The Walking Dead of Golarion, by GM Fiendish

Game Master Fiendish Zen

Lives gives Azmeri a silent, grim smile and nod of agreement, then turns to the Flynn and the rest.

"Aye - we should strike now before we get any worse. And who knows, if this comes from the bandits and cultists, perhaps they keep some cure for their own use? Shall we let Flynn and Skyfall find their camp?"

He begins to flex his long fingers and crack his knuckles in anticipation.

"Then it sounds as if we're more or less in agreement," Lenneth nods. "The sooner we strike back against these bandits and their cultist friends, the better. Flynn and Lives both have good ideas...I know most of the others won't like it, but a lockdown until we return seems the best thing to do until we know more. And letting Flynn look for their camp from the air will save us a great deal of time." She pauses and looks around for any signs of disagreement or suggestions from the others before continuing. "While he's doing that, it gives us time to prepare...and to check the food stores," she says with a glance at Lilith, knowing full well that she would want to have a look as well before doing anything else.

No. Flynn disagrees. I think we should check the food stores now and then go out together. I can take you to the edge of the forest, it's only a few miles, and then I'll scout ahead from there. Otherwise I'll have to fly out there, risk discovery, only to fly all the way back to fetch you. I'm pretty certain wherever Brae was fleeing it was in those woods. Besides, he turns to Lenneth and offers a grin and holds up the bracelet she gave him. I'd like to have you close.

"Oh," Lenneth says, looking embarrassed. "That would make more sense and be quicker. And true...the bracelets should finally be attuned by around dusk today. Okay! Flynn definitely has a better idea here, so let's go with that unless someone has an even better idea than that!"

Radek coughs and beckons you to follow

Last night I went to the main food store, it's kept locked and I'm sure the others would have remembered to keep it so. We've exaggerated by saying we have other provisions stored away, but really this room is all there is without Violet...

he leads you to the store in the North West of the keep's ground floor, unlocking a solid-looking but aging thick wooden door with a large key. Te door swings open to reveal several shelves and stone plinths with sacks and wooden crates on them. There are a couple of wooden barrels, one of which is almost half-filled with flour, the other with oats. The boxes and sacks contain vegetables and some nuts. Several bunches of herbs are hung on the walls and the ceiling to dry, providing a fragrant feast for your senses of smell.

Lilith inspects the stores, not surprised to see so little food remaining.

Craft Alchemy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Craft Herbalism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Oh well. Anyone else?

She gathers the excess herbs and wonders if there are the tools to make potions from them.

Note that unless she is too fatigued to do so Lilith is scribing a scroll every night.

As Radek allows them entry into the food stores, Lenneth sniffs the air and looks around curiously. Peering into the barrels, she carefully sifts through the contents of each with a hand before tentatively sampling a small bit of both the flour and the oats. She then looks over the vegetables and nuts that are stored and then the drying herbs, attempting to see if any of it has been altered or tampered with in some fashion.

Craft (Alchemy): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

"Hmm...plenty of herbs to make a few potions and still have some left over to spice the food," Lenneth murmurs as she inspects the room. "Wait..." her eyes narrow in puzzlement as she stretches to take a closer look at the hanging herbs, before widening in alarm. Slowly, she backs away. "We need to leave this room immediately. Don't panic, don't scream, don't breathe too deeply - I'll explain outside," she whispers, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument. To Lilith, she points out what she's found hidden amongst the wolf's root. "You see?"

Lilith should be able to read both spoilers now.

Once the storeroom has been vacated and the door locked back, Lenneth turns to the others. "It's a poisonous herb...dead man's hair, hidden among the other herbs. Likely the pollen has drifted down from the ceiling and coated everything in that room that isn't covered," she says, her face pale as she refuses to give voice to the thought that follows.

All the stored food...useless!

"Our traitor or traitors know something of herbalism then." She turns to Radek. "Who else has access to this room besides you?"

Lilith looks shocked as she sees what Lenneth is pointing out. No wonder so many are sick. Its likely the larger items can be rinsed and the top layer of the grains removed and discarded if done with care. I think it would be safe for Lenneth and I to go in with a wet cloth over our faces and remove the poisonous herbs.

