Jun 19, 2026 5:17 am
Mathfuric says:
Do we have any inspiration?OOC:
I think everyone does, unless one of you used it at some point since leaving Hochoch that I'm not remembering now.Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane
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Jun 19, 2026 5:22 am
Round four, continued...
"Hells!" Sora swears, continuing to batter the decomposing corpse.
Dina takes 6 damage and though part of its head flies off, it does not fall!
Sora kicks it again.
Dina takes 5 damage, sways, and keeps on swinging!
Amnestria calls out the window, confirming what Sora was hearing behind her: "One's breaking in behind you, Sora!" Then she hustles downstairs to investigate the reason for the knight's retainers' wails. They're standing in her way on the stairs, looking into the kitchen/dining area in horror. Amnestria pushes past them, sees Berthold lying dead or dying at a zombie's feet, and snaps "Get back upstairs!" As the retainers move to obey, Amnestria intones the spell. Magic condenses the air, forming thick water vapor that rolls out from just inside the front door. It flows out the front door toward the wagon and into the kitchen, engulfing the knight's body, the zombie and flowing back towards Amnestria and the servants on the stairs. The wizard retreats back up the stairs to escape the fog.
"Hold the line, Kazzak!" Antonius calls to the battle brother at his side. "One grave at a time." Then he addresses their foes: "The bell has not finished tolling. Back to your rest." His swing catches Duke hard on the shoulder.
Duke takes 5 bludgeoning damage!
Dell stabs Dina again and again.
Dina takes 14 piercing damage and STILL DOES NOT STOP!
Grallaria flies back to the farmhouse and dives at the zombie Duke, drawing some of its attention away from Kazzak.
Writhing on the floor, Berthold fears that his vision is failing along with his organs...but it's just the fog.
Berthold has 2 failed death saves.
Reynald, Guilbert, and Olyena run back upstairs out of the fog and barricade themselves in the southern bedroom, as both Berthold and Amnestria commanded.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-59), Don (-19), Duke (-5), other zombie
16 - Sora (2/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (0/11) Dying, two failures
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (1/4)
"Hells!" Sora swears, continuing to batter the decomposing corpse.
Dina takes 6 damage and though part of its head flies off, it does not fall!
Sora kicks it again.
Dina takes 5 damage, sways, and keeps on swinging!
Amnestria calls out the window, confirming what Sora was hearing behind her: "One's breaking in behind you, Sora!" Then she hustles downstairs to investigate the reason for the knight's retainers' wails. They're standing in her way on the stairs, looking into the kitchen/dining area in horror. Amnestria pushes past them, sees Berthold lying dead or dying at a zombie's feet, and snaps "Get back upstairs!" As the retainers move to obey, Amnestria intones the spell. Magic condenses the air, forming thick water vapor that rolls out from just inside the front door. It flows out the front door toward the wagon and into the kitchen, engulfing the knight's body, the zombie and flowing back towards Amnestria and the servants on the stairs. The wizard retreats back up the stairs to escape the fog.
OOC:
@CancerMan - With a 20' radius, the fog will billow out one or both doors (not to mention the windows adjoining each door). The house is 20' deep front to back. Where do you want the center of the spell to be? Do you want it spread evenly, or do you want to make sure that the fog is/isn't going to envelop Kazzak/Antonius outside the back door? Amnestria hasn't seen them, but she can hear that they're nearby and might benefit/be hindered by the fog."Hold the line, Kazzak!" Antonius calls to the battle brother at his side. "One grave at a time." Then he addresses their foes: "The bell has not finished tolling. Back to your rest." His swing catches Duke hard on the shoulder.
Duke takes 5 bludgeoning damage!
OOC:
@Mathfuric - you can still use Inspiration, though you might want to know whether Amnestria's fog will protect Antonius and give him DISADV on the attack first. Let me know.Dell stabs Dina again and again.
Dina takes 14 piercing damage and STILL DOES NOT STOP!
Grallaria flies back to the farmhouse and dives at the zombie Duke, drawing some of its attention away from Kazzak.
OOC:
@matmaisan - please roll Berthold's first death save.Writhing on the floor, Berthold fears that his vision is failing along with his organs...but it's just the fog.
Berthold has 2 failed death saves.
