Ulric is grateful that Kendra is no longer such a burden on his efforts. He let her travel under her own steam as soon as they were in free running space. He was sure she could out pace him and in this situation, distance gained between self and the horde was preferable.
To Kendra, "Lead the way then Kendra, may speed be your ally. I will bring up the rear. If you come to trouble, look to me for aid."
To himself, Did we provoke this? How could so many of these abominations exist within limits of a temple of my lady and not be uncovered. My fear of a corrupted temple grows. Run not to the temple folk for I fear they will not receive you with open arms. I cannot let these people flee to a supposed haven only to be shut out and slaughtered.
Ulric booms forth in as loud a voice as he can project. "People, hope not for save haven at your temple of Pharasma. Run there and beg for entry but do not linger. If the doors do not open for you, continue to flee."
Diplomacy
Archeos will look out primarily for his own safety (and that of the group); he's not terribly concerned about the townsfolk.
That being said ... He won't leave the children in a dangerous spot. He'll try and get the kids to go to the sherif ... If they don't go with minimal cajoling he'll resort to more "entertaining" methods. Also if the towns folk are a bit slow we'll use the powers of chaos to "encourage" people to move away from the danger.
(Rolls coming when I get on my PC)
Malstrom grabs hold of Lucem. Better stick together, we could easily be separated in this chaos. Lets try and find the others. By holy Torag that is a lot of undead, I wish I had my armour.
Malstrom looking at his weapon continues I know you want to kill them all Kols, but there are to many. If I had my armour and proper weapons well then it would be a different story, but that is all at the house
Malstrom will try to look and listen for the other party members, especially Ulric and Brethan as they will trend to stand out and above the villagers.
If Malstrom does locate others he will try to determine which way they are headed and make angled line to join up with them.
Goal here for me DM is -
1. try and help the sheriff get the town folk to safety.
2. Get our group back to the house.
3. take the children with me / get them to safety
"Koal, Archeos stick together. Help with the children or stay with Ulric. Meet at the house"
Brethan will concentrate, draw a deep breath and bellow at the crowd "Get your cowering hides to the Church. NOW!" as he wields his sword and waves it threateningly at the townsfolk.
Intimidate -
Brethan then runs over to the children, tries to get a grasp of how they will react and says :
"Children be brave. I'm here to protect you and we are going to run to a safe place. Help me get to my house. Quickly now we can run faster than these rotten shamblers. Hahaha lets go" as Brethan is talking to the children he will move around between them and the wall and herd them out into the open and towards the farm house.
"You big kids help the little ones. We must hurry"
perception for mood of children
Lucem draws her eyes from all of the half digested blood pooling around Malstrom and sees all the undead coming towards them. After a moment Lucem realises that Malstrom is talking to his sword. Talking to swords or the walking undead. How do I get into these situations? Mind you how unusual is talking to swords given what's happened? Do all fighters do this? Thankgoodness they're slow. I agree, safety in our few numbers would be best. I don't know if the church would be sanctuary against these undead. The only other place that might be of some safety would be back at the house. We need to keep these people away from those creatures. Especially any family members that might recognise the dead.
Any stragglers we'll try to help, Lucem will try for diplomacy mainly. Mind you who would need much convincing to run away from a zombie. If there are people who are emotionally torn about seeing their loved ones alive Lucem will use religion with diplomacy to keep them away.
Diplomacy:
Religion:
Ulric continued to move, trying to urge people away from the church, but more focused on reaching Kendra's house.
The young woman had moved ahed now, almost out of his sight in the deepening darkness of the country night. Those folk around the big warrior ignored his urgings, and began to stream across the covered bridge towards the church, hoping for sanctuary. Ulric cursed them, even as he heard a cry of anguish coming from up ahead. He rushed forwards, fear momentarily gripping his heart as he thought Kendra may have been taken. What he saw turned his stomach.
Ahead, the noble woman had stopped dead, facing a grotesquely shambling figure in fine clothing. The head of the corpse lolled uselessly to the side, part of the skull crushed inwards from some heavy blow. The mouth worked, as if trying to make words, even as it lurched forwards with upraised hands, grasping at the woman in front of it. Professor Lorrimar had risen from his grave and had made his way home it would seem.
A strange arcane light burned along his arms. This was no ordinary walking corpse, it appeared to have a semblence if its old magic remaining.
