Round 6
Marcus and Kiri continue to circle above.
From his vantage point the wizard can see clearly enough the potential danger.
Hold the barricade! They're waiting for an opening on one of us!
Now with a clear shot Barak opens fire once again on the waiting zombies.
Durin moved up to the edge of the barricade, swinging his hammer vertically in the gap between Barak and Telurion. Despite the awkwardness of the room in which he had to swing his hammer, he utterly shattered the bones of one of the longspear-armed zombies. The Undead soldier never saw the blow coming, having been focused on assaulting Arachiel.
Arachiel was reluctant to advance any further to chase the longspearmen and simply planted himself into a defensive stance, working an active defence to ward off the spears.
Telurion hopped up onto the barricade just behind Arachiel, scooping up a longspear as he mounted it.
Firing rapidly from atop the stack of logs, the dwarven marksman picked off two more zombies; the remaining longspear Juju threatening Arachiel and one of the swordsmen he had damaged with bolts in the first assault.
Round 7-
Ordered Initiative-
Marcus- 28
Kirilarien- 19
Durin- 7
Arachiel- 6
Telurion- 5
Barak- 4
Delaying-
Swordsmen Juju Zombies
Active Effects-
Alter Self- Arachiel (+2 Strength)
Bulls Strength- Arachiel (+4 Strength)
Divine Bond- Arachiel's Bastard Sword (+2 Hardness, 25/40HP).
Divine Favor- Arachiel (2 rounds remaining)
Extended Fly- Marcus
Extended Mage Armour- Marcus
Protection from Evil- Telurion (+2 AC/CMD)
Rage- Durin
Enlarge Person- Durin
Map-
Notes-
Stack of logs= DC10 Climb check, provokes AOO. The barricade is the line of squares on which Barak is stood right now on this map update.
Action-
The swordsmen seemed to tense up, their dead fingers tightening around their sword hilts and some of them dropping into a slight crouch, but did not yet make a move...
"What now friends? We need decisive action" - Telurion comments, staring at the setup before them - "Either we wait until good master Barak runs out of ammunition, we attack at a risk of being outflanked, or we leave and come back later"
He looks at the undead around them - "My heart sinks as I contemplate our opponents - I think about what life they had before, what courage, what valor in their stand here..." - again there is a familiar gleam in his eyes - "I cling onto my belief in the forces that animate us - whether they are divine in inspiration or not - and that I... WE hold the power not to destroy, but release them"
He turns to his companions - "I know most of us have just met, and I am not entitled to make requests. But nothing would make me rejoice more then recover this sight, or if not recoverable, at least guarantee these souls are released to where they belong. You alredy know I am not of the cloth, but there is a sense of wrong that screams for respite, and only we can set it straight. Either now or later... It is in our hands"
He is smiling by then - "Even though we are in a desolate place, and none of us are apprently given to glory or tales, small victories like the one we may accomplish make them up, small steps towards greater goals. What say you friends? Once more unto the breach?"
Round 7
Flying above. Marcus can't hear all of the words of Telurion's stirring speech although the oracle's passion carries the distance clearly.
SOON! ITS YOU THEY'RE WAITING FOR TELURION! LET BARAK CLEAR THEIR WOUNDED FIRST.
"Alright then I'd better get to work"
Barak fires bots at the most damaged looking zombies.
Durin clambours over the barricade, moving to the right of Arachiel, while keeping his back to the log wall.
Two of Barak's bolts met flesh while the third was swatted out of the air by a sword hilt. Neither shot was an especially harmful one, the bolts dealing fairly superficial damage that did not bring either target down, both striking the zombies in their respective limbs.
Round 8-
Ordered Initiative-
Undead Swordsmen- 8
Durin- 7
Arachiel- 6
Barak- 4
Delaying-
Marcus
Kirilarien
Telurion
Active Effects-
Alter Self- Arachiel (+2 Strength)
Bulls Strength- Arachiel (+4 Strength)
Divine Bond- Arachiel's Bastard Sword (+2 Hardness, 25/40HP).
Divine Favor- Arachiel (1 rounds remaining)
Extended Fly- Marcus
Extended Mage Armour- Marcus
Protection from Evil- Telurion (+2 AC/CMD)
Rage- Durin
Enlarge Person- Durin
Map-
Notes-
Action-
With Telurion apparently not going to descend from the barricade and indulge the Undead's desire to swarm him, a murmur went through the Undead lines. As one, they suddenly moved from their tense positions- rushing the smaller adventuring group before them. Durin had time to smash one of the soldiers with his hammer on approach, so hard that the body flew through the air and was smashed apart on the log wall.
