Garrath darts over to the ghoul near Elektra and hacks at it with his Greatsword. "Leave the mage be, and face your end!
Power Attack -2 atk/+6 damage, Furious Focus (ignore Power Attack minus to hit on first attack of round) Rage +2 atk, +2 Will, -2 AC, Reckless Abandon +2 atk, -2 AC, Superstition +4 will save against all spells, Witch Hunter +2 damage vs spell casters, or creatures that use spell like abilities. AC 13 altogether with the amulet of nat armor.
Round Two Start
Kelvin misses with his next swipe, but now hastened, swings again and critically strikes the Ghoul sending it to its second death.
Elektra misses her touch attack on the fourth Ghoul.
It doesn't really matter though, as it is Garrath's blow that butchers the corpse of the fourth Ghoul.
In the pit the first Ghoul tries to climb out. Again, it claws it's way to near the top before sliding down again.
The third Ghoul continues to attack Stone, delivering another sharp bite.
The fifth Ghoul, recovers from being stomped on and attacks Brandark's Warhorse, but is unable to strike the powerful steed.
Round Two Cont.
Stone, bitten by the third Ghoul, calls on Divine power.
The Ghoul in the Pit shrieks and dies.
The third Ghoul looks up at Stone, his expression changes from ravishing hunger to stark terror. It dies...again.
The fifth Ghoul also goes from undead to simply dead.
Victory!
Garrath wipes the gore from his blade, moving over to Elektra, as his rage subsides, and he breathes deeply catching his breath. "You are not wounded Elektra?" He looks over at the rest after making sure Elektra is not hurt, "Is everyone unharmed" He spots his horse, and walks over to grab the reins tightly, waiting for the horse to become unparalyzed, holding it steady. "Brandark, Horse will be ready to run. You can help, no?"
Brandark rides over and collects Suzie and then rides back and dismounts by the injured horse.
He then looks at the injuries sustained by the horse
I don't think your horse will be comfortable taking you for the rest of the day Garrath.
Any options ?
As soon as the horse comes out of the Paralysis, Brandark helps soothe it, so it does not try to run.
"Everyone ok?" the elf asks. "Garrath, you can ride Estrella for the rest of the day. I am used to and more comfortable walking."
If Garrath takes him up on the offer, Kelvin leads the horse to him, then looking the animal in the eye and petting it's face, "easy girl. I'll walk, you take care of Garrath." If he doesn't, "ok. Lets go then."
HP 31/33
The party will have no further problems from Ghouls along the road this day. About dusk, you reach the Wayfarer's Inn. It is an ordinary inn roughly midway between Sandpoint and Magnimar. Both Brandark and Stone have stayed in this Inn in times past. It is a dive. It is a place to rest for the night.
This night it is particularly crowded. Four Conestoga style Wagons are parked here. People are in and around the wagons. One of the wagons has a Brown canvas top. Several people are gathered around it. You hear crying and screaming coming from what sounds like a girl, maybe in her early teens.
Moving up to the wagon, Kelvin looks at the folks gathered around. "What is going on?" he asks one of the folks.
Watch your coin purses and gear, this place is not the same as the Dragon, its worse.
Brandark then rides up to near the wagon and dismounts while Kelvin asks his question.
Kelvin will determine that the brown canvas looks to be a hurried or makeshift add-on and not the wagons original top.
A young man dressed in overalls looks at Kelvin, "Good sir, we have been beset by Ghouls. Two days ago Ghouls raided our farm. One of them bit my sister. She is acting crazy now. We were hoping to get her to Magnimar for help."
The family moves aside for Stone. It takes you a few minutes to recall some of your teachings, but you do remember learning about Ghoul Fever. The girl, in her early teens, appears to be in the middle stages of the disease.
Garrath follows Brandark and Stone, staying somewhat in the background, but trying to look imposing, so people would think twice about starting shenanigans against them.
The group of people, particularly outside of the Wayfarer's Inn are mostly common folk, farmers. You will find four families all fleeing from Ghoul attacks. They all give the party a wide berth. Some even whisper among themselves, "Aren't those the Heroes of Sandpoint?"
Stone can you help them now, or will it have to wait for a bit ?
Stone will find that one of the farm hands with another family was bitten. But he is showing no ill effects. You will also hear about entire farm families that were missing.
"Which direction are the missing farm families?"
