CURRENT FORCE POSITIONS MAP
Ok, that map is screwy.
Try this one.
BETTER FORCE POSITIONS MAP
Company A is heavily engaged with undead forces out of the cemetary.
Company C is blocking Schir demon forces as they try to cross the bridge, but have them blocked at the moment.
Company B is the only company not engaged at the moment.
He wasnt a fighter like the paladins all around him. He did his best to remain focused on helping those would had minor wounds deal with their pain. When the deep rumbling horn signaled the advance of the demonic foe moving from the hill into their positions for a moment he froze almost paralyzed by fear. His mind fled back to the moment that minotaur had killed him, had split him practically in half on the steps back in Kenebras....
The clear and peircing sound of little Nurah's horn peirced the air... and it peirced the fog slowly filling his mind with cold dread. He was no paladin, but he recalled one of the first tenants those holy warriors once spoke in the temple he had been raised in.
I will protect my allies with my life. They are my light and my strength, as I am their light and their strength. We rise together.
The words hung in his mind as clear and peircing as the silver horn.
"Brothers, sisters in arms Let us redeem these filth with our swords!"
He cried out as he joined the battle Holy Symbol aglow as he joined the thickest part of the press with spell and blade.
”Company B to attack the schir!” Carilain suggests. ”Suddenly that hill matters.”
Carilain stands with company C, aiding them with his magic, and the power of Grimstar .
Stationed with Company A, Alorah shakes off the shock at seeing the sheer teeming mass of undead moving toward them, and takes to the air to battle the vile abominations.
Realizing the bridge is currently held and that he is prevented from riding his horse into the fray, Arthas turns his attention to the oncoming undead.
”Carilian! I will ride to the flank and reap the enemy there! Give me a hill to ride to!” he smiles to his companion.
And so he rode breaking the undead against his armored steed, trampling them beneath iron shot hoofs, and allowing the light to spring forth from the Holy Sword Radiance.
In the fray Arthas can use Eagles Spendor, and activated Medal of Valor and Knight’s Pennon along with his other abilities including smite and channeling to destroy undead to aid the crusaders in their fight.
”We shall smite these unnatural and unholy abominations! See how they shrink and wither in the face of our holy and righteous fury!”
Kankai would turn her horse with company B
"Let's show the Schir what it is like to have a blade in their sides."
She called out and would raise her own blade. It wasn't anything special but they knew she stood with them.
The battle of South Bank II...
Silver fire ran as Company A shattered the undead forces in front of them in a charge to the West.
A hundred yards behind them, Company B’s captain held up his hand to halt his command. He thought he had heard something.
Silver fire ran as Company C received the charge of the Schir demon mob crossing the bridge... and stopped them hard.
Continuing to charge, Company A shattered another mob of undead… and then another.
In their orderly ranks, the lances of Company C lashed out, impaling the squirming mob of schir demons, hemmed in on all sides by Paladins.
Then Company A ran into a much larger and more disciplined mob; this time with more powerful leaders, like vampires and skeletal knights. Their charge brought to a halt, their smites expended, Company A is surrounded!
Despite being hemmed in and being slaughtered over and over, fresh schir demons poured in from across the bridge... And suddenly the demons show a trait not seen before; the ability to leap fifteen, even twenty feet over the paladins heads! Suddenly Schir demons were jumping over the lines and onto the heads of the paladins in the back!
The captain of Company B, seeing Company A in trouble, sounded the charge! Sweeping around Company A, the charge shattered the army of the undead, sending the survivors scuttling. Company A split up and pursued them in squads.
Company C struggled, but did not break as the Schir demons fought before and behind them.
Across the bridge, a unit of Schir demons got impatient and separated from the main group. Travelling down the far embankment, they crossed the dry river and started up a trail on the near embankment to try to flank Company C. But they were met by individuals who blocked the only way up onto the South bank.
There on the South Bank, the battle seesawed back and forth a hairs breadth from disaster, until Company B charged in out of the West, finally returned to back up Company C.
In what seems to you to be the critical moment of the battle, runners come to you all with an urgent summons to the command tent.
Commander Irabeth looks particularly tense as you sweep in.
"I apologize for yanking you out of the battle, but this matter is critical and you are the only force of the right size and power to handle it."
She looked over at Aravashniel and nodded.
Aravashniel stood up from where he had been manipulating some kind of mystic Orrery device.
"From the first, both I and Lord Aaron had been concerned with the shadow hanging over the Drezen graveyard. Somehow, some way, the powers governing this place have effected an Eclipse of Groetus."
He paused, then shook his head.
"There's no time to explain the details.
"In about..." He glanced at the Orrery. "Forty minutes, all of the undead slain by our forces today will be able to rise again. And at this point, all of our regular paladins will have run through their smite powers to face off against 3-4 thousand undead of all types.
