Melisande casts Web (Purple areas on the map), covering all of the soldiers and two of the dogs, anchoring to the trees on either side of the path.
All of the dogs and soldiers caught in the webbing become stuck by the sticky strands!
If indeed spotting from above, Locke attaches a payload to an arrow, aiming at the nearest soldier shape in the webbings...
...Probably aim for the dog outside the webbing. Anyone more than 5 ft into the webbing will have total cover.
The loaded arrow arcs through the air, striking the dog and exploding; killing the creature instantly and setting the nearby webbing on fire! The soldier in the flaming web square steps out through the muck and looses an arrow towards Locke, the projectile striking the alchemist through the mists! The remaining enemies in the webbing struggle, but are unable to escape at this time.
Round 1:
Tetsudo
Round 2:
Melisande
Locke (-9)
Aryxis
Tereze
Kegan
Puppers
Soldiers (Green -14)
Tetsudo
Melisande's bolt of energy darts through the mists, causing the dog to yelp with pain as the magic damages it. Tetsudo double moves forwards, while Locke lets loose another arrow (sans bomb) at the archer; his attack striking the target for minor damage.
The enemies in the web are still rather stuck, and are unable to escape. The dog advances forward further through the muck as a double move, the animal splashing to a halt in front of Melisande that sends a spray of unpleasant murk around it as it growls at her! The soldier lets two arrows fly at Locke, another projectile striking the alchemist! Tetsudo then moves forward further again to catch up with the combat ahead of him.
Round 3:
Melisande
Locke (-11)
Aryxis
Tereze (-5)
Kegan
Puppers (-4)
Soldiers (Green -16)
Tetsudo
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Locke flies west, then shoots an arrow at the soldier.
The arrow flies wide in the mist, lodging itself in a nearby fallen log.
Aryxis double moves forward to continue to attempt engagement in the melee.
Finally having an opponent he can get to, Kegan slogs over to the dog and strikes at it with the side of his blade against the dog’s nose.
The dog's nose, along with the rest of its head, is severed clean off of its body with a yelp; the animal collapsing quite dead to the marshy ground beneath it.
Melisande will cast Magic Missile, targeting the green soldier.
Melisande's magical bolts perforate the soldier, the man collapsing on the ground dead afterwards!
The fire from Locke's bomb and the campfire continues to burn away at the webbing, freeing and damaging the remaining dogs and soldiers caught within. All three of them slosh out of the area, attempting to maneuver around to get better position in the combat.
Round 3:
Tetsudo
Round 4:
Locke (-6)
Aryxis
Tereze (-3)
Kegan
Melisande
Puppers (All -6)
Soldier (-6)
Tetsudo
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Finally having an opponent he can get to, Kegan slogs over to the dog and strikes at it with the side of his blade against the dog’s nose.The dog's nose, along with the rest of its head, is severed clean off of its body with a yelp; the animal collapsing quite dead to the marshy ground beneath it.
Kegan moves up the next dog, once again trying for a non-lethal blow.
Crit 15-20
6 is precision damage
Then Kegan calls out to the soldiers “Cowards! Call the dogs off and I would be inclined towards mercy.”
Locke fires an arrow at the pesky soldier, his projectile puncturing the man's armor solidly.
Aryxis advances forward and slashes a mighty wound upon the animal, causing it to collapse on the murky ground; leaving Kegan without an immediate target nearby.
Melisande's magical missiles slam into the remaining soldier, who collapses to the ground after being weakened by the alchemists arrow earlier!
The remaining dog advances bravely through the muck, its snapping jaws bouncing off the protective magic surrounding Aryxis.
Round 4:
Tetsudo
Round 5:
Locke (-1)
Aryxis
Tereze (-8)
Kegan
Melisande
Pupper (-6)
Tetsudo
Kegan's final strike knocks the last dog unconscious, leaving the group without immediate threats in their vicinity. The sounds of horns and the barking of a countless number of dogs can be heard far off in the distance, indicative that remaining here isn't necessarily safe.
Out of Initiative
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Tereze lets the divine energy go and rushes over to the group.
We did not come here to fight dogs and it sounds like zer are more on the way. We should head to ze Winery and see if zey can tell us what is going on.
As she says this she stablizes the soldiers and dogs that can be saved, but does not wake them up.
As the group advances into town, jeers and shouts begin to filter out from behind the shuttered windows of the buildings; with several townsfolk rearing back to begin throwing trash at the approaching Pathfinders...until...
Indeed, what is happening here. Everyone seems upset. Maybe we all just need a drink? Where's the nearest tavern, I'm buying.
Melisande's dulcet overtures seem to almost supernaturally flip the entire mood in the air. Approximately 40 villagers stream out to surround the group, with cheers going up at mention of free drinks.
A grizzled Andoran man separates from the throng to engage in more direct conversation with the group. "Ye came to Railford in not the greatest of times, friends. Name's Dalard Fritch. That 'army' out there," he says with a jerk of his head towards the mire mists that waft from the tree line, "is Becher's problem. He runs the distillery here, you see, and is what passes for a mayor in this town. They just showed up out of the blue three days ago, an' one of 'em had a right solid shouting match with Becher in the street! Said that he had three days to do somethin'," Dalard says with a frown. "Wasn't quite clear what he meant by that. Seemed to shake up Becher real good, though. He left with some men into the swamps two days ago, and hasn't been back since. Only one of his group, a sturdy fellow called Jessup, managed to make it back several hours ago." A very concerned look passes over the man's visage. "Came back real injured. Sick too. He's restin' in one of the houses right now."