Most of the Undead finished their charge well under Durin's reach; and with his back to the log wall the Dwarf found himself struggling to engage potential targets. Four separate longswords were swung at him in tandem as the charge reached the ranks of the Desolation explorers. Getting the hilt of his hammer up to deflect as many swords as possible, Durin fared surprisingly well- his hardened skin and armour protecting him from all but one sword which slashed across his lower chest.
The most ambitious of the Undead hurtled past Arachiel in order to strike Telurion- who brought up his spear a little too slowly to harm the disciplined foe. His well-crafted armour stopped the blade of the longsword from striking his neck, despite the Juju's best efforts.
Arachiel was not spared in the charge; but his superb armour and defensive stance mocked any effort to strike him. He found himself facing off directly against two assailants.
Reaching Barak, the single Juju that had rushed him made up for the rather poor results of his comrades. His swordsmanship seemed far more skilled than the Undead form was surely capable of, as a flash of insight, intelligence and memory of skills learnt in life flared through the zombie's red eyes. It feinted left, wrong-footing Barak on the barricade above before sending its sword hacking through his leg- cutting through near-half of it in a single blow which immediately streamed blood...
One of the Juju simply could not find a place for himself in the melee and waited for an opening nearby.
The charge had seemed furious, but unlike when facing living foes, it was eerily quiet until steel had clashed on steel. There were no cries of pain from the foe, no snarls of triumph. A wall of sentient, yet silent and emotionless warriors were now engaged in what was likely to be their final battle after so many years...
Amidst of the bloody fray, and even almost being hit himself, Telurion manages a smile - they had apparently managed to win the waiting game against these uncanningly intelligent undead.
This was not a straightforward fight, and the Oracle felt strongly that they had underestimated their opponents - still they carried forward intent on retaking this base. Again he felt the sadness from before, the organization displayed by the zombies made them more akin to what they may have been in life, making the drama of it all that more intense.
Resolute, he shook the thoughts away, his attention caught by the fact that Barak had just taken a serious hit - it was time to ACT!
This time the feeling was different as the positive energy coalesced on him, as if he was drawing the light from around them, there is a split second of silence, and then a burst of light, not blinding, but all encompassing, and much like most of this fight, soundless.
Pressed for space, Durin twists and strikes at the zombies in front of Barak.
Durin made Barak's attacker pay dearly for its attack on his fellow Dwarf. As it sought to capitalise on the wound it had dealt, the head of Durin's hammer suddenly cascaded into view, smashing the zombie in a heavy blow. Well-positioned to hold his own against multiple foes with sword and shield, Arachiel bashed aside an incoming sword blow and leant back as his own blade cut a gouge into one of his foes.
And then the remaining zombies began to crumble in the face of Telurion's holy light.
The Juju's bolstered resilience to positive energy spared many of them the full brunt of the light, but none fully escaped its touch. Two of the Juju fell, leaving six swordsmen still facing the group.
I have no net for a day or 2 please could one of the group post what Barak will do next
With the enemy numbers looking much more manageable Barak carefully withdraws back off the barricade rather than risk further damage to his fabulously expensive crossbow.
Arachiel and Durin were both beset by three foes each, as Barak's attacker abandoned its pursuit in order to focus on the two warriors. Arachiel's shield and heavy armour kept him from further harm while Durin took two more wounds in the line of duty.
With only six warriors remaining, it seemed that the firebase was almost conquered...
Round 9-
Ordered Initiative-
Undead Swordsmen- 8
Durin- 7
Arachiel- 6
Telurion- 5
Barak- 4
Delaying-
Marcus
Kirilarien
Active Effects-
Alter Self- Arachiel (+2 Strength)
Bulls Strength- Arachiel (+4 Strength)
Divine Bond- Arachiel's Bastard Sword (+2 Hardness, 25/40HP).
Extended Fly- Marcus
Extended Mage Armour- Marcus
Protection from Evil- Telurion (+2 AC/CMD)
Rage- Durin
Enlarge Person- Durin
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Surrounded by enemies and no way to bring his hammer to bear, Durin drops his free hand from his hammer and lashes out with his fist at one of the zombies...
Giving himself over even further to his feral impulses, Durin near tore apart the closest swordsmen with his bare hands. The Juju seemed to be almost destroyed, but the zombie found the strength to force Durin back, pushing back his hands with its swordplay.
There is a sense of dismay, as Telurion realizes the weak effect the positive channeled energy had on the undead surrounding them. Undeterred, he again focused, using his whole body as a channel for pure whiteness, unleashing it at the the creatures around them, consuming the negative energy that animates them.
Arachiel's swordwork was foiled by poor footing and the Undead's unnaturally tough skin. Telurion released another burst of channeled energy that was far more successful, having already whittled the Undead's resistance to it down. Five of the six remaining Juju collapsed as positive energy infused their bodies, purging the Undead spirit animating them.