"There is an anchor point somewhere in the tombs of the graveyard; something that focuses the Eclipse over the area. That thing must be dispelled or destroyed before they can rise again.
"No, I don't know what it looks like; I know that I would hide it inside a protected tomb."
Commander Irabeth nodded sharply.
"By the time you reach the graveyard you'll have thirty minutes. Take whatever horses you need. You need to go NOW." She barked.
Kankai wasn't much for upfront battles the way Paladins were but her ability to help flank and slice into the vital points of any enemy served her well. Those at her side found someone who was willing to get into the thick of it and aid them often shrieking in celestial in a way that caught the demon's attentions leaving them vulnerable.
Upon returning to the command tent and hearing the news her feathers ruffled.
"So we smash and disrupt this thing quickly. I am in. Anyone got a mace in case a sword is not good enough?"
Lord Aaron Kir grabbed the mace from his belt and tossed it to Kankai.
"Here you go!"
He had been with the paladins holding the line and the bridge against the schirr demons on the hill. Though he had been first afraid the sound of the horn as ... calmed him. He was not as graceful as Kyra, he knew that but somehow it was if Saraenrae herself guided his blade. He had stayed behind the lines, using his affintity with healing magic to save any paladin about to fall when the first of the demons jumped the lines. For a moment as the first one landed panic started to hit, and Kelden almost stood there at a loss.. then the thing turned and saw him and screamed at him.
With a spin the scream stopped the head of the demon rolling to the ground.Another leapt and landed near him, He moved and struck at it before it could recover.
"KENEBRAS!
He yelled a blast of holy energy erupting from his holy symbol which he took in hand channelin gpure holy energy into the men about him.
He wasnt a horseman, and he was coverd in blood and gore from being hard pressed in the fray at the bridge.
"Anyone have some holy water?"
He echoed a request just following kankai. He was already moving for the closet horse eyeing a stallion clearly trained to bear a paladin and not a clumsy cleric.
Aaron Kir unstrapped a bandoleer of six flasks of holy water (it had once held and has slots for ten) and tossed it to Kelden.
any knowledge that would impart to make us better undead destroyers?
Wading through the battlefield of the graveyard, surrounded by a tight circle of Paladins, Alorah kept up a steady barrage of bolts, magic and divine flame, targeting and picking off undead in support of her soldiers.
When their forces fall into the unanticipated trap, and they find themselves surrounded, she takes to the air, becoming a rally point for what, at the moment appeared to be a valiant last stand. With company B coming to the rescue, and the enemy force breaking and fleeing there was much relief and a moment of celebration.
When the meeting is convened, she listens intently nodding as the matter at hand is paid out. "Of course." she says quietly, pondering what it is they would be seeking.
Taking the mace she put it on her own belt and nodded her thanks. She would nod to everyone before going to find a horse and would mount up. She wasn't too keen on horses but then again these should be well trained.
"Alright, if someone will lead the way. Maybe when we get there something will trigger a thought from an overheard conversation from my captivity."
Riding down the South Bank road, you cross into the ancient graveyard and turn south towards the large multistory tombs.
Suddenly you come under a shadow that covers most of the necropolis. Looking up, you see a gigantic moon, mottled grey and white. You can see in sharp relief endless expanses of graveyards, tombs and necropolis covering much of the surface. But most disturbing of all, the mottled patter forms a titanic grinning skull.
Abruptly, the stone pavers of the ancient road shift and turn. The horses all scream as they lose their balance and crash to the ground.
You see all around you dead white flesh as humanoid creatures with fanged maws and blood red eyes claw themselves out of the ground screaming and howling for the taste of flesh.
Round 1____________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
The Ghouls are still only halfway out of the ground at this point, so currently have the Grappled condition.
Arthas leads the ride into the boneyard with Radiance unsheathed, it’s holy light leading the way.
Seeing to moon of Groetus manifest above them the Paladin shouts out!
”Do not let fear take hold or the insanity will follow!”
His mighty charger balks and then buckles under the shifting pave stones before going down.
Arthas desperately tried to pull the horses head to save its legs while also allowing him to dismount sparing his own.
While it wasn’t pretty, it worked. The Paladin struggled to stay afoot himself.
Seeing many of the horses and riders are going to be injured, Arthas calls out to the Heavens!
”Ragathiel! Catch us in your wings, heal the faithful and purge the unclean!”
A faint red aura collects around the armored holy warrior briefly before suddenly manifesting then abruptly disappearing in a vision of crimson outstretched angel wings! A 30’ radius burst of holy energy blasts out from him, wrapping the crusaders in a warm embrace while shredding the undead with extreme prejudice!
Kankai was not much for horses so when it flailed below her she was caught completely by surprise. So much so she only had time at the last second to see the ground and get her feet under her the impact taking the air out of her.