Reynald, Guilbert, and Olyena run back upstairs out of the fog and barricade themselves in the southern bedroom, as both Berthold and Amnestria commanded.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-59), Don (-19), Duke (-5), other zombie
16 - Sora (2/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (0/11) Dying, two failures
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (1/4)
Rolls
Dina CON save DC11 - (1d20+3)
(20) + 3 = 23
Dina CON save DC10 - (1d20+3)
(16) + 3 = 19
additional Sneak attack damage - (1d6)
(2) = 2
Dina CON save DC19 - (1d20+3)
(16) + 3 = 19
Jun 19, 2026 3:42 pm
OOC:
I'd like to limit the fog to just the interior and not impact those fighting outside. Please place the center of the spell accordingly so as not to blind Antonius and Kazzak (and their zombie).Jun 19, 2026 5:41 pm
CancerMan says:
Please place the center of the spell accordingly so as not to blind Antonius and Kazzak (and their zombie).OOC:
Understood; I've updated the post to describe the fog filling the kitchen and flowing out the front door (where nobody is fighting). Kazzak and Antonius are fighting two zombies, Dean and Duke, without the concealment of fog.@Mathfuric - will you use your Inspiration and roll for the attack again now?
@matmaisan - please roll your death save.
@rpgventurer - I'll start round five with Kazzak's attack right after Antonius' attack is resolved.
CancerMan says:
I don't remember if we technically had a short rest before we began our overnight stay in the farmhouse. If we did, would Amnestria be able to utilize her Arcane Recovery feature and recover a 1st-level spell slot?OOC:
@CancerMan - Yes, everyone had a short rest when some of the party spent their hit dice on healing. Yes, let's assume that Amnestria used Arcane Recovery.
Jun 19, 2026 7:22 pm
‘Is this the afterlife? Will the curtain suddenly open to reveal my doom?’ the young paladin wondered as he lay, near senseless on the ground, seeing the chamber fill with thick fog.
OOC:
Brutal.Last edited June 19, 2026 7:23 pm
Rolls
Death save - (1d20)
(1) = 1
Jun 19, 2026 9:08 pm
OOC:
InspirationRather than fighting the momentum, Antonius adjusts with it. He twists his hips, shifts his leading foot deeper into the churned earth, and turns what should have been a missed strike into a flowing continuation of the attack. The hammer whistles past Duke's rotting head, but instead of overextending, Antonius lets the motion carry through into a tight rotation.
Drawing on every ounce of discipline drilled into him over years of patrols, arrests, and battlefield skirmishes, Antonius reverses the weapon's course. The miss becomes a feint. The feint becomes an opening.
"Wee Jas, guide my hand."
Final Measure comes around again in a shorter, more controlled arc, no longer aimed where Duke was but where the creature is stumbling next, the Cleric determined to finish what should have been finished with the first blow.
For a brief instant, the chaos of the battlefield fades away—the cries from the farmhouse, the pounding on the barn door, the groans of the dead. There is only the hammer, the target, and the certainty that the dead belong in the grave.
This time, Antonius intends to make sure Duke remembers that.
Last edited June 19, 2026 9:18 pm
Rolls
Antonius Block: Warhammer - Attack - (1d20+5)
(18) + 5 = 23
Jun 20, 2026 7:08 pm
Round Five
(this is preceded by round four, followed by round six)
Kazzak nods in appreciation at his companions and hacks repeatedly at Duke.
Duke takes 12 slashing damage!
Antonius' speech seems to have caught Dean's attention (or the attention of the necromantic magic animating the lifeless corpse); the dead thing turns to focus its attacks on the death cleric. But its blows are ineffective against the Jasite's armor!
Duke continues attacking Kazzak, scratching and flailing ineffectually at the dwarven fighter!
Dina swings at Sora, doggedly focused on the monk! But the dwarf is too nimble and she evades all the blows.
Don follows the sounds of feet on the stairs, Dashing to cross the room and shamble up the stairs, ending adjacent to Amnestria in the hallway.
The zombie behind the barn continues trying to smash its way in to reach the living things inside by the shortest possible route! The door finally splits open, and Dvan steps in, moving determinedly (and slowly) toward the closest creatures.
"Fight on, brave knight." Kazzak yells, understanding that Berthold is in dire straits. "It is not your time! We need you!"
"&%^*!" Sora swears, and launches a series of strikes on Dina. The zombie's windmilling arms deflect the dwarf's punches, but her kick connects with its leg again.
Dina takes 3 bludgeoning damage!
"Thank goodness for small favors," Amnestria says as zombie Don rushes out of the fog towards her. She backs carefully away into the northern bedroom and crosses to the open window.
