Garl casts Ironhand on Sir Roland.

22:43, Today: Garl Ligoosh rolled 5 using 2d6.  Cast Ironhand.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

11:44, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 9 using 2d6.  Attack dead horse. 9+8+2 = 19
11:45, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 3 using 1d6.  Damage. 3

The knight grunts with effort, bringing his sword back for a tremendous slash against the hideous rotting head...

Larson enters the stables and swings his weapon to the dead mare too.

[OOC 21:59, Today: The Director, on behalf of Larson fossas, rolled 7 using 2d6. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

Gal does her part in the fight as well.

[OOC 22:00, Today: The Director, on behalf of Galendra, rolled 7 using 2d6. ]

The joint effort of Sir Roland, Larson and Galendra overcomes a poor effort by the dead mare and hacks it in pieces.

"I still can't say that I killed anyone with my sword... this horrow was already dead..." She briefly looks at Rorn and shrugs with a quick smile.

“There could be treasure inside it,” Garl suggests.

The knight wastes no time to explore and check the stables for more hostiles and threats. He beckons Larson and the companions forward with the two torches to assist. Once the stables are cleared, Sir Roland bids Garl and Galendra choose a dry suitable spot, gather some hay, and build a campfire.

He indicates that Rorn is to watch the door for anything approaching.

As for himself, he waves Larson over, squats down beside the felled undead horse, draws his dagger, and begins examining the grisly remains for any clues or information on what had happened to it and to Sir Gallaharn. After his examination, he draws his sword once again and chops off the creature's legs and head, then drags the dismembered parts and the body into the far corner of the stable and leaves them there.

OOC - Sir Roland finds anything from his examination?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:04, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

Sir Roland thinks that the dead mare was Sir Gallaharn's loyal warhorse, but, given the conditiond of the body, he can't be sure.
The animal was probably slew some weeks ago. The oldest cuts, before yours, probably were done with a blade, however, it wasn't a clean cut butchery job, but rather an attack in a fit of raging madness. Somehow, after that, the dead mare was risen as that nightmarish creature.

Sir Roland and Larson finish up with their grisly examination of the undead warhorse. Disposing of the dismembered carcass as far away from their resting area as possible in the stables, they join the rest of the company at the fire and share their findings.

"That warhorse was almost certainly Sir Gallaharn's mount. Warhorses are rare and highly-valued animals. More than mere beasts of transportation, they are weapons, as well as comrades at arms, often bonding closely with their riders." The knight looks down to the ground. "It bodes ill for the fate of Sir Gallaharn."

For several seconds, Sir Rolands stares into the fire quietly, his eyes unfocused, as if recalling some past event of significance. Closing his eyes, he shakes his head, then looks up. You can see the earlier uncertainty and melancholy have left his eyes, and they are now clear and focused. His demeanor is determined. His voice, previously soft and low, regains its usual commanding ring.

"I shall take 1st watch with Rorn. Followed by Larson and Galendra. Then myself again and Garl. And finally Larson and Rorn. 2 hour intervals. Those not on watch, rest as much as you can."

"There is an evil air about in this place. I have a feeling there will be little rest for us henceforth until we find the source of this unholiness and put an end to it."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

“And an evil smell to go with it.”    Tired of all this horsing around, Garl settles down to get some shuteye.

The joint effort of Sir Roland, Larson and Galendra overcomes a poor effort by the dead mare and hacks it in pieces.

Rorn did not cheer every swing, at least out loud ... but he was very grateful that the others could take care of the undead hulk so adeptly.

She briefly looks at Rorn and shrugs with a quick smile.

How could she smile?!  "Truly horrid," is all Rorn says from the rear, looking a bit green.

He indicates that Rorn is to watch the door for anything approaching.

"Yup, yes, sir," Rorn answers in agreement from his post at the destroyed doorway.  The youngster keeps his head on a swivel, in case zombie rats or zombie bats or zombie Sir Gallaharns loomed out of some corner.

