Maria stabs at the zombie before her again, her eyes focused and form tight; she is ready for this.
So much for not running in ahead. Of course.
Maria stands her ground, for now.
As the zombies rush the outside, Maria thrusts her rapier forward piercing the chain armor of the zombie. Black bile gushes from its chest, but the creature does not collapse. Ysildaë notes that the zombie in front of her wears a heavy grey cloak lined with rabbit fur while the other clearly was a member of the City Command of Haemil before dying recently.
Toraim moves over and peers into the cell. It contains a small cot as well as a human arisen with the destruction of the world. The creature ambles about the small room, unable to escape.
Outside the zombies attack the women. The zombie of Haemil flails its arms at Maria, but hte young girl is too fast and nimble for the creature. The other swings at Ysildaë who avoids the first blow. She is unable to avoid the second as the building impedes her movement. Yet, at the last moment, Akula's guided blade intervenes and the zombie's arm is deflected.
Ysildaë's eyes widen as Akula's great sword interposes itself between her and the zombie. She grins at the other woman in gratitude and takes advantage of this reprieve.
With nearly blinding speed, Ysildaë runs up the wall next to her. Pushing off with one foot she kicks the zombie with the other foot. Using the momentum of her leap, she rotates in midair to bring the heel of the foot that just pushed off the wall down onto the recently raised undead.
Akula took another wide swing to ward off the enemies.
Maria lunges to attack once more, made confident by both her hit and her ability to evade.
Torn between fighting alongside his companions and staying on task, Toraim chooses to continue his reconnoitring with typical dwarven stubbornness. He scans the next cell on his way to the barred door across from the entrance...
Ysildaë kicks the zombie in front of her before leaping into the air and attempting another kick. The second blow hits the zombie's armor and doesn't affect him. Akula's and Maria's strikes both miss their opponents as the zombies defenses prove too much for them.
Toraim moves south and peers into the next cell to find it empty then moves to the far door.
The zombie attacking Maria smashes a fist into her face, and grabs her hair pulling the investigator into the clutches of its arms. Similarly, the elf's zombie swings a arm connecting with the monk's torso. It pulls her into arms and tries to slam its other fist into her, but misses.
Grappled and in serious danger, Ysildaë strikes her palm against the undead's face repeatedly.
With a flurry, Ysildaë strikes the creature twice in the face. The second blow shatters the zombies skull and it erupts in an explosion of bile and puss. The elf is drenched in the black fluid, much of it going down her throat. While she was able to avoid the impact of body parts at that range, her stomach aches and she feels a coldness takehold in her body.
Akula sees Ysildaë attack the creature with a primal fury. She moves out of the way just as the zombie explodes.
Toraim hears the sounds of battle behind him but trusts that his companions can handle the two zombies. He continues scouting the building, opening the door before him and moving straight to the barred door that is ajar, ahead of him...
With one enemy dead, Akula tried to ignore the disgusting ichor she was now showered with and turned to the last foe within reach.
Maria, remaining in the grip of the undead monster, uses everything she can to defend herself from its attacks.
Maria, remaining in the grip of the undead monster, uses everything she can to defend herself from its attacks.
Toraim pulls on the iron door. The echoing clang of metal on metal lets the dwarf know that the door is secured. As the sound still rings in his ears, his nerves receive a jolt as undead men moan and reach out from both sides of the small hallway. To his left, at least two zombies can be seen.
Outside, Akula slashes at the zombie with exacting precision. Her blade slice through its back and neck, sending its head tumbling down the stairs. The body quivers violently the explodes as Akula and Maria dive to avoid the black flesh. Maria gags and spits out pieces of the flesh. Almost immediately she falls to her knees and empties her stomach.
"Stronger these were than those at bakery past. Healing and succor, I could use."
Ysildaë examines the zombies.
"I should have fought at your side rather than risked your lives scouting inside," Toraim complains, exasperated by the wounds suffered by his companions. "My prayers will not suffice to prepare you to fight the three that I have seen inside. And there are likely more."
"Unless you have weapons with reach?" he queries, surveying their gear. "Then I could stand in the doorways and suffer the brunt of the attacks while you attack from behind my cover."
As he speaks, he inspects his companions' wounds more closely...
