Barek snorts, trying to get the smell out of his nose. He wipes it and then says, "Alright, let's see what's in here. Tunder, lead the way." He cracks his knuckles and then follows the dwarf into the barn.
Actually, Tunder goes right for the house. He doesn't bother with stealth. There might be someone alive in there.
Selena, in the rear, doesn't see much but does detect the light up ahead. That seems quite awkward considering the ghouls ability to move in the dark. Bumping Seldon and Thorn who are near here she points it out. Does it strike you as strange that there would be lights on right now? I mean everything else has been in the dark. Do you suppose that there are some survivors holed up in the buildings, or more likely, that there is a living being controlling the ghouls that resides here?
Tunder, if you want to sneak around I will light another sunrod ont he other side to distract whatever may be here. I can also give some aid to yourself or Miri for moving quietly. It will only last 4 minutes but should be long enough to help get you close to the either building to take a peek at what is going on.
Covering her nose as the stench hits her, a foreboding quickly overtakes Mirela. Covering her nose, looks back at Selena and nods "Yes, it does strike me as strange Selena, and a little creepy... Tunder wait, let me go ahead. I'll be quick, promise."
Selena casts her spell on Miri and waits for the report to come back so they know how to proceed onward.
Tunder waits for Mirela to scout, which he thinks is a waste of time, but whatever.
Mirela, moving even more gracefully than usual, speeds up to the barn and peers inside through the slightly open door.
Looking a bit pale, Mirela quietly hustles back to the group and explains about the half-dozen or so ghouls rending flesh from corpses in the barn.
"Kinsman." Seldon says, beckoning Thorn and casting Bull's Strength and protection from evil on him, with a second protection spell for himself. "Our elf blood should spare us their paralysis. We should take the vanguard, like old times."
As it seems the focus is on the barn and Seldon is casting spells to aid inthe coming combat, Selena aids in her own way as well. She starts by casting enlarge on Tunder to give him some reach since he succombed tot he paralysis effects from the ghouls already. hopefuly the reach will allow him to still fight from a safe distance. She then aids Barek by giving him a gift of strength should he find himself surrounded by the ghouls so he can attack 2 of them at once.
I am ready, lets go while we have the element of surprise but don't forget to watch your back from the farmhouse.
Selena will also have a sunrod and staff in her hands.
Nodding as she regains her composure, Mirela adds "Just be careful everyone; I couldn't make out an exact number, just that there were half a dozen or so, all... all doing awful things" The vision of ghouls feasting on human flesh had clearly spooked the young girl, who tried desperately to put a brave face on for all her companions.
Barek smiles as he feels the invigorating strength from Selena's spell. "I like it! Let's go smash some ghouls!" He smacks a hardened fist squarely into his other hand.
Readying themselves to storm the barn full of ghouls, the heroes buff up with spells and healing. The elves take the front rank due to their resistance to the paralyzing touch of ghouls.
Selena casts Bull's Strength on Barek, Cat's Grace on Miri, and Enlarge Person on Tunder. The large dwarf also gets a healing hand from Seldon, recovering some of his lost hitpoints in the process.
Tunder is reinvigorated by Seldon's spell (back to full hit points).
"Huzzah!" Thorn says in an punctuated whisper in response to his kinsman, what he said, and the boost to his abilities. He let the one word speak what he was feeling and prepared himself for the wave of stench and the raw gore that he would likely see soon.
Taking the front, once everyone is ready he quickly asks, "Should we wait outside and let them come to us or go in where we don't really know the whole possibilities?"
He waits for a response but if there is none, he goes and opens the door, courtblade in his hands ready to strike at the first thing that leaves the barn door he opened.
the -1 is for level drain, bull str,
"Just open the door. We need to send these things back to Pharasma."
Selena targets the partially opened barn door and throws a spell at it hoping that she can open it the rest of the way and force the ghouls to come out at the party.
Barek stands by the door, ready to rush in and pummel the ghouls.
Sneaking up quietly with her rapier drawn, Mirela shrugs and whispers from behind Barek "The farmer who owned this land is dead, I'm sure he won't miss his barn," pausing a moment, Mirela sighs before adding "I guess what I mean is, we could set the place ablaze and draw them out?" There is a hint of up speak in Mirela's tone as she asks the question, suggesting she isn't sure about the idea, but decided to pose it none the less.
"Agreed. We should use the chokepoint to our advantage." Seldon clutches his longsword tightly as Selena makes her arcane sigils at the barn doors.
