(IC) Dog Days of Doom!

The thing about freshly turned zombies is they bleed like a normal person. The halfling chef hadn't made too much of a mess but the remains of the human was going to take a while to clean up.

Despite that, It would be easy enough to move the bodies out the back door. Peeking out, you see the inn even has its own fenced-in yard with a wood shed and a chicken coup. The chickens are quiet...too quiet? Looking up at the sky, it would be dark in a few hours. With the long summer days, sunset should be a couple hours before midnight but it was almost dark now and it's only dinner time. How far do you dare to move the bodies? Can chickens turn into zombies?

While that's happening, other people are checking out the food cellar. There's plenty of meats and cheeses and potatoes. There's a massive cut of roast beef that looks like it had been prepared for the evening meal. It hadn't been put in the stove yet and one of the zombies had eaten most of it raw. Fortunately, the inn was planning for a lot of people and there's a cast iron pot hanging over the hot coals in a fireplace. Inside is a tasty looking stew.

Eventually, you get the Innkeeper and, as he walks in and sees the blood stains on the floor, it seems as if he's going to have an emotional break down. You can tell he cared very much for his staff. Maybe this is a foreshadowing of what might happen to the rest of the guests in his care? Somehow, he manages to pull himself together then talks to another woman in the common room. Apparently another one of his staff. The two of them get to work cleaning and getting food ready. For them, it's going to be a long night.

And it will probably be for you as well.

You make a plan to head to the market before going to the Temple. The main avenue leads straight to the Temple and, at the feet of the temple gates is the market. It's full of shops and venders and stalls.

As you prepare, the woman whom Anson rescued,

"thank you for helping all those people. It was silly of me to want to bring my husband but how could I know what was about to happen? Anyways, I appreciate what you did for all these people. I'd like to give you this:"

She takes out an amulet,

"It was my husband's. He was a merchant who travelled a lot. He got this when visiting a far off land because he'd heard there was many bandits on the roads there. Anyways, if you need protection, you just squeeze the amulet and it will protect you from harm as long as you mean no harm in return."

An middle aged gentleman who's a bit dishevelled and who you recognize as the one named Caspar whom you rescued earlier when you interposed yourself between the zombies and some of the mourners.

"Hey, there, buddy. I, uh, well...."

He seems a bit put off on Caer's demeanor,

"Well, I just gots to say that was pretty brave out there. But, listen, see. I know some people don't want us pilferin' the dead but what the dead can't use is fair game, I says....well, maybe the can can use some of the stuf....But they shouldn't! So we should gets it before they does. Anyways, my uncle gots a shop called the Holy Hammer. It's gots weapons and armours n' stuff and some odds n' ends for the devout. And those other folks don't understand that we do get along fine enough...we just had our fallin' outs. I weren't cut out to follow the ways of Kord, you see. Anyways, I gots a key to his shop. I think, if yous guys are goin out there, you should take it and stock up. And...well, maybe, if my uncle's still okay, maybe you can help him out? He's a good fighter so I imagine he's holed up there lookin' fer reinforcements. But, if he's not, uh...alive, he has a safe in his room on the second floor."

the Priest of Wee Jas approaches.

"When you get to the temple, it will likely be empty of everyone except two acolytes. They are not permitted to enter the crypt but, I fear, they may have done so. Find them and they will tell you how to light the seven sacred braziers. I would give you a protection of Wee Jas but, alas, my prayer beads were turned to dust when the Comet crashed. Nonetheless, may Wee Jas keep you safe from the abominations of the dead. Take these:"

He gives each of you a small piece of obsidian with a glyph scribed into it.

"If something should happen, to one of your comrades, crush this over their body and rest assured that they will not come back as undead.

Oh, and one last thing. We do not know what will happen come nightfall. The dead could get stronger and who knows what happened to Levenshire - the former Radiant Servant of Pelor, I fear has betrayed us and is now a Servant to the dark god, Kyuss. I advise you finish your task before the sun sets in three hours."

Erin Tor.jpg
@Kobold Stew The amulet casts "Sanctuary" 1/Long rest. You need to attune to it which takes ten minutes of meditation.

@Snarf Zagyg You have a key to the back door of the Holy Hammer

Feel free to flash back to before you exit the kitchen or do whatever rp you like.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Anson puts down his flute, as the old woman thanks him, and amidst her generosity, he blushes. It was one of the responses that Danai had always teased him about, that she had found endearing. That's not her name, he reminds himself bitterly.

"Thank you," he says simply. "I shall carry it with me, and it seems we are safe now. What was your husband's name?" If he can get a story out of her, he will be happy. He attaches it around his neck, and is pleased to believe that the amber in the stone will not clash with his splendid cloak.
 

Stratus, after having finished stashing the bodies of the kitchen staff, was first to lead the way when everyone was ready to head for the market. He regularly found a solid surface that he could climb (a stone wall or monument - anything that would support his substantial weight) and he used various tools on his person - a little brass windlass, to make sure of the direction of the wind, so that they could stay downwind in case zombies tracked by the smell of flesh, or a small spyglass to look ahead of them.

However, his armor was not conducive to long stretches of stealth, and it constantly made a shuffling noise of chain-on-chain as he went about his business. He hoped that the dead were not too keen of hearing.

OOC: Three checks for Stratus: Athletics 20, Navigation 14, Stealth 6. I hope one bad stealth check does not derail the challenge. I guess I should post for Anson, too, but I'll give everyone else a moment first.
 

Before leaving the Inn, Deirdre whispered a silent prayer and then conferred with the innkeeper.

"Any guidance on the most discrete, yet direct route to the market would be appreciated, innkeeper."

OOC: Deirdre cast guidance and then tries to persuade the innkeeper on what the best approach to the market might be.
_: 1D20+3+1D4 = [14]+3+[1] = 18

 

Havoc is new to the town and human towns were never the best planned ones. But as a pirate, he has seen labyrinths of streets before in various pirate and trading centres. Once he gets the idea where he needs to go he generally can find it. It is no more confusing than the tunnels in the underground.

With one great advantage for him. He can actually sense zombies from quite afar.

OOC: Once we start and see first zombies, Havoc activates tremorsense which remains active for 10 minutes. Hopefully, this allows us to navigate only the streets that are clear (or mostly clear) of zombies. Not sure how detailed the sense is, so he may even find the living and point them toward the tavern.

Roll what you think would appropriate? Maybe Perception auto-success or stealth (it is not that we were hidden, it was that we went unseen? :D Help for someone else?

  • Stonecunning: Bonus action: Tremorsense, range 60' for 10 minutes when touching stone surface 2 (proficiency) / day
 

Caer sees that the others are determined to go further into the bowels of this town. By now, he has managed to get distinguish the festering sores that humanity has created from the slightly different darkness of the unholy. He will be the vanguard, using his heightened senses to see if any of the shadow-plagued creatures are before them, and holding the Blackstaff and drawing forth from its fell-touched power further search in the shadows for lurking horrors.


 

Anson chats with the woman,
"Thank you," he says simply. "I shall carry it with me, and it seems we are safe now. What was your husband's name?" If he can get a story out of her, he will be happy. He attaches it around his neck, and is pleased to believe that the amber in the stone will not clash with his splendid cloak.

"His name was Derrin. One day, he was at home helping outside and his heart failed on him... " she trails off

"I always thought I'd give the pendant to one of the children but it's best used for this. I'd like there to be a place for the kids."

By the bar, Deidre is speaking with Oscar,

Before leaving the Inn, Deirdre whispered a silent prayer and then conferred with the innkeeper.

"Any guidance on the most discrete, yet direct route to the market would be appreciated, innkeeper."
"Well, I have a map of the town that I use to show newcomers. Just give me a moment."

He moves to another desk where people can check in and out. There's hooks on the wall behind him where room keys hang. Rooting around in the desk for a moment, he pulls out a map of the town.

"Here it is."

Stratus comes over, looking over their shoulders as the Innkeeper is showing them the way.

"If you need supplies, you'd best approach the market from here" He points at the map,

"potions at 'Cures & Curiosities', Magic supplies at the 'Mystic Emporium'. I think you can get Holy symbols at 'Cyrick's Silver Pendants'. 'The Holy Hammer' has weapons and armour and he's got a few religious items but he mostly focuses on the 'fighting' gods. Carson Jorston. He's a worshipper Kord. I wouldn't be surprised if you found him wandering the streets punching zombies..."

***
Anson takes time to attune to the talisman and Benny moves to a private room to do a divination ritual.

As people realize there's a group going out, the atmosphere seems to gain some energy as people talk and offer advice and shake your hand. It's obvious they're both thankful of your help already and hopeful for your success.

You know though, as you leave that, beneath the excitement, people are afraid.

GM: follow up post to come
 
Last edited:

Stepping outside, the clouds are low and shadows are lengthening. There's the occasional flash of green lightning that colours the darkened sky. The wind is as still as a baited breath, and everything on the streets are quiet.

Benny's mentor, Maximillion, takes to the sky. It took some convincing for people to let the child go along but there's no denying the advantage of having an invisible scout flying ahead.

The streets are darkening and its unsettling this early in the evening but you know it will help you to hide. Oscar gave Stratus the map so that the cloud goliath could use his navigation tools and keep the streets straight. There are no names on the street and the city streets zigzag up the hill towards the market place.

Several times Benny signals the group to stop or to move into an ally way. On one occasion, as they are about to dodge into a side street, Havoc pushes everyone in the opposite direction as he feels the tremor of undead feet dragging on the ground.

At one point, you get a warning from Benny and, as you are all hiding behind the barrels of an abandoned cart, you see three dogs sniffing their way. They have welts and sores all over their bodies, the tell-tale signs that they were also transformed by the foul magic. Maybe it was for the best nobody looked into the chicken coop back at the Inn.

Several times, Stratus lifts people up to the next tier, skipping whole avenues until, finally, you come around the corner and the street opens up to an open market square. On the far side, is a high wall, twenty feet high and ten feet thick. Beyond it is the temple, sitting on the high hill, dark clouds swirling above it.

Normally, the marken would be a bustling, joyous place, with vendors hawking their wares, bartering and haggling and over exaggerating the value of some trinket. Instead, it's eerily quiet except for the constant groaning and shuffling of feet. All over, at every stall and in front of every building, there are zombies.

The closest building that was marked on the map is the Mystic Emporium and it would be easy to duck inside. Getting out might be trickier and it will be even trickier getting to the other locations. With zombies everywhere, it will be a challenge* to sneak past them all. It will be even harder to fight them all - there are dozens - and, with Caer's keen eyes, he can see others are likely lurking in buildings.



This is a perfect image except, from your current position, you cannot see the gates to the fort.
marketimage.png
Market challenge.jpg
market-challenge-jpg.410743
So there's lots of undead. Unless you are choosing to do full combat, just ignore the placement of all the zombies and assume they are shuffling around.

You have your pick of stuff: jewelry, food, spices, money etc...
The important stuff is marked on the map.

The longer you linger in this area, the more likely you are going to have to face a fight. A fight will draw more undead. Therefore, you want to limit how long you stick around. Every time you go to a new location, the Zombies become more alert

Alertness level is currently a 0 on a scale of 8.
no chance for an encounter yet since you succeeded on finding an ideal place to enter the market.

*Your job:
1. Pick your first location you want to go.
2. EVERYONE make a stealth roll (you need 3 of 5 people to succeed: DC 8*)

*DC is +1 for every level of Alertness
 
Last edited:

AC 16
HP: 19/22
Passive Perception: 13
Passive Insight: 11
HD: 2/2

"We should get to the armory first, we can slip in the middle then before they know what hit them. And if we later alert them, we will be at one of the edge buildings."
Havoc whispers

neurotic: 2D20L1 + 2#havocstealth → 7(low 1 of 5; 13 = 5 + 2)#Havoc stealth
OOC: Stealth 7 due disadvantage. I'd like a breast plate - same AC, no disadvantage on stealth :)
 

AC16 Passive Perception 17
HP 19/20 HD 2/2
SSdc13 Slots 2/2
Hunters 1/2 Healing 1/1 Teleport 1/2

Caer is paying careful attention to the shambling corpses and listening to the plots of the party. I have no use for the weapons or armor they will have here. Caer pauses. But no objection to going there first.

 

Pets & Sidekicks

Remove ads

Top