Black pools of water stand like dark mirrors about the muddy roadway.  A pall of thick cold mist spreads over the ground.  Giant tree trunks stand guard on both sides of the road, their branches clawing at the mists.  In every direction the fog grows thicker and the forest seems more oppressive.

The mists and failing light do not hamper your vision, certainly no more than the twists and turns of the road which limit your direct line of sight.  Nor does the seemingly relentless march weary you overmuch, though the conditions conspire to make tracking the passage of time difficult.

The Paladin rides ahead for a while, joined by Arafarafarfa and Oooh'Awww, much to the horse's distaste, the Halfling seemingly unwilling to yield the foremost place.  But after a mile or two of hearing naught but the clatter of his own horse's hooves and the steady, unlaboured panting of the big cat, he drops back to rejoin you ... and Arafarafarfa is pleased to slow enough to allow you to catch up, though she retains her position in the front.

And so you trudge on, and on ...

Grey in the fog, high stone pillars loom up from the grey impenetrable woods on both sides of the road.  Huge iron gates hang from the stonework, dew clinging to their rusting bars.  Standing before the pillars are two stone statues of armed guardians with wicked polearms.  Their carved heads lie among the weeds at their feet, neatly broken from the stone shoulders.

As you approach, the gates screech slowly open ...

Though he had been sorely tempted to try to interest the rest of the group in a jolly little sing-along during the long hours of their march, Zertin had really not had the heart to disturb the gloomy silence of their surroundings.

When they finally reached their destination he detoured slightly to get a bit closer to the decapitated statue on the right hand side of the gate.

"Alas, poor Yoric, I knew him ... not at all," he quipped as he studied the statue and its fallen head. He drew his little weasel out from the folds of his cloak to show her the statue as well.

"What do you think, Louise? It must have been a cracking joke that made them both laugh their heads off like that!"

Violet is content to let others take the lead, should they so desire.  If any ask her, she will do so herself, without hesitation.  But it seems the knight and small tiger-rider are more than happy to do so; thus, she follows.

She studies the structure they approach, frowning.  This land, its strange mists and dank air...it reminds her of something she knows.  "Moth," the young woman whispers, and shakes her head.  It is, but isn't; best she not assume things are the same here as they are outside of hell.

The allusion passes over her head, and she's not much in the mood for jokes.  Instead, the young woman draws out her short, recurved bow, stringing it expertly in the saddle and nocking an arrow.  Still loose, mind, but prepared.

"I suppose we should enter," she hazards, studying the gate.

As Arafarafarfa rides close on Oooh'Awww, Caesius reaches out and pats Hammer on the side of the neck.  "All is well.  They're friends." he murmurs, and the heavy horse calms perceptibly.

When they reach the gate, he studies it for a long moment as they open, seemingly of their own volition.  "It appears that we are welcome." he announces,  "Though whether that is a good thing still remains to be seen."

The smile on his face suggests that he would be happy, whatever the outcome.  He urges his mount forward...

Saeko gives Zertin a faintly puzzled look, glancing at the statue to see if, perhaps, its name is given at the base.  Shaking her head slightly, she joins Caesius in walking through the gates, striding along the center of the road.

Qvar walks beside Zertin, his his glow making a small pool of golden light in the mist around the pair.  The sombre mood does little to dispel the disquieting thought that the Sun may never rise again, and he constantly studies the gloomy sky for any sign of change... or moths, following Violet's the cryptic remark.  The only other distraction comes from his pleasure in watching the shadowy forms of the beasts and their handlers on the road ahead: the lissome union of cat-and-woman, and the powerful connection of the paladin to his charger.

His brother's merry mood at the pillars finally lifts his spirits again.  "The right path will open before us." he breathes, marvelling at this welcome change in their fortunes.  His glow momentarily brightens the rusty gates and glistens the dew as he walks through.

In this company of heroes ... Randal finds himself more comfortable in Violet's company than in that of any of the others, finding her natural caution more in tune with his own fears than the brazenly confident approach of his other companions.

As most of the others continue valiantly on, the man from Surd hangs back with the young woman and the wizard as they regard the gates and statues, nervously loosening the knife in its sheath at his belt.

Violet blinks several times as the others enter.  Well, she hadn't seen anything too untoward, barring the rusty locks.  And the magical opening of the gates.  Magic...clearly her companions have familiarity with such, but why should Violet worry about the state of her soul -- or theirs -- now?

They're already in Hell.

Qvar's optimism garners a lopsided smile from the young woman, but the shimmering light playing from his body keeps her back.  Blessed...cursed...hard to say, thus far, though she's leaning toward the former despite his belief in a pagan god.  Once again, her hand slips to her pouch for an instant -- the other holding bow and arrow in place -- before returning to lightly grip fletched ash.  "Figure this is your last chance to turn back, Randal," she whispers, almost to herself.

He won't.

She doesn't have a choice, really; it's this, or spend endless time seated before a fire.  At least by following these people, she has a chance of doing some good, of finding what she has been possibly-maybe sent to find, of grasping at some kind of redemption for a paltry life of desperate, hungry thievery.

And someone needs to bear witness to the stories of heroes.

Her boots take her forward in near silence, and she strains both ears and eyes to pick out any possible danger before it falls upon them.

"Yes, I think you have a good point there, Louise," Zertin says thoughtfully to the little weasel in his hands. "It is very odd that someone would so carefully cut the heads off those statues then just leave the heads where they fell. What's that you say? Put them back on again? Oh, no, I think we should just let severed heads lie, at least until we know who we might offend by disturbing them."

"That's diplomacy, you see," he tells Louise, tapping the side of his nose with one finger in a very meaningful way.

His boots crunch audibly in a patch of loose gravel on the road as he hurries to catch up to his profoundly enlightened brother.

Violet and Zertin finally join the rest of you, Randall hurrying to keep pace with them, fearful of being left behind. 

As the pair reach you a sound from behind causes you all to turn back, just in time to witness the gates slam shut with a loud clang that echoes in the stillness.

"And that's security!" Zertin tells Louise as they watch the gates slam shut behind them.

He doesn't hesitate long before resuming his walk toward their intended destination.

Violet slowly turns and regards the closed gates.  Somehow, not unexpected.  She could scale the wall...but a sneaking suspicion lurks that something would stop her.  And to what end would she make the attempt?

She came here to enter, not to flee.

"No sense waiting around," the young woman murmurs, continuing her slow advance.

Caesius spares the closed gate a brief glance, then urges his mount forward, along the road into Barovia.  Their goal lies ahead, not behind.  To his mind, they are on the right side of the gate, so why would they need to go back.

"Randal!" he calls out, "What can you tell us of Barovia?  Of the village itself?  What sort of place is it?  Is there a militia, or a fortress that we may defend?"

Qvar walks quietly beside his brother, unwearied by the long march but still hoping to see the light of dawn.  He gives Louise a scratch behind the ears when she comes out of Zed's cloak.

Randal nods slowly in agreement with Violet, though he takes the sudden closing of the gate in less good humour than the rest of you.

"I fear whatever power now rules these lands does not wish us to leave," the man from Surd murmurs fearfully, even as he hurries onwards, so as not to be left lagging behind.

"I've not been here before," he admits, "and while the villagers would infrequently call in at the Weary Horse, it has been a while since we've seen any but the cursed Vistani come east upon this road."

"From what I've heard, the village itself is little more than a farming community, though it has a trading store and a church ... to the god Lathander, if that name means anything to you ?"

"I believe there is a castle somewhere nearby, but it may have been abandoned long ago."

"Lathander? Hmm, sounds vaguely familiar," Zertin mutters thoughtfully as they trudge along the road.

"Old castles are usually very interesting to explore and very often they turn out to be the best or, at least, the most obvious place to start investigations when there is no better information to guide one," he adds. "I find myself becoming more and more curious about what he is going to say."

Violet shrugs.  The name means nothing to her; but then, none of the names of these pagan gods hold any weight to the young woman.  There's no denying their power, here; Qvar's unceasing aura is like nothing she has ever seen.

"Such is the way of Hell," she sighs in response to Randal's concerns.  "Easy to fall in, nigh-impossible to crawl out."  Not that it's going to stop her from trying.

"Yes!  Lathander, The Morninglord."  Qvar nods cheerfully at this news from Randal.  "Pelor's face that shines upon this land.  I would like to visit this church.  I'm sure we'll receive a warm welcome there."  He beams at his companions.

"Oh yes, I remember now. You woke me up at some ungodly hour of the morning to tell me all about him after you returned from that summer solstice dawn service when we were teenagers," Zertin groaned at his brother's enthusiasm.

Riding along the road, Caesius considers the name Lathander.  Qvar seems somewhat familar with it, and Zertin too (possibly because the name was mentioned to him by his brother).  Caesius has never heard it before - to the best of his knowledge, it's not one of Oerth's myriad deities.

And as a paladin he is taught about potential allies and enemies.

"If Lathander be a deity of light, as Qvar says, then the church may provide us with a safe haven."

Saeko continues walking, quietly looking ahead.

You continue down the road, as your path turns southwards, the tall trees looming either side and the grey mists swirling about you, as you discuss the likelihood of finding aid at the church of Lathander. 

And then the trees gradually give way to a clearing, and through the ever shifting fog you can make out the vague outline of buildings, perhaps two hundred and fifty paces distant as the way turns westwards once more ...

"Randal, are we here now? Are these buildings the house of the burgomaster or the church of Lathander?"  Qvar peers eagerly into the mist.

"He's never been here before," Saeko reminds Qvar.  "There is but one way to find out."

She increases her pace a bit, making for the vague shapes of buildings.  "Why is the wall so far from the town?" she asks the others, curiously, looking about to see if we're passing through farming plots or if, perhaps, the town used to be bigger.  "It seems it would leave the wall only more difficult to defend.  Do all plainsfolk build this way?"

"I've no idea." Qvar chuckles in reply to Saeko's questions.  "I lived my whole life in one village, and no one there had a wall meant to defend against anything more sinister than foxes - and the foxes weren't ever bothered by those walls anyhow.  Only the hounds could keep foxes out."

Emboldened by the armoured woman's lead, he grabs Zertin's arm and follows Saeko towards the buildings.  Picking up their earlier conversation  "You wanted me to visit you in the City, Zed.  Any you couldn't understand and why I stayed in Glanquin.  Then when I showed you, you slept through the best bits!"  He grins at the memory.

OOC: just edited village name to Glanquin ...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:19, Sun 03 June 2018.

"The church should be easy to recognise. Lathander's symbol of a sunrise is probably plastered all over it," Zertin suggests. "As for the burgomaster's house, it is probably the largest house in the town, so should be easy enough to find as well. As for those gates back there, I suspect they mark the extent of the local lord's landholdings, although by the way they opened and closed on their own I suspect they may be more than merely symbolic."

He increases his pace to match Saeko's but retorts over his shoulder to Qvar, "That sleep was the best bit!"

Pacing behind the group, Violet smiles faintly.  "The wall is far from the town because it isn't part of the town," she explains.  Granted, said explanation doesn't go a long way, so she quietly expands.  "These lands..."  Hells.  "They have borders.  And every border has some kind of...demarcation.  Cairns.  Walls.  Gates.  Gorges with bridges.  Something that must be passed through in order to enter another land or place between lands, like the inn we just left."

She gestures about them, still following as the group makes their way toward the buildings.  "When we went through the gates, I would hazard we entered 'Barovia'."

"Can you tell the time of day, Violet?  Or just when the Sun will rise?"  Qvar gazes up at the gray sky again.

The young woman considers the question, and finally shrugs.  "I fear not.  But then...the sun might never rise here, or never fully."

It's hell; it doesn't necessarily follow the world's rules.

Caesius smiles at Violet's explanation regarding the wall, which seems plausible to him.  Some noble, or ruler, owns the land and marks it as his property, separate from that of his neighbours.  The village is on his land, but does not fill it.  In all likelihood, the villagers are considered property too.

As the buildings loom through the mist, he reigns in Hammer and peers into the gloom.

"Not exactly the cheeriest place to live." he remarks, "Let's hope the locals are simply abed and sleeping."

As you reach the outskirts of the village, tall shapes loom from the dense fog, and the muddy ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones.  A dilapidated wooden sign reads "Welcome to the Village of Barovia."  As you grow closer, the shapes resolve into tenements whose windows are boarded, broken and lightless.  Nothing moves nearby, though the fog limits visibility.  Faint sounds, as of something groaning, echo hollowly from somewhere deeper in the settlement.

Hell, indeed.

Violet sniffs the air, grimacing at the distant scent of rot. Her eyes dart left and right; perhaps her spirit cannot be slain, here, but if it falls, what then?  Eternity of torment?  Better to remain standing, win her way free to...to...whatever awaits, she supposes.

Priests speak of Heaven, but she saw no sign of it in the world of her birth.

Nocking an arrow in her bow, she leaves it un-drawn, merely readied.  "Not the cheeriest at all," the young woman echoes Caesius.

Zertin reads the sign and chuckles softly.

"The Village of Barovia. If anybody wants it, they are welcome to it, apparently. Pity. The name Barovia sounds noble enough for a whole nation, not just this poor village. Oh, well, let's see if we can find the Burgomaster's house, shall we? No doubt we will know it when we see it."

He continues walking along the cobblestone road they are already following but his pace slows slightly as he concentrates on reciting a short incantation.

OOC: Casts 'Detect Golden Arches'.  ;o)

Cocking his head to one side, Caesius listens to the distant groaning sound.  "Somebody in distress?" he ventures, "Or some vile creature of darkness hunting its prey?"

A shrug.

"In either case, it behooves us to find where the sound is coming from."

The young woman grimaces.  Getting involved isn't her habit...but if she's going to escape Hell, that will need to change.  Her thoughts shift to her pouch for an instant; she has something she needs to do, as well, and hiding from danger isn't going to finish that task.

"All right," she whispers to herself before moving to the fore and raising her voice.  A touch.  "If you like, I can scout ahead.  Maybe catch an idea of what's going on, without alerting...well, anything."

Zertin looked a little surprised at Violet's suggestion but he only hesitated a moment before nodding.

"If you think you can do so without getting ambushed, I see no reason to doubt you.  Those of us who lack such stealth should continue along this road unless we hear you call for help," he suggested. "Don't go too far away from us, though. Keep Qvar's holy glow in sight so you know where we are. It would be too easy to get lost in this fog. Unless anyone else thinks it is a bad idea?"

"Mmmm."  Arafarafarfa nods her agreement, her nose twitching as she dismounts, patting the shoulder of the big cat as she draws a heavy blade.

"Hunt !"

Two seeming agreements, which is enough for Violet.  If the others disagree, they can call her back.  The young woman pads ahead into the mist, heading in the direction of the unearthly sounds of before.

OOC - Violet will move ahead, being sneaky as she can and keeping to whatever cover she can, while searching for interesting (read: potentially lethal) things.

Caesius bridles.

An offer to go ahead of him to check for danger.  And using stealth, instead of simply riding forward and issuing a loud challenge to any who might hear.  In his father's day, such a suggestion to a knight of the Shield Lands would have been deemed an insult worthy of the highest penalty under the law.

The young knight is, however, a little more tolerant.  Perhaps Violet had simply not realised the magnitude of her misstep.  He considers calling out to stop her, or simply riding past.

But he knows nothing of her ways.  Either course of action might be just as offensive to her as hers had been to him.

So he loosens Razor in its sheath, and holds Nail ready, in case the woman should find a worthy adversary, and be unable to defeat it...

Saeko nods her assent to Violet's request, and continues down the road.

Qvar nods his agreement.  "We should see if someone needs help."  He walks slowly beside Zed, brightening the glow around his head just a little so it can be seen through the fog, but not so much that it issues its own challenge.

Zertin squints at Qvar's glowing head and frowns.

"Do you notice the way that your head light reflects back off the fog and dazzles us a bit, Q? I have heard that the best fog lights are mounted lower and shine parallel to the road. Perhaps we should find you a nice, flat cap, then carry you along upside down so your head light is more effective in the fog?" he suggests.

OOC: Zertin rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge (arch/eng) check.  [ROFL]

Qvar grins at Zertin.  "I can turn it off if it bothers you Zed."  But he doesn't.

With the assent or at least affronted silence of the rest of you, Violet moves ahead into the mists, her footfalls soft upon the cobbled ground.  Arafarafarfa swaggers at her side, humming tunelessly (or perhaps grunting a challenge), the Halfling brushing shoulders with her friend as Oooh'Awww stalks beside her.

The streets are choked with mist, limiting vision to only a few dozen feet.  The buildings here at the edge of town look abandoned, burned out, or barricaded.  Garbage litters the ground, and a carrion stench assaults your nose.

Brandishing her blade, Arafarafarfa makes to step forward ... then stops as her big cat suddenly turns back, sniffing at the air as it peers intently into the darkness of a side alley, growling softly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Tue 19 June 2018.

"Goodness!  That smell, and the groaning ... that sounds like some of the unfortunate dead that attacked my church in Glanquin."  Qvar is quite calm, speaking softly to Zertin, and watching the scouts for any hint of trouble ahead.

"Oh, unfortunate dead!" Zertin smacks his own forehead with the palm of his hand. "Of course. I should have realised the term undead was just common slang."

He pulls a slender wand from his backpack then looks at it doubtfully.

"Do you think there is sufficient musical quality in that moaning for a conductor's baton to improve their vocal performance?" he asks Qvar.

So much for staying silent, Violent bemoans within.  Clearly the woman and her cat have no intention of waiting for the others, or informing them of creatures...and the restless dead thing wandering the streets.  Violet herself has heard stories of such things, but never encountered them.

Until now, she thought that they were naught BUT stories; the sight puts the young woman's stomach into knots.  But that's probably what this thing is for, she muses, touching her pouch again.

Oddly enough, just touching the artifact calms her.

Reaching out, Violet touches Arafarafarfa's shoulder.  Unless ignored, she silently indicates herself, then back the way they came.

"That... isn't good." Caesius remarks, spurring Hammer forward.

"The will of Heironeous drives me.  His might flows through my arms.  His sword is my sword.  His hand protects me, and His gaze reveals mine enemies."

The paladin rides towards Violet and Arafarafarfa, peering into the mist.

"Let's just hope they're not the talking kind at all Zed, they're the worst."   Qvar grasps the well-worn holy symbol that hangs on a rope about his waist, the yellow paint worn back to bare wood around the Sun's face.  He quietly offers a prayer as he advances another 10'.  "Shining One protect them."

Seeing Oooh'Awww is suddenly interested in the side alley ahead of the party, Zertin decides that the edge of the road is probably not the wisest place for him to walk. As they move forward he moves across to Qvar's left, so he is more centrally positioned in the group.

Seeing the vague outlines of the scouts pause ahead, Saeko quickens her pace to join them.

"Je'unyuza wewe ithaouwa!" Arafarafarfa does not look around at the hand on her shoulder, but the irritation in her voice is obvious.

"No touch !" the halfling insists, intent upon the alley, her grip tightening upon her blade as she stares into the darkened alley.

"Ioiza weza ouiaraatha, Oooh'Awww?" she whispers to her friend.

Violet sees what lies ahead, and bids Arafarafarfa come with her to report back to the rest of her companions ... but the halfling has no intention of retreating, as intent as her big cat on what lurks in the alleyway ...

... and, as it transpires, those companions are more than keen to discover for themselves the source of those dreadful moans, for even as the young woman looks back, she sees them advancing through the fog towards her !

Caesius and Saeko lead the way, the Paladin reining in Hammer as he comes alongside Violet, turning his attention towards whatever so interests Arafarafarfa and Oooh'Awww, while Saeko, though closer, stares keenly into the fog.

Behind them come Qvar and Zertin, the Cleric offering up a prayer to Pelor while his brother holds a slender wand at the ready.

At the rear, Randal follows closely, knife now in his hand, as fearful of what might be concealed by the mists behind you as he is by the activity before.

Ahead, an overturned haycart blocks the crossroads, and two gore-streaked four-footed animals pad out from the left hand side of the cross street.  They seem like a cross between an overlarge rat and a wolf, though even that does not explain the extraordinary size of their toothy jaws.

On the opposite side of the street a shambling creature emerges bearing a dreadful wound to the head that looks as if it should have been fatal.  There is no sign of intelligence in its eyes, though its teeth constantly snap and bite.

All three turn in your direction ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"Ware!" Caesius calls out, "Further evil lurks in the gloom!"

Drawing Razor, he urges Hammer towards the rat-like creatures.  "For Heironeous!"

Glancing behind, Qvar reassures Randal "This must be a terrible way for these villagers to live.  Don't be afraid, Randal, we're here now."  He keeps pace with the others, moving forward and peering into the mist of the ally beyond the big cat.

Ignored and warned off.  Given what Arafarafarfa has demonstrated thus far, Violet isn't terribly surprised by this reaction.  Nor upset, really; what she sees lurking in the alley is far more worrisome than some irritation from the warrior and her large cat.

