Harlynn, already sucking wind, says breathlessly I still have a couple tricks up my sleeve. Don't count me out yet.
Joining Narnel at the inn, Seneca begins searching frenetically for the survivors. He takes a quick moment to cast enhanced diplomacy. "If you can hear us, we're here to get you out of here. Please hurry, we'll keep you safe, but don't have much time."
Pluchak seeing the line of mud covering their retreat begins to step lively toward the inn. Archers and speedy undead meant they were much better off with some walls around them. While part of him was thinking of escape, the rest of him was excited to have begun the destruction of their enemy. There would be much blood spilled before this night was through.
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Aidans words of power make a section of the road shake and twist. The effect is yet to be seen But buying time is a sound plan. The building that holds the archer squeaks and groans as the corner support begins to give way. Thurzhan keeps pace with Aidan, waiting for his chance to join the fray.
Pluchaks blood boils with adrenalin. He moves quickly towards the inn.
From in the building with the archer, there comes a sickening shriek. The bird if not dead will be soon.
Meanwhile, Narnal runs into the inn. Same set up as before. A large main room with a large fireplace opposite the door opening and doors to either side of going to different places. He sees no sign of survivors. Why is nothing ever easy?
Narnel moves through one of the two doors, the one that smells more like burning firewood, if I can discern the scent more at one than the other.
Seneca, I will look behind this door, you take the other. Yell out if you see something!
Perception:
True to her gestures, Elinor withdraws to stand between Pluchak and the ghoul (keeping her song going) - the square north east of Pluchak would be ideal. (Anything coming for her will therefore need to run a gauntlet of big smashy-ness).
If she can grab hold of Harlynn's arm and drag him along to keep him safe, so much the better.
I'm safe (or, as safe as any of us) and I'm pretty sure Harlynn is two or three moves closer to the inn than he was.
Taedric directs Trumps to stay close to Elinor, keeping his weapon ready to strike anything that comes close enough.
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Narnel has just made it through the main door. The elf sees nothing of note through either of the doorways. It is still and black.
Elinor races forward and Harlynn is right on her heels. Taedric watches for danger as he tries to keep the group tight.
The Eagle keeps his offensive after the archer going. The archer screams again.
Abbas yells his challenge at the ghoul. It narrows its eyes and glares at the big man.
Seneca bursts through the doorway after Narnel, and there is just a moment for them to say or gesture to each other.
Bryndyn ever vigilant makes sure no one is being stranded, or hit too hard and when it is clear that they are not he continues his forward motion. He stand shoulder to shoulder with Abbas.
The dead continue to try to race forward, though Aidan has certainly limited that option for all but two of them! The others are stuck fast, or cannot advance. One of these dead runners reaches Thurzhan, and attacks him, while another closes a great distance toward Aidan. Thurzhans attack causes him no harm.
The ghouls from behind follow the runners, but these things are no dumb creatures, but filled with a wicked cunning see Aidan's trap and begin moving through the alleys towards you.
Meanwhile, the creature that Abbas challenged flashes him a wicked smile and comes to the attack! Though it is inn and Seneca that are it's targets! Luckily its wickedness does not indicate skill and the priest is unscathed by the rush.
Tkurzhan silently and methodically rips the creature to tatters like so much wool and cloth, dry flesh like ribbons billowing about him.
The cat takes a small leap, more a shuffle than a fully formed pounce, to his left to try and intercept the other creature. Aidan, panting, presses his staff into the soggy ground and offers a quick prayer to the spirits of the air for speed, desperately needed. He uses their gift to rejoin the others, his brother guarding his back.
They'll be using the alleyways to go around, he calls to Taedric, be ready to run them down and we can limit their advantage of numbers before they can bring it to bear!
Elinor is singing, although I'll need to count back to find out how many rounds she's got. However, I can't remember if it's language dependent as if it is I don't think Tzurkhan gets the benefit (although I think the eagle would as it's infernal and has a higher int).
Did the ghoul get within Pluchak's reach on its way to Seneca?
Narnel motions Seneca to follow him. He strikes a Sunrod and hands it to Seneca as he draws his bow.
Come, let's investigate down these hallways with some light, shall we? We need to find that basement.
Pereception:
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Aidans move is flawless, as is his brother. The former should be happy to have avoided the scene caused by the latter as the thing that was a man explodes into sick grey and yellow spray. No blood, but the fluid smells of pus and rot. The sabre tooth must be full of revision.
Pluchak moves forward and almost before Seneca recognizes that he has been attacked, this green giant cleaves the ghouls spine in half at the base. It falls backwards, folding as it falls.
Somewhere in the dark there is a noise that makes all who hear it realize that the eagle is no more. Which means that archer could be anywhere and could be doing anything.
Narnel lights a sun rod and looks into the space to his left. A small room, with a series of small boxes on the right wall. These stand open for the most part. They appear to be boxes for holding valuables from the guests that lodged here in former days. To the left is a staircase leading up. As it reaches toward the next floor it turns to the right and anything past that point is lost from sight.
Elinor will continue her battle song and move 3 squares SE to stand at the end of the alley, then ready an action to stab anything undead-looking that gets within arm's reach. Any attack I make will use combat expertise. She'll flash a grin at Aidan as she passes him and try to wave Harlynn forwards in an encouraging fashion (as encouraging as you can be when your hand is full of sword and you're armour is badly dented from a bad case of zombie-fist).
