Round 4 - recap
Tybek maneuvers around behind the last zombie which continues to flap around on the ground. He launches two quick strikes with his axes and as usual the apparently defective battleaxe misses the mark, but the secondary handaxe nearly cleaves through the zombie. If Tybek's blow did not kill the non-living, Braden's faithful Dworkin ripping off its head with a vicious bite undoubtedly did.
As the last blows fall, suddenly the basement of the moathouse is once again a dank musty basement.
As you look at the destroyed and slowly rotting corpses, you notice that one of them is wearing a ripped and torn uniform which looks much like those you recall seeing worn by the Taldan Horse in Yanmass.
"Well they were a jolly bunch! What dae think they were dae'in doon here? Ahh doot they hae any treasure. They wore nothin but filthy rags!"
With the help of his familiar, Braden points out, "Their uniforms, we found the missing riders. Hope their animals aren't zombified. We need to report this now!"
Or do we find out what created the zombies and try to put an end to it now? I have most of my magic left and I can use the wands to heal our wounds, what do you think?
If we decide to push onwards:
"Yes, that one was from the Taldan Horse. But since we're down here, I'm sure they would appreciate if we could find out who did this and how - surely they would like a complete report, right, Braden?" Maegge asks his elder, more-educated 'cousin'. "Besides, maybe we can catch whoever did this without them knowing we're here yet if we keep going now."
"They must be guarding something big and rich, Tybek! Whoever did this must have lots and lots of expensive spell materials, according to the druids back in Wispil when they were teaching me. The magic it takes to raise this many zombies isn't easy or cheap!" Maegge deliberately pitched his observation to the wealth-loving dwarf (and the easy-life-loving cleric), sure that it would keep them on the path to restoring the balance of Nature that creating undead disturbs.
"Their uniforms, we found the missing riders. Hope their animals aren't zombified. We need to report this now!"
"Report, report, report! Is that all yae ever think aboot! Aye, look o'er there, a moose on the loose! Quick! Let's gae back and report it tae the elders! Come on, yae wee wizard, let's at least look around a wee bit. Dannae tell me that yae're only reportin sae yae can get anither hot meal at the Wench?!"
"Or do we find out what created the zombies and try to put an end to it now? I have most of my magic left and I can use the wands to heal our wounds, what do you think?"
"Ahh think, whether we leave er stay, yae better heal up mae wounds and stop tryin tae encourage mair resting. Aye let's see where those zombies came frae. Now get that wand oot here and start puttin it tae use!"
"They must be guarding something big and rich, Tybek!"
"Aye! Noo, yer talkin, mae wee friend! We could use somethin tae mak us rich! What's the point o' danger, if yae dannae get danger pay?!"
CLW Wand 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Ty
Once Arindale heals up Tybek's wounds, the rogue slips down the hallway as stealthy as possible. He moves to N9 and peers out from behind the pillar to see what lies ahead.
Having decided to continue its exploration into the dungeon, the stealthy dwarf heads toward the wide passage leading to the south. Although Tybek seems to think that he is the quietest dwarf in town, which is possible since you have not seen any others after Glorfin returned to his mountains, the rest of the party could swear that each of the dwarf's footsteps rings out like a beaver slapping its tail on the water.
Tybek sees that the right side of the passage appears to have a number of doors. Unlike the other doors in the basement, these are old and rotted with some barely hanging from their hinges while at least one has fallen and is now nothing but rotting wood on the floor.
However, before Tybek is able to move down the passage, he hears a low guttural growl from the room beyond the first rotten door. At the same time, out of the corner of his eye, he sees another zombie suddenly appear from behind the first pillar while a second moves toward him from behind the second pillar.
The first Zombie swings at Tybek with its filthy claws, but the dwarf's armor manages to easily deflect the blow.
Zombie@Tybek:
Arindale:
Braden:
Maegge:
Ranim:
Tybek:
Zombies:
Round 1
Arindale
Tybek
Ranim
Zombies
Maegge
Braden
Round 1
"Crivenns! Wid yae all stop lollygaggin and help me oot! Ahh found some mair beasties tryin tae sneak up on us!! Gud thing they didnae fool me!"