Hell.  It's not a curse, that thought; it's a heavy acceptance of Violet's circumstances.  And on that note, she raises her bow.

Zertin stays alongside his brother as he moves forward with the rest of the group. Wand in hand ready to begin conducting as soon as the rest of the moaning choir is assembled. He spares a glance toward the narrow alleyway on the right that Oooh'Awww is wary of but he is primarily focussed on trying to work out what type of undead those ahead are.

OOC: Knowledge checks to determine what type of undead they are:
Zertin rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge (religion) check - 1st type of undead.
Zertin rolled 25 using 1d20+5. Knowledge (religion) check - 2nd type of undead.

"Two behind the wagon," Saeko affirms and clarifies Caesius's broad declaration, drawing her swords and increasing her pace, striding towards the zombie.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Tue 26 June 2018.

Hammer needs little urging to advance on the two beasts, Caesius expertly directing his steed alongside the pair as he swings his ancestral blade, hacking down one of them, though the other cowers away from his second thrust.

As Saeko moves purposefully forwards, Qvar and Violet both strive to take her place, but the young woman, is faster and looses an arrow into the gloom over the head of Arafarafarfa's big cat whose muscles bunch as he leaps forwards down the alleyway.   

Zertin's view of the alley is blocked, though the snarls and growls that come from the far end are somewhat disconcerting, so with wand in hand he turns his attention to those creatures he can see. 

Calmly Saeko rounds on the zombie, her flashing blade cutting deep into the creature's side with a powerful blow, though somewhat to her surprise it does not fall.

Arafarafarfa, meanwhile ... stands frozen in place.

As the remaining beast rounds on Caesius, rearing up on its back legs to bite and claw both the man and his mount, but both survive unscathed, protected by their armour.

In the alleyway, Oooh'Awww refuses to give up his grip upon the creature.

Even as Saeko prepares to defend herself, the other two zombies she had detected lurch out from behind the overturned cart, one staggering towards her, the other towards Caesius.  Swiftly Zertin dips the tip of his baton towards the first of them, sending a handful of glowing balls of mystical energy flying towards it, leaving it burned but still undeterred.

All three of the shambling creatures reach out to strike their prey.  Saeko manages to duck beneath their blows and avoids their touch, but the other strikes a solid blow on the paladin, though he manages to stay atop his mount.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Magic.

It's a curse, in Violet's mind.  And why not?  Magic is Satan's tool, a blight upon Gaia.  Magic is what dragged her here, to Hell, along with the others.  Magic has just been used by a demonic being to freeze - or worse - the tiny savage in her tracks, certainly against her will.  Frozen in the middle of swinging swords and demonic corpses?

She needs to get the warrior out of danger, at least until the sorcery binding her dissipates...if it ever does.

Thanking whatever pagan gods that watch over this motley group for the tiny woman's size, Violet leaps forward, bending low to swing an arm around Arafarafarfa's waist.  With a grunt, she lifts the frozen woman - bow still in her left hand - and heads directly for the broken door to their right, past the alley.

OOC - Violet will pick up the frozen Arafarafarfa and move to cover in that open building.  I checked with the GM for whether it's possible: yes.  Will it succeed?  That's another question.

Zertin focusses first on the three undead besieging Caesius and Saeko.

"Be still, you foul and rotten zombies!" he orders them, following up with an arcane incantation and much gesturing in their direction.

"That should hold them still for a little while, unless someone attacks them or damages them. I suggest you pick them off one at a time or finish off any other threats first," he tells the two front line fighters.

Then he steps forward a pace so he has a clearer line of sight down the alley where Oooh'Awww has got his teeth into another something nasty.

They're quick. Caesius realises, as he lifts Razor to strike at the second creature.  The blade falls once, twice, and the paladin pulls Hammer around in a tight turn...

Caesius' voice rises above the sounds of combat.

"The Righteous need fear no evil, for Heironeous guides their hands, that they might do battle in His name, and He shields them from harm!"

Qvar flashes a grin at his brother "That's the other reason I sent for you Zed, you really know how to stop a zombie in his tracks."  He steps up where Violet had stood and watches her carry Arafarafarfa to the broken doorway.  "Quick thinking, Violet." he beams at her.

Peering into the gloom of the alley he holds up the battered wooden Sun symbol and frowns at the creature grappling with Oooh'Awww.

Cursing whatever foul magics have ensnared Arafarafarfa, Violet stoops to grasp the Halfling, lifting her as a child as she quickly covers the few steps to the safety of the adjacent building, ducking through the open door to lower her burden to the ground.

Her actions did not go unnoticed ... Oooh'Awww's head lifting to regard the young woman with narrowed eyes ... but it seems the big cat trusts Violet, for it makes no move to prevent her.  Indeed, the low growl in the beast's throat might be taken as approval.

Zertin now steps forwards, ordering the shambling creatures to be still, his words given effect by the arcane power he wields.  All three of the zombies become quiescent, arms hanging loosely at their sides, slowly swaying.

Even as the spell begins to take effect, Caesius is in motion, his sword intercepting the rabid creature as it leaps forward once more, his second blow cutting it down.  The Paladin wheels his horse around, praising Heironeous.

Qvar looks around approvingly before stepping in front of his brother to brandish the symbol of his god at the cadaverous creature at the end of the alleyway, the holy light of the sun suffusing it and destroying it utterly.

Easing back a pace, Saeko regards the two nearest zombies to ensure that they are as helpless as Zertin suggests ... then with a small nod she raises her twin swords, concentrating her attacks on the nearest, her slashing blades bringing it down, though from the silent shake of her head you can tell it was a surprisingly close thing.

Spitting, as if to clear a bad taste from his mouth, Oooh'Awww stalks to the mouth of the alleyway and looks around, his nose sniffing the air, while Randal peers into the mists-shrouded streets behind him, with much less confidence than the big cat. 

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

The appearance of the undying triggers Violet into shocked, violent motion.  Even as debris cascades off the decaying body clambering from the broken remains of the boxes, she tears her shortblade from its scabbard, dropping her bow in favour of the alley-range weapon.  "Here!" the young woman cries, to garner the attention of both her compatriots and the loathsome corpse.

Then she leaps onto the vile thing, stabbing again and again with her shortblade in the hope of spearing through something vital.  But fear saps her strength and skill...

OOC - Attacking the zombie.  Attack roll: 13.  Damage roll: 4.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Mon 16 July 2018.

Looking directly at the nearest zombie, Caesius raises Razor over his head, to point at the sky.  He releases the reins with his left hand, trusting Hammer to hold steady for at least a handful of heartbeats, and grasps the holy symbol around his neck.

"In the name of Heironeous, I command that you begone!"

Hearing Violet's shout Zertin steps forward a pace or two so he can see what she is fighting inside the room. He waves his slender baton with a flourish then points it at her foe and sends a rapid stream of five tiny, glowing, orange balls of light streaking past Violet's head to strike the undead creature before it can hit her or Arafarafarfa.

Then he glances behind and offers a helpful suggestion to their guide.

"Keep up, Randal. Stay close, don't lag behind. In this place the old adage of safety in numbers seems most apt!"

OOC: Zertin rolled 24 using 5d4+5.  Wand of magic missiles.

Qvar glances up and down the street then stands at the doorway and peers into the room.  "I can release you from this spell, if you would allow?" he offers Arafarafarfa, but mindful not to alarm the big cat prowling nearby.

Figuring to draw the undead's attention to herself, Violet presses forward, swinging her sword at the creature as it struggles to get clear of the debris, though by ill-chance her blow is deflected by a broken plank that the zombie throws aside.

But the young woman's cry has alerted her companions without, as she hoped, and Zertin looses a volley of balls of pure magical energy from his wand that fly through the open doorway to impact upon the animated corpse, burning it badly.  As Randal closes the distance to ward the mage's back, Qvar moves towards the building, but is all but bundled out of the way by Oooh'Awww as the big cat dives inside to stand over his friend's paralysed body, lunging at the creature and fastening his jaws upon its shoulder, his raking claws clattering on the same detritus which frustrated Violet's blade.

Following close behind, the priest of Pelor gains the door, offering his aid to the fallen Halfling ... who miraculously responds, though with a guttural but thankfully incomprehensible diatribe, as from the floor she swings her blade at the undead's legs, cutting it badly.

Though now very much the worse for wear, whatever unholy spark moves this creature still drives it on, swinging its fist at Violet, though the big cat's hold prevents it from reaching her.

Without, Caesius summons the might of Hieroneous to rout the zombie frozen before him. In the face of the manifest power of good, the creature's form visibly blisters and burns, though to the Paladin's surprise it does not falter, even as it rouses from Zertin's spell.  Seeing this, Saeko hurriedly rounds the cart to bring her own blade into play, mindful of the wizrard's earlier injunction.  Once more her sword strikes with unerring accuracy, and though both horse and overturned cart hamper her so she cannot get full force behind the blow, it is still a good one, though yet again, the creature seems little bothered by this new assault.

Lashing out at the source of divine goodness, the creature's fist slams into Caesius, bludgeoning the Paladin, though his armour absorbs much of the impact.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar stands in the doorway, smiling his pleasure at seeing Arafarafarfa fully recovered and wreaking havoc on her foe.  From there he can see all three of the remaining zombies.  He raises the sun symbol again "By the power of the Sun."  He frowns at the unattended zombie east of the cart, ready to remedy its wrongness should it seek to flee.

Zertin moves forward to the corner of the building on his left where he will be able to see down all four arms of this crossroads. He still has his wand in hand but will see what he can see in each direction before deciding exactly what he should do this round.

Surprised by the failure of his enemy to flee, and almost unseated by the force of the creature's blow, Caesius grasps the reins again, one handed, and quickly regains his balance.

Razor slashes once!  Twice!  And the knight laughs mirthlessly as he fights the undead horror.

"Carrion filth!  You lack the power to truly harm me!"

With the small savage now in motion and her big cat chewing on the undying corpse, Violet figures it's a good time to get out of harm's way; for all she knows, these things pass on their curse to those they strike down.  Ducking away from the flailing arms, she scrabbles backward, hunting for her bow.

This sort of conflict really isn't her forte.

...actually, ANY sort of conflict isn't her forte, but she's more competent at a distance.  And safer.

OOC - Going defensive (-4 attack, +2 dodge bonus to AC) and taking my 5' step to back up, will use action to pick up bow, TYVM. 

"These are remarkably durable," Saeko notes, her voice calm, contributing a flurry of slices with her own blades to Caesius's efforts.

With a beatific smile Qvar once more holds high the symbol of his god, calling on the power of the sun.  And for a second time the power of his faith shines forth, smiting the terrible undead.

Even as Violet warily retreats, her sword held before her as she scoops up her bow, the zombie that stretches out its hand toward her is consumed by the divine light, falling from Oooh'Awww's jaws as the big cat drops it, shaking his head and spitting as if to clear a foul taste from his mouth.  Arafarafarfa leaps to her feet, though at the moment her only concern is to comfort her friend.

So too both of the creatures behind the overturned cart are affected, but though their rotted flesh blisters before the assault, they still stand firm.

Wand in hand, Zertin hurries forward to the middle of the intersection, Randal at his heels. 

Laughing in the face of danger, Caesius steadies himself before renewing his attack, hacking at the zombie before him.  Saeko too presses forwards with flashing blades, bringing the creature down with her first blow, before dancing nimbly to her left to intercept the remaining zombie which lurches towards her, her first pass cutting its ruined flesh, though the second misses if barely.

But Qvar is already striding forwards, calling out reproachfully, hand raised in condemnation, causing the creature to shake and tremble ... then fly backwards as if struck by an invisible hand, lying unmoving on the cobbles, the foul spirit that spurred the corpse on now vanquished.

The battle is won.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:17, Sun 05 Aug 2018.

"These walking corpses are much stronger than the types usually dragged up by necromancers."  Qvar looks pointedly at his brother.  "Ones like these were among those that attacked my church at Glanquin last month Zed, but I had never heard of such a thing before then.  I wonder what drives them so?"  He looks to Violet and Arafarafarfa as they've been living longest in this sunless land.

After a quick scan of the area, Caesius sheaths his blade and pats Hammer on the side of the neck.

Qvar's question begs an answer.  "My guess would be that whatever evil the Burgomaster spoke of is also responsible for these foul creatures.  In which case, it is well that he sent for us, that we might put a stop to it.  A creature that can summon the likes of this filth should not be permitted to walk the world.  If we find the source, we will, doubtless, find what means he uses to drive them, and why."

Another look about, and a head count.  "Are we all whole?"

"I am uninjured, thank you for your concern, Caesius," Zertin replies to the paladin's question before responding to Qvar.

"I agree, Q, they are definitely zombies, though far more robust and somewhat more animated than those I've seen before*. We will need to investigate further to learn how this could be so but I believe there are ways for a necromancer or evil priest to enhance the undead that they create, either by specialist training undertaken by the caster or perhaps some special feature of the area place where they were created or some especially powerful ingredient used in their creation.

"We can search them quickly here before we move on. Perhaps we might find a clue to their origins or something else of use to us. But we should be quick about it. There does not appear to be any sign of others behind us or down either of these side roads but I did hear faint voices straight ahead, toward the west. That is the direction we were already heading, so I suggest we continue in that direction as soon as we are finished here."

*OOC: normal zombies get partial action, move or attack, these ones were quick enough to do both.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:18, Sun 05 Aug 2018.

Staggering back from the stunning eruption, Violet stares as the zombie immolates -- not with the stench and slow horror of a body caught in a bonfire, but incinerated in a glorious, golden fire that leaves no traces in its wake.  Her head snaps around, saucer-eyed gaze falling upon the shining Qvar; if it's at all possible, those orbs widen further.  "It's you," she whispers, stunned and almost soundless in the tumult of the battle's end.

Practicality imbued upon her by a lifetime of survival has Violet immediately turning back to recover her weapons and check them for notches, frayed string, or any possible other issues.  Discovering all to be well, she hurries from the small room -- with a nod to the small savage -- and out onto the street, to discover all is well.  The knight still sits upon his horse.  The Lady Saeko seems collected and calm of mien.  Qvar's brother is talking.  Qvar himself still shines.

The world is in its place.

Qvar's query brings her around to face the man.  Violet bites her lip, shaking her head, suddenly nervous.  "I...I'm sorry.  I don't know.  I've never...these things aren't something I've seen before."  He speaks of necromancers as if such sorcerers are his enemy, and given the display, Violet can believe it.  The young woman has no doubt: this one is divinely blessed, not tainted by the devil's magic.

So now she bows, clumsily, and one hand slips into her pouch.  "Qvar..."  Wincing, Violet struggles with the name.  'Father' Qvar?  No; it could be an insult, for it is certain that while God shines upon him, he does not follow the ways of the Christ.  "Lord Qvar."  Good enough, at least, not to garner offence.  "I think...I am supposed to give this to you."

Hesitantly, Violet offers the item she removed from her pouch: a tiny, carved wooden box, inlaid with threads of mother of pearl, two thin strips of embroidered cloth hanging from one side.

Qvar's eyes pop open wide in unconscious reflection of Violet's expression.  "Goodness!" he manages, his warm smile returning.
OOC ... To be continued later today :-)

Qvar reaches out with both hands toward the phylactery that Violet holds, his fingertips tracing the holy aura surrounding her gift.  His eyes meet hers, warmly acknowledging the use and worth of her offering, and he beams with a sunny smile of pure joy.  "Its just Qvar, Violet, and truly your presence here with us is a divine blessing."  He claps his hands excitedly and raises his face to the sunless sky.  "Praise Pelor!  Your Light is not lost." He reaches forward again and takes Violet's hands, gently folding them over the box she carries.  "I wish I could use it, Violet, but I've made a Vow of Poverty and cannot even hold it."

Stepping back from the doorway he smiles warmly at Violet  "When you have time, I'd love to hear how it came to you."  He nods his head over his shoulder towards the mounted knight then grins back at Violet.  "I'm pretty sure he didn't make the same vow."

For an instant, all is well in the world, and Violet dares hope that she has succeeded.

Then...ashes.

Not wishing to give offense, the young woman struggles to smile and manages a wan expression.  At Qvar's suggestion, she nods like a broken puppet.  It all collapses when he finally turns away, and she sags against the wall, slipping the tiny box back into her pouch.

She had been so sure.

"Vow of poverty," Violet whispers, then laughs quietly.  It's not without bitterness, that sound, but directed inward, toward herself.  Of course it wouldn't be that easy.  Her gaze flicks to the knight upon his horse, and for a long moment she appraises him...then shakes her head.  Not yet.  She doesn't know the man, hasn't seen anything from him that she hadn't seen from the nobles of Gabriel, save for his armor.

Tears fight for their freedom, but she grinds her teeth upon them, chewing them back to slick her throat on their way down.  Letting loose a heavy, shuddering breath, the young woman turns away from the tiny room and scrambles back into the street, to rejoin her companions.

"I've never seen these things you call undead before," Randal looks fairly ill as he regards the remains.  "But I've heard of them.  And if the boasts of those who claim to have both met and slain the creatures have any truth to them, then these things are something else again."

He certainly hopes this to be true for ordinary folk such as himself would not last long in the face of these horrors.

For all Qvar's kindness, Randal can see that Violet has been let down badly by his reaction to whatever it was in that decorated box and he regards the young woman with concern and pity, feeling he should say something but knowing not what.

"You touch."  Turning her attention away from her big cat for the moment, the halfling looks towards Violet who dragged her away despite her warning, though she betrays no sign that she notices the young woman's dismay.

"Arafarafarfa thank you."

"Dead giant not so easy kill," Arafarafarfa confirms the shining man's suspicions, almost as an afterthought.

"Kill more."

In the aftermath of your victory, you discuss the nature of these zombies ... clearly they are a cut above the usual rotten corpses, for they are faster, more resistant to the edge of a blade and can take far more punishment.  Looking at what remains, it is clear that the expected decay is present ... but that the wounds seem to burn with some kind of infection.

Qvar's rejection of the gift, or perhaps burden, that Violet presses upon him, makes for some awkwardness, despite the priest's attempt to soften his refusal with kind words.

But as Zertin brings to your attention the faint sounds somewhere in the mist-filled streets to the east, there is little time to do more than make certain that all of you are indeed whole, as Caesius, himself lightly wounded, seeks to ascertain before you press forwards once more. 

And if Violet's thoughts are in turmoil ... well, as you draw nearer, the growing sounds of battle at least serve to present her and you with more immediate concerns.

Buildings loom to either side of you as you advance, looking and listening carefully as you pass a street to the north, until you come close enough to see a large group of the zombies swarm through a gap in a barricade that seems to be but recently breached.

Beyond the opening lies the town square, with further barricades, still intact, to north, west and south.

The zombies, and there are many of them, nine or ten that you can see, lurch around the town square, where a woman in half-plate fights valiantly, though she is heavily outnumbered.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"Ah, I hope there is water in that well. We may need it later for fighting fires. This should soften them up a bit," Zertin mutters as he quickly assesses the situation then casts a spell before any of his comrades rushes forward. A tiny bead of orange light flashes forward from his fingertip, passing between Violet and Saeko then erupts in a 20-foot radius fireball that engulfs 6 of the zombies south and east of the well. He positions it as carefully as he can to avoid the armored woman, although her armour might get a bit scorched on that side.
OOC: Zertin rolled 24 using 6d6.  Fireball damage (DC19 Reflex save for half).
This message was last edited by the player at 14:05, Sun 05 Aug 2018.

The diminutive warrior's thanks carry weight even within Violet's despair; wiping her eyes, she turns to nod to Arafarafarfa.  "You're most welcome," she manages, meaning it.  There had been some concern that the woman might, in fact, take it poorly and (for Violet) painfully; seemingly that won't be the case.  "I promise I won't unless it's...something like that," she finishes lamely, gesturing back toward the alley where they faced the demonic, un-dying sorcerer.

There's not much for Violet to contribute to the discussion of the 'zombies'; she has never seen such things before, herself.  But there's not much more time for discussion period, as they move along; more of the un-dead await, battling a lady knight, of some sort.  Fumbling for an arrow, Violet almost drops her bow when a streak of light spears past her, to flower satanically into a conflagration about a group of the foul creatures.  The young woman clamps her teeth against a shriek of pure terror, and scrambles to the side, seeking a better vantage point from which to loose her arrows...and away from the magic bursting forth from behind her.

Had one of her companions unleashed that teror on their enemies?

OOC - Will move to the South pile of rubble and try to scramble up on top of it.  My balance and climb are both pretty high.

Caesius pulls the holy icon of Heironeous from around his neck and brandishes it towards the swarming undead.

"The might of His hand is the might of mine own.  His shield is my shield, and His sword is my sword.  When I speak, it is with His voice, and I command you in His name.  Flee before His power, vile creatures of darkness, for His is the light of Judgement."

