If the thing is still up, channel energy to harm undead.
Round 1:
"'Tis long past time for your rest, nightwalker!" The half-elf doesn't bother with his shield, drawing his longsword and bringing it around in a slashing two-handed swing at the foul creature.
Aleksandr shouts a warning, and stands between the zombie and Kendra, who has let out a rather piercing scream at the sight of the thing. He loads his crossbow.
Alzano, stumbling as he moves to throw, hits the zombie... hilt first. The dagger drops to the ground.
Peredur, with righteous fury, brings his sword around in an arc that would have surely felled a living target. the zombie stumbles, but remains standing as Taanyth's chakram glances along its neck, opening a hideous wound that goes unnoticed.
As the rotting corpse reaches for Peredur's throat, Iesha raises her hands to the heavens, and a burst of energy from her holy symbol scorches the creature with holy light. With whatever fell powers that compelled the corpse banished, it drops to the ground, unmoving.
"My thanks for th' timely assistance, Iesha!" Peredur looks around intently, at first for any other zombies in the area and then for any tracks this one may have left getting to where it was.
Alzano grumbles as he picks up his dagger, "... should have listened ... fools running off ... worthless in combat ..." He wipes off the hilt before stashing it back in its hidden location.
"Just glad we were able to stop it before anyone got hurt. I hope"
Iesha looks around as well, checking for other possible vicitms.
Iesha overhears Alzano's grumbling.
"We all have bad days, Mr. Vignari. At least you were properly suspicious of the situation. The rest of us just, yes foolishly, walked right into it."
Kendra breathes a sigh of relief at the sight of the felled corpse.
"Such friends as you are always worth having around, it would seem."
Peredur finds little in the way of a trail, and before he can redouble his efforts, another scream--high pitched and steeped in fear--splits the night air.
It came from the north, it would seem. From the Restlands, perhaps?
The shock of the fight and now the scream has sobered Peredur quickly, and he heads in the direction of the noise. "Come, friends. 'Twould appear we have more work ahead!"
"Kendra, it might be safer if you returned to the tavern while we investigate.
Iesha suddenly remembers Kendra's wizard training. "Unless you want to help?"
"Just go! Kendra pushes Aleksandr away, toward the noise.
Our heroes race off in to the night, following the source of the scream.
As they approach the bridge, they come upon a most grisly sight: A poor woman in the clutches of another of the zombies! It snarls hideously, and sinks its rotting teeth into her neck, tearing a great chunk of flesh and sending blood spraying over itself and its victim. The woman falls to the ground choking hideously, and the zombie lurches forward toward the heroes, gaping maw awash in the woman's blood.
HP: 9/9 AC: 14 Conditions/Duration:
Channel Energy: (1d6)7/day: 6/day: 5 left
Touch of Good (Sp/stf act): 6x/day: +1 sacred bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws: 6 left
Deflection Aura (Su): 1/day: emit a 20- foot aura giving self and allies a +2 deflection bonus for 1 round
Iesha will cast Bless on the group.
Once again, Alzano pulls a dagger from somewhere on his person. He quickly decides that the distance is too far for an accurate throw, so he moves closer towards the undead creature, stopping when he's about 20' away.
After casting Bless, Iesha will move to the victim, and try to save her.
The inquisitor levels his crossbow, previously loaded, at the zombie and fires.
attack roll:
Damage roll:
The arrow sails wide of the target.
Alzano draws a dagger and moves closer.
Round 1:
Peredur charges the undead horror, bringing his sword around in a two-handed arc that terminates in the unnaturally-animated flesh with a meaty thud.
Taanyth spends an arcane point, wields a chakram and throws it.
Peredur charges at the zombie, and attacks, opening the creature from shoulder to hip. The rotting remains of its insides spill out, but the zombie is unphased by the hideous wound. Taanyth's chakram slices through the air but is wide of the target, it clatters to the ground nearby.
Iesha casts her Bless spell, then moves to aid the dying woman.
The zombie gasping hideously through it's rotted throat claws at Peredur's face, but he is able to bat away the groping hands.
Aleksandr cranks another bolt to the ready in his heavy crossbow.
order remains:
Alzano
Peredur
Taanyth
Iesha
Zombie
Alzano watches as the ranger attacks the zombie, wincing as Peredur's sword tears into the creature. Holding his dagger at the ready, he moves behind the zombie, putting it between himself and Peredur, and slashes at the creature.
Taanyth, intent on slaying the foe, takes another chakram an throws it to the beast.
Round 2:
Peredur dodges the zombie's reaching claws and slashes out at the creature in return, carving through the undead flesh and disrupting the enchantment that animates it.
In a quick, bloody moment, it's all over. Peredur dodges the claws, and retorts smoothly, severing the head and left arm of the zombie, a second before Taanyth's chakram buries itself in the creatures' brain.
It slides to the ground in several pieces, next to the gasping and bleeding woman.
Iesha converts her Magic Weapon to Cure Light on the injured woman.
Seeing that Iesha is tending to the woman, Peredur looks around for more zombies. "'Tis likely there's others about."
The woman's throat knits shut, aided by Iesha's healing hand. She chokes and gasps one last time and her eyes fly open. She is deathly pale, breathing heavily, but alive and safe.
The zombies clothes seem are rotted finery, burial clothes from a formal ceremony. A Pharasman symbol around the remains of the neck a perversion of her work.
Scanning the area, Peredur comes up with little in the way of a trail, but the source of these bodies can only be one place... The Restlands.
