Nevorn seeing Eitri and Merzhan have things in hand moves toward Svetla and Borondon and greases the ground under the foes attacking them
Borondon continues to hack at zombies:
Divel slowly falls into a Mesilangisar, a state of meditation and near sleep where the elf can review the days gone by and those to come.
Initiatives rd 4:
Svetla: 17 [attack]
Navorn: 16 [grease I26]
Divel: 15 [out of action]
Zombies: 14 [attacking]
Rootabega: 13 [running to Child]
Crystal: 12 [atk-hit]
Ingrahild: 12 [shielding Borondon]
Merzhan: 12 [Burning Hands]
Borondon: 12 [atk-kill]
Eitri: 11 []
Sondergang: 10 [Turning]
Svetla attacks again
Her sword strikes true and carves a slice out of her moaning foe
Navorn casts his grease under two zombies
ZST
They both manage to keep their feet.
The zombies lurch forward and attack
Crystal:
Merzhan:
Svetla:
Borondon:
Ingra:
The zombies manage to hit Crystal as she attempts to dodge. Borondon and Ingra also susutain injuries.
Root arrives at the running child. She screams and clutches at the fragrant druid. As he grabs at the child Crystal pinks another zombie with her rapier, causing a rotten flap of skin to peel off it's naked torso.
Merzhan's hands erupt in flame, immolating the shambling dead.
Z Sts
The zombies burn merrily
Borondon's axe takes another zombie down, splitting it crown to crotch.
Sondergang's voice rings out like hammer on anvil, entreating the undead to flee.
Z Sts
Sondergang's channeling finishes the burning zombies Merzhan barbequed.
Root arrives at the running child. She screams and clutches at the fragrant druid. As he grabs at the child Crystal pinks another zombie with her rapier, causing a rotten flap of skin to peel off it's naked torso.
Seeing Merzhan's spell wash over the many foes facing her she laughs, the blows landed upon her forgotten for the moment, as almost all of them expire for a second time.
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Crystal sweeps her hair from her eyes, glances about for the child to make sure she is safe,
:
Crystal spots the young girl, but fails to see Flanus. . Glad that nothing else unsavory is threatening the youngster, she looks across the battle field from her vantage point atop the earth wall.
:
Crystal points towards Borondon, Ingrahild and Svetla where they are still beset by many of the undead.
"To Arms my friends! Our allies yonder need our aid!" She directs Sondergang and Merzhan attention to the others plight.
Now Crystal's face shows her thoughts inner turmoil; To fly to her companions air, or go to the child and help keep the young one safe?
Root arrives at the running child. She screams and clutches at the fragrant druid. As he grabs at the child Crystal pinks another zombie with her rapier, causing a rotten flap of skin to peel off it's naked torso.
METAGAME NOTE FOR ALL:
Bows
Navorn moves up toward Svetla And brings his sword to bare down upon the undead Damage
Eitri runs to Borondon's area
With the threat of immediate 'Zmobrification' past, the young girl safe, Crystal sighs, releasing some of her pent up emotions and tension. She sags and winces as her adrenalin ebbs and the scratching and deep bruising from the Zombies attacks begin to be felt. Realizing she is in no real state to go racing away again, she turns and staggers down the earthen embankment towards the child, again keeping her eyes peeled for any lurking dangers,
She walks slower to the young girl, cleaning and sheathing her large curved blade as she does do.
"Come then, young one," She offers a hand in friendship, "Tell me your name." She smiles in greeting.
Borondon does what he's best at, attacking the zombie in J26:
'Hey, right here, over here...not a zombiem it's me Root...holding the child! Watch my back!' he calls as he races back to the wagons with the girl.
Sondergang strides towards the remaining combat though he's confident of his comrades being able to deal with them.
Eitri calls upon the power of Torag to destroy the zombies near him.
Eitri calls upon the power of Torag to destroy the zombies near him.
2d6
Borondon does what he's best at, attacking the zombie in J26:
1d20+9
1d10+5
Borondon's rotted foe tumbles to the ground, a head shorter. The detached melon snarls and snaps at his boot for a bit before realizing it is truly dead this time.
Sondergang strides towards the remaining combat though he's confident of his comrades being able to deal with them.
'Hey, right here, over here...not a zombiem it's me Root...holding the child! Watch my back!' he calls as he races back to the wagons with the girl.
Crystal sees the flamboyant fragrant fey druid clutching her new acquaintence. They hurry back to the wagons.