Saeko has her own, rather more secular, approach to turning. Seeing the scene before her, she smiles serenely, and then begins moving.  She dives forward, rolling over her left shoulder as she passes the first one.  Her swords come into her hands as she delicately spins around the second, before darting down to strike at the ones directly engaged with the warrior woman.

She doesn't stop moving even when she reaches her destination, her blades striking with a rhythmic tempo.  A thrust as she approaches, then a half-turn that leads into a hard downward slash, and finally an almost delicate cut, drawn back a little at the last moment as she does a sudden full spin for a glance at the zombie behind her.

Seeing the explosion almost as soon as he saw its unfortunate targets, Qvar grins at his brother.  "That's the other reason I called for you Zed, you really know how to fry a zombie in his tracks."  He nods appreciatively to Caesius' prayer "Nice!" as he readies his own battered wooden Sun-symbol.  Suddenly both Violet and Saeko have lept forward and the surrounded warrior is no longer alone.  He steps forward following Saeko's path, glancing wistfully at the pouch Violet carries as she climbs the barricade, then fixing his gaze on the undead crowd "By the light of the Sun." he calls Pelor's divine power to turn them and burn them.  He hesitates before reaching out to touch Saeko, her deadly blades too many and too quick to see, instead pointing at the ground around his feet while casting a spell upon himself "Shining One, protect us from harm." and hoping its reach will include all three.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Sat 11 Aug 2018.

While Zertin may be but hopeful that water is still to be found in the town well, his aim is nothing other than very precise.  Weaving his spell, the wizard causes a huge ball of flame to consume the nearest half dozen zombies, though so carefully does he aim it that the armoured woman escapes unscathed, though she instinctively flinches away from the blossoming fires.

As the flames fade away, you see that the buildings, though already in poor condition are scorched but for the most part do not suffer further harm, undoubtedly thanks to the ever-present dampness that pervades these lands.  The remains of the barricade on the southern side of the street, however, continue to burn, causing Violet to turn to the rubble to the northern side, skillfully scrambling to the top of the pile, as much to avoid the arcane terror as to seek a useful vantage point, though she is quick to fit an arrow to her bow as she sees the shambling creatures arrayed before her.

Seated atop his mount, Caesius seems to almost welcome the chance to challenge these fiends, holding his sword up high as he rebukes them in Heironeous' name ... but these zombies do not quail at all before this symbol of righteousness. 

With a smile on her lips, Saeko moves forwards, poetry in motion as she rolls, twists and all but dances her way through the rear ranks of the zombie horde to fetch up behind the pair that menace the armoured woman, her blades continuing the performance as she thrusts and turns ever so delicately but with deadly effect, though it takes all her skill to finish the already burned creature before her.

Striding forwards in her wake, Qvar calls again upon Pelor as he holds up the symbol of his god.  It seems that the Lord of Light's power holds more sway in these dark lands, for three of the Zombies turn to flee as he approaches, allowing the priest to reach Saeko and the armoured woman, to cast a spell of protection that envelops the three of them.

The armoured woman wearily swings her sword at one of the zombies as it staggers past her, though she fails to connect, nodding at Saeko and Qvar with no little relief as she looks around the town square.

Staring at Zertin in some consternation in the aftermath of his spell, and giving her opinion of that in rather incomprehensible terms, Arafarafarfa takes off, her big cat on her heels as she charges into the battle, angling towards one of the Zombies that lurks in the shadows of the building.  The halfling's greatsword lands a powerful blow before Oooh'Awww's jaws close around it, though it still stands.

And now the Zombies push forwards.  Three of them close upon the armoured woman, Saeko and Qvar, the two women both managing to avoid blows before the third, encrusted with grave-dirt, lashes out, striking the armoured woman.  The ground beneath her seems to roil and shake, but though reeling from the heavy blow she plants her feet, thrusting forward with her own blade and catching the creature unawares, though the cut is only shallow.

Another two Zombies join their companion to attack Arafarafarfa and Oooh'Awww, though the Halfling and her big cat prove skillful enough to duck beneath their swinging fists.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... Z1, Z2 and Z4 are Turned, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 are badly injured, Z6 also injured but less so, and Z5 has been slain.

Zertin strides 20 feet closer to the action then casts another spell, pointing at Caesius, Violet, Arafarafarfa, Qvar, Saeko and the armoured woman in quick succession.

"Do hurry up, you lot! Slay them quickly before any more of them get away!" he exhorts his companions.

As he gets closer his attention shifts to the dirt-encrusted undead creature that attacked the armoured wonan

OOC: Haste spell cast on Caesius, Violet, Arafarafarfa, Qvar, Saeko and the armoured woman. For 6 rounds they get +30ft move, +1AC, +1 to hit and 1 extra attack each round if using a full attack action that round.

Zertin rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge (religion) check. What is the dirt encrusted undead?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Fri 17 Aug 2018.

"Ooo." thats a new sensation.  He feels an urge to rush about madly.  But Qvar stays right where he is, nicely free of zombie attacks and Pelor's presence protecting those near him.  He builds on the effect with a blessing for his allies "Sun Father, give them courage." and damnation for their enemies "By the light of the Sun."  Instinctively he holds out his left hand to touch Hammer as he trods past...
This message was last edited by the player at 11:01, Fri 17 Aug 2018.

Frowning, Caesius realises that something - some dark force - has strengthened these creatures.  He pushes Hammer forward, moving fast into the fray, and swings Razor down towards the head of one of the undead horrors.

Arrow to bow, Violet searches for easy targets amidst the chaos of battle.  Spotting Ignoring the fleeing foes, she picks one of the group battling her friends and the beleaguered woman, and raises her bow.

And the world.

Slows.

Down.

A sickening feeling of vertigo grips her as their enemies suddenly seem mired in treacle, langourously swinging blows at herr associates or plodding forward at a fraction of their former speed.  Magic, again?  Or Qvar's divine radiance?  Gut knotting as part of her mind frets, Voilet draws an arrow, her hands stilling their trembling.

Loose.

Arrow from the three in her bow hand into her right.  Draw.  Loose.

Her father, she morosely decides, would not be pleased with the results.  Of the two, one arrow slams home, the other skittering and dancing along the cobbles, a wasted effort.

OOC - Full attack, two arrows (Haste).  One hit (presumably) with a 20, damage total of 7.

The wizard steps forwards, casting a spell to aid his companions, each in turn finding themselves able to react just that little bit faster, most taking it in their stride, though Violet alone is somewhat perplexed by the most unfamiliar effect of Zertin's magic. 

Nearby, Qvar calls once more upon Pelor, first to bolster your resolve in the face of the tide of undead ... and then again, to drive them away from you.  Three of the creatures turn and shamble away (if somewhat faster than you'd expect) their rotted flesh burning in the light of his god's radiance as they join those that fled earlier to claw at the barriers as they try to escape.

Caesius urges his stalwart mount forward in pursuit, but bids Hammer halt as another of the zombies comes within his reach, hacking at the creature with his blade, though once more it seems unnaturally sturdy and a blow that would nigh have felled such creatures as he has faced and slain before seems merely to wound this one. 

From atop the remains of the northern barricade, Violet lets her arrows fly, though she struggles to adjust to the disorientation that Zertin's spell brings, and only one finds its mark.

With most of the zombies now out of reach, Saeko takes a few quick strides to stand beside the armoured woman, alongside the well, her blade lashing out at the dirt-encrusted creature before her, though the edge whistles past its neck as it rocks back ... straight into the path of the other's more workmanlike sword, though the follow up blow misses by a considerable distance, drawing an oath from the woman.

"Lathander's Light !" 

With two out of three foes now fleeing, it is left to Arafarafara and her big cat to deal with the one that still lingers.  The Halfling swings her big sword so ferociously that while it cuts deeply into the zombie she looses her grip upon it ... though it makes no difference as the creature falls at her feet.

Though the odds are heavily against them, the two remaining undead continue to attack.  The armoured woman easily avoids the swinging fist that comes her way, and Saeko manages to avoid a blow from the other, though it is a close thing.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... Z1, Z2, Z4, Z6, Z7 and Z8 are Turned, Z1, Z2 and Z4 are badly injured, Z6, Z7, Z8 and Z9 also injured but less so, and Z3 and Z5 have been slain

Cursing under his breath, Caesius pulls Hammer around to face away from the foul creature.  A glance over his shoulder, and then a yell, "Hammer!  Kick!"  The horse lowers its head and lashes out with its rear hooves...

"Ah, yes, of course. That is our main foe, right there," Zertin says as he squats to point his wand at the dirt-encrusted creature that Saeko and the lady knight are fighting.

He speaks the command word and five tiny, glowing, orange globes streak from his wand, between Qvar's legs and between Saeko and the lady knight to strike their foe.

"Nasty blighters, they are. It is called an Entomber. Beware, for they can make the earth beneath you open up and bury you!"

As soon as the magic missiles strike their target Zertin edges another five feet closer to stand behind his brother and away from the heat of the burning barricade behind him.

OOC: Zertin rolled 17 using 5d4+5 with rolls of 1,4,2,4,1.  Magic missile damage.

Irritated with having the well in her way, Saeko spins off, twirling as she skips around it to come upon the helpfully labelled Entomber from behind, slashing her blades across its back.

Concentration narrows to a needle-point.  The battle continues to swirl, mostly around the armored knight, the beleaguered warrior they have found, and the Lady Saeko; but these three have their own tasks, own targets.  Flares of brilliant light eruprt, different from the first, terrible detonation; these streak through the misty air, but to Violet they float, ghosting unnaturally slowly and leaving green tracks across her vision.  The young woman loses her focus for an instant at the sight, shaken.

Will this profusion of sorcery not bring more of these creatures, like calling to like?

Zertin knows of the being Saeko battles; it's a surprise, but then Violet realizes it shouldn't be.  To master the devil's arts, one must perforce know something of the devil himself.  However, there are enough of her allies pressing weapons of steel and satanic power against this 'Entomber', and Violet already has a target.  Draw.  Loose.  Repeat, the pale-wood bow light in her grip, as always.

OOC - With all bonuses, 24 and 15 to hit.  Damage rolls of 6 and 3, respectively.  Same target.

Qvar glances down as the warm fuzzy magic brushes past his leg - the cat maybe?  He grins at Zertin, acknowledging the near miss and impressed with his brother's knowledge of the enemy.  "Thats right Zed, an Entomber.  Very nasty.  I've read about them too, but never seen one before.  Only silver weapons can really harm it.  I should help them."

He casts a spell, gathering Pelor's golden light into his own right hand, then steps forward into the space left by Saeko, beside the armoured woman.  "By Lathander's grace, you are not alone."  He reaches out his glowing hand to touch the Entomber...

Hauling on the reins to turn Hammer about, Caesius watches behind him, waiting for the right moment to command his steed to lash out with his hooves.  The horse dutifully, even gladly complies, catching the zombie in its chest with a hard kick, though the creature seems to bear it with little difficulty.

Deciding that the creature he names as an Entomber poses the greater threat, Zertin sends another volley of magical missiles its way, threading it through the crowd of combatants to rock the creature as they strike.

Dancing nimbly around the well, Saeko comes up behind the Entomber, slashing at it from behind with her blades, taking advantage of her position to scoring two hits as her blades slash down in unison.

Atop the barricade, Violet once more is forced to set aside her reaction to the spell that Zertin casts to loose two arrows at the zombie near the Paladin, her first shaft piercing its side, though seemingly with no more effect than the blow struck by the horse, while the second shaft flies wide.

Seeing an opening Qvar steps forwards, the healing light of Pelor having entirely the opposite effect on the Entomber as the light quickly envelops the creature, causing its corrupted flesh to blacken and burn.  For a moment it stands as the fire consumes it ... then falls to the ground, the spark of unlife that animated it now extinguished.

Arafarafarfa seems pleased with herself, stepping forwards a pace or two, her cat protectively at her side, until she can see all the unliving, crying out in her native tongue what might be threat or challenge, even accusation ... or perhaps the Halfling merely mocks them.

The armoured woman takes a moment to nod her thanks to Saeko and Qvar before switching targets to the remaining zombie, swinging her blade.  She grits her teeth in anger as her first blow misses, but grunts in satisfaction as the second bites deep, enough to prevent it from doing more than clawing at the air as it seeks to retaliate.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... Z1, Z2, Z4, Z6, Z7 and Z8 are Turned, Z1, Z2, and Z4 are badly injured, Z6, Z7, Z8 and Z9 are also injured but less so, while Z3, Z5 and E10 have been slain.  Z9 is the only one that is actively fighting you - the rest are clawing ineffectually at the barriers

A tug at the reins, and Hammer turns again.  Caesius grips tightly, and yells, "Hammer!  Strike!"  The horse rears, and kicks downwards with its front hooves.  The paladin leans forward and hacks at the zombie with Razor.

Saeko smiles serenely, bowing in return to the armored woman's nod.  The battle is going well.  She had had many doubts about her accidental companions, but in this important measure, they appear competent, and that is a great comfort.

She rises only partway out of her bow, keeping low as she darts past the remaining fighting zombie, before spinning back around to swipe her sword across it in unison, the first one lashing across its shoulder while the second flies a bit high.  Taking advantage of Zertin's magic, she has time to bring them back, however, sinking them both into the corpse in an X.

Zertin smiled grimly as Qvar's holy light finishes off the entomber.

"That's the way to enlighten the undead. Well done, Q!" he congratulates his brother.

He advances a couple of paces to stand behind Arafarafarfa. He levels his wand above her head to point it at two of the zombies trying to flee across the barricade to the south. He speaks the command word again to send a trio of magic missiles at one zombie (Z1) and the last pair of missiles at the zombie alongside it (Z2).

OOC:
Zertin rolled 5 using 2d4+2.  Magic missile damage on Z2.
Zertin rolled 11 using 3d4+3. (Magic missile damage on Z1)

Her arrows seem to do little to these undying wretches, and is that a surprise?  Not to Violet; the dead are dead, what matter a few quills stabbed into them?  She'd need an axe, the young woman considers, like something to split wood, a fearsome, broad-bladed sort she hears they use in the barren north.  But there are other ways, as well.  The swords, like those of the knight or the shimmering Lady Saeko, or the smaller weapon of the smaller rider.

A pity she cannot use such tools.

Then light flares again, brilliant and near-blinding, as Qvar steps in and proves no weapon other than God's mercy is needed against these abominations.  For an instant Violet can only stare in awe as holy fire consumes the appalling leader of the dead, gnawing away at its blackness from the inside out until nothing remains.  The moment of sublime wonder leaves her breathless.

Zertin spoils it, of course, by loosing those odd lances of his devil's sorcery.

Gritting her teeth against the nausea, Violet has to admit that his magic is a third method, proving most effective against these dead.  Fight fire with fire, she considers, stepping off the barricade, but how not to get burned?  Will the magic corrupt her simply by being too close?  A bitter laugh escapes the young woman as she hurries toward the remainder of the battle; she's already in Hell, how much worse could it get?

When one finds oneself falling, sometimes there's nothing to do but dive.

OOC - Violet is going to move up, not quite into combat range, and start looking around the area to see if there's any more (immediate) danger lurking.  NoticeSpot check of 29, in her world that would have been an open-ended roll. 
This message was lightly edited by the player at 09:31, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

Qvar smiles back at his Zertin, then his eyes follow the wand's bolts to their mark - two targets, his brother titrating the wand's power against the animus of the dead.  "That's very economical of you Zed."  He too must conserve what remains of Pelor's light within him.

He smiles in greeting to the armoured woman, then looks concerned as he realises she is injured.  "I can help."  He reaches forward slightly, offering her his hand.

OOC:  Protection from Evil 10'r is still operating around Qvar, so he'll move to stay close to combatants if they take on the turned zombies.

Hammer uncomplainingly turns about once more, then rears up at the Paladin's urging to bludgeon the zombie with his flailing hooves, which the undead bears with surprising fortitude, though as Caesius leans long his horse's neck to hack at the foe repeatedly with his sword, it staggers as the blade bites deep, then falls as Saeko rolls behind it and comes up with flashing blades to finish it off with a flourish, pulling her swords clear as it sinks to the ground.

Stepping forwards, Zertin looses more of his magic against the foe, sending the glowing orbs of magic to strike two of the zombies that claw futilely against the western barricade, blasting one, leaving it slumped against the pile of crates and furniture, but only wounding the second, causing it to turn about and head back towards you.

Violet slides deftly down from atop the eastern barricade, moving to a position where she can take in the entire square, though she chooses not to stand besides Zertin, distrusting the power he wields.  The young woman scans the buildings and all else in the area with her penetrating gaze, looking for any less obvious sign of danger. 

Taking advantage of the momentary lull, Qvar offers to heal the armoured woman, but she refuses with a brief smile of thanks.

"The arrival of yourself and your companions is an unlooked for blessing from Lathander," she tells him.  "Save your strength to deal with these horrors !"

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... Z2, Z4, Z6, Z7 and Z8 are Turned, Z2 and Z4 are badly injured, Z6, Z7 and Z8 are also injured but less so, while Z1, Z3, Z5, Z9 and E10 have been slain.  None are actively fighting you - those zombies remaining are clawing ineffectually at the barriers

Zertin smiles and nods graciously at his brother's compliment.

"I do so enjoy the mopping up phase of these engagements," he responds amiably before getting serious again.

"Gang up on them," he advised. "Kill them one or two at a time or they will turn around and fight back once you attack them."

Then he draws himself up tall, raising his arms and pausing for effect before beginning to hum what sounds rather like an operatic concerto. He lets his arms fall and immediately begins waving his wand like a conductor's baton in time to the tune he is humming. At just the right moment he slips the command word into the tune to launch two more magic missiles at the zombie whose attention he drew last round (Z2) then another trio at the other zombie at the southern barricade (Z4).

OOC:
Zertin rolled 7 using 2d4+2.  Magic missile damage on Z2.
Zertin rolled 14 using 3d4+3.  Magic missile damage on Z4.

Partial update:

Relishing this opportunity, Zertin offers words of wisdom and warning before he strikes a pose,  his wand waving rhythmically back and forth as the wizard chooses his moment to send another handful of glowing orbs of magical energy to fry two more of the zombies, leaving their corpses slumped against the barricades in true death.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ... Z6, Z7 and Z8 are Turned and have minor injuries (Z6 has had the worst of it), while all the rest have been slain.  None are actively fighting you - those zombies remaining are clawing ineffectually at the barriers

Introductions will have to wait until the battle is truely over.  Qvar nods, acknowledging the wisdom of the armoured woman's reply.  "Are there more about that we should deal with tonight?"  He glances up at the gloomy sky, "How long till Sunrise?"

He will move to protect the greatest number of his allies (protection from evil 10'r) and stands ready to turn the zombies again should they attack his allies.

Heedless of the dead thing on the ground beneath his iron-shod hooves, Hammer obeys the directions of Caesius and moves quickly towards the nearest of the remaining undead. 

Once within reach, Caesius swings Razor down at the thing's head, with all the delicacy and finesse of a Wolf nomad at the dinner table.  "Do I have your attention, vile spawn of evil?"

The remaining three Zombies are soon dealt with as Caesius leads the charge with Saeko and Arafarafarfa finishing up.

As the last one falls, the armoured woman sighs with weariness and satisfaction combined, finally lowering her blade.

"Thank the Morninglord !" she breathes, though even now she does not rest, pounding on the door of the building to the north from which hangs a shingle denoting this to be the Blood of the Vine Tavern.

"The Eastern barricade has fallen - we must repair it !"

There is much scraping and banging from within before the door opens and two colorfully dressed but surly Vistani come out.  The armoured woman crosses the square to the building on the south, Bildrath's Mercantile repeating her actions and words.  Again the door opens and a young man emerges, his wide shoulders and muscles rippling beneath his leather jerkin, a broad smile upon his simple face as his eyes fall upon the woman.

"Parriwimple ... fetch water from the well, would you ?  We need to put that fire out."

The youth follows the armoured woman's directions with much enthusiastic nodding, in contrast to the reluctance shown by the two Vistani.  The woman shakes her head, turning to you, though she addresses the shining Qvar as your spokesman.

"You have done much already ... but if you would do more, might I enlist your assistance to repair the barricade before more of the creatures appear ?"

Zertin listens to the woman's instructions then turns to survey the scene.

"Randall, be a good fellow and help these folks rebuild that barricade. You definitely don't want to be stuck on the outside when more of those zombies turn up!" he instructs their reluctant guide.

Turning back to the woman he says, "Of course we will help but shall we at least introduce ourselves first? I am Zertin and the enlightened one is my brother Qvar. The horseman is Caesius, the young lady who wields those twin blades to such deadly effect is Saeko, the archer is Violet and the little lady with so much courage is Arafarafarfa. The enormous cat with her is Oooh'Awww and at the back there is Randal who agreed to guide us here."

Once the introductions are done Zertin will roll up his sleeves and offer what assistance he can in rebuilding the eastern barricade.

Further sorcery burns the air, even as the mounted knight and shining warrior cleave undying flesh.  Riven and seared, the rotted corpses return to their rest, and Violet almost breathes easier.  Almost.

For all his urbane charm, Zertin remains a constant skitter along her nerves, like a dagger-point dragged across flat steel.

She notes the people in hiding before they come out: eyes peering from behind shutters, terrified.  Presumably their fear stems from the un-dying, but the young woman must wonder if Zertin's display has only encouraged that terror?  Or are these residents of Hell numbed to such darkness, if it stands against their enemies?  What else do they have to lose, here? she reminds herself.  But part of her completely understands their reluctance to assist, preferring to keep safe behind the meagre protection of wood and stone.

Another part of her is disgusted by their lack of assistance for the single woman who so recently defended them.

Without pause, she moves to the barricade when requested; Violet has little experience with such carpentry, but she takes direction handily and is deft with her hands.  Assisting as best she can, the young woman throws a single comment over her shoulder.  "I saw no sign of more from my vantage."

Yet.

Qvar beams at the armoured woman when Zertin introduces him.  As the supposed spokesman for the party, he glances about at his companions, then smiles reassuringly in reply.  Zertin, Violet and Randall are already getting to work, and he feels sure the others will fill the breach with their bodies should the attack resume.  Not being accustomed to labouring, his slight frame being ill-suited to such use, he instead helps with questions of his own:

"We had come to see Kolyan the burgomaster.  Can he be found within your barricade?

Randal said there is a church of Lathander here in Barovia.  Would that be a better place to stand and defend the villagers?  I have some experience at this, and I'm sure Lathander's priest would help too.

You took a blow from that entomber.  Would you allow me to heal the bruise?

Everything will look brighter when the Sun comes up... how long will that be?"

Saeko takes several moments to clean her blades with a cloth likely intended for just that purpose.  She hums quietly as she does so, smiling to herself.  Only when this is done and they are sheathed again does she return her attention to the others.

"That," she says, firmly, approaching those working on the barricades, "was fun.  Sir Zertin, you may cast that spell upon me any time, but while we have a moment, it may be well to discuss whatever else such tricks you may have in your repertoire.  We can better benefit from them if we know what they might be," she suggests.

"There are always more." Caesius growls, "Don't relax your guard."

He sheathes Razor and dismounts, before rubbing the side of Hammer's neck.  "Well fought my friend."  Then he moves to assist with the repair of the barricade.

As he works, he has a question for the woman, "Does these foul creatures strike often?"

Zertin is quite happy to chat with Saeko as they work.

"Oh, yes, fun indeed. I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. Haste is a wonderful pick-me-up and I always enjoy a good Fireball, although there is often not enough room to use it. Only once a day, though, I'm afraid, for both of them. What's left? Well the Lightning Bolt can be almost as much fun, Scorching Ray and Blast of Force likewise, Detect Thoughts can be rather enlightening, Protection from Evil and Feather Fall are mainly for self preservation. I always imagined I would find a use for Enlarge Person other than simply increasing the effectiveness of some sort of fighter but sadly that hasn't ever happened yet. Well, that's about all that's left for today apart from my trusty wand and a handful of cantrips."

Randal shares Violet's misgivings about Zertin's powers, an odd expression crossing his face as the wizard casually rattles of a litany of his remaining spells, but does not let his concerns slow him as he assists everyone working to repair the barricade.

With Parriwimple hauling water from the well, the fire is quickly extinguished - luckily the damp mists prevented the flames from taking proper hold of the combustible materials and are easily put out leaving only surface charring.  Items of furniture, crates and various planks of wood that might be either wall lining or floorboards are pressed into service and with you all helping the task takes only a short time.

Satisfied that the town centre is now secure, the armoured woman at last is able to answer your many questions, though once more she refuses Qvar's kind offer with a smile, raising one hand to her wounded shoulder as she calls upon Lathander, her god.  A warm pink glow suffuses hand and arm.

Zertin's earlier introductions did not pass unnoticed, but only now does the armoured woman offer her own name in return.  "I am Ashyln, a Lightbringer.  You may have met my companions, Thendrik and Mathilda ?" she asks, looking about with more than casual interest.

"You are all most welcome here ... a blessing from the Morninglord as I have said.  Had you not arrived when you did I doubt I could have held this last wave back.  The creatures have never breached the barricade before."

"The burgomaster ?  I know him not - we have not been here long and there has been little time for much discussion that did not pertain to the defence of the village.  But there is one within the tavern who claims to be the burgomaster's son."

Ashlyn's lips purse.  "He is ... in a sorry state, seeking refuge from this horror in drink."

"The church ?  Aye, that is where Thendrik and Mathilda were heading.  The townsfolk believe that's where these creatures arise, though they insisted we should talk to someone called Madame Eva first."  As she mentions that name, both Vistani look first towards her and then at each other, but do not speak.

"But they wouldn't listen, the arrogant clods. they went to the church, confident that they could handle whatever they found without any help from others."

"That was three days ago, as best as I can reckon it, for the sun does not rise in these lands."  Her lips tighten once more at the thought of a place where Lathander's light does not shine.  "I haven't heard from them since ... and haven't been able to venture beyond this square, for the creatures have tested the barricades many times, though they soon tire of the attempt and wander off.  I don't know if there's anyone else alive out there."

Zertin noticed Randal's reaction to his discussion of spellcraft but doesn't seem bothered by it at all.

He comes back to speak further with Ashlyn when the repairs to the barricade are finished and notices the Vistanis' reaction to her mention of Madame Eva.

"You two, what can you tell us about this Madame Eva and where can we find her?" he asks the pair of Vistani.

When he can speak to Ashlyn again he asks her, "Is this the first time an Entomber has shown up here? Might that be the reason they were able to breach the barricade? Do you think there may be more of them here?"

Qvar's glow dims when Ashlyn confirms his concern that the sun will not rise over this land.  "Morning Lord, we will not fail you." he offers quietly.

Brightening again and looking for some way to help, he presses Ashlyn further.  "We should speak with this burgomaster's son.  Then we should look for your companions at the church.  But first, are there any sick or injured villagers who need help?"

Violet replies to the knight with a quick nod as she continues her work.  She should be more clear in the future, the young woman considers; she hadn't seen any more of them now, for example.  The knight can't know that 'on guard' is her default state, regardless of how weary the young woman has become.  Chaville is a beautiful city, but full of venom regardless of one's social class.

The days of sneaking coin and food may be behind her, now, but the habits remain, even in Hell.

Then the Lady Saeko calls out to Zertin, and as her words percolate through Violet's mind, a sick feeling grows in her stomach.  Spell...on Saeko.  Violet hadn't seen any such spell, but Zertin had thrown fire, sorcerous energies...and the world had slowed down.  When the sorcerer joins both of them at work, chattering about his satanic magery, it's confirmation, and Violet bites down on the nausea sweeping over her.

The dizziness passes, and she numbly continues to move wood and help affix it.  There's nothing to do but push forward; clearly the Lady Saeko has no issue with this magery, Qvar takes it as a matter of course, and the knight is no Inquisitor.  Clearly none, like the savage woman, are of the Church, and she wonders about their lands, how they must be that these people are so comfortable with black magic.

Randal, at least, seems discomfited, and Violet has a sudden, curious thought; perhaps these lands suffer beneath magery's hell-iron grip, much as her people's had so long ago.

"Madame Eva lives somewhere to the west,"  Ashlyn begins, only to be cut off by a mocking laugh from one of the Vistani.

"This ... clerk," he surmises, looking at Zertin, "speaks to me, one who knows !"

The armoured woman eyes him angrily, but bites back any retort, somewhat surprised that the surly fellow speaks at all.

"Madame Eva is first amongst my people and uses her gifts to protect us," he continues, his accent thick.  "If it was not for these ... creatures," he spits upon the corpse of a fallen zombie, "we would be safely back at our camp now, instead of being trapped in this flea-pit."

"If you seek her, then we will agree to show you the way."

Ashlyn speaks again, though pointedly addresses yourselves and not the Vistani.  "I seek the Sunsword, a weapon of legend which is most potent against undead.  I am told that Madame Eva might know of its whereabouts ... if you would meet with her then I would accompany you."

"Though," she pauses a moment, smiling at Qvar, acknowledging his offer, "before I leave I must seek out my companions to learn their fate."

"The villagers are terrified ... but unhurt.  I have done what I can for them."

If your guide seems wary of Zertin, then he is even more distrustful of the two Vistani.

"Watch them," he confides quietly to Violet and Caesius.  "Liars and thieves.  As like to rob you on the road ... or lead you into a trap !"

"It would seem that we have a number of people that we should seek.  Madame Eva, the burgomaster's son, this woman's companions...  Perhaps one of them knows the source of these creatures, and how to end their assaults.  So we have decisions to make - do we split up, or do we stay together to take advantage of our numbers?  And if we stay together, where should we go first?"

Caesius gives a small nod in reply to Randal's quiet advice.

Zertin listens to all the information provided and nods attentively at the appropriate points.

"Ashlyn's party decided to split up, and haven't been seen for the last three days? Let's not do that. The burgomaster's son is here and may be able to tell us something useful before we visit the burgomaster himself, if the son is not too drunk to make any sense. The villagers advised Ashlyn's party to talk to Madame Eva first before venturing to the church of Lathander, which they believe to be the source of these undead," Zertin summed up the situation.

"I suggest we speak to the burgomaster's son first then visit the burgomaster, for his letter is the reason we have come here at all. Then to Madame Eva, if she is not too far away, for she may have valuable information that will aid our fight against these creatures, not least of which may be this Sunsword you seek. The church of Lathander sounds like it may be the most hazardous of those three destinations, so I would prefer to gain whatever information we can before we go there. Forewarned is fore-armed, as they say. Ashlyn, I am sorry, but if your companions have been missing for three days then a few more hours probably will not make any difference to them."

Saeko frowns, and speaks directly to Ashlyn.  "It is indeed unlikely Thendrick and Mathilda survive, but it is not impossible."  She takes a few steps to the side, shaking her head a little.  "What Zertin's plan has in sense, it lacks in heart, but the reverse is also true."  She paces back to where she'd started.  "If you can also agree with his course, then we shall follow it.  But if you feel you must seek your friends, or their fate, first, you will not go alone."

Irritation spikes in Violet, despite her fear of Zertin; that the man speaks to the sorcerer with such a tone, after Zertin has assisted (regardless of the nature of said assistance), sits poorly with her.  Fear, she would understand.  Arrogance and disgust, after the man did nothing while Zertin fought?

An annoyed sigh escapes her as she continues to work, and she nods to Randall.  "Won't trust them," Violet murmurs.  "Don't worry about that."  He has the look of a Zinner, to her, and such people are ill-favoured by high and low society in Chaville, whether they hail from Moth or not.

Both Zertin and Saeko put forth their opinions as Violet returns, dusting her hands.  The young woman quietly rolls over the two different viewpoints in her mind.  Sensibility...a month ago she would have agreed with Zertin, regardless of his sorcery.  Now?  When in Hell, Violet considers, there's not much point in doing anything but swimming deeper.  Lady Saeko has been a bright point thus far; should the Ryuan assist Ashlyn, to use the lady's own words, she will not do so alone.

Qvar starts when Ashlyn mentions that she seeks a Sunsword.  "I seek The Sunstone.  It was stolen during the attack on my church in Glanquin." He shoots a somewhat sheepish glance at Zertin, "I suppose I should have mentioned it."

"Oh I'll go where my brother goes." Qvar smiles, standing beside Zertin.  Why summon him if not to stand with him?  He scans the gloomy sky as he waits for the party to decide.  Pelor's will is gradually revealing itself in this gathering of strangers seeking arms against the darkness or bringing gifts to aid in the struggle.  He glances at Violet to gauge her reaction then watches the sky again.  Surely there is a glimmer of dawn.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:06, Sat 13 Oct 2018.

Ashlyn nods in agreement with the words of both Randal and Violet but shakes her head at Zertin's plan.

"I told my companions that their quest was foolish, that we should seek advice first, so we knew more of what we faced ... but now faced with that same dilemma, I find I cannot abandon them.  Foolish or no, I must look to the church first, whether it is to save them or simply learn their fate and thus mourn them."

The armoured woman smiles at Saeko's assurance, but her brow furrows at Qvar's mention of the Sunstone.

"I've heard no word of such a thing," she tells the priest. "Though I do like the sound of it !"

"Come," she looks to Caesius and Zertin, "that barricade will hold back the creatures for now ... I will take you to Ismark, the burgomaster's son that you may speak with him."

Pausing only to allow the Vistani to precede her, Ashlyn leads the way into the nearby building that bears the sign "Blood of the Vine Tavern" hanging precariously askew.

The structure was once finely appointed, but it seems that it has suffered in recent years.  Within you find a two score or more men, women and children packed into the main room, guestrooms, spare closets, the cellar, even the hallways, seeking what shelter they can from the horrors that afflict their village.

"That's Arik," the armoured woman tells you, waving her hand towards the barkeep who mindlessly cleans glasses at the bar.  Her finger passes without comment over the three Vistani who sit at a small table, he two who joined you outside now huddled in quiet discussion with a third of their clan, all looking in your direction.

"And there is Ismark," her roving fingers stops, indicating a man sitting in a shadowed corner, apart from all the others, sipping from a goblet.  He is dressed better than anyone else in the room, wearing what might pass for a noble's outfit, though it is dirty and stained.  He does not look up as you approach, instead draining the last dregs before staring into his empty cup.

Caesius scowls at the Vistani, briefly wondering what they have to say to each other with regards to him.

Then, with a shrug, he puts them out of his mind for the moment and strides over towards Ismark,  Stopping before the man, the paladin clears his throat an says, "Greetings Sir, I am Caesius, son of Horianon, son of Agresaide, son of Gamlach, of the House of Moliondes.  My companions and I have but recently arrive in this village, by invitation of the burgomaster I may add, and we have been told that you may be able to tell us where we might find him."

Lost in thought, Violet misses Qvar's appraisl.  There's quite a bit of which to consider, here.  The Sunsword?  Some kind of holy, if heretical, relic?  Similarly this Sunstone.  Violet can't helpt but grimace, but this time it has nothing to do with the sect of religion.  If only her discovery had been that sunstone of which Qvar speaks!  She might have...might have...done something right, for a change.

Disconsolate, the young woman trails after the others as they enter the tavern.

More of a refugee camp, she decides, studying the people within.  Hell is not kind to its inhabitants, clearly, and these have banded together -- like sheep, not wolves -- in an effort to find safety.  But that has been denied them, or will be the moment their defenders fall.

It seems some of them think it more wise to lift drinks than weapons in the face of peril.

Disgusted with the people, disgusted with herself for her judgement, Violet pads into the room, finds an open area of space close to where the discussion takes place, and sets herself down.  Life in Chaville and, of late, here has taught her to seek rest when she may; opportunities might be few and far between.

Zertin follows Caesius's lead but stays a couple of feet back while Caesius introduces himself to Ismark. Close enough to hear the conversation but apparently equally curious about everyone else in the room, as his gaze wanders about the room, never resting on any particular person or group for very long.

Qvar pauses in the doorway, setting aside his staff.  The golden light from his head makes Pelor's presence known to all in the room.  He meets each gaze with a smile and seeks to reassure the anxious crowd "The Light of the Morninglord shine upon you.  We have come to help."

He crosses the room to the bar "Arik, I am Qvar.  Are there any here who need my help?"

The glow that surrounds Qvar draws more than a few mutters from the villagers, and none show any sign of relief or joy at the sight ... indeed, it is fear that you see writ large upon their faces.

Nor does the barkeep greet the priest any more warmly than those who seek refuge in his Inn, his hands noticeably trembling as he works, shaking his head at the question Qvar poses.

Violet, on the other hand, it seems they accept as one of their own, seeking shelter here as they do, and while none of the adults do more than look her way, just long enough to satisfy themselves of that opinion, a young girl, little more than a child approaches the young woman, her gaze much more open and appraising than that of her elders, her eyes particularly straying to the weapons she wears openly.

Dressed in plain travelling clothes, and displaying nothing that might mark him as a wizard, Zertin's presence also passes unremarked, save that he stands by Caesius, whose words proclaim his noble blood.

The man he addresses looks up from his cup, considering the Paladin's words ... which serve to rouse him from his brooding.

"I am Ismark ... Ismark the Lesser," he introduces himself.  "My father is ... was ... Kolyan Indirovich, the burgomaster of Barovia.  But the burgomaster is dead !  His body lies these ten days an more in the mansion.  My sister remains there with him, barricaded against the creatures of darkness that plague our village."

"You have my commiserations, and those of my companions, upon your loss, Sir." Caesius says quietly, before bowing his head in a brief, silent prayer.  When he lifts his head again, he continues, "Pray tell, Freeman Ismark, how did he die?  Was it at the hands of the undead horrors which stalk the streets of this place?"

"And since we came at Kolyan Indirovich's request, perhaps you or your sister, as his heirs, have need of our services?"

Zertin listens to Ismark's words and Caesius's noble response before expanding slightly on the paladin's questions.

"Yes, how did your father die, Ismark? Is your sister safe in the manor? Does she need to be rescued from there? What is her name, anyway?"  He asks.

"Hey, girl," Violet rasps, her voice raw from her exerctions.  She pats the floor next to herself.  "If you want, set yourself down."  Then it's back to work, letting the girl off from the pressure of her attention.  Withdrawing one of the short swords, she checks the edge - businesslike, not showing off.  Not that there's a great deal to show off; the sword is a worn affair, much like Violet herself.

Bow next, but there's nothing wrong with the thing.  Well-used, it has weathered the years better than the steel of the sword, its curious, sweeping shape at-odds with the young woman's appearance.  It doesn't fit.  Away it goes, and she begins checking the arrows one-by-one.

It's a lot of work, but when one's life depends on something flying true, it's amazingly easy to get into the habit.  Those that don't are dead.

Her gaze flicks to the knight, who seems to be acting much more the gentleman than the noble.  It's possible she has misjudged him, and her hand again goes to the pouch at her side (also ensuring nobody has stolen it, or is thinking about stealing it).  Qvar gave his blessing, after all...perhaps he was meant not to possess, but facilitate?

"Bad situation, here," she mutters, seeming to the air from the way her stare goes back to the arrows she tests.  But the only person within hearing range is the girl.

After giving Ismark a brief look over, Saeko paces the room, listening, but not wishing to crowd the man.  She does pause in her movements to turn towards him, inclining her head and standing quiet through Caesius's prayer, before resuming her steady prowl through the room.  Intermittently turning to watch Violet work through her weapons, she gives a small smile of approval, but keeps her distance there, also.

Qvar's glow dims with each fearful stare.  He nods in return to Arik's response and leaves the bar with a forced smile.  Fear rules this  Sunless world.  The sight of the child's interest in Violet's calm work brings him joy, but he does not watch for long in case his attention should spoil their mood.  He moves to stand beside Zertin and Caesius, his glow now a barely discernable flicker.  He listens to their conversation with the burgomaster's son and draws comfort from his brother's presence and the paladin's courteous words.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Thu 25 Oct 2018.

The young girl sits as soon as Violet offers and seems content enough to watch the woman's careful examination of her weapons, though she does not see the same things as the one whose life depends upon them.  She does not notice as Saeko and Qvar briefly look her way.

Though Violet's comment wasn't meant for her, the young girl still responds, quietly, as if bestowing a confidence, but ne'ertheless most seriously and unafraid, despite her years and the horrors that she must have seen.

"It was the devil who lives in the castle who made things go bad."

Ismark does not seem to hear these words of the young girl, instead taking a large sip from his cup as Caesius offers his sympathies, perhaps seeking courage in the drink, then lowering the cup to the table as he addresses the Paladin and Zertin, responding to their questions.

"Those creatures did not get my father; their plague began after Kolyan was already dead, thank the gods.  No - it was the master of the castle or one of his servants, that killed Kolyan Indirovich.  A few months ago he who rules the castle - Strahd is his name - tried to pay us a visit.  I know not why ... but my father stood up to him, drove him away with the amulet, a family heirloom named the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. Strahd left ... then ... was it ten days ago my father died ?  And then the attacks started."

"My sister, Ireena, is safe - she won't leave the mansion.  She is sitting vigil by our father's body to make certain he does not rise as one of the creatures as have so many others.  If you could persuade her to let you take my father for burial in the town cemetery you would be doing her a kindness."

"But you say my father requested your help before he died ?  I know nothing of this ..."

"There was a letter from Kolyan delivered to us at a tavern along the road." Caesius explains, pondering the man's words.  "Perhaps your sister might know why it was sent."

