Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane

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Jun 24, 2026 3:10 pm
Sora tries to avoid going into the light.

Rolls

Death save (DC 10) - (1d20)

(3) = 3

Jun 24, 2026 3:26 pm
Round six, continued...

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!
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-19), 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)

Rolls

Duke CON save DC9 - (1d20+3)

(20) + 3 = 23

Duke CON save DC7 - (1d20+3)

(10) + 3 = 13

Jun 24, 2026 3:43 pm
OOC:
@mathias0077 please post Dell's round six turn. It is dim in the barn stall, but the Light of Amnestria's coin out in the farmyard in front of the house is still providing enough light to see in low light. Dvan is smashing its way into the stall but is not blocking the door, so he can exit. Cutting a captive's bonds takes a full move or action, so he could free one and still move, or free both and stay where he is. Dell can't see this yet, but as soon as he exits the stall he will see that Sora has fallen under Dina's assault. Just like everyone else in the party, Dell has observed that these zombies move more slowly than the Dungeon Busters do.
@matmaisan please post Berthold's round six turn. Berthold is in the fog at the foot of the stairs in the Jarl farmhouse, but he knows that Amnestria is one full move away in the northern bedroom, facing a zombie...probably the one that knocked him down.
Jun 24, 2026 8:03 pm
Berthold is still unaware of Sora’s fall, being unable to see her. He knows Amnestria is upstairs, as are his servants. He heard the swift steps on the wooden flooring, an obvious signal of trouble above. Before stepping up the stairs, he pleaded once again with his companions outside: "Rally in the house, let us barricade ourselves!"

But then he stepped up the stairs, peach step a lance of fire flashing from his feet to his bleeding head. With shining longsword firmly held in his hand, he rushed up and into the room where the elven magus faced her doom alone. As soon as he entered and saw the undead assailant he slashed at it, trying to cut it’s head off!
OOC:
Do flanking rules apply? Rolling without advantage, but should they apply, I’ll roll a second die.
Last edited June 24, 2026 8:06 pm

Rolls

Berthold (Baronet of Dunsdale): Longsword to hit, damage - (1d20+5, 1d8+3)

1d20+5 : (14) + 5 = 19

1d8+3 : (4) + 3 = 7

Jun 24, 2026 8:33 pm
Dell just can't understand how this dead head found them. He will drop his dagger for the captives and whispers"Cut your self loose I will try and lead them away." Dell will then hop the stall and run for the door. Once he starts heading for the door he will yell'Hey dead heads can't catch me!!" Once he is a safe distance away he pull out a torch and light it. A good boundary warden always has his pack when not on down time. Maybe you have to fight these things with fire.
Jun 25, 2026 2:57 pm
mathias0077 says:
Dell will then hop the stall and run for the door.
OOC:
@mathias0077 - It's an enclosed stall for large stock, so it's not a low fence he can hop over; he'd be going out the door to the stall (which is not being blocked by Dvan). Once out, which door do you want Dell to go toward, the broken back door to the north (around and past Dvan, no opportunity attack), or the open front door to the south (toward Dina and Sora at its feet, both just outside that door)?
Jun 25, 2026 8:16 pm
OOC:
I will go out the back and try to draw them with me away from the captives and Sora. Hoping someone can get to Sora or I can lead them away and come back for her. I have a healer kit Could I leave with the captives so they might treat Sora if I get the Zombies away? I will have to edit my post.
Last edited June 25, 2026 9:42 pm
Jun 27, 2026 6:39 pm
Round six, continued...

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.

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.
OOC:
I've inserted the two newly-armed bandits into the initiative at the end of the round with the servants. This ends round six.

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 (18/18) and Fern (2/11)

Rolls

Zombie INT check - (1d20-4, 1d20-4)

1d20-4 : (1) - 4 = -3

1d20-4 : (9) - 4 = 5

Don CON save DC12 - (1d20+3)

(15) + 3 = 18

DEX check to grab the knife despite being bound hand & foot DC10 (also who gets the dagger) - (1d20+1, 1d20+1)

1d20+1 : (19) + 1 = 20

1d20+1 : (16) + 1 = 17

Jun 27, 2026 6:57 pm
Round Seven
(this is preceded by round six, followed by round eight)

Kazzak slashes into the dead body again. At this point, it's almost unrecognizable as once being human, with so many pieces hacked off of it.
Duke takes 8 slashing damage and collapses! The magic animating the body has finally been overcome!

Dean tries to strike Kazzak. Kazzak steps aside, pulling his blade free of the wreck that was Duke.

Don turns around and tries to attack Berthold. Understandably wary of the fetid corpse, the knight is able to avoid the clumsy swings.