One of the family members responds to Kelvin's inquiry, "North of here toward Sandpoint, along or south of the Soggy River."
After Stone helps the girl, and during the evening meal, Kelvin brings up the information that he discovered. "Some farming families went missing, north of here back towards Sandpoint. Perhaps we should investigate this?"
Well, we should look into the group to the south, however, the other one that was bit, should also be separated for now.
Aye, we should look into this his voice gets lower but we are also looking into a winged critter
Taking her time Elektra talks with Stone in great lengths about the ghoul situation, inquiring solutions and battle strategys.
Stone can you help them now, or will it have to wait for a bit ?
I will have to commun with Sarenrae in the morning but I will be ables to help.
As night approaches a burly man in a badly stained apron comes out of the Wayfarer's Inn, "Your horses are five silvers a piece to stay also there is a five silver fee for parking your wagons overnight. We only have two rooms available. They are 3 golds each for the night. But they come with grub and tea or beer for one. Any additional folk are two golds per person up to four per room. Its a gold if you just want to eat."
The party notices that the families go back to their wagons and scrounge for coins to pay the innkeeper.
The Wayfarer's Inn is a single story establishment with a dining area and bar as you enter that seats about 25 or so folk. There are, four each left and right, a total of eight rooms available for rent on each side of the dining area. The innkeeper is also the bartender. His wife cooks. Their daughter, about fourteen, serves the tables. Their son, about sixteen, dressed in a too-large for him rusted suit of chain mail, acts as a guard. Thankfully for the innkeeper he hasn't been needed in this role. There isn't much to steal here and most people that stay leave the next day thankful for a dry place to sleep and a warm meal. Even if the mattresses are lumpy and the meal is bland and tasteless. This night the meal is a potato and leek stew with a small amount bacon. It is actually fairly tasty. The party got lucky this night. The beer, however, is very flat. The tea is strong though. They do sell bottles of the local Red Wine for 2 golds a bottle. It is very sweet. They also sell jars of pickles for 5 silvers.
Day Twenty-Two
Stone wakes up not feeling too well.
During the night, Kelvin sleeps very lightly, as he is not sure that the Inn is the safest place to be. The next morning, when he see Stone, "you look ragged. Do you have spells that can help you and the others?"
As the group gathers around the breakfast table, "well, back north to visit the farms where families have gone missing, or continue on to Magnimar?"
My vote is to go look for those that have gone missing. I also second what Kelvin is saying, you look bad.
I think we can pause for one more day, to ensure that you are feeling well. Besides, I don't think the horses mind the rest.
Brandark grins at the others, but frowns slightly at the barkeep.
Our room is paid for another day, so another day would not be amiss
I would be glad to show you
Brandark heads out to the stables to show Stone how to properly care for a horse, using Abacus as an example.
So do you think either Kelvin or Elektra would mind if I taught their horses how to fight
Brandark inquires with stone.
"Ha, I would,n´t mind a guardian! It is a nice offer Brandark, and I gladly accept."
Brandark looks at Elektra who came after them, Just be aware, that it will take time for me to train them, but a Warhorse is not just a mount, and that they take time and effort to keep healthy
Stone sees great relief on the face of a mother and father, "Bless you priest. You saved my daughter from a fate worst than death. We are the 'Cornwells' and that was my daughter Marra. These are my sons Tamin and Jakin, my wife Filista and I am Davin. We are in your debt. How can we repay you?"
Later that morning a young buck was brought to the inn. It was dressing and placed on a spit. That evening the party has venison. It was tough and a bit gamey, but it filled the bellies.
Day Twenty-Three
Stone wakes up feeling well.
I am thinking that we go north, to look into these attacks by the undead, so families like this can return home.
Garrath looks grimly towards the north where the farms are. "We head to the families' farms, and we give them their homes back. We have played heroes as it suited us, when things fell in line. Now we do something that will earn us the title.
As the party heads back north you pass the spot where you fought Ghouls. You pause to look around, buy you see no further evidence of Ghouls in this area.
As you continue to head further North toward Sandpoint and the Soggy River, you are met by a familiar lone rider on Calene's horse. Orik looks at the party, "Thank goodness. I thought for sure I was going to end up in Magnimar. Sheriff Hemlock needs to see you. He sent me out to find you and hurry you back to Sandpoint."
What is the problem, can you tell us ?