarly hindered by Harkashan's blessings, and the swipe goes wide.
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+1+1+2: (13)+12+1+1+2: 29 GAME: Rocky rolls damage9+1: aliased to 1d10+5+1: (8)+5+1: 14 GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+1+1+2: (20)+12+1+1+2: 36 (THREAT) GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+1+1+2: (15)+12+1+1+2: 31 GAME: Rocky rolls 2d10+10+2: (16)+10+2: 28 GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+1+1+2-5: (1)+12+1+1+2+-5: 12 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+1+1+2-5: (11)+12+1+1+2+-5: 22 GAME: Rocky rolls damage9+1: aliased to 1d10+5+1: (1)+5+1: 7
Rocky is confidant in his defenses, both mundane and magical, and so focuses on the best defense of all; a good offense. Magical speed and mundane skill combine, a series of rapid blows breaks undead bone and sends putrid gore flying. The second blow catching on a knot of entrails and ripping them free. The remaining undead still stands, but only just.
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15-2-1: (14)+15+-2+-1: 26 GAME: Harkashan casts Remove Curse. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Harkashan rolls weapon0+1+1+2: (10)+6+1+1+2: 20 GAME: Harkashan rolls 3d8+14: (10)+14: 24 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+9: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
Harkashan says, “It's not exactly something that is particular at the top of my mind." Harkashan rumbles to Rune when she suddenly starts talking about people being into hot-scaled Makari. Right before he continues his dirge, trying not to interrupt it too much. He's keeping a lot of magic alive at the moment, and there's a certain kind of focus that comes with that.
He watches Dolan tear down the first undead, huffing; "Nice job." As he steps to protect Acedia. And the moment the Mohrg tries to reach her, he suddenly grabs its shoulder. His fingers digging into it. A pale flame bursting at its body, tearing at its unlife.
"This is your end. Make your peace, wicked one." He growls at it as it tries to hit him, only for those feathered wings on his back to warp around him and hold off the evil presence's attempt!”
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2: (20)+10+2+2: 34 (THREAT) GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2: (11)+10+2+2: 25 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1+damage1+1+3d6: aliased to 1d6+1+1+1d6+1+1+3d6: (6)+1+1+(4)+1+1+(9): 23 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2-2: (16)+10+2+2+-2: 28 GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2-2: (7)+10+2+2+-2: 19 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1+3d6: aliased to 1d6+1+1+3d6: (5)+1+1+(9): 16
There are moments where you just have to stand back and appreciate the abilities of another martial individual. That's pretty much what happens as Rune stands side by side with Dolan and finds herself right in a face-first spray of monster guts. It isn't the first time, nor will it be the last.
Wiping a sleeve across her face, she offers, "Damn impressive." She wears the gore well as she offers a half-grin to Dolan.
The next moment, her ear twitches as one of the creatures moves behind her, heading towards Rocky. Turning, Rune faces the Sith Makar on the other side, giving a nod as she sees him distracting the creature, giving her a perfect opportunity.
From behind, the rogue's blades slice into the creature once, then twice, spilling fluids and entrails The Mohrg topples to the ground, twitching a couple of times before falling still. "Nice teamwork."
GAME: Acedia rolls weapon15+1+1+2+2: (18)+8+1+1+2+2: 32 GAME: Acedia rolls damage15+1: aliased to 1d8+1+1: (6)+1+1: 8 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15: (18)+15: 33 GAME: Riptide rolls 2d8+5: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+15: (12)+15: 27
"No no no no no...!", the Goblin utters as the mohrg rushes at her. She seems hellbent on getting another shot into the barrel, but as its attack whooshes by her hair, she pulls her longsword from its sheath.
"By the gods its breath is downright FOUL!" Her blade is thrust into the thing's chest, and a moment later... she's pulled into an embrace by the creature's clawed hand. "AAAAAAaaaaaieeeee!", she shrieks... "It's worse close up!"