*****
Archeos broke away from the the fleeing warrior and his charge, moving into the shadows near the big fence to try and rouse the children along. Just as he arrived, the looming form of Brethan came from ahead and bellowed at the children to move. The barbarian's strategy was sound enough, terrifying the children out of their stunned inaction and makeing them scatter before him like frightened chickens. The rogue cursed as they looked to take different directions. He darted in from the side, acting in concert with Brethan to keep the children in a co-ordinated group. It cost them precious moments though, and in that time the main crowd of villagers had swept away, rushing towards the church across the river. With a groan of despair, the rogue sawa large group of shuffling corspes had already swept in between them and the covered bridge. Many of them were following the crowd, but a group had sensed the small party of children and their carers and turned to pursue the warm flesh.
*****
Malstrom and Lucem watched the scene in horror, and then got swept up in the crowd. Malstrom had just briefly caught sight of the big barbarian screaming and waving his sword around his head, but then people were all over them. Neither Lucem nor Malstrom could fight the press, and found themselves dragged towards the covered bridge leading towards the church.
The lovely young Priestess grabbed the little warrior and urged them to the side of the crowd, eventually breaking free just as the majority swept across the bridge. As she had suspected, Lucem saw a group fo 4 people struggling to keep up. With some shick, she realised it was the two farmers that had been sniffing after Koal all day. One of the big lads was obviouslty injured, and was slung across teh shoulder of his brother. He was heavy though, the man was struggling to move at more than a walk with him slung as a dead weight. The elderly parents of the two men hovered in distress on either side, urging them on faster and wringing their hands as they watched the wall of undead getting closer.
With an anguished cry, the father finally broke and ran, turning off to the side and disapearing into the darkness of the night. The mother screamed in terror and fell in a sobbing mess on the ground, almost tripping her burdoned son. The zombies would be upon them in moments if no one intervened.
Ulric will Charge Bullrush the professor. He will pull his shield and ready it leaving his longsword still equipped.
Bullrush CMD+Charge
Brethan thinks to himself, "How best to get back to the house before being over run."
Perception to determine how big the big stone fence is, and how hard to climb?
Perception to scan for any surrounding building that we can climb on to (We being children as well)
Survival and knowledge nature to try to work out how best to cut back to the Professors house?
"Gorem protect us" mutters Brethan as he tries to assess the situation.
Ulric rushed the undead thing, hoping to push it away from Kendra. As he closed, he left himself open to a counter attack though, since this was not a tactic he usually tried. The shield struck the zombie hard and it staggered away from the girl, but as it did its sparking arm brushed across the fighters visored helm. Pain seared into Ulric as the spell diffused into his body, sending lances of pain through his head and making his arm jerk involuntarily.
Ulric noted that the thing moved more rapidly than the shambling corpses he'd seen at the village though.
A Flash of light split the air as Kendra released some effect at the thing. The magic enveloped the undead creature but seemed to have no effect on it. She hissed in despair "Oh Pharasma protect, he has resistance to my magic. Beware his touch Ulric, he still carries a charge of pain on one hand."
*****
Brethan looked around desperatley but by far the easiest option was the stone fence. He knew they could boost the children up and over with ease, but one of them would need to go over first so they could be lowered safely on the other side. That meant who ever was on this side would have to boost the five children over and get over themselves before the zombies reached them. Looking over his shoulder, he could see the distance had already closed.
Once over the fence, he thought they could try and get into the mansion and defend themselves there. The fence would slow these things enough to give he and archeos time to force their way in somehow.
Ulric, was not as concerned about the creatures ability to use magic but more so the damage the magic had just caused him. Magic was not unfamiliar to him but he had dealt little with threats that had used magics in his work. To him, it was just another hard hitting foe that Pharasma would aid him in putting to a true death.
"Let me try to hold it off you and together with Pharasma's aid we will send this THING on."
Ulric Longsword attack
"Well boys and girls ... I think it's time we go up."
Archeos will look for the best place for us (me, big guy & the kids) to climb up the stone fence.
Perception:
Climb:
If need be I can use my dagger to bash out some hand holds.
"Big guy; You throw 'em up and I'll stop 'em falling off".