"Is magic way to clean food?"

"And when what can be salvaged has been salvaged, is there a way to cleanse the room, make sure this does not spread?"

Radek obeys Lenneth's suggestion to move out of the room with stoic understanding, though surprise and anger show on his face in equal measure

There's only the one key to this door that we've found whilst we've been here, we keep it the council room.

In answer to your expressions his mouth gets tight

This place was not simply waiting for us with open arms, we were lucky to find what we did. Perhaps I should have done more to keep this place secure...

his shoulders slump.

Each time food was foraged or Sasha provided a harvest one of us would open up the room for her to hang the herbs or store the food.

His face grows pale the angrier he gets

This cult... wretched evil scum!

You could indeed prevent future exposure by the wet cloth method if you wanted to go back in the room to investigate further. As to Azmerai's suggestion, it would take multiple castings of purify food and drink or similar magic to make the foodstuffs safe. As to Live's question, multiple castings of prestidigitation would clean the room itself once the dead man's hair was removed to stop it re-infecting everything

Lenneth nods in agreement with Lilith. "Yes, if nothing else that should work to allow us to remove the dead man's hair and dispose of it...as far as salvaging and cleaning the room, magic could probably do it...but neither option is something that I'm capable of doing. Maybe Lilith or...Euron...?"

Her expression then darkens as Radek mentions Sasha's name. "So...Sasha is the only other person that you know of to have regular access to that room, whenever one of you would open it for her. When was the last time anything was stored?"

Lilith can cast Detect Poison and prestidigitation but neither are currently prepared.

Lilith places a wet rag over her face and moves into the room to complete its inspection and to begin to remove the remove the poisonous herbs. After she is ready to hunt cultists.

Radek thinks for a while before replying

Around a week or so ago she harvested some carrots, I opened up for her and we put them in a sack over on the counter, she didn't touch the herbs. We put those carrots in the soup last night...

he looks pale

The dead man's hair must have been placed within the last couple of days otherwise the community would have been sick before now, as food from this store is often used to supplement Violet's provisions.

Lenneth and Lilith make quick work of removing the poisonous herb, wrapping the cuttings in a couple of sacks and taking it outside the walls to be burned.

Anything else or shall we move towards the bandit camp?

Lives is ready to move on. Well, really, Lives is impatient for someone to hit...

Lilith gives some instructions for how to salvage at least some of the food and recommends everyone working in the room wear a wet cloth similar to the one she and Lenneth were wearing. The current sickness should fade quickly now, but you must ration your food, at least until we return.

Lenneth frowns. "Odd...everyone should have been sick before now if that's the case. But if the store room hasn't been opened since then..." she sighs and shakes her head. "Is it possible someone might have found another way inside? Since I'm assuming your key has been accounted for at all times."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15

"Well, we don't have much time to stand around and jaw about this right now," she sighs again. "If we want to rescue Violet, we need to get going sooner rather than later." Working quickly, she assists Lilith in removing the dead man's hair and disposing of it outside. Once that is done, she nods in agreement with the wizard's suggestions though she does raise an eyebrow at mention of the sickness fading quickly. "I hope you are right, but I do know that some poisons tend to linger in the body for quite some time."

She then turns to the rest of the group. "Okay, I guess we'd better get to it. Are we ready to go?"

Just to be clear, the source of the disease appears to be the dead man's hair, and whilst removing it means no-one should be re-infected, the disease has already had an outbreak so won't just go. It is virulent enough to continue until either a successful fort save or else death from CON damage...

EuronBot and FlynnBot nod their agreement that now is the time to go if Lenneth and Lilith have done all they can for now

Only Radek is manning the gate when you walk out of Solace, and he looks rough too. Everyone else has gone back to bed to try and sleep away the fugue, coughs and moans echo throughout the hall as you leave.

The green grass feels soft beneath your feet as you stretch your legs and make haste towards the Southern forest. Flynn is able to lead you to the exact spot he was in last night. The ground is churned up as if a great many bodies had been there, and you are able to find fragments of a wooden torch, now shattered in to splinters.

