Landon will move in and help hold the chokepoint
Ariael makes a double move, across the plank and up to S42.
Marius makes a double move, across the plank and up to S43.
Tethys needs no plank, leaping easily across the trench and up to S41.
Pontus Ironfist moves up to S36.
Tol Stoneshield moves up to S37.
Zombie E takes a move action down to O42.
Skeleton F makes a double move down to Y46.
Next round of actions is up! Get across that trench!
Drawing a blunt arrow from her quiver, Janiries would fire at the rapidly approaching Skeleton.
Janiries arrow catches the skeleton in the shoulder, spinning it around and causing it to fall into the trench of pitch. It slowly sinks, it's jaw still trying to articulate a scream of rage.
Get across!
Hezar sends an arrow at the zombie
for
Then once everyone is across he moves across.
Once across Ari looks to dwarf who seems to be in charge "How can I get atop the chapel? I seek to thin our enemies to make our exit safer"
Belgrin double moves across the plank and stops at S-44.
"Gonna be one hell of a mess to clean up here..."
Since Zombie E would take two turns to be able to threaten any of you, I'm just going to rule that everyone made it safely across to the chapel. The two dwarves pull the planks up behind you.
Welcome to Tilver's Folly - a fine place to die. growls the younger dwarf, who was introduced earlier as Tol Stoneshield.
Everyone gets 145 XP for trouncing the undead, plus 250 XP for making it safely to the Chapel. By my count, you all have 969 XP.
The feeling upon entering the Chapel is not one of religious piety, but of fear and despair. The pews, once orderly, now have been pushed up against the walls, or broken downs for firewood. The stained glass windows have mostly been broken out.
To the south of the building, a makeshift infirmary has been set up. Five people - all human, from what you can tell - lay on cots, in various stages of illness or injury. Several are missing limbs, and none look like their prospects are positive. Several commoners - villagers, you suppose - tend to the injured as best they can, though at the moment they've stopped to take in your adventuring party and mutter quietly amongst themselves.
Several of the survivors are armed; three dwarves (including the two you met outside) and three humans, all relatively young. One of the humans is climbing down a ladder from the roof. That was really impressive! Great work! You're here to get us out, aren't you? I'm Tanner!
Bowing to the young human, Janiries would speak loud enough to be heard by everyone in the chapel.
"Well met Tanner. I'm Janiries, of House Shaelara.. and yes, we're here to get you and everyone else here out. Would you care to explain the situation, Tanner?"
I am Hezar. I bow to your bravery.
Belgrin takes the time to greet his fellow dwarves with hearty handshakes and shoulder claps. "Told 'em they wouldn't have Dwarven corpses without a fight, aye? Let's show these beanstalks what real Dwarves can do!"
Recognizing one as a clansman, Belgrin is only slightly more somber, but remains in good cheer. So tell me, Tol, do ye still think leavin' the clan hearth was the best thing? Not that we imagined any of this, but..."
Duvall moves directly to the infirmary and begins channeling energy and offering prayers for healing for those in dire straits.
Helm led us here, good people of Tilver's Folly, and we will not leave anyone behind. As soon as we are ready, we will move out.
Might I see you supplies? I might be able to whip up some extra arrows if we have the materials. Every bit might help. Do we want to set up a defense to thin out the ghouls tonight and move out when rested in the morning?
The young man seems taken aback by Janiries' question. Well, umm, there's these undead, you see? And one day they just sorta, you know, kinda rose up, and.....
It's alright, lad. Why don't ye check on yer man, then get back up to yer watch for a bit? I'll talk to the newcomers. The older, black haired dwarf - Pontus - interjects upon seeing the young man's discomfort. Sorry, folks, Tanner's a good lad but he ain't in the best frame of mind. Everything that's happened - and how his husband lays near death, as well. How about some introductions, first? You already know Tor and myself. That other surly dwarf over there, Pontus indicates a silent, red haired dwarf watching at one of the windows, a crossbow in his hands, is Beldas Arnskull. Not a member of our company, he was part of a trading caravan set to move out the morning that we were set upon by the bloody bandits. These folk, he indicates a couple of young humans, one male and one female are Arthar and Belina, also with the caravan. Arthar was a caravan guard, and Belina an entertainer. She's the only one of us with a spark of magic, a bard I think. The pretty young woman turns for a moment and offers a weak smile, before returning to her watch, a shortbow in her hands, and a short sword at her side. Her dark features would seem to indicate that she's a calishite - certainly not welcome everywhere in Tethyr.
