Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane
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Aug 6, 2026 11:55 pm
Antonius unaware the Rouges have run off with his stuff, sleeps peacefully in a bed.
Aug 7, 2026 12:07 am
Dell looking through the dark and feeling very cold can only call out in his own mind "Chase I need you. Help me one last time brother!" He then fades to black.
OOC:
Wow, can't roll a ten in three rolls. That is bad.Last edited August 7, 2026 12:08 am
Rolls
Death save #3(dc10) - (1d20)
(8) = 8
Aug 7, 2026 2:22 pm
Amnestria uses her position upstairs as a guard post and observes the yard from the window. While she announced that there were no more zombies, she stays alert to the area in case something else is attracted to all the activity. It would be a terrible fate if another enemy attacked Sora while she stabilized Dell.
The wizard sends another message courtesy of Minor Illusion to the downstairs room: "Sora is with Dell, but she will need help bringing him back inside."
The wizard sends another message courtesy of Minor Illusion to the downstairs room: "Sora is with Dell, but she will need help bringing him back inside."
Aug 8, 2026 7:07 pm
Round Four
(this is preceded by round three)
Amnestria casts Minor Illusion and causes her voice to echo in the downstairs room: "That's it. The last zombie is down." The wizard can't know that only Guilbert is in the room itself, but she makes the sound loud enough to be heard by everyone in and around the house. While she looks out the window at the monk kneeling over the dying rogue, she adds "Sora is with Dell, but she will need help bringing him back inside."
Reynald rushes out of the bedroom where Olyena continues making the comatose Antonius comfortable on the bed and decides that Kazzak's voice was slightly closer out the front door than the back door. So he follows the dwarf's voice and arrives next to Kazzak and Dell.
Sora has long experience tending injuries on the sparring grounds, where trainees would occasionally break bones doing acrobatics or impale themselves when drilling with weapons. Seeing his broken body lying there, she immediately tends to Dell's wounds, tearing his clothes to bind and stop the bleeding.
Dell is stable and no longer dying.
Berthold jogs after the bandit women, admonishing them: "Leave the weapons and I will let you go! Keep them and I will hound you till the end of your days!"
Moved by the threat, Fern tosses the shield into the bushes as she and Ene run into the trees. The bush radiates from within as the bright light glows through its many leaves.
Able to see them still as they run into the darkness, Morton sends another burst of hellish power at their retreating backs. The demons wrestling within him take over, and his aim is unerring: he strikes Fern in the back of the head.
Fern takes 9 force damage and falls dead.
As Ene continues into the woods out of sight, Morton feels the demonic bloodlust leave him, leaving only sorrow. ::How did it come to this? Survivors fighting and killing each other?:: Though Ene tried to kill him, he certainly has no desire to run off into the terror of the dark woods again. She will certainly meet her end without his help. The elf sighs and turns to Berthold, shielding his eyes from the bright light of the knight's sword as he says, "Let's do what the Lady said and help get your friend back inside." So saying, Morton jogs north around the corner of the house and sees Sora tending to the man who ran off into the darkness just a few moments earlier. "Is he alive? I can help if he needs care, but we've got to get everyone back inside before any more monsters arrive."
"Sir Morton, he is alive!" Kazzak replies, and looks gratefully at the skillful monk. "Thanks to Sora and her medical skills." He picks up Dell by the shoulders, and Reynald (who Dashes) takes the rogue's legs; together they carry the fallen Dungeon Buster back inside. As they do so, Kazzak calls over his shoulder, "I did not forget what you said about burning bodies. Is it safe to leave that task for the morning? Many of us are hurt and tired."
With no movement remaining, Morton pauses to consider, looking at the scattered bodies that he can see from where he stands. He smiles wryly at the thought of being hurt and tired. ::I'm barely standing, myself:: But instead he says, "I...think it is safer to get indoors now and return to the task after we've rested, yes. It would take quite some time to make a bonfire big enough, and that might attract the attention of other things in the night, too." He shudders. "Back in Hochoch, they talked about an owlbear that's been seen in the area. I definitely don't want to see one of those."
Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (0/10) Stable in downstairs bedroom
Berthold (1/11) outside by the well
Dell (0/9) Stable, inside the farmhouse
Bandit Ene outside, somewhere in the Dim Forest south of the farm
Bandit Fern Dead
Kazzak (12/12) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP) outside on the north side of the house, 10' from Sora
Guilbert (4/4) downstairs
Olyena (4/4) in downstairs bedroom with Antonius
Reynald (4/4) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Sora (1/12) outside at the northwest corner of the house
Zombie 1 Dead
Zombie 2 Dead
(this is preceded by round three)
Amnestria casts Minor Illusion and causes her voice to echo in the downstairs room: "That's it. The last zombie is down." The wizard can't know that only Guilbert is in the room itself, but she makes the sound loud enough to be heard by everyone in and around the house. While she looks out the window at the monk kneeling over the dying rogue, she adds "Sora is with Dell, but she will need help bringing him back inside."
Reynald rushes out of the bedroom where Olyena continues making the comatose Antonius comfortable on the bed and decides that Kazzak's voice was slightly closer out the front door than the back door. So he follows the dwarf's voice and arrives next to Kazzak and Dell.
Sora has long experience tending injuries on the sparring grounds, where trainees would occasionally break bones doing acrobatics or impale themselves when drilling with weapons. Seeing his broken body lying there, she immediately tends to Dell's wounds, tearing his clothes to bind and stop the bleeding.
Dell is stable and no longer dying.
Berthold jogs after the bandit women, admonishing them: "Leave the weapons and I will let you go! Keep them and I will hound you till the end of your days!"
Moved by the threat, Fern tosses the shield into the bushes as she and Ene run into the trees. The bush radiates from within as the bright light glows through its many leaves.
Able to see them still as they run into the darkness, Morton sends another burst of hellish power at their retreating backs. The demons wrestling within him take over, and his aim is unerring: he strikes Fern in the back of the head.
Fern takes 9 force damage and falls dead.
As Ene continues into the woods out of sight, Morton feels the demonic bloodlust leave him, leaving only sorrow. ::How did it come to this? Survivors fighting and killing each other?:: Though Ene tried to kill him, he certainly has no desire to run off into the terror of the dark woods again. She will certainly meet her end without his help. The elf sighs and turns to Berthold, shielding his eyes from the bright light of the knight's sword as he says, "Let's do what the Lady said and help get your friend back inside." So saying, Morton jogs north around the corner of the house and sees Sora tending to the man who ran off into the darkness just a few moments earlier. "Is he alive? I can help if he needs care, but we've got to get everyone back inside before any more monsters arrive."
"Sir Morton, he is alive!" Kazzak replies, and looks gratefully at the skillful monk. "Thanks to Sora and her medical skills." He picks up Dell by the shoulders, and Reynald (who Dashes) takes the rogue's legs; together they carry the fallen Dungeon Buster back inside. As they do so, Kazzak calls over his shoulder, "I did not forget what you said about burning bodies. Is it safe to leave that task for the morning? Many of us are hurt and tired."
With no movement remaining, Morton pauses to consider, looking at the scattered bodies that he can see from where he stands. He smiles wryly at the thought of being hurt and tired. ::I'm barely standing, myself:: But instead he says, "I...think it is safer to get indoors now and return to the task after we've rested, yes. It would take quite some time to make a bonfire big enough, and that might attract the attention of other things in the night, too." He shudders. "Back in Hochoch, they talked about an owlbear that's been seen in the area. I definitely don't want to see one of those."
Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (0/10) Stable in downstairs bedroom
Berthold (1/11) outside by the well
Dell (0/9) Stable, inside the farmhouse
Bandit Ene outside, somewhere in the Dim Forest south of the farm
Bandit Fern Dead
Kazzak (12/12) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP) outside on the north side of the house, 10' from Sora
Guilbert (4/4) downstairs
Olyena (4/4) in downstairs bedroom with Antonius
Reynald (4/4) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Sora (1/12) outside at the northwest corner of the house
Zombie 1 Dead
Zombie 2 Dead
Rolls
Morton Eldritch Blast, force damage - (1d20+6, 1d10)
1d20+6 : (11) + 6 = 17
1d10 : (9) = 9
Morton target choice (1 Ene, 2 Fern) - (1d2)
(2) = 2
Aug 8, 2026 7:20 pm
OOC:
@rpgventurer - please post Kazzak's round four turn. For the moment, the fight is over and with Dell stabilized, the danger is past, so this will be the last round of this encounter...unless anybody in the party wants to chase Ene into the forest.
Aug 8, 2026 10:02 pm
Dell is still in the cold and black but faintly thinks he hears something"Chase is that you? Are you here brother?"
Last edited August 8, 2026 10:11 pm
Aug 9, 2026 3:04 am
Kazzak waits for Sora’s assurances that moving Dell will not cause further harm, then grabs Dell gently by the shoulders. "Sir Morton, he is alive! Thanks to Sora and her medical skills."
As he slowly pulls Dell inside, the Dwarf contines his conversation with Morton. "I did not forget what you said about burning bodies. Is it safe to leave that task for the morning? Many of us are hurt and tired."
As he slowly pulls Dell inside, the Dwarf contines his conversation with Morton. "I did not forget what you said about burning bodies. Is it safe to leave that task for the morning? Many of us are hurt and tired."
Last edited August 9, 2026 3:05 am
Aug 9, 2026 4:22 am
Round four, completed...
"Sir Morton, he is alive!" Kazzak replies, and looks gratefully at the skillful monk. "Thanks to Sora and her medical skills." He picks up Dell by the shoulders, and Reynald (who Dashes) takes the rogue's legs; together they carry the fallen Dungeon Buster back inside. As they do so, Kazzak calls over his shoulder, "I did not forget what you said about burning bodies. Is it safe to leave that task for the morning? Many of us are hurt and tired."
With no movement remaining, Morton pauses to consider, looking at the scattered bodies that he can see from where he stands. He smiles wryly at the thought of being hurt and tired. ::I'm barely standing, myself:: But instead he says, "I...think it is safer to get indoors now and return to the task after we've rested, yes. It would take quite some time to make a bonfire big enough, and that might attract the attention of other things in the night, too." He shudders. "Back in Hochoch, they talked about an owlbear that's been seen in the area. I definitely don't want to see one of those."
Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (0/10) Stable in downstairs bedroom
Berthold (1/11) outside by the well
Dell (0/9) Stable, inside the farmhouse
Bandit Ene outside, somewhere in the Dim Forest south of the farm
Bandit Fern Dead
Kazzak (12/12) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP) outside on the north side of the house, 10' from Sora
Guilbert (4/4) downstairs
Olyena (4/4) in downstairs bedroom with Antonius
Reynald (4/4) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Sora (1/12) outside at the northwest corner of the house
Zombie 1 Dead
Zombie 2 Dead
"Sir Morton, he is alive!" Kazzak replies, and looks gratefully at the skillful monk. "Thanks to Sora and her medical skills." He picks up Dell by the shoulders, and Reynald (who Dashes) takes the rogue's legs; together they carry the fallen Dungeon Buster back inside. As they do so, Kazzak calls over his shoulder, "I did not forget what you said about burning bodies. Is it safe to leave that task for the morning? Many of us are hurt and tired."
