Ryan makes his voice into the combat inspiring Kikinnin.
As JJ releases his sword the hillman falls to the floor completely dead.
Kikinnin's axe is similarly precise but not as effective. His opponent gets staggered but not fully defeated.
Desperate, the hillmen jump into a final attack over the group.
The red one fails to open a hole in Kikinnin's armor, then falls to the floor unconscious.
The one in blue steps looking to open a space through the tunnel covered by Juraan.
The sword cuts in Juraan's right arm before he can dodge the attack.
Finally, the one in the back steps to combat Kikinnin and lands a blow on the dwarf's armor without any effect.
Round 2
After his words of encouragement for Kikinnin, Ryan reaches through to touch JJ's shoulder, "Abadar's blessings upon you."
cast guidance on JJ
Feeling the bite of the Hillman's sword, Juraan takes a 5 ft step back into the tunnel behind him and shoots an acid ray at the guard that just hit him (blue)
JJ steps up to stand over his latest victim. The ease with which the young man was starting to find killing was perhaps unsettling to those around him. And on one level he found it uneasy himself. Still, these had to put down.
]
Clutching his sword, Maxim moves up the corridor and into the room where the melee is in full swing
As he stands beside the sorcerer, the dwur grumbles;
"Hell's Teeth! Late to the god's damned party again..."
AC = 22
HP = /54
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Inspired Word, 2nd round
Kikinnin presses his attack on Yellow, hearing no words of surrender. "Do you think they develop some kind of brain rot, working alongside the Asmodean? They're willing to die in her service, after she's already dead. Kinda sad, if you ask me."
Ryan gives guidance to JJ's sword.
Juraan casts another acid ray, but this time the closed melee makes it for him very difficult and the ray hits the ceiling.
JJ spins stabbing one sword on the first man, then spinning again to stab the other sword on the second while Kikinnin cuts the man's head at the same moment Maxim enters the room mumbling.
5x Chainmail
5x masterwork large steel shield
5x masterwork longsword
5x potion of cure moderate wounds
5x red sash
Through the western tunnel you can see the entrance to another chamber.
Kikinnin helps as best he can with the weight of all the equipment that keeps piling up, as foes are knocked down left and right in these ruins.
He keeps a dull eye on the western tunnel, expecting the noise of the hillfolk to have alerted anything in the next chamber to their presence. He remembers Skaven's account, and frets a little that somewhere deeper in the complex, something undead wanders.
"We ready? Everyone's strength full enough to press on? This may turn out to be much like Drakthar's haunt, with grander caverns ahead. We press on here, or we return to the main hallway and check out those double doors. Matters little to me."
Kikinnin will let JJ take the more perceptive lead down the western tunnel, if the boy is so inclined.
"Well.. it may be those double doors are a dummy, a trap like the floor in that other room." says JJ. "But somehow I think not. I'd prefer to finish whatever is over here before we open up net another avenue of exploration."
He pockets (another) cure moderate wounds potion and then carefully peers into the tunnel the men were trying to flee into. After a moment he pauses and drinks one of the other potions he has had for a while.
Maxim frustratedly sheaths his blade, then nods in agreement;
"Aye. Skaven's journal mentioned the risen dead on more than one occasion. Best we be at full strength an' ready for anything..."
He flashes a grim smile at his companions;
"'Sides I still got most o' my magicks at hand... On account that I keep gettin' my line o' sight blocked by swordsmen an' scrappers!"
The gun-mage checks o'er his pistol, ammunition, then like JJ knocks back a healing potion;
:
Fully healed the dwur nods toward the deeper caverns;
"If the dead do wander... what's kept these Hillfolks alive? Perhaps their sashes at least offer 'em safe passage? Might be worth all donning one whilst we're down here?"
Shaking his head, Ryan chimes in while collecting one of the CMW potions for himself.
"Don't think so Maxim, the journal mentioned they couldn't get to their treasure they had stolen, because they had lost control of the guardians. Don't think the sashes will help against the undead, however, they may cause pause with any of the living guards still here."
Ryan moves to follow Kikinnin and JJ....
"At least I softened some of them up for your sword arms!"
Juraan then pulls out his wand of CLW and quickly patches himself up with it.
"That's better!"
"Lead on JJ!