"This is not good. Someone should notify Father Grimburrow and his acolytes. Meanwhile, we need to check on this. there may be more."
"Aye, th' Temple must be warned." Peredur addresses the recently-healed woman, sword still out but tip resting gently on the ground. "Ma'm, we must be to th' hunt for any others, 'fore any of your neighbors meet th' fate we saved you from. If you would, please carry word of this to Father Grimburrow at Pharasma's temple, fast as you're able. 'Tis a thing that they must needs learn of quickly. Can you do this? Your town depends on you."
Aleksandr reaches down and helps the woman up. She nods weakly.
"I will see her to the temple and notify the priesthood. Go and check the Restlands. And be careful."
With that he and the woman walk across the bridge and they turn left to the church.
There are few things as unsettling as a graveyard at night. As the group enters the grounds, you notice the dead silence surrounding you. The wind itself has fallen into an unsettling quietus. The only sound is the party's own footsteps as they walk among the potentially restless dead.
Alzano wields a dagger in each hand, keeping an eye out for any more undead... not that he'll be of any use in combat, but it's always good to be prepared!
Seeing his choice of weapons, Peredur murmurs to Alzano, "Forgive me if I speak what you already know. Daggers do well enough 'gainst such as these, but don't stab. Zombies have no vital points such as living creatures do, so you must needs carve them into pieces."
Peredur signs himself with the spiral as he enters the Restlands, mouthing a silent prayer to the Lady of Graves.
Alzano, not in the best of moods, responds to Peredur gruffly, "Gee, thanks. Here I was about to put these things away and use my pointy rapier to poke little holes in the things." Bloody, stuck-up, pointy-eared half-breeds thinking they know better than everyone else... can't even talk right... showing me up with his big, flashy sword...
Alzano broods.
Iesha nods at Peredur's plans and moves to cover the left flank, pausing only to load and ready her Battle Aspergillum.
"This is loaded with holy water. It should help against such things as well."
To the parties' left, the row of mausoleums that flank the path deeper into the Restlands is an almost familiar sight, though given the recent events, an air of menace surrounds them... what could be moving among the usually restful dead?
The last of the four mausoleums' door is slightly ajar.
The tall half-elf (who has successfully remained oblivious to Alzano's black mood) points with his sword at the mausoleum door. "See yon door...I don't recall it being open when last we came past it." He prepares his shield and advances slowly towards the disturbed crypt, ready to attack or defend as needs be.
Iesha looks toward the mausoleum Peredur noted, nods, and follows cautiously.
Alzano follows close behind, daggers clenched in his hands.
The door swings open with the scream of rusted metal, and the clattering of bones sounds as three skeletons, wrapped in the tattered and unidentifiable remains of what they were buried in, emerge.
Seeing living victims, they clambor toward the group.
Alzano growls as he sees the skeletons, then looks at his choice of weapons. "Great." Well, better hit them where it counts!
He waits for his companions to attack before attempting to maneuver behind one of the skeletons in a flanking position. With the skeleton distracted, he attempts to strike at the creature.
But stops midstrike to contemplate life.
Round 1:
"There's deviltry afoot, 'tis certain! Th' necromancer behind all this will face Pharasma's judgment...."
Peredur switches to his light mace and closes with the nearest skeleton, trying to maneuver so that Alzano can get a flanking shot. If possible he'll attack it, but to no avail. He's gotten too used to the sword, apparently.
Iesha will swing at one skeleton with her Battle Aspergillum.
If struck the skeleton will take 1 addtional point of damage from the holy water.
for a total of 5 points of damage.
-
Aleksandr looks on grimly at the skeletons, before moving forward with his longspear.
Attack:
Damage:
Taanyth goes for his usual method. He draws his chakram and throws it to the most damaged skeleton.
Skeletons
Peredur
Taanyth
Aleksandr
Iesha
Alzano
The skeletons close the gap quickly, drawing rusted old blades.
attack roll at Peredur
attack roll:
damage roll:
attack roll at Iesha
attack roll:
damage roll:
attack roll at Taanyth
attack roll:
damage roll:
The first reaches Peredur, swinging wildly. He bats away the attack and attempts a riposte, which is countered.
The next closes on Iesha, but she ducks under the clumsy attack. Taanyth dodges away from a slow moving attack almost as an afterthought; his chakram is of no use at such close range and clatters away harmlessly.
Aleksandr rushes up, and joins the group, attempting to impale one of the skeletons! The thrust is true, but there is no tissue to damage, so the effect is minimal.
Iesha swings her aspergillum in a vicious arc. It connects with the skeleton's skull and shatters it. The holy water is showered over the bones, and they drop to the ground, the blessed water hissing and giving off a pure white smoke.
Alzano, moving to flank, manages to do little with his dagger, the edge finding no purchase among his target's ribs.
Round 2
attack roll at Peredur
attack roll:
damage roll:
confirm critical fumble
attack roll at Taanyth
attack roll:
damage roll:
The 2 skeletons redouble their unholy efforts and attack again. Swinging at Peredur, the first skeletn swings poorly and Peredur side steps.
The second finds an opening and manages to leave a bloody slash along Taanyth's ribs.
Iesha moves to flank the one on Peredur.
+1 Holy Water (5/3 charges) 8 total damage.
If I don't hit something this time... Alzano lashes out with both of his daggers, attacking the flanked skeleton with a snarl.
Round 2:
Peredur resets his grip and swings again, this time connecting. Shards fly as his mace smashes the unnaturally-animated bones.