Devin slowly backs away from the gruesome seen before him. Quietly returning to the party. "There is something truly horrific going on up there. Three 'things' are devouring someone. Their victim is surely dead already." he says as he slowly shakes his head. "Here is the plan, I will hide up the road. You will get their attention and after they pass by I will attack from behind. When they turn to face me, then you strike." He scans the faces of his comrades, as he speaks, looking for acknowledgement.
Gaeron blanches and his eyes flash gold the tiniest bit at this news. He tightens his grip on his mace and then glances back at Kynneth, whose skin shines with a ghostly pale image of magical armor beneath his magical senses. He ponders this for a moment.
"A sound strategy Devin. I believe that I will take point and lure whatever they are in towards our ambush. Kynneth, can you cast that spell on multiple different people or only yourself? I know a spell like it, only it creates a magical shield instead of armor. If we could combine these two, it should provide me with sufficient protection for a while until you and Hermia can flank these creatures with Devin."
Hermia shakes her head again. "Surely these creatures are the symptom and not the origin of the disease. The one who has called them here is our true enemy, we risk exposure!" she argues. "I hope that our efforts here go well, as we will be announcing our intent by this act."
Turning to Hermia, "These creatures look like men in rags and smell like rotted flesh. They are in the middle of the road and there is no way past them. If we don't intend to engage them then our only way is back. I would like to keep our adversary guessing as well but I assume our very presence has alerted anyone who may be behind this plot. The only way to find out who their current victim is and to continue on to the graveyard is to put down these monsters." Turning back to Gaeron, "Once I'm hidden, move up the path and make a lot of noise. But don't come so fast as to pass by me." With a nod Devin turns back up the path and finds a spot just before the bend to conceal himself in the underbrush.
Hermia stares hard after Mister Devin's exit. He takes as much upon himself as I, perhaps more, she muses, and nods. "Well then, gentlemen, shall we continue our stroll to visit our poor deceased auntie?" she says loudly, having very little skill in bluff and having no real particular aim by the comment.
Gaeron watches Devin slink off and closes his eyes, muttering the words to his spell then says louder. "Apsu protect thy servant, grant unto me thine divine light and shield me from misfortune."
Casting: Shield on Self, AC now 15.
Gaeron then resumes double-handing his mace and says to Hermia, just as loudly. "Aye milady! Have no worries, this path looks perfectly safe for such a large, succulently meated man as myself!" he gives her a weak smile, knowing he just sounded incredibly stupid.
@Devin the zombie that you are closest to seems to look around as you position yourself but then turns back to its grissly meal. When you hear the rest of the party coming up the road saying loudly certain foolishness you see another zombie stand from the body and begins to walk towards the now expanding light, the other two zombies now getting up as well to follow it. They move deathly quiet with only small shuffles of movement.
As the unholy walkers move past him, Devin looks further down the road to see if there is anyone, or thing, past the scene of their carnage.
Once the shambling corpses are about half way to the party, Devin emerges from the brush. Moving quietly up behind them, when he comes in range he strikes savagely at the back of the center zombie.
"I can only cast the spell upon myself, unless I use up all my spell casting ability at once. As well it will not protect those already wearing armour. I can still cast it on you, if you want"
[ooc]Religion:[ooc]
Zombies, by the description of them, Kynneth thinks
Kynneth follows the others down the road, not really seeing the reasoning behind pretending for unthinking undead, but going along with the plan none the less.
The zombie at the back turns his head slightly and Devin's sword sails past it and it roars in surprise and in stupid anger, the other two turning around slowly roaring in turn.
START OF COMBAT
Gaeron glances at Kynneth, gauging his combat skills with a glance then shakes his head. "Then perhaps you can save your spells to aid our friend out there." he smiles encouragingly at Kynneth when he hears the creatures roar.
'And so it begins...' Gaeron thinks for only a moment then rushes forwards around the bend, long legs carrying him towards the fight, mace raised high and a battle-cry upon his lips. "Foul beasts! I bring the light of the Waybringer to end your foul existences! Perish in flame!"
Casting: Burning Hands at the nearest two zombies
Damage:
Thank you for rolling the percentile I was forgot to say that (good thing hes my brother and knows my mindset) anyways for some area of effect spells I will have you roll percentiles as shown above to see how well you did manage to position yourself. So for this instance I did make it a 15% chance so it does miss devin
Combat order:
Gaeron, Hermia, Kynneth, Devin, Zombies.
Zombie A
Zombie B
Zombie C
The wash of flame licks over the zombies, however the second zombie seems to be quicker than the others and manages to sway just behind the first and is only lightly singed.
.
Hermia unfastens her spell component pouch and draws out a piece of parchment writ with holy words, and places her hand on Gaeron's back. Channeling a measure of divine power, she speaks the words to the protection spell , and a shimmering light envelops the larger man's form.
Gaeron is granted a +2 deflection bonus to AC for duration of 1 minute.