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1+2+2: (7)+13+2+2: 24 GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+6+6+1d6: (8)+6+6+(2): 22
Dolan's lone chocolate-brown eye is alight, and he grins back at Rune. "Got Andie to thank for that. Not bad yourself," he calls by a way of an add-on as the second one goes down.
There isn't time to bask in the glow, though, as the gobber's scream from behind him reminds him that they aren't done yet! Without thinking, he whirls, and, the mighty blade in one hand, he plants a hand and vaults over the table, as the fastest route to get to the gobber woman. Agony sears through bruised and abused flesh and bone, but it barely registers in the moment. "Oh no, you don't, you little shit. Pick on someone your own size!"
The silver, gut-covered blade slams down again, a solid and brutal hit, leaving it staggering and stinking worse still, and even more entrails to litter the floor.
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon9+1+1+2: (17)+12+1+1+2: 33 GAME: Rocky rolls damage9+1: aliased to 1d10+5+1: (5)+5+1: 11
Rocky tries very hard not to think about what's getting on his nice new boots, and instead rushes in towards the still standing undead. His blade hums thru the air, striking a solid blow, splattering a touch more gore. "Pick on someone own size!"
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d20+9: (14)+9: 23 GAME: Harkashan rolls 4d6+3: (13)+3: 16
Harkashan stumbles back a bit as the rest rush in to help Acedia. "Hang in there Acedia." He rumbles to her as he sends out a sudden pulse of silvery-red light once more, searing the creature. This one not as strong as the last.
He doesn't need to call out to Rune. She'll understand why he just moved back instead of going in for the kill with his blade.
He has enough divine power to channel positive energy into his blade and kill it, but he doesn't want to risk hurting his ally. So he relies on Rune to come in with her finer skill here.
"After this, let's check out the outside to see how the towns-folk are doing!" He rumbles. He's still got plenty of fuel in the tank to take down multiple zombies en-masse.
GAME: Rune rolls weapon1+2+2+2: (8)+10+2+2+2: 24 GAME: Rune rolls damage1+1+3d6: aliased to 1d6+1+1+3d6: (4)+1+1+(8): 14
"I'll have to keep your lady in mind when I have the coin to do work on my own weapons." Rune can't help but appreciate fine craftsmanship. And by fine craftsmanship, that means the ability to make a bloody mess of evil creatures.
With the first two creatures felled, Rune turns to the remaining one that seems to be threatening their Goblin companion. Her eyes meet Harkashan's, and without needing to share words, she slips into the spot he vacates a second afterwards, the two trading places neatly as you please.
It lets her use the cover of pain from his positive energy to drive one of her blades deep into the creature, giving one twist which sounds distinctly ... moist.
Breathing hard, Dolan lowers the blade in his hands as the last one falls, the tip hitting the wooden floor of the inn. "That bucket of sheep vomit," he snarls. "Yeah, I know that one. Better warn Lana. She needs to know." One hand goes to his bruised chest and side, and he's breathing very carefully, but somehow, it only seems to sharpen his focus.
"Come on, let's go help the townsfolk," he tells the others, straightening and starting for the door. "You okay?" he asks of Acedia.
As promised, Harkashan doesn't wait very long. He's grown more and more quick to act over the last few months - coming into his own a bit as an Adventurer. "I will heal all of you when the town is safe. Hang in there, Acedia." He remarks to the Gobbo.
And before his words are even finished being spoken, the previously rather 'slow' Sith-makar uses that blessing upon his person to rush out the window at rather remarkable speed, and calls out; "Jennae!" Checking up on her.
Rocky nods in agreement with Harkashan, taking a moment to be sure the piles of gore are holding still before heading to clear the mess blocking the door. "Check rest of Inn, maybe Mask left something behind. But townsfolk first."
GAME: Acedia casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 5 DC: 13 GAME: Acedia rolls 1d8+5: (8)+5: 13
The Goblin was trying to pull herself free, grunting noisily, and even managing to get a foot up to its chest. As the attacks come in quicker than a drunkard to a last call, Acedia does her best to avoid what attacks savage the mohrg.
