Joshua tried to yell for help from the watch, but could only cry out in sharp pain from his fall. He looked up helplessly at our heroes on their perch, and then at the forest. A strangled scream escaped his throat as he limped back toward the gate. Everyone present heard guttural moans from the heart of the fog. They staggered forth, cold gray skin mottled with rot, their vacant eyes somehow fixed on Joshua. The ghouls shuffled toward Joshua, slobber dripping from slavering jaws as they closed in on their prey...

OOC: What do you do?

Cela uses her claws to climb down the outside of the wall, joining Joshua outside with a more graceful descent.

"Can you walk to the gate?  I don't think I can carry you up."

She tries to put herself in between Joshua and the gate, and starts to pull out one of the holy water vials.

edit: spelling
This message was last edited by the player at 19:32, Wed 05 May 2021.

Joshua nodded mutely, his face contorted in pain from what also appeared to be a sprained ankle. The young man half-limped, half-hopped toward the gate. His movement only agitated the ghouls, who were joined in what seemed like an endless flood of undead to Cela. She and any observers from the wall would note almost two dozen (OOC: Total 20 Undead.) of the unholy creatures. They snarled at the Tabaxi Monk, rotted fangs snapping in ravenous hunger.

The town watch yelled at Joshua and Cela, begging them to flee or climb. A black-haired lad a few years younger than Josh tried to toss a rope down. It was batted from his hands by Georg. “What are you doing, Connor?! Do you want those things to climb into Deadwater?! He’s done for, and the Cat-woman, too!”

Not immediately. Although they hungered for flesh, even ghouls felt a primal instinct for survival. The confident stance of the Tabaxi said she wouldn’t be easy prey like the other one. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t try to eat her, though. A ghoul dragging a stag carcass dropped it in favor of humanoid meat.

OOC:

Roll Initiative!
 We’re rolling each round because of the chaotic nature of a ghoul encounter. Because of the sheer size of this undead mob, Mercion & Pockets will roll, too. Be advised that they’re here strictly in a utilitarian fashion. The burden is on all of you!

Anyone interested may make a Perception before the fight. I’ll also allow a Religion or Arcana check.

Simon blinks, "Who said anything about the well? It's a fog in a swamp. It could carry all sorts of nasty things, and it's controlled or intelligent. My gods, you folks think everything is about that damned well (which is odd in itself). It's a BIG world, priestess."

While shaking his head at the paranoia the Well seems to foster, Simon picks out an ambulatory corpse near Joshua and blasts forceful fire at the ground near it.

ooc:
12:48, Today: Simon rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Eldritch blast.
12:27, Today: Simon rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  initiative.
12:52, Today: Simon rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Arcana.
12:52, Today: Simon rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Wed 05 May 2021.

OOC: Initiative Order

Pockets
Ghouls
Azatch
Cela
Grog
Sundos
Skye
Simon
Lenelle
Mercion

I’ll Edit and add here as everyone rolls.



This message was last edited by the GM at 04:57, Thu 06 May 2021.

Cela prepares to throw a flask of holy water at the incoming horde.

16:06, Today: Cela rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  throw flask.
16:11, Today: Cela rolled 8 using 2d6.  flask damage.
16:04, Today: Cela rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  perception.
16:04, Today: Cela rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Wed 05 May 2021.

Sundos will point to the lad who threw the rope down and said, "Go open the gate for them. I will make sure no undead enter."

He slid down the rope to stand next to Cela and Joshua. He raised his arms and called out in a loud voice, "Flee, you unholy ghouls! The Power of Pelor compels you to flee from me!"

OOC: Turn undead, DC 13
Channel Divinity: Turn Undead
As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage.

A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

Edit.  changed my move to slide down rope
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Wed 05 May 2021.

Simon shakes his head, "That's barely going to reach past the walls. 25 tops. Reminds me of a story, in fact."

And with that, Simon tries to relieve the tension on the all, while teaching algebra.

"There was once a land, far away, and many years ago, that had three kingdoms around a triangular lake. They often warred , and casualties were fierce.

"So they agreed to hold a tournament of all their champions, on an island in the middle of the lake.

"The first, being rich and influential, sent twenty Knights, and thirty squires, with many horses and wagons laden with food and wine.

"The second, being well-off, sent ten knights and twenty squires, as well as several wagons of food and drink.

"The last kingdom had only one knight, who was very aged and rather decrepit, and had but the one squire. They brought with them a single iron pot, and a horse with food enough for the journey.

"The first evening, much revelry was had- wine was shared and spilled in equal measure, great haunches of meat were roasted and cut, and all are well.

"The old knight counseled that there were rats on the island, and food should be moved off the ground, to avoid them spreading plague.

"The Knights and squires of the first and second kingdoms disregarded his advice, saying 'Pfah! What does he know? We are so many, no rats would dare bother us!'

"But the squire of the third kingdom listened attentively to his old knight, and hauled their old iron pot on a rope over a branch, preventing the rats from finding it.

"In the morning, all the warriors of the first two kingdoms were ill, finding rat droppings in their food and sleeping-things, and several of them could barely even stand, let alone fight.

"That night, the partying was subdued, but still jubilant. Old grudges were settled by the fireside, tales of heroism told and retold, and many casks of wine were emptied and tossed aside.

"Again, the old knight counseled the gathered warriors. He warned them that bandits had long preyed on dwellers of this island, making off with any valuables they could. 'Pfah! What does the old man know?' They cried, well into their cups. 'Surely, no bandit would trouble such an assembled group of warriors!'