Eitri calls upon the power of Torag to destroy the zombies near him.
2d6
Eitiri's blast withers the zombies substantially
The guards from the caravan reach the berm and quickly deal with the final few zombies left standing with judicious bow shots. There seem to be no other's about. The area quiets, except for the murmuring of the caravan travellers.
When he wakes from his reverie, Divel's eyes narrow as he spots the piece of nut on the ground. Getting up to continue scouting the elf purposefully steps on the damn thing.
Later he returns to camp with no news, just a shrug or two when asked.
'Please help us with this girl'
Root imposes on his new-found gypsie-like friends as they continue with their defensive preparations
'I'm sure the Lady Crystal can help you - I guess she's been through a lot and will have a lot to tell us.'
Looking down at the girl as he hands her over Root takes the opportunity to give her a quick once-over
'You're a strong healthy lass, these folks will take good care of you.'
Before leaving, Root pulls his new friend (the 'gypsie man he spent part of the night drinking with) aside and whispers:
'Listen, this might not be the time, but I seem to have the smell of death about me...I'm comfortable with most of my odours, but this one is as hard to take as it is new. I'd almost rather smell like a dwarf! So what I'm asking is, do you have magic against this sort of thing?'
Divel heads back to the campsite, only to see a buzz of activity. The wagons haven't been laagered yet, and folks are milling about.
Root hands the young girl to the Vagabonds, then asks Serrano about his 'problem'.
"I think your problem might be that nasty bag there." He points to the rudely-tanned beltpouch that Borondon had handed him. The bag is stained with some noxious effluvent and a small trickle of foul liquid drips from its corner.
Mott walks up to the party and thnaks them again for thier handy swordwork.
"Them orcs are playing hardball this Spring," He grumbles. 'Thanks for your speedy help."
The guards gather the corpses and burn them in a pyre. The wagons settle in for the evening and fires spring up.
Crystal joins the wagon-eers, smiling and happy that her friends are well. The first thing she does is take care of the foundling, getting together the things needed to bath and cloth the child. Also using the time to try and get to know the young one a little better.
Hoping to gain an understanding of the trauma the young girl has been through, learn the girl's name and help her with any trauma she may be suffering. Crystal also takes advantage of at least a small soothing bath herself to alleviate some of the bruising she's suffered under the Zombies beat sticks, trying to make a joke of the matter to the girl by mentioning how lucky she was none of the Zombies had been armed with stones.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names shall never hurt me."
Developing the old rhyme into a happy song as the pair rest and recuperate after the ordeal.
Eventually leading the cleaned up pair of them back to the Lady Arianna's carriage.
Sondergang organises the gathering and disposal of the undead...
"Lord Torag..help guide these souls to their rightful places in the great beyond...as the cleansing fire purges their bodies of the evil wreaked upon them we ask that you grant us the power to smite down the ones that perpetrated this abomination"
Borondon stands with Sondergang during the rites, then afterwards goes in search of a keg of Ale.
"Cuttin' down the risen dead is thirsty work."
Navorn stands with Borondon as Sondergang says the rites, playing a mournful little tune as the dead are lad to rest.
Upon hearing Borondon's words we smiles and head with in hin search of ale. "That it is my friend, shall we toast to the dead and put this dreadful day to the bottom of a few cups?"
Eventually leading the cleaned up pair of them back to the Lady Arianna's carriage.
Crystal eventually teases the name Mellie from the small girl. From the disjointed bits of speech, she was a daughter of a drover on a caravan. The orcs swept in and massacred her family, she hid in a smuggling hole and only emerged after the orcs had lit her family's wagon on fire.
Unfortunately for Crystal's soothiness, the only water available is a very small stream that falls from a cliff face nearby the encampment and fills a very small pool. The women of the caravan are busy using it to refil their water jugs at the moment, and it looks awful frigid to be bathing in anyway.
Mellie listens with wide eyes at Crystal's singing, but doesn't participate as of yet. She still looks like she is in shock. Crystal eventually brings her back to Lady Arianna's carraige. The carraige has been parked in the encampment, now that the gore has been cleaned up, and the two guards stoke a large fire. Lady Arianna sits on the carraige's steps, and stands with a flourish as Crystal approaches
"Lady Crystal, I had feared you had come to grief in battle!"
Sondergang helps the men of the caravan atttend to the violated corpses. Now robbed of necromantic energy, the cut and ripped bodies just look sad. A large bonfire built of the charred wagon pieces and tent poles send the bodies to their reward.
