"There are some tall hills there in the distance, we can head for those trees. It might give us some cover from being spotted by zombies."
"The hills then? Good vantage point. See what's coming. If agreed follow me."
With no imminent threat, though some zombies are walking towards you, the group decides to move. Heading towards the hills you head out South and then aim South East. Focusing on putting distance between you and any threats stealth is thrown to the wind. You see packs of hunched forms and they begin to follow but you have speed on your side.
After a minute of moving you have at least two dozen zombies on your heels.
He stops and heaves to get air into his body. Supporting himself with the tower shield he stays up. It takes a round to recover his breath.
"Take a breather, get back your strength and continue on toward that hill there," she commented mainly toward Thorn. "I will get these zombies off of our trail and then I'll meet back up with you."
Constance seemed a bit worried, but all in all, based on her previous scouting trip, Sona she believed could handle it.
"I'll be careful."
At first she would move away from the group of Thorn and others to where she was out of their sight and then she would transform. Ultimately, her goal would be to gather the attention of the whole group of zombies after them, and with her heightened speed, lose them while making them head the opposite direction from the group. Hopefully giving them some breathing room and avoiding a horde building up and attacking them during the next day.
Azana perked up. "Idea!" She floated after Sona. "I can help! I can fly so the zombies can't get me! Zombies don't have guns." She looked at her jammed pistol with a sigh. "Not that they seem that great anyway..."
"Aw, mate! That would be a great idea, yeah," she answered caringly up to Azana. "You can handle the left side of them and I can take some away from the right. Eventually, the plan would be to lose them heading the opposite way than what we are going. Probably back toward the mansion and then zip back this way without being seen."
She would wait a moment to hear if Azana felt she could lose them or not, and if the discussion was taking a bit longer than just a few seconds, they naturally would slowly keep moving away from the oncoming group of zombies while discussing this. Thus not to give them any ground, but instead would move at Thorn's pace while deciding.
"I will protect the rest of us and get us to the hill. You ladies do your best and return safe, yeah?" WIth that Titus looks to the others.
"Lets move!"
Each of you begin your actions. Titus and the rest of the group continue on. Thorn moves at a walk while Azana and Sona begin to be the decoys. Most of zombies well below Azana as some veer off after Sona.
If those in the group look back it seems to be working. As only a few zombies veer toward you on your way to the hill. Titus easily takes care of one as others take care of others if he is busy.
Floating above a good three dozen zombies Azana,
Thorn walks slowly to catch his breath...
Once the nasties were a suitable distance away Azana sped up. She couldn't fly terribly fast, but she could use rubble and buildings to slow them down and when they couldn't see her fly back to the others.
"Almost there Thorn. Do you need a hand? I can carry you."
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Dan stops a moment once all the players have committed to their parts to look the scene over.
God willing, the zombies will chase after the fliers, and leave them be.
He didn't know why Thorn was moving slow, but that would complicated things.
He gazes at the enemy dogging them and gauges their chances.
"Let Titus carry you, lad. Speed is the only advantages us road-pounders have right now."
If any zoms are not taking the bait, he'll start aiming up some long-range fire to thin out the numbers.
All the immediate zombies did follow Azana and Sona. The few wandering towards the main group are dealt with ease.
Azana and Sona take a few minutes to lead the zombies astray before returning to the group at full speed. On the top of the hill you all can see that the piles of bodies stop well before the hill. Only a few wandering zombies can be seen, no packs, or worse a horde. By the time they arrive Thorn joins the group as well.
The hill does not reveal much as the ground flattens out to plains again with sparse hills in the distance. Hills, plains, shrub, and dirt as far as the eye can see.
Here is the map, the blue box is where the wall is located surrounding the complex, then the blue X is where you stand.
"So none of us know where we are or where to go. We can pick a direction and go? If we hit a river then we can at least follow it. Towns are often along water sources. There must be a resistance or other survivors. Why else save this world if not. So South?"
