Male Human
Riven will move over and assist Zulleyan, "Come now, let's get you back to bed, you had a good fall earlier today." Riven will escort him back to a bed.
Human
Zelluyan wrote: His rambling trails off as he begins staring at an unremarkable flagstone in the floor and muttering "Very grey..."
"I think I'd like to go to bed now. Nurse?" He looks around in confusion.
"Time for his medicine, methinks."
Is there anything special about that area of floor? Maybe he's half-dwarf, and his Stonecunning went off?
No, it just looks 'I-have-a-concussion' coloured. :)
Male Human
Male Human Ranger 4
(fast-forward)
"Ah, time flies so quickly! Brother Thomas, art ready to fetch our bauble?"
Male
Malcolm checked over his list once more and scribbled down a few last things. "After we finish collecting the orb, perhaps we can stop by the head quarters and pick up some extra equipment".
Male Human Ranger 4
"We?" The big noble appears momentarily at a loss. "If an army shows up demanding the Orb, we'll find the tower locked tight and a squad of the owner's pet soldiers on patrol to repel us. 'Twould probably be best if only I went, or Brother Thomas and I... with the understanding that the rest of you arrive with the entire city watch in one hour if we're not out by that time."
In the distance, you can suddenly hear a bell of one of the Watch posts pealing the alarm signal.
(Procedure in this case dictates you dispatch at least some members of the squad to aid whoever is ringing the bell. Those with good hearing could probably tell it comes from a more Western district of the city. FYI, Talvan's tower is located in the Upper Easts.)
Male Human Ranger 4
"We can't risk losing the bauble -- and hopefully Talvan has no idea I'm now affiliated with you folks. I'll go for the Orb if you go put out the fire -- whatever it may be."
Male Human
"Malcolm, the Lad, and myself shall head to the call" Riven looks to those he's mentioned hoping they agree with his quick decision, "You two get the Orb, if it is the Orb from the sounds I would see this distress call as a good distraction...after all what would the undead do with this Orb? I'm sure if we need it to end this threat, they would be able to corrupt it's use into something far worse."
Riven again makes sure his gear is secure and in place, he opens the door, looks out into the streets...
What time of day is it
Looks back to Malcolm and the Lad, "Ready?" Then without waiting for a response he exits the post and begins the journey to the alarm.
It's late afternoon by now, coming on to evening. You've got (at most) an hour of weak sunlight left before the cold dark closes in around you.
Human
"To Talvan's Tower!" ...and beeyoond!"
Male Human
Sorry for the late notice all, the wife sprung a 3 day Scotland trip on me, will be back Tuesday, but will have no internet while gone. If you want to NPC Riven for this, it's cool with me.
So, votes for Riven to... ah, never mind. Didn't work either of the other two times. :(
Congratulations on getting to go to Scotland, that sounds awesome.
The streets are busy, bustling with townsfolk who are trying to get their goods home before dark. The rare members of the Lamplighters Guild, accompanied as always by burly bodyguards, acknowledge you with a curt nod as you pass, their long "wick-on-a-stick" held high as they make their way down the road.
It begins raining again, and you can hear the alarm bell tolling again from far away.
Brother Thomas and Hellard: You will have to pass through the marketplace near Parliament House in order to reach Talvan's tower. It's not so far, only a dozen blocks away, but the light is fading and the drizzle is starting to get your clothing damp.
Riven, Malcolm, and Darius: You make your way to the sound of the bells quickly, and spy a Watch post, its doors bolted and barred, under assault by a handful of shambling... zombies. Panic is starting to spread in the nearby area, and you will have to act quickly in order to restore the peace. In daylight, these creatures are even more horrible. Worse, it seems some of them are freshly dead- perhaps even murdered by zombies last night.
Male
Malcolm surveyed the scene quickly, "Riven, Darius, let's try and stay together. We can guard each others backs better that way". The blade slipped easily from the scabbard in his hands and he raised his guards whistle to his lips, letting out a long piercing screech.
