Tolbert steps further back, pulls out a scroll, and hurls a bolt of force at the nearest zombie.
Beetle's spell finishes off the zombie that Warren had cut!
The remaining zombie reaches for the nearest target, Cassidy!
,
Cassidy leans back, letting the blow glance off of her armor.
After Cassidy's turn, Garnult ticks down to one round.
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Cassidy takes a swipe at the remaining zombie.
With a furious swing, Cassidy cuts down the remaining zombie!
A few seconds later, Garnult's muscles unclench and he again moves freely. Warren currently remains on the ground, unconscious among the bodies of the fallen undead monsters.
By Torag's Beard! I dunno what happened. Damn thing got me! Garnult grumbles. He raises his holy symbol and prays Forgefather, knit flesh and bone stronger than before!
"Well, we're going to have to get to the bottom of this. Do you think one of these creatures used to be the mayor?"
Ow! That hurt! Thank you for the healing. Might it be possible for a bit more as I am still quite hurt. A couple taps from the wand should do the trick Garnult.
Wand? Garnult asks then Oh yes, the one...gotta find it around here... Garnult searches around in his pack AHA
Garnult heals Warren for 13 HP
Garnult definitely has drawn and is carrying both the warhammer and shield.
Looking at Beetle, "I sure hope none of them turn out to be the mayor." Turning to the group, Cassidy says, "Let's inspect the bodies for identification, and then hurry into the manor to check on mayor and household staff. I'm glad to see you up Warren that look like a nasty hit."
Cassidy bends down to inspect the bodies, putting on gloves.
Garnult leans in to Warren and whispers I Won't talk about you getting knocked down, if you don't talk about me getting frozen by that ghoul. Deal?
I've got a bad feeling the one in the robe is the mayor. Then we should check the cellar door the ghoul was trying to get into.
Thank you Cassidy, glad to be standing again.
Garnult, Deal!
Warren helps search the bodies.
Garnult, Deal!
Looking over the bodies, Cassidy discovers the following:
The ghoul is wearing nothing but a fancy lounge robe. There's a hole on the right side, matched by a chunk missing from the side of the creature's chest, with blood staining the entire area of the robe.
The zombies are each wearing pretty standard servants' attire, and each has multiple claw and bite marks around the head, shoulder and neck areas. Neither carries any possessions on their person.
If this is the Mayor, I wonder if that hole in his chest is what turned him into one. Is there anything in it?
Garnult, can ghouls turn people into zombies? Is that what all the scratches around the servants' upper bodies are from?
I, ugh, don't think so no. Garnult isn't the most well schooled individual Probably some magic....
You know that ghouls' bites can infect people with a disease called ghoul fever, which can be fatal and can cause the victim to then rise as another ghoul. You're not aware of any connection between ghouls and zombies.
"Well, should we take a look around back and inside the manor? Perhaps we can find a sheet to cover up the bodies until we find someone who can identify them. Maybe there are some other servants inside."
Let's check that door I saw the ghoul pounding on. There may be survivors there. Then we can check the rest of the house
Alright then. Let's do this Garnult says as he heads to the door and tries to open it.
Investigating behind the house, you discover the cellar door that Warren saw the ghoul standing over. The thick wooden doors are cracked and splintered, barely still attached to the hinges and lock; it looks as though it wouldn't have withstood the ghoul's assault for much longer.
[b]"I think I hear people behind the doors!"[b/]
Warren shouts through the doors, We've killed the ghoul and the zombies, it is safe for you to come out now
Tolbert pushes his way to the doors. "If you've been injured, I can represent you! I only get paid if you do!"
Warren's and Beetle's calls are met with a quietness only faintly disturbed by muffled whimpers.
Keep away from the door, I'm coming in to help you get out to safety!
With that Warren finishes the job the ghoul started.
As warren vandalizes the property of your charge breaks open the cellar door, the sound of splintering wood is nearly drowned out by panicked screams. A stone stairway leads down, now lit by the sun. You can't see much past the stairs from here, but it looks like the cellar is dark.
Garnult with his better vision, takes a look down into the cellar. Hullo down there. We mean no harm. Except if your a nasty undead, then we do mean some harm.
Can you make some light Garnult, then we can head down in?
Cain't see in the dark eh. Garnult says, reveling in his dwarven superiority. Ah yeah, here ya go. Garnult casts light on whatever item Warren wants it to be casted on.
Warren holds his sword out for light to be cast on it and then hold it upright like a torch. Warren then walks down trying to sooth anyone there.
