Eyes growing wide, the horror of the present situation begins to dawn on the young Varisian. Dumbstruck for just a moment, Mirela prepares her blade and waits to see what the monstrous scarecrow does.
Scarecrows - Round 1 - continued
After Mirela advances, the freed "scarecrow" leaps at Tunder attacking with both claws and a bite. While the claws are beaten away by the dwarf, the ravenous ghoul chomps down on Tunder's shoulder, ripping a large chunk from there for 11 dmg.
Ghoul 2 struggles with his bonds but only succeeds in making them tighter still.
Nocking his longbow, Seldon will cast a forlorn glance to Selena. "Ai eleana! We're too late! Help me take the other out before it can attack the others..."
Tunder fights valiantly against the ghoul's insidious bite.
Fort
Barek steps up to the ghoul and slugs it.
Selena moves diagonally down the path till she is 15 ft past Seldon. Once there she feels a bit safer being in the midst of the group rather than being in the back by herself. Breathing a bit easier she sees Barek give a tremendous roundhouse to the ghoul in front of him while Seldon pincushions the other. Figuring that Tunder, Miri and Barek have the one under control she readies to fire a telekinetic fist at the ghouls's head should it break free before Thorn can put it down.
Ranged touch attack for
Tunder retaliates against the biting ghoul.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H, power attack
to hit Damage
Scarecrows - Round 1 - continued
23 Mirela
22 Ghoul 1
14 Ghoul 2 (bound)
12 Seldon
11 Selena
6 Thorn
5 Tunder
5 Barek
Seldon and Selena use their various talents to subdue the bound ghoul, dropping it from the fight before it can even get free.
At almost the same instant, Barek's roundhouse punch breaks the neck of the free ghoul, ending its undead existence.
End of Combat
Barek tries to wipe off his hands to get the dead flesh off. "Well, that was disgusting. But I'm sure there's more where that came from. Why the hell was that one strung up like a scarecrow?"
"There will be time for questions later. We should keep on the lookout for... survivors."
Selena frowns at the thought of why the ghouls would be trussed up like this until she remembers the scene at the asylum. I think that whoever trussed them up is a very sick yet cunning individual. We have to act quickly and inspect all of the scarecrows as quickly as possible for survivors. Foxglove infected people while they were still living and hung them out here to turn into ghouls. He would know that in time all of them would succumb to the disease and turn eventually. Who cares if they were hungry and thirsty, that would just hasten the end. The fact that they were still trussed up means that they must have just turned recently. There could be others that have not turned yet.
Selena turns to Seldon and places a hand on his shoulder. Is there anything we can do for those that we find that may be infected? I have no skill to help them and would assist you if possible. Once this place is cleared out then we must go find Foxglove and put an end to this immediately.
"... and I thought Habe's disregard for life was monstrous." Seldon says, stiffly, pushing his way through the cornfields and clearing the way for Selena, motioning for her to follow. "The infected can be saved, provided I can preserve them until morning. But those who have turned..."
He shakes his head with a mournful look, and continues down the trail.
After cleaning up the mess, the heroes stand in the farm road surrounded by cornfields, the moon streaming down upon them as a cool fall breeze blows all around.
The path ahead diverges, one branch going to the right while another goes to the left. Which way do you go?
Tunder leads the group to the left.
Perception: +2 v goblin or underground
Barek follows Tunder, keeping his distance to let the dwarf spot any dangers before they can ambush the group.
As Tunder heads to the left Selena stays whe she is in the middle of the group for safety. She knows that she is not the best at spotting things so she instead keeps her eyes on the rest of the party waiting to see their reaction to anything they may spot.
Sticking close to Barek and moving quietly, Mirela appears on edge and somewhat distracted. Her eyes wide with paranoia and caution, she ponders to herself Sandpoint will be the death of me if this kinda thing keeps up.
Heading left down the path, the group of heroes spies two more scarecrows bound to X-shaped boards, hanging in the fields to their right. Closer inspection proves these are the real thing, stuffed with straw, but the ominous threat of ghouls is very real.
After several hundred feet, the path ends in a T. The group can either move left or right?
Seldon nocks and draws an arrow, only lowering it when the party are certain that the scarecrows are harmless. His hands are steady, but he is visibly shaken by the chance of shooting an innocent. Murmuring in elvish under his breath, Seldon steers the group to the right, deeper into the fields.
"Should have gotten better directions to the drunk's house." Grumbles Tunder.
Keep going to the left.
Perception Take 10 for 19 total.
Barek continues following Tunder. He sniffs at his hands and recoils at the dead smell still clinging to them. "Maybe I need to get wraps or something."
As the party follows the farm road to the east, they spy another scarecrow frame in the distance. Backlight by the moon, they see a shambling form leap down from the frame with a cry and slowly start ambling their way.