Tybek drives his axes into the zombie at J10.
"Ahh think this beastie just lost his head!"
Arindale rushes over to J,8 and attacks the other zombie.
But misses badly. There does seem to be a lot of these things down here.
Before continuing: "We can continue, but my remaining magic is of little use against the mindless. When we get back to town I will take some of the loot off the top to buy the materials to make some scrolls."
After Ty starts mixing up with the zombies, "Can't you see or hear them? Are these undead capable of sneaking up on you?"
"We can continue, but my remaining magic is of little use against the mindless. When we get back to town I will take some of the loot off the top to buy the materials to make some scrolls."
"Will yae stop bletherin and help us fight these beasties?! If yae cannae stop talkin can yae at least summon anither pet tae fight fer yae?"
"Can't you see or hear them? Are these undead capable of sneaking up on you?"
"Cannae yae nae see that Ahh'm a little busy fightin at the moment?! Lemmae just say that Ahh cannae hear them when yae're askin a boot load o questions! Mae ears can only tak in sae much! Noo stop pettin yer dug and come and fight wid us! Or at least cast a spell on them!"
Stop arguing, you two are throwing off my aim! How about a nice tune Ranim? Always makes me feel better...
Tybek continues his sarcastic tirade as he fights on.
"Dear Cayden, or any other deity oot there listenin tae this that hasnae plugged their ears! Help us oot! We need a musical ensemble tae help us fight because it's just tae damn quiet fightin otherwise! We need something tae lift oor spirits when we're doon and something tae help us aim oor weapons when we suck at it! Ach! What the hells, yae better make it a whole damn oorchestra!"
Round 1
HP 17/17
AC 15 T11 FF13 CMD15
F/R/W 1/4/2
Bardic Music 5/10
Elemental Assault 1/1
Spells
1st - 3/3
Effects
Inspire Courage
Ranim hears the others plea, and begins to sing, a song of Herme the Headless, a little tune of a soldier cursed to figuratively lose his head in battle, until he finally loses his head in a more literal fashion.
Braden fires his crossbow wildly. Then he magically moves to his dog's back and rides Dworkin into combat, charging the zombie next to Ty still up.
It is obvious Braden was a far better rider than fighter. His dog bites deeply.
Round 1
Quickly responding to Tybek's girlish squeal upon suddenly discovering several zombies hiding behind the posts. (Or perhaps it was his inability to notice an awkward dead guy standing behind a post.)
Tybek strikes out quickly at one zombie. Missing badly with his trusty handaxe, but managing to land a solid below with his favorite battleaxe. A solid blow which launches the zombie's head across the room as the zombie collapses into a pile of rotting flesh.
Arindale quickly responds and charges to Tybek's aid. Unfortunately he slips on the earthen ground and his swing sailed harmlessly past the zombie's head. A moment later Ranim moves up behind him where she begins to hum a tune about faeries gaily dancing in a hauntingly beautiful sylvan setting. Once again, none of you can comprehend where she comes up with theses songs, nonetheless the beautiful sound raises you morale.
As the big members of the group take the short path to attack the walking dead, Braden attacks from afar. He manages to load the crossbow and fire the arrow which you hear strike the stairwell behind everyone due to accidentally firing the weapon before aiming. He does manage to avoid getting the weapon caught in Dworkin's tail, but just barely. After failing to destroy anything except a small spider hiding in a shadowy area near the roof, Braden directs his faithful hound around the post in the room. Dworkin quickly latches his jaws around the zombie's leg and then with a jerk of his jaw, simply ripped the leg off.
Bringing up the rear, Maegge and Gimpy follow along from behind waiting for a zombie to move to where he can strike.
_______________
After the first two zombies quickly fall, two more step out from the first room with both attacking Arindale.
