"I don't know, Volkar," says Kiera. "I grew up in the city." She watches the scarecrow suspiciously. "Probably scarier to people than to birds."
"This field does seem to have more than its fair share of those things." Andrezi comments off-handedly.
"What do you see, Volkar? Is this one of that farmer's nightmares or just a plain old scarecrow?"
Once Volkar points it out to the rest of the group, they too can see the scarecrow hangs from the crossbar with a limpness not associated with straw stuffed clothing.. nor is the wind blowing enough to take into account the lolling of the sackcloth making up the head of the figure!
"Wait... is that an actual body?"
"It's not a bag of straw," Volkar said as he pushed onward to the lolling cloth and sack.
Volkar moved quickly towards the base of the scarecrow and held his ax at the ready. He looked up at the thing and listened/
As Volkar moves closer, the.. thing.. on the stand whips its head up towards him and the growls and grunts of some bestial creature emanate from the "scarecrow". He can see that the clothes really are filled out by a humanoid creature, although the skin is covered and the sackcloth hood prevents identifying exactly what is dressed as the scarecrow!
It is bound to the stand with baling wire typically found on any farm, and it strains to hold the creature in place!
"Volkar! Fall back and shoot it from a distance."
Korghym shouts at his fellow dwarf, then sheathes the longhammer and draws his own bow.
Volkar stepped back a few paces and took a readied position with his ax. "What have we got here," he asked loudly at the moving creature trying to see if there was a way to remove the sack covering its head.
Korghym returns the arrow to its quiver and leans back on his right leg, watching Volkar. Looks like this one has something to prove.
"Give a shout if it pulls your beard too hard."
Kiera keeps back, waiting with bated breath.
As he heard Korghym's comment, he shifted his head slightly to where he could see the scarecrow and the newcomer. "Well, now cuz, that would be a whole different time of activity, wouldn't it."
He had a wry smile and winked at the dwarf with a bit of chuckle.
A slow blush comes over Kiera's nose and cheeks and her freckles stand out as she realizes what the dwarves are joking about.
"No, but really, is it a zombie? Or a person who's bound and gagged? Those growling noises don't sound like a person."
Kiera Videns
Volkar Glanral
Korghym
???
Watchmen
The team jokes around trying to relieve the tension while the thing still struggles on the post.
Suddenly, with a mighty pull, the thing manages to tear free of the baling wire securing it!! An unholy scream tears from the beast as it rips the bag off of its head, revealing a terrible sight! The skin is pulled tight against its pallid face and milky white eyes turn to Volkar burning with hate and hunger. Another scream rips from the creature as it throws itself towards the dwarf!
The thing lurches forward, teeth gnashing as it misses taking a bite from the tasty dwarf!
"Bold May Post"
???
Volkar
Kiera
Andrezi
Korghym
ROY G.
Volkar had only finished teasing Korghym when the sounds of terror emerged anew from the moving shape on the pole. The creature ripped itself from the pole, discarding the cover over its pale white face and charged at Volkar. The movements were swift and the dwarf pulled back in time to avoid the sharp biting clenches of the creature's mawl.
He turned and slashed at the thing trying to avoid it's saliva filled mouth and ever chomping teeth.
"Volkar, look out! It's a ghoul! Andrezi calls out before uttering a short prayer, blessing the party.
Volkar rears back and makes a panicked swipe at the creature but misses! Andrezi asks for Desna's blessings upon the party as the creature attacks!
"Bold May Post"
???
Volkar
Kiera
Andrezi
Korghym
ROY G.
Active effects:
Bless: +1 Attk, +1 vs fear
Kiera lets out a gagging sound and then points with one finger. A beam of translucent white light shoots out toward the monster.
Kiera sends a bolt of positive energy into the mix to strike at the undead! It slams square into the creatures chest, bringing forth another howl, this time of pain.
The guardsmen all look to each other in fright and concern.. none of their training covered anything near this situation! Unsure what to do with no command coming from the heroes, they draw their weapons and move hesitantly forward.
"Bold May Post"
Ghoul- 4 dmg
Volkar
Kiera
Andrezi
Korghym
ROY G.
Active effects:
Bless: +1 Attk, +1 vs fear
Korghym rushes past Volkar, exchanging weapons along the way. "The beast is all yours. Unless it's too much for you, of course."
Free Sheathe weapon (longbow)
Standard Movement
Free Draw weapon (longhammer)
Korghym moves to encircle the creature, while giving Volkar a chance to prove his worth!
The ghoul responds with another ear piercing scream as it darts forward with teeth bared and claws swinging!