After his examination, he draws his sword once again and chops off the creature's legs and head, then drags the dismembered parts and the body into the far corner of the stable and leaves them there.

"Uh, no, sir, I say we drag that all out ... to the courtyard and burn it," Rorn says, with a shudder at the last.  He definitely believes he won't sleep a wink with that pile of unholy rot in the stables.  Assuming Lars agrees, he helps the larger fellow manhandle the sloughing remains out of the stable and ties a cloth around his mouth and nose so that the putrid smell and grisly smoke won't make him retch endlessly.

The knight looks down to the ground. "It bodes ill for the fate of Sir Gallaharn."

Indeed, it certainly look like a demon-possessed Sir G. hacked up his own horse.  Or .. maybe he did it while still lucid enough to stop himself from riding away and causing more carnage in the countryside?  Whatever the reason, Rorn prays to the gods that none of them die in this place if such a reanimation was to be their fate!!

He takes watch with Sir Roland in silence, too freaked out to be tired but also knowing he needed to sleep badly.  Hopefully things would be quiet for just a short while until dawn.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Mon 29 Jan 2018.

Sir Roland turns around slowly at Rorn's words and stares hard at the village lad for a long moment of silence before replying in a testy voice.

"You've got a good half of it right lad. Burning is indeed the best way to deal with unholy...things...like that undead warhorse. But..." And here the knight stabs a mailed finger towards the door. "...there's nothing like a nice cheery bonfire to warn every evil creature within this keep, that we are having a party here. And that they are invited."

"And since we are certainly not going to have that fire inside here to stink up this place...so that's that."

"Good point though. Good point." He claps Rorn on the shoulder, then turns back to his watch.

---

OOC - Hah...sorry about that Rorn. That's Sir Roland in his "take charge" mode. Insufferable ain't he? The bastard... But what he says is true though. ;)

Also...almost forgot that we should also all eat a meal for the night.

“He’s right,” Garl snarls without bothering to open his eyes, making it clear that the big kids all agree with Sir Roland.

Before resting for the night, you have a quick walk round of the courtyard and all areas outside the proper tower.
Galendra insists for cleaning up above all the stables before sleeping or eating in there and it isn't a pleasant job but she founds a horseshoe and feels luckier with that.

Just outside the courtyard (area #3) you follow a short stone path and reach a small Knights' graveyard, graced by ancient gnarled oaks, that will prove perfect for burning rotten horse meat. There are seven tombstones marking the spots where the dead Knights of Hellwinter
rest This dreamy place is caressed by the icy winds and perfumed by the Knightwort and white lavender shrubs that spontaneously grow in here.
Most of the engravings on the tombstones have been erased by the ceaseless work of time; two of them, however, are still legible.



Finally, you are satisfied that there is no danger around the courtyard, have your dinner [OOC please deduct one meal] and fall asleep.
It will be a long night, next to a warm fire, not blown away by the wind, the first night indoor after you left Gallows End. You will have a good sleep and will wake up restored, despite the horrible experience with the dead mare. [OOC recover up to 6 points of STAMINA]

[OOC while you sleep, the suggested soundtrack is still: World of Warcfraft, by Jason Hayes! :) ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Tue 30 Jan 2018.

He claps Rorn on the shoulder, then turns back to his watch.

“He’s right,” Garl snarls

Yup, the seasoned campaigners had the right of it.  Just because the whole promontory seemed deserted did not mean there were no spying eyes ready to report the tell-tale of a fire to some dark force like a goblin chief or Zombie Gallaharn.  Or .. gulp .. worse.

Rorn is grateful for Sir Roland's encouraging words, and he attends the somber scouting of the graveyard with a quiet, watchful air.  He gathers a judicious bunch of the white lavender to place in the most noisesome corners of the stables.