Climb:
Archeos then scurries up the fence, takes a quick scan of the nobelman's yard (Perception: ) before reaching back down to haul the first kid up. (Hopefully I can use my climb to help them up and find a perch {Climb:} if not Strength:)
Archeos checked the grounds from his higher perch, not seeing anything of too much in the shadowy light.
As the first child came up into his arms, he thought he caught site of soemthing moving in the darkness. Turning quickly, he saw the dog as it barrelled noiselessy up to the fence. It was big, wolfhound or some other such hunting type, and its hackles were raised. The most eerie thing was the complete lack of noise it made as it came up to the fence. It stood there, looking up at the rogue on his precarious perch and slowly bared its teeth as its tail flattened and the hairs along its back rose.
Maybe dropping the kids into the yard wasn't such an immediately good idea.
Malstrum will try not to say anything as to hope he does not freak them out. Hoping Lucem will be able to do the talking.
Malstrom will quickly move up to the injured man making as if to assist him in moving along, but really casting heal light wounds on him.
Then he will really try to help them to get running. Showing the injured man that he is capable to getting along under his own steam.
"Fall back to me, Kendra. Give Ulric some space" Koal called.
Spell Penetration:
Magic Missile:
Spell Penetration:
Force Missile:
Spell Penetration:
Force Missile:
Don't trust the dog .... but the first thing to do is get the kids up onto the fence .... Once they're all up out of zombie reach I'll worry about deciding what to do next.
"Big guy ... there's a strange mutt over here ... we're not going down. Looks like we kill a dog or some zombies once the kids are safe."
Brethan yells "Archeos its a dog. Tell it to heel or sit, use your man voice. Bwahahahaha!"
Brethan will start to chuck kids up onto the fence top and tell them to sit still with their legs in the nobles yard.
"Get ready to jump kids."
"Archy how's that dog going?"battle stress may make Brethan a little too familiar!!
I'm assuming that the mindless zombies are far enough away that we/family are not in immediate danger. Lucem will try to assist Malstrom with the family and encourage them to keep ahead of the horde. As Malstrom is helping the men, Lucem will concentrate on getting the old lady moving.
If a horde of mindless flesh eating undead aren't getting you to move, I'm guessing my sword is going to do squat. Fantastic, talking instead of moving. I should have gone to the hall instead of the dance.
Maam, what's your name? insert name here you need to keep moving, the rest of your family needs you. So you need to get up for your boys and show them how strong the old war horse is.
Diplomacy:
Heh, wonder if the warhorse comment will get her moving.
Brethan began to hoist kids up one at a time, starting with the youngest. If they kept their legs up on the wall, the Zombies wouldn't be able to reach unless they jumped a little. Brethan wasn't sure if Zombies did that or not. At least it would get them out of harms way for the moment.
Archeos meanwhile edged the kids along the wall as steadily as he could, trying to get to a tree that was inside the yard and away from both undead hordes and ravenous dog. The little girl he was leading started to cry at the height and clung desperately to him as he moved, making things even more difficult for the young rogue.
****
Ulric dashed in and slashed with his sword, but the weapon missed the target as his foot slipped momentarily in a pool of what smelled lik rotten meat or intestinal juices. A yellowish flash of light erupted from Koals fingers as she launched a magic missile from her hands. With a cry of joy, the young mage watched as her bolt punched through the zombies defences and damaged the thing. Her second bolt fizzled however, and her excitement was dulled momentarily.
Edit - Back
The animated corpse of Professor Lorrimar swung gormlessly at Ulric, the grotesque lolling on its neck with teh jerky motion of the attack. The sparks along its arm flashed in the night air, warning the big fighter of the oncoming attack long enough for him to step back and avoid it.
Kendra moved in and pressed something into the fighters back. A sudden warmth filled his body and healing magics flowed through his body as the woman healed him with some arcane device.
*****
Both Lucem and Malstrom moved in and assisted the struggling family. Malstrom's innate healing ability brough the young farmer back to his senses and he groaned as he came to. Clambering to his feet, he bent to assist his brother as they bodily picked up their mother and dragged her towards the bridge. Despite Lucems best efforts at calming her though, she continued to wail in despair and struggled to dash after her panicked husband. The boys made slightly faster progress than previously, but still the zombies were closing. They would make the bridge, but making the church might be beyond reach at this stage.
