Harlynn will fling some acid
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Pluchaks rise catches his attackers off guard. He swings mightily with those claws. One is down. And then another. Aidans good deed is rewarded with one less dead man by him.
Harlynn throws acid, while his eagle emissaries tear and rend, but all to no avail. The orange sparks zips handily around and between the attacks.
Taedric is connecting, but to his growing alarm, his attacks seem to do little to nothing. Trumps does knock a foe down though.
Seneca finishes what Narnel started and knocks more boards away. Whatever magic they interrupted he does not recognize it but calls on his own magic and provides some more illumination for them. The darkness parts to reveal a corridor but nothing more.
Bryndyn races to aid of Harlynn, but is unable to connect with the mote.
And then the dead move. Tkurzhans zombie follows him doggedly, and it is not common for that cat to know something that can move as quick as he does. It tries to harm him but fails.
One of the dead that has closed on Pluchak, and sends the imposing green man back to his bloody repose.
Aidan is also struck, and multiple times.
Taedric dodges the blows aimed at him, and takes a swing at the dead man rising. The odds get longer as another dead man races to him.
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Abbas' genuine face openly shows the relief in Pluchak's movements and Aidan's healing. He reaches down and shakes the half-orcs shoulder in friendship, "Come on we can take them."
Then the warrior grabs his dagger dropped from the ground and moves back around to face the dead. One dagger flashes and misses at the quick zombies.
Dice
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Abbas fails to bring any of these abominations low, and now the remaining ghoul thing turns from the fight and scales the building beside it, as easily as a man might walk. Does Aidan feel relief as it gives him a moments pause, or dread as he hears it call into the night, with a shrill SSSSCCCCRRRREEEEEEEEEEEE? If it is dread, it can only be magnified when the answering calls come, and from mere moments away from the sounds of it.
The orange speck is smart and focuses its attack on the eagle it previously injured. It connects and it becomes clear that the eagle will not be here much longer if something does not change.
Tkurzhan howles as Aidan is struck, the sound ricocheting off the buildings and echoing as it slowly recedes.
Aidan clutches his wound, a gaping gash across the chest. His face has no hint of pain, only resolve.
He yells to the cat, pointing out of town, down the street. The effort of raising his arm makes him wince, and nearly collapse into the growing pile of bodies.
Tkurzhan stares back, stunned. Liquid amber eyes glisten in the cloud-darkened sunlight, suddenly huge and round, no longer alight with fury.
The eyes of a child, He thinks to himself, loyal to the bitter end.
He looks up into Abbas' face, dirtied by this horrid place, and sees the same eyes.
The keening wail of despair fills the air, where just moments ago the sound of power hung. Tkurzhan looks imploringly at his brother, unwilling, unable to comprehend.
Go, The druid says again, softer, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He clutches his locket, mouthing silently to the sky.
I'm sorry. I tried.
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Aidan prepares his last stand. Who can measure the despair as the bond between man and beast is pushed to the edge of break. The cats has only one loyalty and that is not to itself, but demonstrates his devotion in obedience. Running he heads to the wall.
Pluchak should continue to die, but for some reason does not. The flow is staunched. And it actually looks like wounds are closed. Another miracle pulled from fickle Desna at the pleading of Taedric?
The archer takes a moment to get a clear shot on any of his opponents, and when those lines are muddied by the melee, he strides silently up the road toward Bryndyn and Harlynn. As he passes Abbas and Aidans position, he spits on the ground and sneers, Heroes, derisively.
Narnel looks to Seneca and nodding at him moves into the tunnel pushing the black ahead as he goes. The passage continues straight and he hears nothing.
confirm
Seneca moves quickly into the passage, looking for signs of life and possible traps. Can't they hear us? Have the dead already taken them somehow?
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Bryndyn lets loose a feral scream of rage. The tension of fighting these undead from before coming to this town, then arriving and fighting at the barricade, then creeping within to help with survivors has him rattled. His crest is rigid, his maw is open and saliva drips from his gaping mouth. He swings at Harlynn's opponent, his opponent, trying to summon one good hit, one blow that can free him up to race around the corner and help the others.
Attack (I've assumed I have flanking with the eagles...)
Damage
Taedric directs Trumps to pull down another of the dead near him, then direct him to run down one of the dead lingering over Abbas and Elinor, trying to prevent them from killing his friends, and wheeling out to try to get a clear line to run down the archer in a moment.
for and
for {+4 charge}
HP: 30/30
AC 19, Touch 12, Flat-footed 18 (No longer penalized on charge) -- CMD 14
Readied Weapon: Lance +5 (1d6+1/x3) {Reach, Piercing/Bludgeon, Double Damage on Charge}
Trumps:
HP: 24/24
AC 18, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14 (Includes -2 for Charge)
CMD 18 (22 vs trip)
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Harlynns eagles attack again, but surprisingly they again seem to be unable to harm the spark. Harlynns acid likewise misses. Why are they not connecting?