Dina and Dvan stumble through the barn after Dell. At their slow pace, they are not quite able to reach the rogue despite Dashing. At the end of their turns, Dvan is 10' away from the rogue, and Dina is 30' away.

Sora fades in and out of consciousness, her breath coming in rapid gasps as she struggles for life.
Sora has two failed death saves.

Because he heard Dell's taunt, Morton calls out: "How many more zombies are there here?" Dell calls: "SORA IS DOWN IN THE BARN AND IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE! I HAVE THE ZOMBIES WITH ME!" which Morton supposes is a response but is not an answer. Still, Morton replies: "On it!" Dell has no time to wonder who it is that is yelling; he is too occupied with launching himself into the undergrowth, blindly crashing through the deep darkness of the Dim Forest at night without any light. He nearly brains himself running into trees, but he has to keep moving to stay ahead of the two zombies crashing through the forest behind him. At the end of this turn, he is 70' away from Dvan, 90' from Dina.

"This will just be an illusion!" Amnestria warns Berthold, then conjures a Minor Illusion - a static image of a gnome commoner brandishing a mattock - squeezed in between the zombie and the knight. "Strike hard!"

"Wee Jas, preserve him," Antonius murmurs, and steps away from Kazzak and Dean toward the house. "Hold them!" The last remaining zombie in that melee, Dean, takes a swipe at the cleric of death as he leaves. Antonius sees the swing well in advance and easily steps out of its way.
Antonius rushes into the house, through the fog, and only realizes that he has proceeded out the front door when the quality of the sound of his footfalls stops echoing, right before he finds himself at the edge of the wagon. He turns north and bursts out of the fog, finding Sora writhing on the ground just a couple of paces beyond. "No... not today." He slides to a stop on his knees, channeling the power of Wee Jas into the dying monk with a gentle hand. "Lady of the Ruby Throne, this soul's hour has not yet come. Hold her upon the threshold, and deny death its claim."
Antonius casts Spare the Dying and Sora is no longer dying. Antonius looks around; there is no sign of who hurt the woman. Dell is long gone, the zombies following him into the darkness. The light from Antonius' shield illuminates part of the interior of the barn, up to the side of the closest stall. He cannot see the prisoners struggling in another stall, though he believes that they are there, still bound hand and foot.

True to his word, Morton approaches, pushing his way through the overgrown plants. As he gets closer, he sees the shapes more clearly: Kazzak, fighting with a dead man dancing like a puppet on a string, which is also weirdly being harassed by a tiny...owl? He grimaces at the grotesque sight of the moving corpse, remembering his recent brush with death all too clearly. He has moved close enough that both the dwarf and the little bird can see his form approaching in the grain. Morton sends another blast of fell energy at Dean.
Dean takes 9 force damage!

Grallaria swoops silently and buffets the dead thing's face with her wings, Helping Kazzak with his round eight attack on Dean.

Berthold swings his blade through the static image of the gnome and into Don.
Don takes 9 slashing damage!

The retainers listen with bated breath behind their door; they can hear grunts and thuds from another bedroom.

Ene uses her Action to loosen the ropes on Fern's ankles, freeing her. Then she uses her Move to stand up and wriggle free of the rope wrapped around her own legs.
Fern steps out of the stall, sees that the zombie is nowhere near, and gestures to Ene: "Now's our chance - this way!" She heads south out of the barn but draws up short as she sees the armored figure of Antonius kneeling over Sora. She is torn between fleeing and staying to ensure Ene has a chance. "Fern!" Antonius calls to the bandit woman with the dagger in her hand, "If you seek to prove there is more to you than banditry, help me." A life of betrayals and broken promises from family and friends luring her with requests to "help" does not incline her to trust this morbid clergyman.

Fern rabbits away, praying as she goes that both Ene and helpless Sora (who was almost kind to her) will escape predation. She is also grateful for Dell dropping the knife that she holds: Fern hopes that the rogue won't die for his kindness, but when has hope ever done anyone any good? Fern figures she just might survive the night with his dagger in hand.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-15), Dina (-62), Don (-35), Duke (Dead), Dvan
16 - Sora (0/12) Stable, Unconscious
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
Jun 27, 2026 7:01 pm
OOC:
@rpgventurer - go ahead and post Kazzak's round seven turn. Grallaria has provided Help to attack Duke again. Dean is also adjacent to you, along with Antonius. A beam of black energy just blasted into Duke from out of the crops just a moment ago, right before Dell taunted the undead in the barn and Berthold yelled about barricading the house.
Jun 28, 2026 4:13 am
Kazzak, surprised by the strange spell that barely missed him* and worried about what’s happening with the others, tries a different tactic to dispatch Duke. He swings his qsword low while the bird is attacking high.
OOC:
*Well, that’s what he thinks happened.