Brethan grabs the last youngster and with a growl says "Hang on lad"
Jump -
Climb -
Strength (if needed) -
Brethan growls "Gorums balls boy we might have to run!
Brethan grabs the last youngster and with a growl says "Hang on lad"
Jump - 1d20+8
Climb - 1d20+8
Strength (if needed) - 1d20+4Brethan growls "Gorums balls boy we might have to run!
With a mighty leap and straining shoulders, Brethan hauled both himself and the oldest lad up and onto the wall. As he dragged his booted foot up onto the narrow lip, the first of the zombies slammed into the wall. The midless thing scrabbled uselessly after the scent of living flesh, looking up into the panting barbarians face with milk white eyes and rotten skin.
Ulric's vigor renewed at Kendra's touch and he pushes his attack confidently, knowing that his allies were at his side.
"Thank you Kendra. This thing is resilient and I may need of your healing hands again."
Ulric longsword attack
Ulric swings again but with no effect. Inwardly he knew he would need to focus and actually aid his companions. It was not enough to just keep this thing off them, he wanted to be apart of righting this wrong.
Ulric longsword attack
Damage
It's ok child ... I won't drop you (Diplomacy )
Balance:Acrobatics
I'll also be looking for anything suitable to drop on Zombies .... NOT children.
Malstrom knowing without slowing the zombies or speeding the family up we are doomed. He looks at Luceum with hopeful eyes, that she has some wonderful magic to get us out of predicament. But no reassurance was forthcoming.
Malstrom then frantically looks around for a closer safehaven for our small group. A hut, gardening shed maybe some kind of defencable position??
Can I determine how long before the Zombies reach us and how many are there after our little group???
We can't let Koal's boyfriends die, we would never hear the end of it..... Malstrom thinks to himself
While moving forward Malstrom will also cast Protection from Evil upon himself.
Lucem looks around the group looking for anything that could be used to slow the zombies down. The river looked like more trouble than it was worth and knowing the luck so far the zombies would be smart enough to use the bridge and meet the group on the other side. Lucem appraised the bridge, even with her lack of combat tactics she noticed that it could be a defendable position. But probably not with such a small group against the horde. Her eyes met Malstrom's and the look spoke clearer than the incoherent ramblingsnthat was coming out of his mouth. It looks like we have to carry your mother. If we take turns we should be able to keep in front of the horde. If they get too close you boys take over and we'll try to keep the zombies occupied.
Lucem looks to Malstrom for reasurance that her idea will work.
Ulric' blade swung in hard and fast as the second of Koals missiles blasted into the walking dead.
The edge of his blade bit deep, spilling partially rotten intestines out of the creature and causing Kendra to go pale in despair. The zombie seemed barely to notice though and swung again. This time the arm struck the knight and a bright charge of light ignited the air again. He felt his muscles spasm involuntarily under the spells influence and a pain raced across his chest momentarily.
A final blast from Koal smashed the things lolling head into so much mashed brain and bone, and the Professor again fell into death. The path to the Lorrimar Residence lay unopposed.
****
Shuffling along the wall, the small group of children and the two larger men eventually made it to a place where they could reach a large tree in the nobles residence. Scrambling into this they stared down into the scrabbling zombies as they desperately tried to reach the living flesh. Below the tree, the large dog had suddenly caught the scent of the rotting dead, and was going crazy running back and roward along the fenceline. Its eerie silence continued as it raced and scrabbled at the brickwork. For the moment, the group were safe.
*****
The small group were moving now, though still too slowly to make the church. Despite all of Lucems suggestionns, both of the farm boys ignored her words. They continued to struggle with their distraught mother though, and had her off the ground at least.
Malstrom suddenly danced around and pointed frantically at a small toll hut standing near the covered bridge. It was big enough to house a single person comfortably, and was probably left over from at time when crossing the bridge was tolled.
At first it made no sense to the other three, but then Lucem realised that the hut could be used to scramble up onto the roof of the bridge itself. It wasn't much, but it would certainly offer sanctuary from these things for the time being. In fact, if they got up there fast enough, the damnable things may even lose track of them and wander off to the church instead.
For everyone to read
Climb
Once I am up on the roof of the hut I will assist anyone else that needs help in this order - Lucem, the mother then the males.
