Night of the Dead
It's a wonderful day outside, fair and lovely. Inside the Soldier's Defense it is not quite that however. No, it's neither fair nor lovely here, and the hospital has long since lost it's homey air. There are too many sick now for the place to seem comfortable or safe. There's no safety from the plague, and ninety percent of those that are currently calling the Soldier's Defense home are those whom have that illness. Thankfully this is not one of the more busy days, but it's not one of the easier ones either.
Nels is visiting a buddy of his, though the buddy is currently asleep, so he's mostly sitting by his friend's bed and just sitting there.
Victor stands between a few of the plague victims' cots. He stands almost motionless except for his head, which he pans back and forth to study them.
Through an open window, a small, grey Owl flutters in. He lands upon one of the rafters, and flutters his wings. An annoyed voice sounds from outside. "You come back out here right now, Mister. You can't just fly into just any window you like!" There soon coms a scraping noise, and a small face appears at the window. The green-haired Gnome squeezes through the window, and floats gently to the floor. "Come here!", she commands, and the Owl complies, landing upon her shoulder, and making small Owl noises.
Suddenly, quite suddenly in fact there's a rush of people moving. People moving away from the morgue at a quick rate that suggests fear. Then there's a sound. A dull hollow noise and then the sound of fighting happening far away. Toward the same direction that people are fleeing from. There's a hearthguard moving toward the sounds of combat, but the pulse of the crowd keeps pushing him backwards until suddenly the crowd parts, the people have all run away and he can jolt forward into the empty space.
Nels looks up to see what all the commotion is about. Running Hearthguards are usually a bad sign. "Hey, what's going on?" he calls as he loads a cartridge full of powder into his rifle.
Victor turns his head in the direction of the sounds. Then his body turns in that direction and he breaks into a run. "Whatever it is, we'll have to keep it away from the patients. They've suffered enough."
The Gnome blinks at the sudden exodus, thankful that the room she is in is not in the path to freedom. She watches the Hearthguard go by, and she goes to the door. Xasany pats at her familiar's head. "We should check that out.", she says quietly. The Owl whoos mournfully. "I know, but we should help them." And so, the green-haired witch follows behind the hearthguard.
The scrawny arcanist arrives on the scene, a compactly bound book with a silver sheeted cover in hand. A plucky little all black dog trundles between and around his boots when Haggerty walks at a somewhat hurried, determined stride. The redhead man looks for believers and will sit by the next best bed or other resting location to quietly recite and talk about matters Serriel. He does not quite look up, but instead has his pooch surmise and to snort in case of danger.
Nels gets no reply to his question. Just the Hearthguard moving a lot faster toward the morgue. You follow in his wake and he throws open the door to the morgue for you. Inside is... A sight. A thing wrapped in bits of cloth is tearing through the Hearthguards. It flings them around with its hands and slams them into the walls. It is the size of a man but seems to have no trouble mistreating the men. Behind it is a broken coffin, and after it's cleared the Hearthguard it flips over two more.
Two bodies tumble out of the coffins, wrapped in linen like the one that's been tossing around the Hearthguard like toys. Slowly, they begin to stumble to their feet.
The Gobbo looks alarmed at the hiss, and she flinches, stumbling back a few steps and pulling the blanket closer again. She looks between them and blinks. "Do you two need to go home?", she asks. "We can do that, you know."
GAME: Haggerty casts Web. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (5)+2: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (5)+2: 7
"And behold the charge, for it is the vigor with one is to go through life...," The frackled person looks up at the bequeathing yelp-sneeze of the pug. He squints his blues and spots the shambling creatures, aided by the presence of the canine loveliness. A jump to his feat and out comes a little wand shaped item of power and adorable craftsmanship. Hagg weaves it in the air as he flings a tiny roll of gray fiber at the entities. As the component flies at the beings to stand up, the blue garbed man's words gain traction, clearly enunciated Eldritch. The strands unfold and expand, then span across. The pale wizard smiles and fishes for another component.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (19)+11: 30 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10: (3): 3 GAME: Xasany casts Bungle. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
Nels sees what's going on, and chooses a target quickly. The goblin shoulders his rifle and fires, a loud bang and a thick haze of smoke coming from the muzzle of his gun. He doesn't even look to see if his handiwork did any good (he scored a glancing hit), but immediately slides out the cleaning rod from under his gunbarrel and slides it up inside, yanking it out to remove soot and any smouldering bits that might remain. Then he's tugging a cartridge from his ammo belt and pouring more powder down the barrel, followed by ball and paper, and ramrodding it all home.