Rolls

Longsword attack with Help - (2d20H1+5, 1d8+5)

2d20H1+5 : (314) + 5 = 19

1d8+5 : (3) + 5 = 8

Jun 28, 2026 4:10 pm
Round seven, continued...

Kazzak slashes into the dead body again. At this point, it's almost unrecognizable as once being human, with so many pieces hacked off of it.
Duke takes 8 slashing damage and collapses! The magic animating the body has finally been overcome!

Dean tries to strike Kazzak. Kazzak steps aside, pulling his blade free of the wreck that was Duke.

Don turns around and tries to attack Berthold. Understandably wary of the fetid corpse, the knight is able to avoid the clumsy swings.

Dina and Dvan stumble through the barn after Dell. At their slow pace, they are not quite able to reach the rogue despite Dashing.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-6), Dina (-62), Don (-26), Duke (Dead), 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 (18/18) and Fern (2/11)

Rolls

Duke CON save DC13 - (1d20+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Dean target choice (1 Antonius, 2 Kazzak) - (1d2)

(2) = 2

Don target choice (! Amnestria, 2 Berthold) - (1d2)

(2) = 2

Dean attacks Kazzak AC18, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)

1d20+3 : (3) + 3 = 6

1d6+1 : (4) + 1 = 5

Don attacks Berthold AC12, bludgeoning damage - (1d20+3, 1d6+1)

1d20+3 : (3) + 3 = 6

1d6+1 : (3) + 1 = 4

Jun 28, 2026 4:19 pm
OOC:
Another zombie went down, and none of the others hit anyone! Everyone else, please post your round seven turns. Sora is rolling another death save.
Jun 28, 2026 4:55 pm
Observing that these zombies seem first attracted to sight, then sound, Amnestria tries to give another target for Don and possibly stave off another attack on Berthold. "This will just be an illusion!" she declares to Berthold, warning him of her intentions. "Strike hard!"

She then conjures up an illusion of a leaping gnome right in front of the nobleman, armed with a mattock and wearing a simple shirt and trousers. Hopefully her intuition is right and the zombie will go for what's directly in front of it.

Outside, Grallaria performs another flyby, trying to distract Dean and help Kazzak.
OOC:
Placing a Minor Illusion between Don and Berthold in the hopes of exploiting their perceived mindlessness.
Jun 28, 2026 4:58 pm
https://imgcdn.stablediffusionweb.com/2024/4/6/9578e689-a663-4e1e-ab8d-eab77de8b341.jpg... Hells Caster ...Demonic Morton isn't keen on everything that is happening around the area. What he is sure that the Kazzak just finally wiped out the evil Zombie Duke that Hells Casting Morton winged but there is still one more attacking them (Dean). Hells caster Morton makes more of an appears from advancing past the field and closer to the barn at this time and he will toss a crackling black beam at undead Dean since Zombie Duke has met his blessed demise.

Half Wood Elf Morton moves forward to obtain a better view area, but not close to the undead to worry himself. There, he calls upon his more demonic side and lets the Zombie have it hard. With no crops in the way, he manages a good solid beam. Again, those near evil Dean can again smell the brimstone & sulfur smell common of Demonic Morton as Morton himself is carrying that scent much stronger.

Observing Morton takes note of the bird attacking and instantly wonders where its master is. There is a wizard somewhere nearby, he then thinks & instantly decides these people are not just defending this place, they are adventurers!

New to the area, good looking Morton with silky green hair appears a bit exhausted and he is constantly summoning crackling black beams with a scent of brimstone and sulfur. He is obviously a caster but rarer one that wears green studded leather armor with no weapon besides a great club over his back and dagger to his side.

He almost sure that he feels like something is just tapping their foot on the ground waiting in his mind. Warlock Morton is just waiting to hear what foul suggestion/motivation will come with that. Always bothering him more when appears to be weaker. Morton can't forgive himself from before when he gave in & the death of Tal Alkern, his childhood friend in Gorna, forever burnt in his memory. Damm demons.