You will have a good sleep and will wake up restored, despite the horrible experience with the dead mare. [OOC recover up to 6 points of STAMINA]

The bumps and bruises from the goblin encounter are gone, as are the aches and pains of the climb.  Even the memory of the zombie horses seems 'not so bad' in the light of dawn.  Rorn is ready for the next adventure!

Back to full STAM, hooray :)

My mental map
#1  Entrance (EXPLORED)
#2  Well (EXPLORED, found amulet, emerald and note in waterproof container in Bucket.  Post #28
link to a message in this game)
#3  Outside the tower (EXPLORED, small graveyard "graced by ancient gnarled oaks")
#4  Stables (EXPLORED, Zombie Horse)
#5  Door to interior .. perhaps stairs?  Should check that out next

“Something I wanted to mention, fellows,” Garl says when everybody is gathered around and there’s half a chance they’ll listen.  “If we’re ever in a fight and I scream CLOSE EM, it means, shut your eyes, and shut ‘em fast.  Cause if you don’t, you’ll be blind a half second later.  Try to remember that.”

It's morning. The morning of a crucial day: time to explore the Tower of Hellwinter!

"Alrighty," Rorn says to himself, facing the prospects of the adventure ahead.  Far more frightening than a simple hunter's life, but also exciting and more meaningful in a way.

Here he could make some kind of difference; even if what happened here was never really understood back at Gallow's End by the average peasant.

Sir Roland rouses himself from his slumber at the break of dawn like the longtime campaigner he is. Sleep had been light but refreshing. The knight feels rested and wakes up in a good mood. Whistling an old marching tune, he stokes up the fire and eats a portion of his rations. The undead and other evil creatures seem but a mild annoyance this morning.

The knight nods at Rorn. He stands up, picking up his pack and loosening his sword in its scabbard. As soon as he sees his other companions are ready, he kicks soil and refuse to put out and cover their fire, then with a curt nod, turns and leads the way to the tower proper.

---

OOC - Yay! Back to adventure! :)

1 Ration deducted for breakfast for Roland.

Garl also has a hasty breakfast, then gets up and stretches his arms.  Somehow, last night seemed to stretch on for weeks!  But no matter.  Now that he is free from slumber’s grip, he can hardly wait to journey forth.

“Just remember what I said about those code words,” he says, following one last yawn.

The Knight nods slowly. He pulls the Elf aside for a brief moment before the party moves out. It is obvious the topic is a source of some discomfort for Sir Roland, he goes ahead and asks anyway. "Garl. That dead warhorse isn't going to be the only undead we will face in this place... What can you do against such creatures of undeath?"

---

OOC - This is post is an aside episode and is very brief. Please move on with the main arc of the story guys - which is that the party is now moving towards the tower entrance...

OOC all characters that had breakfast (and used this way one ration, do recover up to 2 points of STAMINA.

The doorway to the tower is crashed open out of its hinges, as if a raging storm had violently ravaged it, and gives way to what looks like a common room.
The common room is cold and damp, and hosts a large fireplace, embellished by stone heraldries that bear the blazon of a Black Dragon.
A large destroyed oaken table stands in the room, and pewter dishes and cutlery are scattered throughout the hall. From the common room, a massive flight of ruined stone stairs ascends to the first floor. There are also two wooden doors leading to the kitchen and to the latrine.

Sir Roland pauses briefly to light his 1st torch. Holding it aloft, with his sword in the other hand, he takes a slow walk about the room looking for secret doors, levers, panels, and the like. He takes a closer look at the fireplace.

---

OOC - Don't know if this is what I should roll.
11:19, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 12 using 2d6+8+1.  Search the common room.
Sir Roland has SKILL=8 and the Awareness skill at level 1.

Searching the fireplace points to a loose stone. Removing the stone, Sir Roland reveals a small niche which shelters a book, its pages yellowed and mouldy. The book is titled The Seven Poor Knights and contains local ancient lore.


This message was last edited by the GM at 03:38, Tue 27 Feb 2018.