Juraan will keep alert and follow the others.
He will be holding his bow with an arrow ready to fire quickly, if need be.
JJ gestures to the dead men, looted of their equipment.
"You going to say some words over them, and hope they don't join the devils legions?" he asks Ryan, before peering down the tunnel.
JJ goes tentatively ahead, not enjoying the memory of the last undead creature they group fought.
Shaking his head in response to JJ's question.
"Wrong kind of cleric, I said a prayer over Triel as that was not done in the heat of combat; these were given the chance to surrender and chose not to."
"Yer'd leave bodies for a necromancer to animate?" drawls JJ trying to explain the parallels that nobody else seems to see.
He pauses and says some brief words to an unknown deity, hoping that in death they might find some peace that eluded them in life. Then he returns to the front of the group.
"My blade, my prayers, I get it." he says shortly as his eyes peer into the gloomy cavern.
As soon as JJ steps into the room a symbol on the first tile starts glowing. The glyph explodes with a blast!
JJ dives for the ground as the rune starts to glow, and avoids the worst of the blast.
"Sorry..." he says eventually when his ears clear.
"I'll go slower and double check. I was thinking if they were fleeing here there wouldn't be a trap."
Ryan remains silent as JJ complains about the prayers, but nods as the young man comments on his return to the front. To each their own, in prayers for the fallen. Their souls have passed on, all that remains are their corporeal remains, I'll not waste a consecrate spell to hallow this ground; perhaps later we burn them beside the lake front, to clean this place <what the H!!!>
Inner thoughts distracting him from the task at hand, and the full brunt of the blast catches him. Ears ringing and feeling like a giant just rattled him around in his armor, Ryan sees JJ talking but doesn't have a clue what he's saying at first. Finally squinting at the young man and concentration allows him to read JJ's lips enough to understand. "No worries, logical mistake." he says smiling before drinking the potion he'd just picked up.
37/40hp
"H-holy moly, are you three okay!?" Marigold gasps. "Th-that was m-magic again..." she sighs. "We'll have to st-start being more c-careful, these traps are getting m-more and m-more dangerous the higher the stakes g-get."
"Not sure I'd even be able to spot one of them magical traps. Maybe Maxim might be better at the front, sniff out the magic.."
Juraan shakes his head, with his ears throbbing.
"Too right, Marigold. No shortage of traps `round here!"
"I wonder if that trap was set for anyone not wearing a red sash?"
Juraan can't heal himself quickly this time.
He feels like a gong is ringing inside his skull …
… and uses some colourful language until he heals himself up again.
Maxim claps JJ on the shoulder with a hard smile;
"Cleared out yer ears... No worries Surabar... Makes sense to have another pair o' eyes eh? Slow an' steady like..."
JJ and Maxim slowly advance through the room checking every tile. By when they reach the exit of the room, another glyph in the exit tunnel starts to glow and blasts the couple with an ear-ringing horrible sound once more!
Stealth DC 8
Following the blast, you do overhear the brush of heavy steps against the stone of the natural cavern, ahead of where the blast occurred.
Then, the sound becomes two large creatures that loom over JJ and Maxim with massive greatclubs.
Those large creatures are zombies. They retain little from their past life, and their skin is particularly difficult to cut (DR 5/slashing), and have undead traits making them difficult to affect with plenty of spells and effects. The original creature was likely an ogre. Their size makes them clumsy but have reach 10'.
His sensative ears once again assaulted by loud sounds JJ moans in agony for a moment.
"Lets step back and let them come to us..." be suggests, not wanting to fight two such massive creatures at the same time.
"TUH-riffic!"
Juraan then chants quickly chants:
« ערלעכקייט בויגן »
… casting a Gravity Bow bow spell
⋮
Juraan moves into the cavern and tries to get a clear shot at an unded without JJ or Maxim in the way (blue)
With the two large creatures coming to join the fray, Ryan racks his breain trying to place them.
"They're undead but beyond that I'm not sure"
Reading a quick spell Ryan takes aim at the lead creature.
:
As an arcane trap is once again sprung, Maxim manages to recognise the flaring sigil as it trips and covers his ears to mitigate the damage.
