Kirilarien began a circuit of the outer edges of the hill, taking into account the undead marching upon it. Meanwhile, Barak began another barrage of fast bolt-fire, into the advancing skeletons. His heavy bolts had little difficulty smashing apart any skeletons they met, with two bolts finding their mark.
Telurion focused some more of his magical energy and brought into being a brilliant flash of positive energy, that instantly burnt the undeath from a large group of skeletons.
Granted an extremely enhanced range, Durin waited for the enemy to approach.
Approach, they did. The skeletons advanced rapidly, with a different kind of Undead marching behind them. Some kind of fast moving zombies perhaps, these were rotting corpses, with plenty of dead flesh upon them as they scrambled forward. This time, the Dwarven force were already equipped for melee, having witnessed the Undead's unnatural speed in the last fight. They held their weapons high, ready to roar their defiance and battle on.
Lara gestures with her free hand and murmurs the words to another spell, enhancing the party's (and Thane Fenris') speed once again.
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Marcus delays.
After examining the zombies
+2 in Desert (Favoured Terrain)
You recognise these Undead as a type known as Cadavers . In addition to being resistant to all but bludgeoning weaponry, they have an uncanny ability to fake their own demise. Once they fall, they typically regenerate any damage not dealt by magical weapons or spells, until they are ready to fight once more. If destroyed by channeled energy, they cannot reanimate; and a Bless spell delays the regeneration. Entire villages without a cleric or access to magical weaponry have been slain by seemingly unkillable, relentless herds of these creatures. In actual combat though, they are little more potent than a normal zombie.
In addition, your aware that their claws can transmit Filth Fever.
Round 2-
Ordered Initiative-
Kirilarien- 21
Barak- 19
Telurion- 19
Undead- 17
Dwarven Force- 12
Lara- 10
Durin (strike within range)
Arachiel
Marcus
Active Effects-
Enlarge Person on Durin (7 rounds left)
Bless on the defenders (6 rounds left)
Shield on Telurion (7 rounds left)
Haste on party + Fenris (6 rounds left at init 10)
Map-
Notes-
Round Actions-
You spot at the very edge of the light, shadowy figures moving around the mound, attempting to remain hidden. It looks like they are angling to get to the excavation site. Your exceptionally keen eyes note that there are three figures; two of them flanking a tall, central one protectively. From the way they are moving with purpose, you suspect sentience in their movements.
You spot at the very edge of the light, shadowy figures moving around the mound on the northern edge, attempting to remain hidden. It looks like they are angling to get to the excavation site.
With the Undead rapidly approaching, Barak and Telurion were the last to put up further resistance before the melee began once more...
Telurion takes a step further, readying himself to attack any undead that comes closer.
Durin nudges Barak with his enlarged elbow. Are you saving those bolts for a special occasion?
Barak huffs at Durin irritably and fires again.
That's more like it Barak! Durin continues to needle his good friend.
In a blur of lever-action reloading and quick, jerking movements as he rapidly adjusted aim, Barak continued to rattle off bolt after bolt as he relentlessly slew three more approaching skeletons.
The remaining Undead continued to press the attack on the hill, marching over the smashed bones of several dozen former attackers. They closed to melee range, but the Dwarves were ready and able to strike first as they reached the dug-in hilltop. Durin smashed one of the skeletons into tiny shards as it got within reach and extended the swing of his excessively large hammer so that it broke another skeleton seeking to duck under it. Telurion enthusiastically smashed apart another with his much smaller bludgeoning weapon, while the Dwarves realised that the east side was likely to hold without their help. Kargesh and Old Garrok shifted to close ranks along the west side and although a small gap was left between Ragnar and Bereg, the first skeleton to exploit it had its legs and arms destroyed by simultaneous warhammer blows from both of the doughty Dwarves.
While no wounds were dealt to the forces of the living at that moment, the defenders were once again close to being physically surrounded by the Undead, a few slipping into the trench, including the foul looking, clawed zombies.
Thane Fenris quickly slew a skeleton with a heavy swing of his Urgosh and then used his magically enhanced speed to plug the gap by moving into formation next to Arachiel, seeking to cover for Lara and interpose his heavily armoured form between her and the approaching Undead.