Reaching deep within himself, Kynneth draws upon the power in his blood and sends forth a blast of heavenly light to bath the three zombies.
As he feels Hermia's protective spell wash over him he gives her a brief nod, then turns his head towards the creatures and raises his mace. Summoning up his courage, he charges forwards at the foremost zombie, swinging his mace up high with both hands then bringing it smashing towards the thing's rotting head.
Attack:
Damage:
Hermia moves to wherever her channeling will have the most effect, raises her holy symbol, embraces the grace of Erastil and Channels Energy to Harm Undead. The will save is DC 13, and if the zombies pass it they will take half of damage.
Devin draws back with his shortsword and swings hard at the nearest foul ghoul.
His swing goes wide as the evil denizen is knock aside by Hermia's blast.
Zombies Save
Zombie a
Zombie b
Zombie c
To clarify position Devin is in back facing zombie c a is in front being attacked by Gaeron and b is just behind him
Kynneth observes his last attack, and is not satisfied with its results. "Hmmm, lets see if this is better." With that, he moves slightly to one side, to get a better view of the creatures. Flicking his hand towards the closest zombie, and speaking a few words, a golden ray shoots from his palm.
The zombies mindless beings as they are seem to not mind the tremendous damage they take. Several attacks barely miss the zombies as one turns to attack Devin the ranger swinging his sword bravely, the zombie lurches obviously fouling up his blows. Gaeron rushes forward but a jutting rock twists his ankle slightly and his mace swishes past the first zombie rotten head. The magician Kynneth fires a ray hoping to help Gaeron and the fouls his shot in his concern for Gaeron.
The closest zombie to the main party raises its arm and slams them forward to attack Gaeron and misses horribly as its arms sail past the shining warrior priest.
Zombie A Slam
The second zombie its body practically falling apart takes a shambling step forward and attacks Gaeron as well.
Zombie B Slam
Comically as the zombie swings its arms at Gaeron one simply breaks off as it meets the ,mystical forces of the combined Divine and arcane magics protecting him.
Zombie C Slam
Confirm Crit
Damage
The third zombie zombie turns to deal with the foe at its back sweeping its arm around catching the man with its fetid hand, the loud snapping of bone is heard as the ranger crumples to the ground his jaw obviously broken, the pain knocking him unconscious.
Gaeron roars in anger as he sees Devin go down and he raises the mace again, swinging it high and aiming for the zombie's gortesque rotting head.
Attack:
Damage:
His mace impacts with a dull crunching sound and he snarls in personal satisfaction as the a good half of the zombie's already decaying skull gives under the force of his blow, the skull caving in even more. "You vile creatures! Taste the wrath of the Waybringer!"
Hermia, seeing that Mister Devin has fallen uses her second channel of the evening to Heal damage.
Kynneth tries hitting the zombie again with the golden ray. A feeling of the unreal runs through him as he sees his fellow adventurer fall to the zombie attack.
The zombie just infront of Gaeron, after taking both hits one from Gaeron and the other another mystic bolt from Kynneth burst the zombies head and it slumps to the ground.
The other one handed zombie raises it's limbs to attack the warrior infront of him, heedless of its last futile attack.
Zombie B slam
Again the zombie's attack is futile agaijnst the forces protecting Gaeron.
The last zombie turns from the ranger laid low upon the ground unaware that Devin still draws breath begins to shuffle its way to attack the next target of its undead wrath, Gaeron.
New Combat order
Gaeron, Hermia, Kynneth, Zombies, Devin*
*When devin decides to stand he will be moved and order will be changed.
Gaeron turns from the now headless zombie on the ground and swings his mace at the zombie that has been attacking his side.
-5 DR = 6 damage I assume I kill it? Again :p
His mace crunches into the zombie's body, blasting through it's spine and it falls to the ground, its body now going back to its original inert and lifeless form.
As the shambling mess wanders toward it's next victim, Devin lifts himself from the ground. With blood streaming from his mouth, he steps boldly forward and drives his sword into the foul creature's back. The sound of it's tattered clothing and flesh rending against the force of his blow mix with it's unnatural howl.
Hermia, having no supernatural protection, few channels and even fewer spells will take a full defense action in case the zombie currently poised to attack Gaeron decides that woman flesh is more tasty, gaining a +4 to her AC.
Hmm this spell does not seem to work that well." Kynneth thinks to himself. With no other recourse, he aims for the last standing zombie and releases another golden burst.
The last remaining zombie unaware of its own body falling apart swings its arms at Gaeron. Unlike its other companions its arms break trhough Gaerons shimmering shields and with a resounding crack, breaks the would be warrior's collar bone and almost collapses his chest with the other blow. However even as Gaeron falls unconscious from the pain the zombie above him twitches uncontrollably, its body betraying the evil will of its controller and falls atop the now fallen Gaeron its body bursting apart retchedly rotten fluids dreching Gaerons robes and body.