Narnel yells up the stairs before turning away,
Anyone up there - we have come to save you!
Perception:
It occurs to me that as an Ulfen, I'd probably get a +10 circumstance bonus on "locating the beer cellar". I'll whisper some hints to Narnel via the message spell.
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It occurs to me that as an Ulfen, I'd probably get a +10 circumstance bonus on "locating the beer cellar". I'll whisper some hints to Narnel via the message spell.
Moving quickly Narnel yells up the stairs and then without waiting for a reply tries the other door. A kitchen. In terrible disarray.
Elinor moves to protect the party as they move. Woe to the deader that tries top cross her!
Harlynn continues to run in order to catch up with the group. The poor wizard is fighting the craps brought about from the lactic acid build up in his legs as this is the most exercise he has ever done. And just for the hell of it...
con check
Taedric takes up a position beside Pluchak, hammer in hand and ready to run down the beasts as they approach.
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Harlynn continues to move with haste and finds himself at the door to the inn. Taedric is thinking more of strategy and pulls close to Pluchak. If only the things on the map were all there was to fear. The night is alive with unholy noises. Who can say how long it will be until you are further hedged in. And it is this eventuality that has Abbas waiting until the things come closer.
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Seneca moves confidently into the kitchen. A rear door, latched and cooking implements thrown about as if a tornado had happened here. Mercifully it was far enough ago that the rotting food had ceased to have much of an odor at all. The room has a second large fireplace (apart form the one whose chimney it share by the main room), and there sits in it a large cauldron. His focus is on the door to the right though. It leads to a space corresponding to the stairs going up, this must be the way down. His face falls as he pulls the door open and finds that instead of stairs going down, there is a floor littered with debris, burlap, and a fire poker, and composted rotten vegetables and other less identifiable things. All of these in a triangular room that is indeed framed by the shape of stair treads going up on the other side of the wall. Hanging from these treads are nets that hold the dessicated putrefied remains of vegetables, onions? turnips? Who could say?
Anyway, this is not a way down, just a letdown.
The free zombie rushes Thurzhan but does its fierce blow does not hit him. The other zombies seem stuck in the mess that Aidan created. Precious seconds gained, but this boon could end at any time! The last ghoul thing in sight has snaked back out to the main road and is crawling in its horrible way toward Elinor, its long tongue moving from ear to ear.
A dull thunk issues from where Aidan plants his staff in the muck.
All things must come to an end, he says calmly as he draws his sling.
That is a law of nature, he adds coldly, eyes fixed on the ghoulish abomination.
Tkurzhan has no words, no petty promises to offer-
Only true death.
Pluchak steps toward Abbas and readies an attack against anything that comes near. It felt good to have sliced that undead creature that went for the Inn, and he knew there would be much more of that before they went down fighting. He knew this whole trip was a bad idea, but it was hard to convince himself of this when his blood was rushing so fiercely.
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Abbas moves to do what he can to buy time. His heart hopes that all is well in the inn. Bryndyn hears his instruction and considers the dead for a moment, but no longer, and then with a flick of tongue and tail he is off to help those in the inn. Where are you? Where should I search? he calls out.
Aidan switches weapons, and tactics and focuses on a new foe. His companion dispatches the dead man that harries it. Not as spectacularly but it has stopped moving and that is worth something!
From across the remnants of the common Pluchak sees a new foe approach. It walks like a man but its baleful red eyes indicate it is no friend. It walks with determination towards the large half-orc.
Pluchak plants his feet and readies himself for the approach of this, or any other creature.
Suddenly from down the alley by Thurzhan a man with a bow appears. He catches his breath and grabs an arrow.
Upon hearing the voice of Bryndyn. he yells to him.
Bryn, we are back here in the kitchen.
Having not found asnything there, he steps out to the main room.
There is no access to the basement from this room or behind those two doors. Let's chack around the outside of the building for storm door access.
Narnel leads the others outside, circling the building, looking for access to the basement.
Perception:
Frantically searching for a way down, Seneca barely breathes a "Thank you Pluchak." before resuming the search. Finding the way blocked behind the door, he calls out "What about a trap door? A root cellar?"
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Bryndyn moves to help Seneca and Narnel in the Kitchen. The whirlwind of events surrounding the Lizardman seems to be confusing him. He is pulled in mind and heart in many directions and is clearly frustrated at his indecision.
As he enters, he looks around to see if he can spot anything.
Perception
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Narnel races outside. What have they missed? Where is this basement? A taut chill plays on the back of his neck. Is this the right inn? Did that female voice, the one whose mouth they never saw, could she have been in league with the horrors here, sending them to their doom? He struggles to keep his thoughts clear. But he finds no egress or opening to any basement, if indeed there be such in this building.
Harlynn finally catching up to the group, tries to muster the energy needed for his arcane exploits but is unable to catch his breath. (Delaying action)
Harlynn, will the ward emanate an aura of some kind, detectable through the wood?
Aye, woodsman if the magic were strong enough. He focuses for a brief moment, his eyes glazing to black, then returning to normal.
Detect Magic