Taedric and Trumps are hurting them, but just not as much as they should be. In reflection Taedric and Trumps and the eagles and Harlynn, might agree that they feel rather like children with butter knives in this fight. Are they cursed?
Seneca continues to push the blackness back and there ahead of him, just at the edge of his light he sees the passage take a hard right. What lies deeper he cannot say.
Bryndyn's pent up rage is used to good effect. A direct blow and a solid one sends the the spark bouncing off the ground. The light flickers. And then shines strong again. He hurt it for certain.
The dead are quick as ever, they keep up with Trumps with no effort, they advance on Aidan, and one races into the night on Tkurzhans heels. And then the blows start to come.
Trumps is struck as is Taedric and Abbas also feels the hands of the dead on him. Somehow Aidan does not.
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Some might say the difference between deft and daft is fully blurred by Abbas, but none would doubt his noble heart. His gamble works though and he has the attention of the dead as they flail harmlessly at him. He has bought his friends just a little more time, but the total cost to him has not yet been counted. Indeed the price now includes one of those horrid ghoul things gamboling toward him , and the roof bound one, having fixed his eye on the warrior scrambles down from the roof top.
The orange mote tries to wound Bryndyn, ignoring the eagle it had fixed as foe previously, but it is still unsteady and its attempt goes very wide.
In the tunnel, all hell breaks loose. from around the corner at the end of Narnel and Senecas sight 3 figures leap out. With a yell they loose bolts on the heroes. These are no trained soldiers, the 2 of the bolts go wide, skittering along the wall and floor. The bad luck of this day seems to show no respite though. One of the bolts strikes Senaca and bites deep. Any more skill from these, and the wound would have been much more severe. No matter. It is still pretty bad. One of them yells, F#ck off you dead f#cks! We already sounded the alarm, so you can leave or die.
Aidan looks to the one by the entrance. There are allies down there. Aid them if you can, he directs, and inform them the situation is dire.
The dog salutes with a paw, then races into the cellar, tracking Narnel and Seneca easily down the tunnel.
Good sirs, I have been sent to inform you the situation above is most dire, and help you locate any survivors. Oh, dear me, is that a crossbow bolt?
Coming from a dog, this is probably most unsettling.
The other two need no direction, and lay into the undead with zeal.
Back to your grave, scum!
Aidan looks morosely at the situation he has found himself in, and turns his eyes skyward with a slight shrug, as if to ask why.
Nonetheless, the grizzled druid has not given up hope, even though his god seems to have forsaken him in this unnatural place. He hefts his quarterstaff from where it rested on the ground, and rolls his shoulders to loosen them. Cautiously, he enters the fray.
Tkurzhan leaves no tracks in the mud, his pawprints disappearing as soon as they land, and he knows that even if he cannot outrun this creature, he can surely outmaneuver it. With a grace that utterly belies his size and power, he winds masterfully between and through alleyways, always just barely ahead of his pursuer- but every turn increases the odds that he will escape by stealth alone.
Perception:
Back off kids we are here to help you get out of here.
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He hit! The feel of the mace as an extension of his arm striking an enemy...even a orange blob of light. Bryndyn knows that trouble is around the corner, and needs to get this fight over with. He swings again, hoping to hit and then dash away.
Attack (both hands & Flanking with eagles)
Damage
Another Hit! Bryndyn is starting to think he knows how to do this thing now. Unfortunately, it was a glance...
Harlynns eagles continue their assault before disappearing into the light from whence they came
Harlynn will move to rejoin the group
Confirm
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While Aidan braces against the dead, 2 of the hounds he summoned tear into the dead though neither opponent falls, and a 3rd dog delivers a message to those below.
Tkurzhan continues his pell mell dash to avoid the dead man following him.
And the archer? Well with a wicked glint in his eye he again targets Trumps. The arrow hits the wolf. Seeing his wicked barb hit he grins and ducks around the corner.
Seeing Abbas has moved away, Aidan instead pulls Pluchak and Elinor away from the fight. He begins to cut away Elinor's armor, his healers kit resting in his lap.
Shield
Taedric grumbles, realizing that the fast dead will deny him his ability to charge. "I'm running out of good cards," he grumbles, dropping the lance as he directs Trumps to carefully step back before turning around the building to run down the archer, readying his Lucern Hammer as he does so.
for
Taedric:
Actions: Free: Drop Lance; Move: Ready Lucern Hammer; Standard: Attack Archer
HP: 24/30
AC 19, Touch 12, Flat-footed 18 -- CMD 14
Readied Weapon: Lucern Hammer (1d10+1/x2) {Reach, Piercing/Bludgeon, Set against charge}
Trumps:
Actions: Full-Round: Withdraw (Allows up to double move, though archer is within 50')
HP: 12/24
AC 20, Touch 14, Flat-footed 16
CMD 18 (22 vs trip)
Diplomacy:
In the name of Elysium, lad, stow that contraption! The celestial dog says indignantly.