With no movement remaining, Morton pauses to consider, looking at the scattered bodies that he can see from where he stands. He smiles wryly at the thought of being hurt and tired. ::I'm barely standing, myself:: But instead he says, "I...think it is safer to get indoors now and return to the task after we've rested, yes. It would take quite some time to make a bonfire big enough, and that might attract the attention of other things in the night, too." He shudders. "Back in Hochoch, they talked about an owlbear that's been seen in the area. I definitely don't want to see one of those."
OOC:
This ends round four. Do you want to continue in rounds, pursuing Ene, or do you all just want to go back inside (with the shield), bar the doors, and start resting?Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (0/10) Stable in downstairs bedroom
Berthold (1/11) outside by the well
Dell (0/9) Stable, inside the farmhouse
Bandit Ene outside, somewhere in the Dim Forest south of the farm
Bandit Fern Dead
Kazzak (12/12) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP) outside on the north side of the house, 10' from Sora
Guilbert (4/4) downstairs
Olyena (4/4) in downstairs bedroom with Antonius
Reynald (4/4) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Sora (1/12) outside at the northwest corner of the house
Zombie 1 Dead
Zombie 2 Dead
Aug 9, 2026 5:47 am
Berthold tried to quickly assess the situation.
OOC:
Does Ene still has Final Measure or is it at Fern’s feet? If the two items are nearby, Berthold will collect them and return to the farmstead. If not, he will pursue the woman 30ft, and call out a last warning. Aug 9, 2026 6:29 am
Round Five
(this is preceded by round four)
When they ran out of the house, Berthold got a glimpse of the two bandit girls, one with Antonius' shield, the other with what looked like the cleric's warhammer. With the zombie struck down by Amnestria's flame, his attention had returned to the bandits and Berthold had called his challenge. Fern threw the shield that illuminated them into the bushes and vanished, but then the knight had clearly seen Morton send a bolt of vile darkness searing in their direction.
Now, momentarily ignoring the elf's invitation to help Dell, Berthold runs south of the house into the dark forest, waving his sword in front of him as he smashes through the undergrowth. He nearly trips over Fern's dead body. Berthold scans the bushes and shrubs nearby quickly, passing his sword back and forth. There is no sign of a weapon on or near her. He holds his sword aloft and calls promises of retribution to Ene. Though he can hear the snapping and cracking as she moves deeper into the woods, she is beyond the illumination of his sword, lost in the trees, and he cannot see her. He could follow her by the sound, but the further he gets in the woods, the further he is from the rest of the group. He looks back toward the house, a dim silhouette backlit from the light of Amnestria's coin on the other side of the building. Antonius' shield remains face-down, glowing, stuck under a bush a few paces behind him.
Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (0/10) Stable in downstairs bedroom
Berthold (1/11) outside by the well
Dell (0/9) Stable, inside the farmhouse
Bandit Ene outside, somewhere in the Dim Forest south of the farm
Bandit Fern Dead
Kazzak (12/12) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP) outside on the north side of the house, 10' from Sora
Guilbert (4/4) downstairs
Olyena (4/4) in downstairs bedroom with Antonius
Reynald (4/4) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Sora (1/12) outside at the northwest corner of the house
Zombie 1 Dead
Zombie 2 Dead
(this is preceded by round four)
When they ran out of the house, Berthold got a glimpse of the two bandit girls, one with Antonius' shield, the other with what looked like the cleric's warhammer. With the zombie struck down by Amnestria's flame, his attention had returned to the bandits and Berthold had called his challenge. Fern threw the shield that illuminated them into the bushes and vanished, but then the knight had clearly seen Morton send a bolt of vile darkness searing in their direction.
Now, momentarily ignoring the elf's invitation to help Dell, Berthold runs south of the house into the dark forest, waving his sword in front of him as he smashes through the undergrowth. He nearly trips over Fern's dead body. Berthold scans the bushes and shrubs nearby quickly, passing his sword back and forth. There is no sign of a weapon on or near her. He holds his sword aloft and calls promises of retribution to Ene. Though he can hear the snapping and cracking as she moves deeper into the woods, she is beyond the illumination of his sword, lost in the trees, and he cannot see her. He could follow her by the sound, but the further he gets in the woods, the further he is from the rest of the group. He looks back toward the house, a dim silhouette backlit from the light of Amnestria's coin on the other side of the building. Antonius' shield remains face-down, glowing, stuck under a bush a few paces behind him.
Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (0/10) Stable in downstairs bedroom
Berthold (1/11) outside by the well
Dell (0/9) Stable, inside the farmhouse
Bandit Ene outside, somewhere in the Dim Forest south of the farm
Bandit Fern Dead
Kazzak (12/12) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Morton (1/15, 5 temp HP) outside on the north side of the house, 10' from Sora
Guilbert (4/4) downstairs
Olyena (4/4) in downstairs bedroom with Antonius
Reynald (4/4) in the farmhouse with Dell's body
Sora (1/12) outside at the northwest corner of the house
Zombie 1 Dead
Zombie 2 Dead
Aug 9, 2026 8:21 pm
Once safely inside and sure that Dell will survive, Sora leans back against the wall and sighs. "I need to rest," she says wearily.
Aug 10, 2026 5:07 am
"Heironeous be praised," the paladin muttered softly, as he realized he would not be able to track Ene and recover the weapon without exposing himself to great danger. "For we have triumphed over our foes and survived."
Despite accepting the decision, he was frustrated with the outcome, and disappointed with the sad state in which he himself, and the party members more generally, had been driven to. Not for the first time this night, he felt naked under the eaves of the forest, an armorless knight facing an endless expanse of dark woods. He turned his back to Ene, collected Antonius’s shield and began dragging Fern’s corpse back to the farmstead. It would need to be handled, along with the others.
Despite accepting the decision, he was frustrated with the outcome, and disappointed with the sad state in which he himself, and the party members more generally, had been driven to. Not for the first time this night, he felt naked under the eaves of the forest, an armorless knight facing an endless expanse of dark woods. He turned his back to Ene, collected Antonius’s shield and began dragging Fern’s corpse back to the farmstead. It would need to be handled, along with the others.
Aug 10, 2026 7:10 pm
"An owlbear? That creature sounds ... insane. Excuse me." Kazzak interrupts his musings of surface world horrors to help Berthold with Fern's corpse.
One less bandit is a good thing.
He says to the Baronet, "Sir, I don't think we should travel until our wounds are healed and we dispose of the bodies. It will give us time to talk to Morton as well about the situation in Orlane."
One less bandit is a good thing.
He says to the Baronet, "Sir, I don't think we should travel until our wounds are healed and we dispose of the bodies. It will give us time to talk to Morton as well about the situation in Orlane."
OOC:
Definitely time to hunker down, IMO.Last edited August 10, 2026 7:12 pm
Aug 10, 2026 8:35 pm
Antonius lay motionless upon the downstairs bed, his body finally surrendered to the deep rest demanded by wounds and blood loss. His breathing was slow and steady, the bandages across his face and torso rising gently with each breath. To those watching, he appeared peaceful.
Within his mind, however, Antonius walked once more through the silent halls of black marble.
The ruby candles burned along the walls, their flames bending ever so slightly as he passed. At his side hung Final Measure, its familiar weight reassuring against his hip. He rested a hand upon its worn haft, finding comfort in the simple familiarity of the weapon he had carried through battle, prayer, and death.
Yet something felt different.
The halls were quieter than before.
Antonius stopped before the great doors at the end of the chamber. Beyond them came the faint sound of distant footsteps—then silence. He glanced down at Final Measure, but the warhammer seemed strangely indistinct, as though the dream itself struggled to hold its shape.
He tightened his grip. "Not yet," he murmured.
The ruby candles flickered.
Somewhere in the darkness, a bell tolled once.
Antonius looked toward the sound, unaware that in the waking world the space beside his bed was empty, and that Final Measure—the trusted weapon of his service to Wee Jas—was no longer within his reach.