We've a few common folk from the village, and also a few wounded. It figures that we see rescue from Helmish priests - the one God that wasn't represented in this bloody shrine. He points to a middle aged woman, over by the injured. That's Kitha, she's doing her best to tend to the sick and wounded, but she could sure use some help.
@ Belgrin: Pontus smiles at your greeting. Aye, lad, we've formed the backbone of the defense of this place. The three young humans have helped, as well.
Tol regards you cautiously. Well again, Belgrin. I've no regrets at leaving our stronghold. If I die here, at least it's not under the oppressive fist of the elders and their thrice-damned laws!
Kitha greets Duvall with a respectful curtsy. Hello, my lord. We're so very grateful that the Gods have sent you to our aid. As you can see, we've many who could use your help.
You do a quick survey of the injured:
- a middle aged human man, named Thesus. Fell ill after an attack by some form of spectral undead.
- a young woman, a caravan guard, named Denita. Injured, and now sick, after a fight with a Ghoul
- a human man in his 30's named Arnleth. That's Tanner's man, notes Kitha. He's been unconscious and unresponsive since hitting his head in a fall
- an older man named Markus - also injured in a fight with a Ghoul. Displaying significant symptoms of Ghoul sickness
- a young human man named Alaric - he lost a leg to the Ghouls, and now suffers from fever as well.
Hezar walks over to Bellina.
Might I stand guard with you ma'am? Hezar hefts his bow.
Of course ..... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. I'm Belina. She scans the village for a moment after speaking. She is a young woman, light brown skin and black hair pulled back in a simple bun. Her pretty features stand in stark contrast to the grim expression on her face. You were very brave in making your approach - and a skilled hand with that bow. These skeletons and zombies - they're the least of the dangers we've seen, though. The Ghouls come out at night. Mostly at night, at least ..... and we've seen other horrors walking in the dark - armored knights, with eyes like yellow fire.... She shakes her head after a moment. Sorry, I'm just not used to this. I'm an entertainer, dancing and signing for the miners. Now I'm felling undead with my bow. Your arrival fills us with hope - I've prayed to Millil every night since this all started, just to give us a way out of here.
I am Hezar. We are here to get you out. Stick with me and I will do everything I can to get you out of here. Do you have extra arrows somewhere?
Taking note of the people Pontus points out, Janiries would start speaking to the dwarf, leaving Tanner to his man.
"Well Pontus, I'm assuming your in charge here, so perhaps you can help explain what happened here? We already heard from a girl who escaped the village, but some more information could help us resolve this issue and get everyone out."
"Way I see it, we're gettin out of here together soon as everyone's able and we've got a good run of it. Once we're out and recuperated, we're goin' back in to clean this mess up and take back this town, and anyone with the stomach and skill for it's welcome to join."
Kitha greets Duvall with a respectful curtsy. Hello, my lord. We're so very grateful that the Gods have sent you to our aid. As you can see, we've many who could use your help.
You do a quick survey of the injured:
- a middle aged human man, named Thesus. Fell ill after an attack by some form of spectral undead.
- a young woman, a caravan guard, named Denita. Injured, and now sick, after a fight with a Ghoul
- a human man in his 30's named Arnleth. That's Tanner's man, notes Kitha. He's been unconscious and unresponsive since hitting his head in a fall
- an older man named Markus - also injured in a fight with a Ghoul. Displaying significant symptoms of Ghoul sickness
- a young human man named Alaric - he lost a leg to the Ghouls, and now suffers from fever as well.
Duvall checks each injured person carefully, telling them, Helm, the Watcher, sent me to help you. We're going to get you out of here, alright? I just need you to be strong for me.
Duvall's first round of healing gives bonuses to two of the ill - Denita and Alaric.
