"Oh boy..."
Init:
Gornak readies an action to smack any ghoul that comes within range.
Thandros' shot slams home just after Aylmora's, and the ghoul slumps down. Vaclav targets another ghoul and hits it, but the ghoul doesn't stop breaking free.
Aylmora fires her crossbow at the same ghoul as Vaclav.
That may have put him down too. Two more coming. Gornak's good for one. Gob may have something for the other. We might get out of this safely.
Vaclav prepares for hand to hand combat just in case.
*****
HP: 21/21
AC: 18, touch: 12, flat footed: 16 (MW Breastplate ACP-3)(+2 more if ring of FS is active)
Initiative
"I don't think we have much to worry about..." Thanadros says as he shoots at the closest one.
Focused Close Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) | Damage | Crit: 20/x3 }Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot
Init
Gob fires a bolt of his own from hiding then reloads and steps back.
Crossbow (vs potentially ff'd ghoul): ; damage:
In order:
Gob shoots one as it struggles free, but inflicts only a slight wound. Aylmora shoots another and it almost falls rather than jumps to the ground even as Vaclav's shot takes it down. Thanadros Drives a shaft into Gob's target, but it and one other uninjured ghoul keeps coming, rushing toward Gornak.
Gornak will get his readied attack and then an AoO.
"Raaaar!" giant-sized Gornak bellows as he swings his hammer.
readied:
AoO:
Shit! We could have used him at Caboti's Stand. I've never seen anyone who can hit like that. Vaclav thinks as he nocks another arrow.
Gornak's hammer is poetry in motion. As the uninjured ghoul goes to spring, the hammer sweeps around to slam into the floating ribs of the ghoul and crush half the ribcage and the spine. The injured ghoul strives to dart under his guard only to get caught by the Lucern hammer's spike on the back-swing, skewering it in the neck.
Silence settles over the golden fields.
"I must remember to thank Mistress Savah again for this wonderful crossbow when we return to Sandpoint," Aylmora comments.
Vaclav looks at his twindling supply of arrows, then at Thanadros' loaded quivers. "Could I borrow some of those shafts, Thanadros? I'm nearly out."
Sounds good to Gornak as well.
Thanadros unstraps his quiver and hands it over to Vaclav. "They are yours." He then pulls another full quiver out of his pack and straps it onto him.
"At the rate we are moving we might run out of ammunition. Let us leave the rest of these ghouls till a later time and let us see if we can find the real threat."
Once the group gets close to 15, Thanadros lets loose an arrow at it.
Focused Close Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) | Damage | Crit: 20/x3 }Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Psionic Shot
Thanadros unstraps his quiver and hands it over to Vaclav. "They are yours." He then pulls another full quiver out of his pack and straps it onto him.
"Thanks, Thanadros." Vaclav pulls the arrows from his quiver and drops them into Thanadros' which he slings over his back. Then he hangs his quiver on a corn stalk.
"At the rate we are moving we might run out of ammunition. Let us leave the rest of these ghouls till a later time and let us see if we can find the real threat."
Once the group gets close to 15, Thanadros lets loose an arrow at it.
Vaclav looks over their diminishing supply of ammunition. "You're right. To the house then!"
When they reach the ghoul, Vaclav readies a shot, but mindful of the ammunition doe not loose with Thanadros.
Longbow, ... damage add 1 to hit and damage if his target is inside 30' or subtract any range penalties.
HP: 21/21
AC: 18, touch: 12, flat footed: 16 (MW Breastplate ACP-3)(+2 more if ring of FS is active)
As you approach #15, before you shoot...
Perception
Perception
Perception
Thanadros raises his hand to stop the others from shooting the scarecrow. "I believe this one is still alive. He is begging Erastil for help and mercy." Thanadros says as he turns and looks to Vaclav.
Deadeye have mercy indeed. If he's that strong and devoted there may be hope.
"Cover me," Vaclav exchanges bow for mace and walks forward carefully. He slowly lifts the sack from the face of the hanging person.
Perception
Heal
The man is bound to the pole almost like a crucifix with baling twine. His face is ashen and sick, he clearly has ghoul fever, but he isn't dead yet.
"Thank the gods," he croaks as Vaclav lifts away the sacking. "I heard your voices...there are monsters in the barn and farm-house, they hung me up here...oh gods it hurts...so hungry..."
"Brother Vaclav, is there anything you can do for him? Don't worry, sir; we can destroy more of these monsters, no problem. I just wish we had gotten here earlier." Gigantic Gornak tries to reassure the poor man.