Tunder steps through the now open doors and brings his axe down on the closest ghoul.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H, power attack
to hit Damage
Battle for Hambley's Barn - round 1
25 Seldon
22 Barek
22 Red Ghoul
18 Selena
15 Mirela
14 Thorn
14 White Ghoul
11 Tunder
10 Brown Ghoul
8 Green Ghoul
6 Gold ghoul
4 Purple Ghoul
As Seldon and Barek ready actions, Selena casts a spell of opening on the barn door. The ghouls notice the door sliding open and Red Ghoul comes rushing out, triggering the readied action by Seldon. The elven cleric swings for the fences, and obliterates the ghoul with one great stroke, ending its abominable existence.
On the next beat, the readied action by Barek, goes off, and the now extra-strong man charges in through the barn door, smashing ghouls as he goes. Barek trounces green ghoul, and then cleaves into White, pulverize both with his fists.
As the others make quick work of the ghouls near the entry way, Mirela sneaks in behind Barek and prepares to engage the ghouls.
Battle for Hambley's Barn - Round 1 - continued
Mirela and Thorn both follow Barek into the barn, readying actions to attack if any ghouls come within reach.
Tunder also pushes his way into the barn, but any ghouls left to attack require a double move to reach.
Brown Ghoul moves up enough to attack the enlarged dwarf with it's diseased bite. But the teeth close only on air, as Tunder shrugs the attack off.
Gold Ghoul also rushes down the stairs avoiding an AoO from Tunder, and landing in the space to attack Barek, again the attack misses.
Purple Ghoul charges the elf fighter, but Thorn's readied attack goes off first, shredding the creature as it advances.
End of Round 1
Battle for Hambley's Barn - Round 2
25 Seldon
22 Barek
18 Selena
15 Mirela (readied)
11 Tunder
10 Brown Ghoul
6 Gold ghoul
14 Thorn (readied last round)
Barek steps forward and pummels one of the ghouls, slamming his fist right through the dead flesh.
Selena lights the sunrod in her hand to illuminate the darkness of the surrounding area. Hopefully it keeps whatever night time creatures away will the men are done in the barn and come back out. She keeps her eyes moving though as she is not sure what may still reside on the house or in the cornfields.
Tunder brings Rumilda down on a ghoul.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H, power attack, enlarged
to hit Damage
Seeing an opportunity, Mirela takes off and slips between Thorn and Barek and appears opposite Tunder, jabbing at one of the remaining ghouls.
BAttle for Hambley's Barn - Round 2 - concluded
Barek death-punches the nearest goblin, while Selena stands in the doorway of the barn, her sunrod illuminating the one-sided combat.
Combining to encircle the last ghoul, Tunder and Mirela both score hits on the undead beast, cutting it to ribbons.
End of Combat
With the battle done, the PC's can now see that the barn has been turned into charnel house of sorts. At least a dozen human bodies lay here in varying states of damage from the ghouls. It is apparent the undead have been feasting here a while: the body of a young boy appears to be little more than a pile of gnawed on bones, while another used to be a plump farmwife, but her lower half is missing completely. Selena continues to illuminate the area, and Seldon stands just outside the barn, while everyone else has ducked and gone inside.
Selena places a hand over her mouth in horror as she sees the inside of the barn now fully. The sunrod drops to the ground as she trembles at the sight before her. Not able to stand it any more she steps to the side and leans her back against the barn using her staff for support as well trying to keep her stomach from overwhelming her senses. The only thing that she can think of is that the young boy never had a chance at life. All of this for what purpose? He never had a chance. Never had a chance...
Barek kicks the ghoul corpse and tries to wipe the nasty flesh off his hands. He shakes his head at the gruesome sights. "Horrible, horrible fates. If Foxglove is behind this, he will pay for all these lives."
"Let's check the house."
Holding both her hands over her mouth, Mirela surveys the damage and mumbles "Ohhh, I think I'm going to be sick." Kneeling down, Mirela takes a short moment to try and gather her wits about her and not lose her lunch.
Hearing Barek utter Foxglove's name, Mirela scowls and falls in behind the burly warrior while muttering "Aldern needs to be put six feet in the ground, and I mean like yesterday."
From behind where Seldon and Selena stand outside the barn, the overwhelming stench of death overcomes them. Just as they begin retching from the smell, a figure races out of the darkness attacking as he comes.
The Last Ghoul - Surprise Round
25 Thorn
21 Mirela
21 Tunder
18 Ghast
17 Barek
14 Seldon (sickened)
8 Selena (sickened)
The ghast charges from the shadows near the house. The creature cries out as he comes, "You! You are the ones he told me about! He told me you would come and kill my beautiful children. He said I was to kill you all! All except her! Where is she?"