"We will go to her and ask if she has any knowledge of the letter.  And we will offer to bury your father.  For her sake, and yours."

Violet notes Qvar's passing, but with a dull thump of disappointment in her chest than the sharp pain of loss; at the moment, her focus is more split between her supposed work and the girl.  Even so, she gives a small nod in return to the Lady Saeko's smile.  The young woman clearly doesn't miss much around her.

Except that time in the Narrows, and look what happened to Roger...  The houseguard put another body in the canal, that day.

Then the young girl before her whispers, as Violet hoped she would.  But the words put ice in her veins.  "Devil, you say," she muses.  One hand raises the small honing stone, and gestures, vaguely taking in the entire town.  "I believe it."  Back to work, scratch scratch scratch.  After a touch more work, Violet raises the sword toward the fire and squints along the edge.  A small nod indicates approval, and she places it on the ground before her, hands beginning to shuttle the tools into her backpack.  "Lots of differnt kinds of devils," she muses quietly.  "Met one just recently; looked all withered, and used demon magic.  Scared me half to death, but we beat it."

True, that; it's an abbreviated telling of today's events.  Her eyes flock to the girl for the first time.  "What's the one in the castle like?"

Zertin pulls out the letter from his backpack and opens it for Ismark to read his father's words. (Zertin doesn't read it aloud in this public place.)

Qvar listens distractedly to the conversation with Ismark whilst pondering the unaccustomed response of the villagers to his presence.  It dismays him to see them so fearful and be unable to help.  In any other time and place, these people would be his flock; those in need have always flocked to find him.  He has never needed to win them over.  He offers a silent prayer, asking Pelor to help them find the light. 

the mention of yet another holy relic draws his attention back to the conversation with Ismark.  The third such mention this hour: clearly a sign of Pelor's notice of this place.  He smiles at that reassuring thought then tries to recall what he knows of the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind.  Nothing comes to mind.

06:46, Yesterday: Qvar rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge religion - holy symbol of ravenkind.

"She may ..." Ismark begins to reply to Caesius before accepting the parchment from Zertin and studying it, though he does not read far before he looks up, shaking his head.

"I know my father's hand, and this writing is not his, nor would he refer to my sister in such a manner !"  He passes the letter back to the Wizard.  "I fear you have been duped."

As Qvar prays, the villagers' fear seems to lessen, at least for the moment ... indeed, they appear to find some comfort in the priest's presence, though Ismark eyes him warily.

"You are devoted to the Light as are Ashlyn and her companions ?  I fear you will find the faith of those here has been sorely tested, for the church of the Morninglord is now the home of corruption."

Ashlyn looks at him disbelievingly as he continues.

"Danovich the priest used to ward the church and the village too, but his vigil lapsed when his son Doru was slain by brigands on the Old Svalich Road.  No one knows what became of Danovich, but soon afterwards the zombies began to walk."

"The cemetery, though ... that remains untouched."  He looks back to Caesius, appreciative of the offer the Paladin has made.

The young girl is pleased at the attention Violet shows her, smiling prettily as she listens to the young woman, though that smile fades as Violet tells of the evil creature that you fought and slew.

"Worse than that," the young girl replies, in a small voice, shuddering.  "For he is tall and pale and has long sharp nails and when he is angry his eyes burn like red-hot coals."

"He scares me too."

The others hold court, speaking of the writing of the 'burgermeister' and their heathan religions.  Such is the way of things; Violet accepts this without question.  She's better here, seated on the cold floor with the others, listening to their talk.  Let the nobles and priests (and sorcerers, she admits with a small shudder) ferret out the secrets of the high; Violet will instead listen to the whispers of the low.

She's one of them, after all.

And those whispers...  She sucks in a breath at the girl's confession, the air drawn in through clenched teeth.  "Would scare me too, I wager," Violet mutters.  "Some things, you can't help but be scared.  Here, sit yourself."  She pats the ground next to her.  "Giving me a crick in my neck to look up at you, and it's cold here, besides.  Always better for us girls to stick close."  She sighs.  Not much chance of the Lady Saeko agreeing to such, and Violet brought up 'girls' for a reason.  Men often don't take the idea properly, and that leads to trouble.

"You've a demon, here," she mumurs, whether or not the girl sits.  It sounds like Satan himself, she muses, or perhaps one of his many vassal lords.  "That preist..."  One hand rises from its work to point at Qvar.  "He has a way with the...the Un-dead," she finishes with a shudder.  "They burn like the sun itself touched them.  Did when we fought that...thing.  Maybe he's the right man to fix your village's problems.  Looks like he's interested."

"The letter is a forgery?" Zertin asks in surprise, but keeps his voice low enough that the three Vistani at the other table cannot overhear. "Hmm, the man who delivered it was a Vistani and said that Kolyan had paid him well to deliver it. Just now there were two Vistani outside, who have offered to lead us to Madame Eva, if we wish to speak with her as the villagers had previously advised Ashlyn to do. I see them over at that table with another of their friends now. Randal doesn't trust them though. He fears they may try to rob us on the road or lead us into a trap. Do you think that likely, Ismark?"

"Perhaps we really should visit the temple first with Ashlyn to search for her two missing companions."

"Not your father's... " Caesius frowns, "I see."

He ponders briefly, then, "Why would somebody go to the trouble of forging a missive from a person we have never met, just to bring is to a village which clearly is under attack?  Surely they could have simply penned the message in their own name?"

Then another thought strikes him.  "You say this isn't your father's writing.  Do you know whose it might be?"

Qvar's glow returns gradually as the mood in the tavern improves.  Planting a seed of hope is all that he can do for the villagers right now.  He smiles reassuringly in response to Ismark's remark, and echoes Zertin and Caesius "We will do what we can for your father and sister.  And we will search for your deacon Danovich and Ashlyn's friends at the church of The Morninglord."

"Agreed," the armoured woman nods to the brothers.  "I wish it were otherwise, but I fear my companions have perished, else they'd have returned before now, though I will see their bodies with my own eyes that I may be certain they have not risen again as these creatures."

"Yet if we can rescue Ireena, then we should do so."

"I stay," the Halfling informs the giants as she bangs a coin down on the counter, eyeing the bartender meaningfully.

"Oooh'Awww and I, we guard here. Slay the dead men who walk !"

The child sits dutifully at Violet's feet, taking comfort from both her presence and the reassurances she offers, turning to stare at the priest with wide, appraising eyes.

"Father Danovich protected us but then Doru died and his prayers stopped."

Ismark has little to offer Zertin and Caesius in regard to their speculations ... though it might be that he does not wish to give voice to the thought that occurs to him which is writ large upon his face as fear wars with suspicion.  The man is obviously wondering if perhaps you forged the note yourselves, but is smart enough not to give voice to such.

"No hand I recognise," he mutters, reaching for his cup for courage, and dismayed to find it empty.

"You are wise not to trust the Vistani ... yet they serve Madame Eva and would not disobey her.  If they say they will take you to her, then that is one promise I think they would not break.  Yet if she then bids them do you harm, they will not hesitate."

Zertin frowns at Ismark's words.

"We clearly don't know enough about this Madame Eva yet, but I don't think anyone is in a mood to sit here long enough to learn much more about her. We will go and do what we can for Ireena and Ashlyn's companions first."

Catching Arafarafarfa's pronouncement he looks at her for a long moment before nodding.

"I wish you good hunting, little one. We will miss your courage," he tells her.

The paladin of Heironeous nods his agreement with Zertin's assessment of the situation.

The forged letter is a concern, of course, since it smacks of somebody trying to manipulate the group... but who?  Caesius, himself, is certain that he has never been here before, so cannot think of any enemies he might have in the area.

Some of his companions, though, seem to have a passing familiarity with the region around the Weary Horse Inn.  It could be that they have made enemies there.  Enemies whose schemes have casually enveloped unwitting strangers and sent them to Barovia.

No matter.  Those enemies, whoever they may be, will be made to pay dearly for their temerity.

And Arafarafarfa is leaving them, one of those who potentially has enemies here.  The paladin bows to her, "We shall return, should we find that we have further need of your skill."

Qvar nods his agreement with Zertin's plan.  He smiles his farewell to Arafarafarfa, resisting an urge to pat Oooh'Awww goodbye (arms don't grow back).  He catches sight of Violet and the girl looking his way and beams back in delight, his glow growing noticeably brighter.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Sat 17 Nov 2018.

The discussion continues - who will go where, what, how.  The little -- and deadly -- warrior decides to remain, to assist with the guarding.  Violet offers a slow nod of appreciation.  "Sounds like that one -- there, with the big cat -- is planning on staying to protect.  That's a good thing," she remarks.  "I've seen her fight."

But more information is forthcoming, and she leaves the heavy discussion to those in charge.  Violet hasn't ever been in charge, herself, and would rather avoid that painful responsibility.  She's content to garner information, what little she can.

Sometimes it's the stuff that might fall through the cracks that could be the most important.

"Doru?" she muses.  "Who's that?  Was that," the woman amends.

The young girl sitting at Violet's feet smiles shyly at Qvar's broad smile, but is most earnest when she replies.

"I think I am bigger than her, but she looks very fierce," she tells Violet. "I like her cat."

"Doru was the priest's son.  He was killed by bandits."

Troubled by the revelation that the letter may be false, nevertheless you resolve to brave the zombie-infested streets beyond the relative safety of the town square, to seek out first Ismark's sister Ireena, and then the church were you hope to learn the fate of Ashlyn's companions.

Arafarafarfa accepts the words of Zertin and Caesius with the bemusement she reserves for the pronouncement of all giants, and stares at Ashlyn disconcertingly as the armoured woman gives her what advice she can, though you cannot tell if the Halfling listens to or understand what she is told.

As you ready to depart, the braver of the townsfolk thank you, though you can see from the fear in their eyes that they would rather you stayed that they might shelter behind your protection.  The young girl embraces Violet, her small arms wrapped around the woman's leg in tearful farewell.

At Ashlyn's direction, the townsfolk make a small gap in the southern barrier that even the Paladin's mount can pass through with little difficulty and you pause only long enough for them to reseal the hole before you press on, led by the armoured woman.

Once more the clinging fog makes you wary and slows your progress as you pass boarded, broken and abandoned structures.

"It's not far," Ashlyn tells you, pointing dead ahead, just as a moaning sob floats through the still, grey streets, hoarse and drained of hope.  The sound issues from a darkened, two-storey building that stands nearby ...

Caesius leads Hammer, rather than riding.  After all, it is only a short distance to travel, by all accounts.

The sob draws the man's attention, and he releases the reins.  The horse immediately stops walking, and stands where it is.  Meanwhile Caesius approaches the darkened house.  He tries the door, even as he calls, "Hello!  I heard your cry, do you need help?"

Zertin doesn't turn aside when Caesius goes to investigate the noises. He stays alongside Ashlyn instead, although he does have his wand in hand and glances back regularly to keep an eye on the paladin.

"I suppose there are a lot of houses here that moan and groan now," he comments conversationally, "although perhaps sobbing is less common."

Saeko simply nods her assent as the group slowly comes round to the course she was already on.  Arafarafarfa's announcement is likewise met with a brief nod, after which she turns, ready to leave, and then pauses in mid-spin.

She walks over to Violet and the young girl, and kneels down to look her in the eyes.  "I will guard her," she promises, "As she will me.  Keep quiet, stay safe, and you will see us again."

Without waiting for any reaction, she stands and spins away in one smooth motion, striding out the door.

She walks carefully in the fog, with a curious habit of periodically taking a set of quick dancing steps that turn her in a full circle as she walks.   She pauses at the sobbing, giving Zertin a curious look followed by a small shake of her head.

Qvar walks in the street beside Zertin.  When Caesius approaches the door he takes a step in that direction also, quietly listening for a reply to the paladin's call.

With the group decided on its course, Violet rises, picking up and stowing her gear.  Then, surprised at the young girl's show of emotion, she drops down on one knee to hug her.  "You'll be fine," she whispers.  But the girl won't, for this is Hell.  What chance does one so young have in this place...what chance...

Another surprise as the Lady Saeko comes to speak and reassure, and Violet cracks a smile at this, a quiet, wistful smile, not a mocking one.  Bowing her head to the lady, she whispers to the young one.  "See?  You've got a protector, and so do I."

And a knot in her stomach loosens, melting away.

Rising, Violet ruffles the girl's hair.  "Be good."  Like I wasn't.  A bow to Arafarafarfa follows, and a genuine smile and wave of gratitude.  Then with a last look at the girl, she ambles out the door in the Lady Saeko's wake.

Striding quickly to catch up, she ducks her head in embarassed thanks.  "That was a fine thing you did back there, my lady."  There are few - if any! - nobles of Chaville who would take the time to comfort a mud-spattered peasant; more likely they would set dogs upon the lesser creature.  "You've my thanks, for what they're worth."  Her mouth twitches in a grimace.  "Here."

In Hell.

"I don't know your people," she continues, with some embarassment.  "But I'd be happy to serve you here, if you've need."

There is no answer to Caesius's question, but nor does the sound of sobbing cease.

The door does not budge as the Paladin tries the handle with Qvar moving to join him, though holding his tongue as he listens for any reply.  Alas, the door seems to be barricaded from within and will need to be forced or hacked open to gain entrance to the building.

Zertin, Ashlyn and Saeko look up and down the street, very wary of ambush.  Fainter groans can be heard in the distance but do not seem to be growing any louder, as Violet, impressed by Saeko's actions in comforting the small child at the tavern offers a pledge of her service, perhaps looking for an anchor in this hell-world.

The man from Surd likes not these streets, nor that he must linger here, the knife in his hand of little comfort in the face of the horrors that he has seen thus far.

"The ..." wizard they called him, but he'd rather not give voice to that word "... Zertin has the right of it - it could be a trap !"  His interpretation perhaps much different to the mage's speculation.

Caesius steps back and raises his head, looking at the windows for signs of life.  All in vain.  An idea strikes him, and he draws Razor.  Pressing the sword flat against the door, he mutters a quick prayer.

"Heironeous, give the righteous in this house the strength to defend themselves, and to drive back the foes of weal.  Let nothing evil move within."

Turning away, he takes up the reins and starts to walk along the street once more.

"There is nothing further to be done here.  We have other tasks to undertake, tasks which may save all in this cursed place."

"Yes, it could indeed be a trap, or just some poor terrified villager who is safer behind locked doors than out here with us," Zertin confides to Randal.

For Caesius he has a much warmer response.

"Well said, sir knight! Well said, indeed!"

He sets off up the street toward the temple once more.

Qvar smiles nods agreement at Caesius' benediction and decision.  He sets his eyes ahead along the street.  The small pool of golden light moves with him, leaving the doorstep in shadow once more.

Randal and Ashlyn too are pleased to leave well enough alone.  The man from Surd still fearing that the cries are nothing more than a ploy to tempt them in, the Lightbringer, conversely, happy to offer comfort, yet knowing that they cannot linger here and unwilling to breach the door only to leave behind an opening through which the zombies that plague the village might enter.

With Caesius's blessing done, you press on, your way lit by Qvar's golden glow which though it does not pierce the surrounding mists, at least seems to push them back somewhat, warming your hearts.

Not much further on the road turns, but Ashlyn directs you south down a wide path to where an aged and dilapidated mansion squats behind a rusting iron fence.  The gates have been twisted open - one lies torn from its hinges, while the other swings back and forth in thew wind, screeching and clanging with mindless repetition.

The house beyond is marked by claws, fires and ominous stains.  Every window is boarded, every door barricaded.

"This is the Burgomaster's house?" Zertin asks quietly for confirmation before proceeding. Wand in hand as usual.

Wealth and station offer no protection against those who shun the light.  Qvar waits with Zertin, one hand on the gate to quiet its din, and listening for any sounds of undead nearby.

Saeko smiles at Violet, inclining her head graciously.  "Thanks carry value everywhere," she notes.  "Perhaps most in dark places."

The following offer, however, draws a more frankly appraising look.  "I would be honored by it," she decides, "But we should speak of this in our next moment of calm."


She walks up to the gate with Zertin and Qvar, hands on the hilts of her blades, studying the house.  To Ashlyn, she asks, "Would your friends have entered by the front, or sought another way in?"

Looking at the mansion, Caesius finds it hard to believe that anybody could still be alive in there.  It certainly looks as if something, or somebody, in the house has been of great significance to whoever sent the dead to attack it.  It seems as if they have expended a great deal of effort in attacking the place.

The paladin grasps the medallion of Heironeous which hangs around his neck, and stares at the house.

The noblewoman's words hold weight, Violet considers.  Thanks may be the only thing of value in Hell.  She offers up an awkward bow in response to the woman's potential acceptance of her offer; Violet has no experience with such motions, and it shows.  But it seems the thing to do.  Feeling a touch heartened, the young woman pads along with the others, stopping with them at the barricaded home.

Caesius's gesture draws her attention and a thoughtful look.

Many thoughts running through her mind, she keeps to her ordinary silence until they arrive at the burgermeister's home.  There, Violet considers what lies before them; it looks like nothing more than a manor of Moth, straight from the stories to frighten children.  Only this is no story.

"Abel Christ," she whispers, appalled.  "What happened here?"  Moving forward to where Qvar silences the gate, the young woman studies the manor intently.  "Did an army of demons attack this home?"

OOC - spot check, nvmd.  :P  Terrible roll.

"We'll find out soon enough."  Qvar smiles reassuringly at Violet.

"Aye, this is the Burgomaster's house," Ashlyn assures you, "though I only know of it by reputation."

"My companions and I never came here."

"They were on their way to the church, when last I saw them," she tells Saeko.

You stare at the forbidding building, though Violet alone gives voice to her fears ... which Randall at least undoubtedly shares, but is unable to speak of them.

Caesius encloses the sigil of his god with his hand as he looks for any sign of those demons. 

You can hear groans and cries in the distance, undoubtedly yet more of the undead who plague this village ... yet oddly none sound close, as if they shun this place.

"All those scratches and burn marks and stains all over the house, and yet it has not been breached," Zertin observed thoughtfully. "I wonder whether the house is warded in some way?"

He pulls out a second wand from his pack, moves forward to within 60 feet of the house and points the wand at the front door as he speaks a command word.

"Praise Heironeous!" Caesius exclaims, "There was something foul here... " which some might think was obvious from the damage to the structure, "... but no longer."

Which prompts the question, "But did it leave because it had achieved its goal, or because it had failed to do so?"

"That's good news.  Perhaps the house is protected by the Indirovich family talisman."  Qvar replies to Caesius.  We should speak with Ismark's sister, Ireena, and offer to bury her father, as promised."

Violet smiles back at Qvar, but her expression is a sparrow: small, fluttering, and disappearing in an instant.  A moment later she shies away from where Zertin seems ready to unleash his unholy sorcery upon the manor.  Expecting...what?  Fire?  Explosions?  Violet is nonplussed when nothing appears to occur.  Perhaps the sorcery also fails against whatever protected this house against its attackers?

For she can see that Zertin is correct.

All this, confirmed by the lord knight; he seems quite staunch in his belief that the vileness has passed.  After witnessing Qvar's acts. Violet can't help but put a little credence into the heretical powers of these followers of other gods.  And there might be some hopeless optimism mixed into that belief; she really, really wants whatever transpired here to be over.

At Qvar's words the girl shrugs, shoots a quick look at Lady Saeko, then pads up to the door.  Glancing over her shoulder, she raises an eyebrow.  "Knock?"

The armoured woman concurs with Caesius, though Zertin's suggestion that the house is somehow protected puzzles her.

"Such a ward might have saved many lives if put to proper use," she remarks, grimly, following Violet as the young woman approaches the door, loosening her blade, but more as a matter of habit as she trusts that no evil lurks nearby, leaving the sword sheathed for the moment.

"Aye, rouse the Burgomaster's daughter and bid her speak with us," she nods to Violet.

Caesius confidently assures you that whatever evil was here is now departed, leading Zertin to ponder whether the building is protected, pulling forth a thin wooden stick with which to test that. 

Having watched Zertin with first trepidation and then puzzlement, Violet resolves to gain entry.  With Ashlyn at her heels and glancing to Saeko for a nod of permission, swiftly granted, the young woman bangs her fist on the door.

"Ho !  Ireena !  Your brother has sent us to speak with you !"  Ashlyn's voice is suprisingly loud as she follows up on Violet's knock.

There is a pause, during which only distant groans and cries reach your ears, then ...

"Is the plague ended ?  Are the streets of Barovia safe once more ?"  A young woman's voice can be heard from the other side of the closed door, clear, but with a note that betrays fragility.

"Not yet, but we ..." Ashlyn begins, only to be cut off.

"Then I will not speak with you.  I return now to my vigil at my father's side.  Goodbye."

"Ireena !  Ireena Kolyana !"  the Lightbringer tries again, but receives no answer.

