As Jarrith and Khensu are carrying the body over to the building to store and protect it, Daellin passes on the info about the fight in the distance. The stalker immediately looks into his brother's eyes, and the two of them need not even speak what the other is thinking.
"Give us a minute to drop Litmunova down, and then we'll go. If there's someone actually alive in town, then we need to find that person."
Once the two of them are able to lay the body down someplace safe and Jarrith can lock the door behind them, he immediately tries to locate the sounds of battle and then hustle off in that direction.
Flame protect us, what have we gotten into? Sir Khensu nods at Daellin's words. "We need to find someon in this town that has not been corrupted yet. I would suggest bows ready and attack from a distance this time. Are we all in agreement?"
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
Jarrith pockets the unusual charm [DEFCON: Please note], and he and Khensu try to quickly find a place to place the carpenter's corpse. One of the less broken-into buildings is found. The place is not ideal, but would have to work for now.
With that business done, the group hustles towards the sound of combat. Clutching ranged weaponry, they advance into the darkened fog. The battle sounds draw closer until the mist parts and Selase's wan light illuminates the scene of battle in what appears to be the center of town.
Rough barricades block most of the access to the town square; however, the eastern barricade has been breached, and zombies are swarming through the opening. A woman in half-plate armor valiantly fights the zombies, but she is heavily outnumbered. In the shadows, the party counts seven undead swarming the warrior, while Daellin and Khensu's sharper eyes pick out another pair of zombies---one strangely covered in dirt---also approaching.
With this many zombies in the area, Jarrith knows they'd be overrun without giving themselves more time. He immediately raises his Silver Flame symbol on the pommels of both swords and once again calls upon the Voice to protect them. "By all that is holy, move away you creatures of Mabar!" (Turn Undead attempt)
Sir Khensu will fire his longbow at the nearest zombie, then drop his longbow and draw his greataxe.
((OOC - I have my continual torch out as well; it's tucked in my boot to provide some illumination.))
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
Sir Khensu aims his longbow, and it is as if the Flame itself guides his arm as the arrow files true. The blow would have dropped a living foe, but the deadened flesh is less affected. [AC 27 hits O9; 11 hp before DR] He then draws his greataxe, bracing for conflict.
Jarrith calls upon the might of the Flame to repel the massing undead. However, the energies he calls up are weak, and not a single foe turns to flee. [HD 4 turn check cannot affect targets]
Taking her frustration out on the dead, Janis lobs an acidic glob at a zombie young teen with skin so pale her black veins can be seen. The Templar's massive form spoils her shot, however. [AC 6 ranged touch misses target with cover]
The zombies swarm around the mass of warm bodies, compelled by some unknowable need to rend and maim. In the shadows of the light, the party notices the warrior suffer grievously under their blows. [Severely wounded]
The Six have their own troubles as the other undead mob Sir Khensu. The young zombie and a man more like a wall of dead flesh both land solid blows. [13 hp damage] At the same time, a stooped former grandfather with a limp pushes through the others to try to savage Khensu. Khensu takes advantage its distraction and slices a wide gash, just enough to foil its slam. [AoO by Khensu, AC 19 hits, 15 hp] Jarrith's sickness prevents him from assisting his Flame brother. [AoO by Jarrith, AC 15 misses]
Marot's holy power flies past Jarrith and Khensu's ears, but flies wide of his intended mark. [AC 3 ranged touch against covered target in melee misses]
Stepping back to minimize the threat to himself, the elf ranger raises his bow to down his hated foes. Daellin barely manages to dodge the swipe by the elder zombie, and quickly buries two shaft in its dead flesh. [5' step to R8; AC 25, 20 hit; AC 15 misses; 26 hp before DR]
The dirt encrusted zombie barrels towards the lone warrior, moving with alacrity not found in the plodders the Six have previously encountered. Its attack, however, are clumsy, at it fails to strike her. However, the warrior is now almost surrounded.
