Elena allows her IC blessing to wane and moves forward casting a magic missile spell.
Damage
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Jim notes the monster's effect on the others, but can still think of no better course of action than to continue his attacks.
,
,
"Get out of the way, please!" Rajendra steps up behind Elena, then casts a spell to give him supernatural acuity.
Jace misses the creature as only one of Zie's claws cut the undead-human hybrid. Jim shoves his sword deep into the creature's belly as Elena blasts the creature in the face with force missiles, snapping its neck.
"Oh, thank god!" remarks the good doctor as he stands up and dusts off his jacket. "I'm glad you were here to deal with him. I mean, the room couldn't be breached by him, but still..." he remarks, shuddering at the thought of getting ripped alive by the undead before him.
Status:
Elena
Rajendra
Jim
Zie-Fatigued @ 21/31 HP
Jace-Exhausted @ 25/38 HP
Pending
Fortitude Save against Disease - Jace
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Grabbing his leg Jace moves over to the chair and tries to catch his breath. That took a bit out of me.
Grabbing the holy symbol beneath his shirt Jace lets out a wave of healing energy. Small streams of warm air float throughout the room, grazing everyone.
+4 for Jace.
Tipping his head back he closes his eyes for a moment.
Jim flips some sweaty hair from his eyes and stabs the undead one final time. He sheaths his weapons and, through mild panting, states, "Jim Seeker, traveling hero."
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"Had you seen any symptoms like this before? Has he infected anyone else here that you can think of? We might not be here to help next time."
Rajendra sets his bow aside and approaches Jace. "Those claws were filthy. May I examine your wounds?"
Jim looks to Elena following Jace's question. He then pulls out some leather gloves and begins examining the body of the madman-turned-undead-horror, still glancing at Elena in anticipation.
"I've told you boys already...I don't know anyone around here who could or would do anything like this. I believe we need to get back to town. The library might have some answers. This 'Misgivings' seems like something that we need to try to find out about. It's the only clue we have, as far as I can tell."
"I like libraries. I could do with a bit of research myself." Jim declares with a smile.
Ziebodug, still in the throws of his mutagen, simply grunts in agreement.
The doctor assures you that he has not been exposed to any other patients in the hospital. "However, since the patient has passed, I believe that his belongings pass to the Sheriff. As her agents, I leave them to you." he remarks, handing you a satchel on your way out.
"Send word if any of the other patients get the same illness."
"Can any of you use these two wands? If not, I will keep them. I don't need the potions or the dagger," Elena says as she tries to hand out the gear.if there is no objection, she leads the group back to town, heading straight for a warm bed. After, she has plans at the library. She will also update Ameiko and the others on what they have found, and what they have heard (and mention the message from the undead infected man).
"I can use them, but you are a better choice to carry them."
You return to town and begin to ask around about the Misgivings, but you find that it is Ameiko that provides the answer, though she expresses some reticence. "The Misgivings is... a local slur for the Foxglove Manor to the south. Why is this relevant?" she asks.
Ziebodug, who has finally reverted back to his lovable self, explains the situation to Ameiko, looking to the others to avoid saying too much or too little.
"It seems, in any case, our path is clear. What do you know about these Foxgloves? Will they welcome us to speak with them?"
Jim hands off the curing potion to Rajendra and takes the other for himself.
Once with Ameiko, he listens to the news of this Foxglove manor and looks to see if Elena reacts to the name.
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"Foxglove? That was the name of the noble who kept us alive during the goblin invasion previously. There must have been twenty goblins running around trying to burn the town. Aldern Foxglove and his dog fought off most of them!"
"So...I wonder if he knows anything about my stalker? He seemed a good sort. I wonder if he's up on town gossip? I'm sure he would be more than happy to help. I say we have a nice lunch, rest and bit and head out to lay a visit to my old friend."
"It sounds like your town hero may be in trouble. Or maybe he isn't the hero you think he is?"
"Well, it seems our evil around here is undead. And as of the last time I saw him, Aldern was most definitely not undead. Do you think he is in trouble?"
Unfamiliar with local politics and personalities, Rajendra keeps silent and follows where the others lead.
"I thought I was the local hero..." Jim interjects, subsequently being talked over. His face saddens.
Ameiko agrees with Jace that you should wait until the next day to travel to the Foxglove Manor. "I have not heard from Aldern after he left to return home, though I doubt someone of his character could be at the heart of this." she says, reassuringly.
---
On the morrow, as you are leaving Ameiko's, you spy a man breathless and covered with mud and sweat. "Help! I need Sheriff Hemlock! Them walking scarecrows tried t' get me!" he yells, roughly grabbing on to Jace's armor, trying to pull him closer as he looks around frightened.
