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As the Undead step into place around the team, Brayka’s vision blurs ahead to an image of exploding putrid flesh as Darg decimates the Pale Horse. “Thank you, Cayden, I hope I understand your sending,” mutters the little goblin. He pulls the reins and
◆Strides Plum to the gap next to Red, positioning himself between Darg and Ryiah.
◆Slashes at Red with the bastard sword
◆Slashes at Red again, but overbalances from the previous assault
Brayka whirls under the reeling horse, rushing to save Ryiah from the imminent jaws of the shambling figure, and with a clean blow, fells it with what looks to be little effort!
It is then the horse's forelimbs strike the ground again, and having whirled on Nenyath, it attempts to respond in kind, biting down on the redeemer with rotten teeth and horse's breath!
Clamping down firmly, the beast rips off a hunk of flesh and consumes it greedily, restoring to itself some negative vitality, emitting a pleasuring sound that sounds like a sickening sigh. "NNNhHHHHHAaRRRRRhhhhhCHCH".
Darg seizes the moment, and with a single solid blow, beats the horse to the ground, finishing the job that he started!
Darg then steps behind Nenyath, and flanking the second undead humanoid, fells that creature in a single blow as well!
...
Brayka
Darg
Nenyath (Grabbed by Green!) (-12 jaw)
Ryiah
Green Undead Humanoid (has Nenyath Grabbed!)
...
Please roll a Perception check, and post results in your next post...
...
Using the power of her mind - nay - her Music! - Ryiah, while maintaining her tune, lifts a rock from the ground, and hurls it at the creature about to bite down on Nenyath.
...
Brayka
Darg
Nenyath (Grabbed by Green!) (-12 jaw, less 3)
Ryiah
Green Undead Humanoid (has Nenyath Grabbed!) (-16 rock)
...
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Grimacing as the Pale Horse's fierce bite crunches into plate and skin, causing bruising and possibly cracked bones. As the next creature grabs them, they feel divine intervention trying to aid them.
Shrugging off the grasp, the Champion of Pharasma focuses on the shambling creature in green rags.
for
OR
for
As Brayka's divine intervention spares Nenyath from getting their brains devoured, the Redeemer fells the creature with their implement of war...
...And with that, the PCs are "out of the woods", if a bit bloodied (Nenyath's nasty bite wound), and surrounded by an abandoned village...and taking stock, it appears that "Red" never made it across the Crossing Army, probably captured by the Whispering Tyrant's forces, with little the party can do...
...
...
-Town Plaza (Fountain)
-Chapel (A2)
-Smithy (A3)
-Residence (A4)
-Specialty Shop (A5)
-Tavern (A6)
-General Store (A7)
Brayka @ Fatigued
Darg @ Avoid Notice
Nenyath @ Fatigued (-9 chomp)
Ryiah @ Investigate
...
Judging by the sun's descent across the sky, time has progressed from early-mid afternoon to late-mid afternoon...
You notice something "shiny" in the undead horses neck!
|
Darg looks at the fallen people, "Shame, bad way to go. I guess we should look them over to see if any of them are the Pathfinders we have been sent to find. We should keep our eyes open, there could be more about." At that Darg will drag the bodies into one spot so that they can have a look at them.
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"Good idea, Darg, give me a moment and I'll help administer to them. But first, Nenyath, I'll see you your wound?"
Brayka steps over to Nenyath and lays a finger on his bracer. A wave of phosphorescent yellow masses on Brayka's arm and then washes over Nenyath, leaving their wounds cleaner and smaller.
"Can someone peek back to make sure the undead army is not coming this way? Not sure if they are going to follow us into town."
Then Brayka steps over to help Darg arrange the bodies, saying prayers to Cayden Cailean over them as he also checks them over to see if any are identifiable.
.
Brayka and Darg begin inspecting the corpses... shuffling through their torn clothes, looking for distinguishing marks or other clues as to who these folks might have once been!
Your teammates seem to have neglected searching inside the corpses (eww!), instead focusing on outer appearances, and as a result, will probably "miss" the "shiny" thing you caught a glimpse of in the horses neck wound...
...
...
Brayka @ Inspecting Corpses @ ??, ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ Inspecting Corpses @ ??, ??
Nenyath @ ?? (-9 chomp, +6 lay on hands)
Ryiah @ ??
Brayka @ Moment of Prayer (Refocus) (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? (-9 chomp, +6 lay on hands)
Ryiah @ ??
...
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Darg looks at the carcas of the horse and then back to Ryiah, "I do not think that one of the missing pathfinders was a horse." He then goes about looking through the pockets of the dead, looking for anything that might help them identify any of them. After a few minutes Darg turns back and stares long and hard at the horse then shakes his head, "No, I am certain, none were horses."