Zombie C Slam
Confirm
END OF COMBAT
Seeing the last zombie fall beside Gaeron, Hermia breaks her defensive stance and goes to him. She applies the extent of her healing arts to lay him out properly, make sure that his airway is unobstructed and search for a pulse at his throat to ensure that he lives.
"He lives still," she informs the party. "I have limited resources at my disposal to restore him. If I do so, I would rather we not continue to the graveyard at this time, and instead retreat. What say you, gentlemen?"
Gaeron groans when Hermia brings him back around. His shoulder aches abominably and his head feels as if it is made from stone. "Apsu's holy fire...that hurt."
He holds the wound where the zombie had struck him and looks up at Hermia, who in his dazed and blurry eyesight appears like an angel sent by the Dragonlord himself. "I am in your debt Lady Hermia..." he says, and inclines his head, then winces and slowly gets to his feet and bends to retrieve his filthy mace.
"Now...whats the...plan?" he asks, clutching his shoulder again and gritting his teeth.
"Glad to see you still among the living," Hermia jests softly, pushing Gaeron's hair back over his forehead tenderly. She aches with him to see him rise, battered as he is. "I have suggested that we withdraw for the evening. Our ability to combat this threat will not improve in proper dark, and I do not believe that the probability that we will survive this is very high. Isolated as we are..." Hermia trails. "I do not wish to seem a coward, but as we are the only line of defense for the city, I believe we can do more good there."
Kynneth looks over his friends and asks, Do any of you need healing? It is not much, but I can conjure divine light to easy small wounds." He wanders over to one of the corpses and starts to examine it.
Devin stands, unsteadily, in the road still clutching his shortsword in one hand and his jaw in the other. "Theerrr ikktuum" he gurgles as he turns back up the road, stumbling toward the bend the foul creatures came around.
Kynneth pokes at the dead creatures, wondering how they became animated and what sort of magic kept them that way, as well as searching for any clues as to where they might have come from
Once finished with his research he turns to see Devin standing in the middle of the road, sword in hand and holding his jaw.
"Devin, one moment I can help you with that injury." he calls out. Walking towards the wounded man, Kynneth gathers the divine power that flows through his blood, and a ray of white light envelops Devin.
Devin stops and turns to Kynneth, allowing him to channel his healing energy. "Thank you." he says through a repaired, but still badly battered smile. He turns to Hermia, "If we are going back we should investigate their victim. I doubt there will be much left for us to see tomorrow." He then turns and continues walking to where the zombies unfortunate last supper still lay.
Hermia nods. "I had not considered the victim," she admits softly, furious with herself for not thinking of it earlier. "Lead the way."
Hermia will remain near Brother Gaeron, who has received much less healing than Mister Devin, and move forward with the group.
@ Kyn
What you can see of the body that is not ripped and torn is clothed by rough homespun flax or wool most likely worn by one of the farmers the mayor had talked about earlier.
Gaeron nods down at Hermia but tries not to lean on her too much. His head still swims from the pain of the zombie's fist but he follows the group in silence while trying to clean the mess off of his mace with whatever works best besides his robes, leaving them until a last resort.
"My only hope, milady, is that there are not many more of those creatures, whatever they are."
Hermia, recognizing that Gareon is unsettled with the gore on his mace, casts to assist his efforts.
"That is my hope, as well. Greater still, however, is that we might discover who is making these creatures, and put an end to him."
Seeing the mess on both men's cloths and weapons, Kynneth waves his hand and mutters a few words The mess seems to lift off the cloths and weapons and drop onto the ground.
"I am sorry I cannot repair your damaged clothing, it is a simple spell, but one I did not commit to my memory...perhaps I should look into that.
Gaeron chuckles at Kynneth and straightens up a bit, feeling abit better now that the pain is becoming a contsant low thing rather than a randomly spiking occasion. He nods to the sorceror's suggestion. "Mayhap a good idea, but worry yourself not about my robes. I'll repair them sometime but right now I am simply glad we all survived that mess."
He turns to eye Devin who is being very quiet. "How's the jaw feeling Ser Cross?"
Hermia does not hesitate to step forward in a time of crisis. "Not a one of us is to sleep alone tonight," she commands. "The thought has occurred to me that a spellcaster powerful enough to summon evil in a chapel might also have the ability to compel a priest from his home. Brother Abraxus, Kynneth and I are in danger in that regard, as each of us has now demonstrated a measure of divine power."
She looks to Mister Devin, and then to Gaeron. "I will examine each of you thoroughly when we return, but we should make all haste. A palisades is not sufficient to maintain security against a spellcaster, and for all we know of the enemy, he may reside within the its boundaries."
Kennyth looks at Hermia and nods his head in agreement. "We need to be ready for a magical attack. We need to bring this information to the Mayor and make sure the people are made aware of the type of creatures they may be facing."
"Agreed, we need to let the Mayor know what they are dealing with. He still seems to think their harvest is a bigger concern than the disappearances. We need to convince him that with all the farmers gone there will be no harvest."