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"Indeed, and let us move together and not risk separation again." Marak says, sounding more concerned than he perhaps intended.
Unclear as to whether or not these particular undead are as hard to permanantly kill as the sinspawn they fought what-seems-like-an-age-ago, Marak pauses only to send a small surge of emerald acid streaming onto the fallen ghoul, the Thassilonian glyphs on his arm flaring a venomous green as he does.
If no one seems keen on retreat to the wagons, Romon can't stand the idea of sitting still. "I'm with Muchorak. If we wait here they'll find us and plan their attack. If we go forward fast and quietly, we'll run into them before they're ready for us."
"Let us back track to be out of the field and then approach the house. That way we can keep eyes on the field and the home." At this Muchorak begins the path back out of the field.
"I agree that is the best way to approach this." With that Inikai follows Muchorak.
These farmers are probably dead. We will likely find their remains inside the house. Surely it will be gruesome. This is a horror, certainly, but no worse than what we have seen in these past weeks. Just steel yourself and continue when you see them. There is nothing you can do but slay their murderers.Inikai repeats these thoughts to himself several times before they are out of the cornfield.
There is no way to reach the farmstead without passing through the fields. They surround the small collection of buildings.
You plunge ahead through the corn approaching another junction the left hand path from which should lead you to the houses. Yet another scarecrow stands vigil at the crossroads.
With another scarecrow in the path Muchorak motions for Romon to put some 'feathers' in it.
"I've got this." Romon steps to within 30' and takes target practice on the scarecrow.
Shortbow .. damage
Crit confirm: .. damage
Naria gets ready to blast anything that emerges from the corn around them.
Romon's arrow sinks into the figure..(extra damage) which immediately sags on its ropes.
At this 4 more gaunt pale almost naked ghouls rise from their ambush in the corn.
No Surprise round
ROUND 1
Romon 23
Marak 19
Naria 17
Ali 13
Ghouls 8
Inakai 7
Muchorak 7-
Naria launches a magical salvo at the nearest Ghoul
Magic missile
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If the ghouls are within 30 ft. Marak will call upon the seething arcane fury of Nethys himself to blast them from existence.
If they have not yet closed within that range, he will delay his action to catch them with a blast of channeled energy as they close for melee.
Be cleansed by arcane fire! he proclaims, clutching the two-faced holy symbol of Nethys about his neck as he does, and a surge like a blast furnace seems to radiate out from him, paradoxically cold and hot, at the same time, but having no effect on the living other than to raise gooseflesh.
Ali briefly considers calling upon the power of the Land to aid her but as her pack outnumbers their foes she quickly decides that might of tooth and metal claw and magic might should be enough.
And so once again the two wolves rush to the attack.
Ali attack & damage:
Lunas attack & damage:
Because he was expecting such a response, Romon is not as rattled as the last time. He's already reaching for another arrow as the ghouls move through the corn toward the party.
Shortbow .. damage
Crit confirm if needed: .. damage
He rushes the shot and the arrow flies wide.
Romons shot goes nowhere near his target but Nethys' fire burns two of the undead badly the other two being only scorched slightly by the power of the god. Ali and Lunas smash into one of the badly burnt ghouls taking him down and out in an instant and then Naria's Magic Missiles lay the other badly hurt one low.
The two remaining ghouls throw themselves at you the bite of one easily evaded by Aliwolf and the others teeth scraping harmlessly on Muchoraks armour
Even thought Inikai fully expected the ghouls to attack he is still taken aback by their ferocity. It is their screams that so unnerve him and blunt his typically fast reactions. For a moment he loses track of the assailants and thinks that his companions have laid them all low. Only when he sees that one has run past Ali and is turning around is he able to react. His floating globe flashes momentarily and three sparks of light streak like arrows toward the ghoul.
Inakais bolts of force smash into the ghoul which is looking distinctly the worse for wear now
Round 2: Romon drops his bow and slips behind the ghoul attacking Ali, drawing his sword and dagger along the way. He lines up a thrust to hamstring the foul creaure.
Short Sword .. damage
Crit confirm .. damage
Edit: [ooc] Ohh. forgot to mention flanking (+2 to hit on the above rolls) and sneak attack!