Ysildaë peeks into the room. She sees the caught zombies.
"You have reach weapons. Why don't you pass one to me and I can lure the ones trapped to the bars. That way you can keep scouting."
Toraim hands her his Dwarven Longhammer. "You may find it unwieldy," he warns, "and it'll be of little use through the bars."
Maria coughs quietly, immediately feeling the illness. She begins pulling out alchemical equipment, and hands shaking, begins preparing two vials.
"Give me a moment. We will have a discussion later, but give me a moment."
"This is disgusting," Akula sighed looking down at herself and wincing sympathetically as Maria vomited. She passed over a waterskin. 'Here. Use as much as you need."
"Honestly, going back for spears and tower shields is a pretty good idea."
"Let's head back with haste, and return as soon as possible," Toraim urges his companions.
Ysildaë finds a single essence floating above the corpse of the zombie that attacked Maria. This was once a member of the City Command of Haemil. He must have turned after dying as part of his flesh is ripped from his neck and face from wounds received before the group destroyed him. The other appears to be local law enforcement from prior to the Shaping. She finds a set of iron keys in a small pouch on his belt along with 10 silver pieces.
Heading back to the bridge and inn housing Marcusic and the City Command, the group is able to procure several long spears from the arms stacked outside. Looking about, no armor or shields are presently available here. A pair young women approach the group with buckets of cool water and fresh bread. With much thanks, they offer their provisions for the brave warriors clearing the city.
Seeing long spears but no shields, Toraim proposes, "I will be the shield. And when we clear the forge, we'll make sure to better equip ourselves."
"And we will need to see what can be done about this disease that has infected you both," he continues, turning to Maria and Ysildaë. His demeanour underlines the very serious nature of their condition...
"How about doors?" Akula asked. "With a few nails and a salvaged handle, we could make a makeshift tower shield pretty easily."
"It might work. Or it could prove more cumbersome and unwieldy than useful," the dwarf comments with typical dwarven unpleasant rigidity. As he speaks, he looks around for Thomas Thorne, hoping that the half-elf might once again come to their aid...
Ysildaë makes her way to the priests for healing.
"Hello, my friends, the Mother smiles upon us all. It appears that you have been sorely wounded."
Raising the red crystalline tree, the handsome priests shares the light of the Sacred Mother.
"They are sick," Toraim points out plainly to the half-elf cleric. The dwarf's manner is abrupt, but his tone suggests that he is concerned. "Surely, you've seen this already. What can be done?"
As the group encircles the essence of the dead man, the pulsating essence begins to move. It rotates once around the group then comes to rest in front of the dwarf.
"I'm afraid Thomas is not powerful enough to remove the disease from your blood, and I have only limited resources to such divine blessings. With so many people being overwhelmed by the disease, I cannot cure everyone. Come by tomorrow, and if I haven't used such prayers, I'll say one over you," the elder priest says.
Thomas looks at his superior. "The blessings the goddess granted me have changed in recent weeks, but fear not neither the Sacred Mother nor I will abandon any of her children. Keep the faith and I will do my best to end such curses."
His grip on the stone cherry tree nearly imperceptibly tightens.
The elven noble is just grateful that her bruises and cuts have been healed. She is concerned by this disease, but she also believes that Anarin's faith is strong enough to do something about it.
"The Mother of Miravynn and Valthyra has my gratitude as does her faithful. We should return to the prison."
She pauses and makes eye contact with the two priests. "The cursed undead there are stronger than those we faced yesterday. I know not why, but not all the dead are equal in this district."
Toraim sees the tension between the priests but keeps his tongue. Seeing his companions ready once more, he turns to Akula, "Let's see what we can do about your idea for a tower shield."
With that, the dwarven priest looks for a study door, as well as strong rope or thick strands of leather that could serve to add makeshift handles...
With great skill, Toraim fashions a makeshift tower shield from a thick, oaken door of a nearby dwelling. The dwarf is quite pleased with the results considering the materials it had available. With a little iron or steel to reinforce the shield... and cut down to a more reasonable size, i should think this would be a masterful item, Toraim thinks to himself.
Having been healed by the glory of Teysura, the group returns to the Constable’s Príosún although both Maria and Ysildaë feel the weight of the impending disease within them.