It is a cloudy day, and underneath the canopy of the trees it is dim and unwelcoming. Though traveling on foot, Flynn is able to find an almost imperceptible path between the trees that leads deeper south. You have been traveling for a couple of hours when the trees start to thin slightly.

Flynn pipes up

So do we have a plan beyond 'charge in there and demand they give Violet back?'

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Lives' eyes are never still as they work their way forward.

His nostrils flare, and he says, quietly, "Do you smell that? Woodsmoke, I'd guess. And it does look like someone has been cutting here. "

His eyes narrow as he spots a leaf-covered mound. Warily, he crosses to it, brushing away dried leaves as quietly as he can. " Looks like a cairn. And here since at least last autumn. Whoever is or was living near here, they have been here long enough to have buried their dead - comforting, I guess - before autumn."

He rejoins the group, but does not turn his back on the grave: the days for that are long over.

Just to be clear, the source of the disease appears to be the dead man's hair, and whilst removing it means no-one should be re-infected, the disease has already had an outbreak so won't just go. It is virulent enough to continue until either a successful fort save or else death from CON damage...

OK. But this is nonsensical to me. Poisons can cause lingering conditions. Things like arsenic and lead and mercury. They build up in the body and linger, maybe forever. But I am not aware of any poison that causes a disease. Myabe the can lower your resistance to some other disease. Heck, even if the plant has a disease its not something that would carry over a person. Just wanted to explain my reasoning.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Lilith smells the smoke too and sees the evidence of logging but has to have the carne pointed out to her. Hmm. Perhapss we need some recon before advancing as a group?

"Better have know, than walk in trap!"

Perception: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8

"We need to scout things out further before we go charging in," Lenneth nods in agreement with Lilith and Azmerai. "Flynn could scout from the air, but he'd certainly be spotted once he got close enough to determine anything." Frowning, she looks ahead in the direction of the bandit's camp and then back at the group. "I don't know if either of you are particularly stealthy," she looks at Flynn and Lives, speaking slowly, "but...Indigo might be able to get closer and remained undetected at least. Otherwise, I don't have any bright ideas, at least not until we know more about what we're dealing with."

Lilith: Debate about disease v poison... a wizard did it... now let's move on!

Flynn muses for a moment

The canopy is thick, Skyfall and I could find somewhere to launch from but there's no guarantee we'd be able to see much if the camp is hidden under the trees. We'll try though!

he says cheerfully, whistling for Skyfall who replies with a *caw!* he glances at Lenneth and taps his wrist, tipping her a wink as he mounts up and flies upwards in juddering circles as Skyfall avoids branches and seeks the dim light above.

Euron breaks his silence

Well we can try to rest here for a while until Flynn gets back, but who knows how long he'll be? We can try something else like sending Indigo or I'll volunteer to scout ahead, or should we all go together, strength in numbers?

I think sending Indigo to scout is a smart move. Even if spotted, the enemy should take little notice of him. Just a cat in the wood, right? But if you do choose to send him have him be extra careful. He could scout forward just a hundred feet and then we could move forward in cautious advances?

Skyfall glides almost silently above the canopy while Flynn leans over, trying to see any sign of life... or unlife for that matter.

I'm about to go out of range, Lenneth. he thinks shortly after taking off. Nothing yet, I'll keep looking and circle back and check in every ten minutes.

Skyfall stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Flynn perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

"Stealthy in these wet woods, with so much to brush against? No, not really. Now, stealthy in my broad home in the Cinderlands?" he pauses dramatically for a moment, before his shoulder slump with comic exaggeration.

"No. Not there either."

Lenneth's eyes dart upward towards the sky as she hears Flynn's voice echo in her mind, though of course she can't see anything from where she stands.

Okay...be careful. I'll see if Indigo can spot anything from the ground...if it looks safe, we'll try and slowly advance. I'll keep you updated when you move back into range.

Tearing her eyes back to the rest of the group, she nods at Lilith's suggestion. "If we can do that, I think we should. The more ground we can safely cover and the closer we can get to their encampment undetected, the better. I'll keep Flynn updated as he circles back into range."

Kneeling down, she carefully places her pack on the ground and allows Indigo to crawl out. "Will you go have a look, see what you can see? Flynn is already looking from the air...and you have the best chance of finding something from the ground without being spotted," she murmurs quietly as she gazes into her companion's eyes. "Be careful and hurry right back if you spot anything dangerous, okay? Please..."