GAME: Victor casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
The green-hair'd witch points to the undead causing all the fuss. "You! You will not strike the Hearthguard again!" THUMP. "Oh. You're not having any of that, huh? Drat." She lets out a breath, and her hair begins to float upwards.
Victor chants softly as he slows to a walk. He moves his hands up and down over his torso, palms a few inches from his skin. Then he stops, at the edge of the webbing. His cape settles around himself and he watches the undead closely.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+10: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Haggerty casts Summon Monster II. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d3: (1): 1 GAME: Victor rolls fort: (10)+6: 16
The thing throws a haymaker at Victor and manages to land the blow while the other two ladened down with web stumble slowly to their feet.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10: (2): 2
Nels fires again, another glancing hit to the creature. He's not doing too well, though he's doing the best he can. He cleans his barrel and loads another round, powder, shot, paper, then rams it home, packing it tight before bringing it back to his shoulder.
Hagg exhales to get his tracks sorted for the most accurate recitation and a clean beckoning cord for several angry dogs to show staight outta Arcadia. He kneels to briefly set the candle before him the Aesir kindles with the golden glow of fire sent through a true heart. There are howls and yowls in the distance when a pristinely preened and cleansed shepard appears with a golden gleam to her canines. Yowls, yes, because two of the dogs decide to keep it real back on the cozy plane. To be made clear when the crackling puff of smoke lifts.
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d20+1+4: (12)+1+4: 17 GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Victor casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17 GAME: Victor rolls 4d6: (18): 18
Victor is rocked back by the blow. He backpedals until he's just out of reach and begins to chant under his breath. At first it's little more than a murmur of eldritch words, but it grows louder with every few words. Finally at the crescendo he raises a hand, and out of his palm a bolt of energy sears out to strike the undead. "Let us see if these are vulnerable to fire," he remarks.
GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+1(Dog Init): (14)+1(Dog Init): 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (13)+14: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+10: (8)+10: 18 GAME: Victor rolls fort: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
The thing lifts its arms and the other two creatures fall into dust and it... it becomes larger. Larger and powerful enough to whack Victor hard enough that his head snaps backwards. It mindlessly moves after him, and then suddenly turns aside, ignoring him entirely.
GAME: Haggerty rolls ranged(DU-DC14): (19)+ranged(DU+-DC14): 19 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d6: (4): 4 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (14)+11: 25 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10: (5): 5
The young wizard's red dreads rattle with a grumbling, quick utteration of a scant few syllables in Eldritch. Hagg grunts which is echoed by the dark friend. The wizard reaches out and points his free hand's index finger at the creature to zot it with a night sky hued bolt which hits the creeping thing. The thin guy blinks right after and casts a worried glance at the horribly hurt golem, "Heavens!"
Nels fires again, another glancing blow that doesn't cause much damage. Hopefully it contributes, he thinks even as he cleans the barrel and pours down another cartridge-worth of powder. The ball goes down, and finally the paper from the cartridge itself. He tamps it down til it's set.
GAME: Xasany rolls 1d20+1+4: (5)+1+4: 10 GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Victor rolls 4d6: (16): 16
The Witch's hair again attempts to pull the undead down, and again the undead seems to walk through it as if it were not there.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
The strange and clearly undead creature moves forward inevitably, ignoring Victor for some unknown reason. Thus it attacks the nearest other individual who happens to be Nels. The attack misses quite widely, but it's a tireless monster. Sooner or later…
Victor is on one knee, hands clutched to his head. He lowers them and tries to focus on the now-giant undead creature. He begins chanting again, this time the gem on his forehead flares and the fiery bolt streaks out from there.
GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d20+2(flankingsmite): (16)+2(flankingsmite): 16
The otherworldly shepard snarls, then rushes forth to dig her teeth deep, but it is to no avail. All she does is bite into a loose bandage which then results in a split thread. The friendly pug whines softly.
GAME: Haggerty rolls ranged: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Haggerty rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (2)+11: 13 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10: (7): 7
Hagg recycles the previous incantation and aims with both index and middle finger. He scores another blow with the necromantic discharge, but it does little to the revolting unliving.
Nels brings the long weapon to his shoulder and fires. At this range, it's all but impossible to miss, and he scores another glancing blow to go with his heavy cloud of smoke. Pulling another paper cartridge from his belt, he goes through the reloading as quickly as he can.
GAME: Xasany casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16 GAME: Xasany rolls 2d8+4: (10)+4: 14
Xasany moves to the wounded Golem's side, and lays a cool hand on his cheek. A white glow follows, and the wounds look less severe. "You'll be okay.", she says to him. "I've got you."
GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Victor rolls 1d4+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (15)+14: 29
Victor struggles to his feet. He nods politely to Xasany. "I do feel better," he notes. Then he turns towards the enemy again. His features set in concentration and something swirls into existence before sailing across the battlefield to thump into the creature's side.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+10: (3)+10: 13
Another swing is taken at Nels and this time it connects with a heavy wet sound. The thing has been hit, set on fire, and set on fire again, but it seems relentless. This is the true face of the undead, that they can continue on long past the point where any mortal being would have already given up.
GAME: Haggerty rolls +2: (11)++2: 13 GAME: Nels rolls fortitude: (2)+6: 8 GAME: Haggerty rolls +6: (15)++6: 21 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (9)+11: 20 GAME: Haggerty rolls 2d4: (5): 5 GAME: Nels rolls 1d10: (8): 8 GAME: Nels rolls fort: (3)+6: 9
The pale arcanist hurries to find a small bottle with the symbol of Serriel on it, wills a small cocoon shaped like his less than impressive fist about it and pushes the combo forward to smash the container into the enlarged being's chest. From a distance. Because magic.
Nels rolls with the hard hit, his armor is only studded leather, he relies mostly on his agility, and when that doesn't work, he gets battered. He takes a few steps back out of it's reach, shoulders his gun, and fires. Seems like this was the motivation he needed, his shot fells the creature. "Whew!"
GAME: Xasany casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16 GAME: Xasany casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Xasany rolls 2d8+4: (11)+4: 15 GAME: Xasany rolls 1d8+4: (1)+4: 5 GAME: Haggerty casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Nels rolls fortitude: (18)+6: 24
Haggerty squints and pulls forth his holy symbol and a pinch of blessed incense to pat Nels down with before vileness may take hold. His fervent incantation brings a layer of protectiveness and cleansing as much as the noble fragrance of roses.
Nels manages not to hurl, but suddenly he feels really bad. "I ... I wonder if they'll let me rest here for a bit?" he wonders.
Xasany lays her hands on Victor once more, his wounds further receding, and soon after, she is at Nel's side. Where she plants a cool hand on his cheek, to administer more of her healing magics. "You should probably stay and let them look you over, if you're not feeling so well. They can fix you up better than I."
Victor stands a little easier after additional healing. He holds a hand in front of his face though, examining himself. "Yes. I suppose if we were to be injured somewhere, this might be the best place." He looks at Nels. "Perhaps we can compare notes."
Pugness high-paws the conjured sister who then poofs back home after her second missed bite. Big eyes peer at Hagg who steps back from the gobber to inspect Victor, "I am sorry I could not protect you, two. Do seek out the Verdamen and ladies, please."
-End