As the dull impact of lumbering footsteps approaching registers above the ringing in his ears, Maxim instinctively loads his pistol with powder and bullet afore warning the others;
As the putrid giants loom into view, the dwur swears loudly and shifts back to stand with JJ.
Maxim raises his pistol toward the nearest risen brute with a hard smile and evokes burning magicks through his firearm;
... and a burning ray of arcane flame blasts from his hand-gunne
:
:
JJ is surprised by the glyph but Maxim recognizes it and reacts just on time.
The young man steps back almost instinctively on hearing the massive unknown thing moving from the darkness ahead.
Maxim loads his gun on that same time.
Fearing danger Juraan casts a spell, his bow magically strengthening.
When the zombies approach enough to be bathed by JJ's ioun torch, most of the party quickly reacts to the appearance.
Juraan moves to the trapped room entrance and shots an arrow from his magically improved bow. The arrow is well placed, but the dead flesh of the monster is so thick it results deflected.
Maxim says an arcane word, his pistol infusing with flames, a jet of fire forming on the point of the gun producing a ray that blasts the creature with the red chainshirt. The dead flesh burns under the fire without problems.
Yet the giant creature emerges still 'alive' from the flames, placing a hand on the room exit wall, then helping himself to squeeze through the place into the next room.
At that point, JJ, who had been preparing himself for the event, launches an attack to one of the undead's legs. He stabs the pointy sword on the leg, very close to a vital point, but his pointy weapon results barely effective, there stabbed almost causing no harm to the creature.
The creature's response is to swing down its rotted greatclub over the young man's head.
The blow is terrible, the creature's strength completely unhuman, and JJ's skull crushes under that strength.
The other creature clumsily moves behind trying to push its companion.
Ryan sends forth a pulsing ray that impacts the undead reducing its energy level.
JJ staggers backwards, shaken by the force of the blow.
"Anyone got a longsword or an axe?"
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Alerted by the sound of trouble, Marigold hastily pushes her way up the corridor a bit in order to get a better vantage point of what's happening up ahead.
______________
"Eeewwww!" Marigold exclaims as she spots the two decaying creatures that loom large, even over JJ and Ryan.
"ಜೋಂಬಿಸ್! ಅವರು ಸೋಮಾರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಹಾರ್ಡ್ ತುಂಬಾ, ಸೋಮಾರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಲು ಆರ್!" she cries as it suddenly hits her just what they are. She hastily calls upon a blessing for them all, aware that they're likely in for a heck of a fight.
"Zombies! They're zombies and hard to cut zombies, too!"
______________
The halfling cries out in alarm as JJ takes a horrific blow from the lead ogre, but is thankful to see him have the sense to fall back after such a thing. Hoping to help soften it up for Kikinnin's axe, she calls upon her own inner flame to send a small ball of fire hurtling at the ogre!
AC = 22, 26 v Giant?
HP = /54
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin moves forward to intercept the first creature into the bottleneck. The hair on the back of his neck stands up, as he realizes what they face.
"Undead, made of ogre. Looks like the zombied kind. JJ's right. You'll need to gash 'em with blade cuts, if you're fixing to damage them properly."
Kikinnin takes his first swing.
Kikinnin takes his second swing.
JJ will strike once at the undead Ogre, and then step back.
He then steps back 5'.
Seeing how innefective his bow shot was against the undead creature, Juraan follows Ryan's lead:
« ჩაშლას არ მკვდარი »
… casting Disrupt Undead on the first undead ogre (red)
… and he then takes a 5 ft step back diagonally, to keep out of the reach of the undead thing
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As the other undead ogre squeezes forth crushing JJ as it goes, Maxim continues to remain calm.
Gritting his teeth he shifts backward , then arcs his pistol from one target to the next .
Drawing on his arcane energy once more he charges his primed hand-gunne with magic and fires;
:
:
:
Wary of the creatures reach, Maxim holds from reloading his pistol...
Surprise Round action - cast guidance on self
Round 1 move action - draw MWK dagger
Round 2
Realizing JJ's weapons weren't as effective this encounter as they had been in others Ryan calls out to the young swordsman "JJ here!" throwing his knife in the ground at JJ's feet.
"That should work a bit better."
The soft blue light spreads from the mangled remains of the side of JJ's face, pushing bone and skin back together. It can only do so much though, and that blow is going to leave a mark.