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"Ryiah, I'll open the horse in a moment after tending the fallen, good eye! I forgot to mention earlier, excellent singing, we should try a duet sometime . . . though poor Red had better vocal range."
Brayka examines the corpses as closely as he can stomach . . . which is closer than even he would have guessed:
Taking Ryiah's hint, Darg becomes aware of the "shiny thing" lodged inside of the beast's neck. Squinting, he decides it'll either take a light touch to reach in, or a brute force to rip open, in order to obtain it.
You can determine that this zombie shambler was once a human, and that his neck and face both show significant damage from some kind of violent strangulation and tearing from teeth.
Furthermore, you notice / recall that this type of fine clothing was very popular among minor nobles in Taldor.
You have absolutely no idea who this zombie is / was, why he / she is here, or what that means!
...
Brayka @ Inspecting Corpses (Perception) @ 23 (0/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ Inspecting Corpses (Perception) @ 10
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (-9 chomp, +6 lay on hands)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ Inspecting Corpses (Society) @ 19 (0/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ Inspecting Corpses (Society) @ 8
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (-9 chomp, +6 lay on hands)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ Moment of Prayer (Refocus) (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (-9 chomp, +6 lay on hands)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
...
Darg and Brayka spend a good 20 minutes trying to solve the mystery of the "who / what / when / where / why" of the zombie corpses, meanwhile...
|
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"Oh no . . .," Brayka places his hands to his mouth and steps back from the body.
"This one wears finery of the Taldor Nobility. Clement Marten, we have found you?"
Brayka straightens and casts his gaze over the corpses again. "The Pale Horse . . . the horse Desert Wind was Larraz Virtanne's companion . . . . does he lie here too?"
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As the last creature drops, Nenyath takes a moment to clean up the ichor from the blade of their Sword, whispering a prayer to Pharasma for lending them their power in the fight. As they do so, their hand glows with a warm light and much of the vile wound recovers.
"You save that my friend in case we get ambushed - it is getting later in the day." They thank Brayka for the offer but declines. "I will be ok and can recover again if needed. Is anyone else injured?"
With that out of the way they begin to search the corpses for signs of who they once were.
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"How kind of you Brayka. It would be lovely to do a duet together, after all of this nastiness."
Ryiah hangs back, horrified at the idea of digging through corpses.
After Brayka searches the corpses and wonders aloud about Larraz Virtanne she asks, "Does her...we...it...umm...he?...have a tattoo that you can see? I think he had a tattoo.
Nenyath and Ryiah also start rummaging through the corpses for more clues...
You can determine that this zombie shambler was once a human, and that his neck and face both show significant damage from some kind of violent strangulation and tearing from teeth.
You have absolutely no idea who this zombie is / was, why he / she is here, or what that means!
...
The buildings here are modest, single-storied, and in surprisingly good shape - as if the town itself was abandoned in a single night! There is a fountain in the Townsquare, a few residences, shops, a tavern, and a chapel. In better times, this would be an idyllic place to live and study at the College about a 30-minute hike to the top of the Hill, overlooking the entire settlement...
-Town Plaza (Fountain)
-Chapel (A2)
-Smithy (A3)
-Residence (A4)
-Specialty Shop (A5)
-Tavern (A6)
-General Store (A7)
...
Brayka @ Inspecting Corpses (Perception) @ 23 (Success) (0/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ Inspecting Corpses (Perception) @ 10 (Failure)
Nenyath @ Inspecting Corpses (Perception) @ 21 (Success) (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ Inspecting Corpses (Perception) @ 15 (Failure)
Brayka @ Inspecting Corpses (Society) @ 19 (Success) (0/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ Inspecting Corpses (Society) @ 8 (Failure)
Nenyath @ Inspecting Corpses (Society) @ 10 (Failure) (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ Inspecting Corpses (Society) @ 8 (Failure)
Brayka @ Moment of Prayer (Refocus) (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ ?? @ ?? (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ ?? @ ?? (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
...
|
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As Brayka looks up from the Horse, he sees Darg scanning the shattered beast's neck.
"I'm having no further luck with the bodies, if we can find a survivor though they might know who these people were. Shall we finish with the Pale Horse and then check out the buildings? People might have gathered at the smithy for defense."
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Ryiah eyes the corpse of the horse and wonders if it's worth trying to retrieve whatever she saw in it's neck herself. She decides it is not!
"Well...I certainly cannot see anything - or anyone - here that I can recognize. Though, if that really is Clement Martin, then it doesn't seem beyond belief that this could be the druid's companion. It's true, Darg, that none of the Pathfinder's themselves were horses, but the druid did have one. Perhaps the object in it's neck will provide an additional cue."