She grunts as the undead topples to the side, bouncing the Gobbo off the floor, and leaving her sprawled out upon her backpack.
Panting, she gestures to Dolan. "Ain't no big thing.", she drawls. The groan she makes sitting up says otherwise, but she does get back to her feet. "Anyone injured?"
Her hands make small gestures in the air as she whispers a prayer, the little holy symbol hanging around her neck glowing. The sigh of relief is lengthy, but after, she looks around. "Yeah, we should get out there... but I think maybe we should make sure jerkface with a mask is actually gone."
When the last of the creatures topples over, Rune draws out her weapons and shakes a bit of the gore off of her blades. She seems to consider a moment, nudging at one of the fallen creatures with a booted foot.
Then, she looks to Dolan, "Seems like there's a story we're missing some pieces of. Maybe something for another time." Rune casts a look over her shoulder to where the masked half-elf had been, then follows the others towards the door. "Let's check on the villagers first, then we'll search the town for any signs."
A search of the inn reveals no sign that the necromancer is still there. It appears that his words to Dolan held true and that he had teleported away beyond their reach.
The first thing one sees when leaving the inn is Jennae executing a zombie by decapitation, the older woman huffing as she quietly cleans her blade. There's some sounds of combat still, with some townfolk aiming and firing arrows into houses where the zombies are trapped, but the once-again-dead litter the ground. Jennae's blue eyes regard the zombie with utter hatred before she looks back in the direction of the adventurers. A smile lights up her face. "You got all of them?" she asks. "Where's the masked man?"
"Fled." Rocky chuffs in disappointment. "Undead are destroyed. Where can we help you here?"
"Teleported out," Dolan answers, having burst out through the door and taken a couple of steps to slow himself and assess the situation. His whole face turns towards Jennae. "I know the son of a bucket of sheep vomit," he adds. "He's been harassing a friend of mine. How can we help you here?" He's still breathing pretty carefully, but doesn't seem too hindered.
"I'm afraid the masked man fled like a coward the moment he laid eyes on us." A coward, but not a fool. Harkashan approaches Jennae, slowing down a bit. Watching the battle throughout town continue. Taking note of the arrows being fired into houses. It's honestly quite smart.
"We got all the ones making zombies - but it'll take a great deal of time to properly consecrate the Graveyard area once more when this is all done. I intend to be here to ensure a proper burial for all of the bodies." He answers. He's listening to the sounds of combat in the distance. "Are there any injured?"
In some ways, it is very heartening for Rune to see so many fighting for their home. She takes a few steps, looking back and forth to see if any of the villagers actually need their aid at the moment.
With the others offering an answer, Rune just takes the time to clean her weapons and sheath them, "Right... consecrating graveyards." That does not sound like a good time. "I think I'll go help with the zombie clean up. You enjoy dealing with the corpses, big guy."
It may also be Rune avoiding anything to do with death rituals. Then again, after being dead once, it's hard to blame her for not wanting to stick around for that.
Acedia gestures to Rocky, Dolan and Harkashan. "He's gone and fucked off.", she says, crudely. "He had supreme confidence in his underlings, sadly they were sorely lacking in interpersonal skills, and were quite squishy."
The Gobbo nods to Harkashan. "I will assist the Deathsinger in tending to the wounded, seeing the graveyard set right, and dealing with the zombies still trapped in houses."
"Yeah, figures." Jennae huffs. "So long as he stays gone, I don't much care. We got wounded and a couple who might not make it. Would appreciate any help you can muster."
The townfolk are tended to. Graveyards are sanctified. The undead are burned and rites are administered. There's a lot that the people of this town have to do before their houses can become homes again, but thanks to the efforts of the adventurers, that's a firm possibility rather than a hopeful dream. And while the necromancer with the eyes that don't reflect the light has gotten away--it is, overall, a victory. One hard-earned and well-fought.
OOC
Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mttg2kahzv2
Big sword: Dolan, lizard face: Rocky, elf face: Rune, ankh: Harkashan, violin: Acedia.