The nimble alchemist avoids the teeth and one claw, but finds that he can't dodge 'em all as the second claw swipes in and catches Volkar under his armor.
"Bold May Post"
Ghoul- 4 dmg
Volkar- 4 dmg, DC 13 Fort save
Kiera
Andrezi
Korghym
ROY G.
Active effects:
Bless: +1 Attk, +1 vs fear
Kiera attempts to blast the undead monster again before it can paralyze them all!
"It bit me, the thing bit me," Volkar said as the creature bit him.
He slashed his ax at the thing.
Kiera blasts the ghoul once more with another ray of holy power. Despite the press of people between them, she still just manages to knick the creature.
Meanwhile, Volkar succumbs to the paralyzing poison of the ghoul! His muscles go slack as he loses the ability to swing his ax!
"Bold May Post"
Ghoul- 10 dmg
Volkar- 4 dmg, paralyzed x4 rnds
Kiera
Andrezi
Korghym
ROY G.
Active effects:
Bless: +1 Attk, +1 vs fear
"You owe me a tankard for this, Volkar." And some of that false pride.
Korghym rushes his swing a little too much, then shouts at the guards, "The first two, drag Volkar away from the battle. The back two, step in front of them to protect everybody else. But make the beast come to you, don't get too close!"
Move Activate guarded stance (+1 dodge for 4 rounds)
Free Enter rage (+4 Dex)
Andrezi steps forward and channels the divine power of his goddess in hopes of destroying the undead creature.
"arhg, wawazta, utha," Volkar tried to answer the newcomer to the party, but his mouth wasn't working right and any attempt to form words were just odd sounds.
Korghym starts calling orders to the watchmen to protect Volkar, while landing a solid blow on the creature with his longhammer.
Andrezi then channels the power of Desna, sending a wave of holy energy over the undead monstrosity. As the wave crashes over it, the tenacious grip tying the ghoul to its undeath is removed! It falls to the ground as if a puppet with cut strings!
The watchmen gather back to back around Volkar to protect him, and after a few moments, the dwarf begins to feel the paralysis slipping away and regains control of his body!
A couple seconds later, Korghym leans over with hands on hips, but his breathing recovers a few moments after that. "If that farmer was telling the truth about these things, what else do we need to worry about?"
The dwarf trades hammer for axe and chops a couple pieces off the ghoul, just to be sure, then begins searching the body and area for clues or valuable belongings.
"Thhhanks, Korghym" Volkar finally got out of his mouth something that resembled speech. He shook himself and looked about. "What creates such a creature here at a farm?"
"Well, our poor 'friend' Grayst was in the advanced stages of ghoul fever, whiiiich if I understand it," Kiera says with a glance to Andrezi for confirmation, "is contagious, from being wounded by a ghoul. So there's some ghoul on the loose infecting people. Maybe even the creature that tore apart those two poor souls at the sawmill?"
Korghym looks at the scratch Volkar just took. "Then there's no time to waste. We better cut off that limb before the disease spreads!"
"Now cousin, let's not get too hasty there," Volkar said with a bit of a wry look at Korghym. "But, I should ask, do I need to worry about this bite?"
The team tries to piece the puzzle together and Korghym walks around the vicinity searching for clues. He is able to find none.. it seems this creature has been tied to the post for a couple of days now.
Shaking their heads at the situation, the team decides that the only thing to it is to continue their path until they find some answers. Forsaking the right hand path and following the left "wall" of the tunnel, you soon find yourself at another crossroads, this time with two scarecrows in the distance!
"Well, now, do we want to assume that they are hostile, or ready ourselves and approach?" Volkar asked the group as he saw a pair of scarecrows in the distance. He put the ax in his hand and rested it on his shoulder "Maybe we can get the color guard here to lend us a spear, so we can see what we have from a distance?"
He looked at the area where he got the scratch from the last undead.
"Ghoul fever is typically transmitted from the bite, Volkar, you should be fine now that the paralyzation has passed." Andrezi says reassuring his friend.
Taking note of the pair of scarecrows, "I think it would be prudent to at least prod those things on the off chance that more ghouls or ghoul-fever infected individuals have been left here."
I knew I should have picked up a longspear... Andrezi thinks to himself, chastising himself for lack of preparation.
"So, isn't it tradition that the newest member gets to tap the scary thing on a pole," Volkar asked looking at Andrezi and Kiera. There was a slight grin on his face. "I mean, since I already had such a wonderful result with the last wriggling thing."
He shifted his ax and continued forward a bit further and focused his attention on the two scare crows.