It's ok we've killed all the undead. You can come out now. Come out and tell us what happened.
Cassidy calls down the cellar,"The Woodhaven's captain of the guard, Arriaga, sent us to check on you all. Please don't be afraid; it's safe to come up now." Cassidy wisphers to Garnult, "Do we still have that paper Arriaga gave us as proof she sent us?"
Ehhh. Garnult mumbles as he rummages through his pouches.
The light shed by Garnult's spell illuminates the cellar as the party reaches the bottom of the steps. The cellar is a single room, roughly 15-20 feet to a side. The walls are lined with wine racks, barrels of dry goods, shelves of tools and materials, and various other containers and supplies.
There are three people, two humans and a halfling, hiding behind a box that isn't big enough for three people to hide behind. Though close to hysterics upon your arrival, Cassidy's soft address seems to reassure them a bit. Their breathing slows and they look across each of your faces, but they remain silent and visibly trembling.
Warren looks at Cassidy Looks like the lady's fancypants words did the trick.
Then to the three hiding We come in peace! We've killed the three undead trying to break in here. Were there any more? Come you're safe now, tell us your tale.
Tolbert pushes his way in front of the others, and hands out business cards to the cowering victims. "Can you tell us what happened?"
The halfling woman stands tentatively, looks at each of you, then does her best to speak without sobbing:
"W-well... We were doing our normal afternoon chores while the master was in his lounge, as usual. Then we heard a crash, and what sounded like the master crying out. I sent Val and Tim to..."
She breaks into a sob for a moment, then composes herself as best she can.
"I sent them to check on him. As soon as they opened the door and looked inside they screamed. Just as I was about to come see what happened, I saw... I saw something start slashing them with its claws and trying to eat them! They fell, and he started to bite, but then it looked like... like he suddenly lost interest. Then they got up, but they didn't look right. All three of them saw the rest of us, and started coming for us. They chased us all over the house; eventually we managed to get in here and lock the door. Then they started banging on it, then you got here, and..."
She begins crying softly again, and one of the humans puts an arm around her. The servants then look back to the lot of you.
The stout dwarf is touched by the story. Is'alright lass. Warren here dealt with em, they won't bother no one anymore. Less get you back to town yeah? You'll be safer there.
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea; lets head back to town. Before we go, perhaps we should move the bodies inside, until a proper burial can be arranged. And do any of you need to grab anything inside before we head back to town or need any healing?"
I think before we head back to town we should check the rest of the house and see what crashed into it. These three can wait outside for us.
"That sounds like a plan to me. We want to get to the evidence while it's fresh."
I dun think they wanna wait outside by themselves....
"Please, don't leave us alone..." squeaks one of the human servants, a thin male.
"Should I stay with them, and interview them while the rest of you explore?"
They just finished getting attacked by a soulless creature that feeds off of despair and pain.... Garnult snorts Why would they want to be left with another?
Warren laughs so hard you see a few tears rolling down his face. When he gains his composure.
You could come with us back into the manor and give use a tour. You do know the place best. You would be able to tell us anything that is missing or doesn't belong. Besides if you three are the only other members of this household there shouldn't be anyone left. Is there anyone missing? Also before we go inside would you identify the bodies of the undead we were forced to dispatch
Tolbert harumphs.
The servants look at each other, still trembling a bit, before the halfling woman nods.
"We'll help however we can," she says. "Where should we start? With the b..."
She falters a moment.
"With identifying them?"
It would be best. That way we know better what to expect inside. Once that is done you can take us in the front door and show us where this all started and then we'll check the rest of the house.
The three servants gather their courage and follow the party out of the cellar to where the fight happened. After a few moments composing herself and trying to comfort the other two, the halfling woman speaks:
"Those two," she says, "Are definitely Val and Tim, the ones I sent to check on the master. They were fine when they went, then they got attacked, then got up looking like that."
She turns to the ghoul in the bloody robe, and scrunches her face a bit.
"Well, the master never had claws, or sharpened teeth that I know of; but the hair looks a lot like his, and that's definitely the robe he was wearing when he went into his study, about a half hour before we heard that crash."
Well, I think were done here yeah? Let's drag the bodies back, to give em a proper burial yeah.
Garnult will say a few prayers and dwarven burial rites if neccesary, but he isn't schooled well in the ways of human burial.
"We should just take them inside, and let the city hold a funeral for the mayor later. But I agree with you all, we should look the manor over, particularly the mayor's study."