Indigo gazes back at Lenneth and slowly blinks his large eyes at her before turning and slinking off into the undergrowth, heading in the general direction of where the bandit encampment is supposed to be...

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Skyfall
Looking just like any other randomly circling bird from the ground, Skyfall does several passes by a column of grey smoke lazily drifting up from the ground. It's easy to see from this vantage point that a large swathe of forest has been burned, perhaps a hundred feet or so across. Nearly missing it but suddenly veering back to investigate, you spot a large, faded-orange tent pitched to one side of the burned area. Evidently this was a camp until not so long ago...

Aside from smoke there is little to see across the blackened and burned ground, smoking trees and ash but no life to be seen, at least not from up here.

Indigo's senses
Lenneth feels her familiar's exhilaration as he bounds off through the undergrowth towards the tantalising smell of woodsmoke. Tearing across the uneven ground, rocketing from hiding place to shadow to pile of leaves to bush, the little cat is almost invisible as he moves.

A few minutes later, you can sense disgust, the brief pang of distress as he...sneezes? A fuzzy picture, more a sensation of blackened, foul-smelling wood, is presented to your mind. Ears prick, low conversation, Indigo crouches, makes small, tiny, can't see...
you can't quite make out the words, but there are two male voices and one female.

After pacing anxiously for a few minutes as both Indigo and Skyfall disappear from sight, Lenneth's nose suddenly wrinkles and she sneezes, looking startled. Her expression quickly changes to one of intense concentration...but she quickly frowns and shakes her head before turning to the others.

"Smoke...woodsmoke...and voices! Indigo's found them...or found someone at any rate. I can't make sense of the words, but it sounds like there's at least three voices - two male and one female. Maybe Violet?" she whispers. "We might be able to move up a bit closer, if we're careful."

Watch...and wait...be careful, Indigo...

"Only three voices? Do we not expect many?

And, if there are only three, might we not move up quickly?"

If two have one helpless they might kill the one before we could prevent it. Lilith warns but she also begins to advance.

Lenneth feels Indigo go quiet, his vision clouded by brown leaves as you feel his belly squirm in the dirt. The voices, just on the edge of comprehension, continue speaking in heated tones.

As you creep ahead, the smell of smoke grows more intense, and it gets muggy and uncomfortable, too warm for the time of year. After a few minutes you start to see blackened trunks, burned foliage and scorched soil. There seems to be a large section of burnt out forest ahead, you can make out tattered cloth and even the skeletal remains of a wooden structure of some sort. There are half a dozen or so bodies scattered around.

heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Lives gives a quick, quiet hiss to get his party's attention, and throws his arms wide to stop everyone. He points up into the trees.

"There is someone up there. Maybe with a bow..." He says quietly.

Keeping his eyes on the figure in the trees, he points ahead to the tent, saying "Voices...in the tent there."

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 Lilith catches the movement in the trees as well and cannot help herself. She glances up as discretely as she can manage.

Perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Heal (DC 14): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

"Someone took a lot of care to make sure none of these bodies were going to get back up again," Lenneth whispers. "What in the world happened here?" she adds, gaping at the burned wreckage and the multitude of bodies. As Lives whispers of someone being up in the trees, Lenneth can't help but steal a glance upward though she attempts to be discrete about it. "What now? Do we attack or try and sneak closer? If there's really only three plus our friend in the trees, we outnumber them...but if they have Violet in there they might hurt her if we attack openly," she frets. As they try to decide where to go from here, Lenneth attempts to be as quiet as she can so as not to draw the attention of those in the tent or the person hiding up in the trees.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

As you creep forward, glancing upwards to catch a glimpse of whoever is up in the tree, there is a distinct *snap* heard echoing around the clearing, as you turn to look you can see the burned and very dry branch that Lenneth has just stepped on. The voices in the tent are immediately silent...

There is a cry from above you

Stop or I'll shoot!

Despite the attempt at camouflage, you know exactly where to look, and can see the tip of an arrow protruding from a clump of bushes. You can make out the awkward adolescent profile of a teenager crouched on a branch above you.