Ghoul Again - Round 1
25 Seldon
19 Barek
16 Selena
11 Mirela
7 Ghoul 1
6 Thorn
3 Tunder
know religion to confirm it is a ghoul
Selena steps up 20 feet and waits for the rest of the group to follow suit. As she is waiting she peers into the murky light and sees the shape moving in the distance. Not sure what it is she waits and readies a telekinetic fist once it is apparent the form is truly a ghoul and not someone who has survived this long and needs rescuing.
readied ranged touch attack for
Barek moves forward toward the form who leaps down from the frame. He tracks the silhouette waiting for it to come within reach to lash out at it.
Seldon looses an arrow at the ghoul, oblivious to any other threats that might be lurking.
Ghoul Again - Round 1
Seldon fires two snap shots at the oncoming figure, hitting it once but with the second shot.
Barek and Selena both ready actions against the ghoul how leapt from the frame.
Breaking out of the fields to the left the group leaps another ghoul, who was waiting in hiding. As Barek gets out in front of the others, it leaps into place attacking as it comes. Fortunately, Barek is a slippery target and even as he is surprised, he is able to defend against the teeth of the undead creature.
Her blade already drawn, Mirela reacts a little slower than normally as she struggles with the light. Seeing Barek closing down on a nearby Ghoul, she nods resolutely to herself and sets off to assist the her fellow Varisian.
Pulling up quietly behind the ghoul, Mirela's eyes adjust enough to find a glaring gap in the ghoul's defenses, and drives her rapier home.
Total Damage: 12
Thorn moves in and stands besides Selena using his guisarme to hopefully take down the ghoul flanked by Barek and Miri.
neg level, Power attack. PA
confirm crit: neg level, Power attack. PA
Ghoul Again - Round 1 - continued
Mirela rushes forward, driving her rapier into the soft spots of the attacking ghoul, but not getting flanking.
The other ghoul rushes forward oblivious to the danger it faces. It is immediately bashed by Selena's telekinetic fist, which drops it in its tracks.
Barek's swings only hit air as the ghoul falls at his feet.
Thorn rushes forward poking the remaining ghoul with his guisarme. The pole arm driving right through the smelly, rotting flesh of the undead creature as its unnatural life is quenched.
End of Combat
"Well struck, Selena." Seldon says, noting the other ghoul has been felled as well and stowing his longbow. "Let's press on. I don't want to linger any longer than we have to..."
Barek kicks one of the corpse's jaw with a satisfying crunch. "Yeah, let's go. Freakin' ghouls..."
selena looks a bit bashful getting the praise from Seldon for her actions. It was really nothing Seldon. I was just in a position to help is all. Barek took the lead and protected me from being attacked by the ghoul and Thorn had a masterful stroke of his own. Really they deserve more praise than myself...but, ah, thanks for the compliment.
As they are walking onwards Selena casts a quick spell to protect herself as the ghouls seem to be in the fields as well and could surprise her at any time.
Mage armor for 4 hours.
Tunder continues around to the left.
Continuing to wander through the narrow farm paths between cornfields, and now keeping a sharp eye out for scarecrows and ghouls, the party eventually ends up the initial crossroads they started out at.
You haven't updated the map, so I can't make a good choice on direction. Can I Take 10 on a Suvival check (18 total) to find our way?
He smiles at the group now that the present threat has been extinguished. Graciously he thanks Selena as he bows to her, "Thank you my dear, I just hope our efforts can end threats so quickly. Good job everyone, remember teamwork will win the day!"
He cleans his blade quickly on the scarecrows clothing and does a quick cursory look over the smelly bodies before taking his position in the back of the group again closest to Selena. If she looks his way he would wink at her and keep his charming smile for her to see.
Selena, glad to have the group's attention on Thorn and the task ahead hopefully, nods politely. Indeed, we must work together to see this through and to clear Miri's name. The sheriff understands but I am afraid that the common people do not.
"Good circuit. Lets try a different way and see if these ghouls have taken over any buildings here."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Following the path south, the group stumbles through some of the lanes they have already been down, the shredded ghouls testament to their earlier presence. Turning southwest at the fork, they find another crossroads where two paths cross ahead.
perception check
Usually not the most aware of her surroundings the nighttime escapades have her nerves twitching and overly sensitive. That must be the answer as she hears the faint sound of ghouls coming from the south. Whispering to keep her voice low but loud enough that the group can hear her, There are more down the southern path from what it sounds like. More of them than last time as well. Watch out everyone. If there are a lot of them I will try to thin them out by putting a pit among them or greasing the area so they slip and fall.
Perception: +2 v goblin or underground
Agreeing with Selena's assessment, Tunder makes sure to stay closer to the group. "Don't forget that the things aren't very smart, but they are terrible cunning. Keep a watch on our flanks."
"Nor can I get a clear shot in these fields..." the elf says, walking shoulder to shoulder with the dwarf and drawing his longsword for close-combat.
"Desna guide this pilgrim's way, to safer paths and pleasant days." he says, sighing out the old proverb as he keeps his eyes peeled for trouble to the south.
The sounds of the ravening ghouls comes closer, and its not long before shadowy shapes appear on the south road in the moonlight. The shapes shuffle and cavort, and as they approach the stench of ghouls is clearly on them. There appear to be a half-dozen or so of the abominations approaching this time instead of just one or two.