Old Gorrak didn't seem to be sure what the zombies were, beyond meat for his axe. The old veteran missed his first swing but sunk his axe deep into one of the zombie's chest- the enchanted axe blade hissed and seemed to burn the Undead after imbedding itself, but Gorrak was forced to yank the axe free and defend himself, the zombie contingent proving tougher than the skeletal force escorting it.
On the north side, Bereg and Ragnar each dispatched another skeleton each, the former smashing the skull off a skeleton on the verge of lashing out at Lara with a claw.
The Dwarven soldiers all responded to a barked order by Thane Fenris to focus on thinning the skeletons ranks; their warhammers were not as suitable for dispatching the tough zombies. They met the approaching horde with hammers held high; and three more skeletons were smashed into scattered bone as the line continued to hold.
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As the seemingly endless wave of skeletons advances, Arachiel continues to slash at the advancing horde.
(bless, haste, power attack)
(fire, power attack)
(bless, haste, power attack)
(fire, power attack)
(bless, haste, power attack) - potential crit
(fire, power attack)
(bless, haste, power attack)
(power attack)
Lara's bow sings again, one arrow catching flame mid-flight against her nearest attacker, only to fumble as she nocks a second shot to the enchanted longbow's string.
:
:
Spotting shadowy figures on the edge of the light, Lara calls out a warning. "I don't think it's just skeletons this time! There's more coming, but I can't see very well what they are!"
From which direction? Durin calls out to Lara while scanning the gloom himself.
Round 3-
Ordered Initiative-
Kirilarien- 21
Barak- 19
Telurion- 19
Durin- 18
Undead- 17
Dwarven Force- 12
Lara- 10
Arachiel- 10?
Marcus- 10?
"From the north. It looks likes they're heading for the excavation site!" Lara calls back.
Round 3
Marcus studies the zombies as they stride within range of the bonfires.
They're not normal zombies, their Cadavers! They will rise again if not struck down with magic or positive energy! Use enchanted weapons on them only!
Round 4
Flying just above the creature's grasping hands, Kiri flings her readied alchemists's fire at the cadaver/zombie to the north.
With two heavy swings, Arachiel destroyed two skeletons, his sword held high aloft his winged helmet in preparation for the next foe that would surely come.
Firing her bow in such close quarters was a difficult move for Lara; although she scrabbled back from the claws that hounded her, she was a little too late- one claw raking the skin from her forearm as she dispatched one of the "cadaver" zombies with two flaming arrows.
Flying above, Kirilarien dropped, rather than hurled, a vial of alchemists fire only a little smaller than herself; badly scalding the cadaver below her.
Round 3-
Ordered Initiative-
Kirilarien- 21
Barak- 19
Telurion- 19
Durin- 18
Undead- 17
Dwarven Force- 12
Lara- 10
Arachiel- 9
Marcus- 8
Active Effects-
Enlarge Person on Durin (6 rounds left)
Bless on the defenders (5 rounds left)
Shield on Telurion (6 rounds left)
Haste on party + Fenris (5 rounds left at init 10)
Map-
Notes-
Action-
The silent attackers shambled forward with bony claws; said bones protruding cruelly from the rotting flesh of the zombie's Marcus claimed were known as cadavers. Bones began to rattle against shields and the crunching sound of smashed skeletons became a more and more frequent sound in the orchestra of battle, music to the beat of the endless percussion of Barak's enchanted crossbow lever.
Telurion grits his teeth, knuckles white as he swings the large silvery mace as hard as he can at the skeletons in front of him.
"Aye Lara is right. 3 figures towards the excavation site. If I had to guess it looks like one leader, tall one in the center, and 2 bodyguards. lets clear a path to him shall we."
Barak continues to thin the hoard to a more manageable level.
Durin steps back to give himself some room to swing his hammer before heading Marcus' remark and setting about testing his weapon against the nearest Cadavers.
Marcus! Move in behind Barak and Arachiel! I am going for a stroll!
Aye! 'Ware the possible caster, though!
Two bolts from Barak's crossbow were enough to fell the cadaver and a third destroyed another skeleton, effectively clearing the east side. With heavy swings of his mace, Telurion shattered two skeletons with hefty swings to his left and right, his pace slower than the more martially focused but no less powerful.
Durin stepped back and swung over the heads of the much smaller Dwarves on the front ranks. The first cadaver he struck burst into pieces like the rotten corpse it was. The second required two heavy swings but met much the same fate.