That coupled with the moon above shook her to her core but she steeled her resolve and drew her sword striking at the ghouls to her right side.
A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
He cried out in surprise as the horse collapsed beneath him and he hit the ground hard rolling into the hard ground. His vision stared upwards as the sign of evil hung in the air... the dark sign of Groetus.
There was no horror only disgust. Sarenrae would be with him. He rolled onto his feet and held his holy Symbol aloft. Time to make the undead pay. First make sure his friends were okay. There one near his love Kyra. He pointed and a searing ray of light burst forth from his Holy symbol.
Her mind steeled against the dark moon that is Groetus, Alorah is totally unprepared for the erupting ground, unable to leap free of her horse, but nimble enough to roll with the fall, reducing the degree of injury.
Round 1____________________
Arthas Sword of Ragathiel
His mighty charger balks and then buckles under the shifting pave stones before going down.
Arthas desperately tried to pull the horses head to save its legs while also allowing him to dismount sparing his own.
While it wasn’t pretty, it worked. The Paladin struggled to stay afoot himself.
Arthas, Kyra, Kelden and Carilain heal 18, while out to 30 ft, Ghouls scream as the energy that washed over them made them explode into ash, or hideously burn and melt them (as marked).
Kankai the White
Kankai was not much for horses so when it flailed below her she was caught completely by surprise. So much so she only had time at the last second to see the ground and get her feet under her the impact taking the air out of her.
That coupled with the moon above shook her to her core but she steeled her resolve and drew her sword striking at the ghouls to her right side.
Kankai’s blade smoothly beheaded Ghoul 38.
Kelden Sunblade
He cried out in surprise as the horse collapsed beneath him and he hit the ground hard rolling into the hard ground. His vision stared upwards as the sign of evil hung in the air... the dark sign of Groetus.
There was no horror only disgust. Sarenrae would be with him. He rolled onto his feet and held his holy Symbol aloft. Time to make the undead pay. First make sure his friends were okay. There one near his love Kyra. He pointed and a searing ray of light burst forth from his Holy symbol.
With that one already exploded by Arthas, he turned the ray of light to the next closest; and Ghoul 54 also exploded into dust.
Alorah
Her mind steeled against the dark moon that is Groetus, Alorah is totally unprepared for the erupting ground, unable to leap free of her horse, but nimble enough to roll with the fall, reducing the degree of injury.
(npc) Kyra and Carilain lay stunned for a moment, before struggling to their feet.
Kyra seems daunted by the appearance of Groetus, while Carilain gritted his teeth and ignored it.
The remaining ghouls spend their round crawling out of the ground and struggling to their feet
Ghoul 18 draws an AoO from Kankai.
Ghoul 08 draws an AoO from Alorah.
Ghoul 33 draws an AoO from Arthas.
Round 2____________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
While under the Eclipse of Groetus you are under a permanent Doom effect. Will Save dc 15 or Shaken condition (Fear based).
The ghouls have freed themselves from the ground and no longer grappled.
Despite being very very worried about the situation he withdrew strength in his faith gripping his holy symbol and channeling a burst of positive energy after he move just a bit closer.
Round 2 complete______________________
Kelden channeled energy, his holy symbol blazing forth with destructive power against the undead. He managed to destroy three and scald many more.
Kankai rolled East and killed Ghouls 18 and 68 with flashing blade.
Alorah swung her mace at the one next to her, but missed.
Carilain lashed out and destroyed Ghoul 08, but missed the other one.
Kyra rolled forward and lased out at Ghoul 65, but missed.
Arthas strode forward and lashed out with Radiance, destroying Ghoul 62.
The remaining ghouls, despite multiple positive energy bursts, charge in to surround the heroes, clawing and biting.
Ghoul 58, 09 and 16 vs. Kankai.
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 10, 49, 59, 17, 57 vs Alorah.
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 37, 48, 67, 32, 04 vs Carilain
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 56, 66, 45, 07, 12, 35, 63, 02 vs. Kelden.
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 42, 52, 41, 11, 31 vs Arthas.
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible + Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Round 3____________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
While under the Eclipse of Groetus you are under a permanent Doom effect. Will Save dc 15 or Shaken condition (Fear based).
Alorah screams as the undead bite and claw at her tender flesh.
The Ghouls drag their hideous claws across the Paladin’s magnificent armor like grass brushing against a city wall. Arthas moves to Allorah’s side intent on protecting her. As he moves he pontificates the position of heaven against the destruction and nothingness offered by Groteus, God of ending the world for no good purpose.
”Feel the light of Heaven through this grey gloom! Feel HIS wings wrap around you and feel it uplifting you like holy eagles soaring on the warm updraft of Devine wind!”
Round 3 completed____________________
Alorah screams as the undead bite and claw at her tender flesh.
The ghoul’s foul touch, sink into her flesh, robbing her of the ability to move. (Alorah is paralyzed.)
