OK, so where to next, guys?
You're at a fork, so south-east or south-west?
South West
The southwest past leads to another intersection.
Here's where you can go from your position:
northwest - you see another 4-way intersection
northeast - the way you got here
southeast - it looks like this path leads to a T-intersection, and you can make out a scarecrow in the distance
south - leads to another 4-way intersection, with at least a couple more scarecrows hanging above the fields
Again, to your knowledge, the farmhouse is somewhere southwest of your original entry point into the fields.
South
As you approach the intersection, the two scarecrows buck and strain against their bonds.
"Release us! We musst find food", they hiss at you. Knowing their true nature, their sack covered faces are truly ominous.
Your exit choices here are:
- North (the way you came)
- southwest, which leads to another 4 way intersection, plus you can make out another footpath just beyond this
- northeast
- southeast, and the path rounds a curve and disappears behind the tall crop
Not really expecting a coherant reply Ned asks, "Who put you up there?"
"Ghouls from the misgivings hung us here to ripen, so that when ready, we can spread their sickness."
They both continue to struggle hideously against their bindings.
"Ripen? Who were you before this happened?"
"And what are the misgivings?"
KNO Local anyone?
"Go the Hambley's farm and you can find the man from misgivings. He's there, spreading the sickness. Oh, so hungry! Can't you come closer and help us? The hunger is gnawing me from the inside."
Nicholae approaches to behead them.
I can end your torment, he says as he moves to decapitate them.
"And what are the misgivings?"
"The Misgivings is a name sometimes giving to Foxglove Manor. It's not too far away from Hambley's farm."
"Ripen? Who were you before this happened?"
"I recognize his voice," Lleidr says, pointing at one of the scarecrows. "His name was Ormman, a farmer who used to shop at my parents' store in Wartle."
"Make it clean, Nich..."
"Let's go on to Hambley's farm. I wouldn't mind having a chat with this mystery man."
OK, so which way? Your exit choices here are:
- North (the way you came)
- southwest, which leads to another 4 way intersection, plus you can make out another footpath just beyond this
- northeast
- southeast, and the path rounds a curve and disappears behind the tall crop
there's a link to the latest map in yesterday's post from me
South west
Your persistence is rewarded. Breaking through the tall stands of wheat and corn, you spy the Hambley's house in the distance, only a few minutes walk away towards the north-west. You also get a partial glimpse of their massive barn, just next door.
At the corner where you stand, another scarecrow upon its stand moans and stirs, trying to free its arms from their taut bonds. "Help me. I'm so thirsty, don't feel well."
"Do you think they can be healed?" Ned asks doubtfully.
No - if they are transforming to Ghouls already there is naught that can be done, especially now at this time with so many of others running about
Nicholae continues with the grim thankless work of dispensing peace through decapitation.
As you approach the scarecrow's stand, the scarecrow lets out a distinctively feminine scream. "Get away! Murderers! You're as bad as those monsters that dragged us from our farm last night. Lay down your weapon and leave me be, if you won't help me down."
BTW, you see only a single scarecrow here.
"Are we sure nothing can be done to save them? Maybe she is just tied up and thirsty? In any case, we should be providing comfort."
Feel free to check her for wounds and a fever but do not allow her to scratch you. If she is not too far progressed she may be savable but we can not untie her now - we risk too much if we do. Ask her as to her injuries and question her on the events of the farm. She may just be saved.
Nicolae then goes on watch looking for incoming ghouls.
"I'm sorry lass, we'll help if we can. What can you tell us of who did this to you?"
Heal check anybody?
Nicolae checks her over
The voice is familiar. Why it's Lettie Guffmin, a farmer's wife from these parts, whom you haven't seen in years. Nich can tell right off she's deathly ill, and it's definitely the early stages of ghoul fever. She may still be saved, with proper care.
"Monstrously strong walking corpses took me and my husband both out of our beds last night, took us into the farm yonder. That place might look alright from here, but believe me, it's a nightmare inside. There's at least half a dozen of those things in that house, and .. and .. what they did to Hambley ... " she stifles a sob.
"I never thought I'd find myself sorry to see Hambley die. I was no friend of his. He cheated my parents out of land and confiscated crops from my husband through his usury. But nobody should have had to die like that. Turn back to Sandpoint and get to safety, if such a thing still exists in this world. The goings on in that house are infernal."
You are safer here for the moment Lettie, Nicholae says fetching her some water from his waterskin. We'll come back for you
Once y'all have Lettie dealt with, should Ned and I do some sneaking around the house and barn first to see what our best point of attack could be? Or do you guys think it's better we stay together as a group to investigate?
The Heal check was simply to identify what ailed this victim based on her symptoms. A Cure Disease should do the trick or the 2 saves, as Nich described.
Dont split up Lleidr - our strength is in our numbers... Lets move on to the farm and barn
A sight familiar to all of you comes into view.
Of the two structures, the barn is the larger. It's an L-shaped building, constructed around a 12' tall stone head, canted slightly to the left, depicting a helmed warrior, his face a stern model of determination. Moss has grown over much of the weathered stone. Among the locals, this is the well-known 'Stone Warrior', which Hambley simply incorporated as a support for his barn.
The air is cold and clammy. The door to the barn hangs ajar. Oddly for a farmhouse in the middle of the day, there is no visible activity.
Hmm, that barn looks ominous, but since we're closer to the house, Lleidr will start there. He will sneak over and see if there's a door or window he can peer in.
You're looking into the kitchen, and the first thing that you notice is a cloud of black flies inside the house. They're swarming above a corpse.
Carved into the dead man's chest is a familiar rune. There's barely enough left of the body to be recognizable: it's Farmer Hambley.
The next thing you see is a small scrap of parchment, pinned to the man's tunic. Then, you hear footsteps coming from deeper inside the house, towards the kitchen.
Lleidr will signal back to the group to be ready, then make sure he's positioned so he can see without being seen.
Ned will move up behind Lleidr and whisper, "Let me know when and I'll show myself drawing them out so you can get in behind them"
Nicholae bends over to take the pinned note from the man's chest leaving Lleidr and Ned to set up their own ambush.
The note has Selia's name written on the outside.
Backing out of the kitchen at the approaching noise, a pair of ghouls dressed like ragged peasants, burst out of the cloud of flies and through the front door. A third ghoul emerges from the back of the home and is lumbering towards you.
"Fresh flesh will ease the hunger. We must tell our friends!"
"Look, their faces still move, their eyes still blink. What a feast."
They seem simultaneously fascinated by Nicholae and repelled by him. Far behind you, at the road, Lettie Guffman screams in horror at the sight.
Tactical Map
Initiative:
Nich
Lleidr
Selia
Ned
Ghouls
Oops, I left Selia off the map by accident. She's 10' equally behind both Ned and Nich.
"So much for surprise..."
(monster hunter, power attack)
Lleidr will move up (north 5 ft, then NE 5 ft), activating his spell-like ability Acid Splash and hurling the missile at the third ghoul at the back of the house.
Nicholae steps up next to Ned and attacks the other ghoul.
for