Another worg drops to the yips and yowls of dismay from the pack. Yet another worg takes its place and they surge in at you wildly.
-8
confirm?
extra if confirmed
Ang's blade eviscerates a worg and the surviving pack runs, baying dismay, into the night.
Is it time to get up or go back to sleep?
Inspect the bodies. Detect evil, burn them if Ang thinks they could rise from the dead. Continue on if close to morning otherwise back to resting.
The dead and dying worgs radiate evil, and Ang knows that just about anything can rise from the dead given the right magics or energy; otherwise they appear to be regular worgs. Unfortunately, there isn't enough ready fuel on the moors to burn the over sized wolves and you have to let them be for now. You rest without further incident, the surviving pack being clearly discouraged from bothering you further; at least for now.
Head north, looking for settlements or worgs or worse.
You pass through several more shattered settlements showing signs of struggle but no bodies. Towards the afternoon you sight a lonely croft at the rise of a low hill next to a well. There is smoke coming from the chimney and you can see several figures moving around outside the main building.
Approach the settlement. Move slow and be obvious.
When Ang gets within hailing distance, shout:
“My name is Ang, a Paladin of Torag. I’ve been sent by the town of Saringallow to investigate attacks by wolves and other creatures.”
As you get closer to the large farmhouse you see that there are two well-armored men and a few other men that are clearly farmers. They watch you warily as you approach. Hearing your shout one of the armored men calls out to you-Come forward Ang. I'm sure my Lady will want to speak with you.
A few moments later a woman wearing a breastplate with a longbow strapped to her back walks out of the building. Looking you over for a moment she nods at the two armored men who seem to relax, at least a little. Greetings Ang, my name is Nolaria Wintren, priestess of Erastil, and you are welcome here. How came you to this place and what is your business?
“Well met Nolaria, I was at the Temple of Erastil a few days ago and spoke with your father, he bid me to convey his love should I encounter you. The town clerk sent me to discover the source of attacks in this area. Based on my conversation with your father I believe you are here for the same reason so I would like to offer my assistance to you. On my way here I was attacked by wolves and the corpses of farmers turned undead. Do you know who or what is causing this? I am also here to look for a green stone that radiates evil and can sometimes corrupt and control people that possess it. It may be that this stone is related to or the cause of the attacks here.”
Waves of emotion roll over Nolaria's face; joy at hearing about her father, but then shock and sadness about news of the farmers. I came with some guards to investigate rumors of attacks on the northern steadings. At first it was just fear and missing livestock. As we made our way further north we ran into farms with missing workers and family members.
We pressed on. Foolish perhaps, but it is our duty as followers of Erastil.
Finally we came upon crofts that were shattered and abandoned. Clearly horrible things had happened, but there were no bodies to be found. I deemed we would find nothing worthwhile if we pushed on and we had an obligation to protect those that still survived. We turned back and headed south, but on the first night we were attacked by fierce wolves and undead creatures. A few of my men were injured but we drove the attackers off.
Unfortunately the worst was yet to come.
Those men that were injured fell sick and struggled to continue on. After a few days we made it here and I did my best to heal them, but they died. We buried them as best we could and prepared to set out on the next day, but that night the dead rose and attacked. We lost a few more good men and learned that fire was the only real way to send the injured dead to their final rest.
After that we set out for Saringallow, but the first night we were attacked again and driven back here. You talk of a green stone, at night when we have been attacked, a green mist descends and surrounds us while we are being attacked. A voice from the mist has called out to us the last two nights telling us to surrender. He calls himself Armas Sapiro.
I have a few wounded inside, one of my men and a few farmhands, as well as the family of the rancher who's lands these are. I'm not going to abandon any of them and have been able to keep them from turning, but at the same time we are not able to break out back to Saringallow. Now you are here; maybe you will be enough to turn the tide.
“I pray that it is so. Have you heard of this Armas Sapiro before? Is there anything I should do to prepare for the night?”
When night arrives cast Keep Watch.
Nolaria-Armas no, but the name Sapiro is familiar to those of Saringallow that know their history. The Sapiro's were a lesser branch of House Sarini that was overthrown in these parts more than 100 years ago. As legend has it, the Sapiros were savage and held on to power through force and bloodshed until the end. Even the Sarini family mostly accepted their failure and fled to other parts of Isger instead of being hanged by the mob.
We have been able to prevent the things that come at night from breaking in to the structure, but any suggestions you have on how to better fortify it would be welcome. In addition, if you have any healing given by Torag, maybe you can see if it will aid the wounded differently than what I have been able to do so far.
“Let’s see to the wounded first. I can usually help with wounds and sickness or fatigue, beyond that I’m not sure what help I can be.”
If just wounded will use Channel Energy but if people are Sickened or Fatigued can use LOH.
Inside the home you find a wounded guard and two farm hands. All have various claw and bite wounds that have been tended to but are still suppurating and inflamed. You think that they are diseased in some way.
Nolaria-I have tried remove disease magics a few times but I don't know if my strength is not enough or there is some other force at work. If we can get them on their feet I think we could try and make our way back to one of the holds further south and hopscotch our way back to Saringallow.
“Sounds like a good plan if this works. May Torag fill you all with his healing radiance.”
Try channel energy first.
If that doesn’t work then lay on hands with mercies: sickened and fatigued.
The wounded appear significantly better and are even able to get up and walk around, but there is still some light puss oozing from the wounds and you can tell they aren't completely cured. You think a strong remove disease would do the trick.
“If we can get them to town perhaps your father can help them more than we can. Shall we head south?”
Nolaria-Absolutely, but the day is almost gone. I would prefer to move out at first light than take my chances in the dark and mist of the moors with unknown foes moving around.
"Well enough, I will stand watch, I can include you in a spell that will enable you to stay up all night without the ordinary ill effects."