Arthas Sword of Ragathiel
The Ghouls drag their hideous claws across the Paladin’s magnificent armor like grass brushing against a city wall, all of them missing.
Arthas moves as far as he can towards Allorah intent on protecting her.
Thrusting his holy symbol forward, he unleashes a blaze of positive energy that rolls over everything in 30 ft radius, healing his allies 18 and damaging the undead horribly; so badly that All of the ones around Carilain, Kelden and Arthas explode into glittery ash and blow away. (They are Xed out on the map.)
(npc), Kankai lashed out twice and missed.
(npc) Carilain charged up and lashed out at Ghoul 10, destroying it.
(npc)Kelden (saving his channeling for now) charged up to Ghoul 49 and lashed out, missing.
(npc)Kyra whipped around, cutting one ghoul in half.
Ghoul 49 turned to Kelden to attack.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 58 attacked Kankai.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 09 attacked Kankai.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible extra damage.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 16 attacked Kankai.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible extra damage.
Ghoul 36 attacked Kyra.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 47 attacked Kyra.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible extra damage.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 65 attacked Kyra.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Ghoul 52 ran up behind Arthas to attack him.
for a possible plus Paralysis (Fort save DC13).
Round 4____________________
Players take their turn in order of posting, enemies will go last.
While under the Eclipse of Groetus you are under a permanent Doom effect. Will Save dc 15 or Shaken condition (Fear based).
With Arthas's flood of positive energy, Alorah gets another Fort save at the top of her round to negate.
"Kyra No!"
He began his chest clenching in a strange fear as he watched the ghouls try to overwhelm his sister in faith. He gripped his holy symbol and channeled its energies moving in as direct a line as possible to get to her side.
By a miracle of positive energy washing over her, blasting ghouls to ash along the way, Alorah breaks free from her paralysis!
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Round 4 completed____________________
Kelden Sunblade shouted "Kyra No!" He gripped his holy symbol and channeled its energies moving in as direct a line as possible to get to her side.
Kelden’s holy symbol blazed forth, and the wave of positive energy obliterated even more ghouls, and coincidentally eliminating all other ghouls surrounding Kyra.
(npc) Alorah by a miracle of positive energy washing over her, blasting ghouls to ash along the way, Alorah breaks free from her paralysis!
With a deep breath, she unleashed an ear-piercing scream, which shatters the ghoul closest to her.
(npc) Carilain charged NE and hacked down a surviving ghoul with Grimstar.
(npc) Kankai whirled about, and with an elegant couple of passes, bisect the last two ghouls.
This battle is over.
Arthas extends his hands to Alorah.
”Let not this servant of heaven be diseased or sickened my Lord.”
You all take the time to heal up and restore yourselves before pushing on. Sadly, your borrowed horses are beyond any help of yours.
Under the oppressive looming presence of Groetus, you make your way through the defiled necropolis. You can hear the screams and commotion of battle far away, but closer to you it is quiet. Nothing moved but you as you came closer to your goal.
Finally, you arrive.
This stone building stands at the western end of the graveyard, and seems to be cloaked in rippling shadows even during the day, not that daylight ever gets all that bright in the Worldwound.
The stone front doors to the vault are locked (DC 30
Disable Device, break DC 28)
It's quiet.
"Well, we are here. Thank the gods for that at least. Who is hurt? We need to get a move on before more undead start to congregate on us."
He began pulling out a wand of healing and wiping away some sweat.
"I've, been better, but I've also been worse." Alorah says looking at the scratches and cuts on her person.
”I am prepared to continue, just let me know when everyone has made their preparations or if there is anything I can do to help. You all fought admirably. Our resistance such a threat that Groetus himself peered down upon us. We need nothing else prove that our way is the right course!?”
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In the devastated city of Kenabres, several figures have been guided or escorted to a guarded chamber in the Citadel.
A massively thewed half orc, a human woman, and a couple of what might be children meet for the first time. Unlike anyone else they've known, each of them radiates in some unfathomable way a presence you can feel, but not see.
Into this chamber swept a cloaked and hooded figure. It paused and looked you over before throwing back its hood.
Standing revealed before you is Queen Galfrey, ruler of Mendev and High commander of the Fifth Crusade!
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Queen Galfrey
There is no mistake; her profile is on all the gold sovereigns you have. That and the confident air of authority she wears like another set of armor.
But how is she here? Everyone had her way down South dealing with several hordes of demons free from the destroyed wardstones confinement.
She smiled and nodded at you.
"Please be at ease. I have gathered you all together because I understand you have had an unusual experience? Connected to one of the Wardstones when they were destroyed?
"If you can, I would like to hear of what happened to you... and how you came by a silver dragon scale. It may not be apparent, but I can assure you it is important." She asked to each of you.