Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane
Berthold was twice-risen this day. Heironeous must still have a purpose for him, he spat out blood and dirt, and listened around for a sense of where his enemy had gone.
I see Olyena is still listed as having only 1hp, which would mean Berthold would still have 3hp of lay on hand to administer. I had stated that he had used all his healing power before going to sleep, so I’ll let the DM decide whether he can still get a few hp of lay on hands…
Rolls
Death save #2 (w. Inspiration) - (2d20h1)
(208) = 20
Dean's dead hands scrape against his shield as the cleric's gaze flicks toward the farmhouse. Berthold had fallen hard. Every instinct as a servant of Wee Jas—and every year spent in the Watch—screams at him to reach the wounded knight before death claims him. His footing shifts unconsciously, weight settling onto his rear foot as though preparing to break away from the melee.
But leaving would mean abandoning Kazzak.
The dwarf still stood firm, yet only because the two of them had formed an unbroken line against the dead. Antonius could already picture the consequences: one opening, one missed block, one lucky strike from a corpse that should never have been walking in the first place.
His jaw tightens in frustration.
"Damn it... what is the right call?"
For a moment he is caught between two duties, unable to satisfy both. Then, through the fog of battle and the groaning shuffling of the undead, he hears movement from the farmhouse behind him. A scrape, a stir, the unmistakable sounds of life rather than death.
Berthold.
Not dead yet.
The uncertainty vanishes.
The knight is still fighting his own battle. That means Antonius can fight his.
"Then hold on a little longer, friend."
Renewed purpose floods through him. Rather than disengaging, he drives forward once more, planting his glowing shield beside Kazzak's and turning to face the undead. Final Measure rises overhead in a powerful arc before crashing toward the nearest corpse. The warhammer falls with all the conviction of a priest delivering judgment, Antonius committing himself fully to the struggle at hand.
The wounded could still be saved.
But only if the dead were put back in their graves first.
Rolls
Antonius Block: Warhammer - Attack - (1d20+5)
(17) + 5 = 22
Antonius Block: Warhammer - Damage - (1d8+3)
(6) + 3 = 9
(208) = 20
If I was doing Achievements in this game, that'd be one: THE FIRST AND THE LAST.
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!
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
Duke CON save DC14 - (1d20+3)
(14) + 3 = 17
... Hells Caster ... roll initiative for MortonWell. I guess popular 7 is okay. Demonic Morton is barely awake and alive at 1 HP & 5 Temp HP, AC 14 & really doesn't care to feel an undead's hands on him. Been there. Done that. Not again. He does have 1 slot left to use. That arrow to the chest is still rather bothering him as he just can't get any rest.
Yep. Your right GM. Half-Wood Elf Morton does move at 35' so yep, he could travel a good 70' closer. LOL. Probably too close. Being his most interested in that shelter (the building) so these current undead need to perish. He is so tired. Perhaps 35' and start call upon his more demonic nature & send Eldritch Blast with a range of a fine 120' but that can't be done then 70' travel it is. He has a good darkvision with 60' range, so the night doesn't bother him so much. He is quiet in approach.
Human could be anything, but Dwarves tend to be on the good side of things. So, what could they be fighting. Must be for protection of this shelter. Being the Dim Forest and experience says this is a night for undead. Hopefully they are not making more. And good that Elven'ish Morton has no trouble with Dwarves unlike some Elven'ish people but he doesn't speak Dwarven.
Hail sulfur & brimstone as that voice awakens for him feeling its chances are coming. Hells Caster Morton is never alone as he hears "Kill them all. Ask no questions." in his mind & as tired him ignores.
Rolls
INIT - (1d20+2)
(5) + 2 = 7
Rolls
Longsword attack with Help (hit/damage) - (2d20H1+5, 1d8+5)
2d20H1+5 : (98) + 5 = 14
1d8+5 : (5) + 5 = 10
(this is preceded by round five, followed by round seven)
Kazzak slices into the zombie Duke's shoulder with a wet thump.
Duke takes 10 slashing damage!
Dean attacks Antonius, wet, putrid hands slamming into the shining shield, casting wild shadows across the fields.
Duke attacks Kazzak, but the dwarf barely feels the blows under his armor.
Dina attacks Sora.
Sora takes 2 bludgeoning damage and collapses, dying!
Don follows after Amnestria, who has moved just slightly too far for it to reach her. It Dashes again to catch up to her but cannot attack this round.
Dvan slams the side of the stall. Cracks appear in the wood, but it was made to withstand kicks from livestock and it doesn't break yet.
Sora tries to avoid going into the light.
Sora has one failed death save.
Not realizing that the retainers have already fled to another room, Amnestria calls out "Now! Shoot him in the back!"...which alerts Berthold at the bottom of the stairs where she is.
"How are you still standing?" Antonius grumbles, but then righteous fury rises up in him once more. "By the Ruby Lady's judgment," the death cleric shouts loud enough to be heard by everyone, "your sentence has already been passed." With that, he smashes his warhammer down on Duke once more.
Duke takes 4 bludgeoning damage!
Hearing the shout, Morton pushes forward through the tall stalks of neglected crops. Soon he sees the lit faces of Kazzak and Antonius fighting two silhouetted zombies outside the back door of a farmhouse. Drawing upon his infernal connection with the demon lord of madness, Morton feels more than hears ::Kill them all. Ask no questions:: as the power flows into him; at first he cannot tell whether he is thinking this or if it is from outside. But then he focuses on the dwarf and the madness abates enough for him to unleash the hellish energy on Duke. From Kazzak and Antonius' point of view, a beam of vile darkness suddenly spews out of the waving stalks of grain and punches into the zombie!
Duke takes 2 force damage!