Despite all of their casualties, the Undead pressed on, concerns such as morale or survival utterly irrelevant to the soulless animated corpses.
Their tactics however, seemed to be rather involved. Whereas in areas where the horde had been thinned the skeletons simply lashed out with their claws- in areas where their numbers were telling the skeletons seemed willing to sacrifice themselves for a chance to gain a solid foothold on the hill. For a moment, Thulbine seemed sure to be forced back by a charging skeleton but then Telurion's face lashed out and struck the head from its shoulder, its bones impacting on the Dwarf's armour with the evil force animating them no longer granting unlife to the remains. Ragnar, however, was kicked back from his position with a bony foot, straight into the campfire, causing the Dwarf warrior to curse in his own native tongue as his cloak caught alight and began to singe him. His attacker darted into the camp, only to be met by Durin's hammer. Incredibly, Durin caught the haft of his weapon on some of the stacked supplies and barrels in the centre of the camp and the moment passed. The incredibly fortunate skeleton continued to try and flank the western line, getting caught by Bruitt's hammer on the backswing but not truly suffering from the glancing blow.
Ragnar held firm even as the skeletons spilled into the camp- until one of the cadavers took advantage of a momentary distraction and grabbed onto his leg, upending the stout Dwarf in an impressive display of momentum. Two skeletons quickly moved in to take advantage of the suddenly prone warrior, now desperately fighting while trying to avoid burns from the campfire. The Dwarf's shield, martial skill and armour were almost enough to prevent him from further harm but he was in a perilous position. The warrior cried out in fury and pain as a skeletons claw raked his thigh open, mixing blood with fiery burns. Things went from bad to worse for the brave Ragnar as one of the cadavers took the opportunity to savage him with both claw and maw, reaching down to feed on the struggling man!
Nearby, a similar tactic was being applied to assault Bereg. The Dwarf stood firm for a time but eventually the warrior's muscular legs gave as he was forced to give ground to the pressing skeletons. The north line had somewhat collapsed, leaving the archer Lara very exposed.
In addition to the Dwarves formation being bent, many skeletons took advantage of this to flank and savage their foes, while the skeletons facing off against the west wall of Dwarf and Aasimar simply struck to kill and wound their foes. For the most part, they were unsuccessful, although Bruitt staggered back from two nasty gashes and both Kargesh and Romni were also struck.
To the north and north-east, Lara's luck seemed to have turned against her. She was flung to the ground while attempting to block a savage claw with her bow by one of the zombies- and thenearby skeletons lost no time in savaging her. Her speed bolstered by the Haste spell, she nevertheless took some minor scratches while struggling to regain her feet.
The Dwarves were struggling now, perhaps their fatigue really starting to kick in. Even as they were scratched or pushed back, their hammers swung with a combination of weary resoluteness and zeal as Old Gorrak and Thane Fenris urged them on, leading by example with axe and urgosh. Gorrak slew a skeleton on the west side, but no one else managed to take one down there. Badly surrounded, Ragnar tried to hold off his foes with hammer and shield, seeking only to regain his footing until relief was found. He just barely managed to stand to his feet, blocking many incoming claws but still managing to have his back brutally torn open by another claw and barely avoiding having his neck fully sliced open, instead sporting a nasty wound to his collarbone. Clearly he would not last much longer. Beren bashed apart a skeleton between Ragnar and Lara and boldly stepped in its place, hoping to stem the small horde of attackers seeking to finish them off, regaining the ground he has lost.
Thane Fenris saw Lara and Ragnar's peril and stepped towards them, planting his feet firmly. There was a fierce determination in the nobleman; his blood was roused and he swung his Urgosh with renewed vigor, seeking to slay the cadavers and skeletons around him. He hacked one cadaver into pieces with the axe head of his urgosh and whirling the lunging spike on the other side of his double weapon he slew a second with a mixture of axe and spear.
Only Barak's keen eyes were enough to keep track of the trio moving past the chaos and struggle of the skirmish, still moving stealthily. They were continuing to circle around, now nearing the graveyard the Dwarves had set up to honour their own fallen, to the north-west.
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Seeing an opportunity to take out even more of the skeletons, Archiel steps between a pair of skeletons and begins to hack away.