Malcolm is hoping to get the zombies to stop attacking the building, and draw them to their group. Hopefully this will allow the other watch post guards to come around and flank them.
Male Human
Back and had fun!
Riven nods to Malcolm. Riven will wait a few moments, one round, to see if the Zombies come to his whistle, if they don't...
Riven shrugs, "Guess they want whats within. Shall we dance with the dead?" Then will a joyful smile, he goes to engage the dead.
Human
<knocks on Talvan's door>
Male Human Ranger 4
"Brother Thomas, I pray you let me do the talking on this one. I'll not introduce you at first; let him keep guessing who you are, and why you're here. A bit of uncertainty is apt to make him easier to deal with. If I exclaim, 'sink me!' then you allow your cloak to gap so he can get a glimpse at that holy symbol AND your guardsman's badge... that will really get him worrying!"
The zombies seem startled by the sudden noise, and several of them break off their assault in order to turn and face your trio. They shamble across the market, but your arrival brings relief to the beleaguered Watchmen, allowing them to press forwards.
Riven hurtles into the undead line like a comet, scattering limbs and ichor on the crowd. Malcolm's shortsword slashes at outstretching wrists and faces, halting the unliving assault. Darius still hasn't responded, and may well bite the dust.
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
The door yawns open on its hinges, revealing a scene of butchery. A corpse has been messily dismembered (perhaps torn apart, hints a small part of your brain?) on the lovely rug, and the bloodstained shopkeeper's apron is the only recognisable item of clothing on the body. A shambling corpse stands at the foot of the circular stairs, crunching a leg like a dog with a bone. It turns, spittle and gore dripping from its mouth, to face you with blank, dead eyes.
Male Human Ranger 4
The big noble, already on edge, leaps forward with a frantic jerk, drawing both swords. "Quickly! We need to find that bauble!"
Male Human
How much of the dead can be seen moving about? How many are there?
Male
Malcolm slashed at the zombies shambling forwards, keeping his back carefully towards the tall barbarian warrior. Thoughts flashed through his mind, wondering whether a sword had been the correct choice for a Zombie attack. Slashing out at the nearest Zombies throat, he kicked forwards hoping to hear the satisfying crack of a kneecap.
Human
"Sink Me!"
"Vade Retro,, Maleficarius!"
Protection from Evil
At Talvan's Tower...
The zombie lunges forwards at Brother Thomas, but his symbol flares brightly, and its claws rake off his clothing instead of his flesh. Hellard's swords plunge into its torso, and it spins, baring rotten teeth at the noble.
Footsteps can be heard from upstairs, and a trio of zombies begin lurching down the steps.
At the Watch Post...
Malcolm's kick connects, his hob-nailed boots shattering the shin and knee of one of the corpses. It collapses, tearing at him as it goes down and leaving an jagged rip on his right cheek. His sword slashes through the throat of another, but it keeps coming.
Riven's greatsword weaves a deadly arc through the air, glittering redly in the weak lamplight. Another three fall in pieces, and another pair lunge forwards, one catching the warrior's ponytail and yanking it fiercely, throwing him off balance. The other grasps his right arm and gnashes its teeth at his throat, throwing him off balance and halting his deadly swings.
A pair of guardsmen with cudgels and wooden shields step forwards, their training coming to good use as one shouts "step-swing-step-swing-hold-step-swing" with his blows. The trio of zombies facing them are being driven steadily back as other members of the crowd join in, hurling pieces of fruit, loose rocks, and a single dart, which strikes Riven in the arm, causing a momentary sting, but no lasting damage.
At the moment, one zombie is fighting Malcolm; two are grappling Riven; three are being fought by the pair of guards.