Zombie 1 @ Arindale:
Damage:
Zombie 2 @ Arindale: <-- partial cover, attacking around corner
Damage:
Fortunately for the recovering alcoholic priest, both zombies miss their mark.
______________
Round 2
Round 2
HP 17/17
AC 15 T11 FF13 CMD15
F/R/W 1/4/2
Bardic Music 5/10
Elemental Assault 1/1
Spells
1st - 3/3
Effects
Inspire Courage
Continuing her song with lingering magic within it's words, she dances about for a clear shot and unleashes her whip against the nearest of the creatures.
Round 2
Tybek attacks the zombie at K8 with both axes swinging.
"Time tae die, yae half deid beastie!"
Now that the zombies are attacking Arindale, he decides to keep his shield up with his weapon being of limited effect. He moves around to the other side to give Ty the backs of the creatures.
Technically Round 1, but 2 works
Maegge tries to emulate his elder's ease of mounting his dog by hopping up on Gimpy, but unfortunately all the jostling of fighting more zombies disrupts his attempt and he has to clamber up in a most embarrassing, awkward fashion.
"C'mon, Gimpy, let's help out Arin again!"
Braden stays mounted and rides his dog around the fight to flank with Aarindale from the rear (L8). Braden's dog lashes out again with his teeth.
Braden stays in the saddle, not wanting to fire a crossbow and embarrass himself further.
He tries to cast a acid spray at the same zombie before the dog closes.
_______________
Round 2
The party continues its assault on the rotten inhabitants of the dungeon. Arindale casually wanders past the undead as they swing their filthy claws at him.
AoO@Arindale:
Damage:
AoO@Arindale:
Damage:
Both the zombies launch vicious attacks at the cleric, but by staying in a low crouch as he moves, Arindale manages to deflect both blows using his morningstar to slide one aside while maneuvering his shield to stop the other.
After Arindale slides past him, Tybek launches two quick strikes with his axes landing both with sickening thuds and causing the now limbless zombie to collapse to the ground.
Suddenly realizing that her rather strange song may not be appropriate for the delicate ears of the zombies, Ranim stops singing and instead moves around the pillar to a point from which she is able to lash out with her whip which strikes the remaining zombie ripping a sizable chunk from its side despite only making a glancing blow.
Braden, apparently deciding that his nemesis the crossbow is not going to outwit him this time, changes tactics and launches a small ball of acid at the zombie. Unfortunately, the acid goes flying past the zombie and strikes the wall behind him with a hiss. Braden's faithful dog on the other hand is much more successful and lands a nasty bite which almost takes off the zombie's leg. The zombie is still standing, but it appears that it does not have much left.
As the rest of the party attacks, Maegge spends some time practicing circus acts, or at least that is what his initial attempt to mount his faithful steed appeared to be. He than climbs onto Gimpy with little dignity left. At least the dwarf did not see me. Is going through his head over and over as he settles atop the stag.
Once the party has swung their weapons, the one remaining zombie swings its claws at the small dog riding halfling.
Zombie-1@Braden: **HIT**
Damage:
Unlike the heavily armored priest, the halfling wizard is not able to evade the blow and receives a nasty gouge in his shoulder.
A moment later, more groans are heard to the south as four more zombies appear. Two from each of the small rooms. These move toward the party, but their awkward movements do not allow them to get close enough to land any blows.
Two of the zombies look very similar to the bandits you killed upstairs.
____________
Round 3
Arindale
Tybek
Ranim
Maegge
Braden
Zombies
Round 3
HP 17/17
AC 15 T11 FF13 CMD15
F/R/W 1/4/2
Bardic Music 5/10
Elemental Assault 1/1
Spells
1st - 3/3
Effects
Inspire Courage
"Arindale, Tybek, hold a moment." Ranim twirls about stepping away then into the zombies, her whip having changed hands and her longsword coming free as she moves about, the blade swinging forth as she moves at the zombie now standing before her. "Arindale, if you would so kindly let Tybek take that spot!"
Round 2
Tybek moves to L8 (provided Arindale leaves it open) and continues his axe attacks against the zombies.