Borondon stands with Sondergang during the rites, then afterwards goes in search of a keg of Ale.
"Cuttin' down the risen dead is thirsty work."
Mott the caravanmaster has allowed a keg to be broached from the stores to reward the hard fighting the group has gone through. A pleasant Stoneroot bitter ale, the foamy red beer fills mug after mug at the center fire. Borondon is congratulated on his fine axe work by the guards clustered about the open cask.
Navorn stands with Borondon as Sondergang says the rites, playing a mournful little tune as the dead are lad to rest.
Upon hearing Borondon's words we smiles and head with in hin search of ale. "That it is my friend, shall we toast to the dead and put this dreadful day to the bottom of a few cups?"
Navorn joins Borondon at the central fire. He is also complimented on his arcane puissance, and given a foaming mug of reddish ale. The party turns raucous, but there is little true gaitey in the mood. Everyone is still peturbed about the burnt caravan and the nasty surprise left for them.
Root participates in Sondergang's service, surreptitiously slipping the stinking bag into one corpse pile or another. After the ceremony he slips away for a dust bath and a roll in some fragrant herbs. Dirty, leafy, and better smelling, he makes a half-hearted attempt to commune with the natural guardians of the area to figure out what happened
.
'Here we go again' Root mutters to no-one in particular
Returning to camp Root checks in on his comrades and the girl. Although he has a token tankard (well, six) after a few minutes he retires to the company of the wanderers, preferring friendship to camaraderie.
Divel is happy enough taking similar middle watch when the camp finally settles. Before that he listens out to learn what happened while he was away.
Sondergang takes late watch...he spends his time doing tinker work on the camps kettles and pots ..it's little enough but still allows him to offer his service to Torag
Borondon will also take the late watch, figuring it would be better to stand watch hungover rather than drunk.
He will spend his time idly sharpening his axe to keep awake.
Returning to camp Root checks in on his comrades and the girl. Although he has a token tankard (well, six) after a few minutes he retires to the company of the wanderers, preferring friendship to camaraderie.
After rendering his fragrance more outdoorsy, Root ambles to the campfire and is given a hero's welcome, along with the other party members already present. A few tankards later, he ambles off towards the Vagabond's campsite, to find them drinking, dancing and playing music. Serrano calls him over.
Aunt Ferralia sits among several other older women, watching the pairings of the young Vagabond dancers like hawks overseeing a chicken coop. She nods to the druid and makes a gesture of good fortune his way.
"Feyling, ve had interseting times so far on this journey, yes?" Serrano calls out. Although he strives to be lighthearted in tone, Root can sense that the recent attacks have unsettled him.
Divel is happy enough taking similar middle watch when the camp finally settles. Before that he listens out to learn what happened while he was away.
After the epic battle of the nut, little else can surprise Divel. He does get several versions of the dead rising in the campground
Sondergang takes late watch...he spends his time doing tinker work on the camps kettles and pots ..it's little enough but still allows him to offer his service to Torag
As many of the metal items on a hard journey wear out, Sondergang has as much tinkering and whitesmithing as he can handle. He is looked on with respect after the last few days of travel, and many of the travellers stop by for a blessing or a quick word.
Borondon will also take the late watch, figuring it would be better to stand watch hungover rather than drunk.
He will spend his time idly sharpening his axe to keep awake.
Borondon finds the many lagers pressed into his hands by admiring drovers make for an interesting wake up and watch. Somehow he manages to stay upright, despite it feeling as if Torag was smithing a iron chain to haul the moon to earth on the top of his skull. He tries sharpening his axe, but the screechy sound makes him wince in pain. He keeps awake instead by dunking his head in the watering barrels by the corraled caravan remuda.
Merzahn sits quietly, lost in his thoughts as he stares into the camfire.
Mezhan slowly thinks over what he has seen, drifting off into a trancelike state:
Merzhan has heard the whispers during his studies of the arcane mysteries. Things and names better not spoken aloud. The One Who Died and Rose Again, the Undead Demon, The Skull King. Where that one's minions lurk, death and undeath follow.
Crystal eventually teases the name Mellie from the small girl. From the disjointed bits of speech, she was a daughter of a drover on a caravan. The orcs swept in and massacred her family, she hid in a smuggling hole and only emerged after the orcs had lit her family's wagon on fire.