"There were the holes back at the manor, too," Azana mentioned. "Those were weird. We might want to find out why the magic holes were there."
Sona would take off, and it was clear now to the group that she moved quite fast. Thorn would die running like her after just a few moments in his armor. She seems to effortlessly dodge and dart around the zombies, keeping them in tow and attentive. Once Azana's group is left in the dust and she disappears, then likely Sona seems to vanish from sight as well. A few moments later, she seems to emerge from a small bunch of bushes to the left of the group and rejoins them.
She rushes up and swats Constance on the butt playfully and then loops her arm in hers before continuing on. Eventually, they scale the hill, and Sona searches for springs of water, any animals that took refuge up on the hill, as well as signs of humans as she climbs. It had been a while since having a drink of water, and although she did have a water bottle, it was already half empty. Finding water, even temporarily, was important.
"I do know we are west of the mansion, but that's the extent of it," she muttered just loud enough to be heard, "Can anyone see anything other than a wasteland? I mean, that's a river basin down there...," she points down below them ahead on their journey due west. "...but it looks dried up. If nothing else, we can dig for water and there may be remnants, but for right now, I say we camp. What do you guys think?" she says with a yawn.
To Azana, "I really don't want to go back there. Too many zombs, and you didn't see the hulking zombie I did. I don't think we can handle the hole. That's where he was heading anyways."
"What do we have to gain by camping here? Are any of you low on resources? If so then yes lets camp. If not we should head to the river bed and follow it one direction I don't care which. Hopefully, we will come upon a town soon or in a few days."
"Only used a couple of spellslots, so I'm fine with continuing." Azana wiggled her feet as she floated cross-legged, like she was sitting down. "Not even sore feet!" she added with obvious delight at her new abilities, even if she didn't exactly understand when they had come from.
"There were the holes back at the manor, too," Azana mentioned. "Those were weird. We might want to find out why the magic holes were there."
"Well we did get into that cage and it seemed went down with Mr. Smith. Perhaps the holes are the tunnels made for the cage." She offers still contemplating the whole situation. She continues, "I say we should still continue on. Which direction? I will pray upon it. Though once we find a relatively safe place or done trudging I can make a spring of water with this handy stick." She pulls out a wooden stick with a Y at the end.
She prays and then offers, "No immediate answer."
It is still night, though with the full moon it is relatively easy to see especially with Kyrie's light spell.
Finally back to his normal self, he offers, "Any direction will likely be fine as long as we don't go back to the piles of undead."
A chuckle is given to Azana at the delight of her abilities.
"Alright, splendid. I suppose we can trudge on and camp during the day when it gets hotter. Ahead looks like a desert to me, and no signs of water. Let's hope your handy stick can help us Jelissa...," Sona replies, although she is skeptical.
"At least climbing this hill gave us a perspective of what was around us."
Typically, when wanting someone to find you, you leave a sign that you came through that way, however, if there are intelligent undead, she doesn't want them knowing which way they went. She will head down to the riverbed without leaving a sign.
"Yes if this is a desert we will want to move at night and shelter during the day. Well, we are burning moonlight. We should be off now."
"Let us put as much distance between us and those zombies so we should keep going East. Also just at a March so we can listen for any other zombies." With that stated she continues along the hill if possible using her scythe as a walking staff. Eventually coming off the hill and heading as East as possible.
She walks, watching her step as she listens and looks for threats.
"We go east then. Let's move. Elize my love rest. Ride upon my back."
With that said his bones begin to bulge and move crackling and popping as he shifts into a lion. He approaches his wife and nuzzled her a bit before she hops on and grabs ahold of his mane. Once she is mounted he begins heading east.
Also has scent.
As they descend, she takes Constance in arm and tries her best to be silent as they walk. While there weren't many zombies about, it didn't help to go blaring her music or singing at the top of her lungs.
"We'll walk at Thorn's speed so he doesn't get tired again," she mocks with a playful look as the girls speed down in front of him. They will stay in that position for the descent, but afterward will let Jelissa, Thorn, and Titus go into the lead.