Cast Keep Watch, include her if she wishes.
Nolaria agrees to keep watch with you and as the night unfolds you see a thick bank of mist flowing over the moors headed in your direction. You hear the howls of wolves and swear you can see shapes moving out in the darkness.
When the mist gets to us.
Use divine bond to add +1 and keen to weapon.
Detect evil.
You sense multiple evil things out in the mist but your actual visibility is limited to about 10' outside of the building. The howling of wolves is intense and every once and a while you can see something shuffle about.
Stand the post for the night, attack if anything evil comes at us.
The howling and shuffling continues until the mid-part of the night when the fog begins to take on a sickly greenish hue. A voice rings out from the dark, full of malice and ill-intent-You are long overdue at Saringallow priestess and your father continues to worry. How long will you hide here in this broken hovel? Come out and pit your faith against mine!
Nolaria whispers softly to you-It is like this almost every night. When he comes he taunts me and promises if I will just come out and face him he will let the rest live. I know he lies, and yet I am tempted, even if I don't think I can defeat this evil.
“Why don’t you come face me Armas, if that is your name?”
Step out but keep back to the wall.
The voice from the mist grows colder (if that's possible)-What's this Nolaria; have you been dallying with another? Here I thought your heart would be true to just me, but now I suppose I will have to bend you directly to my will instead of continuing to court you. As for you, my metaled cuckoo, KNEEL!
You feel a crushing weight upon your mind and struggle to shake free.
DC 22 Will save to resist!
"Come make me you pathetic thing!"
How far away is he? Detect evil if that helps identify his position.
You sense him about 30' away but you can also sense a host of evil undead and worgs. The undead charge in at you! The front wave of four are wretched human figures with tight leathery skin, sunken eyes, and emaciated frames; they move with eerie alacrity. Behind them you see two humans that look fairly normal, except for the glint of malevolent green light you see in their eyes.
You have the initiative as you meet their charge.
You cut into one of the foes wounding it badly, but you note the wound begins to knit back together. They swarm!
undead human 1 -18
undead human 2
undead human 3
undead human 4
Any successful bite requires DC 18 FORT save or take 1d4 DEX damage.
-50
-23
You strike the same foe a second time; it still stands if barely. The undead try to convert you the hard way!
undead human 1 -42
undead human 2
undead human 3
undead human 4
Any successful bite requires DC 18 FORT save or take 1d4 DEX damage.
Nolaria screams at you-Have you lost your wits?!!!! Get back inside!!!
Move back inside.
Whispering: “I was trying to draw him out, I’m betting he has the stone and if we end him, we end the threat.”
Nolaria looks at you crossly-I'm not sure what the dwarves taught you, but it certainly wasn't tactics. Your guess may be true but what if it isn't? You are asking us to risk an awful lot on your hunch and my responsibility is to get these people back to Saringallow.
She sighs-All that being said, I and my men will follow you if you decide to venture out again, but at least give me a chance to cast some protective enchantments before we do.
“Let’s get everyone back to Saringallow first. We can deal with Armas and the stone afterwards.”
Seeing you not return to the fray the voice that you assume to be Armas calls out mockingly-No real stomach for it, eh paladin? Safer to cower under the safety of mother Nolaria's dress and pray for sunshine. Pathetic....
“I’m not the one cowering behind minions, b*&#!!”
Armas-Now, now; such a vile tongue for one projecting so much righteousness. It's sad to see someone of your stature display so much envy from not having the same toys that others get to play with. I suppose that is what comes of being a pawn of the divine; you never seem to realize that you are a toy on a string. I'll see how brave you are when you don't have walls to cower behind.
Wait out the night.
A short while after your last interchange the green tint to the mist dissipates, although the mist remains. The rest of the night passes without incident but you can tell that the undead sentinels remain until near the dawn when both they and the mist retreat into the darkness.
You regain full use of your powers but you note the wounded look worse with infection.
“Are your men capable of travel?”
Nolaria frowns but nods-They will have to be. If we stay here we will all starve to death if we don't meet with a more horrible fate first. I'll do what I can to give them strength for the journey.
I think we should do our best to travel from croft to croft, spending the night in whatever structure we can to improve our chances. For whatever reason Armas and his minions have not seemed overly anxious to try to break into this building, content to lurk outside and taunt us. I'm not sure that they won't get more desperate the closer we get to Saringallwow, but it seems like our best chance to get everyone back in one piece. Hopefully once we get there my father can remedy whatever ails these men and determine an appropriate response to Armas.
“Then let’s head out.”
The first day of travel is slow as you help the wounded along. Clearly the exertion of the march is making things worse and even though Nolaria uses her divine powers to help, as darkness begins to fall you can tell they are quite spent. You are able to make it to a ransacked croft and secure it as best you can before night sets in. During your travel you pick out some wolves and humanoids (undead?) following your trail; they seem to be following at a very respectful distance but are very clearly following you.
Cast keep watch, include Nolaria.
Your watchful reverie is violently interrupted by the sound of something(s) pounding on the barricaded entryway. Peering through the shattered shutters of the windows you can see several humanoid forms at the doorway smashing away and a pack of wolves circling beyond; a thick mist prevents you from seeing anything clearly more than 10' from the building.
Before they break in activate divine bond, +1 and keen.
When they get in try to bottle them up at the entry so only 1 or 2 can attack.
After a few moments the leathery skinned undead, similar to what you faced off with before, shatter the barrier and attempt to push into the room. You meet them at the entry and prevent more than two at a time being able to engage, but the close quarters interferes with the size of your blade and you miss twice. You can tell that there are many more undead behind the first two than you previously faced.
undead human 1
undead human 2
Any successful bite requires DC 18 FORT save or take 1d4 DEX damage.
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