"Zombie, zombie, time tae destroy the zombie!"
Arindale will shift 5' to L9 so Ty can get the flank. He then attacks either the zombie in M8 or M9.
Die Zombie Dog!
Braden starts giving orders. For some reason the bard seems to be left out of the list, maybe Braden trusts her to do the right thing without being told.
"Ty, flank the zombies so you can use your dwarven dirty fighting tricks. Maegge, take out this zombie with Gimpy next to us. Aari, do that good cleric thing."
If Dworkin is moving around the fray, Braden loads then releases a crossbow bolt from dogback before the dog closes (target N9).
Braden has a nephew in the wolf patrol. He is obviously trying to show he still has it.
Die Zombie Dog!
"Ty, flank the zombies so you can use your dwarven dirty fighting tricks."
"Dannae tell me what tae dae! Just because Ahhm a dwarf and a wee bit o' a rogue daesnae mean that Ahh fight dirty. What Ahh dae is called precision fightin! It involves stabbin the bastard in places where it does extra damage! Noo dannae forget what its called!"
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Round 3
"Let's get 'em, Gimpy!" battle-cried Maegge, urging his noble steed into the quickly-thinning fray. Well, more 'around', really, as he skirted behind Tybek and Arin before swinging around/behind Ranim to 'just happen' to end up in (10,M) just in time to try and slice one of the undead.
Round 3 - recap
Unsure of exactly how many zombies they are facing, the party continues to battle the undead menaces. First the beautiful bard attempts to avoid the claws of the undead to get behind the formerly living. Unfortunately one does get to swing at her as she moves.
AoO@Ranim:
Damage:
Unfortunately for the zombie, it slipped on part of its own entrails throwing of its aim. Once behind the zombie, Ranim lashes out with a wicked slice nearly cutting the menace apart. Amazingly, the creature seems to not even notice the wound and continues to fight. This fight is however short lived as the malt filled priest lashes out with his heavy morningstar. While the weapon seems to almost bounce off the rubbery flesh of the zombies, a series of crunches are heard and a moment later the creature falls to the ground unmoving as its bones crumble to dust.
Seeing the big cleric take down his opponent, the diminutive wizard again guides his faithful dog into the fray again while he launches a bolt across the room. While Dworkin is unable come close to getting his teeth into the zombie before him, which may have more to do with the fact that rotting human flesh is not one of Dworkin's favorite meals, Braden's bolt does find its mark. However, the zombie glances down at it unfazed, as though confused as to why a piece of wood is now sticking out of its chest.
Finally, the small druid guides his noble stag around the fray, reentering the battle from the other side where the druid slashes across the zombie with Braden's bolt sticking from its chest as Gimpy lowers his antlers and simply eviscerates the zombie.
_____________
Just as the party is feeling that it has gained the upper hand, suddenly two more zombie appear out from the second to last door on the left, and a second later a small figure astride a wolf appears from the last doorway.
The small figure astride the wolf appears very similar to your missing nephew, albeit a little deader than you remember.
All of these creatures quickly move up and attack the group surrounding Ranim.
Attack-Zombie-4 @ Tybek: **HIT**
Damage:
Attack-Zombie-5 @ Arindale:
Damage:
Attack-Zombie-8 @ Ranim: **HIT**
Damage:
Attack-Zombie-9 @ Ranim:
Damage:
Attack-Halfling Zombie @ Ranim: **HIT**
Damage:
Attack-Wolf Zombie @ Ranim: **HIT**
Damage:
Trip-Wolf Zombie @ Ranim: **Trip**
Attack-Zombie-4 @ Tybek: **Confirm**
Damage:
Attack-Wolf Zombie @ Ranim:
Damage:
The newly arrived undead quickly enter the fray landing many serious blows on the musical bard tripping her and leaving her bleeding on the ground. At the same time, the zombie facing Tybek manages to get inside his defenses causing blood to burst from dwarf's sturdy frame.