The warrior waves her shield warily at her foes, calling for "The Light" to ward her. At the same time, she touches her sternum with her bladed hand. A warm glow infuses her, and she seems invigorated. [Now moderately wounded]
Selase calls upon her inner power once gain, attempting to cow the undead before her. The teen and elderly zombies cringe at her rebuke, but the others are unfazed. [15 HD of undead turned]
Releasing the complex Cyran formulas derived from the Draconic Prophesies that allow her to hold multiple magics within her with but a single memorization, Janis calls upon the elements of fire to do her bidding against the massed zombies surrounding the warrior. However practical, the components of the spell leave her frowning afterwards as she watches the bead of fire alight the area.
OOC: Using her 3rd level open slot to cast Fireball, centered on the warrior. 6d6 fire DC 18 reflex for half.
Sir Khensu slashes at the already-wounded zombie, putting as much force as possible behind it in hopes of killing off the grandfatherly zombie quickly.
((OOC - Full power attack on the one I AoO'd last round. I'll cleave into the most wounded one if I drop him.))
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
Jarrith sees the anger within his Flame Brother come out with a huge swing of the greataxe to the two zombies that had just begun to cower from Selase. Knowing that the others of the Six could take care of the zombies in front of them (and not yet knowing of the blast of fire Janis was about to drop down upon the further group shortly)... Jarrith decides to come to the aid of the warrior surrounded in back. "Enemy of an enemy is a friend" and all that.
He quickly tries his best to tumble and dodge the zombies up front to move on past them all to get into a flanking position with the female warrior (Move Action to M7 / Tumble check to avoid AoOs). He then decides to exchange the divine power within him that drives undead away to instead use it to empower his attack with a holy might. He rears back with his magical rapier and thrusts it into the zombie being flanked (Attack action on L7: flanking bonus to hit +2 / Free Action to use Sacred Vengeance: +2D6 damage on successful hit, costs one use of Turn ability) .
He then hears the roar of the fireball that explodes on top of them all and starts streaming towards him. "Oh lord..." he winces, and Jarrith tries his best to drop out of the way from the incoming blast of searing flame. (Evasion of incoming fireball spell).
Sir Khensu brings his axe down heavily on the elder zombie, rending much of its dead flesh away. [AC 23 hits; 9 hp]
Trying to come to the warrior's aide, Jarrith is thwarted by the remnants of the broken barricade, forcing him to move through the cowering mass of zombies. He manages to deftly dodge the large zombie, the one still intent on flesh. [Tumble 20 vs DC 15 success] Calling the strength of the Flame to him, he moves up behind one of the zombies and strikes at it. The intent hunger of the zombie distracts it enough for the sickened Jarrith to land a solid blow. [Move to M9; AC 16 hits; 15 hp before DR]
Confident in her cool calculations, the army of Janii lob a pea sized force of fire into the fray. Both the warrior and Jarrith notice the fiery doom coming their way, and take precautions to ward themselves [Reflex saves succeeds] while only one of the zombies is so fortunate [J6's Reflex save succeeds. The flames sear the area, but then the end of the conflagration, the undead still remain standing. [18 hp]
Unsure of where the hurting fire came from, the zombies flail out at whatever is closest. Two of them strike the warrior, wounding her grievously [Near Death], while the one Jarrith just wounded smashes ones of his ribs. [8 hp] The massive zombie continues to miss Khensu, however.
A snarl comes over Marot's face, and he yells, "By the Flame, harm our foes, not our allies, woman!" as he hurls another holy bolt. The Flame's might burns away the elderly zombies flesh, and it crumbles to dust. [AC 13 ranged touch into melee hits; 11 hp; enemy drops]
He should have known Janis would do something like that. Tactics like that might even be sound, when armies faced each other. But he did not have reserves to bring up here. Here, he had only himself and the others -- and that stranger, perhaps. He took a step back, and fired another trio of arrows at the only zombie he could get a clear shot at. (full attack L7)
It then came to Daellin. The elf took a step back and launched three arrows, two striking true. It stumbled, distracted. [AC 23, 17 hit; AC 15 misses. 24 hp before DR]
The dirt fouled zombie, enraged by the fire, strikes at the warrior once again. This time the blow is solid, and it is enough to drive her to the ground, blood spewing from her mouth. However, the force of the blow is enough to drive the warrior into the ground, which quickly covers and smothers her! [Warrior dying, entombed, suffocating]
Seeing the warrior buried by the blow, a look of horror draws over Selase. [Successful knowledge check] "Ware the entomber! It will bury you! Only silver harms it!" Deciding she must help the warrior, Selase calls for sanctuary on her self, then moves towards the smothered woman. [Cast sanctuary] Her power is not enough to ward her against the large zombie, which strikes at her solidly. [15 hp] Grimacing, she stridently marches forward, skirting around the undead, but another fights past her compelling ward, though it fails to strike her.
Daellin fits a pair of arrows to his bow, attempting to fell the zombie at L7 with a single shot. If he succeeds, he intends to risk being attacked in passing as he moves up to N7 for a better shot. (manyshot, then move)
"Ware the entomber! It will bury you! Only silver harms it!"
As Jarrith hears the priestess' declaration, he grimaces in pain and in thought. There's no way I can reach that woman... Selase, you better hope you have something silver. He sees her come around into his view and he shouts at her while dodging the flailing arms of the zombies. "Selase! I have two silvered weapons right here, but I can't get through yet! I need a clear path!"
Jarrith realizes that with the warrior down, the distractions she might have caused are now gone. Casting a Grave Strike spell right now would be useless. Knowing that they have no time to waste, he calls forth the power of the Voice once more to him and uses it to strengthen both of his attacks with his rapiers "By the glories of the Silver Flame... you... will... fall!!!" (Full attack action on L8: Use one turn attempt to use Sacred Vengeance (+2D6 damage) on both attacks)
"Perhaps you'd note that someone rushed into melee with the zombies when they were nicely clustered around whoever that was?" Jannis snarls at Marot.
Unfazed by any further protests or exclamations by party members who, after all, weren't bright enough to pursue studies in Cyran magic, Janis neatly shuffles to the side and expertly pronounces the incantations of the 3rd tier of magical storms: offensive, and releases it in a devastatingly thunderous line of crackling ozone.
OOC: Five foot step to T8, casting Lightning Bolt (7d6 damage down row 8, DC 18)
Khensu roars in frustration at the fallen warrior, and continues his attack. This blow barely manages to hit the cowering elderly zombie, which collapses. [AC 17 hits, 8 hp, falls] His follow-up is enough to hit the young zombie, but not enough to drop it. [AC 23 hits, 6 hp]
Jarrith stumbles a bit, as he feels his bolstering magic fade, leaving him clumsy. [cat's grace ends] While its last dredges remain, he forces his blades up, and manages to drive one home with the power of the Flame, the other just turned away by the zombie. The wound does light damage to the grey flesh. [AC 15 misses, AC 17 hits; 12 hp before DR]
A grimace on her face from her companion's remarks, the real Janis steps through her magic twin to cast true lightning on her dead foes. The zombie facing Jarrith drops eerily out of the most of the blast, but the other two are caught flat footed. But the blue bolt is enough to fall Jarrith's foe, leaving him room to assist Selase. [23 hp; L8 makes save for half, J8 drops]
With new foes entering the field, the zombies have new flesh to conquer. The two who broke through Selase's enchantment flail wildly with no success. One against Jarrith hits a solid blow, almost knocking the wind out of him. [9 hp] The large zombie facing Khensu finally connects, denting the paladin's armor with a solid hit. [9 hp]
White power continues to pour from Marot, and it strikes the large zombie in the chest, burning a sizable hole. [AC 13 ranged touch hits covered target in melee; 14 hp]
Daellin buries two arrows into the large zombie, clearing himself a path for a better shot. [AC 23 hits P8; 17 hp before DR; drops]
The entomber grins malevolently at Selase, stepping between her and the suffocating warrior. Its grin fades as some force frustrates its desire to harm her! [Failed save against sanctuary]
Clenching her teeth in anticipation of pain, Selase works her way around zombies to the covered warrior. Her fears are realized when one of the hungry zombies manages another blow against her. [AoO, 7 hp] Selase manages to partially uncover the fighter, who is not breathing. [Partially unentombed]
Daellin lets another trio of arrows fly (full attack, target L6, then L8, then L9, and then the entoumber; he'll keep on one target until it drops, so he could target as many as three different enemies).
![stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. I [IC]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/iconimages/playing-game/stonegods-expedition-castle-ravenloft-ch-i-ic_ltr.gif)
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