The remaining Undead raised its sword in a last defiant gesture as Barak's bolt slammed into its chest, tearing the negative energy free from the now lifeless body through sheer physical damage.
Suddenly, the Firebase seemed abandoned. The group had expended most of their resources (and approximately fifty of Barak's one hundred bolts) but they had won.
Aye. Marcus echoes Arachiel's sentiment as he flies down to join the party.
The wizard's eyes roam over the literal piles of destroyed undead grouped around the barricade. Discarded swords and spears lie everywhere.
Well done everyone and kudos Telurion, that was surely a baptism by fire.
We were lucky though and we needed to be. My plan badly underestimated just how tough they were. I'll try not to make that mistake again, I promise.
Lets get under cover and plan our next move. The northern building is partly roofed and from what I saw while flying over could be a store of some sort. The risk of dangerous munitions seems slight after so many years but we should still take care.
Hopefully we've run the place out of undead and with this place unguarded for the first time in centuries I'd like to think the risk from other wandering threats will be at least somewhat less.
As the last of the zombies is destroyed Durin feels the rush leave his blood. Moments later, he reverts to his normal size.
Well, we wanted this pile of rubble, and now we may have it. Let's get on with it then...
Barak climbs over the barricade and limps over to the group. Blood flowing from the deep gash in his leg. "Well I'm for searching here and making camp for the night and moving on tomorrow." Barak (unless healed. he won't ask for it) limps over the the covered building an begins to search carefully.
Lets stick together until we have the place fully cleared. Kiri cautions. And Barak your bleeding everywhere, hold on a bit and we'll fix that.
I have just the thing to make everyone feel a bit better. The lyrakien summons an ethreal flute and starts a jaunty tune.
Fine. Together then...
Durin's body continues on healing, as his wounds are transferred to Telurion. Once his companion is stable, the Oracle heals himself.
He follows the others, moving closer to the structure.
Durin accompanies Telurion...
Telurion reaches out with his life essence, connecting with Barak - as he does so, the dwarf's wounds immediately begin to mend, while the Oracle's skin darkens and bruises.
With Barak and Durin healed of their woes, the group began to explore the taken hilltop. With their magic expiring at any rate, they took a breather in order to heal and catch their breath after the fierce fight.
This is a small, flat-topped hill rising above the plain. Its top is no
more than 15 feet higher than the land around it, but the sides are very
steep and gravelly (DC 15 Climb check). Only the south face descends
at a gradual slope. This natural high point served as an artillery
emplacement for the Army of Light to fire their heaviest catapults
onto enemy troops.
Moving past the barricade, the group first checked the closest ruins The walls of an ancient adobe building rise here. It is roofless and gutted, nothing more than a bare shell of a building. Though hastily constructed to serve as quarters for the troops garrisoned here, the walls themselves have weathered the years well and stand 7 feet tall. Only an open doorway breaks their continuity. There is nothing of interest here, though it could serve as a reasonably sheltered campsite for travelers.
Moving on, the group examined the wooden shrapnel Four wooden stumps rise from the ground here forming a square. Each has broken off a few feet above the ground. To the east of the stumps are the partially buried timbers and beams of a tower that once stood here but succumbed to the elements long ago. From atop this tower spotters once surveyed the effectiveness of artillery barrages and gave instructions for adjusting fire.
The group then inspected the three onagers that the Undead had manned. In their prime, Marcus informed his allies that they could once have hurled 500 pound boulders nearly a mile, shattering walls or troop formations. The slings that were once used to hurl stones are utterly ruined, but the basic structure of each siege engine is sound. The wood would need to be reinforced and restored, otherwise a successful volley would likely shatter an onager. It is obvious that the onagers have not been fired in many, many years.
Finally, the group inspected the building Barak had fought atop. The remains of an old adobe structure still stand here. Half of the building has crumbled and is gone, but their other half stands and even has part of a roof covering its shadowy interior. Metal shards and splinters cover the ground on what was once the floor of this building.
As the group moved closer to inspect the interior, a large, hunched form stepped out of the building; apparently undisturbed by both Barak and the Undead in the previous fight. The figure was obviously a construct- it loomed over the group menacingly and was sculpted entirely from soft clay; unadorned and with a vague, blank face sculpted onto it.
Round 1-
Ordered Initiative-
(Favoured Terrain Desert +2)
Active Effects-
Map-
Notes-
Action-
Far quicker on their feet that the large clay creature that had emerged to fight them, the group's weapons were already in motion as the thing begun to raise its heavy fists.
It figures that we aren't done fighting for this pile of rubble! Durin grumbles. The anger in his voice is palpable as he rushes the construct, letting his rage take hold.
Veering to the side, and staying out of the golem's reach, Durin moves into position opposite Arachiel and swings at the thing's knee with a low sweeping blow...