"I was wondering," she voiced, just loud enough to be heard by all, "Do you all have kitsunes, or lycanthropes for example, like Titus, in your worlds?"
He nods to her at Sona's words, "Oh you are..." He trails off seeing it was said a bit more in jest as the speed down in front of him.
He takes up the rear guard and keeps on marching.
Keeping her voice down to a whisper that can be heard by those nearby, "I don't think I have met such as Titus before. Though to answer your question we know of lycanthropes and kitsunes. Honestly I would want to meed a kitsune rather than most lycanthropes, as most are homicidal killers."
You travel for a good 10 minutes without seeing a zombie. Then you start seeing them again. For the most part you are out in the open. There is a 5 foot tall ridge off to the right and sage brush pretty much everywhere to hide behind. You see a band of them on the ridge and a second group about 50 feet from them. You are about 150 feet away from both groups.
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"Indeed, we have both kinds. Lycanthropes are invariably evil, mono-thought murderers that are killed by heroes looking to make a name for themselves. Because of them all heroes carry at least a silver dagger as soon as they can afford it.
Kitsune are useless. Only because they are invariably bards, and not even good ones. I've yet to meet a kitsune bard that was worth...literally anyone else. They can neither fight nor cast, and so I'd rather have a stout warrior, dumb as rock and hard as stone, by my side.
Or front as it were.
No offense intended, Daniel."
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"None taken," he says reflexively. He wasn't much for talking when there was work to be done. And there was always work to be done.
"We got inbound," he says, pointing to the mass of zombies.
"Now, I got me an idea. What say one of you two fine ladies that can fly take this here rifle, fly over on the other side of them zombies, and fire off a couple rounds.
You ain't got t' hit nuthin', just make noise. They'll come after you, well, were you was.
You just fly back over here, silent as a Wisconsin winter, and we'll hike on out while they keep chasing some gunshots.
How's that?"
Titus lays down on his belly allowing Elize an easy dismount. A moment later he stands and shifts back to his human form.
"So everyone noticed them? The gunshot plan isn't bad. We don't know how they will react if we don't try. If not that then we should head north a bit to avoid them and then continue east."
"What do people say about witches?" Azana asked curiously. She didn't like the idea that people got judged based on there race or having a magical disease, and Titus didn't seem like a stupid ravening homicidal monster, so she wanted to know what people thought of her. "People were mostly human, though. Mostly. I'm kind of the exception." Azana wasn't entirely sure what she was.
"Would my gun be loud enough?" she asked, pulling out the pistol. "I think I fixed it."
"From my lands witches get a bad reputation but some are good, neutral, and evil. If you asked the peasants they would prefer to keep the magical people out, at least until they are helping." She responds to Azana, then stops at the second question looking to Daniel as she barely knew of the weapons. Then she continues, "I personally give anyone a chance to prove themselves. Race, class, or anything else just tells of your upbringing to a degree, the true question is are you trustworthy? From what I have seen so far, Titus is the only one that I am marginally worried about. Artifacts can have strange effects and that was crazy!"
"Sorry I am not that good at names," he states looking at the half orc witch waiting for her to say her name again then continues, "Azana, Azana, Azana. Yeah witches do have a bad reputation though not as bad as a werewolf. Though you seem decent enough Azana, a bit serious but I would trust you as far as I can throw you. And I can throw pretty far." He finishes with a smile and a wink.
Azana likely takes her pistol or the offered gun. Flying over she might even hit one or more drawing all the zombies to her. Luckily they are all well dead and just reach for her as they stumble after her.
Continuing East as Azana makes a distraction you travel along sand a bit more than before. You see a mass group of likely zombies traveling towards the sound of the gun shot. Looking back you see two figures on mounts. As they get closer you can see that both mounts are feline, also a rope line goes beyond them to some mules.
Thorn stops, slams his shield into the sand securing his stance and readies his longsword. Whispering to his group, "We have company from behind... mounted folk."