He calls out loudly in clear common, "How many more Zombies are there here?" as he really wants to rest in that building. Prefers the thought of upstairs where it may be safer. He doesn't think that one busy Zombie is going to turn and attack him.
OOC:
Moving Morton closes to 35' from Dean and hits him in the back with 16 for 9 force damage with Eldritch Blast. He questions, "How many more Zombies are there here?". Morton has 1 HP & 5 Temp HP. And is AC 14.
Last edited June 28, 2026 9:00 pm

Rolls

Eldritch Blast, Damage - (1d20+6, 1d10)

1d20+6 : (10) + 6 = 16

1d10 : (9) = 9

Jun 28, 2026 6:44 pm
Dell will yell out"SORA IS DOWN IN THE BARN AND IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE! I HAVE THE ZOMBIES WITH ME!" Dell will continue moving and staying just out of range of the zombies to keep them chasing him. He will lead them away from the farm back into the Dim.
Jun 28, 2026 7:06 pm
https://imgcdn.stablediffusionweb.com/2024/4/6/9578e689-a663-4e1e-ab8d-eab77de8b341.jpg... Hells Caster ...Demonic Morton's hazel eyes swivel to the front of the barn when hears the voice/call (Dell's) for help and he is ready to rush that direction. He hopes Dwarf (Kazzak) & Bird (Grallaria) can handle that Zombie (Dean) for a bit longer as rescuing Morton draws out his Healer's Kit from his backpack with thoughts to help who ever this Sora is.

Yells back, "On it!" surely loud enough Dell can plainly hear it. On the move Morton has no concern if the undead hear him. He well knows how fast death can come. With thoughts that he does want to room here, it is so better if you're aiding them.
Last edited June 28, 2026 7:24 pm
Jun 28, 2026 8:21 pm
Berthold was suddenly puzzled by the image that sprung before his eyes. So puzzled that despite his painful position, he wanted to laugh. At the elf’s call for him to strike with vigour, the battered but unbroken knight swung his hefty blade with all his might.
OOC:
Here we are, another coin flip away from deliverance….
Last edited June 28, 2026 8:22 pm

Rolls

Berthold (Baronet of Dunsdale): Longsword to hit and damage - (1d20+5, 1d8+3)

1d20+5 : (9) + 5 = 14

1d8+3 : (6) + 3 = 9

Jun 28, 2026 9:17 pm
Sora fades in and out of consciousness, her breath coming in rapid gasps as she struggles for life.

Rolls

Death save (DC 10) - (1d20)

(9) = 9

Jun 29, 2026 4:21 am
Round seven, continued...

Sora fades in and out of consciousness, her breath coming in rapid gasps as she struggles for life.
Sora has two failed death saves.

Because he heard Dell's taunt, Morton calls out: "How many more zombies are there here?" Dell calls: "SORA IS DOWN IN THE BARN AND IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE! I HAVE THE ZOMBIES WITH ME!" which Morton supposes is a response but is not an answer. Still, Morton replies: "On it!"

"This will just be an illusion!" Amnestria warns Berthold, then conjures a Minor Illusion - a static image of a gnome commoner brandishing a mattock - squeezed in between the zombie and the knight. "Strike hard!"
OOC:
@Mathfuric - Antonius' turn will go here. I've written the bandits' turn already, but if you decide that Antonius runs off to Spare the Dying monk, cutting through the foggy house to just reach Sora's body to touch her, I will revise Fern's turn to avoid the burly cleric.
True to his word, Morton approaches, pushing his way through the overgrown plants. As he gets closer, he sees the shapes more clearly: Antonius and Kazzak, fighting with a dead man dancing like a puppet on a string, which is also weirdly being harassed by a tiny...owl? He grimaces at the grotesque sight of the moving corpse, remembering his recent brush with death all too clearly. He has moved close enough that both the dwarf, the human, and the little bird can see his form approaching in the grain. Morton sends another blast of fell energy at Dean.
Dean takes 9 force damage!
OOC:
@mathias0077 - Dell's turn will go here.
Grallaria swoops silently and buffets the dead thing's face with her wings, Helping Kazzak with his round eight attack on Dean.

Berthold swings his blade through the static image of the gnome and into Don.
Don takes 9 slashing damage!

The retainers listen with bated breath behind their door; they can hear grunts and thuds from another bedroom.

Ene uses her Action to loosen the ropes on Fern's ankles, freeing her. Then she uses her Move to free her own legs.
Fern steps out of the stall, sees the two zombies staggering away to the north, and gestures to Ene: "Now's our chance - this way!" She heads south out of the barn but pauses over Sora's weakly writhing form. Torn between stabbing her enemy and a faint sense of gratitude for the dwarven woman who kept the others from murdering her, Fern chooses pity. There's no one else around, and still time to get away. She kneels and tries to quickly stabilize Sora.
She has no idea what she's doing; Abe was the one who handled all the first aid, and he's dead.
19 - Kazzak (12/12)
18 - The dead Dave (Dead), Dean (-15), Dina (-62), Don (-35), Duke (Dead), Dvan
16 - Sora (0/12) Dying two failures
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 (18/18) and Fern (2/11)

Rolls

Don CON save DC14 - (1d20+3)

(14) + 3 = 17

Fern Medicine check to stabilize Sora DC10 - (1d20)

(2) = 2

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