Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane

Round one, continued...

Kazzak moves to the kitchen door and flings it open; his darkvision enables him to see the decaying features of the two shambling corpses (Dave and Dean) that have just silently come around the southeastern corner of the house from the trees and are approaching the door. There is also movement in the crops to the east: perhaps another corpse approaches from that direction? It's hard to say what it is, as the dead make no sound of breath or voice. But Kazzak is focused on the enemy in front of him; he steps up and slashes it with his longsword.
Dave takes 7 slashing damage!

Dave tries to retaliate, windmilling its rotting arms to slap at Kazzak, but its clumsy, jerky attacks are easy to avoid!
Dean comes up alongside and tries to smash Kazzak, too, but it is also unable to connect!

The two that are coming up to the front of the house (Dina and Don) can somehow tell that living things are within: they have moved almost to the point where they can attack the house!

Hearing Dell's cry, Sora wakes, runs downstairs, and opens the door: there are two undead creatures there, Dina and Don! Sora slips past them before they can get close enough to impede her progress, and she stands protectively in front of the barn.

Amnestria, roused by the rogue's call, rises from her studies, pulls out a seal, and uses her magic to make it shine with magical Light. Opening the shutters, she tosses the shining coin out into the yard; it lands behind Don and Dina, silhouetting those undead nicely for anyone still in the house.

Antonius rushes to the kitchen door behind Kazzak with his shield and warhammer in hand. Hearing Dell's call that the dead are coming, he growls, "Of course they are. I bury six corpses and the forest sends me six more." He casts Light on his shield, then steps out into the dark behind the house with Kazzak, Dave, and Dean. "Come then," he says grimly to his ally, already fighting the monsters in the night. "Let us see what has disturbed the Lady’s rest."

Grateful for Amnestria's Light, Dell looses an arrow, hitting Don squarely in the torso.
Don takes 9 piercing damage!

Grallaria flies out of the now-open window and circles the farm, looking keenly at anything that moves. Through her mental link with Amnestria, she thinks ::Big People Moving on Either Side of Roost and Horse Place and Tall Plants. Lots of Mice in Plants::

Meanwhile, "Reynald, my shield and sword!" Berthold is addressing his attendants. "Guilbert, get the crossbow loaded! Olyena, check out the window and tell me what you see." Olyena opens the shutters to the darkness; the southern windows look out on the forest. Reynald offers, "Shall I help you don your armor, Sir?" but the knight dismisses the idea with a hand gesture and a curt, "No time." Instead he draws his sword, casts Light on it, and issues directions, "Barricade yourselves here. If you have a clear shot at one of the dead, take it, Reynald." Wordlessly, Guilbert hands the crossbow to the boy. "Otherwise, keep watch and cry out if you see anything dangerous out there." Berthold ends his turn in the center of the kitchen, equal distance from the front and kitchen doors.

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19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (-7), Dean, Dina, Don (-9)
16 - Sora (12/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (10/10)
6 - Dell (9/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (10/11)
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (1/4)

Round Two
(this is preceded by round one, followed by round three)

Kazzak slices into Dave once more.
Dave takes 11 slashing damage!

Dave attacks Kazzak. Dean attacks Antonius. Dina turns to follow Sora, Dashing to reach her. Dell's arrow sticking out of him, Don enters the house to confront Berthold. Another undead corpse, Duke, Dashes to emerge from the overgrown crops a few paces from the fighter and cleric. Just then, Sora and Dell hear something pounding on the back door of the barn behind them.
Berthold takes 4 bludgeoning damage!

Sora smacks the corpse of Dina with the edges of her hands, repeated blows walking up the cadaver's body.
Dina takes 4 bludgeoning damage!

As Sora considers whether or not to follow up with a martial arts attack, Amnestria leans out the window and sends fire arcing down and into Dina, the only undead she can now see.
Dina takes 1 fire damage!

"Hold fast, Kazzak," Antonius says to Kazzak as he moves alongside the dwarf. "The dead know neither courage nor fear—they only know the grave." The death cleric then lashes out with his warhammer at the zombie attacking his companion. "Back to the earth with you! The Ruby Lady has no patience for those who overstay their burial."
Dave takes 4 bludgeoning damage!

Dell leans out to loose an arrow at Dina. Aiming almost straight down, the angle is poor, but his Boundary Warden training serves him well. The arrow sinks into the dead thing's shoulder.
Dina takes 9 piercing damage!
Dell considers what to do about the hammering on the back door.

Grallaria thinks ::No Big People in tall plants::
Amnestria sighs, knowing that she would get more information if she melded her mind with her familiar so she could experience the world through its senses.

Surprised to be confronted by a walking corpse in this humble home, Berthold slashes at Don, but the blows seem to have no effect!

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19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (-22), Dean, Dina (-14), Don (-9), Duke
16 - Sora (12/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (10/10)
6 - Dell (9/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (6/11)
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (4/4)

Round two, completed

Sora smacks the corpse of Dina with the edges of her hands, repeated blows walking up the cadaver's body.
Dina takes 4 bludgeoning damage!
As Sora considers whether or not to follow up with a martial arts attack, Amnestria's spell hits the undead creature in the back!

"Hold fast, Kazzak," Antonius says to Kazzak as he moves alongside the dwarf. "The dead know neither courage nor fear—they only know the grave." The death cleric then lashes out with his warhammer at the zombie attacking his companion. "Back to the earth with you! The Ruby Lady has no patience for those who overstay their burial."
Dave takes 4 bludgeoning damage!

Dell leans out to loose an arrow at Dina. Aiming almost straight down, the angle is poor, but his Boundary Warden training serves him well. The arrow sinks into the dead thing's shoulder.
Dina takes 9 piercing damage!
Dell considers what to do about the hammering on the back door.

Grallaria thinks ::No Big People in tall plants::
Amnestria sighs, knowing that she would get more information if she melded her mind with her familiar so she could experience the world through its senses.

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19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (-22), Dean, Dina (-14), Don (-9), Duke
16 - Sora (12/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (10/10)
6 - Dell (9/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (6/11)
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (1/4)