Dell drops his dagger on the floor, whispering "Cut yourself loose I will try and lead them away." Then he leaps to his feet, slams out of the tall stall, runs around the zombie trying to bust through the side of the enclosure (Dvan), spares a glance south at the form of zombie Dina, silhouetted by the bright light by the farmhouse, and yells "Hey, dead heads! Can't catch me!" as he trots into the darkness outside of the back door. There is a bit of moonlight here, enough to keep him from tripping on the uneven ground. Dell makes sure to Dash toward the trees, to stay out of the reach of any slowly pursuing undead. He ends his turn 50' away from Dvan.
Not knowing that her mistress is in danger, Grallaria the owl continues to swoop and batter Duke with her wings to Help Kazzak with his attacks.
Having heard Dell's shout, Berthold responds for everyone to hear: "Rally in the house, let us barricade ourselves!" This is the first sign any of them have that he is alive in the house. Berthold tries to run but rather staggers up the stairs out of the thick fog. Slightly faint from injury and blood loss, the knight pauses for a second at the top of the stairs, to let his dizziness pass. But he sees Don disappearing through the door to the northern bedroom. He follows and slashes into the rotting thing.
Don takes 7 slashing damage!
There is cheering from behind the barricaded door to the southern bedroom; not because the servants have seen Berthold's valiant action, but just from relief at hearing that their master is still alive.
Bound hand and foot, the bandit women roll and scramble for the dagger to start cutting the ropes.
Ene writhes her body and gets her fingers on the dagger first; she rolls over and saws through the ropes binding Fern's wrists. Fern takes the dagger and saws through Ene's bonds, freeing her wrists. Their ankles are still bound, but they feel better at getting their arms in front of their bodies again.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-26), Duke (-42), Dvan
16 - Sora (0/12) Dying one failure
7 - Amnestria (9/9)
7 - Antonius (3/10)
7 - Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP)
6 - Dell (6/9)
4 - Grallaria (1/1)
3 - Berthold (1/11)
0 - Reynald (4/4), Guilbert (4/4), Olyena (4/4)
0 - Bandits Ene and Fern
Rolls
Duke CON save DC15 - (1d20+3)
(20) + 3 = 23
Dean attacks Antonius AC16, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)
1d20+3 : (7) + 3 = 10
1d6+1 : (4) + 1 = 5
Duke attacks Kazzak AC18, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)
1d20+3 : (7) + 3 = 10
1d6+1 : (1) + 1 = 2
Dina attacks Sora AC15, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)
1d20+3 : (17) + 3 = 20
1d6+1 : (1) + 1 = 2
Dvan damages the stall - (1d6+1)
(3) + 1 = 4
Everyone else, post your round six turns.
@WanderOne - because of the bright light of Antonius' shield, Morton will be able to see the shadows of the shapes fighting through the tall crops after moving 35'. If you want Morton to use Eldritch Blast in round six, move, declare a target, and make the attack roll.
"Now! Shoot him in the back!"
Meanwhile, Grallaria continues to harass Duke, trying to help the armored Kazzak-Person take down the fouled Big Person.
Grallaria will Help Kazzak.
... Hells Caster ...@WanderOne - because of the bright light of Antonius' shield, Morton will be able to see the shadows of the shapes fighting through the tall crops after moving 35'. If you want Morton to use Eldritch Blast in round six, move, declare a target, and make the attack roll.Hurting Morton will Eldritch Blast whatever that Dwarf is attacking. Demonic Morton is taking the assumption that Dwarf is a victim right now. He summons up a crackling beam of brimstone & sulfur and casts it at the undead blasting it. Unfortunately, he only barely hit it after dealing with all the tall crops he guesses.
All those around that undead can now suddenly smell brimstone & sulfur in the air. A keen eye might be able to see where that beam just came from. I believe Morton is approx. 65' away in the cover of the darkness of the night.
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
A beam of crackling energy streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 force damage.
At Higher Levels. The spell creates more than one beam when you reach higher levels: two beams at 5th level, three beams at 11th level, and four beams at 17th level. You can direct the beams at the same target or at different ones. Make a separate attack roll for each beam.
Rolls
Eldritch Blast, Damage - (1d20+6, 1d10)
1d20+6 : (9) + 6 = 15
1d10 : (2) = 2
For perhaps the first time that night, genuine frustration creeps into the cleric's thoughts.
"How are you still standing?" he growls at the undead.
Kazzak's sword hacks great chunks from Duke's body. Antonius himself has crushed ribs, shattered joints, and pulped flesh enough to kill any living man ten times over. Yet the zombies stagger onward with mindless determination, animated by some foul power that cared nothing for mortal injuries.
The realization steels his resolve rather than weakening it.
"Then flesh is not enough."
Blood from the reopened scar on his cheek mixes with sweat as Antonius squares his shoulders and raises Final Measure once more. Beside him, Kazzak continues to hold the line, and the cleric draws strength from the dwarf's stubborn refusal to yield. Together they are the wall between the darkness and their companions.
"By the Ruby Lady's judgment," Antonius declares, his voice carrying across the yard, "your sentence has already been passed."
With that, he steps into another crushing swing, driving the warhammer toward whichever of the undead presents the clearest target. There is no hesitation in the blow, only grim determination. If shattered limbs and broken bones would not stop these abominations, then Antonius would simply continue striking until nothing remained capable of rising again.
The dead had chosen to challenge the sanctity of the grave.
The cleric of Wee Jas intended to remind them why that was a mistake.
Rolls
Antonius Block: Warhammer - Attack - (1d20+5)
(3) + 5 = 8
Antonius Block: Warhammer - Damage - (1d8+3)
(1) + 3 = 4