After the previous night's camping expedition, Elena was most happy to spend her night in a warm bed. At the morning knock at the door, she pulled the covers over her head before making herself get up and start the morning. She still managed to get a quick bath before breakfast and the group heading out on the road to The Misgivings.
"Walking scarecrows? What are you talking about? Where are they?"
Rajendra arises early to perform his morning exercises and meditation, bathes, then has a simple breakfast before leaving. At the man's interruption, he looks to Jim. "Is this something that happens often here?"
"Here, drink this..." Ziebodug hands the man a concoction - something he often uses to sober up in the morning.
"You are drunk, right?
Jim enjoys his evening back in his room, spending much of it making notes by candlelight in his anatomy journal based on the day's findings.
The next day, at the intrusion of the man and the talk of scarecrows, Jim cocks an eyebrow with suspicion. He gives a sidelong glare to Rajendra and responds, "Honestly it seems to be."
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Jace sleeps more soundly than ever before in the confines of his warm bed.
Waking up in the morning he is far more refreshed as he stands and streches, heading downstairs for a good breakfast.
He sighs. I never slept this good when I was with Nualia.
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Scarecrows don't walk. perhaps it is some sort of illusion. Lead us to it, we will check it out.
The man refuses the proferred concoction. His nose wrinkles at the smell of it. "It ain't a dream. Walking scarecrows 'ave been tormenting us fer days!"
"We need 'elp! We 'eard there was strong adventuring types up 'ere and we need them ta come 'elp us." he says, pleading with you. "Now, where is Sheriff Hemlock!?"
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Jim smiles, looking flattered. He hooks a thumb in his belt and approaches, holding his hand up to keep anyone from speaking further. "I didn't catch your name sir, but mine is Jim Seeker, and I'm probably the adventurer you've heard about." He says, brushing back some hair and looking dramatically into space. "These are my companions. They're just as capable as me, if not more." He says with a knowing wink to Jace. "I'm sure we can handle your 'walking scarecrow' problem, whatever it may be." Jim explains proudly.
Elena rolls her eyes at Confident Jim. "Show us these scarecrows, sir. We've been deputized. We will help."
Rajendra nods in agreement with the others. I again see your wisdom in sending me here, Lady All-Sight.
The news of walking scarecrows spreads quickly through the farmlands, your stopping to visit farms on the way find the normally friendly locals unwilling to chat with visitors. Over three dozen farmsteads dot the fields and vales southeast of Sandpoint, the farthest being some six miles from town. Farms to the east and north have heard stories ofthe trouble to the south, but it's not until you move south of Ashen Rise and approach Soggy River that the rumors turn into firsthand accounts. Footpaths, dusty tracks about 10 feet wide-hemmed in by fields of corn and other crops, connect the farmsteads.
The Hambley farm is nestled at the western edge of the Whisperwood, forest said to be home to capricious gnomes, pixies, and other fey, but now overshadowed by the closer menace. All five of the other farms south of the Soggy River are now deserted, their occupants having either fled north to seek shelter with other farmers or been captured by the ghouls. Some of the ghouls created from these farmers have gone on to dwell in the tunnels below Foxglove Manor, but six remain in the vicinity of the Hambley farm, eager to continue their murderous spree.
The layout of the Hambley farm is shown on the Farmlands Map. Fields of tall-stalked plants transform the paths between them into oppressive tunnels, making it dangerously easy for visitors to become lost. The Hambley farmhouse and barn sit in the western portion of these fields. Both house and barn seem unremarkable from the outside, but an exploration of the interiors reveals the true extent of the horror visited upon the region.
"Folks around here don't seem as friendly as I would expect from good, solid farm-folk. Is this normal?"
Upon reaching a farm with no obvious inhabitants, Ziebodug knocks on the door, and eventually opens it to call out "Anybody home?"
Elena whispers in return to the dwarf. "Usually, it's not like this. I don't know if I believe in walking scarecrows, but someone hung is off here, that's for sure. How much farther is your farm, sir?"
Rajendra walks along with the party, bow held loosely in one hand, eyes never keeping still for long. "I agree. This is not normal."
Jim twirls his sword in one hand while the other, holding his dagger, rests to his side. "What are we looking at here?"
The man seems to shake more and more as you get closer. "It... it is about an hour down this road. Ye can't miss it, but I ain't going back. They is gonna get me!" he yells, cowering near the side of the road.
---
You leave the man to his cowering and continue onward, finding the small farming community. There has clearly been some activity here of a malicious kind, but you are at a lack of seeing walking scarecrows.
As you investigate, you see withered crops and some of the fences and buildings appear to be scorched.
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Jace holds some of the crops in his hands. Who would have set fire to all this food?
Jace begins to search the area.
Seeing nothing of interest outside Jace goes to investigate the scorched buildings.
Walking Scarecrows... pfft. Seems they also breathed flames. Was probably the goblins that got loose at Thistletop.