Zertin murmurs quietly to his companions, "There is no magical ward upon the house, nor the door and windows. There are half a dozen faint magical auras within the house, as of items containing minor enchantments, but that is probably to be expected in the home of a wealthy and locally important man. Nothing that I can detect would explain how the house has withstood the assault upon it.

"I know this may seem fanciful, but I wonder whether whatever force has unleashed the undead upon this village may also be protecting this house, or more particularly, protecting the young woman within? In the bards' tales that might be someone who loved her more than life itself and now, in death, cannot rest without her.

"Fanciful nonsense, of course, but we should try to ask her about events before the arrival of this plague of undead. Perhaps she will speak to us if we explain that it may give us the clues we need to find the cause of all this and how to remedy it."

Violet endures the shouting stoically, with nary a wince, though inside she quavers.  Outcries such as these might bring calamity down on their heads; better to seek a quieter way.  In any case, they are turned back and unable to enter, so she offers up a small shrug to her comrades and awaits inspiration.

It's not long in coming, this time from the sorcerer.  Grudging agreement pushes the young woman to nod as Zertin outlines his thoughts; it is interesting about the lack of sorcerous wards (and possibly a good sign!), and his other points are most certainly possibilities.  Eyeing the closed door again, she purses her lips.  "Not getting in easily," the young woman ponders.  "Maybe she'll open the door if she hears there's a...priest out here," Violet manages.  Qvar is certainly that, though a priest of a heathan religion.

A heathan religion showing the light within itself, she needs no reminder...hence, her offering.

"That," she continues diffidently, "or I can find another way in and open the door for you."

"She's frightened," Saeko observes.  "Withdrawn to the solace of duty until the crisis has passed, but refusing agency in its aversion.  If she will not speak to us when we knock, I doubt she will be comforted by our trespass."

She considers a moment.  "To my ear, Zertin, your thoughts are sound, but insufficient to force ourselves into her grief.  But I am not your brother.  If we do wish to do so, I would ask, Violet, that you open the door, and accompany Qvar to speak with her.  The rest of us are too threatening for someone in her state."

Listening to the words of Ireena, and to the counsel of his companions, Caesius eventually steps back from the house.  Well he knows the effect that fear can have on those who do not stand beneath Heironeous' arm, their strength and their will bolstered by the God's blessing.

Standing some feet away from the structure, he lowers his head, and begins to murmur to himself, quietly praying for guidance, and for Ireena to see thatthe people who stand before her home can help her.

Qvar listens quietly to the conversation and nods his agreement when Saeko suggests he enter with Violet.  He is happy to speak with Ireena and offer her the help promised to Ismark, as well as curios to find out what happened here to keep the undead away.

He picks up a pebble and, with a softly spoken incantation, casts Light upon it so that it shines with a golden light concealing his own holy glow.  Smiling, he offers the pebble to Violet.  "Carry this light to work by."

The lack of response from within the house (and no less the noise that generates from those without) prompts Violet to suggest that she seeks a quieter way to gain entry, a proposition which Saeko promptly endorses.

Though Zertin declares the house lacking in magical protection, the barricades doors and windows of the lower level provide for a more than sufficient mundane deterrent ... but with Qvar's shining pebble in hand, those of the upper floor much less so.  The young woman scales the outside of the building with ease ... indeed, the only difficulty she has in breaking in is in doing so quietly.

But at length Caesius's prayers seem on their way to being answered as Violet disappears through the opening she has created ... and a few minutes later the front door opens, heralded by the soft creaks of planks once more being pried back and the faint scratching of bolts and lock.

Quietly Violet beckons to Qvar ...

Together the pair delve deeper into the building.  The well-furnished mansion shows considerable wear, though the holy symbols hung in every room draw attention from the soiled divans and ratty carpets.  Violet and Qvar swiftly locate Ireena in a parlor where she kneels besides a man's body in burgomaster's robes, lying in state.  She jumps to her feet as you approach, turning haunted eyes towards you as she snatches up the ornate blade that lies atop the corpse.

"Come no closer, fiends !  Leave my father's house ... leave and tell your master I shall never be his !"

"The house certainly has marvellous acoustics," Zertin observes. "It is very fortunate that we can hear the young lady’s voice so clearly from out here at the front door. I hope Q and V will be able to find out who this master is and where he is to be found. Although I dare say her brother can probably give us that information too. Would anyone care to wager whether this master is the nemesis that we have been drawn here to defeat?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Fri 28 Dec 2018.

Leaving his staff in the hall, Qvar stands in the doorway to the parlour.  His glow and Violet's pebble push back the gloom as he takes in the scene.  He holds out his hands, empty and non-threatening, and smiles warmly at Ireena to quell her terror.  "Ireena we've spoken with Ismark, he bade us come here to offer you our help.  I am Qvar, and this is Violet.  Ashlyn and other friends await outside.  We were not sent by this 'master' you fear.  Instead, I believe we're here by the will of Lathander to end this plague and destroy the one who has troubled you so.  Will you put down the sword and speak with us?  Or say the word and we will leave."

21:20, Today: Qvar rolled 27 using 1d20+11.  Diplomacy, calm down Ireena.

"Acoustics" is not a word that Caesius is familiar with, but he would guess, from context, that it refers to the fact that Ireena has a loud voice ... if, indeed, it is Ireena who calls out from within.

"If you want to wager on that, man, then you'll need to look elsewhere.  I too believe that this master is the source of the village's ills, and the cause of the horrors that we fought earlier."

The paladin pauses for a moment, then smiles slightly as he adds, "If you want to wager on which of us kills the cur, though, then that would be acceptable to me.  As long as my winnings are donated to the village in reparation."

"Ha, yes, that's an excellent idea! The wager, not the donation, of course. The winner would be free to do with their winnings as they see fit. How much do you care to wager? I would wager up to 100 gold although this signet ring and jewellery would have to be my stake as I do not carry that much in coin at present. I would even welcome others to join us in the wager; each pledging a similar stake with the winner to take all. Is anyone else interested?" Zertin asked Caesius and the others gathered outside the door.

"The precepts of my faith would have me take up that challenge," Ashlyn looks back to the mage, "yet after what I have seen here, the evil that has been turned against these townsfolk ... I fear I can not find within me any joy at such frivolties."

"Too rich for my blood," Randall shakes his head.  "An' even had I the coin, it would be folly to wager upon myself.  I know well my limitations.  I'll be glad just to survive the battles to come !"

The young woman does not relinquish her grip upon the blade ... but at Qvar's words she does at least lower the point so it threatens neither the priest nor Violet.

"If the plague yet rages in the streets of Barovia, then I'll not leave my father's house, no matter that my brother has begged you make me.  I will keep to my vigil o'er my father's body that his flesh remains uncorrupted until such time as I can give him proper burial, knowing that he'll not rise from his grave as one of those creatures !"

"Speak if you must, but I'll not be dissuaded."

OOC - Sorry for the loooong silence, Christmas is hectic.

IC-

The pebble is a marvel for Violet, and, worse, a distraction.  She turns it over and over again in her hand, amazed at its lack of heat.  There is no fear of corruption in her, staring into its light; Qvar has proven himself a man of God, whatever the name that god might hold.  This light is only another manifestation of the divine link, proof of his god's power in this land of Hell.

Finding an entry is simple enough.  Finding the woman and the body even moreso.  Once there, though, they quickly reach an impasse.  Relieved that the woman has lowered her blade - she is not, Violet can see, unfamiliar with its use - the once-street urchin considers the arguments.

Possibilities rise in her mind.

"Lord Qvar," she begins, her voice a touch raspy from lack of use.  "Is it not possible for you to bless this place against that evil?  Can you do something to ensure this man does not..."  Bile floods her throat for an instant, and Violet swallows.  "...not 'rise again'?"

Qvar smiles reassuringly as Ireena lowers the blade, then positively beams when Violet suggests he call upon Pelor's power to ward the house.  Addressing them both he replies earnestly "Ireena, your brother, Ismark, mentioned that the town cemetery is untouched by the undead creatures.  If you are ready, we will accompany you to bury your father's body there, in holy ground.  We are many, and have driven a hoard from the village earlier this night.  We can do this safely."

He gives Ireena a moment to consider then, nodding towards Violet, he continues.  "What Violet asks is also possible.  I can bless this house to ensure that your father does not rise this night, that you may rest knowing that he is safe and no evil will enter here.  I can do this now, then we will return after we have visited the church to find Ashlyn's companions.  We can speak again once you are rested.  Ireena, what would you have us do?"

"Excellent," Zertin responds cheerfully to his friends outside the house. "Of course we will ask Q and V if they want to join us in the wager too. The more the merrier, I say!"

"My brother is a drunkard and a fool," Ireena shakes her head at Qvar's assurance that the graveyard is untouched.  "Since the death of his son, Danovich no longer maintains the wards as once he did, so allowing evil to creep into our town, aye, even into the very heart of our faith !"

Violet's suggestion, however does give Ireena pause for consideration.  The priest and the young woman watch Ireena as she turns the offer over and over in her mind, trying to find a chink in it ... but eventually she gives her assent, a note of hope and gratitude in her voice, even to set aside the blade she holds so tight.

"If you can bless our home so that the evil cannot enter ... I would be grateful.  Though I fear you will find naught but your own deaths at the church."

The paladin turns away from the house, though he still keeps an ear cocked for soumds of trouble.  His eyes are directed to the street, and are never still as he watches for fell horrors such as those they had encountered earlier.

He does not doubt for one moment that whatever fiend had called those things up from their resting places still has the wherewithal to summon more of them.

While having naught but a twisted half-smile for Qvar's glance -- tension gnaws at the young woman -- Violet has to restrain herself from breaking into laughter at the woman's words.  'Death' awaits them?  Hell is Hell, and if they trade one for another, what of it?  "We'll manage," she murmurs, to herself as much as to the woman.

They must.

Still, relief floods her at the woman's choice.  They can all come inside.  Lord Qvar can bless this place.  They might even have respite...though that's unlikely.  Like as not, they'll just be that much further into danger, Voilet muses, following this horror story deeper into dread.  Such is the way of things here, the young woman fatalistically considers.

As long as she can assist...maybe it'll be enough for redemption.  Or a lessening of her sentence.

"Lord Qvar, should I get the others?" she inquires after a moment.

Qvar smiles in relief that Ireena will allow them to help.  Hearing Violet's question he in turn asks Irenea "With you permission?" then turns to Violet.  Again and again this young woman seeks to bring the light; a good soul.  "Violet, please ask my brother to bring holy water and powdered silver.  He's a wealthy man."  His grin suggests some arrangement between the brothers.

Kneeling beside the body of the burgomaster, he rests his hand upon the man's folded hands.  "Ireena, once the blessing is complete this house will be safe and you can rest.  We will not stay for we must seek Ashlyn's companions at the church.  However, we will call here again upon our return."  He is certain of this.  "For the blessing, is there a sacred place or sacred object within this house that may act as a focal point?"

At Violet's question to Qvar, the young woman looks up with concern, the prospect of a houseful of strangers intruding upon her grief more a trial to be endured than a glad gathering.   Yet for the sake of her father, endure it she will.

"No longer," she tells the priest wearily as he speaks of a sacred object.  "Before his death, my father wielded the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, a family heirloom and with it held off the forces of darkness ... but neither I nor my brother could make it work.  Yet even so it was precious to me ... until some thief crept in and took it, in the dead of night !"

"Then your father's body will be the focal point." Qvar smiles reassuringly at Ireena, his face betraying no hint of disappointment at the news of another stolen holy relic.  He rises and retrieves his staff, waiting in the hall for his brother to join him.

When the door is finally opened to allow them entry Zertin is soon at his brother's side and not at all surprised about the request for powdered silver and holy water. He swiftly retrieves a flask of holy water and a small sack holding 5 pounds of powdered silver from his backpack.

"That vow of poverty of yours is all very well, but it can be a proper nuisance to the rest of us sometimes! I only have two flasks of holy water and that's all the silver I brought with me, so use them sparingly until you have time to bless some more water yourself and grind up few hundred silver pieces."

Saeko remains outside, pacing across the porch, periodically pausing to glance inside the house but mostly watching away.

Qvar smiles and nods at his brother.  "Judiciously ..." he concedes.  Taking one flask and the sack he paces around the outside of the mansion, sprinkling holy water and powdered silver on the doorsteps and windowsills until the whole lot is gone.  "Just enough!" he informs Zertin, satisfied.

He returns inside and performs a brief ritual beside Kolyan's body "Sunfather, Morninglord, bless this house and all who shelter here.  Let no evil enter here." (casts Consecrate).  "Now rest." he advises Ireena.  "We will return tomorrow."

He goes outside and reports "Ireena Kolyana wishes to continue her vigil over her father's body.  She believes the church and cemetery are overrun with undead.  Shall we go and see?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:34, Sat 12 Jan 2019.

Caesius, like Saeko, remains outside, his gaze turned away from the house as he scans the approaches to the building.  He trusts Qvar, who is clearly a priest of Light and Right, and none of the others have yet proven themselves to be anything other than honorable.

For now the paladin is more concerned about what might be lurking in the darkness around the mansion.

He reaches out to Hammer, and feeds the horse a carrot, murmuring quiet words of encouragement as the animal chews up the treat.

The young woman's eyes flash at Zertin's bantering reply to his brother, anger and confusing warring within her, but she bows her head in gratitude and weariness as Qvar pronounces his blessing, seemingly as used to such miracles as Violet is not.

Saeko and Caesius search around the outside of the mansion, but despite the broken gates, it seems none of the unliving are currently anywhere near here, and unlikely to venture close with the priest's wards in place.

Ashlyn too joins that vigil, but is palpably relieved when Qvar pronounces the mansion secured and nods eagerly at his suggestion that you now move on to the church ...

You retrace your route back down the mist filled streets to the town square, suffering the glares and sneers of the Vistani as they are pressed into service alongside the other, more grateful dwellers of this benighted town to clear your way and temporarily open a path through the north west barricade.

Sounds of groaning and worse, blessedly faint reach your ears as you head past the tenements with doors and windows that are broken, boarded and lightless, slowing as you reach the intersection that lies perhaps a hundred feet south east of the church.

Ahead, a dead horse lays stinking in the street, its rotting entrails attracting a small troupe of zombies while nearby two of the beasts that resembled a cross between rat and wolf pad restlessly seemingly waiting their turn.

As you watch, three more creatures, more or less humanoid with mottled skin and decaying flesh drawn across  clearly visible bones appear from the adjacent buildings and head towards the zombies and their meal, by their manner fully intent upon fighting them for it.

Map of the proceedings updated ...

Saeko slows her walk, glancing at Zertin.  "Can you do another of those giant balls of fire?" she asks.  "What did you call it, again?"

"A fireball. No, unfortunately not. I can cast a lightning bolt if they will be obliging enough to line up to receive it, or three spells that fire a ray that will damage a single creature. Apart from those I have a scroll of the Web spell and my wand of magic missiles. I have already used most of my most potent spells," Zertin admitted.

"Shall we retreat and let them either fight it out among themselves or chase us back along the road, which might provide a slightly better target for that lightning bolt?"

OOC: Zertin rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge religion - identify type of undead.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Wed 16 Jan 2019.

"Undoubtedly a blessing!" Ashlyn retorts. "Given the closeness of these wooden buildings you might make a pyre of the whole town!"

"I'm not minded to suffer these fiends to blight these lands for a heartbeat longer than they must," she draws her blade meaningfully, looking to Caesius to her left and Qvar behind her.

"What say you?" she asks the paladin and priest, brow arched.

Qvar returns Ashlyn's gaze with a fierce smile of his own.  "This is what I'm here for."  His purpose in death.  "And shooting lightning bolts from his fingertips is what my brother is here for." he shoots a grin at Zertin.  "Perhaps we can set an ambush of our own.  I can cast a spell to make the undead ignore most of you, until you attack them, as if you were hidden in plain sight.  Then, if Zertin and I retreat some distance along the way we have just come, the undead may line up along this wall when they move to attack us - when I hail them.  At that point the rest of you can fall on them unseen."

He stares at the scene ahead.  A complex plan.  The wolf-rat creatures may not be undead, and may clearly see those 'hidden'.  And the ambush covers only the opening moment of the battle, after which anything can happen.  He looks thoughtfully at the others, waiting for them to decide, but determined nonetheless that this wrong must be put right.

Zertin shook his head at his brother's suggestion.

"No, Q, I am afraid that will not work. This street is too wide and will not channel them into a single file. If you four form your front line across the mouth of this street immediately before the intersection that will more surely put most of them in a straight line to fight you. I will climb up and over the building on the corner to place myself in line with them - I have a spell on a scroll that allows me to walk on walls as easily as a spider does, which will allow me a way to escape afterwards if I need to."

Zertin puts his hand into his backpack and pulls out a scroll without any hesitation at all.

"I'll do as you say Zed,"  Qvar grins at his brother, "just aim straight.  I wouldn't want the shock to start my heart beating again!"

He crosses to the southeast corner to stand beside Saeko (his power may be of little use against the rat-wolf creatures) and prepares a touch spell for when the undead arrive, his hand now glowing with golden light as well.

Caesius draws Razor and glares at the undead, marking one for his particular attention.  Steadying Hammer, he calls out, "Heironeous' hand guides my own!  I bear His sword, and His spirit burns bright within me!  Evil can not triumph while He fills me with His might!"

He steers Hammer to stand between the undead and his companions, awaiting a decision.  If his comrades-in-arms choose to fight, then he will urge the horse into battle.  If they choose to withdraw, then he will follow behind, and protect their backs.

All the talk of sorcery pulls Violet's stomach down, and a sickening, queasy feeling fills the young woman.  Making a pyre of the town?  Accidentally?  Small wonder it is the devil's work.  But Qvar seems ready to discuss tactics with Zertin over the magic, and Violet leaves him to it.  The holy man is no-doubt familiar with his own brother's magic.

Listening in on the continued discussion, she bites her lip, toes the ground for an instant, then sighs.  "If Zertin -" hard to say the man's name "- is going to climb the building, separate from us, best he not be alone.  I have some skill with such thing, and could watch his back."  She winces slightly as the knight's boisterous voice fills the air, concerned it may bring the un-dead down upon more early than expected...but at least his words hold the hope of light, despite the curious name of his heathen god.

In Hell, she supposes, one can't be too choosey with one's choices of allies.  Light, it seems, is light.

The decision is swiftly made.  Following Zertin's suggestion you edge forwards, forming a line across the end of the alleyway around the mounted Caesius while the wizard reads his scroll then nonchalantly scurries up the side of the nearest building, shadowed, if somewhat reluctantly and more carefully by Violet.

The ghasts, so Zertin named them after a moment of quick study, are the first to realise your presence, the evil creatures much preferring the taste of living flesh to that of rotting meat, their slow, purposeful advance turning into a headlong rush as they race past the zombies to lash out with tooth and claw, but mercifully you are able to hold against their charge and fend them off.

Though slower to react, the zombies lurch forwards in the wake of the ghasts, one finding an opening through which it launches a fist towards Hammer, though the Paladin's blade, lacking the reach to seriously threaten it, at least keeps it at bay, while its fellows clamber behind it, eager to feed.

The two wolf-rat creatures scurry along the street, but these are intent upon the easy meal of the rotten carcass, ignoring you for the moment.

Having absorbed the brunt of the creatures' assault, now you strike back.  Reaching out his hand, Qvar places his palm on the chest of the ghast before him the touch burning it and calling it to hiss and howl in pain.  At his side, Saeko weaves a pattern with her blades as they bite deep into the ghast's flesh, dropping it on the final cut.

Caesius urges Hammer forwards and the big horse responds instantly, rearing up to lash at a zombie with both hooves, scoring solid strikes with bones cracking beneath the force of the blows.  Ashlyn swings her blade with vigour, but the blow she lands upon the ghoul is but a glancing one.

Meantime Zertin and Violet have gained the roof of the corner building and start to make their way across the slope.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"This fight will be practically over before I can get in position to cast that spell! A slight change of plan seems in order," Zertin whispers to Violet.

He points his wand at the ghast in front of Ashlyn and speaks the command word to send a string of five orange-glowing missiles to slam into it. Then he walks diagonally across the roof to stand at the edge above the door and peers down to see how the battle progresses.

OOC: Zertin rolled 17 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile damage.

Trusting both Caesius and Qvar in their different ways, Saeko twirls her blades and strikes out to both sides, slashing the ghoul and the zombie still before her.

"So, you don't need them lined up, Zed?" Qvar responds to the change of plan; he grasps the wooden symbol of Pelor dangling at his waist and shows it to the undead creatures.  "Pelor sees you - begone!"

19:08, Today: Qvar rolled 8 using 3d6.  bonus real damage on undead turned.
19:08, Today: Qvar rolled 20 using 3d6+10.  'turning damage' HD of undead turned.
19:04, Today: Qvar rolled 19 using 1d20+7.  turn undead.

