Zazaria eyes Vrilli's sword a little nervously, but - noting the sound coming from the river - hefts her own quarterstaff with apparent intent.
You hear a call. Wha...what do you want?
Damn.. Leeoli's instincts fear the worst...although prone to false alarms.
To me!! I am Maleye!
He then strikes his sunrod, raising it high, rapier drawn and ready.
damn me for being a nice guy
You two kids! Get behind me. NOW!!
Zazaria mutters Mr. Maleye, really. and steps up unconcernedly to his side. What are you so exercised about?
Vrilli casts a brief sideways glance at Zazaria Something lurks down yonder Vrilli moves towards the sound and has a look.
Ignoring Zazzari, Leeoli again shouts You two down there! RUN!
I am Maleye! in Necril.
Zazzari, there are shambling forms emerging from the river towards a couple of adolescents. The night is black, and I fear the worst, Cleric of Pharasma. Come, I am moving within bow range. Do you detect evil at range?
The young couple looks at Leeoli in open fear, their mouths transfixed in wide open astonishment. The girl seems to come to her senses first, and she elbows her beau in the ribs to get his attention, then tugs him along as they rush past Leeoli and toward the street.
The figure seems to follow, until its attention fixes upon Leeoli. It's slogging steps gain new purpose as it trudges towards you.
Leeoli sheaths his rapier, draws his short bow and notches an arrow. Not aiming yet, Leeoli still holds a sunrod over head.
Something with those forms is not right. Zazzari, The Gods do not aid any Maleye, but neither do they curse us. Do you yet see those lumbering forms? Are they evil? Vrilli, what do you sense?
Vrilli sheaths his sword and readies his longbow. I cannot tell with certainty if they are evil, but if they are, I prefer evil things to have holes in them
Zazaria starts muttering a prayer, and sketching the shape of a spiral in the air in front of her chest with one hand. Tiny beads of blue luminescence seem to gather on her fingers.
A sudden worry struck Leeoli
Tssst. Is Kendra safe!?
Lorrimor charged us to keep her safe, and there are secrets held in that home that might put her in danger.
I suggest that we move closer to Lorrimor's house. Perhaps one or two with sharp eyes can lag behind a bit to keep these three or four in view.
Zazaria stiffens suddenly, and her eyes become hard and cold, glinting like quartz in a winter sun.
Be wary! she barks, her voice urgent. Zombies! The minions of Undeath are upon us!
Then she turns to Leeoli.
You are right, Mr. Maleye...we ought to fall back toward the manor. This may not be aimed at Kendra, but we must not take the chance that it is.
She looks back at the slowly advancing creatures. But either way, we will send these blighted souls to a proper rest.
Suiting deeds to words, she begins to withdraw at a slow walk towards the manor.
Stay together! These creatures must not catch any of us isolated...and stay near me. These will taste the might of Pharasma if they dare us.
Leeoli nods, and starts back, scanning the for enemies as he does. Did I ever tell you that I first met Lorrimor while hunting three zombies with my cousin?
Well, then you know the dangers...but tell me later, when we have done for these spawn of darkness. Zazaria's voice is harsh, but oddly enough, she favours Leeoli with a rather shy smile.
As you head back to the road, the creature follows you in its odd, shuffling gait. The others, further down the riverbank, seem content to walk through the low fields of grain towards a living goal. Before you can get far, though, you hear the whinny of a horse. A wagon is headed south from the town circle along the road in your direction, though the shuffling zombie is in between you and it. The wagon appears to be rather utilitarian, for carrying goods to and from the market - no doubt a farmer who toiled all day and just turned over his yields to various purveyors for his pay.
The zombie cocks its head to the side in curiosity, then turns to face the clopping horse and it's burden.
Gah. Now what to do? These zombies are nore or less mindless, but are dangerous. We will have to assume that these zombies are not a diversion from a more dangerous undead power, else let innocent die. Do we split up? Do we use ourranged attacks? Vriili?
Perhaps we should move to engage them. Zazaria is grim, utterly focused upon the advancing Undead.