The beast that attacks was once a man, but is now a more savage from of ghoul. It still wears a formal suit, common among the household valets of noble families. The hair, once perfectly coiffed now stands amuss, and one ear appears to be missing. The man's jacket is stained with what appears to be brains, and blood and gore cover him from mouth to chin, to shirt front. The smell of death and corruption envelops this creature, making all within 10' sickened.
The beast charges Selena attacking with its vicious bite as it nears her, but even in her sickened state, Selena' sense of self-preservation is strong, and she lunges to the side as the creatures teeth fail to connect.
End of Surprise Round
The Last Ghoul - Round 1
25 Thorn
21 Mirela
21 Tunder
18 Ghast
17 Barek
14 Seldon (sickened)
8 Selena (sickened)
Perception
Fort Save
Tunder turns abruptly as he hears something from outside. "There's more coming." He enlarged stride gets him outside to see that there are more already here.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H, power attack, enlarged
to hit Damage
"You... won't have her, 'ksher!" Seldon says, queasily, but in his surprise is unable to bring his blade to bear in time and merely bats at it ineffectively.
Immediately aware of further impending danger, Mirela looks at Tunder with a look equal that is parts urgency and fear "You're right, there is more coming... this nightmare never ends." With that, Mirela quickly takes off to backup her friends still outside the barn.
Once outside the barn, she recoils at the sight of the Ghast... who to her horror seems to know who she is, and seems hellbent on seeking her out. Taking one step back, the young varisian girl only manages to choke out "N-no! Just, stay away from me!"
Selena does the only thing that she can think of as her stomach lets go of what little hold she had on supper. she vomits up on the ghast which may have spared her. The ghast lost sight of her for a moment and Selena was able to lean away from the attack. Hopefully her mage armor would protect her some as it seemed the ghast was still targeting her. At least Seldon was there to help protect her.
know religion on the ghast
The Last Ghoul - Round 1 - continued
Oblivious to the fighting outside, Thorn kicks over the body of the ghoul he just fought and starts to look around in his corner of the barn. When he hears the others shout, he heads for the door.
Selena knows that ghasts are more powerful forms of ghouls, with all the same abilities and perils. It is said that ghasts' paralyzing touch can also effect elves, whereas elves are immune to ghoul's touch.
Mirela hears the shouting of the ghast as it approaches and heading out the door, she is stunned by the horror of the thing. Then the wave of stench hits her and she recoils even more, feeling sickened all over again. Stopping dead in her tracks, she tries to keep her rapier up in a fighting position.
Tunder, enlarged already, also hears the commotion and steps outside, his two-handed swing is barely dodged by the ghast which continues trying to savage Selena, this time attacking with full claws and bite. Spying Mirela leave the barn, it calls to her as it chomps at Selena, "My lady! You are even more beautiful than he said! All this I do for you! Join me, dear one, at his side!"
One claw from the fearsome undead creature gets through Selena's magical warding spell, scratching her for 5 hp dmg, despite her already sickened condition the wizard is able to overcome the paralyzing touch of the ghast, and stays in the fight.
Hearing the sounds outside and seeing the others rush out, Barek barrels out of the barn, immediately locking onto the ghast. The smell roils his stomach and he almost looses his composure, but the burly fighter manages to keep his nausea in check. He moves around to the east of the ghast, hoping to draw the undead away from Selena. "Hey, pick on someone your own size! Try feasting on me and I'll break that jaw of yours!"
The Last Ghoul - Round 1 - continued
Barek moves out of the barn, just holding back his bile as he smells the malodorous undead.
Seldon, burying his nose in his travelling cloak, brings his longsword up underneath, managing to nick the ghast with the blade before it squirms away.
Blood flowing down her abdomen from the ghast's scratch Selena backs away from the creature 5ft north. Out of her more potent spells and not thinking clearly from the stench Selena conjures nothing more than a patch of grease under th ghast. It spreads from the ghast's location 5ft west and south filling hte 10ft square. Hopefully the ghast slips and the others can take advantage of its prone condition.
reflex DC 15 save for the grease spell.
Though reeling from a wave of sickness overtaking her, Mirela resolves to put an end to the horror. Leaping forward, she attempts to get into position to strike at the monster.
(Total: 16 damage)
The Last Ghoul - Round 1 - concluded
Fighting through his disgust at the stench exuding from the rotting flesh of the ghast, Seldon swings his sword mightily, trying to end the world of this foulness. His sword catches the one-eared ghast in the side, cutting a gash into its undead corpse.
Meanwhile, Selena backs away from the ghast, casting the only thing her scent-addled brain can come up with. A pool of greasy goo form along the ground at the feet of the undead menace. Sliding a bit, the ghast catches itself before it falls completely.
End of Round 1