Two humanoid figures appear from the tent, one small and moving fast, the other normal-sized and limping. They move to within 50 ft or so of you. The smaller figure reveals itself as a bald gnome carrying a pickaxe, with a vicious-looking scar on his face. Reaching his side a few moments later is a human female, hands empty but with the practiced poise of a spellcaster, hands held ready to summon arcane magics at the first sign of trouble

She frowns as she looks you over, then calls out

We don't know you, Who are you and what do you want?

As soon as Lenneth feels the branch give under her foot with a distinct *snap* she knows the game is up and adopts a defensive posture as the people in the tent as well as the bowman in the trees set their sights on the group. "We could ask you the same question," Lenneth calls in reply. "We're on the trail of a missing friend...a woman likely kidnapped by the bandits said to roam this region." A pause and then, "At the risk of putting my foot in things even further, none of you particularly look like bandits..." She gestures to the burnt remains of the wooden structure nearby as well as the numerous bodies lying scattered around. "But they might have been. Is all of this your handiwork?"

Careful not to reveal too much to them until we know more...

Her eyes dart skyward, wondering if Flynn and Skyfall are within range of the bracelets.

Flynn? We've found people, three on the ground and one hiding in the trees with a bow. Not sure if friendly or dangerous yet...

Unconcerned with the threat from above Lilith says We are friends, or at least want to be. She takes a closer look at the bald gnome. Her breath catches. Ben? she asks hopefully. Could you be Ben, son of Polo?

Lenneth feels the presence of Flynn's words in her mind

I'm nearby, with a bead on the boy up the tree, i'll arrive if you need me...

The woman replies to Lenneth as the gnome stares stoicly

Bandits?!

the woman shakes her head in disbelief

This was our home, a dozen of us...

her face creases momentarily with grief, she wrestles herself back under control within moments

We are no bandits!

her hands start to clench and unclench

The gnome looks up at her, resting a hand on her leg comfortingly, before stepping forward to speak. Lilith beats him to it, and it's easy to see the shock on his face as the elven wizard mentions the names 'Ben' and 'Polo'

His voice is like gravel

How did you... where did... who are you people!?

he tries to dampen down his surprise, shifting from foot to foot even as he adjusts his pick-axe from one shoulder to the other.

Friends you say? We've not felt the hands of friendship in a long time, none have visited here except those as want to take what we've got, or those that want nothing

he spits on the ground

groaners that is...had a herd of them through last night, scores of them. We did what we could but this is the result. You've caught us at a bad time. No woman here, sorry

he stares at Lilith

How did you come by those names elf?

Tears begin to run down the usually unemotional elf's cheeks. Oh Ben, we have found you after all. We were friends of your father's and have traveled with him for weeks. He never gave up on you. He talked about you all the time. Finding you was what kept him going. He felt sure you were still alive and when we found clues like that pick axe he was more and more sure all the time. She tries to wipes here tears, but more come. He, he is not with us any more. He gave his life to save us and charged us with finding you just a few days ago. This damned world! its not fair. He was so close to finding you. Her anger at the world seems to calm her some and the tear stop as she regains her composure. I have many tales to share with you Ben. But for now we need your help. She shares the details of their mission and asks Can you help us?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

"Whoa...it's okay, I meant no offense," Lenneth says, raising her hands in a placating manner and taking a step back. "We haven't been in this area long and so all we've had to go on were rumors of bandits lurking in the woods. Under the circumstances, you can't blame me or the rest of us for erring on the side of caution can you? I'm sure you've had to do the same in the past."

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 6

***************************************

Depending on how the little dialogue with the woman pans out, this is the rest of Lenneth's reaction to the Ben/Lilith dialogue...

Lenneth's eyes widen in shock and surprise as Lilith identifies the small gnome as 'Ben'...and her hand flies to her mouth when he responds to the name as well as to 'Polo'. As the normally stoic Lilith breaks down, she feels her own eyes well up with tears but she fights them back with great difficulty.

There's no time to cry. We're still in danger and so is Violet.