_____________
Round 4
Tybek takes advantage of the flank and attacks the zombie at M8 (Primary Hand) and M9 (Secondary Hand) to deliver some precision damage.
"This shood teach yae tae mess with this Odeon!"
"It aboot time yae learned the lesson!"
Round 4
"Oh, no! Ranim!" cried out Maegge in dismay, before looking at her attacker.
"You'll pay for that, undead fiend!" he shouted, swinging his smaller blade at the foul, tainted remains of one of his own people.
"Get him, Gimpy!" he commanded, pointing out the zombie-halfling.
Braden is horrified as he gazes at the mounted pair. "Not Falco and Wolfie!!"
Braden realizes his crossbow is now ineffective and concentrates on protecting himself. He rides Dworkin to Ranim's aid.
Braden shouts at Ty: "If this blasted push to get more gold without recovering my magic leads to Ranim's death, we will have words."
Braden shouts at Ty: "If this blasted push to get more gold without recovering my magic leads to Ranim's death, we will have words."
"Hey! Dannae blame me if there is an army o' zombies doon here! Ahh didnae invite them! Just dae all yae can tae protect the lass and we'll get oot ah here as soon as we're able. These beasties are nasty creatures and Ahh'm aimin tae tak doon a bunch before we depart!"
___________
Ranim - you have an action and then I will try to get the recap done later tonight, might not get to it until tomorrow as I am running all over the place today. Right now I am sitting in my car waiting for a meeting and using my phone to tether my computer. Take that AT&T.
Seeing Ranim hurt.
"Step back and heal Ranim."
Round 4
HP 9/17
AC 15 T11 FF13 CMD15
F/R/W 1/4/2
Bardic Music 5/10
Elemental Assault 1/1
Spells
1st - 2/3
Effects
Inspire Courage
Ranim, hurt from the zombies strikes, takes a moment to utter a song of healing, letting the music flow through her before she attempts to roll away from the foes.
Arindale's Round 4 action:
Arindale begins a spell that will make him much more powerful...
Round 3 - recap
Seeing the bard fall to the ground, Tybek redoubles his effort and with a wicked double slice of his axes manages to decapitate one zombie and slice off the leg of another causing to both fall silently to the ground.
At the same time, the halfling druid feels renewed energy seeing one of his own as a walking, or in this case riding, dead. Maegge whips his sickle across the zombie's chest while Gimpy does the same slashing his antlers through the zombie severing the dead halfling from shoulder to hip.
Quickly thereafter, Braden arrives with Dworkin. While Braden bravely cowers away from the zombies, Dworkin sinks his fangs once again into the rotten leg of one of the formerly living. Tonight I leave my master a present in his sleeping roll thinks Dworkin.
While the others slowly maim the remaining zombies, Arindale begins to speak words which ring of a bad drinking song. As he does, he slowly begins to expand and grow.
___________
Despite their substantial losses, the zombies continue to attack.
Zombie-wolf-bite@Gimpy:
Damage:
Trip@Gimpy:
Zombie-wolf-slam@Gimpy
Damage:
Zombie 8@Braden:
Damage:
Zombie 8@Braden:
Damage:
Zombie 9@Dworkin: **HIT**
Damage:
Zombie 9@Dworkin:
Damage:
The zombies renew their assault, but unlike the last round, this time most miss with only one managing to get its claws to rip into Dworkin.
Round 4
Arindale
Tybek
Ranim
Maegge
Braden
Zombies
Round 4
Tybek moves across to P9 and gives the zombie (O10) a double axe surprise!
"Chop Chop Chop! That's what mae axes tell me tae dae!"
Arindale, now 12 feet tall, drops his shield, takes his morningstar in two hands and attempts to pound the new Zombie halfing into dust...
potential crit!
He crushes the zombie halfling's skull into dust, the blow carries straight through to it's body! Cayden has indeed blessed me today!
"Holy Cailean! Whit did yae put in yer ale, Priest?! That's the way tae crush the beaties!"
The divine power of Cayden himself flows through my veins now Ty! his big voice booms...