Antonius wavers, for a moment undecided as to whether to stay at the dwarf's side or leave to assist his companion in trouble. Then he decides that the knight will have to rely on all the others: the danger in front of him must occupy his attention.
"Hold on a little longer, friend." he calls into the back door of the fog-filled house. Then he smashes his hammer down at Duke.
Duke takes 9 bludgeoning damage!
Dell catches Sora's eye and says "Loft." Then he Disengages and moves away from fighting Dina back into the barn and crouches down in one of the stalls to whisper to the trussed-up bandit prisoners: "We are under attack from the undead." They nod with wide eyes, clearly having heard Dell's yell at the start of the fight. "I will cut you loose stay quiet and with me. Maybe we can make it up into the loft. I don't know if zombies can climb."
Grallaria continues to harass Duke, assisting Kazzak in his next attack on that zombie.
With a pained and sudden loud gasp, Berthold the knight returned to full awareness. He was once again feeling the horrendous pain of the day’s labour, but he forced himself to roll over, grab his sword and stand up in the obscured space of the farm’s living room and kitchen.
Berthold is conscious with 1 HP!
Listening to the sounds of his friends cries of alarm in the fog all around him, Berthold decides to head for the stairs to check on his charges. Where did the zombie that felled him go?
Still thinking their master dead, Reynald, Guilbert, and Olyena slam the door to the southern bedroom and train the crossbow on the door.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-19), Duke (-26), Dvan
16 - Sora (2/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (1/11)
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (4/4)
(this is preceded by round four, followed by round six)
Kazzak nods in appreciation at his companions and hacks repeatedly at Duke.
Duke takes 12 slashing damage!
Antonius' speech seems to have caught Dean's attention (or the attention of the necromantic magic animating the lifeless corpse); the dead thing turns to focus its attacks on the death cleric. But its blows are ineffective against the Jasite's armor!
Duke continues attacking Kazzak, scratching and flailing ineffectually at the dwarven fighter!
Dina swings at Sora, doggedly focused on the monk! But the dwarf is too nimble and she evades all the blows.
Don follows the sounds of feet on the stairs, Dashing to cross the room and shamble up the stairs, ending adjacent to Amnestria in the hallway.
The zombie behind the barn continues trying to smash its way in to reach the living things inside by the shortest possible route! The door finally splits open, and Dvan steps in, moving determinedly (and slowly) toward the closest creatures.
"Fight on, brave knight." Kazzak yells, understanding that Berthold is in dire straits. "It is not your time! We need you!"
"&%^*!" Sora swears, and launches a series of strikes on Dina. The zombie's windmilling arms deflect the dwarf's punches, but her kick connects with its leg again.
Dina takes 3 bludgeoning damage!
"Thank goodness for small favors," Amnestria says as zombie Don rushes out of the fog towards her. She backs carefully away into the northern bedroom and crosses to the open window.
Antonius wavers, for a moment undecided as to whether to stay at the dwarf's side or leave to assist his companion in trouble. Then he decides that the knight will have to rely on all the others: the danger in front of him must occupy his attention.
"Hold on a little longer, friend." he calls into the back door of the fog-filled house. Then he smashes his hammer down at Duke.
Duke takes 9 bludgeoning damage!
Dell catches Sora's eye and says "Loft." Then he Disengages and moves away from fighting Dina back into the barn and crouches down in one of the stalls to whisper to the trussed-up bandit prisoners: "We are under attack from the undead." They nod with wide eyes, clearly having heard Dell's yell at the start of the fight. "I will cut you loose stay quiet and with me. Maybe we can make it up into the loft. I don't know if zombies can climb."
Grallaria continues to harass Duke, assisting Kazzak in his next attack on that zombie.
With a pained and sudden loud gasp, Berthold the knight returned to full awareness. He was once again feeling the horrendous pain of the day’s labour, but he forced himself to roll over, grab his sword and stand up in the obscured space of the farm’s living room and kitchen.
Berthold is conscious with 1 HP!
Listening to the sounds of his friends cries of alarm in the fog all around him, Berthold decides to head for the stairs to check on his charges. Where did the zombie that felled him go?
Still thinking their master dead, Reynald, Guilbert, and Olyena slam the door to the southern bedroom and train the crossbow on the door.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-19), Duke (-26), Dvan
16 - Sora (2/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (1/11)
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (4/4)
Rolls
Dean attacks Antonius AC16, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)
1d20+3 : (8) + 3 = 11
1d6+1 : (1) + 1 = 2
Duke attacks Kazzak AC18, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)
1d20+3 : (10) + 3 = 13
1d6+1 : (2) + 1 = 3
Dina attacks Sora AC15, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)
1d20+3 : (11) + 3 = 14
1d6+1 : (3) + 1 = 4
Zombie slams the door - (1d6+1)
(3) + 1 = 4
Jun 20, 2026 8:33 pm
OOC:
Everyone else can now post their round five turns. Some reminders:
Undead Fortitude - the way the zombies keep going after they would otherwise have stopped functioning - is a CON save with a DC (5+damage from the attack). They do this save for every attack EXCEPT attacks that deal radiant damage or critical hits. If they fail that save, the zombie stops being a zombie. So attacking more increases chances (more saving throws to potentially fail), but so does doing attacks that deal more damage (as that raises the DC of the saving throw). Of course you can't force a critical hit, but if anyone has a way of dealing radiant damage, that would be very helpful.
From the retainers' wailing, everyone in the party knows that Berthold has fallen and is dying. Because he has two failures, he could die permanently on his next death save (if he rolls and fails, Berthold will be dead). Anyone who moves into the fog to find him can stabilize him as an action by either: succeeding on a DC10 Medicine check, or using a Healer's Kit application. Don, the zombie that took him down, is not adjacent or even in the same room as Berthold anymore.
Jun 21, 2026 12:21 am
"Thank goodness for small favors," laments Amnestria as the hideous corpse rushes out of the fog and up the stairs. At least Berthold is safe.
Knowing that her fire magic is dangerous in such close proximity, Amnestria draws her dagger and retreats into the bedroom. She hopes the zombie continues its pursuit of her and leaves Berthold's retainers alone in their locked room. Amnestria moves to the window and prepares for the attack.
She considers exiting the window and dropping to the ground. Perhaps the zombie will follow her out? It would be a worthy sacrifice of her own dignity if she can get that thing out of the house.
Logistics question regarding the second floor windows. I assume they're just openings in the wall with shutters, and leaving through the window means dropping to the ground? I don't suppose there's a way to access the roof?
Knowing that her fire magic is dangerous in such close proximity, Amnestria draws her dagger and retreats into the bedroom. She hopes the zombie continues its pursuit of her and leaves Berthold's retainers alone in their locked room. Amnestria moves to the window and prepares for the attack.
She considers exiting the window and dropping to the ground. Perhaps the zombie will follow her out? It would be a worthy sacrifice of her own dignity if she can get that thing out of the house.
OOC:
I am Disengaging from the zombie and moving from the hallway into the bedroom. If the zombie follows and attacks, I will cast Shield if the +5 AC helps thwart its strike.Logistics question regarding the second floor windows. I assume they're just openings in the wall with shutters, and leaving through the window means dropping to the ground? I don't suppose there's a way to access the roof?
Jun 21, 2026 3:04 am
"&%^*!" Sora swears as the door to the barn crashes in. Realizing that she needs to finish this NOW, she launches another series of vicious attacks against Dina.
Rolls
Martial Arts to hit - (1d20+4)
(3) + 4 = 7
Martial Arts damage - (1d4+2bludgeoning)
(2) + 2 = 4
Martial Arts to hit - (1d20+4)
(12) + 4 = 16
Martial Arts damage - (1d4+2bludgeoning)
(1) + 2 = 3
Jun 21, 2026 3:35 am
OOC:
I will pass Kazzak’s inspiration to Berthold if I can.Last edited June 21, 2026 3:36 am
Jun 21, 2026 12:43 pm
OOC:
I am really torn here between moving away and giving an opportunity of attack to cast ‘Spare the dying’, or disengaging and waiting a turn hoping for the best. With only 3 HP taking a hit will put Antonius out.
Jun 21, 2026 3:14 pm
Seeing the back door to the barn crash in Dell will take this opportunity to use the night and distraction to his advantage and use his stealth to get to the prisoners to cut their bonds. Dell when he gets to prisoners will whisper"We are under attack from the undead. I will cut you loose stay quiet and with me. Maybe we can make it up into the loft. I don't know if zombies can climb." He will keep his rapier in his off hand and a dagger in his other so he can throw it if he has to. But before he leaves Sora he will simply say "Loft." Hoping she understands to go there if possible.