For now, the dream offered no warning . . . Only silence.
Within his mind, however, Antonius walked once more through the silent halls of black marble.
The ruby candles burned along the walls, their flames bending ever so slightly as he passed. At his side hung Final Measure, its familiar weight reassuring against his hip. He rested a hand upon its worn haft, finding comfort in the simple familiarity of the weapon he had carried through battle, prayer, and death.
Yet something felt different.
The halls were quieter than before.
Antonius stopped before the great doors at the end of the chamber. Beyond them came the faint sound of distant footsteps—then silence. He glanced down at Final Measure, but the warhammer seemed strangely indistinct, as though the dream itself struggled to hold its shape.
He tightened his grip. "Not yet," he murmured.
The ruby candles flickered.
Somewhere in the darkness, a bell tolled once.
Antonius looked toward the sound, unaware that in the waking world the space beside his bed was empty, and that Final Measure—the trusted weapon of his service to Wee Jas—was no longer within his reach.
For now, the dream offered no warning . . . Only silence.
Aug 11, 2026 1:04 am
Berthold sheathes his sword, knowing that he can see by the light of Antonius' shield. He retrieves the shield from the bush, and then considers what to do with his hands full of shields. He walks back towards the farmhouse, tosses down the cleric's shield so that it lands face-up, illuminating the back of the house, and then meets Kazzak. The two of them return to the woods, Berthold showing the dwarf where the dead bandit lies. Together they pick up the corpse of the girl and carry her back to the house. Then Berthold pops back and brings the shield in before they bar the kitchen door again.
OOC:
Everyone is inside, we are out of initiative order, and each PC gains 50 XP.Aug 11, 2026 3:32 am
OOC:
Checking for injuries......neither Dell nor Antonius have lingering injuries, though you can choose to narrate scars if you wish.
Rolls
Antonius lingering injury check DC61 - (1d100)
(33) = 33
Dell lingering injury check DC61 - (1d100)
(15) = 15
Morton
Aug 11, 2026 3:41 am

Morton
OOC:
Per the Healer's Kit dependency rule, any PC who still has their Hit Die can roll it now to heal back some HP. Then, after the next long rest, they will regain their Hit Die.For everyone else that is hurt, those PCs will also regain their Hit Die after a long rest...at which point they can use a Healer's Kit application to roll their Hit Die to heal back some HP.
Aug 11, 2026 9:50 am
Dell feels like he is being carried. His eyes open a bit to see he is back to the world of warmth and light. His chest hurt something awful like being kicked by a horse. He smiles faintly and thinks"I still have a chance to find Chase." then his eyes close again as he feels real tierd.
Rolls
HD - (1d8)
(2) = 2
Aug 11, 2026 10:17 am
"We are fortunate to be alive," the knight stated as he sat down and breathed more easily for the first time since in what seemed like ages, "we should get some quiet and rest and talk more in the morning," he concluded, gazing askance at the elf newcomer, who seemed to be perturbed by the effects of his magic. "Ene got away with Antonius’ hammer. We can try tracking her in the morn, if that’s what we decide to do. She can’t have gone far, in her state, in the night."
Regarding healing, Berthold has no HD to spend. He’ll recover one HD and his healing capabilities after the long rest. He’ll probably use his HD after rest, and top off any healing needs with his lay on hands…
OOC:
Berthold is exhausted and wants to just get some sleep. He would do so in armor, if that did not deprive him of the benefits of a rest. Before sleeping, he’ll get his servants to help barricade the doors again, making sure any wandering zombies will not just punch through the doors and shutters easily. He’ll sleep anywhere and will take a watch at dawn, starting by donning his armour. Regarding healing, Berthold has no HD to spend. He’ll recover one HD and his healing capabilities after the long rest. He’ll probably use his HD after rest, and top off any healing needs with his lay on hands…
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