Seneca eyes the last boy holding his crossbow and murmurs a prayer to Asmodeus, "Dark Prince, lend me the words to deliver these children to safety."
He draws himself up to his full height. "We are not here to harm you. Lower your weapon. We've come to get you out of here and our friends up above are hard pressed to hold the dead off any longer. You must come with us now. Is there anyone else we need to help out?"
Ah, yes, about that... It may be wise to hole up the night, leave with the first rays of glorious sun. Your call, though, you're the human.
"Yes, but you've had more recent eyes up top. Boys, if we can't get you out tonight, can we see if we can get our friends and hole up down here? Then we'll all escape as a group in the morning."
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Narnel and Seneca with the help of the speaking dog try to calm the situation down below. Seneca shows remarkable control considering the bolt that sticks out of him still.
Harlynns eagles again seem unable to connect with orange mote. Harlynn himself moves towards Aidan, leaving Bryndyn alone to deal with the menace.
Taedric hunts the hunter, chasing him down and hitting him. The blow elicits a groan and a curse, but he senses there is still much fight left in this man.
Bryndyn again hits the mote, and though the blow was not so damaging, it unceremoniously drops the mote to the ground. The thing flickers once, twice and then no more. No time to consider it, he hustles off to aid his friends.
The dead continue their relentless onslaught. If all this movement was intended to confuse them it seems to have succeeded. They run this way and that as they attempt to bring the heroes low.
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Bryndyns blow connects with deadly accuracy. The dead man turned to follow Abbas' movement and Bryndyn crushed its skull in.
Less dramatically, but no less effectively the sudden movements of the dead leave them open to the hounds of Aidans summon. Another falls.
Of those remaining, 2 race at Abbas and 1 each attacks Taedric, Bryndyn and Harlynn, though the dead only connect with Taedric and Harlynn.
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Abbas moves left and right as the zombies combine to make a fight of it. He eventually sees a gap and steps five foot to the left, away from that ghoul as luck would have it.
Then he stabs upwards for the throat of the zombie before him, slicing and rending at the flesh to break its evil spirit.
"Come on! Evil will die this night."
Harlynn will take a 5 foot step back, as his eyes go dark, his hands begin to smolder and then he thrusts them forward releasing a gout of hellfire at his attacker
Burning Hands
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The insect/human ghoul creature lunges races at Abbas. It either does not see that the wind has changed, or it knows something you do not. Its claws and razor teeth fail to harm Abbas. But there in the dark, more of them are coming.
The kids consider for a moment longer and then the smallest one runs at Harlynn and clutches him around the middle. The dam has broken and she cries inconsolably. All Narnel and Seneca can make out is occasional words. Home, Mama and Running are all they get. Meanwhile the oldest of the group still holding the crossbow lax walks forward. She is fierce eyed and blond, and very dirty. Sorry for that. she says, gesturing at the bolt, You were not who we expected. How did you find us?
The last of these yells first at the little girl, Sadie, its not safe! and then to the bigger one he says, 'Neeki you don't even know these people. They might be what done this to start with!
The celestial dogs continue the assault, racing through the melee at speeds only the four-legged and the undead can muster.
Impressive, growls the northermost dog, a golden-haired specimen with shining silver teeth.
He snaps at the heels of the undead there, helping Bryndyn connect again.
The second Elysian steps up quickly, biting at the side of the creature there.
Aidan worries for Harlynn's health, and takes a moment to ensure he is still okay before stepping forward to aid Bryndyn.
Bryndyn proves difficult to aid in his struggle, and neither dog not man can help him in his plight.
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Aidan's dog, behind one of the zombies, snaps at the undead creature but misses. Bryndyn see's an opening, however, and he swings the mace, his great maw showing what might be a smile for the first time in two days.
Attack Attack plus weapon plus flank
Damage
His attack connects home with a solid 'thunk' and Bryndyn hisses in victory.
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As the dog harry and Aidan lends what support he can, Tkurzhan continues to be persued by the dead man. Leaping through a window, the corpse struggles to follow. Tkurzhan makes it to the roof with the dead not far behind. From this position he jumps to another roof. When the zombie attempts to follow it misses the ledge and crashes to the ground. Relief turns to terror in a moment as the thing picks itself up, and starts to climb toward the roof of the new building. Tkurzhan easily makes the leap back and is out the building and running at full tilt before this creature can realize what has happened.
The archer wants no more or Taedrics blows and hurries down an alley to find shelter in a building there.
Harlynn will withdraw with the child in tow. move it kid. Or lay your life down to protect me. Either way I am getting out of here. moving as far as I can safely go.
Narnel moves quickly past the other two children.
Are there any others down here? Answer now, my friends are dying above.
Perception: