stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. I [IC]

[stonegod]

Church Round 10

The zombies twitch under the influence of Janis' spell ineffectually.

Noting the man responsible for the death of her beloved Orwell is still twitching with life, Janis throws a gob of acid at the priest. Its strikes him in the head, and soon there is nothing recognizable left of the priest. [AC 10 ranged touch hits; 14 hp; dead]

Single mindedly, the monster tears another chunk of flesh from Khensu's shoulder, ignoring the armor as if it were paper. The paladin continues to reel. [20 hp]

"Come on! Come on!" Jarrith attacks twice with his rapiers again. One bites, but is not sufficient to damage the dead flesh. [AC 20 hits; negated by DR]

Channelling the power of the Sovereign of Honor, Ashlyn smites the stitched together undead creature. The holy power explodes at her sword cuts into the monstrosity's chest! However, her follow-through swing misses. [AC 32 smite hits; 14 hp; AC 10 misses; dazed creatures do not threaten so no flanking]

Daellin shoots three arrows at the big guy again. It bats at them as one would a fly, but is only partially successful as two more embed within the creature the creature. [AC 18 misses; AC 29, 20 hit; 20 hp before DR]

Though battered severely by the monster, Urik continues to fight. Liberating a morningstar from the melted remains of Danovich, the large man steps forward to attack. The blow is strong, but is absorbed by the dead flesh of the monstrosity. [Pick up morningstar; 5' step; AC 21 hits; DR negates]

Marot's silver bolts strike the beast once again in the shoulder. It hunches over slightly, now significantly slowed from its wounds. [AC 18 ranged touch hits; 9 hp; nearing destruction]

Church Round 11

S: 23 [destroyed]
B: 21 [Dead]
Z: 20 [F8: destroyed, I7: destroyed, L5: destroyed; others: unhurt but paralyzed 3 rounds]
J: 16 [30/40, -700 XP, mage armor, sickened, fast healing 3 (3 rounds)]
D: 16 [dead]
B: 14 [-142 (severely wounded)]
DL: 13 [destroyed]
K: 13 [14/55, fast healing 3 (3 rounds), dazed]
J: 22 [34/31, fast healing 3 (3 rounds)]
A: 11 [29/49, fast healing 3 (3 rounds)]
D: 10 [31/31 hp, fast healing 3 (3 rounds)]
U: 10 [27/59, sickened, prone, fast healing 3 (3 rounds)]
M: 4 [34/34, fast healing 3 (3 rounds)]

Light: Shadow illumination (20% miss chance) outside of Khensu's torch.

Map Key: A: Ashlyn, B: Stitched-together corpse, D: Daellin, D: Danovich, DL: Magic-infused undead, d: Edi, h: Horse, h: Valo, J: Jarrith, J: Janis, K: Khensu, M: Marot, r: raven, S: Blackened skeleton, U: Sir Urik, Z: Plodding zombies
Conditions: Mist grants concealment to creatures 30' away. Cyan Border: mirror image, Dark green Border: Sickened, Grey: Dying, Light Green Border: Entangled, Olive: dazed, Orange Border: Inspired (+1 save vs fear, charm, compulsion; +1 to hit and damage), White: unconscious, Transparent: Dead, White Border: Paralyzed.

[Actions?]

 

[DEFCON 1]

With the monstrous creature surrounded on all sides, Jarrith presses his attacks with his rapiers... hoping that the flanking will make it easier to find purchase. (full attacks +2 for flanking, +1d6 for Penetrating Strike)

**********

OOC: If Janis drops the creature herself, Jarrith will spontaneously cast Cure Light on Khensu as needed.

 

[stonegod]

OOC: Khensu is still dazed and @ 14 hp. He'll probably survive another blow, but he'd be unconscious.

 

[Stormwind]

Ashlyn continues to focus her attacks on the stiched creature whilst keeping a cautious eye on her former companions.


[If the creature is still standing then smite it, otherwise reposition herself (5ft step to F7) and smite one of her former companions]
[Full attack vs 'B' or 'Z'; Use 2AP for another smite/day]
[Smite attack +13, damage 1d8+9+1d6; second attack +4, damage 1d8+3 (possible flanking bonus not included)]
[Note: the smite attack is treated as a good aligned weapon for bypassing DR]

 

[drothgery]

Why won't this thing just die? Daellin thinks, firing another trio of arrows.

(If B is still moving, rapid shot; use an AP on a modified 16 - 18)

 

[James Heard]

More gobs of acid make their way from the frustrated wizard toward the undead.

 

[stonegod]

Church Round 11

Ignoring the held zombies, Janis hurls more acid in frustration at the corpse monstrosity. Fighting off her sickness momentarily, she manages to strike the creature, melting off a portion of its thigh. [AC 15 ranged touch into melee hits; 7 hp]

"Arrr-aaggh" the monster moans, biting the shifter paladin once again. It is not enough to fell the paladin, but with his life's blood pouring away, death is certainly near. [14 hp; Khensu dazed]

With the monstrous creature surrounded on all sides, Jarrith presses his attacks with his rapiers. Urik's distraction is just enough for Jarrith to strike a sensitive blow, and as black ichor drains from the wound, he knows he has finally harmed the thing. [AC 20 hits; 8+2=10 hp before DR; AC 9 misses]

Ashlyn continues to focus her attacks on the stitched creature whilst keeping a cautious eye on her former companions. The blue-white flash of Dol Arrah's might smites it once again, causing it to cry out in dumb pain. Its staggering, however, spoils Ashlyn's backhand swing. [AC 25 hits; 11+3=14 hp; AC 7 misses]

Why won't this thing just die? Daellin thinks, firing another trio of arrows. Apparently Olladra heard his thought, and with his first arrow, the creature's stitching comes undone! With a final, pitiful "FA-THER!", it collapses in a heap of diseased organs, arrow-punctured flesh, and black-green bile. The stench is overpowering a moment, and everyone gags as their eyes water.

With the death of Danovich's monstrosity, an immediate change can be felt. The necromantic fever lifts from Janis and Urik, and Ashlyn's companions collapse lifelessly, simple corpses once more. As the group catches their breath, they are left to wonder if the changes have spread throughout the town. But one question still remained:

How did Danovich manage such corruption?

And Why?

End of Combat

Post-Combat Status:
J: 39/40, -700 XP
K: 9/55
J: 31/31
A: 38/49
D: 31/31
M: 34/34

 

[James Heard]

"Someone revive the priest, so I can kill him some more," Janis says without a hint of humor.

 

[DEFCON 1]

As the stench from the wounds on the monstrosity permeate the basement, Sir Khensu drops to one knee in pain. The several large gashes on his shoulder where he was bitten continue to bleed, and when he turns his head to look at the wounds he winces in pain. "Brother... would you mind?" The shifter takes the wand out and hands it to the Stalker, who uses it to heal the shifter one time. (Cast Cure Light Wounds from wand) As the wounds begin to close slightly, Jarrith turns to the others in the basement.

"That... that was..." he shakes his head trying to grasp what exactly they have witnessed here today. "That was unholy, is what that was." He walks over to the festering pile of flesh, as well as the two now-unanimated corpses and looks down at the putricity. A quick glance over at Danovich and he lets out a large breath. He then glances straight up and thinks about the loss of life that occured upstairs and well... both humanoid and animal. His face shows an obvious look of sadness. "As much as I think we've done a good thing here today... the cost was..." He shakes his head, unable to vocalize his thought. They probably wouldn't suffice anyway.

Sir Khensu stands back up and takes the wand from Jarrith. "Does anyone need some minor healing? My Brother... I think it is obvious that Sir Urik should not wait for what you can do for him... especially now that we have lost... our new friend upstairs." Jarrith glances at his Lumin Brother and nods once. Both members of the Order of Illumination begin casting divine prayers to help the others and themselves. (Khensu cast as many more Cure Light Wounds on self as needed to go to full / Jarrith cast Lesser Restoration on Sir Urik)

As the spells flow... Sir Khensu looks to both Janis and Sir Urik. "My words may mean little, but I am very sorry for both your losses. May whatever gods you pray to watch over them in their eternal sleep."

 

[Stormwind]

As the stitched monstrocity collapses and the group begin to pull themselves together, Ashlyn again focuses and healing energy sweeps through the entire group.
[Use another turn attempt for sacred healing (everyone healed 15 points over 5 rounds)]

Ashlyn then looks over her former companions and after ensuring that they are actually dead, she closes their eyes with a heavy sigh and speaks last rites over them. Once the dead have been attended to, she then looks over her companions again and if anyone still needs healing then she attends to it, by laying her hands upon them.
[Lay on hands for anyone who still needs healing (including Urik)]

Finally Ashlyn steps over to the monstrocity and examining it carefully she attempts to determine exactly what it was and she attempts to deduce what sort of power might have created/caused both the creature and the associated plague. She turns towards Marot and Janis, "Do either of you have any idea of what might have created this? I would guess it to have been well beyond the abilities of the priest, ... perhaps some artifact of sorts and definitely something of power."
[Knowledge (religion) +11]