The Paladin of Lythander asked for this battle, and does not shy away from it now battle is joined.  Against such creatures she might call upon her god to drive them before her ... but such a blessing seems scarcely worth it for these few, and so she continues to swing her blade at those who stray within reach of it's sharp edge.

"Come on, you fiends !" Ashlyn calls out a challenge.  "Who amongst you will be next to be banished to the hells from which you sprung !"

Grimacing, Violet shrugs agreement to Zertin's change of plans; it seems she has little choice, in any case, as the mage has already loosed some of his infernal magics upon their enemies.  Teeth gritting, the young woman nocks her own attack - a mundane arrow, the best she can afford.

For a brief instant, Violet wishes she had some kind of sorcery she could call upon her foes.

That's probably how it gets you, she considers on the draw, sighting on one of the creatures in the second rank.  Need.  Or jealousy.  Something like that...and then you're caught.

Loose.

All the while, she keeps her eyes open for fiends moving up behind herself and the mage; horrific his powers might be, she wishes no harm upon him.

OOC - Arrow scores a 19 (I think bows have a crit range of 20, more's the pity).  Damage is 8.  All that is as good as it gets without sneak or crit.  :)

Caesius pushes Hammer forward, using Razor to fend off attacks from the undead, even as the heavy horse lashes out with its hooves again.

Thinking quickly, Zertin looses a volley of glowing balls of energy at the ghast that menances Ashlyn, causing it to hiss with pain, though it still stands firm.  Hurrying to the edge of the roof, the mage surveys the battle below, looking for what advantage he can find, while Violet watches his back, alert for the sign of anything that might have followed them to the rooftop.

With her blades whirling almost faster than the eye can follow, Saeko strikes out at the zombie to one side of her, though barely scratching it, and the ghast to the other, doing substantially more damage as the edge bites twice, deep into the creature's flesh.

Alerted that his brother's plans have changed, Qvar calls upon Pelor's aid to drive the undead away ... and so powerful is the wave of divine energy that the priest channels that the two remaining ghouls burst into flames on the spot, though the two zombies are made of sterner stuff and try to flee lest they too be consumed.

But they do not escape unharmed.  Ashlyn's and Saeko's blades cut deep as the creatures race off, one heading north east, the other north west, both quickly vanishing from sight in the cold and swirling mists.

The last zombie is not affected by Qvar's display of his faith and seems unperturbed that his fellow undead have either fled or been destroyed utterly.  But as it shuffles forwards it is met by two powerful blows from Hammer's hooves and Violet's arrow whistles down from the roof above to slam into the creature's chest, the young woman glad of an honest means of joining this fight. 

Shrugging off those attacks, the zombie swings a powerful blow at Caesius's mount, by far the largest target, though the Paladin is easily able to haul Hammer away from harm.

The two carcass eaters do not appear to be made of such stern stuff ... the pair continue to rip and tear at the carcass, though with a careful eye on you, ready to run off should you advance towards them ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Zertin smiles over his shoulder at Violet and nods in approval of her archery. He points his wand at one of the scavenger beats devouring the dead horse and speaks the command word to send another string of five glowing missiles to strike the creature. He remains where he is at the edge of the roof, taking advantage of the elevated vantage point.

OOC: Zertin rolled 16 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile damage.

"Was anyone hurt?"  Qvar has a look along the line.  He stays put and watches the rat-wolf creatures.  "What are they?"

Frustrated that two of the undead have escaped her, Ashlyn's voice rings out in the mist-shrouded streets as she call on Lathander to smite the remaining creature, swinging her sword with all the strength she can muster.

"Lord of Light, let this vermin quail before your radiance !"

Nocking an arrow, Violet holds for the moment, instead choosing to stand tall upon her perch and sweep the area with her eyes.  Zertin's sorcery, appalling as it might be, clearly is superior to her arrows by far; better to use her eyes than toss pointy bits of wood at the Un-dead, the young woman considers.  It seems many of their enemies have been driven off, either by sorcery, divine radiance, or the swift and deadly blades of the others...but that doesn't mean that other horrors do not lurk in the foggy streets, even now closing in.

Better, Violet considers, to check.


OOC - Going for a spot check.  Dice roller hates me, what a surprise.  12.  :D

Drawing back on the reins, Caesius encourages Hammer to rear again, and the horse's iron-shod hooves drop towards the undead creature like the mount's namesake...

Zertin's missiles of magic energy rain down from above, slaying one of the wolf-rat creatures instantly, and causing the other to abandon its meal and flee down the north -west way, as Qvar watches it, quizzically, until it disappears into the mists. 

Not does the remaining zombie stand long ... Ashlyn slashes at the creature with her blade which cuts deep, empowered by the Light of Lathander, only to step back as, urged on by Caesius, Hammer's hooves slam down into it, finally felling it.

Saeko stands for a moment with her blades at the ready ... only to lower them once she is sure the creature is finished.

From her vantage point above, Violet scans the quietening streets as the disrupted mist begins to inch forward again, to cloak the town in a blanket of hopelessness.  Though the young woman holds her bow at the ready that she might loose an arrow at any sign of trouble, thankfully there seems no more dangers near at hand.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Zertin studies the mist-shrouded townscape for a moment longer then calmly turns to Violet.

"May I offer you a hand to descend, my dear?" he asks her.

Pointing his blade after the fleeing wolf-rat, Caesius ponders its flight, or, rather, its choice of path.

"Do you suppose," he wonders, "that it's heading for home?  Or, perhaps, back to the one who sent it?"

"It might be worth taking a look over that way, when we get time."

All the enemies are accounted for.  The dead, again, no longer move.  Her...associates?  Are uninjured.  Violet heaves a heavy sigh of relief, though she lets it out quietly, through clenched teeth.  Force of habit, indeed.

Zertin offers.

The young woman studies the hand for a surprisingly short time.  "I think," she quietly states, "it might be the other way around."  This said without edge or rancour.  "Let me know if you need help, Sir Zertin."  It's a genuine answer, empty of sarcasm or grudge.  The sorcerer terrifies her, but for the moment he battles alongside herself and those below, and Violet strongly doubts her soul would be imperiled through a touch of the hand.

Also, is she not already in Hell?

And it's possible, she muses, navigating her way from the roof with deft ability, that he is a good man, that he simply believes what he is doing is right.  That he has learned magic without realizing how it damns him.  Qvar, most certainly, would have picked up the wiff of the infernal about his brother, wouldn't he?

Wouldn't he?

Reaching the street, she glances up to check upon the sorcerer.  "Are you managing?"

Zertin just smiles and simply walks down the side of the building as though it was the natural thing to do.

"Yes, thank you, my dear. The Spider Climb spell will end soon but not just yet."

Qvar chuckles at the pair coming down from the roof, but takes a serious tone in reply to Caesius, "Yes, I agree, later.  But now we should visit the church and find Ashlyn's friends."  He sets off once again in that direction, scanning the mist hopefully for any hint of dawn.

Randal was glad indeed that others rushed to the fore, leaving him to guard the rear, the moreso that none of the undead came at you from behind.  Yet he too shares Violet's misgivings, his lips pursing in silent disapproval as Zertin descends from the rooftops in so unnatural a manner, though like the young woman he keeps his fears to himself.

As luck would have it, the very path down which the wolf-rats fled is the same that should lead you to the church ... but though Caesius keeps an eye out as you traverse the mist-shrouded streets, he sees no sign as to where the beasts might make their den.  The damp-slick cobbles begin to rise, if slightly, but you cover perhaps only a hundred or so feet before you arrive at the church, a grey, sagging edifice of stone and wood.

Light flickers through holes burned through the roof shingles and the sounds of hoarse chanting is just audible from within.

"Perhaps I should climb up on the church roof, too," Zertin suggests. "The Spider Climb spell is still active. I could have a look in through the holes in the roof to see what we face in there before we all just rush in?"

"Yes, that's the real reason I sent for you Zed, to peep into churches through the gaping holes in their roofs."  Qvar grins at his brother.  "Up you go then.  And see if you can see the sunrise from up there, would you please?"

"We should move closer, so that we're ready to help if Zed needs us."  He walks warily towards the church with Zertin.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Thu 28 Feb 2019.

Caesius also moves closer to the church, striving to hear the chanting more clearly.  He pats the side of Hammer's neck with his free hand.

"It seems," he remarks, "that the church has seen better days.  I'd suggest that, if you can't get a clear view of the interior, you come down directly.  Don't try to enter from the roof, magic or not."

The chanting grows louder to your ears as you approach the church along the gravel path (there is more than enough room for Hammer ... indeed the double doors are wide enough and tall enough to allow the horse entry to the building, though the Paladin might have to duck his head as his mount passed beneath the lintel).

For now, though you settle for listening, Qvar and Caesius close enough to determine that the cadence suggests it is a prayer being pronounced, though the words are still unclear (and for all Hammer is quiet, his steady breathing does not aid your efforts).

With the spell he cast still in effect, and despite the instinctive reactions from Ashlyn and Randal, Zertin walks up the side of the building, quietly crossing the roof to peer through one of the holes through which the light shines.

Zertin is all too well aware that he lacks the natural stealthiness to be an effective scout so he doesn't try to do any more than a quick look through the first opening in the roof that he comes to. He only watches for a short while before walking back down the side of the church.

"The place is a shambles," he reports. "Benches broken and overturned all over the place. The altar looks like it is badly scarred with claw marks but still has a few candles providing dim illumination at the northern end of the church. But there is a gaping hole in the rotten floorboards just this side of the altar. I don't know if that hole is for something to go into or come out of, but I suspect that might be where at least some of these undead have come from. That chanting, well, there is a hoarse voice coming from behind the altar but it just sounds like nonsense to me rather than what a proper prayer should sound like. I didn't see anyone out in the open in there, so no reason not to venture inside if we are still so determined."

Violet struggles with nausea as Zertin continues to scurry around the walls as if they were flat, level ground.  Throwing of energies disturbed, upset her greatly; one couldn't say she had grown accustomed to it by any stretch.  But this?  It seemed the height of unnatural to her, watching a man walk along a flat surface at right angles to the road: a violation of the natural order of the highest degree.

Pursing her lips, she slips up to the door of the devastated church and carefully, silently, checks to see if it might easily be opened.  Locked?  Barred?

"If the hole is a source of the filth, or a refuge for it, then I would say that gives us even more reason to enter the church." Caesius says without looking at Zertin.  Instead his gaze is fixed on the church.

"Heironeous would not have me do aught else."

Qvar had hoped that Lathander's church would have provided a sanctuary against the evil plague afflicting the village, but Zertin's description confirms what others have said, there is no aid to be found here.  He glances once more at the sunless sky and considers for a moment that they may truely be alone in this grim world.  "The Sun is there," he reassures himself, "just beyond the mist."  He smiles at his companions, buoyed by their courage, settles his wavering glow and adds his own formal declaration to Caesius's "As would I in Pelor's name."

Qvar follows Violet, lighting the door softly so that she can see to work.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:35, Sat 09 Mar 2019.

Setting aside her disquiet, and having listened to Zertin's thorough recounting of what he saw from his perch above, Violet draws closer to the church door. Qvar remains undaunted and joins her, allowing his radiance to illuminate the portal for her.

As the young woman searches for a keyhole and probes the gap with a dagger, checking for bolt or bar, Caesius stares sternly at the door, through it ...

Zertin beckons the others to come forward with him as he follows V and Q to stop about 20 feet away from the door, ready to lend any assistance required when the doors open.

Caesius dismounts and draws Razor.  "This church reeks of evil.  Something waits beyond the doors, but the greater foulness is further within."

Adopting a two-handed grip on the weapon, he moves forward to stand with the others, taking up a position ahead of Zertin, but not in his line of sight.

Stepping back from the door, Violet offers Qvar a nod and quick, nervous smile.  When she speaks, it is quiet.  "Easy enough to open; neither lock, nor bar."  She shrugs.  "Nor oiled hinges; we won't surprise those within."

Her lips twist for a moment.  "I know nothing of this...Morninglord," she confesses.  "But Abel wouldn't want the devil within his church.  I guess it's much the same, here."  The young woman waves toward the roof.  "If you like, I can see if there's a hole up top, try to get a sight on their...um...high priest -" or whatever such a man or woman is named "- and feather them before everyone charges in."

"Whoever was chanting was behind the altar. I couldn't see him from the hole I looked through, but I didn't see whatever the evil is that Caesius detects behind the door, either. Perhaps you would have better luck from another hole in the roof. I could come with you, to add my wand's magical bolts, although I am not all that good at moving about quietly," Zertin replied.

"I've always relied on help from above."  Qvar smiles at Violet.  "I have never heard of Abel, but from your description he sounds decent."  He touches her sleeve and incants "Pelor, and Abel, watch over you."

"Watch your step up there Zed," he grins at his brother, "if you fall through it won't be like jumping into a grain wagon."

While waiting for everyone to take their positions, Qvar casts Detect Magic and stares at the door, even trying to peek through the crack as his eyes see quite well in the dark.

Zertin grins back at his brother.

"That was fun, wasn't it, Q? You know what, though? I often had a dream there was a great hole in that bridge and no grain wagon beneath to fall into. Don't worry, we'll be careful, won't we V?"

Saeko, in the meanwhile, nods to Violet.  "It would be well to have you there," she notes, "to keep watch also in case our activity here draws more from out there," she gestures back towards the town.  "Sometimes the Breathless call to each other in ways we cannot hear."

Bemused, Violet harkens to the back-and-forth between the two very different brothers, then starts slightly as Qvar touches her sleeve.  With no real idea of what just happened, she turns back toward Zertin.  "If you wish to watch from above," she carefully states, "I shall certainly not gainsay you."  Sucking in a breath, she glances back at the priest, then returns her gaze to the mage. "Your...magic is most fearsome."

True enough, and the most she can manage for appreciation at the moment.

"I only ask that you keep back from any hole until the battle begins," she quietly suggests.  "I would not have a noise giving the game away."

Surprised at Lady Saeko's approbation, Violet twitches a small bow in return.  "I will make certain of that, Lady Saeko," she whispers in reply.  A glance at Zertin, then she moves to the wall of the church, seeking a way to the roof.  Silently.

Zertin smiles at Violet and walks back up the wall to the roof. He looks like he is definitely making an effort to move as quietly as he can this time.

OOC: Zertin rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Move quietly.

With a glance at Zertin, Caesius smiles as the man starts to walk up the wall.  Where he comes from, magic is well known (if not always well understood), and the paladin has seen more astounding things.

Then he moves to stand before the door, speaking quietly.

"Lord of Battles, grant me the strength to triumph this day, and bring more glory to Your name."

After a brief discussion, and with Qvar's blessing upon her, and mindful of Saeko's warning Violet takes to the roof, climbing the wall quickly and easily ... followed not so closely by Zertin, the wizard's feet still guided by the magic that lets him walk up the wall as easily as he might stride down the street.

Caesius takes up position in front of the door, the priest at his side, stooping to peer through a crack, as the young woman steps lithely over the roof shingles, glancing through the holes in the roof until she finds one that provides the best view of the interior.  Zertin hangs further back, trying to find another hole that might serve his purposes, hampered by his attempts to move quietly. 

For long moments you wait, Caesius giving quiet voice to a prayer of supplication to his god ... before Ashlyn's patience wears too thin.  Fearful for the fate of her companions, and eager to engage the evil that the Paladin has felt within the church, she pushes past Qvar and shoves the doors open wide, grunting at the effort.

Before you lies a short passage, with doors on either side that hang from broken hinges, opening out into the main area of worship ... though it is a shambles, with overturned and broken benches littering the dusty floor.  A claw-scarred altar broods at the north end, topped with guttering candles that provide what light there is within, directly in front of a gaping hole in the rotten floorboards.

The hoarse voice chanting the nonsense prayer suddenly halts as a wild-haired man scrambles to his feet behind the altar, clad in plate armour, though the tabard that covers it is now little more than a filthy rag, his eyes burning with the taint of madness. 

"You will not take my son from me !" he screams, shaking a fist that clutches a roll of parchment.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar will follow Caesius and Ashlyn when they enter.  He readies his staff to arm himself in case of ambush by an undead attacker. His eyes see well in darkness and he peers into the dusty corners seeking hidden enemies or persons answering the description of Ashlyn's friends, then his gaze is drawn back to the crazed figure behind the altar.

"This must be Danovich, the priest of Lathander.  I can't say whether he has 'turned' or been driven mad. he glances at Caesius to enquire whether the paladin's senses can confirm either way.  "If he is still human, I may be able to help him."   He continues to concentrate on Detect Magic. "There are some magical items beyond the altar, nothing too strong... I'll know more soon."

Zertin waits quietly beside the hole in the roof as he watches and listens to what is happening in the temple below. He holds his favourite wand ready to use when required.

Nocking an arrow, Violet prepares to loose.  But she holds her place; there is, she feels, something more occurring here than 'simple' darkness.  Better to wait, to let saner heads prevail than herself, to make the decision to attack or speak.

Until that point, she stands ready, arrow aimed and on the verge of loosed.

Zertin, she struggles to ignore.  Not that Qvar's brother SHOULD be ignored, but that his presence upsets her, drives her focus to ruin.  Better that she manage to keep his presence here at bay, to relegate it to a distant place, allowing her to relax.  To prepare.  To ready herself to release the arrow and perhaps take the life of a man.

A difficult choice under any circumstance.  In hell?  Twice as hard, knowing full-well what has placed her here.

Caesius does not spare a glance for Qvar for the moment, being more concerned with what lays to either side of the passage.  His guess would be that the foulness he detected to each side of the entrance is beyond those two doorways.

Still, he can't let a challenge go unanswered...

He calls out to the crazed priest, "We aren't here to take your son, Lightbringer.  This I promise.  We are merely seeking friends who may have come here."

Those on the roof above as well as those now standing before the open doors watch and wait ...

Qvar and Caesius both cast their gazes around the area, their eyes unfocused as they reach out with senses other than sight. 

The Paladin's words give the mad priest no comfort, for already he lowers his gaze to the scroll in his hand, beginning to read, the words he forms unholy and profane, the broken doors crashing down as, if if spurred on by the sound, shadowy creatures emerge from the darkness beyond, three of them shown by the dim light to be more of the shambling, infected corpses that roam the streets of this benighted town, the last a skeletally thin creature, its cadaverous eyes sizzling with cursed power and deadly spells dancing on its fingertips as it raises its hand towards you.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar quietly tells what his unfocussed eyes have seen, "Danovich's armour and shield are enchanted, as is the scroll, clearly."  His eyes regain their focus when the walking dead suddenly appear on the doorstep.  "The angry looking one at the back is a 'deathlock', like the one in the alley that paralysed Arafarafarfa earlier this evening."

Considering how he might be of use, he calmly watches the scene unfold for a moment before deciding what to do...

Zertin wastes no time when the undead suddenly emerge. He seizes the chance while it lasts and speaks the words of an incantation to shoot a fiery ray down at the thing that Qvar called a deathlock.

Then he walks 20ft west across the roof to the next hole, to see if it offers a better view of the welcoming committee in the temple below.

Zertin rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Ranged touch - scorching ray.
Zertin rolled 18 using 4d6.  Scorching ray damage.

Caesius clutches the holy symbol of Heironeous that is suspended around his neck, brandishes it towards the undead, and calls out, "You do not belong here, Spawn of Foulness!  Begone!"

Lips thin, Violet draws her bow.  Her hands shake at the thought of releasing it, for she has one target only, here: the man.  But the steady flow of vile words spilling from this priest's mouth erodes her reluctance to loose.  The sounds in the room, the shouts of her comrades, the spitting, seething sound of Zertin's sorcery spiking the air...things have gone poorly, it seems.  There is no more choice.

A breath, and her fingers settle.  The feathers almost reach her shoulders.  Sighting carefully, she looses.

The arrow lances out, almost a straight path at this distance.

OOC: Attack 21, Damage 5.  If in range for sneak attack - I think maybe, not sure - and still qualifying, damage rises to 17.

Qvar watches impassively as Violet's arrow speeds towards Danovich.  Perhaps he can't be saved after all.  Caesius' words echo his own thoughts, and he adds his own "By the light of the Sun." to the condemnation of the unholy creatures lurking in the house of the Morninglord.

He steps up to the right of the door and prepares a spell, calling Pelor's power to his right hand ready to strike an undead if it moves within reach.

In the face of the approaching undead, Qvar remains calm, quietly recounting to the rest of you what his senses have told him, even as he continues to look around for any advantage that you might make use of. 

On the roof, Zertin is much more impetuous.  A fiery ray springs from the wizards hand to strike the Deathlock which falls to the ground, engulfed in flames.

At the fore, Caesius holds forth the token of his god, calling on them to flee. At the sight of the symbol the two nearest zombies immediately turn away, shuffling towards the rear of the church, skirting the hole before the altar where the mad priest continues to read from the scroll, the shadows deepening.

Above him, Violet hesitates but a moment before steadying herself and releasing her arrow, the shaft flying through the air to pierce the priest's exposed neck.  His foul litany cuts off abruptly as he clutches his hand to his neck, the crumbling parchment falling from his fingers as he staggers out from behind the altar and jumps down into the hole, vanishing into the darkness ...

With the chanting silenced, suddenly it seems a little lighter within.

As Saeko and Randal look to the rear, wary that the sounds of battle might attract more of the undead that haunt this town, Ashlyn rushes forwards, calling on Lathander's aid, landing a solid strike with her sword and easily ducking underneath the creature's clumsy fist.

With a prayer to Pelor on his lips, Qvar stands ready, his hand glowing with holy energies, while Zertin strides across the roof, eager to find a better vantage from which to strike at the undead, but as he nears the hole, a large section of roof gives way, falling through the hole below, leaving the Wizard teetering on the brink  ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Zertin seems to react just in time to scramble away southward down the slope of the roof as the central section caves in right behind him!

"Thank you, Louise! If you hadn't felt that giving way we would be down in that pit by now," he says softly, patting his chest.

He cautiously inches closer to the hole in the roof so he can see down into that pit but is extremely wary of the condition of the roof. He tests each section with his foot before putting weight on it and sticks to the sections that seem to be still supported by solid beams. If it doesn't feel safe he won't risk it.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:59, Sun 14 Apr 2019.

Moving inward, Caesius takes a moment to prod the burning corpse with Razor's tip.  Then he raises the blade high, saying, "Heironeous guide my blade!", before bringing it down, two-handed, on the creature's neck. 

"Can't hurt to be certain." he remarks, looking towards the inner room...

Sick at heart, Violet nonetheless shifts slightly for a better look down into the room.  Her target -- thankfully -- has vanished, but more present themselves.  And these are more palatable, so to speak.  Without hesitation, she draws...and glances toward Zertin with some concern as he nearly falls.

No, the sorcerer catches himself, and she returns her attention to the battle.  One of the Undying catches her gaze, and immediately the young woman draws again and looses.  The small arrow drives home...though to what end, she has no idea.

OOC -- Attack roll 26 (I forgot a + last attack), damage 5.

This message was deleted by the player at 22:48, Wed 17 Apr 2019.

Danovich's fall settles one question, but raises another.  "Whats in the pit?"  Qvar marks where the crumpled parchment fell.  The lessening of the gloom within the church is a welcome sign and he looks up towards the ceiling to catch Violet's eye, giving a solemn nod of approval if he can see her.

The collapsing roof makes him gasp, "Zed?!"  He would hold his breath if he had any, but grins his relief when his brother's face is seen again.  The falling timber and slate are sure to have finished Danovich, and perhaps have buried whatever else was down there.

He moves in behind Caesius and Ashlyn, holding his glowing hand ready to strike at any undead he should find a way to reach.  He looks into the rooms to left and right of the passage for any sign of Ashlyn's friends. 

"I don't think it'll come back from that!" He has to admire the paladin's thoroughness.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Wed 17 Apr 2019.

At the sound of the crumbling architecture, Saeko nods to Randal.  "Keep watch," she directs, spinning to walk inside.  She looks approvingly at the fallen undead, and then pauses, tilting her head.

Luck is with Zertin, if in the form of the almost preternatural senses of his pet weasel, and he manages to scrabble to safety as the roof collapses beneath his feet.  Undaunted, the Wizard attempts to make his way back to the now much wider opening, though this time with more care as he tests the rotten beams before committing his weight.

Her worries at least somewhat relieved, Violet fits another arrow to her bow, having no qualms about targeting the two undead as they shamble into her field of view, sticking one of them with an arrow as the pair continue their retreat, fetching up against the north wall of the church.

Down below, Caesius, Qvar and Saeko enter the building.

The Paladin's attention is on the burning Deathlock ... though it does not react to the thrust of his blade, Caesius is not satisfied until he hacks the thing's head from its body. 

Behind him, the Priest of Pelor looks up, pleased to see both Violet and Zertin still safe after the collapse of the roof, then peers into the two side rooms, either side of the hall.

With a favourable glance at the handiwork of Zertin and Caesius, Saeko stills herself as she tries to make sense of what noises she can hear. 

Ashlyn's attention, however remains upon the one zombie who did not flee.  Once more she swings her blade ... though has to check the blow as she finds the edge of her blade coming dangerously close to Caesius, leaving her open to the undead's pustulent fist which slams into the side of her helmet, leaving her head ringing and her guard down ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar's attention is captured by something in the room on the east side. "A trapdoor."  He enters the room, following the well-trodden path between the piles of debris, and tries his arm at lifting the trapdoor.

Zertin points his wand down toward the hole in the roof and speaks the command word to send a string of five orange glowing missiles at the same fleeing zombie that Violet shot with her bow.

"This really is no longer the wonderful vantage point we were hoping for. Shall we make our way back down, V?" he suggests.

OOC: Zertin rolled 14 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile at turned zombie.

With one undead horror burning and beheaded, and two fled, Caesius turns his attention to the remaining one.  Razor's tip rises from the ground, slashing on an upward diagonal across the things body, before reversing direction and falling again...

Granted a moment to recover by the grace of Lathander and the blade of Caesius,. the armoured woman rejoins the battle, hacking at the undead that remains, albeit with more enthusiasm than skill, for she is still reeling from its blow.

V?

Blinking at the diminutive -- and at the effect, or lack thereof, her arrows have upon the Undyng -- Violet takes half-a-heartbeat to consider the situation.  Two of the Undying remain below, perhaps, and certainly her associates are doughty enough.  Consideration leads to agreement; regardless of Zertin's practices, and the shortening of her nane, his logic is sound.  "Probably a good idea," she murmurs, pitching it loudly enough for the sorcerer to hear, no more.

Head turning left and right, she searches for a way down.

The collapse of the roof provides many such.  "Magic," she begins, nearly stutters on the word, then continues, "Magic or no, clearly one needs to look before walking."  Her foot taps the wood beneath her, but while her words might seem cutting, her tone is less-sharp and more concerned.  "Edges of holes often crumble."  Reaching that self-same edge -- carefully, carefully! -- she hunts for a safe grip close enough to some way of clambering down.

OOC - Violet will find a way down into the ruined church.  :)  Easy choice for an action.

Zertin reaches back over his shoulder to his backpack and pulls out a coil of silk rope. He holds it out in Violet's direction and shrugs expressively. As he is on the far side of the hole in the roof he cannot simply pass it to her.

"I can hold it for you to climb down, if you wish," he offers.

Trusting that his companions can vanquish the remaining undead, Qvar enters the side room, picking his way through the debris to the trapdoor in the corner which he hauls open to reveal a set of rickety wooden stairs leading down, his nose wrinkling at the foul odours that rise up, something more than just natural rot and dankness.

On the roof, Zertin launches another volley of missiles at the zombie below, wounding it, but not slaying it.

Though the priest's confidence might be somewhat misplaced, for though both Caesius and Ashlyn strike powerful blows, the creature seems to barely feel the cuts and slashes inflicted by their blades ... most certainly their best efforts do not prevent it from slamming its fist into the armoured woman's shoulder.

Behind the pair, Saeko bites down on her frustration, unable to reach the foe ...

... while up above, Violet feels much the same as her bow proves less effective against the undead than against the mad priest.  However she at least has other if riskier options.  Making her way to the edge of the hole, the young woman ignores the rope that the wizard offers, instead wrapping her hands around a beam and quickly dropping down to land besides the hole in the floor, the planks giving but holding up beneath her.

Danovich's shouts can be heard from below.

"Yes !  Rise up !  Rise up, my beautiful boy !"

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar peers down into the space below, trying to discern the source of the stench before he decides whether to go down.  His right hand still holds the glowing charge of the cure spell he cast earlier.

Already too far into the danger area, Violet glances back at Zertin, offers him a pained smile and a shrug, and disappears down the into the church (or what remains of it).  Landing softly, she immediately scurries for cover, hunting for a place to hide.  Likely imnpossible...but what do you do?

She needs to find the priest, complete the terrible duty she began.  Hopefully the sorcerer, above, can keep the two undead in the church's corner occupied with his nauseating blasts from the reed he holds in his hand.

OOC - Violet will, if possible, 'hide'; regardless, she will move to where the priests shouts are coming from, and see if she can spot him.

Zertin glances at the pair of cowering zombies at the back of the church but shakes his head in irritation. They are not an immediate threat. The mad priest's words were much more unsettling. Zertin lay on the roof and peeked down through the large hole in the roof that he had accidentally caused and looked down into the depths of the pit beneath the floor of the church. If it is too dark to see what is happening down there he casts a simple cantrip to conjure what looks like a quartet of glowing lanterns hovering in mid-air. The four lanterns swiftly descend into the pit to illuminate the scene below.

OOC: He casts Dancing Lights.

Pressing forward, Caesius continues to hack at the zombie with Razor, his voice rising in a triumphant passage from the Book of Hernad.

<i>"I serve the Lord of Right, and Darkness shall not stand in my path.  His Hand guides mine own.  My blade is His, and does His will.  His voice sings in mine ears, and tells me that I cannot fall while He supports me.  I am the instrument of Heironeous.  I walk a path of His choosing, and I am unstoppable!"</i>

Qvar sniffs suspiciously at the foul airs from below as he peers down the stairway. 

Caesius and Ashyln continue to ply their blades against the singular zombie still facing them, but whatever foul magics animate these creatures lends it a most unnatural strength, beyond even the mindless husks that are sadly all but commonplace elsewhere.  Ashlyn's sword meets only empty air, while Caesius's finds the more not once but twice, yet despite the Paladin's blessed litany still does little more than minor harm to the undead's rotted flesh.  The armoured woman's luck and moreso the platemail she wear holds, however, and she is able to shrug off a glancing blow aimed her way.

With a quick glance up to Zertin now prostrate on the roof above her, Violet bravely elects to chase after the mad priest, jumping down into the darkness below.  Though it is further than she'd expected, the young woman still manages to land lightly on her feet.  Luck is certainly on her side, for the darkness conceals her, though in the dim light from above she can just make out the priest standing ten feet or so away ...

With a gesture and some muttered arcane phrases, the wizard summons a cluster of glowing lights which he directs down into the hole where they provide more than sufficient illumination for Violet to see and be seen.

The mad priest's voice rings out once more.

"There ! There is one of those who would take you from me !  Slay her, my son !"

Something awful groans ...



OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Frustration be damned, Saeko slides between Ashlyn and Caesius and dives past the zombie, rolling briefly over the floor and then jumping into the pit after Violet.

"Bah!" Zertin exclaims in frustration from his useless vantage point on the roof.

He sits on the edge of the hole in the roof, making sure he is supported by a solid beam, then awkwardly hooks his legs through the hole in the roof so his feet rest solidly on the beam then swings himself through the hole so he is standing upside down on the underside of that roof beam.

At last able to see the zombie that has so far thwarted Ashlyn and Caesius he points his wand at the zombie and speaks the command word that sends another string of five magic missiles to blast the unholy creature.

OOC: Zertin rolled 17 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile damage on zombie.

Cloaked in darkness, Violet breathes a small sigh of relief.  The exhalation becomes a curse when the sorcerer's accursed demon-lamps illuminate the pit in which she finds herself.  "Abel's blood!"  A vague thought flits through her desperate mind: she needs to have a talk with the sorcerer, regarding his help, her tactics, that sort of thing.  But now?  Nothing to do but...

...gape at the apparition before her, apparantly.

Letting out a shriek of pure horror, she backs up as quickly as possible, glancing up.  No leaving that way, sadly, not before this monstrosity is upon her.  "Black Sun," she gasps, fitting an arrow to her bow.  "Here?"  It's futile; she's dead, or what passes for dead in Hell, and knows it.

Then the Lady Saeko falls from above, an armored angel ready to vent its fury on the un-dying.

"Yes!"  Heartened, Violet switches targets instantly, loosing her arrow at the priest.  Sadly, she hurries her shot and to her dismay, the shaft flies wide.

Far wide.


OOC - If she can, Violet will, as noted, loose at the priest.

*looks at dice roll*

nvmd  :(
This message was last edited by the player at 09:28, Tue 14 May 2019.

Alone and following his nose, Qvar descends the stairs ...

The paladin of Heironeous pushes forward, even as a bolt of brilliant energy spirals down to strike at his foe.  He continues to hew at the creature, almost as if he were a woodsman striving to fell some deep forest oak.

"In Heironeous' name I command you to die again, vile spawn of Darkness!"

Swinging down from the roof to hang from the rafters, Zertin looses another volley of magical missiles at the zombie that Caesius and Ashlyn face.  The creature seems more susceptible to magic than to cold hard steel, for it staggers as the glowing balls of energy strike it ... then finally succumbs to the Paladin's unrelenting blows, backed by the righteous might of Heironeous, collapsing to the ground.

Ashlyn steps forwards quickly to peer into the hole, even as Saeko dives past her ...

Down below, Violet backs away from the monstrosity before her, revealed by the mage's bright lights, fumbling to fit a shaft to her bow, unable to pull her eyes away from the creature that has the semblance of a corpse surgically modified by a lunatic.  Tall and skeletally thin, its arms are too long while its head is wide and wedge-shaped with a mouth split so that it is wider than any normal human, showing teeth that glitter like shards of black steaming ice ...

And then Saeko drops from above, and she no longer faces the horror alone.  The Daughter of the Wind lands hard amidst the remains of the fallen beams, but shrugging that off to step forward, a continuation of her graceful dance, her blades held in a posture that is more defence than offence, but still flicking out to find a gap in Danovich's armour and draw blood.  The priest hisses in pain, his hand flailing out to slap against her armour, as dark energies assail her.

Heartened by Saeko's appearance, Violet brings up her bow, but in her fear-spurred haste the young woman's elbow catches against the charred support behind her and the shaft falls uselessly to the ground.

Qvar descends the rickety wooden stairs, each step creaking beneath his tread.  As he turns towards the fallen priest he is alerted by a movement from behind him and spins around as a skeleton lumbers towards him, its bones discoloured by the same infection that is carried by the zombies that plague this benighted town.

"By the Light of the Sun !"

The glow surrounding the priest flares at his words as he reaches out to touch the creature, the healing energies at his fingertips corruscating along those bones.  Yet like the zombies this undead too is possessed of a most unnatural vigour and seems to shrug off the assault. 

From the shadows of the south west corner, two more zombies stir, one heading towards Violet and the other towards Qvar while the horror that Danovich calls son moves forwards with a speed that belies its size lunges at Saeko, its jaw gaping wide as if driven by an inner hunger ... but Saeko's blades serve to keep it at bay for the moment ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Zertin is rather surprised to see Saeko follow Violet's example and follow her so precipitously into the bowels of the temple. He wastes no time and hurries down the wall from the ceiling and steps across to the edge of the hole in the temple floor to see how they are faring. Seeing the zombie advancing on Violet and something even worse trying to bite Saeko, he speaks the words of a spell then shouts down at the zombie.

"Zombie, defend the ladies!"

He follows that up with some words of advice for Violet.

"V, ignore the zombie. I have it now. Assist Saeko!"

Then to his friends still in the temple.

"Q is down there with them, too. Over that way, down the stairs!"

Ashlyn nods grimly at Zertin's words.

"Too far to jump in armour," she turns away, walking towards Caesius, her face a mask, her voice a knot of grief.  "Qvar said there was a trapdoor back that way which Zertin tells me leads to some stairs."

"I saw Thendrick ... he is one of the risen dead now.  I fear Mathilda has suffered the same fate," she tells the Paladin as she steps over the slain zombies heading purposefully towards the room to the east of the church doors.

Her eyes close for a moment as she wrestles with her emotions on hearing the Wizard's claim that he has wrested control of Thendrick's animated corpse from the fallen priest.

"Lead the way!" Caesius instructs Ashlyn, "I will stand beside you, and fight this vileness in Heironeous' name.  We shall destroy it, and the bodies of your friends shall be laid to rest at last, with the proper rites to protect them."

He follows the woman towards the supposed location of the staircase.

A small huffing sound escapes Saeko's nose as the words, `too far to jump in armour' drift down.  She leans back from the creature snapping at her, slashing at it with a zig-zagging slice with one sword while her other darts over to jab at the priest.

No time to think, as the situation becomes fluid around the young woman.  Violet's body makes the choice, shifting away from the approaching Undying, arrow nocked.  The fallen priest is blocked to her eye by pillars, enemies, and Saeko herself, so the Gabrielense woman looses at the vile creature battling the silver lady, hoping to give her an opening to strike a fatal blow.

Perhaps her concentration has firmed.  Perhaps it's the threat to the silver lady.  Perhaps it's merely luck; Violet, however, wouldn't bet on the last, given chance's hatred of her.  But the arrow flies true.


OOC - moving one 5' step to get a clear LOS at the boss monster, then loosing an arrow into it.  Attack roll is somewhere around 27, damage is 8. 

Qvar's golden glow blazes brightly from his whole body, burning the zombie and skeleton closest to him.  Despite the comfort of his deity's presence, he stares aghast at the monstrous form looming over Saeko.  "Danovich, what have you done...?" then as realisation sinks in he calls out for all to hear "Its a blaspheme!  Do not let it bite you!"

The zombie and skeleton pressing close must first be dealt with. "By the light of the Sun!" he damns them, touching the wooden sun-face hanging from his girdle.  But, distracted by the horror of Danovich's son, there seems little power in his words.  He frowns at the skeleton and zombie trying to gauge whether they are turned... 

21:47, Today: Qvar rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  turn undead.
21:50, Today: Qvar rolled 19 using 3d6+10.  turn 'damage' number of HD affected.
21:51, Today: Qvar rolled 18 using 3d6.  real damage to turned undead.

OOC: I've decided on an action that is independent of the turning outcome.  Turning attempt is a swift action for Q so he still gets a move and action this round, so damn the zombedos, he's going to help.

Leaving the skeleton and zombie to their fate, either to burn or to claw after him, Qvar strides forward across the cellar (move 10' to the northwest) to stand between Violet and Saeko, his fiercely blazing golden glow lighting them more strongly than Zed's floating baubles.  He speaks a quick prayer "Lightfather, protect her from the teeth of this horrible thing." and ducks under Saeko's backswing to pace a touch spell on her.  To Violet he offers this advice "Bring down Danovich.  Your arrows will do little harm to his son..." then adds with a reassuring smile "...yet."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:09, Sat 01 June 2019.

As Caesius and Ashlyn hurry towards the stairs, Zertin walks down from ceiling to wall to peer into the hole in the church floor.  Seeing the undead lumbering towards Violet he calls out, his voice bolstered by the spell he swiftly fashions, causing the zombie to come to an abrupt halt, its actions now under the command of a new master.

Down below, Saeko finds herself facing both the priest and the horror that he has made of his sun, but both Danovich's armour and the creature's unnaturally hardened flesh suffice to withstand the edges of her whirling blades.

Acting instinctively, Violet steps to one side, to give her a clear shot at the monstrous undead, her arrow flying true as she nocks and looses, trusting more to luck than skill as the shaft penetrates the creature's neck, though it seems to do little more than cause its death-dulled eyes towards her.

And then the zombie lurches forwards, driven by the wizard's instructions, crashing into the creature, only to be pushed to one side as its teeth rip at the zombie's rotted flesh, almost tearing it apart.

With a cry of anger, Danovich raises his hand towards the traitorous zombie, a prayer spilling from his lips, though it has no effect that you can see.

Recovering from his initial shock as he realises what the mad priest has created, Qvar calls out a warning, denouncing the horror as a Blaspheme.  Though his attention is fixed upon the creature, his invoking of the Sun's Light causes the nearby skeleton and Zombie to flee, the pair shambling away, their ruined bodies withering beneath the light of rightouslyness, to opposite corners of the church's understory.   Descending the stairway behind him with Caesius at her heels, Ashlyn gasps, her descent halted as her gaze takes in what has become of both her companions, the Paladin just managing not to bowl her over.

Barely noticing that the two undead have fled his presence, Qvar makes his way over the debris strewn floor to join Saeko and Violet, providing what advice he can to each and bolstering the swordswoman with what protection from the creature he can.

Zertin calmly walks down through the hole in the floor of the temple to join the battle below. That might sound simple enough but it involves him rotating through 180 degrees again as he moves from the temple floor to the cellar ceiling, then back through 90 degrees to end up practically laying on the cellar ceiling with his feet firmly planted on the column at the southwest corner of the hole.

With a friendly smile he points his wand at Danovich and speaks the command word to unleash another string of magic missiles at the mad priest.

OOC: Zertin rolled 23 using 5d4+5.  Magic missile damage on Danovich.