Unfortunately for Crystal's soothing-ness, the only water available is a very small stream that falls from a cliff face nearby the encampment and fills a very small pool. The women of the caravan are busy using it to refill their water jugs at the moment, and it looks awful frigid to be bathing in anyway.
Mellie listens with wide eyes at Crystal's singing, but doesn't participate as of yet. She still looks like she is in shock. Crystal eventually brings her back to Lady Arianna's carriage. The carriage has been parked in the encampment, now that the gore has been cleaned up, and the two guards stoke a large fire. Lady Ariana sits on the carriage's steps, and stands with a flourish as Crystal approaches
"Lady Crystal, I had feared you had come to grief in battle!"
Crystal shall do the best she can with the limited resources available to make herself and her new charge presentable. Once reasonably refreshed and slightly more relaxed, Crystal returns to the company of the fine Lady Ariana's presence.
At Ariana's exclamation Crystal laughs brightly, something again for he new charges benefit.
"Now, now, M'Lady. A small matter of such an encounter is nothing for which you should concern your self over. Why, between the powers of the others who are custodians of this journey, such trifling creatures are of middling worry." She smiles, both to reassure the Lady as well as continue to sooth the trauma of the girl. She introduces Millie to Ariana and her group as the pair join in the evening's relaxation after the hardship of the encounter.
Navorn, strums along at the merriment or what little there is of it, and takes what ever watch he is still sober enough to take when it's his turn
Aunt Ferralia sits among several other older women, watching the pairings of the young Vagabond dancers like hawks overseeing a chicken coop. She nods to the druid and makes a gesture of good fortune his way.[/i]"Feyling, ve had interseting times so far on this journey, yes?" Serrano calls out. Although he strives to be lighthearted in tone, Root can sense that the recent attacks have unsettled him.
"Interesting times all right, and we've attracted the attention of powerful creatures. It's the sort of combination that's likely to have us all turned into fertilizer before our time."
Root downs his tankard and continues, with a huge grin:"Auntie should let herself relax on the chaperoning tonight - love's the thing that'll protect us from what we saw today...and who's to say where young lust ends and love begins eh?"
Sometime later, during a pause in the conversation, Root opines:
"You know Serrano, this undead thing cannot be allowed. I have no power against them, and I would not want to be linked to them like that. But no-one, I mean no-one...
Root stares off into the fire and it is unclear if the drink has addled his thoughts or if he is unable to continue.
The disturbed Druid drinks until he drops, awakened with a kick for his watch: the last of the night.
"It's a sad day for civilization" Ingra mutters to herself, she spends hours cleaning up, and trying to make order of this grotesque carnage. She helps Sondergang with the rites, helps Crystal with the girl, and does whatever she can to bring civilization back to this tiny place.
"Interesting times all right, and we've attracted the attention of powerful creatures. It's the sort of combination that's likely to have us all turned into fertilizer before our time."
Serrano leans closer to Root
"If the dead ones walk again under de mountain, they vill vant fresh blood."
Root downs his tankard and continues, with a huge grin:
"Auntie should let herself relax on the chaperoning tonight - love's the thing that'll protect us from what we saw today...and who's to say where young lust ends and love begins eh?"
Serrano smiles, looking at the older ladies
"That is their chess, feyling. They are vatching years of scheming and alliances between families blossom. Those old vimmin rule us all."
Sometime later, during a pause in the conversation, Root opines:
"You know Serrano, this undead thing cannot be allowed. I have no power against them, and I would not want to be linked to them like that. But no-one, I mean no-one...
Serrano nods
"It is an abomination against the Great Mother. They take souls off the Wheel and shackle them to evil."
Crystal shall do the best she can with the limited resources available to make herself and her new charge presentable. Once reasonably refreshed and slightly more relaxed, Crystal returns to the company of the fine Lady Ariana's presence.
At Ariana's exclamation Crystal laughs brightly, something again for he new charges benefit.
"Now, now, M'Lady. A small matter of such an encounter is nothing for which you should concern your self over. Why, between the powers of the others who are custodians of this journey, such trifling creatures are of middling worry." She smiles, both to reassure the Lady as well as continue to sooth the trauma of the girl. She introduces Millie to Ariana and her group as the pair join in the evening's relaxation after the hardship of the encounter.
...
Lady Arianna tries her best with Mellie, being gracious, but she obviously hasn't spent too much time with children. Ingra ends up helping, taking Mellie under her motherly wing as Crystal goes on watch