Dalard leads the group into a nearby house, where a gaunt looking man lies fitfully in a bed while being tended by a local healer. Jessup appears feverish, and is gasping for breath slightly; while the healer appears to be attempting to treat him with the application of live leeches.
When questioned, Jessup will recount the following tale between his belabored breaths:
“Becher led us through the swamps down an old trail to what used to be the barrel-aging caves. Them caves where vinters would set the casks ta dry ‘em out an give ‘em good flavor. When we got there, the caves was all boarded up, so it took us a while ta get in. The place was flooded, barrels floating everywhere and it had a foul stink to it. We poked around a bit till Becher found the back office. Inside, there was this strongbox that he said had somethin' important. That’s when they came... these things rose out of the muck and started attacking. Dead folk with sharpened fangs. We tried to fight ‘em but they was too strong. They tore Padrik’s arm right off and started eating it... we tried to get out the way we came in. I made it out, but some of the creatures started following us, escaping. They blocked the entrance, trapping Becher and Walmont inside and after that the entrance collapsed on them. One of the creatures that followed me tried to grab me and took a bite out of my leg, so I ran. I ran as fast as I could. I don’t know what happened after that.”
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Locke steps past Kegan, at his question.
"I have a little bit of experience with tending to injuries the mundane way. Can i have a look?"
"It bit flesh from your leg, you say?"
Locke waits for the healer to take away the leeches.
"Well, this is particularly unpleasant.", Lock turns their head at the others.
"Living dead eating living flesh, leaving these teeth marks? This man has been bitten by a ghoul. He is suffering from ghoul fever."
Looking back at the feverish man with some pity..
"Sorry to say, but you need some expert treatment, or you will be dead sometime this night."
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Melisande comes forward and inspects the man's injuries and nods at Locke's words. I agree. Definitely looks like Ghoul Fever. I don't have any way to help you myself, unfortunately. Tereze, I think you are the most skilled in these things. Do you have a way to help? Or Locke, can you prepare an alchemical remedy to at least help him fend off the disease? She frowns at the thought of him becoming a ghoul in the midst of the village and pulls Delard aside. If we are unable to treat this, you will need to restrain him or he will likely infect others if he changes tonight.
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Towards Kegan's question..
"I do not have physical experience with ghoul fever treatment, short of reading medical literature about such cases. First aid, field applications, mostly."
Looks back over to the feverish man.
"It would require magical means of lifting the disease, safest way, or prolonged treatment, in hopes of his body rejecting it. But in his current condition, that is very unlikely."
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I have a bad feeling about this. We are likely going to need to fight these undead as well. Still, this person needs the help now...
With a slight hesitation, Kegan digs into his pouch and gets out an antiplague alchemical remedy which he offers to the man.
“Now that he has treated you, this should help as well.”
I just hope I haven’t given away my own means of salvation.
The healer gives off a miffed expression and leaves when the others intervene in his patient's treatment, but Jessup does not seem to mind at all; if anything to at least put a halt to the leeches. Locke's poultices and Kegan's generously offered antiplague seem to make a difference; the man relaxing slightly and breathing a little easier at the moment.
Dalard watches this with an inscrutable expression, worry still hovering around him like the cloying mists in the woods. "This is not good at all. Ghouls...lurking around Railford? We need to find Becher, fast. Without him here, the town will have no standing to continue to resist those military folk waitin' outside town for long." He turns his gaze to the group, a burgeoning request becoming readily evident. "Will you all possibly go find him? I know this place that Jessup spoke of...we can give you a simple map to lead you there. I don't know if anyone here will be willing to go out there...not with ghouls on the loose."
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We will go and attempt to fine Becher. Hopefully your map will suffice. She pulls Dalard aside. Please do keep in mind what I've said about Jessup. I'd hate to see him come to unnecessary harm, but if the medicines we've given him do not help fully, you need to take steps to protect the rest of the town. Watch him carefully and remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.
We will go and attempt to fine Becher. Hopefully your map will suffice.
Dalard seems glad of the groups inclination to assist, and provides Melisande said map after he excuses himself briefly to retrieve it from another house.
We need to be careful, this will be dangerous if the Ghouls infect more people.
When Dalard returns with the map, he also returns with additional supplies to give the group to assist with any ghouls they might encounter.
-Two very aged scrolls bound in twine. There is a tag hanging from the twine that states "Use for Deadly Illness," which if questioned why it was not used on Jessup Dalard will reply dryly: "The local doctor only knows 'herbal' lore. He doesn't dabble in the magicks. No priest will settle out here, too isolated." DC 18 Spellcraft or Read Magic will identify as remove disease scrolls.
-Three potion vials. One contains a violet-red bubbling liquid that smells like blood oranges, with a label that states "Use for Mild Injuries." Another contains a liquid that fades from yellow orange to green in two immiscible layers, while oddly smelling like pork. It has a tag that states "Use for Serious Injuries, shake well before use." The final vial contains a sky blue bubbling liquid that smells like ginger, labeled "Use for Immobility." Locke will easily identify (or anyone else with DC 17/17/18 Perception or Spellcraft) the potions as cure moderate wounds, cure serious wounds, and remove paralysis respectively.
Upon continuing through the muddy area down the path, Locke abruptly feels an odd pervasive stinging sensation on his leg. Looking down, he notices that he has six bloated leeches clinging there and biting away at his leg! Alerting the group, everyone quickly notices that there are leeches silently and painlessly clinging to everyone's appendages!