Male Human
"DAMNED DEAD!" Riven exclaims while the duo attempt to grapple him, knowing the more serious one to be the one aching to taste his throat, with a quick jolt from his head he crushes the creatures jaw. Handling his weapon in a quick reverse grip, blade pointed down, he brings up the pommel in an uppercut fashion on the same creature raming the weapons pommel into its skull and seperating the creature from him.
Male Human Ranger 4
Heedless of his own safety, Hellard leaps onto the stair with a mighty surge, engaging all three of the zombies there and trusting his companion to handle the one below. He hopes to break past them and see if anyone remains alive upstairs.
Male
Malcolm felt the tear along his face and hot blood trickle down his chin. Biting back an yell, he slashed his blade forwards following through the blow with an elbow to the zombies face. Hearing Riven's curse, he dared a glance forwards. Seeing the zombie grasping the barbarians hair, Malcolm surged forwards, slamming into the zombie with his left shoulder.
Human
"I SMITE AT THEE!"
Whoops, been on those Beta-discussion boards too long...
At Talvan’s Tower…
Brother Thomas’ righteous blow staves in the skull of the zombie upon him, spraying its rotted brains like jelly on his face. It collapses to the floor lifelessly, once more only an empty mortal shell. His gaze turns to the stairs curving up the wall, where his noble companion has sprung forwards to engage the shambling dead.
Hellard’s blades slash into the undead with strength surprising for one of the Quality. One zombie’s arm hangs by a few tatters of flesh, nearly severed by his enthusiastic blow. The zombie surges forwards, and its nightmarish jaws close on Hellard’s left bicep, locking with rigor mortis. The pain is unbearable, but, face grim and brow spotted with cold sweat, the noble hews its head from its neck with a terrific axelike blow from his right blade, while his left arm shoots out in a cross-thrust, impaling another zombie through its open jaws and penetrating its skull. With a twist of the blade, it crumples, spewing green-grey jelly on the stairs.
One of the undead pushes past Hellard, however, its face intent upon the priest. Its eyes bear an uncharacteristic hint of evil malice, and its heavy fists are raised as it snarls at him.
At the Watch Post…
While Riven separates the zombie grappling with him, another closes from behind, and a blow like the hoof of a horse strikes the back of the former Watchman, starring his eyes with pain. He can feel eager talons scrabbling at his mail, the only thing keeping his innards in right now. Then the pressure is gone, as Malcolm crashes into the creature, hurling it away.
The young Detective-Corporal goes sprawling, and the creature is on him in an instant, its killing instincts raised. Its teeth gnash at his throat as he desperately tries to keep it away, all thoughts of offense gone with his blade, now spinning a full man’s length away on the cobbles.
One of the guards strikes a lucky blow with his cudgel, shattering the skull of his foe. The other is distracted for a moment, and his rhythm falters- and the creatures bat away his defense. He screams horribly as they tear his right arm away, and his cries only die when they reach the unfortunate man’s throat. His comrade looks grim, now outnumbered two-to-one by the monsters as they rise, faces still gory with the lifeblood of his partner.
Sorry guys, I’ve been trying to post for a couple of days now, but the boards keep going down at very inopportune times. I want to keep our rhythm going, though, so please go nuts here!
Male Human
Seeing the outnumberd gaurdsman, his comrades horrible fate; Riven howls with rage...in few long steps Riven reaches out with his Great Sword severing a zombie spine, dropping the creature in two...knowing his distance to be too great he can only hope the gaurd can handle his only attacker...
Male Human Ranger 4
Assuming that the priest is well able to handle the additional zombie on his own, Hellard sprints up the stairs, nimbly avoiding bits of rotting flesh. Timing a deep breath for just before he reaches the second floor, he surges to the top of the stairs, hardly pausing -- intending to search for the Orb first and survivors second. With his typical nonchalance regarding "dirty" activities like melee combat, he confidently prepares to hack apart with maximum efficiency any zombies that get in his way.
At Talvan's Tower...