Last edited June 21, 2026 3:20 pm
Rolls
Stealth - (1d20+7)
(13) + 7 = 20
Jun 21, 2026 3:51 pm
CancerMan says:
...regarding the second floor windows. I assume they're just openings in the wall with shutters, and leaving through the window means dropping to the ground? I don't suppose there's a way to access the roof?OOC:
Let's say there is a slight roof - more of an overhang - over the front door. So Amnestria could climb out of the window onto that, and then potentially hang from her hands and drop down to the ground by the wagon. There isn't a good way to get up onto the second story roof, however.Jun 21, 2026 3:54 pm
Berthold’s lifeblood continued to flow from his smashed body.
OOC:
Before I roll Berthold’s next death save, I would like to clarify (1) if he had inspiration still (I can’t recall having used inspiration in the past) and, if so, (2) if I could reroll the natural one. I asked the question in the OOC thread, but should have asked it here.Jun 21, 2026 3:56 pm
Round five, continued...
"Fight on, brave knight." Kazzak yells, understanding that Berthold is in dire straits. "It is not your time! We need you!""&%^*!" Sora swears, and launches a series of strikes on Dina. The zombie's windmilling arms deflect the dwarf's punches, but her kick connects with its leg again.
Dina takes 3 bludgeoning damage!
"Thank goodness for small favors," Amnestria says as zombie Don rushes out of the fog towards her. She backs carefully away into the northern bedroom and crosses to the open window.Dell catches Sora's eye and says "Loft." Then he Disengages and moves away from fighting Dina back into the barn and crouches down in one of the stalls to whisper to the trussed-up bandit prisoners: "We are under attack from the undead." They nod with wide eyes, clearly having heard Dell's yell at the start of the fight. "I will cut you loose stay quiet and with me. Maybe we can make it up into the loft. I don't know if zombies can climb."
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-19), Duke (-17), Dvan
16 - Sora (2/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (0/11) Dying, two failures
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (1/4)
"Fight on, brave knight." Kazzak yells, understanding that Berthold is in dire straits. "It is not your time! We need you!"
OOC:
@matmaisan - when you do it, roll your next death save with ADV using Kazzak's Inspiration.Dina takes 3 bludgeoning damage!
"Thank goodness for small favors," Amnestria says as zombie Don rushes out of the fog towards her. She backs carefully away into the northern bedroom and crosses to the open window.
OOC:
Antonius' turn will go here.OOC:
@mathias0077 I made an assumption about the Disengage action: correct me if that wasn't your intent. If it wasn't, Dina will get an opportunity attack on him. If it was: Dell doesn't have Cunning Action yet, but after going to talk to the prisoners, he does have some movement remaining. Do you want to stay in the stall with the prisoners, or leave them to start up the ladder?19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-19), Duke (-17), Dvan
16 - Sora (2/12)
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (0/11) Dying, two failures
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (1/4)
Rolls
Dina CON save DC8 - (1d20+3)
(7) + 3 = 10
Jun 21, 2026 4:24 pm
Grallaria continues to harass Duke, assisting Kazzak amidst the chaotic battle.
Jun 21, 2026 4:32 pm
matmaisan says:
Before I roll Berthold’s next death save, I would like to clarify (1) if he had inspiration still (I can’t recall having used inspiration in the past) and, if so, (2) if I could reroll the natural one. I asked the question in the OOC thread, but should have asked it here.OOC:
Yes, he has inspiration (if you hadn't had it already, I would've awarded Inspiration for Berthold bravely running into the fight without his armor). Everybody does; it's on your character sheets.No, you can't reroll a natural 1 on a save, because you know that a natural one always fails.
Let me explain: In a real-time game, you can use Inspiration only before a roll to be able to roll it with ADV. That is how Inspiration works.
In play-by-post, I am willing to add a convention to the rule: people can add another roll after the initial roll if they don't know the result of the roll that happened already. So with that convention, a player could see the result of a roll, not be sure that it's enough, and then post that they're spending their Inspiration along with a second roll.
But that also means that, even if we add that convention to the actual Inspiration rule, PCs can use Inspiration with death saves ONLY before the roll so they can post 2d20h1+(CON mod), because you always know whether a death save has succeeded or not. You can't roll a death save and think "I'm not sure that's enough, so I'll spend my Inspiration" because the DC is always 10 for a death save. Similarly, a player can't spend Inspiration after I've posted that an attack has missed: you already know the result, you can't go back and try to change that outcome after the fact.
Does that distinction make sense?
Jun 22, 2026 1:16 am
OOC:
Yes I wanted to disengage first my bad. I was thinking that when I typed it but didn't type it for some reason. I will stay with the prisoners until we can all move togehter.load next