After futzing with the corpses for awhile, Brayka decides to scope out the Smithy...
Empty weapon cases and crates are scattered throughout this bare-bones building. Dust outlines the faint shadows of swords and shields removed from their resting places.
Taking some time to search the premises, you find nothing. Outside beside the armory, you spot and obviously broken Cart with broken axles. You have no idea how to assess the damage.
...
Brayka to Visit Smithy (0/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ Moment of Prayer (Refocus) (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ ?? @ ?? (1/1 Focus Points)
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
...
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Ryiah frowns. No one is listening to me. She fights down a surge of anger that threatens to burst out of her. The very thought of these people not following her orders! No. That's why you left. Don't do this. Stop it. You know you are not better than them!
She takes a deep breath and rolls her shoulders, shaking off her tension, then looks at Darg. "The church is a good idea. Let me just check this building first since it's right here."
Ryiah moves to the building to her left and opens the door.
Looking left then right, it quickly becomes apparent to Darg that nobody else is going to do it. So,...
...he beats down the horse neck with his flail, tenderizing it, then uses one of his javelins as a crude knife to cut away the rotting flesh - a cloud of putrescence wafting into his face and the immediate area - then reaches his bare hand between the partially decomposed sinews - all the way down to his shoulder! - and feels the cool metal against his hand, clutching it firmly...
...and holds up a shiny Wayfinder in the air for his comrades to witness!
Meanwhile, while the party is busy handling corpses, Ryiah excuses herself to head next door to the residence, and after searching about the dusty tables, empty drawers and pantry, under the stripped and blood-stained beds, it occurs to her to look underneath, and she emerges excitedly with a Cold Iron Buckler!...
... Suddenly - just as Darg is holding up the Wayfinder and Ryiah emerges with the Buckler - the sound of another Horse snuffling is audible from the other side of the house!
...
...
Brayka
Darg
Nenyath
Ryiah
Horse
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"Darg, undead don't normally . . . snuffle? Allow me a foolhardy moment . . ." Seeing what at first glance is a regular Horse, Brayka moves to calm the animal.
(◆) Brayka slowly Strides to where he can see the horse and
(◆) Examines it from afar for obvious wounds or . . . well . . . undeath.
(◆) As he does so, he speaks softly to the horse and holds out his hands low and away from his body. "It's OK, big one, you are OK. Who has left you out here? Did Brayka make a mistake earlier? Would you be Desert Wind? Of all the poor horses that must be here, maybe today is a very lucky day for us both? Might we get you back to someplace safe and warm, with dry oats, and fresh hay, and people to groom and love you?"
Darg - once bitten! - braces for a charge! Brayka, gentle at heart, moves to soothe the beast... It seems to respond to the name "Desert Wind" and allows the goblin to pet it. Ryiah is cautious to see if the horse bites him (it does not!)
You discern that Desert Wind is thoroughly malnourished!
...
-Town Plaza (Fountain)
-Chapel (A2)
-Specialty Shop (A5)
-Tavern (A6)
-General Store (A7)
-Pathway to Goldenflame College (B)
...
Brayka @ Visit Smithy (A3) @ Discovers Broken Cart!
Darg @ Cut Shiny Object from Corpse @ Partial Success (1/2)
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ Search Residence (A4) @ Discover Cold Iron Buckler!
Brayka @ Moment of Prayer (Refocus) (Focus Pool Refreshed!)
Darg @ Cut Shiny Object from Corpse @ Complete Success (2/2) @ Discover Wayfinder!
Nenyath @ ?? @ ?? (0/1 Focus Points)
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ ?? @ ??
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ??
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
...
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Brayka pets the horse's head and lets it nuzzle his hand. He calls out to the party "We need to find good fodder, he's not fed well. I will continue to calm him, could we see if there is some feed in the General Store?"
Brayka then continues to calm the horse. "Yes, I think you are Desert Wind. Where is your companion, you noble steed? Any other horse would have fled here by now, so close to the Undead. Is Larraz near here?"
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Darg lowers his shield slowly, keeping an eye on the horse. I think I saw a sign for a store down the road, I will check it out and see what I can find.
Darg, keeping his weapon and shield at the ready will stride down the road toward the general store and once there will go inside and see if he can find something a horse might like to eat.
Upon entering the store, the smell of mold permeates the air: Please make a Fortitude save!
Darg and Ryiah enter the General Store together...
Upon entering the store, the smell of mold permeates the air: Please roll a Nature or Perception check!
After making the check open either the "Success" or "Failure" spoiler below!
You are able to identify a deadly cloud of spores that have mutated over the food supply, stopping Darg and yourself from getting close enough to inhale them directly!
You also determine that they can be safely disposed of.