The zombie closes on Brother Thomas, snapping its teeth and growling (very odd behaviour... the undead are traditionally soul-less, thus without any kind of thinking behaviour). He raises his holy symbol, but the big zombie bats it away one-handed and lunges forwards, teeth wide.
Hellard's surge carries him through the doorway into the upper room, which bears a comfortable bed, a large bookcase, a desk, and a display case of relics and artefacts- all torn apart and hurled about. An older man lies on the floor, his blood pooled about him. The blood still looks wet, and may have been spilled only recently.
At the desk, a tall figure, clad in robes of deep burgundy, turns. In its hand is a crystal orb, glowing with a greenish-yellow radiance. The figure's head is covered in a deep hood, and with a gesture and a few guttural words from the figure, the room's lantern is snuffed out momentarily.
"Anwu tjanfe!
Hellard's reflexes carry him unerringly through the room, his blades extended, but they meet no resistance. The light resumes after a moment, leaving the room dim but visible. No figure- orb or otherwise- is to be seen within, only a gaping window.
Downstairs, the zombie's head goes to one side like a dog as it hears the words, and roughly hurls the priest aside into a wall, leaping out the doorway and racing down the street in a display of decidedly un-zombielike energy.
At the Watch Post...
Riven swing shears one of the creatures in half, leaving him a handful of moments to catch his breath. The other Watchman bobs his head in acknowledgement, then springs forwards to bludgeon his opponent to the ground, and begins kicking with heavy boots. Brave onlookers dive forwards to lay a boot in until one young lad, a stonemason by the looks of him, brings forward a flagstone the size of a man's chest, and they withdraw. The flagstone pulps the monster, leading a cheer from the crowd.
Malcolm's struggle is nearing desperation now. The creature's unflagging strength is slowly overwhelming his tired muscles, and its jaws are snapping ever closer to his face.
Male Human Ranger 4
Hellard, shaking his head amusedly for the benefit of any onlookers (but inwardly grinding his teeth in frustration), takes a quick look around the room to see if there are any other orbs in sight. Frisking the body of the old man (and checking for a pulse) should properly be a task for the lower classes, but Hellard figures he'll have to bite the bullet and do that, too.
Male Human
Seeing Malcolms situation going sower Riven quickly sheaths his blade and moves to his comrade. He places his hands around the creatures head and quickly jerks the head snapping it's neck...
Male
Malcolm's panted for breath as the zombie tore at his flesh, it was all he could do to keep the creature from his neck. The pressure eased suddenly as the creatures head was wrenched backwards. Rolling quickly out from underneath the creature he flashed Riven a quick smile and tried getting up, wincing from the tears on his skin. "My thanks Riven, how many of the guard have been lost?", Malcolm's eyes skipped over the area trying to take a tally of the dead, dying and injured.
Male Human
Surveying the scene along side Malcolm, "At least one lad was lost." Looking about and seeing no more dead coming for them, "This couldn't of been all? If so this was a diversion i'm sure!"
Human
A sentient zombie?
This has to be dealt with!
Thomas charges into the street, to hack its brains in.
At Talvan's Tower...
Upstairs, Hellard examines the old man's body. He has been stabbed cleanly in the chest, and the wound has been his end, perhaps within the last five minutes. No other orbs are in sight, but there seems to be some sort of scrawl made in the pool of blood beside the body. The man's fingers are bloody as well- perhaps he drew the symbol himself?
Outside in the street, Brother Thomas charges outside, attempting to catch the fleeing undead. It glances back and bares its teeth in a snarl as it bounds away (like the zombies in I Am Legend), pausing to grab a shocked onlooker and tear his arm off at the shoulder. The man lets out a terrible scream, his blood gushing away, and collapses on the street, face rapidly whitening. With magical help, he might stand a chance of survival, but left alone, he will surely perish within moments.
At the Watch Post...
Only the two Watchmen seems to have perished in the assault, and while there are several lesser wounds, none will be life-threatening. The crowd cheer you energetically. One merchant even presses fresh melons into your arms (selling for 3 nobles apiece in ordinary times). As you look around, you see that Darius seems to have vanished in the press.
The Watch Bell has ceased ringing- perhaps you should head back to the Hell Squad headquarters and consult with the other members of the squad (and seek bandaging for your wounds)?
Male Human
Riven turns to Malcolm, "So what say you? Back to the post, or shall we see if the others have faired so well as us?"
Human
DM Blue_eyed_paladin wrote: It glances back and bares its teeth in a snarl as it bounds away (like the zombies in I Am Legend), pausing to grab a shocked onlooker and tear his arm off at the shoulder. The man lets out a terrible scream, his blood gushing away, and collapses on the street, face rapidly whitening. With magical help, he might stand a chance of survival, but left alone, he will surely perish within moments. If I can reach the zombie immediately, I'll charge it, otherwise, if it's too fast, I'll stabilise the citizen.
What? I never claimed to be a boy scout. And taking it out will prevent further poor souls being bitten...
Male Human Ranger 4
Cursing his lack of attention during his childhood art classes, Hellard ransacks the place for paper and ink, and clumsily sets about trying to draw the symbol on paper, to bring back to Master Zellayun.
Human
"STOP THAT MISERABLE CREATURE!"
<puff>
<pant>
At Talvan's Tower...
Brother Thomas pants after the zombie, but it flees too quickly for him, hoisting itself up a drainpipe and leaping away over rooftops. A simple spell closes the bystander's gushing wounds long enough to bandage him, and nearby Watchmen are on hand to carry him to the nearest healer.
Hellard, ignoring the pain of his wounded arm, copies down the signal on a sheet of parchment with some of the spilled ink nearby. It looks vaguely like a series of images in line- a bow, broken forwards with no string; a pair of circles, one atop the other; a line with three lines sticking out perpendicularly from it; and a squiggle with a triangle on the end.
(Image found here. Sorry for image quality, I just made it on Paint Shop Pro in 5 minutes)
From there, the Watch take over, and you can head back to the Hell Squad headquarters quickly.
Riven and Malcolm...
Riven and Malcolm head back the the Hell Squad headquarters, eager to bandage their wounds and discuss strategy with the others, if they've returned.
Male Human
After returning back to the barracks, "How long should we give them to return before we go looking for them?" Riven begins looking through the barracks for any signs of disturbance, "That attack was too weak from the earlier ones, i'm certain it was a distraction."
Male
Sorry guys, just got a new job and everything went a little crazy
Malcolm looked in the rough mirror, trying to patch up the jagged rip in his face. "I agree," Malcolm winced and silently looked forward to having another skilled in the healing arts to help him "Perhaps we should go see what they found, or what has found them".
Male Human Ranger 4
Surveying his crude handiwork, Hellard verifies that he has caught all the correct details in his sketch, then carefully folds the scrap of parchment into his jerkin.
Then, with a grunt of effort, he heaves the old man's body onto his shoulder. Knowing full well that removal of murdered remains from the scene of the crime is istelf a felony, Hellard conceals the body as best he can with a cloak and staggers downstairs under the weight of that load. Hopefully Master Zellayun knows a priest who can speak with the dead...
Hellard staggers back in to the Hell Squad Watch Post, burdened by a large bundle, wrapped in his cloak. Brother Thomas walks at his side, giving him sidelong curious glances. They are greeted by Malcolm, his cheek bandaged, and Riven, bloodied but mostly unhurt.
With a dramatic thump! Hellard unrolls his cloak, revealing a body soaked in blood. It is dressed in scholar's robes, with a neat stab wound in the chest.
Someone had better shut the door, don't want passers-by spotting this!
Male Human
"Gods man! This isn't the morgue!" Riven exclaims as he closes the door.
Human
"Maybe the cells would be a good place for him?
For discretion's sake, if not the smell?"
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