Even though Lucem can't understand the ramblings from Malstrom. She figures out that Malstrom needs help to bring everyone up to the roof. The feeling of guilt is quickly overcome when she realises the plan to pull everyone to safety, not just her. She starts to climb up with aid of Malstrom.
Climb
Quickly Lucem turns and starts to help Malstrom to pull the others up to the roof. Push your mother up, we'll pull her up from here. Then help each other up. Last one has to jump up. Diplomacy if you need it to convince the boys.
climb
climb
climb
Ulric turns to Koal as he watches the animated dead fall to her magical assault. "I am truly glad for your knowledge in such powerful arts. I believe on my own I would have fallen easily before it's perverted strikes. You have my thanks." He turns then to Kendra. "And you too my lady. Your arts preserved me further. To you also I am grateful." The road ahead lay free of any further hazard and for this he was relieved. He would see to his wounds upon his return. He had however learnt something during his fight with the undead. His shield would prove more useful if he were to stand as the wall against an enemies advance upon his companions. He would learn in time to be a true shield to those he counted as allies.
Malstrom clambered nimbly up onto the roof, and turned to assits the others. He was quickly joined by Lucem who also tried to help the others.
The two young farmers boosted their mother up first, and Lucem Grabbed her under the armpits and pulled her struggling form onto the roof. Unfortunatley, the old lady landed on top of the priestess and pinned her their for the precious moments left before the Zombies closed.
The wounded brother was then boosted up and Malstrom managed to get him onto the roof as well.
The last lad leapt and grasped the roof of the shack but part of the shingle gave way at the last minute and he slipped down and landed on his back before Malstrom could get his hands to the lad. Their eyes met, and Malstrom could see the desperate fear held there. The little man held his hand out, beckoning the farmers boy to get to safety, even as the moaning hordes closed the gap.
The boy scrambled to his feet and kicked out savagely around him, knocing the first of the walking dead away. He leapt with desperate strength, and his hand found Malstroms. The litte gnome heaved and assisted the scrambling youth on to the roof even as the boy flailed with his feet to keep the grasping dead from tearing his flesh. Panting with exertion, the two of them finally managed to scamble onto the roof of the covered bridge, and lay their momentarily while the moans of the hungry dead echoed through the night around them.
*****
In the town, the occasional scream of a local who hadn't quite made it to safety reached all the groups. The zombies milled around the town, surrounded the church grounds and generally tried to batter or reach the living flesh they could detect so close by. As the night progressed, the smell of the dead permeated the air, leaving those in the tree and on the rooftop of the bridge gasping at the rancid odour.
Brethan and Archeos helped the younger children secure themselves in the tree so they wouldn't fall as exhaustion reached them. At some point, the mass of the zombie pressing against the main gate to the mansion eventually caused it collapse inwards. The eerily silent war dog was ready for them, and brought two or three down before the ever hungry creatures surrouned it and tore its quivering flesh from its bones.
From the vanatage point on top of the church roof, Lucem and Malstrom watched the mass of undead as thye shambled around the church. It seemed as if the priests had kept their wards on this building strong though, for the undead could not get past the metal gates, despite their sheer numbers.
Inside the Lorrimar residence, Lady Kendra desperately searched for something to fight the hordes, while Koal and Ulric patrolled the house to ensure none of the undead found a way in.
Sometime after midnight, a bright greenish tinged light seemed to emanate from the spire of the old prison. For a moment, for those who could see it, there appeared to be the angry face of young woman gazing out over the township itself. As the light faded, the force that held the dead in their animated state seemed to end, and the dead once again fell at rest. The night finished out without so much as a sound from any living thing in the township.
The early hours of the morning saw the Sheriff and two of his deputies moving cautiously through the town, slowly gathering those who had survived and getting them to meet at the great cathedral of Pharasma.
Some folks hadn't made it, and by the time everyone from the newly formed adventuring group had arrived at teh Cathedral, it appeared as if ten new citizens had joined the dead during the horrific night. Not surprisingly, one of them had been the terrified father of the farmers that Lucem and Malstrom had helped. Sadly for Kendra, both of ehr servants had also succumbed. They had been visiting their daughters house instead of attending the feast, and had been caught halfway back to Kendra's by the roaming horde.
The mood was a mixture of grief and terror as the township crowded into the churches great hall. Over the sounds of the grief, father Grimburrow raised his voice and addressed all gathered before him. The man looked exhausted, but it seemed as if an inner fire burned in his eyes, where once only doubt and suspicion had lurked. Whatever else had occured, the zombie raid had awoken these people from whatever enchanted fugue had plagued them before.
"It is clear that the evils of the old Prison have awoken something dreadful in this place. We must act..today."
He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of those men and women who seemed capable of such actions. "We do not know if the power that animated our dead has abated completely, or will once again act tonight. Today, we must move those unfortunate corpses of our departed to a place we can better keep them penned in case they rise again. This will be soul draining work, but it must be done my good folk of Ravengro."
"A few days ago, a group of strangers arrived in town to assist in teh burial of the good Professor Lorrimar. In my ignorance, I ignored their pleas for assistance and instead treated them as potential enemies and purveyors of evil. We have all treated these folk as less than friends, despite their actions to work agains whatever evil has laid its hand to our town." He looked down and drew a deep breath and then continued. "I offer my appologies, and those of the township. If you are able, and still willing, I would ask that you capable few go forth to the old Gaol and find waht evil has caused this. Destroy it if you can, but return and let us know as much as you can about this thing at a minimum. Our township may well depend on your forgiveness and skill."
It seemed as if the entire town turned to look questioningly at the party.
Ulric accepts the offering of the master crafted armor with great thanks.
He thinks it best to try it on immediately to see if it does however infact fit correctly.
He brims in a grand smile as the wonderfully crafted armor settles neatly upon his frame. He truly appreciated the craftsmanship and the quality of the equipment. He found his movement was not as impeded as one would expect and he could hardly contain the grin at his temporary gift.
Malstom walks up to stand next to the Priest and cast an eye over the crowd.
Sense Motive
Malstrom speaks, This undead evil cannot not exist any longer, it must be vanquished from this land! I for one will not stand by and let our family and friends succumb to this insideous terror!! I will not stand by and let our forbearers be raised and abused against us!!! I will gather my weapons and armour and I will fight this abomination!!!! I have the faith to fight, I have the courage to fight!!!!! Do you all have to courage and faith to fight!!!!!! Malstrom questions the towns people, pointing around the hall. I know you do! I can see it in your eyes, I can see it your hearts!! Will you all stand up with me and fight!!! I can't hear you!!!! Malstrom finishes with his hands clenched above his head waiting for he roar of approval from the crowd.
Diplomacy
Malstrom's speach roused the spirits of the townsfolk considerably. They moved with purpose after the little gnome had finished his rally, heading back out into town to clear away the bodies and clean up the debris from the burnt out town hall.
As Kendra and her new protectors prepared to leave, Jorfa (the female dwarf who runs the forge in town) walked up and offered them some advice.
"I was here when the Harrowstone was still functioning as a prison. In fact, tis a good chance I'm the last in town as was alive when the great fire took it down." She spat sideways and made the sign of the hammer as she did so, to protect agains the bad luck of mentioning such an horrific event.
"There were five men brought into the prison the week o' the fire. Five of the worst scunners to come out o' provinces in fact. Folks here abouts were angry that the prison were to be takin' such folk, but it meant more cash flow, sow the maesters said yes any way and there we were."
"Twas those five as staged the escape attempt as led to the fire, we was told after. They managed ter break free somehow, and rally the murderers and rapists as was the mainstay o' the prison ny then. Well, good old Warden Hawkran, he fought em hard the whole way. In teh end though, it came to fire despite his efforts. Him and most o' the lower tier guards was trapped when the oil casks ignited, so the upper guards say. Twas nought to be done afterwards but seal the place up and let teh dead rest peaceful." She looked intently into their eyes then, grim as most dwarves could be "Only they didnt lay restful at all. A group o' the braver lads in town went up there a few years later, lookin' fer trinkets and such that apparently lay in the deep vault of the place. None of them boys came back. A few days later the skin of one of them fellers was found hangin' at the gates of the Harowstone. Peeled offin' his bones like a melon skin it were, complete and whole. None have been up there since. We left the Harrowstone alone, and it let us be too. Until now it seems"
She spat again, sizing the big Barbarin in front of the group partcularly. "You remind me of them lads, boyo. All muscle and bellow. Take care we don't find yer own skins hangin' on the gates come morning you hear"
With that tale told, she walked out into town, to lend her significant strength to the task of mving the bodies somewhere safer.