[ooc]5 ft step to (-B, 4), Target skeletons #1: ((-C,5), #2; (-A,3), Haste: (-B, 5)[ooc]
(bless, haste, power attack)
(fire, power attack)
(bless, haste, power attack)
(fire, power attack)
(bless, haste, power attack)
(fire, power attack)
Rolling aside , Lara stands to her feet and launches a flaming arrow at the cadaver that just raked her.
Scrabbling to her feet, Lara was slashed by two more seeking claws, one almost disemboweling her as she sucked in her stomach to evade the worst of the claw swipe with her magically enhanced speed. Finding that the cadaver that had raked her had been slain by Thane Fenris, she fired her flaming arrow at one of her three remaining attackers, sending shards of charred bone scattering back down the hill from whence they had came.
Nearby, the fine swordplay of the Paladin Arachiel continued to fell skeletons as two more fell to his heavy blade.
Round 4-
Ordered Initiative-
Kirilarien- 21
Barak- 19
Telurion- 19
Durin- 18
Undead- 17
Dwarven Force- 12
Lara- 10
Arachiel- 9
Marcus- 8
Active Effects-
Enlarge Person on Durin (5 rounds left)
Bless on the defenders (4 rounds left)
Shield on Telurion (5 rounds left)
Haste on party + Fenris (4 rounds left at init 10)
Map-
Notes-
Action-
You can always come with me Marcus.
Comforted with the fact that Durin is behind them, Telurion swings hard at the cadavers in front of him. As he does so, the life link between him and Lara takes hold.
"These monsters are in for a surprise if they think they will overwhelm us - protect Ragnar friends!" - he roars.
"I'm up for a midnight stroll brother, let me shut the window first there appears to be a terrible draft."
Barak steps out of the reach of the skeleton and fires at the cadaver threatening Ragnar saving his last shot for one of the skeletons engaged with Lara
Seeing some of his allies faltering, and the undead starting to overwhelm their hilltop position, Durin goes into a battle frenzy before unleashing three mighty swings of his hammer at the skeletons inside the defensive perimeter...
He shouts out a battle cry as he ravages the skeletons,
Round 4
Counting on her innate resistance to injury, Kiri flies straight to the injured Ragnar and attempts to cure some of his expanding wounds.
healed
Round 4
Still focusing on his defense against a potential attack, Marcus shifts his dancing lights around to his best guess of where the trio are.
Barak loosed a bolt that sent the cadaver staggering back, before a second bolt was fired right at the zombie's head, the bolt tearing through dead flesh and bone and coming out the other side. Another bolt shattered one of Lara's attackers. Kirilarien seemed to be utterly ignored by the undead as she flew through the battlefield, applying enough healing to keep Ragnar standing.
Swinging with the Haste provided by Lara's powerful spell, Telurion snapped another cadaver's neck with repeated, consecutive blows to the head.
Stepping back to bring his hammer to bear, Durin swung his almost comically sized large hammer to shatter three more skeletons.
The few remaining Undead simply sought to do as much damage as possible to the defenders; their claws and teeth wounding several of the Dwarves, including the unfortunate Ragnar.
With Marcus' lights beginning to reveal their presence, the three figures Barak spotted slunk back out of sight of even the sharp-eyed messenger.
The few remaining Undead did not last much longer, between hammers, mace, sword and bolt. Within moments, the final cadaver was dispatched. Perhaps the fighting was finally over for the night, the Undead exhausted?
Durin does not hesitate for a second as his blood boils, his heart races and his limbs move with supernatural speed, calling out immediately as the second undead horde is defeated, We mustn't let them get away! Run them down! before surging down the hill in the direction they were last seen.
"The graveyard my friend, that's where they were going. After some fresh troops no doubt." Barak reloads his crossbow and runs to catch up with his companion.
Make sure all of the cadavers have been slain with enchanted weapons and then try and heal up. We are yet to face our true adversary! Marcus instructs the dwarves before following the others, the wizard trying desperately to track the remaining creatures with his lights and provide the archers with a target.
Lara intones the words to a minor spell of healing before following after Barak and Durin, eager to put an end to the undead threat tonight.
Telurion dashes after the others - "I am with you, but we must take care to make sure this is not a distraction to pull us away" - he warns however.