Denita - save vs. Ghoul fever (DC 13):
Alaric - save vs. Ghoul fever (DC 13):
Both of them improve, but neither is out of the wilderness yet. You can attempt another healing on them tomorrow - a successful save will cure them.
None of the other patients - Thesus, Arnleth or Markus - seem to have been helped. You can attempt another healing check in 6 hours of game time.
Pontus sits and lights his pipe. Aye, ye should know what transpired here. It began roughly two weeks ago - the village, and the miners, were set upon by a large, well-armed group, mostly of humans, but a few elves as well. They claimed to be bandits, come to relieve us of our valuables, but they weren't no bandits. I've been walking this world for over a hundred n' fifty years, and I know a well-drilled group of mercs when I sees them. They were far too well drilled, too disciplined, to be bandits.
He takes a long puff before continuing. They set upon the village, killing over a dozen of the poor bastards before they knew what happened to them. Then they swarmed the mine, taking everyone captive.
They wanted us to keep workin' the mine, but they had us set off in a new direction, where there weren't no veins. They worked us night n' day, the villagers too. After a couple of days we broke into a stone passageway. I tell ya, all of us thought that place was no good. You could feel the menace in the air. The walls were covered in writin' which I wasn't familiar with - and these grotesque images of death and savagery. I've survived run-ins with the Drow, and even the Mind Flayers, but I tell ya, I've never before felt true evil like I did that day.
The leader of the group was a skinny, lisping little human bastard name Profidius. He was definitely a mage, I could feel it radiatin' off him. Him an his second - a woman named Jessilyn - sent all the workers back to camp under guard when the passage was discovered.
For a day all was quiet. Then, that night, all hell broke loose. Swarms of undead came pourin' from the mine and set 'pon the villagers. So many died that first night - bandit and villager alike. My lads formed a phalanx and fought our way to the chapel, savin' whom we could. The next day, we fortified the chapel, collected what supplies we could, searched for survivors. Since then, we've been here - unable to make a break for it due to the sheer numbers of walking corpses, and due to us havin' too many wounded. We were hopin' for a miracle, and then you appeared. Maybe the Gods do listen? I don't even know how you knew to come for us.
Duvall returns from the infirmary, somewhat satisfied that he's done all he can do today and listens to Pontus' story. At an appropriate time he asks, Were the mercenaries wearing any time of emblem to mark who they were working for? A banner or symbol on a shield?
Pontus shakes his head. Nay, lad, they were careful to hide their affiliations from us. Professional, they were, and careful not to reveal their identities.
"Which actually tells us quite a bit. A highly professional group of mercenaries who recently took heavy losses, led by a mage called Profidius? We should be able to find out more about them once we make it back to Zazesspur."
Staying standing as Pontus speaks, Janiries would listen carefully to what he says before responding.
"As for how we knew how to come here, a girl by the name of Alya made her way to Zazesspur after escaping from here, and told her story to the Helmites there. We got hired to come and rescue any survivors and put an end to the trouble here."
The Sun Elf would then turn her gaze to Duvall.
"So, what's the plan? Can we move the injured easily? Because we've no chance of getting out of here if we've got to stretcher out a bunch of injured people."
Listening to the survivors story and the conditions of the wounded Landon will move close to Duvall and whisper [spoiler]"Those wounds, you know if they die from them what will happen. Keep a close eye, i don't know how fast the change will be." then will check on the humans standing guard, giving each a reassuring pat on the back or a squeeze of the shoulder, listening to their worries and providing anecdotes to easy their fear Afterwards he will move to speak with Pontus, "What kind of preparations have you made? Do you have anything else in store? And have you seen any signs of other survivors in the other buildings?"
Duvall nods to Landon and then shakes his head in Janiries direction and says, We're not going to be able to move these people any time soon - maybe a day or two, maybe three. There wounds are extensive, beyond divine healing, and it's going to take some time.
Then Duvall turns back to Pontus and says, Are any of your fighters - those manning the walls and such - injured and in need of healing? I have some spells that could help.
"Might it not be more sensible to put an end to the infestation here first, then move the survivors out? This chapel does look well fortified, allowing us to cut out this problem at it's source while the survivors stay protected."