The team looks on from afar at the two scarecrows, having learned their lesson the last time around. Volkar looks forward in trepidation, unwilling to be the first to approach this time. From this distance, the one on the left seems to be normal and moving with the light breeze that occasionally moves above the cornstalks, but the one on the right might be rolling its head back and forth as the last one did.
"Your clan must have some unusual traditions. In mine, veterans show the unbearded lads how things are done. But I'd be happy to teach."
Korghym lines up the guards, then draws his longhammer. He points to the right scarecrow and then tells the guard with the green scarf, "Hit it with a single arrow. If it's just a normal scarecrow, it won't mind. But the rest of you, be ready to pepper the thing if it reacts."
The green scarfed guard hefts his bow and steps forward for a clean shot at the scarecrow. He wets his thumb in his mouth and tests the wind and then squints down the lane judging the distance. He straightens back up, raises his bow and takes a moment to be sure his feet are placed right, then draws to the ear. Then remembers he needs an arrow. Easing his pull down, he sheepishly grabs an arrow and pulls it to his ear... before sending the arrow off through the field, impaling several ears of corn but no scarecrow.
Sheepishly, he grabs another arrow and repeats the process.. this time not even nailing an ear of corn.
"Give me that thing! You're all wrong. Turn your feet like this, and start exhaling right before you release the draw."
Korghym easily feathers an arrow into the target, then roughly shoves the bow back at its owner. Has anybody other than me actually fought a battle before?
The Scarecrow on the pole lets loose another ear splitting and heart stopping scream as the arrow thunks into its chest!
Suddenly, the scream is echoed back.. from down the trail behind you!! Turning, you see three full ghouls loping down the trail towards you!
Kiera Videns
Volkar Glanral
Korghym
The three ghouls rush down the lane, mouths slavering and claws reaching out towards your warm lifeblood. Reaching you, the first two hit hard, slamming into the party as they stand shocked in the middle of the pathway. The first two to reach the companions snap at you, gnashing their teeth! The first on manages to bite Kiera's shoulder, and blood flows freely as she feels some poison creeping into her veins. The one attacking Andrezi nearly goes into the dirt as the cleric deftly sidesteps the over eager attack.
"Bold May Post"
Ghouls
~Red
~Blue
~Green
~Yellow- Bound, 5 dmg
Kiera- 5 dmg, 2 DC 13 Fort saves
Volkar
ROY G
Andrezi
Korghym
Kiera lets out a shriek as the undead tear into her. She fights off the paralytic effects of the ghoul claws and struggles to cast a spell in retaliation.
An arc of blazing fire rips outward from her outstretched hands and into the three ghouls coming from behind!
(Ref DC 15 for half; green, red, and blue are all hit)
She steps back slightly into the grassy field, hoping that her friends - or at least the guards - will move to cut off the ghouls before they can tear into her again.
All three ghouls take the flames full in the face as Kiera launches a wave of fire outwards before stepping back!
"Bold May Post"
Ghouls
~Red- 8 dmg
~Blue- 8 dmg
~Green- 8 dmg
~Yellow- Bound, 5 dmg
Kiera- 5 dmg, 2 DC 13 Fort saves
Volkar
ROY G
Andrezi
Korghym
Volkar looked at Korghym and rolled his eyes after the trooper missed the shot. "So, they obviously need some more training, then right?"
When his fellow dwarf let loose with an expert shot, Volkar whistled and then cut it short when he heard the screech coming down the trail. Volkar shifted on the balls of his feet, shifted between the errant archers, and swung his ax at the nearest chomping fiend. But the movement only had his axswinging wide.
sorry was in Victoria BC for the weekend.
Volkar shoves through the press to cover Kiera's tactical distance making and tries to cut into one of the creatures. Unfortunately, the sudden movement tossed off his aim.
All of the watchmen go ahead and draw arrows and begin firing from behind the line of heroes before them. They may not have been given any orders, but even they can see this is going to be a difficult fight! They Green scarfed watchman continues to fire at the one on the pole!
All of the guardsmen except for the one wearing an orange scarf manages to get their arrows into their targets this time!
The blue cloaked ghoul drops with an arrow through its neck, while red suddenly sprouts an arrow in his chest but keeps moving.
The creature still on the pole struggles feebly as it sprouts more feathers from the grey goose!
"Bold May Post"
Ghouls
~Red- 12 dmg
~Green- 8 dmg
~Yellow- Bound, 10 dmg
Kiera- 5 dmg, 2 DC 13 Fort saves
Volkar
ROY G
Andrezi
Korghym