Muchorak retaliates at the unnatural creature with both blades...
Ursus launches into attack mode standing on his hind legs clawing and biting at the creature...
Naria if needed takes a step away from any nearby ghouls and blasts the most injured looking one with a small ball of acid
Acid splash attack
Damage
Muchorak cuts the ghoul down . Ursus growls but makes no move to actually attack..(should have said the same for Lunas above as animal companions need to be trained in attack twice to combat unnatural foes)
Romon moves to engage theghoul fighting Ali aiming to hamstring it but at the last moment see's a beter spot to strike and runs his sword stright up into it's brain pan andthe undead parody of humanity expires instantly.
The corn field returns to it's eery silence.
Not wanting to examine the bodies in any fashion Muchorak continues on the path to the house...
Romon wipes his sword carefully on some corn leaves before restoring it to its sheath. He retrieves his bow. He quickly glances at the bodies, but can't bring himself to even get within touching range.
Perception
"Let's get out of here before the smell makes me choke."
The bear and the wolf might prove to be hinderances to us Inikai thinks to himself. As he follows the others he looks left and right into the corn, searching for more ghouls.
A turn to the left at the junction and the path leads away into the corn again..you go faster now wanting to reach the more open areas around the farm buildings as quickly as is possible.
Another Scarecrow lies in your way alongside the path but you blast it apart in a shower of straw and old clothes. A couple of minutes and another crossroads is ahead with the farm just visible to your right.
Whoever occupies the house set these traps to weaken intruders. These filthy things attacking us are expendable him. In all likelihood the master pulling their strings will be far more powerful than they are. Inikai looks up at the sunny sky and thinks to himself how sad that we might die on such a beautiful day.
Aliwolf and Lunas sniff towards the house, trying to determine if friends or foes lie within
"They're probably waiting for us to step out of the corn to hit us again." Romon hisses. "Figure we'll drop our guard when we get into the clear, and bamm!"
"You're right, we should expect and ambush. If it does not take place in the field then we should expect it inside the house. I doubt there will be any survivors in the house unless they are used as hostages. But, looking at the hunger of ghouls, I doubt there will be any."
Yet another scarecrow stands beside the path about halfway between the junction and the buildings.
"I'll take care of it. " Romon fits another arrow to the string and draws and looses.
Shortbow .. damage
"Fletching must have been bad," he mutters. And tries again.
Shortbow .. damage
Rapidly reddening, he cuts off any comment with, "Stop! I'll get it!" His voice is uncharacteristically harsh.
He tries a third time.
Shortbow .. damage
Sneak attack: if applicable
3 Magic Missiles
Backtrack a little....
Romon closes to within 30 feet of the scarecrow which immediately begins to struggle in it's bonds trying to tear free from them.
The first missed shot brings a further frenzied attempt to tear loose and devour the rogue as does the second..Inikai tenses as Romon takes aim a third time and finally the ghoul sags in it's bonds it's spirit laid to rest.
When Romon turns back to the party, but he's not ebullient by any means. He seems embarassed.
But also thoughtful, "Who would nail the ghouls up like that? Other ghouls? Are these ghoul criminals? And why wouldn't the loose ghouls just eat the hanging ones? If people did it, why would they leave others running loose? This is just weird."
"Strange indeed my friend," Muchorak looks at the sagging ghoul. "It seems after we deal with whatever is creating these monstrosities we may need to come back and purge all of the farmlands of these things."
Romon is right, what is the purpose of tieing these things up like this, what is the purpose of such an act.
"It is bizarre that someone would tie a ghoul to a post like that. Maybe they were still alive when they were tied up. They might have been infected with the 'ghoul fever' and tied up until it killed them. If that is the case then our enemies are more depraved then I had thought."
"Let's just get to the farmhouse before any more of these things decide to show up we can figure out why there doing this later."
Inikai prods the body to see if there is anything of note on it but he does so in a perfunctory manner.
"Let's get to the house. We should circle it before we enter, in order to see how many ways in and out it has."
You move the hundred feet or so along the path and enter the steading..there are only two buildings of note..a large barn and a much smaller house.No animals are present but there is a body lying in the centre of the farmyard.
Naria will slowly make her way towards the body.