She stops almost looking bored and holds the massive scythe on her shoulders with ease. Her off hand remark, "Well do we get to have some mounts now and kill something other than undead? Hmmmrph!"
Azana looked at the horde with a task. This...this was going to be a problem. Even if she lured them away today they would either run into them one day, or they'd run into humans who couldn't defend themselves.
She took a look around to see if there was something she could lure the pact into - a fire, maybe? Or perhaps a hole she could trap them in. Something more permanent than just luring them away. If not then luring them away would just have to be enough.
Sona elected to keep her kitsune heritage to herself. While Jelissa's words were encouraging, Kyrie seemed to share the disdain-like racism that many people of her world had concerning them. It was sad to hear such an intelligent woman say such stupid things concerning her people.
Fortunately, Kyrie shifted her idiotic prejudices toward Daniel and Sona bit her lip. It hit too close to home and wouldn't be forgotten. She slinked off to the side as attention was given to the sharpshooter as if she didn't want to hear any more theories on Kitsunes.
At the mention of Zombies, she bristles but answers Azana in her normal British accent, "Witches are seen in a neutral light in my world. There are good ones and bad ones. The good ones seem to fight the bad ones. But I share the same views Jelissa has. I personally give everyone a chance to prove themself..."
Sona will refuse to go this time and gather the attention of the zombies, leaving it to Azana to handle. As Azana does, Constance and Sona will go off and talk to each other in whispers further from the group. At the sound of Thorn warning them, they will return and seem more ready for action.
"Hopefully they aren't undead riding undead animals, but it doesn't look like it. They look like...felines?" She prepares to cast if needed and hides behind a bush.
"Don't worry Jelissa. I was trained to hunt and kill undead before becoming this, and I will continue to do so. While many will see this as a curse and it may be I will use this power to help save the land."
He pauses as he too sees the approaching mounted people. He steps in front of Elize in a position of defense.
"Now what is this approaching."
He maintains human form for now.
The two men on horse back keep up a steady pace, the lead man's mount with it's head to the ground, until it looks up at the group. The man riding it looks up as well, and his eyes land on Titus.
"Are you living folk?"
He seems pretty calm, but his hand is on the hilt of a longsword at his hip.
The other man soberly looks over the group. His bald head and body seems to lightly glow white under the moon light. The bare chested man wears black leggings that seem to billow from his legs. A few chains and cords are worn askew over his chest, neck, and head as several monk weapons are on his belt. He sits atop a black panther which stretches a bit and lightly growls at the group. Attached to the back of his saddle is a thin rope that goes back about 50 feet and is tied to the packs of two mules.
With agile movements he dismounts. Seeing no overt threatening actions he slightly bows before loosening the exotic saddle on the panther. It rubs its head on his side in an obvious show of affection. Troas heavily pats its neck while waiting for Kaelen and the others to talk. He looks back at the mules for a few moments then focuses on you again. He flinched at the sound of gun fire, looking around he merely stands there waiting.
"Some of us more than others," she calls out just loud enough in response. Her accent is that of contemporary rp, and given her current mood, with hordes all around them and Kryie's statement, she's a little red-cheeked for a pale-skinned oriental girl. "Yes though...," she clarifies, "...if your intent is to find allies among the living, we all are traveling together with the purpose to bring an end to the dead that riddle this land. And you?"
The rider addressing them seemed alive to her, and uncommonly handsome for a human. It was like seeing one of those men described in cheap store romance novels ride upon them on horseback. She herself was quite the beauty, far greater than the innocent Constance () standing next to her. Both girls were young and mid-twenties in age, wearing modern clothing that one would see in a local mall (). The other being behind him was far less appealing. Yet both received smiles from the girls.
"Aye!" He simply responds after Sona's first statement. He lowers his longsword and looks out from the side of his tower shield to get a better look at them.
After introductions are made and Azana returns, the group likely continues East. You travel a good 20 minutes before you see small hills before you.