"Right I'm for in the front gates, check the perimeter, then follow the path up to the left and see if we can get in from there" says Brethan
"Right I'm for in the front gates, check the perimeter, then follow the path up to the left and see if we can get in from there" says Brethan
Wading through water in our armour does not appeal to me, so I am happy for the front gates or the crumbled section to the right of the main gates. If we can climb over that part without getting our toes wet, that might be another good option for enter the prison. After that, working our way to the stairs which Brethan pointed out looks like a good course of action.
Since we have no idea about what force is in there and everyone seems to leave the place alone, we may aswell just walk up to the front entrance. Clearing the guard house out the front first. Having no engineering skill whatsoever climbing through the broken part of the mansion that could collapse is not enticing. Going into combat soaked even if I dont wear armour is not my idea of a fun time. Besides once we're inside we'd leave a wet trail everywhere.
Upon arrival to the prison once a first view is had.
"Foreboding looking place, but something within me stirs at the prospect of challenges within. With my lady guiding me, if this is the source of the undead and with you each as companions then I am most happy to venture forth."
He gives a smile to Koal remembering her magical aptitude which had aided him so greatly against the Professors restless corpse.
"I must agree with you in your plan of approach. Watery depths just don't need the kind of exploring I would do within it. Just another pile of bones in rusted armor is not the sort of result I am looking for today nor in the future for that matter. And as for scaling any of the walks, again, armor seems heavier the higher above the ground I get. I don't want to be exhausted before the fun even starts. I am entirely in support of the dry, low lying approach."
Perception +2
Engineering +5
Dungeoneering +5
The group moved cautiously up the winding path that led to the ruins of Harrowstone. As they progressed up the hill, the air grew progressivley cooler, despite the sun that shone in the morning sky. Eventually, as they neared the main gateway, all of them were forming puffs of steam as they breathed out in the frigid atmosphere.
Ulric scanned the buildings and walls with a careful eye, though most of his training proved useless to him here. Some of the time he'd spent spelunking and hunting goblins in their tunnel systems during the goblin wars helped though. As far as he could tell, the stonework on the wall closest to the lake would collapse at the slightest disturbance. Certainly heavily armed and armoured folk, as some of his new friends were, would could cause substantial shifting in that direction. He got the impression that the main entrance to the prison itself was similarly unstable. A tall balcony stood there, overlooking the courtyard and Warden's house. The fire, and the weathering of the past 50 years had taken its toll on the supports though, and the big fighter felt it was unwise to enter the main building through here either.
As they moved through the gates, a strange feeling came over them all, like they had stepped back in time.
The Warden's house
The ramshackle building that once housed the warden and his wife now stands neglected and run down. The main roof sags heavily under the weight of rotted timbers and shingles. The main doors hung from their hinges, and the front verandha had gaping holes in the flooring where timber had rotted away completely. The building looked like a strong wind would blow it over.
Perception DC 14
The Main Gaol Building
Harrowstone itself was built with the same heavy granite that much of Ravengro had used in its buildings. Unlike the town though, here the stones were coverd by lichens and climbing ivy. The builing stood close to 30 feet in height, with upper battlements along the roof line to provide patrolling guards with shooting spots in case prsioners had tried to escape the grounds.
Escaping under that killing field would have been daunting enough, only to the then face the sheer climb of the twenty foot outer wall. Of course, that was 50 years ago. Now the outer walls were cracked and showed signs of weathering. The same ivy that climbed the prisons walls clung tenaciously to this stone as well. Any competent thief would scale that wall in seconds if given the chance.
A few places had stairs leading to the parapet. These had once been protected by wooden walls and a gated entrance, allowing guards with keys access to the upper walls but seriously hampering anyone elses effots. Now the wooden walls lay shattered and rotten, and the gatehouse stood as a useless structure, testamount to an age long gone.
Perception DC 14
Will Save vs DC12
"This place is truly cursed, I feel it seeping into my very skin. Forward but be wary, I have an ill feeling something bad corrupts this place."
Perception
Thanks for the heads up. Need two rolls actually, one for the prison and one for the old Manor. This means if you fail one you still get a shot at noticing something for the other one.
Cheers
Perception