Vrilli moves slowly with Zazaria towards the manor, with an arrow notched. It looks like the cart will pass safely. I think we should make a stand here. Level ground with good visibility in all directions- no surprises. I plan to take a shot as soon as one of those things is close enough Vrilli keeps and eye on the zombies and aims at the closest one.
Vrilli takes a shot at the closest zombie (the northernmost one).
Vrilli’s aim true, the arrow slams into the zombie’s torso with a dull thud. The beast staggers on towards the group, its trajectory unchanged.
The zombies stagger forward, closing the distance to the group.
Ah, I just recalled. Piercing and bashing zombies is of little use. Use your slashing blades. Eesh my rapier won't be at its best either.
Readies his rapier.
Vrilli casts aside his bow in disgust and draws his longsword. He also gets ready to cast repel undead.
Leeoli dashes forward and quickly skewers undead flesh, with only minor effect.
Zazaria holds forth her holy symbol, and begins to incant a prayer to the Mother of Graves...
Pharasma grant these abominations thy mercy, harsh and clean!
Vrilli casts disrupt undead at the north most Zombie
Crag rushed forward against the zombie, battering his fists into the beast's rotting flesh when he arrives.
Gerion looks to the north, at the farmer's wagon. He moves to intercept. I'll warn the poor old fella'.
Asenath takes a few steps towards the second zombie, and let's loose what looks to be a silent scream made with all of her lung capacity.
The zombies shamble forth in a decidedly ackward manner, their movements unnatural as they stagger towards their gathered opposition.
Crag calls a war cry and rushes at the northernmost zombie, thrashing it with two heavy but highly ineffectual blows, as they slide off its slick skin.
Vrilli moves towards the same zombie and utters a brief incantation under his breath. A ray of light projects from his outstretched hand and sears the beast, further scarring its already partially decomposed skin.
Zazaria calls upon the power of her goddess to try and force these creatures back to her final judgement, and the power seems to weaken two of the creatures, if only slightly.
Leeoli rushes to stand by Crag, and his rapier darts in to skewer the zombie through the chest – no small feat. The zombie, for his part, utters no sound, but turns his gaze to Leeoli.
Gerion rushes off, and the wagon slows at his frantic waves.
Asenath’s silent scream seems to stagger the second zombie even more than it had been, and its course wavers before locking back on to the woman who hurt it…now, his next target.
Zombies
Crag
Vrilli
Zazaria
Leeoli
Gerion
Asenath
The first zombie swings at Leeoli with a grasping fist that seems unfamiliar with the action of a grasp.
The second zombie charges…at a brisk walk….at Asenath, its heavy hands clubbing down at her.
The third zombie stalks steadily on; it will arrive at Asenath’s location to assist its brother in undeath soon enough
oof
With the grimness of the Maleye, Leeoli lashes out with his rapier at an undead fleshy throat, skewering it, and then with a quick twisting action the rapier rips its puncture into a gaping gash.
Ah ha!
Slipping free, Leeoli makes a 5-ft-step diagonally of the zombie, to prepare to flank the Zombie opposite of Crag. Leeoli, prepares to try to parry the next Zombie attack.
Crag pummels the zombie.
Crag's fists hammer into the zombie, the second seeming to twist its head to unnatural dimensions. When Leeoli's blade slips into its throat, the head separates from the body and thuds to the ground, followed a moment later by the now dead (again) corpse.
Leeoli spins after his attack and sprints behind Vrilli's position.
Vrilli moves South East and attempts to disect the second zombie (next to Asenath)
Zazaria swings around to Asenath, then recalls that she can do nothing for the Dhampir girl. Turning back toward the Zombies, she once again presents her Pharasmin symbol, and fueled by a gathering rage and horror, howls a new imprecation: Lady of Graves, harrow these dire souls!
oh yeah!
Asenath hisses loudly as the zombie strikes her, and looks truly horrified as Zazaria swings on her and she almost puts her hands up defensively as to ward her away. The amulet about her neck glows fiercely, and dims as Zazaria turns away. She tries to put some distance between her and the zombie, pulling out a furled scroll as she moves.