I would have shot him. Thank the gods Thanadros is so alert.
"Peace, brother," Vaclav soothes the man.
In reply to Gornak, Vaclav faces the group. "I know what I said before, but this man calls on Erastil and I can't deny him. We can cut him down, then tie him more comfortably on the ground. He may be able to last out the night and we can get him to Father Zantus."
Gornak has 100' of rope, so that should be enough to tie the guy up.
"Sorry mister, but we have to do this for your own good. Is there anywhere safe we can put him?"
Shade, some water and food seem to restore the man somewhat, as does cleaning and binding his festering wounds. Vaclav is reasonably confident he should survive the night if you do.
The only place to leave him, if you tie him up, is in the corn.
"I can stand," he insists, "I'll go to Sandpoint myself."
"I can't risk you alone and unbound while you are ill. If the fever intensifies and you die, you will rise again as an abomination. If you will not submit to binding, then come with us. Have you any skill with arms? You set out to deal with these ghouls before. Your family still needs protection. For the sake of them and Erastil who has granted you a reprieve from death join us."
DIplomacy
Gornak gawks in astonishment. "You aren't honestly expecting this sick fellow to rush into battle with us, are you? Gee whiz! Say, sir, is there a neighbour with a horse you could stay with? Then maybe he could ride to Sandpoint and bring some medicine or something."
"There is no panacea save the healing that Father Zantus may be able to provide. It is true that he may heal naturally of the disease, but if he dies the risk is too great that others will then die by his hand.
"We can keep him with us in the middle of the group. He should be safe enough there. For the good of the town and his own family, he can not be allowed to roam. "
"I agree that he should stay with us. What is your name, goodsir? We'll see you safely back to Sandpoint and Father Zantus after we deal with the monsters in the house."
"Say, can we check out the barn first? I bet in my enlarged situation I'd fit through a barn door more easily than a house door!"
"That works for me, Gornak."
"I'm Horran Guffmin," the man struggles to his feet. "I'll stay with you. I thought I was pretty handy with a pitchfork, but I reckon I'd just get in you folks' way if I tried to get stuck in."
You advance toward the barn, along the tracks in the corn. In the evening light you can see the barn door is ajar...
"Take this, Horran, and stick close." Vaclav hands the farmer his dagger.
"Lead on, GOrnak." Vaclav nocks an arrow and and follows the half-giany toward the barn.
Aylmora warily watches for any signs of movement, a bolt locked and loaded in her trusty crossbow.
Thanadros nods in agreement with the others as they decided what to so with Horran.
When they approach with weapons at the ready Thanadros tries to perceive what could be lurking inside the barn.
Perception
An L-shaped building the barn is constructed around a unique feature—a twelve-foot-high stone head, canted slightly to the left, depicting a helmed warrior, his face a stern model of placid determination. Moss has grown over much of the weathered figure, making his features hard to discern. The door hangs open, and a carnal stench comes from within. One glance shows a next that is a tangle of bones, straw and partially eaten carcases, many of them human.
There are no ghouls visible amongst the hay stacks and other detritus, but Thanadros can make out fresh tracks on the ground. They lead in and out, and he can see some going into and out of the cornfields, and some toward the farmhouse.
"Looks like we're going to have to tackle the house now," Aylmora whispers to her companions, trying not to gag from the stench emanating from the barn.
Vaclav shakes his head. Why would you build a barn around a statue like that. Waste of good working space that.
"To the house then."
Gornak pokes the pile of carnage with his hammer and then (if nothing jumps out) leads the way to the house. "I guess I'll have to shrink back down. Too bad -- I enjoyed being tall for once!" Gornak jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
Gob keeps his crossbow at the ready, and his helm's visor down to hide his hesitation. He sticks to the shadows and cover as he follows the party.
Aylmora snickers at Gornak's joke.
Vaclav flanks Gornak with an arrow nocked on his bow string.
"So, Horran, what exactly happened when you all marched out here?"
"We came 'ere yesterday evening, we could see the fields weren't tended for days, and there were no signs of Mevil and the kids, not even the dogs. We knew summit was wrong, see. But there was eight of us, we 'ad weapons." Horran gestures at scattered pitchforks, spears and scythes still littered around the farmyard. "When we got to around here they comes at us out the barn, the corn, the farm house. When they touched us it were like...being grabbed by the grave..." he shudders.
"Some made a run for it. Did they make it?"
You approach the farmhouse, all is silent. The house is dark with a single door facing the farmyard. It hangs ajar, and the smell from inside is unpleasant. Who's first?