Turning back to Pontus, Janiries would continue speaking.
"Unless you think you'll be overwhelmed shortly, that is."
It gets worse with every passing night, responds Pontus. These skeletons and zombies are but a taste of what awaits farther up the road. The closer ye get to th' mine, the fiercer the dead get. And they've started to get closer, too. Two nights ago, a shambling figure walked the village, but it was no zombie - wrapped in a burial shroud it was, covered in jewellery of some make alien to me, it was little more than a husk of a man. But it's eyes glowed with this unnatural yellow light, and it radiated fear - even over the moat, we could feel the terror radiating from it. Nay, clearing the mine or searching for survivors is beyond us at this point.
He clears his throat for a moment before speaking again. And the moat is no deterrent to the Ghouls - we've had several actually inside the chapel. Even in here, there's plenty of work for axes n' swords.
Looking at Duvall and Landon, Pontus says: I think we're all in good health, hungry perhaps, but uninjured. Those who have been injured by the ghouls are watched carefully - we've had to put down several who seemed about to rise 'gainst us, throwin' their bodies into the pitch.
Pontus points towards one of the alcoves, dedicated to the Goddess Chauntea. It's become a storage space for weapons. We're still quite well armed, and we've an ample supply of oil. In dire need, we could set the moat alight to discourage anything passing it.
Hezar stays with her during her watch, following her as she makes her rounds, keeping an eye out for anything unusual.
Listening to the story of what happened, and Duvall's assessment, Ariael chimes in "If things get worse at night, we definitely need to thin some of whats out there now, if we plan to stay till at least the morrow. Though if we do, I think some serious reinforcements to the current defenses is in order"
"While I don't think thinning out the horde would hurt, I do think staying here would be a poor use of this band. We need to move out and find the source of this infestation, then destroy it. This shambling figure sounds rather important, so we could try and find him."
Assuming Hezar has returned from his comforting/flirting session,
Perhaps Janiries, Lafali, and some of the fighters can make our way up to the roof and pick off a few of the undead, and then wait for the ghouls and figure to come out to play tonight and set up a nice little trap for them.
"Yes, it seems the longer we wait the more we will have to deal with, let us buy Duvall some time to tend to the wounded. I also wish to search the other buildings in case someone else may have survived. There is also the matter of the building supplies we acquired, if we were to send some to collect them we may be able to better fortify this church. Brother Duvall, I have a request of you as well. Could you spend some time each day preparing some holy water for us, it may prove to be just what we need to tip the balance in our favour."
"Searching the buildings would be pretty useful. Pontus, did the bandits keep to one building in particular when they slept and ate?"
I will gladly prepare more holy water. I only have one vial - I should have thought to bring more. Helm has also granted me access to a powerful spell that will hide someone from the undead for a temporary amount of time. We could use that to move among them and see if any survivors are still alive in the other buildings. And to that end, I agree > we cannot sit idle! Helm brought us here to do more than rescue these good people. We must also destroy all of the undead we can or die trying!
Not knowing what else to do at the moment, Duvall breaks out his store of trail rations and begins passing them out to the stalwart defenders of the keep.
Want to cast it on me and go take a look see?
I can, but be warned - you only have about 10 minutes. I am confident it will work on minor undead such as skeletons and zombies, but on more intelligent undead...well...just stay clear of them, alright? Does anyone object to this? Duvall asks before casting the spell.
"Wouldn't it be smarter to send the girl who can break into places, rather than the woodsman? I'd also suggest waiting for Pontus to give us some details on which buildings are which."
Hezar looks at Janiries.
I will head up to the roof and try to pick off some of the undead to make a bit of a distraction. What do we think?
Speaking in common, Janiries would reply to Hezar.
"There's little risk, truly. Settlements are more my terrain, while the woodlands are yours, Hezar."
Dropping off all her equipment, as well as her (visible) weapons, Janiries would leave herself equipped with only her thieves tools, daggers and a bag, before turning to Pontus.
"Now then, if you could mention where the bandits slept, and where the foreman's office is. I'll check those locations first, see what I can find."