"She's right," Lenneth says quietly. "We met up with your father near the town of Sandpoint and traveled from there over the mountains to...to the keep that's near here. Lilith and Azmerai," she points to the half-orc "and I can tell you more, but now isn't the time. It's dangerous out here and our friend Violet still needs to be found."

Bluff (Untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 6

Lenneth that was a super sense motive check you did, so I'll go ahead and say you've 'cracked' these two at least for this scene, as you can read their emotions with ease i'll post them clearly

The gnome's face hardens as he grits his teeth, but he is no good at masking his emotions, you see wonder and surprise and hope and pain flash across his face as you talk about his father coming to find him. The woman reaches out a hand to him mow, placed gently on his shoulder.

The tension seems to bleed out of the meeting, the woman holds up her hand to the boy in the tree and the bow is lowered somewhat. She addresses you

You know things Ben has only ever told me, but you also mentioned the keep she spits to the side

If you're new recruits to Solace, then we may yet find ourselves set against each other, for we'll not advance the goals of a council with blood on its hands.

she looks stern. Ben looks up at her, and across at you, longing in his eyes, but she continues

We left that place for good reason, I'm sorry that Violet has gone missing, the druid was the only thing holding that place together, but perhaps it's for the best. The people there will have to challenge the status quo if there's no easy living to be had, no more blind trust...

Ben turns to her

Jandra, we don't know these people, any of them, they're bound to be visitors sent out unknowing...

the woman's face is hard as stone, he keeps on regardless

Look around you, everything we built up is gone 'cept the four of us, these folk haven't reached for weapons, they aren't here to take us down... we need help if we want to survive now

finally she looks at him, with love in her eyes

Ok Vo, ok she agrees. He relaxes a little, and the head of his pickaxe thunks to the floor as he leans on it

My fa...Polonius...did he..? Why? Why did he come? How?

he implores you, but Jandra shakes her head

Vo, they're right, I know you want to know, but we've others to think of before ourselves...

she steps forward

I'm Jandra and I speak for this group. We're willing to help you and answer your questions, but one of us is injured, can any of you heal?

she indicates the tattered and muddy orange tent across the clearing

Lilith hesitates to offer her healing, knowing that it is less than clean. Lennith can sometimes manage healing. she hears herself offering.

At the mention of Solace's Council having blood on their hands, Lenneth's own face darkens. Looking back over her shoulder at the others, she nods before turning back to face Ben and Jandra. "Okay, I believe that you're both telling the truth. It sounds as though we have a lot to talk about, provided we live long enough," she sighs. "As far as healing is concerned, I can manage a small amount though for grievous injuries...Euron here," she indicates the oracle, "would be a better bet." With a nod towards the tent, she continues, "Let's have a look and see what we can do, though."

Flynn, they seem friendly for the moment. It sounds like they know things about Solace. And...one of them is the son of our friend, Polonius...

She chances a glance over towards the brush and debris where Indigo remains hidden.

Thank you...keep watch for now...

At a quite moment Azmerai will ask Lilith and Lenneth to come closer.
"Had a long thinking. Polo was a clever chap. Knew a lot about disease. Think he left his dirary. Maybe one of you or booth could read and learn. We walk like blind man. I am dumb, I know, but you two clever. You can learn. You have to learn!"

While the others talk, Lives turns a slow circle, arms down by his side, scanning for any other threats nearby.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Jandra nods at Lilith, and turns to Lenneth as she speaks to qualify about her abilities. Euron nods

I can certainly look to see what we can do, come, let us go

he moves to follow Jandra across the clearing.

Unsettlingly, the ground is still warm as you traverse the burned out encampment. Wisps of smoke and small eddys of ash swirl across your path as you approach the orange tent.

Inside there is a small pile of scavenged gear to one side, and a makeshift cot on the other. Led upon it is a woman under a blanket, with severe burns. She thrashes around in obvious pain and discomfort.

There is a sudden cry from the boy up in the trees

Danger!

It takes but a moment to scan around and see what he means. Through the trees you can see perhaps a score of zombies headed towards the camp.

You have two rounds worth of actions before they cover the ground of the burned out clearing and reach you and attack. There are 20 zombies, 10 of which are in the clearing, the other 10 are following them but are currently still in the forest under the trees

>>> MAP! <<<