"But the lone squire from the third kingdom listened intently to his wise old master, and hung a noose beside their pot, dangling from the tree, so that bandits might see the penalty for troubling them, and be warned away.

"The day of the tournament came, and the Knights and squires of the first and second kingdoms emerged from their tents to find their fine armour and weapons stolen in the night by bandits.

"Amazed, they hunted around, but even their horses were gone. The Knights could not fight at all, and only a very few of their squires could craft cudgels with which to do battle.

"But the crafty squire of the third kingdom had warned bandits away, and his battered old pot helm and coat of plates, and his dented old sword, were safe in his tent.

"He took to the field under the gaze of his master, and although the other squires allied against him, he defeated those who were well and well-armoured enough to fight him.

"And thus we learned that the squire of the high pot and noose was equal to the sum of squires on the other two sides."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Wed 05 May 2021.

The ghouls shuffled toward Cela. Their fetid breath filled her sensitive nostrils, making the gorge rise in her throat. Five ghouls surrounded Cela, the rest pressing on them from behind so they, too, could eat. A ghoul with limp dark hair raked at the brave Tabaxi. His claws tore her flesh, nearly shredding her side!

The scent of freshly spilled blood agitated the other four ghouls. They all pressed forward, slashing at her, but the nimble Monk swayed side-to-side, dodging the remaining attacks!

OOC:

16:34, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Ghoul slash.
16:34, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Ghoul slash.
16:34, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Ghoul slash.
16:33, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Ghoul slash .
16:32, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Ghoul slash. Ouch! Critical damage!

Cela took 13 damage,

Roll a Constitution Save Vs. Paralysis, DC 10!

Grog quickly makes his way to the top of the wall as he fished through his pack.  Reaching the top, he tossed one end of his (silk) rope over the wall, holding the other end and preparing to pull them back up. "Tie together."

((OOC: Grog rolled 17 using 1d20+1.  Initiative .

How heavy are they together? Grog's lift capacity alone is 510.  Good chance even Patches could make the remaining gap if it isn't enough.  Now to read Simon's story.
EDIT: Sniped! Gah! ))

“Hey! Hey, Hey, HEY!!! YOU LEAVE THE CAT-LADY ALONE!” Pockets sighted the ghoul who attacked Cela with a hand crossbow. The bolt flew unerringly, hitting the undead fiend’s throat! Faster than the eye could follow, he’d reloaded and hit the ghoul again!

OOC:

16:59, Today: Pockets rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Sneak attack damage.
16:59, Today: Pockets rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Damage.
16:58, Today: Pockets rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Hand crossbow.

Pockets used Sneak Attack since Cela is within 5 feet.

Cela loudly screams out a curse in a guttural language as one of the five hits her.  She keeps moving after the strike, but the wound looks deep.

OOC: She's cursing in Goblin.

23, used my inspiration on the save (didn't need it)
17:12, Today: Cela rolled 20,3 using d20,d4.  con save w/ inspiration.

Despite his pain, Joshua couldn’t just stand by and let a woman die fighting for him. He snatched up a rock and threw it at the ghoul who’d wounded Cela. The rock zipped several feet past the ghouls, bouncing off an oak tree.

OOC:
A 6 won’t do it.
 

Lenelle's hand had gone to her mouth in horror, as Joshua, in saving Mercion, had toppled over.  And then the sight of those things...and Cela going down there, followed by Sundos...

Idiot! she chided herself.  Being horrified would help no one.    But...looking again at the horde, she realized the limits of her magic;  she had no spell for hitting many at one time.

She could only do what she could.  Perhaps a display of holy power would make these things think twice.   She incanted swiftly, took aim --  summoning extra energy for a twin attack:
Lenelle Toreth rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
Metamagic - twinned spell (2 sorcery points)
Cast Guiding bolt as level 2 spell, at two ghouls closest to my allies, not taken out by any prior attack
Lenelle Toreth rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  guiding bolt.  ghoul 1
Lenelle Toreth rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  guiding bolt.  ghoul 2
Lenelle Toreth rolled 25 using 5d6. damage ghoul 1
Lenelle Toreth rolled 17 using 5d6.  damage ghoul 2
The following attack on any surviving ghoul is advantaged.
Lenelle Toreth rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  perception. (probably not, whatever that was for)

Dual shafts of solar-like radiance streaked from her fingers, searing the air, striking a pair of the creatures.  (I'm pretty sure, with those rolls)

She glanced over briefly at Grog, with his succoring rope...Oh, thank the gods! Or better, if the lad would open gate, as Sundos had exhorted him to.  Could he really drive back this horde-?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Thu 06 May 2021.

Trail watches as Joshua tumbles over the side, then Cena follows without hesitation. “Damn.” She muttered as she took several arrows and stuck them in the wood in front of her. That’s when she saw the numbers of undead.

Loading her bow with two arrows, she sighted up the closest ghoul, firing.

<OOC: Skye Keenshadow rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Iniative.

Skye Keenshadow rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Perception check .

Movement: none
Action: attack using shortbow
Skye Keenshadow rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Attack - ghoul.
Skye Keenshadow rolled 9 using 1d6+3. Damage - ghoul

Bonus action: none
Other action: dread ambush attack
Skye Keenshadow rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Dread ambush attack.
Skye Keenshadow rolled 5 using 1d6+3. Damage - dread ambush damage
Skye Keenshadow rolled 5 using 1d8. Bonus damage>