A ball of energy springs from Marigold's hand exploding between both ogre zombies!
Surprised by the burst they both are fully bathed in the flames!
Kikinnin approaches the ogres that answer with an opportunistic attack.
Used to combat large creatures the dwarf ducks away the blow, but he loses balance and his swings merely hit the armor of the undead beast.
JJ stabs his sword again with precision. He feels it should have damaged more the creature, but the dead flesh it's difficult to penetrate. The boy then moves away protected by Kikinnin's intervention.
Celestial light covers the boy healing his wounds partially.
Juraan find's out a spot not covered by allies and aims his ray at there. The ray consumes a bit more of the creature's energy.
Maxim steps back and protected by Kikinnin's intervention, freely shots his gun on the ogre's head!
Despite the bullet is not that effective to penetrate the zombie's flesh, the burst is so impressive it blows the ogre's head completely. The now motionless pile of flesh falls to the ground of the cavern.
Ryan throws his knife towards JJ.
The remaining ogre squeezes through the entrance of the room.
It then swings back at the dwarf with its massive greatclub!
The dwarf balances to the side and the blow lands on the ground where it opens a crevice breaking the natural cavern floor.
As the second undead ogre rumbles forward, Maxim once again invokes words of magical power;
"Schokkend Grijpen!"
:
AC = 22, 26 v Giant?
HP = /54
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
As Maxim takes the head off one of the undead ogres, Kikinnin waves his shield in the air. "Blast away, Bror! That was well done, don't let up!"
Kikinnin hoots, as the floor beneath him rumbles, as if from a quake. "That thing has some force to it! Mindless in its mission, but dangerous all the same."
The black-beard wants nothing but to end the chances that someone gets brained again, from such a mighty swing.
He fumbles the knife catch though. Adopting a defensive stance he tries to pick up the knife, then steps forward and slashes at the thing.
With his dagger on its way to better hands, Ryan turns his attention to the remaining undead. Hoping to disrupt it hold on this plane.
Not wanting to risk another ball of fire with Kikinnin and the others up so close, Marigold instead draws out her crossbow and takes aim...
« צעשטערן ניט-טויט »
Juraan uses Disrupt Undead to try affecting the new undead ogre this time:
While the ogre zombie enters the cavern, Kikinnin strikes at its right leg cutting through the dead flesh and breaking the bone.
Maxim focuses on avoiding the ogre while he effectively casts shocking grasp and holds the charge.
Kikinnin loses balance and his axe swing ends in the air.
JJ fails to catch the small knife in the air, but kneels to pick it up from the floor, then steps to the front attacking at the ogre and chipping successfully through the dead flesh.
Ryan finds a spot in the melee and absorbs even more energy from the ogre with a disrupt ray.
Marigold shots her crossbow, but the bolt entangles with his companions and eventually fails to reach the ogre zombie.
Juraan has similar problems to find a spot between the many allies fighting the ogre, and his ray lands on the ceiling.
The ogre mindlessly attacks by swinging his greatclub at the dwarf that just broke his leg.
The hit is terrible, almost blowing Kikinnin's head, but the dwarven armor deflects enough of the crushing strike to save his life.
As his fellow dwur is bludgeoned by the undead giant, Maxim growls in anger and shifts forward , grabbing at the monster with a fist full of voltage ;
"Gods be damned! Fall ye rotten basterd!"
:
:
AC = 22, 26 v Giant
HP = 30/54
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless
Kikinnin blinks his eyes a couple of times, trying to get rid of the double vision. He pulls from power, healing himself a little, restoring his sight to functional levels.
"Can't take too much more of this. One of his hits is three of mine. That's bad trade."
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Maxim steps to the front touching the ogre zombie on the open bowels. A crackling shock discharges bursting back the creature.
Kikinnin profits the moment to complete his work chopping the right dead leg. Some of his wounds disappear by the grace of his god.
The ogre zombie is destroyed!
2x large rusted chainshirt
2x greatclub
2x javelin
With the way cleared, it becomes an easy task to check next area of the cavern.
The stink in the cavern is overwhelming. Sticky pools of congealed fluid lie in depressions in the floor, having drained from several rotting giant spider carcasses that have been pushed up against the northwest wall.