You are able to identify a deadly cloud of spores that have mutated over the food supply, but not in time to prevent you and Darg from inhaling them directly!
Please make a Fortitude save!
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Brayka coaxes Desert Wind to the fountain and checks if the water is safe to drink. He introduces Desert Wind to Plum and, after a skittish moment for both animals, manages to convince them to at least tolerate one another.
"Much as I would love to stay outside all day and play with you both, I can't abandon searching for our Pathfinders."
Brayka glances over the horse for tack and personal effects. If he finds something of the previous owner, he takes it and holds it in front of Desert Wind's and Plum's muzzles, letting the animals breathe the smell. Brayka then glances around a little sheepishly and leans in to Plum and Desert Wind, whispering to them.
"Can you take me to Larraz? Do you have his scent? Even if Larraz has fallen, we should know. I promise, we will pay him honor however he is found."
Brayka's eyebrows knit together, and he adds even more morosely, "If we've already found him, we still can't recognize him."
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Prepared to ready themselves for further Battle, Nenyath breathes a sigh of relief as they discover the very much alive Desert Wind. "Hmm, let us hope that their companions safety means that our ally still lives somewhere. We can but hope." As two move to the General Store in search of feed for the Trusty Steed, Nenyath moves towards the Speciality Store. "I will check this small building, there might be something else for our new companion or any survivors."
Sword and Shield in Hand they carefully make their way across the Plaza towards the store.
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Darg pauses at the entrance and looks down at Ryiah, "Indeed something does smell foul here. I do not think we will find anything to feed the horse here. If you want to try to remove the threat, and you think something is worth looking for, I could try maybe cover my face and try." Darg takes a step back and waits to see what Ryiah wants to do.
The party spends nearly an hour exploring the village. While Brayka soothes Desert Wind and communes with his deity, Darg and Ryiah head to the General Store, and choking on some spores, eventually find some Rolled Oats as the only unspoiled "food" across the premises. Meanwhile, Nenyath heads to the Apothecary, and discovering some Dried Herbs and Scented Candles after looking around, returns to the square where the party has once again gathered...
...It's quiet here. A little too quiet!
Just after you finish communing, your keen ears pick up on what you believe to be the sound of lone footsteps scattering towards the direction you all entered from up the valley - but way far off!...
Walking back from the store, you barely make out a creature running up the valley - the way you came in - but way far off - before quickly ducking up onto the road you crossed earlier...
You believe you could fix the Broken Cart by "reverse-engineering" how to sabotage one!
...
...
-Broken Cart
-Cold Iron Buckler
-Wayfinder
-Rolled Oats
-Herbs and Scented Candles
-Town Plaza (Fountain)
-Chapel (A2)
-Tavern (A6)
-Pathway to Goldenflame College (B)
Brayka @ Visit Smithy (A3) @ Discovers Broken Cart!
Darg @ Cut Shiny Object from Corpse @ Partial Success (1/2)
Nenyath @ ?? @ ??
Ryiah @ Search Residence (A4) @ Discover Cold Iron Buckler!
Brayka @ Soothe Horse (Nature) @ (13)+5 = 18 (Success)
Darg @ Cut Shiny Object from Corpse @ Complete Success (2/2) @ Discover Wayfinder!
Nenyath @ ?? @ ??
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
Brayka @ Moment of Prayer (Refocus) (Focus Pool Refreshed!)
Darg @ Visit General Store (A7) @ Discover Unspoiled Rolled Oats!
Nenyath @ Visit Apothecary (A5) @ Discovers Scented Candles!
Ryiah @ Visit General Store (A7) @ Discover Unspoiled Rolled Oats!
Brayka @ ?? @ ??
Darg @ ?? @ ??
Nenyath @ ?? @ ??
Ryiah @ ?? @ ??
...
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Darg motions for the others to gather around, I have spied someone or something on the road we came in on, i fear that it has slipped past us. It is most likely going to warn the undead of our presence. We have little time. We should quickly finish looking through the Chapel and the Bar but then make haste to the college."
Darg looks at the sky, then back down to the group, "We will not be returning to the wall before night. We must find a place to shelter soon."
Darg looks over to Brayka, "We found some oats for the horse. Do you think that if someone fixed up the cart, that it might have stregth to pull it to the college?
Darg scratches his chin, in deep thought, then smiles and says, "I am going to check out the bar."
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Brayka wastes no time in placing the oats out for Desert Wind. “Good Eye, Darg, I heard footsteps receding that way but didn’t see them. I think if we help push the cart to start we’ll be ok, but that’s assuming Ryiah or Nenyath can fix the cart? I’m not so handy, but I can try to coax Desert Wind into shape. That would leave one of us to check the Chapel.”
Brayka sets about doing what he can for Desert Wind: